Abstract: An improved bag docking assembly for aligning a vacuum bag for engagement with a dirty air outlet nozzle on a vacuum cleaner, and for retaining the vacuum bag in the position of engagement. The assembly incorporates an anchor member and a mounting member. The anchor member serves to attach the bag docking assembly to the vacuum cleaner. The anchor member can be a substantially flat piece of plastic having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle on the vacuum cleaner. The central opening can have a shoulder for engaging a rim or similar protrusion formed about the perimeter of the dirty air outlet nozzle. Additionally, protrusions are located on the anchor member that align with voids in the vacuum bag collar to ensure that correct alignment of the vacuum bag has been achieved.

Abstract: A manually-powered floor sweeper is provided according to the invention. In one embodiment, the manually-powered floor sweeper includes a chassis and handle, one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to the chassis and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper, and a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more agitator rollers and adapted to receive a vacuum hose. Debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator cell is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrostatic precipitator cell includes a connection rod including first and second ends, a length, a cross-sectional shape, and a lengthwise surface. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes collection plates located in spaced-apart arrangement on the connection rod. A collection plate includes at least one aperture. The central aperture substantially conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the connection rod. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes an attachment device(s) for removably attaching the collection plates to the connection rod. The collection plates are held in a substantially parallel orientation on the connection rod by the attachment device(s).

Abstract: An airflow sensor system for monitoring air inlet airflow and air outlet airflow of a vacuum cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The airflow sensor system includes a vacuum cleaner air duct, a bypass tube connected to the air duct, and an airflow sensor positioned at least partially in the bypass tube. The airflow sensor is configured to generate a normal voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is within a predetermined normal airflow range, configured to generate an input blockage voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is greater than the predetermined normal airflow range, and further configured to generate an output blockage voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is less than the predetermined normal airflow range.

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 vacuum cleaner attachment is provided. The vacuum cleaner attachment includes a chassis and a plurality of wheels. The chassis is adapted to roll on an underlying surface using the plurality of wheels. The vacuum cleaner attachment further includes a vacuum cleaner receptacle formed in the chassis and adapted to receive a vacuum cleaner and corresponding power brushroll. The vacuum cleaner attachment further includes a vacuum airflow conduit formed in the chassis and adapted to communicate a vacuum airflow of the vacuum cleaner through the chassis. The vacuum cleaner attachment further includes one or more rollers rotatably held in the chassis and positioned to receive rotational power from the power brushroll of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is positioned in the vacuum cleaner receptacle. The one or more rollers are positioned in the chassis to make contact with the underlying surface.

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 tower ionizer air cleaner is provided. The tower ionizer air cleaner includes a tower chassis, with a base of the tower chassis including a small footprint, one or more airflow inlet openings in the tower chassis, one or more airflow outlet openings in the tower chassis and substantially opposite to the one or more airflow inlet openings, and an ionizer element positioned within the tower chassis. The tower ionizer air cleaner further includes one or more fan units substantially vertically located within the tower ionizer air cleaner and affixed to the tower chassis. The one or more fan units are configured to provide an airflow between the one or more airflow inlet openings and the one or more airflow outlet openings and through the ionizer element.

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 air/liquid separator is provided according to the invention. The separator includes an offset air/liquid airflow inlet for receiving an air/liquid airflow, with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet possessing a width and a height. The separator further includes a substantially cylindrical separator chamber communicating with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet, wherein the offset air/liquid airflow inlet is radially offset from the separator chamber. The separator further includes a lead-in track extending from the offset air/liquid airflow inlet and at least partially around the circumference of the separator chamber. The lead-in track tapers from substantially the width of the offset air/liquid airflow inlet into the separator chamber. The air/liquid airflow is entrained into a downward spiraling path in the separator chamber by the lead-in track.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator cell is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrostatic precipitator cell includes a connection rod including first and second ends, a length, a cross-sectional shape, and a lengthwise surface. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes collection plates located in spaced-apart arrangement on the connection rod. A collection plate includes at least one aperture. The central aperture substantially conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the connection rod. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes an attachment device(s) for removably attaching the collection plates to the connection rod. The collection plates are held in a substantially parallel orientation on the connection rod by the attachment device(s).

Abstract: An airflow sensor system for monitoring air inlet airflow and air outlet airflow of a vacuum cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The airflow sensor system includes a vacuum cleaner air duct, a bypass tube connected to the air duct, and an airflow sensor positioned at least partially in the bypass tube. The airflow sensor is configured to generate a normal voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is within a predetermined normal airflow range, configured to generate an input blockage voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is greater than the predetermined normal airflow range, and further configured to generate an output blockage voltage differential range when the bypass tube airflow is less than the predetermined normal airflow range.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner air/liquid separator is provided according to the invention. The separator includes an offset air/liquid airflow inlet for receiving an air/liquid airflow, with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet possessing a width and a height. The separator further includes a substantially cylindrical separator chamber communicating with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet, wherein the offset air/liquid airflow inlet is radially offset from the separator chamber. The separator further includes a lead-in track extending from the offset air/liquid airflow inlet and at least partially around the circumference of the separator chamber. The lead-in track tapers from substantially the width of the offset air/liquid airflow inlet into the separator chamber. The air/liquid airflow is entrained into a downward spiraling path in the separator chamber by the lead-in track.

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: 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: An apparatus and method for moving a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner having a central hub with a hub axis and a plurality of vanes depending from the hub and extending in an approximately radial direction away from the hub axis, the vanes comprising an inner edge located near the central hub, an outer edge spaced radially outward from the inner edge, a first top edge, a second top edge located between the inner edge and the first top edge, and wherein the second top edge is orientated in a direction less than parallel to the hub axis.

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 a dirty air conduit, having exterior portions that enable the power cord to be retained in a secure manner.

Abstract: For use with vacuum cleaner bags of the type having a substantially rigid collar surrounding the bag opening, and with vacuum cleaners of the type having a dirty air outlet nozzle, a vacuum bag docking assembly is shown and described. The assembly incorporates an anchor member having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle. The assembly also incorporates a mounting member which engages the collar on the vacuum bag to secure the bag to the bag mounting member. The bag mounting member is pivotally connected to the anchor member, and moves between a loading position in which the bag can be inserted or removed from the mounting member, and a working position in which the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting a flow of air and particulates through a vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an intake body having an intake opening configured to receive the flow of air into particulates. An airflow propulsion device is coupled to the intake opening to draw the flow through the intake opening and through a flow passage having an approximately constant flow area. The flow continues through one or more conduits from the propulsion device to a filter element housed in a filter housing where the particulates are separated from the flow of air.