Electric vacuum cleaner equipped with a dust collection unit

• US 7,175,682 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakai, Koichi, Hamada, Atsuo, Yoshimi, Kazuyoshi, Yoneyama, Akihiro, Kamatani, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): HOPKINS, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US11/149,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 553/37, 554/29, 554/33, 555/02, 55D/IG.3, 153/50, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 55/429
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An electric vacuum cleaner is equipped with a dust collection unit (20) that can be detachably installed in the air passage en route from a suction unit to an electric fan of the cleaner. The dust collection unit (20) comprises a dust collecting case (21) for accumulating dust sucked in, a lid member (32) that can be opened to discharge the accumulated dust; and a lock mechanism (clamp lever) (33) for locking the lid member 32 tightly closed. The electric vacuum cleaner is further provided with a lid opening mechanism (lid opening stick (35) for forcibly opening the lid member (32) in cooperation with the lock mechanism locking the lid member. Even when the sealing pressure of the packing is high or when the accumulated dust does not weigh on the lid member because the dust is compacted on the inner wall of the dust collecting case, the lid member can be opened without difficulty to discharge the dust, without opening it by hand. Thus, the user can avoid handling unsanitary dust.

Claims

1. A dust collection unit for use with an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member mounted on said dust collecting case by at least one hinge;

an outlet for discharging the dust accumulated in said dust collecting case when said lid member is opened;

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition; and

a lid opening stick being movable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near a periphery of said lid member and opposite said hinge,

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from said outlet when said lid opening stick is moved.

4. The dust collection unit for use with an electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said dust collecting case is made of a transparent resin and is provided inside thereof with a cylindrical filter.

2. A dust collection unit for use with an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member mounted on said dust collecting case by at least one hinge;

an outlet for discharging the dust accumulated in said dust collecting case when said lid member is opened;

a packing provided between said lid member and periphery of the opening of said outlet of said dust collecting case;

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition; and

a lid opening stick being movable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near the periphery of said lid member and opposite said hinge,

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from said outlet when said lid opening stick is moved.

3. A dust collection unit for use with an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member mounted on the bottom of said dust collecting case by at least one hinge; and

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition, wherein

a lid opening stick being moveable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near a periphery of said lid member and opposite said hinge,

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push down said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from the bottom of said dust collecting case when said lid opening stick is pushed down.

5. An upright electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a suction unit provided under the cleaner body of said upright electric vacuum cleaner;

a manipulation handle provided at an upper section of said cleaner body for handling said cleaner body; and

a dust collection unit detachably mounted on said cleaner body, wherein said dust collection unit includes;

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member rotatably mounted on said dust collecting case by at least one hinge;

an outlet for discharging the dust accumulated in said dust collecting case when said lid member is opened;

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition; and

a lid opening stick being movable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near a periphery of said lid member and opposite said hinge, and

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from said outlet when said lid opening stick is moved.

8. The upright electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 5 through 7, wherein said dust collecting case is made of a transparent resin and is provided inside thereof with a cylindrical filter.

9. The upright electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 5 through 7, wherein dust sucked together with air into said suction unit flows into said dust collecting case and whirls in said dust collecting case.

10. The upright electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 5 through 7, wherein the air filtered by said dust collection unit and removed of dust thereby, is discharged from said dust collecting case, led to an electric fan, and then discharged to the atmosphere via an exhaust filter and through the exhaust opening of said cleaner body.

6. An upright electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a suction unit provided under a cleaner body of said upright electric vacuum cleaner;

a manipulation handle provided at an upper section of said cleaner body for handling said cleaner body; and

a dust collection unit detachably mounted on said cleaner body, wherein said dust collection unit includes;

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member mounted on said dust collecting case by at least one binge;

an outlet for discharging the dust accumulated in said dust collecting case when said lid member is opened;

a packing provided between said lid member and periphery of the opening of said outlet of said dust collecting case;

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition; and

a lid opening stick being movable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near a periphery of said lid member and opposite and hinge, and

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from said outlet when said lid opening stick is moved.

7. An upright electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a suction unit provided under a cleaner body of said upright electric vacuum cleaner;

a manipulation handle provided at an upper section of said cleaner body for handling said cleaner body; and

a dust collection unit detachably mounted on said cleaner body, wherein said dust collection unit includes;

a dust collecting case for accumulating dust sucked into a suction unit;

a lid member mounted on the bottom of said dust collecting case by at least one hinge;

a lock mechanism for locking said lid member in a closed condition; and

a lid opening stick being movable in response to a manipulation of a manipulatory section, wherein

said lock mechanism is located at a position near a periphery of said lid member and opposite said hinge, and

said lid opening stick is adapted to unlock said lock mechanism and push down said lid member to forcibly release said lid member from the bottom of said dust collecting case when said lid opening stick is pushed down.