Multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance

• US 6,094,775 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Behmer, Albin
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/035,386
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 15/328, 15/329, 15/327.5
• US Class Current: 15/329
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

The multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance has a lower housing part provided with an electrically driven brush. A further housing part is allocated to the lower housing part. The further housing part incorporates the operational parts for vacuum generation, dust filtering and dust collection. The lower housing part can be coupled to the suction circuit of the further housing part. In addition to vacuum sweeping work with the complete assembly, the appliance can also be used for normal vacuuming work without spatial limitations because the further housing part is a pull-along cylinder vacuum cleaner which is detachably coupled to the lower housing part.

Claims

1. A multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising:

a lower housing part provided with an electrically driven brush;

an independently functional rolling canister vacuum cleaner detachably mounted on said lower housing part;

said canister vacuum cleaner including a suction circuit and operational parts for vacuum generation, dust filtering, dust collection; and

means for selectively coupling said lower housing part to the suction circuit of said canister vacuum cleaner.

2. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part has an electric circuit and which further comprises an electric connection line for connecting said electric circuit of said lower housing part to an electric mains, and means for electrically coupling said canister vacuum cleaner to said lower housing part.

3. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means is formed on said canister vacuum cleaner and on said lower housing part such that an electrical contact is automatically established when said canister vacuum cleaner is coupled to said lower housing part.

4. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means is an electrical plug adapter automatically plugging said canister vacuum cleaner into said lower housing part.

5. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 4, wherein said plug adapter includes a plug configuration which, upon being disposed on said lower housing part, is connected to said electric circuit of said lower housing part and wherein said plug adapter includes a socket, electrically connected to said plug configuration, for a connection line of said canister vacuum cleaner.

6. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 2, which further comprises a second electric connection line for connecting an electric circuit of said canister vacuum cleaner to the electric mains.

7. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part has a first electric circuit and said canister vacuum cleaner has a second electric circuit and which further comprises a first electric connection line for connecting said first electric circuit of said lower housing part to an electric mains and a second electric connection line for connecting said second electric circuit of said canister vacuum cleaner to the electric mains.

11. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively coupling includes a connection nozzle on said lower housing part and a suction hose directly connected to said suction circuit of said canister vacuum cleaner.

13. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein said canister vacuum cleaner has a plurality of wheels.

14. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 13, wherein one of said plurality of wheels is a roller.

17. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein said lower housing part has a snap connector for detachably mounting said canister vacuum cleaner to said lower housing part.

18. The vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 17, wherein said snap connector is a holding element and said canister vacuum cleaner has a gripping element for releasably securing said holding element.

8. An improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance of the type having a lower housing part with a driven brush, and a further housing part operatively associated with the lower housing part, the further housing part incorporating the operational parts for vacuum generation, dust filtering and dust collection, and wherein the lower housing part is couplable to a suction circuit of the further housing part, the improvement which comprises:

the further housing part is an independently operational rolling canister vacuum cleaner having a means for detachably coupling the suction circuit of the further housing part to the lower housing part by a direct connection.

9. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 8, wherein said lower housing part has a first electric circuit and said canister vacuum cleaner has a second electric circuit and which further comprises a first electric connection line for connecting said first electric circuit of said lower housing part to an electric mains and a second electric connection line for connecting said second electric circuit of said canister vacuum cleaner to the electric mains.

10. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 8, wherein said direct connection includes a connection nozzle connected to the lower housing part and a suction hose connected to the further housing part, said connection nozzle and said suction hose directly connecting.

15. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 8, wherein said canister vacuum cleaner has a plurality of wheels.

16. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 15, wherein one of said plurality of wheels is a roller.

19. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 8, wherein said lower housing part has a snap connector for detachably mounting said canister vacuum cleaner to said lower housing part.

20. The improved multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 19, wherein said snap connector is a holding element and said canister vacuum cleaner has a gripping element for releasably securing said holding element.

12. A multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising:

a lower housing part having a first electric circuit, an electrically driven brush, and an electric connection line for connecting said first electric circuit to an electric mains;

an independently functional rolling canister vacuum cleaner detachably mounted on said lower housing part, said canister vacuum cleaner including a plurality of wheels, a second electric circuit, a second electric connection line for connecting said second electric circuit to the electric mains,

a suction circuit and operational parts for vacuum generation, dust filtering, and dust collection; and

means for selectively coupling said lower housing part to said suction circuit.