CN109998417A - Cleaning appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning appliance includes a dirt separator for separating dirt from an air flow, the dirt separator including a bin for collecting the dirt separated from the air flow, the bin including a bin lid having a closure A configuration in which dirt is retained in the bin and an open configuration in which dirt is retained in the bin, and an open configuration for removing dirt from the bin. The cleaning appliance also includes an inlet extending through the opening in the lid, the inlet including an accessory interface. The cleaning appliance also includes an interlock mechanism to prevent the lid from being opened when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface.

Description

cleaning utensils

technical field

The present invention relates to a cleaning appliance.

Background technique

The industry is always looking for improvements to vacuum cleaners. In particular improvements that make it easy for the user to use the vacuum cleaner and encourage the user to use the vacuum cleaner in the most correct way possible. It is desirable to ensure that the user does not perform any action that could lead to a failure that needs to be resolved or needs to be resolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a cleaning appliance comprising a dirt separator for separating dirt from an air flow, the dirt separator comprising a tank for collecting dirt separated from the air flow, the The bin includes a bin lid having a closed configuration in which dirt is retained in the bin and an open configuration for removing dirt from the bin. The cleaning appliance also includes an inlet extending through the opening in the lid, the inlet including an accessory interface. The cleaning appliance also includes an interlock mechanism to prevent the lid from being opened when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface.

As a result, the bin emptying or bin removal process cannot be started with the accessory connected to the cleaning appliance. Because the inlet extends through the opening in the lid, any accessories attached to the cleaning appliance will prevent the lid from being fully opened, and as a result the lid and accessories themselves will block the discharge of dust and dirt from the chamber. Thereby, it is advantageous to prevent the opening process from starting while the attachment connection is made to the inlet.

The accessory interface may include formations for engagement with snaps provided on the accessory. This allows the accessory to be removably secured to the vacuum cleaner during use, but allows the accessory to be easily removed when it is no longer needed.

The interlocking mechanism may include projections on the lid extending radially inwardly from the opening, the projections forming abutment surfaces for abutment with corresponding abutment surfaces on the accessory. This provides an inexpensive and simple but effective interlock mechanism that is less likely to fail.

The protrusions may extend into the accessory interface. When the accessory is connected to the accessory interface, the abutment surfaces on the lid may abut with snaps on the accessory that serve as corresponding abutment surfaces on the accessory. As a result, any accessory that includes a snap to secure it to the vacuum cleaner, regardless of the shape of the accessory, will abut the interlock mechanism and prevent the case from opening when attached.

The attachment can be one of a wand, extension hose, and cleaning tool.

The bin lid may be hingedly attached to the side walls of the bin and pivotable between a closed configuration and an open position. As a result, the bin lid can be opened without requiring complete removal from the vacuum cleaner, resulting in an easier bin emptying process for the user of the vacuum cleaner.

The case is movable relative to the air inlet and the interlock mechanism prevents any movement of the case when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface. The bin can be moved in such a way that the bin is completely removed from the vacuum, or the bin movement can be part of the bin opening process, and thus preventing bin movement in addition to preventing the bin lid from opening is advantageous for the same reasons described above.

The cleaning appliance may be a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

The wand and cleaning head can be connected to the accessory interface to form a wand vacuum cleaner.

Description of drawings

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figures 2A and 2B show the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 at various stages during the opening of the box;

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the attachment of accessories to the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an upward view of the inlet of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 shows a stick vacuum cleaner.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning appliance in the form of a hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 with a dirt separator 2 , a main body 3 , a handle 4 , a power supply in the form of a battery pack 5 and an inlet 6 . At the rear of the vacuum cleaner 1 , attached to the main body 3 is a filter assembly 7 . The vacuum cleaner 1 is operated by a trigger 8 in the handle 4 .

The dirt separator 2 has a first separation stage and a second separation stage. The first separation stage comprises a cylindrical outer wall 21 which defines a tank 20 . The cylindrical inner wall 25 defines a fine dust collection chamber, which is positioned inside the box 20 . A closing member in the form of a tank lid 9 is hingedly attached to the outer wall 21 of the dirt separator 2 at the hinge 10 . The box lid 9 is pivotable about the hinge 10 between an open position in which dust and dirt can exit the open end of the box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber, and a closed position in which the box lid 9 seals the box 20 and the open ends of both the fine dust collection chamber. The tank cover 9 includes a seal 30 which seals against the interior 25 . The central portion of the tank cover 9 includes a hole or opening through which the suction inlet 6 protrudes.

Inside the box 20 is a shroud 22 comprising a cylindrical wire mesh 23 and a shroud skirt 24 . During operation, air is drawn into the vacuum cleaner 1 through the inlet 6 by a fan motor contained within the body portion 3 . The dust-laden air enters the tank 20 through a separator inlet (not shown) in the side wall of the shroud 22, which is connected to the inlet 6 by an inlet duct extending between the two, which extends through a thin wall. Inside the dust collection chamber. The air spirals around the interior of the box 20 and centrifugal force separates large dust particles from the air flow, which are deposited within the box 20 . The shroud wire 23 includes a plurality of perforations through which air can exit the first separation stage.

The second separation stage comprises a plurality of cyclone bodies 26 arranged in parallel. The air passes through the cyclone body 26, which separates any remaining dust and dirt from the air flow. Dirt and dust separated in the second separation stage are collected in a fine dust collection chamber, which is defined by the inner wall 25 . The clean air leaves the cyclone 26, passes through the fan motor within the main housing 3, and exits the vacuum cleaner 1 through the filter assembly 7.

In order to empty the tank 20 and the fine dust collection chamber, the tank cover 9 can be opened. Figures 2A and 2B show the vacuum cleaner 1 at various stages during the emptying of the tank. The dirt separator 2 is provided with a box opening actuator 27 , which is fixed to the outer wall 21 . When the bin opening actuator 27 is pushed in a direction away from the handle 4 , as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2A , this causes the bin 20 (ie both the outer wall 21 and the bin lid 9 ) to follow the chute portion of the vacuum cleaner 1 28 slide in the same direction. The shroud 22 , the inner wall 25 and the inlet 6 remain stationary because they are fixed to the body portion 3 . The seal 30 is separated from the inner wall 25 exposing the open end of the second dust collection chamber 32 . Once the outer wall 21 reaches a certain point in the direction away from the handle, as shown in Figure 2B, it stops and the catch 33 holding the lid 9 closed is released. The lid 9 is hinged and a biasing member in the hinge 10 biases the lid 9 to an open position. Thus, once the catch 33 is released, the lid 9 pivots about the hinge 10 and swings open, as indicated by arrow B. The dust collected in the box 20 and the fine dust collection chamber 32 can now be driven out of the dirt separator 2 .

Closing the dirt separator 2 includes sliding the outer wall 21 back to the original position, and pivoting the lid 9 into the closed position until the catch 33 re-engages to keep the lid 9 in the closed position. There is a selection of different accessories that can be connected to the vacuum cleaner 1 to allow the user to select the most appropriate accessory for the cleaning task to be performed. Figure 3A shows how the inlet 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 includes an accessory interface. Two accessories in the form of a portion of a crevice tool 40 and a rod 50 are shown in FIG. 3 , which may be attached to the accessory interface at the inlet 6 , as indicated by dashed arrow C. FIG. The crevice tool 40 includes a catch 42 having an engagement portion 44 and a release button 46 . The rod 50 includes a similar snap 52 that also has an engagement portion 54 and a release button 56 . Alignment ribs 47 and 57 are also provided on slit tool 40 and rod 50, respectively. The alignment ribs 47, 57 engage the channels 62 in the accessory interface such that they slide into the channels 62 when the respective accessory is inserted into the accessory interface.

The accessory interface includes a formation 60, shown in FIG. 4, that engages the engagement portion 44, 54 of each of the catches 42, 52 such that the accessory is locked in place when attached to the accessory interface. The catches 42 and 52 are pivoted and biased to a position in which the engaging portions 44 and 54 will engage the formation 60 of the accessory interface. To disengage the accessory, the release buttons 46, 56 are pressed, which causes the catch to pivot and disengage the engagement portions 44, 54 from the configuration 60 so that the accessory can be removed from the accessory interface.

To prevent the box 20 from being moved or opened when the accessory is connected to the accessory interface of the inlet 6, the vacuum cleaner includes an interlock mechanism. The interlocking mechanism includes a protrusion 35 formed as part of the tank cover 9 . The protrusions 35 extend radially inwards into the opening of the tank cover 9 through which the inlet 6 protrudes. The protrusion extends radially inwardly so that it extends into the accessory interface of the inlet 6 and forms an abutment surface which abuts any accessory connected so that the case 20 cannot be moved forward or by pushing the case open actuator 27 The lid 9 cannot be opened.

Figure 3B shows the vacuum cleaner 1 with the crevice tool 40 attached, and Figure 3C shows the vacuum cleaner 1 with the wand 50 attached. The protrusions 35 can be seen extending behind the release buttons 46 and 56 of the catches 42 and 52, wherein the sides of the release buttons 46, 56 serve as respective abutment surfaces on the respective accessories. In each case, the protrusions 35 thus abut against the sides of the release buttons 46, 56, which serve to prevent any movement of the case 20 while the catches 42, 52 are engaged with the hooks 60, or to prevent the case The cover 9 is opened.

Wands 50 may be used in conjunction with cleaning heads 70, and when these are attached to vacuum cleaner 1, as shown in Figure 5, a stick vacuum cleaner is formed (sometimes referred to as a stick vacuum "stick vac"). Cleaning heads, such as cleaning head 70 in FIG. 5 , typically include powered brush wands and thus require power to be transmitted down wand 50 . The power connector 36 is thus provided at the accessory interface of the inlet 6 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4 . Crevice tool 40 is a simple tool that does not require power and thus does not engage power connector 60, as shown in Figure 3B. However, the wand 50 includes a sleeve 58 that houses a corresponding wand power connector (not shown) that can be engaged with the power connector 36 at the inlet 6 so that power from the battery 5 can be provided to the cleaning head for Brush stick motor powered.

Crevice tool 40 and rod 50 are described as examples of accessories. However, there are a large number of possible accessories, such as extension hoses or miniature power cleaning heads, as well as other cleaning tools such as pad cleaning tools, combination tools, and the like. Different accessories will have different sizes and needs, such as crevice tool 40 and rod 50 . However, snaps for each accessory would need to engage with formations 60 in the accessory interface. Thus, it is advantageous to have an interlocking mechanism that engages the snap, as this provides consistent components to abut against, regardless of the size, shape and configuration of the accessory.

Although specific embodiments have been described, it should be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

For example, the vacuum cleaner 1 described herein is a hand-held vacuum cleaner, but it could be a vacuum cleaner of any other configuration in which the inlet extends through the lid, such as a canister vacuum cleaner. Additionally, the interlock mechanism is described as engaging a snap on the accessory, and the benefits of this configuration are described above. However, in alternate embodiments, the interlock mechanism may engage with different parts of the accessory.

Claims (10)

1. a kind of cleaning appliance, including foul separator are used for from air stream separate dirt, the foul separator includes case, For collecting the foul from air flow separation, the case includes case lid, with closed configuration and configuration is opened, in closed configuration Middle foul is maintained in case, and is opened and be configured to remove foul from case；The cleaning appliance further includes entrance, the entrance The opening in case lid is extended through, the entrance includes attachment interface；

Wherein cleaning appliance further includes mutual interlocking gear, to prevent case lid to be opened when attachment is connected to attachment interface.

2. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, wherein attachment interface includes for connecing with the fastener being arranged on attachment The construction of conjunction.

3. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, wherein mutual interlocking gear includes the protrusion on case lid, from opening it is radial to Interior extension, the protrusion form abutment surface, for adjacent to the corresponding abutment surface on attachment.

4. cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion extends in attachment interface.

5. cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abutment surface when attachment is connected to attachment interface, on case lid Adjacent with the fastener on attachment, the fastener is used as the corresponding abutment surface on attachment.

6. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, wherein attachment is one of stick, extension hose and burnisher.

7. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, wherein case lid is attached to the side wall of case with being hinged, and can be in closed configuration It is pivoted between open position.

8. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, raising middle flask can be moved relative to air intake, and the mutual interlocking gear is attached Part prevents any movement of case when being connected to attachment interface.

9. cleaning appliance as described in claim 1, wherein the cleaning appliance is hand-held vacuum cleaner.

10. cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 9, medium rod and cleaning head are connected to attachment interface to form stick type vacuum Dust catcher.