US20070174994A1 - Cleaning head - Google Patents
Cleaning head Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070174994A1 US20070174994A1 US10/557,482 US55748204A US2007174994A1 US 20070174994 A1 US20070174994 A1 US 20070174994A1 US 55748204 A US55748204 A US 55748204A US 2007174994 A1 US2007174994 A1 US 2007174994A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wand
- main body
- cleaning
- outlet
- cleaning head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 78
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000004443 Ricinus communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005498 polishing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004018 waxing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
- A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
- A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
- A47L5/36—Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/0009—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders
- A47L9/0018—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
- A47L9/0045—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner specially adapted for holding the suction tube
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/02—Nozzles
Definitions
- This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner.
- Cylinder or canister vacuum cleaners generally comprise a main body 10 which houses separating apparatus 11 such as a cyclonic separator or a bag for separating dirt and dust from an incoming dirty airflow.
- the dirty airflow is introduced to the main body 10 via a hose and wand assembly 15 , 16 which is connected to the main body 10 .
- the main body 10 of the cleaner is dragged along by the hose 15 as a user moves around a room.
- a cleaning tool is attached to the remote end of the hose and wand assembly 15 , 16 .
- a range of cleaning tools are usually provided with the vacuum cleaner so that the user can select the most appropriate tool for the cleaning task. Examples of cleaning tools are stair tools 19 a and brush tools 19 b .
- the vacuum cleaner is normally provided with a floor tool 20 .
- FIG. 2 shows a known floor tool of the type manufactured and sold by Dyson Limited.
- the floor tool 20 comprises a lower floor-engaging face 30 , commonly known as a sole plate, which, in use, slides across a floor surface.
- the sole plate 30 defines a suction opening 31 which faces the floor surface and serves, in use, to expose the floor surface to suction sufficient to generate an airflow which will remove dirt and debris from the surface.
- the tool 20 also comprises an outlet 41 , 42 which allows the floor tool to be attached to the wand 16 ( FIG. 1 ) and a short connecting duct 45 for carrying airflow from the sole plate 30 to the outlet 41 , 42 .
- the connecting duct 45 has a pair of floor engaging wheels 35 mounted on it. In use, this arrangement translates a user's pushing and pulling movement of the wand 16 to a gliding movement of the sole plate 30 over the floor surface.
- the outlet 41 , 42 of the tool 20 can be moved through a range of positions with respect to the remainder of the tool. This is due to the articulated connection provided between the outlet 41 , 42 and the connecting duct 45 .
- a first part 41 of the outlet is pivotably connected to the connecting duct 45 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 43 , which provides the outlet 41 , 42 with the ability to move through a range of angles in a vertical movement (see arrow A in FIG. 2 ).
- a second part 42 of the outlet which includes an angled bend, is rotatably connected to the first part 41 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 (see arrow B in FIG. 2 ). In its lowermost position, shown in FIG.
- the outlet 41 , 42 rests just above the floor surface, with the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lying substantially parallel to the floor surface.
- the outlet 41 , 42 can be moved to an uppermost position in which the longitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lies at an angle of around 45° to the floor surface with the second-part 42 extending away from the floor surface at a larger angle. This range of movement helps to allow the tool 20 to remain in contact with the floor surface as the tool 20 is manoeuvred across the floor surface by a user. It also allows a user to align the tool 20 in a new direction.
- the present invention seeks to improve the available storage of a cleaning head of a cleaning appliance.
- the present invention provides a cleaning head for a cleaning appliance comprising a housing having a floor-engaging face, means for allowing the housing to travel across a floor surface, an outlet for fitting to a wand of the cleaning appliance, and a linkage for coupling the housing to the outlet, wherein the linkage is arranged such that the outlet is movable between an operative position, in which the outlet lies parallel to, or at a positive angle with respect to, the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head, and a storage position in which the outlet lies at a negative angle with respect to the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head.
- the cleaning head can be stored conveniently alongside the main body of a cleaning appliance; This is particularly useful where the cleaning head is used in combination with a cleaning appliance in which the wand of the cleaning appliance is retained alongside the main body of the cleaning. In use, the wand is brought alongside, and retained against, the main body of the cleaning appliance and the cleaning head is moved into the storage position. This provides a tidy, convenient and economical storage solution.
- the outlet is positively retained in the storage position.
- This has the advantage that, in normal use, the cleaning head does not ‘flop’ into the storage position which can be irritating.
- the manner in which the cleaning head is positively retained can take the form of a manually operable release mechanism, with the linkage being arranged such that the outlet can only be moved to and/or from the storage position by operation of the control. This has the advantage of being reliable and easily manufacturable.
- the linkage can comprise a force-transmitting coupling between the housing and the outlet together with a flexible hose for carrying fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
- This arrangement can provide a good quality seal between the main housing and outlet, since the fluid flow is always carried by a hose which is reliably sealed at each end thereof.
- the force-transmitting coupling can comprise a pair of arms, one arm lying on each side of the flexible hose. This allows the hose to flex freely into a new position when it is required to do so.
- the linkage of the cleaning head can comprise a hollow duct, the duct serving to transmit a force between the outlet and the housing and to carry fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
- the linkage of the cleaning head can comprise a hollow duct, the duct serving to transmit a force between the outlet and the housing and to carry fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
- a form of connection which provides a good range of movement is a barrel connection between the housing and the outlet, with the rotational axis of the connection lying substantially parallel to the plane of the floor-engaging face. A range of movement of around 180° is possible.
- the tool takes the form of a turbine-driven tool for use with a vacuum cleaner.
- the turbine is not essential to the invention and, as such, the invention could equally be applied to tools which are entirely passive (i.e. relying solely on suction, with no agitation of the floor surface, such as the tool 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) or tools which include a dedicated motor for driving a brush bar.
- cleaning appliance is intended to have a broad meaning, and includes a wide range of machines having a main body and a wand for carrying fluid to or from a floor surface. It includes, inter alia, machines which only apply suction to the surface, such as vacuum cleaners (including dry, wet and wet/dry variants), so as to draw material from the surface, as well as machines which apply material to the surface, such as polishing/waxing machines, pressure washing machines and shampooing machines.
- vacuum cleaners including dry, wet and wet/dry variants
- FIG. 1 shows a known type of vacuum cleaner and floor tool
- FIG. 2 is a sectional side view through the floor tool of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale
- FIGS. 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention
- FIG. 6 shows a mechanism forming part of the tool of FIGS. 3 to 5 ;
- FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention.
- FIG. 10 illustrates the use of a floor tool according to the invention in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner.
- FIGS. 3 to 5 show an embodiment of the invention in the form of a tool 40 which is adapted to be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show the tool 40 in different operating positions and
- FIG. 5 shows the tool 40 in a storage position.
- the tool 40 has a main housing 50 which houses the main components of the tool.
- a wheel 54 is rotatably mounted to each side of the housing 50 to allow the tool 40 to be moved easily across a floor surface.
- the lower plate 55 defines a suction opening 53 through which bristles 52 a mounted on the brush bar 52 protrude as the brush bar rotates so as to agitate the floor surface and thereby enhance the amount of dirt and dust released from the floor covering. This action maximises the pick-up performance of the cleaning head 40 , particularly on carpeted floor surfaces.
- the housing 50 also houses a turbine (not shown) for driving the brushbar 52 .
- An air inlet delivers ambient air to the turbine and ducting feeds exhaust air from the turbine towards the outlet 44 of the tool 40 .
- a belt or geared connection (not shown) connects the output shaft of the turbine to the brushbar 52 .
- the outlet 44 of the tool 40 comprises collectively the parts labelled 60 to 66 .
- a first connector 61 is rotatably mounted to the rear of housing 50 .
- the first connector 61 is rotatable about the axis 66 .
- a second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 61 by means of a pair of rigid arms 62 and a flexible hose 65 .
- the arms 62 one lying on each side of hose 65 , provide a mechanical, force-transmitting connection between the connectors 60 , 61 whilst the flexible hose 65 carries airflow between the connectors 60 , 61 , thus providing a continuous airflow passageway from the suction opening 53 to the connector 60 .
- Each arm 62 is pivotably connected to the first connector 61 about an axis 63 and to the second connector 60 about an axis 64 .
- the second connector 60 is adapted to be connected to a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner as is shown in FIG. 1 .
- the second connector 60 is illustrated as having a latching type of connection with the wand but this connection can equally take the form of a simple interference fit or any other suitable form.
- FIG. 3 shows the tool 40 in its lowest normal operating position, of the sort which a user may adopt when using the tool 40 to clean the floor surface beneath an object or an item of furniture, such as a bed.
- the outlet 44 and particularly the extent of the axis 67 of the second connector 60 , lie generally alongside or above the floor surface which is being cleaned.
- the wand will lie along the axis 67 of the second connector 60 .
- FIG. 4 shows the tool 40 in its uppermost operating position, with the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60 , and hence the longitudinal axis of a wand attached to the floor tool 40 , lying generally perpendicular to the floor surface.
- the reason for allowing the second connector 60 to adopt this position is so that a user can ‘park’ the wand during cleaning, i.e. a user can place the wand into this upright position and it will remain in this position without falling over. It can be seen that the flexible hose 65 has flexed into a new position in FIG. 4 .
- the outlet extends at what is herein termed a “positive angle” with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
- a positive angle with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
- FIG. 5 shows the tool 40 in a storage position.
- the second connector 60 has been rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3 so that the outlet 44 points downwardly with respect to the lower plate 55 of the tool 40 .
- the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60 is shown as lying substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lower plate 55 although it is perfectly possible for the longitudinal axis 67 of the second connector 60 to lie at an angle of less than 90° or more than 90° with respect thereto. What is important is that the angle at which the axis 67 of the second connector 60 lies has been greatly reduced with respect to the plane of the lower plate 55 .
- the angle between the plane of the lower plate and the outlet 44 in general should be at least 180°, so as to allow the floor surface to be cleaned to be accommodated, the angle between the outlet 44 and the lower plate 55 in the storage position should be considerably less.
- An angle of substantially 90° is preferred, although variances of up to 30° are acceptable.
- the outlet extends at what is herein termed a “negative angle” with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
- the cleaner head 40 described above also incorporates a release mechanism which is mounted on the second connector 60 .
- FIG. 6 shows the release mechanism in detail.
- the release mechanism serves several purposes: it limits the angle through which the second connector 60 can be rotated with respect to the arms 62 so as to define the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , and it also defines a limit for the storage position of the tool.
- each arm 62 adjacent the second connector 60 incorporates a generally disc-shaped portion 62 a in which a notch 62 b is formed.
- the notch 62 b has a first face 62 c and a second face 62 d .
- Two projections 70 , 73 project outwardly from the second connector 60 in a direction parallel to the axis 64 .
- An edge 73 of projection 72 facing the arm 62 defines a stop for the storage position of the tool 40 . When the second connector 60 is rotated into the storage position, the edge 73 abuts against the lowermost side 71 of the arm 62 .
- a locking member 74 is pivotably mounted on the connector 60 about an axis 75 which lies parallel to the axis 64 .
- the locking member 74 has a first arm 74 a and a second arm 74 b .
- a compression spring 76 acts between the first part 74 a and the projection 70 so as to bias the locking member clockwise into the position shown in FIG. 6 .
- the second arm 74 b projects into the notch 62 b .
- the shape of the distal end of the second arm 74 b is such that, when the second arm 74 b projects into the notch 62 b , the arm 62 is free to rotate relative to the locking member 74 through a predetermined angle X.
- one of the first and second faces 62 c , 62 d will abut against an edge of the second arm 74 b .
- One of the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be adopted at each extreme position.
- the first arm 74 a When the cleaning head is to be brought into the storage position, the first arm 74 a is depressed, against the bias of spring 76 , towards the projection 70 . This causes the locking member 74 to rotate about the axis 75 in an anticlockwise direction. The distal end of the second arm 74 b then moves out of the notch 62 b , thus allowing the disc-shaped portion 62 a to move beyond the position illustrated in FIG. 6 . The second connector 60 can thus rotate with respect to the arm 62 until the edge 73 of the projection 72 abuts against the lower side 71 of the arm 62 .
- FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a floor tool 99 which can be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 show the tool 99 in an operating position and FIG. 9 shows the tool 100 in a storage position.
- the tool 99 has a main housing 81 which houses the main components of the tool with a wheel 82 rotatably mounted on each side of the housing 81 .
- the outlet of the tool 99 has a different form from that described above.
- the outlet comprises a first pipe 83 and a second pipe 84 .
- the first pipe 83 is rotatably connected to the rear of the housing 81 by a barrel connection, which is best shown in the plan view of FIG. 8 .
- Airflow into the first pipe 83 is via a circular aperture on the side of the first pipe 83 .
- the circular aperture is defined by an annular flange 87 .
- a similarly shaped annular flange 88 is formed on the rear of the housing 81 and an annular seal 89 is located between the two flanges 87 , 88 .
- the two flanges 87 , 88 and the seal 89 are held in an airtight manner against one another by the housing 50 .
- the first pipe 83 is rotatable with respect to the housing 81 about an axis 94 which lies parallel to the lower plate of the tool 99 and provides a range of movement in the vertical plane.
- the second pipe 84 is rotatably connected to the first pipe 83 about the longitudinal axis of the first pipe 83 .
- the first pipe 83 is movable through an angle of around 180° with respect to the main housing 81 . It is movable between an operative position in which the first pipe 83 points upwards, with the longitudinal axis 86 of the second pipe 84 extending generally upwards, away from the surface being cleaned, and a position similar to that shown in FIG. 9 in which the first pipe 83 points downwards, with the longitudinal axis of the first pipe 83 forming an angle of substantially less than 180° with the plane of the base of the tool.
- the wheels 82 are each supported on a short axle 95 which projects outwardly from the rear of the housing 81 .
- the rear part of the housing 81 is shaped so as to allow the first pipe 83 to rotate into the storage position shown in FIG. 9 without contacting the housing 81 .
- the tool 99 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 is a turbine tool.
- a first air outlet duct 90 leads from the suction opening to the first pipe 83 and a second air outlet duct 91 leads from the turbine 96 to the first pipe 83 .
- Each side of the first pipe 83 has a circular aperture and flange arrangement of the type described above.
- FIG. 10 shows a cleaning appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner incorporating the cleaning tool 40 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 .
- the vacuum cleaner has a main body 100 which supports the main components of the vacuum cleaner.
- the main body 100 has a chassis 110 which supports separating and collecting apparatus 120 and a motor-driven fan (not shown) for generating suction for drawing dirt laden air into the separating apparatus 120 .
- the main body 100 also has two main wheels 112 , one on each side of the rear portion of the chassis 110 , and a castor wheel 113 located beneath the front portion of the chassis 110 , which allow the main body 100 to be manoeuvred across a floor surface.
- the wheels 112 , 113 could be supplemented, or replaced, by other means for allowing the main body 100 to be manoeuvred across a surface, such as skids.
- the form of the separating apparatus 120 is not important to the invention. Whilst we prefer to use cyclonic separators which spin dirt, dust and debris from the airflow, other forms of separator can be used and examples of suitable separator technology include an inertial separator, a filter bag, a porous container, an electrostatic separator or a liquid-based separator.
- the separating apparatus 120 comprises two generally cylindrical separating chambers which lie alongside one another.
- the separating apparatus 120 is removably mounted on the chassis 110 to facilitate emptying and to provide access to components located beneath the separating apparatus 120 .
- a flexible hose 150 is connected at a first end thereof to an inlet port 151 on the main body 100 and a wand assembly 160 is connected to a second end of the hose 150 .
- the main body 100 of the cleaner is manoeuvred across a floor surface via the hose 150 as a user moves around a room.
- the hose 150 has a construction which is robust enough to withstand this pulling action, together with any normal abrasion which may be encountered as the hose 150 comes into contact with obstacles in a room.
- Ducting on the chassis 110 connects the air inlet port 151 to an inlet to the separating apparatus 120 .
- the inlet to the separating apparatus is arranged to guide incoming airflow through the wall of the chamber of the cyclonic separator in a tangential manner.
- a suitable wand assembly 160 is described in our co-pending International Patent Application WO 02/071913.
- the wand comprises a set of three tubes of progressively decreasing diameter.
- the tubes can telescope inside one another and are retractably housed inside a storage tube 165 .
- the three tubes can be moved between a stored configuration and an extended configuration in which one tube is extended from another such that only the ends of the tubes overlap one another. Securing mechanisms secure the tubes in an extended position.
- the distal end of the wand assembly 160 has a connector 280 which is adapted to receive the floor tool described above.
- the floor tool can be connected to the connector 280 by means of an interference fit, interconnecting bayonet fittings, snap-fit connections, a screw threaded collar and sleeve, or by any other suitable means.
- a handle 200 is connected to storage tube 165 to allow a user to manipulate the wand 160 .
- the flexible hose 150 is connected to the storage tube 165 by an outlet connector 168 which is rotatable about the axis X-X′. This part of the wand assembly 160 is described more fully in our International Patent Application WO 01/50940.
- the wand assembly 160 can be attached to the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner.
- the length of the storage tube 165 is substantially equal to the length of the part of the main body 100 against which the wand assembly 160 is stored. In this manner, the wand assembly 160 does not protrude substantially beyond the limits of the main body 100 when it is fully retracted and stored on the main body 100 .
- the wand assembly 160 is stored alongside the uppermost surface of the main body 100 .
- the upper surface of the separating apparatus 120 which itself is releasable from the remainder of the chassis 110 for emptying, is the part of the main body against which the wand 160 is secured. Fittings located on the storage tube 165 of the wand assembly 160 cooperate with complementary fittings on the upper surface of the separating apparatus 120 to retain the storage tube 165 in the stored position.
- the user When a user wishes to store the vacuum cleaner, the user brings the storage tube 165 of the wand assembly 160 , in its fully retracted configuration, alongside the uppermost face of the main body 100 and locks the wand assembly 160 in position on the main body 100 .
- the floor tool 40 can remain attached to the end of the wand assembly 160 .
- the user then operates the release mechanism shown in FIG. 6 by depressing the first arm 74 a of the locking member 74 so as to rotate the main housing 50 of the tool into the storage position, as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the base of the floor tool 40 now lies alongside the rear surface of the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner.
- the floor tool 40 can rest alongside other tools 170 which are stored on the rear of the main body 100 . It will be apparent that the range of movement of the floor tool which is permitted by the locking mechanism is matched to the angle through which the tool 40 needs to be rotated so as to allow the floor tool to lie alongside the main body 100 when the vacuum cleaner is to be stored.
- the barrel connection between the first pipe 83 and the housing 81 allows unrestricted movement between the operating position and a storage position.
- the nature of the barrel connection, incorporating the annular seal 89 provides a comparatively stiff connection and thus the floor tool 99 is less likely to ‘flop’ into the storage position when the wand assembly 160 is lifted away from the floor surface.
- a similar mechanism to that shown in FIG. 6 can be incorporated into the barrel connection to provide that a release mechanism must be operated by a user before the tool 99 can be moved from an operating position to a storage position.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
- Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
Abstract
A cleaning head, such as a floor tool, for a cleaning appliance has a housing with a floor engaging face and an outlet for fitting to a wand of the cleaning appliance which includes a linkage for coupling the housing to the wand. The linkage is movable between an operative position, in which the outlet extends parallel to or at a positive angle with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head, and a storage position in which the outlet extends at a negative angel with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head. The linkage may alternatively take the form of a barrel joint. The cleaning head can be used with a cleaning appliance in which the wand is retained alongside the main body. In the storage position, the cleaning appliance.
Description
- This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner.
- Cylinder or canister vacuum cleaners, an example of which is shown in
FIG. 1 , generally comprise amain body 10 which houses separating apparatus 11 such as a cyclonic separator or a bag for separating dirt and dust from an incoming dirty airflow. The dirty airflow is introduced to themain body 10 via a hose andwand assembly main body 10. Themain body 10 of the cleaner is dragged along by thehose 15 as a user moves around a room. A cleaning tool is attached to the remote end of the hose andwand assembly stair tools 19a andbrush tools 19 b. However, for general on-the-floor cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is normally provided with afloor tool 20. -
FIG. 2 shows a known floor tool of the type manufactured and sold by Dyson Limited. Thefloor tool 20 comprises a lower floor-engaging face 30, commonly known as a sole plate, which, in use, slides across a floor surface. Thesole plate 30 defines asuction opening 31 which faces the floor surface and serves, in use, to expose the floor surface to suction sufficient to generate an airflow which will remove dirt and debris from the surface. Thetool 20 also comprises anoutlet 41, 42 which allows the floor tool to be attached to the wand 16 (FIG. 1 ) and a short connectingduct 45 for carrying airflow from thesole plate 30 to theoutlet 41, 42. The connectingduct 45 has a pair of floorengaging wheels 35 mounted on it. In use, this arrangement translates a user's pushing and pulling movement of thewand 16 to a gliding movement of thesole plate 30 over the floor surface. - The
outlet 41, 42 of thetool 20 can be moved through a range of positions with respect to the remainder of the tool. This is due to the articulated connection provided between theoutlet 41, 42 and the connectingduct 45. A first part 41 of the outlet is pivotably connected to theconnecting duct 45 so as to be rotatable about ahorizontal axis 43, which provides theoutlet 41, 42 with the ability to move through a range of angles in a vertical movement (see arrow A inFIG. 2 ). Asecond part 42 of the outlet, which includes an angled bend, is rotatably connected to the first part 41 so as to be rotatable about thelongitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 (see arrow B inFIG. 2 ). In its lowermost position, shown inFIG. 2 , theoutlet 41, 42 rests just above the floor surface, with thelongitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lying substantially parallel to the floor surface. However, theoutlet 41, 42 can be moved to an uppermost position in which thelongitudinal axis 44 of the first part 41 lies at an angle of around 45° to the floor surface with the second-part 42 extending away from the floor surface at a larger angle. This range of movement helps to allow thetool 20 to remain in contact with the floor surface as thetool 20 is manoeuvred across the floor surface by a user. It also allows a user to align thetool 20 in a new direction. - It is known to provide a socket on the main body of the vacuum cleaner and a hook on the floor tool so that a user can ‘park’ the wand in a storage position (see
socket 18 and hook 17 inFIG. 1 ). When the wand is parked, it is positioned substantially vertically so as to be grasped readily by a user. In this manner, the user does not need to bend down to retrieve the wand from the floor. A user may also choose to park the wand in this manner when the vacuum cleaner is stored. Although this feature is useful, the vacuum cleaner and wand are still quite cumbersome to carry from one place to another and the cleaner is not particularly easy to store in areas having limited space. In other cases, a user may simply leave the floor tool and wand lying next to the main body of the vacuum cleaner, which is both untidy and dangerous. - The present invention seeks to improve the available storage of a cleaning head of a cleaning appliance.
- The present invention provides a cleaning head for a cleaning appliance comprising a housing having a floor-engaging face, means for allowing the housing to travel across a floor surface, an outlet for fitting to a wand of the cleaning appliance, and a linkage for coupling the housing to the outlet, wherein the linkage is arranged such that the outlet is movable between an operative position, in which the outlet lies parallel to, or at a positive angle with respect to, the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head, and a storage position in which the outlet lies at a negative angle with respect to the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head.
- By allowing the outlet to be positioned so as to lie at a negative angle with respect to the floor-engaging face of the cleaning head, the cleaning head can be stored conveniently alongside the main body of a cleaning appliance; This is particularly useful where the cleaning head is used in combination with a cleaning appliance in which the wand of the cleaning appliance is retained alongside the main body of the cleaning. In use, the wand is brought alongside, and retained against, the main body of the cleaning appliance and the cleaning head is moved into the storage position. This provides a tidy, convenient and economical storage solution.
- Preferably the outlet is positively retained in the storage position. This has the advantage that, in normal use, the cleaning head does not ‘flop’ into the storage position which can be irritating. The manner in which the cleaning head is positively retained can take the form of a manually operable release mechanism, with the linkage being arranged such that the outlet can only be moved to and/or from the storage position by operation of the control. This has the advantage of being reliable and easily manufacturable.
- The linkage can comprise a force-transmitting coupling between the housing and the outlet together with a flexible hose for carrying fluid flow between the housing and the outlet. This arrangement can provide a good quality seal between the main housing and outlet, since the fluid flow is always carried by a hose which is reliably sealed at each end thereof. The force-transmitting coupling can comprise a pair of arms, one arm lying on each side of the flexible hose. This allows the hose to flex freely into a new position when it is required to do so.
- Alternatively, the linkage of the cleaning head can comprise a hollow duct, the duct serving to transmit a force between the outlet and the housing and to carry fluid flow between the housing and the outlet. In such an arrangement, there is a requirement to provide a reliable seal at each end of the duct.
- A form of connection which provides a good range of movement is a barrel connection between the housing and the outlet, with the rotational axis of the connection lying substantially parallel to the plane of the floor-engaging face. A range of movement of around 180° is possible.
- In the embodiments which are described hereafter, the tool takes the form of a turbine-driven tool for use with a vacuum cleaner. However, it will be readily apparent that the turbine is not essential to the invention and, as such, the invention could equally be applied to tools which are entirely passive (i.e. relying solely on suction, with no agitation of the floor surface, such as the
tool 20 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 ) or tools which include a dedicated motor for driving a brush bar. - Although the invention is described in detail with reference to a vacuum cleaner, it will be appreciated that it can also be applied to other forms of cleaning appliance. The term “cleaning appliance” is intended to have a broad meaning, and includes a wide range of machines having a main body and a wand for carrying fluid to or from a floor surface. It includes, inter alia, machines which only apply suction to the surface, such as vacuum cleaners (including dry, wet and wet/dry variants), so as to draw material from the surface, as well as machines which apply material to the surface, such as polishing/waxing machines, pressure washing machines and shampooing machines.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows a known type of vacuum cleaner and floor tool; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional side view through the floor tool ofFIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; - FIGS. 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention;
-
FIG. 6 shows a mechanism forming part of the tool of FIGS. 3 to 5; - FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of a floor tool according to the invention; and
-
FIG. 10 illustrates the use of a floor tool according to the invention in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner. - FIGS. 3 to 5 show an embodiment of the invention in the form of a
tool 40 which is adapted to be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.FIGS. 3 and 4 show thetool 40 in different operating positions andFIG. 5 shows thetool 40 in a storage position. - The
tool 40 has amain housing 50 which houses the main components of the tool. Awheel 54 is rotatably mounted to each side of thehousing 50 to allow thetool 40 to be moved easily across a floor surface. The forward, generally hood-shaped,part 51 of thehousing 50 and alower plate 55, or sole plate, together define achamber 42 which houses a rotatably mountedbrush bar 52. Thelower plate 55 defines asuction opening 53 through whichbristles 52a mounted on thebrush bar 52 protrude as the brush bar rotates so as to agitate the floor surface and thereby enhance the amount of dirt and dust released from the floor covering. This action maximises the pick-up performance of thecleaning head 40, particularly on carpeted floor surfaces. Thehousing 50 also houses a turbine (not shown) for driving thebrushbar 52. An air inlet delivers ambient air to the turbine and ducting feeds exhaust air from the turbine towards theoutlet 44 of thetool 40. A belt or geared connection (not shown) connects the output shaft of the turbine to thebrushbar 52. - The
outlet 44 of thetool 40 comprises collectively the parts labelled 60 to 66. Afirst connector 61 is rotatably mounted to the rear ofhousing 50. Thefirst connector 61 is rotatable about theaxis 66. Asecond connector 60 is connected to thefirst connector 61 by means of a pair ofrigid arms 62 and aflexible hose 65. Thearms 62, one lying on each side ofhose 65, provide a mechanical, force-transmitting connection between theconnectors flexible hose 65 carries airflow between theconnectors suction opening 53 to theconnector 60. Eacharm 62 is pivotably connected to thefirst connector 61 about anaxis 63 and to thesecond connector 60 about anaxis 64. Thesecond connector 60 is adapted to be connected to a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner as is shown inFIG. 1 . Thesecond connector 60 is illustrated as having a latching type of connection with the wand but this connection can equally take the form of a simple interference fit or any other suitable form. -
FIG. 3 shows thetool 40 in its lowest normal operating position, of the sort which a user may adopt when using thetool 40 to clean the floor surface beneath an object or an item of furniture, such as a bed. It will be seen that theoutlet 44, and particularly the extent of theaxis 67 of thesecond connector 60, lie generally alongside or above the floor surface which is being cleaned. When thefloor tool 40 is connected to the wand of a vacuum cleaner, the wand will lie along theaxis 67 of thesecond connector 60. In contrast,FIG. 4 shows thetool 40 in its uppermost operating position, with thelongitudinal axis 67 of thesecond connector 60, and hence the longitudinal axis of a wand attached to thefloor tool 40, lying generally perpendicular to the floor surface. The reason for allowing thesecond connector 60 to adopt this position is so that a user can ‘park’ the wand during cleaning, i.e. a user can place the wand into this upright position and it will remain in this position without falling over. It can be seen that theflexible hose 65 has flexed into a new position inFIG. 4 . - In both of the positions illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4 , the outlet extends at what is herein termed a “positive angle” with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head. By this we mean that, when the floor tool is used on a generally horizontal floor surface, the outlet extends upwardly away from that surface. -
FIG. 5 shows thetool 40 in a storage position. In this position, thesecond connector 60 has been rotated clockwise from the position shown inFIG. 3 so that theoutlet 44 points downwardly with respect to thelower plate 55 of thetool 40. Thelongitudinal axis 67 of thesecond connector 60 is shown as lying substantially perpendicular to the plane of thelower plate 55 although it is perfectly possible for thelongitudinal axis 67 of thesecond connector 60 to lie at an angle of less than 90° or more than 90° with respect thereto. What is important is that the angle at which theaxis 67 of thesecond connector 60 lies has been greatly reduced with respect to the plane of thelower plate 55. Whereas, during use, the angle between the plane of the lower plate and theoutlet 44 in general should be at least 180°, so as to allow the floor surface to be cleaned to be accommodated, the angle between theoutlet 44 and thelower plate 55 in the storage position should be considerably less. An angle of substantially 90° is preferred, although variances of up to 30° are acceptable. - In the position illustrated in
FIG. 5 , the outlet extends at what is herein termed a “negative angle” with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head. By this we mean that, if the floor tool were to be placed on a generally horizontal floor surface, the outlet would extend downwardly through that surface. - The
cleaner head 40 described above also incorporates a release mechanism which is mounted on thesecond connector 60.FIG. 6 shows the release mechanism in detail. - The release mechanism serves several purposes: it limits the angle through which the
second connector 60 can be rotated with respect to thearms 62 so as to define the positions shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 , and it also defines a limit for the storage position of the tool. - As described above, the
arms 62 are pivotably mounted to thesecond connector 60 about anaxis 64. The end of eacharm 62 adjacent thesecond connector 60 incorporates a generally disc-shapedportion 62 a in which anotch 62 b is formed. Thenotch 62 b has a first face 62 c and asecond face 62 d. Twoprojections second connector 60 in a direction parallel to theaxis 64. Anedge 73 ofprojection 72 facing thearm 62 defines a stop for the storage position of thetool 40. When thesecond connector 60 is rotated into the storage position, theedge 73 abuts against thelowermost side 71 of thearm 62. - A locking
member 74 is pivotably mounted on theconnector 60 about anaxis 75 which lies parallel to theaxis 64. The lockingmember 74 has a first arm 74 a and asecond arm 74 b. Acompression spring 76 acts between the first part 74 a and theprojection 70 so as to bias the locking member clockwise into the position shown inFIG. 6 . In this position, thesecond arm 74 b projects into thenotch 62 b. The shape of the distal end of thesecond arm 74 b is such that, when thesecond arm 74 b projects into thenotch 62 b, thearm 62 is free to rotate relative to the lockingmember 74 through a predetermined angle X. At the extremes of the range of movement, one of the first and second faces 62 c, 62 d will abut against an edge of thesecond arm 74 b. One of the positions shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 will be adopted at each extreme position. - When the cleaning head is to be brought into the storage position, the first arm 74 a is depressed, against the bias of
spring 76, towards theprojection 70. This causes the lockingmember 74 to rotate about theaxis 75 in an anticlockwise direction. The distal end of thesecond arm 74 b then moves out of thenotch 62 b, thus allowing the disc-shapedportion 62 a to move beyond the position illustrated inFIG. 6 . Thesecond connector 60 can thus rotate with respect to thearm 62 until theedge 73 of theprojection 72 abuts against thelower side 71 of thearm 62. - It is possible to remove the locking
member 74 so that thetool 40 can move freely between an operating position and a storage position without the need for a user to operate a release mechanism such as the lockingmember 74, but we have found that this can make the tool difficult to use, since the tool will tend to flop into the storage position whenever the wand is pointed upwards. - FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a
floor tool 99 which can be fitted to the end of a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner. -
FIGS. 7 and 8 show thetool 99 in an operating position andFIG. 9 shows the tool 100 in a storage position. - As before, the
tool 99 has amain housing 81 which houses the main components of the tool with awheel 82 rotatably mounted on each side of thehousing 81. However, the outlet of thetool 99 has a different form from that described above. In this arrangement, the outlet comprises afirst pipe 83 and asecond pipe 84. Thefirst pipe 83 is rotatably connected to the rear of thehousing 81 by a barrel connection, which is best shown in the plan view ofFIG. 8 . Airflow into thefirst pipe 83 is via a circular aperture on the side of thefirst pipe 83. The circular aperture is defined by anannular flange 87. A similarly shapedannular flange 88 is formed on the rear of thehousing 81 and anannular seal 89 is located between the twoflanges flanges seal 89 are held in an airtight manner against one another by thehousing 50. Thefirst pipe 83 is rotatable with respect to thehousing 81 about anaxis 94 which lies parallel to the lower plate of thetool 99 and provides a range of movement in the vertical plane. Thesecond pipe 84 is rotatably connected to thefirst pipe 83 about the longitudinal axis of thefirst pipe 83. - The
first pipe 83 is movable through an angle of around 180° with respect to themain housing 81. It is movable between an operative position in which thefirst pipe 83 points upwards, with thelongitudinal axis 86 of thesecond pipe 84 extending generally upwards, away from the surface being cleaned, and a position similar to that shown inFIG. 9 in which thefirst pipe 83 points downwards, with the longitudinal axis of thefirst pipe 83 forming an angle of substantially less than 180° with the plane of the base of the tool. Thewheels 82 are each supported on ashort axle 95 which projects outwardly from the rear of thehousing 81. The rear part of thehousing 81 is shaped so as to allow thefirst pipe 83 to rotate into the storage position shown inFIG. 9 without contacting thehousing 81. - The
tool 99 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 is a turbine tool. A firstair outlet duct 90 leads from the suction opening to thefirst pipe 83 and a second air outlet duct 91 leads from theturbine 96 to thefirst pipe 83. Each side of thefirst pipe 83 has a circular aperture and flange arrangement of the type described above. In a simplified tool having no turbine, or in a tool in which the airflow leading from the suction opening is used to drive the turbine, there need only be a single circular opening and flange on one side of thefirst pipe 83. In such a case, one side of theoutlet pipe 83 will simply form part of the wall of thefirst pipe 83. -
FIG. 10 shows a cleaning appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner incorporating thecleaning tool 40 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. The vacuum cleaner has a main body 100 which supports the main components of the vacuum cleaner. In a traditional manner, the main body 100 has achassis 110 which supports separating and collectingapparatus 120 and a motor-driven fan (not shown) for generating suction for drawing dirt laden air into the separatingapparatus 120. The main body 100 also has twomain wheels 112, one on each side of the rear portion of thechassis 110, and acastor wheel 113 located beneath the front portion of thechassis 110, which allow the main body 100 to be manoeuvred across a floor surface. It will be understood that thewheels separating apparatus 120 is not important to the invention. Whilst we prefer to use cyclonic separators which spin dirt, dust and debris from the airflow, other forms of separator can be used and examples of suitable separator technology include an inertial separator, a filter bag, a porous container, an electrostatic separator or a liquid-based separator. - In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 10 , the separatingapparatus 120 comprises two generally cylindrical separating chambers which lie alongside one another. The separatingapparatus 120 is removably mounted on thechassis 110 to facilitate emptying and to provide access to components located beneath the separatingapparatus 120. - A
flexible hose 150 is connected at a first end thereof to aninlet port 151 on the main body 100 and awand assembly 160 is connected to a second end of thehose 150. The main body 100 of the cleaner is manoeuvred across a floor surface via thehose 150 as a user moves around a room. Thehose 150 has a construction which is robust enough to withstand this pulling action, together with any normal abrasion which may be encountered as thehose 150 comes into contact with obstacles in a room. - Ducting on the
chassis 110 connects theair inlet port 151 to an inlet to theseparating apparatus 120. For acyclonic separating apparatus 120, the inlet to the separating apparatus is arranged to guide incoming airflow through the wall of the chamber of the cyclonic separator in a tangential manner. - A
suitable wand assembly 160 is described in our co-pending International Patent Application WO 02/071913. The wand comprises a set of three tubes of progressively decreasing diameter. The tubes can telescope inside one another and are retractably housed inside astorage tube 165. The three tubes can be moved between a stored configuration and an extended configuration in which one tube is extended from another such that only the ends of the tubes overlap one another. Securing mechanisms secure the tubes in an extended position. - The distal end of the
wand assembly 160 has aconnector 280 which is adapted to receive the floor tool described above. The floor tool can be connected to theconnector 280 by means of an interference fit, interconnecting bayonet fittings, snap-fit connections, a screw threaded collar and sleeve, or by any other suitable means. Ahandle 200 is connected tostorage tube 165 to allow a user to manipulate thewand 160. Theflexible hose 150 is connected to thestorage tube 165 by anoutlet connector 168 which is rotatable about the axis X-X′. This part of thewand assembly 160 is described more fully in our International Patent Application WO 01/50940. - For ease of storage, and ease of carrying, the
wand assembly 160 can be attached to the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner. The length of thestorage tube 165 is substantially equal to the length of the part of the main body 100 against which thewand assembly 160 is stored. In this manner, thewand assembly 160 does not protrude substantially beyond the limits of the main body 100 when it is fully retracted and stored on the main body 100. - The
wand assembly 160 is stored alongside the uppermost surface of the main body 100. In this embodiment, the upper surface of theseparating apparatus 120, which itself is releasable from the remainder of thechassis 110 for emptying, is the part of the main body against which thewand 160 is secured. Fittings located on thestorage tube 165 of thewand assembly 160 cooperate with complementary fittings on the upper surface of theseparating apparatus 120 to retain thestorage tube 165 in the stored position. - When a user wishes to store the vacuum cleaner, the user brings the
storage tube 165 of thewand assembly 160, in its fully retracted configuration, alongside the uppermost face of the main body 100 and locks thewand assembly 160 in position on the main body 100. Thefloor tool 40 can remain attached to the end of thewand assembly 160. The user then operates the release mechanism shown inFIG. 6 by depressing the first arm 74 a of the lockingmember 74 so as to rotate themain housing 50 of the tool into the storage position, as shown inFIG. 10 . The base of thefloor tool 40 now lies alongside the rear surface of the main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner. Thefloor tool 40 can rest alongsideother tools 170 which are stored on the rear of the main body 100. It will be apparent that the range of movement of the floor tool which is permitted by the locking mechanism is matched to the angle through which thetool 40 needs to be rotated so as to allow the floor tool to lie alongside the main body 100 when the vacuum cleaner is to be stored. - If, alternatively, the vacuum cleaner is to incorporate the
cleaning tool 99 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the barrel connection between thefirst pipe 83 and thehousing 81 allows unrestricted movement between the operating position and a storage position. The nature of the barrel connection, incorporating theannular seal 89, provides a comparatively stiff connection and thus thefloor tool 99 is less likely to ‘flop’ into the storage position when thewand assembly 160 is lifted away from the floor surface. However, if required, a similar mechanism to that shown inFIG. 6 can be incorporated into the barrel connection to provide that a release mechanism must be operated by a user before thetool 99 can be moved from an operating position to a storage position.
Claims (19)
1. A cleaning head for a cleaning appliance comprising a housing having a floor engaging face, a rolling structure allowing the housing to travel across a floor surface, and an outlet for fitting to a wand of the cleaning appliance, the outlet comprising a linkage for coupling the housing to the wand,
wherein the linkage is configured so that the outlet is movable between an operative position, in which the outlet extends parallel to or at a positive angle with respect the floor engaging face of the cleaning head, and a storage position in which the outlet extends at a negative angle with respect to the floor engaging face of the cleaning head.
2. A cleaning head according to claim 1 , further comprising a manually operable release mechanism and wherein the linkage is configured so that the outlet can only be moved to or from the storage position by operation of the release mechanism.
3. A cleaning head according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the linkage comprises a force-transmitting coupling between the housing and the outlet and a flexible hose for carrying fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
4. A cleaning head according to claim 3 , wherein the force-transmitting coupling comprises a pair of arms, one arm lying on each side of the flexible hose.
5. A cleaning head according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the linkage comprises a hollow duct for carrying fluid flow between the housing and the outlet.
6. A cleaning head according to claim 5 , wherein the linkage comprises a barrel connection between the housing and the outlet, the rotational axis of the connection lying substantially parallel to the plane of the floor engaging face.
7. A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a main body, a wand assembly configured to carry fluid to or from the main body, a retainer retaining the wand on the main body in a position in which a substantial part of the wand lies alongside the main body and a cleaning head according to claims claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cleaning head, when in a storage position, is able to remain connected to the wand and lies alongside the main body of the cleaning appliance.
8. A cleaning appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the wand assembly comprises a plurality of telescopically connected tubes which can be moved between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, and wherein a substantial part of the length of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
9. A cleaning appliance according to claim 8 , wherein substantially all of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
10. A cleaning appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the retainer retains the wand on an upper surface of the main body.
11. A cleaning appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the retainer retains the wand in a position generally along the longitudinal axis of the main body and the cleaning head, in its storage position, lies alongside the front or rear of the main body of the cleaning appliance.
12. A vacuum cleaner comprising the cleaning appliance according to claim 7 .
13. (Canceled)
14. A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a main body, a wand assembly configured to carry fluid to or from the main body, a retainer retaining the wand on the main body in a position in which a substantial part of the wand lies alongside the main body and a cleaning head according to claim 3 , wherein the cleaning head, when in a storage position, is able to remain connected to the wand and lies alongside the main body of the cleaning appliance.
15. A cleaning appliance according to claim 14 , wherein the wand assembly comprises a plurality of telescopically connected tubes which can be moved between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, and wherein a substantial part of the length of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
16. A cleaning appliance according to claim 15 , wherein substantially all of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
17. A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a main body, a wand assembly configured to carry fluid to or from the main body, a retainer retaining the wand on the main body in a position in which a substantial part of the wand lies alongside the main body and a cleaning head according to claim 5 , wherein the cleaning head, when in a storage position, is able to remain connected to the wand and lies alongside the main body of the cleaning appliance.
18. A cleaning appliance according to claim 17 , wherein the wand assembly comprises a plurality of telescopically connected tubes which can be moved between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, and wherein a substantial part of the length of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
19. A cleaning appliance according to claim 18 , wherein substantially all of the wand, in the retracted configuration, lies alongside the main body.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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GB0312282A GB2402047B (en) | 2003-05-29 | 2003-05-29 | A cleaning head |
GB0312282.7 | 2003-05-29 | ||
PCT/GB2004/002198 WO2004105569A1 (en) | 2003-05-29 | 2004-05-21 | A cleaning head |
Publications (1)
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US20070174994A1 true US20070174994A1 (en) | 2007-08-02 |
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US10/557,482 Abandoned US20070174994A1 (en) | 2003-05-29 | 2004-05-21 | Cleaning head |
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US (1) | US20070174994A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1628561A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4276260B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN100493434C (en) |
AU (1) | AU2004243218B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2527423A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2402047B (en) |
MY (1) | MY136311A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004105569A1 (en) |
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- 2004-05-21 US US10/557,482 patent/US20070174994A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-05-21 JP JP2006508371A patent/JP4276260B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-05-21 EP EP04734276A patent/EP1628561A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-05-21 WO PCT/GB2004/002198 patent/WO2004105569A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-05-21 AU AU2004243218A patent/AU2004243218B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2004-05-28 MY MYPI20042066A patent/MY136311A/en unknown
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Cited By (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20070157425A1 (en) * | 2003-04-25 | 2007-07-12 | Smiths Groups Plc | Vacuum cleaner apparatus with a retractable hoses |
US20090188997A1 (en) * | 2008-01-24 | 2009-07-30 | Mark Rosenzweig | Reconfigurable airflow wand |
US8296901B2 (en) | 2008-01-24 | 2012-10-30 | Euro-Pro Operating Llc | Reconfigurable airflow wand |
US20100229315A1 (en) * | 2009-03-12 | 2010-09-16 | Euro-Pro Operating Llc | Handle for surface cleaning apparatus |
US20100229336A1 (en) * | 2009-03-13 | 2010-09-16 | G.B.D. Corp. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US9138114B2 (en) | 2009-03-13 | 2015-09-22 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US9386895B2 (en) | 2009-03-13 | 2016-07-12 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
CN103501403A (en) * | 2013-09-27 | 2014-01-08 | 青岛歌尔声学科技有限公司 | Pop-up mechanism and camera |
US10321794B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-06-18 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10441124B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-10-15 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10136780B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2018-11-27 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10292550B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-05-21 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US9962050B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2018-05-08 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10405711B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-09-10 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10413141B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-09-17 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10433689B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-10-08 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10441125B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2019-10-15 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10136779B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2018-11-27 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US10729295B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2020-08-04 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
US11478117B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2022-10-25 | Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. | Surface cleaning apparatus |
KR20220112425A (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2022-08-11 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Cleaner |
KR20220140231A (en) | 2021-04-09 | 2022-10-18 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Cleaner |
KR20230086156A (en) | 2021-12-08 | 2023-06-15 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Cleaner |
KR20240050098A (en) | 2022-10-11 | 2024-04-18 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Nozzle for cleaner |
KR20240085006A (en) | 2022-12-07 | 2024-06-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Cleaner |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2004243218B2 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
CN100493434C (en) | 2009-06-03 |
GB0312282D0 (en) | 2003-07-02 |
AU2004243218A1 (en) | 2004-12-09 |
CA2527423A1 (en) | 2004-12-09 |
CN1791346A (en) | 2006-06-21 |
JP4276260B2 (en) | 2009-06-10 |
GB2402047B (en) | 2006-07-19 |
JP2006525845A (en) | 2006-11-16 |
MY136311A (en) | 2008-09-30 |
EP1628561A1 (en) | 2006-03-01 |
GB2402047A (en) | 2004-12-01 |
WO2004105569A1 (en) | 2004-12-09 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ALLARD, MATTHEW JAMES ROGER;DYSON, JAMES;SPAVEN, JOHN WILLIAM;REEL/FRAME:018717/0577;SIGNING DATES FROM 20051101 TO 20060113 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |