CA2023245A1

CA2023245A1 - Portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2023245A1
Application number: CA 2023245
Authority: CA
Inventors: Wieland Guhne; Peter Wulf; Jurgen Jager; Rolf Strohmeyer; Uwe Kemker; Mathias Varnhorst
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 1989-08-14
Filing date: 1990-08-14
Publication date: 1991-02-15
Also published as: EP0413134A1; DE3926777A1; JPH0382423A

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The invention relates to a portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus driven by an electric motor wherein the suction nozzle is integrated into the base of the apparatus.
The apparatus includes a housing which is made of deformable soft elastic plastic material. The housing includes a dirt-catching chamber contained in a first chamber and a second chamber is provided for accommodating a motor blower unit. A dirt filter is interposed between these two chambers.
Exhaust air is vented to the ambient through a hollow arm formed on the housing. The hollow arm extends over the housing to define an opening for the hand of the operator.

Description

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ortable Handheld Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus Field of the Invention The invention relates to a portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus driven by an electric motor. The apparatus has no guide wand and the suction nozzle of the apparatus is integrated into the base region thereof.
Background of the Invention An apparatus of this kind is known, for example, for cleaning tables and the like. Such apparatus have a housing made of hard plastic and a suction nozzle formed thereon.
Normal or rechargeable batteries are used as an energy source for driving such vacuum cleaning apparatus.
All of the known apparatus however have the disadvantage that they are simply vacuum cleaning apparatus of a reduced size having a suction nozzle formed directly on the body of the apparatus. The housings are made of hard plastic and are suitable only for flat surfaces.
Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a portable ~0 handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus which avoids the above disadvantages and which is convenient to manipulate. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention cleans sensitive spatial objects and also surfaces without difficulty with the dust being taken up by the apparatus itself with the dust being retained in the apparatus independently of the operating position thereof.
The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention includes: a soft elastic deformable housing defining an interior and having a substantially flat base wall; a dust filter unit disposed in the housing so as to partition the ,, ,~

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interior into first and second chambers; a motor blower unit .
mounted in the first chamber for generating a partial vacuum ~-in the second chamber; nozzle means formed in the base wall and communicating with the second chamber for conducting dust . 5 into the second chamber in the presence of the partial vacuum;
and, a soft air-permeable covering mounted on the base wall so as to cover the nozzle means.
The advantages achieved with the apparatus of the invention are seen especially in that a small structure convenient to handle is realized by integrating all components into an elastically deformable housing. With this apparatus, objects having a flat surface as well as spatial objects can be cleaned without damaging the same and so that they are free -of dust.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, showing the functional components of the portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section view showing the motor blower unit mounted in the apparatus with the blower component projecting -into the hollow handle space and also showing the exhaust airflow;
FIG. 3 is a detail section view taken through the body of . the apparatus showing the air suction inlet apertures and the dust holdback valve;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cavity formed in the base of -the apparatus and showing the air suction inlet apertures; ~-FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of , ~.. ,,. , , ... .. , ,,........ . , .. - - .- . , ~ - --FIG. 3 wherein a plurality of dust holdback valves are provided;
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the vacuum cleaning apparatus showing how the apparatus can be held by an operator for facilitating the ergonomic manipulation thereof during use;
FIG. 7 shows a prismatically-shaped configuration of the hollow handle to facilitate convenient holding of the apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus having a pointed front end showing how the apparatus can be conveniently used ¦ to clean a window;
FIG. 9 is a section view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 4 and shows three suction channels corresponding to respective sets of air suction inlet apertures formed in the base wall of the apparatus; and, FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the invention wherein additional structural details are shown.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the apparatus according to the invention comprises three functional components, namely, the motor blower 3, filter system (4, 4a) and the work tool 2.
The work tool component 2 includes a soft elastic skin cover 17 while the motor blower component 3 is seated in a semi-rigid to riqid separate motor mount 6. A hollow arm 12 is formed on the housing 1 made of plastic so that the hand 18 (see FIG. 6) of the operator is positioned such that the center of gravity S of the apparatus acts in the region of the ; back of the hand H.
A soft elastic filter holder 4 (see also FIG. 10) is ~!

separable from the work tool component 2 which defines a chamber including a dust collecting compartment 2a and the vacuum cleaner nozzle 19. A filter 4a is held in the filter holder 4 and is interposed between the compartment 2a of component 2 and the motor blower 3 and acts as a fine dust filter. The work surface 21 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 19 is provided with a soft air-permeable polishing cover 5 of variable softness. The cover 5 acts as a separator and can be exchanged.
The exhaust airflow is generated by the motor blower 3 which includes a fan 3a driven by motor 26 and is cleaned by the filter 4a. The exhaust air is vented through the hollow arm 12 to the ambient at opening 22.
Three suction channels 8a to 8c (see FIG. 9) are formed in the housing of work tool component 2 and lead to the soft polishing cover 5 via respective sets of air suction inlet apertures 24a to 24c. These suction channels 8a to 8c come together in a central enclosure 25 via respective openings 25a to 25c shown schematically in FIG. 4. The enclosure 25 is 20 closed by means of a valve 9 when the motor blower 3 is not ;~
operating.
Since dust falls back only when the apparatus is switched off, that is, when there is no movement of suction air, the ;~
valve 9 is controlled via the operating switch 10 of the ;~
blower motor 26. Other types of actuation are possible. What is important here is that the valve is closed when the apparatus is switched off. -~
FIG. 5 shows an arrangement wherein one suction channel 11 is provided for each air suction inlet aperture in 30 the base wall of the work tool component 2. Valves lla to lld ~;~

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are provided for respective ones of the channels 11. The valves lla to lld are weighted so that they remain closed under their own weight when the motor blower 3 is switched off.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the center of gravity of the apparatus is disposed beneath the back of the hand H and acts in the direction represented by the arrow S in FIG. 6 so that the apparatus can be ergonomically manipulated during use.
The hollow arm 12 is configured to have a prism-like shape and extends over the back of the hand H and is configured to have a variable elevation so as to conveniently accommodate the hand as shown. The resilient force F is preferably centered over the weight of the apparatus G.
The hollow arm 12 is made of soft-elastic plastic to develop the resilient force F which is applied to the back of the hand H of the operator. The hollow arm 12 is displaceable -in the upward direction to make room for a larger hand.
Accordingly, the hollow arm 12 will press comfortably against an operator's hand irrespective of the thickness thereof.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow arm 12 defines an exhaust air opening 22 and includes a noise attenuating layer 14 as well as a diffuser 16.
The elastic diffuser 16 is arranged in the hollow arm 12 ~
at the region of the opening 20 of the blower exhaust 27 and -25 functions to diffuse the vented airflow produced by fan 3a. ;
Referring to FIG. 10, the dust collected in compartment 2a is emptied by disconnecting the front end ; component 2 at 40 and 42, removing the filter 4a and then emptying the dust from the dirt collecting compartment 2a.
The apparatus according to the invention can be used for , . ,; , ~ ~ r, r removing dust in every fashion and can be used to clean in corners as well as at edges. For this purpose, the apparatus is provided with a pointed front end 15 which preferably has an apex angle of approximately 90 as shown in FIG. 8 wherein the apparatus of the invention is shown for use in cleaning windows. ` ;~
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus for picking up dust and the like from a surface, the apparatus comprising:
a soft elastic deformable housing defining an interior and having a substantially flat base wall;
a dust filter unit disposed in said housing so as to partition said interior into first and second chambers;
a motor blower unit mounted in said first chamber for generating a partial vacuum in said second chamber;
nozzle means formed in said base wall and communicating with said second chamber for conducting dust into said second chamber in the presence of said partial vacuum; and, a soft air-permeable covering mounted on said base wall so as to cover said nozzle means.

2. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1, said housing defining a holding portion in the region of said first chamber so as to permit an operator to grasp the apparatus directly above said motor blower unit.

3. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1, said second chamber including a dust-collecting compartment; and, said nozzle means including: a plurality of inlet apertures formed in said base wall and suction channel means formed in said second chamber for interconnecting said compartment and said apertures; said suction channel means and said compartment defining an interface; and, dust holdback valve means mounted at said interface for opening said channel means to said compartment so as to permit said partial vacuum to bring dust through said inlet apertures and said channel means and into said compartment.

4. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 3, said dust holdback valve means being movable between open and closed positions and said apparatus further comprising switching means for holding said valve means in said closed position when said motor blower unit is switched off so as not to generate said partial vacuum.

5. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 3, said dust holdback valve means being movable between open and closed positions; and, said valve means being weighted so as to remain closed under its own weight when said motor blower unit is switched off.

6. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus defining a center of gravity and said housing having a top wall configured so as to be holdable by an open hand of an operator; a hollow arm formed on said housing so as to extend over said top wall substantially at said center of gravity; and, said hollow arm being spaced from said top wall so as to define a space therebetween for comfortably accommodating the open hand of the operator.

7. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 6, said hollow arm being made of plastic and being configured so as to develop a resilient force F applied to the back of the hand of the operator and, said hollow arm being configured to also be displaceable upwardly as required to accommodate a larger hand.

8. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 7, said apparatus having a predetermined weight; and, said hollow arm being configured so as to cause said force F
to be greater than said weight.

9. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 6, said hollow arm defining an airflow channel communicating with said motor blower unit and having an opening for venting air moved by said motor blower unit to the ambient; and, said apparatus further including attenuating means disposed in said airflow channel for attenuating noise emanating therefrom.

10. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 6, said hollow arm and said first component of said housing conjointly defining an interface; and, said apparatus further including diffuser means disposed in said channel at said interface for diffusing the air moved along said airflow channel.

11. The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1, said housing having a front end containing said second chamber, and, said front end having two side edges conjointly defining an angle of substantially 90° and meeting substantially at a point.