VACUUM CLEANER SYSTEM

• US 20180303303A1
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Published: 10/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AB Electrolux
• Original Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Inventors: Nyberg, Curt, Persson, Michael, Hjalmarsson, Par, Zita, Johann, Troberg, Henrik
• Application Number:
  US15/738,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner system having a vacuum cleaner with a first housing, an air inlet, an air outlet, a motor fan unit for creating an airflow from the air Inlet to the air outlet, a battery for powering the motor fan unit, and a first unit for charging the battery, and a charger having a second housing with a second unit for changing the battery. The first unit is connected to the battery and the second unit is adapted to he connected to an external power source, and the first unit and the second unit are adapted for wireless power transfer from the second unit to the first unit.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner system comprising:

a vacuum cleaner comprising a first housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a motor fan unit for creating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, a battery for powering the motor fan unit, and a first unit for charging the batter; and

a charger comprising a second housing comprising a second unit for charging the battery;

wherein the first unit is connected to the battery and the second unit is adapted to be connected to an external power source, and the first unit and the second unit are adapted for wireless power transfer from the second unit to the first unit.

2. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the first unit comprises one or several first coil/s, and the second unit comprises one or several second coil/s.

3. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the first unit comprises a first control unit for controlling the status of the battery.

4. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 3, wherein the second unit comprises a second control unit for controlling the charging and/or status of the battery.

5. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit has means for controlling the presence of the vacuum cleaner in a charging position.

6. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 4 wherein, the second control unit receives information regarding the status of the battery from the first control unit when the vacuum cleaner is in the charging position.

7. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 4, wherein the second control unit receives information from the first control unit when the charging of the battery should start, and/or when the charging of the battery should end.

8. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first control unit and the second control unit transmits information to the other of the first control unit and the second control unit communication, when the vacuum cleaner is in the charging position.

9. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communication comprises communication by Near Field Communication (“

NFC”

).

11. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first unit is arranged in or near the wall of the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

12. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaning device comprises a robotic vacuum cleaner comprising a front bumper part, and wherein at least a part of the first unit is arranged on or in the front bumper part.

13. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 12, wherein the first unit comprises one or more first coils arranged on or in the front bumper part.

14. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaning device comprises a robotic vacuum cleaner and wherein the first unit comprises a first coil arranged in or close to the underside of the housing of the robotic vacuum cleaner.

15. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaning device comprises a portable handheld vacuum cleaner having a bottom part arranged to support the vacuum cleaner in an up-right storing position, and wherein at least a first coil of the first unit is arranged in or close to said bottom part.

16. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 15, wherein the charger comprises a support surface for supporting the bottom part of the vacuum cleaner in the charging position.

17. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 16, wherein at least a second coil of the second unit is arranged in or close to said support surface.

18. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 17, wherein the support surface is horizontal and the bottom part of the vacuum cleaner flat.

19. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 17, wherein the support surface is horizontal and at least one of the support surface and the vacuum cleaner comprises protrusions and the other of the support surface and the vacuum cleaner comprises apertures configured to receive the protrusions.

20. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 15, wherein the vacuum cleaning device comprises a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner.

21. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a stick part and a handheld portable vacuum cleaner configured to be releasably secured to the stick part, wherein the first unit is arranged in the stick part.

22. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 21, wherein a battery is arranged in the stick part.

23. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 21, wherein the stick part comprises a third coil, and the handheld portable vacuum cleaner comprises a fourth coil.

24. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 23, wherein the third coil is connected to the first unit and is located in an area where the handheld portable vacuum cleaner can be releasably secured, and the fourth coil is connected to a battery in the handheld portable vacuum cleaner and is arranged in the area of the handheld portable vacuum cleaner facing the stick part when the handheld portable vacuum cleaner is releasably secured to the stick part.

25. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a stick part and a handheld portable vacuum cleaner configured to be releasably secured to the stick part, wherein the first unit is arranged in the handheld portable vacuum cleaner.

26. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 25, wherein the second unit is arranged in a charger, and an extension coil is arranged in the stick part to transfer power and/or communication between the second unit and the first unit.

27. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a stick or upright vacuum cleaner, wherein the at least a part of the first unit is arranged in an area facing the user during use, and the second unit is arranged in a vertically extending part of the charger.

28. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a stick or upright vacuum cleaner, wherein at least a part of the first unit is arranged in the nozzle.

29. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 27, wherein at least a part of the second unit is arranged in a horizontally extending part of the charger.

30. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a canister vacuum cleaner and at least a part of the first unit is arranged on the side of the housing, in the rear of the housing or on the underside of the housing.

10. (canceled)