GB2445799A

GB2445799A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2445799A
Application number: GB0701107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luke Charles Bradshaw
Original assignee: Salton Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-20
Filing date: 2007-01-20
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Also published as: GB0701107D0

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclone unit 38 having an axis of rotation that in use, is arranged more than 45 degrees from the vertical. The cyclone unit 38 may be horizontally positioned and situated in the base (8, fig 4) and between the wheels 32, 34 of the vacuum cleaner arrangement. A number of fins 62 enable the cyclone unit 38 to be orientated inside the base such that suction ducts in the cyclone unit align with holes in the base. Various other vacuum configurations are also defined and these are a vacuum cleaner head and a vacuum cleaner characterised by an opening and at least two pipes (66, 68, fig 11) leading from the opening, a vacuum cleaner characterised by a handle incorporating a switch (14, fig 5), a vacuum cleaner characterised by a handle that is movable between a first position and a second position and a vacuum cleaner characterised by a variable power control switch.

Description

Improvements in and Relating to Vacuum Cleaners

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and components theretor.

Background to the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an improved vacuum cleaner and components thereof.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclone unit having an axis of rotation, arranged whereby, in use of the vacuum cleaner, the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 45 degrees from the vertical.

In this way the cyclone unit can be mounted nearer the ground, in use, so there is less loss of suction and reduced component costs.

Suitably, the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 60 degrees from the vertical. Suitably, the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 80 degrees from the vertical. Suitably, the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is horizontal.

Suitably, the cyclone is mounted at least partly in a base portion of the cleaner.

Suitably, the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the base portion. Suitably, the cyclone unit is mounted in the base portion.Suitably, the vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising at least one wheel, whereby the cyclone is mounted at least partly in the horizontal projection of the wheel.

Suitably, the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.

Suitably, the cyclone unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising a pair of wheels, whereby the cyclone unit is mounted at least partly between the wheels. Suitably, the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted between the wheels. Suitably, the cyclone unit is mounted between the wheels.

Suitably, the cyclone unit comprises a plurality of external fins for cooperation with internal slots in the vacuum cleaner for alignment of the cyclone unit in the vacuum cleaner.

Suitably, the cyclone unit comprises an internal barrier forming a dust trap. Suitably, the barrier comprises an extension from the base of the cyclone unit having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the cyclone unit.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a base portion and a cyclone unit, wherein the cyclone unit is located at least partly in the base portion.

Suitably, the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the base portion. Suitably, the cyclone unit is mounted in the base portion.

Suitably, the cleaner comprises at least one wheel on the base portion thereof, whereby the cyclone is mounted at least partly in the horizontal projection of the wheel on the base portion of the cleaner.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner comprises a pair of wheels, whereby the cyclone unit is mounted at least partly between the wheels.

Suitably, the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted between the wheels. Suitably, the cyclone unit is mounted between the wheels.

Suitably, a hub of one of the wheels is removable to allow the removal of the cyclone unit from the vacuum cleaner.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a third aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner head comprising an opening for receiving dirt from a floor and at least two pipes leading from the opening.

By having two exit pipes from the vacuum cleaner head, it is less likely that both will become blocked and the suction is more equally applied across the head.

Suitably, the pipes lead to a vacuum source.

Suitably, the head is for an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a fourth aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner head according to the third aspect of the present invention.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a fifth aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a handle, the handle incorporating a switch for controlling a function of the vacuum cleaner.

Suitably, the switch controls the main power (i.e. on or of f) functionality of the vacuum cleaner.

Suitably, the switch is a push-to-make, push-to-break switch.

Suitably, the switch provides variable power control of the vacuum cleaner. Suitably, the switch provides analogue control of the power of the vacuum cleaner.

Suitably, the switch comprises a lever.

Suitably, the switch is manually activatable by a user with a hand holding the handle. Suitably, the switch is within 10 centimetres of the top of the handle.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a sixth aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a handle movable between a first position and a second position.

Suitably, the first position is at 80 degrees to 100 degrees to the second position.

Suitably, the handle comprises a tubular structure.

Suitably, the handle is lockable in the first position and the second position. Suitably, there is provided a release mechanism for releasing the handle from the first position or the second position.

Suitably, the handle is generally in a plane and the plane of the handle is generally parallel to the user in the first position and generally perpendicular to the user in the second position.

Suitably, the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention in a seventh aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a variable power control switch comprising variable power between the on and off power settings.

Suitably, the variable power control comprises analogue variable control with substantially continuously variable power between the on and off settings.

It will be appreciated that features of the various aspects of the invention referred to above may be combined.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view from the side and rear of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a view from the side and front of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the handle portion with the handle in a first position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the handle portion with the handle in a second position.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional elevation through the base portion on the line Vu-Vu in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of the partly disassembled base portion.

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the base portion illustrating a flow pattern.

Figure 10 is a front view of the base portion illustrating a flow pattern.

Figure 11 is an enlarged, perspective view of the base portion.

Figure 12 is an enlarged, perspective, underside view of the base portion.

Figure 13 is an enlarged, diagrammatic view of the head of the base portion.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a cross sectional-elevation through the cyclone unit.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 -4 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown an upright vacuum cleaner 2 comprising a handle portion 4 attached to a body portion 6 which in turn is connected to a base portion 8.

The handle portion 4 comprises a tubular structure 10 in a tear drop shape forming the handle 12. The tubular structure comprises a lever switch 14 referred to in more detail below. The handle portion 4 is connected to the body portion 6 by a push-fit connection 16 arranged to be twisted between a first position and a second position in which the plane of the handle 12 is generally parallel to the user in the first position and generally perpendicular to the user in the second position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. The handle can lock in the alternative first and second positions, in which case the handle portion can include a release mechanism (not shown) . The body portion 6 comprises a casing 18 within which is mounted a motor (not shown) . The body portion 6 carries an extension hose 20 which if not needed can be stowed around clips 22 (on the handle portion 4) and 24 (on the base portion 8). optionally, the base hose 20 can be

retractable.

Two ducts 26, 28 extend from the body portion 6 to the base portion 8. The ducts 26, 28 are used to provide suction to the base portion 8 from the motor.

The base portion 8 comprises a vacuum cleaner head 30 carrying opposed ground engaging wheels 32, 34 running on races with common axes. The wheel 34 includes a removable hub 36 which is mounted to be twisted to be unlocked from the head 30. Between the wheels 32, 34 within the head 30 is a cyclone unit 38 as shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings. In Figure 8, the cyclone unit 38 is shown removed from the head 30 after the hub 36 has been removed.

The cyclone unit 38 comprises two dirt inlet ports 40, 42.

The axis of rotation of the cyclone in the cyclone unit 38 is substantially along the axis of rotation of the wheels 32, 34 as indicated by line 60 in Figure 7. Thus it will be appreciated that the axis of the cyclone unit 38 (i.e. the axis of rotation of a cyclone in the cyclone unit 38) is substantially horizontal in use.

The primary flow pattern within the cyclone unit 38 is illustrated schematically in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

Externally the cyclone unit 38 comprises a plurality of fins 62 which cooperate with slots (not shown) in the inside of the head 30 to align the cyclone unit in the head 30.

Referring to Figures 11 -13 of the accompanying drawings, the head 30 can be seen to comprise an open-based footplate 64 to receive dirt from a floor in use. From the footplate 64 two pipes 66, 68 lead to the cyclone unit. The pipes 66, 68 have respective ports 70, 72 spaced across the footplate 64. The two pipes 66, 68 provide to routes for dirt to enter the cyclone unit 38 from the footplate 64, as illustrated by arrows 74, 76 in Figure 13.

Referring to Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings, the inside of the cyclone unit 28 includes a fin barrier 78 across the bottom (in use) of the cyclone unit 38, extending from the base of the cyclone unit 38 in a curvature, of significantly smaller diameter than that of the main cyclone unit chamber. The cyclone direction in the cyclone unit 38 is indicated by arrow 80. The fin barrier 78 creates a dust trap 82. Additional dust and dirt will fall into the dust trap 82 in use. It is also believed that the fin barrier 78 may quieten the noise generated from the cyclone unit 38 by reducing the quantity of dust that collides with the cyclone unit casing.

Thus, the cyclone is mounted at least partly, and in this case entirely, in the horizontal projection of the wheel.

That is, with a wheel in it's usual operating position the cyclone unit is at least partly in a volume extending the periphery of the wheel horizontally.

Referring to the lever switch 14, in one embodiment of the present invention, this is a push-to-make, push-to-make switch. That is, the switch is activated, for instance squeezed towards the handle, once to turn the vacuum cleaner 2 on and is activated in the same way again to turn the vacuum cleaner 2 of f. Thus there is no need for the user to hold the switch down.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the switch incorporates an analogue variable control of the power.

output, i.e. a continuously variable power output. That is, the further the switch is moved, the higher the power output, i.e. greater suction. This may be combined with the first switch embodiment in that if the switch is fully activated, it can stay fully on until it is activated again to turn it off.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclone unit having an axis of

rotation, arranged whereby, in use of the vacuum cleaner, the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 45 degrees from the vertical.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 60 degrees from the vertical.
3. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is more than 80 degrees from the vertical.
4. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the axis of rotation of the cyclone unit is horizontal.
5. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the *.20 cyclone is mounted at least partly in a base portion of :.:: the cleaner. *...
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the base portion.

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7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted in the base portion.
8. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising at least one wheel, whereby the cyclone is mounted at least partly in the horizontal projection of the wheel.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim B or claim 9, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.
11. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising a pair of wheels, whereby the cyclone unit is mounted at least partly between the wheels.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted between the wheels.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted between the wheels. * * *
13. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the cyclone unit comprises a plurality of external fins for cooperation with internal slots in the vacuum cleaner for alignment of the cyclone unit in the vacuum cleaner.

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14. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the ****** . * . cyclone unit comprises an internal barrier forming a dust trap.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the barrier comprises an extension from the base of the cyclone unit having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the cyclone unit.
16. The vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.
17. A vacuum cleaner comprising a base portion and a cyclone unit, wherein the cyclone unit is located at least partly in the base portion.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the base portion.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted in the base portion.
20. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 17-19, wherein the cleaner comprises at least one wheel on the base portion thereof, whereby the cyclone is mounted at least partly in the horizontal projection of the wheel on the *:*:: base portion of the cleaner. S...
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.

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22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted in the horizontal projection of the wheel.
23. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 17-19, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a pair of wheels, whereby the cyclone unit is mounted at least partly between the wheels.
24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein the majority of the cyclone cleaning unit is mounted between the wheels.
25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the cyclone unit is mounted between the wheels.
26. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 20-25, wherein a hub of one of the wheels is removable to allow the removal of the cyclone unit from the vacuum cleaner.
27. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 17-26, wherein the cyclone unit comprises a plurality of external fins for cooperation with internal slots in the vacuum cleaner for alignment of the cyclone unit in the vacuum cleaner.
28. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 17-27, wherein the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.

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29. A vacuum cleaner head comprising an opening for *SSS receiving dirt from a floor and at least two pipes leading from the opening.
30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein the pipes lead * to a vacuum source.

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31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the head is for an upright vacuum cleaner.
32. A vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner head comprising an opening for receiving dirt from a floor and at least two pipes leading from the opening.
33. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, wherein the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.
34. A vacuum cleaner comprising a handle, the handle incorporating a switch for controlling a function of the vacuum cleaner.
35. The vacuum cleaner of claim 34, wherein the switch controls the main power (i.e. on or off) functionality of the vacuum cleaner.
36. The vacuum cleaner of claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the switch is a push-to-make, push-to-break switch.
37. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-36, wherein the switch provides variable power control of the vacuum cleaner.

* *.20
38. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-37, wherein the switch provides analogue control of the power of the vacuum cleaner.
39. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-38, wherein * * the switch comprises a lever.

* ***** * *
40. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-39, wherein the switch is manually activatable by a user with a hand holding the handle.
41. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-40, wherein the switch is within 10 centimetres of the top of the handle.
42. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 34-41, wherein the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.
43. A vacuum cleaner comprising a handle movable between a first position and a second position.
44. The vacuum cleaner of claim 43, wherein the first position is at 80 degrees to 100 degrees to the second position.
45. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 43-44, wherein the handle comprises a tubular structure.
46. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 43-45, wherein the handle is lockable in the first position and the second position.
47. The vacuum cleaner of claim 46, wherein there is provided a release mechanism for releasing the handle from the first position or the second position. * **
48. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 43-47, wherein the handle is generally in a plane and the plane of the handle is generally parallel to the user in the first position and generally perpendicular to the user in the second position.
49. The vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 43-48, wherein the vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.
50. A vacuum cleaner comprising a variable power control switch comprising variable power between the on and off power settings.
51. The vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the variable power control comprises analogue variable control with substantially continuously variable power between the on and off settings. * S. * a * * a. *.. * a *

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