Claims
- 1. A fan impeller for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a plurality of pliable blades for centrifugally displacing a volume of air upon rotation of the impeller; and
- a hub for retaining said plurality of blades, wherein said hub secures the impeller to a motor-driven shaft for producing rotation, and wherein the hub is formed of a moldable material which is overmolded around the blades to securely retain the blades within the hub.
- 2. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade has a shaped edge.
- 3. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade is formed of a flat piece of material which is shredded.
- 4. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein each blade is comprised of multiple strands.
- 5. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blades are between 1-5 inches long, and between 0.10-2.0 inches wide.
- 6. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blade material comprises a synthetic fabric.
- 7. The fan impeller of claim 6 wherein the synthetic fabric is polyester and is coated with a polymer.
- 8. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the blades are formed from a plurality of straps, wherein each strap is folded at the center to provide a pair of blades, and wherein the center of each strap is secured within the hub.
- 9. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the hub is formed of an elastomeric material having a durometer of 60A-90D.
- 10. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the hub includes a bore for attaching to the motor-driven shaft and wherein the hub is formed of a flexible material in the area substantially around the bore and the remainder of the hub is formed of a rigid material.
- 11. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein the hub includes a bore for attaching to the motor-driven shaft and wherein the hub includes a rigid tube to define the bore, and wherein the remainder of said hub is formed of a flexible material.
- 12. The fan impeller of claim 1 wherein strap and the hub are formed of respective materials selected to produce a chemical bond.
- 13. The fan impeller of claim 12 wherein the hub material is urethane and wherein the blade is a urethane-coated polyester.
- 14. A fan for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a fan housing for receiving an impeller, said fan housing having an inlet and an outlet for respectively receiving and discharging air;
- a shaft, rotationally driven by a motor, and secured to the fan housing;
- an impeller mounted on said shaft and received within said fan housing, for centrifugally drawing air from said inlet to said outlet, said impeller comprising:
- a plurality of pliable blades for centrifugally displacing a volume of air upon rotation of the impeller; and
- a hub for retaining said plurality of blades, wherein said hub secures the impeller to the shaft, wherein the hub is formed of a moldable material which is overmolded around the blades to securely retain the blades within the hub.
- 15. The fan of claim 14 wherein each blade has a shaped edge.
- 16. The fan of claim 14 wherein each blade is formed of a flat piece of material which is shredded.
- 17. The fan of claim 14 wherein each blade is comprised of multiple strands.
- 18. The fan of claim 14 wherein the blades are between 1-5 inches in length, and between 0.10-2.0 mm wide.
- 19. The fan of claim 14 wherein the blade material comprises a synthetic fabric.
- 20. The fan of claim 19 wherein the synthetic fabric is polyester and is coated with a polymer.
- 21. The fan of claim 14 wherein the blades are formed from a plurality of straps, wherein each strap is folded at the center to provide a pair of blades, and wherein the center of each strap is secured within the hub.
- 22. The fan impeller of claim 14 wherein the hub is formed of an elastomeric material having a durometer of 60A-90D.
- 23. The fan impeller of claim 14 wherein the hub includes a bore for attaching to the motor-driven shaft and wherein the hub is formed of a flexible material in the area substantially around the bore and the remainder of the hub is formed of a rigid material.
- 24. The fan impeller of claim 14 wherein the hub includes a bore for attaching to the motor-driven shaft and wherein the hub includes a rigid tube to define the bore, and wherein the remainder of said hub is formed of a flexible material.
- 25. The fan impeller of claim 14 wherein strap and the hub are formed of respective materials selected to produce a chemical bond.
- 26. The fan impeller of claim 25 wherein the hub material is urethane and wherein the blade is a urethane-coated polyester.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 08/495,362 filed on Jun. 28, 1995.
US Referenced Citations (22)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
17042 |
Feb 1978 |
AUX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
495362 |
Jun 1995 |
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