US6209167B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hover vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-11-18
•
Granted: 2001-04-03
•
Expires: 2018-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A hover vacuum cleaner has a casing, an underside to the casing, an impeller and drive motor for the impeller, a dust filter, an inlet for dust laden air, an exhaust port in the, a pathway for air to pass from the inlet, through the dust filter and impeller and around the motor, and through the exhaust port. The underside has dished air chambers, covering a substantial area of the underside. Preferably, the underside has at least two dished air chambers, each of which straddles the longitudinal axis of the underside. Adjacent dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The exhaust port is in direct fluid communication with one of the dished air chambers and the exhaust port also straddles the longitudinal axis. The underside has a peripheral groove which is in fluid communication with the exhaust port and/or the adjacent air chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Joseph Rooney
- 👤 Michael Tony Mailes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:02
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L7/00; A47L7/04; A47L7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a casing, an underside to the casing in which the underside has a longitudinal axis, an impeller and drive motor for the impeller, a dust filter, an inlet for dust laden air, an exhaust port in the underside to the casing, a pathway for air to pass from the inlet, through the dust filter and impeller and around the motor, and through the exhaust port; wherein the underside has dished air chambers, covering a substantial area of the underside, in locations selected from the group consisting of i) at least two dished air chambers on the underside, wherein each dished air chamber straddles the longitudinal axis, and adjacent dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the exhaust port is in direct fluid communication with one of the dished air chambers and the exhaust port straddles the longitudinal axis, ii) a first dished air chamber which straddles the longitudinal axis and an exhaust port which straddles the longitudinal axis, wherein the exhaust port is in direct fluid communication with the first air chamber, and at least one pair of dished air chambers wherein corresponding dished air chambers in each pair are on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis separated by a keel skirt, and wherein the first air chamber and the adjacent pair of dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the adjacent pairs of dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the underside has a peripheral groove which is in fluid communication with a member selected from the group consisting of the exhaust port and the air chamber which is in direct fluid communication with the exhaust port, and a combination thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a casing, an underside to the casing in which the underside has a longitudinal axis, an impeller and drive motor for the impeller, a dust filter, an inlet for dust laden air, an exhaust port in the underside to the casing, a pathway for air to pass from the inlet, through the dust filter and impeller and around the motor, and through the exhaust port; wherein the underside has dished air chambers, covering a substantial area of the underside, in locations selected from the group consisting of i) at least two dished air chambers on the underside, wherein each dished air chamber straddles the longitudinal axis, and adjacent dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the exhaust port is in direct fluid communication with one of the dished air chambers and the exhaust port straddles the longitudinal axis, ii) a first dished air chamber which straddles the longitudinal axis and an exhaust port which straddles the longitudinal axis, wherein the exhaust port is in direct fluid communication with the first air chamber, and at least one pair of dished air chambers wherein corresponding dished air chambers in each pair are on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis separated by a keel skirt, and wherein the first air chamber and the adjacent pair of dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the adjacent pairs of dished air chambers are separated by a dam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the underside has a peripheral groove which is in fluid communication with a member selected from the group consisting of the exhaust port and the air chamber which is in direct fluid communication with the exhaust port, and a combination thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein there are three dished air chambers, each of which straddle the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic action dust filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis for the dust filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable so that the nozzle may direct air at any downward angle into the dust filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the pathway for air from the impeller to the exhaust port is constrained by walls so that there is a steady flow of air therethrough when the vacuum is in operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the air chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust port is an outer chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the underside of the vacuum has an extension which extends outwardly and upwardly from the peripheral groove, with the extension having an arcuate cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the underside of the vacuum has an extension which extends outwardly and upwardly from the peripheral groove, with the extension having an arcuate cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic action dust filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis for the dust filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable so that the nozzle may direct air at any downward angle into the dust filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 wherein the pathway for air from the impeller to the exhaust port is constrained by walls so that there is a steady flow of air therethrough when the vacuum is in operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the pathway for air from the impeller to the exhaust port is constrained by walls so that there is a steady flow of air therethrough when the vacuum is in operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein: i) there are three dished air chambers, each of which straddle the longitudinal axis; ii) the air chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust port is an outer chamber; iii) the underside of the vacuum has an extension which extends outwardly and upwardly from the peripheral groove, with the extension having an arcuate cross-section; iv) the vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic action dust filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
A hover vacuum cleaner comprising: a casing, an underside to the casing, a cyclonic dust filter, hover means on the underside to allow the vacuum cleaner to hover on a bed of air, an inlet to the cyclonic dust filter for dust laden air, an impeller and drive motor for the impeller, an exhaust port in the underside, a pathway for air to pass from the inlet, through the dust filter and impeller and around the motor, and through the exhaust port to the hover means, wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis for the dust filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
121 words
A hover vacuum cleaner comprising: a casing, an underside to the casing, a cyclonic dust filter, hover means on the underside to allow the vacuum cleaner to hover on a bed of air, an inlet to the cyclonic dust filter for dust laden air, an impeller and drive motor for the impeller, an exhaust port in the underside, a pathway for air to pass from the inlet, through the dust filter and impeller and around the motor, and through the exhaust port to the hover means, wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis for the dust filter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A hover vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the inlet for dust laden air, which leads to the cyclonic action dust filter, has a nozzle which is rotatable so that the nozzle may direct air at any downward angle into the dust filter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hover vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the pathway for air from the impeller to the exhaust port is constrained by walls so that there is a steady flow of air therethrough when the vacuum is in operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
194 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a) a casing with an upper body portion and an underside to the casing in which the underside has a longitudinal axis and a lower base surface with an outer rim, the casing having an air inlet for dust laden air and an exhaust port in the base surface; b) a drive motor with an air impeller located within the casing, the impeller communicating with the inlet and exhaust port through a pathway extending from the inlet to the exhaust port to permit air to flow along an airflow path within said pathway; and c) a dust filter positioned in the air flow path between the impeller and the air inlet, wherein the base surface is generally planar about a base plane and said base surface comprises a peripheral channel extending adjacent to the rim of the base surface, said channel generally circumscribing the inner portion of the base surface and extending to communicate with the exhaust port to receive air delivered from the impeller through the exhaust port outlet and provide air flotation lift to the vacuum cleaner when the base surface is placed over a level floor surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
194 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a) a casing with an upper body portion and an underside to the casing in which the underside has a longitudinal axis and a lower base surface with an outer rim, the casing having an air inlet for dust laden air and an exhaust port in the base surface; b) a drive motor with an air impeller located within the casing, the impeller communicating with the inlet and exhaust port through a pathway extending from the inlet to the exhaust port to permit air to flow along an airflow path within said pathway; and c) a dust filter positioned in the air flow path between the impeller and the air inlet, wherein the base surface is generally planar about a base plane and said base surface comprises a peripheral channel extending adjacent to the rim of the base surface, said channel generally circumscribing the inner portion of the base surface and extending to communicate with the exhaust port to receive air delivered from the impeller through the exhaust port outlet and provide air flotation lift to the vacuum cleaner when the base surface is placed over a level floor surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 19 comprising a depression formed in the base surface to provide an air chamber within the region of the base surface contained collectively by the peripheral channel and exhaust port, whereby said air chamber will contain a volume of pressurized air received from the exhaust port and stabilize the base surface to maintain a horizontal relationship with a floor surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20 wherein the base surface has a longitudinal median line and said depression is bifurated along the longitudinal median line of the base surface by a portion of the base surface that forms a first dam to divide the air chamber into two portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 21 wherein said two portions of the air chamber are respectively partitioned along a transverse line extending across the base surface perpendicularly to the longitudinal line by a portion of the base surface that forms a second dam to form two pairs of portions of the air chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20 wherein the depression has a depth of 0.5 to 0.65 centimeters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 19 wherein the exhaust port is located at one end of the base surface and the air inlet is located on a part of the upper body portion of the casing, above the end of the base surface opposite to the exhaust port.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 24 wherein the casing has two sides and two end faces, the motor is electrical and wherein the motor is provided with current through an electrical cord that enters the case through an end face that is located at the same end of the vacuum cleaner base surface as the exhaust port.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 19 comprising a snail-shell-shaped conduit containing the air flow path between the impeller and the exhaust port, the conduit being shaped and dimensioned to deliver air along the air flow path without dead spots forming therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 19 wherein the dust filter has an upper portion positioned in the air flow path and a lower portion positioned beneath the air flow path whereby air flow within the filter is stratified, high speed air flow occurring principally in the upper portion of the filter to permit dust to settle preferentially in the lower portion of the filter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 27 wherein the air flow within the dust receptacle is cyclonic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2743787A
Cited
US2780826A
Cited
US3958299A
Cited
US5799363A
Cited
US5799745A
Cited
US5935279A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-04-02 | 2004-10-02 | 2005-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-02 | 2008-10-02 | 2009-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-02 | 2012-10-02 | 2013-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |