CLEANING NOZZLE AND METHOD FOR VACUUM CLEANING

• US 20100108098A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Versuni Holding BV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Splinter, Alexander Poul
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/21
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) bounding an inlet (2) for guiding aspirated air through the nozzle (1). The nozzle (1) comprises a rim (3, 4) along an outer end contour of the inlet (2) for contacting a floor surface area (6) when in an operating position on the floor surface (6), wherein at least a rim portion (3, 4) is movable between a 5 lowered position for contacting a floor surface (6) and a lifted position for leaving a spacing between the rim portion (3, 4) and the floor surface (6). A rim operating structure (21) is adapted for leaving the rim portion (3, 4) in the lowered position during an initial portion of a movement stroke of the nozzle over the floor surface (6) in a direction and for subsequently, during a later portion of the stroke, starting the lifting to the lifted position. This improves the aspiration of larger particles.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner nozzle (1;

51) bounding an inlet (2;

52) for guiding aspirated air through the nozzle (1;

51), the nozzle (1;

51) comprising;

a rim (3, 4;

53, 54) along an outer end contour of the inlet (2;

52) for contacting a floor surface area (6) when in an operating position on the floor surface, wherein at least a rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is movable between an lowered position for contacting a floor surface (6) or extending close to the floor surface (6) and a lifted position for leaving a spacing, or at least a larger spacing, between the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) and the floor surface (6); and

a rim operating structure (21) for lifting and lowering the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) between the lowered position and the lifted position;

wherein the rim operating structure (21) is adapted for leaving the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) in the lowered position during a portion of a movement stroke of the nozzle over the floor surface (6) in a direction and for subsequently, during a later portion of the stroke, starting the lifting to the lifted position.

2. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the rim operating structure (21) is adapted for determining a moment for the start of the lifting of the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) in relation to an expected end of the stroke.

3. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the rim operating structure (21) is adapted for determining a moment for the start of the lifting of the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) in relation to a beginning of the stroke.

4. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the rim operating structure (21) is adapted for, each time, keeping the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) in the lifted position for a predetermined period of time or over a predetermined distance of displacement of the nozzle (1;

51) over the floor (5).

5. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) is hingedly suspended and wherein the rim (3, 4;

53, 54), when in the lifted position, is in a position pivoted inwardly from the lowered position of the rim (3, 4;

53, 54).

6. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein, in its lifted position, the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) has a guide surface (11) facing outwardly from the inlet (2;

52) and extending at an angle of 5-30°

relative to a plane defined by the contour of the inlet (2;

52), an inner end of the guide surface (11) projecting further in a direction perpendicular to said plane than an outer end of the guide surface (11), such that, when the nozzle (1;

51) is in the operating position, the inner end of the guide surface (11) is closer to the floor surface (6) than the outer end of the guide surface (11).

7. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 6, comprising a skid plate (12) for contacting the floor surface (6) when the whole rim (3, 4;

53, 54) is in the lifted position, the skid plate (12) having a guide surface (13) in line with the guide surface (11) of the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) in the lifted position.

8. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) comprises a strip-shaped brush (8) and a strip (9) that is continuous in its longitudinal direction and extends along the brush (8), and wherein, when the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) is in the lifted position, the guide surface (11) at least includes a surface of the strip (9) facing away from the brush (8).

9. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is positioned along a first side of the contour of the outer end of the inlet (2;

52), and a further rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is positioned along a side of the contour of the outer end of the inlet (2;

52) opposite the first side.

10. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 9, wherein the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is moveable independently of the other rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54).

11. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein, seen in bottom view, the rim portion (53, 54) extends along a curved and/or V-shaped trajectory, a central section of the rim portion (53, 54) being located inwardly relative to outer sections of the rim portion (53, 54).

12. A vacuum cleaner nozzle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rim portions (3, 4) extends along a side of the vacuum nozzle (1).

13. A robotic vacuum cleaner comprising a self propelled, self-steering unit (16) comprising a nozzle (1;

51) according to claim 1, a unit conducting system (23) containing data representing directions determining a track to be followed by the unit (16), and wherein the rim operating structure (21) is adapted for determining when to lift the rim (3, 4;

53, 54) from the data representing directions determining a track to be followed by the unit (16).

14. A method for vacuum cleaning a floor surface (6) using a vacuum cleaner nozzle (1;

51) bounding an inlet (2;

52) for guiding aspirated air through the nozzle (1;

51), the nozzle (1;

51) comprising a rim (3, 4;

53, 54) along an outer end contour of the inlet (2;

52) for contacting a floor surface area (5) when in an operating condition, wherein at least a rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is movable between an lowered position for contacting a floor surface (6) or extending close to a floor surface (6) and a lifted position for leaving a spacing, or at least a larger spacing, between the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) and the floor surface (6);

wherein the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is left in the lowered position during a portion of a movement stroke of the nozzle over the floor surface (6) in a direction and subsequently, during a later portion of the stroke, the rim portion (3, 4;

53, 54) is lifted to the lifted position.