CN114650755A - Vacuum cleaner apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner device comprises a suction unit (11) provided with a collecting container (12) and a motor unit (15) which is at least partly accommodated in a suction chamber (22) communicating with the collecting container (12). The motor unit (15) is configured to suck in a flow of air and dirt (a) from the outside, to convey it into the collection container (12) and the suction chamber (22) through the inlet duct (23), and then to return the sucked-in flow (a) to the outside. The vacuum cleaner device comprises a handle unit (13) connected to the suction unit (11) and configured to allow a user to grip, the handle unit being provided with a housing seat (21) equipped with retaining means (34) capable of housing and retaining, by selective and reversible coupling, at least one power supply unit (14a, 14b) configured to supply electric energy to the motor unit (15).

Description

Vacuum cleaner apparatus

Technical Field

The embodiments described herein relate to a vacuum cleaner device, preferably for domestic use, in particular a vacuum cleaner device of the electric sweeper type, i.e. without a canister. The vacuum cleaner device according to the invention allows a user to use it widely, even for long periods of time, in a completely safe situation. Embodiments described herein also relate to a method of operating a vacuum cleaner apparatus.

Background

Vacuum cleaner apparatuses are known, which comprise a collecting container and a motor unit which generates a suction flow to suck and suck material, i.e. dust and dirt, into the collecting container; a handle by which a user can grip and manipulate the vacuum cleaner device, or at least a part thereof; and a power supply unit supplying power to the suction unit.

It is also known that these vacuum cleaner devices may also comprise a suction head which, during use, is in contact with the surface to be cleaned and which may be connected to a collecting container by means of a suction duct (connected).

Known vacuum cleaner apparatuses are largely classified into two types, i.e., a conventional canister type vacuum cleaner apparatus and a vacuum cleaner apparatus of a power sweeper type.

Canister vacuum cleaner devices comprise a slider, which may be provided with wheels or other means to facilitate movement, on which a collection container and a motor unit are provided, while a handle may be associated with a rigid or flexible suction tube.

On the other hand, in vacuum cleaner devices of the electric sweeper type, the collection container, the motor unit and the handle define a suction unit which can be used alone by means of a suitable attachment or connected to the suction head by means of a suction tube, so that a configuration similar to a conventional sweeper is presented.

In order to allow the use of the dual mode, the motor unit and the collecting container are thus positioned in correspondence with the handle, so that most of the weight of the vacuum cleaner device has to be supported by the arm of the user.

Canister vacuum cleaner devices are usually powered by an electrical cable that can be connected to the domestic electrical grid.

This type of device can be inconvenient and difficult to handle, particularly if it is desired to access surfaces that are difficult to clean (such as the top of a cabinet), or if the space to be cleaned is relatively limited or there is no easy-to-use electrical outlet.

These canister vacuum cleaner devices even allow a long time use due to the power supply through the power mains cable, and therefore require a cooling circuit adapted to prevent overheating of the electronics related to the power supply of the motor unit.

These known cooling circuits provide for the transport of the exhaust air, possibly filtered, coming out of the collection container towards the component to be cooled. One disadvantage of this solution is that despite the filtering, the discharged air may transport material (e.g. various dust and dirt) to the components to be cooled, thereby compromising the overall reliability of the vacuum cleaner device and the safety of the user.

On the other hand, vacuum cleaner apparatuses of the electric sweeper type generally have no electric cable, and the power supply unit is constituted by a rechargeable battery pack.

One disadvantage of cordless vacuum cleaners is that the autonomy (autonomy) of the battery powering them may not fully comply with the duration requirements desired by the user.

In fact, it is known that the autonomy of this type of vacuum cleaner device at maximum power is only a fraction of an hour.

One known solution to this problem is to provide an additional and interchangeable battery pack together with the vacuum cleaner device.

In this way, once the first battery pack has been discharged, the user can replace it with a second battery pack, effectively doubling autonomy.

One drawback of this solution is that autonomy is limited to a limited time, not always sufficient to meet the needs of the user, despite the extra battery pack.

Another disadvantage is that by providing two battery packs together with the vacuum cleaner device, the production costs and thus the sales costs are considerably higher than with a single battery pack.

This solution is also not very environmentally friendly, since it requires double handling of batteries, which can be very heavily contaminated.

Documents US 2017/265696 a1, US 2018/199782 and US 2019/008340 describe embodiments of known vacuum cleaner apparatuses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus which combines the advantages of both types of known vacuum cleaner apparatus and which also overcomes their respective limitations.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum cleaner device which is manageable and easy to use and which guarantees autonomy of use without being limited to a limited period of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner device which allows a longer use time than the known devices, even when it is operated at maximum power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus which ensures the safety of a user using it even in the case of long-term use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus having improved reliability and cooling capacity when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus which allows to increase its service life, requiring less maintenance interventions.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above object, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner device, in particular of the household type, comprising: a suction unit provided with a collection container and a motor unit configured to suck in a flow of air and dirt from the outside and to convey the flow of air and dirt towards the collection container; and a handle unit connected to the suction unit and configured to allow a user to grip.

According to some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device comprises at least one power supply unit adapted to supply electrical energy to the suction unit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner device comprises a housing seat (housing seat) provided with retaining means capable of receiving and retaining at least one power supply unit by selective and reversible coupling (coupling).

In one embodiment, the housing seat is comprised in a handle unit of the vacuum cleaner apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device comprises two power supply units, in particular a battery power unit and a cable power unit, which are interchangeable with each other and can be alternately inserted into the housing seat.

According to some embodiments, both power supply units comprise coupling means which are able to cooperate with coupling means provided in a compartment or housing seat of the vacuum cleaner apparatus to ensure a stable mutual coupling between the power supply unit and the suction unit.

In addition to the mechanical holding and attachment means, the coupling means may also comprise mating electrical connectors suitable for transmitting electrical energy from the respective power supply unit to the electronics of the suction unit.

In some embodiments, the above-described coupling is mechanical, e.g. interlocking, and is reversible and repeatable, i.e. the power supply unit and the vacuum cleaner device may be repeatedly uncoupled and coupled.

Advantageously, in this way, the user can use the battery power supply unit when it is necessary to operate in an environment without an electrical outlet or in a cable-obstructed condition, while the user can use the cable power supply unit when a greater degree of use autonomy is required than that provided by the battery power supply unit, or when the battery power supply unit is not charged.

This solution advantageously allows to quickly and easily replace the cable power supply unit in place of the battery power supply unit when the latter is not charged, and to continue the cleaning operation without waiting for the battery to be charged or to provide a spare battery.

This embodiment also allows adapting the cable power supply unit even to already existing vacuum cleaner devices of the electric sweeper type, coupling the cable power supply unit to already existing coupling means.

According to some embodiments, the suction unit comprises a containment shell (containment shell) defining a suction chamber within which the motor unit is positioned, placing the suction chamber in fluid communication with the collection container.

The containment casing is provided with outlet means, for example a plurality of holes or through slits, through which the air sucked by the suction unit and filtered in the collection container is returned to the outside.

According to some embodiments, the containing body is provided with a through hole suitable for putting the interior of the suction chamber in communication with the exterior near the housing seat of the handle unit.

According to some embodiments, each power supply unit comprises an outer container defining a housing compartment in which the electrical and/or electronic components are contained and housed.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least the cable power supply unit and possibly also the battery power supply unit comprises at least one inlet and outlet aperture made in the casing, configured to allow the passage of air from the external environment towards the inside to cool the electrical and/or electronic components contained therein.

In fact, in the case of a vacuum cleaner device powered by a cable, since its amount of time of use can be substantially unlimited, it is necessary to provide cooling circuits and components to prevent them from possibly overheating, which could otherwise lead to malfunctions and failures, and in the worst case, to safety problems in which the user could come into contact with components having too high a temperature and burn himself.

When the outlet aperture of the cable power supply unit is located in the housing seat, it is arranged in the fitting position and cooperates with the through hole provided in the suction unit.

The inner volume of the power supply unit is thus fluidly connected to the suction chamber of the suction unit.

In this way, the motor unit can generate a cooling flow that conveys a flow of clean air taken from the external environment to the interior of the power supply unit and from there towards the suction chamber, from where it is discharged back to the external environment through the outlet means.

Advantageously, in this way, the vacuum cleaner device according to the invention directly utilizes clean air of the external environment for cooling the cable power supply unit, or possibly also the battery power supply unit, thereby avoiding the use of air exiting from the collecting container for cooling.

This prevents any material sucked in and not completely retained by the filtering unit of the collecting container from depositing on the electrical and/or electronic components arranged inside the internal volume of the respective cable power unit or battery power unit.

Furthermore, another advantage is: the vacuum cleaner device does not require an additional mechanical filter in the cooling circuit of the cable power supply unit, or may even not require a battery power supply unit, thus reducing production costs.

This solution also allows to produce the vacuum cleaner device in a simple manner, using the same motor unit for suction transport of air and dirt into the collecting container and suction of cooling air.

According to other embodiments, a shutter member (e.g. a valve) may be provided, associated with the through hole and able to selectively allow or not allow the passage of cooling air through the shutter member between the power supply unit and the suction chamber.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the shutter member is of the normally closed type, that is to say, it keeps the aperture closed if not subjected to external stresses. In this case, the cable power supply unit may be provided with a drive member adapted to stimulate the shutter member to be in an open state, thereby allowing the through-hole to be opened and air to pass.

This solution allows to advantageously keep the through holes closed when using the battery power supply unit, in order to prevent possible load losses due to the suction of cooling air, while ensuring its operation when using the cable power supply unit.

Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a vacuum cleaner device according to some embodiments of the present invention in a first configuration of use;

figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of a vacuum cleaner device according to the invention in a second configuration of use;

figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner device of figure 2 along the mid-plane of the vacuum cleaner device;

figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner device of figure 1 along the mid-plane of the vacuum cleaner device;

figure 5 is a three-dimensional semi-exploded view of the vacuum cleaner device of figure 2;

fig. 6 is another three-dimensional semi-exploded view of the vacuum cleaner device of fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to possible embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of illustration of the invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that this description is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description using the drawings. The description may provide other embodiments, and may be obtained or performed in various other ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The figures are intended to describe an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner device 10, in particular of the household type, also called "electric sweeper" type, i.e. without a tank.

The vacuum cleaner device 10 comprises a suction unit 11 configured to suck in a flow of air and dirt from the outside.

The suction unit 11 comprises a collecting container 12 connected to an inlet duct 23, and a motor unit 15 configured to suck in the air and dirt flow a from the outside and to convey it through the inlet duct 23 into the collecting container 12.

The vacuum cleaner device 10 further comprises a handle unit 13 connected to the suction unit 11, by means of which the user can grip and manipulate the vacuum cleaner device 10.

According to some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device 10 further comprises a first power supply unit, which is a battery-type power supply unit 14a of a rechargeable type, configured to autonomously supply electrical energy to the motor unit 15.

The vacuum cleaner device 10 further comprises a second power supply unit, in particular a cable-type power supply unit 14b, which is configured to be connected to an electrical grid for powering the motor unit 15 with electrical energy supplied by the electrical grid.

The vacuum cleaner device 10 may further comprise a suction head 37 configured to be positioned in contact with or close to the surface to be cleaned and fluidly connectable to the inlet conduit 23 of the collection container 12; and a suction tube 38 connectable between the suction head 37 and the collection container 12.

According to some embodiments, the suction unit 11 comprises a suction chamber 22 inside which at least a portion of the motor unit 15 can be arranged and housed.

According to one possible embodiment, the suction unit 11 comprises a containment shell 39 defining the suction chamber 22 and provided with outlet means 20 for air.

In some embodiments, such as shown in fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the outlet means 20 for discharging air may comprise a plurality of holes 20a or through slits.

In some embodiments, the motor unit 15 comprises a motor member 16 and a suction device 17, such as a turbine or an impeller provided with blades.

The suction device 17 may be associated with the motor member 16 by suitable transmission means and configured to be rotated by the motor member 16 and to generate an air flow.

In particular, if suitably moved, the suction device is configured to generate a pressure difference between the external environment and the suction chamber 22 and, therefore, to generate an air flow directed from the external environment to the suction chamber 22.

The suction chamber 22 is in fluid connection with the collection container 12, so that the suction air flow a entering the inlet duct 23 passes through the collection container 12 and reaches the suction chamber 22, from where it is discharged through the output device 20.

Generally, the collection container 12 may include a collection chamber 30 in fluid communication with the suction chamber 22.

A filter unit 32 may be provided in the collection chamber 30, configured to intercept the sucked-in air flow a carrying material or dust, and generally dirt, and to keep this material inside the collection chamber 30, while the clean air may continue its path towards the suction chamber 22.

The collection chamber 30 is configured to define and confine within its interior a collection volume in which dirt and material carried by the air flow is deposited.

According to a further embodiment, the collection container 12 comprises a door 31 that can be opened, for example in correspondence of its lower end, configured to allow access to the collection chamber 30 and to allow the user to empty and possibly clean the collection chamber and/or the filtering unit 32.

According to some embodiments, the motor unit 15 is located in the suction chamber 22 above the collection container 12 in order to reduce load losses and increase the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner device 10.

According to some embodiments, the handle unit 13 is connected to the motor unit 15, so that, during use, the motor unit is positioned lower than the user's hand, allowing for better weight distribution and thus reduced hand fatigue.

The handle unit 13 is configured to allow a user to hold the entire vacuum cleaner device 10, typically with one hand, during use of the vacuum cleaner device.

According to some embodiments, the handle unit 13 may be connected to one or more of the components of the suction unit 11 in a fixed manner or by a mechanism that allows for reciprocating movement between the handle unit and the suction unit.

Furthermore, the handle 13 may comprise a plurality of keys and/or buttons and/or regulators which are capable of controlling and modifying the usage parameters of the vacuum cleaner device 10, such as, but not limited to, the power delivered by the motor unit 15.

According to some embodiments, handle 13 is configured to alternately receive and support each of battery power supply unit 14a or cable power supply unit 14 b.

According to some embodiments, the handle unit 13 comprises a housing seat 21 able to selectively and alternately house and hold one of the battery power supply unit 14a or the cable power supply unit 14 b.

In some embodiments, the housing 21 comprises retaining means 34, for example configured as slots/holes and/or protrusions, able to cooperate with corresponding attachment means 33a, 33b provided on the battery power supply unit 14a and on the cable power supply unit 14b, respectively.

In this way, a stable, reversible and repeatable mechanical coupling selectively occurs between the handle unit 13 and the respective power supply unit 14a, 14 b.

According to some embodiments, each power supply unit 14a, 14b may include a respective outer container 24a, 24b defining an inner volume 25a, 25b in which the respective electrical and/or electronic components are disposed.

According to some embodiments, the two outer containers 24a, 24b may have substantially the same shape and the same geometric dimensions.

According to possible variants, the outer containers 24a, 24b may differ at least partially in shape and/or geometry.

According to some embodiments, the battery power supply unit 14a may include in its interior volume 25 a: a cell battery and an electronic assembly, as non-limiting examples, configured to manage the charge/discharge state of the battery, user safety and/or performance.

According to some embodiments, the cable power supply unit 14b comprises a cable 35 provided with a mains plug (mains plug)36 for connection to an electrical grid, in particular a domestic electrical grid, directly or through a suitable extension.

According to some embodiments, electronic components may be housed in the internal volume 25b, as non-limiting examples, for managing the adaptation and conversion of the mains voltage to the supply voltage for powering the motor unit 15, user safety and/or performance and/or the temperature of the components, so as to prevent them from overheating.

In a variant, the cable power supply unit 14b may comprise in the internal volume 25b only electronic components capable of managing the performance, while the electronic components capable of converting the mains voltage into a supply voltage for supplying the motor unit 15 may be contained in a further container (for example an adapter or a transformer) which may comprise, in a single body, an electric plug capable of being connected to the household electrical network.

According to a further embodiment, the inner volume 25b of the cable power supply unit 14b may be configured to contain at least the cable 35 inside it, which is wound, for example, on a suitable reel when it is not in use.

According to a possible embodiment, each external container 24a, 24b may comprise respective attachment means 33a, 33b able to couple with retaining means 34 present in the housing seat 21.

In some embodiments, these attachment means 33a, 33b may comprise mating projections and/or slots/holes that can be associated with at least a portion of the retaining means 34.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the holding means 34 are all shared by the attachment means 33a, 33b of the power supply units 14a, 14 b.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the holding means 34 is only partially shared by the attachment means 33a, 33b of the two power supply units 14a, 14 b.

According to other embodiments, it may be provided that the housing seat 21 is provided with separate and distinct sets of retaining means 34 for one and the other of the power supply units 14a, 14 b.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the vacuum cleaner device 10 comprises a control and command unit (not shown) configured to identify (possibly also as a function of the holding means 34) which of the two power supply units 14a, 14b is in use and possibly to allow different operating modes of one or the other. For example, it may be provided that when the cable power supply unit 14b is present, more power may be supplied to the motor unit 15 in order to increase the suction action.

In this way, the power supply units 14a, 14b comprise the same outer container 24a, 24b, or generally an outer container having a similar shape, and/or have the same or similar attachment means 33a, 33b, which power supply units may be coupled to the vacuum cleaner device 10, thereby ensuring perfect interchangeability of the battery power supply unit 14a and the cable power supply unit 14 b.

Furthermore, according to some embodiments, each power supply unit 14a, 14b has one or more electrical connectors which are connectable to mating electrical connection elements provided in the housing seat 21 and which are capable of transmitting electrical power to the motor unit 15 and/or information/signals to other components of the vacuum cleaner apparatus 10.

According to a possible embodiment, at least some of the attachment means 33a, 33b of the power supply units 14a, 14b and/or some of the retaining means 34 of the housing 21 may be movable, thus allowing easy uncoupling of the respective power supply unit 14a, 14b from the suction unit 11.

For example, in one embodiment, the or each power supply unit 14a, 14b may comprise a first attachment tooth 26, possibly movable, able to be inserted and interlocked in a slot 27 comprised in the housing seat 21.

According to a further embodiment, one or each of the power supply units 14a, 14b may comprise a second attachment tooth 29 insertable and interlocked in a cavity 40 provided in the housing seat 21.

According to some embodiments, at least the outer container 24B of the cable power supply unit 14B may comprise at least one inlet aperture 18 and outlet aperture 19 configured to put the inner compartment 25a in communication with the outside environment and to allow the cooling air flow B to circulate in the inner compartment.

In some embodiments, such as shown in fig. 2 and 5, a plurality of inlet apertures 18 may be provided, such as configured as a plurality of slits.

According to some embodiments, the inlet orifice(s) 18 are disposed to correspond to the bottom of the outer vessel 24b, while the outlet orifice 19 is disposed to correspond to the upper portion opposite the inlet orifice(s) 18.

In this way, the cooling air flow B may travel substantially throughout the longitudinal development of the internal compartment 25B between the respective inlet and outlet apertures 18, 19, providing an efficient cooling action for the electrical and/or electronic components disposed therein.

According to some embodiments, the outlet orifice 19 is configured to place the internal volume 25b of the cable power unit 14b in communication with the suction chamber 22 of the suction unit 11.

In particular, the outlet aperture 19 is configured to be positioned in a position cooperating with the position of the through hole 28, at least when the cable power supply unit 14b is positioned in the housing seat 21 and constrained with its own attachment means 33b to the retaining means 34.

According to some embodiments, the suction unit 11 may comprise a connection duct 41 which places the through hole 28 in fluid communication with the suction chamber 22.

In this way, during use, when the motor unit 15 is running, a cooling air flow B is generated, which is drawn through the inlet aperture(s) 18, through the internal volume 25B of the cable power unit 14B, and through the outlet aperture 19 and the through hole 28 to the suction chamber 22.

Once the cooling air flow reaches the suction chamber 22, it is expelled through the outlet device 20 together with the air flow a coming from the collection container 12.

In this way, the components of the power supply unit 14b are cooled using air taken directly from the external environment, without using exhausted air, which may still contain dust or dirt traces, even if it has passed through the filtering unit 32.

According to the above described variant, during use, the vacuum cleaner device 10 actually generates two different air flows a and B, which pass through two at least partially separate suction circuits.

The first air flow a is conveyed into the collection container 12 through the inlet duct 23 and then passes through the filtering unit 17 until it reaches the suction chamber 22.

The second cooling air flow B is instead conveyed at least into the internal volume 25B of the cable power supply unit 14B through the inlet aperture 18, then through the outlet aperture 19 and the through hole 28, then through the connecting duct 41, until it reaches the suction chamber 22.

At this time, the mixture of the exhaust air a + B inside the suction chamber 22 is discharged by the suction unit 11 through the outlet device 20 due to the action of the suction device 17.

In one possible variation, the vacuum cleaner apparatus 10 includes a baffle member 42 that may selectively allow or disallow the passage of air from the interior volume 25b of the power supply unit 14b to the suction chamber 22.

According to some embodiments, the baffle member 42 may be associated with the through hole 28 and can be selectively activated so as to allow selective blocking of the through hole and/or the outlet aperture 19 and allow or prevent the passage of the cooling air flow B.

According to some embodiments, the shutter member 42 may comprise a valve normally in the closed state, and at least the cable power supply unit 14B may be provided with a driving member adapted to stimulate the shutter member 42, bringing it into the open state to put the through hole 28 and the outlet orifice 19 in communication with each other, allowing the cooling air flow B to pass through.

According to a possible variant, the baffle member 42 may comprise a partition able to block at least one of the outlet aperture 19, the through hole 28 and/or the connecting duct 41.

According to a further embodiment, the cable power supply unit 14b and/or the handle unit 13 may comprise a drive member that can be driven automatically or by a user, which drive member can displace or activate the shutter member when the cable power supply unit 14b is attached to the housing seat 21.

In a variant embodiment, the device 10 may comprise an automatic mechanism able to move the shutter member 42 blocking the through hole 28 and/or the connecting duct 41.

In particular, the shutter member 42 may be moved and/or driven based on a temperature signal detected by a temperature sensor included at least in the cable power supply unit 14 b.

In another variation, the baffle member 42 may be manually moved and/or actuated by a user of the vacuum cleaner apparatus 10.

In this way, it is possible to cool the power supply units 14b, 14a only when necessary, without subtracting the suction power when unnecessary.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the vacuum cleaner apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

For example, according to a possible solution, it can be provided that the battery power supply unit 14a can also be provided with respective inlets 18 and outlets 19 for air suitable for forming a passage circuit of the cooling air flow B through the internal volume 25B and the suction chamber 22.

According to a possible solution, it can be provided that the respective outlet aperture 19 can cooperate directly with the through hole 28 when the battery power supply unit 14a is coupled to the housing seat 21.

According to a possible variant, it can also be provided that the shutter member 42 can be activated/deactivated according to the electrical and/or cooling needs.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific embodiments, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of vacuum cleaner apparatus 10 and corresponding methods of operation, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims (10)

1. A vacuum cleaner apparatus, the vacuum cleaner apparatus comprising: a suction unit (11) provided with a collection container (12) and a motor unit (15) housed at least partially in a suction chamber (22) communicating with the collection container (12) and configured to suck in a flow (A) of air and dirt from the outside, to convey it through an inlet duct (23) into the collection container (12) and into the suction chamber (22) and to return the sucked flow (A) to the outside; the vacuum cleaner device comprising a handle unit (13) connected to the suction unit (11) and configured to allow a user to grip, wherein the handle unit (13) comprises at least one housing seat (21) provided with retaining means (34) capable of housing and retaining by selective and reversible coupling at least one power supply unit (14a, 14b) configured to supply electric energy to the motor unit (15), characterized in that it comprises two power supply units (14a, 14b), a battery power supply unit (14a) and a cable power supply unit (14b), which are interchangeable with each other and can be alternately inserted in a compartment or housing seat (21), the power supply units (14a, 14b) are provided with respective attachment means (33a, 33b) able to cooperate with the retaining means (34) so as to ensure a stable and mutual mechanical coupling between the respective power supply units (14a, 14b) and the handle unit (13).

2. A vacuum cleaner apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction unit (11) comprises a receiving shell (39) surrounding the suction chamber (22), which receiving shell is provided with a through hole (28) near the housing seat (21) of the handle unit (13).

3. A vacuum cleaner device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery power supply unit (14a) and the cable power supply unit (14b) each comprise an outer container (24a, 24b) defining an inner compartment (25a, 25b) adapted to accommodate the respective electrical and/or electronic component, which inner compartment is provided with the attachment means (33a, 33b), respectively.

4. A vacuum cleaner apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that at least the cable power supply unit (14B) is provided with at least one inlet aperture (18) and one outlet aperture (19), the at least one inlet aperture (18) and the one outlet aperture (19) being formed in the outer container (24B) and being configured to put the inner compartment (25B) in fluid communication with the outside environment, allowing a cooling air flow (B) suitable for cooling the electrical and/or electronic components to circulate in the inner compartment.

5. A vacuum cleaner device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the outlet aperture (19) is configured to be positioned in a position cooperating with the through hole (28) of the suction chamber (22) when the cable power supply unit (14B) is inserted in the housing seat (21) and coupled to the holding means (34), and that the motor unit (15) is configured to generate the cooling air flow (B) in addition to the air flow (A).

6. A vacuum cleaner apparatus according to any of claims 3-5, characterized in that the battery power supply unit (14a) is provided with at least one inlet aperture (18) and one outlet aperture (19), said at least one inlet aperture (18) and said one outlet aperture (19) being formed in the outer container (24B) and being configured to put the inner compartment (25a) in fluid communication with the external environment, allowing a cooling air flow (B) adapted to cool the electrical and/or electronic components to circulate in the inner compartment.

7. A vacuum cleaner device according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner device comprises at least one baffle member (42) associated with the through hole (28) and selectively activatable to allow selectively blocking the through hole (28) and/or the outlet aperture (19) and allowing, or preventing, passage of the cooling air flow (B).

8. A vacuum cleaner apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the baffle member (42) comprises a normally closed valve and at least the cable power supply unit (14B) is provided with a drive member adapted to stimulate the baffle member (42), bring it into an open state to put the through hole (28) and the outlet aperture (19) in communication and allow the cooling air flow (B) to pass.

9. A method of operating a vacuum cleaner apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method of operating provides for selectively and alternately inserting one of the battery power supply unit (14a) or the cable power supply unit (14b) into the housing seat (21), thereby defining a stable mutual coupling between the respective attachment means (33a, 33b) and the retaining means (34) of the housing seat (21), and supplying electrical energy to the motor unit (15) for sucking in a flow of air and dirt (A) from the outside and conveying it through the inlet duct (23) to the collecting container (12) and the suction chamber (22) and returning the sucked flow (A) to the outside, wherein when the battery power supply unit (14a) is inserted into the housing seat (21), the electrical energy is supplied autonomously by the battery power supply unit and is taken from an electrical network connected to the cable power supply unit (14b) when the cable power supply unit (14b) is inserted into the housing seat (21).

10. Operating method according to claim 9, characterized in that it provides, at least in the case of use of the cable power supply unit (14B), to cool the electrical and/or electronic components housed in the internal compartment (25B) of the external containing body (24B) by means of a flow (B) of clean cooling air, which is sucked from the external environment by the action of the motor unit (15) through the inlet aperture (18) of the external container (24B), and is conveyed into the suction chamber (22) through the internal compartment (25B), from which it returns to the outside together with the air flow (a).

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