CLEANING DEVICE
Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. A cleaning head is coupled to a body of the vacuum cleaner via one or more suspension elements that comply to horizontal oscillations of the cleaning head imparted by an offset bearing of a vertical gear drive driven by a motor mounted to the body. A vacuum source draws air in from a suction nozzle at a forward underside portion of the cleaning head adjacent to a cleaning pad, and the air travels through an air filter disposed between the vacuum source and the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the air filter comprises one or more pleats adjacent to the vacuum source.
Embodiments disclosed herein related generally to cleaning devices, and more specifically, to vacuums and cleaning heads for vacuums.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTCleaning devices are used in the home and office to clean floors and other surfaces. Various types of cleaning devices are known, such as vacuums with disposable bags, and vacuums with dirt bins that can be emptied and re-used.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, a cleaning head includes a debris collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning sheet is attached to an underside of a lower wall of the debris collection chamber.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features of the present teachings can be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
Conventional bag vacuums typically require the user to remove a bag from a housing interior, dispose of the bag, and insert a new bag. Removing the bag can put dust in the air and/or result in spilled debris. Cyclonic vacuum cleaners often have a debris collection chamber that can be removed from the body of the vacuum, emptied, and reused.
For cleanup jobs that do not require a full-size vacuum cleaner, the inventors have appreciated that a debris collection chamber that remains closed upon removal from the vacuum can be helpful. Disclosed herein are debris collection chamber arrangements which allow debris-entrained air to be suctioned into a collection chamber through an inlet opening when the vacuum cleaner is turned on. The collection chamber arrangements may be arranged to cover the inlet opening when the vacuum cleaner is turned off, which may limit undesirable release of debris from the collection chamber, such as when the collection chamber is being disposed.
In some embodiments, the chamber inlet opening may be arranged to be automatically closed when the vacuum cleaner is turned off. In such embodiments, the collection chamber may be completely enclosed to limit release of debris. Such an arrangement also may be helpful to limit spillage or egress of collected debris from the collection chamber when the user removes and/or transports the collection chamber for debris disposal.
In some embodiments, the collection chamber may be adapted for reuse and include an aperture which is selectively openable to discard debris from the chamber. In other embodiments, the collection chamber may be adapted to be disposed of once the chamber is full. For example, in some embodiments the collection chamber may have no openings other than the inlet opening. In some embodiments, the collection chamber is not openable by a user to dispose of debris from the debris collection chamber without damaging the debris collection chamber.
In some embodiments, the collection chamber is attached to a cleaning head, and the entire cleaning head is disposable. For example, the collection chamber may be permanently attached to, and form at least a portion of, a disposable cleaning head in some embodiments, such that the entire head is disposed of after use.
For purposes herein, debris being suctioned into the debris collection chamber may include dry and/or wet media. For example, in some embodiments, a liquid applied to the surface may be absorbed by a cleaning sheet and/or suctioned by the vacuum into the debris collection chamber. In some embodiments, the wet media may be absorbed by at least a portion of the material used to form the debris collection chamber. In some embodiments, the debris collection chamber may be formed of a material which allows for fluid absorption into the material but does not allow for liquid transfer through the material. In such embodiments, liquid may not travel through the debris collection chamber. For example, the material used to form the debris collection chamber may be absorptive on an inner side of the debris collection chamber, but liquid impermeable.
In some embodiments, advantages may be realized if the user does not have to handle the wet or dirty cleaning head after operation of the cleaning device. For example, the cleaning device may be arranged to release the cleaning head after using the cleaning device such that the user does not have to grasp the cleaning head to discard it. In some embodiments, with a permanently attached debris collection chamber and a release arrangement that does not require the user to touch the cleaning head, the cleaning head can be disposed of with limited or no user contact.
In some embodiments, the cleaning head includes a support structure to which the debris collection chamber is attached. In such embodiments, the user may simply attach the cleaning head to the cleaning device, operate the cleaning device to remove dirt from a surface into the debris collection chamber, remove the cleaning head, and dispose of the cleaning head in a trash receptacle.
In some embodiments, the cleaning heads are arranged for space-efficient stacking for ease of storage and transport (see, e.g.,
As shown by way of example in
As shown in these views, in some embodiments, the nozzle 107 is attached, such as integrally formed with, the debris collection chamber 112. The suction nozzle 107 also may be fixedly attachable to the cleaning head 108 (e.g., to the debris collection chamber 112). In other embodiments, instead of being attached to the debris collection chamber 112, the suction nozzle 107, or at least a portion of the suction nozzle 107, may be formed on part of the vacuum cleaner device 100, such as on the first connector 106. In such embodiments, once the collection chamber 112 is attached to the cleaning device 100, the suction nozzle 107 forms a flow path to the collection chamber inlet opening 116.
The debris collection chamber 112 may be any suitable type of container for collecting debris such as dirt, dust, food, or wet media. In some embodiments, the debris collection chamber 112 may be permanently or removably attached to a cleaning sheet 114. For example, the collection chamber 112 may be glued, heat sealed, or otherwise permanently affixed to cleaning sheet 114. As will be further described, the cleaning sheet 114 and the collection chamber need not be the same shape or size. For example, the cleaning sheet 114 may be larger than the collection chamber 112 in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, a support structure 110 may be provided to attach the cleaning sheet to the collection chamber. For example, a substantially planar support structure 110 (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, the cleaning sheet 114 may be attached to an underside of a lower wall of a debris collection chamber 112. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown by way of example in
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, such as that shown in
In still other embodiments, such as those shown in
In some embodiments, the inlet opening 116 may be angled relative to the cleaning sheet 114 (and/or to the surface to be cleaned). For example, the inlet opening 116 may be angled between about 75 degrees and 115 degrees relative to the cleaning sheet 114. In some embodiments, the inlet opening 116 may be substantially perpendicular to the cleaning sheet 114 (and/or the surface to be cleaned).
In some embodiments, such as that shown in
In some embodiments, a divider 160 (see
As described above, the air filter 128 may be attached to the collection chamber 112, such as to form a top of the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the air filter 128 may be attached via an elastic connection. For example, an elongated strip of elastic material may connect the air filter 128 to a top portion of the collection chamber 112 along a forward wall 117 of the collection chamber 112. A similar elongated elastic strip may connect the air filter 128 to the top portion of the collection chamber 112 along the rear wall of the collection chamber 112. In such examples, the stretchability of the elongated strips allows the air filter 128 to move away from the inlet opening 116. In some embodiments, elastic connectors also may be used on one or both walls at the lateral sides of the collection chamber 112.
In some embodiments, only a portion of the air filter 128 may rise from the collection chamber 112 when negative pressure is applied to the cleaning head 108. For example, elastic connectors may be provided along only certain portions of the air filter 128. The elastic portions also may be provided in an area of the air inlet opening 116 such that the air filter 128 lifts only in the area of the air filter 128 at or near the air inlet opening 116, while the remaining areas of the air filter 128 are not substantially lifted. For purposes herein, applying a negative pressure to a collection chamber 112 may include applying a negative pressure to the outside of an air-permeable portion of the collection chamber 112 and/or applying a negative pressure to an opening in the collection chamber 112.
In still further embodiments, the air filter 128 may be connected to the collection chamber 112 without any elastic connectors such that the air filter 128 does not move at the connection points. In such an embodiment, the air filter 128 may have a size and shape which allows the air filter 128 to sufficiently lift away from the air inlet opening 116 when under negative pressure such that the air filter 128 lifts away from the air inlet opening 116. For example, adhesive strips 123 may be provided on the filter material 128, to secure the filter material to the collection chamber 112, as shown by way of example in
In some embodiments, materials other than an air filter 128 may be used to cover the inlet opening 116. For example, as shown in
Although the portions of the top wall outside of the cover 134 are shown as being an air filter 128 in the embodiment of
In some embodiments, a top chamber wall similarly arranged to the air filter 128 shown in
In some embodiments, as also shown in
Stiffening ribs or grooves also may be used instead of, or in addition to, stiffening ridges 137. In some embodiments, the same material used in forming the collection chamber 112 may be used to form the stiffening ribs or grooves. In such embodiments, a different material may be used to form the stiffening ridges 137.
In some embodiments, the collection chamber 112 may be formed via a plastic thermoforming process, although collection chamber 112 may be manufactured using any suitable process. For example, the collection chamber 112 may be injection molded or compression molded. In some embodiments, the collection chamber 112, the suction nozzle 107, and the suction inlet 115 may be formed as a unitary piece (e.g., tray 113). In some embodiments, the collection chamber 112, the suction nozzle 107, and the suction inlet 115 may be integrally formed, such as by thermoforming. In other embodiments, one or more of the collection chamber 112, the suction nozzle 107, and the suction inlet 115 may be separately formed and later attached to one another. For example, the suction nozzle 107 and suction inlet 115 may be integrally formed, with the collection chamber 112 being separately formed and later attached.
As shown in
In some embodiments, a cleaning sheet 114 may be attached to the collection chamber 112 (e.g., the bottom, surface-facing side of the collection chamber 112) to clean a surface. The cleaning sheet 114 may be formed of any suitable material, and may be made of a single layer or multiple layers. In the embodiment shown in
As described above, and as shown in
In the home position, the air filter 128 is no longer subject to negative pressure, and thus moves in a direction toward the collection chamber 112. In some embodiments, the home position is the same as the first position described above, with the air filter 128 and/or cover 134 being placed and/or held against the inlet opening 116 to block debris from exiting the collection chamber 112. In other embodiments, in the home position, the air filter 128 and/or cover 134 may be at least partially spaced from a top surface of the inlet opening 116, although the air filter 128 may contact or be attached to other portions of the collection chambers 112. Even though the air filter 128 and/or cover 134 may be at least partially spaced from a top surface of the inlet opening 116, the inlet opening 116 may still be closed such that debris may not escape from the collection chamber 112 when the cleaning device 100 is powered down. For example, as will be described, the air filter 128 and/or cover 134, along with the portions that extend into and/or around the outside of the inlet opening 116, may cooperate to close the inlet opening 116 when the cleaning device 100 is powered down.
In some embodiments, a collar 142 may be connected to an underside of the air filter 128, as shown in
Referring to
The downwardly extending cover structures shown in
In some embodiments, a cover stabilizer 150 may be implemented to help maintain contact between the cover 134 and a rim 118 of the inlet opening 116. For example, as shown in
A conduit end does not have to be fully exposed to be considered to be an inlet opening 116 that is not covered by a cover 134. For example, if the air inlet opening 116 for a debris collection chamber 112 is formed by an upright cylindrical column with a top circular rim, and the air filter 128 is removed from a sufficient portion of the circular rim during vacuuming to permit flow of air and debris into the collection chamber 112, the air inlet opening 116 may be considered to be not covered by the cover 134.
As mentioned above, the air filter 128 (or other collection chamber wall) may be connected to the collection chamber 112 without any elastic connectors.
Instead of, or in addition to, using air filter 128 as the top wall of the collection chamber 112, the pleated material 129 may be formed of an air-filtering material. For example, the top wall of the collection chamber 112 may be formed of an air-impermeable material, and the cleaning device 100 may be configured to encompass at least the top wall and the pleated sides of the pleated material 129. When negative pressure is applied to the collection chamber 112, the top wall of the collection chamber 112 may be lifted upwardly and away from the inlet opening 116, exposing the air-filtering material of the pleated sides of the pleated material 129. Air may then be withdrawn from the collection chamber 112 via the pleated sides of the pleated material 129.
In some embodiments, the air filter 128 itself may have one or more pleats 130 formed thereon or therein.
While the embodiments illustrated herein show the inlet opening 116 facing upward and the air filter 128 positioned such that the air filter 128 acts as a top wall of the collection chamber 112, the air filter 128 may be positioned elsewhere on the collection chamber 112 and still function as a removable cover for the inlet opening 116. For example, instead of facing upwardly as shown in
Although embodiments have been shown and described with only the top wall of the collection chamber 112 moving in response to negative pressure, in some embodiments, more than one wall of the collection chamber 112 may move in response to negative pressure. For example, in some embodiments, a top wall and one or more side walls of the collection chamber 112 may move in response to an applied pressure. In some embodiments, a movable wall may include a flexible bag structure. In some embodiments, the entire debris collection chamber 112 may be formed as a flexible bag attached to the chamber inlet opening 116. In some embodiments, a portion of the bag may be positioned against the inlet opening 116 when no negative pressure is applied to the collection chamber 112. In such embodiments, the bag may expand from the application of negative pressure such that the portion of the bag covering the inlet opening 116 moves away to allow debris-entrained air to enter the bag. As described herein, walls of the collection chamber 112 may be planar and/or rigid in some embodiments, although the walls, or at least a portion of the walls, may be flexible in other embodiments such that the collection chambers 112 may have a combination of rigid and flexible walls.
In some embodiments, such as those shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the internal valve 145 may be permanently or removably attached to the top rim 118 of the upwardly extending wall 120, the elongated strip, and/or at least a portion of the air filter 128. For example, the internal valve 145 may be glued, heat sealed, or otherwise permanently affixed to the top rim 118, the elongated strip, and/or the air filter 128. In some embodiments, the internal valve 145 may include or be formed of one or more flaps. In some embodiments, the one or more flaps may include the elongated strip or at least a portion of the air filter 128. In some embodiments, the flaps together aid in moving debris from the suction inlet 115 of the cleaning head 108 into the collection areas 126a and 126b of the collection chamber 112 and inhibit debris that has already been collected in collection areas 126a and 126b from moving over the upwardly extending wall 120 (see
The internal valve 145 and/or the one or more flaps may be formed of any suitable material, and may be made of a single layer or multiple layers of, for example, non-woven materials, woven materials, and/or plastics, or any other suitable materials. The one or more flaps may be glued, heat sealed, or otherwise permanently affixed to each other, the top rim 118, the elongated strip, and/or the air filter 128 to form the internal valve 145. For example, in some embodiments, the internal valve 145 may be formed of multiple layers including a first layer made of a lightweight, non-woven material and at least a second layer made of a stiff, non-porous material. An adhesive strip 123 may be provided on the filter material of the air filter 128 or on the elongated strip protruding downwardly from the air filter 128 to secure the internal valve 145 to the air filter 128. In some embodiments, during a manufacturing process, the first layer of the internal valve 145 may be heat sealed or otherwise adhered to the adhesive strip 123 provided on the filter material or to an elongated strip of the air filter 128. A single fold or pleat may be made in a first layer of the internal valve 145, causing a first side of the first layer to move in a first direction toward the air filter 128 during the manufacturing process. The second layer of the internal valve 145 may be heat sealed or otherwise adhered to a second side opposite the first side of the first layer.
In some embodiments, when a negative pressure is applied to or released from the air filter 128, the negative pressure may pull on or release the internal valve 145, causing the internal valve 145 to pivot at the single fold or pleat between an open position when the cleaning device 100 is powered on and a closed position when the cleaning device 100 is powered off.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the cleaning sheet 114 may be attached to the collection chamber 112 and be positioned behind the suction nozzle 107 such that debris may be suctioned into the nozzle 107 and collection chamber 112 before reaching the cleaning sheet 114. In some embodiments, the cleaning sheet 114 includes multiple layers including a multifunctional strip 138, a face layer 139, and first and second absorbent layers 140 and 141. The face layer 139 and absorbent layers 140 and 141 may be made from various non-woven materials, woven materials, and/or plastics, or any other suitable materials. The absorbent layers 140 and 141 may be configured to wick moisture away from the face layer 139. The multifunctional strip 138 may be used for scrubbing a surface in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the multifunctional strip 138 may provide friction to help prevent the cleaning device 100 from slipping when propped against a wall. In some embodiments, the debris collection chamber 112 may be permanently or removably attached to the cleaning sheet 114.
In some embodiments, when the cleaning head 108 is attached to the cleaning device 100, at least a portion of the debris collection chamber 112 may be concealed. For example, in some embodiments, the debris collection chamber 112 may be covered by the first connector 106 used to connect the cleaning head 108 to the cleaning device 100.
In some embodiments, once the cleaning sheet 114 has been attached to the cleaning device 100, such as via the first connector 106, the user may operate a vacuum or suction source of the cleaning device 100 to clean a surface. In some embodiments, the cleaning device 100 may include one or more actuators for actuating the suction source. As described above, upon actuation of the suction source, at least a portion of the air filter 128 may move away from the inlet opening 116 to allow debris-entrained air to enter into the collection chamber 112. The suction source may be an electric motor in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, the cleaning device 100 also may include one or more actuators for applying a liquid to a surface or to a component of the cleaning device 100, for example the cleaning sheet 114. A user may actuate the liquid actuators at the same time that the vacuum source is being applied to the surface, although the user may actuate the suction source before and/or after actuating the liquid applicators.
In some embodiments, the cleaning head 108 may be flexibly secured to the body 102 via vertical suspension elements 174 and horizontal suspension elements 176. In such embodiments, the cleaning head 108 may undergo an oscillating motion relative to the body 102 under the influence of a gear drive 172 coupled to a motor 170 mounted to the body 102. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
The cleaning head 108 described herein may be constructed and arranged to permit efficient packing or stacking of multiple cleaning heads 108 in some embodiments (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, an air filter 218 covers a top portion of the debris collection chamber 212. The air filter 218 may be made with a hydrophobic material to impede liquid penetration. In some embodiments, the air filter 218 may be made of a polypropylene.
A cleaning sheet may be attached to the underside of the tray 216 in some embodiments. The cleaning sheet may include one or more layers. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of
As shown in
In some embodiments, each of the face layer 222, the acquisition layer 224, and the retention layer 226 are the same shape and same size, although their relative shapes and sizes may vary. As shown in
In some embodiments, each of the face layer 222, the acquisition layer 224, and the retention layer 226 includes a cutout in a central portion of the front edge of the respective layer. In some embodiments, the cutout is adjacent to a central portion of the suction nozzle 107 when the cleaning sheet is attached to the tray 216. The face layer 222 may be made with a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material may be arranged such that the weight of the unit puts a pressure on the face layer 222 such that liquid is allowed to penetrate the face layer 222 from surface, but the material is able to help hold acquired liquid within the cleaning sheet. The face layer 222 may be treated with paraffin. In some embodiments, the paraffin improves the retention of solid particles on the cleaning sheet when the cleaning sheet is wetted, thereby reducing the potential for redeposit.
The face layer 222 may include a texture to aid with capturing debris from a surface. For example, the face layer 222 may include an embossed three-dimensional pattern with crevices in which debris can be held. The use of the cleaning device 100 in combination with the cleaning sheet sheet reduces the amount of solid debris reaching the embossment of the face layer 222, thereby allowing the face layer 222 to be used on a wet surface. The face layer 222 may include a PET spunlace that is hydroentangled.
The acquisition layer 224 may be formed of thermal bonded airlaid. A density may be used which permits liquid to be absorbed from a surface and desorbed into the retention layer 226. The acquisition layer 224 may be formed with a suitable percentage of bi-component to increase mechanical stability and reduce wet collapse. For example, in some embodiments, the thermal bonded airlaid may be formed with 70% pulp and 30% bi-component. In some embodiments, the material may be formed with at least 30% of bi-component.
The retention layer 226 may have a higher density airlaid than the acquisition layer 224 to promote liquid migration from the acquisition layer 224 into the retention layer 226. The higher density airlaid provides mechanical structure to reduce compression and retain liquid. In some embodiments, the retention layer 226 material may be formed with 80% pulp and 20% bi-component. The retention layer 226 material may be formed with 20% or less bi-component in some embodiments.
The multifunctional strip 220 may be formed with hydrophilic meltblown polypropylene in some embodiments. By using a hydrophilic material, the cleaning sheet may provide a more even wipe to reduce streakiness. The multifunctional strip 220 may help to break up stains in some embodiments. Additionally, in some embodiments, by providing a source of friction that is higher than that of the face layer 222, the multifunctional strip 220 can provide feedback to the user indicating when more liquid as needed.
According to some embodiments, a debris collection chamber 212 may be constructed and arranged such that bins can be temporarily held together for storage and shipping. For example, as shown in
Although a cleaning sheet 114 is described as having some layers joined via adhesive and others via welding and/or sealing, it will be appreciated that all of the layers may be joined to one another via an adhesive. In such examples, an adhesive may be applied between each adjacent layer (e.g., between an acquisition layer 224 and a face layer 222, and between a face layer 222 and a multifunctional strip 220). The layers also may be joined together via other suitable arrangements.
While the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.
Also, embodiments of the invention may be embodied as a method, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
Claims
1. A cleaning device, comprising:
- a vacuum body that includes a handle that is coupled to a head, the head including a lower base that is moveably mounted to the head;
- a motor being connected to the lower base such that the motor is operable to impart motion to the lower base relative to the head;
- a replaceable cleaning head that includes a cleaning pad and a dust chamber, the replaceable cleaning head is configured to be removably attached to the lower base, and the cleaning pad has a cleaning surface;
- a source of suction located on at least one of the body or replaceable cleaning head;
- wherein the replaceable cleaning head, when attached to the lower base, is movable with the lower base relative to the head.
2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the lower base is connected to the head by at least one flexible suspension element.
3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the lower base is connected to the head by at least two flexible suspension elements.
4. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to impart an oscillating motion on the lower base.
5. The cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the motor is connected to the lower base with a shaft and an offset bearing.
6. The cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the oscillating motion imparted on the lower head is in a plane that is generally parallel to the cleaning surface of the replacement head when the replacement head is connected to the lower head.
7. The cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the cleaning sheet includes a multi-function strip that is located on the cleaning surface of the cleaning sheet, the multi-function strip being moveable with the replacement head.
8. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the source of suction is powered by a second motor that is separate from the motor that powers the motion of the lower base.
9. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the replaceable cleaning head includes a filter.
10. A replacement head, comprising:
- a tray having a dust chamber, the dust chamber having an air permeable opening that is configured to be attached to a source of suction;
- a cleaning pad having a layer of at least one material coupled to the tray;
- a filter coupled to the tray such that the filter covers the air permeable opening;
- wherein the filter includes a first pleat, the first pleat including a first interior fold that is oriented in a first direction;
- wherein the filter also includes a second pleat including a second interior fold that is oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction.
11. The replacement head of claim 10, wherein the first pleat and the second pleat are approximately the same size.
12. The replacement head of claim 10, wherein the first pleat is larger than the second pleat.
13. The replacement head of claim 10, wherein the first direction is generally opposite to the second direction.
14. The replacement head of claim 10, wherein the filter is permanently connected to the tray.
15. The replacement head of claim 10, wherein the filter completely covers the opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 25, 2020
Publication Date: May 27, 2021
Inventors: Hugh James CROGGON (Berkshire), Samuel Emrys JAMES (London), Michael James DOUGLAS (London), Brandon SULESKI (Cambridge, MA)
Application Number: 17/104,229