TW201938099A - A cleaning appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning appliance comprising a dirt separator for separating dirt from an airflow, the dirt separator comprising a bin for collecting dirt separated from the airflow, the bin comprising a bin lid having a closed configuration in which the dirt is retained in the bin, and an open configuration for the removal of dirt from the bin. The cleaning appliance further comprises an inlet, the inlet extending through an opening in the bin lid, the inlet comprising an attachment interface. The cleaning appliance further comprises an interlock mechanism to prevent the bin lid from being opened when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface.

Description

   Cleaning utensils   

The present invention relates to a cleaning appliance.

I am always looking for improvements to the vacuum cleaner. In particular, improvements have made it easier for the user to use the vacuum cleaner, and the user has been encouraged to use the vacuum cleaner in the best possible way. What it wants is to ensure that the user is not able to perform any action that could lead to a malfunction that needs to be resolved or that requires troubleshooting.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning appliance including a dirt separator for separating dirt by an air flow, the dirt separator including a storage box for collecting the dirt separated by the air flow, the The storage box includes a storage box cover having a closed structure for retaining the dirt in the storage box, and an open structure for removing the dirt from the storage box. The cleaning appliance further includes an inlet extending through an opening in the lid of the storage box, and the inlet includes an accessory interface. The cleaning appliance further includes an interlocking mechanism to prevent the storage box cover from being opened when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface.

As a result, when there is an accessory connected to the cleaning appliance, it is not possible to initiate a storage tank emptying or storage tank removal process. Because the inlet extends through an opening in the storage box cover, any attachment connected to the cleaning appliance can prevent the storage box cover from fully opening, and therefore the storage box cover and the attachment itself will act to prevent Dirt and dust are emitted from the storage box. It is therefore beneficial to prevent the opening process from starting when the accessory is connected to the inlet.

The accessory interface may include a structure for engaging with a lock provided on the accessory. This allows the accessory to be removably secured to the vacuum cleaner during use, but allows the accessory to be easily removed when it is no longer needed.

The interlocking mechanism may include a protruding portion on the storage box cover member extending radially inward from the opening, the protruding portion forming an abutting surface for abutting a corresponding abutting surface on the accessory. This provides an inexpensive and simple but effective interlocking mechanism, which is unlikely to fail.

The protruding portion can extend into the accessory interface. When an accessory is connected to the accessory interface, the abutting surface on the storage box cover may abut a latch on the accessory, the latch serving as a corresponding abutting surface on the accessory. As a result, whatever the shape of the accessory, any accessory that includes a latch that secures it to the vacuum cleaner will abut the interlocking mechanism and prevent the storage case from opening when attached.

The attachment may be one of a rod, an extension hose, and a cleaning tool.

The storage box cover can be hingedly connected to a side wall of the storage box and can be pivoted between the closed structure and the open structure. As a result, the storage box cover can be opened without being completely separated from the vacuum cleaner, which makes it easier for a person using the vacuum cleaner to perform a storage box emptying procedure.

The storage box can be moved relative to the air inlet, and the interlocking mechanism can prevent any movement of the storage box when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface. The storage box can be moved in such a way that the storage box can be completely from the vacuum cleaner, or the movement of the storage box can be part of the storage box opening procedure, and therefore in addition to preventing the storage box lid from opening In addition, for the same reasons discussed above, it is advantageous to prevent the storage tank from moving.

The cleaning appliance may be a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

A rod and a cleaner head may be connected to the accessory interface to form a rod vacuum cleaner.

1‧‧‧Vacuum cleaner

2‧‧‧Pollution separator

3‧‧‧ main body

4‧‧‧handle

5‧‧‧ Power

6‧‧‧ entrance

7‧‧‧ filter assembly

8‧‧‧ trigger

9‧‧‧ cover

10‧‧‧ hinge

20‧‧‧Storage Box

21‧‧‧outer wall surface

22‧‧‧Shield

23‧‧‧ Screen

24‧‧‧Shield skirt

25‧‧‧Inner wall surface

26‧‧‧ Cyclone separator body

27‧‧‧Storage box opening actuator

28‧‧‧Slide

30‧‧‧seals

32‧‧‧ Dust collection room

33‧‧‧Lock

35‧‧‧ highlight

36‧‧‧Power Connector

40‧‧‧ Rip tool

42‧‧‧Lock

44‧‧‧ meshing part

46‧‧‧Release button

47‧‧‧ aligned ribs

50‧‧‧ stick

52‧‧‧Lock

54‧‧‧ meshing part

56‧‧‧Release button

57‧‧‧ aligned ribs

58‧‧‧ Hoop

60‧‧‧ Structure

62‧‧‧channel

70‧‧‧cleaner head

In order to understand the present invention more easily, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described as an example with reference to the following drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a hand-held vacuum cleaner; FIGS. 2A and 2B show different views of FIG. Vacuum cleaners in stages during the storage tank opening procedure; Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show attachments connected to the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an upwards view of the inlet of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a one-bar vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning appliance in the form of a hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 having a dirt separator 2, a main body 3, a handle 4, a power source in the form of a battery pack 5, and an inlet 6. Behind the vacuum cleaner 1, a filter assembly 7 is attached to the main body 3. The vacuum cleaner 1 is operated by a trigger 8 in the handle 4.

The dirt separator 2 has a first separation stage and a second separation stage. The first separation stage includes a cylindrical outer wall surface 21 that defines a storage tank 20. A cylindrical inner wall surface 25 defines a fine dust collection chamber positioned inside the storage box 20. One of the closing members in the form of a storage tank cover 9 is hingedly attached to the outer wall surface 21 of the dirt separator 2 at a hinge 10. The storage box cover 9 is pivotable around the hinge 10 between an open position and a closed position. Dust and dirt can be removed from the open end of the storage box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber in the open position. And the storage box cover 9 seals the open ends of both the storage box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber in the closed position. The storage box cover 9 includes a seal 30 sealed against the inner wall surface 25. A central portion of the storage box cover 9 includes a hole or opening through which the suction inlet 6 protrudes.

Inside the storage box 20 is a shield 22 including a cylindrical screen 23 and a shield skirt 24. During operation, air is sucked into the vacuum cleaner 1 through the inlet 6 by a fan motor disposed in the main body 3. Dirty air enters the storage tank 20 through a separator inlet (not shown) in one of the side walls of the shroud 22, and the separator inlet is joined to the inlet by an inlet pipe extending therebetween. 6. The inlet duct extends through the inside of the fine dust collection chamber. The air swirls around the inner side of the storage box 20, and centrifugal force separates larger dirt particles from the airflow, and settles the dirt particles in the storage box 20. The shroud screen 23 includes a plurality of perforations through which air leaves the first separation stage.

The second separation stage includes a plurality of cyclone separator bodies 26. The air passes through the cyclone separator body 26, which separates any remaining dirt and dust from the airflow. The dirt and dust separated in the second separation stage are collected in the fine dust collection chamber, which is defined by the inner wall surface 25. The cleaned air leaves the cyclonic separators 26, passes through a fan motor in the main casing 3, and is then discharged by the vacuum cleaner 1 through the filter assembly 7.

In order to empty the storage box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber, the storage box cover 9 can be opened. Figures 2A and 2B show the vacuum cleaner 1 during a storage tank emptying process at different stages. The dirt separator 2 is provided with a storage box opening actuator 27 which is fixed to the outer wall surface 21. When the storage box opening actuator 27 is pushed in a direction away from the handle 4, as represented by arrow A in FIG. 2A, this causes the storage box 20 (i.e., the outer wall surface 21 and the storage box Both the cover members 9) slide along the slideway portion 28 of the vacuum cleaner 1 in the same direction. When they are fixed to the main body 3, the shield 22, the inner wall surface 25, and the inlet 6 remain fixed. The seal 30 is separated from the inner wall surface 25 to expose the open end of the second dirt collection chamber 32. As shown in FIG. 2B, once the outer wall surface 21 has reached a certain point in the direction away from the handle, it will stop and release the latch 33 that keeps the storage box cover 9 closed. The storage box cover 9 is hinged, and one of the deflection members of the hinge 10 deflects the storage box cover 9 into an open position. Accordingly, once the latch 33 is released, the storage box cover 9 pivots around the hinge 10 and swings open as represented by arrow B. The dirt collected in the storage box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber 32 can now be discharged by the dirt separator 2.

Closing the dirt separator 2 includes sliding the outer wall surface 21 back to the original position and pivoting the storage box cover 9 into a closed position until the latch 33 engages again to keep the storage box cover 9 at In the closed position.

Different accessories can be selected, which can be connected to the vacuum cleaner 1 to allow the user to select the most suitable accessory for the cleaning task to be performed. FIG. 3A shows how the inlet 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 includes an accessory interface. Two attachments in the form of a rip tool 40 and part of a rod 50 are shown in FIG. 3A, which can be attached to the attachment interface at the entrance 6 as indicated by the arrow dashed line C. The rip tool 40 includes a latch 42 having an engaging portion 44 and a release button 46. The lever 50 includes a similar locking buckle 52 and also has an engaging portion 54 and a release button 56. Alignment ribs 47 and 57 are also provided on the split tool 40 and the rod 50, respectively. The alignment ribs 47, 57 are engaged with the channels 62 in the accessory interface, so that when the corresponding accessory is inserted into the accessory interface, the alignment ribs slide into the channels 62.

The accessory interface includes a structure 60 as shown in FIG. 4 that engages with the engaging portions 44, 54 of each of the locks 42, 52, so that the accessory is locked in place when attached to the accessory interface. The locks 42 and 52 pivot and are biased into a position where the engaging portions 44 and 54 will engage with the structure 60 of the accessory interface. To separate the accessory, the release buttons 46, 56 are pressed, which causes the lock to pivot and disengage the engaging portions 44, 45 from the structure 60, so that the accessory can be removed from the accessory interface.

When the accessory is connected to the accessory interface of the inlet 6, in order to prevent the storage box 20 from moving or opening, the vacuum cleaner includes an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism includes a protruding portion 35 formed as a part of the storage box cover member 9. The protruding portion 35 extends radially inwardly into the opening of the storage box cover 9, and the inlet 6 projects past the storage box cover. The protruding portion extends radially inward so that it extends into the accessory interface of the inlet 6 and forms an abutting surface abutting on any attached accessories, so that the storage box 20 cannot be pushed by the The storage box opening actuator 27 moves forward, or the storage box cover 9 cannot be opened.

FIG. 3B shows the vacuum cleaner 1 attached with the rip tool 40, and FIG. 3C shows the vacuum cleaner 1 attached with the rod 50. The protruding portion 35 can be seen to extend behind the release buttons 46 and 56 of the locks 42 and 52 so that the sides of the release buttons 46 and 56 act as corresponding abutting surfaces on the individual accessories. In each case, the protruding portion 35 is thus abutted against the side of the release button 46, 56, and its function is to prevent any movement of the storage box 20 when the latches 42, 52 are engaged with the structure 60 Or prevent the storage box cover 9 from being opened.

The rod 50 can be used in conjunction with the cleaner head 70, and when these are connected to the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a rod vacuum cleaner (sometimes referred to as a rod) is formed. Vacuum cleaner). A cleaner head, such as the cleaner head 70 in FIG. 5, typically includes an electric brush rod, and as such requires power to be transmitted along the rod 50. Therefore, the power connector 36 is provided at the accessory interface of the inlet 6, as shown in Figs. 3A and 4. The rip tool 40 is a simple tool that does not require power and therefore does not engage the power connector 36, as can be seen in Figure 3B. However, the rod 50 includes a set of ferrules 58 that house a corresponding rod power connector (not shown), which can be engaged with the power connector 36 at the inlet 6 so that it comes from the battery 5 Of power can be provided to the cleaner head to power the brush motor.

The rip tool 40 and the rod 50 are described as examples of attachments. However, there are a large number of possible accessories, such as an extension hose or a small electric cleaning head, and other cleaning tools, such as a mattress cleaning tool, a combination tool, and the like. Different attachments will have different sizes and requirements, such as can be seen with the split tool 40 and the rod 50. However, a catch for any accessory will need to engage the formation 60 in the accessory interface. As such, it is beneficial to engage the interlocking mechanism with the buckle, as this provides a close and consistent component regardless of the size, shape, or configuration of the accessory.

Although specific embodiments have been described so far, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by these patent applications.

For example, the vacuum cleaner 1 described herein is a hand-held vacuum cleaner, but it may be any other configuration of a vacuum cleaner in which the inlet extends through a storage tank cover, such as a cylindrical vacuum cleaner. In addition, the interlocking mechanism is described as engaging with the lock on the accessory, and the benefits of this structure are described above. However, in alternative embodiments, the interlocking mechanism may be engaged with different components of the accessory.

Claims (10)

    A cleaning appliance includes a dirt separator for separating dirt by an air flow, the dirt separator includes a storage box for collecting the dirt separated by the air flow, and the storage box includes a storage box cover Has a closed structure for keeping the dirt in the storage box, and an open structure for removing the dirt from the storage box; the cleaning appliance further includes an inlet extending through the storage box One of the lids is opened, and the inlet includes an accessory interface; wherein the cleaning appliance further includes an interlocking mechanism to prevent the storage box lid from being opened when an accessory is connected to the accessory interface.         For example, the cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the accessory interface includes a structure for engaging with a lock provided on an accessory.         For example, the cleaning appliance of the scope of patent application, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes a protruding portion extending radially inwardly from the opening on the storage box cover, and the protruding portion is formed for connecting with an accessory. A corresponding abutting surface on abuts an abutting surface.         For example, the cleaning appliance of the patent application No. 3, wherein the protruding portion extends into the accessory interface.         For example, the cleaning appliance of the third scope of the patent application, wherein when an accessory is connected to the accessory interface, the abutment surface on the storage box cover member abuts with a lock on the accessory, and the lock is used as the accessory Which corresponds to the abutment surface.         For example, the cleaning appliance of the scope of patent application, wherein the accessory is one of a rod, an extension hose, and a cleaning tool.         For example, the cleaning appliance of the scope of patent application, wherein the storage box cover is hingedly attached to one of the side walls of the storage box, and is pivotable between the closed structure and the open structure.         For example, the cleaning appliance in the scope of patent application, wherein the storage box is movable relative to the air inlet, and when an accessory is connected to the accessory interface, the interlocking mechanism prevents any movement of the storage box.         For example, the cleaning appliance in the scope of patent application No. 1 wherein the cleaning appliance is a hand-held vacuum cleaner.         For example, in the cleaning appliance with the scope of patent application No. 9, a rod and a cleaner head are connected to the accessory interface to form a rod vacuum cleaner.