Dual filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner

• US 6,110,248 A
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shop-Vac Corporation (Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shop-Vac Corporation (Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Company Limited)
• Inventors: Liu, Li H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US09/143,980
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 55/385.1, 55/385.3, 55/472, 55/476, 55/487, 55/490, 55/498, 55/510, 55/DIG. 3, 55/497, 55/506, 55/508, 210/232, 210/450
• US Class Current: 55/490
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/55 for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners suction cleaners comprising filters A47L9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2414 End caps including additional functions or special forms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/64 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dual filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes an annular inner filter mountable on a filter cage of the vacuum cleaner. The inner filter has a lower end and a retaining ring is attached to the lower end. An annular outer filter is removably mounted surrounding the inner filter, with a lower end of the outer filter supported by the retaining ring.

Claims

1. A dual filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

an annular inner filter mountable on a filter cage of the vacuum cleaner, the inner filter having a lower end;

a retaining ring attached to the lower end of the inner filter; and

an annular outer filter having a lower end, the outer filter removably mounted surrounding the inner filter, the lower end of the outer filter supported by the retaining ring.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the retaining ring is molded to the inner filter.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein the retaining ring is molded to the inner filter by a plastisol material.

4. The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein the retaining ring is molded to a lower gasket of the inner filter.

5. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer filter comprises a pleated filter medium.

6. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer filter comprises paper filter medium.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer filter comprises a non-woven polyester filter medium.

8. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer filter comprises a non-woven polypropylene filter medium.

9. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner filter comprises a pleated filter medium.

10. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner filter comprises paper filter medium.

11. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner filter comprises a non-woven polyester filter medium.

12. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner filter comprises a non-woven polypropylene filter medium.

13. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner filter comprises a HEPA filter medium.

14. The filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cap for retaining the filter assembly on the filter cage.

15. A dual filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

an annular inner filter mountable on a filter cage of the vacuum cleaner, the inner filter having a lower end and a HEPA filter medium;

a retaining ring molded to the lower end of the inner filter by a plastisol material; and

an annular outer filter having a lower end and a pleated paper filter medium, the outer filter removably mounted surrounding the inner filter, the lower end of the outer filter supported by the retaining ring.