EP3372135B1 - Suction nozzle for a handheld vacuum cleaner and handheld vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a hand-held suction device with such an extraction and suction nozzle.

Generic pull-off and suction nozzles and associated hand-held suction devices are from the DE 10 2012 104 102 A1 known. They are intended to be attached to a portable hand-held suction device, which can be held in the hand of a user when used as intended, for sucking up liquids or liquid / air mixtures from flat surfaces, in particular window surfaces, tables or similar vertical, inclined or horizontal surfaces.

The extraction and suction nozzles have a suction channel connection and a nozzle body which has at least one extraction lip, which is movable in a extraction direction along the surface for extraction of liquid, and at least one suction gap, arranged in the area of a liquid collecting side of the extraction lip, for sucking in the one in front of the extraction lip having accumulated liquid in a suction chamber which is fluidically connected to the suction channel connection. The nozzle body is designed in two parts with a device-side support body having the suction channel connection and a suction body having the pull-off lip and the suction gap. The support body is arranged at a distance from the pull-off lip and in front of the pull-off lip when viewed in the pull-off direction and, with a support surface, forms a support for supporting on the surface. The suction body is pivotably connected to the connection body and rotatable via a hinge about an axis of rotation that runs parallel to the contact edge of the pull-off lip on the surface to be suctioned off, counter to the force of a spring means which, when the support is in contact with the surface to be suctioned off, adjusts the pull-off lip on the surface .

An extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device and a hand-held suction device are also from the US 2011 138 554 A1 known. This well-known extraction and suction nozzle is part of a mobile suction device designed as a suction device for sucking up liquids. A preferred application of such suction devices is the removal of window surfaces after moistening while simultaneously sucking up the removed liquid. This from the US 2011 138 554 A1 known hand-held suction device has a pivotable mounting of the extraction and suction nozzle around a central position, with a return spring which is initially tensioned against the surface to be vacuumed as a result of the contact pressure of the extraction lip and returns the extraction and suction nozzle to the starting position after this pressure has been removed, is provided.

In principle, however, the invention is not limited to liquid suction devices or window pullers, it can be used in connection with all forms of hand-held suction devices, whereby in the preferred application a hand-held suction device is understood to be a device that is battery-operated and so small that it can be gripped with one hand and can be guided along the surface.

From the WO 2016 029 968 A1 a further extraction and suction nozzle is known. Here, too, the extraction and suction nozzle is pivoted against a spring force, it being possible for the joint to be arranged either within the extraction and suction nozzle or within the hand-held suction device. A similar solution is shown by the DE 10 2014 001 250 B3 .

The above-mentioned pull-off and suction nozzles and the associated hand-held suction devices are well suited to collecting and sucking up liquids, but have the disadvantage that, depending on the orientation of the hand-held suction device, the pull-off lip is placed against the surface with a different pressure and angle, which results in different Pulling results, especially streaking or streaking or similar problems. Furthermore, a defined contact pressure can be applied via the swiveling pull-off and suction nozzle, but suction is not always optimal, as the user has to set the optimal angle for adjusting the pull-off lip by attaching the device by orienting the hand-held suction device accordingly. This is particularly disadvantageous when corners or edges of the surface to be peeled off are reached or when the device is used with an extension rod, which makes handling the device more complex and difficult.

From the DE 2 143 105 A1 in turn, a mechanical extractor is known in which liquid can be withdrawn from a surface without a suction function. This puller has a spring-loaded contact roller by means of which it is able to support itself on the surface to be extracted in addition to the puller lip. This contact roller makes it easier to guide the puller, but has the disadvantage that the area between the contact roller and the pull-off lip can only be pulled off with difficulty when the contact roller hits the frame at the lower edge of a window.

Other suction nozzles and hand-held suction devices are also available WO 2014/009672 A1 , the WO 2016/029966 A1 , the EP 2 992 799 A1 and the US 2012/0266923 A1 known. All these suction nozzles are only slightly mobile relative to the hand-held suction device to which they are to be attached - if at all - and therefore have too little mobility to be able to use the device easily in corners and edges with optimal removal and suction results .

In view of the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art, it is the object of the invention to provide an extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device in which an optimal cleaning effect is made possible by making it easier to position the device on the surface to be suctioned. A further object is to create a hand-held suction device that can be used with such an extraction and suction nozzle.

This object is achieved according to the invention with regard to the extraction and suction nozzle by a extraction and suction nozzle according to claim 1. With regard to the hand-held suction device, this object is achieved by a hand-held suction device according to claim 11.

According to the invention, the extraction and suction nozzle is divided into two parts: a support body that can be firmly connected to the suction nozzle and thus to the hand-held suction device, and a suction body that is hingedly connected to it. On the latter, the pull-off lip and the suction gap for sucking in the suction material in the form of liquids or a mixture of liquids with dirt and / or air fractions are provided. The support is firmly positioned relative to the suction channel connection, so that a pressure force of the user applied via the generally cylindrical suction channel when pressing the extraction and suction nozzle against the surface to be extracted is always present is directed towards the support surface, so this can absorb the force. This relieves the suction body of this pressure force, the absorbent body rotatably mounted on the support body being adjusted by the spring force in the direction of the surface to be pulled off, so that the pull-off lip moves with constant pressure - regardless of the pressure force of the user or the orientation of the device relative to the surface , applies to the surface.

With the new pull-off and suction nozzle for the hand-held suction device and the new hand-held suction device, the optimum angle for placing the pull-off lip on the surface to be vacuumed can now be easily found, as the support surface creates a defined position. This support surface ensures that, together with the pull-off lip, there is a double line pressure or a combination of a line pressure in the area of the pull-off lip with one or more points at which the support surface is supported on the surface. This fixes the angle of the pull-off lip relative to the surface to be vacuumed and the user can easily move the device parallel to the surface to be vacuumed.

Because the pressure of the user on the hand-held suction device now runs through the support surface and preferably also through the axis of rotation and at the same time the extraction and suction nozzle is rotatably mounted about this axis of rotation against the spring force, the extraction lip can be applied with the pressure of the spring force to the one to be withdrawn Create area. This means that regardless of the compressive force of the user, which is essentially absorbed by the support surface, the pull-off lip is always pressed with the same force against the surface to be pulled off. A reproducible work result is thus achieved and an excessively increased contact pressure is avoided.

The user often has the problem that he cannot pull off continuously in the corners or on the edges, since the edges of the window frame or the floor hinder the movement of the hand-held suction device. This means that an area between the support surface and the pull-off lip can no longer be optimally pulled off or sucked off. In order to reduce this problem, the user would have to lift the device at the rear when reaching the window frame in order to get into the edge or corner area. This is now simplified in a preferred development of the invention in that a special guide surface is provided that automatically lifts the device so that the support surface lifts off the surface to be vacuumed and is guided over the edge or corner. In this way, the user can continue to support the device on the guide surface and does not have to find the optimal angle on his own in order to be able to get into the corners. This is particularly interesting when working overhead or with devices that are operated at the end of a telescopic or extension pole.

In order to realize the above-mentioned function, the guide surface is arranged on the side of the support surface opposite the pull-off lip. As the distance from the support surface increases, it moves further and further away from the plane of the surface to be vacuumed, so that an inclined plane or a rounded surface is created that ensures that the device with this surface first rests on the edge or corner and then is lifted by the sliding of the guide surface on the edge. The user does not hit an edge with the device and then has to start his suction movement again but is continued continuously so that the suction of the corner areas or edge areas is facilitated.

The support surface is preferably formed by a rotatable component which enables the support surface to roll over the surface to be suctioned off. This can be a ball, a roller or several wheels. It is only important that the support surface or the support surfaces are provided at a distance from the pull-off lip in order to enable the hand-held suction device to be aligned. The guide surface can also be designed largely as desired, it can be formed by the housing of the extraction and suction nozzle itself or also be formed by cams which, for example, protrude downward from the lower edge of the housing. The guide surface is preferably rounded, so that there is a continuous, shock-free lifting movement as a result of the guide.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the extraction and suction nozzle and of the hand-held suction device are described below, which can also advantageously develop the device independently of the provision of the support surface and the guide surface and represent an independent invention.

As in the prior art, the extraction and suction nozzle is preferably mounted movably against a spring means. This has the advantage that the mounting ensures a defined contact pressure even with minor nodding movements by the user. This movement of the extraction and suction nozzle can be used to operate the device. While, on the one hand, the contact pressure can be determined via a pressure sensor, so that as a result of this pressure increase the motor is increased in performance or is switched on at all, the angle of the extraction and suction nozzle relative to the hand-held suction device can also be recorded and as a switching signal for the control of the motor of the hand-held suction device.

The suction body of the extraction and suction nozzle is pivotably or rotatably connected to the support body via a joint, which in turn is attached to or inserted into the suction channel connection, which usually has the shape of a nozzle. The suction channel extends from the hand-held suction device through this suction channel connection into a suction chamber in the housing of the suction body through the support body and preferably also through the joint, the suction chamber in the suction body in turn being fluidically connected to the suction gap that is provided adjacent to the suction lip.

The joint can be a ball joint through which the flow channel passes. Alternatively, the flow channel can also be designed to be elastic and, for example, have the shape of a hose or elastic tube, while the extraction and suction nozzle can be mounted on the suction channel connection via a separate joint. It is also possible to mount the complete extraction and suction nozzle on the hand-held suction device via a joint. The joint, in turn, can be a crank arm or a bearing block which, for example, supports a hollow cylindrical part of the suction chamber on both sides.

The rotary movement or pivoting movement of the extraction and suction nozzle relative to the stationary part of the hand-held suction device is preferably limited by stops. Furthermore, a damper element can be provided that dampens the pivoting movement of the extraction and suction nozzle either via a friction damping of the joint or a separate shock absorber-like design. The spring, in turn, which returns the extraction and suction nozzle to its original position, can be one in the joint provided spring or be formed by a separate spring. Furthermore, the spring effect can also be implemented via the elastic material properties of the suction channel wall or other areas of the extraction and suction nozzle.

Finally, it is possible to indicate to the user via a visual control whether the support surface and the pull-off lip are in contact with the surface to be suctioned off. For this purpose, appropriate sensors are provided that control a signal lamp, for example. An acoustic signal, which sounds, for example, when the engine is running, without the support surface and the pull-off lip making contact with a surface, is also possible. Ultimately, any indicator means can be used that can signal to the user that the two surfaces are in contact with the surface to be suctioned or that this contact is absent.

A control that shuts down or switches off the suction unit when pressure sensors on the support surface determine that it is not in contact with the surface to be canceled can extend the standby time of the device and save energy. Instead of the pressure sensors, any other sensor system can of course also be used, including a load sensor for the motor of the suction unit, which can directly or indirectly detect a flow resistance in the suction channel or in the area of the suction unit.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Abzieh- und Saugdüse in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

ein Handsauggerät nach der Erfindung ohne Abzieh- und Saugdüse in einer ersten Ansicht,

Fig. 3

das in Figur 2 dargestellte Handsauggerät aus einer anderen Perspektive,

Fig. 4

das in den Figuren 2 und 3 dargestellte Handsauggerät mit montierter Abzieh- und Saugdüse,

Fig. 5

das Sauggerät aus Figur 4 aus einer anderen Perspektive,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Ansicht der Funktionsweise der Abzieh- und Saugdüse nach der Erfindung in einer Schnittansicht und

Fig. 7

die Abzieh- und Saugdüse aus Figur 6 eine schematische Ansicht bei Erreichen des Fensterrahmens.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of an extraction and suction nozzle according to the invention in a side view,

Fig. 2

a hand-held suction device according to the invention without an extraction and suction nozzle in a first view,

Fig. 3

this in Figure 2 shown hand-held suction device from a different perspective,

Fig. 4

that in the Figures 2 and 3 Hand-held suction device shown with mounted extraction and suction nozzle,

Fig. 5

the suction device off Figure 4 from a different perspective,

Fig. 6

a schematic view of the operation of the extraction and suction nozzle according to the invention in a sectional view and

Fig. 7

the extraction and suction nozzle off Figure 6 a schematic view when reaching the window frame.

In Figure 1 an extraction and suction nozzle according to the invention is shown, which has a nozzle body 1 with a pull-off lip 2 and a rubber strip arranged to the right of it, which together with the pull-off lip 2 delimits the suction gap 4. The nozzle body 1 is composed of a support body, which is stationary relative to the hand-held suction device 7 when the extraction and suction nozzle is installed, and a suction body with the extraction lip 2 that can pivot about a hinge 10. Via the suction gap 4 in the suction body, liquid that collects in front of the pull lip 2 when the puller and suction nozzle moves to the right can be sucked into the suction channel 6. The nozzle body 1, in turn, can be connected to a hand-held suction device 7, not shown here, via a suction channel connection 5. In this embodiment, the housing of the nozzle body 1 has an inner suction chamber 12 in which the negative pressure of the suction unit of the hand-held suction device 7, which is preferably operated by an electric motor, is provided.

In the Figures 2 and 3 a hand-held suction device 7 is shown that in connection with the in Figure 1 shown extraction and suction nozzle can be used. The device-side part of the joint 10 can be seen, via which the hand-held suction device 7 can be connected in an articulated manner to the extraction and suction nozzle. The extraction and suction nozzle mounted on the hand-held suction device 7 is shown in Figure 4 and in Figure 5 shown. It extends with the suction channel 6 of the suction connection 5 into the hand-held suction device 7, so that the suction gap 4 is in flow connection with the suction unit of the hand-held suction device 7.

The extraction and suction nozzle 2 is mounted pivotably against the force of a return spring, stops that are not visible here limit the pivoting movement. The battery, which supplies the motor of the hand-held suction device 7 used as the suction unit, is preferably arranged in the handle of the hand-held suction device 7, since this results in a favorable weight distribution. The lower part of the handle 7 can be designed as a plug-in sleeve for inserting an extension or telescopic rod.

The function of the extraction and suction nozzle according to the invention is shown most clearly in FIGS. The extraction and suction nozzle has a support surface 8, which is designed here in the form of rollers. The running surface of the roller thus forms the support surface 8 which, together with the contact surface of the pull-off lip 2, defines the orientation of the pull-off and suction nozzle relative to the surface 3 to be suctioned off. Since the extraction and suction nozzle can be pivoted against the spring force of the spring means 11, regardless of the orientation in which the user presses the device against the surface 3 to be extracted, the extraction and suction nozzle can take the optimal position in each case.

As a result, the suction gap 4 is closed by the pull-off lip 2 and a rubber strip arranged underneath, so that an optimal suction effect results in the suction chamber 12 of the pull-off and suction nozzle. The suction chamber 12 is in turn connected via the suction channel connection 5 to an inner suction device which is not shown in detail here and which interacts with the suction unit of the hand-held suction device 7.

If, for example, the extraction and suction nozzle reaches the edge of a window frame when driving along a window, as shown in Figure 7 is shown, the support surface 8 or the roller carrying this surface would hit the window frame and prevent the pull-off lip 2 from moving further into the corner. This means that the user has to swivel the device by hand, which on the one hand can lead to overstretching of the pull-off lip 2 or that the rear boundary of the suction gap 4 lifts off the window surface and on the other hand, the suction effect can be impaired by the inhomogeneous movement.

The guide surface 9 is provided so that this corner area can also be sucked out easily and simply by a homogeneous continuation of the movement of the hand-held suction device 7 in the corner area. This is designed here in the form of a bell-shaped edge of the housing of the nozzle body 1 that extends downwards. As shown, this cam-like area causes the pull-off and suction nozzle slightly rotated so that the support surface 8 lifts off the surface 3 to be vacuumed and is guided over the edge of the window frame.

This causes effective suction in the corner area too, so that the user can move the suction device to the edge of the window or another surface with a harmonious movement.

List of reference symbols:

1

Nozzle body

2

Pull lip

3rd

Area to be vacuumed

4th

Suction gap

5

Suction channel connection

6th

Intake duct

7th

Hand-held suction device

8th

Support surface

9

Guide surface

10

joint

11

Spring means

12th

Suction chamber

A.

Pulling direction

D.

Axis of rotation

Claims (13)

1. Extraction and suction nozzle for a handheld vacuum cleaner (7) to be held in the hand of a user during designated use for sucking up liquids or liquid/air mixtures from flat surfaces (3), having a suction channel connection (5) and a nozzle body (1) which has at least one squeegee (2) which is movable along the surface (3) for drawing off liquid in a drawing-off direction (A), and at least one suction gap (4), arranged in the region of a liquid collection side of the squeegee (2), for sucking the liquid collected upstream of the extraction lip (2) into a suction chamber (12) which is fluidically connected to the suction duct connection (5), wherein the nozzle body (1) being embodied in two parts with a supporting body on the device side having the suction channel connection (5) and a suction body comprising the squeegee (2) and the suction gap (4) and wherein the support body has a support arranged at a distance from the extractor lip (2) and in front of the extractor lip (2), as seen in the extractor direction (A), for support on the surface (3), and the suction body has a joint (10) about an axis of rotation (D), which is parallel to the contact edge of the squeegee (2) on the surface (3) and is connected to the connection body so as to be rotatable against the force of a spring means (11) which sets the pull-off lip (2) against the surface (3) when the support rests against the surface (3) and wherein the support is embodied relative to the suction channel connection (5) in such a way that, when the extractor and suction nozzle is pressed against the surface (3), it is supported in the contact area against the surface (3) by means of a flat or linear supporting surface (8), wherein the line of action of a pressure force acting on the suction channel connection (5) extends through the contact area of the support with the surface (3), which contact region is not variable in position relative to the suction channel connection (5),
   characterised in that
   the suction body has, on the side of the supporting surface (8) facing away from the extraction lip (2), a guide surface (9) which is a surface curved in the direction of the suction channel connection (5) and which moves away from the surface (3) to be extracted with increasing distance of the supporting surface (8), wherein the nozzle body (1) has at least one guide pin which projects from the housing of the nozzle body (1) in the extractor direction (A) to form the guide surface (9).
2. Extraction and suction nozzle for a handheld vacuum cleaner (7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation (D) is arranged in such a way that the line of action runs through the axis of rotation (D).
3. Extraction and suction nozzle for a handheld vacuum cleaner (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting surface (8) is formed by the tread of at least one supporting roller embodied as a roller or roll and rotatably supported on the suction body (1).
4. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the guide surface (9) is formed by a curved guide element.
5. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the guide surface (9) is formed by an area of the housing of the nozzle body (1) facing away from the suction gap (4).
6. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle body (1) has two guide pins arranged at a distance from one another and forming the guide surface (9).
7. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction channel connection (5) is formed by a nozzle which can be connected to the hand-held suction device (7) and is fixedly arranged on the support body, the support body being connected to the suction body of the nozzle body (1) via the joint (10) and a flow channel extending from the suction gap (4) through the joint (10) and the nozzle.
8. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeegee (2) is supported so as to be rotatable indirectly or directly relative to the suction channel connection (5) about an axis at right angles to the surface (3) to be extracted.
9. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint (10) is embodied as a ball joint or is formed by an elastic housing region of the extraction and suction nozzle.
10. Extraction and suction nozzle for a hand-held suction device (7) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the joint (10) is embodied as a crank rocker or is formed by a bearing block on which two ends of a hollow-cylindrical region of a suction chamber (12) formed in the housing are rotatably supported.
11. Hand-held suction device (7) with a suction unit, a reservoir for the suction material, a suction channel (6) and a suction nozzle for sucking up suction material in the form of liquids or liquid/air mixtures into the reservoir for the suction material, characterized in that the suction nozzle is a suction nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 10.
12. Hand-held suction device (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the extraction and suction nozzle (1) has at least one power switch, the hand-held suction device (7) having a control which interacts with the power switch, so that the control can be switched via the power switch in such a way that the power of the suction device can be reduced or increased via the power switch or can be switched off via the power switch. the power of the suction unit can be reduced or increased or switched off or on, wherein the contact of the support surface (8) and/or the squeegee (2) with the surface (3) to be extracted can be detected by means of one or more pressure sensors and the control system automatically reduces or switches off the suction unit if there is no pressure on the pressure sensors.
13. Hand-held suction device (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hand-held suction device (7) has optical and/or acoustic indicating means by means of which the user can be indicated a lifting of the support surface (8) and/or of the suction lip (2) of the surface (3) to be sucked off, wherein the indicating means can be automatically activated by the control in the case of a corresponding signal of the pressure sensors.

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