WO1992018045A1

WO1992018045A1 - Devices for vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO1992018045A1
Application number: PCT/SE1992/000238
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allan Furendal
Original assignee: Allan Furendal
Priority date: 1991-04-11
Filing date: 1992-04-10
Publication date: 1992-10-29
Also published as: SE9101079D0; AU1553392A; SE9101079L; SE468236B

Abstract

The basic idea of the invention, relating to various devices for vacuum cleaners, is to achieve a technical solution enabling the user to use the equipment as walking and standing support, vacuum in upright position, change hose, nozzle, shaft and other accessories, and adjust the length of the tube while standing upright, operate the other functions while standing upright. The basic idea of the invention is implemented by applying the vacuum cleaner on a trolley dirigible from upright position, or by combining trolley and vacuum cleaner to a single unit, by providing the trolley with steering bar/walking support at a suitable level, by making the shaft of the vacuum cleaner movable to upright position and providing it with a coupling at a suitable level for exchanging accessories, by providing other devices according to the invention with controls located where they can be operated from upright position.

Description

Devices for vacuum cleaner

The present invention relates to devices for and arrangement of vacuum cleaner enabling the user:

A to start and stop the machine, connect hoses, change nozzle, adjust the length of the tube and operate other functions, while standing in an upright position,

B to perform vacuuming in an upright position,

C to vacuum cleaning in places difficult to access, such as under beds, bureaux, etc., in an upright position

D to use the equipment as walking and standing support, when carrying out A - C.

The invention can also be used as a wet suction cleaner or a combined wet and vacuum cleaner. The arrangement can also be combined with other cleaning equipment.

Vacuum cleaners used in homes and for premises of moderate size are of various types, but common to them all is that they are operated close to floor level. The user must therefore bend down to start, stop and control the equipment, connect tubes, hoses, suction nozzles, etc. Even while actually cleaning the user is forced to stand and walk leaning forward. Admittedly chargeable vacuum cleaners with long tubes exist which allow vacuuming to be performed in an upright position or leaning slightly forward. Large vacuum cleaners intended for use in industry, hospitals and so on also exist, that are equipped with some of the functions utilized in the present invention. However, none of these fulfils the important demands featured in the present invention.

Many people performing vacuum cleaning both at home and professionally are subjected to strain causes by the working position normal with conventional vacuum cleaners. It is a well known fact that vacuuming causes back problems as well as other injurious stress. People with reduced mobility or reduced muscular strength caused by a physical handicap or age-related reduced mobility are often unable to use a vacuum cleaner. The present invention eliminates the drawbacks characteristic of conventional vacuum cleaners and offers new opportunities for these groups of people to carry out their own vacuum cleaning. Even people with normal mobility will benefit from this invention both at home and professionally.

The present invention is characterised in that a vacuum cleaner is applied on a dirigible trolley. The vacuum may be connected to the mains or battery driven. The vacuum cleaner and trolley may also be manufactured as a single unit Certain standard vacuum cleaners, primarily those intended for professional use, have a wide wheel base and good manoeuvrability. This type of vacuum cleaner can be provided with supplementary devices in order to fulfil the requirements according to the present invention.

Additional characteristics of the present invention are revealed in the appended claims and the accompanying drawings with explanatory text.

Figure 1 illustrates a vacuum cleaner 1 applied on a trolley 2, and other essential devices characterising the invention. According to the invention the trolley and vacuum cleaner may be built as a single unit but the devices otherwise will be substantially the same.

In Figure 1 the vacuum cleaner is positioned vertically, which is best if it is long and narrow in shape. Vacuum cleaners with a more compact shape are suitably positioned horizontally.

The arrangement shall be provided with a frame 3 and a steering bar 4. The frame a steering bar are preferably manufactured in one piece, e.g. from a bent metal tube as shown in Figure la. The frame may also be used for attaching vacuum cleaner, controls, etc. The arrangement may also be equipped with handles 5 which may also be exchangeable and adapted for various types of handicap or other individual requirements. The steering bar 4 is located at a level enabling the user to operate the equipment in an upright position. It is practical for the frame to be made vertically adjustable, 6, for individual adjustment.

The tube 7 of the vacuum cleaner is provided with an attachment 8 which should be jointed so that the tube can be moved to vertical position 9 where it can be clamped by means of a bayonet coupling 9 A. The tube attachment 8 is suitably secured to the frame but may alternatively be applied on the trolley, 8 A. The attachment 8 must thus be jointed in vertical direction. It must be stable laterally so that the tube follows the movement of the trolley without becoming displaced laterally. However, the attachment may also be provided with an extra joint to permit lateral movement, thereby giving greater accessibility in cramped spaces. Such an extra lateral joint must be operable and lockable from an upright position. The vertical joint and lateral joint if any may be of traditional type, such as hinges, sliding, ball, roller or disc bearings as 8 in Figure 2.

The tube 7 should be of telescopic construction 10 so that its length can be adjusted. It may consist of two or more parts. The tube shall also be equipped with a bayonet coupling 11 located at such a distance from the attachment 8, 8 A, that it will be approximately on a level with or just below the steering bar when the tube is moved to vertical position. In said vertical position the user can, while standing upright, adjust the length of the tube by means of the telescopic function. In this position also the bayonet coupling can be used to change to a different accessory. When vacuuming furniture, e.g. beds, located above floor level, the user can fit a hose and other equipment for manual vacuuming. Even when performing this type of manual vacuuming, the trolley can be used as a support, placing one hand on it and vacuuming with the other. The possibility of vacuuming manually may be practical for other places difficult to access, even on floor level.

The tube is used extended to its full length primarily when vacuuming under beds. If the distance from the front of the trolley to the suction nozzle is set at about 2 m it is possible to vacuum under double beds from the short end, assuming that there is sufficient space in the room otherwise. In Figure 5, described later, devices are described which enable the length of the tube to be adjusted while vacuuming is in progress, without raising the tube to vertical position.

Raising and lowering the tube is achieved using controls placed on or in the vicinity of the steering bar, or possibly using a foot pedal so that the user can performed the operation in an upright position. The grip of the operating controls can be designed to suitable various types of handicap or other individual requirements. The tube can be raised or lowered manually or by a purely mechani:al device, with the aid of an electric motor or pneumatically by utilizing the suction and/or exhaust of the vacuum cleaner. In the latter case commercially available pneumatic cylinders with plungers driven by over pressure and/or under pressure are used.

Figure 2 illustrates a mechanical device for operating the tube. The operation is performed with the aid of a wheel 12 provided with adjustable slip brakes and a drum on which a "Venetian blind cord" 13 is wound, the other end of the cord being attached to the tube at 14. This arrangement has also proved valuable when vacuuming soft rugs lying on hard, polished floors. It has been found that releasing the suction of the nozzle slightly with the aid of the wheel 12 prevents the rugs from slipping and rolling up. The weight of the nozzle and tube, i.e. pressure against the floor combined with the suction effect otherwise cause loose rugs and the like to be displaced.

The device according to Figure 2 may be supplemented by an electric motor if the user, due to some handicap or the like, is unable to operate it by hand.

The tube shall be applied so that when in lowered position it is at a slight angle to the floor as shown in Figure 1. It is thus possible to stand upright while vacuuming under beds and other places which are normally difficult to reach with a vacuum cleaner. To further improve accessibility under extremely low pieces of furniture such as bureaux, see 15 in Figure 3, the standard nozzle may be replaced by a special nozzle 16 having a height of about 30 mm, combined with a bent tube 17. Since the tube 17 is bent its outermost part will be parallel to the floor, thereby enabling vacuuming underneath low pieces of furniture. The suction gap of the specially designed long, narrow nozzle 16 should be narrowest nearest to the tube, becoming wider towards the other end. Suction is thus achieved along the entire length of the special nozzle. The bent tube 17 may of course also be used together with the standard nozzle.

In cramped spaces such as corridors, between beds and walls, etc. accessibility can be further improved by providing the tube with a bend 18 as shown in Figure 4, this bend being adjustable in both directions. This is most easily achieved using a tube with a 90° angle, provided with a connection and dimension to suit commercially available vacuum- cleaner equipment. The bend may of course be designed continuously adjustable up to an angle of about 90°. In Figure 4, 15 denotes a low bureau, 16 the previously described special nozzle and 17 the bent tube. This technical solution with a bent tube and angled bend can also be used with a standard nozzle.

The rectangularly shaped standard nozzle provided as part of the equipment for all commercially available vacuum cleaners of normal size is generally used for vacuuming floor surfaces. This nozzle is so designed that its angle to the tube can be altered by turning the shaft. This provides access to corners. According to the present invention this turning of the tube can be achieved with the aid of wires operated from the steering rod, which lead to a device transmitting the movement to the tube.

As stated above, the present invention is characterised in that the vacuum cleaner is mounted on or combined with a trolley. Vacuuming is thus steered by steering the whole trolley. Devices can also be added which allow the tube to perform various types of movements. In the simplest case a to and fro movement is achieved in the longitudinal direction of the tube, e.g. by exploiting the telescopic function of the tube. With such a device the user need only steer the trolley laterally in order to vacuum a certain area. Such a device is also valuable in the cramped areas often occurring in a home. Space is often limited, for instance, when vacuuming in a bedroom with double beds. Using a telescopic tube, the length of which can be adjusted from the steering handle enables restricted areas to be vacuumed. Figure 5 shows a device in which 7 denotes a telescopic tube the length of which is adjusted by means of a helical spring 19 surrounding the tube nearest the suction nozzle 20. The helical spring is attached to the tube with a flange 21. The end of the spring rests against a second flange 22 which is secured to the outer tube. A wire 23, or preferably one on each side of the tube, is attached to an eye 24 anchored in the flange 21. The wire leads to the steering bar where it can be operated and produces the movement 25 along the outermost part of the telescopic tube. The wire can be operated manually or it can be operated with the aid of an electric motor, or pneumatically, possible in cooperation with the same source as described earlier for effecting raising and lowering of the tube. If the movement 25 illustrated in Figure 5 is produced by a motor or the like, a continuous movement can be achieved which facilitates vacuuming. The device described according to Figure 5 has proved to have another advantage. The spring construction also produces a buffer effect which reduces the impact of the nozzle against skirting-boards and furniture during vacuuming.

Vacuuming is often performed in poorly lit areas. We have found it advisable to provide the equipment with illumination to illuminate the area being cleaned. This may advantageously be placed at the front of the trolley, on the actual nozzle or on the suction tube.

The nozzle of the vacuum cleaner may be replaced by a washing device such as a floor mop or sponge, in which case the other functions according to the invention can also be utilized.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. .Devices for and arrangement of vacuum cleaner, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner is applied on a dirigible trolley provided with frame and steering bar or such height as to enable the user to manoeuvre the trolley in upright position,

that the tube is fitted to the trolley by means of a jointed attachment enabling the tube to be moved from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position and down again, said movement of the tube being effected with the aid of a device which the user can regulate from an upright position.

2. Devices for and arrangement of vacuum cleaner, characterised in that switches to start and stop the vacuum cleaner, controls for the suction capacity and other controls are located on the steering bar, frame or directly on the vacuum cleaner at a convenient level for the user to be able to utilize these functions from an upright position.

3. Device for vacuum cleaner, characterised in that the tube is provided with a coupling located at such a distance from the attachment that said coupling is at a convenient working level when the tube is moved to vertical position so that the user can connect hose and other equipment for manual vacuum cleaning in an upright position, and so that the user, also in an upright position can adjust the telescopic tube to the desired length.

4. Devices for and arrangement of vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that vacuum cleaner and trolley are combined to a single unit.

5. Devices for vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that the upward and downward movement of the tube is effected by a mechanical device driven and operated by the user's own muscle power.

6. Devices for vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that the upward and downward movement of the tube is effected with the aid of an electrically driven device, or pneumatically by utilizing the suction and/or exhaust of the vacuum cleaner.

7. Devices for vacuum cleaner, characterised in that in lowered position, i.e. working position, the telescopic tube can be extended or shortened by means of devices which can be regulated by the user in upright position, the movement being effected by muscle power, an electric motor or pneumatically with the aid of the suction and/or exhaust of the vacuum cleaner, and where with motor operation a continuous to and fro movement can also be obtained which can be utilized during vacuum cleaning, thus facilitating it

8. Device for vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, characterised in that in lowered position, i.e. working position, the telescopic tube can be extended or shortened by means of a device which according to Figure 5 is provided with a helical spring surrounding the tube nearest the suction nozzle, extension and shortening of the telescopic tube then being effected by compression and release of the helical spring, the movement of the helical spring being achieved with the aid of wire(s) operated by the user in upright position, the helical spring thus also acting as a buffer and reducing the impact of the suction nozzle against skirtings and furnitures during vacuum cleaning.

9. Devices for vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that a bent intermediate portion is added to the tube according to Figure 3, so that when the tube is lowered towards the floor, i.e. in working position, its outer part is substantially parallel to the floor, and that an elongate, specially adapted nozzle is connected to the outer part of the tube, said specially adapted nozzle being so designed as to provide good suction along the whole length of the nozzle, this effect being achievable if the suction gap is narrowest nearest to the air intake and widens towards the other end of the nozzle.

10. Device for vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, characterised in that the tube according to Figure 4 is supplemented by an angled intermediate portion which may possibly have adjustable angling and which enables the outer part of the tube to be turned to one or the other side by an angle of up to about 90°.

11. Device for vacuum cleaner according to claims 1-10 and 12, characterised in that it is provided with illumination to illuminate the surface being cleaned.

12. Device for vacuum cleaner according to claims 1-11, characterised in that the suction nozzle is replaced by a washing device such as a floor mop or sponge.