FR3119524A1 - Cleaning device with protective structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Floor cleaning device (1) comprising a main body (2) comprising a casing (3) delimited at least partially by an outer wall (4), a fluid inlet (5) serving to receive a flow of fluid from the exterior of the housing (3), at least one means, disposed in the housing (3), for acting on the flow of fluid received through the fluid inlet (5).The cleaning apparatus (1) comprises at least two main wheels (10, 11) rotatably mounted on the main body (2). The cleaning apparatus (1) further comprises a protective structure (20) configured to protect the main wheels (10, 11), the protective structure being disposed outside the housing (3) and extending to distance from the outer wall (4), the protective structure (20) covering a portion of the tread of each main wheel (10, 11). Figure 1

Description

Cleaning device with protective structure

The present invention relates to the field of floor cleaning apparatus comprising a main body having a fluid inlet serving to receive a flow of fluid, at least one means arranged in the main body serving to act on the flow of fluid received at through the fluid inlet and wheels mounted rotatably on the main body and allowing the cleaning device to be moved over the floor to be cleaned.

The present invention relates more particularly to domestic vacuum cleaners of the canister type making it possible to suck up dust and waste of small particle size present on a surface to be cleaned, which can for example be tiling, parquet, laminate, carpet or a carpet.

By vacuum cleaner or sled-type suction assembly, reference is made to a vacuum cleaner or suction assembly that can move by rolling on the ground, for example using wheels or rollers when the vacuum cleaner is in use. . In a canister vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle is connected to the suction assembly via a suction tube generally comprising a rigid part and a flexible part. During a cleaning operation, the user of a canister vacuum cleaner generally holds the nozzle via a handle provided on the rigid part of the tube or attached to the tube. A canister vacuum cleaner is generally pulled by the user via the handle and the flexible part of the tube, this mode of movement is at the origin of the name "canister vacuum cleaner". The name sled vacuum cleaner or sled suction set also covers vacuum cleaners with motorized wheels or casters capable of following the movements of the suction nozzle, the handle or the user.

A sled-type vacuum cleaner makes it possible to suck up fine-grained dust and waste present on a surface to be cleaned, which can for example be tiles, parquet, laminate, carpet or a rug.

State of the art

It is known, in particular from document JP2002345693, to equip the cleaning devices described above and more particularly the canister vacuum cleaners with at least two main wheels arranged on either side of the main body and whose external diameters, corresponding to the diameters of the treads of the main wheels, are relatively large compared to the outer dimensions of the main body. Such main wheels can have an outside diameter which is, for example, greater than 2/3 of the height of the main body measured from a horizontal surface on which the main wheels are placed. Such main wheel diameters facilitate the crossing of obstacles such as door thresholds or carpet edges.

However, although very practical for overcoming certain obstacles, such large-diameter main wheels are more exposed to shocks, more particularly to frontal shocks, that is to say when the cleaning device, following a movement towards the front encounters a frontal obstacle, such as a corner of the wall, a table leg or the lower edge of a piece of furniture on legs (sideboard, coffee table, etc.). It is therefore not uncommon for one of the main wheels to strike a frontal obstacle during such a forward movement, i.e. an obstacle in front of the cleaning device. When repeated, these shocks can damage one of the main wheels and cause at least discomfort for the user. The inconvenience caused to the user may be due to vibrations transmitted from the damaged wheel or to an impossibility for the main body to maintain a trajectory in a straight line due, for example, to a lack of parallelism of the main wheels resulting from one or more frontal impacts on at least one of the main wheels. In the event of more severe damage, the cleaning device may be rendered unusable when, for example, following one or more repeated frontal impacts, one of the main wheels is stuck or broken.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks.

The technical problem underlying the invention consists in increasing the service life of the main wheels, in particular of the main wheels of large diameters, of a floor cleaning device taking into account the obstacles that a cleaning device can encounter moving on a floor to be cleaned.

• un boitier délimité au moins partiellement par une paroi extérieure,
• une entrée de fluide servant à recevoir un écoulement de fluide depuis l’extérieur du boîtier,
• au moins un moyen, disposé dans le boîtier, servant à agir sur l’écoulement de fluide reçu à travers l’entrée de fluide.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a floor cleaning device comprising a main body comprising:

• a box delimited at least partially by an outer wall,
• a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow from outside the housing,
• at least one means, disposed in the housing, for acting on fluid flow received through the fluid inlet.

The cleaning device comprises at least two main wheels rotatably mounted on the main body, each main wheel having a tread so that the cleaning device can rest and roll on the floor to be cleaned, the main wheels being arranged on either side of the main body. The cleaning apparatus further includes a protective structure configured to protect the main wheels. The protective structure is disposed outside the box and extends away from the outer wall. Said protective structure covers a portion of the tread of each main wheel.

By covering a portion of the tread of each main wheel, the protective structure makes it possible to protect each main wheel in whole or in part by interposing itself between a main wheel and a possible obstacle encountered by the cleaning device during its operations. movements on the floor to be cleaned. According to the invention, the protective structure is arranged outside the box and extends away from the outer wall. Thus the protective structure is not integrated into the outer wall of the main body case. By being arranged outside the casing and extending at a distance from the outer wall, the protective structure makes it possible to at least partially protect wheels of large diameters without having to oversize the casing.

The expression "tread" refers to a circular surface or a set of surfaces forming a generally circular outer periphery of each main wheel and which is caused to roll on the floor to be cleaned during the movements of the cleaning apparatus . The protective structure therefore covers a circular or generally circular portion of each tread.

The apparatus may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

Advantageously, the protective structure covers an angular sector of each tread which is greater than 90° and advantageously comprised between 90° and 130°. This angular amplitude of protection makes it possible to protect the wheels against most of the shocks occurring during the movements of the cleaning device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure is connected to the main body by connecting means such as connecting walls, connecting arms or intermediate connecting parts.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure forms a set of handles which can be gripped by the user. According to this characteristic, the protective structure therefore has the form of one or more gripping handles that can be grasped by the user to grasp and move the main body. Thus the protective structure makes it possible both to protect all or part of the main wheels and to offer at least one gripping surface for the user.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the handle assembly consists of a single handle of substantially annular shape or in the shape of a "U" or in the shape of an open ring. With this substantially annular or “U”-shaped or open ring-shaped handle shape, the protective structure offers multiple gripping zones for the user who wishes to grasp and move the main body. The protective structure then forms a particularly ergonomic handle for the user.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the handle assembly is composed of at least two separate handles, substantially parallel and each covering a portion of the tread of one of the main wheels. In other words, according to this characteristic, the protective structure of the main wheels is advantageously formed of two handles which extend at a distance from each other and at a distance from the outer wall of the main housing. Each grip covers the tread portion of one main wheel.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure covers the top of the main wheels. In other words, the protective structure covers a portion of tread which is located in the upper part of each main wheel. Indeed, the top of the main wheels is exposed to shocks when the cleaning device partially engages under a low obstacle such as a coffee table or a buffet on legs having a lower edge at the height of the top of the main wheels and that could come into contact with an upper part of the main wheels. The fact that the protective structure covers the top of the main wheels makes it possible to protect the main wheels from this type of collision with a low obstacle.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the fluid inlet is arranged on a front part of the main body, that is to say a part of the main body which corresponds to the front of the main body. Advantageously, the front part is a front end of the main body. The fluid inlet is also referred to as the air inlet tip when the cleaner is a suction assembly. The protective structure covers the top of the main wheels and extends forward of the main body to at least partially cover the front of the main wheels. Thanks to this arrangement, the protective structure makes it possible to protect the main wheels from impacts against low obstacles, such as a coffee table or the lower edge of a buffet on legs, but also against frontal obstacles, such as table legs or wall corners, coming in front of the cleaning device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure has at least two outer surfaces which extend in front of and above the main wheels, the two outer surfaces extend in the direction of the axes of rotation of the main wheels and are inclined so that extending in the direction of the axes of rotation they gradually move away from each other. These angled outer surfaces make it easier to dodge an obstacle. Indeed, by coming into contact with an inclined outer surface of the protective structure, an obstacle is caused to slide on the inclined outer surface as the cleaning device continues its forward movement.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main wheels are annular wheels rotating around a fixed hub secured to the main body. This type of main wheels in the form of an annular wheel makes it easier to make main wheels with large diameters while freeing up internal space inside the main wheels. Advantageously, the internal space is provided inside each fixed hub. This configuration is conducive to optimizing the volumes inside the fixed hubs and/or the main body in order to advantageously be able to dispose therein of the functional members of the cleaning device such as, for example, a filter or an air duct for the cleaning device. However, this type of annular wheel is also more fragile than a solid main wheel mounted for example on a rotary axis. The protective structure according to the present invention, which is arranged outside the casing and which extends at a distance from the outer wall, is particularly well suited for annular main wheels rotating around a fixed hub because the structure of protection can effectively protect this type of annular wheel-shaped main wheels.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each fixed hub has an outer surface in the form of a spherical cap. A spherical cap shape is also known as a domed shape. The outer surface in the shape of a spherical cap of each fixed hub allows frontal obstacles coming into contact with the protective structure to slide on the protective structure and then to slide on the spherical cap of a fixed hub. The cleaning device is then deviated from its trajectory, thus preventing the obstacle from hitting the annular wheel attached to this same fixed hub.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main body, the annular wheels and the fixed hubs form an assembly of generally spherical shape. According to this configuration, the protective structure extends partially around and away from the overall spherical shape.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main wheels are wheels of the omnidirectional type. This type of wheel allows the main body to move laterally by rolling to better dodge an obstacle coming into contact with the protective structure. This type of wheels is also known as holonomic wheels. These main wheels of the omnidirectional type are however more fragile than conventional non-omnidirectional wheels. The protective structure as previously described is particularly suitable for effectively protecting this type of main wheels.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each main wheel comprises a plurality of rotating rollers distributed over the periphery of each main wheel. The plurality of rotating rollers distributed over the periphery of each wheel forms the tread of each main wheel. According to this configuration, the protective structure covers several rotating rollers.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the rotating rollers of an annular wheel can rotate freely and have axes of rotation that are not parallel, preferably perpendicular, to the axis of rotation of the main wheel carrying the rotating rollers.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main wheels have inclined axes of rotation which preferably converge towards the top of the main body.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main wheels have an outside diameter which is greater than 2/3 of the height of the main body measured from a horizontal surface on which the main wheels are placed. The outside diameter corresponds to the diameter of the tread. The height of the main body is measured without counting the additional height that the protective structure may represent. These large-diameter main wheels make it easier to overcome low obstacles such as door thresholds or carpet edges.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main wheels are side wheels of the cleaning device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure comprises at least one inner protective surface which directly faces the portion of the tread of each main wheel. In other words, the inner protective surface, and therefore the protective structure, covers and faces a portion of the tread of each main wheel without there being a part or part of the main body which is interposed or positioned between the protective surface and said portion of the tread.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each inner protective surface is concave and curved around the portion of the tread of each main wheel. This concave and curved inner protection surface better follows the circular shape of the tread to better protect the portion of tread covered by the inner protection surface.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each inner protective surface extends close to a main wheel such that the minimum distance between the tread of a main wheel and the inner protective surface, measured in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of each main wheel, is less than 5 cm, preferably less than 2 cm. This proximity between the tread of a main wheel and the inner protective surface makes it possible to better protect the portion of tread covered by the inner protective surface.

• un dispositif de séparation des déchets tel qu’un séparateur cyclonique ou un filtre disposé sur le circuit aéraulique et
• un groupe moto-ventilateur disposé sur le circuit aéraulique comprenant un moteur électrique et un ventilateur couplé au moteur électrique pour générer un flux d’air dans le circuit aéraulique lorsque l’aspirateur est en fonctionnement.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the cleaning device is a sled-type suction assembly comprising, inside the main body, an aeraulic circuit which extends between the fluid inlet and a fluid from the suction assembly. Said at least one means serving to act on the flow comprises:

• a waste separation device such as a cyclonic separator or a filter arranged on the aeraulic circuit and
• a motorized fan unit arranged on the aeraulic circuit comprising an electric motor and a fan coupled to the electric motor to generate a flow of air in the aeraulic circuit when the vacuum cleaner is in operation.

Brief description of figures

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which :
There is a front three-quarter view of a suction assembly;
There is a side view of the suction assembly of the
There is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction assembly of the
There is a front view of the suction assembly of the ;
There is a top view of the suction assembly of the ;
There is a rear view of the suction assembly of the ;
There is a top view of the suction assembly of the showing an obstacle avoidance situation according to a first step;
There is a top view of the suction assembly of the showing an obstacle avoidance situation according to a second step;
There is a top view of the suction assembly of the showing an obstacle avoidance situation according to a third step;
There is a top view of the suction assembly of the showing an obstacle avoidance situation according to a fourth step.

detailed description

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention are represented. To facilitate reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

It will be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "height", "top", "top" used to describe the cleaning device or the set of suction or the main body refer to the cleaning device or the suction assembly in use when it rests by its wheels on a floor to be cleaned which is flat and horizontal.

• un boitier 3 délimité au moins partiellement par une paroi extérieure 4,
• une entrée de fluide 5 servant à recevoir un écoulement de fluide depuis l’extérieur du boîtier 3,
• au moins un moyen, disposé dans le boîtier 3, servant à agir sur l’écoulement de fluide reçu à travers l’entrée de fluide 5.

There represents in three dimensions and in a three-quarter front view a floor cleaning device 1 comprising a main body 2 comprising:

• a box 3 delimited at least partially by an outer wall 4,
• a fluid inlet 5 serving to receive a flow of fluid from outside the casing 3,
• at least one means, disposed in the housing 3, serving to act on the flow of fluid received through the fluid inlet 5.

The cleaning device 1 further comprises at least two main wheels 10, 11 mounted rotatably on the main body 2. Each main wheel comprises a tread 12, 13 so that the main body 2 can rest and roll on the floor to clean. The main wheels 10, 11 are arranged on either side of the main body 2. More specifically, the main wheels 10, 11 are side wheels with respect to the main body 2. The main wheels 10, 11 have axes of rotation A10 and A11.

The cleaning device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 7 is more specifically a suction assembly 100 of the sled type.

The suction assembly 100 comprises a main body 2 and the main body 2 comprises an aeraulic circuit 7 which extends between the fluid inlet 5 and a fluid outlet 6 of the suction assembly 100. In a suction assembly 100 of the sled type, the fluid inlet 5 is also known by the name of connection tip or air inlet tip and the fluid outlet 6 is also known by the name of outlet at the exhaust and may include one or more ports.

The main body 2 generally comprises several means serving to act on the flow of fluid. In a suction assembly 100 of the sled type, these means include in particular (see ) a waste separation device 8, such as a cyclonic separator or a filter, and a motorized fan unit 9 comprising an electric motor and a fan coupled to the electric motor to generate an air flow in the ventilation circuit 7 when the suction assembly is in operation. The waste separation device 8 and the motorized fan unit 9 are arranged on the aeraulic circuit 7, in such a way that they are traversed by the flow of sucked air when the suction assembly 100 is in operation. The waste separation device 8 is generally arranged on the aeraulic circuit 7 upstream of the motorized fan unit 9. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the waste separation device 8 is placed in a waste collection bowl. 14. The waste collection bowl 14 is removable to be removed from the main body 2 in order to more easily discharge the waste accumulated in the waste collection bowl 14 and in order to clean the waste separation device 8. To be able to be removed more easily, the waste collection bowl 14 includes a central handle 15.

In working condition, a suction nozzle (not shown), also known as a suction head, is normally connected to the fluid inlet 5 by a suction tube (not shown) generally comprising a part rigid and a flexible part. The suction assembly 100, the suction nozzle and the suction tube form a canister vacuum cleaner. During a floor cleaning operation, the user of a canister vacuum cleaner holds the nozzle via a handle provided on the rigid part of the suction tube or attached to the suction tube. When the main wheels of the sled vacuum cleaner are not motorized, the handle and the suction tube allow the user to pull the suction assembly 1 which, thanks to the main wheels 10, 11, rolls over the floor to be cleaned. .

The suction squeegee and the suction tube are parts of a canister vacuum cleaner which are known to those skilled in the art. This is why the suction squeegee and the suction tube are not shown in the figures and are not described in more detail in this description.

The suction assembly 100 further comprises a protective structure 20 of the main wheels 10, 11 which is arranged outside the casing 3 of the main body 2 and which extends at a distance from the outer wall 4 of the casing 3 The protective structure 20 covers a portion 12a, 13a of the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel.

The main body 2, the main wheels 10, 11 and the protection structure 20 form the suction assembly 100.

More precisely, the protective structure 20 covers a portion 12a, 13a of circular shape of each tread 12, 13. Preferably, the protective structure 20 covers an angular sector S1 of each tread which is greater than 90° and advantageously between 90° and 130°. In the example of the , the angular sector covered is approximately 115°. The protective structure 20 therefore makes it possible to protect the main wheels 10, 11 from some of the shocks that they could suffer when encountering obstacles during the movements of the suction assembly 100 of the floors to be cleaned. The protective structure 20 therefore makes it possible to protect the main wheels 10, 11 and to increase the service life of the main wheels 10, 11. The protective structure 20 is particularly suitable when the main wheels 10, 11 are large wheels. diameters as shown in the figures. Indeed, the main wheels 10, 11 of large diameters are more exposed to shocks when the suction assembly moves over a floor to be cleaned. Furthermore, by being arranged outside the box 3 and extending at a distance from the outer wall 4, the protective structure 20 makes it possible to protect at least partially the main wheels 10, 11 of large diameters without having to oversize the box 3 of the main body 2.

In the context of the present invention, main wheels 10, 11 are considered to be large diameters when their outer diameter, corresponding to the diameter of the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel 10, 11, is greater than 2/3 the height H of the main body 1 measured from a horizontal surface on which the main wheels 10, 11 rest. The height H of the main body 2 is measured from a horizontal ground on which the main wheels 10,11 are placed. The height H of the main body 2 is measured without counting the additional height that the protection structure 20 may represent.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, the protective structure 20 is connected to the main body 2 by connecting arms 21. In variant embodiments not shown the connecting arms could be replaced by any other means making it possible to connect the protective structure to the main body, in particular to its case. In variant embodiments, the connection could be made by connecting walls or by intermediate connecting pieces. The protective structure can be attached to the main body, for example, to the housing of the main body. In a variant embodiment, the protective structure may be wholly or partly manufactured, for example by injection under pressure of plastic material, with at least part of the casing.

Advantageously, the protective structure 20 forms a set of handles which can be grasped by the user. The protective structure 20 therefore takes the form of a handle assembly that can be grasped by the user to lift and move the suction assembly 100. Thus the protective structure makes it possible both to protect all or part of the main wheels 10 , 11 and to provide at least one gripping surface for the user.

The fluid inlet 5, also called an air inlet nozzle in a suction assembly, is arranged on a part of the main body 2, advantageously an end of the main body 2, which corresponds to the front of the main body 2.

As shown in the figures, the handle assembly formed by the protective structure 20 may consist of a single handle of substantially annular shape which extends from the top of the main body 2 to the front of the main body 2 where is located the fluid inlet 5. The protective structure 20 thus offers multiple gripping zones for the user who wishes to grasp and move the main body 2. The protective structure 20 then forms a single particularly ergonomic handle for the user.

Furthermore, the substantially annular shape of the handle makes it possible to form a central opening 200 in the center of the handle. This central opening, delimited by a radially internal periphery 201 of the annular handle, is large enough to allow the collection bowl to be removed waste 14 through the central opening 200. Thus the waste collection bowl 14 can be grasped and easily removed from the main body 2 by the user through the central opening 200 formed in the center of the annular shape of the handle .

As shown in the figures, the shape of the handle and therefore of the protective structure 20 is not necessarily perfectly annular, it can be substantially ovalized or stretched from the top of the main body 2 towards the front of the main body 2. The protective handle preferably has a substantially curved shape around the main wheels 10, 11.

Furthermore, at the front of the main body 2, the protective structure 20 of substantially annular shape advantageously extends as far as the air inlet nozzle 5 and the protective structure 20 extends on both sides. other side of the air inlet nozzle 5.

In variant embodiments not shown, the handle formed by the protective structure could have other shapes, for example a “U” shape or the shape of an open ring.

More precisely and as shown in the figures, the protective structure 20 covers the top of the main wheels 10, 11 and extends towards the front of the main body 2 so as to at least partially cover the front of the main wheels 10, 11 In other words, the angular sector S1 of each tread 12, 13 which is covered by the protective structure extends from above the main wheels 10, 11 to in front of the main wheels 10, 11 (see ). Thanks to this arrangement, the protective structure 20 makes it possible to protect the main wheels 10, 11 from shocks against low obstacles, such as a coffee table or the lower part of a sideboard placed on legs and having a lower edge at height from the top of the main wheels 10, 11 which could collide with the upper part of the main wheels 10, 11. The protective structure 20 also makes it possible to protect the main wheels 10, 11 from impacts with frontal obstacles, such as feet tables or corners of walls, which may be encountered by the suction assembly 1 when moving forward. Forward movements of the suction assembly 100 correspond to movements when the suction assembly 100 is for example pulled by the user to clean the floors.

As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 4, the protective structure 20 has at least two outer surfaces 22, 23 which extend in front of and above the main wheels 10, 11. The two outer surfaces 22, 23 extend in the direction of the axes of rotation A10, A11 of the main wheels 10, 11 and are inclined so that, extending in the direction of the axes of rotation A10, A11, they gradually move away from each other. The angle of inclination α (see ) between the outer surfaces 22, 23 can be variable along the protection structure. The angle of inclination α is advantageously between 100 and 170 degrees. The outer surfaces 22, 23 which are inclined make it easier to dodge an obstacle. Indeed, during a forward movement of the suction assembly, an obstacle coming into contact with an outer surface 22 (23) which is inclined will, as the movement forward AV of the suction assembly 100 (FIGS. 7a to 7d), sliding on the outer surface 22 (23) which is inclined causing a lateral displacement L of the suction assembly 100. Thus, the outer surfaces 22, 23, which are inclined, allow the suction assembly 100 to emerge more easily from an obstacle and prevent the suction assembly 100 from remaining blocked behind this obstacle.

The main wheels 10, 11 are advantageously annular wheels rotating around a fixed hub 18, 19 secured to the main body 2. There is one fixed hub 18, 19 per main wheel 10, 11 of annular shape. The annular-shaped wheels make it possible to produce main wheels 10, 11 of large diameter while freeing up an internal space, that is to say radially inside the main wheels 10, 11, which is significant. The internal space is advantageously formed inside each fixed hub 18, 19. In at least one of the two internal spaces it is possible to arrange functional organs of the suction assembly 100 such as for example a filter (not shown) or all or part of an air intake duct.

However, this type of annular wheel is more fragile than a conventional solid wheel mounted for example on a rotary axis. The protective structure 20 according to the present invention, which is arranged outside the casing 3 and which extends at a distance from the outer wall 4 of the casing 3, is particularly well suited to effectively protecting the main wheels 10, 11 of annular shapes rotating around a fixed hub 18, 19.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, each fixed hub 18, 19 has an outer surface 18a, 19a in the shape of a spherical cap, in other words in the shape of a dome. The outer surface 18a, 19a in the form of a spherical cap of each fixed hub 18, 19 allows frontal obstacles coming into contact with an outer surface 22, 23 of the protective structure 20 to slide first on the outer surface 22, 23 then slide along and in contact with the outer surface 18a (19a) of a fixed hub 18 (19). While continuing to move forward AV the suction assembly 100 is deviated from its trajectory by a lateral displacement L thus preventing the obstacle from colliding with the main wheel 10 (11) attached to this same fixed hub 18 (19). A frontal obstacle is an obstacle coming to meet and contact the suction assembly 100 when the suction assembly 100 moves forward AV.

Figures 7a to 7d illustrate obstacle dodging in 4 steps. This is for example the dodging of a table leg presenting itself frontally to the suction assembly 100. According to a first step represented in the suction assembly 100 moves forward AV. An obstacle 30 is in the path of the suction assembly 1 and presents itself in front of one of the main wheels 10, 11.

According to a second step represented in , the suction assembly 100 continues its forward movement AV and comes into contact with the obstacle 30. More specifically, an outer surface 22 of the protective structure 20 first comes into contact with the obstacle 30. The structure protection 2 is therefore interposed between the obstacle 30 and the main wheel 10 thus preventing the obstacle 30 from colliding with a main wheel 10.

According to a third step represented in , the suction assembly 100 continues its forward movement AV, the outer surface 22 slides over the obstacle 20. Thanks to the inclination of the outer surface 22, as the set of suction 100 moves forward AV, the rolling suction assembly also moves laterally L.

According to a fourth step represented in , the suction assembly 100 continues its forward movement AV, the outer surface 22 is clear of the obstacle 30. After sliding on the outer surface 22, the obstacle 30 exceeds the outer surface 22 to come to the contact with the outer surface 18a of the fixed hub 18. The outer surface 18a of the fixed hub 18 is located in top view of the suction assembly 100 substantially in the extension of the outer surface 22. Because the outer surface 18a of the fixed hub projects from the main wheel 10 of annular shape and projects from the rest of the main body 2, and because the outer surface 18a has a spherical cap shape, the relative sliding of the obstacle 30 on the outer surface 18a has the effect, on the one hand, of continuing to move the suction assembly 100 laterally L as it moves forward AV and, on the other hand, of moving the obstacle 30 away from the main wheel 10 for ev iter that the obstacle 30 does not hit the main wheel 10 including a rear part of the main wheel 10 of annular shape. Obstacle dodging according to the four steps above is first obtained thanks to the protective structure 20 and the obstacle dodging is improved by a combined effect of the protective structure 20 and the fixed hubs 18, 19 shaped spherical caps to effectively protect the main wheels 10, 11 of annular shapes.

As shown in the figures, the main body 2, the annular wheels 10, 11 and the fixed hubs 18, 19 advantageously form an assembly of generally spherical shape. According to this configuration, the protection structure 20 extends partially around and at a distance from the overall spherical shape. This configuration allows the suction assembly 100 to more easily dodge obstacles encountered.

As shown in the figures, the main wheels 10, 11 are omnidirectional type wheels. This type of wheel allows the suction assembly 100 to move laterally L by rolling to better dodge an obstacle 30 coming into contact with the protective structure (see FIGS. 7a to 7b). This type of wheels is also known as holonomic wheels. These main wheels 10, 11 of the omnidirectional type are however more fragile than conventional wheels, that is to say wheels which are not of the omnidirectional type. The protective structure 20 as previously described is particularly suitable for effectively protecting this type of main wheels 10, 11.

Each main wheel 10, 11 of the omnidirectional type comprises a plurality of rotating rollers 10a, 11a distributed over the periphery of each main wheel 10, 11. The plurality of rotating rollers 10a, 11a distributed over the periphery of each main wheel 10, 11 form the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel. According to this configuration, the protective structure 20 covers several rotating rollers 10a, 11a.

Advantageously, the rotating rollers 10a, 11a of a main wheel 10, 11 can rotate freely and have axes of rotation that are not parallel to the axis of rotation A10, A11 of the main wheel 10, 11 on which they depend. Advantageously and as shown in the figures, the axes of rotation of the rotating rollers 10a, 11a are perpendicular to the axis of rotation A10, A11 of the main wheel 10, 11 carrying the rotating rollers 10a, 11a.

As depicted in , the main wheels 10, 11 have axes of rotation A10, A11 inclined relative to each other. The axes of rotation A10, A11 preferably converge towards the top of the main body to form at the top an angle β of less than 180° (see ).

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the protective structure 20 comprises an inner protective surface 24, 25 (see ) for each main wheel 10, 11. Each inner protective surface 24, 25 directly faces a portion 12a, 13a of the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel 10, 11.

In other words, the inner protective surface 24, 25, and consequently the protective structure 20, covers a portion 12a, 13a of the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel 10, 11 without there being any part or a part of the main body 2 which is interposed or positioned between the inner protective surface 24, 25 and said portion 12a, 13a of the tread 12, 13.

Each inner protective surface 24, 25 is concave and curved around a portion 12a, 13a of the tread 12, 13 of each main wheel 10, 11. This inner protective surface 24, 25 concave and curved allows better follow the circular shape of the tread 12, 13 to better protect the portion of the tread 12, 13 covered by the inner protective surface 24, 25.

Advantageously, each exterior surface 22, 23 is an extrados surface and each interior protection surface 24, 25 is an intrados surface. The intrados and extrados surfaces are preferably parallel so that they form between them portions of the protective structure 20 having the form of protective strips or strips (FIGS. 2, 3).

As shown in the figures, each inner protective surface 24, 25 extends close to a main wheel 10, 11 such that the minimum distance D between the tread 12, 13 of a main wheel 10, 11 and the inner protective surface 24, 25, measured in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation A10, A11 of each main wheel, is less than 5 cm, preferably less than 2 cm (see ). This proximity between the tread of a main wheel 10, 11 and the inner protective surface 24, 25 makes it possible to better protect the portion 12a, 13a of tread 12, 13 covered by the inner protective surface 24, 25 .

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in a variant embodiment not shown, instead of being a vacuum cleaner, the cleaning device is a washing device capable of wetting and scrubbing floors to be washed or is a vaporizing device capable of sending steam to floors to clean.

In another variant embodiment not shown, instead of the main wheels being of the annular type, the main wheels are solid and each comprise a central shaft mounted rotatably relative to the main body.

In another variant embodiment not shown, the protective structure forms a handle assembly which is composed of at least two separate handles, substantially parallel and each covering a portion of the tread of each main wheel. In other words, according to this variant, the protective structure of the main wheels is advantageously formed of two handles which extend at a distance from the outer wall of the main casing and which each cover a portion of the tread of a main wheel.

Claims (16)

Floor cleaning device (1) comprising a main body (2) comprising:

• a box (3) delimited at least partially by an outer wall (4),
• a fluid inlet (5) for receiving fluid flow from outside the housing (3),
• at least one means, disposed in the housing (3), for acting on the flow of fluid received through the fluid inlet (5);

the cleaning apparatus (1) comprising at least two main wheels (10, 11) rotatably mounted on the main body (2), each main wheel (10, 11) having a tread (12, 13) for that the cleaning device (1) can rest and roll on the floor to be cleaned, the main wheels (10, 11) being arranged on either side of the main body (2),
characterized in that the cleaning apparatus (1) comprises a protective structure (20) configured to protect the main wheels (10, 11), the protective structure being arranged outside the casing (3) and extending away from the outer wall (4), the protective structure (20) covering a portion (12a, 13a) of the tread (12, 13) of each main wheel (10, 11). Cleaning appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the protective structure (20) is connected to the main body (2) by connecting means (21) such as connecting walls, connecting arms or intermediate connecting pieces. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective structure (20) forms a set of handles which can be grasped by the user. Cleaning appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the handle assembly consists of a single handle of substantially annular shape or in the shape of a "U" or in the shape of an open ring. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective structure (20) covers the top of the main wheels (10, 11). Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid inlet (5) is arranged on a front part of the main body (2) and characterized in that the protective structure (20) covers the top of the main wheels (10, 11) and extends forward of the main body (2) to at least partially cover the front of the main wheels (10, 11). Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective structure (20) has at least two outer surfaces (22, 23) which extend in front of and above the main wheels (10 , 11), the two outer surfaces (22, 23) extend in the direction of the axes of rotation (A10, A11) of the main wheels (10, 11) and are inclined in such a way that by extending in the direction of the axes of rotation (A10, A11) they gradually move apart. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main wheels (10, 11) are annular wheels rotating around a fixed hub (18, 19) integral with the main body (2). Cleaning appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each fixed hub (18, 19) has an outer surface (18a, 19a) in the form of a spherical cap. Cleaning appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the main body (2), the annular wheels (10, 11) and the fixed hubs (18, 19) form an assembly of generally spherical shape and characterized in that that the protective structure (20) extends partially around and away from the generally spherical shape. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main wheels (10, 11) are wheels of the omnidirectional type. Cleaning appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each main wheel (10, 11) comprises a plurality of rotating rollers (10a, 11a) distributed over the periphery of each main wheel (10, 11) and forming the tread of each main wheel, the protective structure covering several rotating rollers (10a, 11a). Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main wheels (10, 11) have an external diameter which is greater than 2/3 of the height (H) of the main body measured from a surface horizontal on which the main wheels (10, 11) are placed. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective structure (20) comprises at least one inner protective surface (24, 25) which directly faces the portion ( 12a, 13a) of the tread (12, 13) of each main wheel (10, 11). Cleaning appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each internal protective surface (24, 25) is concave and curved around the portion (12a, 13a) of the tread (12, 13) of each main wheel (10, 11). Cleaning device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (1) is a suction assembly (100) of the sled type, the main body (2) comprising an aeraulic circuit (7) which extends between the fluid inlet (5) and a fluid outlet of the suction assembly (100), said at least one means serving to act on the flow comprising:

• a waste separation device (8) such as a cyclonic separator or a filter arranged on the aeraulic circuit and
• a motorized fan unit arranged (9) on the aeraulic circuit comprising an electric motor and a fan coupled to the electric motor to generate a flow of air in the aeraulic circuit (7) when the suction assembly (100) is in functioning.