Edge cleaning system for vacuum cleaner
AssigneePanasonic Corporation of North America
InventorsJ. Erik Hitzelberger, Eric J. Streciwilk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.
Claims10
A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a canister assembly;
- a nozzle assembly;
- a dirt container carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly, said dirt container including a collection chamber;
- a main inlet cavity on said nozzle assembly;
- at least one edge cleaning inlet on said nozzle assembly adjacent at least one end of said main inlet cavity;
- an airflow system for conveying a vacuum airstream from said nozzle assembly to said collection chamber, said airflow system including a control valve, a first airstream conduit providing fluid communication between said main inlet cavity and said control valve, a second airstream conduit providing fluid communication between said at least one edge cleaning inlet and said control valve and a third airstream conduit providing fluid communication between said control valve and said collection chamber;
- and
- a fan and motor assembly for generating said vacuum airstream and moving dirt and debris through said airflow system into said collection chamber said fan and motor assembly being carried by one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly.
A method of constructing a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- providing a nozzle assembly with both a main inlet and a separate edge cleaning inlet adjacent one end of said main cleaning inlet;
- providing an airflow system that fluidically connects said main inlet and said separate edge cleaning inlet with a suction generator carried by said vacuum cleaner;
- and
- providing a flow control valve in said airflow system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.