IT201900016295A1 - TOWING AND CHARGING ACCESSORY FOR A VACUUM CLEANER DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention having as title:

"TOWING AND CHARGING ACCESSORY FOR A VACUUM CLEANER"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

Embodiments described herein refer to a towing and charging accessory for a wireless type vacuum cleaner device, known in the field as a "2 in 1" vacuum cleaner device and normally comprising an autonomous suction unit, usable per se, and a stick, or tube, of suction connectable to it.

The towing and charging accessory is in particular suitable for cooperating with the suction unit, in such a way as to increase the time of use of the suction unit itself, while reducing user fatigue.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

For cleaning domestic environments, wireless vacuum cleaners are increasingly common, i.e. with rechargeable battery, which include a suction unit equipped with a handle, by means of which it can be supported and maneuvered by a user, and a suction pipe, or stick, which can be connected between the suction unit and a suction head, or other suitable accessory to be placed in contact with, or in proximity to, the surfaces to be cleaned.

These vacuum cleaner devices are known in the sector as "2-in-1 suction devices", as they can be used with and without a suction hose, allowing great versatility and greater manageability when using the suction unit alone, or as a traditional electric broom in combination with the suction hose.

It is known that such vacuum cleaner devices are generally characterized by high performance, but reduced use times, and significant recharging times, given by the intrinsic limit of the batteries available.

These vacuum cleaner devices also have significant weights to be supported during use by the user, due to the overall weight of the motor unit and the power supply batteries, which weigh completely on the hand and arm in the case of use without the suction hose. .

Vacuum cleaners of the "tow" type are also known, normally connected, in use, to a power supply network, which, however, while providing substantially unlimited duration of use even at high powers, are not very versatile and inconvenient to use, in particular on stairs or surfaces raised above the floor.

A housing is also known for a tow-type vacuum cleaner device comprising a battery pack, allowing use both in wireless mode and in wired mode. This housing, however, is a classic type towing unit, and contains both the motor part and the impeller integrated within it, which therefore cannot be used independently.

There is therefore a need to improve a towing and charging accessory for a vacuum cleaner device which can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the known art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a towing and charging accessory which allows to increase the times of use of the vacuum cleaner device, even in the case of operation at maximum power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towing and loading accessory that allows the weight of the suction unit to be unloaded by the user, and therefore reduces the possible fatigue of the same during the carrying out of the cleaning activities.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a towing and loading accessory which is simple to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a towing and charging accessory which is simple and safe to use by a user, without risks for his safety in terms of voltage and electric current.

A further object of the present invention is to increase the versatility and the functions of a device of the "2 in 1" type of the known art, eliminating its current drawbacks.

In order to obviate the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

EXPOSURE OF THE FOUND

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other features of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

In accordance with the aforementioned purposes, a towing and loading accessory according to the invention can be used in cooperation with a suction unit of a suction device of the "2 in 1" type.

Such "2 in 1" type vacuum cleaner devices generally comprise a suction unit that can be gripped by a user and can be used independently, possibly connected to appropriate accessories, and a suction hose, which can be connected at one end to the suction unit, and at the opposite end to a suction head suitable to be placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, allowing it to be used as a traditional electric broom.

The suction unit includes all the electrical and mechanical components necessary for operation, including a dust and / or dirt collection container connected to a suction duct, a motor unit, or motorized head, suitable for generating and sucking a air and dirt flow from the outside through the suction duct, and convey it towards the collection container, at least one battery pack to power the motor component, and a handle unit through which the user can grab and maneuver the suction unit.

In particular, the towing and charging accessory according to the invention makes it possible to increase the versatility of the "2 in 1" type vacuum cleaner device, substantially transforming it into a "3 in 1" type which can be used in three different configurations. A first configuration involves the use of the suction unit itself, a second configuration involves the use of the suction unit in combination with the stick, or suction tube in broom mode, and a third configuration involves the use of the suction unit in combination with the towing and charging accessory, obtaining a traditional trailed vacuum cleaner.

The towing and loading accessory according to the invention comprises a containment body provided with at least one housing seat suitable for receiving and stably housing the suction unit, and handling means, associated with the containment body, and suitable for allow handling on a support surface.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the towing and charging accessory also comprises power supply means suitable for supplying electrical power to the suction unit.

According to embodiments, the towing and charging accessory includes electrical connection elements connected on one side to the power supply devices and connectable on the other to electrical contacts provided on the suction unit.

According to embodiments, the seat and the connection elements are configured to achieve a shape coupling and an electrical coupling with the suction unit inserted in and connected to them.

According to embodiments, the connection elements are configured to cooperate directly with the battery pack of the suction unit.

According to embodiments, the power supply devices include at least one rechargeable battery pack, so the towing and charging accessory can be used in "wireless" mode, essentially acting as a charge accumulator, or "power bank".

This solution allows both to relieve the user of the weight of the suction unit, and to significantly increase the duration of use of the same, while maintaining its ease of handling.

According to a variant of the solution, the power supply devices include at least one cable for connection to an electrical network, and possibly a transformer to transform the alternating current supplied by the power supply network into direct current to be supplied to the suction unit.

According to embodiments, the power supply devices can include both a battery pack and a connection cable to the electrical network, and any transformers suitable for supplying electricity with current and voltage suitable for the suction unit.

The towing device according to the invention, therefore, can function as a charge accumulator, or as an element for supplying energy from the electrical network, as well as as a mobile support for the suction unit.

Embodiments described here also refer to a method of using a towing and loading accessory according to the invention, which provides for positioning and fixing an autonomous suction unit comprising a collection container, a motor unit and a handle unit in the housing seat, by coupling and electrically connecting circuits and electrical connectors of the suction unit to electrical connection elements provided on the towing and charging device, and powering the autonomous suction unit by means of power supply devices provided in the containment body and electrically connected to the connecting elements.

The method according to the invention also provides for connecting any pipes, flexible ducts or other to a suction duct of the suction unit and moving the containment body by means of the handling means to perform the cleaning operations.

According to embodiments, the method provides for controlling the operation of the combination of towing and charging accessory and suction unit by means of an auxiliary user interface connected to a pipe or duct connected to said suction unit and, in which the user interface auxiliary is configured to communicate with a user interface of the suction unit.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

- fig. 1 is a side view of a towing and loading accessory according to embodiments described here;

- fig. 2 is an axonometric view from the rear of the towing and loading accessory of fig. 1;

- fig. 3 is a front view of the towing and loading accessory of fig. 1; - fig. 4 is an exploded view of a towing and loading accessory according to embodiments described here;

- fig. 5 is an axonometric view of a towing and loading accessory in combination with a suction unit;

- fig. 6 is a side view from the opposite side of fig. 5;

- fig. 7 is a sectional view of a towing and charging accessory and a suction unit in unassembled condition;

- fig. 8 is a sectional view of a towing and charging accessory and a suction unit in assembled condition;

- fig. 9 is a perspective view of different configurations of use of a vacuum cleaner device according to the embodiments described here; - figs. 10 and 11 are schematic sectional views of a towing and loading accessory according to other embodiments.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numbers have been used wherever possible to identify identical common elements in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are illustrated in the attached figures. Each example is provided by way of illustration of the invention and is not intended as a limitation thereof. For example, one or more features illustrated or described, as forming part of an embodiment, may be varied or adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce further embodiments. It is understood that the present invention will include such possible modifications and variations.

Embodiments described using the attached figures refer to a towing and charging accessory indicated as a whole with the reference number 10, which can be used in cooperation with an autonomous suction unit 12 of a vacuum cleaner device 11 of the type known as "2 in 1 "(Fig. 9).

The vacuum cleaner device 11 comprises, in addition to the suction unit 12, a suction pipe or stick 13, which can be connected at one end to a suction duct 14 of the suction unit 12, and at the opposite end to a suction head. suction 15 suitable to be placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned, allowing use as a traditional electric broom, thus presenting two configurations of use.

According to embodiments, the autonomous suction unit 12 comprises the electrical and mechanical components for its operation, including a container 16 for collecting dust and / or dirt connected to the suction duct 14, a motor unit 17, or head motorized, configured to generate and suck a flow of air and dirt from the outside through the suction duct 14, and convey it towards the collection container 16, and a handle 18 by means of which the user can grasp and maneuver the suction unit 12.

The motor unit 17 may include a motor 51 and an impeller 52 connected to the shaft of the motor 51 and rotated by the latter to generate the air flow.

In the collection container 16 there can be provided a filtration unit 53 configured to filter the flow of air and sucked dirt, favoring the sedimentation of dirt in the collection container 16 and cleaning the air flow before returning it to the outside.

A command interface can be provided on the handle 18, including keys or buttons, possibly also of the "touch" type, through which the user can control the operation of the vacuum cleaner device 11.

The suction unit 12 is also equipped with electrical power supply devices, comprising at least one rechargeable battery pack 19, and configured to power at least the motor unit 17.

The towing and loading accessory 10 according to the invention allows, in particular, to increase the versatility of the vacuum cleaner device 11 of the "2 in 1" type, substantially transforming it into a "3 in 1" type, therefore having three different configurations. use, for example illustrated in fig. 9.

According to embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 comprises a containment body 20 provided with at least one housing seat 2 1 suitable for receiving and stably housing the suction unit 12.

According to embodiments, the housing seat 21 is open upwards and is configured to receive the suction unit 12 in the vertical direction.

The containment body 20 is associated with movement means 22 suitable for allowing movement thereof on a supporting surface. The handling means 22 can comprise a plurality of wheels 23, 24. By way of example, the figures show a pair of wheels 23 arranged on opposite sides of the containment body 20 in proximity to a part thereof located, in use, at the rear, and a small wheel 24 placed in correspondence of a front part.

The handling means 22 can be of the idle type, i.e. without electric and / or mechanical drive, and can be moved by means of a traction or thrust force exerted directly or indirectly by a user on the containment body 20.

According to embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 also comprises power supply means 25 suitable for supplying electrical power to the autonomous suction unit 12.

According to embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 further comprises electrical connection elements 26 connected on one side to the electrical power supply devices 25, and connectable on the other to electrical circuits 27 provided on the suction unit 12, to allow the passage of electrical energy from the towing and charging accessory 10 to the motor unit 17.

According to embodiments, the connection elements 26 can be configured to connect to the same electrical connectors 28 on which, in use, the battery pack 19 of the suction unit 12 is connected. In this case, the battery pack can be removed. 19 from the suction unit 12 before inserting it into the housing 21.

According to possible embodiments, the electrical connection elements 26 can be configured to cooperate directly with the battery pack 19 associated with the suction unit 12.

For example, it may be provided that the electrical connection elements 26 can transfer by induction, or through dedicated electrical connection cables, electricity directly to the battery pack 19 installed on the suction unit 12 and connected to the circuits 27.

According to embodiments, the housing seat 21 is shaped in such a way as to achieve a shape coupling with the suction unit 12.

According to embodiments, the housing seat 21 may comprise a first housing portion 29 configured to house the collection container 16, and a second housing portion 30 configured to house the handle assembly 18. The respective first 29 and second portion of housing 30 are delimited at the bottom by respective bottom walls, configured to contact, in use, respective bottom surfaces of the collection container 16 and of the handle assembly 18, and laterally by side walls.

The first 29 and the second housing portion 30 can be separated from each other by a separation wall 3 1.

According to embodiments, the electrical connection elements 26 can be provided on the separation wall 31 on the rear side facing, in use, towards the handle 18, i.e. in correspondence with the area in which the battery pack 19 on the unit is normally connected suction 12.

According to embodiments, the rear side of the separation wall 3 1 has a profile conjugated to an internal side of the handle unit 18, in order to obtain a shape coupling that allows the suction unit 12 to be kept stable during motion. According to embodiments, on the separation wall 31 can be provided first coupling members 32 configured to couple with mating second coupling members 33 provided on the suction unit 12.

By way of example, the first coupling members 32 can comprise a tongue, or a protruding tooth, and the second coupling members 33 can comprise a cavity, or a recess, having a shape complementary to the tongue, or protruding tooth.

According to further embodiments, the containment body 20 further comprises a cavity 34 which extends into the upper edge, in correspondence with the first housing portion 29, configured to support and house the suction duct 14.

According to embodiments in use, the end of the suction duct 14 is positioned outside the containment body 20, so as to facilitate the connection of a flexible tubular element 49, or possibly rigid.

According to embodiments, the containment body 20 is at least partially hollow and comprises inside it a containment compartment 35 configured to house at least part of the power supply devices 25.

According to possible embodiments, for example illustrated with reference to fig. 4, the containment body 20 comprises two half-shells coupled together to define the containment compartment 35.

In particular, a lower half-shell 36 can be provided, to which the handling means 22 can be connected, and an upper half-shell 37, positioned, in use, above the lower half-shell 36, which is shaped in such a way as to define the housing 2 1 for the suction unit 12.

According to embodiments, the upper half-shell 37 comprises in the front part a gripping portion, or a handle 44, configured to be gripped by a user.

The two half-shells 36, 37, in use, are assembled and connected to each other, in a stable way, possibly with removable fixing elements, to allow access to the containment compartment 35 and to allow the replacement and / or maintenance of the power supply devices 25.

According to embodiments, for example described with reference to figs. 4, 7, 8, the power supply devices 25 comprise at least one module, or battery pack, 38 of the rechargeable type, so that the towing and charging accessory 10 can be used in "wireless" mode, substantially acting as an accumulator of charge, or “power bank”.

According to embodiments, more battery modules 38 can be provided. By way of example, three battery modules 38 are shown in the figures, but the number can also be smaller, for example two, or much greater, for example eight, ten, twenty, or more, depending on their energy density.

According to embodiments, the battery modules 38 can have electrical voltages ranging from about 15V to about 36V, for example 18V, 21.6V, 25, 2V, as commercially available, or other, and electrical currents from 1300 to 4000mAh.

According to embodiments, the battery modules 38 are connected in parallel.

Thanks to three battery modules 38 of the type indicated above, for example, it is possible to increase the use times of the vacuum cleaner device 1 at maximum power from 10min of the known solutions up to about 40-50min, and those at average power from about 20- 30min to about 150min.

The presence of rechargeable battery modules 38 allows to maintain the comfort and practicality of use of the vacuum cleaner device 11, without the need to be tied to cables, but at the same time reducing the fatigue of the user, who no longer has to carry the device by hand. 12 'suction unit, and greatly increasing the overall duration of use.

According to these embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 comprises a control and command unit 40 configured to manage and regulate the operation of the battery modules 38, in such a way as to optimize their consumption and charging times.

According to embodiments, the control and command unit 40 is configured to manage the battery modules 38 in parallel in order to fully exploit each individual battery module 38, making each perform a complete discharge cycle. For example, the control and command unit 40 can monitor the state of charge of the battery module 38 in use and, when it detects that it is ending, that is, it is close to zero, it can command the switching of a switch to power the connection 26 with another battery module 38.

According to the embodiments which provide for the use of battery modules 38, a connection socket 39 can be provided on the containment body 20 by means of which it is possible to connect the towing and charging accessory 10 to an electrical network, so as to recharge battery modules 38.

According to embodiments, the power supply devices 25 are solely of the wireless type, comprising only one or more battery modules 38 of the rechargeable type.

According to embodiments, the control and command unit 40 is configured to manage the recharging of the battery modules 38, and identify the charging priorities of the cells to obtain a substantially complete recharge of each of them.

According to further embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 may further comprise an ignition control 41, which can be selectively operated by a user to allow the activation of the control and command unit 40 and / or the power supply of electric energy supplied by the power supply devices 25 to the connecting elements 26.

According to a variant embodiment, described for example with reference to fig. 10, the power supply devices 25 comprise at least one cable 42 provided with a connector 43 connectable to an electrical network, and configured to supply electrical energy to the connection elements 26.

According to these embodiments, the towing and charging accessory 10 can act as an energy supply element from the electrical network, allowing the use of the vacuum cleaner device 11 substantially as a traditional type vacuum cleaner.

According to embodiments, a transformer 50 configured to transform the alternating current supplied by the power supply network into direct current to be supplied to the suction unit 12 can also be provided.

According to further embodiments, for example described with reference to fig. 11, the power supply devices 25 can comprise both at least one battery module 38, and a cable 42 for connection to the electrical network, and possibly one or more transformers 50.

According to this variant, it can be provided that the control and command unit 40, depending on the state of charge of the battery modules 38 and / or the possible connection to the electrical network, supplies energy to the connection elements 26 from one or from the other in order to optimize consumption.

According to possible embodiments, in the event that one or more battery modules 38 are not fully charged, it can be envisaged that the energy of the electrical network is used partly to power the connection elements 26 and partly to recharge the battery modules 38.

According to further embodiments, combinable with the previous ones, and for example described with reference to figs. 5-8, the towing and charging accessory 10 may include support elements and electrical connections 45 configured to support a battery pack 19 of the autonomous suction unit 12 and power it with the electricity supplied by the power supply devices 25.

According to embodiments, it may be provided that the battery pack 19 can be recharged during use, or during the recharging phase of the battery modules 38 provided in the containment compartment 35.

According to embodiments, the support and electrical connection elements 45 can comprise coupling members 47 configured to couple to mating coupling members 46 provided on the battery pack 19, so as to ensure a certain coupling between the two components.

Embodiments described here also refer to a vacuum cleaner device 11 given by the combination of a towing and recharging accessory 10 and an autonomous suction unit 12.

According to embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device 11 further comprises at least one flexible tube 49 which can be removably connected to the suction duct 14, and suitable for being connected, for example, to the suction stick 13 or directly to a suction head 15 or other. cleaning accessory.

According to embodiments, the vacuum cleaner device 11 also comprises an auxiliary control interface 48 connectable to the flexible duct 49, through which the user can control the operation of the vacuum cleaner device 11.

The auxiliary control interface 48 can be connected between the flexible tube 49 and the suction stick 13, and be shaped in such a way as to be ergonomic and allow easy grip by the user. The control interface 48 can comprise a plurality of keys or buttons arranged in such a position that the user can operate them with the same hand with which he grasps the tube 49 or the stick 13, ensuring high ergonomics of use.

The auxiliary command interface 48 can be configured to communicate wirelessly with a control unit of the suction unit 12 so as to regulate the operation of the vacuum cleaner device 11.

Embodiments described here refer to a method of using the aforementioned towing and charging accessory 10. The method provides for positioning and fixing the autonomous suction unit 12 of the vacuum cleaner device 11, comprising the motor unit 17, the collection container 16 and the handle 18, in the housing seat 21, electrically coupling and connecting electrical circuits and connectors 27, 28 of the suction unit 12 to the electrical connection elements 26, and supplying the autonomous suction unit 12 by means of power supply devices 19 provided in the containment body 21 and connected to the electrical connection elements 26.

According to embodiments, the method also provides for connecting a possible flexible tube 49 to the suction duct 14 of the suction unit 12 and moving the containment body 20 by means of the handling means 22 to perform the cleaning operations.

According to further embodiments, the method provides for connecting an auxiliary user interface 48 to the flexible tube 49 and controlling the operation of the suction unit 12 by means of commands provided on it.

According to embodiments, the method can provide for removing the suction unit 12 from the containment body 20 at the end of the cleaning operations, and possibly emptying the collection container 16.

It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the towing and charging accessory 10 and to the method of using a towing and charging accessory described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. .

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will undoubtedly be able to realize many other equivalent forms of towing and charging accessory 10 and method of using a towing accessory and filler, having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection defined by them.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Towing and charging accessory for an autonomous suction unit (12) of a vacuum cleaner device (11) comprising a motor unit (17), a collection container (16) and a handle (18), characterized by the fact that the towing and loading accessory comprises a containment body (20) provided with at least one housing seat (21) suitable for receiving and stably housing the suction unit (12), associated handling means (22) to the containment body (20), electrical power supply devices (25), and electrical connection elements (26), connected to said power supply devices (19), arranged on said containment body (20), and configured for coupling with conjugate connection elements (28) provided in said suction unit (12) and supplying the latter with the energy supplied by said power supply devices (25). 2. Towing and charging accessory as in claim 1, characterized in that said feeding devices (25). comprise at least one battery pack or module (38). 3. Towing and charging accessory as in claim 2, characterized in that said feeding devices (25). comprise a plurality of battery modules (38) connected in parallel to each other and said towing and charging accessory comprises a control and command unit (40) configured to manage the parallel operation of said battery modules (38) to make perform a complete discharge and / or charge cycle for them. 4. Towing and charging accessory as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said power supply devices (25) comprise at least one cable (42) provided with a connector (43) which can be connected to an electrical network. 5. Towing and loading accessory as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing seat (21) comprises a first housing portion (29) configured to house the collection container (16) and a second housing portion (16) housing (30) configured to house the handle assembly (18), separated from each other by a separation wall (31) and said connection elements (26) are provided on said separation wall (31) on the rear facing side, in use, towards the handle (18). 6. Towing and charging accessory as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in proximity to said electrical connection elements (26) first coupling members (32) are provided, configured to couple with mating second coupling members (33). ) provided on the suction unit (12) to achieve a shape coupling. 7. Towing and charging accessory as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises support and electrical connection elements (45) arranged on said containment body (20) and configured to support a battery pack (19) of the autonomous suction unit (12) and feed it with the electrical energy supplied by said power supply devices (25). 8. Vacuum cleaner device characterized in that it comprises a towing and charging accessory (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, and an autonomous suction unit (12) inserted in said housing seat (21) and connected to respective elements connectors (28) to said connection elements (26). 9. Vacuum cleaner device as in claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a flexible tube (47) connected to said suction duct (14), a suction stick (13) connected to a suction head (15) and an interface auxiliary control (48) provided with control members connected between said flexible tube (47) and said suction stick (13). 10. Method of using a towing and charging accessory as in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it provides for positioning and fixing an autonomous suction unit (12) of a vacuum cleaner device (11), comprising a motor unit (17), a collection container (16) and a handle (18), in the housing seat (21), and to electrically connect electrical circuits and connectors (27, 28) of said suction unit (12 ) to said electrical connection elements (26) provided on said containment body (20), and feed said autonomous suction unit (12) by means of power supply devices (19) provided in the containment body (21) and electrically connected to the elements electrical connection (26). 11. Method as in claim 10, characterized in that it provides for connecting a possible flexible pipe (47) to the suction duct (14) of said suction unit (12) and moving the containment body (20) by means of handling (22) to perform cleaning operations. 12. Method as in claim 11, characterized in that it provides to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner device (11) given by the combination of the towing and charging accessory (10) and the suction unit (12) by means of a user interface (48) auxiliary connected to a pipe (49) or duct connected to said suction unit (12). Method as in any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said power supply devices (25) comprise one or more battery modules (38) of the rechargeable type and said method provides for managing the parallel operation of said modules battery (38) to make them complete a complete discharge and / or charge cycle,