WO2016206758A1

WO2016206758A1 - Vacuum cleaner with an arrangement for cleaning a filter

Info

Publication number: WO2016206758A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maeva SCHALLER; Henrik Eriksson
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2015-06-26
Filing date: 2015-06-26
Publication date: 2016-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-26

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner. An arrangement is provided for cleaning a filter (15) of a bag-less container (13) of a vacuum cleaner (10). The arrangement comprises a filter cleaner (20) being movably fastened to a cover (16) of the bag-less container, the filter cleaner being capable of moving in a direction in and out of the container via a lead-trough (21) in the cover while being in contact with the filter inside the container, and a handle (22) attached to the filter cleaner by which a user can move the filter cleaner in a direction in and out of the container, wherein user movement of the filter cleaner causes the filter to vibrate and debris to be released from the filter.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER WITH AN ARRANGEMENT FOR CLEANING A FILTER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND

When collecting dirt and debris in vacuum cleaners, bag-less containers can be used. Such containers needs to be emptied by the user when full in order to maintain good performance of the vacuum cleaner and to free up space for further debris in the container. Common existing solutions enable a user to either empty the container by opening a lid - usually at the bottom - via which the debris leaves the container, or to empty the container by removing what is inside the container from the top by removing parts of a separation system of the vacuum cleaner, including one or more filters. In many of these prior art containers, part of the separation is performed by one or more filters. These filters may become clogged with debris and

decrease the performance of the vacuum cleaner. Therefore, emptying the container is not sufficient to maintain full performance of the vacuum

cleaner; the filter additionally needs to be cleaned. US 2009/ 0260 179 discloses a portable vacuum cleaner having a fan which draws air inwards through an inlet duct and inlet to a coarse filter element inside a housing of the vacuum cleaner. Larger dirt particles are trapped within the coarse filter element, and the filtered air passes through a fine filter element and into the fan, where it is expelled through an outlet duct and outlet aperture. A cleaning member mounted on the coarse filter element engages with the fine filter element so that upon removal of the coarse filter element, the cleaning member slides along the fine filter element removing particles thereon . A problem with US 2009/ 0260 179 is that a lid of the housing first must be opened, or alternatively an inlet must be removed from the housing, and thereafter the coarse filter element is removed from the housing for emptying. As the coarse filter element is withdrawn from an interior of the housing, the bristles of the cleaning member are moved along the pleats of fine filter element to causes debris to be displaced from the fine filter element. This is process is somewhat intricate, and requires the removal of the coarse filter element to facilitate cleaning of the fine filter element.

Further, a user may be subjected to dirt as she must remove the coarse filter element accommodating dirt particles.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to solve, or at least mitigate, this problem in the art and to provide an improved arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner. This object is attained in an aspect of the invention by an arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner. The arrangement comprises a filter cleaner being movably fastened to a cover of the bag-less container, the filter cleaner being capable of moving in a direction in and out of the container via a lead-through in the cover while being in contact with the filter inside the container, and a handle attached to the filter cleaner by which a user can move the filter cleaner in a direction in and out of the container, wherein user movement of the filter cleaner causes the filter to vibrate and debris to be released from the filter.

Thus, the filter cleaner is movably fastened to the cover of the bag-less container, such that it can be moved in and out of the container via the lead- through in a reciprocating motion by a user operating the handle, while being fastened to the cover. The filter cleaner is in contact with, and moves along, the filter used for filtering debris in an air flow in the container. User movement of the filter cleaner will advantageously cause the filter to vibrate and debris to be released from the filter and end up in the container. Further advantageous is that there is no contact between the user and the debris during cleaning of the filter and emptying of the container. Further advantageous is that the filter cleaning is performed by the user in a single movement and is intuitive to the user.

In an embodiment, the filter is releasably attached to the cover, in which case a user advantageously can remove the filter from the cover for e.g. rinsing.

In another embodiment, the arrangement of further comprises a cover unlocking member configured to act on a cover lock when the filter cleaner is moved to a position where it is fully extracted from the container, wherein user movement of the filter cleaner to its fully extracted position causes the cover unlocking member to unlock the cover lock such that the cover can be removed from the container. The cleaning of the filter is thus advantageously integrated with the actual opening of the container by having the user pull the handle to its fully extracted position and thus remove the cover.

In still a further embodiment, the filter cleaner comprises a ribbed member, and the filter is configured to be pleated. Advantageously, upon user movement of the handle and the filter cleaner, the ribbed member is arranged to engage with the pleats of the filter to cause the filter to vibrate. Thus, upon user movement of the handle, the ribbed member will flap against the pleats of the filter and cause the filter to vibrate intensely, thereby releasing all the debris stuck to the filter into the container.

In an embodiment, the filter cleaner comprises two elongated ribbed members extending along the filter inside the container. Thus, by having two elongated ribbed members engaging with the filter pleats, the filter is advantageously caused to vibrate with even greater intensity upon user movement of the handle.

In a further embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a flap element arranged at an air inlet of the container and configured to cover the air inlet when no air flow is drawn through the container, while being configured to flap open when acted on by an air flow entering the air inlet. Advantageously, the flap element prevents debris from falling out of the air inlet. In still another embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a mesh unit attached to the cover of the container and being configured to be fitted within the container, which mesh unit accommodates the filter and comprises a mesh element arranged as a cover over of the filter and extending along the filter, the mesh element being configured with an opening at a bottom of the mesh unit where debris released from the filter exits the mesh unit. The mesh element advantageously stops coarse-grained debris, while the filter stops more fine-grained debris.

In yet another embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a mesh scraper mounted on an inside of the container at an opening of the container for advantageously cleaning the mesh element.

In still a further embodiment, the cover lock comprises a spring-loaded locking pin and a retainer with which the pin can be moved in and out of locking engagement, wherein the cover unlocking member acts on the cover to move the pin out of locking engagement with the retainer when the filter cleaner is moved to a position where it is fully extracted from the container.

Further provided is a a vacuum cleaner comprising the arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of the vacuum cleaner as discussed herein. Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein . All references to "a/ an/ the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DES CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a prior art vacuum cleaner in which the invention may be implemented;

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of an arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention ;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the arrangement illustrated in section in Figure 2 with the cover removed from the container;

Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 6a illustrates a sectional view of an arrangement according to still another embodiment of the invention ;

Figure 6b shows a perspective view of the arrangement illustrated in section in Figure 6a with the mesh unit removed from the container;

Figure 7 illustrates an arrangement according to still a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 illustrates a procedure of cleaning the filter as well as the mesh element; Figure 9 illustrates an arrangement according to yet a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention in an exploded view;

Figure 11 illustrates the arrangement of Figure 10 in a sectional view; and Figure 12 illustrates an arrangement where the cover to which the filter cleaner is movably fastened only partially closes the opening of the container DETAILED DES CRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein ; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description . Figure 1 illustrates a cordless vacuum cleaner 10 of an upright model in which the present invention may be applied. It may also be implemented for instance in a canister or hand-held vacuum cleaner, or any other bag-less cleaner. The vacuum cleaner comprises a nozzle 11 via which debris is removed from a surface to be cleaned via an opening in a bottom of the nozzle. In the interior of the vacuum cleaner, a suction fan (not shown) is arranged to cause an air flow to transport debris from the opening of the nozzle 10 to a clean air outlet 12 located on a back side of the vacuum cleaner 10 via a releasable bag-less container 13 collecting the debris. When full, the bag-less container 13 can be released from the vacuum cleaner 10 and emptied by a user. Now, the bag-less container 13 comprises a filter for removing debris from the air flow such that the debris is retained in the container 13. As previously mentioned, in prior art vacuum cleaners, the cleaning of the filter is oftentimes problematic.

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of an arrangement for cleaning a filter of a bag-less container of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention . The bag-less container 13 comprises an air inlet 14 in a bottom section and a filter 15 arranged to remove debris from the air flow entering the air inlet 14 before the air flow exits the container 13 via an air outlet. A cover 16 is arranged to close an opening of the container 13, which cover 16 in an embodiment comprises an air outlet 17 via which the air flow entering the air inlet 14 exits the container 13 after having been filtered by the filter 15. The cover may partially or fully cover the opening. In case the cover only partially covers the opening of the container 13, a lid may be arranged above the cover the seal the container 13.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the filter 15 divides the container 13 in two compartments; a first compartment 18 in direct fluid communication with the air inlet 14 where a major part of the debris will be collected, and a second compartment 19 in direct fluid communication with the air outlet 17 of the cover 16, where the filtered air flow exits the container 13 after the debris contained in the air flow entering the container 13 has been removed by the filter 15.

Now, the filter 15 will filter the air flow entering the container 13 via the air inlet 14, and must occasionally be cleaned from debris such that suction power of the vacuum cleaner is maintained. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, a filter cleaner 20 is movably fastened to the cover 16, such that it can be moved in and out of the container 13 via a lead- through 21 in a reciprocating motion by a user operating a handle 22, while being fastened to the cover 16.

The filter cleaner 20 is in contact with, and moves parallel to, the filter 15. User movement of the filter cleaner 20 will advantageously cause the filter 15 to vibrate and debris to be released from the filter 15 and fall down in the first compartment 18 of the container 13.

With reference to Figure 2, the filter 15 may be fixedly attached to the container 13, or more preferably releasably attached to the cover 16.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the arrangement illustrated in section in Figure 2, where the cover 16 is removed from the container. The filter 15 is attached to the cover 16 such that upon removal of the cover 16 from the container 13, the filter 15 will be removed from the container accordingly, thereby advantageously facilitating further cleaning of the container 13.

Further, if desired, when the cover 16 and the filter 15 have been removed from the container 13, the user may further operate the handle 22 and filter cleaner 20 to cause the filter 15 to vibrate in order to remove any further debris from the filter 15. When the cover 16 is removed from the container 13, the container can be emptied. The filter 15 may further be releasably attached to the cover 16, in which case a user can remove the filter 15 from the cover 16 for e.g. rinsing.

Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of arrangement according to the present invention. In order retain the cover 16 on the container 13 during operation of the vacuum cleaner, the container comprises a cover lock 24. Many different variants can be envisaged, as longs as the cover lock 24 keeps the cover 16 fastened to the container 13 during normal operation of the vacuum cleaner. In this embodiment, the arrangement comprises a cover unlocking member 25 attached to the handle 22 configured to act on the cover lock 24 when the filter cleaner 20 is moved to a position where it is maximally extracted from the container 13, wherein user movement of the filter cleaner to its maximally extracted position causes the cover unlocking member 25 to unlock the cover lock 24 such that the cover 16 can be removed from the container 13. In this particular example, the cover lock 24 comprises a pin 27 engaging with a retainer 26 in a snap-in fashion when the cover 16 is fitted into the opening of the container 13. When the filter cleaner 20 is moved to its maximally extracted position, the cover unlocking member 25 will act on the pin 27 and push it from its locking engagement with the retainer 26, whereby the cover lock 26 is unlocked and the cover 16

advantageously can be removed from the container 13. As can be concluded, the cleaning of the filter 15 is advantageously integrated with the actual opening of the container 13 by having the user pull the handle 22 to its maximally extracted position and thus remove the cover 16.

It should be noted that the user advantageously can move the handle 22 back and forth to clean the filter 15 without removing the cover 16 from the container, as long as the user does not displace the filter cleaner 20 to its maximally extracted positon where the cover unlocking member 25 acts on the cover lock 24 causing the cover 16 to be released from the container 13. Figure 5 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention where the filter cleaner 20 comprises a ribbed member 28 , and the filter 15 is configured to be pleated. Advantageously, upon user movement of the handle 22 and the filter cleaner 20 , the ribbed member 28 is arranged to engage with the pleats 29 of the filter 15 to cause the filter to vibrate. Thus, upon user movement of the handle 22, the ribbed member 28 will flap against the pleats 29 of the filter 15 and cause the filter to vibrate intensely, thereby releasing all the debris stuck to the filter 15 into the container 13.

Figures 6a and b illustrates an arrangement according to still another embodiment of the invention, where Figure 6a shows a sectional view of the cover 16 being attached to the container 13, while Figure 6b shows the cover 16 being removed from the container 13 in a perspective view. In this particular embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a mesh unit 30 attached to the cover 16 of the container 13 and being configured to be fitted within the container 13. The mesh unit 30 accommodates the filter 15 and comprising a mesh element 31 arranged as a cover over, and extending along, the filter 15. The mesh element 31 advantageously stops coarse-grained debris, while the filter 15 stops more fine-grained debris.

Thus, in this particular embodiment, user movement of the handle 22 causes the ribbed member 28 of the filter cleaner 20 to flap against the pleats 29 of the filter 15, thereby causing the filter 15 to vibrate and the debris stuck to the filter 15 to be released.

The mesh element 31 is advantageously configured with an opening 32 at a bottom of the mesh unit 30 where debris released from the filter 15 leaves the mesh unit 30.

Figure 6b shows a perspective view of the mesh unit 30 having been removed from the container 13. As previously discussed, when the user operates the handle 22 and moves the filter cleaner 20 to its fully extracted position - and at the same time causes the ribbed member to engage with the pleats 29 to clean the filter 15 - the cover unlocking member 25 acts on the cover lock 24, thereby causing the cover lock 24 to be unlocked wherein the complete mesh unit 30 accommodating the filter 15 can be taken out of the container 13 allowing emptying of the container 13.

Figure 6b illustrates yet a further embodiment of the invention, where at a bottom section of the container 13, a flap element 33 is arranged at the air inlet 14 and configured to cover the air inlet 14 when no air flow is drawn through the container 13, in order to advantageously avoid debris from falling out of the air inlet 14. Thus, when the vacuum cleaner 10 is not being operated, and no air flow hence is drawn trough the container 13, the flap element 33 will cover the air inlet 14. Conversely, when an air flow is created and acts on the flap element 33, the element 33 will flap open and allow the air flow to be drawn through the container 13.

Figure 7 illustrates still a further embodiment of the invention, where the arrangement further comprises a mesh scraper 34 for cleaning the mesh element 31. Advantageously, by providing the mesh scraper 34, a user can easily and straightforwardly clean the mesh element 31 without manually removing the debris with her hands, thereby avoiding any messy cleaning procedure. The user can instead move the mesh unit 30 over the scraper 34 to remove the debris. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the mesh scraper 34 is mounted on an inside of the container 13 close to its opening in order to be out of the way for a user. However, if desired, the scraper 34 could even be mounted on an outside of the container 13.

Figure 8 illustrates a procedure of cleaning the filter as well as the mesh element. In a first step, a user pulls the handle out from the cover 16 and the container 13. As previously has been described, e.g. with reference to Figure 5, the user pulling the handle moves the filter cleaner (not shown) over the filter (not shown) and causes the filter to vibrate. Debris will hence be released from the filter inside the container 13. When the handle reaches its fully extracted position, the previously described cover unlocking member will act on the cover lock such that the mesh unit 30 can be removed from the container 13 in a second step and the container 13 can be emptied. Thereafter, the user can in a third step move the mesh element 31 (still by holding the handle 22) over the mesh scraper 34 to remove any dirt and debris stuck to the mesh, and again empty the container 13 if required.

Finally, in a fourth step, the user inserts the mesh unit 30 back into the container 13, and when the user moves the handle 22 into the position where the filter cleaner is fully inserted in the container 13, the filter will again advantageously be cleaned.

Figure 9 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention, where the filter cleaner 20 comprises two elongated ribbed members 28 , 35 extending along the filter 15 inside the container 13. Thus, by having two elongated ribbed members 28 , 35 engaging with the filter pleats 29, the filter 15 is caused to vibrate with even greater intensity upon user movement of the handle 22.

Figure 10 illustrates the arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention in an exploded view to illustrate details. Thus, illustrated is a container 13 with a mesh scraper 34 mounted, which container 13 is arranged to house a mesh unit 30. A flap holder 37 is arranged at the bottom section of the container 13 for holding the flap element 33. Further arranged at the bottom section is a bottom part 36 of the mesh unit 30. Further shown are the two rib members 28 , 35 of the filter cleaner 20 engaging with the filter 15 for cleaning the filter. The mesh unit 30 is integrated with the cover 16 comprising the air outlet 17. The mesh unit 30 comprises a mesh element 31 arranged as a cover over, and extending along, the filter 15. In order to lock the mesh unit 30 to the container 13, the cover locking mechanism 24 is provided, on which the cover unlocking member 25 attached to a body of the handle 22 acts when the user fully extracts the cleaning member 20 from the container 13 by pulling the handle 22.

Figure 11 shows the arrangement of Figure 10 in a sectional view. Thus, illustrated is the container 13 with mesh scraper 34 mounted, in which container 13 the mesh unit 30 is inserted. The flap element 33 is attached to the flap holder 37 for covering the air inlet 14 when no air flow is drawn trough the container 13. Further arranged at the bottom section is a bottom part 36 of the mesh unit 30. Further shown is the rib member 28 of the filter cleaner 20 engaging with the filter 15 for cleaning. The mesh element 31 covers the filter 15.

In order to lock the mesh unit 30 to the container 13, the cover locking mechanism 24 is provided, which in Figure 11 is illustrated to be in locked mode, where a pin 27 is in locking engagement with a retainer 26.

When the handle 22 is pulled up, the cover unlocking element 25 will move the pin 27 from engagement with the retainer 26, thereby unlocking the cover lock 24. When the handle 22 is fully pulled out, the pin 27 is released from the retainer 26 in the container 13. The pin 27 may in an embodiment be spring loaded in order to come back into place and engage with the retainer 26 when the handle 22 is pushed down again. Figure 12 illustrates an arrangement where the cover 16 to which the filter cleaner 20 is movably fastened only partially closes the opening of the container 13. In such case, a lid 38 may need to be used to seal the container 13.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. Arrangement for cleaning a filter ( 15) of a bag-less container (13) of a vacuum cleaner ( 10), comprising:

a filter cleaner (20 ) being movably fastened to a cover ( 16) of the bag- less container (13), the filter cleaner (20 ) being capable of moving in a direction in and out of the container ( 13) via a lead-through (21) in the cover (16) while being in contact with the filter ( 15) inside the container ( 13);

a handle (22) attached to the filter cleaner (20 ) by which a user can move the filter cleaner (20 ) in a direction in and out of the container, wherein user movement of the filter cleaner (20) causes the filter ( 15) to vibrate and debris to be released from the filter ( 15).

2. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover unlocking member (25) configured to act on a cover lock (24) when the filter cleaner (20 ) is moved to a position where it is fully extracted from the container ( 13), wherein user movement of the filter cleaner (20 ) to its fully extracted position causes the cover unlocking member (25) to unlock the cover lock (24) such that the cover ( 16) can be removed from the container ( 13).

3. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein :

the filter cleaner (20 ) comprises at least one ribbed member (28 ); and the filter ( 15) is configured to be pleated; wherein upon movement of the filter cleaner (20), the at least one ribbed member (28 ) is arranged to engage with the pleats (29) of the filter ( 15) to cause the filter to vibrate.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein :

the filter cleaner (20 ) comprises two elongated ribbed members (28 , 29) extending along the filter ( 15) inside the container ( 13).

5. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein :

the filter ( 15) is configured to be releasably attached to the cover ( 16).

6. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein :

the container ( 13) comprises an air inlet ( 14) where an air flow to be filtered by the filter ( 15) enters the container ( 13); and

the cover ( 16) comprises an air outlet ( 17) where the air flow passing through the filter ( 15) exits the container ( 13).

7. The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising:

a flap element (33) arranged at the air inlet ( 14) and configured to cover the air inlet (14) when no air flow is drawn through the container ( 13), while being configured to flap open when acted on by an air flow entering the air inlet ( 14).

8. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, further

comprising:

a mesh unit (30) attached to the cover ( 16) of the container ( 13) and being configured to be fitted within the container ( 13), said mesh unit (30 ) accommodating the filter ( 15) and comprising a mesh element (31) arranged as a cover over of the filter ( 15) and extending along the filter ( 15), the mesh element (31) being configured with an opening (32) at a bottom of the mesh unit (30 ) where debris released from the filter ( 15) exits the mesh unit (30 ).

9. The arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, further

comprising:

a mesh scraper (34) mounted on an inside of the container (13) at an opening of the container (13).

10. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein :

the cover lock (24) comprises a spring-loaded locking pin (27) and a retainer (26) with which the pin can be moved in and out of locking engagement, wherein the cover unlocking member (25) acts on the cover to move the pin (27) out of locking engagement with the retainer (26) when the filter cleaner (20) is moved to a position where it is fully extracted from the container ( 13).

11. A vacuum cleaner (10) comprising the arrangement for cleaning a filter (15) of a bag-less container (13) of the vacuum cleaner (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.