Air-flow routing in the bottom part of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a handle and a bottom part, the handle being swivel-mounted to the bottom part via an articulated joint. The bottom part includes at least one bottom-side suction opening, a dust chamber bounded by dust chamber walls, a fan unit, and an additional suction opening for a suction hose. A first flow path through the bottom-side suction opening and a separate parallel flow path through the additional suction opening are guided into the dust chamber via a common inlet opening formed in one of the dust chamber walls. The two flow paths are arranged in the bottom part and are guided into the inlet opening together approximately parallel to each other by a flow-guide element located between the two flow paths.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a handle; and    a bottom part, the bottom part  4  including: 
 at least one bottom-side suction opening;  
 a fan unit;  
 a second suction opening configured to receive a suction hose;  
 a dust chamber bounded by a plurality of dust chamber walls and having an inlet opening in one of the walls;  
 a first flow path from the at least one bottom-side suction opening to the dust chamber via an inlet opening;  
 a second flow path from the second suction opening to the dust chamber via the inlet opening, the second flow path being separate from the first flow path; and  
 a flow-guide element configured to guide the first and second flow paths into the inlet opening approximately parallel to each other.  
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the handle is swively disposed on the bottom part via an articulated joint.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the inlet opening includes a tubular member extending into the dust chamber and configured to receive a dust-collecting device.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the flow-guide element includes a dividing wall configured to divide the tubular member into a first inlet region and a second inlet region so that the first flow path enters the first inlet region and the second flow path enters the second inlet region.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first flow path and the second flow path run towards each other in a region upstream of the tubular member.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of dust chamber walls includes a front wall and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first and second flow paths runs parallel to the front wall.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of dust chamber walls includes a lateral wall and wherein the inlet opening is formed in the lateral wall.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the second suction opening and the suction hose are in fluid communication with each other;  
 the suction hose includes a hose suction opening closable by a closing element; and  
 the suction hose is in fluid communication with a secondary air device configured to enable adjustment of a vacuum in the second flow path when the hose suction opening is closed so as to adjust a suction power at the bottom-side suction opening.  
 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a hand grip disposed on the handle and further comprising a parking fixture disposed on the hand grip or the handle, the parking fixture including the closing element and the secondary air device, the parking fixture being configured to receive at least one of a suction-side end of the suction hose and an accessory attached the suction-side end.