Cleaning device with a waste guiding channel

Abstract

The cleaning device (2) comprises a main body (3) having a suction inlet (6) and a suction chamber fluidly connected to the suction inlet (6); a waste guide channel (16) which is open downwards and which has a front opening (17), a rear opening (18) opening into the suction chamber, and two lateral guide walls (19) located on either side of the rear opening (18) and converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening (18) so as to direct waste, which comes into contact with the lateral guide walls (19) during forward movement of the cleaning device (2), towards the rear opening (18). Each of the lateral guide walls (19) has a lower edge (19.1) having an inclination, with respect to a transverse direction, which increases in the direction of the rear opening (18).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners for vacuuming dust and waste present on a surface to be cleaned, which may be, for example, tiles, parquet flooring, laminate flooring, carpet or rugs. State of the art

[0002] The US9161666 document describes a cleaning device, and more specifically a vacuum cleaner nozzle, comprising: a main body having a lower face configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, and a suction inlet opening into the lower face of the main body, the main body delimiting a suction chamber fluidly connected to the suction inlet, a waste guide channel which is located in front of the suction inlet and which is configured to be open downwards, the waste guide channel having a front opening which has a width, measured parallel to a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to a median longitudinal plane of the main body, greater than or equal to at least 50%, and for example at least 70%, of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of the suction inlet,a rear opening that leads into the suction chamber and two lateral guide walls located on either side of the rear opening, each extending from the front opening to the rear opening, the two lateral guide walls converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening so as to direct waste, coming into contact with the lateral guide walls during forward movement of the cleaning device, towards the rear opening.

[0003] Thus, when certain types of waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, enter the waste guide channel from the front opening, this waste is guided, notably by sliding against the two lateral guide walls, to the rear opening, and is then sucked into the suction chamber.

[0004] However, to prevent debris from accumulating on the side guide walls (and thus risking scratching the floor if such debris were to pass under the lower edge of one of the side guide walls, and therefore under the base of the main body), the angle of inclination of the lower edge of each side guide wall, relative to a transverse direction, must be relatively steep to facilitate the sliding of debris towards the rear opening. This steep angle significantly increases the distance between the front edge of the cleaning device and the suction inlet, thereby significantly increasing the size of the cleaning device in front of the suction inlet and consequently reducing the suction efficiency of the cleaning device.

[0005] Furthermore, when a large amount of large waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, is present on the surface to be cleaned, such an angle of inclination is likely to induce saturation of the rear opening (due to the high sliding speed of this waste on the lateral guide walls) which may impair the cleaning performance of the cleaning device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

[0007] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular of providing a cleaning device which is simple in structure, economical and compact, while exhibiting high cleaning performance.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a cleaning device comprising: a main body having a lower face configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, and a suction inlet opening into the lower face of the main body, the main body delimiting a suction chamber fluidly connected to the suction inlet, a waste guide channel extending under the main body and in front of the suction inlet and configured to be open downwards, i.e. towards the surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device rests on said surface to be cleaned, the waste guide channel having a front opening having a width, measured parallel to a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to a median longitudinal plane of the main body, greater than or equal to at least 50%, and for example at least 70%, of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of the suction inlet,a rear opening that leads into the suction chamber and two lateral guide walls located on either side of the rear opening, the two lateral guide walls converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening so as to direct waste, coming into contact with the lateral guide walls during forward movement of the cleaning device, towards the rear opening.

[0009] Each of the side guide walls has a lower edge with an inclination, relative to the transverse direction, which increases towards the rear opening, and more particularly from the front opening to the rear opening.

[0010] Such a configuration of the lower edges of the side guide walls makes it possible on the one hand to limit the speed of movement of waste along the side guide walls, and therefore to limit the risks of saturation of the rear opening, and on the other hand to significantly reduce the risks of accumulation of waste on the side guide walls, and therefore the risks of scratching the surface to be cleaned.

[0011] Thus, the cleaning device according to the present invention ensures efficient guidance of waste, having entered the waste guidance channel from the front opening, towards the rear opening, while limiting the bulk of the cleaning device in front of the suction mouth.

[0012] The cleaning device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner nozzle or an autonomous cleaning robot, and more particularly a robot vacuum cleaner.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guide channel has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, which decreases towards the rear opening, and more particularly from the front opening to the rear opening.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the two lateral guide walls each extend from the front opening to the rear opening.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guidance channel extends under a front part of the main body.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device comprises a single waste guidance channel, and therefore a single rear opening. This configuration of the cleaning device limits the number of passes through the underside of the main body, thereby enhancing the suction effect (depression) generated by the cleaning device and thus improving its cleaning performance.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front opening leads into a front face of the main body.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guidance channel has a funnel shape. More particularly, the waste guidance channel has a converging shape from front to back and from the front opening to the rear opening.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guidance channel is symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the inclination of the lower edge of each of the lateral guide walls varies, with respect to the transverse direction, between 0° and 90°, and for example between 1° and 45°.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guide channel has a height that decreases towards the rear opening, and more specifically from the front opening to the rear opening. Such a configuration of the waste guide channel ensures efficient suction of waste that has entered the waste guide channel, without significantly impacting the suction performance at the suction inlet.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each of the lateral guide walls is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the cleaning device rests on a horizontal surface.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front opening is substantially centered with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear opening is substantially centered with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the main body. Such an arrangement of the rear opening ensures efficient suction of waste that has entered the waste guide channel.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each of the lateral guide walls is curved. According to such an embodiment of the invention, for each point of the curve defining the lower edge of a lateral guide wall, the inclination of said lower edge at that point corresponds to the slope of the curve at that point and therefore to the tangent to the curve at that point.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each of the lateral guide walls has a gradual curvature. This configuration of the lower edges of the lateral guide walls ensures a gradual increase in the speed of waste flow along each of the lateral guide walls and towards the rear opening, thus further reducing the risk of saturation of the rear opening and the risk of waste accumulation on the lateral guide walls.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each of the lateral guide walls has an overall elliptical shape.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the lateral guide walls comprises a first lateral guide surface and a second lateral guide surface that are substantially flat and inclined relative to each other, the first two lateral guide surfaces converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening, and the second two lateral guide surfaces being disposed between the first two lateral guide surfaces and converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening. Advantageously, each first lateral guide surface forms a first lateral guide ramp, and each second lateral guide surface forms a second lateral guide ramp.

[0030] In this document, a substantially flat lateral guide surface is defined as a lateral guide surface extending between two theoretical (fictitious) planes that are parallel and separated by less than 5 mm, preferably less than 2.5 mm. This tolerance is also known as a flatness deviation or flatness defect.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second lateral guide surfaces of the same lateral guide wall are different and have different profiles, such that a superposition of said first and second lateral guide surfaces does not allow one of said first and second lateral guide surfaces to be confused with the other of said first and second lateral guide surfaces.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second lateral guide surfaces is flat.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second lateral guide surfaces is twisted longitudinally, such that the two lateral edges of the same first lateral guide surface have, with respect to the horizontal, a different inclination and for example a difference in inclination of less than 20° (and advantageously less than 15° and for example of about 10°), and such that the two lateral edges of the same second lateral guide surface have, with respect to the horizontal, a different inclination and for example a difference in inclination of less than 20°.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface is concave, and / or each second lateral guide surface is concave.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the two second lateral guide surfaces are arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second lateral guide surfaces has a lower edge that is substantially straight. By substantially straight lower edge, we mean a lower edge formed by a line that is contained within a fictitious cylinder of diameter less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each first lateral guide surface is straight.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each second is concave, and for example concave with a defect of 0.4 mm (concavity depth 0.4 mm).

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower edge of each first lateral guide surface is inclined, with respect to the transverse direction, at a first angle of inclination, and the lower edge of each second lateral guide surface is inclined, with respect to the transverse direction, at a second angle of inclination which is greater than the first angle of inclination.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first angle of inclination is between 1 and 30°, advantageously between 1 and 10°, even more advantageously between 1 and 5°, and for example between 1 and 3°. Such a configuration of the lower edges of the first lateral guide surfaces further reduces the risk of saturation of the rear opening.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second angle of inclination is between 15 and 90°, advantageously between 15 and 30°, and for example approximately 20°. Such a configuration of the lower edges of the second lateral guide surfaces further reduces the risk of debris accumulating on the lateral guide walls.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface extends from a respective lateral edge of the front opening, and each second lateral guide surface extends to a respective lateral edge of the rear opening.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, each second lateral guide surface extends from the respective first lateral guide surface.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second lateral guide surfaces of the same lateral guide wall are inclined relative to each other at an angle greater than 5°, advantageously greater than 10°, and for example between 10 and 15°. Such a configuration of the first and second lateral guide surfaces further limits the risk of saturation of the rear opening and the risk of debris accumulation on the lateral guide walls, while giving the cleaning device an acceptable depth compactness.

[0045] When the first and second lateral guide surfaces of the same lateral guide wall have flatness defects, the angle of inclination, between said first and second lateral guide surfaces, corresponds to the angle of inclination between a first average extension plane defined by said respective first lateral guide surface and a second average extension plane defined by said second lateral guide surface.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface is configured such that, when the cleaning device rests on a surface to be cleaned, the distance between the surface to be cleaned and an upper edge of said first lateral guide surface decreases in the direction of the rear opening.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, each second lateral guide surface is configured such that, when the cleaning device rests on a surface to be cleaned, the distance between the surface to be cleaned and an upper edge of said second lateral guide surface decreases in the direction of the rear opening.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of between 25 and 40%, advantageously between 30 and 40%, and for example approximately 35%, of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of the front opening. Such a dimension of each first lateral guide surface further limits the risk of debris accumulation on the lateral guide walls.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the two second lateral guide surfaces and the rear opening have a combined width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of between 20 and 40%, advantageously between 25 and 35%, and for example, approximately 30% of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of the front opening. Such a dimension for each second lateral guide surface and the rear opening further facilitates suction entering the waste guide channel, without significantly impacting the suction performance at the suction inlet.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear opening has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of between 1 and 10% of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of the front opening. Such a dimension of the rear opening makes it possible to maintain high suction performance at the suction inlet.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear opening has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, which is less than the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction, of each of the second lateral guide surfaces.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a first angle of slope between 20° and 60°, advantageously between 40° and 60°, and for example between 40° and 55°, when the cleaning device rests on a horizontal surface. Such a configuration of each first lateral guide surface ensures increased guidance of the waste, which comes into contact with the lateral guide walls, towards the rear opening.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the initial slope angle of each first lateral guide surface varies along an extension direction of said first lateral guide surface, and, for example, increases towards the rear opening. Such a configuration of the first lateral guide surfaces further reduces the risk of debris accumulating on the lateral guide walls.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first slope angle of each first lateral guide surface is constant along the extension direction of said first lateral guide surface.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, each second lateral guide surface is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a second angle of inclination between 25° and 90°, advantageously between 25° and 55°, and for example between 30° and 55°, when the cleaning device rests on a horizontal surface. Such a configuration of each second lateral guide surface ensures efficient suction of the waste that has entered the waste guide channel at the rear opening.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second slope angle of each second lateral guide surface varies along an extension direction of said second lateral guide surface, and for example decreases towards the rear opening. Such a configuration of the second lateral guide surfaces further limits the risk of saturation of the rear opening.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second slope angle of each second lateral guide surface is constant along the extension direction of said second lateral guide surface.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second lateral guide surfaces of the same lateral guide wall have different first and second mean slope angles, respectively. In this document, "mean slope angle" means the average of the different slope angle values ​​measured along the respective lateral guide surface.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is configured such that, for each lateral guide wall, the first slope angle of the respective first lateral guide surface has, at a midpoint of said first lateral guide surface, a first slope angle value, and such that the second slope angle of the respective second lateral guide surface has, at a midpoint of said second lateral guide surface, a second slope angle value that is lower than the first slope angle value. This configuration of the first and second lateral guide surfaces ensures even greater guidance of the waste, which comes into contact with the lateral guide walls, towards the rear opening.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the invention, the waste guidance channel comprises an upper guide wall extending from the front opening to the rear opening and configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device rests on said surface to be cleaned, the upper guide wall being configured such that the distance between the surface to be cleaned and the upper guide wall decreases towards the rear opening.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper guide wall extends from substantially a first lateral edge of the front opening to substantially a second lateral edge of the front opening.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper guide wall comprises a first upper guide surface extending from an upper edge of the front opening and which is curved, and a second upper guide surface extending to an upper edge of the rear opening and which is substantially flat.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first upper guiding surface has a radius of curvature between 15 and 25 mm, and for example about 19 mm.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second upper guide surface is inclined backwards and downwards.

[0065] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second upper guide surface is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of inclination between 5 and 30°, and for example between 10 and 20°, when the cleaning device rests on a horizontal surface.

[0066] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second upper guide surface extends from the first upper guide surface.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower face of the main body comprises two lower connecting surfaces located on either side of the rear opening. Each lower connecting surface extends along a respective lateral guide wall and from the lower edge of a respective lateral guide wall to a front transverse edge of the suction inlet. Each lower connecting surface is substantially flat and configured to extend substantially horizontally when the cleaning device rests on a horizontal surface. Such a configuration of the lower face of the main body ensures satisfactory suction, at the rear opening, of the waste guided by the lateral guide walls to the rear opening, without significantly impacting the suction performance of the cleaning device at the suction inlet.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the invention, each lower connecting surface extends over the entire length of the respective lateral guide wall.

[0069] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device further comprises a rotating cleaning brush housed in the suction chamber and mounted to rotate mobilizably around a brush rotation axis.

[0070] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brush rotation axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear opening has a minimum height, measured from a front transverse edge of the suction mouth, of between 3 mm and 10 mm, and advantageously between 4 mm and 5 mm, and for example of about 4.5 mm.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front opening has a maximum height, measured from a front transverse edge of the suction mouth, of between 10 mm and 30 mm, advantageously between 10 mm and 20 mm, and for example of about 15 mm.

[0073] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction mouth has an elongated shape and extends along the transverse direction which is substantially perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

[0074] The present invention further relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaning device according to the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0075] The aims, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of several embodiments of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: There figure 1is a top perspective view of a cleaning device, and more particularly of a vacuum cleaner nozzle, according to a first embodiment of the invention; The figure 2 is a perspective view from underneath the cleaning device of the figure 1 ; There figure 3 is a view, at an enlarged scale, of a detail of the figure 2 ; There figure 4 is a view, at an enlarged scale, of a detail of the figure 2 ; There figure 5 is a partial front view of the cleaning device of the figure 1 ; There figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of the figure 1 according to a cutting plane coinciding with a median longitudinal plane of the cleaning device; The figure 7 is a view from below of the cleaning device of the figure 1 ; There figure 8 is a view from below of the cleaning device of the figure 1 ; There figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along line AA of the figure 8 ; There Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line BB of the figure 8 ; There figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along line CC of the figure 8 ; There figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along line DD of the figure 8 ; There figure 13 is a cross-sectional view along line EE of the figure 8 ; There figure 14 is a cross-sectional view along line JJ of the figure 8 ; There figure 15 is a bottom view of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the invention Detailed description

[0076] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention are shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numbers from one figure to another.

[0077] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower" and "upper" used to describe the cleaning device or the main body refer to the cleaning device in use when it rests on its wheels on a flat and horizontal floor to be cleaned.

[0078] In this document, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined with respect to a direction of movement of the cleaning device.

[0079] In this document, the term "median longitudinal plane" means a vertical plane that is parallel to the direction of movement and that divides the main body into two substantially equal parts.

[0080] THE figures 1 to 14 represent a cleaning device 2, and more particularly a vacuum cleaner nozzle, comprising a main body 3 configured to be moved over a surface to be cleaned. According to the embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 14 The main body 3, viewed from above in a substantially vertical orientation, has a generally rectangular shape. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the main body 3 could have a completely different shape, for example a triangular shape.

[0081] The main body 3 includes a sole 4 having a lower face 5 intended to be positioned adjacent to a surface to be cleaned during the use of the cleaning device 2, and a suction mouth 6 which opens into the lower face 5. Advantageously, the suction mouth 6 is elongated and extends along a transverse direction D1 which is perpendicular to a median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0082] As shown on the figure 6 , the main body 3 delimits a suction chamber 7 which opens into the lower face 5 of the sole 4 via the suction mouth 6.

[0083] The cleaning device 2 further includes a rotating cleaning brush 8 housed in the suction chamber 7 and mounted to rotate movably around a brush rotation axis A1 which extends perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, and which is therefore substantially horizontal when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0084] According to the embodiment shown on the figures 1 to 14The rotating cleaning brush 8 comprises a brush body 9 configured to be driven in rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation and around the brush rotation axis A1, and one or more row(s) of bristles 11, for example two rows of bristles, provided on an external peripheral surface of the brush body 9 and extending over at least a part of the length of the brush body 9. According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating cleaning brush 8 could further comprise, or instead of the rows of bristles 11, one or more cleaning blade(s), for example elastically deformable or rigid, provided on the external peripheral surface of the brush body 9.

[0085] The cleaning device 2 also includes a drive mechanism (not visible in the figures) which is configured to drive the brush body 9 in rotation around the brush rotation axis A1.

[0086] The cleaning device 2 further includes a connecting sleeve 12 fluidly connected to the suction inlet 6 via, in particular, a suction duct 13 and a flexible connecting duct (not visible in the figures). Advantageously, the suction duct 13 opens into a rear portion of the suction chamber 7.

[0087] The connecting sleeve 12 is intended to be connected to an accessory of a vacuum cleaner (not shown). Various types of vacuum cleaners already exist on the market and can be used with the cleaning device 2 according to the invention; these types are known to those skilled in the art and are not detailed in this document.

[0088] The cleaning device 2 further includes an articulation device 15 which mechanically connects the connecting sleeve 12 to the main body 3 and which is configured to allow the connecting sleeve 12 to tilt forward and backward relative to the main body 3 and also to tilt the connecting sleeve 12 to the left and to the right relative to the main body 3.

[0089] The cleaning device 2 further includes a waste guide channel 16 which is located in front of the suction mouth 6 and which is configured to be open downwards, i.e. towards the surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device 2 rests on said surface to be cleaned.

[0090] The waste guide channel 16 is particularly funnel-shaped, and thus has a width, measured parallel to a transverse direction D1 extending perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, that decreases towards the rear. Advantageously, the waste guide channel 16 is symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, and has a height that decreases towards the rear.

[0091] The waste guide channel 16 has a front opening 17 which opens into a front face of the main body 3 and which has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, greater than or equal to at least 50%, and for example at least 70%, of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, of the suction mouth 6. Advantageously, the front opening 17 has a maximum height, measured from a front transverse edge of the suction mouth 6, of between 10 mm and 30 mm, advantageously between 10 mm and 20 mm, and for example about 15 mm.

[0092] The waste guide channel 16 further includes a rear opening 18 which opens into the suction chamber 7. Advantageously, the rear opening 18 is centered with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, and has a minimum height, measured from a front transverse edge of the suction mouth 6, of between 3 mm and 10 mm, and advantageously between 4 mm and 5 mm, and for example of about 4.5 mm.

[0093] The waste guidance channel 16 further comprises two lateral guide walls 19 which are located on either side of the rear opening 18 and which each extend from a respective lateral edge of the front opening 17 to a respective lateral edge of the rear opening 18. The two lateral guide walls 19 converge towards each other in the direction of the rear opening 18 so as to orient waste, which comes into contact with the lateral guide walls 19 during a forward movement of the cleaning device 2, towards the rear opening 18.

[0094] As shown on the figures 7 And 8Each of the lateral guide walls 19 has a lower edge 19.1 which has an inclination, relative to the transverse direction D1, that increases from the front opening 17 to the rear opening 18. The inclination of the lower edge 19.1 of each of the lateral guide walls 19 can vary, relative to the transverse direction D1, between 0° and 90°, and for example between 1° and 45°. Advantageously, the lower edge 19.1 of each of the lateral guide walls 19 is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0095] According to the first embodiment of the invention, each of the lateral guide walls 19 comprises, from the outside towards the median longitudinal plane P, a first lateral guide surface 21 which extends substantially from a respective lateral edge of the front opening 17, and a second lateral guide surface 22 which extends from the respective first lateral guide surface 21 to a respective lateral edge of the rear opening 18. Thus, the two second lateral guide surfaces 22 are arranged between the first two lateral guide surfaces 21, and are arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0096] As shown more specifically on the figure 7, the first two lateral guide surfaces 21 converge towards each other in the direction of the rear opening 18, and the second two lateral guide surfaces 22 converge towards each other in the direction of the rear opening 18.

[0097] Each of the first and second lateral guide surfaces 21, 22 is substantially flat, that is, it extends between two respective theoretical (fictitious) planes that are parallel and separated by less than 5 mm, preferably less than 2.5 mm. According to the embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 14 , each first lateral guide surface 21 extends between two respective theoretical planes which are parallel and less than 1 mm apart, and each second lateral guide surface 21 extends between two respective theoretical planes which are parallel and less than 2.5 mm apart.

[0098] According to the embodiment shown on the figures 1 to 14, each of the first and second lateral guide surfaces 21, 22 is twisted longitudinally, such that the two lateral edges of the same first lateral guide surface 21 have, with respect to the horizontal, a different inclination and for example a difference in inclination of less than 20° (and advantageously less than 15° and for example of about 10°), and such that the two lateral edges of the same second lateral guide surface 22 have, with respect to the horizontal, a different inclination and for example a difference in inclination of less than 20°.

[0099] Each of the first lateral guide surfaces 21 has a lower edge 21.1 that is substantially straight, and each of the second lateral guide surfaces 22 has a lower edge 22.1 that is substantially straight. According to the embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 14The lower edge 21.1 of each first lateral guide surface 21 is straight, and the lower edge 22.1 of each second lateral guide surface 22 is curved but has a very large radius of curvature. The maximum distance between the apex of curvature of the lower edge 22.1 of a second lateral guide surface 22 and a theoretical straight line joining the two ends of the lower edge 22.1 of said respective second lateral guide surface 22 is less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, and for example, about 0.4 mm.

[0100] As shown more particularly on the figures 7 And 8, the lower edge 21.1 of each first lateral guide surface 21 is inclined, with respect to the transverse direction D1, according to a first angle of inclination α1 between 1 and 30°, advantageously between 1 and 10°, even more advantageously between 1 and 5°, and for example between 2 and 3°, while the lower edge 22.1 of each second lateral guide surface 22 is inclined, with respect to the transverse direction D1, according to a second angle of inclination α2 between 15 and 90°, advantageously between 15 and 30°, and for example about 20°.

[0101] The first and second lateral guide surfaces 21, 22 of the same lateral guide wall 19 are more particularly inclined relative to each other by an angle of inclination which is greater than 5°, advantageously greater than 10°, and for example between 10 and 15°. When the first and second lateral guide surfaces 21, 22 of the same lateral guide wall 19 have flatness defects, such an angle of inclination corresponds to the angle of inclination between a first average extension plane defined by the respective first lateral guide surface 21 (and located between the two respective theoretical planes between which said first lateral guide surface 21 extends) and a second average extension plane defined by the respective second lateral guide surface 22 (and located between the two respective theoretical planes between which said second lateral guide surface 22 extends).

[0102] As shown more particularly on the figures 9 to 14 Each first lateral guide surface 21 is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a first slope angle β1 when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface, and each second lateral guide surface 22 is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a second slope angle β2 when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface. The first slope angle β1 of each first lateral guide surface 21 is between 20° and 60°, advantageously between 40° and 60°, and for example between 40° and 55°, while the second slope angle β2 of each second lateral guide surface 22 is between 25° and 90°, advantageously between 25° and 55°, and for example between 30° and 55°.

[0103] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first slope angle β1 of each first lateral guide surface 21 varies along the extension direction of said first lateral guide surface 21, and for example increases in the direction of the rear opening 18 (see the figures 12 to 14 ), and the second slope angle β2 of each second lateral guide surface 22 varies along the extension direction of said second lateral guide surface 22, and for example decreases in the direction of the rear opening 18 (see the figures 9 to 11 ).

[0104] As is particularly evident from Figures 10 And 13, the cleaning device 2 is configured such that, for each lateral guide wall, the first slope angle β1 of the respective first lateral guide surface 21 has, at the level of a median part of said first lateral guide surface 21, a first slope angle value and such that the second slope angle β2 of the respective second lateral guide surface 22 has, at the level of a median part of said second lateral guide surface 22, a second slope angle value which is less than the first slope angle value.

[0105] However, according to one embodiment of the invention, the first slope angle β1 of each first lateral guide surface 21 could be constant along the extension direction of said first lateral guide surface 21, and the second slope angle β2 of each second lateral guide surface 22 could be constant along the extension direction of said second lateral guide surface 22.

[0106] As shown more specifically on the figure 7, each first lateral guide surface 21 has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, of between 25 and 40%, advantageously between 30 and 40% and for example of about 35%, of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, of the front opening 17, and the two second lateral guide surfaces 22 and the rear opening 18 have a cumulative width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, of between 20 and 40%, advantageously between 25 and 35% and for example of about 30% of the width of the front opening 17.

[0107] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the rear opening 18 has a width, measured parallel to the transverse direction D1, which is between 1 and 10% of the width of the front opening 17, and which is less than the width of each of the second lateral guide surfaces 22.

[0108] According to the first embodiment of the invention, each first lateral guide surface 21 is configured such that, when the cleaning device 2 rests on a surface to be cleaned, the distance between the surface to be cleaned and an upper edge of said first lateral guide surface 21 decreases in the direction of the rear opening 18, and each second lateral guide surface 22 is configured such that, when the cleaning device 2 rests on a surface to be cleaned, the distance between the surface to be cleaned and an upper edge of said second lateral guide surface 22 decreases in the direction of the rear opening 18.

[0109] The waste guide channel 16 further includes an upper guide wall 23 extending from the front opening 17 to the rear opening 18 and configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device 2 rests on said surface. The upper guide wall 23 is specifically configured such that the distance between the surface to be cleaned and the upper guide wall 23 decreases towards the rear opening 18. Advantageously, the upper guide wall 23 extends from substantially a first lateral edge of the front opening 17 to substantially a second lateral edge of the front opening 17.

[0110] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the upper guide wall 23 comprises a first upper guide surface 24 which extends from an upper edge of the front opening 17 and is curved, and a second upper guide surface 25 which extends from the first upper guide surface 24 to an upper edge of the rear opening 18 and is substantially flat.

[0111] Advantageously, the first upper guide surface 24 can have a radius of curvature between 15 and 25 mm, and for example about 19 mm.

[0112] As shown on the figure 6 , the second upper guide surface 25 is inclined backwards and downwards, and is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of inclination between 5 and 30°, and for example between 10 and 20°, when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0113] As shown on the figure 7 The lower face 5 of the main body 3 has two lower connecting surfaces 26 that are substantially flat and are located on either side of the rear opening 18. Each lower connecting surface 26 extends along a respective lateral guide wall 19 and from the lower edge 19.1 of a respective lateral guide wall 19 to the front transverse edge of the suction inlet 6, and is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the cleaning device 2 rests on a horizontal surface. This configuration of the lower face 5 of the main body 3 ensures satisfactory suction, at the rear opening 18, of the waste guided by the lateral guide walls 19 to the rear opening 18, without significantly impacting the suction performance of the cleaning device 2 at the suction inlet 6.

[0114] There figure 15 represents a cleaning device 2 according to a second embodiment which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the lower edge 19.1 of each of the lateral guide walls 19 is curved and has a gradual curvature. Advantageously, the lower edge 19.1 of each of the lateral guide walls 19 has an overall elliptical shape. According to such an embodiment of the invention, for each point on the curve defining the lower edge 19.1 of a lateral guide wall 19, the inclination of said lower edge at that point corresponds to the slope of the curve at that point and therefore to the tangent to the curve at that point.

[0115] Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given only as examples. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. Cleaning device (2) comprising : - main body (3) having a bottom face (5) configured to face a surface to be cleaned, and a suction inlet (6) opening into the bottom face (5) of the main body (3), the main body (3) defining a suction chamber (7) fluidly connected to the suction inlet (6), - a waste guiding channel (16) extending under the main body (3) and in front of the suction inlet (6) and configured to be open towards the bottom, the waste guiding channel (16) having a front opening (17) with a width, measured parallel to a transverse direction (D1) extending perpendicularly to a median longitudinal plane (P) of the main body (3), greater than or equal to at least 50% of the width, measured parallel to the transverse direction (D1), of the suction inlet (6), a rear opening (18) leading into the suction chamber (7) and two lateral guiding walls (19) located on either side of the rear opening (18), the two lateral guiding walls (19) converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening (18) so as to direct waste, coming into contact with the lateral guiding walls (19) during forward movement of the cleaning device (2), towards the rear opening (18), characterized in that each of the lateral guiding walls (19) has a lower edge (19.1) with an inclination relative to the transverse direction (D1) that increases towards the rear opening (18),2. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, in which the inclination of the lower edge (19.1) of each of the lateral guiding walls (19) varies, relative to the transverse direction (D1), between 0° and 90°.

3. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the waste guiding channel (16) has a height that decreases in the direction of the rear opening (18).

4. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the lower edge (19.1) of each of the lateral guiding walls (19) is configured to extend substantially horizontally when the cleaning device (2) rests on a horizontal surface.

5. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the rear opening (18) is substantially centered with respect to the median longitudinal plane (P) of the main body (3).

6. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the lower edge (19.1) of each of the lateral guiding walls (19) is curved.

7. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 6, in which the lower edge (19.1) of each of the lateral guiding walls (19) has a progressive curve.

8. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which each of the lateral guiding walls (19) has a first lateral guiding surface (21) and a second lateral guiding surface (22) that are substantially flat and are inclined relative to each other, the two first lateral guiding surfaces (21) converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening (18), and the two second lateral guiding surfaces (22) disposed between the two first lateral guiding surfaces (21) and converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening (18).

9. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 8, in which each of the first and second lateral guiding surfaces (21, 22) has a substantially straight lower edge.

10. Cleaning device (2) according to claim 9, in which the lower edge (21.1) of each first lateral guiding surface (21) is inclined, relative to the transverse direction (D1), at a first inclination angle (α1), and the lower edge (22.1) of each second lateral guiding surface (22) is inclined, relative to the transverse direction (D1), at a second inclination angle (α2) which is greater than the first inclination angle.

11. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the first and second lateral guiding surfaces (21, 22) of the same lateral guiding wall (19) are inclined relative to each other at an inclination angle that is greater than 5°.

12. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, in which each first lateral guiding surface (21) is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a first slope angle (β1) ranging from 20° to 60°, when the cleaning device (2) rests on a horizontal surface.

13. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, in which each second lateral guiding surface (22) is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal at a second slope angle (β2) ranging from 25° to 90°, when the cleaning device (2) rests on a horizontal surface.

14. Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the waste guiding channel (16) includes an upper guiding wall (23) extending from the front opening (17) to the rear opening (18) and configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device (2) rests on said surface to be cleaned, the upper guiding wall (23) being configured such that the distance between the surface to be cleaned and the upper guiding wall (23) decreases towards the rear opening (18).

15. Vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaning device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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