Vacuum cleaner

• US 7,628,846 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oh, Jang-keun, Cha, Seung-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane S
• Assistant Examiner(s): TURNER, SONJI LUCAS
• Application Number:
  US12/151,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 55D/IG.3, 554/90, 554/95, 554/17, 554/67, 962/22, 962/23, 261/DIG.88, 422/4, 422/5, 422/122, 422/123, 422/124
• US Class Current: 96/222
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/04 for using the exhaust air for other purposes, e.g. for distribution of chemicals in a room, for sterilisation of the air spraying or atomising in general B05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided that includes a main cleaner body comprising a discharge grill to discharge air from which dust has been separated; a grill cover mounted on the discharge grill to pivot between a closed position and an open position in relation to the discharge grill; a fragrant odor generating apparatus including a first shutter and second shutter that are mounted on the grill cover and that are opened by discharge pressure of air discharged through the discharge grill and closed by their own weight, and a fragrant agent disposed in an air path between the first shutter and second shutter; and a shutter locking unit to lock the first shutter in a closed position when the cleaner is not in use.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main cleaner body comprising a discharge grill to discharge air from which dust is separated;

a grill cover mounted on the discharge grill to pivot between a closed position and an open position in relation to the discharge grill; and

a fragrant odor generating apparatus, the fragrant odor generating apparatus comprising;

a first shutter and a second shutter that are mounted on the grill cover and that are opened by discharge pressure of air discharged through the discharge grill and closed by their own weight;

a fragrant agent disposed in an air path between the first shutter and second shutter; and

a shutter locking unit to lock the first shutter in a closed position when the cleaner is not in use.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fragrant odor generating apparatus further comprises:

a fragrant agent receptacle disposed inside the grill cover and in which the first shutter is disposed on an outer side thereof, the fragrant agent receptacle having a predetermined space;

an air inflow portion disposed under the fragrant agent receptacle so that the fragrant agent receptacle is ventilated by air flowing in through the air inflow portion; and

an inner cover mounted facing the discharge grill to pivot between a closed position and an open position in relation to the grill cover, so that the fragrant agent receptacle and the air inflow portion are sealed, and in which the second shutter is disposed in a position facing the air inflow portion.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the first shutter is opened outward from the grill cover and the second shutter is opened inward to the air inflow portion.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the first shutter and the second shutter are disposed so as not to face each other.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the fragrant agent is selected from the group consisting of phytoncide, perfume, fragrant particles, aroma oil, wood chips, and any combinations thereof.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the fragrant agent is housed in a porous net, the size of which is substantially the same as that of the fragrant agent receptacle.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the shutter locking unit comprises:

a first magnet mounted in the first shutter; and

a second magnet mounted in the grill cover, the second magnet having a polarity opposite that of the first magnet.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic force exerted from the first magnet and second magnet is less than the discharge pressure of air discharged through the discharge grill.