US3871847A - Vacuum cleaner filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter for use in a vacuum cleaner for preventing introduction of foreign objects into the fan and electric motor of the air flow means. The fan and motor are carried in a portion of the housing which defines a pervious support having an integral retainer element adapted for removably securing a filter pad in overlying relationship to the support for effectively preventing passing of foreign objects into the fan and motor.

Description

United States Patent 1191 FlSl'l 1 1 Mar. 18, 1975 [54] VACUUM CLEANER FILTER 2,776,726 1/1957 Brace 55/DlG. 3 X 1 1 11116111011 Fish, White Bear Lake, 5:333:11? Z1323 32312121711111:13111131311353? 3,524,211 -8/1970- Wolf 55/1310. 3 x [73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich. Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-William Cuchlinski, Jr. [22] 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-HOfgren, Wegner, Allen, [21] Appl. No.: 433,916 Stellman & McCord 52 1 11.5. c1 55/372, 15/327 D, 55/472, 1 1 RA T 55/482 55/494 SS/DIG' 3 A filter for use in a vacuum cleaner for preventing in- [51] I111. Cl. BOld 46/10 troduction of foreign Objects into the fan and dectric [58] Field of Search 55/372, 472, 49.1, 494, motor of the air flow means The fan and motor are 55/495, 501, DIG. 3, 440, 482; 15/327 D carried in a portion of the housing which defines a pervious support having an integral retainer element [56] References cued adapted for removably securing a filter pad in overly- UNITED ST ES P S ing relationship to the support for effectively prevent- 1,395,833 11/1921 Kling et a1. 55/491 X ing passing of foreign objects into the fan and motor. 2,672,210 3 1954 White 55/372 2.721.625 10 1955 Lagerstrom 55/D1G. 3X 10 Claims, 3 Drawmg Figures VACUUM CLEANER FILTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and in particular to filters for use in vacuum cleaners.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional vacuum cleaners, air is circulated through the electric motor for cooling the motor. The cooling air is flowed to the motor by means of the suction fan which sucks the dirt laden air into the dirt collecting bag or receptacle. It is desirable to provide some means for effectively preventing passing of foreign objects, such as hairpins or the like, into the fan and electric motor to prevent serious damage to this structure.

A number of different filter arrangements have been provided in vacuum cleaners heretofore. One type of filter used in such a vacuum cleaner is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,6.72,2l of H. B. White wherein a filter I 22 is provided covering abulkhead 19 having a plurality ofopenings 21 upstream of thedirt collecting bag 23. In the White suction cleaner construction, thesupport 19 for thefilter 22 is apparently welded to the outer shell of the suction cleaner. The bag is held to thebulkhead 19 by amale element 28 engaging a female element 32 secured to the bulkhead to also hold thefilter 22 to the bulkhead.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,466 of C. E. Nyberg, a piece of felt I9 is retained across the fan housing by a rubber band to prevent dust entering the motor andfan unit 15.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends a vacuum cleaner construction having an improved filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing into the fan and motor of the air flow means. More specifically, the invention comprehends providing in a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing through the inlet to the motor means thereby to prevent damage to the motor means by the foreign objects, the filter means comprising a substantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across the inlet and formed integrally with the air flow passage means and a retainer element formed integrally with the air flow passage means and defining a retaining shoulder overlying the support. A removable pliant filter pad overlies the support and is retained thereto by a portion of the filter disposed between the retainer and support.

The retainer element may be disposed substantially centrally of the pervious support, and in the illustrated embodiment comprises a T-shaped element upstanding integrally from the support.

The support may be upwardly convex to correspondingly support the pliant filter pad and may have an annular peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of the filter pad. An annular seal may be provided extending between the air flow means and the channel means for causing substantially all air drawn through the inlet of the air flow passage to be drawn through the air flow means and to pass in heat transfer association with the electric motor.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum cleaner comprises a canister-type vacuum cleaner with the housing portion comprising a portion of the canister base.

The filter means of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a filter means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof with the cover removed illustrating the installation of the filter pad in the filter means; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a vacuum cleaner generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a canister-type vacuum cleaner having a housing 11 provided withsuitable wheels 12 and acarrying handle 13. The handle is provided on abase portion 14 of-the canister with access to the interior of the canister being provided by aremovable cover portion 15.

Thebase portion 14 defines aforward space 16 in which iS.'t6C6iV6d a dirt collecting bag 17 wherein dirt is collected from air flowed through the bag from an inlet tube 18 to an air moving means generally designated 19 provided in the rear portion of thebase 14 as shown in" FIG. 2.

More specifically, as best seen in FIG. 3, air moving means 19 includes an air flow means 20 herein coinprising afan 21 driven by anelectric motor 22. Air flow means 20 is disposed within atubular housing portion 23 of thecanister base 14 which upstands from the wall 24 to define an upper,open end 25 opening to a raised,rear portion 26 of thecanister cover 15 for receiving air passed through the dirt collecting bag 17 and conducting the air to thefan 21 withinhousing portion 23.Housing portion 23 further defines an outlet opening 27 for passing the cleaned air to atmosphere at the rear of the canister.

Air flow means 20 is supported on abracket 28, in turn, carried onshoulders 29 provided on thehousing portion 23 within theair flow passage 30 defined byhousing portion 23. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3,fan 21 is disposed subjacent the inlet opening 25 for drawing air through the inlet opening and flowing it over thedrive motor 22 in heat exchange relationship therewith before discharging the drawn air through the outlet opening 27.Fan 21 may be sealed to thetubular housing portion 23 by anannular seal 31 to prevent recirculation of air discharged byfan 21.

As indicated above, a filter generally designated 32 is provided for preventing a passing of foreign objects into the fan and drive motor during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The filter means includes a substantially rigid pervious support 33 extending across the inlet opening 25, and in the illustrated embodiment,

formed integrally with thehousing portion 23. Aperipheral portion 34 of the support defines a downwardly opening channel 35 receiving thesealing element 31, and an upwardly openingchannel 36. Apliant filter pad 37 such as an open cell foam material is removably installed in overlying relationship on the support with aperipheral portion 38 thereof overlying an upwardlyopening channel 36. In operation, air passing through the filter tends to holdpad 37 firmly against channel thus substantially precluding air flow from bypassing around the edge ofpad 37. The filter pad includes a central opening 39 adapted to fit under a T-shaped retainer element 40 disposed at the center of support 33. As shown,retainer element 40 may comprise an integral portion of the support 33. Theupper surface 41 of support 33 may be convex upwardly, as shown in FIG. 3.

Opening 39 in the filter pad is preferably substan tially smaller than the transverse extent of the arms of the T-shaped element 40 so that the filter pad is retained by the T-shaped element with the center portion of the pad underlying the legs thereof in the installed arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3.

Thus, the filter 32 is extremely simple of construction eliminating the need for separate fasteners while yet effectively preventing introduction of foreign material into the fan and motor of the air moving means 19. The filter pad may be readily removed for cleaning or replaced when desired while yet the T-shaped retainer 40 effectively retains the pad in overlying relationship to the support 33 in the installed arrangement thereof.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said air flow means thereby to prevent damage to said air flow means by said foreign ob jects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formed integrally with said air flow passage means and defining a retaining shoulder overlying said support; and a removable pliant filter pad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer element and support and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means.

2. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element is disposed substantially at the center of said support.

3. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element comprises a T-shaped element upstanding from said support.

4. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element is formed integrally with said support.

5. The vacuum filter means of claim 1 wherein said support is upwardly convex.

6. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said support defines an annular, upwardly opening peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channel and'thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around the circumferential edge of the filter pad.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said air flow means by said foreign objects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formed integrally with said air flow passage means and defining a retaining shoulder overlying said support; a removable pliant filter pad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer and support and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means; and means for sealing the air flow means to said housing portion adjacent said pervious support for causing substantially all air drawn through said air flow means to be discharged from said vacuum cleaner and thereby urge said filter pad against said support to effectively preclude removal of said filter portion from between said retainer and support.

8. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said support defines an annular peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channel and thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around the circumferential edge of the filter pad.

9. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner comprises a canister type vacuum cleaner having a base portion and said housing portion comprises an integral portion of said base portion.

10. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a dirt collecting bag spaced substantially from said inlet, and means for conducting the drawn air through the dirt collecting bag before delivery thereof to said inlet of said air flow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,871,847 Dated March 18, 1975 Inventor(s) WARREN H. FISH It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

rv a Column 4, Claim 5, line 6, after "vacuum" insert cleaner.

Signed and Sealed this twenty-fourth Day Of February 1976 Q [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissiuner oj'Parents and Trademarks

Claims (10)

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said air flow means thereby to prevent damage to said air flow means by said foreign objects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formed integrally with said air flow passage means and defining a retaining shoulder overlying said support; and a removable pliant filter pad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer element and support and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means.

2. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element is disposed substantially at the center of said support.

3. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element comprises a T-shaped element upstanding from said support.

4. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said retainer element is formed integrally with said support.

5. The vacuum filter means of claim 1 wherein said support is upwardly convex.

6. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 1 wherein said support defines an annular, upwardly opening peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channel and thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around the circumferential edge of the filter pad.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a housing portion defining an air flow passage having an inlet, air flow means carried by said housing portion for drawing air through said inlet and including motor means disposed in heat transfer association with the drawn air, filter means for preventing foreign objects from passing through said inlet to said air flow means by said foreign objects, said filter means comprising: a substantially rigid pervious support extending transversely across said inlet and formed integrally with said air flow passage means; a retainer element formed integrally with said air flow paSsage means and defining a retaining shoulder overlying said support; a removable pliant filter pad overlying said support and being retained thereto substantially solely by a portion of the filter disposed between said retainer and support and the air drawn through the filter pad by said air flow means; and means for sealing the air flow means to said housing portion adjacent said pervious support for causing substantially all air drawn through said air flow means to be discharged from said vacuum cleaner and thereby urge said filter pad against said support to effectively preclude removal of said filter portion from between said retainer and support.

8. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said support defines an annular peripheral channel underlying the circumferential edge of the filter pad, the air passing through the filter pad urging the pad firmly against the support along said channel and thereby substantially precluding air from bypassing around the circumferential edge of the filter pad.

9. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner comprises a canister type vacuum cleaner having a base portion and said housing portion comprises an integral portion of said base portion.

10. The vacuum cleaner filter means of claim 7 wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a dirt collecting bag spaced substantially from said inlet, and means for conducting the drawn air through the dirt collecting bag before delivery thereof to said inlet of said air flow passage.

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