Cleaning appliance

• US 8,572,802 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Dyson, James, Gammack, Peter David, Sunderland, David Robert, Genn, Stuart Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTEI, BRIAN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/731,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20100242220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 153/276, 153/277, 153/53, 154/10, 154/11
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes a substantially spherical floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid flow and a device for acting on the fluid flow received through the inlet, and a steering mechanism for steering the cleaning appliance.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance of the canister type comprising a substantially spherical floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid flow and a device for acting on the fluid flow received through the inlet, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly, a floor engaging steering mechanism connected to the chassis for steering the cleaning appliance, and a coupling for connection to a wand and hose assembly, wherein the chassis and steering mechanism are interposed between the coupling and the rolling assembly.

2. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the rolling assembly comprises a main body and a plurality of floor engaging rolling elements rotatably connected to the main body.

3. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the device for acting on the fluid flow comprises a fan unit for drawing a fluid flow into the rolling assembly.

4. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the device for acting on the fluid flow comprises a filter for removing particulates from the fluid flow.

5. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, comprising separating apparatus for separating dirt from the fluid flow.

6. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a plurality of floor engaging steering members moveable relative to the chassis.

7. The cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein each steering member comprises a wheel assembly.

8. The cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a plurality of moveable steering arms each connecting a respective one of the steering members to the chassis.

9. The cleaning appliance of claim 8, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a control member for moving the steering arms relative to the chassis.

10. The cleaning appliance of claim 9, wherein the control member is pivotably coupled at or towards each end thereof to a respective steering arm.

11. The cleaning appliance of claim 9, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a lever pivotably connected to the chassis for moving the control member relative to the chassis.

12. The cleaning appliance of claim 11, comprising a flexible hose connected to the lever for pivoting the lever relative to the chassis.

13. The cleaning appliance of claim 12, comprising a hose support pivotably connected to the chassis for supporting the hose.

14. The cleaning appliance of claim 12, wherein the hose comprises the coupling for connecting the hose to the wand and hose assembly.

15. A cleaning appliance of the canister type comprising a main body comprising a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid flow, a device for acting on the fluid flow received through the inlet, a plurality of rolling elements rotatable relative to the main body and which define with the main body a substantially spherical floor engaging rolling assembly, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly, a floor engaging steering mechanism connected to the chassis for steering the cleaning appliance, and a coupling for connection to a wand and hose assembly, wherein the chassis and steering mechanism are interposed between the coupling and the rolling assembly.

16. The cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein said device for acting on the fluid flow received through the inlet is connected to the main body.

17. The cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein the rotational axes of the rolling elements are inclined upwardly towards the main body with respect to a floor surface upon which the cleaning appliance is located.

18. The cleaning appliance of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of rolling elements has a spherical curvature.

19. The cleaning appliance of claim 15, comprising separating apparatus for separating dirt from the fluid flow.

20. A cleaning appliance of the canister type comprising a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a substantially spherical floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a device for drawing the fluid flow through the separating apparatus, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly, a floor engaging steering mechanism connected to the chassis for steering the cleaning appliance, and a coupling for connection to a wand and hose assembly, wherein the chassis and steering mechanism are interposed between the coupling and the rolling assembly.

21. The cleaning appliance of claim 20, wherein the separating apparatus comprises cyclonic separating apparatus.

22. The cleaning appliance of claim 20, wherein the separating apparatus comprises a chamber for collecting dirt separated from the fluid flow.

23. The cleaning appliance of claim 20, wherein the separating apparatus is located outside the rolling assembly.

24. The cleaning appliance of claim 23, comprising a duct extending from the separating apparatus to the rolling assembly for conveying the fluid flow to the rolling assembly.

25. The cleaning appliance of claim 24, wherein the duct is detachable from the separating apparatus to allow the separating apparatus to be removed from the appliance.

26. The cleaning appliance of claim 25, wherein the separating apparatus comprises a handle located beneath the duct.

27. The cleaning appliance of claim 25, wherein the duct is pivotably connected to the rolling assembly.

28. The cleaning appliance of claim 23, wherein the duct comprises a handle.

29. The cleaning appliance of claim 20, wherein the separating apparatus has a longitudinal axis inclined at an acute angle to the vertical when the rolling assembly engages a substantially horizontal floor surface.

30. The cleaning appliance of claim 29, wherein the angle is in the range from 30 to 70°

.

31. The cleaning appliance of claim 20, comprising an inlet duct for conveying the dirt-bearing fluid flow to the separating apparatus, and wherein the inlet duct comprises a support for supporting the separating apparatus.

32. The cleaning appliance of claim 31, wherein the separating apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall, and wherein the support comprises a curved support surface for supporting the outer wall of the separating apparatus.