CN1921790A

CN1921790A - Vacuum cleaner apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN1921790A
Application number: CNA200580005402XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·P·巴特尔; D·吉布森; D·R·H·麦高
Original assignee: SMITH GROUP CO Ltd
Current assignee: SMITH GROUP CO Ltd; Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 2004-02-21
Filing date: 2005-01-27
Publication date: 2007-02-28
Also published as: KR20060111450A; BRPI0506444A; GB0403881D0; EP1722663A1; US20080282495A1; CA2542135A1; AU2005215194A1; JP2007522855A; NO20064284L; WO2005079648A1

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner has a hose assembly (10, 10') attached at one end to the base (1, 1') of the cleaner. The hose assembly is stowed alongside the handle (6, 6') and is retained by the free end (19) of the assembly engaging a fixture (21) on the handle. The hose assembly (10, 10') comprises a rigid wand (12, 12') and a flexible hose (11, 11') with a natural extended length. The hose can be retracted to a shorter length using the power of the vacuum cleaner by closing a valve (20, 20') on the wand (12, 12') to prevent air flow along the hose assembly and produce a reduced pressure. The wand (12, 12') is stowed by sliding inside or outside the hose (11, 11') and has a flange (18, 18') at one end that engages and seals with a flange (15, 15') at the free end of the hose when the wand is extended.

Description

Vacuum cleaner apparatus

The present invention relates to a kind of vacuum cleaner apparatus with base, shell and handle type, described base comprises the floor-cleaning structure, described shell is installed in the base top so that collect the material that cleans out from the floor, and the user can handle cleaner by described handle, this cleaner also comprises the hose with first end and second free end, and described first end links to each other with this cleaner towards the direction of cleaner lower end.

Upright vacuum cleaners has flexible pipe usually, and it can be connected so that clear up ladder or other multiple position, and it is the most convenient that these positions use the subsidiary instrument cleaning head that appends in this hose free end portion to clear up.Preferably, thus this flexible pipe is collected in vacuum cleaner from conveniently storing and making this flexible pipe always approaching easily on one's body.Yet, owing to can provide the space limited, flexible pipe be collected on the cleaner have difficulties.A kind of solution is to use high ratio stretch hose, that is to say a kind ofly to have the short flexible pipe of normality length but it can overcome its elasticity and is stretched to big length.This stretch hose can have the ratio of extended/retracted length up to 6: 1.This can for example be stored on the vacuum cleaner flexible pipe of useful length according to vertical orientated.Yet multiple stretching flexible pipe has problem really, and this is because need apply power so that extend this flexible pipe and it is remained on elongation state.This power that is applied on the flexible pipe trends towards spurring vacuum cleaner towards the user, and the tension force in this flexible pipe trends towards drawing and hits any furniture that guides this flexible pipe round it.

WO 03/024294 describes a kind of flexible pipe with nature extended length, thereby it can allow to be withdrawn into shorter length so that store from the method that the suction of cleaner is moved this flexible pipe to shorter length with blocking hose free end portion.Must after eliminating, this suction take measures this flexible pipe is remained on its shorter length state then.Other the multiple flexible pipe that shortens length with suction obtains describing in DE19738329, WO 99/35954, EP 1011408, EP 388676 and US 4050113.

An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of alternative vacuum cleaner.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of vacuum cleaner of above-mentioned specific type is provided, it is characterized by, described hose comprises that a kind of flexible pipe with nature extended length and this flexible pipe can shorten to shorter length by means of blocking by this hose and towards the air duct of its free end, and described assembly comprises tubular rod, this bar can cause described flexible pipe and bar can be collected on this cleaner with respect to the coaxial slip of this flexible pipe, and this cleaner comprise a kind of according to approximate vertical be orientated admit described by the structure of collection hose.

This bar may inboard or this flexible pipe outside slip at this flexible pipe.This bar preferably includes manual operating valve, can block air duct along this hose by means of this valve.Best and the same length of this flexible pipe when shortening of the length of this bar.Be used for admitting the connector that can be included on this cleaner by the structure of collection hose and be suitable for engaging this bar free end.This connector preferably is positioned on the handle of this cleaner.This bar can have flange at place, an end, and this flange is suitable for when this bar extends fully towards this hose free end portion direction and flange engages and sealing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of hose, it is used for the vacuum cleaner according to an aspect of the invention described above.

Referring now to accompanying drawing, with method for example a kind of vacuum cleaner that comprises hose of the present invention is described, in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is the side elevation view of this cleaner, and this hose is in collecting state;

Fig. 2 is the side elevation view of the bottom of this cleaner, and this flexible pipe is in non-collection and elongation user mode; With

Fig. 3 is the side elevation view of a kind of variations of this cleaner.

At first referring to Fig. 1, show a kind of upright vacuum cleaners herein, it has the traditional type base member 1 in its lower end, and described parts 1 have the floor cleaning equipment that is suction inlet and a plurality of agitator brush and bar or other congener (not shown) form.This base member have a plurality ofly take turns, roller or other congener 2, this cleaner can move on the floor by means of them.The shell 3 that is installed in base member 1 top contains suction pump blower fan 4 in other words, and dust collection and filter element 5, and it can have traditional type, for example comprises filtration fabrics bag or cyclone case.Handle 6 generally perpendicularly extends from base member 1, and locates to bend to handgrip 7 in the top, and the user can push away, draw and handle this cleaner by means of this handgrip.So far described this cleaner is traditional.

This cleaner comprises the hose 10 that is used for cleaning ladder, rising surface, crack, furniture and other congener.This hose comprise certain-length flexibility, contractile flexible pipe 11 and rigid rod 12.Flexible pipe 11 can be the flexible pipe that is similar to described in the WO 03/024294, and it has helical form reinforcement spring wire 13 and flexible plastic material sleeve pipe 14, and described wire has normality and extends axially state, and sleeve pipe 14 is attached to its outside.The axial elasticity of flexible pipe 11 is such, so that can be retracted to the shorter length that is used to store by means of the suction power of this cleaner generation when the free end of this flexible pipe gets clogged.Preferably sleeve pipe 14 be arranged to when shrinking inwardly folding, this be because, although this reduce really by flexible pipe 11 the hole and thereby reduce suction, this flexible pipe is retracted to than reaching the shorter length of length with folded-out sleeve pipe.As an alternative, also can use folded-out hose sleeve.End of flexible pipe 11 and base member 1 are fixing, that is to say towards the direction of this cleaner lower end.Be used for making flexible pipe 11 and base member 1 stationary device preferably to allow it to be removed when needed.The other end of flexible pipe 11 stops with flange 15.

Bar 12 takes for example to be rigid pipe 16 forms of plastic material, and it has the overall diameter that is slightly smaller than flexible pipe 11 internal diameters, so this bar can slip into this flexible pipe and skids off from the latter.An end 17 of bar 12 is placed in the flexible pipe 11 and has the flange 18 of increasing, so that stop end 17 to be pulled out from flexible pipe by hose flanges 15.Another free end 19 of bar 12 has manual operating valve 20, and the user can close the passage of its obstruction by this bar thereby this valve is normally opened, and stops the air stream along hose 10 whereby.The free end 19 of bar 12 is made definite shape so that make the cleaning head (not shown) with any traditional approach, for example uses a kind of traditional taper fit to be connected with it.As shown in Figure 1, the free end 19 of bar 12 stretches out from the upper end of flexible pipe 11 when collection, and is bonded on the handle 6 with connector 21.Bar 12 extends in flexible pipe 11 coaxially, and its inner end 17 is positioned at or near the lower end of this flexible pipe.Therefore as can be seen, the shortening same length of the length of bar 12 and flexible pipe 11.The inner end 17 of bar 12 can be bonded on the base member 1 or at the connector of flexible pipe 11 lower end, but this is not absolutely necessary, its reason is, even if exist this flexible pipe of flexible pipe of shorter length also can be limited in its collecting state fully below this bar bottom.

In order to use hose 10, the upper end 19 of pull lever 12 makes it to leave connector 21 and telescopically pull out this bar from flexible pipe 11 and makes it to reach its maximum length, so flange 15 engaged and sealing on the flange on this bar 18 and this flexible pipe, as shown in Figure 2.In case unstick 12, flexible pipe 11 is no longer restrained, thereby is stretched over its natural extended length.Usually, the shortening length of flexible pipe 11 can be about 600mm, and its extended length can be 3600mm.The additional length that comprises bar 12, assembly 10 can provide the maximum overhang of 4200mm.Hose 10 links to each other with the following extreme direction of this cleaner towards the latter, but can not be subjected to this constraint thereby may be at this lower end free bend.This allows the Maximum usable length of hose 10, and can prevent to forget about it this cleaner by any power that flexible pipe 11 applies.The user uses hose 10 according to normal cleaning mode.The natural extension elongation of flexible pipe 11 means: the user does not need to spur it continuously so that keep its elongation.This makes hose 10 be easy to use and allows it to be directed round furniture and congener not spurring under the furniture situation.Also reduce can move the unintentionally danger of this vacuum cleaner of user, this is because this flexible pipe can not resemble the stretching flexible pipe and spur this cleaner so muchly.

When the user finished to use hose 10, his shut off valve 20 simply under the situation that this cleaner still starts was so thereby allowing suction sufficiently to reduce flexible pipe 11 pressure inside makes it shrink towards cleaner.User's sliding bar 12 makes it to get back in the flexible pipe 11 and with it and is clamped in the connector 21 then.Can close this vacuum cleaner then.

This bar is not to be placed on flexible pipe inside coaxially as described in Fig. 1 and 2 structure, but also may be placed on the flexible pipe outside, as shown in Figure 3, wherein, the part similar to part among Fig. 1 and 2 provided a same Ref. No. and an additional apostrophe " ' ".Flexible pipe 11 in this structure ' except flange 15 ' its free end stretches out with original describe identical.The bigger diameter of bar 12 ' have, its interior diameter be a bit larger tham flexible pipe 11 ' overall diameter.It back, bottom 17 ', the flange 18 that bar 12 ' have extends internally ', it is arranged to the flange 15 ' engaged and sealing with flexible pipe 11 ' free end place.Hose 10 ' according to above describe identical mode and use and shorten.

Obviously, exist all other methods that hose can be remained on this cleaner.Hose is not absolutely necessary along this handle collection and maintenance, for example it may be assemblied in this cleaner lateral vertical side silo yet.

Claims

1. one kind has base (1,1 '), shell (3,3 ') and handle (6,6 ') vacuum cleaner, described base comprises the floor-cleaning structure, described shell is installed in described base top so that collect the material that cleans out from the floor, and the user can handle this cleaner by described handle, described cleaner comprises having first end (17,17 ') and the hose (10 of second free end (19), 10 '), described first end links to each other with this cleaner towards the direction of this cleaner lower end, it is characterized by, described hose comprises that a kind of flexible pipe of the length with nature elongation and this flexible pipe can shorten to shorter length by means of blocking by this hose and towards the air duct of its free end (19), and described assembly comprises tubular rod (12,12 '), this bar can cause described flexible pipe and bar can be collected on this cleaner with respect to the coaxial slip of this flexible pipe, and this cleaner comprise according to approximate vertical admit with being orientated described by the collection hose structure (21,21 ').

2. according to the vacuum cleaner of claim 1, it is characterized by, described bar (12) can be in described flexible pipe (11) inner slide.

3. according to the vacuum cleaner of claim 1, it is characterized by, described bar (12 ') can slide in described flexible pipe (11 ') outside.

4. the vacuum cleaner of any one is characterized by in requiring according to aforesaid right, and described bar (12,12 ') comprises manual operating valve (20,20 '), can block along the air duct of described hose (10,10 ') by means of described valve.

5. the vacuum cleaner of any one is characterized by the length of described bar (12,12 ') and described flexible pipe (11, the 11 ') same length when shortening in requiring according to aforesaid right.

6. the vacuum cleaner of any one in requiring according to aforesaid right, it is characterized by, be used for admitting being included on the described cleaner by the described structure of collection hose (10,10 ') and being suitable for engaging described bar (12,12 ') connector (21,21 ') of free end (19).

7. according to the vacuum cleaner of claim 6, it is characterized by, described connector (21,21 ') is positioned on the handle (6,6 ') of described cleaner.

8. the vacuum cleaner of any one in requiring according to aforesaid right, it is characterized by, described bar (12,12 ') have flange (18 at place, an end, 18 '), described flange is suitable for when described bar is in complete extended position towards described flexible pipe (11,11 ') free end direction and flange (15,15 ') engaged and sealing.

9. the hose (10,10 ') that the vacuum cleaner of any one is used in requiring according to aforesaid right.