Patent Application
20190328190
This disclosure relates to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to handheld suction devices.
Proper floor care requires periodic cleaning to remove hardened soil and lose debris on the floor surface. The type of cleaning performed will vary depending on the type of floor surface being cleaned and on the type of soil present. For example, maintenance personnel may sweep the surface with a brush, vacuum the surface, use hot water dispensing and extraction, or preform yet other types of cleaning on the surface.
For commercial spaces, ensuring that floor surfaces are cleaned regularly and thoroughly is important to provide a good aesthetic environment for guests as well as to prevent slip-and-fall incidents. These high traffic commercial spaces can be difficult to clean, however, because of all the different types of soils that may be brought in by guests and deposited on floor. Guest may track in or spill liquid contaminants on the floor as well as solid, particulate material. For example, in wintry climates, the floor around an entryway to a building may be covered with tracked-in snow, ice, salt, and sand as well as pools of melted snow and ice. As another example, commercial spaces selling beverages may have spill incidents where the liquid beverage and ice is spilled on the floor and needs to be cleaned up. Each type of soil deposited on the floor may require a different type of cleaning instrument to remove, taking additional time and operator effort to remove.
In general, this disclosure is directed to a handheld liquid suction device. The handheld liquid suction device may be an upright device at the end of an elongated suction chamber, allowing an operator clean a floor surface while standing upright. In some examples, the handheld liquid suction device includes a handle member that is connected to a suction nozzle via an elongated tubular chamber. The handle member may contain a vacuum source, such as a vacuum motor and fan. The elongated tubular chamber can extend from the suction nozzle that is positionable on a floor surface to the handle member. The handheld device may have one or more features that allow the device to efficiently collect liquid from the floor surface being cleaned and retain the liquid, without impairing the vacuum function of the device.
In one configuration, for example the handheld liquid suction device may include a suction tube that extends from the suction nozzle positionable on the floor surface upwardly into the elongated tubular chamber. The elongated tubular chamber may further include a releasable coupling that allows the chamber to be separated into two sections. The suction tube may extend from the suction nozzle up into the elongated tubular chamber, such as a lower section of the tubular chamber. In operation, vacuum pressure generated by the vacuum source may draw liquid from the floor, up through the suction nozzle, and into the tubular chamber via the suction tube. By configuring the tubular chamber with a releasable coupling, the chamber can be opened to separate the upper section with handle and vacuum source attached from a lower section in which the liquid is retained. This can facilitate efficient emptying of the chamber and minimize spilling that may otherwise occur when emptying.
Additionally or alternatively, the handheld liquid suction device may include a vacuum suction tube extending from the vacuum source into the elongated tubular chamber at an opposite end from the suction nozzle attached to the elongated tubular chamber. The vacuum suction tube may define a vacuum draw opening of narrower cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the elongated tubular chamber. In some configurations, the opening defined by the vacuum suction tube is offset from the center of the elongated tubular chamber, e.g., in an upper half or quadrant of the tubular chamber. This configuration can be useful to create a liquid receiving cavity between the vacuum suction tube and the elongated tubular chamber. For example, if an operator rotates the handle member of the handheld liquid suction device downwardly when liquid is present in the elongated tubular chamber, the vacuum suction tube may prevent the liquid from flowing into the vacuum motor and flooding the unit. Rather, the liquid may be trapped in the liquid receiving cavity created between the vacuum suction tube projecting into the elongated tubular chamber and the wall of the tubular chamber itself.
Independent of the specific features with which the handheld liquid suction device is configured, in some applications, the handheld device may be adaptable for picking up solid matter. For example, the handheld device may include two or more interchangeable nozzles that are selectively engageable with the handle member carrying a vacuum source. One of the two nozzles may be a liquid suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle with suction tube extending from the suction nozzle inside of elongated tubular chamber. Another of the two nozzles may be a solid matter suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle attached to an elongated tubular chamber but without a suction tube. The two nozzles may be interchangeably engaged with the handle member and vacuum source, depending on whether the operator needs to pick up primarily liquid soil or primarily solid soil from the floor surface being cleaned. In some examples, the handle member includes a section of elongated tubular chamber that engages with the section of elongated tubular chamber carried by the nozzles selected to be engaged with the handle. For example, the terminal end of the elongated tubular chamber may have a releasable coupling that engages with a corresponding coupling on the tubular chamber section carried by the nozzle.
In one example, a handheld liquid suction device is described that includes a handle member, a suction nozzle, an elongated tubular chamber, and a suction tube. The handle member is operatively connected to a vacuum source. The suction nozzle has an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The elongated tubular chamber extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the elongated tubular chamber is engaged with the handle member and the distal end of the elongated tubular chamber is engaged with the suction nozzle. The suction tube is in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the suction nozzle and extends inside of the elongated tubular chamber. The example specifies that the elongated tubular chamber includes a first section and a second section releasably coupled together, with the first section being engaged with the suction nozzle and the second section being engaged with the handle member. In some optional applications of the example, the suction tube has a terminal end opposite the outlet opening of the suction nozzle contained within the first section of the elongated tubular chamber.
In another example, a handheld liquid suction device is described that includes a handle member, a suction nozzle, an elongated tubular chamber, and a vacuum suction tube. The handle member is operatively connected to a vacuum source. The suction nozzle has an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The elongated tubular chamber extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the elongated tubular chamber is engaged with the handle member and the distal end of the elongated tubular chamber is engaged with the suction nozzle. The vacuum suction tube is in fluid communication with the vacuum source. The example specifies that the vacuum suction tube extends inside of the elongated tubular chamber toward the suction nozzle.
In another example, a handheld suction system is described that includes a handle member operatively connected to a vacuum source and at least two interchangeable nozzles selectively engageable with the handle member. One of the interchangeable nozzles is a liquid suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The attachment also includes an elongated tubular chamber extending from the suction nozzle and configured for engagement with the handle member. The attachment also includes a suction tube in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the suction nozzle and extending inside of the elongated tubular chamber. Another of the interchangeable nozzles is a solid matter suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle defining an inlet opening and an elongated tubular chamber extending from the suction nozzle that is configured for engagement with the handle member.
The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
This disclosure generally relates to a handheld liquid suction device that may be conveniently grasped and manipulated by an operator in a standing position to pick up and remove soil from a floor surface being cleaned. In some configurations, the suction device includes a suction nozzle positionable against the floor surface being cleaned and a tubular chamber extending from the suction nozzle to a handle that is graspable by the operator. The handle may carry a vacuum source, such as a vacuum motor, contained within a housing defining the handle. While the device may be designed to operate on wall or mains power via a corded connection, portability is enhanced by configuring the device with a rechargeable power source, such as battery carried with the device. The battery may be connected to and/or carried inside of a housing defining the handle. Alternatively, the battery may be separate from the handle. For example, the handheld device may be configured with a backpack module, e.g., carrying a vacuum source and power source, that is wearable on an operator's back and connects to a handle member. In either case, a handheld suction device according to the disclosure can have a variety of different features and configurations, as described in greater detail below.
In use, an operator can grasp handle member 12 to position suction nozzle 14 against a floor surface to be cleaned. The operator can then activate a power switch, causing the vacuum source in handle member 12 to generate a vacuum that draws through elongated tubular chamber 16. The vacuum pressure created at the end of the tubular chamber to which handle member 12 is attached can draw through suction tube 18, which may be a tube of narrower cross-sectional area extending at least partially along the length of elongated tubular chamber 16. Accordingly, suction pressure can be generated at suction nozzle 14 for cleaning a floor surface, drawing liquid into suction tube 18 and carrying it up into elongated tubular chamber 16 via the suction tube.
When the liquid extracted from a floor surface reaches the proximal terminal end of the suction tube, the liquid may flow out of the suction tube and down into the portion of elongated tubular chamber 16 through which the suction tube extends. As a result, liquid drawn off of the floor surface being cleaned can be contained within the portion of elongated tubular chamber 16 containing suction tube 18. Suction tube 18 can prevent the liquid in the tubular chamber from flowing back out the suction nozzle onto the cleaned floor surface. The operator may continue to clean the floor surface and draw liquid into elongated tubular chamber 16 until the liquid height in the chamber reaches the top (e.g., proximal terminal end) of suction tube 18. At that point, the operator may turn off power to the vacuum source and empty the elongated tubular chamber before continuing further cleaning operations.
In practice, it may be difficult to empty elongated tubular chamber 16 of accumulated liquid and cleaning residual film, particulate material, or other debris carried with the liquid into the tubular chamber. Accordingly, in some configurations of handheld suction device 10, including the configuration illustrated in
In
In general, coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32 may be any cooperative features that interact with each other to releasably connect first section 24 of elongated tubular chamber 16 to second section 26 of the chamber. In different examples, coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32 may engage and disengage by moving the two members axially towards and away from each other, or by rotationally moving the members relative to each other. In some configurations, coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32 are configured to rotate relative to each other to engage and disengage. For example, coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32 may have corresponding threading that allows the different sections of the tubular chamber to be engaged by rotating the members relative to each other in one direction and disengaged by rotating the members relative to each other in an opposite direction.
As another example, coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32 may define a bayonet connector with a male side and a female side. The male side can slide axially into the female side to interconnect the two members. In some configurations, the two members are further rotated relative to each other after sliding axially, for example to position a radial pin into a locking hole. In other configurations, the two members can lock without needing to be rotated. When so configured, a push button or other disengagement feature may be used to allow separation of the interlocked bayonet connectors.
Independent of the specific configuration of coupling member 30 and complementary coupling member 32, the two members may form joint 28 joining first section of elongated tubular chamber 24 to the second section 26 of the tubular chamber. The overall length of elongated tubular chamber 16 (from proximal end 20 distal end 22) can vary depending on the desired operating configuration of handheld liquid suction device 10. In some examples, elongated tubular chamber 16 has an overall length ranging from 1 foot to 5 feet, such as from 2 feet to 4 feet.
First section 24 of elongated tubular chamber 16 may be substantially the same length as second section 26 of the chamber (e.g., +/−10%). Alternatively, the first and second sections of elongated tubular chamber 16 may have different lengths. The length of first section 24 may be varied by moving the location of joint 28 during design to adjust the holding capacity of the section of tubular chamber. In some examples, first section 24 of elongated tubular chamber 16 has a length ranging from 0.5 feet to 3 feet, such as from 1 foot to 2.5 feet.
In general, suction tube 18 functions to divide an incoming flow of liquid drawn through suction nozzle 14 from liquid held in first section 24 of elongated tubular chamber 16. Suction nozzle 14 can have an inlet opening 34 and an outlet opening 36. Suction tube 18 can be in fluid communication with and extend from the outlet opening 36 of the suction nozzle. For example, suction tube 18 may extend from a proximal terminal end 38 to a distal terminal end 40 (
To prevent an operator from filling elongated tubular chamber 16 above joint 28 separating the chamber into two sections—which would cause spilling when the operator separates the two sections for emptying—the length of suction tube 18 may be confined to first section 24. For example, proximal terminal end 38 of suction tube 18 may be positioned and contained within first section 24 of elongated tubular chamber 16 rather than extending up into the second section 26 of the elongated tubular chamber. When so configured, the proximal terminal end 38 of suction tube 18 may not project beyond the proximal terminal end of first section 24. For purposes of considering the position of the terminal end 38 of suction tube 18, coupling member 30 and/or other length-extending feature integrally joined with the section may be considered part of the overall length of the section.
To help redirect liquid discharging out of suction tube 18 as it is drawn up through the tube via vacuum pressure, handheld device 10 may include a diverter structure. The diverter structure may be attached to suction tube 18 and/or an inner wall surface of the elongated tubular chamber 16. The diverter structure may provide a surface that liquid discharging from suction tube 18 impinges upon (e.g. contacts) to redirect the liquid back down into elongated tubular chamber 16.
In the example of
Elongated tubular chamber 16 has a larger cross-sectional area than suction tube 18, which extends through an interior of the tubular chamber. Controlling the cross-sectional size of elongated tubular chamber 16 relative to that of suction tube 18 can be helpful to control the vacuum pressure drawn through the suction tube as well as the capacity of the tubular chamber to store captured liquid. In some examples, a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the suction tube divided by a cross-sectional area of the elongated tubular chamber ranges from 0.1 to 0.4.
Elongated tubular chamber 16 (e.g., each section forming the chamber) and suction tube 18 can each have any suitable cross-sectional shape including a polygon cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, rectangle, triangle) or arcuate cross-sectional shape (e.g., circle, oval). One or more wall surfaces can form a bounded cavity defining elongated tubular chamber 16. In some examples, elongated tubular chamber 16 is formed of a transparent material and/or includes a transparent window so as to enable an operator to see the contents inside of the chamber to determine when the chamber should be emptied.
As mentioned, handheld device 10 can include a suction nozzle 14. The suction nozzle may be the feature positioned on the handheld device that contacts the floor surface being cleaned. The specific design of suction nozzle 14 may vary depending on the types of soils intended to be picked up using device 10 as well as the type of operating environments in which the device is intended to be used.
As shown in
In different configurations, handheld suction device 10 may or may not include one or more check valves (one-way valves) to prevent liquid backflow within the suction device. For example, handheld suction device 10 may include a check valve in suction tube 18 that allows fluid to be drawn up into the tube but not flow back down the tube once drawn into elongated tubular chamber 16 (via the suction tube). In the illustrated configuration, however, handheld suction device 10 is shown without having any check valves (including in elongated tubular chamber 16 and suction tube 18). Configuring handheld suction device 10 without check valves may provide a more robust design by omitting a moving mechanical element that has a potential to fail during the service life of the device.
As noted previously, handheld suction device 10 includes a vacuum source. The vacuum source may be a vacuum motor, a vacuum pump, a cyclone or yet other device that creates vacuum pressure. The vacuum source may be physically integrated and contained within handle member 12 or may be separate from handle member 12 and in fluid communication with elongated tubular chamber 16. In still other examples, the vacuum source may be divided between being positioned inside of and outside of handle member 12.
In some examples, the vacuum source may be implemented using a multistage vacuum system. The multistage vacuum system may include a first stage vacuum assembly through which air is first drawn and a second stage vacuum assembly through which air discharging from the first stage vacuum assembly is secondarily drawn. The first stage vacuum assembly may have a first stage reservoir that captures at least a portion of the debris drawn into the first stage vacuum assembly (with sucked in air), while the second stage vacuum assembly may have a second stage reservoir that captures at least a portion of the debris that is drawn into the second stage vacuum assembly. As one example, handheld suction device 10 may have a cyclone that provides a cyclonic action to function as a first stage vacuum assembly and a vacuum motor that functions as a second stage vacuum assembly.
In some examples, handheld suction device 10 may include a vacuum motor housing 56 (
While handheld suction device 10 is generally illustrated and described as a standalone unit (e.g., with a portable power and vacuum source), it should be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited in this respect. In alternative configurations, handheld suction device 10 may be connected a larger cleaning machine, such as a walk-behind or ride-on cleaning machine, that has its own power and/or vacuum source. In this implementation, handheld suction device 10 may be connected to power and/or vacuum supplied by the larger cleaning machine via one or more corded connections extending from the larger cleaning machine to the handheld suction device. An operator can selectively engage and disengage handheld suction device 10 from the larger cleaning machine for select use.
To make handheld suction device 10 ergonomically comfortable for a user, the device may include an offset section or a bend. For example, handheld suction device 10 may include a “Bennett's bend” in elongated tubular chamber 26 and/or between the elongated tubular chamber and handle member 12. In the example configuration of
Vacuum suction tube 64 in
Offsetting the geometric center of inlet opening 66 from the geometric center of elongated tubular chamber 16 may be useful to provide a region between vacuum suction tube 64 and the tubular chamber for liquid to collect. For example, inlet opening 66 of vacuum suction tube 64 may be positioned closer to an upper surface 70 of elongated tubular chamber 16 than a lower surface 72 of the elongated tubular chamber. This can create a liquid receiving cavity between vacuum suction tube 64 and the lower surface 72 of elongated tubular chamber 16 that is configured to collect liquid when the device is tilted to prevent flooding of the vacuum source.
In some configurations, inlet opening 66 of vacuum suction tube 64 is positioned in an upper cross-sectional half of elongated tubular chamber 16. The upper cross-sectional half of elongated tubular chamber 16 may be the upper lengthwise cross-sectional half, e.g., when dividing the elongated tubular chamber along its length (e.g., axis 62).
While handheld suction device 10 may be useful to remove cleanup liquid soils on a floor surface being cleaned, an operator may also wish to pick up solid soils in addition to or in lieu of liquid soils. Suction nozzle 14 may have a size and/or shape suitable for picking up both types of soils. However, to improve soil collection performance, handheld suction device may have a replaceable or interchangeable nozzle. The interchangeable nozzles may be selectively engageable with handle member 12 depending on the needs of the operator. For example, one nozzle may be configured for picking up liquid soils while another nozzle may be configured for picking up solid soils. The nozzle for picking up liquid soils may have suction tube 18 whereas the nozzle for picking up solid soils may not have such a suction tube. Rather, the nozzle for picking up solid materials may be configured differently, for example, without suction tube 18, with an air filter, and/or an opening size greater than that of the liquid suction nozzle.
Handheld suction device 10 can have a variety of different floor surface engagement heads in addition to or in lieu of those discussed above. For example, in various configurations, the floor surface engagement head (e.g., nozzle 14) of handheld suction device 10 may include one or more rollers, brushes, or other sweeping implements extending operatively coupled to an elongated tubular chamber (or section thereof) through which vacuum is drawn. One example floor surface engagement head that can be used on handheld suction device 10 is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/783,451, titled “SWEEPER/SCRUBBER SYSTEM CAPABLE OF HANDLING LARGE DEBRIS” and filed on Dec. 21, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The floor surface engagement head (e.g., suction nozzle 14) used on handheld suction device 10 may or may not include powered components (e.g., electrically powered, pneumatically powered). For example, the floor surface engagement head may be a mechanical feature having inlet opening 34 and outlet opening 36 but no electrically powered features. In other examples, the floor surface engagement head may include powered components, such as driven rollers or brushes, lights (LEDs), and/or other powered components.
When configured with powered components, elongated tubular chamber 16 may include a power delivery conduit (e.g., electrical wiring, pneumatic tubing) extending down a length of the chamber, e.g., from a power source contained in vacuum motor housing 56 to the floor surface engagement head. When elongated tubular chamber 16 is formed from multiple sections (e.g., first section 24 and second section 26) each section may include complementary power connectors that interconnect when the sections are joined together at joint 28. Accordingly, engaging first section 24 to second section 26 can establish a power communication channel from the power source down through each section to the floor surface engagement head. When the floor surface engagement head is removable from elongated tubular chamber 14 (e.g., first section 24), the floor surface engagement head and elongated tubular chamber may have complementary power connectors that interconnect when the components are joined together to supply power to the floor surface engagement head.
A handheld suction system may be provided to an end-user (e.g. in a common packaging) that includes handheld suction device 10 containing a vacuum source (and optionally attachable second section 26 of elongated tubular chamber) as well as multiple different attachments. One of the attachments may be a liquid suction attachment and another of the attachments may be a solid suction attachment, allowing the operator to reconfigure the handheld suction device as needed depending on the soils being picked up.
A handheld suction device according to the disclosure may provide an ergonomic and convenient device for cleaning a variety of floor surface soils, including liquid soils. In different configurations, the device may provide a variety of different features to efficiently collect and hold liquid removed from the floor surface and/or prevent vacuum motor flooding if the operator over rotates the device when filled with liquid. In some applications, the handheld suction device provides an interchangeable system that allows the operator to switch between different suction attachments designed for picking up liquid soil and solid soil.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/662,514, filed Apr. 25, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62662514 | Apr 2018 | US |
