Vacuum Cleaner Comprising An Electronic Board Provided With First And Second Contacts

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a main body in which a motor fan is housed; a control device that can be operated by a user; an activation device that can be operated by a user; and an electronic control unit that is configured to control the operation of the motor fan in a first operating mode when the control device is actuated by a user and to control the operation of the motor fan in a second operating mode when the activation device is actuated by a user. The electronic control unit includes an electronic board equipped with a first contact and a second contact, the control device being configured to activate the first contact when the control device is operated by a user, and the activation device being configured to activate the second contact when the activation device is operated by a user.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction duct; a waste separating device fluidly connected to the suction duct; a suction device comprising a motor fan which is configured to generate a flow of air through the suction duct; a main body housing the suction device and the waste separating device; a gripping handle; a control member arranged on the gripping handle and operable by a user, the control member configured to control an operation of the motor fan according to a first operating mode when the control member is operated by a user; and an activation member operable by a user and configured to control an operation of the motor fan according to a second operating mode when the activation member is operated by a user, wherein the vacuum cleaner configured such that a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the second operating mode is higher than a maximum rotational speed of the motor fan in the first operating mode, and wherein the activation member is arranged opposite the control member.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the control member is movable between a rest position and a control position and is configured to be moved into the control position when a first actuating force is applied by a user to the control member, and the activation member is movable between an inactive position and an activated position and is configured to be moved into the activated position when a second actuating force is applied by a user to the activation member.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the first and second actuating forces are oriented substantially in a same direction.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a first biasing member configured to bias the control member to the rest position, and a second biasing member configured to bias the activation member to the inactive position.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the control member comprises a first gripping portion and the activation member comprises a second gripping portion located at a distance from the first gripping portion, the first and second gripping portions movable independently of each other.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are spaced apart from each other by a distance which is less than 6 cm, when the control member and the activation member occupy the rest position and the inactive position, respectively.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member and the activation member are configured to be operable by a same finger of a user when the user holds the gripping handle.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member is configured to be operated by a user by pulling the control member towards the gripping handle, and/or the activation member is configured to be operated by a user by pulling the activation member towards the gripping handle.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member and the activation member are located substantially in a reference plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the suction duct and a median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the reference plane forms a median longitudinal plane of the vacuum cleaner.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member is located in a top portion of the gripping handle.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 49, wherein the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the control member comprises a first gripping portion and the activation member comprises a second gripping portion located at a distance from the first gripping portion, the first and second gripping portions movable independently of each other, and wherein the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are configured to be cut by a same plane that is perpendicular to the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member and the activation member are located close to and under the main body.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery and a battery housing housing the rechargeable battery, wherein the gripping handle extends between the battery housing and the main body.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, further comprising a support connected to the main body, wherein the activation member is arranged substantially at an intersection of the main body and the support and is substantially parallel to the gripping handle.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control member and the activation member are mounted so as to be able to rotate, respectively, about a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the first and second axes of rotation are substantially parallel.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the second axis of rotation of the activation member is placed in front of the first axis of rotation of the control member with respect to a median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the control member is mounted so as to be able to rotate about the first axis of rotation according to a first amplitude of rotation, and the activation member is mounted so as to be able to rotate about the second axis of rotation according to a second amplitude of rotation, an angular deviation between the first and second amplitudes of rotation less than or equal to 5°.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second rotation amplitudes is between 2° and 6°.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the waste separation device extends along a first axis of extension and the motor fan extends along a second axis of extension substantially parallel to the first axis of extension.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the waste separation device is of the cyclonic type.

24. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, which is a handheld vacuum cleaner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0065] The invention will be understood better with the help of the description below with reference to the attached schematic drawings showing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this vacuum cleaner.

[0066] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld vacuum cleaner according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 2 is a side view of the handheld vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1.

[0068] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1.

[0069] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a control device, an activation device and an electronic control unit of the handheld vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1.

[0070] FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0071] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail in FIG. 3.

[0072] FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] FIGS. 1 to 7 show a vacuum cleaner 2 that is portable and includes a main body 3, a gripping handle 4 connected to the main body 3, a waste separation device 5 removably mounted on the main body 3, and a suction device 6 housed in the main body 3.

[0074] The waste separation device 5 is advantageously cyclonic, and comprises in particular a waste storage container 7, and a separator filter (not visible in the figures) housed in the waste storage container 7. The waste storage container 7 has, in particular, an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 7, the suction device 6 comprises a motor casing 12 and a motor fan 13 arranged in the motor casing 12. In a known manner, the motor fan 13 comprises a fan 13.1 and an electric motor 13.2 configured to rotate the fan.

[0076] The suction device 6 further comprises an air inlet port 14 and one or more air discharge ports 15 that are advantageously provided on the motor casing 12. The air inlet port 14 of the suction device 6 can be connected to the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5 directly or via a connecting pipe.

[0077] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the waste separation device 5 extends along a first extension axis A, and the motor fan 13 extends along a second extension axis B that is substantially parallel to the first extension axis A, and which can be confused with the first extension axis A.

[0078] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a rechargeable battery 16 configured to electrically power the motor fan 13. The rechargeable battery 16 is advantageously housed in a battery housing 17 connected to the gripping handle 4, and more specifically to a lower part of the gripping handle 4. Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a support 18 that extends substantially parallel to the gripping handle 4 and that connects the battery housing 17 to the main body 3.

[0079] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a suction duct 19 to which the air inlet opening of the waste separation device 5 is fluidly connected. Advantageously, the suction duct 19 extends substantially parallel to the first and second extension axes A, B. The motor fan 13 is more specifically configured to generate an air flow through the suction duct 19 and the waste separation device 5.

[0080] The vacuum cleaner 2 also comprises a band coupler 21 fluidly connected to the suction duct 19 and to which a suction tube nozzle can be connected, which can itself be connected to a suction head provided with a sole intended to be oriented towards a floor to be cleaned.

[0081] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises an electronic control unit 22 which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to a first operating mode, also known as normal operating mode, wherein the motor fan 13 is driven in rotation at a first rotation speed, and to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to a second operating mode, also known as enhanced operating mode, wherein the motor fan 13 is driven in rotation at a second rotation speed that is greater than the first rotation speed. Thus, according to the second operating mode, the negative pressure generated in the suction duct 19 is greater than the negative pressure generated in the latter when the motor fan 13 operates according to the first operating mode.

[0082] In order to be able to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the two aforementioned operating modes, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a control device 23 which is arranged advantageously on an upper part of the gripping handle 4 and which can be operated by a user, and an activation device 24 which is arranged opposite the control device 23 and which can also be operated by a user. The control device 23 may be, for example, a control trigger or a control button, and the activation control 24 may be, for example, an activation trigger or an activation button.

[0083] The control device 23 is movable between a resting position and a control position and is configured to be moved into the control position when a first actuating force is applied by a user to the control device 23, and the activation device 24 is movable between an inactive position and an activated position and is configured to be moved into the activated position when a second actuating force is applied by a user to the activation device 24.

[0084] The electronic control unit 22 is more specifically configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the first operating mode when the control device 23 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the control position, and to control the operation of the motor fan 13 according to the second operating mode when the activation device 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the activation position.

[0085] According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are configured so as to be able to be actuated by the same finger of a user when the user holds the gripping handle 4. Advantageously, the control device 23 is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the control device 23 towards the gripping handle 4, and the activation device 24 is configured to be actuated by a user by pulling the activation device 24 towards the gripping handle 4. Thus, the first and second actuating forces to be applied respectively to the control device 23 and the activation device 24 to actuate them are oriented substantially in the same direction.

[0086] According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are located substantially in a reference plane that is defined by a longitudinal axis C of the suction duct 19 and a median longitudinal axis D of the gripping handle 4, and which forms, for example, a median longitudinal plane of the vacuum cleaner 2. Advantageously, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are located close to and under the main body 3 in which the motor fan 13 is housed.

[0087] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the activation device 24 is arranged substantially at the intersection of the main body 3 and the support 18 that connects the battery housing 17 to the main body 3.

[0088] As shown in FIGS. 6, the control device 23 is mounted to be movable in rotation around a first axis of rotation R1 according to a first amplitude of rotation and the activation device 24 is mounted to be movable in rotation around a second axis of rotation R2 according to a second amplitude of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation R1, R2 are parallel, and the second axis of rotation of the activation device 24 is placed in front of the first axis of rotation R1 of the control device 23 with respect to the median longitudinal axis D of the gripping handle 4. According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second rotation amplitudes is between 2 and 6°, and is for example about 4°, and an angular difference between the first and second rotation amplitudes is less than or equal to 5°, and preferably less than or equal to 2°.

[0089] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the electronic control unit 22 comprises an electronic board 25 which is arranged in the gripping handle 4 and which is equipped with a first contact 26 and a second contact 27. For example, first and second contacts 26, 27 are vertically offset one above the other when the reference plane is vertical and the longitudinal axis C of the suction duct 19 is horizontal. The control device 23 is configured to activate the first contact 26 when the control device 23 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the control position, and the activation device 24 is configured to activate the second contact 27 when the activation device 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. is moved to the activation position. Each of the first and second contacts 26, 27 may be an electromechanical contact, such as a switch, and for example a microswitch.

[0090] The electronic control unit 22 is configured to transmit to the motor fan 13 a control signal, which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan 13 in the first operating mode, when the first contact 26 is activated, and to transmit to the motor fan 13 an activation signal, which is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 in the second operating mode, when the second contact 27 is activated. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 according to the second operating mode only as long as the activation device 24 is actuated by a user, i.e. only as long as the second contact 27 is kept activated by the activation device 24, and is configured to control operation of the motor fan 13 according to the first operating mode until the control device 23 is actuated again by a user, i.e. until the first contact 26 is activated again by the activation device 24. Thus, the electronic control unit 22 is configured to maintain motor fan 13 operation in the first mode of operation when the control device 23 is released by the user.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 23 comprises a first gripping part 28 and the activation device 24 comprises a second gripping part 29 which is located at a distance from the first gripping part 28 and which is movable independently of the first gripping part 28. According to one embodiment of the invention, the first gripping part 28 and the second gripping part 29 are spaced apart from each other by a distance that is less than 6 cm, and advantageously less than 4 cm, when the control device 23 and the activation device 24 occupy the resting position and the inactive position, respectively. Advantageously, the second gripping part 29 comprises a gripping hole 31 which may, for example, be circular, oblong or of any other shape.

[0092] Advantageously, the median longitudinal axis D of the gripping handle 4 is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis C of the suction duct, and the first gripping part 28 and the second gripping part 29 are configured to be cut by the same plane that is perpendicular to the median longitudinal axis D of the gripping handle 4.

[0093] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the activation device 24 also comprises a return arm 32 that is integral with the second gripping part 29 and that is configured to cooperate with the second contact 27 when the activation device 24 is actuated by a user. Advantageously, the return arm 32 comprises a bearing part 33 that is elongated and that is configured to cooperate with the second contact 27, and a perforated intermediate part 34 that connects the bearing part 33 to the second gripping part 29.

[0094] The bearing part 33 of the return arm 32 may advantageously comprise an elastically deformable portion 35 that is configured to limit the forces applied by the return arm 32 against the second contact 27 when the activation device 24 is actuated by a user. For example, the elastically deformable portion 35 may be formed by a zone of thinner thickness.

[0095] The perforated intermediate part 34 advantageously delimits an opening passage 36 through which the control device 23 is configured to extend at least when the control device 23 is actuated by a user. For example, the perforated intermediate part 34 may comprise two lateral branches 37 spaced apart from each other and between which the first axis of rotation R1 of the control device 23 is arranged.

[0096] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the control device 23 further comprises an additional return arm 38 which is integral with the first gripping part 28 and which is configured to cooperate with the first contact 26.

[0097] Advantageously, the additional deflection arm 38 includes an elastically deformable part 39 that is configured to limit the forces applied by the additional deflection arm 38 against the first contact 26 when the actuator 23 is operated by a user. The elastically deformable part 39 may, for example, be formed by a curved area.

[0098] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the vacuum cleaner 2 has a first stop 41, for example provided on the gripping handle 4, configured to limit the travel path of the control device 23 to the operating position, and a second stop 42, for example provided on the support 18 connected to the main body 3, configured to limit the travel path of the activation device 24 to the activation position. The presence of the first and second stops 41, 42, the elastically deformable part 35 and the elastically deformable portion 39 allows the integrity of the electronic board 25, the additional return arm 38 and the return arm 32, to be maintained, even when a user exerts high actuation forces on the first and second gripping portions 28, 29.

[0099] Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a biasing element 43 configured to bias the control device 23 to the rest position, and a biasing device 44 configured to bias the activation device 24 to the inactive position.

[0100] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the biasing element 43 is formed by an elastically deformable tab which is provided on the control device 23 and is configured to be elastically deformed when the control device 23 is moved to the control position. The elastically deformable tab may, for example, extend from the first gripping portion 28 and be configured to bear against the main body 3 or the motor casing 12.

[0101] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the biasing device 44 is formed by a compression spring, and the return arm 32 of the activating device 24 has a receiving recess 45 in which the compression spring is partially received. The biasing device 44 may, for example, be configured to be supported on the one hand against a bottom wall of the receiving housing 45, and on the other hand against the main body 3 or the motor casing 12.

[0102] The operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 will now be described. When the motor fan 13 is electrically powered, it creates a vacuum in particular in the waste separation device 5 so that air and waste are sucked in through the suction duct 19. The waste-laden air then enters the waste storage container 7 via the air inlet opening of the waste separation device 5, which may, for example, open tangentially into the waste storage container 7. The air is thus rotated and the waste is centrifuged to the outside and collected by the waste storage container 7.

[0103] The air stream then flows successively through the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5, the air inlet port 14 of the suction device 6 and the air discharge port(s) 15 of the suction device 6. Then, the air flow escapes from the main body 3 through air discharge openings 46 provided thereon.

[0104] According to an embodiment not shown in the figures, at least one, and for example each, of the first and second contacts 26, 27 comprises several conductor tracks, for example two conductor tracks, which can be obtained by screen printing or by printing.

[0105] According to such an embodiment of the invention, at least one, and preferably each, of the control device 23 and the activation device 24 comprises an additional contact comprising at least one conductive element, such as a pad made of conductive material or an additional conductive track which is configured to cooperate with the conductive tracks provided on the respective contact.

[0106] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, since this embodiment was only provided by way of example. Modifications can still be made, specifically regarding the constitution of the various elements or by substituting equivalent techniques, without departing from the field of protection of the invention.