SURFACE TREATING APPLIANCE

• US 20110088205A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• 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: Newton, David Christopher James, DYSON, James, Gammack, Peter David, Czerpak, Samuel James, Joynt, Michael Sean, Courtney, Stephen Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• 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 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing air flow and a casing housing a fan unit for drawing the air flow through the separating apparatus. A support assembly is connected to the main body for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle. The support assembly includes a pair of domed-shaped wheels which each have a substantially circular rim. The overall size of the appliance is reduced by locating the casing between the wheels, and providing an air duct which extends between the rims of the wheels to convey the air flow from the separating apparatus to the casing.

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaning appliance comprising:

a main body comprising a user operable handle, separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing air flow and a casing housing a fan unit for drawing the air flow through the separating apparatus; and

a support assembly connected to the main body for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle, the support assembly comprising a pair of domed-shaped wheels, each of the wheels having a rim;

wherein the casing is located between the wheels, and the main body comprises an air duct passing between the rims of the wheels for conveying the air flow from the separating apparatus to the casing.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the duct comprises an inlet section protruding outwardly from between the rims of the wheels of the support assembly.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the separating apparatus is mounted on the inlet section of the duct.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the duct comprises a base section mounted on the casing and a cover section disposed over the base section to define with the base section an air flow path through the duct.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the duct comprises a pressure relief valve.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the wheels have a substantially spherical curvature.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the wheels at least partially delimit a substantially spherical volume containing the casing.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein each wheel is rotatable about a respective rotational axis, the rotational axes being mutually inclined.

9. The appliance of claim 1, comprising a surface treating head, and wherein the support assembly comprises a yoke disposed between the wheels for connecting the surface treating head to the main body.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein each wheel is rotatably connected to a respective axle extending outwardly from the yoke.

11. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the yoke comprises an outer surface located between the rims of the wheels and having a curvature which is substantially the same as the curvature of the wheels.

12. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the yoke comprises a first arm which is pivotably connected to the casing, and a second arm which is pivotably connected to the duct.

13. The appliance of claim 9, comprising a second air duct passing between the wheels for conveying an air flow from the cleaner head towards the separating apparatus.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the second air duct comprises an inlet section connected to the yoke, an outlet section connected to the casing, and a flexible hose extending between the inlet section and the outlet section.

15. The appliance of claim 1, wherein one of the wheels comprises an air outlet for exhausting the air flow from the appliance.

16. The appliance of claim 15, comprising a filter located between the casing and said one of the wheels.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the filter is mounted on the casing.