JP2010131392A - Surface treating appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner protecting a releasable portion for removing a blockage in the vacuum cleaner from accidental release. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention relates to the surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner (1) having a fluid flow path extending between at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet wherein at least a part of the fluid flow path is housed within a releasable portion (16) of the surface treating appliance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a surface treatment appliance, for example, a vacuum cleaner. The present invention is particularly a surface treatment appliance having a fluid flow path extending between at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path is for surface treatment. The present invention relates to an electric appliance for surface treatment as accommodated in a releasable part of the electric appliance.

  Surface treatment appliances such as vacuum cleaners are well known. Most of the vacuum cleaners are either “upright” type or “cylinder” type. A typical vacuum cleaner is a major component of the vacuum cleaner, such as a fan motor that sucks dirty air into the cleaner and some form that separates dirt, dust and other debris from the dirty air stream sucked by the fan. The main body which accommodated the separation device.

  Vacuum cleaners are known that have at least one, and often multiple, alternative air flow paths between the air inlet and the air outlet. Such vacuum cleaners often have a valve for selecting one of these air flow paths to carry the air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet.

  The air flow path of the vacuum cleaner may become blocked during use. In prior art vacuum cleaners, it has proved somewhat cumbersome to gain access to portions of the air flow path where blockages can occur. Accordingly, the construction of these vacuum cleaners has been improved to facilitate maintenance and repair.

  This has been achieved by providing a releasable portion in the air flow path that can be relieved by the user of the vacuum cleaner if a blockage occurs in the air flow path. Release of the releasable portion provides the vacuum cleaner user with easy access to the air flow path, thereby quickly and easily removing the obstruction.

  In the known prior art, the releasable part is the rest of the vacuum cleaner by means of release means, e.g. elastic push buttons, which allow the unskilled user of the vacuum cleaner to perform basic maintenance and removal of the obstruction. Against the operating position. This reduces the amount of time required for the expertise required to maintain the vacuum cleaner and keeps the vacuum cleaner in operation for an extended period of time, thus increasing user satisfaction and maintenance and repair. This is advantageous because it reduces the amount of time required.

  However, it has been found that some of the prior art configurations, particularly those in which the release means are provided in the lower half of the vacuum cleaner, have drawbacks. The release means is generally located somewhere that looks very good and accessible. However, due to such location and visibility, the release means tends to be struck or kicked by accidental events, which can cause the releaseable part to fall off.

  The term “surface treatment appliance” is intended to have a broad meaning and includes a wide variety of machines with heads that run over the surface to clean or treat the surface in some way. Surface treatment appliances include, inter alia, machines that apply a suction force to the surface to suck objects from the surface, such as vacuum cleaners (dry, wet and wet / dry) and machines that apply objects to the surface, such as polishing / waxing machines , Including pressure washing machines, ground marking machines and carpets and other washing machines.

Therefore, the present invention is a surface treatment appliance,
A fluid flow path extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein a portion of the fluid flow path is housed within the releasable portion of the surface treatment appliance;
Having release means for releasing the releasable part,
There is provided an electric appliance for surface treatment characterized by having accidental release preventing means for preventing accidental release of the release means.

  This is advantageous because the accidental release prevention means may help to prevent the user from accidentally hitting or kicking the release means during normal use of the surface treatment vacuum cleaner.

  In a preferred embodiment, the surface treatment appliance is a vacuum cleaner.

  Preferably, the fluid channel is an air channel.

  In one embodiment, the release means may comprise a catch, such as a quick release catch or other suitable locking means, attachment means or snap fit means. The release means may consist of an interface activated by the user, for example a button.

  In a particular embodiment, the release means is integral with the releasable part, associated with the releasable part or provided with the first part provided on the releasable part, and integral with the rest of the surface treatment appliance. Yes, it may be associated with such a remainder or consist of a second cooperating part provided in such a remainder.

  In a preferred embodiment, the two parts engage each other to keep the releasable part in place on the rest of the surface treatment appliance during normal use. The two parts are detachable from each other to release the releasable part from the rest of the surface treatment appliance. In certain embodiments, this can be achieved by a user activating a user-actuated interface, for example by pressing it.

  In one embodiment, the accidental release prevention means may comprise one or more protrusions provided adjacent to the release means or adjacent to a part thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the accidental release prevention means may be provided adjacent to the user actuated interface. One or more protrusions may consist of one or more raised ribs, raised walls, raised points, raised hoods or any other suitable raised area.

  Preferably, the protrusion is 0.25 cm, 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, 3.5 cm to 4 cm, 4.5 cm, 5 cm, 5.5 cm from the user actuated interface, It is provided at 6 cm, 6.5 cm or 7 cm.

  The protrusions may enclose or form an enclosure around the user-actuated interface, for example, the protrusions may form all circles, squares, rectangles or other shapes around the user-actuated interface. It is good to be provided on the side. In certain embodiments, a single protrusion may surround the user-actuated interface.

  In alternative embodiments, several protrusions may be provided adjacent to the user-actuated interface. For example, one, two, three, four, five or more protrusions may be provided adjacent to the user-actuated interface.

  In certain embodiments, the protrusions may be provided on at least two sides of the user-actuated interface such that the user-actuated interface borders the protrusion. The protrusions preferably comprise a pair of elongated ribs that are arranged parallel to each other. These ribs can be arranged either vertically or horizontally. The ribs may have an outwardly facing horizontal surface, or the ribs may taper along at least a portion of their length. In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of one or both ribs may have one or more inclined portions that may be inclined toward the horizontal portion and the remainder of the surface cleaning appliance. In certain embodiments, one rib is inclined toward both ends, such rib having a horizontal portion between two inclined portions, the other rib having a horizontal surface at one end, and the other. The end portion is inclined toward the remainder of the surface treatment appliance.

  In a preferred embodiment, the protrusions are spaced wide enough to allow access to the user-actuated interface by the user's finger, but the user's foot accidentally activates the user-actuated interface. They are so close together that they cannot be Preferably, the protrusions are positioned with a spacing of 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, 3.5 cm to 4 cm, 4.5 cm, 5 cm, 5.5 cm, 6 cm, 6.5 cm or 7 cm. is doing.

  In certain embodiments, the at least one protrusion or the outer surface of the protrusion may protrude the same distance from the rest of the surface treatment appliance or farther than the user-actuated interface. As a variant, the at least one protrusion or the outer surface of the protrusion is over the same distance from the rest of the surface treatment appliance or, for example, when the user-actuated interface is pushed by the user, You may protrude to the place far from the distance which protrudes from the remainder of the electric appliance for surface treatment.

  The releasable part may be a simple and straight fluid flow path or may have a bend that changes the direction of fluid flow, the bend being housed within the releasable part. Additionally or alternatively, the releasable portion may have other components, for example if the surface treatment appliance has a plurality of alternative fluid flow paths, It is good to have further.

  In a preferred embodiment, the releasable portion may be configured to be releasable from the remainder of the surface treating appliance in a rearward direction away from the remainder of the surface treating appliance. However, the releasable part may be configured to be releasable from the remainder of the surface treating appliance in any suitable direction. The releasable portion is attached to the remainder of the surface treatment appliance in such a way that upon activation of the user-actuated interface, the releasable portion is released but remains associated with the remainder of the surface treatment appliance. Is good. For example, the releasable portion may remain hinged to the rest of the surface treatment appliance. In an alternative embodiment, the releasable portion may be completely releasable from the rest of the surface treatment appliance upon activation of the user-actuated interface.

  In certain embodiments, the first portion of the catch may comprise at least one protrusion. In an alternative embodiment, the second part of the catch may consist of at least one protrusion. Alternatively or additionally, at least one protrusion may be provided on the releasable part or the remainder of the surface treatment appliance.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the surface treatment appliance of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a rear perspective view of a prior art vacuum cleaner having a releasable portion. FIG. FIG. 1b is an enlarged view of the releasable part shown in FIG. 1a. It is a back side perspective view of a vacuum cleaner of a prior art, and is a figure showing a releasable part removed from the remainder of a vacuum cleaner. FIG. 2b is an enlarged view of the releasable portion shown in FIG. 2a. It is a back side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention which has a releasable part. FIG. 3b is an enlarged view of the releasable part shown in FIG. 3a. It is a back side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing a releasable part removed from the remainder of a vacuum cleaner. FIG. 4b is an enlarged view of the releasable portion shown in FIG. 4a. It is a back side perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing a connector provided between a releasable part and release means. FIG. 5b is an enlarged view of the releasable part shown in FIG. 5a. It is a back side perspective view of the deformation | transformation embodiment of this invention which has a releasable part. FIG. 6b is an enlarged view of the releasable portion shown in FIG. 6a.

  Referring to FIGS. 1a-2b, the structure of a prior art vacuum cleaner can be understood. The vacuum cleaner generally indicated by reference numeral 1 has a main body 2, a handle 3 operable by a user, and a cleaner head 4. The vacuum cleaner head 4 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the main body 2, and this vacuum cleaner head is useful for treating the floor surface in use. The lower side of the cleaner head 4 facing the floor has an air inlet slot 11.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 houses a fan motor (not visible in these figures) that generates a suction air flow. The main body 2 houses a separating device 6 that separates dirt, dust and other debris from the dirty air stream sucked into the cleaner 1 by a motor with a fan.

  In this prior art vacuum cleaner, the separating device 6 is of a cyclone type that removes dirt and dust from the air stream by high speed rotation. The cyclonic separation device 6 has two cyclone separation stages arranged in series with each other. The first stage is a chamber 7 with a cylindrical wall and the second stage is a set of tapered, substantially frustoconical chambers 8 arranged in parallel with each other. The air flow is directed tangentially by the duct 9 to the upper part of the chamber 7. Large debris and particles are removed and collected in this cyclone chamber 7. The air flow then reaches a set of cyclone chambers 8 through a shroud (not shown). Fine dust is separated by these chambers 8 and collected in a common collection area. The second set of separators 8 can be upright, i.e. their fluid inlets and outlets are located at the top and these dirt outlets are located at the bottom, or It may be upside down, i.e. these fluid inlets and outlets may be located at the bottom and these dirt outlets may be located at the top. The nature of the separation device 6 is not critical to the present invention.

  The body 2 further contains a filter (not visible in these figures) that traps fine particles in the cleaned air stream. These filters remove fine dust particles that were not already removed from the air stream by the separating device 6. A first filter (called a pre-motor filter) is provided in front of the fan motor. A second filter (referred to as a post-motor filter) is provided after the fan motor. If the motor that drives the suction fan has a carbon brush, the post-motor filter also helps to capture the carbon particles emitted by the brush. Next, clean air is released into the atmosphere.

  The vacuum cleaner has two different air passages 12, 13, which are used to clean the air in the air inlet slot 11 for use in cleaning the floor or in a place above the floor during wand 14 cleaning. From one of the ends. A switching valve 15 is provided to automatically change the two air passages 12, 13 in response to the movement of the vacuum cleaner 1 between an upright position and an inclined position as shown in FIG. 1a. It has been.

  As can be understood from FIG. 1, the air flow paths 12 and 13 have a bent portion. Whenever the vacuum cleaner has bends in the air passages 12, 13, the risk of blockage increases.

  In order to help the end user remove the blockage in the air passages 12, 13, the prior art vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with releasable parts 16, 160. In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the releasable part 16 is visible in its release configuration. By releasing or removing these releasable portions 16, 160, the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with easy access to the air flow paths 12, 13 so that the blockage can be removed quickly and easily. .

  It can be seen that the releasable portion 16 can be held in the operating position relative to the rest of the vacuum cleaner 1 by the quick release mechanism 17. The quick release mechanism 17 has a user-actuated interface, such as a button 18. The quick release mechanism 17 further includes a first part 19 provided on the releasable part 16 and a second cooperating part 20 provided on the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1. The two parts 19,20 engage each other to keep the releasable part 16 in place on the vacuum cleaner 1 during normal use, but the user presses the button 18 and the two parts 19,20 are It can be quickly disengaged by releasing the mutual engagement state by sliding.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1 a-1 b, the button 18 protrudes from a feature provided adjacent to it and is therefore prone to be struck or kicked by accidental events. This is especially true during normal use of the vacuum cleaner 1 because the button 18 is provided near the base of the cleaner 1. When the button 18 is kicked off, the releasable portion 16 may be released from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1 due to an accidental event.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to help solve this problem. As can be understood from FIGS. 3a to 5b, the vacuum cleaner 1 of the present invention shares many features with the vacuum cleaner described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 2b, and exhibits similar features. The same code is used for.

  3a to 5b, the vacuum cleaner 1 of the present invention further includes an accidental release prevention means 24 in the form of a pair of protruding ribs, one on each side of the button 18 operable by the user. I can understand that These ribs 24 help to prevent accidental activation of the user actuated button 18.

  The ribs 24 are elongated and preferably parallel to each other. The ribs are arranged vertically in these figures, but can be arranged horizontally or at any other suitable angle. The rib 24 has a horizontal surface 26 on the side opposite to these mounting surfaces. The outer surface of one or both ribs 24 may further include one or more inclined portions 30 that are inclined toward the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a to 5b, one of the ribs 24 has an intermediate portion inclined from the horizontal surface 26 toward both ends, and the other rib 24 is inclined from the horizontal surface 26 toward one end. is doing.

  In a preferred embodiment, the ribs 24 are spaced wide enough to allow access to the button 18 by the user's finger, but the user's foot or other unintended part of the body causes the button 18 to be They are so close together that they cannot be accidentally activated. Preferably, the ribs 24 are positioned at a spacing of 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, 3.5 cm to 4 cm, 4.5 cm, 5 cm, 5.5 cm, 6 cm, 6.5 cm or 7 cm. is doing.

  The outer surface of at least a portion of the rib 24 preferably protrudes the same distance from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1 or farther than the button 18. Alternatively, at least a portion of the ribs 24 may protrude the same distance from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1 or farther than the distance from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner 1, and thus the quick release mechanism 17 In operation, the button 18 must be pressed before the releasable part 16 can be released from the rest of the vacuum cleaner 1. If the user accidentally kicks the area where the button 18 is disposed while using the vacuum cleaner 1, the user's foot will hit the rib 24 and not hit the button 18.

  In FIGS. 3 a-5 b, it can be seen that the releasable part 16 can be held in the operating position relative to the rest of the vacuum cleaner 1 by the quick release mechanism 17. The quick release mechanism 17 includes a button 18, a first portion 19, and a second portion 20 that cooperates therewith. The two parts 19, 20 engage each other to keep the releasable part 16 in place on the vacuum cleaner 1 during normal use, but can be quickly disengaged by the user pressing the button 18 .

  In FIGS. 5a and 5b, it can be seen that the first portion 19 can be removably attached to a connector 32 provided on the releasable or removable portion 16 for ease of manufacture. The first part 19 can be releasably attached to the second cooperating part 20 by any means. In a preferred embodiment, to place the releasable part on the rest of the vacuum cleaner, the user slides the first part 19 onto the runner 34 (one visible in FIG. 4b) of the second part 20, Eventually, this portion is brought into a locked engagement state by snap fitting.

  To release the releasable portion 16, the user may press a button 18 that is configured to release the mechanism that secures the first portion 19 within the second portion 20. The first part 19 can then be slid to release the engagement with the second part 20, so that the releasable part is free and can be checked for the presence of a blockage.

  6a and 6b show an alternative embodiment in which a rib 24 'is provided on each side of the user actuated button 18' to protect the releasable portion 160 from accidental release.

  Appropriate modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner 2 Main body 3 Handle 4 Vacuum cleaner head 6 Separation device 7 Collection chamber 8 Cyclone chamber 14 Wand 16,160 Releasable part 17 Quick release mechanism 18 Button 12, 13 Air flow path 24 Accidental release prevention means 26 Horizontal plane

Claims (12)

  A surface treatment appliance having a fluid flow path extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein a portion of the fluid flow path is housed within a releasable portion of the surface treatment appliance. In the surface treatment appliance, the surface treatment appliance further includes release means for releasing the releasable part, and accidental release prevention means for preventing accidental release of the release means. Surface treatment appliance.   The surface treatment appliance according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path is an air flow path.   The surface treatment appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release means includes a catch.   The surface treatment appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the release means includes a user-actuated interface.   The surface treatment electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the accidental release prevention means is a protrusion disposed adjacent to the release means.   The surface treatment appliance according to claim 4, wherein the accidental release prevention means is a protrusion provided adjacent to the user-actuated interface.   The surface treating appliance of claim 6, wherein the at least one protrusion protrudes from the remainder of the surface treating appliance over the same distance or farther than the user actuated interface.   7. The surface treating appliance of claim 6, wherein the at least one protrusion protrudes from the remainder of the surface treating appliance over the same distance or farther than the user-actuated interface in the activated position. .   9. A surface treating appliance as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein two protrusions are arranged such that the user-actuated interface is located between the protrusions.   The protrusions are spaced wide enough to allow access of the user-actuated interface by a user's finger, but the user's foot may accidentally actuate the user-actuated interface. 10. A surface treating appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the appliances are arranged so closely together that they cannot.   The said fluid flow path has a bending part, The said bending part is an electric appliance for surface treatment as described in any one of Claims 1-10 accommodated in the said releasable part.   The surface treatment appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the fluid flow path includes a plurality of alternative fluid flow paths.

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