Patent Application
20170127894
This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface and/or a floor tool for such an apparatus. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus which utilises a source of suction to draw dirt and/or debris from a floor surface being cleaned for storage in a dirt chamber or bag for emptying by a user. Such apparatus are typically known as “vacuum cleaners”.
More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus which has an upright part pivotally connected to a base assembly supported on wheels. The user can grasp a handle of the upright part so as to push and pull the base assembly over the floor surface to clean it as required. The base assembly includes a passage which terminates at a floor facing opening and to which suction is applied by a suction source to cause air, and any dirt entrailed within the air, to travel towards the dirt chamber. The base assembly includes a cleaning member driven by a motor for assisting in the cleaning of a carpet or upholstery. The cleaning member is generally cylindrical and has bristles which extend radially outwardly from its elongate axis. The cleaning member is supported for rotation about its elongate axis and remote parts of the bristles extend through the floor facing opening of the apparatus during use. A motor is drivingly connected to the cleaning member by a belt or the like to cause rotation of the cleaning member.
When the apparatus is to be used to clean a floor surface covered by a carpet, it is desirable for the cleaning member to be positioned close to the carpet so that the bristles are in contact with the carpet. Dirt is loosened by the cleaning member and entrailed in the suction air flow. When the apparatus is to be used to clean a hard floor surface, e.g. a laminate or tiled floor, it is not desirable for the bristles of the cleaning member to contact the floor surface as this can cause deterioration in the finish of the floor surface. The bristles may, for example, cause scratches or remove any floor surface coating such as polish. To overcome this issue, it is known to provide means for raising the part of the base assembly which supports the cleaning member away from the floor surface to move the cleaning member out of contact with the floor surface. Dirt from the floor surface is still entrailed in the suction air flow through the floor facing opening. However, a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the floor facing opening is further away from the floor surface meaning that the amount of suction air flow near or at the floor surface is reduced. The cleaning process is thus less effective.
According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface including an upright part including a user graspable handle, a base assembly including: a first base part connected to the upright part; and a second base part connected to the first base part, which second base part includes a cleaning member; and a device for effecting movement of the first and second base parts relative to each other.
According to a second aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface including an upright part including a user graspable handle, a base assembly connected to the upright part, the base assembly including a base part having a first passage with a respective inlet and a second passage with a respective inlet. The apparatus also includes a device for effecting movement of the base part between respective first and second conditions and a suction source for providing suction to one or both of the first and second passages, wherein as the base part is moved between its first and second conditions by the device, the suction provided to one or both of the first and second passages is changed.
According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including a base assembly including a base part having a first passage with a respective inlet and a second passage with a respective inlet. The floor tool includes a device for effecting movement of the base part between respective first and second conditions; wherein the first and second inlets are positioned in respective planes.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface including a floor tool according to the third aspect of the invention.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention we provide a floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including a base assembly. The base assembly including a passage with an inlet for communication with the source of suction and the inlet has a length of between 280 to 350 mm.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface including a floor tool according to the fifth aspect of the invention.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention we provide a surface cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention including one or more or all of the features of any one of the second to sixth aspects of the invention.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention we provide a surface cleaning apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention including one or more or all of the features of any one of the third to sixth aspects of the invention.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention we provide a floor tool according to the third aspect of the invention including one or more or all of the features of any one of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention we provide a surface cleaning apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention including one or more or all of the features of the fifth and sixth aspects of the invention.
According to an eleventh aspect of the invention we provide a floor tool according to the fifth aspect of the invention including one or more or all of the features of the sixth aspect of the invention.
Embodiments of the various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to the figures, these show an embodiment of an apparatus 10 embodying various aspects of the invention. The apparatus 10 includes an upright part 12 including a user graspable handle and a base assembly 14. The base assembly 14 includes a first base part 16 and a second base part 18 which are connected to each other. The first base part 16 is positioned rearwardly of the second base part 18. The first base part 16 is connected to the upright part 12. The second base part 18 includes a cleaning member 20. An aspect of the present invention is that the apparatus 10 has a device 22 for effecting movement of the first and second base parts 16, 18 relative to each other.
The upright part 12 is pivotally connected to the base assembly 14 remote from a leading edge of the base assembly 14. The upright part 12 contains operative components of the apparatus 10 such as a suction source in the form of a suction motor and fan to provide the suction to the base assembly 14, and a dirt chamber for receiving any dirt entrailed in the suction air flow drawn through the base assembly 14. The upright part 12 includes a dirt separator in the form of a cyclonic separator for separating dirt entrailed in the suction air flow from the base assembly 14. These components are not shown in the figures but are well known in the art and so will not be discussed in any further detail. Although this embodiment includes a cyclonic separator, other embodiments of the invention may have no such separator, but instead rely on a bag for collection of dirt from the air flow.
The first base part 16 includes first and second side portions 24, 26 spaced apart from one another to define part of an interior space 28. Within the space 28 a lower portion of the upright part 12 is positioned near a rear portion of the base assembly 14. The lower portion of the upright part 12 is pivotally connected to the respective side portions 24, 26. The side portions 24, 26 support respective wheels 30, 32 which permit the base assembly 14 to be rolled over a floor surface. One of the side portions 24 includes an air flow passage 34 one end of which includes a connection for a hose 25 and the other end of which is fluidly connected to the second base part 18 as will be described in more detail. The hose 25 is connected to the air flow passage 34 at one end and at its opposite end to a passage in the upright part 12 which is in fluid communication with the suction source (not shown). This arrangement permits the flow of suction through the second base part 18 from the first base part 16 and towards the dirt chamber.
The second base part 18 has a generally elongate main portion 36 which expands laterally across the apparatus with a curved, semi-circular (inside cross section), outer surface. The second base part 18 has two portions 38, 40 spaced apart from one another and which extend away from the main portion 36 towards the first base part 16. The portions 38, 40 connect to the respective side portions 24, 26 of the first base part 16 as will be described below.
The second base part 18 has a first passage 42 with a respective inlet 44 and a second passage 46 with a respective inlet 48. A part of the first passage 42 passes around the outer surface of the main portion 36 whilst a part of the second passage 46 is formed from an interior space defined by the main portion 36. The passages 42, 46 pass through one of the side portions 38 and communicate with a valve 49 which has a valve member 50. The valve 49 is also in fluid communication with the air flow passage 34 of the first base part 16. The suction source provides suction to both of the first and second passages 42, 46 and movement of the valve member 50 controls the flow of suction to the passages 42, 46.
The inlet 48 of the second passage 46 is positioned rearwardly of the inlet 44 of the first passage 42 and is positioned in between the inlet 44 of the first passage 42 and the connection of the first base part 16 to the upright part 12. The inlets 44, 48 are rectangular in shape and extend lengthwise of the main portion 36 of the second base part 18. The lengthwise direction is defined as the direction which is perpendicular to the forward and rearward direction in which the base assembly 14 is moved by the user during cleaning. The widthwise direction is defined as the direction which is parallel to the forward and rearward direction in which the base assembly 14 is moved by the user during cleaning. The inlets 44, 48 permit the flow of air through them. The inlet of the first passage 42 is relatively narrow in comparison to the inlet of the second passage 46. The inlets 44, 48 each include respective rib portions which extend widthwise across the inlets 44, 46 to divide the inlets 44, 48 into a plurality of respective apertures. The width of each of the ribs of the inlet 44 is 4 mm and the width of each of the ribs of the inlet 48 is 4 mm. In other embodiments the rib portions may not be present or there may be more or fewer. The second base part 18 includes a ground engaging portion 52 which is positioned between the inlets 44, 48 of the first and second passages 42, 46.
The cleaning member 20 is positioned in the second passage 46 and its respective inlet 48. The cleaning member 20 is generally cylindrical in shape and has bristles which extend radially outwardly from its elongate axis. The cleaning member 20 is supported for rotation about its elongate axis and remote portions of the bristles extend through the inlet of the second passage 48. A motor (not shown) for driving the cleaning member 20 is positioned in the first base part 16 and is drivingly connected to the cleaning member 20 by a belt 54.
The connection between the first and second base parts 16, 18 includes an elongate generally cylindrical rod 56 which extends width wise of the interior space 28. The rod 56 passes through respective apertures provided in end portions of the side portions 24, 26, 38, 40 to pivotally connect the parts 16, 18 together. The valve member 50 is connected to the rod 56 such that rotation of the rod 56 causes pivotal movement of the valve member 50.
The device 22 includes a generally wedge shaped cam member 58 which is connected to the rod 56 (they are formed as a single component part), and a cam follower 60 which is pivotally connected to the first base part 16. The cam member 58 tapers to a respective free end. The cam member 58 extends radially away from the rod 56. The cam follower 60 is a generally rectangular part which extends width wise across part of the interior space 28 and is supported on a pair of respective ground engaging wheels 61. An upwardly facing surface of the cam follower 60 co-operates with the cam member 58. Rotation of the rod 56 causes movement of the cam member 58 to effect relative movement between the first and second base parts 16, 18 as will be described.
The apparatus includes a user operable member 62 which is pivotally supported and positioned on one side of the base assembly 14 for actuating the device 22. The user operable member 62 is disc shaped and is connected to one end of the rod 56. The pivot axis of the user operable member 62 is coaxial with the pivotal connection of the first and second base parts 16, 18. The pivotal connection of the first and second base parts 16, 18 is parallel to the pivotal connection of the first base part 16 with the upright part 12. The user operable member 62 can be operated by a user using his or her hand to cause it to rotate.
The user connects the apparatus 10 to an electricity source through a cable (not shown), although the apparatus could be powered by a battery. The user must put the apparatus 10 either into a first condition which is more suited to hard floor cleaning or a second condition which is more suited to carpet cleaning. As will be described, components of the apparatus 10 such as the first and second base parts 16, 18, the valve 49 and valve member 50 are moveable between respective first and second conditions that correspond to the first and second conditions of the apparatus 10.
Considering the user putting the apparatus 10 into its first condition to clean a hard floor, the user uses his or her hand to hold the user operable member 62 and rotate it in a first, forward, direction and actuate the device 22 which effects a corresponding rotation of the rod 56. The end of the cam member 58 then pushes onto and slides across the upwardly facing surface of the cam follower 60 as the cam member 58 pivots. The upwardly facing surface of the cam follower 60 has a slight gradient which makes it easier for the cam member 58 to slide over it until the cam member 58 eventually reaches a generally vertical position. In doing so the connection between the first and second base parts 16, 18 is moved generally upwards, i.e. away from the floor surface, into its respective first condition.
The first and second base parts 16, 18 are pivotally connected and so raising the pivotal connection between them causes the second base part 18 to pivot downwardly about the connection under the effect of gravity. The second base part 18 also pivots about the ground engaging portion 52, although said portion also translates rearwardly towards the first part 16. It will be seen that a leading edge of the second base part 18, which is positioned remote from its connection to the first base part 16, pivots towards the floor surface whilst a rear portion of the second base part 18 remote to the leading edge is pivoted away from the floor surface. Once the device 22 has effected movement of the second base part 18 to its respective first condition the cleaning member 20 is in a raised position in which it is out of contact with the floor surface. When the second base part 18 is in its first condition the leading edge of the second base part 18 is positioned closer to a floor surface than it is positioned when the second base part 18 is in its second condition. It will also be seen that when the second base part 18 is in its first condition the inlet of the first passage 44 is positioned closer to the floor surface than it is positioned when the second base part 18 is in its second condition.
As the valve member 50 is connected to the rod 56, the rotation of the rod 56 also causes corresponding movement of the valve member 50 to its first condition. When the valve member 50 is in its first condition the valve member 50 is positioned within the second passage 46 to block the second passage 46 whilst leaving the first passage 42 open. The suction source will therefore only provide a flow of suction in the first passage 42 due to the position of the valve member 50 blocking the flow of suction in the second passage 46. The user can then commence cleaning of a hard floor surface.
Considering a user putting the apparatus into its second condition for carpet floor cleaning, the user uses his or her hand to rotate the user operable member 62 to rotate it in a second, rearward, direction, and actuate the device 22 which effects a corresponding rotation of the rod 56. The end of the cam member 58 moves away from and out of contact with the upwardly facing surface of the cam follower 60 as it pivots. The cam member 58 eventually reaches a generally horizontal position. In doing so the connection between the first and second base parts 16, 18 is moved generally downwards, i.e. closer to the floor surface, to its respective second condition.
Lowering of the pivotal connection causes the second base part 18 to pivot about the ground engaging portion 52 such that the rear portion of the second base part 18 remote to the leading edge pivots towards the floor surface and the leading edge of the second base part 18 pivots away from the floor surface. Once the device 22 has effected movement of the second base part 18 to its respective second condition the cleaning member 20 is in a lowered position which brings it into contact with the floor surface. It will be seen that when the second base part 18 is in its second condition the leading edge of the second base part 18 is positioned further from a floor surface than it is positioned when the second base part 18 is in its first condition. When the second base part 18 is in its second condition the cleaning member 20 is positioned closer to a floor surface than it is when the second base part 18 is in its first condition. The apparatus is then in a suitable mode for carpet cleaning as the cleaning member 20 can agitate the carpet during cleaning.
Actuation of the device 22 causes movement of the valve member 50 to its second condition in which it is positioned in the first passage 42. As the valve member 50 moves from its first condition towards its second condition the flow of suction is diverted from the first passage 42 to the second passage 46. In other words, as the second base part 18 is moved to its second condition by the device 22, the valve 49 is caused to decrease the flow of suction in the first passage 42 and increase the flow of suction in the second passage 46. When the valve member 50 has moved to its second condition, the suction source will only provide a flow of suction in the second passage 46 due to the position of the valve member 50. The user can then commence cleaning of a carpet.
The arrangement for movement of the second base part to its first condition is advantageous as it means that the first passage associated with hard floor cleaning is positioned closer to the floor surface whilst the cleaning member is positioned to be out of contact with the floor surface. The amount of suction air flow provided by the first passage through its respective inlet near or at the floor surface is therefore increased even though the part of the second base part which contains the cleaning member has been raised. Thus the cleaning process for the hard floor surface is more efficient. Similarly the movement of the second base part to its second condition is advantageous as it brings the passage associated with carpet cleaning closer to the floor surface to increase the amount of suction flow through it to make carpet cleaning more effective.
The linking of the valve operation with the movement of the second base part such that the flow of suction is diverted to the first passage or second passage based on the cleaning operation is also advantageous. This is because it means that substantially all of the suction provided by the suction source is directed to the passage associated with the corresponding cleaning operation. Thus the amount of suction air flow is maximised which provides more effective dirt/debris pick up.
In this embodiment the device 22, user operable member 62 and valve member 50 are all connected to the rod 56. In other words, they are mechanically connected to or form part of the connection between the first and second base parts 16, 18. Thus, operation of the user operable member 62 causes simultaneous actuation of the device 22 and valve member 50. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the components may be formed separate from the connection between the base parts. In such embodiments there may be further mechanical devices to cause actuation or movement of the components when the user operates the user operable member 62. In other embodiments one or more of the components may be electronically activated and controlled by electronic circuitry operable by the user.
Similarly, in the present embodiment the flow of suction in the first and second passages 42, 46 is changed simultaneously on movement of the first and second parts. In other embodiments the flow of suction may be changed, i.e. increased or decreased, before or after movement of the first and second base parts 16, 18 to their first or second conditions has occurred.
The present embodiment utilises the valve member 50 to block one of the passages 42, 46 so that there is no flow of suction or substantially no flow of suction in it. Other changes of the suction may take place in other embodiments where rather than blocking substantially all of the flow of suction in a passage, the suction is merely decreased by the valve member 50. For example, in one embodiment the apparatus is arranged so that when the valve member is in its first condition the flow of suction in the first passage is greater than it is when the valve member is in its second condition. In other embodiments the apparatus is arranged such that when the valve member is in its second condition the flow of suction in the second passage is greater than it is when the valve member is in its first condition and/or when the valve member is in its first condition the flow of suction in the first passage is greater than the flow of suction in the second passage.
It will be understood that the terms first and second conditions need not necessarily correspond to the hard floor or carpet floor modes of operation of the apparatus 10. One or more aspects of the invention are applicable to apparatus which need not be arranged to be switchable between hard floor and carpet floor modes of operation. The terms first and second conditions are reference points by which to define the functional operation of the various components of the apparatus between intermediary or final stages of operation.
In certain embodiments, when the first and/or second base parts are moved between first and second conditions, the flow of suction may stay constant in one of the passages and the flow of suction be increased or decreased to the other of the passages. In alternative embodiments the apparatus may be arranged so that when the suction provided to the second passage is increased or decreased, the suction provided to the second passage is the other of increased or decreased.
The suction provided to the first and/or second passages may be increased or decreased. In alternative embodiments the apparatus need not have a valve. For example, respective suction motors may provide suction to the passages, and the amount of suction provided by the suction motors may be increased or decreased when the base part is moved between its first and second conditions.
In the present embodiment the cleaning member 20 is in the form of a motor driven agitator. In other embodiments other types of cleaning members such as non-motor driven agitators, e.g. turbine driven agitators, or static brushes may be used.
An aspect of the present invention is that the base assembly need not be made of two parts which are connected together or necessarily include a cleaning member. According to such an aspect of the present invention, the base assembly includes a base part having a first passage with a respective inlet and a second passage with a respective inlet. As the base part is moved between its first and second conditions by the device, the suction provided to the first and second passages is changed. The apparatus is configured so that movement of the base part causes a change in the suction provided to the first and second passages. In other embodiments the change in suction may occur before or after the movement of the base part.
When the base part is in its first condition the inlet of the first passage is positioned closer to a floor surface than it is positioned when the base part is in its second condition. When the base part is in its second condition the inlet of the second passage is positioned closer to a floor surface than it is positioned when the base part is in its first condition. In other embodiments the suction provided to one, rather than both, of the passages is changed.
An aspect of the present invention relates to the arrangement of the respective inlets 44, 48. According to this aspect of the present invention, the first and second inlets 44, 48 are positioned in respective planes A, B. The planes A, B intersect about or close to the ground engaging portion 52 between the respective inlets 44, 48.
With reference to the figures, in particular
With reference to
It has been noted that an angle of 6° or 7° for β and/or θ leads to an unexpected improvement in suction/cleaning of the apparatus 10 when it is in the first condition. However, angles in the range of around 4° to 8° are also envisaged as being beneficial for cleaning.
This configuration is advantageous as it means that when the second base part 18 is in its first condition the inlet of the first passage 44 is positioned in a plane which is parallel or substantially parallel to the floor surface and when the second base part 18 is in its second condition the inlet of the second passage 48 is positioned in a plane which is parallel or substantially parallel to the floor surface. This reduces suction flow losses.
It will seen that when the second base part 18 is in its first condition the second inlet 48 is positioned in a plane which is generally inclined with respect to the floor surface and when the second base part 18 is in its second condition the first inlet 44 is positioned in a plane which is generally inclined with respect to the floor surface.
In other embodiments, the respective planes are spaced from each other and/or spaced from each other, for example, in a generally vertical direction away from the floor surface. In the described embodiment, the respective planes intersect about the ground engaging portion 52 but in alternative embodiments the planes may not intersect about the ground engaging portion 52 of the base assembly 14.
As shown in
The first inlet 44 has a width of 17 mm and a length of 338 mm.
Other advantageous embodiments are envisaged for which the width 66 of the first inlet 44 is within the following ranges: 12 and 22 mm, or more preferably 15 and 19 mm; and for which the length 64 of the first inlet 44 is within the following ranges: 280 to 350 mm or more preferably 300 to 340 mm.
The second inlet 48 has a width of 41 mm and a length of 320 mm.
Advantageous embodiments are envisaged for which the width 70 of the second inlet 48 is within the following ranges: 30 to 50 mm, more preferably 35 to 45 mm, yet more preferably 40 to 45 mm; and for which the length 68 is within the following ranges: 280 to 350 mm, more preferably 290 to 340 mm, yet more preferably 310 to 330 mm and yet more preferably 290 to 300 mm. Other advantageous specific values of the length 68 are 293 mm and 294 mm.
It will be understood that the one or more features of the base assembly of one or more of the embodiments described hereinbefore in relation to upright cleaners can also be incorporated as part of a floor tool for a suction cleaner. For example a floor tool for connection to a cylinder or canister type cleaner. Such a floor tool 101 is shown in
Features in common with the embodiments described above have been given the same reference number with the addition of 100.
An aspect of the present invention relates to the floor tool 101 including a base assembly 114 which has a first base part 116 and a second base part 118 which is positioned forwardly of the first base part 116. The base assembly 114 has a first passage 142 with a respective inlet 144 and a second passage 146 with a respective inlet 148. The base assembly 114 has a cleaning member 120 and a device 122 for effecting movement of the first and second base parts 116, 118 relative to each other. The cleaning member 120 is positioned in the second passage 146 and its respective inlet 148.
The first base part 116 includes a rearwardly extending connection member for connection with a suction hose (not shown) of a suction cleaner so as to provide fluid communication between the source of suction of the suction cleaner and the first and second passages 142, 146. The first base part 116 includes a turbine 170 having a rotor which is drivingly connected to the cleaning member by a belt 154. The turbine 170 is positioned within the suction flow path and rotates during use so as to correspondingly drive rotation of the cleaning member 120 in a known manner during use. A motor could be used instead or in addition to the turbine 170.
The general arrangement, and operation, of the floor tool and its various components is similar to that described in relation to the previous embodiments and so will not be described in any more detail here. It will be understood that the aspects of the present invention related to the apparatus 10 are similarly applicable to the floor tool 101.
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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1321662.7 | Dec 2013 | GB | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/102,741, filed Jun. 8, 2016, which is a U.S. national phase of international application PCT/GB2014/050359, filed Feb. 7, 2014, which claims priority to U.K. Patent Application No. 1321662.7, filed Dec. 9, 2013, the entire contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15102741 | Jun 2016 | US |
| Child | 15405792 | US |
