Claims
- 1. For use with an air filter adapter base having (a) a base plate with at least one opening therein for the passage of exhaust air therethrough, (b) releasable engagement structure, and (c) a first rib extending substantially continuously around said at least one opening therein and protruding therefrom, an air filter unit comprising:
- a filter carrier having (a) at least one opening therein for the passage of exhaust air therethrough, (b) complementary engagement structure complementary to said releasable engagement structure, and (c) a second rib extending substantially continuously around said at least one opening therein and protruding toward said base when said complementary engagement structure engages said releasable engagement structure; and
- a filter, said filter being substantially permanently attached to said filter carrier by being at least tacked thereto; wherein:
- when said filter carrier is attached to said base:
- said first and second ribs extend substantially parallel to one another, separated by a separation distance, creating a separation space, and
- said filter is captured between said filter carrier and said base, edges of said filter being captured between said first and second ribs and being deformed into a tortuous path thereby for creating a seal in said separation space against passage of air through said separation space.
- 2. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein:
- said filter carrier has a carrier plate;
- when said filter carrier is attached to said base, said base plate and said carrier plate are separated by a plate gap distance;
- said filter is made of a lofty material having a compressed thickness; and
- at least one of said first and second ribs protrudes from said base plate by a protrusion distance less than said plate gap distance and at least about equal to a difference between said plate gap distance and said compressed thickness.
- 3. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein said separation distance is at least equal to said compressed thickness.
- 4. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein at least portions of at least one edge of said filter are tacked to said filter carrier.
- 5. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein:
- said filter comprises a plastic material;
- said filter carrier comprises a plastic material; and
- said filter, being at least tacked to said filter carrier, is at least tacked by ultrasonic welding.
- 6. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises a high-efficiency, low-flow-resistance synthetic filter material.
- 7. The air filter unit of claim 6 wherein said filter material is an electrostatic filter material.
- 8. The air filter unit of claim 7 wherein said electrostatic filter material comprises two different fiber materials.
- 9. The air filter unit of claim 8 wherein one of said two different fiber materials is polypropylene fiber.
- 10. The air filter unit of claim 8 wherein one of said two different fiber materials is modacrylic fiber.
- 11. The air filter unit of claim 10 wherein the other of said two different fiber materials is polypropylene fiber.
- 12. The air filter unit of claim 1 wherein said filter carrier comprises a deflector adjacent said at least one opening for adjusting direction of said exhaust air.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/527,696, filed Sep. 13, 1995, entitled FILTER AND ACCESSORY MOUNT FOR UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER EXHAUST PORT, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,894.
US Referenced Citations (26)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry |
Iona Appliances Inc., Fantom.RTM. Owner's Manual (with HEPA Absolute Air Filter addendum), 1994. |
Lindhaus U.S.A., DP-5.TM. Upright Carpet Vacuum, "Features and Advantages," 1993. |
Lindhaus U.S.A., DP-5.TM. Upright Carpet Vacuum sales sheet, 1993. |
Lindhaus U.S.A., DP-5 Vacuum Cleaner Owner's Guide and Parts Manual, undated. |
The Scott Fetzer Company, Kirby.RTM. Generation 3.TM. Owner's Manual, 1989. |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
527696 |
Sep 1995 |
|