Cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner

• US 20090144932A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoo, Dong-hun
• Application Number:
  US12/150,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• 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 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles

Abstract

A cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner may include a cyclone unit disposed at a cleaner body so that a longitudinal center axis thereof is parallel to a first sidewall of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof; and a contaminant receptacle disposed at a side of the cyclone unit to be attached to or detached from the cleaner body, the contaminant receptacle having a top wall at which a contaminant-entering opening is formed corresponding to the contaminant-discharging opening of the cyclone unit.

Claims

1. A cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for disposal in a cleaner body having a first sidewall that becomes a bottom surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof and a second sidewall that becomes the bottom surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction thereof, the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus comprising:

a cyclone unit disposed at the cleaner body so that a longitudinal center axis of the cyclone unit is parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof, and

a contaminant receptacle disposed at the side surface of the cyclone unit, the contaminant receptacle being configured to be attached to or detached from the cleaner body, the contaminant receptacle having a top wall at which a contaminant-entering opening is formed corresponding to the contaminant-discharging opening of the cyclone unit.

2. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone unit comprises:

a cyclone body formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the cyclone body having a center axis parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body;

an air-discharging pipe formed at a bottom surface of the cyclone body; and

an air-entering pipe disposed at the side surface of the cyclone body nearby the second sidewall of the cleaner body.

3. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises:

a contaminant-discharging pipe extending from the side surface of the cyclone body at the contaminant-discharging opening, the contaminant-discharging pipe comprising a rectangular pipe.

4. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the contaminant receptacle further comprises

an outer projection projecting from around the contaminant-entering opening of the contaminant receptacle.

5. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises:

a supporting wall formed around the contaminant-discharging pipe, the supporting wall corresponding to the top wall of the contaminant receptacle; and

a sealing projection formed at the supporting wall to wrap the outer projection of the contaminant receptacle.

6. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a gasket disposed between the sealing projection and the outer projection.

7. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contaminant receptacle further comprises:

an inner projection formed at an inner surface of the top wall of the contaminant receptacle to project inside the contaminant receptacle from around the contaminant-entering opening.

8. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a discharging duct connecting the air-discharging pipe of the cyclone unit and a vacuum generator, the discharging duct being disposed at the second sidewall of the cleaner body.

9. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contaminant receptacle comprises:

a contaminant receptacle body having the top wall at which the contaminant-entering opening is formed;

a handle disposed at a side surface of the contaminant receptacle body;

a bottom cover disposed at a bottom end of the contaminant receptacle body so that it is able to be opened and closed; and

a bottom cover opening unit selectively opening and closing the bottom cover.

10. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bottom cover is disposed at the side surface of the contaminant receptacle body by a hinge.

11. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bottom cover opening unit comprises:

a fixing hook disposed at a side of the bottom cover, the fixing hook formed to be caught on a fixing projection disposed at the contaminant receptacle body; and

a release lever causing the fixing hook to be released from the fixing projection.

12. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the release lever is formed to move along the handle.

13. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an elastic member disposed on a top end of the release lever to bias the release lever upward.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body having a first sidewall that becomes a bottom surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof and a second sidewall that becomes the bottom surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction thereof; and

a cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus disposed in the cleaner body, the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus having a cyclone unit and a contaminant receptacle,

wherein the cyclone unit is disposed at the cleaner body so that a longitudinal center axis of the cyclone unit is parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body and wherein the contaminant receptacle is disposed at a side of the cyclone unit to be attached to or detached from the cleaner body.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the cyclone unit has a contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the contaminant receptacle has a top wall at which a contaminant-entering opening is formed corresponding to the contaminant-discharging opening of the cyclone unit.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the cyclone unit comprises:

a cyclone body formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the cyclone body having a center axis parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body;

an air-discharging pipe formed at a bottom surface of the cyclone body; and

an air-entering pipe disposed at a side surface of the cyclone body nearby the second sidewall of the cleaner body.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises:

a contaminant-discharging pipe extending from the side surface of the cyclone body at the contaminant-discharging opening, the contaminant-discharging pipe formed in a rectangular pipe.