EP2417300A1

EP2417300A1 - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP2417300A1
Application number: EP10713216A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lewis Green; Paul Chamberlain
Original assignee: Novax Ltd; Sheffield Hallam University
Current assignee: Novax Ltd; Sheffield Hallam University
Priority date: 2009-04-09
Filing date: 2010-04-09
Publication date: 2012-02-15
Also published as: GB2469313A; GB0906142D0; GB2469313B; WO2010115978A1

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner configured to pick-up relatively large debris matter such as cigarette butts and the like. A housing defines an internal chamber having an inlet through which air flows into the device. A tubular elongate duct open at both ends is mounted within the housing and extends from the region of the inlet. An air permeable material arranged as a debris collection bag is removably retained in position over the duct and extends from the region of the inlet so as to provide an entrapment zone around the region of the duct. Suitable airflow drive means are mounted within the housing and are configured to create a suction airflow through the device from the inlet to an exhaust outlet. The airflow stream passes through the air permeable material of the bag which acts to prevent the debris matter from passing downstream of the bag to the airflow drive means. The bag and the collected debris matter may then be removed from the cleaner and discarded.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and in particular, although not exclusively, to a vacuum cleaner having a debris collection bag formed from an air permeable material through which the suction airflow through the cleaner is capable of flowing.

The vast majority of vacuum cleaners, for domestic and commercial applications, are configured to remove and collect relatively small particles such as dust and dirt from a variety of different surfaces including carpets, wood, tiles, laminate and the like. Larger particles of debris rapidly clog these types of cleaners due to restrictions in the airflow path through the machines. Such restrictions typically include filters that are required to prevent the finer dust particles from passing downstream of the airflow path and into the drive motor. This would otherwise cause irreparable damage to the vacuum motor.

A separate category of vacuum cleaners has emerged configured specifically to pick-up relatively large particles such as, for example, animal excrement, vegetation matter and cigarette butts from surfaces such as roads, pavements and in particular entrances and walkways associated with buildings.

US 6,115,879 discloses a vacuum cleaner formed by a hollow canister divided into two compartments separated by a filter. The filter functions to separate larger debris such as cigarette butts from smaller dirt matter. An intake hose admits the debris laden air into the first compartment and an exhaust discharges this air from the second compartment. A motor and fan arrangement create the airflow through the inlet tube through the interior of the cleaner and ultimately out of the exhaust.

US 6,647,586 also discloses a portable vacuum cleaner intended to be carried on a shoulder or worn as a backpack. The vacuum cleaner has an extendable tube and nozzle arrangement so as to allow larger debris items to be sucked up into the vacuum cleaner body. A dust bag is located at an opposite end of the airflow stream through the device relative the inlet nozzle. GB 2440503 discloses a debris collector configured to create a suction airflow through an elongate duct extending from the main cleaner body. A fan assembly drives the airflow which is deflected into a collection container, located in close proximity to the fan assembly, to receive and store the collected debris matter. The collection container may be detachably removed from the vacuum cleaner for disposal of the collected debris.

GB 2416677 discloses a vacuum/blower device having a housing that defines a handle and an enclosure in which a powered fan is located. The housing comprises a telescopic wand that forms a hollow inlet duct. When operated in a vacuum mode, debris matter is drawn into the cleaner and is collected at a collection bag. The device may also be operated in a blowing mode to disburse debris matter at a pavement, driveway and the like.

However, a number of problems exist with conventional vacuum cleaners configured to collect and store relatively larger debris matter. Such machines generally exhibit relatively poor suction strength due to the mechanism by which the suction air stream flows through the device and into the debris collection region. Limitations are therefore imposed on the size and the weight of the debris material that may be collected by the vacuum cleaner.

Ease of cleaning is also a problem with conventional vacuum cleaners. A diverse range of debris matter may be collected and it is typically important to clean the machines to maintain hygiene for subsequent use, to ensure continued efficient operation and to avoid damage, for example, to the drive motor due to clogging. Moreover, it is also desirable to avoid excessive cleaning of the device following prolonged use. Conventional vacuum cleaners are typically arranged such that the debris collection zone and the initial airflow inlet are separated at opposite ends of the airflow path through the device. That is, the debris matter is carried by the airflow stream in contact with an extended pathway through the machine. This in turn necessitates excessive cleaning of the machine if hygiene is to be maintained.

There is therefore a need for a portable vacuum cleaner that addresses the above problems. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing defining an internal chamber having an inlet through which air can flow into the chamber; an elongate duct having open ends to allow airflow though the duct, the duct extending into the housing from a region of the inlet; an air permeable material arranged as a debris collection bag removably retained in position over the duct and one of the open ends positioned within the housing, the bag extending into the housing from a region of the inlet wherein an internal facing surface of the bag and an external surface of the duct along its length define a debris entrapment zone; and airflow drive means mounted at the housing and configured to create a suction air flow through the inlet, the duct and the air permeable material of the bag so as to draw debris into the entrapment zone, the drive means mounted downstream of the inlet, the duct and the bag relative to the airflow stream flowing through the cleaner from the inlet.

Reference to the internal facing surface of the bag includes the inner region of the bag positioned opposed to the outer surface of the hollow elongate duct, referred to as the external facing surface of the duct. These two opposed surfaces are arranged to be separated in a radial direction, relative to the longitudinal axis extending through the coaxial duct and bag by a separation distance of for example lcm to 20cm.

Preferably the cleaner further comprises a retainer to slidably locate the bag at the outer surface of the duct. The cleaner may further comprise seal means located between the bag and the duct, the seal means configured to seal the debris entrapment zone between the bag and the duct such that an airflow inlet into the entrapment zone is defined by one of the open ends of the duct and the airflow outlet of the entrapment zone comprises the air permeable material that defines the bag. Preferably the cleaner further comprises a mount to removably mount the duct at the housing. Optionally, the mount is positioned at a region of the inlet and comprises an opening to allow air into the open end of the duct positioned at the region of the inlet.

Preferably the duct and the air permeable material are configured so as to create a gap between the air permeable material and an open end of the duct positioned within the housing. Optionally, at least a region of the bag is substantially cylindrical. Preferably the bag comprises closure means operable to close the bag once detached from the duct such that debris is prevented from escaping from the bag once removed from the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably the air permeable material is fire or flame retardant. Optionally, the entire bag is formed from the air permeable material or only a portion of the bag is air permeable. Where only a portion of the bag is air permeable, such region(s) may be provided at one end (the innermost end within the housing) and/or the side walls of the bag, positioned opposed to the tubular duct, either at an upper region of the side walls remote from the inlet and/or a lower region towards the inlet. Preferably the collection bag is collapsible. Alternatively all or a portion of the bag may be rigid to facilitate removal and insertion of the bag at the housing.

Optionally, the bag may comprise means for the controlled release of a fragrance masking agent and/or an odour neutralising agent at the region of the bag. Such means may comprise a holder for a fragrance capsule or the like.

Preferably the drive means, the duct, the bag and the inlet are axially aligned relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably the cleaner further comprises a motor coupled to the airflow drive means, where the motor is optionally aligned axially with the drive means. Preferably, the airflow drive means comprises a fan arrangement. Optionally, the cleaner further comprises a power source to supply power to the motor. Optionally the power source may comprise at least one rechargeable battery.

Preferably the cleaner further comprises an extendable handle with which a user may grasp the vacuum cleaner. Optionally a wheel or roller ball may be provided at a lower region of the cleaner configured to contact the ground and allow the cleaner to be rolled over the ground. Optionally, the cleaner may further comprise a debris volume indicator and sensor arrangement configured to be responsive to a volume of debris collected in the entrapment zone and to provide an indication to a user that a predetermined volume of debris has been collected.

Optionally, the mechanism by which the bag is releasibly attached within the housing may be compatible with a docking station configured to engage the cleaner and automatically remove the bag and seal it when docked in position at the station. This would avoid the need for a user to handle the bags and reduce exposure to the collected debris matter.

Preferably the bag may comprise a support collar to provide structural integrity to the bag so as to prevent at least a region of the bag from collapsing when inserted or removed at the vacuum cleaner.

A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure Ia illustrates the vacuum cleaner carried by a person in a non-use position;

Figure Ib illustrates the vacuum cleaner of Figure Ia in use by a person to pick-up debris on the surface;

Figure 2a illustrates a front elevation view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure Ib;

Figure 2b illustrates a side elevation view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2a;

Figure 2c illustrates a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2b;

Figure 3 a illustrates a front elevation view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2c with the outer housing removed;

Figure 3b illustrates a side elevation view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 3a;

Figure 3c illustrates a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 3b;

Figure 4a illustrates a partial exploded perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure

2c; Figure 4b illustrates a partial exploded side elevation view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure

4a; Figure 5 illustrates schematically the internal components of the vacuum cleaner of Figure

4b in use to collect debris matter;

Figure 6 illustrates the outer housing of Figure 2c;

Figure 7a illustrates a partial exploded view of the inlet region of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 5;

Figure 7b illustrates a perspective view of the inlet region of the vacuum cleaner of Figure

7a;

Figure 8a illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having rigid projections; Figure 8b illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b comprising an elongate brush section;

Figure 8c illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b configured to extinguish burning debris matter prior to collection;

Figure 8d illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b comprising a part-circular brush section.

Figure 9a illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having a 'z- shaped' scraping tool;

Figure 9b illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having a 'sharp poker' scraping tool; Figure 9c illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having an

'planar elongate' scraping tool;

Figure 9d illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having a 'blunt poker' scraping tool;

Figure 9e illustrates an end attachment for the vacuum cleaner of Figure 7b having a 'part- circular' scraping tool.

The present vacuum cleaner is configured to remove relatively large debris matter, such as cigarette butts and the like from surfaces, typically outdoor surfaces such as pavements, building entrance ways, gutters and the like. Referring to Figure Ia, the cleaner 100, comprises a generally elongate configuration defined by an external housing 101 extending substantially the length of the vacuum cleaner. An inlet 102 is positioned at one end of the elongate housing 101 and an extendable handle 103 is positioned at an opposite end configured to be grasped by the hand 17 of a user illustrated in Figure Ib. In a non-use configuration as illustrated in Figure Ia, handle 103 is in a collapsed, non-extended state to reduce the overall length of the cleaner 100 to allow ease of transportation. In use, referring to Figure Ib, handle 103 is extended via an elongate extendible shaft 104 that is retracted from housing 101. Inlet 102 may then be positioned over debris matter 105 at surface 106 to be picked-up by cleaner 100 due to the generation of a suction airflow through the device 100.

Referring to Figures 2a to 2c, housing 101 is substantially cylindrical and is open at an inlet end 203. Two exhaust outlets 200 are positioned at an opposite end of housing 204 from which extendible shaft 104 projects. A battery power source 201 is mounted at housing end 204 and is configured to supply power to the vacuum cleaner to create the suction airflow through the device. Extension and retraction of handle 103 via shaft 104 is provided by an actuating button 205 mounted at handle 103. Depression of button 205 allows the user to extend and/or retract shaft 104 from a retaining sleeve 206 positioned at an external surface of housing 101.

To assist a user with maintaining the appropriate height of inlet 102 above surface 106 to pick-up debris matter 105, a roller ball 202 is mounted at the lowermost end of sleeve 206. Roller ball 202 is configured to contact surface 206 to allow cleaner 100 to glide over surface 106 via rotation of ball 202 within the end region of sleeve 206.

The end 203 of housing 101 comprises attachment means 204 configured to mate with corresponding attachment means provided on a mount 305 detailed with reference to Figures 3 a to 3 c which illustrates the internal components of cleaner 100 with housing 101 removed.

The internal components of cleaner 100 positioned within housing 101 comprise battery 202 mounted at an upper region of housing 101 at end 204 closest to handle 103. An air diffuser 302 is mounted in the axial direction between handle 103 and inlet 102 immediately below battery 201. A drive motor 301 is mounted below air diffuser 302 and coupled to and immediately above a fan and casing assembly 300. Fan 300, motor 301, diffuser 302 and battery 201 are mounted at sleeve 206 such that housing 101 may be detached from sleeve 206 and removed from cleaner 100 to expose the internal components, as required.

A collection bag 303 is positioned between fan assembly 300 and inlet 102 immediately below fan assembly 300. Bag 303 comprises an air permeable material, such as a woven textile that is flame and fire retardant. The material of bag 303 is configured to allow air to flow through the bag walls such that the suction airflow path through the cleaner 100 passes through bag material 303. Bag 303 is elongate having a shape profile corresponding to that of substantially elongate cylindrical duct 401. However, the length and diameter of bag 303 are greater than that of duct 401. Bag 303 is aligned coaxially with duct 401 and is secured to the rigid duct 401 at or towards the inlet end 501 of duct 401.

A mounting collar 304 is positioned at a lower end of bag 303 and provides a region by which bag 303 is mounted in position within cleaner 100. Bag 303 is maintained in position, during use, by mount 305 that is detachably engaged to housing 101 via a mating between castellated attachment means 306 extending from mount 305 and attachment means 204 extending from housing 101.

Referring to Figures 4a to 7b, an elongate duct 401 extends from inlet 102 into housing 101 towards housing end 204. The elongate tubular duct 401 extends over at least half of the length of housing 101 internally within bag 303. Bag 303 is slidably located in position over and above duct 401 via collar 304. A locking flange 400 extends radially from collar 304 and is configured to be sandwiched between mount 305 and attachment means 204 provided at the inlet end of housing 101. An annular seal 403 is positioned at an innermost annular surface of flange 400 and comprises a rubber material that sits in contact against the outer surface of tubular duct 401.

The air permeable material of bag 303 is a non-rigid collapsible woven textile, for example. The interface between collar 304 and bag material 303 is provided by a tapered region 402 to facilitate insertion and removal of bag 303 within housing 101. Referring to Figure 5, elongate duct 401, bag 303, fan assembly 300, motor 301, air diffuser 302 and battery 201 are all aligned coaxially with inlet 102 relative to a longitudinal axis extending centrally through housing 101. The inlet 102 of the cleaner 100 is formed by an aperture 402 in mount 305. An open lowermost end of duct 501 is aligned with aperture 402 so as to extend from inlet 102 within bag 303 towards fan assembly 300. The lowermost region of bag 303, at collar 304 is locked into position at mount 305 via flange 400 sandwiched between mount 305 and attachment means 204 of housing 101. A separation distance is provided between the innermost open end 502 of duct 401 and the innermost closed end 503 of bag 303. Additionally, a separation distance is also provided between the end region of bag 503 and fan assembly 300. Housing 101 further comprises opening 600 to allow the ready interchanging of battery 201 when the power source has been depleted.

Substantially the full length of duct 401 is located within housing 101 and bag 303. Accordingly, the outer cylindrical surface of duct 401 is positioned opposed to the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical bag 303 along its length to define an entrapment zone 510 that extends over the majority of the length duct 401. In particular, entrapment zone 510 may extend over half or approximately three quarters of the length of duct 401 within bag 303 relative to the longitudinal axis of duct 401 between the outlet end 502 and the region of attachment of bag 303 to the external surface of duct 401 by seal 403.

In use, with the drive motor 301 activated to drive fan 300, a suction airflow is created through cleaner 100. Air 500 is drawn into inlet 102 and travels in an upward direction 504 internally within elongate duct 401. The suction airflow stream 506 is then drawn through the air permeable material of bag 303 by fan 300. The airflow stream 508 then passes from the upstream position of bag 303 to the downstream position 508 relative to fan 300. The airflow stream 509 then passes out of the device via the exhaust apertures 200.

Accordingly, debris matter 105 located at surface 106 entrained within the suction airflow 500 is drawn inwardly through duct 401 and is deflected by the innermost region 503 of bag 303 to fall under gravity 507 to entrapment zone 510 defined between the outer surface of duct 401 and an inner surface of bag 303. The debris matter 507 then collects at the lower region of entrapment zone 510 and the suction airflow stream continues to flow through the device to entrain more debris matter within the airflow and trap it within bag 303. A suitable sensor and indicator arrangement (not shown) may be provided so as to provide an automated mechanism for monitoring the volume of debris matter 507 collected within bag 303. The indication could then be relayed to the user when the collection bag 303 is sufficiently full and ready for emptying. For example, a sensor could be mounted at an internal region of housing 101 and a light or other visual display could be mounted externally at housing 101 to alert a user.

As the entrapment zone 510 located between duct 401 and bag 303 is positioned a relatively short distance downstream of inlet 102, the contact between the debris matter 507 and the various internal components of the vacuum cleaner 100 is minimised. Minimal cleaning is therefore provided.

Bag 303 may be readily removed from cleaner 100, when full, by twisting mount 305 to release it from engagement with attachment means 204. The assembly of the bag 303, collar 304, flange 400, duct 401 and mount 305 are then capable of being extracted from housing 101 via opening 203. With mount 305 removed from outer surface of duct 401, the bag 303 and the collar assembly 304 are then slid over the external surface of duct 401 so as to extract duct 401 from the interior of bag 303. During this extraction, as seal 403 slides over the outer surface of duct 401, substantially over its full length from the attachment region at inlet 501 to and beyond outlet end 502, it wipes the external surface of duct 401 to clean any deposited debris matter. Accordingly, duct 401 is automatically cleaned every time bag 303 is removed from cleaner 100.

Closure means (not shown), such as a draw string or resiliency biased frame member, is provided at collar 304 and is configured to close and/or seal the open end of bag 303 once removed from the in-use position over and about duct 401. Once sealed, the debris matter 507 is prevented from escaping from bag 303 which may then be discarded.

The present vacuum cleaner 100 is configured to provide an enhanced airflow volume through the device. This is provided in part by the coaxial alignment of the inlet 101, duct 401, bag 303 and housing 101 and the passage of the airflow path through the air permeable material from which the bag is formed. This configuration maximises the available surface area through which the airflow stream passes so as to avoid clogging and to establish and maintain an optimised suction airflow through the device.

Figures 8a to 8d illustrate various attachment means for positioning at mount 305 and the lowermost region of housing 101. Referring to Figure 8a, elongate projections 802 extend from mount 305 and are configured to facilitate dislodging of debris matter 105 at surface 106. Similarly, referring to Figures 8a and 8d, an elongate frame 803 and a part circular frame 805 each comprise a brush section 804 configured to contact the ground 106. This configuration is particularly suitable to dislodge debris matter 105 trapped in crevices or cavities so as to allow it to be entrained in the suction airflow to be captured at collection bag 303 within cleaner 100. Referring to Figure 8c, a stamping extension 801 may be configured to extinguish flammable debris matter 105 such as cigarette butts and the like prior to entrainment in the suction airflow and into vacuum cleaner 100.

Figures 9a to 9e represent further attachment means that may be secured to the vacuum cleaner at the inlet region to facilitate dislodgement of debris matter 105 from the ground 106. The optional attachment means include a V shaped scraping tool 901, an elongate, curved spike 902, a substantially planar scraping tool 903, a domed poker 904 and a part- circular curved scraping tool 905. Each tool is attached to or extend from one end of a short barb 906 for housing within sleeve 206. The attachment tool is therefore secured in position at vacuum cleaner 100 via attachment and retention of barb 906 within sleeve 206. Suitable storage means (not shown) may be provided at housing 101 to store the various attachment tools 901 to 905 when not in use.

Claims

Claims:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing defining an internal chamber having an inlet through which air can flow into the chamber; an elongate duct having open ends to allow airflow though the duct, the duct extending into the housing from a region of the inlet; an air permeable material arranged as a debris collection bag removably retained in position over the duct and one of the open ends positioned within the housing, the bag extending into the housing from a region of the inlet wherein an internal facing surface of the bag and an external facing surface of the duct along its length define a debris entrapment zone; and airflow drive means mounted at the housing and configured to create a suction airflow through the inlet, the duct and the air permeable material of the bag so as to draw debris into the entrapment zone, the drive means mounted downstream of the inlet, the duct and the bag relative to the airflow stream flowing through the cleaner from the inlet.

2. The cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a retainer to slidably locate the bag at the outer surface of the duct.

3. The cleaner as claimed in claims 1 or 2 further comprising seal means located between the bag and the duct, the seal means configured to seal the debris entrapment zone between the bag and the duct such that an airflow inlet into the entrapment zone is defined by one of the open ends of the duct and the airflow outlet of the entrapment zone comprises the air permeable material that defines the bag.

4. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a mount to removably mount the duct at the housing.

5. The cleaner as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mount is positioned at a region of the inlet and comprises an opening to allow air into the open end of the duct positioned at the region of the inlet.

6. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the duct and the air permeable material are configured so as to create a gap between the air permeable material and an open end of the duct positioned within the housing.

7. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least a region of the bag is substantially cylindrical.

8. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises closure means operable to close the bag once detached from the duct such that debris is prevented from escaping from the bag once removed from the vacuum cleaner.

9. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the air permeable material is fire or flame retardant.

10. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive means, the duct, the bag and the inlet are axially aligned relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the vacuum cleaner.

11. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a motor coupled to the airflow drive means.

12. The cleaner as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a power source to supply power to the motor.

13. The cleaner as claimed in claim 12 wherein the power source comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

14. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an extendable handle with which a user may grasp the vacuum cleaner.

15. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a wheel or roller ball to allow the vacuum cleaner to be rolled over the ground.

16. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a debris volume indicator and sensor arrangement configured to be responsive to a volume of debris collected in the entrapment zone and to provide an indication to a user that a predetermined volume of debris has been collected.

17. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the airflow drive means comprises a fan arrangement.

18. The cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bag comprises a support collar to provide structural integrity to the bag so as to prevent at least a region of the bag from collapsing when inserted or removed at the vacuum cleaner.