Externally removable vacuum cleaner filter apparatus

• US 7,235,121 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. West
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. West
• Inventors: West, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMENTE, ROBERT ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US10/746,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 55D/IG.3, 553/01, 553/04, 553/59, 553/56, 554/21, 554/29, 554/93, 554/95, 555/02, 555/04, 554/78, 554/80, 554/81, 153/47, 153/271, 153/272, 153/276, 153/20, 210/767, 210/791, 952/78
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A method and structure for externally removing a filter apparatus from a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner comprises a vessel, a lid removably attached to the vessel, a port, a suction apparatus adapted to create a vacuum within the vessel and draw a substance through the port into the vessel, and a filter apparatus positioned between the port and the suction apparatus. The filter apparatus comprises a frame and a filter. The filter is adapted to remove a plurality of particles from the substance. The filter apparatus is adapted to be removed from the vacuum cleaner without removing the lid.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a vacuum cleaner comprising;

a vessel, a lid removably attached to the vessel, a port, a suction apparatus adapted to create a vacuum within the vessel and draw a substance through the port into the vessel, a filter apparatus comprising a frame and a filter, and a filter cover assembly pivotally attached to said lid, wherein the lid comprises an opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to cover the opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to be positioned at a plurality of angular positions with respect to the lid, and wherein the filter cover assembly comprises a spring adapted to position the filter cover assembly over the opening;

positioning the filter apparatus between the port and the suction apparatus;

removing by the filter a plurality of particles from the substance;

removing the filter apparatus from the vacuum cleaner without removing the lid by positioning the filter cover assembly at a first angular position with respect to the lid and retrieving the filter apparatus through the opening; and

positioning, by the spring, the filter cover assembly over the opening.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner, and wherein the substance may be selected from the group consisting of a liquid substance, a gaseous substance, and a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the substance includes the liquid substance.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the substance includes the gaseous substance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a handle attached to the filter apparatus; and

using the handle to remove the filter apparatus from the opening.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter apparatus is disposable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter apparatus is cleanable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, metal, and foam.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the suction apparatus comprises an electrical motor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the filter apparatus no more than 180°

from the port.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter apparatus comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a round shape, a trapezoidal shape, and a cylindrical shape.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a filter holder attached to the suction apparatus, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a filter holder attached to the lid, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the suction apparatus comprises a gas motor.

15. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a vessel;

a lid removably attached to the vessel;

a port;

a suction apparatus adapted to create a vacuum within the vessel and draw a substance through the port into the vessel;

a filter apparatus positioned between the port and the suction apparatus, wherein the filter apparatus comprises a frame and a filter, wherein the filter is adapted to remove a plurality of particles from the substance, and wherein the filter apparatus is adapted to be removed from the vacuum cleaner without removing the lid; and

a filter cover assembly, wherein the lid comprises an opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to cover the opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is pivotally attached to the lid, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to be positioned at a plurality of angular positions with respect to the lid, wherein the filter cover assembly comprises a spring adapted to position the filter cover assembly over the opening, and wherein the filter apparatus is adapted to be removed from the vacuum cleaner through the opening.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner, and wherein the substance may be selected from the group consisting of a liquid substance, a gaseous substance, and a combination thereof.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the substance includes the liquid substance.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the substance includes the gaseous substance.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus further comprises a handle for removing the filter apparatus.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus is disposable.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus is cleanable.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, metal, and foam.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the suction apparatus is attached to the lid, and wherein the suction apparatus comprises an electrical motor.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus is adapted to be positioned no more than 180°

from the port.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a round shape, a trapezoidal shape, and a cylindrical shape.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, further comprising a filter holder attached to the suction apparatus, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, further comprising a filter holder attached to the lid, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the suction apparatus comprises a gas motor.

30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner, and wherein the substance may be selected from the group consisting of a liquid substance, a gaseous substance, and a combination thereof.

31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus further comprises a handle for removing the filter apparatus.

32. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus is disposable.

33. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus is cleanable.

34. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, metal, and foam.

35. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus is adapted to be positioned no more than 180°

from the port.

36. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the filter apparatus comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a round shape, a trapezoidal shape, and a cylindrical shape.

37. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, further comprising a filter holder attached to the suction apparatus, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

38. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, further comprising a filter holder attached to the lid, wherein the filter apparatus is placed within the filter holder.

39. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the suction apparatus comprises an electrical motor.

40. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein the suction apparatus comprises a gas motor.

29. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a vessel;

a lid removably attached to the vessel;

a port;

a suction apparatus adapted to create a vacuum within the vessel and draw a substance through the port into the vessel;

a filter apparatus positioned between the port and the suction apparatus, wherein the filter apparatus comprises a frame and a filter, wherein the filter is adapted to remove a plurality of particles from the substance, wherein the filter apparatus is adapted to be removed from the vacuum cleaner without removing the lid, wherein the lid comprises an opening, wherein the filter apparatus further comprises a filter cover adapted to cover the opening, wherein the filter cover is permanently attached to the frame, and wherein filter apparatus is adapted to be removed from the vacuum cleaner by removing the filter cover.