Suction Unit with Display Element and Suction Apparatus

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2024 203 005.8, filed Mar. 28, 2024; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a suction unit for a suction apparatus, in particular for a cordless and/or hand-held vacuum cleaner.

A suction apparatus, in particular a hand-held vacuum cleaner, typically contains a suction unit which can be carried and guided by a user holding a grip by hand. The suction unit has a blower which is operated by electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device of the suction unit. The blower is configured to generate a suction airflow in order to suck contaminants through the suction mouth of the suction unit into the separator unit of the suction unit, wherein the separator unit has a collecting container for contaminants. The suction mouth of the suction unit is typically configured as a coupling via which an accessory (for example a nozzle) from a number of different accessories (for example a floor nozzle or a wet nozzle) can be connected to the suction unit.

Published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 10 2016 224 100 A1 describes a suction apparatus with a display element. International patent disclosure WO 2007/084 543 A2, corresponding to U.S. patent publication No. 2007/0163075, describes a suction apparatus for cleaning stairs.

The present document relates to the technical task of rendering possible a particularly convenient interaction between the suction unit of a suction apparatus and the user of the suction apparatus, in particular in order thereby to improve the cleaning result produced by the suction apparatus.

The object is achieved by means of the subject of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent claims, described in the description below or illustrated in the attached drawing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a suction unit for a hand-held suction apparatus. The suction unit contains a collection container and a suction mouth. The suction unit is configured to create a suction air flow through the suction mouth into the collecting container of the suction unit to suck up dirt particles. The suction unit further has a housing with a rear wall, a hand grip disposed on the rear wall of the housing such that the hand grip and the rear wall border a cut-out for a user to arrange fingers of a hand when gripping the hand grip, and an electrically operated display element disposed on the rear wall of the housing facing the cut-out so as to output visual information with regard to an operating status of the suction unit. The electrically operated display element has a first part-display disposed on a first side of the hand grip, and a second part-display disposed on a second side of the hand grip lying opposite the first side. The electrically operated display element is configured such that the first part-display and the second part-display respectively display the same visual information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit in a redundant manner.

In accordance with one aspect, a suction unit for a hand-held suction apparatus is described. The suction unit is configured to create a suction air flow through the suction mouth of the suction unit into the collecting container of the suction unit in order to suck up dirt particles. The suction air flow is typically created by a blower of the suction unit. The suction mouth is configured in such a manner that an accessory (for example a nozzle) can be coupled to the suction mouth.

The suction unit contains a housing with a rear wall. The suction mouth can be formed by the housing, for example. Moreover, the housing encloses the blower of the suction unit. Furthermore, the housing can have a coupling at which a removable separator unit can be coupled to the collecting container. The separator unit typically contains a filter unit which is configured to filter dirt particles from the suction air flow and retain them in the collecting container.

The suction unit can have a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis and a transverse axis. The suction air flow can run within the suction mouth along the longitudinal axis. The vertical axis and the transverse axis can each be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A transverse plane can be defined by the vertical axis and the transverse axis, with the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the transverse plane.

The suction unit comprises a hand grip which is arranged on the rear wall of the housing in such a manner that the hand grip and the rear wall border a cut-out for a user to arrange fingers of a hand when gripping the hand grip. The hand grip can run along the vertical axis (from the upper side of the housing as far as the lower side of the housing). The cut-out can be of a circular shape or oval. The hand grip can have the form of a handle which is fastened to the (essentially planar) rear wall of the housing.

The hand grip can be configured in such a manner that a user can grip the hand grip by hand. The longitudinal axis of the suction unit can then correspond essentially to an extension of the arm of the user (with which the user holds the suction unit). The vertical axis of the suction unit can then run transversely with respect to the hand of the user (from the small finger to the thumb). The transverse axis of the suction unit can then run through the hand of the user (from the inner side of the palm of the hand to the outer side of the palm of the hand).

The suction unit has an electrically operated display element on the rear wall of the housing facing the cut-out so as to output visual information with regard to an operating status of the suction unit. Exemplary operating statuses are the degree of contamination of the suction air flow, the speed of the blower, the accessory coupled to the suction nozzle, and/or an operating mode of the suction unit.

The display element can be facing the inner side of the hand grip that faces the cut-out and/or the rear wall. Alternatively or additionally, the display element can be covered in some areas by the hand grip, in particular along the longitudinal axis of the suction unit at least.

It is possible with the aid of a display element arranged in this manner to create an efficient and reliable interaction between the suction unit and a user. The suction unit is typically held during the operation in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the suction unit represents an extension of the arm of the user with which the user is holding the suction unit. As a result, the rear wall of the housing of the suction unit (which is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis) faces the head of the user so that the display element on the rear wall can be seen by the user in a convenient and reliable manner. Moreover, the display element can be arranged on the rear wall of the housing in an installation space-efficient manner.

The rear wall of the housing of the suction unit (on which the display element is arranged) is preferably inclined with regard to the longitudinal axis, in particular by an angle between 10° and 45°. The rear wall can be inclined or rotated about the transverse axis of the suction unit, in particular in such a manner that the rear wall is inclined or rotated toward the head of the user when the user carries the suction unit by hand (and the longitudinal axis corresponds essentially to an extension of the arm of the user). This makes it possible to further increase the reliability and the comfort of the interaction of the user with the suction unit.

As already explained, the suction unit typically has a blower which is configured to generate the suction air flow through the suction mouth of the suction unit. The rear wall with the display element can directly adjoin the blower. The display element can thus be provided in a particularly installation space-efficient manner.

The display element can comprise for example a screen with a matrix of pixels, (possibly a TFT (thin-film transistor) screen, an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen and/or an LED screen). Alternatively or additionally, the display element can have a quantity of light modules (in particular LEDs (light emitting diodes). A control apparatus of the suction unit can be configured to actuate the display element in order to display information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit. For this purpose, one or multiple characteristics of the light emitted by the individual light modules can be changed. Exemplary characteristics are the intensity and/or the color of the emitted light. Thus, it is possible in an efficient and convenient manner to visually display information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit.

The display element can comprise a diffuser which is configured to scatter the light emitted by the individual light modules. It is thus possible to create a homogeneous as possible illumination of a symbol illustrated by the display element. Furthermore, the display element can comprise a symbol layer which is configured to spatially limit to one or multiple symbols the light emitted by the quantity of light-emitting diodes. As will be explained below, the quantity of light modules can comprise a first and a second quantity of light modules. The symbol layer can be configured to spatially limit to a first or to a second part-symbol the light emitted by the first quantity and the second quantity of light modules. It is thus possible using the two quantities of light modules to illuminate in each case a dedicated part-symbol. The display element can moreover comprise a covering which is configured to protect the display element from environmental influences. It is thus possible to provide a particularly reliable and robust display element.

The display element is preferably configured symmetrically, in particular mirror-symmetrically, with regard to a plane of symmetry. The plane of symmetry can divide the hand grip into two halves, possibly into a left-hand half and a right-hand half. The plane of symmetry can be defined in particular by the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis of the suction unit. The (mirror) symmetrical output of visual information on the display element renders it possible for the visual information to be seen in a convenient and reliable manner by a user, irrespective of whether the user is gripping the hand grip of the suction unit by the right hand (and in this case can see the left-hand part-display on the display unit) or by the left hand (and in this case the right-hand part-display can be seen on the display element). A convenient and reliable use of the suction unit is thus rendered possible for left-handed and right-handed users.

The display element can comprise a first part-display, which is arranged (along the transverse axis) on the first (for example on the left-hand) side of the hand grip, and can comprise a second part-display, which is arranged on the second (for example on the right-hand) side of the hand grip lying the first side. The first part-display can be created (in a dedicated manner and/or exclusively) by the first (left-hand) quantity of light modules, and the second part-display can be created (in a dedicated manner and/or exclusively) by the second (right-hand) quantity of light modules.

The display element is preferably configured in such a manner that the first part-display and the second part-display display in each case the same visual information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit in a redundant manner (and preferably mirror-symmetrically with regard to the plane of symmetry). A particularly convenient and reliable use of the suction unit is thus rendered possible for left-handed and right-handed users.

As already explained, the display element can comprise a first (left-hand) quantity of light modules and a second (right-hand) quantity of light modules, wherein the individual light modules can each comprise at least or precisely one light-emitting diode. The first quantity of light modules is preferably arranged mirror-symmetrically with regard to the plane of symmetry with respect to the second quantity of light modules. The light modules of the two quantities of light modules can each be arranged adjacent to one another on a circular segment.

The suction unit can be configured in such a manner that the first quantity of light modules (dedicated) is actuated in order to display a first part-symbol, and that the second quantity of light modules (dedicated) is actuated in order to display a second part-symbol. The first part-symbol and the second part-symbol are preferably mirror-symmetrical with regard to the plane of symmetry. The suction unit can be limited to actuating the first quantity and the second quantity of light modules in such a manner that mirror-symmetrical first and second part-symbols are always displayed. A particularly convenient and reliable use of the suction unit is thus rendered possible for left-handed and right-handed users.

The first part-symbol and the second part-symbol can each be configured in the shape of a bar. The bars can each run along a circular segment. The suction unit can be configured to actuate the first quantity and the second quantity of light modules in such a manner that the length of the bar-shaped first and second part-symbols is changed; and/or the color of the bar-shaped first and second part-symbols is changed.

Thus, it is possible to provide information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit in a particularly convenient and reliable manner.

The control apparatus of the suction unit can be configured to determine information with regard to the (respective prevailing) quantity of dirt particles in the suction air flow (i.e. with regard to the degree of contamination of the suction air flow). This information can be determined on the basis of sensor data of a contamination sensor of the suction unit.

The control apparatus of the suction unit can moreover be configured to cause the display element to visually display the information determined with regard to the quantity of dirt particles, in particular by the length of the symbol displayed by the display element, and/or by the color of the symbol displayed by the display element.

The control apparatus can be configured in particular to:

Providing information with regard to the degree of contamination of the suction air flow renders it possible for the suction unit to operate in a particularly efficient and convenient manner.

Alternatively or additionally, the control apparatus can be configured to provide information with regard to the accessory which is coupled to the suction mouth of the suction unit. The information can be for example the type of accessory from a number of different accessory types. The display element can be caused to visually display the determined information with regard to the accessory, in particular the determined type of the accessory. The comfort of the suction unit can be further increased in this manner.

In accordance with a further aspect, a suction apparatus in particular a hand-held vacuum cleaner is described which comprises the suction unit described in this document. The suction apparatus can also comprise an accessory coupled to the suction mouth of the suction unit.

It should be noted that each aspect of the suction unit described in this document and the suction apparatus described in this document can be combined with one another in numerous ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in numerous ways.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a suction unit with a display element, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

As explained in the introduction, the present document is concerned with rendering it possible for a user to interact in a particularly convenient and efficient manner with a suction apparatus, in particular in order to create an efficient and qualitative high-value suction operation of the suction apparatus. In this context,shows an exemplary (hand-held) vacuum cleaner(as an example for a suction apparatus), which has a suction unitwith an electrical energy storage device. The suction unithas a (hand) gripwhich a user can grip by hand in order to hold the suction unit. The blower of the suction unitcreates a suction airflow through the suction mouthof the suction unitvia the separator unitof the suction unitup to the blower. The suction unitcan be configured to be used independently as a suction apparatus.

An accessory,can be connected to the suction unitvia a coupling. In the illustrated example, the suction unitis connected via a couplingto the suction tubewhich is connected in turn via a couplingto a floor nozzle.

show different views of a suction unitand a separator unit. The suction airflowcreated by the bloweris sucked through the suction mouthof the suction unitinto the separator unit. The separator unithas an external outer wallwhich encloses a filter unit. The exterior wallforms a collecting container. The suction airflowis sucked through an (inlet) openingarranged on the outer wallinto the collecting container enclosed by the outer wall. In this case, the suction airflowis preferably oriented as it is introduced into the collecting container in such a manner that the suction airflowcirculates in a cyclonic manner around the (circular-cylindrical) filter unit. The suction airflowis further sucked through the surface of the filter unittoward the central longitudinal axisof the separator unit. In this case, the contaminants from the suction airfloware retained at the surface of the filter unit, and remain in the collection areaformed between the filter unitand the outer wall.

The (circular-cylindrical) collecting container formed by the outer wallextends along the longitudinal axisfrom a first end side(facing the blower) up to a second end side(remote from the blower). A coverwhich covers the collecting container can be arranged at the second end side. The covercan be opened (for example flipped open), so that contaminants from the collection areacan be removed from the collection areaof the collecting container via the second end side.

It is possible to arrange within the collecting container an ejection and/or compression elementwhich is configured to be moved along the longitudinal axis. The ejection and/or compression elementcan be configured, as illustrated in, as a ring which is arranged around the filter unit. The ejection and/or compression elementcan extend in the radial direction (with regard to the longitudinal axis) from the surface of the filter unitup to the inner side of the outer wall.

The ejection and/or compression elementcan be arranged in an initial position at the first end sideof the collecting container. Furthermore, the ejection and/or compression elementcan be configured so as to be moved along the longitudinal axisfrom the first end sideto the second end side, so that the contaminants located in the collection areaare pushed toward the second end sideby the ejection and/or compression element. It is thus rendered possible during the operation of the suction unitto compress the contaminants located in the collection area(in the region of the second end side), so that the surface of the filter unitis essentially free of contaminants, and consequently a high suction power is still available. Moreover, contaminants can be pushed by the ejection and/or compression elementin a convenient manner along the longitudinal axisvia the second end side(and the open cover) out of the collecting container in order to empty the collecting container.

As illustrated in, for example, the outer wallof the collecting container has a framewhich surrounds the openingto the collection areaof the collecting container. The frameis preferably arranged in close proximity to the first end sideof the collecting container. A flexible flapcan be arranged within the frameand the flap is designed in such a manner that the flapcloses the openingbordered by the framewhen the bloweris not creating a suction airflow, in other words when there are no forces acting on the flapin the radial direction from the outside into the collecting container. The collecting container can thus be closed by the flexible flap, so that it is possible to reliably avoid contaminants dropping out of the collecting container through the opening(for example when the separator unitis separated from the suction unitin order to empty the separator unit).

It is possible to arrange in the air duct between the suction mouthand the collecting container at least one contamination sensorwhich is configured to collect sensor date with regard to the quantity of dirt particles which are carried along with the suction air flow. The sensorcan comprise for example a light barrier which reacts to the dirt particles in the suction air flow.

The (hand) gripof the suction unitcan be arranged on the rear wallof the housing of the suction unit. The rear wallcan be configured transversely with respect to the longitudinal axisof the suction unit. The gripcan be fastened in a U-shape to the rear wallof the housing of the suction unitso that a cut-out is enclosed by the gripand the rear walland the user can guide the fingers of a hand through the cut-out in order to grip the grip. In so doing, the user can use the right hand or the left hand depending upon their preference.

shows a section of the suction unitin the region of the cut-out formed through the rear walland the grip. An (electronic) display unitis arranged on the rear walland is configured to visually display information with regard to the operating status of the suction unit. The display elementis preferably designed symmetrically in such a manner that the information illustrated on the display elementcan be seen by the user on an equal basis, irrespective of whether the user grips the gripby the right hand or by the left hand.

The display elementcan comprise a light unitwhich has a quantity of light moduleswherein the individual light modulescan each be actuated individually in order to emit light. In so doing, it is possible in each case to set one or multiple characteristics of the light emitted by the respective light module. Exemplary characteristics are,

As already explained, the suction unitcan have a longitudinal axiswhich runs for example parallel to the flow direction of the suction air flowin the suction mouthof the suction unit. Furthermore, the suction unitcan have a transverse axis which runs between the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the suction unit. In addition, the suction unitcan have a vertical axis which runs between the lower side and the upper side of the suction unit. In each case, the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis and the transverse axis are perpendicular to each other in pairs and can correspond to the axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. In the coordinate system illustrated in, the longitudinal axiscorresponds to the x-axis, the transverse axis corresponds to the y-axis and the vertical axis corresponds to the z-axis.

The light unit(i.e. the display element) can be constructed (mirror) symmetrically with regard to the plane of symmetry that is running parallel to the longitudinal axisand parallel to the vertical axis of the suction unit. The plane of symmetry can divide the gripand the rear wallinto a left-hand half and a right-hand half (wherein the left-hand half and the right-hand half can be constructed in an essentially symmetrical manner). The light unitcan have a first quantity of light moduleswhich are arranged on the left-hand half of the rear wall. Moreover, the light unitcan have a second quantity of light moduleswhich are constructed symmetrically thereto and are arranged on the right-hand half of the rear wall. The quantities of light modulescan each have one or more, two or more, three or more, or four or more light modules.

The light unitcan also have a (control) apparatus, which is designed to actuate the light modulesof the light unit. In so doing, the light modulescan be actuated in a symmetrical manner with regard to the plane of symmetry. In particular, the first quantity and the second quantity of light modulescan be actuated in essentially the same manner. It is thus possible to cause the same visual information to be illustrated on the two halves of the rear wall(i.e. on the right-hand or the left-hand side of the rear wall) respectively so that this information can be seen on an equal basis by the user irrespective of whether the user grips the gripwith the right hand or the left hand.