JP2021531897A - Battery-powered vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery-powered vacuum cleaner (10), particularly having a plurality of operating modes. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner has a body (12) with a battery (14), a motor (16), an impeller (18), and a dirt collection chamber (20). The body has a bottom wall with an opening (34) through which air can pass. The rotatable brush (36) is attached adjacent to the opening (34). The body has a first side (44) and a second side (46), and the opening spans most of the body between the first side and the second side. A battery (14) is arranged on the first side (44), a motor (16) is arranged on the second side (46), and a dirt collection chamber (20) is provided between the battery and the motor.

Description

(Field of invention)
The present invention relates to a battery-powered vacuum cleaner, particularly to a vacuum cleaner having a plurality of operation modes.

In the following description, directional and oriented terms such as "top" and "bottom" are used on a substantially horizontal surface, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Refers to an oriented vacuum cleaner. Nevertheless, it is a special advantage of the present invention that the vacuum cleaner of the present invention can be used for other orientations as well.

(Background of invention)
The vacuum cleaner has a motor that drives the impeller to create an air flow. Air usually enters the vacuum cleaner through an opening or nozzle, and the opening or nozzle is placed on or adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. Air carries dirt and debris into the vacuum cleaner and carries dirt and debris through one or more airflow ducts. Dirt and debris are transported to the dirt collection room through ducts (s). The air then passes through one or more filters before leaving the vacuum cleaner, which traps dirt and debris in the dirt collection chamber and is arranged for subsequent disposal.

It is recognized that some vacuum cleaners use a fan or turbine instead of an impeller, but here the term impeller refers to the airflow required when driven by a motor. Used to represent any part to produce.

The dirt collection chamber may contain or contain a disposable bag, and the wall of the bag also serves as a filter. Alternatively, the dirt collection room is a receptacle that can be removed from the vacuum cleaner, emptied, and reinstalled in the vacuum cleaner for reuse.

Many vacuum cleaners are specifically designed to clean the floor surface, in which case the vacuum cleaner includes a suction head with wheels, rollers and / or slides and has an opening at the bottom of the suction head. , It is designed to be able to move across the floor.

A rotatable brush is often placed adjacent to the suction head opening. The brush is rotated and engages with the surface being cleaned. The brush then helps to remove surface dirt and debris that is caught in the air stream and carried to the dirt collection chamber.

Many vacuum cleaners are power-powered, and most vacuum cleaners are designed for floor cleaning, providing additional tools for use in floor cleaning.

Manufacturers of mains vacuum cleaners will often seek to maximize the electrical and suction power of their vacuum cleaners in order to increase their marketability. In such a vacuum cleaner, the suction head opening is surrounded by a wall. Air is forced to pass under the walls, such as underneath the carpet, thereby removing dirt and debris from between the fibers of the carpet. This is a relatively inefficient cleaning method, as the impeller usage efficiency is usually 10-40%. To increase the efficiency of the impeller, manufacturers tend to develop impellers that rotate at higher speeds to achieve higher suction power. However, such vacuum cleaners generally do not achieve improved dirt and debris collection efficiency, as it is an air flow rather than a suction that removes dirt and debris. As such, manufacturers tend to cite electricity and suction as an indicator of the effectiveness of their appliances rather than cleaning efficiency.

Most domestic mains vacuum cleaners fall into two broad classes. The first class is often referred to as a cylinder vacuum cleaner. In a cylinder vacuum cleaner, the suction head is connected to an operating handle, which in turn is connected to a flexible hose where dirt and debris pass through the path to the dirt collection chamber. The dirt collection chamber is located inside the body, separate from the suction head and also including the motor, which has wheels or slides that can be pulled across the floor during the cleaning operation.

The second class is often referred to as an upright vacuum cleaner. In an upright vacuum cleaner, the motor and dirt collection chamber are carried by the operating handle, or in some cases with the operating handle, so that the body, including the motor and dirt collecting chamber, normally lies on the suction head during cleaning operations. It is integrated.

The provision and use of battery-powered vacuum cleaners as an alternative to mains has become more widespread. Some battery-powered vacuum cleaners are designed primarily for floor cleaning. The structure of these battery-powered vacuum cleaners is slightly different from that of main-powered vacuum cleaners, with the battery, motor, impeller, and dirt collection chamber all in the suction head. The suction head is connected to an operating handle that is used only to operate the suction head across the floor to be cleaned.

Other battery-powered vacuum cleaners are designed to be handheld and used, that is, they are designed to be carried during use. In such a vacuum cleaner, the battery, motor, impeller and dirt collection chamber are all contained in the vacuum cleaner body, which has a nozzle through which air enters the vacuum cleaner. Many such vacuum cleaners are primarily intended for short-term use and are used, for example, to clean single spills and the like. Other designs increase battery life and can be used for long-term cleaning. For example, the handheld vacuum cleaner described in WO2014 / 195711 is designed for long-term use and can be used in place of a mains vacuum cleaner.

A particular class of handheld battery-powered vacuum cleaners is called a "stickback", in such an electric vacuum cleaner, the nozzle of the body of the handheld vacuum cleaner is connected to the suction head by a rigid tube, and the user is the vacuum cleaner. Carry the body and move the suction head across the floor (or other surface to be cleaned) through a rigid tube.

The inventor has devised a battery-powered vacuum cleaner that can be used in a plurality of different operating modes in order to duplicate the different designs of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner described above. In particular, battery-powered vacuum cleaners can be used to clean the floor and include an operating handle for operating the suction head across the floor to be cleaned.

Alternatively, the battery-powered vacuum cleaner can also be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, the battery-powered vacuum cleaner can be used with a nozzle for cleaning up spills and the like.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a battery-powered vacuum cleaner having a main body having a battery, a motor, an impeller, and a dirt collecting chamber, the main body having a bottom wall having an opening through which air can pass through the main body. A rotatable brush is attached adjacent to the opening, the body has a first side and a second side, and the opening is on most of the body between the first side and the second side. A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided in which the battery is arranged on the first side, the motor is arranged on the second side, and a dirt collection chamber is provided between the battery and the motor.

In known battery-powered vacuum cleaners designed for floor cleaning, batteries and motors are typically located behind the dirt collection chamber. The dirt collection chamber is typically located across the general center of the body or suction head between the opening at the front of the body and the battery and motor at the rear of the body.

However, in the present invention, it is desired to minimize the length of the body (ie, the distance between the front and back of the body) so that the vacuum cleaner can be held by hand instead. By arranging the battery and motor on the opposite side of the dirt collection chamber, the length of the main body can be shortened.

Preferably, the body has an anterior wall and a rear wall, the length of the body, i.e., the distance between the anterior wall and the posterior wall is less than about 20 cm, ideally less than about 15 cm. Preferably, the body has at least one gripping surface between its front and rear walls, allowing the body to be gripped with one hand and operated as a handheld vacuum cleaner.

When used as a handheld vacuum cleaner, the user can move the body, especially the opening, to the place of use and position the opening with respect to the surface to be cleaned. The surface may be horizontal (eg, stairs or worktops), vertical (eg, banners), or any intermediate angle.

Preferably, the battery-powered vacuum cleaner has a removable operating handle. It will be appreciated that the operating handle is useful when the vacuum cleaner is used for floor cleaning and allows the user to operate the body across the floor as desired. However, when the vacuum cleaner is used in a handheld operating mode, the operating handle is not beneficial and it is preferable to remove it rather than holding the handle, and the held handle is handheld and potentially in use. It becomes an obstacle.

Preferably, the handle has wheels or rollers. It will be appreciated that if a vacuum cleaner is used for floor cleaning, wheels or rollers will be beneficial and will allow the user to operate the body more easily across the floor. However, when the vacuum cleaner is used in a handheld operating mode, the wheels or rollers make little sense, and by removing the wheels or rollers with the operating handle, the size of the vacuum cleaner and when used in that operating mode / Or the weight can be reduced.

Preferably, the operating handle has a steering joint. Desirably, the steering joint includes a pivot joint and a rotatable joint. In a known method, the pivot joint allows the operating handle to rotate relative to the body around the pivot axis (which is substantially horizontal if the body is on a horizontal floor) and rotates. Possible joints allow the operating handle to rotate around an axis of rotation. In common with known steering joints, the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the pivot axis and is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the operating handle. Such steering joints allow the user to operate the body by twisting the operating handle as desired. The pivot joint maintains the horizontal orientation of the body while the operating handle is twisted.

Steering joints, including pivot joints and rotatable joints, are preferred, but simpler steering joints (including only pivot joints or only rotatable joints) can be used if desired.

Many vacuum cleaners use steering joints as described above. In the present invention, the steering joint is not part of the body or suction head, but part of the operating handle. We have found that the steering joint has little advantage when the vacuum cleaner is used in a handheld operating mode, and by removing the steering joint with the operating handle, the weight of the vacuum cleaner when used in that operating mode. We are aware that we can minimize.

Preferably, the operating handle has a handle and a connection, the handle is designed to be gripped by the user, and the connection is designed to be removably connected to the body of the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the steering joint is placed adjacent to the connection.

Preferably, the operating handle is extendable and preferably stretchable. Preferably, the operating handle has four tubular sections that can be extended and retracted from each other. Further, ideally, the largest tubular section (in its cross-sectional dimensions) has a handle and the smallest tubular section is connected to the steering joint.

Stretchable and extendable operating handles are known, but generally include two tubular sections. Also, the smallest diameter tubular section is typically connected to or includes a handle. The invention reverses the typical arrangement and incorporates more stretchable sections, both of which minimize the length of the operating handle when folded. This is not required when the operating handle of the present invention is used when the vacuum cleaner is in handheld operating mode, and it is not noticeable by reducing the size of the folded operating handle (eg). It is beneficial because it is easier to store (in a drawer).

Preferably, the battery-powered vacuum cleaner has a cover for the opening, the cover having a nozzle. An opening with a rotatable brush is particularly suitable for floor cleaning and can also be beneficial for other surface cleaning, but it is for local cleaning where nozzles (and perhaps dedicated tools) are more suitable. Is not very suitable. The cover can be attached to the opening as desired by the user, allowing air to enter the body through the nozzle. Thus, the openings are generally rectangular and have a relatively large area, while the nozzles are circular and have a relatively small area. The nozzle can be fitted with a dedicated crevice tool, dust brush, or other selected tool for cleaning operations.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a battery-powered vacuum cleaner including a main body including a battery, a motor, an impeller, and a dirt collection chamber, wherein the main body has a bottom wall having an opening through which air can pass. The vacuum cleaner has an operation handle and a steering joint for allowing the main body to be operated via the operation handle, the operation handle is removable, and the steering joint is a battery-powered cleaning that is part of the operation handle. The machine is provided.

According to this second aspect, the steering joint is removable from the main body by the operating handle, which provides the above-mentioned advantages.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a battery-powered vacuum cleaner including a main body including a battery, a motor, an impeller, and a dirt collection chamber, wherein the main body has a bottom wall having an opening through which air can pass. The vacuum cleaner has a cover for the opening, and the cover is provided with a battery-powered vacuum cleaner with a nozzle.

According to this third aspect, the user can attach the cover so as to change the suction port from a generally rectangular opening with a relatively large area to a generally circular nozzle with a relatively small area. The body with the attached cover is more suitable for local cleaning work and has the advantages mentioned above.

To avoid unnecessary repetition, any of the features described in connection with the first aspect of the invention, where compatible, the second and / or third aspect of the invention. Can be used for.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments Next, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a perspective view of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner by this invention in the 1st operation mode. It is a front view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is a vertical sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. It is a bottom view of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. It is a horizontal sectional view of the body of a vacuum cleaner. It is a perspective view which looked at the body of a vacuum cleaner from the bottom. It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner with the operation handle contracted. It is a perspective view when the operation handle in the contracted state is removed from the main body of a vacuum cleaner. It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner in the 2nd operation mode. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body of a vacuum cleaner with a separate cover and clearance tool.

It is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner in the 3rd operation mode. It is sectional drawing side view of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner 10 is battery operated. As such (and as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6), the body 12 houses the battery 14 (or battery pack), the motor 16, the impeller 18, and the dirt collection chamber 20.

The body 12 has an on / off switch 22 and thus carries all the operating components of the vacuum cleaner 10. The operating handle 24 is used only to operate the body 12 across the floor or other surface during use in this first operating mode.

The body 12 is attached to its front end 28 (in the present specification, the term "front" is used to describe the leading end of the vacuum cleaner as it is pushed across the surface by the user). It has wheels or rollers 26. The other wheels 30 are arranged adjacent to the rear end 32 of the main body 12, and the wheels are visible in the side view of FIG. 3 and the perspective view of FIG.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, in a known method, the bottom wall of the body 12 has an opening 34 through which air (and entrained dirt and debris) enters the body 12. A rotatable brush 36 is disposed adjacent to the opening 34, and the bristles 38 of the brush 36 extend a short distance beyond the opening 34 to engage the surface to be cleaned. In a known method, the opening 34 extends from near the first side 44 of the body 12 to near the second side 46 and thus spans most of the body.

Wheels 26 and 32 hold the bottom wall of the body 12 at a distance just above the surface to be cleaned. In this embodiment, the movable strip 40 (see FIG. 5) is placed behind the opening 34 and the fixed strip 42 is placed on either side of the opening 34. The movable strip 40 and the fixed strip 42 reduce the flow of air from those areas to the opening 34, thereby maximizing the flow of air from the front end of the body 12, which allows the body to cross the surface. Useful when moving forward.

Figures 1 to 3 show the vacuum cleaner 10 ready for use in the first operating mode. In this operation mode, the main body 12 operates like a suction head of a main power type vacuum cleaner, and is most suitable for floor cleaning. The body 12 can be manipulated by the user across the floor via the operating handle 24 in a known manner. Although the operating handle 24 is shown in its upright or stowed position in FIGS. 1-3, it is understood that it can swivel (clockwise as depicted in FIG. 3) with respect to the position of use. Will be.

The operating handle 24 includes a steering joint 50. In a known aspect, the steering joint 50 includes a pivot joint that allows the upper part of the operating handle 24 to swive relative to the body 12 around the (horizontally) pivot shaft 52. The steering joint also rotates around an axis of rotation in which the upper part of the operating handle 24 is perpendicular to the junction 54 between the (non-rotatable) lower part and the (rotatable) upper part of the rotatable joint. Includes rotatable joints that allow it. The axis of rotation is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operating handle, and the twist of the operating handle 24 allows the body to be steered across the floor during use.

The front end 28 and the rear end 32 of the main body 12 are connected to each other by the first side 44 and the second side 46. As can be seen in FIG. 4 (and also in FIG. 6), the battery 14, the dirt collection chamber 20, the impeller 18, and the motor 16 are arranged substantially in a straight line across the body 12. ..

In particular, the battery 14 is located on the first side 44, the motor 16 is located on the second side 46, and the dirt collection chamber 20 is located directly between the battery and the motor (here, "between" in this context. "Directly better" indicates that a straight line can be drawn through the battery, then through the dirt collection chamber, and then through the motor).

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the entire dirt collection chamber 20 is located between the motor and the battery, so that the dirt collection chamber is spaced between the first side 44 and the second side 46. Is placed. In an alternative embodiment, only part of the dirt collection chamber is located between the motor and the battery, another part of the dirt collection chamber extends completely across the body, and the dirt collection chamber is as shown in FIG. When viewed in, it has a general "T" shape (preferably an inverted "T" shape). This alternative embodiment increases the length of the body that may not be acceptable to all users.

Placing the battery 14, the dirt collection chamber 20, and the motor 16 across the body 12 of the body 12 as compared to the conventional design in which the battery and the motor are located between the dirt collection chamber and the rear end. It will be appreciated that the length L (FIG. 3) (ie, the distance between the front and rear ends 28, 32) can be reduced.

Further, it will be appreciated that the battery 14 and the motor 16 are relatively heavy and are likely to be the heaviest components in the body of the vacuum cleaner in practice. By separating these components and particularly placing them on either side of the dirt collection chamber, the body 12 can be well balanced, which is advantageous for use in handheld operating modes.

FIG. 6 also shows a part of the inlet duct 48 of the main body 12 that connects the opening 34 to the dirt collection chamber 20. In this embodiment, the dirt collection chamber 20 includes a disposable bag, but in other embodiments it may be without a bag.

The operation handle 24 can be extended and contracted. The operating handle 24 is shown in its extended state in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7 and in its folded state in FIG. Since the main advantage of the operating handle is to steer the main body 12 when used in the floor cleaning mode, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be used with the operating handle folded as shown in FIG. Not expected to be frequent. However, the operating handle may be used in a folded state when cleaning stairs, etc., or the shortened length of the folded operating handle makes it easier to operate the vacuum cleaner in a narrow space. It may be used in a folded state because it has the advantage of becoming.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the operating handle 24 includes four tubular sections, with the section having the largest cross section including the handle 56. With such a configuration, the folded operating handle 24 has a relatively small volume, and as seen in FIG. 9, the operating handle 24 when removed is ideally, for example, in a drawer. It is large enough to be stored inconspicuously.

Also, as is clear from FIG. 9, the wheel 30 and the steering joint 50 are part of the operating handle 24 and are therefore removed from the body together with the operating handle.

The operation handle 24 is connected to the rear end 32 of the main body 12 via the connecting portion 58. The connection 58 is not shown in detail and may be in any suitable form that allows for a secure connection to and easy removal from the body 12. The connection 58 includes a releasable latch mechanism actuated by an opposed pushbutton 60, of which only one is shown in FIG. The operating handle 24 does not need to be folded before removal or storage, but it is expected to be more convenient for the user.

The removal of the operation handle 24 allows the body 12 to be used in a handheld operation mode, as shown in FIG. The length L (FIG. 3) of the body 12 in this embodiment is about 13 cm, which is small enough that some users can grip the body via the front and rear ends 28, 32. Nevertheless, the gripping surface 62 is provided on top of the body 12, and the gripping surface 62 is at a small angle (parallel in another embodiment) to the rear end 32.

Thereby, the body 12 can be gripped and held with one hand via the front and rear ends 28, 32, or through the gripping surface 62 and the rear end 32, as shown in FIG. Can be carried to.

As shown in FIG. 10, it will be appreciated that the battery 14 and the motor 16 are on the side facing the user's hand when used in a handheld operating mode. Therefore, the main body 12 is well-balanced with the result that it is comfortable to use in its operation mode even if it is used for a long time as needed.

Also, in the handheld operation mode, the body 12 is manipulated so that the openings (and rotatable brushes) are presented to the surface to be cleaned, the surface being vertical, horizontal, or any orientation in between. You may. This mode of operation is ideal for cleaning stairs and banners, for example.

FIG. 11 shows a cover 70 used to convert the body 12 into its third operating mode. The cover 70 is designed to clip or latch to the bottom of the body 12, specifically, to surround a (substantially rectangular) opening 34 (and a rotatable brush 26). .. When the cover 70 is properly fitted, air is drawn into the body 12 only through the substantially circular nozzle 72 of the cover 70. The cover 70 has an elastic seal to minimize the ingress of air from other than the nozzle 72.

In the third operation mode, the vacuum cleaner 10 is suitable for use in a dedicated cleaning operation for cleaning, for example, a single spill. In particular, the area of the nozzle 72 is significantly smaller than the area of the opening 34, so that air can move faster through the nozzle in the third operation mode than through the openings in the first and second operation modes. Will be understood. Therefore, in the third mode, the vacuum cleaner can collect larger and / or heavier pieces of dirt and debris.

As shown in FIG. 12, the clearance tool 74 can be attached to the nozzle 72 for other dedicated cleaning operations (which can further reduce the air entry area). Other tools (eg, dust brushes, etc.) can be fitted into the nozzle 72 if desired.

It will be appreciated that the rotatable brush 36 is redundant in the third operating mode. A rotatable brush can be placed so that it is inactive in that mode, but that is not provided in this embodiment. It will therefore be appreciated that the rotatable brush rotates substantially freely within the cover 70 and does not use much energy, but a control device for selectively controlling the rotatable brush Will add cost, weight, and complexity to the body 12.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view showing a part of the drive mechanism of the rotatable brush 36. To minimize the size and weight of the body 12, the impeller 18 and the rotatable brush 36 are driven by the same motor 16. However, it will be appreciated that these components rotate at significantly different speeds. In a preferred embodiment, the impeller rotates at 32,000 rpm and the rotatable brush rotates at 3,200 rpm. To achieve this speed difference with a single motor, it is arranged so that the motor 16 directly drives the impeller 18 and rotates at 32,000 rpm. Two drive belts 74, 76 and an intermediate reduction gear 78 are provided to step down the rotational speed of the rotatable brush 36 by a factor of 10.

Claims (15)

A battery-powered vacuum cleaner having a body having a battery, a motor, an impeller, and a dirt collection chamber, wherein the body has a bottom wall having an opening through which air can pass through the body, in the opening. Adjacent to a rotatable brush, the body has a first side and a second side, the opening straddles most of the body between the first side and the second side. A battery-powered vacuum cleaner in which the battery is arranged on the first side, the motor is arranged on the second side, and the dirt collection chamber is provided between the battery and the motor. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a front wall and a rear wall, and the length of the main body is less than 20 cm. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the length of the main body is less than 15 cm. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the main body has at least one gripping surface between the front wall and the rear wall. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has a removable operation handle. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the operating handle has wheels or rollers. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the operation handle has a steering joint. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the steering joint includes a pivot joint and a rotatable joint. The operation handle has a handle portion and a connection portion, the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user, and the connection portion is configured to be removably connectable to the main body of the vacuum cleaner. Item 5. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to any one of Items 5 to 8. 9. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the steering joint is located adjacent to the connection, if it is dependent on claim 7. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the operation handle is extendable. 11. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the operating handle has a large number of tubular sections that are slidable relative to each other. 12. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the operating handle has four tubular sections. The battery according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the operating handle has a large number of tubular sections that are slidable relative to each other, the largest of which is the handle portion. Type vacuum cleaner. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cover has a cover for the opening, the cover has a nozzle, and the cover is detachably attached to the main body.

Images