U.S. patent application number 11/283020 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-13 for drive unit for an electric cleaning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to De' Longhi SpA. Invention is credited to Francesca Cester, Rodolfo Follegot.
Application Number | 20060075598 11/283020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33463073 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060075598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Follegot; Rodolfo ; et
al. |
April 13, 2006 |
Drive unit for an electric cleaning apparatus
Abstract
Drive unit (10) assembled inside a structure (11) of an electric
cleaning apparatus (12), which comprises an electric motor
associated with suction members (33), that create a suction flow
inside the structure (11), and command members (26), that
selectively command the functioning parameters of the electric
motor. The electric motor, the suction members (33) and the command
members (26) are assembled and integrated together to form a single
body, so as to be able to be arranged unitarily inside the
structure (11).
Inventors: |
Follegot; Rodolfo; (Pasiano
Di Pordenon (PN), IT) ; Cester; Francesca; (Treviso,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD L.L.P.
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
De' Longhi SpA
|
Family ID: |
33463073 |
Appl. No.: |
11/283020 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/IB04/01594 |
May 18, 2004 |
|
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11283020 |
Nov 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K 11/33 20160101;
A47L 5/24 20130101; H02K 7/14 20130101; A47L 9/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/344 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2003 |
IT |
UD2003A000108 |
Claims
1. Drive unit able to be assembled inside a structure of an
electric cleaning apparatus, and comprising at least an electric
motor associated with suction means able to create a suction flow
inside said structure and command means able to selectively command
the functioning parameters of said electric motor, wherein said
electric motor, said suction means and said command means are
assembled and integrated together to form a single body, so as to
be able to be arranged unitarily inside said structure, and wherein
said electric motor and said suction means are arranged inside a
box-like containing body removably connected to flange means able
to connect said single body to said structure.
2. Drive unit as in claim 1, wherein said flange means comprise
adaptor means able to allow to center said single body with respect
to said structure and according to the shape of said structure.
3. Drive unit as in claim 1, wherein said structure comprises two
shells able to be selectively coupled together, and wherein a first
of said shells is able to couple with said flange means.
4. Drive unit as in claim 3, wherein said single body is able to be
arranged in a housing seating of a second of said shells.
5. Drive unit as in claim 1, wherein said command means are
electrically connected to said electric motor and comprise a
command element and a connection interface connected to an electric
energy distribution network.
6. Drive unit as in claim 3, wherein said command element comprises
a knob arranged at least partly outside said first shell and able
to allow to regulate said functioning parameters of said electric
motor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/IB2004/001594, filed May 18, 2004, which was
published in the English language on Dec. 2, 2004, under
International Publication No. WO 2004/103143 A1, and the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention concerns a drive unit for an electric
cleaning apparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, an electric brush, a
crumb vacuumer or suchlike. The drive unit according to the present
invention comprises an electric motor, a suction fan and a unit to
command the motor, and is able to be arranged inside an outer
structure of the electric cleaning apparatus, irrespective of the
aesthetic form of the latter.
[0003] Electric cleaning apparatuses are known, such as for example
vacuum cleaners, electric brushes, crumb vacuumers or suchlike,
used in household cleaning.
[0004] Such known apparatuses normally comprise an outer structure
provided inside with a drive unit which creates the suction, and
outside with a plurality of accessories, such as suction pipes,
handles, grips, suction brushes or otherwise, arranged according to
the specific function of the electric cleaning apparatus used.
[0005] The drive units normally assembled in known-type apparatuses
generally have an electric motor, a unit to command the latter, and
a connection portion with the suction body.
[0006] Normally the various components of known drive units are
autonomous with respect to each other, and are assembled separately
and sequentially inside the structure of the electric cleaning
apparatus. Moreover, the shape of each component is chosen
according to the structure in which the drive unit is
installed.
[0007] One of the main disadvantages of known drive units is that,
due to their specific conformation, they cannot be assembled in
structures having different shapes from those for which they have
been expressly designed and made.
[0008] This disadvantage entails the need to design and construct,
every time, a specific drive unit, with specific components,
according to the shapes and sizes of the electric cleaning
apparatus, with a consequent increase in both the design and
production costs of said electric cleaning apparatuses.
[0009] Moreover, again because of this disadvantage, different
types of spare parts necessarily have to be produced, for each
individual model of apparatus, thus increasing both the storage
costs in the warehouse and also the distribution costs.
[0010] Another disadvantage is that such known drive units consist
of a high number of components which, apart from having higher
overall costs, tend once they have been assembled to generate
vibrations which produce great noisiness of the electric cleaning
apparatus.
[0011] One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a drive
unit for an electric cleaning apparatus which is of the
substantially universal type, that is, which can be assembled on
any electric cleaning apparatus, irrespective of the shape
thereof.
[0012] Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present
invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art, to
achieve this purpose and to obtain other purposes and
advantages.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the
main claim, while the dependent claims describe other
characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main
inventive idea.
[0014] In accordance with the aforesaid purpose, a drive unit
according to the present invention is able to be assembled inside a
structure of an electric cleaning apparatus, and comprises at least
an electric motor associated with suction means, that create a
suction flow inside the structure, and command means, that
selectively command the functioning parameters of the electric
motor. In this case, the electric motor, the suction means and the
command means are assembled together and integrated in a single
body, so as to be arranged unitarily inside the aforesaid
structure, irrespective of the shape thereof.
[0015] The drive unit according to the present invention also
comprises flange means removably attached on a box-like containing
body for the electric motor, which allow to connect the single
body, pre-assembled, with the structure of the apparatus.
[0016] Such flange means comprise adaptor means that allow to
center the single body with respect to the structure, according to
the shape of the latter.
[0017] It is therefore possible to assemble the drive unit
according to the present invention in any electric cleaning
apparatus whatsoever, irrespective of the size and shape of the
apparatus itself.
[0018] This advantage leads to designing a single drive unit,
substantially irrespective of the electric cleaning apparatus, with
a consequent reduction in both the design and production costs of
the electric cleaning apparatuses.
[0019] Moreover, with the drive unit according to the present
invention it is possible to reduce the number of spare parts, thus
reducing the storage costs in the warehouse and also the
distribution costs.
[0020] Another advantage of the present invention is that, with the
reduction in the number of components to be assembled in sequence,
the vibrations and noisiness of the electric cleaning apparatus are
consequently reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0022] In the drawings:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric
cleaning apparatus in which a drive unit according to the present
invention is assembled;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the drive unit in FIG.
1; and
[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, a drive unit 10 according to the
present invention is arranged inside an outer structure 11 of an
electric cleaning apparatus 12.
[0027] In this case, we shall make specific reference to an
electric cleaning apparatus 12, such as a crumb vacuumer, but it is
clear that the drive unit 10 can be assembled on any type
whatsoever of electric cleaning apparatus, such as a vacuum
cleaner, an electric brush or otherwise.
[0028] The outer structure 11 comprises two shells 13 and 15, able
to be selectively dis-assembled from each other, so as to allow
easy access to the drive unit 10.
[0029] The shell 13 is arranged, during use, at the front and
comprises a suction hole 16 connected to the drive unit 10 by means
of a suction pipe 17, so that the activation of the drive unit 10
determines the suction of dirt and dust through the suction hole
16. Inside the shell 13, located between the suction pipe 17 and
the drive unit 10, a filter is arranged, of a known type and not
shown in the drawings, which allows to filter the air sucked in and
to retain the dirt.
[0030] The shell 13 also comprises an automatic coupling element 19
able to cooperate with a mating attachment seating 20 made on the
shell 15 to maintain the two shells 13 and 15 selectively coupled
in removable manner.
[0031] The shell 15 comprises an inner housing seating 21, inside
which the drive unit 10 is arranged, and an outer gripping handle
22, by means of which the user can comfortably handle the electric
cleaning apparatus 12.
[0032] The drive unit 10 comprises a connection flange 23 and a
box-like containing body 25, inside which an electric motor 32 is
arranged (FIG. 3), of a known type, connected to a suction fan 33
which causes a suction flow inside the electric cleaning apparatus
12. The drive unit 10 also comprises a command unit 26 for the
electric motor 32.
[0033] The connection flange 23 is substantially circular in shape
and comprises, in a central zone, a grid 27 for the passage of air
and two attachment fins 29 for the filter that retains the
dirt.
[0034] The connection flange 23 also comprises a shaped crown 24,
with a profile mating with that of the housing seating 21, so as to
allow to center the drive unit 10 with respect to the relative
housing seating 21.
[0035] In this case, the shaped crown 24 is made in a piece on the
connection flange 23, even if the shaped crown 24 can be removable
with respect to the connection flange 23 and temporarily attached
to the latter by means of screws or other suitable means.
[0036] The connection flange 23 is connected in removable manner to
the box-like containing body 25 by means of hooks 30, screws,
bayonet type couplings, or otherwise, so as to allow possible
inspection of the functional part of the drive unit 10 in a simple
and rapid manner.
[0037] The box-like containing body 25 is also provided with a
lead-in element 31 to facilitate the insertion of the drive unit 10
into the relative housing seating 21.
[0038] An annular shock-absorber packing 34 is located between the
suction fan 33 and the grid 27 of the connection flange 23, and
also guarantees a pneumatic seal.
[0039] The lead-in element 31 can also be autonomous with respect
to the box-like containing body 25, and can be assembled and
dis-assembled independently with respect to the latter.
[0040] The command unit 26 is attached to the rear part of the
box-like containing body 25.
[0041] The command unit 26 is also of a substantially known type
and comprises a command knob 35 and a connection interface 36 with
an electric cable in turn connected to the electric energy
distribution network.
[0042] The command knob 35 is able both to switch on the electric
motor 32, and also to regulate the functioning parameters thereof,
such as the power and the number of revolutions. The command knob
35 is able to protrude, during use, from the upper part of the
shell 13 through a suitable aperture, not shown in the drawings,
made on the latter. In this way the command knob 35 is constantly
accessible to the user for all the steps wherein the electric
cleaning apparatus 12 is used.
[0043] The command unit 26 is thus integrated with the box-like
containing body 25 of the electric motor 32, and contributes to
making the entire drive unit 10 compact. The latter is therefore
not constrained by the shape of the shells 13 and 15 and
consequently that of the electric cleaning apparatus 12 on which it
is installed.
[0044] In fact, by replacing on the outside only the shaped crown
24, the drive unit 10 can be assembled substantially on any type of
electric cleaning apparatus 12.
[0045] It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of
parts can be made to the drive unit 10 as described heretofore,
without departing from the field and scope of the present
invention.
[0046] For example, by replacing the fan 33 by a rotor, and
eliminating the filter, it is possible to assemble the drive unit
10 on any domestic electric apparatus 12, such as a kneading
machine, a kitchen robot or otherwise, irrespective of their
aesthetic form.
[0047] It is also clear that, although the present invention has
been described with reference to specific examples, a person of
skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other
equivalent forms of drive unit for an electric cleaning apparatus,
all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present
invention.
[0048] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *