EP3409170A1 - Dirt container for a hand vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dirt container (1) for a hand vacuum cleaner (10), wherein the dirt container (1) via an inlet opening (2) with an inlet nozzle (3) for receiving sucked polluted air is connectable and wherein the dirt container (1) together with a a first unit (A), which can be accommodated therein for separating dirt from the polluted air, wherein the first unit (A) has a first coupling element (5) which is connected to a second coupling element (6) of a second unit (2) corresponding thereto. B) is connectable to form a connecting device (5, 6), wherein the second unit (A) comprises a motor-blower unit (7) for generating an air flow and an energy store (8) for driving the motor-blower unit (7 ), wherein the dirt container (1) is adapted to be operated optionally with a separator (4) which operates on the principle of centrifugal force or which is a dust filter bag or a wet scrubber ider is. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hand vacuum cleaner (10) with such a dirt container (1).

The dirt container (1) and provided with a hand vacuum cleaner (10) is particularly versatile and easy to use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dirt container for a hand-held vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and to a hand-held vacuum cleaner provided therewith according to claim 13.

STATE OF THE ART

Conventional vacuum cleaners, especially hand-held vacuum cleaners, which are preferably operated with one hand due to their compact design, have the problem when emptying their dirt containers that a flap or opening, which is required for emptying or opening and removing the dirt container, is very susceptible to damage. An example of an equipped with such a flap vacuum cleaner is from the WO 2008/009 891 A1 or even the US 2015/0 135 474 A1 known. In addition, it is often cumbersome to remove a dirt-filled dirt container from the hand vacuum cleaner without this dust and dirt falling out of the hand vacuum cleaner unintentionally.

The known solutions are merely a miniaturization of existing solutions of vacuum cleaners of larger size. For example, sometimes reusable dust filter bags are removed, emptied and then inserted back into the vacuum cleaner. The situation is similar with vacuum cleaners, which operate on the principle of centrifugal force, for example in the vacuum cleaner from the WO 2006/026 414 A2 in which, moreover, a separator is removed from a dirt container so that subsequently stored in the dirt container dirt can be disposed of. For this, several complicated handles are necessary.

From the publication US 4,920,608 A a bagless hand vacuum cleaner is known, which via an articulated connection device opening and closing two Units of the hand vacuum cleaner allows, so that dirt from a dirt container of the hand vacuum cleaner can be easily removed. The dirt container comprises a separator for separating dirt which is integrally connected to an inlet port to a first unit. A second unit of the hand vacuum cleaner includes an electric fan and accumulators for powering the electric fan. A latching mechanism allows mutual opening of the two units or closing when mutual closing of the two units. The dirt container of the hand vacuum cleaner is designed so that it allows both a recording of dry and wet dirt. It is not intended that the two units of the hand vacuum cleaner can be separated or decoupled from each other.

Therefore, the existing solutions are not fully developed and still offer a wide field of activity for improvements and innovations.

OF THE INVENTION PURSUANT TASK

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved dirt container for a hand vacuum cleaner, in which an improved Einströmverhalten is achieved and a user-friendly handling and flexible use are possible. In addition, the dirt container should be simple, robust and inexpensive to manufacture.

INVENTION SOLUTION

The solution of the problem is achieved with a dirt container for a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1 and provided therewith a hand vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 13.

According to the invention, a dirt container for a hand vacuum cleaner is provided, wherein the dirt container via an inlet opening with an inlet nozzle for receiving sucked polluted air is connectable and wherein the dirt container forms a first unit together with a recordable therein for separating dirt from the polluted air, and the dirt container or the first unit has a first coupling element, which can be coupled to a second coupling element of a second unit forming a connecting device, the second unit comprising a motor-blower unit for generating an air flow and an energy store for driving the motor-blower Unit includes. Such a dirt container can be used particularly flexibly, since separators of different types can be arranged in it and the dirt container can be equipped with different inlet nozzles. In addition, the unit formed by the dirt container can not only be used to pick up sucked dirty air, but it also allows the passage of a blast air flow, which is particularly favorable in some cases, for example, to blow out dirt in inaccessible corners or to use the hand vacuum cleaner to inflate different inflatable devices. In other words, the direction of the airflow can be reversed. Of course, such a reversal is only possible if no separation unit is housed or arranged in the dirt container. Since the first unit, which includes a dirt container, a separator and an inlet nozzle, is particularly compact and lightweight, your handling is also particularly user-friendly, especially since they are carried separately from the vacuum cleaner, for example via the frontally arranged inlet nozzle and simply emptied through a trash can can. Furthermore, the dirt container is particularly flexible, since different separators or separation systems can be arranged in it according to the needs of the user. The same applies to the thus constructed first unit, wherein a modular assembly of a hand vacuum cleaner is conceivable depending on the needs of the user.

Thus, in an advantageous alternative, a separator may be provided, which operates on the principle of centrifugal force. Such separators make it possible to maintain a nearly constant suction capacity of the hand vacuum cleaner, regardless of the dust or dirt already received in the dirt container. Vacuum cleaners or separators, which operate on the centrifugal force principle, use the centrifugal forces to separate dust and dirt from the intake air. In a Staubabscheideeinheit the vacuum cleaner, the polluted air as a carrier of the particles to be separated - dirt and dust - by their own flow velocity and a corresponding structural design of the Staubabscheideeinheit offset in a rotary motion. The material separation takes place in the centrifugal separator by the centrifugal forces or centrifugal forces acting on the dirt and dust. Common names for vacuum cleaners with separators, which are designed to operate according to the principle of centrifugal force during a rotary and / or screw movement of the air flow, are centrifugal separators, cyclone vacuums or swirl separators.

In another alternative, the separator is a dust filter bag. Dust filter bags are particularly suitable for receiving dirt and dust of a particularly small grain size and are therefore particularly suitable for users with dust allergies. In addition, a hand vacuum cleaner with a dust filter bag as a separator on a reduced noise emission compared to a conventional hand vacuum cleaner using a separator, which operates on the principle of centrifugal force.

In a further alternative, the separator is a wet scrubber, whereby the hand vacuum cleaner can even be used for receiving and cleaning moist dirt particles or even liquids.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a handheld vacuum cleaner comprising a first unit according to one of the embodiments described below with a dirt container and a receptacle therein for removing dirt from the polluted air, the dirt container via an inlet opening with an inlet nozzle for receiving sucked polluted air connectable and a second unit which can be coupled to the first unit, wherein the first unit has a first coupling element that can be coupled to a second coupling element of the second unit forming a connecting device, the second unit comprising a motor-fan unit for generating an air flow and an energy storage for driving the motor-blower unit, and the formed connection device is configured to move the first unit and the second unit connectable therewith from a closed position to an open position ng or separation position to turn against each other and vice versa. The advantages and effects described in the foregoing embodiments of the dirt container are also applicable to the hand vacuum cleaner comprising the first unit and the dirt container, respectively.

For the purposes of the invention is to be understood with a hand vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner, which has a low weight and a compact design and therefore one hand is portable and operable.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. The advantages that apply to the dirt container according to the invention apply equally to a hand vacuum cleaner provided with it and operated.

Conveniently, the first coupling element which can be coupled to form the connecting device can be coupled to the corresponding second coupling element in a non-destructive manner and / or detachably. This allows the individual units to be maintained separately or replaced or stored as needed. In addition, the use, for example, the emptying of the dirt container, greatly facilitated because the decoupled dirt container alone is not as bulky as in the coupled state.

Advantageously, the first coupling element which can be coupled to form the connecting device is designed to form an articulated connection with the corresponding second coupling element, with which the first unit can be rotated against the second unit from an open or disconnected position into a closed position and vice versa. This allows the user to determine how full a dirt container or dust filter bag placed in the dirt container is, without having to disassemble the hand vacuum cleaner into several parts.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the dirt container, the first coupling element, which can be coupled to form the connecting device, comprises a shell or a journal. An axis of the pin defines the pivot axis about which the first unit is rotatably mounted against the second unit. Thus, a particularly simple and robust joint can be formed, that a slight pivoting and separating the dirt container from the second unit of the hand vacuum cleaner allows. Furthermore, such a joint allows a simple and quick assembly or separation of the first and the second unit. Furthermore, this joint can be arranged in the lower region of the dirt container or in the vicinity of the bottom. Thus, a simple intuitive coupling of the two coupling elements can be made possible.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the dirt container which can be coupled to form the connecting device first coupling element is adapted to form a bayonet with the corresponding second coupling element with which the first unit is rotatable against the second unit from an open position or separation position into a closed position and vice versa. For example, a cylinder-shaped dirt container from a separation position in which the first and second units are decoupled from each other, be brought into an open position in which the first and the second unit are coupled to each other Here, for example, a cylindrical first unit in a corresponding thereto receiving shell - half cylinder - the second unit introduced and against this in a fixed position - closed position - twisted.

In an even more advantageous embodiment, the dirt container of the first unit has a fixing device which is set up to fix the first unit to a corresponding fixing device of the second unit which can be connected thereto in a closed position and to release it in an open position. It can thereby be ensured that the first unit can be firmly connected to the second unit, thereby forming a stable and reliably usable hand vacuum cleaner.

In a particularly inexpensive and effective embodiment of the fixation device for the dirt container, the fixing device comprises at least one latching or snap closure. The latter is easy to manufacture and procure and provides a reliable fixation option.

For the purposes of the invention, a snap closure is a closure that closes tightly by snapping, snapping. Further, this is understood to mean a closure which generally engages after overcoming a mechanical threshold and thereby a Fixation guaranteed.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the dirt container, the fixing device is arranged in the immediate / tangible vicinity of the inlet opening. Since the inlet nozzle which can be arranged on the inlet opening of the dirt container is particularly suitable for gripping the dirt container or the first unit, it is also possible for the user to operate the fixing device with the same hand or with one hand.

It is particularly advantageous if the dirt container at least partially has a shape complementary to the second unit. As a result, for example, a bayonet lock between the cylindrical dirt container, or the first unit and a complementary shell with semi-cylindrical shape, particularly easy to manufacture. Moreover, it is possible by the complementary shape of the two units to set an optimal connection position of the two units to each other, since the complementary shapes automatically align each other. For optimal alignment of the two units to each other projections and corresponding recesses may be provided, which automatically align the two units in a correct connection position to each other when meshing.

Conveniently, the energy storage for driving the motor-blower unit of the second unit of the hand vacuum cleaner is an electrical accumulator. Electric accumulators are easily adaptable to the required space requirements in the hand vacuum cleaner, easy to manufacture and procure. Next, the accumulator can be designed as a removable accumulator, so that the term can be extended by the hand vacuum cleaner with another accumulator.

In order to maintain a virtually constant suction power of the hand vacuum cleaner, regardless of the dust or dirt already received in the dirt container, the hand vacuum cleaner in a particularly advantageous embodiment comprises a separator for separating dirt from the polluted air, the separator works on the principle of centrifugal force , In particular, the axis of the centrifugal separator in a conventional operating position of the hand vacuum cleaner arranged so that the dust and dirt can accumulate due to the gravitational force of the earth at the bottom of the dirt container.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the hand vacuum cleaner, the fixing device of the dirt container or the first unit is set up to be released with one hand or by means of a finger of one hand. Particularly preferably, this is the finger of the same hand, which also operates and carries the hand-held vacuum cleaner with one hand. In this case, the dirt container on a fixing device which is adapted to fix the first unit to a corresponding thereto fixing device of the second unit in a closed position and to release in an open position, wherein the fixing device is adapted to be solved by a finger of the same hand, which holds the first unit.

The present embodiments of the invention help to substantially increase the ease of use of handheld vacuum cleaners. Due to the possibility of the modular design of the first unit, which includes a dirt container, a separator and a matching inlet nozzle, the hand vacuum cleaner provided with it is particularly versatile and flexible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

veranschaulicht in einer Schnittansicht einen Handstaubsauger mit einem Schmutzbehälter gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform;

Fig. 2

veranschaulicht anhand einer perspektivischen Skizze die Handhabung - Entleerung - des Schmutzbehälters gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3

veranschaulicht eine seitliche Ansicht eines aus den beiden Einheiten zusammengesetzten Handstaubsaugers gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform in einer üblichen Betriebslage.

Further advantageous embodiments are described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, to which the invention is not limited.

Fig. 1

illustrates in a sectional view a hand vacuum cleaner with a dirt container according to an advantageous embodiment;

Fig. 2

illustrated by a perspective sketch of the handling - emptying - the dirt container according to an advantageous embodiment;

Fig. 3

illustrates a side view of one of the two units assembled hand vacuum cleaner according to an advantageous embodiment in a conventional operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The reference numbers in all claims have no limiting effect, but are only intended to improve their readability. Identical reference symbols in different figures indicate similar or equivalent elements.

The Fig. 1 illustrates in a sectional view a hand vacuum cleaner 10 with a dirt container 1 according to an advantageous embodiment. The hand vacuum cleaner 10 in the present embodiment is formed of two units A and B. The first unit A comprises a cylindrical dust container 1, in whose shell an inlet opening 2 is provided, which is connected to an inlet nozzle 3 for receiving sucked polluted air. Furthermore, the first unit A comprises a separator 4, which is arranged in the interior of the dirt container 1 for separating dirt and dust from the polluted air. At the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the separator 4 functions according to centrifugal force principle. As a result, a virtually uniform suction power can be maintained over a period of use of the hand vacuum cleaner 10. Furthermore, a first coupling element 5 in the form of a pin is provided on the dust container 1, which is accommodated in a second coupling element 6 - a corresponding shell - the second unit B of the hand vacuum cleaner 10 and forms a connecting device 5, 6. The connecting device 5, 6 corresponds to a pivot bearing, which makes it possible to rotate the first unit A and the second unit B against each other or to pivot. In this case, a longitudinal axis of the pin forms the axis of rotation about which the two units A, B are pivoted. The second unit B of the hand vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a motor-blower unit 7 for generating an air flow and an energy storage 8 for driving the motor-blower unit 7. Here, the motor-blower unit 7 both for generating a suction air flow as also be used to generate a blowing air flow. For driving the motor-blower unit 7, an energy-exchangeable accumulator is preferably provided as the energy store 8. electrical Accumulators are reusable, cost effective and easy to procure.

In order to connect the first unit A and the second unit B with each other to a hand vacuum cleaner 10, the two units A, B are rotated against each other about the axis of the pin of the connecting device 5, 6 and upon reaching the optimum connection position by means of a fixing device 9A, the an upper edge of the dirt container 1 or the first unit A is arranged and adjacent to the inlet nozzle 3, with a corresponding thereto fixing device 9B which is arranged on the second unit B, fixed. In the present case, for the optimal alignment of the two units A, B to one another at the first unit A or the upper edge of the dirt container 1 projections 15 are provided, which fit into corresponding recesses 16 in the second unit B. Accordingly, an optimal alignment of the two units A, B to each other takes place simultaneously with the rotation of the two units relative to one another, whereby the two units A, B are firmly connected to one another by means of the fixing devices 9A, 9B. In this position, the hand vacuum cleaner 10 can be used for sucking dirt and dust.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the alignment of the two units takes place over mutually complementary surfaces. Thus, for example, a bayonet closure can be realized in which the first unit A is moved by turning against the second unit B in an optimal position and then held by means of the fixing device 9A, 9B in this position. Preferably, the fixing device 9A is operable, for example, by means of the thumb of the same hand, with which the first unit A is held on the inlet pipe 3. Preferably, the fixing device 9A is a snap closure which cooperates with the fixing device 9B of the second unit B.

In the present embodiment, the inlet nozzle 3 is suitable as a handle with which the entire first unit A moves and / or can be separated from the second unit B, wherein subsequently collected in the dirt container 1 of the unit A dirt and dust are emptied into a dirt bucket 20 can - compare Fig. 2 , The construction of the first unit A is robust and allows a user-friendly handling or emptying of the dirt container 1. The entire Connecting device 5, 6 is designed so that a nondestructive coupling and fixing or separating the first unit A of the second unit B is made possible. In this way, each unit A, B is easier to maintain and exchange.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 a separator 4 is provided which separates dirt and dust from the polluted air according to the centrifugal force principle. According to further advantageous but in the Fig. 1 and 2 not shown embodiments may alternatively be provided to the separator 4, which operates on the principle of centrifugal force, a dust filter bag or a wet scrubber. As a result, the hand vacuum cleaner 10 can be modularly assembled as needed, which the user just considers optimal for his cleaning project.

In Fig. 2 It is clear how simple and robust the first unit A is constructed, wherein it essentially comprises a dirt container 1 and an inlet port 3 connected to an inlet opening 2 of the dirt container 1. In the Fig. 2 is the recordable in the dirt container 1 separator 4 deliberately not shown because the dirt container 1 is suitable for separator 4 different types. For completeness, the first coupling element 5, one or a pair of projections 15 and the fixing device 9A are shown, which ensure a firm connection of the first unit A with a second unit B which can be coupled thereto.

In Fig. 3 FIG. 2 shows a side view of a hand vacuum cleaner 10 composed of the two units A, B according to an advantageous embodiment. The individual elements of the hand vacuum cleaner 10, as in the remarks to Fig. 1 are now listed in a compact form to a robust whole. In the Fig. 3 For example, it can be seen from the fixation device 9A of the first unit A, which in the illustrated embodiment is in engagement with the fixation device 9B of the second unit B, that the hand vacuum cleaner 10 is easily dismantled into two units A, B. can. Preferably, the fixing device 9A of the first unit A is arranged such that the fixing device 9A is operable with a finger of the same hand, which surrounds the first unit A at its inlet port 3, so as to easily open, pivot and disconnect the two units A, B. to enable. Once the first unit A is disconnected from the second unit B of the hand vacuum cleaner 10 is, after removal of a motor protection filter belonging to the dirt container 1 is particularly easy emptied or cleaned.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be important both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

The embodiments described above and their embodiments illustrate how a dirt container 1 can be assembled in a particularly simple and cost-effective modular manner, which is also very versatile and user-friendly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

A

first unit

B

second unit

1

dirt container

2

inlet port

3

inlet port

4

separators

5

first coupling element

6

second coupling element

7

Motor-fan unit

8th

energy storage

9A, 9B

fixation device

10

Handstaubsauger

15

projections

16

recesses

20

dirt bucket

Claims (13)

A dirt container (1) for a hand vacuum cleaner (10), wherein the dirt container (1) is connectable via an inlet opening (2) to an inlet nozzle (3) for receiving sucked-in air and wherein the dirt container (1) together with a separator (FIG. 4) for separating dirt from the polluted air forms a first unit (A), wherein the first unit (A) has a first coupling element (5) with a corresponding thereto second coupling element (6) of a second unit (B) Forming a connecting device (5, 6) is coupled, wherein the second unit (B) comprises a motor-blower unit (7) for generating an air flow and an energy store (8) for driving the motor-blower unit (7), characterized in that the dirt container (1) is adapted to be operated optionally with a separator (4), which operates on the principle of centrifugal force or a dust filter bag or a Naßabscheid he is. Dirt container according to claim 1, characterized in that the dirt container (1) is arranged to be operated optionally without a separator (4) and at a reversal of the direction of the air flow as a fan. Dirt container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the formation of the connecting device (5, 6) couplable first coupling element (5) non-destructive to the corresponding second coupling element (6) can be coupled and / or released. Dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the formation of the connecting device (5, 6) couplable first coupling element (5) is arranged with the corresponding second coupling element (6) to form an articulated connection with which the first Unit (A) against the second unit (B) from an open position or separation position is rotatable in a closed position and vice versa. Dirt container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the Forming the connecting device (5, 6) comprises couplable first coupling element (5), a shell or a pin. Dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the formation of the connecting device (5, 6) couplable first coupling element (5) is arranged with the corresponding second coupling element (6) to form a bayonet closure with the the first unit (A) is rotatable against the second unit (B) from an open or disconnected position to a closed position, and vice versa. Dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirt container (1) has a fixing device (9A) which is set up, the first unit (A) to a corresponding thereto fixing device (9B) of the second unit (B). to fix in a closed position and to release in an open position. Dirt container (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing device (9) comprises at least one latching or snap closure. Dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the fixing device (9A) can be operated with the same hand when gripping the inlet connection (3) which can be connected to the inlet opening (2). Dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirt container (1) at least partially has a shape complementary to the second unit (B). A hand vacuum cleaner (10) comprising a first unit (A) having a dirt container (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 and a separator (4) receivable therein for separating dirt from the polluted air, the dirt container being conveyed via an inlet opening (2 ) is connectable with an inlet port (3) for receiving sucked dirty air and a second unit (B) which can be coupled to the first unit (A), wherein the first unit (A) has a first coupling element (5) which is coupled to a corresponding second coupling element (6) of the second unit (B) to form a connecting device (5, 6), wherein the second unit (B) is a motor-blower Unit (7) for generating an air flow and an energy storage (8) for driving the motor-blower unit (7), and the formed connection device (5, 6) is arranged, the first unit (A) and connectable thereto second unit (B) from a closed position to rotate in an open position or separation position against each other and vice versa, characterized in that the dirt container (1) is adapted to be operated optionally with a separator (4), which works on the centrifugal principle or a Dust filter bag or a wet scrubber is .. Hand vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the dirt container (1) is adapted to be operated optionally without separator (4) and at a reversal of the direction of the air flow as a fan. A vacuum cleaner (10) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the dirt container (1) has a fixing device (9A) which is adapted to the first unit (A) to a corresponding thereto fixing device (9B) of the second unit (B) to fix in a closed position and to release in an open position, wherein the fixing device (9A) is adapted to be released by means of a finger of the same hand holding the first unit (A).

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