Emerson Electric Company

David R Hult

Jeffrey L Young

Mark J Tomasiak

Stuart V Holsten

Kiyoshi Hoshino

Joseph T Gierer

Christopher J Steger

Jeffery L Young

Donald M Kolehmainen

Jeff L Young

George P Tyree

A drain system for a wet/dry vacuum, including: a generally U-shaped dolly having wheels mounted thereon for rotation; a collection drum having an inside bottom surface defining a plane, the collection drum adapted to be mounted to the dolly; a drain opening defined by the collection drum, the drain opening defines an inside lower surface, the inside lower surface generally in line with the plane defined by the inside bottom surface of the collection drum and the drain opening being positioned generally opposite the closed end of the U-shaped dolly; and a cap having first and second ends, the first end adapted to mate with the drain opening in a sealed manner, the second end defines a member adapted to extend out from the collection drum, the member has a length sufficient to prevent the collection drum from completely tipping over.

Wet/dry vacuum drain system

Combined wet/dry vacuum cleaner dolly and accessory storage unit

Combined wet and dry vacuum cleaner

A wet/dry vac comprises a generally U-shaped dolly having wheels mounted thereon; a collection drum; a dolly; a lid coupled to the collection drum; a powerhead assembly coupled to the lid; an inlet port disposed in one of the lid or the collection drum; and a receptacle coupled to the input port. The dolly includes a collection drum, the dolly comprises a generally U-shaped member, which is adapted to have wheels mounted thereon, and at least two mounting members situated on either side of the open end of the U-shaped member. Each mounting member is adapted to mate with a corresponding mounting cavity defined by the collection drum. The dolly further includes a locking member adapted to snap into a locking cavity defined by the collection drum. The dolly further includes at least two extending members. Each extending member is adapted to mate with a recess defined by the collection drum.

Wet/dry vacuum dolly

A device for connecting a hose to an article, such as a wet/dry vacuum, includes a first member having first and second ends, with the first end adapted to be coupled to the hose. A receptacle has first and second ends. The first end of the receptacle is adapted to be mounted to the article, and the second end is adapted to be connected to the second end of the first member. A locking member is mounted on one of the first member or the receptacle for securing the first member to the receptacle, and at least one sealing member is situated about one of the second end of the first member or the second end of the receptacle. In one embodiment, the sealing member seals against an external surface of the receptacle, and in an alternative embodiment, the sealing member seals against an internal surface of the receptacle.

Secure hose locking device

A wet/dry vacuum appliance having a non-cylindrical collection canister is disclosed. In one embodiment, the collection canister has substantially cylindrical ends and substantially flatter sides. A collection canister lid is adapted to engage the canister around a top perimeter thereof, supporting the canister such that the lid cooperates with the canister to resist the collapse of the canister when subjected to vacuum forces resulting from operation of the vacuum.

Wet/dry vacuum with non-cylindrical canister

An improved muffler for vacuum cleaners and other product applications is disclosed. The muffler includes a muffler body or enlarged head with a smaller hollow shaft extending from an open end of the muffler body or enlarged head for attachment to an exhaust of a vacuum cleaner or other application. The smaller hollow shaft terminates short of a transverse end wall of the muffler body. The transverse end wall may be constructed as a separate cover element. A noise dampening element is positioned adjacent the transverse end wall and also along an inner circumferential wall of the muffler body in order to dampen noise transmitted from the vacuum cleaner exhaust that passes through the smaller hollow shaft into the muffler body for absorption by the noise dampening element prior to being diverted by the transverse end wall in an opposite direction through the open end of the muffler body.

Muffler

A two stage vacuum cleaner filter is disclosed. The filter includes a first stage outer filter extending in a closed circumferential path with a second stage inner filter located in immediate proximity to and within the first stage outer filter. Sealing elements for securing opposite ends of the first stage outer filter and second stage inner filter to each other are provided. The second stage inner filter stops particles that might leak through the first stage outer filter.

Two stage vacuum cleaner filter

Vacuum cleaner nozzle

Portable electric tool vac

A motor manufacturing and its method of assembly are disclosed. The motor includes lower and upper end frames with bearings, an armature assembly rotatably mounted in the bearings of the lower and upper end frames, and a winding field assembly supported between the lower and upper end frames and surrounding the armature assembly. The method includes the steps of inserting one end of the armature assembly into the bearing of the lower end frame, positioning the winding field assembly over the armature assembly while also stacking the winding field assembly on the lower end frame, stacking the upper end frame on the winding field assembly while also positioning an opposite end of the armature assembly into the bearing of the upper end frame, and securing the lower end frame, winding field assembly and upper end frame to each other. Motor brush and brush holder assemblies are also secured to the upper end frame in a novel releasable locking arrangement, in order to provide self compensating adjustment of the brushes relative to a commutator that surrounds the armature assembly.

Method of assembling an electric motor

A snap together wet nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The snap together wet nozzle includes an elongated U-shaped nozzle housing with closed ends including a connecting tube passageway for association with the vacuum cleaner. An elongated squeegee is mounted within the elongated U-shaped housing and is held in releasable locking engagement between a locking squeegee bar and the elongated U-shaped housing. The locking squeegee bar has a plurality of spaced squeegee prongs for reception within spaced complementary configuring openings in the elongated squeegee element, the spaced squeegee prongs being cooperatively engaged by a plurality of spaced prong receptacles formed in the elongated U-shaped nozzle housing. Complementary releasable locking means are associated with the elongated U-shaped nozzle housing and the locking squeegee bar for releasably holding the locking squeegee bar and associated elongated squeegee element relative to the elongated U-shaped nozzle housing.

Snap together wet nozzle

A portable hand held vacuum cleaner is disclosed as having a housing with a handle to lift and operate the vacuum cleaner, and a nozzle/debris container releasably locked to the housing. The housing contains a motor driven blower that draws air and debris (wet or dry) into the nozzle/debris container for depositing the debris therein, while allowing air to be exhausted through the blower and then through the housing to atmosphere. The blower is constructed with first and second jointly rotatable elements having a series of circumferentially spaced blower exhaust passageways and a transversely extending blower passageway adjacent the nozzle/debris container, for increased efficiency. A combined filter and seal is positioned in sealing engagement between the housing and the nozzle/debris container while affording filtering of debris from air between the nozzle/debris container and the blower in the housing. The housing is also capable of accommodating different multiple combinations of batteries with the motor and the size of the blower being increased to accommodate the increase in the number of batteries in the housing. For wet vacuuming, a squeegee with a wiper blade is available. Also, a one-piece push button facilitates operation and releasable locking/unlocking engagement of the housing relative to the nozzle/debris container.

Portable hand held vacuum cleaner

A portable hand held vacuum cleaner is disclosed as having a housing with a handle to lift and operate the vacuum cleaner, and a nozzle/debris container releasably locked to the housing. The housing contains a motor driven blower that draws air and debris (wet or dry) into the nozzle/debris container for depositing the debris therein, while allowing air to be exhausted through the blower and then through the housing to atmosphere. The blower is constructed with first and second jointly rotatable elements having a series of circumferentially spaced blower exhause passageways and a transversely extending blower passageway adjacent the nozzle/debris container, for increased efficiency. A combined filter and seal is positioned in sealing engagement between the housing and the nozzle/debris container while affording filtering of debris from air between the nozzle/debris container and the blower in the housing. The housing is also capable of accommodating different multiple combinations of batteries with the motor and the size of the blower being increased to accommodate the increase in the number of batteries in the housing. For wet vacuuming, a squeegee with a wiper blade is available. Also, a one-piece push button facilitates operation and releasable locking/unlocking engagement of the housing relative to the nozzle/debris container.

Growing community of inventors

St. Peters, MO, United States of America

David R Hult