Abstract: An integral vacuum cleaner bumper is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The bumper includes a bumper shell formed of an at least partially resilient material and includes an inner surface that mates to the vacuum cleaner chassis and an outer surface. The bumper shell is affixed to the vacuum cleaner chassis as an integral component of the vacuum cleaner and the outer surface of the bumper shell becomes a portion of an outer surface of the vacuum cleaner. The bumper further includes one or more cavities formed along a bottom edge region of the bumper shell, one or more corresponding magnets designed to fit into the one or more cavities, a backing plate including one or more fastener apertures, and one or more fasteners that pass through the one or more fastener apertures of the backing plate and affix the backing plate to the bumper shell.

Abstract: An electrode wire for use in an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrode wire includes a wire portion of a predetermined length L, a first end, and a second end. The electrode wire further includes retaining bodies formed on the first end and the second end of the wire portion. A retaining body of the retaining bodies is substantially solid.

Abstract: An enclosed chamber for illuminating and removing airborne impurities includes at least one air cleaner for removing airborne impurities. The enclosed chamber also includes a means for illuminating the airborne impurities. Airborne impurities can be introduced into the enclosed chamber through an aperture in a chamber housing of the enclosed chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and removing airborne impurities within an enclosed chamber is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The enclosed chamber includes a chamber housing and an opening in the chamber housing for introducing airborne impurities. The enclosed chamber also includes a meter for detecting the airborne impurity level within the enclosed chamber. At least one air cleaner located within the chamber housing is provided for removal of airborne impurities.

Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a power supply, an electrostatic precipitator cell, and a door. The door closes the electrostatic precipitator cell inside the air cleaner. The air cleaner further includes a door switch that is actuated by the door when the door is substantially closed. The air cleaner further includes a cell presence switch. The electrostatic precipitator cell actuates the cell presence switch when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner. The cell presence switch and the door switch enable electrical power to be supplied from the power source to one or more air cleaner components when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner and when the door is substantially closed.

Abstract: A cord management system operable to reduce or eliminate various forces exerted on a vacuum cleaner power cord. The system includes a swiveling strain relief incorporated into the vacuum handle and collars, used to connect sections of dirty air conduit, having exterior portions that enable the power cord to be retained in a secure manner.

Abstract: An ergonomic appliance handle is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The appliance handle includes a base adapted to be affixed to a handle portion of an appliance, a handle grip, and a pivot device for pivotally attaching the handle grip to the base. The pivot device is positioned at a first location on the base. The pivot device allows the handle grip to pivot on the base between at least two pivoting positions. The appliance handle further includes a pivot restraint device for removably latching the handle grip in a closed position of the at least two pivoting positions. The pivot restraint device is positioned at a second location on the base that is spaced-apart from the first location.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention includes a chassis, a fan unit including a blower housing mounted to the chassis and an inlet housing affixed to the blower housing, and a baseplate affixed to the chassis. An access aperture is formed in the baseplate. The access aperture extends at least partially over the fan unit. A door can be included in the baseplate. A bearing washer is positioned between the blower housing and the inlet housing and provides a substantially air-tight seal between the blower housing and the inlet housing. The inlet housing includes a bearing face, an inlet conduit portion, a slide flange, and a slide block. The slide block slides into and engages the slide flange and further slides into and engages the chassis of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: An air cleaner including a constant current power supply is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a collector cell and a constant current power supply coupled to the collector cell. The constant current power supply is configured to maintain a substantially constant electrical current output to the collector cell, compare an output voltage of the constant current power supply to an upper voltage threshold VU and to a lower voltage threshold VL, and shut down the constant current power supply if the output voltage is not between the upper voltage threshold VU and the lower voltage threshold VL.

Abstract: A clamp device for removably attaching a vacuum cleaner component to a structure according to an embodiment of the invention includes a clamp adapted to removably attach to the structure, a slot formed in the clamp, and a knob attached to the vacuum cleaner component. The knob slides into the slot of the clamp and the vacuum cleaner component is removably held in the clamp by the knob.

Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes an air duct including an inlet end and an outlet end, a pre-filter positioned at the inlet end, an electrostatic precipitator positioned in the air duct downstream of the pre-filter, a post-filter positioned in the air duct downstream of the electrostatic precipitator, and a fan unit positioned in the air duct downstream of the post-filter. Airflow travels from the inlet end to the outlet end. The airflow first encounters the pre-filter, encounters the electrostatic precipitator after encountering the pre-filter, encounters the post-filter after encountering the electrostatic precipitator, and encounters the fan unit after encountering the post-filter. Each of the pre-filter, the electrostatic precipitator, and the post-filter can be separately installed and removed from the air duct.

Abstract: A carbon filter panel for an air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The carbon filter panel includes a frame including one or more side members and a frame interior space and a plurality of spaced-apart carbon elements extending across the frame interior space. Airflow can pass between the plurality of carbon elements and through the carbon filter panel.

Abstract: A corona ground element for use in a pre-ionizer of an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The corona ground element includes a substantially elongate body including a proximate end and a distal end and first and second projections formed on the proximate end and the distal end. The first and second projections are adapted to retain the corona plate in the electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: A retainer for use with a corona ground element of an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The retainer includes a body and a retainer aperture extending at least partially through the body and adapted to receive a projection extending from the corona ground element. The retainer aperture is configured to receive the projection as a press fit.

Abstract: A height adjustment apparatus for a rotatable component of a vacuum cleaner is provided. The apparatus includes a rotatable wheel and a retainer device. The rotatable wheel includes a central axis, a wheel portion, a hub portion including an offset axle aperture that receives a rotatable component, and one or more detent devices. The retainer device is retained in a chassis of the vacuum cleaner and includes a body, a hub portion aperture formed in the body and of a size to rotatably receive the hub portion of the rotatable wheel, and one or more biasing devices that interact with the one or more detent devices in order to provide a plurality of predetermined detent positions. The rotatable component is moved substantially vertically with respect to the central axis when the rotatable wheel is rotated between the plurality of predetermined detent positions.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner base plate assembly is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The base plate assembly includes a base plate adapted to fit to a chassis bottom of a vacuum cleaner. The base plate includes one or more nozzle apertures. The base plate assembly further includes one or more trapped components configured to rest against the base plate. The base plate assembly further includes a skid plate that fits to the base plate and that holds the one or more trapped components against the base plate when the skid plate is assembled to the base plate. The base plate assembly further includes one or more fasteners that removably affix the skid plate to the base plate. The skid plate and the one or more trapped components are removably affixed to the base plate by the skid plate and the one or more fasteners.

Abstract: A pre-ionizer for use with an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The pre-ionizer includes two or more corona ground elements arranged in a substantially parallel orientation. A corona ground element of the two or more corona ground elements includes a substantially elongate body including a proximate end and a distal end and first and second projections formed on the proximate end and the distal end. The first and second projections retain the corona ground element in the electrostatic precipitator. The pre-ionizer further includes one or more corona charge elements positioned between two adjacent corona ground elements of the two or more corona ground elements. When a high voltage electrical field is placed across the two or more corona ground elements and the one or more corona charge elements, the pre-ionizer at least partially ionizes airflow through the pre-ionizer.

Abstract: An electrode wire retaining member for an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrode wire retaining member includes one or more flexible arm portions extending from the body and formed of an at least partially flexible material. A flexible arm portion returns to a substantially normal configuration after being deformed. The electrode wire retaining member further includes a retaining portion formed on an outer end of a flexible arm portion and extending from the flexible arm portion. The electrode wire retaining member further includes a slot formed in the retaining portion and sized to accommodate an electrode wire. The retaining portion and the slot receive and hold a retaining body formed on an end of the electrode wire.