Abstract A novel vacuum cleaner having: A RIGID VACUUM-RETAINING OUTER CASE, A FLACCID DUST-RETAINING CONTAINER WITHIN SAID CASE, MEANS FOR CREATING VACUUM WITHIN SAID CASE AROUND SAID CONTAINER, SAID MEANS BEING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID CASING AND HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CASE. MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FLACCID CONTAINER FOR DRAWING DIRT FROM A SURFACE TO BE CLEANED INTO SAID CONTAINER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF VACUUM, AND BAFFLE MEANS WITHIN SAID CASE FOR SEPARATING SAID FLACCID CONTAINER FROM SAID INLET. In the preferred embodiment, the novel vacuum cleaner comprises: A RIGID VACUUM-RETAINING OUTER CASE, THE BOTTOM OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A LIQUID RESERVOIR, A FLACCID DUST-RETAINING CONTAINER WITHIN SAID CASE, MEANS FOR CREATING VACUUM WITHIN SAID CASE IN AND AROUND SAID FLACCID CONTAINER INCLUDING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CASE, MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID LIQUID RESERVOIR FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID ON A SURFACE TO BE CLEANED, MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FLACCID CONTAINER FOR DRAWING SAID LIQUID AND INCLUDED DIRT FROM SAID SURFACE TO BE CLEANED INTO SAID CONTAINER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF VACUUM, AND BAFFLE MEANS WITHIN SAID CASING FOR SEPARATING SAID FLACCID CONTAINER FROM SAID INLET WHILE PERMITTING SAID LIQUID TO FLOW FREELY THERETHROUGH AND ROUND THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY SAID CONTAINER CAN FILL WITH USED LIQUID AT A VOLUME RATE ESSENTIALLY EQUAL TO THE RATE OF DEPLETION OF THE UNUSED LIQUID.
A novel vacuum cleaner comprising: a rigid vacuum-retaining outer case, the bottom of which is adapted to serve as a liquid reservoir, a flaccid dust-retaining container within said case, means for creating vacuum within said case in and around said flaccid container including an inlet communicating with said case, means communicating with said liquid reservoir for discharging liquid on a surface to be cleaned, means communicating with said flaccid container for drawing said liquid and included dirt from said surface to be cleaned into said container under the influence of vacuum, and baffle means within said casing for separating said flaccid container from said inlet while permitting said liquid to flow freely therethrough and round the outside of said container whereby said Container can fill with used liquid at a volume rate essentially equal to the rate of depletion of the unused liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A novel vacuum cleaner comprising: a rigid vacuum-retaining outer case, the bottom of which is adapted to serve as a liquid reservoir, a flaccid dust-retaining container within said case, means for creating vacuum within said case in and around said flaccid container including an inlet communicating with said case, means communicating with said liquid reservoir for discharging liquid on a surface to be cleaned, means communicating with said flaccid container for drawing said liquid and included dirt from said surface to be cleaned into said container under the influence of vacuum, and baffle means within said casing for separating said flaccid container from said inlet while permitting said liquid to flow freely therethrough and round the outside of said container whereby said Container can fill with used liquid at a volume rate essentially equal to the rate of depletion of the unused liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said means for creating vacuum includes an electric motor and wherein said means communicating with said liquid reservoir for discharging liquid includes an electric pump, and further wherein said motor and said pump are both contained in a lid forming a vacuum-tight seal with said case and are located above said case, and are separated from said liquid by an imperforate partition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cleaner of claim 2 wherein said means communicating with said flaccid container for drawing said liquid and included dirt from said surface to be cleaned further includes a liquid cyclone-type separator which causes said liquid to drop vertically into said flaccid container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said means communicating with said liquid reservoir for discharging liquid and said means communicating with said flaccid container for drawing said liquid and included dirt from said surface to be cleaned further includes a portion adapted to be gripped by the operator and being surrounded by a heat insulating foam material in generally parallel relationship.