Dual filter vacuum cleaner apparatus

• US 6,546,592 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cockburn, Eric, Pears, Barry, Bone, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/616,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 153/44, 153/47, 554/88
• US Class Current: 15/344
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped

Abstract

A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner. The dual filter comprises a coarse pre-filter having an array of pores formed therein of substantially uniform diameter and a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow. The dual filter is releasably latched to a main housing portion of the vacuum cleaner housing. A nose cone is removably secured to the housing and circumscribes the dual filter assembly. The dual filter enables even more efficient filtering of contaminants from dust and dirt entrained air ingested by the vacuum cleaner. Attachment of the dual filter to the main housing portion provides the additional advantage of increasing the capacity of the nose cone and eliminating the need for the user to handle the dual filter assembly when emptying contaminants collected within the nose cone. A unique seal arrangement provides a substantially airtight seal between the dual filter system and the main housing to which it is secured.

Claims

1. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising;

a coarse pre-filter;

a fine primary filter which is located downstream of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow; and

wherein the pre-filter has a recess for receipt of the primary filter.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the pores of the pre-filter is set at a substantially uniform value.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the pores of the pre-filter is set at one substantially uniform value within the range approximately 0.75 mm to 1.75 mm.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the pores of the pre-filter each comprise a substantially uniform value of approximately 1 mm.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the primary filter comprises a concertina shaped arrangement of a filter material.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the primary filter comprises a frame and the concertina shaped arrangement of a fine filter material and the concertina shape of the filter material is supported in and maintained by the frame.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the frame includes two opposing arrays of arms and the concertina shaped arrangement of the filter material is supported between opposing pairs of said arms.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the frame of the primary filter comprises a molded plastics material.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the pre-filter is made from a molded plastic material.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the pre-filter has a peripheral rim via which is fitted to the primary filter and to a housing part of a vacuum cleaner, wherein a peripheral seal element made of a resilient material surrounds said rim.

11. A hand held vacuum cleaner system comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor disposed within said housing;

a fan driven by said electric motor for generating a suction airflow of air-entrained dirt and debris;

a dual filter system including;

a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles of dirt and debris from the dirt and debris entrained air;

a primary filter for filtering fine particles of dirt and debris from the entrained air;

said pre-filter forming an open ended box shape and said primary filter being adapted to rest nestably within said pre-filter;

said primary filter further comprising a concertina shaped filtering material; and

said housing and at least one of said pre-filter and primary filter including cooperating latching structure for mechanically interengaging to releasably secure said pre-filter and said primary filter to said housing.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said pre-filter further comprises a resilient seal secured to a peripheral flange of said pre-filter.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein said resilient seal operates to form a relatively airtight seal between said pre-filter and said housing when said dual filter system is secured to said housing.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein said primary filter includes a frame having said concertina shaped filtering material integrally formed therewith such that said concertina shaped filtering material is supported by said frame and is not removable from said frame.

15. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising;

a primary filter;

a pre-filter nestably housed adjacent to the primary filter; and

wherein, the primary filter is located downstream of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow.

16. A hand held vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising;

a cup-shaped pre-filter; and

a concertina-shaped primary filter disposed adjacent to the pre-filter.