Vacuum Cleaner with Ultraviolet Light Source and Ozone

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner (A) including a nozzle base (C) having a main suction opening ( 26 ) and a housing (B) pivotally mounted on the nozzle base (C). An airstream suction source (E) is mounted to one of the housing (B) and the nozzle base (C) for selectively establishing and maintaining a suction airstream flowing from the nozzle main suction opening ( 26 ) to an exhaust outlet of the suction source. A filter housing ( 132, 230, 350, 508, 606, 700, 800, 906 ) is mounted to one of the nozzle base (C) and the housing (B). The filter housing comprises a filter ( 150, 270, 272, 704, 804 ) mounted in the filter housing. An ultraviolet light source ( 160, 280, 706, 806 ) is disposed in the filter housing and shines on the filter for disinfecting same.

1 . A filter housing assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a suction airstream inlet and a suction airstream outlet, said filter housing assembly comprising:
 a housing member mounted to the vacuum cleaner;   a first filter mounted in said housing member;   an ultraviolet light source located in said housing member for disinfecting an interior of said filter housing; and   an electrical circuit for providing a power source to said ultraviolet light source.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first filter is in fluid communication with said suction airstream inlet and further including a second filter disposed downstream of said first filter, said second filter being in fluid communication with said suction airstream outlet. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said first filter includes an open cell flexible foam material. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said second filter includes one of a pleated filter material, an electrostatic filter and a High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filter material. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said ultraviolet light source is disposed between said first filter and said second filter. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuit includes an electrical socket is mounted on an outer surface of said housing member. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an ozonizer for disinfecting air inside said housing member. 
   
   
       9 . A vacuum cleaner including:
 a nozzle base including a main suction opening;   a housing pivotally mounted on said nozzle base;   an airstream suction source mounted to one of said housing and said nozzle base for selectively establishing and maintaining a suction airstream flowing from said nozzle main suction opening to an exhaust outlet of said suction source; and   a filter housing assembly mounted to one of said nozzle base and said housing, said filter housing assembly comprising:   a filter mounted in said filter housing assembly; and   an ultraviolet light source disposed in said filter housing assembly and shining on said filter for disinfecting same.   
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein said filter housing assembly further includes an electrical socket for providing a power source to said ultraviolet light source. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein said filter housing assembly further includes a cover releasably secured to a base, said cover including a suction airstream inlet in fluid communication with said nozzle main suction opening, said base including a suction airstream outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of said suction source. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  further including a dirt cup selectively mounted to said housing, said dirt cup being located upstream of said filter housing assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  further including a cyclonic airflow chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  further including an ozone source for disinfecting the air inside said cyclonic airflow chamber. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  further including an indicator for indicating a power status of said ultraviolet light source. 
   
   
       16 . A vacuum cleaner including:
 a housing in fluid communication with a main suction opening;   an airstream suction source mounted to said housing for selectively establishing and maintaining a suction airstream flowing from said main suction opening to an exhaust outlet of said suction source; and   a filter housing assembly mounted to said housing, said filter housing assembly comprising:   a first filter,   a second filter, and   an ultraviolet light source shining on said first and second filters for disinfecting same.   
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  wherein said filter housing assembly further includes an electrical circuit for providing a power source to said ultraviolet light source. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  wherein said filter housing assembly further includes a base and a cover releasably secured to the base, said cover including a suction airstream inlet in fluid communication with said main suction opening, said base including a suction airstream outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of said airstream suction source. 
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  further including a dirt cup selectively mounted to said housing, said dirt cup being located upstream of said filter housing assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19  wherein said dirt cup includes a cyclonic airflow chamber. 
   
   
       21 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a dirt cup;   a cyclonic flow chamber located upstream from said dirt cup;   a filter housing assembly disposed downstream from said cyclonic flow chamber for accommodating at least one filter for filtering dirt from the airstream; and   an ultraviolet light source secured to at least one of said dirt cup and said filter housing assembly.   
   
   
       22 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein said ultraviolet light source is mounted to said cyclonic flow chamber, said ultraviolet light source shining on dirt accumulated in said dirt cup for disinfecting same. 
   
   
       23 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein said ultraviolet light source is disposed inside said filter housing assembly. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  further comprising an ozonizer communicating with at least one of said dirt cup and said filter housing assembly. 
   
   
       26 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein said ultraviolet light source generates a concentration of ozone. 
   
   
       27 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein said filter housing assembly is in fluid communication with said dirt cup for disinfecting dirt accumulated in said dirt cup. 
   
   
       28 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 27  further comprising an air path for communicating said filter housing assembly with said dirt cup to redirect a portion of the airstream from said filter housing assembly to said dirt cup whereby the redirected airstream contains sufficient amounts of ozone generated from said ultraviolet light source for sanitizing the dirt in said dirt cup. 
   
   
       29 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 20  further comprising an air conduit having a first end section in communication with said filter housing assembly and a second end section in communication with said cyclonic airflow chamber, said first end section of said air conduit being configured to created a suction for redirecting a portion of the airstream from said filter housing assembly to said cyclonic airflow chamber whereby the redirected airstream contains sufficient amounts of ozone generated from said ultraviolet light source for sanitizing dirt accumulated in said dirt cup.