Vacuum cleaner suction tool with partition defining air current dust pickup path

• US 6,539,577 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okuda, Atsushi, Yoshimi, Kazuyoshi, Kamatani, Kazumasa, Sakata, Souji, Hamada, Atuo, Suetugu, Naoki, Ueyama, Syuzo, Takahashi, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/537,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 153/83, 153/84, 153/89, 153/90, 153/91, 153/92
• US Class Current: 15/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators

Abstract

An upright electric cleaning device includes a floor suction tool formed with a long suction opening on the bottom surface thereof. A rotating brush holding chamber holds a rotating brush that extends to this long suction opening. A suction opening leading to the main cleaning device unit is formed toward one end of the rear wall of the rotating brush holding chamber. A rib, formed on the upper section of the rotating brush holding chamber, extends along the length of the rotating brush, near the rotation path of the rotating brush. An air current path is formed to take dust drawn up by the rotating brush and stopped by the rib and suck it into the suction opening leading to the main cleaning device unit. The air current path is shaped so that its cross section is smaller at an end of the air current path remote from the suction opening than it is near the suction opening to increase flow speed at the remote end. In one embodiment, an opening to the outside is formed at the remote end of the air current path to enhance air flow toward the suction opening. In a further embodiment, the enhanced air flow if further improved by venting exhaust air from the main cleaning device into the opening to positively improve air flow.

Claims

1. An electric cleaning device including a floor suction tool, comprising:

a suction unit;

a floor suction tool comprising a brush chamber having a rotating brush housed therein;

said brush chamber having a suction opening on a bottom surface thereof wherein the brush extends therethrough and a suction inlet, formed in a rear wall, toward one end thereof leading to said suction unit;

a partition extending along a length of said rotating brush in said brush chamber;

said partition extending downward from an upper part of said brush chamber wherein said partition defines a downward plane that intersects a rotation path of said rotating brush, and where a tip end of said partition is proximal to said rotation path of said rotating brush;

said partition and a portion of said brush chamber defining an air current path therebetween; and

said air current path being effective to take dust drawn up by said rotating brush and stopped by said partition and suck said dust into said suction inlet.

2. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 1 wherein said partition is disposed at an angle so that a cross-section area of said air current path formed with said partition is larger closer to said suction inlet and smaller further from said suction inlet.

3. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 1 including an opening in said brush chamber disposed toward an end away from said suction inlet, said opening letting air from the outside into said air current path, thereby to enhance air flow from said end away from said suction inlet toward an end nearer said suction inlet.

4. An electric cleaning device including a floor suction tool comprising:

a suction unit;

a floor suction tool comprising a brush chamber having a rotating brush housed therein;

said brush chamber having a suction opening on a bottom surface thereof wherein the brush extends therethrough and a suction inlet, formed in a rear wall, toward one end thereof leading to said suction unit;

a partition extending along a length of said rotating brush in said brush chamber;

said partition extending downward from an upper part of said brush chamber wherein said partition defines a downward plane that intersects a rotation path of said rotating brush, and where a tip end of said partition is proximal to said rotation path of said rotating brush;

an air current path is formed to take dust drawn up by said rotating brush and stopped by said partition and suck said dust into said suction inlet.

5. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 4 wherein said partition is disposed at an angle to an axis of said rotating brush so that a cross-section area of said air current path formed by said partition is larger closer to said suction inlet and smaller further from said suction inlet.

6. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 4 including an opening in said brush chamber disposed toward an end away from said suction inlet leading to said main cleaning device unit, said opening letting air from the outside into said air current path, thereby to enhance air flow from said end away from said suction inlet toward an end nearer said suction inlet.

7. An electric cleaning device including a floor suction tool, comprising.

a suction unit;

a floor suction tool comprising a brush chamber having a rotating brush housed therein;

said brush chamber having a suction opening on a bottom surface thereof wherein the brush extends therethrough and a suction inlet, formed in a rear wall, toward one end thereof leading to said suction unit;

a partition extending downward from an upper part of said brush chamber to a position where a tip end thereof is proximal to a rotation path of said rotating brush;

said partition and a portion of said brush chamber defining an air current path therebetween;

said air current path being effective to take dust drawn up by said rotating brush and stopped by said partition and suck said dust into said suction inlet leading to a main cleaning device unit;

an opening near an end of said brush chamber away from said suction inlet leading to said main cleaning device unit; and

means for connecting exhaust air from said main cleaning device unit into said opening, whereby air flow along said air current path is aided.

8. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 7 wherein:

said partition is divided into at least first and second sections; and

a first end portion of said first section overlapping a second end portion of said second section;

said overlapping portion forming an inflow path to said air current path.

9. An electric cleaning device including a floor suction tool, comprising:

a suction unit;

a floor suction tool comprising a brush chamber having a rotating brush housed therein;

said brush chamber having a suction opening on a bottom surface thereof wherein the brush extends therethrough and a suction inlet, formed in a rear wall, toward one end thereof leading to said suction unit;

a partition extending along a length of said rotating brush in said brush chamber;

said partition extending downward from an upper part of said brush chamber to a position where a tip end thereof is proximal to a rotation path of said rotating brush;

an air current path is formed to take dust drawn up by said rotating brush and stopped by said partition and suck said dust into said suction inlet leading to a main cleaning device unit;

an opening near an end of said brush chamber away from said suction inlet leading to said main leaning device unit; and

means for connecting exhaust air from said main cleaning device unit into said opening, whereby air flow along said air current path is aided.

10. The electric cleaning device as described in claim 9 wherein:

said partition is divided into at least first and second sections; and

a first end portion of said first section overlapping a second end portion of said second section;

said overlapping portion forming an inflow path to said air current path.