WO2021170988A1

WO2021170988A1 - Concealed handle on cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2021170988A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/050443
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tobias HALE
Original assignee: Techtronic Cordless Gp; Ashton, Tim
Priority date: 2020-02-26
Filing date: 2021-02-23
Publication date: 2021-09-02
Also published as: GB202002720D0; GB2592393B; EP4110152A1; GB2592393A

Abstract

We provide a handle assembly of a cleaning device, the handle assembly comprising: a handle body having a first end and a second end, the handle body providing a user-graspable portion by which a user may grasp and hold the handle, the handle body being pivotably attached to a body of the cleaning device at a first end of the handle, and a deployment assembly for moving the handle body from a first stowed position towards a second deployed position, wherein in its first position the handle body lies against the body of the cleaning device or within a recess defined by the body of the cleaning device, and in its second position the user graspable portion of the handle is spaced from the body of the cleaning device so as to be graspable by a user.

Description

Title: Concealed handle on cleaning device Description of Invention

This invention relates to a handle assembly for a cleaning device, and in particular to a user-graspable handle of the type used to lift and/or carry a cleaning device.

It is common for a cleaning device to incorporate a handle of the type that is in a fixed position relative to a body of the device, so that the user can steer and manoeuvre the device and/or to lift and carry the device. On floor-standing cleaning devices, a handle is commonly provided on an upper portion of the device - often at the upper end of a frame forming the back part of an upright cleaner, or on an upper-facing surface of the body of the device. Such a handle may be used to lift and carry the device between areas in which the device will be operated, such as to lift the device while carrying it up or down stairs, or simply to lift a handheld unit while it is in use.

In other forms, a handle may be provided on an upper part of a lift-away dirt cup of a cleaner, so that a user can readily grip and lift the detachable cup so as to empty the waste held within the dirt cup. The lift-away unit may itself include one or more of a separator, a power source (such as a battery), a motor, and may have an attached or removable hose and/or cleaning tool to allow the unit to be operated in isolation from the floor-standing body of the cleaning device.

When applied to an upper part of the body of a cleaning device, a handle adds considerably to the size of the device. The handle must stand out from a surface of the body, providing clearance around the graspable portion of the handle so that a user can comfortably grip that portion. By protruding from the surface of the device in this way the handle can cause a cleaning device to appear unduly bulky, and given the increased volume taken up by the device, requires a greater volume in which to store the device when not in use. The considerations involved in providing a primary handle of a cleaning device (i.e. the ‘main’ handle, used to steer and manoeuvre the device) are different to those of a secondary handle for merely lifting and carrying the device. A primary handle must be rigidly connected to the body of the cleaner in a manner that can be pushed, pulled and twisted by a user to steer the device during operation. While it is known for a primary handle of a cleaner to fold, to allow the cleaner to be folded to reduce its height for storing during transit, for example, such mechanisms for pivoting the primary handle are typically indiscreet. For the functionality of being able to lift and carry a cleaning device, it is preferred to provide a small handle that is not much larger that the size of a user’s hand. Smaller handles of this sort, which are useful for grasping and lifting but are not intended to be used to steer or otherwise manoeuvre a cleaner during operation, are more desirable.

The present invention seeks to reduce or overcome one or more of the problems associated with the prior art.

According to an aspect of the invention we provide a handle assembly of a cleaning device, the handle assembly comprising: a handle body having a first end and a second end, the handle body providing a user-graspable portion by which a user may grasp and hold the handle, the handle body being pivotably attached to a body of the cleaning device at a first end of the handle, and a deployment assembly for moving the handle body from a first stowed position towards a second deployed position, wherein in its first position the handle body lies against the body of the cleaning device or within a recess defined by the body of the cleaning device, and in its second position the user graspable portion of the handle is spaced from the body of the cleaning device so as to be graspable by a user.

Further features of the above aspects of the invention are described in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning device embodying the present invention;

Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views of a portion of a cleaning device including a handle assembly according to embodiments of the invention, illustrating the handle body in its first and second positions respectively;

Figures 3A and 3B are cross-sectional side views of the handle assembly, illustrating movement of the handle body between its first and its second position,

Figures 4A and 4B are cross-sectional side views of the handle assembly, illustrating movement of the handle body between its second and its first position, and

Figures 5A to 5F are diagrammatic representations of a “push-push” type mechanism for actuating movement of the handle body between its first and second positions.

With reference to Figure 1, a cleaning device 10 is provided. In embodiments, and as shown, the cleaning device 10 is a suction cleaner. In general terms, the suction cleaner comprises an upright body 14 providing a primary steering handle 18 to allow a user to move and steer the device. The suction cleaner provides a floor head 12 defining a suction mouth for applying a suction force to a surface being cleaned, the suction force being generated by a motor disposed fluidly downstream of the suction mouth. The floor head provides rollers (e.g. wheels) for moving the suction cleaner across a surface.

In embodiments, and as shown, the suction cleaner may be of the type generally known as an ‘upright’ cleaner, in which the upright body 14 is pivotally connected to the floor head 12. Such cleaners are typically used to clean a floor surface. In other embodiments, the suction cleaner may be of a canister type in which a separate handheld wand provides the suction mouth, and is connected to the body of the cleaner via a suction hose or the like, or a handheld type cleaner in which the motor, suction mouth, and handle are all provided in a compact handheld unit. In other embodiments, the cleaner may be a stick vac or pole vac type cleaner in which a suction wand is connected to the floor head at one end and to a handheld cleaning device at its other end. In further embodiments, the cleaning device may be a carpet washer or floor- scrubbing device.

In embodiments, the cleaning device 10 is provided with a mains power connection. In other embodiments, the cleaning device 10 includes a battery pack 16 which maybe rechargeable in situ on the device, or may be removable for recharging or otherwise replacing the battery pack 16.

For simplicity, features of various embodiments will be described in the context of an upright suction cleaner, but it should be understood that the features described herein are applicable to any types of cleaning device, unless otherwise stated, and for cleaners configured to clean any type of surface.

The cleaning device is provided with a handle assembly 100, as shown in more detail in Figures 2A to 4B. The handle assembly 100 is provided on an upper part of the body 14 of the cleaning device 10. The handle assembly 100 provides a user-graspable portion 112a by which a user may grasp and hold the handle, which is of a size roughly the same or slightly larger than a standard hand width, so as to provide a comfortable grasping surface for a user to hold. In this way, the handle assembly 100 is suitable for a user to lift the cleaner. As can be seen in Figures 2A and 2B in particular, an upper surface of the handle body 112 lies flush with the surrounding portion 103 of the body of the cleaning device 102. In this way, when the handle body 112 is stowed, no part of the handle assembly 100 protrudes beyond the outer surface of the body of the device, so that the handle is effectively concealed and no part projects outwardly from the surface of the cleaner.

The handle assembly 100 comprises the handle body 112 having a first end 114 and a second end 116, the handle body 112 providing the user-graspable portion 112a by which a user may grasp and hold the handle. The user- graspable portion 112a as shown in the appended Figures corresponds to a length of the handle body 112 around which a user may grip the handle so as to lift the cleaning device 10 or a portion of the cleaning device 10. In the embodiments illustrated, the user-graspable portion 112a provides a length of handle against which a user may place the palm of their hand and around which a user may wrap their fingers so as to lift the portion of the cleaning device 10 to which the handle assembly 10 is connected.

The handle body 112 is pivotably attached to a body of the cleaning device 102 at a first end of the handle 114. The handle assembly 112 also provides a deployment assembly 120 for moving the handle body 112 from a first stowed position (as shown in Figures 2A, 3A and 4B) towards a second deployed position (as shown in Figures 2B, 3B and 4A).

The configuration of the deployment assembly 120 and handle body 112 provides a handle which is deployed by a user pressing on a portion of the handle so as to actuate the deployment assembly 120, to release the handle from its stowed position. In embodiments, a user may then grasp the released handle body 112, and move it to its fully deployed position. In other embodiments, the deployment assembly 120 itself causes the handle body 112 to move to its second (i.e. deployed) position. To return the handle to its stowed position, the user again exerts a force on the handle body 112 in the direction towards the body of the cleaning device 102, moving the handle body 112 back to its stowed position, which in turn causes the deployment assembly 120 to return to its original configuration. In its first position the handle body 112 lies against the body of the cleaning device 102, within a recess 104 defined by the body of the cleaning device 102, and in its second position the user graspable portion of the handle 112a is spaced from the body of the cleaning device 102 so as to be graspable by a user. Where the cleaning device 10 is a suction cleaner, the portion of the body of the cleaning device 102 to which the handle body 112 of the handle assembly 100 is pivotably attached, typically comprises one or more of: a motor, a separator, and a dirt cup. For example, the handle assembly 100 may be provided on an upper portion of the body of an upright cleaner, or on a lift-away portion of a cleaner, for example. The handle assembly 100 may be provided on an upper portion of a dirt cup assembly that comprises at least a dirt storage portion and a separator device, for example.

In embodiments and as shown in the Figures, the deployment assembly 120 comprises a push-push mechanism, which is operable to move the handle body 112 from its first position to its second position. In broad terms, the deployment assembly 120 provides a closed cam mechanism with two stable states 136, 138, within which a pin 130 acts as a follower.

In embodiments, the deployment assembly 120 provides a contact portion 122 that is moved by a biasing mechanism configured to urge the contact portion 122 into contact with a body-facing surface 140 of the handle body 112. The deployment assembly 120 has a first state and a second state, as illustrated in Figures 5D and 5A, respectively. In embodiments, and as shown in the Figures, the biasing mechanism is a spring-biased mechanism. In its first state (Figure 5D), the deployment assembly 120 is compressed, such that the spring-biasing mechanism 124 - which includes a helical spring - is at least partially compressed. A catch mechanism holds the spring biasing mechanism 124 in its first state until actuation by a user. In this state, the handle body 112 is in its stowed position as shown in Figure 3A. In this position, the user may apply a downwards force on the handle body 112, which in turn causes the body-facing surface 140 of the handle body 112 to press against the contact portion 122. This causes the catch to release as described below. When the catch is released, the spring-biased mechanism 124 acts to move the assembly to its second state from its first state under the force of the spring moving from the partially compressed state to a less compressed state, causing the contact portion 122 to press against the handle body 112, causing movement of the handle body 112 away from its first position (as seen in Figure 3B). In embodiments and as shown, the point of contact between the contact portion 122 and the body-facing surface 140 of the handle body 112 is at a position on the handle body 112 adjacent the pivotal attachment point at its first end 114. As shown, the contact point is between that pivot point and the user graspable portion 112a of the handle body. This arrangement causes the user graspable portion 112a to be pivoted away from the body of the cleaning device 102 so as to stand clear of the surface of the body of the cleaning device 102.

A suitable catch mechanism is illustrated generally in Figures 5A to 5F, which describe the operation of a so-called “push-push” mechanism. In such a mechanism, the deployment assembly 120 has two stable states in which the biasing mechanism 124 is held by a catch mechanism so as to resist movement. The spring of the spring-biasing mechanism is connected at one end to a carriage 126 and at its other end to a base portion 134. As the contact portion 122 moves downwards, the carriage 126 fixed to the contact portion 122 is also moved downwards against the force of the spring, towards the base portion 134, causing compression of the spring.

A catch arm 132 is pivotally connected at one end to the base portion 134, and at its other end to the carriage 126 via a pin and slot connection with a slot 128 formed in the carriage 126. The pin 130 attached to the catch arm 132 follows a path defined by the slot 128, between a first position 136 and a second position 138. In each of the first 136 and second 138 positions, the pin 130 is held by the catch arm 132 at a stable position within the closed cam mechanism, i.e. a position that defines a local minima in terms of the distance from the base portion 134 to its position within the slot 128. Movement of the pin 130 along the slot 128 in either direction (pivoting the catch arm 132 clockwise or anticlockwise) would require the carriage 126 to move closer to the base portion 134 and thus compress the spring. In these first and second stable positions 136, 138 the action of the spring-biasing mechanism 124 on the carriage 126 thus retains the carriage 126 and its attached contact portion 122 at a fixed position relative to the base portion 134 under the force exerted by the spring-biasing mechanism 124.

Exertion of a downward force on the contact portion 122, where the pin 130 is in either its first or its second position 136, 138, causes compression of the spring, to a point in which the catch mechanism may be released. Looking at Figures 5D, 5E, and 5F, sufficient application of force to the contact portion from the first state of the deployment assembly 120 as illustrated in 5D, wherein the pin 130 is in its first position 136, causes the pin 130 to travel along the slot to a position (see Figure 5E) in which releasing the force on the contact portion 122 allows the spring-biasing mechanism 124 to extend, pushing upwards on the carriage 126, so that the pin 130 moves along the slot 128 (via the position shown in Figure 5F) to its second position 138 (as shown in Figure 5A). Similarly, looking at the deployment assembly 120 in its second state with the pin 130 in its second position 138, as seen in Figure 5A (and matching the position of the handle assembly 100 as shown in Figure 4A), application of a downwards force to the contact portion 122 causes compression of the spring biasing mechanism 124 so that the pin 130 moves along the slot 128 to the position illustrated in Figure 5B as the carriage 126 moves towards the base portion 134. The application of that force to the contact portion 122 is made by the user exerting a force on the handle body 112 so as to move it back towards its first position. In embodiments, this movement of the handle 112 by the user is against the force of the spring biasing mechanism 124, so that the handle body 112 resists movement towards its first position. In other embodiments, the handle body 112 only meets resistance from the spring biasing mechanism 124 when at or reaching its first position. In the latter embodiments, a further retaining mechanism (not shown) is provided to hold the handle body in its second (i.e. deployed) position, which must be released by the user in order to move the handle back to its first position.

Further movement of the contact portion 122 in the direction of the base portion 134 causes the pin 130 to travel further in the slot 128, as shown in Figure 5C. At which point, releasing the force on the contact portion 122 results in movement of the pin 130 towards the position shown in Figure 5D, such that the pin is returned to its first position 136. It should be understood that while in the example described, the spring-biasing mechanism 124 included a helical spring in a compressed configuration attached to a base portion 134, in alternative embodiments other forms of spring or biasing means may be used in the same or different configurations. For example, a helical spring may instead by attached on the opposite side of the carriage, in an extended state, and thus providing a force is the same direction (i.e. away from the base portion 134).

In this way, when the handle body 112 is in its first position, application of a force on the handle body 112 in a first direction generally towards the body 102 of the cleaning device 10 causes the body-facing surface of the handle 140 to press against the contact portion 122 of the deployment assembly 120.

This is illustrated in Figure 3A, wherein application of force by a user on the handle body 112, towards the body of the cleaning device 102, causes the underside of the handle to abut the contact portion of the deployment assembly 120. In turn, this releases the catch mechanism and causes actuation of the deployment assembly 120 from its first state to its second state, causing the contact portion 122 of the deployment assembly to 120 move generally in a second direction opposite to the first direction, against the body-facing surface 140 of the handle body 112. This is shown in Figure 3B, as the catch is released, and the pin 130 travels from its first position 136 to its second position 138.

In embodiments and as shown, the handle assembly 100 includes a restrictor arm 118 connected to the body of the cleaning device 102. The restrictor arm 118 is configured to restrict movement of the handle body 112 beyond its second position in the direction away from the body of the cleaning device 102. In this way the restrictor arm 118 provides a connection between the second end 116 of the handle body 112 so as to support the handle in use as the user grasps the handle to lift the device, for example. With reference to Figures 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, the restrictor arm 118 is connected at a first end to the handle body 112, at or adjacent the second end 116 of the handle body 112. In other words, the restrictor arm 118 may be connected at the very end of the handle body 112, or slightly inset from the end of the handle. The restrictor arm 118 is also connected at its second end to the body of the cleaning device 102, such that a closed loop is formed between the handle and the body of the cleaning device 102. i.e. the handle body 112 is connected at its first end 114 to the body of the cleaning device 102 via the pivoting connection, at its second end 116 via the restrictor arm 118. By forming what is effectively a closed loop between the handle and body, this provides a suitable grasping formation through which the digits of a user’s hand may extend as the user grasps the handle assembly 100.

In embodiments, the restrictor arm 118 provides a sliding connection with the body of the cleaning device 102, such that the point of connection between the restrictor arm and the body of the cleaning device 102 is moveable relative to the body 102, or relative to the restrictor arm 118. The sliding connection as shown in the Figures is defined by a guide pin 117 and guide slot 119, wherein one of the guide pin 117 and guide slot 119 is located on the restrictor arm 118 and the other of the guide pin 117 and guide slot 119 is located on the body of the cleaning device 102. In this way, sliding movement of the guide pin 117 within the guide slot 119 between a first and a second end of the guide slot 119 guiding the movement of the restrictor arm 118 relative to the body of the cleaning device 102, thereby controls movement of the handle body 112 between its first and second positions. Movement of the handle body 112 away from the body of the cleaning device 102 beyond its second position is prevented by contact between the guide pin 117 and a first end of the guide slot 119 (the configuration shown in Figure 3B).

Another feature of the handle assembly 100 is that in its stowed position, the handle is effectively hidden. A recess 104 is defined by the body of the cleaning device 102, in which the handle body 112 is stowed when not in use. In other words, when the handle body 112 is in its first position the handle body 112 is received within the recess 104 such that the handle body lies within the profile 108 formed by the body of the cleaning device 102. In this way, the outer-facing surface of the handle (i.e. opposite to the body-facing surface 140 of the handle body 112) lies substantially in line with the surface of the body of the cleaning device 102 in which the recess 104 is formed. This configuration means that the handle body 112 fits within the outer profile of the cleaning device 10 rather than standing proud of the body of the device as is the case with a fixed handle, for example. Preferably, when the handle body 112 is in its first position, an upper-facing surface of the handle body 112 is aligned with the surrounding portion 103 of the body of the cleaning device 102. In this way, while the handle of the device is not needed during use, the handle remains substantially concealed from view. Therefore, in embodiments, the cleaner is operable so that the cleaning device 10 is steered using the primary handle 18, while the secondary carrying handle provided by the handle assembly 100 remains stowed. The handle assembly 100 is almost wholly concealed from view while the handle body 112 is in the first position, so that only the upper-facing surface of the handle body 112 is visible to a user. This results in a compact cleaner configuration, since no part of the handle assembly 100 projects outwardly from the surface of the body 14 of the cleaning device 10. This means that the cleaning device 10 is compact allowing for simple storage, and has fewer parts extending from its body during use - any one of which may accidentally come into contact with objects, furniture, or the user as the device is manoeuvred.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

1. A handle assembly of a cleaning device, the handle assembly comprising: a handle body having a first end and a second end, the handle body providing a user-graspable portion by which a user may grasp and hold the handle, the handle body being pivotably attached to a body of the cleaning device at a first end of the handle, and a deployment assembly for moving the handle body from a first stowed position towards a second deployed position, wherein in its first position the handle body lies against the body of the cleaning device or within a recess defined by the body of the cleaning device, and in its second position the user graspable portion of the handle is spaced from the body of the cleaning device so as to be graspable by a user.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the deployment assembly comprises a push-push mechanism.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the deployment assembly is operable to move the handle body from its first position to its second position.

4. The handle assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the deployment assembly provides a contact portion that is engaged by a biasing mechanism configured to urge the contact portion into contact with a body-facing surface of the handle.

5. The handle assembly of claim 4 configured such that the deployment assembly has a first state and a second state, and the biasing mechanism acts to bias the assembly to its second state from its first state, and includes a catch mechanism to hold the assembly in its first state.

6. The handle assembly of claim 5, configured such that when the handle body is in its first position, application of a force on the handle body in a first direction generally towards the body of the cleaning device causes the body facing surface of the handle to press against the contact portion of the deployment assembly, which in turn releases the catch mechanism and causes actuation of the deployment assembly from its first state to its second state, causing the contact portion of the deployment assembly to move generally in a second direction opposite to the first direction, against the body facing surface of the handle body.

7. The handle assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the handle assembly includes a restrictor arm connected to the body of the cleaning device, and configured to restrict movement of the handle body beyond its second position in the direction away from the body of the cleaning device.

8. The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the restrictor arm is connected at a first end to the handle body, at or adjacent the second end of the handle body.

9. The handle assembly of claim 8, wherein the restrictor arm is connected at its second end to the body of the cleaning device, such that a closed loop is formed between the handle and the body of the cleaning device connected to each other via the pivoting connection at the first end of the handle, and via the restrictor arm at the second end of the handle.

10. The handle assembly of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the restrictor arm provides a sliding connection with the body of the cleaning device, such that the point of connection between the restrictor arm and the body of the cleaning device is moveable relative to the body, or relative to the restrictor arm.

11. The handle assembly of claim 10, wherein the sliding connection is defined by a guide pin and a guide slot, wherein one of the guide pin and guide slot is located on the restrictor arm and the other of the guide pin and guide slot is located on the of the body of the cleaning device, such that sliding movement of the guide pin within the guide slot between a first and a second end of the guide slot guides the movement of the restrictor arm relative to the body of the cleaning device, thereby controlling movement of the handle between its first and second positions.

12. The handle assembly of claim 11, wherein movement of the handle body away from the body of the cleaning device beyond its second position is prevented by contact between the guide pin and a first end of the guide slot.

13. The handle assembly of any preceding claim, wherein a recess is defined by the body of the cleaning device, such that when the handle body is in its first position the handle body is received within the recess such that the handle body lies within the profile formed by the body of the cleaning device.

14. A cleaning device comprising a handle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A cleaning device comprising a first handle for steering the device during a cleaning operation, and a handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13 providing a second handle.

16. A cleaning device according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein when the handle body of the handle assembly is in its first position, no part of the handle assembly projects outwardly beyond a surface of the body of the cleaning device.

17. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the cleaning device is a suction cleaner.

18. A suction cleaner according to claim 17, wherein a body of the suction cleaner to which the handle body of the handle assembly is pivotably attached, comprises one or more of: a motor, a separator, and a dirt cup.