Versatile vacuum cleaner

• US 6,779,229 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Park, Min-Ho, Choi, Im-Suk, Lee, Nam-Ho, Lee, Jae-Duck
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/773,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 153/275, 153/28, 153/23, 153/29, 153/38, 153/31, 154/10, 153/34
• US Class Current: 15/329
• 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 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/32 Handles

Abstract

An versatile vacuum cleaner is disclosed which comprises a main body, a socket, a first cleaner, a second cleaner, a motor assembly, a cord reel, a handle, and an exhaust duct, and can be converted easily into different configurations each suitable for a specifically different type of vacuum cleaning operation. Improvements are made in details such as the arrangement or the configuration of the main body, the socket, the first cleaner, the second cleaner, the cord reel, the handle, and exhaust duct, thereby improving the operability of the vacuum cleaner and improving the performance thereof.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body having a suction opening being formed at a lower end thereof and an exhaust grill for exhausting air, the main body having a dust collecting chamber, a driving chamber, and a cord reel chamber which are provided successively by partitions;

a socket being attached to the lower end of the main body and having a connecting opening communicating with the dust collecting chamber;

a first cleaner connected detachably to the socket;

a second cleaner installed hingedly on an outer surface of the socket and connected detachably to the connecting opening of the socket when the first cleaner is detached from the socket;

a motor assembly installed in the driving chamber for providing suction force;

a cord reel installed in the cord reel chamber for winding up a power cord that supplies power to the motor assembly; and

a handle fixed hingedly at the upper end of the main body in a retractable manner.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the main body has an area dented into the driving chamber and communicating therewith, the exhaust grill formed at the one side of the dented area, and a grill cover having a plurality of apertures for covering the dented area.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the dented area has a first locking hole at a one side thereof and a first locking protrusion at the other side thereof, and

the grill cover has a second locking protrusion on one portion thereof fixed to the first locking hole, a tension lock having a second locking hole on the other portion thereof for being fixed to the first locking protrusion, a first stopper protruding on both sides of the tension lock, and a second stopper protruding toward the tension lock for restricting an operating position of the first stopper.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a guide groove at a front plane thereof to communicate with the connecting opening for guiding of the second cleaner and a positioning protrusion formed on the front plane, and the first cleaner has a positioning portion formed at an upper surface thereof for supporting the positioning protrusion to restrict the inclination of the main body with respect to the first cleaner, wherein the positioning protrusion has a cut-oft portion at the center portion of the end thereof, and a belt pin is attached to the outwardly exposed cut-off portion.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaner comprises a brush head having a suction port located at a lower surface thereof and being able to be moved by wheels;

an inlet duct communicating with the suction port;

a rotary duct being vertically rotatably connected to the inlet duct;

a first adaptor being vertically rotatably connected to the rotary duct and communicating detachably with the connecting opening of the socket; and

a stopper means for restricting a rotation angle of the first adaptor with respect to the rotary duct.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the brush head comprises a main push plate installed on the upper surface thereof;

a sub push plate connected to a connecting shaft fitted to the main push plate and moving integrally with the main push plate; and

a first brush installed in an inner part of the brush head to be protruded or be retracted from the lower surface of the brush head depending on a pressing of a main push button, wherein the stopper means comprises a rotation stopper protruding from an outer surface of the rotary duct, and a first stop rib and a second stop rib formed symmetrically at a lower portion of the first adaptor to restrict a moving position of the rotation stopper.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second cleaner comprises a second adaptor installed hingedly in a guide groove at a front plane of the socket and connected detachably to the connecting opening of the socket;

a flexible hose connected to the second adaptor;

a joint connected to the hose and having a fining member fined detachably to a clip attached to the main body for fastening the second cleaner to the main body; and

a suction pipe connected separably to the joint.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cord reel comprises a mounting bracket having a base plate installed firmly in the cord reel chamber by a plurality of ribs formed in the cord reel chamber, a hub protruding from a side of the base plate, and a cord outlet formed integrally with the base plate for accommodating the power cord;

a guide roller installed rotatably between the hub and the cord outlet for guiding the power cord passing through the cord outlet; and

a bobbin installed rotatably on the hub for winding up the power cord guided by the guide roller.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the cord outlet has a cut portion at a portion thereof for inserting the power cord into the cord outlet, and the guide roller has an annular guide flange at an end portion thereof for preventing the power cord from escaping from the guide roller.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a stick handle;

a bracket fitted to an end portion of the main body for fastening hingedly an end of the stick handle to the main body;

a locking means for fitting detachably the other end of the stick handle to an outer surface of the main body; and

a stopper means for controlling a foldable position of the stick handle with respect to the main body.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the handle has a power switch electrically connected to a terminal box, the power switch controlling an operation of the vacuum cleaner by controlling an operation of the terminal box.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust duct for guiding air from the driving chamber to the exhaust grill, wherein the exhaust duct has an inlet for sucking the air in the driving chamber into the exhaust duct;

an outlet connected to the exhaust grill for exhausting the sucked air; and

a curved portion between the inlet and outlet surrounding the motor assembly at a predetermined distance apart for disconnecting the exhaust grill from the motor assembly.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising at least one dust filtering means installed in the main body for filtering air.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the dust filtering means comprises a dust bag installed in the dust collecting chamber to communicate with the connecting opening;

a first filter installed between the dust collecting chamber and the driving chamber; and

a second filter installed in an area dented into the driving chamber.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary handle fixed to an outer surface of the main body for lifting the vacuum cleaner to carry it.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a shoulder belt fitted to a predetermined position for lifting the vacuum cleaner onto user'"'"'s shoulder to carry it, wherein the shoulder belt comprises a belt hung on user'"'"'s shoulder;

a hook attached to an end of the belt and connected to a belt pin attached to a positioning protrusion formed on a front plane of the socket; and

a buckle attached to the other end of the belt and connected to an auxiliary handle fixed to an outer surface of the main body.