Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: SURFACE CLEANING HEAD
FIELD
The specification relates to surface cleaning heads. Preferably, the
specification relates to surface cleaning heads for surface cleaning
apparatuses
such as vacuum cleaners utilizing a clam shell construction.
INTRODUCTION
The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is
prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the
art.
U.S. Patent 4,395,794 discloses a vacuum cleaner intake device
formed of a V-shaped housing widening in the direction of working. The housing
has a funnel shape nozzle, a fitting at the apex of the nozzle for connection
to a
source of suction and a pair of arms extending in a V-shape respectively
forwardly and laterally of the nozzle. A pair of side walls are provided each
having a skid at its lower edge elevating said housing above the floor. A hood
covers and defines with the arms and the side walls a collection chamber open
at
the forward and rear edges. Each of the arms are provided on their bottom
surface with a pair of spaced battens defining between them an elongated
suction groove open to the collection chamber and extending outwardly through
the side wall.
SUMMARY
The following introduction is provided to introduce the reader to the
more detailed discussion to follow. The introduction is not intended to limit
or
define the claims.
According to one broad aspect, a surface cleaning head is provided
which is of a clam shell construction and which has a front portion defined by
only one to the two clam shell portions. According to another broad aspect, a
surface cleaning head is provided which is of a clam shell construction and
utilizes a lower open sided air flow chamber. An advantage of this design is
that
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a surface cleaning head may have a simplified construction. Further, if the
upper
clam shell member is transparent, then a user may be able to view the air flow
passage below the upper clam shell member and determine if the air flow
passage is blocked.
For example, the surface cleaning head may comprise a front end,
a rear end and an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to an air
outlet.
The air flow passage may comprise a lower open sided air flow chamber. The
surface cleaning head further may comprise an upper section and a lower
section wherein a front portion of the upper section extends forwardly of the
lower section.
In some examples, a portion of the air flow chamber is below the
front portion of the upper section. In some examples, all of the air flow
passage
below the front portion of the upper section is open sided.
In some examples, the dirty air inlet is below the front portion of the
upper section.
In some examples, the airflow passage includes an enclosed
passage and an enclosed passage inlet, and the enclosed passage inlet is at a
front end of the lower section.
In some examples, the surface cleaning head further comprises
front wheels, and the front wheels are positioned rearward of the enclosed
passage inlet. The front wheels may be positioned under the lower section.
In some examples, at least a portion, and preferably all, of the front
section is transparent. In some examples, the upper section is transparent.
This
design is particularly advantageous when the upper section is a single molded
component.
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In some examples, the dirty air inlet is at the front end, and at least
a portion of the airflow passage extends under the portion of the front
section that
is transparent.
In some examples, the lower section has increased opacity
compared with the front portion of the upper section. The lower section may be
opaque.
In some examples, the surface cleaning head has an outer
surface, and an outer surface of the upper section and an outer surface of the
lower section comprise essentially all of the outer surface of the surface
cleaning
head.
In some examples, the surface cleaning head has a clam shell
construction. The upper section and the lower section may comprise the clam
shell. Preferably, the upper section comprises an integrally molded component
and the lower section comprises an integrally molded component.
In some examples, the upper section has an outer surface
comprising an upward facing portion, and the upper section further comprises
reinforcing ribs, preferably provided on the upward facing portion.
In some examples, the upper section comprises a rear portion, a
transition portion and a front portion. The rear portion may have a higher
height
than the front portion and the transition portion may extend downwardly to the
front portion. The transition portion may comprise or consist of the
reinforcing
ribs.
In some examples, the front portion comprises a single layer of
plastic. The front portion may have a thickness less than 0.1 inch.
In some examples, the surface cleaning head further comprises at
least a second open sided airflow chamber.
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It will be appreciated that a surface cleaning head may incorporate
one or more of the features of each of these embodiments and examples.
DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a surface
cleaning head;
Figure 2 is a side plan view of the surface cleaning head of Figure
1;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the surface cleaning head of
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning head
of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the surface cleaning head of Figure
1;
Figure 6 is a front perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus
comprising the surface cleaning head of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a cross-section taken along line 7-7 in Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a cross-section taken along line 8-8 in Figure 3; and
Figure 9 is a cross-section taken along line 9-9 in Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
Various apparatuses or methods will be described below to provide
an example of each claimed invention. No example described below limits any
claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or
apparatuses that are not described below. The claimed inventions are not
limited
to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or
process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the
apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process
described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention.
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Referring to Figures 1-5, an example of a surface cleaning head
100 is shown. Referring to Figure 6, as will be described further hereinbelow,
the
surface cleaning head 100 is connectable in air flow communication to a
surface
cleaning apparatus 600, such as a vacuum cleaner, and preferably, an upright
vacuum cleaner.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the surface cleaning head 100
comprises a front end 102, and a rear end 104. The surface cleaning head
further comprises first 106 and second 108 opposed lateral sides. A top outer
surface 110 and a bottom outer surface 112 each extend between the front end
102 and the rear end 104, and the opposed lateral sides 106, 108. In the
exemplified embodiment, the top 110 and bottom 112 outer surfaces form
essentially all of the outer surface 101 of the surface cleaning head.
As exemplified, the surface cleaning head 100 comprises an upper
section 114, and a lower section 116. In the exemplified embodiment, upper
section 114 is an integrally formed plate, and lower section 116 is an
integrally
formed plate. Preferably, the surface cleaning head is of a clamshell
construction, wherein the upper section 114 and the lower section 116 form the
clamshell.
The upper section 114 has an outer surface 115, and the lower
section 116 has an outer surface 117. The outer surfaces 115, 117 are defined
as the outer surfaces that are visible when the surface cleaning head 100 is
assembled.
As exemplified, the front portion 118 of the upper section 114
extends forwardly of the lower section 116. For example, the front portion 118
of
the upper section may extend forwardly of the lower section 116 a sufficient
distance to define a lower open sided air flow chamber.
As exemplified, at front portion 118 of the upper section 114, the
outer surface 115 has an upward facing portion 159, and a downward facing
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portion 161. The downward facing portion forms a front portion 120 of bottom
surface 112. Further the outer surface 117 of the lower section 116 forms a
rear
portion 121 of the bottom surface 112.
Preferably, the front portion 118 of the upper section 114 comprises
a single layer of material. For example, the front portion 118 of the upper
section
114 may comprise a single layer of plastic. In some embodiments, the plastic
may have a thickness less than 0.1 inches.
Preferably, as in the exemplified embodiment, reinforcing ribs 179
are provided on the upward facing portion 159 of the outer surface 115 of
upper
section 114. The reinforcing ribs 179 may prevent front portion 118 from
breaking or deflecting when surface cleaning head 100 is in use, for example
if
front portion 118 hits a wall. In the embodiment shown, a first set of
reinforcing
ribs 177 is provided adjacent the first lateral side 106, and a second set 175
of
reinforcing ribs is provided adjacent the second lateral side 108. Preferably,
the
reinforcing ribs are integrally molded with upper section 114.
The reinforcing ribs 179 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the
front end 102, and increase in height going rearwardly. The ribs 179 merge
with
a rear portion 147 of the upper section 114, which is at a higher height than
the
front portion. Accordingly, in the exemplified embodiment, the ribs are at a
transition portion 151 of the upper section 114, which may extend downwardly
to
the front portion.
In the exemplified embodiment, the outer surface 115 of the upper
section 114, and the outer surface 117 of the lower section 116 comprise
essentially all of the outer surface of the surface cleaning head. That is,
the
outer surface 115 of the upper section 114, and the outer surface 117 of the
lower section 116 comprise all of the outer surface of the surface cleaning
head,
excluding pivot mount cover 193, as will be described further hereinbelow. In
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alternate embodiments, other sections (e.g. other plates) may be provided,
which
may form portions of the outer surface of the surface cleaning head 100.
Preferably, at least a section of the front portion 118 is transparent.
For example, the transparent section may be fabricated from a transparent
plastic, such as polycarbonate. More preferably, all of the front portion 118
is
transparent. For example, in the exemplified embodiment, all of upper section
114 is transparent, including all of front portion 118.
Preferably, the lower section 116 has increased opacity as
compared with the front portion 118 of the upper section 114. For example,
lower section 116 may be translucent or opaque, or may include translucent or
opaque portions. Preferably, lower section 116 is opaque.
The surface cleaning apparatus comprises an airflow passage
extending from a dirty air inlet 130 to an air outlet 134. Preferably, the
airflow
passage comprises a lower open sided airflow chamber. More preferably, at
least a portion, and preferably all or essentially all, of the lower open
sided airflow
chamber is below the front portion 118 of the upper section 114, and the dirty
air
inlet 130 is below the front portion of the upper section 114.
For example, as shown, the dirty air inlet 130 is provided at front
end 102, and is defined below the front portion 118 of the upper section 114,
between the front portion 118 of the upper section 114 and a surface to be
cleaned. A first airflow chamber 128 extends rearwardly from dirty air inlet
130 to
a rear end 132. In the exemplified embodiment, the airflow chamber 128 is
integrally formed in front portion 118 of upper section 114. More
particularly, the
downwardly facing portion 159 of the outer surface 115 is contoured to form a
top
wall 190 and opposed side walls 192, 194, of the airflow chamber 128.
Accordingly, all of the airflow chamber 128 is below the front portion 118 of
the
upper section 114.
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In the exemplified embodiment, all of the lower side 188 of the
airflow chamber, which extends between the air inlet 130, the rear 132, and
the
sides 192, 194, is open. Accordingly, airflow chamber 128 is a lower open
sided airflow chamber.
Preferably, at least a portion of the airflow passage extends under
the portion of the front section that is transparent. For example, as shown,
all of
airflow chamber 128 extends under front portion 118, all of which is
transparent.
An advantage of using an integrally formed upper section 114 is
that front portion 118 may be transparent and may have sufficient strength to
permit the front of the cleaning head to comprise a single layer of plastic.
If an
open sided air flow chamber is provided below front portion 118, which is
preferred, then a user may view the air channel and determine if a blockage
occurs.
An advantage of the transition region is that reinforcing ribs may be
provided to provide rigidity to front portion 118. During use, front portion
118 may
vibrate or flex, particularly at high suction. The may affect the efficiency
of the
vacuum cleaner due to variations in air flow rate in the lower open sided air
flow
chamber.
The airflow passage may further include a manifold 198, which is in
airflow communication with the rear end 132 of airflow chamber. Manifold 198
is
in communication with an enclosed passage 140 via an enclosed passage inlet
136. The enclosed passage inlet 136 is preferably at (i.e. aligned with) a
front
end 157 of the lower section 116. The enclosed passage 140 extends
rearwardly from the enclosed passage inlet 136. A swivel joint 137 may be
mounted to a rear end of the enclosed passage 140, and may be in airflow
communication with the enclosed passage 140. The swivel joint is mountable in
airflow communication with the surface cleaning apparatus 600, and comprises
the air outlet 134 of the surface cleaning head 100. It will be appreciated
that the
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surface cleaning head may be attached to or attachable to any vacuum cleaner
as is known in the vacuum cleaner art.
In the exemplified embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus
further comprises an optional second airflow chamber 122, and an optional
third
airflow chamber 123, which form a portion of the airflow passage. The second
airflow chamber has an inlet 124 at first lateral side 106, and an outlet 126
in
communication with manifold 198. The third airflow chamber 123 has an inlet
125 at second lateral side 108, and an outlet 127 in communication with
manifold
198. Inlets 124 and 125 form auxiliary dirty air inlets to surface cleaning
head
100. Both the second 122 and third 123 airflow chambers are integrally formed
in front portion 118 of upper section 114. More particularly, the outer
surface 115
of the upper section 114 is contoured to form a top wall 133, and opposed side
walls 135, 139 of the second airflow chamber 122, and to form a top wall 141
and
opposed side walls 143, 145 of the third airflow chamber 123. In the
exemplified
embodiment, the second airflow chamber 122 has an open lower side 129, and
the third airflow chamber 123 has an open lower side 131. In another
embodiment, inlets 124, 125 may not be provided.
Second airflow chamber 122 and third airflow chamber 123
preferably communicate directly with inlet 136, such as via a manifold.
Accordingly, by adjusting the size of each of the first, second and third
passages,
the amount of air, rate of air flow, and level of vacuum in each passage may
be
adjusted.
Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, the portion of the airflow
passage that that is below the front section 116, including airflow chambers
128,
122, and 123, is open sided. The portion of the airflow passage that is
rearward
of the front section 116, is preferably enclosed.
The surface cleaning head 100 is preferably configured to transition
from a low pile carpet to a high pile carpet. This design may be used by
itself or
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with any other feature disclosed herein. For example, as shown, the front
portion
118 of top section 114 comprises an upwardly curved lip 199. Lip 199 is
provided at the front 102 of the surface cleaning head 100, above dirty air
inlet
130. Accordingly, if surface cleaning head 100 is pushed from a low pile
carpet
to a high pile carpet, lip 199 will serve as a ramp, and aid in lifting the
surface
cleaning head 100 from the low pile carpet onto the high pile carpet.
In some embodiments, the sidewalls 192, 194 of the first airflow
passage are formed from triangular members 167 and 169. The triangular
members 167, 169 may curve upwardly together with lip 199 at front end 102.
This is shown in Figure 7. The front or leading edge of any side wall for the
open
lower sided air flow channel may be chamfered, curved or radiused.
In some embodiments, ribs that act as carpet holders may be
provided, which, in use, hold down a carpet, and prevent the carpet from being
lifted upward off of a surface by the flow of air through the open sided
airflow
passages 128, 122, 123. This design may be used by itself with an lower open
sided air flow chamber or with any other feature disclosed herein. For
example,
as shown in Figure 8, two carpet holders 195 are provided, which extend
downwardly from top wall 190 of first passage 128 and preferably extend in a
flow direction.
Referring to Figures 2 to 5, preferably, the surface cleaning head
100 preferably comprises at least front wheels. In the exemplified embodiment,
the surface cleaning head 100 comprises first 142 and second 144 front wheel
assemblies, and first 146 and second 148 rear wheels.
Preferably, the front wheel assemblies 142, 144 are rotatable about
vertical axes. More preferably, the front wheel assemblies 142, 144 are
rotatable
about vertical axes, and comprise wheels that are rotatable about horizontal
axes. The front wheels may be swivel, caster or ball wheels. This
configuration
of wheels may be used by itself or with any other feature disclosed herein.
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For example, in the exemplified embodiment, the first front wheel
assembly 142 comprises a first front wheel 150, and second front wheel 144
assembly comprises a second wheel front 152. The first front wheel assembly
142 further comprises a first bracket 154, having outwardly extending arms
156a,
156b. The first front wheel 150 is mounted on a first axle 158 which extends
horizontally between the arms 156a, 156b. Accordingly, the first front wheel
150
is rotatable about a horizontal axis H1 defined by first axle 158. The second
front
wheel assembly 144 further comprises a second bracket 160, having outwardly
extending arms 162a, 162b. The second front wheel 152 is mounted on a
second axle 164 which extends horizontally between the arms 162a, 162b.
Accordingly, the second front wheel 152 is rotatable about a horizontal axis
H2
defined by axle 164.
As exemplified, the first bracket 154 comprises a first vertically
extending portion 166 provided above the outwardly extending arms 156, and the
second bracket 160 comprises a second vertically extending portion 168
provided above the outwardly extending arms 162. First 170 and second 172
vertical pins are mounted to the lower section 116, and extend downwardly
therefrom. The first vertically extending portion 166 is rotatably received on
the
first pin 170, and the second vertically extending portion 168 is rotatably
received
on the second pin 172. Accordingly, the first 154 and second 160 brackets are
rotatable about first and second vertical pins 170 and 172, respectively, to
rotate
first 142 and second 144 front wheel assemblies about vertical axes V1 and V2,
respectively.
Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, the horizontal axis of rotation H1
of the first front wheel 150 is spaced from the vertical axis of rotation V1
of the
first front wheel assembly 142, and the horizontal axis of rotation H2 of the
second front wheel 152 is spaced from the vertical axis of rotation V1 of the
first
front wheel assembly 144. For example, as exemplified, outwardly extending
arms 156a, 156b extend laterally away from vertically extending portion 166,
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such that axle 158, which defines axis H1, is spaced from vertically extending
portion 166, which defines axis V1. Similarly, outwardly extending arms 162a,
162b extend laterally away from vertically extending portion 168, such that
axle
164, which defines axis H2, is spaced from vertically extending portion 168,
which defines axis V2.
Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, the rear wheels 146, 148 are
rotatable about horizontal axes H3. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the
rear
wheels 146, 148 are mounted on axles 174 and 176, respectively, which are
fixedly mounted on opposed sides of enclosed passage 140, adjacent rear end
104.
Preferably, as exemplified the front wheels 150, 152 are positioned
rearwardly of the enclosed passage inlet 136.
Preferably, the rear wheels 146, 148 are positioned closer together
than the front wheel assemblies 142, 144. For example, in the exemplified
embodiment, the front wheel assemblies 142, 144 are positioned adjacent
lateral
sides 106, 108, respectively of the surface cleaning head 100. Further, as
mentioned hereinabove, the rear wheels 146, 148 are positioned on opposed
sides of enclosed passage 140.
Preferably, the front wheels are positioned under the lower section
116. For example, as shown, the front wheels are mounted to the outer surface
117 of the lower section 116. More preferably, a portion of each front wheel
assembly 142, 144, is recessed upwards from the bottom surface 112 of the
surface cleaning head 100. For example as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a first
recess 178 and a second recess 180 are provided in lower section 116, and
extend upwardly. The first front wheel assembly 142 is mounted in the first
recess 178, such that bracket 154 is completely received within the first
recess
178, and a portion of wheel 150 extends from the first recess 178. The second
front wheel assembly 144 is mounted in the second recess 180, such that
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bracket 160 is completely received within the first recess 180, and a portion
of
wheel 152 extends from the second recess 180. As shown in Figure 3, this
allows bottom surface 112 to sit in close proximity to a floor F.
Preferably, the front wheels 150, 152 have a smaller diameter than
the rear wheels 146, 148.
Referring to Figure 1, the surface cleaning head 100 may further
comprise a pivot joint 182, which is mounted to upper section 114, and is
covered by a cover 193. The pivot joint 182 comprises laterally opposed
apertures 184 (only one aperture shown). The pivot joint 182 is positioned
between the front wheel assemblies 142, 144 and the rear wheels 146, 148. As
shown in Figure 6, a support 606 of the surface cleaning apparatus 600 is
pivotally mounted to the pivot joint 182 by a pivot pins 605a, 605b.
Referring now to Figure 6, a surface cleaning apparatus 600
comprising surface cleaning head 100 is shown. It will be appreciated that
surface cleaning head 100 may be mounted to any suitable surface cleaning
apparatus, and surface cleaning apparatus 600 is exemplary only.
In the embodiment shown, surface cleaning apparatus 600
comprises a flexible hose 602, which is mounted to swivel joint 137 and is in
fluid
communication with air outlet 134. However, a rigid conduit may also be used
Hose 602 extends upwardly to a cleaning unit 604. The cleaning unit 604 is
mounted to support 606, which is pivotally mounted to pivot joint 182 of
surface
cleaning head 100. The cleaning unit 604 includes a cleaning apparatus 608.
The cleaning apparatus 608 is in fluid communication with hose 602, and serves
to separate dirt from air. The cleaning apparatus 608 may be any type of
cleaning apparatus, such as one or more cyclonic cleaning units, and/or one or
more filters. The cleaning unit further comprises a suction motor 610, which
draws air into the dirty air inlets of surface cleaning head, through surface
cleaning head 100 to outlet 134, through house 602, through cleaning
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apparatus 608, and out of a clean air outlet 612 of the surface cleaning
apparatus 600. A handle 614 is mounted to cleaning unit 604, and may be
gripped by a user to move surface cleaning head 100 along a surface.
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