Floor tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance

Abstract

A floor tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising a main body connected to a conduit, the main body comprising, a supporting member adapted to support a cleaning element and a suction nozzle adjacent an edge of the supporting member, wherein the suction nozzle defines a suction chamber, and wherein the suction chamber includes a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in communication with the conduit.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority of United Kingdom Application No. 1200174.9, filed Jan. 6, 2012, and United Kingdom Application No. 1206545.4, filed Apr. 13, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a floor tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Vacuum cleaners are generally supplied with a range of tools for dealing with different cleaning tasks. For example, such a tool may be a general purpose floor tool for on-the-floor cleaning of both hard and textile surface coverings. Typically, a floor tool comprises a main body which engages with a floor surface. The main body has a lower surface comprising a suction opening through which dirt and dust may be drawn into the floor tool due to a suction force generated by a vacuum cleaner to which the tool is attached. Although floor tools are adept at removing loose dirt and d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]By virtue of this configuration, the invention provides a floor tool which combines a hard floor wiping function with dirt and debris vacuuming capability having improved pickup performance since suction is distributed more evenly across the suction chamber.

[0032]In order to avoid debris being trapped in certain regions of the suction channels, the interior wall may be shaped such that one of the first or second suction channels is tapered. As a further optional enhancement, a further floor engaging member may be provided transversely across the first or the second suction channels between the interior wall and an adjacent portion of the surface engaging skirt, preferably in a mid region of the channel. This helps to avoid debris ‘hesitating’ when it enters the first / second channel and therefore improves pick up performance.

Problems solved by technology

Although floor tools are adept at removing loose dirt and debris from a floor surface, they are less accomplished at removing other forms of dirt, for example stains, which may be left behind from liquid that is spilt on a hard floor covering.

Although such combined mop and suction floor tools have their advantages, the pick-up performance of such tools on hard floors tends to be compromised.

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