EP1674010B1

EP1674010B1 - Vacuum cleaner with a suction assembly parking device

Info

Publication number: EP1674010B1
Application number: EP05109188A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Man Tae Hwang; Hoi Kil Jeong; Young Ho Kim; Jung Bae Hwang; Min Park; Jae Ho Choi
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-27
Filing date: 2005-10-04
Publication date: 2009-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-04
Also published as: KR100569351B1; RU2311112C2; RU2005140673A; DE602005018154D1; ATE451049T1; EP1674010A1

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a parking device for firmly and securely parking a vacuum cleaner nozzle on the main body of the vacuum cleaner, when storing the vacuum cleaner, is provided. The nozzle parking device for a vacuum cleaner includes a first base (110) disposed at the lowest portion of a main body (100) of the vacuum cleaner, a second base (150) coupled to a top of the first base, an opening (113) defined by a portion of the first base (110), and a parking portion (156) formed on the second base (150) and disposed to lie flush inside the opening (113) when received in the second base (150) for parking an extension tube hook.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a parking device for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner for use on a vacuum cleaner having more than one base. In further detail, when the vacuum cleaner is not being used, the inventive parking device allows a nozzle portion including an extension tube to be hooked onto the floor portion of the vacuum cleaner, thereby facilitating storage and transportation of the vacuum cleaner.

Description of the Related Art

A vacuum cleaner is used to clean a room or other spaces by sucking air containing foreign objects and filtering the foreign object using vacuum pressure generated therein. In order to filter the foreign objects contained in the sucked air, a dust collection unit with a filtering unit is provided in the vacuum cleaner.
The filtering unit is classified into a porous filter formed of porous material and a cyclone type filter. The porous filter formed of porous material is designed to filter the foreign objects contained in air while the air passes through the filter. The cyclone type filter is designed to filter the foreign objects using cyclone airflow. In order to reuse the porous filter, a user cleans the filter to remove the foreign objects clogged in the filter. Furthermore, when a large amount of the foreign objects are clogged, the porous filter cannot be reused. Since the cyclone type filter is designed to remove the foreign objects from the air by a rotational air current generated by cyclone airflow, the clogging of the foreign objects in the filter is not incurred. Due to this reason, in recent years, cyclone type filter has been widely used.
In recent years, a multi-cyclone type dust collection unit, in which the cyclone unit is provided in plurality so that the foreign objects contained in the air can be filtered by only the cyclone airflows, has been developed. The multi-cyclone airflows improve the foreign object removal efficiency. In addition, the clogging problem is not incurred.
When a vacuum cleaner is stored or moved, the nozzle portion is parked on the main body of the vacuum cleaner, allowing easy storage and transport of the vacuum cleaner. The parking position is generally located on the bottom or the rear of the main body of the vacuum cleaner.
It is important to endow the parking portion with enough structural strength to support the entirety of the nozzle portion when parked thereon. A parking portion located at the front of a main body of the vacuum cleaner tends to be structurally weak and therefore easily damaged, preventing its performance of its given task.
US-A-5125127 discloses a holding device for a suction tube nozzle unit on an electrical vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a base defining a lower floor portion of a main body of the vacuum cleaner. In the base is formed an opening into which a hook portion attached to the suction tube nozzle unit can be engaged to mount the suction tube nozzle unit to the base. Inside the base is provided a spring arm that, simultaneously with the engaging of the hook portion into the opening, is slided and thereby pivots a retaining clip outward from the base serving to hold the suction tube of the suction tube nozzle unit at a further position.
US-A-4545089 discloses a type of vacuum cleaner which always stands on a suction assembly. The vacuum cleaner housing has a pocket for nesting an accessory appliance like a separate mobile handheld vacuum cleaner. A latch mechanism maintains the accessory appliance within the pocket and is releasable to permit removal of the accessory appliance. The latch mechanism is supported on a separate intermediate wall and only a latch catch thereof protrudes through an opening in the housing outer wall at the pocket and engages a recess of the accessory appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner with a suction assembly parking device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a strong parking device for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner located on the underside of the vacuum cleaner.
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a parking device for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner capable of firmly reinforcing a multi-level base of a vacuum cleaner (as is the case with vacuum cleaners employing multi cyclone dust collection units).
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a vacuum cleaner with a suction assembly parking device as defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
The parking device for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention provides increased structural strength strength and durability of the vacuum cleaner.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner where a dust collection unit of the present invention can be employed;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective of a vacuum cleaner depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is separated from the vacuum cleaner;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main body of a vacuum cleaner where a dust collection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is employed;
FIG. 5 is a frontal perspective view of a base of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of a base divided into a first base and a second base;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines II-II' of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a dust collection unit according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines I-I' of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a vacuum cleaner where a dust collection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner to which a dust collection unit according to the present invention can be applied.
Referring to FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner includes a main body 100 and a suction assembly connected to a suction portion through which outer air is sucked into the main body 100. Disposed in the main body 100 are a suction fan and a dust collection unit. Therefore, the sucked air is exhausted out of the main body 100 after foreign objects contained in the sucked air are filtered.
The suction assembly is provided to suck the air containing the foreign objects when sucking force is generated in the main body 100. That is, the suction assembly includes a sucking nozzle body 1 for sucking the air containing the foreign objects using a powerful airflow, an expandable pipe 2 extending from the sucking nozzle body 1 and expandable and contractible by a user, an operation handle 3 provided on a distal end of the expandable pipe 2, a manipulation unit 4 provided on a front portion of the operation handle 3, a flexible tube 5 extending from the operation handle 3, a connector 6 connecting a distal end of the flexible tube 5 to the main body 100, a pipe rest 7 on which the expandable pipe 2 can be supported and suspended when the vacuum cleaner is not used.
The connector 6 functions as a connection terminal transmitting a manipulation signal inputted by the user through the manipulation unit 4 to the main body 100 as well as a passage through which the sucked air is introduced into the main body 100. That is, a plurality of electric connection terminals are provided on a proximal end of the connector 6. However, the electric connection terminals are required only when the manipulation unit 4 is provided on the suction assembly. That is, the electric connection terminals are not provided on the connector 6. In this case, the connector 6 may simply function as an air introducing passage.
The air introduced into the main body 100 through the suction assembly is exhausted out of the main body 100 after the foreign objects contained in the introduced air are filtered. The main body 100 of the vacuum cleaner will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to FIGs. 1 and 2.
FIG. 2 shows the main body of the vacuum cleaner.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 100 includes a first base 110 defining a lower portion of the main body 100, a second base 150 disposed on the first base 110, a cover 200 disposed on the second base 150, wheels 111 provided on both rear-side portions of the cover 200 to make it easy to move the main body 100, and a front support 170 for supportably fixing the cover 200 and the first and second bases 110 and 150.
The connector 6 is connected to the front support 170 to allow the outer air to be introduced into the main body 100. The support 170 is designed to support the cover 200 and the first and second bases 110 and 150, thereby securely supporting the front portion of the main body 100.
The second base 150 is provided right above the first base 110 to improve the ornament of the main body and enhance the rigidity of the lower portion of the main body.
An exhaust cover 301 provided with a plurality of exhaust holes 302 is provided on a rear portion of the cover 200 to exhaust clean air. A carrying handle 201 is pivotally provided on a top surface of the cover 200. When a user intends to carry the main body 100, the carrying handle 201 is pivoted to a vertical position and used to conveniently carry the main body 100.
A dust collection unit 400 is disposed in the main body behind the front support 170 and a cyclone member is received in the dust collection unit to generate cyclone airflows and filter the foreign object contained in the outside air.
As shown in FIG. 3, the dust collection unit 400 is vertically installed in and separated from a receiving chamber 151 defined in the main body 100. That is, the dust collection unit 400 may be installed in the receiving chamber 151 by being pushed downward and separated from the receiving chamber 151 by being pulled upward.
The front support 170 is provided with a first air intake hole 171 and the dust collection unit 400 is provided with a second air intake hole 401 corresponding to the first air intake hole 171. The dust collection unit 400 is further provided with an exhaust hole (not shown) opposite to the second air intake hole 401. The exhaust hole is aligned with a third air intake hole 172 formed toward the motor so that the air cleaned by passing through the collection unit 400 is exhausted toward the motor side.
Particularly, the third air intake hole 172 is formed in a rectangular shape lengthwise in a horizontal direction so as to reduce the size of the main body 100 and allow the air to effectively flow.
FIG. 4 shows the main body of the vacuum cleaner.
Referring to FIG. 4, the second base 150 is disposed on a rear-top portion of the first base 110. A motor housing 300 is disposed on a rear portion of the first base 110. Then, the cover 200 is sequentially coupled to the first and second bases 110 and 150 to define the main body 100.
Here, the cover 200 is coupled to the first and second bases 110 and 150 in a state where the front support 170 is coupled to the cover 200. A flowing direction of the air introduced into the motor housing 300 through the third air intake hole 172 is changed by 90° in a vertical direction and is then changed in a horizontal direction so that the air can be exhausted rearward.
The first and second base 110 and 150 are stacked and aligned.
The base 110 and 150 consists of two components for the sake of structural strength; and the separate manufacturing of the two components allows the outer surface of one of the components to be manufactured having a smooth surface without grooves. Additionally, shocks inflicted on the main body of the vacuum cleaner via the base are absorbed by the base. Such shock-resistant bases are especially needed by multi-cyclone dust collection units employing multiple ducts for separating foreign objects via cyclone airflow.
A nozzle parking portion is formed on the second base 150. A detailed explanation of the structure of the nozzle parking portion will hereinafter be given.
FIG. 5 is a frontal perspective view of a base of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of a base divided into a first base and a second base.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a base according to the present invention, as previously explained, includes a first base 110 formed at the lowest portion of the main body of the vacuum cleaner and a second base 150 formed directly above the first base. Also, a nozzle parking portion is formed on the second base 150, and a dust collection unit 400 is disposed at the upper portion of the second base 150. The nozzle parking portion has a parking portion 156 of a predetermined structure for accommodating a pipe rest 7; and at a portion of the first base 110 to be formed flush with the parking portion 156 is an opening 113 for inserting the parking portion 156 therethrough.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines II-II' of FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 7, a detailed structural explanation of the nozzle parking portion will be given.
The parking portion 156 is recessed in its entirety, and includes a recessed groove 161 for accommodating the pipe rest 7, a fastening slope 158 formed to gradually recline inward from the opening portion of the recessed groove 161, and an insertion guide 160 for supporting the pipe rest 7 on both sides when the pipe rest 7 is inserted beyond a certain depth into the parking portion 156.
From either side of the parking portion 156 at a frontal end of the insertion guide 160 protrudes a fastening guide 157 protruding for a predetermined length upwards, for facilitating the insertion of the pipe rest 7 in the parking portion 156.
In addition, an insertion hole 159 is provided at the rear end of the parking portion 156 for securely aligning the second base 150 with respect to the first base 110; and the insertion hole 159 has a boss 114 protruding from the inside of the first base 110. The second base 150 can be securely positioned with respect to the first base 110 via the boss 114 and the insertion hole 159. The locations of the insertion hole 159 and the boss 114 can be interchanged. Because the first and second bases 110 and 150 can be firmly joined due to the boss 114 and the insertion hole 159, the boss and the insertion hole 159 can be collectively referred to as a supporting portion.
When the pipe rest 7 is parked on the parking portion 156, the weight imposed on the second base 150 is relayed in its entirety to the first base 110 through the boss 114, thereby allowing the weight of the expandable pipe to be firmly supported. Thus, the nozzle parking device according to the present invention has a structurally stronger base, due to the use of a pair of connected bases.
In order to support a pipe rest of an expandable pipe, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention provides a high-strength parking portion disposed at the lower portion of the vacuum cleaner, providing a user with a more reliable and improved product.
Also, the base forming the floor of the vacuum cleaner is multi-leveled for being firmly held by the nozzle parking portion, and is thus more applicable to multi cyclone dust collection units.

Claims

A vacuum cleaner with a suction assembly parking device, comprising:
a first base (110) defining a lower floor portion of a main body (100) of the vacuum cleaner; and

a second base (150) firmly coupled to a top of the first base (110);
wherein said suction assembly parking device comprises:
an opening (113) defined by a portion of the first base (110); and

a parking portion (156) provided on the second base (150) and disposed to lie inside the opening (113) and adapted to receive a mating hook portion (7) of a suction assembly for parking the suction assembly on the vacuum cleaner such that the weight imposed on the second base (150) is supported by the parking portion (156) and relayed to the first base (110) via a supporting portion (159,114),
characterised in that the supporting portion (159,114) has a first point on the parking portion (156) connected to a second point on the first base (110) opposite the first point, thereby providing a mutual reinforcement of the first and second bases (110,150).
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the parking portion (156) is formed on a floor of the second base (150).
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parking portion (156) includes a fastening guide (157) protruding for a predetermined length upward from either lateral side of the parking portion (156), and a recessed groove (161) centrally recessed in the parking portion (156).
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the parking portion (156) becomes gradually deeper from an entrance thereof for inserting the hook portion (7) of the suction assembly therein.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second base is disposed at an upper front portion of the first base.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first base (110) has a motor housing (300) disposed at an upper rear portion thereof.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first point is an insertion hole (159) formed on one end of the parking portion (156), and the second point is a boss (114) extending upwardly from the first base (110).
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the parking portion (156) extends from a rear portion of the main body (100) of the vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer portion of the parking portion (156) is substantially flush with the opening (113) in the first base (110).
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook receiving portion of the parking portion (156) is recessed from an outer surface of the first base (110).
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a suction assembly which includes a sucking nozzle body (1) for sucking air, an expandable pipe (2) extending from the sucking nozzle body (1), an operation handle (3) provided on a distal end of the expandable pipe (2), a flexible tube (5) extending from the operation handle (3), a connector (6) connecting a distal end of the flexible tube (5) to the main body (100), and an hook portion (7) serving as a pipe rest on which the expandable pipe (2) can be supported and suspended.