Handheld Vacuum Cleaner With A Main Housing Comprising Separate First And Second Housing Portions

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a suction pipe; a waste separation device; a main housing wherein a suction device including a motor fan is housed; and a gripping handle, the main housing including a first housing portion having a first branch in which the suction pipe is housed, a second branch forming a front part of the gripping handle and a third branch partially defining a reception chamber in which the suction device is housed, and a second housing portion placed in a rear portion of the vacuum cleaner, the second housing portion having a primary branch forming a rear portion of the gripping handle and a secondary branch partially defining the receiving chamber.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction pipe; a waste separation device fluidly connected to the suction pipe; a suction device comprising a motor fan configured to generate an air flow through the suction pipe and extending along a motor axis; a main housing the suction device and the waste separation device; and a gripping handle, wherein the main housing comprises: a first housing portion comprising a first branch housing the suction pipe, a second branch forming a front portion of the gripping handle and a third branch at least partially defining a receiving chamber housing the suction device, and a second housing portion positioned in a rear portion of the vacuum cleaner, the second housing portion comprising a primary branch forming a rear portion of the gripping handle and a secondary branch at least partially defining the receiving chamber housing the suction device.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the primary branch of the second housing portion is attached to the second branch of the first housing portion to form the gripping handle.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second branch of the second housing portion is attached to the third branch of the first housing portion.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the gripping handle comprises a median longitudinal axis tilted relative to a longitudinal axis of the suction pipe.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third branches of the first housing portion form a Y-shape.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary branches of the second housing portion form a V-shape.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary branches of the second housing portion are complementary to the second and third branches of the first housing portion, respectively.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary branches of the second housing portion are tilted relative to each other at an angle of inclination of between 80 and 100°.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first housing portion is made in one single piece.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second housing portion is made in one single piece.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the motor fan comprises an electric motor, and wherein the third branch of the first housing portion at least partially surrounds the electric motor of the motor fan.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the third branch of the first housing portion forms a loop with an opening in a center of the loop, opening in a direction that is substantially parallel to a median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery and a battery housing in which a housing the rechargeable battery, wherein the battery housing is attached to a lower end of the gripping handle.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the battery housing is attached to an end of the second branch opposite the third branch.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the first housing portion comprises a pillar that is substantially parallel to the gripping handle and extending between the first branch of the first housing portion and the battery housing.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the secondary branch of the second housing portion comprises a lower surface raised towards the rear of the main housing so that the lower surface extends towards the rear in the direction of the motor axis of the motor fan.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the lower surface extends towards the rear, away from the longitudinal axis of the suction pipe.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the lower surface is substantially flat and is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction pipe.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the lower surface is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction pipe at an angle greater than 20°.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the lower surface forms an angle of between 80 and 100° relative to the median longitudinal axis of the gripping handle.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a motor housing accommodating the motor fan, wherein the motor housing is attached to the main housing.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the waste separation device extends along an extension axis substantially parallel to the motor axis.

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, wherein the second branch of the first housing portion and the primary branch of the second housing portion form the gripping handle, the gripping handle comprising a control electronic board for the motor fan.

25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first and second branches of the first housing portion are tilted with respect to each other at an angle of inclination of between 110 and 140°.

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] The invention will be understood better with the help of the description below, with reference to the attached schematic drawings showing, by way of non-limitative examples, an embodiment of this vacuum cleaner.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld vacuum cleaner according to the invention.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a side view of the handheld vacuum in FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded and side view of the handheld vacuum in FIG. 1.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded and side view of the handheld vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1 schematically showing, respectively, a Y-shape and a V-shape of a first housing portion and a second housing portion of a main housing of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum in FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first housing portion of the handheld vacuum cleaner main housing in FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 7 is an overhead perspective view of the first housing portion of FIG. 6.

[0065] FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of the first housing portion of FIG. 6.

[0066] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second housing portion of the handheld vacuum cleaner main housing in FIG. 1.

[0067] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a detail in FIG. 5.

[0068] FIG. 11 is a partial truncated perspective view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIGS. 1 to 11 represent a vacuum cleaner 2 which is handheld. Vacuum cleaner 2 includes a main housing 3, a suction pipe 4 which is housed in the main housing 3 and which extends along a longitudinal axis A, a waste separation device 5 which is removably mounted on the main housing 3 and which is fluidly connected to the suction pipe 4, and a suction device 6 which is housed in the main housing 3. The vacuum cleaner 2 further includes a gripping handle 7 comprising a median longitudinal axis B that is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis A of the suction pipe 4.

[0070] The waste separation device 5 is advantageously cyclonic, and includes in particular a waste storage container 8, and a filter separator (not visible in the figures) housed in waste storage container 8. The waste storage container 8 more specifically comprises an air inlet opening that is fluidly connected to suction pipe 4, and an air outlet opening.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 11, the suction device 6 comprises a motor housing 11 that is attached to the main housing 3, and a motor fan 12 placed in motor housing 11. In a known manner, the motor fan 12 comprises a fan 13 and an electric motor 14 configured to rotate the fan 13. The motor fan 12 is more specifically configured to generate an air flow through the suction pipe 4 and the waste separation device 5. Advantageously, the motor fan 12 is located at the rear of the median longitudinal axis B of the gripping handle 7.

[0072] The motor housing 11 comprises a rear housing portion 11.1 and a front housing portion 11.2 attached to each other, for example by screwing. Advantageously, the motor housing 11 comprises one or more air inlet port(s) 15 provided on the front housing portion 11.2, and one or more air discharge port(s) 16 provided on the rear housing portion 11.1. The air inlet port(s) 15 of the suction device 6 are connected to the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5 either directly or via a connecting tubing.

[0073] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the waste separation device 5 extends along an extension axis C and the motor fan 12 extends along a motor axis D that is substantially parallel to the extension axis C, and which may coincide with the extension axis C. Advantageously, the longitudinal axis A of the suction conduit 4 extends substantially parallel to the motor axis D.

[0074] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a rechargeable battery 17 configured to electrically power the motor fan 12. The rechargeable battery 17 is advantageously housed in a battery housing 18 connected to the gripping handle 7, and more particularly to a lower part of the gripping handle 7. Advantageously, the main housing 3 comprises a pillar 19 that extends substantially parallel to the gripping handle 7 and between the battery housing 18 and the main housing 3.

[0075] Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner 2 also comprises a coupling sleeve 21 fluidly connected to the suction pipe 4 and to which a suction tube nozzle can be connected, which can itself be connected to a suction head provided with a soleplate intended to be directed towards a floor to be cleaned.

[0076] The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises an electronic control unit 22 which is configured to control the operation of the motor fan 12 according to a first operating mode, also referred to as a normal operating mode, in which the motor fan 12 is rotated at a first rotational speed, and to control the operation of the motor fan 12 according to a second operating mode, also referred to as an enhanced operating mode, in which the motor fan 12 is rotated at a second rotational speed which is higher than the first rotational speed. Thus, according to the second operating mode, the vacuum generated in the suction pipe 4 is greater than the vacuum generated in the latter when the motor fan 12 operates according to the first operating mode.

[0077] To control the operation of the motor fan 12 according to the two aforementioned modes of operation, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a control device 23 that is advantageously placed on the upper part of the gripping handle 7 and which can be operated by a user, and an activation device 24 that is placed 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 device 24 may be, for example, an activation trigger or an activation button.

[0078] Depending on the embodiment shown in the figures, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are configured so that they can be operated by the same finger of a user when the user holds the gripping handle 7. Advantageously, the control device 23 is configured to be operated by a user by pulling the control device 23 towards the gripping handle 7, and the activation device 24 is configured to be operated by a user by pulling the activation device 24 towards the gripping handle 7.

[0079] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are located substantially in a reference plane which is defined by the longitudinal axis A of the suction pipe 4 and the median longitudinal axis B of the gripping handle 7, and which forms, for example, a median longitudinal plane of the vacuum cleaner 2.

[0080] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the electronic control unit 22 comprises an electronic board 25 which is placed in the gripping handle 7 and which is equipped with a first contact 26 and a second contact 27. The control device 23 is configured to activate the first contact 26 when the control device 23 is operated by a user, and the activation device 24 is configured to activate the second contact 27 when the activation device 24 is operated by a user. Each of the first and second contacts 26, 27 may be an electromechanical contact, such as a switch, and for example a microswitch.

[0081] The electronic control unit 22 is more specifically configured to control the operation of the motor fan 12 according to the first operating mode when the control device 23 is operated by a user, and to control the operation of the motor fan 12 according to the second operating mode when the activation device 24 is operated by a user.

[0082] As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 6 to 9, the main housing 3 comprises: [0083] a first housing portion 28 advantageously made in one piece and comprising a first branch 29 in which the suction pipe 4 is housed, a second branch 31 forming a front part of the gripping handle 7, and a third branch 32 which partially delineates a reception chamber 33 in which the suction device 6 is housed and which advantageously at least partially surrounds the electric motor 14 of the motor fan 12, and [0084] a second housing portion 34 placed in a rear portion of the vacuum cleaner 2, the second housing portion 34 being advantageously made in one piece and comprising a primary branch 35 forming a rear portion of the gripping handle 7 and a secondary branch 36 partially defining the receiving chamber 33 in which the suction device 6 is housed.

[0085] The suction pipe 4 may be fully or partially formed by a suction nozzle housed in the first branch 29, or be partially or fully formed by the first branch 29 of the first housing portion 28.

[0086] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the primary and secondary branches 35, 36 of the second housing portion 34 are complementary to the second and third branches 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28, respectively. Advantageously, and as shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first, second and third branches 29, 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28 form a Y-shape, and the primary and secondary branches 35, 36 of the second housing portion 34 form a V-shape. More particularly, the second and third branches 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28 form a V-shape. Advantageously, the V-shape of the second housing portion 34 is placed between the second and third branches 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28 and the V-shape of the second housing portion 34 is complementary to the V-shape formed by the second and third branches 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28.

[0087] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the primary branch 35 of the second housing portion 34 is attached, for example by screwing, to the second branch 31 of the first housing portion 28, while the secondary branch 36 of the second housing portion 34 is attached, for example by screwing, to the third branch 32 of the first housing portion 28. Advantageously, the primary and secondary branches 35, 36 of the second housing portion 34 are tilted relative to each other at an angle of inclination of between 80 and 100°, and the second and third branches 31, 32 of the first housing portion 28 are also tilted relative to each other at an angle of inclination of between 80 and 100°.

[0088] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first and second branches 29, 31 of the first housing portion 28 are tilted relative to each other at an angle of inclination of between 110 and 140°, preferably between 120° and 130°, and the third branch 32 of the first housing portion 28 forms a loop with an opening in its center, opening in a direction that is substantially parallel to the median longitudinal axis B of the gripping handle 7.

[0089] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the secondary branch 36 of the second housing portion 34 comprises a lower surface 37 which is raised towards the rear of the main housing 3 such that the lower surface 37 extends towards the rear in the direction of the motor axis D of the motor fan 12 and away from the longitudinal axis A of the suction pipe 4. Advantageously, the lower surface 37 is substantially flat and is angled relative to the longitudinal axis A of the suction pipe 4. For example, the lower surface 37 may be tilted relative to the longitudinal axis A of the suction pipe 4 at an angle greater than 20°, and the lower surface 37 may for example form an angle of between 80 and 100° relative to the median longitudinal axis B of the gripping handle 7. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the lower surface 37 could be curved.

[0090] Advantageously, the secondary branch 36 of the second housing portion 34 comprises air outlet openings 38 that are configured to allow air to flow through the one or more air discharge port(s) 16 of the suction device 6, to escape from the main housing 3.

[0091] Advantageously, the control device 23 and the activation device 24 are placed on the first housing portion 28.

[0092] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main housing 3 further comprises an additional housing portion 39 that partially delineates the receiving chamber 33 and is attached to the third branch 32 of the first housing portion 28. The additional housing portion 39 more particularly delineates an upper portion of the receiving chamber 33, while the secondary branch 36 of the second housing portion 34 delineates a lower portion of the receiving chamber 33. Advantageously, the rear housing portion 11.1 is attached, for example by screwing, to the additional housing portion 39.

[0093] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the front housing portion 11.2 is attached, for example by screwing, to the first housing portion 28, and for example to the first branch 29 of the first housing portion 28.

[0094] Advantageously, the battery housing 18 is attached to one end of the second branch 31 of the first housing portion 28 that is opposite the third branch 32, and the pillar 19 is provided on the first housing portion 28.

[0095] The operation of vacuum cleaner 2 will now be described. When the motor fan 12 is electrically powered, it creates a vacuum in particular in the waste separation device 5 so that air and waste are drawn through the suction pipe 4. The waste-laden air then enters the waste storage container 8 via the air inlet opening of the waste separation device 5, which can for example open tangentially into the waste storage container 8. The air is then rotated and the waste is centrifuged outward, and this waste is collected by the waste storage container 8.

[0096] The air then flows successively through the air outlet opening of the waste separation device 5, the air inlet port(s) 15 of the suction device 6, and the air discharge port(s) 16 of the suction device 6. Then, the air flow escapes from the main housing 3 through the air outlet openings 38 provided on the main housing.

[0097] 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.