Vacuum cleaner incorporating noise suppression system

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body that carries a suction generator. A final filter is carried on the body downstream from the suction generator. The final filter is oriented along a first plane. Opposed side discharge outlets are carried on the body and oriented along a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Air is exhausted from the vacuum cleaner through succeeding compartments of increasing volume and rerouted or turned through different planes along a tortuous air path in order to muffle noise produced by the operating vacuum cleaner.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a nozzle assembly; and   a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly;   said canister assembly including a primary housing, a bag compartment cover, a motor compartment cover and a filter compartment cover;   a bag compartment formed between said primary housing and said bag compartment cover;   a motor compartment formed between said primary housing and said motor compartment cover;   a filter compartment formed between said bag compartment cover, said motor compartment cover and said filter cover;   a filter receiver in said filter compartment;   a filter held in said filter receiver, said filter dividing said filter compartment into a first exhaust chamber and a second exhaust chamber;   opposed side discharge outlets in fluid communication with said second exhaust chamber; and   a suction generator held in said motor compartment and generating an air stream, said air stream being exhausted from said suction generator and traveling serially through said motor compartment, through a vent in said motor compartment cover to said first exhaust chamber, through said filter to said second exhaust chamber and then through said opposed side discharge outlets to exit said vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said suction generator inlet and said vent are oriented to turn said air stream through substantially 90° in said motor compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said vent and said filter are oriented to turn said air stream through substantially 90° in said first exhaust chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said filter and said opposed side discharge outlets are oriented to turn said air stream through substantially 90° in said second exhaust chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said air stream is turned through substantially 90° in each of said motor compartment, said first exhaust chamber and said second exhaust chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said motor compartment has a volume V 1 , said first exhaust chamber has a volume V 2  and said second exhaust chamber has a volume V 3  where V 1 <V 2 <V 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said side discharge outlets are formed along a seam between said bag compartment cover and said filter compartment cover. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said air stream is turned in said first exhaust chamber along a first plane and said air stream is turned in said second exhaust chamber along a second plane where said first and second planes are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said opposed side discharge outlets are positioned outside two opposing sides of said filter. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said air stream flows in a first direction through said vent, in a second direction through said filter and then through opposing third and fourth directions through said opposed side discharge outlets. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said motor compartment has a volume V 1 , said first exhaust chamber has a volume V 2  and said second exhaust chamber has a volume V 3  where V 1 <V 2 <V 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said vent forms a first opening having a surface area A 1  and said opposed side discharge outlets form a second combined opening having a surface area A 2  where A 1 <A 2 . 
     
     
         13 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body;   a suction generator carried on said body;   a final filter carried on said body downstream from said suction generator and oriented along a first plane; and   opposed side air stream discharge outlets carried on said body and oriented along a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said body includes a motor compartment, holding said suction generator, a first exhaust chamber and a second exhaust chamber serially connected for passage of an air stream generated by said suction generator. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said motor compartment has a volume V 1 , said first exhaust chamber has a volume V 2  and said third exhaust chamber has a volume V 3  where V 1 <V 2 <V 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein said suction generator inlet and said vent are oriented to turn said air stream substantially 90° in said motor chamber, said vent and said filter are oriented to turn said air stream substantially 90° in said first exhaust chamber and said filter and said opposed side discharge outlets are oriented to turn said air stream substantially 90° in said second exhaust chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , further including a dirt collection vessel carried on said body upstream from said suction generator. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a vacuum cleaner bag. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.