Surface-cleaning device with rotatable and pivotable cleaning part

• US 6,571,423 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Oudman, Benjamin Luurt, Lijzenga, Henk
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/644,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 153/85, 153/88, 153/92, 153/71, 153/69, 15/87, 15/98, 15/491
• US Class Current: 15/385
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0472 Discs
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface-cleaning device (61, 63) which has a base part (69) and a cleaning part (67) having a substantially flat contact surface (71) for contact with a surface (41) to be cleaned and which is rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation (77) extending substantially perpendicularly to the contact surface. According to the invention, the cleaning part is pivotable relative to the base part about a pivot axis (105) which extends transversely to the axis of rotation, and the base part is so constructed that a component (93) is present and exerts a pre-tension force, preferably a pre-tension torque (M_p) on the cleaning part about said pivot axis. As a result, the contact surface is substantially completely in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and, when the surface-cleaning device is moved over the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning part automatically rotates about the axis of rotation under the influence of a friction force (W) present between the surface to be cleaned and the contact surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the component (93) for exerting the pre-tension torque has a roller member (95) which bears upon a roller track (99) of the cleaning part (67) under the influence of a pre-tension force (F).

The surface-cleaning device according to the invention is used in a vacuum cleaner according to the invention, wherein the surface-cleaning device is accommodated in a suction attachment to increase the cleaning performance of the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A surface-cleaning device comprising a base part and a cleaning part which is provided with a substantially flat contact surface for making contact with a surface to be cleaned and which is journaled so as to be rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation which extends substantially perpendicularly to the contact surface, wherein the cleaning part is pivotable relative to the base part about a pivot axis which extends transversely to the axis of rotation, while the base part is provided with means for exerting a pre-tension force on the cleaning part about said pivot axis such that when the device is moved over the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning part rotates about the axis of rotation only under the influence of a friction force present between the surface to be cleaned and the contact surface.

2. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exerting means comprise a roller member which is rotatable about a further axis of rotation extending transversely to the axis of rotation and which bears with a pre-tension force on a roller track of the cleaning part, which roller track extends substantially parallel to the contact surface.

3. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said exerting means comprise a wire spring, and the roller member is rotatably journaled around said wire spring adjacent an end of said wire spring.

4. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning part is journaled with radial clearance in a bearing bush of the base part, and the base part is provided adjacent the bearing bush with a support ring which extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation and which serves to support the cleaning part in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

5. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning part is provided with a holder which is journaled so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the base part, and with a cleaning element which is detachably fastened to the holder and is provided with the contact surface.

6. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cleaning element is provided at least with a first layer of cleaning cloth with a short-hair contact surface and a second layer of adhesive material for adhering the cleaning element to the holder.

7. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cleaning element comprises a third layer of support material interposed between the first layer and the second layer.

8. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cleaning cloth is made from a microfiber material.

9. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adhesive material comprises velour for adhesion to a Velcro material provided on the holder.

10. A vacuum cleaner provided with a housing in which a suction unit is present and with a suction attachment which is coupled to the suction unit via a suction channel and includes a surface-cleaning device, wherein the surface-cleaning device is a surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 1.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the suction channel comprises a suction tube which is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the suction attachment, which pivot axis extends substantially parallel to a front edge of the suction attachment and lies between the front edge and the axis of rotation of the cleaning part.

12. A surface-cleaning device comprising a base part and a cleaning part which is provided with a substantially flat contact surface for making contact with a surface to be cleaned and which is journaled so as to be rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation which extends substantially perpendicularly to the contact surface, wherein the cleaning part is pivotable relative to the base part about a pivot axis which extends transversely to the axis of rotation, while the base part is provided with means for exerting a pre-tension torque force on the cleaning part about said pivot axis such that when the device is moved over the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning part rotates about the axis of rotation only under the influence of a friction force present between the surface to be cleaned and the contact surface.

13. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said exerting means comprise a roller member which is rotatable about a further axis of rotation extending transversely to the axis of rotation and which bears with a pre-tension force on a roller track of the cleaning part, which roller track extends substantially parallel to the contact surface.

14. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said exerting means comprise a wire spring, and the roller member is rotatably journaled around said wire spring adjacent an end of said wire spring.

15. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cleaning part is journaled with radial clearance in a bearing bush of the base part, and the base part is provided adjacent the bearing bush with a support ring which extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation and which serves to support the cleaning part in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

16. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cleaning part is provided with a holder which is journaled so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the base part, and with a cleaning element which is detachably fastened to the holder and is provided with the contact surface.

17. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cleaning element is provided at least with a first layer of cleaning cloth with a short-hair contact surface and a second layer of adhesive material for adhering the cleaning element to the holder.

18. The surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cleaning element comprises a third layer of support material interposed between the first layer and the second layer.

19. A vacuum cleaner provided with a housing in which a suction unit is present and with a suction attachment which is coupled to the suction unit via a suction channel and includes a surface-cleaning device, wherein the surface-cleaning device is a surface-cleaning device as claimed in claim 12.

20. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the suction channel comprises a suction tube which is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the suction attachment, which pivot axis extends substantially parallel to a front edge of the suction attachment and lies between the front edge and the axis of rotation of the cleaning part.