SURFACE TREATING APPLIANCE

• US 20110088197A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Watson, Christopher Thomas, Ryan, Leigh Michael, POSTLE, William David, Czerpak, Samuel James
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/300.1
• 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 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle

Abstract

A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head, a hose and a main body including a fan unit for generating a flow of fluid and a rotary changeover valve. The changeover valve includes a valve body having a first section for receiving fluid flow from the surface treating head, a second section for receiving fluid flow from the hose, and third section for conveying fluid flow towards the fan unit; and a valve member which is selectively moveable between a first position which connects the second section to the third section, and a second position which connects the first section to the third section. To minimize the number of components of the main body, the valve body forms part of a casing for the fan unit.

Claims

1. A surface treating appliance comprising:

a surface treating head;

a hose; and

a main body, the main body comprising,

a fan unit for generating a flow of fluid, and

a rotary changeover valve, the rotary changeover valve comprising;

a valve body comprising a first section for receiving fluid flow from the surface treating head, a second section for receiving fluid flow from the hose, and third section for conveying fluid flow towards the fan unit; and

a valve member which is selectively moveable between a first position which connects the second section to the third section, and a second position which connects the first section to the third section;

wherein the valve body is connected to a casing for the fan unit.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve body is integral with the casing of the fan unit.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the sections of the valve body are angularly spaced about a circular path defined by the valve body.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the sections of the valve body are equally angularly spaced about the circular path.

5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the valve body comprises a boss located substantially at the center of the circular path, and wherein the valve member is mounted on the boss for rotation thereabout.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the changeover valve comprises a valve drive for driving the valve member to rotate about the boss between its first and second positions.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the valve drive is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the boss.

8. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the valve member is located between the boss and the valve drive.

9. The appliance of claim 6, comprising at least one biasing member for biasing the valve member away from the valve drive along the longitudinal axis of the boss.

10. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the valve drive comprises a pair of drive arms, and wherein the valve drive comprises a lever which is received between the drive arms of the valve drive.

11. The appliance of claim 6, comprising a stand moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a retracted position, the stand being arranged to induce movement of the valve drive as it moves between its supporting and retracted positions.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the stand comprises a drive pin arranged to engage a slot on the valve drive as the stand moves between the supporting and retracted positions.

13. The appliance of claim 1, in which the valve member comprises an elbow-shaped conduit having a fluid port located at each end thereof for seating over a section of the valve body.