Flexible impeller for a vacuum cleaner

• US 5,584,656 A
• Filed: 06/28/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, James
• Application Number:
  US08/495,362
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 416/240, 416/132 A, 416/142, 416/143, 416/212 R, 416/214 R, 416/219 A, 416/220 A
• US Class Current: 416/132.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/023 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/305 Flexible vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/382 Flexible blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/43 Synthetic polymers, e.g. plastics; Rubber
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/601 Fabrics

Abstract

A fan for a vacuum cleaner has a fan housing, motor and impeller. The fan housing has an inlet and outlet. The impeller has a hub and multiple flexible blades. This flexible blade fan provides better air performance, less noise, better durability, and easier impeller installation than conventional vacuum cleaner fans.

Claims

1. A fan impeller comprising:

a plurality of pliable blades for centrifugally displacing a volume of air upon rotation of the impeller; and

a hub for retaining said plurality of blades, wherein said hub secures the impeller to a motor-driven shaft for producing rotation,

wherein the hub comprises a hub case which axially receives a hub insert, said hub case including a plurality of slits which define a plurality of prongs, wherein each blade is looped around a respective prong and frictionally retained within the hub case by the hub insert.

2. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade has a shaped edge.

3. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade is formed of a flat piece of material which is shredded.

4. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade is comprised of multiple strands.

5. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blades are between 1-5 inches long, and between 0.10-2.0 inches wide.

6. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blade material comprises a synthetic fabric.

7. The fan impeller of claim 6 wherein the synthetic fabric is polyester and is coated with a polymer.

8. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blades are formed from a plurality of straps, wherein each strap is folded at the center to provide a pair of blades, and wherein the center of each strap is secured within the hub.