US6553612B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-12-06
•
Granted: 2003-04-29
•
Expires: 2019-12-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) having a chassis ( 12 ), supporting wheels ( 14 ) mounted on the chassis ( 12 ), drive means ( 15 ) connected to the supporting wheels ( 14 ) for driving the supporting wheels ( 14 ) and a control mechanism for controlling the drive means ( 15 ) so as to guide the vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) across a surface to be cleaned. A cleaner head ( 22 ) having a dirty air inlet ( 24 ) facing the surface to be cleaned is mounted on the chassis ( 12 ) and separating apparatus ( 52 ) is supported by the chassis ( 12 ) and communicates with the cleaner head ( 22 ) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) by way of the dirty air inlet ( 24 ). The separating apparatus ( 52 ) comprises at least one cyclone( 54,56 ). This type of separating apparatus is not prone to clogging and therefore the pick-up capability of the cleaner ( 10 ) is maintained at a high standard.
Inventors
- 👤 James Dyson
- 👤 Geoffrey Michael Burlington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/28; A47L9/10; A47L9/16; A47L9/1616; A47L9/1625; A47L9/1633; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L2201/00; A47L2201/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A vacuum cleaner, comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone having a cyclone body with a longitudinal axis and wherein the separating apparatus is supported on the chassis with the longitudinal axis of the cyclone body lying in a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A vacuum cleaner, comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone having a cyclone body with a longitudinal axis and wherein the separating apparatus is supported on the chassis with the longitudinal axis of the cyclone body lying in a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises an upstream cyclone and a downstream cyclone arranged in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the upstream cyclone is adapted to remove comparatively large-sized dirt and dust particles from the airflow and the downstream cyclone is adapted to remove comparatively small-sized dirt and dust particles from the airflow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the cyclones are arranged concentrically.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the upstream cyclone is generally cylindrical in shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the downstream cyclone is frusto-conical in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the downstream cyclone is arranged inside the upstream cyclone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a single cyclone which is frusto-conical in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a removable bin in which, in use, dirt and dust is collected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the removable bin is transparent or translucent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the removable bin forms an external part of the vacuum cleaner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cleaner head is connected to the chassis by means of an arm which is pivotally connected to the chassis at a first end and pivotally connected to the cleaner head at a second end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one power pack that is carried by the chassis and is connected to the drive and the control mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising electrical shielding for shielding the control mechanism from electrostatic fields generated by the cyclone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an inlet to the separating apparatus located directly above an outlet of the cleaner head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and wherein the control mechanism is electrically shielded from electrostatic fields generated by the cyclone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and wherein the control mechanism is electrically shielded from electrostatic fields generated by the cyclone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and a removable bin in which, in use, dirt and dust is collected, and wherein the removable bin is transparent or translucent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and a removable bin in which, in use, dirt and dust is collected, and wherein the removable bin is transparent or translucent.
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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) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-10-28 | 2007-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | 2011-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-28 | 2014-10-28 | 2015-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |