TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a crevice style cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaner. Such a tool may be a detachable end tool for a wand or hose of a vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND

Vacuum cleaners are usually sold with a variety of cleaning tools to make them more useful in a variety of different cleaning tasks. For example, upright, canister and stickvac style vacuum cleaners usually have a main floor tool, possibly being equipped with an agitator or brush bar, for cleaning a large expanse of floor. However, other types of cleaning tool may be more useful for ‘off the floor’ cleaning tasks, such as cleaning stairs, mattresses, car seats and so on.

One such cleaning tool is known as a crevice tool. As the name implies, crevice tools are particularly suited to cleaning in crevices formed in furniture such as sofas and car seats because their relatively long and thin shape is well-suited to the task. Crevice tools are also very useful for cleaning into corners around rooms or between treads and risers of a staircase, where debris tends to collect and where the larger main floor tools are less suitable.

GB2586995B discloses an example of a crevice tool. Although it is shown as being attachable to a handheld or ‘stickvac’ style cleaner, it may be used with canister and upright cleaners as well. The crevice tool includes an elongated body having a circular connector at one end which is attachable to a wand of an associated vacuum cleaner. A nozzle is defined at the end of the tool body remote from the connector and is shaped to define a generally rectangular shape in cross section. A tool opening extends obliquely across the nozzle. The generally rectangular shape of the opening helps the tool to achieve a high airflow rate through the tool that aids its pickup efficiency. However, the geometry of the nozzle still does not perform well at truly reaching into and cleaning sharp rigid comers, for examples at the edge defined between a floor and a vertical kickboard and between risers and treads of a set of stairs.

It is against this background that the examples of the invention have been devised.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a crevice tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising an elongated hollow body extending in a longitudinal direction, and a tool opening to admit airflow into the hollow body, wherein the tool opening is defined by first and second opposed flank edges that reside in a common plane that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction. The tool further comprises a first connecting edge that extends between the first and second opposed flank edges, wherein the first connecting edge is configured with a corner cleaning formation which extends beyond the common plane in the longitudinal direction.

Advantageously the corner cleaning formation is configured to press into corner surfaces such as those found between floor surfaces and kickboard/skirting boards in order to scrape dirt and thereby clean more effectively.

A second connecting edge may extend between the flank edges, and opposed to the first connecting edge, the second connecting edge defining a recess that recedes from the common plane in the longitudinal direction away from the tool opening. The recess therefore is in a counter-position to the comer cleaning formation and provides an inlet for high speed airflow to enter the hollow interior of the crevice tool, in use.

In some examples, the crevice tool may include one or more air bleed openings to allow air to flow into the tool in use even if the nozzle opening becomes blocked. The corner cleaning formation may comprise a chevron-shaped scraper portion. Therefore, the comer cleaning formation is pointed so as to define an apex which can press into comers effectively to scrape dirt therefrom. The corner cleaning formation may be a rigid extension of the elongated hollow body of the tool. Such a configuration may be convenient for manufacturing because the crevice tool could then be made from a single material part if desired.

An alternative is that the corner cleaning formation is a flexible extension of the elongated hollow body. In the case where the corner cleaning formation is the same material as the tool body, flexibility may be achieved by appropriate shaping or forming of the comer cleaning formation so that it is more flexible than the surrounding portion of the tool. Alternatively however, the comer cleaning formation may be formed of a different material to the tool body, e.g. it may be overmoulded part of rubber or other polymeric material. In either of the aforementioned configurations, the comer cleaning formation may also include a lint picker strip to assist it in picking fibrous material from carpeted floors.

In a further enhancement, the corner cleaning formation may be retractable.

To improve the way the flank edges create at least a partial seal when pressed up against mutually orthogonal corner surfaces, they may be provided with a sealing formation which may be embodied as a chamfered edge surface. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the sealing formation may be embodied as a rounded profile and even a different material to the tool, for example a more flexible polymeric material such as rubber to improve the way the flank edges deform plastically to corner surfaces when pressed against them.

In another aspect, the invention embraces a vacuum cleaner incorporating or comprising the crevice tool as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be more fully understood, some specific implementations will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handheld vacuum cleaner having attached to it a crevice tool in accordance with an example of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the crevice tool in Figure 1, isolated from the vacuum cleaner;

Figures 3 and 4 are different side views of the crevice tool in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is another perspective view of the crevice tool in Figure 2, which shows in more detail how the crevice tool is able to clean into a right angled edge;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an alternative example crevice tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1, a vacuum cleaner 1 includes a main body 2 having an air inlet 3 to which is attached a crevice tool 4.

The vacuum cleaner 1 in the illustrated example is a handheld- style vacuum cleaner, but it should be noted that this is just exemplary and that other styles of vacuum cleaner are applicable to the invention, for example canister-style and upright vacuum cleaners. Although the crevice tool 4 is attached directly to the main body 2 of the vacuum via its air inlet 3, the crevice tool 4 may also be connected to a suitable wand assembly or hose assembly (not shown) which may in turn be coupled to the main body 2. In some contexts, such a crevice tool may be integral with a wand or hose assembly. However, in this example the crevice tool 4 is removably connected to the main body 2 via a suitable connector 5 on the tool which coupled to a mutual coupling (not shown) on the air inlet 3 of the main body 2. As shown in Figure 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 will be recognised of the type available from Dyson Limited known as the “VI 0” product model, for example.

As is known, the vacuum cleaner 1 has an airflow generator 6 that generates a relative vacuum in the main body 2 which draws air through the crevice tool 4. The main body 2 includes a cyclonic dust separator 7, in this example. The high speed airflow into the crevice tool 4 entrains dirt and debris by which means the vacuum cleaner 1 is able to clean surfaces. It should be noted that vacuum cleaners using other separation systems are also applicable to the invention, for example porous bags or other filtration means. To generate power, a battery pack 8 is provided on the distal end of a transversely extending handle or grip 9. The operation of the vacuum cleaner is not important to the invention and so further discussion is omitted.

The crevice tool 4 is a task-specific tool which is particularly well adapted to reach into narrow gaps such as the nip between adjacent surfaces of furniture, and corner spaces that are formed at the right angles between floors and kickboards/skirting boards. In general, crevice tools are known in the art.

With reference to Figures 2 to 5, which show the crevice tool 4 of Figure 1 in more detail, the crevice tool 4 comprises a generally elongate tool body 10 which is hollow, thereby forming a smooth-bored tube through which air can flow.

The tool body 10 is configured with a first end 12 and a second end 14. The first end 12 is adapted to connect to the main body 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1, by way of the connector 5 whereas the second end 14 is configured to define a nozzle opening 16. Any suitable form of connector 5 would be acceptable and the illustrated connector is not to be considered to limit the scope of the invention. The connector 5 enables the crevice tool 4 to be detached and reattached to the air inlet 3. In this example, the first end 12 is configured with a circular geometry which allows it to be connected to the matching circular geometry of the air inlet 3. The circular geometry is not essential to the invention, but it is usual for detachable vacuum tools such as crevice tools to connect to air inlets, wands and hoses by way of a circular interface.

Although it is typical for vacuum tools to be separate parts from the associated hoses and wands, in principle the crevice tool 4 could be adapted as an integral part of an associated vacuum cleaner, wand or hose, although this would mean that it would not be able to be removed and swapped for a different tool. Therefore, the detachable nature of the crevice tool 4 is not essential, although it is a useful feature.

The circular geometry of the first end 12 of the crevice tool 4 blends into a flattened or blade-like region 20 that extends along the tool body 10 to terminate in the second end 14, which forms a nose of the tool. The flattened region 20 provides the tool body with a stadium/discorectangle shaped cross section. The flattened region 20 is useful to allow the crevice tool 4 to extend into narrow gaps, as its name implies.

As can be appreciated from the Figures, the tool body 10 is generally linear in form in this example and, as is usual with known crevice tools, extends along a major axis A. The nozzle opening 16 is transverse to the major axis A but is set at an angle to it, of approximately 30 degrees in this example. This angled opening is useful in that it enables a user of the tool to offer up the crevice tool 4 to a surface at an angle which makes it more convenient to move the nozzle opening 16 of the crevice tool 4 along the surface to be cleaned. Air bleed openings 21 may be provided in the body of the crevice tool 4 to enable air to enter the tool in the event that the nozzle opening 16 is blocked during use.

Viewing the nozzle opening in more detail in Figure 2, it will be appreciated that the generally stadium shaped profile is defined by first and second flank edges 22, 24 which are connected by first and second connecting edges 26, 28. The orientation of the crevice tool 4 in use means that the first connecting edge 26 is a trailing edge or ‘heel edge’ and the second connecting edge 28 is a leading edge or ‘toe edge.

It will be noted that the first and second flank edges 22, 24 are generally straight and therefore extend in a common plane, marked as P. As can be seen in Figure 2, and particularly in Figure 3, the plane P extends transversely to the major axis A. For the avoidance of doubt, by the term ‘transversely’ it is meant that the plane P extends at an angle to the major axis A, but not necessarily perpendicularly to it. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plane P extends at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the major axis A when viewed from the side of the tool in Figure 3, i.e. when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the long side of the crevice tool. In this configuration, it will be noted that the toe edge 28 is more distal from the end of the connector 5, along the body 10, compared to the heel edge 26.

In known crevice tools, the connecting edges 26,28 are also typically straight and would extend in the common plane P.

However, in the illustrated example, the connecting edges 26, 28 are not straight such that they do not extend in the common plane P. Instead, the toe edge 28 is configured to define a recess 30. The recess 30 extends away from the common plane P in a direction along the major axis A towards the first end 12 of the crevice tool. The recess 30 is generally semi-circular in the illustrated example, but this is not essential.

Whereas the toe edge 28 defines the recess 30, the heel edge 26 defines a comer cleaning formation 32. In the illustrated example, the corner cleaning formation 32 is defined by a protruding blade-like scraper portion 33, as best viewed in Figures 3 and 4. The scraper portion 33 extends beyond the common plane P in an orientation aligned with the major axis A but in the opposite direction from the first end 12. As can be seen, the scraper portion 33 is shaped like a chevron and so defines an apex or point 36. The apex 36 is helpful at pressing into right-angled corners so dislodge dirt and debris, and particularly dirt and debris that is at least partially adhered to the surface to be cleaned.

The effects of the combined configuration of the heel edge 26, toe edge 28 and flank edges 22,24 can be appreciated by observing Figure 5.

In the circumstances shown in Figure 5, the flank edges 22,24 press up against rigid neighbouring surfaces 37,38 of corner region 39 to create a seal effect. Likewise, the configuration of the scraper portion 33 means that it also presses up against the corner region 39, minimising the airflow past the scraper portion 33 into the tool opening 16. However, the presence of the recess 30 defines an inlet aperture for airflow to rush into the tool opening 16. The heel and toe edges, 26,28 therefore work together to improve the corner cleaning ability of the crevice tool 4, since the scraper portion 33 works to dislodge debris that is stuck in the comer, whilst the recess 30 admits a high speed airflow into the tool to encourage dirt removal.

Since the flank edges 22,24 seal against the adjacent corner surfaces, minimal airflow passes the flank edges 22,24, which increases the speed of airflow into the tool opening 16 through the recess 30.

Beneficially, the flank edges 22,24 are configured to improve the sealing effect with the surfaces that they are pressed against. As can be appreciated from Figure 5, each of the flank edges 22,24 has a chamfer 22a, 24a so that they lay in a flatter position when the crevice tool 4 is applied to a right-angled corner region 39.

A similar effect to the chamfers 22a, 24a on the flank edges 22,24 could be achieved using other configurations. For example, the flank edges 22,24 could have a rounded profile. Further, the flank edges could be defined by a material that is different from the material of the crevice tool 4. For example, the flank edges 22,24 could be defined by overmoulded rubber parts that have some flexibility to allow them to deform slightly when pressed against the corner region 39, thereby benefitting sealing. In another envisaged example, the flank edges 22,24 could be defined by a fringe of tightly packed bristles.

In a similar way in which the flank edges 22,24 may be configured in different ways to achieve the same effect, the corner cleaning formation 32 may also be configured differently than as shown in the illustrated example, yet still achieving the beneficial comer cleaning effect.

In the illustrated example discussed above, the comer cleaning formation 32 is embodied as a chevron-shaped scraper portion 33 which is a continuation of the material of the tool body 10, which is typically plastics such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), or may be other materials. The chevron-shaped scraper portion 33 is therefore a rigid extension of the tool body 10 and is a hard material so has some usefulness for providing a scraper function.

In other examples, the scraper portion 33 may be configured to have some flexibility, which may be useful in dislodging certain types of dirt from floors, in some circumstances. The flexibility could be achieved in various ways. For example, if the chevron-shaped scraper portion 33 is the same material as the hard plastics material of the tool body 10, regions of weakness may be provided in the scraper portion 33 which provide a degree of flexibility. However, it is possible that such regions of weakness may reduce the robustness of the scraper portion 33, so other alternatives may be preferable.

In one envisaged alternative, the scraper portion 33 may be configured as a flexible component such as rubber that is suitably bonded to the different material of the tool body 10. Such bonding may be achieved by a suitable bonding agent, but it may also be achieved by overmoulding, which is often preferable in serial production processes. Figure 6 shows an example of this where it can be seen that the scraper portion 33 is a separate component to the body 10 of the crevice tool.

In a further example, the scraper portion 33 may take the form of a chevron-shaped or pointed array of tightly-packed tufts of bristles. In such a configuration, the scraper portion 33 would have some flexibility which helps robustness, but would also be stiff enough to scrape dirt from the corner surfaces effectively.

In another example, the scraper portion 33 may have an overlaid secondary material. This may be a rubberised material to provide a gripping surface, or it may also be a style of lint picker material to provide an additional level of mechanical agitation.

In some examples of the invention, the scraper portion 33 may also be configured to be retractable. As such the scraper portion 33 may be configured to retract into the tool body 10. The direction of retraction may be aligned with the major axis A. The retraction may be spring biased to provide a predefined resistance to being retracted. Alternatively, or in addition, the retraction can be caused by a user by way of a user- operable button or lever. Such a retraction feature may help protect the scraper portion 33 in the event that it is pushed against a particular hard piece of debris that is stuck to a floor surface. Also, a user-operable retraction means that the scraper portion 33 is only deployed when needed. By ‘retractable’, it is meant that the scraper portion 33 is movable from a first position in which it projects from the surrounding portion of the crevice tool, to a second position in which it projects less, or even withdraws within, the surrounding portion of the crevice tool.