US6085382A — Air filtrating self-propelled upright vacuum clea…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a rear housing having an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion; an upper front cover engaged with said upper portion of said rear housing; a bag cover releasably engaged with said middle portion of said rear housing, wherein said bag cover and said rear housing define a suction chamber for enclosing a filter bag; a base unit providing a lower enclosure, said base unit pivotally secured to said rear housing; a motor and fan assembly disposed in a motor and fan shroud within said rear housing; said motor and fan shroud defining a sealed air flow passage around the entire motor and fan assembly, said shroud having an inlet duct and an outlet duct, said inlet duct being in fluid communication with said suction chamber and said outlet duct being in communication with an exhaust chamber; said exhaust chamber comprising a compartment adjacent said suction chamber and said motor and fan shroud, said exhaust chamber being separated from said suction chamber by a wall; a nested wand releasably retained along the exterior of said rear housing, said wand having an upper portion and a lower portion; a lower air conduit extending between said base unit and said lower portion of said nested wand; and an upper air conduit extending between said upper portion of said nested wand and said suction chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 228 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a rear housing having an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion; an upper front cover engaged with said upper portion of said rear housing; a bag cover releasably engaged with said middle portion of said rear housing, wherein said bag cover and said rear housing define a suction chamber for enclosing a filter bag; a base unit providing a lower enclosure, said base unit pivotally secured to said rear housing; a motor and fan assembly disposed in a motor and fan shroud within said rear housing; said motor and fan shroud defining a sealed air flow passage around the entire motor and fan assembly, said shroud having an inlet duct and an outlet duct, said inlet duct being in fluid communication with said suction chamber and said outlet duct being in communication with an exhaust chamber; said exhaust chamber comprising a compartment adjacent said suction chamber and said motor and fan shroud, said exhaust chamber being separated from said suction chamber by a wall; a nested wand releasably retained along the exterior of said rear housing, said wand having an upper portion and a lower portion; a lower air conduit extending between said base unit and said lower portion of said nested wand; and an upper air conduit extending between said upper portion of said nested wand and said suction chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 113 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said motor and fan shroud defines an aperture and said motor and fan assembly includes motor terminals accessible through said aperture, said vacuum cleaner further comprising; a power cord for providing electrical power to said motor and fan assembly, said power cord having a first end secured to said vacuum cleaner and a second end adapted for connecting to an electrical power source; and electrical conductors extending between said first end of said power cord and said motor terminals; wherein said motor and fan shroud includes a seal disposed in said aperture defined in said shroud, said seal being formed from a flexible and resilient material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said motor and fan shroud includes (i) a tangentially and outwardly extending air, duct projecting from said shroud and (ii) an isolation wall disposed within said shroud, said isolation wall positioned proximate to an entrance of said air duct thereby serving as a sound insulating barrier.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 155 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said rear housing includes (i) a main panel, (ii) a support ledge projecting from said main panel of said rear housing, and (iii) a locking ledge also projecting from said main panel of said rear housing, said locking ledge spaced from said support ledge and oriented generally parallel to said support ledge, said locking ledge projecting over only a portion of said support ledge, thereby defining a remaining portion of said support ledge, said support ledge defining an aperture in said remaining portion, said vacuum cleaner further comprising; a releasably locking hose adapter disposed between said upper air conduit and said suction chamber, said hose adapter comprising: (i) a cylindrical body insertable within said aperture defined in said support ledge, and (ii) a radially projecting lip extending around at least a portion of said cylindrical body, said lip being insertable between said locking ledge and said support ledge.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 66 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said rear housing is pivotable with respect to said base unit from an upright position wherein said rear housing is generally transverse to said base unit and oriented at an angle of about 81/2 degrees from vertical and disposed over said base unit, to a fully reclined position wherein said rear housing is approximately coplanar with said base unit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising; a handle projecting upward from said rear housing, said handle comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower portion of said handle disposed between and contacting said upper front cover and said rear housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 135 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising: a power cord having a first end affixed to at least one of said upper portion and said base unit, and a second end adapted for connecting to an electrical power source; electrical conductors extending between said first end of said power cord and said motor and fan assembly, said electrical conductors defining an electrical power circuit to said motor and fan assembly; a thermal cutoff assembly including a temperature sensor disposed proximate to said motor and fan assembly for measuring the temperature of said motor and fan assembly, said thermal cutoff assembly further including a switching element in electrical association with said electrical conductors, wherein upon said temperature sensor sensing a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature setpoint, said switching element opens said electrical power circuit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising: a drive assembly disposed within said base unit and in operable engagement with a drive motor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 76 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein said rear housing is pivotable with respect to said base unit from an upright position to a fully reclined position, said vacuum cleaner further comprising; a handle projecting upward from said rear housing; and a tilt switch in electrical association with said drive motor wherein said tilt switch opens to break an electrical power circuit to said drive motor when said rear housing is placed in said upright position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said exhaust chamber defines an exhaust air opening, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: a secondary filter releasably retained along a rear face of said exhaust chamber and in communication with said exhaust air opening.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 228 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a lower base unit; an upper enclosure for retaining a filter bag, said upper enclosure being pivotable with respect to said lower base unit, said upper enclosure defining a suction chamber, a sealed exhaust chamber, and an exhaust opening in a wall of said upper enclosure providing airflow communication from the exhaust opening to the atmosphere; a motor and fan assembly in said upper enclosure; a motor and fan shroud within said upper enclosure surrounding said motor and fan assembly and defining a sealed air flow passage around the entire motor and fan assembly, said shroud having an inlet duct and an outlet duct, said inlet duct being in fluid communication with said suction chamber and said outlet duct being in fluid communication with said exhaust chamber; an exhaust filter removably sealed to said exhaust opening; and an air intake duct extending between and in communication with said suction chamber and said shroud; wherein said upper enclosure further includes a partitioning wall separating said suction chamber from a region of said upper enclosure at substantially atmospheric pressure within which is disposed said motor and fan assembly and said shroud, said partitioning wall defining a suction chamber outlet, said air intake duct engaging said partitioning wall at said suction chamber outlet along an unsealed interface to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure from said region.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 228 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a lower base unit; an upper enclosure for retaining a filter bag, said upper enclosure being pivotable with respect to said lower base unit, said upper enclosure defining a suction chamber, a sealed exhaust chamber, and an exhaust opening in a wall of said upper enclosure providing airflow communication from the exhaust opening to the atmosphere; a motor and fan assembly in said upper enclosure; a motor and fan shroud within said upper enclosure surrounding said motor and fan assembly and defining a sealed air flow passage around the entire motor and fan assembly, said shroud having an inlet duct and an outlet duct, said inlet duct being in fluid communication with said suction chamber and said outlet duct being in fluid communication with said exhaust chamber; an exhaust filter removably sealed to said exhaust opening; and an air intake duct extending between and in communication with said suction chamber and said shroud; wherein said upper enclosure further includes a partitioning wall separating said suction chamber from a region of said upper enclosure at substantially atmospheric pressure within which is disposed said motor and fan assembly and said shroud, said partitioning wall defining a suction chamber outlet, said air intake duct engaging said partitioning wall at said suction chamber outlet along an unsealed interface to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure from said region.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said air intake duct engages said motor and fan shroud along an unsealed interface to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure to be sucked into said motor and fan shroud.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said shroud defines an aperture and said motor and the assembly includes motor terminals projecting through said aperture, wherein said shroud includes a seal disposed in said aperture and sealingly around said motor terminals, said seal being formed from a flexible and resilient material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said shroud includes an isolation wall disposed within said shroud and proximate to an entrance of said inlet duct thereby serving as a sound insulating barrier.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said shroud includes a collar for retaining a bearing for said motor and fan assembly, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: an airflow conduit extending from said collar to said air intake duct.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 167 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said upper enclosure includes (i) a main panel, (ii) a support ledge projecting from said main panel, and (iii) a locking ledge also projecting from said main panel, said locking ledge spaced from said support ledge and oriented generally parallel to said support ledge, said locking ledge projecting over only a portion of said support ledge thereby defining a remaining portion of said support ledge, said support ledge defining a suction chamber inlet in said remaining portion, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: an upper airflow conduit extending between said suction chamber and said lower base unit; and a releasably locking hose adaptor disposed between said upper airflow conduit and said suction chamber, said hose adaptor comprising (i) a cylindrical body insertable within said suction chamber inlet and defined in said support ledge, and (ii) a radially projecting lip extending around at least a portion of said cylindrical body, said lip being insertable between said locking ledge and said support ledge.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 60 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said upper enclosure includes a suction chamber inlet and an exhaust chamber inlet, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: a lower airflow conduit extending from and in communication with said lower base unit; and an upper airflow conduit assembly extending between said suction chamber inlet and a distal end of said lower airflow conduit.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said exhaust filter is a HEPA filter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 174 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising; a lower base enclosure; an upper enclosure having internal walls dividing said upper enclosure into a negative pressure suction chamber, an exhaust chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, and a motor chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure; a motor and fan assembly completely disposed in a sealed shroud, said shroud disposed in said motor chamber of said upper enclosure; an air intake duct extending between and in communication with said suction chamber and said shroud, wherein said air intake duct engages at least one of (i) a wall defining a lower portion of said suction chamber along an unsealed interface between an area of negative pressure and an area of substantially atmospheric pressure to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure to be sucked through said unsealed interface and into said air intake duct, and (ii) said shroud along an unsealed interface between an area of negative pressure and an area of substantially atmospheric pressure to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure to be sucked through said unsealed interface and into said shroud.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 174 words

A vacuum cleaner comprising; a lower base enclosure; an upper enclosure having internal walls dividing said upper enclosure into a negative pressure suction chamber, an exhaust chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, and a motor chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure; a motor and fan assembly completely disposed in a sealed shroud, said shroud disposed in said motor chamber of said upper enclosure; an air intake duct extending between and in communication with said suction chamber and said shroud, wherein said air intake duct engages at least one of (i) a wall defining a lower portion of said suction chamber along an unsealed interface between an area of negative pressure and an area of substantially atmospheric pressure to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure to be sucked through said unsealed interface and into said air intake duct, and (ii) said shroud along an unsealed interface between an area of negative pressure and an area of substantially atmospheric pressure to permit air at substantially atmospheric pressure to be sucked through said unsealed interface and into said shroud.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 100 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 19 further comprising: electrical conductors for providing electrical power to said motor and fan assembly, said electrical conductors defining a power circuit; a thermal cutoff assembly including a temperature sensor disposed proximate to said motor and fan assembly for measuring the temperature of said motor and fan assembly, said thermal cutoff assembly further including a switching element in electrical association with said electrical conductors, wherein upon said temperature sensor sensing a temperature greater than a predetermined temperature setpoint, said switching element opens said electrical power circuit and disables operation of said motor and fan assembly.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 19 wherein said shroud includes a collar for retaining a bearing for said motor and fan assembly, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: an airflow conduit extending from said collar to said air intake duct.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 119 words

The vacuum cleaner of claim 19 wherein said upper enclosure includes a support ledge, a locking ledge spaced from said support ledge and oriented generally below and parallel to said support ledge, said support ledge defining an aperture, said vacuum cleaner further comprising: an upper airflow conduit extending between said suction chamber and said lower base enclosure; and a hose adapter disposed between said upper airflow conduit and said suction chamber, said hose adapter comprising (i) a hollow member insertable within said aperture defined in said support ledge; and (ii) an outwardly projecting lip extending around at least a portion of the periphery of said hollow member, said lip being insertable between said locking ledge and said support ledge.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Air filtrating self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag