Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
  • A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
  • A47L5/26—Hand-supported suction cleaners with driven dust-loosening tools
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/0009—Storing devices ; Supports, stands or holders
  • A47L9/0063—External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
  • A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
  • A47L9/2873—Docking units or charging stations

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a storage dock. More specifically, it relates to a storage dock for a battery powered vacuum cleaner.
• Battery-powered vacuum cleaners such as‘handheld’ or‘stick’ vacuum cleaners are often provided with storage docks for convenient stowage of the vacuum cleaner when not in use.
• the storage dock can sometimes double as a charging dock which charges the vacuum cleaner’s battery pack while the vacuum cleaner is docked.
• a common format for a storage dock is a wall mounted dock, such as the wall-dock provided with the Dyson V10TM cord-free stick vacuum cleaner.
• the wall mounted dock is secured to a wall by drilling holes in the wall, and then using screws and wall plugs to mount the dock to the wall.
• Another example of a storage dock for the Dyson V10TM is a free-standing dock which rests on the floor. In both cases, the dock has a slot with an open upper end into which the battery of the vacuum cleaner can be inserted.
• a charging plug connected to mains electricity, projects into the slot and engages a charging port on the battery when the vacuum cleaner is docked.
• One problem with existing docks is that they often requires the vacuum cleaner to be aligned with the dock relatively precisely. For instance, in the case of the above docks, the battery of the vacuum cleaner must be aligned with the slot in the dock. This can make docking the vacuum cleaner relatively difficult for some users, particularly if the dock is positioned relatively high up, because it can be difficult to see when the vacuum cleaner is aligned and/or difficult to move the vacuum cleaner in exactly the right direction. Similarly, when un-docking the vacuum cleaner if the user does not lift the vacuum cleaner directly upwards then the battery can rotate slightly within the slot, increasing frictional resistance and causing the dock to be lifted up along with the vacuum cleaner.
• a storage dock for a battery- powered vacuum cleaner comprising:
• a receptacle configured to hold at least part of said vacuum cleaner
• a support portion configured to support the receptacle
• an electrical connector configured to engage a complementary connector on the vacuum cleaner so enable charging of a battery of the vacuum cleaner
• the receptacle defines an insertion axis along which said part of the vacuum cleaner can be inserted into the receptacle in a generally downward direction;
• the receptacle is pivotable about a pivot axis, relative to the support portion, between first and second positions so as to change the angle of the insertion axis relative to the vertical direction.
• the receptacle being pivotable so as to change the angle of the insertion axis can make it easier for a user to dock or undock the vacuum cleaner. For example, it may be relatively difficult to align the vacuum cleaner precisely with the insertion axis and then move it exactly in that direction during docking or undocking. If the receptacle did not pivot then any such misalignment would increase the contact force between the dock and vacuum cleaner, increasing friction therebetween. In the case of a floor dock, increased friction during docking this may lead to the dock being more likely to topple over and increased friction during undocking may lead to the dock being lifted up along with the vacuum cleaner. With the insertion axis being able to change angle, however, the dock may be able to accommodate slight misalignment and/or misaligned movement, keeping friction at lower levels and thereby making the dock more user- friendly.
• Reference to the receptacle being pivotable is intended to mean that it is capable of moving about the pivot axis during normal use (rather than only during assembly or disassembly of the dock, for instance).
• the insertion axis is an axis which runs in the direction in which the vacuum cleaner should be moved so as to insert it (or a part of it) into the receptacle.
• the insertion axis may be straight, but may instead take another form (for instance it may be arcuate S-shaped).
• the receptacle may be configured to hold the entire vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, the receptacle may be configured to hold only a part of the vacuum cleaner, at which point the part of the vacuum cleaner which is not held by the receptacle may be more easily accessible for the user when they wish to undock it.
• the dock may be configured such that the insertion axis is substantially exactly vertical when the receptacle is in the first position.
• the electrical connector may take the form of a plug or socket, or may take any other suitable form (for instance one or more conductive plates or panels).
• the receptacle may be biased to the first position.
• the dock may be more visually pleasing and/or easier to dock with when the receptacle is in the first position. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to the aesthetics and/or functionality of the dock for the receptacle to be biased so that it returns to the first position when disturbed therefrom.
• the dock may be arranged such that the receptacle is in the first position when a vacuum cleaner is docked with it.
• the dock may be arranged such that the act of docking a vacuum cleaner moves the receptacle away from the first position against its bias (for instance due to the weight of the vacuum cleaner acting on the receptacle).
• the receptacle may define a cavity for receiving said at least part of the vacuum cleaner, and in the vertical direction the pivot axis may be positioned level with or below a lower half of the cavity.
• a mouth at an upper end of the cavity will move a relatively large distance when the receptacle pivots. This movement of the mouth can allow the receptacle to adapt to slight misalignment of the vacuum cleaner with the mouth during docking.
• the pivot axis is level with the lower half of the cavity it may (though it need not necessarily) intersect the cavity.
• the support portion may be configured for attachment to a wall.
• the dock may further comprise a base for resting on a floor.
• the dock may further comprise an elongate pillar which connects the base to the support portion.
• the pillar may extend generally vertically, so as to minimise the floor space that the dock as a whole occupies.
• the dock may further comprise a support surface, wherein the receptacle is configured to hold a first portion of the vacuum cleaner and the support surface is arranged to contact a second portion of the vacuum cleaner when the receptacle is in the first position.
• the support surface may provide additional structural support to the vacuum cleaner when docked, thereby providing a more stable connection therebetween.
• the support surface may be positioned generally vertically. With the support surface being positioned generally vertically, it will contact a side (either a lateral side or a top/bottom side) of the vacuum cleaner, thereby leaving the front of the vacuum cleaner free (for instance providing space for a wand extending forwards on the front of the vacuum cleaner).
• the support surface may be provided on a projection that extends outward from a central region of the support portion.
• At least part of the support surface may be made of resiliently deformable material
• Differing portions of the support surface may have differing degrees of deformability.
• the support surface may be a surface of a resiliently deformable pad of varying thickness.
• deformable pad of varying thickness may be a particularly simple to produce way of varying the deformability across the support surface.
• part of the support surface may be made of a rigid material.
• part of the support surface may be provided by a projection which extends through a deformable pad.
• the support portion may comprise a stop surface which is positioned to abut a surface of the receptacle so as to limit pivoting movement thereof.
• Excessive pivoting movement of the receptacle may reduce, rather than improve, the usability of the dock. For instance during undocking of the vacuum cleaner if the insertion axis is positioned at too great an angle to the vertical then the user lifting the vacuum vertically upwards may actually increase friction and cause the dock to lift up along with the vacuum cleaner. It may therefore be beneficial for pivoting of the receptacle to be limited in this manner.
• the support portion may comprise first and second stop surfaces, the receptacle being pivotable between a position at which it abuts the first stop surface and a position in which it abuts the second stop surface.
• the receptacle may abut the first stop surface when in the first position, and abut the second stop surface when in the second position.
• the receptacle may be pivotable between first, second and third positions, the first position being between the second and third positions.
• the receptacle may about the first stop surface when in the third position, and abut the second stop surface when in the second position.
• the receptacle may be pivotable through an angle of less than 180 degrees, for instance less than 90 degrees or less than 45 degrees.
• the receptacle may be configured to hold a battery pack of the vacuum cleaner.
• the receptacle holds a different component and means must be provided (on the dock and/or on the vacuum cleaner) to allow electricity to pass from the dock to the battery.
• the battery is a relatively heavy component, and holding the vacuum cleaner by one of its heavier components may make for a more stable connection.
• the electrical connector may be mounted on the receptacle and pivotable therewith.
• the receptacle may definee a cavity for receiving said at least part of the vacuum cleaner, the cavity having a length in the direction of the insertion axis which is less than 100mm, for instance less than 95mm or less than 90mm.
• the cavity may have a length in the direction of the insertion axis which is more than 50mm, for instance more than 70mm or more than 80mm. This may be beneficial in that it can provide sufficient area of contact between dock and vacuum cleaner to ensure a strong and stable connection.
• Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a storage dock according to a first aspect of the invention
• Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a stick vacuum cleaner which can be docked with the storage dock of Figure 1 ;
• FIG 3 is a rear perspective view of a handheld vacuum cleaner which is part of the stick vacuum cleaner shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the dock of figure 1 , with the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2 supported thereby;
• Figure 5 is a front perspective view of an upper end of the dock of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the upper end of the dock
• Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the upper end of the dock, with a receptacle thereof in a second position;
• Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2 and part of the dock;
• Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2 and part of a dock according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows a storage dock 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• the dock 2 comprises a receptacle 4, a support portion 6, an elongate substantially vertical cylindrical pillar 8 and a base 10.
• the base 10 has a flat bottom with feet (not visible) for resting stably on a floor surface.
• the pillar 8 is separably connected to both the base and the support portion 6 so that the dock 2 can be disassembled for storage or shipping.
• the receptacle 4 defines a cavity 12 into which part of a vacuum cleaner (not shown) can be inserted so as to dock the vacuum cleaner, the receptacle 4 then supporting the vacuum cleaner (not visible) with the weight of both the dock 2 and the vacuum cleaner being borne by the base 10.
• the cavity 12 has an open mouth 13 through which the part of the vacuum cleaner can be inserted into the cavity 12.
• the support portion 6 has a central region 14 which connects the receptacle 4 to the pillar 8, and a cantilevered arm 16 which projects from the central region 14.
• the arm 16 terminates at a support surface 18 and has a bell-shaped mounting port 19 depending therefrom, as described in more detail later.
• FIG. 2 shows a battery-powered vacuum cleaner 20 which can be docked with the dock 2.
• This particular vacuum cleaner takes the form of a‘stick vac’ which has a handheld vacuum cleaner 22 connected to a cleaner head 24 by an elongate rigid wand 26.
• the handheld vacuum cleaner 22 attaches to the wand 26, and the wand to the cleaner head 24, via respective push-button catches 27 of known design.
• the catches 27 are releasable to allow the wand 26 to be separated from the handheld vacuum cleaner 22 and or the cleaner head 24, for instance to change the cleaner head of the stick vacuum cleaner 20, or to connect the cleaner head 24 directly to the handheld vacuum cleaner 22 for cleaning furniture and the like.
• FIG 3 shows the handheld vacuum cleaner 22 in isolation.
• the handheld vacuum cleaner 22 has a handle 28 positioned beneath a dirt separator 30 which is supported on top of a spine 31 , and beneath a housing 32 which contains a vacuum motor (not visible) that draws air through the vacuum cleaner 22 during use.
• a battery pack 34 Positioned beneath the handle 28 is a battery pack 34 which supplies power to the vacuum motor (not visible).
• the battery pack 34 has a charging port 36 in the form of a socket, through which electrical power can be delivered to the battery pack 34 to charge it.
• Figure 4 shows the stick vacuum cleaner 22 docked with the dock 2.
• the handhled vacuum cleaner 22 can be docked with the dock 2 on its own if required, however the dock 2 is designed so that the receptacle 4 is high enough above the ground (thanks to the height of the pillar 8) so that the entire stick vacuum cleaner 20 can be docked.
• the receptacle 4 defines an insertion axis 40 along which the battery pack 34 can be inserted into or removed from the cavity 12 of the receptacle 4.
• the insertion axis 40 in this case is vertical, therefore to insert the battery pack 34 into the receptacle 4 the vacuum cleaner 20 is moved vertically downwards, and to remove the battery pack 34 from the receptacle 4 the vacuum cleaner 20 is moved vertically upwards.
• the insertion axis may be positioned at an angle to the vertical, at which point the vacuum cleaner would be moved generally downwards, but not precisely vertically, so as to dock it.
• FIGS 5 and 6 show the receptacle 4 (and indeed the support portion 6) in more detail.
• the dock 2 has an electrical connector in the form of a hollow cylindrical charging plug 42 on which is provided a concentric pair of electrical contacts 43a, 43b, one on the outer surface and one on the inner surface.
• the plug 42 is received in the charging port 36 of the battery pack 34, contacts (not visible) in the charging port contact those of the plug 42 and power can be delivered from the dock 2 to the battery pack 34 to charge it.
• the cavity 12 of the receptacle 4 has a length in the direction of the insertion axis (i.e. vertical height when the receptacle 4 is in the first position) 44 of 85mm.
• This dimension is a compromise between having a shallow (i.e. vertically short) cavity 12, which allows the battery pack 34 to be inserted into and removed from the cavity with relatively little movement, and a deep (i.e. vertically long) cavity which provides a more robust connection between vacuum cleaner 20 and dock 2 due to a large region of contact therebetween.
• the support portion 6 has a pair of laterally-projecting lugs 46 which are received in corresponding holes 48 in side walls of the receptacle 4.
• the receptacle is pivotable between a first position, shown in Figures 1 and 4-6, and a second position as shown in Figure 7.
• the receptacle 4 can pivot through an angle of 30 degrees.
• the angle of the insertion axis 40 relative to the vertical direction changes.
• the insertion axis 40 runs in the vertical direction, but with the receptacle in the second position the insertion axis 40 is inclined 30 degrees away from to the vertical.
• This variation in angle of the insertion axis 40 can improve the ease with which the battery pack 34 can be inserted into the cavity 12 or removed therefrom, as discussed in more detail above.
• the pivot axis 50 of this embodiment is positioned below the lower half 44a of the cavity 12 in the vertical direction. Indeed, in this case the pivot axis runs directly below the cavity 12 (rather than below and in front, or below and to the side, for example). Accordingly, pivoting of the receptacle 4 results in significant forward/backward movement of the mouth 13 of the cavity. This, in turn, can further increase the ease with which the battery pack 34 can be inserted into the cavity 12 or removed therefrom, as discussed in more detail above.
• the support portion 6 has a pair of stop surfaces 60, 62 which are positioned to contact respective surfaces 64, 66 on the receptacle 4 so as to limit the movement of the receptacle 4 about the pivot axis 50.
• stop surface 60 abuts surface 64 and prevents the receptacle 4 from pivoting any further forwards.
• stop surface 62 abuts surface 66 and prevents the receptacle from pivoting any further rearwards.
• a torsion spring 70 is housed inside the support portion 6.
• the torsion spring 70 wraps around a peg 72 provided on the support portion 6, has a lower arm 74 which abuts a flange 76 of the support portion, and has an upper arm 78 which abuts a flange 80 of the receptacle 4.
• the arms 74, 78 are biased against their respective flanges 76, 80, therefore the receptacle 4 is constantly urged forwards (however due to the abutment of stop surface 60 and surface 64 the receptacle 4 cannot pivot any further forwards than the first position). Accordingly, the receptacle 4 will return to the first position when disturbed therefrom.
• the support portion 6 has a mounting port 19 which depends from the arm 16.
• the mounting port 19 provides a location for storage of a tool or a part of the vacuum cleaner 22, for instance a crevice tool (not visible), the cleaner head 24 or the wand 26.
• the mounting port is configured for engagement by a catch 27 of that tool or part, to releasably secure it in place.
• Additional storage points for tools or parts may be provided by an attachment piece (not visible) which releasably attaches to the pillar and has one or more additional mounting ports provided thereon.
• the pillar 8 has the same size and cross sectional shape as the wand 26 of the vacuum cleaner 22, which allows the same attachment piece to be fitted to the wand or to the pillar.
• the support portion 6 terminates in a support surface 18.
• the purpose of the support surface 18 is to provide additional support to the vacuum cleaner 20 when docked, on top of the support provided by the receptacle 4. It is positioned such that it contacts the vacuum cleaner 20 when the battery pack 34 is received by the receptacle 4 and the receptacle is in the first position.
• the support surface 18 is positioned vertically and contacts a side of the vacuum cleaner, more particularly an underside of the spine 31 , as shown in Figure 9.
• the support surface 18 is concave to match the convex shape of the underside of the spine 31 , providing a good area of contact for the sake of stability.
• the support surface 18 is made of a resiliently deformable material.
• the support surface 18 is an outermost surface of a rubber pad 92.
• the deformable nature of the pad means that if a user traps their finger between the spine 31 and the support surface 18, injury is less likely to result.
• the deformable nature of the support surface 18 can, however, adversely affect the stability of the support provided thereby.
• the rubber pad 92 has varying thickness - it has a thinner middle portion 94 and thicker sides 96.
• the thinner middle portion 94 deforms less under a given force, therefore provides relatively stable support to the vacuum cleaner 20, while the thicker sides 96 are more deformable, therefore provide more protection for the user.
• One relatively common injury which could occur if the support surface 18 were rigid is the trapping of a small amount of skin between the edge of the support surface 18 and the spine 31. The increased deformability of the support surface 18 at the edges can therefore be particularly beneficial.
• FIG 10 shows a dock 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• the dock 2 of this embodiment is generally the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the thinner middle portion of the rubber pad 92 of the first embodiment has been replaced by a projection 98 which projects all the way through the pad 92. Accordingly, the middle part of the support surface 18 is rigid. For the same reasons as discussed above, the user is prevented from trapping skin due to the deformable sides 96 of the rubber pad 92, but more stable support is provided in the middle region of the support surface 18.
• the dock is a floor dock in that it has a base for resting on a floor surface
• the dock may be a wall dock, having a portion configured for attachment to a wall (for instance a mounting plate with screw holes).
• the dock may be configured for use either as a floor dock or as a wall dock.
• the dock may have both a base and a portion configured for attachment to a wall, one or both of which may be removable when not needed.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Robotics (AREA)
• Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)

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Cited By (3)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2018
  • 2018-12-24 GB GB1821173.0A patent/GB2580309B/en active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-12-09 WO PCT/GB2019/053464 patent/WO2020136366A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2019-12-09 CN CN201980081524.9A patent/CN113163997B/zh active Active

Patent Citations (5)

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