Accessory tool assembly for vacuum cleaner

• US 7,036,184 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sung-Guen
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/367,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 153/97, 154/02, 153/96, 153/98, 154/00, 154/14, 154/151, 153/73
• US Class Current: 15/397
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0613 with means specially adapted for picking up threads, hair or the like, e.g. brushes, combs, lint pickers or bristles pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner is provided which allows a small crevice to be easily cleaned, and for accessory tools to be easily changed based on places to be cleaned. The accessory tool includes a crevice tool detachably coupled to a brush tool. The crevice tool includes a plurality of suction tubes made of a flexible material extending from a front portion of an inlet, and a brush provided along a periphery of each of the suction tubes. A coupling portion is formed to the rear of the inlet, and is detachably coupled with an inlet formed at a front portion of the brush tool. A brush is provided along a periphery of the inlet, and connecting portion formed to the rear of the inlet connects to an end of an extension tube of the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. An accessory tool assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a crevice tool, comprising a plurality of suction tubes extending in a forward direction from an inlet portion thereof, and a coupling portion formed to a rear of and in communication with the inlet portion; and

a brush tool, comprising an inlet portion formed at a forward portion of the brush tool and configured to be detachably coupled to the coupling portion of the crevice tool, a brush provided along a periphery of the inlet portion of the brush tool, and a connecting portion formed to a rear of the inlet of the brush tool and in communication with the inlet of the brush tool and configured to connect the brush tool to an extension tube of a vacuum cleaner.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of suction tubes are made of a flexible material.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein front faces of the plurality of suction tubes are provided with brushes made of a flexible material.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the brushes extend beyond the front faces of the plurality of suction tubes.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the brushes extend along only a portion of a periphery of the plurality of suction tubes.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the crevice tool is operable when the respective inlet portions of the crevice tool and the brush tool are coupled via the coupling portion.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the brush tool is operable when the crevice tool is decoupled from the brush tool.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion and the inlet portion of the brush tool are configured to transfer a suction force therethrough.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the suction force is transferred from the brush tool to the plurality of suction tubes of the crevice tool when the brush tool and the crevice tool are coupled.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein brushes are provided at spaces formed between adjacent suction tubes of the plurality of suction tubes.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein a cross section of each of the plurality of suction tubes is substantially circular.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the brushes extend beyond front faces of the plurality of suction tubes.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising the accessory tool assembly of claim 1.

14. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a brush tool having a rear end configured to be coupled to a suction tube of a vacuum cleaner, and a forward end having a brush; and

a crevice tool having a rear end configured to be detachably coupled to the forward end of the brush tool, and a forward end configured to contact a cleaning area when the brush tool and the crevice tool are coupled, wherein the forward end of the brush tool is configured to contact a cleaning area when the brush tool and the crevice tool are decoupled, and wherein the crevice tool comprises a plurality of suction tubes formed at a forward portion of the crevice tool, wherein the plurality of suction tubes are made of a flexible material so as to substantially conform to a contour of an area to be cleaned.

15. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 14 wherein a suction force is transferred through the brush tool to the plurality of suction tubes of the crevice tool when the brush tool and the crevice tool are coupled.

16. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further comprising brushes provided at front faces of the plurality of suction tubes and extending beyond the front faces of the plurality of suction tubes.

17. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the brushes extend along only a portion of a periphery of the plurality of suction tubes.

18. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein brushes are provided at spaces formed between adjacent suction tubes of the plurality of suction tubes.

19. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein a cross section of each of the plurality of suction tubes is substantially circular.

20. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the brushes extend beyond front faces of the plurality of suction tubes.

21. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the crevice tool is operable when the crevice tool and the brush tool are coupled.

22. The accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein the brush tool is operable when the crevice tool is decoupled from the brush tool.

23. A vacuum cleaner comprising the accessory tool of claim 14.