Suction nozzle for removing hair from textile surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suction nozzle add-on for cleaning apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a suction nozzle add-on for removing hair from a textile surface.

Claims

1. A suction nozzle add-on for cleaning apparatuses, for removing hair from a textile surface, the suction nozzle add-on comprising: a pipe socket for connecting the suction nozzle add-on to a pipe of a cleaning apparatus or a suction nozzle already attached to the cleaning apparatus; wherein the pipe socket comprises a front face comprising an outer edge, the front face comprising a plurality of projections and an inlet for airflow; wherein the plurality of projections are resilient bendable, the plurality of projections are mounted on the front face so that when the plurality of projections are brought into contact with a textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion, the plurality of projections are bent away from an initial position, away from a direction of the sweeping motion and, when the plurality of projections lose contact with the textile surface, the plurality of projections rebound to the initial position; wherein the plurality of projections are aligned in a plurality of parallel rows, and wherein the plurality of parallel rows are mounted on the front face to define a passage running from the outer edge towards the inlet for airflow, the passage comprising a distal end facing the outer edge and a proximal end facing the inlet for airflow; wherein at least an outer layer or coating of the plurality of projections is made from an elastomer for accumulating hair on the textile surface; wherein a width of the proximal end of the passage is narrower than a width of the distal end, for guiding the accumulated hair at the tactile surface towards the inlet for airflow.

2. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the front face has a shape resembling that of the pipe of the cleaning apparatus or the suction nozzle already attached to the cleaning apparatus.

3. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the front face is oval.

4. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections are made of a material having a Shore A-scale hardness measured according to ASTM D2240-97 within the range of 40-70.

5. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the pipe socket and the plurality of projections are made from an identical material.

6. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the pipe socket is made of a material having a Shore A-scale hardness measured according to ASTM D2240-97 within the range of 40-70.

7. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle add-on is made by injection molding.

8. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the pipe socket is resilient bendable when being connected to the pipe of the cleaning apparatus or a suction nozzle already attached to the cleaning apparatus, and wherein the pipe socket rebounds to an initial shape when being removed from the pipe of the cleaning apparatus or the suction nozzle already attached to the cleaning apparatus.

9. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of parallel rows are mounted in one or more units, and wherein a first parallel row and a second parallel row of the plurality of parallel rows in a first unit of the one or more units are offset such that an individual projection in the first parallel row covers a space between two individual neighboring projections in the second parallel row when the individual projection in the first parallel row and the two individual neighboring projections are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during the sweeping motion, and bent away from the initial position, away from the direction of the sweeping motion.

10. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of parallel rows are mounted in a plurality of units, wherein the plurality of units are mounted on a face of a base section to define the passage running from the outer edge towards the inlet for airflow, the passage having the distal end facing the outer edge and the proximal end facing the inlet for airflow; wherein the width of the distal end of the passage is at least 1 cm, and wherein the width of the proximal end of the passage is narrower than the width of the distal end, for guiding the accumulated hair at the textile surface towards the inlet for airflow.

11. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections are mounted on the front face so that a width of an individual one of the plurality of projections in one of the plurality of parallel rows is equal to or larger than a space between two individual neighboring projections of the plurality of projections in the one of the plurality of parallel rows.

12. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein a width of the plurality of projections is within the range of 2-30 mm, and a length of the plurality of projections is within the range of 5-50 mm.

13. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein a width of the plurality of projections have different moments of resistance depending on a bending direction.

14. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the passage runs essentially parallel to an intended direction of sweep.

15. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein at least a central portion of the passage runs essentially parallel to an intended direction of sweep.

16. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein at least a free end face of each of the plurality of projections has a non-circular shape.

17. The suction nozzle add-on according to claim 1, wherein the pipe socket is adapted to connect to a vacuum cleaner or a suction nozzle already attached to the vacuum cleaner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first suction nozzle of the present invention, viewed from the second face.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a second suction nozzle of the present invention, viewed from the second face.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a suction nozzle of the present invention with two inlets, viewed from the second face.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side view of suction nozzle of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a third suction nozzle of the present invention, viewed from the second face, and wherein the projections from one row are shown interacting with the projections from a neighbouring row.

(6) FIG. 6A shows a suction nozzle add-on of the present invention, and FIGS. 6B-C show two different embodiments of the suction nozzle add-on viewed from the front face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Vacuum cleaners typically have a suction nozzle in communication with a source of suction. The suction nozzle therefore forms an inlet for airflow, where dirt and other debris together with the air are suctioned into the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaners may be provided with means for cleaning along edges or baseboards of rooms and near kick plates of cabinetry and appliances. Such means include providing a vacuum hose between the suction nozzle and the suction source that can be selectively removed from communication with the suction nozzle. When the vacuum hose is removed from the suction nozzle, suction is generated at the inlet of the vacuum hose.

(8) It is to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

(9) One object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning tool that both quickly and thoroughly removes animal hairs from textile materials, such as carpet materials.

(10) One aspect of the present invention relates to a suction nozzle 1 for cleaning apparatuses, such as vacuum cleaners, for removing hair from a textile surface, comprising: a housing 2, the housing comprising a pipe socket 3 for connecting the pipe of a cleaning apparatus with the suction nozzle; a base section 4 having an outer edge 4A, a first face 4B attached to the housing 2, and a second face 4C comprising a plurality of projections 5 and one or more inlets 6 for airflow;

(11) wherein the plurality of projections 5 are resilient bendable, which plurality of projections 5 are so mounted on the second face 4C that when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion, they are bent away from their initial position, away from the direction of sweep and, when said projections 5 lose contact with said textile surface, said projections 5 return to their initial position;

(12) wherein the plurality of projections 5 are aligned in a plurality of parallel rows 7, and wherein the plurality of parallel rows 7 are mounted on the second face 4C of the base section 4 so as to define a passage 8 running from the outer edge 4A towards the one or more inlets 6 for airflow, said passage 8 having a distal end 8A facing the outer edge 4A and a proximal end 8B facing the one or more inlets 6;

(13) wherein at least the outer layer or coating of the plurality of projections 5 are made from elastomer for accumulating said hair on the surface; wherein the width of the distal end 8A of said passage 8 is at least 1 cm, and wherein the width of the proximal end 8B of said passage 8 is narrower than the width of the distal end, for guiding the accumulated hair at the surface towards the one or more inlets 6.

(14) Referring to FIG. 1, a suction nozzle viewed from the second face is shown having only one inlet 6 for airflow. This embodiment allows the hair rolls to be directed through one passage at each side of the outer edge 4A towards the one centrally placed inlet 6. The planar end faces of the projections are v-shaped.

(15) The plurality of parallel rows 7 are mounted in four units 10A-D, and a first and a second parallel row 7A, 7B in a first unit 10A are offset such that an individual projection 5C in the first row 7A cover the space between two individual (neighbouring) projections 5A, 5B in the second row 7B when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion, and bent away from their initial position, away from the direction of sweep.

(16) The units 10A and 10B are mounted on the second face of the base section so as to define a passage 8 running from the outer (front) edge towards the centrally placed inlet 6 for airflow. The passage has a distal end facing the outer (front) edge and a proximal end facing the centrally placed inlet 6.

(17) Similarly, the units 10C and 10D are mounted on the second face of the base section so as to define a passage 8 running from the outer (back) edge towards the centrally placed inlet 6 for airflow. The passage has a distal end facing the outer (back) edge and a proximal end facing the centrally placed inlet 6.

(18) The central portion of the passage formed by the plurality of units 10A-B; 10C-D runs essentially parallel to the intended direction of sweep.

(19) The width of the plurality of projections have different moments of resistance depending on the bending direction, so that when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned, they are bent essentially in the lowest moment of resistance. Hence, when the suction nozzle is moved forward, the projections of units 10A and 10B are bent backward, while the projections of units 10C and 10D will be more resistant to bending; and when the suction nozzle is moved backward, the projections of units 10C and 10D are bent forward, while the projections of units 10A and 10B will be more resistant to bending.

(20) Referring to FIG. 2, a suction nozzle viewed from the second face is shown having only one inlet 6 for airflow. This embodiment allows the hair rolls to be directed through one passage at only two sides of the outer edge towards the one centrally placed inlet 6. The planar end faces of the projections are v-shaped; and a first and a second parallel row in a first unit are offset such that an individual projection in the first row covers the space between two individual (neighbouring) projections in the second row when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion, and bent away from their initial position, away from the direction of sweep.

(21) As also seen in FIG. 1, two units are mounted on the second face of the base section so as to define a passage 8 running from the outer (front) edge towards the centrally placed inlet 6 for airflow. The passage has a distal end facing the outer (front) edge and a proximal end facing the centrally placed inlet 6. Similarly, two units are mounted on the second face of the base section so as to define a passage 8 running from the outer (back) edge towards the centrally placed inlet 6 for airflow. The passage has a distal end facing the outer (back) edge and a proximal end facing the centrally placed inlet 6.

(22) As also seen in FIG. 1, the projections are mounted in the individual units so that the widths of the plurality of projections have different moments of resistance depending on the bending direction. The two units facing the outer (front) edge have projections with the same moments of resistance at a given bending direction; and the two units facing the outer (back) edge have projections with the same moments of resistance at a given bending direction.

(23) Referring to FIG. 3, a suction nozzle viewed from the second face is shown having two inlets 6 for airflow. This embodiment allows the hair rolls to be directed through two passages at the outer (front) edge and two passages at the outer (back) edge towards the two inlets 6. The planar end faces of the projections are v-shaped; and a first and a second parallel row in a first unit are offset such that an individual projection in the first row covers the space between two individual (neighbouring) projections in the second row when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion, and bent away from their initial position, away from the direction of sweep.

(24) The central portion of the passage formed by the plurality of units 10A-B; 10C-D; 10E-F; 10G-H runs essentially parallel to the intended direction of sweep.

(25) Referring to FIG. 5, a suction nozzle as in FIG. 1 is shown. Here, it is shown how the projections from one row in an individual unit are interacting with the projections from a neighbouring row in the same unit, when they are brought into contact with the textile surface to be cleaned during a sweeping motion in the forward direction.

(26) Referring to FIG. 6A, a suction nozzle add-on 11 is shown. The suction nozzle add-on 11 comprising a pipe socket 13 for connecting the suction nozzle add-on 11 to a pipe of a cleaning apparatus or to a front end of a suction nozzle 12 already attached to the cleaning apparatus. The pipe socket 13 comprises a front face 14 having an outer edge 14A. The front face 14 comprises a plurality of projections 5 and an inlet for airflow 6. The suction nozzle add-on 11 thus differs from the suction nozzle 1 shown in FIGS. 1-5 in that it the projections are positioned directly on the front face 14 of the pipe socket 13 and not on the base section 4. The suction nozzle add-on 11 can be used as an add-on to an existing sucking nozzle 12 attached to a cleaning device. The shape of the front face 14 resembles that of the front end of the suction nozzle 12 of the cleaning apparatus. The shape of the pipe socket 13 can be oval as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. The two different embodiments of the suction nozzle add-on viewed from the front face shown in FIGS. 6B-C differs in that the projections 5 are arranged in different units with units 10I and 10J in FIG. 6B and units 10K-N in FIG. 6C.

(27) The front face 14 may have a shape resembling that of the pipe 12 of a cleaning apparatus or the suction nozzle 12 already attached to the cleaning apparatus. The pipe socket 13 and the plurality of projections 5 can be made from the same material, e.g a material having a Shore A-scale hardness measured according to ASTM D2240-97 within the range of 40-70. Choosing the same material for the entire suction nozzle add-on 11 allows the nozzle add-on to be made in the same process, e.g. by injection moulding.

(28) The pipe socket 13 will normally be resilient bendable in the add-on version compared to the injection nozzle 1 of FIGS. 1-5, where the pipe socket 3 is rigid. The pipe socket 13 in the add-on 11 is therefore allowed to rebound to its initial shape when being removed from the pipe 12 of a cleaning apparatus or the suction nozzle 12 already attached to the cleaning apparatus.

REFERENCE LIST

(29) 1 suction nozzle

(30) 2 housing

(31) 3 pipe socket

(32) 4 base section

(33) 4A outer edge of the base section

(34) 4B first face of the base section

(35) 4C second face of the base section

(36) 5 projection

(37) 5A-C individual projection

(38) 6 inlet for air flow

(39) 7 parallel rows of projections

(40) 7A first parallel row of projections

(41) 7B second parallel row of projections

(42) 8 passage from the outer edge to the inlet

(43) 8A distal end of the passage

(44) 8B proximal end of the passage

(45) 10A-M unit of projections

(46) 11 suction nozzle add-on

(47) 12 suction nozzle of a cleaning apparatus

(48) 13 pipe socket

(49) 14 front face of the suction nozzle add-on

(50) 14A outer edge of the front face