Vacuum cleaning device with air quality monitoring system

• US 8,683,645 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Glassman, Ellen Tave
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAESTRI, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US12/841,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20120017389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 153/39, 153/19
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

An air quality monitoring system is associated with a housing of a vacuum cleaner and includes at least one sensor for measuring data of an air quality parameter and a display, such as a color screen, for presenting information regarding the air quality parameter that is measured by the at least one sensor. The air quality monitoring system may be a self contained unit that may be removed from the housing of the vacuum cleaner or may be included as an integral part of the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaning device, comprising:

a housing having an air passageway, the air passageway having an air inlet and an air outlet;

a device for creating a vacuum in the air passageway;

an air filtration mechanism disposed in the air passageway for cleaning air drawn through the air passageway by the created vacuum; and

an air quality monitoring system comprising a sensor for measuring data of an air quality parameter, a control unit for evaluating the air quality parameter, and a display for presenting information with respect to the evaluation of the air quality parameter;

wherein the sensor is located in the air passageway behind the air filtration mechanism,

wherein the display is positioned on the housing of the vacuum cleaning device at a location whereby the display is viewable to a user of the vacuum cleaning device,

wherein the air quality monitoring system is removeably attached to the vacuum cleaning device.

2. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein the air quality monitoring system comprises a housing having an air passageway, wherein a fan is disposed in the air passageway of the air quality monitoring system, and wherein the sensor is disposed in the air passageway of the air quality monitoring system.

3. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 2, wherein the air quality monitoring system comprises a battery for providing power to one or more of the fan of the air quality monitoring system, display, and control unit and wherein the battery is rechargeable when the air quality monitoring system is docked to the vacuum cleaning device.

4. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein the air quality monitoring system comprises a communications device whereby air quality parameter data measured by the sensor is downloadable to an external device from the air quality monitoring system.

5. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 4, wherein the communications device comprises a wireless transceiver.

6. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 4, wherein the air quality monitoring system is removeably attached to the vacuum cleaning device.

7. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 6, wherein the air quality monitoring system comprises a housing having an air passageway, wherein a fan is disposed in the air passageway of the air quality monitoring system, and wherein the sensor is disposed in the air passageway of the air quality monitoring system.

8. The vacuum cleaning device as recited in claim 7, wherein the air quality monitoring system comprises a battery for providing power to one or more of the fan of the air quality monitoring system, display, and control unit and wherein the battery is rechargeable when the air quality monitoring system is docked to the vacuum cleaning device.