SUCTION HEAD WITH IMPROVED ADHERENCE TO THE SURFACE TO BE VACUUMED
A suction head for a vacuum cleaner or the like is described, said suction head comprising: a base plate with a base plate channel open towards a surface to be vacuumed, a suction channel in fluid communication with the base plate channel, main wheels for moving said suction head on the surface to be vacuumed, and a bracket for connecting said main wheels to said base plate, wherein said bracket is connected to said base plate in a rotatable manner so that said base plate is tiltable with respect to the main wheels.
This application claims priority to IT Patent Application No. 102016000046969 filed May 6, 2016, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a suction head to be fitted to an electric household appliance for performing cleaning by means of suction, such as a vacuum cleaner, an electric broom, a multi-purpose drum vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner robot, for sucking up dust and/or fluids and/or dirt from a surface. In particular, the present invention relates to a suction head with improved characteristics as regards adherence to the surface to be vacuumed both during the forwards movement and during the opposite backwards movement.
STATE OF THE ARTAs is known, a vacuum cleaner, an electric broom or a similar electric household appliance for performing cleaning by means of suction comprises a suction head for sucking up dust, dirt or fluids from a surface. In the sector of electric household appliances, a suction head is generally referred to by the term “brush”. For the purpose of the present description, therefore, the terms “suction head”, “brush”, “suction nozzle” or simply “nozzle” are considered to be equivalent. Again for the purpose of the present invention, the term “vacuum cleaner” will be used with a broad meaning so as to include all those apparatus, for professional or domestic use, which perform cleaning by means of suction. Therefore, the term “vacuum cleaner” will comprise a vacuum cleaner, an electric broom, a so-called multi-purpose drum vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner robot, a centralized suction system for domestic or industrial use and a steam delivery and suction apparatus.
Basically a known suction head comprises a base plate shaped so as to have at least one base plate channel open towards a surface to be vacuumed, a suction channel in fluid communication with the base plate channel and optionally a covering body. The covering body can be engaged with the base plate, the suction channel or both of them. The other end of the suction channel communicates with a suction tube.
A suction head is known, for example, from EP 2 944 242 and from EP 1 600 091 in the name of the same Applicant.
Further suction heads are know from EP 2 092 869 A2 and EP 0235 614 A1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the present description and the claims the expression “suction efficiency” will be understood as meaning essentially the ratio, in percentage terms, of vacuumed material to material to be vacuumed. The vacuuming tests are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the standard EN 60312-1:2013-05.
Although different suction heads which perform the function of sucking dust and/or fluids and/or dirt from a surface in a sufficiently efficient manner are available on the market, the Applicant has noticed that there exists the need to improve the performance of the known suction heads. In particular, the Applicant has noticed the need to increase the efficiency for suction of dust and dirt from a surface.
The Applicant has noted that the adherence of a suction head during use, namely when the suction head is pushed forwards and backwards over a surface to be vacuumed, varies. In particular, generally, the adherence of the suction head is greater during the forwards movement and less during the opposite movement, namely when the suction head is pulled backwards. The reason for this is that, during the backwards movement, the user raises the rear part of the suction head, using the gripping handle as a lever. During this backwards movement, since the adherence is less, the suction efficiency deteriorates significantly and a considerable amount of power is used. In fact, the power supplying the motor remains the same, but is only partially used since part of it is dispersed owing to the leakages between the surface to be vacuumed and the base plate.
The Applicant has carefully considered the cross-section of the suction channel and has noted that in the known solutions there are discontinuous and/or narrow zones which prevent a regular suction flow. Owing to these discontinuous zones and significant variations in cross-section, the vacuuming efficiency is significantly reduced compared to that which can be obtained depending on the power of the motor.
Another problem consists in the fact that these discontinuous zones and variations in cross-section increase the noise level, which is bothersome for users.
The main object defined by the Applicant is to improve the adherence of a suction head both during the forwards movement and during the backwards return movement.
According to the Applicant, this object may be achieved by ensuring that, whatever the inclination of the suction tube with respect to the surface to be vacuumed, the base plate is able to remain in contact with the surface to be vacuumed.
According to the present invention, the aforementioned object is achieved by ensuring that the wheel axis is rotatable about an axis of rotation situated in the region of the base plate. Advantageously a cradle-shaped bracket may be provided for rotatably connecting the wheels to the base plate. Advantageously, two ball joints and a suction channel section configured to have a length such that it adapts to the inclination of the cradle bracket may be provided.
According to an embodiment, the invention relates to a suction head for a vacuum cleaner or the like, comprising:
a base plate with a base plate channel open towards a surface to be vacuumed,
a suction channel in fluid communication with the base plate channel,
main wheels for moving said suction head on the surface to be vacuumed, and
a bracket for connecting said main wheels to said base plate,
wherein said bracket is connected to said base plate in a rotatable manner so that said base plate is tiltable with respect to the main wheels.
According to embodiments, the projection onto the ground of the main wheels is situated, relative to the advancing direction, at the rear of the footprint of the base plate.
According to an embodiment, the suction channel comprises an inner tube and an outer tube telescopically coupled together.
According to an embodiment, the suction channel comprises a spherical inlet head and a spherical outlet head, wherein said spherical inlet head is configured to cooperate with a cowling of the base plate and wherein said spherical outlet head is configured to cooperate with a spherical cavity of a suction tube so as to form a first ball joint and a second ball joint.
In embodiments, the suction channel is rotatably supported by said bracket while in other embodiments it is not. Therefore, the rotatable support of the suction channel is not an essential feature.
According to an embodiment, the bracket comprises a central cradle and two arms, wherein each arm comprises means for rotatably attaching the main wheels and means for rotatably attaching the spherical cavity.
According to an embodiment, the base plate further comprises wheels whose projection onto the ground lies within the footprint of the base plate.
According to an embodiment, the axis of rotation of the base plate and the bracket is a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the front edge or rear edge of the base plate and defined by a straight line passing through the center of the exit section of an elbow and terminating at the height of the gripping handle relative to the floor. The gripping handle is typically at a height H of about 800 mm.
According to an embodiment, the axis of rotation of the main wheels is lower than the axis of rotation of said bracket and said suction tube.
According to an embodiment, the axis of rotation of the main wheels is in front of the axis of rotation of the bracket and the suction tube.
The present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, provided purely by way of a non-limiting example, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the various figures, for the sake of clarity, some components not considered essential for the present invention have been omitted. In particular, the pedal and the associated control mechanism for moving a bristled support or a rubber fin which could be present in some embodiments are not shown. The suction head is denoted overall by the reference number 1.
In the present description a number of expressions will be used with reference to the air flow path during suction. For example, the term “inlet” of a certain component indicates a section, an area, a zone or a point where the suction air enters into the component when the suction head is mounted on a vacuum cleaner and this is in use. Similarly, the term “outlet” of a certain component indicates a section, an area, a zone or a point where the suction air exits the component when the suction head is mounted on a vacuum cleaner and this is in use.
The relative terms “lower” and “upper” refer to the suction head in its operating configuration, namely when resting on a surface to be vacuumed.
Finally, the terms “front” and “rear” relate to the suction head in its operating configuration: “front” indicates a component which is situated or directed in the direction of advancing movement of the suction head and “rear” indicates a component which is situated or directed in the return direction.
With reference to the various figures, the suction head 1 comprises a base plate 2 with at least one base plate channel 3 open downwards, namely towards a surface to be vacuumed. The suction head 1 also comprises a suction channel 4 and a suction tube 5 which form a suction duct.
With reference in particular to
Preferably, the depth of the channel of the base plate 3 varies and increases from the ends (
The base plate 2 also comprises a substantially spherical cowling which can be fixed to the base plate 2 or is formed as one piece together with the base plate 2. As will become clear below, the cowling 21 is part of a first ball joint J1 for rotatably connecting the base plate 2 to the suction duct 4.
Preferably, the substantially spherical cowling 21 is formed as two parts: an upper dome-shaped shell 211 and a lower shell 212.
The suction channel 4 is in fluid communication with the channel 3 of the base plate 2 (
Preferably, the first section 41 comprises an inlet 411 with spherical head configured to be received and retained inside the cowling 21 which is correspondingly shaped. The spherical inlet 411 of the first section 41 and the spherical cowling 21 form the first ball joint J1.
As clearly shown in
The second section 42 comprises an outlet with spherical head 421 configured to be received inside a spherical cavity 51 of the suction tube 5. The spherical head 421 of the second section 42 and the spherical cavity 51 inside which it is received form a second ball joint J2.
According to a preferred embodiment, in order to ensure sealing between spherical head 421 and spherical cavity 51 a sealing ring 52 is inserted as shown in
Preferably, the suction tube 5 also comprises a cylindrical outlet section 53. Preferably, the cylindrical section 53 is configured to be joined together with an angled elbow 6, as shown in
Advantageously, the suction head 1 of the present invention comprises a cradle-shaped bracket 7 for rotatably connecting the main wheels 8 to the base plate 2 and for rotatably supporting the suction tube 5 and the suction duct 4.
As shown in
Each arm 72 of the cradle bracket 7 preferably also comprises a lower projecting pin 725 on which one of the two main wheels may be rotatably mounted. Preferably, the wheel may be retained with a screw (not shown) screwed into a central hole of the projecting pin.
Preferably, each arm 72 comprises a first elbow 722, a second elbow 723 and a free end 724. The free end 724 is rotatably fixed to the base plate 2. For example, a hole may be provided in the proximity of the free end 724 and a pin also inserted inside a hole 21 in the base plate 2. Alternatively, a pin 726 projecting inwards in the proximity of the free end 724 and a hole 21 in the base plate may be provided (
According to a preferred embodiment, the base plate 2 comprises two additional wheels 23 which are rotatably fixed in the proximity of the rear edge of the base plate 2. These wheels 23 prevent in particular the base plate 2, which is optimized to remain adhering to the surface to be vacuumed, from sinking when used on fibrous surfaces such as carpets, rugs or mats. Preferably, a wheel box 24 is provided for each wheel in order to prevent the dirt from the outside (deposited on the surface to be vacuumed) from entering into the brush body.
As can be understood from
With reference also to
The Applicant considers that this positioning of the axis 100 is advantageous since the influence of the dragging movement is minimized when the suction head is pulled backwards.
The position shown in
The suction head 1 according to the present invention adheres to the surface to be vacuumed in any situation and in any configuration.
When the suction head 1 is pushed forwards, the base plate 2 remains in contact with the surface to be vacuumed because the base plate is free to maintain this configuration thanks to the front ball joint J1 and because the base plate 2 is able to tilt relative to the axis 102 of the main wheels 8 and the suction tube 4. Tilting of the base plate 2 results in a variation in the length of the suction channel 4. In turn, the variation in length of the suction channel 4 is made possible by the fact that the suction channel 4 consists of two sections (41 and 42), which are telescopically inserted inside each other. Preferably, the first (front) section 41 is the smaller-diameter section (inner tube) and the second section 42 is the larger-diameter section (outer tube).
The force exerted by the user is transmitted onto the axis of the wheels 102 and/or onto the axis of rotation 103 of the suction tube 5 and the cradle bracket 7. As mentioned above, the axis of rotation 103 of the suction tube 5 and the cradle bracket 7 is situated at the rear of the axis of rotation 102 of the main wheels 8 at a small distance therefrom. Therefore, the moment due to the force applied onto the axis of rotation 103 of the suction tube 5 and the cradle bracket 7 is small. In any case, it is desirable to have a moment such that an additional force may be applied to the base plate 2. For this reason, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the axis 103 is situated above the axis 102, relative to the plane of the floor to be vacuumed.
In this way, the forwards thrusting force applied to the elbow 6 creates a moment around the axis of the wheels 102 and during the forwards movement pushes the base plate towards the floor.
Advantageously, the suction channel 4 may be kept substantially horizontal (
Preferably, the cradle-shaped bracket 7 may rotate through an angle of between about 10° and 40°, more preferably an angle of between about 15° and 30° and even more preferably about 20°.
The suction tube 5 may rotate preferably through an angle of about 10°-30°, more preferably about 15°-20° and even more preferably through an angle of about 13° (from −7° to +6°).
A rigid or flexible tube (not shown) may be connected to the outlet end of the joint 5 or the elbow 6. As an alternative to the elbow shown in
A brush body 10 may be fixed to one or more of the base plate 2, the inner tube 41 of the suction channel 4 or the outer tube 42 of the suction channel 4. The suction head 1 may also comprise a cover 11. As can be seen from
Claims
1. A suction head for a vacuum cleaner or the like comprising:
- a base plate with a base plate channel open towards a surface to be vacuumed,
- a suction channel in fluid communication with the base plate channel,
- main wheels for moving said suction head on the surface to be vacuumed, and
- a bracket for connecting said main wheels to said base plate,
- wherein said bracket is connected to said base plate in a rotatable manner so that said base plate is tiltable with respect to the main wheels,
- wherein said suction channel comprises an inner tube and an outer tube telescopically coupled together,
- wherein said suction channel (4) is rotatably supported by said bracket (7).
2. The suction head of claim 1, wherein the projection onto the ground of said main wheels is situated, relative to the advancing direction, at the rear of the footprint of the base plate.
3. The suction head of claim 1, wherein said suction channel (4) comprises a spherical inlet head and a spherical outlet head, wherein said spherical inlet head is configured to cooperate with a cowling of the base plate and wherein said spherical outlet head is configured to cooperate with a spherical cavity of a suction tube so as to form a first ball joint and a second ball joint.
4. The suction head of claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises a central cradle and two arms, wherein each arm comprises means for rotatably attaching the main wheels and means for rotatably attaching said spherical cavity.
5. The suction head of claim 1, wherein said base plate further comprises wheels whose projection onto the ground lies within the footprint of the base plate.
6. The suction head of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said base plate and said bracket is a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the front edge or rear edge of the base plate and defined by a straight line passing through the center of the exit section of an elbow and terminating at the height of the gripping handle relative to the floor.
7. The suction head of claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the main wheels is lower than an axis of rotation of said bracket and said suction tube.
8. The suction head of claim 7, wherein the axis of rotation of the main wheels is in front of the axis of rotation of said bracket and said suction tube.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2017
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2017
Inventor: Riccardo ROSCHI (Crosio Della Valle (VA))
Application Number: 15/587,843