WO2006070333A1

WO2006070333A1 - A vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2006070333A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/054403
Authority: WO
Inventors: Can Sar; Sinan Dizmen
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2004-12-27
Filing date: 2005-12-27
Publication date: 2006-07-06

Abstract

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners (1) comprising a rotating accessory brush (6). The vacuum cleaner (1) of the present invention comprises a handle (5) which provides the accessory brush (6) to stay in a hidden position (S) when not in use, having its bristles (8) without extending out, and when desired to be used, brings the accessory brush (6) to an open (A) position by pushing forward, with the bristles (8) extending out, rotating in this position (A).

Description

Description A VACUUM CLEANER

[001] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners comprising a rotating accessory brush facilitating the cleaning of the surfaces.

[002] In vacuum cleaners, an accessory brush is utilized for cleaning the areas that the main suction nozzle cannot reach or for cleaning upholsteries. This accessory brush can be fitted to the end of the hose instead of the main suction nozzle or directly to the handle. It is in the shape of a hollow cylinder having bristles positioned so as to form a circle, extending perpendicularly to the suction plane. As the accessory brush is used from time to time, storing may create a problem when not used. Also holding it towards the medium to be cleaned is not enough for removing dust and the user has to rub the accessory brush to the surface by moving her/his arm back and forth.

[003] In the current state-of-the-art, in the International Patent Application no.

WO02/28258, a brush nozzle attached onto the handle and which can be utilized by the user when required is described.

[004] In the United States of America Patent Application no. US2004/0045127, the description is given of a vacuum cleaner comprising an accessory brush which is placed inside two concentric tubes and taken out when needed.

[005] Another embodiment of the state of the art is described in the United States Patent no. US4589161. This embodiment comprises a brush having bristles perpendicular to the suction inlet plane and turbine blades connected to this brush. The brush is rotated by the moment created on the turbine blades by the sucked air.

[006] United States Patent no. US3909875 describes a disc shaped brush which can be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the suction inlet. This brush is also rotated by the effect of the sucked air.

[007] The British Patent no. GB2324714 describes a vacuum cleaner comprising a turbine driven brush. The brush rotates about an axis normal to the plane of suction.

[008] In state-of-the-art vacuum cleaners, the accessory brush is rotated by the power received from the turbine throughout the entire suction process, and cannot be rotated or stopped independently.

[009] The object of the present invention is to design a vacuum cleaner comprising an accessory brush situated on the handle which can be rotated when desired, enhancing the cleaning performance and facilitating utilization.

[010] The vacuum cleaner designed to fulfill the objective of the present

[011] invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, where:

[012] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a vacuum cleaner.

[013] Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional view of a handle when the accessory brush is in hidden position. [014] Figure 3 - is the cross-sectional view of a handle when the accessory brush is in open position.

[015] Figure 4 - is the exploded perspective view of a handle.

[016] Elements shown in the drawings are numbered as follows:

1. Vacuum cleaner

2. Casing

3. Hose

4. Tube

5. Handle

6. Accessory brush

7. Brush base

8. Bristles

9. Button

10. Pushing means

11. Shaft

12. Cap

13. Channel

14. Rotating means

15. Brush motor

16. Motor gear

17. Brush gear

18. Cover

19. Housing [017] S : Hidden position [018] A : Open position

[019] The vacuum cleaner (19) comprises a casing (2) incorporating at least one motor

(not shown in the drawings) to create the vacuum required for suction, a preferably elastic hose (3) connected to the casing (2), a tube (4) allowing the suction to be performed, and a handle (5) having one end connected to the hose (3), the other to the tube (4) (Figure 1).

[020] The handle (5) comprises an accessory brush (6) which can slide back and forth between a hidden position (S) where its bristles (8) do not extend out and at least one open position (A) where its bristles (8) partly or entirely extend out, and can be rotated for cleaning when in open position (A), a pushing means (10) for moving the accessory brush (8) between the open position (A) and the hidden position (S), a rotating means (14) for rotation of the accessory brush (8) when in open position (A), and at least one button (9) which triggers the pushing means (10) or the rotating means (14) (Figure 2). [021] The accessory brush (8) comprises a brush base (7) in the shape of a hollow cylinder, sized so as to slide back and forth, and rotate on the handle (5), and bristles (8), extending from the edge of the brush base (7), parallel to the central axis of the base (7). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accessory brush (6) is situated on the handle (5). In the hidden position (S), all the bristles (8) of the accessory brush (6) are behind the end of the handle (5) where the tube (4) is attached and the bristles (8) do not contact the surface to be cleaned. In open position (A), the bristles (8) of the accessory brush (6) extend — partially or entirely-out from the end of the handle (5) and contact the surface to be cleaned.

[022] The button (9) triggering the pushing and rotating means (10 and 14) is situated on the handle (5) preferably at a point where it can be controlled easily by the user.

[023] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, each means (10 and 14) is triggered either by separate buttons (9) or by a multi-piece button (9).

[024] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a single-piece button (9) which can move between the two positions (S and A) on the handle (5) is utilized. The button (9) has a stepped-form so that it can be pushed easily by the user. The button (9) mechanically activates the pushing means (10) with the forward movement. When the accessory brush (6) reaches the open position (A), an electric circuit (not shown in the drawings) is closed via a conductive element situated under the button (6) activating the rotating means (14) electrically. The button (9) parts contacted by the user are produced of electric insulating material, plastics for example, in order to protect the user from the electric current in the circuit.

[025] The pushing means (10) comprises a shaft (11) connected to the button (9) and movable back and forth by the button (9), a cap (12) located on the end of the shaft (11), which is wider than this shaft (11) and preferably has a disc shape, and a channel (13) surrounding the lateral wall of the brush base (7) like a ring, inside which the cap (12) is situated so that the accessory brush (6) can move between the two positions (S and A) and its rotation is not prevented.

[026] The shaft (11) is produced of a material that will transfer the linear movement, for example hard plastic or metal. The button (9) pushes or pulls the shaft (11) as it slides on the handle (5).

[027] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pushing means (10) comprises at least two housings (19) that bear the shaft (11) to prevent the unwanted movements of the shaft (11) perpendicular to its own axis.

[028] The force exerted on the shaft (11) is transmitted to the brush base (7) by way of the cap (12), so that the accessory brush (6) is moved back and forth between the hidden position (S) and the open position (A). The cap (12) is simply placed in the channel (13) without being fixed. The cap (12) provides the pushing of the accessory brush (6) by resting on one wall of the channel (13) and pulling by resting on the opposite wall. The cap (12) can stay in the channel (13) without being hindered by any obstacles as long as the accessory brush (6) rotates. The cap (12) does not hinder the rotational motion of the accessory brush (6) since it does not apply any force on the accessory brush (6) in the direction of its rotation and since it does not create any obstacles. The cap (12) can be produced as a single-piece with the shaft (11) or can be produced separately and fixed to the shaft (11) later on.

[029] The rotating means (14) comprises a brush motor (15) linked electrically with the button (9), a motor gear (16) situated at the exit of the brush motor (15) and rotated by the brush motor (15), a brush gear (17) which encompasses the brush base (7) and receives the rotating movement transmitted from the motor gear (16). When the accessory brush (6) is in open position (A), current is passed through the circuit by the button (9) and the brush motor (15) is activated. The activation of the brush motor (15) rotates the motor gear (16). The motor gear (16) transmits the rotational movement received from the brush motor (15) to the accessory brush (6) via the brush gear (17).

[030] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle (5) comprises a cover (18) which covers the accessory brush (6), the pushing means (10) and the rotating means (14). Thus, the movable components do not present a hazard for the safety of the user. This cover (18) is preferably made of two parts fixed to each other preferably by screws.

[031] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cap (12) is produced narrower than the channel (13) leaving some amount of gap between the cap (12) and the channel (13) walls, so as the accessory brush (9) has enough time to stop after the button (9) turns off the current of the brush motor (15) in order to prevent the rotating accessory brush (6) from entering the hidden position (S) in the handle (6) before coming to a full stop. Thus, the brush motor (15) halts when the button (9) is pulled back. The accessory brush (6) stops entirely in the time it takes the cap (12) to rest on the wall of the channel (13). Consequently the rotating movement of the accessory brush (6) is ended before it goes under the cover (18) to enter the hidden position (S).

[032] In the vacuum cleaner (1) of the present invention, the accessory brush (6) is under the cover (1) on the handle (5) in the hidden position (S) so that the brush bristles (8) are not seen under normal conditions (Figure 3). The user can clean with the main nozzle by fixing the tubes (4) to the end of the handle (5). If required, the user takes off the tubes (4) from the handle (5), and pushes the button (9) to start taking the accessory brush (6) out from its hidden position (S). The force exerted on the button (9) also activates the shaft (11) connected to it and the shaft (11) moves linearly along its axis. The movement of the shaft (11) is transmitted to the cap (12) and to the accessory brush (6) via the channel (13). The bristles (8) of the accessory brush (6) extend out of the cover (18). The user leaves the button (9) at a mid-position without pushing it further, if she wants to use the accessory brush (6) without rotating.

[033] If the user wants to rotate the accessory brush (6) she pushes the button (9) further, bringing the accessory brush (6) to a full open position (A). (Figure 4) The button (9) closes the electric circuit including the brush motor (15) in this position and provides the activation of the brush motor (15). The rotating brush motor (15) also rotates the accessory brush (6) since the brush gear (17) is in communication with the motor gear (16) in the open position (A).

[034] When the user pulls the button (9) back to stop the accessory brush (6), the current transmission to the brush motor (15) turns off, and the brush motor (15) stops together with the accessory brush (6). As the button (9) is being pulled back further, the accessory brush (6), pulled by the cap (12) and the shaft (11), returns to its hidden position (S) under the cover (18).

[035] The vacuum cleaner (1) of the present invention introduces a considerable ease of use with the accessory brush (6) situated on the handle (5), eliminating the need for storing at a separate place. Furthermore the user can activate the accessory brush (6) whenever desired by pushing the button (9), and rotates the accessory brush (6) by again using the button (9) when the need arises. The rotating accessory brush (6) provides the means for better cleaning since the dust is lifted off the floor.

Claims

[001] A vacuum cleaner (1) utilized in cleaning, comprising ; a casing

(2) having at least one motor (not shown in the drawings ) for creating the vacuum necessary for suction ; a preferably elastic hose

(3) connected to the casing (2) and ; a tube

(4) allowing the suction to be performed ; and characterized by a handle (5), one of its ends connected to the hose (3) and the other to the tube (4), and having an accessory brush (6) which can move back and forth between a hidden position

(5) where it stays when not in use, where the bristles (8) do not extend out and an open position (A) where the bristles (8) partly or entirely extend out, and can be rotated for cleaning when in open position (A) .

[002] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the handle (5) comprising a pushing means (10) which provides moving the accessory brush (8) between the open position (A) and the hidden position (S).

[003] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the handle (5) comprising a rotating means (14) which provides the rotation of the accessory brush (8) when in open position (A).

[004] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 2 and 3, characterized by a handle (5) comprising at least one button (9) triggering the pushing means (10) and the rotating means (14).

[005] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the handle (5) comprising an accessory brush (6) having a brush base (7) shaped as a hollow cylinder, sized so as to move back and forth between the open and hidden positions (A and S) and rotate when in open position (A), and bristles (8) extending parallel to the central axis of the base (7) from the edge of the brush base (7).

[006] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 4 or 5, characterized by a handle (5) comprising a button (9) which slidingly moves between the two positions (S and A) on the handle (5) activating the pushing means (10) with this sliding movement, and closes an electric circuit via a conductive element situated under it activating the rotating means (14) when the accessory brush (6) reaches the open position (A).

[007] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized by a handle (5) comprising a pushing means (10) having a shaft (11) in communication with the button (9) and movable back and forth by the button (9), a cap (12) located on the end of the shaft (11), which is wider than this shaft (11) and preferably having a disc shape, and a channel (13) surrounding the lateral wall of the brush base (7) like a ring inside which the cap (12) is situated so that the accessory brush (6) can move between the two positions (S and A) and its rotation is not hindered.

[008] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in any one of the Claims 4 through 7, characterized by a handle (5) comprising a rotating means (10) having a brush motor (15), a motor gear (16) situated at the exit of the brush motor (15) and rotated by the brush motor (15), and a brush gear (17) which encompasses the brush base (7) and receives the rotating movement transmitted from the motor gear (16).

[009] A vacuum cleaner (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 through 8, characterized by a handle (5) comprising a cover (18) covering the accessory brush (6), the pushing means (10) and the rotating means (14).