SHOP VAC CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150342433 | VACUUM BAG - A vacuum cleaner bag assembly is adapted to be removably disposed within a tank of a vacuum cleaner, and the bag assembly includes a panel assembly made from a first material and forming an enclosure having an interior volume, and an aperture extends through the panel assembly. A shield member may be disposed within the interior volume and secured to one or more portions of the panel assembly, and the shield member may comprise a second material that is different than the first material. The shield member is adapted to protect a portion of the panel assembly when the vacuum cleaner bag assembly is disposed within the tank. | 12-03-2015 |
20150289739 | Airflow Indicator Assembly and Method For Vacuum Cleaner - A vacuum cleaner having an airflow outlet and an airflow indicator assembly removably disposed at the outlet. The airflow indicator assembly includes a pair of fins attached to a spine and a needle disposed between the pair of fins. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, exhaust air is directed through the outlet and towards the needle, pushing the needle thereby indicating whether service is needed. | 10-15-2015 |
20150275907 | Axial Flow Air Circulator - A cylindrical air circulator has a telescoping base handle section that is spaced from the cylindrical wall and extends between handle supports. Optional wings on the handle supports serve as a cord wrap. A connector secured to a downstream end of an expandable tube enables a user to secure that end to a structural member. An optional plate/tube combination provides a plurality of tubes that can be directed in different directions. An optional pivotable connector can be used to suspend the tubular wall off the ground. Locks enable a user to secure the connector in a multitude of positions, enabling the cylinder to be locked in a variety of rotational positions about multiple axes when the air circulator is suspended off the ground. | 10-01-2015 |
20150067978 | DRAIN SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VACUUM CLEANER - A vacuum cleaner comprising a tank for collecting material having a base, an outside surface and an opening disposed at the base. A drain system is disposed adjacent the opening and includes a drain tube having an outlet and a cap mounted to the drain tube and removably secured to prevent material from exiting the drain system. When the cap is removed, the drain tube slides out of the opening in a first direction and the outlet permits material to leave the drain tube in a direction other than the first direction. | 03-12-2015 |
20150013100 | VACUUM CLEANER WITH SLIDING LATCH - A latch mounts in an opening on the lidcage of a conventional vacuum cleaner. A stationary piece has a hooked arm that locks against an edge on the lidcage, and can be clipped in place without other fasteners. It also has a hose fence that helps hold a stored hose. A movable piece has a tongue that slides within a channel on the stationary piece. When locked, the tongue engages the bead and a lock latches onto an edge, inhibiting the tongue from moving to the unlocked position. The lock is on an actuator tab that extends from the stationary piece and can be deflected by a user to release the lock. A spaced finger edge may be engaged by a user while pressing the actuator tab. A barb on the tongue engages the same edge that the lock latches onto, and resists removal of the tongue from the channel. | 01-15-2015 |
20140165323 | Vacuum Assembly for Automobile - The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle. | 06-19-2014 |
20140096707 | TABLE WITH A FAN - A table includes a table top, a support pedestal having a plenum, the support pedestal arranged to support the table top, and a fan arranged to blow air upwardly toward the table top through the plenum. An air deflector may be arranged to deflect the air radially outwardly under the table top in a 360° pattern. A heating element, cooling element, and/or a volatile active delivery system may be included to heat and/or cool the air and/or deliver a volatile active into the air. An ice bucket may be removably received within a bucket holder arranged in a recess in or through the table top. | 04-10-2014 |
20130283563 | FILTER SHAKER - A filter shaker for a filter assembly disposed in a vacuum includes a housing that removably mounts to the filter and/or a support for the filter and a vibrator assembly carried by the housing. When actuated, the vibrator assembly vibrates the filter to clean particulate matter from the filter. The vibrator assembly includes a motor that drives an eccentric and an actuator that periodically impacts against a portion of the housing to cause the vibrations. The housing includes a mounting assembly for mounting the filter shaker to the cage and/or filter in an operative position and a locking assembly for locking and unlocking the filter shaker in the operative position to prevent the filter shaker from vibrating off. In the operative position, the filter shaker covers an open end of a tubular filter and thereby forces air to be directed through filter material of the tubular filter. | 10-31-2013 |
20130276262 | Vacuum Cleaner with Screen Cage - A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit. | 10-24-2013 |
20130255029 | PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER - A portable vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a rechargeable battery and a DC motor. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a DC power input port for receiving DC power from a remote power source. The DC motor is operable in response to power from either the battery or the remote power source. | 10-03-2013 |
20130086770 | VACUUM CLEANER WITH REMOVABLE BATTERY PACK - A battery powered vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner comprises a motor, a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells arranged in a generally horseshoe configuration and wrapped about the motor, and a battery door providing access to the battery pack and adapted to permit removal of the battery pack from the vacuum cleaner. | 04-11-2013 |
20130009371 | Portable Cleaner with Axle Mount - A new dolly can be used for making either a vacuum cleaner supported by casters or one supported by wheels. Casters can be mounted in sockets in bosses near the dolly perimeter. Alternatively, axle mounts can be fitted over the bosses. Upright walls on the mounts engage corresponding walls on the underside of the dolly, forming spaced supports. An accessory component with molded upright walls is mounted onto the dolly, and its walls engage corresponding walls under the dolly. One fastener seats against one fastener surface on the accessory component, and extends into a hole in that fastener surface, an aligned opening in the corresponding axle mount, and into the dolly. | 01-10-2013 |
20130007984 | Vacuum Cleaner with Recirculated Cooling Air - A vacuum cleaner comprising a receptacle having a working air inlet and an associated filter, the filter in communication with and downstream from the working air inlet, is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner further includes a housing containing a motor and having a cooling air outlet from the motor and a working air outlet, the working air outlet in communication with the working air inlet of the receptacle through a working air impeller, wherein the cooling air is directed to the receptacle, and the cooling air passes through the filter before exiting the working air outlet of the housing. | 01-10-2013 |
20130007979 | Portable Combined Toolbox and Vacuum Cleaner - Mating connectors enable a vacuum cleaner section to be releasably attached to a toolbox section. The connectors include a downward-facing tongue that fits in a corresponding horizontal slot. The tongue has a vertical slot that corresponds with a vertical flange adjacent the slot. An interacting tab and slot prevent the vacuum cleaner section from being removed from the toolbox section when a closeable top on the toolbox section is closed. The two sections attach in a position in which upright side walls on the vacuum cleaner section align with the upright sides on the toolbox section, and an extended horizontal work surface is formed by portions of the hinged top on the toolbox section and the vacuum cleaner section. A handle on the vacuum cleaner section can form part of the horizontal work surface, which has parallel lateral grooves with co-linear segments on opposite sides of a recessed channel. A wheeled version has a handle hinged to a mount and a pocket that encircles and supports the vacuum cleaner section. Another version has a handle that retracts into the recessed channel and is arranged to support the top against the ground when the top is fully open. | 01-10-2013 |
20120266407 | Double-Walled Vacuum Cleaner - A new drum vacuum cleaner has a 0.02 to 0.035 inch thick stainless steel wall that that substantially surrounds a molded inner tank that extends downwardly from a tank collar. The lower end of the wall is positioned between an inward-facing edge of a recess on a wheeled base and an outward-facing edge on the molded inner tank, and is supported on a supporting face on the base that also supports the tank. The upper end of the wall is positioned within a downward-opening slot in the tank collar. When the molded inner tank is connected to the base, the metal wall is trapped in place between the tank collar and the base, providing an exposed stainless steel section that is at least three inches in height and can extend to within less than 1″ of the vacuum cleaner head. | 10-25-2012 |
20120206078 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF A MOTOR BASED ON DWELL - In a method of controlling speed of a brushless, direct current (BLDC) motor based on dwell, an indication of a desired speed of the BLDC motor is received. A dwell is determined based on a magnitude of a voltage corresponding to the indication of the desired speed. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulse having a pulse length corresponding to the determined dwell is applied to a stator of the BLDC motor to adjust a rotational speed of a rotor of the BLDC motor to the desired speed. | 08-16-2012 |
20110234132 | TORQUE BASED ELECTRONIC PULSE WIDTH MODULATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SWITCHED RELUCTANCE MOTOR - Methods and systems of accelerating a brushless, DC electric motor based on torque may include determining a slope based on a maximum torque of the BLDC motor at a lower operating load and a maximum torque of the motor at a higher operating load, determining a period of the rotor based on sensor signals, and determining and applying a phase advance to a PWM pulse for a subsequent revolution of the rotor based on the period and the slope. In some embodiments, the amount of the phase advance is further based on maximum load optimum advance and/or maximum load speed. In some embodiments, a phase dwell is determined based on a positive torque zone and applied to the PWM pulse. In some embodiments, when the motor is operating below a given threshold, fixed-width PWM pulses are applied to subsequent revolutions of the rotor instead of phase-advanced PWM pulses. | 09-29-2011 |
20110234131 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PULSE-WIDTH MODULATION IN AN ELECTRIC MOTOR - In a method of controlling current in a control circuit of an electric motor, pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulses are applied to a stator of the electric motor, via a plurality of transistors of the control circuit, using a first control mode when a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor is within a first range. At least one PWM pulse is applied to the stator, via a subset of the plurality of transistors, using a second control mode when the rotational speed of the rotor is within a second range. When it is determined that the rotational speed of the rotor has changed from being within the second range to being within the first range, additional PWM pulses are applied to the stator such that, for each of the plurality of transistors, a current through the transistor does not exceed a maximum current capacity of the transistor. | 09-29-2011 |
20110232026 | Removable Circuit Board Assembly for a Vacuum - A vacuum assembly having a housing and a motor and motor shaft secured within the housing; a fan coupled to the motor shaft and an air intake port and an air exhaust port located within the housing; a circuit board mounted in a cooling air path in the housing, wherein the cooling air path is located between the air intake port and the air exhaust port such that the fan causes cool air to flow across the circuit board; a pulley assembly coupled to the motor shaft and including a disposable belt, the pulley assembly located in the housing in such position that the circuit board blocks access to the disposable belt; a first connector portion secured to the circuit board; a second connector portion coupled to a plurality of wires coupled to at least the motor; the first and second connector portions configured to mate in a single direction. | 09-29-2011 |
20110107549 | VACUUM DEVICE WITH POSITIVE PRESSURE TANK - In a device that uses the tank from a conventional vacuum cleaner, the tank is under positive pressure. A cap fits over a tubular element inside the tank and closes the conventional air inlet. The cap has a peripheral wall that extends between a solid back and a front radial rim, and interior axial ribs. The lid is held by a latch that has an element that pivots with respect to the tank and the lid, and a clasp that has a bent arm. A tensioner pulls the bent arm. The tensioner has a threaded rod that extends from a handgrip though a hole in the pivoting element. A nut on the clasp receives a threaded end of the threaded rod, enabling the handgrip to be used to tighten the clasp. An outer wall of the latch is disposed outwardly of the threaded rod and the bent arm. | 05-12-2011 |
20110107547 | Combination vacuum cleaner, dolly, and mounting bracket - The disclosed bracket can be used to hang vacuum cleaners that have a detachable dolly. A plate on the bracket mounts to a wall. A stem portion fits within a slot on the dolly. Lower wall segments on the stem portion extend from the wall plate and have vertical outer edges. Intermediate wall segments extend between the lower wall segments and upper wall segments that have lower horizontal limits that are closer together than the lower wall segments are, are positioned laterally outwards from the stem portion, and taper toward each other above their lower limits. Side rim portions extend from the upper wall segments and fit within grooves on the vacuum cleaner. The outer edges of the lower wall segments are farther apart than the inner edges of the side rim portions are, and closer together than the outer edges of the side rim portions are. | 05-12-2011 |
20100083462 | System and Method of Controlling Start-Up of a Switched Reluctance Motor - Embodiments of a switched reluctance (SR) motor for use in a integrated vacuum system for a vehicle are disclosed. The SR motor may receive input voltage directly from an electrical storage device used to start up an engine of the vehicle. The SR motor may include an encoder that triggers an optical sensor to provide signals to a motor controller. The motor controller may energize stator poles based on the received signals. The encoder may be mechanically phase-advanced with respect to poles of the rotor to ensure proper start-up of the SR motor. Commutations of the motor may occur before a point of maximum inductance where the rotor and stator are aligned. In a preferred embodiment, the input voltage received by the SR motor is in a range of 9-16 Volts DC, a maximum drawn current is 36 amps, and the phase advance is between 9-11 degrees. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083461 | System and Method of Controlling Current Draw of a Switched Reluctance Motor - Disclosed is a system and method for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor by changing a dwell state including starting the motor in a normal mode, measuring current in the motor, comparing the measured current to a first threshold, triggering an interrupt if the measured current exceeds the first threshold, keeping a count of consecutive readings exceeding the first threshold, changing the dwell state from a first state to a second state if the measured current exceeds the first threshold and the count equals a set value, changing the dwell state from a second state to a third state if the measured current exceeds a second threshold, and triggering a fault condition if the measured current in the third state exceeds a third threshold. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083457 | Vacuum Assembly for Automobile - The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083456 | Vacuum Assembly with Inlet Through Removable Tank - The disclosed vacuum assembly can be mounted in a vehicle. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected. Alignment bosses fit in aligned openings when the tank is in the mounted position. | 04-08-2010 |
20100071151 | Removable Internal Air Diffuser - Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner having a housing defining first and second ports. The vacuum cleaner also includes a cap assembly. The cap assembly includes a cap head to close the first port such that airflow is directed via a flow path to the second port, a sound-influencing material, the sound-influencing material removably held to the cap head and disposed within the flow path to reduce noise effected by the airflow. The flow path is configured to cause the airflow to pass through the sound-influencing material and the flow path to the second port. The sound-influencing material is removable to allow cleaning of the sound-influencing material. The sound-influencing material may include a reticulated foam roll disposed in the frame to diffuse the discharge airflow. | 03-25-2010 |
20090097102 | APERTURE ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A PHOTOSENSOR SYSTEM AND A SECURING MECHANISM FOR THE APERTURE ASSEMBLY - A cost-effective photosensor system for rotor position detection includes securing an aperture assembly to an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-emitting component and/or an off-the-shelf infrared radiation-detecting component. The application discloses an aperture assembly that may be stamped from a thin, opaque, elongated piece of plastic having an aperture window through which a radiation beam may pass and be focused. The aperture assembly also has a locking system for securing the assembly to the off-the-shelf photosensor system component, and an alignment system to direct the infrared radiation beam. A replaceable stamped aperture assembly for use in a rotor-sensing system and a method of providing a replaceable aperture assembly and securing it to an infrared component of a photosensor system are also disclosed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090026721 | Dolly with wheel lock - A system for locking the wheels of a dolly for a cleaning device has a brake arm that has one end that is hinged to the base of the dolly. The brake arm pivots between a disengaged position and an engaged position where a stop on an opposite end of the brake arm engages the circumference of one of the wheels on the dolly. A spring biases the brake arm to the disengaged position. The spring can be mounted on a pin that is seated on the base and extends through a slot in the brake arm. An operator-engagable lever is used to move the brake arm from one position to another. The lever can be hinged to the pin, pivoting into and out of a locked position in which the lever presses the brake arm into the engaged position. A cam surface on the lever is shaped so that moving the lever to one side of a critical point causes the lever to be biased toward the locked position, and moving the lever to the other side of the critical point causes the lever to be biased toward the unlocked position. The part of the lever that abuts the brake arm when the lever is in the locked position can be a flat section on the cam surface. | 01-29-2009 |
20090021204 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL SENSING IN AN ELECTRICALLY COMMUTATED MOTOR - A control circuit for a motor includes a voltage regulator having a thermal shutdown apparatus that turns off the voltage regulator while retaining power to a micro-controller preventing an automatic restart of the motor absent a recycling of power when the temperature of the control circuit rises above a pre-determined threshold level, wherein the voltage regulator is used to provide power to a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors controlling a plurality of stator windings of the motor. Thus the voltage regulator prevents the control circuit and the various components on the control circuit from being damaged from overheating. An embodiment of the control circuit is adapted to generate an error code in response to the shutdown of the voltage regulator and to monitor the operation of the motor to ensure that the motor has been turned off and then on before turning on the power supply to a plurality of phase windings. | 01-22-2009 |
20080276411 | Wall hanging vacuum cleaner - A new vacuum cleaner/bracket combination has a bracket that mates with an indented side on a vacuum cleaner or blower. The indented side has a downwardly-facing upper lip portion and a laterally-facing side lip portion. There is an upper groove portion behind the downwardly-facing upper lip portion, and a side groove portion behind the side lip portion. The bracket has an upper rim portion that is configured to fit within the upper groove portion on the indented side. A side rim portion on the bracket is positioned below the upper rim portion. It is configured to fit within the side groove portion on the indented side when the upper rim portion on the bracket fits within the upper groove portion. | 11-13-2008 |