Surface treating appliance

• US 20050235454A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Courtney, Stephen Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/351
• 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 9/0054 Stands or the like for temporary interruption of work
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings

Abstract

A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rollably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly also houses a component of the appliance, such as a motor for driving a surface-agitating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the support assembly may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid and a device for acting on the fluid flow received by the inlet such as a filter or suction apparatus.

Claims

1. A surface treating appliance comprising a main body having a user-operable handle, and a support assembly which is mounted to the main body and arranged to roll with respect to the main body for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface by means of the handle, the support assembly housing at least one component of the appliance.

2. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the component is mounted within the support assembly such that a rolling surface of the support assembly rotates around the component.

3. An appliance according to claim 2 further comprising a shell, mounted within the support assembly, for supporting the component, and wherein the rolling surface is arranged to rotate around the shell.

4. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the component is mounted within the support assembly such that it rotates with the support assembly during rolling movement of the support assembly.

5. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the support assembly comprises a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid, and the component comprises a device for acting on fluid flow received through the inlet.

6. An appliance according to claim 5 wherein the fluid inlet is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly.

7. An appliance according to claim 5 wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet duct that provides support between the main body and the support assembly.

8. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the fluid outlet is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly.

9. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the fluid outlet comprises an outlet duct arranged to provide support between the main body and the support assembly.

10. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet are positioned on the same side of the support assembly.

11. An appliance according to claim 10 wherein one of the fluid inlet or outlet surrounds the other of the fluid inlet or outlet.

12. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the fluid outlet comprises a plurality of apertures in the rolling surface of the support assembly.

13. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the main body comprises a separating apparatus for separating entrained matter from the fluid flow.

14. An appliance according to claim 13 wherein the fluid inlet receives fluid flow from the separating apparatus.

15. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the device for acting on the fluid flow comprises a filter.

16. An appliance according to claim 15 wherein the filter has a longitudinal axis and is located within the support assembly such that fluid passes radially through the filter.

17. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the device for acting on the fluid flow comprises separating apparatus for separating entrained matter from the fluid flow.

18. An appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the device for acting on the fluid flow comprises a suction-generating apparatus.

19. An appliance according to claim 18 wherein the suction-generating apparatus comprises an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller.

20. An appliance as claimed in any claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the component comprises a motor for driving a further component of the appliance.

22. An appliance according to claim 20 wherein the further component is a surface agitating device.

23. An appliance according to claim 22 wherein the surface agitating device comprises a brush bar.

24. An appliance according to claim 2120 wherein the further component is a surface polishing device.

25. An appliance according to claim 19 wherein the motor has a longitudinal axis that is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support assembly.

26. An appliance according to claim 19 wherein the motor is housed within the support assembly such that the centre of mass of the motor is aligned with the centre of the support assembly.

27. An appliance according to claim 19 wherein the support assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable members.

28. An appliance according to claim 27 wherein two rotatable members are spaced from each other.

29. An appliance according to claim 28 wherein a component of the appliance is located between the spaced members.

30. An appliance according to claim 28 wherein a fluid inlet or outlet is located between the spaced members.

33. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein the support assembly comprises a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow that is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly and provides support between the main body and the support assembly and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid that is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly, and the component comprises a device for acting on fluid flow received through the inlet.

34. An appliance according to claim 3 wherein the support assembly comprises a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow that is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly and provides support between the main body and the support assembly and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid that is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the support assembly, and the component comprises a device for acting on fluid flow received through the inlet.

21. (canceled)

31-32. -32. (canceled)