SYSTEM INCLUDING A FLOOR VACUUM CLEANER AND A HAND-HELD VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

A system includes a floor vacuum cleaner and a hand-held vacuum cleaner. The floor vacuum cleaner has an interface configured to be coupled with the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system including a floor vacuum cleaner and a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

2. Description of the Related Art

Floor vacuum cleaners and, separate from the floor vacuum cleaner, a hand-held vacuum cleaner are already known.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system is provided which includes a floor vacuum cleaner and a hand-held vacuum cleaner, the floor vacuum cleaner having an interface for coupling with the hand-held vacuum cleaner. A “floor vacuum cleaner” in particular means a vacuum cleaner which at least essentially supports its weight on a floor during a vacuuming operation. The floor vacuum cleaner preferably has at least one roller, which supports the weight of the floor vacuum cleaner on the floor in at least one operating state. In particular, the floor vacuum cleaner has a weight of more than 5 kg. A “hand-held vacuum cleaner” in particular means a vacuum cleaner which is designed to have its weight supported essentially by the hand of an operator who is guiding the vacuum cleaner while vacuuming. The hand-held vacuum cleaner advantageously includes a handle, with whose aid the operator carries the floor vacuum cleaner during a vacuuming operation. In particular, the floor vacuum cleaner has a weight of more than 5 kg. “Essentially” in this case refers to more than 50% of the weight. The floor vacuum cleaner and the hand-held vacuum cleaner preferably are able to be used separately of each other for vacuuming. An “interface” in particular is a region of the floor vacuum cleaner which has a shape that is adapted to a shape of the hand-held vacuum cleaner. The interface preferably is provided to fixate the hand-held vacuum cleaner in integral fashion in directions that deviate from a removal direction. Preferably, the interface is provided to lock the hand-held vacuum cleaner into place. “Provided” in particular is to be understood as specially programmed, designed and/or equipped. “Coupling” in particular means that the floor vacuum cleaner fixates the hand-held vacuum cleaner in at least one operating state. As a result of the development of the system according to the present invention, the two vacuum cleaners, which may be used for different purposes, are advantageously able to be carried together. For tasks where little dirt is encountered, for example, the floor vacuum cleaner may remain in the carriage.

In one further development, the interface is provided to transmit operating energy to the hand-held vacuum cleaner, so that an especially practical energy supply of the hand-held vacuum cleaner is able to be provided. The hand-held vacuum cleaner in particular is recharged automatically once the floor vacuum cleaner is connected to an energy source. “Operating energy” in particular is energy that produces an air flow (in this case, by the hand-held vacuum cleaner) during a vacuuming operation. The term “transmit” is to convey that the floor vacuum cleaner outputs the operating energy and the hand-held vacuum cleaner receives the operating energy.

In addition, the interface includes an energy-transmission coil which is provided to transmit the operating energy to the hand-held vacuum cleaner in inductive manner, thereby advantageously protecting an energy supply of the hand-held vacuum cleaner from dust and moisture encountered on a building site, in particular. An “energy-transmission coil” in particular is a coil having at least one electrical conductor, in particular a coiled conductor, which transmits an operating energy between the floor vacuum cleaner and the hand-held vacuum cleaner in at least one operating state. As an alternative, the energy-transmission coil could be formed by a circuit track situated on a circuit board. Preferably, the energy-transmission coil is provided to transform an electrical alternating current into a magnetic alternating field and/or the other way around. The term “inductive transmission” in particular means that the energy-transmission coil transmits the operating energy to the hand-held vacuum cleaner by means of the magnetic alternating field.

Furthermore, it is provided that the floor vacuum cleaner includes an energy input for receiving energy, thereby advantageously making it possible to supply the floor vacuum cleaner and, in particular, the hand-held vacuum cleaner with energy. An “energy input” in particular is an interface via which at least one operating energy for the floor vacuum cleaner, and advantageously one operating energy for the hand-held vacuum cleaner is received. Preferably, the energy input is designed to be connected to a current network, in particular supplying 100 Volt to 240 Volt, and/or an alternating voltage. As an alternative or in addition, the energy input may be used to receive the operating energy from a motor vehicle, in particular 12 Volt and/or 24 Volt.

Moreover, the floor vacuum cleaner is provided to suction fluid, which advantageously makes it possible to use the vacuum cleaner on building sites. “Provided to suction fluid” specifically means that the floor vacuum cleaner is designed in such a way that it is able to aspirate fluid without being damaged in the process.

Moreover, it is provided that the hand-held vacuum cleaner includes an energy-transmission coil, which is designed to receive an operating energy inductively, and thereby advantageously protects the operating energy transmission from contamination and moisture. The term “inductively received” specifically means that the energy-transmission coil of the hand-held vacuum cleaner receives the operating energy from the floor vacuum cleaner by means of the magnetic alternating field.

In one advantageous development of the present invention, the hand-held vacuum cleaner has an interface designed in such a way that an operator may couple it with an energy store of the hand-held vacuum cleaner in removable manner, which advantageously makes the energy store exchangeable. The interface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner preferably is situated on a housing of the hand-held vacuum cleaner. “Detachable by an operator” in particular means that the operator is able to remove the energy store from the remaining hand-held vacuum cleaner without destroying it. In particular, the interface is designed to couple the energy store in detachable manner without using tools. An “energy store” in particular means an energy store that appears meaningful to one skilled in the art, but preferably refers to a rechargeable battery.

Furthermore, it is provided that the energy store of the hand-held vacuum cleaner includes the energy-transmission coil, so that advantageous charging of the energy store is possible separately from the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention, including a floor vacuum cleaner, a hand-held vacuum cleaner and a tool box, in a side view.

FIG. 2 shows the floor vacuum cleaner and the hand-held vacuum cleaner, situated apart from the floor vacuum cleaner, of the system from FIG. 1, in a perspective representation.

FIG. 3 shows the floor vacuum cleaner and the hand-held vacuum cleaner of the system from FIG. 1, in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 having a floor vacuum cleaner 12, a hand-held vacuum cleaner 14, and a tool box 30. Floor vacuum cleaner 12 is developed as a building site vacuum cleaner. Floor vacuum cleaner 12 is designed to aspirate fluids. Floor vacuum cleaner 12 includes a first interface 18, an energy input 22, a second interface 32, rollers 34, and a suction device (not shown further here) as well as a collection container. The suction device aspirates dirt into the collection container during operation. First interface 18 is designed to be locked together with hand-held vacuum cleaner 14. Second interface 32 is designed to be locked together with tool box 30. Energy input 22 is developed as a power cable, which is shown as coiled power cable in the figures. Energy input 22 is designed to receive operating energy of floor vacuum cleaner 12 from a power supply and operating energy of hand-held vacuum cleaner 14. When in operation, floor vacuum cleaner 12 usually is sitting on rollers 34. First interface 18 has an energy-transmission coil 20, which is provided to inductively transmit the operating energy for hand-held vacuum cleaner 14 to hand-held vacuum cleaner 14.

Hand-held vacuum cleaner 14 includes an interface 26, an energy store 28, a handle 36, a hand-held vacuum cleaner housing 38, and a suction device (not shown here in greater detail) as well as a collection container. When vacuuming, an operator grabs handle 36 and lifts hand-held vacuum cleaner 14 by handle 36. Hand-held vacuum cleaner housing 38 encloses the suction device and the collection container. In a ready-to-operate state, interface 26 affixes energy store 28 on hand-held vacuum cleaner housing 38 in a manner that allows it to be detached by an operator. When hand-held vacuum cleaner 14 is in operation, the interface transmits the operating energy from energy store 28 to the suction device. Energy store 28 is developed as a lithium-based rechargeable battery. Energy store 28 includes an energy-transmission coil 24. Energy-transmission coil 24 is developed to receive the operating energy inductively during a charge operation of energy store 28.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a floor vacuum cleaner; and

a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

wherein the floor vacuum cleaner has an interface configured to be coupled with the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to transmit operating energy to the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the interface includes an energy-transmission coil configured to inductively transmit the operating energy to the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the floor vacuum cleaner has an energy input configured to receive energy.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the floor vacuum cleaner configured to aspirate a fluid.

6. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the hand-held vacuum cleaner includes an energy-transmission coil configured to receive operating energy inductively.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the hand-held vacuum cleaner includes an interface configured to be selectively coupled with an energy store of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the energy store of the hand-held vacuum cleaner includes the energy-transmission coil.