Patent US6353963B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6353963B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic air flow
Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1999-12-14
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Granted: 2002-03-12
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Expires: 2019-12-14
Abstract
Abstract An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber ( 54 ) is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening ( 26 ) formed in the underside ( 24 ) of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber ( 54 ). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container ( 52 ) that defines the chamber ( 54 ). A main filter element (K) filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media. A final filter assembly (F) filters the suction airstream discharged by the suction source to ensure that the air discharged into the atmosphere is contaminant free, including those contaminants introduced into the airstream by the suction source itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W. Bair
- 👤 Richard C. Gibbs
- 👤 Mark E. Reindle
- 👤 Michael F. Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:15
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04C; B04C9/00; A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L9/00; A47L9/10; A47L9/12; A47L9/127; A47L9/16; A47L9/165; A47L9/1658; A47L9/1666; A47L9/1683; A47L9/1691; B01; B01D; B01D39/00; B01D39/14; B01D39/16; B01D39/1692; B01D50/00; B01D50/20; B04C5/00; B04C5/12; B04C5/13; B04C2009/004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising. a nozzle base including a suction opening, an upright housing hingedly mounted on said nozzle base; a suction source located in one of said nozzle base and said upright housing and being in fluid communication with said suction opening; a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup being in fluid comnmunication with said suction opening and said suction source; a filter member mounted in said dirt cup; a particle separation chamber defined in said dirt cup for separating particles from an airstream flowing from said suction opening through said filter, and, an opening defined in a bottom wall of said dirt cup, the airstream flowing out of said dirt cup through said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising. a nozzle base including a suction opening, an upright housing hingedly mounted on said nozzle base; a suction source located in one of said nozzle base and said upright housing and being in fluid communication with said suction opening; a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup being in fluid comnmunication with said suction opening and said suction source; a filter member mounted in said dirt cup; a particle separation chamber defined in said dirt cup for separating particles from an airstream flowing from said suction opening through said filter, and, an opening defined in a bottom wall of said dirt cup, the airstream flowing out of said dirt cup through said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said filter member covers said dirt cup opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said filter member comprises a cylindrical body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical body of said filter comprises a top wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 4 where in s aid top wall of said cylindrical body of said filter is impervious to airflow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a seal encircling said dirt cup opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle base including a suction opening; an upright housing hingedly mounted on said nozzle base; a suction source located in one of said nozzle base and said upright housing and being in fluid communication with said suction opening; a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup being in fluid communication with said suction opening and said suction source; a filter member mounted in said dirt cup; a particle separation chamber defined in said dirt cup for separating particles from an airstream flowing from said suction opening through said filter; and, a lid for selectively covering an open upper end of said dirt cup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle base including a suction opening; an upright housing hingedly mounted on said nozzle base; a suction source located in one of said nozzle base and said upright housing and being in fluid communication with said suction opening; a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup being in fluid communication with said suction opening and said suction source; a filter member mounted in said dirt cup; a particle separation chamber defined in said dirt cup for separating particles from an airstream flowing from said suction opening through said filter; and, a lid for selectively covering an open upper end of said dirt cup.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary filter member located in said one of said nozzle base and said upright housing upstream from said suction source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a final filter positioned downstream from said dirt cup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 9 further comprising a plenum defined in said housing for selectively holding said final filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a filter support member mounted in said dirt cup for supporting said filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said dirt cup comprises a tangential inlet opening for the airstream flowing from said suction opening through said filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein dirt contained in said dirt cup and located upstream from said filter member serves as an additional filter element for an airstream flowing through the dirt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a base portion; an upright housing hingedly connected to the base portion; a suction source mounted in one of said base portion and said upright housing; a dirt cup removably positioned in said upright housing; a filter located in and removable with said dirt cup for filtering an associated airstream passing through said dirt cup; and a lid selectively covering an open end of said dirt cup.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a base portion; an upright housing hingedly connected to the base portion; a suction source mounted in one of said base portion and said upright housing; a dirt cup removably positioned in said upright housing; a filter located in and removable with said dirt cup for filtering an associated airstream passing through said dirt cup; and a lid selectively covering an open end of said dirt cup.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The upright vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said filter is releasably secured to said dirt cup and wherein said dirt cup and filter are movable as a unit relative to said upright housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising; a base portion including a suction opening; an upright housing hingedly connected to said base portion; a suction source mounted in one of said base portion and said upright housing, and a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said upright housing, said dirt cup comprising: open first end, a side wall, a closed second end, an inlet opening located adjacent said first end, and an outlet opening located adjacent said second end, wherein said inlet opening of said dirt cup is in fluid communication with said suction opening and said outlet opening of said dirt cup is in fluid communication with said suction source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
An upright vacuum cleaner comprising; a base portion including a suction opening; an upright housing hingedly connected to said base portion; a suction source mounted in one of said base portion and said upright housing, and a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said upright housing, said dirt cup comprising: open first end, a side wall, a closed second end, an inlet opening located adjacent said first end, and an outlet opening located adjacent said second end, wherein said inlet opening of said dirt cup is in fluid communication with said suction opening and said outlet opening of said dirt cup is in fluid communication with said suction source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 16 further comprising a lid for selectively covering said open first end of said dirt cup.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 16 further comprising a filter selectively positioned in said dirt cup and covering said outlet opening of said dirt cup.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 18 further comprising a support on which said filter is selectively mounted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 18 wherein said filter is cylindrical in shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 20 wherein said filter has a closed first end and an open second end.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a suction source mounted in said housing and being in fluid communication with a suction opening defined on said housing; and a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup comprising: an open first end, a side wall, a closed second end, an inlet opening located in said side wall, and an outlet opening located in said second end wherein said suction source communicates with said outlet opening of said dirt cup and said suction opening defined in said housing communicates with said inlet opening of said dirt cup.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a suction source mounted in said housing and being in fluid communication with a suction opening defined on said housing; and a dirt cup selectively removable from an opening defined in said housing, said dirt cup comprising: an open first end, a side wall, a closed second end, an inlet opening located in said side wall, and an outlet opening located in said second end wherein said suction source communicates with said outlet opening of said dirt cup and said suction opening defined in said housing communicates with said inlet opening of said dirt cup.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 22 further comprising a lid selectively covering said open first end of said dirt cup.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 22 further comprising a filter selectively positioned in said dirt cup and covering said outlet opening of said dirt cup.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 24 further comprising a support on which said filter is selectively mounted.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said filter is cylindrical in shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 26 wherein said filter has a closed first end and an open second end.
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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) | 2005-03-11 | 2005-09-10 | 2006-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-11 | 2009-09-10 | 2010-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-11 | 2013-09-10 | 2014-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |