PORTABLE HARD SURFACE CLEANING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A portable hard surface cleaning appliance is provided, including a suction nozzle having a suction opening at which at least one squeegee lip is arranged, an electrical device having a suction turbine in flow connection with the suction nozzle for suctioning a liquid air mixture from the suction opening, an electric motor, an electronic control system, at least one rechargeable battery, a separating device arranged in the flow path between the suction nozzle and the suction turbine for separating liquid from the suctioned liquid air mixture, and a liquid tank for receiving the separated liquid. The hard surface cleaning appliance includes an inner housing arrangement and an outer housing arrangement, wherein the inner housing arrangement accommodates the separating device and the electrical device, and the outer housing arrangement surrounds the inner housing arrangement.

Claims

1. A portable hard surface cleaning appliance for squeegeeing and suctioning a liquid from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane, comprising: a suction nozzle, which has a suction opening at which at least one squeegee lip is arranged; an electrical device, which has a suction turbine in flow connection with the suction nozzle for suctioning a liquid air mixture from the suction opening, an electric motor, an electronic control system, and at least one rechargeable battery; a separating device, which is arranged in the flow path between the suction nozzle and the suction turbine for separating liquid from the suctioned liquid air mixture; and a liquid tank for receiving the separated liquid, wherein the hard surface cleaning appliance comprises an inner housing arrangement and an outer housing arrangement, wherein the inner housing arrangement accommodates the separating device and the electrical device, and the outer housing arrangement surrounds the inner housing arrangement.

2. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner housing arrangement comprises a separating housing, in which the separating device is arranged and which comprises a first separating housing part and a second separating housing part, which are connectible to each other in a liquid-tight manner.

3. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein the two separating housing parts are connectible to each other in a first joining direction, wherein arranged on one of the two separating housing parts is a first sealing element which is pressable perpendicularly to the first joining direction against at least one first sealing face that is arranged on the other of the two separating housing parts.

4. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first separating housing part comprises an annular groove with a groove base and with two groove walls arranged at a distance from each other, wherein at least one groove wall forms a first sealing face, and wherein the first sealing element is arranged on the second separating housing part and, upon joining the two separating housing parts, dips into the annular groove and is pressable against the at least one first sealing face.

5. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first sealing element is molded onto the second separating housing part.

6. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first sealing element and the second separating housing part together form an injection molded part with two components.

7. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first sealing element is configured as a first sealing ring closed in itself, which surrounds a first planar surface region oriented perpendicularly to the first joining direction.

8. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 7, wherein arranged outside of the first surface region are first fixing elements for fixing the first separating housing part to the second separating housing part.

9. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 8, wherein the first fixing elements comprise latching elements and/or screw elements.

10. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the two separating housing parts is releasably connectible to the suction nozzle.

11. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the two separating housing parts comprises an inlet channel into which an end portion of a suction conduit of the suction nozzle dips.

12. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the two separating housing parts comprises an air outlet, by way of which the separating housing is in flow connection with the suction turbine.

13. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the two separating housing parts comprises a liquid outlet, by way of which the separating housing is in flow connection with the liquid tank.

14. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner housing arrangement comprises an electrical housing in which the electrical device is arranged and which comprises a first electrical housing part and a second electrical housing part that are connectible to each other in a liquid-tight manner.

15. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 14, wherein the two electrical housing parts are connectible to each other in a second joining direction, wherein arranged on one of the two electrical housing parts is a second sealing element which is pressable perpendicularly to the second joining direction against at least one second sealing face that is arranged on the other of the two electrical housing parts.

16. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first electrical housing part comprises an annular groove with a groove base and with two groove walls arranged at a distance from each other, wherein at least one groove wall forms a second sealing face, and wherein the second sealing element is arranged on the second electrical housing part and, upon joining the two electrical housing parts, dips into the annular groove and is pressable against the at least one second sealing face.

17. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 16, wherein the second sealing element is molded onto the second electrical housing part.

18. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 17, wherein the second sealing element and the second electrical housing part together form an injection molded part with two components.

19. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 15, wherein the second sealing element is configured as a second sealing ring closed in itself, which surrounds a second planar surface region oriented perpendicularly to the second joining direction.

20. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 19, wherein arranged outside of the second surface region are second fixing elements for fixing the first electrical housing part to the second electrical housing part.

21. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 20, wherein the second fixing elements comprise latching elements and/or screw elements.

22. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of the two electrical housing parts comprises a motor receptacle into which the electric motor is insertable.

23. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 22, wherein the electric motor comprises a motor housing.

24. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of the two electrical housing parts comprises a turbine receptacle into which the suction turbine is insertable.

25. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 14, wherein one of the two electrical housing parts comprises a battery receptacle into which the at least one rechargeable battery is insertable.

26. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 14, wherein the electronic control system is insertable into one of the two electrical housing parts and comprises at least one circuit board on which electrical components are arranged.

27. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 26, wherein the electronic control system comprises at least one light-emitting element which is arranged on a circuit board, and wherein one of the two electrical housing parts comprises a housing portion which covers the at least one light-emitting element and is light-transmissive.

28. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 27, wherein the at least one light-emitting element forms a display device on which plain text is displayable.

29. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner housing arrangement comprises an electrical housing in which the electrical device is arranged and which comprises a first electrical housing part and a second electrical housing part that are connectible to each other in a liquid-tight manner, and wherein the separating housing is releasably connectible to the electrical housing.

30. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer housing arrangement comprises an outer housing jacket, which is formed by a first outer housing part and a second outer housing part and surrounds the inner housing arrangement in the circumferential direction.

31. The portable hard surface cleaning appliance in accordance with claim 30, wherein the outer housing arrangement comprises a third outer housing part which covers an underside of the inner housing arrangement that is remote from the suction nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a portable hard surface cleaning appliance;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of the hard surface cleaning appliance from FIG. 1, wherein a suction nozzle and a liquid tank are separated from a base body of the hard surface cleaning appliance;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the hard surface cleaning appliance in the direction of arrow A from FIG. 1, wherein the liquid tank has been hidden;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the hard surface cleaning appliance along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a perspective depiction of the base body of the hard surface cleaning appliance in the manner of an exploded illustration;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an inner housing arrangement of the hard surface cleaning appliance from FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a perspective depiction of the inner housing arrangement in the manner of an exploded illustration;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the inner housing arrangement along line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

[0060] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged depiction of detail X in FIG. 8;

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the inner housing arrangement along line 10-10 in FIG. 6; and

[0062] FIG. 11 shows an enlarged depiction of detail Y in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063] Schematically depicted in the drawing is an advantageous embodiment of a portable hard surface cleaning appliance which is designated as a whole with the reference numeral 10. By means of the portable hard surface cleaning appliance 10, liquid can be squeegeed and suctioned from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane. Even mirror surfaces or tiled walls or, for example, a smooth table surface can be cleaned by means of the portable hard surface cleaning appliance 10.

[0064] The hard surface cleaning appliance 10 can be moved by the user along the hard surface in the manner of a manual window squeegee. The hard surface cleaning appliance 10 forms, in particular, a portable window cleaning appliance.

[0065] The hard surface cleaning appliance 10 comprises a base body 12. The base body 12 comprises a standing surface 14 on its bottom, such that the hard surface cleaning appliance 10 can be stood in an upright position, as it is depicted in particular in FIGS. 1 and 4, on a placement surface.

[0066] In addition to the base body 12, the hard surface cleaning appliance 10 comprises a suction nozzle 16 and a liquid tank 18, which are releasably connectible to the base body 12.

[0067] The suction nozzle 16 comprises on its free end remote from the base body 12 a flexible squeegee lip 20, which is held at a suction opening 22. This is made clear in particular in FIG. 4. The suction opening 22 is adjoined by a suction conduit 24, which passes through a suction nozzle housing 26 and protrudes with its end portion 28 remote from the squeegee lip 20 out of the suction nozzle housing 26.

[0068] In the embodiment depicted, the base body 12 comprises a three-part outer housing arrangement 30 in which an inner housing arrangement 32 is arranged. The outer housing arrangement 30 is formed by a first outer housing part 34, a second outer housing part 36, and a third outer housing part 38. The first outer housing part 34 forms in combination with the second outer housing part 36 an outer housing jacket 40, which completely surrounds the inner housing arrangement 32 in the circumferential direction. The third outer housing part 38 forms an outer housing base 42, which forms the standing surface 14 and covers the underside of the inner housing arrangement 32.

[0069] The first outer housing part 34 forms a grip opening 44 and together with the second outer housing part 36 the first outer housing part 34 forms a handle 46, which the user can grip with his hand, wherein he can reach his fingers through the grip opening 44.

[0070] The inner housing arrangement 32 comprises a separating housing 48 and an electrical housing 50, which are releasably connected to each other. In the embodiment depicted, the separating housing 48 is screwed to the electrical housing 50. This is described in more detail below.

[0071] The separating housing 48 is formed by a first separating housing part 52 and a second separating housing part 54. Arranged within the separating housing 48 is a separating device 56 which comprises a separating chamber 58 surrounded by the first separating housing part 52 and the second separating housing part 54, and comprises a separating element 60 arranged within the separating chamber 58, which in the embodiment depicted is configured as a baffle plate 62.

[0072] The first separating housing part 52 is configured in the manner of a hood and the second separating housing part 54 is of substantially plate-like configuration. The first separating housing part 52 comprises on its upper side 64 facing toward the suction nozzle 16 an inlet channel 66 into which the end portion 28 of the suction conduit 24 dips.

[0073] The second separating housing part 54 comprises an air outlet channel 68 which projects into the separating chamber 58 and which bears on its free end arranged within the separating chamber 58 the separating element 60 that, in the embodiment depicted, is latchable to the air outlet channel 68. Arranged between the separating element 60 and the air outlet channel 68 is an air inlet opening 70 covered by the separating element 60, by way of which the suction air can flow from the separating chamber 58 into the air outlet channel 68.

[0074] The second separating housing part 54 also forms a liquid outlet channel 72 which projects into a tank receptacle 74 that is delimited by the first outer housing part 34 and the third outer housing part 38. The liquid tank 18 can be inserted into the tank receptacle 74 and, for example for emptying, the liquid tank 18 can be removed from the tank receptacle 74.

[0075] The first separating housing part 52 is connected to the second separating housing part 54 in a liquid-tight manner. The first separating housing part 52 can be placed on the second separating housing part 54 in a first joining direction, which is shown in FIG. 7 by the arrow B. On an annular rim portion 76 facing the second separating housing part 54, the first separating housing part 52 comprises an annular groove 78, which is U-shaped in cross section, with a groove base 80 from which a first groove wall 82 and a second groove wall 84 project in the direction of the second separating housing part 54.

[0076] The second housing part 54 bears facing toward the annular groove 78 of the first separating housing part 52 an annular collar 86 on which a first sealing element 88 is arranged. The first sealing element 88 surrounds the annular collar 86 and dips into the annular groove 78 upon joining the two separating housing parts 52, 54, wherein the first sealing element 88 is pressed perpendicularly to the first joining direction B against the first groove wall 82 and against the second groove wall 84. The two groove walls 82, 84 each form a first sealing face and, upon joining the two separating housing parts 52, 54, the first sealing element 88 comes into abutment in a liquid-tight manner with the first sealing faces of the two groove walls 82, 84.

[0077] The first sealing element 88 forms in combination with the second separating housing part 54 a one-part injection molded part, which comprises two components, namely a soft component in the form of the first sealing element 88 and a hard component in the form of the second separating housing part 54. The second separating housing part 54 may be made e.g. of an ABS material and the first sealing element 88 may be made e.g. of a rubber-like plastics material. The first separating housing part 52 is preferably made of the same material as the second separating housing part 54.

[0078] By pressing the first sealing element 88 in between the two groove walls 82, 84, a liquid-tight connection is reliably produced upon joining the two separating housing parts 52, 54, without all too great of requirements having to be placed on the dimensional stability of the two separating housing parts 52, 54.

[0079] The first sealing element 88 is configured as a sealing ring closed in itself, which extends along a periphery of a first planar surface region 90 oriented perpendicularly to the first joining direction B. This is made clear in particular in FIG. 7, in which the first surface region 90 is depicted hatched.

[0080] Outside of the first surface region 90, arranged along the outer periphery of the rim portion 76 are a plurality of first latching projections 91, 92, which cooperate with complementarily formed second latching projections 93, 94 in the sense of a latching connection, wherein the first latching projections 91, 92 each engage behind a second latching projection 93 and 94, respectively, upon joining the two separating housing parts 52, 54.

[0081] Outside of the first surface regions, also arranged on the second separating housing part 54 is a latching hook 100, which, upon joining the two separating housing parts 52, 54, dips into a latch receptacle, which is not depicted in the illustration, of the first separating housing part 52 associated with the latching hook 100.

[0082] The electrical housing 50 is formed by a first electrical housing part 102 and a second electrical housing part 104 and surrounds an electrical device 106. The electrical device 106 comprises a suction turbine 108 and an electric motor 110 as well as an electronic control system 112 and two rechargeable batteries 114, 116.

[0083] The first electrical housing part 102 comprises on its upper side facing the separating housing part 52 a trough-shaped turbine receptacle 118 into which the suction turbine 108 can be inserted. Moreover, the first electrical housing part 102 comprises a motor receptacle 120 into which the electric motor 110 can be inserted, the motor shaft 121 of which is non-rotatably connectible to the suction turbine 108. The electric motor 110 comprises a motor housing 122 which surrounds a stator and a rotor of the electric motor 110 in the typical manner.

[0084] The first electrical housing part 102 moreover comprises a battery receptacle 124 into which the two rechargeable batteries 114, 116 can be inserted.

[0085] The second electrical housing part 104 accommodates the electronic control system 112 with a circuit board 126 on which a plurality of electrical components 128 are arranged.

[0086] The electronic control system 112 is configured as an electronic control, switch, and charging system and comprises a display device 130 arranged on the circuit board 126, which is formed by a multitude of light-emitting elements 134. In addition, arranged on the circuit board 126 is a charging socket 136 to which the user can connect a charging cable in order to connect the batteries 114, 116 to an external charging device.

[0087] The second electrical housing part 104 comprises an opening 138 into which the charging socket 136 dips with the interposition of a sealing ring 140.

[0088] At the height of the display device 130, the second electrical housing part 104 comprises a light-transmissible housing portion 142, by way of which the light emitted by the display device 130 can pass through the second electrical housing part 104.

[0089] The second electrical housing part 104 can be placed on the first electrical housing part 102 in a second joining direction, which is shown in FIG. 7 by arrow C. The first electrical housing part 102 comprises a circumferential rim portion 144 which faces the second electrical housing part 104 and bears an annular groove 146 that is U-shaped in cross section with a groove base 148 from which a first groove wall 150 and a second groove wall 152 arranged at a distance from the first groove wall 150 project in the direction of the second electrical housing part 104. The second electrical housing part 104 comprises a circumferential annular collar 154 on which a second sealing element 156 is arranged. Upon joining the two electrical housing parts 102, 104, the second sealing element 156 dips into the annular groove 146, wherein it is pressed perpendicularly to the second joining direction C against the two groove walls 150, 152. The second sealing element 156 is configured as a second sealing ring closed in itself, which extends along the periphery of a planar second surface region 158. This is made clear in particular in FIG. 7, in which the second surface region 158 is depicted hatched. The second surface region 158 is oriented at an angle to the first surface region 90.

[0090] Outside of the second surface region 158, arranged along the outer periphery of the rim portion 144 are a multitude of third latching projections 160 which, upon joining the two electrical housing parts 102, 104, each cooperate in the sense of a latching connection with a fourth latching projection 162 arranged outside of the second annular surface 158 on the outer side of the second electrical housing part 104. In relation to the second joining direction C, the third latching projections 160 are hereby each engaged from behind by a fourth latching projection 162.

[0091] In addition to the third latching projections 160, arranged on the outer side of the rim portion 144 of the first electrical housing part 102 are a plurality of first screw receptacles 164, and the second electrical housing part 104 bears on its outer side a plurality of second screw receptacles 166, which in relation to the second joining direction C are each oriented in alignment with a first screw receptacle 164 and each can be passed through by a connecting screw, such that the two electrical housing parts 102, 104 can not only be latched to each other but also can be screwed to each other.

[0092] The separating housing 48 is releasably connectible to the electrical housing 50. For this purpose, arranged on the outer side of the first separating housing part 52 and thus outside of the first surface region 90 are a plurality of third screw receptacles 168 distributed over the periphery of the rim portion 76, which each are associated with a fourth screw receptacle 170 arranged outside of the turbine receptacle 118 on the first electrical housing part 102. A respective third screw receptacle 168 can be passed through by a connecting screw, not depicted in the illustration, which can be screwed into a fourth screw receptacle 170. The connecting screws extend outside of the first surface region 90 and the second separating housing part 54 adopts a position between the first separating housing part 52 and the first electrical housing part 102 and is clamped between said two housing parts.

[0093] The inner housing arrangement 32 together with the separating device 56 and the electrical device 106 forms an assembly of the hard surface cleaning appliance 10, which can be prefabricated in large quantities. The prefabricated assembly may then be enclosed by the outer housing arrangement 30, the design of which can be optimized largely independently of the technical requirements that are placed on the inner housing arrangement 32.

[0094] In order to enable access to the charging socket 136, the first outer housing part 34 comprises a first perforation 174 and the third outer housing part 38 comprises a second perforation 176. Upon the assembly of the hard surface cleaning appliance 10, the perforations 174 and 176 are oriented in alignment with the opening 138 of the second electrical housing part 104, wherein the first perforation 174 of the first outer housing part 34 adopts a position between the second perforation 176 of the third outer housing part 38 and the opening 138 of the second electrical housing part 104.

[0095] In order to be able to recognize letters and digits displayed on the display device 130, the first outer housing part 34 comprises at the level of the display device 130 a third perforation 178, which is covered by a light-transmissible lid 180 that can be inserted into the third perforation 178 upon the assembly of the hard surface cleaning appliance 10.

[0096] For cleaning a hard surface, in particular a window pane, the portable hard surface cleaning appliance 10 can be moved along the hard surface to be cleaned in the manner of a manual window squeegee, wherein liquid located on the hard surface collects at the suction opening 22. Under the effect of the suction flow caused by the suction turbine 108, the liquid together with suction air can be suctioned from the hard surface. The mixture of liquid and suction air is able to flow through the suction conduit 24 to enter the separating chamber 58. Within the separating chamber 58, the liquid strikes the separating element 60 and is thereby separated from the suctioned mixture of liquid and air. The separated liquid can then enter the liquid tank 18 via the liquid outlet channel 72. The suction air can reach the suction turbine 108 via the air inlet opening 70 and the air outlet channel 68 and can be released from said suction turbine 108 into the environment via exhaust air openings, which are not depicted in the illustration.

[0097] The drive of the suction turbine 108 is effected by means of the electric motor 110, which can be controlled by the electronic control system 112.

[0098] As already mentioned, the separated liquid is collected in the liquid tank 18, which must be emptied from time to time. For this purpose, the user can remove the liquid tank 18 from the tank receptacle 74. The emptied liquid tank 18 may then be replaced into the tank receptacle 74.