Patent Description:
Battery operated vacuum cleaners can be used in many situations and environments. Due to the ease of use of these appliances, they can be used in dark and/or narrow places. To have better vision of the dirt and on the cleaning result a light source at the spout of the vacuum cleaner is very handy. There are various vacuum cleaners available having one or more light sources at the front of the floor nozzles. Further, there are accessories available that can be connected to the handheld vacuum cleaner and that have a light source.

<CIT> discloses a vacuum cleaner having multiple LEDs arranged in front surface of the main body and having light guides in the spout to guide the light from the LEDs into the spout or to the front of the spout.

<CIT> discloses an upright vacuum cleaner that includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. Further, the upright vacuum cleaner is equipped with a flexible, electrified hose. A cleaning attachment is connected to the hose. The cleaning attachment can be equipped with a booster fan, a powered rotary agitator or a light source.

<CIT> discloses a vacuum cleaner which has a cleaning attachment through which dirt and dust are drawn. The vacuum cleaner includes a lighting device that illuminates a surface to be cleaned. The lighting device includes a bulb in a groove that is formed at the cleaning attachment's front, thus horizontally illuminating the surface.

<CIT> discloses an accessory attachment with a built-in light for attachment to a vacuum cleaner.

<CIT> discloses a vacuum cleaner that is provided with a cleaning attachment, a housing adapted to attach to the cleaning attachment, and at least one lighting device.

<CIT> discloses a handheld, battery powered vacuum cleaner that has a sealed light compartment over a vacuum opening with a lens that directs a light beam onto a surface being cleaned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cost effective solution for a vacuum cleaner that effectively illuminates the surface area to be cleaned both with and without an accessory coupled to the vacuum cleaner.

In a first aspect of the present invention a vacuum cleaner is presented comprising:.

wherein the cleaner light outlet is arranged at or above a top surface of the outer diameter of the spout and displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening in axial direction of the spout.

In a further aspect of the present invention an accessory for a vacuum cleaner is presented, the accessory comprising:.

In a still further aspect of the present invention a vacuum cleaning system is presented comprising a vacuum cleaner as disclosed herein and at least one accessory as disclosed herein.

Having light shining on the surface that needs to be cleaned during different cleaning jobs (e.g. cleaning of table tops, upholstery, narrow spaces, underneath furniture, etc.) is very much appreciated by users. Adding light sources not only to the vacuum cleaner but to all accessories that can be connected to the vacuum cleaner as well, is not cost effective.

The vacuum cleaner disclosed in <CIT> has LEDs in the main body, but provides the light from the spout and can effectively be used only with the spout coupled to the main body. Even when used unintentionally without the spout the LEDs are not effective because they will be covered by the surface area to be cleaned since they are arranged at the front surface of the main body. Having a light source or light outlet that will be touching or very close to the surface to be cleaned is thus not useful.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, in contrast, comprises one or more light sources at a position of the spout where the light is functional when used without accessories and where this same light can be coupled into a light guide of an accessory. The light outlet of vacuum cleaner (called cleaner light outlet) and the light outlet of accessory (called accessory light outlet) are arranged such that the light emitted from the respective outlet is not covered by the surface that needs to be cleaned. In particular, the respective light outlets are not arranged at the front surface of the respective part (i.e. of the spout and the accessory body, respectively), but they are arranged at the top surface or above the top surface of the outer diameter of the respective part and displaced with respect to the dust inlet opening of the respective part in axial direction. In other words, the light outlets are not arranged at the front surface of the respective part, like in the vacuum cleaner disclosed in <CIT>, but they are displaced by a certain distance from the front surface of the respective part. A cost effective solution requiring a light source only in the vacuum cleaner but not in the accessory/accessories is thus presented that ensures an effective illumination of the surface to be cleaned both without or with the accessory coupled to the vacuum cleaner.

It shall be noted that the present invention is preferably used in a handheld or battery-driven vacuum cleaner, but may generally also be used in other types of vacuum cleaners, such as canister or drum-type vacuum cleaners, where various accessories can be attached to the telescopic wand instead of the floor brush. The one or more light sources and the cleaner light outlet may be arranged at the top surface or above the top surface of the outer diameter of the telescopic wand (representing the spout of the vacuum cleaner in such an embodiment).

In an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner, the cleaner light outlet is configured to emit the light into the direction of the cleaner dust inlet opening, in particular to create a spotlight on a surface to be cleaned. This may e.g. be achieved by an appropriate optical element(s), such as a lens or focusing means, at the cleaner light outlet, or by designing the cleaner light outlet such that the light is emitted / focused into the desired direction.

In another embodiment of the vacuum cleaner, the cleaner light outlet is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening by a displacement of at least <NUM>, in particular by a displacement of at least <NUM> or at least <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. The dimension of the displacement generally depends on the design of the spout and the cleaner light outlet and may be different for different models of vacuum cleaners.

In another embodiment of the vacuum cleaner the light source comprises at least one LED, in particular two or more LEDs. The number and other parameters (e.g. color, temperature, power, light intensity, etc.) of the light source generally depends on the particular design and application of the vacuum cleaner outlet and may be different for different models of vacuum cleaners. The light intensity shall generally be sufficient to illuminate the area to be cleaned, but may generally be chosen by the manufacturer. In other embodiments the light intensity (and/or other parameters like focal range, temperature, color, etc.) may be made selectable for the user, e.g. by appropriate button(s), touchscreen or other user interface.

In another embodiment the vacuum cleaner further comprises a cleaner mechanical coupling portion configured to mechanically couple an accessory to the vacuum cleaner, wherein the cleaner mechanical coupling portion is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening in axial direction of the spout. For instance, the cleaner mechanical coupling portion is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening by substantially the same displacement as the cleaner light outlet. This enables a good and functional construction of both the mechanical coupling and the light coupling between the vacuum cleaner and the accessory. For instance, the accessory mechanical coupling portion and the accessory light inlet (for receiving the light from the clear light outlet when the accessory is coupled to the vacuum cleaner) may then be arranged, in an embodiment, in a common plane at the rear surface of the accessory.

In an embodiment of the accessory, the accessory light outlet is configured to emit the light into the direction of the accessory dust inlet opening, in particular to create a spotlight on a surface to be cleaned. Like in the vacuum cleaner, this may e.g. be achieved by an appropriate optical element(s), such as a lens or focusing means, at the accessory light outlet, or by designing the accessory light outlet such that the light is emitted / focused into the desired direction.

In another embodiment of the accessory, the accessory light outlet is displaced with respect to the accessory dust inlet opening by a displacement of at least <NUM>, in particular by a displacement of at least <NUM> or at least <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Like in the vacuum cleaner, the dimension of the displacement generally depends on the design of the accessory main body and the accessory light outlet and may be different for different accessories.

In another embodiment the accessory further comprises an accessory mechanical coupling portion configured to mechanically couple the accessory to the vacuum cleaner. For instance, the accessory mechanical coupling portion is configured to end at the rear end of the accessory body in the same plane as the accessory light inlet. The enables a good and functional construction of both the mechanical coupling and the light coupling between the vacuum cleaner and the accessory.

In another embodiment of the accessory, the light guide is a straight element without bends or curves. This enables a cost-effective and reliable implementation of the light guide.

In another embodiment of the accessory, the light guide comprises fiber optics, which may be bent or straight opening more options for the construction and arrangement of the light guide.

<FIG> shows a first example of a vacuum cleaner <NUM> with a non-desired arrangement of a light source in an overall view (<FIG>) and an enlarged view of the front part (<FIG>). The vacuum cleaner <NUM> comprises a cleaner body <NUM> having a spout <NUM>, which has a cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> configured to suck in dust during operation of the vacuum cleaner <NUM>, e.g. when the user moves the vacuum cleaner over a surface <NUM>. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a light source <NUM>, e.g. one or more LEDs, that is configured to generate light <NUM>. The generated light <NUM> is emitted from a cleaner light outlet <NUM>. In this first example the light source <NUM> and the cleaner light outlet <NUM> are arranged at the front surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM> so that the light <NUM> is emitted from the front surface <NUM> towards the surface <NUM> to be cleaned. This arrangement has, however, the disadvantage that at least part of the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is covered by the surface <NUM> since typically the front surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM> is brought in contact with the surface <NUM> when cleaning the surface <NUM>. Thus, a substantial amount of the emitted light <NUM> does actually not shine onto the part of the surface <NUM> to be cleaned, but is lost.

<FIG> shows a second example of a vacuum cleaner <NUM> with another non-desired arrangement of a light source in an overall view (<FIG>) and an enlarged view of the front part (<FIG>). In this example the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is arranged at a lower surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM>. This arrangement has, however, the disadvantage that shadows (indicated by dots <NUM>) are created which hamper the sight towards the surface to be cleaned.

<FIG> shows a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to the present invention with a desired arrangement of the light source in an overall view (<FIG>) and an enlarged view of the front part (<FIG>). In this embodiment the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is arranged at or above the top surface <NUM> of the outer diameter of the spout <NUM>. Further, the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> in axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM>, i.e. it is not arranged at the front surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM>, but at a distance <NUM> behind this surface <NUM>. The light source <NUM>, e.g. one or more LEDs, may be arranged at or above the top surface of the spout <NUM>.

The light <NUM> is thus emitted from the spout from above onto the part of the surface <NUM> to be cleaned next when the vacuum cleaner is moved in a forward movement (to the right in <FIG>). Compared to the examples <NUM> and <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner, this embodiment <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner provides the advantage that the light <NUM> is emitted from the vacuum cleaner at a position of the spout <NUM> where it is functional when used without accessory and where this same light <NUM> can be coupled into a light guide of an accessory, as will be explained below. Thus, neither are large parts of the emitted light lost even if the front surface of the spout <NUM> directly contact or slides over the surface <NUM> to be cleaned, nor are essential shadows created on the part of the surface that shall be cleaned.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of a vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to the present invention as partial perspective view (<FIG>) and as partial side view (<FIG>). It shows the arrangement of the cleaner light outlet <NUM> and of the light sources <NUM>, in this embodiment e.g. two LEDs arranged side by side, on top of the spout <NUM>. The light generated by the light sources <NUM> is e.g. focused by two optical elements (e.g. lenses) as cleaner light outlet <NUM> into the light beams <NUM> towards the upper front part of the spout <NUM>. Preferably, the spout <NUM> may be transparent so that the light <NUM> is even shining through the spout <NUM> towards the are directly in front of the cleaner dust inlet <NUM>.

<FIG> further shows a cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> configured to mechanically couple an accessory to the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. In this embodiment, the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM>, e.g. a protruding rod or part, is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> in axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM>, i.e. it is arranged behind the front surface <NUM> of the spout. Preferably, the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> is displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> by substantially the same displacement as the cleaner light outlet <NUM>, i.e. the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> is arranged in substantially the same plane (that is perpendicular to the axial direction <NUM>) as the cleaner light outlet <NUM>.

The cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> can mechanically couple the accessory to the vacuum cleaner <NUM> in a defined orientation, in other words in a defined orientation of the accessory and the vacuum cleaner <NUM> relative to each other, and with rotation of the accessory relative to the vacuum cleaner <NUM> about the axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM> being restricted.

Such a cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> may mean that the vacuum cleaner <NUM> is straightforwardly connectable to the accessory in a way that facilitates the accessory being used to illuminate the surface <NUM> to be cleaned with light generated by the vacuum cleaner's light source(s) <NUM>.

Moreover, in the defined orientation the cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> may align with an accessory dust outlet opening of the accessory.

The cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM>, e.g. comprising or in the form of a protruding rod or part, can be shaped and/or positioned so that the defined orientation is adopted when the accessory is in the process of being coupled to the vacuum cleaner <NUM>.

For example, the oblong and irregular shape of the protruding rod/part depicted in <FIG> can assist to define the orientation of the accessory and the vacuum cleaner <NUM> relative to each other as well as restricting rotation of the accessory about the axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM>.

In other embodiments no such cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> is provided, but the accessory is simply plugged over the spout <NUM> without additional coupling means.

In this embodiment the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is arranged at a distance <NUM> behind the front surface <NUM> of the spout. This distance <NUM> may be in the range of at least <NUM>, in particular of at least <NUM> or at least <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Further, the cleaner light outlet <NUM> is arranged at a somewhat elevated position above the upper surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM>, i.e., with a distance <NUM> between the upper surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM> and the cleaner light outlet <NUM>. This distance <NUM> may be in the range of at least <NUM>, in particular of at least <NUM> or at least <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In another embodiment, the distance <NUM> may even be zero or almost zero. The actual distances <NUM> and <NUM> may be chosen based on the design of the spout and the kind of mounting of the light source <NUM> and/or the cleaner light outlet <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a first embodiment of an accessory <NUM> according to the present invention for a vacuum cleaner as disclosed herein. In this example the accessory <NUM> is a crevice nozzle that can be coupled to the spout of the vacuum cleaner, e.g. the vacuum cleaner <NUM> or <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The accessory <NUM> comprises an accessory body <NUM> having an accessory dust outlet opening <NUM> configured to be coupled to or arranged next to the cleaner dust inlet opening <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner when the accessory <NUM> is coupled to the vacuum cleaner and an accessory dust inlet opening <NUM> configured to suck in dust during operation of the vacuum cleaner. An accessory light inlet <NUM> is configured to be coupled to or arranged next to the cleaner light outlet <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner when the accessory <NUM> is coupled to the vacuum cleaner. The accessory <NUM> further comprises an accessory light outlet <NUM> and a light guide <NUM> connecting the accessory light inlet <NUM> and the accessory light outlet <NUM>. For coupling with the cleaner coupling portion (<NUM> in <FIG>) an accessory mechanical coupling portion <NUM> is provided.

As shown in <FIG>, the defined orientation of the coupled accessory <NUM>, in which rotation of the accessory <NUM> about the axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM> is restricted due to coupling of the accessory <NUM> to the vacuum cleaner via the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM>, can enable the cleaner light outlet <NUM> to be coupled to or arranged next to the accessory light inlet <NUM> when the accessory <NUM> is coupled to the vacuum cleaner.

The accessory mechanical coupling portion <NUM> can be configured to complement the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM> in terms of the shape and/or positioning of the accessory mechanical coupling portion <NUM> in order that the defined orientation of the coupled accessory <NUM>, in which rotation of the coupled accessory <NUM> about the axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM> is restricted, is achieved.

In the non-limiting example shown in <FIG>, the accessory mechanical coupling portion <NUM> comprises, e.g. is defined by, a recess that is shaped to complement an outer profile of the protruding rod or part included in, e.g. defined by, the cleaner mechanical coupling portion <NUM>. By fitting the protruding rod or part into such a recess, the defined orientation can be provided as well as the restriction in rotation about the axial direction <NUM> of the spout <NUM>.

The accessory light outlet <NUM> is arranged within, at or above a top surface <NUM> of the outer diameter of the accessory body <NUM> and displaced with respect to the accessory dust inlet opening <NUM> in axial direction <NUM> of the accessory body <NUM>, i.e., the accessory light outlet <NUM> is arranged on top of or over the accessory body <NUM> and behind the front surface <NUM> of the accessory body <NUM>, in a similar way as the clear light outlet <NUM> is arranged with respect to the spout <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner.

Generally, the light guide in the accessory may comprise bends/curves, e.g. if the light guide is formed by an optical fiber. However, bends/curves in the light guide may reduce the effectiveness of the output light. By placing the cleaner light outlet <NUM> in the vacuum cleaner on or above the top surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM> creates the most freedom to develop different accessories with a straight light guide <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The light guide <NUM> may then be used to create an ambient light and/or a spotlight to show the dirt on the surface <NUM> to be cleaned.

The present invention thus provides a cost effective solution by having the light source only in the handheld (i.e. the vacuum cleaner) and having only light guides without any light sources in the different accessories. These light guides can be used in all kind of accessories like crevice nozzles or brush nozzles. It is even possible to have light guides over longer lengths, like over the full length of a tube or wand. To this tube other accessories can be connected, which again may have a corresponding light guide.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of a vacuum cleaner <NUM> according to the present invention as partial perspective view. In this embodiment two LEDs <NUM>, e.g. two SMD LEDs, are arranged on top of the spout <NUM> at a distance from each other, at a distance from the upper surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM> and at a distance from the front surface <NUM> of the spout <NUM>.

The light emitted on top of the spout <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner can be coupled into the light guide <NUM> which is positioned on top of the accessory <NUM>. This light guide guides the light towards the tip of the accessory, e.g. a spout of the accessory. This is illustrated in <FIG> showing an embodiment of a vacuum cleaning system <NUM> comprising a vacuum cleaner <NUM> and multiply accessories <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein each accessory can be coupled to the vacuum cleaner and, optionally and partially, to each other.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of an accessory <NUM>. Preferably, a spotlight <NUM> is emitted from the tip <NUM> of the accessory. In addition, the light guide <NUM> is configured to emit light <NUM> and thus lighten up the environment. This can e.g. be achieved by making the light guide transparent or by providing light outlets in the light guide. In a similar way, the spout of the vacuum cleaner may be configured accordingly in an embodiment.

In summary, according to the present invention a light source and a light outlet is positioned at the top of a spout of a handheld vacuum cleaner at a distance from the front surface of the spout. The emitted light can be used to make the dirt more visible when using in dark places when the appliance is used as handheld vacuum cleaner and this light can be used to couple this light into a light guide build into an accessory like crevice nozzle or brush nozzle.

Claim 1:
Vacuum cleaner (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) couplable to an accessory (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), which accessory comprises a light guide connecting an accessory light inlet and an accessory light outlet, the vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a spout (<NUM>) having a cleaner dust inlet opening (<NUM>) configured to suck in dust during operation of the vacuum cleaner,
- a light source (<NUM>) configured to generate light,
- a cleaner light outlet (<NUM>) configured to emit light generated by the light source, wherein the cleaner light outlet (<NUM>) is arranged at or above a top surface (<NUM>) of the outer diameter of the spout (<NUM>) and displaced with respect to the cleaner dust inlet opening (<NUM>) in axial direction (<NUM>) of the spout (<NUM>), and
- a cleaner mechanical coupling portion (<NUM>) configured to mechanically couple the accessory to the vacuum cleaner in a defined orientation and with rotation of the accessory, relative to the vacuum cleaner, about the axial direction (<NUM>) of the spout (<NUM>) being restricted,
characterized in that
said defined orientation enables the cleaner light outlet (<NUM>) to be coupled to or arranged next to the accessory light inlet when the accessory is coupled to the vacuum cleaner.