IP Library › Patent Application 19468983
Patent Application
App. No. 19/468,983

DOCKING STATION

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
19/468,983
Filed
Feb 3, 2026
Art Unit
OPAP
USPC
55/343
Abstract

A docking station has a first separation stage comprising an air treatment chamber. When the docking station is positioned on a horizontal surface in an in-use position, the air treatment chamber has a lower wall that comprises a bottom openable door. A pre-motor filter is downstream from the first separation stage and laterally positioned beside the first separation stage. When the docking station is positioned on a floor in an in use position, a horizontal plane extends through the first separation stage and the pre-motor filter. In operation, air travels laterally from the upper end of the first separation stage to the upper end of the pre-motor filter. When the first separation stage is removed from the docking station, the bottom openable door is openable, and the bottom openable door is unopenable when the first separation stage is positioned in the air flow path.

Claims (25)

1 . A docking station for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

an air flow path extending from an air inlet of the docking station to an air outlet of the docking station;

a first separation stage positioned in the air flow path, the first separation stage comprising an air treatment chamber wherein when the docking station is positioned on a horizontal surface in an in-use position, the air treatment chamber has an upper end comprising an upper wall and a lower end comprising a lower wall, and the lower wall comprises a bottom openable door;

a pre-motor filter downstream from the first separation stage and laterally positioned beside the first separation stage wherein, when the docking station is positioned on a floor in an in use position, a horizontal plane extends through the first separation stage and the pre-motor filter, and the pre-motor filter has an upper end;

wherein, in operation, air travels laterally from the upper end of the first separation stage to the upper end of the pre-motor filter, and

wherein, when the first separation stage is removed from the docking station, the bottom openable door is openable, and the bottom openable door is unopenable when the first separation stage is positioned in the air flow path.

2 . The docking station of claim 1 wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a momentum separator, the momentum separator has an air outlet comprising a filter medium.

3 . The docking station of claim 2 wherein the filter medium comprises a screen.

4 . The docking station of claim 3 wherein the upper wall comprises the screen.

5 . The docking station of claim 4 further comprising a suction motor wherein the suction motor remains in position when the when the first separation stage is removed from the docking station.

6 . The docking station of claim 5 wherein the pre-motor filter remains in position when the first separation stage is removed from the docking station.

7 . The docking station of claim 6 wherein, when the docking station is positioned on the floor in an in use position, a vertical axis extends through the suction motor and the pre-motor filter.

8 . The docking station of claim 6 wherein the suction motor has a motor axis of rotation and the motor axis of rotation extends through the pre-motor filter.

9 . The docking station of claim 6 wherein the pre-motor filter comprises an annular filter media having an open interior.

10 . The docking station of claim 9 wherein the pre-motor filter is vertically removable.

11 . The docking station of claim 6 wherein the pre-motor filter is vertically removable.

12 . The docking station of claim 1 further comprising a suction motor wherein the suction motor remains in position when the when the first separation stage is removed from the docking station.

13 . The docking station of claim 12 wherein the pre-motor filter remains in position when the first separation stage is removed from the docking station.

14 . The docking station of claim 13 wherein, when the docking station is positioned on the floor in an in use position, a vertical axis extends through the suction motor and the pre-motor filter.

15 . The docking station of claim 14 wherein the suction motor has a motor axis of rotation and the motor axis of rotation extends through the pre-motor filter.

16 . The docking station of claim 15 wherein the pre-motor filter is vertically removable.

17 . The docking station of claim 1 further comprising a second separation stage laterally positioned beside the first separation stage.

18 . The docking station of claim 17 wherein the second separation stage comprises at least one cyclone.

19 . The docking station of claim 17 wherein, when the docking station is positioned on the floor in an in use position, the second separation stage overlies the pre-motor filter.

20 . The docking station of claim 1 wherein the first separation stage comprises at least one cyclone.