EP3393323B1

EP3393323B1 - Improved vacuum head attachment and vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP3393323B1
Application number: EP16876989.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frank GUGLIELMO
Original assignee: Run Race Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Run Race Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-22
Filing date: 2016-12-22
Publication date: 2021-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-22
Also published as: NZ743595A; EP3393323A4; AU2016374644A1; US20210290012A1; EP3393323A1; AU2016374644B2; WO2017106900A1

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved vacuum head attachment for a vacuum cleaner.

Background of the Invention

Traditional vacuum cleaners have a vacuum head which is generally a rectangular prism. The vacuum rod attaches towards the middle of the vacuum head lengthwise but protrudes from the surface of the head facing the user at an angle of about 45° to the floor (see figure 1). A typical manner in which the device is used for a right-handed person, is to have the right hand holding the vacuum cleaner at a point where the vacuum hose connects to the vacuum rods and have the left hand located lower down the rods towards the vacuum head on the floor. Generally there are two rods of equal length that connect the head to the hose. A forward and backward motion is used to cover the area to be vacuumed and the user generally moves forward when vacuuming an area. Due to the forward and backward motion of the vacuuming action, users will generally clean in an arc around their position before progressing on. As most rooms are rectangular or square, much of the carpet or floor can be missed and is therefore an inefficient way to vacuum the carpet or floor. As a result of this inefficient action, vacuum cleaners do not work as efficiently in wider areas, underneath or around obstacles, such as furniture, and have limited movement. , Dictated by the design of conventional vacuum heads and rods that are at an angle of around 40 to 50 degrees with respect to the ground, the position adopted by the user can be a strain on the body of the user, particularly on the back of the user, if long periods of vacuuming are performed.
Where powered vacuum heads have been utilised, they generally have a single brush to assist in bringing debris into the vacuum cleaner, however this does not address the problem with the user's stance nor the inefficient forwards and backwards motion.
The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages by providing a vacuum head and vacuum cleaner that is more efficient than prior art cleaners, safer and easier to use in both open areas and around obstacles. Due to the inclusion of dual brushes, the present invention can lift debris from an area in two opposed directions with a single sweep leading to quicker and more efficient cleaning of the area. A vacuum head according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US2010115719 A1 .

Summary of the Invention

The vacuum head of the present invention is defined in claim 1 and includes:

a first brush means and a second brush means each located adjacent an underneath side of the vacuum head;
motor means for actuating said first brush means to rotate in a first axial direction and for actuating said second brush means in a second axial direction, said second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction;
such that, in use, as the vacuum head moves across a surface said first brush means and said second brush means rotate to position debris from the surface towards the centre of the vacuum head prior to suction of the debris.

Preferably, the first brush means is adjacent a first longitudinal side of the head and said second brush means is adjacent a second and opposite longitudinal side of the head.
The vacuum head further includes a swivel joint at or about the centre of a top side of the head for connection to a connector means and a handle means, the swivel joint allowing a 360 ° range of motion about an axis through the connector means, the handle means for holding by a user and for conveying debris to be collected from the surface to a debris collection unit.
Preferably in use said handle means extends vertically from the vacuum head. The first brush means and the second brush means can be cylindrical and extend substantially along the longer dimension of the head.
In an embodiment, the vacuum head is used in a side-to-side motion, with the movement of the head being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the respective first and second brush means. The vacuum head may further include tube means located at said swivel joint for collection of the debris. The head may further include a debris collection means adjacent the tube means for collecting debris from each of the brush means.
The head preferably includes a pair of openings located on the underneath side of the head and in proximity to respective the first and second brush means. The vacuum head may further include a pair of rollers that is adapted to tilt or pivot in order to bias the head to one side
depending on the direction of travel of the vacuum head. The motor means preferably includes a first motor for actuating the first brush means and a second motor for actuating the second brush means.
The vacuum head, in use, preferably is moved side to side in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of a user of the vacuum head, such movement enabling the user to use the vacuum head having a substantially upright posture which provides minimal stress on the user's back, head and shoulders.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaning assembly including the vacuum head according to claim 1 and further including:
handle means, with said handle means formed as a series of connecting shaft or rod sections.
Preferably the handle means extends to about shoulder height of the average user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing the difference in posture and use of a user of an existing vacuum cleaner on the left and a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention on the right;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a vacuum head of a vacuum cleaner with a top portion partially removed to show inner components;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front of the vacuum head which is a part sectional view along line A-A of Figure 8;
Figure 4 is a perspective view from the side which is part sectional through a plane half way through the vacuum head but orientated at 90° to the line A-A;
Figure 5A is a perspective view from below of the vacuum head;
Figure 5B is a part sectional view from above of a vacuum head showing the internal components in a reverse image compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5C is a view from underneath of the vacuum head of Figure 5B;
Figure 5D is a part sectional view from above of the vacuum head of Figure 5B showing motor means and other internal components;
Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air while the vacuum head is in operation as seen from the left side in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the vacuum head; and
Figure 8 is a side view of the vacuum head.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a view on the left of a user using a traditional vacuum cleaner and a view on the right of a user using a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user 3 of the traditional cleaner 5 on the left has a bent posture, due to the design of the vacuum rod being at an angle generally between 40 and 50 degrees with respect to the ground 11. For long periods of vacuuming this can be a strain on the user's back and shoulders. The vacuum head is moved in a forward and backward direction and in an arc. This is an inefficient method of cleaning as square or rectangular rooms would have parts of the floor left uncleaned. Furthermore, this design cannot easily clean around obstacles due to the shorter length of rods, the limited angle at which the rods can be utilised in relation to the head and the way the device must be held by the user. Conversely, the view on the right in Figure 1 shows that the user 7 of the vacuum cleaner 9, having a vacuum head according to the embodiment of the remaining Figures, has an upright posture when cleaning in a direction side to side, with the position of the hands reversed when compared to the left figure. This provides less stress on the user's back, head and shoulders as most of the cleaning will be done in this position. This is more efficient when cleaning square or rectangular rooms as the user can systematically move the vacuum head from side to side rather than in an arc with the prior art cleaners. Furthermore, the present vacuum cleaner and vacuum head can easily clean around obstacles and under furniture, as the head swivels 360 degrees with respect to the vacuum rod and can have the vacuum rod move downwardly to 45 degrees or any other angel with respect to the ground, all done in a safe manner. By performing a systematic cleaning, including around furniture, this allows an area to be cleaned more quickly and efficiently than prior systems.
Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a vacuum head 2 of a vacuum device having a top side 4, an underneath side 6, a front side 8 and a rear side 10, first side 12 and second side 14. Referring to Figure 7 and 8 the vacuum head 2 also has a cover 16 formed in two halves 18 and 20 that extends longitudinally across side 4. In Figure 3 the two longer halves 18 and 20 of the cover 16 are separated to show the internal components of head 2, while in Figure 4 the two shorter halves 21, 23, that extend laterally across the top side 4, are separated to show the internal components of the head 2.
Referring also to Figure 3 the vacuum head 2 is joined to a handle means through a connection means 22 for connecting the vacuum head 2 with up to three rods or tubes forming the handle means that can be extendible and telescopic, and provide the user with a means to grip the device. The connection means 22, which can form part of head 2, includes an outer casing 24 surrounding a tube 26. The connector 22 is joined to three other rod sections (such as those designated by 13 in Figure 1), generally equal in length such that the overall height of all of the rod sections and connector 22 is equivalent to the shoulder height of the average person. The overall length can be adjusted according to the shoulder height of the user through the telescoping rod sections or other means of adjustment. Each of the rod sections make up the handle means. The top rod section is then connected through a flexible hose to a debris storage unit and motor of the vacuum cleaner, which also provides the air suction. The lower rod section connects to the top of connector 22, which in turn connects to the vacuum head 2 at junction 30 which is a swivel joint formed in two sections. The first swivel section and first swivel motion allows the connector 22 to be moved to about a 45° angle downwardly from the perpendicular by pivoting about the axis connecting the two motors 38 and 40 with the swivel joint 30 being located at or about the centre of the top side 4 of the head 2. The second swivel section and second swivel motion occurs at swivel points 33 that enables the connector 22 to rotate in either clockwise or anti-clockwise directions (360 degree rotation) about an axis through the longitudinal direction of connector 22, which is perpendicular to the axis going through the central axes of motors 38, 40. Generally the connector 22 is positioned perpendicularly in that it is upright from the top side 4 of the head 2 and thus stands in exactly a vertical position. The swivel joint 30 is able to swivel 360° about an axis through the centre of the connector 22 and is able to be moved to about a 45° angle downwardly from the perpendicular position shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, by pivoting about a pivot axis through each of the axial centres of the motors 38, 40 using a first swivel section 36 on the bottom of the connector 22.
Extending outwardly and downwardly from the swivel joint 30 is a single or pair of tubes 32 and 34 that allow the passage of air to create a vacuum or suction in order to lift dirt and debris from a surface and deposit it into the debris storage unit of the vacuum cleaner. The upper ends of the tubes 32 and 34 may be contacted to an intermediate portion or first swivel section 36, which is the first swivel point connected at the lower end of the interior tube 26.
Motor means, preferably in the form a pair of motors 38 and 40 (Figure 2) are used to respectively drive a pair of first and second brushes 42 and 44 in opposite directions and, specifically referring to Figures 5A to5D, brush 42 is driven in an anti-clockwise direction (looking from the rear side 10) while brush 44 is driven in a clockwise direction (again looking from the rear side 10). Motor 38 drives an output shaft 46 which drives belt 48 which is connected to brush 42 at one end 56 of the cylindrical brush 42. Similarly motor 40 drives an output shaft 52 which, through belt 54, connects to oppositely rotating cylindrical brush 44 at an end 50 of brush 44. As mentioned previously, both roller brushes 42 and 44 turn in opposite directions (as shown) under the power of each of the respective motors 38, 40 so that when the head 2 is moved across a surface, the cylindrical brushes 42, 44 direct dirt and debris into a central debris collection means 58 (Figure 4), in the form of a tray, at which the outer ends of tubes 32 and 34 allow air to suck up the collected dirt and debris through the connector 22 and the rod sections and eventually into the debris collection unit. The brushes 42, 44 are generally about 35 to 45cms in length. Each brush 42, 44 rotates in a direction towards the longitudinal centre of the underneath side 6 to draw dirt and debris from the top areas of a carpet or floor surface. The debris is moved to the tray 58 which is assisted by curved surfaces 63, 65 (Figure 4) of respective projections 59, 61 located at the longer sides of tray 58, which tray 58 can be detached from the head 2 when required. The debris remains on the top surface of tray 58 until it is sucked up the tubes 32, 34 by the vacuum air flow. Openings 60 and 62 enable air suction and for debris and dirt from the floor or carpet surface to be directed to the central debris collection means or tray 58. Rollers or ball sockets (alternatively castors, sliders or wheels) 64 and 66 allow movement of the underneath side 6 and the head 2 across the surface to be vacuumed or swept. Each of the rollers 64, 66 can tilt or pivot in order to bias the head 2 to one side. Thus, if the head 2 is moved in one direction, say to the top of the page, for example as seen in Figure 5C, then the rollers 64, 66 presses inwardly so that the head 2 tilts downwardly towards side 14 in the direction of travel. Alternatively, if the head 2 is moved in the opposite direction, say to the bottom of the page, as seen in Figure 5C, then the rollers 64, 66 presses inwardly so that the head 2 tilts downwardly towards side 12 in the direction of travel. The head 2 can also tilt downwardly towards respective rear side 10 and front side 8, through the corresponding rollers 64, 66 pressing inwardly through side 6. This makes the movement of the head 2 feel lighter to the user. The lowest parts of the head 2 are the brushes 42, 44 and rollers 64, 66. As the brushes 42, 44 rotate they make the head 2 appear to "float" or glide along the surface to be cleaned. When the head 2 tilts, either biased towards side 12 or side 14, the head 2 floats or drives in that direction. This is achieved due to the weight of the head 2 being balanced about the swivel joint 30. A series of sliders, particularly Teflon sliders, 67 exist near the corners of the underneath side 6 to make the head 2 travel easily and smoothly across the surface to be cleaned. Figure 5D shows respective printed circuit boards 41 and 43 associated with motors 38 and 40.
Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of air through the head 2 as debris is sucked. The brushes 42 and 44 rotate in opposite directions and inwards towards the tray 58. The debris is positioned onto the top of the tray 58 and is then sucked upwardly through the tubes 32, 34 and through connection means 22 on its way to the external debris storage unit.
The user, instead of performing a forward and backward motion with the vacuum head 2, will move the head 2 from side to side while walking backwards in a similar fashion to a mopping motion. This can be with the series of rod sections directly vertical with respect to the head 2. The user (for a right handed person) can place their right hand at a higher position between waist and shoulder height, while their left hand is positioned lower down the rod sections at about waist height and then the user is able to stand upright and not have to lean over or lean forwardly. The rod sections can be lowered to an angle of 45 degrees away from the vertical position to reach the end of the mopping motion or for difficult areas that need cleaning. The user is also able to simply walk behind the device vacuuming in a forward motion and can in fact swivel the device in whatever direction needed to clean the floor.

Claims

A vacuum head (2) comprising:
a first brush means (42) and a second brush means (44) each located adjacent an underneath side (6) of the vacuum head (2);

motor means (38, 40) for actuating said first brush means (42) to rotate in a first axial direction and for actuating said second brush means (44) in a second axial direction, said second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction; characterised in that the vacuum head (2) further comprises:
a swivel joint (30) at or about the centre of a top side (4) of the head (2) for connection to a connector means (22) and a handle means (13), said swivel joint (30) allowing a 360 ° range of motion about an axis through said connector means (22), said handle means (13) for holding by a user and for conveying debris to be collected from the surface to a debris collection unit; and

such that, in use, as the vacuum head (2) moves across a surface said first brush means (42) and said second brush means (44) rotate to position debris from the surface towards the centre of the vacuum head (2) prior to suction of the debris.
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 1 characterised in that said first brush means (42) is adjacent a first longitudinal side (12) of the head (2) and said second brush means (44) is adjacent a second and opposite longitudinal side (14) of the head (2).
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the head (2) further comprises a pair of tubes (32,34) extending outwardly and downwardly from said swivel joint (30) to allow passage of air to create a vacuum or suction in order to lift debris from said surface.
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that in use said handle means (13) extends vertically from the vacuum head (2).
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that said first brush means (42) and said second brush means (44) are cylindrical and extend substantially along the longer dimension of the head (2).
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 5 characterised in that the vacuum head (2) is adapted for side-to-side motion, such that the movement of the head (2) is substantially perpendicular to the axes of the respective first (42) and second brush means (44).
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 6 characterised in that the head (2) further comprises tube means (26) located at said swivel joint (30) for collection of the debris.
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 7 characterised in that the head (2) further comprises a debris collection means (58) adjacent said tube means (26) for collecting debris from each of the brush means (42, 44).
A vacuum head (2) according to claim 8 characterised in that the head (2) further comprises a pair of openings (60, 62) located on the underneath side (6) of the head (2) and in proximity to respective said first (42) and second brush means (44).
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that the head (2) further comprises a pair of rollers (64, 66) that is adapted to tilt or pivot in order to bias the head (2) to one side depending on the direction of travel of the vacuum head (2).
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that said vacuum head (2) is adapted for side to side motion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of a user of the vacuum head (2), such movement enabling the user to use the vacuum head (2) having a substantially upright posture which provides minimal stress on the user's back, head and shoulders.
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that said motor means (38, 40) includes a first motor (38) for actuating said first brush means (42) and a second motor (40) for actuating said second brush means (44).
A vacuum head (2) according to any one of the previous claims characterised in that the swivel joint (30) further comprises a first swivel section (36) that enables the connector means (22) to be moved at an angle downwardly pivoting about a longitudinal axis of the head (2) and a second swivel section (33) that enables the connector means (22) to rotate in either direction about a longitudinal axis of the connector means (22), said longitudinal axis of the connector means (22) being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head (2).
A vacuum cleaning assembly characterised in that the assembly comprises the vacuum head (2) of any one of claims 1 to 13 and a handle means (13), said handle means (13) formed as a series of connecting shaft or rod sections (13).
A vacuum cleaning assembly according to claim 14 characterised in that said handle means (13) extends to about shoulder height of the average user.