CLEANING DEVICE AND CLEANER NOZZLE DESIGNED TO BE USED IN A CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A cleaning device designed to clean a surface includes a cleaner nozzle to face the surface to be cleaned and to perform a cleaning action on the surface, where the cleaner nozzle accommodates at least one rotatably arranged brush including flexible brush elements having tip portions which are intended to contact the surface. The cleaning device includes a force-actuable mechanism that is responsive to a change of a user force on the cleaning device acting to press the cleaner nozzle against the surface when the cleaner nozzle is in an operational position on the surface, and that is functional to cause a change of a value of at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device, thereby enabling more intuitive handling of the cleaning device by a user.

Claims

1. A cleaning device designed to clean a surface, comprising: a cleaner nozzle that is configured to be put in an operational position on the surface to be cleaned in which the cleaner nozzle faces the surface and performs a cleaning action on the surface, wherein the cleaner nozzle accommodates at least one brush including flexible brush elements having tip portions for contacting the surface to be cleaned in the operational position of the cleaner nozzle on the surface, and wherein the at least one brush is rotatable about a brush rotation axis, and a force-actuable mechanism that is arranged in the cleaning device to be actuable under the influence of a change of a user force on the cleaning device acting to press the cleaner nozzle against the surface to be cleaned when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface, and that is functional to cause a change of a value of at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the force-actuable mechanism comprises a support mechanism of the cleaner nozzle that is designed to support the cleaner nozzle on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the support mechanism includes at least one support element for contacting the surface to be cleaned in the operational position of the cleaner nozzle on the surface, and wherein the support mechanism is configured to enable a distance between the brush rotation axis of the at least one brush and the surface to be cleaned to decrease when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface and the user force is increased.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the cleaner nozzle comprises a brush holder frame, wherein the brush rotation axis of the at least one brush has a fixed position relative to the brush holder frame, and wherein the support mechanism is configured to enable adjustment of a position of the brush holder frame relative to the at least one support element of the support mechanism in relation to variation of the user force.

4. The cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the support mechanism includes at least one resilient element arranged between the at least one support element and the brush holder frame.

5. The cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the resilient element acts to bias the at least one support element towards a default position relative to the brush holder frame.

6. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the at least one support element comprises a pair of wheels, wherein the wheels are rotatable about a common wheel rotation axis.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1, comprising the at least one brush being rotatable in opposite directions about the parallel brush rotation axis.

8. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the force-actuable mechanism comprises an electric arrangement including an electric circuit and a switch arranged in the electric circuit, wherein the switch is configured to change a position when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface to be cleaned and the user force is increased, when the user force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the force-actuable mechanism comprises a force sensor or a pressure sensor.

10. The cleaning device of claim 1, comprising a controlling system configured to: control the operation of the cleaning device, receive an input from the force-actuable mechanism, and take the input to determine the value of the at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device.

11. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device is chosen from a group including a rotational speed of the at least one brush.

12. The cleaning device of claim 11, comprising a liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an area of the cleaner nozzle where the at least one brush is located, wherein the group from which the at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device is chosen includes a supply rate of the cleaning liquid.

13. The cleaning device of claim 1, comprising a body portion configured to be connected to the cleaner nozzle and to be taken hold of by a user of the cleaning device, wherein the force-actuable mechanism is provided at a position of at least one of the cleaner nozzle and the body portion.

14. A cleaner nozzle configured to be used in a cleaning device designed to clean a surface, wherein the cleaner nozzle is configured to be put in an operational position on the surface to be cleaned in which the cleaner nozzle faces the surface and performs a cleaning action on the surface, wherein the cleaner nozzle accommodates at least one brush including flexible brush elements having tip portions for contacting the surface to be cleaned in an operational position of the cleaner nozzle on the surface, wherein the at least one brush is rotatable about a brush rotation axis, and wherein the cleaner nozzle comprises a force-actuable mechanism that is arranged in the cleaner nozzle to be actuable under the influence of a change of a user force acting to press the cleaner nozzle against the surface to be cleaned when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface, and that is functional to cause a change of a value of at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device when the cleaner nozzle is used in the cleaning device.

15. The cleaner nozzle of claim 14, wherein the force-actuable mechanism comprises at least one of: a support mechanism that is designed to support the cleaner nozzle on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the support mechanism includes at least one support element for contacting the surface to be cleaned in the operational position of the cleaner nozzle on the surface, and wherein the support mechanism is configured to enable a distance between the brush rotation axis of the at least one brush and the surface to be cleaned to decrease when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface (10) and the user force is increased, an electric arrangement including an electric circuit and a switch arranged in the electric circuit, wherein the switch is configured to change a position when the cleaner nozzle is in the operational position on the surface to be cleaned and the user force is increased, when the user force exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a sensor configured to determine an actual value of a force or a pressure acting at a position of the sensor and to provide an output representative of the actual value.

16. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the body portion comprises a vacuum mechanism configured to create an underpressure to support transportation of dirt through the body portion, in a direction away from the at least one brush.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows components of a wet cleaning device according to an embodiment of the invention and a portion of a floor having a surface to be cleaned;

[0031] FIGS. 2 and 3 diagrammatically show components of a cleaner nozzle according to an embodiment of the invention, which is part of the wet cleaning device shown in FIG. 1 and a portion of the floor, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates an appearance of the cleaner nozzle that is associated with normal force on the cleaner nozzle in a direction towards the surface to be cleaned and FIG. 3 illustrates an appearance of the cleaner nozzle that is associated with increased force on the cleaner nozzle in the direction towards the surface;

[0032] FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows components of a cleaner nozzle according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

[0033] FIGS. 5 and 6 show components of embodiments of a cleaner nozzle of a different constitution in which a position of a wheel rotation axis of respective wheels of the cleaner nozzle for contacting the surface to be cleaned is fixed relative to a brush holder frame of the cleaner nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates the design of a wet cleaning device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The particular cleaning device represented in FIG. 1 and described in the following is just one example of many types of cleaning devices which are feasible in the framework of the invention. In this respect, it is noted that the invention does not only relate to wet cleaning devices, but also to other types of cleaning devices such as wet/dry cleaning devices having a dry cleaning function besides a wet cleaning function, and vacuum cleaners having a vacuum cleaning function besides a wet cleaning function and possibly also a dry cleaning function.

[0035] The wet cleaning device 1 is configured to be used for the purpose of perform a wet cleaning action on a surface 10 such as a floor surface. At a side that is supposed to face the surface 10 during operation of the cleaning device 1, the cleaning device 1 comprises a cleaner nozzle 20 accommodating two brushes 21. In the following, it is assumed that each of the brushes 21 is provided in the form of a roller that is rotatable about a brush rotation axis 22 that is defined by a central longitudinal axis of the roller, which does not alter the fact that other embodiments of the brushes 21 are possible as well. As indicated in FIG. 1 by means of curved arrows depicted at the position of the brushes 21, the brushes 21 are arranged so as to be rotatable in opposite directions about their respective brush rotation axes 22. In the framework of the invention, the cleaner nozzle 20 may accommodate another number of brushes 21, wherein it is particularly to be noted that having just a single brush 21 is a feasible alternative option. The cleaner nozzle 20 comprises a brush holder frame 23 that serves for suspending the brushes 21 in such a way that the brush rotation axes 22 of the brushes 21 have a fixed position relative to the brush holder frame 23. Besides the cleaner nozzle 20, the cleaning device 1 comprises a body portion 30 that is configured to be taken hold of by a user of the cleaning device 1 and that is connectable to the cleaner nozzle 20 through a hinge arrangement 31.

[0036] For the purpose of driving the brushes 21 during operation of the cleaning device 1, the cleaning device 1 is equipped with a suitable electric drive mechanism (not shown). For the purpose of powering the drive mechanism and probably also other components of the cleaning device 1, the cleaning device 1 may be connectable to the mains and/or may be equipped with a suitable battery arrangement. Preferably, the cleaning device 1 is a cordless device comprising a rechargeable battery arrangement, in which case it may further be practical if the cleaning device 1 is part of a set including a charging dock besides the cleaning device 1. Such a set may also include a flushing tray that can be used for the purpose of cleaning the brushes 21. In case the cleaning device 1 is not equipped with a battery, a simple dock that is without charging ability may be provided for receiving and holding the cleaning device 1.

[0037] The body portion 30 of the cleaning device 1 includes a first reservoir 32 that serves for containing a cleaning liquid, and a liquid supply mechanism 33 that serves for supplying the cleaning liquid to the brushes 21 during operation of the cleaning device 1, and that is positioned between the first reservoir 32 and the cleaner nozzle 20 to that end. The liquid supply mechanism 33 may comprise any suitable type of pump arrangement 34, for example. The body portion 30 of cleaning device 1 further includes a second reservoir 35 that serves for containing used, dirty cleaning liquid, and a discharging system 36 that serves for receiving a mixture of cleaning liquid and dirt from the brushes 21 and for transporting the mixture to the second reservoir 35, and that is positioned between the cleaner nozzle 20 and the second reservoir 35 to that end. The body portion 30 may also include a vacuum mechanism 37 configured to create underpressure that is useful to support transportation of dirt through the body portion 30, in a direction away from the brushes 21, for example.

[0038] Although this is not illustrated in FIG. 1, it is practical if the body portion 30 of the cleaning device 1 has a housing for accommodating at least the reservoirs 32, 35, the liquid supply mechanism 33, the discharging system 36, the vacuum mechanism 37 and possible other components of the cleaning device 1 such as the above-mentioned optional battery arrangement. The body portion 30 of the cleaning device 1 comprises a handle 38 so that the user can easily take hold of the body portion 30 and move the cleaning device 1 across the surface 10 to be cleaned as desired.

[0039] Basic aspects of how the wet cleaning device 1 is operated are as follows. During operation, the brushes 21 are driven so as to rotate and the liquid supply mechanism 33 is activated so as to supply the cleaning liquid to the brushes 21, as indicated in FIG. 1 by a downward arrow on the left, and to thereby cause the brushes 21 to be in a wet cleaning condition. An area of the surface 10 that is within reach of the brushes 21 is wetted by the brushes 21. Any stains as may be present on the area of the surface 10 are detached under the influence of the cleaning liquid and/or are scrubbed off by the brushes 21, and any dirt as may be present on the area of the surface 10 is removed along with the cleaning liquid that is transported towards the second reservoir 35 by means of the discharging system 36, as indicated in FIG. 1 by an upward arrow on the right. In particular, the brushes 21 include flexible brush elements having tip portions for contacting the surface 10. Dirt and liquid are picked up from the surface 10 by the tip portions of the brush elements and are flung away from the tip portions as the brush rotates and the tip portions move out of contact to the surface 10.

[0040] In the shown example, the cleaning device 1 is equipped with a user interface 41 including an on/off button. Assuming an off mode of the cleaning device 1, operation of the cleaning device 1 is initiated when the user depresses the on/off button. The cleaning device 1 comprises a controlling system 40 including a microcontroller that is programmed to put the brushes 21 in motion and to activate both the liquid supply mechanism 33 and the vacuum mechanism 37 in reaction to the user depressing the on/off button. When the user depresses the on/off button once again, the user causes the controlling system 40 to control the cleaning device 1 to stop operating through shutting down power supply to the various functional components of the cleaning device 1.

[0041] The cleaning device 1 comprises a support mechanism 50 that is designed to support the cleaner nozzle 20 on the surface 10 to be cleaned in the operational position of the cleaner nozzle 20 on the surface 10. The support mechanism 50 is configured such that when a user of the cleaning device 1 increases force on the handle 38 in a direction towards the surface 10 to be cleaned, indentation of the brushes 21 is allowed to increase. This functionality of the support mechanism 50 is advantageous in that natural user behavior is allowed to yield an effect that complies with user expectations. The fact is that in a situation of a user using the cleaning device 1 for cleaning a surface 10 and the user spotting a stain on the surface 10, a natural response of the user is to press harder on the cleaning device 1. This user behavior follows from experience with conventional cleaning actions in which a scrubbing effect of a cleaning tool such as a mop or a broom on a surface 10 can be enhanced by pressing the cleaning tool more firmly against the surface 10. On the basis of the configuration of the support mechanism 50, increased user force involves increased indentation of the brushes 21 and thereby enhanced scrubbing action of the brushes 21 on the surface 10 to be cleaned.

[0042] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-3, the support mechanism 50 comprises a support wheel 51 for contacting the surface 10 to be cleaned in the operational position of the cleaner nozzle 20 on the surface 10. The support wheel 51 is arranged at a position between the brushes 21 and is connected to the brush holder frame 23 through a coil spring 52. The properties of the coil spring 52 are chosen such that in a situation of normal force on the cleaning device 1/cleaner nozzle 20 in the direction towards the surface 10 to be cleaned, the force is counteracted by the coil spring 52 and indentation of the brushes 21 is of a standard, initial value. When a user of the cleaning device 1 acts to increase the force to such an extent that the coil spring 52 is compressed, the brush holder frame 23 and the brushes 21 suspended from the brush holder frame 23 are moved closer to the surface 10 to be cleaned, wherein the indentation of the brushes 21 increases to a higher value. For example, in the normal situation, the indentation of the brushes 21 may be about 5%, and in the situation of increased user force, an indentation of the brushes 21 of about 15% of the brush diameter may be realized until the force is released again. In FIG. 1, the force is indicated by means of an arrow extending alongside the handle 38 of the cleaning device 1. FIG. 2 serves to illustrate the normal situation, and FIG. 3 serves to illustrate the situation of increased force. As explained in the foregoing, higher indentation of the brushes 21 may be expected to involve improved cleaning performance.

[0043] A coil spring 52 is one practical example of a resilient element as may be applied in the support mechanism 50. The above-described effects may be obtained in an equal manner when the support mechanism 50 would be provided with another type of resilient element. In the shown example, the support mechanism 50 is configured to control brush indentation in dependence of force in an automated, mechanical fashion. The cleaning device 1 may be equipped with any suitable type of mechanism configured to limit the indentation of the brushes 21 at a predetermined maximum value, so that a situation in which central shafts of the brushes 21 are made to contact the surface 10 to be cleaned can be avoided.

[0044] As diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 1-3, the cleaning device 1 may further comprise an electric arrangement 60 configured to provide input to the controlling system 40 that is indicative of a force level, wherein the controlling system 40 may be configured to take the input from the electric arrangement 60 into account in determining a value of at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device 1. An electric arrangement 60 as mentioned may comprise an electric circuit and a switch arranged in the electric circuit, for example. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible for the cleaning device 1 to comprise a force sensor or a pressure sensor (not shown). In such cases, a functionality of providing the controlling system 40 with information about the user force can be realized, which information may be an indication of whether or not the user force is above a predetermined threshold, for example, or may be related to actual values of the user force. On the basis thereof, it is possible to realize effects of the controlling system 40 causing a rotational speed of the brushes 21 to increase, causing a supply rate of cleaning liquid to the cleaner nozzle 20 to increase, causing underpressure to increase in case the cleaning device 1 comprises a vacuum mechanism 37, etc. In this way, other cleaning performance boosting measures may be taken besides creating an enhanced scrubbing effect of the brushes 21 when user force is increased.

[0045] The electric arrangement 60 and/or the force sensor or the pressure sensor may be located at any suitable position on the cleaning device 1, wherein it is possible that a position on the cleaner nozzle 20 of the cleaning device 1 is chosen, that a position on the body portion 30 of the cleaning device 1 is chosen, or that one or more components are located at a position on the cleaner nozzle 20 and one or more components are located at a position on the body portion 30.

[0046] In FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the cleaner nozzle 20 is illustrated in order to demonstrate that the support mechanism 50 may comprise more than one support element for contacting the surface to be cleaned 10 and thereby supporting the cleaner nozzle 20 on the surface 10. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the support mechanism 50 comprises two pairs of support wheels 51, i.e. a total of four support wheels 51, wherein one of the two pairs of support wheels 51 is arranged at a position between the brushes 21, and wherein both of the two pairs of support wheels 51 are resiliently mounted to the brush holder frame 23.

[0047] The respective options of having an electric arrangement 60 (and/or a force sensor or a pressure sensor) and having a support mechanism 50 that is designed to control brush indentation in dependence of user force can be applied in the cleaning device 1 independently from each other. In this respect, FIG. 5 illustrates an option of having a combination of an electric arrangement 60 and a support mechanism 50 comprising a single pair of support wheels 51 of which a wheel rotation axis 53 has a fixed position relative to the brush holder frame 23, i.e. a support mechanism 50 that is not capable of controlling indentation of the brushes 21 under the influence of user force. FIG. 6 illustrates a similar combination, wherein the support mechanism 50 comprises two pairs of support wheels 51 of which a wheel rotation axis 53 has a fixed position relative to the brush holder frame 23. A non-illustrated option according to which the cleaning device 1 does not comprise something like the electric arrangement 60 and/or a force sensor or a pressure sensor besides the support mechanism 50 that is designed to control brush indentation in dependence of user force is covered by the invention as well.

[0048] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details which are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

[0049] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0050] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0051] The terms “comprise” and “include” as used in this text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term “consist of”. Hence, the term “comprise” or “include” may in respect of an embodiment mean “consist of”, but may in another embodiment mean “contain/have/be equipped with at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.