Dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner

• US 5,970,575 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Company Limited (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Nam-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/720,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 15/350, 15/351, 15/352, 15/335, 15/328, 15/334, 15/337
• 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 9/1427 Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1436 Connecting plates, e.g. collars, end closures

Abstract

A dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner having a dust-collecting body and a cleaner body and alternatively operable as an upright-type vacuum cleaner or as a canister-type vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust-collecting unit includes an air-guiding part having first, second and third air-guiding pipes, and a door part. The door part accommodates a portion of the air-guiding part, closes and opens the dust bag receptacle part, and engages or disengages the air-guiding part with or from the dust bag receptacle part.

Claims

1. A dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner having a dust-collecting body and a cleaner body unit and alternatively operable as an upright-type vacuum cleaner or as a canister-type vacuum cleaner by engaging or disengaging the dust-collecting body with or from the cleaner body unit providing an air suction force, comprising:

a cleaner brush head having a suction slit for suctioning air together with dust from outside;

a dust-collecting body for receiving the air suctioned from the suction slit, filtering the received air to collect dust therein, and exhausting the filtered air, which is dust-free air, the dust-collecting body having;

a main body having an air outlet part in order for the filtered air to be exhausted to the cleaner body unit;

an air inlet part communicated with the suction slit of the cleaner brush head, and for receiving the suctioned air;

an air-guiding part communicated with the air inlet part, and for providing a passageway to guide the received air, wherein a portion of the air-guiding part is a flexible hose to provide flexibility to the air-guiding part;

a dust bag receptacle part formed in the main body, and for accommodating a dust bag, wherein the air outlet part communicates with the dust bag receptacle part;

a door part having a first cover and a door body part with a circular hole and accommodating a portion or the air-guiding part with or from the dust bag receptacle part, wherein the flexible hose is extended below the first cover to provide flexibility when the door part opens and closes, and the one end of the portion of the air-guiding part is engaged with the circular hole for the suctioned air to flow in the dust bag receptacle part when the door part closes;

a second cover having an engagement/disengagement part for engaging and disengaging the dust-collecting body with and from the cleaner body unit, and having a groove formed on an upper portion of the second cover for accommodating a portion of the flexible hose for flexibility when the door part opens and closes the second cover covering the portion of the air-guiding part between the door part and air inlet part; and

a dust bag holding part mounted on the main body to be rotated inside and outside the dust bag receptacle part, the dust bag holding part accommodating the dust bag, wherein the dust bag holding part is rotated in and out as the door part closes and opens the dust bag receptacle part.

2. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-guiding part includes:

a first air-guiding part connected with the air inlet part, and for providing a first portion of the passageway to guide the dust-containing air suctioned from the air inlet part, one end portion of the first air-guiding part being connected with the air inlet part;

a second air-guiding part connected with the other end portion of the first air-guiding part and being the flexible hose, and for providing a second portion of the passageway to guide the air from the first air-guiding part, one end portion of the second air-guiding part being connected with the other end portion of the first air-guiding part; and

a third air-guiding part connected with the other end portion of the second air-guiding part, and for providing a third portion of the passageway to guide the air from the second air-guiding part, one end portion of the third air-guiding part being connected with the other end portion of the second air-guiding part, the other end portion of the third air-guiding part being connected with the circular hole of the door part to communicate the air-guiding part with the dust bag receptacle part.

3. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dust bag receptacle part includes:

a rib part having a plurality of ribs longitudinally protruded from a bottom of the dust bag receptacle part, and for preventing the dust bag from being in close contact with the bottom thereof when the dust bag is inflated by air flowing in from the air-guiding part; and

a pair of dust bag fixing parts upwardly and opposedly protruded from opposite sides of the dust bag receptacle part, and for fixing the dust bag to thereby prevent the dust bag from moving about.

4. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door body part has a rectangular recessed portion to accommodate the portion of the air-guiding part, and is hingedly connected with the main body to be rotated to close and open the dust bag receptacle part, the rectangular recessed portion has the circular hole in a bottom face of the rectangular recessed portion;

and

a first cover having a knob to facilitate the opening and closing of the door part, and engaged with the door body part to cover the door body part while firmly accommodating the third air-guiding part.

5. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises:

a connecting portion having a plurality of engagement grooves thereon to firmly fix the first cover to the main body;

a pair of first protrusions protruded from the main body below the dust bag receptacle part and each having an insertion hole to be hingedly engaged with the door body part, so that the door part rotatably opens and closes the dust bag receptacle part; and

a sealing member mounted on an upper wall of the dust bag receptacle part, and for preventing the air from flowing out of the dust bag receptacle part.

6. A dust collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner having a dust-collecting body and a cleaner body unit, and alternatively operable as an upright-type vacuum cleaner or as a canister-type vacuum cleaner by engaging or disengaging the dust-collecting body with or from the cleaner body unit providing an air suction force, comprising:

a cleaner brush head having a suction slit for suctioning air together with dust from outside;

a dust-collecting body for receiving the air suctioned from the suction slit, filtering the received air to collect dust therein, and exhausting the filtered air, which is dust-free air, the dust-collecting body having;

a main body having

an air outlet part in order for the filtered air to be exhausted to the cleaner body unit;

an air inlet part communicated with the suction slit of the cleaner brush head, and for receiving the suctioned air;

an air-guiding part communicated with the air inlet part, and for providing a passageway to guide the received air, wherein a portion of the air-guiding part is a flexible hose to provide flexibility to the air-guiding part, the air-guiding part including;

(1) a first air-guiding part connected with the air inlet part, and for providing a first portion of the passageway to guide the dust-collecting air suctioned from the air inlet part, one end portion of the first air-guiding part being connected with the air inlet part;

(2) a second air-guiding part connected with the other end portion of the first air-guiding part and being the flexible hose, and for providing a second portion of the passageway to guide the air from the first air-guiding part, one end portion of the second air-guiding part being connected with the other end portion of the first air-guiding part; and

(3) a third air-guiding part connected with the other portion of the second air-guiding part, and for providing a third portion of the passageway to guide the air from the second air-guiding part, one end portion of the third air-guiding part being connected with the other end portion of the second air-guiding part, the other end portion of the third air-guiding part being connected with the circular hole of the door part to communicate the air-guiding part with the dust bag receptacle part;

a dust bag receptacle part formed in the main body, and for accommodating a dust bag, the air outlet part communicating with the dust bag receptacle part, the dust bag receptacle part including;

(1) a rib part having a plurality of ribs longitudinally protruded from a bottom of the dust bag receptacle part, and for preventing the dust bag from being in close contact with the bottom thereof when the dust bag is inflated by air flowing in from the air-guiding part; and

(2) a pair of dust bag fixing parts upwardly and opposedly protruded from opposite sides of the dust bag receptacle part, and for fixing the dust bag to thereby prevent the dust bag from moving about;

a door part hingedly engaged with the main body, having a first cover and a door part with a circular hole, and accommodating a portion of the air-guiding part between the door body part and the first cover, and for rotatably closing and opening the dust bag receptacle part, thereby engaging or disengaging one end portion of the air-guiding part with or from the dust bag receptacle part, wherein the flexible hose is extended below the first cover to provide flexibility when the door part opens and closes, and the end of the portion of the air-guiding part is engaged with the circular hole for the suctioned air to flow in the dust bag receptacle part when the door part closes;

a second cover engaged with the main body and having an engagement/disengagement part for engaging or disengaging the dust collecting body with or from the cleaner body unit, and having a groove formed on an upper portion of the second cover for accommodating a portion of the flexible hose for flexibility when the door part opens and closes, the second cover covering the portion of the air-guiding part between the door part and the air inlet part; and

a dust bag holding part mounted on the main body to be rotated inside and outside the dust bag receptacle part, the dust bag holding part accommodating the dust bag, wherein the dust bag holding part is rotated in and out as the door part closes and opens the dust bag receptacle part.

7. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the door body part has a rectangular recess to accommodate the portion of the air-guiding parts and is hingedly connected with the main body to be rotated to close and open the dust bag receptacle part, the rectangular recess having the circular hole and

the first cover has a knob to facilitate the opening and closing of the door part, and the first cover is engaged with the door body part to cover the door body part while firmly accommodating the third air-guiding part.

8. The dust-collecting unit for a combination-type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main body further comprises:

a connecting portion having a plurality of engagement grooves firmly fix the first cover to the main body;

a pair of first protrusions protruded from the main body below the dust bag receptacle part and each having an insertion hole to be hingedly engaged with door body part, so that the door part rotatably opens and closes the dust bag receptacle part; and

a sealing member mounted on an upper wall of the dust bag receptacle part, and for preventing the air from flowing out of the dust bag receptacle part.