WO2016184483A1

WO2016184483A1 - A cordless vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2016184483A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/060771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kutay Edis; Ozgur UYSAL; Tansel OZTURK; Can Onur VANCI
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2016-11-24

Abstract

A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a body (2), having an air inlet (3) through which it receives air and dust, two wheels (4) rotatably attached to the body (2) about a same rotation axis (X), a battery compartment (7) arranged body (2) and a battery pack (8) housed in the battery compartment (7).

Description

A CORDLESS VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to a cordless vacuum cleaner and, in particular, to a cordless vacuum cleaner of the canister type.

Cordless vacuum cleaners powered by rechargeable batteries are commonly available on the market. In particular cordless vacuum cleaner of the canister type comprising a body, mounted on wheels, and a suction head connected to the body by a flexible suction hose, are also available in the market.

An example of a cordless vacuum cleaner of the canister type is for instance provided in the patent document JP 2002-355198. The vacuum cleaner therein described comprises a battery pack housed in a battery compartment which is arranged at the bottom of the body and which is accessible by removing a detachable cover that defines a flat base of the body and that, in normal conditions, keeps the battery compartment closed.

The main drawback of the vacuum cleaner disclosed in JP 2002-355198 resides on the difficulty that the user encounters in order to access the battery pack in the battery compartment, since it is at first necessary to arrange the body of the vacuum cleaner in an upside down position.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cordless vacuum cleaner which allows easy and convenient maintenance or inspection interventions on the battery pack.

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

In the cordless vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the body housing a battery compartment for the battery pack has an opening in correspondence of one of the two supporting wheels and the battery compartment is arranged in the body such that a user can reach the battery pack housed in it through the opening in correspondence of the wheel.

In an embodiment, the battery compartment has an aperture aligned to the opening of the body.

In a further embodiment, the battery compartment is arranged in the body in correspondence of the centre of the wheel.

In another embodiment, the battery compartment is directly accessible through the wheel.

In particular, in a further embodiment the wheel has a central through hole aligned to the opening of the body and the vacuum cleaner further comprises a cover detachably engaged to the body for closing the through hole of the wheel and, contemporarily, the opening of the body.

In one embodiment, the wheel is rotationally supported by a carrier fixed to the body in correspondence of the opening. The carrier has a central through hole aligned to the opening of the body and to the central through hole of the wheel and it has an annular support surface. The wheel is coaxially mounted on the carrier and it has a coupling surface facing the support surface of the carrier for being rotationally supported by it.

In a different embodiment, the wheel is rotationally supported directly by the battery compartment. According to this embodiment, the battery compartment protrudes out the opening of the body and defines an annular support surface, which rotationally supports the wheel coaxially mounted on the battery compartment with its coupling surface facing the support surface of the battery compartment.

In an embodiment of the cordless vacuum cleaner, the cover comprises holding means for holding the suction head of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is not in use.

According to a further embodiment, the body comprises a first portion defined by a substantially cylindrical volume between the wheels and a second portion which projects from the first portion beyond the wheels and which comprises the air inlet.

In a further embodiment, the body is movable with respect to the wheels, by rotating around the rotation axis of the wheels, between two resting positions in which the second portion protrudes beyond the wheels respectively in opposite directions with respect to the rotation axis and in each of which the second portion touches the floor. The holding means comprises two slots extending along two radial directions angularly spaced apart, each of which slots is suitable for receiving a protrusion associated to the suction head when the body is in a respective resting position, for keeping the suction head substantially in a vertical position.

In one embodiment the cordless vacuum cleaner comprises a single battery compartment.

In a different embodiment, the cordless vacuum cleaner comprises two battery compartments each housing a correspondent battery pack. In this embodiment the body has two openings each in correspondence of one of the two wheels and each of the battery compartments is arranged in the body such that the battery pack is reachable through one correspondent opening.

The vacuum cleaner further comprises suction means which, according to an embodiment, are arranged in the body between the two wheels, beside the battery compartment.

The vacuum cleaner further comprises dust collection means which, according to a further embodiment, is placed in the body between the air inlet and the rotation axis of the wheels.

In an embodiment the cordless vacuum cleaner further comprises an electronic card compartment arranged in the body beside the battery compartment and an electronic card housed in the electronic card compartment.

The electronic card compartment, in a further embodiment, is accessible through the opening of the body.

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

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

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1, wherein some parts of the vacuum cleaner have been removed in order to show the internal components of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a particular of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2 relative to a body of the vacuum cleaner wherein some parts of the body have been removed in order to show the internal components of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 4 is a partially exploded view of further particulars of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, relative to a wheel assembly and to a battery compartment containing a battery pack.

Figure 5 is a perspective exploded view of the wheel assembly of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cordless vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, with an enlarged particular.

The reference numerals of the components shown in the drawings:

Cordless vacuum cleaner
Body
Air inlet
Wheels
Suction head
Suction hose
Battery compartment
Battery pack
Opening of the body
Aperture of the battery compartment
First through hole
Cover
Carrier
Second through hole
Support surface
Coupling surface
Bearing elements
Holding means
Protrusion
First portion of the body
Second portion of the body
Suction means
Dust collection means

V. Volume

X. Rotation axis of the wheel

The cordless vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention comprises a body 2, having an air inlet 3 through which it receive air and dust, and two wheels 4 rotatably attached to the body 2 about a same rotation axis X for moving the vacuum cleaner 1 on the floor.

More in detail, the cordless vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a suction head 5 and a suction hose 6 connected at one end to the suction head 4 and at the other end to the air inlet 3 for bringing air and dust collected through the suction head 5 into the body 2.

The vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a battery compartment 7 arranged in the body 2 and a battery pack 8 housed in the battery compartment 7.

According to the present invention, the body 2 has an opening 9 in correspondence of one of the two wheels 4 and the battery compartment 7 is arranged in the body 2 such that the battery pack 8 housed in it is reachable through the opening 9.

The opening 9 of the body 2 arranged in correspondence of one of the wheel 4, through which the battery compartment 7 is accessible, allows the user to promptly reach the battery pack 8 placed in the battery compartment 7, so that the inspection or maintenance interventions on the battery pack 8 are rendered particularly easy and convenient. In particular the battery compartment 7 placed in correspondence of one of the wheels 4 is promptly accessible substantially fo whichever the position of the body 2, so that in order to access the battery compartment 7 it is not necessary to first arrange the body 2 in a specific position, as it is for instance necessary for the vacuum cleaner disclosed in the prior art patent document JP 2002-355198.

According to an embodiment, the battery compartment 7 has an aperture 10 which is aligned to the opening 9 of the body 2. This allows the user to directly reach the battery pack 8 housed in the battery compartment 7.

In a further embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, in particular, the aperture 10 of the battery compartment 7 is at the same level of the opening 9 of the body 2, so that the battery compartment 7 is easily inspectable.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the battery compartment 7 is arranged in the body 2 in correspondence of the centre of the wheel 4. More in detail, the battery compartment 7 is disposed in the body coaxially with the rotation axis X of the wheels 4. Besides being more easily accessible, in fact, the battery compartment 7 such placed in the body 2 ensures that the centre of gravity of the battery pack 8, which substantially fills the battery compartment 7 as illustrated in Figure 4, lies on the rotation axis X of the wheels 4 for whichever position of the body 2 with respect to the wheels 4.

In an embodiment of the cordless vacuum cleaner 1, the battery compartment 7 is accessible through the wheel 4. This allows the user to reach the battery pack 8 without removing the wheel 4 from the body 2.

To this aim, in a further embodiment, the wheel 4 has an annular shape defining a first central through hole 11 aligned to the opening 9 of the body 2 and the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a cover 12 detachably engaged to the body 2 for closing the first through hole 11 of the wheel 4 and the opening 9 of the body 2. By releasing the cover 12 from its engagement with the body 2 and by removing it from the body 2, the battery compartment 7 becomes accessible without therefore being necessary to remove the wheel 4. In particular the cover 12 might be engageable to the body 2 for instance by means of a snap fit mechanism or by means of a rotational engagement.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the cordless vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a carrier 13 fixed to the body 2 in correspondence of the opening 9, having a second central through hole 14 aligned to the opening 9 of the body 2 and having an annular support surface 15. The wheel 4 is coaxially mounted on the carrier 2, around the rotation axis X, and has a coupling surface 16 facing the support surface 15 of the carrier 13 for being rotationally supported by it. In particular, in an embodiment of the wheel assembly 1, the support surface 15 of the carrier 13 and the coupling surface 16 of the wheel 4 extend parallel to the rotation axis X of the wheel 4, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 attached. In a different embodiment, not illustrated, the support surface 15 and the coupling surface 16 are inclined with respect to the rotation axis X.

The carrier 13, the wheel 4 and the cover 12 define together a wheel assembly.

İn a further embodiment, the carrier 13 comprises a plurality of bearing elements 17 which extend radially from the support surface 15, circumferentially spaced along the support surface 15, and which co-operate with the coupling surface 16 of the wheel 4 to support the wheel 4 for the rotation. Therefore the wheel 4 rotates with respect to the carrier 13, which remains fix, with its coupling surface 16 that slides on the bearing elements 17. More in detail, the bearing elements 17 extend outward from the support surface 15, toward the coupling surface 16 of the wheel 4.

The presence of the bearing elements 17 on the support surface 15 of the carrier 13 allows to reduce the contact area between the support surface 15 and the coupling surface 16, ensuring a better coupling between the wheel 4 and the carrier 13 even in the presence of misalignments of the support surface 15 and of the coupling surface 16.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the battery compartment 7 protrudes out the opening 9 of the body 2 and defines an annular support surface. In this embodiment, the wheel 4 is coaxially mounted on the battery compartment 7 around the rotation axis X and has a coupling surface facing the support surface of the battery compartment 7 for being rotationally supported by it. The battery compartment 7 might comprise a plurality of bearing elements which extend radially from its support surface in order to rotationally support the wheel 4, as the carrier 13 above described.

In an embodiment, the cover 12 comprises holding means 18 for holding the suction head 5, when the vacuum cleaner 1 is not in use, like for instance when it is momentarily left by the user or when it is stored. According to an embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the holding means 18 comprise one or more slots each extending along a radial direction and suitable for receiving a protrusion 19 arranged on the suction head 5 or on the terminal portion of the suction hose 6 connected to the suction head 5.

In an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, the body 2 comprises a first portion 20 defined by a substantially cylindrical volume between the wheels 4 and a second portion 21 which projects from the first portion 20 beyond the wheels 4 and which is provided with the air inlet 3. In particular, the first portion 20 does not extend beyond the volume V ideally defined by the projection of the wheels 4 one onto the other along the rotation axis X, having preferably a concave shape, as illustrated in Figure 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The fact that the body 2 comprises a first portion 20 that does not extend beyond the volume V allows to change the relative position of the body 2 with respect to the wheels 4, rotating it around the rotation axis X of the wheels 4 thus bringing the second portion 21 to protrude beyond the wheels 4 in opposite directions with respect to the rotation axis X. This renders the vacuum cleaner 1 particularly versatile and easy to be moved on the floor. In particular, the body 2 is movable with respect to the wheels 4 between two resting positions in each of which the second portion 21 of the body 2 touches the floor. In one resting position the second portion protrudes beyond the wheels 4 in a direction, while in the other resting position it protrudes in the opposite direction.

In an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 1, the holding means 18 comprises two slots extending along two radial directions angularly spaced apart, as illustrated in Figure 1 and 4, and each suitable for receiving the protrusion 19 associated to the suction head 5 when the body 2 is in a respective resting position, in order to keep the terminal portion of the suction hose 6 connected to the suction head 5 and the suction head 5 substantially in a vertical position, as illustrated in Figure 6.

According to an embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a single battery compartment 7 accessible from one opening 9 of the body 2, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment the body 2 can comprise only ne opening 9 in correspondence of one of the wheel 4 or two openings 9, each in correspondence of a respective wheel 4, in order to allow for instance the inspection of further internal components of the vacuum cleaner 1 housed in the body 2.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises two battery compartments 7 each housing a correspondent battery pack 8. In this embodiment, the body 2 has two openings 9, each in correspondence of one of the two wheels 4, and each of the battery compartments 7 is arranged in the body 2 such that the battery pack 8 housed in it is reachable through one correspondent opening 9.

The cordless vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises suction means 22, which for instance comprises a motor, a fan and a case housing them, and dust collection means 23, which for instance comprises a dust collection bag or a dust collection bin.

According to an embodiment, the suction means 22 are arranged in the body 2 between the two wheels 4, beside the battery compartment 7. Therefore the centre of gravity of the suction means 22 lies between the two wheels 4, thus ensuring better and easier manoeuvrability and movability of the vacuum cleaner 1.

In particular, in case the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises two battery compartments 7 the suction means 22 are advantageously arranged between the two battery compartments 7.

According to an embodiment, the dust collection means 23 are placed in the body 2 between the air inlet 3 and the rotation axis X of the wheels 4. This allows to set the centre of gravity of the whole body 2, considered together with the internal components of the vacuum cleaner 1, i.e. in particular together with the battery pack 8, the suction means 22 and the dust collection means 23, in a position that lies between the two wheels 4 and between the rotation axis X of the wheels 4 and the air inlet 3, i.e. in a position which is shifted from the rotation axis X of the wheels 4 toward the air inlet 3, rendering the body 2 unbalanced and promoting its movement toward an advancing direction..

According to a further embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the dust collection means 23 is advantageously at least partially placed within the second portion 21 of the body 2, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

In an embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises an electronic card compartment, not illustrated, which is arranged in the body 2 beside the battery compartment 7 and an electronic card housed in the electronic card compartment.

The electronic card manages the functions of the internal components of the vacuum cleaner 1. In a further embodiment, the electronic card compartment is located between the wheels 4, close to the battery compartment 7 and it is accessible as well through the opening 9 of the body 2, by removing the cover 12 of the correspondent wheel 4.

The cordless vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present invention, therefore, allows easy and convenient maintenance or inspection interventions on the battery pack 8, since it is sufficient for the user to remove the cover 12 from one of the wheels 4 in order to promptly access to the battery compartment 7, for any position of the body 2 with respect to the wheels 4.

Claims

A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) comprising:

- a body (2) having an air inlet (3) through which it receives air and dust;

- two wheels (4) rotatably attached to the body (2) about a same rotation axis (X);

- a battery compartment (7) arranged in the body (2); and

- a battery pack (8) housed in the battery compartment (7);

characterized in that the body (2) has an opening (9) in correspondence of one of the two wheels (4) and the battery compartment (7) is arranged in the body (2) such that the battery pack (8) housed in it is reachable through the opening (9).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the battery compartment (7) has an aperture (10) which is aligned to the opening (9) of the body (2).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery compartment (7) is arranged in the body (2) in correspondence of the centre of the wheel (4).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that the battery compartment (7) is accessible through the wheel (4).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the wheel (4) has an annular shape defining a first central through hole (11) aligned to the opening (9) of the body (2) and the vacuum cleaner (1) further comprises a cover (12) detachably engaged to the body (2) for closing the first central through hole (11) of the wheel (4) and the opening (9) of the body (2).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises at least one carrier (13) fixed to the body (2) in correspondence of the opening (9), having a second central through hole (14) aligned to the opening (9) of the body (2) and having an annular support surface (15), the wheel (4) being coaxially mounted on the carrier (13) around the rotation axis (X) and having a coupling surface (16) facing the support surface (15) of the carrier (13) for being rotationally supported by it.
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 3 and 5, characterized in that the battery compartment (7) protrudes out the opening (9) of the body (2) and defines an annular support surface, the wheel (4) being coaxially mounted on the battery compartment (7) around the rotation axis (X) and having a coupling surface facing the support surface of the battery compartment (7) for being rotationally supported by it.
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the Claims from 5 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a suction head (5) and a suction hose (6) connected at one end to the suction head (5) and at the other end to the air inlet (3) of the body (2) for bringing air and dust collected through the suction head (5) into the body (2), the cover (12) comprising holding means (18) for holding the suction head (5).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a first portion (20) defined by a substantially cylindrical volume between the wheels (4) and a second portion (21) which projects from the first portion (20) beyond the wheels (4) and which is provided with the air inlet (3).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 8 and 9, characterized in that the body (2) is movable with respect to the wheels (4) between two resting positions in which the second portion (21) protrudes beyond the wheels (4) respectively in opposite directions with respect to the rotation axis (X) and in each of which the second portion (21) touches the floor and the holding means (18) comprises two slots extending along two radial directions angularly spaced apart, each of which slots is suitable for receiving a protrusion (19) associated to the suction head (5) when the body (2) is in a respective resting position, for keeping the suction head (5) substantially in a vertical position.
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that it comprises a single battery compartment (7).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the Claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises two battery compartments (7) each housing a correspondent battery pack (8) and the body (2) has two openings (9) each in correspondence of one of the two wheels (4), each of the battery compartments (7) being arranged in the body (2) such that the battery pack (8) housed in it is reachable through one correspondent opening (9).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that it further comprises suction means (22) arranged in the body (2) between the two wheels (4), beside the battery compartment (7).
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in any of the previous Claims, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic card compartment arranged in the body (2) beside the battery compartment (7) and an electronic card housed in the electronic card compartment.
A cordless vacuum cleaner (1) as claimed in Claim 14, characterized in that the electronic card compartment is accessible through the opening (9) of the body (2).