Nozzle device comprising at least one light-emitting source

Abstract

A nozzle device intended for use in a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner is described. The nozzle device can be moved over a surface to be cleaned. The nozzle device includes at least one light-emitting source arranged at a side of the nozzle device, and the at least one light-emitting source emits light from the respective side of the nozzle device. The nozzle device further includes a controlling arrangement for varying, at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source in relation to actual circumstances of a cleaning action between a functional value and at least one default value which is different from the functional value, and for setting the functional value of the parameter when the respective side is in the vicinity of an obstacle on the surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A nozzle device configured to face a surface to be cleaned and to be moved over the surface during a cleaning action, the nozzle device comprising: at least one light-emitting source arranged at a side of the nozzle device and configured to emit light from the respective side of the nozzle device; and a controlling arrangement, wherein the controlling arrangement is configured to vary at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source in relation to actual circumstances of the cleaning action between a functional value and at least one default value which is different from the functional value, and to set the functional value of the parameter when the respective side is in the vicinity of an obstacle on the surface to be cleaned.

2. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source includes power supply to the at least one light-emitting source, and wherein the at least one default value of the power supply is lower than the functional value of the power supply.

3. The nozzle device of claim 2, wherein a default value of the power supply is zero and thereby associated with a deactivated state of the at least one light-emitting source.

4. The nozzle device of claim 1, further comprising a coverage arrangement configured to cover the at least one light-emitting source to a variable extent, wherein the at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source includes the extent to which the at least one light-emitting source is covered by the coverage arrangement.

5. The nozzle device of claim 4, wherein the coverage arrangement comprises one of a movably arranged coverage element made of opaque material and a movably arranged coverage element made of colored transparent or semi-transparent material.

6. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein the controlling arrangement comprises at least one actuation part which is accessible at the outside of the nozzle device, and wherein the controlling arrangement is configured to set the functional value of the parameter when the actuation part is contacted by the obstacle on the surface to be cleaned.

7. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein the controlling arrangement is configured to assess whether or not the obstacle on the surface to be cleaned is present at an actual distance to a reference position on the nozzle device at the respective side which is equal to or smaller than a reference distance.

8. The nozzle device of claim 7, wherein the controlling arrangement includes at least one proximity sensor configured to determine the actual distance through distance detection.

9. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light-emitting source is arranged at at least one of a side of the nozzle device which is configured to be at a side position during the cleaning action and a side of the nozzle device which is configured to be at a front position during the cleaning action.

10. The nozzle device of claim 1, comprising a side light-emitting source arranged at a side of the nozzle device which is configured to be at a side position during the cleaning action, a side light-emitting source arranged at a side of the nozzle device which is configured to be at an opposite side position during the cleaning action, and a front light-emitting source arranged at a side of the nozzle device which is configured to be at a front position during the cleaning action, wherein the controlling arrangement is configured to vary at least one parameter of at least each of the light-emitting sources in relation to actual circumstances of the cleaning action independently from the others of the light-emitting sources.

11. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein, at each of the sides of the nozzle device which are configured to be at a side position during the cleaning action, the nozzle device comprises: at least one opening providing access from an exterior to an interior of the nozzle device so as to allow the nozzle device to receive dirt as may be present on the surface to be cleaned near the sides of the nozzle device.

12. The nozzle device of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to supply electric energy, wherein the at least one light-emitting source is powered by the battery.

13. The nozzle device of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum arrangement configured to enable the nozzle device to subject the surface to be cleaned to a vacuum cleaning action.

14. The nozzle device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light-emitting source comprises at least one LED or at least one light-outcoupling portion of a light guide that further includes a light-incoupling portion configured to receive light from a light-supplying source.

15. A cordless cleaning appliance, comprising the nozzle device of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a nozzle device according to a first embodiment of the invention, which nozzle device comprises a front light-emitting source and two side light-emitting sources,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates aspects of the way in which the effective light output from the side light-emitting sources is controlled during operation of the nozzle device,

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 diagrammatically show a perspective view of a nozzle device according to a second embodiment of the invention, which nozzle device comprises a front light-emitting source, two side light-emitting sources and a coverage arrangement of the side light-emitting sources, wherein FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate different positions of a coverage element included in the coverage arrangement, and

(5) FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows aspects of a nozzle device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a nozzle device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The nozzle device 1 as shown is suitable to be used as a part of a vacuum cleaner, i.e. a cleaning appliance which generates a suction force to create a partial vacuum for sucking up dirt from a surface 100 to be cleaned. During a vacuum cleaning action, the nozzle device 1 is moved over the surface 100 to be cleaned so as to achieve that various areas of the surface 100 are subjected to the vacuum cleaning action until the entire surface 100 is covered. An example of a surface 100 to be cleaned is a floor. Examples of dirt include dust, particles, fibers, hairs, dirty liquid, etc. The nozzle device 1 has a nozzle outlet 11 which is connectable to a dirt collecting position in the vacuum cleaner through a tube, a hose or the like. It is practical if the nozzle device 1 is removably arranged in the vacuum cleaner, but this is not essential in the framework of the invention.

(7) In order to enable a user to have a clear sight on floor areas towards which the nozzle device 1 is moved during a vacuum cleaning action, i.e. floor areas at the front of the nozzle device 1, the nozzle device 1 is equipped with a front light-emitting source 20 located at the front of the nozzle device 1. In the shown example, the front light-emitting source 20 comprises as much as four LEDs 21, wherein the LEDs 21 are integrated in a housing 12 of the nozzle device 1. By driving the front light-emitting source 20 to emit light throughout a vacuum cleaning action, it is achieved that the user is enabled to continuously check the extent to which the floor 100 needs cleaning in an area at a position in front of the nozzle device 1.

(8) Further, the nozzle device 1 is equipped with two side light-emitting sources 30, wherein the one 30a of the two side light-emitting sources 30 is located at the one side of the nozzle device 1 and the other 30b of the two side light-emitting sources 30 is located at the other side of the nozzle device 1, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The side light-emitting sources 30 are configured to emit light in a sideward direction relative to the nozzle device 1. In the shown example, each of the side light-emitting sources 30 includes a single LED 31. The nozzle device 1 comprises a controlling arrangement 32 which serves for controlling each of the side light-emitting sources 30 in such a way that the side light-emitting source 30 is only activated when the side of the nozzle device 1 at which the side light-emitting source 30 is arranged is close to an obstacle 101 on the floor 100 such as a wall/plinth, and is kept in a deactivated state the rest of the time. According to a practical option, the controlling arrangement 32 comprises proximity sensors 33 arranged on the nozzle device 1 at each of the sides of the nozzle device 1, wherein each of the proximity sensors 33 is configured to detect an actual distance d between a reference position on the nozzle device 1, which may be the very position of the proximity sensor 33, and an obstacle 101 as may be present in the vicinity of the respective side, as is the case in the shown embodiment. The respective side light-emitting source 30 is only activated during a period of time that the actual distance d is equal to or smaller than a reference distance. Hence, as long as the actual distance d is not equal to or smaller than the reference distance, the side light-emitting source 30 is not put to an activated state. In this way, power used for illumination is saved, which may especially be beneficial when the power is supplied by a battery. In this respect, it is noted that the nozzle device 1 may comprise a battery for powering both the front light-emitting source 20 and the side light-emitting sources 30.

(9) In FIG. 2, a detection range of the proximity sensor 33 is diagrammatically depicted as a triangular zone. The detection range may be cone-shaped, for example. An electric connection between the proximity sensor 33 and the side light-emitting source 30 is diagrammatically depicted as a curved set of lines. Only when the proximity sensor 33 detects an obstacle 101 at a distance d which is equal to or smaller than the reference distance, the side light-emitting source 30 is caused to be activated. Otherwise, the side light-emitting source 30 is kept in the deactivated state.

(10) The nozzle device 1 is designed to suck up dirt from the floor 100 at the front of the nozzle device 1. Also, the nozzle device 1 comprises at least one opening 13 at each of the sides thereof, particularly an opening 13 for allowing the nozzle device 1 to suck up dirt from the floor 100 at those sides. When the vacuum cleaner including the nozzle device 1 is used to remove dirt from a floor 100, the dirt is displaced from an exterior to an interior of the nozzle device 1 and is transported to the dirt collecting position in the vacuum cleaner. The dirt is picked up at the front and at the sides of the nozzle device 1. The front light-emitting source 20 is continuously operated to emit light in a forward direction relative to the nozzle device 1, so that a user can continuously inspect the presence of dirt on the floor 100. The side light-emitting sources 30 are mostly kept in a deactivated state, and a side light-emitting source 30 is only operated to emit light in a sideward direction relative to the nozzle device 1 in a situation in which the side at which the side light-emitting source 30 is located is close to an obstacle 101. Thus, the user sees that light is continuously emitted from the front of the nozzle device 1, and also that light emission from a side of the nozzle device 1 starts when the side comes within range of an obstacle 101 and is terminated again as soon as the side has been moved away from the obstacle 101 again along a certain distance. The light emitted from a side of the nozzle device 1 helps the user in assessing whether or not the area of the floor 100 which is present between the side of the nozzle device 1 and an obstacle 101, and which would otherwise be dark, is clean to a sufficient extent.

(11) FIGS. 3 and 4 relate to a nozzle device 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention, which resembles the nozzle device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention to a considerable extent. Among other things, the nozzle device 2 according to the second embodiment 2 also comprises a nozzle outlet 11, a housing 12, a front light-emitting source 20, side light-emitting sources 30 and a controlling arrangement 32 including proximity sensors 33 located at each of the sides of the nozzle device 2. A difference between the two nozzle devices 1, 2 is found in the way in which the effective light output from the side light-emitting sources 30 is controlled during operation of the nozzle device 1, 2. As explained in the foregoing, in the nozzle device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, controlling the effective light output from the side light-emitting sources 30 is done through controlling each of the side light-emitting sources 30 in such a way that the side light-emitting source 30 is only activated when the side of the nozzle device 1 at which the side light-emitting source 30 is arranged is close to an obstacle 101 on the floor 100, and is kept in a deactivated state the rest of the time. The nozzle device 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention is designed to enable variation of the effective light output from the side light-emitting sources 30 as well, but this is done by varying an extent to which the side light-emitting sources 30 are covered, as will become apparent from the following.

(12) The nozzle device 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises a coverage arrangement 34 configured to cover the light-emitting sources 30 to a variable extent. The coverage arrangement 34 comprises, at each of the sides of the nozzle device 2, a movably arranged coverage element 35. In the shown example, the coverage element 35 is made of opaque material and is movable between a first position for fully exposing the respective side light-emitting source 30 and a second position for fully covering the respective side light-emitting source 30, wherein the second position is the default position. Thus, the effective light output from the side light-emitting source 30 can be controlled on the basis of the fact that light shines freely from the side light-emitting source 30 when the coverage element 35 is in the first position and that light emitted by the side light-emitting source 30 is blocked from reaching the surroundings of the nozzle device 2 when the coverage element 35 is in the second position.

(13) The coverage arrangement 34 can be of any suitable design. In the shown example, the two coverage elements 35 included in the coverage arrangement 34 are generally shaped like strips. The coverage elements 35 can be arranged on the nozzle device 2 in any suitable way. In the shown example, the coverage elements 35 are slidable in a horizontal direction, which does not alter the fact that other possibilities are covered by the invention as well. Further, the coverage elements 35 do not necessarily need to be made of opaque material. According to an alternative option, the coverage elements 35 may be made of colored transparent or semi-transparent material. In such a case, the effective light output can be varied between a reduced and possibly colored default value and a higher value.

(14) In the nozzle device 2 as shown, the position of the coverage elements 35 is set by means of the controlling arrangement 32 including the proximity sensors 33. As explained in the foregoing in respect of the nozzle device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, each of the proximity sensors 33 is configured to detect an actual distance between a reference position on the nozzle device 2 and an obstacle 101 as may be present in the vicinity of the respective side. The respective coverage element 35 is only put to the position for fully exposing the respective side light-emitting source 30 during a period of time that the actual distance is equal to or smaller than a reference distance. Hence, as long as the actual distance is not equal to or smaller than the reference distance, the coverage element 35 is kept in the default position for fully covering the side light-emitting source 30.

(15) As already suggested in respect of the nozzle device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, it may be so that the front light-emitting source 20 is continuously operated to emit light in a forward direction relative to the nozzle device 2, so that a user can continuously inspect the presence of dirt on the floor 100. The light emitted by the side light-emitting sources 30 is mostly blocked by the coverage elements 35, and a side light-emitting source 30 is only fully exposed in a situation in which the side at which the side light-emitting source 30 is located is close to an obstacle 101. Thus, the user sees that light is continuously emitted from the front of the nozzle device 2, and also that light starts to shine from a side of the nozzle device 2 when the side comes within range of an obstacle 101 and is hidden again as soon as the side has been moved away from the obstacle 101 again along a certain distance.

(16) It is to be noted that it is possible to have a combination of the effective light output controlling methods of the nozzle device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention and the nozzle device 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In such a case, each of the side light-emitting sources 30 is operated at a lower power level or totally shut off and also fully covered by the coverage element 35 as a default and only operated at a higher power level and fully exposed when the side where the side light-emitting source 30 is arranged is in the vicinity of an obstacle 101 on the floor 100. The effective light output controlling methods may also be applied to the front light-emitting source 20 and the preceding remark about the possibility of a combination is equally applicable in this respect.

(17) The light-emitting sources 20, 30 do not necessarily need to comprise light-generating devices such as LEDs. With reference to FIG. 5, in which aspects of a nozzle device 3 according to a third embodiment of the invention are illustrated, it is noted that alternatives are feasible, such as alternatives relying on light guide techniques. In general, an advantage of using light guides resides in robustness of construction and flexibility of design.

(18) FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows a top view of a nozzle device 3 in which each of the two side light-emitting sources 30a, 30b comprises a light-outcoupling portion 36a of a light guide 36 that further includes a light-incoupling portion 36b configured to receive light from a light-supplying source 37. In the shown example, the light-supplying source 37 that is arranged to supply light to the light guide 36 is located on a printed circuit board assembly 15 that further supports and powers the front light-emitting source 20. The light-supplying source 37 may comprise a light-generating device such as an LED, for example, or may be realized in another suitable manner. For the sake of clarity, it is noted that light emitted by the light-emitting sources 20, 30 of the nozzle device 30 is indicated in FIG. 5 as respective cone-shaped areas. Further, it is noted that the controlling arrangement 32 is omitted from the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 5. In general, controlling the effective light output of the light-emitting sources 20, 30 of the nozzle device 3 may take place in any suitable way, including by controlling power supply to the light-emitting sources 20, 30, controlling an extent of coverage of the light-emitting sources 20, 30, or a combination thereof, as described in the foregoing.

(19) It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details which are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

(20) Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

(21) Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(22) The terms “comprise” and “include” as used in this text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term “consist of”. Hence, the term “comprise” or “include” may in respect of an embodiment mean “consist of”, but may in another embodiment mean “contain/have/be equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.

(23) Notable aspects of the invention are summarized as follows. A nozzle device 1, 2, 3 is intended for use in a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner, and is configured to be moved over a surface 100 to be cleaned. The nozzle device 1, 2, 3 comprises at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 arranged at a side of the nozzle device 1, 2, 3 and configured to emit light from the respective side of the nozzle device 1, 2, 3, and a controlling arrangement 32 configured to vary at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 in relation to actual circumstances of a cleaning action between a functional value and at least one default value which is different from the functional value, and to set the functional value of the parameter when the respective side is in the vicinity of an obstacle 101 on the surface 100 to be cleaned.

(24) According to a first practical example, the at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 includes power supply to the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30. In such a case, it can be achieved that power supply to the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 is normally at a relatively low default value and is put to a higher functional value when the respective side is in the vicinity of an obstacle 101 on the surface 100 to be cleaned so that effective light output is increased in that situation, possibly from no effective light output at all as a default. According to a second practical example, the at least one parameter of the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 includes an extent to which the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 is covered. In such a case, it can be achieved that the at least one light-emitting source 20, 30 is normally fully covered and is at least partially exposed when the respective side is in the vicinity of an obstacle 101 on the surface 100 to be cleaned so that effective light output is increased in that situation, possibly from no effective light output at all as a default when an opaque coverage element 35 is used.