Patent Application
20250049277
The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102023003275.1, filed Aug. 8, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a suction cleaning attachment of a cleaning device for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles by means of a suction air flow. In addition, the present invention also relates to a stationary cleaning device for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles, with a suction cleaning attachment of the type according to the invention. The suction cleaning attachment is provided to be inserted and held in a quiver of the cleaning device in the non-use state. Ultimately, the suction cleaning attachment can be removed from the quiver for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles. Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of the suction cleaning attachment in a stationary cleaning device for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles and to the use of the stationary cleaning device for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles by means of the suction flow.
Stationary cleaning devices of the aforementioned type are also referred to as self-service vacuum cleaner systems, which are usually used in the commercial sector, i.e. in petrol stations, car washes, workshops and the like. A characteristic of a stationary cleaning device is a central and/or stationary vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit, which has the technical components necessary for operating the cleaning device, such as a blower device for generating a vacuum and, if necessary, control and/or regulating devices or electronic components. The central vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit is “stationary”, i.e. essentially immobile or stationary during the operating period, arranged on a surface and/or property, wherein due to the “stationary design” there is no displacement and/or movement of the vacuum cleaner system or operating unit and/or blower device, with the exception of the manually guided vacuum cleaning attachment, relative to the surface for the majority of the operating period.
The central vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit is assigned at least one suction area and/or suction point, preferably a number of suction areas and/or suction points, for example in a car wash and/or a commercial cleaning system for cleaning the interior of vehicles in assigned suction areas and/or suction points. The stationary vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit supplies the suction stations and/or extraction points with suction air centrally. A suction cleaning attachment, which is connected to the central vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit via a hose, is assigned to the and/or each suction point. Dirt and/or particles can then be sucked out of the interior of the vehicle via the suction cleaning attachment or the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The suction cleaning attachment is usually designed in such a way that dirt and/or particles can be sucked up from a surface, for example the seats and/or floor mats.
Suction cleaning attachments of the type in question have a housing with an internal suction channel for guiding the suction air flow, wherein the housing has a handle with a handle region and a housing connection piece with a suction opening at the end of the suction channel. This allows the dirt to be removed from the vehicle interior in a targeted and purposeful manner.
Against this background, stationary cleaning devices of the type described at the beginning are to be understood as distinct from mobile cleaning devices in the household sector, for example handheld vacuum cleaners, corded vacuum cleaners, vacuum robots or small vacuum cleaners, which are operated as self-sufficient and/or compact cleaning units close to the body and/or mobile, i.e. movable or attached to the user. Vacuum cleaners with a cable usually have an operating unit that can be moved on castors, whereas handheld vacuum cleaners and/or small vacuum cleaners are self-sufficient and/or independent suction units that are carried and operated by the user.
In practice, the use of stationary cleaning devices causes problems when cleaning the interior of motor vehicles. This is because many areas in the vehicle interior are difficult or impossible to access for cleaning, meaning that these areas cannot be cleaned or can only be cleaned insufficiently. This applies, for example, to the area between the car seats, but also to areas that are angled or difficult to access. Accordingly, efficient extraction of dirt particles in the aforementioned areas is not possible or only possible with great difficulty. In addition, the aforementioned angled and/or difficult to access areas are often difficult to see, so that dirt present in these areas is not even registered.
In practice, mobile hand-held vacuum cleaners or floor vacuum cleaners are known to be used in the household sector whose floor nozzle has illuminants at the front so that the area in front of the floor nozzle is illuminated when the floor nozzle is moved along the floor. However, this type of illumination is at best useful for cleaning flat floors in the household sector, but is not compatible with the intended use of cleaning motor vehicles and the angled and/or difficult to access areas in the vehicle interior described at the beginning.
With vacuum cleaning attachments of the type mentioned above, it is also known to arrange a lighting device with an illuminant inside the housing or in the suction channel. The power supply to the illuminant is supplied by cable via the central or stationary vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit. The disadvantage of this approach, however, is that the arrangement of the illuminants inside the suction channel results in a high degree of contamination of the illuminants. The cable-based power supply via the central vacuum cleaner system is also prone to faults and maintenance. The vacuum cleaning attachments must also be extensively modified to equip them with the illuminants in the suction channel and to connect them to the central vacuum cleaner system, which is time-consuming and cost-intensive. Furthermore, if the illuminant is arranged inside the housing and/or in the suction channel, the suction area is no longer illuminated as soon as the suction opening is fitted and/or the suction opening is inserted into particularly narrow areas.
The object of the present invention is now to avoid or at least substantially reduce the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a suction cleaning attachment which enables improved and/or efficient interior cleaning of motor vehicles which can be implemented in a user-friendly manner.
According to the invention, the aforementioned object is at least essentially solved in that the illuminant, which is directed at least partially, preferably essentially, in the direction of the suction opening, is arranged on the outside of the housing and in that the lighting device has at least one, in particular rechargeable, accumulator and/or an electrical storage device for the electrical supply of the illuminant.
In other words, when the suction cleaning attachment is in use, the illuminant is exposed on the outside of the housing and/or arranged outside the suction channel and is preferably firmly connected to the housing, preferably to the housing connection piece. By directing the illuminant and/or the light beams emitted by the illuminant in the direction of the suction opening, targeted and purposeful illumination of areas to be cleaned, particularly those that are difficult to access, is possible. In this way, the illumination of the areas to be cleaned is forcibly coupled with the suction opening, so that the areas emitted by the illuminant are always coupled with the movement and/or orientation of the suction opening. In this way, the suction opening and/or the illuminant can be directed specifically to areas that are difficult to access and illuminate these areas while simultaneously cleaning them with the suction air flow. This significantly increases the cleaning efficiency of the cleaning device compared to the state of the art, as dirt in areas that are difficult to access and/or poorly illuminated can be registered and removed accordingly.
Due to the external arrangement on the housing, the illuminant is independent of the suction channel and is connected to the suction cleaning attachment. The connection of the illuminant to the outside of the housing can be implemented very easily in terms of design.
In addition to the arrangement of the illuminant on the outside of the housing, the invention also provides that the lighting device has at least one, in particular rechargeable, accumulator for the electrical supply of the illuminant. Accordingly, the power supply of the illuminant is ensured by the suction cleaning attachment itself and/or by the accumulator connected to it and is thus decoupled and/or self-sufficient from a central vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit of the stationary cleaning device connected to the suction cleaning attachment. An external power supply via a supply device connected to the suction cleaning attachment, for example via the central and/or stationary vacuum cleaner system and/or the central operating unit, is therefore unnecessary.
In this respect, the lighting device designed according to the invention can be flexibly and efficiently connected to existing suction cleaning attachments without the need for complex adaptations to the suction cleaning attachment itself or to other devices of the stationary cleaning device. This has proven to be particularly advantageous in connection with the commercial environment in car washes and/or large filling stations, where a large number of suction points and/or extraction points are provided.
Preferably, the lighting device is arranged as a unit and/or the illuminant and the accumulator are arranged as a technically combined group on the outside of the housing, in particular the housing connection piece.
It is particularly advantageous in this context that the lighting device has at least one lighting unit on the outside of the housing, preferably on the housing connection piece, which can be at least partially detached from the housing, or is designed as a separate lighting unit which can be separated from the housing, preferably from the housing connection piece, in particular wherein the lighting unit comprises the accumulator, the illuminant and, particularly preferably, at least one circuit board which is electrically connected to the accumulator and/or to the illuminant.
The connection of the lighting device to the outside of the housing, preferably the housing connection piece, is easy to implement in terms of design, especially in comparison to the solution known from practice, in which the illuminant is connected inside the suction channel. Due to the free accessibility on the outside of the housing and/or housing connection piece, installation is significantly simplified in comparison.
In other words, the lighting unit is detachable and/or separately replaceable on the outside of the housing. In particular, the lighting device has a lighting unit that can be completely detached from the housing. The components of the lighting unit, preferably the accumulator and/or the illuminant and/or the circuit board, can be separated from each other or detached separately from the housing, preferably from the housing connection piece, for example by positive and/or non-positive locking, in particular by screwing and/or latching. This enables the respective component of the lighting unit to be replaced as required, for example for maintenance and/or repair purposes. This ensures reliable operation of the suction cleaning attachment according to the invention.
However, as an alternative to the separate removal of the components of the lighting unit, it can also be provided that the lighting unit is designed as a separate self-sufficient unit that can be detached from the housing, preferably from the housing connection piece. In this embodiment, the components of the lighting unit, preferably the accumulator, the illuminant and, particularly preferably, the circuit board, are combined as a separate or self-contained exchangeable unit in a common or compact housing and/or base body.
The lighting unit can then be removed from the suction cleaning attachment and/or from the housing, preferably from the housing connection piece, as a reusable and/or self-sufficient unit and connected to a corresponding charging station, for example to charge the rechargeable battery.
In particular, a sufficient number of lighting units with charged rechargeable batteries can always be kept available, which can be connected to corresponding suction cleaning attachments as required. In industrial operation in particular, this ensures that there are always sufficient suction cleaning attachments with charged batteries ready for use. In addition, the design of the lighting device as a separately removable lighting unit simplifies the maintenance and operation of the stationary cleaning device.
Preferably, the lighting device and/or the lighting unit has a cover that can be detachably connected to the housing, preferably the housing connection piece, to cover the accumulator and/or the illuminant and/or the circuit board. This makes the illuminant and/or the accumulator and/or the circuit board easily accessible for maintenance and/or repair purposes if required. The detachable connection of the cover to the housing can be implemented in a variety of ways known to the skilled person, for example by means of snap-on and/or screw connections.
It is particularly preferable that the lighting device has a circuit and/or is designed in such a way that the illuminant is permanently illuminated while the suction cleaning attachment is in use. This allows easy handling and ensures that sufficient illumination of the areas or surfaces to be cleaned is guaranteed during the entire period of use or during the entire suction process. However, it is also possible for the illuminant to be switched on or off by the user as required during use.
The state of use and/or usage state is provided during the interior cleaning of the motor vehicle, in which the suction cleaning attachment is held by the user on the outside of the housing at the handle region and is guided by hand with the suction opening in front for cleaning in the interior of the motor vehicle. The automatic and permanent activation and/or illumination of the illuminant simplifies handling, wherein any switching means for manual deactivation and/or activation of the illuminant are also omitted, which contributes to a structurally simple design of the suction cleaning attachment.
The lighting device can have at least two contacts for electrical interaction with mating contacts of the quiver, preferably with the contacts being arranged on the outside and in particular on the top of the lighting device. Accordingly, the contacts are arranged and/or exposed so that they are accessible on the outside and/or top, so that when the suction cleaning attachment is in the non-use state, the contacts of the suction cleaning attachment are connected to the corresponding mating contacts of the quiver and the accumulator is charged when the suction cleaning attachment is in the non-use state.
Accordingly, the non-use state is provided before and after the interior cleaning of the motor vehicles. In particular, the suction cleaning attachment is arranged in the quiver of the stationary cleaning device when not in use. The quiver preferably has the mating contacts corresponding to the contacts on the inside for electrical contact with the contacts, so that the accumulator is charged in the non-use state and/or in a charging state of the suction cleaning attachment.
This ensures efficient charging of the rechargeable battery and thus reliable illumination in the usage state, as the time outside the cleaning period, i.e. during the non-usage state, is used specifically and/or efficiently to charge the rechargeable accumulator.
In particular, it is provided in this context that at least one recess starting from a contact and extending in the direction of the suction opening preferably over the entire upper side of the cover and/or in the direction of the suction opening up to the end of the cover is provided on the upper side of the cover. The recess is provided in particular for engaging and/or receiving an associated mating contact. As a result, a contactless and/or frictionless interaction between the mating contact and the cover is realized, whereby wear of the mating contact is avoided or at least reduced. This is particularly advantageous when inserting and/or removing the suction cleaning attachment into or from the quiver, as the mating contact is arranged inside the recess when inserted into or removed from the quiver, thereby avoiding direct contact between the mating contact and the top of the lighting device and/or the cover.
Furthermore, at least one contact can be designed as a spring-loaded ball, which at least partially projects beyond the lighting device and/or the cover. When interacting with the mating contact, the contact can be displaced into the cover and/or in the direction of the suction channel against the spring force. This creates a secure contact between the contact and the mating contact and ultimately an efficient charging of the accumulator as a result of the electrical contact between the contact and the mating contact within the quiver. The ball is preferably spring-loaded via a contact spring or other spring-loaded means, especially if the contact spring and/or spring means is electrically conductive. The ball is electrically conductively connected to the circuit board via the contact spring and/or spring means.
The accumulator is particularly preferably arranged between the illuminant and the contacts on the circuit board. The illuminant is preferably aligned towards the suction opening and the contact is aligned opposite the illuminant, i.e. in the direction of the handle, and/or arranged on the circuit board.
In other words, the contact is held on the upper side of the cover, preferably positively and/or non-positively, by means of the spring means or the contact spring, preferably in such a way that the contact protrudes as a pressure contact with respect to the upper side of the cover in a spring-loaded manner when the suction cleaning attachment is in use.
It has proven to be expedient if the lighting device is arranged on the housing connection piece, in particular in the transition area of the housing connection piece to the handle. In this context, it is particularly preferable for the lighting device to be arranged on the housing connection piece in such a way that the distance between the illuminant and the suction opening corresponds to at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, of the distance between the suction opening and the handle piece and/or the handle region. This means that the majority of the housing connection piece is free of the lighting device, so that, starting from the suction opening, it is easier for the housing connection piece to penetrate into areas that are difficult to access. In this respect, the external connection of the lighting device and/or the lighting unit is not associated with any impairment with regard to the accessibility and/or manageability of the suction cleaning attachment.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the housing connection piece, starting from the suction opening, has two opposing flat sides, preferably with the flat sides merging into a circular cross-section of the suction channel at a transition area to the handle piece. The lighting device is particularly preferably arranged on at least one flat side, preferably adjacent to a transition area to the handle piece. In terms of design, the flat side provides a robust and/or practical support surface for the lighting device, so that a correspondingly secure connection of the lighting device to the housing connection piece is made possible in this area.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least two lighting devices are provided, preferably with the lighting devices arranged opposite each other on the housing connection piece, in particular on opposite flat sides of the housing connection piece. As a result, the area to be cleaned and/or the area of the suction opening is illuminated on both sides. This in turn improves the illumination of areas that are particularly difficult to access, which in turn leads to a further improved cleaning result when using the suction cleaning attachment according to the invention.
The material for the housing, the housing connection piece and/or the handle piece is preferably a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polysterol (PS) are particularly preferred materials. The aforementioned components of the suction cleaning attachment can in particular consist of the aforementioned materials. Preferably, the entire suction cleaning attachment is made of plastic. The aforementioned plastics are characterized by their high strength.
In general, it should be noted that the handle piece is preferably detachable from and/or movable, preferably rotatable, relative to the housing connection piece. Accordingly, the housing is preferably designed in several parts, preferably with the lighting device being arranged on the housing connection piece, which is arranged so that it can be moved, preferably rotated, relative to and/or detached from the handle piece. This enables the housing connection piece and/or the lighting device to be decoupled from the handle for maintenance and/or servicing purposes as required. The handle piece is preferably latched to the housing connection piece. Alternatively or additionally, the handle piece can be detached from the housing connection piece in a non-destructive manner, in particular after it has been latched. It may or may not be possible to rotate the handle piece relative to the housing connection piece.
The housing preferably has a mouthpiece that can be detached from the housing connection piece, wherein the mouthpiece forms the suction opening. The mouthpiece can preferably be slid onto the end of the housing connection piece. The mouthpiece is preferably a wearing part, as it is usually placed on the surfaces to be cleaned in the area of the suction opening during operation and is therefore exposed to a frictional load. After a certain amount of removal and/or wear, which can preferably be indicated by a marking on the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece can be replaced by an unused and/or new mouthpiece. This ensures simple and/or low-maintenance and/or easy maintenance of the suction cleaning attachment without having to make complex adjustments to the housing connection piece and/or the lighting device connected to it.
In particular, a stop designed as a step or a stop projecting over the handle region and/or the lighting device is provided on the outside of the housing between the suction opening and the handle region to interact with an edge of the quiver. When not in use, the suction cleaning attachment thus rests with its stop axially against the edge of the quiver. This guarantees easy and safe handling and ensures reliable axial alignment between the contacts and the mating contacts.
Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a stationary cleaning device for use in cleaning the interior of motor vehicles. The cleaning device comprises a suction cleaning attachment according to at least one of the previously described embodiments. Furthermore, the stationary cleaning device comprises at least one quiver for holding the suction cleaning attachment in the non-use state and/or charging state—that is, before or after the interior cleaning of a vehicle. Preferably, the cleaning device has a central and/or stationary vacuum cleaner system and/or operating unit with a blower device for generating a vacuum, wherein the blower device is assigned to the suction channel via a hose (suction hose). The blower device ultimately provides the suction air flow required for the interior cleaning of vehicles, which is guided along the suction channel.
Preferably, the stationary cleaning device has a plurality of suction cleaning attachments, in particular more than 5, especially preferably more than 10, in particular more than 20, suction cleaning attachments, preferably with each suction cleaning attachment being assigned a suction point and/or a suction location and/or vice versa. In this case, the suction cleaning attachments are connected to the central vacuum cleaner system and/or central operating unit of the cleaning device via corresponding hoses. In addition, a quiver is also provided for each suction cleaning attachment. Preferably, the power supply for the quivers is provided by the vacuum cleaner system and/or the central operating unit, with the vacuum cleaner system having at least one corresponding control and/or regulating device for this purpose.
In this context, it is understood that all the preferred embodiments mentioned above and the advantages according to the invention also apply in the same way to the stationary cleaning device according to the invention. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the relevant explanations are omitted and express reference is made to the preceding explanations.
According to the invention, the cleaning device has at least one mating contact arranged in the quiver and connected to a power source for electrical contact with the contact of the suction cleaning attachment, so that the accumulator is charged in the non-use state, i.e. in the holding state and/or charging state of the suction cleaning attachment inserted in the quiver. In the present case, the non-use state is therefore a charging state of the rechargeable battery and/or the suction cleaning attachment.
When the suction cleaning attachment is in use, there is therefore electrical contact between at least one contact, preferably both contacts, of the suction cleaning attachment and a corresponding mating contact, preferably both corresponding mating contacts, of the quiver. The accumulator is charged as a result of the electrical contact. In other words, the quiver acts as a charger for the accumulator of the suction cleaning attachment.
In particular, the quiver can have a coding device which is designed to ensure that the suction cleaning attachment can only be inserted into the quiver, in particular in a defined rotational position, in such a way that the contact makes electrical contact with the mating contact.
The coding device, which can also be understood and/or designed as an insertion and/or positioning device, ensures that the suction cleaning attachment can only be inserted into the quiver and/or that the charging state is only present when it is fully inserted into the quiver when the contacts of the suction cleaning attachment are in the correct orientation with the corresponding mating contacts of the quiver. In this respect, the suction cleaning attachment can only be inserted into the quiver when the suction cleaning attachment, in particular the housing connection piece, is in the correct rotational position relative to the quiver.
The coding device preferably has a coding opening which interacts with the suction cleaning attachment, preferably with the lighting device and/or with the housing connection piece in such a way that it is ensured that the suction cleaning attachment and/or the housing connection piece can only be fully inserted into the quiver in such a way that contact between the contacts and the mating contacts in the quiver is ensured when not in use and/or when charged.
When not in use and/or when charged, the contacts of the suction cleaning attachment on the one hand and the mating contacts of the quiver on the other are arranged and/or aligned opposite each other. The mating contacts are preferably designed as sliding contacts and/or as elastically reversibly deformable and/or spring-like acting mating contacts. In interaction with the preferably spring-loaded, spherical contacts of the suction cleaning attachment, this enables robust and/or safe electrical contacting by the force-locking contacts on the one hand and mating contacts on the other.
Preferably, the coding opening and/or insertion and/or positioning opening is at least partially delimited by two opposing, preferably flat coding surfaces and/or insertion and/or positioning surfaces, with, preferably, at least two mating contacts being arranged on one, preferably on each, coding surface and/or insertion and/or positioning surface. The coding surfaces and/or insertion and/or positioning surfaces interact with the lighting devices, in particular with the covers and/or upper sides of the lighting devices, in such a way that the suction cleaning attachment and/or the housing connection piece is essentially free of play and/or fixed against rotation and/or fixed in the transverse direction, i.e. only held in the axial direction in the direction out of the quiver, in the non-use state and/or in the charging state in the quiver.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the mating contact and/or mating contacts are recessed and/or countersunk relative to the coding surface and/or insertion and/or positioning surface, for example by at least 0.2 mm. The contacts of the lighting device can then penetrate the associated coding surface under spring load and make electrical contact with the recessed mating contacts. With this solution, the previously described recesses on the cover of the lighting device can then be omitted, as the inserted mating contacts do not come into contact with the cover of the lighting device. In this variant with the recessed mating contacts, there is also no wear on the surface of the lighting device.
In particular, the quiver can have a quiver nozzle and a quiver section. The quiver nozzle can be inserted into the quiver section and, in particular, protrude from the quiver section on the end facing the suction cleaning attachment. The quiver nozzle and the quiver section can be connected to each other in a form-fit and/or friction-fit manner, in particular can be inserted into each other. The quiver section can preferably be designed as a cylindrical hollow body, which is particularly preferably open at the end faces. The quiver nozzle can in particular have the coding device and/or the mating contacts. The quiver nozzle is used in particular for the electrical contacting of the lighting device. The fact that the quiver nozzle and the quiver section can be optionally detached from each other means that the quiver section can be equipped without electrical functionality, which can simplify the manufacture of the quiver.
The mating contacts can be supplied with electrical energy via cable guides. If required, these cable guides can be routed through the interior of the quiver section and thus protected from external influences or damage.
The quiver section can be designed to accommodate the suction cleaning attachment at least in certain areas.
In a further preferred embodiment, the quiver can also have a base section at its end opposite the open end, which is designed to hold the suction cleaning attachment. The base section can particularly preferably be detachably connected to the quiver section. Preferably, the quiver section can be plugged onto the base section at least in certain areas and thus be connected in particular to the base section in a form-fit and/or friction-fit manner. In particular, the base section can form a closed end face of the quiver. In particular, the base section protrudes above and/or from the open end face of the quiver section facing the base section or is arranged in alignment with the latter. Accordingly, the base section in particular can have a first tapered area for arranging and attaching the quiver section and a second area projecting from the first area.
In the base section, in particular in the second area of the base section, charging electronics can be provided to supply power to the mating contacts. In particular, the cable guides connected to the mating contacts are also connected to the charging electronics. In particular, the charging electronics can have a power connection located outside the quiver to supply the charging electronics. In particular, the charging electronics can be supplied with an electrical voltage of 230 V+/−20% and/or 110 V+/−20%. The voltage supply of the charging electronics can depend in particular on the respective power grid. The charging electronics can also be designed to supply the mating contacts and/or the rechargeable battery of the lighting unit with the required electrical voltage. For this purpose, the charging electronics can in particular have a voltage converter that converts the excessively high voltage with which the charging electronics are supplied to lower voltage values for supplying the rechargeable battery. This lower voltage can then be transmitted to the accumulator, in particular through the interaction between the contacts and the mating contacts.
In particular, the charging electronics are firmly, preferably by a material bind, connected to the base section. Accordingly, the charging electronics can be arranged in the base section so that it cannot be lost.
Particularly preferably, the base section has a compensating means for adapting and/or arranging it on different surfaces on its end face facing away from the quiver section. The end facing away from the quiver section can be open or closed. The compensating means allows the quiver to be arranged on different surfaces, in particular to compensate for unevenness on a straight surface. The compensation means can be designed in particular to protect the charging electronics from external influences such as moisture, dirt, etc.
The compensating means preferably has a groove in the edge side of the base section on the end facing away from the quiver section and a seal that can be inserted and/or is inserted into the groove, in particular a ring seal, preferably made of silicone, natural rubber and/or synthetic rubber. The seal can position the base section on a straight surface with uneven areas and, in particular, compensate for these unevennesses as required.
In addition, the base section can have fastening receptacles, in particular screw receptacles, for fastening it to a surface, in particular with a force fit. By firmly fastening the base section to a surface, the entire fastening of the quiver to this surface can be ensured. This is because the quiver section can be connected to the base section and the quiver nozzle can be connected to the quiver section. Accordingly, the base section can support the entire quiver on a surface to which the base section is connected.
Particularly preferably, the quiver, in particular the base section, has a display means, in particular a light source, preferably an LED. The display means can indicate the inserted state of the suction cleaning attachment in the quiver and/or an ongoing charging of the accumulator of the lighting device and/or the power supply of the charging electronics. The aforementioned states can be indicated in particular by a color, for example green and red. Particularly preferably, the display means provides the user with information as to whether the accumulator of the lighting device is currently being charged. When the charging process of the accumulator of the lighting device is complete, this can be indicated to a user in a particularly preferred manner, for example by a color change of a light of the display means. The user therefore preferably receives information about the charging status of the accumulator and can therefore use the suction cleaning attachment optimally.
Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the quiver and/or the suction cleaning attachment, preferably the circuit board, has a circuit for deactivating the illuminant when the suction cleaning attachment is not in use.
In addition, a control device can preferably be provided which has charging electronics to ensure deep discharge and/or overcharging protection. Overcharging of the battery can also be prevented by the charging electronics.
The stationary cleaning device has a central vacuum cleaner system and/or a central operating unit in which all the technical components required to operate the cleaning device, for example the blower device or control and/or regulating devices and/or related electronic components, are housed.
To supply the suction cleaning attachment with suction air, a hose connected to the central vacuum cleaner system and/or the blower device is provided, preferably with the suction cleaning attachment being connected to the hose at an end facing away from the suction opening and/or with the handle piece. Preferably, a positive and/or non-positive connection is provided.
The blower device is designed in particular in such a way that a negative pressure of between 0.3 and 0.8 bar, preferably between 0.4 and 0.6 bar, prevails in the suction channel during suction operation. The aforementioned negative pressure can ensure effective suction of the dirt particles.
Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the central vacuum cleaner system has a control device that supplies the charging current to the quiver for charging the accumulator.
Alternatively or additionally, the control device is designed to deactivate the illuminant in the non-use state and/or in the charging state and/or in the inserted state in the quiver. The control device for deactivating the illuminant when not in use and/or when charged can be part of the quiver or the suction cleaning attachment, in particular the lighting device, especially preferably the circuit board.
Preferably, a plurality of suction cleaning attachments, preferably at least two suction cleaning attachments, can be connected to the central vacuum cleaner system and/or to the blower device. It is understood that ultimately the energy supplied to the blower device can also be reduced as soon as at least one suction cleaning attachment is arranged in a quiver. According to the invention, continuous suction operation can be provided, so that a pressure-tight seal between an edge of the quiver and a stop on the suction cleaning attachment, which is preferably arranged on the handle, is advantageous in terms of energy and/or operating costs.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the quiver and/or the quiver section is hollow-cylindrical and in particular closed at the end, preferably with the coding device being arranged at the open end of the quiver.
In particular, it is provided that the quiver has an edge for interacting with the stop of the suction cleaning attachment in the non-use state, particularly preferably so that a pressure-tight seal is created between the suction cleaning attachment and the quiver. The edge with the stop interacting with it ensures a secure axial fixation of the suction cleaning attachment relative to the quiver when not in use and/or loaded. This ensures secure alignment between the contacts and the mating contacts and makes handling easier.
Moreover, it is understood that the above-mentioned intervals and range limits include any intermediate intervals and individual values and are to be regarded as being disclosed according to the invention, even if these intermediate intervals and individual values are not specifically indicated.
Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and from examples of embodiments with reference to the drawing and the drawing itself. All the features described and/or illustrated form the object of the present invention, either individually or in any combination, irrespective of their summary in the claims or their relationship to one another.
A holder for the suction cleaning attachment 1 in the quiver 3 is shown in
The suction cleaning attachment 1 has an internal suction channel 4—as can also be seen in
Advantageously, a tapering of the suction channel 4 in the housing connection piece 8 in the direction of the end suction opening 9 is provided, wherein the suction channel 4 along the handle piece 6 has an essentially hollow-cylindrical shape and at the transition from the handle piece 6 to the housing connection piece 8 changes into an at least essentially slit-like shape, which preferably tapers continuously in the direction of the suction opening 9, as can also be seen from
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, the lighting device 10 has two illuminants 11. However, it is also possible that only a single illuminant 11, for example in the form of a light strip, is provided. More than two illuminants 11 or any number of illuminants 11 can also be provided. The illuminant 11 is preferably designed as an LED.
The illuminant 11 is at least partially directed towards the suction opening 9. This allows the light beam and/or light cone emitted by the illuminant 11 to illuminate the area to be cleaned or to illuminate the surrounding area of the suction opening 9.
To avoid soiling of the illuminant 11 and/or the LED, to maintain the luminosity of the LED and/or to minimize the mechanical load, a protective device not shown in detail, in particular an at least partially transparent cover can be connected to the illuminant 11. The illuminant cover and/or the protective device can be replaced at regular intervals. The protective device can also be detachably connected to the housing 5, in particular latched.
Preferably, the illuminants 11 can illuminate the surfaces to be vacuumed and/or cleaned in the vehicle interior in a targeted and purposeful manner. Advantageously, the illuminants 11 shine beyond the suction opening 9 and are attached to the housing connection piece 8. As a result, comparatively poorly illuminated areas, for example between the vehicle seats, in the vehicle interior can be illuminated by means of the illuminants 11.
The lighting device 10 and/or the illuminants 11 are arranged on the outside of the housing 5 and/or the housing connection piece 8. This provides peripheral illumination of the housing connection piece 8 and/or the peripheral area of the suction opening 9.
As can also be seen from
The mouthpiece 40 can have a wear indicator and/or marking, not shown in detail, to indicate when the worn mouthpiece 40 should be replaced due to progressive wear. Without the mouthpiece 40, the wear of the suction cleaning attachment, in particular the housing connection piece 8, would mean that it would have to be disposed of completely, which would be the case after a relatively short time of several weeks, for example six weeks, depending on the intensity of use. This would affect the replacement and/or reconnection of the lighting devices 10 connected to the housing connection piece 8, which would be correspondingly time-consuming and cost-intensive if the complete housing connection piece 8 had to be replaced.
The accumulator 12 is preferably a lithium-ion accumulator and/or a lithium accumulator and/or has a flat design. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, the accumulator 12 is designed in the form of a flattened cuboid and/or rectangular.
The lighting device 10 is arranged on the outside of the housing connection piece 8 and has at least one lighting unit 13 that can be at least partially detached from the housing 5 and/or the housing connection piece 8.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, the lighting unit 13 comprises the accumulator 12, the illuminants 11 and a circuit board 14 electrically connected to the accumulator 12 and the illuminant 11. The circuit board 14 is designed as a printed circuit board and/or signal technology carrier for the accumulator 12 and the illuminants 11. In particular, the circuit board 14 is used for the electrical control of the illuminants 11, wherein the relevant electrical supply is ensured via the accumulator 12. At the same time, the circuit board 14 also serves to mechanically fasten the accumulator 12 and the illuminants 11 to the housing connection piece 8, in particular in a detachable manner.
In the preferred embodiment example shown, the illuminants 11 are arranged adjacent to the accumulator 12 on the circuit board 14.
The circuit board 14 is detachably connected to the housing connection piece 8, for example by screwing.
The lighting device 10 and/or the lighting unit 13 has a cover 15 that can be detachably connected to the housing connection piece 8 to cover the accumulator 12, the illuminant 11 and the circuit board 14.
As can be seen in
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment example shown, the contacts 17 are designed as spring-loaded balls that protrude at least partially over the top of the lighting device 10 and/or the cover 15, as illustrated in
The contacts 17 are arranged on a side of the circuit board 14 facing away from the illuminants 11, preferably with the accumulator 12 arranged between the illuminants 11 and the contacts 17 on the circuit board 14, see
As can be seen from
As also shown in
However, it should be noted that the recesses 21 are only one possible variant and should not be seen as mandatory for implementing a smooth and/or low-wear connection between the contacts 17 and the mating contacts 18.
When the suction cleaning attachment 1 is inserted into the quiver 3, the mating contacts 18 enter the recesses 21 from the front of the cover 15, preferably without contact and/or friction. In the fully inserted state and/or in the non-use state and/or charging state, contact is then made between the mating contacts 18 and the contacts 17 after the mating contacts 18 have passed and/or passed completely through the recesses 21 in the direction of the contacts 17 in particular.
When the suction cleaning attachment 1 is pulled out of the quiver 3, the mating contacts 18 can then, starting from the contacts 17 and/or after the electrical connection to the contacts 17 has been broken, pass over the cover 15 along the recesses 21 without contact and/or friction. This effectively prevents wear of the mating contacts 18 and/or the cover 15 as a result of rubbing against each other when inserting and/or removing the suction cleaning attachment 1 into and/or from the quiver 3.
As can be seen from
For detachable attachment of the cover 15 to the housing connection piece 8, a hook section 23 is provided on the underside of the front of the cover 15, which interacts with a complementary hook section provided on the housing connection piece 8, which is not shown in detail.
Accordingly, the cover 15 is hooked to the housing connection piece 8 on its front side. However, it is understood that corresponding connecting sections, for example hook sections, can also be provided on at least one longitudinal side and/or on the rear side of the cover 15 in order to enable the cover 15 to be connected to the housing connection piece 8. Other snap-on and/or clamp connections familiar to the skilled person can also be used to connect the cover 15 to the housing connection piece 8. Ultimately, the cover 15 can be connected to the housing connection piece 8 in a wide variety of ways.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, a fastening opening 24 is provided on the side and/or back side of the cover 15 opposite the front side, through which a fastening means 25, for example a screw, reaches through and is attached, in particular screwed, to the housing connection piece 8 in the fastened state.
In the embodiment of the suction cleaning attachment 1 according to the invention shown in
As an independent construction unit and/or lighting unit 13, the lighting unit 13 according to
The base body 26 of the lighting unit 13 can be detachably connected to the housing connection piece 8, in the example shown by a correspondingly indicated plug-in and/or snap-in connection 27, wherein the lighting unit 13 can be pushed linearly onto the housing connection piece 8 and then latched onto the housing connection piece 8 by means of the plug-in and/or snap-in connection 7 for detachable fixing to the housing connection piece 8.
However, it is understood that the solution using the hook sections, as previously explained with regard to the first embodiment, can also be realized in the separately formed lighting unit 13.
As can be seen from the schematic side view shown in
It can also be seen that the distance between the illuminant 11 and/or the lighting device 10 and/or the lighting unit 13 and the suction opening 9 corresponds to at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, of the distance between the suction opening 9 and the handle piece 6 and/or the handle region 7. As a result, a large part of the housing connection piece 8, starting from the suction opening 9, is free of the lighting device 10 and/or the lighting unit 13 and is therefore not increased in its external dimensions. As a result, there is no impairment with regard to cleaning areas that are difficult to access, preferably in the area of driver's seats, so that there are no losses in handling compared to conventional housing connection pieces 8 and/or suction cleaning attachments that are not equipped with a lighting device 10.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, it is also provided that the housing connection piece 8 has two opposing flat sides 28, 29 starting from the suction opening 9, preferably with the flat sides 28, 29 merging into a circular cross-section of the suction channel 4 at the transition area to the handle piece 6.
The flat sides 28, 29 are preferably designed to taper continuously towards the suction opening 9.
The lighting devices 10 are arranged on opposite flat sides 28, 29. This enables a robust connection and almost circumferential illumination of the suction opening 9.
Accordingly, in the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, two preferably identically designed lighting devices 10 and/or lighting units 13 are provided, which are arranged opposite one another on the flat sides 28, 29 of the housing connection piece 8.
In particular, the hose 31 is connected to the connection end of the suction cleaning attachment 1 and/or the handle piece 6 facing away from the suction opening 9.
The blower device 30 is preferably stationary or fixed or immovably connected to a surface for a large part of the time it is in use. Accordingly, the stationary cleaning device 2 is to be understood as distinct from mobile cleaning or suction devices, such as those used in the household sector as mobile portable or movable mobile cleaning devices.
The quiver 3 has mating contacts 18 for interacting with the contacts 17 of the lighting device 13. The mating contacts 18 are preferably designed as sliding contacts.
However, it is understood that, according to an embodiment not shown in detail, a reversed design of the contacts 17 and the mating contacts 18 can also be implemented, wherein the mating contacts 18 are designed as pressure points or pressure contacts and/or as spring-loaded contact balls and the contacts 17 are designed as sliding contacts.
When the vacuum cleaner attachment 1 is inserted into the quiver 3, electrical contact is made between the contacts 17 and the mating contacts 18 in such a way that the accumulator 12 is charged when the vacuum cleaner attachment 1 is not in use or when it is charged. Accordingly, the quiver 3 is connected to a power source not shown in detail, which can preferably be part of the stationary control device 2 or the central vacuum cleaner system or operating unit.
The quiver 3 has a preferably cylindrical quiver housing 32, whereby the quiver housing 32 has an open end and a closed end, as illustrated in
In addition, the quiver 3 has a coding device 33, particularly at the open end of the quiver housing 32, which is designed to ensure that the suction cleaning attachment 1 can only be inserted into the quiver 3 in such a way that the contacts 17 make electrical contact with the mating contacts 18.
The coding device 33 has a coding opening 34 and/or coding geometry, which ensures that the housing connection piece 8, with the suction opening 9 in front, can only be fully inserted into the quiver 3 in such a way that the contacts 17 are in a correct orientation and/or alignment with the mating contacts 18 when inserted.
As can be seen from
The mating contacts 18 are recessed in the coding surfaces 35 and exposed via corresponding openings on the coding surfaces 35, preferably by at least 2 mm. In the inserted state of the suction cleaning attachment 2, the contacts 17 then snap into the associated coding surfaces 35 in the area of the mating contacts and thus contact the countersunk mating contacts 18. In the snapped-in state, the spherical contacts 17 are held in the openings on the coding surfaces 35.
In the inserted state of the suction cleaning attachment 2 in the quiver 3 and/or in the loaded state, the covers 15 of the lighting devices 10 are positioned opposite the coding surfaces 35, as can be seen in
In the preferred embodiment shown, the suction cleaning attachment 1 has a stop 38 designed as a step, which preferably protrudes beyond the handle region 7 and/or the lighting device 10 and is provided and/or designed to interact with an edge 39 of the quiver 3, preferably the coding device 33. The stop 38 is preferably provided at the transition area from the handle piece 6 to the housing connection piece 8 and/or adjacent to the lighting device 10.
Preferably, the coding device 33 is insertable into the open end of the quiver housing 32. In addition to the coding surfaces 35, the coding opening 34 is delimited by circular sections which are adjacent to the coding surfaces 35 and, preferably, are complementary to the outer circumference of the housing connection piece 8 adjacent to the lighting devices 10. In this respect, the coding opening 34 is at least substantially complementary to and/or fits exactly to the circumferential shape of the housing connection piece 8 in the area of the lighting devices 10 connected thereto.
At the open end of the quiver housing 32, the coding device 33 can have a funnel-shaped insertion section, at least in sections.
The coding device 33 can have at least one funnel-shaped insertion section and/or guide section both at the open end of the quiver housing 32 and opposite it. This enables a defined insertion and/or extraction movement of the suction cleaning attachment 1 into and/or out of the quiver 3 and also prevents the mouthpiece 40 from being pulled off the housing connection piece 8.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment example, the cable guides 36, starting from the coding device 33, are guided inside the quiver housing 32 and pass through the closed end of the quiver housing 32 to a power source not shown in detail. However, it is understood that other constructive solutions for cable routing inside the quiver housing 32, for example by means of ring channels or the like, can also be implemented. External cable routing outside the quiver 3 and/or quiver housing 32 for supplying power to the mating contacts 18 is also possible.
In the stationary cleaning device 2 shown in
The quiver nozzle 41 can have the coding device 33 and the mating contacts 18. The mating contacts 18 can be electrically supplied with power via cable guides 36. The quiver nozzle 41 can have openings for passing through the cable guides 36, as shown schematically in
The quiver section 42 can in particular be placed on the base section 43 and/or connected to the base section 43 with a positive fit and/or friction fit.
The cable guides 36 can extend through the quiver section 42 and be connected to the base section 43.
Furthermore,
Furthermore, the base section 43 can have a first, tapered area 44 and a second area 45 projecting from the first area 44, as shown schematically in
For fastening to a surface, fastening receptacles 48, in particular screw receptacles, can be arranged in the second area 45, as shown in
It is not shown in more detail that the compensating means 47 can be formed by a groove provided in the base section 43, in particular in the circumferential edge of the end face facing away from the quiver section 42, and by a seal inserted into the groove.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 003 275.1 | Aug 2023 | DE | national |
