FR3074027A1 - HAND VACUUM WITHOUT BAG EQUIPPED WITH REMOVABLE BOWL - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) hand comprising a body (2) provided with a first handle (4) arranged at the rear of the vacuum cleaner and suction means; a suction tube (6) arranged at the front of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber (18) provided with a bowl (17) communicating with the suction tube and a filter element (25) inserted in the bowl and which communicates with the suction means, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises: A second handle (22) located at the front of the vacuum cleaner, the longitudinal axes of the first ( 4) and second (22) grip handles being substantially parallel.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning devices and, more particularly, a bagless hand vacuum, otherwise called cyclonic hand vacuum.

The purpose of such a vacuum cleaner is to be compact and carried with one hand to vacuum low surfaces, for example a work surface or stair treads, or raised surfaces, for example a ceiling or a wall or even arranged furniture. in height.

State of the art

Bagless hand vacuums are known to those of skill in the art. Such a vacuum cleaner comprises a body which is provided at the rear with a grip handle and which incorporates suction means. The vacuum cleaner also includes a suction tube through the front end of which the impurities are sucked in and a filtration chamber arranged between the suction tube and the suction means on the body for receiving and temporarily storing the aspirated impurities. The filtration chamber comprises a bowl which communicates with the suction tube and a filter element which is housed in the bowl and which communicates with the suction means.

During activation of the suction means, the air flow generates a vacuum allowing suction of the impurities by the front end of the suction tube; the air flow laden with impurities circulates in said tube then enters the bowl where the impurities remain largely trapped by a centrifugal force generated in this bowl, while the filter element disposed downstream (taking into account the direction of circulation of the air flow) makes it possible to retain the fine particles of impurities, the filtered air flow then continuing its circuit in the body under the action of said suction means, to be finally rejected from said body, by example at the back of it.

These include patent applications FR3030215A1, WO2014080179A1 and WO2014080180A1 disclosing such characteristics.

In patent application FR 3030215 A1, the suction tube is integrated into the bowl, the assembly being assembled with the body. The bowl comprises in the lower part a hatch, the opening of which is effected by means of a remote control, the opening of the hatch making it possible to empty the bowl. This remote control is configured to simultaneously extract the filter element from above the bowl, in order to guarantee regular cleaning of the filter element each time the bowl is emptied. The tube, bowl and filter element assembly is removable from the body to allow complete cleaning of the bowl, the assembly being extracted using the remote control.

In patent applications WO2014080179A1 and WO2014080180A1, describing a hand vacuum cleaner of similar design, the suction tube is integrated into the bowl, the assembly being removable from the body. For this, assembly means are implemented between a rear face of the bowl and a front face of the body. The rear and front are defined respectively with respect to the positions of the grip handle and the suction tube on the vacuum cleaner. The bowl includes in the lower part a hatch. The body includes a control member for unlocking the assembly means for extracting the bowl and allowing the cleaning of the filter element. This control member also allows the opening of the hatch for emptying the bowl.

Summary of the invention

The primary objective of the present invention is to facilitate the handling of the vacuum cleaner in all situations of use, that is to say both when it is a question of vacuuming surfaces on the ground and when it is is to vacuum raised surfaces.

Another objective is that these means of assembling the bowl on the body provide a suitable fixing between these two elements so that the detachment of the bowl cannot occur in the event of impacts on the latter caused during handling of the vacuum cleaner. .

Another objective is to optimize the suction of impurities by ensuring a very good seal during the assembly of the bowl on the body.

Another objective is to facilitate the handling of the bowl during emptying or cleaning and that of the filter element inserted in the bowl.

To this end, the invention relates to a cleaning device of the hand-held vacuum cleaner type, named “vacuum cleaner” in the following description.

According to the invention, the hand vacuum cleaner comprises a body provided with a first grip handle arranged at the rear of the vacuum cleaner and suction means, a suction tube arranged at the front of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber provided with a bowl communicating with the suction tube, and a filter element inserted in the bowl and which communicates with the suction means, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner comprises a second grip handle located at the front of the vacuum cleaner, the longitudinal axes of the first and second handles being substantially parallel.

According to another embodiment, the second grip handle is integral with the outer surface of the bowl.

According to another embodiment, the second grip handle is mounted on the suction tube. However, it can be provided that the two ends of the second handle are integral with the bowl.

Still with a view to improving the ergonomics of the vacuum cleaner, the length and diameter of the first and second handles are substantially identical. Thus, the vacuum cleaner can be handled identically by a left-handed or right-handed user without the use differing from one user to another.

According to another embodiment, a guidance and holding system is arranged between a rear face of the bowl and a front face of the body to engage the bowl on the body until reaching a position for forming said suction chamber or , conversely, to disengage the bowl from the body until reaching a separation position. Said guidance and holding system is configured to accompany the movement of the bowl on the body during its engagement or disengagement. Furthermore, a locking system is arranged between an upper front part of the bowl and a front part of the body to lock the bowl on the body in the position for forming the suction chamber or to unlock the bowl from the body so as to free.

According to another embodiment, the guidance and holding system is configured to engage the bowl on the body by pushing it backwards on the body, or vice versa when it is released from the body by pulling it forward on the body.

According to another embodiment, the locking system comprises at least one bolt arranged on the second handle and at least one keeper arranged on the body.

According to another embodiment, the locking system comprises a control member arranged on the second handle and transmission means arranged between the control member and the at least one bolt to release the bolt from the striker during the actuation of the control member.

According to another embodiment, the tube is integrated into the body, at the front of it.

According to another embodiment, the bowl comprises a main opening through which the filter element is inserted and a secondary opening which communicates with the tube.

Brief description of the figures

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description based on figures, among which:

- Figure 1 illustrates an overview of the vacuum cleaner, the bowl being assembled with the body;

- Figure 2 illustrates a side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, the bowl being assembled with the body;

- Figure 3 illustrates a side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, the bowl being at the start of engagement on the body for its assembly with the latter;

- Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two enlarged views of a part of the vacuum cleaner, these views being extracted respectively from Figures 3 and 2 and highlighting the guidance and holding system in two positions;

- Figure 6 illustrates a side sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, the bowl being at the end of engagement on the body, just before the automatic positioning of the locking system;

- Figure 7 illustrates the locking system just before its automatic placement on the body;

- Figure 8 illustrates the locking system in place on the body;

- Figures 9 to 11 illustrate the bowl with the filter element in two overall views and in a sectional view;

- Figure 12 partially illustrates the body and the tube and highlights the presence of seals;

- Figure 13 illustrates an overview of the body and the tube;

- Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two partial views of the vacuum cleaner showing a variant of the locking system, put in place and just before it is put in place.

detailed description

In the following description, the bagless handheld vacuum cleaner object of the invention will be referred to as vacuum cleaner. In addition, the same references will be used to designate the same characteristics according to the various variants, unless otherwise indicated.

As illustrated in particular in Figures 1 to 3, the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a body 2 which includes a rear part 2a and a front part 2b. The rear part 2a comprises a first grip handle 4 which the user can grasp with the hand to handle the vacuum cleaner 1. The first grip handle 4 is arranged in the lower part 1a of the vacuum cleaner 1. Preferably, the vacuum cleaner 1 is electrically powered by means of a rechargeable battery (not shown) placed in a base 5 which is assembled with the body 2 under the first grip handle 4. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a tube 6 at the front end 6a from which impurities are sucked. This suction is ensured by an air flow which generates a vacuum at the front end 6a of the tube 6. The rear part 2a of the body comprises a zone 7 in which is housed a fan (not illustrated) powered by the battery, which generates said air flow circulating from the front to the rear of the vacuum cleaner 1. The fan is arranged in the upper part 1b of the vacuum cleaner 1, just like the front part 2b of the body 2 which is disposed in line with the fan.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 6, 12 and 13, the body 2 and the tube 6 form a one-piece assembly. The tube 6 is arranged in the front extension of the front part 2b of the body 2. The front part 2b of the body 2 comprises a duct 8 whose rear end 8a communicates with the zone 7 receiving the fan (not illustrated) and whose l 'front end 8b opens onto a lower face 2c of the body 2. The tube 6 comprises a conduit 9 which is distinct from the conduit 8 on the body 2, although these two elements (body 2 and tube 6) form a one-piece assembly. The conduit 9 of the tube 6 opens onto a rear opening 10, at the rear end 6b of the tube 6, and onto a front opening 11, at the front end 6a of the tube 6. A brushing piece 12 is added from removably on the front end 6a of the tube 6 by means of latching / latching 13 provided between said brushing piece 12 and the tube 6 on the two lateral sides of the vacuum cleaner 1. These latching / latching means 13 preferably consist of lugs 14 on the brushing part 12 which engage in lugs 15 on the tube 6. It is possible to envisage the addition of an extension tube (not illustrated) between the front end 6a of the tube 6 and the brushing part 12, said extension tube comprising on each of its lateral sides, at its rear end, a lug similar to lug 14 for its engagement on the front end 6a of the tube 6 and , at its front end nt, a tab similar to the tab 15 for receiving the brushing piece 12.

As illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a bowl 17 which can be engaged on the body 2 to form a suction chamber 18 or, conversely, released from the body 2 for emptying and cleaning . The movements of the bowl 17 with respect to the body 2, during its positioning and its extraction, are defined by the presence of a guidance and holding system 19 arranged between a rear face 17a of the bowl 17 and a face front 2d of the body 2. As illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 4, 5, 10 and 13, this guidance and holding system 19 comprises a cam 20 arranged in the lower part of the rear face 17a of the bowl 17 and a path cam 21 arranged in the lower part of the front face 2d of the body 2.

As illustrated for example in FIGS. 1 and 11, the bowl 17 comprises on its front face 17b a second grip handle 22 facilitating its handling during its positioning and its extraction with respect to the body 2. This second handle gripping 22 also facilitates the handling of the bowl 17 during its emptying. In addition, when the bowl 17 is assembled on the body 2, the user can grasp with this hand this second grip handle 22 at the front of the vacuum cleaner 1 and, with the other hand, the grip handle 4 at the rear of the body 2, which considerably facilitates the handling of the vacuum cleaner 1 when cleaning raised surfaces requiring the arms to be raised.

According to the invention, the longitudinal axes of the first 4 and second 22 gripping handles are substantially parallel. This configuration improves the grip of the vacuum cleaner and the ergonomics.

A first end of the second grip handle 22 is for example integral with the bowl 17 while the second end of the second handle 22 is mounted on the suction tube 6.

As illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9 to 12, the bowl 17 comprises on its upper rear part 17c a main opening 23 and on its upper front part 17d a secondary opening 24. The main opening 23 allows the insertion of 'A filter element 25 composed of two parts, namely a separator 26 and a filter 27. The separator 26 allows to pass only the small caliber impurities and the filter 27 allows to block these small caliber impurities to let pass only purified air. The separator is housed in the bowl 17 and includes an external edge 26a which bears on the upper edge 28 delimiting the main opening 23, a first seal 29 positioned under the external edge 26a ensuring the seal between the separator 26 and the bowl 17. The filter 27 is housed in the separator 26. The filter 27 comprises a cover 30 which bears on an internal edge 26b of the separator 26. A second seal 31 is arranged under the cover 30 and comes in contact with said internal edge 26b, which ensures the seal between the separator 26 and the filter 27. A third seal 32 is arranged on the underside 2c of the body 2 and bears on the cover 30 of the filter 27 when the bowl 17 is locked on the body 2, which ensures the seal between the body 2 and the filter 27. Thus, when the bowl 17 is placed on the body 2, the seal between these two elements is provided by means of the three seals 29, 31, 32. The cover 30 comprises in its center an opening 33 which communicates with a filter wall 34 of conical shape extending under the cover 30, the porosity of this filter wall 34 allowing fine impurities to be blocked and only purified air passing through. The opening 33 communicates with the front end 8b of the conduit 8 on the body 2, when the bowl 17 is in the assembled position. The separator 26 comprises a perforated wall 35 of cylindrical or conical shape which allows only fine impurities to pass, the filtering wall 34 being housed in the perforated wall 35. When the bowl 17 is assembled with the body 2, its secondary opening 24 communicates with the rear opening 10 on the tube 6. A fourth seal 36 is arranged around the rear opening 10 on the tube 6 and bears on the contour 37 of the secondary opening 24 when the bowl 17 is locked on the body 2.

As illustrated in particular with regard to FIGS. 2 to 6, the cam 20 and the cam path 21 are complementary and include a more or less bent shape. This angled shape is configured to engage the bowl 17 on the body 2, first of all by tilting the bowl 17 forward and downward relative to the body 2 by an angle of the order of forty degrees (40 ° ) at fifty degrees (50 °), preferably forty-five degrees (45 °), then by slightly translating the bowl 17 backwards with respect to the body 2 so as to engage the rear end 20a of the cam 20 in the front end 21 a of the cam path 21 (see FIGS. 3 and

4) and, then, by pivoting backwards and upwards the bowl 17 with respect to the body 2 until the rear face 17a of the bowl 17 comes to bear against the front face 2d of the body 2 ( see Figures 2 and 5). In this position of FIG. 2, the third seal 32 on the lower face 2c of the body 2 is supported on the cover 30 of the filter 27 and the fourth seal 36 is supported on the contour 37 of the opening secondary 24, the suction chamber 18 being thus formed. In addition, the cam 20 is completely engaged in the cam path 21, which not only blocks the lateral movements of the rear face 17a of the bowl 17 vis-à-vis the front face 4d of the body 2, but also the movements vertical and horizontal of the bowl 17 vis-à-vis the body 2, thus ensuring proper maintenance of the rear part of the bowl 17 on the body 2. The pivoting of the bowl 17 on the body 2 takes place naturally, the latter being guided by the shape of the cam 20 and the cam path 21.

In order to also block the lateral movements of the front part of the bowl 17 vis-à-vis the body 2 and to ensure the maintenance of the bowl 17 with the cam 20 fully engaged in the cam path 21, the suction chamber 18 being thus formed, the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a locking system 38 which is implemented between the upper front part 17d of the bowl 17 and the front part 2b of the body 2, more or less in a junction zone 39 between said body 2 and the tube 6 forming a one-piece assembly. Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 8, the assembly system 38 is offset under the tube 6 in this junction zone 39, which is made possible by the fact that the body 2 and the tube 6 form a one-piece assembly, the front part 2b of the body 2 merging with the rear part of the tube 6.

A first embodiment of the locking system 38 is described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 and 11 and 12. This locking system 38 comprises a control member 40 which is arranged in front of the upper end 22a of the second handle gripping 22 on the bowl 17. The control member 40 incorporates in its upper part a transmission tab 41 which has two slots 42, 43 for transmitting a movement to the two bolts 44, 45 in order to move them in translation according to the arrows 46, 47 when the control member 40 is pressed. This movement makes it possible to release the bolts 44, strikes 48, 49 formed on the front part 2b of the body 2 by two legs 48a, 49a each provided with an orifice 48b, 49b for receiving the bolts 44, 45. A first spring 50, arranged between the control member 40 and the second grip handle 22, and a second spring 51 arranged between the two bolts 44, 45, make it possible to bring back aut omatically said control member 40 in the normal position and the two bolts 44, 45 in the position engaged in the strikes 48, 49. The bolts 44, 45 each comprise on their rear side an inclined face 44a (only that of the bolt 44 is illustrated) which is supported on the front edges 52, 53 of the legs 48a, 49a at the end of engagement of the bowl 17 on the body 2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), which allows the bolts 44, 45 to be automatically retracted until what they resume their normal position in the strikes 48, 49 under the effect of the second spring 51, once they correspond with the orifices 48b, 49b (see Figure 8). It is therefore understood that the locking takes place automatically at the end of engagement during the formation of the compression chamber 18 and that the unlocking caused by the actuation of the control member 40 allows the bowl 17 to be released for emptying and its cleaning, as well as the cleaning of the separator 26 and of the filter 27. When the control member 40 is actuated, the bowl 17 is naturally positioned in the position of FIG. 6 thanks to the presence of the third seal 32 on the lower face 2c of the body 2 which pushes on the cover 30 of the filter 27.

A second variant of the locking system 38 is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. This variant comprises a control member 40 which can be similar to that previously described. This control member 40 is however subject to a hook 54 whose curved end 55 engages in an edge 56 arranged in the junction zone 39, as illustrated in FIG. 14, which ensures the locking of the bowl 17 on the body 2 when the suction chamber 18 is formed. The curved end 55 in the edge 56 is locked automatically at the end of the engagement of the bowl 17 on the body 2. For this, the curved end 55 comprises an inclined face 57 resting on an inclined face 58 s 'extending forward below the edge 56. A spring (not shown) similar to the first spring 50 allows the return of the control member 40, as before. It is understood that, according to this variant, the transmission of the movement to the hook 54 is ensured directly by the control member 40. One could however provide an additional transmission element between the control member 40 and the hook 54.

We can of course consider variants of the vacuum cleaner 1 without departing from the scope of the invention. Variants of the guiding and holding system 19 can in particular be envisaged by modifying the shape of the cam 20 and of the cam path 21, which will substantially modify the trajectory of the bowl 17 with respect to the body 2 during its engagement or its release.

It is also possible to envisage variants of the locking system 38 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. hand-held vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a body (2) provided with a first grip handle (4) arranged at the rear of the vacuum cleaner and suction means, a suction tube (6) arranged at the front of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber (18) provided with a bowl (17) communicating with the suction tube, and with a filter element (25) inserted in the bowl and which communicates with the suction means, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises: - A second grip handle (22) located at the front of the vacuum cleaner, the longitudinal axes of the first (4) and second (22) handles being substantially parallel. 2. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second grip handle (22) is integral with the outer surface of the bowl (17). 3. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second grip handle (22) is mounted on the suction tube (6). 4. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a guide and holding system (19) is arranged between a rear face (17a) of the bowl and a front face (2d) of the body for engaging the bowl on the body until reaching a position for forming said suction chamber (18) or, conversely, for disengaging the bowl from the body until reaching a separation position, said guidance and holding system (19) being configured to accompany the movement of the bowl on the body during its engagement or its release; - a locking system (38) arranged between an upper front part (17d) of the bowl and a front part (2b) of the body to lock the bowl on the body in the position of formation of the suction chamber or to unlock the bowl of the body so as to release it. 5. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 4, in which the guidance and holding system (19) is configured to engage the bowl (17) on the body (2) by pushing it backwards on the body, or conversely when it is released from the body by pulling it forward on the body. 6. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the locking system (38) comprises at least one bolt (44, 45) arranged on the second handle (22) and at least one keeper (48 , 49) arranged on the body (2). 7. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking system (38) comprises a control member (40) arranged on the second handle (22) and transmission means (41, 42, 43) arranged between the control member and the at least one bolt (44, 45) for releasing the bolt from the keeper (48, 49) when the control member is actuated. 8. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tube (6) is integrated with the body (2), at the front thereof. 9. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bowl comprises a main opening (23) through which is inserted the filter element (25) and a secondary opening (24) which communicates with the tube (6).