CLEANING APPLIANCE

• US 20100242213A1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: GENN, Stuart Lloyd, SUNDERLAND, David Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a device for drawing the fluid flow through the separating apparatus, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly, a duct moveable relative to the chassis for conveying the fluid flow to the separating apparatus, a floor engaging steering member for steering the rolling assembly, and a control mechanism for moving the steering member relative to the rolling assembly in response to movement of the duct relative to the chassis.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance of the canister type comprising separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a device for drawing the fluid flow through the separating apparatus, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly, a duct moveable relative to the chassis for conveying the fluid flow to the separating apparatus, a floor engaging steering member for steering the rolling assembly, and a control mechanism for moving the steering member relative to the rolling assembly in response to movement of the duct relative to the chassis.

2. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the steering member comprises a wheel assembly.

3. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, comprising a plurality of said steering members, and wherein the control mechanism is arranged to move each steering member relative to the rolling assembly in response to said movement of the duct.

4. The cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein each of the steering members is pivotably connected to a respective side of the chassis.

5. The cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein the control mechanism comprises a plurality of moveable steering arms each connecting a respective one of the steering members to the chassis.

6. The cleaning appliance of claim 5, wherein each steering arm is pivotably connected to the chassis.

7. The cleaning appliance of claim 5, wherein each steering arm is substantially L-shaped.

8. The cleaning appliance of claim 5, wherein the control mechanism comprises a control member for moving the steering arms relative to the chassis.

9. The cleaning appliance of claim 8, wherein the control member is pivotably coupled at or towards each end thereof to a respective steering arm.

10. The cleaning appliance of claim 8, wherein the control mechanism comprises a lever pivotably connected to the chassis for moving the control member relative to the chassis.

11. The cleaning appliance of claim 9, wherein the lever is rotatable about a spindle projecting from the chassis.

12. The cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein the lever is connected to the duct.

13. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the duct is located beneath the separating apparatus.

14. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the duct is pivotably connected to the chassis.

15. The cleaning appliance of claim 14, wherein the inlet duct comprises a relatively flexible inlet section and a relatively rigid outlet section pivotably connected to the chassis.

16. The cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein the inlet section comprises a flexible hose.

17. The cleaning appliance of claim 16, comprising a hose support for supporting the flexible hose, the hose support being pivotable relative to the chassis.

18. The cleaning appliance of claim 17, wherein the hose support is pivotable relative to the chassis about an arc no greater than 180°

, preferably no greater than 142°

.

19. The cleaning appliance of claim 17, wherein the hose support comprises a floor engaging rolling element.

20. The cleaning appliance of claim 19, wherein the hose is constrained to move within a plane substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the rolling element.

21. The cleaning appliance of claim 16, wherein the hose is connected to a coupling for connecting the inlet duct to a wand and hose assembly.

22. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, comprising a support connected to the duct for supporting the separating apparatus.

23. The cleaning appliance of claim 22, wherein the separating apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall, and wherein the support comprises a curved support surface for supporting the outer wall of the separating apparatus.

24. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the separating apparatus comprises cyclonic dirt and dust separating apparatus.

25. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the rolling assembly comprises a main body connected to the chassis, and a plurality of floor engaging rolling elements.

26. The cleaning appliance of claim 25, wherein the main body and the rolling elements together define a substantially spherical rolling assembly.