Bagless dustcup

• US 7,163,568 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Limited (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Limited (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Sepke, Arnold L., Thomas, Joyce, Muclahy, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins; Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US11/035,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20050241101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 553/37, 554/29, 554/591, 554/592, 55D/IG.3, 153/50, 153/53
• US Class Current: 55/337
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/028 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/201 Conical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/55 for cleaning appliances, e.g. suction cleaners suction cleaners comprising filters A47L9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2403 characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A bagless vacuum cleaner system dustcup assembly and method for using said system with a vacuum cleaner apparatus to separate dirt from a mixture of dirt and air inducted into said vacuum cleaner apparatus. Said bagless vacuum cleaner system generally comprises a dustcup assembly, a handle assembly and a motor intake adaptor.

Claims

1. A bagless separator system for use in a vacuum cleaner apparatus capable of separating of a mixture of dirt and air drawn into the vacuum cleaner apparatus, the bagless separator system comprising:

a dust cup assembly removably secured to a housing portion of the vacuum cleaner apparatus, the dust cup assembly comprising;

a dust cup chamber having an open top and a bottom wall;

a inlet passage for introducing the mixture of dirt and air into the dust cup chamber;

a filter assembly positioned in an upper portion of the dust cup chamber and having a top edge and a bottom edge, the filter assembly comprising a trusto-conical peripheral wall and a base connected to a bottom edge of the peripheral wall, the base comprising a first portion extending radially inwardly from the peripheral wall to cover one end of the filter assembly, and a second portion extending radially outwardly beyond the peripheral wall of the filter assembly such that the diameter of the base is greater than the diameter of the bottom edge of the peripheral wall; and

an outlet passageway defining a path for air exiting the dust cup chamber;

wherein the dust cup assembly is adapted to induce cyclonic air flow within the dust cup chamber;

a vacuum suction source mounted in the housing portion of the vacuum cleaner apparatus and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source fluidly connected to the outlet passageway of the dust cup assembly and selectively operable to draw the mixture of dirt and air into the vacuum cleaner apparatus; and

a horizontally extending, elongated compartment receiving a rotating brush element the compartment fluidly connected to the inlet passage of the dust cup assembly.

2. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet passage is adapted to cause cyclonic air flow within the dust cup chamber.

3. The bagless separator system according to claim 2, wherein the dust cup assembly comprises a lid, and the inlet passage comprises a volute passage extending downwardly from the lid.

4. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a disc having a generally circular peripheral edge.

5. The bagless separator system according to claim 4, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a base edge wall extending axially downwardly from the peripheral edge of the base.

6. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly, base and peripheral wall are integrally formed.

7. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly comprises a perforated shroud.

8. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the top edge of the peripheral wall has a larger diameter than the bottom edge of the peripheral wall.

9. The bagless separator system according to claim 8, wherein the filter assembly peripheral wall comprises a top edge and wherein the base extends radially outwardly beyond the peripheral wall of the filter assembly such that the diameter of the base is greater than the diameter of the top edge of the peripheral wall.

10. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly is positioned in an upper portion of the dust cup chamber such that the dust cup chamber encloses a substantially uninterrupted volume between the filter assembly base and the dust cup chamber bottom wall.

11. The bagless separator system according to claim 1, wherein air passing through the filter assembly is immediately directed laterally then downwardly to the vacuum suction source.