Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is described, and in particular a battery-powered vacuum cleaner including a rotatable brush. The vacuum cleaner has a suction head adapted to be moved across a surface to be cleaned, the suction head having a leading end and a trailing end, the suction head having: a rotatable brush, the rotatable brush being located in a brush chamber at the leading end of the suction head, the brush chamber having an opening through which a part of the rotatable brush projects, the opening and the rotatable brush spanning substantially the full width of the suction head; suction means adapted to create a flow of air into the suction head during use; a dirt-collection chamber; a filter located downstream of the dirt-collection chamber; a primary air flow duct connecting the brush chamber to the dirt-collection chamber and through which air can flow into the dirt collection chamber during use, a secondary air flow duct connected to the dirt-collection chamber and through which air can flow into the dirt collection chamber during use, the secondary air flow duct comprising a length of hose terminating in an inlet nozzle.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner having a suction head adapted to be moved across a surface to be cleaned, the suction head having a leading end and a trailing end, the suction head having: a rotatable brush, the rotatable brush being located in a brush chamber at the leading end of the suction head, the brush chamber having an opening through which a part of the rotatable brush projects, the opening and the rotatable brush spanning substantially the full width of the suction head; suction means adapted to create a flow of air into the suction head during use; a dirt-collection chamber; a filter located downstream of the dirt-collection chamber; a primary air flow duct connecting the brush chamber to the dirt-collection chamber and through which air can flow into the dirt collection chamber during use, a secondary air flow duct connected to the dirt-collection chamber and through which air can flow into the dirt collection chamber during use, the secondary air flow duct comprising a length of hose terminating in an inlet nozzle; the suction head having a receptacle adapted to receive the inlet nozzle when not in use, the inlet nozzle being a substantially air-tight fit within the receptacle.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 in which the primary air flow duct includes a valve member which can substantially close the primary air duct.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 in which the valve member is adapted to close the primary air duct when the secondary air flow duct is in use.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 in which the receptacle has a switch which can be actuated by the inlet nozzle.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 in which the switch controls the position of the valve member.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 in which the hose is a two-part hose, the first part being flexible and the second part being substantially rigid.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 in which the first part of the hose is extendable.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 in which the first part of the hose is connected to a rotatable joint.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 having a handle connected to the suction head.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 in which the first part of the hose is releasably connected to a handle.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 in which the first part of the hose lies alongside a part of the handle.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 in which the second part of the hose is extendable.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 in which the second part of the hose is telescopically extendable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, partially in section, with the inlet nozzle located within the receptacle; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the inlet nozzle removed from the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The vacuum cleaner 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In common with known vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner 10 has a suction head 12 connected to a handle (not shown). In use, a user grasps the handle and drives the suction head 12 along a desired path.

(5) The connection of the handle to the suction head (not shown) may include a pivot and a swivel to allow steering of the suction head, in known fashion.

(6) The suction head 12 has a brush chamber 14 in which is housed a rotatable brush 1, the brush 1 having a set of bristles (not shown) of known form which can project through an opening 16 at the leading end of the bottom of the suction head 12.

(7) The opening 16 communicates with the dirt-collection chamber 2 by way of a primary air flow duct 18. Adjacent to the dirt-collection chamber 2 is a filter 4. The suction head 12 has suction means to create a flow of air into the suction head during use. In this embodiment the suction means is a motor 5 which drives an impeller (not shown). The impeller (which may alternatively be a fan or turbine) acts to draw air into the suction head 12 through the opening 16, along the primary air flow duct 18 and into the dirt-collection chamber 2. The air then passes through the filter 4, past the impeller and out of the suction head through one or more outlets (not shown). The dirt and debris which is removed from the floor surface by the rotating brush 1 and/or by the air flow cannot pass through the filter 4 and is retained within the dirt-collection chamber 2 for subsequent disposal.

(8) The operation described above is common to prior art vacuum cleaners, including in particular that described in WO2012/085567.

(9) The present vacuum cleaner 10 has a secondary air flow duct communicating with the dirt-collection chamber 2, the secondary air flow duct comprising an inlet nozzle 7, a length of substantially rigid hose 8 and a length of flexible hose 9. The secondary air flow duct is permanently connected to the dirt-collection chamber 2. As seen in the figures, the secondary air flow duct terminates at outlet 20 within the dirt-collection chamber 2, the outlet 20 being spaced from and separate from the primary air flow duct 18.

(10) In the configuration of FIG. 1 the vacuum cleaner 10 is adapted for floor cleaning, i.e. little or no air flows along the secondary air flow duct and into the dirt-collection chamber, and instead substantially all of the air being driven by the impeller is drawn in through the opening 16. In this configuration the inlet nozzle 7 is located within a receptacle 6, the receptacle being a substantially air-tight fit around the inlet nozzle so that, despite the suction created by the motor 5 and impeller, substantially no air can enter the inlet nozzle 7 when located within the receptacle 6.

(11) In the configuration of FIG. 2 on the other hand, the vacuum cleaner is adapted for above-floor cleaning, or for cleaning particular areas (perhaps by way of a tool fitted to the inlet nozzle 7). It will be seen that the receptacle 6 contains a detection means (in this embodiment in the form of a lever) 22 which is spring-biased to the position of FIG. 2. When the inlet nozzle 7 is removed from the receptacle 6 the detection means 22 automatically moves to the position of FIG. 2.

(12) When the detection means 22 moves to the position of FIG. 2, it operates an actuation means (not shown) connected to a valve member 3, causing the valve member 3 to close the primary air flow duct 18. The valve member 3 can be latched into its closed position, or it can be retained in that position by the actuation means, it being appreciated that significant force will be required to maintain the valve member 3 closed if the inlet nozzle 7 should become blocked for example (it can if desired be arranged that the valve member 3 will open if the pressure within the dirt-collection chamber 2 drops to a predetermined level, in order to avoid potential damage to the motor 5).

(13) There may be a purely mechanical connection between the detection means 22 and the actuation means, or there may be an electrical connection. In embodiments having an electrical connection the detection means 22 could be a switch and the actuation means could be a motor.

(14) When the valve member 3 is closed, little or no air flows along the primary air duct 18 and substantially all of the air being driven by the impeller is drawn through the inlet nozzle 7 and along the secondary air duct 8,9.

(15) It will be appreciated that the brush 1 is redundant when the vacuum cleaner 10 is being used for above-floor cleaning, and it can be arranged that the switch 22 also deactivates the motor driving the brush 1 to rotate. Thus, it is desirable that the brush 1 is not driven by the motor 5, but rather by a separate brush motor, so that the brush motor can be switched off whilst the motor 5 continues to operate and draw air along the secondary air duct 8,9.

(16) It is arranged that the inlet nozzle 7 is sized to accommodate a crevice tool, an upholstery tool and a dust brush, so that a chosen one of these tools can be fitted to the inlet nozzle 7 for particular cleaning operations. The tools can be carried upon the vacuum cleaner 10 when not in use, in known fashion.

(17) When it is desired to revert to floor cleaning, the inlet nozzle 7 is inserted into the receptacle 6, depressing the switch 22. Depression of the switch 22 causes the motor (not shown) to open the valve member 3, and also initiates the rotation of the brush 1. In less desirable embodiments the depression of the switch 22 does not actuate the valve member 3 to open, but instead simply releases the valve member 3 to be forced open by the air flow along the primary air duct 18 once the inlet nozzle 7 is fitted in its receptacle 6.

(18) The air flow in each of the configurations of use is represented by the arrows in the two figures.

(19) It will be understood that the handle of the vacuum cleaner 10 lies behind the flexible hose 9 in the orientation of FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the handle cannot be seen in these drawings. The flexible hose 9 is a little shorter than the handle and is mounted upon, and supported by, the handle along its length. Though not shown in FIG. 2, when it is desired to undertake above-floor cleaning the flexible hose 9 may be released from the handle and bent as desired so that the inlet nozzle 7 can be manipulated to the position of use.

(20) In addition, the substantially rigid hose 8 includes a telescopic joint 24 to permit further adjustment and an increased range of movement.

(21) Because the flexible hose 9 is as long as the handle, and the substantially rigid hose 8 is at least as long as the handle, the flexible hose 9 in this embodiment is not extendable. However, in other embodiments an extendable flexible hose could be provided so as to increase the range of movement of the inlet nozzle. The extendable flexible hose could include a rotatable joint to counter any tendency of the flexible hose to twist as it is extended.

(22) It would alternatively be possible to use the rigid hose as the handle. All of the tools could be mounted on the handle to provide a very compact and convenient embodiment.