GB2347847A

GB2347847A - A vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2347847A
Application number: GB9906481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Arthur Charles Chown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-19
Filing date: 1999-03-19
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Also published as: GB9906481D0

Abstract

A canister type vacuum cleaner comprises a housing 4, a motor 6 to provide suction, a first removable dirt receiving container 8 and a second disposable dirt receiving container 10. Container 8 comprises a coarse filter for trapping larger dirt particles, whereas container 10 contains a liquid, a gel or similar 12 to trap fine dirt particles. Also disclosed although not illustrated below is a suction head for the cleaner, which includes a powered dust loosening brush, power for the brush being provided by a cable, one end 46 of which plugs into the main body of the cleaner and is wound around the suction hose, before the second end plugs into the suction head. The suction head further includes movable duct means for controlling the airflow across the base plate so as to effect edge suction cleaning if required.

Description

A VACUUM CLEANER This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum cleaners are well known and they have been produced in many different designs. Some vacuum cleaners are provided with sophisticated filter systems which are designed to enable the collection of small dust particles and dust mites. Such sophisticated filter systems tend to restrict air flow through the vacuum cleaner, either upstream or downstream of the vacuum cleaner motor. Such restriction causes loss of efficiency and loss of energy.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, a motor for creating a suction, and first and second containers for receiving dirt sucked up by the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner being such that during use air passes through the first container for depositing larger dirt particles and then through the second container for depositing smaller dirt particles, the second container being such that it contains a fluid substance into which the smaller dirt particles are deposited, and the second container also being such that the air is able to pass through the second container and be exhausted from the vacuum cleaner.

The air flow into the second container is sufficiently fast that the air strikes the fluid substance and embeds the dirt particles, carpet mites or other undesired materials into the fluid substance. Once the material is in the fluid substance, it cannot then be released into the atmosphere. The air is able to exit freely from the second container and thus the vacuum cleaner causes only low air restriction, since air does not have to be forced through sophisticated filter systems.

Preferably, the second container is a disposable container. The second container may however be a permanent container if desired.

The fluid substance will usually be a gel or an adhesive. Any suitable and appropriate gel or adhesive may be employed.

The fluid substance may contain at least one of an air freshening composition, a disinfectant and an antibacterial agent. Some known vacuum cleaners are fitted with air fresheners but the air fresheners are generally extremely inefficient and their fragrance does not last long. The fluid substance used in the vacuum cleaner of the present invention affords the possibility of having a variety of different ingredients for providing complete anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and general germ control, whilst at the same time providing an air freshening facility.

The vacuum cleaner may be one in which the air from the first container passes to the second container via a conduit, and in which at least a part of the conduit is formed as a carrying handle for the vacuum cleaner. Such an arrangement facilitates the formation of the vacuum cleaner into a small compact unit.

Preferably, the motor is positioned between the first and the second containers. The motor may however be positioned elsewhere if desired.

The first container may be a filter bag.

Alternatively, the first container may be a box with a coarse filter. Where the first container is a box, then the box is preferably a square or a rectangular box. With such a shaped box, the collected dirt tends not to swirl as much in the box as with boxes of other designs. This facilitates depositing dirt particular on the bottom of the box, thereby ensuring that the first container operates with a good degree of efficiency. Advantageously, the first container can be designed as the box but with a facility to take a filter bag if desired, thereby offering the user the choice of using a filter bag or a box as the first container.

The vacuum cleaner may include a suction pipe section -which is connectible to the housing, and along the outside of which is a power cable for providing electrical power for the rotor.

Advantageously, the suction pipe section is a concertina suction pipe section with corrugations, and in which the power cable is wound to follow the corrugations.

The provision of the power cable in the corrugations provides a neat and effective way of carrying the power cable.

The vacuum cleaner may include a telescopic pipe section.

The vacuum cleaner may include a suction head.

Advantageously, the suction head includes an electrically powered sweeping rotary brush. The electrically powered sweeping rotary brush is able to assist the dirt pick up afforded by suction from the motor, and so the vacuum cleaner of the present invention is able to operate at maximum efficiency. With known vacuum cleaners, other than upright vacuum cleaners, there is no brush fitted to the vacuum head, and so the cleaning operation is not as efficient as it might be since dirt particle pick up relies only on suction. With known upright cleaners that are fitted with rotary brushes, the upright cleaners cannot be used in confined areas such as under low tables and under beds. The upright cleaners also cannot vacuum up to an edge, or under lintels such as occurs with kitchen units. This problem does not exist with the vacuum cleaner of the present invention which can be made to any suitable and appropriate design as may be desired depending up conditions of use.

On known vacuum cleaners, there is no control over where the vacuum is often required most, that is at either side of the pick up head where vacuum is often required in order to vacuum the edge of a carpet close to a skirting board. It is often in this area where the greatest amount of dirt accumulates. The present invention overcomes this problem by affording the optional facility of having the suction head including control means for varying areas of suction from the suction head.

The control means may comprise a pair of flaps positioned in the suction head and each operative to control the suction at one side of the suction head.

Preferably, the pair of flaps is controlled by a pair of control devices, there being one control device for each flap. The control devices are preferably control levers "tT but other control devices such for examples as rotateable knobs may be employed. Also, control means other than the flaps may be employed if desired.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section to a vacuum cleaner of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section like Figure 1 with some parts omitted for simplicity of illustration; Figure 3 is a section like Figure 2 and illustrates how first and second containers can be removed; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the second container used in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section through the second container as shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section through the assembled container shown in Figure 4 and illustrates air flow into and out of the second container; Figure 7 shows a concertina pipe section with corrugations and a power cable located in the corrugations; Figure 8 shows the power cable shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows the concertina suction pipe section shown in Figure 7 but without the power cable shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a section through the concertina suction pipe section shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows how the right hand end of the concertina suction pipe section shown in Figure 7 is able to connect to a telescopic pipe section; Figures 12 and 13 illustrate in more detail the connection procedure shown in Figure 11; Figure 14 shows the complete telescopic pipe section which is shown only partially in Figures 11,12 and 13; Figure 15 is a section through the telescopic pipe section shown in Figure 14 but in an extended condition; Figure 16 is a side view of the telescopic pipe section as shown in Figure 15; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a suction head part of the vacuum cleaner, which suction head part is provided with an electrically powered sweeping rotary brush; Figures 18,19 and 20 are three side views of the suction head shown in Figure 17 and with the suction head being at different angles to a pipe section; Figure 21 is a top section through the suction head as shown in Figure 17; Figure 22 is a side view of the suction head as shown in Figure 21 and being connected to the right hand end of the telescopic pipe section as shown in Figure 15; Figure 23 shows an alternative arrangement in which the suction head shown in Figure 21 is shown being connected to the right hand end of the concertina pipe section shown in Figure 7; Figures 24 and 25 show in top plan view and section means controlling the flow of air through the suction head; Figures 26 and 27 are similar to Figures 24 and 25 which show the operation of one control flap of a pair of control flaps forming the control means; Figures 28 and 29 are like Figures 24 and 25 but show the operation of the other control flap of a pair of a pair of control flaps; and Figure 30 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a vacuum cleaner 2 comprising a housing 4, a motor 6 for creating suction, and first and second containers 8, 10 respectively for receiving dirt sucked up by the vacuum cleaner 2. The vacuum cleaner 2 is such that during use, air passes through the first container 8 for depositing larger dirt particles, and then through the second container 10 for depositing smaller dirt particles. The passage of air is shown by the dotted arrows in Figure 1.

The second container 10 is such that it contains a fluid substance 12 into which the smaller dirt particles are deposited. The second container 10 is also such that air is able to pass through the second container 10 and be exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 2. The second container 10 is a disposable second container 10. The fluid substance is a gel or an adhesive. The fluid substance is provided with at least one of an air freshening composition, a disinfectant, and an anti-bacterial agent.

The air from the first container 10 passes to the second container 12 via a conduit 14. At least the part of this conduit 14 is formed as a carrying handle 16 for the vacuum cleaner 2. As can be seen from Figure 1, the motor 6 is positioned between the first and the second containers 8, 10.

The first container 10 is shown as a filter bag. The filter bag is shown as having porous walls 18 through which air passes as indicated by the dotted arrows. If desired, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first container 8 may be a box of the same illustrated shape as the filter bag. Such a shaped box does not encourage air to swirl inside the first container 8 and this facilitates depositing dirt particles on the bottom of the first container 8. The vacuum cleaner 2 can be produced so that a filter bag can fit inside a box, thereby affording a user the choice of using either a filter bag or a simple box as the first container 8.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate how the various components of the vacuum cleaner 2 are assembled. In particular, it will be seen that the first container 8 has an opening 20 provided with a ring seal 22. The ring seal 22 seats over a neck 24 of an inlet pipe connection 26. The first container 8 can thus be removed from the inlet pipe connection 26 for emptying. Access to the first container 8 is achieved by removing a lid 28 from a body 30. The lid 28 and the body 30 form two parts of the housing 4. A seal 32 is provided on top of the body 30 as shown so that the lid 28 is able to make sealing contact with the body 30.

The lid 28 is held in position on the body 30 by clips 34.

When the lid 28 is removed and replaced, it has to make sealing contact with the motor 6. In order to achieve this, a ring seal 36 is provided on top of the motor 6 as shown, and the downstream end of the carrying handle 16 makes sealing contact with this seal 36 as can be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3.

As shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, the housing 4 includes a base 38 and wheels 40. An electric motor 42 provides appropriate electrical power for various parts of the vacuum cleaner 2. A cable 44 connects to a push in plug 46 so that electrical connection can be afforded to a suction pipe 48 which, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with a cable 50. The cable 50 has a socket 52 for receiving the plug 46. The suction pipe 48 locates in an aperture 54 in the body 30 by means of a connector pipe portion 56.

Figures 4,5 and 6 show how the second container 10 has an upper part 58 and a lower part 60. The lower part 60 is provided with internal screw threads 62 which receive screw threads 64 on the upper part 58. Thus the lower part 60 can be screwed to the upper part 58. The upper part 58 can be left as a permanent fit on the conduit 14 as shown in Figure 1. The upper part 58 having a stub pipe portion 66 which pushes over the end of the conduit 14.

The lower part 60 contains the fluid substance 12.

When the fluid substance 12 is full up with dirt, the lower part 60 can be unscrewed from the upper part 58 and discarded. A new lower part 60 can then be screwed to the upper part 58.

Figure 8 shows by means of the dotted arrows how the air enters the second container 10 and strikes the fluid substance 12. Dirt particles, dust mites and other undesirable things become embedded in the fluid substance 12. The air is able to rebound off the fluid substance 12 and leave the second container 10 through apertures 68 in a flange 70 of the upper part 58.

Figures 7-10 illustrate how the vacuum cleaner 2 may include a concertina suction pipe section 72. The pipe section 72 has an outer corrugated surface 74 as can best be appreciated from Figures 9 and 10. The cable 50 runs in troughs 76 formed by the corrugations. The right hand end 78 of the pipe section 72 is formed with a connector 80 as shown.

Figures 11-16 show how the right hand end 78 with the connector 80 is able to be connected to a telescoping pipe section 82 having a cable 84. The pipe section 82 has an inner portion 86 which slides in an outer portion 88.

Figures 17-20 show a suction head 90 having an electrically powered sweeping rotary brush 92 and a connection pipe 94. As can be seen from Figures 18,19 and 20, the connection pipe 94 pivots about a pivot part 96 so that the connection pipe 94 can extend at various desired angles with respect to the rotary brush 92 and a housing 98 which contains the rotary brush 92. The housing 98 comprises a body 100 and a lid 102. The rotary brush 98 comprises a cylindrical body 104 and lines of bristles 106.

The cylindrical body 104 rotates on a shaft 108 which is shown in Figure 21. Figure 21 is a sectional view seen from above of the suction head 90. The rotary brush 92 has a cable 110 for providing electrical power for driving the rotary brush 92 via a drive device 112.

Figure 22 shows the connection pipe 94 being connected to the end 114 of the inner portion 86 of the pipe section 82.

Figure 3 shows the connection pipe 94 being connected to the end 78 of the pipe section 72.

Figure 24 is a top plan view of suction head 90, only part of the connection pipe 94 being shown. It will be seen that the lid 102 of the housing 98 is provided with control devices in the form of a pair of control levers 116,118. The control levers 116,118 form part of control means 120. The control means 120 includes a pair of flaps 122,124 as shown in Figures 25,27 and 29. The control lever 116 operates the flap 122. The control lever 118 operates the flap 124. As can be seen from Figures 25,27 and 29, the control levers 116,118 can be operated. as desired to control the flow of air through the suction head 90. The flow of air is indicated by the dotted arrows shown in Figures 25,27 and 29. It will thus be appreciated that the suction provided by the suction head 90 can be evenly dispersed overs its entire area as shown in Figure 25, or increased at its end adjacent the flap 122 as shown in Figure 27, or increased at its end adjacent the flap 124 as shown in Figure 29. Thus the control means 120 is effective to increase suction at either end of the suction head 90, for example if it may be desired to have increased suction adjacent the periphery of a carpet and a skirting board. This is often an area where increased suction would be a considerable advantage in removing dirt from the depression that invariably forms between the edge of the carpet and the skirting board.

Figure 30 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner 2. It will be seen that the housing 4 is designed to allow storage of the suction head 90 and its connection pipe 94 in and under the base 38 of the vacuum cleaner 2.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the vacuum cleaner 2 may be of different shapes than shown. If desired, two or more of the second containers may be employed in series. Other types of connecting switch other than the push button connector 80 may be employed. Total control over the operation of the rotary brush 92 can be achieved simply by pressing the appropriate push in switch.

Preferably, the rotary brush 92 operates such that it has a built in motor. More specifically, a field winding can be part of the outer casing of the roller, and an armature can be fitted internally. A bearing at either end of the armature or stator can be fitted to the outer housing. Electrical connection can be to the stator or armature. As an alternative to such an arrangement, a small standard electric motor may be fitted into the suction head for powering the rotary brush. It is however preferred to employ the field winding arrangement because the electrical field tends to attract metal objects and thus facilitate picking up the metal objects. Still further, generated static electricity is helpful in sucking up pet hairs.

The present invention extends to the various individual features of the vacuum cleaner taken separately or in any combination.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, a motor for creating a suction, and first and second containers for receiving dirt sucked up by the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner being such that during use air passes through the first container for depositing larger dirt particles and then through the second container for depositing smaller dirt particles, the second container being such that it contains a fluid substance into which the smaller dirt particles are deposited, and the second container also being such that the air is able to pass through the second container and be exhausted from the vacuum cleaner.
2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 in which the second container is a disposable container.
3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the fluid substance is a gel or an adhesive.
4. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fluid substance contains at least one of an air freshening composition, a disinfectant, and an anti-bacterial agent.
5. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims in which the air from the first container passes to the second container via a conduit, and in which at least a part of the conduit is formed as a carrying handle for the vacuum cleaner.
6. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims in which the motor is positioned between the first and the second containers.
7. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first container is a filter bag.
8. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1-6 in which the first container is a box with a coarse filter.
9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 in which the box is a square or rectangular box.
10. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims and including a suction pipe section which is connectible to the housing, and along the outside of which is a power cable for providing electrical power for the motor.
11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 in which the suction pipe section is a concertina suction pipe section with corrugations, and in which the power cable is wound to follow the corrugations.
12. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims and including a telescopic section.
13. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims and including a suction head.
14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 in which the suction head includes an electrically powered sweeping rotary brush.
15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which the suction head includes control means for varying areas of suction from the suction head.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the control means comprises a pair of flaps positioned in the suction head and each operative to control the suction at one side of the suction head.
17. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 in which the pair of flaps is controlled by a pair of control devices, there being one control device for each flap.
18. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 17 in which the control devices are control levers.
19. A vacuum cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.