EP3809938B1

EP3809938B1 - A vacuum cleaner with cleaning head

Info

Publication number: EP3809938B1
Application number: EP19727662.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fatma Nur CIMEN; Nilufer DERIN; Alper Yagci; Oner SEVEN; Ensar GURER
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-06-19
Filing date: 2019-05-29
Publication date: 2023-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-29
Also published as: EP3809938A1; WO2019243013A1

Description

The present invention particularly relates to enhancing dust collection performance of a cleaning head used in vacuum cleaners.
Vacuum cleaners are appliances which have considerably low efficiencies. The portion of a vacuum cleaner's power utilized to clean dust from a surface is very low. Therefore, there is a need for vacuum cleaners functioning with much higher efficiency and having maximal dust collection capacity.
In addition to efficiency of a power source used in a vacuum cleaner such as a motor and the like, the design of the cleaning head used in performing vacuum cleaning on a surface, is of utmost importance. In vacuum cleaners with high overall performance and high suction power, a high vacuum pressure occurs between a cleaning head and a surface due to high suction power, creating an adhesion effect between the cleaning head and the surface. This effect makes it challenging for the users to vacuum clean, leading to user complaints.
In the state of the art, at least one suction port is provided on the base of the cleaning heads used in vacuum cleaners. Channels are grooved on the base of the cleaning head, to provide an equal pressure distribution and a homogeneous suction throughout the base. Upon being detached from the surface due to the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, the dust collected from the surface is directed towards a suction port by means of the channels provided on the cleaning head base. An equal and homogeneous suction is thus provided along the entire base of the cleaning head. However, current vacuum cleaner cleaning heads comprise a single suction port. High vacuum pressure occurring during usage of vacuum cleaners with high suction power, causes the cleaning head to adhere to the surface and the user to fail performing an effective vacuum cleaning.
State of the art United States patent no. US9737184 discloses a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaning head having a movable base for reducing the resistance arising from vacuum pressure.
State of the art United States patent no. US7631394 discloses a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaning head having a base intended for reducing the motion resistance between a cleaning head and a surface.
Another state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the German patent application no. DE3337117 . In this embodiment, three suction ports provided on the base of a cleaning head, are directly connected to a pipe by means of tubes independent of each other.
Another state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the international patent application no. WO0165991 . This patent application discloses a vacuum cleaner comprising a diverter provided in a cleaning head, enabling the sucked waste to be effectively directed towards a suction port.
Another state of the art United States patent no. US 2006/000053 discloses a vacuum cleaner having a suction port. Another state in the art can be seen in US7,350,268 which discloses a first and a second suction port provided on the same base of the cleaning head. The second port however is not directly connected via a second channel to the pipe but via a conduct to the main suction space which however is connected to the first suction inlet.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a vacuum cleaner in which the high vacuum pressure occurring between a surface and a cleaning head is homogenized.
The vacuum cleaner realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims, comprises a first suction port and at least one second suction port provided on the base of a cleaning head, a first channel extending through the cleaning head to the pipe and directly connecting the first suction port to a pipe, and at least one second channel extending through the cleaning head to the pipe and directly connecting the second suction port to the pipe and further comprises at least one orifice interposed between the body side wall and the second suction port, at least one lid controlled by the user, enabling the orifice to be opened and closed, and a movement mechanism enabling actuating the lid. By means of the movement mechanism, the user opens and closes the orifice opening outside, and thereby performs an effective vacuum cleaning. By this, in cases when it is not desired to distribute the vacuum effect in vacuuming a flat ground without a carpet or a typical carpet, the user actuates the lid by means of the movement mechanism and enables closing the orifice. When vacuuming light items such as a runner, rug and the like, the orifice is opened by actuating the lid again, preventing the cleaning head from adhering due to vacuum effect to the item to be vacuumed.
Air flows through the cleaning head from the vacuum cleaned surface to the vacuum source by means the channels via the cleaning head base. Air flow rate to be transmitted to the body is realized through three paths by means of the suction port design with three channels. This design enables vacuum pressure to be homogeneously transmitted to the pipe via three separate suction ports and channels. By this, high vacuum pressure effect is not observed and the user is not subjected to an extreme resistant force during vacuum cleaning.
The movement mechanism enables the user to shift the lid placed on the second suction port, to open or closed position. The second suction port is thus enabled to function efficiently.
The first suction port is preferably disposed in the middle of the cleaning head, and two second suction ports are provided on both sides of the first suction port. Problems related to usage difficulties are thus eliminated by homogenizing high vacuum effect on the cleaning head base by three separate suction ports in the vacuum cleaner cleaning head with an unmovable base.
The first channel is "L"-shaped and interconnects the first suction port and the pipe. The second channel forms a corner in between when interconnecting the second suction port and the pipe.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports are annular. Preferably, the diameter of the suction ports is 5 cm. In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports are rectangular. Preferably, the length of the shorter edges is 6 cm and the length of the longer edges is 7 cm.
The movement mechanism comprises a spring extending from beside the body of the cleaning head towards the second suction port, whose one end is fastened to the lid, a pusher enabling the spring to be compressed and released, whose one end is fastened to the spring, and a trigger to which the pusher is connected, shifting the lid to open or closed position by actuating the pusher and the spring upon being triggered by the user from beside the cleaning head.
The invention enables improving performance of the cleaning head and facilitates usage. The invention reduces the high vacuum pressure which in fact makes usage more challenging. The second channel enables achieving a homogeneous vacuum pressure distribution on the base by transmitting the vacuum effect between the cleaning head base and a surface not through a single channel but through the second channels. Said homogenizing eliminates the usage problems arising from vacuum pressure. The present invention enables homogenizing vacuum pressure without modifying the size of current cleaning heads. In addition, dust collection capability is enhanced by means of the cleaning head comprising three channels.
A vacuum cleaner realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning head.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning head, from below.
Figure 3 is a view of the cleaning head, from below.
Figure 4 is a sectional perspective view of the cleaning head.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cleaning head, from behind.
Figure 6 is a sectional perspective view of the cleaning head, from above.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

1. Cleaning head
2. Body
3. Base
4. First suction port
5. Second suction port
6. Pipe
7. First channel
8. Second channel
9. Lid
10. Movement mechanism
11. Spring
12. Pusher
13. Trigger
14. Orifice
15. Seat

The vacuum cleaner comprises at least one vacuum source, a cleaning head (1) having a base (3) settling on the surface to be cleaned and a body (2), and a pipe (6) interconnecting the cleaning head (1) and the vacuum source, and further comprises a first suction port (4) provided on the base (3) of the cleaning head (1), at least one second suction port (5) provided on the same base (3) with the first suction port (4), a first channel (7) extending through the cleaning head (1) to the pipe (6), directly connecting the first suction port (4) to the pipe (6), at least one second channel (8) extending through the cleaning head (1) to the pipe (6), directly connecting the second suction port (5) to the pipe (6), at least one orifice (14) interposed between the body (2) side wall and the second suction port (5), at least one lid (9) controlled by the user, enabling the orifice (14) to be opened and closed, and a movement mechanism (10) enabling actuating the lid (9) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3).
When the vacuum cleaner is activated, the vacuum source, which is preferably a motor, activates and the air sucked through the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) provided on the cleaning head (1) base (3) reach the pipe (6) by means of the first and the second channels (7 and 8) provided in the cleaning head (1) independently of each other. The movement mechanism (10) enables the user to shift the lid (9) to open or closed position. The vacuum pressure occurring between a surface and the cleaning head (1) is thus enabled to be homogenized. By means of the movement mechanism (10), the user opens and closes the orifice (14) opening outside, and thereby performs an effective vacuum cleaning. By this, in cases when it is not desired to distribute the vacuum effect in vacuuming a flat ground without a carpet or a typical carpet, the user actuates the lid (9) by means of the movement mechanism (10) and enables closing the orifice (14). When vacuuming light items such as a runner, rug and the like, the orifice (14) is opened by actuating the lid (9) again, preventing the cleaning head (1) from adhering due to vacuum effect to the item to be vacuumed.
The first suction port (4) is preferably disposed in the middle of the cleaning head (1), and two second suction ports (5) are provided on both sides of the first suction port (4). Problems related to usage difficulties are thus eliminated by homogenizing high vacuum effect on the cleaning head (1) base (3) by three separate suction ports (4 and 5) in the vacuum cleaner cleaning head (1) with an unmovable base (3).
The first channel (7) is "L"-shaped and interconnects the first suction port (4) and the pipe (6).
The second channel (8) forms a corner in between when interconnecting the second suction port (5) and the pipe (6).
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) are annular.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) are rectangular.
The movement mechanism (10) comprises a spring (11) extending from beside the body (2) of the cleaning head (1) towards the second suction port (5), placed in a cylindrical seat (15) with the orifice (14) on its end, whose one end is fastened to the lid (9); a pusher (12) enabling the spring (11) to be compressed and released, whose one end is fastened to the spring (11); and a trigger (13) to which the pusher (12) is connected, shifting the lid (9) to open or closed position by actuating the pusher (12) and the spring (11) upon being triggered by the user from beside the cleaning head (1). Light items are enabled to be vacuum cleaned without adhesion to the cleaning head (1) by reaching atmospheric pressure by means of the orifice (14) opening to the second suction port (5) by the lid (9) being opened (Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6).
The invention enables improving performance of the cleaning head (1) and facilitates usage. The invention reduces the high vacuum pressure which in fact makes usage more challenging. The second channel (8) enables achieving a homogeneous vacuum pressure distribution on the base (3) by transmitting the vacuum effect between the cleaning head (1) base (3) and a surface not through a single channel but through the second channels (8). Said homogenizing eliminates the usage problems arising from vacuum pressure. The present invention enables homogenizing vacuum pressure without modifying the size of current cleaning heads (1). In addition, dust collection capability is enhanced by means of the cleaning head (1) comprising three channels (7 and 8).
The first suction port (4) is preferably disposed in the middle of the cleaning head (1), and two second suction ports (5) are provided on both sides of the first suction port (4). Problems related to usage difficulties are thus eliminated by homogenizing high vacuum effect on the cleaning head (1) base (3) by three separate suction ports (4 and 5) in the vacuum cleaner cleaning head (1) with an unmovable base (3).
The first channel (7) is "L"-shaped and interconnects the first suction port (4) and the pipe (6).
The second channel (8) forms a corner in between when interconnecting the second suction port (5) and the pipe (6).
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) are annular.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) are rectangular.
The movement mechanism (10) comprises a spring (11) extending from beside the body (2) of the cleaning head (1) towards the second suction port (5), placed in a cylindrical seat (15) with the orifice (14) on its end, whose one end is fastened to the lid (9); a pusher (12) enabling the spring (11) to be compressed and released, whose one end is fastened to the spring (11); and a trigger (13) to which the pusher (12) is connected, shifting the lid (9) to open or closed position by actuating the pusher (12) and the spring (11) upon being triggered by the user from beside the cleaning head (1). Light items are enabled to be vacuum cleaned without adhesion to the cleaning head (1) by reaching atmospheric pressure by means of the orifice (14) opening to the second suction port (5) by the lid (9) being opened (Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6).
The invention enables improving performance of the cleaning head (1) and facilitates usage. The invention reduces the high vacuum pressure which in fact makes usage more challenging. The second channel (8) enables achieving a homogeneous vacuum pressure distribution on the base (3) by transmitting the vacuum effect between the cleaning head (1) base (3) and a surface not through a single channel but through the second channels (8). Said homogenizing eliminates the usage problems arising from vacuum pressure. The present invention enables homogenizing vacuum pressure without modifying the size of current cleaning heads (1). In addition, dust collection capability is enhanced by means of the cleaning head (1) comprising three channels (7 and 8).

Claims

A vacuum cleaner comprising at least one vacuum source, a cleaning head (1) having a base (3) settling on the surface to be cleaned and a body (2), and a pipe (6) interconnecting the cleaning head (1) and the vacuum source, a first suction port (4) provided on the base (3) of the cleaning head (1), at least one second suction port (5) provided on the same base (3) with the first suction port (4), a first channel (7) extending through the cleaning head (1) to the pipe (6), directly connecting the first suction port (4) to the pipe (6), at least one second channel (8) extending through the cleaning head (1) to the pipe (6), directly connecting the second suction port (5) to the pipe (6), at least one orifice (14) interposed between the body (2) side wall and the second suction port (5), characterized by at least one lid (9) controlled by the user, enabling the orifice (14) to be opened and closed, and a movement mechanism (10) enabling actuating the lid (9).
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized by the first suction port (4) provided in the middle of the base (3) of the cleaning head (1), and by two suction ports (5) provided on both sides of the first suction port (4).
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and 2, characterized by the first channel (7) interconnecting the first suction port (4) and the pipe (6).
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and 2, characterized by the second channel (8) interconnecting the second suction port (5) and the pipe (6).
A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) being annular.
A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by the first and the second suction ports (4 and 5) being rectangular.
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized by the movement mechanism (10) having a spring (11) extending from beside the body (2) of the cleaning head (1) towards the second suction port (5), placed in a cylindrical seat (15) with the orifice (14) on its end, whose one end is fastened to the lid (9); a pusher (12) enabling the spring (11) to be compressed and released, whose one end is fastened to the spring (11); and a trigger (13) to which the pusher (12) is connected, shifting the lid (9) to open or closed position by actuating the pusher (12) and the spring (11) upon being triggered by the user from beside the cleaning head (1).