NL2013631B1

NL2013631B1 - Mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device, and vacuum cleaner device.

Info

Publication number: NL2013631B1
Application number: NL2013631A
Authority: NL
Inventors: De Bruijn Jaap
Original assignee: D B M Fabriek En Handelsonderneming B V
Priority date: 2014-10-14
Filing date: 2014-10-14
Publication date: 2016-10-04
Also published as: WO2016060563A1; EP3217853A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device, comprising a mouth piece body part and a supporting wheel rotatably mounted to said body part such that said body part can be rolled forwardly and backwardly, respectively. Further, the mouth piece comprises an elongated sweeping unit, such as an elongated brush, and two elongated air inlet openings positioned along each other at the bottom side of the mouth piece body part. A first elongated air inlet opening is provided in front of the brush and the other is provided at the rear of said brush. An air outlet opening, connected to the first air inlet opening via a first channel and connected to the second air inlet via a second channel, is provided for connection to a vacuum cleaner device. Furthermore, the mouth piece comprises a valve unit for alternatingly closing the first channel and opening the second channel, and opening the first channel and closing the second channel. The valve unit comprises a valve flap coupled to the supporting wheel, and is arranged such that the first channel is opened and the second channel is closed when the mouth piece body part is rolled forwardly and such that the first channel is closed and the second channel is opened when the mouth piece body part is rolled backwardly.

Description

Title: Mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device, and vacuum cleaner device

The invention relates to a mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device. Further, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner device.

Vacuum cleaner devices often comprise an air pump to suck up air and dirt, such as dust, via an air inlet opening of a mouth piece. The sucked up dirt can for instance be collected by filtering it in a dust bag or by separating it from the air by means of a cyclone.

Normally, a mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner comprises a body part which at its bottom side is provided with an elongated air inlet opening for sucking up air and contamination such as dust. Often, said air inlet opening is extending substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part. Via a channel extending through the mouth piece body part, said inlet opening is fluently connected to an air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device comprising an air pump for creating a partial vacuum to suck up contaminated air.

For instance in order to facilitate that contaminated air can be sucked up relatively well, the air inlet opening of the mouth piece body part is usually positioned slightly above a floor surface to be cleaned, e.g. by means of one or multiple brushes at least partly surrounding said air inlet opening. Said brush or brushes can for instance facilitate that dirt stuck to the floor can be swept loose. Typically, a first brush or brush part, which extends substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part, is positioned in front of the air inlet opening, and a second brush or brush part, which also extends substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part, is positioned behind the air inlet opening. It is noted that bottom edges of such brushes are often provided with recesses by which a serrated or crenellated bottom edge is formed, such as to facilitate that air can enter the space below the air inlet opening.

However, even if the brush, which is positioned in front of the air inlet when the mouth piece is pushed forwards during use, is provided with recesses, at least a part of the dirt, such as dust, to be sucked up, is often unintentionally pushed forwards by said brush. Further, it can happen that the brush positioned at the rear side of the air inlet opening will hinder dust to enter the space below the air inlet opening from which contaminated air can be sucked up, when the mouth piece is moved backwards.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an alternative mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device and/or an alternative vacuum cleaner device. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or solve at least one of the disadvantages associated with prior art mouth pieces and/or vacuum cleaners. In particular, the invention aims at providing a mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device which at one hand counteracts that dirt will be pushed forwards in front of an air inlet opening of said mouth piece, while on the other hand can be facilitated that dirt stuck to a floor surface can be loosened.

Thereto, the invention provides for a mouth piece for a vacuum cleaner device, wherein said mouth piece comprises: a mouth piece body part; a supporting wheel for at least partly supporting said body part on a floor surface to be vacuum cleaned during use, wherein said wheel is rotatably mounted to the mouth piece body part such that said mouth piece body part can be rolled forwardly and backwardly, respectively; an elongated sweeping unit, such an elongated brush, provided at a bottom side of the mouth piece body part and extending substantially width wise of the mouth piece body part; two elongated air inlet openings extending substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part and being positioned along each other at the bottom side of the mouth piece body part, wherein a first one of said elongated air inlet openings is provided in front of the elongated sweeping unit and a second one is provided at the rear of said sweeping unit; an air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device, which air outlet opening is connected to the first air inlet opening via a first channel extending through the mouth piece body part and to the second air inlet via a second channel extending through the mouth piece body part; and a valve unit for alternatingly closing the first channel and opening the second channel, and opening the first channel and closing the second channel, wherein the valve unit comprises a valve flap coupled to the supporting wheel, e.g. by means of a drive train, and is arranged such that the first channel is opened and the second channel is closed when the mouth piece body part is rolled forwardly and such that the first channel is closed and the second channel is opened when the mouth piece body part is rolled backwardly.

Preferably, in front of the first air inlet opening, the mouth piece can be free of sweeping units extending up to a floor surface during use. In particular, in front of the first air inlet opening, the mouth piece can be free of brushes extending up to a floor surface during use. More in particular, the mouth piece can be free of any sweeping units and/or of any brushes provided in front of the first air inlet opening. Additionally of alternatively, behind the second air inlet opening, the mouth piece can be free of brushes or other sweeping units extending up to the floor surface during use. For example, the mouth piece can comprise a single elongated, substantially widthwise extending brush or other sweeping unit, wherein said brush or sweeping unit is located between the first air inlet opening and the second air inlet opening, wherein the mouth piece does not comprise any other brush or sweeping unit than the elongated sweeping unit provided between the first and second air inlet opening. As a result of keeping the front edge of the first air inlet opening and/or the rear edge of the second air inlet opening free of brushes and/or other sweeping units, it can be counteracted that dirt, e.g. dust, is unintentionally pushed forwards in front of the respective air inlet opening, and can therefore not or not easily be sucked up by a vacuum cleaner device.

By arranging the first air inlet opening in front of the elongated sweeping unit, dirt loosened and/or pushed forward by the sweeping unit, when the mouth piece is moved forwards during vacuum cleaning, can be swept towards and/or can be kept in a space located under the first air inlet, such that it can be sucked up by said first air inlet opening.

By arranging the second air inlet opening at the opposite side, i.e. the rear side, of the elongated sweeping unit, dirt loosened and/or swept rearwards by the sweeping unit, when the mouth piece is moved rearwards during vacuum cleaning, can be swept towards and/or can be kept in a space located under second air inlet, such that it can be sucked up by said second air inlet opening.

Since, during use, the respective air inlet opening moves over a part of a floor surface to be cleaned before the elongated sweeping unit is moved over said port of the floor surface, it is be counteracted that said sweeping unit prevents dirt from entering the space below the respective air inlet opening.

Advantageously, the sweeping unit may be arranged to form at least part of a partition between the first air inlet opening and the second air inlet opening. For example, a bottom edge or bottom side of the sweeping unit, such as a brush, can during use be in contact with the floor surface to be cleaned across substantially the total width of the sweeping unit. Hence, the sweeping unit can counteract that dirt reaches an area, which, during movement of the mouth piece in a certain direction of movement, is located behind the sweeping unit and behind the respective air inlet opening, which seen in said direction of movement, is located in front of said sweeping unit.

By arranging the valve unit such as to alternatingly close the first channel and open the second channel, and open the first channel and close the second channel, it can be arranged that the first channel is opened and the second channel is closed when the mouth piece body part is rolled forwardly and that the first channel is closed and the second channel is opened when the mouth piece body part is rolled backwardly. As a result, seen in the direction in which the mouth piece is rolled, only the air inlet opening located in front of the sweeping unit is opened. Hence, the then leading air inlet opening can suck up contaminated air, while the then following air inlet opening, which then is located behind the sweeping unit, is not sucking up air in vain from a part of the floor surface which just before has been vacuum cleaned by said then leading air inlet opening.

By closing the respective following air inlet opening and by opening only the respective leading air inlet opening, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner device may substantially in full be used for said leading air inlet opening. By only letting the leading air inlet opening sucking up air, and by not wasting a part of the suction power on keeping the following air inlet opening sucking up air as well, it can be facilitated that the leading air inlet opening can suck relatively hard and/or that a vacuum cleaner device with a relatively light pump and/or motor can be used without compromising on suction force and/or vacuum cleaning result.

By arranging the mouth piece such that the surface area of the cross section of the first elongated air inlet opening is substantially equal to the surface area of a cross section of the air outlet opening for connection to the vacuum cleaner device, i.e. such that the cross section of the first opening covers a surface area being between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120%, more preferably between 90% and 110% of the surface area covered by the cross section of the air outlet opening, and/or by arranging the mouth piece such that the surface area of the cross section of the second elongated air inlet opening is substantially equal to the surface area of a cross section of the air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device, i.e. such that the cross section of the second opening covers a surface area being between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120%, more preferably between 90% and 110% of the surface area covered by the cross section of the air outlet opening, the suction force exercised by the respective opened air inlet opening may make use of the suction power provided by the vacuum cleaner device relatively well. Advantageously, the suction power at the air inlet opening in use can be substantially equal to the suction power in a hose connecting the mouth piece to a vacuum cleaner device.

By providing the mouth piece body with a stop for limiting valve flap movement in a certain direction, the valve flap can be stopped in a predefined end position of the valve flap, in which said valve flap closes the respective channel. By providing the drive train with a shp coupling or friction clutch, the supporting wheel can be kept rotating in the respective rotational direction when the valve flap coupled to said supporting wheel is already stopped from moving further by said stop.

Advantageously, the drive train can be arranged such that, while the mouth piece body part is rolled over a certain rolhng distance, the valve unit can be brought from a first state in which one channel is closed and the other is opened towards a second state in which said one channel is opened and said other channel is closed, wherein said certain rolling distance is not greater than twice the mouth piece body part length measured from a front side to a rear side of the mouth piece body part, preferably not greater than said body part length, more preferably not greater than a distance measured from a front edge of the first air inlet opening to a rear edge of the second air inlet opening. As a result, it may be facilitated that the mouth piece can switch between using one of its air inlet opening to using the other air inlet opening. For instance thereto, the gearing ratio of the drive train may provide for an acceleration and/or the drive train may be arranged such that the rotational speed of an output wheel of the drive train is higher than the rotational speed of the supporting wheel, which may provide the input of the drive train.

In embodiments, the air outlet opening may be formed by an end of an outlet duct provided in the mouth piece body part. A rotatable tube part can then be rotatably connected to said outlet duct in such a manner that a length direction in which the outlet duct extends near said rotatable connection is under an angle with respect to a length direction in which the rotatable tube part extends near said rotatable connection. As a result, a relatively simple, compact, cheap and/or robust connecting joint can be formed, which for instance may make a conventional, more complex connecting joint superfluous.

The invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner device, wherein said device is provided with and/or connected to an inventive mouth piece as described herein.

Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting examples only, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a mouth piece according to an aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the mouth piece shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the mouth piece shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a detail of Fig. 3.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figures 1-4 show an embodiment of a mouth piece 1 for a vacuum cleaner device. The mouth piece 1 comprises a mouth piece body part 2 or a so-called mouth piece frame 2. For example, said body part 2 can be formed as a plastic housing, which may for instance comprise one or multiple injection molded housing elements. The mouth piece 1 comprises a supporting wheel 3 for at least partly supporting said body part 2 on a floor surface 4 to be vacuum cleaned during use. Said wheel 3 is rotatably mounted to the mouth piece body part 2, e.g. about a wheel axis 5, which can extend in a substantially width wise direction 8 of the mouth piece 1, such that said mouth piece body part 2 can be rolled in a forward direction 6 and in a backward direction 7, respectively.

At a bottom side of the mouth piece body part 2, an elongated sweeping unit 9 is provided, which extending substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the elongated sweeping unit 9 is for example formed by an elongated brush 9. However, in alternative embodiments, the elongated sweeping unit 9 may be of an alternative design. For example, the elongated sweeping unit 9 can be an elongated squeegee or a so-called wiper comprising a strip of plastic material, preferably an elastic material such as a rubber material.

The mouth piece 1 is further provided with two elongated air inlet openings 10, 11 extending substantially widthwise of the mouth piece body part 2. Said two openings 10, 11 are positioned along each other at the bottom side of the mouth piece body part 2. A first one 10 of said elongated air inlet openings 10, 11 is provided in front of the elongated sweeping unit 9 and a second one 11 is provided at the rear of said sweeping unit 9.

Advantageously, the elongated inlet openings 10, 11 can, measured in the width direction 8 of the mouth piece 1, have corresponding and/or substantially equal lengths. Additionally, seen in said width direction 8, the inlet openings 10, 11 do not extend beyond the elongated sweeping unit 9. For example, the elongated sweeping unit 9 has a length substantially equal and/or slightly longer than the length of said openings 10, 11.

Such as can be seen in Fig. 3, the mouth piece 1 may in embodiments comprise multiple supporting wheels 3, e.g. two supporting wheels 3a, 3b. For instance, a first supporting wheel 3a can be located at a left side of the mouth piece body part 2 and a second supporting wheel 3b is located at a right side of the mouth piece body part 2. Preferably, the elongated sweeping unit 9 can extend between said first supporting wheel 3a and said second supporting wheel 3, preferably substantially from the first supporting wheel 3a up to the second wheel 3b. Additionally or alternatively, one or both air inlet openings 10, 11 can extend between said two supporting wheels 3a, 3b, preferably substantially from the first supporting wheel 3a up to the second supporting wheel 3b.

It is noted that the mouth piece 1 further comprises an air outlet opening 12 for connection to a vacuum cleaner device. Said air outlet opening 12 is connected to the first air inlet opening 10 via a first channel 13, which extends through the mouth piece body part 2. Further, said air outlet opening 12 is connected to the second air inlet 11 via a second channel 14 which extends through the mouth piece body part 2. As can be seen in Fig. 2, said channels 13, 14 may for instance widen from a cross section 14a having a relatively short length, which cross section 14a is located relatively close to the air outlet opening 12, to a cross section 14b having a relatively long length, wherein said latter cross section 14b is located at or near the respective air inlet opening 10, 11.

The mouth piece 1 also comprises a valve unit 15 which can be arranged for closing the first channel 13, while opening the second channel 14. Said valve unit 15 may also be arranged for opening the first channel 13 and closing the second channel 14. Said valve unit 15 comprises a valve flap 16 coupled to the supporting wheel 3, e.g. by means of a drive train 17. Said valve unit 15 is arranged such that the first channel 13 is opened and the second channel 14 is closed when the mouth piece body part 2 is rolled forwardly 6 and such that the first channel 13 is closed and the second channel 14 is opened when the mouth piece body part 2 is rolled backwardly 7.

Advantageously, the mouth piece body part 2 may be provided with a stop 17a, 18a for limiting valve flap movement in a certain direction 17b, 18b. Said stop 17a, 18a can thus define an end position of the valve flap 16. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the mouth piece body part 2 can preferably comprise two stops, one 17a defining an end position corresponding to a state in which the valve unit closes the first channel 13 and a second stop 18a defining an end position in which the second channel 14 is closed.

It is noted that the drive train 17 may then comprise a slip coupling or friction clutch, such that the supporting wheel 3 can still be rotated in the respective rotational direction when the valve flap 16 coupled to said supporting wheel 3 is prevented by said stop 17a, 18a from further movement in a flap movement direction 17b, 18b corresponding to said respective rotational direction of the supporting wheel 3.

For example, the drive train 17 can be arranged such that a rotational movement 19 of the supporting wheel 3 can cause an output wheel 20 to rotate in a rotational direction 21 substantially opposite to the direction 19 of said supporting wheel 3. Although the output wheel 20, which for instance can be formed as a gear wheel 20, is here driven by means of a further gear wheel 22, which for instance can be mounted rotatably about the central axis 5 of the supporting wheel 3, it is noted that the output wheel 20 can be driven directly or indirectly by said supporting wheel 3 in any suitable manner.

It is noted that, as shown in Fig. 4, in embodiments, the slip coupling or friction clutch of the drive train 17 may for example be formed by two friction plates 3f, 22f. One friction plate 3f can be fixed against rotation to the supporting wheel 3, while a second friction plate 22f can be fixed against rotation to the gear wheel 22 mounted rotatably about a central axis in line with the central axis 5 of the supporting wheel 3.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, said gear wheel 22 and the supporting wheel 3 may in embodiments be mounted or pre-assembled to each other by means of a hollow shaft 33. For example, said hollow shaft 33 can comprise two shaft parts 33 axially retractable with respect to each other, e.g. by means of cooperating threads. Hence, a force by which said shaft 33 clamps said gear wheel 22 and said supporting wheel together may be adjustable.

In embodiments, said hollow shaft 33 may be mounted on an inner shaft 34. For instance, said inner shaft 34 can extend through a hole in a first wall part 35 of the body part 2 and can be screwed into an opposing hole in an opposing wall part 36. Preferably, the inner shaft and/or said second wall part 36 can be provided with a stop means, e.g. a stop surface 34, such that can be counteracted that by over tightening said inner shaft, the opposing wall parts 35, 36 can be pulled towards each other in to such extent that the supporting wheel 3 and/or said gear wheel 22 and/or other parts of the drive train 17 will unintentionally be jammed between said two wall parts 35, 36. For example, as can be seen in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the inner shaft 34 can comprise a main part having a relatively large diameter, for bearing the hollow shaft 33 and/or the supporting wheel 3 and the gear wheel 22, and can further comprise a screw part 34b provided with thread, which screw part 34b has a relatively small diameter such that a stop surface 34a can be formed at a distal end of said main part.

Although the slip coupling or friction clutch is here shown as being arranged between the supporting wheel 3 and said gear wheel 22 mounted about the same axis, alternatively or additionally, a slip coupling or friction clutch may be provided at another position and/or by other means. For example, in stead of providing said two friction plates 3f, 22f, the output wheel 20 may, by means of a slip coupling, be mounted on a rotation shaft 25 on which the valve flap 16 can be mounted, such that, when the supporting wheel 3 is rolled over the floor surface 4, when said output wheel 20 can keep rotating even when the valve flap 16 is stopped by the stop 17a, 18a, because said output wheel 20 slips over said rotation shaft 25.

Preferably, the mouth piece 1 can be arranged such that the friction of the slip coupling or friction clutch of the drive train 17 is chosen such that at one hand minimal wear occurs when the slip coupling or friction clutch slips, e.g. when the valve flap 16 is in an extreme position in which it is stopped by a stop 17a, 18a, and that at the other hand the friction can be high enough to counteract that the slip coupling or friction clutch slips when the rotational direction of the supporting wheel 3 reverses, such that the flap can be moved from said extreme position in order to open the previously closed channel 13, 14.

In embodiments, the valve flap 16 can be substantially coupled to said output wheel 20 of the drive train 17 such as to be rotatably about a central axis 23 of said output wheel 20. Alternatively or additionally, the valve flap 16 can be substantially coupled to said output wheel 20 of the drive train 17 such as to be moveable in a direction 24 substantially corresponding to the tangential movement direction 21 of said output wheel 20. Hence, the valve flap 16 can be moved from a first position 16a towards a second position 16b.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the valve flap 16 may be substantially rotationally coupled to the output wheel 20, for instance by means of a slip coupling or friction clutch as mentioned above. Preferably, the valve flap 16 can extend in a direction substantially radially away from a central axis 23 of the output wheel 20, such that the valve flap 16 can be pivoted from the first position 16a to the second position 16b and/or vice versa.

However, alternative embodiments are possible. For example, the output wheel 20 can be or comprise a pinion for driving a rack coupled to the valve flap 16, such that the valve flap 16 can be shifted from the first position towards the second position.

It is noted that the first position 16a of the valve flap 16 can for example be a position in which the valve flap 16 closes the first channel 13.

Further, the second position 16b of the valve flap 16 can be a position in which the valve flap 16 closes the second channel 14.

Besides, it is noted that, although in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures the valve unit 15 comprises just one valve flap 16, the valve unit 15 may in alternative embodiments comprise more than one valve flap. For example, the valve unit 15 can comprise a first valve flap for alternatingly opening and closing the first channel 13, and a second valve flap for alternatingly closing and opening the second channel 14, wherein said valve unit 15 is arranged such that the first valve flap opens the first channel 13 and the second valve flap closes the second channel 14 when the mouth piece body part 2 is rolled forwardly 6 and such that the first valve flap closes the first channel 13 and the second valve flap opens the second channel 14 when the mouth piece body part 2 is rolled backwardly 7.

In embodiments, the drive train 17 can be arranged such that, while the mouth piece body part 2 is rolled over a certain rolling distance 26, the valve unit 15 can be brought from a first state 16a, 16b in which one channel 13, 14 is closed and the other one 14, 13 is opened towards a second state 16b, 16a in which said one channel 13, 14 is opened and said other channel 14, 13 is closed. For example, said certain rolling distance 26 can be chosen to be not greater than twice the mouth piece body part length measured from a front side 2a to a rear side 2b of the mouth piece body part 2, or to be not greater than said body part length. Advantageously, the mouth piece 1 can be arranged such that said certain rolling distance 26 is not greater than a distance 26 measured from a front edge 10a of the first air inlet opening 10 to a rear edge 11a of the second air inlet opening 11.

For instance thereto, the gearing ratio of the drive train 17 may provide for an acceleration and/or the drive train 15 may be arranged such that the rotational speed of an output wheel 20 of the drive train 17 is higher than the rotational speed of the supporting wheel 3, which may provide the input of the drive train 17.

Advantageously, during use, the mouth piece body part 2 may be supported on the floor surface 4 substantially mainly by a number of supporting wheels 3a, 3b. Said supporting wheels may comprise at least the supporting wheel 3a coupled to the valve flap 16, e.g. by means of the drive train 17. Preferably, said wheels may all be provided substantially in line with each other, e.g. such that the mouth piece body part 2 can be pivoted to some extent about the central axis 5 of said supporting wheels 3.

As mentioned above, a first supporting wheel 3a can be located at a left side of the mouth piece body part 2 and a second supporting wheel 3b can be located at a right side of the mouth piece body part 2, while the elongated sweeping unit 9 may then extend between said first supporting wheel 3a and said second supporting wheel 3b.

However, in alternative embodiments, the mouth piece 1 may be arranged differently. For example, one or multiple supporting wheels can then be placed in front and/or behind said central axis 5, e.g. four corners of the mouth piece body part 2 can each be provided with a supporting wheel 3.

With respect to the sweeping unit 9, it is mentioned that it can advantageously be stationary mounted in the mouth piece body part 2. This is, said sweeping unit may be prevented from substantially moving, shifting, and/or rotating with respect to the mouth piece body part 2.

Alternatively or additionally, the sweeping unit 9 can be arranged to form at least a part of a partition between the first air inlet opening 10 and the second air inlet opening 11 and/or between the first and the second channel 13, 14. Additionally or alternatively, the mouth piece 1 can comprise another element that forms at least a part of a partition between the first air inlet opening and the second air inlet opening and/or between the first and the second channel 13, 14. For example, the mouth piece body part 2 may be provided with partition wall 2c separating the first and the second channel 13, 14 and/or separating the first and second air inlet opening 10, 11.

In embodiments, a bottom edge or bottom side 9a of the sweeping unit 9 can during use be in contact with the floor surface 4 to be cleaned across substantially the total width 27 of the sweeping unit 9.

Advantageously, a lower surface 9a of the elongated sweeping unit 9 can be formed as a convex surface, as can for instance be seen in Fig. 2. For example, said convex surface 9a can be formed as a cylinder segment, preferably a segment of a virtual round cylinder having its central axis substantially in line with the central axis 5 of the supporting wheel 3 and/or in line with the axes of multiple supporting wheels 3a, 3b.

In embodiments, the elongated sweeping unit 9 can be replaceable mounted in the mouth piece body part 2. For example, the elongated sweeping unit 9 and/or the mouth piece body part 2 can thereto be provided with snapping means 28, preferably cooperating snapping means, for snapping the sweeping unit 9 to said body part 2. However, the brush 9 may alternatively or additionally be mounted to the mouth piece body part 2 by other suitable means, e.g. by means of one or more screws, bolts, clamps, form closures and/or the like. By making the sweeping unit 9 replaceable, a worn sweeping unit, such as a worn brush, can be replaced relatively easily. Moreover, the mouth piece may be adapted relatively easily to certain operating conditions. For example, when a vacuum cleaner device to which the mouth piece 1 is connected is arranged for sucking up water, an elongated brush 9 may for instance be replaced by an elongated wiper or vice versa.

With respect to the air inlet openings 10, 11, it is noted that the first elongated air inlet opening can at its front side be defined by means of a first edge 10a formed by the mouth piece body part 2, which first edge 10a can, during use, be positioned above the floor surface 4. Additionally or alternatively, the second elongated air inlet opening 11 can at its rear side be defined by means of a second edge 11a formed by the mouth piece body part 2, which second edge 11a can, during use, positioned above the floor surface 4. For example in order to prevent that said second edge 11a, i.e. a rear edge 11a of the second air inlet opening 11, can during use be unintentionally positioned on the floor surface 4 such that sucking up air by means of said second inlet opening 11 can then be unintentionally hindered, the mouth piece body part 2 can be provided with one or more first spacers 29a or bumpers 29a for counteracting that said second edge 11a of the mouth piece body part 2 can be moved, e.g. by pivoting said mouth piece body part 2 about a central axis 5 of the supporting wheel 3, so far down as that said second edge 11a abuts against the floor surface 4. Although pivoting the mouth piece body part 2 forward may potentially be a less occurring problem, the mouth piece body part 2 can additionally or alternatively be provided with one or multiple second spacers 29b or bumpers 29b for counteracting that the first edge 10a, i.e. a front edge 10a of the first air inlet opening 10, of the mouth piece body part 2 can be moved, e.g. by pivoting said mouth piece body part 2 about the central axis 5 of the supporting wheel 3, so far down as that said first edge 10a abuts against the floor surface 4.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, said channels 13, 14 may for instance widen from a cross section 14a having a relatively short length, which cross section 14a is located relatively close to the air outlet opening 12, to a cross section 14b having a relatively long length, wherein said latter cross section 14b is located at or near the respective air inlet opening 10, 11.

In advantageous embodiments, the surface area of the cross section of the first elongated air inlet opening 10 can be substantially equal to the surface area of a cross section 12b of the air outlet opening 12 for connection to a vacuum cleaner device. This is, the cross section of the first air inlet opening 10 can cover a surface area being between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120%, more preferably between 90% and 110% of the surface area covered by the cross section 12b of the air outlet opening 12. Additionally or alternatively, the surface area of the cross section 14b of the second elongated air inlet opening 11 is substantially equal to the surface area of a cross section 12b of the air outlet opening 12 for connection to a vacuum cleaner device. This is, the cross section of the second opening may cover a surface area being between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120%, more preferably between 90% and 110% of the surface area covered by the cross section 12b of the air outlet opening 12.

In embodiments, the air outlet opening 12 can be formed by an end 30a of an outlet duct 30 provided in the mouth piece body part 2. In such embodiments, a rotatable tube part 31 can be rotatably connected to said outlet duct 30 in such a manner that a length direction 30b in which the outlet duct 30 extends near said rotatable connection is under an angle with respect to a length direction 31b in which the rotatable tube part 31 extends near said rotatable connection. For example, said rotatable tube part 31 may be a pipe or part of a pipe which can form a handle for a user handling the mouth piece 1, e.g. by rolling the said mouth piece 1 forwards 6 and/or rearwards 7.

Although not shown, the mouth piece 1 can be part of a vacuum cleaner device. Said vacuum cleaner device can then be provided with and/or connected to said mouth piece 1.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Further, it is noted that the invention is neither restricted to the embodiment shown, nor restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

For example, the mouth piece may comprise a housing at least partly enclosing the supporting wheel or wheels and/or the sweeping unit. For example, said wheel, wheels and/or sweeping unit can extend only at a bottom side from said housing.

Such and other variants will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within in the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

Claims

1. Mondstuk voor een stofzuigerinrichting, omvattende: een mondstuklichaamsdeel; een ondersteunend wiel voor het tijdens gebruik ten minste gedeeltelijk ondersteunen van genoemde lichaamsdeel op een te stofzuigen vloeroppervlak, waarbij genoemde wiel roteerbaar gemonteerd is op het mondstuklichaamsdeel zodanig dat het mondstuklichaamsdeel respectievelijk voorwaarts en achterwaarts kan worden gerold; een langwerpige veegeenheid, zoals een langwerpige borstel die is voorzien aan een onderzijde van het mondstuklichaamsdeel en die zich in hoofdzaak in breedterichting van het mondstuklichaamsdeel uitstrekt; twee langwerpige luchtinlaatopeningen die zich in hoofdzaak in breedterichting van het mondstuklichaamsdeel uitstrekken en die naast elkaar aan de onderzijde van het mondstuk lichaamsdeel zijn gepositioneerd, waarbij een eerste van de langwerpige luchtinlaatopeningen vóór de langwerpige veegeenheid is aangebracht en een tweede aan de achterzijde van genoemde veegeenheid is aangebracht; een luchtuitlaatopening voor verbinding met een stofzuigerinrichting, welke luchtuitlaatopening verbonden is met de eerste luchtinlaatopening via een eerste kanaal dat zich uitstrekt door het mondstuklichaamsdeel en met de tweede luchtinlaat via een tweede kanaal dat zich uitstrekt door het mondstuklichaamsdeel; en een klepeenheid voor afwisselend het sluiten van het eerste kanaal en het openen van het tweede kanaal, en het openen van het eerste kanaal en sluiten van het tweede kanaal, waarbij de klepeenheid voorzien is van een afsluitklep die met het ondersteunende wiel is gekoppeld, bijvoorbeeld door middel van een aandrijftrein, en die zodanig is ingericht dat het eerste kanaal wordt geopend en het tweede kanaal wordt gesloten wanneer het mondstuklichaamsdeel naar voren wordt gerold en zodanig dat het eerste kanaal wordt gesloten en het tweede kanaal wordt geopend wanneer het mondstuklichaamsdeel is achterwaarts wordt gerold.A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner device, comprising: a nozzle body part; a supporting wheel for at least partially supporting said body part during use on a floor surface to be vacuumed, said wheel being rotatably mounted on the nozzle body part such that the nozzle body part can be rolled forward and backward respectively; an elongated sweeping unit, such as an elongated brush, which is provided on an underside of the nozzle body part and which extends substantially in the width direction of the nozzle body part; two elongated air inlet openings extending substantially in the width direction of the nozzle body part and positioned side by side on the underside of the nozzle body part, one of the elongated air inlet openings being arranged in front of the elongated sweeping unit and a second one being at the rear of said sweeping unit applied; an air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device, which air outlet opening is connected to the first air inlet opening via a first channel extending through the nozzle body part and to the second air inlet via a second channel extending through the nozzle body part; and a valve unit for alternately closing the first channel and opening the second channel, and opening the first channel and closing the second channel, wherein the valve unit is provided with a shut-off valve coupled to the supporting wheel, e.g. by means of a drive train, which is arranged such that the first channel is opened and the second channel is closed when the nozzle body part is rolled forward and such that the first channel is closed and the second channel is opened when the nozzle body part is backward rolled.

2. Mondstuk volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het mondstuklichaamsdeel is voorzien van een aanslag voor het beperken van beweging van de afsluitklep in een bepaalde richting, waarbij de aanslag dus een eindpositie van de afsluitklep definieert, welke eindpositie correspondeert met een toestand waarin de klepeenheid er één sluit van het eerste kanaal en het tweede kanaal, en waarbij de aandrijftrein is voorzien van een slipkoppeling of wrijvingskoppeling, zodat het ondersteunende wiel nog steeds in de betreffende rotatierichting kan worden geroteerd wanneer de afsluitklep, die gekoppeld is met genoemde ondersteunende wiel, door de aanslag wordt verhinderd verder te bewegen in een bewegingsrichting van de afsluitklep die overeenkomt met de respectievelijke rotatierichting van het ondersteunende wiel.2. Nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body part is provided with a stop for limiting movement of the shut-off valve in a certain direction, the stop thus defining an end position of the shut-off valve, which end position corresponds to a state in which the valve unit is one closing of the first channel and the second channel, and wherein the drive train is provided with a slip coupling or friction coupling, so that the supporting wheel can still be rotated in the relevant direction of rotation when the shut-off valve, which is coupled to said supporting wheel, by the stop is prevented from moving further in a direction of movement of the shut-off valve corresponding to the respective direction of rotation of the supporting wheel.

3. Mondstuk volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij de aandrijftrein zodanig is ingericht dat een rotatiebeweging van het ondersteunende wiel kan zorgen dat een uitgaand wiel, dat direct of indirect wordt aangedreven door het ondersteunende wiel, roteert in een rotatierichting die in hoofdzaak tegengesteld is aan de richting van het ondersteunende wiel.3. Nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive train is arranged such that a rotational movement of the supporting wheel can cause an output wheel, directly or indirectly driven by the supporting wheel, to rotate in a direction of rotation that is substantially opposite to the direction of the supporting wheel.

4. Mondstuk volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de afsluitklep in hoofdzaak gekoppeld is met genoemde uitgaande wiel zodanig dat genoemde klep roteerbaar is om een centrale as van het uitgaande wiel en/of dat genoemde klep beweegbaar is in een richting die in hoofdzaak overeenkomt met de tangentiële bewegingsrichting van genoemde uitgaande wiel, zodat de afsluitklep vanuit een eerste positie naar een tweede positie kan bewegen.4. Nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the shut-off valve is substantially coupled to said output wheel such that said valve is rotatable about a central axis of the output wheel and / or that said valve is movable in a direction substantially corresponding to the tangential direction of movement of said output wheel, so that the shut-off valve can move from a first position to a second position.

5. Mondstuk volgens conclusie 3 of 4, waarbij de afsluitklep in hoofdzaak roteerbaar gekoppeld is met het uitgaande wiel, bijvoorbeeld door middel van een slipkoppeling of wrijvingskoppeling, bij voorkeur waarbij de afsluitklep zich uitstrekt in een richting die in hoofdzaak radiaal is ten opzichte van een centrale as van het uitgaande wiel, zodat de afsluitklep vanuit de eerste positie naar de tweede positie kan worden gezwenkt.5. Nozzle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the shut-off valve is rotatably coupled to the output wheel, for example by means of a slip coupling or friction coupling, preferably wherein the shut-off valve extends in a direction that is substantially radial with respect to a central axis of the output wheel, so that the shut-off valve can be pivoted from the first position to the second position.

6. Mondstuk volgens conclusie 3 of 4, waarbij het uitgaande wiel een rondsel is of omvat voor het aandrijven van een tandheugel dat met de afsluitklep is verbonden, zodat de afsluitklep van de eerste positie naar de tweede positie kan worden verplaatst.6. Nozzle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the output wheel is or comprises a pinion for driving a rack that is connected to the shut-off valve, so that the shut-off valve can be moved from the first position to the second position.

7. Mondstuk volgens één van de conclusies 4-6, waarbij de eerste positie van de afsluitklep een positie is waarin de afsluitklep het eerste kanaal sluit en de tweede positie van de afsluitklep een positie is waarin de afsluitklep het tweede kanaal sluit.The mouthpiece of any one of claims 4-6, wherein the first position of the shut-off valve is a position in which the shut-off valve closes the first channel and the second position of the shut-off valve is a position in which the shut-off valve closes the second channel.

8. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de aandrijftrein zodanig is ingericht dat, terwijl het mondstuklichaamsdeel over een bepaalde rolafstand wordt verrold, de klepeenheid vanuit een eerste toestand, waarin een kanaal gesloten is en een andere geopend is, naar een tweede toestand kan worden gebracht, waarin genoemde ene kanaal geopend is en genoemde andere kanaal gesloten is, waarbij genoemde bepaalde rolafstand niet groter is dan tweemaal de mondstuklichaamsdeellengte gemeten vanaf een voorzijde naar een achterzijde van het mondstuklichaamsdeel, en bij voorkeur niet groter is dan genoemde lichaamsdeellengte, en bij grotere voorkeur niet groter is dan een afstand gemeten vanaf een voorrand van de eerste luchtinlaatopening tot aan een achterrand van de tweede luchtinlaatopening.8. Nozzle as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drive train is arranged such that, while the nozzle body part is rolled over a certain rolling distance, the valve unit moves from a first state, in which one channel is closed and another is open, to a second state can be brought, wherein said one channel is open and said other channel is closed, wherein said particular rolling distance is no greater than twice the nozzle body part length measured from a front to a rear of the nozzle body part, and is preferably no greater than said body part length, and more preferably, does not exceed a distance measured from a front edge of the first air inlet opening to a rear edge of the second air inlet opening.

9. Mondstuk volgens één van de conclusies 3-8, waarbij de aandrijftrein zodanig is ingericht dat de rotatiesnelheid van het uitgaande wiel groter is dan de rotatiesnelheid van het ondersteunende wiel.9. Nozzle as claimed in any of the claims 3-8, wherein the drive train is arranged such that the rotational speed of the output wheel is greater than the rotational speed of the supporting wheel.

10. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij tijdens gebruik het mondstuklichaamsdeel in hoofdzaak slechts door middel van een aantal ondersteunende wielen op het vloeroppervlak wordt ondersteund, waarbij genoemde ondersteunende wielen ten minste het ondersteunende wiel omvat dat, bijvoorbeeld door middel van de aandrijftrein, gekoppeld is met de afsluitklep.10. Nozzle as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein during use the nozzle body part is supported substantially only on the floor surface by means of a number of supporting wheels, said supporting wheels comprising at least the supporting wheel which, for example by means of the drive train, is connected to the shut-off valve.

11. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een eerste ondersteunend wiel aan een linkerzijde van het mondstuklichaamsdeel en een tweede ondersteunend wiel aan een rechterzijde van het mondstuklichaamsdeel is voorzien, waarbij de langwerpige veegeenheid zich uitstrekt tussen genoemde eerste ondersteunende wiel en genoemde tweede ondersteunende wiel.11. Nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first supporting wheel is provided on a left-hand side of the nozzle body part and a second supporting wheel on a right-hand side of the nozzle body part, the elongated sweeping unit extending between said first supporting wheel and said second supporting wheel wheel.

12. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eerste langwerpige luchtinlaatopening aan zijn voorzijde gedefinieerd wordt door middel van een eerste rand die gevormd is door het mondstuklichaamsdeel, welke eerste rand tijdens gebruik boven het vloeroppervlak is gepositioneerd, en/of waarbij de tweede langwerpige luchtinlaatopening aan zijn achterzijde gedefinieerd wordt door middel van een tweede rand die gevormd is door het mondstuklichaamsdeel, welke tweede rand tijdens gebruik boven het vloeroppervlak is gepositioneerd.12. Nozzle as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first elongated air inlet opening is defined on its front side by means of a first edge formed by the nozzle body part, which first edge is positioned above the floor surface during use, and / or wherein the second elongated air inlet opening at its rear is defined by means of a second edge formed by the nozzle body part, which second edge is positioned above the floor surface during use.

13. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de oppervlakte van de dwarsdoorsnede van de eerste langwerpige luchtinlaatopening in hoofdzaak gelijk is aan de oppervlakte van een dwarsdoorsnede van de luchtuitlaatopening voor verbinding met een stofzuigerinrichting, namelijk waarbij de dwarsdoorsnede van de eerste luchtinlaatopening een oppervlakte bestrijkt dat ligt tussen 70% en 130%, bij voorkeur tussen 80% en 120%, bij grotere voorkeur tussen 90% en 110% van de oppervlakte bestreken door de dwarsdoorsnede van de luchtuitlaatopening, en/of waarbij de oppervlakte van de dwarsdoorsnede van de tweede langwerpige luchtinlaatopening in hoofdzaak gelijk is aan de oppervlakte van een dwarsdoorsnede van de luchtuitlaatopening voor verbinding met een stofzuigerinrichting, namelijk waarbij de dwarsdoorsnede van de tweede luchtinlaatopening een oppervlakte bestrijkt dat ligt tussen 70% en 130%, bij voorkeur tussen 80% en 120%, bij grotere voorkeur tussen 90% en 110% van de oppervlakte bestreken door de dwarsdoorsnede van de luchtuitlaatopening.A nozzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-sectional area of the first elongated air inlet opening is substantially the same as a cross-sectional area of the air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device, namely wherein the cross-sectional area of the first air inlet opening is a surface area covers between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120%, more preferably between 90% and 110% of the area covered by the cross-section of the air outlet opening, and / or wherein the area of the cross-section of the second elongated air inlet opening is substantially the surface of a cross-section of the air outlet opening for connection to a vacuum cleaner device, namely wherein the cross-sectional area of the second air inlet opening covers an area that is between 70% and 130%, preferably between 80% and 120% , more preferably between 90% and 110% of the op surface covered by the cross-section of the air outlet opening.

14. Mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de luchtuitlaatopening wordt gevormd door een uiteinde van een afvoerleiding die voorzien is in het mondstuklichaamsdeel, waarbij een roteerbaar buisdeel zodanig roteerbaar verbonden is met genoemde afvoerleiding dat een lengterichting waarin de afvoerleiding zich nabij de roteerbare verbinding uitstrekt onder een hoek staat ten opzichte van een lengterichting waarin het roteerbare buisdeel zich nabij de roteerbare verbinding uitstrekt.14. Nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air outlet opening is formed by an end of a discharge line provided in the nozzle body part, wherein a rotatable tube part is rotatably connected to said discharge line such that a longitudinal direction in which the discharge line is located near the rotatable connection extends at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction in which the rotatable tube part extends near the rotatable connection.

15. Stofzuigerinrichting, voorzien van en/of verbonden met een mondstuk volgens één van de voorgaande conclusies.A vacuum cleaner device provided with and / or connected to a nozzle according to one of the preceding claims.