US2241776A - Nozzle for vacuum cleaners - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1941.

DAHL NOZZLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Aug. 31} 1958 VBY Patented May 13, 1941 UNiTE NOZZLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Giista Dahl, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1938, Serial No. 227,637 In Sweden September 2, 1937 '3 Claims.

This invention relates to nozzles for vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to nozzles provided with depending brushes.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved suction nozzle having a depending brush with relatively movable brush sections producing openings between the brush sections along the forward edge upon forward movement of the nozzle, whichopenings will be closed upon rearward movement.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved nozzle which will clean with equal facility upon either a forward movement or. upon a reverse movement of the nozzle.

In accordance with my invention, a plurality of brush sections are secured to the forward and rear edges of the nozzle which provide openings between the adjoining sections along the forward edge upon forward movement of the nozzle, and also provide openings along the rear edge upon rearward movement of the nozzle.

What I consider to be novel and my invention may be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved nozzle; 7

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the nozzle; and

Fig. 3 is a composite bottom view of the nozzle, showing the relative positions of the brush sections upon forward and reverse movement.

Referring to the drawing, III indicates a nozzle body connected to a source of suction (not shown) by means of an elbow II connected to a suction conduit I2. Depending from the forward edge, as determined by the normal direction of movement of the nozzle body, are a plurality of brush sections I3, of square cross sectlonsfand brush sections I4 of triangular cross sections, interspersed between the adjoining brush sections I3. The brush sections I4 are positioned with the apices of the triangles extending forwardly in the d rection of the normal movement of the nozzle body III or outwardly of the nozzle mouth. Between the adjoining brush sections I3 and I4, an inclined passage I5 is provided. Depending from the rear edge are a plurality of brush sections I6 of square cross sections and brush sections II of triangular cross sections. The brush sections I! of triangular cross sections are simbrush sections I6 with the apices of the triangles extending rearwardly from the direction of nor mal movement of the nozzle body III or outwardly of the nozzle mouth. Between the adjacent brush sections I6 and I1, inclined passages I8 are provided. The brush sections I4 and I! are formed of more flexible bristles than the brush sections l3 and I 6. Thus, the brush sec tions I4 and II will flex more freely due to frictional contact with the surface being cleaned than the brush sections I3 and I6. As indicated in Fig. 3, to the left of the center line of the nozzle body III, the brush sections I4 will move rearwardly as the nozzle is moved forward in the direction indicated by the arrow in the left and the brush sections I! will likewise move rearwardly. The movement of the brush sections I4 rearwardly will enlarge the passages I5 between the adjacent brush sections I3 and I4. The suction communicated through the suction conduit I2 and elbow II to the nozzle mouth will produce a flow of air between the adjacent brush sections I3 and It in the direction indicated by the arrows to the left of the center line in Fig. 3. The flow of air through the passages I5 will carry with it dirt and dust located on the surface being cleaned. The brush sections I'I along the rear edge of the nozzle body I0 moving in a rearward direction will close the passages I8 between the adjacent brush sections IB and II. This prevents the dust and dirt carried by the air through the passages I5 from passing beneath the nozzle body It as it is moved forwardly. In a similar manner, when the nozzle body I8 is moved rearwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow on the right of Fig. 3, the brush sections I4 will be moved forwardly, closing the passages I5 between the adjacent brush sections I3 and I4, and the brush sections II, also moving forwardly, will open wider the passages I8 between the adjacent brush sections I6 and I1. Thus in a rearward movement of the nozzle body III, air will be drawn in by the suction communicated to the nozzle mouth in the direction indicated by the arrows to the right of the center line of Fig. 3.

vThe air passing through the passages I8 will draw with it dust and dirt located on the surface being cleaned in a manner as described for the forward'movement of the nozzle body I0. In this case, the passages I5, being closed, will prevent the escape of this dust and dirt as the nozzle body I0 is moved rearwardly. By the arrangement of relatively flexible and inflexible adjoining sections on the front and rearward edge of the nozzle body, the cleaning of a surface is facilitated independently of the direction of moveilarly interspersed between the adjoining square ment of the nozzle body I0.

Secured along the two ends of the nozzle body III and depending at an angle .tl'lerefrom are brush sections IQ and 20, which are formed in a substantially compact manner to prevent an undue reduction in the suction available for lifting the dirt and causing it to pass between the passages in the front or rear of the nozzle, depending upon the direction of movement of the nozzle. Due to the outward inclination of the brush sections I9 and 20, the cleaning of a surfaceadjoining furniture will be facilitated without the danger of damage to the furniture. Instead of forming the brush sections I4 and I! of relatively flexible bristles, as compared with the brush sections l3 and I6, respectively, it may be found desirable to use bristles of the same flexibility but obtain the movement by making the length of the bristles of brush sections I 4 and I1 greater than the length of the bristles of brush sections l3 and- IS. The greater length of the bristles will increase the frictional contact with the surface being cleaned and so produce the desired relative movement between the brush sections l3 and I4 and brush section l6 and H.

The operation of my improved nozzle may be described as follows:

The nozzle body I is connected to a source of suction by means of conduit l2 and elbow II. The suction is communicated to the nozzle mouth through an opening 2|. As the nozzle is moved back and forth over a surface being cleaned, the brush sections tend to agitate or disturb the dirt located on the surface contacted thereby. On the forward stroke of the nozzle the relative movement between the brush sections l3 and I 4 permit a flow of air through the passages l5 into the nozzle mouth. The dirt and dust carried by the air entering the passages I5 is prevented from passing beneath the nozzle mouth as the nozzle is moved forward by the brush sections l6 and H, which present a relatively closed surface, due to the movement of brush sections [1 into contact with the brush sections Hi. This movement closes the normal passages l8. Spaced brush sections along the front edge of the nozzle have been used heretofore to permit the ready entrance of the dirt and dust into the region of the nozzle mouth upon forward movement of the nozzle.

This has been accomplished by relatively immovable brush sections spaced along the front edge of the nozzle. However, such a construction does not permit an eflicient cleaning upon rearward movement of the nozzle. In my construction this is accomplished by the reverse movement of the brush sections l4 and II, respectively, upon the back stroke of the nozzle. As the nozzle I0 is moved rearwardly with the brush sections in contact with a surface being cleaned, the brush sections I! open the passages la. The movement of the brush sections l4 closes the normally open passages I5. This permits the air entering through the passages l8 to carry with it dirt and dust disturbed by contact between the brush sections and the surface being cleaned. Passage by the nozzle of the dirt and dust entering in the region of the mouth of the nozzle is prevented by the closing of the passages l5. Dirt and dust is carried into the region of the mouth of the nozzle either through the passages I5 'on the forward movement of the nozzle or through the passages l8 on the rearward movement of the nozzle. Dust,

and dirt are carried into the vacuum cleaner through the suction conduit l2 and elbow II. The closing of the passages l8 upon the forward movement of the nozzle or the passages l5 upon rearward movement of the nozzle together with the brush sections 19 and 20 perform the additional function of maintaining a relatively high suction for the lifting of the dirt and dust by the suction after it has entered into the region of the nozzle mouth. Obviously, if these passages were permitted to remain open they would not only permit, at least some of the dirt and dust, to pass beneath the nozzle but they would also reduce the suction available for lifting the dirt and dust and carrying it away from the surface being cleaned.

Other forms of the relatively movable and immovable brush sections may be used than those shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form of these brush sections, but it is only limited to the extent pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A nozzle for vacuum cleaners comprising a nozzle body having a suction opening, a plurality of brush sections depending from the front edge of the nozzle body in spaced relation, a plurality of brush sections depending from the front edge of the nozzle body between said first-named brush'sections overlapping adjacent sections of said first-named brush sections in a direction of normal movement of said nozzle and forming passages therebetween communicating with said suction opening, said first-named and secondnamed brush sections differing in flexibility,

whereby movementof said nozzle body in one direction in contact with a surface being cleaned causes relative movement between said brush sections to close said passages, and brush sections depending from the rear edge and ends of said nozzle body.

2. A nozzle for vacuum cleaners comprising a nozzle body having a suction opening, brush sections of square cross-section secured in spaced relation along the forward edge of the nozzle body with a diagonal of each square substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the nozzle, brush sections of triangular cross-section secured between said first-named brush sections with the apices of the triangles extending forward closely adjacent said first-named brush sections and forming passages communicating with said suction opening, said last-named brush sections being more flexible than said first-named brush sections and adapted to move relative thereto upon movement of said-nozzle rearwardly with said brush sections in contact with the surface being cleaned to close said passages, and brush sections secured along the rear edge and two ends of said nozzle body.

3. A nozzle for vacuum cleaners comprising a nozzle body having a mouth forming a suction opening, brush sections of square cross-section secui ed in spaced relation along the forward and rear edges of said nozzle body with a diagonal of each square substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the nozzle, brush sections of triangular cross-section secured along the forward and rear edges of said nozzle body between and closely adjacent to said first-named brush sections forming passages communicating. with said suction opening and having the apices extending outwardly from the-mouth of the nozzle body, said last-named brush. sections differing in flexibility from and adapted to move relative to

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