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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
  • A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
• • 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
  • A47L5/36—Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/0009—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders
  • A47L9/0018—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
  • A47L9/0045—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles

Definitions

• This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner.
• Cylinder or canister vacuum cleaners generally comprise a main body 10 which houses separating apparatus 11 such as a cyclonic separator or a bag for separating dirt and dust from an incoming dirty airflow.
• the dirty airflow is introduced to the main body 10 via a hose and wand assembly 15, 16 which is connected to the main body 10.
• the main body 10 of the cleaner is dragged along by the hose 15 as a user moves around a room.
• a cleaning tool is attached to the remote end of the hose and wand assembly 15, 16.
• a range of cleaning tools are usually provided with the vacuum cleaner so that the user can select the most appropriate tool for the cleaning task. Examples of cleaning tools are stair tools 19a and brush tools 19b.
• the vacuum cleaner is normally provided with a floor tool 20.
• FIG. 2 shows a known floor tool of the type manufactured and sold by Dyson Limited.
• the floor tool 20 comprises a lower floor-engaging face 30, commonly known as a sole plate, which, in use, slides across a floor surface.
• the sole plate 30 defines a suction opening 31 which faces the floor surface and serves, in use, to expose the floor surface to suction sufficient to generate an airflow which will remove dirt and debris from the surface.
• the tool 20 also comprises an outlet 41, 42 which allows the floor tool to be attached to the wand 16 ( Figure 1) and a short connecting duct 45 for carrying airflow from the sole plate 30 to the outlet 41, 42.
• the connecting duct 45 has a pair of floor engaging wheels 35 mounted on it.
• this arrangement translates a user's pushing and pulling movement of the wand 16 to a gliding movement of the sole plate 30 over the floor surface.
• the outlet 41, 42 of the tool 20 can be moved through a range of positions with respect to the remainder of the tool. This is due to the articulated connection provided between the outlet 41, 42 and the connecting duct 45.
• a first part 41 of the outlet is pivotably connected to the connecting duct 45 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 43, which provides the outlet 41, 42 with the ability to move through a range of angles in a vertical movement (see arrow A in Figure 2).
• a second part 42 of the outlet which includes an angled bend, is rotatably connected to the first part 41 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 (see arrow B in Figure 2).
• the outlet 41, 42 In its lowermost position, shown in Figure 2, the outlet 41, 42 rests just above the floor surface, with the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lying substantially parallel to the floor surface.
• the outlet 41, 42 can be moved to an uppermost position in which the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lies at an angle of around 45° to the floor surface with the second" part 42 extending away from the floor surface at a larger angle.
• This range of movement helps to allow the tool 20 to remain in contact with the floor surface as the tool 20 is manoeuvred across the floor surface by a user. It also allows a user to align the tool 20 in a new direction.
• the present invention seeks to improve the available storage of a cleaning head of a cleaning appliance.
• the present invention provides a cleaning head for a cleaning appliance comprising a housing having a floor-engaging face, means for allowing the housing to travel across a floor surface, an outlet for fitting to a wand of the cleaning appliance, and a linkage for coupling the housing to the outlet, wherein the linkage is arranged such that the outlet is movable between an operative position, in which the outlet lies parallel to, or at a positive angle with respect to, the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head, and a storage position in which the outlet lies at a negative angle with respect to the floor- engaging face of the cleaning head.
• the cleaning head can be stored conveniently alongside the main body of a cleaning appliance. This is particularly useful where the cleaning head is used in combination with a cleaning appliance in which the wand of the cleaning appliance is retained alongside the main body of the cleaning. In use, the wand is brought alongside, and retained against, the main body of the cleaning appliance and the cleaning head is moved into the storage position. This provides a tidy, convenient and economical storage solution.
• the outlet is positively retained in the storage position.
• This has the advantage that, in normal use, the cleaning head does not 'flop' into the storage position which can be irritating.
• the manner in which the cleaning head is positively retained can take the form of. a manually operable release mechanism, with the linkage being arranged such that the outlet can only be moved to and/or from the storage position by operation of the control. This has the advantage of being reliable and easily manufacturable.
• the linkage can comprise a force-transmitting coupling between the housing and the outlet together with a flexible hose for carrying fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
• This arrangement can provide a good quality seal between the main housing and outlet, since the fluid flow is always carried by a hose which is reliably sealed at each end thereof.
• the force-transmitting coupling can comprise a pair of arms, one arm lying on each side of the flexible hose. This allows the hose to flex freely into a new position when it is required to do so..
• the linkage of the cleaning head can comprise a hollow duct, the duct serving to transmit a force between the outlet and the housing and to carry fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
• the linkage of the cleaning head can comprise a hollow duct, the duct serving to transmit a force between the outlet and the housing and to carry fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
• a form of connection which provides a good range of movement is a barrel connection between the housing and the outlet, with the rotational axis of the connection lying substantially parallel to the plane of the floor-engaging face. A range of movement of around 180° is possible.
• the tool takes the form of a turbine- driven tool for use with a vacuum cleaner.
• the turbine is not essential to the invention and, as such, the invention could equally be applied to tools which are entirely passive (i.e. relying solely on suction, with no agitation of the floor surface, such as the tool 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2) or tools which include a dedicated motor for driving a brush bar.
• cleaning appliance is intended to have a broad meaning, and includes a wide range of machines having a main body and a wand for carrying fluid to or from a floor surface. It includes, inter alia, machines which only apply suction to the surface, such as vacuum cleaners (including dry, wet and wet dry variants), so as to draw material from the surface, as well as machines which apply material to the surface, such as polishing/waxing machines, pressure washing machines and shampooing machines.
• Figure 1 shows a known type of vacuum cleaner and floor tool
• Figure 2 is a sectional side view through the floor tool of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;
• Figures 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention
• Figure 6 shows a mechanism forming part of the tool of Figures 3 to 5;
• Figures 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention.
• Figure 10 illustrates the use of a floor tool according to the invention in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner.
• Figures 3 to 5 show an embodiment of the invention in the form of a tool 40 which is adapted to be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.
• Figures 3 and 4 show the tool 40 in different operating positions and Figure 5 shows the tool 40 in a storage position.
• the tool 40 has a main- housing.50 which houses the main components of the tool.
• a wheel 54 is rotatably mounted to each side of the housing 50 to allow the tool 40 to be moved easily across a floor surface.
• the lower plate 55 defines a suction opening 53 through which bristles 52a mounted on the brush bar 52 protrude as the brush bar rotates so as to agitate the floor surface and thereby enhance the amount of dirt and dust released from the floor covering. This action maximises the pick-up performance of the cleaning head 40, particularly on carpeted floor surfaces.
• the housing 50 also houses a turbine (not shown) for driving the brushbar 52.
• An air inlet delivers ambient air to the turbine and ducting feeds exhaust air from the turbine towards the outlet 44 of the tool 40.
• a belt or geared connection (not shown) connects the output shaft of the turbine to the brushbar 52.
• the outlet 44 of the tool 40 comprises collectively the parts labelled 60 to 66.
• a first connector 61 is rotatably mounted to the rear of housing 50.
• the first connector 61 is rotatable about the axis 66.
• a second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 61 by means of a pair of rigid arms 62 and a flexible hose 65.
• the arms 62 one lying on each side of hose 65, provide a mechanical, force-transmitting connection between the connectors 60, 61 whilst the flexible hose 65 carries airflow between the connectors 60, 61, thus providing a continuous airflow passageway from the suction opening 53 to the connector 60.
• Each arm 62 is pivotably connected to the first connector 61 about an axis 63 and to the second connector 60 about an axis 64.
• the second connector 60 is adapted to be connected to a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner as is shown in Figure 1.
• the second connector 60 is illustrated as having a latching type of connection with the wand but this connection can equally take the form of a simple interference fit or any other suitable form.
• Figure 3 shows the tool 40 in its lowest normal operating position, of the sort which a user may adopt when using the tool 40 to clean the floor surface beneath an object or an item of furniture, suck as a bed.
• the outlet 44 and particularly the extent of the axis 67 of the second connector 60, lie generally alongside or above the floor surface which is being cleaned.
• the wand will lie along the axis 67 of the second connector 60.
• Figure 4 shows the tool 40 in its uppermost operating position, with the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60, and hence the longitudinal axis of a wand attached to the floor tool 40, lying generally perpendicular to the floor surface.
• the outlet extends at what is herein termed a "positive angle" with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
• Figure 5 shows the tool 40 in a storage position.
• the second connector 60 has been rotated clockwise from the position shown in Figure 3 so that the outlet 44 points downwardly with respect to the lower plate 55 of the tool 40.
• the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60 is shown as lying substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lower plate 55 although it is perfectly possible for the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60 to lie at an angle of less than 90° or more than 90° with respect thereto. What is important is that the angle at which the axis 67 of the second connector 60 lies has been greatly reduced with respect to the plane of the lower plate 55.
• the angle between the plane of the lower plate and the outlet 44 in general should be at least 180°, so as to allow the floor surface to be cleaned to be accommodated, the angle between the outlet 44 and the lower plate 55 in the storage position should be considerably less.
• An angle of substantially 90° is- preferred, although variances of up to 30° are acceptable.
• the outlet extends at what is herein termed a "negative angle" with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
• the cleaner head 40 described above also incorporates a release mechanism which is mounted on the second connector 60.
• Figure 6 shows the release mechanism in detail.
• the release mechanism serves several purposes: it limits the angle through which the second connector 60 can be rotated with respect to the arms 62 so as to define the positions shown in Figures 3 and 5, and it also defines a limit for the storage position of the tool.
• each arm 62 adjacent the second connector 60 incorporates a generally disc-shaped portion 62a in which a notch 62b is formed.
• the notch 62b has a first face 62c and a second face 62d.
• Two projections 70, 73 project outwardly from the second connector 60 in a direction parallel to the axis 64.
• An edge 73 of projection 72 facing the arm 62 defines a stop for the storage position of the tool 40.
• a locking member 74 is pivotably- mounted on the connector 60 about an axis 75 which lies parallel to the axis 64.
• the locking member 74 has a first arm 74a and a second arm 74b.
• a compression spring 76 acts between the first part 74a and the projection 70 so as to bias the locking member clockwise into the position shown in Figure 6.
• the second arm 74b projects into the notch 62b.
• the shape of the distal end of the second arm 74b is such that, when the second arm 74b projects into the notch 62b, the arm 62 is free to rotate relative to the locking member 74 through a predetermined angle X.
• one of the first and second faces 62c, 62d will abut against an edge of the second arm 74b.
• One of the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 will be adopted at each extreme position.
• the first arm 74a When the cleaning head is to be brought into the storage position, the first arm 74a is depressed, against the bias of spring 76, towards the projection 70. This causes the locking member 74 to rotate about the axis 75 in an anticlockwise direction. The distal end of the second arm 74b then moves out of the notch 62b, thus allowing the disc- shaped portion 62a to move beyond the position illustrated in Figure 6.
• the second connector 60 can thus rotate with respect to the arm 62 until the edge 73 of the projection 72 abuts against the lower side 71 of the arm 62.
• Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a floor tool 99 which can be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.
• Figures 7 and 8 show the tool 99 in an operating position and Figure 9 shows the tool 100 in a storage position.
• the tool 99 has a main housing 81 which houses the main components of the tool with a wheel 82 rotatably mounted on each side of the housing 81.
• the outlet of the tool 99 has a different form from that described above.
• the outlet comprises a first pipe 83 and a second pipe 84.
• the first pipe 83 is rotatably connected to the rear of the housing 81 by a barrel connection, which is best shown in the plan view of Figure 8. Airflow into the first pipe 83 is via a circular aperture on the side of the first pipe 83.
• the circular aperture is defined by an annular flange 87.
• a similarly shaped annular flange 88 is formed on the rear of the housing 81 and an annular seal 89 is located between the two flanges 87, 88.
• the two flanges 87, 88 and the seal 89 are held in an airtight manner against one another by the housing 50.
• the first pipe 83 is rotatable with respect to the housing 81 about an axis 94 which lies parallel to the lower plate of the tool 99 and provides a range of movement in the vertical plane.
• the second pipe 84 is rotatably connected to the first pipe 83 about the longitudinal axis of the first pipe 83.
• the first pipe 83 is movable through an angle of around 180° with respect to the main housing 81.
• the wheels 82 are each supported on a short axle 95 which projects outwardly from the rear of the housing 81.
• the rear part of the housing 81 is shaped so as to allow the first pipe 83 to rotate into the storage position shown in Figure 9 without contacting the housing 81.
• the tool 99 illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 is a turbine tool.
• a first air outlet duct 90 leads from the suction opening to the first pipe 83 and a second air outlet duct 91 leads from the turbine 96 to the first pipe 83.
• Each side of the first pipe 83 has a circular aperture and flange arrangement of the type described- above.
• FIG 10 shows a cleaning appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner incorporating the cleaning tool 40 shown in Figures 3 to 6.
• the vacuum cleaner has a main body 100 which supports the main components of the vacuum cleaner.
• the main body 100 has a chassis 110 which supports separating and collecting apparatus 120 and a motor-driven fan (not shown) for generating suction for drawing dirt laden air into the separating apparatus 120.
• the main body 100 also has two main wheels 112, one on each side of the rear portion of the chassis 110, and a castor wheel 113 located beneath the front portion of the chassis 110, which allow the main body 100 to be manoeuvred across a floor surface.
• the wheels 112, 113 could be supplemented, or replaced, by other means for allowing the main body 100 to be manoeuvred across a surface, such as skids.
• the form of the separating apparatus 120 is not important to the invention. Whilst we prefer to use cyclonic separators which spin dirt, dust and debris from the airflow, other forms of separator can be used and examples of suitable separator technology include an inertial separator, a filter bag, a porous container, an electrostatic separator or a liquid-based separator.
• the separating apparatus 120 comprises two generally cylindrical separating chambers which lie alongside one another.
• the separating apparatus 120 is removably mounted on the chassis 110 to facilitate emptying and to provide access to components located beneath the separating apparatus 120.
• a flexible hose 150 is connected at a first end thereof to an inlet port 151 on the main body 100 and a wand assembly 160 is connected to a second end of the hose 150.
• the main body 100 of the cleaner is manoeuvred across a floor surface via the hose 150 as a user moves around a room.
• the hose 150 has a construction which is robust enough to withstand this pulling action, together with any normal abrasion which may be encountered as the hose 150 comes into contact with obstacles in a room.
• Ducting on the chassis 110 connects the air inlet port 151 to an inlet to the separating apparatus 120.
• the inlet to the separating apparatus is arranged to guide incoming airflow through the wall of the chamber of the cyclonic separator in a tangential manner.
• a suitable wand assembly 160 is described in our co-pending International Patent Application WO 02/071913.
• the wand comprises a set of three tubes of progressively decreasing diameter.
• the tubes can telescope inside one another and are retractably housed inside a storage tube 165.
• the three tubes can be moved between a stored configuration and an extended configuration in which one tube is extended from another such that only the ends of the tubes overlap one another. Securing mechanisms secure the tubes in an extended position.
• the distal end of the wand assembly 160 has a connector 280 which is adapted to receive the floor tool described above.
• the floor tool can be connected to the connector 280 by means of an interference fit, interconnecting bayonet fittings, snap-fit connections, a screw threaded collar and sleeve, or by any other suitable means.
• a handle 200 is connected to storage tube 165 to allow a user to manipulate the wand 160.
• the flexible hose 150 is connected to the storage tube 165 by an outlet connector 168 which is rotatable about the axis X-X'. This part of the wand assembly 160 is described more fully in our International Patent Application WO 01/50940.
• the wand assembly 160 can be attached to the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner.
• the length of the storage tube 165 is substantially equal to the length of the part of the main body 100 against which the wand assembly 160 is stored. In this manner, the wand assembly 160 does not protrude substantially beyond the limits of the main body 100 when it is fully retracted and stored on the main body 100.
• the wand assembly 160 is stored alongside the uppermost surface of the main body 100.
• the upper surface of the separating apparatus 120 which itself is releasable from the remainder of the chassis 110 for emptying, is the part of the main body against which the wand 160 is secured. Fittings located on the storage tube 165 of the wand assembly 160 cooperate with complementary fittings on the upper surface of the separating apparatus 120 to retain the storage tube 165 in the stored position.
• the user When a user wishes to store the vacuum cleaner, the user brings the storage tube 165 of the wand assembly 160, in its fully retracted configuration, alongside the uppermost face of the main body 100 and locks the wand assembly 160 in position on the main body 100.
• the floor tool 40 can remain attached to the end of the wand assembly 160.
• the user then operates the release mechanism shown in Figure 6 by depressing the first arm 74a of the locking member 74 so as to rotate the main housing 50 of the tool into the storage position, as shown in Figure 10.
• the base of the floor tool 40 now lies alongside the rear surface of the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner.
• the floor tool 40 can rest alongside other tools 170 which are stored on the rear of the main body 100. It will be apparent that the range of movement of the floor tool which is permitted by the locking mechanism is matched to the angle through which the tool 40 needs to be rotated so as to allow the floor tool to lie alongside the main body 100 when the vacuum cleaner is to be stored.
• the vacuum cleaner is to incorporate the cleaning tool 99 shown in Figures 7 to 9, the barrel connection between the first pipe 83 and the housing 81 allows unrestricted movement between the operating position and a storage position.
• the nature of the barrel connection, incorporating the annular seal 89, provides a comparatively stiff connection and thus the floor tool 99 is less likely to 'flop' into the storage position when the wand assembly 160 is lifted away from the floor surface.
• a similar mechanism to that shown in Figure 6 can be incorporated into the barrel connection to provide that a release mechanism must be operated by a user before the tool 99 can be moved from an operating position to a storage position.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
• Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9958926

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (37)

Family Cites Families (21)

• 2003
  • 2003-05-29 GB GB0312282A patent/GB2402047B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-05-21 CN CNB2004800134284A patent/CN100493434C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-05-21 EP EP04734276A patent/EP1628561A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-05-21 AU AU2004243218A patent/AU2004243218B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-05-21 CA CA002527423A patent/CA2527423A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-05-21 WO PCT/GB2004/002198 patent/WO2004105569A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-05-21 JP JP2006508371A patent/JP4276260B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-05-21 US US10/557,482 patent/US20070174994A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-05-28 MY MYPI20042066A patent/MY136311A/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events