Patent Application
20230132128
The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners for vacuuming dust and small particle size waste from a surface to be cleaned, which may for example be tile, parquet, laminate, carpet or rug.
A vacuum cleaner, and more particularly a hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprises in a known manner a suction duct; a waste separation device fluidly connected to the suction duct; a main body in which is housed a suction device comprising a motor fan which is configured to generate an air flow through the suction duct and the waste separation device; a gripping handle; a control member that is disposed on the gripping handle and that is operable by a user, the control member being configured to control operation of the motor fan in a normal operating mode when the control member is operated by a user; and an activation member that is operable by a user and that is configured to control operation of the motor fan in an enhanced operating mode when the activation member is operated by a user.
In particular, the vacuum cleaner is configured such that a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the enhanced operating mode is higher than a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the normal operating mode. Thus, when a user wants to temporarily give the vacuum cleaner an increased suction power, he or she activates the activation member. Such an increased suction power can be particularly useful for vacuuming large waste or waste that adheres to the surface to be cleaned.
In a known way, the activation member is arranged at the rear of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. Such an arrangement of the activation member requires the use of the user’s second hand to operate the activation member, which may be uncomfortable for some users, especially those who use that second hand to support the front portion of the main body.
The present invention is intended to remedy all or part of these disadvantages.
The technical problem at the basis of the invention is, in particular, to provide a vacuum cleaner that is simple and economical in structure, while at the same time being more ergonomic to use.
To this end, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a suction duct; a waste separation device fluidly connected to the suction duct; a main body in which is housed a suction device comprising a motor fan which is configured to generate an air flow through the suction duct and the waste separation device; a gripping handle; a control member which is disposed on the gripping handle and which is operable by a user, the control member being configured to control an operation of the motor fan according to a first operating mode, also referred to as a normal operating mode, when the control member is operated by a user; and an activation member which is operable by a user and which is configured to control operation of the motor fan according to a second operating mode, also referred to as an enhanced operating mode, when the activation member is operated by a user, the vacuum cleaner being configured such that a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the second operating mode is greater than a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the first operating mode, the activation member being disposed opposite the control member.
Such an arrangement of the activation member allows a user to activate the second operating mode of the motor fan with a single finger, and moreover, to make the activation member more intuitively accessible by the user, since they will not need to look at the vacuum cleaner and/or their hand to reach and operate the activation member. Thus, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention allows a user to easily and quickly, and thus ergonomically and intuitively, activate the second operating mode of the motor fan.
The vacuum cleaner may further have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is configured such that the maximum power level delivered to the motor fan in the first operating mode is less than the maximum power level delivered to the motor fan in the second operating mode.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member is movable between a resting position and a control position and is configured to be moved into the control position when a first actuating force is applied by a user to the control member, and the activation member is movable between an inactive position and an activated position and is configured to be moved into the activated position when a second actuating force is applied by a user to the activation member.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second actuating forces are oriented in substantially the same direction. Such orientation of the first and second actuating forces provides an ergonomic advantage, since when the control member and the activation member are actuated by a single finger, the finger moves substantially in the same direction whether to operate the control member or the activation member.
Advantageously, the first and second actuating forces can deviate from each other by a maximum angle of 15° if the control member and the activation member are movable in straight paths. If the control member and the activation member can be moved in an arcuate manner, the directions of the tangents to the first and second actuating forces can deviate from each other by a maximum angle of 15° for the same angular position or, for example, when the control member and the activation member occupy the rest position and the inactive position, respectively.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a biasing element configured to bias the control member towards the resting position, and a biasing device configured to bias the activation member towards the inactive position.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member comprises a first gripping portion and the activation member comprises a second gripping portion which is located at a distance from the first gripping portion, the first and second gripping portions being movable independently of each other.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are spaced apart from each other by a distance which is less than 6 cm, and advantageously less than 4 cm, when the control member and the activation member occupy the rest position and the inactive position, respectively. Such a distance makes it possible to switch from the control member to the activation member and vice versa, without having to release the gripping handle and without having to stretch the finger to an uncomfortable position when moving from one control to another.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the biasing element is formed by an elastically deformable tab that is provided on the control member. The elastically deformable tab may, for example, be configured to bear against the main body. Advantageously, the elastically deformable tab extends from the first gripping portion.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the biasing device is formed by a biasing spring.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member and the activation member are configured so as to be able to be actuated by the same finger of a user when the user holds the gripping handle. Such a configuration of the control member and the activation member provides an ergonomic advantage, allowing the user to quickly switch between the two devices by having to search less for the position of the device to which the finger should go. Indeed, to activate, for example, the activation member, the finger, for example the index finger, will move from a reference position corresponding to the position of the control member to go to the activation member. This reference position does not vary, ensuring, for the user, repeatability of the gesture to operate the activation member. The same applies for the return of the finger to the control member. The fact that the activation member is in front of the control member also facilitates this repeatability, since the activation member is in the anatomical extension area of the finger (index finger) with the configuration of the control member and the gripping handle as described above.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member and the activation member are each configured to be actuated by a user by pulling. Such a configuration of the control member and the activation member provides an ergonomic advantage, since pull actuation is easier than push actuation.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the control member towards the gripping handle, and/or the activation member is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the activation member towards the gripping handle.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member and the activation member are located substantially in a reference plane that is defined by a longitudinal axis of the suction duct and a median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle. The control member and activation member are therefore located in the center of the vacuum cleaner, allowing the user to operate them with the same finger, both with the left and right hand. Such an arrangement of the activation member thus allows a user to activate the first and second operating modes of the motor fan, with a single finger, whether right-handed or left-handed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the reference plane forms a median longitudinal plane of the vacuum cleaner.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member is located in an upper part of the gripping handle. Such an arrangement of the control member provides an ergonomic advantage, since it allows for actuation of the control member and the activation member with the index finger.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are configured to be cut by the same plane that is perpendicular to the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle. Such a configuration of the first and second gripping portions allows a user, wishing to operate the activation member, to access the activation member easily and ergonomically, since the latter remains in the anatomical extension zone of the user’s finger (index finger), who is able to operate the control member. In addition, such a configuration of the first and second gripping portions, combined with a tilt of the gripping handle relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct, provides a very ergonomic arrangement of the gripping zones of the control member, the activation member, and the gripping handle, since the control and activation members are then naturally accessible. The result is increased user comfort.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member and the activation member are located close to and under the main body in which the motor fan is housed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a battery housing in which a rechargeable battery is housed, the gripping handle extending between the battery housing and the main body.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation member is substantially arranged at the intersection of the main body and a support that is connected to the main body and is substantially parallel to the gripping handle.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the support extends between the main body and the battery housing, and connects the main body to the battery housing. Advantageously, the support extends to the battery housing.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member and the activation member are mounted to be able to rotate respectively about a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second axes of rotation are substantially parallel.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the second axis of rotation of the activation member is placed in front of the first axis of rotation of the control member with respect to the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle. In other words, the first axis of rotation of the control member is arranged between the second axis of rotation of the activation member and the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle. Such an arrangement of the activation member and the control member makes it possible to limit the travel paths of the parts of the activation member and the control member located inside the vacuum cleaner housing, and to ensure increased compactness of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member is mounted to be movable in rotation around the first axis of rotation according to a first amplitude of rotation and the activation member is mounted to be movable in rotation around the second axis of rotation according to a second amplitude of rotation, an angular difference between the first and second amplitudes of rotation being less than or equal to 5°, and preferably less than or equal to 2°. Thus, the travel paths of the control member and activation member are substantially identical, which improves the user’s experience and thus provides an ergonomic advantage.
According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second amplitudes of rotation is between 2 and 6°, and is for example about 4°. Such a configuration of the control member and the activation member limits the internal size of the vacuum cleaner, and therefore the external size of the vacuum cleaner. Indeed, excessively large amplitudes of rotation generate large travel paths of internal devices, requiring more internal space to be provided, resulting in a larger main body.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation member comprises a gripping hole. Such a configuration of the activation member facilitates the actuation of the activation member by a user, and thus provides the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention with increased ergonomics of use.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the gripping hole is oblong. Such a configuration of the gripping hole further facilitates the manipulation of the activation member by a user, since the user does not have to search precisely for the position of the gripping hole to insert their finger into it.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member is a control trigger or a control button.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation member is an activation trigger or an activation button.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste separation device extends along a first axis of extension and the motor fan extends along a second axis of extension that is substantially parallel to the first axis of extension.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste separation device is of the cyclonic type.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises an electronic control unit which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan according to the first operating mode when the control member is actuated by a user and to control the operation of the motor fan according to the second operating mode when the activation member is actuated by a user.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit comprises an electronic card equipped with a first contact and a second contact, the control member being configured to activate the first contact when the control member is operated by a user, and the activation member being configured to activate the second contact when the activation member is operated by a user. The realization of the first and second contacts on the same electronic board reduces the manufacturing costs of the electronic control unit, and also simplifies the assembly of the electronic control unit. Such a configuration of the first and second contacts therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing costs of the vacuum cleaner.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second contacts are vertically offset from each other when the reference plane is vertical and the longitudinal axis of the suction duct is horizontal.
According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably each, of the first and second contacts is an electromechanical contact, such as a switch, and for example a microswitch. The microswitch can be, for example, of the “push-button” type or the “lever” type.
According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably each, of the first and second contacts comprises a plurality of conductor tracks, and for example, two conductor tracks. According to such an embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably each, of the control member and the activation member comprises an additional contact comprising a pad made of conductive material or at least one additional conductive track which is configured to cooperate with the conductive tracks provided on the respective contact.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic board is arranged in the gripping handle.
According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the control member and the activation member comprises a return arm configured to cooperate with a respective contact between the first and second contacts.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation member comprises the return arm, the return arm comprising a bearing part that is configured to cooperate with the second contact and a perforated intermediate part, the perforated intermediate part defining a passage opening through which the control member is configured to extend at least partially when the control member is actuated by a user. Advantageously, the perforated intermediate part connects the bearing part to the second gripping portion.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the perforated intermediate part comprises two lateral branches spaced apart from each other and between which the control member is at least partially arranged.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first axis of rotation of the control member is arranged between the two lateral branches of the perforated intermediate part.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the return arm of the activation member comprises a receiving housing in which the biasing spring is at least partially housed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the control member comprises an additional return arm that is configured to cooperate with the first contact.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to control operation of the motor fan according to the second operating mode only as long as the activation member is operated by a user.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the electronic control unit is configured to control operation of the motor fan according to the first operating mode as long as the control member is not operated again by a user. Thus, the electronic control unit is configured to maintain motor fan operation according to the first operating mode when the control member is released by the user.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the return arm includes an elastically deformable portion that is configured to limit the forces applied by the return arm against the second contact when the activation member is actuated by a user. For example, the elastically deformable portion may be formed by a zone of thinner thickness.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the additional return arm comprises an elastically deformable portion that is configured to limit the forces applied by the additional return arm against the first contact when the control member is operated by a user. For example, the elastically deformable portion may be formed by a curved zone.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a first stop, for example provided on the gripping handle, configured to limit the travel path of the control member to the control position, and a second stop, for example provided on the support connected to the main body, configured to limit the travel path of the activation member to the activated position.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction device comprises a motor casing in which the motor fan is placed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is a handheld vacuum cleaner.
The invention will be understood better with the help of the description below with reference to the attached schematic drawings showing, by way of nonlimiting example, one embodiment of this vacuum cleaner.
The waste separation device 5 is advantageously of the cyclonic type, and comprises, in particular, a waste storage container 7, and a separator filter (not visible in the figures) housed in the waste storage container 7. Specifically, the waste storage container 7 has an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening.
As shown in
The suction device 6 further comprises an air inlet port 14 and one or more air discharge ports 15 that are advantageously provided on the motor casing 12. The air inlet port 14 of the suction device 6 can be connected to the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5 directly or via a connecting pipe.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the waste separation device 5 extends along a first extension axis A, and the motor fan 13 extends along a second extension axis B which is substantially parallel to the first extension axis A, and which may be coincident with the first extension axis A.
The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a rechargeable battery 16 configured to electrically power the motor fan 13. The rechargeable battery 16 is advantageously housed in a battery housing 17 connected to the gripping handle 4, and more specifically to a lower part of the gripping handle 4. Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a support 18 that extends substantially parallel to the gripping handle 4 and that connects the battery housing 17 to the main body 3.
The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a suction duct 19 to which the air intake opening of the waste separation device 5 is fluidly connected. Advantageously, the suction duct 19 extends substantially parallel to the first and second extension axes A, B. The motor fan 13 is more particularly configured to generate an air flow through the suction duct 19 and the waste separation device 5.
The vacuum cleaner 2 also comprises a band coupler 21 fluidly connected to the suction duct 19 and to which a suction tube nozzle can be connected, which can itself be connected to a suction head provided with a sole intended to be oriented towards a floor to be cleaned.
The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises an electronic control unit 22 which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to a first operating mode, also known as normal operating mode, wherein the motor fan 13 is driven in rotation at a first rotation speed, and to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to a second operating mode, also known as enhanced operating mode, wherein the motor fan 13 is driven in rotation at a second rotation speed that is greater than the first rotation speed. Thus, according to the second operating mode, the negative pressure generated in the suction duct 19 is greater than the negative pressure generated in the latter when the motor fan 13 operates according to the first operating mode.
In order to be able to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the two aforementioned operating modes, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a control member 23 which is arranged advantageously on an upper part of the gripping handle 4 and which can be operated by a user, and an activation member 24 which is arranged opposite the control member 23 and which can also be operated by a user. The control member 23 may be, for example, a control trigger or a control button, and the activation member 24 may be, for example, an activation trigger or an activation button.
The control member 23 is movable between a resting position and a control position and is configured to be moved into the control position when a first actuating force is applied by a user to the control member 23, and the activation member 24 is movable between an inactive position and an activated position and is configured to be moved into the activated position when a second actuating force is applied by a user to the activation member 24.
The electronic control unit 22 is more specifically configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the first operating mode when the control member 23 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the control position, and to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the second operating mode when the activation member 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the activated position.
According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the control member 23 and the activation member 24 are configured so as to be able to be actuated by the same finger of a user when the user holds the gripping handle 4. Advantageously, the control member 23 is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the control member 23 towards the gripping handle 4, and the activation member 24 is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the activation member 24 towards the gripping handle 4. Thus, the first and second actuating forces to be applied, respectively, to the control member 23 and the activation member 24 to actuate them are oriented substantially in the same direction.
According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the control member 23 and the activation member 24 are located substantially in a reference plane that is defined by a longitudinal axis C of the suction duct 19 and a median longitudinal axis D of the gripping handle 4, and which forms, for example, a median longitudinal plane of the vacuum cleaner 2. Advantageously, the control member 23 and the activation member 24 are located close to and under the main body 3 in which the motor fan 13 is housed.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the activation member 24 is arranged substantially at the intersection of the main body 3 and the support 18 that connects the battery housing 17 to the main body 3.
As shown in
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the electronic control unit 22 comprises an electronic board 25 which is arranged in the gripping handle 4 and which is equipped with a first contact 26 and a second contact 27. For example, first and second contacts 26, 27 are vertically offset one above the other when the reference plane is vertical and the longitudinal axis C of the suction duct 19 is horizontal. The control member 23 is configured to activate the first contact 26 when the control member 23 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the control position, and the activation member 24 is configured to activate the second contact 27 when the activation member 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the activated position. Each of the first and second contacts 26, 27 may be an electromechanical contact, such as a switch, and for example a microswitch.
The electronic control unit 22 is configured to transmit to the motor fan 13 a control signal, which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the first operating mode, when the first contact 26 is activated, and to transmit to the motor fan 13 an activation signal, which is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 according to the second operating mode, when the second contact 27 is activated. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 according to the second operating mode only as long as the activation member 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. only as long as the second contact 27 is kept activated by the activation member 24, and is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 according to the first operating mode until the control member 23 is actuated again by a user, i.e. until the first contact 26 is activated again by the activation member 24. Thus, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to maintain motor fan 13 operation according to the first operating mode when the control member 23 is released by the user.
As shown in
Advantageously, and as for example shown in
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the activation member 24 also comprises a return arm 32 that is integral with the second gripping portion 29 and that is configured to cooperate with the second contact 27 when the activation member 24 is actuated by a user. Advantageously, the return arm 32 comprises a bearing part 33 that is elongated and that is configured to cooperate with the second contact 27, and a perforated intermediate part 34 that connects the bearing part 33 to the second gripping portion 29.
The bearing part 33 of the return arm 32 may advantageously comprise an elastically deformable portion 35 that is configured to limit the forces applied by the return arm 32 against the second contact 27 when the activation member 24 is actuated by a user. For example, the elastically deformable portion 35 may be formed by a zone of thinner thickness.
The perforated intermediate part 34 advantageously delimits an opening passage 36 through which the control member 23 is configured to extend at least when the control member 23 is actuated by a user. For example, the perforated intermediate part 34 may comprise two lateral branches 37 spaced apart from each other and between which the first axis of rotation R1 of the control member 23 is arranged.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the control member 23 further comprises an additional return arm 38 which is integral with the first gripping portion 28 and which is configured to cooperate with the first contact 26.
Advantageously, the additional return arm 38 includes an elastically deformable portion 39 that is configured to limit the forces applied by the additional return arm 38 against the first contact 26 when the actuator 23 is operated by a user. The elastically deformable portion 39 may for example be formed by a curved area.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the vacuum cleaner 2 has a first stop 41, for example provided on the gripping handle 4, configured to limit the travel path of the control member 23 to the control position, and a second stop 42, for example provided on the support 18 connected to the main body 3, configured to limit the travel path of the activation member 24 to the activated position. The presence of the first and second stops 41, 42, the elastically deformable portion 35 and the elastically deformable portion 39 allows the integrity of the electronic board 25 to be maintained, even when a user exerts high actuation forces on the first and second gripping portions 28, 29.
Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a biasing member 43 configured to bias the control member 23 to the rest position, and a biasing member 44 configured to bias the activation member 24 to the inactive position.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the biasing element 43 is formed by an elastically deformable tab which is provided on the control member 23 and is configured to be elastically deformed when the control member 23 is moved to the control position. The elastically deformable tab may, for example, extend from the first gripping portion 28 and be configured to bear against the main body 3 or the motor casing 12.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the biasing member 44 is formed by a compression spring, and the return arm 32 of the activation member 24 has a receiving recess 45 in which the compression spring is partially received. The biasing member 44 may, for example, be configured to be supported, on the one hand, against a bottom wall of the receiving housing 45, and on the other hand, against the main body 3 or the motor casing 12.
The operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 will now be described. When the motor fan 13 is electrically powered, it creates a negative pressure in particular in the waste separation device 5 so that air and waste are sucked in through the suction duct 19. The waste-laden air then enters the waste storage container 7 via the air inlet opening of the waste separation device 5, which may, for example, open tangentially into the waste storage container 7. The air is thus rotated and the waste is centrifuged to the outside and collected by the waste storage container 7.
The air stream then flows successively through the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5, the air inlet hole 14 of the suction device 6 and the air discharge hole(s) 15 of the suction device 6. Then, the air flow escapes from the main body 3 through air discharge openings 46 provided thereon.
According to one embodiment not shown in the figures, at least one, and for example each, of the first and second contacts 26, 27 comprises several conductor tracks, for example two conductor tracks, which can be obtained by screen printing or by printing. According to such an embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably each, of the control member 23 and the activation member 24 comprises an additional contact comprising at least one conductive element, such as a pad made of conductive material or an additional conductive track which is configured to cooperate with the conductive tracks provided on the respective contact.
Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, since this embodiment was only provided by way of example. Modifications can still be made, specifically regarding the constitution of the various elements or by substituting equivalent techniques, without departing from the field of protection of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2001446 | Feb 2020 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/053205 | 2/10/2021 | WO |
