Resistively welded part for an appliance including a surface cleaning apparatus

• US 8,349,428 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): O'HERN, BRENT T
• Application Number:
  US12/675,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 428/57, 428/53, 428/157
• US Class Current: 428/57
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• 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: B29C 65/342 comprising at least a single wire, e.g. in the form of a winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3432 comprising several wires, e.g. in the form of several independent windings B29C65/3436, B29C65/344 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3476 being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12441 being a single wall
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1312 Single flange to flange joints, the parts to be joined being rigid the parts to be joined being flexible B29C66/133
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/244 said joint lines being non-straight, e.g. forming non-closed contours
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/949 characterised by specific time values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 : ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 : Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 : Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7406 : Sponges; Cleaning equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/749 : Motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1158 : Electromagnetic radiation applied to work for delamination [e.g., microwave, uv, ir, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/17 : Three or more coplanar interfitted sections with securing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 : Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24488 : Differential nonuniformity at margin

Abstract

A part for an appliance, such as a surface cleaning apparatus, a method of making the part, and a method of disassembling the part are disclosed. The part comprises at least first and second plastic members resistively welded together. In some embodiments, the plastic members define a fluid flow cavity, such as a portion of the air flow path through the surface cleaning apparatus.

Claims

1. A resistively welded part for an appliance prepared using:

(a) a first weldable member having a weldable portion and a male engagement member extending outwardly from a first abutment surface; and

,

(b) a second weldable member having a weldable portion, a second abutment surface and a female engagement member defining an opening extending inwardly from the second abutment surface and configured to interengage with the male engagement member, wherein in the resistively welded part, at least one conductive member is disposed in the female engagement member and is recessed inwardly from the second abutment surface, the at least one conductive member extends along the weldable portions from a first position to a second position.

2. The part of claim 1, wherein the first and second positions are separated by a gap less than 0.08 inches.

3. The part of claim 1, wherein a plurality of conductive members extend around the weldable portions and at least two of the conductive members are spaced apart by a gap less than 0.08 inches.

4. The part of claim 1, wherein the conductive member comprises first and second ends, and wherein the first and second ends are accessible when the part has been formed.

5. The part of claim 1, wherein the part comprises a structural member of the vacuum cleaner.

6. The part of claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a non-electrical conductive coating.

7. The part of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second weldable members has an absence of screw ports.

8. The part of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second weldable members have an absence of reinforcing ribs.

9. The part of claim 1, wherein the weldable portions define a perimeter.

10. The part of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a surface cleaning apparatus, a kitchen appliance, a power tool or a garden tool.

11. The part of claim 1 wherein the male engagement member comprises a rail and the female engagement member comprises a groove and a conductive member is positioned in the groove.

12. The part of claim 11 wherein the conductive member is positioned in the female engagement member prior to the weldable portions being resistively welded together.

13. The part of claim 1 wherein the first and second weldable parts are plastic and the male and female engagement members interface at a perimeter defined by the first and second abutment surfaces.

14. The part of claim 10, wherein the part is a structural member of the appliance.