EP3065612A2 - Agencement de verrouillage destiné à un aspirateur - Google Patents

Agencement de verrouillage destiné à un aspirateur

Info

Publication number
EP3065612A2
EP3065612A2 EP14860702.1A EP14860702A EP3065612A2 EP 3065612 A2 EP3065612 A2 EP 3065612A2 EP 14860702 A EP14860702 A EP 14860702A EP 3065612 A2 EP3065612 A2 EP 3065612A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
latch
vacuum cleaner
support
retainer
forcing member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP14860702.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3065612A4 (fr
Inventor
Gregg A. Henderson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Techtronic Industries Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Techtronic Industries Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Techtronic Industries Co Ltd filed Critical Techtronic Industries Co Ltd
Publication of EP3065612A2 publication Critical patent/EP3065612A2/fr
Publication of EP3065612A4 publication Critical patent/EP3065612A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/28—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
    • A47L5/32—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle with means for connecting a hose
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/225—Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/0009—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders
    • A47L9/0018—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
    • A47L9/0045—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner specially adapted for holding the suction tube
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
    • A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to upright vacuum cleaners.
  • Upright vacuum cleaners are typically used to clean floor surfaces, such as carpeting. These types of vacuum cleaners, however, can be difficult to maneuver and operate in relatively confined areas. In addition, it is sometimes desirable to clean elevated surfaces, such as drapes, furniture, or steps, with a vacuum cleaner.
  • the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion and a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion.
  • the handle portion includes a support and a body.
  • the body includes a suction generating device and a dirt collection container.
  • the body is selectively removable from the support.
  • the support includes a first latch and a second latch and at least a portion of the body is positionable between the first latch and second latch.
  • the first latch includes a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support.
  • the body includes a retainer corresponding to the second latch. The retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.
  • the invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion and a handle portion mounted to the floor engaging portion.
  • the handle portion includes a support and a body.
  • the body includes a suction generating device.
  • the body is selectively removable from the support.
  • the body includes a first latch and a second latch and at least a portion of the support being positionable between the first latch and second latch.
  • the first latch includes a forcing member that biases the body toward an engaged position with the support.
  • the support includes a retainer corresponding to the second latch. The retainer is engageable with a portion of the second latch when the body is in the engaged position, wherein application of a removal force on the body against the forcing member moves the body from the engaged position enabling the retainer to release from the second latch.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1.
  • FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1, the vacuum cleaner including a body disconnected from a support.
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of a vacuum cleaner.
  • Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of another portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates two latches for a vacuum cleaner.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative latch for a vacuum cleaner.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a portion of a vacuum cleaner including two latches engaging a body.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a portion of a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 illustrate a vacuum cleaner 10.
  • the illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is an upright vacuum cleaner including a floor engaging portion 14 and a handle portion 18.
  • the floor engaging portion 14 includes a foot 22 that is movable along a surface to be cleaned, such as a carpeted or hard-surface floor.
  • the foot 22 includes a suction nozzle, an agitator, and at least one wheel 26.
  • the handle portion 18 is mounted to and extends from the floor engaging portion 14.
  • the handle portion 18 allows a user to move and manipulate the floor engaging portion 14 along the surface.
  • the handle portion 18 is also movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the floor engaging portion 14 between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position.
  • the handle portion 18 includes a support 30 and a body 34.
  • the illustrated support 30 includes an elongated tube 38 extending from the floor engaging portion 14.
  • a grip 42 is located on an end of the tube 38 opposite from the floor engaging portion 14.
  • the body 34 or canister assembly, is removably mounted on the support 30.
  • the body 34 includes a suction generating device 46 and a dirt collection container 50.
  • the suction generating device 46 e.g., a motor and fan
  • the dirt collection container 50 helps remove and collect dirt or other particles from an airflow drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the suction force.
  • the dirt collection container 50 may be in communication with at least one cyclone in the body 34.
  • the dirt collection chamber 50 may be a filter bag.
  • the support 30 is in fluid communication with the floor engaging portion 14 such that an airflow drawn into the floor engaging portion 14 is directed into the support 30.
  • the support 30 is also in fluid communication with the body 34 through a flexible hose 54 such that the airflow from the floor engaging portion 14 is directed through the support 30, through the hose 54, and into the body 34. After the body 34 filters or otherwise cleans the airflow, the cleaned airflow is directed out of the vacuum cleaner 10 and back into the environment.
  • the illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is operable in a variety of different cleaning modes. Among other modes, the vacuum cleaner 10 is operable when the body 34 is mounted to the support 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The vacuum cleaner 10 is also operable when the body 34 disconnected from, or not mounted to, the support 30, as shown in Fig. 2A. When the body 34 is disconnected from the support 30, the body 34 remains in fluid communication with the support 30, and thereby the floor engaging portion 14, through the flexible hose 54. Separating the body 34 from the support 30 allows a user to carry the body 34 apart from the support 30 and the floor engaging portion 14.
  • FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate a handle portion 58 of another vacuum cleaner.
  • the vacuum cleaner includes similar components and operates in a similar manner to the vacuum cleaner discussed above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the handle portion 58 includes a support 62 and a body 66.
  • the support 62 includes two latches 70, 74 that connect the body 66 to the support 62.
  • the first latch 70 is located adjacent a lower end of the support 62, while the second latch 74 is located adjacent an upper end of the support 62. That is, the first latch 70 is closer than the second latch 74 to a floor engaging portion of the vacuum cleaner.
  • At least a portion of the body 66 is positioned between the latches 70, 74 to capture and secure the body 66 between the latches 70, 74.
  • the first latch 70 includes a forcing member that applies a spring force on the first latch 70.
  • the first latch 70 engages a portion of the body 66 (e.g., an undercut 78 formed in the body 66) to support the body 66.
  • An upper surface 82 of the first latch 70 is sloped to facilitate properly aligning and connecting the body 66 onto the support 62.
  • the sloped upper surface 82 causes the body 66 to slide toward the support 62 when the body 66 is positioned on the latch 70.
  • the forcing member of the first latch 70 pushes the body 66 toward the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4).
  • Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a first latch 86 including a forcing member 90.
  • the forcing member 90 is a coil spring located between a stationary latch portion 94 and a movable latch portion 98.
  • the stationary latch portion 94 is fixed to the support 62.
  • the movable latch portion 98 is slidable along the support 62 relative to the stationary latch portion 94.
  • the forcing member 90 biases the movable latch portion 98 away from the stationary latch portion 94.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates another example of a first latch 102 including a forcing member 106.
  • the forcing member 106 is a resilient elastomeric member that is molded integrally with the first latch 102.
  • a lower end 110 of the latch 102 is fixed to the support 62 so that the lower end 1 10 remains stationary relative to the support 62.
  • An upper end 114 of the latch 102 is not fixed to the support 62 so that the upper end 1 14 is movable along the support 62.
  • the forcing member 106 extends between the lower and upper ends 1 10, 1 14 and can deflect (as shown in broken lines) to move the upper end 114 of the latch 102 toward the lower end 1 10 of the latch 102.
  • the second latch 74 includes a hook 118.
  • the hook 118 engages a retainer 122 formed on the body 34.
  • the retainer 122 is a groove that receives the hook 118 to inhibit the body 34 from being pulled away from the support 30.
  • the second latch 74 may include other suitable projections for engaging the retainer 122 of the body 34.
  • the body 34 is movable relative to the latches 70, 74 between an engaged position, in which the latches 70, 74 engage the body 34 to inhibit removal of the body 34 from the support 30, and a disengaged position, in which the body 34 is removable from the support 30.
  • the body 34 rests on the first latch 70.
  • the forcing member of the first latch 70 applies the spring force to the body 34 to urge the body 34 into engagement with the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4). In this position, the second latch 74 engages the retainer 122 on the body 34.
  • the body 34 is thereby captured between the first and second latches 70, 74 to inhibit the body 34 from separating or being pulled away from the support 30.
  • a removal force is applied on the body 34 to overcome the spring force of the first latch 70.
  • the removal force compresses the forcing member of the first latch 70 to move the body 34 from the engaged position to the disengaged position (downward in Figs. 3 and 4).
  • the removal force can be applied by a user directly on the body 34.
  • one of the body 34 or the support 30 can include a lever (not shown) connected to first latch 70. In such embodiments, a user can actuate the lever to apply the removal force.
  • the second latch 74 disengages (e.g., is moved out of) the retainer 122 of the body 34.
  • the body 34 can then be pivoted away from the support 30 and lifted off of the first latch 70.
  • the body 34 is aligned with and positioned on the first latch 70.
  • the removal force is again applied to the body 34 to compress the forcing member of the first latch 70. While the forcing member is compressed, the body 34 can be pivoted toward the support 30.
  • the removal force is then removed from the body 34 so that the forcing member of the first latch 70 applies the spring force to urge the body 34 back into engagement with the second latch 74 (upward in Figs. 3 and 4).
  • the relative positions of the first and second latches 70, 74 may be switched.
  • the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent the upper end of the support 62
  • the second latch 74 may be located adjacent the lower end of the support 62.
  • the body 66 may be removed from the support 62 by applying a removal force to the body 66 that lifts up the body 66 to disengage the second latch 74.
  • the body 66 may include the first and second latches 70, 74, and the support 62 may include the retainer 122.
  • the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent a lower end of the body 66, and the second latch 74 may be located adjacent an upper end of the body 66.
  • the first latch 70 with the forcing member may be located adjacent the upper end of the body 66, and the second latch 74 may be located adjacent the lower end of the body 66.
  • the operations to disconnect and connect the body 66 to the support 62 may be generally the same as those described above.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a handle portion 126 of another vacuum cleaner. Similar to the handle portion 58 discussed above, the handle portion 126 includes a support 130 and a body 134.
  • the support 130 includes alternative configurations of first and second latches 138, 142 for releasably engaging the body 134.
  • the handle portion 126 can alternatively include an accordion- style first latch 146.
  • the illustrated alternative first latch 146 includes a single piece elastomer that acts as a spring by itself (similar to the first latch 102 shown in Fig. 8).
  • latches that include a spring or spring-like member may alternatively be employed to urge the body 134 into engagement with the second latch 142.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

La présente invention se rapporte à un aspirateur qui comprend une partie en contact avec le sol et une partie manche montée sur la partie en contact avec le sol. La partie manche comporte un support et un corps. Le corps inclut un dispositif générant une aspiration et un récipient de ramassage de poussière. Ce corps peut être retiré de manière sélective du support. Le support comprend un premier verrou et un second verrou, et au moins une partie du corps peut être positionnée entre le premier verrou et le second verrou. Ledit premier verrou comporte un élément de pression qui dévie le corps vers une position de mise en prise avec le support. Le corps inclut un dispositif de retenue en correspondance avec le second verrou. Le dispositif de retenue peut entrer en prise avec une partie du second verrou lorsque le corps se trouve dans la position de mise en prise, l'application, sur le corps, d'une force de retrait pour contrer l'élément de pression amenant ce corps à quitter la position de mise en prise, ce qui permet au dispositif de retenue de se dégager du second verrou.
EP14860702.1A 2013-11-07 2014-11-07 Agencement de verrouillage destiné à un aspirateur Withdrawn EP3065612A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201361901049P 2013-11-07 2013-11-07
PCT/IB2014/003016 WO2015068046A2 (fr) 2013-11-07 2014-11-07 Agencement de verrouillage destiné à un aspirateur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3065612A2 true EP3065612A2 (fr) 2016-09-14
EP3065612A4 EP3065612A4 (fr) 2017-08-02

Family

ID=53042269

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14860702.1A Withdrawn EP3065612A4 (fr) 2013-11-07 2014-11-07 Agencement de verrouillage destiné à un aspirateur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3065612A4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2015068046A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3609582B2 (ja) * 1997-06-23 2005-01-12 三洋電機株式会社 電気掃除機
CA2346173A1 (fr) * 2001-05-02 2002-11-02 The Bank Of Nova Scotia Aspirateur
CN101357051A (zh) * 2007-08-02 2009-02-04 三星光州电子株式会社 真空吸尘器的吸入口组件
US8060980B2 (en) * 2008-03-28 2011-11-22 Panasonic Corporation Of North America Floor care appliance equipped with break-over protected latch assembly
CA2674376A1 (fr) * 2009-03-13 2010-09-13 G.B.D. Corp. Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces a configurations de nettoyage multiples
EP2521474B1 (fr) * 2010-10-15 2016-05-11 Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited Ensemble de direction pour dispositif de nettoyage de surfaces
WO2014026131A1 (fr) * 2012-08-09 2014-02-13 Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited Aspirateur comprenant un ensemble récipient détachable
US8943647B1 (en) * 2013-08-09 2015-02-03 Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited Vacuum cleaner including a removable handle assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2015068046A3 (fr) 2015-09-24
EP3065612A4 (fr) 2017-08-02
WO2015068046A2 (fr) 2015-05-14

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