EP3045097B1 - Carpet brush device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a carpet brush device for the care and / or for refreshing carpets or carpets.

Carpet brushes with a brush for the care of carpets are basically well known in practice. The known carpet brush devices generally have a housing, wherein in an operating position of the carpet brush device for the care of the carpet, the housing bottom faces the carpet. The brush for the care of the carpet is usually arranged in the housing and is at least in a partial area on the carpet facing housing bottom over the end of the housing, so that the carpet for care with the brush is acted upon. To care for the carpet, the brush is generally driven directly by an electric motor and set in rotation, so that, among other things, the loops and / or loops of a carpet erected by the rotation of the brush and the carpet can be refreshed.

Such carpet brushing devices, also called carpet fresheners, are thus far typically designed as independent carpet care appliances and often exist in the household next to a vacuum cleaner and other electrical equipment for the care and cleaning of carpets, so that usually a variety of equipment for the maintenance of a carpet is kept.

From the US 5,088,149 a system of a vacuum cleaner and a carpet brush device with an air inlet opening, a brush roller, a turbine wheel and a connecting piece is known, wherein the turbine wheel is connected via a drive belt with the brush roller and thus drives them to rotate.

It is the object of the invention to provide a carpet brush device that is simple in construction and thus inexpensive to produce and allows effective freshening of a carpet.

The object of the invention is solved by the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. According to the invention a carpet brush device is thus provided with a brush for the treatment of a carpet, and with a housing in which the brush is mounted and which is open at least in the region of the brush down, wherein the housing has a connection piece for connection to a vacuum cleaner Air inlet opening for sucking in ambient air and formed between the air inlet opening and the connecting piece, circumferentially closed air duct, wherein within the air duct, a turbine is arranged, which is drivable or rotatable by means of air flowing through the air duct, the brush coupled to the turbine such in that, with a rotation of the turbine, a rotation of the brush is effected, and wherein the housing has a receiving device for receiving a care agent metering unit.

Basically, it is assumed in the present description that the carpet brush device is in its operating position, wherein in the operating position the carpet brush device rests on a floor and / or a carpet and the area of the housing in which the brush is arranged on a floor and / or Carpet facing side arranged and / or is formed. Consequently, the carpet brush device is open at the bottom of the brush. In addition, in the operating position, the brush is arranged in the housing such that the carpet on which the carpet brush device rests can be acted upon by the brush. This is preferably given by the fact that the brush protrudes at least with a partial region on the underside of the housing facing the carpet.

It is an essential aspect of the invention that the intake of ambient air via the air inlet opening, the turbine is set within the air duct in rotation, and the turbine and the brush are coupled together such that rotation of the turbine causes rotation of the brush. In this way, the brush is not directly over a e.g. the electric motor driven by the carpet brush device, but via a directed from the air inlet opening in the direction of the connecting piece of air flow, which sets the turbine in rotation.

Particularly preferably, the carpet brush device is designed as an attachment for a vacuum cleaner, wherein the carpet brush device via the connecting piece with the vacuum cleaner, in particular a vacuum cleaner tube of the vacuum cleaner, is connectable. A suction fan of the vacuum cleaner connected to the carpet brush device can in this way suck in ambient air via the air inlet opening and thus generate an air flow directed from the air inlet opening in the direction of the connecting piece, whereby the turbine is set in rotation, so that the brush is driven. In this way, the brush of the carpet brush device can be driven via an airflow generated by a suction fan of a vacuum cleaner connected to the carpet brush device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the housing has a brush chamber in which the brush is arranged and which is separated from the air duct, so that an air flow flowing through the air duct can not get into the brush chamber. Likewise, it can be avoided in this way that the ambient air is sucked in via the brush chamber. The arranged in the air duct turbine is thus driven by the intake via the air inlet opening ambient air. In this way, the suction of preferably accumulated in the brush chamber dirt particles and a concomitant possible risk of damage to the turbine can be reduced by these dirt particles.

In the present case, the brush is understood as meaning such a brush which is set up and designed for cleaning and / or care and / or for freshening carpets or carpets. Particularly preferably, the brush for applying a carpet is provided with a care agent. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the brush is formed roller-shaped and the brush longitudinal axis is aligned in the horizontal. In this way, in the operating position of the carpet brush device, the brush longitudinal axis is arranged parallel to the carpet to be maintained. Thus, the carpet can be evenly refreshed over the entire length of the brush longitudinal axis.

According to an advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the brush has bristles, wherein the bristles are preferably made of a natural material and / or a synthetic material. The bristles are particularly preferably formed from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Bristles made of PBT have the advantage that they are particularly resistant to abrasion. Thus, in each case a particularly hard-wearing brush can be provided for different carpeting to be maintained.

To refresh and care for a carpet, a care product is preferably applied to the carpet to be refreshed and / or maintained and incorporated into the carpet by means of the brush of the carpet brush device. Basically, this care product can be applied by hand previously on the carpet to be maintained. According to the invention, it is provided that the housing has a receiving device for receiving a care agent dosing unit. Thus, a care agent metering unit can be used in the receptacle of the receiving device, so that an application of the care agent can be transferred to the carpet of the carpet brush device.

In this context, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the receiving device is designed as a frame into which the

Care agent dosing unit is used. Preferably, the frame is designed and arranged such that in a carpet brush device placed on the floor, the care-agent metering unit can be inserted from above, very preferably in a direction normal to the floor. In this way, the care agent dosing unit can be conveniently used in the carpet brush device.

In principle, it is sufficient for the care-agent metering unit to be insertable into the receiving device without additional holding devices being provided for the care-agent metering unit. In a preferred development of the invention, provision is made for a latching device to be provided on the receiving device and / or on the care-substance metering unit so that the care-agent metering unit can be latched and thus fixed with the receiving device when it is inserted into the receiving device.

In a further preferred development, it is provided that the receiving device and / or the care-agent dosing unit has a drive device for driving the care-agent dosing unit. In this way, in the case of a care-agent dosing unit inserted into the receiving device, the care-agent can be applied by means of the carpet brushing device to the carpet to be cared for.

The turbine and the brush can be coupled to one another via a wide variety of mechanical connections. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the turbine and the brush are mechanically coupled to each other via a toothed belt, a gear and / or gears, so that with a rotation of the turbine rotation of the brush is effected. Depending on the selected mechanical connection between turbine and brush, a translation of the rotation of the turbine to the rotation of the brush may be required.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the air duct is designed such that a directed from the air inlet opening toward the connection piece air flow deflected before impinging on the turbine at least once, preferably twice, preferably three times and according to one embodiment is, preferably by an angle of 270 °, more preferably by a total angle of 360 °. Most preferably, it is provided that the air flow is guided at least once parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush. Advantageously, the air flow before the impact on the turbine only twice and expediently only three times deflected, being deflected within the scope of the invention, the air flow at each deflection by about 90 °. By redirecting the air flow in the housing of the carpet brush device, the noise due to the rotation of the brush and thus the operating noise of the carpet brush device can be reduced.

The air inlet opening can basically be arranged at different locations of the housing, so that preferably clean ambient air is sucked in. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the air inlet opening is arranged in a side wall and / or on the upper side of the housing and / or in the region of the connecting piece. In the arrangement of the air inlet opening on the top of the housing, the suction of dirt particles can be reduced, so that damage to the turbine can be reduced by sucked dirt particles.

In connection with the arrangement of the air inlet opening on the side wall, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the air inlet opening is formed in the side wall in such a height that when placed on a floor carpet brush device, the lower end of the air inlet opening a distance ≥ 1 cm, preferably ≥ 2 cm, from the ground. In this way, the air inlet opening in the side wall of the housing is arranged such that as clean as possible ambient air is sucked in to avoid damage to the turbine by the suction of arranged on the bottom of protective particles.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a vacuum cleaner and a carpet brush apparatus, with a brush for treating a carpet, a housing in which the brush is mounted and which is open at least in the region of the brush downwards, wherein the housing has a connecting piece for connection with a vacuum cleaner, an air inlet opening for sucking in ambient air, and a space formed between the air inlet opening and the spigot, Having circumferentially closed air duct, within the air duct, a turbine is arranged, which is rotatable by means of air flowing through the air duct, and the brush is coupled to the turbine such that with a rotation of the turbine, a rotation of the brush is effected, wherein the carpet brush device over the connection piece with the vacuum cleaner, in particular with a vacuum cleaner tube of the vacuum cleaner, connected or at least connectable.

Thus, it is also an aspect of the invention that when a carpet brush apparatus is connected to the vacuum cleaner, a suction fan of the vacuum sucks ambient air via the air inlet opening, causing the turbine disposed within the air duct to rotate and transmit the rotation of the turbine to the brush becomes. In this way, the carpet brush can be set in rotation by the suction fan of the vacuum cleaner, without the brush being driven directly by an electric motor.

The invention also relates to the use of a carpet brush apparatus in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner, wherein the carpet brush apparatus comprises a brush for treating a carpet and a housing in which the brush is mounted and which is open at least in the region of the brush down, wherein the housing has a Connecting piece for connection to a vacuum cleaner, an air inlet opening for sucking in ambient air and formed between the air inlet opening and the connecting piece, circumferentially closed air duct, within the air duct, a turbine is arranged, which is drivable or rotatable by means of air flowing through the air duct, and the brush is coupled to the turbine such that upon rotation of the turbine, rotation of the brush is effected, the carpet brush apparatus being connected to the vacuum cleaner via the spigot, a suction fan of the vacuum cleaner generating an airflow gt, so that ambient air is sucked through the air inlet opening, the turbine is set in rotation and the rotation of the turbine causes a rotation of the brush.

In principle, the preferred developments of the carpet brush device according to the invention described above apply both to the system according to the invention of a vacuum cleaner and a carpet brush device and to the use according to the invention of the carpet brush device in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine Aufsicht auf ein Teppichbürstengerät zum Auffrischen von Teppichböden gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und
• Fig. 2 eine dreidimensionale Ansicht des Teppichbürstengeräts gemäß dem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

In the drawings show

• Fig. 1 a plan view of a carpet brush device for refreshing carpets according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and
• Fig. 2 a three-dimensional view of the carpet brush device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1 a carpet brush device 2 is shown with a brush 4 for treating a carpet. The carpet brush device 2 has a housing 6, in which the brush 4 is mounted. Furthermore, the housing 6 comprises a connecting piece 8 for connecting the carpet brush device 2 with a vacuum cleaner not shown here. In the housing 6, an air inlet opening 10 is also arranged in a side wall 12 of the housing 6 for the intake of ambient air. Between the air inlet opening 10 and the connecting piece 8, a circumferentially closed air channel 14 is formed in the housing 6. Within the air channel 14, a turbine 16 is arranged, which is rotatable by means of air flowing through the air passage 14. The brush 4 and the turbine 16 are mechanically coupled to one another via a toothed belt 18, so that the rotation of the turbine 16 causes a rotation of the brush 4.

In this way, by the intake of ambient air through the air inlet opening 10 in the direction of the connecting piece 8, the turbine 16 is set in rotation. The rotation of the turbine 16 is transmitted to the brush 4 via the toothed belt 18. In a connected via the connecting piece 8 with a vacuum cleaner carpet brushing device 2, the turbine 16 can be rotated in this way via a generated by a suction fan arranged in the suction fan, the turbine 16, whereby the brush 4 is driven. Thus, the carpet brush device 2 is usable as an attachment for a vacuum cleaner.

The brush 4 is formed roller-shaped and the brush longitudinal axis 20 is aligned in the patch on a floor carpet brush device 2 in the horizontal. In this way, to be nurtured or refreshed carpet over the entire length of the brush 4 are treated evenly.

The brush 4 also has bristles of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Such bristles are particularly durable, so that a brush 4 is provided with resistant bristles for the treatment and care of different carpets or carpets.

For the care and treatment of a carpet is provided to apply a care agent on the carpet and incorporate the care agent on the brush 4 by means of the carpet brush device in the carpet. In the present case, the care product can be applied with the carpet brush device 2 itself and be incorporated by means of the brush 4 in the carpet to be maintained. For this purpose, the housing 6 of the carpet brush device 2 has a receiving device 22 for receiving a care dosing unit not shown. The receiving device 22 is designed as a frame, so that the carpet dosing unit can be inserted from above into the carpet brush device 2 when the carpet brush device 2 is placed on the floor. When inserting the care agent metering unit, it locks with the receiving device 22, so that the care agent metering unit is fixed in the carpet brushing device 2. In this way, a slippage the care agent dosing from the receiving device 22, in particular during operation of the carpet brush device 2, counteracted.

The frame-like configuration of the receiving device 22 and thus of the housing 6, the arrangement of the air inlet opening 10 in the side wall 12 and the arrangement of the turbine 16 causes the air flow generated by a vacuum cleaner from the air inlet opening 10 in the direction of the connecting piece 8 several times in the air duct 14th is diverted. By redirecting the air flow in the air duct 14 outside the housing perceptible noise resulting from the rotation of the brush 4 can be reduced, whereby the operating noise of the carpet brush device 2 can be reduced overall.

In Fig. 2 is that off Fig. 1 apparent carpet brush device 2 shown in a three-dimensional view, the carpet brush device 2 is in its operating position. In the operating position, the carpet brush device 2 rests on a floor and / or carpet. The area of the housing 6 in which the brush 4 is arranged is arranged on a side facing the floor and / or carpet. Thus, the carpet brush device 2 in the area of the brush 4 is open at the bottom. In addition, in the operating position, the brush 4 is arranged in the housing 6, that the carpet on which the carpet brush device 2 rests, can be acted upon by the brush.

The housing 6 also has a brush chamber 24, in which the brush 4 is arranged and which is separated from the air duct 14, so that an air flow flowing through the air duct 14 can not get into the brush chamber 24. In this way it can be ensured that the ambient air is sucked in via the air inlet opening 10 arranged in the side wall 12, so that the suction of dirt particles can be prevented or at least reduced in order to avoid damage to the turbine 16.

The carpet brush device 2 is suitable as a header for a vacuum cleaner. The carpet brush device 2 is to connect via the connecting piece 8 with a vacuum cleaner tube of a vacuum cleaner. In this way, ambient air can be sucked through a suction fan of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the ambient air is sucked in through the air inlet opening 10 in the side wall 12 of the housing 6, whereby a directed from the air inlet opening 10 in the direction of the intake 8 air flow is generated. This air flow generates a rotation of the turbine 16, wherein the rotation of the turbine 16 is transmitted to the brush 4. In this way, the carpet brushing device 2 is operable to treat the carpet via the airflow generated by a vacuum cleaner, so that no direct electrical drive of the brush 4 is required, in particular no electric motor provided in the carpet brushing device 2 itself.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Carpet brush appliance

4

brush

6

casing

8th

spigot

10

Air inlet opening

12

sidewall

14

air chamber

16

turbine

18

Mechanical coupling, timing belt

20

brush longitudinal axis

22

recording device

24

brush chamber

Claims (9)

1. Carpet brush device,

   - with a brush (4) for treating a carpet, and

   - having a housing (6) in which the brush (4) is mounted and which is open at the bottom at least in the region of the brush (4),

   - the housing (6) having a connection socket (8) for connection to a vacuum cleaner, an air inlet opening (10) for sucking in ambient air and an air duct (14) which is formed between the air inlet opening (10) and the connection socket (8) and is circumferentially closed,

   - a turbine (16) being arranged inside the air duct (14), which turbine (16) can be driven or rotated by means of air flowing through the air duct (14), and

   - wherein the brush (4) is coupled to the turbine (16) such that rotation of the turbine (16) causes rotation of the brush (4),
   characterized

   - in that the housing has a receiving device (22) for receiving a care agent metering unit.
2. Carpet brush apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (6) comprises a brush chamber (24) in which the brush (4) is arranged and which is separated from the air duct (14) so that an air flow flowing through the air duct (14) cannot enter the brush chamber (24).
3. Carpet brush apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turbine (16) and the brush (4) are mechanically coupled to one another via a toothed belt, a gear and/or gear wheels, so that rotation of the brush (4) is effected by rotation of the turbine (16).
4. Carpet brush apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct (14) is designed in such a way that an air flow directed from the air inlet opening (10) in the direction towards the connecting piece (8) is deflected at least once, preferably several times, preferably by an angle of a total of at least 270°, very preferably by an angle of a total of at least 360°, before it hits the turbine (16).
5. Carpet brushing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet opening (10) is arranged in a side wall (12) and/or on top of the housing (6).
6. Carpet brushing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet opening in the side wall is formed at such a height that in a carpet brushing apparatus (2) placed on the floor, the lower end of the air inlet opening (10) has a distance ≥ 1 cm, preferably ≥ 2 cm, from the floor.
7. Carpet brush apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (22) is designed as a frame into which the care agent metering unit can be inserted, preferably from above.
8. System comprising a vacuum cleaner and a carpet brushing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the carpet brushing apparatus (2) is connected or connectable to the vacuum cleaner via the connecting piece (8).
9. Use of a carpet brushing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for connection to a vacuum cleaner, wherein the carpet brushing apparatus (2) is connected to the vacuum cleaner via the connection piece (8), a suction fan of the vacuum cleaner generates an air flow so that ambient air is sucked in through the air inlet opening (10), the turbine (16) is driven and rotation of the turbine (16) causes rotation of the brush (4).

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