TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates to vacuum cleaners.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A vacuum cleaner includes a base and different cleaning attachments and handles that
are removably attachable to the base. The cleaning attachments include a vacuuming
head for vacuuming a carpet, a shampooing head for shampooing the carpet, and an accessory
hose for cleaning above-the-floor household surfaces. The handles include an upright
handle for pushing the base over the carpet and a portable handle for lifting the
base to reach above-the-floor surfaces.
[0003] Such vacuum cleaner is shown in
GB 2 401 957 A, which is as well provided with an electronic controller.
SUMMARY
[0004] The cleaning apparatus includes a base. The base has a bottom surface, an access
opening in the bottom surface, and wheels for wheeling the base over a floor while
the bottom surface faces the floor. A cleaning attachment is configured to be attached
to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface. An electronic
controller is configured to be inserted through the opening into an installed position
in the base from which to control an operating condition of the apparatus.
[0005] Preferably, the base and the controller each include an electrical connector. The
connectors are configured such that movement of the controller toward and into its
installed position moves the connector of the controller toward and into mechanical
and electrical connection with the connector of the base. A cover is fixed to the
controller so as to be moved into an installed position covering the opening by movement
of the controller into its installed position. Indicia on the base indicate that the
access opening is for insertion of the controller into the base. The cleaning attachment
is a vacuuming head configured to be supported by the base to clean the floor as the
base is wheeled over the floor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner base and different cleaning attachments
and handle assemblies that can be removably attached to the base;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base, showing its external parts;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base, showing its internal parts;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base positioned upside-down, showing its controller
cover plate removed;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the cover plate installed on the base;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing one of the handles and one of the cleaning attachments
attached to the base; and
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another one of the handles attached to the base.
DESCRIPTION
Overview
[0007] The apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 has parts that are examples of the elements recited
in the claims. The apparatus thus includes examples of how a person of ordinary skill
in the art can make and use the claimed invention. It is described here to meet the
requirements of enablement and best mode without imposing limitations that are not
recited in the claims.
[0008] The apparatus 1 is a cleaning system used for cleaning household surfaces, such as
a carpeted floor 6. The system 1 includes a base 10 and different cleaning attachments
and handle assemblies that can be removably attached to the base 10. The cleaning
attachments include a vacuuming head 12, a power head assembly 14, an accessory hose
16 and a shampooing head 18. The handle assemblies include an upright handle assembly
20 and a portable handle assembly 22. Any of the attachments 12, 14, 16 and 18 can
be installed on the base 10 with any of the handle assemblies 20 and 22.
Base
[0009] As shown in Fig. 2, the base 10 has a housing 30 comprising upper and lower sections
32 and 34 that are fastened together. The housing 30 has a front face 40 with upper
and lower inlet ports 46 and 48. Two front wheels 50 and two rear wheels 52 are rotatable
connected to the housing 30 for wheeling the base 10 over the floor 6 in an orientation
in which a bottom surface 54 of the housing 30 faces the floor 6. The base 10 has
two perch pins 60 and a bear claw latch 64 with a release button 66 for securing the
cleaning attachments to the base 10. It also has four electrical contacts 71, 72,
73 and 74 -- respectively designated ground, 5VDC-out, 24VDC-out and resistance-sense.
An attachment sensor 76 on the housing 30, in this example a pushbutton switch, senses
whether the upper inlet port 46 is covered by a cleaning attachment.
[0010] As shown in Fig. 3, a fan 80, with an inlet 82 and an outlet 84, is driven by a motor
88. The motor 88 also drives a drive pulley 90 through a drive train that includes
shafts 93, belts 94, pulleys 95, a bevel gear 96 and an electrically actuated clutch
98. A drive assist motor 99 rotates the rear wheels 52 to propel the base 10.
[0011] A handle mounting bracket 100 is pivotally attached to the housing 30 by two prongs
102. The bracket 100 has a flat top surface 104 with an outlet port 105. The port
1 05 is connected to the fan outlet 84 by a flexible tube 106. An electronic position
sensor 120, in this case a pushbutton switch, senses whether the bracket 100, and
thus the upright handle assembly 20, is in an upright or inclined position. A multi-contact
electrical base terminal 124 is located at the bracket's top surface 104.
[0012] A controller circuit 130 is electrically connected to the electrical components 71-74,
76, 88, 98, 99, 120 and 124 (Fig. 2 and 3) of the base 10 to monitor and control operation
of the cleaner. The circuit 130 receives wall current through a power cord 132. It
generates a 5VDC and 24VDC supply that is output through the 5VDC-out and 24VDC-out
contacts 72 and 73. It senses electrical resistance applied across the sense contact
73 and ground contact 71 by whichever attachment is installed on the base 10. Since
each attachment applies a unique resistance, the controller 130 can determine which
attachment, if any, is installed.
[0013] As shown in Fig. 4, the controller 130 can be removably installed in the base 10
through an access opening 140 in the bottom 54 of the base housing 30. The opening
140 is configured specifically for installation and removal of the controller 130,
as indicated by indicia, in this case lettering 143 on a label on the housing 30.
The opening 140 facilitates replacement of the controller 130 by the user, which might
occur if the controller 130 is damaged or an updated controller is supplied by the
manufacturer. Due to its size and/or location, the opening 140 is not configured for
and not suitable for replacement of the motor 88, fan 80 or other components of the
base 10. In fact, due to their positions and/or sizes, those components cannot be
removed through the access opening 140. The user is dissuaded from replacing those
components, since doing so would require unfastening the upper housing section 32
from the lower housing section 34, which is more difficult than uncovering the access
opening 140.
[0014] The controller 130 includes a printed circuit (PC) board 144 fixed to an electrical
connector 146 that mates with an electrical connector 148 in the base 10. Movement
of the PC board 144 through the opening 140 toward and into its installed position
in the base 10 moves the PC board connector 146 toward and into mechanical and electrical
connection with the base connector 148. The opposite is also true, that movement of
the controller's connector 146 toward and into connection with the base's connector
148 moves the controller 130, including its PC board 144, into its installed position.
In its installed position, the PC board 144 is fixed in place relative to the base
housing 30, because its connector 146 is rigid and fixed to the PC board 144 and the
base connector 148 is rigid and fixed to the base housing 30. The connectors 146 and
148 thus support the controller 130 in place, in addition to enabling the controller
130 to communicate with electrical components of the base 10.
[0015] The controller 130, as received from the manufacturer, is permanently fixed to a
cover plate 150 shown in Figs 4 and 5. This reduces the number of parts that the user
has to separately handle and keep track of when replacing the controller 130. In its
installed position, the plate 150 is in a recess 152 of the base housing 30, overlying
the housing 30 and covering the opening 140. The plate 150 provides an indication,
visible to the user when the plate 150 is installed, identifying the controller 130,
such as indicating the model of the controller 130. The indication can be indicia
such as lettering 153 or a symbol, or a color indicative of that model.
[0016] The plate 150 is configured such that movement of the plate 150 toward and into its
installed position moves the controller 130 toward and into its installed position,
which in turn moves the controller's electrical connector 146 toward and into mechanical
and electrical connection with the base's electrical connector 148. The opposite is
also true, in that movement of the controller 130 through the opening 140 toward and
into its installed position moves the cover plate 150 toward and into its installed
position.
[0017] The plate 150 can be secured to the housing 30 with screws 154. The controller 130,
being secured to the plate 150, is fixed in its installed position by the screws 154
as well as by the mating connectors 146 and 148. The cover plate 150 is hidden from
view when the base 10 is wheeled over the floor 6, because it is located at the bottom
surface 54 of the base 10, which faces the floor 6.
Cleaning Attachments
[0018] The four cleaning attachments 12, 14, 16 and 18 are shown in Fig. 1. Each is configured
to be removably attached to the base 10 and moved against a household surface to clean
the surface. They are described individually as follows.
[0019] The vacuuming head 12 is supported by the base 10 as the base 10 is wheeled over
the carpet 6. The head 12 has a brushroll 202 driven by the drive pulley 90 to rotate
against the floor 6 to dislodge dirt from the floor 6. The fan 80 generates an air
flow that carries the dirt from the floor 6, through the head 12 and the lower inlet
ports 48, into the base 10. The dirt laden air is exhausted out of the base 10 through
the outlet port 105. A headlight 210 of the vacuuming head 12 is powered by electricity
supplied by the base 10 through the ground and 5VDC-out contacts 71 and 72 (Fig. 2).
[0020] The power head assembly 14 has a power head 300 with a brushroll 302 driven by a
motor 304. The power head 300 is connected to a rigid tube 374, which is connected
by a flexible tube 376 to a connector 378 that is removably attachable to the base
10. In operation, a user grasps the rigid tube 374 to push the power head 300 over
the floor 6. The brushroll 302 rotates against the floor 6 to dislodge dirt. The fan
80 generates an air flow that carries the dirt from the floor 6, through the power
head assembly 14 and the fan 80, and out the outlet port 105. A headlamp 390 on the
power head 300 illuminates the floor 6 in front of the power head 300. The headlamp
390 and motor 304 are respectively powered by 5VDC and 24VDC supplied by the base
10 through the electrical contacts 71-73 (Fig. 2).
[0021] The accessory hose 16 includes a flexible tube 400 extending from a connector 410
that is attachable to the base 10. In operation, the fan 80 draws air through the
tube 400 and the upper inlet port 46 into the base 10, and exhausts the air out through
the outlet port 105.
[0022] The shampooing head 18 has front and rear brushrolls 501 and 502 driven by the base's
drive pulley 90 when the head 18 is supported on the base 10. Shampoo is deposited
onto the carpet 6 by a shampoo-dispensing device 504 of the head 18 and brushed into
the carpet 6 by the brushrolls 501 and 502 to entrain dirt from the carpet 6. The
shampoo is lifted from the carpet 6 by the rear brushroll 502 and collected in a take-up
tray 506 in the head 18.
Upright Handle Assembly
[0023] The upright handle assembly 20 is shown in Fig. 6. It includes an upright handle
602 attached to the base bracket 100 and a dirt receptacle 604 attached to the outlet
port 105 to receive dirt laden air exhausted from the base 10. The upright handle
assembly 20, the base 10 and the vacuuming head 12 together comprise an upright vacuum
cleaner. This type of cleaner is configured for the user to stand upright while manually
pushing the cleaner by its handle over the floor 6 to clean the floor 6.
[0024] The handle 602 has a handgrip 610. A force sensor 612 in the handgrip 610 senses
the direction and magnitude of the force applied by the user to push/pull the cleaner
over the floor.
[0025] The handle 602 also has a user interface panel 640. The panel 640 has user interfaces
642 (Fig. 1) comprising controls and displays with which the user communicates with
the controller 130. The controls are for manually selecting operating conditions of
the cleaner, such power on, motor speed, clutch engagement, and drive-assist activation.
The displays display operating conditions of the cleaner, such as motor speed, brushroll
activation, drive-assist activation, and fullness of the filter bag.
[0026] A multi-contact electrical terminal 630 on the handle 602 connects to the terminal
124 of the base 10 to enable the controller 130 to communicate with electrical components
of the handle 602. Through the terminal 630, the handle 602 outputs a signal identifying
itself to the controller 130 as an upright handle. Two hooks 634 and a lever 638 secure
the handle 602 to the bracket 100 of the base 10.
[0027] During operation of the cleaner, the controller 130 inputs operating parameters of
the cleaner from various sensors and switches of the cleaner. Specifically, from the
force sensor 612 in the handgrip 610, the controller 130 inputs the direction and
magnitude of force manually applied to the handle 602. From the handle position sensor
120, the controller 130 determines whether the handle 602 is in the upright or inclined
position. From the control panel 640, the controller 130 determines which switch the
user presses and the type of handle installed. From the attachment sensor 76 (Fig.
2), the controller 130 determines whether the upper inlet port 46 is covered by a
cleaning attachment. By sensing the electrical resistance across the ground and resistance-sense
contacts 71 and 74 (Fig. 2), the controller 130 determines which cleaning attachment
is installed.
[0028] The controller 130 controls operation of the cleaner based on the parameters input
from the sensors and switches. For example, the controller 130 applies a higher default
motor speed when the accessory hose 16 (Fig. 1) is attached than when the vacuuming
head 12 is attached. The controller 130 engages the clutch 98 (Fig. 3) to couple the
motor 88 to the drive pulley 90 only when a handle is installed while either the vacuuming
head 12 or shampooing head 18 is installed. The controller 130 will not power the
motor 88 if no handle is installed or no cleaning attachment is installed. The controller
130 powers the drive assist motor 99 (Fig. 3) to rotate the rear wheels 52 in a direction
and at a speed that correspond respectively to the direction and magnitude of the
force manually applied to the handle 602, to assist the user in moving the base 10
over the floor 6. The controller 130 activates the drive-assist motor 99 only when,
concurrently, the vacuuming or shampooing head 12 or 18 is installed, the upright
handle 602 is installed and inclined, and the drive-assist switch on the control panel
640 has been pressed.
Portable Handle Assembly
[0029] The portable handle assembly 22 is shown in Fig. 7. It includes a portable handle
702 and a dirt receptacle 704 comprising inner and outer filter bags. It enables the
base 10 and the vacuuming head to be used as a portable vacuum cleaner. This type
of cleaner is configured for the user to manually lift and move the cleaner by the
handle 702 to clean vertical or above-the-floor household surfaces.
[0030] The portable handle 702 has features similar to those of the upright handle 704.
For example, a multi-contact electrical terminal 730 of the handle 702 connects to
the terminal 124 of the base 10 to enable the controller 130 to communicate with electrical
components of the handle 702. The terminal 730 outputs a signal that identifies the
handle 702 to the controller 130 as a portable handle. Two hooks 734 and a lever 738
secure the handle 702 to the bracket 100 of the base 10.
[0031] In contrast to the upright handle 602, the portable handle 702 projects forward over
the base 10. It has a single rocker-type power switch 776 for powering the fan motor
88, with no control panel or displays.
[0032] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best
mode, and also to enable any person-skilled in the art to make and use the invention.
The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other
examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended
to be within the scope of the claims if they have elements that do not differ from
the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements
with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
1. A cleaning apparatus (1) comprising:
a base (10) having an access opening (140);
a cleaning attachment (12, 14, 16, 18) configured to be attached to the base (10)
and moved against a household surface (6) to clean the surface;
an electronic controller (130) configured to be inserted through the opening (140)
into an installed position in the base (10) from which to control an operating condition
of the apparatus (1); and
a cover (150) fixed to the controller (130) so as to be moved into an installed position
covering the opening (140) by movement of the controller (130) into its installed
position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising indicia (143) on the base indicating that
the opening (140) is for insertion of the controller (130) into the base.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motor (88) that is located in the base
(10) and not removable from the base (10) through the opening (140).
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover (150) includes an indication (153) that
identifies the controller (130) and is visible to a user when the cover (150) is in
its installed position.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning attachment is a vacuuming head (12)
configured to be supported by the base (10) to clean the floor as the base is wheeled
over the floor.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, the base having a bottom surface (54) wherein the access
opening (140) is in the bottom surface (54).
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base (10) and the controller (130) each include
an electrical connector (148, 146) configured such that movement of the controller
(130) toward and into its installed position moves the connector (146) of the controller
(130) toward and into mechanical and electrical connection with the connector (148)
of the base (10).
1. Reinigungsgerät (1) umfassend:
eine Basis (10) mit einer Zugangsöffnung (140);
ein Reinigungselement (12, 14, 16, 18), das so ausgestaltet ist, dass es an der Basis
(10) angeordnet und gegen eine Haushaltsoberfläche (6) bewegt werden kann, um die
Oberfläche zu reinigen;
eine elektronische Steuerung (130), die so ausgestaltet ist, dass sie durch die Öffnung
(140) in eine installierte Position in der Basis (10) eingeführt werden kann, um einen
Betriebszustand des Geräts (1) zu steuern;
und
eine Abdeckung (150), die an der Steuerung (130) angeordnet ist, um in eine installierte
Position bewegt zu werden, welche die Öffnung (140) durch Bewegen der Steuerung (130)
in deren installierte Position bedeckt.
2. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, das ferner Markierungen (143) an der Basis umfasst, die anzeigen,
dass die Öffnung (140) der Einführung der Steuerung (130) in die Basis dient.
3. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, das ferner einen Motor (88) umfasst, der in der Basis (10)
angeordnet ist und nicht durch die Öffnung (140) von der Basis (10) gelöst werden
kann.
4. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Abdeckung (150) eine Anzeige (153) einschließt, welche
die Steuerung (130) identifiziert und für einen Benutzer sichtbar ist, wenn die Abdeckung
(150) in ihrer installierten Position ist.
5. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Reinigungselement ein Staubsaugerkopf (12) ist, der
dazu ausgestaltet ist, von der Basis (10) getragen zu werden, um den Boden zu reinigen,
wenn die Basis über den Boden rollt.
6. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Basis eine untere Fläche (54) aufweist, wobei die
Zugangsöffnung (140) in der unteren Fläche (54) ist.
7. Gerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Basis (10) und die Steuerung (130) jeweils einen
elektrischen Anschluss (148, 146) einschließen, der so ausgestaltet ist, dass die
Bewegung der Steuerung (130) zu und in ihre installierte Position den Anschluss (146)
der Steuerung (130) zum und in mechanische und elektrische Verbindung mit dem Anschluss
(148) der Basis (10) bewegt.
1. Un appareil de nettoyage (1) comprenant:
une base (10) ayant une ouverture d'accès (140);
un élément de nettoyage (12, 14, 16, 18) configuré pour être attaché à la base (10)
et
déplacé contre une surface ménagère (6) afin de nettoyer la surface;
un contrôleur électronique (130) configuré pour être inséré à travers l'ouverture
(140) dans une position installée dans la base (10) afin de contrôler une condition
de fonctionnement de l'appareil (1);
et
un couvercle (150) attaché au contrôleur (130) afin d'être déplacé dans une position
installée couvrant l'ouverture (140) par un déplacement du contrôleur (130) dans sa
position installée.
2. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 comprenant en outre des indices (143) sur la base
indiquant que l'ouverture (140) sert l'insertion du contrôleur (130) dans la base.
3. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 comprenant en outre un moteur (88) qui est positionné
dans la base (10) et qui n'est pas démontable de la base (10) à travers l'ouverture
(140).
4. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le couvercle (150) inclut une indication
(153) qui identifie le contrôleur (130) et qui est visible à l'utilisateur lorsque
le couvercle (150) est dans sa position installée.
5. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 dans lequel l'élément de nettoyage est une tête
d'aspirateur (12) configurée pour être supportée par la base (10) afin de nettoyer
le sol lorsque la base est roulée sur le sol.
6. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la base dispose d'une surface inférieure
(54), l'ouverture d'accès (140) étant au sein de la surface inférieure (54).
7. L'appareil selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la base (10) et le contrôleur (130),
respectivement, inclut un raccord électrique (148, 146) configuré de manière qu'un
déplacement du contrôleur (130) vers et dans sa position installée déplace le raccord
(146) du contrôleur (130) vers et en connexion mécanique et électrique avec le raccord
(148) de la base (10).