EP1047328B1 - Vacuum cleaner nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

Vacuum cleaner nozzle having a triangular base member (4) provided with a rim having two lateral sides (18) and a rear side (21), the two lateral sides forming an angle with one another and meeting at a corner region (6) that faces in the direction in which the nozzle is pushed during vacuuming. The corner region (6) has at least one front suction opening (7) to assure a suction in a direction substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a sole whose rim has at least one zone angular and more particularly a nozzle having a sole intended to move on the surface to be cleaned having an upper face provided with an air circulation circuit and a lower face provided with at least two removable pads allowing the nozzle to slide on the surface to be cleaned. A T-connection, removably mounted on the upper side of the sole, allows to connect via said circulation circuit air, a plurality of suction ports to a removable tube evacuation of aspirated waste.

The invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising such a sucker.

PRIOR ART

The nozzles for vacuum cleaners of the prior art, generally have shapes and dimensions that make their awkward use particularly for vacuuming waste located in narrow corners or passages or for pick up waste from congested surfaces by furniture. In the first case, the user is obliged to change the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner to reach the corners or narrow passages, while in the second case, the user is obliged to move the furniture in order to position the squeegee soleplate above the waste.

Document DE 18 15 059 describes a nozzle for generally rectangular vacuum cleaner with front openings along the entire length of the squeegee, these openings in the form of small channels flow. This nozzle does not, however, allow suction of waste housed in angular places.

International patent application number WO84 / 03429 describes a triangular vacuum nozzle provided side suction ports located below a cavity and in the middle of the sides of the triangle. Such a sucker does not solve the problem mentioned above in the extent that, to vacuum the waste located in a corner or a narrow passage, the user must first position the squeegee above this waste. This is only possible if the angle of the corner is wide enough to allow positioning the squeegee sole on the waste. In case this angle is narrow, the user is still obliged to change the tip of the vacuum cleaner to reach the waste.

Document US 4,653,137 also discloses a triangular vacuum nozzle with two channels suction side open to the surface to be cleaned, in connection with an evacuation tube. In the nozzle tip, a opening towards the surface to be cleaned is created. This opening can be inserted in the suction circuit according to the will of the user, in a particular configuration of the invention. Such a device is however impractical of use, the opening being partly hidden, since arranged entirely under the squeegee, and on the other hand, for bulky waste, it requires lifting the squeegee in order to position it on the waste to be vacuumed.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above by means of a vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a sole whose rim has at least one point which forms an angular zone connecting two adjacent edges any of the nozzle, characterized in that said zone angular comprises at least one orifice intended to ensure a suction in a direction substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

Such a nozzle makes it possible to approach an opening as much as possible of the waste located in corners or narrow passages.

Thanks to this orifice, the squeegee is able to aspirate distance the waste located in corners or passages narrow even if the sole of said nozzle is not positioned at the above this waste.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 représente schématiquement un suceur de l'art antérieur décrit dans la demande WO84/03429;
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement une vue en perspective d'un suceur conforme à l'invention;
• la figure 3 représente schématiquement une vue en perspective éclatée partiellement de la face supérieure d'un suceur conforme à l'invention sans capot;
• la figure 4 représente schématiquement une vue en perspective de la face inférieure d'un suceur conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue latérale en perspective de la face supérieure d'un suceur représenté à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en perspective de la face arrière d'un suceur représenté à la figure 4 ;
• La figure 7 représente schématiquement une vue en coupe verticale d'un patin de glissement équipant un suceur conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 8 présente une ouverture d'aspiration du suceur selon une variante de réalisation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, taken by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically represents a nozzle of the prior art described in application WO84 / 03429;
• Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention;
• Figure 3 schematically shows a partially exploded perspective view of the upper face of a nozzle according to the invention without cover;
• Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of the underside of a nozzle according to the invention;
• 5 shows a side perspective view of the upper face of a nozzle shown in Figure 4;
• FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the rear face of a nozzle shown in FIG. 4;
• FIG. 7 schematically represents a view in vertical section of a sliding shoe fitted to a nozzle according to the invention,
• Figure 8 shows a suction opening of the nozzle according to an alternative embodiment.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

As can be seen in Figure 2, the squeegee vacuum cleaner 2 has a soleplate 4 intended to move the rim parallel to the surface to be cleaned of said sole has an angular zone 6 connecting two sides of the squeegee and whose end is rounded so avoid damaging walls and furniture during cleaning. This angular area is advantageously set value in a triangular nozzle as described in the present request, as an example of implementation, but the invention can also be applied to a nozzle any shape, circular with a point which forms said angular zone, but also for a nozzle rectangular then having four angular zones of connection of the edges, located at the four corners of the squeegee.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, said angular zone comprises an orifice front 7 intended to ensure suction in a direction substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

Front opening means an opening starting from the sole, where the suction channel is located and extending over the edge of the squeegee. The opening is like this substantially perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.

This opening is large enough to be able to vacuum small objects. Thus the size of the opening is greater than 0.5 cm ² .

Advantageously, in order not to create a loss suction at ground level, the opening is profiled in exhibiting a leak angle at the base such that the width of the opening at its base is at least twice more important than its width at half height.

Figure 8 shows such an opening 72 having a leak angle 74. The width ℓ1 at its base is at least twice as large as its width ℓ2 to halfway up.

As can be seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the upper face of said sole 4, is provided with a circuit air circulation 8 while its underside has three removable sliding pads 9 allowing displacement of the nozzle on the surface to be cleaned. A T 10 connection, removably mounted on the face upper of the sole 4, makes it possible to connect, via said air circulation circuit 8, a plurality of orifices 7,11,14 to a removable tube 16 for evacuating waste vacuumed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole 4 has a shape substantially triangular whose two adjacent sides 18 have each a side channel 19 open towards the surface to clean arranged along the edge of the sole 4.

According to an alternative embodiment, in accordance with the example proposed by way of illustration of the invention, each of the side channels 19 is connected to a channel posterior 20 arranged along the third side 21 forming the rear face of the sole 4, by means of an elbow 22 open towards the surface to be cleaned substantially perpendicular to said side 21 and comprising at least one side suction port 11.

Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 4, the lateral channels 19 communicate with an orifice lower 14 while the posterior channel 20 communicates with two lower orifices 14 located symmetrically by relative to the middle of said posterior side 21. These orifices lower 14 are intended to ensure a suction of waste in a direction perpendicular to the surface to clean.

As can be seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the air circulation circuit 8 has an H shape having a central groove 32 in which the conduit 34 constituting the horizontal bar of the connection in T 10 and two lateral grooves 38 connecting each of the two lower orifices 14 located on the posterior channel 20 to one of the two lower orifices 14 located on one of the lateral channels 19 and to duct 34. The lateral grooves 38 of the air circulation circuit 8 are covered at their ends by a first cover 40 of flat shape and their middle by a second semi-cylindrical cover 42 extending the conduit 34 of the connection by T 10.

As can be seen in Figure 6, each of the lateral grooves 38 of the H-shaped circuit includes a deflector lateral 50 located near the meeting area of air flow entering through the lower suction ports 14 located opposite one another. Connection 10 has also, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 6, two central deflectors 52 intended to avoid a frontal collision between the air flows circulating in the conduit 34.

To avoid impacts between the squeegee and the environment when using the vacuum cleaner, the sole 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, is covered on its upper face by a cover 54 made of material flexible also covering the outer edges of the sides 18 and 21 as well as the elbows 22 of said sole 4. Said flexible cover 54 has a hole in the middle for the passage of the connection 10 to ensure the fixing of the tube 16. Note that the cover 54 essentially has a anti-shock function insofar as the circuit air circulation 8 is completely covered by covers 40, 42 and therefore the nozzle can suck the waste even when this cover 54 is removed from the face upper of the sole.

In order to ensure displacement of the squeegee on surfaces of different types, the removable pads 9, shown schematically in Figures 4 and 7, include a lower surface 60, having a profiled leading edge 62, and are provided with a central patch 64 ensuring the contact with the surface to be treated when moving the device. Said central patch 64 can be made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or any other material having good abrasion resistance and low coefficient friction. The upper face 66 of said pads 9 is provided with a central crown 68 surrounded by a seal annular 70 intended to absorb vibrations when the crevice tool moves over a rough surface.

Advantageously, the sliding pads are arranged in the sole so as to raise the squeegee of the surface to be cleaned. The distance between the squeegee and the ground, which can be compared to ground clearance, for analogy with the automotive field, allows to establish a synergy between coarse aspiration by the openings 7, 11 and a fine suction from the sides of the nozzle.

This also makes it possible to establish a good compromise between the ease of moving the nozzle on the ground, thanks to the air leak created, and the suction depression.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the field household vacuum cleaners.

Claims (10)

1. Vacuum cleaner suction nozzle comprising a soleplate (4) having a rim that presents at least one point which forms an obtuse angle zone (6) interconnecting any two adjacent sides of the nozzle, said nozzle being characterized in that the edge of said obtuse angle zone (6) includes at least one front setback (7) designed to ensure suction in a direction that is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.
2. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one orifice (7) presents an opening area that is greater than 0.5 cm².
3. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to either preceding claim, characterized in that at least one orifice (72) presents a taper angle at its base such that the width (ℓ₁) of the orifice at its base is at least twice its width (ℓ₂) at mid-height.
4. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said front suction orifice (7) is connected to an air-flow circuit (8) via at least one channel (19, 20, 22) that is open towards the surface to be cleaned and that is disposed along the rim of the soleplate (4).
5. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said soleplate (4) presents a substantially triangular shape and includes two adjacent lateral sides (18) each provided with a lateral channel (19), said channels (18, 19) communicating with at least one bottom suction orifice (14).
6. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the soleplate includes a rear side (21) that is provided with a rear channel (20), said channels (18, 19, 20) communicating with at least one bottom suction opening (14).
7. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of said lateral channels (19) is connected to the rear channel (20) by bend portion (22) that is open towards the surface to be cleaned, said bend portion including at least one lateral suction orifice (11).
8. A suction nozzle according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the intersection of said adjacent sides (18) presents a rounded end.
9. A vacuum cleaner suction nozzle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises studs arranged under the soleplate (4) so as to raise the soleplate slightly from the floor to be cleaned in order to establish synergy between coarse suction via the openings (7, 72, 11) and fine suction via the sides (18, 21) of the nozzle (2).
10. A vacuum cleaner, characterized in that it includes a suction nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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