EP0573123B1 - A system provided with a vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

A system provided with a vacuum cleaner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0573123B1
EP0573123B1 EP19930201587 EP93201587A EP0573123B1 EP 0573123 B1 EP0573123 B1 EP 0573123B1 EP 19930201587 EP19930201587 EP 19930201587 EP 93201587 A EP93201587 A EP 93201587A EP 0573123 B1 EP0573123 B1 EP 0573123B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vacuum cleaner
reservoir
sucking
liquid medium
partially
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19930201587
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0573123A2 (en
EP0573123A3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow
Inventor
Stephen John Pope
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JUST FACTS BV
Original Assignee
JUST FACTS BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JUST FACTS BV filed Critical JUST FACTS BV
Publication of EP0573123A2 publication Critical patent/EP0573123A2/en
Publication of EP0573123A3 publication Critical patent/EP0573123A3/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0573123B1 publication Critical patent/EP0573123B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • A47L7/0023—Recovery tanks
    • A47L7/0028—Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • A47L7/0042—Gaskets; Sealing means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a system provided with a vacuum cleaner of the dry suction-type.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 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.
  • 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.
  • said float device is at least substantially comprised of a permeable cage with a floating body present therein.
  • said floating body is a ball with the cage acting as the seat.
  • said reservoir includes connections for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose and a suction hose thereto.
  • said reservoir includes a detachable cover. This facilitates any cleaning of the reservoir or possible repairwork or replacement of parts therein.
  • additional means are provided so as to prevent that the at least partially liquid medium at least partially lands in the vacuum cleaner.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • FIG 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • FIGs 4 and 5 are larger-scale views of details C and D of Figure 1.
  • 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).
  • 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”.

Landscapes

  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Electric Suction Cleaners (AREA)
EP19930201587 1992-06-04 1993-06-03 A system provided with a vacuum cleaner Expired - Lifetime EP0573123B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9200980 1992-06-04
NL9200980A NL9200980A (nl) 1992-06-04 1992-06-04 Systeem voorzien van een stofzuiger.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0573123A2 EP0573123A2 (en) 1993-12-08
EP0573123A3 EP0573123A3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1994-02-16
EP0573123B1 true EP0573123B1 (en) 1995-04-19

Family

ID=19860879

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19930201587 Expired - Lifetime EP0573123B1 (en) 1992-06-04 1993-06-03 A system provided with a vacuum cleaner

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0573123B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPH06142015A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA2097546A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE69300114D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL9200980A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2304030A (en) * 1995-08-08 1997-03-12 David William Carpenter Vacuum cleaner attachment
GB2360200A (en) * 2000-03-13 2001-09-19 Wah Hang Alfred Yuen Attachment for adapting a dry-suction vacuum cleaner for wet use

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3045412A (en) * 1959-09-03 1962-07-24 Premier Company Float seal for vacuum cleaners
GB1386055A (en) * 1972-09-22 1975-03-05 Electrolux Ab Floor-treating apparatus
CH575748A5 (en) * 1974-12-17 1976-05-31 Baehni Heinz Multi purpose cleaning machine - has drum containing dual suction motors and liquid container suspended above shampoo
DE2811139A1 (de) * 1977-03-16 1978-09-21 Electrolux Ab Staubsauger fuer trocken- und nassreinigung
US4776060A (en) * 1987-05-11 1988-10-11 Jiing Lai Chang Automatic termination and alarm structure for motors used in versatile vacuum cleaner
US4894881A (en) * 1989-03-03 1990-01-23 Hako Minuteman, Inc. Wet/dry vacuum machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0573123A2 (en) 1993-12-08
EP0573123A3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1994-02-16
DE69300114D1 (de) 1995-05-24
NL9200980A (nl) 1994-01-03
CA2097546A1 (en) 1993-12-05
JPH06142015A (ja) 1994-05-24

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