Dust collecting unit of vacuum cleaner

• US 7,547,340 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Tae Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/297,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 553/37, 554/28, 554/29, 554/32, 554/33, 554/591, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 55/429
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

There is provided a dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting unit being designed to increase the density of foreign substances collected in a dust collection container. In the dust collecting unit, a dust collection container collects foreign substances, a top cover closes a top of the dust collection container, a bottom cover closes a bottom of the dust collection container, a compartment plate divides an inner space of the dust collection container into a foreign substance separating compartment and a foreign substance storing compartment, and a bar pushes the compartment plate to the foreign substance storing compartment to compress the foreign substances stored in the foreign substance storing compartment.

Claims

1. A dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collection container collecting foreign substances;

a top cover closing a top of the dust collection container;

a bottom cover closing a bottom of the dust collection container;

a compartment plate dividing an inner space of the dust collection container into a foreign substance separating compartment and a foreign substance storing compartment;

a bar pushing the compartment plate to the foreign substance storing compartment to compress the foreign substances stored in the foreign substance storing compartment; and

a pressing member detachably coupled to the dust collection container to depress a top end of the bar.

2. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the bar includes:

a top end supported with respect to the top cover; and

a bottom end supported by the compartment plate.

3. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the bar is moved in a direction perpendicular to the top cover.

4. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the top end of the bar is exposed through the top cover.

5. The dust collecting unit according to claim 4, wherein the pressing member is kept in a handle formed on an outer surface of the dust collection container.

6. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a porous filter disposed around the bar to further filter out the foreign substances from air passed through the foreign substance separating compartment.

7. The dust collecting unit according to claim 6, wherein the compartment plate includes a foreign substance blocking rib on a top surface adjacent to the filter.

8. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member having at least one end connected to the bar to elastically support the bar.

9. The dust collecting unit according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member has the other end connected to the top cover.

10. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the bar has a hollow cylindrical shape formed with an air hole to allow air to discharge therethough from the dust collection container.

11. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the bar is fixed to the compartment plate by tight fitting.

12. The dust collecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the bottom cover is hinged on the dust collection container for discharging the collected foreign substances.

13. A dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collection container separating and collecting foreign substances;

a handle formed on an outer surface of the dust collection container;

a top cover closing a top of the dust collection container;

a bottom cover closing a bottom of the dust collection container;

a foreign substance compressing unit receiving an external force to push the collected foreign substances to a side in the dust collection container to compress the foreign substances,

wherein the foreign substance compressing unit comprises a compartment plate dividing an inner space of the dust collection container into up and down compartments;

a bar pushing the compartment plate downwardly; and

a pressing member detachably coupled to the container for pushing the bar.

14. The dust collecting unit according to claim 13, wherein the foreign substance compressing unit further comprises:

an elastic member having an end connected to the bar to apply a restoring force to the bar in an upward direction.

15. The dust collecting unit according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member has the other end hooked by the top cover.

16. The dust collecting unit according to claim 13, wherein the pressing member is kept in the handle.

17. The dust collecting unit according to claim 14, wherein the bar has a hollow shape formed with an air hole to allow air to discharge therethough from the dust collection container.

18. A dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collection container separating and collecting foreign substances;

a top cover closing a top of the dust collection container;

a bottom cover closing a bottom of the dust collection container;

a compartment plate dividing an inner space of the dust collection container into an upper foreign substance separating compartment and a lower foreign substance storing compartment;

a bar pushing the compartment plate to the foreign substance storing compartment to compress the foreign substances stored in the foreign substance storing compartment;

a filter closely disposed around the bar to further filter out the foreign substances from air passed through the foreign substance separating compartment and to guide the bar therethrough; and

a pressing member detachably coupled to the dust collection container to depress the top end of the bar.

19. A dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collection container separating and collecting foreign substances;

a compartment plate dividing an inner space of the dust collection container into an upper foreign substance separating compartment and a lower foreign substance storing compartment;

a bar pushing the compartment plate to the foreign substance storing compartment to compress the foreign substances stored in the foreign substance storing compartment;

a filter closely disposed around the bar to further filter out the foreign substances from air passed through the foreign substance separating compartment and to guide the bar therethrough;

a handle integrally formed with the dust collection container; and

a pressing member detachably coupled to the dust collection container for pushing the bar.