GB2184001A

GB2184001A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2184001A
Application number: GB08630115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Riehl; Reinhard Tinz
Original assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1985-12-17
Filing date: 1986-12-17
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: FR2591462B3; DE8535391U1; GB8630115D0; GB2184001B; IT8623941V0; FR2591462A3; IT210558Z2

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a housing 2 provided with outlet openings 12 for exhaust air, a filter 13 and an assembly 1 releasably mounted on the housing through which exhaust air from the outlet opening 12 may pass. The assembly has a blow opening adjacent a first grid shutter 3, and a second grid shutter 8 slidable relative to the first grid shutter. The grid patterns of the two shutters are arranged such that when the second shutter is slid into overlying relationship with the first shutter, the exhaust air only flows through the blow opening and may be used for drying or aerating feather bedding. For vacuum cleaning purposes, shutter 8 is located over the blow opening, whereby exhaust air can be discharged through both shutters. The blow opening may be constructed as a socket for a suction hose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vacuum Cleaner The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air and a filter for cleaning the exhaust air.

Openings for the exhaust air produced by the fan are provided in the housings of vacuum cleaners. In order to make use of this air, e.g. for drying or for aerating feather bedding, it is known to convert the exhaust air into a powerful air current by means of a socket like hose connection which can be inserted in the front or back wall of the housing, as required (German OLS 21 38 205). This changing over of the hose connection is very laborious since the user has to change not only the hose connection but also the closure cover.

One object of this invention is to convert the exhaust air of a vacuum cleaner into a concentrated air current by simple means which is easy to operate.

According to the invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air, a filter for cleaning the exhaust air, an assembly releasably connected to the vacuum cleaner housing in the region of the outlet opening to receive exhaust air therefrom, wherein the assembly has a blow opening and first and second grid shutters, the second grid shutter being slidably adjustable relative to the first grid shutter to cooperate therewith selectively to convert the exhaust air into a concentrated air current.

With such an arrangement the cross-section of opening forthe exhaust airfrom the fan can be varied by adjusting the position of the second grid shutter. This will generally be provided on an adjusting slide slidably received in the assembly. In normal operation of a preferred embodiment as a vacuum cleaner, the second grid shutter of the adjusting slide partially closes the blow opening. At the same time, the first grid shutter of the assembly is fully open. In this position, the cross-section of opening for the exhaust and is a maximum and the exhaust air is blown out in a highly dispersed pattern. When the exhaust air of the vacuum cleaner is to be used for blowing, the adjusting slide is located over the first grid shutter of the assembly and closes it off completely. At the same time, the blow opening is open.In this blowing position, the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air is a minimum and the exhaust air is blown out through the blow opening in a highly concentrated form.

The blow opening may be constructed as a connector e.g. a connecting socket for receiving a hose normally used as a suction hose. Thus the suction hose may be used as a blowing hose if it is inserted in the blow opening.

Preferably the outlet opening is provided in an inner wall of the housing and a filter is clamped between the inner wall and the assembly. This will generally ensure that none of the exhaust air can escape without being filtered through the filter arranged between the inner wall and the assembly.

Preferably a mounting support and a locking hook are provided on the assembly for securing it to the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus the assembly may be secured, in readily removable manner, by means of a snap-fit connection in the wall of the housing of the vacuum cleaner so that the filter can easily be replaced when necessary. The assembly may comprise an insert which fits in a recess in the housing.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 shows a partial view of a vacuum cleaner housing with an assembly connected thereto and adapted for normal operation; Figure 2 shows a partial view in section according to Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows the assembly in plan view; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the assembly according to Fig. 3.

The device shown by way of example consists of an assembly in the form of an insert 1 releasably secured in the housing 2 of a vacuum cleaner. The insert 1 has a grid shutter 3 at one end and a blow opening 4 at the other end. An adjusting slide 5 is fixed to the insert 1 by means of a tongue and groove joint. Tongues 6 are formed on the adjusting slide 5, engaging in corresponding grooves 7 on the insert 1, thereby holding the adjusting slide Sin displaceable manner on the insert 1. The adjusting slide 5 provided with a grid shutter 8 and a handle 9 is about half as wide as the insert 1. A receiving chamber 10 is formed on the housing 2 and has air exit openings 12 provided in its internal wall 11. A filter 13 for cleaning the exhaust air is replaceably clamped between the inner wall 11 and the insert 1.

A mounting support 14 and a locking hook 15 are provided on the side walls 16 and 17 of the insert 1 for releasably fixing the insert 1 to the housing 2.

The blow opening 4 is constructed as a connector 18 for a suction hose (not shown). In the blow position, the adjusting slide 5 is pushed over the grid shutter 3. In this position, the grid shutter 3 is completely closed and only the blow opening 4 is open. This greatly reduces the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air, with the result that the exhaust air emerges from the blow opening 4 in a highly concentrated current and can thus be used for drying or aerating feather bedding. When the machine is used as a vacuum cleaner, the adjusting slide 5 is located over the blow opening 4. The grid shutter 3 is fully open whilst the blow opening 4 is partially closed off by the grid shutter 8 of the adjusting slide 5. As a result the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air is maximum and the exhaust air is able to escape from the vacuum cleaner in highly dispersed form.

Modifications to the vacuum cleaner disclosed herein, both in its broad aspects and its specific embodiment, may be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art and it is intended that such modifications be included within the scope of the disclosure of this specification.

1. A vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air, a filter for

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vacuum Cleaner The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air and a filter for cleaning the exhaust air. Openings for the exhaust air produced by the fan are provided in the housings of vacuum cleaners. In order to make use of this air, e.g. for drying or for aerating feather bedding, it is known to convert the exhaust air into a powerful air current by means of a socket like hose connection which can be inserted in the front or back wall of the housing, as required (German OLS 21 38 205). This changing over of the hose connection is very laborious since the user has to change not only the hose connection but also the closure cover. One object of this invention is to convert the exhaust air of a vacuum cleaner into a concentrated air current by simple means which is easy to operate. According to the invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air, a filter for cleaning the exhaust air, an assembly releasably connected to the vacuum cleaner housing in the region of the outlet opening to receive exhaust air therefrom, wherein the assembly has a blow opening and first and second grid shutters, the second grid shutter being slidably adjustable relative to the first grid shutter to cooperate therewith selectively to convert the exhaust air into a concentrated air current. With such an arrangement the cross-section of opening forthe exhaust airfrom the fan can be varied by adjusting the position of the second grid shutter. This will generally be provided on an adjusting slide slidably received in the assembly. In normal operation of a preferred embodiment as a vacuum cleaner, the second grid shutter of the adjusting slide partially closes the blow opening. At the same time, the first grid shutter of the assembly is fully open. In this position, the cross-section of opening for the exhaust and is a maximum and the exhaust air is blown out in a highly dispersed pattern. When the exhaust air of the vacuum cleaner is to be used for blowing, the adjusting slide is located over the first grid shutter of the assembly and closes it off completely. At the same time, the blow opening is open.In this blowing position, the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air is a minimum and the exhaust air is blown out through the blow opening in a highly concentrated form. The blow opening may be constructed as a connector e.g. a connecting socket for receiving a hose normally used as a suction hose. Thus the suction hose may be used as a blowing hose if it is inserted in the blow opening. Preferably the outlet opening is provided in an inner wall of the housing and a filter is clamped between the inner wall and the assembly. This will generally ensure that none of the exhaust air can escape without being filtered through the filter arranged between the inner wall and the assembly. Preferably a mounting support and a locking hook are provided on the assembly for securing it to the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus the assembly may be secured, in readily removable manner, by means of a snap-fit connection in the wall of the housing of the vacuum cleaner so that the filter can easily be replaced when necessary. The assembly may comprise an insert which fits in a recess in the housing. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 shows a partial view of a vacuum cleaner housing with an assembly connected thereto and adapted for normal operation; Figure 2 shows a partial view in section according to Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows the assembly in plan view; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the assembly according to Fig. 3. The device shown by way of example consists of an assembly in the form of an insert 1 releasably secured in the housing 2 of a vacuum cleaner. The insert 1 has a grid shutter 3 at one end and a blow opening 4 at the other end. An adjusting slide 5 is fixed to the insert 1 by means of a tongue and groove joint. Tongues 6 are formed on the adjusting slide 5, engaging in corresponding grooves 7 on the insert 1, thereby holding the adjusting slide Sin displaceable manner on the insert 1. The adjusting slide 5 provided with a grid shutter 8 and a handle 9 is about half as wide as the insert 1. A receiving chamber 10 is formed on the housing 2 and has air exit openings 12 provided in its internal wall 11. A filter 13 for cleaning the exhaust air is replaceably clamped between the inner wall 11 and the insert 1. A mounting support 14 and a locking hook 15 are provided on the side walls 16 and 17 of the insert 1 for releasably fixing the insert 1 to the housing 2. The blow opening 4 is constructed as a connector 18 for a suction hose (not shown). In the blow position, the adjusting slide 5 is pushed over the grid shutter 3. In this position, the grid shutter 3 is completely closed and only the blow opening 4 is open. This greatly reduces the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air, with the result that the exhaust air emerges from the blow opening 4 in a highly concentrated current and can thus be used for drying or aerating feather bedding. When the machine is used as a vacuum cleaner, the adjusting slide 5 is located over the blow opening 4. The grid shutter 3 is fully open whilst the blow opening 4 is partially closed off by the grid shutter 8 of the adjusting slide 5. As a result the cross-section of opening for the exhaust air is maximum and the exhaust air is able to escape from the vacuum cleaner in highly dispersed form. Modifications to the vacuum cleaner disclosed herein, both in its broad aspects and its specific embodiment, may be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art and it is intended that such modifications be included within the scope of the disclosure of this specification. CLAIMS

1. A vacuum cleaner having a housing provided with an outlet opening for exhaust air, a filter for cleaning the exhaust air, an assembly releasably connected to the vacuum cleaner housing in the region of the outlet opening to receive exhaust air therefrom, wherein the assembly has a blow opening and first and second grid shutters, the second grid shutter being slidably adjustable relative to the first grid shutter to cooperate therewith selectively to convert the exhaust air into a concentrated air current.

2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blow opening is constructed as a connector for receiving a hose normally used as a suction hose.

3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a mounting support and a locking hook are provided on the assembly for securing it to the vacuum cleaner housing.

4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outlet opening is provided in an inner wall of the housing and a filter is clamped between the inner wall and the assembly.

5. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.