US 12,441,537 B2
Dust and allergen control for surface cleaning apparatus
Wayne Ernest Conrad, Hampton (CA)
Assigned to Omachron Intellectual Property Inc., Hampton (CA)
Filed by Omachron Intellectual Property Inc., Hampton (CA)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/584,013.
Application 16/584,013 is a continuation of application No. 15/393,003, filed on Dec. 28, 2016, granted, now 10,464,746.
Prior Publication US 2020/0017294 A1, Jan. 16, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65F 1/14 (2006.01); A47L 9/10 (2006.01); A47L 9/12 (2006.01); A47L 9/16 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); B65F 1/10 (2006.01); B65F 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 1/14 (2013.01) [A47L 9/106 (2013.01); A47L 9/12 (2013.01); A47L 9/16 (2013.01); A47L 9/1683 (2013.01); A47L 9/2873 (2013.01); B65F 1/105 (2013.01); B65F 1/1607 (2013.01); A47L 2201/024 (2013.01); B65F 2210/129 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising a vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt collection region and an apparatus for receiving dirt from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner, the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner has an openable door, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an air flow passage from an inlet port to a clean air outlet, the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is removably positionable in air flow communication with the inlet port;
(b) an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the inlet port, the air treatment member comprising an apparatus chamber having a chamber air outlet, the apparatus chamber comprising an openable portion moveable with respect to a stationary portion between a closed position in which the apparatus is operable to withdraw dirt from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner and an open position in which the apparatus chamber is opened and emptiable other than through the inlet port; and
(c) a motor and fan assembly permanently mounted as part of the apparatus and positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the chamber air outlet and upstream of the clean air outlet,
wherein the apparatus is configured to be free standing on a floor, and when the apparatus is standing on the floor the apparatus has an upper end which has the inlet port, and
wherein, when the openable portion is in the open position, the stationary portion has the chamber air outlet and a volume and, when the openable portion is in the closed position, the openable portion partially defines the volume, and
wherein the airflow passage comprises an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion extending from the inlet port downwardly through the volume of the stationary portion to an upstream side of the chamber air outlet, the downstream portion extending from the upstream side of the chamber air outlet to the clean air outlet, and
wherein, when the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner is positioned to be in air flow communication with the apparatus and when the system is in an emptying mode of operation:
(1) a dirt flow path extends from the inlet port to the apparatus chamber whereby heavier dirt travels due to gravity from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner to the apparatus chamber; and,
(2) the motor and fan assembly generates a flow of air from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner and along the air flow passage that assists in conveying lighter dirt from the dirt collection region of the vacuum cleaner downward through the dirt flow path to the apparatus chamber, the flow of air travels along the upstream portion of the airflow passage in the absence of passing through a physical filtration member and the flow of air subsequently travelling along the downstream portion of the airflow passage passes through the chamber air outlet and a physical filtration member to the motor and fan assembly.