FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a vacuum cleaner having a handle and a suction body and provided with a rotation assembly that connects the two components together in such a way that they can rotate reciprocally around a common axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The growing research toward the ergonomic optimization of objects of everyday use is well known. In particular, in the design of new products, the range of movements that the human body can perform, which are comfortable and do not overload the joints, also known as Comfortable Range of Motion (CROM), is increasingly being taken into consideration.

For example, in the field of vacuum cleaners products are known which provide that the motor with the suction unit and/or the dust collection container are associated with the handle. The center of gravity of this type of product is quite close to the handle of the vacuum cleaner and the user grips the product with a strong grip, that is, with the hand closed on itself around the handle.

The efficiency of this grip, that is, the force that the user is able to transmit to the vacuum cleaner in relation to the total force used, is particularly dependent on the reciprocal positioning of the hand, wrist and arm. In particular, the strong grip is particularly efficient when the alignment occurs between the hand, wrist and arm.

Some types of vacuum cleaners are known in which the handle is made with particular inclinations with respect to the plane of symmetry of the vacuum cleaner and to the horizontal plane, in order to provide a more comfortable grip.

However, during use, when the vacuum cleaner is used resting on a surface, for example a floor, the user moves the product back and forth by pulling and pushing it with his/her arm.

During these pulling and pushing operations, the handle does not always guarantee efficient alignment between the hand, wrist and arm. This makes the cleaning experience difficult and tiring, with possible overloads on the user’s shoulder. Other known solutions provide handles that connect to the product by means of a joint that allows the relative rotation of the product and the handle around an axis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the vacuum cleaner. Although this type of solution allows greater freedom of movement of the hand, even with these solutions, in the step of pulling and pushing the vacuum cleaner there is an overload of the shoulder muscles due to the incorrect alignment of the hand, wrist and arm.

Therefore, the state of the art has some disadvantages.

One disadvantage is that known handles limit the range of movements that can be performed by a user who is gripping them.

Another disadvantage is that known handles oblige the user to make movements that reduce the efficiency of the grip on the handle.

There is therefore a need to perfect a rotation assembly for a handle that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotation assembly that makes the user’s grip more efficient.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotation assembly which is more compatible with the range of comfortable human movements.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotation assembly which is compact and has reduced overall sizes.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a rotation assembly which can be used to rotatably connect components connected to each other by means of respective electric cables, without mechanically overloading the cables themselves, thus preventing possible damage and malfunctions.

Another purpose is to provide a vacuum cleaner device that allows high ergonomics of use for a user.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea. In accordance with the above purposes, a vacuum cleaner is described which overcomes the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defects present therein.

In accordance with some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner comprises at least a handle, a suction unit and a rotation assembly that rotatably connects the handle and the suction unit to each other.

The rotation assembly rotatably connects a first component, that is, the handle, and a second component, that is, the suction unit, to each other in order to allow a reciprocal rotation movement around a common axis.

The rotation assembly comprises a first rotation unit and a second rotation unit, wherein the first unit can be connected to the second component and the second unit can be connected to the first component, or vice versa.

The rotation assembly also comprises elastic means cooperating with the first and second rotation units in order to keep them in a reciprocal balance position.

The rotation assembly also comprises drawing means integral with one of either the first or the second unit and cooperating with the other of either the second or the first unit, the drawing means being configured to interfere with the elastic means in the event of a rotation of the second unit, taking the elastic means into a loaded position, that is, generating a torque opposite the rotation.

When no force is exerted on the second unit, the elastic means return the latter to the balance position.

According to some embodiments, the rotation assembly comprises a clamping device drivable by a user in order to pass from a clamping position in which it prevents a reciprocal rotation between the first and second units, and an idle position in which it allows the rotation.

In some embodiments, the first unit comprises a main body, provided with an external interface side facing, during use, toward the body of the household appliance or tool, and an internal side, opposite the external side, suitable to cooperate, during use, with the second interface.

On the internal side there are support means configured to constrain and keep the elastic means in position.

The second unit comprises a first body, provided with an external side facing, during use, toward the handle, and an internal side disposed facing the internal side of the main body.

According to some embodiments, the second unit comprises a second body, disposed on the external side of the main body and integrally connected to the first body.

During use, the main body is therefore disposed in an intermediate position between the first and the second bodies.

In accordance with preferred embodiments, the main body can comprise one or more slots configured to act as a guide for the drawing means, which are defined by connection elements between the first and second bodies disposed, during use, through the slots.

In some embodiments, the slots can be in the shape of an arc of a circumference having the center in the axis of rotation.

According to some embodiments, there are two slots, symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane of the rotation assembly, each of which is suitable to act as a guide for one of the drawing means.

The first and second bodies can be provided with respective central through holes coaxial with each other, in which, during use, possible electric cables can be disposed.

The main body can comprise a first central hole, having a larger size than the others, and the first and the second bodies can be provided with respective reciprocal coupling members, disposed passing through the first central hole, configured to produce a reciprocal coupling in the axial direction, allowing the rotation around the central axis.

In preferential embodiments, the elastic means can comprise a torsion spring having radial ends which develop radially, on which the drawing means act.

The present invention also concerns a vacuum cleaner comprising a handle which comprises a gripping portion for a user and command elements, and a suction unit connected to a suction tube. The handle can be rotatably connected to the suction unit by means of a rotation assembly as described in the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

- figs. 2 and 3 are partial representations of the vacuum cleaner of fig. 1 in different operating configurations;

- figs. 4 and 5 are three-dimensional representations of a rotation assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention in two different operating configurations;

- fig. 6 is a front view of an internal side of part of the first unit of the rotation assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a front view of an internal side of part of the second unit of the rotation assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention;

- fig. 8 is a three-dimensional and exploded view of the assembly of figs. 3 and 4.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

The present invention concerns a vacuum cleaner, indicated as a whole with the number 40 in figs. 1-3.

In preferred embodiments, the vacuum cleaner 40 can be of the modern type, with a suction unit 41 disposed substantially in correspondence with the handle 11.

In particular, the vacuum cleaner 40 can comprise a support body 12 in which the suction unit 41 is housed, and a handle 11 connected to the support body 12 and to the suction unit 41.

The suction unit 41 can be connected to a suction tube 42, which can extend longitudinally, defining an axis of suction.

The suction tube 41 can be symmetrical with respect to the axis of suction A.

The handle 11 can comprise a gripping portion 43 for a user and command elements 44 configured to allow the user to manage its operation. The gripping portion 43 can be suitable to be gripped by a user’s hand, with the fingers wrapped around it.

According to one aspect of the invention, the handle 11 is rotatable with respect to the suction unit 41 by means of a rotation assembly in accordance with the present invention and indicated with the reference number 10 in the drawings.

The rotation assembly 10 of the present invention is suitable to rotatably connect a first 11 and a second component 12 to each other, for example a handle and a body or a structure for containing and/or supporting a household appliance, or a tool.

The rotation assembly 10 comprises a first rotation unit 13 and a second rotation unit 14 (fig. 8). In particular, the first unit 13 can be connectable to the second component, that is, to the suction unit 41, and in particular to its support body 12, and the second unit 14 can be connectable to the first component, that is, to the handle 11, or vice versa.

The first and second units 13, 14 can be coupled to each other in such a way as to allow a reciprocal rotation around the axis of rotation X.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rotation assembly 10 also comprises elastic means 21 configured to cooperate with the first and second units 13, 14.

The elastic means 21 can be associated with at least one unit 13 and cooperate with the other unit 14 in order to keep the two units 13, 14 in a reciprocal balance position.

In particular, the first unit 13 can be provided with support means 20 configured to constrain the elastic means 21 in correspondence with at least one end, in such a way that they can return, by elastic return, into a balance position.

The rotation assembly 10 can also comprise drawing means 22 configured to interfere with the elastic means 21, in the event of a reciprocal rotation between the first and second units 13, 14.

More specifically, a rotational movement of the second unit 14 with respect to the first unit 13 can cause the interference between the drawing means 22 and the elastic means 21, taking the latter into a loaded position.

This interference generates a torque contrary to the rotation of the second unit 14. In other words, when no torque acts on the second unit 14, the latter is retained by elastic return in a neutral position, in which the elastic means 21 are in the balance position.

In one embodiment, the first unit 13 can comprise a main body 16 provided with an external side 16a facing, during use, toward the body of the household appliance or tool 12, and an internal side 16b facing, during use, toward the second unit 14.

The second interface 14 can comprise a first body 17 and a second body 29 which are disposed facing each other on opposite sides of the main body 16.

The first body 17 is provided with an external side 17a facing, during use, toward the handle 11, and an internal side 17b disposed facing the internal side 16b of the main body 16.

The first body 17 can also be substantially flat and have a discoidal shape.

According to some embodiments, the main body 16 comprises a first central hole 18 disposed coaxial to the axis of rotation X.

The first 17 and the second body 29 can be provided with respective reciprocal coupling members 19, 30, disposed passing through the first central hole 18 and configured to produce a reciprocal coupling in the axial direction, allowing the rotation around the axis of rotation X.

The second body 29 can be configured as a flattened element and comprise a central pin 30 which can be inserted into the central hole 18 of the main body 16.

An annular cavity 30a can be provided on the pin 30 and an annular protrusion 19a can be present in the first body 17 configured to be inserted into, and produce a same-shape coupling with, the cavity 30a.

According to some embodiments, the annular protrusion 19a delimits a through hole 19.

The pin 30 can also be provided with a central through hole 39, coaxial with the through holes 18, 19.

In this way, in the case of a vacuum cleaner 40, or other household appliance or tool, the electric power supply and/or command cables between the handle 11 and the components disposed in the support body 12 can be disposed through the through holes 18, 19, 39, so as not to be stressed during the reciprocal rotation between the handle 11 and the support body 12.

The second body 29 can also be connected to the first body 17 by means of connection elements 15 passing in respective slots 28 made in the main body 16, as will be described below.

According to some embodiments, the connection elements 15 can be configured as screws, bolts, pins or suchlike, which pass through the slots 28 made in the main body 16 and which connect to the first body 17.

The connection elements 15 can be disposed substantially diametrically opposite with respect to the central pin 30 and act as drawing means 22.

The connection elements 15 in particular are disposed in such a way as not to interfere with the elastic means 21 when the second unit 14 is in the neutral position in which the elastic means 21 are in the balance position.

In the event of a relative rotation of the second unit 14, the connection elements 15 can also be configured to interfere with the elastic means 21 in such a way as to take them into a loaded position, generating a torque that opposes the rotation force. When no force is exerted on the second unit 14, the elastic means 21 take the rotation assembly 10 back to the balance position.

In preferred embodiments, the main body 16 and the first body 17 can have a discoidal shape and be substantially flat, that is, have a reduced thickness with respect to the respective transverse size.

According to some embodiments, the main body 16 and the first body 17 can have an external perimeter that is substantially circular and coaxial with respect to the respective central hole 18, 19, even if they can have different shapes.

The external diameter of the main body 16 and the external diameter of the second body 17 can be substantially the same, so as to reduce the overall sizes of the rotation assembly 10, making it compact and therefore easy to use in a simple way even on existing apparatuses.

According to some embodiments, the rotation assembly 10 can have a particularly reduced thickness, for example in the order of 5- 15mm.

In some embodiments, the diameter of the central hole 18 of the main body 16 can be larger than the diameter of the central holes 19, 39 of the first 17 and of the second body 29.

According to preferred embodiments, the connection elements 15 can act as drawing means 22.

In particular, the main body 16 can comprise one or more slots 28 configured to be passed through by the connection elements 15.

The slots 28 can be made in the shape of an arc of circumference having the center on the axis of rotation X.

The main body 16 can comprise a seating 23 made in the second side 16b, disposed substantially around the central hole 18, delimited between a cylindrical protuberance 24 which protrudes toward the first body 17 and confinement elements 32, configured to house the elastic means 21.

The elastic means 21 can be configured as a torsion spring 21a comprising one or more coils wound adjacent to each other and provided with radial ends 25, 26 that protrude in a radial direction, that is, toward the outside of the torsion spring 21a.

The ends 25, 26 can be disposed substantially diametrically opposite each other.

The ends 25, 26 can be offset by an angle of less than 180°, preferably comprised between 170° and 179°.

The connection elements 15 are preferably positioned, in the balance position, on a same side with respect to the ends 25, 26, in such a way as to act on them in opposite directions Fl, F2.

The torsion spring 21a in particular can be disposed wound around the protuberance 24.

In particular, the protuberance 24 and the confinement elements 32 contact the torsion spring 21a respectively from the internal side and on the external side, limiting its movement in the directions transverse to the axis of rotation X.

The radial ends 25, 26 of the torsion spring 21a can extend, in a radial direction, beyond the support elements 27 and at least partly overlapping the slots 28.

In this specific case, the main body 16 comprises two slots 28 which, in the balance position, are disposed symmetrically with respect to the median plane M.

The slots 28 extend for an arc of circumference having an angle a comprised between 130° and 170°. Preferably, the slots 28 extend for an angle a comprised between 145° and 165°, even more preferably between 150° and 160°.

In this way, thanks to the two slots 28, the handle 11 can be rotated with respect to the axis of rotation X on one side and with respect to the balance position on the other side by an angle equal to the extension of the slots 28.

In the balance position, it can be provided that the main body 16 and the first body 17 have respective transverse axes Yl, Y2 which substantially define respective axes of symmetry, which in the balance position are disposed parallel to each other and both lie on the common median plane M.

When the handle 11 is rotated, the second unit 14 also rotates to one side or to the other of the median plane M, so that its transverse axis Y2 is rotated with respect to the median plane M.

The support means 20 can comprise support elements 27a, 27b disposed in the main body 16 in the proximity of the protuberance 24.

The support elements 27a, 27b are configured to each support and act as an abutment for a respective radial end 25, 26 of the torsion spring 21.

In particular, two support elements 27a, 27b can be provided, positioned offset by about 180°, or by an angle of less than 180°, for example comprised between 160° and 179°. These support elements 27 are configured to block the rotation of the torsion spring 21a around the axis of rotation X.

The support elements 27 can be offset by about 90° with respect to the confinement elements 32 and together with them contribute to delimit the seating 23.

Each of the support elements 27 can be configured as a protuberance suitable to contact the ends 25, 26 of the torsion spring 21. The torsion spring 21a is in the balance position when it is wound around the protuberance 24 with the radial ends 25, 26 abutting on the support elements 27a, 27b. Advantageously, the torsion spring 21a can neither translate perpendicularly to the axis of rotation X, nor rotate on itself around the axis of rotation X.

The support elements 27a, 27b can each be positioned approximately in the middle of a respective slot 28, in such a way that each radial end 25, 26 can be drawn by a respective drawing mean 22, possibly defined by the connection elements 15, which are each disposed alongside a respective support element 27a, 27b.

In particular, the connection elements 15 can draw one end 25, 26 of the torsion spring 21a away from the respective support element 27a, 27b.

From the moment in which one of the ends 25, 26 cooperates with the connection elements 15 and the other is constrained by the support means 27, the elastic means 21 are compressed (or put into traction) and a reaction torque is created opposed to the rotation movement of the second unit 14. In other words, in the event of a clockwise rotation of the second unit 14 with respect to the first unit 13, the connection elements 15 interfere at least with one end 25 of the torsion spring 21a, taking it closer to the other end 26 and thus producing a torque contrary to the rotational movement of the second interface 14.

In this way, during the rotation in an anti-clockwise sense, a first radial end 25 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow Fl in fig. 6, while the other radial end 26 is retained by the support element 27a. In the rotation in a clockwise sense, on the contrary, the second radial end 26 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 while the first radial end 25 is retained by the support element 27b.

In other possible embodiments (not shown) the second interface 14 can comprise drawing means 22, released from the connection elements 15, configured to interfere with the elastic means 21. For example, the main body 16 can comprise one or more protuberances suitable to cooperate with the ends 25, 26 of the torsion spring 21a.

The rotation assembly 10 can comprise a clamping device 33 configured to selectively allow or block the reciprocal rotation between the first unit 13 and the second unit 14.

In particular, the clamping device 33 can be selectively driven by a user in order to selectively pass from a clamped position in which it does not allow the rotation of the second unit 14 to an idle position in which it does allow the rotation of the second unit 14.

The clamping device 33 can comprise a pin 34 which passes through a clamping hole 35 made in the first body 17 and cooperates with a clamping slot 36 made in the main body 16.

According to some embodiments, the clamping slot 36 extends substantially for an arc of a circle having a length correlated to that of the slots 28, that is, which extends for an angle y approximately equal to the angle a.

The main body 16 comprises a clamping seating 38 substantially disposed in a central position of the clamping slot 36, having a transverse size larger than the width of the clamping slot 36.

The pin 34 can comprise a clamping end 37 suitable to be accommodated in the clamping seating 38, having a transverse size greater than the pin 34 itself, and greater than the clamping hole 35.

In particular, when the clamping end 37 is inside the clamping seating 38, the clamping device 33 is in the clamped configuration. When the clamping end 37 is not in the clamping seating 38, the device is in the idle position.

In other words, when the clamping device 33 is driven, the pin 34 is thrust toward the main body 16 and the clamping end 37 exits the clamping seating 38, allowing the pin 34 to slide along the clamping slot 36, allowing the rotation of the second unit 14 with respect to the first unit 13, and vice versa.

It is noted that in the event of a rotation of the second unit 14, the pin 34 slides circumferentially in the clamping slot 36, which can limit the rotation by interfering with the pin 34 itself, defining the respective end-of- travel ends.

The clamping device 33 can also comprise elastic means 39 configured to retain the clamping device 33 in the clamped configuration. In particular, the elastic means can act at least on the pin 34 in order to retain the clamping end 37 in the clamping seating 38. Advantageously, a user can press the pin 34, contrasting the action of the elastic means and allowing the clamping end 37 to exit from the clamping seating 38. At this point, the second unit 14 is free to rotate with respect to the first unit 13.

According to some embodiments, the axis of rotation X can be parallel to the axis of suction A, or possibly even coincident therewith.

In particular, one of either the first unit 13 or the second unit 14 is connected to the suction unit 41 and the other of either the first unit 13 or the second unit 14 is connected to the handle 11. Preferably, the second unit 14 is connected to the handle 11 and the first unit 13 is connected to the suction unit 41.

The connection cables between the handle 11 and the suction unit 51 can be disposed passing through the rotation assembly 10, disposed in the passage channel defined by the through holes 18, 19, 39.

Advantageously, this allows to have a better alignment between hand, wrist and arm, causing less overload of the shoulder during the operations of pulling and pushing the vacuum cleaner 40. In a preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 40, the axis of rotation X of the rotation assembly 10 coincides with the axis of suction A.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the rotation assembly 10 and to the vacuum cleaner 40 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.