US5392492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-floated apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-10-21
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Granted: 1995-02-28
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Expires: 2012-10-21
Abstract
Abstract The present invention describes an air-floated vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall, an impeller for pressurizing air within the housing to float the housing above a support surface, and a novel vacuum module/agitator located below the impeller. The vacuum module/agitator is rotatable with the impeller for agitating dust and debris on the support surface and for simultaneously suctioning the dust and debris upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall. The dust and debris is then centrifuged to a duct communicating with the inner wall. The air-floated vacuum cleaner further includes a flotation plate module for entrapping and sealing within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L. Fassauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:58
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/14; A47L5/02; A47L5/06; A47L5/08; A47L5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An air-floated vacuum cleaner for suctioning material from a support surface, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall; means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; vacuum means rotatable within the housing for creating a relative vacuum to suction the material upwards from the support surface and for moving the material laterally outwardly against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated; and means communicating with the inner wall of the housing for collecting the material moved laterally thereagainst.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An air-floated vacuum cleaner for suctioning material from a support surface, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall; means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; vacuum means rotatable within the housing for creating a relative vacuum to suction the material upwards from the support surface and for moving the material laterally outwardly against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated; and means communicating with the inner wall of the housing for collecting the material moved laterally thereagainst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 wherein the vacuum means comprises: a base having a periphery; at least one extension positioned on the periphery of said base; and a member extending upwardly and angularly from the extension such that as the base is rotated within the housing, a relative vacuum or a suction is generated behind the member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 2 wherein the vacuum means further includes an agitator means comprising: a snap-on module secured to the extension and including a plurality of tines or bristles each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 3 wherein each of the tines includes a first angled portion and a vertically-extending second portion biased against the support surface by the first angled portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 wherein the means for pressurizing comprises a rotatable impeller, and the vacuum means comprises: a substantially circular base having a periphery rotatable coaxially with the impeller; a plurality of extensions radially positioned about the periphery of said base; and a plurality of members, each member extending upwardly and angularly from one of the extensions such that as the impeller and the base are rotated, a relative vacuum is generated behind the members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 5 wherein the vacuum means further includes agitator means comprising: a snap-on module secured to each extension and including a plurality of tines each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 6 wherein each of the tines includes a first angled portion and a vertically-extending second portion biased against the support surface by the first angled portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 further including means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 8 wherein the entrapping means comprises: support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing; a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing pressurized air inwardly; and an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 9 wherein the air entrapment boss member is spring-biased for automatic adjustment of a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 9 wherein the entrapping means further includes a pin for manually adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
An air-floated vacuum cleaner, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall; impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and vacuum means located below the impeller means, the vacuum means being rotatable with the impeller means for agitating material on the support surface and for suctioning the material upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated, the vacuum means comprising: a base having a periphery; at least one extension positioned on the periphery of said base; a member extending upwardly and angularly from the extension such that as the base is rotated with the impeller means a vacuum is generated behind the member; and a snap-on module secured to the extension and including a plurality of tines each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
An air-floated vacuum cleaner, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom, and an inner wall; impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and vacuum means located below the impeller means, the vacuum means being rotatable with the impeller means for agitating material on the support surface and for suctioning the material upwards for lateral displacement against the inner wall as the vacuum means is rotated, the vacuum means comprising: a base having a periphery; at least one extension positioned on the periphery of said base; a member extending upwardly and angularly from the extension such that as the base is rotated with the impeller means a vacuum is generated behind the member; and a snap-on module secured to the extension and including a plurality of tines each of which extends downwardly from the extension and contacts the support surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 12 further including means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 13 wherein the entrapping means comprises: support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing; a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing air inwardly; and an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 14 wherein the air entrapment boss member is spring-biased for automatic adjustment of a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The air-floated vacuum cleaner as described in claim 14 wherein the entrapping means further includes a pin for manually adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
An air-floated apparatus, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall; impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means, the means for entrapping comprises: support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing; a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing air inwardly; an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping the pressurized air generated by the impeller means; and means for adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
An air-floated apparatus, comprising: a housing having an air inlet opening, an open bottom and an inner wall; impeller means for pressurizing the housing with air to float the housing above a support surface; and means for entrapping within the housing pressurized air generated by the impeller means, the means for entrapping comprises: support means having an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel for receiving a bottom edge of the housing; a plate projecting from the lower channel into said housing for directing air inwardly; an air entrapment boss member supported for vertical movement within the lower channel and including a boss for trapping the pressurized air generated by the impeller means; and means for adjusting a vertical position of the boss relative to the support surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-27 | 1998-08-29 | 1999-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | 2003-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-27 | 2006-08-29 | 2007-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |