The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 07, 2000
David Di Nunzio, Mentor, OH (US);
Paul D. Stephens, Cleveland Heights, OH (US);
Charles Thur, Mentor, OH (US);
Michael F. Wright, Stow, OH (US);
Victor R. Younger, Parma, OH (US);
Royal Appliance Mfg. Co., Glenwillow, OH (US);
Abstract
An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a wheel chamber defined in the housing, and a rotatable wheel mounted in the wheel chamber. The wheel has protrusions which cause the wheel to rotate due to inlet air flow. The wheel further has markings which gradually increase in size along an outside perimeter of the wheel. The markings indicate movement of the wheel. An air inlet is formed adjacent a first end of the housing. An air passageway is formed within the housing adjacent the rotatable wheel and the air inlet. The air passageway is curved to facilitate air flow along the protrusions of the wheel. A valve is mounted within the housing adjacent the air passageway. The valve has a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure. An air outlet is formed in the housing. A window portion partially encloses the wheel within the wheel chamber. The window allows viewing of the wheel from outside of the housing.