Main body mounting structure of upright type vacuum cleaner capable of being converted to canister type

• US 20070039120A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woongjin Coway Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ACE Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Im
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/328
• 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 5/28 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 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a main body mounting structure of an upright type vacuum cleaner capable of being converted to a canister type. The mounting structure comprises a main body having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon and including a suction device inside the suction port, a connection panel on which the main body is detachably installed, a suction unit having a dust collecting port and a discharge opening and on which the connection panel is rotatably installed, an attaching mechanism disposed between the main body and the connection panel, an extension pipe and a handle detachably installed to the main body and having a hollow inner space to define a flow passage along which foreign substances are induced, and a suction hose connected at one end with the suction port and selectively connected at the other end with the discharge opening or the handle.

Claims

1. A main body mounting structure of an upright type vacuum cleaner capable of being converted to a canister type vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon, and including a suction device inside the suction port;

a connection panel on which the main body is detachably installed;

a suction unit having a dust collecting port and a discharge opening and on which the connection panel is rotatably installed;

an attaching mechanism disposed between the main body and the connection panel;

an extension pipe and a handle detachably installed to the main body and having a hollow inner space to define a flow passage along which foreign substances are induced; and

a suction hose connected at one end with the suction port, and selectively connected at the other end with the discharge opening or the handle.

2. The main body mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the main body is formed with a plurality of latch grooves at a lower surface corresponding to the attaching mechanism.

3. The main body mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection panel comprises an upper panel on which the main body is installed, a lower panel coupled to a bottom surface of the upper panel and provided with wheels such that the wheels protrude below a bottom surface of the suction unit, and a securing panel fastened to the suction unit while rotatably restricting a rotational shaft of the wheels, the attaching mechanism being installed between the upper panel and the lower panel such that the attaching mechanism is fastened to the latch grooves.

4. The main body mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the upper panel is formed with covers, each having an upper portion protruding so as to correspond to an associated latch groove, and a lower portion opened to allow the attaching mechanism to enter or exit the cover therethrough.

5. The main body mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the attaching mechanism comprises:

a hook assembly rotatably installed between the upper panel and the lower panel, and having a plurality of latch hooks disposed to protrude outside the upper panel;

a spring interposed between the hook assembly and the lower panel;

a knob installed to the upper panel such that the knob slides perpendicularly and causes the hook assembly to rotate by manipulation of a user;

a plurality of protrusions formed under a lower surface of the main body; and

a plurality of grooves formed on the upper panel corresponding to the protrusions.

6. The main body mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein the hook assembly comprises a first latch hook member formed at a central portion of the upper panel, and a second latch hook member coupled to the first latch hook member to rotate simultaneously with the first latch hook member.

7. The main body mounting structure according to claim 6, wherein the second latch hook member comprises a pair of latch hooks integrally formed with a rotational shaft of the second latch hook member, an extension part extending forwardly from the rotational shaft, and a hole formed on the extension part such that the first latch hook member is inserted into the hole.

8. The main body mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein the knob is installed on the upper panel to slide perpendicularly thereon, and comprises a pair of pushing parts corresponding to the hole and a front end of the first latch hook member

9. The main body mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the attaching mechanism comprises:

a hook assembly rotatably installed between the upper panel and the lower panel, and having a plurality of latch hooks disposed to protrude outside the upper panel;

a spring interposed between the hook assembly and the lower panel;

a knob installed to the upper panel such that the knob slides perpendicularly and causes the hook assembly to rotate by manipulation of a user;

a plurality of protrusions formed under a lower surface of the main body; and

a plurality of grooves formed on the upper panel corresponding to the protrusions.

10. The main body mounting structure according to claim 9, wherein the hook assembly comprises a first latch hook member formed at a central portion of the upper panel, and a second latch hook member coupled to the first latch hook member to rotate simultaneously with the first latch hook member.

11. The main body mounting structure according to claim 10, wherein the second latch hook member comprises a pair of latch hooks integrally formed with a rotational shaft of the second latch hook member, an extension part extending forwardly from the rotational shaft, and a hole formed on the extension part such that the first latch hook member is inserted into the hole.

12. The main body mounting structure according to claim 9, wherein the knob is installed on the upper panel to slide perpendicularly thereon, and comprises a pair of pushing parts corresponding to the hole and a front end of the first latch hook member