Device for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

 This invention relates to a device for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing enclosing a vacuum source and an inlet channel for dust laden air which channel is connected to the vacuum source, the vacuum cleaner being provided with a lid (17) covering a space for accessories, a dust bag, a filter or the like which are stored in the vacuum cleaner housing. The lid (17) is tiltably arranged in the housing such that it in its closed position and when being manually acted on comes into engagement with means (22) controlling one or several functions of the vacuum cleaner.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing enclosing a vacuum source and an inlet channel for dust laden air which channel is connected to the vacuum source, the vacuum cleaner being provided with a lid covering a space for accessories, a dust bag, a filter or the like which are stored in the vacuum cleaner housing

[0002] Vacuum cleaners of the type mentioned above are commonly known. The major part of the lids that are used have previously had one single function which is to hide vacuum cleaner accessories or to cover a sealed spacing for the dust bag or other details. However, there are also vacuum cleaners having lids with several functions. For example there are vacuum cleaners on the market that are provided with a lid covering the space in which the dust container, normally a dust bag, is arranged this lid comprising means that are activated when the lid is closed indicating if a dust bag is inserted or not.

[0003] A further lid arrangement is described in US 4847942. According to this publication a vacuum cleaner is provided with a cover having a resilient tongue member which is provided with a small upwardly projecting handle portion acting on a switch to turn said switch on or off Since the handle portion is a minor part of the lid it is however difficult for the operator to find the handle portion with a quick glance.

[0004] The purpose ofthis invention is to achieve control means that is easy to find and to use for the operator and that is an integrated part of another component of the vacuum cleaner in order to decrease the number of components which are used and to reduce the assembly time and costs. This is achieved by means of a device having the characteristics mentioned in the claims.

[0005] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing on which Fig. 1 is a partly broken side view of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention , Fig. 2 is an exploded view of said vacuum cleaner, Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III in Fig. 1 whereas Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

[0006] As appears from Fig. 1 the vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises a vacuum cleaner housing 10 enclosing a vacuum source such as a motor-fan unit 11 which by means of an intermediate perforated wall 12 is separated from a chamber 13 in which a dust container 14 is provided. The dust container 14 comprises an air permeable filter bag 14a with a collar plate 14b. The plate is provided with an inlet opening having a rubber membrane surrounding an inlet channel 15 for dust laden air the inlet channel directing the dust laden air into the filter bag where dust particles and dirt are separated from the air before the air is allowed to leave through the intermediate wall 12 to the inlet side of the fan unit and further from the outlet side of the fan, not shown, to atmosphere. The inlet channel 15 is in a conventional manner arranged to be connected to a vacuum cleaner hose, that is connected to a tube handle, a tube shaft and a nozzle (not shown).

[0007] The vacuum cleaner is also provided with a handle 16 and a lid 17.The handle as well as the lid are by means of shafts 18 supported by brackets 19,20,21 arranged in the vacuum cleaner housing10. The lid 17 mainly comprises a curve shaped part 17a extending over the front part of the vacuum cleaner and has two lugs 17b each bing provided with a vertical wall part 17c supporting a half circle shaped bearing cup 17d extending between the brackets 20,21 and being provided with an extension 17e abutting a switch 22. The switch is connected to the electric circuit of the vacuum cleaner and is for instance connected such that it activates or deactivates the fan unit. The vertical wall part 17c is provided with an elongated opening 23 through which the shaft 18 extends which means that the rear part of the lid can be moved vertically downwards and hence act on the switch 22. The upper part of the lid is close to the rear part provided with a central ridge shaped portion 17e that suitably operates as a pedal and has some kind of symbol showing the function of the pedal. The lid is also provided with curved leaf springs 24 which are fastened on the lower side of the lid close to the lugs 17b. The function of the leaf springs will appear from the following.

[0008] The chamber 13 of the vacuum cleaner is covered by a door 25 which is placed below the lid 17b and is provided with the inlet channel 15. The upper side of the door 25 is shaped as a part of a storage space 26 for smaller vacuum cleaner accessories, for instance nozzles for furnitures. The cover 25 is provided with two arms 27 that are directed obliquely upwards, backwards and the arms are at their upper portions inserted between the brackets 19,20 at the lugs 17b and are provided with a cylinder shaped opening 28 that takes up the shafts 18 which means that the door 25 can be turned about the same pivot center as the lid 17 and the handle 16.

[0009] The leaf springs 24 which are fastened at the lid rest against the upper, outer portions 27a of the arms and hence normally keep the rear part of the lid in an elevated position. When pressing down the rear part of the lid for instance when the operator treads on the ridge shaped portion 17e each lug 17b will together with the wall part 17c and the bearing cup 17d with the extension 17e be pressed downwards at the same time as the opening 23 of the wall part is guided by the shaft 18. This means that the extension 17e acts on the switch such that the fan unit is activated or deactivated.

[0010] The lid 17 as well as the door 25 are provided with means, not shown, that lock the lid and the door in closed position but which allow the tillting movement of the lid .

[0011] It should be mentioned that the lid shown in a simple way can be adapted to futher functions. Instead of providing the lid with one single central activating area, which is the ridge shaped portion 17e, one activating area can be placed near each hinge at the same time as a further swith or some other type of control means is placed at the other bearing cup. Thus, acting on one of the activating areas will cause one function whereas acting on the other activating area will cause another function.

Claims

1. Device for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing enclosing a vacuum source (11) and an inlet channel (15) for dust laden air which channel is connected to the vacuum source, the vacuum cleaner being provided with a lid (17) covering a space for accessories, a dust bag, a filter or the like which are stored in the vacuum cleaner housing characterized in that the lid (17) is tiltably arranged in the housing such that it in its closed position and when being manually acted on comes into engagement with means (22) controlling one or several functions of the vacuum cleaner.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the lid (17) is shaped such that it operates as a pedal.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the lid (17) covers a space for accessories (26) which space is partly formed by a door (25) for a chamber (13) in which a dust container (14) is arranged.

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the vacuum cleaner is provided with a hinge arrangement between the lid (17) and the housing (10) of the vacuum cleaner and that at least one of the hinges comprises a shaft (18) and a wall part (17c) with an elongated opening (23) the opening and the shaft being movably arranged with respect to one another at the same time as the lid is turnably arranged with respect to the vacuum cleaner housing.

5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the shaft (18) is fixed in the vacuum cleaner housing whereas the wall part (17c) with the opening (23) is a part of the lid (17).

6. Device according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that the lid (17) is under the influence of at least one spring (24) that acts to press one of the ends of the opening (23) against the shaft (18).

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said means (22) is a switch or the like activating or deactivating the vacuum source.

8. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the lid (17) as well as the door (25) are supported for turning motion about a common turning center.

9. Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the vacuum cleaner is provided with a turnable handle (16) the handle being pivotable about said turning center.

Drawing