Patent US6773492B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP1070478A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Black and Decker Inc
•
Filing: 2000-07-14
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2020-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising a coarse pre-filter having an array of pores formed therein of substantially uniform diameter and a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow.
Inventors
- 👤 Danny Bone
- 👤 Eric Cockburn
- 👤 Barry Pears
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:25
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/10; A47L9/102; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/24; A47L9/12; A47L9/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and
debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising; a coarse pre-filter, a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the
direction of flow of the airflow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the pores
of the pre-filter is set at a substantially uniform value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the pores
of the pre-filter is set at one substantially uniform value within the range 0.75mm to
1.75mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the diameter of the pores
of the pre-filter is set at a substantially uniform value of 1mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
the primary filter comprises a concertina shaped arrangement of a fine filter material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the primary filter
comprises a frame and the concertina shaped arrangement of a fine filter material and
the concertina shape of the filter material is supported in and maintained by the frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the filter
material is supported by the frame along opposing corrugated edges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the
primary filter comprises a frame including two opposing arrays of arms and the
concertina shaped arrangement of fine filter material is supported between opposing
pairs of said arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said opposing arrays of
arms are each arranged to form a zig-zag formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein additional
areas of fine filter material are located between adjacent arms of the arrays of arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the
frame of the primary filter comprises a moulded plastics material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
the pre-filter is formed with a recess within which the primary filter is received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
the pre-filter comprises an open boxed-shaped structure in which the array of pores is
located in at least one of the sides of the structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the array of pores is
located in all five sides of the structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
the pre-filter is made from a moulded plastics material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which
the pre-filter has a peripheral rim via which it is fitted to the primary filter and/or to a
housing part of a vacuum cleaner, wherein a peripheral seal element made of a
resilient material surrounds said rim.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said seal element
comprises a first rearwardly extending resilient portion which extends around the
periphery of the rim of the pre-filter towards the primary filter and which surrounds
the periphery of the primary filter when the dual filter arrangement is fitted to a
vacuum cleaner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 17 wherein the first rearwardly
extending resilient portion extends rearwardly beyond the primary filter to engage a
portion of a first housing part of a vacuum cleaner to form a seal therewith when the
dual filter arrangement is fitted to a vacuum cleaner.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said
seal element comprises a second rearwardly extending resilient portion which extends
around the periphery of the rim of the pre-filter towards the primary filter to engage a
peripheral rim of the primary filter to form a seal therewith when the dual filter
arrangement is fitted to a vacuum cleaner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 19 in which said
seal element comprises a substantially radially outwardly extending resilient portion
which extends around the periphery of the rim of the pre-filter to engage a second
housing part of a vacuum cleaner to form a seal therewith when the dual filter
arrangement is fitted to a vacuum cleaner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 20 wherein a radially inwardly
extending wall is provided on the second housing part of the vacuum cleaner and a
front facing surface of the radially outwardly extending resilient portion engages a
rearwardly facing surface of said wall to form a seal therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 21 wherein in use of the vacuum
cleaner the seal between the radially outwardly extending resilient portion and the
radially inwardly extending wall is reinforced by a pressure differential generated by
an underpressure located in front of the dual filter arrangement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 16 to 22 in which said sealing
element comprises a substantially radially outwardly extending resilient portion which
extends around the periphery of the rim of the pre-filter wherein the periphery of the
radially outwardly extending resilient portion is arranged such that it does not engage
the second housing part of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is not in use
but when the vacuum cleaner is in use a pressure differential generated by an
underpressure located in front of the dual filter arrangement urges the periphery of the
radially outwardly extending resilient portion into engagement with the second
housing part to form a seal therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein said
second housing part comprises the wall of a removable nose cone of the vacuum
cleaner through which dust and debris are sucked into the vacuum cleaner.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 24 wherein the
seal element is made of rubber or elastomer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 25 wherein the
seal element is moulded around the periphery of the rim of the pre-filter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 16 to 26 wherein the
pre-filter is releasably latched to a first housing portion of a vacuum cleaner by a
latching arrangement against a biasing force generated by the seal element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 27 wherein at least one cam
surface is located between co-operating latching parts of the latching arrangement,
such that the movement of at least one of the latching parts over the cam surface
during the latching or unlatching movement causes the seal element to be compressed
beyond the degree of compression of the seal element when the pre-filter is latched to
the first housing portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 27 or claim 28 wherein at least one
keyhole shaped aperture is provided in the rim of the pre-filter through which can be
releasably latched a co-operating latch element which extends from the first housing
portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 29 wherein the or each latch
element comprises a peg with an enlarged head which can fit within the widened
portion of the aperture and a stem which can fit within the narrow portion of the
aperture.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A dual filter arrangement according to claim 29 or claim 30 wherein the cam
surface surrounds the aperture and comprises at least one ridge over which the co-operating
latch element must ride when moving into or out of the latched position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 27 to 31 wherein the
primary filter has a peripheral rim via which it is releasably latched between the pre-filter
and the first housing portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A dual filter arrangement according to any one of claims 18 to 32 wherein the
first housing portion of the vacuum cleaner is a housing portion which surrounds an
inlet to a fan of the vacuum cleaner.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
A concertina filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of
dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner, comprising a
frame and a concertina shaped arrangement of filter material supported and
maintained by the frame, wherein the frame comprises an opposing array of arms
forming a substantially zigzag formation such that the filter material is supported by
said opposing array of arms.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A concertina filter arrangement according to claim 34 wherein additional pieces
of fine filter material are located between adjacent arms of the arrays of arms.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
A concertina filter arrangement according to either claim 34 or claim 35
wherein the frame additionally comprises a peripheral rim via which it can be
releasably fitted to a housing portion of a vacuum cleaner.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A concertina filter arrangement according to any one of claims 34 to 36 wherein
the frame of the filter comprises a moulded plastics material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
57 words
A filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and
debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner in which the filter has a
peripheral rim via which it is fitted to a first housing part of a vacuum cleaner,
wherein an annular seal element made of a resilient material surrounds said rim.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 38 wherein said seal element comprises
a first rearwardly extending resilient portion which extends around the periphery of
the rim of the filter towards the first housing part to form a seal therewith when the
filter arrangement is fitted to a vacuum cleaner.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 38 or 39 in which the seal element
comprises a substantially radially outwardly extending resilient portion which extends
around the periphery of the rim of the filter to engage a second housing part of the
vacuum cleaner to form a seal therewith when the filter arrangement is fitted to the
vacuum cleaner.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 40 wherein a radially inwardly
extending wall is provided on the second housing part of the vacuum cleaner and a
front facing surface of the radially outwardly extending resilient portion engages a
rearwardly facing surface of said wall to form a seal therebetween.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 41 wherein in use of the vacuum
cleaner the seal between the radially outwardly extending resilient portion and the
radially inwardly extending wall is reinforced by a pressure differential generated by
an underpressure located in front of the filter arrangement.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
110 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 38 or 39 in which the seal element
comprises a substantially radially outwardly extending portion which extends around
the periphery of the rim of the filter, wherein the periphery of the radially outwardly
extending resilient portion is arranged such that it does not engage the second housing
part of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is not in use but when the
vacuum cleaner is in use a pressure differential generated by an underpressure located
in front of the filter arrangement urges the periphery of the radially outwardly
extending resilient portion into engagement with the second housing part to form a
seal therebetween.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
A filter arrangement according to any one of claims 40 to 43 wherein said
second housing part comprises the wall of a removable nose cone of the vacuum
cleaner through which dust and debris are sucked into the vacuum cleaner.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter arrangement according to any one of claims 38 to 45 wherein the seal
element is made of rubber or an elastomer material and is moulded around the
peripheral rim.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 45 wherein the filter
can be releasably latched to a housing portion of a vacuum cleaner by a latching
arrangement against a biasing force generated by the seal element.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
71 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 46 wherein at least one cam surface is
located between co-operating latching parts of the latching arrangement, such that the
movement of at least one of the latching parts over the cam surface during the latching
or unlatching movement causes the seal element to be compressed beyond the degree
of compression of the seal element when the filter is latched to the first housing
portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
72 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 46 or claim 47 wherein at least one
keyhole shaped aperture is provided in the filter through which can be releasably
latched a co-operating latch element which extends from the first housing portion,
said latch element comprising a peg with an enlarged head which can fit within the
widened portion of the aperture and a stem which can fit within the narrow portion of
the aperture.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
A filter arrangement according to claim 48 when appended to claim 47 wherein
the cam surface surrounds the aperture and comprises at least one ridge over which
the co-operating latch element must ride when moving into or out of the latched
position.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a filter arrangement according to any one of the
preceding claims.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
71 words
A battery powered hand held vacuum cleaner according to claim 50 comprising
a first housing portion which houses a battery pack, a motor and a fan and a second
housing portion which comprises a nose cone, wherein the battery pack powers the
motor which rotatingly drives the fan to generate an airflow which enters the vacuum
cleaner through the nose cone and passes through the dual filter arrangement into the
fan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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