EP0988822A1 - Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät - Google Patents

Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0988822A1
EP0988822A1 EP98830528A EP98830528A EP0988822A1 EP 0988822 A1 EP0988822 A1 EP 0988822A1 EP 98830528 A EP98830528 A EP 98830528A EP 98830528 A EP98830528 A EP 98830528A EP 0988822 A1 EP0988822 A1 EP 0988822A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conduit
intake
main module
steam
blower unit
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98830528A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Paolo Lorini
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.)
Eco Byte Srl
Original Assignee
Eco Byte Srl
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 Eco Byte Srl filed Critical Eco Byte Srl
Priority to EP98830528A priority Critical patent/EP0988822A1/de
Publication of EP0988822A1 publication Critical patent/EP0988822A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4061—Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
    • 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
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/34—Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
    • 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
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/14—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
    • 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
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a portable apparatus with a wide variety of cleaning functions, e.g. a vacuum cleaning function and a steam generation function.
  • cleaning functions e.g. a vacuum cleaning function and a steam generation function.
  • EP-A-0586762 describes an apparatus with a housing whose rear portion is shaped like a handle and whose front portion has a port to aspirate air, and another port for delivering steam. Both the intake and the emission ports are located in the lower part of the housing.
  • this known portable apparatus is suitable for cleaning small surfaces within arms' reach of the operator.
  • the operator has to clean even a small section of floor, then he has to bend down to hold the apparatus in such a way as to ensure that the intake and outlet ports are sufficiently in contact with the floor.
  • the surface to be cleaned is not within easy reach, e.g. panes of window glass, then the operator has to climb on a ladder.
  • the apparatus is not very versatile and is inconvenient in use.
  • one object of the present invention is to propose a portable apparatus which, while of reduced dimensions, is particularly practical and convenient to use.
  • Another object of the present invention is to propose a portable apparatus which can carry out a wide range of cleaning operations.
  • a portable apparatus for cleaning surfaces of a type comprising a main module fitted with a housing in which there are located means of aspiration for aspirating dust and/or liquids and means for generating steam, characterised by comprising an intake/blower unit detachably connected to the main module by means of a first extended conduit in fluid communication with the means of aspiration, and by means of a second extended conduit in fluid communication with the means for the generation of steam.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for generating an outflow of air from the main module to the intake/blower unit.
  • means for generating an outflow of air from the main module to the intake/blower unit In this way, it is possible to use a continuous flow of air in conjunction with the jet of steam to dry out any condensation formed on the surfaces undergoing the cleaning treatment.
  • the intake/blower unit comprises a head portion which oscillates with respect to the conduits which connect it to the main module. This gives - the operator - greater control of the apparatus.
  • the main module of the apparatus comprises at least one seat to receive a long rod fitted with a handgrip to support and move the apparatus. In this way, the job of cleaning difficult-to-reach surfaces can be made particularly simple.
  • a handgrip for support and movement of the apparatus integral with the main module could also be fitted.
  • FIG. 1 the main module of the portable cleaning apparatus according to a possible embodiment of the present invention is indicated by 10.
  • the main module 10 is fitted with a housing 11 in which are located the means for aspirating dust and/or liquids and the means of generating steam.
  • the main module 10 comprises at least one seat 1 to receive the long bar 2 fitted with a handgrip on the opposite extremity (not shown) for supporting and moving the apparatus.
  • a handgrip 3 shown by broken lines integral with the housing 11 of the main module 10 could be provided.
  • the means of aspiration comprise a motor 20 driving an aspirating fan 21, a filter 22 and a flow port 23 which opens into a collection chamber 24.
  • a bag 25 preferably of the disposable type, lodged in the collection chamber 24 to collect the dust and detritus sucked in.
  • the bag is detachable and can be inserted and removed via a side door (not shown).
  • the bag 25 is fitted tightly over the internal extremity of a portion of the collector 56 which is equipped with a non-return valve 27 to prevent the escape of the dust and detritus sucked in.
  • the external extremity of the portion of the collector 56 which is equipped with a conduit 26 for the blown and aspirated air as well as a conduit 36 for the blown steam, suitable to fit into the respective conduit extensions 126 and 136 in the tubular element 156 ( Figure 2), which connects the main module with the intake/blower unit 100.
  • the means for the generation of steam comprise a tank 30, fitted with a cover 37 to seal the refill inlet of the tank 30.
  • Water is withdrawn from the latter via a feeder conduit 31 which is capable of supplying the same to the remainder of the system regardless of the orientation of the apparatus.
  • the conduit 30 could be a pipe of a flexible type fitted with an intake in the form of a perforated sphere at its extremity such that the intake is always below the surface of the water in the tank whatever the orientation of the latter to the horizontal.
  • the water is fed to a pump 32 via a flexible conduit 33 to be then supplied under pressure to a steam-generating device 34.
  • the steam leaving the latter is sent to the conduit 36 of the collector 56 via the connecting conduit 35.
  • the conduit 36 for the transmission of steam to the intake/blower 35 runs inside the air conduit 26 in the same way as the conduit 136 which brings the steam to the head portion 110 of the intake/blower unit 100 ( Figure 2) runs inside the air conduit 126.
  • a motor 40 which drives a blower fan 41 which takes air from the louvers 50, (e.g. the same louvers through which the air from the fan 21 is expelled) and sends it to a chamber 42 and conduit 43 created by mouldings in the housing 11.
  • the conduit opens into the air conduit 26 of the portion of collector 56 via a non-return valve 44.
  • the pulse of air created by the fan 41 is of such intensity as to open the valve 44 but not the valve 27 present at the internal extremity of the collector 56 and corresponding to the conduit 26.
  • the flow of aspirating air is discharged through the same louvers 50 and is not able to enter chamber 42. In this way, a jet of steam together with a flow of air - which may also be heated - is obtained.
  • An electronic control circuit shown schematically in Figure 1 as block 51 is provided to operate the various means incorporated into the apparatus.
  • This control unit can be controlled externally by a switch or a plurality of push-buttons 52.
  • the electronic circuit 51 housed in the chamber 42 could also comprise a heating element (not shown) to provide a flow of air at higher than ambient temperature.
  • FIG. 2 shows the intake/blower unit 100 comprising an elongated tubular element 156 and a head portion 110.
  • the elongated tubular element 156 may be inserted and snap-locked in a detachable way into the external extremity portion of the collector 56.
  • the means of snap-locking (not shown here) are well-known in this particular branch of the art.
  • the tubular element 156 incorporates a conduit 136 to conduct steam being emitted and a conduit 126 to conduct air being emitted and air being sucked in through the head portion 110.
  • the conduit 136 for the steam comprises a spigot extremity 137 fitted with two O-ring type seals 138 to be inserted into the external extremity of the conduit 36 present on the collector 56 of the main module 10.
  • the spigot connector 135 - also fitted with two O-ring type seals 138 - of the flexible conduit 131 which conducts the steam into a distribution chamber 132 from where it is expelled through a plurality of holes 133.
  • the head portion 110 may also comprise further means (not shown) for facilitating the cleaning, such as brushes or the like, and/or for making the contact with the surface to be cleaned more soft or free-running, such as padding elements or elements fitted with low-friction surfaces.
  • the tank 30 could be of the detachable type, and could comprise means, such as valves or the like, to permit its removal and replacement without losing water.
  • means for de-calcifying the water could also be provided for, possibly incorporated into the detachable tank, in such as way as to permit normal tap-water from the mains to be used.
  • the apparatus may be modified to make it suitable for the aspiration of liquids, although in small quantities.
  • a chamber for the collection of liquids positioned between the collector 56 and the chamber 24 for the collection of dust, together with at least one valve, actuated by a float, for instance, in order to block the flow of the aspirated liquids into the chamber 24 and the leaking of the same into the conduit 26.

Landscapes

  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
EP98830528A 1998-09-10 1998-09-10 Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät Withdrawn EP0988822A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98830528A EP0988822A1 (de) 1998-09-10 1998-09-10 Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98830528A EP0988822A1 (de) 1998-09-10 1998-09-10 Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0988822A1 true EP0988822A1 (de) 2000-03-29

Family

ID=8236780

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98830528A Withdrawn EP0988822A1 (de) 1998-09-10 1998-09-10 Vielseitig verwendbares, tragbares Oberflächenreinigungsgerät

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0988822A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107049138A (zh) * 2017-03-29 2017-08-18 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 手持吸尘器
CN107957168A (zh) * 2016-10-18 2018-04-24 Lg电子株式会社 具有空气送风功能的残留水吸入装置
CN109589046A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-04-09 宁波市弘露电子商务有限公司 手持式沙发清洁器

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4766638A (en) * 1987-03-04 1988-08-30 Bissell Inc. Four-way vacuum cleaner
GB2232068A (en) * 1989-05-30 1990-12-05 Kenneth Sidney Tedder Cleaning apparatus
EP0567044A1 (de) * 1992-04-23 1993-10-27 T.P.A. IMPEX ITALIA S.r.l. Mehrzweck-Haushaltsgerät
EP0586762A1 (de) * 1992-09-09 1994-03-16 Wing Shing Overseas Limited Tragbarer Dampfstaubsauger
US5392490A (en) * 1992-11-23 1995-02-28 Danny C. Perry Extraction cleaner and drier
GB2291790A (en) * 1994-07-15 1996-02-07 Airlux Electrical Co Ltd Portable vacuum cleaner

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4766638A (en) * 1987-03-04 1988-08-30 Bissell Inc. Four-way vacuum cleaner
GB2232068A (en) * 1989-05-30 1990-12-05 Kenneth Sidney Tedder Cleaning apparatus
EP0567044A1 (de) * 1992-04-23 1993-10-27 T.P.A. IMPEX ITALIA S.r.l. Mehrzweck-Haushaltsgerät
EP0586762A1 (de) * 1992-09-09 1994-03-16 Wing Shing Overseas Limited Tragbarer Dampfstaubsauger
US5392490A (en) * 1992-11-23 1995-02-28 Danny C. Perry Extraction cleaner and drier
GB2291790A (en) * 1994-07-15 1996-02-07 Airlux Electrical Co Ltd Portable vacuum cleaner

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107957168A (zh) * 2016-10-18 2018-04-24 Lg电子株式会社 具有空气送风功能的残留水吸入装置
US11517162B2 (en) 2016-10-18 2022-12-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Remaining water suction device having air blowing function
CN107049138A (zh) * 2017-03-29 2017-08-18 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 手持吸尘器
CN109589046A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-04-09 宁波市弘露电子商务有限公司 手持式沙发清洁器
CN109589046B (zh) * 2018-12-28 2020-07-14 宁波市弘露电子商务有限公司 手持式沙发清洁器

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