U.S. patent application number 12/439408 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-24 for surface treating head assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dyson Technology Limited. Invention is credited to Matthew Cookson.
Application Number | 20090313786 12/439408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37137123 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090313786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cookson; Matthew |
December 24, 2009 |
SURFACE TREATING HEAD ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A surface treating head assembly includes a housing having a
fluid outlet. A sealing connection is provided between the outlet
and a flexible hose, which may be located on the main body of a
surface-treating appliance such as a vacuum cleaner. The housing is
arranged to move pivotably with respect to the hose, and the head
assembly further includes a locating mechanism arranged to inhibit
rotation of the hose as the housing pivots. The provision of a
sealing connection that is inhibited from rotating permits the
surface treating head to be widely maneuverable while having a
sound fluid flow path.
Inventors: |
Cookson; Matthew;
(Malmesbury, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
1650 TYSONS BOULEVARD, SUITE 400
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
Dyson Technology Limited
Malmesbury
GB
|
Family ID: |
37137123 |
Appl. No.: |
12/439408 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
August 23, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2007/003214 |
371 Date: |
July 24, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/415.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/242 20130101;
A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L 5/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/415.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20060101
A47L009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2006 |
GB |
0617178.9 |
Claims
1. A surface treating head assembly comprising a housing having a
fluid outlet and a sealing connection between the outlet and a
flexible hose, the housing being arranged to move pivotably with
respect to the hose the head assembly further comprising a locating
mechanism configured to inhibit rotation of the hose as the housing
pivots.
2. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the locating mechanism is
carried by the sealing connection.
3. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the sealing connection is
carried by the hose.
4. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the locating mechanism
comprises at least one projection and at least one corresponding
notch, one of the projection and the notch being located on the
hose.
5. The head assembly of claim 4, in which the other of the
projection and the notch is located on the sealing connection.
6. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the locating mechanism
comprises at least one projection and at least one corresponding
notch, one of the projection and the notch being located on the
sealing connection.
7. The head assembly of claim 5, in which one of the projection and
the notch is integral with the sealing connection.
8. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the housing is arranged
to pivot about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the
hose.
9. The head assembly of claim 1, in which the housing is arranged
to pivot about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the
hose.
10. (canceled)
11. A surface treating appliance comprising a surface treating head
assembly comprising a housing having a fluid outlet and a sealing
connection between the outlet and a flexible hose, the housing
being arranged to move pivotably with respect to the hose, the head
assembly further comprising a locating mechanism configured to
inhibit rotation of the hose as the housing pivots.
12. The appliance of claim 11, having a main body, the surface
treating head assembly being arranged to move pivotably with
respect to the main body and the hose is carried by the main
body.
13. The appliance of claim 11, in which part of the locating
mechanism is located on a linkage carried by the main body.
14. The appliance of claim 13, further comprising a handle having a
longitudinal axis, the linkage being arranged such that rotating
the handle about the longitudinal axis causes the housing of the
surface treating head to turn in a new direction.
15. The appliance of claim 14, in which the linkage is also
arranged to allow the housing to remain substantially in contact
with the surface being treated as the handle is rotated about its
longitudinal axis.
16. The appliance of claim 13, in which the linkage is arranged to
pivot with respect to the main body
17. The appliance of claim 16, in which a pivoting axis of the
linkage is transverse to a pivoting axis of the housing.
18. The appliance of claim 11, further comprising a rolling support
assembly.
19. The appliance of claim 18, in which the rolling support
assembly comprises one or more rotatable members having an outer
surface which defines a rolling support surface in the direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
20. (canceled)
21. A vacuum cleaner comprising the appliance of claim 11.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application under 35
USC 371 of International Application No. PCT/GB2007/003214, filed
Aug. 23, 2007, which claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No. 0617178.9, filed Sep. 1, 2006, the contents of
which prior applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a surface treating head assembly
for a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Surface treating appliances such as vacuum cleaners and
floor polishers are well known. The majority of vacuum cleaners are
either of the `upright` type or of the `cylinder` type, called
canister or barrel cleaners in some countries. A typical upright
vacuum cleaner comprises a main body which houses the main
components of the vacuum cleaner, such as a motor and fan for
drawing dirty air into the machine and some form of separating
apparatus for separating dirt, dust and other debris from a dirty
airflow drawn in by the fan. The main body also houses filters for
trapping fine particles in the cleaned airflow. A cleaner head is
rotatably mounted to the lower end of the main body. A supporting
wheel is mounted on each side of the lower part of the main body,
in a fixed relationship to the main body. In use, a user reclines
the main body of the vacuum cleaner and then pushes and pulls a
handle which is fixed to the main body of the cleaner. The vacuum
cleaner rolls along the floor surface on the supporting wheels.
[0004] A dirty-air inlet is located on the underside of the cleaner
head. Dirty air is drawn into the dust separating apparatus via the
dirty-air inlet by means of the motor-driven fan. When the dirt and
dust entrained within the air has been separated from the airflow
in the separating apparatus, air is conducted to the clean air
outlet by a second air flow duct, and via one or more filters, and
expelled into the atmosphere.
[0005] Conventional upright vacuum cleaners have a disadvantage in
that they can be difficult to manoeuvre about an area in which they
are used. They can be pushed and pulled easily enough, but pointing
the cleaner in a new direction is more difficult.
[0006] It has been proposed to make an upright vacuum cleaner more
manoeuvrable by substituting a wide rolling support for the
supporting wheels, such as is described in our patent application
GB2391459. The rolling support surface improves manoeuvrability,
permitting the surface-treating head of the appliance to turn and
be steered through a wide range of movements. However, the
continuity of the fluid flow path has to be maintained through this
range of movements, which is wider than was achievable
hitherto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides a surface treating head assembly
comprising a housing having a fluid outlet and a sealing connection
between the outlet and a flexible hose, the housing being arranged
to move pivotably with respect to the hose, the head assembly
further comprising locating means arranged to inhibit rotation of
the hose as the housing pivots.
[0008] The provision of a sealing connection that is inhibited from
rotating permits the surface treating head to be manoeuvrable
whilst having a sound fluid flow path.
[0009] Preferably, the housing pivots about an axis coincident with
the longitudinal axis of the hose.
[0010] Advantageously, the locating means comprises at least one
projection and at least one corresponding notch, one of which is
located on the hose, the other being located on the sealing
connection. A plurality of projections and notches may be
provided.
[0011] The sealing connection, typically a seal, may be carried by
the hose. Part of the locating means may be moulded into the
seal.
[0012] The invention is particularly suitable for inclusion in a
surface-treating appliance having a main body having a hose and
surface-treating head that is pivotable with respect to main body,
and hence the hose.
[0013] The term "surface treating appliance" is intended to have a
broad meaning, and includes a wide range of machines having a head
for travelling over a surface to clean or treat the surface in some
manner. It includes, inter alia, machines which apply suction to
the surface so as to draw material from it, such as vacuum cleaners
(dry, wet and wet/dry), as well as machines which apply material to
the surface, such as polishing/waxing machines, pressure washing
machines, ground marking machines and shampooing machines. It also
includes lawn mowers and other cutting machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner constructed
according to the invention
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1
in use;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of components of the surface
treating head and the main body of the vacuum cleaner of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view of the components of FIG.
3; and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partly cut-away view of an alternative
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface treating
appliance is shown in the form of a vacuum cleaner and is indicated
generally by the reference numeral 1. The vacuum cleaner 1
comprises a main body 2, a cleaner head 3 and a roller assembly 4
for rolling the cleaner along a floor surface. The roller assembly
4 comprises a central floor-engaging roller 5, which has an
elongated barrel shape, and a pair of rotatable side caps 6a, 6b.
The main body 2 houses a motor and fan for generating a suction
airflow (not visible in these drawings) as well as separating
apparatus 7 for separating dirt, dust and other debris from a dirty
airflow drawn into the machine by the fan and motor. In this
embodiment, the separating apparatus 7 is cyclonic, in which the
dirt and dust is spun from the airflow. The cyclonic separating
apparatus 7 comprises two stages of cyclone separation arranged in
series with one another. The first stage is a cylindrically-walled
chamber 8 and the second stage comprises a set 9 of tapering,
substantially frusto-conically shaped chambers arranged in parallel
with one another. Airflow is directed tangentially into the upper
part of the chamber 8. Larger debris and particles are removed and
collected in the chamber 8. The airflow then passes through a
shroud 10 to the set 9 of smaller frusto-conically shaped cyclonic
chambers. Finer dust is separated by these chambers and the
separated dust is collected in a common collecting region.
[0022] The main body 2 also houses filters (not visible in these
drawings) for trapping fine particles in the cleaned airflow. These
filters remove any fine particles of dust which have not already
been removed from the airflow by the separating apparatus. A first
filter, called a pre-motor filter, is provided before the motor and
fan. A second filter, called a post-motor filter, is provided after
the motor and fan. Where the motor for driving the suction fan has
carbon brushes, the post-motor filter also serves to trap any
carbon particles emitted by the brushes. Clean air is then expelled
to the atmosphere.
[0023] The cleaner head 3 is pivotably mounted to the lower end of
the main body 2, and serves, in use, to treat the floor surface. In
this embodiment, it comprises a housing 11 with a chamber for
supporting an agitator in the form of a brush bar 12. The lower,
floor-facing side of the chamber has an air inlet slot 13. The
brush bar 12 is rotatably mounted in the chamber such that bristles
on the brush bar can protrude through the inlet slot 13 and can
agitate the floor surface over which the cleaner head passes. The
brush bar 12 is rotatably driven by a dedicated motor 14 positioned
on the rear of the housing 11.
[0024] The roller assembly 4 permits the cleaner to be manoeuvred
easily along a floor surface. In order to provide extra support for
the cleaner when the main body 2 is in the vertical position, as in
FIG. 1, a stand 15 is provided behind the cleaner head 3. The stand
15 extends between the rear of the main body 2 on he floor surface
on which the cleaner 1 stands.
[0025] A user-operable handle 16 extends upwardly from the rear
part of the main body 2. When the cleaner 1 is in the position
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be used in a cylinder mode, in which
case the handle 16 may be released and used as a hose and wand
assembly. A changeover valve (not shown) on the main body 2
automatically connects the dust separating apparatus 5 to the wand
and hose so that cleaner can be used in cylinder mode for above the
floor cleaning. Air is drawn into the cleaner through the end of
the wand which can be released from the cleaner for appropriate
manipulation. The inlet 12 in the cleaner head 10 is automatically
shut off.
[0026] When the cleaner 1 is to be used in conventional upright
mode, the user reclines the main body 2 whilst depressing a pedal
17 associated with the stand 16. A mechanism on the main body 2
causes the stand 15 to pivot into a position where it lies against
the main body, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The changeover valve
automatically shuts off the air inlet at the distal end of the wand
handle 16 and connects the dust separating apparatus 7 to the inlet
13 in the cleaner head 3.
[0027] The cleaner head 3 is connected to the main body 2 of the
vacuum cleaner 1 in such a manner that the cleaner head remains in
contact with a floor surface as the main body is manoeuvred through
a wide range of operating positions, e.g. when moved from
side-to-side or when the main body is twisted about its
longitudinal axis. A linkage in the form of a yoke 18 forms a
connection between the cleaner head 3 and the main body 2. The yoke
18 comprises a shell, which is moulded to incorporate two
rotational axes 19, 20. The first axis 19, which extends across the
sides of the shell, permits the main body 2 to pivot with respect
to the yoke when it is reclined for a cleaning operation in the
upright mode. The second axis 20, which depends from the front of
the shell, permits the head 3 to turn with respect to the yoke 18
when the cleaner is being steered along a floor surface. The two
axes 19, 20 are transverse to each other and are preferably
perpendicular. This arrangement permits the appliance to be more
easily manoeuvred than traditional vacuum cleaners.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows the vacuum cleaner in a turning position. The
user rotates the main body 2 about its longitudinal axis 21 by
means of the handle 16. This causes the roller assembly 4 to tilt
with respect to the floor. The rotational axes 19, 20 associated
with the yoke 18 cause the cleaner head 3 to turn whilst remaining
in contact with the floor. The extent to which the main body 2 is
turned about its longitudinal axis 21 determines the extent to
which the cleaner head 3 moves from its forward facing position
towards the right or left. The stand 15 remains neatly tucked up
against the rear of the main body 2 through the range of motions
performed by the cleaner 1. This permits the user easily to
manoeuvre the cleaner 1, even when cleaning under furniture and
other low obstructions.
[0029] The head 3 is able to pivot and turn through a variety of
positions with respect to the main body of the cleaner. The fluid
flow path between the inlet 13 to the cleaner head 3 and the
separating apparatus 7 on the main body 2 must remain sound and
continuous in all positions, otherwise air from the atmosphere will
be drawn into the cleaner 1. This may have a detrimental effect on
the suction performance of the cleaner 1.
[0030] In accordance with the invention, a sealing connection
between a fluid outlet on the head and a flexible hose on the main
body is provided, and locating means is arranged to inhibit
rotation of the hose as the surface treating head pivots. FIG. 3 is
an exploded view showing components of the head and its connection
to the main body at the yoke in more detail. FIG. 4 is a sectional
view of these components as assembled. The head further comprises a
fluid outlet 22 in fluid communication with both the fluid inlet 13
and a conduit in the form of a flexible hose 23. The hose 23
provides a fluid flow path between the cleaner head 3 and the main
body 2 of the cleaner 1. A seal 24 joins the fluid outlet 22 to the
hose 23 to form a sealing connection. The fluid outlet 22 opens out
into a recess (not visible in these drawings) at the rear of the
housing 11. A collar 25 is arranged to sit inside the recess and
also to fit around a neck 26 projecting from the yoke 18. The
collar 25 is fastened to the housing 11, but is allowed to pivot
about the neck 26. The neck 26 incorporates an aperture arranged to
admit the hose 23. Thus, the head 3 can pivot about the axis 20,
which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the hose 23.
[0031] The seal 24 is arranged to abut the end of the outlet 22 and
so provide a sealing connection between the outlet and the hose 23.
In this embodiment, the seal 24 is moulded so as to form a
plurality of radial projections 27 equally spaced around the
circumference of its outer surface. When the components are
assembled, the projections 27 on the seal 24 extend in a direction
parallel to that of the fluid flow path. These projections 27 are
arranged to fit in corresponding notches 28 around the
circumference of the end of the neck 26. The provision of similar,
equally-spaced projections and notches enable the hose to be fitted
against the neck in any orientation. This feature facilitates
assembly of the hose. Thus, the seal 24, and hence the hose 23, is
located in a predetermined position and is prevented from rotating
as the head 3 turns from side to side with respect to the yoke
18.
[0032] Thus, when the user rotates the cleaner about its
longitudinal axis 21, and the cleaner head turns about the axis 20
on the yoke 18, the outlet 22 will rotate with respect to the yoke.
Because of the sealing connection at seal 24 with the hose 23, the
turning moment of the outlet 22 will tend to urge the hose to
rotate with the outlet. However, the co-operating projections and
notches resist relative axial movement and inhibit the hose 23 from
rotating about its longitudinal axis. This feature maintains the
continuity of the fluid pathway. It also prevents the hose from
twisting or kinking, which might cause wear of the fabric of the
hose as well as deforming the fluid flow path.
[0033] An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown, partly
cut-away, in FIG. 5. This drawing illustrates a surface treating
head in the form of a floor tool for a vacuum cleaner, indicated
generally by the reference numeral 29. The tool 29 comprises a
housing 30, in which an agitator in the form of a brush bar 31 is
rotatably mounted. Bristles or beaters (not shown) carried by the
brush bar 31 project through a suction opening 32 as the brush bar
rotates and agitate the surface to be cleaned. The brush bar 31 is
driven by means of a turbine 33, through which air is drawn by the
motor of the vacuum cleaner, and a drive belt (not shown).
[0034] The housing 30 has a fluid outlet 34, which communicates
with an outlet conduit in the form of a hose 35. A seal 36 provides
a sealing connection between the two. A neck 37 on the housing 30
fits into a collar 38 carried by the hose 35 and is able to rotate
inside the collar to provide a pivoting connection of the housing
30 with respect to the hose 35. The other end of the hose 35
terminates in a rigid outlet 39, which is connectable to the wand
of a surface-treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner. Wheels
40 on the tool 29 permit it to be rolled along a surface to be
treated. When the wand, and hence the outlet 39 is rotated about
its longitudinal axis, one of the wheels 40 lifts from the surface.
The pivoting connection permits the housing 30 to turn in the
direction of the remaining wheel 40 so that, if the outlet is
rotated to the left, the housing turns to the left.
[0035] In this embodiment, the locating means comprises a radially
raised portion 41 on the seal arranged to abut against an inwardly
projecting ledge 42 of corresponding shape on the inner surface of
the collar. The mating surfaces of the raised portion 41 and the
ledge 42 have a sinuous shape that inhibits movement of the hose 35
with respect to the housing 30 in both axial and radial directions.
The locating means is arranged to provide a connection in one
predetermined position, which may be useful if other components
associated with the hose, such as electrical connections, also need
to be arranged in a predetermined position or orientation.
[0036] Of course, further variations may be made without departing
from the scope of the invention.
[0037] The locating means could take on many forms. For example, in
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, rounded projections
and notches are employed, but these could be squared off to give
castellated projections and notches.
[0038] While the illustrated embodiments show a vacuum cleaner and
a tool for a vacuum cleaner in which ducts carry airflow, it will
be appreciated that the invention can be applied to vacuum cleaners
which carry other fluids, such as water and detergents, as well as
other surface-treating appliances.
* * * * *