Oreck Holdings, LLC

James F McCain

Michael E Embree

Terrance M Roberts

Christopher M Paterson

Paul A Moshenrose

Charles W Reynolds

William G Fish

An apparatus and method for transporting a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an intake body having an intake opening configured to receive the flow of air into particulates. An airflow propulsion device is coupled to the intake opening to draw the flow through the intake opening and through a flow passage having an approximately constant flow area. The flow continues through one or more conduits from the propulsion device to a filter element housed in a filter housing where the particulates are separated from the flow of air.

Balanced flow vacuum cleaner

Belt-mounted vacuum apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a belt-mounted vacuum apparatus includes a belt member adapted to engage about an operator's waist, a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member, and a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and spaced apart from the dirt receptacle. The vacuum unit is operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle. In alternate embodiments, the vacuum unit may be spaced apart from the dirt receptacle by a small distance, or may be positioned on opposite sides of the operator. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a belt member having a stiffened portion. The stiffened portion may, for example, comprise an outer shell. Alternately, the belt member may also include a flexible, padded layer that engages with the operator's waist. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus includes a belt member, a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and located at an accessible location on the belt member, and a vacuum unit. The dirt receptacle may be located proximate a front side of the operator's waist, or along a left or right side of the operator's waist, or at any other accessible location on the belt member.

Belt-mounted vacuum apparatus and methods

An apparatus and method for separating particulates from a flow of air and particulates in a vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a removable vacuum cleaner filter having a flange portion with a flange aperture. A flexible, porous filter element portion is attached to the flange portion and is elongated along a filter axis. The filter element portion has a generally constant cross-sectional area when intersected by a plane generally perpendicular to the filter axis.

Vacuum cleaner and method of operation

An apparatus and method for moving a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a rotary propulsion device having a rotatable hub with a plurality of vanes. The flow area between the vanes can be approximately constant from a region adjacent the hub to a region spaced apart from the hub. A housing is disposed about the vanes and the flow of air and particulates can enter the housing through a single inlet aperture and exit the housing through two spaced apart outlet apertures. The vanes can be arranged on the hub such that when one vane is centered relative to one of the outlet apertures, the vane closest to the other outlet aperture is offset from the center of that aperture to control the noise generated by the propulsion device.

Apparatus and method for moving a flow of air and particulate through a vacuum cleaner

Method for drawing a flow of air and particulates into a vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaner inner bag

An apparatus and method for transporting a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner. The apparatus can include a manifold with two inlet ports that collect two separate streams of the flow, combine the streams, and direct the combined flow toward a filter element through a single outlet port. The flow can expand within the manifold between the inlet ports and the outlet ports to decelerate the flow. The manifold can also include a storage receptacle for storing a belt used to drive a roller brush of the vacuum cleaner.

Balanced flow vacuum cleaner bag interface

An apparatus and method for housing a filter element of a vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a housing body elongated along a housing axis. The housing body can include a partially porous material clamped at an upper end to an upper Support and at a lower end to a lower support. The upper and lower supports support the upper housing body relative to the vacuum cleaner. The housing body further includes an aperture for receiving a filter element and can have a generally constant cross-sectional area when intersected by a plane approximately perpendicular to the housing axis.

Vacuum cleaner outer bag

An apparatus and method for transporting a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner. The apparatus can include an airflow propulsion device that draws the flow through an intake aperture and propels the flow through two upwardly-extending conduits toward a filter element housed in a filter housing. The conduits can have generally smooth internal walls and a combined flow area less than the flow area of the intake aperture to accelerate the flow upwardly toward the filter element.

Growing community of inventors

Pass Christian, MS, United States of America

James F McCain