EP3193689B1 - Adapter plate - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an adapter device for the arrangement of containers on a cleaning device.

Such an adapter device for arrangement on a cleaning device is for example from the EP 2 456 341 B1 known. This adapter device is mounted on the housing of a cleaning device and has on the upper side a footprint for receiving a container. Such a container is fixed by means of a locking device on the adapter plate and is thus connected via the adapter plate to the housing of the cleaning device. Such a container may for example be a tool box, which can be transported in combination with the cleaning device.

The in the EP 2 456 341 B1 disclosed adapter plate has a centrally disposed carrying handle, which is pivotable out of a recess of the adapter plate via a pivoting mechanism, so as to lift the adapter plate together with the cleaning device.

Disadvantage of this known arrangement, however, is that the mounted on the cleaning device adapter plate must be designed over a large area to accommodate a corresponding container. Thus, the adapter plate covers the entire top of the cleaner.

If you now want to lift and transport the cleaning device, you have to fold out the carrying handle integrated in the adapter plate in order to lift the cleaning device over it. Since the in the EP 2 456 341 B1 disclosed adapter plate is attached without tools on the surface of the cleaning device, there is no reliable connection between the adapter plate and cleaning device. Thus, it is not excluded that the connection - especially when carrying the device using the attached to the adapter plate handle - dissolves and thus the adapter plate from the surface of the cleaner and the cleaner accidentally drops to the floor during transport from a raised position. Due to the tool-less mounting of the adapter plate on the cleaning device and the arrangement of the handle on the adapter plate is no reliable connection to the cleaning device with a power transmission between handle would be guaranteed.

As a rule, such carrying handles are arranged on the upper side of the housing of the cleaning device. Such, already existing handle is made ineffective by the attached adapter plate above, which is associated with an increase in weight.

Another disadvantage is the high production costs of the disclosed adapter plate, since here, due to the size of the adapter plate, a significant amount of material must be installed. In addition, the cleaning device is thus unnecessarily heavy and there is an additional burden on the housing and the rollers on the underside of the cleaner.

The DE 10 2012 108 650 A1 discloses an adapter device for arranging a container on top of a cleaning device, consisting of an adapter plate with a footprint, and at least one locking element for locking the container on the adapter plate. The disadvantage of this is that the mounted on the cleaning device adapter plate must be designed over a large area to accommodate a corresponding container. Thus, the adapter plate covers the entire top of the cleaner and makes the cleaner unnecessarily heavy. This becomes particularly noticeable when the cleaning device has to be carried over bumps such as sleepers or stairs.

The invention is therefore the object of developing an adapter plate of the type mentioned so that improved handling of the cleaning device can be achieved.

The invention therefore solves the above object by the features of the current claim. 1

An essential feature is that the adapter plate is at least two parts and consists of a front adapter plate and a rear adapter plate, which are separately mounted on the top of a cleaning tool without tools or with a tool and that the two adapter plates between them the housing surface with the handle there arranged set free.

However, the invention should not be limited to a two-part adapter plate, it is also claimed a tripartite or divided into several parts adapter plate.

Due to the bipartition of the adapter plate, it is possible to mount the adapter plates separately on a cleaning device as required. The orientation of the two adapter plates can be done either transversely to the housing longitudinal axis or parallel to the housing longitudinal axis. It is important, however, that the adapter plates leave the housing-side carrying handle accessible.

Thus, the weight of the two adapter plates is lower compared to a one-piece, continuous adapter plate according to the prior art.
It can always be used on the housing side carrying handle, so that the connection of the adapter plates with the housing need not be designed for the relatively high case weight.

In addition, the invention allows greater freedom in the combination of two different adapter plates.

In such an embodiment of the invention, it is provided to mount different containers on the adapter plate parts. So can For example, on the front or the rear adapter plate, a container for small parts and on the rear adapter plate, a receptacle for a machine, which processes the small parts combined with the cleaning device.

Thus, for example, the sanding dust of a sander is sucked through a cleaning device, such as a vacuum cleaner, with the tool box of the orbital sander on the rear adapter plate and the grinding pads for the orbital sander on the front adapter plate.

It can also be combined adapter plates, so that, for example, the rear adapter plate permanently mounted on the cleaning device, while the front adapter plate is aligned depending on the size of the fixing on the cleaning device container, and accordingly in different sizes on the cleaning device can be mounted.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cleaning device on the surface has different mounting areas for adapter plates, so that an adapter plate, depending on the requirements, is screwed at different positions on the surface of the cleaning device.

The cleaning devices described here are small electrical appliances that are used in household and industry and can be, for example, a vacuum cleaner with a maximum output of 1100 watts. With such a vacuum cleaner, for example, small and coarse dirt particles, chips, moist dusts and liquids can be sucked.

However, the invention should not be limited to vacuum cleaners, it would also be possible to mount the adapter plates according to the invention on another small electrical appliance such as a high-pressure cleaner or a generator.

Due to the division of the adapter plate has the significant advantage that now on the housing surface of the cleaning device usually centrally arranged handle is directly accessible. This is no longer covered by a full-surface adapter plate, which extends over the entire surface of the cleaning device. Thus, the cleaning device can be easily lifted and transported. Through direct access to the integrated with the cleaning device transport handle, there is a direct power transfer between the transport handle and the hand of the operator of the cleaning device.

Thus, in the manufacture of the adapter plate material is saved and the total weight of the cleaning device, such as a vacuum cleaner with mounted adapter plate is generally lower than when using a one-piece adapter plate. The individual adapter plates are preferably mounted via a screw on the top of the vacuum cleaner, but also another tool-mounted installation is possible.

The adapter plates according to the invention also have two different sized receiving surfaces for receiving two different sized containers. It is thus possible to mount two differently sized containers on the already mounted adapter plates. For this purpose, depending on the size of the container at the corresponding receiving areas different fixation options are given.

Preferably, a container is fixed by means of connecting elements on the adapter plates. Such fasteners may be, for example, hooks or bow-shaped configured locking members. These connecting elements are pivotally mounted on the adapter plate and engage in the container.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the connecting elements are arranged on the containers and engage in corresponding recesses of the adapter blade.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided to arrange locking grooves on the adapter plate, in which a corresponding shape of the container can engage and thus a fixation of the container on the adapter plate is possible. Such a configuration can be, for example, latching lugs or pins.
Preferably, the locking groove is arranged in an arc part of the adapter plate. Such a bow part stands out of the adapter plate and has a central detent opening into which a corresponding detent nose of the container engages.

In addition to an arch shape and a square shape of a projecting out of the adapter plate locking receptacle is possible.

However, the invention should not be limited to the use of locking grooves or pivotal connection elements. It is claimed here any form of brackets and fixings. For example, it is possible to place the container only on the adapter plates and to hold over lateral stops in the desired position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the container is fixed on the adapter plate via a locking element, wherein the adapter plate has a spring-biased locking lug which cooperates with a locking groove of the container.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the rear adapter plate has an inclined surface which drops towards the carrying handle. This ensures even better access to the carrying handle, since now no annoying corner of the adapter plate narrows the access area.

The rear or the front adapter plate may optionally have a hook-shaped receptacle which receives the power cable of the cleaning device. In this case, a receptacle for a corresponding suction hose may be provided, which protrudes from the adapter plate accordingly.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the front adapter plate or the rear adapter plate include an electrically operated attachment, such as a pneumatic compressor or a high-pressure pump.

Furthermore, the integrated into the front or rear adapter plate, electrically operated auxiliary device can be supplied via a power outlet arranged on the cleaning device with electrical power.

In the invention, it is therefore an at least two-part adapter plate, which facilitates the handling of the cleaning device and facilitates a safe transport cleaning device despite mounted adapter plate.

The subject of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination of the individual claims with each other.

All information and features disclosed in the documents, including the abstract, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention insofar as they are novel individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing only one embodiment. Here are from the drawings and their description further features essential to the invention and advantages of the invention.

• Figur 1: Adapterplatte nach dem Stand der Technik
• Figur 2: montierbarer Behälter klein
• Figur 3: montierbarer Behälter groß
• Figur 4: perspektivische Ansicht einer geteilten Adapterplatte
• Figur 5: Seitenansicht eines Reinigungsgerätes mit montierter geteilter Adapterplatte und Behälter klein
• Figur 6: perspektivische Ansicht einer geteilten Adapterplatte
• Figur 7: Detailansicht vordere Adapterplatte
• Figur 8: Detailansicht hintere Adapterplatte
• Figur 9: perspektivische Ansicht hintere Adapterplatte
• Figur 10: Draufsicht auf die Aufnahmebereiche
• Figuren 11a bis 11c: Verbindungselemente
• Figur 12: perspektivische Ansicht einer geteilten Adapterplatte
• Figur 13: perspektivische Ansicht eines Reinigungsgerätes mit einer weiteren Ausgestaltung einer montierten geteilten Adapterplatte.

Show it:

• FIG. 1 : Adapter plate according to the prior art
• FIG. 2 : mountable container small
• FIG. 3 : mountable container large
• FIG. 4 : Perspective view of a split adapter plate
• FIG. 5 : Side view of a cleaning device with mounted split adapter plate and small container
• FIG. 6 : Perspective view of a split adapter plate
• FIG. 7 : Detail view front adapter plate
• FIG. 8 : Detail view rear adapter plate
• FIG. 9 : perspective view rear adapter plate
• FIG. 10 : Top view of the reception areas
• FIGS. 11a to 11c : Fasteners
• FIG. 12 : Perspective view of a split adapter plate
• FIG. 13 : Perspective view of a cleaning device with a further embodiment of a mounted split adapter plate.

FIG. 1 shows a one-piece adapter plate 1, 2 according to the prior art. This adapter plate is mounted on a cleaning device, such as a vacuum cleaner 9, and has a receiving area 7, 8 for receiving containers. These containers are fixed on the adapter plate 1, 2 via the connecting elements 14.

FIG. 2 shows a mountable container in a smaller design, which is used to hold, for example, electrical appliances.

FIG. 3 shows a container in a larger construction, which can also be used for the reception of electrical appliances. This may be, for example, electrical appliances that work together with the vacuum cleaner. For example, this may be a grinding machine, wherein the grinding dust is sucked from the vacuum cleaner via a corresponding hose connection.

FIG. 4 shows an inventive shared adapter plate, which is mounted on a vacuum cleaner 9. The vacuum cleaner 9 is moved over the rollers 17 on the ground. On the upper side 11 of the device housing 12, a front adapter plate 1 and a rear adapter plate 2 is arranged. In this case, the adapter plate 1 is arranged by the adapter plate 2 at a distance 18. As a result, an area of the upper side 11 of the cleaning device 9 at a distance 18 between the adapter plates 1, 2 freely visible and freely accessible. In this area, a carrying handle 19 is arranged, wherein there is a gripping recess 20 under this handle 19. The front adapter plate 1 has a footprint 13 and the rear adapter plate 2 has a footprint 15 on the respective upper side for parking a container 4, 6 on. The adapter plate 1 and the adapter plate 2 are mounted via a screw 10 on the top 11 of the vacuum cleaner. The mounting of the adapter plates 1,2 is also possible in the direction of the longitudinal axis, so that these, as in FIG. 12 , are arranged parallel to the carrying handle 19. The adapter plates are here at a distance 18 arranged away from each other, so that a direct access to the carrying handle 19 of the cleaning device 9 is possible.

The view after FIG. 5 shows how a small container 4 on the split adapter plates 1, 2 can be mounted. The container 4 rests against the stops 16 and is thus held in position.

FIG. 6 shows how the front adapter plate in the front region has an arch portion 28 in which a locking groove 25 is arranged. Also, the rear adapter plate 2 has an arch portion 28, in which also a locking groove 25 is arranged. However, the invention should not be limited to the fact that in both adapter plates a locking groove is present, optionally, a locking groove 25 may be present in only one adapter plate. This locking groove 25 serves to lock a container, wherein the container has a corresponding locking lug which engages when placed on the adapter plates in the corresponding locking groove and thus fixes the container on the top 11 of the vacuum cleaner. The carrying handle 19 is freely accessible and lies between the adapter plates 1 and 2. The rear adapter plate 2 has an inclined surface 24, which ensures easier access to the carrying handle 19. The front adapter plate 2 has a recess 23, which can serve for example for receiving tools. The front adapter plate 1 and the rear adapter plate 2 also have connecting elements 14, which serve to fix the container.

In the in FIG. 6 As shown, it is possible to accommodate two different container sizes with the adapter plate 1, 2. For example, a smaller container 4 can be received in the receiving points 3, the receiving points 3 having connecting elements 14 for fixing the container 4. In addition, it is possible to accommodate larger container 6, which create due to their length to the sheet parts 28 and engage located on the containers locking lugs in the locking grooves 25. Optionally, these containers can also be fixed via the connecting elements 14. The Rear adapter plate 2, which in FIG. 8 can be seen, also has the recordings 22, which can record, for example, a cable. In addition, on the left side of the adapter plate 2, a connecting element 14, as well as on the front side of another connecting element 14 can be seen, which are arranged offset from one another at an angle of 90 degrees. The invention is not limited thereto. It would also be possible to arrange at least two connecting elements opposite one another or to arrange at least two connecting elements in a row of the respective adapter plate in order to fix a container erected on the adapter plate.

It is preferred if the respective connecting elements 14 of the one adapter plate 1 are arranged opposite to the connecting elements 14 of the opposite adapter plate 2. This ensures a secure hold of the later mounted on it container.

In FIG. 7 the connecting elements 14 are also arranged at an angle of 90 degrees. In addition, the adapter plate 1 has a recess 23 for receiving tools and small parts. In addition to the adapter plate 1, the carrying handle 19 of the cleaning device is freely accessible.
In FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 one recognizes the respective arch portion 28 of the front adapter plate 1 and the rear adapter plate 2. The arch portion 28 has a latching groove 25 into which a corresponding locking lug of a container can engage. In FIG. 9 shows the inclined surface 24 in the direction of the central part of the vacuum cleaner. As a result, there are fewer edges, which stand in the way of a manual operation of the carrying handle.

FIG. 10 shows the small receiving area 7 and the larger receiving area 8, wherein receiving area 7 serves to receive a small container 4 and receiving area 8 for a large container 6. The receiving area 8, which like the receiving area 7, is divided into two and through the front adapter plate 1 and the Rear adapter plate 2 is defined, has at its outer regions in each case an arch portion 28. The arch part 28 is used with its locking groove 25 for receiving a large container 6 which has corresponding locking lugs which engage in the locking grooves 25 and so fix the container and connect to the adapter plate 1.2.
Receiving area 7 has in each case at its front and broad side a connecting element 14, which in the example according to FIG. 10 are arranged the same, so that the respective connecting elements 7 adapter plates 1, 2 are aligned opposite each other in the lower image area and are arranged in a line in the upper image area. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It can also be provided that the respective connecting elements on both adapter plates 1, 2 offset from each other to ensure a secure fixing of the respective container. In the front region of the cleaning device 9, a control panel 26 is arranged, which is easily accessible due to the inventive small dimensioning of the front adapter plate 1 and is not covered by this.

FIGS. 11A to 11C show an embodiment of the connecting element 14 which is pivotally mounted via a pivot axis 21. Thus, the connecting element between a locking position and a release position is pivotally supported on the adapter plate 1,2. The connecting elements are in this case designed as a locking hook and engage with a latching nose 27 in a corresponding recess of the container 4, 6 a.

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of an inventive divided adapter plate, with a front adapter plate 1 and a rear adapter plate 2, which are mounted on a cleaning device, such as a vacuum cleaner 9. The vacuum cleaner 9 is moved over the rollers 17 on the ground. On the upper side 11 of the device housing 12, a front adapter plate 1 and a rear adapter plate 2 is arranged. The area of the upper side 11 of the cleaning device 9 between the two adapter plates 1, 2 is freely visible and freely accessible. In this area, a carrying handle 19 is arranged, which is under this handle 19, a gripping recess 20th located. The front adapter plate 1 has a footprint 13 and the rear adapter plate 2 has a footprint 15 for parking a container ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) on. The adapter plate 1 and the adapter plate 2 are screwed, for example, with the top 11 of the vacuum cleaner.

The rear adapter plate 2 may have one or more recesses 23 in which small objects, such as screws, coins, accessories, etc. can be stored.

The front adapter plate 1 may for example have an external or integrated cable receptacle which receives the power cable of the cleaning device 9 or the power cable of an electrical accessory.

The front adapter plate 1 may further include an electrical attachment 30, such as an air compressor for generating compressed air having an inlet 31 and an outlet 32 for air, or a high pressure pump for generating a high pressure purge jet having an inlet 31 and an outlet 32 for water , The arranged in the adapter plate 1 electrical accessory 30 has an electrical cable 33 which can be plugged into an electrical outlet 29, which is arranged on the control panel 26 of the cleaning device 9. Thus, the electrical accessory 30 is supplied in the Adapeterplatte 1 from the cleaning device 9 with electrical power. It can be provided that the socket 29 is supplied with power as soon as the cleaning device is connected to the electrical network. It can also be provided that the socket 29 is only supplied with power when the cleaning device 9 is turned on. Likewise, a separate on / off switch for turning on and off the socket 29 may be provided.

Of course, any other power consumers can be connected to the electrical socket 29.

Important in the present invention is therefore that easy operation and handling of the vacuum cleaner is ensured by the fact that the adapter plate is at least two parts and thus the vacuum cleaner is better to use and at the same adapter plate size at least two different receiving areas, depending on the size of the container To be available.

drawing Legend

1

front adapter plate

2

rear adapter plate

3

Attachment points for 4

4

Container small

5

Attachment points for 6

6

Container big

7

reception area

8th

reception area

9

Cleaning device / vacuum cleaner

10

screw

11

top

12

device housing

13

Footprint in front

14

connecting member

15

Footprint at the back

16

attack

17

castor

18

distance

19

handle

20

gripping recess

21

swivel axis

22

admission

23

deepening

24

sloping surface

25

locking groove

26

Control panel

27

locking lug

28

arc part

29

electrical outlet

30

electrical accessory

31

inlet

32

outlet

33

electrical cable

Claims (12)

1. Adapter device for arranging a container (4, 6) on the upper side (11) of a cleaning apparatus (9), consisting of an adapter plate (1, 2) with a support surface (13, 15), and at least one locking element for locking the container (4, 6) on the adapter plate, characterised in that the adapter plate (1, 2) is divided into at least two parts and consists of a front adapter plate (1) and a rear adapter plate (2) which can be mounted separately from one another on the upper side (11) of the cleaning apparatus (9), and in that the two adapter plates (1, 2) between them leave free the housing surface with a carrying handle (19) arranged there.
2. Adapter device according to claim 1, characterised in that between the front adapter plate (1) and the rear adapter plate (2) a gap (18) exists, in which a carrying handle (19) of the cleaning apparatus (9) is freely accessible.
3. Adapter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the container (4, 6) can be fixed on the support surface (13, 15) via connecting elements (14, 25).
4. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support surface (4, 6) has at least two different size receiving areas (7, 8) in order to receive containers (4, 6) of different sizes.
5. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the front adapter plate (1) has an arcuate part (28), in which a locking groove (25) is arranged for latching with the container (6).
6. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the rear adapter plate (2) has an arcuate part (28), in which a locking groove (25) is arranged for latching with the container (6).
7. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the adapter plates (1, 2) can be screwed to the upper side (5) of the cleaning apparatus (9) via screw connections.
8. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the front adapter plate (1) or the rear adapter plate (2) has a receiver (22) for receiving a hose or a cable.
9. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the rear adapter plate (2) has an inclined surface (24) which facilitates picking up of the carrying handle (19).
10. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the front adapter plate (1) or the rear adapter plate (2) has a recess (23) for receiving objects.
11. Adapter device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the front adapter plate (1) or the rear adapter plate (2) comprises an electrically operated auxiliary apparatus (30).
12. Adapter device according to claim 11, characterised in that the electrically operated auxiliary apparatus (30) integrated into the front or rear adapter plate (1, 2) is supplied with electric current via a socket (29) arranged on the cleaning apparatus (9).

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