Surface treating appliance

• US 7,757,343 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Courtney, Stephen Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/533,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 153/46, 153/51, 153/52, 153/53, 153/63
• US Class Current: 15/351
• 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 rotatably 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 providing storage for collected debris and having a user-operable handle;

a roller assembly which is mounted to the main body, said roller assembly being configured to rotate with respect to the main body to allow the appliance to be rolled along a surface by means of the handle;

a surface treating head connected to the roller assembly;

a suction generating apparatus within the roller assembly;

a first duct passing through the roller assembly for conveying a fluid flow from the surface treating head to the main body; and

a second duct for conveying the fluid flow from the main body to the suction generating apparatus.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a plurality of apertures in a rolling surface of the roller assembly.

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

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the suction generating apparatus comprises an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises a pair of rotatable shell-like rolling members.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein each of the rolling members is independently rotatable.

8. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the rotational axes of the rolling members are each inclined inwardly from the vertical.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises a motor bucket supporting the suction generating apparatus.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the roller assembly comprises a pair of rotatable shell-like parts, and the motor bucket is located within the shell-like parts.

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