CLEANER HEAD FOR A VACUUM CLEANING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a housing which defines a suction chamber. The suction chamber has a suction inlet through which air enters the suction chamber, and a suction port through which air exits the suction chamber. The cleaner head includes a plurality of casters for supporting the cleaner head. Each caster is rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis which is perpendicular to the suction inlet. Each caster is also rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The cleaner head further includes a plurality of guide members for guiding into the suction chamber debris entrained within air drawn towards the suction inlet. Each guide member is arranged to rotate with a respective caster about the first axis.

Claims

1. A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance, the cleaner head comprising: a housing defining a suction chamber, the suction chamber having a suction inlet and a suction port; and a plurality of wheels for supporting the cleaner head, each wheel being rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis which is perpendicular to the suction inlet; and a plurality of guide members for guiding into the suction chamber debris entrained within air drawn towards the suction inlet, each guide member being arranged to rotate with a respective wheel about the first axis.

2. The cleaner head according to claim 1, wherein each guide member comprises a guide surface for guiding the entrained debris towards the suction inlet.

3. The cleaner head according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface extends at least partially about the first axis.

4. The cleaner head according to claim 2, wherein each wheel is rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the guide surface is perpendicular to the second axis.

5. The cleaner head according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface is convex in shape.

6. The cleaner head according to claim 5, wherein the guide surface has one of a curved and polygonal shape.

7. The cleaner head according to claim 1, wherein each guide member is located adjacent a respective end of the suction chamber.

8. The cleaner head according to claim 1, wherein each guide member is located adjacent a respective corner of the suction inlet.

9. The cleaner head according to claim 1, comprising two pairs of guide members, each pair of guide members being located adjacent a respective end of the suction chamber.

10. The cleaner head according to claim 9, wherein each pair of guide members is mounted in a respective cartridge connected to the housing.

11. The cleaner head according to claim 10, comprising a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on each cartridge.

12. The cleaner head according to claim 11, wherein the pair of wheels comprises a front wheel and a rear wheel.

13. The cleaner head according to claim 10, wherein each cartridge is located adjacent a respective end of the suction chamber.

14. The cleaner head according to claim 10, wherein each cartridge is located adjacent the agitator.

15. The cleaner head according to claim 9, comprising an agitator located towards the front of the cleaner head, and wherein the pairs of guide members are located rearwardly of the agitator.

16. The cleaner head according to claim 10, comprising a front agitator and a rear agitator, each cartridge being located between the front agitator and rear agitator.

17. The cleaner head according to claim 1, wherein each wheel is in the form of a caster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Preferred features of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 is an angled view of a cleaner head;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, from below, of the cleaner head;

[0042] FIG. 3 is a front view of the cleaner head;

[0043] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cleaner head;

[0044] FIG. 5 is a top view of the cleaner head;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cleaner head, with casters of the cleaner head in a first orientation relative to a housing of the cleaner head;

[0046] FIG. 7 is a section view of the part of the cleaner head, taken along line A-A in FIG. 6;

[0047] FIG. 8 is a section view of the part of the cleaner head, taken along line B-B in FIG. 6;

[0048] FIG. 9 is a section view of the part of the cleaner head, taken along line C-C in FIG. 6;

[0049] FIG. 10(a) is a front view of the housing of the cleaner head, and FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view of the housing;

[0050] FIG. 11(a) is a sectional view of the housing, taken along line D-D in FIG. 10(b), FIG. 11(b) is a sectional view of the housing, taken along line E-E in FIG. 10(b);

[0051] FIG. 12(a) is a top view of a baffle plate of the housing, FIG. 12(b) is a side view of the baffle plate, and FIG. 12(c) is a bottom view of the baffle plate;

[0052] FIG. 13 is a perspective view, from above, of a caster cartridge of the cleaner head;

[0053] FIG. 14 is a perspective view, from below, of the caster cartridge; and

[0054] FIG. 15 is another bottom view of the cleaner head, with casters of the cleaner head in a second orientation relative to the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIGS. 1 to 15 illustrate an example of a cleaner head 10 for a vacuum cleaning appliance. The cleaner head 10 comprises a housing 12, a front agitator 14 and a rear agitator 16 each mounted to the housing 12 for rotation relative thereto, and a neck 18 connected to the housing 12.

[0056] Each agitator 14, 16 is in the form of a brush bar comprising an elongate body 20 to which bristles, flicker strips or other means 22 for agitating a surface are attached. In the present embodiment, the elongate body 20 is covered with a plush of synthetic fibres 24. The housing 12 is shaped to expose the front surface of the front agitator 14, and to expose the rear surface of the rear agitator 16 so that the agitators 14, 16 can provide relatively soft front and rear bumpers of the cleaner head 10.

[0057] The agitators 14, 16 are driven to rotate in opposite directions about axes of rotation X1, X2 which are parallel to one another, and which are each collinear with the longitudinal axis of its respective agitator 14, 16. When the cleaner head is located on a floor surface or other surface to be cleaned, the rotational axes are horizontal. The angular directions of rotation of the agitators 14, 16 are selected so that dirt and debris is swept from a floor surface into a suction chamber 26 located between the agitators 14, 16. Consequently in FIG. 7 the front agitator 14 rotates relative to the housing 12 in a clockwise direction about axis X1, and the rear agitator 16 rotates relative to the housing 12 in an anticlockwise direction about axis X2.

[0058] The cleaner head 10 comprises a drive assembly for driving the rotation of the agitators 14, 16 relative to the housing 12. The drive assembly is arranged to drive the agitators to rotate relative to the housing 12 at the same angular velocity. The particular details of the drive assembly are not pertinent to the present invention, but in overview the drive assembly comprises an electric motor and a transmission for transmitting torque generated by the motor to each of the agitators 14, 16. The motor may be mounted in the housing 12. Alternatively, the motor may be mounted in one of the agitators 14, 16. Power is supplied to the motor from the vacuum cleaning appliance. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the neck 18 comprises a pair of electrical terminals 28 for engaging electrical contacts located on the appliance to supply power from the appliance to the motor. Electrical cables 30 (visible in FIG. 9) extend between the terminals 28 and the motor. The transmission may comprise a gear train for transferring torque from the motor to a driven one of the agitators 14, 16, and a belt and pulley system for transferring torque from the driven agitator to the other agitator.

[0059] Rather than using a single motor to drive both agitators 14, 16 the drive assembly may comprise two electric motors, each driving a respective agitator 14, 16. Alternatively, rather than using one or more electric motors, the drive assembly may comprise an air turbine to generate the torque necessary to drive the agitators 14, 16.

[0060] The neck 18 is pivotally connected to the top of the housing 12. The neck 18 pivots relative to the housing 2 about a pivot axis P1 that is parallel to the rotational axes X1, X2, of the agitators 14, 16. The neck 18 is pivotally attached to the housing 12 at positions midway between the agitators 14, 16. As a result, the pivot axis P1 of the neck 18 is equidistant from the rotational axes X1, X2 of the agitators 14, 16. The neck 18 comprises a lower neck section 32 which is pivotally connected to the housing 12, and an upper neck section 34 which is pivotally connected to the lower neck section 32 for pivoting movement about pivot axis P2 which is orthogonal to pivot axis P1. The neck 18 comprises a conduit 36 that extends from an outlet 38 located at a free end of the neck 18 to a suction port 40 formed in the top of the housing 12, and through which air enters the conduit 36 from the suction chamber 26. The suction port 40 is centrally located, that is, it is located midway between the agitators 14, 16, and midway between the sides of the suction chamber 26. The free end of the neck 18 is attachable to a wand of a vacuum cleaning appliance (not shown). The wand is then used to manoeuvre the cleaner head 10 over the floor surface, as well as deliver electrical power to the motor via the electrical terminals 28.

[0061] The cleaner head 10 comprises a baffle plate 42 located within the suction chamber 26. The baffle plate 42 is located at the bottom of the suction chamber 26, preferably so that a bottom surface of the baffle plate 42 is substantially co-planar with the lowermost extremities of the agitators 14, 16. The baffle plate 42 is connected to the housing 12, preferably by means of a snap-fit connection which allows the baffle plate 42 to be replaceably detached from the housing 12 for maintenance of the cleaner head 10. The baffle plate 42 preferably extends lengthways across the suction chamber 26, from one side of the suction chamber 26 to the other. The baffle plate 42 has a front edge 44 which defines with the front agitator 14 a front suction inlet 46 of the suction chamber 26, and a rear edge 48 which defines with the rear agitator 16 a rear suction inlet 50 of the suction chamber 26. As described in more detail below, the baffle plate 42 comprises a baffle 52 for guiding air towards the suction port 40 of the suction chamber 26. The baffle 52 is located centrally on the baffle plate 42 so that it is positioned vertically beneath the suction port 40, and is preferably integral with the baffle plate 42. The baffle 52 extends upwardly towards, and preferably tapers towards, the suction port 40. In this embodiment, the baffle 52 is generally pyramidal in shape, and comprises a plurality of equally sized faces 54 which each guide a respective portion of the air passing through the suction chamber 26 towards the suction port 40.

[0062] The cleaner head 10 further comprises a plurality of wheels for supporting the cleaner head 10 on a floor surface. The wheels are located between the front agitator 14 and the rear agitator 16. In this embodiment, the cleaner head 10 comprises a pair of front wheels 56 and a pair of rear wheels 58. The front wheels 56 are located on opposite sides of the front suction opening 46, and are each located adjacent a respective end of the front agitator 14. The rear wheels 58 are located immediately behind the front wheels 56, and on opposite sides of the rear suction opening 50. Each of the rear wheels 58 is located adjacent a respective end of the rear agitator 16.

[0063] With particular reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, in this embodiment the wheels 56, 58 are in the form of casters. Each front wheel 56 is mounted on a front support 60, and each rear wheel 58 is mounted on a rear support 62. Each support 60, 62 is connected to the housing 12 so that the support, and thus each wheel 56, 58, is rotatable relative to the housing 12 about a first rotational axis W1 which is orthogonal to the rotational axes X1, X2 of the agitators 14, 16, and so orthogonal to the front and rear suction inlets 46, 50.

[0064] Each wheel 56, 58 is connected to its respective support 60, 62 by an axle 64 which is snap-fitted to the support 60, 62. This allows each wheel 56, 58 to rotate relative to its support 60, 62 about a second rotational axis W2 which is orthogonal to the first rotational axis W1. The freedom of movement of the wheels 56, 58 about the first and second rotational axes W1, W2 allows the cleaner head 10 to be manoeuvred over a floor surface in any chosen direction, for example, back and forth, from side to side, or along a curved path.

[0065] Whilst the supports 60, 62 may be mounted directly to the housing 12, in this embodiment, the cleaner head 10 comprises a pair of cartridges 66, 68 which are connected to the housing 12 by means of bolts 70, and which each comprises a respective one of the front wheels 56 and a respective one of the rear wheels 58. Each of the supports 60, 62 for those wheels 56, 58 is mounted on the cartridge 66, 68 for rotation relative thereto. With reference also to FIG. 6, as described in more detail below each cartridge 66, 68 comprises opposing end walls 72, which each comprise a respective aperture 74, 76. The supports 60, 62 are mounted on the cartridges 66, 68 so that each of the front supports 60 is positioned adjacent a respective front aperture 74, and so that each of the rear supports 62 is positioned adjacent a respective rear aperture 76.

[0066] In use, air from the external environment is drawn towards the suction chamber 26 under the action of a suction generator located within the vacuum cleaning appliance. When the cleaner head 10 is positioned on a floor surface, relatively large debris, such as rice or Cheerios®, is unable to pass beneath the rotating agitators due to their engagement with the floor surface. Instead, this relatively large debris enters the suction chamber 26 through becoming entrained within the airflows (hereafter referred to as “side airflows”) which pass from the ends of the agitators 14, 16 inwardly towards the suction port 40.

[0067] When the cleaner head 10 is moved forwards towards a pile of relatively large debris located on the floor surface, generally that debris becomes entrained within side airflows which enter the suction chamber 26 though the front suction inlet 46. A first side airflow passes from a first end of the front agitator 14, through the front aperture 74 of the cartridge 66 and into the suction chamber 26 via the front suction inlet 46. A second side airflow passes from a first end of the front agitator 14, through the front aperture 74 of the cartridge 68 and into the suction chamber 26 via the front suction inlet 46. Two side airflows also enter the suction chamber 26 from around the ends of the rear agitator 16, although, when the cleaner head is moving forwards, these additional side airflows tend not to bear as much relatively large debris.

[0068] Each of the supports 60, 62 provides a guide member for guiding towards the suction chamber 26 debris which is entrained within a respective debris-bearing side airflow. The external surfaces of the supports 60, 62 are each shaped to define a respective guide surface 78, 80. The guide surfaces 78, 80 are generally convex in shape, and shaped so that as debris impacts upon the guide surface 78, 80 it rebounds towards the suction chamber 26.

[0069] With reference first to FIG. 6, when the cleaner head 10 is moving in a forwards direction over a floor surface (in the direction of the arrow A1), the frictional forces generated between the floor surface and the wheels 56, 58 causes the wheels 56, 58, and thus their supports 60, 62, to rotate to the orientations illustrated in FIG. 6. The guide surfaces 78 of the front supports 60 become oriented such that they define with the front agitator 14 and the cartridges 66, 68 relatively narrow channels 82 which extend from the front apertures 74 to the suction chamber 26. As debris-bearing side airflows enter the channels 82, the guide surfaces 78 of the front supports 60 guide the debris towards the front suction inlet 46. The width of the channels 82 tends to cause the airflow to accelerate as it moves along the channel 82, which also serves to promote the passage of debris into the suction chamber 26.

[0070] When the direction of the movement of the cleaner head is reversed so that it is moving in a backwards direction towards the remaining debris (in the direction of the arrow A2 shown in FIG. 15), the two side airflows entering the suction chamber 26 from around the ends of the rear agitator 16 become more heavily debris-bearing. The frictional forces generated between the floor surface and the wheels 56, 58 causes the wheels 56, 58, and thus their supports 60, 62, to rotate through 180° to the orientations illustrated in FIG. 15. The guide surfaces 80 of the rear supports 62 become oriented such that they define with the rear agitator 16 and the cartridges 66, 68 relatively narrow channels 84 which extend from the rear apertures 76 to the suction chamber 26. As debris-bearing side airflows enters the channels 84, the guide surfaces 80 of the rear supports 62 guide the debris towards the rear suction inlet 50.

[0071] Within the suction chamber 26, the front edge 44 of the baffle plate 42 guides towards the suction port 40 debris which is entrained within the two side airflows which have entered the suction chamber 26 via the channels 82, whilst the rear edge 48 of the baffle plate 42 guides towards the suction port 40 debris which is entrained within the two side airflows which have entered the suction chamber 26 via the channels 84. Towards the centre of the suction chamber 26, the four side airflows are each guided upwardly towards the suction port 40 by a respective face 54 of the baffle 52, carrying the entrained debris towards the conduit 36 of the neck 18. The side airflows coalesce downstream of the baffle 52, and pass through the conduit 36 and into the vacuum cleaning appliance, which separates the debris from the air.