US6889403B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cyclonic vacuum cleaner
Assignee: Twinbird Corp
•
Filing: 2002-01-22
•
Granted: 2005-05-10
•
Expires: 2022-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A cyclonic vacuum cleaner which suppresses the flow of dust-laden airflow to the outside of a dust collection container, even if fine or comparatively light dust particles ascend together with a vortex flow. Fine dust particles mixed in the vortex flow are captured by a filter 23 of a first vent hole 21 provided at a lower end of a base 19 of a vortex flow generating member 18. If the filter 23 is clogged with such particles to some extent, yet the airflow inside a dust collection container 15 is allowed to pass through a second vent hole 22 formed on the side surface of the base 19 of the vortex flow generating member 18 into an intake hole 12. As a result, a constant amount of airflow is insured. Further, owing to a skirt portion 25 provided around the first vent hole 21, the travel of the dust particles toward the second vent hole 22 can be prevented even though the dust particles captured by the filter 23 are carried on the vortex flow toward the second vent hole 22.
Inventors
- 👤 Mineyuki Inoue
- 👤 Takeshi Yamada
- 👤 Shuichi Taniguchi
- 👤 Toshiaki Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:35
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/10; A47L9/16; A47L9/165; A47L9/1658; A47L9/1666; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner which comprises: a cleaner body with a fan unit; a vacuum tube having a suction hole at a distal end thereof; a dust collection container which is approximately cylinder-shaped, having a bottom; an attachment portion for detachably attaching said dust collection container, said attachment portion being mounted to the cleaner body; a first air path extending from said suction hole to said attachment portion in a manner capable of communicating with said dust collection container; a second air path extending from said attachment portion to said fan unit, communicating with said dust collection container; wherein a vortex flow generating member is provided in an opening of said dust collection container, said vortex flow generating member comprising: a base which is formed into a shape of a short cylinder or a truncated cone; an airflow guide provided on a side surface of said base; a first vent hole provided at an end of said base; a second vent hole provided at the side surface of said base; and a filter provided in each of said fist and second vent holes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner which comprises: a cleaner body with a fan unit; a vacuum tube having a suction hole at a distal end thereof; a dust collection container which is approximately cylinder-shaped, having a bottom; an attachment portion for detachably attaching said dust collection container, said attachment portion being mounted to the cleaner body; a first air path extending from said suction hole to said attachment portion in a manner capable of communicating with said dust collection container; a second air path extending from said attachment portion to said fan unit, communicating with said dust collection container; wherein a vortex flow generating member is provided in an opening of said dust collection container, said vortex flow generating member comprising: a base which is formed into a shape of a short cylinder or a truncated cone; an airflow guide provided on a side surface of said base; a first vent hole provided at an end of said base; a second vent hole provided at the side surface of said base; and a filter provided in each of said fist and second vent holes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein a skirt portion is provided around a periphery of said first vent hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein said vortex flow generating member further comprises a flange portion resting on a plurality of ribs formed on an inside surface of the opening of said dust collection container; and an inclined guide provided between the flange portion and a bottom of said airflow guide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 , wherein a filter member including a sack-like filter is provided above said vortex flow generating member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 , wherein said frame is brought into close contact with the opening of said dust collection container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein a filter member including a sack-like filter is provided above said vortex flow generating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein said filter member comprises a frame made of soft resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 , wherein said frame is brought into close contact with the opening of said dust collection container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein said vortex flow generating member further comprises a flange portion resting on a plurality of ribs formed on an inside surface of the opening of said dust collection container; and an inclined guide provided between said flange portion and a bottom of said airflow guide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein a filter member including a sack-like filter is provided above said vortex flow generating member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 , wherein said filter member comprises a frame made of soft resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein a filter member including a sack-like filter is provided above said vortex flow generating member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 , wherein said filter member comprises a frame made of soft resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cyclonic vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 , wherein said frame is brought into close contact with the opening of said dust collection container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3543325A
Cited
US3529724A
Cited
JPS5269861A
Cited
US4172710A
Cited
JPS5640744A
Cited
US5307538A
Cited
EP0928594A1
Cited
US6070291A
Cited
US6171356B1
Cited
JP2000135183A
Cited
GB2344278A
Cited
JP2000166829A
Cited
US6146434A
Cited
US6647587B1
Cited
US6558453B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-05-09 | 2008-11-08 | 2009-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-09 | 2012-11-08 | 2013-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-09 | 2016-11-08 | 2017-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |