Vacuum cleaner nozzle

Abstract

The present application relates to a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a soleplate with a suction channel slot therein for the suction of debris from a surface, a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis to support the nozzle on said surface, and a suction pipe connector for rotation about an axis that is coaxial with said wheel axis. The wheel has a radius (h) of at least 25 mm and a distance across the surface between a point of contact of the wheel with the surface that is directly beneath the wheel axis and a point midway between the leading and trailing edges of the suction channel slot is no greater than 80 mm.

1 . A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner comprising a soleplate with a suction channel slot therein for the suction of debris from a surface, a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis to support the nozzle on said surface, and a suction pipe connector for rotation about an axis that is coaxial with said wheel axis, wherein the wheel has a radius (h) of at least 25 mm and a distance (X) across the surface between a point of contact of the wheel with the surface that is directly beneath the wheel axis and a point midway between the leading and trailing edges of the suction channel slot is no greater than 80 mm. 
     
     
         2 . A nozzle according to  claim 1 , comprising a housing in which the soleplate and suction channel slot are formed, the wheel and suction pipe connector being mounted to the housing for rotation about said wheel axis. 
     
     
         3 . A nozzle according to  claim 1 , comprising a housing in which the soleplate and suction channel slot are formed, the wheel and suction pipe connector being mounted for rotation relative to each other about the wheel axis and the housing being mounted for rotation relative to the wheel and the suction pipe connector about a second axis parallel to and spaced from the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . A nozzle according to  claim 3 , comprising a link arm extending between said wheel axis and the second axis and being pivotally connected to each of the suction pipe connector and the housing. 
     
     
         5 . A nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the radius of the wheel (h) to the sum of the distance (X) across the surface between a point of contact of the wheel with the surface that is directly beneath the wheel axis and a point midway between the leading and trailing edges of the suction channel slot, and a distance (½ C) across the surface between the point midway between the leading and trailing edges of the suction channel slot and the leading edge of the suction channel slot is greater than 0.3. 
     
     
         6 . A vacuum cleaner including a suction pipe and a nozzle according to  claim 1  connected to the suction pipe.