WO2007025906A1

WO2007025906A1 - Floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising an adjustable strip of bristles

Info

Publication number: WO2007025906A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/065540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marko Geis; Wolfgang Kemmerzell; Albert Kleinhenz; Heribert Schwarz
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2005-09-02
Filing date: 2006-08-22
Publication date: 2007-03-08
Also published as: DE102005041801A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor nozzle (10) for a vacuum cleaner, comprising at least one strip of bristles (14) that can be placed in at least one first position and a second position. In order to allow for expedient working processes, the transfer between the first position and the second position takes place automatically.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER WITH ADJUSTABLE BRISTLE BAR

The invention relates to a Staubsaugerbodendüse according to the preamble of claim 1.

The various vacuum cleaner types according to the prior art can basically be subdivided into two different designs:

In so-called canister vacuum cleaners, the motor, blower, filter unit and electronic devices are arranged in a housing, which is usually mounted on rollers. An often telescopically adjustable in length suction pipe is connected at one end by means of a flexible suction hose to the housing or the blower of the vacuum cleaner and has at its other end to a floor nozzle, which comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

A second design form the so-called hand vacuum cleaner. In contrast to the cylinder vacuum cleaners here, the suction pipe is rigidly connected to the vacuum cleaner housing. Again, engine, blower, electrical and filter unit are housed in the housing. This additionally has on the side opposite the suction pipe connection on an extension of the suction pipe attached handle for handling.

By means of the floor nozzle, the negative pressure generated by the motor and blower is applied to the surfaces to be cleaned. These are usually either hard, smooth surfaces of floor coverings such as parquet, PVC, stone, etc., or textile surfaces such as carpets, furniture upholstery, etc. Here, the different nature of the surface partially conflicting demands on the functionality of floor nozzle. In structured, air-permeable surfaces, such as carpets, the best possible resting of the floor nozzle is desirable in order to achieve a deep and high suction effect. For smooth surfaces, however, the direct suction is often insufficient to release stuck dirt particles from the surface. In addition, depending on the structural design, there is the risk of a fixed suction of the floor nozzle and thus possibly also of damage to the floor covering by scratching. Floor nozzles according to the prior art are therefore usually equipped with one or more bristle strips. These are arranged so that their bristles extend from the bottom of the floor nozzle, which contacts the surface to be cleaned, substantially perpendicular to the floor nozzle. These bristles are usually by means of a foot switch on the floor nozzle via a mechanism between a extended position in which the bristles protrude from the bottom of the floor nozzle and so can come into contact with the floor covering and optionally create a distance between the nozzle and floor covering and one lowered position in which they are essentially retracted without function in the floor nozzle, switchable.

In this way, a brushing action is exerted on the surface to be cleaned in the extended state and stuck dirt detached from the floor covering, which can then be absorbed. Optionally, by means of the bristle strip by the increased distance between the floor nozzle and the surface, a sufficiently large laterally entering the floor nozzle air flow allows and prevents seizing the floor nozzle or scratching the floor surface. In the retracted state, however, there is a sufficiently large negative pressure for the cleaning of textile surfaces available. Depending on the design of the mechanism, which is provided for extending or retracting the bristle strip, the process of switching is associated with a relatively high expenditure of force. In any case, the process of cleaning the soil surface must be interrupted. This is particularly troublesome when frequently changing between different surfaces.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle which at least partially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved with the features of the independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the generic Staubsaugerbodendüse in that the change between the first and the second position takes place automatically. This is frees the operator of the Staubsaugerbodendüse of otherwise necessary switching the bristle strip and thus allows a fluid and efficient workflow.

The invention is developed in an advantageous manner by the fact that the change between the two positions takes place in dependence on the surface to be cleaned. In this way, the bristle strip is always in the correct position on the corresponding floor surfaces, without the operator having to pay attention to the nature of the surface to be cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the first position is designed for carpets and the second position for hard floors. In this way, eliminates the otherwise cumbersome and the workflow interrupting switching the bristle strip between the first and the second position.

In a likewise advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the bristle strip is tiltable in the first position and substantially not tiltable in the second position. In particular, the first position for carpets may be provided. By tilting the bristle strip provides this position during a back and forth movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle on the carpet only a small resistance. At the same time there is a slight combing action that supports the cleaning process. In the second position, which is particularly suitable for smooth and hard surfaces, the bristle strip is not tilted and thus supports the removal of stuck dirt particles by brushing the surface.

It can be advantageously provided that the bristle strip has a first guide element that interacts with a corresponding second guide element of the housing of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle such that a tilting of the bristle strip is made possible in the first position and is prevented in the second position. In particular, the second guide element may have a guide section in which the first guide element is rotatably mounted in the first position of the bristle strip and have another guide section in which the first guide element is not rotatably mounted in the second position of the bristle strip. This is an easy-to-manufacture embodiment, with which an automatic change between the first and the second position can be achieved. - A -

Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the first guide element comprises a nose and the second guide element a groove. In this case, the groove may be formed so that, when the nose is in the groove, a tilting of the bristle strip substantially prevented, which corresponds to the second position of the bristle strip. If the nose of the first guide element lifted out of the groove, a Verkippbarkeit the bristle element is made possible, which is particularly desirable in the first position.

It can also be advantageously provided that the bristle strip actuates a display element. This allows a representation of the current position of the bristle strip, which is particularly advantageous against the background that the position change of the bristle strip takes place without external intervention by the operator.

In particular, an advantageous embodiment can provide that the display element is designed in one piece with the bristle strip. The one-piece construction enables a particularly simple production and assembly process of the bristle strip.

Likewise, it can be advantageously provided that the actuating force, which causes a change from the first to the second position, is essentially the force of gravity. In this way, a reliable change process is ensured. However, there are also other types of restoring devices such as springs or the like conceivable.

The invention is based on the finding that it is possible to dispense with manual switching of the bristle strip when changing between carpets and hard floors, when the bristle strip is designed so that it is pushed while sucking on carpet in a position in which they by tilting its longitudinal axis follows the reciprocating motion of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. When sucking on hard floors, however, the bristle strip falls into a guide or holder, which prevents tilting of the bristle strip and thus ensures a brushing action of the surface to be cleaned. The present invention can be used in all common vacuum cleaner types.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of a particularly preferred embodiment. Showing:

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a Staubsaugerbodendüse invention; and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10 according to the invention. Shown is a housing lower part 12, which essentially defines the suction channel 13 of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 12. At the bottom of the housing base 12, the bristle strip 14 is attached. This extends substantially perpendicular to the preferred direction of movement of the Staubsaugerbodendüse 10, which extends substantially parallel to the indicated suction channel 13. At both ends of the bristle strip 14, this is connected to the lower housing part 12 via a holder 19 (see FIG. 2) into which a nose 16 (see FIG. 2) of the bristle strip 14 engages. The bristle strip 14 has a series of bristles 15 which extend perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned (not shown). At the top of the bristle strip 14, a display element 20 is mounted on one side of the suction channel 13. This extends in extension of the bristles 15 in the direction of the top of the Staubsaugerbodendüse 10. The display element 20 is composed of a spacer 22 and a display panel 24 together.

The interaction of the individual elements described will be explained in connection with FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2. The bristle strip 14 can assume an upper and a lower position. In the illustrated second position, the nose 16 of the bristle strip 14 engages in the groove 18 of the holder 19. Nose 16 and groove 18 are designed so that in this position, a tilting of the bristle strip 14 is prevented about its longitudinal axis. In this way, the forces acting on the bristles 15, perpendicular to these forces can be compensated via the groove 18 of the holder 19, and the bristles can develop a brushing or sweeping effect. This position is intended primarily for smooth and hard surfaces, such as those found in parquet, PVC, etc., are provided. If the Staubsaugerbodendüse 10, however, on carpet or similar surfaces moves, the Staubsaugerbodendüse 10 usually sinks slightly into the surface. This causes a lifting of the bristle strip 14 in the direction of the bristles 15, that is perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. Characterized the nose 16 is lifted out of the groove 18, whereby a mobility of the bristle strip 14 is formed about its longitudinal axis. In particular, the bristle strip 14 and thus also their bristles 15 yield to these attacking forces. Thus, the bristles 15 pivot in accordance with the back and forth movement of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10. This causes a slight combing through of the carpet, but provides the movement of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10 no or only a small resistance. The upward movement of the bristle strip 14 caused by the sinking in of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10 is simultaneously indicated via the display element 20 to the user at the top of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10. In this case, the spacer element 22 conveys the upward movement of the bristle strip 14 to the display panel 24. This can, for example, appear in a window at the top of the housing 12 and thus represent the functionality of the bristle strip 14. The provision of the bristle strip 14 from the tiltable position in the rigid position, which is suitable for smooth floors, takes place solely by gravity. If the operator of the vacuum cleaner moves the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle 10 from the carpet surface onto the smooth surface, the bristle strip 14, in particular its nose 16, falls into the groove 18 of the holder 19 and the bristle bar 14 is tilted, due to the increased distance between the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle base and the floor surface. as described above, prevented.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential to the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 vacuum cleaner floor

12 housing base

13 suction channel

14 bristle strip

15 bristles

16 nose

18 groove

19 bracket

20 indicator

22 spacer element

24 display field

Claims

claims

1. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) with at least one bristle strip (14), wherein the bristle strip (14) can assume at least a first position and a second position, characterized in that the change between the first and the second position takes place automatically.

2. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the change takes place between the two positions in dependence on the surface to be cleaned.

3. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first position is designed for carpets and the second position for hard floors.

4. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle strip (14) in the first position is tiltable and in the second position substantially not tilted.

5. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle strip (14) has a first guide element (16) which cooperates with a corresponding second guide element (18) of the housing (12) of the Staubsaugerbodendüse (16) in that tilting of the bristle strip (14) in the first position is enabled and prevented in the second position.

6. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first guide element comprises a nose (16) and the second guide element comprises a groove (18).

7. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle strip (14) actuates a display element (20).

8. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the display element (20) is designed in one piece with the bristle strip (14).

9. Staubsaugerbodendüse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting force, which causes a change from the first to the second position, is substantially the force of gravity.