Abstract:
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a housing having a dirt chamber closable by a cover, into which a suction socket extends and in which a filter bag is insertable, with a inlet opening of the filter bag being connectable to the suction socket. In order to design the vacuum cleaner so that it allows simple and hygienic handling when removing the filter bag from the dirt chamber it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the suction socket be held on the housing so as to be displaceable back and forth between a position in which it extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag and a position in which it releases the inlet opening.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP2003/013533 filed on Dec. 2, 2003.  
         [0002]     The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in international application number PCT/EP2003/013533 of Dec. 2, 2003 and German application number 103 30 910.1 of Jul. 7, 2003, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having the features of the preamble of patent claim  1 .  
         [0004]     Vacuum cleaners with a dirt chamber in which a filter bag is insertable are known, for example, from DE 37 14 780 A1. This publication discloses a vacuum cleaner with a two-part housing. One housing part defining the dirt chamber is articulatedly connected to a further housing part, and between the two housing parts there is arranged an intermediate support on which the suction socket is formed. To remove the filter bag from the dirt chamber it is necessary to first pivot the housing part defining the dirt chamber into a release position, and, subsequently, the intermediate support articulatedly connected to the housing must also be pivoted, so that the suction socket releases the inlet opening of the filter bag.  
         [0005]     A vacuum cleaner is known from DE 40 40 099 A1, wherein the suction socket is formed on the housing, and the cover comprises a further socket and a holding device for the filter bag. The filter bag may be attached to the cover in such a way that by placing the cover on the housing, the inlet opening and the further socket are flush with the suction socket, with the suction socket extending into the further socket and the latter, in turn, into the inlet opening.  
         [0006]     A vacuum cleaner design is known from DE 30 27 913 A1, wherein the suction socket is secured to the cover, and the suction socket can be transferred to a position extending into the inlet opening of the filter bag by closing the cover.  
         [0007]     A vacuum cleaner is known from utility model DE 94 19 216 U1, wherein the suction socket must be separated from the housing in order to be able to insert the filter bag into the dirt chamber. The suction socket may be subsequently connected to the housing, and it then extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag. The filter bag may comprise a closing device for closing the inlet opening. The dirt-filled filter bag can, therefore, be closed before removal from the dirt chamber, so that it is ensured that no dirt can escape when removing it. To do so, it is, however, first necessary to remove the suction socket from the housing.  
         [0008]     A vacuum cleaner is known from published European patent application EP 0 677 270 A1, wherein there are formed on the suction socket two diametrically opposed guide pins which are each guided in an axially aligned guide slot. One of the two guide slots extends through a housing wall of the vacuum cleaner and carries at its free end a handle by means of which the user may move the suction socket back and forth in axial direction.  
         [0009]     The object of the present invention is to further develop a vacuum cleaner of the kind mentioned at the outset so that it allows simple and hygienic handling when removing the filter bag from the dirt chamber.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     This object is accomplished with a vacuum cleaner of the generic kind, in accordance with the invention, in that the suction socket is coupled by means of a guide mechanism with a pivot lever, and the suction socket is displaceable back and forth by pivoting the pivot lever.  
         [0011]     The design according to the invention allows simple handling of the vacuum cleaner when inserting and removing a filter bag. To insert a filter bag, it is merely necessary to move the suction socket into its releasing position. For this purpose, the user can pivot the pivot lever back and forth between a first pivotal position corresponding to the releasing position of the suction socket and a second pivotal position corresponding to the position in which the suction socket extends into the inlet opening, with the pivotal movement of the pivot lever being transferred into a translatory movement of the suction socket by means of the guide mechanism. The filter bag can then be inserted into the dirt chamber. The filter bag may comprise a closing device, and the inlet opening may be released after insertion of the filter bag into the dirt chamber. The suction socket can then be moved into its position in which it extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag by pivoting the pivot lever. If a filter bag filled with dirt is to be removed from the dirt chamber, the suction socket can be moved into its releasing position again by pivoting the pivot lever, so that the filter bag is then readily removable from the dirt chamber, with a particularly hygienic handling being enabled by the inlet opening of the filter bag being closed by the closing device held on the filter bag before it is removed from the dirt chamber.  
         [0012]     Particularly easy handling of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is achievable in a preferred embodiment by a connecting socket being mounted on the housing for connection of a suction hose which is in flow connection with the suction socket via the connecting socket. The connecting socket may be formed on the housing. Alternatively, it may be provided that the connecting socket is releasably connectable to the housing. The connecting socket establishes a flow connection between the suction socket and a suction hose of the vacuum cleaner, with the suction socket being held on the housing so as to be displaceable between its releasing position and its position in which it extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag, while it is not necessary to move the connecting socket and the suction hose held on it relative to the housing in order to exchange the filter bag.  
         [0013]     The guide mechanism is expediently formed by a guideway and guide pin connection. The guideway and guide pin connection may comprise a slide guideway in which a guide pin is displaceably mounted, and by generating a relative movement between the slide guideway and the guide pin it is possible to transfer the pivotal movement of the pivot lever into a translatory movement of the suction socket.  
         [0014]     The guideway and guide pin connection preferably comprises a rotary sleeve which is coupled with the pivot lever and surrounds the suction socket. The rotary sleeve is held on the housing for rotation about its longitudinal axis and comprises a slide guideway in which a guide pin arranged on the suction socket is displaceably held. By pivoting the pivot lever, the rotary sleeve can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, which results in a relative movement between the slide guideway and the guide pin, so that the suction socket can be displaced together with the guide pin arranged on it.  
         [0015]     The pivot lever is preferably formed on the rotary sleeve. This enables particularly cost-effective manufacture.  
         [0016]     In order to avoid pressure losses, it is advantageous for a sealing element to be arranged between the rotary sleeve and the suction socket, as air is thereby prevented in a constructionally simple way from flowing through a leak into the suction socket.  
         [0017]     It has proven expedient for the sealing element to be configured as a sealing ring, preferably an O-ring, surrounding the suction socket in the circumferential direction.  
         [0018]     A particularly trouble-free configuration of the vacuum cleaner is achievable by the sealing element being immovably held on the suction socket. Consequently, the sealing element is displaceable back and forth together with the suction socket.  
         [0019]     To prevent the displaceable suction socket from becoming jammed, it is expedient for a guide part to be arranged on the housing and for the end region of the suction socket that faces away from the filter bag to rest slidingly at least in areas thereof against the guide part. Use of the guide part prevents jamming of the suction socket in a constructionally simple way.  
         [0020]     It is of advantage for the guide part to be formed on the housing as assembly of the vacuum cleaner can thereby be simplified.  
         [0021]     In a preferred embodiment, the guide part comprises a guide sleeve into which the end region of the suction socket facing away from the filter bag extends. It has been found that an extremely low susceptibility to failure of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is achievable by use of the guide sleeve.  
         [0022]     In an advantageous embodiment, a sealing element which prevents air from entering the suction socket through a leak is arranged between the guide sleeve and the suction socket. It may be provided that the sealing element is configured as a sealing ring which can roll on the outer side of the suction socket and the inner side of the guide sleeve. Owing to the rollability of the sealing ring, frictional forces are significantly reduced between the suction socket and the guide sleeve, so that displacement of the suction socket is possible with a very low amount of force and nevertheless air is reliably prevented from flowing in through a leak into the suction socket.  
         [0023]     In a particularly preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention, the guide part comprises a guide socket which extends into the end of the suction socket that faces away from the filter bag. The guide socket forms part of the flow connection between the suction socket and the suction hose which is connectable to the connecting socket, and it is expedient for the guide socket to additionally form a guide for the suction socket. It may, for example, be provided that the suction socket lies slidingly against the outer side of the guide socket.  
         [0024]     The guide socket is preferably integrally connected to the guide sleeve. It is particularly advantageous for the guide socket, the guide sleeve and the housing to form a one-piece plastic molded part.  
         [0025]     It is expedient for the guide socket and the guide sleeve to define between them an annular space into which the end region of the suction socket facing away from the filter bag extends.  
         [0026]     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pivot lever is located inside the dirt chamber and is coverable by the cover when it is in its pivotal position corresponding to the position in which the suction socket extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag. The pivot lever is, therefore, only accessible to a user after removal of the cover. This enables quasi intuitive operation of the vacuum cleaner as the user will normally remove the cover when a dirt-filled filter bag is to be exchanged. After removal of the cover, the user will recognize the pivot lever which is preferably arranged in the area of the inlet opening of the filter bag and can then readily pivot it so that the suction socket assumes its position in which it releases the inlet opening of the filter bag and in which the filter bag can be removed from the dirt chamber.  
         [0027]     It is of particular advantage if the pivot lever blocks placement of the cover on the dirt chamber in its pivotal position corresponding to the position in which the suction socket releases the inlet opening of the filter bag. This reduces the risk that after removal of a filter bag, the user will place the cover on the dirt chamber again without having inserted a new filter bag in the dirt chamber. The risk that the vacuum cleaner will be operated without a filter bag being inserted in the dirt chamber is thereby reduced.  
         [0028]     Erroneous placement of the cover on the dirt chamber can be avoided in a constructionally simple way by the free end region of the pivot lever protruding outwards over the dirt chamber when the pivot lever assumes its pivotal position corresponding to the releasing position of the suction socket. In this position, the outwardly protruding pivot lever blocks placement of the cover on the dirt chamber. The user is thereby reminded that before putting the cover on the dirt chamber he should first insert a filter bag into the dirt chamber so as to subsequently move the suction socket into its position in which it extends into the inlet opening of the filter bag by pivoting the pivot lever into the interior of the dirt chamber.  
         [0029]     It is particularly advantageous if the pivot lever is automatically lockable in its pivotal position corresponding to the releasing position of the suction socket by removal of the filter bag from the dirt chamber. Consequently, after removal of a filter bag, unintentional pivoting of the pivot lever so as to enable placement of the cover on the dirt chamber is not possible, it first being necessary to unlock the pivot lever.  
         [0030]     It may, for example, be provided that the pivot lever is lockable by means of a lock biased elastically into a locking position, with the lock being transferable to an unlocking position against the action of an elastic restoring force by inserting a filter bag into the dirt chamber. The elastically biased lock thus ensures in a constructionally simple way that the pivot lever will be locked upon removing a filter bag from the dirt chamber, and by inserting a filter bag into the dirt chamber, the locking will be automatically released by the lock being transferred to an unlocking position against the action of its elastic restoring force.  
         [0031]     It is expedient for the lock to be configured as a leaf spring which cooperates with a detent element of the pivot lever. The detent element may, for example, be configured as a radially outwardly protruding detent projection formed on the pivot lever or on the suction socket.  
         [0032]     The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings to explain the invention in greater detail. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective, partly broken open representation of an upper end portion of the vacuum cleaner from  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view in the direction of arrow A from  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of the upper end portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3  prior to insertion of a filter bag; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 5  after insertion of a filter bag. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]     The drawings show schematically a vacuum cleaner, generally designated by reference numeral  10 , which is designed as a so-called upright vacuum cleaner and comprises a two-part housing  12  with a housing upper part  13  and a housing lower part  14 . Adjoining the housing upper part  13  is a shaft  16  carrying a handle  17  at its free end. The housing lower part  14  accommodates in the usual manner, which is, therefore, not shown in the drawings, an electric motor and a suction unit and defines in combination with the housing upper part  13  a dirt chamber  19 , which is closable by a cover  20 . A recessed grip  21 , which facilitates placement and removal of the cover  20  for the user, is formed in the cover  20 . A grip handle  23  is formed on the upper side of the housing upper part  13 .  
         [0040]     The vacuum cleaner  10  comprises a conventional suction nozzle  25 , which is known per se and is, therefore, shown only schematically in the drawings, for cleaning a floor surface. Adjoining the suction nozzle  25  in suction flow direction is a suction channel  26 , which extends within the housing  12  and is connected to a suction pipe  28  projecting over the housing upper part  13 . A suction hose  30  is connected to the free end of the suction pipe  28 . The end of the suction hose  30  remote from the suction pipe  28  is in flow connection with a connecting socket  32  held in a releasably connectable manner on the upper side of the housing upper part  13 . This is particularly clear from  FIG. 2 .  
         [0041]     As will be apparent from  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a guide part  34  is formed on the housing upper part  13  in the area of the connecting socket  32 . The guide part  34  comprises a guide sleeve  36  and a guide socket  38  arranged coaxially with and surrounded by the guide sleeve  36 , which between them define an annular space  40 .  
         [0042]     The guide socket  38  extends into a suction socket  42 , whose lower end region  43  facing away from the guide socket  38  extends into the dirt chamber  19 , while its upper end region  44  facing the guide socket  38  extends into the annular space  40 . The upper end region  44  is surrounded by a sealing ring  46  arranged between the suction socket  42  and the guide sleeve  36 . When the suction socket  42  is displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis  60 , as will be explained hereinbelow, the sealing ring  46  can roll on both the outer side of the suction socket  42  and the inner side of the guide sleeve  36 .  
         [0043]     As will be particularly clear from  FIG. 2 , a filter bag  47 , known per se, and, therefore, shown only in dot-and-dash lines in the drawings, may be inserted into the dirt chamber  19 . The filter bag  47  comprises a filler opening  49 , which may be closed by a closing device  50 , known per se, and, therefore, likewise shown only schematically in the drawings. In the area of the filler opening  49 , the filter bag  47  carries via holding means, known per se, and, therefore, not shown in the drawings for the sake of better clarity, a holding flange  52 . For attachment of the filter bag  47  within the dirt chamber  19 , the dirt chamber  19  comprises two holding strips  54 ,  56  aligned in parallel with each other, which engage under the holding flange  52  of the filter bag  47 , so that the filter bag  47  is fixable within the dirt chamber  19 .  
         [0044]     The dirt chamber  19  may be sucked out in the usual manner by means of the above-mentioned suction unit, i.e., by means of the stream of suction air provided by the suction unit, dirt can be conveyed from the suction nozzle  25  via the suction channel  26 , the suction pipe  28  and the suction hose  30  through the suction socket  42  into the filter bag  47 .  
         [0045]     In its central portion between the lower and upper end regions  43  and  44 , the suction socket  42  is surrounded by a rotary sleeve  58 , which is aligned coaxially with the suction socket  42  and is mounted in the housing upper part  13  for rotation about the longitudinal axis  60 . At is lower end region extending into the dirt chamber  19 , the rotary sleeve  58  carries a radially protruding pivot lever  61 , and in its upper end region facing the guide part  34 , the rotary sleeve  58  comprises two diametrically opposed, helical guide grooves  62 ,  63 .  
         [0046]     Extending through each of the guide grooves  62 ,  63  is a guide pin  64  which is formed on the suction socket  42  and protrudes radially outwardly from the latter. Adjoining each of the guide pins  64  in circumferential direction of the suction socket  42  is a guide lug  66 ,  67  formed in axial direction on the guide sleeve  36 . The guide lugs  66 ,  67  define between them an axially aligned guide channel  69 . The guide channel  69  forms an axially aligned guide for the guide pin  64 . Arranged between the suction socket  42  and the rotary sleeve  58  at the level of the lower end region of the rotary sleeve  58  is a sealing ring  59 , which is fixed to the outer side of the suction socket  42 .  
         [0047]     The helical guide groove  62  forms in combination with the guide pin  64  a guideway and guide pin connection. When the pivot lever  61  is pivoted, the rotary sleeve  58  is turned about the longitudinal axis  60 , and the guide pin  64  is moved back and forth owing to the relative movement of the guide groove  62  in axial direction, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the guide channel  69 . A pivotal movement of the pivot lever  61  thus results in a translatory displacement of the suction socket  42  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  60 .  
         [0048]     By pivoting the pivot lever  61  the suction socket can be moved back and forth between a front position in which it extends into the filler opening  49  of the filter bag  47  and a rear position in which it releases the filler opening  49 .  
         [0049]     As will be apparent, in particular, from  FIGS. 3, 5  and  6 , a detent projection  71  is formed on the rotary sleeve  58  substantially diametrically opposed to the pivot lever  61 . Upon pivoting the pivot lever  61  into the pivotal position corresponding to the releasing position of the suction socket  42 , the detent projection  71  can be made to engage a stop  73  which delimits the pivotal movement of the pivot lever  61 . Arranged at a distance from the stop  73  inside the dirt chamber  19  is a lock in the form of a leaf spring  75  which is biased in the direction of the lower end region  44  of the suction socket  42 . The leaf spring  75  is aligned at an incline to the detent projection  71 , so that upon pivoting the pivot lever  61 , the leaf spring  75  can be bent back elastically by the detent projection  71  against its elastic restoring force parallel to the longitudinal axis  60  to such an extent that the detent projection  71  can move past the leaf spring  75 . The detent projection  71  then comes to rest against the stop  73  and releases the leaf spring  75 . If there is no filter bag  47  placed in the dirt chamber  19 , the leaf spring  75  assumes a locking position in which the detent projection  71  resting against the stop  73  is locked between the stop  73  and the leaf spring  75 . This will be particularly clear from  FIG. 3 . If the detent projection  71  is to be released, it is necessary to insert a filter bag  47  into the dirt chamber  19 , and the holding flange  52 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , transfers the leaf spring  75  against its elastic restoring force to its unlocking position in which the detent projection  71  is able to move past the leaf spring  75 . With a view to better clarity, only the holding flange  52  of the filter bag  47  inserted in the dirt chamber  19  is shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0050]     From the foregoing it will be clear that the suction socket  42  can be moved back and forth in the direction of the longitudinal axis  60  by pivoting the pivot lever  61 . To exchange a filter bag  47 , all that is required is to pivot the pivot lever  61  so far in the clockwise direction, based on the view shown in  FIG. 3 , that the detent projection  71  comes to rest against the stop  73 . By pivoting the pivot lever  61 , the suction socket  42  can be displaced upwards into its position releasing the filler opening  49  of the filter bag  47 . The filter bag  47  is now readily removable from the dirt chamber  19 , and the filler opening  49  is optionally closable by the closing device  50 , so that the user may remove the filter bag  47  without any risk of dirt escaping from the filter bag  47 . When the filter bag  47  is removed from the dirt chamber  19 , the holding flange  52  releases the leaf spring  75 , so that the latter transfers automatically owing to its elastic restoring force to its locking position in which it locks the detent projection  71  resting against the stop  73  and thus also the pivot lever  61 .  
         [0051]     As will be particularly clear from  FIG. 3 , in its locked pivotal position corresponding to the releasing position of the suction socket  42 , the pivot lever  61  protrudes outwards over the outer circumference of the dirt chamber  19 . Consequently, the cover  20  is unable to be placed on the dirt chamber  19 . The dirt chamber  19  can only be closed by the cover  20  after the pivot lever  61  has been pivoted back in the counter-clockwise direction, based on  FIG. 3 , into the interior of the dirt chamber  19 . To do so, it is, however, necessary to release the locking of the detent projection  71  by insertion of a new filter bag  47  by the leaf spring  75  being transferred by the holding flange  52  of the filter bag  47  into its unlocking position. After inserting a new filter bag  47 , the pivot lever  61  can, therefore, be pivoted back, and the cover  20  can be subsequently placed on the dirt chamber  19 , so that the vacuum cleaner  10  can be put into operation again.