Surface Treating Appliance

• US 20080022482A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,581,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/339
• 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, a surface treating head and a support assembly which is mounted on 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, wherein the surface treating head is connected to the main body by a yoke and at least a part of the yoke carries a fluid flow.

2. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a duct located in an arm of the yoke and configured to carry a fluid flow from the surface treating head to the main body.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the yoke comprises a pair of curved arms.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the yoke comprises a pair of end portions, each end portion being connected to the main body.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the yoke is pivotably connected to the main body.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the yoke is pivotably connected to the main body at each end of the support assembly.

7. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the yoke is pivotable about an axis that is substantially aligned with a rotational axis of the support assembly.

8. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a pivotable connection between the yoke and the surface treating head.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the yoke and the surface treating head are connected by an intermediate arm.

10. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the pivotable connection connects a central part of the yoke to the surface treating head.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the support assembly houses at least one component.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the component is mounted within the support assembly such that a rolling surface of the support assembly rotates around the component.

13. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the support assembly comprises a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid, and the component comprises means for acting on the fluid flow received through the inlet.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an inlet duct arranged to provide support between the main body and the support assembly.

15. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the fluid outlet comprises an outlet duct arranged to provide support between the main body and the support assembly.

16. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a plurality of apertures in the rolling surface of the support assembly.

17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises separating apparatus for separating entrained matter from the fluid flow.

18. The appliance of claim 17, further comprising a further duct carries a fluid flow from the at least a part of the yoke to the separating apparatus.

19. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the fluid inlet receives fluid flow from the separating apparatus.

20. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the means for acting on the fluid flow comprises a filter.

21. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes a hatch.

22. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the means for acting on the fluid flow comprises an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller.

23. A vacuum cleaner comprising the surface treating appliance of claim 1.