Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner and, more specifically, to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a cyclonic station that maintains a vertical position when the vacuum is maneuvered across a floor space. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner and, more specifically, to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a cyclonic station that maintains a vertical position when the vacuum is maneuvered across a floor space. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the last decade, the convenience of bagless dust collection and emptying has made cyclonic vacuum cleaners the most successful ones marketed because they don&#39;t require consumers to purchase replacement bags. The method of removing particles from the air by means of cyclonic separation is well known in the art and, furthermore, its known uses, in combination with filters, have improved the design, the quality and the efficiency of vacuum cleaners. The present invention improves on the cyclonic design by constructing a cyclonic station that always maintains a complete, vertical position when the vacuum is pushed and maneuvered across a floor space. As is well known in the art, there are a number of vertical standing and upright vacuums having cyclonic air flows. A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the present invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
   Of considerable relevance is the cyclonic dirt cup assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,434, wherein an inverted, truncated cone positioned within the dirt cup of a vacuum cleaner directs an airstream in a cyclonic manner. Tapered walls assist the cyclonic action. 
   The cyclonic vacuum cleaner of U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,594 to Inoue discloses an approximate cylinder shaped cyclonic portion comprised in a dust collecting portion having two ventilating holes to always ensure a vortex flow. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,044 to Bilek et al. discloses a dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner comprising two dirt collecting chambers separated by apertured walls wherein course particles are pre-filtered into the first chamber and fine particles are filtered into the second chamber. 
   The upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic air flow taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,164 comprises a suction source that pulls air into a cyclonic air flow chamber. The airstream travels in a cyclonic path so contaminates are separated into a dirt container. A main filter filters residual contaminants and a final filter assembly filters the suction airstream discharged from the source. 
   These and many other vacuum cleaners comprise stand-up cyclonic dirt assembly portions; however, a disadvantage to all of their designs is that the handle portion is attached to these cyclonic portions. Therefore, when a person pushes and pulls the vacuum cleaner across a floor space, the cyclonic portion also changes angles with the handle from an approximate vertical position to a near horizontal position. The vacuum becomes less efficient as it is pushed into the horizontal position. 
   The movement of air in the dirt assembly is vortical or solenoidal. The rotational effects are used to separate particles in a cyclonic rotation process. As air flows through the cyclone, it rotates about an axis. The larger particles that have too much inertia follow the tight curve, strike the outside wall and fall due to gravity. Centripetal acceleration separates substances of larger and smaller densities because particles moving in the cylinder at a constant speed have changing directions and motion. 
   The centripetal force is affected by the mass of an object, the velocity (squared) its traveling and the distance its traveling about an axis. Although the effects of velocity and gravity are almost negligible for minute particles, they both affect the separation of larger particles. In a mostly vertical position, the velocity (vectors) of the particles traveling around the axis of the dust assembly is increasing because the particles are always falling with gravity as well as moving in a curved, downwards direction. When vacuums are pushed towards a more horizontal position, the angular velocity fluctuates because the particle falls with gravity and climbs against gravity around the horizontal axis of the air flow. The amount of inertia, or the particle&#39;s momentum, is constantly changing with the changing velocity. 
   A particle&#39;s momentum is directly related to its mass and its velocity. Therefore, fewer particles will strike the outside wall if the inertia is constantly changing. Because the efficiency of a vacuum is decreased in the more horizontal positions during the cleaning process, a long-felt need exists for a vacuum cleaner that provides for a constant or an increasing velocity in the cyclonic portion so that the increased acceleration can separate a greater number of particles having a greater number of densities. This need is met in the present invention, wherein the suction channel, the handle and the other portions of the vacuum cleaner are affixed to one another while the dirt assembly portion is pivotally affixed to the other components so that it will always maintain a vertical position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cyclonic vacuum cleaner and, more particularly, one that increases the efficiency of collection. 
   It is an object of the present invention to design and construct a vacuum cleaner having a cyclonic dirt assembly that maintains a vertical, upright position even when the vacuum is pushed and maneuvered to a nearly horizontal position. 
   It is an advantage to the present invention to improve the number of particles captured in the cyclonic separation by means of maintaining or increasing the centripetal acceleration used to separate particles of a greater number of densities. 
   It is an advantage to the present invention to provide a means for the velocity to not fluctuate. The velocity rather increases because the direction is not repeatedly changing and the speed increases as the particle falls with gravity. 
   It is a further advantage to the present invention that more particles will have too much inertia such that they will more quickly follow the tight curve of the dirt assembly and be forced to strike the side walls and fall. 
   It is an object of this invention to accomplish these advantages by means of designing the dirt assembly portion of the cyclonic vacuum to pivotally attach to the handle, the suction and the other portions of the vacuum. It is envisioned that a person vacuuming will push and pull the vacuum across a floor space, but the very design and the construction of the dirt assembly will cause it to maintain a vertical position. 
   It is envisioned that the preferred embodiment will comprise an additional filter assembly having a plurality of filters placed in the vacuum to further ensure a greater entrapment of particles. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and an efficient means to clean the dirt assembly and empty the particles contained within it. This is accomplished through dirt collection assembly portion that opens by means of a handle wherein the container held within can be easily pulled out and emptied. The dirt collection assembly forms a receptacle that cannot be removed unless a lock placed above it is flipped to disengage the container sealed in a secure position within the cyclonic portion. 
   It is an advantage to the present invention to comprise the vacuum with a moving bumper that opens a slot to collect dust at the base boards or the edges of the furniture that are typically difficult to reach. It is envisioned that the moving bumper is a nylon or a nylon overmolded with a rubber surface. The bumper will not scratch or dent the woods or the furniture it bumps. 
   It is another advantage to the present invention that the brushroll sleeves can be easily pulled out for cleaning or disposal. It is envisioned that either reusable or durable, inexpensive, disposable sleeves can be utilized. 
   It is another advantage to the present invention to design a handle that folds downwards when the vacuum is not utilized so that it will not occupy the entire storage space, but rather, it will only occupy the lower space of a closet. 
   A final advantage to the present invention is its light weight construction and design. 
   In an alternate embodiment to the present invention, it is envisioned that a user can lock the dirt assembly portion to the handle portion so that the dirt assembly will fall to a horizontal position when the user wants the vacuum to reach deep spaces, i.e. those spaces under furniture. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and the features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vertical cyclonic vacuum according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of vacuum shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view of the vacuum, wherein the suspended cyclonic dirt assembly portion is shown; 
       FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the vacuum, wherein the opposite side shown in  FIG. 3  is shown; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the vacuum; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the vacuum; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the vacuum; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the vacuum shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein the handle is pivotally folded downwards into a storage position; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial detailed perspective view of the top portion of the cyclonic assembly, wherein the cyclonic portion is pivotally affixed to the frame portion of the vacuum; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial detailed perspective view of the bottom portion of the cyclonic assembly; 
       FIG. 11  is an partial detailed perspective view of the rear portion of the vacuum, wherein the hose that carries the particles from the floor to the cyclonic dirt assembly is shown; and, 
       FIG. 12  is a partial exploded perspective view of the power brush portion of the vacuum, wherein the components are shown. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vertical cyclonic vacuum assembly, generally noted as  10 , is shown according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum assembly  10  comprises a power brush (herein synonymously referred to as a power foot)  12  at a lower end and opposite a handle  16  at an upper end. Both the power foot  12  and the handle  16  are attached to a frame  14 . A cyclonic assembly  18  is pivotally attached to the frame  14  such as to maintain a vertical configuration at the handle  16  is articulated upward or downward in a manner described in greater detail below. As shown in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , the front of the vacuum  10  shown wherein the cyclonic assembly  18  is pivotally attached to the frame  14  at their approximate center body portions about an axis  19 . As can be better seen in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , the cyclonic assembly  18  is suspended above the power brush  12  and below the handle  16  portion of the vacuum  10  about the axis  19 . The body  18   a  of the cyclonic portion  18  forms a dirt collection assembly  20  for access to a collection receptacle or container  23  for emptying the particles vacuumed from the floor. The container  23  cannot be removed unless a lock  24  placed above it is positioned to disengage the container  23  which is sealed in a secure position within the cyclonic assembly  18 . The body  18   a  of the cyclonic assembly  18  also comprises a filter cage  26  provided with a pivotally mounted gate  28  for access to the filters that filter the airstream discharged from the vacuum cleaner  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the side opposite the cyclonic portion  18  is shown in which the frame  14  is designed and constructed to balance the distribution of the vacuum  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein the disturbed dust is carried from the floor to the cyclonic portion  18  by means of a suction intake hose  30  positioned inside the greater portion of the backside of the frame  14 . A power cord  32  similarly travels from the power brush  12  to the cyclonic portion  18 . 
   A top view of the vacuum  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the vacuum is standing in a fully upright position. The forward position of the handle  16  provides for a greater pivot range when the vacuum is pushed in a cleaning motion. The bottom portion of the vacuum  10  is shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein two rotating brushrolls  34  similar to those in many electrical, upright vacuums is the means to disturb the dust that is vacuumed up. 
   The vacuum is shown in the storage position in  FIG. 8 , wherein the handle  16  that is pivotally attached to the top portion of the frame  14  is folded downwards when the vacuum  10  is not utilized. An advantage to this design is that the vacuum will only occupy the lower half of the closet space its stored in and thus it will not disrupt any hanging garments. 
   The top half of the cyclonic assembly  18  is shown in  FIG. 9 , wherein a disposable, inverted, truncated cone  36  is positioned in a dirt cup  38  of the vacuum  10 . A pleated filter  39  (showing the topmost portion only) travels across the length of the cone  36  at its center. Larger particles are first separated from the air stream that travels around the exterior of the cone  36 . These particles fall to the bottom of the dirt cup  38 . The pleated filter then filters the smaller particles on the interior of the cone  36 . A spacer  41  is placed inside the cone  36  so that the cone  36  and the pleated filter can both maintain a secure position until they are accessed. The suction intake hose  30  forms along the internal portion of the wall of the cyclonic assembly  18  to carry air to the cone  36 . A hose that is truncated at a sharp 90° can increase the number of clogs in the hose or decrease the air flow. Therefore, the airstream in the present invention travels a gradual 90° from the suction intake hose  30  to the cyclonic assembly  18 . 
   The bottom half of the cyclonic assembly  18  is shown in  FIG. 10 . A filter cage  26  provides a means for the air to be discharged from the vacuum cleaner  10 . It is envisioned that a “high efficiency particulate air filter” or HEPA filter (as defined by the United States Department of Energy) or another high efficiency filter can be placed within the filter cage  26  to ensure that the airstream is filtered one last time before it is discharged. The filter can be replaced by accessing the interior of the filter cage  26  through the gate  28  door. A push lock  42  releases the gate  26  so that a user is provided access to the interior of the filter cage  26  to removably change the filter. The motor  45  is housed at the bottom portion of the cyclonic assembly  18  behind the filter cage  26 . Because the air flowing through the motor is twice filtered, there is no risk of any large objects jamming the motor blades and, as such, there is no risk that a jam will result in decreases in the suction or in the efficiency of the vacuum  10 . Another advantage to the motor&#39;s placement is that a person will not have to expend additional effort pushing and pulling the weight of a motor housed on the top portion when vacuuming. 
   The bottom half of the rear portion of the vacuum cleaner  10  is shown in  FIG. 11 , wherein an on/off switch  44  is provided on the power brush portion  12 . The on/off switch  44  is shown as a rocker type switch, but can be similar to any conventional switching means as used in otherwise conventional vacuums. The vacuum cleaner  10  is provided power by means of an electric power cord  32  that extends to a nearby outlet (not shown). The power cord  32  wraps around a cord reel  46  when the vacuum is not being used. Similarly, a recess  48  at the top of the cyclonic assembly  18 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 , can receive a hose attachment (not shown) for the vacuuming of staircases, shelves and other hard to reach surfaces as is generally known in the art. 
   The components of the power brush portion  12  of the vacuum cleaner  10  are shown in  FIG. 12  in greater detail. It is similar to other power brushes in appearance, but incorporates features that improve on the functional performance of the present invention. A moving bumper  50  is one feature that improves over other vacuum cleaners available in the art. The bumper  50  slidingly reciprocates, thereby opening a collection slot formed between the bumper  50  and the front portion of the housing of the power foot  12 . This slot opens to collect dust at the base boards or the edges of furniture that are typically difficult to reach or inefficiently cleaned. It is envisioned that the moving bumper  50  is either a nylon or a nylon overmolded with a rubber surface, or other materials such that the bumper  50  will not scratch or dent the woods or the furniture it bumps. The timing cog  52  and the belt components are similar to those in other vacuums; however, they engage the improved brushrolls  34 . As seen, the brushrolls  34  are split such as to form two separate lateral brushrolls  34 . In such a manner, a user can remove each brushroll  34  for easy cleaning by pulling out the entire sleeve. The sleeve can be pulled out by removing the caps  54 , held by means of a bayonette fitting, placed on the ends of the sleeves. It is further envisioned that either reusable or disposable brushrolls  34  can be utilized for easier and less costly maintenance. 
   Other vacuums do not evenly collect dust when they are pushed back and forth from vertical to horizontal positions. The present invention alleviates this inefficiency by providing a cyclonic portion that maintains a vertical position. This design accomplishes an even-cleaning over the entire floor space. 
   OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The preferred embodiment of the vertical cyclonic vacuum of the present invention operates similar to other upright vacuum cleaners except that its design provides for greater efficiency and a more thorough cleaning. This is accomplished by means of a cyclonic body portion that is pivotally attached to the frame so that it can maintain a vertical position when the vacuum is pushed forward and pulled backward in the motions common to vacuuming a floor space. A filter assembly working in conjunction with the cyclonic separation process ensures a higher efficiency. The preferred embodiment comprises a cyclonic assembly that separates large particles by means of a cyclonic separation process, a pleated filter that filters smaller particles and a HEPA filter that filters the remaining minute particles before the air is discharged. 
   A person can utilize the vertical cyclonic vacuum similar to other upright cleaners to clean a floor space. The power brush will vacuum any open floor space or it will reach approximately 1.5 feet under tables and other furniture. When the visible dirt cup or container appears full, a person can access the dirt collection cup to empty it. Similarly, the disposable cone and the filters can all be inexpensively replaced when their uses are maximized. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.