FR3063627A1 - VACUUM SUCKER - Google Patents

Abstract

Vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a sole (10) of plastic in which are formed scraping rules (11) of a floor to be cleaned (100), characterized in that the sole (10) comprises at least one insert (20). ) at the level of scraping rules (11), housed at least partly in the plastic.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,063,627 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 17 51994

COURBEVOIE © IntCI ⁸

A 47 L 9/02 (2017.01), B 29 C 70/68

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

®) Date of filing: 10.03.17. ©) Priority: ©) Applicant (s): SEB S.A. Société anonyme - FR. @ Inventor (s): FROT DONATIEN. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 14.09.18 Bulletin 18/37. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ©) Holder (s): SEB S.A. Société anonyme. ©) Extension request (s): (§) Agent (s): SEB DEVELOPPEMENT Société anonyme.

VACUUM CLEANER.

©) Vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a sole (10) of plastic material in which are formed scraping rules (11) of a floor to be cleaned (100), characterized in that the sole (10) comprises at least one insert (20) metallic at the level of the scraping rules (11), housed at least partially in the plastic.

FR 3 063 627 - A1

B.1 827

The present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner nozzle, and in particular the soleplate of such a domestic vacuum cleaner nozzle.

It is known in the prior art of vacuum cleaner nozzles 5 with a robust metal soleplate, such as that disclosed by document FR2547494. In return, such a sole has the particular disadvantage of being able to damage fragile soil such as wooden parquet for example. In addition, the cost and weight associated with the material are significant. Finally, the sole is fixed by screws, which increases the time and labor costs to manufacture the nozzle.

In addition, crevices with soles made entirely of plastic are certainly inexpensive, but manufacturing tolerances, in particular flatness in terms of scraping rules, can impair suction performance. Indeed, if the flatness at the level of the scraping rules (which typically are on either side of a suction channel of the sole) is not correct, preferential leak paths can affect the homogeneity d suction over the entire surface of the squeegee.

An object of the present invention is to respond to the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a soleplate which is economical to manufacture, which has good safety for fragile soils, but with a geometry and dimensions well controlled to ensure a good seal.

-2 For this a first aspect of the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a plastic sole in which are formed scraping rules of a floor to be cleaned, characterized in that the sole comprises at least a metal insert at the level of the scraping rules, housed at least partly in the plastic. Such an insert makes it possible to significantly increase manufacturing tolerances, because it provides good rigidity to the plastic material and prevents it from deforming immediately after manufacture, but also throughout the life of the product. In addition, the insert has a volume and therefore a limited weight, and its addition to the nozzle sole has almost no impact on the total weight of the part. Finally, adding an insert partially embedded in the plastic material has little impact on costs.

Advantageously, the insert forms a frame which surrounds a suction channel formed in the sole. Such a closed frame has good rigidity, which further reduces the geometry defects.

In general, the scraping rules are edges defined by an intersection between a side wall of the suction channel and a bottom face of the sole arranged to be opposite the floor to be cleaned.

Advantageously, the insert is arranged parallel to or along the scraping rules, over at least 80% of their length. In addition to guaranteeing the flatness of the sole, the insert guarantees that the suction channel keeps a constant width over its entire length, which also contributes to a uniform suction performance especially along the suction channel and scratching rules. In other words, the insert prevents the scraping rules from approaching or moving away from one another during the cooling of the sole after manufacture or during the lifetime of the device. The scratching rules therefore remain parallel thanks to the insert.

Advantageously, the insert is arranged at a predetermined distance from a plane containing the scraping rules. In other words, during use, the scraping rules are arranged between the ground and the insert.

-3The latter, therefore above the scratching rules, cannot touch or come into contact with the ground, which limits the risk of scratches on a parquet for example.

Advantageously, the insert forms at least partially at least one of the scraping rules. The insert is therefore visible at the rim between the soleplate and the suction channel, and forms the scraping rules, which are then robust.

Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner nozzle comprises bearing surfaces, arranged to be in contact with the floor to be cleaned and defining a bearing plane, and in which the insert is arranged at a predetermined distance from the plane d 'support. Advantageously, the bearing surfaces are formed by rollers, and / or felt, and / or a row of synthetic bristles. Such support surfaces mechanically guarantee that the scraping rules and / or the insert do not touch the ground. In other words, the support plane is confused with the ground when using the crevice tool.

Advantageously, the insert is molded into the plastic. Typically, the sole is produced by a molding process such as injection molding, and the insert is overmolded. Consequently, the insert is positioned in the mold for manufacturing the sole before injection of the plastic material and it is automatically embedded in the plastic material. This process requires few modifications to the manufacturing mold and therefore remains inexpensive.

Advantageously, the insert is fixed in a counter-form formed in the plastic. One can envisage a clipping, a force insertion, or a fixing by screw.

Advantageously, the plastic is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC), or polyamide (PA), or polyethylene (PE), or polyformaldehyde (POM).

Advantageously, the insert has at least one visible surface with a surface treatment, such as chrome plating or anodizing.

-4In this case, the apparent surface is enhanced by the surface treatment, which increases the quality perceived by the user.

Advantageously, the insert is made of aluminum, or of an aluminum alloy such as zamak, or of steel, or of stainless steel.

Advantageously, the insert comprises at least one stiffening fin.

Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner nozzle comprises at least one cavity, and the stiffening fin at least partially forms a wall of the cavity. Such cavities are provided to lighten the part, and advantageously a fin of the insert is used to form at least one wall of this cavity, which facilitates the manufacture and / or the attachment of the plastic material.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a household vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the first aspect of the invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein :

Figure 1 shows a schematic section of a nozzle according to the invention;

2 shows an insert intended to be housed in the sole of the nozzle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows the sole of the nozzle of Figure 1; FIG. 4 represents a section of a variant of the sole of the nozzle of FIG. 1.

Figure 1 schematically shows a nozzle according to the invention, with a nozzle body 30, which rests on a floor to be cleaned 100 by means of rollers 31. A sole 10 of plastic material is housed in the body of squeegee 30, and defines a suction channel 32 with scraping rules 11 which are on either side of the suction channel 32,

The intersection between the side walls of the suction channel 32 and the underside 10a of the sole which is opposite the floor to be cleaned 100.

The purpose of the scraping rules 11 is to scrape soft ground (a carpet, a carpet for example) to clean it more effectively. On the other hand, in order not to scratch a hard and fragile floor (a wooden parquet floor for example), the rollers 31 are arranged on the nozzle body 30 so as to guarantee a positive distance between the floor and the scraping rules 11.

In addition, it is important to guarantee that this distance between the scraping rules 11 and the soil to be cleaned 100 is identical all along the nozzle, which can for example be 200 to 300 mm long. To this end, it is provided according to the present invention to at least partially drown a metal insert 20 in the plastic of the sole 10. In the case of FIG. 1, the insert 20 is completely embedded in the sole 10.

Indeed, typically, the plastic is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC), or polyamide (PA), or polyethylene (PE), or poly-formaldehyde (POM ), and can deform, which could adversely affect suction performance if the distance between the floor to be cleaned 100 and the scraping rules 11 is not constant along the squeegee. The metallic insert 20 ensures good flatness at the sole 10.

We can provide an insert 20 of aluminum, or aluminum alloy such as zamak, or steel, or stainless steel, to properly stiffen the sole 10. In addition, the impact on the total weight is limited, since the insert is small (compared to a metal sole for example).

2 shows in detail the insert 20 of Figure 1, and we see that the insert 20 forms a closed frame to surround the scraping rules 11, and that it has ribs, and a profile U, in order to provide good rigidity to the sole 10. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the insert 20 has fins 21, in order to present grip surfaces

Important for the plastic material of the sole 10, but also for forming cavities 12 visible in FIG. 3.

Indeed, Figure 3 shows the sole 10 before mounting in the nozzle body 30, and we see cavities 12, present to lighten the overall part. These cavities 12 have at least one wall formed by one of the fins 21 of the insert 20, which therefore participates in the cellular structure of the sole 10 / insert 20 assembly, which is light and rigid.

Figure 4 shows a variant of the sole 10, with the insert 20 which is visible on the underside 10a of the sole 10. However, to ensure that fragile soils will not be damaged by the insert 20 in metal, the lower face 10a is here inclined, so that the insert 20 is at a distance (d) from the scraping rules 11 along the vertical, which is strictly positive. Consequently, the risks of contact between the ground and the insert 20 are limited.

We can also consider bringing the insert 20 of the suction channel 32 so that the scraping rules 11 is formed by an edge of the insert 20. In this case, to ensure the safety of the nozzle fragile soil, it is important to ensure that the rollers 31 raise the sole 10 well from the ground. As an alternative to or in addition to the rollers 31, supports formed by felt, by a row of bristles, or even by a sliding pad can be provided.

Finally, in the case where one side of the insert 20 is flush or visible, one can provide a surface treatment at least on this side (anodization or chrome plating for example), to increase the quality perceived by the user, or to increase the technicality of the product.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

-7B.1 827

Claims (14)

1. vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a sole (10) of plastic material in which are formed scraping rules (11) of a floor to be cleaned (100), characterized in that the sole (10) comprises at least one metal insert (20) at the level of the scraping rules (11), housed at least partly in the plastic. 2. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the preceding claim, in which the insert (20) forms a frame which surrounds a suction channel (32) formed in the soleplate (10). 3. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the preceding claim, wherein the scraping rules (11) are edges defined by an intersection between a side wall of the suction channel (32) and a lower face (10a) 15 of the sole (10) arranged to be opposite the floor to be cleaned (100). 4. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (20) is arranged at a predetermined distance from a plane containing the scraping rules (11). 5. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insert (20) at least partially forms at least one of the scraping rules (11). 6. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, comprising bearing surfaces, arranged to be in contact with the floor to be cleaned (100) and defining a bearing plane, and in which the insert (20 ) East 25 arranged at a predetermined distance from the support plane. 7. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (20) is molded into the plastic. -88. Vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the insert (20) is fixed in a counterform formed in the plastic. 9. Vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plastic material is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC), or polyamide (PA), or polyethylene (PE ), or polyformaldehyde (POM). 10. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (20) has at least one visible surface with a 10 surface treatment, such as chrome plating or anodizing. 11. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (20) is aluminum, or an aluminum alloy such as zamak, or steel, or stainless steel. 12. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the insert (20) comprises at least one stiffening fin (21). 13. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one cavity (12), and wherein the stiffening fin (21) at least partially forms a wall of the cavity. 14. vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (20) is arranged parallel to or along the scraping rules (11), over at least 80% of their length. 15. Household vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to one of the preceding claims. 1/1