Vacuum cleaner with improved hygenic performance

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a handle assembly pivotally attached to a foot assembly, where the handle assembly removably mounts a cyclone separator module. An ultraviolet sanitation assembly is provided on the vacuum cleaner for sanitizing the working air before it is exhausted from the vacuum cleaner. One or more component parts of the vacuum cleaner, particularly the components making up the working air path of the vacuum cleaner can be made from a plastic material that includes at least one anti-microbial agent in an effective amount sufficient to impart microbe-inhibiting properties to the working air path.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 743,454, filed Mar. 10, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners. In one aspect, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having improved filtration and hygienic performance. In another aspect, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having an ultraviolet light. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that has microbe-inhibiting properties.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Upright vacuum cleaners having cyclone separators are well-known in the art. These vacuum cleaners may employ a frusto-conical shape separator, while others use high-speed rotational motion of the air / dirt in a cylindrical separator to separate the dirt by centrifugal force. Typically, working air enters and e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]In another embodiment, the plastic material can be treated with the at least one anti-microbial agent to impart microbe-inhibiting properties to the working air path. The plastic material can be soak-treated in an aqueous solution containing the at least one anti-microbial agent, and the at least one anti-microbial agent comprises stabilized chlorine dioxide.

[0016]In yet another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner can further comprise a housing, a cleaning head assembly in the housing and having a suction nozzle, a dirt collector in the housing for removing dirt from a dirt-containing airstream, and a suction source having an inlet connected to the dirt collector and adapted to draw the dirt-containing airstream from the suction nozzle and through the dirt collector, and an outlet, wherein the working air path is positioned at least between the cleaning head assembly and the dirt collector. The working air path can include one or more of the dirt collector and a conduit between the dirt collector and the suction source.

Problems solved by technology

As the air passes through the motor, carbon dust discharged from the motor brushes can become entrained in the air and thus also exhausted from the vacuum cleaner, leading to contamination of the home environment.

A filter can be placed at the inlet or exhaust port to remove carbon dust from the motor cooling air, however, this filter adds expense and bulk to the vacuum cleaner.

Even those vacuum cleaners having means to collect fine dirt and to filter the motor cooling air after it passes through the motor do not protect the home environment from certain bacteria and molds that may be drawn from a carpet or other surface and rendered airborne by the exhaust form the vacuum cleaner, spreading unpleasant odors and unhealthy bacteria.

The vacuum cleaner can suction up bacteria and mold, but then these undesirable items are exhausted back into the home environment because their small size prohibits collection by a cyclone separator.

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