Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022125254-A1
Application number	US-202017425690-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2019
Publication date	Apr 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner including a motor, a suction opening, an exhaust opening, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the suction source and the exhaust opening. The motor receives power from a power cord that enters the lower portion of the main body through a power cord opening. The main body also includes a drain opening, configured to allow egress of any liquid in the main body. The power cord opening is higher than the drain opening. The vacuum also includes a protective tubular frame that surrounds the battery. The tubular frame is energy-absorbing, and is removable and replaceable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a main body having an upper portion and a lower portion, a motor disposed within the main body operable to generate a suction airflow from a suction opening to an air exhaust aperture, a power cord operably connected to the motor, the power cord extending into the main body through a cord opening in the lower portion, a drain opening in the lower portion configured for egress of liquid from the main body, the cord opening being higher than the drain opening when the main body is in a generally upright orientation.

2 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the lower portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall, wherein the bottom wall includes a raised offset surface extending into the lower portion higher than the drain opening when the main body is in a generally upright orientation, wherein the cord opening is through the raised offset surface.

3 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein the air exhaust aperture is in the side wall.

4 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the drain opening is incorporated into the air exhaust aperture.

5 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein the lower portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall, and wherein the air exhaust aperture is in the side wall.

6 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 further comprising a battery mounted beneath the lower portion of the main body, where the drain opening is positioned such that liquid exits the main body adjacent a periphery of the battery or away from the battery when the main body is in a generally upright orientation.

7 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a grommet positioned in the cord opening, where the power cord passes through the grommet.

8 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a frame attached to the lower portion of the main body surrounding at least a portion of the battery, wherein the frame extends beneath the lower portion when the main body is in a generally upright orientation forming a support member configured to support the vacuum cleaner on a surface.

9 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the frame is removable.

10 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the frame includes two separate pieces.

11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a main body having an upper portion including a top surface, a lower portion including a bottom surface, and a side wall between the top surface and the bottom surface, a motor disposed within the main body operable to generate a suction airflow along an airflow passageway extending from a suction opening to an air exhaust aperture, a separator disposed within the main body in fluid communication with the airflow passageway and the motor, a power cord operably connected to the motor, the power cord extending into the main body through a cord opening in the lower portion, a drain opening in the lower portion configured for egress of liquid from the main body, the cord opening being higher than the drain opening inhibiting egress of liquid from the cord opening when the main body is in a generally upright orientation.

12 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the drain opening is incorporated into the air exhaust aperture.

13 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 wherein the bottom wall includes a raised offset surface extending into the lower portion higher than the drain opening when the main body is in a generally upright orientation, wherein the cord opening is through the raised offset surface.

14 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 wherein the air exhaust aperture is in the side wall.

15 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 further comprising a grommet positioned in the cord opening, where the power cord passes through the grommet.

16 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 further comprising a battery mounted beneath the lower portion of the main body, where the drain opening is positioned such that liquid exits the main body adjacent a periphery of the battery or away from the battery when the main body is in a generally upright orientation.

17 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 further comprising a tubular frame attached to the lower portion of the main body surrounding at least a portion of the battery, wherein the tubular frame extends beneath the lower portion when the main body is in a generally upright orientation forming a support member configured to support the vacuum cleaner on a surface.

18 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 wherein the tubular frame is removable.

19 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 wherein the tubular frame includes two separate pieces.

20 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the separator is in the upper portion of the main body and the motor is in the lower portion of the main body.

21 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 20 further comprising a battery, wherein the power cord operably couples the battery and the motor, wherein the battery is adjacent a first side of the lower portion of the housing and the separator is adjacent a second side of the lower portion of the housing opposite the first side.

22 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 21 wherein the motor is between the separator and the battery.

Assignees

• Techtronic Cordless Gp

Inventors

• Bloom Michael

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• A47L5/36

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title

• H01M10/46

  Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title

• A47L11/4002

  Installations of electric equipment · CPC title

• A47L9/22

  Mountings for motor fan assemblies · CPC title