KR-102963721-B1 - Filter device for vacuum cleaners

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter device for a vacuum cleaner. The filter device comprises: a filter enclosure having an enclosure opening; a filter configured to be received into the filter enclosure in an insertion direction through the enclosure opening; and a fixing means operable between a latch state and a latch release state to releaseably fix the filter within the filter enclosure. The filter comprises an actuating part configured to actuate the fixing means, the actuating part being movable between at least a first position and a second position and deflected toward the second position. When the filter is within the filter enclosure, movement of the actuating part in the insertion direction from the first position to a depressed position switches the fixing means to a latch release state, and subsequently the actuating part moves to the second position so that at least a portion of the actuating part rises above the enclosure opening.

Inventors

• 다이슨, 제이콥
• 쉐딕, 마크
• 졸리, 카를
• 파텔, 케탄
• 림, 테일러
• 크라우츠, 제레미
• 콴스, 마일스

Assignees

• 다이슨 테크놀러지 리미티드

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20211214

Priority Date

20210122

Claims (16)

1. As a filter device for a vacuum cleaner, Filter enclosure having an enclosure opening; A filter configured to be received into the filter enclosure in an insertion direction through the enclosure opening; and To secure the filter in the filter enclosure in a releaseable manner, it includes a fixing means operable between a latch state and a latch release state, The filter comprises an actuator configured to actuate the fixing means, wherein the actuator is movable between at least a first position and a second position and is deflected toward the second position. A filter device in which, when the filter is inside the filter enclosure, the movement of the actuator in the insertion direction from the first position to the depressed position switches the fixing means to the latch-released state, and subsequently the actuator moves to the second position so that at least a portion of the actuator rises above the enclosure opening.
2. In Article 1, A filter device in which the above-mentioned operating part closes the enclosure opening when in the above-mentioned first position.
3. In Article 1, The filter further comprises a filter body, and the operating part is movable relative to the filter body, forming a filter device.
4. In Paragraph 3, A filter device comprising the above fixing means including a first latching mechanism associated with the operating part and a second latching mechanism associated with the filter body.
5. In Article 4, A filter device comprising a two-state latching mechanism that is activated by the movement of the actuator relative to the filter body between the first position and the pressed position.
6. In Article 4, A filter device wherein the second latching mechanism comprises a latch member provided on the filter body capable of engaging with the filter enclosure, and the movement of the operating part relative to the filter body between the first position and the second position causes the movement of the latch member.
7. In Article 6, A filter device in which the movement of the operating part relative to the filter body from the first position to the second position causes the retraction of the latch member toward the filter body, disengaging from engagement with the filter enclosure.
8. In Article 6, A filter device in which the movement of the above latch member is lateral to the movement of the above operating part.
9. In Paragraph 3, A filter device comprising alignment means configured to guide the movement of the operating part relative to the filter body.
10. In Paragraph 3, A filter device having a planar profile substantially corresponding to the planar profile of the filter body, wherein the above-mentioned operating part is a planar profile.
11. In Paragraph 3, A filter device wherein the above-mentioned operating part is movably suspended from the filter body by a load-equalizing mechanism configured to maintain the orientation of the operating part relative to the filter body while the operating part moves.
12. In Article 11, The load-equalizing mechanism comprises a pair of torque arms, wherein the first torque arm of the pair crosses the second torque arm of the pair, and the filter device.
13. In Article 1, A filter device in which the filter and the filter enclosure form a keyway arrangement such that the filter can be accommodated within the filter enclosure in only a single orientation.
14. In Article 1, The filter above is a filter device comprising a first filter and a second filter.
15. In Article 14, A filter device in which the first filter and the second filter are annular with respect to a common axis.
16. A vacuum cleaner comprising a filter device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

Description

Filter device for vacuum cleaners The present invention generally relates to a filter device, and in particular to a filter device for a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner, or more simply a "vacuum cleaner," generally consists of a body equipped with a suction motor, a dust separator, and a cleaner head connected to the dust separator via a detachable coupling. The dust separator is the primary mechanism by which the vacuum cleaner removes dust and debris from the airflow passing through the machine, and this applies whether the dust separator uses a cyclone separation system or not. While dust separators are generally very efficient at removing dust and debris from the airflow, fine particles remain in the airflow that exits the separator and travels to the suction motor. Since these fine particles can damage certain components, it is important to protect the suction motor. It is also important to keep the exhaust airflow from the vacuum cleaner as clean as possible, and to achieve this, it is advisable to comply with HEPA standard filtration, as is well known to those in the art. Generally, vacuum cleaners include a first filter, also known as a "pre-motor filter" or "pre-filter," located downstream of the dust separator and upstream of the suction motor, and a second filter, also known as a "post-motor filter" or "post-filter," located downstream of the suction motor and in the airflow before it is discharged from the machine. Integrating two filters into a vacuum cleaner not only creates packaging constraints but can also make the machine larger and heavier. Additionally, while it is generally recommended to clean both filters frequently, cleaning is typically performed less often than advised, which may be at least partly due to the additional inconvenience of having to locate and remove both filters from the machine. There have been attempts to combine pre-filters and post-filters into a single package to address packaging issues and allow for more convenient separation and replacement. However, integrating such a combined filter package into a vacuum cleaner in a way that is easily accessible, space-efficient, ergonomic, and inconspicuous can be a challenging task. The present invention was devised against this background. The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described merely by example with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vacuum cleaner including a filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filter enclosure of the filter device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the filter enclosure of the filter device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the filter of the filter device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4b is another perspective view of the filter of the filter device of FIG. 1. Figure 5 is a plan view of the filter body of the filters of Figures 4a and 4b. Figure 6 is a schematic side view of an alternative filter of the filter device of Figure 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the filter in Figures 4a and 4b. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the filter of FIG. 4a and 4b with the filter's closing plate in the first position. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 including the filters of FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, showing the closing plate of the filter in the pressed position. FIG. 10 is a side view of the filter of FIG. 4a and 4b with the closing plate in a pressed position. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 including the filters of FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, showing a closing plate of the filter in a second position. FIG. 12 is a side view of the filter of FIG. 4a and 4b with the closing plate in the second position. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 showing the filters of FIG. 4a and 4b partially removed from the filter enclosures of FIG. 2 and 3. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the filter of FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b with the filter unit of the filter separated from the filter body of FIG. 5. FIG. 15 is another perspective view of the filter of FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b having a filter unit of the filter separated from the filter body of FIG. 5. Figure 16 is a schematic side view of an alternative filter device. Figure 17 is a schematic side view of another alternative filter device. Fig. 18 is a schematic side view of another alternative filter device. Figure 19 is a schematic side view of another alternative filter device. In drawings, similar features are indicated by similar reference numerals. Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, and numerous features will be discussed in detail to enable a full understanding of the concept of the invention as defined in the appended claims. However, the present invention may be practiced without specific details, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in some cases, well-known methods, techniques, and s