Vacuum cleaner

• US 8,176,596 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US11/954,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 15347-353, 554/26, 553/37, 553/45, 553/46, 554/24, 554/28, 554/29, 55D/IG.3, 554/27
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1418 Impermeable dust collecting bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Several alternate improvements of a vacuum cleaner are provided. In one aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes interchangeable components. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner comprises a chamber having a top, and a first cleaning stage and suction motor are provided on the top. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a reconfigurable divider plate.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising

(a) a member having a dirty fluid inlet;

(b) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus and including a suction motor;

(c) at least one cyclone positioned in the fluid flow path and having at least one material outlet; and

,

(d) a reconfigurable divider plate associated with the material outlet, the divider plate being reconfiqurable by at least one of the following;

i. the divider plate is replaceable with an alternate divider plate;

ii. the divider plate has a configuration that is variable;

iii. the divider plate has a portion that is removable;

iv. the divider plate has a portion that is movable to an alternate in use position; and

,

v. the divider plate is moveable with respect to a separated material outlet of the cyclone to an alternate in use position.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate is replaceable with an alternate divider plate.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a configuration that is variable.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the divider plate is variable from a planar configuration to a bow shaped configuration.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a portion that is removable.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the removable portion comprises a central section of the divider plate.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a portion that is movable to an alternate in use position.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the movable portion comprises a central section of the divider plate.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate is moveable with respect to a separated material outlet of the cyclone to an alternate in use position.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the divider plate is moveable towards the separated material outlet.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the divider plate is moveable laterally with respect to the separated material outlet.