GB2471164A

GB2471164A - Floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2471164A
Application number: GB1009272A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Kaffenberger; Horst Dilger; Thomas Lind; Hans-Joachim Steudtner
Original assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Current assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2010-06-03
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-03
Also published as: GB2471164B; GB201009272D0; DE102009029806B4; FR2946856A1; DE102009029806A1; DE202009010089U1; FR2946856B1

Abstract

A floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners, with an intermediate member 1, to the front end of which a suction head 2 is attached so as to be movable in a tilting manner about a horizontal tilting axis (K, fig 3). At least one running roller 8, is arranged at the rear end of the intermediate member 1, in order to support the floor nozzle. In addition, a suction-pipe attachment (9, fig 1) is attached to the rear end of the intermediate member 1 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal articulation axis (G, fig 3). At least one projection 10a, 10b is provided on the rear edge 5. The projection 10a, 10b is arranged in such a way that, when the floor nozzle rests on a flat hard floor surface in a neutral position free from the action of external force the projection 10a, 10b is arranged at a distance from the floor surface or rests on the floor surface. The arrangement is said, in use, to limit the tilting of the front edge 4.

Description

"Floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners"

Description

S The invention relates to a floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners, with an intermediate member, to the front end of which a suction head is attached so as to be movable in a tilting manner about a horizontal tilting axis, the suction head having a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal base area, the base area being bounded by a front edge and a rear edge, which extend substantially parallel to the tilting axis in the transverse direction, and by lateral edges which are short in comparison thereto and which join the front edge and the rear edge to each other, a suction orifice on the underside of the suction head, at least one running roller which is provided for supporting the floor nozzle and which is arranged at the rear end of the intermediate member, is a suction-pipe attachment which is attached to the rear end of the intermediate member so as to be pivotable about a horizontal articulation axis parallel to the tilting axis.

The front side and the rear side are correlated in the floor nozzle in such a way that the suction-tube attachment is arranged at the rear side of the floor nozzle. During a forward stroke the floor nozzle is moved accordingly in the direction of the front edge away from the user. During a backward stroke the floor nozzle is moved in the direction of the suction-tube attachment, i.e. by the user in the direction towards him or her. The floor nozzle is provided in particular for use with a vacuum cleaner which is attached to the floor nozzle by way of a flexible hose and a rigid suction tube, it being possible for the floor nozzle to be moved on the rigid suction tube independently of the vacuum cleaner. With an arrangement of this type the cleaning is usually carried out by the floor nozzle being passed over the floor surface to be cleaned with an alternating forward and backward stroke.

A floor nozzle having the features described in the introduction and also referred to as a double-articulation nozzle on account of the double horizontal articulation is known from DE 298 12 377 Ui. The assignment of the term "tilting axis" to the front articulated connection and the term "articulation axis" to the rear articulated connection is preferably made in the context of the invention in order to allow a simple differentiation of the two axes. In the known double-articulation nozzle the force is supported in the vertical direction on two running rollers at the rear as support elements when cleaning a horizontal floor surface. This has the result that vertical forces introduced at the suction-tube attachment by way of a suction tube are compensated, it being possible for the suction head to be freely orientated with the intermediate member designed in the form of a suction channel on account of the articulated connection. The double-articulated design has the effect that substantially only horizontal suction forces are transmitted to the suction head when the floor nozzle is used.

The mobility of the suction head about the tilting axis is generally restricted by stops, the suction head then being movable in an angular area between a front stop position and a rear stop position. The angular area should advantageously be set in such a way that a penetration of the running rollers to different depths in a soft floor covering or a lifting of the running rollers during a backward stroke can be equalized. In addition, it should also be possible to pass easily over irregularities in the floor surfaces to be cleaned, for example the edges of a carpet.

Although the support of the suction head is largely decoupled from vertical forces introduced through the suction tube on account of the double-articulated design, during a forward and backward stroke the lever arm between the horizontal tilting axis and the support face results in a torque which can lead to a tilting of the suction head. In particu-lar, during a backward stroke there is a risk that the front region of the suction head will be raised so far off the floor surface in the event of an undesired and uncontrolled tilting that it is then no longer possible to ensure effective cleaning.

In order to reduce the risk of uncontrolled tilting, a floor nozzle with the features described in the introduction is known from EP 0 353 546 Al, in which the horizontal tilting axis is situated at a particularly low level. The fact that the base of the suction head is not designed in the form of a sliding base, but is supported on small running rollers, contributes to a further reduction of the tendency to tilt. On account of this support, however, a significant distance remains in part between the base and the floor surface in a manner dependent upon the floor covering to be cleaned, so that the cleaning action is then significantly restricted.

A further floor nozzle of the type defined in the preamble is known from DE 10 2006 031 486 Al. In order to achieve a defined orientation of the suction head with the design described therein, a higher arrangement of the horizontal tilting axis is provided as compared with the further designs known from the prior art. This has the result that during a forward stroke the suction head arrives directly in a defined stop position on account of the long lever arm between the tilting axis and the support face of the base, in which case a rear edge of the suction orifice is raised. Because of the high tilting axis the suction head arrives in a defined stop position even during a backward stroke. Whilst tilting is usually sought to be prevented in accordance with the other publications in the prior art, DE 102006 031 486 Al provides for a direct, controlled tilting.

is A nozzle for a vertical vacuum cleaner is known from WO 2006/077 373 Al, the rear side of the nozzle having expanded portions in the manner of runners. The nozzle is made rigid in itself and has only one receiving means on which an air socket leading to the casing of the vertical vacuum cleaner can be arranged so as to be rotatable about a longi-tudinal axis. The vertical vacuum cleaner is supported on the underside thereof by a convex running roller, articulation movements being transmitted to the floor nozzle by the rotation of the vacuum-cleaner casing. On account of the articulation movements there is the risk that the floor nozzle will be tilted about a longitudinal axis orientated in the direction of movement. The runners then serve for a lateral support. In addition, in the case of a curved path of the floor nozzle it should be borne in mind that a lateral move-ment component has to be taken into consideration at the runners relative to the floor covering situated below them. In order to prevent the runners from becoming stuck, they are bevelled off at their lateral edges.

On the basis of a floor nozzle with the features described in the introduction, the object of the invention is to reduce the risk of uncontrolled tilting by simple structural measures.

On the basis of a floor nozzle with the features of the preamble of claim 1, the object is attained according to the invention in that on the rear edge at least one projection projects from the base area in the longitudinal direction, the projection being arranged in such a way that, when the floor nozzle is supported on a flat hard floor surface, in a neutral posi-tion free from the action of external force the projection is situated at a distance from the floor surface or rests on the floor surface.

During a backward stroke the suction head tends to lift up at the front edge thereof on account of the lever arm acting between the tilting axis and the support face of the base.

In order to limit this tilting movement and to prevent an uncontrolled tilting, at least one projection is provided on the rear side of the suction head. In this case it can be provided that in the neutral position the projection already rests with the underside thereof on a flat hard floor covering, in which case during a backward stroke the orientation of the suction head remains practically unchanged under normal operating conditions as a result of the support by means of the projection. If the projection is situated at a distance from the floor surface in the neutral position, then in the event that the suction head -arranged so as to be movable in a tiltable manner on the intermediate member -lifts up at the front edge, i.e. in particular during a backward stroke, the sliding face of the projection will abut with the is floor surface, as a result of which further tilting will be counteracted.

In the case of a symmetrical arrangement a projection arranged centrally on the rear edge and/or two projections arranged symmetrically on the rear edge is or are usually provided.

In accordance with the usual arrangement of a double-articulated nozzle the angular range for movement of the suction head about the tilting axis is limited by a front stop posi-tion and a rear stop position. In this case, however, the at least one projection is arranged in such a way that, during a backward stroke, supporting by the projection or projections takes place before the suction head reaches the first stop position. It is thus provided in particular that, when the floor nozzle rests on a flat, hard floor surface, the underside of the projection first comes to rest against the floor surface before the suction head reaches the stop position during a further curving. As a result, in the case of usual operating conditions of the floor nozzle during a backward stroke the orientation of the suction head is determined by the projection or projections during a backward stroke both in the case of penetration of the at least one running roller into a soft floor covering and in the case of the at least one running roller lifting up, without the upper edge of the suction head being lifted up or being lifted up to an excessive degree and a reduction in the suction action taking place.

The at least one projection is preferably in the form of a tongue projecting to the rear from the base area, it being possible for a sliding face, which projects downwards at the rear end of the tongue extending away from the base area, to be formed on the underside of the projection.

S In order to permit an easy guidance during a backward stroke, the underside of the projection is provided, at least on the rear end thereof extending in the direction of the suction-tube attachment, with a sloping portion which acts as a sliding face when the projection sinks into a soft floor covering and/or when passing over small offsets and irregularities. In addition, the lateral edges and the front edge of the sliding face can also be provided with a sloping portion.

In principle it is possible, in a design with two projections, for these projections to be provided directly on the lateral edges of the floor nozzle as a continuation of the short lateral edges. In the case of an arrangement of this type the projections can also be used is to prevent lateral tilting during the articulation movements in a forward stroke of the floor nozzle. The present invention, however, relates essentially to the behaviour of the floor nozzle during a backward stroke, i.e. during a movement in the direction of the suction-tube attachment arranged on the rear side, a support to prevent excessive tilting being achieved according to the invention by the projections. During a backward stroke, however, there is the risk that the projections projecting towards the rear from the suction head will hook onto the floor covering to be cleaned, for example when passing over an edge of a carpet, or with parts of furniture, for example chair legs. In the case of projections arranged at the edges there is a particularly acute risk of said projections becoming caught up under a carpet or laterally on a chair leg or the like. In that case, in order to release the floor nozzle, the latter must first be moved forward again. In order to avoid or at least to reduce the risk of becoming snagged during a backward stroke, in accordance with a preferred arrangement of the invention it is provided that the projection or the projections is or are arranged on the rear edge of the base area at a distance from the lateral edges. In this way, a projection can be provided which is arranged at the centre of the rear edge. In addition or as an alternative, in the case of a symmetrical arrangement of two projections it can be provided that said projections are arranged on the rear edge in a region between the edge and the middle of the suction head. A drawback of this arrangement, however, is that the projections can extend only as far as the running rollers and are thus restricted in their length.

In accordance with a particularly preferred arrangement it is provided that when two lateral running rollers are arranged on the rear end of the intermediate member a middle projection is provided which extends between the running rollers. In particular, it can be provided that the projection engages under the intermediate member to a certain degree, the length of the projection not being restricted by the running rollers which are arranged offset thereto.

In this way, an arrangement can be made, in accordance with which two lateral running rollers are arranged on the rear end of the intermediate member, in which case at least two projections, which as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the floor nozzle are in alignment with one of the running rollers in each case, are provided on the rear edge of the base area. During a backward stroke the projections are then protected to a certain degree by the running rollers and, in particular, they cannot become hooked up at the side. In addition, the risk of passing under a floor covering at a transition edge is signifi-cantly reduced within the scope of an arrangement of this type. The projections can be approximately the same width as the running roller, but in the case of an arrangement with narrow running rollers it is advantageous for a greater width of the projections to be selected.

The tendency of the suction head to tilt in an uncontrolled manner is determined by the effective lever arms in a manner dependent upon the design of the floor nozzle. In this way, the introduction of force which causes a rotation about the tilting axis results from the height of the tilting axis with respect to the floor surface and from the horizontal distance between the rear end of the projection and the tilting axis. Taking this as a basis, in accor-dance with a preferred arrangement of the invention it is provided that with respect to the neutral position the horizontal distance between the rear end of the projection and the tilting axis is at least twice as great as the height of the tilting axis above the floor surface.

From the practical point of view, a ratio of between 2.5 and 3 is particularly suitable. As the ratio increases, the angle for the introduction of force becomes increasingly fIat, so that the tendency to tilt is further reduced.

In addition, attention should be paid to the distance between the rear end of the at least one projection and the articulation axis which joins the intermediate member to the suction-tube attachment. In this way, with respect to the neutral position, the distance between the rear end of the at least one projection and the articulation axis is preferably less than 20 mm in the horizontal direction.

In order to achieve a significant reduction in the tendency to tilt with respect to a conventional double-articulation nozzle, the at least one projection has a length of at least 20 mm starting from the rear edge of the base area. The width of the projection is typically in the range of 10 mm and 50 mm.

On account of the arrangement of the projections projecting to the rear, the base area can be made particularly short as viewed in the longitudinal direction, without the risk of tilting being increased as a result. A particularly compact and material-saving arrangement of the suction head can thus also be selected within the scope of the invention. In particular, the suction orifice can be formed from a single suction slot extending substantially in the transverse direction. Arrangements of the suction orifice with one suction slot or with two suction slots are known from practice. Whilst a suction head with two suction slots has a is reduced tendency to tilt on account of the larger support area, a more compact structural shape and also as a rule higher pressure gradients and therefore an improved cleaning action can be achieved in the case of an arrangement with only one suction slot. Within the scope of the present invention the drawbacks of an increased tendency to tilt during a backward stroke -observed in the case of the known single-slot nozzles -are prevented in a reliable manner by the additional support by the projection or the projections.

The suction head can have on the underside thereof at least one brush strip, a resilient lip or a continuous crown of bristles in a manner known per Se. It is usual for one brush strip to be provided in front of the suction orifice in the region of the front edge and for a further brush strip or a resilient sealing lip to be provided behind the suction orifice. In addition, thread lifting strips can also be arranged in front of and/or behind the suction orifice. If the floor nozzle has an extensible function element on the underside of the suction head, the neutral position described above relates to the orientation of the floor nozzle with the function element retracted. In this position it is generally provided that the suction head rests on its underside with suction-orifice edges bounding the suction orifice on the floor surface.

In order to move the at least one brush strip and/or the sealing lip or the crown of bristles respectively in and out, an actuating switch is preferably provided on the top side of the suction head. The actuating switch is advantageously arranged for example above the suction orifice, since then the actuation can be carried out by way of a simple lever mechanism.

In accordance with a first further development it is provided that the projection is formed from the material of a casing or a base of the suction head and is joined to the casing or the base in an integral manner. In accordance with an alternative further development it is provided that the projection is produced in the form of a separate part and is fastened to the casing or the base of the suction head, for example by means of screw fastening, adhesion or the like. If a plurality of projections are provided, the measures described can also be combined, in which case part of the projections are then formed from the material of the casing or the base in an integral manner and another part of the projections are produced in the form of separate parts and are fastened to the casing or the base. A separate production is recommended in particular in the case of particularly long projections. If a plurality of projections are provided, they can be made different without is limitation and can have for example a different width, length and contour.

The base of the suction head is preferably designed as a sliding base. In the scope of such an arrangement a sliding support of the suction head with respect to the surface to be cleaned takes place when the floor nozzle is used. The suction head accordingly has no support rollers. Whereas an undesirably large distance can be present in part between the base and the surface to be cleaned in the case of a support by way of rollers, the sliding base always rests directly on the floor surface to be cleaned.

The invention is explained below with reference to a drawing illustrating only one embodi-ment. In the diagrammatic drawing Figure 1 is a view of a floor nozzle from above, Figure 2 shows the floor nozzle illustrated in figure 1 in a view from below, Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the floor nozzle as shown in figure 1, and Figure 4 is a detailed view of the underside of the floor nozzle illustrated in figure 1.

The floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners which is illustrated in the figures is designed in the form of a double-articulated nozzle with a front tilting axis K and a rear articulation axis G parallel thereto. On the front horizontal tilting axis K extending in the transverse direction, an intermediate member 1 is connected at its front end to a suction head 2 so as to be movable in a tilting manner. As shown in figure 2, the suction head 2 has a base 3 on its underside. A substantially rectangular base area of the suction head is bounded by a front edge 4 and a rear edge 5, which extend substantially parallel to the tilting axis K, and by lateral edges 6 which are short in comparison thereto and which extend in the longitudi-nal direction of the suction head 2 and join the front edge 4 to the rear edge 5. Diverging from the design illustrated, the base area can also be made trapezoidal, in which case the rear edge 5 then generally has a smaller width than the front edge 4, so that the lateral edges 6 are set slightly obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction. Whilst the front edge 4 is made straight as a rule in order to ensure that dirt is picked up completely in the case of suction on an edge, the rear edge 5 and the lateral edges 6 have a curvature without restriction.

is In the base 3 a suction orifice 7, which is formed by a single suction slot extending sub-stantially in the transverse direction, extends on the underside of the suction head 2.

Running rollers 8, which are arranged at the rear end of the intermediate member 1, are provided in order to support the floor nozzle. In addition, a suction-tube attachment 9 is attached to the rear end of the intermediate member 1 so as to be pivotable about the horizontal articulation axis G. In addition, the figures show that projections lOa, lOb are provided at the rear edge 5. As is evident in a view from below in accordance with figure 2 and figure 4, a comparatively long projection lOa is arranged in the middle of the rear edge 5. As shown in the sectional illustration of figure 3, the underside of the projection lOa has a sliding face 11 which is provided in order to support the suction head during a backward stroke. The shorter projections lOb have a comparable design (figure 4) and are arranged in alignment with the running rollers 8 as seen in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in figure 3, the projections lOa, lOb are arranged in such a way that when the floor nozzle rests on a flat, hard horizontal floor surface in a neutral position free from the action of external force the projections lOa, lOb are arranged at a slight distance from the floor surface; when the suction head 2 arranged so as to be movable in a tilting manner on the intermediate member 1 is raised on the front edge 4 the sliding faces 11 of the projections lOa, lOb come to rest on the floor surface, as a result of which the tilting movement of the suction head 2 with respect to the intermediate member 1 is restricted and a substantially planar abutment of the base 3 on the floor surface to be cleaned is achieved. A planar abutment is also achieved when the sliding faces 11 of the projections lOa, lOb are already abutting in the neutral position. As a result of the support by means of the projections lOa, lOb according to the invention, such a substantially planar orientation of the base 3 is also achieved when, during a backward stroke, the running rollers 3 sink into a soft floor covering or are raised as a result of the traction forces exerted.

The tilting movement of the suction head 2 about the tilting axis K is usually limited by a first stop position and a rear stop position. The arrangement of the projections lOa, lOb, however, is such that in the event of tilting during a backward stroke of the floor nozzle the sliding surfaces 11 of the projections lOa, lOb first come to abut with the floor surface is before the suction head 2 reaches the stop position during a further curving. In a corre-sponding manner, during normal suction operation in which the suction head 2 is moved backwards and forwards, the stop position is not reached.

As may be seen from a comparison of figure 2 with figure 3, the projections lOa, lOb are in the form of tongues which project from the base area towards the rear. In the case of each projection lOa, lOb the respective sliding face 11 is arranged at the rear end directed away from the base area and projects downwards.

In order to prevent the projections from becoming hooked up, the front edge and the rear edge of the sliding faces 11 are in each case provided with a sloping portion 12. The projections lOa, lOb are arranged on the rear edge 5 of the base area at a distance from the lateral edges 6. In particular, the projections lOa, lOb are arranged in a middle region of the rear edge 5 in such a way that they are protected to a certain extent. As a result of the arrangement it is possible to reduce the risk that the projections lOa, lOb will become hooked up on an edge of the floor covering to be cleaned or with a piece of furniture during a backward stroke. It is particularly advantageous for the two short projections 1 Ob to be arranged in alignment with the running rollers 8 and thus to be protected by the running rollers 8 to a certain extent. Whilst the length of the two short projections lOb is limited by the arrangement of the running rollers 8, the long projection lOa can extend between the running rollers 8. In principle, the reduction of the risk of tilting in accordance with the invention can be achieved with just one of the projections described.

With reference to the running properties and the reduction of the risk of tilting of the floor nozzle, the geometrical dimensions and the specific arrangement of the tilting axis K and the articulation axis G are particularly important. As may be seen in the sectional illus-tration of figure 3 which shows the floor nozzle in a neutral position, the distance x1 between the rear end of the long projection lOa and the articulation axis G in the horizon-tal direction is slight and amounts to less than 20 mm. In addition, with respect to the neutral position, the horizontal distance x2 between the rear end and the tilting axis K in the case of all the projections lOa, lOb is at least twice as large as the height h1 of the tilting axis K with respect to the floor surface. The length of the projections lOa, lOb typically amounts to at least 20 mm.

In accordance with the customary arrangement of a floor nozzle, the underside of the suction head 2 has brush strips 13a, 13b which are arranged in front of or behind the suction orifice 7 and which extend over the entire width of the suction head 2. The brush strips I 3a, I 3b are capable of being extended on the underside of the suction head 2, for which purpose a change-over switch 14 is provided on the top side of the suction head 2 immediately above the suction orifice 7. In addition, thread lifting strips 15 of slanted-bristle velour are provided both in front of and behind the suction orifice 7 in a manner known per se.

Whereas the long projection lOa is produced as a separate piece and is connected by a screw fastening to the base 3 or a casing of the suction head, the two shorter projections lOb arranged symmetrically are produced in an integral manner directly from the material of the casing. The integral production from the material of the base 3 also lies within the scope of the invention.

During use, the base 3 is supported in a sliding manner with respect to the floor surface to be cleaned, since no running rollers or the like are provided.

Claims

Claims 1. A floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners, with an intermediate member (1), to the front end of which a suction head (2) is attached so as to be movable in a tilting manner about a horizontal tilting axis (K), wherein the suction head (2) has a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal base area, wherein the base area is bounded by a front edge (4) and a rear edge (5), which extend substantially parallel to the tilting axis (K) in the transverse direction, and by lateral edges (6) which are short in comparison thereto and which join the front edge (4) and the rear edge (5) to each other, a suction orifice (7) on the underside of the suction head (2), at least one running roller (8) which is provided for supporting the floor nozzle and which is arranged at a rear end of the intermediate member (1), a suction-pipe attachment (9) which is attached to the rear end of the is intermediate member (1) so as to be pivotable about an articulation axis (G) parallel to the tilting axis (K), characterized in that on the rear edge (5) at least one projection (lOa, lOb) projects from the base area in the longitudinal direction, wherein the projection (lOa, lOb) is arranged in such a way that, when the floor nozzle is supported on a flat hard floor surface in a neutral position free from the action of external force the projection (1 Oa, lOb) is situated at a distance from the floor surface or rests on the floor surface.
2. A floor nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that when the suction head (2) lifts up on the front edge (4) the tilting movement is limited by a front stop position, wherein, when the floor nozzle rests on a flat hard floor surface, the underside of the projection (lOa, lOb) first comes to rest against the floor surface before the suction head (2) reaches the front stop position during a further curving.
3. A floor nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projection (lOa, lOb) is in the form of a tongue projecting to the rear from the base area.
4. A floor nozzle according to claim 3, characterized in that a sliding face (11) projects downwards at the rear end of the tongue directed away from the base area.
5. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the underside of the projection has sloping portions (12) on its edges.
6. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one projection (lOa, lOb) is arranged on the rear edge (5) of the base area at a distance from the lateral edges (6).
7. A floor nozzle according to claim 6, characterized in that the projection (lOa) is arranged in the middle of the rear edge (5).
8. A floor nozzle according to claim 7, characterized in that two lateral running rollers (8) are arranged on the rear end of the intermediate member (1), wherein the projection (lOa) is arranged between the running rollers (8).
9. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, with respect to the neutral position, the distance (x1) between the rear end -as seen in the longitudinal direction -of the at least one projection (lOa) and the articulation axis (G) is less than 20 mm in the horizontal direction.
10. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, with respect to the neutral position, the horizontal distance (x2) between the rear end of the at least one projection (10a, lOb) and the tilting axis (K) is at least twice as great as the height (h) of the tilting axis (K) with respect to the floor surface.
11. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the at least one projection (10, lOb) has a length of at least 20 mm starting from the rear edge (5).
12. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the suction orifice (7) is formed from a single suction slot extending substantially in the transverse direction.
13. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a brush strip (13a, 13b), a resilient lip or a crown of bristles is provided so as to be extensible on the suction head (2) on the underside thereof.
14. A floor nozzle according to claim 13, characterized in that the suction head (2) has on the top side thereof an actuating switch (14) for moving the at least one brush strip (1 3a, 1 3b) or the lip or the crown of bristles respectively in and out.
15. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the projection (1 Ob) is formed from the material of a casing of the suction head.
16. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the projection (1 Oa) is produced in the form of a separately manufactured part.
17. A floor nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the base (3) is designed in the form of a sliding base.
18. A floor nozzle for vacuum cleaners substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A vacuum cleaner provided with a floor nozzle as defined in any preceding claim.