WO2017153228A1

WO2017153228A1 - A vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2017153228A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/054849
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emirhan ERDIL; Safak Tezcan; Dursun AGCA; Mujdat ERSARI
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-03-08
Filing date: 2017-03-02
Publication date: 2017-09-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1 ) comprising a body (2); a motor (3) disposed inside the body (2); a cleaning head (4) in contact with the surface to be cleaned; a delivery line (5) that is connected to the body (2) with one end and to the cleaning head (4) with the other end and that enables the dust particles on the surface to be cleaned to be vacuumed into the body (2) by transferring the suction force created by the motor (3) to the cleaning head (4), and a dust bag (6) that is suitable to be placed inside the body (2), into which the dirty air sucked through the delivery line (5) is fed and wherein the dirt inside the dirty air is substantially collected.

Description

A VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust bag.

The vacuum cleaners operate with the vacuum effect generated as a result of the air pressure difference. The pressure inside the vacuum cleaner decreases by means of the fan driven by the electric motor and thus, the ambient air at the atmospheric pressure is moved from the surface into the vacuum cleaner. The air that is vacuumed together with the dust is separated from the dust by means of various retainers and discharged out of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaners that collect the sucked dirt particles inside filters, chambers or dust bags or that collect the sucked dirt particles by passing them through a tank filled with water are known. Today, for domestic purposes, the vacuum cleaners with dust bags are widely used. The dust bags are integrated into the cleaning system by being connected to the vacuum cleaner body via the inlet section through which the dirty air is fed. Since the dirty air vacuumed into the body is fed into the first cleaning section through this connection point, wherein the air is separated from the dirt, the connection must be sealed. To this end, the dust bags are produced as specialized having various inlet structures that provide the connection to the body. This wide range of products creates a need for using a special dust bag for each vacuum cleaner and due to the different inlet structures thereof, each dust bag cannot be used in every vacuum cleaner. The dust bags that have almost the same functional properties prevent the users from having alternative options due to commercial and marketing strategies. Moreover, the users experience problems when procuring dust bags.

In the state of the art United States of America Patent Document No. US6086649, the connection mechanism between the inlet opening and the dust bag in the vacuum cleaners is disclosed.

In the state of the art United States of America Patent Document No. US2006064951, the connection of the dust bag by means of an additional part that is disposed on the inlet opening in the vacuum cleaners is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a vacuum cleaner that is suitable to be used with various types of dust bags.

By means of the movable retainer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, all types of dust bags can be used in the vacuum cleaners with dust bags that are widely preferred for domestic use.

The vacuum cleaner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises the dust bag that is connected to the system by means of the movable retainer. The vacuum cleaners can be produced in various types and specifications. Today, the vacuum cleaners that are widely preferred for domestic use comprise a body that moves on wheels, a motor that is disposed inside the body, a fan driven by the motor, and a chamber, which is separated from the section into which the motor and the fan are positioned in the body, suitable for placing the dust bag therein.

A delivery line that is connected to the body and that enables the dirty air to be delivered into the body is provided. A cleaning head in contact with the surface to be cleaned, that is suitable for sweeping and directing the dirt into the delivery line is provided on the other end of the delivery line. The fan is rotated with the operation of the motor and the pressure inside the body is decreased. As the ambient air at the atmospheric pressure moves towards the interior of the body, wherein the air pressure is lower, vacuum is created. The dirt together with the air is moved with the cleaning head, which is the last element in the direction of the vacuum opening to outside. The sucked dirty air is delivered to the connection point between the delivery line and the body by passing through the delivery line. At the said connection point, the delivery line directly feeds dirty air to the inlet of the dirt bag, which is disposed into the chamber. The dust bag has a porous, air permeable structure. Since there is air flow in opposite directions through the inlet section of the dust bag, the dirty air continues to be sucked towards the rear section of the dust bag. The porous structure substantially eliminates the dirt in the air and thus, collects the dirt inside the dust bag. Thus, the main step of the cleaning process is performed.

The dust particles that are too small to be kept inside the dust bag continue their movement towards the section into which the motor and the fan are disposed. When there are dust particles in the air that is fed back to the motor, the said particles may collect inside the motor and cause problems such as the burning of the motor, etc. Therefore, before the delivery of the air into the motor, it is necessary to provide a gap between the chamber and the motor section and to dispose a motor inlet filter into the said gap. As the motor inlet filter has pores that prevent the passage of the particles so small that cannot be kept inside the dust bag, the dirty air vacuumed directly towards the motor inlet filter without passing through the dust bag causes the motor inlet filter to lose its function and the vacuum cleaner to stop working. In order to avoid this risk, all the dirty air vacuumed through the delivery line must be fed into the dust bag. Since, as a result of the material thereof, the dust bag does not have a specific form and the form and position thereof may change easily with the action of the vacuum if not fixed inside the body. The closed end of the dust bag is at the last point in the direction of the flow, and the open end thereof is at the point where the dirty air is fed. In general, an inlet that matches the open end of the dust bag is provided and the said inlet is produced by shaping deformable materials, which are preferably in plate form. Connection means to which the inlet fits perfectly are provided on the body corresponding to the specific form of the inlet. A movable retainer is designed in order to enable all the dust bags with different inlet structures to be fixed to the body. By means of the movable retainer, a housing having the desired dimensions can be created and the inlet can be fixed. After adjusting the movable retainer in order to obtain a housing according to the dimensions of the dust bag inlet, the distance between the movable retainer and the connection means on the body can be changed according to the position of the delivery line opening without changing the size of the housing. Channels having dimensions suitable for receiving the inlets usually produced from materials in plate form are provided at the sections where the movable retainer contacts the inlet.

The movable retainer can position the inlet portion of the dust bag in the horizontal axis. The part where the delivery line penetrates into the body is usually at the center of the dust bag inlet. When supported equally from two directions, namely the left and the right, in the horizontal axis, the movable retainer enables the dust bags having inlets with different dimensions to be aligned with the delivery line correctly. In case the delivery line becomes eccentric with respect to the central axis of the dust bag, the movable retainer provides fixation on the said axis and enables all the air fed from the delivery line to be delivered into the dust bag. The movable retainer can be used only on one side of the horizontal axis as well. When used in this manner, further support is provided on the opposite side of the movable retainer by a fixed retainer or a body member.

The movable retainer can position the inlet portion of the dust bag in the vertical axis. The part where the delivery line penetrates into the body is usually at the center of the dust bag inlet. When equally supported from two directions, namely from top and bottom, in the vertical axis, the movable retainer enables the dust bags having inlets with different dimensions to be connected by being aligned to the delivery line correctly. . In case the delivery line becomes eccentric with respect to the central axis of the dust bag, the movable retainer provides fixation on the said axis and enables all the air fed from the delivery line to be delivered into the dust bag. The movable retainer can be used on only one side of the vertical axis as well. In this case, the movable retainer is preferably positioned on the bottom part. The movable retainer can be fixed by means of the channel formed at the point where the retainer contacts the inlet. When used in this manner, further support is provided on the opposite side of the movable retainer by a fixed retainer or a body member.

The movement is provided by the compression and the stretching of the spring on the movable retainer. A counterforce is required, that compensates the force compressing the retainers moved by the spring disposed in the horizontal and/or vertical axes. This counter force can be provided by either placing the dust bag inlet between a fixed retainer and the spring in the direction opposite to the compression direction of the spring, or by disposing spring-loaded movable retainers on the two opposite sides of the inlet.

The compression can be provided if the movable retainer is moved by the spring; however, especially when the positioning is aimed to be achieved by using only one movable retainer, a locking member is disposed on the spring-loaded movable retainer. Thus, the spring compressed to a desired amount is locked by the locking member at this position, providing the fixation. The movable retainer can be enabled to become movable by being realized in form of a bellows. In this case, the need for using a locking member is eliminated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the movable retainer has screws. The distance of the retainer to the connection points on the body along the horizontal and/or the vertical axis is changed by screwing and unscrewing the screw and desired housing opening and thus, the alignment of the inlet to the delivery line is provided.

By means of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner that is suitable to be used with various types of dust bags is realized.

The vacuum cleaner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 2 - is the top view of the body and the dust bag in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the top view of the body and the dust bag in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the body in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:

Vacuum cleaner
Body
Motor
Cleaning head
Delivery line
Dust bag
Movable retainer
Locking member

The vacuum cleaner (1) comprises a body (2); a motor (3) disposed inside the body (2); a cleaning head (4) in contact with the surface to be cleaned; a delivery line (5) that is connected to the body (2) with one end and to the cleaning head (4) with the other end and that enables the dust particles on the surface to be cleaned to be vacuumed into the body (2) by transferring the suction force created by the motor (3) to the cleaning head (4), and a dust bag (6) that is suitable to be placed inside the body (2), into which the dirty air sucked through the delivery line (5) is fed and wherein the dirt inside the dirty air is substantially collected (Figure 1).

The vacuum cleaner (1) of the present invention further comprises at least movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be attached to the body (2) by being aligned with the delivery line (5), that is positioned inside the body (2) at the section where the dust bag (6) and the delivery line (5) are connected to each other and that provides the positioning of the supply inlet of the dust bag (6).

An opening is arranged at the section where the body (2) and the delivery line (5) is connected to each other. The dirty air is transferred to the cleaning volume inside the body through the said opening. The cleaning process starts with passing the dirty air through the dust bag (6). The dust bag (6) is fed by means of the delivery line (5) through the opening on the body (2). The inlet section of the dust bag (6) is fixed around the opening in order to enable all the dirty air transferred through the delivery line (5) to be delivered into the dust bag (6). The dust bag (6) has a porous structure enabling the dust particles in the dirty air that is vacuumed to be kept inside, and allowing the air to be delivered to the outside. Generally, the said structure is formed using deformable materials such as fabric or paper. Therefore, the dust bag (6) cannot be fixed at a specific position when air passes at a certain speed. Fixing means matching the inlet structure of the dust bag (6) are provided on the body (2) so that the said structures can be fixed on the body (2) with various inlet structures at the open section of the dust bags (6) through which the air is fed. By being fixed, the dust bags (6) are prevented from being deformed and thus, losing their function due to the air flow therethrough, and by connecting the dust bag (6) correctly to the delivery line (5), all the dirty air that is fed into the body (2) is enabled to be delivered into the dust bag (6). The cleaning efficiency is improved by delivering the dirty air from the delivery line (5) to the dust bag (6) in a leak-proof manner. In order to fix the inlet portion of the dust bag (6) to this end, dust bags (6) with different designs depending on the design of the vacuum cleaner (1), and accordingly, fixing means matching the inlet of the dust bag (6) for each vacuum cleaner (1) model are used. In order to enable the dust bags (6) with different designs to be used in the vacuum cleaner (1), at least one movable retainer (7) is provided inside the body (2). By changing the position of the movable retainer (7), a retainer in a desired size is obtained for the inlet structures with varying sizes of the dust bags (6) to be fixed. Thus, different types of dust bags can be used and since various alternatives are provided for the user, finding a suitable dust bag (6) when needed becomes easier.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises at least one movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be fixed in the horizontal axis (x-axis). The movable retainer (7) is formed preferably oppositely on the body (2) so as to support the dust bag (6) at in the horizontal axis from left and right. Thus, depending on the size of the dust bag (6), the dust bag (6) can be positioned in the horizontal axis and can be aligned with the delivery line (5) in the horizontal axis. By applying various changes to the form of the plates used in the inlet structures of the dust bags (6) commonly known in the art, the plates are enabled to be connected to the corresponding parts on the body (2). Since the plate structure is widely used, a structure into which the plate can be fit is formed at the section where the movable retainer (7) contacts the inlet. Thus, the dust bags (6) with different inlet structures can be used.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises at least one movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be fixed in the vertical axis (y-axis). The movable retainer (7) is formed so as to support the dust bag (6) on at least one point on the body (2). Since the inlet structures of the dust bags (6) that are widely used in the art are plate-shaped, a structure into which the plate can be fit is formed at the section where the movable retainer (7) contacts the inlet. However, the movable retainer (7) provides proper positioning in the vertical axis so as to enable the delivery line (5) to feed the dust bag (6) correctly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises the bellows-shaped movable retainer (7). The movement of the movable retainer (7) is provided by springs that can be compressed and stretched. In order to provide compression in structures that can compress and stretch due to an applied force for positioning, a stopper acting in the opposite direction is necessary. The movable retainers (7) are used, which are positioned oppositely on preferably one of the vertical-horizontal axes or on both axes, in order to provide effective positioning. Thus, symmetrical positioning is provided on both symmetrical axes and alignment to the delivery line (5) is achieved (Figure 2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises the movable retainer (7) that has a locking member (8). When a counterforce is not applied to the spring-loaded movable retainer (7) that stops the same at the desired position, the spring returns back to its original form. In order to prevent this, a locking member (8) is provided on the movable retainer (7). When the spring-loaded movable retainer (7) is moved to the desired position, the locking member (8) is activated and the fixing is achieved. By means of this embodiment, alignment can be provided when the delivery line (5) and the inlet of the dust bag (6) are eccentric.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises the movable retainer (7) in a screw form. The fixing is properly provided by means of the movable retainers (7) in the vertical axis and/or the horizontal axis, by placing the inlet of the dust bag (6) into the movable retainer (7) and screwing/unscrewing the screws of the retainer (7). Thus, the dust bag (6) can be fixed at the desired position and can be aligned with the delivery line (5) (Figure 3).

By means of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner (1) that is suitable to be used with various dust bags (6) is realized.

Claims

A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a body (2); a motor (3) disposed inside the body (2); a cleaning head (4) in contact with the surface to be cleaned; a delivery line (5) that is connected to the body (2) with one end and to the cleaning head (4) with the other end and that enables the dust particles on the surface to be cleaned to be vacuumed into the body (2) by transferring the suction force created by the motor (3) to the cleaning head (4), and a dust bag (6) that is suitable to be placed inside the body (2), into which the dirty air sucked through the delivery line (5) is fed and wherein the dirt inside the dirty air is substantially collected, characterized by at least movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be attached to the body (2) by being aligned with the delivery line (5), that is positioned inside the body (2) at the section where the dust bag (6) and the delivery line (5) are connected to each other and that provides the positioning of the supply inlet of the dust bag (6).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be fixed in the horizontal axis (x-axis).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one movable retainer (7) that enables the dust bag (6) to be fixed in the vertical axis (y-axis).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the bellows-shaped movable retainer (7).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the movable retainer (7) that has a locking member (8).
A vacuum cleaner (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the screw-shaped movable retainer (7).