Airflow indicator
First Claim
1. An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a housing, said housing comprising a first end and a second end;
a wheel chamber defined at said first end of said housing;
a rotatable wheel mounted in said wheel chamber;
an air inlet formed adjacent said first end of said housing;
an air passageway formed within said housing adjacent said rotatable wheel and said air inlet;
a valve mounted within said housing adjacent said air passageway, wherein said valve comprises a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure within a casing of said vacuum cleaner; and
an air outlet formed in said housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a wheel chamber defined in the housing, and a rotatable wheel mounted in the wheel chamber. The wheel has protrusions which cause the wheel to rotate due to inlet air flow. The wheel further has markings which gradually increase in size along an outside perimeter of the wheel. The markings indicate movement of the wheel. An air inlet is formed adjacent a first end of the housing. An air passageway is formed within the housing adjacent the rotatable wheel and the air inlet. The air passageway is curved to facilitate air flow along the protrusions of the wheel. A valve is mounted within the housing adjacent the air passageway. The valve has a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure. An air outlet is formed in the housing. A window portion partially encloses the wheel within the wheel chamber. The window allows viewing of the wheel from outside of the housing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a housing, said housing comprising a first end and a second end;
a wheel chamber defined at said first end of said housing;
a rotatable wheel mounted in said wheel chamber;
an air inlet formed adjacent said first end of said housing;
an air passageway formed within said housing adjacent said rotatable wheel and said air inlet;
a valve mounted within said housing adjacent said air passageway, wherein said valve comprises a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure within a casing of said vacuum cleaner; and
an air outlet formed in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bleed valve mechanism for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a housing, said housing comprising a first end and a second end;
an indicating device within said housing to indicate air flow;
said device comprising a rotatable wheela window portion on an outside surface of said housing for viewing said wheel;
an air inlet formed adjacent said first end of said housing;
an air passageway formed within said housing adjacent said air inlet;
a valve mounted within said housing adjacent said air passageway, wherein said valve comprises a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure within a filter chamber located in said vacuum cleaner; and
an air outlet formed in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a casing including a suction motor and fan assembly;
a handle attached to said casing;
a dirt cup and filter mounted to said casing for collecting dirt and debris vacuumed from a surface to be cleaned; and
,an airflow indicator mounted to said casing, said airflow indicator comprising;
a housing, a wheel chamber defined in said housing, a rotatable wheel mounted in said wheel chamber, an air inlet formed in said housing adjacent said rotatable wheel, an air passageway formed within said housing adjacent said rotatable wheel and said air inlet, a valve mounted within said housing adjacent said air passageway, wherein said valve comprises a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure within said casing, and an air outlet formed in said housing, wherein said air inlet is spaced from said air outlet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification