Thomas Darringt Hawkins

US Patent:

6910245, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Jan 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/759391

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Rich Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US
Len Hampton - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US

Assignee:

White Consolidated Industries, Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A47L009/12
A47L009/16

US Classification:

15339, 15347, 15353, 55321, 55327, 55DIG 3

Abstract:

An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure, to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed. The smallest particles of debris are removed from the airflow by the second filter disposed in this third chamber.

US Patent:

7228592, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Nov 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/281796

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Rich Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US
Len Hampton - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US

Assignee:

Electrolux Homecare Products Ltd. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A47L 9/16

US Classification:

15353, 15347

Abstract:

A vacuum cleaner having a base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit, a suction generating device, and first and second dirt separation members. The first dirt separation chamber includes an inlet to receive airflow from the base unit, an outlet, a filter between the inlet and outlet, and a collection chamber having a bottom disposed below the first filter and a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom. The filter has a surface extending in a first direction, and the surface is adapted to pass the airflow radially therethrough. The second dirt separation member includes a cyclone body, an inlet to receive airflow from the first chamber outlet, and an outlet to convey airflow to the suction generating device. This outlet includes a cyclone outlet tube located within and at a first end of the cyclone body and extending in a second direction. A dirt outlet is located opposite the first end of the cyclone body.

US Patent:

7293326, Nov 13, 2007

Filed:

Jul 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/191948

Inventors:

Thomas W. Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Gregory W. Luebbering - Heyworth IL, US
Richard J. Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US

Assignee:

Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A47L 9/04

US Classification:

15389, 15377

Abstract:

A motor and brushroll mounting system for a cleaning device. The mounting system includes a motor, an agitator, a drive system, and a bracket. The motor has a rotary driving component adapted to rotate about a drive axis centerline, and a motor housing. The agitator has a rotary member having a driven component and at least one agitator, and at least one fixed member. The rotary member is rotatably held by the fixed member such that it is rotatable about a driven axis centerline. The drive system operatively connects the driving component and the driven component. The bracket is attached at a first end to the motor housing and at the second end to the at least one fixed member, and extends substantially directly therebetween to substantially prevent relative translation between the drive axis centerline and the driven axis centerline. A cleaning device nozzle and an alignment bracket are also provided.

US Patent:

7334290, Feb 26, 2008

Filed:

Jun 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/758824

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Rich Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US
Len Hampton - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US

Assignee:

Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A47L 9/16

US Classification:

15352, 15350, 15353, 55DIG 3, 55337, 55429

Abstract:

An upright suction cleaner having a base, a body pivotally mounted on the base, a suction device, and a dirt separation system. The dirt separation system has a first and second dirt separators. the first of which may include an air-pervious shroud having a plate extending from it. An airflow path extends from the base, through the separation system, and into the suction device. A dirt collecting system is mountable to the body, and includes a first chamber to receive dirt separated by the first dirt separator, and a second chamber to receive dirt separated by the second dirt separator. The chambers are adjacent one another when mounted to the body. A tube forming part of the airflow path between the dirt separation system and the suction device is selectively mountable adjacent the dirt collecting system. An elevator assembly is provided to attach the dirt collecting system to the body.

US Patent:

7908706, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Feb 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/037396

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Rich Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US
Len Hampton - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US

Assignee:

Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

A47L 9/10

US Classification:

15347, 15351, 15353, 55337, 554591, 55521, 55DIG 3

Abstract:

A vacuum cleaner dirt container having a chamber with an upper opening, and a removable filter element. The filter element has an upper portion with an opening and a peripheral edge that engages an upper edge of the chamber. A filter portion extends from the upper portion, and a handle extends across the opening. The filter portion extends into the chamber when the filter element is mounted thereto. Also provided is an upright vacuum cleaner with a base unit, body unit , and dirt chamber removably mounted to the body unit. A combined filter and lid is mounted to the dirt chamber, and includes a filter member, and a mounting ring extending from the filter member to a sidewall of the dirt chamber to hold the filtration device at a fixed location away from the chamber sidewall. Also provided is a cyclone lid having an annular wall, filter, and handle.

US Patent:

8141202, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Nov 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/938505

Inventors:

Thomas W. Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Gregory W. Luebbering - Heyworth IL, US
Richard J. Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US

Assignee:

Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

A47L 9/04

US Classification:

15352, 15357, 15377, 15389, 15 503, 15351

Abstract:

A vacuum cleaner housing member having a rigid frame, a grate and a flexible cover. The rigid frame has an outer perimeter and an opening therethrough. The grate is mounted in the opening and has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more air passages extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and an outer perimeter wall defining the peripheral edge of the grate. The flexible cover extends over at least one of the one or more air passages and is positioned over at least a portion of the outer surface, extends around at least a portion of the outer perimeter wall, and is positioned over at least a portion of the inner surface. A vacuum cleaner including the housing members similar to the foregoing member is also provided.

US Patent:

20030204930, Nov 6, 2003

Filed:

May 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/430603

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Rich Eisenmenger - Champaign IL, US
Len Hampton - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US

International Classification:

A47L005/00
A47L007/00

US Classification:

015/339000

Abstract:

An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure, to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed. The smallest particles of debris are removed from the airflow by the second filter disposed in this third chamber. The upright vacuum cleaner can include an arrangement for sensing pressure differences across one or more of the filters thereby providing an indication that the filter is dirty or clogged. The upright vacuum cleaner can also include an elevator mechanism for raising and lowering the dirt collecting enclosure thereby facilitating the task of emptying and then reinstalling the dirt collecting enclosure.

US Patent:

20040134014, Jul 15, 2004

Filed:

Jan 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/340159

Inventors:

Thomas Hawkins - Normal IL, US
Christer Kontio - Bloomington IL, US
Cennert Steffen - Bloomington IL, US
Donald Davidshofer - Bloomington IL, US

International Classification:

A47L005/30

US Classification:

015/319000, 015/389000

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner for cleaning several floor types. The vacuum cleaner includes a rotational brush roll for interfacing with the several floor types, a multi-speed motor for driving the brush roll, a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of the multi-speed motor, and an input mechanism whereby a user selects a speed of the multi-speed motor. Further, the input mechanism is associated with at least three different speed settings.