RESISTIVELY WELDED PART FOR AN APPLIANCE INCLUDING A SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20100243158A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,349,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/344
• 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. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A part for an appliance comprising:

(a) at least first and second weldable members having a perimeter and being resistively welded together along the perimeter and having male and female engagement members; and

,

(b) at least one conductive member disposed between the first and second weldable members and extending along the perimeter from a first position to a second position.

10. The part of claim 9, wherein a conductive member extends along the perimeter the first and second positions are separated by a gap less than 0.08 inches.

11. The part of claim 9, wherein a plurality of conductive members extend around the perimeter and at least two of the conductive members are spaced apart by a gap less than 0.08 inches.

12. The part of claim 9, wherein the conductive member comprises first and second ends, and wherein the first and second ends are accessible when the part has been formed.

13. The part of claim 9, wherein the part comprises a structural member of the vacuum cleaner.

14. The part of claim 9, wherein the conductive member has a non-electrical conductive coating.

15. The part of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second weldable members has an absence of screw ports.

16. The part of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second weldable members have an absence of reinforcing ribs.

17. The part of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second weldable members has a perimeter, a web of material extends between the perimeter, the web has an outer surface and at least one of the first and second weldable members is configured to transmit stresses only in a direction parallel to the outer surface.

18. The part of claim 9, wherein the appliance is a surface cleaning apparatus, a kitchen appliance, a power tool or a garden tool.

36. The part of claim 9 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.

37. The part of claim 9 wherein a conductive member is positioned in the female engagement member.

38. The part of claim 9 wherein the first and second weldable parts are plastic and the male and female engagement members interface at the perimeter.

19. A method of making a part of an appliance comprising:

(a) interengaginq first and second weldable members and applying an electrical current to a conductive member positioned between the first and second weldable members to melt a portion of at least one of the first and second weldable members proximate the conductive member; and

,

(b) allowing the melted portion to harden while the first and second weldable members are in contact with each other.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning the conductive member along a perimeter of one of the first and second members between first and second positions wherein the first and second positions are separated by a gap less than 0.08 inches prior to applying the electrical current.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second weldable members contact each other along a common boundary and the method further comprising positioning a plurality of conductive members along the boundary wherein at least two of the conductive members are spaced apart by a gap less than 0.08 inches.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein after step (b) at least a first portion and a second potion of the conductive member are positioned to be accessible.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a conductive member that has a non-electrical conductive coating.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising constructing at least one of the first and second weldable members without any screw ports.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising constructing at least one of the first and second weldable members without any reinforcing ribs.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second parts to has a perimeter, a web of material extending between the perimeter and the web has an outer surface and the method further comprises constructing at least one of the first and second parts to transmit stresses only in a direction parallel to the outer surface.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the part includes a metallic component and the method further comprises positioning the metallic component in between the first and second weldable members prior to applying the electric current.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the part is part of a fluid flow path in the appliance and the method further comprises connecting the part in fluid flow communication with an additional member of the fluid flow path.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising connecting the part in fluid flow communication with a suction motor of a surface cleaning apparatus.

30. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a spacer between adjacent portions of the conductive member.

31. A method of disassembling a part comprising at least two weldable members joined together along a boundary by resistive welding wherein a conductive member is at least partially embedded therein, the method comprising:

(a) applying an electrical current to the conductive member; and

,

(b) separating the at least two weldable members.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least two weldable members form a housing for a component of the appliance, and the method further comprises servicing the component.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the component comprises a motor and the method further includes replacing or repairing the motor.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising subsequently resistively welding the weldable members together.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising recycling the at least two weldable members.