Appliance

Abstract

An appliance includes an appliance housing, a motor comprising a motor housing, and a motor mount that mounts the motor within the appliance housing. The motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to an inner surface of the appliance housing.

Description

[0001] 1 P004631-W001

[0002] APPLIANCE

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Some appliances include motors, such as electric motors, that are utilised to generate an airflow through the appliance in use.

[0005] SUMMARY

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided an appliance comprising: an appliance housing; a motor (e.g. an electric motor) comprising a motor housing (sometimes referred to as a frame); and a motor mount that mounts the motor within the appliance housing, wherein the motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to an inner surface of the appliance housing.

[0007] Locating the motor mount inboard of the motor housing may enable a more compact appliance. As the motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to an inner surface of the appliance housing, an overall size of the motor can be increased for a given size of appliance housing relative to, for example, an arrangement where a motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position located outwardly of the motor housing, and closer to the appliance housing than the motor housing. In particular, in the appliance according to the first aspect, the motor mount does not need to extend from an outer position relative to the motor housing to couple the motor to the appliance housing, and hence the motor mount may not need to be located between the motor housing and the appliance housing, for example, radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing. This may enable the motor to be larger for a given size of appliance housing.

[0008] The position may be located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an innermost boundary defined by the outer surface of the motor housing. The position may be located further inwardly from the appliance housing than any portion of the outer surface of the motor housing. The motor housing may be generally cylindrical in form, for 2 P004631-W001 example, such that the outer surface defines a circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing. The position may be located radially inwardly of the circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing.

[0009] The motor mount may be located partly within the motor housing, for example, such that at least part of the motor mount is located radially inwardly of the motor housing. At least part of the motor mount may underlie the motor housing, for example, such that the at least part of the motor mount is located radially inwardly of the motor housing. The motor mount may be located partly outside of the motor housing, for example, such that no part of the motor mount overlies the circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing. In such a manner no part of the motor mount is located radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing, for example, radially between the circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing and the appliance housing.

[0010] The appliance housing may extend about an entire periphery of the motor housing, for example, annularly about the motor housing. The motor may be located substantially centrally within the appliance housing.

[0011] The motor mount may extend outwardly relative to the motor housing, in a direction toward the appliance housing, such that a clearance is defined between the motor housing and the inner surface of the appliance housing. This may inhibit loads from being transferred directly to the motor housing in the event that the appliance housing experiences an impact during use, and instead cause such loads to be transferred to the motor housing via the motor mount.

[0012] The motor mount may be directly coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing. This may result in reduced component count and / or cost relative to an arrangement in which intermediate components are located between the motor mount and the appliance housing.

[0013] The motor may comprise a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the motor, and the motor mount may be located at an axial end of the motor. Locating the motor mount at the axial 3 P004631-W001 end of the motor may provide for a simpler mounting scheme that interferes less with internal components of the motor than, for example, an arrangement in which the motor mount is located centrally between axial ends of the motor.

[0014] The motor mount may extend within the motor for no more than 10% of an axial length of the motor.

[0015] The motor mount may be located at an upstream end of the motor housing, for example, upstream of an impeller of the motor. The motor mount may define an inlet for the motor, for example, a surface that directs airflow into the motor housing. This may provide aerodynamic benefits relative to an arrangement in which airflow enters the motor unguided.

[0016] The motor mount may create a seal with the inner surface of the appliance housing, for example, such that airflow cannot pass between the motor housing and the appliance housing at a location upstream of an impeller of the motor. This may inhibit formation of an airflow leak path between the motor housing and the appliance housing, and may ensure that substantially all airflow through the appliance generated by the motor passes through the motor.

[0017] The motor mount may be located at a downstream end of the motor housing, for example, downstream of the impeller of the motor. The motor mount may at least partly define an airflow path for airflow exiting the motor. In such a manner the motor mount may be utilised to guide airflow exiting the motor. This may provide aerodynamic benefits relative to, for example, an arrangement where airflow exiting the motor is unguided downstream of the motor.

[0018] The motor mount may comprise an inner portion coupled to the motor, an outer portion located outwardly from the inner portion, and a plurality of struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. Such an arrangement may enable mounting of the motor within the appliance housing, whilst allowing airflow to pass through the motor mount. The outer portion may be located radially outwardly of the inner portion. The 4 P004631-W001 outer portion may be annular about the inner portion, for example, with the plurality of struts extending radially between the outer portion and the inner portion. The outer portion may couple the motor to the inner surface of the appliance housing. The plurality of struts may be aerodynamically shaped.

[0019] The plurality of struts may be evenly spaced apart from one another, for example, evenly spaced circumferentially between the inner portion and the outer portion. This may provide relatively even transfer of load between the motor and the appliance housing.

[0020] The motor mount may comprise at least three struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. This may provide for a more uniform load share between each strut relative to a motor mount having two or one struts.

[0021] The motor mount may comprise a resiliently deformable member and a relatively rigid member, wherein the resiliently deformable member is coupled to the motor at the position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than the outer surface of the motor housing, and the relatively rigid member is: in contact with, and extends outwardly from, the resiliently deformable member; and coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing. Use of a resiliently deformable member may provide cushioning for the motor in the event that the appliance housing experiences an impact in use, whilst use of the relatively rigid member may provide something for the resiliently deformable member to react against without the resiliently deformable member needing to extend to the inner surface of the appliance housing. The relatively rigid member may extend outwardly relative to the motor housing, in a direction toward the appliance housing, for example, radially outwardly.

[0022] The relatively rigid member may comprise first and second surfaces extending substantially orthogonally relative to one another, and the first and second surfaces may each be in contact with the resiliently deformable member. The first and second surface may thereby enable reaction of the resiliently deformable member against the relatively rigid member in two generally orthogonal directions, for example, in a radial direction and in an axial direction. The first surface may extend in a radial direction and the second 5 P004631-W001 surface may extend in an axial direction. The relatively rigid member may comprise a central body comprising the first surface and a radial body comprising the second surface, the radial body extending radially outwardly from the central body, the resiliently deformable member may extend annularly about the central body, and the central body and the radial body may each be in contact with the resiliently deformable member. The relatively rigid member may comprise a generally T-shaped cross-section, for example, viewed in a plane comprising a central longitudinal axis of the motor defined by the shaft, and both a body of the T-shaped cross-section and arms of the T-shaped cross-section may be in contact with the resiliently deformable member.

[0023] The motor housing and the relatively rigid member may comprise respective contact surfaces that extend orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor, and the resiliently deformable member may located between and in contact with, the contact surfaces of the motor housing and the relatively rigid member. The contact surface of the relatively rigid member may be defined by the radial body, for example, by the arms of the T-shaped cross-section of the relatively rigid member.

[0024] The resiliently deformable portion may not overlie an outer surface of the motor housing, for example, such that no part of the resiliently deformable member is located radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing. This may enable for an increased size of motor for a given size of appliance housing relative to an arrangement in which resiliently deformable material overlies the outer surface of the motor housing, and is located radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing.

[0025] The motor mount may be a first motor mount, and the appliance may comprise a second motor mount mounting the motor within the appliance housing. The second motor mount may be coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to the inner surface of the appliance housing. Providing two motor mounts may provide for increased stability of the motor within the appliance housing relative to use of only one motor mount, for example, by enabling coupling to the motor at two distinct positions. 6 P004631-W001

[0026] The first and second motor mounts may be located at opposite ends of the motor to one another, for example, at opposite axial ends of the motor. Providing motor mounts at opposite ends of the motor may provide for relatively even support of the motor within the appliance housing at both axial ends of the motor.

[0027] The second motor mount may be located partly within the motor housing, for example, such that at least part of the second motor mount is located radially inwardly of the motor housing. At least part of the second motor mount may underlie the motor housing, for example, such that the at least part of the second motor mount is located radially inwardly of the motor housing. The second motor mount may be located partly outside of the motor housing, for example, such that no part of the second motor mount overlies the circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing. In such a manner no part of the second motor mount is located radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing, for example, radially between the circumferential outer periphery of the motor housing and the appliance housing.

[0028] The second motor mount may extend outwardly relative to the motor housing, in a direction toward the appliance housing, such that a clearance is defined between the motor housing and the inner surface of the appliance housing.

[0029] The second motor mount may be directly coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing.

[0030] The second motor mount may extend within the motor for no more than 10% of an axial length of the motor.

[0031] The second motor mount may comprise a resiliently deformable member and a relatively rigid member, wherein the resiliently deformable member is coupled to the motor at the position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than the outer surface of the motor housing, and the relatively rigid member is: in contact with, and extends outwardly from, the resiliently deformable member; and coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing. The relatively rigid member may extend outwardly relative to the 7 P004631-W001 motor housing, in a direction toward the appliance housing, for example, radially outwardly.

[0032] The relatively rigid member may comprise first and second surfaces extending substantially orthogonally relative to one another, and the first and second surfaces may each be in contact with the resiliently deformable member. The relatively rigid member may comprise a central body comprising the first surface and a radial body comprising the second surface, the radial body extending radially outwardly from the central body, the resiliently deformable member may extend annularly about the central body, and the central body and the radial body may each be in contact with the resiliently deformable member. The relatively rigid member may comprise a generally T-shaped cross-section, for example, viewed in a plane comprising a central longitudinal axis of the motor defined by the shaft, and both a body of the T-shaped cross-section and arms of the T-shaped cross-section may be in contact with the resiliently deformable member.

[0033] The resiliently deformable portion may not overlie an outer surface of the motor housing, for example, such that no part of the resiliently deformable member is located radially between the motor housing and the appliance housing.

[0034] The first motor mount may comprise an upstream motor mount, and the second motor mount may comprise a downstream motor mount.

[0035] The second motor mount may at least partly define an airflow path for airflow exiting the motor. The second motor mount may comprise an inner portion coupled to the motor, an outer portion located outwardly from the inner portion, and a plurality of struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. The outer portion may be located radially outwardly of the inner portion. The outer portion may couple the motor to the inner surface of the appliance housing. The plurality of struts may be aerodynamically shaped. The plurality of struts may be evenly spaced apart from one another, for example, evenly spaced circumferentially between the inner portion and the outer portion. The second motor mount may comprise at least three struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. 8 P004631-W001

[0036] The first and second motor mounts may have a same stiffness. This may inhibit the motor moving within the housing by different degrees at each point at which the motor mount is coupled to the motor, for example, different degrees at either axial end of the motor. The first and second motor mounts may comprise different forms, for example, with resiliently deformable members of different shapes.

[0037] The motor housing may comprise an upstream motor housing and a downstream motor housing. The upstream motor housing and the downstream motor housing may be coaxial.

[0038] The appliance may comprise any of a haircare appliance (e.g. a hairdryer or hair styler), a vacuum cleaner, and a fan assembly.

[0039] According to a second aspect, there is provided a motor assembly comprising a frame, and a motor (e.g. an electric motor), the motor comprising a motor housing and a motor mount that mounts the motor within the frame, wherein the motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the frame than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to an inner surface of the frame. The frame may comprise an upstream frame and a downstream frame. The upstream frame and the downstream frame may be coaxial.

[0040] Optional features of aspects may be equally applied to other aspects, where appropriate.

[0041] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Figure l is a first schematic illustration of a first appliance;

[0043] Figure 2 is a second schematic illustration of the first appliance;

[0044] Figure 3 is a third schematic illustration of the first appliance;

[0045] Figure 4 is a first schematic illustration of an electric motor and motor mounts of the first appliance of Figure 1;

[0046] Figure 5a is a second schematic illustration of the motor and motor mounts of Figure 4; Figure 5b is a third schematic illustration of the motor and motor mounts of Figure 4; 9 P004631-W001

[0047] Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of positioning of the motor and motor mounts of Figure 4 in the first appliance of Figure 1;

[0048] Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a second appliance; and

[0049] Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a third appliance.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] An appliance 10, in the form of a hairdryer, is illustrated schematically in Figures 1 to 3 and 6.

[0052] The appliance 10 comprises a handle portion 12, a head portion 14, an electric motor 16, a heater 18, user controls 20, a control module 22, an upstream motor mount 24, and a downstream motor mount 26.

[0053] The handle portion 12 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form, and houses the motor 16, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. The handle portion 12 comprises a wall 28 that defines a housing of the appliance 10. The handle portion 12 has an air inlet 30 in the form of a plurality of perforations at a first end 32 of the handle portion 12.

[0054] The head portion 14 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form, and is disposed at a second end 34 of the handle portion 12, with a central axis 15 of the head portion 14 orthogonal to a central axis 13 of the handle portion 12 such that the appliance 10 is generally T-shaped in form. The head portion 14 houses the heater 18. The head portion 14 comprises a bore 36, and an air outlet 38. The air outlet 38 is generally annular in form about a periphery of the bore 36. The head portion 14 further comprises an annular magnet (not shown) for releasably connecting the handle unit 12 to an attachment (not shown). The annular magnet extends annularly about the air outlet 38.

[0055] The user controls 20 are provided on both the handle portion 12 and the head portion 14, and comprise buttons to control functionality of the appliance 10. The control module 22 is responsible for controlling the motor 16 and the heater 18 in response to inputs from the user controls 20. For example, in response to inputs from the user controls 20, the control module 22 may power on and off the motor 16 and / or the heater 18. Additionally, the 10 P004631-W001 control module 22 may control the power or speed of the motor 16 in order to vary the flow rate of airflow generated by the motor 16.

[0056] The motor 16 is illustrated schematically in Figure 4, and comprises a stator assembly 40, a rotor assembly 42, and a motor housing 44 (sometimes referred to as a frame). The stator assembly 40 comprises a series of stator cores wound with coils, with the wound stator cores disposed within the motor housing 44, annularly about the rotor assembly 42. A termination block 47 is mounted to a downstream end of the stator assembly 40, and comprises a body of material that carries electrical terminations (see reference 45 in Figure 5b) of the stator assembly 40. The termination block 47 comprises a locating recess 49 shaped to receive part of the downstream motor mount 26, as will be described in further detail hereinafter.

[0057] The rotor assembly 42 comprises a shaft 48, a permanent magnet 50 mounted to the shaft 48, and an impeller 52 mounted to an end of the shaft 48 upstream of the permanent magnet 50. The rotor assembly 42 is rotatably mounted within the motor housing 44, for example, via one or more bearings (such as roller bearings), such that the permanent magnet 50 is located within the stator assembly 40 between the wound stator cores, and the impeller 52 is located within the motor housing 44. The shaft 48 defines a longitudinal axis L of the motor 16. It will be appreciated that other forms of rotor assembly are also envisaged, for example, with rotor assemblies that define inlet cooled motors.

[0058] The motor housing 44 is generally cylindrical in form, having an upstream end 54, a downstream end 56, an outer surface 58 and an inner surface 60. Both the outer surface 58 and the inner surface 60 extend generally circumferentially about the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16. A generally annular contact surface 62 extends between the outer surface 58 and the inner surface 60 of the motor housing 44 at the upstream end 54 of the motor housing 44. The generally annular contact surface 62 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16.

[0059] The impeller 52 is generally frusto-conical in form, and is disposed within the motor housing 44, toward the upstream end 54 of the motor housing 44. The impeller 52 is set- 11 P004631-W001 back relative to the upstream end 54 of the motor housing 44, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16, such that the upstream end 54 of the motor housing 44 overhangs the impeller 52.

[0060] The upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts are also shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5a-b, with their use in mounting the motor 16 within the handle portion 12 illustrated schematically in Figure 6.

[0061] The upstream motor mount 24 comprises a first resiliently deformable member 64 and a first relatively rigid member 66. The first resiliently deformable member 64 is integrally formed of a single piece of hyperelastic material, such as rubber, having, for example, a shore A hardness in the region of 20-80. The first resiliently deformable member 64 comprises an annular portion 68 and a lip 70. The annular portion 68 is provided inboard of the outer surface 58 and the inner surface 60 of the motor housing 44, and inboard of the wall 28 that defines the housing of the appliance 10. The annular portion 68 has an inner diameter substantially corresponding to an outer diameter of a central body 72 of the first relatively rigid member 66, and an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the upstream end 54 motor housing 44. The lip 70 extends radially outwardly relative to the annular portion 68 by an extent substantially corresponding to a wall thickness of the upstream end 54 of the motor housing 44. The lip 70 extends about the entirety of the annular portion 68.

[0062] Shown in Figure 5a, the motor housing (or frame) 44 comprises an upstream motor housing (or frame) 43 and a coaxially arranged and longitudinally coupled downstream motor housing (or frame) 45. The upstream and downstream motor housings (or frames) 43, 45 have substantially the same outer diameters such that, when coupled, they are substantially continuous in form. The upstream motor housing (or frame) 43 is associated with the upstream motor mount 24, and the downstream motor housing (or frame) 45 is associated with the downstream motor mount 26.

[0063] The first relatively rigid member 66 is formed of a relatively hard material in comparison to the first resiliently deformable member 64, such as a relatively hard plastic or metal 12 P004631-W001 material, and comprises a central body 72, and a radial body 74 that extends radially outwardly relative to the central body 72, and a bore 76 that extends through the central body 72 and the radial body 74. The central body 72 is provided inboard of the outer surface 58 and the inner surface 60 of the motor housing 44, and inboard of the wall 28 that defines the housing of the appliance 10. The material of the first relatively rigid member 66 can, in some examples, be the same material as that of the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10. The central body 72 is generally cylindrical in form, and the radial body 74 extends radially outwardly from an upstream end of the central body 72. The radial body 74 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the motor housing 44. Thus, the radial body 74 has a radial extent that is such that, with the central body 72 located coaxially with the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16, the radial body 74 extends radially from the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16 to a greater extent than the motor housing 44.

[0064] An underside 78 of the radial body 74 defines a contact surface that opposes the generally annular contact surface 62 of the motor housing 44. The underside 78 of the radial body 74 and an outer surface of the central body 72 extend generally orthogonally to one another, with the underside 78 of the radial body extending in a generally radial direction, and the outer surface of the central body 72 extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16.

[0065] When viewed in cross-section, as in Figure 4, the first relatively rigid member 66 is generally T-shaped, with the first resiliently deformable member 64 in contact with both the underside 78 of the radial body 74, and the outer surface of the central body 72. The lip 70 of the first resiliently deformably member 64 extends along the underside 78 of the radial body 74, but has a radial extent less than that of the radial body 74.

[0066] The bore 76 extends generally centrally through the central body 72 and the radial body 74, and, when the upstream motor mount 24 is used to mount the motor 16, defines an air inlet of the motor 16.

[0067] As can be seen from Figure 4, when the upstream motor mount 24 is used to mount the motor 16, the first resiliently deformable member 64 sits radially inside the motor housing 13 P004631-W001

[0068] 44, with the annular portion 68 of the first resiliently deformable member 64 in contact with the inner surface 60 of the motor housing 44. The first resiliently deformable member thereby radially underlies the motor housing 44, and typically only extends within the motor housing 44 by less than 10% of the length of the motor housing. No portion of the first resiliently deformable member 64 overlies the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44. The lip 70 of the first resiliently deformable member is located between, and in contact with, the generally annular contact surface 62 of the motor housing 44 and the contact surface defined by the underside 78 of the radial body 74. The lip 70 does not extend radially outwardly of the motor housing 44, whilst the radial body 74 extends outwardly from the motor housing 44 in a radial direction. In such a manner, the upstream motor mount 24 is coupled to the motor 16 at a position that is located further inwardly than the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44, with no portion of the upstream motor mount 24 longitudinally or radially overlying the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44.

[0069] The downstream motor mount 26 comprises a second resiliently deformable member 80 and a second relatively rigid member 82. The second resiliently deformable member 80 is integrally formed of a single piece of hyperelastic material, such as rubber, having, for example, a shore A hardness in the region of 20-80. The downstream motor mount 26 has substantially the same stiffness as the upstream motor mount 24. The second resiliently deformable member 80 has a generally cylindrical shape, with an outer diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of the locating recess 49 of the termination block 47. The second resiliently deformable member 80 has a central aperture 84.

[0070] The second relatively rigid member 82 is formed of a relatively hard material in comparison to the second relatively rigid member 82, such as a relatively hard plastic or metal material, and comprises an inner portion 86, an outer portion 88, and three struts 90 extending between the inner portion 86 and the outer portion 88. The material of the second relatively rigid member 82 can, in some examples, be the same material as that of the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10. The inner portion 86 is generally cylindrical in form, and is shaped and dimensioned to be received within the central aperture 84 of the second resiliently deformable member 80, whilst a downstream end of the inner portion 86 14 P004631-W001 extends outwardly from the central aperture 84. The outer portion 88 is generally annular in form about the downstream end of the inner portion 88. The outer portion 88 has a radial extent larger than the radial extent of the motor housing 44, and has a radial extent substantially corresponding to the radial extent of the radial body 74 of the first relatively rigid member 66 of the upstream motor mount 24. The electrical terminations 45 of the stator assembly 40 are shown in Figure 5b.

[0071] The three struts 90 are evenly circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the downstream end of the inner portion 86, and define three airflow apertures 92. The three struts 90 are aerodynamically shaped, for example, with appropriately shaped leading and / or trailing edges to minimise impact on airflow past the struts 90 in use. The three airflow apertures are each located between two adjacent ones of the struts 90.

[0072] As can be seen from Figure 4, when the downstream motor mount 24 is used to mount the motor 16, the second resiliently deformable member 80 sits radially inside the motor housing 44, with the second resiliently deformable member 80 received within the locating recess 49 of the termination block 47. The second resiliently deformable member 80 extends annularly about the inner portion 86 of the second relatively rigid member 82, and is in contact with both the inner portion 86 and the struts 90 of the second relatively rigid member 82. The inner portion 86 and the struts 90 can be considered to extend in orthogonal directions, with the inner portion 86 extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16, and the struts 90 extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16. The second resiliently deformable member 80 does not extend radially outwardly of the motor housing 44, whilst the second relatively rigid member 82 extends radially outwardly relative to the motor housing 44. The outer portion 88 of the second relatively rigid member 82 is spaced from the motor housing 44 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the motor 16. In such a manner, the downstream motor mount 26 is only coupled to the motor 16 at a position that is located further inwardly than the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44, with no portion of the downstream motor mount 26 longitudinally or radially overlying the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44. 15 P004631-W001

[0073] Use of the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts to mount the motor 16 within the appliance 10 is illustrated schematically in Figure 6. The motor 16 is located within the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10, such that the impeller end of the motor 16 is located closest to the air inlet 30 of the appliance 10. The longitudinal axis L of the motor 16 is coaxial with a central axis 13 of the handle portion 12. The wall 28 of the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10 extends annularly about the motor 16.

[0074] The upstream motor mount 24 is positioned such that a radially outer edge of the radial body 74 is in contact with, and fixed to, via adhesive or the like, an inner surface 94 of the wall 28 of the handle portion 12. The radial body 74 can be considered to be in direct contact with the wall 28 of the handle portion 12. The fixing of the radial body 74 to the inner surface 94 of the wall 28 of the handle portion 12 effectively creates a seal such that airflow cannot pass the radial body 74 to flow over the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44. Airflow is instead directed through the bore 76 of the first relatively rigid member 66, into the motor 16. The bore 76 therefore defines an inlet for the motor 16.

[0075] The downstream motor mount 26 is positioned such that a radially outer edge of the outer portion 88 is in contact with, and fixed to, via adhesive or the like, the inner surface 94 of the wall 28 of the handle portion 12. The outer portion 88 can be considered to be in direct contact with the wall 28 of the handle portion 12. The airflow apertures 92 enable airflow leaving the motor 16 to pass along the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10 toward the head portion 14 of the appliance 10. Thus, the downstream motor mount 26 at least partly defines an airflow path for airflow exiting the motor 16.

[0076] With the structure of the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts previously described, each of the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts is coupled to the motor 16 at a position that is located further inwardly from the wall 28 of the handle portion 12 than the outer surface 58 of the motor housing 44, and couples the motor 44 to the inner surface 94 of the wall 28 of the handle portion 12.

[0077] This may enable the overall size of the motor 16 to be increased for a given size of the handle portion 12. In particular, the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts do not 16 P004631-W001 need to be located radially between the motor housing 44 and the wall 28 of the handle portion 12 of the appliance 10.

[0078] In use of the appliance 10, the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts can mitigate for load transfer between the handle portion 12 and the motor 16, for example, in the event that the appliance 10 is dropped by a user.

[0079] When in use, the motor 16 generates an airflow through the handle portion 12 toward the head portion 14, in a generally upward direction with the appliance oriented as shown in Figure d.

[0080] Whilst described above in the context of an appliance 10 in the form of a hairdryer, it will be appreciated that the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts, and the motor 16, may equally be utilised in other types of appliance. For example, a vacuum cleaner 100 comprising the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts, and the motor 16, is illustrated schematically in Figure 7. A fan assembly 200 comprising the upstream 24 and downstream 26 motor mounts, and the motor 16, is illustrated schematically in Figure 8.

Claims

17 P004631-W001CLAIMS1. An appliance comprising: an appliance housing; a motor comprising a motor housing; and a motor mount that mounts the motor within the appliance housing, wherein the motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to an inner surface of the appliance housing.

2. An appliance as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the motor mount extends outwardly relative to the motor housing, in a direction toward the appliance housing, such that a clearance is defined between the motor housing and the inner surface of the appliance housing.

3. An appliance as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the motor mount is directly coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing.

4. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor comprises a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the motor, and the motor mount is located at an axial end of the motor.

5. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount is located at an upstream end of the motor housing.

6. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount defines an inlet for the motor.

7. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount creates a seal with the inner surface of the appliance housing.18 P004631-W0018. An appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the motor mount is located at a downstream end of the motor housing.

9. An appliance as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the motor mount at least partly defines an airflow path for airflow exiting the motor.

10. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount comprises an inner portion coupled to the motor, an outer portion located outwardly from the inner portion, and a plurality of struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.

11. An appliance as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the plurality of struts are evenly spaced apart from one another.

12. An appliance as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the motor mount comprises at least three struts extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.

13. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount comprises a resiliently deformable member and a relatively rigid member, wherein the resiliently deformable member is coupled to the motor at the position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than the outer surface of the motor housing, and the relatively rigid member is: in contact with, and extends outwardly from, the resiliently deformable member; and coupled to the inner surface of the appliance housing.

14. An appliance as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the relatively rigid member comprises first and second surfaces extending orthogonally relative to one another, and the first and second surfaces are each in contact with the resiliently deformable member.

15. An appliance as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the motor comprises a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the motor, the motor housing and the relatively rigid19 P004631-W001 member comprise respective contact surfaces that extend orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor, and the resiliently deformable member is located between and in contact with, the contact surfaces of the motor housing and the relatively rigid member.

16. An appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the resiliently deformable portion does not overlie an outer surface of the motor housing.

17. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor mount is a first motor mount, and the appliance comprises a second motor mount that mounts the motor within the appliance housing, wherein the second motor mount is coupled to the motor at a position that is located further inwardly from the appliance housing than an outer surface of the motor housing, and couples the motor to the inner surface of the appliance housing.

18. An appliance as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the first and second motor mounts are located at opposite ends of the motor to one another.

19. An appliance as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the first and second motor mounts have a same stiffness.

20. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the appliance comprises any of a haircare appliance, a vacuum cleaner, and a fan assembly.

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