Vacuum cleaner including a removable dirt collection assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015143659-A1
Application number	US-201414550375-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	May 28, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner including a base including a suction nozzle, a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the base, and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly or the base. The dirt collection assembly includes a suction motor operable to generate an airflow through the suction nozzle when powered by a power source, and a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction nozzle operable to separate and collect dirt particles from the airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor. The suction motor is unpowerable when the dirt collection assembly is removed from the at least one of the handle assembly or the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a base including a suction nozzle; a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the base; and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly or the base, the dirt collection assembly including
a suction motor operable to generate an airflow through the suction nozzle when powered by a power source, and
a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction nozzle operable to separate and collect dirt particles from the airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor;
wherein the suction motor is unpowerable when the dirt collection assembly is removed from the at least one of the handle assembly or the base.

2 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the suction motor and the dirt separator are removable together as a unit.

3 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly from the at least one of the handle assembly or the base.

4 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the suction motor is disposed generally between the dirt separator and the handle.

5 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a first electrical connector, wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a second electrical connector configured to electrically connect to the first electrical connector to provide power to the motor from the power source.

6 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the power source includes a battery disposed on the handle assembly.

7 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the suction motor is disposed on top of the dirt separator generally opposite the suction nozzle when the dirt collection assembly is coupled to the at least one of the handle assembly or the base.

8 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the dirt collection assembly defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the suction motor includes an output shaft oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a door for releasing dirt from the dirt separator, the door being positioned at the bottom of the dirt separator generally opposite the suction motor.

10 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a support assembly; a suction nozzle; and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the support assembly, the dirt collection assembly including
a suction motor operable to generate an airflow through the suction nozzle when powered by a power source, and
a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction nozzle operable to separate and collect dirt particles from the airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor,
wherein the suction motor is unpowerable when the dirt collection assembly is removed from the support assembly.

11 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the support assembly includes a handle assembly and a base.

12 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the support assembly includes the body of a canister vacuum.

13 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the power source includes a battery coupled to the support assembly, wherein the support assembly includes a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the battery, and wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a second electrical connector electrically coupled to the first electrical connector when the dirt collection assembly is connected to the support assembly establishing an electrical connection between the battery and the suction motor.

14 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the second electrical connector is electrically decoupled from the first electrical connector when the dirt collection assembly is removed from the support assembly making the suction motor unpowerable.

15 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a door for releasing dirt from the dirt separator and a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly from the support assembly, the door being positioned at the bottom of the dirt separator generally opposite the handle.

16 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the suction motor and the dirt separator are removable from the support assembly together as a unit.

17 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a support assembly including a suction nozzle and a battery; a first electrical connector disposed on the support assembly, the first electrical connector configured to be electrically coupled to the battery; and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the support assembly, the dirt collection assembly including
a second electrical connector,
a suction motor electrically coupleable to the battery through the first and second electrical connectors and operable to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle when the first and second electrical connectors are electrically connected, and
a dirt separator configured to remove and collect dirt particles from an airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor,
wherein the dirt collection assembly is moveable between a connected position in which the dirt separator is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for collecting the dirt particles and suction motor is electrically connected to the battery through the first and second electrical connectors, and a disconnected position in which the dirt collection assembly is separated from the support assembly and in which the suction motor is electrically disconnected from the battery.

18 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes an inlet for receiving dirt-laden air from the suction nozzle, wherein the inlet is fluidly disconnected from the suction nozzle when the dirt collection assembly is in the disconnected position.

19 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly.

20 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 19 , wherein the suction motor is disposed generally between the dirt separator and the handle.

21 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the dirt collection assembly defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the suction motor includes an output shaft oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

22 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a handle and a door for releasing dirt from the dirt separator, the door being positioned at the bottom of the dirt separator generally opposite the handle.

23 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 22 , wherein the dirt collection assembly includes a release mechanism coupled to the door for emptying the dirt separator.

24 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the suction motor and the dirt separator are moveable to the disconnected position together as a unit.

Assignees

• Techtronic Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Pilch Alan

Classifications

• A47L9/2889

  Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user · CPC title

• A47L9/2842

  Suction motors or blowers · CPC title

• A47L9/1463

  specially adapted for rigid filtering receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/2884

  Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation · CPC title

• A47L5/28 Primary

  Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) · CPC title