Hover Vacuum Cleaner

Field of Invention:

This invention relates to an improved vacuum cleaner and more specifically a self- propulsion hovering vacuum cleaner generally used for domestic or industrial application.

Background:

Hovering vacuum cleaners are available in the market and patents on them had been granted eg. US patent no. 2751038 issued to L.K. Acheson, Korean patent no. KRI 84980Y issued to Bae Suk Wan, Canadian Patent No. 2,247,721 and Canadian Patent No. 2,301 400 issued to Michael Rooney.

Although said patents have hovering features but they nevertheless are not prefect and required improvements against juddering or rocking due to unequal distribution of air underneath the vacuum cleaners. Furthermore, these prior arts does not have self-propelling and self-cooling features as contemplated by this invention.

Summary of the Invention:

The present invention provides a hovering vacuum cleaner comprising a casing enclosing a filter chamber and a exhaust chamber, a suction inlet, a filter in the filter chamber, an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller, air outlets predisposed symmetrically at both sides of the underside of the casing, a pathway for air to flow from the inlet through the dust filter, the impeller, the motor and emit through the air outlet, a skirting predisposed along the perimeter of the underside of the casing to entrap air emitted through the air outlet and to create a cushion of air at the bottom of the casing to have a hovering effect, and the underside of the casing has a curve up surface predisposed symmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the underside of the casing for better retention of air to enhance the hovering effect.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved hovering vacuum cleaner specially designed to achieve a more even distribution of air underneath the vacuum cleaner to reduce juddering or rocking effects.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hovering vacuum cleaner with self-propulsion features when the vacuum is energized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hovering vacuum cleaner with built in self cooling features

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the bottom view of another embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows the top view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows the cross section view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows the cross section view of the underside of casing of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the vanes at the air outlets on the underside of the casing of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows the shell shaped structure covering the impelling motor and the air outlets of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows the jet outlet predisposed at the back of vacuum cleaner with lid installed thereon

Figure 9 shows the position of the wheel and air return holes according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments:

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

The salient features of the present invention described by reference to figures 1-9 below.

Figure 1 shows a self-propulsion hovering vacuum cleaner according to the present invention which encompassed the embodiments of the normal vacuum cleaner viz a suction inlet, a casing (20) enclosing a filter chamber, a filter in the filter chamber, a motor chamber, an impelling motor in the motor chamber, a shell-shaped structure enclosing the motor and covering the air outlets (1) which are predisposed symmetrically at both sides of the underside of the casing, a pathway for air to flow from the inlet through the dust filter, the impelling motor and directed by the shell-shaped structure to emit through the air outlet,

a skirting (3) predisposed along the perimeter of the underside of the casing to entrap air emitted through the air outlet and to create a cushion of air at the bottom of the casing to have a hovering effect. The underside of the casing has a curve up surface predisposed symmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the underside of the casing for better retention of air to enhance the hovering effect.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention the air outlet with the air distribution channels (2) which are in direct communication with the air outlets (1). The suctioned air from the conventional vacuum cleaner is emitted via the air outlet (1) to the air distribution channels (2) which are predisposed symmetrically on both sides of the underside of the casing along the longitudinal axis of the underside of the casing. The said air distribution channels (2) are in communication with the air outlets for directing more air to the front and back directions of the vacuum cleaner.

To deliver the function properly, the air distribution channels (2) will have to be predisposed symmetrically on both sides of the underside of the casing along the longitudinal axis of the underside of the casing. It is also important that the air distribution channels (2) are in communication with the air outlets (1) for directing more air to the front and back directions of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 shows the top view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention of the present invention which encompasses a casing (20) enclosing a filter chamber (24) and a motor chamber (26), a suction inlet (22), a filter in the filter chamber (24) , an impelling motor in the motor chamber (26), a shell shaped structure enclosing the impelling motor (26) and covering the air outlets (1), said shell shaped structure will direct the air downwards to the air outlets (1) predisposed symmetrically at both sides of the underside of the casing, a pathway for air to flow from the inlet through the filter, the impelling motor and emit through the air outlet (1).

Figure 4 shows the cross section view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention. Air will flow from the suction inlet (22) through the filter (25) in the filter chamber (24) to the impelling motor in the motor chamber (26). The air flow shall be directed downwards by the shell shaped structure (28) covering the impelling motor to the bottom of the casing and emit through the air outlet located at the underside of the casing. A skirting predisposed

along the perimeter of the underside of the casing shall entrap air emitted through the air outlets and to create a cushion of air at the bottom of the casing to have a hovering effect.

Figure 5 shows the cross section view of the underside of casing of the present invention. The skirting (3) functions to trap the air emitted from the air outlets (1) to within the space underneath the vacuum cleaner to create a cushion of air underneath the underside of the casing. The skirting (3) functions to stop the air jet from going outside and to cause air turbulence in the reflected air flow underneath the vacuum cleaner to assist in he hovering effect of the vacuum cleaner. The curve up surface on the underside of the casing is designed to achieve better retention of air to enhance the hovering effect.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the vanes (1 1) at the air outlets on the underside of the casing of the present invention. There are forward directional vanes (12) and backward directional vanes (14) installed at the air outlets at predetermined angles to direct air flow emitted through the air outlets (1) to the front and back directions of the vacuum cleaner and/or to the air distribution channels.

The forward directional vanes (12) and is designed to direct the air flow to the forward direction. For the backward direction then the backward directional vane 14 is being used. The vanes position will determine the direction of the air flow to achieve a balanced floating effect for the vacuum cleaners.

If more air flow is required in the forward direction then more forward directional vanes (12) covering bigger surface area is used and if more air flow is required in the backward direction then more backward directional vanes (12) covering bigger surface area is used.

Even and balanced distribution of the air flow to the front and back direction of the underside of the casing is important to the hovering actions of the vacuum cleaner, especially to balance its weight and to prevent juddering.

The arrangement of the air outlets (1) which are predisposed symmetrically at both sides of the underside of the casing and the control of air flow through the forward downwards and backward directional vanes (12, 13, 14) play an important role to an even and balanced

distribution of the air flow to the front and back direction of the underside of the casing to balance its center of gravity and to prevent juddering of the vacuum cleaner.

Pointer A shows air flow leaving the air outlets (1) through forward directional vanes (12) at predetermined angles. The high velocity air flow hits and reflects from the ground at predetermined angles and with the skirting (3) to create turbulence air underneath the vacuum cleaner. This turbulent pocket of air creates a floating action at the front portion of the vacuum cleaner.

Pointer B shows air flow leaving the air outlets (1) through downwards directional vanes (13) . The high velocity air flow hits and reflects from the ground at 90 degrees and to create turbulence air underneath the vacuum cleaner. This turbulent pocket of air creates a floating action at the central portion of the vacuum cleaner.

Pointer C shows air flow leaving the air outlets (1) through back directional vanes (14) at predetermined angles. The high velocity air flow hits and reflects from the ground at predetermined degrees and with the skirting (3) to create turbulence air underneath the vacuum cleaner. This turbulent pocket of air creates a floating action at the back portion of the vacuum cleaner.

The relative arrangement the forward, downwards and backward directional vanes (12, 13, 14) shall cause an even and balanced distribution of the air flow to the front and back direction of the underside of the casing to balance its center of gravity and to prevent juddering of the vacuum cleaner.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement of the air outlets (1) which are predisposed symmetrically at both sides of the underside of the casing and the control of air flow through the forward and backward directional vanes (12,14) to the air distribution channels which are predisposed symmetrically on both sides of the underside of the casing along the longitudinal axis of the underside of the casing to achieve an even and balanced distribution of the air flow to the front and back direction of the underside of the casing to balance its center of gravity and to prevent juddering of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 7 shows the shell shaped structure (28) covering the impelling motor (27) in the motor chamber (26). The shell shaped structure (28) covering the impelling motor (27) and in communication with the air outlets for directing the air flow air flow emitted from the impelling motor (27) to the bottom of the vacuum cleaner through the air outlets. The shell shaped structure (28) shall channel the air flow with little turbulence directly to the bottom of the casing through the air outlets.

Figure 8 shows jet outlet (5) predisposed at the back of vacuum cleaner with jet outlet lid (15) installed thereon. The jet outlet (5) will enable the entrapped air at the underside of the casing to flow through for self-propelling the vacuum cleaner for ease of maneuvering by the user when the vacuum cleaner is energized. The jet outlet allows the entrapped air to flow through and hence to self-propel the vacuum cleaner forward and the user only need to guide it to the direction intended.

The jet outlet can be partially or fully closed by a jet outlet lid (15). If the self-propulsion is too strong or if the hovering is required at one spot, then the user can partial or full close the jet outlet (15) by activating the jet outlet lid 9.

Figure 9 shows position of the wheel vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wheel(s) (6) will only function when the vacuum cleaner is not operating or energized. Then the idle vacuum cleaner will be resting on the wheel(s) (6) and can be pushed about. When the vacuum cleaner is functioning or energized, the hovering effect will lift the vacuum cleaner up together with the wheel(s) (6) rendering it wheel-less.

The cleaner is suspended on a cushion of air and the wheels (6) not touching the ground/floor.

Figure 9 also shows air return holes (7) on the underside of the casing for portion of the entrapped air to return to the exhaust chamber for cooling down the exhaust chamber of the vacuum cleaner where the electrical cable are stored. The air return holes (7) are further fitted with filtering means to filter the dusts stirred up by the hovering action of the vacuum cleaner.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the

contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.