EP0573123B1

EP0573123B1 - A system provided with a vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP0573123B1
Application number: EP19930201587
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen John Pope
Original assignee: JUST FACTS BV
Current assignee: JUST FACTS BV
Priority date: 1992-06-04
Filing date: 1993-06-03
Publication date: 1995-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-03
Also published as: EP0573123A2; NL9200980A; EP0573123A3; CA2097546A1; JPH06142015A; DE69300114D1

Description

The invention relates to a system provided with a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type.
Such a system, which is for example furthermore provided with accessories for the vacuum cleaner, such as a brush, a floor nozzle and the like, is generally known. It is noted that the term "vacuum cleaner" used herein is not only meant to comprise a normal domestic vacuum cleaner to be connected to the mains, but also in particular a compact vacuum cleaner for smaller jobs which runs on rechargeable batteries (in practice sometimes referred to as a "crumb-sweeper") and the like. In addition to that the term "vacuum cleaner" is meant to comprise industrial vacuum cleaners, which can for example be connected to the mains, or in general systems which operate according to the "vacuum cleaner" principle. It will be apparent that vacuum cleaners are very important in general, but in particular in daily housekeeping activities, especially in view of their frequent use.
A drawback of the known system is that the range of application of the vacuum cleaner of such a system is limited, that is, it can only function to suck up dust or relatively small, solid particles (crumbs and the like).
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive system comprising a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type, which system has a wider range of application than the existing systems.
In order to accomplish that objective a system according to the invention comprises a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type and, detachably connected thereto, a reservoir for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium therein by means of the vacuum cleaner. Thus the system fills the needs felt in particular in housekeeping to be able to suck up for example spilt (bath or shower) water, spilt food (for example from babies or toddlers) or spilt animal droppings, clean floor coverings (without a mop), empty and/or clean an aquarium, and suck up condensation from for example windowsills. In addition to that the present system can be used, whether or not in combination with all kinds of accessories, for sucking up oil from the oil sump of a car, as well as for removing a blockage in a sink (instead of with the usual "plunger") by suction force. It will be apparent that in addition to being used for housekeeping activities the system according to the invention can also be used in boats and the like, or for industrial (commercial) purposes. In the latter case it may be considered to use the system according to the invention inter alia for cleaning floors and windows of for example shops, fitness rooms and public bath facilities and garden centres. It is noted that in view of the above the term "at least partially liquid medium" is meant to comprise in particular water or aqueous solutions, but also oil, food and the like.
Liquid suction devices for industrial purposes are already known per se. However, in view of their price (from approximately Dfl. 495.-) and their weight they are not suitable for in particular domestic use. This is all the more cogent since in practice these liquid suction devices only appear to be efficient in sucking up liquids, but not dust and the like. According to this invention, on the other hand, a normal domestic vacuum cleaner can be used for sucking up water, for example.
United States patent application No. 4,776,060 (Chang) refers to a so-called multi-purpose vacuum cleaner for solids and liquids. This vacuum cleaner includes a motor mounting seat covering the vacuum cleaner tank and having a circular orifice, a filter cage mounted about the orifice on the underside of the motor mounting seat containing a spherical float, and a switch connected to the float so as to be operated when liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level. Rising of liquid in the tank to the predetermined level lifts the float to obstruct the orifice, preventing liquid from entering the motor, and actuates the switch to disconnect power from the motor and to energize and alarm. The system known from the above-mentioned United States patent document has the disadvantage that it is complex and expensive. Further multi-purpose vacuum cleaners are known from Swiss patent document No. 575,748 (Baehni) and United States patent publication No. 3,045,412 (Bowman). It is the gist of the present invention to detachably connect a simple and cheap reservoir to an already available (in particular domestic) vacuum cleaner of the dry suction type, in order to suck up liquid matter in said reservoir with the help of the vacuum cleaner.
The reservoir being detachably connected to the vacuum cleaner gives the advantage that, according to what is desired at that moment, the vacuum cleaner can be used for normally sucking up dust as well as - after attachment of said reservoir to the vacuum cleaner - for sucking up for example water.
In one embodiment of a system according to the invention said reservoir includes a float device at least partially fitted therein. Said float device prevents the medium from at least partially landing in the vacuum cleaner.
In another embodiment of a system according to the invention said float device is at least substantially comprised of a permeable cage with a floating body present therein. Preferably said floating body is a ball with the cage acting as the seat.
In another embodiment of a system according to the invention said reservoir includes connections for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose and a suction hose thereto.
In another embodiment of a system according to the invention said reservoir includes a detachable cover. This facilitates any cleaning of the reservoir or possible repairwork or replacement of parts therein.
In another embodiment of a system according to the invention additional means are provided so as to prevent that the at least partially liquid medium at least partially lands in the vacuum cleaner. Preferably said means are located within the reservoir and are at least substantially comprised of a filter, at least substantially near the connection for the vacuum cleaner hose, of a splash guard, at least substantially near the connection for the suction hose, and of an at least substantially medium-tight attachment of the float device within the reservoir.
In another embodiment of a system according to the invention accessories, preferably brushes, floor nozzles and the like are provided. This is especially important when the system is used for sucking up oil from the oil sump of a car and for removing a sink blockage.
The invention also relates to a reservoir for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium by means of a vacuum cleaner, being suitable for use in a system according to the invention.
The invention further refers to a process for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium, whereby use is made of a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type and, detachably connected thereto, a reservoir for sucking up the at least partially liquid medium therein by means off the vacuum cleaner.
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures shown in a drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, partially exploded longitudinal sectional view of means according to the invention for sucking up for example water by means of a vacuum cleaner;
Figures 2 - 5 diagrammatically illustrate details indicated A, B, C and D in Figure 1; and
Figure 6 diagrammatically shows a few auxiliary means for use in a system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a reservoir 1 provided with a detachable cover 2, with connections 3, 4 for connecting thereto a hose of a normal domestic vacuum cleaner and a water suction hose, and with a float device 5. Said float device 5 includes a cage 6, which is permeable to water, and a ball 7, which functions as a floating body. The reservoir 1 can be detachably connected to the domestic vacuum cleaner as a separate unit.
Figure 2 is a larger-scale view of the detail A of Figure 1. The float device 5 is provided in the reservoir 1 in a watertight manner - by means of a wall 8 and a rubber sealing ring 9. Thus an extra protection against water landing in the vacuum cleaner is provided. Said protection is furthermore enhanced by the presence of a splash guard 10 shown in Figure 1, which guards against splashes of water from the water suction hose.
Figure 3 is a larger-scale view of detail B (partially exploded) of Figure 1. When the water level in the reservoir 1 rises, the ball 7 acting as a floating body can eventually shut off an upper opening 11 of the cage 6 via a rubber sealing ring 12, so as to prevent water from reaching the vacuum cleaner. The cage 6 includes openings 13, so that it is permeable to water.
Figures 4 and 5 are larger-scale views of details C and D of Figure 1. In these Figures a lock nut 14, a nut 15 for attaching the suction hose 16 (with a diameter of for example 25 mm), rubber sealing rings 17, a washer 18 (see Figure 4), as well as a rubber sealing ring 19, a locking nut 20 and a filter 21 (see Figure 5) can be distinguished. Said filter 21 preferably contains a foam material and/or a material substantially consisting of metal gauze as a protection against undesirable water (splashes) landing in the vacuum cleaner.
Figure 6 shows the auxiliary means 22, 23 for use in the system according to the invention, when a sink blockage is to be removed (a) or oil is to be sucked up from the oil sump of a car (b).
It is noted that the reservoir 1 may include an internal bag and/or filter, for example when the medium being sucked up is toxic or when it is desirable to catch and discharge the sucked-up matter in a hygienic manner.
The reservoir 1 will presumably be marketed under the designations "smart bucket" and "aquadapt".

Claims

A system comprising a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type and, detachably connected thereto, a reservoir (1) for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium therein by means of the vacuum cleaner.
A system according to claim 1, whereby said reservoir (1) includes a float device (5) at least partially fitted therein.
A system according to claim 2, whereby said float device (5) is at least substantially comprised of a permeable cage (6) with a floating body (7) present therein.
A system according to claim 1,2 or 3, whereby said reservoir (1) includes connections (3,4) for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose and a suction hose (16) thereto.
A system according to any one of the claims 1 - 4, whereby said reservoir (1) includes a detachable cover (2).
A system according to any one of the claims 1 - 5, whereby additional means are provided so as to prevent that the at least partially liquid medium at least partially lands in the vacuum cleaner.
A system according to claim 6, whereby said additional means are located within the reservoir (1) and are at least substantially comprised of a filter (21), at least substantially near the connection (3) for the vacuum cleaner hose, of a splash guard (10), at least substantially near the connection (4) for the suction hose, and of an at least substantially medium-tight attachment (9) of the float device (5) within the reservoir (1).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby accessories, preferably brushes, floor nozzles and the like are provided.
Reservoir (1) for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium therein by means of a vacuum cleaner, being suitable for use in a system according to any one of the preceding claims.
A process for sucking up an at least partially liquid medium, whereby use is made of a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type and, detachably connected thereto, a reservoir (1) for sucking up the at least partially liquid medium therein by means of the vacuum cleaner.