Vacuum Cleaner with Scraper Assembly

The present application is a continuation of PCT/CN2024/100599 filed on Jun. 21, 2024, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner with a scraper.

Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

illustrate various views of an example cleaning headaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to the isometric view in, the cleaning headgenerally includes a vacuum interface regiongenerally configured to receive a handle and control assembly (not shown in this figure) associated with a vacuum system. The vacuum system may include, for example, an upright vacuum system, canister vacuum system, handheld vacuum system, battery powered vacuum system, central vacuum cleaner, etc. The vacuum interface regiongenerally forms a vacuum conduitfor fluid communication between the cleaning headand a handle/base portion (not shown in this figure) of a vacuum system. In addition, the vacuum interface regionmay include an electrical interfaceto provide electrical and power coupling between the cleaning headand a handle/base portion (not shown in this figure). The cleaning headalso includes a surface cleaning regionthat includes a main bodygenerally configured to roll across an area to be cleaned, for example, carpet, flooring, etc.

The cleaning headalso includes rollersto facilitate movement of the cleaning headacross a floor in both forward and reverse directions (as generally indicated by the F (forward) arrow and R (reverse) arrow). The main bodyof the cleaning regionalso includes main controllable cleaning roller(cleaning roller) generally disposed within a vacuum regionof the main body, and generally configured to controllably rotate to lift dirt and debris into a vacuum region.

The cleaning rollergenerally extends across the width of the main body, and may include one or more bristle tracksto provide cleaning as the main bodypasses over flooring. In the view of, the cleaning rolleris generally controlled to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The one or more bristle tracksmay be formed of, for example, stiff bristles, flaps (e.g., rubber flaps), plush material (e.g., low-nap material), rubber and cloth materials, etc. The cleaning rollermay be coupled to controllable motor circuitry (not shown) to cause controllable rotation of the cleaning rollerand to enable a user to turn the roller“on” and “off”, depending on a given cleaning task. The vacuum regionis illustrated as an elongated opening generally disposed near a leading edge or centrally to the main body, and the cleaning rollermay generally be disposed within the vacuum region, and partially extending “below” a plane of the bottom of the main body, to enable contact with a surface to be cleaned. In some embodiments, the main bodymay also include a “leading edge” rollerpositioned forward of the cleaning roller, and generally configured to maintain dirt and debris within the footprint of the main bodyas the main body moves across a floor.

The main bodyalso includes a removable debris scraper assemblygenerally extending across the width of the main body, and positioned “behind” the cleaning roller. The scraperis generally disposed parallel to the cleaning roller, and having a length the same as, or slightly larger than the cleaning roller. As described in greater detail below, the scraper assemblyincludes a removable frame member and a plurality of overlapping flap members coupled to the frame member.illustrates a side view of the cleaning head. As shown in, the scraper assemblyextends below the plane of the bottom of the main body. To properly engage a surface to be cleaned, the scraper assemblymay extend approximately 1 mm to 5 mm below the planeof the bottom of the main body.

illustrates a bottom view of the cleaning head. As illustrated, the scraper assemblyincludes a removable frame member(shown in) and flap member assemblythat includes a plurality of flap members. The frame memberincludes a main portiongenerally configured to receive the flap member assemblyand a tab portionextending rearward of the main portion. The tab portionis configured to removably engage with snap-fit portionsA andB of the main body, so that the scraper assemblymay be removed from the main bodyfor certain cleaning tasks. The overlapping flap members of the flap member assemblyare disposed along the length of the main portion, as illustrated (and described below). The flap member assemblyis illustrated in FIG. IC an “un-engaged” or static position, i.e., not in contact with a floor surface. As a general matter, the overlapping flap members of the flap member assemblyare generally configured to pivot to a first position when the cleaning headis moving in a forward direction and pivot to a second position when the cleaning headis moving in a forward direction. The first position is a “closed” position to allow dirt and debris to gather on the forward side of the flap members of the flap member assembly, and the second position is an “open” position to allow dirt and debris to pass through the flap members of the flap member assemblyto be picked up within the vacuum region(i.e., to reduce or eliminate to “pile-up” of debris on the rear edge of the flap members of the flap member assemblywhen the cleaning headis moving in a reverse direction).

illustrates a partial bottom view of the flap member assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The flap member assemblyincludes a base insert, a first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N disposed on the base insert, a second plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N disposed on the base insert, and a center flap memberdisposed on the base insertbetween the first and second plurality of overlapping flap members/. The base insertis generally dimensioned to be received in a corresponding slot or channel defined in the frame memberand/or integrated with the frame member. The first plurality of flap membersA . . .N are disposed adjacent to one another so that each flap member partially overlaps an adjacent flap member, with respect to a first centerlineof the base insert. The first centerlinerepresents the long axis of the base insert. The first plurality of flap membersA . . .N are disposed transverse (angled) with respect to the first centerline. Taking flap memberA as an example, the flap memberA has a leading edge sidegenerally facing the front of the main bodyof the cleaning head, and a trailing edge sidegenerally facing the rear of the main bodyof the cleaning head. As illustrated, each flap memberA . . .N is disposed at an angle with the first centerlineso that the leading edge sidegenerally faces away from the centerline(and the trailing edge sidegenerally faces toward the first centerline). The first plurality of flapsA . . .N are disposed on a first side of a second centerlineof the base insert, as illustrated (and the second centerlineis normal to the first centerlineand generally corresponds to a centerline of the main bodyof the cleaning head).

The second plurality overlapping flap membersA . . .N are similar to the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N. The second plurality overlapping flap membersA . . .N are disposed on the opposite side of the second centerline, in a mirrored fashion to the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N. The center flap memberdisposed on the base insert, centered on the second centerlineand between the first and second plurality of overlapping flap members/, and rearward of the first and second plurality of overlapping flap members/.

illustrates a front view of an overlapping flap memberA′ according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The flap memberA′ is representative of other flap members of the first and second overlapping flap member/, oriented on the base insertas described in greater detail below. The flap memberA′ includes a base portionand a flap extension portion. The base portionmay be formed having a generally rectangular shape, and having a width (W) selected to be partially overlapping and adjacent flap member (when disposed on the base insert). A height (H) of the base portionis selected so that the base portionis at or near in contact with the floor when the cleaning headis contacting the floor, as represented by dashed line. In example embodiments, the width of the flap memberA′ may be approximately 15-35 mm, and the total height (H+H) may be approximately 10-20 mm. The flap memberA′ also includes a flap extension portionextending above the base portion. It should be noted that “extending above” is in reference to the orientation of the flap memberA′ shown in, and it will be understood that, when installed on the cleaning head, the flap extensionis disposed below the base portion (i.e., the flap member is rotated 180 degrees from the orientation inas the installed).

The base portionand flap extensionmay be formed of, for example, a flexible rubber material, flexible polymer material, flexible cloth material, and/or combinations thereof, etc., and in some embodiments is formed having a Shore hardness of betweenA andA. As will be described below, the flap extensionis generally configured to “pivot into” the base portion of an adjacent flap member when the cleaning headis moving in a forward direction, and the flap extension is also configured to pivot away from the base portion of the adjacent flap member when the cleaning headis moving in a reverse direction. The flap extensionof this embodiment is generally triangular-shaped, having a height (H) selected to be able to contact the floor when installed to provide pivoting action as the cleaning head moves between the forward and reverse directions. In some embodiments, Hmay be on the order of 3-5 mm.

illustrates a front view of an overlapping flap memberA″ according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the flap extensionmay be formed to have a truncated asymmetric polygon shape, as illustrated.illustrates a front view of an overlapping flap memberA″′ according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the flap extensionmay be formed to have a curved outer edge, as illustrated.

illustrates an isometric bottom view of the scraper assemblywhen the cleaning head is moving in the forward (F) direction according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated and with respect to the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N on the left side of centerline, and by way of example, the flap extension portionB of flap memberB is folded (or “pivoted”) onto the base portionC of flap memberC. Similarly, the flap extension portionN of flap memberN is folded onto the center flap member. The remaining flap members on the left side of centerlineoperate in a similar manner. In addition, the second plurality of flap overlapping flap membersA . . .N operate in a similar manner as the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N, except as a mirror image of the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N with respect to centerline.illustrates another isometric bottom view of the scraper assemblywhen the cleaning head is moving in the forward (F) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in, the leading edge side of the flap membersA . . .N,A . . .N andare referred to collectively as. As illustrated when viewed from the from the front, the leading edge sidesform a “closed” surface that causes dirt and debris to be pushed forward as the cleaning head is moved in the forward (F) direction.

illustrates an isometric bottom view of the scraper assemblywhen the cleaning head is moving in the reverse (R) direction according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated and with respect to the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N on the left side of centerline, and by way of example, the flap extension portionB of flap memberB is folded (or “pivoted”) away from the flap memberC. Thus, an opening or channelis formed. The channelallows dirt and debris to pass through, and, by virtue of the angle of the flap membersB andC, causes dirt and debris to deflect generally towards centerline, as generally illustrated by arrow. The remaining flap members on the left side and right side of centerlineoperate in a similar manner. Similarly, the flap extension portionN of flap memberN is folded onto the center flap member. The remaining flap members on the left side of centerlineoperate in a similar manner. In addition, the second plurality of flap overlapping flap membersA . . .N operate in a similar manner as the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N, except as a mirror image of the first plurality of overlapping flap membersA . . .N with respect to centerline. Thus, as illustrated, the scraper assemblyforms an “open” position in the reverse direction.

As is illustrated, the internal structure of the main bodyof the cleaning headincludes various slots, channels and/or chambers to affix and/or house the scraper assembly, cleaning roller, etc., within/on the main body. Of course, such slots, channels and/or chambers to affix and/or house components within the main bodymay be modified, for example, depending on dimensions of selected components, desired tolerances within the body and between components, etc.

As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “and/or” can mean any combination of the listed items. For example, the phrase “A, B and/or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C. As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “at least one of” can mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such equivalents. Various features, aspects, and embodiments have been described herein. The features, aspects, and embodiments are susceptible to combination with one another as well as to variation and modification, as will be understood by those having skill in the art. The present disclosure should, therefore, be considered to encompass such combinations, variations, and modifications.