Separable hose system for steam and vacuum cleaning

Abstract

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners with steam functionality (steam and vacuum cleaners), preferably to canister steam and vacuum cleaners, comprising a suction hose and a steam hose for respectively suctioning dirt and conveying steam, wherein the steam hose is external to the suction hose and comprises, at each end, a detachable connector, preferably a rapid-fitting detachable connector, for optionally detaching the steam hose when using only the vacuum cleaning functionality.

Claims

1. A steam and vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body; a suction hose for vacuum cleaning; and a steam hose for steam conveyance and supply, wherein the steam hose is external to the suction hose, and comprises, at each end, a detachable connector by detaching which the steam hose is detached from the steam and vacuum cleaner, wherein the steam hose and the suction hose are reversibly connected each other by means of one or more detachable joints, wherein the one or more detachable joints comprise a first element associated to the steam hose and a second element associated to the suction hose, and wherein the one or more detachable joints comprise a removable fastening element comprising a base element and a top element, wherein the base element is associated to the first element of the detachable joint and the top element is associated to the second element of the detachable joint, and wherein the base element and the top element are reversibly mated.

2. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detachable connectors is a bayonet connector.

3. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a handle.

4. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the handle comprises a switch for activating the steam functionality.

5. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein one end of the suction hose comprises a connector and the other end of the suction hose comprises the handle, and wherein said vacuum hose connector is associated to the main body through a vacuum hose inlet.

6. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein one steam hose detachable connector is reversibly connected to the vacuum hose connector.

7. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein one steam hose detachable connector is reversibly connected to the handle.

8. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the handle is connected to a nozzle.

9. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the steam hose is in fluid communication with a steam generator, and wherein one steam hose detachable connector is reversibly associated to the main body through a steam hose inlet.

10. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the removable fastening element is a snap-fastener.

11. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first element comprises a loop, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steam hose, and the base element of the removable fastening element comprises a rivet, wherein the base element is associated to the first element by means of the rivet, and wherein the rivet is inserted inside said loop and can slide and rotate inside the loop.

12. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the top element comprises a rivet and the second element comprises a groove, wherein top element is associated to the second element by means of the rivet and wherein the rivet is inserted inside the groove.

13. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the main body has width, length and height dimensions such that at least one of said dimensions is equal or less than 300 mm.

14. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the least one of said dimensions is equal or less than 280 mm.

15. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the least one of said dimensions is equal or less than 270 mm.

16. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the stream and vacuum cleaner comprises a canister steam vacuum cleaner.

17. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the detachable connector comprises a rapid fitting detachable connector.

18. The steam and vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first element is composed of two portions and the second element is composed of two portions, wherein the two portions of the first element and the two portions of the second element are connected by snap-fit to stably wrap the steam hose and the suction hose respectively, in selected portions of the same.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view a hose system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising the suction hose and the steam hose. The hoses are represented in joined configuration with detachable connectors and detachable joints connected.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the hose system of FIG. 1, with the steam hose detached from the suction hose.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detachable joint in detached configuration, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the detachable joint of FIG. 3 in joined configuration.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view of the suction hose and the steam hose connected by a detachable joint, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and aligned in parallel.

(6) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the suction hose and the steam hose connected by a detachable joint, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The figure illustrates the possibility of a rotational movement along the vertical axis of the detachable joint, making it possible to move the two hoses independently, while connected together, on different horizontal axes.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of a detachable joint, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, connecting the suction hose with the steam hose, in rest position.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of a detachable joint, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the possibility of sliding the two hoses along their longitudinal axes.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view, partially exploded, of a preferred embodiment of a detachable joint.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view a hose system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising the suction hose and the steam hose. The steam hose comprises at each end detachable bayonet connectors. The hoses are represented in joined configuration with detachable joints connected.

(11) FIG. 11 is a side view the hose system of FIG. 10, wherein the hoses are represented in detached configuration.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the hose system, connected to the main body of a canister vacuum and steam cleaner through the suction hose and the steam hose inlets.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 12, wherein the rear cover has been removed in order to show the steam generation means and the conduit conveying the suctioned air to a filtration section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) The present invention relates to a steam and vacuum cleaner, preferably a canister steam and vacuum cleaner, comprising a suction hose for vacuum cleaning and a steam hose for steam conveyance and supply, wherein the steam hose is external to the suction hose and comprises, at each end, a detachable connector (steam hose connectors), preferably a rapid-fitting detachable connector or equivalents, more preferably a bayonet connector. By detaching said steam hose connectors from the steam and vacuum cleaner, the steam hose can be completely released.

(15) More preferably, the steam and vacuum cleaner of the invention comprises a main body having height, width and length dimensions such that at least one of said dimensions is equal to or less than 300 mm, preferably equal to or less than 280 mm, more preferably equal to or less than 270 mm.

(16) Preferably, the suction hose is in fluid communication with a dirt collector and the steam hose with a steam generator, both comprised within the main body of the steam and vacuum cleaner.

(17) Preferably, one end of the suction hose can be connected to the main body of the steam and vacuum cleaner by means of a connector (vacuum hose connector), to which said suction hose is stably associated. The vacuum hose connector is preferably plugged in a vacuum hose inlet, on the main body of the steam and vacuum cleaner.

(18) The vacuum hose inlet is preferably in fluid communication with a filtering section, wherein solid and or liquids are separated from the suctioned air, by means of a conduit.

(19) The other end of the suction hose can be stably associated to a handle.

(20) The handle can be connected, on the other side, to a nozzle, optionally through a further tube.

(21) In a preferred embodiment, the handle comprises a switch for operating the steam hose functionality. Preferably said switch opens an electric valve, associated to the steam generator, with consequent supply of steam through the steam hose.

(22) In a preferred embodiment, one end of the steam hose, comprising the detachable steam hose connector, preferably rapid-fitting detachable connector, more preferably bayonet connector, is reversibly associated to the main body of the steam and vacuum cleaner, at a steam hose inlet.

(23) Preferably, the other end of the steam hose, comprising the detachable steam hose connector, preferably rapid-fitting detachable connector, more preferably bayonet connector, is reversibly connected to the handle of the cleaning device.

(24) Preferably, the steam hose reversibly associated to the main body is also reversibly connected to the vacuum hose connector, more preferably reversibly joined at the lower portion of the same by means of a bayonet connector. Said embodiment is desirable as it makes the connection of the steam hose to the main body more stable when using the steam functionality.

(25) The steam hose connectors according to the present invention are easy and fast to connect and detach, at user's convenience. In particular, when the user wishes to use only the vacuum function of the cleaning device, he/she can separate the steam hose from the steam and vacuum cleaner by easily and rapidly detaching the steam hose connectors. When the steam hose is detached from the main body, the steam generator is preferably switched off and an electric valve is closed, avoiding steam exit from the steam generator.

(26) According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steam hose and the suction hose are reversibly joined by means of one or more detachable joints. Preferably, the one or more detachable joints comprise a first element associated to the steam hose and a second element associated to the suction hose, at selected positions of the same. The suction hose and the steam hose can thus be joined or separated each other by means of the one or more detachable joints.

(27) When the steam hose and the suction hose are joined together, these extend each other in parallel, along a longitudinally axis.

(28) Preferably, the detachable joints further comprise a removable fastening element. More preferably, the detachable joints comprising the removable fastening elements are articulated, being thus suitable for keeping the hoses together, still allowing the reciprocal movement of the hoses. In particular, the first element, associated to the steam hose, can rotate and slide in respect to the second element, associated to the suction hose, by means of the removable fastening element, consequently the steam hose can slide and rotate in respect of the suction hose, in correspondence to the detachable joints.

(29) In a preferred embodiment, the removable fastening element comprises a snap-fastener, composed of a base element and a top element, wherein the base element and the top element can be temporary associated with hand pressure. Said base element is preferably associated to the first element of the detachable joint, which is in turn bound to the steam hose, by means of a rivet, wherein the rivet can slide inside a loop, which is part of the first element. The base element can also rotate around the rivet, through the rotation of the rivet itself inside the loop. Said preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9. Said top element is preferably associated to the second element of the detachable joint, which is in turn bound to the suction hose, by means of a rivet, wherein the rivet is stably inserted into a groove, which is part of the second element.

(30) The elements of the detachable joint, respectively associated to the suction hose and to the steam hose, can be easily connected and detached. When one or more joints are connected, the suction hose and the steam hose are connected together.

(31) The detachable joints, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provide a certain freedom of reciprocal movement. Preferably, this is due to the sliding and rotation movements of the rivet of the base element.

(32) Preferably, the suction hose of the present invention has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the steam hose.

(33) Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be now described in more details with reference to the drawings.

(34) A side view of a hose system according to a preferred embodiment the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The hose system comprises a suction hose (2) and a steam hose (3), extending each other in parallel. The suction hose (2) is stably associated to the vacuum hose connector (4) and to the handle (5).

(35) The steam hose (3) of FIG. 1 is associated to the vacuum hose connector (4) and to the handle (5) by means of detachable connectors, preferably bayonet connectors (steam hose connectors, 41 and 51), according to an embodiment of the invention. The steam hose (3) is shown joined to the suction hose by means of the one or more detachable joints (6).

(36) FIG. 2 shows the hose system of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the steam hose (3) is completely detached from the suction hose.

(37) FIGS. 3 to 9 show in detail preferred embodiments of the detachable joint (6). Each detachable joint is composed of a first element (7), associated to the steam hose (3), and a second element (8), associated to the suction hose (2). The first element (7) is capable of rotating and sliding in respect to the second element (8) by means of a removable fastening element (10). Preferably, the removable fastening element (10) is a snap-fastener comprising a base element (11), associated to the first element (7) by means of rivet (13), and a top element (12). The rivet (13) can slide and rotate inside a loop (15) of the first element (7), so that the base element (11) itself can slide and rotate inside the loop (15).

(38) FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment wherein the first element (7) is composed of two portions (71 and 72, in FIGS. 7-9), wherein portion (71) comprises the loop (15). The two portions (71 and 72) can be snap connected as to stably embrace the steam hose in a selected portion of the same. Also the second element (8) is shown composed of two portions (81 and 82, in FIGS. 7-9), according to a preferred embodiment, which can be snap connected in order to embrace the suction hose (2) in a selected portion of the same.

(39) According to a preferred embodiment, the top element (12) of the fastening element (10) is associated to the second element (8) by means of rivet (14) which is inserted into a groove (16) of the portion (81) of the second element (8), as illustrated in FIG. 9.

(40) When the two hoses are joined together by means of one or more detachable joints (6), the top element (12) and the base element (11) of the one or more fastening elements (10) are joined; the rivet (13) and the base element (11) associated to the first element (7) can rotate and slide inside the loop (15), making the first element (7), and thus the steam hose (3), rotating and sliding in respect to the suction hose (8).

(41) FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein the steam hose and the suction hose are joint each other (FIG. 10) or detached (FIG. 11). The steam hose (3) is connected at one end to the handle (5), by means of the detachable connector (51), which is inserted in a portion of the handle (53) preferably below the stable vacuum hose connection.

(42) The handle preferably comprises the switch (52) for operating the steam function.

(43) At the free end of the handle an outlet is shown (54), which is preferably connected to a nozzle, optionally by means of further hoses.

(44) The detachable steam hose connectors of the invention, preferably rapid-fitting connectors, more preferably bayonet connectors, make it possible to easily and rapidly detaching the steam hose from the steam hose inlet (32) present on the main body (1), when using only the vacuum function of the steam and vacuum cleaner.

(45) Furthermore, the detachable joints (6) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, allow to keep the suction hose and the steam hose advantageously together when using both steam and vacuum functionalities, while still making it possible to easily and rapidly detach the steam hose when using only the vacuum functionality.

(46) A hose system wherein the steam and vacuum hose are connected by articulated detachable joints, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is particularly profitable as it allows the reciprocal movement of the suction and steam hoses, making the hose system highly maneuverable.