WO2007122361A1

WO2007122361A1 - Mobility device for a domestic or industrial cleaning appliance, in particular a cylinder vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2007122361A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/051160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gérard CURIEN
Original assignee: WINDDROP, Société à responsabilité limitée
Priority date: 2006-04-24
Filing date: 2007-04-23
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: WO2007122361B1; FR2900042A1; FR2900042B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobility device (100) for a domestic or industrial cleaning appliance (1), comprising at least one obstacle bypass means (200) positioned on at least one portion of the periphery of the vacuum cleaner (1) and serving as a bumper, said obstacle bypass means (200) comprising at least one movable part consisting of a strip (5) which is mounted free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said appliance (1) and which is placed so as to protrude with respect to the body of the appliance. It is characterized in that it comprises means (300) for rotationally guiding said strip (5) that are designed to be able to be fitted onto the outside of a shell (20) belonging to said appliance (1).

Description

MOBILITY DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC OR INDUSTRIAL CLEANING APPARATUS, IN PARTICULAR A VACUUM CLEANER

The invention relates to a mobility device for domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus, comprising at least one obstacle bypass device positioned on at least a portion of the periphery of the vacuum cleaner and acting as a bumper, said means for obstacle bypass comprising at least one movable portion constituted by a strip mounted free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said vacuum cleaner, and placed in overflow relative to the body of the apparatus.

The invention relates to the field of household or industrial cleaning appliances, particularly that of vacuum-sled, or shampoo, waxy, ejector-extractors or other devices towed, pushed, motorized, or self-worn. These vacuums are moved by traction on a suction and traction hose, hence their name. It is also possible to motorize these devices or push them often using a hinged handle, the application remains equivalent.

In order to move an aspirator without any exaggerated effort in all directions it has been imagined different mobility devices placed in its lower part. The vacuum cleaner furthermore sometimes has a side shield acting as a bumper.

The mobility devices most commonly encountered are systems with wheels, generally three in number and placed two on the back of the vacuum cleaner and one on the front so as to facilitate the orientation of the device during the displacements.

If the wheels are carried by an axle rigidly connected to the hull of the vacuum cleaner the mobility of the device is very small, the lateral movements being very difficult to achieve. In fact mobility has been improved by placing the wheels on a double joint. The wheel is on a horizontal axis and the set is fixed on a vertical axis that rotates 360 °. This system needs to be oriented at each change of direction and causes a temporary brake or lock during this change. This brake being sometimes greatly aggravated by the blockage due to the meeting of an obstacle.

This improvement in mobility results in the installation of at least three sets of complex articulated parts, one per wheel, and therefore a high installation cost. This set of parts that can move in rotation is easily clogged and thus lead to a reduction or loss of mobility of the vacuum cleaner and the need for maintenance operations. Known mobility devices, based on the use of wheels, are therefore expensive systems with limited functionality, as inefficient in the event of a frontal obstacle.

When using the vacuum cleaner is frequently hampered in its movement by an obstacle, such as the foot of a piece of furniture or the like. The user releases the device by pulling on the hose in a direction opposite to that of the obstacle. This maneuver is usually difficult because the casters must be reoriented and a significant effort must be produced, resulting in a risk of overturning.

There is no existing low-cost, low-cost, obstacle-avoidance device, which is disconnected from the rolling and moving system of the apparatus, and which can be used by the user with a vacuum cleaner. minimum effort, that is to say the usual tensile force to move the device. Document EP 0 362 895 describes a sled vacuum cleaner which comprises a lower part provided with wheels for moving the vacuum cleaner to the ground. An upper part comprising a suction mechanism and a suction and traction hose is pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the ground on this lower part. The latter is a means of obstacle bypass, at the periphery of the hull of the vacuum cleaner, thanks to an annular bumper strip, as well as elastic fairings of the rollers. These absorb the impacts on obstacles, and allow the rotation of the lower part with respect to the point of impact, without substantially changing the orientation of the upper part. The realization of such a vacuum cleaner is complex and expensive, because it requires a shell in two parts, lower and upper, the latter necessarily set back with respect to the lower projecting part. It also requires mechanisms for supporting the upper part relative to the lower part, here constituted by rollers whose axis is parallel to the ground, and which are distributed around an axial pivot point. In addition, the discharge of air to the outside environment is through the interface between the lower part and the upper part, in order to provide a damper air cushion, but this air rejection generates whistling noise unpleasant for the operator.

Another document EP 0 558 101 describes a vacuum cleaner equipped with an obstacle avoidance device. The latter comprises at least one protruding portion relative to the body of the vacuum cleaner, and is pivotally mounted angularly at one end of the vacuum on the side of a suction pipe and traction. Depending on the embodiment, it may consist of a disk, in an angular sector, or, in the case where the vacuum cleaner comprises a distinct lower part and a top part, in a caterpillar mounted between these two parts, on axes perpendicular to the ground and arranged substantially in an arc or periphery of the vacuum cleaner. This avoidance device may include its own ground rolling means, or return means in a median position. In all the executions, such an avoidance device occupies a substantial part of the volume of the vacuum cleaner, which goes against the permanent search for compactness and lightness for household appliances.

A document US 2003/0020243 describes an unmanned ground vehicle, surrounded by a bumper protruding over its entire periphery, in annular or spherical form, pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the ground, and integrated into the vehicle structure, without special accessibility for maintenance or dismantling. Such a vehicle is not made to be towed, and this design is inapplicable to a towed cleaning apparatus.

Most household appliances are manufactured at the lowest cost, and are sold without effective means of obstacle avoidance. In particular, high capacity vacuum cleaners, having a cylindrical canister-type tank vertical axis, are very easy to reverse, which triggers, in the best case, their closure or disjunction.

The invention therefore aims to solve these major difficulties by the use of a mobility device comprising a minimum number of components, simple form, and usable on any type of vacuum cleaner.

To this end, the present invention relates to a mobility device for domestic or industrial cleaning device, comprising at least one obstacle bypassing device positioned on at least a portion of the periphery of the device and acting as a bumper , said obstacle bypass means comprising at least one moving part constituted by a strip mounted free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of displacement of said vacuum cleaner, and placed in overflow relative to the body of the apparatus, characterized in that it comprises means for guiding in rotation of said strip designed suitable to be reported on the outside of a hull that includes said apparatus.

According to a feature of the invention, said guide means each consist of an insert containing at least one rolling means, said insert being designed adapted to be fixed to a cleaning appliance shell by screwing, gluing, clipping, or similar.

According to another characteristic, said guide means are mounted on an intermediate piece designed adapted to be reported on the periphery of a cleaning appliance shell, and comprise several inserts each containing at least one rolling means.

According to another characteristic, said intermediate part comprises a anti-rollover stand, designed adapted to receive a support means or rolling on the ground.

The invention also relates to a domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus comprising such a mobility device.

The mobility device for vacuum cleaner sled according to the invention has multiple advantages: the presence of a bypass means disposed instead of the usual bumper improves the maneuverability of the vacuum cleaner significantly. In addition, it allows to consider the use of a fully automated vacuum running autonomously, without risk to the environment of evolution, and without the risk that the device is permanently immobilized by obstacles present in a local to clean. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically and in side view a cleaning apparatus provided with a mobility device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows schematically and in side view a variant of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the interior of the cleaning apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;

- Figure 4 illustrates a variant of the invention and the body of a cleaning apparatus provided with the invention arriving in contact with obstacles;

- Figure 5 is a partial section of a cleaning apparatus according to the variant of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 to 4;

- Figure 6 shows schematically and in section, an adaptation of a mobility device according to the invention to a cleaning apparatus;

- Figure 7 shows schematically and in section, another adaptation of a mobility device according to the invention to a cleaning apparatus;

- Figure 8 shows, schematically and in side view, another variant of the invention;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of Figure 8;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a running device detail of a mobility device according to the invention; FIG. 11 schematically illustrates another detail of rolling means of a mobility device according to the invention;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates another rolling device detail of a mobility device according to the invention.

The invention relates to the field of domestic or industrial cleaning appliances, particularly that of sled-vacuum cleaners.

The mobility device 100 comprises at least one ground rolling means 2, placed in the lower part of a shell 20 that includes the domestic or industrial cleaning device 1, including a vacuum-sled. The following description refers to a vacuum cleaner, but it is understood that the invention relates to any domestic or industrial cleaning device.

The mobility device 100 according to the invention, for a vacuum cleaner 1, advantageously has at least one obstacle bypass means 200, which is positioned on at least a portion of the periphery of the shell 20. This obstacle bypass means 200 comprises at least one movable part consisting of at least one strip 5 acting as bumper. This strip 5 is disposed on at least a portion of the periphery of the shell 20, overflow relative thereto, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the plane P of displacement of the vacuum cleaner 1 to the ground.

This obstacle bypass means 200 comprises guide means 300 in rotation of the strip 5, which are designed to be preferably reported on the outside of the shell 20, or by the interior thereof.

By strip 5 it must be understood one or more superimposed parts arranged around the guide means 300 positioned on the periphery or inside the vacuum cleaner 1, said strip 5 may for example be a peripheral ribbon mounted on a ring, or a simple ring.

Different variants, in no way limiting, may be chosen to ensure the free rotation of the strip 5.

The guide means 300 comprise rolling means, distributed on a fixed mount 7, located inside or outside the shell 20 of the apparatus 1, or on the shell 20 itself. These rolling means serve as a rolling interface between the frame 7 or the shell 20, on the one hand, and the strip 5 on the other hand.

These rolling means, as visible in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10 to 12, consist preferentially of balls 6 or rollers 9, disks or the like. As can be seen in FIG. 10, they may consist of molded parts designed to rotate in grooves or housings of the shell 20, of a mount 7, or of an insert 21, and which comprise a bearing surface of bearing for the support of the headband 5.

In the case of mounting on an insert 21, the latter is advantageously blind on the inside of the cleaning device: thus there is no opening to the outside, detrimental from the acoustic point of view. Note that such an insert 21 can be mounted from the inside or from outside the shell 20, the latter solution being preferred.

These rolling means can be multiple, as shown in Figure 12, where a fixed axis supports two rollers at an acute angle between them, which allows a support of the strip 5 with excellent stability.

According to a first variant, the obstacle bypass means 200 is formed by a peripheral strip 5 rendered free in rotation, in a plane parallel to the plane P, around a mount 7 fixed on the shell 20 of the vacuum cleaner 1, the free rotation is ensured by means of balls 6 embedded in the cavities 8 in the frame 7, which may, depending on the case, be mounted inside or outside the vacuum cleaner.

The strip 5 is placed in overflow relative to the shell 20 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and also acts as a bumper, on at least a part of the periphery of the shell 20.

According to the invention the strip 5 can be placed on the entire periphery of the vacuum cleaner if it is provided with a generally cylindrical shape, or only on a part of this periphery. The sled vacuum cleaner being usually towed, at a front portion A, by means of a suction and traction hose 22, it is often not necessary to arrange the obstacle bypass means 200 in the rear part B of the vacuum cleaner, which may be slightly elusive to facilitate the release of the device, while allowing its volume increase for example in comparison with a canister type high vacuum and unstable, the positioning of the means of obstacle bypass 200 is at least placed on the front part A of the apparatus.

But, as shown in Figure 1, a strip 5, mounted on the periphery of a shell 20 having a notch for its passage, has the advantage of being mounted on the outside of the shell 20. Thus avoids the presence, in the shell 20, of any slot or housing for the passage of the strip 20, synonymous with whistling and noise. Such a completely external mounting of the strip 5 thus preserves the acoustics, and is the preferred embodiment of the invention. According to this first variant, the device allowing freedom in rotation of the strip 5 is constituted by a set of balls 6 set on a fixed mount 7, and regularly distributed along said frame 7 located inside the vacuum cleaner, or embedded directly on the hull 20 itself. These balls 6 serve as a rolling interface between the fixed mount 7 and the strip 5, so as to facilitate the rotation of the strip 5 when the vacuum cleaner 1 hits an obstacle 15, 16. The balls 6 can freely rotate in cavities 8 arranged on the periphery of the frame 7, or on the shell 20 directly. Thus arranged on balls, the strip 5 is free to move in rotation around the mount 7. The presence of an obstacle 15, 16, coming into contact with the strip 5, when the vacuum 1 is moved, causes the movement the bumper in rotation, causing a lateral displacement of the vacuum cleaner 1, with a reorientation of the rolling means on the floor of the vacuum cleaner 1, constituted by rollers, rollers, or balls 3, and the bypass of the obstacle.

According to a second variant, the balls 6 are replaced by rollers 9 mounted on axes or in housings that comprise the shell 20, the frame 7 or the insert 21.

According to a third variant, as visible in FIGS. 2 to 5, the obstacle bypassing device 200 comprises at least one strip 17 or 18 carried by a disc 10 or 19, a ring or a wheel, free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane P of displacement of the vacuum cleaner 1, said disk or said wheel being rotatable about an axis 14, 13, in particular around a bearing 11 placed inside the vacuum cleaner 1. Which bearing 11 comprises means capable of ensuring a rotation with little friction of the rotating element.

Advantageously in this example, at least two, preferably two, superimposed bypass means consisting of wheels or disks 10 or 19 are provided. These wheels or disks 10, 19, are positioned in planes offset and parallel to the plane P, and mounted free to rotate about axes of rotation 13, 14 parallel and distinct, each bearing on a bearing of a pivot 12 eccentric to that of the other. The disks 10, 19 are carrying strips 17, 18, and each free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane P, about an axis 14, 13, in particular around a bearing 11, placed inside the the vacuum cleaner 1. This bearing 11 comprises means capable of rotating with reduced friction of the rotating element. According to an example of this variant, the axes 14, 13 of the two disks 10, 19 are offset relative to each other. This offset can be strongly pronounced to the point that the faces vis-à-vis two disks 10, 19, are positioned on the same horizontal plane.

Preferably, the bearings 11 are free to rotate about a pivot 12. Which pivot 12 is a single piece formed by the arrangement of at least two superposed cylinders in which an upper cylinder of smaller diameter comprises an axis 14 decentered by relative to that 13 of a larger lower cylinder, as shown in Figure 5. The bearings 11 may advantageously be of different sizes.

Thus composed of two superimposed bypass means, the vacuum cleaner 1 can almost simultaneously bypass two obstacles 15 and 16 placed on each side of the apparatus, each strip 17, 18 being free in rotation.

In the representation of Figure 4 the vacuum cleaner 1 comes into contact with the obstacle 16, the strip 18 is rotated and allows the vacuum cleaner 1 to circumvent the obstacle, during this maneuver the strip 17 overflowing the opposite side to the obstacle 16 just hit the second obstacle 15, this strip 17 is also rotated, but in the opposite direction of the strip 18. The vacuum cleaner, the two strips offset in parallel horizontal planes rotate accompanying the movements of the vacuum cleaner around obstacles, can slalom and pass where other devices with fixed bumpers, or a single rotating bumper, would have remained blocked.

It is conceivable, according to the invention, to combine the preceding variants, for example by proposing two staggered strips, as described in the third variant, rotatable on ball or roller devices as described in the first and the second embodiment. second variant embodiment.

Another variant of an obstacle bypass, as can be seen in FIGS. 8 to 9, consists, for cleaning devices of substantially prismatic shape which are not well suited to encirclement by a strip of revolution, to equip them at the underside of their shell 20, one or more strips 5 salient relative to this shell. Preferably at least two in number, these strips 5 can be rotatably mounted on inserts 21 such as easy to report axes on the shell 20, at the housing it comprises or prominently as visible on Figure 8. Such an assembly is compatible with the maintenance of good soundproofing. It is possible to mount disks or multiple bands, superimposed, offset as in the previous example, for better mobility.

Advantageously according to the possible variants of the invention presented above the strip 5 used in the obstacle bypass system may be formed in one piece, or by at least two clip-in parts or nestable one inside the other. This strip 5 may be of flat or round section, overflow more or less with respect to the body of the vacuum cleaner 1, and possibly be equipped with additional protections, without departing from the scope of the invention. Several other variants can be envisaged with different obstacle-preventing means 200 and a plurality of freely rotatable peripheral bands, which variants may optionally involve combinations of the means presented above.

Several variants are also conceivable as to the size of the strip 5 serving as bumper and its positioning in height on the vacuum cleaner 1, as to the size and the constituents of the various essential elements such as the means 2 of rolling on the ground , especially in the form of balls 3, the balls 6 or rollers 9 used in the bypass means 200, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The rotating strip 5 may also be arranged around a plate provided with means 2 of rolling on the ground allowing the assembly thus formed to directly receive a shell 20 of vacuum cleaner, by clipping or fixed interlocking, non-rotating.

The distribution and the number of ground rolling means, such as the number and the arrangement of the balls 6 or rollers 9 in the bypass means 200, can be chosen in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

In a particular embodiment, the mobility device 100 according to the invention is designed as an adaptation kit intended to be mounted on an existing vacuum cleaner 1. It then comprises guiding means 300 of at least one band sector, which are designed adapted to be adapted to this shell 20.

In a preferred embodiment, these guide means 300 each consist of an insert 21 containing at least one roller 9 or a ball 6. This insert 21 is designed to be attached to the shell 20 of the vacuum cleaner 1 by screwing, gluing, clipping, or the like. In particular, as visible on the Figure 6, it may be envisaged to drill, for example with a template, the shell 20 generally plastic or sheet metal of the vacuum cleaner 1, to a suitable diameter for the housing of the insert 21, with or without tightening according to its maintenance system. The insert 21 contains at least one roller 9 mounted on an axis perpendicular to the ground, or a ball 6 trapped in a cavity 8 between two half-shells, or the like. The periphery of this roller 9 or this ball 6 cooperates with a strip 5 in one or more parts, as described above. The insert 21 may be independent, or molded into the shell 20, or comprise a plug 23 allowing the concealment as visible in FIG. 11.

It is of course conceivable to equip a hull 20 with a vacuum cleaner of several such obstacles bypass means 200 at different altitudes.

In a particular version, as can be seen in FIG. 7, the guiding means 300 are mounted on an intermediate piece or frame 7, such as a collar, or a ring, or the like, designed to be attached to the periphery of the hull 20 of an existing vacuum cleaner. This intermediate piece then comprises several inserts 21, preferably at least three, each containing at least one roller 9 or a ball 6.

Such a mount 7 may also advantageously comprise at least one anti-rollover stand 22, designed to receive a support means or rolling on the ground.

The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises at least one rolling means on the ground

2 which advantageously comprises a ball 3 contained in a housing 4 of globally spherical shape arranged in the lower part of the shell 20 of the vacuum cleaner 1, said housing having an opening in its lower part so as to let a part of the ball 3. The diameter of the opening of the housing 4 is less than that of the ball

3 so that it remains positioned in its housing when the vacuum cleaner 1 is raised. The ball 3 of the rolling means 2 is preferably provided with a sufficiently large diameter so as to roll easily on all types of floors, carpets, tiles, floors, and the like, without difficulty and without causing scratches or marks. The material constituting the ball is chosen according to the constraints mentioned above and its resistance to wear. It can thus be envisaged a ball, rigid plastic material or a flexible elastomer, without departing from the scope of the invention. Advantageously, the mobility device 100 for a sled vacuum cleaner 1 according to the invention comprises at least three rolling means 2, and preferably four, placed in the lower part of the vacuum cleaner and regularly distributed over the surface so that the device is stable at rest and when traveling. The invention does not exclude the possibility of using a multidirectional wheel in place of the ball wheel 3 described above, a bypass device comprising such wheels is included in one invention.

The invention also relates to a domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus, in particular a vacuum cleaner, comprising such a mobility device 100. In a preferred version, this cleaning apparatus 1 comprises a single shell 20 and monobloc and at least one element closing member at an opening that comprises the shell 20. This closure member may be constituted, preferably by a cover, or by a bottom.

The mobility device 100 according to the invention thus provides a particularly economical solution to the cost and complexity problems of the prior art. Its declination into an adaptation kit for existing vacuum cleaners makes it possible to improve the safety and ease of use thereof. Such a device provides, again, the advantage of avoiding any noise caused by an air flow, or by the proliferation of vibrations, between different parts of a shell, especially in their junction area, since the use of a double hull, or a hull in two parts, is not necessary.

In addition, the mobility of the vacuum cleaner is significantly improved when using ground rolling means consisting of at least one ball.

Claims

1- mobility device (100) for domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus (1), comprising at least one obstacle bypassing means (200) positioned on at least a portion of the periphery of said apparatus (1) and acting as a bumper, said obstacle bypass means (200) comprising at least one movable part consisting of a strip (5) mounted free to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane (P) of movement of said apparatus (1), and placed in overflow relative to the body of the apparatus, characterized in that it comprises guide means (300) in rotation of said strip (5) designed adapted to be reported on the outside of a shell (20) that comprises said apparatus (1).

2- mobility device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide means (300) each consist of an insert (21) containing at least one rolling means, said insert (21) being designed adapted to be attached to the shell (20) of said cleaning apparatus (1) by screwing, gluing, clipping, or the like.

3- mobility device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said guide means (300) comprise rolling means distributed on a frame (7) designed adapted to be reported on the periphery of a hull (20) cleaning apparatus, and comprise several inserts (21) each containing at least one roller (9) or a ball (6).

4- mobility device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said guide means (300) comprise rolling means distributed on a fixed mount (7) located inside or to outside said apparatus (1), said rolling means serving as a rolling interface between said frame (7) and said strip (5).

5- mobility device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said rolling means are constituted by balls (6) or rollers (9).

6- mobility device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip (5) is formed by at least two clip-in parts or nestable one inside the other to form a ring.

7- mobility device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one strip (17, 18) carried by a disk (10, 19) or a freewheel rotating in a plane parallel to the plane (P) of movement of the apparatus (1), said disc (10, 19) or said wheel being designed able to rotate around a bearing (11) placed inside said apparatus (1) .

8- mobility device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two superimposed bypass means (200) consisting of wheels or disks (10, 19) positioned in offset planes and parallel to said plane (P), and mounted free to rotate about parallel and distinct axes of rotation (13, 14), each bearing on a bearing of a pivot (12) eccentric relative to that of the other.

9- mobility device (100) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said mount (7) comprises at least one antitipfting stand (22) designed adapted to receive a support means or rolling on the ground .

10- mobility device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one rolling means (2) on the ground comprising, placed in the lower part of the shell (20) of said apparatus (1), a housing (4) of globally spherical shape and which has an opening in its part low, of smaller diameter than that of a ball (3) contained in said housing (4) and projecting through said opening to roll to the ground.

11- Domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus comprising a mobility device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12- domestic or industrial cleaning apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a shell (20) single and monobloc, and at least one closure element at an opening that includes said shell (20) .