A tool for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cleaner tool such as a crevice tool comprises a frame (33, fig 2b) having one or more inlets (36, fig 2b) and an outlet (34, fig 2b). At least a portion of the frame is located within a cover 40 whi

Description

B ACKGROUND Vacuum cleaners are very effective at picking up dust and other debris from open stretches of floor surfaces. However, it can be difficult for vacuum cleaners to collect dust and other debris from tight or enclosed spaces such as above and below cupboards, or from behind radiators. Crevice tool attachments which generally comprise elongate tubes with a flattened inlet end are known. Such tools are useful for cleaning difficult to access areas. However, it can nonetheless remain difficult to access all areas that require cleaning if the inlet of the tool cannot be located close enough to the dust and debris to be removed. It is against this background that the present invention has been developed. SUMMARY The present invention provides a cleaner tool for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner tool comprising: a frame having one or more inlets and an outlet; and a cover comprising a plurality of holes, wherein at least a portion of the frame is located within the cover such that one or more of the inlets are located beneath the cover, wherein the cover comprises a continuous resiliently deformable material. In use, when the cleaner tool is placed in an area to be cleaned, such as in the space behind a radiator, the cover becomes deformed by virtue of surface contact between the cover and the objects in the area to be cleaned. Deformation of the cover causes deformation of one or more of the holes resulting in a region of localised lower pressure drop across the cover. Consequently, air being drawn into the tool prefers to enter via the deformed holes rather than via the undeformed holes. Dust and other debris in the vicinity of the preferred airflow path is therefore drawn into the tool. As the tool is moved around by the user, different parts of the cover are deformed so that different holes deform and the preferred airflow path moves to a different location. In this way, tight or enclosed spaced may be effectively cleaned. Optionally at least a portion of the cover is spaced from the housing to allow for greater flexibility of the cover with respect to the frame. The frame may optionally be rigid to prevent deformation of the one or more inlets. The frame may comprise a housing or a cage having a plurality of inlets. A plurality of inlets located beneath the cover provides an assured airflow path from the outside of the tool to the inside of the tool regardless of which holes are deformed at any given time. In one example the frame has a bulbous form. The frame may be of elongate form and / or of tubular form. The cover may have an undeformed cover configuration, wherein the cover is configured to: deform in use upon contact of the cover with an object; and return to its undeformed cover configuration following removal of contact of the cover with the object. In one example each hole may have an undeformed hole configuration, wherein the cover is configured so that: the size and / or shape of one or more of the holes deform in use upon contact of the cover with the object; and the size and / or shape of the one or more holes return to their respective undeformed hole configuration following removal of contact of the cover with the object thereby maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the tool when not in use. Optionally the holes are closed in their undeformed hole configuration to increase the pressure drop across the cover in the vicinity of the closed holes in use. The holes optionally comprise slits which are able to deform readily into openings with greater area than the undeformed slits. The holes may be arranged in lines extending along a longitudinal axis of the cover, and / or may be arranged in lines around the longitudinal axis of the cover. In another aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner tool as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a vacuum cleaner; Figure 2a shows a side view of a cleaner head for use with the vacuum cleaner; Figure 2b shows a sectional side view of the cleaner head of Figure 2a; Figure 3a shows a side view of an alternative cleaner head for use with the vacuum cleaner; and Figure 3b shows a sectional side view of the cleaner head of Figure 3a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows a hand-held vacuum cleaner 10 comprising a main body 12, a wand 14 and a cleaner head 20. The main body 12 comprises a separating system 11, in the form of a cyclonic separator, a motor and impeller (not visible) arranged to draw air through the separating system 11, and a power supply 13, in the form of a battery, for powering the motor. The wand 14 is attached at one end to the main body 12 via an adaptor 17, and at the other end to the cleaner head 20 via an adaptor 15. The wand 14 provides fluid communication between the cleaner head 20 and the separating system 11 and supports the cleaner head 20 during use. The cleaner head 20 comprises an adaptor 21 which is releasably attached to the adaptor 15 of the wand 14. A spring loaded button 22 operates to secure the cleaner head 20 to the wand 14. If it is desired to remove the cleaner head 20 from the wand 14 (for example to replace the cleaner head 20 with an alternative cleaner head), the button 22 is depressed to allow the cleaner head 20 to be released from the wand 14. Similarly, the main body 12 comprises an adaptor 16 which is releasably attached to the adaptor 17 of the wand 14. A spring loaded button 18 operates to secure the wand 14 to the main body 12. If it is desired to remove the wand 14 from the main body 12, the button 18 is depressed to allow the wand 14 to be released from the main body 12. Figures 2a and 2b show a cleaner tool 30 for use with the vacuum cleaner 10. The cleaner tool 30 comprises an adaptor 31 which is configured to attach to the adaptor 15 of the wand 14 or the adaptor 16 of the main body 12. In this regard, it will be understood that the cleaner tool 30 may be used when attached directly to the main body 12, or when attached to the main body 12 via the wand 14. A spring loaded button 32 is provided to secure and release the cleaner tool 30 to the wand 14 or the main body 12. The cleaner tool 30 comprises a bulbous frame 33 in the form of a rigid injection moulded plastic housing which defines a suction chamber 35. The frame 33 comprises an outlet 34 and a plurality of inlets 36. A cover 40 surrounds the frame 33 such that that the inlets 36 are located beneath the cover 40. The cover 40 has a plurality of holes 42 formed therein. A proximal end 44 of the cover 40 is connected to the frame 33 proximate the outlet 34 of the frame 33. The cover 40 extends from its proximal end 44 to surround the frame 33. The cover 40 is spaced from the frame 33 so that a space 46 exists between the cover 40 and the frame 33. The cover 40 comprises a continuous resiliently deformable material such as silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane or any other suitable material in which the holes 42 have been formed. The holes 42 may be cut from the cover material, or the holes 42 may be created during formation of the cover 40, or during formation of the cover material itself, for example during moulding. The cover 40 has an undeformed cover configuration as illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b. In its undeformed configuration, the cover 40 generally follows the bulbous form of the frame 33. The holes 42 also have an undeformed configuration. In the example shown in Figures 2a and 2b the holes 42 are generally open slit shapes arranged in lines which extend around and along the longitudinal axis of the cover 40. However, the holes 42 may be arranged in any suitable pattern, and may be of any suitable shape in their undeformed configuration such as circular, elliptical or rectilinear. The holes 42 may be open in their undeformed configuration, or they may be closed such that the cover material is in contact with itself when the holes 42 are in their undeformed configuration, such as would be the case if the holes 42 are formed by thin cuts or small holes made in the continuous resiliently deformable material of the cover 40. In use, when the cleaner tool 30 is placed in an area to be cleaned, such as in the space behind a radiator, the cover 40 becomes deformed by virtue of surface contact between the cover 40 and the objects in the area to be cleaned (such as walls, radiators or cupboards for example). Deformation of the cover 40 causes deformation of one or more of the holes 42 such that the size and / or shape of the holes 42 change from their undeformed configuration. This causes a region of localised lower pressure drop across the cover such that air being drawn into the suction chamber 35 by the motor in use prefers to enter the suction chamber 35 via the one or more deformed holes 42 rather than via the undeformed holes 42. The spread of inlets 36 beneath the cover 40 ensures that an airflow path exists from outside the cover 40 to inside the suction chamber 35 regardless of which of the holes 42 are deformed at any given time. Because of the localised region of preferred airflow path created by the one or more deformed holes 42, dust and other debris in the vicinity of the preferred airflow path is drawn into the suction chamber and on to the bin of the vacuum cleaner via the separating system 11. During the cleaning process, as the tool 30 is moved around by the user, different parts of the cover 40 become deformed such that different holes 42 become deformed and the preferred airflow path created by the deformed holes 42 moves to a different location. In this way, the tight or enclosed spaced may be effectively cleaned. Upon removal of the tool 30 from contact with the objects surrounding the area to be cleaned, the cover 40 and holes 42 return to their undeformed configuration. Figures 3a and 3b show an alternative cleaner tool 130 for use with the vacuum cleaner 10. For reasons of clarity, like reference numerals have been used to indicate like features. The cleaner tool 130 comprises an adaptor 31 which is configured to attach to the adaptor 15 of the wand 14 or the adaptor 16 of the main body 12. A spring loaded button 32 is provided to secure and release the cleaner tool 130 to the wand 14 or the main body 12. The cleaner tool 130 comprises an elongate tubular frame 133 in the form of a rigid injection moulded plastic housing which defines a suction chamber 135. The frame 133 comprises an outlet 134 and a plurality of inlets 136. A cover 140 surrounds the frame 133 such that the inlets 136 are located beneath the cover 140. The cover 140 has a plurality of holes 142 formed therein. A proximal end 144 of the cover 140 is connected to the frame 133 proximate the outlet 134 of the frame 133. The cover 140 extends from its proximal end 144 to surround the frame 133. The cover 140 is spaced from the frame 133 so that a space 146 exists between the cover 140 and the frame 133. As before, the cover 140 comprises a continuous resiliently deformable material such as silicone or any other suitable material in which the holes 42 have been formed. The cover 140 has an undeformed cover configuration as illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b. In its undeformed configuration, the cover 140 generally follows the elongate tubular form of the frame 133. The holes 142 also have an undeformed configuration. In the example shown in Figures 3a and 3b the holes 142 are generally open slit shapes arranged in lines which extend along the longitudinal axis of the cover 140. However, the holes 142 may be arranged any suitable pattern, and may be of any suitable shape in their undeformed configuration such as circular, elliptical or rectilinear. The holes 142 may be open in their undeformed configuration, or they may be closed. The cleaner tool 130 is used in the same way as described above for the cleaner tool 30 such that when the cleaner tool 130 is placed in an area to be cleaned, the cover 140 becomes deformed causing deformation of one or more of the holes 142 as the cleaner tool 130 is moved around with in the area to be cleaned. Upon removal of the tool 130 from contact with the objects surrounding the area to be cleaned, the cover 140 and holes 142 return to their undeformed configuration. 5 It will be understood that the tools 30, 130 described above are examples only and that modifications are envisioned. For example, the frame may be in the form of cage with inlets defined between the structural elements of the cage. The frame need not be completely rigid provided that it is stiff enough to maintain the inlets in an open configuration. The frame may have any suitable configuration as an alternative to the 10 bulbous frame 33 and the elongate tubular frame 133 described above. For example, the frame may be flattened along some or all of its length. It is not essential that the cover 40, 140 be spaced from the frame 33, 133, and in some examples the cover 40, 140 may rest on top of the frame 33, 133 in its undeformed 15 configuration. 07 03 25

Claims

1. A cleaner tool for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner tool comprising: a frame having one or more inlets and an outlet; and5 a cover comprising a resiliently deformable material having a plurality of holes,wherein at least a portion of the frame is located within the cover such that one or more of the inlets are located beneath the cover.

2. A cleaner tool according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cover is 10 spaced from the housing.

3. A cleaner tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame is rigid.

4. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises a 15 housing having a plurality of inlets.

5. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a bulbous form.20 6. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame has an elongateform.

7. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a tubular form.

258. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover has an undeformed cover configuration, wherein the cover is configured to:deform in use upon contact of the cover with an object; andreturn to its undeformed cover configuration following removal of contact of the 30 cover with the object.07 03 259. A cleaner tool according to claim 8, wherein each hole has an undeformed hole configuration, wherein the cover is configured so that:the size and / or shape of one or more of the holes deform in use upon contact of the cover with the object; and5 the size and / or shape of the one or more holes return to their respective undeformedhole configuration following removal of contact of the cover with the object.

10. A cleaner tool according to claim 9, wherein the holes are closed in their undeformed hole configuration.1011. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the holes comprise slits.

12. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the holes are arranged inlines extending along a longitudinal axis of the cover.1513. A cleaner tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the holes are arranged in lines around the longitudinal axis of the cover.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner tool as claimed in any preceding claim.20

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