US 11,718,275 B2
Grill and flapper valve for a vacuum cleaner assembly
Neil N. Norell, Candor, NY (US); and Michael Z. Yurko, Endicott, NY (US)
Assigned to SHOP VAC CORPORATION, Williamsport, PA (US)
Filed by SHOP VAC CORPORATION, Williamsport, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/545,737.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/723,355, filed on Aug. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0062223 A1, Feb. 27, 2020
Int. Cl. B60S 1/64 (2006.01); A47L 9/14 (2006.01); A47L 9/24 (2006.01); A47L 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60S 1/64 (2013.01) [A47L 7/0076 (2013.01); A47L 9/149 (2013.01); A47L 9/1409 (2013.01); A47L 9/248 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum cleaner assembly configured to be mounted in a vehicle, the vacuum cleaner assembly comprising:
a vacuum module configured to draw a vacuum;
a collector module configured to collect debris and operatively coupled to the vacuum module, the collector module having a canister assembly including an intake port, an output port, and a flapper valve coupled to the intake port;
an elbow assembly coupling the vacuum module to the collector module, the elbow assembly having an intake end attached to the output port of the canister assembly and a foam section disposed on a grill insert for maintaining the foam section in place, the foam section and the grill insert disposed within the elbow assembly,
where, upon removal of the canister assembly from the collector module, the flapper valve moves to a closed position over the intake port of the canister assembly to keep debris contained in the canister assembly, and the grill insert and the foam section remain in place in the intake end of the elbow assembly, and
where the grill insert is disposed in an angled position relative to the intake end within the elbow assembly to maintain the foam section in place within the elbow assembly and the foam section disposed closer to an opening in the intake end of the elbow assembly than the grill insert.
 
12. A vacuum cleaner assembly configured to be mounted in a vehicle, the vacuum cleaner assembly comprising:
a vacuum unit configured to draw a vacuum;
a collector configured to collect debris and operatively coupled to the vacuum unit, the collector having a liner and a canister assembly configured to be disposed on the liner, the canister assembly having an intake port, an output port, and a flapper valve attached to the intake port;
where, upon removal of the canister assembly from the collector, the flapper valve moves to a closed position to keep debris contained in the canister assembly, and
wherein, when the canister assembly is lowered into the liner of the collector, the flapper valve is disposed in a fully open position, and a tab of the flapper valve contacts an angled portion of the liner, forcing the projection of the moveable member of the flapper valve to become detached from a locking member.