U.S. patent application number 16/341833 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-08 for surface cleaning apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is TTI (Macao Commercial Offshore Limited). Invention is credited to Darren David Holmes, Guy Lawrence Newsom, Steven James Rogers, Matthew James Ward, Richard David Waters.
Application Number | 20200315412 16/341833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004901393 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200315412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ward; Matthew James ; et
al. |
October 8, 2020 |
SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
Abstract
A surface cleaning apparatus is described including a floor
head, a housing supporting a suction source and a dirt collection
container having an elongate axis (A). The device further includes
an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate
member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate
member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the
floor head to the dirt collection container. The elongate axis (B)
of the elongate member intersects or substantially intersects the
elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection container.
Inventors: |
Ward; Matthew James; (West
Midlands, GB) ; Waters; Richard David; (West
Midlands, GB) ; Newsom; Guy Lawrence; (West Midlands,
GB) ; Rogers; Steven James; (West Midlands, GB)
; Holmes; Darren David; (West Midlands, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TTI (Macao Commercial Offshore Limited) |
Macau |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004901393 |
Appl. No.: |
16/341833 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
October 12, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2017/053077 |
371 Date: |
April 12, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/28 20130101; A47L
5/24 20130101; A47L 9/0477 20130101; A47L 9/327 20130101; A47L
5/225 20130101; A47L 9/248 20130101; A47L 9/1608 20130101; A47L
9/322 20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/22 20060101
A47L005/22; A47L 5/28 20060101 A47L005/28; A47L 9/16 20060101
A47L009/16; A47L 9/24 20060101 A47L009/24; A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24; A47L 9/04 20060101 A47L009/04; A47L 9/32 20060101
A47L009/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 14, 2016 |
GB |
1617520.0 |
Claims
1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a floor head; a housing
supporting a suction source; and a dirt collection container having
an elongate axis (A); an elongate member having an elongate axis
(B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing,
said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden
air from the floor head to the dirt collection container; and a
user graspable handle coupled to the housing, the user graspable
handle having a user-graspable portion extending substantially
perpendicular to the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection
chamber, wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member
intersects the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection
container.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate axis of
the dirt collection container is substantially horizontal in normal
use.
3. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a floor head; a housing
supporting a suction source; a dirt collection container; and a
cyclonic separation device for separating dirt from the airflow
passing through the apparatus, said device having an elongate axis
(A), an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate
member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate
member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the
floor head to the dirt collection container, and a user graspable
handle coupled to the housing, the user graspable handle having a
user-graspable portion extending substantially perpendicular to the
elongate axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device, wherein the
elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects he elongate
axis (A) of the cyclonic separation device.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis (A)
of the cyclonic separation device is an axis substantially about
which dirt-laden air is caused to rotate as it passes through the
apparatus.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis of
the cyclonic separation device is substantially horizontal in
normal use.
6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate axis of
the dirt collection container is substantially horizontal in normal
use.
7. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the
dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are
parallel with each other.
8. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing includes
or is connected to a handle for holding the apparatus.
9. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate member is
disconnectable from the floor head.
10. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongate member
is disconnectable from the housing.
11. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the housing is
operable as a handheld surface cleaning apparatus when the elongate
member and floor head are disconnected therefrom.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a tool may be
connected to the housing in place of the elongate member.
13. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the axes A and B are
perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other.
14.-15. (canceled)
16. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the
dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are
substantially coaxial.
17. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein elongate axes of the
dirt collection container and the cyclonic separation device are
coaxial.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. national stage entry of
International Application No. PCT/GB2017/053077, filed Oct. 12,
2017, which claims priority to U.K. Patent Application No.
1617520.0, filed Oct. 14, 2016, the entire contents all of which
are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus including:
[0004] a floor head;
[0005] a housing supporting: [0006] a suction source; and [0007] a
dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A);
[0008] an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said
elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said
elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air
from the floor head to the dirt collection container,
[0009] wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member
intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the
direct collection container.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus including:
[0011] a floor head;
[0012] a housing supporting: [0013] a suction source; [0014] a dirt
collection container; and [0015] a cyclonic separation device for
separating dirt from the airflow passing through the apparatus,
said device having an elongate axis (A),
[0016] an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said
elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said
elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air
from the floor head to the dirt collection container,
[0017] wherein the elongate axis (B) of the elongate member
intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the
cyclonic separation device.
[0018] Further features of the invention are set out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Embodiments of the invention will be set out below by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying figures, of
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning
apparatus;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an opposite side view of the apparatus FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing of the apparatus
of FIG. 1, which housing is operable as a handheld surface cleaning
apparatus;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 5;
[0026] FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the housing of FIG. 5;
and
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the housing from the
same side as shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Referring to the figures, these show a surface cleaning
apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. The
apparatus 10 includes a floor head 12, a housing 16 and an elongate
member 14, having an elongate axis B, connecting the floor head 12
to the housing 16. The housing 16 in this example is operable as a
handheld surface cleaning apparatus, commonly known as a hand vac,
when the elongate member 14 and floor head 12 are not connected
thereto. The housing 16 supports a suction source, a dirt container
18 and a cyclonic separator. In this example the suction source is
an electric motor driving a rotatable fan, but any appropriate
suction source may be used. All that is necessary is for the
suction source to be able to draw air through the floor head 12 and
elongate member 14 towards the dirt collection container.
[0029] In this example the housing 16 supports or contains a
battery to provide electrical power to the suction motor and other
components of the apparatus 10. In alternative embodiments, the
apparatus 10 may be mains powered.
[0030] Whilst in the present embodiment the apparatus 10 includes a
cyclonic separator to separate dirt from the air flowing through
the apparatus 10, this is not essential. Indeed, embodiments are
envisaged where the apparatus 10 includes a filter bag which
collects dirt, or any other appropriate device to separate the dirt
from the air. The apparatus 10 includes a pivotally moveable door
18a which enables a user to empty dirt collected within the
container 18.
[0031] The elongate member 14 includes a passage for carrying
dirt-laden air from the floor head 12 to the dirt collection
container 18. In this example the floor head 12 includes a motor
for driving a rotatable floor agitating member or brush, so the
elongate member 14 includes a further passage through which
electrical cables may extend to provide an electric connection
between the housing 16 and the motor in the floor head.
[0032] The floor head 12 is disconnectable from the elongate member
14, so that, for example, another tool can be connected to the free
end of the elongate member 14. The elongate member 14 is also
disconnectable from the housing 16, by way of a manually operated
switch 17. This enables the housing 16 to be used as handheld
surface cleaning apparatus, with the option of being able to
connect another tool to the location from where the elongate member
16 is removed.
[0033] The housing 16 includes a handle for holding the apparatus
10, said handle including first 20 and second 21 user-graspable
portions which are connected to each other substantially at
right-angles. A first end of the first user-graspable portion 20 is
connected to the housing 16 and extends generally rearwardly away
therefrom and from the elongate member 14. A first end of the
second user-graspable portion 21 is connected to the housing 16 and
extends generally upwardly therefrom. Respective second ends of the
first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions are connected to
each other. Essentially, the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable
portions form a handle which is L-shaped and which provides two
locations each of which is sized such that it can be grasped fully
by a hand of a user. A device 22, e.g. a switch, for turning the
apparatus "on" is positioned at the connection of the second ends
of the first 20 and second 21 user-graspable portions to each
other.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the dirt collection container 18
is generally cylindrical and has an elongate axis A. Within the
dirt collection container 18 is positioned a cyclonic separation
device which also has an elongate axis coaxial with the axis A, the
axis A being that about which dirt-laden air is caused to rotate as
it passes through the apparatus 10. The elongate axis A is
substantially horizontal in normal use. Whilst in this embodiment
the elongate axes of the dirt collection container 18 and the
cyclonic separation device are coaxial or substantially coaxial,
they need not be. They could, for example, be parallel and offset
from each other or inclined relative to each other.
[0035] As can be seen from FIG. 8, the elongate axis B of the
elongate member 14 intersects or substantially intersects the
elongate axis A of the dirt collection container 18, with the two
axes intersecting substantially at right angles. In other words,
the axes A and B are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular
to each other. As the elongate axis of the cyclonic separator is
coaxial with the axis A, in the present embodiment, the elongate
axis B of the elongate member 14 also intersects or substantially
intersects the elongate axis A of the cyclonic separation
device.
[0036] This aligning of the axes A and B provides for improved
handling of the apparatus 10, especially, although not exclusively,
in the configuration where the elongate member 14 is connected to
the housing 16, because of improved weight distribution. Also, the
intersecting of the axes A and B in combination with the two part
handle arrangement provide for improved weight distribution and
handling whether the first 20 or second 21 user-graspable portion
is being held. Further, the intersecting and alignment of the axes
A and B ensures that air flowing from the elongate member 14 or
tool (whichever is connected to the housing 16) can travel in an
efficient and shorter path to the cyclonic separator device, thus
improving separation efficiency and performance.
[0037] Where the axis A is said to be substantially horizontal in
normal use, this orientation can also be described relative to the
handle and to axis B. The handle of the device (i.e. the first 20
and second 21 user-graspable portion) is formed in a plane that
lies substantially parallel to axis B, and preferably coincident
with axis B. For example and as shown, the handle is preferably
central relative to the width of the device, and in embodiments the
user-graspable portions extend rearwardly and downwardly. The axis
A lies perpendicular to the plane of the handle, i.e. it is
disposed across the width of the device, rather than lengthwise or
vertically. Therefore, in embodiments and as shown, the axis A lies
substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the handle and
axis B both lie, which--in normal use--is typically substantially
horizontal.
[0038] When used in this specification and claims, the terms
"comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the
specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are
not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features,
steps or components.
[0039] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the
following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their
specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed
function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed
result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of
such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse
forms thereof.
* * * * *