Vacuum Cleaner Providing Filter-Absence Detection

• US 20070006417A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoover Limited (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Hoover Limited (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Richardson, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a filter assembly 12 disposed on grill 16 between the bag chamber 7 and motor chamber 13. Bag chamber 7 has a cover 8. Filter assembly 12 has an upstanding wall 15 provided with a covering of resilient material, e.g. rubber. The cover 8 is formed with a grill 14 in a lower region. When the filter assembly is correctly installed, and the cover 8 is in position, the resilient covering of the upstanding wall 15 rests in sealing contact against the inner surface of the cover 8 and over the grill 14. If the filter assembly 12 is absent, the grill 14 provides direct fluid communication between the bag chamber 7 and the atmosphere. The cleaner will be ineffective in picking up dirt thereby alerting the user to the absence of the filter assembly.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

at least one aperture defining an airflow path in fluid communication with ambient for suction of ambient air; and

a removable filter assembly arranged to occlude said at least one aperture.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one aperture is arranged so that, in the absence of said filter assembly, the majority of the airflow entering into the vacuum cleaner does so through said at least one aperture.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main separation stage and a suction fan having an inlet, wherein the filter assembly is located to provide a filtration stage between the main separation stage and the inlet of the suction fan.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein:

the main separation stage comprises a separator, disposed in a chamber to which the suction fan applies suction.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein:

the separator comprises a filter bag.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

the removable filter assembly comprises a filter element supported by a supporting structure, wherein part of the supporting structure occludes said at least one aperture.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein:

the part of the support structure which occludes said at least one aperture comprises a projecting part of the filter assembly.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein:

the projecting part fits sealingly into, or seats sealingly over, said at least one aperture.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one aperture is formed in a wall of a chamber that has a separator disposed therein.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least one aperture is formed in a detachable or hinged cover of said chamber.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one aperture is provided by a grill comprising an array of openings.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

the removable filter assembly is removably disposed within the cleaner so that when installed air passes through the removable filter assembly as it passes from a suction nozzle or other such inlet and along an internal conduit of the cleaner, and when removed air is drawn from ambient through said at least one aperture instead of being drawn from the suction nozzle or other such inlet and along said internal conduit.

13. A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner having least one aperture defining an airflow path in fluid communication with ambient for suction of ambient air, the filter assembly comprising a filter element for airflow passing therethrough, and a part arranged to occlude said at least one aperture.

14. A filter assembly according to claim 13, wherein said part of the filter assembly is provided with a sealing means for sealing around said at least one aperture.