GB2199487A - Suction nozzle for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A suction nozzle (1) is at least partially supported on one or more trailing castors (6) to facilitate its movement over a surface. <IMAGE>

Description

-Improvements Relating to suction nozzles for vacuum cleaners This invention relates to suction nozzles for domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners.

Many suction nozzles for domestic vacuum cleaners simply slide over the work surface, their undersides being smoothly profiled for this purpose. Those for industrial vacuum cleaners, and certain'larger domestic models, often have rollers whose axles have a fixed mounting on the suction nozzle housing and which are arranged on opposite sides of the central suction passage to give firm support and guidance. This makes it easy to move the nozzle forwards and backwards, but lateral movement must be achieved either by raising and shifting it sideways or by repeated "shunting". Lateral shifting therefore consumes power while doing little or no useful work, and in certain cases it can also lead to damage of the underside of the nozzle.

The aim therefore is to provide a suction nozzle which makes easy movement possible in all directions without undue power consumption.

According to the present invention there is provided a suction nozzle for domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners wherein, in its normal working position, it is at least partially supported by a castor with an offset mounting causing it to trail in line with the direction of movement over the surface being cleaned.

There may be a plurality of castors symmetrically disposed in relation to the suction passage through the nozzle. When the nozzle has an elongated inlet, as is frequent practice, there will preferably be castors in the vicinity of the ends of that inlet, to give good stablity.

For smaller versions there may be a single castor centrally disposed on the underside of the nozzle, and this will generally be between the inlet and outlet, conveniently adjacent a connecting socket coupling the nozzle to a suction tube.

Preferably the or each castor comprises a body journalled on a fixed shaft depending from the underside of the nozzle and having a transverse axle, offset from the shaft, carrying roller means. For a compact arrangement, with a small swivelling envelope, there may be two rollers on the or each castor, offset to opposite sides of the depending shaft.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a suction nozzle, and Figure 2 is a partial underneath plan view of the underside of a similar, but not identical nozzle.

In Figure 1 a suction nozzle 1 has a hollow shell 2 with an elongated suction inlet 3 and an outlet leading off opposite the centre of the inlet 3 through a connecting socket 4. One or more castors 6 are mounted on the underside 5 of the nozzle, one between the inlet and outlet normally being sufficient for a domestic version while for larger ones, primarily for industrial use, there will generally be two, symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the central connection to the suction tube, and preferably near the ends of the inlet 3 for maximum stability.

The or each caster comprises a body 7 carrying a horizontal axle 8 on which rollers 9 are mounted, one each side of the body 7. The castor can be swivelled about a vertical stub shaft 10 firmly fixed to depend from a boston the underside of the nozzle shell 2. To enable the nozzle 1 to be moved or guided easily in any direction, with the suction tube connection to the vacuum cleaner following, the castor 6 has a trail. This is obtained by offsetting its vertical pivot axis 11 from the axis 12 of the rollers.

The arrangement of the rollers 9 in pairs, one on either side of the shaft 10, enables this to be quite compact as compared with what is possible with a single roller, and keeps the diameter 13 of its circular sweep envelope within bounds.

As shown in the domestic version of Figure 2, there is one castor 6 in the centre, almost underneath the connecting socket 4. The suction nozzle 1 can be moved easily in all directions by means of this caster 6, and a sliding base 14 on either side of the inlet 3, corresponding to that of known nozzles, serves as a second support area which generates little frictional resistance to such movement.

Claims (9)

1. A suction nozzle for domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners wherein, in its normal working position, it is at least partially supported by a castor with an offset mounting causing it to trail in line with the direction of movement over the surface being cleaned.

2. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of castors symmetrically disposed in relation to the suction passage through the nozzle.

3. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nozzle has an elongated inlet and there are castors in the vicinity of the ends of said inlet.

4. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a single castor centrally disposed on the underside of the nozzle.

5. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the castor is mounted between the inlet and outlet of the nozzle.

6. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the castor is adjacent a connecting socket for coupling the nozzle to a suction tube.

7. A suction nozzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each castor comprises a body journalled'on a fixed shaft'depending from the underside of the nozzle and having a transverse axle, offset from the shaft, carrying roller means.

8. A suction nozzle as claimed in claim 7, wherein there are two rollers on the or each castor, offset to opposite sides of the depending shaft.

9. A suction nozzle for domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.