Facial treatment device with pivotable handle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface treatment device (1) having a device housing (2) and a handle (4) pivotally supported on the device housing (2) via a joint (3), wherein the handle (4) has an operating device (5) having a plurality of operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18) for setting the operating functions of the surface treatment device (1) by a user, wherein a first operating element (6) is designed to set a first operating function and a second operating element (7) is designed to set a second operating function, and wherein the handle (4) can be locked in at least two positions relative to the device housing (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a surface processing device having a device housing and a handle pivotally supported on the device housing via a joint, wherein the handle has an operating device having a plurality of operating elements for setting the operating functions of the surface processing device by a user, wherein a first operating element is designed for setting a first operating function and a second operating element is designed for setting a second operating function, and wherein the handle can be locked in at least two positions relative to the device housing. Background Technology

[0002] Surface treatment devices are well known in the prior art. Surface treatment devices often have a pivotally supported handle so that the device can be used for different treatment tasks, such as treating floors or surfaces above ground. The handle may, for example, be oriented along an extension of the device housing for floor treatment, so that the device can be comfortably positioned on the surface to be treated based on the user's standing posture. Alternatively, the handle may be attached to the device housing to achieve a compact surface treatment device, which is particularly convenient for users to hold for treatment work above ground. The handle is typically held in place by means of a locking element to secure the selected position, thereby preventing undesirable loosening. For example, documents EP 2 220986 B1 (US 8,028,373 B2) and DE 10 35 330 B disclose surface treatment devices with pivotable handles.

[0003] Furthermore, it is known that an operating device is arranged on the handle of a surface treatment device. This operating device includes, for example, a switch button for the motor of the surface treatment device and additional operating elements, such as a selector switch, for selecting a specific operating function of the surface treatment device. Such a selector switch is used, for example, to set a specific power level of the motor and / or fan, the rotational speed of the rotating surface treatment element, the delivery power of the pump for applying liquid to the surface to be treated, or other functions.

[0004] While the arrangement of the operating devices on the handle of the face processing device already allows for comfortable operation, the operation changes when the handle is pivoted relative to the device housing. Users subsequently discover that the operating devices are arranged differently relative to their hands when using the face processing device. Consequently, users must reconsider the position of the operating elements for each function after pivoting the handle, leading to discomfort and potentially triggering meaningless or even undesirable functions for face processing. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, based on the above-mentioned prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to design a comfortable surface treatment device with a pivotable handle, that is, in terms of the operation of the operating elements arranged on the pivotable handle.

[0006] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, according to the present invention, the surface treatment device has an evaluation and control device configured to change the association between operating functions and operating elements based on the current position of the handle relative to the device housing, such that the operating function associated with the operating element is swapped, and regardless of the current position of the handle, when the device housing has the same orientation relative to the user's hand gripping the handle in its normal hand position, the user can set the same operating function associated with the first operating element before the pivot by operating the second operating element, and can also set the same operating function associated with the second operating element before the pivot by operating the first operating element.

[0007] According to the present invention, the evaluation and control device assigns the operating element of the operating device to perform the operating function based on the current pivot position of the handle. Thus, the user can intuitively and habitually use the surface processing device and, in particular, the operating device, and trigger the operating function in all defined positions of the handle in a known manner and with the usual habitual hand position. The user no longer needs to change their mindset or consider the current position of the handle relative to the device housing or their hand, and subsequently no longer needs to detect the current position of the operating element associated with the determined operating function relative to the device housing or the user's hand. The evaluation and control device is configured to switch the signal path between different operating elements of the operating device and the associated device element that performs the operating function, such that the same operating function can be triggered separately by operating elements in substantially the same position relative to the user's hand. If the user pivots the handle, for example, 180 degrees relative to the device housing, the operating function previously set, for example, by means of the operating element furthest from the joint of the surface processing device, can now be set by the operating element closest to the joint. Here, the orientation of the user's hand relative to the surface processing device remains substantially unchanged, especially even in terms of the orientation of the device housing relative to the surface to be processed during surface processing.

[0008] The operating device may, for example, have a touchscreen with optically displayed operating elements and / or an array of mechanical operating elements. If the operating device is a touchscreen, the operating elements may be typically displayed graphically on the touchscreen, whereby the user subsequently touches a corresponding local area of ​​the touchscreen to trigger a specific corresponding operating function. Control and evaluation devices switch the local area of ​​the displayed operating elements on the touchscreen, so that the user can always find the same operability of the operating device for the operating function, regardless of the current position of the handle relative to the device housing. Alternatively or additionally, the operating device may also have mechanical operating elements, constructed, for example, in the form of buttons and / or knobs. Switching of signal paths from the operating elements to the corresponding functional elements of the surface processing device is similarly implemented as previously described with respect to the touchscreen. The operating functions of the surface processing device that can be set by means of the operating elements may include, for example, activating or deactivating power supplies, setting the power level of power supplies, or setting the power level of mechanical surface processing elements or the relative position of the device housing. The power consumption of the face cleaning equipment, which can be activated by operating elements, can be, for example, a motor for a fan or for a face cleaning element, such as a rotating cleaning brush, a oscillating wiping or polishing plate, a lawnmower blade, or similar components. Additionally, the power consumption can be a sensor element or an illumination device used to illuminate the surrounding environment or a localized area of ​​the face cleaning equipment. Besides switching the power consumption on and off, the power level of the power consumption can be set directly or indirectly through the same operating elements, or through other operating elements of the operating device, such as suction power, processing intensity, rotational speed of the face cleaning element, brightness of the illumination device, or others. Furthermore, the operating elements can also specify the relative position of the mechanical face cleaning element with respect to the equipment housing of the face cleaning equipment, such as the position of a rotating brush roller, wherein the face cleaning element acts on or contacts the surface to be cleaned, or does not act on or contact the surface to be cleaned.

[0009] The evaluation and control device is configured to change the association between operating functions and operating elements, such that, regardless of the current position of the handle, when the device housing is oriented in the same way as the user's hand gripping the handle in its usual position, the user can use the operating settings of the second operating element to perform the same operating functions assigned to the first operating element before pivoting. Thus, intuitive operability of the operating device can be achieved regardless of the current orientation of the operating elements relative to the surface processing device. If the operating device, for example, has only two operating elements and the handle can pivot to two locking positions oriented 180 degrees relative to each other, the operating functions previously assigned to the two operating elements are simply swapped, so that the first operating function, previously triggerable by the first operating element, can now be triggered by the second operating element. The operating device may also have three or more operating elements, and the handle may also pivot to more than two locking positions. Subsequently, a suitable association between the operating elements and the operating functions of the surface processing device is determined, which corresponds to or is closest to the user's usual hand position on the handle. Importantly, the user does not need to change their mind about the operating functions assigned to the operating elements when the pivoting position of the handle relative to the surface processing device changes.

[0010] The surface treatment device is preferably configured such that the handle, by means of the joint, can pivot to two defined locking positions, which are preferably pivot angles 180 degrees apart. In this case, the operation functions of the associated operating elements can be simply mirrored, since, for example, the operating element that was closest to the joint last time is now the operating element furthest from the joint. With this design, the handle can be in two opposing positions relative to the device housing, namely, a position obtained along the extension of the longitudinal extension of the device housing and a pivoted position in which the handle pivots substantially close to the device housing, particularly with reference to the projection orthogonal to the longitudinal extension within the outer contour of the device housing. With the handle pivoted, the surface treatment device is preferably usable as a portable device that is lifted from the surface to be treated during surface treatment and can be guided as a compact unit along a surface above the ground.

[0011] Furthermore, it is suggested that the surface treatment device include a detection device for detecting the current position of the handle relative to the device housing. The detection device transmits the detection result to the evaluation and control unit of the surface treatment device, which then operates functions associated with the operating elements.

[0012] The detection device can be arranged on the handle and / or the device housing and / or a locking element designed to lock the handle in a locked position. Sub-elements of the detection device that interact with each other can also be arranged, for example, on one side of the handle and on the other side of the device housing. Such elements can be, for example, a light source and a light receiver of an optical detection device. In the case of a mechanically switchable contact sensor, a partial surface of the handle and a partial surface of the device housing can interact. At least a portion of the detection device is particularly preferably also associated with a locking element of the handle or the device housing, which locks the handle in a defined locked position and thereby forces it into contact with the corresponding partial area in the terminal position when the handle is pivoted as intended.

[0013] The detection device can be configured to detect the current position of the handle mechanically, optically, magnetically, electrically, and / or electromagnetically. The detection device may in particular include microswitches, contact sensors, inertial sensors, magnetic field sensors, and / or photoelectric elements. Microswitches can be integrated, in particular, in a space-saving manner into a localized area of ​​the handle or the device housing, wherein the microswitch is activated when the handle reaches a defined position relative to the device housing. Contact sensors operate in the same manner. If an inertial sensor is used, it may be, for example, an accelerometer. A Hall effect sensor, for example, is a suggested magnetic field sensor that can also identify a defined locked position. Photoelectric elements, such as photodiodes or entire diode arrays, can also be used to detect the current position of the handle relative to the device housing.

[0014] The detection device can be configured to detect the position of the handle in at least one defined locking position. According to a particular design, the detection device can be configured to continuously measure the position of the handle within a defined range of pivot angles. In particular, for example, the position of the handle can be measured within a 360-degree angular range around the joint. With this design, the detection device can also obtain information about the location of erroneous positions, which correspond to the handle not being in a defined locking position. Such erroneous positions may be located between two end positions. To detect such positions of the handle outside the defined locking positions, optical measuring devices can be used, for example, where the handle has a light source and a diode array consisting of multiple individual photodiodes arranged around the joint on the device housing, so that the current position of the handle is known at all times. This continuous measurement result can also be achieved using inertial sensors or magnetic field sensors. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention is further illustrated below with reference to embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 The invention illustrates a surface processing apparatus having a handle that is pivotable via a joint.

[0017] Figure 2 The diagram shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cut handle.

[0018] Figure 3 An exploded view of the handle is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Figure 1 An exemplary face treatment device 1 is shown, which is designed herein as a cleaning device, i.e., a handheld vacuum cleaner. The face treatment device 1 has a base device 14 and a connection area 13 for additional devices. The additional devices may be, for example, a suction nozzle having a motor-driven face treatment element. The invention is not limited to the face treatment device 1 shown herein, but can also be used with other face treatment devices 1, such as wet scrubbing devices, polishing devices, lawn mowing devices, or other devices. The face treatment device 1 can also be connected to a household power supply via a mains plug and / or has a (not shown) rechargeable battery for providing electrical power for power consumption appliances.

[0020] The surface treatment device 1 can operate with or without additional equipment. For example, the surface treatment device 1 can be used with additional equipment to perform surface support treatment on the ground, while alternatively, it can be used independently, without any connected additional equipment, for example, to advantageously perform treatments above ground. Such treatments could be for cleaning or maintaining shelves, baseboards, or the like. The base device 14 has a housing 2 and a handle 4 pivotable about a joint relative to the housing 2. The user can guide the surface treatment device 1 on the handle 4 during normal operation, for example, by sliding it across the surface to be treated. Here, the user typically pushes and pulls the surface treatment device 1 alternately in opposite directions of travel. An operating device 5 is arranged on the handle 4, having multiple operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18. Operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 include an operating element 8 serving as a start and stop switch for the motor of the surface treatment device 1, and two additional operating elements 6 and 7, through which the power level of the fan motor of the surface treatment device 1 can be selected, for example. Operating element 6 here corresponds to increasing power, while operating element 7 corresponds to decreasing power. Another operating element 18 is located on the back side of handle 4. Operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 can also be assigned to other operating functions of the surface treatment device 1, such as activating the surface treatment element, selecting an energy-saving mode, or similar functions. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the function assigned to the first operating element 6 is referred to as the "first operating function," and the function assigned to the second operating element 7 is assigned as the "second operating function." Correspondingly, a third operating element 8 is used to set the "third operating function." These operating functions can, in principle, involve other devices of the surface treatment device 1, such as different power supplies or surface treatment elements, or even different power levels or other settings of the same power supply or surface treatment element. The operating device 5 is equipped with an evaluation and control device 9, which variably assigns operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 to specific operating functions, i.e., based on the current position of handle 4 relative to the device housing 2. The operating element 18, arranged on the lower side of handle 4, retains its operating function regardless of the current position of handle 4.

[0021] Handle 4 Figure 1 The handle 4 is pivotable about joint 3, which is arranged between the device housing 2 and the handle 4 of the base device 14. Joint 3 is used to pivot the handle 4 relative to the device housing 2 to, for example, two defined locking positions 10 and 11, which are spaced apart by a pivot angle α of 180 degrees. Figure 1(Solid lines) The first locking position 10 of the handle 4 is shown, in which the handle 4 is oriented along the extension of the longitudinal extension of the base device 14, allowing the user to erect the guide surface treatment device 1, i.e., the auxiliary device is supported on the ground to be treated. The second locking position 11, shown here in dashed lines, is pivotally spaced from the first locking position 10 by a pivot angle α, such that the handle 4, as viewed from the reference view, pivots into the circumferential profile of the device housing 2. In this position, the user can preferably use the surface treatment device 1 for treatment above the ground, where a compact, portable surface treatment device 1 is advantageous, with the center of gravity of the surface treatment device close to the user's hand. The joint 3 may here be equipped with a locking element (not shown in detail) to secure the defined locking positions 10, 11. The locking element is, for example, a latching element that can be engaged within the corresponding latching area of ​​the handle 4. This prevents the handle 4 from accidentally leaving the reached locking positions 10, 11 and the user from losing control of the surface treatment device 1.

[0022] To enable the evaluation and control device 9 to assign operating functions to the operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18, the surface processing device 1 has a detection device 12 configured to detect the current position of the handle 4 relative to the device housing 2. The detection device 12 here has, for example, sensor elements correspondingly arranged on the device housing 2 and the handle 4, which are opposite each other in locked positions 10 and 11. The sensor elements may be optical transmitters / receivers, contact elements, or similar components. The detection device 12 transmits the measured detection signal to the evaluation and control device 9, which then determines the current position of the handle 4 and assigns the operating functions to the operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 according to a fixed assignment relationship stored in the memory of the surface processing device 1. This allows the user to intuitively use the operating device 5 arranged on the handle 4 in the usual manner and regardless of the current position of the handle 4; that is, for example, by increasing the power level through a constant hand position on the handle 4. Users do not need to rethink how the handle 4 is currently arranged relative to the device housing 2 in order to then find suitable operating elements 6, 7, 8, 18 for their intended operation.

[0023] The detection device 12 may also be a microswitch, for example, arranged on or within a local area of ​​the device housing 2, and can be activated by contact with a corresponding local area of ​​the handle 4. The detection device 12 is associated with at least one defined locking position 10, 11. If the detection device 12 is associated with only the first locking position of a plurality of, particularly two, defined locking positions 10, 11, then the detection device 12 either detects that the handle 4 is in the defined first locking position 10, 11, or detects that the handle 4 is not in the defined first locking position 10, 11. If the handle 4 is detected not to be in the defined first locking position 10, 11, it can then be inferred that the handle is in another locking position 10, 11, particularly the second locking position 10, 11. As a particular embodiment, the detection device 12 may also be associated with each of the plurality of defined locking positions 10, 11. In the latter case, for example, each defined locking position 10, 11 is equipped with a microswitch, such that when the handle 4 occupies one of the plurality of defined locking positions 10, 11, the evaluation and control device 9 gains this awareness. Alternatively, in addition to the microswitch alternative, other forms of the detection device 12 can be considered to detect the current position of the handle 4 relative to the device housing 2. These other forms include, for example, contact sensors, accelerometers, position / positioning sensors, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and similar devices. Depending on the form of the detection device 12, the current position of the handle 4 can also be detected steplessly, for example, by a light signal emitted by a light source arranged on the handle 4 to contact a photodiode array or CCD chip, which is planarly arranged around the joint 3 on the device housing 2. The advantage of this implementation is that fault positions corresponding to non-defined locking positions 10, 11 can also be detected.

[0024] As in Figure 2 and 3 As shown in detail, the handle 4 has an upper handle 15 and a lower handle 16, which together define the boundary of a cavity in which a retainer 17 for the evaluation and control device 9 and operating elements 6, 7, 8, 18 is arranged.

[0025] The invention works such that the user uses the surface treatment device 1, for example, to treat the ground. Here, the handle 4 is as follows: Figure 1The handle 4 is oriented along the extension line of the base device 14 as shown. This corresponds to the first locked position 10 of the handle 4. In this position, the operating device 5 is oriented such that the first operating element 6 on the operating device 5 is closest to the connection area 13, i.e., the position shown for the surface treatment device 1 is below on the operating device 5, and the second operating element 7 is in the opposite direction, i.e., away from the connection area 13. The user can, for example, increase the power of the fan motor of the surface treatment device 1 by means of the first operating element 6 in the example described herein. The user can decrease the power by means of the second operating element 7. When the user now pivots the handle 4 relative to the device housing 2, i.e., pivots it by a pivot angle α of 180 degrees, the handle 4 is then in the opposite orientation, i.e., the handle 4 is in Figure 1 The position is indicated by a dashed line. Typically, the positions of the operating elements 6 and 7 of the operating device 5 relative to the base device 20 of the surface processing equipment 1 are thus reversed, causing the first operating element 6 to reference... Figure 1 The viewpoint is positioned above the second operating element 7. This would force the user to reconsider and pay attention to the fact that the operating element 6, which increases the power level, is now positioned above the second operating element 7. However, this situation is avoided by the present invention.

[0026] Therefore, according to the present invention, the detection device 12 detects that the handle 4 has moved away from the first locking position 10 and reached the second locking position 11. Based on the position-related operational function assignments stored in a stored file, the evaluation and control device 9 of the surface processing device changes the association between the operational functions and the operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18. Thus, the evaluation and control device 9 sets the assignments of the operational functions of the surface processing device 1 to the operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 in such a way that the user can perform his / her normal hand movements regardless of the current position of the handle 4 in order to set the corresponding operational function. Thus, the user can now set a determined operational function with the second operating element 7, regardless of the current position of the handle 4, with his / her hand in the same orientation relative to the device housing 2. This operational function was previously set by the user, for example, through the first operating element 6, and the position and orientation of the second operating element 7 relative to the user's hand is now in the position previously held by the first operating element 6 (before the handle 4 pivoted). Thus, the overall function of the operating device 5 changes with the change of the position of the handle 4. The operating functions associated with operating elements 6, 7, 8, and 18 are regrouped relative to each other in such a way that the user can perform a specific operating function by means of the same hand position relative to the surface processing device 1, regardless of the current pivot position of handle 4, as before handle 4 pivots.

[0027] List of reference numerals

[0028] 1. Surface processing equipment

[0029] 2 Equipment casing

[0030] 3 joints

[0031] 4 handles

[0032] 5. Operating device

[0033] 6 Operating elements

[0034] 7 Operating elements

[0035] 8 Operating elements

[0036] 9. Evaluation and control devices

[0037] 10 Locking Position

[0038] 11 Locking Position

[0039] 12 Detection Devices

[0040] 13 Connecting Area

[0041] 14. Basic equipment

[0042] 15. Top handle parts

[0043] 16 Lower handle parts

[0044] 17. Holding components

[0045] 18 Operating elements

[0046] α Pivot angle

Claims

1. A surface treatment device (1) having a housing (2) and a handle (4) pivotally supported on the housing (2) via a joint (3), wherein, The handle (4) has an operating device (5) having multiple operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18) for setting the operating functions of the surface processing device (1) by a user, wherein a first operating element (6) is designed to set a first operating function, and a second operating element (7) is designed to set a second operating function, and wherein the handle (4) can be locked in at least two positions relative to the device housing (2), characterized in that the surface processing device (1) has an evaluation and control device (9) configured to adjust the current position of the handle (4) relative to the device housing (2) according to the current position of the handle (4) relative to the device housing (2). The relationship between the operating function and the operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18) is changed so that the operating function of the operating element (6, 7, 8, 18) is swapped. And regardless of the current position of the handle (4), when the device housing (2) has the same orientation as the user's hand gripping the handle in the usual hand position, the user can use the operation setting of the second operating element (7) to perform the same operating function of the first operating element (6) before pivoting, and can use the operation setting of the first operating element (6) to perform the same operating function of the second operating element (7) before pivoting.

2. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handle (4) can pivot to two defined locking positions (10, 11) by means of the joint (3).

3. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking positions are spaced apart from each other by a pivot angle (α) of 180 degrees.

4. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A detection device (12) is provided for detecting the current position of the handle (4) relative to the device housing (2).

5. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection device (12) is arranged on the handle (4) and / or the device housing (2) and / or a locking element (13) designed to lock the handle (4) in the locked position (10, 11).

6. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection device (12) is configured to detect the current position of the handle (4) mechanically, optically, magnetically and / or electrically.

7. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection device (12) has a micro switch, a contact sensor, an inertial sensor, a magnetic field sensor and / or an optoelectronic element.

8. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection device (12) is configured to detect the position of the handle (4) in at least one defined locking position (10, 11).

9. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The detection device (12) is configured to continuously measure the position of the handle (4) throughout the entire pivot angle (α) range of the handle (4).

10. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The detection device (12) is configured to continuously measure the position of the handle (4) within a 360-degree angular range around the joint (3).

11. The surface processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operating device (5) has a touch screen with optically displayed operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18) and / or an array of mechanical operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18), and / or the operating function of the surface treatment device (1) can be set by means of the operating elements (6, 7, 8, 18) to activate the power consumption, adjust the power level of the fan, or adjust the power level of the mechanical surface treatment element (14) or the relative position of the reference device housing (2).

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