Vacuum cleaner and a method of operating a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner for removing dirt and debris from different surfaces and a method of operating a vacuum cleaner. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner body comprising; 
 a motor being configured to drive said vacuum cleaner and to draw air from the environment;    a motor housing being configured and disposed to house said motor;    a top lid portion being configured and disposed to open and close to add and remove a filter bag;    a substantially cylindrical body portion comprising an inner wall and a filter bag compartment being configured to house a filter bag;    said substantially cylindrical body portion being disposed between said motor housing and said top lid portion;    a filter material being disposed around the periphery of said wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion;    said filter material being disposed to form an outer wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion;    said filter material being configured and disposed to filter air exhausted by said vacuum cleaner;    said filter material and said wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion being disposed to form a jacket space therebetween;    at least one passage being disposed between said motor compartment and said jacket space;    said at least one passage being configured and disposed to carry air from said motor compartment to said jacket space;    said substantially cylindrical body portion being configured and disposed to route air from said filter bag compartment to said motor compartment, up through said at least one passage, into said jacket space;    said filter material being configured and disposed to permit the flow of air from said jacket space and outward through said filter material;    a first handle unit being configured and disposed to be held by the hand of a user in order to push and pull said vacuum cleaner over an area of floor to be cleaned;    said first handle unit being disposed above said vacuum cleaner body in use and being connected to said vacuum cleaner body;    a second handle unit being disposed on one lateral side of said vacuum cleaner body and being disposed to run substantially parallel to said vacuum cleaner body;    said second handle unit being configured and disposed to form a handle for carrying said substantially cylindrical body portion;    a hose to conduct vacuum being configured and disposed to carry dirt and debris from an area of floor to be cleaned into said vacuum cleaner;    said second handle unit being configured to receive said hose;    said hose being configured to be disposed to extend along the length of said second handle unit;    said hose being configured to end at said top lid portion and to empty dirt and debris in a downward motion into a filter bag inside of said substantially cylindrical body portion; and    a vacuum cleaner head for vacuuming floor surfaces.    
   
   
       2 . Vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion is realized essentially in the form of a shell, in the manner of a curved receptacle.  
   
   
       3 . Vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least the lower portion of said handle portion is realized in a tubular shape.  
   
   
       4 . Vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion is realized in the form of a tube in the manner of a curved receptacle and is detachable so that it can be used as a removable hand-held vacuuming element.  
   
   
       5 . Vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said handle portion is detachably connected with the vacuum cleaner body by means of lockable mating connecting elements in the connecting areas.  
   
   
       6 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method of filtering exhaust air from a vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner comprising: A vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner body comprising; a motor being configured to drive said vacuum cleaner and to draw air from the environment; a motor housing being configured and disposed to house said motor; a top lid portion being configured and disposed to open and close to add and remove a filter bag; a substantially cylindrical body portion comprising an inner wall and a filter bag compartment being configured to house a filter bag; said substantially cylindrical body portion being disposed between said motor housing and said top lid portion; a filter material being disposed around the periphery of said wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion; said filter material being disposed to form an outer wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion; said filter material being configured and disposed to filter air exhausted by said vacuum cleaner; said filter material and said wall of said substantially cylindrical body portion being disposed to form a jacket space therebetween; at least one passage being disposed between said motor compartment and said jacket space; said at least one passage being configured and disposed to carry air from said motor compartment to said jacket space; said substantially cylindrical body portion being configured and disposed to route air from said filter bag compartment to said motor compartment, up through said at least one passage, into said jacket space; said filter material being configured and disposed to permit the flow of air from said jacket space and outward through said filter material; a first handle unit being configured and disposed to be held by the hand of a user in order to push and pull said vacuum cleaner over an area of floor to be cleaned; said first handle unit being disposed above said vacuum cleaner body in use and being connected to said vacuum cleaner body; a second handle unit being disposed on one lateral side of said vacuum cleaner body and being disposed to run substantially parallel to said vacuum cleaner body; said second handle unit being configured and disposed to form a handle for carrying said substantially cylindrical body portion; a hose to conduct vacuuming being configured and disposed to carry dirt and debris from an area of floor to be cleaned into said vacuum cleaner; said second handle unit being configured to receive said hose; said hose being configured to be disposed to extend along the length of said second handle unit; said hose being configured to end at said top lid portion and to empty dirt and debris in a downward motion into a filter bag inside of said substantially cylindrical body portion; and a vacuum cleaner head for vacuuming floor surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: 
 routing air from said hose downwards into said filter bag compartment;    routing air from said filter bag compartment downward into said motor compartment;    routing air from said motor compartment upwards through said air passages and into said jacket space;    routing air outwards from said jacket space and through said filter material.    
   
   
       13 . Method of filtering exhaust air from a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 12 , wherein said handle portion is realized essentially in the form of a shell, in the manner of a curved receptacle; and 
 at least the lower portion of said handle portion is realized in a tubular shape.    
   
   
       14 . Method of filtering exhaust air from a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 12  said handle portion is realized in the form of a tube in the manner of a curved receptacle and is detachable so that it can be used as a removable hand-held vacuuming element.  
   
   
       15 . Method of filtering exhaust air from a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14 , wherein said handle portion is detachably connected with the vacuum cleaner body by means of lockable mating connecting elements in the connecting areas.  
   
   
       16 . Hand vacuum cleaner with an upper handle in the form of a steering rod as an extension of a housing and a floor vacuum attachment that is located in the vicinity of the floor, wherein: 
 the dirt-laden air is fed via a hand vacuuming hose in the form of an ascending line into a dust separating unit that is upstream of a motor in an upper portion of the housing;    the exhaust air is transported outward via air outlets in the housing;    the hand vacuuming hose is detachably connected in the area facing the vacuum nozzle for auxiliary vacuuming tasks;    the housing in the form of a vacuum cleaner body comprises, in its central portion, an approximately cylindrical configuration;    said vacuum cleaner body being sheathed by filter material that acts as an exhaust filter;    the air to be exhausted can be routed into a jacket space that is formed between the housing and the filter material;    in an area facing the motor compartment there are passages to the jacket space;    for the hand vacuuming hose, an outboard receptacle element is provided, whereby the receptacle element is connected to the housing leaving a space between which forms a reach-through opening that can be used to transport the vacuum cleaner and to replace the filter material.    
   
   
       17 . Hand vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the receptacle element is realized essentially in the form of a shell, in the manner of a curved receptacle.  
   
   
       18 . Hand vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least the lower portion of the receptacle element is realized in a tubular shape.  
   
   
       19 . Hand vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the receptacle element is realized in the form of a tube in the manner of a curved receptacle and is detachable so that it can be used as a removable hand-held vacuuming element.  
   
   
       20 . Hand vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the receptacle element is detachably connected with the vacuum cleaner body by means of lockable mating connecting elements in the connecting areas.