EP0430478A1 - Staubsauger - Google Patents

Staubsauger Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0430478A1
EP0430478A1 EP90312311A EP90312311A EP0430478A1 EP 0430478 A1 EP0430478 A1 EP 0430478A1 EP 90312311 A EP90312311 A EP 90312311A EP 90312311 A EP90312311 A EP 90312311A EP 0430478 A1 EP0430478 A1 EP 0430478A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vacuum
vacuum cleaner
transmitter
cleaner according
operating handle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90312311A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0430478B1 (de
Inventor
Rex Brown
George Birkett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10666787&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0430478(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0430478A1 publication Critical patent/EP0430478A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0430478B1 publication Critical patent/EP0430478B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Revoked legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2894—Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2842—Suction motors or blowers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Definitions

  • Vacuum cleaners usually comprise a main vacuum unit incorporating an electric motor to generate the required vacuum, together with an operating handle connected to the vacuum unit by an air-tight flexible hose.
  • the operating handle is usually connected to the actual cleaning head by a rigid pipe, although in some situations and for some uses the cleaning head may be linked directly to the operating handle.
  • the electric operating controls for the vacuum cleaner are mounted upon the main vacuum unit, which of course is separated from the operating handle by the length of the flexible hose.
  • the only control conventionally provided on the operating handle is a vacuum control which enables the degree of suction to be modified by the simple expedient of opening and closing a vent.
  • the vacuum cleaner comprises a main vacuum unit incorporating an electric motor to generate a vacuum, an operating handle remote from the main vacuum unit, an air-tight flexible hose linking the operating handle to the main vacuum unit and incorporating electric wires extending throughout the length of the hose, a source of low-voltage electrical power electrically connected to said wires, a signal transmitter electrically connected to said wires at the end thereof which is nearer to the main vacuum unit, and a receiver for signals from said transmitter, electrically connected to the motor-operating circuit of the main vacuum unit.
  • signals initiated by operation of controls mounted upon the operating handle may be transmitted fro the hose to the motor-operating circuit without there being any direct electrical connection from the hose to that circuit, and the motor may thereby be safely controlled from the operating handle.
  • the main vacuum unit itself may be any available such unit, for sample of the upright or horizontal type, but the benefits of the invention are particularly achieved when the unit is of the industrial or heavy domestic type.
  • Typical suitable units are those which are housed in an upright cylindrical housing on wheels or castors.
  • the flexible hose linking the vacuum unit to the operating handle and incorporating electric wires may advantageously be of the type sold by the company Plastiflex Ltd., in which type a pair of wires are incorporated in the windings of the hose and extend continuously throughout the length of the hose.
  • a source of low voltage electrical power Associated with the operating handle and the hose and electrically connected to the wires in the latter is a source of low voltage electrical power. While it is possible to connect in the power source at any point along the length of the wires, for example adjacent to the signal transmitter, it is much preferred for the power source to be housed in or adjacent to the operating handle. Very conveniently the power source is in the form of one or more batteries, for example of the dry-cell or rechargeable type. The voltage generated by the power source will be substantially lower than normal mains voltage, for sample of the general order of 3 to 12 volts.
  • the signal transmitter is operated by electrical power from the power source, switched by means of controls mounted on the operating handle.
  • the controls may at their simplest comprise only an on/off switch but it is preferred that they be designed to send a continuous electrical signal or a succession of pulses of power to the transmitter, for example in response to pressure applied to one or more push-buttons or similar controls.
  • Such signals may, for example, make it possible for the speed of rotation of the vacuum-producing electric motor to be progressively increased or decreased.
  • an automatic switch-off device is associated with the operating controls so that, even if a push-button for example is held continuously depressed, the signal is transmitted for only a very short time. In this way, the operating life of the low-voltage power source may be prolonged significantly.
  • the signal transmitter may take various forms. Thus, for example, it may be a radio transmitter or means to transmit light in the visible or infra-red spectrum. In another form it may be a transmitter of ultrasonic signals. Whatever form the transmitter takes, it enables a signal to be transferred from the hose line to the vacuum unit without any direct electrical contact between the two components.
  • the nature of the signal receiver will depend upon the type of signal transmitted by the signal transmitter.
  • the receiver may therefore be designed to respond to radio or slight signals or to ultrasound.
  • the relative positions of transmitter and receiver will preferably be such that the signal can pass unimpeded from the transmitter to the receiver.
  • these two units are preferably located within a short distance, for example not exceeding 10cm, of each other.
  • the receiver is preferably located within the housing of the vacuum unit and an aperture or window may then be provided in the housing to permit the signals to pass to the receiver unimpeded by the housing.
  • an infra-red signal especially a signal in the near infra-red range, for example having a wavelength in the range from 750 to 2500 nm.
  • the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may be of the wet-operating or dry-operating type.
  • the invention is of particular value when the cleaner may be used alternatively for either wet or dry operation as desired, since conversion from one form of operation to the other may be carried out without any effect on the operating controls.
  • the illustrated vacuum cleaner comprises a main vacuum unit contained in a housing 3 mounted upon wheels or castors 4.
  • the vacuum unit is linked by a flexible hose 5 to an operating handle 6, which enables manipulation of a cleaning head 7 at the end of a rigid tubular pipe 8.
  • a motor (not shown) within the housing 3 is applied via the cleaning head 7 to the carpet or other upholstery being cleaned.
  • the hose 5 Within the structure of the hose 5 are incorporated two electric wires (not visible in the drawings), which run continuously throughout the length of the hose and are connected at one end to a 9-volt battery (not shown) within the operating handle 6. At the other end, the wires within the hose 5 are connected to a small infra-red transmitter 9, mounted upon the outside of the hosing connector 10. The transmitter 9 is so orientated as to direct an infra-red signal through an aperture 11 in the housing 3, towards a receiver (not shown) within the housing. Typically, the infrared signal may be at a wavelength of the order of 940 nm.
  • the receiver is incorporated in the electric circuit within the housing 3 by moans of which the vacuum motor is controlled.
  • the signal from the transmitter 9 is switched by a control switch 12 mounted upon the operating handle 6.
  • operation of the switch 12 causes an infra-red signal to be despatched by the transmitter 9 and received within the control circuit of the vacuum motor, thereby enabling the motor to be operated from the handle 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Addition Polymer Or Copolymer, Post-Treatments, Or Chemical Modifications (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
EP90312311A 1989-11-23 1990-11-12 Staubsauger Revoked EP0430478B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898926502A GB8926502D0 (en) 1989-11-23 1989-11-23 Improved vacuum cleaner
GB8926502 1989-11-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0430478A1 true EP0430478A1 (de) 1991-06-05
EP0430478B1 EP0430478B1 (de) 1994-06-08

Family

ID=10666787

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90312311A Revoked EP0430478B1 (de) 1989-11-23 1990-11-12 Staubsauger

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0430478B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH03242128A (de)
AT (1) ATE106696T1 (de)
AU (1) AU6675590A (de)
CA (1) CA2030233A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69009696T2 (de)
GB (2) GB8926502D0 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0537845A1 (de) * 1991-10-17 1993-04-21 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Fernsteuerschaltung mit einem kapazitiven Fühler für einen Schlauchhandgriff
EP0546620A1 (de) * 1991-12-10 1993-06-16 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Staubsauger
FR2774200A1 (fr) * 1998-01-23 1999-07-30 Kwang Ju Electronics Co Ltd Dispositif de commande a distance d'un aspirateur
EP1121890A3 (de) * 2000-02-01 2002-10-23 T.P.A. IMPEX S.p.A. Kontrollgerät, speziell für Reinigungsgeräte
WO2025082786A1 (de) 2023-10-18 2025-04-24 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Kombinierte dampferzeugungs- und dampfabgabevorrichtung

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3112004A (en) * 1961-04-05 1963-11-26 Arthur W Neaville Remote control system for automotive vehicles
US3382524A (en) * 1966-07-21 1968-05-14 Honeywell Inc Control for a vacuum cleaner system
US4371814A (en) * 1981-09-09 1983-02-01 Silent Running Corporation Infrared transmitter and control circuit
FR2515899A1 (fr) * 1981-11-03 1983-05-06 Legrand Sa Dispositif emetteur a rayonnement infrarouge pour commande a distance d'un recepteur
DE3511666A1 (de) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-02 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Elektronischer schalter mit galvanischer potentialtrennung und seine verwendung
GB2174222A (en) * 1985-04-27 1986-10-29 Peter Stanley Phillips Remote operation of an electrical light switch

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3112004A (en) * 1961-04-05 1963-11-26 Arthur W Neaville Remote control system for automotive vehicles
US3382524A (en) * 1966-07-21 1968-05-14 Honeywell Inc Control for a vacuum cleaner system
US4371814A (en) * 1981-09-09 1983-02-01 Silent Running Corporation Infrared transmitter and control circuit
FR2515899A1 (fr) * 1981-11-03 1983-05-06 Legrand Sa Dispositif emetteur a rayonnement infrarouge pour commande a distance d'un recepteur
DE3511666A1 (de) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-02 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Elektronischer schalter mit galvanischer potentialtrennung und seine verwendung
GB2174222A (en) * 1985-04-27 1986-10-29 Peter Stanley Phillips Remote operation of an electrical light switch

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0537845A1 (de) * 1991-10-17 1993-04-21 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Fernsteuerschaltung mit einem kapazitiven Fühler für einen Schlauchhandgriff
US5353468A (en) * 1991-10-17 1994-10-11 U.S. Philips Corporation Vacuum cleaner comprising a suction tube and suction tube provided with a remote-control circuit comprising a capacitive sensor
EP0546620A1 (de) * 1991-12-10 1993-06-16 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Staubsauger
FR2774200A1 (fr) * 1998-01-23 1999-07-30 Kwang Ju Electronics Co Ltd Dispositif de commande a distance d'un aspirateur
EP1121890A3 (de) * 2000-02-01 2002-10-23 T.P.A. IMPEX S.p.A. Kontrollgerät, speziell für Reinigungsgeräte
WO2025082786A1 (de) 2023-10-18 2025-04-24 Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Kombinierte dampferzeugungs- und dampfabgabevorrichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8926502D0 (en) 1990-01-10
DE69009696D1 (de) 1994-07-14
GB2238233B (en) 1993-09-22
DE69009696T2 (de) 1995-01-12
AU6675590A (en) 1991-05-30
CA2030233A1 (en) 1991-05-24
JPH03242128A (ja) 1991-10-29
ATE106696T1 (de) 1994-06-15
GB9024378D0 (en) 1991-01-02
EP0430478B1 (de) 1994-06-08
GB2238233A (en) 1991-05-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6094775A (en) Multifunctional vacuum cleaning appliance
US10582823B2 (en) Vacuum cleaner including a surface cleaning head having a display
US20090038107A1 (en) Vacuum cleaner
CA1129353A (en) Electric current carrying flexible vacuum cleaner hose
US20080066252A1 (en) Radio frequency controlled central vacuum endfitting
US4947514A (en) Internal contact for a charging circuit
US4942641A (en) Accessory brush attachment
GB1443494A (en) Vacuum cleaner
US4835814A (en) Vacuum cleaner
EP0430478B1 (de) Staubsauger
US20240252010A1 (en) Self-cleaning vacuum cleaner
GB2224172A (en) Suction cleaner with alarm and fault control
JPH0771544B2 (ja) 電気掃除機
KR200386218Y1 (ko) 기존의 진공 청소기의 진공 흡입기능을 이용한 청소로봇
JP5114393B2 (ja) 掃除機
JPH119529A (ja) 電気掃除機
US20240341552A1 (en) Self-cleaning vacuum cleaner
JP2002034862A (ja) 電気掃除機
JP4709690B2 (ja) 電気掃除機
JPH07302651A (ja) コンセント
JPH1128179A (ja) 電気掃除機
JPS63315020A (ja) 電気掃除機
GB2305113A (en) Hand held vacuum cleaner
CN118922115A (zh) 吸尘器
EP1121890A2 (de) Kontrollgerät, speziell für Reinigungsgeräte

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19911129

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19921229

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GR IT LI LU NL SE

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GR IT LI LU NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19940608

Ref country code: DK

Effective date: 19940608

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19940608

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19940608

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 106696

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19940615

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69009696

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19940714

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19940908

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19940909

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19940910

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

ET Fr: translation filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19941130

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19941130

Year of fee payment: 5

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19950121

Year of fee payment: 5

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19950124

Year of fee payment: 5

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19950207

Year of fee payment: 5

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: SIEMENS AG

Effective date: 19950127

NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo

Opponent name: SIEMENS AG

RDAG Patent revoked

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009271

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: PATENT REVOKED

27W Patent revoked

Effective date: 19960307

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 19960601

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO