U.S. patent application number 10/475560 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for endpiece for a vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Allard-Latour, Franck, Didierjean, Manuel.
Application Number | 20040148732 10/475560 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8862691 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040148732 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allard-Latour, Franck ; et
al. |
August 5, 2004 |
Endpiece for a vacuum cleaner
Abstract
An endpiece for a vacuum cleaner comprising a plate (3) having a
lower surface which rests on the ground and optionally fitted with
elements such as brushes (8), optionally comprising channels which
direct suctioned air to a suction opening (5), also having an upper
surface (4) which is fitted with a tube (6) which communicates with
said opening and which is connected to a suction unit located close
to the tube or at a distance therefrom in the case of an
installation having a centralized suctioning unit. The lower
surface (7) of the plate (3) comprises at least three suction
channels (9,10) between which a wiping device (12) is mounted, said
two channels (9,10) being disposed to the front and to the rear of
the wiping device (12) in the direction of displacement of said
endpiece on the ground during vacuuming.
Inventors: |
Allard-Latour, Franck;
(Roquevaire, FR) ; Didierjean, Manuel; (Lyon,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
55 GRIFFIN ROAD SOUTH
BLOOMFIELD
CT
06002
|
Family ID: |
8862691 |
Appl. No.: |
10/475560 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 12, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR02/01288 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/415.1 ;
15/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0606 20130101;
A47L 9/06 20130101; A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L 9/0686 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/415.1 ;
015/380 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2001 |
FR |
01/05585 |
Claims
1. A vacuum-cleaner nozzle of the type comprising a foot (3), of
which the underside, designed to come into contact with the floor,
is optionally equipped with parts such as brushes (8) and
optionally has channels directing the sucked air toward a suction
orifice (5), and of which the upper surface (4) is equipped with a
pipe (6) communicating with this orifice and connected to a
vacuum-cleaning unit situated near the pipe or remote from it in
the case of an installation having a centralized vacuum-cleaning
unit, the underside (7) of the foot (3) having at least two suction
channels (9, 10) between which a wiping device (12) is mounted, and
the two channels (9, 10) being situated in front of and behind the
wiping device (12), in the direction of movement of the nozzle over
the floor during vacuum cleaning, which nozzle is characterized in
that the wiping device (12) is a wipe or the like.
2. The nozzle as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
wiping device (12) is mounted removably on the underside (7) of the
foot (3).
3. The nozzle as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized
in that when the underside of the foot (3) is fitted with brushes
(8) defining in particular, at least in part, suction channels (9,
10), the lower plane of the wiping device (12) lies approximately
in the lower plane of the brushes (8).
4. The nozzle as claimed in either of claims 2 and 3, characterized
in that the wiping device (12) is fixed removably to the underside
of the foot by hook and loop devices, such as those known under the
trade mark Velcro.
5. The nozzle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in
that the wiping device (12) has a device for wetting it from a
reservoir of liquid.
6. The nozzle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in
that it comprises means which, when the nozzle is moved in one
direction, allow communication between the suction orifice (5) and
the suction channel (9, 10) situated ahead of it in the direction
of movement of the nozzle and closes the suction channel situated
behind it.
7. The nozzle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the
support (13) for the wiping device (12) is mounted on the foot (3)
of the nozzle in such a way that it slides in the direction in
which the nozzle is moved, so as to close the suction channel (10)
situated behind it in the direction of movement of the nozzle (2)
and uncover the suction channel (9) situated ahead of it.
8. The nozzle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in
that the foot (3) is of generally rectangular shape and comprises
two suction channels (9, 10) arranged along its two longitudinal
edges.
9. The nozzle as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in
that the foot (3) is of generally ovoid shape and comprises two
suction channels (9, 10) that meet at the two vertices.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle for a vacuum
cleaner.
[0002] A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner comprises a foot, of which the
underside, designed to come into contact with the floor, is
optionally equipped with parts such as brushes and optionally has
channels directing the sucked air toward a suction orifice. The
upper surface of the foot is equipped with a tube communicating
with the orifice and connected to a vacuum-cleaning unit situated
near the pipe or remote from it in the case of an installation
having a centralized vacuum-cleaning unit. The parts in the form of
brushes may be retractable so that the nozzle is easier to move
over certain types of floor, particularly carpets and rugs.
[0003] The purpose of a vacuum cleaner is to suck up dust. However,
the fine particles which are stirred up during the suction
operation are not captured by the vacuum cleaner and are
redeposited. This means that after vacuum cleaning a floor, such as
a tiled floor or parquet floor, the vacuum cleaning has to be
followed up by cleaning with a floorcloth, sponge or wipe, which
may or may not be impregnated with a liquid.
[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a nozzle for a
vacuum cleaner capable in one and the same operation of both
suction and cleaning. To this end, in the nozzle to which the
invention relates, the underside of the foot has at least two
suction channels between which a wiping device is mounted, the two
channels being situated in front of and behind the wiping device,
in the direction of movement of the nozzle over the floor during
vacuum cleaning. When the nozzle is moved over the floor, the
suction channel situated in front in the direction of movement
sucks up the large particles, and the cleaning device immediately
picks up the microparticles, thus cleaning the floor.
[0005] In accordance with one feature of the invention, the wiping
device is mounted removably on the underside of the foot. It is
important to be able to remove the wiping device, partly in order
to clean it or replace it, and partly so that the nozzle can be
used on surfaces other than smooth surfaces, such as a tiled floor
or parquet flooring, after the brushes that project from the
underside of the foot have been retracted.
[0006] In accordance with another feature of the invention, and in
order to ensure good suction and cleaning, when the underside of
the foot is fitted with brushes defining, at least in part, suction
channels, the lower plane of the wiping device lies approximately
in the lower plane of the brushes.
[0007] In accordance with one embodiment of this nozzle, the wiping
device is a wipe or the like. The wiping device could also be a
sponge, floorcloth or the like.
[0008] In accordance with one simple embodiment of this nozzle, the
wiping device is fixed removably to the underside of the foot by
hook and loop devices, such as those known under the trade mark
VELCRO.
[0009] For good cleaning, it is advantageous for the wiping device
to be damp. It is therefore possible to use a damp wipe, or to fit
the wiping device with a device for wetting it from a reservoir of
liquid contained in the nozzle, or attached to the operator pole of
the nozzle.
[0010] In one embodiment of the nozzle, the nozzle comprises means
which, when the nozzle is moved in one direction, allow
communication between the suction orifice and the suction channel
situated ahead of it in the direction of movement of the nozzle and
closes the suction channel situated behind it.
[0011] This arrangement is useful in that it concentrates the
suction ahead of the wiping device, in the direction in which the
nozzle is being moved.
[0012] It is possible to use a rocker mechanism to close one or
other of the suction channels in alternation, depending on the
direction in which the nozzle is being moved.
[0013] In accordance with another embodiment, the support for the
wiping device is mounted on the foot of the nozzle in such a way
that it slides in the direction in which the nozzle is moved, so as
to close the suction channel situated behind it in the direction of
movement of the nozzle and uncover the suction channel situated
ahead of it. It is therefore the wiping device support itself that
forms the shutter for one or other of the two suction channels
situated ahead of and behind in the direction of movement of the
nozzle.
[0014] In accordance with another embodiment of this nozzle, the
foot is of generally rectangular shape and comprises two suction
channels arranged along its two longitudinal edges.
[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of this nozzle the
foot is of generally ovoid shape and comprises two suction channels
that meet at the two vertices.
[0016] However, a clear understanding of the invention will be
gained from the following description, which refers to the appended
diagrammatic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting examples,
several embodiments of this nozzle:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first nozzle,
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of this same
nozzle on a larger scale,
[0019] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section through the nozzle of
FIGS. 1 and 2, taken on the line III-III as marked in FIG. 2,
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of a second
nozzle,
[0021] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on V-V as marked in FIG.
4,
[0022] FIG. 6 is a partial view of this same nozzle in cross
section taken on the line VI-VI as marked in FIG. 5,
[0023] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a third nozzle,
[0024] FIGS. 8 and 9 are two perspective views, one of the bottom
and the other in transverse cross section, of another nozzle.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a vacuum-cleaner nozzle comprising a foot 3 of
generally rectangular shape. This foot 3 comprises an upper surface
4, in the middle of which is a suction orifice 5. A pipe 6 is
connected to this suction orifice, the pipe 6 being connected at
its other end to a suction unit which may either be mobile and
situated near the pipe 6, or fixed in the case of a centralized
vacuum-cleaning installation.
[0026] The underside 7 of the foot 3 comprises two series of
brushes 8 located near the longitudinal edges of the foot. Each
series of brushes 8 defines the outside of a respective elongate
suction channel 9, 10, the two channels 9, 10 converging on the
suction nozzle 5 in the center of the foot. The surface between the
suction channels 9 and 10 is used to attach a removable wiping
device consisting of a wipe 12.
[0027] In practice, this wipe 12 may be damp, or damped with a
liquid conveyed to the wipe from a reservoir built into the nozzle
(not shown in the drawing). When the brush is moved in the
direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, the suction channel 9 first
sucks the dust off the floor, then the wipe cleans away the
microparticles. When the nozzle is moved in the reverse direction,
the suction channel 10 is now situated ahead of the wipe and so
sucks up the large dust before the wipe 12 does the cleaning.
[0028] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the vacuum-cleaner
nozzle in which the same parts are denoted by the same references
as before.
[0029] Here, the wipe 12 is mounted on a support 13 that slides in
the two directions of movement of the nozzle. This sliding action
is due to rollers 14 mounted on the support 13 and engaged in rails
15 formed in the foot. Because of the slight adhesion produced by
the wipe 12 being in contact with the floor, when the nozzle is
moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, the support 13
of the wipe 12 tends to move toward the right to close the channel
10, which is at the rear in the direction of movement of the
nozzle, leaving the suction channel 9 open and concentrating the
suction in this channel 9, which is situated ahead in the direction
of movement of the nozzle.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the nozzle, which
possesses an ovoid shape, with brushes 8 provided all the way
around the perimeter of the nozzle, the two suction channels 9 and
10 meeting at the two ends, and these ends being provided with
lateral inlets 16 for the sucked air. This figure shows a way of
attaching the wipe 12 with the aid of strips 17 of hook and loop
material known under the trade mark VELCRO. The strips 17 are made
for example with loops, while the wipe 12 has hooks, or is provided
with strips containing hooks.
[0031] FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the nozzle, in
which the same parts are denoted by the same references as before.
Here, the two suction channels 9 and 10 are connected to the other
by two side channels 18, while the suction orifice 5 communicates
with the channel 10.
[0032] As will be clear from the above, the invention greatly
improves on the prior art by providing a vacuum-cleaner nozzle that
is capable of both sucking up dust and cleaning away microparticles
in a single operation.
[0033] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to
only those embodiments of the nozzle that have been described above
by way of example but that, on the contrary, it encompasses all
variants thereof. To take one example, the wiping device could be
for example a sponge, the channels 9 and 10 could be alternately
opened and closed depending on the direction of movement of the
nozzle by means of a valve, or the nozzle could include a reservoir
of liquid for impregnating the wiping device, without thereby
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *