CN1956671A - vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a floor-engaging portion provided with a first air inlet (13), an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to the floor-engaging portion, a handle (12) upstanding from the upper end of the upright portion, a first or lower end of the handle being detachably engaged with an e.g. socket (16) on the upright portion of the cleaner, a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle from a second air inlet at the lower end of the handle to an outlet (25) disposed remote from that end of the handle, and a flexible hose (26) connected to the outlet (25) on the handle: the rigid tubular duct has, at the first end of the handle, an elongate portion which hay either a transverse dimension or a cross-sectional area which is substantially uniform over its length.

Description

vacuum cleaner

technical field

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners.

Background technique

Known vacuum cleaners are either of the so-called upright type or of the so-called cylinder type. An upright vacuum cleaner includes an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to a wheeled ground engaging portion such that the upright portion can rotate partially forward and rearward relative to the ground engaging portion about a transverse axis. The upright portion encloses a motor/fan unit which draws air into the dust separation means through an inlet in the ground engaging portion of the cleaner. A handle is provided at the upper end of the upright portion for manipulating the cleaner. A motor driven rotating agitation brush is mounted across the inlet in the floor engaging section to beat and sweep the floor in the airflow area entering the cleaner.

A cylinder vacuum cleaner consists of a body enclosing a motor/fan unit which draws air through an elongated flexible hose into the dust separation device. A plurality of tools fitted to the inlet end of the hose is provided.

Because of the action of the rotating agitating brush, upright vacuums are better at cleaning carpet than cylinder vacuums. However, cylinder vacuum cleaners are better suited for above-floor cleaning and for cleaning in places where upright vacuum cleaners cannot be operated.

In order to provide a vacuum cleaner with the advantages of both an upright and a cylinder vacuum cleaner, it is known to provide an upright vacuum cleaner with an elongated flexible hose which can be connected to a floor engaging part of the vacuum cleaner , for regular in-floor cleaning, or to be attached to extension tubes and/or selected cleaning implements for above-floor cleaning. A disadvantage of this construction is that, during normal floor cleaning, the airflow through the cleaner is partially restricted by the elongated flexible hose, which is coiled for storage on the rear of the cleaner. The coiled length of the hose is also prone to clogging.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, upright vacuum cleaners are known which comprise a hose and a valve arrangement which can be actuated so that suction is applied to the hose for above-floor cleaning, or to the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner for cleaning above the floor. For general floor cleaning.

European Patent No. 0037674 discloses an upright vacuum cleaner of the above-mentioned type comprising an elongated steel tube mounted vertically to the rear of the main body of the cleaner and forming a loop for maneuvering the cleaner during conventional floor cleaning. handle. In this construction, an elongated steel tube is enclosed within an elongated flexible suction hose that can be retracted to its minimum length and connected at its lowermost end to a two-way valve The outlet of the two-way valve is connected to the inlet of the cyclone separator. To perform above-floor cleaning, a rigid suction tube is withdrawn from the retracted suction hose, the lower end of the tube and the distal end of the hose having a gap between the two tubes when the tube is withdrawn from the hose to its maximum The airtight connection of the connectors. The action of withdrawing this rigid tube from its normal floor cleaning position actuates a two-way valve to switch the suction airflow from the floor engaging portion of the cleaner to the hose.

It will be appreciated that when the elongated steel tube is loaded on the cleaner body during conventional floor cleaning, the user must grasp the upper end of the elongated steel tube to maneuver the cleaner. When the rigid pipe is disconnected for above-floor cleaning, the upper end of this pipe becomes the distal end of the pipe. However, since the upper end of the elongated steel tube needs to be ergonomically shaped to provide a handle for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner, it is impractical to form the upper end of the tube into a shape that The tube is immediately ready for above-floor cleaning when it is detached. Therefore, before using the cleaner in the above-floor cleaning mode, the user first has to position the tool and then fit the tool to the upper end of the pipe. This process is time consuming and makes it difficult for the user to easily and quickly switch between floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning.

We have now invented a vacuum cleaner that can be used for floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning that alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

Contents of the invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a ground engaging portion having a first air inlet on its underside;

an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to said ground engaging portion;

a handle upstanding from an upper end of the upright portion and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle being detachably coupled to a structure on the upright portion;

a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle between a second air inlet at said first end thereof and an outlet located remote from said first end; and

an elongated flexible hose having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hose being connected to the outlet on the handle, wherein the cross-sectional area of the rigid tubular conduit extending along the handle extends from the handle Said second air inlet at said first end of said first end of said handle generally increases towards said outlet disposed away from said first end of said handle, the rigid tubular duct having an elongated The elongated portion has a substantially uniform transverse dimension or cross-sectional area along its length.

Thus, the elongated portion at the first end of the handle functions to constitute a narrow above-floor cleaning tool already attached ready for use in situ, thereby avoiding the need to attach the tool before above-floor cleaning begins.

Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the tubular duct in the elongated portion at the first end of the handle is 40-60% smaller than the cross-sectional area of the tubular duct adjacent said outlet of the handle.

Preferably, the tubular duct in the elongate portion at the first end of the handle comprises a major transverse axis having a length at least 40% greater than the length perpendicular to its minor transverse axis. The tool thus arranged at the first end of the handle has a substantially flat shape.

Preferably, the long transverse axis lies on a line extending between the front and rear of the cleaner when the handle is engaged with the upright portion of the cleaner.

Preferably, the conduit of the handle adjacent the outlet has a substantially circular cross-section.

Preferably, the formation on the upright portion of the cleaner includes a socket arranged to receive said elongate portion of the first or lower end of the handle.

Preferably, this socket is arranged to conceal the first end of the handle and said second air inlet thereon. In this way, the tools provided at the lower end of the handle are hidden from view when the cleaner is used for floor cleaning.

Preferably, the cleaner comprises valve means having a first inlet fluidly connected to said first air inlet in said ground engaging portion, a second inlet fluidly connected to a second end of said elongate flexible hose. an inlet, an outlet connected to dust separation means and means for selectively connecting the outlet of said valve means to the inlet of said first or said second valve means.

In using the cleaner for floor cleaning, the valve means is arranged to apply suction to the first air inlet in the floor engaging portion. Then, use the handle to propel and guide the vacuum cleaner over the surface being cleaned.

To use the cleaner for above-floor cleaning, the handle is simply disassembled and the valve means configured to apply suction via the elongate flexible hose to the second air inlet at the first or lower end of the handle.

Preferably, the valve means comprises an actuator arranged to configure the valve means to connect said second air inlet to said dust separation means when the handle is removed from the upright part, and when the handle is engaged with said upright part The valve means is configured to connect said first air inlet to said dust separation means.

Preferably, the handle comprises an elongated tubular structure (comprising one or more tubular members) of plastics material, preferably closed at the second end of the handle, and preferably shaped to provide a handle that can be grasped by a user.

Although the tool provided by the first end of the handle is always connected to the cleaner ready for use, means are preferably provided to allow a portion of the lower end of the handle to be removed to enable clearing of any blockage in the duct.

Preferably, latch means are provided to retain the handle in the socket of the upright portion of the cleaner against a resilient bias. When the latch is released, the handle is biased out of the receptacle to a convenient position for above-floor cleaning by the user. Preferably, the valve means are simultaneously actuated to switch suction from the first air inlet on the underside of the ground engaging portion to the second air inlet on the handle.

Description of drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an upright vacuum cleaner configured for floor cleaning in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 configured for above-floor cleaning;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the handle of the vacuum cleaner in Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line V-IV in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along line V-V in Figure 3; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operating principle of the valve mechanism of the vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1 .

Detailed ways

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an upright vacuum cleaner comprising an upright portion 10 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a ground engaging portion 11 such that the upright portion can be moved relative to the ground engaging portion 11. Partially rotates forward and rearward about an axis extending transversely through the cleaner. The upright 10 encloses the motor/fan unit and includes a removable handle 12 at its upper end for maneuvering the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned. A first suction inlet 13 is provided at the lower side of the ground engaging portion 11 , and a motor-driven rotary stirring brush (not shown) is installed across the inlet 13 .

A cylindrical separation unit 14 for separating dirt and dust from the air flow is mounted to the front of the upright portion 10 of the cleaner, and another handle 15 for carrying the cleaner is provided on top of the upright portion of the cleaner.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, the detachable handle 12 is removably received in a vertical socket 16 formed in the rear of the upright portion of the cleaner. The upper part of the wall forming the socket 16 includes a catch 17 which engages a barb 18 on the side wall of the handle 12 to retain the latter in the socket 16 .

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the handle 12 is formed of three generally tubular parts 19, 20, 21 of plastics material connected end to end. The first tubular member 19 is provided at the upper end of the handle 12 and is shaped to provide a handle that a user can grasp while maneuvering the cleaner to clean floors. An end cap 22 is fitted to the free end of the upper tubular member 19 to provide the upper end wall of the handle 12 .

The lower end of the upper tubular member 19 is joined to the upper end of an elongated central tubular member 20 having generally parallel sides. The lower end of the central tubular member 20 is detachably joined to the upper end of the lower tubular member 21 using the connecting piece 23 .

The airflow duct 24 extends along the handle 12 from a second suction inlet 28 provided at the lower end of the handle 12 to an air outlet 25 provided in the sidewall of the central part 20 of the handle 12 at a position adjacent to its upper end. The outlet 25 is connected to the distal end of an elongate flexible hose 26 protruding from the upright 10 of the cleaner, as shown in FIG. 2 . A crank-shaped tubular insert 27 is provided within the handle 12 to direct air flow up the handle 12 to the outlet 25 and to prevent any air flow into the upper part 19 of the handle 12 which forms the handle.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, the conduit 24 in the central part 20 of the handle has a generally circular cross-section and has a cross-sectional area substantially equal to that of the hose 26, the remaining flow conduits passing through the separation unit 14 leads to the motor/fan unit. However, the cross-sectional area of the duct 24 decreases along the tubular lower part 21 of the handle 12 from its upper end to the second suction opening 28 at the lower end of the handle. Typically, the cross-sectional area of the duct 12 in the handle may be reduced from 1800-2200 mm ² adjacent the outlet 25 to 450-650 mm ² at the second suction 28 . Furthermore, the lower tubular member 21 comprises an elongated portion adjacent to the second suction opening 28 having a substantially uniform width w, substantially smaller than the width of the central tubular member 20 . Typically, the width w of this elongated portion may be 60% to 75% smaller than the width of the central tubular member 20 . At the second suction port 28, the width w of the lower tubular member 21 is also smaller than the orthogonal dimension d by a factor of about 40% to 60%. Although in the embodiment shown in the drawings the elongated portion of the duct 12 has a uniform transverse dimension or width w at the end of the handle and an increasing orthogonal dimension d over its length, this portion may instead be have a uniform cross-sectional area (eg, dimensions w and d remain constant).

In this way, the elongated portion at the lower end of the handle 12 provides a narrow so-called crevice tool, which is usually attached to the handle, even if the latter is mounted to the vacuum cleaner, as shown in FIG. For regular floor cleaning. Although a so-called crevice tool, which is provided at the lower end of the handle 12 by an elongated portion, has always been connected to the vacuum cleaner ready to be used, the connection 23 can be detached to allow the lower end portion 21 of the handle 12 to be removed, thereby enabling the cleaning of the vacuum cleaner. Clearance of any blockage in conduit 24 .

A separate tool (not shown), such as a brush and head, can be stowed on the cleaner for attachment of the crevice tool at the lower end of the handle 12 .

Referring to FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings, when the vacuum cleaner is used for conventional floor cleaning and the handle 12 is fitted in the socket 15, as shown in FIG. and is biased upward by springs such as 31 mounted on each lateral side of the socket 15. The underside of the component 30 is connected to a valve arrangement 32 via a linkage 33 .

The valve means 32 comprises a hollow body 34 having a first inlet 35 connected to the first suction inlet 13 on the floor engaging portion 11 of the cleaner and a second inlet 35 connected to the proximal end of the elongate flexible hose 26. Entrance 36. An outlet duct 37 is rotatably mounted within the body 34 and includes one end with a seal 29 for selective alignment with one or the other of said inlets 35 , 36 . The opposite end of the outlet duct 37 of the valve means 32 is connected to the motor/fan unit via a flexible hose (not shown), a separation unit 14 which separates dirt and dust from the air flow.

The rotary outlet duct 37 is connected to the linkage 33 so that when the part 30 is pushed downwards by the lower end of the handle 12, the outlet duct 37 of the valve means 32 is connected to the inlet duct 35 when the latter is fitted to the vacuum cleaner for Routine floor cleaning. The handle 12 is retained within the socket 15 by a catch 17 engaging a barb 18 on the handle 12 against a resilient bias provided by a spring such as 31 .

To use the cleaner for above-floor cleaning, the user need only release the catch 17 , which allows the handle 12 to be moved a short distance up and out of the socket 15 under the spring bias acting on the part 30 . This upward movement of part 30 drives linkage 33 which turns outlet conduit 37 of valve 32 to a position where outlet conduit 37 is connected to inlet 36 to which hose 26 is connected.

Once released by the catch 17, the handle 12 is immediately and conveniently ready for use as an above-floor cleaning tool without the user having to manually switch suction or assemble the cleaning tool. The hose 26 is of the elongated type, being able to expand to a length greater than six times its contracted length. The structure of the cleaner is ideally suited for stair cleaning, since the main body of the cleaner can be rested on the bottom of the stairs while the tool provided through the lower end of the handle 12 is used to clean the stairs.

Replace the handle 12 in the socket 15 by overcoming the bias of the spring acting on the part 30 until the catch 17 on the wall of the socket 15 engages the barb 19 on the handle 12, so that the valve 32 is actuated to allow the suction The vacuum cleaner can be easily converted back to floor cleaning by switching from the hose 20 to the suction opening 13 in the floor engaging part 11 of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention is structurally uncomplicated and may be simply and conveniently converted between floor and above-floor cleaning use.

Claims (13)

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a ground engaging portion having a first air inlet on its underside; an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to said ground engaging portion; a handle upstanding from the upper end of the upright portion and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle being detachably coupled to a structure on the upright portion; a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle between a second air inlet at said first end of the handle and an outlet located remote from said first end; and an elongated flexible hose having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hose being connected to the outlet on the handle, wherein the cross-sectional area of the rigid tubular conduit extending along the handle extends from the handle The second air inlet at the first end of the handle substantially increases towards the outlet located away from the first end of the handle, the rigid tubular duct has an elongated The elongated portion has a substantially uniform transverse dimension or cross-sectional area over its length. 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the duct in the elongated portion at the first end of the handle is larger than the cross-sectional area of the duct adjacent the outlet. The cross-sectional area is 40-60% smaller. 3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the dimension of the duct in the elongated portion at the first end of the handle along the long transverse axis of the duct is greater than that along the long transverse axis of the duct perpendicular to the The dimension of the minor transverse axis extending from the major transverse axis is at least 40% greater. 4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein said long transverse axis extends between the front and rear of the cleaner when said handle is engaged with said upright portion of the cleaner. 5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the duct adjacent the outlet has a substantially circular cross-section. 6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the formation on the upright portion of the cleaner includes a socket arranged to receive the elongate portion at the first end of the handle. 7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising valve means having a first inlet connected to said first air inlet of the cleaner, connected to said elongate flexible hose a second inlet at the second end of the first end, an outlet connected to dust separation means and means for selectively connecting said outlet to said first or second inlet. 8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said valve means includes an actuator for causing the valve means to connect said outlet to said second outlet of the cleaner when the handle is removed from the upright portion of the cleaner. an air inlet, the actuator causing valve means to connect the outlet to the first air inlet of the cleaner when the handle is engaged with the upright portion of the cleaner. 9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein latch means are provided to retain the handle in engagement with said upright portion of the cleaner against a resilient bias. 10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on claim 7 or 8, wherein upon release of the catch means, the valve means is actuated to transfer suction from the first air inlet of the cleaner to Switch to said second air inlet of the vacuum cleaner. 11. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle comprises an elongated tubular structure closed at the second end of the handle. 12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the tubular structure is shaped to provide a handle for grasping by a user. 13. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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