EP4052626B1 - Unlocking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an unlocking mechanism for locking and unlocking the plug connection of a vacuum cleaner, the unlocking mechanism having an unlocking element for unlocking the plug connection between the housing and the suction pipe and/or between the housing and the suction nozzle.

Cleaning systems with vacuum cleaners are used in private households and businesses to clean surfaces such as textile floor coverings and smooth floors. To collect dust, a suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner designed as a floor nozzle is continuously pushed back and forth on a floor surface.

Known from the prior art are, in particular, cleaning systems with cordless stick vacuum cleaners, which can generally be used in various configurations. In an overall structure, the housing of the vacuum cleaner is connected to a suction pipe and a suction nozzle designed as a floor nozzle via plug connections. It is possible for the vacuum cleaner housing, suction tube and nozzle to be plugged together in different configurations, e.g. the vacuum cleaner housing directly at the bottom of the nozzle. However, the vacuum cleaner can also be used in a built-up configuration without a floor nozzle, for example to remove spider webs. Another design configuration can provide for using the vacuum cleaner as a handheld vacuum cleaner, so that the suction tube and floor nozzle are separated from the housing. In order to use the structure as a handheld vacuum cleaner or without a floor nozzle, the suction tube and/or the suction nozzle must be manually separated from the housing and turned off. The connection between the housing and the suction pipe and/or between the housing and the suction nozzle is usually unlocked via a separately actuated unlocking element of an unlocking mechanism. Furthermore, it is known to accommodate the vacuum cleaner of such a cleaning system in a holder in order to park the vacuum cleaner in one of the construction configurations when not in use. In order to be able to use the vacuum cleaner in a different assembly configuration, the vacuum cleaner must first be removed from the holder and then laboriously converted into the desired assembly configuration and unused components must be stowed away.

US-2015297045 A discloses a plug connection for a vacuum cleaner with an unlocking mechanism, which releases a lock in the plug connection by pressing a push button.

The invention therefore faces the problem of providing an improved cleaning system and an improved unlocking mechanism. In particular, the removal of the vacuum cleaner from the holder and the conversion of the vacuum cleaner should be simplified.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by an unlocking mechanism according to claim 1. Because the holding element holds the vacuum cleaner on the unlocking element in a holding position, the housing being movable from the holding position in at least two removal directions in order to remove the vacuum cleaner from the holder, the unlocking mechanism being designed to be in a first removal direction from the holding element of the holder being unlocked and locked in a second removal direction, the removal of the vacuum cleaner from the holder and the conversion of the vacuum cleaner into a possible assembly configuration can be simplified. The plug-in connection between the housing and the suction pipe and/or between the housing and the suction nozzle is unlocked without additional manual operation of a separate lever or mechanism, simply by removing the vacuum cleaner from the holder in two different removal directions. This means that the vacuum cleaner can simply be removed from the holder either as a whole or, for example, as a handheld vacuum cleaner without an additional handling step.

The floor surface can be replaced by a textile floor covering such as a carpet or carpet or by a hard floor such as. B. a wooden parquet, laminate or a PVC floor covering can be formed.

The vacuum cleaner has a fan for generating a negative pressure, through which the floor nozzle, which is guided over a floor surface to be cleaned, picks up dust and dirt from the floor surface. For this purpose, the suction nozzle, which is designed as a floor nozzle, is moved back and forth in the processing direction by the user using pushing and pulling movements. This allows the floor nozzle to slide over the floor surface to be cleaned. Particularly in the case of long-pile carpets, the underside of the floor nozzle slides over the carpet, while in smooth floors the underside floats at a distance over these floor surfaces, if necessary using spacer bristles. To do this, the user can, for example, handle a handle of the vacuum cleaner that is connected to the floor nozzle via a suction tube. So that the cleaning and care of the floor covering can be carried out as effectively as possible, the suction mouth of the floor nozzle is elongated and runs essentially transversely to the processing direction. Elongated in this context means that the preferably substantially rectangular suction mouth has a greater length transverse to the processing direction than its width in the processing direction. The suction mouth is preferably between 20 and 30 cm long transversely to the processing direction. A vacuum cleaner housing of the vacuum cleaner can have a dust collection chamber which the dust picked up via the floor nozzle can be collected in a dust bag, for example.

Advantageous refinements and further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can also be combined with one another in any technologically sensible manner and thus show further refinements of the invention.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that in the first removal direction the vacuum cleaner with the housing can be removed from the holder, with the unlocked suction tube and/or the unlocked suction nozzle remaining in the holder, with the vacuum cleaner with the housing and the connected one remaining in the second removal direction Suction pipe and/or the connected suction nozzle can be removed together from the holder. The vacuum cleaner can be removed from the holder very easily either in the second removal direction in the overall structure or as a handheld vacuum cleaner in the first removal direction without an additional handling step. In the first removal direction, the suction tube and suction nozzle simply remain in the holder when the housing is removed from the holder.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the unlocking element unlocks the unlocking mechanism in an unlocking position and locks the unlocking mechanism in a locking position, the unlocking element being moved by the holding element from the locking position into the unlocking position due to the movement of the vacuum cleaner with the housing in the first removal direction . With the movement of the vacuum cleaner housing in the first removal direction, the plug connection can be unlocked very easily using the holding element. In this way, the unlocked suction tube or the unlocked suction nozzle remains held in the holder by the holding element, while the vacuum cleaner housing, which is separated when it is removed, can be used immediately as a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the unlocking element unlocks the unlocking mechanism in an unlocking position and locks the unlocking mechanism in a locking position, the holding element being designed to move the unlocking element into the unlocking position when the vacuum cleaner is picked up in the holder, whereby the Movement of the vacuum cleaner with the housing in the second removal direction, the unlocking element is moved by the holding element from the unlocking position into the locking position or is already in the locking position. By moving the vacuum cleaner housing in the second removal direction, you can easily The plug connection is locked or retained by the holding element. In this way, the locked suction tube or the locked suction nozzle can be removed from the holder together with the vacuum cleaner housing, while the vacuum cleaner housing can be removed in another, in particular the first, removal direction separately from the unlocked suction tube and/or from the unlocked suction nozzle.

The development of the invention is particularly advantageous in that in the first removal direction the housing of the vacuum cleaner can be moved upwards for removal from the holding position and in the second removal direction the housing of the vacuum cleaner can be moved horizontally for removal from the holding position. With a simple and intuitive movement of the vacuum cleaner housing upwards, the vacuum cleaner can be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner while the suction tube and suction nozzle remain in the holder. When moving horizontally forwards, backwards or to the side, the vacuum cleaner with the suction tube and suction nozzle can easily be removed from the holder as a whole.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that in the first removal direction the housing of the vacuum cleaner is relatively rotatable for removal from the holding position and in the second removal direction the housing of the vacuum cleaner is translationally movable to the holder for removal from the holding position. With a simple and intuitive rotation of the vacuum cleaner housing, the vacuum cleaner can be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner while the suction tube and suction nozzle remain in the holder. When moving upwards, downwards, forwards, backwards or to the side, the vacuum cleaner with the suction tube and the suction nozzle can easily be removed from the holder as a whole.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the holder has power contacts which, in the holding position, contact resilient charging contacts of the vacuum cleaner for charging a battery, the charging contacts being arranged on the unlocking element. A battery in the vacuum cleaner housing can be easily charged via charging contacts arranged in this way, without the removal of the vacuum cleaner being hindered by the electrical contact between the power contacts of the holder and the charging contacts of the vacuum cleaner.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the holder is designed as a stand or wall mount. With a holder as a base, the cleaning system can easily be placed on the floor. The wall bracket allows the cleaning system to be easily attached to a wall.

The subject of the invention is an unlocking mechanism for locking and unlocking a plug connection of a vacuum cleaner between a housing of the vacuum cleaner and a suction tube and/or between the housing and a suction nozzle and/or between the suction tube and the suction nozzle, the unlocking mechanism having an unlocking element for unlocking the plug connection, wherein the unlocking element is movable between an unlocking position in which it unlocks the unlocking mechanism and a locking position in which it locks the unlocking mechanism, the unlocking mechanism having at least one clamping wedge which is immersed in a recess in the unlocking element in the unlocking position, the clamping wedge being in the locking position supported against the unlocking element and the plug connection is locked. With such an unlocking mechanism, a simple locking and unlocking of a plug connection of a vacuum cleaner is possible, since an intuitive movement can be used for unlocking with the unlocking element. This allows the plug connection to be unlocked with a simple grip and a pulling movement and the parts connected via the plug connection to be released.

Figur 1

Reinigungssystem,

Figur 2

Reinigungssystem mit Standfuß,

Figur 3

Detailansicht mit Staubsauger in Halteposition,

Figur 4

Detailansicht mit entnommenem Staubsaugergehäuse,

Figur 5

Draufsicht auf Halterung mit Saugrohr,

Figur 6

Detailansicht mit entnommenem Staubsaugergehäuse,

Figur 7 u. 8

Fußentriegelung,

Figur 9

Entriegelungsmechanismus verriegelt,

Figur 10

Entriegelungsmechanismus entriegelt und

Figur 11

Detailansicht zu Entriegelungsmechanismus.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the drawings. Embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the following drawings and are described in more detail below. Corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference numbers in all figures. It shows

Figure 1

cleaning system,

Figure 2

Cleaning system with stand,

Figure 3

Detailed view with vacuum cleaner in holding position,

Figure 4

Detailed view with the vacuum cleaner housing removed,

Figure 5

Top view of holder with suction pipe,

Figure 6

Detailed view with the vacuum cleaner housing removed,

Figures 7 and 8

foot release,

Figure 9

unlocking mechanism locked,

Figure 10

Release mechanism unlocked and

Figure 11

Detailed view of the unlocking mechanism.

In the figures, designated by reference number 1, a cleaning system according to the invention is shown purely schematically. The representation according to Figure 1 shows a total of three cleaning systems 1, here the vacuum cleaner 2 of the cleaning system and the holder 9 of the cleaning system 1 in three different variants are composed. Variant A can be seen on the left, while variant B can be seen in the middle and variant C can be seen on the right. In all three variants, the vacuum cleaner 2 is held in a bracket 9 designed as a wall bracket.

In Figure 2 the cleaning system 1 is shown with a vacuum cleaner 2 in a holder 9 designed as a stand.

All of these variants according to Figure 1 and 2 have in common that the cleaning systems 1 for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces have a vacuum cleaner 2 and a holder 9 for picking up and removing the vacuum cleaner 2. The suction nozzle 5 designed as a floor nozzle is connected here via its connecting piece 15 to a preferably/optionally telescopic suction pipe 4. The telescopic suction tube 4 is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing 3 via a plug connection 6. This has a handle 16 with which the user can guide the vacuum cleaner 2. The vacuum cleaner 2 has a housing 3 and a fan arranged in the housing 3 to generate a negative pressure. By means of this negative pressure, dirt and grime are picked up from the floor surface to be cleaned by an air stream via the suction mouth of a floor nozzle 5 and transported away via the suction pipe 4 into the housing 3 of the vacuum cleaner 2. A separation system is provided in this housing 3, which can be designed as a dust bag. The air flow generated by the negative pressure is freed from dirt and grime in the separation system and led out of the vacuum cleaner 2 via exhaust air grilles. This is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing 3 via the plug connection 6 between the housing 3 and the suction pipe 4. The plug connection 6 includes an unlocking mechanism 7 ( Fig. 9 , 10 ) for locking and unlocking the plug connection 6, with the unlocking mechanism 7 ( Fig. 9 , 10 ) has an unlocking element 8 for unlocking the plug connection between the housing 3 and the suction pipe 4. Such a plug connection 6 can also be used to directly connect the suction nozzle 5 to the vacuum cleaner housing 3. On the holder 9 there is a holding element 10 ( Fig. 5 ) provided on which the vacuum cleaner 2 is placed in the holder 9 in one Figures 1 to 3 shown holding position is held. Here, according to the invention, the vacuum cleaner 2 is held on the unlocking element 8 for unlocking the plug connection 6 between the housing 3 and the suction pipe 4 or between the housing 3 and the suction nozzle 5. From the stop position determined thereby, the vacuum cleaner 2 can be removed in at least two directions 11 ( Fig. 4 ), 12 ( Fig. 5 ) can be removed from the holder 9. The unlocking mechanism 7 ( Fig. 9 , 10 ) is advantageously designed to be in a first removal direction 11 ( Fig. 4 ) of the vacuum cleaner housing 3 from the holder 9 to be unlocked from the holding element 10 of the holder 9 and in a second removal direction 12 ( Fig. 5 ) of the vacuum cleaner housing 3 from the holder 9 to be locked. This allows the vacuum cleaner 2 to be quickly set up in different configurations can simply be removed from the holder 9, as will be explained in more detail below.

The Figure 3 shows a vacuum cleaner 2 of a cleaning system 1 according to the invention in the holding position of the holder 9. The holding element 10 of the holder 9 surrounds the unlocking element 8 in a geometry 17 provided for this purpose, so that the suction pipe 4 is fixed in the axial suction pipe direction, but as shown Figure 5 visible, to the front, from the wall 40 ( Fig. 5 ) away, can be pulled out. This enables the vacuum cleaner housing 3 to be removed in the first removal direction 11 ( Fig. 4 ) upwards and the removal of the entire device with vacuum cleaner housing 3 and suction pipe 4 as well as suction nozzle 5 in the second removal direction 12 to the front.

Out of Figure 4 the vacuum cleaner works according to 2 Figure 3 out, with the vacuum cleaner housing 3 being removed from the holding position in the first removal direction 11. Here, the unlocked suction pipe 4 and also the unlocked suction nozzle 5 remain in the holder 9 in the holding position. For this purpose, the unlocking element 8 unlocks the unlocking mechanism 7 in an unlocking position ( Fig. 9 , 10 ) and locks the unlocking mechanism 7 in a locking position ( Fig. 9 , 10 ). Due to the movement of the vacuum cleaner 2 with the housing 3 in the first removal direction 11, the unlocking element 8 was moved by the holding element 10 from the locking position into the unlocking position, so that the vacuum cleaner housing 3 is released. The vacuum cleaner housing 3 can thereby be used independently, for example as a handheld vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, the holding element 10 can also hold the unlocking element 8 in the holding position in the unlocking position 8 and only when the vacuum cleaner moves in the second removal direction 12 ( Fig. 5 ), the unlocking element 8 is moved from the unlocking position to the locking position so that the vacuum cleaner 2 can be safely removed in the overall structure with the suction pipe 4 and the suction nozzle 5 connected. In Figure 4 is shown that the housing 3 of the vacuum cleaner 2 was moved upwards in the first removal direction 11 for removal from the holding position.

The Figure 5 shows a top view from the first removal direction of the holder 9 according to Figures 1 to 4 , whereby here the suction pipe 4 remains in the holding element 10. From this illustration it can be seen that the holding element 10 is preferably fork-shaped. This creates a second removal direction 12, via which the vacuum cleaner 2 with the housing 3 and the connected suction pipe 4 and/or the connected suction nozzle 5 can be removed together from the holder 9. To remove this structural configuration, the housing 3 of the vacuum cleaner 2 only needs to be moved horizontally in the second removal direction 12 from the holding position in order to be released from the fork-shaped holding element 10 of the holder 9. This can also be done a slightly tilting movement can be carried out. As an alternative to this movement, the housing 3 of the vacuum cleaner 2 can also be removed by rotating the housing 3 relative to the holder in a first removal direction 11. In at least the second removal direction 12, the vacuum cleaner housing 3 can be removed here together with the suction pipe 4 and with the suction nozzle 5 from the holder 9 in a translational manner. A plug connection 6 with which such a removal of the vacuum cleaner 2 from the holder 9 is possible is in Figure 6 shown. Here, locking hooks 18 or a bayonet lock are indicated, which forms the unlocking mechanism 7. Alternatively, the unlocking mechanism 7 can also be formed by a thread.

In the Figures 7 and 8th a foot release 19 is shown, which in the case of Figure 7 forms a tread surface as an additive element on the cap of the connecting piece 15. In Figure 8 On the other hand, the foot release is shown as a tread surface with a recess at the rear or side of the cap of the connecting piece 15.

The Figure 9 shows the unlocking mechanism 7 according to the invention in a locked state. The unlocking mechanism 7 is used to lock and unlock a plug connection 6 on the vacuum cleaner 2. A plug connection 6 between the vacuum cleaner housing 3 and the suction pipe 4 is preferably locked. But there can also be a connection between the housing 3 of the vacuum cleaner 2 and the suction nozzle 5. The unlocking mechanism 7 has a manually movable unlocking element 8. With this unlocking element 8, the plug connection 6 can be unlocked easily. For this purpose, the unlocking element 8 can simply be placed between an in Figure 9 shown locking position, in which it locks the unlocking mechanism 7, and one in Figure 10 shown unlocking position, in which it unlocks the unlocking mechanism 7, can be moved. The unlocking element 8 can preferably be moved between 3 and 15 mm between the locking position and the unlocking position.

As in Figure 10 can also be seen, the clamping wedges of the unlocking mechanism 7 dip into recesses 14 of the unlocking element 8 in the unlocking position, while the clamping wedges 13 are supported in the locking position against the unlocking element 8 and so, as in Figure 9 to see, lock the plug connection 6. Like in the Figures 9 and 10 As can be seen, the unlocking element 8 is designed as a cap or sleeve, which can be easily gripped when the vacuum cleaner components 3, 4, 5 connected to one another via the plug connection 6 are pulled apart in order to then unlock in the direction of movement. In particular, the connection 6 between the suction pipe 4 and the suction nozzle 5 could also be used while standing by holding the cap 8 or cuff with a foot on a foot provided for this purpose Foot release 19 ( Figure 7 or 8th ) can be solved. The use of one or more clamping wedges 13, which can be brought into two different positions by moving the outer cap 8 on a female plug 20 of the plug connection 6 and pulling on a male plug 21 of the plug connection 6, offers a simple option To lock or release the plug connection 6 on a vacuum cleaner 2. In the locked position according to Figure 9 the clamping wedges 13 are supported on the female connector 20 of the plug connection 6 and the unlocking element 8 designed as an outer cap and thus prevent the male connector 21 of the plug connection 6 from being pulled out by engaging in the associated recesses. This makes it possible to lock the plug connection 6 easily and securely. If the unlocking element 8 and the inner female connector 20 of the plug connection 6 are moved relative to one another, for example by pulling the suction pipe 5 and vacuum cleaner housing 3 apart, the clamping wedges 13 can no longer be supported on the outer unlocking element 8. The clamping wedges 13 thereby rotate into the recesses 14 provided for this purpose in the unlocking element 8, while the male connector 21 of the plug connection 6 can be easily pulled out since the clamping wedges 13 are no longer immersed in the recesses on the male connector 21 of the plug connection 6 . The unlocking mechanism 7 only unlocks the plug connection 6 when the user grabs the unlocking element 8 of the female connector 20 of the plug connection 6 and moves the two connectors 20, 21 away from each other. When vacuuming, the plug connection 6 advantageously absorbs all forces generated. Is attached to the unlocking element 8, as in the Figures 7 and 8th shown, a possibility is created to counteract with the foot, it is, for example, possible to separate the connection between a suction pipe 4 and a suction nozzle 5 via the unlocking mechanism 7 according to the invention while standing, without the user having to bend down.

The Figure 11 is a detailed view of the unlocking mechanism 7 according to the Figures 9 and 10 . Here you can see how the clamping wedge 13 dips into the recess of the male plug 21 of the plug connection 6. The immersion depth should be between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm and should be between 5 and 15 degrees.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. Further configurations are possible without departing from the basic idea.

List of reference symbols:

1

Cleaning system

2

Vacuum cleaner

3

Housing

4

suction pipe

5

suction nozzle

6

Plug connection

7

Release mechanism

8th

Unlocking element

9

bracket

10

Holding element

11

First removal direction

12

Second removal direction

13

Clamping wedges

14

recesses

15

Connection piece

16

Handle

17

Holding geometry

18

Latching hook

19

Foot release

20

Female plug

21

Male plug

40

Wall

Claims (4)

1. Unlocking mechanism (7) for locking and unlocking a plug-in connection (6) of a vacuum cleaner (2) between a housing (3) of the vacuum cleaner (2) and a suction tube (4) and/or between the housing (3) and a suction nozzle (5) and/or between the suction tube (4) and the suction nozzle (5), the unlocking mechanism (7) comprising an unlocking element (8) for unlocking the plug-in connection (6), the unlocking element (8) being movable between an unlocking position, in which it unlocks the unlocking mechanism (7), and a locking position, in which it locks the unlocking mechanism (7), the unlocking mechanism (7) comprising at least one clamping wedge (13) which, in the unlocking position, enters a recess (14) of the unlocking element (8), in the locking position, the clamping wedge (13) being supported against the unlocking element (8) and locking the plug-in connection (6),
   characterised in that
   the unlocking element is displaceable between an unlocking position and a locking position.
2. Unlocking mechanism (7) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the unlocking element (8) is designed as a cap or sleeve.
3. Unlocking mechanism according to either claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the unlocking element is displaceable between an unlocking position and a locking position by 3 to 25 millimetres.
4. Vacuum cleaner (2) comprising an unlocking mechanism (7) according to claim 1.

Images