Airflow indicator
First Claim
1. An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a housing mounted to a casing of the vacuum cleaner;
a piston chamber defined within the housing;
a piston received in the piston chamber and movable therein between a first position and a second position;
a first port formed in the housing and communicating with the piston chamber, the first port being open to ambient;
a second port formed in the housing and communicating with the piston chamber, the second port being spaced from the first port and being open to a filter chamber of the vacuum cleaner; and
a valve mounted to the housing in one of the first port, the second port and the piston chamber for obstructing air passage into the piston chamber from one of the first port and the second port, the valve including a diaphragm having a slit that opens in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the first port and the second port.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The airflow indicator comprises a housing mounted to a casing of the vacuum cleaner. A piston chamber is defined within the housing. A piston is received in the piston chamber and is movable therein between a first position and a second position. A first port is formed in the housing and communicates with the piston chamber. The first port is open to ambient. A second port is formed in the housing and communicates with the piston chamber. The second port is spaced from the first port and is open to the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaner. A valve is mounted to the housing for obstructing air passage into the piston chamber. The valve includes a diaphragm having a slit that opens in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the first port and the second port.
36 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a housing mounted to a casing of the vacuum cleaner;
a piston chamber defined within the housing;
a piston received in the piston chamber and movable therein between a first position and a second position;
a first port formed in the housing and communicating with the piston chamber, the first port being open to ambient;
a second port formed in the housing and communicating with the piston chamber, the second port being spaced from the first port and being open to a filter chamber of the vacuum cleaner; and
a valve mounted to the housing in one of the first port, the second port and the piston chamber for obstructing air passage into the piston chamber from one of the first port and the second port, the valve including a diaphragm having a slit that opens in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the first port and the second port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vacuum cleaner having a vacuum source comprising:
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a casing and a filter chamber; and
an airflow indicator mounted within the casing, the airflow indicator comprising;
a housing, a piston chamber defined within the housing, a piston slidably mounted in the piston chamber and reciprocating between a first position and a second position, a first port formed in the housing for connecting the piston chamber to ambient, a second port formed in the housing, and spaced from the first port, for connecting the piston chamber to the filter chamber, a valve mounted to the housing in one of the first port, the second port and between the first and second ports, the valve selectively openable in response to a predetermined pressure differential between ambient and the filter chamber causing an air stream to pass from the first port into the piston chamber, the air stream urging the piston towards the second position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of indicating when a debris collecting filter chamber of a vacuum cleaner is filling up, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an airflow passage between the chamber and atmosphere;
obstructing flow in the airflow passage with a normally closed valve;
filling the filter chamber with debris thereby causing a predetermined pressure differential between atmosphere and the filter chamber;
opening the valve thereby opening the airflow passage and causing air to flow from atmosphere towards the filter chamber; and
using the air flowing towards the filter chamber to visually indicate that an associated container is filling up by moving a piston within the airflow passage from a resting position toward a positive airflow position which indicates that the associated container is filling up. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner including a casing having a filter chamber, said airflow indicator comprising:
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an air path on the casing leading from ambient into said filter chamber;
an indicator movably mounted in said air path;
a valve mounted in said air path for selectively allowing a flow of air through said air path, said valve comprising a diaphragm formed of a resilient material, said diaphragm including a slit which opens when an air pressure differential between ambient and said filter chamber exceeds a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification