Suction cleaning attachment

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction cleaning attachment (1) of a cleaning device (2) for use for the interior cleaning of motor vehicles by means of a suction air flow and provided for insertion and for holding in a quiver (3) when not in use, with a housing (5) having an internal suction channel (4) for guiding the suction air flow and a grip region (6) provided on the outside of the housing (5), wherein the suction channel (4) leads into a suction opening (8) at its outer end (7). According to the invention it is proposed that on the outside of the housing (5) between the suction opening (8) and the grip region (6), a stop (9) constructed as a step or a stop (9) projecting beyond the grip region (6) is provided for interaction with the outer edge (10) of the quiver (3).

Claims

1. A system including a suction cleaning attachment of a cleaning device configured for an interior cleaning of motor vehicles by suction air flow, and a quiver, the suction cleaning attachment having a housing having an internal suction channel configured to guide the suction air flow and a grip region provided on an outside of the housing, wherein the suction channel leads into a suction opening at an outer end, wherein on the outside of the housing at a first of two outer connection ends, the first of the two outer connection ends located between the suction opening and a grip section region, a stop projects radially beyond the grip region to interact with an outer edge of the quiver, the suction cleaning attachment configured for insertion and for holding in the quiver when not in use, wherein: a grip section is provided as a portion of the grip region, the grip section having the two outer connection ends and the grip section region provided between the two outer connection ends, wherein at least one outer diameter of a connection end is larger than an outer diameter of the grip section region, one or more of the grip section and the grip section region is formed one or more of rotationally symmetrical and mirror-symmetrical to a central longitudinal axis, the quiver holds the suction cleaning attachment when not in use, the quiver is a hollow cylinder and is closed at one end, wherein the stop of the suction cleaning attachment interacts with the outer edge of the quiver to produce a pressure-tight closure, and the stop sits flush with outer edge of the quiver.

2. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the stop is a circumferential projection.

3. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the stop is arranged at the connection end facing the suction opening, wherein the stop projects externally beyond the connection end.

4. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the grip section region has one or more of a corrugation and a structured surface on an outside portion thereof.

5. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the suction cleaning attachment is formed in at least three parts.

6. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing connection piece which can be releasably connected to the grip section, wherein one or more of: the housing further has an end piece which can be releasably connected to the housing connection piece, the housing connection piece is connected to the grip section, and the end piece is connected to the housing connection piece in a form-locking, force-locking and/or friction-locking manner.

7. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the grip section can be inserted with a connection region into a housing connecting piece and/or that the housing connecting piece can be inserted with a connection region into an end piece.

8. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein the stop, which projects beyond the grip region and/or the grip section, directly adjoins a housing connection piece, wherein the stop projects beyond the housing connection piece, or wherein the stop is arranged on the outside of the housing connection piece, facing the connection end facing the suction opening.

9. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein an end piece has a bevel at the suction end forming the suction opening.

10. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 9, wherein the end piece has on the outside a marking as a wear indicator, extending parallel to the bevel, wherein the marking is arranged such that it is spaced apart from the outer edge of a housing connection piece facing the suction opening when the inserted end piece is connected to the housing connection piece.

11. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the material of the housing, of an end piece, of a housing connection piece and/or of the grip section includes one or more of thermoplastic, plastic, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS).

12. The suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the suction channel is between 100 mm.sup.2 to 1000 mm.sup.2.

13. A cleaning device adapted for interior cleaning of motor vehicles, with the suction cleaning attachment according to claim 1 and with a blower device configured to generate a negative pressure, wherein the blower device is connected to the suction channel via a hose.

14. The cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the blower device has a control device configured to reduce energy supplied to the blower device that generates the negative pressure during the insertion of the suction cleaning attachment into the quiver.

15. A suction cleaning system comprising: a quiver that receives a portion of a suction cleaning attachment when not in use a housing having an internal suction channel configured to guide suction air flow; a grip region provided on an outside of the housing, wherein the suction channel leads into a suction opening at an outer end, wherein: on an outside of the housing at a first of two outer connection ends, the first of the two outer connection ends located between the suction opening and a grip section region, a stop projects radially beyond the grip region and is configured to interact with an outer edge of the quiver, a grip section is provided as a portion of the grip region, the grip section having the two outer connection ends and a structured surface portion provided between the two outer connection ends, wherein at least one outer diameter of a connection end is larger than an outer diameter of the structured surface portion, one or more of the grip section and the structured surface portion is formed one or more of rotationally symmetrical and mirror-symmetrical to a central longitudinal axis of the grip section, the quiver holds the suction cleaning attachment when not in use, the quiver is a hollow cylinder and is closed at one end, wherein the stop of the suction cleaning attachment interacts with the outer edge of the quiver to produce a pressure-tight closure.

16. A suction cleaning system comprising: a quiver that receives a portion of a suction cleaning attachment when not in use use by a user and to block suction air flow; a housing having an internal suction channel configured to guide the suction air flow when in use, wherein the suction channel leads into a suction opening at an outer end of the housing, wherein: on an outside of the housing at a first of two outer connection ends, the first of the two outer connection ends located between the suction opening and a grip, a stop projects radially beyond the grip and is configured to interact with an outer edge of the quiver, the grip having the two outer connection ends and a structured surface portion provided between the two outer connection ends, wherein an outer diameter of at least one connection end is larger than an outer diameter of the structured surface portion, the grip is formed one or more of rotationally symmetrical and mirror-symmetrical to a central longitudinal axis of the grip, the quiver holds the suction cleaning attachment when not in use, the quiver is a hollow cylinder and is closed at one end, wherein the stop of the suction cleaning attachment interacts with the outer edge of the quiver to produce a pressure-tight closure.

Description

(1) Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention result from the following description of examples of embodiment using the drawing and the drawing itself. All described and/or figuratively represented features, either individually or in any combination, form the subject-matter of the present invention, irrespective of their combination in the claims or their retro-relation.

(2) It shows

(3) FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a suction cleaning attachment according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2 a schematic perspective view of the inventive suction cleaning attachment shown in FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 3 a schematic perspective explosion view of the inventive suction cleaning attachment shown in FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the inventive cleaning device,

(7) FIG. 5a a schematic perspective view of the inventive quiver,

(8) FIG. 5b a schematic perspective representation of a further version of the inventive quiver,

(9) FIG. 6 a schematic side view of another version of the inventive suction cleaning attachment inserted in the quiver,

(10) FIG. 7 a schematic perspective representation of a further version of the inventive cleaning device,

(11) FIG. 8 a schematic representation of a further version of the inventive cleaning device,

(12) FIG. 9 a schematic perspective view of a section of the inventive suction cleaning attachment,

(13) FIG. 10 a schematic perspective view of a further section of the inventive suction cleaning attachment,

(14) FIG. 11 a schematic cross-sectional view of the inventive suction cleaning attachment and

(15) FIG. 12 a schematic cross-sectional representation of the inventive suction cleaning attachment inserted in a quiver.

(16) FIG. 1 shows a suction cleaning attachment 1 of a cleaning device 2 for use in the interior cleaning of motor vehicles using a suction air flow. The suction cleaning attachment 1 is intended for insertion and mounting in a quiver 3 in the non-use state.

(17) The holding of the suction cleaning attachment 1 in the quiver 3 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example. The non-used state is in fact before and after the internal cleaning of the motor vehicles and/or when the suction cleaning attachment 1 is not used for internal cleaning. In this state the suction cleaning attachment can be inserted into the quiver 3 as shown in FIG. 7 and held in it. The suction cleaning attachment 1 has an internal suction channel 4—as shown in FIG. 11—for guiding the suction air flow. The suction channel 4 is located inside the housing 5 of the suction cleaning attachment 1. A grip region 6 is provided on the outside of the housing 5.

(18) The grip region 6 is understood to be that area of the suction cleaning attachment 1 which, when the suction cleaning attachment 1 is inserted in the quiver 3, is located outside the quiver 3 and/or above the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3. The suction channel 4 opens at its outer end 7 into a suction opening 8, as shown in FIG. 2.

(19) FIG. 2 also shows that on the outside of the housing 5, between the suction opening 8 and the grip region 6, there is a stop 9 which protrudes over the grip region 6 for interaction with the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3. An interaction between the stop 9 and the outer edge 10 and/or the outer border edge of quiver 3 is shown in FIG. 6, among others.

(20) It is not shown that the stop 9 is designed as a step.

(21) FIG. 6 shows that the stop 9 closes flush with and/or rests on the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3, in particular wherein the stop 9 protrudes over the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3. The interaction between the stop 9 and the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 ensures the formation of an at least substantially pressure-tight seal between the quiver 3 and the suction cleaning attachment 1 when the suction cleaning attachment 1 is inserted into the quiver 3. It is understood that the term “pressure-tight” does not mean that absolute pressure tightness is achieved. “Pressure-tight” refers essentially to the condition when the stop 9 is lying flush on the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3.

(22) FIG. 3 shows that the stop 9 is designed as a circumferential, especially annular, projection. The stop 9 is actually at least essentially straight, uninterrupted and/or flat on its mounting surface facing the outer edge 10 of quiver 3. The stop 9 can be designed to correspond to the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3, so that a pressure-tight and friction-locking connection is produced when the suction cleaning attachment 1 is inserted into the quiver 3.

(23) FIGS. 1 to 3 show that the suction cleaning attachment 1 and the housing 5 have a grip section 13. The grip section 13 has two outer connection ends 11 and a grip section region 12 provided between the connection ends 11. The grip section region 12 can serve as grip region 6 and can be designed in such a way that it allows a user to grasp the grip region 6 with one hand.

(24) FIG. 3 shows that the connection end 11 and the grip section region 12 (which can serve as a handle) have an at least essentially hollow cylindrical shape.

(25) FIG. 1 shows that the grip section region 12 is essentially freely accessible from the outside and is not obstructed by other components, especially not by a bracket spanning the grip section region 12. Lastly, a user can encompass the grip section region 12 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 from any side or in any position. The suction cleaning attachment 1 can be easily guided for cleaning the interior of motor vehicles.

(26) Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows that at least one outer diameter of a connection end 11, in the design example shown both outer diameters of the connection ends 11, is larger than the outer diameter of the grip section region 12. In particular, the outside diameter of at least one connection end 11 is at least 10% larger than the outside diameter of the grip section region 12. The above-mentioned difference between the outside diameters results in a defined length of the grip section region 12, and a limitation of the movement of the hand on the grip section region 12 in the use state is otherwise specified.

(27) FIG. 6 shows that the stop 9 actually represents a limitation of the insertion movement of the suction cleaning attachment 1 into the quiver 3. In particular, no movement beyond the stop 9 into the quiver 3 is possible. This is of particular importance since, in the state of the art, the suction cleaning attachment 1 is often inserted very firmly into the quiver 3 by the user, resulting in a very firm friction-locked connection, which often makes it very difficult to pull the suction cleaning attachment 1 out of the quiver 3 again. This problem is completely avoided in the invention.

(28) FIG. 3 shows that the stop 9 is located at the connection end 11 facing the suction opening 8. The stop 9 protrudes on the outside beyond connection end 11.

(29) Furthermore, FIGS. 1 to 3 show that the grip section region 12 has a corrugation and/or a structured surface on the outside. The corrugation can ultimately be in the form of a series of grooves.

(30) FIG. 3 shows that the suction cleaning attachment 1 has at least three parts. The individual components of the suction cleaning attachment 1 and the housing 5 can be designed so that they can be plugged into each other. Finally, a detachable connection can be provided between the multi-part components of the housing 5 of suction cleaning attachment 1.

(31) FIG. 3 shows that the housing 5 has a housing connection piece 14 which can be detachably connected to the grip section 13. Furthermore, an end piece 15 which can be detachably connected to the housing connection piece 14 is provided. The housing connecting piece 14 can be connected to the grip section 13 form-fittingly, force-fittingly and/or friction-fittingly detachably. The end piece 15 can in turn also be connected to the housing connecting piece 14 in a form-locking force-locking and/or friction-locking manner. The connection is in fact designed in such a way that loosening of the aforementioned components during use of the suction cleaning attachment 1 can be at least substantially avoided.

(32) Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the grip section region 12 and/or the grip section 13 is designed rotationally symmetrical and/or mirror-symmetrical to a central longitudinal axis.

(33) In addition, FIG. 3 shows that the grip section 13 with the connection region 16, which is provided at the connection end 11, can be inserted into the housing connection piece 14. Alternatively or additionally, the housing connection piece 14 can be plugged into the grip section 13.

(34) Further FIG. 3 shows that the housing connection piece 14 is designed with a connection region 24 which can be plugged into the end piece 15. Alternatively or additionally, the end piece 15 can also be designed so that it can be inserted into the housing connection piece 14. Corresponding mounting areas are provided for the respective connection regions 16, 24.

(35) FIG. 9 shows that a taper, particularly a conical taper of the suction channel 4 of the housing connection piece 14 is provided following the reception area corresponding to the connection region 16. Thus, an at least essentially hollow cuboid and/or slit-like shape is formed, as also shown in FIG. 3.

(36) Consequently, the suction channel 4 can taper towards the suction opening 8 in the area of the grip section region 12 and the housing connection piece 14.

(37) FIG. 9 shows that the stop 9 is directly adjacent to the housing connection piece 14. The stop 9 protrudes over both the connection end 11 and the housing connection piece 14. The stop 9 is wider than the material thickness of the housing connection piece 14. The width and/or height of the stop 9 is particularly dependent on the insertion path of the suction cleaning attachment 1 into the quiver 3 and on the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3.

(38) It is not shown that the stop 9, which is especially designed as a step, is located on the outside of the housing connection piece 14. In this case, the stop 9 does not necessarily have to protrude over the grip region 6, the grip section 13 and/or over the connection end 11. However, the stop 9 should be designed to limit the insertion movement into the quiver 3. This requires that behind the stop 9—facing the suction opening 8—no increase or enlargement of the suction cleaning attachment 1 and/or the housing 5 is provided beyond the stop 9.

(39) FIG. 10 shows that the end piece 15 has a bevel 17 on the suction end forming the suction opening 8. The bevel 17 can be designed in particular as a 45°±15° bevel.

(40) FIG. 10 also shows that the end piece 15 has a marking 18 on the outside, especially parallel to the bevel 17, as a wear indicator. The marking 18 is arranged in such a way that it is arranged on the end piece 15 connected to the housing connection piece 14 at a distance from the outer edge 19 of the housing connection piece 14 facing the suction opening 8. The outer edge 19 of the housing connection piece 14 is shown in FIG. 11.

(41) FIG. 11 also shows that a positive meshing of the end piece 15 into the connection region 24 of the housing connection 14 can also be provided.

(42) It is not shown that the material of the housing 5, of the end piece 15, of the housing connection piece 14 and/or of the grip section 13 has a, in particular thermoplastic, plastic material. The plastic material can be polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polystyrene (PS).

(43) In addition, the cross-sectional area of the suction channel 4 can be between 100 mm.sup.2 and 1000 m.sup.2. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the suction channel 4 can be reduced along the suction cleaning attachment 1 towards the suction opening 8.

(44) It is not shown that a lighting device can be assigned to suction cleaning attachment 1. The lighting device can have at least one LED. In addition, the lighting device can be held on the housing 5, on the housing connection piece 14 and/or on the end piece 15. The lighting device can be connected via at least one cable to the power supply. The cable may be connected to a power connection which may be provided in the area of the grip region 6. The cable can be guided inside the housing 5.

(45) Furthermore, it is not shown that the lighting device can be integrated in the housing socket 14 and/or end piece 15 in a corresponding receptacle in the form of a channel.

(46) FIG. 4 shows a cleaning device 2 for use in the interior cleaning of motor vehicles. The cleaning device 2 has a suction cleaning attachment 1 according to one of the previously described embodiments. A quiver 3 is provided for holding the suction cleaning attachment 1 in the non-used state. A blower device 20 is assigned to the suction channel 4 and serves to generate a vacuum. The blower device 20 is connected to the suction channel 4 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 via a hose 21.

(47) In particular, the hose 21 is connected to the connection end 11 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 facing away from the suction opening 8.

(48) In FIG. 5a the quiver 3 is shown. The quiver 3 can be hollow cylindrical. In addition, the quiver 3 is closed at its bottom and has a quiver opening opposite the bottom.

(49) In the case of the quiver 3 shown in FIG. 5a, it is intended that the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 closes at least essentially flush with the stop 9 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 in the non-used state, as shown in FIG. 6.

(50) FIG. 5b shows that the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 can be understood as the outer edge area. In the example embodiment shown, the outer edge 10 has an inner stop which, in the non-used state, can at least essentially be flush with stop 9 of suction cleaning attachment 1. In this context, the stop 9 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 can be surrounded at least in some areas by the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 in the non-used state and in the inserted state in the quiver 3, as shown in FIG. 12.

(51) FIG. 12 shows that the outer diameter of the outer edge area 10 of quiver 3 is larger than the outer diameter of the stop 9 of the suction cleaning attachment 1. In other embodiments, the outer diameter of the outer edge area 10 of quiver 3 can be at least substantially equal to the outer diameter of stop 9 of suction cleaning attachment 1. In this case, the surfaces of the stop 9 and the step formed in quiver 3 lie on top of each other, so that the stop function described above actually results. FIG. 12 further shows that the inner diameter of the inner stop of the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 is larger than or equal to the largest outer diameter of the front area of the suction cleaning attachment 1, which is located behind (i.e. facing the closed bottom of the quiver 3) the inner stop of the quiver 3.

(52) The stop 9 of the suction cleaning attachment 1 interacts with the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 in such a way that an at least substantially pressure-tight seal is created. The pressure-tight seal is achieved in the non-used state. In particular, the negative pressure is continuously provided by the blower device 20. The pressure-tight closure can provide an at least essentially self-contained system, provided that the suction cleaning device 2 only has a cleaning attachment 1.

(53) FIG. 7 shows that cleaning device 2 has a plurality of suction cleaning attachments 1. In this case, only one suction cleaning attachment 1 can be inserted in the quiver 3, while another suction cleaning attachment 1 is used. In this case there would not be a self-contained system, but the electrical energy required for the blower device 20 is reduced by the arrangement of at least one suction cleaning attachment 1 in the quiver 3 and the pressure-tight seal between the quiver 3 and the suction cleaning attachment 1.

(54) FIG. 6 shows that the stop 9 lies flush with the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 and rests on this outer edge 10.

(55) It is not shown that a vacuum of between 0.3 and 0.8 bar is provided in suction channel 4 during suction operation.

(56) FIG. 8 shows that the blower device 20 has a control device 22. The control device 22 can reduce the electrical energy supplied to the blower device 20 from an energy supply unit 23 for generating the vacuum during the condition of the suction cleaning attachment 1 inserted in the quiver 3.

(57) In particular, at least one pressure sensor can be assigned to the control device 22, which in particular measures and/or determines the pressure difference to be compensated. Provided that the suction cleaning attachment 1 is inserted in the quiver 3 and a pressure-tight seal is produced between the outer edge 10 of the quiver 3 and the stop 9, the pressure difference in particular is very small. In this way, the electrical energy provided by the energy supply unit 23 for the blower device 20 can be reduced.

(58) However, in the use state there is a pressure difference to the atmospheric pressure (approx. 1 bar) which ultimately ensures “suction operation”. In order to provide the continuous suction air flow and the required negative pressure, the pressure difference is maintained, especially in the used state and thus the electrical energy required for this is also provided by the energy supply unit 23.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(59) 1 Suction cleaning attachment 2 Cleaning device 3 Quiver 4 Suction channel 5 Housing 6 Grip region 7 Outer end of 4 8 Suction opening 9 Stop 10 Outer edge of 3 11 Connection end 12 Grip section region 13 Grip section 14 Housing connection piece 15 End piece 16 Connection region of 13 17 Bevel 18 Marking 19 Outer edge of 14 20 Blower device 21 Hose 22 Control device 23 Energy supply unit 24 Connection region of 14