Abstract:
The present invention relates to a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner having a fluid flow path extending between at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet wherein at least a part of the fluid flow path is housed within a releasable portion of the surface treating appliance.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of United Kingdom Application No. 0822223.4, filed Dec. 5, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner. More particularly this invention relates to a surface treating appliance having a fluid flow path extending between at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet wherein at least a part of the fluid flow path is housed within a releasable portion of the surface treating appliance. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Surface treating appliances such as vacuum cleaners are well known. The majority of vacuum cleaners are either of the ‘upright’ type or of the ‘cylinder’ type. A typical vacuum cleaner comprises a main body which houses the main components of the vacuum cleaner, such as a motor and fan for drawing dirty air into the machine and some form of separating apparatus for separating dirt, dust and other debris from a dirty airflow drawn in by the fan. 
         [0004]    Vacuum cleaners having at least one and often a plurality of alternative airflow paths between an air inlet and an air outlet are known. Such vacuum cleaners often incorporate a valve for selecting one of the said airflow paths to carry an airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet. 
         [0005]    The airflow path(s) of vacuum cleaners can become blocked during use. In prior art vacuum cleaners, it was found to be somewhat awkward to gain access to the portions of the airflow paths in which blockages can occur. The construction of these vacuum cleaners was therefore improved in order to facilitate maintenance and repair. 
         [0006]    This was achieved by providing a releasable portion in the airflow path which allows the user of the vacuum cleaner to release the releasable portion should any blockages occur in the airflow path. Release of the releasable portion gives the user of the vacuum cleaner easy access to the airflow path allowing any blockages to be quickly and easily cleared. 
         [0007]    In the known prior art the releasable portion was retained in an operational position with respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner by a release device, for example a resilient push-button, to enable an unskilled user of the vacuum cleaner to carry out basic maintenance and removal of blockages. This advantageously reduces the amount of professional time required to maintain the vacuum cleaner and keeps the vacuum cleaner operational for longer periods, thus increasing user satisfaction and decreasing the amount of time required for maintenance and repair. 
         [0008]    A disadvantage has however been found to occur with some of the prior art arrangements and in particular with those where the release device is located on the lower half of a vacuum cleaner. The release device has generally been placed somewhere which is very visible and accessible. Such a location and visibility however make the release device prone to being knocked or kicked by accident which may cause the releasable portion to fall off. 
         [0009]    The term “surface treating appliance” is intended to have a broad meaning, and includes a wide range of appliances for cleaning or treating a surface in some manner. It includes, inter alia, appliances which apply suction to the surface so as to draw material from it, such as vacuum cleaners (dry, wet and wet/dry), as well as appliances which apply a fluid to a surface, such as polishing/waxing machines, pressure washing machines, ground marking machines and shampooing machines. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly the present invention provides a surface treating appliance comprising a fluid flow path extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a portion of the fluid flow path being housed within a releasable portion of the surface treating appliance, a release means or release device for releasing the releasable portion, and an accidental release prevention means or accidental release device for preventing accidental release of the release device. 
         [0000]    This is advantageous because the accidental release prevention device may help to prevent a user from accidentally knocking or kicking the release device during normal use of the surface treating appliance. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment the surface treating appliance is a vacuum cleaner. 
         [0012]    Preferably the fluid flow path is an airflow path. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment the release device may comprise a catch, for example a quick-release catch or other suitable locking, attaching or snap fit device. The release device may comprise a user-operated interface, for example a button. 
         [0014]    In a particular embodiment the release device may comprise a first part integral with, associated with or located on the releasable portion and a second cooperating part integral with, associated with or located on the remainder of the surface treating appliance. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment the two parts inter-engage to keep the releasable portion in position on the remainder of the surface treating appliance during normal use. The two parts may be disengaged to release the releasable portion from the remainder of the surface treating appliance. In a particular embodiment this may be achieved by a user activating, for example by pressing on, a user-operated interface. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment the accidental release prevention device may comprise one or more projections located adjacent the release device or a part thereof. In a preferred embodiment the accidental release prevention device may be located adjacent the user-operated interface. The one or more projection(s) may comprise one or more raised rib(s), wall(s), point(s), hood(s) or any other suitable raised region(s). 
         [0017]    Preferably the projection(s) is located from 0.25 cm, or 0.5 cm or, 1 cm or 1.5 cm, or 2 cm, or 2.5 cm, or 3 cm, or 3.5 cm to 4 cm, or 4.5 cm, or 5 cm, or 5.5 cm, or 6 cm, or 6.5 cm or 7 cm from the user-operated interface. 
         [0018]    The projection(s) may encircle or form an enclosure around the user-operated interface, for example the projection(s) may be located on all sides of the user-operated interface forming a circle, square, rectangle or other shape around it. In a particular embodiment a single projection may surround the user-operated interface. 
         [0019]    In an alternative embodiment several projections may be located adjacent the user-operated interface. For example, the user-operated interface may have from one, two, three, four or more projections located adjacent to it. 
         [0020]    In a particular embodiment projections may be located on at least two sides of the user-operated interface such that it is flanked by the projections. The projections may comprise a pair of elongate ribs which are preferably arranged parallel to one another. They may be arranged either vertically or horizontally. The ribs may have a level outwardly facing surface or alternatively they may be tapered along at least a part of their length. In a preferred embodiment the outer surface of one or both ribs may have a level portion and one or two sloping portions which may slope towards the remainder of the surface treating appliance. In a particular embodiment one rib slopes towards both ends and has a level portion between the two sloped portions and the other rib has a level surface at one end and slopes towards the remainder of the surface treating appliance at the other end. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment the projections are spaced far enough apart to allow access to the user-operated interface by a user&#39;s fingers, but close enough together to ensure that a users foot cannot accidentally activate the user-operated interface. Preferably the projections are from 1 cm or, 1.5 cm, or 2 cm, or 2.5 cm, or 3 cm, or 3.5 cm to 4 cm, or 4.5 cm, or 5 cm, or 5.5 cm, or 6 cm, or 6.5 cm or 7 cm apart. 
         [0022]    In a particular embodiment the at least one projection, or the outer surface of the projection may project the same distance or further from the remainder of the surface treating appliance than the user-operated interface. Alternatively the at least one projection may project the same distance or further from the remainder of the surface treating appliance than the distance from the remainder of the surface treating appliance that the user-activated interface projects in it&#39;s activated position, for example when it has been pressed by a user. 
         [0023]    The releasable portion may be a simple straight fluid flow path or it may comprise a bend for changing the direction of fluid flow, the bend being housed within the releasable portion. Additionally or alternatively the releasable portion may comprise other components, for example if the surface treating appliance comprises a plurality of alternative fluid flow paths, the releasable portion may further comprise a valve. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment the releasable portion may be arranged to be releasable from the remainder of the surface treating appliance in a rearward direction away from the remainder of the surface treating appliance. However, the releasable portion may be arranged to be releasable from the remainder of the surface treating appliance in any suitable direction. The releasable portion may be attached to the remainder of the surface treating appliance in such a way that when the user-operated interface is activated the releasable portion is released but remains associated with the remainder of the surface treating appliance. For example the releasable portion may remain hingedly attached to the remainder of the surface treating appliance. In an alternative embodiment the releasable portion may completely disassociate from the remainder of the surface treating appliance when the user-operated interface is activated. 
         [0025]    In a particular embodiment the first part of the catch may comprise the at least one projection. In an alternate embodiment the second part of the catch may comprise the at least one projection. Alternatively or additionally at least one projection may be provided on the releasable portion or on the remainder of the surface treating appliance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    A preferred embodiment of a surface treating appliance according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1   a  is a rear perspective view of a prior art vacuum cleaner which has a releasable portion; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0029]      FIG. 2   a  is a rear perspective view of a prior art vacuum cleaner showing the releasable portion removed from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0031]      FIG. 3   a  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention which has a releasable portion; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0033]      FIG. 4   a  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the releasable portion removed from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 4   a;    
           [0035]      FIG. 5   a  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a connector between the releasable portion and the releasing device; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 5   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 5   a    
           [0037]      FIG. 6   a  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention which has a releasable portion; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6   b  is a close up of the releasable portion shown in  FIG. 6   a;    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b  the structure of a prior art vacuum cleaner can be seen. The vacuum cleaner indicated generally by the reference numeral  1  comprises a main body  2 , a user-operable handle  3  and a cleaner head  4 . The cleaner head  4  is pivotably mounted to the lower end of the main body  2 , and serves, in use, to treat a floor surface. The lower, floor-facing side of the cleaner head  4  has an air inlet slot  11 . 
         [0040]    The vacuum cleaner  1  houses a motor and fan for generating a suction airflow (not visible in these drawings). The main body  2  houses separating apparatus  6  for separating dirt, dust and other debris from a dirty airflow drawn into the cleaner  1  by the fan and motor. 
         [0041]    In this prior art cleaner the separating apparatus  6  is cyclonic, in which the dirt and dust is spun from the airflow. The cyclonic separating apparatus  6  comprises two stages of cyclone separation arranged in series with one another. The first stage is a cylindrically-walled chamber  7  and the second stage comprises a set of tapering, substantially frusto-conically shaped chambers  8  arranged in parallel with one another. Airflow is directed tangentially into the upper part of the chamber  7  by a duct  9 . Larger debris and particles are removed and collected in this cyclonic chamber  7 . The airflow then passes through a shroud (not shown) to the set of cyclonic chambers  8 . Finer dust is separated by these chambers  8  and collected in a common collecting region. The second set of separators  8  can be upright, i.e. with their fluid inlets and outlets at the top and their dirt outlets at the bottom, or inverted, i.e. with their fluid inlets and outlets at the bottom and their dirt outlets at the top. The nature of the separating apparatus  6  is not material to the present invention. 
         [0042]    The main body  2  also houses filters (not visible in these drawings) for trapping fine particles in the cleaned airflow. These filters remove any fine particles of dust which have not already been removed from the airflow by the separating apparatus  6 . A first filter, called a pre-motor filter, is provided before the motor and fan. A second filter, called a post-motor filter, is provided after the motor and fan. Where the motor for driving the suction fan has carbon brushes, the post-motor filter also serves to trap any carbon particles emitted by the brushes. Clean air is then expelled to the atmosphere. 
         [0043]    The cleaner has two different airflow paths  12 ,  13  which direct the air either from the air inlet slot  11  during floor cleaning use or from the end of the wand  14  during above floor cleaning. A change over valve  15  is provided to automatically change between the two airflow paths  12 ,  13  in response to movement of the vacuum cleaner  1  between its upright position as shown in  FIG. 1   a  and an inclined position. 
         [0044]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1  the airflow paths  12 ,  13  comprise bends. Whenever a vacuum cleaner incorporates a bend in the airflow path  12 ,  13 , there is an increased risk of blockages occurring. 
         [0045]    In order to help an end user to clear blockages in the airflow paths  12 ,  13  prior art vacuum cleaners  1  have been provided with releasable portions  16 ,  160 . Releasable portion  16  can be seen in its released configuration in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.  Removal of these releasable portions  16 ,  160  gives the user of the vacuum cleaner  1  easy access to the airflow paths  12 ,  13  which allows any blockages to be quickly and easily cleared. 
         [0046]    It can be seen that the releasable portion  16  can be retained in an operational position with respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  by a quick release mechanism  17 . 
         [0000]    The quick release mechanism  17  comprises a user-operated interface, for example a button  18 . The quick release mechanism  17  also has a first part  19  located on the releasable portion  16  and a second cooperating part  20  located on the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1 . The two parts  19 ,  20  inter-engage to keep the releasable portion  16  in position on the vacuum cleaner  1  during normal use, but can be disengaged quickly by a user pressing on the button  18  and sliding the two parts  19 , 20  out of engagement with each other. 
         [0047]    It can be seen in  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b  that the button  18  stands proud of the features adjacent to it and it is therefore prone to being knocked or kicked by accident. This is especially true during normal use of the cleaner  1  due to the location of the button  18  near the base of the cleaner  1 . When the button  18  is kicked the releasable potion  16  may be released from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  by accident. 
         [0048]    Accordingly the present invention aims to help with this problem. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b  the vacuum cleaner  1  of the present invention shares many features with the vacuum cleaner described with reference to  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b  and the same numbers will be used to donate similar features. 
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b  it can be seen that the vacuum cleaner  1  of the present invention further comprises an accidental release prevention device  24  in the form of a pair of projecting ribs positioned one on either side of the user-operable button  18 . These ribs  24  help to prevent accidental activation of the user-operable button  18 . 
         [0050]    The ribs  24  are elongate and are preferably parallel to one another. They are vertically arranged in the Figures but may be arranged horizontally or at any suitable angle. The ribs  24  have a level surface  26  opposite their attachment surface. The outer surface of one or both ribs  24  may also comprise one or more sloping portions  30  which slope towards the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b,  one of the ribs  24  slope towards both ends from a level surface  26  in the middle and the other rib  24  slopes towards one end from a level surface  26 . 
         [0051]    In a preferred embodiment the ribs  24  are spaced far enough apart to allow access to the button  18  by a user&#39;s fingers, but close enough together to ensure that a users foot or other unintended part of the body cannot accidentally activate the button  18 . Preferably the ribs  24  are from 1 cm or, 1.5 cm, or 2 cm, or 2.5 cm, or 3 cm, or 3.5 cm to 4 cm, or 4.5 cm, or 5 cm, or 5.5 cm, or 6 cm, or 6.5 cm or 7 cm apart. 
         [0052]    The outer surface of at a least a portion of the ribs  24  preferably projects the same distance or further from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  than the button  18 . Alternatively at least a portion of the ribs  24  may project the same distance or further from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  than the distance from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  that the button  18  has to be pressed before the quick release mechanism  17  is activated and the releasable portion  16  can be released from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1 . If during use of the vacuum cleaner  1  a user accidentally kicks the area were the button  18  is located, the user&#39;s foot will hit the ribs  24  and not the button  18 . 
         [0053]    In  FIGS. 3   a  to  5   b  it can be seen that the releasable portion  16  can be retained in an operational position with respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner  1  by the quick release mechanism  17 . The quick release mechanism  17  comprises the button  18 , a first part  19  and a second cooperating part  20 . The two parts  19 ,  20  inter-engage to keep the releasable portion  16  in position on the vacuum cleaner  1  during normal use, but can be disengaged quickly by a user pressing on the button  18 . 
         [0054]    In  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  it can be seen that the first part  19  is removably attachable to a connector  32  on the removable portion  16  for ease of manufacture. The first part  19  may be releasably attachable to the second cooperating part  20  by any suitable device. In a preferred embodiment in order to locate the releasable portion onto the remainder of the vacuum cleaner a user may slide the first part  19  onto runners  34  (one can be seen in  FIG. 4   b ) of the second part  20  until it snaps into a locking engagement. 
         [0055]    In order to release the releasable portion  16  a user can press the button  18  which is arranged to release the mechanism which secures the first part  19  into the second part  20 . The first part  19  can then be slid out of engagement with the second part  20  and the releasable portion is then free and can be inspected for blockages. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show an alternative embodiment where ribs  24 ′ are positioned one on either side of the user-operable button  18 ′ to protect the removable portion  160  from accidental release. 
         [0057]    Appropriate modifications and alternative arrangements will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art.