Cleaning apparatus

• US 10,244,907 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Jaewon, Kim, Jeongyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennings, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/834,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 15350, 15352, 15353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/246 with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/18 comprising catches or pawls

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning unit including a power consumption unit and a stick unit with which the cleaning unit is coupled and which allows the cleaning unit to move in a state of being gripped by a user. The cleaning unit includes a first coupling portion, and the stick unit includes a second coupling portion separably coupled with the first coupling portion, an operation portion operable to separate the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion, and a power transfer portion for transferring an operation force of the operation portion to the second coupling portion.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a cleaning unit including a power consumption unit and a first coupling portion;

a transport device for automatically moving the cleaning unit, and

a stick unit able to be coupled to the cleaning unit and which allows the cleaning unit to move when gripped by a user,

wherein the stick unit comprises;

a second coupling portion able to be coupled with the first coupling portion;

an operation portion operable to separate the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion; and

a power transfer portion for transferring an operation force of the operation portion to the second coupling portion,

wherein the transport device comprises a wheel and a motor for driving the wheel,

wherein the motor operates to allow the cleaning unit to automatically move when the stick unit is separated from the cleaning unit, and

wherein the motor maintains a stationary state when the stick unit is connected to the cleaning unit.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the power consumption unit comprises a suction force generating device for generating a suction force.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises a first battery for supplying power to the suction force generating device,

wherein the stick unit further comprises a second battery for supplying power to the suction force generating device while being connected to the cleaning unit, and

wherein the second battery is connected to the first battery in series when the stick unit is connected to the cleaning unit.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the stick unit further comprises a hand type cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and a battery which supplies power to the suction motor.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein when the stick unit is coupled with the cleaning unit, and

wherein power of the battery is able to be supplied to the suction force generating device of the power consumption unit.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lifting device for spacing the wheel apart from a floor surface when the stick unit is connected to the cleaning unit,

wherein the lifting device lifts the wheel when the stick unit pivots at a predetermined angle or more while connected to the cleaning unit.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transport device is connected to the cleaning unit and able to rotate on a shaft, and

wherein the lifting device comprises:

a connecting member to which the stick unit is connected; and

a moving portion which receives a rotating force of the connecting member and rotates the transport device on the shaft.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transport device further comprises a power transfer device for transferring power of the motor to the wheel, and

wherein the moving portion rotates the power transfer device upward on the shaft.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connecting member comprises a protrusion for being connected to the moving portion,

wherein the moving portion comprises a plurality of slots to allow the protrusion to move, and

wherein the plurality of slots comprise:

a first slot having an arc shape; and

a second slot which linearly extends from one end of the first slot.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the moving portion slides due to the protrusion when the protrusion is located in the second slot,

wherein the moving portion rotates the power transfer device upward on the shaft when the protrusion moves to a borderline area between the second slot and the first slot, and

wherein the moving portion maintains a stationary state while the protrusion is moving along the first slot.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises a plurality of auxiliary wheels for contacting with the floor surface to move the cleaning unit when the wheel is spaced apart from the floor surface.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stick unit further comprises:

a connecting body including the second coupling portion, and

a stick body pivotably connected to the connecting body.

13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a shaft to connect the connecting body to the stick body,

wherein the connecting body and the stick body pivot on the shaft.

14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a pivoting limiting portion at the stick body; and

a limiting guide at the connecting body,

wherein a range of the pivot of the connecting body and the stick body is limited by an interaction between the pivoting limiting portion and the limiting guide.

15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power transfer portion comprises:

a link connected to the operation portion;

a first connector which receives power from the link; and

a second connector which receives power from the first connector and transfers the power to the second coupling portion.

16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second coupling portion comprises a first coupling body and a second coupling body movably connected to the first coupling body, and

wherein when the second connector is moved by the first connector, the first coupling body and the second coupling body move in directions closer to each other to release a coupling between the second coupling portion and the first coupling portion.

17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an elastic member to provide an elastic force for the first coupling body and the second coupling body in directions to allow the first coupling body and the second coupling body to become farther from each other to maintain a state in which the first coupling body and the second coupling body are coupled with the first coupling portion.

18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stick unit further comprises an operation limiting portion to selectively limit an operation of the operation portion.

19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the stick unit further comprises a through hole for providing a path for a movement of the operation portion, and

wherein when the stick unit pivots at a predetermined angle or more from the cleaning unit while connected to the cleaning unit, the operation limiting portion is located in the through hole to limit the operation of the operation portion.