GB2573736A

GB2573736A - Vacuum cleaner brush assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2573736A
Application number: GB1804406.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Desmarowitz Simin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-20
Filing date: 2018-03-20
Publication date: 2019-11-20
Also published as: GB201804406D0

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner brush assembly comprises a tubular member 1 attached or attachable to a source of vacuum suction and at least one brush 4 arranged on the tubular member 1 which is adapted to be moveable from a first position wherein the brush(es) 4 are deployed in a sucking relationship with the sucking end of the tubular member to a retracted non-sucking second position (fig 1). The at least one brush 4 may be in the form of wings (3, fig 6) that are foldable between a first position in which they are perpendicular to the tubular member 1 and a second position in which that are arranged parallel to the tubular member 1. Alternatively the brush 4 is arranged on a sleeve 2 which is slidable along the tubular member 1 between the first and second positions. The brush is preferably rotatable.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER BRUSH ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a brush assembly suitable for use with a source of vacuum suction such as a vacuum cleaner.

The use of vacuum cleaners is now ubiquitous in the home and amongst cleaning professionals to remove dust, dirt and other detritus from hard and soft surfaces in almost every conceivable location. Such devices, at their broadest scope, typically comprise a source of vacuum suction created by a vacuum pump which is either battery-powered or connected to the mains by a cable; a container for trapping material sucked up and an assembly for concentrating the suction force in the area to be cleaned. In one well-known embodiment, this assembly comprises (1) an elongate tubular member which may be a rigid pipe or flexible hose and (2) a selection of hollow brushes which may be attached to and detached from the sucking end of the tubular member according to the nature of the cleaning duty to be performed. In some embodiments, these brushes are fixed and disposed on or within an element which may be rotated by beltdriven power from the suction pump motor to provide a sweeping motion synchronous with the suction.

One problem with the design of assembly described above is that it is annoying to change the brushes as to do so disrupts the user's flow of work. Another problem is that the various brushes have to be carried about during the job thereby making them prone to loss or misplacement. Yet another problem relates to the difficulties disabled and infirm individuals encounter when changing brush and nozzle accessories, including the cumbersome nature of having to bend up and down and the awkward movement of pulling, pushing and twisting accessory heads to either attach them or detach them from the tubing.

A new assembly design is now provided which allows changing of the configuration of the brushes with one or a few simple movements and does not require the removal of any parts during the cleaning work-flow. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner brush assembly for concentrating a sucking force in an area to be cleaned comprising an tubular member attached or attachable to a source of vacuum suction characterised in that the assembly further comprises at least one brush arranged on the tubular member which is adapted to be moveable from a first position wherein the brush(es) are deployed in a sucking relationship with the sucking end of the tubular member to a retracted nonsucking second position.

The tubular member employed in the assembly is suitably either an elongate rigid pipe or flexible hose. In one embodiment, it is adapted at the end remote from the brush(es) to be connected to a corresponding, co-operating feature on the body of a vacuum cleaner or the like; for example at a point adjacent to the inlet of a container for collecting sucked-up material. This connection may be a chamfer which close-fits within a tube or the inlet of the container; thereby being held in place by friction forces or the natural resilience of one or both of the two tubes. Additionally or alternatively, this connection may include a latching means; for example an actuatable button/hole pairing on the two parts.

Disposed at the other sucking end of the tubular member is one or more brushes which are used to provide a brushing action in the presence of a sucking force. They are adapted to be moveable between first and second positions, where they are respectively deployed and retracted, without the need to be physically separated from the tubular member. In one embodiment, the brush(es) are hollow. In another, they are moveable from a first position, where deployment is in a plane perpendicular to the major axis of the tubular member, to a second retracted position wherein they are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to this major axis. In this embodiment, the act of moving the brush(es) from the first to the second position disconnects them from the sucking force passing through the tubular member. In one embodiment, where in the first position the brush(es) are in a sucking relationship with the sucking end, the brush(es) are arranged to provide suction cleaning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major axis. In another embodiment, the brush(es) are arranged to provide suction cleaning in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis. In another embodiment, where a plurality of brushes are deployed, they are arranged symmetrically and radially around the major axis of the tubular member.

In yet another embodiment, the brush(es) are adapted to be rotatable in a sweeping motion about the major axis when the assembly is in the first position and connected to the remaining body of the vacuum cleaner. Optionally this sweeping motion may be powered by the vacuum cleaner's power source; for example by means of one or more intermediate drive belts.

Any means for moving the brush(es) between the first and second positions may be employed. For example, the brush(es) may be integral with one or more wings which are foldable or slideable between the first and second positions. In one convenient embodiment, the brush(es) are arranged on an exterior sleeve which is slideable along the elongate member between the first and second positions and optionally a plurality of intermediate positions.

In one preferred embodiment, when the brush(es) are arranged in the second position, at least one secondary brush located on the end or rim of the elongate member is revealed. By this means, the user can easily vary the size of the brushed suction-cleaning area to suit the characteristics of the cleaning duty to be performed. Suitably, the end of the tubular member bearing the secondary brush is chamfered. In yet another embodiment, the secondary brush may be attached to a telescopic sleeve slidable between extended and retracted positions within or on the tubular member.

Any or all of the first, second, extended or retracted positions may further include a latching means; for example the hole/button arrangement described above or an equivalent.

The assembly of the invention is a useful component of a vacuum cleaner further comprising a source of suction power and a container for recovering sucked-up material. In one embodiment, the sucking power is provided by a battery- or mains-powered suction pump and associated electric motor.

The invention is now illustrated by the following Examples in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an assembly according to the invention deployed in the second position.

Figure 2 illustrates the same assembly deployed in the first position.

Figure 3 illustrates an end-on view of the same assembly in the first position.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative assembly with different brush configurations deployed in the first position.

Figure 5 illustrates the alternative assembly deployed in the second position.

Figure 6 illustrates a third assembly according to the invention deployed in the first position.

With reference to the Figures generally, 1 is an elongate pipe made of aluminium or high impact plastic which may be rigid, or optionally rendered flexible or part-flexible by inclusion of a hose which may be longitudinally expanded or contracted as required by the user. In some embodiments, 1 may have a connector 7 at one end and a resilient or biased latching button 6 to attach it to the body of a vacuum cleaner. Riding on 1 is hollow sleeve 2 bearing wing members 3 to which are attached bristled cleaning brushes 4. In the first position, 4 are located adjacent to central brush 5 disposed around the rim of the sucking end of 1. To achieve the second position, 2 is slid up 1 so that 4 are no longer in a sucking relationship with the end of 1. Sliding 2 back down 1 restores the original configuration. 1 may be further provided with latching buttons (not shown) to fix 2 at the first and second positions on 1.

In Figure 6, the brushes 4 are hollow and in a sucking relationship with the sucking end of 1.

In the first position they are disposed perpendicular to 1 on housing 2. They may be moved into the second position by sliding as described above or alternatively hinged about 2 so that the wings 3 are foldable upwards into a configuration where 4 are disposed parallel to the axis of 1 in 5 a non-sucking relationship.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly for concentrating a sucking force in an area to be cleaned comprising an tubular member attached or attachable to a source of vacuum suction characterised in that the assembly further comprises at least one brush arranged on the tubular member which is adapted to be moveable from a first position wherein the brush(es) are deployed in a sucking relationship with the sucking end of the tubular member to a retracted non-sucking second position.

2. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the brush(es) are adapted to be movable from a first position where they are deployed in a plane perpendicular to the major axis of the tubular member to a second position where they are deployed in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis.

3. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the brush(es) are arranged to provide suction-cleaning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major axis.

4. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the brush(es) are arranged to provide suction-cleaning in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis.

5. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that in the first position a plurality of brush(es) are deployed in radial and/or symmetric positions about the major axis.

6. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the brush(es) are arranged on wing(s) foldable between the first and second positions.

7. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the brush(es) are arranged on a sleeve which is slideable along the tubular member between the first and second positions.

8. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that in the first position the brush(es) are rotatable in a sweeping motion about the major axis.

9. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that when the brush(es)are arranged in the second position at least one secondary brush located on the sucking end of the tubular member is revealed.

10. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that the end of the tubular member bearing the secondary brush is chamfered.

11. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 characterised in that the secondary brush is attached to a telescopic sleeve slideable between extended or

5 retracted positions within or on of the tubular member.

12. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised by further comprising at least one latching means for locking the brushes or sleeve in either or both of the first and/or second positions and/or the telescopic sleeve in either or both of its extended and retracted positions.

10

13. A vacuum cleaner brush assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the tubular member is comprised of an elongate rigid pipe and/or a flexible hose.

14. A vacuum cleaner characterised by comprising a source of vacuum suction, a container for recovering sucked-up material and a vacuum cleaning brush assembly as claimed in

15. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the at source of vacuum suction is a battery-or mains-powered vacuum suction pump.

15 any of claims 1 to 13.