EP1583451B1 - Vacuum cleaner comprising a filter drawer - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner (1) contains the electric motor and fan assembly (21) to pass dust laden air through the dust separation and collection bag (16) housed within a molding (13) which is inserted through an opening (10) in the cleaner housing and withdrawn by means of a handle (11).

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

From DE 36 33 783 A1 a generic vacuum cleaner is known, which has a drawer-shaped housing part, which is pulled out of a second housing part. The drawer-shaped housing part contains a dust bag and accessories, as well as an engine compartment behind. The drawer-shaped housing part containing the dust chamber and the engine compartment can be pulled out of the cabinet from the other housing part like a drawer. A mechanical stop is provided so that the engine compartment still remains completely covered by pulled out drawer-shaped housing part of the upper side of the second housing part. By this construction, the assembly of the vacuum cleaner is to be simplified. After installation of the components to be accommodated in the vacuum cleaner in the drawer-shaped housing part only its insertion into the second housing part is required to complete the assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

From the further prior art according to US 4,699,641. is a generic vacuum cleaner known.

The disadvantage here, however, that the removal of the dust bag is possible only in an unpleasant for the user.

The object of the invention is to develop a generic vacuum cleaner with a drawer-like extract such that a dust collector in a simple, or convenient for the user from the vacuum cleaner can be removed.

This object is achieved in that the connecting piece for the suction hose and the suction tube attached to the housing and the dust is connected via the drawer-like drawer with the connecting piece.

A fixed connection of the connecting piece on the drawer-like drawer is disadvantageous in terms of mobility and a possible removability of the drawer-like drawer. However, if the connection piece is fastened to the housing and the dust separator can be connected to the connecting piece via the drawer-like drawer, then suction hose or a connected suction pipe connected to the connection piece does not adversely affect the mobility of the drawer-like drawer. The drawer can be pulled out and pushed in without moving the connecting piece. Thus, any braking forces that are introduced by a connected suction hose or a suction pipe in the connecting piece, not transferred to the drawer-like drawer. The drawer-like extract remains easily movable with little effort.

In a further development of the drawer-like drawer carries a suction through-flowable coupling piece, connected via the in a closed position of the drawer-like drawer extractor with the connection piece is. The coupling piece is firmly attached to the drawer-like drawer. The dust collector, which may be designed, for example, as a dust filter bag or as a cyclone separator, is held at least approximately airtight on the coupling piece. For this purpose, an inlet opening on the dust filter bag or on the cyclone separator have a peripheral seal which bears against a pipe socket of the coupling piece. On a side facing away from the dust separator of the coupling piece, a further pipe socket may be formed on the coupling piece, which may also have a seal at least approximately airtight in an inserted position of the drawer-like drawer attached to the housing in the connection piece for the suction hose or for the suction tube , The coupling piece may also have a centering member which engages in a corresponding guide member on an inner wall of the housing. This ensures that the coupling piece and thus also the dust collector are operationally in contact with the connecting piece when the drawer-type drawer is in the inserted operating position. The centering member need not be formed directly on the coupling piece, but may also be arranged at another suitable location of the drawer-like drawer. By means of the coupling piece, an airtight connection of dust collector and suction hose or suction pipe is achieved in a reliable manner.

In an advantageous variant of the drawer-like drawer is slidably mounted in a plane inclined relative to the horizontal plane in the housing. This has the advantage that the insertion of the extended drawer-like drawer is supported by gravity. In a particularly suitable embodiment of the drawer-like drawer is so easily stored in the housing of the vacuum cleaner that it slides in due to gravity in the retracted position. The drawer-like extract -must not be actively pushed by the user, but automatically moves back to the retracted operating position. For the automatic retraction of the drawer-like drawer no tensioning means such as tension or compression springs are needed to .vorzuspannen the drawer-like drawer in the retracted operating position. Of course, if necessary, clamping means may be present, if for structural reasons, the gravity is not sufficient to retract the drawer-like extract.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the drawer-like drawer is arranged above the motor / fan unit and / or a cable winding device in the housing of the vacuum cleaner. The arrangement of drawer-like drawer and the other essential components of the vacuum cleaner on top of each other, a compact design for the vacuum cleaner is achieved. Preferably, the drawer-like drawer extends substantially over the entire width or length of the vacuum cleaner in order to allow the drawer-like drawer to be dimensioned as large as possible, so that a recorded from drawer-like extract dust collector can be used with a large capacity. The inclined arrangement of the drawer-like drawer helps to make the vacuum cleaner compact overall.

In one embodiment of the invention, the drawer-like drawer on a front panel, which rests airtight in the closed position on the housing. The tight fit ensures that sufficient vacuum can be generated in the dust chamber by the motor / blower unit. Basically, it is sufficient if the front panel rests against an outer wall of the housing and therebetween a seal lining is attached. Due to the negative pressure generated by the motor-blower unit, the drawer-like drawer is in fact sucked towards the housing and the sealing pad is pressed, so that a good sealing effect is achieved. To improve the sealing effect, however, it is also possible to provide a sealing lip or a sealing cord which is arranged either on the housing of the vacuum cleaner or on the drawer-like drawer, preferably on the front panel and hermetically seals on a corresponding sealing surface.

Between the drawer-like drawer and the housing, a locking means may be provided for holding the drawer-like drawer in its closed position. By the locking means prevents the drawer-like extract moves out unintentionally. In particular, during operation of the vacuum cleaner, it would be disadvantageous if the drawer-like extract opens and releases the dust chamber. Then the vacuum would dissipate in the dust chamber and the function of the vacuum cleaner would be disturbed. Would the drawer-like extract unintentionally drive out during operation, so could the vacuum cleaner, especially the extract damaged if the user does not notice this and the extract abuts the process of the vacuum cleaner, for example, on a piece of furniture.

Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner can have an actuating element for unlocking the latching means. Thus, the drawer-like extract can be pulled out only after the actuator has been operated by the user. This has the advantage that the drawer-like extract is not unintentionally moved out. Only at the express request of the user, the drawer-like extract is released. By the actuating element in particular a feature on the vacuum cleaner is created that conveys the handling of the vacuum cleaner for the user in a clear and valuable way.

For a user-friendly and ergonomic handling of the vacuum cleaner, the drawer-like drawer can have a handle. The drawer-like drawer can be operated by pulling on the handle. The actuator can be arranged in an advantageous and ergonomic manner on the handle or the handle itself can be movably held on the drawer-like extract and form the actuator.

Preferably, the vacuum cleaner has a resilient tendon, against the spring force of the drawer-like drawer is held in the closed position. The tendon is stretched in the retracted, operative position of the drawer-like drawer. If a lock is triggered on the drawer-like drawer, then the drawer-like drawer moves, preferably counter to gravity, into an open position, in which the dust separator can be removed from the drawer-like drawer. By the elastic tendon an automatic movement of the drawer-like drawer is achieved, which gives a particularly valuable impression for the user.

In all described embodiments and variants of the invention, the drawer-like drawer either be held on the housing so that the drawer-like extract from the vacuum cleaner can not be completely removed or be held on the housing so that it can be removed from the housing. If the drawer-like extract from the housing is removable, then There is the advantage that the dust collector can be removed together with the drawer-like extract from the vacuum cleaner. The user is not forced to touch the dust filter bag. It is sufficient to handle the drawer-like drawer, in particular to handle it to remove from the vacuum cleaner and bring to a suitable location to dispose of the dust filter bag. A new non-contaminated dust filter bag can then be inserted into the drawer-like drawer and the drawer can be inserted into the vacuum cleaner together with the new dust filter bag. The insertion of the new dust filter bag must not be done in a ground-level posture, but can be done standing or sitting. Only then is the dust filter bag inserted into the drawer-like drawer inserted into the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is then ready for use again.

The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Staubsaugers mit geschlossenem schubladenartigen Auszug;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Staubsaugers aus Figur 1 mit geöffnetem schubladenartigen Auszug;

Figur 3

einen Querschnitt durch den Staubsauger gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 4

einen Querschnitt durch den Staubsauger gemäß Figur 1.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention with a closed drawer-like extract;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 with an open drawer-like drawer;

FIG. 3

a cross section through the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2;

FIG. 4

a cross section through the vacuum cleaner according to Figure 1.

FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 1 which has a housing 2. In the rear region of the vacuum cleaner 1 two arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the housing 2 rollers 3 are rotatably mounted. A arranged in the front region of the vacuum cleaner 1 at the top of the connecting piece 4 is attached to the housing 2. At the connecting piece 4, a suction hose 5 is connected, which is connected to a suction nozzle, not shown. In the housing 2 is above a fan chamber 6, a dust chamber 7. In the dust chamber 7 is from the back in Rear area of the vacuum cleaner 1 a drawer-like extract 8 inserted. The drawer 8 has a front panel 9, which closes an access opening 10 in the housing 2 in the closed position of the drawer 8. The front panel 9 has a semicircular contour, wherein the arcuate side of the front panel 9 facing upward. The straight side of the front panel 9 points downward and faces the fan chamber 6. On the outer surface of the front panel 9, a handle 11 is formed. The covered by the handle 11 outer surface of the front panel 9 is concave and forms a recessed grip 12th

FIG. 2 shows the vacuum cleaner 1 from FIG. 2 with the drawer-like drawer 8 pulled out. The drawer 8 has a box-like basic shape. The side wall of the drawer 8, which closes the contour of the vacuum cleaner 1, has the front panel 9. The drawer 8 has a flat bottom surface on which the front panel 9 are formed as a side wall and the other side walls. From an upper edge of a longitudinal side wall 13, an arcuate support 14 stretches towards a non-visible longitudinal side of the drawer 8 opposite the side wall 13. Attached to the arcuate support 14 is a coupling piece 15. At the bottom of the coupling piece 15 is an opening of a dust filter bag 16 at. The coupling piece 15 is in the closed position of the drawer 8 on the connection piece 4.

FIG. 3 shows the vacuum cleaner from FIG. 2 in cross section. On the side facing the vacuum cleaner 1 side of the front panel 9, a sealing cord 17 is attached, which rests in the closed position of the drawer 8 at an edge 18 of the access opening 10 in the dust chamber 7. The drawer 8 is hineinschiebbar along an inclined plane 19 in the dust chamber 7. The inclined plane 19 forms the bottom of the dust chamber 7 and at the same time the top surface of the fan chamber 6. In the bottom of the dust chamber 7, a suction port 20 is formed. The suction port 20 is open to the fan chamber 6. Within the blower chamber 6, a motor / blower unit 21 is arranged, which communicates via the suction port 20 with the dust chamber 7 in connection. Within the blower chamber 6, a cable winding device 22 is arranged. The cable winding device 22 includes a power cord, not shown, whose free end has a power plug 23. In the front area of the vacuum cleaner 1 is at a Inner wall of the dust chamber 7, a clamping member 24 is attached, which supports a pulling out of the drawer 8 against the slope of the inclined plane 19.

In Figure 4, the vacuum cleaner 1 is shown with inserted extract 8. The tendon 24 stores in the position of the drawer shown energy to push out the drawer 8 against the slope of the inclined plane 19. In order to hold the extract 8 defied prestressed tendon 24 in the retracted position, an actuating element 25 is pivotally mounted on the housing 2. The actuating element 25 is mounted in a central region by means of an axis 26 pivotally mounted on the housing 2. The rear region of the vacuum cleaner 1 facing leg of the actuating element 25 has a locking means 27 designed as a hook. The locking means 27 engages in the retracted position of the drawer 8 in a groove 28 on the front panel 9 and holds the drawer 8 in the retracted position. By pressing the latching means 27 opposite leg of the actuating element 25, the hook of the locking means 27 is pivoted upwardly out of the groove 28 and the extract moves due to the bias of the clamping member 24 against the slope of the inclined plane 19 addition.

Claims (11)

1. Vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a housing (2), in which a drawer-like pull-out (8) is mounted to be withdrawable, which has a dust chamber (7) for receiving a dust separator (16) insertable into a flow path of suction air between a connecting stub pipe (4) of a suction hose (5) or a suction pipe and a suction opening (20) of a motor/fan unit (21), which is fixedly arranged in the housing (2), wherein the dust separator (16) is removable from the flow path of suction air by withdrawal of the drawer-like pull-out (8), characterised in that the connecting stub pipe (4) for the suction hose (5) or the suction pipe is fastened to the housing (2) and the dust separator (16) is connectible with the stub pipe (4) by way of the drawer-like pull-out (8).
2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that the drawer-like pull-out (8) carries a coupling member (15) which can be flowed through by suction air and by way of which in a closed position of the drawer-like pull-out (8) the dust separator (16) is connected with the connecting stub pipe (4).
3. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drawer-like pull-out (8) is mounted in the housing (2) to be displaceable in a plane (19) inclined relative to the horizontal.
4. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, characterised in that the plane (19) is inclined in such a manner that displacement of the drawer-like pull-out (8) into the closed position is assisted by gravitational force.
5. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drawer-like pull-out (8) is arranged above the motor/fan unit (21) and/or a cable winding device (21) in the housing (2) of the vacuum cleaner.
6. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drawer-like pull-out (8) has a front panel (9) which in the closed position of the drawer-like pull-out (8) bears in airtight manner against the housing (2).
7. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a detent means (26) for holding the drawer-like pull-out (8) in its closed position is provided between the drawer-like pull-out (8) and the housing (2).
8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner (1) has an actuating element (25) for unlocking the detent means (27).
9. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, characterised in that the actuating element (25) is arranged at a grip (11) of the drawer-like pull-out (8).
10. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner (1) has a resilient biasing element (24), against the spring force of which the drawer-like pull-out (8) is kept in the closed position.
11. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drawer-like pull-out (8) is removable from the housing (2).

Images