Canister vacuum cleaner equipped with air cushion caster wheel assembly
OwnerEric J. Streciwilkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A canister vacuum cleaner includes a housing carrying a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. The housing is supported on a caster wheel assembly including a wheel riding on a cushion of air.
Claims22
) A canister vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a housing;
- a suction generator carried on said housing;
- a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;
- and
- a support assembly carried on said housing, said support assembly including a wheel riding on a cushion of air.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said support assembly further includes a base member including a cavity for receiving said wheel.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said support assembly further includes a keeper for capturing said wheel in said cavity of said base member.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said keeper includes an aperture and at least a portion of said wheel projects from said aperture.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, further including a seal carried on one of said base member and said keeper and engaging said wheel.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said base member includes a series of air ports communicating with said cavity.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a conduit for directing at least a portion of air being exhausted from said suction generator through said air ports.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner further includes a hose and a wand.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said vacuum cleaner further includes a cleaning attachment.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said cleaning attachment is a power head including a rotary agitator and an agitator drive motor.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a retractable power cord.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a filter bag.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein said dirt cup includes a cylindrical side wall, a tangentially directed inlet and an outlet.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a pair of wheels secured to said housing.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said wheel is spherical in shape.
) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said wheel is cylindrical in shape.
) A castor wheel assembly, comprising:
- a wheel;
- a base member including a cavity for receiving said wheel;
- and
- a keeper for capturing said wheel in said cavity, said keeper including an aperture and at least a portion of said wheel projecting from said aperture.
) The assembly of claim 18 further including a seal carried on one of said base member and said keeper and engaging said wheel.
) The assembly of claim 19 wherein said base member includes a series of air ports communicating with said cavity.
) The assembly of claim 18, wherein said wheel is spherical in shape.
) The assembly of claim 18, wherein said wheel is cylindrical in shape.