Abstract:
An upright vacuum cleaner having a clam shell construction is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner has a main casing to which a canister body containing the dust separation apparatus and dust collection apparatus is removably mounted. The canister is separable from the main casing to facilitate emptying of the contents of the dust collection apparatus. A latching mechanism is provided to facilitate easy removal and re-attachment of the canister.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaning device and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner having a releasable bin.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A typical upright vacuum cleaner comprises a main casing, which houses a dust separation apparatus, a cleaner head pivotally mounted to the main casing and a handle attached to the main casing for moving the device on a set of wheels over a floor. This configuration has gained wide acceptance for domestic upright vacuum cleaners irrespective of the mode of dust separation used. Vacuum cleaners of this type typically employ filter bags (and other types of physical filtration) or cyclonic filtration to remove dust and dirt particles from the airflow generated by the device. These means of dust separation may be used either alone or in conjunction with one another.  
           [0003]    Irrespective of the means of dust separation employed, however, the collected dirt and dust must ultimately be emptied from the device. Typically this involves removing a portion of the main casing (i.e. an access panel) to provide access to a dust collector to be emptied or replaced. In some cases, the portion of the main casing removed also functions as the dust collector itself. In all cases, though, it is typical that the access panel and/or dust collector is located close to the ground, which requires the user to stoop or bend over to operate the release mechanism. Easy removal and replacement is also hindered by the fact that the removable portion(s) must be sealed and tightly secured in place while the device is in operation to ensure minimal air leakage. This design consideration typically results in a panel or collector which is difficult to remove and/or replace.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The latching mechanism of the present invention provides an easily operable and ergonomic mechanism which minimizes user time and frustration in removing and replacing a canister body on a main casing of the vacuum cleaner. The result is a device which has a removable components what are easily sealable by the manufacturer and easily operated by the user. The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaning device comprising a main casing having a handle extending from an upper end thereof and a cleaning head pivotally mounted to a lower end thereof, a body having a dust separation apparatus and a dust collection apparatus disposed substantially therein, and a latching mechanism adapted to realisably retain the body on the main casing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings which show articles made according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the front of the main casing of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the front of the main casing of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the canister partially removed therefrom;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 4, shown from a different angle;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective rear view of the removable canister of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 taken along the lines  7 - 7 ;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 a  is an enlarged sectional view of the latch assembly of FIG. 7, shown in the disengaged position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 b  is an enlarged sectional view of the latch assembly of FIG. 7, shown in the engaged position;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch assembly of the present invention with a portion thereof broken away to show detail;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch assembly from a different angle with a portion thereof broken away to show detail; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the canister according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    A vacuum cleaner incorporating the present invention is shown generally in the figures at  10 . Typically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upright vacuum cleaner  10  has a main casing  12 , cleaning head  14  pivotally mounted to main casing  12 , a handle  16  for manually moving vacuum cleaner  10  over a surface on wheels (which preferably include front wheels, not shown, and rear wheels  18 ), and an optional lifting handle  20  for carrying vacuum cleaner  10 . In accordance with the present invention, main casing  12  has a canister body  22  (FIG. 6) mounted thereto which contains the dust separation mechanism. The dust separation mechanism, preferably includes a dust separation apparatus  24  and dust collection apparatus  26 . Canister body  22  is removably retained on main casing  12  in part by a latch assembly  28 . Vacuum  10  may optionally include a final filter  30 , such as a HEPA filter.  
         [0019]    The internal configuration of vacuum cleaner  10  may be typical of known devices. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, vacuum cleaner  10  has at least one dirty air inlet (not shown), positioned adjacent the floor in base  32  of cleaning head  14 , and an inlet conduit leading from the dirty air inlet to dust separation apparatus  24 . Likewise, one skilled in the art will understand that vacuum cleaner  10  has a clean air outlet conduit (e.g.  60  as shown in FIG. 4), for removing cleaned air from dust separation apparatus  24  for expulsion from vacuum cleaner  10 . A vacuum source, typically an electric fan and motor assembly, is provided to induce the air flow through the system and is typically located in cleaning head  14 , although placement of the fan and motor assembly in other locations within the device is known.  
         [0020]    Dust separation apparatus  24  may comprise any means for separating particles (e.g. dirt and dust) from a fluid flow (e.g. air), and dust collection apparatus  26  may be any dust collection means suited to the dust separation means employed. In this embodiment, dust separation apparatus  24  comprises a cyclonic separator  40  and dust collection apparatus  26  is a transparent, cylindrical bin  42 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that either a single- or multi-stage cyclonic apparatus may be employed, either alone or in combination with other separation means (e.g. physical filtration members and/or electrostatic filtration). In an alternate embodiment dust separation apparatus  24  and dust collection apparatus  26  may comprise a filter bag and housing as are known in the art.  
         [0021]    Typically, a cyclonic separator  40  has an air inlet (e.g.  44 ) in communication with a dirty air stream, e.g., from cleaning head  14  via inlet duct  54  and second aperture  58  for introducing “dirty” air to separator  40  in a manner causing a cyclonic flow therein (e.g. air inlet  44  is a tangential air inlet). The cyclonic flow deposits particles in collector bin  42  and an air exit (e.g.  46 ) in separator  40  delivers “clean” air to an outlet conduit (e.g.  60 ) for expulsion from vacuum cleaner  10 .  
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, canister body  22  is generally cylindrical, with an upper end  50  and a lower end  52 . Latch assembly  28  on upper end  50  securely maintains canister body in position with respect to main casing  12 . Main casing  12  has an inlet duct  54  provided internally thereof which defines a dirty air passage leading upwardly from cleaning head  14  and communicating with dust separation apparatus  24  via first aperture  56  on the inner surface of main casing  12  (see FIG. 4) which communicates with a second aperture  58  in canister body  22  (see FIGS. 5 and 6) leading to the air inlet (not shown) of cyclone separator  40  when canister body  22  is secured in position. Main casing  12  also has an outlet duct  60  provided internally thereof which defines a clean air outlet passage leading downwardly from cyclone separator  40  to the vacuum motor (not shown) in cleaning head  14 . Outlet duct  60  communicates with cyclone separator  40  via a third aperture  62  in canister body  22 , which is in communication with cyclone air exit  46 , and a fourth aperture  64  in main casing  12  when canister body  22  is secured in position. It will be apparent that the air flow passages and their apertures may be located in different positions.  
         [0023]    A receiving bay  66  is defined between inlet duct  54  and outlet duct  60  for receiving canister body  22  in main casing  12 , with bay  66  being adapted to receive canister body  22  in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Receiving bay  66  is substantially concavely cylindrical, to matingly receive cylindrical canister body  22 , and has a base  68  (see FIGS. 5 and 7) with a locating pin  70  extending therefrom. Base  68  is adapted to receive lower end  52  of canister body  22 , which also has a dimple  72  for receiving at least a portion of locating pin  70  therein. Locating pin  70  and dimple  72  cooperate to secure and position lower end  52  of canister body  22  in receiving bay  66  and, together with latch assembly  28 , retain canister body  22  on main casing  12 . Base  68  may alternately utilize other alignment means known in the vacuum cleaner art.  
         [0024]    Latch assembly  28  is positioned adjacent upper end  50  of canister body  22  to permit a user to actuate latch mechanism, preferably without essentially any stooping or bending. For example, latch assembly  28  may be positioned on lifting handle  20 , near handle  16 . However, it will be appreciated that latch mechanism  28  could be positioned elsewhere on upper end  50 , e.g. top surface  48 . Referring to FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b , latch assembly  28  has a latch portion  80  mounted to main casing  12 , and a catch portion  82  mounted to canister body  22 . Latch portion  80  includes a pawl  84 , having a tooth  86 , which extends outwardly from the inner surface of receiving bay  66 . Latch portion  80  also has a lower skirt  110 , and a depending portion  112 . Depending portion  112  is spaced apart from tooth  86  of pawl  84  so that a recess  114  exists therebetween. Latch portion  80  also has an upper skirt portion  116 . Pawl  84  is moveable between a first position, in which it engages with latch portion  82  and a second position in which it is disengaged from latch portion  82 . While pawl  84  could be designed as a rocker switch, pawl  84  is preferably biased, preferably to the first position. To this end a resiliently deformable member (e.g. an elastomeric member, a compression spring on a tension spring) may be used. Referring to FIGS. 8 a ,  8   b , base  88  is provided distal to pawl  84 . A compression spring  92  extends between base  88  and lower skirt  110 . When pawl  84  is moved to the disengaged position, spring  92  is compressed. The compression in spring  92  biases base  88 , and pawl  84 , to the engaged position shown in FIG. 8 a.    
         [0025]    Catch portion  82  has a vertically extending lip  94 . Catch portion  82  further includes a release means  98  which acts on tooth  86  to move pawl  84  between its engaged and disengaged positions. Pawl  84  and tooth  86  may be of any construction which will cause pawl  84 /tooth  86  to move when acted upon by a longitudinal or rotational motion. Preferably, a longitudinal motion is used. For example a release cam  100 , which is movable between a disengaged position (see FIG. 8 a ) and an engaged position (see FIG. 8 b ) may be used. A biasing means  102  urges cam  100  to a disengaged position, e.g. upwardly. A button  106  permits manual operation of cam  100 . Biasing means  102  may be an elastomeric member or a spring. Biasing means may be a tension or compression spring. As shown in FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b , handle  20  is provided with a skirt  108 . Spring  104  extends between skirt  108  and button  106  to urge button  106  upwardly.  
         [0026]    When latch assembly  28  is assembled in the ‘latched’ position (FIG. 8 a ), pawl  84  extends past gap  96  so that tooth  86  and depending portion  112  engage lip  94  in recess  114 . Upper skirt portion  116  also abuts against button  106 . Spring  104  maintains cam  100  out of contact with tooth  86 . When button  106  is depressed to ‘unlatch’ latch assembly  28 , cam  100  pushes pawl  84  downwardly (FIG. 8 b ) so that tooth  86  is moved downwardly out of engagement with lip  94 , thereby permitting pawl  84  to be withdrawn from gap  96 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 11, collection apparatus  26  is separable from the remainder of canister body  22  to permit collected dust and dirt particles to be emptied therefrom such as into a garbage can located outside of a house. Dust separation apparatus  24  has a central post portion  120  which terminates at an end portion  122  which has a curvilinear slot  124  therein. Collection apparatus  26  has a central socket  126  with a pin  128  projecting internally therein. End portion  122  of central post  120  is insertable in socket  126 , and pin  128  is engageable with curvilinear slot  124  to provide a bayonet-mount assembly  118  to mount collection apparatus  26  to dust separation apparatus  24 . As will be understood by one skilled in the art, pin  128  and curvilinear slot  124  are adapted to permit dust collection apparatus  26  to be rotatable from a first position, in which dust collection apparatus  26  is securely attached to dust separation apparatus  24  by way of the interaction between pin  128  and curvilinear slot  124 , and a second position wherein dust collection apparatus  26  is releasable from dust separation apparatus  24  by releasing pin  128  from curvilinear slot  124  by moving dust collection apparatus  26  to said second position. A locating ring  130  is provided on a lower portion of dust separation apparatus  24  to position and secure upper lip  132  of dust collection apparatus  26  against dust separation apparatus  24  when canister body  22  is assembled as described above.  
         [0028]    Referring again to FIG. 1, in use vacuum  10  is operated by energizing the motor and fan assembly to activate an air flow stream through the device. Vacuum cleaner  10  is moved over a floor surface to be cleaned and dirt and dust is entrained in the airflow drawn into the device through cleaning head  14  and provided via intake duct  54  to dust separation apparatus  24 . The entrained dirt/dust is separated from the air flow by dust separation apparatus  24  and is deposited in dust collection apparatus  26 . The cleaned air is removed from the dust separation apparatus  24  and may be delivered via the outlet duct  60  to the motor to cool the motor, after which it is expelled from vacuum cleaner  10  though optional final filter  30 . When the floor is satisfactorily cleaned, the vacuum motor is deactivated by the user.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 8 b , to empty dust collection apparatus  26 , as will be periodically necessary, button  106  is manually depressed to move cam  100  downwardly to depress cam tooth  86  of pawl  84  out of engagement with lip  94 . This releases pawl  84  from lip  94  and permits pawl  84  to be withdrawn from gap  96  by grasping handle  20  (while button  106  is depressed), and then tipping upper end  50  of canister body  22  away from main casing  12  to pivot canister body  22  about locating pin  70  and disengage latch assembly  28  (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Canister body  22  is then lifted upwardly to disengage locating pin  70  from dimple  72  and canister body  22  is thus removed it from receiving bay  66 . It will be appreciated that bin  42  is still sealed. Collection bin  42  may then be moved to a desired location before it is opened by rotating bin  42  relative to the rest of canister body  22  to disengage bayonet-mount assembly  118  to release collection bin  42  from dust separation apparatus  24  (FIG. 11). Collection bin  42  is then inverted and emptied, and then re-assembled with canister body  22  and re-mounted in receiving bay  66  of main casing  12  by repeating the above steps in reverse order. When canister  22  is installed on main casing  12 , and latch assembly  28  is in this ‘latched’ position (FIG. 8 a ), upper skirt  116 , lower skirt  110  (through depending portion  112 ) and tooth  86  cooperate with lip  94  and button  106  to provide a secure connection between canister body  22  and main casing  12 . Locating pin  70  and dimple  72  at lower end  52  of canister body  22 , further secure and stabilize the connection.  
         [0030]    The latching mechanism of the present invention is advantageously positioned on vacuum cleaner  10  and adapted to permit the easy removal of canister body  22  from main casing  12  with minimal stooping or bending by the user. The latching device provides an easily operable and ergonomic mechanism which minimizes user time and frustration in removing and replacing canister body  22  on main casing  12 . The latching mechanism permits the canister body to be easily and reliably sealed in the latched position and therefore easy to operate.  
         [0031]    While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.