EP1252852A2

EP1252852A2 - Vacuum cleaner suction head

Info

Publication number: EP1252852A2
Application number: EP02252496A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Silvano Fumagalli
Original assignee: Hoover Ltd
Current assignee: Hoover Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-17
Filing date: 2002-04-06
Publication date: 2002-10-30
Also published as: GB0109396D0; GB2374523A; EP1252852A3

Abstract

A suction head for a vacuum cleaner comprises a body (10) having an elongate downwardly-facing inlet (19) for dirty air extending across its width. A retractable, elongate floor wiping member (27) formed of a non-woven hydroentangled microfibre material is disposed rearwardly of the inlet (19).

Any dust particles which are not removed by the suction airstream flowing into the head through the inlet (19) are picked up and retained by the wiping member (27), which is removable so that it can be washed or replaced.

Description

This invention relates to a suction head for a vacuum cleaner.
Vacuum cleaners are well known which comprise a body and an elongate flexible suction hose extending from the body. A variety of attachments are provided for attaching to the end of the suction hose.
Generally one of the attachments is a so-called suction head comprising a compartment having an elongate opening in its bottom wall for engaging the surface to be cleaned. The opening is orientated such that, in use, it extends perpendicular to the normal forwards and backwards cleaning movements.
The head is further provided with a pair of elongate brush strips disposed on respective opposite sides of the opening and extending parallel thereto. The brush strips may be retracted into the head whilst cleaning carpets, so that the opening is directly in contact with the carpet. However, in order to clean hard floors, the brush strips can be extended, whereupon the head is supported on the floor by the brush strips.
The function of the brushes during hard floor cleaning is to support the bottom plate of the head above the floor and to confine the suction airflow to the area immediately below the suction head.
The brushes are intended to play no part in the cleaning of carpet and indeed it is important to retract the brushes prior to cleaning carpets, since it is difficult to push the head over carpet when the brushes are extended.
Typically, the brushes can be retracted and extended using pedals located on the upper surface of the head.
A disadvantage of the brush strips is that they are not effective at cleaning hard surfaces.
We have now devised a suction head for a vacuum cleaner which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a suction head for a vacuum cleaner comprising a body having a downwardly-facing inlet for dirty air, an outlet for connecting to a source of suction, and a floor wiping member disposed forwardly and/or rearwardly of the inlet, the member being formed of a non-woven hydroentangled microfibre material.
In use, dust particles which are not removed by the suction airstream flowing into the head through the inlet are picked up and retained by the wiping member.
The accumulated dirt and dust can be periodically removed from the material of the wiping member, for example by brushing. However, the member is preferably removable so that it can be washed or replaced.
The material of the wiping member is soft and thus will not damage delicate flooring.
Preferably the wiping member is retractable into the head, so that the head can be used for carpet cleaning.
Preferably the inlet comprises an elongate opening which extends across the width of the head.
Preferably the wiping member is elongate and extends across the width of the head.
Preferably the surface area of the wiping member is substantially equal to the area of the opening.
Preferably the head further comprises a brush member mounted on the opposite side of the inlet to the wiping member.
Preferably the wiping member is mounted rearwardly of said inlet.
Preferably the wiping member comprises a carrier portion to which the material is attached.
Preferably the material is detachable from the carrier so that it can be replaced.
Preferably the carrier comprises an elongate channel section member, the material comprising an elongate strip which extends longitudinally along the downwardly-facing surface of the channel section member, opposite longitudinal sides of the strip being received in the channel.
Preferably the opposite longitudinal sides of the material are retained in the channel by a removable elongate fastener, preferably formed as an interference fit with the channel.
Preferably the channel section member is connected to the body of the head by the fastener.
Preferably the downwardly-facing surface of the wiping member is of convex curvature across its width.
Preferably the material comprises fibres of polyester and polyamide, preferably in equal ratios.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from below of a suction cleaning head in accordance with this invention;
FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the head of Figure 1, in its carpet cleaning configuration;
FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view through the head of Figure 1, in its hard surface cleaning configuration; and
FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view through a wiping member of the head of Figure 1.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a suction head for a vacuum cleaner, the head comprising a plastics body 10 having front and rear walls 11, 12, end walls 13, 14 and a top wall 15. These walls 11-15 form a compartment 16 having a flat, generally rectangular open bottom, across which an elongate plate 17 is mounted on posts 18 extending from the top wall 15.
The plate 17 is of convex curvature in its transverse cross-section such that it projects below the plane of the open bottom of the body 10. An elongate slot 19 extends longitudinally of the plate 17 across the width of the head between the end walls 13, 14 thereof.
A tubular duct 20 for connecting to a source of suction extends upwardly at an inclined angle from the body 10, at a point intermediate the end walls 13, 14 i.e. mid-way across the width of the head. The duct 20 communicates with the elongate slot 19 such that the suction is applied thereto.
The opposite longitudinal side edges of the plate 17 are respectively spaced from the inner surface of the front and rear walls 11, 12 of the body 10.
A rectangular support frame 21 is mounted within the compartment 16, parallel to the plate 17, and is dimensioned to be a close but sliding fit therein. The posts 18 extend through apertures formed in the support frame 21. A helical coil spring 22 is mounted on each of the posts 18 between the support frame 21 and the plate 17.
A pedal 23 is mounted on the top wall 15 of the body 10 of the head to one side of the tubular duct 20. The inner end 24 of the pedal 23 carries a cam 25 which, when the pedal 23 is depressed, causes the cam 25 to bear against the upper surface of the support frame 21, thereby pushing the latter downwardly, perpendicular to its own plane, towards the plate 17: the pedal 23 can be moved back to allow the support frame 21 to rise under the applied bias of the springs 22.
The front edge of the support frame 21 carries an elongate brush strip 26 which extends through the gap between the front edge of the plate 17 and the inner surface of the front wall 11 of the body 10. Similarly, the rear edge of the support frame 21 carries an elongate wiping member 27 which extends through the gap between the rear edge of the plate 17 and the inner surface of the rear wall 12.
When the support frame 21 is in its downward position, the brush 26 and wiping member 27 project downwardly beyond the plate 17, such that they contact the surface being cleaned with the plate 17 being positioned away from the surface in the space between the brush 26 and wiping member 27.
When the support frame 21 is in its upward position, the brush 26 and wiping member 27 are retracted into the body 10, such that only the plate 17 contacts the surface being cleaned.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the wiping member 27 comprises an elongate strip 28 of microfibre material formed of spunlaced non-woven hydroentangled material having the following properties:

Composition	50% polyester
Composition	50% polyamide
Weight	100g/m²
Thickness	0.7 mm
Tensile Strength	280N (longitudinal)
Tensile Strength	380N (transverse)
Elongation	60% (longitudinal)
Elongation	60% (transverse)
Tear Resistance	85N (longitudinal)
Tear Resistance	78N (transverse)
Water Absorption	480%

The material strip 28 is wrapped around the exterior of a U-shaped plastics former 29 having a convex bottom surface. Opposite longitudinal sides of the material strip 28 are wrapped around the sides of the U-shaped plastics former 29 and are held in place on the former 29 by inserting an elongate plastics fastener 30 into the channel. The fastener 30 fits tightly into the channel and thus traps the side edges of the material strip 28. Preferably the plastics fastener 30 is a snap fit between the arms of the former 29 so that it will not readily detach in use.
The plastics fastener 30 comprises an upright stem which is detachably received in a socket (not shown)along the underside of the support frame 21 adjacent the rear edge thereof.
In use for hard floor cleaning, the pedal 23 is actuated to extend the brush 26 and wiping member 27 out of the body as herein before described. The tubular duct 20 is connected to a suction pipe (not shown) extending from the body of a vacuum cleaner in order to create an airstream which flows into the head through the opening 19.
The head is placed with the brush 26 and wiping member 27 against the floor surface: the brush 26 and wiping member 27 serve to confine the applied suction to the area immediately below the head.
The head further comprises a pair of wheels 31 positioned rearwardly of the body 10 of the head and in use the head is moved forwardly and backwardly over the surface to be cleaned in the conventional manner. Any dust particles which are not removed by the suction airstream from the surface being cleaned are picked up and retained by the microfibre material of the wiping member 27.
The accumulated dust and dirt may be periodically removed from the material by removing the wiping member 27 from the head and brushing it. If necessary the wiping member 27 can be disassembled so that the strip of microfibre material 28 can be washed or replaced.

Claims

A suction head for a vacuum cleaner, the head comprising a body having a downwardly-facing inlet for dirty air, an outlet for connecting to a source of suction, and a floor wiping member disposed forwardly and/or rearwardly of the inlet, the member being formed of a non-woven hydroentangled microfibre material.
A suction head as claimed in claim 1, in which the floor wiping member is preferably removable so that it can be washed or replaced.
A suction head as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the wiping member is retractable into the head, so that the head can be used for carpet cleaning.
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inlet comprises an elongate opening which extends across the width of the head.
A suction head as claimed in claim 4, in which the wiping member is elongate and extends across the width of the head.
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the surface area of the wiping member is substantially equal to the area of the opening
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor wiping member is disposed forwardly or rearwardly of the inlet, the head further comprising a brush member mounted on the opposite side of the inlet to the wiping member.
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the wiping member comprises a carrier portion to which the material is attached
A suction head as claimed in claim 8, in which the material is detachable from the carrier.
A suction head as claimed in claim 9, in which the carrier comprises an elongate channel section member, the material comprising an elongate strip which extends longitudinally along the downwardly-facing surface of the channel section member, opposite longitudinal sides of the strip being received in the channel
A suction head as claimed in claim 10, in which the opposite longitudinal sides of the material are retained in the channel by a removable elongate fastener.
A suction head as claimed in claim 8, in which the elongate fastener is formed as an interference fit with the channel.
A suction head as claimed in claims 11 or 12, in which the channel section member is connected to the body of the head by the fastener.
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the downwardly-facing surface of the wiping member is of convex curvature across its width.
A suction head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the material comprises fibres of polyester and polyamide.
A suction head as claimed in claim 15, in which the material comprises fibres of polyester and polyamide in equal ratios.