EP2030549A2 - Upright vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaner has an upper body with dust collector, and a base unit (2) that is movable on a surface to be cleaned by a chassis, where a tilting hinge is placed between the upper body and the base unit. The upper body and the base unit are pivotable through the tilting hinge around an axis that is horizontal during use. Covers (54, 55) cover a gap within an area of a tilting joint between the body and the base unit, where adjustable screens (56, 57) are assigned to the covers. A plate (31) with LEDs (32) is fastened to a housing insert (5) for lighting the chassis.

Description

The invention relates to a Upright-type vacuum cleaner with an upper body with dust collection container and with a ground unit, which is movable by a chassis on the surface to be cleaned, between the upper body and bottom unit a tilting joint is arranged, through which upper body and ground unit to a in use horizontal axis are mounted pivotally to each other.

The following describes three types of vacuum cleaner that differ in their construction and operation. As common features all have a motor-driven blower, a dust collection room and one or more adapted to the particular purpose tillage equipment.

The vacuum cleaner has a housing which is movable on rollers and / or skids on the ground to be processed. In the housing, the engine fan and the dust collector are arranged. The soil treatment device - here called floor nozzle - is connected via a suction hose, possibly with an intermediate suction pipe, with the dust collection chamber. The housing is brought into the desired position during the suction process by pulling on the suction tube.

In the hand vacuum cleaner, the motor fan and the dust collector are also arranged in a housing. From the housing extends on one side of a suction pipe, which connects a floor nozzle with the dust collector, and on the other hand, a handle with which the housing is maneuvered into the desired position.

Uprights do not have such a rigorous structure as the two types mentioned above. An essential feature of an upright is a movable floor unit, which carries a torso with a large dust collector. The two parts are pivotally mounted to each other and usually fixable in a parking position in which the upper body is approximately vertical when the ground unit is in the use position on a horizontal ground. In this position, the upright is automatic. During the suction process, this locking is released and tilted the upper body by a certain angle in a working position. The swivel angle depends on the one hand on the size of the user and on the other hand from the respective use. A handle on the upper body is used to guide the entire device. The engine fan may be located at various locations. It is for example from the WO 2007/008770 A2 known to hold the blower directly to the upper body. From the WO 2004/014209 A1 It is known to form the blower as a separate unit. Through a pivot between the upper body and the upper Area of the blower ( EP 0 708 613 A1 ), improved maneuverability is achieved because the upright is now able to perform cornering movements. There are also known Uprights in which the engine fan is arranged in the ground unit. In these, the articulated connection between the floor unit and the upper body by a hinge-like structure. Due to the possible pivoting movement arise between the upper body and ground unit free spaces in which the user can engage. In an opposite pivoting movement then results in the risk that fingers are trapped. Also for optical reasons, it is desirable if less design-relevant components in the open spaces are not recognizable.

The invention thus raises the problem of avoiding the emergence of open spaces by relative movements between the upper body and ground unit in a vacuum cleaner of the type mentioned.

According to the invention this problem is solved by a vacuum cleaner with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention will become apparent from the following subclaims.

The inventive features an upright vacuum cleaner with at least one cover, which disguises at least one existing in the region of the tilting joint between the upper body and bottom unit clearance, the above-described disadvantages are eliminated in a simple manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the cover is associated with a displaceable panel, which disguises a gap formed by the pivoting movement between the cover and bottom unit. As a result, even the smallest column are covered and thus any risk of injury is excluded.

It is particularly convenient for the user, if means are available which automatically move the diaphragm during a gap-increasing pivoting movement in an extended position.

It is also advantageous if a stop is provided, which pushes the diaphragm during a pivoting movement reducing the gap into a retracted position. As a result, a grinding of the diaphragm to visible housing parts can be avoided.

It is expedient if at least two covers are used, since free spaces can be opened or closed on both sides of the tilting joint.

Thus, a front cover can cover a free space in the upper area of the floor unit. This front cover should then suitably a front Aperture be assigned, which is slidably mounted in a guide on the ground unit. The means that automatically move the front panel to an extended position may be readily formed as cooperating hook members on the front panel and on the front panel. The stop, which pushes the front panel in the retracted position, can be formed by a component of the tilting joint.

A rear cover can cover a free space in the lower area of the floor unit. The rear cover should have at least one cutout, which prevents a contact with at least one wheel arranged on the ground unit during a pivoting movement, in which a gap in the lower region of the ground unit is reduced. As a result, a blockage of the wheels is avoided when the upper body is pivoted very far down. In order to avoid the resulting gaps between the cover and the wheels, a rear panel is provided in an advantageous manner, which disguises the cutout in a pivotal movement increasing the gap in the lower region of the ground unit. This can be slidingly mounted on the rear cover. The means which automatically move the rear panel to an extended position may be formed as cooperating hook members on the rear panel and on a lower housing portion. It is also useful if the stop, which pushes the rear panel in the retracted position, is arranged on the housing base. It should be dimensioned so that it prevents contact of the panel with the wheel.

Advantageously, the covers are arranged on a fork-shaped channel component, which is part of the tilting joint.

Figuren 1 bis 6

den erfindungsgemäßen Staubsauger in verschiedenen Gesamtansichten;

Figur 7

die Bodeneinheit des Staubsaugers in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 8

den Oberkörper des Staubsaugers in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figuren 9a bis c

die Bewegung der vorderen Abdeckung und Blende anhand eines Teilschnitts während verschiedener Schwenkwinkel des Oberkörpers;

Figur 10

die hintere Abdeckung als Einzelheit;

Figur 11

die hintere Blende als Einzelheit;

Figuren 12a und b

die Bewegung der hinteren Abdeckung und Blende anhand einer Ansicht der Bodeneinheit von unten während verschiedener Schwenkwinkel der Gabel.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. It shows

FIGS. 1 to 6

the vacuum cleaner according to the invention in various overall views;

FIG. 7

the bottom unit of the vacuum cleaner in an exploded view;

FIG. 8

the upper body of the vacuum cleaner in an exploded view;

FIGS. 9a to c

the movement of the front cover and panel on the basis of a partial section during different tilt angle of the upper body;

FIG. 10

the back cover as a detail;

FIG. 11

the rear panel as a detail;

FIGS. 12a and b

the movement of the rear cover and bezel from a view of the bottom unit from below during different tilt angle of the fork.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 6 Upright vacuum cleaner shown in various views, hereinafter referred to as Upright 1, consists essentially of a ground unit 2, an upper body 3 and a joint arranged therebetween, which is described later.

The Upright 1 can from an upright parking position (see FIGS. 1 to 3 ), in which he is latched and then stands free, after releasing the locking (see FIG. 7 ) into a tilted ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and even in a fully stretched working position ( FIG. 6 ) to be brought. For this purpose, ground unit 2 and upper body 3 are a horizontal axis X in use (see FIG FIG. 5 ) mounted to each other pivotally. The joint, which allows the pivoting movement, is referred to below as a tilting joint. In addition, the upright in the tilted working position, as well as in FIG. 5 shown rotated about an axis Y. By rotating the upper body 3 by means of the appliance handle 4 about this axis and simultaneously pushing or pulling the upright, the user can control the floor unit 2 around curves. The corresponding joint is referred to in the text as a hinge.

The ground unit 2, in FIG. 7 shown in exploded view, comprises a housing which by a housing insert 5, a rear housing lower part 6, a front housing lower part 7, a bumper strip 8 and a cover part 9 is formed. The housing insert 5 acts as a carrier for a number of electrical and mechanical components, and the aforementioned housing parts are attached to it. It forms with the rear housing lower part 6 with the interposition of an engine compartment seal 10, a space for receiving an engine blower 11, which generates the vacuum necessary for suction operation. On the suction side, a sealing ring 13 is arranged around the fan inlet 12, which is also supported on the two aforementioned housing parts 5 and 6. On the opposite side rubber buffer 14 are inserted. For deep cleaning of carpets protrudes into the suction port 15, an opening in the front housing lower part 7 and the base plate 16 attached thereto, a brushing roller 17 which is resiliently mounted on two lateral wings 18 and 19 and driven by a brush motor 20 via a belt 21. The parts 22 and 23 represent a two-piece belt cover. The brush motor 20 is also secured to the housing insert 5, the rockers 18 and 19 are pivotally mounted there. The two housing bases 6 and 7 carry the chassis of the upright, which is formed of front wheels 24 and 25 and rear wheels 26 and 27. The rear wheels 26 and 27 are connected for stabilization by means of an axle 28 and adjustable via a respective wheel mechanism 29 and 30 in their position. To illuminate the driveway on the housing insert 5, a board 31 is attached to LED's 32, which is covered to the front by a lens 33. The viewing window 33 is held in a recess 34 in the bumper 8.

The air generated by the engine fan 11 is blown through an opening 35 in the housing insert 5 and a corresponding opening 36 in the cover part 9 in the environment. In the opening 36, a filter frame 37 is used, which receives an exhaust filter, not shown, for cleaning the air blown out of ultrafine particles. The filter frame 37 is covered by a grid receptacle 38 and a grid 39 in the lid part 9 and is interchangeable from there.

Both the tilting joint and the pivot joint between the base unit 2 and the upper body 3 described later are formed by a rigid, fork-shaped channel component. This component also includes parts of the air duct from the suction port 15 to the upper body 3 and the air guide from the upper body 3 to the exhaust opening (openings 35 and 36). The component is referred to below as fork 40. It consists of two plastic parts, an upper shell 41 and a lower shell 42, which are interconnected by welding. To realize the tilting joint, the two ends 43 (right) and 44 (left) of the fork 40 are pivotally mounted in recesses 45 and 46 provided for this purpose, to avoid abrasion, they are respectively surrounded by metallic bushings 47 and 48. The left in the direction of travel fork 44 is designed as hollow and coupled via a seal 49 with the blower inlet 12. At the right in the direction of travel fork 43 a bearing pin 50 is formed. It also has an opening 51 which is connected via an elastic tube 52 to the suction port 15. In order to prevent the inside of the bottom unit 2 when tilting the upper body 3, the connecting region of the two fork ends 43 and 44, hereinafter referred to as fork web 53, surrounded by a front cover 54 and a rear cover 55 on the bottom unit 2, which perform the pivoting movement of the fork 40 with. The space between the front and rear cover and the housing insert 5 is bridged by aperture 56 and 57. At the left fork end 44, the first 58 of two cable channels 58 and 59 is attached. Furthermore, the fork ends 43 and 44 carry toothed segments 60 and 61 which cooperate with the wheel mechanisms 29 and 30. At the fork web 53, a trim cover 62 is attached to a connection cable, not shown. To the upright in the parking position ( FIGS. 1 to 3 ), a stepping lever 63 is mounted on the housing insert 5, which engages in this position in the left fork end 44 and thus prevents the pivoting movement of the fork 40. By depressing the lever 63, the locking position can be released. In the parking position is also prevented by two spring-loaded bolts 64 and 65 a rotational movement. The air ducts, which are formed by the fork ends 43 and 44, are combined in the region of the fork web 53 to a first portion 66 of a coaxial line.

FIG. 8 shows the upper body 3, also in exploded view. Carrying component of the upper body 3 is a rear wall 67. It forms the rear portion of the dust chamber 68, which in turn receives a filter bag, not shown in the drawing. The edge of the dust chamber 68 is surrounded by a seal 69, the side of a cover strip 70 is fixed for cables, not shown. In the lower area is on the rear wall 67, a hinge bearing 71st attached. The dust chamber 68 is closed at the front by an upper housing part 72, which is articulated via hinges 73 and torsion springs 74 pivotally mounted on the hinge bearing 71. The upper part 72 carries a closure 75, a dust bag receptacle 76 and a filter change indicator 77. It also disguises the hinge bearing 71. In the upper part, the rear wall 67 carries the electronics 78 of Uprights, which is completely arranged on a receptacle 79 and as pre-tested component component is mounted. On the recording, a lever 81 for switching off the brush motor 20 is arranged via a torsion spring 80. In addition, it provides the holder for the handle tube 82 with the device handle 4. The electronics 78 is covered by a cap 84, which also serves for attachment to various controls and display elements and their accessories (lens 85, knob 86).

An elaborate air duct ensures that dirt-laden air can either be sucked in via the suction mouth in the floor unit or via a telescopic tube with possibly connected suction attachments such as crevice nozzle, furniture brush, upholstery nozzle, etc. For this purpose, the suction air from the suction port 15 via the elastic tube 52 and the right fork end 43 through the inner tube of the first portion 66 of the coaxial line in the fork web 53 into the inner tube of a second section 87 of the coaxial line. This section 87 is continued in the rear wall 67 and there again separated into two separate lines. The further air path leads through a Saugkanalstück 88 in a manifold 89. In the manifold 89 is loosely - and therefore removable - a telescopic tube 90 inserted, which passes via a pipe handle 91 in a flexible suction hose 92. The suction hose 92 is held in a receptacle 93 provided therefor, as well as in FIG. 3 is recognizable. Via a pivoting arc 94, the air enters a channel which extends over the entire length of the rear wall 67. The channel is formed from the rear wall 67 itself and an attached air duct piece 95. Subsequently, an arcuate neck 96, which consists of the rear wall 67 and partly of the electronic receptacle 79, the dirt-laden suction air in the area of the dust bag receptacle 76 and there in a dust bag, not shown. After the suction air has flowed through the dust bag in the dust chamber and has been cleaned of dust, it passes through a motor protection filter - in the figure, only the frame 97 is shown for holding the filter - in the outer ring of the second portion 87 of the coaxial line and from there the first section 66 via the left fork 44 to the engine fan 11th

In the FIG. 8 are also shown in the lower part of the components that serve for attachment and rotatable mounting of the upper body 3 to the fork 40. The first section 66 of the coaxial line is surrounded by an injected metal ring 98, which projects beyond the outer diameter of this section 66 and which is enclosed in two bearing shells 99 and 100, respectively. The bearing shells 99 and 100 are connected to the upper body 3. Consequently form metal ring 98 and bearing shells 99 and 100, the pivot of Uprights 1. In the connection of upper body 3 and fork 40, the two sections 66 and 87 of the coaxial line with the interposition of a seal 101 are joined together.

As already described above, front and rear covers 54 and 55 are provided, which are fastened to the fork web 53. The attachment to this location, ie below the hinge causes the covers 54 and 55 do not perform the rotational movements of the upper body 3 with and therefore their position with respect to the ground unit 2 remains unchanged during these movements. When tilting the upper body 3, however, the covers perform as a result of their attachment above the tilting joint pivotal movement of the upper body 3 and thereby prevent insight into open spaces that arise between upper body 3 and bottom unit 2. In addition, to disguise columns, which in the in Figures 2 and 6 arise shown extreme positions of the upper body, the covers 54 and 55 are each assigned a sliding front 56 and rear panel 57.

The FIGS. 9a to c show the structure of the front cover 54 and the associated front panel 56 with reference to a partial section. The front cover 54 is visually formed and follows when pivoting the upper body 3 with its lower edge 541 of the contour of the cover part 9 above the grid 39, see FIGS. 9a and b. When assembling the housing insert 5 and the cover part 9 arise in the side region, two guides not shown in the figures. In these, the front panel 56 is slidably held. It has at its upper edge a first hook element 561, which lies in the pivoting path of a second hook element 542 on the cover 54. When tilting the upper body 3 over the in FIG. 9b shown tilt angle of about 40 ° out in the in FIG. 9c As shown, the first and second hook members 561 and 542 engage with each other. In this case, the diaphragm 56 is moved from its retracted position under the cover part 9 (FIG. FIGS. 9a and b ) is pulled into the extended position shown in FIG. 9c and covers the gap that would otherwise arise between the cover 54 and the cover part 9. When swinging back the upper body 3 from the position according to FIG. 9c 9a 9a pushes the mitbewegte, not shown here fork 40 to the aperture 56. Thus, the fork 40 acts as a stop and pushes the aperture 56 back into the retracted position.

The comparison of Figures 2 and 4 shows that the rear wheels 26 and 27 are depending on the tilt angle of the upper body 3 in different positions. In the parking position ( FIG. 2 ), the rear wheels 26 and 27 are moved by means of the wheel mechanisms 29 and 30 to the rear to increase the footprint. In the work position ( FIG. 4 ), the wheels 26 and 27 are moved forward to improve maneuverability. The rear cover 55 serves primarily to conceal the free space that the rear wheels 26 and leave 27 in their forward motion. In order to avoid that in a further tilting of the upper body 3 in the lying position ( FIG. 6 ) the rear cover 55 comes into contact with the rear wheels 26 and 27, a recess 551 is provided, which is covered by the rear panel 57, see FIGS. 10 and 11 , The Figures 12 A and B show the structure of the rear cover 55 together with the rear panel 57 and their operation. There, a variant is shown in which the cover for each wheel 26 and 27 has a separate recess 552 and 553. The aperture is like in FIG. 11 shown in one piece.

In FIG. 10 the back cover is shown as a detail, in FIG. 11 the rear panel. The cover is attached to the top of the fork web 53, see FIGS. 12a and b. It has at its side edges in each case a groove 554, in which the rear panel 57 is slidably guided. Reinforcing webs 555 serve to guide the rear panel 57 in the central region. At the bottom of the cover abutment edges 556 are present, which limit the sliding path of the rear panel 57. By its attachment to the fork web 53, the rear cover 55 is only loosely on the rear housing lower part 6 and performs during pivoting of the upper body 3, a relative movement to the lower part 6. This is recognizable in a comparison of Figures 12a and 12b. FIG. 12a shows the ground unit 2 with a fork position, which corresponds to a torso 3 in park position. Here, the rear panel 57 is fully extended and conceals the recesses 552 and 553 in the rear cover. If the upper body 3 is pivoted from the parked position into the working position, the cover 55 together with the aperture 57 moves in the direction of the rear wheels 26 and 27. In this case, the aperture 57, before it touches the rear wheels 26 and 27, abuts stops 601 on the rear housing. Lower part 6. It is thereby pushed into a retracted position in the cover 55. When swinging back of the upper body 3 in the park position third hook elements 571 engage the panel in fourth hook elements 602 on the housing base 6. The aperture 57 is so from the cover 55 in the extended position ( FIG. 12a ) drawn.

Claims (18)

Vacuum cleaner (1) of the upright type with a top body (3) with dust collection container and with a bottom unit (2) which is movable by a chassis on the surface to be cleaned, wherein between the upper body (3) and bottom unit (2) arranged a tilting joint is, by which upper body (3) and bottom unit (2) about a horizontal axis in use (X) are pivotally mounted to each other, characterized by at least one cover (54, 55), which at least one in the region of the tilting joint between the upper body (3) and floor unit (2) existing free space disguised. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the cover (54, 55) is assigned a displaceable diaphragm (56, 57) which covers a gap between the cover (54, 55) and the floor unit (2) which arises due to the pivoting movement. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 2,
characterized by means which automatically move the shutter (56, 57) to a deployed position during a pivotal movement that increases the gap. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 3,
characterized by a stop which pushes the shutter (56, 57) into a retracted position during a pivoting movement reducing the gap. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that at least two covers (54 and 55) are used. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 5,
characterized,
that a front cover (54) a free space covered at the top of the floor unit (2). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 6,
characterized,
in that a front panel (56) associated with the front cover (54) is mounted in a sliding manner in a guide on the floor unit (2). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 7,
characterized,
in that the means which automatically move the front panel (56) to an extended position are formed as cooperating hook elements (542, 561) on the front panel (56) and on the front panel (54). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized,
in that the stop which pushes the front panel (56) into the retracted position is formed by a component (40) of the tilting joint. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to at least one of claims 5 to 9,
characterized,
that a rear cover (55) a free space covered at the bottom of the base unit (2). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 10,
characterized,
in that the rear cover (55) has at least one cutout (551, 552, 553) which makes contact with at least one on the ground unit (2) during a pivoting movement, in which a gap in the lower region of the ground unit (2) is reduced. arranged wheel (26, 27) prevented. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 11,
characterized by a rear panel (57) which covers the cutout (551, 552, 553) at a pivoting movement which increases the gap in the lower area of the floor unit (2). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 12,
characterized,
in that the rear panel (57) is slidably mounted on the rear cover (55). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 13,
characterized,
in that the means which automatically move the rear panel (57) to an extended position are formed as cooperating hook elements (571, 602) on the rear panel (57) and on a lower housing part (6). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 13 or 14,
characterized,
in that the stop (601) which pushes the rear panel (57) into the retracted position is arranged on the lower housing part (6). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 15,
characterized,
in that the stop (601) prevents contact between the panel (57) and the wheel (26, 27). Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the cover (s) (54, 55) is arranged at a fork-shaped channel member (40) is (are), which is part of the tilting joint. Upright vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 17,
characterized,
in that the fork-shaped channel component (40) forms, in addition to the tilting joint, a swivel joint which makes it possible to change the direction of the traveling ground unit (2) by turning the upper body (3), and that the fastening of the cover (s) (54, 55) to the component ( 40) takes place in such a way that rotation of the upper body (3) does not change the position of the cover (s) (54, 55) relative to the base unit (2).

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