Ultraviolet vacuum cleaner with safety mechanism

• US 8,112,841 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Garcia, Ken V., Garcia, Carrie P.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/106,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 153/24, 153/51, 152/463, 154/10, 15D/IG.10, 422/24, 422/121
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/10 Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/04 Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action B08B9/035 takes precedence; suction cleaners A47L
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0035 by radiant energy, e.g. UV, laser, light beam or the like

Abstract

A combination vacuum cleaner and ultraviolet disinfecting device is presented having a vacuum for cleaning a cleaning medium, such as a carpet, and a UV light source for radiation of the cleaning medium to eradicate the medium of infestation agents such as molds, viruses, bacteria and dust mites. The device provides a multiple of safety switches to prevent power supply to the UV light source under certain conditions. Safety switches are provided requiring a constant activation of a switch by the user on the device handle, activation of contact switches indicating the device is in contact with the cleaning medium, activation of a switch indicating the device is in an in-use position, and a tilt sensor to prevent power supply to the UV light if the device, or a portion thereof, is tilted beyond a preselected degree.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a vacuum cleaning device and ultraviolet (UV) light sterilizing device for use in combination to clean and sterilize a cleaning medium, the apparatus comprising:

a vacuum assembly for vacuuming a cleaning medium, the vacuum assembly having a vacuum motor for powering the vacuum;

a lower housing assembly having an UV light source, the light source positioned to direct UV light onto the cleaning medium, the UV light source emitting UV light when provided with electrical power;

electrical circuitry for controlling a supply of electrical power to the vacuum motor and UV light source, the circuitry having a microprocessor and multiple safety switches, the vacuum motor and UV light source electrically connected to the electrical circuitry;

an upper housing assembly pivotally attached to the lower housing assembly, the upper housing assembly movable between an in-use position, and a storage position wherein the upper housing assembly is maintained in a substantially upright position;

an upper-housing position safety switch connected to the UV light source through the electrical circuitry, the upper-housing position safety switch for preventing supply of electrical power to the UV light source when the upper housing is in a substantially upright position;

the upper housing having a manual on/off power switch connected to the UV light source through the electrical circuitry, the manual on/off switch for controlling supply of electrical power to the UV light source;

the upper housing having a handle, a handle safety switch attached to the handle and connected to the UV light source through the electrical circuitry, the handle safety switch operable to prevent power supply to the UV light source unless the handle safety switch is activated by constant contact by a user;

the lower housing having a tilt safety switch, the tilt safety switch connected to the circuitry and operable to prevent supply of electrical power to the UV light source if the tilt switch is tilted more than a pre-selected degree;

the lower housing having at least one cleaning medium contact switch mounted to a portion of the lower housing, each medium contact switch connected to the UV light source through the electrical circuitry, each medium contact switch operable to prevent supply of electrical power to the UV light source when the portion of the lower housing is lifted a preselected distance from the cleaning medium.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the upper-housing position safety switch further comprises a contact switch and an actuator, the contact switch and the actuator moving into contact with each other when the upper housing is moved into the substantially upright position.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the position safety switch further comprises a contact switch positioned on the lower housing and an actuator positioned on the upper housing, the actuator moving into contact with the contact switch when the upper housing is moved into the substantially upright position.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the upper-housing position safety switch further comprises an optical switch.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the upper-housing position safety switch further comprises a signal switch.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning medium switch is actuated by direct contact with the cleaning medium.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning medium switch is actuated by movement of at least one wheel mounted to the lower housing, the at least one wheel contacting the cleaning medium when the apparatus is in use.

8. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the wheel is mounted pivotally to the lower housing, and wherein vertical movement of the wheel results in activation or deactivation of the medium contact switch.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising an indicator light, visible by the user during use of the apparatus, the indicator light connected to the electrical circuitry and turning on when the UV light source is provided with electrical power.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry further comprises a high-voltage power circuitry for supplying power to the UV light source and vacuum motor, and

wherein at least three of the multiple safety switches are located in the high-voltage circuitry, the at least three safety switches arranged in series.

11. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the electrical circuitry further comprises a low-voltage circuitry, and wherein at least two safety switches are signal switches and connected in the low-voltage circuitry, the signal switches operable to send a signal to the microprocessor to prevent power supply to the UV light source.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the handle safety switch further comprises a hand-operated trigger which must be depressed constantly by the user for power to be supplied to the UV light source.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the safety switches is a normally closed switch.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the safety switches is an optical switch.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the tilt switch further comprises a substantially conical surface, a plurality of contact switches mounted on the surface, each of the plurality of contact switches having a metallic ball positioned in a non-metallic tube and an electrical terminal at one end of the tube.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the conical surface is inverted.

17. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the tilt switch further comprises a surface having a depression therein, a movable object positioned in the depression and maintained there by gravity unless the tilt switch is tilted more than a preselected degree.

18. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the tilt switch further comprises an optical switch having an optical emitter and receiver, the optical emitter positioned below the tilt switch surface and emitting an optical beam through an aperture in the surface, the optical receiver positioned above the surface and above the movable object.