Multifunctional electric cleaning apparatus

An electric cleaning apparatus (10) having a suction body (11), which is provided at one end with a suction aperture (13) connected to a suction drive member arranged inside the suction body (11), and to which a terminal suction element (32) is able to be selectively associated. The electric cleaning apparatus (10) includes tubular members (16, 21) pivoted on the suction body (11) and able to be selectively rotated with respect to the latter in order to define a first operating configuration, wherein the tubular members (16, 21) are arranged on the opposite side with respect to the suction aperture (13) in order to function as a remote handgrip for the suction body (11), and a second operating configuration, wherein the tubular members (16, 21) cooperate with the suction aperture (13) in order to function as an extension for the terminal suction element (32).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a multifunctional electric cleaning apparatus, able to be used as an electric brush, a vacuum cleaner and a crumb vacuumer. To be more exact, the present invention comprises a fork element which allows to direct a suction pipe to one side or the other of the central body of the apparatus, in order to selectively use the pipe as a handle for the electric brush, or as a rigid extension of the vacuum cleaner. Moreover, such fork element can be detached from the central body so that the latter can be used as a crumb vacuumer.

Electric cleaning apparatuses are known, such as for example vacuum cleaners, electric brushes, crumb vacuumers or suchlike, used in household cleaning.

Such known electric cleaning apparatuses normally have a suction body provided with an electric motor which creates the suction, and a multitude of accessories, such as suction pipes, handles, handgrips, suction brushes or otherwise, arranged according to the specific function of the electric cleaning apparatus used.

Known electric cleaning apparatuses, however, have rigid structures and configurations, that is, they do not offer the possibility of being widely personalized by the user according to the operations he wants to execute. For example, in the case of an electric brush, wherein the suction body is associated at one of its ends to a handle, and at the other end to a brush, operations to suck up the dirt from gaps underneath the piece of furniture are almost impossible, since the proximity of the suction body and the brush prevents the latter from being inserted in depth under the piece of furniture.

This shortcoming is normally solved by providing the user with a kit of auxiliary accessories, such as extensions or suchlike, but this entails the need to remove and reassemble the brush and the various accessories each time a different cleaning situation occurs. Moreover, it is evident that such an electric brush proves to be extremely awkward for cleaning crumbs or dust from a surface, such as for example that of a table, of a shelf, or suchlike.

These shortcomings therefore entail the need, on the part of the user, to buy different electric cleaning apparatuses, according to the type of cleaning to be done.

Apart from being very expensive, this is both inconvenient, as the user finds himself having to change apparatus according to what operations he has to carry out, and also bulky, as the various apparatuses, when not in use, take up large spaces in cupboards or repositories.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a multifunctional electric cleaning apparatus which will allow to carry out cleaning operations in a simple, practical and at the same time effective manner, both on elevated surfaces, free environments, and in the gaps underneath pieces of furniture or otherwise, without needing to assemble auxiliary accessories or to change the electric cleaning apparatus itself according to the different operating conditions.

Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain this and other purposes and advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

An electric cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has a suction body provided at one end with at least a suction aperture, or hole, connected to a suction drive member arranged inside the suction body itself, and at least a terminal suction element, such as a brush or suchlike, able to be selectively associated to the suction hole.

According to a characterizing aspect, and in accordance with the purpose as above, the electric cleaning apparatus according to the present invention has tubular means pivoted on the suction body which are selectively rotated to define at least a first operating configuration, wherein they are arranged on the opposite side with respect to the suction hole in order to function as a remote handgrip for the suction body, and at least a second operating configuration, wherein they cooperate with the suction hole in order to function as an extension of the terminal suction element.

The tubular means has at least a fork element connected to a tubular element; such fork element is provided with pivoting means of the removable type which allow it to be selectively coupled to the suction body, so that the tubular means can be removed and the suction body can assume a third operating position in which it can function autonomously.

According to the invention, the terminal suction element is selectively associated to the suction hole in the first operating configuration, or to the tubular means in the second operating configuration.

In this way, the electric cleaning apparatus according to the present invention can be used both as an electric brush, in the first operating configuration, and also as a vacuum cleaner, in the second operating configuration, and also as a crumb vacuumer, when the suction means are removed to define the third operating configuration.

With the present invention it is therefore possible, with a single electric cleaning apparatus, to carry out normal cleaning operations in free environments in the first operating configuration, and also cleaning operations in the gaps underneath pieces of furniture in the second operating configuration, and also cleaning operations on surfaces of tables, shelves or suchlike in the third operating configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG. 1, an electric cleaning apparatus10according to the present invention has a suction body11of a substantially oval shape, inside which an electric suction drive member is arranged, of a known type and not shown in the drawings. Externally the suction body11has a handle12, in proximity with which the commands of the internal drive member are advantageously arranged.

On the side opposite the handle12, the suction body11is provided with a suction aperture, or hole,13, connected to the internal drive member and through which it is possible to suck in dirt or dust.

At the sides of the suction body11two housing seatings15(FIG. 3) are made, on opposite sides, by means of which it is possible to selectively associate a fork16to the suction body11.

The fork16(FIGS.1,2a,2b,5) is made of partially elastic material and has two arms17, at the free ends of which respective pins19are arranged. Such pins19can be selectively coupled, with play with respect to the corresponding housing seatings15, so as to allow the fork16to rotate with respect to the suction body11.

Furthermore, the pins19are provided with a snap-in element20, of a known type, for example with a circumferential relief. Such snap-in element20guarantees a stable coupling with the housing seatings15and, at the same time, allows the user to easily extract the pins19from the housing seatings15, possibly to selectively detach the fork16from the suction body11.

A tubular element21, advantageously made of aluminum, is fixed to the fork16, in proximity with the point of connection of its two arms17. In correspondence with the point of connection, the tubular element21is provided with a coupling22. The latter allows to couple the tubular element21with the suction hole13, or to temporarily constrain the tubular element21itself to a terminal part of the handle12. The tubular element21, on the opposite side with respect to the coupling22, has a terminal segment21aconnected to a central part21bby means of an articulated joint23. In this way the terminal segment21acan be positioned straight or at an angle with respect to the central part21bof the tubular element21.

When at an angle the terminal segment21amay carry out the function of handgrip.

The coupling22(FIG. 6) comprises an external body25, able to slide axially with respect to the central part21bof the tubular element21, and attached to a terminal connection26arranged coaxially inside the tubular element21. In this way it is possible to selectively insert the terminal connection26in the suction hole13, or to selectively constrain such terminal connection26to an attachment element27arranged in proximity with the terminal part of the handle12.

The coupling22also comprises a helical spring29which allows an automatic return of the external body25, and consequently of the terminal connection26, to a position wherein it maintains the latter normally inserted in the respective suction hole13or constrained to the respective attachment element27.

The articulated joint23is substantially of the known type and consists of a rotating coupling between the end of the central part21bof the tubular element21and the terminal segment21a. To be more exact, these ends are transversally cut diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element21, so that the central part21band the terminal segment21acan be reciprocally rotated between a first position wherein they are substantially coaxial, and a plurality of other positions wherein they are at an angle with respect to each other.

The electric cleaning apparatus10according to the invention also has a brush32, for example of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,076, wherein said brush comprises a central body33provided with two suction arms35revolving with respect to the central body33, which maintain the suction surface constant for any position whatsoever thereof.

Such brush32also has a pipe36by means of which it is selectively connected to the suction hole13, or to the end of the terminal segment21aof the tubular element21, depending on the position of the latter with respect to the suction body11.

The electric cleaning apparatus10also has, in proximity with the suction hole13, a platelet37with the double function of a clamp for the fork16, and of a conveyor for the dirt when the suction is carried out directly by the suction hole13.

The electric cleaning apparatus10as described heretofore can be used in three different operating configurations that will be described herebelow.

A first configuration of the electric cleaning apparatus10(FIG. 1) provides to use it as an electric brush, so as to obtain maximum maneuverability and lightness of the apparatus for cleaning free environments, such as floors.

In this configuration, the fork16is rotated with respect to the suction body11, so that the terminal connection26of the coupling22cooperates with the attachment element27, while the brush32is directly connected to the suction hole13. By doing so, the terminal segment21aof the tubular element21acts as a handgrip for the suction body11, which, since it is close to the ground, allows for an excellent maneuverability of the apparatus10, thus enabling the user not to tire himself excessively when using the apparatus10itself. Thanks to the articulated joint23, it is also possible to orientate the terminal segment21awith respect to the central part21bof the tubular element21, so as to improve the user's grip on the apparatus10.

A second configuration of the electric cleaning apparatus10(FIG. 2a) provides to use it as a vacuum cleaner, so as to easily access gaps underneath or above pieces of furniture with the brush32.

In this configuration, the fork16is rotated with respect to the suction body11, so that the terminal connection26of the coupling22cooperates with the suction hole13, while the brush32is connected to the terminal segment21aof the tubular element21. By doing so, the tubular element21acts as an extension for the brush32, which can thus be inserted easily and completely into the gaps underneath pieces of furniture.

In this second configuration, the apparatus10is held by the user by means of the handle12.

By rotating the terminal segment21a(FIG. 2b) with respect to the central part21b, an angled position of the brush32with respect to the tubular element21is defined, so as to facilitate cleaning operations of surfaces arranged above wardrobes, without needing to use ladders or footstools.

A third configuration of the electric cleaning apparatus10(FIG. 3) provides to use it as a crumb vacuumer, so as to have maximum compactness and maneuverability in order to facilitate cleaning operations on tables, shelves, internal surfaces of cars, sofas or otherwise, where the use of an electric brush or a vacuum cleaner is awkward and bulky.

In this configuration, the fork16is widened elastically in order to remove the pins19from the relative housing seatings15. In this way, by means of the handle12, the user grips the suction body11which, due to its limited dimensions, can be easily manipulated to vacuum surfaces such as tables, shelves, internal surfaces of cars, sofas or otherwise. To further reduce the bulkiness of the apparatus10, during this phase the brush32can also be removed, so as to suck in dirt directly through the suction hole13using the platelet37as a conveyor.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the electric cleaning apparatus10as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, according to a variant, the tubular element21can be of the telescopic type, or can contain a flexible part able to be used selectively in the second configuration as a vacuum cleaner.

According to another variant, the suction body11could be provided with wheels which allow it to be dragged. The oval shape of the suction body11may also be changed, so that it can therefore be spherical, parallelepiped, cylindrical or otherwise.

According to a further variant, the coupling22may be provided, in the internal part of the external body25, with a stopping tooth which, cooperating with a mating circular seating made on the tubular element21, allows to temporarily stop the external body25bayonet-manner in a position wherein the terminal connection is released/unconstrained from the suction hole13or from the attachment element27.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of a multifunctional electric cleaning apparatus, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present invention.