U.S. patent application number 13/763133 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Dyson Technology Limited. Invention is credited to Daniel John THOMPSON.
Application Number | 20130205538 13/763133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45929949 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130205538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THOMPSON; Daniel John |
August 15, 2013 |
VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner comprising a main body and a separating
apparatus associated with the main body, wherein the main body
includes a suction generator for drawing air into the separating
apparatus and a handle arrangement including a trigger member for
activating the suction generator. The trigger member is resiliently
biased into a first position in which the suction generator does
not operate, and is movable into a second position to activate the
suction generator, wherein, when in the first position, a contact
surface of the trigger member is spaced away from an adjacent
surface of the handle arrangement and, when in the activated
position, the contact face of the trigger member is substantially
flush with the adjacent surface of the handle arrangement. The
invention also relates for a handle arrangement for such a vacuum
cleaner.
Inventors: |
THOMPSON; Daniel John;
(Malmesbury, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dyson Technology Limited; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Wiltshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
45929949 |
Appl. No.: |
13/763133 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2/1022 20130101;
Y02E 60/10 20130101; A47L 9/322 20130101; A47L 9/2857 20130101;
A47L 9/2884 20130101; A47L 5/24 20130101; B25F 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/344 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2012 |
GB |
1202349.5 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a main body and a separating
apparatus associated with the main body, wherein the main body
includes a suction generator for drawing air into the separating
apparatus and a handle arrangement including a trigger member for
activating the suction generator, the trigger member being
resiliently biased into a first position in which the suction
generator does not operate, and is movable into a second position
to activate the suction generator wherein, in the first position, a
contact surface of the trigger member is spaced away from an
adjacent surface of the handle arrangement and, in the second
position, the contact face of the trigger member is substantially
flush with the adjacent surface of the handle arrangement.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is
supported on a pivot in the interior of the handle arrangement.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is
biased into the first position by way of a spring element which
exerts a predetermined activation force on the trigger member.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the spring element is a
compression spring that acts on a part of the contact surface.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is
biased with a force of less than 8 N.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is
biased with a force between 0.5 N and 6 N.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member is
biased with a force between 0.5 N and 3 N.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the trigger member
includes an actuating member that is moved by movement of the
contact face, the actuating member being arranged to contact an
activating switch of a battery pack.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the battery pack is
carried adjacent an end of the handle arrangement.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the battery pack
includes a part which extends inside the interior of the handle,
the extending part including the activating switch.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, comprising a controller operable
to activate the motor and fan unit in response to a command signal
initiated by the trigger member, wherein the controller implements
a predetermined delay period between receiving an command signal
and activating the suction generator.
12. A handle arrangement for a vacuum cleaner, the handle
arrangement including a trigger member which is movable between
first and second positions, the trigger member being resiliently
biased into the first position in which position a contact surface
of the trigger member is spaced away from an adjacent surface of
the handle arrangement and wherein, in the second position, the
contact face of the trigger member is substantially flush with the
adjacent surface of the handle arrangement.
13. The handle arrangement of claim 12, wherein the trigger member
is supported on a pivot in the interior of the handle
arrangement.
14. The handle arrangement of claim 12, wherein the trigger member
is biased into the first position by way of a resilient element
which exerts a predetermined activation force on the trigger
member.
15. The handle arrangement of claim 14, wherein the resilient
element acts on a part of the contact surface.
16. The handle arrangement of claim 12, wherein the trigger member
is biased with a force of less than 8 N.
17. The handle arrangement of claim 12, wherein the trigger member
is biased with a force between 0.5 N and 6 N.
18. The handle arrangement of claim 12, wherein the trigger member
is biased with a force between 0.5 N and 3 N.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No. 1202349.5, filed Feb. 10, 2012, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are various types of vacuum cleaners available on the
market, and these can be categorized generally into "cylinder"
vacuum cleaners, "upright" vacuum cleaners, "handheld" vacuum
cleaners and "stick" vacuum cleaners, also known as
"stick-vacs".
[0004] Cylinder and upright vacuum cleaners are commonplace and are
generally used as a household's primary vacuum cleaner for
heavy-duty cleaning tasks around the home. As a result they tend to
be mains-operated. In contrast to cylinder and upright vacuum
cleaners, handheld vacuum cleaners are portable in the sense that
they are light enough to be carried in the hand and do not need to
be supported on the floor by a rolling assembly like cylinder and
upright vacuum cleaners. Typically, they are powered by batteries.
Because of this, handheld vacuum cleaners are better suited to
low-duty cleaning jobs such as spot-cleaning of floors and
upholstery and vehicle interiors, for example.
[0005] Stick-vac cleaners are marketed as offering a lightweight
alternative to upright cleaners for relatively low duty
floor-cleaning applications, such as cleaning up floor spills.
[0006] Common with all types of vacuum cleaners is the requirement
for a user to be able to turn them on and off. Typically, a simple
on/off button is provided that can be pressed to turn the machine
off and then pressed again to turn the machine off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention relates to improvements in the means for
activating and deactivating vacuum cleaners.
[0008] The invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a main
body and a separating apparatus associated with the main body,
wherein the main body includes a suction generator for drawing air
into the separating apparatus and a handle arrangement including a
trigger member for activating the suction generator. The trigger
member is resiliently biased into a first position in which the
suction generator does not operate, and is movable into a second
position to activate the suction generator, wherein, when in the
first position, a contact surface of the trigger member is spaced
away from an adjacent surface of the handle arrangement and, when
in the second position, the contact face of the trigger member is
substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the handle
arrangement.
[0009] Although the trigger member could be a sliding trigger, it
is currently preferred that the trigger member is supported on a
pivot in the interior of the handle arrangement. A sliding trigger
has a relative high friction interface with the handle since it
must slide on rails so the pivoting arrangement of the invention
beneficially enables a lighter action trigger. In the invention the
substantially flush relationship of the contact surface with the
adjoining portions of the handle arrangement provides a
particularly ergonomic user interface. During extended periods of
cleaning, the requirement to depress a `dead man's trigger`
arrangement in order to operate the vacuum cleaner may become
tiresome, particularly as the user's finger must adopt a slightly
extended position to maintain pressure on a trigger surface that
stands proud from the grip during operation. This will affect
especially those users with comparatively small and/or weak hands.
In the invention, since the contact face in effect `merges` with
the handle when the trigger is depressed, the user's grip is able
to adopt a more natural position which ensures that it is less
tiring to maintain the trigger in the operating state for an
extended period of time.
[0010] The trigger member may be biased into the first position by
way of a spring element which exerts a predetermined activation
force on the trigger member and, in one embodiment, the spring
element is a compression spring that acts on a part of the contact
surface. In addition to the low profile character of the trigger
member, to further improve the ergonomics of the trigger member it
is preferably biased with a force of less than 8 N (Newtons), and
particularly between about 0.5 N and 6 N. Still preferably, between
about 0.5 N and 3 N which ensures an easy action to the
trigger.
[0011] The trigger member may include an actuating member that is
moved by movement of the contact face, the actuating member being
arranged to contact an activating switch of a battery pack which
is, preferably, carried adjacent an end of the handle arrangement
and may include a part which extends inside the interior of the
handle, the extending part including the activating switch.
[0012] The vacuum cleaner of the invention may include an
electronic control module that is interfaced to the battery pack,
the motor and fan unit and, in one embodiment, the trigger member
and is operable to activate the motor and fan unit in response to a
command signal initiated by the trigger member. Following receipt
of the command signal, the controller may implement a predetermined
delay period before activating the motor and fan unit. Potentially
the delay could be configured (during manufacture for example) for
any period of time but it is preferred if the delay is a relatively
short period for example less than one second. Preferably the delay
period is between half a second (0.5 seconds) and one second.
Beneficially, the delay period guards against momentary operation
of the motor in the event that the user presses the switch
accidentally, for example by brushing the trigger lightly when
grasping the vacuum cleaner but before being ready to begin
cleaning. Such a feature improves the user experience but also
reduces wear on the motor by reducing the number of start/stop
cycles significantly over the lifetime of the machine.
[0013] It is envisaged that the handle arrangement may be an
integral part of the vacuum cleaner, although it may also be a
removable part. Therefore, expressed another way the invention
provides a handle arrangement for a vacuum cleaner, the handle
arrangement including a trigger member which is movable between
first and second positions, the trigger member being resiliently
biased into the first position in which position a contact surface
of the trigger member is spaced away from an adjacent surface of
the handle arrangement and wherein, when in the second position,
the contact face of the trigger member is substantially flush with
the adjacent surface of the handle arrangement.
[0014] In a second aspect, the invention provides a cylinder vacuum
cleaner comprising a main body supportable on a surface by a
rolling assembly, and a separating apparatus associated with the
main body, wherein the main body includes a suction generator for
drawing air into the separating apparatus, wherein a flexible hose
extends from the main body and the hose having a handle including a
trigger member for activating the suction generator, the trigger
member being resiliently biased into a first position in which the
suction generator does not operate, and is movable into a second
position to activate the suction generator.
[0015] In a third aspect, the invention provides an upright vacuum
cleaner comprising a main body supportable on a surface by a
rolling assembly, and a separating apparatus associated with the
main body, wherein the main body includes a suction generator for
drawing air into the separating apparatus through an associated
cleaning head, wherein the main body has a handle associated
therewith, the handle including a trigger member for activating the
suction generator, the trigger member being resiliently biased into
a first position in which the suction generator does not operate,
and is movable into a second position to activate the suction
generator.
[0016] Preferred and/or optional features of the first aspect of
the invention may also be combined with the second and third
aspects of the invention either alone or in combination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] So that it may be more readily understood, embodiments of
the invention will now be described by way of example only with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a handheld vacuum
cleaner in accordance with the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner in FIG. 1 with a
section of the handle cut away;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the handheld vacuum
cleaner in FIG. 1 but with the operating trigger/switch in a second
position;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner, as in FIG. 2,
but with the operating trigger in the second operating
position;
[0022] FIG. 5a is a simplified section view through the handle
showing the operating trigger in the first operating position;
[0023] FIG. 5b is a view of the handle like that in FIG. 5, but
with the operating trigger in the second operating position;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a control system of the vacuum
cleaner according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control process implemented by
the control system;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of a handle arrangement of
the vacuum cleaner in FIG. 8;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a view of the handle arrangement in FIG. 9 with a
section cut away to show its interior;
[0029] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the handle arrangement in
FIG. 9 wherein the trigger member is shown in a second operating
position; and
[0030] FIG. 12 is a view of the handle arrangement in FIG. 11 with
a section cut away to show its interior.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a handheld vacuum
cleaner 2 has a main body 4 which houses a motor and fan unit, an
outer housing of which is indicated generally at 6. The motor and
fan unit 6 is located above a generally upright handle or grip
portion 8. The lower end 8a of the handle 8 supports a generally
slab-like battery pack 10. A set of exhaust vents 12 are provided
on the main body 4 for exhausting air from the handheld vacuum
cleaner 2.
[0032] The main body 4 supports a cyclonic separating apparatus 14
that functions to remove dirt, dust and other debris from a
dirt-bearing airflow drawn into the vacuum cleaner by the motor and
fan unit. The cyclonic separating apparatus 14 is attached to a
forward part 4a of the main body 4 and an air inlet conduit/nozzle
16 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X from a forward portion of
the cyclonic separating apparatus 14 that is remote from the main
body 4. The air inlet nozzle 16 is configured so that a suitable
brush tool can be mounted to it and includes a catch 18 for
securely holding such a brush tool when the tool is engaged with
the inlet. The brush tool is not material to the present invention
and so is not shown here. An elongate extension tube or wand (not
shown) may also be mounted to the air inlet nozzle 16 to extend the
cleaning reach of the vacuum cleaner.
[0033] The cyclonic separating apparatus 14 is located between the
main body 4 and the air inlet nozzle 16 and has a longitudinal axis
Y-Y which extends in a generally upright direction so that it is
substantially orthogonal with the longitudinal axis X-X of the
inlet nozzle 16. The handle 8 extends along an axis Z-Z that lies
at a shallow angle to the axis Y-Y and which, in the exemplary
embodiment is approximately 10 degrees, although any angle from
orthogonal to about 20 degrees is suitable.
[0034] The handle 8 is oriented in a pistol-grip formation which is
a comfortable interface for a user since it reduces stress on a
user's wrist during cleaning. The cyclonic separating apparatus 14
is positioned close to the handle 8 which also reduces the moment
applied to the user's wrist when the handheld vacuum cleaner 2 is
in use. The handle 8 carries an on/off switch arrangement in the
form of a trigger member 20 for turning the motor and fan unit 6 on
and off. In use, the motor and fan unit draws dust laden air into
the vacuum cleaner 2 via the air inlet nozzle 16. Dirt and dust
particles entrained within the air flow are separated from the air
and retained in the cyclonic separating apparatus 14. The cleaned
air is ejected from the rear of the cyclonic separating apparatus
14 and conveyed by a short duct section 22 to the motor and fan
unit 6 located within the main body 4, and is subsequently expelled
through the air outlets 12 which may also include a fine particle
filter by way of a final filtering stage to remove
micro-contaminants from the airflow that exits the cleaner.
[0035] It should be noted at this point that although the cyclonic
separating apparatus described here is cyclonic, this is not
essential to the invention and other separating apparatus are
viable, for example other bagless-type separating apparatus which
feature a fibrous filter element in a whirl-chamber to separate
contaminants from the airstream, or even a bagged-type separating
apparatus as is common in the art. The precise configuration of the
cyclonic separating apparatus is not material to the present
invention and so will not be described in detail here. However, one
particular configuration of cyclonic separation that is suitable is
described in the Applicant's co-pending application GB2475312A.
[0036] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the
handheld vacuum cleaner 2 in FIG. 1 but with a portion of the outer
skin of the handle cutaway so the interior of the handle can be
seen and, in particular, the on/off trigger arrangement.
[0037] The battery pack 10 has a generally rectangular block-like
base portion 23. An upstanding post 24 extends upwardly at an angle
of approximately 80.degree. to the plane of the base portion 23.
The handle 8 is tubular in cross section with a generally oval
shape that complements the cross section of the post 24 of the
battery 10. Therefore, the post 24 of the battery 10 is receivable
by the open lower end 8a of the handle 8 so that the battery pack
10 may be docked onto the vacuum cleaner 2. An upper end of the
post 24 includes electrical terminals (not shown) that connect to
corresponding electrical connectors housed in the interior of the
handle 8 and which lead to an electronic control module (not shown)
that is interfaced to the motor and fan unit. Electrical power is
therefore transmitted from the battery pack 10 to the motor and fan
unit 6 via the electrical connectors. The exact configuration of
the electrical battery terminals and their respective connectors
are not essential to the invention so will not be described in more
detail here.
[0038] The battery post 24 also includes a mechanically actuated
switch unit 26 that is oriented so as to extend upwardly from the
top face of the post 24. The switch unit 26 includes a push switch
member 28 and is operated by an end of the trigger member 20, as
will now be described.
[0039] The trigger member 20 takes the form of a bell crank having
a first end 20a in the form of an actuating finger that is
engageable with the battery switch unit 26 and a second end 20b
that provides a contact face for the trigger member 20 and which
protrudes through a forwardly facing aperture 30 in the handle 8.
The contact face 20b of the trigger is seen clearly in FIG. 1
extending through the aperture 30. A plate-like finger rest 32
extends forwardly from the handle 8 at a position just below the
aperture 30 and provides a means to prevent a user's finger from
slipping off the trigger member 20 in use. It also allows a user to
grasp the handle without actuating the trigger, during carrying for
example.
[0040] The trigger member 20 is biased into a non-actuating
position by a spring element 34 which, in this embodiment is a coil
spring, that extends between a spring retaining member 36 provided
on the rear of the contact face 20b and a spring abutment member 38
provided in the handle 8. The spring element 34 therefore biases
the trigger member such that the contact face 20b protrudes from
the aperture 30 in the handle and the actuating finger 20a is
spaced from the actuating switch unit 26 of the battery pack 10.
When the trigger member 20 is in this position, the motor and fan
unit 6 does not operate. Expressed another way, the trigger
arrangement takes the form of a so-called `dead man's trigger`
which will only operate the vacuum cleaner whilst it is being
depressed by a user. The coil spring element 34 preferably biases
the trigger member so that the trigger has a light action. For
example, for a suitable light action the coil spring element 34
should have a spring constant so that the trigger member is biased
outwardly with a force less than 8 Newtons. In the preferred
embodiment, the coil spring has a spring constant which biases the
trigger with a force of about 4 Newtons. However, a suitable range
for the spring force is between about 0.5 and 5 Newtons.
[0041] In order to operate the vacuum cleaner 2, a user depresses
the trigger member 20 to an operating position, which is shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. In this position, the activating finger 20a of the
trigger member 20 engages the activating switch unit 26 of the
battery pack 10 which initiates power supply to the electronic
control module of the motor and fan unit 6 thereby operating the
vacuum cleaner. Also, in this position the contact face 20b of the
trigger member 20 recedes into the trigger aperture 30 on the
handle 8 so that it lies substantially flush with the adjoining
portions of the handle 8.
[0042] The two positions of the trigger member 20 are also shown in
FIGS. 5a and 5b from an alternative perspective. As can be seen the
contact face 20a of the trigger member 20 has an outwardly curved
forward portion 40 bridged between two parallel walls 42 which act
as a sliding guide for the trigger member 20 against edges of the
trigger aperture 30 of the handle 8. In the non-operating position,
as is shown in FIG. 5a, the contact face 30 of the trigger member
20 extends beyond and therefore stands proud of the adjacent
surface of the handle 8. Conversely, pressing the trigger, as shown
in FIG. 5b, causes the outwardly curved contact face 40 to `merge`
with the outer profile of the handle 8. It will be noted that in
this position the edges of the contact face lie substantially flush
with the neighbouring surfaces of the handle. The effect of this is
to provide a particularly ergonomic user interface. During extended
periods of cleaning, the requirement to depress a `dead man's
trigger` arrangement in order to operate the vacuum cleaner may
become tiresome, particularly as the user's finger must adopt a
slightly extended position to maintain pressure on a trigger
surface that stands proud from the grip during operation. This will
affect especially those users with comparatively small or weak
hands and particularly those users with limited mobility. In the
invention, since the contact face in effect `merges` with the
handle when the trigger is depressed, the user's grip is able to
adopt a more natural position in which all of the fingers are
in-a-line which ensures that it is less tiring to maintain the
trigger in the operating state for an extended period of time. It
should be noted that, although the contact face is shown as
described as having a curved profile in the specific embodiment, a
substantially flat contact face would be a suitable alternative and
would achieve the same ergonomic benefits.
[0043] As has been mentioned, the upstanding post 24 of the battery
pack 10 includes electrical contacts to interface with
corresponding electrical connectors in the handle 8 which, in turn,
extend to an electronic control module. Although the control module
is not shown physically in FIGS. 1 to 4, a control system schematic
of the vacuum cleaner is shown in FIG. 6 and as can be seen a
control module 50 receives power and signal inputs 52, 54 from a
control circuit 56 associated with the battery pack and also
supplies a power input 58 to the motor 60, a well as receiving a
status input 62 from the motor 64. The exact nature of the status
input from the motor is not material to the invention and will not
be described here.
[0044] In the operation described above, the control module 50
activates the motor 64 as soon as it detects power from the battery
back 10 as initiated from the triggering of the battery pack switch
unit 26. However, due to the light action of the trigger member 20,
there is a risk that a user may inadvertently toggle the trigger
between on and off positions rapidly for example when grasping the
handle 8 and before the user is ready to begin vacuuming. A control
method to guard against this is shown in FIG. 7.
[0045] From an initial condition 100, the routine executed by the
control module 50 enters a monitoring state 102 during which the
status of the power lines from the battery pack is monitored. In
effect, therefore, in this embodiment it is the voltage on the
battery power connections to the control module 50 that serves as
an activation command for the controller. At decision gate 104, if
the battery pack power signal is negative control passes back to
the monitoring step 102. If the battery pack power signal is
positive, that is to say, a user has pressed the trigger, the
routine continues to step 106 which implements a delay state before
proceeding to step 108 at which point the controller activates the
motor.
[0046] The delay step 106 introduces a predetermined delay period
between the action of the user pressing the trigger, and therefore
the control module 50 receiving an activation command, and the
activation of the motor. Potentially the delay could be configured
(during manufacture for example) for any period of time but it is
preferred if the delay is a relatively short period for example
less than one second. Preferably the delay period is between 0.2
seconds and one second and more preferably about 0.5 seconds.
Beneficially, the delay period guards against momentary operation
of the motor in the event that the user presses the trigger
accidentally, for example by brushing the trigger lightly when
grasping the vacuum cleaner but before being ready to being
cleaning. Such a feature improves the user experience but also
reduces wear on the motor by reducing the number of start/stop
cycles significantly over the lifetime of the machine.
[0047] Following the activation of the motor, the process flow
continues to step 110 which checks the status of the power signal
from the battery. For as long as the power signal remains positive,
the process flow loops through decision gate 112 back to checking
step 110. However, if a user releases the trigger, thereby causing
the power signal from the battery to go negative, the process flows
through the decision gate to step 114 at which the motor is
deactivated. Following this, the control process returns to
monitoring the status of the power input signal while the motor is
not running.
[0048] Although not mentioned above, it should be appreciated that
additionally, or alternatively, a predetermined delay period could
also be added between the decision step 112 and the motor
deactivation step 114. This would guard against the motor being
turned off inadvertently, for example due to a user's finger
momentarily relieving pressure slightly on the trigger. Such a
deactivation delay could be implemented for between 0.2 and 1
second, for example.
[0049] Although the trigger arrangement has been described with
reference to a handheld vacuum cleaner, it also applies to other
categories of vacuum cleaners such as cylinder vacuum cleaners and
upright vacuum cleaners. Referring now to FIG. 8, a cylinder vacuum
cleaner 120 includes a base unit 122 connected to a wand 124 by a
flexible hose 126. The wand 124 is carried by the hand of a user
128 at one of its ends and a cleaner head, or floor tool 130, is
connected to the other end of the wand 124. The base unit 122
includes a cyclonic separating apparatus 132 that is supported on a
rolling assembly 134 which, in this case, takes the form of upright
wheels 136 mounted either side of a chassis 136. The flexible hose
126 is mounted to the forward part of the chassis 136 and ducts air
from the rear end of the wand 124 into the cyclonic separating
apparatus 132 in a known manner. The base unit 122 also includes a
motor and fan unit (not shown) which is operable to draw a flow of
air through the wand 124 and the separating apparatus 132. The
motor and fan unit is powered by a mains power source source via a
flex or cable 138. The skilled person will appreciate that the term
`mains power` is known by alternative expressions in some
countries, including `domestic power`, `line power` or `wall power`
for example. However, the term mains power is used here for
simplicity and is intended to cover any alternating power source,
be it 240 v/50 Hz or 120V/60 Hz for example, that is available from
wall sockets in domestic dwellings and other buildings.
[0050] The wand 124 includes a handle assembly 140 which is shown
generally in FIG. 8, but shown more clearly in FIGS. 9 to 12, and
which will now be described. The handle assembly 140 includes a
main body portion 142 and a handgrip portion 144 that is configured
so as to be graspable by a user and extends between a front tubular
section 146 and a rear tubular section 148 of the main body portion
142. The front tubular section 146 is adapted to be connectable to
the rear end of the wand 124 (shown ghosted in FIG. 9) by means of
a catch system 150 and includes a tubular air inlet 152 for
receiving an air flow from the wand 124.
[0051] Between its ends, the main body portion 142 of the handle
assembly supports a cylindrical rotatable section 154 which
includes an air outlet portion 156 that extends away from the main
body portion 142 at an angle from the side wall of the rotatable
section 154. An outer end 158 of the air outlet portion 156 is
adapted for connection to the hose (not shown in FIGS. 9 to 12) and
so the rotatable section 154 serves to convey an air flow from the
front end of the handle assembly 140 to the cyclonic separating
apparatus 132 of the vacuum cleaner 120 via the flexible hose
126.
[0052] The handgrip portion 144 includes a trigger arrangement 160
in a similar manner to the previous embodiment. In FIG. 9, the
trigger arrangement 160 is shown in a first, non-operating,
position and FIG. 10 shows the handgrip portion 144 in the same
state but partially cutaway so that the interior of the handgrip
portion 144 surrounding the trigger arrangement 160 can be seen. In
a manner similar to the previous embodiment, the trigger
arrangement includes a trigger member 162 having an arm 164 that is
pivotably mounted inside the handgrip portion 144. At the end of
the trigger member 162 opposite the arm 164 is a contact face 166
that extends through an aperture 168 provided in the handgrip
portion 144.
[0053] The contact face 166 of the trigger member 162 stands proud
of the adjacent surfaces of the handgrip portion 144 and is biased
into this position by a switch means 170 in the form of a miniature
snap-action switch (commonly known as a Micro-Switch.TM.) that is
located in the interior of the handgrip portion 144 adjacent the
trigger member. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the switch 170 has a
spring-like actuating arm 172 which engages an abutment member 174
on the interior surface of the contact face 166 and so the trigger
is biased outwardly. Such a configuration ensures that the trigger
member 162 has a light action, and preferably is operable with a
force in the region of 0.5 N to 1.5 N such that operation of such a
trigger is easy for the user and avoids fatigue. If a slightly
stronger trigger operation is desired, further spring means may be
incorporated. In this embodiment, for example, a coiled torsion
spring may be incorporated at the pivot.
[0054] Electrical contacts 176 of the snap action switch are
connected to a control board 178 by way of a lead (not shown). In
the embodiment illustrated, the control board 178 also supports
various other control switches 180 to access other functions of the
vacuum cleaner--for example activating and deactivating the
rotatable brush bar, and modulating the suction power of the vacuum
cleaner. Further electrical leads 182, 184 are provided to connect
the control board 178 to the vacuum cleaner 120 by way of power
leads 184 configured to extend along the flexible hose, and to
connect the control board 178 to the wand 124 and cleaner head 130
by way of an electrical connection block 186 provided on the front
section 146 of the handle assembly 140.
[0055] FIGS. 11 and 12 show the handle assembly 140 with the
trigger member 162 in an activated position. In the same manner as
the first embodiment, in this position the contact face 166 of the
trigger member 162 recedes into the trigger aperture 168 on the
handle so that it lies substantially flush with the adjoining
portions of the handle. In effect, therefore, the contact face 166
of the trigger member 162 merges with the profile of the handle. It
should be noted that although the handle assembly 140 is described
as being used on a cylinder vacuum cleaner, the handle assembly
could also be incorporated into an upright vacuum cleaner.
[0056] In addition to the ergonomic benefits conferred by the
invention, a further advantage of is that a cylinder or, indeed, an
upright vacuum cleaner is provided with a operating switch that is
not latchable in the `on` position as is the case for known switch
mechanisms on cylinder and upright vacuum cleaners. This provides a
surprising effect in that a user only activates the vacuum cleaner
whilst grasping the handle rather than the known switch means on
cylinder and upright vacuum cleaner in which the activating switch
is required to be pressed a first time to turn the vacuum cleaner
on, and then pressed a second time to turn the vacuum cleaner off.
Therefore, a cylinder or upright vacuum cleaner incorporating the
invention will be more energy efficient than known vacuum cleaners
which tend to be turned on at the beginning of a cleaning session
and left on throughout the duration of the session, whether or not
the user is actually grasping the handle of the vacuum cleaner.
[0057] As an alternative to a mechanically operable switch, it
should be noted that other trigger means are viable in the context
of this embodiment, for example touch sensitive switches such as
light sensors, capacitive sensors or resistive sensors. Such switch
arrangements are all operable to act as a `dead man's switch like
the specific embodiment described above and therefore achieve the
same energy efficiency advantages for cylinder and upright vacuum
cleaners. It will also be appreciated that the control process
described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 could also be
implemented in this embodiment.
[0058] The skilled person will appreciate that variations on the
above embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of
the invention, as defined by the claims.
[0059] For example, although the trigger member has been described
above as being mounted at a pivot in the handle arrangement, it may
also be slidably mounted.
[0060] Also, although it has been described above that the trigger
member operates a switch mounted on the battery, it should be
appreciated that this is only one way in which the battery pack,
the trigger member and the controller may be interfaced.
Alternatively, the trigger member could be arranged to activate a
switch mounted directly, or indirectly, on the circuit board of the
controller. In this case, it would be the activation of the circuit
board mounted switch that would provide the controller with the
activation command, rather than the specific embodiment described
in which the controller `watches` for a predetermined voltage on
the battery connections.
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