Abstract:
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a housing for a vacuum filter assembly. The housing may include a top piece with an upper portion defining a top wall of a cavity and a generally circular perimeter forming a side wall of the cavity. The perimeter of the top piece may be configured to receive a filter member. An input aperture may extend through the top piece and may be arranged for communication with the cavity. A spindle may extend into the cavity from the top wall of the cavity such that a material drawn into the cavity by a vacuum force moves in a spiral vortex through the cavity about the spindle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/531,463, filed Nov. 3, 2014, and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,604,372 on Mar. 28, 2017, which application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/162,084, filed on Jun. 16, 2011, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,981, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a hair clipper filtering assembly and a method for clipping, removing shaved or clipped hair from the clipped site, and filtering the clipped hair. More specifically, the present invention is a disposable hair clipper filter assembly. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Clipping of hair is a common action and is often performed on sites which further require removal of the clipped hair. An example of such a site may be found in the surgical arena, in which the areas of incision on surgical patients may be shaved prior to invasive or surgical procedures to thereby remove hair that might harbor germs and thus serve as a source of contamination. Loose hair clippings that remain on the patient fall onto the sheets, covers and bed surroundings and must be picked up and removed. At present, the most common protocol for picking up the loose hair clippings is to press an adhesive backed material, usually tape, against the area where the clipped hair remains. This method is unsanitary, inefficient and misses many hair clippings, all of which are potentially harmful to the patient. Furthermore, adhesive tapes are not typically kept under sterile conditions. This increases the risk of spreading infectious contaminants through the surgical suite and possibly throughout the medical facility. In addition, patients may be allergic or otherwise reactive to the adhesive used in tape. Thus, there is a need for a more efficient, sanitary and cost effective method for clipping and hair removal. 
         [0004]    Clippers having a vacuum capability have been used with some success, but these often exacerbate the situation when, for example, vacuum filtration is inadequate, unsanitary, or requires frequent cleaning. In previously known vacuum arrangements, a filter bag or other collection structure may be arranged in-line with vacuum flow to receive the clipped hair. Known devices typically further require the filter bag or other known collection structure to be removed from the apparatus, emptied into a trash container, and reinstalled on the apparatus after each use, or while using in the event of a clogged filter. This practice is cumbersome and unsanitary. In contrast, the present disposable filter assembly may be removed from the vacuum hose and canister and entirely disposed of without the need for opening or reuse. Alternatively, the vacuum hose, nozzle and filter assembly may be removed from the canister for disposal. This greatly reduces the incidence of contamination. Further, the unique arrangement of the various components of the present assembly promotes filter life and reduces occurrences of filter clogging, as will be discussed below. 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    The present invention pertains to a filter assembly that is designed to securely attach to a vacuum apparatus and for use in conjunction with a hair clipper. The filter assembly preferably includes a housing having a top piece and a bottom piece. The assembly further includes a filter member. The components may be generally circular in shape. The top piece is preferably formed having a generally circular perimeter with an orifice located on the perimeter such that the orifice is adapted for tangential acceptance of a vacuum hose. The specific arrangement of components, including the tangential position of the orifice, creates a hair collecting vortex within the assembly when a vacuum source is attached and activated. This unique configuration promotes a more efficient and even accumulation of the cut hairs on the filter member, thereby increasing the longevity and effectiveness of the filter member. Further, the filter is placed between the top piece and the bottom piece to collect the cut hair, yet the filter is porous enough to allow enough air to pass through to create a sufficient vacuum. 
         [0006]    One benefit of the present filter assembly is that it may be easily removed from the vacuum apparatus after use and the entire assembly can be disposed of. This feature eliminates the need to open the assembly to clean the filter, thereby vastly reducing the mess and potential contamination associated with hair removal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a clipper vacuum system utilizing the filter system of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a filter system according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the system illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view similar to that of  FIG. 3 , but showing the system rotated to a bottom view. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the system shown in  FIG. 5  and taken along lines  7 - 7  thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8A  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the system shown in  FIG. 5  and taken along line  8  thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8B  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 8A , but illustrating an alternative embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 7 , but illustrating movement of clipped hair within the system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a top view further illustrating movement shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 9 , but illustrating further accumulation of clipped hair on the filler. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 10 , but illustrating continued movement within the system during accumulation of clipped hair on the filter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0021]    As seen in the view of  FIG. 1 , the present invention pertains to a filter assembly  10  that is designed to securely attach to a vacuum apparatus  12  and for use in conjunction with a hair clipper  14 . As illustrated, a clipper  14  may be used to initially remove hair from a target site, such as a surgical area. A vacuum apparatus  12 , such as the one depicted in  FIG. 1 , draws the cut hair through a vacuum hose  16  and into a canister  18 . 
         [0022]    As illustrated, in  FIGS. 2-4 , an assembly  10  according to the present invention preferably includes a housing  20  having a top piece  22  and a bottom piece  24 . A filter member  26  is positioned within the housing  20  and is held in place by the top and bottom pieces  22 ,  24 . As seen, the various components  22 ,  24 ,  26  preferably have a generally circular perimeter. As is further illustrated, the circular perimeter  28  of the top piece  22  includes a tubular input aperture  30  which is arranged to tangentially communicate with the interior  32  of the assembly  10 . As seen, the input aperture  30  is further adapted to accept a vacuum hose  16  from a vacuum apparatus  12 . The housing  20  may be manufactured by injection molding or other acceptable means. The top and bottom pieces  22 ,  24  may be preferably assembled by use of a snap fit, but it is to be understood that other assembly means may be used such as sonic welding, gluing, or screwing, by way of non-limiting example. 
         [0023]    As viewed specifically in  FIGS. 9-12 ., the unique tangential arrangement of input aperture  30  causes the cut hairs  34  to move in a spiral, hair collecting vortex in the direction of arrows A. As illustrated, the spiral may move about a supporting spindle  36 , or alternatively, a spindle may be absent, as is seen in  FIG. 8B . The movement of cut hair  34  in the vortex-like or spiral movement within the assembly  10  promotes better distribution of accumulated cut hairs  34  on the filter member  26 . Furthermore, as the cut hairs  34  continue to move in a vortex-like manner in the direction of arrows A, the filter member  26 , which is placed between the top piece  22  and the bottom piece  24 , collects the cut hair  34 . As further seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the tangential arrangement of input aperture  30  and the resultant movement in the direction of arrows A also causes the cut hairs  34  to initially accumulate on an outer edge  50  of the filter member  26  surface  48  and, as collection continues, to continually accumulate closer to an inner filter portion  52 . The progression of cut hair  34  accumulation, from outer filter edge  50  to inner filter portion  52  during hair collection, increases filter  26  longevity by maximizing filter member  26  usage through incremental collection. Further, as the surface  48  of filter member  26  becomes covered with cut hair  34 , filter pressure will drop; however cut hair  34  accumulation from outer filter edge  50  to inner filter portion  52  as is achieved with the present assembly  10 , will minimize filter pressure decreases during use. This will further increase the longevity of the assembly  10 . 
         [0024]    The filter member  26  used with the present system preferably has a porous characteristic adequate to allow enough air to pass through in the direction of arrows B to thereby create suction sufficient to continue the procedure, while maintaining cut hair collection capabilities. An example of a filter member  26  for use with the present assembly may be one designed to filter out various sized particles, e.g. bacteria and virus, with different percentage of effectiveness, with a preferred filter member  26  having a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of about 16. 
         [0025]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8A, 8B  it may be seen that the bottom piece  24  of the assembly  10  may include a top surface  38  facing the filter member  26 , and an outer, bottom surface  40 . The respective surfaces  38 ,  40  further define a vacuum aperture  42  there through. As seen, the vacuum aperture  42  is adapted for communication with a vacuum canister  18  which provides the vacuum source. The vacuum aperture  42  further enables the assembly  10  to function in line with the hose member  16  to collect the hair clippings  34 . The top surface  38  may be further provided with a plurality of supporting ribs  44 . As shown, the ribs  44  provide support for the filter member  26 . As seen specifically in  FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B, and 9 , the ribs  44  may be formed to further provide interstices  46  between a supported filter member  26  and the aperture  42  to thereby allow vacuum forces exerted by the vacuum apparatus  12  to be applied fully across the entire filter member  26  surface  48 . This action further encourages even distribution of cut hair  34  over the filter member  26  surface  48 . 
         [0026]    The present invention may further include a cut hair collection method including: 
         [0027]    providing a vacuum source proximate; the cut hair; 
         [0028]    providing a filter assembly having a top piece and a bottom piece defining an interior cavity, and a filter member located within the cavity, the assembly having a generally circular perimeter; 
         [0029]    providing the circular perimeter of the top piece with a tubular input aperture arranged to tangentially communicate with the interior, the input aperture being adapted to accept a vacuum hose; 
         [0030]    providing the bottom piece with a top surface facing the filter member, and an outer, bottom surface; the surfaces further being provided with a vacuum aperture there through; 
         [0031]    applying a vacuum to the assembly interior through the vacuum aperture; 
         [0032]    moving the cut hairs through the input aperture and into the assembly; 
         [0033]    circulating the cut hairs in a collecting vortex; and 
         [0034]    collecting the cut hair on the filter member. 
         [0035]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.