Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ortable Handheld Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable handheld vacuum
cleaning apparatus driven by an electric motor. The apparatus
has no guide wand and the suction nozzle of the apparatus is
integrated into the base region thereof.
Background of the Invention
An apparatus of this kind is known, for example, for
cleaning tables and the like. Such apparatus have a housing
made of hard plastic and a suction nozzle formed thereon.
Normal or rechargeable batteries are used as an energy source
for driving such vacuum cleaning apparatus.
All of the known apparatus however have the disadvantage
that they are simply vacuum cleaning apparatus of a reduced
size having a suction nozzle formed directly on the body of
the apparatus. The housings are made of hard plastic and are
suitable only for flat surfaces.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to provide a portable
~0 handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus which avoids the above
disadvantages and which is convenient to manipulate. The
portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of the invention
cleans sensitive spatial objects and also surfaces without
difficulty with the dust being taken up by the apparatus
itself with the dust being retained in the apparatus
independently of the operating position thereof.
The portable handheld vacuum cleaning apparatus of the
invention includes: a soft elastic deformable housing defining
an interior and having a substantially flat base wall; a dust
filter unit disposed in the housing so as to partition the
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interior into first and second chambers; a motor blower unit .
mounted in the first chamber for generating a partial vacuum ~-
in the second chamber; nozzle means formed in the base wall
and communicating with the second chamber for conducting dust
. 5 into the second chamber in the presence of the partial vacuum;
and, a soft air-permeable covering mounted on the base wall so
as to cover the nozzle means.
The advantages achieved with the apparatus of the
invention are seen especially in that a small structure
convenient to handle is realized by integrating all components
into an elastically deformable housing. With this apparatus,
objects having a flat surface as well as spatial objects can
be cleaned without damaging the same and so that they are free -
of dust.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section,
showing the functional components of the portable handheld
vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section view showing the motor blower unit
mounted in the apparatus with the blower component projecting -
into the hollow handle space and also showing the exhaust
airflow;
FIG. 3 is a detail section view taken through the body of
. the apparatus showing the air suction inlet apertures and the
dust holdback valve;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cavity formed in the base of -
the apparatus and showing the air suction inlet apertures; ~-
FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of
1 2
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FIG. 3 wherein a plurality of dust holdback valves are
provided;
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the vacuum
cleaning apparatus showing how the apparatus can be held by an
operator for facilitating the ergonomic manipulation thereof
during use;
FIG. 7 shows a prismatically-shaped configuration of the
hollow handle to facilitate convenient holding of the apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus having a pointed
front end showing how the apparatus can be conveniently used
¦ to clean a window;
FIG. 9 is a section view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 4
and shows three suction channels corresponding to respective
sets of air suction inlet apertures formed in the base wall of
the apparatus; and,
FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a portable handheld
vacuum cleaning apparatus according to the invention wherein
additional structural details are shown.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the apparatus according to the
invention comprises three functional components, namely, the
motor blower 3, filter system (4, 4a) and the work tool 2.
The work tool component 2 includes a soft elastic skin
cover 17 while the motor blower component 3 is seated in a
semi-rigid to riqid separate motor mount 6. A hollow arm 12
is formed on the housing 1 made of plastic so that the hand 18
(see FIG. 6) of the operator is positioned such that the
center of gravity S of the apparatus acts in the region of the
; back of the hand H.
A soft elastic filter holder 4 (see also FIG. 10) is
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separable from the work tool component 2 which defines a
chamber including a dust collecting compartment 2a and the
vacuum cleaner nozzle 19. A filter 4a is held in the filter
holder 4 and is interposed between the compartment 2a of
component 2 and the motor blower 3 and acts as a fine dust
filter. The work surface 21 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 19
is provided with a soft air-permeable polishing cover 5 of
variable softness. The cover 5 acts as a separator and can be
exchanged.
The exhaust airflow is generated by the motor blower 3
which includes a fan 3a driven by motor 26 and is cleaned by
the filter 4a. The exhaust air is vented through the hollow
arm 12 to the ambient at opening 22.
Three suction channels 8a to 8c (see FIG. 9) are formed
in the housing of work tool component 2 and lead to the soft
polishing cover 5 via respective sets of air suction inlet
apertures 24a to 24c. These suction channels 8a to 8c come
together in a central enclosure 25 via respective openings 25a
to 25c shown schematically in FIG. 4. The enclosure 25 is
20 closed by means of a valve 9 when the motor blower 3 is not ;~
operating.
Since dust falls back only when the apparatus is switched
off, that is, when there is no movement of suction air, the ;~
valve 9 is controlled via the operating switch 10 of the ;~
blower motor 26. Other types of actuation are possible. What
is important here is that the valve is closed when the
apparatus is switched off. -~
FIG. 5 shows an arrangement wherein one suction
channel 11 is provided for each air suction inlet aperture in
30 the base wall of the work tool component 2. Valves lla to lld ~;~
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are provided for respective ones of the channels 11. The
valves lla to lld are weighted so that they remain closed
under their own weight when the motor blower 3 is switched
off.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the center of gravity of the
apparatus is disposed beneath the back of the hand H and acts
in the direction represented by the arrow S in FIG. 6 so that
the apparatus can be ergonomically manipulated during use.
The hollow arm 12 is configured to have a prism-like shape and
extends over the back of the hand H and is configured to have
a variable elevation so as to conveniently accommodate the
hand as shown. The resilient force F is preferably centered
over the weight of the apparatus G.
The hollow arm 12 is made of soft-elastic plastic to
develop the resilient force F which is applied to the back of
the hand H of the operator. The hollow arm 12 is displaceable -
in the upward direction to make room for a larger hand.
Accordingly, the hollow arm 12 will press comfortably against
an operator's hand irrespective of the thickness thereof.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow arm 12 defines an exhaust
air opening 22 and includes a noise attenuating layer 14 as
well as a diffuser 16.
The elastic diffuser 16 is arranged in the hollow arm 12 ~
at the region of the opening 20 of the blower exhaust 27 and -
25 functions to diffuse the vented airflow produced by fan 3a. ;
Referring to FIG. 10, the dust collected in
compartment 2a is emptied by disconnecting the front end
; component 2 at 40 and 42, removing the filter 4a and then
emptying the dust from the dirt collecting compartment 2a.
The apparatus according to the invention can be used for
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removing dust in every fashion and can be used to clean in
corners as well as at edges. For this purpose, the apparatus
is provided with a pointed front end 15 which preferably has
an apex angle of approximately 90 as shown in FIG. 8 wherein
the apparatus of the invention is shown for use in cleaning
windows. ` ;~
It is understood that the foregoing description is that
of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various
changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims.
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