Abstract:
An upright vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface includes an upper body with a dust collection container received therein and a base unit with a front portion with respect to the travel direction of the vacuum cleaner. At least one electrical load is disposed in the front portion of the base unit. A carriage is provided to move the base unit on the surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a tilting joint operable to provide relative tilting between the upper body and the base unit about a tilting axis that is horizontal when the vacuum cleaner is in a position of use. At least one cable is routed between the upper body and the at least one electrical load. A plurality of cable ducts are disposed in the vicinity of the tilting axis and configured to receive the at least one cable.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2007 040 953.4, filed Aug. 30, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner of the upright type, including an upper body containing a dust collection container, a base unit containing electrical loads arranged in the front portion thereof, as viewed in the direction of travel, a carriage permitting said base unit to move on the surface to be cleaned, cables routed between the upper body and the electrical loads in the front portion of the base unit, and a tilting joint enabling the upper body and the base unit to be tilted relative to each other about an axis extending horizontally in a position of use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The following is a description of three types of vacuum cleaners which differ in design and operation. All of them have, as common features, a motor-driven fan, a dust collection chamber, and one or more floor treatment devices which are each adapted for a particular purpose. 
     The canister vacuum cleaner has a housing which can be moved on the floor to be cleaned on wheels and/or runners. The housing contains the motor/fan unit and the dust collection container. The floor treatment device, here referred to as floor nozzle, is connected to the dust collection chamber via a suction hose, and possibly a suction wand connected therebetween. During vacuuming, the housing is moved to the desired position by pulling on the suction wand. 
     In a stick vacuum cleaner, the motor/fan unit and the dust collection container are also disposed in a housing. A suction wand extends from one end of the housing, connecting the floor nozzle to the dust collection container, and a handle used to maneuver the housing to the desired position extends from the other end. 
     Uprights do not have as strictly divided a configuration as the two aforementioned types. One feature of an upright is a movable base unit which carries an upper body containing a large dust collection container. The two parts may be tiltable relative to each other and can usually be locked in a parked position in which the upper body is nearly upright when the base unit is located on a horizontal floor in a position of use. In this position, the upright stands unsupported. During vacuuming, the above-described locked engagement is released, and the upper body is tilted through a certain angle to an operating position. The tilt angle depends on the height of the user and on the particular purpose of use. A handle is provided on the upper body for maneuvering the entire appliance. The motor/fan unit may be mounted at different locations. WO 2007/008770 A2 describes, for example, securing the fan directly to the upper body. From WO 2004/014209 A1 and EP 0 708 613 A1, the fan can be configured as a separate unit. It is also known that the motor/fan unit can be accommodated in the base unit. 
     WO 2004/014209 A1 describes that the brush motor is mounted in the front portion of the base unit (as viewed in the direction of travel). The front portion may also contain sensors and lamps for illuminating the travel path. These electrical loads are turned on using switches located on the upper body or on the handle. The power cord may also be routed into the upper body. For this reason, it is necessary to route cables from the upper body to the front portion of the base unit. In the region of the tilting joint, these cables are subject to high mechanical stresses. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide an upright vacuum cleaner in which the electrical cables are protected from excessive stress. 
     The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface. The vacuum cleaner includes an upper body with a dust collection container received therein and a base unit with a front portion with respect to the travel direction of the vacuum cleaner. At least one electrical load is disposed in the front portion of the base unit. A carriage is provided that is configured to move the base unit on the surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a tilting joint operable to provide relative tilting between the upper body and the base unit about a tilting axis that is horizontal when the vacuum cleaner is in a position of use. At least one cable is routed between the upper body and the at least one electrical load. A plurality of cable ducts are disposed in the vicinity of the tilting axis and configured to receive the at least one cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below and is shown in a schematic way in the drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 through 6  show various overall views of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded view showing the base unit of the vacuum cleaner; 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view illustrating the upper body of the vacuum cleaner; 
         FIG. 9  shows an enlarged portion of the base unit in the region of the tilting joint with the housing insert removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In an embodiment, the present invention includes arranging the cables in cable ducts around the axis of the tilting joint. This prevents the cables from rubbing against sharp edges during tilting movements, thereby preventing damage to the cable insulation or cable breakage. This also eliminates the risk of pinching. 
     The upright vacuum cleaner shown in different views in  FIGS. 1 through 6  (hereinafter abbreviated as upright  1 ) includes a base unit  2 , an upper body  3 , and a joint disposed therebetween, which will be described in greater detail further on in this specification. 
     Upright  1  can be brought from an upright position (see  FIGS. 1 through 3 ), in which it can be locked and stand unsupported, to a tilted position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), or even to a fully flat position ( FIG. 6 ), after the locked engagement has been released. To this end, base unit  2  and upper body  3  are connected in such a manner that they can be tilted relative to each other about an axis X extending horizontally in a position of use (see  FIG. 5 ). This pivoting movement is made possible by a joint which is hereinafter referred to as a “tilting joint”. In the tilted position, the upright can be rotated about an axis Y, as is also shown in  FIG. 5 . The user can maneuver base unit  2  through curves by rotating upper body  3  about the aforesaid axis using handle  4  while simultaneously pulling or pushing the upright. The corresponding joint is hereinafter referred to as a “swivel joint”. 
     Base unit  2 , shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 7 , has a housing including a housing insert  5 , a lower rear housing part  6 , a lower front housing part  7 , a bumper strip  8 , and a cover part  9 . Housing insert  5  functions as a support for a number of electrical and mechanical components. The aforementioned housing parts are also attached thereto. The housing insert, lower rear housing part  6 , and a motor chamber seal  10  placed therebetween, together form a chamber for receiving a motor/fan unit  11  for creating the partial vacuum required for vacuuming. A sealing ring  13  is provided around fan inlet  12  on the suction side, said sealing ring also bearing against the two aforementioned housing parts  5  and  6 . Rubber buffers  14  are inserted on the opposite side. For deep cleaning of carpets, a brush roller  17  extends into suction mouth  15 , an opening in lower front housing part  7  and bottom plate  16 , which is attached thereto, said brush roller being resiliently mounted on two lateral pivoting arms  18  and  19  and being driven by a brush motor  20  via a belt  21 . A two-part belt cover is provided by parts  22  and  23 . Brush motor  20  is also attached to housing insert  5 , and pivoting arms  18  and  19  are pivotably secured thereto. The carriage of the upright is formed by front casters  24  and  25  and rear wheels  26  and  27  and is supported by the two lower housing parts  6  and  7 . Rear wheels  26  and  27  are connected by an axle  28  for purposes of stability, and are adjustable in position by means of a wheel mechanism  29  and  30 , respectively. A circuit board  31  carrying LEDs  32  is secured to housing insert  5  to illuminate the travel path and is covered at the front by a transparent plate  33 . Transparent plate  33  is held in a cut-out  34  in bumper strip  8 . 
     The air generated by the motor/fan unit  11  is discharged into the environment through an opening  35  in housing insert  5  and a corresponding opening  36  in cover part  9 . A filter frame  37  is inserted into opening  36  to hold an exhaust filter for removing ultrafine particles from the exhaust air. Filter frame  37  is covered by a grating holder  38  and a grating  39  within cover part  9 , from where it can be replaced. 
     Both the tilting joint and the swivel joint between base unit  2  and upper body  3 , which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, are provided by a rigid, yoke-shaped duct member. This member also contains portions of the air passageway from suction mouth  15  to upper body  3 , and the air passageway from upper body  3  to the exhaust port (openings  35  and  36 ). This member is hereinafter referred to as yoke  40 . It is formed by two plastic parts, an upper shell  41  and a lower shell  42 , which are welded together. In order to create the tilting joint, the two ends  43  (right) and  44  (left) of yoke  40  are pivotably mounted in openings  45  and  46  provided for this purpose, and are surrounded by metal bearing sleeves  47  and  48 , respectively, in order to avoid wear. Yoke end  44 , which is on the left side as viewed in the direction of travel, is hollow and is coupled to fan inlet  12  via a seal  49 . A trunnion  50  is integrally formed with yoke end  43 , which is on the right side as viewed in the direction of travel. Moreover, the right yoke end has an opening  51  which is connected by a flexible tube  52  to suction mouth  15 . In order to prevent the interior of base unit  2  from becoming visible when tilting the upper body  3 , the connecting portion between the two yoke ends  43  and  44  (hereinafter referred to as bridge portion  53 ) is enclosed by a front cover  54  and a rear cover  55 , which are provided on base unit  2  and are capable of following the swivel motion of yoke  40 . The gap between the front and rear covers and housing insert  5  is bridged by covering members  56  and  57 . The first  58  of two cable ducts  58  and  59  is disposed on left yoke end  44 . Furthermore, yoke ends  43  and  44  carry toothed segments  60  and  61 , which cooperate with wheel mechanisms  29  and  30 . A covering cap  62  for a connecting cable is secured to bridge portion  53 . To enable the upright to be locked in the upright position ( FIGS. 1 through 3 ), a foot pedal  63  is mounted on housing insert  5  which, in this position, engages with left yoke end  44 , thereby preventing yoke  40  from swiveling. The locked position can be released by depressing pedal  63 . Moreover, in the locked position, swivel motion is prevented by two spring-mounted pins  64  and  65 . In the region of bridge portion  53 , the air passages provided by yoke ends  43  and  44  are combined into a first section  66  of a coaxial conduit. 
       FIG. 8  shows upper body  3 , also in an exploded view. The load-bearing part of upper body  3  is a rear wall  67 . The aforesaid rear wall forms the rear portion of a dust chamber  68 , which in turn receives a dust collection container in the form of a filter bag. A seal  69  surrounds the edge of dust chamber  68 , and a covering strip  70  for cables is attached at the side. A hinge bearing  71  is secured to rear wall  67  in the lower portion thereof. Dust chamber  68  is closed at the front by an upper housing part  72  which is pivoted to hinge bearing  71  by hinges  73  and torsion springs  74 . Upper housing part  72  carries a locking device  75 , a dust bag holder  76 , and a filter replacement indicator  77  and, in addition, serves to cover hinge bearing  71 . In the upper portion, rear wall  67  carries the electronics  78  of the upright, which are completely arranged on a holder  79  and can be installed as a pre-tested subassembly. A lever  81  for turning off brush motor  20  is mounted to the holder via a torsion spring  80 . In addition, said holder is used to hold handle tube  82  and appliance handle  4 . Electronics  78  are covered by a cap  84 , which also serves for attachment of various controls and indicators and accessories thereof (transparent cover  85 , rotary knob  86 ). 
     An air path system allows dirt-laden air to be optionally sucked in either through the suction mouth in the base unit or through a telescoping wand to which may be attached vacuum attachments such as a crevice tool, a dusting brush, an upholstery tool, etc. To this end, the suction air is directed from suction mouth  15  through flexible tube  52  and right yoke end  43 , and further through the inner tube of first section  66  of the coaxial conduit in bridge portion  53  into the inner tube of a second section  87  of the coaxial conduit. This section  87  is continued in rear wall  67 , where it is divided into two separate conduits. The air path continues through a suction duct member  88  into an elbow  89 . A telescoping wand  90  is loosely, and therefore removably, inserted into elbow  89 . The aforesaid telescoping wand merges into a wand handle  91  and further into a flexible suction hose  92 . Suction hose  92  is held in a receiving structure  93  provided for this purpose, as can be seen also in  FIG. 3 . The air passes through a swivel elbow  94  into a duct  83  (see  FIG. 10 ) which extends along the entire length of rear wall  67 . Duct  83  is defined by rear wall  67  itself and an air duct member  95  placed thereon. A downstream, elbow-shaped duct member  96 , which is formed by rear wall  67  and a portion of electronics holder  79 , directs the dirt-laden suction air into the region of dust bag holder  76 , and there into a dust bag. Once the suction air has passed through the dust bag in the dust chamber and been cleaned of dust therein, it passes through a motor protection filter (the figure shows only the frame  97  for holding the filter) and into the outer annulus of second section  87  of the coaxial conduit, and from there through first section  66  and left yoke end  44  to motor/fan unit  11 . 
     The lower portion of  FIG. 8  further shows the components used for attaching and rotatably supporting upper body  3  on yoke  40 . First section  66  of the coaxial conduit is surrounded by a metal ring  98  which is enclosed by injection-molded material and projects beyond the outside diameter of said section  66 , and which is held around its circumference in two bearing shells  99  and  100 . Bearing shells  99  and  100  are connected to upper body  3 . Accordingly, metal ring  98  and bearing shells  99  and  100  together form the swivel joint of upright  1 . When joining upper body  3  and yoke  40 , the two sections  66  and  87  of the coaxial conduit are joined together with a seal  101  interposed therebetween. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates, in an enlarged view, the routing of cables  102  leading from the upper body to brush motor  20  and to the circuit board carrying the LEDs. The further routing of the cables is not essential to the present invention and is therefore not shown in greater detail. Cables  102  are first routed over left yoke end  44 , where they are fixed by first cable cover  581 , which is snapped onto the left yoke end, thereby forming a first closed cable duct  58 . After a short free path  102 . 1  in axis X (see  FIG. 5 ) of the tilting joint, cables  102  are further run in a separate second cable duct  59 , which also has a closed configuration. At a point outside the range of influence of the tilting joint, the cables emerge from duct  59  and run freely to brush motor  20  and to circuit board  31 . 
     The present invention has been described herein based on one or more exemplary embodiments, but is not limited thereto. Reference should be had to the appended claims.