CANISTER VACUUM CLEANER WITH BATTERY-POWERED FLOOR NOZZLE

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a nozzle with an electric motor and a cleaning device driven thereby. A separate suction unit has an electric fan for drawing in air and a collector for separating dust from the drawn-in air. A suction conduit extends between the nozzle and the suction unit so the electric fan draws air and dust in through the nozzle, pulls it through the conduit, and separates the dust from the air in the collector. The conduit further has a rigid pipe having an outer end connected to the nozzle and an opposite inner end and a flexible hose connected between the inner end and the suction unit and opening into the collector. A power unit for the nozzle motor has a housing mounted on the pipe, a lithium-ion battery contained in the housing, and a control contained in the housing and operating the electric motor of the nozzle from the battery.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle having an electric motor, and a cleaning device driven by the motor; a suction unit having an electric fan for drawing in air, a collector for separating dust from the aspirated air; a suction conduit extending between the nozzle and the suction unit so the electric fan draws air and dust in through the nozzle, pulls it through the conduit, and separates the dust from the air in the collector, the conduit comprising a rigid pipe having an outer end connected to the nozzle and an opposite inner end; and a power unit having a housing mounted on the pipe, a lithium-ion battery contained in the housing, and a control contained in the housing and operating the electric motor of the nozzle from the battery.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the battery has a plurality of cells.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the battery has a plurality of cells each comprising: a relatively thick first lithium-ion unit snugly fittable in the housing, or a second lithium-ion unit thinner than the first unit and a spacer body together snugly fittable in the housing.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the battery has a plurality of cells each comprising: a relatively thick lithium-ion unit snugly fittable in the housing, or a second lithium-ion unit thinner than the first lithium-ion unit and a single spacer body together snugly fittable in the housing, or a third lithium-ion unit thicker than the second lithium-ion unit and sandwiched between a pair of spacer bodies together snugly fittable in the housing.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pipe and the housing fit complementarily together.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the pipe has a part-cylindrical convex outer surface and the housing has a complementary part-cylindrical in surface contact with the outer surface.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the pipe has a cylindrically tubular outer section and a cylindrically tubular inner section telescoped with the outer section, the housing being fitted to the outer section.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the outer section has a large-diameter part and a small-diameter part of smaller diameter than the large-diameter part, the small-diameter part making up at least 75% of a longitudinal length of the outer section.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, further comprising: a latch releasably securing the sections against relative longitudinal movement.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the housing fits with both parts of the outer section, the outer section being formed with a step between the parts.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the battery in the housing lies only adjacent the small-diameter part of the pipe and the controller only lies adjacent the large-diameter part.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the housing has an outer end on an outer end of the outer section and an inner end on an inner end of the outer section, the housing being connected to the outer section only at the inner and outer ends thereof.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, further comprising: an outer mount secured to the housing and through which the outer end of the outer section projects, and an inner mount the secured to the housing and through which the inner end of the outer section projects, the mounts securing the housing to the outer section.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, further comprising: a housing electrical connector extending from the battery and control through the inner mount; a nozzle electrical connector complementary to the housing electrical connector, engageable therewith, and on the nozzle.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the outer mount is fastened to the suction pipe by an inner fastener that is concealed and/or secured by the housing held at the outer mount.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the telescoping sections are held by the inner mount to the outer tube section.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the outer mount fits longitudinally onto the suction pipe in the axial direction and is locked in place thereon by an inner fastener.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the conduit further comprises a flexible hose connected between the inner end and the suction unit and opening into the collector.

19. A suction pipe with an electrical power unit fixed thereon for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, the electrical power unit comprising a housing connected to the suction pipe, a controller in the housing, and at least one electrical storage cell connected to the controller and controlled thereby, this storage cell being a lithium-ion battery.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0042] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a partly sectional view of a canister-type vacuum cleaner according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2A is a detail view of the suction tube and power unit of the inventive vacuum cleaner;

[0045] FIG. 2B shows the suction tube and power unit of FIG. 2A, but in exploded view;

[0046] FIG. 3A is a section taken on section plane 3A-3A of FIG. 2B;

[0047] FIG. 3B is a view like FIG. 3A but of an alternative embodiment; and

[0048] FIG. 3C is a view like FIG. 3A but of yet another alternative embodiment.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner according to the invention. The vacuum cleaner has a nozzle 1 with an electric motor 2 and a brush roller 3 driven by the electric motor 2 via a toothed belt 4. For purposes of illustrating the nozzle 1 is shown partially in section. The base of the nozzle 1 has a suction intake 5 through which dust-laden air can be drawn into the nozzle 1.

[0050] The vacuum cleaner further has a canister 6 also shown partly in section. The canister 6 contains a dust collector with a filter bag 7 and an open-pored foam filter 8. To generate a suction air stream, a fan 9 powered by an electric drive motor 10 is provided. To drive motor 10 of canister 6 is in turn powered by a line cable 11 that can be retracted into the canister 6.

[0051] Air flow from the nozzle 1 to the canister 6 is through a suction conduit 13 that has a rigid, cylindrically tubular suction pipe 12 detachably connected to the nozzle 1 and a suction conduit 13 that connects the inner end of the suction pipe 12 to the canister 6. The conduit 13 has a rigid handle 13a and a flexible hose 13b connected thereto.

[0052] There is an electrical power unit 14 fixed on the suction pipe 12. The unit 14 provides energy to the electric motor 2 inside the nozzle 1. There is no electrical connection between the canister 6 and the nozzle 1.

[0053] Adjacent a suction connection fitting 1a of nozzle 1 into which suction pipe 12 is inserted, there is a electrical connector 1b for electrically connecting to the electrical power unit 14. To this end, the electrical connector 1b is equipped with a connector 14b described below,

[0054] The detailed design of the power unit 14 and the arrangement thereof on the suction pipe 12 is explained with the aid of FIGS. 2A and 2B. The pipe 12 has an outer tube section 12a and an inner tube section 12b that can be inserted into the outer tube section 12a telescopically. The relative position between outer tube section 12a and inner tube section 12b is fixed using a latch. This mechanism is designed to be actuated by a control element 15.

[0055] Telescoping of the sections 12a and 12b adjusts the length of the suction pipe 12 by shifting the inner tube section 12b telescopically relative to the outer tube section 12a. In FIG. 1, the maximum pulled-out position of the telescope mechanism is shown. In contrast, in FIG. 2A the suction pipe is shown in the maximum pushed-in position 20 in solid lines, the extended position being indicated with broken lines.

[0056] The outer tube section 12a of the suction pipe 12 has an outer part I with a diameter D.sub.1 and an inner part II with a second diameter D.sub.2. The outer section I extends over at least 75% of the length of the outer tube section 12a. In the pushed-in position (FIG. 2A), a housing 14a of the power unit 14 lies against both the outer part I and the inner part II of outer tube section 12a.

[0057] The housing 14a has a step 17 fitting with a complementary step 16 where the outer tube section 12a changes diameter. This is particularly visible in the exploded view of FIG. 2B that further shows that the shape of the face 14f of the housing 14 bearing against the pipe is complementary to the shape of the outer surface of this suction pipe 12. In addition the radii of curvature of this surface fit with the parts I and II of different outer diameters D.sub.1 and D.sub.2.

[0058] In the section of FIG. 3A, the inner construction of power unit 14 can be seen. Inside housing 14a there is a plurality of energy-storage cells 18 that are connected to a controller 19 that monitors and controls the charging and discharging behavior of the cells 18. Each of the cells 18 has at least one battery based on lithium ion technology. These can be so-called lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries.

[0059] The electrical storage cells 18 are selected from a first type whose dimensions are matched to the inner dimensions of housing 14a such that energy-storage cells 18 are held snugly therein. There is no additional fixing or support required.

[0060] An alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 3B. Here, energy-storage cells of a second type 18′ are installed that have smaller geometric dimensions, in particular thickness, than the storage cells 18 of the first type. By using spacer elements 20, power units 18′ of the second type are stored in an identical housing 14a without any consequent disadvantages. A uniform exterior appearance is ensured this way.

[0061] Another possible embodiment is seen in FIG. 3C. Here, the housing also has the step 17 adapted to the diameter change of suction pipe 12, but the opposite outer surface 21 is designed to be substantially straight. This allows the power unit 14′ to be integrated to the suction pipe 12 inconspicuously. Due to the small space available in the housing 14′, which is to be next to area II of suction pipe 12, none of the electrical storage cells 18 of the first type are located there, but only the controller 19 is located there.

[0062] Below, more details are provided on the fastening of the power unit 14 or 14′ on suction pipe 12 in an especially preferred manner according to the invention. This is made clear in particular by a comparison of FIGS. 2A and 2B. Power unit 14 is fastened to suction pipe 12 exclusively using an outer mount 22 and an inner mount 23.

[0063] The outer mount 22 is at an outer end of the power unit 14 and near an outer end of the outer tube section 12a. Correspondingly, the inner mount 23 is positioned at an inner end of the power unit 14 and near an inner end of outer tube section 12a.

[0064] In this embodiment, the outer mount 22 has an outer collar 22a that creates an outer hole 22b for the outer part I of the outer tube section 12a. An outer cap 22c is connected to the outer collar 22 and is unitary therewith. The outer end of the power unit 14 is housed in this outer cap and positively secured by it. Correspondingly, the inner mount 23 has an inner collar 23a forming an inner hole as well as an inner cap 23c. The inner end of the energy power unit 14 is housed in this inner cap 23c.

[0065] Furthermore, the inner collar 23a simultaneously forms the end closure of the outer tube section 12a and the control element 15 reaches therethrough for the telescope mechanism. The inner mount 23 is fastened on the suction pipe 12 by an inner fastener in the form of a screw 24. Alternatively, plug or latch connectors can be used here. The screw fastener 24 is on the inside of inner cap 23c such that it is not accessible in the installed position (FIGS. 1 and 2A) when an energy power unit 14 is pushed into the cap 23c. The fastener 24 is therefore concealed and secured by the power unit 14.

[0066] Further, an electrical plug connector 14b is provided at the outer end of the power unit 14. As can be seen in FIG. 2A, this connector 14b reaches through an opening 22d of outer cap 22c. In the fully installed state (FIG. 1), the connector 14b here is in contact with the associated electrical connector 1b of the nozzle 1.

[0067] To secure the outer mount 22, a latch connection is provided between outer tube section 12a and outer mount 22. To this end, the outer collar 22a has at least one latch receptacle 22e into which a spring-loaded latch element 25 of the suction pipe 12 can reach for a positive lock. This holds the outer mount 22, which can be pushed onto suction pipe 12, on the suction pipe in a positively locked, permanent manner. Removal is nearly impossible without a special tool provided for this purpose.

[0068] To charge the power unit 14, a charging connection 14c is provided thereon. In the assembled state, this connection 14c can be accessed through a cut-out 23d in the inner mount 23. Furthermore, an inner cut-out 23e is also provided there that makes a charging state display 14d of power unit 14 visible. The operation of the electromotive drive 2, 3, 4 of the nozzle 1 is done via a pressure switch 14e in the upper area of the power unit 14, this upper area facing the user.