WO2007031142A1

WO2007031142A1 - Mobile sweeping appliance with a pivotable grip

Info

Publication number: WO2007031142A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/007039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas MÜLLER; Martin Schmidgall; Ralph Diehl
Original assignee: Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2006-07-18
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: EP1926417B1; EP1926417B8; DE102005045658B3; EP1926417A1; ATE515970T1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile sweeping appliance (10) with a housing (12) in which a revolving brush, which is coupled to an electric motor (35) via transmission means (34), is rotatably mounted, wherein the housing has a dirt inlet opening (22) adjacent to the revolving brush (31) and a dirt-collecting container (57) is arranged in the housing between the revolving brush and the electric motor, which dirt-collecting container can be inserted into the housing and can be removed from the housing via a housing opening which is on the upper side and can be closed by a cover (55). In order to develop the mobile sweeping appliance in such a manner that it is easier to handle, in particular as regards removing the dirt-collecting container, it is proposed according to the invention that the cover is coupled to the housing and a grip (72) is held pivotably on the cover and can be connected to a handle (76) for moving the sweeping appliance along a surface to be cleaned.

Description

RETRACTABLE EQUIPMENT WITH A SWIVEL HANDLE

The invention relates to a mobile sweeper with a housing in which a coupled via a gear means with an electric motor brush roller is rotatably mounted, wherein the housing of the brush roller adjacent a dirt inlet opening and in the housing between the brush roller and the electric motor, a dirt collecting container is arranged, via a top side, can be closed by a lid housing opening inserted into the housing and the housing is removable.

Such sweeping devices can be moved along a surface to be cleaned, wherein dirt can be picked up by the brush roller passing through the dirt inlet opening of the housing and transferred to the dirt collecting container. From the patent GB 1 442 587 such sweeping device is known. If the dirt collection container to be emptied, the known sweeper must be placed on a substrate, and it can then be removed a housing cover or pivoted into an open position, so that in a subsequent step the sealed with a container lid dirt collection container can be removed from the housing. In a rear housing portion, a handle is articulated in the known sweeping device to the housing, with the aid of which the sweeping device can be moved along the surface to be cleaned.

Object of the present invention is to develop a mobile sweeping device of the type mentioned in such a way that it has a simpler handling, in particular for removing the dirt collecting container.

This object is achieved in a mobile sweeper of the generic type according to the invention that the lid is hinged to the housing and on the lid a handle is pivotally mounted, which is connectable with a handle for moving the sweeping device along a surface to be cleaned.

To remove the dirt collecting container, the lid can be swung out, so that it releases the upper-side housing opening and the dirt collecting container can be removed from the housing. The user can in this case hold the sweeping device on the handle, which is pivotally mounted on the lid. It is therefore not necessary to turn off the sweeper on a surface when the dirt collector is to be removed. The handling of the sweeping device is simplified.

The storage of the handle on the lid also has the consequence that the handle is connected in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the sweeper with the housing. If the sweeper is lifted with the lid closed on the handle, it remains substantially horizontally aligned, an unintentional pivoting movement of the housing is thereby avoided, and in particular ensures that when lifting the sweeping device with a closed lid dirt from the dirt collector not on the dirt inlet opening of the Housing can escape.

By means of the handle held on the handle, the sweeping device can be moved along the surface to be cleaned. Since the stem is connected via the handle to the housing and the handle is pivotally held in the region between the brush roller and the motor on the lid, the Sliding force the center of gravity of the sweeper adjacent to be introduced into the housing. The leadership of the sweeper along the surface to be cleaned is simplified. In addition, such an introduction of force ensures that the sweeping does not rocking movement or even tilts over the front edge of the housing when it is moved on a carpet.

Preferably, the pivot axis of the lid is aligned parallel to the pivot axis of the handle. A lateral tilting of the housing when lifting the sweeper with the lid open is thereby avoided.

Preferably, the lid is hinged to the housing at its front, the brush roller facing edge region. Since the dirt collecting container is arranged between the brush roller and the motor and the lid positioned above the dirt collecting container is articulated in its front edge region of the housing, tilts that with the lid open on the handle raised sweeper to the rear, that is, the rear, the brush roller and the dirt inlet opening remote housing area is lowered. This ensures that dirt located in the dirt collecting container accumulates in the rear part of the dirt collecting container facing away from the dirt entry opening. This ensures that dirt particles can not accidentally fall out of the dirt collector when removing the filled dirt collection container.

In an advantageous embodiment, the handle can be locked in at least one pivoting position. For example, it may be provided that the grip piece can be locked at least in a position aligned perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned. This gives the user the opportunity to Place the sweeper with a vertically aligned handle and handle on a base, without leaning the handle against a wall. Conveniently, the handle is additionally locked in at least one second pivot position, in which it is aligned substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned, for example, is pivoted all the way forward or fully back. This gives the opportunity to hang the sweeping device for storage on the stem connected to the handle, where it can then be aligned flat against a wall.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lid is at least partially configured double-walled and has an inner lid and an outer lid, which receive between them bearing elements for mounting the handle. In such an embodiment, the lid defines a cavity which receives bearing elements for supporting the handle. Preferably, the lid is double-walled, at least in its central region in plan view, so that the bearing elements can be arranged adjacent to the center of gravity of the sweeping device. An outer edge region of the cover can be formed solely by the inner cover or alone by the outer cover, in particular it can be provided that an outer edge region surrounds the double-walled region of the cover in an annular, C-shaped or U-shaped manner.

To lock the handle in at least one pivotal position, the bearing elements in an advantageous embodiment, at least one arranged between the inner and the outer lid locking member is assigned. It is advantageous if the locking member has a resiliently biased in a locking position locking element which is radially or axially movable relative to the pivot axis of the handle. It can be provided, for example, that a coaxially aligned with the pivot axis of the handle pivot pin which is connected to the handle, at its front end faces each having at least one axially aligned first locking element which extends in the circumferential direction of the pivot pin only over a portion and the one between the inner and the outer cover slidably held and resiliently biased in a locking position second locking element is associated, which engages in a predetermined pivot position with the first locking element into engagement. The second locking element may for example be designed in the form of a latching nose, which is held on a relative to the pivot axis of the handle in the axial direction slidable slider which is biased by a compression spring toward an end face of the pivot pin and in a predetermined pivot position of the handle with the as a recessed recess configured first locking element engages.

Alternatively it can be provided that the pivot pin carries end each having an extension piece, which has at least one radially aligned first locking element, which cooperates with a stationary held on the inner or on the outer cover, resiliently biased in the radial direction second locking element.

It is advantageous if the handle is held radially offset relative to its pivot axis on the pivot pin.

The pivot pin is preferably integrally connected to the handle, in particular it can be provided that the pivot pin and the handle form an integrally formed plastic molded part. It has proved to be favorable if the inner lid has a depression which is covered by the outer lid and in which the bearing elements are arranged.

In order to give the sweeper as flat as possible construction, it is advantageous if the inner lid or the outer lid forms a receptacle in which the handle dips in a position parallel to the inner lid or to the outer lid position. The inner lid or the outer lid may for example extend to the rear end of the sweeper and have in this area the recording. This gives the opportunity to lead the sweeping device, for example, under a piece of furniture, wherein the handle and held on this stem are aligned substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

It can be provided that the cover is biased by a spring in its closed position in which it closes the upper-side housing opening. It is advantageous if the lid can be locked in a closed position with the housing. Unintentional opening of the lid is thereby reliably avoided.

It can be provided, for example, that at least one locking element is held on the housing, which is movable by means of an opening member against an elastic restoring force from a detent position in which it is engaged with a corresponding locking element of the lid in a release position in which it corresponding latching element of the lid releases. If the lid for emptying the dirt collecting container to be pivoted in its open position, so this can be the opening member operated be, with the help of which engage the cooperating locking elements of the housing and the lid disengaged.

It is advantageous if the opening member is coupled via an inclined plane with the at least one latching element of the housing.

It can be provided, for example, that the opening member is designed as a push button that can be actuated by the user to open the lid. The push button, for example, be mounted movably in the vertical direction on the housing and may be coupled via an inclined plane with a support on which the at least one locking element of the housing is held and which is acted upon by an elastic restoring force. Preferably, two mutually spaced latching elements, in particular in the form of latching hooks are held on the support, between which the opening member is positioned.

Preferably, the opening member is covered by the handle when the handle assumes its parallel to the inner lid aligned position. The intuitive handling of the sweeping device for emptying the dirt collecting container is facilitated because the user must first pivot to empty the dirt collecting the handle from its aligned parallel to the inner lid position and can then operate the opening member, the lid by lifting the sweeping device on the handle can be pivoted into its open position.

The brush roller is rotated by the electric motor, which is coupled via transmission means, for example via a belt drive, with the brush roller. The power supply of the electric motor can be connected via a connection at, which can be connected to a mains voltage. It is particularly advantageous if the mobile sweeper has a rechargeable battery, because this allows a network-independent operation of the sweeping device. It is advantageous if the rechargeable battery of the brush roller is arranged away in the region of the back of the housing. For example, it may be provided that the housing has in its rear region a battery compartment into which the rechargeable battery can be inserted parallel to the main direction of movement of the sweeping device.

To turn it on and off, the mobile sweeper has an ON / OFF switch. This is in a preferred embodiment of the brush roller facing away in the region of a rear side of the housing. Preferably, the ON / OFF switch is designed as a footswitch.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a housing lower part and a housing upper part, wherein the housing lower part forms a trough-like receiving compartment into which the dirt collecting container can be inserted in a form-fitting manner. Due to the positive connection between the dirt collecting container and receiving compartment, the dirt collecting container can be held immovably within the housing in a structurally simple manner.

It is favorable in this case if the trough-like receiving compartment is delimited on the front side by an oblique surface, to which the dirt collecting container can be applied with a corresponding oblique surface. As a result, the positioning of the dirt collecting container can be simplified in the housing, because the inclined surface of the receiving compartment provides guidance for the user when inserting the dirt collector. The following description of two preferred embodiments of the invention is used in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a mobile sweeping device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sweeping device with the lid open and raised dirt collector;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sweeping device with pivoted into an open position inner lid;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sweeping device with pivoted into a closed position inner lid;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing lower part of the sweeper;

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a latching mechanism of the housing lower part and FIG

Figure 7 is a schematic partial view in the manner of an exploded view of a second embodiment of a mobile sweeping device according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show diagrammatically a first embodiment of a mobile sweeping device, which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10. This comprises a housing 12 with a housing lower part 13 and a housing upper part 14, which are screwed together. The lower housing part has a bottom wall 16, from which a circumferential lower outer wall 17 projects upwards and which has a dirt entry opening 22 in a front region 20, which is in relation to the main movement direction 19 of the sweeping device 10. Side next to the dirt inlet opening 22 and in a dirt inlet opening 22 facing away from the rear portion 24 of the housing 12 16 rollers 26, 27, 28, 29 are freely rotatably mounted on the bottom wall.

Adjacent to the dirt inlet opening 22, a brush roller 31 is rotatably mounted in the lower housing part 13, the bristles 32 of which pass through the dirt inlet opening 22. About gear means in the form of a belt drive 34, the brush roller 31 is coupled to an electric motor 35 which can be switched on and off by means of a arranged in the rear portion 24 of the housing 12 foot switch 37 and of a distance from the foot switch 37 also in the rear region 24th arranged rechargeable and replaceable battery 39 is energized. To accommodate the battery 39, the lower housing part 13 forms a battery compartment into which the battery 39 can be inserted.

At the dirt inlet opening 22 is followed by the bottom wall 16 obliquely upwardly projecting a sweeping threshold 43, which is aligned parallel to the brush roller 31. At the upper edge of the sweeping threshold 43 is the rear side, that is on the side facing away from the brush roller 31 a substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 aligned end wall 44, which has an inclined to the bottom wall 16 intermediate wall 45 in the Bottom wall 16 passes. The intermediate wall 45 forms an inclined surface 47 facing away from the bottom wall 16.

Laterally adjoins the end wall 44 and the intermediate wall 45 in a plan view substantially C-shaped and perpendicular from the bottom wall 16 projecting inner wall 49 at. Through the inner wall 49, the bottom wall 16 and the end wall 44 and the intermediate wall 45 a trough-like receiving compartment 51 is defined.

The upper housing part 14 is placed on the lower housing part 13 and has a housing opening 53 corresponding to the contour of the receiving compartment 51, which can be closed by a cover 55 hinged to the upper housing part 14. About the housing opening 53, a box-shaped dirt collector 57 can be used with the lid 55 open in the receiving compartment 51, the brush roller 31 facing a container opening 58, to the underside of an inclined surface 59 connects, with the dirt collector 57 surface of the inclined surface 47 of Intermediate wall 45 can be applied.

The lid 55 is double-walled and comprises an inner lid 61 and an outer lid 62. The inner lid 61 is mounted by means of a hinge 64 about a pivot axis 65 pivotally mounted on the upper housing part 14. The hinge 64 is disposed above the brush roller 31 so that the lid 55 can be swung forward to release the housing opening 53. The pivot axis 65 is aligned parallel to the brush roller 31. The outer lid 62 covers a centrally disposed portion of the inner lid 61, in which it defines a recess 67. Between the inner and the outer lid 61, 62 are spaced apart two bearing elements 69, 70 are arranged, on which an integrally connected to a handle 72 pivot pin 73 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 74. The pivot axis 74 of the handle 72 is aligned parallel to the pivot axis 65 of the lid 55. The bearing elements 69, 70 are located approximately centrally above the trough-shaped recess 51 and thus approximately in the region of the center of gravity of the sweeping device 10.

With the handle 72, a handle 76 is detachably connected, so that a user can move the sweeping device 10 by means of the handle 76 on a surface to be cleaned along.

The handle 72 can be locked in two pivot positions. For this purpose, the pivot pin 73 on the front side in each case an extension piece 78 which on its lateral surface 79 in the circumferential direction at a distance from each other comprises two first locking elements in the form of two latching recesses 81, 82, with which a arranged on a leaf spring 84 second locking element in the form of a latching nose 85 cooperates , If the grip 72 is in a vertically oriented position, as shown in FIG. 4, then the catch nose 85 can dip into a first catch recess 81, so that the grip 72 is locked in this pivoting position. If the handle 72 is pivoted into a position aligned parallel to the inner lid 61, as shown in FIG. 3, the latching nose 85 can dip into the second latching recess 82 for locking the gripping piece 72 in this second pivoting position. To better illustrate the storage of the handle 72 in the space between the inner lid 61 and the outer lid 62 of the outer lid 62 is not shown in Figures 3 and 4.

To fix the lid 55 in its closed position shown in Figures 1 and 4, a latching mechanism 87 is disposed on the lower housing part 13 between the electric motor 35 and the foot switch 37. This comprises a slidably held on the bottom wall 16 of the lower housing part 13 support plate 89 which is biased by a compression spring 90 in a trough-shaped recess 51 facing away from the rear and two locking elements in the form of rigidly formed locking hooks 92, 93 in the bottom wall 16 facing away Stand upwards. Between the two latching hooks 92, 93 is an opening member in the form of a push button 95 perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 slidably mounted on the lower housing part 13, wherein the push button 95 rests flat over an inclined plane 96 on the support plate 89. If the push button 95 is pushed downwards by the user in the direction of the bottom wall 16, the support plate 89 and with it also the two latching hooks 92, 93 are displaced forwards against the restoring force of the compression spring 90 in the direction of the trough-shaped recess 51.

With the two latching hooks 92, 93 cooperate corresponding latching hooks 98, 99 together, which are integrally formed on the inner lid 61 and engage behind the latching hooks 92 and 93 when the lid 55 is closed. If the push button 95 is actuated by the user, then the latching hooks 92, 93 of the lower housing part 13 occupy a position spaced from the corresponding latching hooks 98 and 99 of the cover 55. This position is shown in dotted lines in FIG. The cover 55 can then swung forwards about the pivot axis 65 and the dirt collecting container 57 can be removed from the housing 12.

Since the articulation of the lid 55 takes place on the housing 12 relative to the main movement direction 19 before the center of gravity of the sweeping device 10, the sweeping device 10 can be held with the lid 55 open by the user on the handle 72 or on the stem 76, in which case the rear portion 24 of Housing 12 lowers and thereby accumulate the dirt in the dirt collecting 57 dirt particles in the rear region of the dirt collecting container 57. It is thereby avoided that at the removal of the dirt collecting 57 dirt particles can fall out of this.

If the lid 55 its closed position shown in Figures 1 and 4, so the user can pick up the sweeping device 10 on the handle 72 or on the stem 76, wherein the sweeping device 10 is substantially aligned horizontally, since the articulation of the handle 72 above the Center of gravity of the sweeping device 10 takes place and the handle 72 in vertical pivoting position, as explained above, can be locked.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a sweeping device, generally designated by the reference numeral 110, which is designed substantially identical to the sweeping device 10 explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 7 for identical components as in FIG Figures 1 to 6, and to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations. The sweeping device 110 differs from the above-described sweeping device 10 only by different locking elements, with the aid of which the handle 72 can be locked in at least one pivotal position. For this purpose, the handle 72 of the sweeping device 110 is integrally connected to a pivot pin 113, the front side each having a portion of the outer periphery of the pivot pin 113 extending, axially aligned locking recess 114 and 115, respectively. The latching recesses 114, 115 are each assigned a latching lug 117 and 118, which is integrally connected to a slider 120 and 121, respectively. The slides 120, 121 are in parallel between the inner lid 123 and the outer lid 124 of the sweeper 110 arranged guides 126 and 127 parallel to the pivot axis 129 of the pivot pin 113 and are resiliently biased by a compression spring 131 and 132 in the direction of the pivot pin 113.

If the handle 72 is pivoted in the sweeping device 110 in a vertically oriented position, the latching recesses 114, 115 of the pivot pin 113 a aligned to the sliding latching lugs 117, 118 aligned position and the locking lugs 117, 118 can dip into the recesses 114, 115 , As a result, the pivot pin 113 and with this also the handle 72 is locked in vertical alignment. Contrary to the spring force of the compression springs 131, 132, the pivot pin 113 and with this also the handle 72 can be pivoted from the vertical position.

Both the inner lid 61 of the sweeper 10 and the inner lid 123 of the sweeping device 110 extend between the electric motor 35 and the battery 39 to the rear portion 24 of the housing 12 and form in this area a receptacle 135, in which the handle 72 at can dive parallel to the inner lid 61 and 123 aligned position. This is particularly clear from Figures 2, 3 and 7. The sweepers 10, 110 are thus characterized by a very flat design, wherein the handle 72 protrudes only slightly above the lid 55 when aligned parallel to the inner lid 61 and 123 pivot position.

Claims

1. Mobile sweeping device with a housing in which a coupled via gear means with an electric motor brush roller is rotatably mounted, wherein the housing of the brush roller adjacent a dirt inlet opening and in the housing between the brush roller and the electric motor, a dirt collecting container is arranged, which has a top side, Can be closed by a lid housing opening inserted into the housing and the housing is removable, characterized in that the lid (55) is articulated to the housing (12) and on the lid (55) a handle (72) is pivotally mounted, with a Stem (76) is connectable to the sweeping device (10; 110) along a surface to be cleaned.

2. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (65) of the lid (55) parallel to the pivot axis (74; 129) of the handle (72) is aligned.

3. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (55) in its front, the brush roller (31) facing edge region on the housing (12) is articulated.

4. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle piece (72) can be locked in at least one pivoting position.

5. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (55) is configured at least partially double-walled and an inner lid (61, 123) and an outer lid (61, 124) which between bearing elements (69 , 70) for supporting the handle (72).

6. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 5, characterized in that the bearing elements (69, 70) at least one between the inner and the outer lid (61, 62, 123, 124) arranged Arretierungsglied (81, 82, 85; 114, 115, 117, 118) is assigned to lock the handle (72).

7. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking member has a resiliently biased in a locking position locking element (85; 117, 118), which relative to the pivot axis (74; 129) of the handle (72) is radially or axially movable ,

8. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the inner lid (61; 123) has a recess (67) which is covered by the outer lid (62; 124) and in which the bearing elements (69, 70) are arranged.

9. Mobile sweeping device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the inner lid (61; 123) or the outer lid forms a receptacle (135) into which the handle (72) in a parallel to the inner lid (61; 123) or immersed to the outer lid position dips.

10. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (55) in a closed position with the housing (12) can be latched.

11. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 10, characterized in that on the housing (12) at least one latching element (92, 93) is held by means of an opening member (95) against an elastic restoring force from a detent position in which it with a corresponding latching element (98, 99) of the lid (55) is engaged, is movable into a release position, in which it releases the corresponding latching element (98, 99) of the lid (55).

12. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 11, characterized in that the opening member (95) via an inclined plane (96) with the at least one latching element (92, 93) of the housing (12) is coupled.

13. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the opening member is designed as a push button (95).

14. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the opening member (95) between two locking elements (92, 93) of the housing (12) is arranged.

15. Mobile sweeping device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the opening member (95) from the handle (72) can be covered, when the handle (72) assumes its parallel to the inner lid (61; 123) aligned position.

16. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile sweeping device (10; 110) has a rechargeable battery (39) facing away from the brush roller (31) in the region of the rear side (24) of the housing (12 ) is arranged.

17. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile sweeping device (10, 110) has an ON-OFF switch (37) facing away from the brush roller (31) in the region of a rear side (24) of the housing ( 12) is arranged.

18. Mobile sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has a housing lower part (13) and an upper housing part (14), wherein the lower housing part (13) forms a trough-like receiving compartment (51) into which the dirt collecting container (57) can be used with positive locking.

19. Mobile sweeping device according to claim 18, characterized in that the receiving compartment (51) on the front side of an inclined surface (47) is limited, to which the dirt collecting container (57) with a corresponding inclined surface (59) can be applied flat.