Cleaner

• US 10,646,082 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Nam, Bohyun, Kim, Namhee, Kim, Jinju, An, Hyeonjeong, Hwang, Jungbae
• Primary Examiner(s): Horton, Andrew A
• Application Number:
  US15/475,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• 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 5/26 with driven dust-loosening tools
• 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 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/12 Dry filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1616 Multiple arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/246 with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that is disposed behind the suction motor and separates dust from air sucked by the suction force of the suction motor; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit; a handle disposed behind the dust separation unit; a battery housing disposed under the handle; and a battery that is detachably coupled to the battery housing and is separable downward from the battery housing.

Claims

1. A cleaner comprising:

a suction motor that is configured to generate suction force to thereby suction air;

a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units configured to generate cyclonic flow to separate dust from suctioned air and that is disposed vertically under the suction motor in an orientation of the cleaner in which a center axis of the cyclonic flow is arranged along a vertical direction, the center axis of the cyclonic flow passing through the suction motor;

a dust container that is configured to receive the dust separated by the dust separation unit and that is disposed vertically under the suction motor in the orientation of the cleaner in which the center axis of the cyclonic flow is arranged along the vertical direction;

a handle disposed at a rear portion of the cleaner at a position rearward of the dust separation unit;

a battery housing disposed vertically under the handle in the orientation of the cleaner in which the center axis of the cyclonic flow is arranged along the vertical direction; and

a battery that is configured to be connectable upward to the battery housing from vertically underneath the battery housing in the orientation of the cleaner in which the center axis of the cyclonic flow is arranged along the vertical direction,

wherein the battery includes a plurality of coupling portions that are horizontally spaced apart from each other and configured to be coupled to the battery housing,

wherein the plurality of coupling portions include a first coupling portion on a first side of the battery and a second coupling portion on a second side of the battery opposite the first coupling portion, and

wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are configured to be uncoupled from the battery housing by being moved toward each other.

2. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery is configured to be removable from the battery housing in a direction parallel with an axis of the cyclonic flow.

3. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery housing defines an opening at a bottom of the battery housing and is configured to receive the battery through the opening, and wherein a portion of the battery is exposed to an outside of the battery housing based on the battery being coupled to the battery housing by the plurality of coupling portions.

4. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion includes a first hook, and the battery housing includes a battery coupling portion that includes a locking rib configured to be coupled to the first hook.

5. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein the battery coupling portion defines a space configured to receive a portion of a user'"'"'s hand or finger, and the first coupling portion is configured to be operated by the portion of the user'"'"'s hand or finger inserted into the space.

6. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery includes:

battery cells;

a frame configured to receive the battery cells; and

an extension portion that extends rearward from a bottom rear portion of the cleaner,

wherein the second coupling portion extends upward from the extension portion.

7. The cleaner of claim 6, wherein the second coupling portion includes a second hook, and an inner side of the battery housing defines a coupling groove that is configured to be coupled to the second hook.

8. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery housing defines an exposing opening that is configured to expose the second coupling portion to an outside of the battery housing based on the second coupling portion being coupled to the battery housing.

9. The cleaner of claim 1, further comprising:

a first main body terminal disposed outside the battery housing and configured to receive power to charge the battery inserted in the battery housing, the first main body terminal being spaced apart from the battery in the battery housing; and

a second main body terminal disposed in the battery housing and configured to be electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery.

10. The cleaner of claim 9, further comprising a battery coupling portion configured to be detachably coupled to the battery,

wherein the dust container includes a dust collection body and a body cover, the body cover being configured to open and close an interior of the dust collection body,

wherein the battery coupling portion is disposed between the body cover and the battery, and

wherein the first main body terminal is disposed in a groove defined on a bottom of the battery coupling portion.

11. The cleaner of claim 9, wherein the battery includes:

battery cells;

a frame configured to receive the battery cells; and

a protrusion that protrudes upward from a top surface of the frame, the protrusion defining a terminal hole configured to receive the second main body terminal;

wherein an interior of the battery housing includes a receiving portion that is configured to receive the protrusion of the battery, and

wherein the second main body terminal is disposed in the receiving portion.

12. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein the protrusion is offset from a center of the frame.

13. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery housing defines a heat dissipation hole that is configured to discharge heat generated by the battery.

14. The cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a bypass passage configured to guide air discharged from the suction motor toward the battery.

15. The cleaner of claim 14, further comprising a motor housing that is configured to receive the suction motor and that defines a bypass hole,

wherein the bypass passage is defined by the bypass hole and an internal space of the handle.

16. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein a top of the dust separation unit is disposed under a bottom of the suction motor.

17. A cleaner comprising:

a main body including a suction motor that is configured to generate suction force to thereby suction air;

a dust separation unit that is disposed vertically under the suction motor and configured to separate dust from the suctioned air;

a dust container that is configured to receive the dust separated by the dust separation unit;

a handle that includes an operation unit configured to receive an input for turning on and turning off the suction motor;

a battery housing disposed vertically under the handle;

a battery detachably coupled to the battery housing;

a first main body terminal disposed at the main body and configured to receive power to charge the battery inserted in the battery housing; and

a second main body terminal configured to be electrically coupled to the battery inserted in the battery housing.