BACKGROUND OF THE INTENTION
[0001] Field of the Invention. The present invention generally relates to vacuum cleaning machines, and more particularly,
to systems for keeping vacuum cleaning machines operable.
[0002] Background Information. Commercial cleaning services can be and often are big businesses. Larger cleaning
services may have dozens of crews cleaning numerous commercial buildings at all hours
of the day and night. The work loads may be scheduled right down to the frequency
or day of the week that certain tasks, such as dusting and vacuuming are performed.
Everything has to run like clockwork, and if it doesn't, and schedules are disrupted,
large and sometimes lucrative cleaning contracts may be lost to a competitor.
[0003] Vacuum cleaners are used to clean floors, carpets, window sills, furniture and a
host of other things. A larger commercial cleaning service may possess hundreds of
vacuum cleaners. What applies to commercial cleaning services also applies to institutions
such as school districts, hospitals, air lines, cruise ship, government agencies,
manufacturers, and retail business. These entities may also have tight cleaning schedules
and own numerous vacuum cleaners.
[0004] There are different types of vacuum cleaners which are used for different applications.
There are different types of vacuum cleaners. These include regular upright and canister
vacuums, wet/dry and cyclonic filters, and HEPA filters, amongst others. Others use
unique motors because of specialized power sources such as those found on cruise ships
and airplanes. One of the more popular vacuum cleaners used by the commercial cleaning
services and institutions enumerated above is the backpack vacuum cleaner. Backpack
vacuum cleaners typically provide a backpack frame supported by shoulder straps and
a hip belt similar to those found on camping backpacks. A vacuum cleaner, generally
cylindrical in shape with a flow through vacuum pump and motor draws a suction through
a filter bag is carried on the frame. The vacuum hose and tools extend out and around
to the front when the backpack vacuum cleaner is carried on the back of the operator.
They are popular because they are easily carried from floor to floor and in and out
of buildings, and because they aren't dragged across the floor when in use, where
they can and often do hit furniture, store fixtures, equipment and the like.
[0005] A major problem associated with the operation of vacuum cleaning devices has been
the problem of downtime associated with vacuum cleaner malfunctions. Typically, in
such a setting, a broken vacuum cleaner results in a cleaning crew, or individual
cleaning, not being able to finish the cleaning job, thus disrupting carefully crafted
work schedules. Such a possibility of breakage often results in businesses and cleaning
crews needing to purchase extra vacuum cleaning systems in order to have backups.
The cost and inconvenience of needing extra vacuums when only a certain number are
needed does not tend to be efficient.
[0006] Another problem associated with the operation of vacuum cleaning devices has been
the need to have a plurality of cleaning devices to cover all of an operator's cleaning
needs. For instance, an operator may choose to own a regular vacuum, a wet/dry vacuum,
a cyclonic filter vacuum, and a HEPA filter vacuum. For example, a theoretical manufacturing
plant may have need for two wet/dry vacuums in parts of the plant, a HEPA vacuum cleaner
in the "clean room" and a regular vacuum for the carpets and furniture in the front
office. In this example, if the HEPA vacuum cleaner motor were to fail, no other vacuum
cleaner in the inventory of this theoretical manufacturing plant can be substituted
for it, and all cleaning operations in the "clean room" will cease until the HEPA
unit can be repaired or replaced.
[0007] What is needed is a vacuum cleaning system whereby the defective component of the
vacuum can be quickly and easily removed and replaced with a working component, thereby
reducing downtime and improving overall efficiency of the cleaning system.
[0008] What is also needed is the ability to quickly change a single vacuum cleaner between
various filtering modes.
[0009] Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part
in the description as follows, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by a practice of the
invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of
the instrumentalities and accommodations particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a modular backpack vacuum cleaner
and system for maintaining the operability of a vacuum cleaners and for increasing
usability. This system is particularly useful when the suction creating means of a
vacuum cleaner fails and when the user wants to switch from a first type of vacuuming
to a second type of vacuuming (for instance, from wet/dry vacuuming to HEPA vacuuming).
[0011] The system requires locating the vacuum cleaner suction creating means in a first
power unit chamber. Preferably, the suction creating means is further comprised of
an electric motor which powers an impeller, This impeller, when so powered, establishes
a suction. This suction creates an airflow in an intake port located in the power
unit chamber and out an exhaust port of the power unit chamber. The electric motor
is connected to a power source through use of an electrical connecting means, and
an on/off switch may also be present for turning the motor on and off.
[0012] The vacuum cleaning system further comprises a separate filter unit chamber. Located
within this filter unit chamber will be vacuum cleaner filter means. The filter unit
chamber will have an intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, and an exhaust port for venting air filtered by the filtering means into
the power unit intake port. The intake port will be able to cooperate with a vacuum
hose through a vacuum hose attachment means and preferably a filter will be used for
separating, filtering, collecting and storing said particulate substance. The power
unit's chamber will be able to be releasably attached and detached from the filter
unit chamber.
[0013] Thus, there are two main times when a user might want to detach the power unit from
filter unit: when the user wants to use a different filter unit and when the vacuum
cleaner motor fails and the user wants to switch the malfunctioning power unit with
a working one.
[0014] To switch filter units, the user would only have to detach the power unit chamber
from the first filter unit; and then install the power unit chamber on the second
filter unit.
[0015] To change power units the user would detach the chamber containing the malfunctioning
unit from the working unit. For instance, if the suction creating means failed, the
user would detach the power unit chamber from the filter unit chamber. Then the user
would connect a replacement power unit chamber in lieu thereof, thereby making the
vacuum cleaner system once again operable. The defective component can then be easily
serviced either by the user or by shipping or delivering the chamber in question to
a servicing center.
[0016] Still other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those
skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and
described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration
of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing
from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment
are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017]
Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded side perspective view of the first embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of the second embodiment of the present
invention as shown in Fig. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention is a modular backpack vacuum cleaner and systems for maintaining
the operability of vacuum cleaners and for increasing their usability.
[0019] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 comprises
two main parts. The first part is a filter unit 12, and the second part is motor unit
14. The filter unit 12 and the motor unit 14 are able to be releasably attached and
detached from one another. It is preferred that the filter unit chamber intake port
32 be able to cooperate with a hose attachment means 33 for attaching to a vacuum
hose 35, as is the standard in the use of backpack vacuum cleaners.
[0020] In Fig. 2, the vacuum cleaning device 10 of Fig. 1 is shown in exploded view with
the filter unit chamber 12 detached from the power unit chamber 14. As can be seen
in this figure, the filter unit chamber 12 further comprises a filter unit chamber
intake port 32, and a cap 41. The filter unit's chamber intake port 32 in this embodiment
is located within the cap 41, however in other embodiments, the filter unit chamber
intake port 32 may be located in other locations on the filter unit chamber 12 itself.
[0021] The power unit chamber 14 contains the suction creating means for creation of suction
through an attached filter unit chamber 12. Use of such a suction creating means is
normal for the vacuuming industry. The power unit chamber 14 has a power unit chamber
intake port 37 and a power unit exhaust port 39. The suction creating means, such
as an electric vacuum motor, is used to draw air through the power unit intake port
37 and out the power unit exhaust port 39. When attached to a filter unit chamber
12, air carrying dust and dirt is able to be drawn by the suction creating means through
a filter means and exhausted.
[0022] The power unit chamber 14 is able to releasably connect with the filter unit chamber
12. In this embodiment, it can be seen that the power unit chamber 14 contains threadings
that are received in a threaded recess of the filter unit chamber 12. As such, the
filter unit would be screwed onto the motor unit, or vice versa.
[0023] What is envisioned is having multiple filter unit chambers able to be used for different
purposes. For instance, a filter unit chamber could be created with a HBPA filter,
and a filter unit chamber could be created with wet/dry filter. In order to convert
the vacuum cleaning system from a HEPA vacuuming system to a wet/dry vacuuming system,
the user would merely have to detach the power unit chamber 14 from the filter unit
chamber containing the HEPA, filter and, in lieu thereof, attach a filter unit chamber
containing a wet/dry filtration system. There are many different types of filter types
which could be put in separate filter unit chambers to expand the usability of the
device.
[0024] Now referring to Fig. 3, shown is another embodiment of the device 10'. This embodiment
shows that the attachment of the filter unit chamber 12' to the power unit chamber
14' can be done through use of a draw catch.
[0025] The filter unit chamber 12' contains at least one filter means for separating, filtering,
collecting and storing suspended particulate substances. The filter unit chamber 12'
has at least one intake port 32 and at least one exhaust port 34 (shown in Fig. 4).
The filter means (not shown) itself is located between the filter unit chamber intake
port 32 and the filter unit chamber exhaust port 32. It is envisioned that the filter
means can be cloth, paper, or other type of filter. The filter means may also be a
cyclonic or other system which does not use a cloth, paper or other filter. The filter
means could be HEPA, or wet/dry as well.
[0026] Referring now to Fig. 4, the filter unit chamber 12' is able to releasably attach
to the power unit chamber through a releasable filter unit chamber unit connection
means 43 as discussed above. This releasable connection means 43 can be any method
of releasable attachment, including pins, compression fittings, band fittings (as
shown), and screw-type threading.
[0027] In the present invention, the power unit chamber 14 further comprises a suction creating
means for creating an air flow into the power unit chamber intake port 34 and out
of the power unit chamber exhaust port 39. The suction creating means can be any means,
including but not limited to, vacuum motors. When used in conjunction with an attached
filter unit chamber, air is drawn through a vacuum hose, through the filter means
of the filter unit chamber and is exhausted out of the exhaust port of the power unit
chamber, thereby filtering the air drawn through the hose. The power unit us able
to releasably attach to the filter unit through a releasable power unit chamber connection.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the suction creating means comprises an electric vacuum
motor. This electric motor connects to a power source through use of a standard electrical
connection. Use of a rechargeable or other battery system is also envisioned. An on/off
means, switch, or other means may be located in line between the electric motor and
the power source, thereby allowing the user to turn the motor on and off.
[0029] As discussed above, the vacuum may further comprise a backpack unit for allowing
the user to wear the modular vacuum cleaner in a backpack mode, the backpack unit
having at least one shoulder strap for allowing the user to wear the backpack.
[0030] The invented vacuum cleaning system is also useful for maintaining the operability
of a vacuum cleaner, particularly when one of the vacuum cleaner's components fail.
This system involves forming or locating the vacuum cleaner's suction creating means
in a first power unit chamber, and locating the vacuum cleaners filter means in a
separate filtering chamber. This first power unit chamber and the filter unit chamber
must be able to releasably attach to and detach from one another. The system permits
the user to obtain or have a second power unit chamber and/or a second filter unit
chamber on hand in case one of the components fails.
[0031] When the vacuum cleaning system fails, the user must determine whether the failure
is due to a problem with the first power unit chamber or with the filter unit chamber.
Once it is determined it is one of these units, the user merely has to detach the
first power unit chamber from the filter unit chamber and exchange the defective unit
with a replacement unit. The user will then be able to quickly put the vacuum cleaning
system back in use. Ideally, the defective unit would then be repaired, either by
the user repairing it him or herself later when the user has time or, the user would
be able to send the defective unit off for servicing, while still being able to continue
to use the vacuum cleaner system.
[0032] The modular ability of this vacuum cleaner system not only is in maintaining the
operability of the vacuum cleaner, but also allows the user to swap out different
power unit chambers and various filter units chambers to create the configuration
of vacuum the user most desires. For instance, one user may have two different filter
units, the first being a HEPA filter and the second being a cyclonic filter. When
the user wants to use the cyclonic, he/she can merely attach the cyclonic filter unit.
When the user wants to use the HEPA filter, the user merely needs to detach the cyclonic
unit and attach the HEPA filter unit. Likewise, a user is free to select a desired
motor unit, and then choose a filter, for instance by tank size or shape or function
(wet or dry, cyclonic, etc.).
[0033] While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention,
it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may
be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the
foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
1. A modular vacuum cleaner composing:
a power chamber unit, said power chamber unit containing a suction creating means
powered by electrical connection with a power source, said power chamber unit further
comprising a filter chamber unit connection means;
a filter chamber unit containing therein a filter means for removing particulate substances
suspended in air, said filter chamber unit further comprising a power chamber unit
connection means and a backpack connection means; and
a backpack unit for allowing a user to wear the modular vacuum cleaner in a backpack
mode, said backpack unit further comprising at least one shoulder strap;
wherein said power chamber unit connection means cooperates with said filter chamber
unit connection means to releasably connect said power chamber unit to said filter
chamber unit.
2. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 1, wherein said suction creating means further
comprises:
an electric motor having an impeller for creating an airflow in an intake port and
out an exhaust port,
an electrical connection connecting said electric motor to a power source,
an on/off means for turning said motor on and off
said intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust port, and,
said exhaust port for exhausting air.
3. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 2, wherein said filter unit chamber further comprises:
a filter unit chamber intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation
with a vacuum hose;
a vacuum hose for direction of the suction formed by said suction creating means;
a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and
a filter unit chamber exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit
intake port.
4. A modular vacuum cleaner comprising:
a power chamber unit, said power chamber unit containing a suction creating means,
wherein said suction creating means is powered by electrical connection with a power
source, said power chamber unit further comprising a filter chamber unit connection
means;
a first filter chamber unit containing therein a HEPA filter unit for removing particulate
substances suspended in air, said first filter chamber unit further comprising a power
chamber unit connection means;
a second filter chamber unit containing therein a wet/dry filter unit, said second
filter chamber unit further comprising a power chamber unit connection means;
a third filter chamber unit containing therein a paper filter unit for removing particulate
substances suspended in air, said third filter chamber unit further comprising a power
chamber unit connection means;
a fourth filter chamber unit containing therein a cyclonic filter unit for removing
particulate substances suspended in air, said fourth filter chamber unit further comprising
a power chamber unit connection means;
wherein said power chamber unit connection means is able to cooperate with any of
said filter chamber unit connection means to releasably connect said power chamber
unit to any of said filter chamber units.
5. The modular vacuum of claim 4 wherein said filter chamber units further comprise backpack
connection means for attachment to a backpack unit for allowing a user to wear the
module vacuum cleaner in a backpack mode, said backpack unit further comprising at
least one shoulder strap.
6. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 4, wherein:
said suction creating means is an impeller powered by an electric motor to establish
a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port,
said power unit further comprises, an on/off means for turning said electric motor
on and off, an intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust port,
and, an exhaust port for exhausting air.
7. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 6, wherein said filter unit chamber further comprises:
a filter unit chamber intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation
with a vacuum hose;
a vacuum hose for direction of the suction formed by said vacuum cleaning system;
a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and
a filter unit chamber exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit
intake port.
8. A vacuum cleaning system for maintaining the operability of a vacuum cleaner, particularly
when the suction creating means of said vacuum cleaner fails, said system comprising
the steps of:
locating the vacuum cleaner's suction creating means in a first power unit chamber;
locating the vacuum cleaner's filter means in a filter unit chamber;
releasably attaching said first power unit chamber to said filter unit chamber;
determining when said suction-creating means has failed;
detaching said first power unit chamber from said filter unit chamber; and
attaching a second power unit chamber to said filter unit chamber in lieu thereof.
9. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 8, further comprising the step of repairing said
suction creating means of said first power unit.
10. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 8, wherein said power units further comprise:
an electric motor,
an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating
an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port,
an electrical connection connecting said motor to a power source,
an on/off means for turning said motor on and off,
an intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust port, and,
an exhaust port for exhausting air.
11. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 10, wherein said filter unit chamber further comprises:
a filter unit chamber intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation
with a vacuum hose;
a vacuum hose for direction of the suction formed by said vacuum cleaning system;
a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and
a filter unit chamber exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit
intake port.
12. A vacuum cleaning system for maintaining the operability of a vacuum cleaner, particularly
when the suction creating means of said vacuum cleaner fails, said system comprising
the steps of: locating the vacuum cleaner's suction creating means in a first power
unit chamber, said first power unit chamber, said suction creating means further comprising
an electric motor, an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction,
thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, an electrical
connection connecting said motor to a power source, an on/off means for turning said
motor on and off, an intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust
port, and an exhaust port for exhausting air; locating the vacuum cleaner's filter
means in a filter unit chamber, said filter unit chamber further comprising a filter
unit chamber intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate substance,
said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation with a
hose; a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and staring said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and a filter unit chamber exhaust port for
venting said filtered air to said power unit intake port; releasably attaching said
first power unit chamber to said filter unit chamber; determining when said suction
creating means has failed; detaching said first power unit chamber from said filter
unit chamber; attaching a second power unit chamber to said filter unit chamber in
lieu thereof, said second power unit chamber containing an electric motor, an impeller
powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow
in an intake port and out an exhaust port, a power cord connecting said motor to a
power source, an on/off means for turning said motor on and off, an intake port for
receiving air, and, an exhaust port for exhausting air; and servicing said suction
creating means of said first power unit.
13. A versatile vacuum cleaning system, said system comprising the steps of:
providing a power unit chamber containing a suction creating means;
providing a first filter chamber containing a first filter means;
providing a second filter chamber containing a second filter means;
wherein said power unit chamber is able to releasably attach to said first filter
chamber operably to form a vacuum cleaner; and,
wherein said first filter chamber is able to be detached from said power unit chamber,
and said second filter chamber is able to releasably attach to said power unit chamber
in lieu of said first filter chamber operably to form a vacuum cleaner;
14. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 13, wherein the first filter means is a paper
filter.
15. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 12, wherein said power units further comprise:
an electric motor,
an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating
an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port,
an electrical connection connecting said motor to a power source,
an on/off means for turning said motor on and off,
an intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust port, and,
an exhaust port for exhausting air.
16. The vacuum cleaning system of Claim 12, wherein said filter unit chamber further comprises:
a filter unit chamber intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation
with a vacuum hose;
a vacuum hose for direction of the suction formed by said vacuum cleaning system;
a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and
a filter unit chamber exhaust port for venting said altered air to said power unit
intake port.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.
1. A method of maintaining the operability of a modular vacuum cleaning system (10),
comprising the step of :
providing a modular vacuum cleaning system (10) including a modular power unit chamber
(14) and a modular filter unit chamber (12), the modular power unit chamber (14) releasably
attached to the modular filter unit chamber (12), a vacuum cleaner's suction creating
means in the power unit chamber (14), a vacuum cleaner's filter means in the filter
unit chamber (12);
determining whether one of said modular power unit chamber (14) and said modular filter
unit chamber (12) should be replaced;
detaching said modular power unit chamber (14) and said modular filter unit chamber
(12) from each other; and
replacing said detached modular power unit chamber (14) or modular filter unit chamber
(12) to be replaced with a replacing modular power unit chamber (14) or modular filter
unit chamber (12) by attaching the replacing modular power unit chamber (14) or modular
filter unit chamber (12) with the modular vacuum cleaning system (10).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modular power unit chamber (14) includes filter
unit chamber connection means, said modular filter unit chamber (12) is replaced with
a replacing modular filter unit chamber (12), and said modular filter unit chamber
(12) are chosen from the group consisting of a HEPA filter unit, a wet/dry filter
unit, a cloth filter unit, a paper filter unit and a cyclonic filter unit, said modular
filter unit chambers (12) each comprising a power unit chamber connection means for
releasable attachment with said filter unit chamber connection means of said modular
power unit chamber (14).
3. The method of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein said modular power unit (14) includes
:
an electric motor,
an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating
an airflow in an intake port (37) and out an exhaust (39),
an electrical connection connecting said motor to a power source,
an on/off means for turning said motor on and off,
an intake port for receiving air from a filter unit chamber exhaust port, and,
an exhaust port for exhausting air.
4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein said modular filter unit chamber (12) includes
:
a filter unit chamber intake port (32) for receiving air containing a suspended particulate
substance, said intake port (32) further comprising a hose attachment means (33) for
cooperation with a vacuum hose (35);
a vacuum hose (35) for direction of the suction formed by said vacuum cleaning system
(10); a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate
substance, thereby creating filtered air; and
a filter unit chamber exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit
intake port.
5. The method of any of claims 1-4, wherein said modular filter chamber (12) further
includes backpack connection means for attachment to a backpack unit for allowing
a user to wear the modular vacuum cleaner system (10) in a backpack mode, said backpack
unit further comprising at least one shoulder strap.
6. The method of any of claims 1-4 or 5, wherein said modular filter unit chamber connection
means, said modular power unit chamber (14) is inoperable and replaced with a working,
replacing modular power unit chamber (14), and, said modular power unit chambers (14)
each comprising a modular filter unit chamber connection means for releasable attachment
with said power unit chamber connection means of said modular filter unit chamber
(12).