Suction head comprising a sole equipped with a curved front sliding surface

Abstract

The suction head (2) comprises a base (5) having a lower face (6) and a suction inlet (7) opening into the lower face (6), the lower face (6) comprising a front sliding surface (21) located in front of the suction inlet (7) and having a rear edge (21.2) and a front edge (21.2) which is raised relative to the rear edge (21.2). The front sliding surface (21) is curved from the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) and towards the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21) and has a radius of curvature (R) of between 30 and 120 mm. A tangent to the front sliding surface (21) and passing through the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) extends substantially horizontally when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface. Figure 7

Description

Title of the invention: Suction head comprising a sole equipped with a curved front sliding surface Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head for sucking up dust and waste present on a surface to be cleaned. State of the art

[0002] Vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head are well known on the market, these allowing surfaces to be cleaned by suction for the removal of dust and waste resting on them. The surface to be vacuumed can for example be tiles, parquet, laminate, carpet or a rug.

[0003] In a known manner, a suction head comprises a sole provided with a lower face configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, and a suction mouth opening into the lower face of the sole, the lower face of the sole comprising a front sliding surface and a rear sliding surface located on either side of the suction mouth.

[0004] The front sliding surface is more particularly configured to guide waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, encountered by the soleplate during a forward movement of the suction head towards the suction mouth, while the rear sliding surface is more particularly configured to guide waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, encountered by the soleplate during a rearward movement of the suction head towards the suction mouth.

[0005] In order to guide waste encountered by the sole towards the suction mouth, each of the front and rear sliding surfaces is generally flat and inclined relative to the horizontal when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface.

[0006] Although such a configuration, in particular of the front sliding surface, ensures easy passage of the suction head over waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, when the suction head is moved forward over a hard floor, the seal between the sliding surface and the floor to be cleaned may prove to be insufficient, in particular when the suction head is moved over a soft floor, which may impair the suction performance of the suction head on soft floor.

[0007] To overcome this drawback, it may be considered to reduce the angle of inclination of the front sliding surface relative to the horizontal in order to ensure better sealing between the front sliding surface and the ground to be cleaned and therefore performance. increased cleaning performance on soft ground. However, in such a case, the ground clearance at the front edge of the front sliding surface may be too small to allow the suction head to pass over the debris encountered by the suction head when moving forward on hard ground, so that this debris is then pushed by the suction head without being sucked up by the suction inlet. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0009] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular in providing a suction head which is of simple and reliable structure, while having increased cleaning performance whatever the type of floor cleaned with the suction head.

[0010] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a suction head comprising a sole provided with a lower face configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, and a suction mouth opening into the lower face of the sole, the lower face of the sole comprising a front sliding surface which is located at the front of the suction mouth, the front sliding surface having a front edge and a rear edge which are offset from each other in a main direction of movement of the suction head, the front edge of the front sliding surface being raised relative to the rear edge of the front sliding surface when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface.

[0011] The front sliding surface is convex and is curved from the rear edge of the front sliding surface and towards the front edge of the front sliding surface, the front sliding surface having a radius of curvature of between 30 and 120 mm, advantageously between 65 and 85 mm and for example approximately 74 mm, and a tangent to the front sliding surface and passing through the rear edge of the front sliding surface extends substantially horizontally when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface.

[0012] Such a configuration of the front sliding surface, and in particular the fact that the tangent is substantially horizontal at the rear edge of the front sliding surface, gives the suction head according to the present invention improved suction performance on soft ground, such as a carpet or rug. Indeed, the specific configuration of the sliding surface improves the seal between the sole and the soft ground to be cleaned by generating a slight suction effect at the suction mouth, which makes it possible to concentrate the suction at the suction mouth and thus to suck up dust located deep in the soft ground.

[0013] Furthermore, a maximum radius of curvature of 120 mm is imposed for the front sliding surface so as to avoid creating too much sealing at the level of the suction inlet. In fact, a radius of curvature greater than 120 mm, combined with a substantially horizontal tangent at the front edge of the suction inlet, would generate too great a suction effect at the suction inlet and would make it difficult to maneuver the suction head resting, for example, on a carpet (in other words, the forward force would be too great for the user).

[0014] In addition, the curved profile of the front sliding surface allows the suction head to easily pass over waste encountered by the suction head during forward movement of the latter and on hard ground, while giving the suction head an improved seal compared to that provided by a front sliding surface which would be flat and inclined relative to the horizontal and which would have the same capacity to pass over waste encountered by the suction head during forward movement. Thus, the front sliding surface according to the present invention makes it possible to balance two phenomena: the air intake of the suction head and its ability to pass over waste.

[0015] Accordingly, the specific configuration of the front sliding surface according to the present invention therefore provides the suction head with increased maneuverability and increased cleaning performance on hard and soft floors.

[0016] The suction head may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0017] Advantageously, the rear edge of the front sliding surface is the front edge of the suction mouth.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the tangent extends horizontally when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the tangent is inclined relative to the horizontal by a tangent angle less than or equal to 3°, and advantageously less than or equal to 1°, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface. In other words, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface, the tangent and the horizontal define a tangent angle less than or equal to 3°, and advantageously less than or equal to 1°.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction mouth has an elongated shape and extends in an extension direction. Advantageously, the extension direction extends substantially perpendicular to the main direction of movement of the suction head.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front and rear edges of the front sliding surface are substantially parallel to each other. Advantageously, the front and rear edges of the front sliding surface extend substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the suction mouth.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front and rear edges of the front sliding surface are vertically offset relative to each other.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface is configured to guide waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, encountered by the sole during a forward movement of the suction head, towards the suction mouth.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front edge of the front sliding surface and the rear edge of the front sliding surface are vertically offset from each other by an offset distance of more than 3 mm. In other words, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface, an orthogonal projection of the front edge of the front sliding surface onto a reference plane that is vertical and extends perpendicular to the main direction of movement of the suction head and an orthogonal projection of the rear edge of the front sliding surface onto the reference plane are spaced apart from each other by an offset distance of more than 3 mm.

[0025] Such a configuration of the front sliding surface makes it possible to ensure optimal passage of the suction head over waste encountered by the suction head when the latter moves forward and over hard ground.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface is configured such that, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface, the rear edge of the front sliding surface is located at a predetermined distance from said horizontal surface which is between 0.5 and 2 mm.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front edge of the front sliding surface and the rear edge of the front sliding surface are offset from each other, along the main movement direction of the suction head, by a separation distance of less than 40 mm. In other words, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface, an orthogonal projection of the front edge of the front sliding surface on the horizontal surface and an orthogonal projection of the rear edge of the front sliding surface on the horizontal surface are spaced apart from each other by a separation distance of less than 40 mm.

[0028] Such a configuration of the front sliding surface makes it possible to limit the pressure losses generated by the flow of the air sucked between the front sliding surface and the ground, while allowing the suction mouth to be located as close as possible to a wall when the suction head is moved along said wall, which makes it possible to further increase the cleaning performance of the suction head.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface is configured such that, when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface, a plane of inclination passing through the front and rear edges of the surface of front sliding is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination of between 6 and 30°, and advantageously 6 and 15°. Such a configuration of the front sliding surface ensures easy sliding of the waste under the front sliding surface during forward movement of the suction head.Indeed, with an inclination angle above 30°, the waste slides with difficulty under the front sliding surface, and with an inclination angle below 6°, either the ground clearance at the front edge of the front sliding surface is too small to allow the suction head to pass over the waste encountered by the suction head when moving the latter forward, or the radius of curvature is too large and the suction effect generated at the suction mouth is too great, or the suction mouth is too far from the front edge of the sole, which does not allow effective suction of waste located along a wall.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, a ratio of the radius of curvature to the offset distance is between 3 and 30. With a radius of curvature which is at least three times greater than the offset distance, it is possible to comply with the condition that the angle of inclination of the aforementioned plane of inclination must be less than 30°, and with a radius of curvature which is less than thirty times the offset distance, it is possible to comply with the condition that the angle of inclination of the aforementioned plane of inclination must be greater than 6°.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separation distance is greater than 15 mm. Such a configuration of the front sliding surface ensures easy sliding of the waste under the front sliding surface during a forward movement of the suction head, while ensuring satisfactory sealing at the level of the front sliding surface. Indeed, the separation distance is advantageously greater than 15 mm to make it possible to obtain an angle of inclination of the aforementioned inclination plane which is less than 30° and a radius of curvature which is greater than 30 mm, and therefore to ensure easy sliding of waste under the front sliding surface and optimal sealing between the sole and soft ground.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface extends from a front edge of the suction mouth.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the radius of curvature of the front sliding surface is constant from the rear edge of the front sliding surface to the front edge of the front sliding surface.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface is formed by a cylindrical surface portion whose central longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the suction mouth. Advantageously, the central longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal when the head suction rests on a horizontal surface.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the radius of curvature of the front sliding surface could be variable between the rear edge of the front sliding surface and the front edge of the front sliding surface.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface extends over an angular sector having a sector angle of between 30 and 60°, and advantageously between 35 and 55° and for example approximately 43°.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface extends to a front edge of the sole.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the front sliding surface extends over the entire length of the suction mouth, and for example from a first lateral edge of the sole to a second lateral edge of the sole opposite the first lateral edge.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the junction between the rear edge of the front sliding surface and the front edge of the suction mouth forms a front scraping edge.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower face of the sole comprises a rear sliding surface located at the rear of the suction mouth. Advantageously, the rear sliding surface extends from a rear edge of the suction mouth.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear sliding surface is flat and is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination of between 6 and 30° when the suction head rests on a horizontal surface.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear sliding surface extends over the entire length of the suction mouth, and for example from the first lateral edge of the sole to the second lateral edge of the sole.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sole comprises support surfaces configured to be in contact with the floor to be cleaned. Advantageously, the support surfaces are formed at least in part by support rollers.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head further comprises a rotating brush housed in a suction chamber which is fluidically connected to the suction mouth, the rotating brush comprising a brush body which has a central longitudinal axis and which is configured to be driven in rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation and around an axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the brush body.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head comprises a suction duct opening into the suction chamber, and for example into a rear part of the suction chamber. Brief description of the figures

[0046] In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this suction head.

[0047] [Fig.l] is a partial three-quarter front view of a suction head according to the present invention.

[0048] [Fig.2] is a partial three-quarter front view of the suction head of [Fig.l].

[0049] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a rotating brush of the suction head of [Fig.l],

[0050] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the rotating brush of [Fig.3].

[0051] [Fig.5] is a partial three-quarter front view of the suction head of the [Fig.l].

[0052] [Fig.6] is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction head of [Fig.l].

[0053] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of the suction head of [Fig.l] showing a rear sealing member in a first configuration.

[0054] [Fig.8] is a view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of [Fig.7]. Detailed description

[0055] Figures 1 to 8 show a suction head 2 comprising a connecting sleeve 3 to which a tip of a rigid or flexible tube is intended to be connected, itself connected to a suction system of a vacuum cleaner (not shown). Various variants of vacuum cleaners already exist on the market and can be used with the suction head 2 according to the invention; these variants being known to those skilled in the art, they are not detailed in the present patent application.

[0056] The suction head 2 comprises a main body 4 configured to be moved over a surface to be cleaned. The connecting sleeve 3 is advantageously mounted in a pivot connection relative to the main body 4 so as to allow the main body 4 to pivot forwards and backwards when the suction head 2 moves in a main direction of movement DI.

[0057] The main body 4 comprises a sole 5 provided with a lower face 6 configured to be oriented towards the surface to be cleaned, and a suction mouth 7 opening onto the lower face 6 of the sole 5. The suction mouth 7 may for example have an elongated shape and extend in a direction of extension which is perpendicular to the main direction of movement DI of the suction head 2.

[0058] The main body 4 further comprises a suction chamber 8 which opens into the lower face 6 of the sole 5 via the suction mouth 7, and which is connected fluidly to the connecting sleeve 3 in particular by means of a suction duct 9, which may for example be formed at least in part by a flexible connecting duct. Advantageously, the suction duct 9 opens into a rear part of the suction chamber 8.

[0059] The suction head 2 also comprises a rotating brush 11 comprising a brush body 12 which has a generally tubular shape and which has a central longitudinal axis A. The brush body 12 is mounted to rotate in the suction chamber 8 around an axis of rotation which is substantially coaxial with the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12, and is configured to be driven in rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation, which is shown diagrammatically in [Fig.7] by an arrow rotating in the counterclockwise direction.

[0060] Advantageously, the brush body 12 is removably mounted in the suction chamber 8 and is configured to be inserted into and removed from the suction chamber 8 in a mounting direction D2 which advantageously extends perpendicular to the main direction of movement DI of the suction head 2.

[0061] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main body 4 comprises a passage opening 13 opening into the suction chamber 8 and through which the brush body 12 can be introduced into and removed from the suction chamber 8. Advantageously, the passage opening 13 is provided on a lateral face of the main body 4.

[0062] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the rotating brush 11 comprises several rows of bristles 14, for example two rows of bristles, provided on an external peripheral surface of the brush body 12, and several cleaning strips 15, for example elastically deformable or rigid, provided on the external peripheral surface of the brush body 12. Advantageously, the rows of bristles 14 and the cleaning strips 15 are alternated around the periphery of the brush body 12. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush 11 could however comprise a single row of bristles 14 and a single cleaning strip 15, or even be devoid of a row of bristles 14 or of a cleaning strip 15.

[0063] Each cleaning strip 15 is located at the rear of a respective row of bristles 14 relative to the predetermined direction of rotation of the brush body 12, and is more particularly configured to draw towards the suction mouth 7 dust raised by the respective row of bristles 14 and suspended behind the respective row of bristles 14.

[0064] Each cleaning strip 15 is angularly offset from the respective row of bristles 14, relative to the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12, by an offset angle a of between 20 and 90°, advantageously between 25 and 55°, and by example between 32 and 46°.

[0065] The suction head 2 further comprises a closing cap 17 which is configured to close the passage opening 13 when the brush body 12 is mounted in the suction chamber 8.

[0066] The suction head 2 also comprises a rotation drive device 18 configured to drive the brush body 12 in rotation around the rotation axis and at a rotation speed for example between 2000 and 8000 rpm.

[0067] The rotation drive device 18 more particularly comprises a drive motor 19, preferably electric, coupled in rotation to the rotating brush 11. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the drive motor 19 comprises an output shaft which is substantially collinear with the axis of rotation of the brush body 12, and the drive motor 19 is housed in the brush body 12.

[0068] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the drive motor 19 could be arranged in the suction head 2 outside the rotating brush 11. According to this alternative, the output shaft of the drive motor 19 could be coupled to the rotating brush 11, for example, by a gear chain or by a belt which is, for example, of the toothed type.

[0069] As shown more particularly in [Fig. 7], the lower face 6 of the sole 5 comprises a front sliding surface 21 which is located in front of the suction mouth 7, and a rear sliding surface 22 which is located in the rear of the suction mouth 7. Advantageously, the front sliding surface 21 extends from a front edge of the suction mouth 7 and towards a front edge of the sole 5 (and for example to the front edge of the sole 5), and the rear sliding surface 22 extends from a rear edge of the suction mouth 7 and towards a rear edge of the sole 5.

[0070] The front sliding surface 21 is more particularly configured to guide waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, encountered by the sole 5 during a forward movement of the suction head 2, towards the suction mouth 7, while the rear sliding surface 22 is more particularly configured to guide waste, such as grains of rice or lentils, encountered by the sole 5 during a rearward movement of the suction head 2 towards the suction mouth 7.

[0071] Advantageously, the front sliding surface 21 extends over the entire length of the suction mouth 7, and for example from a first lateral edge of the sole 5 to a second lateral edge of the sole 5 opposite the first lateral edge. Similarly, the rear sliding surface 22 extends over the entire length of the suction mouth 7, and for example from the first lateral edge of the sole 5 to the second lateral edge of the sole 5.

[0072] According to the embodiment of the invention, the rear sliding surface 22 is flat and is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination of between 6 and 30° when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface. The rear sliding surface 22 is more particularly inclined backwards and upwards.

[0073] The front sliding surface 21 has a front edge 21.1 and a rear edge 21.2 which are parallel to each other and which extend parallel to the direction of extension of the suction mouth 7.

[0074] The front and rear edges 21.1, 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 are offset from each other, along the main direction of movement DI of the suction head 2, by a separation distance Dil of between 15 mm and 40 mm. In other words, when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface, an orthogonal projection of the front edge 21.1 of the front sliding surface 21 onto the horizontal surface and an orthogonal projection of the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 onto the horizontal surface are spaced apart from each other by a separation distance Dil of between 15 mm and 40 mm.

[0075] Furthermore, the front edge 21.1 of the front sliding surface 21 is raised relative to the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface, and the front and rear edges 21.1, 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 are vertically offset relative to each other by an offset distance Di2 greater than 3 mm and advantageously less than or equal to 10 mm. In other words, when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface, an orthogonal projection of the front edge 21.1 of the front sliding surface 21 onto a reference plane which is vertical and which extends perpendicular to the main direction of movement DI of the suction head 2 and an orthogonal projection of the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 on the reference plane are spaced from each other by an offset distance Di2 greater than 3 mm and advantageously less than or equal to 10 mm.

[0076] Advantageously, the front sliding surface 21 is configured such that, when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface, the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 is located at a predetermined distance from said horizontal surface which is between 0.5 and 2 mm.

[0077] Advantageously, the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 is the front edge of the suction mouth 7.

[0078] The front sliding surface 21 is also configured such that, when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface, an inclination plane P passing through the front and rear edges 21.1, 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 is inclined relative to the horizontal by an inclination angle of between 6 and 30°, and advantageously 6 and 15°.

[0079] The front sliding surface 21 is convex and is curved from the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 and towards the front edge 21.1 of the front sliding surface 21. The front sliding surface 21 has a radius of curvature R of between 30 and 120 mm, advantageously between 65 and 85 mm and for example approximately 74 mm, and extends over an angular sector having a sector angle of between 30 and 60°, and advantageously between 35 and 55° and for example approximately 43°. A ratio of the radius of curvature R to the offset distance Di2 may for example be between 3 and 30.

[0080] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the radius of curvature R of the front sliding surface 21 is constant from the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 and up to the front edge 21.1 of the front sliding surface 21, such that the front sliding surface 21 is formed by a cylindrical surface portion whose central longitudinal axis is parallel to the direction of extension of the suction mouth 7 and extends horizontally when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0081] The front sliding surface 21 is more particularly configured such that a tangent T to the front sliding surface 21 and passing through the rear edge 21.2 of the front sliding surface 21 extends horizontally when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the tangent T could be inclined relative to the horizontal by a tangent angle less than or equal to 3°, and advantageously less than or equal to 1°, when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0082] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. For example, the lower face 6 could comprise, at the front or at the rear of the front sliding surface 21, a flat intermediate surface which could be horizontal or inclined relative to the horizontal when the suction head 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

Claims

Claims

1. Suction head (2) comprising a sole (5) provided with a lower face (6) configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, and a suction mouth (7) opening into the lower face (6) of the sole (5), the lower face (6) of the sole (5) comprising a front sliding surface (21) which is located in front of the suction mouth (7), the front sliding surface (21) having a front edge (21.1) and a rear edge (21.2) which are offset from each other in a main direction of movement (Dl) of the suction head (2), the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21) being raised relative to the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface, the front sliding surface (21) is convex and is curved from the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) and towards the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21), characterized in that the front sliding surface (21) has a radius of curvature (R) of between 30 and 120 mm, in that a tangent (T) to the front sliding surface (21) and passing through the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) extends substantially horizontally when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface, and in that the front sliding surface (21) is configured such that, when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface, the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) is located at a predetermined distance from said horizontal surface which is between 0.5 and 2 mm.

2. Suction head (2) according to claim 1, wherein the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21) and the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) are vertically offset from each other by an offset distance (Di2) greater than 3 mm.

3. A suction head (2) according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of the radius of curvature (R) to the offset distance (Di2) is between 3 and 30.

4. A suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21) and the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) are offset from each other, according to the main direction of movement (Dl) of the suction head (2), by a separation distance (Dil) of less than 40 mm.

5. Suction head (2) according to claim 4, wherein the separation distance (Dil) is greater than 15 mm.

6. A suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front sliding surface (21) is configured such that, when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface, an inclination plane passing through the front and rear edges (21.1, 21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) is inclined relative to the horizontal by an inclination angle of between 6 and 30°.

7. A suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front sliding surface (21) extends from a front edge of the suction mouth (7).

8. A suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the radius of curvature (R) of the front sliding surface (21) is constant from the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) to the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21).

9. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front sliding surface (21) is formed by a cylindrical surface portion whose central longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the suction mouth (7).

10. A suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the front sliding surface (21) extends over an angular sector having a sector angle of between 30 and 60°.

11. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which further comprises a rotating brush (11) housed in a suction chamber (8) which is fluidically connected to the suction mouth (7), the rotating brush (11) comprising a brush body (12) which has a central longitudinal axis (A) and which is configured to be rotated in a predetermined direction of rotation and around an axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the central longitudinal axis (A) of the brush body (12).

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