Vacuum cleaner

• US 7,987,551 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Chang Ho, Hyun, Kie Tak, Ha, Gun Ho, Jeong, Kyeong Seon, Son, Young Bok, Kim, Jae Kyum, Lee, Sung Hwa, Hwang, Man Tae, Yang, Hae Seock, Park, Yun Hee, Kim, Jin Young, Park, Min, Kim, Il Joong, Yoo, Myung Sig, Shin, Jin Hyouk, Choo, Jong Su, Jeong, Hoi Kil, Ko, Moo Hyun, Seo, Jin Wook, Lee, Chang Hoon, Kwon, Hyuk-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US12/408,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20090255083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 153/47, 153/271, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a dust collection container that stores dust, a compression member that is provided in the dust collection container and which is capable of rotating in first and second directions, and a driver that rotates the compression member. The compression member rotates in a first space corresponding to a first angle range and at least a portion of the dust is stored in a second space corresponding to a second angle range.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a dust collection container that stores dust;

a compression member, which is provided in the dust collection container and which is configured to rotate in first and second directions; and

a driver that rotates the compression member, wherein the compression member rotates in a first space corresponding to a first angle range and at least a portion of the dust is stored in a second space corresponding to a second angle range, wherein the dust collection container comprises a plurality of contacting portions that contacts the compression member as the compression member rotates, the plurality of the contacting portions forming an angle corresponding to the first angle range with respect to a rotational axis of the compression member.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a rotational direction of the compression member changes when the compression member contacts one of the plurality of contacting portions.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein a rotational axis of the compression member intersects a bottom surface of the dust collection container.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein a curvature of an outer wall of the dust collection container, which defines the first space, is different from a curvature of an outer wall of the dust collection container, which defines the second space.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein a distance between the rotational axis of the compression member and a point on an outer wall of the dust collection container, which defines the first space, is different from a distance between the rotational axis of the compression member and a point on an outer wall of the dust collection container, which defines the second space.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the driver is mounted on a bottom wall of the dust collection container.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, further comprising a rotational shaft that defines a rotational axis of the compression member, wherein the rotational shaft intersects a sidewall of the dust collection container.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the compression member comprise a substantially semi-circular shaped plate.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, further comprising a dividing portion provided under the rotational shaft that divides a space of a dust storing portion into at least two sections.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the dust collection container comprises at least first and second bottom surfaces that are defined based on the rotational shaft, and wherein the compression member compresses dust stored between a first surface of the compression member and the first bottom surface when rotating in the first direction, and compresses dust stored between a second surface of the compression member and the second bottom surface when rotating in the second direction.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the driver is mounted on the sidewall of the dust collection container.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the driver is detachably coupled to the dust collection container.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, further comprising a cleaner main body to which the dust collection container is detachably coupled, wherein the cleaner main body includes a power supply terminal that is selectively coupled to the driver.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a reversible motor.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, further comprising a cleaner main body to which the dust collection container is detachably coupled, wherein the driving motor is provided in the cleaner main body and the compression member is configured to be rotated by the driving motor when the dust collection device is mounted on the cleaner main body.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, further comprising a power transmission device that transfers power from the driving motor to the compression member.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the power transmission device comprises at least one gear.