ES2368752T3 - SUCTION POWER INDICATOR FOR A VACUUM CLEANER. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a visual indicator for the suction power of a vacuum cleaner, said visual indicator being carried by a control body (5) which enables the rate of a suction air leak to be regulated, and is contained in a housing (4) positioned on the grip of the vacuum cleaner. The inventive visual indicator is characterised by the fact that it consists of a photoconductive plastic element (11) embodied in such a way as to send the light back towards the upper face thereof, in privileged positions; by the fact that the plastic element (11) faces a window (12) in the upper part of the housing (4); and by the fact that it moves in relation to the window (12) when a sliding shutter (8) controlling the rate of the suction air leak is actuated by the control body (5), in such a way as to indicate the suction level by the visible part of the plastic element (11).

Description

Suction power indicator for a vacuum cleaner

The invention relates to a visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner by means of a light conductor.

Most of the commercially available vacuum cleaners presently present means to regulate the suction power by means of adjustable openings. These openings are usually located at the top of the suction tube or at the curved end of the vacuum to be easily operated by the users.

In many situations it is useful, in fact, to use the vacuum cleaner with reduced suction power, especially to clean light objects that can be dragged into the apparatus, curtains, fabrics and other flexible elements that can clog the duct and block the cleaning activity .

The reduction of the suction power is obtained in different ways, for example with a variable power motor, but also, generally, and sometimes in a complementary way to the variable power motor, by means of openings located in the suction air circuit , as described, for example, in US 3 633 239. These openings allow the suction pressure to drop at the end of the line, at the brush level or at the level of a nozzle.

Classically, these manually operated openings are sealed by sliding flaps that do not comprise any indication of the suction power level, which is inconvenient for the users.

Aware of this problem, various builders have placed indicators of the air flow in the vacuum body in the form of display devices. Some of these indicators include light-emitting diodes and electronic circuits for the treatment and transmission of information to the display.

For the displays, devices have sometimes been used to guide the light, for example in the form of optical fibers or optical reflection means, these displays comprising an electric light source of the electroluminescent diode type for the indication of the suction power.

These aspiration power indicators of the vacuum cleaners comprising electronic circuits and diodes have the double disadvantage of being expensive and of being relatively fragile, especially when users frequently handle the vacuum cleaners firmly and the apparatus receives numerous shocks, with the risk of breaking The electrical connections.

The invention, therefore, aims to solve these main difficulties, by proposing a very simple suction power indicator, which does not have diodes or electronic elements, or even an energy source to operate, therefore very inexpensive to manufacture. and of use, and of a great reliability.

Another object of the invention is the realization of a device for modifying the suction power by an air leak that is silent.

According to the invention, the visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner is carried by a control organ, whose control organ, which allows to regulate the flow rate of suction air, is contained in a box located in the curved end of the vacuum. The aforementioned visual indicator being characterized:

 due to the fact that this is constituted by a light-conductive plastic element formed to forward the light towards its upper face, in privileged positions,

 by the fact that the plastic element is in front of a window arranged in the upper part of the box,

 due to the fact that it is in relative motion with respect to the window when a sliding hatch, which controls the flow rate of the suction air leakage, is operated by the control organ, so as to indicate the level of aspiration by the visible part of the plastic element.

The advantages of the suction power indicator per light conductor are multiple, the most important being the extreme simplicity of the device and the very low manufacturing cost. The aesthetics of the element and its great robustness are equally interesting.

According to a preferred mode of implementation of the invention, the plastic element is integral with the sliding hatch that controls the flow rate of suction air, the window being immobile.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows in relation to the accompanying drawings given only by way of non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the curved end of a vacuum cleaner in which the air leakage opening control is in the open position.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the air leakage opening control box with its main constituents.

Figure 3 illustrates in exploded view the components of the air leakage opening control.

Figure 4 is a side view of the light conductor.

Figure 5 illustrates a bottom view of the light conductor.

Figure 6 shows a view from above and a section according to A A 'of the air leakage opening control and especially a detail of the cut-off wave conductor.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the curved end of a vacuum cleaner in which the air leakage opening control is in the closed position.

As shown in Figure 1, a curved end of the vacuum cleaner 1 comprising a visual indicator of power per light conductor according to the invention is constituted by a suction air leakage control system 2 placed in the vicinity of the catch With the hand of the curved end. The regulation of the air leakage and therefore of the suction power is thus easily controlled manually by means of a button 10.

As illustrated in Figure 2 in exploded view, the suction air leak control system 2 comprises three elements: a box 4, a control organ 5, a foam rubber 7.

Classically, the control of the suction air leak is carried out by means of a sliding hatch 8 incorporated in the box 4 and disposed between openings 9 of the box and an opening arranged in the tube 3, substantially in front of the openings 9. Said box is embedded in the upper part of the suction tube at the curved end of the vacuum.

More precisely, the box 4 is fixed to the vacuum tube and to the curved end by clips, the said box contains the guided organ 5 guided for its sliding along the rails 6. As shown in Figure 2, the mentioned rails 6 They are arranged on top of the box.

The control button 10 is thus arranged, in the upper part of the box 4, in the rails 6, by interlocking. This comprises bolts 101 that enter into cooperation, beyond the rails 6, with complementary groups 81 arranged in the trapdoor 8, as seen well in Figure 3.

In the following, a foam rubber 7 is located in the hydraulic path between the openings 9 and the opening of the tube 3.

Thus, the trapdoor 8 of the control organ, when it is in the closed position, completely covers the foam rubber 7, preventing any entry of air into the suction duct. When the control organ 5 is in the open position, the trapdoor 8 is removed and the foam rubber is located directly below the openings 9, allowing the passage of the leaking air.

The foam rubber 7 makes it possible to reduce the whistles caused by the aspiration of the air through the openings 9 when the flap 8 is in the open position or in the intermediate position. Indeed, an effort has been made to reduce the noise caused by the passage of the leakage air, not only by the presence of the foam rubber 7, but also by the presence of the multiple openings 9, and their extension, contributing equally to this air distribution in the openings to reduce noise.

The flow of leakage air that modifies the suction power of the vacuum cleaner is regulated by means of the control button 10 operated by the thumb of the user, whose button is integral with the trapdoor 8 in the control organ 5, as illustrated in figures 2 and 6.

When the control button 10 is delayed to the maximum, that is to say in the position of figure 1, the trapdoor 8 does not obstruct the openings 9 made in the upper part of the box 4 nor the sucked air, decreasing the suction power in the tube 3. This position allows, for example, the cleaning of curtains, of fine fabrics and, in general, of the elements that can adhere to the suction and obstruct it.

When the control button 10 is advanced to the maximum, that is to say in the position of figure 7, the trapdoor 8 obstructs the openings 9 and does not generate air request, the suction power is then maximum at the end of the tube

3. This configuration of use is mainly used for cleaning large surfaces, such as floors, carpets, etc.

It is understood that this punctual modification of the suction power may come as a complement to a more complex device for modifying the power by modulating the motor rotation speed.

According to the invention, the suction power indicator that allows to locate the air leakage rate is formed by a light conductor 11 placed in the upper part of the control organ 5.

Said light conductor 11 is presented in the form of a sheet, which can be straight or slightly curved, rectangular in shape and eventually has fixing means to the control organ, such as a clip 111 that cooperates with a complementary shape. of the hatch 8. The latter comprises an opening 82 of slightly smaller size than the size of the light conductor 11, so that the latter rests, by its contour, on the edges of the opening 82.

Figure 4 shows the light conductor in side view and more particularly illustrates the fact that the light conductor is presented in the form of a thin sheet having its two large disymmetric faces.

Thus, according to the preferred mode of implementation of the invention, the upper face, visible by the user, is flat, while the lower one, in front of the suction tube, comprises reliefs 13 to resend the light.

In fact, during the fabrication of the sheet constituting the light conductor 11, reliefs 13 corresponding to triangular section recesses made in the lower face of the light conductor 11 are disposed, whose recesses form faces 16 visible in Figure 6 .

Advantageously, in the whole of its perimeter, as well as in lines parallel to the small side of the sheet formed by the light conductor 11, reliefs are also made in the edge of the light conductor, so as to delimit intervals of suction power.

These reliefs 13, visible in the sectional view of Figure 4, in the bottom view of Figure 5, as well as in detail 14 of Figure 6, are arranged to forward the light to the user, in the manner of an optical mirror, by simple reflection on the inclined faces 16 that constitute the reliefs.

Thus, the light that propagates towards the sheet 11 will preferably "exit" from this sheet, due to its reflection on the inclined faces 16 of the reliefs 13, as indicated by the examples of light propagation illustrated in Figure 4 Some light rays are thus reflected and oriented towards the user.

Figure 6 illustrates more precisely the control organ 5 in view from above and in section and the location of the sheet forming the light conductor 11.

A detail 14 of the sectional view shows the placement of the light conductor 11 on the control organ 5 and especially the fact that a free space 15 is disposed below the light conductor 11 between the lower face comprising reliefs 13 and the part corresponding element that carries the sliding hatch 8.

This free space 15 allows a part of the light to be forwarded to the driver, so as to optimize the reflection of the light waves to the outside.

The light concentrated in the areas of the faces 16 is presented to the user in the form of more intense transverse bars with respect to the rest of the light conductor, these light bars materializing the suction power.

Indeed, multiple means of displaying the suction power level can be provided by making modifications to the surface of the light conductor, for example by laser engraving or during the formation of the plastic by molding.

In general, an appropriate relief practiced on the lower surface of the light conductor makes it possible to reflect this and this reflection is more effective if it occurs at the level of an interface between the air and the plastic light conductor rather than between the light conductor and another plastic.

In order for the reflection of the light coming from the light conductor 11 towards the user of the vacuum cleaner to be maximum it has been found that the reliefs 13 should preferably comprise faces inclined 45 ° with respect to the vertical, that is to say with respect to the perpendicular direction to the large faces of the light conductor, the reliefs 13 are located on the underside of said light conductive sheet.

As seen well in Figure 5, the outline of the light guide 11 also includes inclined faces, preferably at 45 °, and which form a point, so that the light is forwarded to the outside of the light guide.

Engraving of encrypted indications would be performed in the same way on the underside of the light conductor 11 with sections engraved in a triangular or trapezoidal shape, as is done, for example, in printed forms used in heliogravure, or stamped.

According to the invention, the light that serves to indicate the suction power is the natural light for the visualization of the suction power, this light radiating the upper face of the light conductor. This avoids a costly specific device with the help of a diode and its control and power device.

The box 4, the trapdoor 8 and the control button 10 are made of molded, rigid and lightweight plastic.

Light conductor 11 is a specific polymer for this application. Such plastics are manufactured, for example, by the ayer society and placed in a known manner in areas for obtaining optical fibers and various products.

In operation, when the user moves the button 10 from the open position shown in Figure 1 to the closed position represented in Figure 7, the control organ 5 slides along the rails 6, the light conductor 11 integral with the sliding hatch 8 also moves. During this displacement an increasing surface of the light conductor becomes visible through the window 12 practiced in the upper part of the box 4, indicating to the user that the suction power increases.

According to an implementation of the invention, an index of type "min" � "max" is arranged at the level of the light guide, in box 4, so that the user easily perceives the leakage opening .

In order to guide the user further in the proper regulation of the air leak according to the floor to be cleaned, it is possible to make the control button 10 transparent and arranged in the box 4, between the rails 6, that is to say in the sliding zone of the button 10, pictograms that make different surfaces appear and properly positioned so that the user, having the button 10 in front of the pictogram, performs or not an appropriate air leak for the floor to be cleaned. For example, the following three pictograms can be arranged:

a pictogram representing curtains or curtains located at the end of the control button 10 to the right according to figure 2 and corresponding to a maximum leak,

a pictogram representing a smooth floor substantially in the middle of the slide of the control button 10 and corresponding to a significant air leak,

a pictogram representing a carpet or carpet, located at the end of the control button 10 to the left according to figure 2 and corresponding to a closure of the air leak.

Such pictograms are illustrated in Figure 2.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, numerous other variants are possible for the light conductor aspiration power indicator. For example, other forms of sheets and different thicknesses can be provided, the faces intended to resend the light can be more or less numerous and more or less wide and spaced, the inclinations of the faces can be chosen in a different way.

On the other hand, it can be imagined to print indications on the upper side of the sheets or even record, on the lower side, figures indicating the level of aspiration, then the recorded figures are equally bright. As a variant or as a complement, letters and letters or acronyms and pictograms that represent the different types of soil to be cleaned can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention

The light conductor is preferably tinted and different colorations can be considered according to the code that one wishes to adopt with respect to the user of the vacuum cleaner, for example green or red.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by way of example, but also includes all technical equivalents as well as combinations thereof.

It is possible, in particular, to make the plastic element 11, not integral to the sliding flap, but fixed, the window being then attached to the sliding flap. The relative movement of the plastic part with respect to the window is then carried out by a displacement of the window above the indicator, which remains fixed.

On the other hand, the displacement, illustrated in translation according to the proposed example, can also be implemented in rotation, with the help of an appropriate command. Based on the example illustrated by the invention, the button 10 can thus be provided for sliding on transverse curved rails, the sliding hatch 8 taking the curved shape of the tube constituting a sector that progressively covers or discovers the light-conducting plastic element according to the rotation of the control button.

Claims (10)

1. Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner carried by a control organ (5), whose control organ (5), which allows to regulate the flow rate of a suction air leak, is contained in a box (4 ) located at the curved end of the vacuum. The aforementioned visual indicator is characterized: due to the fact that it is constituted by a light-conducting plastic element (11) formed to forward the light towards its upper face, in privileged positions, by the fact that the plastic element (11) is in front of a window (12) arranged in the upper part of the box (4), due to the fact that it is in relative motion with respect to the window (12) when a sliding hatch (8), which controls the flow rate of the suction air leakage is operated by the control organ (5), so which indicates the level of aspiration by the visible part of the plastic element (11).

2.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said plastic element is integral with the sliding hatch (18) which controls the air leakage rate, the window (12) being ) still.

3.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light conductor (11) is presented in the form of a thin sheet having its two large disymmetric faces.

Four.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, in which the upper face, visible by the user, is flat and the lower face comprises reliefs (13) that constitute privileged positions of light return.

5.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, in which a free space (15) is arranged under the light conductor (11) between the lower face comprising reliefs

(13) and the corresponding part of the element that carries the sliding hatch (8). 6. Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, in which the reliefs (13) correspond to emptying of triangular sections made on the underside of the light conductor (11) whose hollows form faces (16).

7.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, in which the angles of the faces (16) with respect to the vertical are substantially 45 °, whose vertical corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the large faces of the light conductor (11).

8.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, in which the reliefs (13) are located in the edge of the light conductor, in its entire perimeter, and in lines parallel to the small side of the sheet that forms the light conductor (11) so as to delimit intervals of indication of the suction power.

9.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 in which the reliefs (13) are formed by engraving or molding and represent figures and or letters, and acronyms, and pictograms representing the Different types of soil to be cleaned.

10.

Visual indicator of the suction power of a vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims that uses natural light by the display of the suction power and that does not require any source of energy.