Backpack vacuum cleaner

• US RE37,081 E1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mandsfelt & Gamborg ApS
• Original Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Eriksen, Steen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/221,800
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 153/275, 153/52, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/327.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back

Abstract

A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising a housing with a compartment for a filter bag, a connection branch for a suction hose, a hip strap to be applied around the hips of the bearer and a pair of shoulder straps. In order to only limit as little as possible the freedom of movement of the bearer with respect to the upper part of his body and arms when using the vacuum cleaner, and at the same time to provide a vacuum cleaner with a comparatively big filter bag and a subsequent big cleaning capacity, the housing is divided in two, the two parts being connected with a flexible connection allowing a tilting movement between the two parts, the hip strap being fastened to the lower part and the shoulder straps being mutually interconnected with an equalizing device for equalizing differences in tension between the two straps.

Claims

1. A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising a housing enclosing a motor and an impeller to provide the suction effect and with a compartment for a filter bag, a connection branch for a suction hose, a hip strap to be applied around the hips of the bearer and a pair of shoulder straps, wherein the housing is divided in upper and lower parts connected with a flexible connection allowing a tilting movement between said upper and lower parts, said hip strap being fastened to the lower housing part and said shoulder straps extending from said lower housing part to said upper housing part and being mutually interconnected by means of an equalizing device for equalizing differences in tension between the straps in the pair of shoulder straps.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the upper part of the housing holds the filter bag, and the lower part holds the motor, impellers for conveyance of air through the vacuum cleaner, and means for power supply comprising one or more of the following parts:

batteries, battery charger, a coupling for the charging adapter, a main cable connection and cable clamp.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the hip strap at its connections to the lower part of the housing forms an angle (v) with the center plane of the vacuum cleaner of 60°

-75°

.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the hip strap at least at one of its connections to the lower part of the housing comprises at least one biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the hip strap under resilient tension.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the biasing means is a self-winding, spring-driven storing coil.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the equalizing device of the shoulder strap comprises a connection for tensional transfer between the two shoulder straps at their connection to the lower part of the housing, preferably in form of a duct extending through the housing, through which duct a band connecting or uniting the two shoulder straps is displaceable.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder straps comprise at least one biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the shoulder straps under resilient pressure.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the sum of the resilient tensional forces on the two shoulder straps is less than the weight of the vacuum cleaner.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the biasing means for the shoulder straps comprise a pair of self-winding, spring-driven storing coils mounted on a common shaft.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the flexible connection of the housing comprises a torsionally rigid tubular bushing of an elastomeric material and with an interior clear, through which the compartment for the filter bag is connected with the inlet to the impellers of the motor, the motor shaft being preferably mounted coaxially with the axis of the bushing.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the two parts of the housing are provided with areas adapted to rest against the back of the bearer, said areas being placed in such a relationship to one another that they form an angle (w) of 5°

-20°

.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the areas of the housing in contact with the back of the bearer are provided with substantially hemispherical knobs.

13. A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising, in combination:

a lower housing part enclosing a motor and an impeller connected to the motor;

an upper housing part divided from the lower housing part and enclosing a filter bag and including a coupling for a suction hose;

a hip strap fastened to the lower housing part and to be applied around the hips of the bearer, with the upper housing part resting on the lower housing part allowing tilting movement between the upper and lower housing parts, so that the major part of the weight of the vacuum cleaner is carried by the hip strap, with the upper housing part being prevented from tilting away from the back of the bearer, with the impeller connected to the motor sucking in air through the filter bag of the upper housing part.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the upper housing part rests on the lower housing part through a flexible connection allowing angular movement between the upper and lower housing parts.

15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the flexible connection comprises a torsionally rigid bushing of an elastomeric material.

16. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the torsionally rigid bushing is tubular with an interior clear, through which the air sucked by the impeller passes between the upper and lower housing parts.

17. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the upper housing part is prevented from tilting away by first and second shoulder straps extending from at least the upper housing part.

18. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising, in combination:

means for providing flexible tensioning of the first and second shoulder straps.

19. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the flexible tensioning means comprises first and second storing coils provided with means for biasing the shoulder straps and which tries to wind up the shoulder straps.

20. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the first and second storing coils are mounted on a common shaft.

21. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the first and second shoulder straps extend from the lower housing part and are provided with an equalizing device placed at the connection of the straps with the lower housing part.

22. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the equalizing device comprises a duct extending through the lower housing part, through which duct a band connecting or uniting the two shoulder straps is displaceable.

23. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the hip strap at its connections to the lower housing part forms an angle (v) with the center plane of the vacuum cleaner of 60°

-75°

.

24. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the upper and lower housing parts are provided with areas adapted to rest against the back of the bearer, said areas being placed in such a relationship to one another that they form an angle (w) of 5°

-20°

.

25. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the areas of the upper and lower housing parts in contact with the back of the bearer are provided with substantially hemispherical knobs.

26. A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising, in combination:

a housing enclosing a motor and an impeller to provide the suction effect and with a compartment for a filter bag;

a connection branch for a suction hose;

a hip strap to be applied around the hips of the bearer; and

a pair of shoulder straps, wherein the housing is divided in upper and lower parts connected with a flexible connection allowing a tilting movement between said upper and lower parts, said hip strap being fastened to the lower housing part and said shoulder straps extending from at least said upper housing part.

27. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the hip strap at its connections to the lower part of the housing forms an angle (v) with the center plane of the vacuum cleaner of 60°

-75°

.

28. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the hip strap at least at one of its connections to the lower part of the housing comprises at least one biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the hip strap under resilient tension.

29. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, further comprising, in combination:

biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of predetermined lengths of the shoulder straps under resilient pressure.

30. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 29, wherein the sum of the resilient tensional forces on the two shoulder straps is less than the weight of the vacuum cleaner.

31. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the flexible connection of the housing comprises a torsionally rigid tubular bushing of an elastomeric material and with an interior clear, through which the compartment for the filter bag is connected with the inlet to the impeller of the motor, the motor shaft being mounted coaxially with the axis of the bushing.

32. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the two parts of the housing are provided with areas adapted to rest against the back of the bearer, said areas being placed in such a relationship to one another that they form an angle (w) of 5°

-20°

.

33. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the areas of the housing in contact with the back of the bearer are provided with substantially hemispherical knobs.

34. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 26, wherein said shoulder straps are mutually interconnected by means of an equalizing device for equalizing differences in tension between the straps in the pair of shoulder straps.

35. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 34, wherein the equalizing device of the shoulder strap comprises a connection for tensional transfer between the two shoulder straps in a form of a duct extending through the housing, through which duct a band connecting or uniting the two shoulder straps is displaceable.

36. A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising, in combination:

a housing enclosing a motor and an impeller to provide the suction effect and with a compartment for a filter bag;

a connection branch for a suction hose;

a hip strap to be applied around the hips of the bearer; and

a pair of shoulder straps, wherein the hip strap is connected to the housing and includes at least one biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the hip strap under resilient tension, and wherein the shoulder straps are connected to the housing and include at least one biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the shoulder straps under resilient pressure.

37. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 36, wherein the housing is divided in upper and lower parts, said hip strap being fastened to the lower housing part and said shoulder straps extending from at least said upper housing part.

38. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 37, wherein the upper and lower parts are connected with a flexible connection allowing a tilting movement between said upper and lower parts.

39. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 38, wherein the hip strap at its connections to the lower part of the housing forms an angle (v) with the center plane of the vacuum cleaner of 60°

-75°

.

40. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 36, wherein said shoulder straps are mutually interconnected by means of an equalizing device for equalizing differences in tension between the straps in the pair of shoulder straps.

41. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 40, wherein the equalizing device of the shoulder strap comprises a connection for tensional transfer between the two shoulder straps in a form of a duct extending through the housing, through which duct a band connecting or uniting the two shoulder straps is displaceable.

42. A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising, in combination:

a housing enclosing a motor and an impeller to provide the suction effect and with a compartment for a filter bag;

a connection branch for a suction hose, with the housing including a wall for facing the bearer; and

at least one strap for carrying the housing with the wall being against the bearer, with the wall including projections for providing air circulation between the wall of the housing and the bearer.

43. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 42, wherein the strap includes biasing means adapted to allow the pulling out of a predetermined length of the strap under resilient tension.

44. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 42, wherein the strap is a hip strap and at its connections to the housing forms an angle (v) with the center plane of the vacuum cleaner of 60°

-75°

.

45. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 42, wherein the projections are hemispherical.