EP1737324B1 - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner, especially a floor-type vacuum cleaner, comprising a modularly designed housing that is provided with a stable chassis (2) which is embodied as an injection-molded plastic part for different vacuum cleaner variants, and a variant-specific cover (4) for the chassis (2), said cover (4) being configured as a deep-drawn plastic element. All functional subunits, e.g. for the switching on/off function, winding up of the cord, , are integrated in the chassis (2) while the cover (4) essentially encompasses only operator's controls for said functional subunits. The fact that the chassis (2) is embodied for different vacuum cleaner variants makes it possible to obtain a great variety of models while keeping the time and expenditures required for development low by selecting a special cover (4).

Description

The application relates to a vacuum cleaner, in particular a vacuum cleaner, as used in Hauhaltsbereich. Such a vacuum cleaner usually includes a mobile on the floor vacuum cleaner housing, in which the individual technical functional components are arranged. In the housing can usually insert a suction hose, which is typically connected via a suction pipe with an end suction nozzle.

Not least because of fierce competition, product cycles have significantly shortened in recent years and the market requires new models or variants at shorter and shorter intervals. This results in high demands on the development of new models. On the one hand, the development time must be shortened. Due to the shorter product cycles, on the other hand, the development costs for the respective model must be kept low.

Since a canister vacuum cleaner is also a device subject to high mechanical stress, conventional canister vacuum cleaners have a housing designed as a plastic injection-molded part, which is usually composed of a plurality of sprue-cast parts. For plastic injection molding complex and therefore very expensive injection molding tools are required, the production of which is both very time-consuming and very cost-intensive. Since even minor design changes require a new injection molding tool, even comparatively minor model changes are very time-consuming and costly.

A well known vacuum cleaner is in US-A-5 898 971 described.

The invention has for its object to provide a vacuum cleaner, in particular vacuum cleaner, which allows short development times with relatively low development costs.

The object is achieved by a vacuum cleaner, in particular vacuum cleaner with the features according to claim 1. The key point here is the fact that the vacuum cleaner on a modular Housing concept based, with a consistent for a variety of different vacuum cleaner variants or models consistent chassis and a shaping both the appearance and the external shape model or variant-specific cover, which can also be referred to as a cover. The housing is therefore at least two parts, consisting of the chassis and the cover, which covers the chassis preferably completely in the manner of a hood. About the cover, the variety of variants is formed.

It is of particular importance that the variant-independent chassis has a sufficient intrinsic stability with regard to the necessary mechanical stability and, in particular, is designed as a plastic injection molded part and, in contrast, that the variant-specific cover is a plastic deep-drawn part. A plastic deep-drawn part has clear advantages over a molded plastic part in terms of development times and development costs. Because for the formation of a plastic thermoforming element namely only the provision of a negative mold is required, which is compared to an injection molding tool significantly cheaper and also much faster to produce. About the negative-form, for example, several millimeters thick plastic film is pulled under the action of heat to form the cover, so that the film after cooling takes the appropriate positive form.

Another special advantage of thermoforming technology is the almost unlimited possibility of surface design, as the plastic films can achieve almost any surface effect. In contrast, in a plastic injection-molded part only very limited surface design options are given.

With such a modular housing concept consisting of an injection-molded chassis and a thermoforming cover can be formed by varying the cover both in terms of their shape and in terms of their surface design different vacuum cleaner variants quickly and inexpensively.

A vacuum cleaner usually has several technical functional assemblies, which in their entirety make up the overall functionality of the vacuum cleaner. These technical function modules are arranged in a stable chassis. About the function modules in particular the functions on / off, cable winding, electronic control / monitoring, air filtration, exhaust air ducting, dust accumulation, storage of auxiliary or replacement elements, such as special nozzles, and in particular the provision of the suction power via a motor formed. Furthermore, at least for some of these functional groups externally accessible controls are arranged. These are, for example, a button or probe element for switching on / off the vacuum cleaner, a further probe element for operating the cable winder, a controller for an electronic Saugkraftregelung, a filter and / or a vacuum cleaner bag change indicator and an indicator for the set suction. In addition to these controls at least one exhaust port is provided to the outside in the housing.

In order to prevent mechanical overloading of the cover, no further housing parts or other functional elements, such as separate operating elements, are fastened or mounted on the cover in an expedient further development. Accordingly, no bearing or retaining elements are arranged on the cover. Housing parts which are subjected to a mechanical load, such as a housing flap or a housing chamber, are completely arranged in the chassis or attached thereto. The cover is therefore not intended and designed to absorb mechanical forces as a whole. The externally accessible controls can be assigned to the cover. In this case, there is the possibility that the cover itself forms an operating element, wherein this is exposed to only a small mechanical stress, for example by a force exerted on this control element force is absorbed by the chassis. Furthermore, patch panels or in an opening of the cover separately used controls, such as a button or a control knob or the like may be provided. It is crucial that the technical functional elements assigned to the individual functional modules are integrated in the chassis or fastened / mounted on the chassis, or that at least the forces occurring during operation by manual actuation are absorbed by the chassis.

In preferred developments, in this case the chassis is constructed such that the position of the individual control elements or the exhaust opening over a wide range is variably selectable, and at the same time the position of the essential technical functional components, such as the switching mechanism for on / off or a retractor or Lever mechanism for automatically winding the cable in the chassis, each arranged at a predefined place. With the housing concept, it is therefore provided that, with the position of the functional components of the individual functional assemblies within the chassis remaining the same, the position of the operating element on the cover can be varied at least over a wide range. As a result, a significant additional model differentiation can be achieved only by a corresponding design of the cover.

For this purpose, an actuating mechanism is arranged for the function on / off and cable winder, namely a switching mechanism with electrical switch or a lever mechanism for a cable drum, which can be actuated from different positions.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided in the chassis, a large-area upwardly open exhaust duct, which is covered by the cover, which has an exhaust port with compared to the exhaust duct lower flow area. The exhaust air opening covers only a part of the large-area exhaust air duct. The exhaust port can therefore be positioned variably. Also, multiple exhaust ports of different designs can be easily provided.

According to an expedient development is also provided that the chassis has a base body and a lid, which has a plurality of recesses at different positions for each of the accessible via the cover function modules. The respective function module is accessible via the individual recesses. By virtue of this cover, therefore, the variability with regard to the positioning of the operating elements initially remains, at the same time discrete positions being defined. One advantage of the lid, which is in particular designed to be stable as an injection-molded part, is, inter alia, that the provision of the individual Recesses a mechanically resilient support or abutment surface is formed, which receives, for example, the force exerted on the controls pressure forces or is used for locking of controls or intermediate elements.

Preferably, in each case one of the respective functional assembly associated recess, an intermediate element is inserted, in particular snapped, which determines the position of an externally accessible control element and transmits an actuation of the control element to the function module. The intermediate element is thus arranged, for example, between the switching mechanism and a button integrated in the cover and transmits the transmitted switching pressure to the switching mechanism. Alternatively, the intermediate element, for example, an electronic functional component for electronic control or monitoring of the functions of the vacuum cleaner. In particular, this electronic functional component is a printed circuit board with electronics integrated thereon. This circuit board is electrically connected for example via a corresponding cable set and a suitable connector. This electronic functional component is assigned to an externally accessible control panel, which in addition to particular electronic displays also has a regulator for the suction power regulation.

A vacuum cleaner usually has a plurality of closable with a housing flap housing chambers, for example for a filter, a nozzle compartment, a dust bag chamber or the like, which are accessible from outside. Since these are mechanically loaded parts, for example, due to the necessary stability of a hinge, they are integrated according to an expedient development in the externally accessible area of the chassis, which is not covered by the cover. This is especially the bottom side of the vacuum cleaner and at least in part the back of the chassis. In contrast, these housing chambers are accessible in conventional vacuum cleaners via a flap in the housing cover and partly the housing chambers are even partially integrated in the cover.

Conveniently, a housing flap for closing a housing chamber is provided in the new housing concept on the bottom side of the chassis. The housing chamber is in this case in particular a dust bag chamber. The arrangement of a dust bag chamber accessible from below has the significant advantage that the dust bag can be removed from the chamber opposite its inlet opening. In the inlet opening of the dust bag usually engages either the neck of the suction hose or another nozzle, from which the dust bag must be removed. In conventional vacuum cleaners a change of the dust bag usually requires first removing the suction hose. This is not necessary in the concept with the dust bag chamber accessible from the bottom side, since the dust bag can be easily pulled off to the rear of the neck. This results in an overall improved user friendliness. To replace the dust bag, the vacuum cleaner must be brought only in its vertical order position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, a variant-specific housing molding is arranged between the chassis and the cover, which defines the position of the respective operating element or the exhaust port. This housing molding therefore provides between the actual chassis, which holds the variety of variants, and the cover. For example, formed on the housing molding in the manner of snaps elements formed, which serve to transmit a pressure exerted by the control element on the switching mechanism. Also, the exhaust port is preferably defined by the housing molding. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding flow channel is formed in the housing molding or the housing molding forms together with the upwardly open exhaust duct of the chassis a flow channel to an exhaust port out. The housing molding therefore assumes a technical mediating role between the cover and the individual functional modules.

Preferably, in this case, the housing molding is formed as a plastic thermoforming element, so that it is comparatively inexpensive to produce compared to a plastic injection molded part. Since the housing molding is variant specific, is its Design as a deep-drawing element is an essential component in order to keep the development costs and times of a new model low.

To define the individual positions of the operating elements or the exhaust air opening, the housing molding is preferably formed from a basic molded part suitable for a plurality of vacuum cleaner variants in that the position of the exhaust air opening is determined, for example, by cutting out a partial area. The basic molding therefore has several prepared fields for the control buttons and for the exhaust port, in each case by appropriate cutting or milling the desired position of the control button or the control element or the exhaust port is set. Conveniently, the housing molding has a substantially adapted to the cover shape and is attached to the underside thereof. The cover therefore forms a common structural unit with the housing molding. The adapted shape and the attachment to the cover overall improves the rigidity and strength of the cover.

In an expedient embodiment, the cover as a control element on a Tastzone, to the formation of a running in partial areas around the edge of the Tastzone slot inserted into the cover, in particular milled. The touch zone is thus formed by a portion of the cover itself, the Tastzone is connected, for example, only at one base side with the rest of the cover, so that a kind of resiliently held tongue is formed with a free end.

In order to avoid upward bending of the touch zone, the housing molding preferably has at least one resistance nose which extends over the slot and partially covers an opposite underside of the cover. If the touch zone is bent upwards, then due to the attachment of the housing molding to the cover, this resistance nose strikes the covers from below, thus preventing upward bending.

Due to the configuration of the cover as a plastic thermoforming element, the fixing mechanisms usually provided for fastening two plastic injection-molded parts are not easily transferable to the cover. To one in particular to allow tool-free attachment and attachment without further aids such as screws or the like, is provided according to a preferred embodiment, that the cover is clamped onto the chassis. In order to ensure a reliable and secure clamping attachment, the chassis has in this case on protruding outward clamping webs. These have a slope which increases towards the bottom of the chassis zusehens, so that when slipping the cover on the chassis, the cover is slightly bent until a press fit is achieved. By the slope at the same time an automatic centering of the cover is achieved in relation to the chassis. The clamping webs are therefore circumferentially evenly distributed at least around a partial area, in particular the front portion of the chassis.

Since, due to the configuration as a deep-drawing element, the cover has only a thin and thus comparatively sharp-edged end face, it is preferably provided that the cover has an encircling clamping region at the end with which it is inserted into the chassis. This has for this purpose a raised edge, so that between the clamping webs and the edge in the direction of the bottom tapering clamping gap is formed, in which the clamping region of the cover is clamped. The particular visually unsightly sharp-edged end of the cover is therefore not visible from the outside. Conveniently, the cover is designed such that the cover and the chassis are flush with each other. For this purpose, the clamping region of the cover is slightly retracted, ie a step is formed towards the clamping region with which the cover rests on the edge of the chassis in the final assembly position. Since different material thicknesses may be present in the clamping area for different cover variants due to the deep drawing, secure clamp fastening in an expedient refinement provides that the height of the clamping region is adjusted by a post-processing operation, in particular by cutting, such that secure clamping in the clamping gap achieved. The height is thus selected so that the cover extends so far into the clamping gap with its clamping area until the width thereof, which decreases due to the obliquely formed clamping webs, corresponds at most to the thickness of the cover in the clamping area.

In order to counteract in particular a peeling up the cover is expediently connected to the rear of the chassis via a plug connection with this. The connector is in this case made possible in particular via knobs and corresponding thereto trained pin. So that these moldings, such as knobs or cones, do not disturb the outer appearance of the cover, these are expediently arranged on the housing molding. The attachment is therefore indirectly via the housing molding.

For further attachment also in the front portion of the vacuum cleaner, a pipe socket is additionally provided, which is inserted into a provided in the cover suction or hose opening and connected to the chassis. The cover is thus clamped in the region of the hose opening between the pipe socket and the chassis.

In order to further increase the variety of variants and the design possibilities, according to an embodiment, the cover at least partially covers the rear side of the chassis. The cover is therefore designed as a whole in the manner of a hood, which covers the chassis completely - except for the raised edge. Preferably, it is further provided that the cover forms a base on which the vacuum cleaner, when it is brought into its vertical order position, supported on the ground.

In vacuum cleaners usually a device is provided, via which the vacuum cleaner tube or the suction nozzle on the housing is usually attachable by plugging. By this device, the suction pipe can be fastened together with the suction nozzle, for example, during a break on the vacuum cleaner, so that the suction pipe is in an upright position and not stored on the floor and later taken up by this again. A distinction is made between the so-called parking position, in which the vacuum cleaner is oriented in its normal horizontal working position and the so-called order position in which the vacuum cleaner is placed upright on its rear surface. In conventional vacuum cleaners is for the ordinal position usually on the bottom side of the vacuum cleaner an insertion and provided for the parking position at the back of the housing another insertion. A changeover of the vacuum cleaner from the parking position to the order position or vice versa therefore requires a repositioning of the suction tube.

Another aspect, which can be realized in particular independently of the housing concept with the modular structure, is therefore based on the object to enable an improved parking or order system.

To solve this subtask, a holding element for a suction pipe or a suction nozzle is provided, which is arranged laterally for the formation of both the horizontal parking position and the vertical order position and rotatably supported in relation to the housing. This embodiment is therefore based on providing only a common holding element for both the parking position and for the order position, so that when changing between the two positions, a repositioning of the suction tube is not required. This training of a uniform, shared parking and organizing system is achieved here by the lateral arrangement on the one hand and by the rotatable mounting of the retaining element on the other. In order to ensure sufficient mechanical resistance, the retaining element is in this case at least indirectly connected to the chassis.

According to an expedient development, the retaining element is arranged such that it occupies the same distance both to a vertical device positioning surface and a horizontal device positioning surface, so that the vacuum cleaner can be easily rotated from the park to the order position, without the suction nozzle, for example, due blocks too short a distance to the floor and is pushed out of the holding element.

To further ensure that the suction nozzle is supported in both positions on the floor, it is expediently provided that a footprint of the suction nozzles is in both positions in a plane with the vertical or horizontal device operating surface. The distance of the holding element to the two device operating surfaces therefore corresponds to the distance between the holding element to the footprint of the suction nozzle. Since the suction nozzle is supported in every position on the floor, the mechanical forces acting on the holding element, in particular lever forces, are kept low.

In order to enable a simple rotation of the parking position into the order position about an at least imaginary housing rotational axis, it is preferably provided that this housing rotational axis coincides with the axis of rotation of the retaining element.

According to a particularly expedient development, the vacuum cleaner on a wheel accessible from the outside, on which the holding element is arranged. The rotatability of the holding element is given here in an advantageous manner by the rotation of the wheel. The retaining element is thus firmly connected to the wheel. Conveniently, in this case, the wheel forms both a part of the vertical and the horizontal device operating surface, d. H. the vacuum cleaner is supported at least partially on the wheel both in the parked and in the closed position. The wheel axle in this case at the same time forms the axis of rotation of the vacuum cleaner from the parking position to the order position and is therefore expediently at the same time the axis of rotation of the holding element. The use of the wheel with the integrated holding element has the decisive advantage that a very simple and easy change from the parking to the order position is made possible because the vacuum cleaner are pivoted only at its front end on a handle from the horizontal to the vertical position without having to be lifted. The vacuum cleaner is turned around the wheel, which is firmly on the ground. When changing from the park to the order position, therefore, only a movement of the vacuum cleaner housing takes place and the suction tube remains in its once occupied upright position.

In order to turn off the intake manifold into an at least largely vertical position at all times, regardless of the respective wheel position, the wheel has a plurality of holding elements circumferentially. Preferably, these are formed in a simple manner as insertion in the wheel.

• das Konzept der gemeinsamen Park- und Halteposition mit dem drehbar gelagerten Halteelement,
• die Ausgestaltung der Abdeckung als Standfuß für die vertikale Ordnungsposition des Staubsaugers,
• die Ausgestaltung der Befestigung der Abdeckung am Chassis,
• die Ausgestaltung der Tastzone sowie
• das Konzept der insbesondere von der Bodenseite her zugängliche Gehäusekammern, insbesondere die von der Bodenseite her zugängliche Staubbeutelkammer.

The laid down in the claims and described here different design elements complement each other in a particularly advantageous manner to a single Overall housing concept which, with comparatively low development costs and a comparatively short development time, enables a high variety and model diversity even within the shortest development cycles. However, some of the aspects described herein are applicable to conventional vacuum cleaners regardless of the modular housing concept. These are in particular

• the concept of the common parking and holding position with the rotatably mounted holding element,
• the design of the cover as a stand for the vertical order position of the vacuum cleaner,
• the embodiment of the attachment of the cover to the chassis,
• the design of the Tastzone as well
• the concept of especially accessible from the bottom side housing chambers, in particular the accessible from the bottom side dust bag chamber.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht in Überblendtechnik eines Bodenstaubsaugers zur schematischen Darstellung wichtiger Funktionsbaugruppen des Staubsaugers,

Fig. 2

ein Chassis-Grundkörper sowie eine an der Bodenseite angeordnete Gehäuseklappe in einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 3

den Chassis-Grundkörper gemäß Fig. 2 ergänzt um eine Chassis-Abdeckung,

Fig.4

das Chassis gemäß den Fig. 2 und 3 mit seitlich angebrachten Rädern und einem Chassis-Deckel,

Fig. 5A,B

eine als Haube ausgebildete Abdeckung sowie ein dazugehöriges Gehäuseformteil, die jeweils als Tiefziehteile ausgebildet sind , jeweils in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 6

der endmontierte Staubsauger,

Fig. 7A,B

eine Aufsicht auf die Oberseite eines Staubsaugers in Überblendtechnik zur Illustration der Variantenvielfalt,

Fig. 8

eine ausschnittsweise Schnittdarstellung in einem Befestigungsbereich zwischen der Abdeckung und dem Chassis

Fig. 9

eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung im Bereich einer Tastzone der Abdeckung,

Fig. 10A

eine Seitendarstellung eines Staubsaugers in seiner aufrechten Ordnungsposition mit einer von der Bodenseite her über eine Gehäuseklappe verschließbaren Staubbeutelkammer,

Fig. 10B

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Staubsaugers in aufrechter Ordnungsposition mit einer weiteren an der Bodenseite aufgeklappten Gehäuseklappe für die Aufnahme eines Filterelements,

Fig. 11A

eine Ansicht des Staubsaugers in seiner Ordnungsposition mit seitlich in einem Rad eingesteckter Saugdüse,

Fig. 11 B

den Staubsauger in seiner horizontalen Parkposition mit seitlich im Rad eingesteckter Saugdüse,

Fig. 12A,B

den Radaufbau in perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellungen von zwei Seiten.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. It shows in schematic and partially highly simplified representations

Fig. 1

a side view in cross-fading of a vacuum cleaner for schematic representation of important functional components of the vacuum cleaner,

Fig. 2

a chassis base body and arranged on the bottom side housing flap in a perspective exploded view,

Fig. 3

the chassis main body according to FIG. 2 supplemented by a chassis cover,

Figure 4

the chassis according to FIGS. 2 and 3 with laterally mounted wheels and a chassis lid,

Fig. 5A, B

a hood formed as a cover and an associated housing molding, which are each formed as deep-drawn parts, each in a perspective view,

Fig. 6

the final-mounted vacuum cleaner,

Fig. 7A, B

a top view of the top of a vacuum cleaner in cross-fading technique to illustrate the variety of variants,

Fig. 8

a partial sectional view in a mounting area between the cover and the chassis

Fig. 9

a schematic cross-sectional view in the region of a touch zone of the cover,

Fig. 10A

a side view of a vacuum cleaner in its upright ordnungsposition with a closable from the bottom side via a housing flap dust bag chamber,

Fig. 10B

a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner in the upright order position with another hinged on the bottom side housing flap for receiving a filter element,

Fig. 11A

a view of the vacuum cleaner in its order position with laterally inserted in a wheel suction nozzle,

Fig. 11B

the vacuum cleaner in its horizontal parking position with laterally inserted in the wheel suction nozzle,

Fig. 12A, B

the wheel assembly in perspective exploded views of two sides.

In the figures, like-acting parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

According to FIG. 1, a canister vacuum cleaner has an at least two-part housing, comprising a chassis 2 designed as a stable plastic injection-molded part, which is covered by a hood 4, which is hood-like and designed as a plastic thermoforming element. The cover 4 covers the base of the chassis 2 almost completely and covers in particular the top, the side surface and at least part of the back 6 of the chassis 2. On the bottom 8 of the vacuum cleaner, a housing flap 10 is arranged, which closes a dust bag chamber 12. The housing further has a circumferential carrying handle 14, which forms part of the chassis 2. In the rear region of the vacuum cleaner, this rear wheels 16 and on its bottom side 8 in the front region on another roller 18. Within the housing, in particular within the chassis 2, a plurality of functional assemblies are arranged, each comprising a plurality of functional components can. In Fig. 1, some of the functional components are shown schematically. These are: In the rear region of the vacuum cleaner, a motor 20, a cable drum 22, a motor filter 24, a trained as a so-called HEPA filter exhaust filter 26, an electronic functional component 28, a control element 30 z. B. for on / off switching of the motor or for winding a cable on the cable drum 22 and a reaching into the dust bag chamber 12 pipe socket 34, to which a so-called filter bridge 36 connects.

As can already be seen from this illustration, all functional components are integrated within the chassis 2 or arranged within the chassis 2. The cover 4 serves only as a design object and is designed as a non-supporting housing part. The cover 4 is assigned only the operating element 30, to which no or only a small mechanical load is exerted.

2, the chassis 2 includes a chassis body 38, which may also be referred to as a chassis body. At the bottom of the housing flap 10 is arranged. In the main body 38 a plurality of chambers are formed, in which according to FIG. 2, the motor 20 and the cable drum 22 are arranged. On a side part of the main body 38, a hub 40 is formed, on which the rear wheel 16 is placed. In the front area, in which the main body 38 surrounds the dust bag chamber 12, which is not visible here, an inlet nozzle 42 extending into the dust bag chamber 12 is provided.

On the side part of the base body 38, clamping webs 44 projecting perpendicularly from the side wall are formed in the region of the bottom. These are arranged at regular intervals around the front part of the main body 38. The clamping webs 44 in this case range from a wheelhouse wall 45 for the rear wheel 16 to the opposite wheelhouse wall 45 for the further rear wheel 16. The clamping webs 44 are chamfered at their upper end as shown in FIG. 2 to form a curve, so that they are in the direction of the ground towards the outside. Opposite the clamping webs 44, the base body 38 has a raised peripheral edge 46. The clamping webs 44 and the peripheral edge 46 serve here for fastening the cover 4, as will be explained in more detail in particular in connection with FIG. 8.

In the illustration according to FIG. 3, a chassis cover 48, which is likewise embodied as a plastic injection molded part and which covers the motor 20 and the cable drum 22, is arranged on the base body 38. For switching the motor on / off, a switching mechanism 50 is provided which is designed in the manner of a pushbutton switch. Opposite on the side of the cable drum 22, a lever mechanism 52 is provided with a lever for actuating the cable drum 22. For actuating both the switching mechanism 50 and the lever mechanism 52, an actuating mechanism 54 is provided in each case. This is formed from a functional element extending in the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner, which is designed in such a way that a pressure exerted on the elongate functional element at any point is transmitted to the switching mechanism 50 or lever mechanism 52 such that the switching mechanism 50 or lever mechanism 52 is pressed. By the actuating mechanism 54, the two mechanisms 50,52 can be activated from different positions. The actuating mechanism 54 is thus formed in the manner of a backdrop and the chassis 2 forms a slotted guide.

The chassis cover 48 further includes an exhaust chamber 58 into which the air sucked in by the engine 20 via the suction port 42 is expelled. The exhaust chamber 58 therefore forms an exhaust duct, which is open at the top over a large area.

As shown in FIG. 4, a chassis cover 60 is provided, which closes the base body 38 and in particular the chassis cover 48 at the top.

The lid 60 has a plurality of recesses 62a, b, c, wherein the recesses 62a, b respectively of the actuating mechanism 54 for the switching mechanism 50 and the lever mechanism 52 are assigned. The recesses 62 c are compared to the recesses 62 a, b arranged substantially larger area and above the exhaust chamber 58. The individual recesses 62a, b, c define different positioning possibilities for intermediate elements 64a, b, c, which are inserted into the recesses 62a, b, c, in particular locked. In the exemplary embodiment, the intermediate elements 64a, b are designed to actuate the switching mechanism 50 in the manner of press studs.

The further intermediate element 64c is latched in one of the recesses 62c and serves, in particular, for receiving the electronic functional component 28, in particular thus for receiving a printed circuit board with integrated electronic functions. Alternatively, the intermediate element 64c is already designed as the electronic functional component 28. Due to the placement of the intermediate element 64c, therefore, one of the exhaust air chamber 58 associated recesses 62c is closed. The recesses 62 c are therefore used both for determining the position of the electronic functional component 28 and the position of the exhaust air opening 70.

Est by the placement of the intermediate elements 64, a, b, c is therefore the position of the cover 4 from the outside accessible controls for the individual functional modules set, ie for the on / off function or the function of the automatic cable winder or for the function, for example the electronic suction control. The complete chassis structure, including the chassis cover 60, therefore still provides all the variability with regard to the positioning of the operating elements 74, 76 and an exhaust air opening 70 (see Fig. 5), from which the exhaust air escapes to the outside.

On the chassis 2 of FIG. 2 is then still a structural unit consisting of the cover 4 and a housing molding 66 as shown in FIGS. 5A, B placed. Both the housing molding 66 and the cover 4 are designed as plastic thermoforming elements. The housing molding 66 takes over a technical function in that it assumes an intermediary position between the chassis 2 and the cover 4.

To produce the thermoforming elements, a plastic film is pulled over a negative mold under the action of heat and thereby formed. Subsequently, the raw blank of this kind is further processed, in particular with regard to the cover 4 wheel openings 68, exhaust ports 70, a suction port 72 and an opening for the insertion of a regulator 74, for example, cut by milling.

The areas of the housing molding 66 that correspond to the exhaust air openings 70, the regulator 74 and the touch zones 76 of the cover 4 are identified by the same numbers, in each case supplemented by the letter a. The deep-drawn housing molding 66, which is also referred to as a deep-drawn technical part, is three-dimensionally shaped and has depressions, elevations, webs, etc., so that it has a relatively high overall stability.

To form the deep-drawn housing molding 66, a basic molding still to be machined is first produced, as shown in FIG. 5B. In the exemplary embodiment, the basic molding is already adapted specifically to the variant-specific cover 4. For this basic molding, the necessary openings for the exhaust air chamber 58 or for the intermediate element 64c are cut corresponding to the exhaust openings 70 and the opening for the regulator 74 at the corresponding positions 70a, 74a of the housing molding 66, which carries a printed circuit board in the final assembled state.

The housing molding 66 is adapted to the extent of the shape of the cover 4, as the housing molding 66 with its peripheral edge and with its circumferential position 70a web on the cover 4 strikes and is firmly connected to this for forming the common unit, for example by gluing .. The housing molding therefore forms approximately the basic shape and in particular the curvature of the cover 4 after.

The housing molding 66 assumes a technical function, in particular with regard to the exhaust air duct, since an exhaust air duct is formed toward the exhaust air openings 70 via the design of the housing molding 66. The exhaust openings 70 need not necessarily be arranged directly above the upwardly open exhaust chamber 58. The arrangement of the housing molding 66, therefore, a high variability in terms of the arrangement of the exhaust ports 70 is given.

As can also be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 5A, the cover 4 has two opposite touch zones 76 for the on / off function or for the cable rewinding. These trained on the type of touch elements Tastzonen 76 are created by the fact that on three sides of its edge, the cover 4 is severed, so that they form a kind of tongue, which communicates only with a base page with the rest of the cover 4. To the tactile zone 76 so a slot 78 is introduced on three sides. Corresponding to the touch zones 76, the positions 76a of the housing molding 66 are formed in the manner of pushbuttons, which are either elastically yielding, so that they transmit a pressure exerted on the touch zones to the intermediate elements 64a, b. Preferably, however, openings are likewise introduced at the positions 76a, so that the intermediate elements 64a, b are actuated directly via the touch zones 76.

In particular, with regard to an attractive design is in the embodiment of FIG. 5A between the cover 4 and the housing molding 66 is still an exhaust grille 80 is inserted, which, for example, a metallic impression or is made of metal.

The illustration of FIG. 6 shows the vacuum cleaner in its final mounted position. Due to the high variability provided by the chassis 2, it is possible to form a wide variety of design variants with the same chassis 2, which can differ significantly with regard to their shape and their appearance. To illustrate the variety of variants, FIGS. 7A and 7B are attached thereto which, in a plan view in the manner of a cross-fading technique, shows different elements of the cover 4 on the one hand and the functional elements integrated in the chassis 2 on the other hand. According to FIG. 7A, it is provided here that the touch zones 76 and a control panel 82 for the electronic functional component 28 are arranged in the front area and a plurality of exhaust openings 70 in the rear area, whereas in the variant according to FIG. 7B - with the same chassis 2 - the individual exhaust openings 70 in the front area and the touch zones 76 and the control panel 82 are arranged in the rear area. The controller 74 shown in FIG. 5 cooperates with the control panel 82, for example for electronic suction power regulation.

The attachment of the cover 4 on the chassis 2 is explained in more detail below, in particular in connection with FIGS. 4, 6 and 8.

A central function for the attachment of the cover 4, the clamping webs 44 a. In Fig. 8, the area of the clamping webs 44 is shown enlarged in a Querschnittsdarsellung. It can be seen that the clamping webs 44 by their bevel noticeably extend outwards, so that a formed between the raised edge 46 of the chassis 2 and the respective clamping web 44 clamping gap 84 increasingly tapers, so that with a clamping portion 86 in the Clamping space 84 inserted cover 4 is securely and reliably clamped. In this case, the cover 4 has a step 88 towards the clamping region 86, so that the raised edge 46 is flush with the wider cover 4. The distance between the step 88 and the lower edge of the clamping region 86, ie the height of the clamping region 86, is selected such that the clamping region 86 is securely clamped in the clamping gap 84 and not just loose rests.

For fastening the cover 4, mounting lugs 90 (see Fig. 4) are further formed on the cover 56 of the chassis 2, which engage in complementary thereto formed knob receptacles in the housing molding 66 (not shown here) in the manner of a plug-in.

For fastening the cover 4 in the front region, a third type of fastening is provided, in which case the relevant part of the pipe socket 34 (see FIG. Namely, the pipe socket 34 is preferably connected to the suction port 42 of the chassis 2 (see Fig. 4) by a snap connection, so that the cover 4 is clamped and thus held between the pipe socket 34 and the chassis 2. The arrangement of the pipe socket 34 also has the advantage that the mechanically loaded area of the suction opening 72 is well protected by the pipe socket 34.

When mounting the cover 4, this is first pushed from behind to form the connector on the mounting studs 90 and then after clamped down into the clamping gap 84. Third, the pipe socket 34 is inserted and connected to the chassis 2.

The touch zones 76 shown in FIG. 5 are designed as loose tongues which are held elastically only via the one base side. In order to prevent these, for example, willingly bent upward, at least one resistance nose 92 is provided as a securing element for each of the touch zones 76, which abuts against the underside of the cover 4, as shown schematically in a greatly simplified form in Fig. 9. The resistance nose 92 in this case forms a portion of the housing molding 66 connected to the cover 4 and projects beyond the slot 78.

A particularly advantageous aspect of the new housing concept, according to FIGS. 10A, 10B, is that housing chambers, in particular the dust bag chamber 12, but also a filter chamber 94, can be opened via housing flaps 10 which are accessible and closable from the bottom side 8 , In particular, with regard to a change of a dust bag 96, this allows a particularly simple replacement of the dust bag 96. That is only necessary to bring the vacuum cleaner in its vertical order position to open the housing door 10 and the dust bag in the direction of arrow of Fig. 10A to the rear In the exemplary embodiment, a handle 98 is provided for this purpose. The dust bag 96 is thus withdrawn opposite the suction opening 72 simply to the rear of the suction nozzle 42 or pipe socket 34. A previous removal of an inserted into the pipe socket 34 suction hose is hereby contrary to the usual housing concepts not required in which a dust bag change from above.

A further special aspect is to be seen in the fact that a common, uniform parking and order system is realized, as shown with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B. Decisive for the uniform, common design of these two systems is that the holder for a suction nozzle 100, which is attached to the end of a suction pipe 102, laterally on the vacuum cleaner and is rotatably arranged relative to the housing. By this configuration, it is namely possible to provide a common support for both the parking and the order position. The suction tube 102 with the suction nozzle 100 is so with only one bracket both in the Park position with horizontal orientation of the vacuum cleaner (Fig. 11 B) and held in the order position with vertical vertical orientation of the vacuum cleaner (Fig. 11A).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11A, 11B, this holder is formed by the rear wheels 16, so that the rotatable mounting of the holder is realized by the anyway existing storage of the rear wheels 16. In this case, the rear wheels 16 distributed over its circumference near its tread to a plurality of insertion openings 104 into which a corresponding tongue 106 of the suction nozzle 100 can be inserted. The insertion openings 104 therefore form a plurality of holding elements for the suction nozzle 100. Regardless of the wheel position is therefore always a vertical orientation of the suction tube 102 possible.

When parked in the horizontal park position, the vacuum cleaner stands on the floor with a horizontal implement footprint 108A. The horizontal footprint 108A is in this case formed by a respective portion of the running surface of the wheels 16 and the bottom side 8 of the vacuum cleaner, in particular the roller 18 (see Fig. 1). When parked in the vertical order position, the vacuum cleaner stands on the floor with a vertical panel 108B. This is formed by a respective portion of the running surface of the wheels 16 and the back 6 of the vacuum cleaner. In particular, the cover 4 forms a pedestal 110 as part of the vertical device footprint 108B, as shown in the illustration of FIG. 10A. In order to form the base 110, the cover 4 in the exemplary embodiment is also drawn around the rear side 6 of the chassis 2 at least in a partial region.

In the exemplary embodiment, the wheels 16 are thus arranged such that they project beyond the housing both downwards and beyond the rear side 6. The particular advantage of this embodiment can be seen in that the part of the running surface of the rear wheel 16 which is opposite to the insertion opening 104. into which the suction nozzle 100 is inserted forms at least a portion of both the horizontal device seating surface 108A and the vertical appliance seating surface 108B. To change from the horizontal Park- in the upright Ordnungspostition the vacuum cleaner is therefore only needs to be rotated about the wheel axle 111. The wheel axle 111 thus falls with it the axis of rotation of the housing for rotation of the parked in the Ordnungspostition together and at the same time forms an axis of rotation for the support of the suction nozzle 100 for the pivotal mounting relative to the housing.

For the vertical order position shown in Fig. 11A, a further insertion opening 104 is additionally provided on the bottom side 8, which is formed at the same height as the uppermost insertion opening 104 of the rear wheel 16.

The basic wheel construction of the rear wheel 16 can be taken from FIGS. 12A, 12B. The wheel 16 has a stable wheel body 112, in its central opening bearing sleeves 114 are inserted on both sides, via which the wheel base body 112 is attached to the chassis 2. From the visible front of a Radblende 116 is snapped. The wheel main body 112 itself is designed to achieve the highest possible stability as a plastic injection-molded part and has on its rear side facing away from the Radblende 116 a plurality of radially extending struts 118 which are distributed uniformly around the circumference. The struts 118 project towards the wheel aperture 116 a portion over the tread. Furthermore, the front side of the wheel base body 112 is provided with a wheel disc 120, which is in particular integrally connected to the wheel base body 112. As a result of the struts 118 and the wheel disc 120 pulled forward over the running surface, a multiplicity of individual insertion openings 104 are thereby uniformly distributed around the circumference of the wheel 16. The wheel disc 120 acts in the manner of an abutment or counter stop for the tongue 106 of the suction nozzle 100. The insertion openings 104 are - as the figures can be seen - arranged in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the wheel 16. The struts 118 are formed inclined in their projecting portion of the tread to the wheel disc 120.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

chassis

4

cover

6

back

8th

bottom side

10

housing flap

12

Anther chamber

14

handle

16

rear wheels

18

role

20

engine

22

cable drum

24

motor filter

26

exhaust filter

28

electron. functional component

30

operating element

34

pipe socket

36

filter bridge

38

body

40

hub

42

suction

44

clamping web

45

wheelhouse wall

46

edge

48

Chassis cover

50

switching mechanism

52

lever mechanism

54

actuating mechanism

58

exhaust duct

60

cover

62a, b, c

recess

64a, b, c

intermediate element

66

Body molding

68

wheel opening

70

exhaust vent

72

suction opening

74

regulator

76

tactile zone

78

slot

80

Abluftgitter

82

Control panel

84

Clamping gap

86

clamping range

88

step

90

attachment nubs

92

resistance nose

94

filter chamber

96

anther

98

handle

100

suction nozzle

102

suction tube

104

insertion

106

tongue

108a, b

equipment footprint

110

stand

111

wheel axle

112

Wheel base body

114

bearing bush

116

Radblende

118

strut

120

wheel disc

Claims (33)

1. Vacuum cleaner, in particular floor-type vacuum cleaner, with a housing which is constructed in a modular manner and has a stable chassis (2) which is designed for different variants of vacuum cleaner and, in particular, as a plastic injection moulded part and is designed to accommodate functional subassemblies via which a plurality of the following functions: switching on/off, winding up of the cable, electronic control/monitoring, air filtering and exhaust air conduction are provided, and at least some of the functional subassemblies are assigned operating elements (30, 74, 76), which are accessible from the outside, or an exhaust air opening (70), the housing furthermore comprising an outer, variant-specific cover (4) for the chassis (2), which cover is designed as a plastic thermoformed element.
2. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, in which the cover (4) is a thermoformed plastic sheeting.
3. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the cover (4) is securely connected to the chassis (2) such that it cannot open.
4. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which no further housing parts are fastened to or mounted on the cover (4), and housing parts which are exposed to a mechanical loading, such as a housing flap (10) or a housing chamber (12, 94), are entirely arranged in the chassis (2) or fastened thereto.
5. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the functional subassemblies comprise functional components (50,52,58) which are arranged in the chassis (2) at predefined installation positions irrespective of the position of the operating elements (76) assigned to them or of the exhaust air opening (70) assigned to them.
6. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which an actuating mechanism (54) for at least one of the functions of switching on/off and winding up of the cable is arranged in the chassis (2) and is designed in such a manner that it can be actuated from different positions, so that the position and configuration of the operating elements (76) for the actuating mechanism (54) is variable for different covers (4).
7. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the chassis (2) has an exhaust air duct (58) which is open upward over a large area, and the cover (4) has an exhaust air opening (70), the flow area of which corresponds only to part of the open flow area of the exhaust air chamber (58), so that the position and configuration of the exhaust air opening (70) is variable for different covers (4).
8. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the chassis (2) has a basic body (38) and a lid (56) which has a plurality of cutouts (62a,b,c) at different positions for each of the functional subassemblies accessible via the cover (4), with the respective functional subassembly being accessible via the cutouts (62a,b,c).
9. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 8, in which an intermediate element (64a,b,c) is inserted in a respective cutout (62a,b,c) assigned to the respective functional subassembly, said intermediate element defining the position of an operating element (74,76) which is accessible from the outside, and transmitting an actuation of the operating element (74, 76) to the functional subassembly.
10. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which all of the housing chambers (12, 94) which are accessible from the outside and are closeable by a housing flap (10) are integrated in the chassis (2) in the region of the chassis (2) which is cover-free and is accessible from the outside.
11. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 10, in which the chassis (2) has, on its bottom side (8) facing away from the cover (4), at least one housing flap (10) for closing a housing chamber, in particular a dust bag chamber (12).
12. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which a variant-specific housing moulding (66) is arranged between the chassis (2) and the cover (4) and defines the position of a respective operating element (74, 76) and of the exhaust air opening (70).
13. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 12, in which the housing moulding (66) is designed as a plastic thermoformed element.
14. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the housing moulding (66) is formed from a basic moulding suitable for a plurality of variants of vacuum cleaner, and the specification for a variant and the defining of the position for the operating element (74, 76) and of the exhaust air opening (70) can be defined variably by means of a finishing step, in particular trimming of a subregion.
15. Vacuum cleaner according to one of Claims 12 to 14, in which the housing moulding (66) has a shape essentially matched to the cover (4), and is fastened to the lower side of the cover (4), so that it forms a common constructional unit with the latter.
16. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (66) has, as operating element, a touch zone (76), for the formation of which a slot (78) running in subregions around the edge of the touch zone (76) is inserted into the cover (4).
17. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 16 and one of Claims 12 to 15, in which the housing moulding (66) has at least one resistance lug (92) which extends over the slot (78) and partially covers an opposite lower side of the cover (4).
18. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (4) is clamped onto the chassis (2) and the chassis (2), for this purpose, has clamping webs (44) which protrude outward and have a slope, so that the clamping webs (44) protrude in an expanding manner in the direction of the floor.
19. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 18, in which the chassis (2) has a raised edge (46), so that a tapering clamping intermediate space (84) is formed between the clamping webs (44) and the edge (46), in which a clamping region (86) of the cover (4) is clamped.
20. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 19, in which, in order to form the clamping region (86), the cover (4) is retracted starting from a lower edge, with a step (88) being formed, so that the chassis (2) and the cover (4) merge flush into each other.
21. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 19 or 20, in which, after the thermoforming of the cover (4), the height of the clamping region (86) is selected as a function of the material thickness in the clamping region (86) by a finishing operation in such a manner that secure clamping in the tapering clamping intermediate space (84) is ensured.
22. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (4) is fastened to the chassis (2) on the rear side (6) thereof via a plug-in connection via studs (90) and corresponding receptacles.
23. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 22 and one of Claims 12 to 15, in which the plug-in connection is formed between the chassis (2) and the housing moulding (66) fastened to the cover (4).
24. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (4) has a suction opening (72) for a flexible suction tube, with, in order to fasten the cover (4), a flanged socket (34) being inserted into the suction opening (72) and being connected to the chassis (2), so that the cover (4) is clamped between the flanged socket (34) and the chassis (2).
25. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (4) at least partially covers the rear side (6) of the chassis (2).
26. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 25, in which the cover (4) forms a standing base (110) for a vertical arrangement position of the vacuum cleaner.
27. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, equipped with a parking and arrangement system, with a holding element (104) being provided for a suction pipe (102) or a suction nozzle (100), the holding element being arranged laterally to form both a horizontal parking position and a vertical arrangement position and being mounted rotatably in relation to the housing.
28. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 27, in which the holding element (104) is arranged in such a manner that it takes up the same distance both with respect to a vertical appliance set-down surface (108B) and a horizontal appliance set-down surface (108A).
29. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 27, in which the distance with respect to the appliance set-down surfaces (108A, B) is selected in such a manner that a set-down surface of the suction nozzle in both positions lies in a plane with the vertical or horizontal appliance set-down surface.
30. Vacuum cleaner according to one of Claims 27 to 29, which can be brought from the parking position into the arrangement position about an axis of rotation (111) which coincides with an axis of rotation (111) of the holding element (104).
31. Vacuum cleaner according to one of Claims 27 to 30, in which a wheel (16) which is accessible from the outside and has the holding element (104) is provided laterally.
32. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 31, in which the wheel (16) has a plurality of holding elements (104) peripherally.
33. Vacuum cleaner according to Claim 32, in which the wheel (16) has a plurality of insertion openings (104) peripherally in order to form the holding elements.

Images