EP4255270B1

EP4255270B1 - Vacuum cleaner stand

Info

Publication number: EP4255270B1
Application number: EP20820860.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josef ISAKSSON; Dawid DAWOD
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2020-12-07
Filing date: 2020-12-07
Publication date: 2025-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-07
Also published as: KR20230116789A; US20240115096A1; CN116490108A; WO2022122109A1; JP2023552435A; EP4255270A1; JP7581610B2

Description

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide an improved stand for a vacuum cleaner.
This object is achieved by a vacuum cleaner stand and a vacuum cleaner arrangement as set out in the appended claims.
As has been realized by the inventor, it would be advantageous to provide a vacuum cleaner stand that would facilitate for a user to select mode of operation for a vacuum cleaner and at the same time provide for an efficient storage of the vacuum cleaner.
Document US 2019365171 A discloses a cleaner stand configured to separate only a cleaner body by holding a suction unit or configured to separate the cleaner body coupled to the suction unit by releasing a hold on the suction unit, according to a separation direction of the cleaner body.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a stand for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The stand is used for a vacuum cleaner comprising a hand-held main unit comprising a dust separation arrangement, an air inlet, an air out, a motor-fan unit creating an airflow from the air inlet through the dust separation arrangement to the air outlet. The hand-held main unit comprises a locking arrangement for releasable locking a tube arrangement, for e.g. floor cleaning. The tube arrangement comprises a nozzle with an air inlet for dust laden air, and a second air outlet to be releasably connected to the air inlet of the hand-held, main unit, and a second locking arrangement cooperating with the first locking arrangement. The first or the second locking arrangement comprises a release button that unlocks the locking arrangement. The stand comprises a manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to actuate a release button or release mechanism to unlock the hand-held main unit from the tube arrangement when the vacuum cleaner is placed in the stand. Hereby and easy to use mechanism for separating the hand-held, main, unit from the tube arrangement with the nozzle is obtained. The actuation mechanism can be implemented in various ways. For example, the actuation mechanism can be a mechanic mechanism or the actuation mechanism can comprise an electromagnetic mechanism.
In accordance with one embodiment, the actuation mechanism comprises a push button that when pushed by a user triggers the actuation mechanism to actuate the release mechanism. Hereby an actuation mechanism that is easy to use can be obtained.
In accordance with one embodiment, the push button is facing upwards on the stand. Hereby operation of the push button is facilitated.
In accordance with one embodiment, the manually operated actuation mechanism is adapted to be moved in a downwards direction. Hereby operation of the actuation mechanism is facilitated.
In accordance with one embodiment, the stand comprises a holder for a tube and or a nozzle when hand held unit is released. Hereby the stand can act as a storage for the tube and nozzle when the hand-held unit is released from the tube and nozzle.
In accordance with one embodiment, the holder comprises a magnet for securing the tube and or the nozzle. Hereby a more secure holding arrangement for holding the tube and nozzle is obtained.
The stand can in accordance with some embodiment have a tower shaped housing. The stand can then comprise an upright tower shaped portion that can comprise the manually operated actuation mechanism. Hereby a stand that is easy to place and use is obtained. The tower shaped portion can also house the holder. In addition, the actuation mechanism can be located on a top surface of the tower shaped portion. Such a location for the actuation mechanism is advantageous in that it become easy to access and is easy to locate.
The invention also extends to a vacuum cleaner arrangement comprising the stand according to the above and a vacuum cleaner with a hand-held unit.
The vacuum cleaner arrangement can in accordance with some embodiments comprise a hand-held unit with a handle adapted to be held when the actuation mechanism is operated.
In accordance with some embodiments, the tube arrangement of the vacuum cleaner is made of a magnetizable material. Hereby magnets can be used in the stand to improve the securing of the tube when placed in the stand.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a vacuum cleaner in a vacuum cleaner stand,
Fig. 2 is a partial view of a vacuum cleaner placed in a holder of a vacuum cleaner stand,
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the vacuum cleaner in the vacuum cleaner stand with a detail marked, and
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the marked detail of Fig. 3.

Detailed description

Aspects of the present invention will now be described more fully. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for ease of understanding and/or clarity. It is further to be understood that the features described can be combined in any suitable manner to meet different implementational needs.
The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner and in particular to a stand that can be used for holding the vacuum cleaner. In Fig. 1 a vacuum cleaner 1 is placed in a stand 2. The vacuum cleaner 1 is of a type where a part of the vacuum cleaner can be separated from the rest of the vacuum cleaner to form a hand-held unit. In Fig. 1. The vacuum cleaner 1 is a of a stick type and the top part of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be separated to form a hand-held unit 3. Further, the hand-held, main, unit comprises a dust separation arrangement, an air inlet, an air out, a motor-fan unit creating an airflow from the air inlet through the dust separation arrangement to the air outlet as is known in the art. The hand-held main unit comprises a locking arrangement for releasable locking a tube arrangement, for e.g. floor cleaning. The tube arrangement comprises a nozzle with an air inlet for dust laden air, and a second air outlet to be releasably connected to the air inlet of the hand-held, main unit, and a second locking arrangement cooperating with the first locking arrangement as is known in the art. The first or the second locking arrangement comprises a release button that unlocks the locking arrangement in any type of configuration known per se.
Thus, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be used in two modes of operation. A first mode where the whole stick vacuum cleaner 1 is used and a second mode where only the top part is used as a hand-held unit 3. The bottom part including a stick/tube 5 and a nozzle 6 will then remain in the stand 2. The vacuum cleaner thus comprises a hand held, main, unit 3 comprising a dust separation arrangement, an air inlet, an air out, a motor-fan unit creating an airflow from the air inlet through the dust separation arrangement to the air outlet, and a locking arrangement for releasable locking a tube arrangement, for e.g. floor cleaning. The tube arrangement 5, 6 typically comprises a nozzle with an air inlet for dust laden air, a second air outlet to be releasably connected to the air inlet of the main unit.
By providing a stand 2 where the remaining parts of the vacuum cleaner not forming the hand-held unit 3 can be kept safely in the stand when the handheld unit 3 is used, the storage of the vacuum cleaner is facilitated. This is because the user does not need to find a place to store the remaining parts while using the hand-held unit 3.
The stand 2 is in accordance with some embodiments used to store the vacuum cleaner 1 when it is not in use. Also, the stand 2 can be connected to a power outlet so that the vacuum cleaner 1 can be charged when placed in the stand 2.
The stand can be shaped as a tower with a floor support. Inside the tower electrical connections can be provided to allow for charging of the vacuum cleaner. The tower can comprise a space for an extra battery to the vacuum cleaner that can be charged while in the such a charging space.
In Fig. 2 a partial view of the vacuum cleaner 1 of Fig. 1 when placed in the stand 2 is shown. The stand 2 has a holder 7 for holding the vacuum cleaner securely in the stand 2. When the hand-held unit 3 is released from the rest of the vacuum cleaner the remaining parts of the vacuum cleaner 1 will still be securely attached to the stand 2 by the holder 7. The holder 7 can in accordance with some embodiments be mechanical and/or magnetic or comprise one or more magnets to improve the attachment to the stand 2.
In Fig. 3, a cross sectional view of the vacuum cleaner 1 in the stand 2 is shown with a section A marked therein.
In Fig. 4, the section A of Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. 4 illustrate how the stand 2 can comprise a manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to unlock the first locking arrangement from the second locking arrangement by actuating the release button of the vacuum cleaner when placed in the stand 2.
Thus, when the vacuum cleaner is in the stand 2 and the user wants to use only the hand-held unit 3, the hand-held unit 3 must be released from the rest of the vacuum cleaner such as the tube and the nozzle.
The implementation of Fig. 1 where a push button that when pushed by a user triggers the actuation mechanism to actuate the release mechanism will now be described in more detail.
In Fig. 4, a push button 11 is arranged in a housing 12. The button acts on a rod 14. The rod 14 is spring loaded by a spring 13. The spring is provided to let the rod 14 (and thereby the push button) return to its initial position when the push button is released. The rod 14 is pressing a catch 15. The catch 15 directs the movement of the rod 14 towards a button 18. The button 18 releases the handheld unit 3 from the rest of the vacuum cleaner in a manner known per se. The button 18 is spring loaded with a spring 16 and can thereby return to its initial position.
Hereby pushing the push button 11 on the stand 2 will release the hand-held unit from the rest of the vacuum cleaner. Upon release, the user can remove the hand-held unit 3 from the rest of the vacuum cleaner. In accordance with some embodiments, the user hand-held unit 3 is removed by pulling the hand-held unit upwards (for example holding a pistol grip of the hand held-unit. The hand held-unit will then slide out of the tube 5. The user can then use the hand-held unit 3 while the rest of the vacuum cleaner is securely held in the stand.
In other words, a first locking arrangement comprising the push button or a similar manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to actuate a second locking mechanism that can comprise a release button or release mechanism to unlock the hand-held main unit from the tube arrangement when the vacuum cleaner is placed in the stand is provided. Thus enables releasable locking a tube arrangement, for e.g. floor cleaning, said tube arrangement comprising a nozzle with an air inlet for dust laden air, a second air outlet to be releasably connected to the air inlet of the hand-held, main, unit, second locking arrangement cooperating with the first locking arrangement, the first or the second locking arrangement comprises a release button that unlocks the locking arrangement, wherein the stand comprises a manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to actuate the release button or release mechanism to unlock the hand-held main unit from the tube arrangement when the vacuum cleaner is placed in the stand.
In accordance with some embodiments, the hand unit 3 comprises a handle, the handle can be held by a user when pushing the button 11 that releases the hand-held unit 3 from the rest of the vacuum cleaner. The handle can be formed as a pistol grip.
The push button 11 can be located on the stand 2 in a direction facing upwards. In such an embodiment the push direction will be a downwards movement which is easy to perform. In particular, when the stand is shaped as a tower, the push button can be located on a top surface of the tower forming the stand 2.
Also, a first magnet 17 and a second magnet 19 can be arranged to secure the vacuum cleaner in the stand 2. The magnets 17 and 19 can be arranged to support different parts of the vacuum cleaner 1 when secured in the stand 2. For example, the magnet 17 and the magnet 19 can act to keep the tube in place when the hand-held unit 3 is removed. In particular the tube can be magnetic to whereby the magnetic force will help keeping the tube in place. The magnets 17, 19 can be arranged opposite to each other.
In accordance with some embodiments a first securing arrangement at the top section of the stand 2 can be supplemented by a second securing arrangement at a lower section of the stand 2. For example, the first securing arrangement can be provided by the magnets 17 and 19. A second pair of magnets can be located at a lower section of the stand. The second securing arrangements can for example by located the bottom section of the stand to secure the nozzle 6 and or the tube 5. Magnets can be used but other types of securing arrangements such as mechanical locking, snap-fits can also be used. A guide element can also be used that guides the lower part of the tube 5 to a secured position in the stand 2.
By arranging an actuation mechanism in the stand 2 that acts to release the hand-held unit 3 from the rest of the vacuum cleaner a number of advantages can be achieved. For example, the trigger mechanism that the user interacts with can be made large and easy to reach and maneuver. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the trigger mechanism is a push button, but other types over trigger mechanisms can be envisaged such as a lever or a pull mechanism. The mechanism could also be a touch screen. By placing the trigger mechanism on the stand 2, it can be made larger so that it can be easily operated and located.
As set out above, the location of a manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to actuate a release mechanism of a hand-held unit of a vacuum cleaner when placed in the stand makes it possible to design the trigger mechanism whereby the release mechanism of the vacuum cleaner is released in a much more user-friendly manner. The trigger mechanism, such as a push button or a liver can be made large such as at least 1 cm wide and preferably 2 cm or more wide. It can be located on a location that is easy to find and also it can be shaped to make it easy to understand how the release mechanism for the hand-held unit works.
Using the stand as described herein it is made possible to provide a vacuum cleaner with a hand-held unit where the Hand-held unit and the tube/nozzle are connected together in the stand and can be used together when removed from the stand. In addition, it is possible to quick release the hand-held unit from the nozzle/tube when, when the manually operated actuation mechanism, such as a button is operated.

Claims

A stand (2) for a vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a hand-held main unit (3) a first locking arrangement for releasable locking a tube arrangement (5) comprising a nozzle (6), for e.g. floor cleaning, a second locking arrangement cooperating with the first locking arrangement, the first or the second locking arrangement comprises a release button (18) that unlocks the locking arrangement, wherein the stand comprises a manually operated actuation mechanism adapted to actuate the release button or release mechanism to unlock the hand-held main unit from the tube arrangement when the vacuum cleaner is placed in the stand characterized in that the actuation mechanism comprises a push button (11) that when pushed by a user triggers the actuation mechanism to actuate the release mechanism.
The stand according to claim 1, wherein the push button is facing upwards on the stand
The stand according to claim to any one of claims 1 - 2 wherein the manually operated actuation mechanism is adapted to be moved in a downwards direction.
The stand according to any of claims 1 - 3 wherein the actuation mechanism is a mechanic mechanism.
The stand according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises an electromagnetic mechanism.
The stand according to any of claims 1 - 4, comprising a holder for a tube and or a nozzle when the hand unit is released.
The stand according to claim 6, wherein the holder comprises a magnet (17, 19) for securing the tube and or the nozzle.
The stand according to any of claims 1 - 7, comprising an upright tower shaped portion comprising the manually operated actuation mechanism.
The stand according to claim 8, wherein the tower shaped portion also houses the holder.
The stand according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the actuation mechanism is located on a top surface of the tower shaped portion.
A vacuum cleaner arrangement comprising the stand according to any one of claims 1 - 10 and a vacuum cleaner with a hand-held unit, said hand held unit (3) comprising a dust separation arrangement, an air inlet, an air out, a motor-fan unit creating an airflow from the air inlet through the dust separation arrangement to the air outlet, and a first locking arrangement for releasable locking a tube arrangement (5) , for e.g. floor cleaning, said tube arrangement comprising a nozzle (6) with an air inlet for dust laden air, a second air outlet to be releasably connected to the air inlet of the hand-held, main, unit, a second locking arrangement cooperating with the first locking arrangement, the first or the second locking arrangement comprises a release button (18) that unlocks the locking arrangement.
The Vacuum cleaner arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the hand-held unit of the vacuum cleaner has a handle adapted to be held when the actuation mechanism is operated.
The vacuum cleaner arrangement according to claim 11 or, 12 wherein the tube arrangement is made of a magnetizable material.