GB2404848A

GB2404848A - Vacuum cleaner attachment for taking up liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2404848A
Application number: GB0318770A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Frimley
Original assignee: FRIMLEY KAREN ELIZABETH
Current assignee: FRIMLEY KAREN ELIZABETH
Priority date: 2003-08-11
Filing date: 2003-08-11
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Also published as: GB0318770D0

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner attachment for cleaning up liquid comprises: a container 2 for receiving liquid; an intake nozzle 10 for sucking in air and liquid; an intake opening connected to the intake nozzle for allowing sucked in air and liquid to enter the container; an exhaust opening 4 or 5 for receiving a vacuum cleaner nozzle and allowing air to be sucked out of the container into the vacuum cleaner nozzle; a baffle 9 between intake opening and the exhaust opening that divides the container into two compartments connected by a fluid path; and a vent in the compartment on the side of the exhaust opening, wherein, when the attachment is oriented as it is intended to be used, the fluid path is lower than the intake opening, the exhaust opening and the vent.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner attachment. In particular, the invention relates to a device that can be attached to the nozzle of a conventional household vacuum cleaner to enable it to clean up liquid without them entering the vacuum cleaner itself.

Background to the Invention

Vacuum cleaners are commonly used in household and commercial cleaning to clean up dirt from floors etc. Typically, air is sucked in through the vacuum cleaner's intake nozzle and out through an exhaust vent. Between the intake nozzle and the exhaust vent the air may flow through a bag made of material that allows air to pass though but traps particles of dirt.

Alternatively, in "cyclonic" vacuum cleaners, the bag is replaced by a cylinder. Air flows through the cylinder in a way that causes particles of dirt carried in the air to be deposited in the cylinder.

A fan creates the vacuum cleaner's suction by driving air from the intake nozzle to the exhaust vent. The fan is driven by an electric motor.

Consequently, if a conventional vacuum cleaner sucks up any liquid, there is a risk that the liquid will become aerated, i.e. spilt into vary small droplets, and come into contact with the electric motor as it travels past the fan. This may damage the electric motor or other electrical components of the vacuum 1 1 cleaner. Regardless, wet vacuum cleaner bags may tear easily and cylinders containing dirt and moisture are difficult to clean. It is therefore highly undesirable to clean up liquids with conventional vacuum cleaners.

Some specialist vacuum cleaners, such as those currently manufactured under the trade name Vax_, are adapted to clean up liquids.

These will be referred to as wet vacuum cleaners in this document. Typically, wet vacuum cleaners have a tank for receiving liquids sucked up through the intake nozzle. The path air takes through the wet vacuum cleaner is designed so that the air slows considerably as it passes through the tank. This causes the air to deposit any liquid it is carrying in the tank and reduces aeration of the liquid. Electric components such as the fan motor are also carefully protected from any aerated liquid by air tight seals and such like. Whilst effective, wet vacuum cleaners are prohibitively expensive for most households. They are only usually hired for special cleaning jobs or used commercially. Most households only own conventional vacuum cleaners, unable to clean up liquids, and use other methods to clean up liquids.

Summary of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner attachment for cleaning up liquids, the attachment comprising a container; an intake nozzle for sucking in air and liquid; an intake opening connected to the intake nozzle for allowing sucked in air and liquid to enter the container; an exhaust opening for receiving a vacuum cleaner nozzle and allowing air to be 1 1 sucked out of the container into the vacuum cleaner nozzle; a baffle between intake opening and the exhaust opening that divides the container into two compartments connected by a fluid path; and a vent in the compartment on the side of the exhaust opening, wherein, when the attachment is oriented as it is intended to be used, the fluid path is lower than the intake opening, the exhaust opening and the vent.

In use, the vacuum cleaner attachment can be connected to the intake nozzle of a conventional vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner sucks air out of the container and consequently creates suction at the attachment's intake nozzle. The attachment's intake nozzle can be manipulated by a user to suck up liquids, such as spilt drinks etc., from floors etc. As air and liquid enters the container, it is re-directed, slowed down and caused to circulate in the compartment on the side of the intake opening by the baffle. Consequently, liquid accumulates in the container and aeration of the liquid is minimised.

Virtually no liquid is sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

As the amount of liquid in the container increases, the level of the liquid surface rises. Eventually the liquid surface rises above the fluid path between the compartments. It then becomes more difficult for the air to be sucked through the fluid path. Indeed, as the fluid path (and hence the liquid surface) is still below the exhaust opening and the vent, it is easier for air to be sucked into the container through the vent and out through the exhaust opening to the vacuum cleaner nozzle than for liquid to be displaced and air to be sucked through the fluid path. Suction at the attachment's intake nozzle therefore stops and liquid ceases to be drawn into the container. The possibility the liquid surface reaching the level of the exhaust opening and liquid being sucked into the vacuum cleaner is therefore virtually eliminated.

Rather, when the liquid surface rises above the fluid path, the container must be emptied of liquid for reuse.

Furthermore, as the fluid path (and hence the liquid surface) is below the intake opening when the suction at the intake nozzle stops, the liquid surface does not reach a level at which it would leek back out through the attachment's intake nozzle.

An example of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure I is a perspective transparent view of a vacuum cleaner attachment according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective transparent view of a housing of the vacuum cleaner attachment of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective transparent view of a lid of the vacuum cleaner attachment of figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective transparent view of an internal partition of the vacuum cleaner attachment of figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner attachment of figure 1, showing the attachment in use.

Detailed Description

Referring to figures 1 to 4, a vacuum cleaner attachment 1 comprises a housing 2. The housing 2 is shown most clearly in figure 2 and, in this example, has straight sides and an oval section. Of course, many other shapes

may be suitable.

The housing 2 is made of a clear or translucent plastics material so that liquid inside the housing 2 can be seen by a user. The housing 2 basically forms a container. However, the bottom of the housing 2 (when the housing 2 is oriented as shown in the drawings) has a hole or opening that forms an intake nozzle 10. The intake nozzle 10 is adapted to allow air and liquid to be sucked up from a surface, such as a floor, when pressure inside the attachment 1 is reduced, as described in more detail below.

In this example, the intake nozzle 10 is adjoining the sides of the housing 2. More specifically, at least part of the perimeter of the hole or opening that forms the intake nozzle 10 is bounded by the sides of the housing 2. The remainder of the perimeter is bounded by a divider 11. Thus, the divider 11 and sides of the housing 2 form an intake passage 18 starting at the intake nozzle 10. The intake passage 18 extends upwardly (when the housing 2 is oriented as shown in the drawings) and ends at the top of the divider 11, where fluid can enter the remainder of the inside of the attachment 1. In other words, the top of the divider 11 and the sides of the housing 2 form an intake opening 12 from which fluid can enter the attachment 1.

The housing 2 has an overflow 13 comprising a hole in its side, approximately half way up the housing 2. The overflow 13 is higher (in the orientation shown in the drawings) than the intake opening 12. The overflow 13 allows liquid to flow out of the housing 2 if its reaches the level of the overflow 13. The utility of this is described in more detail below.

The top of the housing 2 is open such that the top edge of the housing 2 forms a rim 15 around the opening. The rim 15 is adapted to receive a lid 3, which can be seen most clearly in figure 3, such that there is an air tight seal between the perimeter of the lid 3 and the rim 15. In this example, the lid 3 is removable from the housing 2 and the lid 3 can be fitted to the housing 2 similarly to the way in which lids are fitted to conventional plastics food containers, such as those made under the trade name Tupperware@. For example, the lid 3 may have a channel (not shown) around its perimeter that receives the rim 15 of the housing 2 and makes an air tight seal.

The lid 3 has three openings or orifices. A large exhaust opening 4 is adapted to receive the intake nozzle of a conventional vacuum cleaner. More specifically, the large exhaust opening 4 is circular and has a diameter of approximately 3 to 4 cm. This is approximately the outer diameter of a conventional vacuum cleaner intake nozzle or extension pipe. Preferably the opening 4 tapers from the outside to the inside of vacuum cleaner attachment 1, i.e. from the upper surface to the lower surface of the lid 3 as oriented in figure 1. Thus, vacuum cleaner intake nozzles of different sizes can fit into the large exhaust opening 4. The opening 4 is adapted to provide an air tight seal around the intake nozzle, for example by having a rubber seal (not shown) around its perimeter.

A small exhaust opening 5 is provided in the lid 3 beside the large exhaust opening 4. The small exhaust opening 5 is adapted to receive the intake nozzle of a crevice tool for a conventional vacuum cleaner. A crevice tool is an attachment for a vacuum cleaner that effectively reduces the dimensions of the vacuum cleaner's intake nozzle so that it can reach into inaccessible places. It generally comprises a tube that tapers from a circular section dimensioned to fit onto a vacuum cleaner's standard intake nozzle to a substantially oval or rectangular section of smaller dimensions. More specifically, the small exhaust opening 5 is substantially oval or rectangular and is approximately 1 to 2 cm by 3 to 4 cm. This is approximately the outer dimensions of the intake nozzle of a conventional crevice tool. Preferably the opening 5 tapers from the outside to the inside of vacuum cleaner attachment 1, i.e. from the upper surface to the lower surface of the lid 3 as oriented in figure 1. Thus, crevice tool intake nozzles of different sizes can fit into the small exhaust opening 5. The opening 5 is adapted to provide an air tight seal around the intake nozzle, for example by having a rubber seal (not shown) around its perimeter.

A third opening 6 that houses a whistle (not shown) is also provided in the lid 3 beside the large and small exhaust openings 4 and 5. The whistle has a slot or reed adapted to emit a whistle when air passes from outside to inside the attachment 1. The utility of the whistle is explained below.

The housing 2 is adapted to receive a removable internal partition 7, which can be seen most clearly in figure 4. The partition 7 is generally T shaped. More specifically, the partition 7 comprises a barrier 8 and baMe 9.

The barrier 8 has a similar shape (e.g. oval) and dimensions to a section (preferably a horizontal section in the orientation shown in figure 1) of the housing 2 and is adapted to fit horizontally in the housing 2.

In this example, the barrier 8 has a close fit between its entire perimeter and the inside surface of the housing 2. A rubber seal, such as an o ring can be provided in the perimeter of the barrier 8 to provide an air-tight seal with the inside surface of the housing2. In another example, the housing 2 is formed of two parts, one comprising the portion of the housing 2 on one side of (e.g. above) the barrier 8 and the other comprising the portion of the housing on the other side of (e.g. below) the barrier 8 when the partition 7 is in position. The barrier 8 can be sandwiched between the two parts of the housing 2. The two parts of the housing 2 can be fitted to the barrier 8 in the same way as the lid 3 fits onto the housing 2. In other words, the barrier 8 may have channels around its perimeter that receive rims (not shown) of the two parts of the housing 2 to make air tight seals. The barrier 8 can therefore be thought of as a two-sided lid.

In this example, the barrier 8 also has an air passage 16 comprising an opening covered by a waterproof, gas permeable membrane 17, such as a Gore Text fabric. The air passage 16 therefore allows air to pass but largely prevents liquids from passing through the barrier 8.

The baffle 9 projects perpendicularly from the barrier 8, downwardly from the barrier 8 in the orientation of the attachment 1 shown in the drawings. When in position, the baffle 9 divides the housing 2 below the barrier 8 into two compartments. Each compartment is bounded by the sides and bottom of the housing 2, the barrier 8 and the baffle 9. One of the compartments contains the intake opening 12 and the other compartment contains the air passage 16 and the overflow 13.

The baffle 9 provides a fluid passage 19 between the two compartments. More specifically, openings or holes are provided in the baMe 9 to connect the two compartments and allow fluid to flow between the compartments. The fluid passage 19 is lower than the intake opening 12, air passage 16 and overflow 13.

When it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner attachment 1, for example to clean up a spilt drink or such like, the vacuum cleaner attachment 1 is attached to a conventional vacuum cleaner. More specifically, the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner is inserted in either the large or the small exhaust opening 4,5 of the attachment 1. As explained above, the large exhaust opening 4 is generally used with a standard vacuum cleaner nozzle and the small exhaust opening 5 is generally used with a standard crevice tool for a vacuum cleaner.

When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, air is sucked out of the attachment 1. The consequent reduction of air pressure inside the attachment I causes air to be sucked into the attachment through any opening in the attachment 1. Thus, air is sucked in through whichever of the large and the small exhaust openings 4,5 has not been attached to the vacuum cleaner, the overflow 13 and, most importantly, the intake nozzle 10. The intake nozzle can therefore be manipulated by a user to suck up liquids from a surface, such as a floor.

The intake nozzle 10 has a perimeter that is substantially in one plane.

Consequently, in order to clean up liquid from a surface, such as a floor, a user must hold the attachment 1 such that the plane of the intake nozzle 10 is substantially parallel to the surface from which the liquid is to be cleaned up.

Otherwise only air will be sucked into the intake nozzle 10. In order to clean up liquids, such as spilt drinks, the attachment 1 should therefore be oriented basically as shown in the drawings. In this orientation, the exhaust openings 4, 5 are at the top of the attachment 1 and the intake nozzle 10 is at the bottom of the attachment 1.

In use, air travels through the attachment from the intake nozzle 10 (see arrow C in figure 5) and out through whichever of the exhaust openings 4,5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner (see arrows A and B in figure 5). More specifically, air passes from the intake nozzle 10, up the intake passage 18 and through the intake opening 12 and into the compartment on the intake side of the baffle 9. The air then passes through the fluid passage 19 into the other compartment, up through the air passage 16, and out through one of the exhaust nozzles 4,5.

When liquid is sucked up by the intake nozzle 10, it is carried by the air up the intake passage and through the intake opening 12 into the compartment on the intake side of the dame 9. However, as the air slows down on entering the compartment and is redirected by the baffle 9, it deposits the liquid in the compartment. The deposited liquid settles in the bottom of the attachment 1, where it is largely free to flow in the fluid passage 19 between the two compartments. The air continues through the fluid passage 19 into the compartment on the exhaust side of the baffle 9, through the air passage 16 and though the one of the exhaust openings 4,5 into the vacuum cleaner. Any fluid still being carried by the air as it exits the compartment on the intake side of the baffle 9 is either deposited as the air passes through the other compartment or prevented from passing through the air passage 16 by the water impermeable membrane 17.

As liquid accumulates in the housing 2, the liquid surface rises. At level D shown in figure 5, the liquid surface is below the uppermost part of the fluid passage 19. Air is therefore free to flow through the fluid passage and liquid can continue to be sucked into the attachment 1, as described above. However, at the level E shown in figure 5, the liquid surface has risen to the uppermost part of the fluid passage 19. Thus, for air to pass through the fluid passage 19, liquid must be displaced. It is easier for air to be sucked in through whichever of the exhaust outlets 4,5 is not connected to the vacuum cleaner, the overflow 13 and the whistle (not shown). Suction at the intake nozzle 10 therefore ceases. The attachment 1 should then be emptied of liquid and reused.

When the liquid surface covers the fluid passage (level E), the amount of air drawn through the exhaust outlet 4,5 not connected to the vacuum cleaner, the overflow 13 and, in particular, the whistle increases. The whistle is arranged such that, when air can flow through the fluid passage 19, there is not enough air flow through the whistle to make a sound, but when the liquid surface is above the fluid passage (level E), there is sufficient air flow through the whistle to emit a sound. Thus, whilst a user should notice that there is no longer any suction at the intake nozzle 10, the whistle provides an indication of when the attachment 1 needs emptying.

After the liquid surface has reached a level at which it covers the fluid passage 19 (level E), it is conceivable that liquid could continue accumulate in the housing 2. For example, the attachment 1 might be shaken or tipped such that the fluid passage 19 is uncovered. However, in this event, when the liquid surface reaches the level of the overflow 13 (level F in figure 5), it will leek out of the housing 2. The user will then realise that the attachment 1 needs emptying and liquid will not enter the vacuum cleaner.

Finally, even if the attachment 1 is knocked over or the liquid surface rises over the overflow 13, the barrier 8 and liquid impermeable membrane 17 prevent liquid from reaching the exhaust outlets 4,5 and entering the vacuum cleaner. It is therefore almost impossible for liquid to enter the vacuum cleaner and cause any damage.

Claims

Claims 1. A vacuum cleaner attachment for cleaning up liquids, the

attachment comprising: a container for receiving liquid; an intake nozzle for sucking in air and liquid; an intake opening connected to the intake nozzle for allowing sucked in air and liquid to enter the container; an exhaust opening for receiving a vacuum cleaner nozzle and allowing air to be sucked out of the container into the vacuum cleaner nozzle; a baffle between intake opening and the exhaust opening that divides the container into two compartments connected by a fluid path; and a vent in the compartment on the side of the exhaust opening, wherein, when the attachment is oriented as it is intended to be used, the fluid path is lower than the intake opening, the exhaust opening and the 1 5 vent.
2. The vacuum cleaner attachment of claim 1, having a removable lid.
3. The vacuum cleaner attachment of claim 1 or claim 2, having a waterproof, gas permeable membrane between the baffle and the exhaust opening.
4. The vacuum cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, having a liquid overflow higher than the fluid path but lower than the exhaust opening when the attachment is oriented as it is intended to be used.
5. The vacuum cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent is adapted to receive a nozzle of a crevice tool for a vacuum cleaner and allow air to be sucked out of the container into the crevice tool.
6. The vacuum cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, made of transparent or translucent plastics material.
7. The vacuum cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, having a whistle adapted to emit a whistle when liquid covers the fluid path.
8. A vacuum cleaner attachment for cleaning up liquids, the attachment comprising: a container for receiving liquid; an exhaust opening for receiving a vacuum cleaner nozzle and allowing air to be sucked out of the container into the vacuum cleaner nozzle; an intake nozzle for allowing air and liquid to be sucked into the container; a fluid path between the intake nozzle and the exhaust opening, that is lower than the exhaust opening when the attachment is oriented as it is intended to be used; and a whistle that is higher than the fluid path when the attachment is S oriented as it is intended to be used and adapted to emit a whistle only when the surface of liquid in the container covers the fluid path.
9. A vacuum cleaner as described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.