Vacuum cleaner with optical sensor

• US 5,819,367 A
• Filed: 02/25/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Imamura, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/805,933
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 356/438
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2815 using optical detectors

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a dust sensor having a light emitting device and a light receiving device which devices are provided at predetermined positions of a suction nozzle or a suction pipe in a condition that both devices are opposite to one another in a direction which crosses a dust suction direction by a predetermined angle. A spacer member is positioned at a predetermined accurately position the suction nozzle or the suction pipe by an engagement of with respect to a second projection member and a second concave section, and each device is positioned accurately relative to the spacer member by an engagement of a first concave section and a first projection member.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising,

a pipe or nozzle defining a suction path of the vacuum cleaner,

a dust sensor having a light emitting device and a light receiving device, both devices being provided at predetermined positions along the suction path, such that both devices are opposite one another in a direction which is at a predetermined angle with respect to a direction of the suction path,

at least one through hole defined in the pipe or nozzle for housing the light emitting device or the light receiving device, the housed light emitting device or light receiving device having a flange member at a base portion thereof,

a spacer member for holding the housed light emitting device or light receiving device, the spacer member being housed within each through hole, the spacer member defining

a first concave section for housing the flange member,

at least one first projection member for securing the flange member into the first concave section, and

a second concave section provided at a predetermined position of an outer face of the spacer member for engaging at least one second projection member defined by the nozzle or pipe, so as to position the spacer member within the through hole.

2. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the through hole is defined to have stepped shape such that a diameter of the through hole at an outer side with respect to the suction path is larger than a diameter of the through hole at an inner side with respect to the suction path.

3. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spacer member is housed within a section of the through hole having the larger diameter.

4. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first projection member is sufficiently resilient so as to permit forced insertion of the flange member into the first concave section, and the second projection member is sufficiently resilient so as to permit forced insertion of the spacer member into the through hole.

5. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 4, wherein the spacer member defines a plurality of first projection members at equal angles about a circumference of the first concave section, and the nozzle or pipe defines a plurality of second projection members at equal angles about a circumference of the through hole.

6. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second concave section is a concave groove formed on an outer face of the spacer member.