FR2815533A1 - Vacuum cleaner apparatus, has arrangement whereby perfume or deodorizing/disinfecting product is diffused through suctioned dust/rubbish, simultaneously while apparatus is in operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner apparatus has a by-pass conduit (10) connects the principal airflow path to the receptacle (12) having a material (22) impregnated with the deodorant/disinfecting product. A deflector (6) is located after the rubbish retaining/separation device, in order to take a part of the airflow from the by-pass conduit, this deflector disposed after the last filter of the aeraulic circuit of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame (1) having a motor at its interior to generate a suction airflow (F), and also two openings, an inlet and, an outlet (7) for the ingested air. There is a unit for separating the rubbish ingested, and a deodorant/disinfectant product diffusion unit having a receptacle (12) connected to the exterior, also located in the frame.

Description

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La présente invention concerne les appareils récupérateurs de poussière de type aspirateur, et plus particulièrement un dispositif intégré à l'aspirateur permettant la diffusion de produit volatil tel qu'un parfum, un produit désinfectant curatif ou préventif (anti-moustique par exemple) lors de l'opération de nettoyage par ledit appareil. BROADCAST OF VOLATILE PRODUCT FOR VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to vacuum collectors of the vacuum cleaner type, and more particularly to a device integrated into the vacuum cleaner allowing the diffusion of volatile product such as a perfume, a curative or preventive disinfectant product (mosquito repellent for example) during the cleaning operation by said device.

The cleaning operation using a vacuum cleaner is an often tiresome operation which often appears as a chore. In order to make it more pleasant and useful, it seems interesting, during the cleaning operation, to perfume the ambient air of the rooms to be treated. In addition, cleaning with a vacuum cleaner can sometimes be accompanied by bad smells coming essentially from the dust bag where the air, freed of dust and waste through said bag, is however charged with odors linked to accumulated waste and the universe confined and loaded with dust from the bag, odors rejected outside the vacuum cleaner.

pulvérisation d'un agent bactéricide eVou désodorisant à l'intérieur du sac à poussières. Ce procédé simple oblige cependant à ouvrir le sac, ce qui, en cours d'utilisation, n'est, d'une part, pas toujours possible, et d'autre part, n'est pas très hygiénique et peut entraîner, lors de l'ouverture, un rejet de poussières dans le local à traiter. Numerous means have already been used to compensate for and mask these odors with stronger fragrances. Without wanting to give an exhaustive list of the means used, it is known first of all to dispose of the scented elements in the bag itself. Document DE 37 40 517 presents a device for

spraying a bactericidal agent eVou deodorant inside the dust bag. This simple process, however, requires opening the bag, which, in use, is not always possible on the one hand and is not very hygienic on the other hand and can lead to opening, rejection of dust in the room to be treated.

consiste à disposer sur la sortie d'air de l'aspirateur, des éléments contenant un produit volatil entraîné par le flux d'air sortant. il est ainsi connu, par le document Other devices are placed outside the dust bag, on the air path, to diffuse the product into the air flow sucked. A simple principle

consists in placing on the air outlet of the vacuum cleaner, elements containing a volatile product entrained by the outgoing air flow. it is thus known, by the document

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 US 2, 598, 129 to place, at the air outlet of the vacuum cleaner, a plate formed by a spongy material, held in the frame of the device by an openwork support. This plate can be soaked in a perfumed liquid using an orifice closed by a plug. This plate can also serve as a finishing filter.

In this device, it is not possible to adjust the rate of diffusion of the product.

ménagé entre les sphères et le support, de telle sorte que l'air entrant dans ledit support vienne lécher les deux demi-sphères pour se charger en composé volatil. L'inconvénient majeur d'un tel dispositif est son encombrement, puisqu'il se présente tel un appendice à l'aspirateur. Likewise, document US 2,759,228 presents a device annexed to the air outlet of the vacuum cleaner by a bayonet type locking device, this device essentially consisting of a spherical support containing two hemispheres of porous material traversed by a common central orifice, these spheres containing a volatile deodorant and / or bactericidal product. A space is

formed between the spheres and the support, so that the air entering said support comes to lick the two half-spheres to charge with volatile compound. The major drawback of such a device is its size, since it presents itself as an appendage to the vacuum cleaner.

Other devices are arranged more inside the vacuum cleaner. Thus, in document US 2,304,868, the air sucked in is channeled to come and dabble in a perfumed and / or disinfectant solution to charge the air with the molecules of this solution, the air then being directed towards the dust bag. The scented solution is contained in a container visible from the outside of the device and removably mounted on the body of the vacuum cleaner to facilitate its filling. The air entering the container still containing waste, the scented solution is then loaded with impurities and degrades quickly. Furthermore, the device requires not only to divert the air flow to bring it into the container, but also to bring the derived flow back into the main flow.

It is also known to have diffusing plates on the frame of the vacuum cleaner outside the air flow. The document FR 767 053 describes such a device where the diffusing plate is arranged in a housing located on the top of the frame of the vacuum cleaner, above the air outlet. The housing consists of two coaxial cylinders, movable in rotation relative to each other and each having openings. By placing the openings more or less opposite the

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 from each other, it is possible to adjust the intensity of diffusion of the perfume in the air, which remains relatively low anyway as it is linked only to the natural evaporation of the volatile product from the wafer.

One of the aims of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device for diffusing an aromatic product such as a perfume or disinfectant product which is of simple design and easily accessible by the user, while allowing its adaptation to different vacuum cleaner configurations.

comportant le matériau imprégné du produit. The present invention is thus achieved using a vacuum-type waste collecting device, comprising in particular a frame inside which is housed a motor making it possible to generate a flow F of sucked air, said frame comprising at least two openings, one inlet, the other outlet of the sucked air, at least one main device for separating the sucked waste, and further comprising a device for diffusing an aromatic deodorizing and / or disinfecting product composed of '' a housing open towards the outside, formed in the frame of the vacuum cleaner and receiving a material impregnated with the product, characterized in that a bypass duct connects the path of the main air flow to the housing

comprising the material impregnated with the product.

By using only a small part of the often hot air coming out of the vacuum cleaner, one avoids heating, and possibly denaturing the aromatic and / or bactericidal compounds.

In addition, by avoiding returning the air to the main aeraulic circuit, by direct outlet of the product, we favor the rejection of aromatic and / or bactericidal compounds into the atmosphere, avoiding their deposition along the internal conduits of the 'vacuum.

According to one embodiment of the device, a deflector is arranged after the main device for retaining and / or separating the sucked waste, on the path of the air flow F, in order to conduct part of the air flow F in the bypass duct.

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 By imposing a bypass of the main air flow, making it possible to control the air flow passing through the diffusion device, it is then possible to adapt the size and location of the deflector according to the nominal flow rate of the vacuum cleaner. . By this principle, a flow value through the diffusion device can be obtained and fixed for a wide range of vacuum cleaners.

après le dernier filtre du circuit aéraulique de l'appareil, afin d'éviter le rejet dans l'air de certaines particules non filtrées ou d'éviter de renvoyer l'air parfumé dans le circuit de filtration. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflector is arranged

after the last filter in the ventilation circuit of the device, in order to avoid the rejection in the air of certain unfiltered particles or to avoid returning the perfumed air in the filtration circuit.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the impregnated material on the path of a stream of purified air makes it possible to avoid rapid fouling of the device.

Advantageously, at least one element having perforated parts closes the housing, making it possible to better retain the material impregnated with product in its housing, without however blocking its diffusion.

Advantageously, the closure element comprises means for holding the material impregnated with deodorizing aromatic product or disinfectant in order to optimize the arrangement of the material with respect to the air flow.

According to a first alternative embodiment of the device, the closing element of the housing has the general shape of a hollow cylinder having openings.

The cylindrical shape strengthens the mechanical strength of the closure element, the openings ensuring air circulation from the duct within the housing so that it is loaded with aromatic compounds and bactericidal eVou.

According to a particular configuration of this variant, the closure element carrying the material impregnated with product is mounted movable in rotation along its axis of revolution over a predetermined angular range to allow either to bring certain openings of the closure element into coincidence with the bypass conduit, or to close the outlet of said conduit with the walls of said closure element.

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By allowing the closure element to rotate in the housing or in the second cylinder, it is then possible or not to allow the admission of deflected air into the housing carrying the closure element and the material impregnated with product, thus offering the user the choice of diffusing or not the perfume or the disinfectant in the room he wishes to clean, or even regulating the intensity of the diffusion.

According to a second simplified variant embodiment of the invention, the closure element is mounted movable in translation in front of the opening of the housing formed in the frame.

According to one embodiment of the device, a second cylinder is mounted irremovable in the housing formed in the frame of the vacuum cleaner and comprises means for locking the closure element of the housing.

According to another configuration of the invention, the deflector is movable around an axis perpendicular to the air flow and is controlled from outside the frame of the device, so as to modify the derivative flow towards the device product delivery.

This configuration is an alternative for adjusting the intensity of diffusion of the product by adjusting, via the deflector, the flow of bypass air.

In one of the cases mentioned above, the air flow bypass circuit has at least two branches each leading to a device for diffusing a specific product, the bypass circuit further comprising at least one aeraulic valve controlled from the exterior of the frame and allowing the air flow to be diverted in one of the available ramifications.

By proposing two or more product diffusion devices controlled by a valve linked to the circuit for bypassing the air flow linked to the deflector, it is possible to direct the flow of diverted air to one of the diffusion devices, as desired of the user. It may indeed seem interesting to have a perfume diffuser and a disinfectant diffuser, and to choose, depending on the room to be treated, either to disinfect (bathroom, toilet) or to perfume (living room, bedrooms , ...), or even to adapt the perfume to the room.

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En complément de réalisation de la présente invention, l'appareil peut être pourvu d'un clapet monté mobile en rotation ou translation devant l'une eVou l'autre des extrémités du conduit de dérivation du flux d'air principal, afin d'isoler le dispositif de diffusion et éviter le rejet du produit dans son lieu de stockage, ce qui permet de conserver le produit en diminuant son taux d'évaporation.

In addition to the embodiment of the present invention, the device can be provided with a valve mounted movable in rotation or translation in front of one or the other of the ends of the bypass duct of the main air flow, in order to isolate the diffusion device and avoid rejection of the product in its storage place, which makes it possible to conserve the product by reducing its rate of evaporation.

- la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du deuxième tube équipant un mode de réalisation de l'invention, - les figures 5 à 7 sont des vues en coupe simplifiées de différentes variantes de configuration de la présente invention. The present invention will be better understood on the basis of the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the rear part of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, - FIG. 2 is a rear view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure element of the perfume diffusion device,

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the second tube fitted to an embodiment of the invention, - Figures 5 to 7 are simplified sectional views of different configuration variants of the present invention.

The present invention relates particularly to a device for diffusing an aromatic deodorant product or disinfectant for a vacuum cleaner using the air flow generated by the device, it can be implemented in any type of vacuum cleaner. Consequently, the architecture of said vacuum cleaner will not be detailed in detail, which conventionally comprises a motor, an eVou separation device for recovering waste, and an air duct open at one end towards the surface to be treated.

The diffusion device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2. It comprises a housing 12 formed in the frame 1 of the device, of the sled type according to the proposed example, placed by wheels 5 on the surface to be cleaned. The housing 12 is preferably arranged at the rear of the vacuum cleaner, above an air outlet grille 3.

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It is in fact preferable to design the product diffusion device downstream of the finishing filter in order to maintain the quality of the exhaust air, as well as a very clean air flow in the diffusion device. This simple configuration also prevents a return of the perfumed air in the filtration circuit for its diffusion outside.

The housing 12 is designed to contain either a plate 22 of porous media type (ceramic, plaster, ...), or fragments of wood, flowers or plants ..., or synthetic derivatives. Plaster, which can be molded easily, and which can have a large porosity, is particularly advantageous, all the more since it is very inexpensive.

de produits désinfectants eVou désodorisants. The term "material" will subsequently be used to name all of these supports, which may naturally or artificially contain or be impregnated

of disinfectant and deodorant products.

This housing 12 is closed by an element 14 comprising a gripping button 16 as well as openwork parts in the form of holes 18. As a variant, the openwork parts 18 of the closing element 14 can be produced on the periphery of the annular zone carrying the button so as to produce air passages between the element 14 and the walls of the housing 12 when said element 14 is disposed on the housing 12.

The device further comprises a conduit 10 connecting, by end pieces 13 and 8, the housing 12 to the air flow F generated by the suction device.

One of the features of the invention is to have a deflector 6 inserted in the air flow F in order to deflect part of said flow in the duct 10.

According to the example proposed, the deflector 6 is placed in the cassette 2 for final filtration, after a HEPA type filter 4 or micro-filter, which avoids clogging the diffusion device with a portion of the sucked waste.

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The deflector 6 can have various shapes, adapted to the configuration of the device. It can in particular be curved and in the extension of the nozzle 8 in order to limit the phenomena of turbulence.

Figure 3 shows in detail an embodiment of the closure element 14. It thus has the general shape of a cylinder comprising openings 26. A plate of material 22 impregnated with disinfecting and / or deodorizing aromatic product is inserted into the cylinder, guided by the walls 19 and held by elements 20 judiciously arranged on the walls 19. There may also be provided elastic means for holding the wafer, such as flexible clamps to give a determined orientation to said wafer.

entraîne les composés volatils par les trous 18 de diffusion. Ces derniers sont essentiellement disposés de part et d'autre du bouton d'actionnement 16. The openings 26 allow air circulation around the wafer which

entrains the volatile compounds through the diffusion holes 18. The latter are essentially arranged on either side of the actuation button 16.

The closing element 14 can be placed directly in the housing 12 or else in a second cylinder 30 shown in FIG. 4. Such a cylinder is thus fixed in the housing 12 and comprises an end piece 40 for connecting the bypass conduit 10. In either case, the closing element 14 can be simply adjusted to the dimensions of the housing 12 or of the cylinder 30, the adjustment ensuring its maintenance, or else maintained by locking means of known type (bayonet or clip).

le logement 12 ou dans le cylindre 30 lorsqu'il est présent, afin de régler le débit d'air circulant autour de la plaquette. En effet, selon que des ouvertures 26 ou des parois 19 du cylindre font face à l'embout 13,l'air pénètre ou non dans le logement 12 contenant la plaquette, avec possibilité de réglage intermédiaire. Par rotation de l'élément 14 de fermeture, on réalise alors un réglage de l'intensité de diffusion du produit d'imprégnation du matériau 22 constituant la plaquette. According to the example proposed, the closure element 14 is movable in rotation in

the housing 12 or in the cylinder 30 when it is present, in order to regulate the air flow circulating around the wafer. In fact, depending on whether the openings 26 or the walls 19 of the cylinder face the end piece 13, air enters or does not enter the housing 12 containing the wafer, with the possibility of intermediate adjustment. By rotation of the closure element 14, an adjustment is then made of the intensity of diffusion of the product for impregnating the material 22 constituting the wafer.

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 In order to inform the user about the relative orientation of the cylinder of the closing element 14 with respect to the end piece 13, an indicator ring 32 is provided on the cylinder 30. , an intensity indication 36 corresponding to the overlap zone between the openings 26 and the endpiece 13, and on the other hand a range 38 for closing the perfume diffusion device, corresponding to the overlap zone between the walls 19 of the cylinder of the closing element 14 and the openings 26 and the end piece 13.

This indicator ring is directly attached or drawn on the frame of the device when the second cylinder is not present.

Notches 34a, 34b, of different size, allow the unambiguous installation of the closure element 14 which carries solid shapes corresponding to the notches 34a, 34b. Such a solid form 24 is visible in FIG. 3.

le matériau imprégné de produit ne sorte de son logement. Figures 5 to 7 show alternative embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the deflector takes the form of a flap 60 movable around an axis 62 making it possible to modulate the flow of derived air in the duct 10. The axis 62 can be extended to the frame and terminated by an actuating handle, thus carrying out a control of the intensity of diffusion of the product, by adjusting the air flow at the level of the deflector. In this variant, the closure element can be reduced to a simple shape, or even a simple plug, the material being placed in the housing 12, its function then being simply to prevent

the material impregnated with product does not come out of its housing.

The variant of Figure 6 uses a second housing 120 of material impregnated with a volatile product, this housing having, like the first, a nozzle 130 open on a conduit 1 Ob. An air valve 70 controls the connection between the duct 10, diverting the air flow through the deflector 6, and, as desired, either the duct 10b or the duct 10a leading to the end piece 13 of the housing 12.

The control of this valve is preferably located at the frame of the device.

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 By proposing several diffusion devices, it is thus possible to have a deodorizing product in the housing 12 for example, and a disinfecting product in the housing 120, the valve 70 making it possible to choose the desired type of diffusion according to the surface to be cleaned, this which considerably reduces the handling of the closure element of the housing and avoids mixing products and odors in the same housing by specifying each housing for a specific action (deodorant or disinfectant).

Other alternative embodiments can be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is thus possible to adjust the intensity of diffusion by openings made in the frame 1 or in the second cylinder when it is present, at the level of the contact surface with the button 16, or on the opposite, the rotation of said button for bringing the openings into coincidence or not with the perforated parts 18 of the closure element 14.

Such a variant is presented in FIG. 7 presenting a cylinder 240, intended to occupy the housing 12, comprising an opening 241 on its planar base 242 base facing the end piece 400 of the bypass duct of the main air flow. The end of the tip 400 is denoted 401.

cylindre dans le logement 12 permettent de mettre ou non en coïncidence lesdites ouvertures afin d'autoriser et de moduler le flux d'air dans le volume contenant le produit diffusant. Bien entendu, le système peut être inverse, le secteur 241 étant plein et commandé par un bouton de commande, tel le bouton 16 précédemment décrit. The opening 241 advantageously has the shape of a sector. The two openings 241 and 401 are positioned so that the rotation of the

cylinder in the housing 12 make it possible to align or not coincide said openings in order to authorize and modulate the air flow in the volume containing the diffusing product. Of course, the system can be reversed, the sector 241 being full and controlled by a control button, such as the button 16 previously described.

d'envisager des variantes de réalisation où l'appareil possède des moyens d'obturation des sorties d'air de son bâti. En effet, en isolant l'appareil de son environnement, on favorise la diffusion du produit en son sein, ce qui, lorsque le produit en question est bactéricide, de désinfecter les conduits, tubulures, A deepening of the concept of diffusion of disinfectant product allows

to consider alternative embodiments where the device has means for closing the air outlets of its frame. Indeed, by isolating the device from its environment, it promotes the diffusion of the product within it, which, when the product in question is bactericidal, to disinfect the conduits, tubing,

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contiennent. Il convient, pour ce faire, de laisser libre le passage entre le réservoir contenant le produit et le l'architecture interne de l'appareil, lorsque des moyens pour isoler ou fermer le réservoir sont présents. waste separation devices, ... bacteria and germs they

contain. To do this, it is necessary to allow free passage between the reservoir containing the product and the internal architecture of the apparatus, when means for isolating or closing the reservoir are present.

According to this configuration, advantageously, the shutter means are automatically actuated after the engine of the appliance has stopped, possibly after a certain period of time to allow the engine to cool.

Claims (15)

 1. A vacuum cleaner type waste collecting apparatus, comprising in particular a frame (1) inside which is housed a motor making it possible to generate a flow F of sucked air, said frame (1) comprising at least two openings, the one inlet, the other outlet (7) for the aspirated air, at least one main device for separating the aspirated waste, and further comprising a device for diffusing deodorizing product eVou disinfectant composed of a housing (12 ) open to the outside, formed in the frame (1) of the vacuum cleaner and receiving a material (22) impregnated with the product, characterized in that a bypass duct (10, 10a, 10b) connects the flow path main air to the housing (12,

 120) comprising the material (22) impregnated with the product. 2. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a deflector (6,60) is arranged after the main retaining device eVou for separation of the sucked waste, on the path of the air flow F, in order to conduct a part of the air flow F in the bypass duct (10, 10a, 10b). 3. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the deflector (6,60) is arranged after the last filter (4) of the aeraulic circuit of the apparatus. 4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one element (14,140, 240) having perforated parts (18) closes the housing (12,120). 5. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closure element (14,140, 240) comprises means for holding (20) the material (22) impregnated with aromatic deodorizing product eVou disinfectant. 6. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the element (14,140, 240) for closing the housing (12,120) has the form <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  general of a hollow cylinder of which at least one of the walls (19) has an opening (26, 241). 7. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closing element (14,140, 240) is mounted movable in rotation along its axis of revolution over a predetermined angular range to allow either to bring certain openings into coincidence (26,241) of the element (14,140, 240) closing with the bypass conduit (10,10a, 10b), or closing the outlet of said conduit (10, 10a, 10b) with the walls (19,242) of said element (14,140, 240). 8. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the closing element is mounted movable in translation in front of the opening of the housing (12,120) formed in the frame (1). 9. Apparatus according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a second cylinder (30) is mounted irremovable in the housing (12,120) formed in the frame (1) of the vacuum cleaner and has locking means of the element (14,140, 240) for closing the housing (12,120). 10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deflector (60) is movable about an axis (62) perpendicular to the air flow F and controlled from outside the frame (1) of the 'apparatus, so as to modify the derivative flow to the perfume diffusion device. 11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit for bypassing the air flow F has at least two branches (1 da, 10b) each leading to a device for diffusing a specific product, the bypass circuit further comprising at least one aeraulic valve (70) controlled from outside the frame (1) and making it possible to bypass the air flow F in one of the available branches (10a, 10b). 12. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve is mounted movable in rotation or translation in front of one and / or the other of the ends of the bypass duct of the main air flow. <Desc / Clms Page number 14> 13. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has means for closing the air outlets (7) of its frame (1). 14. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shutter means are automatically actuated after stopping the engine of the apparatus. 15. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material (22) impregnated with deodorant product is a plaster.