EP3010385B1

EP3010385B1 - Nozzle for a vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP3010385B1
Application number: EP13731101.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lennart Carlsson; Bo Pilsmo
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2013-06-19
Filing date: 2013-06-19
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-19
Also published as: CN105307551A; WO2014202132A1; EP3010385A1; CN105307551B

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of vacuum cleaners. More specifically, the present invention is related to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for cleaning carpets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vacuum cleaner is a device that uses a suction force generated by a fan unit to create a partial vacuum to suck up objects like dust, particles, fibres, hair etc. usually from floors and carpets. Typically this is done with a vacuum cleaner nozzle, which is connected via a nozzle outlet to an extension tube and/or a suction hose to a dust compartment within the body of the vacuum cleaner. The suction hose is normally engaged with a removable dust bag arranged inside the dust compartment for collecting dust and foreign materials that are sucked in through the vacuum cleaner nozzle when the vacuum cleaner is in an operative mode. Thus, the dust laden air stream forwards the removed objects, via the hose, to the body of the vacuum cleaner in which the removed objects are separated from the air stream in the dust bag. Alternatively, dust can be separated from the dust laden air stream using a cyclone or other suitable dust separating unit.
A known vacuum cleaner nozzle ( WO 2010/095995 A1 ) comprises a suction plate having an inlet side and an outlet side. The vacuum cleaner nozzle further comprises an air duct having a duct wall extending through the suction plate from a suction opening on the inlet side to the outlet side.
In GB 2014437A a vacuum cleaner nozzle is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner nozzle having thread pickup strip arranged in recesses in the underside of the nozzle.
An essential requirement to be met by a vacuum cleaner nozzle is a high dust pick-up level on carpets. So, in general, the vacuum cleaner nozzle should be formed such, that a maximum dust pick-up level on carpets is reached. On the other hand, a maximization of the dust pick-up level leads to a high motion resistance, i.e. due to the suction force, the vacuum cleaner nozzle can only be moved on the carpet with increased physical strength.
A drawback of known vacuum cleaning nozzles with a high dust pick-up level is the increased motion resistance which leads to a physically demanding cleaning of carpets. Accordingly, there is a need for improvements of existing vacuum cleaner nozzles in order to increase the dust pick-up level without any increase or with only limited increase of the motion resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of embodiments of the invention to provide for an improved nozzle for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner with an improved dust pick-up level but with only a limited increase of motion resistance. The objective is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims. If not explicitly indicated otherwise, embodiments of the invention can be freely combined with each other.
The invention is intended for battery powered vacuum cleaners as well as mains-operated vacuum cleaners.
According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a suction plate having an inlet side and an outlet side, said suction plate comprising

an air duct, wherein said air duct extends through the suction plate from a suction opening on the inlet side to the outlet side, the suction opening having a longitudinal shape extending with its longitudinal sides transversely to a cleaning direction;
first and second sealing edges for engaging with a surface being cleaned and for at least partly sealing said suction opening against said surface being cleaned, wherein the first and second sealing edges extend along at least a side portion of said suction opening at opposite sides of the suction opening,

Advantageously, when moving the vacuum cleaner nozzle with respect to a carpet, the fibers of the carpet are gracing along the inlet side of the suction plate. Thereby, the carpet fibers are distorted. In the area of the groove, the carpet fibers are able to at least partially recover their shape, i.e. the carpet fibers at least partially re-raise. Said shape-recovering causes an increased movement of the carpet fibers which yield in an optimized removal of dust out of the carpet fibers.
According to preferred embodiments, the suction opening, the sealing edge and the least one groove are arranged in immediate succession. Thereby, after passing the groove causing a shape-recovering of the carpet fibers, the carpet fibers are re-distorted once again by means of the sealing edge. Subsequently, the re-distorted carpet fibers arrive at the suction opening, at which the dust detached by the fiber movement is removed by the suction force. Thus, an optimized dust removal is obtained.
According to preferred embodiments, the at least one groove is arranged with respect to a forward cleaning direction in front of the suction opening. When moving the vacuum cleaner nozzle in said forward cleaning direction (away from the user), the carpet fibers first arrive at the groove which enhances the movement of the fibers. Following the groove, said fibers reach the suction opening for dust removal. Thereby, the groove located in front of the suction opening enhances the dust removal in a forward cleaning direction.
According to preferred embodiments, the at least one groove is arranged with respect to a forward cleaning direction behind the suction opening. When moving the vacuum cleaner nozzle in a backward cleaning direction (towards the user), the carpet fibers first arrive at the groove which enhances the movement of the fibers. Following the groove, said fibers reach the suction opening for dust removal. Thereby, the groove located behind the suction opening enhances the dust removal in a backward cleaning direction.
Preferably, a pair of grooves is provided comprising a first groove in a forward cleaning direction in front of the suction opening and second groove behind the suction opening. Thereby, the dust removal is enhanced, regardless of the direction of movement of said vacuum cleaner nozzle.
According to preferred embodiments, the vacuum cleaner nozzle comprises a pair of first grooves with respect to a forward cleaning direction in front of the suction opening, wherein the grooves of the pair of grooves are arranged at different sides laterally adjacent to a first lint picker portion. Similarly, the vacuum cleaner nozzle comprises a pair of second grooves with respect to a forward cleaning direction behind the suction opening, wherein the grooves of the pair of grooves are arranged at different sides laterally adjacent to a second lint picker portion. Said lint picker portions are adapted to receive lint pickers which typically comprise a strip of a material in which tufts of fine fiber are secured. The lint pickers attract dust from the surface being cleaned. Laterally next to the lint picker portions, the sealing edges, respectively, the grooves are provided for enhancing the carpet fiber movement.
According to preferred embodiments, the at least one groove is free of any elements or installation. Thereby, the at least one groove constitutes a recess, in which the carpet fibers are able to be inserted. Preferably, the groove is integrally formed within the suction plate and comprises a suitable depth for receiving the upper free ends of the carpet fibers. By moving of said carpet fibers through the groove, the arrangement of fibers is changed at least partially causing a loosening of dust from the fibers.
According to preferred embodiments, the sealing edge separating the suction opening and the groove has a thickness of 1mm - 6mm, particularly 2mm, 3mm, 4mm or 5mm. By choosing a narrow sealing edge, the groove separated from the suction opening by means of said sealing edge is in immediate proximity to the suction opening, i.e. the fiber movement caused by the grooves is maintained until the fibers reach the suction opening. Thereby, the dust removal is significantly enhanced.
The invention also refers to a vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle according to anyone of the preceding embodiments.
The term "essentially" or "approximately" as used in the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: shows a perspective view on the lower side of a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the invention; and
Fig. 2: shows a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to Fig. 1 along the narrow side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle.
Fig. 3: shows a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when applicable.
Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the present invention. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises a nozzle body, which is connected to a nozzle outlet. The nozzle outlet is adapted for being connected to the suction hose of a vacuum cleaner (not shown) such that when the vacuum cleaner is in an operative mode, vacuum is created as air is sucked through the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 via the hose to the vacuum cleaner. The operation of a typical vacuum cleaner is well known by the skilled man and will not be described in further detail here.
The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises a suction plate 2. The suction plate 2 is preferably a plastic part, which has been formed by means of, e.g. injection molding in one piece, a metal part, or a combination of plastic and metal. The suction plate 2, has an inlet side 2.1 and an outlet side 2.2, and there is an air duct 3 extending from the inlet side 2.1 to the outlet side 2.2. On the inlet side 2.1, the air duct 3 forms a suction opening 4. The suction opening 4 has, in this exemplifying embodiment, a substantially rectangular shape and has a first longitudinal side 4.1 and a second longitudinal side 4.2. The first longitudinal side 4.1 and the second longitudinal side 4.2 are separated a distance which is herein after referred to as the suction opening width w.
During normal operation of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, the suction plate 2 is arranged such that the inlet side 2.1 is facing the surface being cleaned.
In usual operation of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, the longitudinal sides 4.1, 4.2 are perpendicular to the normal cleaning direction (CD), i.e. perpendicular to the movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 when it is being operated during vacuuming of a surface. Starting from the suction opening 4, the air duct 3 extends through the suction plate 2 to the outlet side 2.2.
The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 further comprises a first sealing edge 5, 5' and a second sealing edge 5a, 5a' extending across the suction plate 2. Preferably, the first sealing edge 5, 5' and the second sealing edge 5a, 5a' extend perpendicular to the common cleaning direction CD and parallel to the first and second longitudinal side 4.1, 4.2 of the suction opening 4.
In preferred embodiments, the first sealing edge 5, 5' is arranged in immediate vicinity to the first longitudinal side 4.1 of the suction opening 4 in the forward cleaning direction CD (away from the user) in front of the suction opening 4. Similarly, the second sealing edge 5a, 5a' is arranged in immediate vicinity to the second longitudinal side 4.2 of the suction opening 4 in the forward cleaning direction CD (away from the user) behind of the suction opening 4. The first and second sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' are typically formed as integrated parts of the suction plate 2, however in an alternative embodiment the suction plate 2 is provided with sealing edges, which are separate parts being mounted along the suction opening 4.
According to the shown embodiment, the first and second sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a' are constituted by pairs of sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' separated in a horizontal direction, i.e. the sealing edges 5, 5a are located at a first half of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 with respect to a first median plane MP1 parallel to the forward cleaning direction CD and the sealing edges 5', 5a' are located at a second half of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 with respect to said first median plane MP1. The pairs of sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' are separated by first, respectively, second lint picker portions 8, 9. Said lint picker portions 8, 9 are arranged in parallel with the first sealing edge 5, 5' and the second sealing edge 5a, 5a'. The lint picker portions 8, 9 are adapted to receive lint pickers. Said lint pickers typically comprise a strip of a material in which tufts of fine fibre are secured. The lint pickers attract dust from the surface being cleaned, and the dust is further sucked in through the suction opening 4. However, in an alternative embodiment without link picker portions, the first and second sealing edge may be formed by continuous sealing edges extending across substantially the full width of the suction plate 2.
When the suction plate 2 is positioned on a carpet, the first sealing edge 5, 5' and the second sealing edge 5a, 5a' engages with the carpet. The purpose of the sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' is to restrict the air flow from areas surrounding the active suction area of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 on soft surfaces, the active suction area typically being the area covered by the suction opening 4. Furthermore, the sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' are active so as to agitate the fibers of a soft surface, e.g. carpet fibers, during the forward and backward movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 against the surface being cleaned.
In order to enhance the movement of the carpet fibers during cleaning operation, the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises at least one groove 6, 6', 7, 7' extending parallel to the longitudinal sides 4.1, 4.2 of the suction opening 4. Preferably, the groove 6, 6', 7, 7' is formed in the suction plate 2 by a recess in proximity to the suction opening 4. Said groove 6, 6', 7, 7' may have a groove base 11 disposed at a distance to the contact surface 10, at which the nozzle 1 stays in contact with the surface being cleaned. The groove may be integrally formed within the suction plate 2.
In preferred embodiments, the least one groove 6, 6', 7, 7' and the suction opening 4 is separated by upper-mentioned sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a'. Preferably, the first and second sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' form the borders of the suction opening 4 and the least one groove 6, 6', 7, 7' is located in immediate vicinity to one of said sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a'. When moving the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, the carpet fibers are gracing along the contact surface 10 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1. Thereby, the carpet fibers are turned down or distorted downwardly. In the area of the groove 6, 6', 7, 7', the carpet fibers are able to at least partly revert back in their original position, i.e. the carpet fibers at least partially re-raise. Due to the further movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 said carpet fibers come into contact with the sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a' arranged behind said groove 6, 6', 7, 7'. Said sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a' forces the carpet fibers to turn down or distorted downwardly once again. Said deforming of the carpet fibers enhances the movement of the carpet fibers against each other. Said movement supports the peel-off of dust located within the carpet fibers.
In preferred embodiments, the sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a' separating the groove 6, 6', 7, 7' from the suction opening 4 has a width between 1mm and 6mm. Such a narrowly formed sealing edge 5, 5', 5a, 5a' is advantageous, because the movement caused by the groove 6, 6', 7, 7' is remaining in the area of the suction opening 4, which leads to a further enhanced peel-off effect.
Preferably, at least one groove 6, 6' is arranged with respect to the forward cleaning direction CD in front of the suction opening 4 and a further groove 7, 7' is arranged behind the suction opening 4. In other words, the arrangement of sealing edges 5, 5', 5a, 5a' and grooves 6, 6', 7, 7' is mirror inverted with respect to a second median plane MP2 perpendicular to the forward cleaning direction CD. Thereby, an enhanced movement of the carpet fibers is reached independent of a forward or backward cleaning direction.
According to the shown embodiment, the grooves 6, 6', 7, 7' are formed as pairs of grooves separated in a horizontal direction, i.e. the grooves 6, 7 are located at a first half of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 with respect to the first median plane MP1 and the grooves 6', 7' are located at a second half of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 with respect to said first median plane MP1. Preferably, the pairs of grooves are separated by the first, respectively, second lint picker portion 8, 9.
Figure 3 illustrate a vacuum cleaner 100 comprising a nozzle 101 according to an embodiment. The nozzle 101 may be connected to a main body 104 of the vacuum cleaner 100 via a tube 102 and a hose 103.
Above, embodiments of the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims have been described. These should be seen as merely non-limiting examples.

List of reference numerals

1: nozzle
2: suction plate
2.1: inlet side
2.2: outlet side
3: air duct
4: suction opening
4.1: first longitudinal edge
4.2: second longitudinal edge
5, 5': first sealing edge
5a, 5a': second sealing edge
6, 6': groove
7, 7': groove
8: first lint picker portion
9: second lint picker portion
10: contact surface
11: groove base

CD: cleaning direction
MP1: first median plane
MP2: second median plane
w: width of suction opening

Claims

Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) comprising a suction plate (2) having an inlet side (2.1) and an outlet side (2.2), said suction plate (2) comprising
- an air duct (3), wherein said air duct (3) extends through the suction plate (2) from a suction opening (4) on the inlet side (2.1) to the outlet side (2.2), the suction opening (4) having a longitudinal shape extending with its longitudinal sides transversely to a cleaning direction (CD);

- first and second sealing edges (5) for engaging with a surface being cleaned and for at least partly sealing said suction opening (4) against said surface being cleaned, wherein the first and second sealing edges (5) extend along at least a side portion of said suction opening (4) at opposite sides of the suction opening (4),
at least one groove (6, 6', 7, 7') extending parallel to the longitudinal sides of the suction opening (4), the groove (6, 6', 7, 7') being formed in the suction plate (2) by a recess in proximity to the suction opening (4), wherein the least one groove (6, 6', 7, 7') and the suction opening (4) is separated exclusively by the sealing edge (5). characterised by,
that the nozzle comprising a pair of grooves (6, 6') with respect to a forward cleaning direction (CD) in front of the suction opening (4), wherein the grooves (6, 6') of the pair of grooves are arranged at different sides laterally adjacent to a first lint picker portion (8)
and/or
that the nozzle comprising a pair of grooves (7, 7') with respect to a forward cleaning direction (CD) behind the suction opening (4), wherein the grooves (7, 7') of the pair of grooves are arranged at different sides laterally adjacent to a second lint picker portion (9).
Nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the suction opening (4) the sealing edge (5) and the least one groove (6, 6', 7, 7') are arranged in immediate succession.
Nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one groove (6, 6') is arranged with respect to a forward cleaning direction (CD) in front of the suction opening (4).
Nozzle according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one groove (7, 7') is arranged with respect to a forward cleaning direction (CD) behind the suction opening (4) .
Nozzle according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one groove (6, 6', 7, 7') is free of any elements or installations.
Nozzle according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing edge (5) separating the suction opening (4) and the groove (6, 6', 7, 7') has a thickness of 1mm - 6mm.
Vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-6.