WO2016184482A1

WO2016184482A1 - A vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2016184482A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/060768
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kutay Edis; Ozgur UYSAL; Tansel OZTURK; Ersin Donmez; Ali Levent Hasanreisoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2016-11-24

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising: - a body (2) having an air inlet (3); - a suction hose (4) connected to the air inlet (3) of the body (2) for bringing air and dust to the body (2); - suction means (6), dust collection means (7) and a battery pack (8) housed in the body (2); and - two wheels (9) rotatably attached to the body (2) about a same rotation axis (X).

Description

A VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and, in particular, to a canister vacuum cleaner having improved manoeuvrability and requiring a low propelling force to be applied by a user in order to move it on the floor.

Canister vacuum cleaners, having a body, mounted on wheels and accommodating a suction means and dust collecting means, and having a suction head connected to the body by a flexible suction hose, are particularly common on the market. Throughout the years different models of canister vacuum cleaners, aimed to have an improved movability and manoeuvrability, have been developed.

In the state of art, for instance, canister vacuum cleaners are known which comprise a body carried only by a pair of large wheels and which can be propelled on the floor by pulling or pushing the hose. These known vacuum cleaners have a better manoeuvrability compared with the canister vacuum cleaners comprising three or more wheels, since they can be moved by the user in various directions on the floor with a minimum effort and since they can be very easily turned about a vertical axis. However, the specific design of the body and the specific arrangement of the suction means and of the dust collecting means inside the body for each of these canister vacuum cleaners affect their movability and manoeuvrability.

It is for instance known from the patent document US 2 632 524 a canister vacuum cleaner comprising a suction means, having a motor-fan unit, which is positioned in a lower compartment of the body, and dust collecting means which is positioned in an upper compartment of the body. Therefore the centre of gravity of the body is positioned beneath the rotation axis of the wheels so that the vacuum cleaner tends to remain in a balanced position and any tendency of the body to rock from this position is opposed by the mass of the motor-fan unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that has an optimal manoeuvrability and that requires the user to exert a minimum traction force on its hose in order to propel the body on the floor.

This objective has been achieved by the vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the internal components, such as the suction means, the dust collection means and the battery pack, are disposed in the support body such that the centre of gravity of the body containing the above mentioned components lies in an intermediate position between the rotation axis of the wheels and the air inlet of the body to which a suction hose is connected for bringing air and dust into the body, at a distance from the rotation axis which is smaller than the radius of the wheels. Hence the centre of gravity lies in a position which is shifted from the rotation axis of the wheels toward the air inlet, rendering the body unbalanced and promoting its movement toward an advancing direction.

In an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner, the desired position of the centre of gravity is achieved placing the suction means and the battery pack, which are the heaviest internal components of the vacuum cleaner, between the two wheels, and the dust collection means between the air inlet and the rotation axis of the wheels.

In another embodiment the centre of gravity lies on the straight line that passes through the centre of the air inlet and the medium point of the segment that connects the wheels along the rotation axis.

In a further embodiment, the centre of gravity lies on the straight line above specified at a distance from the rotation axis of the wheels equivalent to 1/5 of the radius of the wheels.

In another embodiment, the body of the vacuum cleaner comprises a first portion which lies between the two wheels and which has maximum extension, in directions orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheels, which is lower than the radius of the wheels, and a second portion which extends from the first portion beyond the wheels and which comprises the air inlet.

In a further embodiment, the second portion has dimensions that diminish toward the air inlet. In particular, the second portion of the body has dimensions transversal to the plane that passes through the rotation axis of the wheels and the centre of the air inlet which are maximum in correspondence to the connection with the first portion and which diminish toward the air inlet, so that the body has a tapered shape toward the air inlet.

In an embodiment the second portion is delimited by a first surface and by a second surface which are opposite to one another with respect to the above mentioned plane and which both slope toward the air inlet.

According to a further embodiment, the first and the second surface are symmetrical with respect to the above mentioned plane.

In another embodiment, the first and the second surface are joined on the front, i.e. toward the connection with the suction hose, by a convex surface extending between the wheels and provided with the air inlet.

According to a further embodiment, the dust collection means is at least partially placed within the second portion of the body, and in particular is placed partially in the first portion and partially in the second portion of the body.

In a version of this embodiment, the dust collection means comprises two delimiting surfaces, opposite to one another with respect to the above mentioned plane, which slope toward the air inlet.

In a further embodiment, the suction means comprises a motor which rotation axis is disposed parallel to above mentioned the plane.

In an alternative embodiment, the suction means comprises a motor which rotation axis is disposed perpendicular to above mentioned plane.

In another embodiment, the distance between the air inlet and the rotation axis of the wheels is substantially equivalent to 6/5 of the radius of the wheels.

In a further embodiment, the distance between the wheels is substantially equivalent to the diameter of the wheels.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, by virtue of the position of the centre of gravity of the body considered together with the internal components therein contained, is characterized by an optimal mobility, rendering particularly easy for a user to pull the body by the hose and to move it on the floor by applying a little traction force on the hose.

The optimal movability and manoeuvrability of the vacuum cleaner are further reached by means of the peculiar design of the body, which renders the body compact and versatile in use.

Additional advantages of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a frontal partial perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a frontal perspective view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the hose of the vacuum cleaner has been removed and a detail related to a connection element of the hose to the body is exploded.

Figure 3 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figure 1 with the hose removed.

Figure 4 is a lateral view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a lateral view of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figure 3 with the connection element removed and with illustrated in dotted lines the body rotated in different positions with respect to the wheels.

Figure 6 is the cross-sectional view of the body and wheels of the vacuum cleaner taken from the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is the cross-sectional view of the body and wheels of the vacuum cleaner taken from the line VII-VII of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention wherein some parts of the vacuum cleaner have been removed in order to show the internal components of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the internal components of the vacuum cleaner that are placed in the body, wherein the motor case has been partially removed.

Figures 10 is a lateral view of an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention wherein some parts of the vacuum cleaner have been removed in order to show the internal components of the vacuum cleaner and wherein the motor case has been partially removed to show the exact disposition of the motor.

Figures 11 is a lateral view of a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention wherein some parts of the vacuum cleaner have been removed in order to show the internal components of the vacuum cleaner and wherein the motor case has been partially removed to show the exact disposition of the motor.

The reference numerals of the components shown in the drawings:

Vacuum cleaner
Body
Air inlet
Suction hose
Connection element
Suction means
Dust collection means
Battery pack
Wheels
First portion
Second portion
First surface
Second surface

14. Convex surface

15. Wings

16. Tread of the wheels

17. Delimiting surfaces

18. Frontal surface

19. Lateral surface

20. Motor

A. First advancing direction

B. Second advancing direction

d. Distance between centre of gravity and rotation axis of the wheels

D. Diameter of the wheels

F. Floor

G. Centre of gravity

H. Rotation axis of the motor

L. Distance between the wheels

M. Midpoint segment connecting the wheels

O. Centre of air inlet

P. Contact points

Π. Plane

R. Radius of the wheels

S. Distance between air inlet and rotation axis

V. Volume

X. Rotation axis

Y. Straight line

The vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention comprises a body 2, having an air inlet 3, and two wheels 9 rotatably attached to the body 2 about a same rotation axis X for moving the vacuum cleaner 1 on the floor. The vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a suction hose 4 connected to the air inlet 3 for bringing air and dust into the body 2.

Advantageously the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a connection element 5 for the hose 4, which is detachably connected to the body 2 at the air inlet 3, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention is a cordless vacuum cleaner, which is activated by means of rechargeable batteries. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a plurality of internal components which are housed in the body 2, among which suction means 6, dust collection means 7 and a battery pack 8.

In particular, the suction means 6 advantageously comprises a motor 20, a fan and a case housing them. The dust collection means 7 might for instance comprise a dust collection bag or a dust collection bin, as illustrated in the attached drawings, or might comprise a cyclonic body. The battery pack 8 comprises a plurality of rechargeable batteries, such as for instance lithium-ion batteries.

According to the present invention, the suction means 6, the dust collection means 7 and the battery pack 8 are arranged in the body 2 such that the centre of gravity G of the body 2, considered together with the internal components therein contained, lies between the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and the air inlet 3 of the body 2 at a distance from the rotation axis X lower than the radius R of the wheels 9.

The above mentioned position of the centre of gravity G of the body 2 confers to the body 2 carried by the wheels 9 an improved mobility and renders the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention particularly easy to be pulled and manoeuvred and, more in general, to be used.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 is moved on the floor F by a user, simply by pulling it from the suction hose 4, in fact, the two wheels 9 define generally the only contact points P of the body 2 and wheels 9 with the floor F. The centre of gravity G, according to the invention, is situated in a position which is ahead of the contact points P of the wheels 9 with the floor F, toward the air inlet 3.

Such position of the centre of gravity G confers to the body 2 an unbalanced configuration that provides to it a propelling force, so that a relatively small traction force needs to be applied by the user in order to pull the vacuum cleaner 1 on the floor F.

According to an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, the suction means 6 and the battery pack 8 are placed in the body 2 substantially between the two wheels 9 and the dust collection means 7 is placed in the body 2 between the air inlet 3 and the rotation axis X of the wheels 9. This allows to properly set the centre of gravity G in the desired position.

In another embodiment, the centre of gravity G of the body 2 lies on the straight line Y that passes through the centre O of the air inlet 3 and the midpoint M of the segment that connects the two wheels 9 along their rotation axis X, as illustrated in Figure 6, thus ensuring an evenly advancing of the wheels 9 on the floor F.

The air inlet 3 has preferably a circular shape, so that the centre O corresponds to the centre of the circle, as illustrated in the attached figures. In case the air inlet 3 has a different geometrical shape, such as oval, square or rectangular, the centre O corresponds to the geometrical centre of such shape.

In a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, the centre of gravity G lies on the straight line Y at a distance d from the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 equivalent to 1/5 of the radius R of the wheels 9. It has been verified, in fact, that this distance d of the centre of gravity G from the rotation axis X confers to the body 2 an easy movability, as previously specified, without however determining an excessive moment on the body 2 in correspondence of the air inlet 3 that drag the hose 4 toward the floor F. Hence the suction hose 4 is easily lifted and kept in the desired position by the user during use of the vacuum cleaner 1.

In another embodiment, the body 2 comprises a first portion 10 defined by a substantially cylindrical volume between the wheels 9 and a second portion 11 which projects from the first portion 10 beyond the wheels 9 and which is provided with the air inlet 3. In particular, the first portion 10 does not extend beyond the volume V ideally defined by the projection of the wheels 9 one onto the other along the rotation axis X, having preferably a concave shape, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Preferably, the body 2 has a symmetrical shape with respect to a plane π passing through the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and the centre O of the air inlet 3, as illustrated in Figure 7.

The fact that the body 2 comprises a first portion 10 that does not extend beyond volume V and the fact that the body 2 has preferably a symmetrical shape allow the vacuum cleaner 1 to be indifferently pulled or pushed on the floor F by a user on a first advancing direction A or on a second advancing direction B opposite to the first, as illustrated in Figure 4, by simply changing the relative position of the body 2 with respect to the wheels 9, as illustrated in Figure 5, rotating it around the rotation axis X of the wheels.

Preferably, the centre of gravity G of the body 2 lies on the plane π previously specified, and in particular on the straight line Y as above specified, so as to guarantee a perfectly symmetrical behaviour of the body 2 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is pulled on the floor F on the first advancing direction A or on the second opposite direction B.

According to another embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the dust collection means 7 is advantageously at least partially placed within the second portion 11 of the body 2, as can be seen in Figures 8, 10 and 11.

Preferably, the second portion 11 of the body 2 has a tapered shape toward the air inlet 3, in particular with respect to the plane π. More in detail, the second portion 11 is delimited by a first surface 12 and by a second surface 13 which both slope toward the air inlet 3 and which are preferably symmetrical with respect to the plane π passing through the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and the centre O of the air inlet 3. The first surface 12 and the second surface 13 of the second portion 11 are frontally joined by a convex surface 14 which extends between the wheels 9 and which is provided with the air inlet 3.

The second portion 11 advantageously comprises two wings 15 that extend in front of the wheels 9 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis X covering at least the tread 16 of the wheels 9, i.e. the part of the wheels 9 that touches the floor F when the vacuum cleaner 1 advances on the floor F. Obviously, the wings 15 might extend in a direction parallel to the rotation axis X beyond the wheels 9.

The wings 15 protect the wheels 9 from possible collisions with obstacles encountered by the vacuum cleaner 1 along its path, thus avoiding the vacuum cleaner 1 to get stuck against such obstacles. The convex surface 14 extends between the two wings 15, encompassing them.

According to a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, in order to better exploit the room in the second portion 11 of the body 2, the dust collection means 7, i.e. the bag or the bin of the dust collection means 7, comprises two delimiting surfaces 17, opposite to one another and preferably symmetrical with respect to the plane π, which slope toward the air inlet 3. One or both the delimiting surfaces 17 can comprise an opening, as illustrated in Figure 9, advantageously closable by closing means not illustrated. The two delimiting surfaces 17 can be joined by a frontal surface 18, substantially parallel to the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and by two lateral surfaces 19 substantially perpendicular to the frontal surface 18, as illustrated in the attached figures, or they might be preferably joined by a convex frontal surface that follows the internal outline of the second portion 11 of the body 2.

As previously specified, the suction means 6 comprises a motor 20 which has a rotation axis H.

According to an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1 illustrated in Figure 10 attached, the rotation axis H of the motor 20 is disposed parallel to the plane π passing through the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and the centre O of the air inlet 3. Preferably the axis of the motor 20 is disposed perpendicular to the rotation axis X of the wheels 9.

According to an alternative embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1 illustrated in Figure 11 attached, the rotation axis H of the motor 20 is disposed perpendicular to the plane π passing through the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 and the centre O of the air inlet 3. Arranging the motor 20 inside the body 2 with its rotation axis H disposed orthogonal to the plane π allows a larger space between the motor 20 and the air inlet 3, which larger space can be conveniently exploited for improving the dust collection means 7, for instance providing the vacuum cleaner 1 with a bigger dust collection bag or bin.

According to a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, the distance S between the air inlet 3 and the rotation axis X of the wheels 9 is equivalent to 6/5 of the radius R of the wheels 9. This technical feature of the body 2 guarantees a compact design of the body 2 and hence an improved movability and manoeuvrability of the vacuum cleaner 1. A larger distance S between the air inlet 3 and the rotation axis of the wheels 9 in fact would render the body 2 more cumbersome and more difficult to be manoeuvred due to a longer second portion 11 of the body 2, while a smaller distance S would not allow sufficient space for the dust collection means 7 in the body 2 along the straight line Y.

A particularly compact design of the body 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1 that allows improving the movability and the manoeuvrability of the vacuum cleaner 1 is furthermore obtained by providing the body 2 with wheels 9 having a diameter D which is substantially equivalent to the distance L between the wheels 9.

With the present invention, a vacuum cleaner 1 has been provided which has improved movability and maneuverability. Thus, the vacuum cleaner 1 of the present invention ensures ease of use, requiring to the user a minimal effort in order to move it on the floor.

Claims

A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising:

- a body (2) having an air inlet (3);

- a suction hose (4) connected to the air inlet (3) for bringing air and dust into the body (2);

- suction means (6), dust collection means (7) and a battery pack (8) housed in the body (2); and

- two wheels (9) rotatably attached to the body (2) about a same rotation axis (X);

characterized in that the suction means (6), the dust collection means (7) and the battery pack (8) are arranged in the body (2) such that the centre of gravity (G) of the body (2) lies between the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9) and the air inlet (3) at a distance (d) from the rotation axis (X) lower than the radius (R) of the wheels (9).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the suction means (6) and the battery pack (8) are placed in the body (2) between the two wheels (9) and the dust collection means (7) is placed in the body (2) between the air inlet (3) and the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the centre of gravity (G) of the body (2) lies on the straight line (Y) that passes through the centre (O) of the air inlet (3) and the midpoint (M) of the segment that connects the two wheels (9) along the rotation axis (X).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the centre of gravity (G) lies on the straight line (Y) at a distance (d) from the rotation axis (X) equivalent to 1/5 of the radius (R) of the wheels (9).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a first portion (10) defined by a substantially cylindrical volume between the wheels (9) and a second portion (11) which projects from the first portion (10) beyond the wheels (9) and which is provided with the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the second portion (11) of the body (2) has a tapered shape toward the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the second portion (11) is delimited by a first surface (12) and by a second surface (13) opposite to one another with respect to a plane (π) passing through the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9) and the centre (O) of the air inlet (3) and which both slope toward the air inlet (3)
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the first surface (12) and the second surface (13) are symmetrical with respect to the plane (π).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first surface (12) and the second surface (13) are frontally joined by a convex surface (14) which extends between the wheels (9) and which is provided with the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the Claims from 5 to 9, characterized in that the dust collection means (7) is at least partially placed within the second portion (11) of the body (2).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claims 7 and 10, characterized in that, the dust collection means (7) comprises two delimiting surfaces (17), which are opposite to one another with respect to the plane (π) and which slope toward the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that the suction means (6) comprises a motor (20) which rotation axis (H) is disposed parallel to the plane (π) passing through the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9) and the centre (O) of the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the Claims from 1 to 11, characterized in that the suction means (6) comprises a motor (20) which rotation axis (H) is disposed perpendicular to the plane (π) passing through the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9) and the centre (O) of the air inlet (3).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that the distance (S) between the air inlet (3) and the rotation axis (X) of the wheels (9) is substantially equivalent to 6/5 of the radius (R) of the wheels (9).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that the distance (L) between the wheels (9) is substantially equivalent to the diameter (D) of the wheels (9).