EP3145381A1 - A cleaning machine, such as a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, and a hingeable element being detachably attachable thereto - Google Patents
A cleaning machine, such as a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, and a hingeable element being detachably attachable theretoInfo
- Publication number
- EP3145381A1 EP3145381A1 EP15796736.5A EP15796736A EP3145381A1 EP 3145381 A1 EP3145381 A1 EP 3145381A1 EP 15796736 A EP15796736 A EP 15796736A EP 3145381 A1 EP3145381 A1 EP 3145381A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- magnetic
- cleaning machine
- hingeable
- cover
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
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- 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
-
- 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
-
- 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
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D1/00—Pinless hinges; Substitutes for hinges
- E05D1/06—Pinless hinges; Substitutes for hinges consisting of two easily-separable parts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01F7/00—Magnets
- H01F7/02—Permanent magnets [PM]
- H01F7/0231—Magnetic circuits with PM for power or force generation
- H01F7/0252—PM holding devices
Definitions
- a CLEANING MACHINE SUCH AS A VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING A HOUSING, AND A HINGEABLE ELEMENT BEING DETACHABLY ATTACHABLE
- the present invention relates to a cleaning machine, e.g. such as a vacuum cleaner, comprising a housing and at least one hingeable element, such as a cover, being detachably attachable thereto.
- a cleaning machine e.g. such as a vacuum cleaner
- the present invention further relates to said hingeable element itself, such as a cover.
- the cover may be accidentally left open or knocked open and impact with an operators leg or a wall and then be knocked off.
- the housing or the closed cover might impact on a wall or onto the floor and twist the housing or cover such that the cover falls off the hinge. This can potentially harm the operator, damage the wall, the housing, the hinge and/or the cover.
- some cleaners include a "break away" for the cover which is a hinge allowing easy and total removal of the cover from the machine.
- the cover is both easily detachable and re-attachable in order to limit or prevent such harmful damage to the operator, the cover, hinge, housing, or its associated structure.
- US 5,233,722 describes an example of such easily detachable feature or break-away comprising a tool door being hingedly attached to a upright vacuum cleaner having a hard housing upper portion.
- a pair of integral pivot pins extends parallel to a bottom wall but set slightly upwardly therefrom, where each of these pivot pins are received in an open U shaped portion formed by two outwardly extending short arms which are turned inwardly towards each other at their outer ends for forming a pivot hinge for lodgement of said pivot pins.
- the tool door is swung downwardly to a completely releasable or break-away position occasioned by each of the tool door pivot pins essentially walking out of the pivot hinges by the pivot pins camming against the inside of the lower arm and forcibly springing past the upper arm.
- WO 2011/012481 describes a suction cleaner having a housing and a cover for covering a chamber in the housing in a form-fitting manner via a joint having a first joint part comprising a link joint and a second cover joint part which are connected movably to each other via a link joint.
- the second joint part comprising two protruding coupling arms is connected releasably to the cover through the engagement with two protruding engagement fittings and to the housing via a hinged connection. This allows a releasable cover, easy access, and easy replacement of a damaged cover.
- a disadvantage of this latter more complex solution is the need to provide the two joint parts as well as the protruding arms/fittings within precise tolerances in order for these to fit together and click-lock correctly.
- This requires a complex and thus costly plastic forming process during manufacture of the cover joint parts, housing joint part, protruding coupling arms and fittings, as well as the hinge.
- protruding arms the risk of damage - not only to the cover or housing but also to the joint parts themselves - increases, in particular when the cover is in an open position. Further, the reattachment of the cover or installing a new cover may also be labor intensive.
- the cover may have to be put on and taken off many times.
- cleaning machines are fitted with hinges and covers which require correct and laborious fitting this can reduce the operational up-time of the machine.
- the cleaning machine comprises a housing and at least one hingeable element.
- This element is detachably attachable to said housing via a hinge structure comprising at least two pairs of magnetizable or magnetic member surfaces. At least one surface in each pair exhibits a magnetic force for engagement with the other surface in said pair.
- a first member surface in each of said pairs is supported by said hingeable element.
- a second member surface in each of said pairs is supported by said housing.
- the present invention provides the necessary attachment force from the magnetic member surfaces to both hold the element in place relative to the housing of the cleaning machine and to improve the ease with which the hingeable element can be removed totally from the housing. This is due to the fact that a main part of the attachment force between housing and element is provided by said magnetic and/or magnetizable material, preferably substantially all of the attachment force.
- Magnetic members being used for holding into place an element, such as a cover, on a housing have been used for many years.
- magnetic members for hinges i.e. enabling a pivot action
- None of the prior art hinges seem to be intended for easy removal.
- the prior art hinges utilizing magnets have further features included in order to keep the element in place relative to the housing, such as pins or rivets.
- Applicant is not aware of any magnetic hinges being used within the field of cleaning machines, but has found other types of magnetic hinges being used for doors, boxes, and mobile phones, for example.
- One type provides a pair of cylindrical magnetic members extending longitudinally along and next to each other with their poles reversed, such that their mutual magnetic force extends between them
- This double magnet provides an increase in the total magnetic force exerted, even when only providing one such magnetic pair, which keeps a lid or flap attached to the house during use.
- further pins and springs are provided to increase the engagement force between lid and house, and/or to provide a pivot action.
- the hinge structure of the cleaning machine according to the invention is easier to manufacture than prior art hinge structures as it requires less attention to small tolerances during manufacture, and may then be molded and/or cast with the magnetic or magnetizable members as required.
- the applicant has realized that by providing such at least two magnetic or magnetizable member surface pairs according to the invention such that the magnetic force is extending substantially in parallel with the magnetic centre axis, this in fact results in a reduced engagement force as compared to the prior art longitudinal parallel double magnet solution.
- this in fact provides a sufficient attachment force in the hinge structure both to allow the hingeable element to stay attached to the housing during use, as well as to allow the hingeable element to detach easily from the housing, thus to function correctly as a "break away".
- Both attractive and repelling magnetic forces may be utilized between the member surface pairs, in particular if both members exert a magnetic force.
- an attractive force is utilized, both to improve the engagement force and to be provided the manufacturing freedom to select both members in magnetic materials, and one in magnetic material, one in magnetizable material to decrease the total material costs of manufacture.
- a repellant magnetic force may be achieved by selecting and positioning two magnetic members with their surfaces towards each other and exerting the same polarity.
- magnetizable is a material property of being made temporally or substantially permanently magnetic by contact to a magnet after the removal of the magnet, where the term also covers materials which are attracted to a magnetic force, such as many metals, in particular iron, Fe/Ni compositions, and some metal/polymer or metal/ceramic composites.
- magnetic centre axis is to be understood as an axis extending through the geometric centre of the surface section, irrespective of the surface section shape, surface curvature per se and of whether the material of the member is magnetizable or magnetic per se.
- said at least two first member surfaces When said hingeable element is attached to said housing, said at least two first member surfaces may be positioned either inwardly or outwardly relative to the corresponding two second member surfaces along said magnetic centre axis. It provides two different structural designs, which both function satisfactorily and provides a structural stability to the element and housing combination. Said at least two first and/or second members surfaces may be provided on the same magnetic or magnetizable member, such as on a single magnet.
- said at least two member surface pairs may be provided on any suitable part of the housing/hingable element.
- the surface pairs are preferably provided so as to substantially align in parallel to each other.
- said at least two first member surfaces are provided on an edge part of said hingeable element, but may also be provided at a distance to the edge part, but then it is suggested to provide a good clearance or tolerance in the magnetic engagement of the at least two member surface pairs.
- Said at least two second member surfaces may be provided on any part of the housing, such as any external or internal part; along, outside or inside any edge of a chamber in said housing; enclosing a recess or a protrusion in a surface of said housing; as well as being provided on side surfaces of said housing.
- said at least one hingeable element is pivotable around a pivot axis between at least one open and a closed position relative to the housing.
- said pivot axis substantially coincides with said magnetic centre axis.
- said pivot axis substantially coincides with said magnetic centre axis at least when not in said closed position.
- the hingeable element may then be a cover, lid, or flap covering an external or internal opening to a chamber inside the cleaning machine.
- said at least one hingeable element further can be positioned in at least one given angle in said at least one open position, such as in a multitude of angles in different non-closed positions, such as a freely selectable angle, said angle being any between 0° and 360°, preferably between 0° and 270°, more preferably between 0° and 180°, where said angle is measured between a plane of said at least one hingeable element relative to a plane extending over edges in the housing.
- only one open position is provided, e.g. by providing two or more cooperating notch and latch imprints in the material of the housing and the material of the hingeable element, which notch and latch cooperates for holding the hingeable element in the open position.
- said at least one hingeable element and/or the housing is provided with at least one detach protrusion thereon in such a way that when the hingeable element is pivoted around said pivot axis to a certain angle the at least one detach protrusion is interacting through the movement relative to the housing and/or hingeable element as a lever point.
- This detach protrusion and any length of the element provides a sufficient arm to enable easy detachment of the hingeable element from the housing.
- a shape of at least one, preferably all of said member surfaces perpendicular to said magnetic force are circular or oval. These shapes aids in enabling a pivot action between the surface pairs, i.e. between the hingeable element and the housing.
- At least one of said magnetic or magnetizable member surface is provided with a recess or through-going hole arranged around a magnetic center of said member surface. This aids in placing the two member surfaces correctly relative to each other, and keeps them in position relative to each other, also during the pivot action.
- at least one of said magnetic or magnetizable member surfaces in a pair comprises a pivot protrusion suitable for engagement with such recess or through-going hole in the opposing member.
- said pivot protrusion is made from an elastic material, such as a polymer composition, such as an elastomeric composition.
- the size of the diameter of said pivot protrusion is at least around 0.9 times, such as 0.7 times the size of the diameter of the opposite recess.
- the two surface pairs are more easily provided correctly relative to each other, and further a decreased magnetic engagement force is necessary for holding the hingeable element in place relative to the housing.
- a pivot protrusion of an elastic material such as a rubber insert
- the detachment and reattachment action is eased.
- the pivot action of the hingeable element is less hindered, when e.g. being an elastic pivot, i.e. the pivot action is eased.
- Elastic means in this application both supple and resilient, as well as the property of resisting deformation by stretching.
- at least one of said magnetic or magnetizable members is provided with an outermost non-magnetic or non-magnetizable protection layer, e.g. made of a polymer composition. This can improve the visual appearance of the hingeable element and/or the housing. This can also decrease the risk of chipping off parts of the magnetic material during use and frequent de-tachment/re-attach- ment.
- the protection layer may comprise paint, laquer, binder, rubber, tape, wood, and/or other preferably non-metallic or non-magnetizable material, such as a gel, wax, lubricant or the like.
- the hinge structure is a pinless hinge structure. It has been realized by the invention that by providing sufficiently strong magnetic forces from the member surfaces relative to the hingeable element weight/size, no pins or springs are necessary in the hinge structure in order to hold the hingeable element in place relative to the housing.
- pins are both pins extending in parallel with any member surface, as well as perpendicular to this/these.
- the cleaning machine may be any one from the selection of a vacuum cleaner, such as a dry or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, a pressure washer, and a floor cleaning machine, such as a carpet steam cleaner, a sweeper, or a scrubber.
- a vacuum cleaner such as a dry or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner
- a pressure washer such as a carpet steam cleaner, a sweeper, or a scrubber.
- the present invention is advantageous when applied to industrial cleaning machines, such as industrial floor cleaning machines, such as industrial vacuum cleaners, where frequent detachment/reattachment is applied, and where the weight of the cleaner is increased.
- the at least one hingeable element is a hingeable cover and said housing comprising at least one aperture which is coverable by said hinged cover.
- the cleaning machine is a vacuum cleaner
- the housing comprises at least one vacuum chamber forming said aperture in said housing.
- a housing axis which extends between the centres of each of the second member surfaces being supported by said housing, is not coinciding with said magnetic centre axis when the hinged cover is in a closed position relative to said housing and the vacuum cleaner is being used, or is coinciding, when the hingeable element is not in the closed position relative to said housing.
- said hingeable cover is movable in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis, preferably in a direction perpendicular to a plane extending over edges in the housing forming said aperture, for a maximum movement distance being at least 3 %, such as at least 5 %, such as at least 10 %, such as at least 20 % of the diameter of one of the magnetic and/or magnetizable member surfaces.
- said hinged cover when said vacuum cleaner is operative for creating a vacuum state in said vacuum chamber, said hinged cover is movable and provides an airtight fit with said housing.
- said hingeable element is a detachable accessory for said cleaning machine, such as a plate, an additional cover, a filter holder, a suction head accessory. It has by the invention been realized that other parts of the cleaning machine may be easily detachable/reattachable as well, not only as a cover, but also as internal parts such as partition walls or suction head accessories.
- a hingeable element being detachably attachable to a cleaning machine housing via a hinge structure comprising at least two magnetizable or magnetic member surface pairs, at least two first magnetizable or magnetic members of said surface pairs being supported by said hingeable element and being adapted for engagement by magnetic force with at least two second magnetizable or magnetic members of said surface pairs being supported said cleaning machine housing, and where said hingeable element is adapted to, when magnetically attached to said cleaning machine housing, allow said magnetic force to extend substantially in parallel with a magnetic centre axis extending between each surface of the first members being supported by said hingeable element.
- the hingeable element is a hingeable cover suitable to cover a vacuum chamber in a vacuum cleaner. Said hingeable element is then substantially held in place relative to said housing primarily via said magnetic force.
- Fig. 1A, IB show perspective views of a cleaning machine according to an embodiment having the hingeable element in a closed position and in an open position, respectively;
- FIG. 2A, 2B show perspective views of a cleaning machine according to an embodiment having the hingeable element in a totally detached position and in a closed position, respectively;
- FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a box shaped cleaning machine housing provided with a hingeable cover
- Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a box shaped cleaning machine provided with a hingeable cover
- Fig. 5A, 5B show section views of the vacuum cleaner as shown in Fig. 2B along the pivot axis, when the vacuum cleaner is in an inoperable state and when in an operable state, respectively;
- Fig. 6A, 6B, 6C show side views of two different magnetic or magnetizable members, as well as a member provided with a pivot protrusion;
- Fig. 7A, 7B, 7C show end views of the three members as shown in Fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C;
- Fig. 8, 8A, 8B shows respectively a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A and IB of a cleaning machine provided with detach protrusions on the housing, and two cut side views showing the opened element before detachment and under detachment thereof of the embodiment of the cleaning machine as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, respectively.
- a cleaning machine 1 being a vacuum cleaner.
- different types of cleaning machines may easily be adapted according to the claimed invention, such as a dry or a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, a pressure washer, and a floor cleaning machine, such as a carpet steam cleaner, a sweeper, or a scrubber.
- hingeable element in the examples of a cover, but may also form other parts of the cleaning machine, such as a detachable accessory, such as a plate, e.g. forming a structural part of the cleaning machine, an additional cover, a filter holder, or a suction head accessory.
- a detachable accessory such as a plate, e.g. forming a structural part of the cleaning machine, an additional cover, a filter holder, or a suction head accessory.
- These hingeable elements may be provided on or in an interior or exterior part of the cleaning machine 1, as well as provided at, within, or on a side, upper, or lower surface thereof.
- Fig. 1A and IB show, in a very schematic way in order to better indicate the features of the present invention, and in perspective views, a cleaning machine 1 in one embodiment of the invention having a hingeable element or cover 20 in a closed and an open position, respectively.
- the cleaning machine 1 is a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing 10 having the cover 20 magnetically detachably attached via a hinge structure to the housing 10.
- the cover 20 is provided in order to enter into contact with an edge 12 of the housing 10 to cover an aperture 13 for
- the hinge structure comprises at least two pairs of magnetizable or magnetic members 11, 21 and 11, 21 provided with exposed surfaces El, HI and E2, H2, respectively.
- Each member pair 11, 21 are provided with their exposed surfaces El, HI facing each other, i.e. as opposing surfaces, each surface substantially extending perpendicular to a pivot axis A p extending between the geometric centres of each surface El, HI.
- the vacuum cleaner housing 10 is provided with the cover 20 which is adapted in size and shape to be able to fit over an aperture 11 of an interior space comprising a vacuum chamber, which is suitable for holding a motor and vacuum generator (not shown), and is in fluid communication with an opening with a flange 103 suitable for attaching and accommodating a suction hose (not shown).
- the housing 10 in general further comprise wheels 104, as well as further not indicated conventional features known to the skilled person to be provided on a vacuum cleaner 1, but these will not be discussed further herein, as they do not form part of the claimed invention.
- the cover 20 is provided with a handle 22, which is optional.
- Each surface of the two surface pairs HI, El and H2, E2 engage in pairs in cooperation two-by-two and enables a simple yet functional magnetic pivotal attachment between the cover 20 and the housing 10.
- the magnetic hinge structure 11, 21; 11, 21 allow the cover 20 to pivot around the pivot axis A p at an angle ⁇ relative to the housing 10 between the closed position as shown in Fig. 1A and e.g. an open position as shown in Fig. IB.
- the pivot axis A p coincides with a magnetic centre axis A m , which extends between the geometric centres of the exteriorly exposed magnetic or magnetizable member surfaces El and E2, also termed first surfaces, of the element members 11, 11.
- each surface of the element members 11, 11 also coincides with the position in which the magnetic field lines of the magnet or magnets extend from the surface El or E2 substantially perpendicular to said surface.
- the members 21 are provided as two separate, similar magnetizable or magnetic members with each their first surface El and E2, respectively, being exposed to the exterior of the cover 20. This is also the case for the magnetizable or magnetic members 11, 11 of the housing 10.
- the remaining surface area of the members (shown by dashed lines) is embedded inside the plastic material forming the cover 20 or the housing 10.
- the members can be attached to an outer surface of the cover 20 or housing 10 preferably having at least one surface exposed, i.e. not covered by any material.
- a protecting layer of preferably non-magnetizable material can be provided on the exposed surface if an increased wear of this surface is anticipated during use, e.g. if the two surfaces El, H2 in a pair lie close to each other, e.g. contact each other.
- any suitable number of member pairs may be applied, such as two, three, four, five, ten, or other practically suitable number, as well as any suitable material, size, magnetic field strength, shape of the members may be utilized.
- Each element member 21, 21 is positioned with its exposed surface El, E2 on opposing, mutually facing sides of two rectangular element protrusions 25, which extend substantially in parallel to each other and laterally along the cover 20 on the side edge thereof which faces the housing 10, the element protrusions 25 forming part of the cover 20.
- Each element member 21, 21 surface El and E2 are provided substantially flush with the element material forming each inner side edge of the two protrusions 25 of the cover 20.
- the two element protrusions 25 fit around a single protruding edge part 15, which is provided in the housing 10 and is provided with two magnetic members 11, 11, one on each side thereof with exposed second surfaces HI and H2 facing away from other.
- the exposed second surfaces HI, H2 of the housing members 11, 11 embedded in the housing 20 are positioned inwardly relative to the corresponding two first member 21, 21 surfaces El, E2 along the magnetic centre axis A m .
- Fig. 2A and 2B show an embodiment of the present invention wherein the second surfaces HI, H2 are positioned outwardly relative to the first members El, E2 along the magnetic centre axis.
- all four magnetizable or magnetic members 11, 11, 21, 21 are magnetic members, and each comprise a cylindrical neodymium magnet with a through going central hole extending in a direction along the pivot axis.
- the magnetic poles of all four magnets 11, 21, 21, 11 are provided substantially along the magnetic axis A m with alternating poles S/N, S/N, S/N, S/N in order for the largest amount of magnetic force being exerted between each pair to improve the engagement force of the cover 20 to the housing 10.
- the magnetic force is in this application then said to be extending in a direction in parallel or coinciding with the magnetic axis A m , at least of the magnetic members 21, 21.
- pairs comprising a metal or other magnetizable material such as an iron plate in combination with a neodymium or other magnet are also anticipated, such as Fe, S/N and S/N, Fe, or as S/N, Fe and Fe, S/N.
- magnétique materials for the magnetic members can be anticipated and can comprise ferromagnetic materials, such as ferrite or alnico, ceramic magnetic materials or rare earth materials, such as neodymium or samarium-cobalt materials.
- the rare earth materials exhibit an increased magnetic force (remanence) of around 1 to 1.3 Tesla as well as increased magnetic energy densities of around 80 to 440 kJ/m 3 relative to the magnetic force of ferromagnetic materials, which exhibit around 0.2 to 0.4 Tesla and magnetic energy densities of around 10 to 40 kJ/m 3 .
- an electromagnet positioned inside the housing can be employed, which is turned on only during operation and/or when the cleaning machine is plugged into an electrical outlet.
- magnetizable material includes materials, which can be made temporally or substantially permanently magnetic by contact to a magnet after the removal of the magnet and materials, which responds to a magnetic force, such as many metals, in particular ferrite, Fe/Ni compositions, and metal/polymer or metal/ceramic composites.
- the section or surface shape of the magnetic or magnetizable member can comprises any suitable form, such as a cylinder, oval or circular disc, annular, spherical, square, and can be provided in one piece or in a combination of a multitude of such parts, can be provided with a plane, shaped, or worked exposed surface, can be recessed, or through bored, and any combination thereof.
- the first and second surfaces in a member pair are substantially of corresponding size and shape.
- the actual physical size of the magnetic member depends upon application, in particular as to the weight, extent and size of the hingeable element, as well as the magnetic force being excerted by the members in each pair, expressed in Tesla or kJ/m 3 , as well as whether the pair or pairs are magnet-magnet or magnet-metal, where magnet-magnet combinations generally tend to be about 1.5 times stronger than magnet-magnetizable combinations.
- a suitable section or exposed surface size of commercially available neodymium magnets can be around 1 cm to 3 cm in diameter, and the magnetic energy density can be around 80 to 200 kJ/m 3 .
- the housing 10 at least at the position where the housing 10 is provided with the hinge structure, is preferably not made from magnetizable material, at least around the embedded magnet, in particular around the exposed surface or surfaces thereof.
- the hingeable element 20, such as cover, flap, door, partition, etc. may be made from any suitable material, such as wood or polymer.
- the element 20 is not made from magnetizable material, at least in and around the area of support of the magnetic pair surfaces.
- a light weight material is used for the element - this reduces the magnetic force needed to hold the element in place, which reduces the manufacturing costs due to member costs.
- Fig. IB is shown the cleaning machine housing 10 with the cover 20 in an open position at an angle ⁇ thereto.
- the type and force of members, cover design, as well as material etc. may be selected in order for the attachment force between the two member pairs to allow the cover 20 to be held such a continually open position at that angle ⁇ . Either held in that angle ⁇ specifically, or - if the magnetic force is further increased or cover weight/design decreased - held continually in any angle between 0° and a larger angle than ⁇ , until the upper surface of the cover 20 makes contact with an edge of the protruding edge part 25 of the housing 10.
- the cover 20 in addition to the magnetic hinge structure, can further be aided in staying securely in the closed position by providing a first magnetizable or magnetic closure plate 14 on the housing 10 on the edge 12 of the aperture 13 in the housing 10.
- the closure plate can cooperate magnetically and enter into contact with a second magnetizable or magnetic closure plate 24.
- Fig. 2A and 2B are shown one embodiment of the cleaning machine according to the invention having inwardly positioned element member surfaces El, E2, relative to the housing member surfaces HI, H2, as opposed to the embodiment shown in Fig. lA and IB.
- the cover 20 is able to be completely detached and removed from the housing 10, as is shown in Fig. 2A. This may be done in several ways, the detachment force being dependent upon the number and pair attachment force the user is moving against, e.g. by a user gripping manually and firmly by the handle 23, when the cover 10 is provided in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2B, and moving the cover 20 e.g.
- the cover 20 can travel towards the two protruding edge parts 25, in this case.
- a user may also pull in one corner of the cover 20 or pull in the handle 22 obliquely to detach the cover 20 from the housing 10.
- Fig. 2A also show that the magnetic centre axis A m extends between the geometric centres of the magnetic members 21, 21 provided in the cover 20, and that the pivot axis A p to be achieved extends between the geometric centres of the housing elements 11, 11, as well as in parallel with the magnetic centre axis A m as herein shown.
- Fig. 1A and IB show that when the cover 20 is attached to the housing 10, the magnetic centre axis A m substantially coincides with the pivot axis A p , and is at least provided in parallel to each other.
- the cover is also easily re-attachable, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2A, the user holds the cover 20 manually in a position where the element protrusion 25 draws near the interspace between the two housing protrusions 15, 15 for the magnetic force between the magnetic members 11, 21 and 21, 11 to be increasing and "guide” the cover 20 into place there between and attach to the housing 10.
- Fig. 2B also show the visually pleasing appearance of the cleaning machine 1 presenting the cover 20 in a closed position on the housing 10.
- Fig. 3 and 4 show two embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate some of the different shapes and forms of the housing 10, such as being box-shaped as well as two different positionings of the members with the two pairs of surfaces El, HI and E2, H2.
- Fig. 3 shows a floor cleaning machine housing 10 comprising a substantially square box-shaped housing 10, provided on its entire top face with a cover 20, as opposed to the embodiments shown in Fig. 1A-2B, where approximately only half of the top face of the housing 10 was provided with the cover 20.
- two ferrite-iron cylinders are provided as element members 231, 231 in the cover 20 to engage magnetically with two cylindrical neodymium magnets 131, 131 and provide a pivotable, detachable cover 20 thereon.
- the members 231, 231 in the cover 20 does not in error magnetically attract any other magnetic or magnetizable object along the way, if or when the cover 20 is being detached and reattached again.
- Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a cleaning machine 1 according to the invention, where the two surface pairs El, HI and H2, E2 are provided as the exposed inner end surface of a circular magnetic plate member 241 on an side edge of the square cover 20, the two exposed circular exteriorly facing end surfaces of an elongated cylindrical iron member 141, and the exposed inner surface of a further circular magnetic plate member 241 on the opposing side edge of the square cover 20.
- This provides a visually more attractive surface, when all hinge structure members and surfaces are hidden, or integrated into the design of the cleaning machine 1.
- manufacture of the housing 10 and cover 20 is eased since the provision and positioning of the members therein can be provided without the use of special tools, and can be provided during molding of the housing 10 and/or cover 20.
- the hingeable element as well as the magnetic hinge structure may be positioned internally (not shown) or externally relative to the housing, see Fig. 1-4, as well as on or at a side, top, or bottom surface thereof.
- Fig. 5A and 5B show a vertical longitudinal cut section along the pivot axis A p of Fig. 2B of the cover 20, hinge structure and an upper part of the housing 10, when the cover 20 is in the closed position relative to the housing 10.
- Fig. 5A shows the relative position of the cover 20 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is not running its vacuum generator
- Fig 5B shows the relative position of the cover 20 when the vacuum generator is running and creates a vacuum suction chamber below the cover 20 within the vacuum cleaner housing 10, i.e. when the vacuum cleaner 1 is turned off and on, respectively.
- Fig. 5A show the cover 20 being in a position in which the pivot axis A p is coincident with the magnetic axis A m as defined by the magnets 21.
- the gap d is not larger that the span with which the magnetic forces between the two magnet surfaces facing each other are able to operate effectively. Also, advantageously, the gap d may also be reduced, even to zero, in which case the exposed surfaces of the magnets 11, 21 may risk friction damages over the operative life of the cover 20 and housing 10.
- An outermost non-magnetic or non- magnetizable protection layer may then be provided, e.g. made of a polymer composition.
- the protection layer may comprise paint, lacquer, binder, rubber, tape, wood, and/or other preferably non-metallic or non-magnetizable material, such as a gel, wax, or lubricant.
- a height h between the hinge part of the cover 20 and a flange 12 is provided along the inner wall 10a of the housing 10 i.e. on a side surface of the aperture 13 in the housing 10 and provides a resting place or a maximum distance with which the cover 20 may pass into the housing 10.
- the hinge part of the cover 20 when the vacuum generator is not running, soars between the member pairs comprising the magnets 11 located in the housing 10 and the magnets 21 located in the cover 20. This effect is due to the mutual forces exerted by the magnets 11 and 21.
- the cover 20 may be very easily be opened and pivoted around the pivot axis A p .
- the hinge structure enables the cover 20 to be kept in position by the mutual forces of the magnets 11, 21 of the member pairs and provides a hinge structure in which there is practically no resistance due to friction, and, thus, very low forces are required to move the cover around the pivot axis Ap.
- Fig. 5B shows a situation wherein the vacuum generator is running and works to generate a vacuum chamber thus created within the housing 10.
- the vacuum chamber causes the cover 20 to move towards the flanges 12 thereby enables a tight closure of the generated vacuum chamber within the housing 10. This is due to the fact that the downwards acting suction force created by the vacuum chamber by the vacuum generator is larger than the magnetic forces provided by the magnets 11, 21 of the member pairs which were able to keep the hinge part of the cover 20 in the position as shown in Fig. 5A when the vacuum generator was not running.
- the cover 20 gets sucked towards the flanges 12 on the housing 10 to form a
- the height h is eliminated when the vacuum generator is running, while the gap d between the magnets is essentially maintained.
- the designed height h should not exceed a maximum height which is the height where the magnetic force between the exposed surfaces is no longer effective to hold the cover 20 in place, which maximum height depends on the magnetic force exerted between the member pairs, the dimensions of the member surfaces, cover 20 and/or housing 10, the positioning and design of the pivotable element on and relative to the housing 10, the weight of the cover 20, the diameter D of the through hole in the member relative to the diameter of the exposed member surface, etc.
- the contacting upper surface of the peripheral flange 12 and/or the lower surface 20a of the cover 20 which contacts the flange 12 at a peripheral edge of the lower surface 20a may be provided with an elastic material, such as an elastomer.
- the cover 20 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis A p , preferably in a direction perpendicular to a plane extending over edges in the housing forming said aperture, for a maximum movement distance being at least 3 %, such as at least 5 %, such as at least 10 %, such as at least 20 % of the diameter of one of the magnetic and/or magnetizable member surfaces.
- FIGS. 6A to 7C show different embodiments of members comprising magnets, which are suitable for use in the hinge structure of the invention. Alternatively, they can also show the design of different embodiments of magnetizable members, made from e.g. iron.
- Fig. 6A shows a magnet 11 seen from the side
- Fig. 7A shows this magnet 11 seen from the front, exhibiting a member surface.
- this particular magnet 11 is a solid cylinder comprising a massive core of a magnetic material, which may be an advantage when requiring an increased magnetic force.
- a central hole may also increase the effective magnetic field, if provided along it, and thereby increase the magnetic forces exerted between two magnets, 11, 22 or one magnet and one magnetizable member.
- the through-going hole encompass a body, e.g. of elastomeric material, which - when the magnet is provided in the housing or pivotable element - provide a pivot protrusion 45.
- a pivot protrusion 45 may engage with a corresponding hole in an opposite hinge structure member and make it easier to control the movement of the cover 20 during any pivot action.
- the exposed projecting part of the pivot protrusion 45 is made of an elastic, preferably
- One or both of the magnetic or magnetizable member surfaces in a pair may further be provided with a detach slit between said recess and one side of said member in order to enable sliding out said pivot protrusion, when the hingeable element 20 is being pivoted and detached from the housing 10.
- the detach slit may be provided in a magnetizable or magnetic member at either surface, as a recess therein or though-going.
- Fig. 8 zooms in on part of the upper surface of the cover 20 and upper surface of the housing 10, wherein are provided two detach protrusions 30 in an upper part of the single protruding edge part 15 of the housing 10, as is similar to the
- detach protrusion 30 are provided in parallel to the pivot axis A p within the housing 10 and work in a similar manner as the detach protrusions 30A as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, but the latter are instead provided in the two protruding edge parts 15, as is similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2A and 2B having inwardly positioned element member surfaces relative to the members in the housing 10.
- Fig. 8A shows the cover 20 being pivoted open into such an angle wherein the detach protrusion 30B on the cover 20 is being placed between the two detach protrusions 30A on the housing 10.
- the protrusion 30B remains within the valley between the two protrusions 30A and thus the magnetic axis A m (indicated by the leftmost cross) is moved further away from the pivot axis A p (indicated by the rightmost cross), whereby the magnetic force between the member surfaces is reduced and thus the removal of the cover 20 from the housing 10 is further eased.
- the detach protrusions 30, 30A, 30B may additionally function as a notch and latch for keeping the cover 20 in that angle and hold it there in one given open position.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DKPA201470297 | 2014-05-22 | ||
PCT/DK2015/050062 WO2015176727A1 (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2015-03-23 | A cleaning machine, such as a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, and a hingeable element being detachably attachable thereto |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3145381A1 true EP3145381A1 (en) | 2017-03-29 |
EP3145381A4 EP3145381A4 (en) | 2018-04-04 |
Family
ID=54553456
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP15796736.5A Withdrawn EP3145381A4 (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2015-03-23 | A cleaning machine, such as a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, and a hingeable element being detachably attachable thereto |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20170079492A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3145381A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN106455884A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2950027A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015176727A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD835862S1 (en) * | 2016-01-20 | 2018-12-11 | Yongkang Xieheng Zhejiang Province Industry & Commerce, Co., LTD | Anti-splash cleaning machine |
KR101835998B1 (en) * | 2016-10-25 | 2018-03-07 | 주식회사 엘지생활건강 | Hinge member and vessel having the same |
CN111973094B (en) * | 2019-05-22 | 2022-11-18 | 添可智能科技有限公司 | Ground cleaning equipment |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA727837A (en) * | 1966-02-15 | Jepson Ivar | Vacuum cleaner | |
US3707017A (en) * | 1970-11-20 | 1972-12-26 | Bjorksten Research Lab Inc | Magnetic hinge |
DE3337736C2 (en) * | 1983-10-18 | 1986-11-13 | Progress-Elektrogeräte Mauz & Pfeiffer GmbH & Co, 7000 Stuttgart | vacuum cleaner |
GB2317817B (en) * | 1997-01-30 | 1998-12-02 | Notetry Ltd | Vacuum cleaner |
US6070288A (en) * | 1997-05-15 | 2000-06-06 | Bissell Homecare, Inc. | Storage bag for vacuum cleaner accessories and the like |
US6314610B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2001-11-13 | The Hoover Company | Vacuum cleaner bag housing assembly |
CN101469735B (en) * | 2007-12-29 | 2011-06-29 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Hinge mechanism and portable electronic device equipped therewith |
CN101672322B (en) * | 2008-09-10 | 2012-06-20 | 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 | Magnetic hinge structure |
DE102009035603B4 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2018-01-25 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Vacuum cleaner with removable lid |
EP2597236A4 (en) * | 2010-08-06 | 2016-05-18 | Yagiken Co Ltd | Door opening/closing structure |
AU2011295770B2 (en) * | 2010-09-01 | 2014-10-30 | Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited | Conversion mechanism for switching extractor cleaning machine from floor cleaning to hose cleaning |
CN103126610B (en) * | 2011-11-25 | 2016-06-29 | 南京乐金熊猫电器有限公司 | There is the horizontal dust collector of magnetic buckle cover device |
-
2015
- 2015-03-23 EP EP15796736.5A patent/EP3145381A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2015-03-23 CN CN201580025984.1A patent/CN106455884A/en active Pending
- 2015-03-23 WO PCT/DK2015/050062 patent/WO2015176727A1/en active Application Filing
- 2015-03-23 CA CA2950027A patent/CA2950027A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2015-03-23 US US15/310,616 patent/US20170079492A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2015176727A1 (en) | 2015-11-26 |
CA2950027A1 (en) | 2015-11-26 |
CN106455884A (en) | 2017-02-22 |
EP3145381A4 (en) | 2018-04-04 |
US20170079492A1 (en) | 2017-03-23 |
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