Embodiments herein relate to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for attachment to a vacuum cleaner. Embodiments herein further relate to a vacuum cleaner comprising the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

Vacuum cleaner nozzles are typically designed to be attachable to an end of a vacuum cleaner hose. The other end of the vacuum cleaner hose is attachable to a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner normally comprises a motor which is configured to build up a low pressure within the vacuum cleaner and due to the low pressure caused by the motor, air is drawn through the vacuum cleaner nozzle and the hose. In the vacuum cleaner the air passes one or more filters which filter the air from dust and debris. Some vacuum cleaners comprise a dust bag in which the dust and debris are collected or one or more cyclones separating the dust and debris from the air. Vacuum cleaners may also comprise a processor and/or controller which may affect e.g. flow related parameters and also several other components, such as a cord wheel, wheels etc.

When in use, some surfaces of the vacuum cleaner nozzle form a flow channel for the air. Such surfaces may be directed towards a floor which is to be cleaned, and/or may be facing an interior of the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

Today there is an aim to increase the efficiency of vacuum cleaners, i.e. to reduce the power or effect from the motor while keeping or increasing a dust pick up rate, i.e. the ability to clean. However, when the motor power is reduced other parameters may have to be adjusted in order to keep the suction efficiency and/or a dust pick up rate at a desired or acceptable level.

Document DE 19900968 C1 discloses a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner. The nozzle comprises sole with a suction inlet having front and rear edges. Fiber raising elements are arranged fore and aft of the suction inlet. The rear suction inlet edge has a recess forming a flow chamber, and a bridge between the recess and pocket holding the fiber raising elements.

It thus remain a need for a vacuum cleaner nozzle which is highly efficient and which provides for a high dust pick up rate also when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is arranged to cooperate with a vacuum cleaner with a relatively low power motor.

An object is to provide a more efficient vacuum cleaner nozzle.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a vacuum cleaner nozzle for attachment to a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1.

Since the first ledge comprises a first protruding element which protrudes towards the first plane between the inner first rim surface edge and the outer first rim surface edge fibers and dust which are gathered in the vicinity of the first ledge surface can come loose more easily when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved along a surface to be cleaned.

According to some embodiments the first ledge is arranged offset from the first rim surface and comprises a first ledge surface to which a plush is attachable. With a first ledge arranged offset from the first rim surface a plush can be securely attached to the first ledge surface.

In some embodiments a plush is attached to the first ledge surface. Dust and debris which has been collected by the plush is released when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved forward and/or backwards along a rug or similar surface. The dust and debris will be released such that it can enter the flow channel end be collected by the vacuum cleaner. The protruding element may direct at least a part of the air flow, dust and debris into the flow channel which leads to the vacuum cleaner.

In addition, the protruding element will be able to browse carpet straws of a carpet to be cleaned when the first rim surface is moved along the carpet. The protruding element will thus repeatedly come into contact with carpet straws. During this browsing dust and debris in/on the carpet will be released and sucked up via the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The protruding element thus will act as an edge which "aggressively" can browse a carpet due to its shape and position.

According to some embodiments the first protruding element protrudes substantially to the first plane. Hereby the first protruding element very efficiently can browse carpet straws when the rim of the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved along a carpet.

According to some embodiments the vacuum cleaner nozzle further comprises a second ledge offset from the second rim surface. The second ledge comprises a second protruding element which protrudes towards the second plane. The first protruding element is configured to interact with a surface to be cleaned when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is brought along a first direction, such as during a forward movement from a user. The second protruding element can be configured to interact with a surface to be cleaned when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is brought along a second direction, such as during a rearward movement towards a user. With both a first protruding element and a second protruding element a surface can be vacuum cleaned in a more efficient manner.

According to some embodiments the first rim surface comprises a first slot, and where a longitudinal direction of the first slot is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the first protruding element. Since the first rim surface comprises the first slot, and where a longitudinal direction of the first slot is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the first protruding element, the first protruding element can interact with the surface to be cleaned in an efficient manner. The slot allows a rug or similar to bulge into the slot when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved along the rug. During the "bulging", the first and/or the second protruding element efficiently can browse through straws of the rug. In addition, the vacuum cleaner nozzle will be positioned closer to the carpet since a support surface between the vacuum cleaner nozzle and the carpet is decreased due to the slot.

According to some embodiments the first protruding element protrudes at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm from the first ledge surface. Hereby dust and debris efficiently are loosened from a carpet and released in the flow channel.

According to some embodiments the first ledge surface is substantially parallel to the first plane. A plush may then securely be attached to the first ledge surface such that an outer surface of the plush is arranged substantially in parallel with the first plane. The plush may have fibers or straws directed towards the inlet of the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The first protruding element can then efficiently facilitate removal of dust and debris which has been collected by the plush as the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved along a surface to be clean.

According to some embodiments the first ledge surface is arranged between a first portion of the first slot and a second portion of the first slot. The first ledge surface can have a curvature which, at least partly, coincides with a curvature of the first and second slot surfaces.

According to some embodiments the first rim surface is arrangeable to be in contact with a surface to be cleaned in a first vacuum cleaning movement direction and the second rim surface is arrangeable to be in contact with a surface to be cleaned in a second vacuum cleaning movement direction, opposite the first vacuum cleaning direction. The forward direction may correspond to a movement when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is moved along a surface to be cleaned away from a user which operates the vacuum cleaner nozzle when it is attached to a vacuum cleaner hose in a known manner.

An angle between the first plane and the second plane is blunt and may be e.g. in the range of 120-170 degrees. The vacuum cleaner nozzle may comprise a pivot axis such that a part comprising the first and second rim surfaces are pivotable relatively a part that is attachable to a vacuum cleaner hose.

According to some embodiments the first protruding element is arranged to browse carpet straws of a carpet to be cleaned when the first rim surface is moved along the carpet to be cleaned in a first vacuum cleaning movement direction.

Embodiments herein also aim to provide an efficient vacuum cleaner. According to some embodiments this is provided by a vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to embodiments described herein. With a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to embodiments described herein the vacuum cleaner is very efficient also with a relatively low powered motor, such as a motor with less than 1000W.

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

• Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to some embodiments,
• Fig. 2 illustrates the Fig. 1 vacuum cleaner nozzle from another angle,
• Fig. 3 illustrates the vacuum cleaner nozzle in Fig. 1 and 2 from below,
• Fig. 4 illustrates a cross section of the vacuum cleaner along the cut D-D in Fig. 3,
• Fig. 5 illustrates a close-up of the Fig. 4 cross section,
• Fig. 6 illustrates a vacuum cleaner nozzle according to some other embodiments,
• Fig. 7 illustrates a vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle,
• Fig. 8 illustrates dust pick up rates for a prior art vacuum cleaner nozzle,
• Fig. 9 illustrates dust pick up rates for vacuum cleaner nozzles according to embodiments herein.

Embodiments herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments are shown. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Fig. 1 illustrates a vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 according to some embodiments. In Fig. 1 the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is illustrated in perspective from underneath, such that parts and surfaces normally arranged towards a surface to be cleaned is depicted.

The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may be formed as a homogenous body, e.g. made of plastics or metal. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may be formed by two or more different pieces which together form the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may be formed e.g. by molding.

The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises a rim 3 with a first rim surface 5 extending between an inner first rim surface edge 5a and an outer first rim surface edge 5b in a first plane 7. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 also comprises a second rim surface 9 which extends between an inner second rim surface edge 9a and an outer second rim surface edge 9b in a second plane 11. The first rim surface 5 and the second rim surface 9 is arrangable to face a surface to be cleaned, i.e. the purpose with the first rim surface 5 and the second rim surface 9 is to be in contact with a floor or similar when the vacuum cleaner nozzle is used during a normal vacuum cleaning operation.

The first plane 7 intersects the second plane 11 in a blunt angle α. The angle α may depend on the overall design of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and may e.g. be in the range of 120-170 degrees.

The first rim surface 5 in the first plane 7 is arranged to be in contact with a surface to be cleaned in a first vacuum cleaning movement direction, such as away from a user and/or vacuum cleaner hose. The second rim surface 9 in the second plane 11 is arranged to be in contact with a surface to be cleaned in a second vacuum cleaning movement direction, opposite the first vacuum cleaning direction. The second vacuum cleaning movement direction may be directed towards a user and/or vacuum cleaner hose.

The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises a first ledge 13. The ledge 13 may also be referred to as an offset portion, a central portion or a plush portion. The ledge 13 is arranged offset from the first rim surface 5 and comprises a first ledge surface 13a to which a plush 14 is attachable. A part of the plush 14 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1. The plush 14 is a piece of fabric or similar with a plurality of plush fibers 14b extending away from the first ledge surface 13a.

The first ledge 13 comprises a first protruding element 15 which protrudes towards the first plane 7 between the inner first rim surface edge 5a and the outer first rim surface edge 5b. The plush fibers 14a may be angled such that they are directed towards the first protruding element 15. The first protruding element 15 may also be referred to as an edge or projection.

In some embodiments the first protruding element 15 extends almost to the first plane 7 and in some other embodiments the first protruding element 15 extends to the first plane 7. In some other embodiments the first protruding element 15 intersects the first plane 7.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 the first ledge 13 is illustrated arranged at the first rim surface 5. In other embodiments the first ledge 13 is instead arranged at the second rim surface 9.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 further comprises a second ledge 17 offset from the second rim surface 9. The second ledge 17 comprises a second protruding element 19 which protrudes towards the second plane 11. The second ledge 17 also comprises a second ledge surface 17a. Also the second ledge surface 17a may comprise a plush with plush fibers. The plush fibers at the second ledge surface 17 may be inclined towards the second protruding element 19. Also a first slot 25 and a second slot 27 are illustrated. The slots 25, 27 are further discussed in conjunction with Fig. 2.

Thus, the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may comprise a ledge at the first rim surface 5 or at the second rim surface 9. Alternatively the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 can comprise two ledges, a first ledge 13 at the first rim surface 5 and a second ledge 17 at the second rim surface 9.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the protruding element 15 may be arranged locally in a central portion of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1. The protruding element 15 is distinguished / offset from the inner first rim surface edge 5a. Some browsing may occur also at the inner first rim surface edge 5a but generally not as much as at the first protruding element 15.

A width of the ledge and plush 14may be selected freely, e.g. depending on application. A vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 arranged to be used to remove hair from pets may have a wider ledge with a wider plush 14 since the plush 14 is efficient for picking up fibers and hairs in one vacuum cleaner nozzle direction and releasing them in an opposite direction.

In Fig. 1 an attachment portion 21 is illustrated. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 can be attached to a vacuum cleaner hose via the attachment portion 21. Alternatively the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may be attached to a second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion (not illustrated) via the attachment portion 21. The second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion may in turn be attached to a vacuum cleaner hose. Such second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion may comprise wheels which allow the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion to be rolled along a surface to be cleaned. In some embodiments the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises also the second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion. Such second vacuum cleaner nozzle portion may also comprise a hinge or similar which allow the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 to tilt slightly. Hereby the first protruding element 15 can be in contact with a carpet in a forward direction and the second protruding element 19 can be in contact with a carpet in a rearward direction. This is further illustrated in conjunction with Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 illustrates the Fig. 1 embodiment from another perspective. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises the first ledge 13 with the first ledge surface 13a and the second ledge 17 with the second ledge surface 17a. The first ledge 13 comprises the first protruding element 15 and the second ledge 17 comprises the second protruding element 19.

When the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is in use, an air flow is directed by the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1. Air is passing A the first 5 and second 9 rim surfaces and the first 13 and second 17 ledges. The air is flowing B through a nozzle interior 23 and exits C the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 via the attachment portion 21. The air is then led to a vacuum cleaner via a hose attached to the attachment portion 21.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2 the first rim surface 5 comprises the first slot 25. The second rim surface 9 comprises the second slot 27. The first 25 and second 27 slots prevent that the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 sticks too much to a surface to be cleaned. In other words, a suction force between the surface to be cleaned and the rim surfaces 5,9 may be changes and/or decreased by the slot(s). A large slot may make it difficult for a user to move the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 along a surface since the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may stick too much to the surface. With one or more slots 25, 27, the support surface between the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and the surface is decreased. The vacuum cleaner nozzle may hereby be positioned lower, e.g. deeper into a carpet. This can increase the suction force.

In this illustrated embodiment a longitudinal direction of the first slot 25 is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the first protruding element 15. A longitudinal direction of the second slot 27 is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the second protruding element 19.

In some embodiments the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is arranged without any slot. In Fig. 2 also two short side portions 28 are illustrated. The rim surfaces 5, 9 and the side portions 28 together form an inlet of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 from below. As in Fig. 1 and 2 the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 comprises the first ledge 13 with the first ledge surface 13a and the second ledge 17 with the second ledge surface 17a. The first ledge 13 comprises the first protruding element 15 and the second ledge 17 comprises the second protruding element 19. In Fig. 3 also a cross section D-D is illustrated.

Fig. 4 illustrates the cross section D-D of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 illustrates a close-up of the first protruding element 15 and the second protruding element 19. In fig 5 also the blunt angle α between the first plane 7 and the second plane 11 is illustrated.

In Fig. 5 a forward direction F is illustrated. The forward direction F corresponds to a movement when the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is moved along a surface to be cleaned away from a user which operates the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 when it is attached to a vacuum cleaner hose in a known manner. When the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 travels in the forward direction F the first protruding element 15 will be pressed towards the surface such that it can browse a carpet or similar. Hereby dust easily comes loose and can enter the nozzle interior 23 due to the low pressure built up by the vacuum cleaner motor.

When the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 travels in the illustrated rearward direction R the second protruding element 19 will be pressed towards the surface such that it can browse a carpet. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 may in the rearward direction be slightly tilted relatively the forward direction, e.g. due to a hinge or similar. The forward direction F and the rearward direction R may be opposite to each other or may be arranged with a blunt angle in between, such as the blunt angle α. As illustrated in e.g. Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 the short side portions 28 may be chamfered relatively the first plane 7 and the second plane 11. The forward direction F and the rearward direction R may be directed about 180 degrees from each other in the horizontal plane.

When the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is brought along a carpet in the first direction F the first protruding element 15 effectively will come in contact with straws of the carpet such that dust will be released and sucked up. An angle between the first plane 7 and a protruding direction of the first protruding element 15 can be 60-120 degrees, such as about 90 degrees.

In Fig. 6, a vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 according to an alternative embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment the first ledge surface 13a is arranged between a first portion 25a of the first slot 25 and a second portion 25b of the first slot 25. A cross section curvature of the first ledge surface 13a may partly correspond to a curvature of the first slot 25. Correspondingly, the second ledge surface 17a is arranged between a first portion 27a of the second slot 27 and a second portion 27b of the second slot 27. In some embodiments the vacuum cleaner nozzle is arranged without any plush attached to the ledge surfaces. In some embodiments the first ledge surface 13a can be arranged substantially in the same plane as the first rim surface 5, i.e. the first rim surface 5 and the first ledge surface 13a can substantially coincide. The second ledge surface 17a can substantially coincide with the second rim surface 9.

As illustrated, a longitudinal direction of the first slot 25 may be substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the first protruding element 15. A longitudinal direction of the second slot 27 may be substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction of the second protruding element 19.

Fig. 7 illustrates a vacuum cleaner 50 with a vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 according to embodiments described herein attached to a vacuum cleaner hose 51. The vacuum cleaner 50 may be a conventional vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner with a relatively low powered motor, such as a motor with an effect less than 1000W.

Fig. 8 illustrates test results with dust pick up rates for different sections of a vacuum cleaner nozzle. Dust pick up is the cleaning performance and it can be measured e.g. on hard floor and on carpets. In some countries vacuum cleaners have to be tested and the dust pick up has to be stated in a standardized manner on the vacuum cleaner package when the vacuum cleaner is sold. Dust pick up may for example be rated on a scale, where a better rated cleaner is proven to clean e.g. ≥ 91 % of the dust from a rug or carpet while a lower rated cleaner is able to clean e.g. ≥ 71% of the dust from a carpet.

In Fig. 8 test result for a state of the art vacuum cleaner nozzle is illustrated. The height of each pile corresponds to the dust pick up rate for the corresponding vacuum cleaner nozzle section. A higher pile means a higher dust pick up rate. In Fig. 8 and 9 a high pile corresponds to a dust pick up rate of about 85%. A low high pile corresponds to a dust pick up rate of about 75%.

As illustrated, the dust pick up is relatively poor for a middle section of the prior art nozzle in Fig. 8. In Fig. 9 the dust pick up for a vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 according to embodiments herein is illustrated. The protruding element(s) at a central portion of the rim has proven to increase the dust pick up rate drastically. In some embodiments the dust pick up rate for a middle portion has increased with 5-10% compared to prior art vacuum cleaner nozzles.