Patent Application
20130283561
The invention disclosed herein generally relates to a vacuum cleaner and more precisely to a vacuum cleaner of the upright type having an auxiliary, handheld nozzle for above-floor cleaning.
Vacuum cleaners of the upright type, which are also known as stick vacuum cleaners, generally comprise a main body and a floor nozzle. The floor nozzle acts as both a suction nozzle and a (partial) support for the main body against a horizontal surface to be cleaned, such as a floor. In order to support the weight of the main body, the floor nozzle may be rigidly or rotatably connected to the main body, such as by a rigid tube, or may be adjustable to a plurality of predetermined positions to enable use by persons of different body lengths. The floor nozzle may be arranged in such position that the vacuum cleaner is mechanically stable in its operating position. Alternatively, the cleaner is mechanically unstable and needs partial support by the user via a handle or the like; this usually provides a greater operational agility and in some cases makes floor wheels unnecessary.
An upright vacuum cleaner is generally less convenient than a canister vacuum cleaner in the task of cleaning non-horizontal surfaces or areas located at some height above the floor level. To remedy this, upright vacuum cleaners have been endowed with an auxiliary nozzle to facilitate above-floor cleaning. As a first example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,106 discloses an upright vacuum cleaner with an auxiliary, handheld wand connected to the fan unit via a suction hose which is retractable into the wand. Further, US 2008/282495 describes an vacuum cleaner with a similar constitution, wherein the auxiliary wand is telescopically contained inside the suction hose when not in use. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,322 discloses an upright vacuum cleaner having a flexible, auxiliary suction assembly, consisting of a hose encapsulated in a bendable, fixed-length hose fitting, at the distal end of which is formed an auxiliary suction nozzle. The auxiliary suction assembly is mechanically connected to the main body of the vacuum cleaner at a point near the floor. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, a negative suction pressure is applied to the auxiliary suction assembly also when it is used for floor cleaning. This way, the auxiliary suction assembly is retained onto the main body at its upper endpoint by the suction force exerted by the suction nozzle against a mating surface, at its lower endpoint by the mechanical connection, and along the intermediate portion by magnetic strips attracted to a shallow metal groove with open ends.
However, the problem of storing an auxiliary suction hose in a secure and non-bulky fashion seems to lack a satisfactory solution in the field of upright vacuum cleaners. Likewise, additional improvements appear to be possible as far as accessibility and energy efficiency (minimising flow resistance) are concerned.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or at least mitigate the shortcomings outlined in the previous section. The object is achieved by an upright vacuum cleaner having the features set forth in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.
Thus, according to an aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner has a suction chamber, in which a dust filter, cyclone or other dust separator may be arranged, and to which dust-laden air can be sucked from two different ducts under the action of a fan unit. A valve arrangement provided between the two ducts and the suction chamber is operable to establish full, partial or no communication between each of the ducts and the suction chamber. The first suction duct connects the suction chamber to a floor nozzle arrangement, which is used in floor cleaning, whereas the second duct connects to an extensible and/or contractible suction hose, at the distal end of which is provided an auxiliary, preferably handheld nozzle. When not in use, the suction hose—or a substantial portion thereof—can be stowed in an elongated recess provided in a handle means projecting from the main body. The recess may be straight or may have curved portions or bends. The length of the hose when fully extended is preferably about three times its length when fully retracted. Preferably, the length of the recess is such that the greater part of the suction hose can be contained in the recess when the hose is in a non-extended condition (or, if the hose is negatively biased, a collapsed condition). The handle means and the main body may form an integral part—the handle means being then merely an upper extremity of the main body—or may be a separate part connected to the main body. During floor cleaning, the handle means serves to displace the vacuum cleaner to and fro; when the vacuum cleaner is used in its above-floor mode—the suction hose may then exert fairly unpredictable forces on its upper portion—a user may enhance its stability it by seizing the handle means by his or her free hand. The vacuum cleaner achieves its object because the suction hose is reliably kept in place in the recess during floor cleaning and is easily accessible.
In one embodiment, the suction hose is biased in order to contract maximally when no tensile force acts on it; the hose may be manufactured from an elastomeric material with an internal helical coil or the like, or may be manufactured from a single or composite material with the desired elastic properties. By virtue of the contracting tendency, the suction hose can be readily stowed away into the recess after a period of use. Further, the elastic extensibility of the hose provides for easy access and stowage at transitions between floor and above-floor cleaning. It also ensures that the momentary length of the hose is adapted to the actual cleaning situation, which minimises the airflow resistance in the hose as a whole.
As an alternative hereto, the suction hose may be negatively biased, tending to relax to a length greater than its fully collapsed length in the absence of an external longitudinal force. To facilitate stowing, the hose may then be collapsed under action of the negative pressure provided by the fan unit if the user covers the suction aperture. After this step, the hose is preferably maintained in its collapsed condition by mechanical or magnetic retention means or the like.
In an advantageous embodiment, the handle means comprises retention means adapted to retain the auxiliary nozzle in a resting position when not in use. Preferably, the retention means are easily releasable. The retention means may be flexible clips engaging around the auxiliary nozzle. Alternatively, the retention means comprises a sleeve fastened onto the handle means or a recess therein, into which a portion of the free (distal) end of the auxiliary nozzle can be inserted for storage. Further alternatively, a boss or pin mounted on the handle means substantially collinearly with the recess and having a diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the auxiliary nozzle, can serve as a suspension point for the free end of the nozzle. Whatever kind of retention means is chosen, it is preferably located so that it retains the auxiliary nozzle in a position that allows the suction hose to have minimal length (i.e., to be fully collapsed or fully non-extended). This minimises the bulk occupied by the suction hose when the vacuum cleaner is used in its floor cleaning mode.
In another embodiment, the handle means does not comprise particular retaining means for the auxiliary nozzle. The collapsing or contracting force exerted by the suction hose tends to drag the nozzle into the storage recess, which may provide sufficient retention for a reasonably light-weight nozzle. Moreover, the proximal end of the auxiliary nozzle may fit snugly into the distal end of the recess, thereby retaining the nozzle laterally. Depending on the materials of the recess interior and the proximal end of the nozzle, this effect may be supplemented by a frictional retention in the longitudinal direction.
Advantageously, the retention means comprises a lid arrangement adapted to cover the suction aperture at the free end of the auxiliary nozzle while this is in its resting position. The lid arrangement may consist of a cover plate hinged at one end and spring-loaded to abut against the aperture during floor cleaning. It may also be formed by a cover plate movable in its normal direction and spring-loaded in this direction so as to abut firmly against the aperture of the auxiliary nozzle when this is placed in its resting position. Such cover plate may be arranged inside a storage sleeve, which has substantially the same cross section and the place and into which the tip of the nozzle is inserted for storage. As another alternative, a retention boss or pin for insertion into the suction aperture may provide an air-tight seal. By covering the suction aperture, the lid arrangement prevents communication with the suction chamber of the vacuum cleaner, so that the full suction power is applied to the floor nozzle arrangement. By providing a lid arrangement, one may adopt a relatively simpler valve arrangement which—in combination with the lid arrangement—still provides sufficient air tightness against the auxiliary nozzle in the floor cleaning mode.
In some embodiments, the recess has an open distal end through which the suction hose is free to move. When stowed in its resting position, the auxiliary nozzle may be completely or partially inserted into the recess through this open end; it may however be located entirely outside the recess. The open end may be perpendicular to the recess or be slanted outwardly, away from the handle means, to enhance the mobility of the suction hose during use.
In one embodiment, the distal end of the recess is open and the proximal end is provided with an airtight hose coupling. The hose coupling is fastened near the proximal end and is used to connect the suction hose to the second duct, through which the suction hose communicates with the valve arrangement, which is operable to establish communication with the suction chamber. Hence, in the above-floor cleaning mode of the vacuum cleaner, the suction hose can be regarded as two distinct segments as regards mobility. The proximal segment extends from the hose coupling to the open end of the recess, and the distal segment extends from the open end to the auxiliary nozzle. The proximal segment is only mobile longitudinally, on extension and contraction of the hose, but is restrained laterally by the inner walls of the recess. The distal segment is freely movable and its length can, unlike the length of the proximal segment, be varied by applying various tensile forces to the suction hose; a length increase is then due both to the extension of the distal segment itself and the amount of hose that is being pulled out of the recess. As an advantage of this embodiment, the effective proximal endpoint of the suction hose, on which the mobility and useful range of the auxiliary nozzle depends, is located a substantial distance from the floor nozzle. By tilting the vacuum cleaner as needed, the effective endpoint of the hose can be raised and lowered with respect to the floor level, enabling access to a large range of surfaces to be cleaned.
In an alternative embodiment, both the distal end and the proximal end of the recess are open. The proximal end opens into a passage in the interior of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. The passage may be a dedicated pipe or tube conditioned to contain a suction hose, or may simply be a region of space not occupied by other components. At or near the proximal end of the passage, a hose coupling is provided, by which the suction hose can be connected to the second duct. An advantage of this embodiment, in comparison with the previous embodiment, is that the second duct can be constructed with a low number of bends irrespective of the placement of the handle means relative to the main body. Because the suction hose will relax into a smoothly bent configuration, the airflow resistance will decrease, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. It may also decrease the number of segments needing to be joined together (air-tightly) during factory assembly and/or at-home assembly carried out by a user.
In another advantageous embodiment, the recess is open along a substantial portion of its length, preferably the greater part. In other words, one longitudinal aperture opens from the exterior of the handle means—either from its the front side, rear side or a lateral side—into the recess. Preferably, some means for retaining the suction hose in the recess is provided, such as magnetic stripes or releasable (e.g., spring-loaded hinged) cover flaps. As an alternative, the suction hose is somewhat compressible in its radial direction while the longitudinal aperture is slightly narrower than the diameter of the hose in its uncompressed state. This retains the suction hose in the recess when not in use, but enables sideways insertion and removal of the hose upon a light radial compression. As an alternative hereto, the borders of the longitudinal aperture may be fabricated from a depressible, displaceable, flexible or otherwise elastically deformable material—such as rubber, textile or brushes—which enables insertion and removal of the hose even if the latter has a substantially fixed diameter.
In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided at least one viewing aperture into the recess. Each viewing aperture is preferably arranged at a conspicuous location on the vacuum cleaner. Advantageously, this makes the device more intuitive to use. Each viewing aperture may be covered by a completely or partially transparent element, such as a plane or curved plate from glass, plastic or perspex. This may improve the visual appearance of the vacuum cleaner and decrease soiling of the recess.
An important purpose of the valve arrangement is to direct the suction power of the fan unit optimally with respect to the actual use of the vacuum cleaner, be it floor cleaning or above-floor cleaning. To simplify manufacture and enable use of inexpensive components, however, it may be quite sufficient to use a valve arrangement that merely diminishes the flow along the non-desirable path in a given situation, thereby favouring the desirable flow.
In one embodiment, the valve arrangement is operable to a floor cleaning position, corresponding to the floor cleaning mode of the vacuum cleaner, in which communication between the second suction duct and the suction chamber is substantially prevented. A small leakage is normally tolerable. Preferably, in this position, the valve arrangement provides the greatest possible communication between the first duct and the suction chamber.
In still another embodiment, the valve arrangement is operable to an above-floor cleaning position, corresponding to the above-floor cleaning mode of the vacuum cleaner, in which communication between the first suction duct and the suction chamber is reduced. Preferably, the communication between the first suction duct and the suction chamber is substantially prevented to direct all suction power to the auxiliary nozzle. Even so, a small leakage may be tolerable. Preferably, in this position, the valve arrangement provides the greatest possible communication between the second duct and the suction chamber.
In yet another embodiment, the valve arrangement is a two-way valve, which may be positioned in either a first position, establishing communication between the suction chamber and the first duct only, or a second position, establishing communication between the suction chamber and the second duct only.
Advantageously, there are actuating means for operating the valve arrangement in accordance with the presence of the auxiliary nozzle in its resting position or, equivalently, whether it can be assumed to be in use or not. The actuating means may form part of or be integrated into retaining means for the nozzle. Thus, the actuating means is adapted to monitor the presence of the nozzle, its removal from or repositioning into this position. The monitoring may be effected by means of an electric contact which supplies an electric signal encoding the location of the auxiliary nozzle. The electric signal may then operate the valve arrangement, either directly, if the valve arrangement is electrically operable, or via a magnetic contact, servo motor or the like. Alternatively, a magnetic, inductive or capacitive sensor may sense the presence or movements of the auxiliary nozzle. Further alternatively, there may be provided mechanical means which are actuated upon removal or stowing of the auxiliary nozzle and which transmit a mechanical force or movement, such as via a wire or lever, sufficient to reposition the valve arrangement.
Some embodiments are not provided with actuating means, but the valve arrangement is operated manually. If the valve arrangement is repositionable by a translation movement, a sliding control button may be provided on the outside of the main body, preferably near the valve arrangement. If the valve arrangement is repositionable by a rotary movement, a rotating knob may be provided similarly.
In an advantageous embodiment, the placement of the valve arrangement is such that the first suction ducts is favoured, if necessary at the expense of the second suction duct. For instance, the valve arrangement may be located between the suction chamber and the floor nozzle arrangement, so that the first duct is shorter than the second duct. Moreover, the first duct may be straighter (comprise fewer sharp bends) than the second duct by virtue of the valve arrangement being located somewhere on a line segment from the suction chamber to the floor nozzle arrangement. Further, the first duct may have larger least diameter than the second. Thus, to a certain extent, the floor cleaning mode is favoured over the above-floor cleaning mode. This increases the overall energy economy of the vacuum cleaner, for over a normal life cycle of the vacuum cleaner, the floor cleaning mode is the dominating one in terms of time.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by a study of the embodiments described hereinafter.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, of which:
a and 2b are cross-sectional side views showing the upper portion of the vacuum cleaner in
The first duct 5 is connected to the floor nozzle arrangement 8. The second duct 6 is connected to an extensible suction hose 12 (that is, the suction hose is biased so as to contract maximally in the absence of an external tensile force), at the distal end of which is arranged an auxiliary nozzle 10, on which, in turn, a user may fit various special suction or working nozzles (not shown) in a releasable manner. As is readily seen in
In order to provide for convenient storage of the suction hose 12, an elongated, preferably cylindrical recess 13 is provided in the handle means 11 portion of the vacuum cleaner. As outlined above, the hose 12 extends out of and contracts back into the recess 13, in accordance with the actual use situation, through an open distal end 15 of the recess 13.
In this embodiment, the length of the recess 13 is substantially equal to that of the contracted hose 12, whereby some portion of the auxiliary nozzle 10 may be present in the recess 13 when the hose 12 is in its resting position. The length of the recess 13 is not essential to its function as long as a substantial portion, preferably the greater part of the hose 12 can be contained in the recess 13.
In this embodiment, further, a retaining means in the form of an elastic clip 14 engages around a portion of the periphery of the auxiliary nozzle 10 when this is placed in its resting position and snaps off when the nozzle 10 is removed.
In this embodiment, the hose 12 connects to the second suction duct 6 by means of an air-tight hose coupling 16 arranged at the proximal end of the recess 13.
In other embodiments, the retaining means may include or consist of a lid arrangement covering the suction aperture of the auxiliary nozzle when this is in its resting position, thereby substantially preventing air to be sucked by the nozzle. As already discussed, the lid may be arranged in a rotatable manner (hinged) or may be linearly movable. To achieve a similar air sealing effect, the end of the auxiliary nozzle may be suspended on a fixed boss or pin fitting snugly against the suction aperture during storage.
As shown on the drawing, the suction hose 12 runs from the proximal end 17 of the recess 13 onwards through a passage 18, where it is air-tightly connected to the first duct 6 via a hose coupling 19. The extent of the passage 18 is defined by the inner surface of the main body 2, the exterior of the fan unit 4 and possibly other components as well. The hose 12 may share the passage 18 with other electric or mechanical cables, such as a mechanical actuation wire (cf.
In the vacuum cleaner shown in
Embodiments of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention as defined by the appended claims have been described above. These embodiments should be seen as merely non-limiting examples. As a person skilled in the art will realise, many modifications and alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It is to be noted that for the purpose of this application, and in particular with regard to the appended claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements, nor does the indefinite article “a(n)” exclude a plurality, which per se will be apparent to the skilled person.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0901601-5 | Dec 2009 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE10/00306 | 12/17/2010 | WO | 00 | 6/20/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61289913 | Dec 2009 | US |
