IP Library Granted Patent US 11,452,412
Granted Patent B2
US 11,452,412 · App. 17/470,175 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Vacuum cleaner

Inventor: Thomas Keller (St. Gallen, CH)
Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
A47L9/0081A47L5/365A47L9/127A47L9/14A47L9/22A47L9/009
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,452,412
App. No.
17/470,175
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vacuum cleaner ( 1 ) comprising a container ( 2 ), a suction unit ( 60 ), an air channeling unit ( 25 ), operative between the container ( 2 ) and the suction unit ( 60 ), wherein the air channeling unit ( 25 ) comprises: a collector ( 26 ) having a suction mouth ( 27 ) at an intake side of the air channeling unit ( 25 ), a deflector ( 28 ) positioned at the intake side and radially extending at least over a central portion of the suction mouth ( 27 ), the collector ( 26 ) and the deflector ( 28 ) delimiting a suction channel ( 29 ) connecting the suction mouth ( 27 ) to an inlet port ( 22 ) of the suction unit ( 60 ).

Claims (43)

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a container delimiting an inner collection volume;

a suction unit provided with a motor and an impeller coupled with the motor, the suction unit having at least one inlet port, at an impeller inlet side, and at least one outlet port, at an impeller outlet side; and

an air channeling unit, operative between the container and the suction unit, having an intake side facing the inner collection volume, wherein

the vacuum cleaner further comprises an exhaust unit including:

a collection chamber defining a substantially annular airflow volume concentric with said suction unit and positioned around one or more outlet ports of the suction unit to collect air coming from the impeller and convey collected air to an outlet port of the collection chamber, and

two opposed exhaust channels, each of the two channels surrounding a respective portion of the collection chamber and having an intake end, in correspondence of the outlet port of said collection chamber, and a respective outlet end, opposed to the intake end to discharge air drawn in by the suction unit, and wherein the outlet end of each exhaust channel comprises a diverging portion which is divergent in shape proceeding away from the intake end and a constant cross section portion consecutive to the diverging portion; wherein the constant cross section portion has a flow passage cross section sensibly larger than that of the intake end and terminates at the outlet filters conferring to air flow a direction perpendicular to a front surface of each one of said outlet filters.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the two exhaust channels are symmetrically opposed and substantially identical the one to the other.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the outlet end of each of the two exhaust channels is separate and spaced from the outlet end of the other of the two exhaust channels thereby forming two distinct and spaced apart air discharge openings.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein a respective outlet filter is located at each outlet end of each one of the two exhaust channels.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has an alveolar pad covering an inner surface of the collection chamber surrounding the suction unit.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has a further alveolar pad at least covering inner surfaces of said two exhaust channels facing the collection chamber.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the exhaust unit comprises a flow diverter positioned in front of said outlet port and configured to divide the flow exiting from the same outlet port into respective flow streams directed into said two exhaust channels.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the outlet end of each exhaust channel comprises a diverging portion which is divergent in shape proceeding away from the intake end and a constant cross section portion consecutive to the diverging portion.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 , wherein the constant cross section portion has a flow passage cross section sensibly larger than that of the intake end and terminates at the outlet filters conferring to air flow a direction perpendicular to a front surface of each one of said outlet filters.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet end of each of the two exhaust channels is separate and spaced from the outlet end of the other of the two exhaust channels thereby forming two distinct and spaced apart air discharge openings.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a respective outlet filter is located at each outlet end of each one of the two exhaust channels.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has an alveolar pad covering an inner surface of the collection chamber surrounding the suction unit.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 , wherein the alveolar pad is a foam pad.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has a further alveolar pad at least covering inner surfaces of said two exhaust channels facing the collection chamber.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14 , wherein the further alveolar pad is a further foam pad.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the exhaust unit comprises a flow diverter positioned in front of said outlet port and configured to divide the flow exiting from the same outlet port into respective flow streams directed into said two exhaust channels.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 , wherein the flow diverter is V shaped.

18. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a container delimiting an inner collection volume;

a suction unit provided with a motor and an impeller coupled with the motor, the suction unit having at least one inlet port, at an impeller inlet side, and at least one outlet port, at an impeller outlet side; and

an air channeling unit, operative between the container and the suction unit, having an intake side facing the inner collection volume, wherein

the vacuum cleaner further comprises an exhaust unit including:

a collection chamber defining a substantially annular airflow volume concentric with said suction unit and positioned around one or more outlet ports of the suction unit to collect air coming from the impeller and convey collected air to an outlet port of the collection chamber, and

two opposed exhaust channels, each of the two channels surrounding a respective portion of the collection chamber and having an intake end, in correspondence of the outlet port of said collection chamber, and a respective outlet end, opposed to the intake end to discharge air drawn in by the suction unit, wherein the two exhaust channels are symmetrically opposed and substantially identical the one to the other, and wherein the outlet end of each exhaust channel comprises a diverging portion which is divergent in shape proceeding away from the intake end and a constant cross section portion consecutive to the diverging portion and the constant cross section portion has a flow passage cross section sensibly larger than that of the intake end and terminates at the outlet filters conferring to air flow a direction perpendicular to a front surface of each one of said outlet filters.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the outlet end of each of the two exhaust channels is separate and spaced from the outlet end of the other of the two exhaust channels thereby forming two distinct and spaced apart air discharge openings.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein a respective outlet filter is located at each outlet end of each one of the two exhaust channels.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has an alveolar pad covering an inner surface of the collection chamber surrounding the suction unit.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 21 , wherein the alveolar pad is a foam pad.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has a further alveolar pad at least covering inner surfaces of said two exhaust channels facing the collection chamber.

24. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 23 , wherein the further alveolar pad is a further foam pad.

25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the exhaust unit comprises a flow diverter positioned in front of said outlet port and configured to divide the flow exiting from the same outlet port into respective flow streams directed into said two exhaust channels.

26. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 25 , wherein the flow diverter is V shaped.

27. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the outlet end of each of the two exhaust channels is separate and spaced from the outlet end of the other of the two exhaust channels thereby forming two distinct and spaced apart air discharge openings.

28. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein a respective outlet filter is located at each outlet end of each one of the two exhaust channels.

29. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has an alveolar pad covering an inner surface of the collection chamber surrounding the suction unit.

30. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the vacuum cleaner has a further alveolar pad at least covering inner surfaces of said two exhaust channels facing the collection chamber.

31. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 , wherein the exhaust unit comprises a flow diverter positioned in front of said outlet port and configured to divide the flow exiting from the same outlet port into respective flow streams directed into said two exhaust channels.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: CHEM-AQUA, INC.; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; NCH CORPORATION; NCH LIFE SCIENCES LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073570/0838 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073564/0864 →
RELEASE OF 2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 073074/0198 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073061/0885 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (2024 NOTES) Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067824/0278 →
NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064348/0235 →
2021 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0576 →
2023 NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064225/0170 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064222/0751 →
TERM LOAN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: BIRKO CORPORATION; SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.; INNOVATIVE WATER CARE, LLC; DIVERSEY, INC.; DIVERSEY TASKI, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 064223/0526 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 16167356 · Apr 27, 2016 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16096420
Related Publication 20220031132A1 · Feb 3, 2022