Source: http://www.patentsencyclopedia.com/app/20130031732
Timestamp: 2017-12-11 21:41:17
Document Index: 777837500

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 22', 'art 24', 'art 22', 'art 24', 'art 22', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 24', 'art 121', 'art 122', 'art 121']

CLEANING APPLIANCE - Patent application
Patent application title: CLEANING APPLIANCE
Inventors: Stefan Hess (Leutenbach, DE) Alfred Karcher Gmbh & Co. Kg (Winnenden, DE) Denis Dammkohler (Backnang, DE)
Assignees: Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co., KG
USPC Class: 15 4
Class name: Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning machines combined
Patent application number: 20130031732
A cleaning appliance is provided having a housing which has a placement surface for setting down a container, and having travel wheels for moving the cleaning appliance. To improve the cleaning appliance in such a way that a container may be easily fixed to the placement surface, it is proposed that at least one retaining element which protrudes from the placement surface is situated at a first edge of the placement surface, the retaining element having, on its front face that faces away from the placement surface, a concave receptacle for a carrying handle which is hinged on a side of the container that is set down on the placement surface.
1. A cleaning appliance having a housing which has a placement surface for setting down a container, and having travel wheels for moving the cleaning appliance, wherein at least one retaining element which protrudes from the placement surface is situated at a first edge of the placement surface, the retaining element having, on its front face that faces away from the placement surface, a concave receptacle for a carrying handle, which is hinged on a side of the container that is set down on the placement surface.
2. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein two retaining elements are situated at a distance from one another on the first edge of the placement surface.
3. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining element has a hooked shape.
4. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining element is elastically deformable.
5. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining element forms a detent element by means of which the carrying handle of the container is latchable.
6. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least one first stop element, which protrudes from the placement surface and has a first stop surface, is situated at a second edge of the placement surface, which edge faces away from the first edge.
7. The cleaning appliance according to claim 6, wherein at least one second stop element which protrudes from the placement surface and has a second stop surface facing toward the first stop surface is situated at the first edge of the placement surface.
8. The cleaning appliance according to claim 7, wherein the at least one second stop element has an outer side which faces away from the second stop surface, and the at least one retaining element has a retaining portion which protrudes beyond the outer side of the second stop element.
9. The cleaning appliance according to claim 8, wherein the retaining portion protrudes beyond the second stop element in the direction of the surface normal of the placement surface.
10. The cleaning appliance according to claim 7, wherein the at least one second stop element is fixedly connected to a retaining element.
11. The cleaning appliance according to claim 7, wherein two retaining elements are situated at a distance from one another at the first edge of the placement surface, and in each case a second stop element is positioned at the sides of the retaining elements that face away from one another.
12. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein a lateral surface into which at least one opening region of a storage space opens adjoins the first edge of the placement surface, wherein, in a storage position, at least one tensioning element which is adapted to be at least partially withdrawn from the storage space through the opening region and which is adapted to be transferred into a working position for fixing the container to the placement surface, is situated in the storage space.
13. The cleaning appliance according to claim 12, wherein the tensioning element has a first end which is fixed in the storage space and a second, loose end which is accessible from outside the storage space via the opening region.
14. The cleaning appliance according to claim 12, wherein the tensioning element is elastically extendable.
15. The cleaning appliance according to claim 12, wherein the opening region is situated adjacent to a retaining element.
16. The cleaning appliance according to claim 12, wherein the opening region is positioned beneath a second stop element which is situated at the first edge of the placement surface, and which protrudes from the placement surface and has a second stop surface.
[0001] This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP2011/055126, filed on Apr. 1, 2011, and claims the benefit of German application number 10 2010 003 756.7, filed on Apr. 8, 2010, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.
[0002] The invention relates to a cleaning appliance having a housing which has a placement surface for setting down a container, and having travel wheels for moving the cleaning appliance.
[0003] These types of cleaning appliances are used, for example, in the form of vacuum cleaners or also in the form of high-pressure cleaning appliances. They are used, for example, on construction sites and at other work locations. The cleaning appliances are equipped with travel wheels, and may thus be moved along a floor.
[0004] For transport to a work location, the cleaning appliances are often positioned in a transport vehicle. The available stowage space in the transport vehicle is frequently limited. Therefore, in many cases, containers, for example tool boxes or other containers holding utensils or accessories, are set down on the cleaning appliances which are positioned in the stowage space. When the transport vehicle reaches its destination, the containers as well as the cleaning appliance are removed from the transport vehicle and then transported to the actual work location.
[0005] A cleaning appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner is known from EP 0 916 302 B1, the top side of the housing of the vacuum cleaner having a placement surface with an indentation. The container may be inserted into the indentation, and is thus secured against shifting on the placement surface. In addition, the container may be locked in the indentation with the aid of locking elements. The locking elements are designed as displaceable bolts which may be pushed into corresponding recesses in the container. Locking the container to the placement surface has the advantage that the user may move the vacuum cleaner together with the container in the form of a single transport unit. However, the proportions of the container must conform to the indentation, and the container must have recesses into which the displaceable bolts can be pushed.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to improve a cleaning appliance of the type stated at the outset in such a way that a container may be easily fixed to the placement surface.
[0007] For a cleaning appliance of the generic kind, this object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one retaining element which protrudes from the placement surface is situated at a first edge of the placement surface, the retaining element having, on its front face that faces away from the placement surface, a concave receptacle for a carrying handle, which is hinged on a side of the container that is set down on the placement surface.
[0008] The invention incorporates the idea that tool boxes as well as other containers for utensils or accessories in most instances have, on one side, a carrying handle, which is pivotably mounted. For the cleaning appliance according to the invention, the carrying handle of the container is used to fix the container. For this purpose, at least one retaining element which protrudes from the placement surface is situated at a first edge of the placement surface, on which surface the container may be set down. The retaining element has a concave receptacle on its front face facing away from the placement surface. The container having the pivotable carrying handle may be set down on the placement surface in an orientation in which the pivotable carrying handle assumes a position at the first edge of the placement surface. The carrying handle may then be pivoted about its pivot axis until it enters into the concave receptacle of the at least one retaining element. The retaining element then engages over the carrying handle, so that the container is fixed to the retaining element via the carrying handle of the container.
[0009] It is advantageous if two retaining elements are situated at a distance from one another on the first edge of the placement surface. The retaining elements in each case have a concave receptacle on their front face that faces away from the placement surface. This provides the possibility of inserting the pivotable carrying handle of the container into both receptacles, thus fixing it in a particularly reliable manner.
[0010] The pivotable carrying handle of the container usually has a U-shaped configuration, and includes two support legs which are hinged on one side of the container, and which at their free ends are connected to one another via a support bar. The distance between two retaining elements, which elements may be situated at the first edge of the placement surface, may be such that each of the support legs of the carrying handle may be placed against an outer side of a retaining element. The outer sides of the retaining elements are formed by the sides of the retaining elements that face away from one another. The U-shaped carrying handle thus receives the two retaining elements between it, thus securing the container against shifting in the longitudinal direction of the carrying handle.
[0011] The at least one retaining element preferably has a hooked shape. The curved end region of the retaining element may then engage over the carrying handle.
[0012] The at least one retaining element is preferably elastically deformable.
[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the cleaning appliance according to the invention, the at least one retaining element is formed as a detent element via which the carrying handle of the container which is set down on the placement surface can be latched. A releasable detent connection to the container which is set down on the placement surface is thus established by means of the detent element. The container may thus be fixed to the placement surface, using a simple design.
[0014] It is advantageous if at least one first stop element, which protrudes from the placement surface and has a first stop surface, is situated at a second edge of the placement surface, which edge faces away from the first edge. The stop element forms a lateral support for the container which is set down on the placement surface. The container may be positioned between the at least one retaining element which is situated at the first edge of the placement surface and the first stop element which is situated at the second edge of the placement surface, whereby the container engages against the first stop surface, and the carrying handle may subsequently be pivoted into a holding position in which it engages with the concave receptacle of the at least one retaining element.
[0015] It is advantageous if at least one second stop element which protrudes from the placement surface and has a second stop surface facing toward the first stop surface is situated at the first edge of the placement surface. This provides the possibility for the container to be supported at the first edge of the placement surface, not only at the at least one retaining element, but also at the second stop element.
[0016] In this respect, it is advantageous if the at least one second stop element has an outer side which faces away from the second stop surface, and the at least one retaining element has a retaining portion which protrudes beyond the outer side of the second stop element. The retaining portion may engage over the carrying handle of the container, which may be placed against the outer side of the at least one second stop element, the carrying handle entering into the concave receptacle of the retaining element.
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the retaining element protrudes beyond the second stop element in the direction of the surface normal of the placement surface. The retaining portion can thus protrude beyond the second stop element in the direction of the surface normal of the outer side of the second stop element, and also in the direction of the surface normal of the placement surface, thus reliably gripping the carrying handle of the container.
[0018] It is advantageous if the at least one second stop element is fixedly connected to a retaining element. This increases the mechanical load capacity of the retaining element and of the stop element.
[0019] Two retaining elements are preferably situated at a distance from one another at the first edge of the placement surface, and in each case a second stop element is positioned at the outer sides of the retaining elements that face away from one another.
[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the container is fixed to the placement surface with particularly good mechanical load capacity, in that a lateral surface into which at least one opening region of a storage space opens adjoins the first edge of the placement surface, and, in a storage position, a tensioning element which can be at least partially withdrawn from the storage space through the opening region and can be transferred into a working position for fixing the container to the placement surface, is situated in the storage space. In such an embodiment of the cleaning appliance according to the invention, in addition to the at least one retaining element which cooperates with the carrying handle of the container, at least one tensioning element is used for fixing the container, with the aid of which the container may be fixed to the placement surface. For fixing the container, the tensioning element may be at least partially withdrawn from the storage space. The storage space has an opening region situated in the lateral surface which adjoins the first edge of the placement surface. The tensioning element can be at least partially withdrawn from the storage space through the opening region. The tensioning element may be guided around the container which is set down on the placement surface. Since the opening region of the storage space is situated at the lateral surface which adjoins the first edge of the placement surface, in order to secure the container, the tensioning element may also be guided around, among other things, the container carrying handle which enters into the concave receptacle of the retaining element situated at the first edge. The tensioning element thus acts on the carrying handle with a tensioning force in the direction of the concave receptacle, which force fixes the carrying handle to the concave receptacle.
[0021] The tensioning element travels with the cleaning appliance, in the storage space, and therefore is available to a user at any time for securing a container. After use, the tensioning element may be returned to the storage space, in which it may be stored.
[0022] It may be provided that the cleaning appliance has only one storage space, which opens into the lateral surface that adjoins the first edge of the placement surface, and in which only one tensioning element is situated. However, it may also be provided that the cleaning appliance includes a plurality of storage spaces which open into the lateral surface adjacent to the first edge of the placement surface and which in each case accommodate one tensioning element. It may be further provided that in at least one storage space of the cleaning appliance, a plurality of tensioning elements is arranged in a storage position, from which they may be transferred into a working position.
[0023] It is advantageous if the at least one storage space is situated beneath the placement surface. This provides the option of fixing the container, which is set down on the placement surface, to the placement surface in a structurally simple manner by means of the at least one tensioning element, the container being additionally fixed via the pivotable carrying handle by means of the at least one retaining element. The tensioning element may be withdrawn, through the opening region, from the storage space situated beneath the placement surface, at least far enough for the container to be fixed to the placement surface by means of the tensioning element. For example, the tensioning element can engage, at least partially, around the container, including its carrying handle, in the peripheral direction.
[0024] The placement surface is preferably situated on the top side of the housing. This simplifies the positioning of the container on the placement surface.
[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, the tensioning element may be pulled, at least partially, from the storage space. This simplifies the handling of the tensioning element.
[0026] It is advantageous if the tensioning element may be at least partially pulled from the storage space against the action of a restoring force.
[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, particularly simple handling results when a container is fixed to the placement surface of the housing, in that the tensioning element has a first end which is fixed in the storage space and a second, loose end which is accessible from outside the storage space via the opening region. The tensioning element may be grasped at its loose end by the user and then at least partially withdrawn from the storage space. The end of the tensioning element remote from the loose end is fixed in the storage space. The user may guide the loose end around the container which is set down on the placement surface, and in particular around the carrying handle thereof, and fix the loose end to the cleaning appliance or to the container.
[0028] In particular when two tensioning elements are used, it has proven advantageous if the tensioning elements in each case are fixed by one end in a storage space, and, at their other end, may be grasped by the user and pulled from the storage space.
[0029] A securing element, for example a securing hook, is preferably situated at the loose end of the at least one tensioning element. With the aid of the securing element, in a working position, the tensioning element may be easily secured to the cleaning appliance or to the container in order to fix the container to the placement surface.
[0030] The tensioning element is advantageously elastically extendable. The tensioning element is preferably extendable by at least 50%, i.e., may be elongated by at least 50% by a tensile stress. It is particularly advantageous if the tensioning element is extendable by 100%, i.e., may be elongated to twice its length, by a tensile stress.
[0031] The tensioning element may be provided in the manner of a tensioning strap or a tensioning cord.
[0032] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one tensioning element is disposed, in the form of an elongated component, in the storage space.
[0033] Alternatively, it may be provided that the at least one tensioning element in the storage space is wound up on a reel.
[0034] The at least one storage space preferably has a channel-shaped configuration.
[0035] It may be provided, for example, that the housing of the cleaning appliance has a cover plate which on its top side forms the placement surface, and at the first edge of the placement surface includes the at least one retaining part, which, for fixing the container to the placement surface, cooperates with the carrying handle of the container, the at least one storage space being integrated into the cover plate.
[0036] The cover plate is advantageously situated on an upper housing part of the cleaning appliance. The cover plate is preferably releasably connectable to the upper housing part.
[0037] It is particularly advantageous if the cover plate has an underside, facing away from the placement surface, in which the at least one storage space is formed.
[0038] It may be provided, for example, that the at least one storage space forms a receiving channel which is provided in the underside of the cover plate. In a bottom view of the cover plate, the receiving channel may have a U- or C-shaped course, for example. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tensioning element may be at least partially pulled from the receiving channel in the longitudinal direction of the channel.
[0039] It is advantageous if the cleaning appliance has securing elements to which the tensioning element is fixable in its working position. The securing elements may be provided, for example, in the form of securing eyes or securing hooks to which the tensioning element in each case may be secured at one end after it has been guided around one or also a plurality of containers, which has been set down on the placement surface.
[0040] The cleaning appliance preferably has a handle bar, since this simplifies moving the cleaning appliance along a floor. In this regard, it is advantageous if at least one securing element for the at least one tensioning element is situated on the handle bar. The handle bar may preferably assume a position perpendicular to the placement surface, and thus laterally support the container which is set down on the placement surface. A plurality of securing elements to which a tensioning element may in each case be secured at one end is advantageously situated on the handle bar. The securing elements, for example securing eyes or securing hooks, are advantageously situated at different distances from the placement surface. This simplifies the fixing of containers of different sizes by means of the tensioning element.
[0041] As previously described, the at least one receiving space opens into a lateral surface of the cleaning appliance which adjoins the first edge of the placement surface. At least one retaining element, which cooperates with a carrying handle of the container, is situated at the first edge of the placement surface. It is advantageous if the opening region of the storage space is situated adjacent to a retaining element, since this provides the possibility of guiding the tensioning element, which can be at least partially withdrawn from the storage space through the opening region, directly along the retaining element, whereby the carrying handle of the container may assume a position between the tensioning element and the retaining element. In particular, it may be provided that the tensioning element may act on the carrying handle of the container with a tensioning force in the direction of the concave receptacle of the retaining element. This ensures fixing of the container to the placement surface with particularly good load capacity.
[0042] The opening region of the at least one storage space is preferably positioned beneath a second stop element which is situated at the first edge of the placement surface, and which protrudes from the placement surface and has a second stop surface. Beneath the second stop element, a tensioning element may thus be withdrawn far enough from the storage space through the opening region that the tensioning element is able to engage around the container, including its carrying handle, in order to fix the container to the placement surface.
[0043] It is particularly advantageous if the cleaning appliance together with a container situated on the placement surface is pivotable about a common rotational axis of two travel wheels. The cleaning appliance together with the container may then be moved in the manner of a hand cart. By means of the at least one retaining element which cooperates with the carrying handle of the container in the sense of a detent connection, the container is reliably fixable to the placement surface, and may be moved together with the cleaning appliance.
[0044] It is advantageous if the cleaning appliance can be carried. This simplifies the transport of the cleaning appliance on an uneven floor or even over steps.
[0045] It is advantageous if the cleaning appliance has an appliance handle which may be swiveled into the placement surface. In an inoperative position, the appliance handle may be swiveled into the placement surface, in which case it no longer protrudes from the placement surface, and a container may be set down on the placement surface without interference from the appliance handle. If a container is not positioned on the placement surface, the appliance handle may be swiveled out from the placement surface into an operating position in which it may be grasped by the user, for example to carry the cleaning appliance over a step.
[0046] As previously mentioned, the cleaning appliance is preferably formed as a vacuum cleaner or a high-pressure cleaning appliance.
[0047] The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves for explanation in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings.
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a cleaning appliance, having a cover plate which forms a placement surface for a container or for a plurality of containers;
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the cover plate from FIG. 1, in an oblique view from the top;
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the cover plate from FIG. 1;
[0051] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the cleaning appliance from FIG. 1 when a container having a pivotable carrying handle is set down on a placement surface of the cover plate;
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the cleaning appliance from FIG. 1 when the container is set down on the placement surface of the cover plate;
[0053] FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a cleaning appliance from FIG. 1 with the container set down on the placement surface, detent hooks of the cover plate engaging over the carrying handle of the container;
[0054] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged illustration of detail A from FIG. 6; and
[0055] FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration of the cleaning appliance from FIG. 1, two containers being situated one on top of the other on the placement surface and two tensioning elements engaging over the containers.
[0056] The drawing schematically illustrates a cleaning appliance according to the invention in the form of a vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a base 12 on which two travel wheels are mounted so as to be rotatable about a common rotational axis 16. For the sake of clarity, only a first travel wheel 14 is illustrated in the drawing. In addition, two support wheels are rotatably mounted on the base 12, only a first support wheel 18 being discernible in the drawing. The vacuum cleaner 10 may be moved along on a floor surface by means of the travel wheels 14 and the support wheels 18.
[0057] A suction unit 20 having a lower housing part 22 and an upper housing part 24 is mounted on the base 12. The lower housing part 22 forms a dirt collection container of the vacuum cleaner 10 in a customary manner. Intake air together with suctioned material may be drawn into the dirt collection container via a suction inlet 26. A suction hose bearing a suction nozzle at its free end may be connected to the suction inlet 26 in a customary manner. These types of suction hoses and suction nozzles are known to those skilled in the art, and therefore are not illustrated in the drawing for the sake of clarity.
[0058] The upper housing part 24 encloses a suction turbine, driven by an electric motor, in a customary manner. The dirt collection container of the lower housing part 22 may be acted on by negative pressure by means of the suction turbine.
[0059] Situated on the upper housing part 24 is a cover plate 30 which is releasably connected to the upper housing part 24, and which has a substantially rectangular shape and a first edge 31 on its front side and a second edge 32 on its rear side as well as a third edge 33 and a fourth edge 34 which extend along the longitudinal sides of the cover plate 30. An indentation 35 which is substantially U-shaped in the top view is centrally formed in the front first edge 31.
[0060] The cover plate 30 has a top side which forms a placement surface 38 for setting down one or more containers on the vacuum cleaner 10. This is apparent in particular from FIGS. 6 and 8. In addition, the cover plate 30 has an underside 40, facing away from the placement surface 38, by means of which the cover plate rests on the upper housing part 24.
[0061] A first stop element 42 protrudes from the placement surface 38 at the rear second edge 32 of the placement surface 38, and has a first stop surface 43 which is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the placement surface 38 and which faces toward the placement surface 38 and the front first edge 31.
[0062] At the front first edge 31, a second stop element 45 which protrudes from the placement surface 38 is situated at a first side of the indentation 35, and has a second stop surface 46 which is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the placement surface 38. The second stop surface 46 faces toward the first stop surface 43.
[0063] At the front first edge 31, a third stop element 48 which protrudes from the placement surface 38 is situated at a second side of the indentation 35, and forms a third stop surface 49 which is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the placement surface 38. The third stop surface 49, the same as the second stop surface 46, faces toward the first stop surface 43.
[0064] A first retaining element in the form of a first detent hook 51 is situated at the front first edge 31, between the second stop element 46 and the central indentation 35, the first detent hook having a shank 52 which protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the placement surface 38. At its free end, the shank 52 has a curved retaining portion 53. On its end face facing away from the placement surface 38, the retaining portion 53 defines a concave receptacle 54 and protrudes beyond the second stop element 45 upwardly, i.e., in the direction of the surface normal of the placement surface 38, as well as forwardly, i.e., in the direction of the surface normal of an outer side 56 of the second stop element 45.
[0065] A second retaining element in the form of a second detent hook 58 is situated at the front first edge, between the central indentation 35 and the third stop element 48. The second detent hook 58 includes a shank 59 which protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the placement surface 38, and which has a retaining portion 60 that is curved in the shape of an arc. On its end face facing away from the placement surface 38, the retaining portion 60 defines a concave receptacle 61 and protrudes beyond the third stop element 48 upwardly, i.e., in the direction of the surface normal to the placement surface 38, as well as forwardly, i.e., in the direction of the surface normal of an outer side 63 of the third stop element 48 facing away from the placement surface 38.
[0066] The shape of the second detent hook 58 is identical to that of the first detent hook 51. Both detent hooks 51, 58 are elastically deformable, and, the same as the stop elements 42, 45, and 48, are integrally joined to the cover plate 30.
[0067] An appliance handle 65 is mounted in the placement surface 38 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 66. The appliance handle 65 has a substantially U-shaped design, and in its inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 2 is accommodated by a handle recess 68, formed in the top side of the placement surface 38, from which it may be swiveled out into an operating position perpendicular to the placement surface 38. In its operating position, the appliance handle 65 may be grasped by the user of the vacuum cleaner 10 in order to carry the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0068] A first storage space in the form of a first receiving channel 71 and a second storage space in the form of a second receiving channel 72 are formed in the underside 40 of the cover plate 30. Beneath the second stop element 45, the first receiving channel 71 opens into a front side 74 of the cover plate 30. At the front first edge 31 the front side 74 adjoins the placement surface 38. The central indentation 35 is formed in the front side 74.
[0069] In the region of the front side 74, the first receiving channel 71 forms a first opening aperture 76 beneath the second stop element 45. Starting from the first opening aperture 76, the first receiving channel 71 extends via a first channel portion 78 in the direction of the rear second edge 32. The first channel portion 78 is connected to a second channel portion 79, extending parallel to the rear second edge 32, which is connected to a third channel portion 80 which extends parallel to the lengthwise fourth edge 34 and terminates at a channel end 81 approximately midway along the fourth edge 34.
[0070] The second receiving channel 72 opens into the front side 74 of the cover plate 30, beneath the third stop element 48, and in this region forms a second opening aperture 84. Starting from the second opening aperture 84, the second receiving channel 72 extends via a first channel portion 85 in the direction of the rear second edge 32. The first channel portion 85 is connected to a second channel portion 86, extending parallel to the rear second edge 32, and is connected to a third channel portion 87 which extends parallel to the lengthwise third edge 33 and terminates at a channel end 88 approximately midway along the third edge 33.
[0071] The first receiving channel 71 accommodates a first elastically extendable tensioning element 90, which at a first end 91 is fixed to the channel end 81 of the first receiving channel 71, and which at a second end 92 enters into the first opening aperture 76. A securing element in the form of a first securing hook 93 is fixed to the second end 92.
[0072] The second receiving channel 72 accommodates a second tensioning element 95, which at a first end 96 is fixed to the channel end 88 of the second receiving channel 72, and whose second end 97 enters into the second opening aperture 84. A securing element in the form of a second securing hook 98 is fixed to the second end 97.
[0073] In a rear region, a handle bar 100 is mounted on the upper housing part 24 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 101. The handle bar 100 includes a first leg 102 and a second leg 103 which are joined together by a grip bar 104. The handle bar 100 may be pivoted back and forth between a swiveled-out or upright position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8, and a swiveled-in position, not illustrated in the drawing. In the swiveled-in position, the handle bar 100 is oriented parallel to the placement surface 38. The handle bar 100 may be locked in its swiveled-out position by means of a fixing device 106 situated at the free end of at least one leg of the handle bar 100.
[0074] A first securing element in the form of a first securing eye 108 is molded to the first leg 102 in the transition region between the first leg 102 and the grip bar 104. A second securing element in the form of a second securing eye 109 is molded to the second leg 103 in the transition region between the second leg 103 and the handle bar 101. In addition to the securing eyes 108, 109, two further securing eyes 111, 112 and 113, 114 are molded to the two legs 102, 103, respectively, at different distances from the placement surface 38.
[0075] In their storage position, the two tensioning elements 90 and 95 are completely accommodated by the receiving channel 71 and 72, respectively. The tensioning elements 90, 95 are accessible to the user at the front side 74 of the cover plate 30 via their second ends 92 and 97, respectively. The first securing hook 93 and the second securing hook 98 may be grasped by the user at the front side 74. The tensioning elements 90, 95 may then be stretched in the longitudinal direction, being extendable by 100% in each case, i.e., doubling their length. This provides the option for the tensioning elements 90, 95 to engage over, at least partially, in the peripheral direction, one or more containers that have been set down on the placement surface 38, as explained in greater detail below. The securing hooks 93 and 98 may then be hooked into a securing eye 108 and 109, respectively, or also into one of the securing eyes 111, 112, 113, 114. The tensioning elements 90, 95 may thus be fixed via their securing hooks 93, 98 to the handle bar 100 at different distances from the placement surface 38. In this way, containers of different sizes can be easily fixed to the placement surface 38 by means of the elastically extendable tensioning elements 90, 95.
[0076] As described above, containers may be set down on the placement surface 38 and then moved together with the vacuum cleaner 10 along a floor surface. FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate a first container 120 which is set down on the placement surface 38. The first container 120 has a substantially rectangulate shape, and includes a lower container part 121 on which an upper container part 122 is pivotably mounted. A U-shaped carrying handle 125 is hinged to a front face 123 of the lower container part 121. The carrying handle 125 has a first support leg 126 and a second support leg 127 which are integrally joined together via a support bar 128. The carrying handle 125 may be grasped on the support bar 128 by a user in order to carry the first container 120.
[0077] The first container 120 may be set down on the placement surface 38 between the first stop element 42 and the second and third stop elements 45, 48, respectively, whereby the front face 123 may be placed against the second stop surface 46 and the third stop surface 49, and the carrying handle 125 initially assumes a position above the detent hooks 51, 58. At the rear, the container 120 is supported at the first stop element 42, and at the front is supported at the second stop element 45 and the third stop element 48. The carrying handle 125 may be subsequently pivoted downward toward the outer sides 56 and 63 of the stop elements 45 and 48, respectively, until the support bar 128, after elastic deformation of the first detent hook 51 and of the second detent hook 58, locks into the concave receptacles 54 and 61 of the two detent hooks 51, 58, respectively. In this detent position, the retaining portions 53 and 60 of the two detent hooks 51, 58, respectively, engage over the support bar 128. The distance between the outer sides of the two detent hooks 51, 58 that face away from one another corresponds to the distance between the two support legs 126, 127. The first support leg 126 thus rests against the outer side of the first detent hook 51 facing away from the second detent hook 58, and the second support leg 127 rests against the outer side of the second detent hook 58 facing away from the first detent hook 51. This is particularly apparent from FIG. 7.
[0078] The first container 120 which is set down on the placement surface 38 is held immovably on the placement surface 38 due to the cooperation of the carrying handle 125 with the two detent hooks 51, 58. The two detent hooks 51, 58 together with the pivotable carrying handle 125 of the first container 120 form a releasable detent connection.
[0079] In addition to the releasable detent connection via the two detent hooks 51, 58 and the carrying handle 125, the first container 120 may be fixed to the placement surface 38 by means of the two tensioning elements 90, 95. For this purpose, the two tensioning elements may be pulled from the receiving channels 71, 72 via the securing hooks 93, 98, respectively, in order to engage around the first container 120 in a working position. The tensioning elements 90, 95 may then be fixed to one of the securing eyes 108, 109, 111 to 114 of the handle bar 100. The tensioning elements 90, 95 may engage around not only the first container 120, but also the carrying handle 125 which is latched to the detent hooks 51, 58, the tensioning elements exerting a tensioning force on the carrying handle 125 in the direction of the concave receptacles 54, 61, so that the carrying handle 125 is fixed to the detent hooks 51, 58 in a particularly effective manner.
[0080] A second container 130 having an identical shape to the first container 120 may be placed on the first container 120, as is apparent from FIG. 8. Both containers 120, 130 may then be jointly engaged by the two tensioning elements 90, 95, which act with a tensioning force on the carrying handle 125 of the first container 120 in the direction of the concave receptacles 54 and 61. The two containers 120, 130 are thus fixed to the placement surface 38, and together with the vacuum cleaner 10, may be tilted backward, in the form of a single transport unit, about the rotational axis 16 of the two travel wheels 14, so that the containers 120, 130 together with the vacuum cleaner 10 may be moved along a floor in the manner of a hand cart.
[0081] After the securing hooks 93, 98 are released from the securing eyes 108, 109, respectively, the two tensioning elements 90, 95 may be stowed back in the receiving channels 71, 72. After being released from the securing eyes 108, 109, the tensioning elements automatically return to their storage position due to the elastic restoring force of the tensioning elements 90, 95. The second container 130 may then be taken off the first container 120, and the carrying handle 125 may be subsequently swiveled out from the concave receptacles 54, 61 with elastic deformation of the detent hooks 51, 58, thus releasing the detent connection between the first container 120 and the cover plate 30. The first container 120 may then also be taken off the placement surface 38.
Patent applications by Stefan Hess, Leutenbach DE
Patent applications by Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co., KG
2010-09-30 Cleaning appliance
2016-03-31 Shower brush having interchangeable cleaning attachments
2015-11-19 Cleaning assembly
2015-11-05 Floor cleaning machine
2015-05-28 Plastic bottle processing apparatus and vehicle having same mounted thereon
2013-05-30 Cleaning appliance