A floor cleaner with an air inlet, an air outlet, a suction motor, and a filter. The filter includes a first media layer, a second media layer, an end cap, and an annular cap. The first media layer and the second media layer extend along a filter axis between the end cap and the annular cap. The filter is compressible along the filter axis between the end cap and the annular cap.

A vacuum cleaner including a suction inlet, a conduit in fluid communication with the suction inlet, a filter having a valve releasably connected to a filter inlet, the filter configured to collect debris drawn through the suction inlet. The vacuum cleaner further comprising a release mechanism moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the filter is in fluid communication with the conduit to collect debris with the valve being open, and in the second position, the filter is disconnected from the conduit with the valve being closed. Movement of the release mechanism between the first and second positions closes the valve.

The present invention relates to the field of machines for cleaning, particularly vacuum cleaning devices. There is disclosed a filter cartridge for a vacuum cleaner comprising first and second opposite end walls, a side wall or walls which extend between the end walls so as to define an enclosure which surrounds a filter interior, wherein one or more of the walls comprises filter membrane material, the cartridge having an opening provided through the first end wall for receiving air-entrained detritus into the interior, the opening being defined by a rigid support structure which spans and supports the first end wall of the cartridge. The cartridge typically includes a non-return valve which closes when suction is removed so as to help prevent collected detritus escaping from the filter cartridge interior. The valve may comprise a conical valve with flexible facets, or a cantilever flap.

This document presents an apparatus for a flexible air filter media that can be configured for shipping and storage having one or more flexible inserts mounted to the filter media along one or more portions of the accordion folds of the air filter material. The current invention permits the air filter apparatus to fold along both X and Y axes, create a tri-fold, and bend in a manner that provides for a much smaller volume for shipping purposes. The invention also permits attaching the flexible material to the center of the filter media and also inserts which allow sections of the air filter media to be nested one into another to reduce both shipping and storage volume.

A collapsible HVAC filter that includes pleated filtration media having side members mounted on opposite sides of the filtration media. The filtration media collapses to reduce filter volume. Supports maintain spacing between the side members when the filtration media is expanded. The supports may extend into openings on the upstream and downstream sides of each of the side members. The collapsed filter occupies little space relative to the expanded filter, and can be expanded to form a completed filter with little effort required by the end user.

An air filter assembly includes a filter element having at least one variable dimension, and a frame for engaging and supporting the filter element. The frame may include a plurality of linear segments forming a rectangular configuration, and a plurality of clips for connecting the linear segments together at corners thereof. The linear segments may be L-channel segments, C-channel segments, or may be of other form. Clips may be used for connecting the linear segments together at the corners. The filter element may have a pattern of creases or fold lines to facilitate folding thereof from an expanded configuration to a reduced configuration. A grate may be included for spanning an area bounded by the frame to support the filter element. The grate may have multiple arms and a central hub. An edge treatment may form a seal between the filter element and the frame.

The present disclosure generally relates to air filters expandable from a collapsed arrangement to an expanded, end-use arrangement and to methods of making, using, and installing such air filters. Some embodiments relate to an air filter having an expanded state and a collapsed state. The air filter includes a filter media assembly including (1) filter media including a plurality of pleats, (2) first and second opposing sides, and (3) first and second opposing ends. The air filter also includes a shape retention structure capable of being connected to at least a portion of the filter media assembly and capable of retention the filter media assembly in the expanded state. A spacing distance between adjacent pleats in the filter media is greater in the expanded state of the air filter than in the collapsed state of the air filter. In some embodiments, the air filter is an HVAC air filter.

An air filter assembly includes a filter element having at least one variable dimension, and a frame for engaging and supporting the filter element. The frame may include a plurality of linear segments forming a rectangular configuration, and a plurality of clips for connecting the linear segments together at corners thereof. The linear segments may be L-channel segments, C-channel segments, or may be of other form. Clips may be used for connecting the linear segments together at the corners. The filter element may have a pattern of creases or fold lines to facilitate folding thereof from an expanded configuration to a reduced configuration. A grate may be included for spanning an area bounded by the frame to support the filter element. The grate may have multiple arms and a central hub. An edge treatment may form a seal between the filter element and the frame.

The present invention relates to the field of machines for cleaning, particularly vacuum cleaning devices. There is disclosed a filter cartridge for a vacuum cleaner comprising first and second opposite end walls, a side wall or walls which extend between the end walls so as to define an enclosure which surrounds a filter interior, wherein one or more of the walls comprises filter membrane material, the cartridge having an opening provided through the first end wall for receiving air-entrained detritus into the interior, the opening being defined by a rigid support structure which spans and supports the first end wall of the cartridge. The cartridge typically includes a non-return valve which closes when suction is removed so as to help prevent collected detritus escaping from the filter cartridge interior. The valve may comprise a conical valve with flexible facets, or a cantilever flap.

Collapsible filter assembly includes a filter medium element and a frame at least partially surrounding the filter medium element. The frame and filter media element are configured to vary in at least two dimensions by folding or unfolding. In at least on example, the filter medium element is rectangularly pleated or round pleated. Upon removal of the filter assembly from packaging and other restraints, the filter assembly may naturally expand with regard to footprint and volume, with some manual assistance being expected of a typical user in unfolding from an area-reduced configuration to an area-expanded configuration, and from a volumetrically reduced configuration to a volumetrically expanded configuration.