Vacuum cleaner

• US 8,032,981 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoo, Dong-hun
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/150,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 153/28, 153/29, 15331-335
• US Class Current: 15/331
• 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

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a brush assembly that travels along a cleaning surface and draws in dirt-entrained air therethrough, a cleaner body that is connected to the brush assembly and has a dust collector, a fixing unit that detachably mounts the cleaner body onto the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as an upright type vacuum cleaner and dismounts the cleaner body from the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type vacuum cleaner, and a regulation unit that restricts a horizontal rotation of the brush assembly if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a brush assembly that travels along a cleaning surface and draws in dirt-entrained air therethrough;

a cleaner body that is connected to the brush assembly via an extension pipe assembly and has a dust collector;

a fixing unit that detachably mounts the cleaner body onto the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as an upright type vacuum cleaner and dismounts the cleaner body from the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type vacuum cleaner; and

a regulation unit that restricts a horizontal rotation of the brush assembly if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly,

wherein the fixing unit comprises;

a first locking member that supports a lower portion of the cleaner body; and

a second locking member that supports an upper portion of the cleaner body and is locked and released by a user,

wherein the second locking member comprises;

a grip unit that is disposed on the first extension pipe; and

a grip portion that is disposed on a position of the cleaner body corresponding to the grip unit, and

wherein the grip unit comprises;

a support member that is fixed to a position of the first extension pipe to support a load applied from the cleaner body;

a grip member that is hinged onto a position away from an upper portion of the support member; and

an elastic member that is disposed between the support member and the grip member.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brush assembly comprises:

a suction brush; and

a connector that is connected to the suction brush and is rotated in a vertical direction, wherein the extension pipe assembly is connected to the connector.

3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension pipe assembly comprises:

a first extension pipe that is connected to the connector;

a second extension pipe that has one end connected to the first extension pipe and the other end connected to the cleaner body via a flexible hose, the second extension pipe being inserted into the first extension pipe;

an adjusting unit that adjusts lengths of the first and the second extension pipes; and

a manipulation handle that is disposed on the second extension pipe.

4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises:

a hook member that is integrally formed with the connector; and

a hook receiving recess that is formed on a position of the cleaner body corresponding to the hook member.

5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hook member is L-shaped.

6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip member comprises:

a push portion that is pushed by a user with his/her finger;

a projection which is disposed opposite the push portion and selectively hooked onto the grip portion; and

a support protrusion that supports one end of the elastic member.

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the grip portion comprises:

a first grip recess into which the support member is inserted; and

a second grip recess into which the projection of the grip member is inserted.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a hose clamping device that clamps the flexible hose to a predetermined position.

9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hose clamping device comprises:

a first hose clamping unit that clamps the flexible hose at symmetric positions of the first extension pipe; and

a second hose clamping unit that is disposed relatively lower than the first clamping unit.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first hose clamping unit comprises:

two clamping rings that are disposed at predetermined positions of the flexible hose and have hooking recesses; and

hooking protrusions that are disposed on the first extension pipe and press-fitted into the hooking recesses.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second hose clamping unit has an opening that is disposed on the first extension pipe and has a radius corresponding to a diameter of the flexible hose to allow the flexible hose to be held therein.

12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the regulation unit comprises:

a key hole that is formed penetratingly through the hook member;

a fixing key that is ascendable and descendable in the key hole;

an elastic member that elastically supports the fixing key; and

a key recess that is disposed opposite the fixing key of the suction brush,

wherein, if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly, the fixing key is pressed by the cleaner body and thus is inserted into the key recess, and if the cleaner body is dismounted from the brush assembly, the fixing key is returned to an original position.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the suction brush comprises:

an agitator that scatters dirt drawn in from a cleaning surface; and

a driving unit that supplies a driving force to rotate the agitator.

14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, wherein the suction brush has the agitator disposed at a front portion thereof and a traveling member disposed at a rear portion of the suction brush.

15. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a brush assembly that travels along a cleaning surface and draws in dirt-entrained air therethrough;

a cleaner body that is connected to the brush assembly and has a dust collector;

a fixing unit that detachably mounts the cleaner body onto the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as an upright type vacuum cleaner and dismounts the cleaner body from the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type vacuum cleaner;

a regulation unit that restricts a horizontal rotation of the brush assembly if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly,

wherein the brush assembly comprises;

a suction brush;

a connector that is connected to the suction brush and is rotated in a vertical direction; and

an extension pipe assembly that is connected to the connector,

wherein the extension pipe assembly comprises;

a first extension pipe that is connected to the connector;

a second extension pipe that has one end connected to the first extension pipe and the other end connected to the cleaner body via a flexible hose, the second extension pipe being inserted into the first extension pipe;

an adjusting unit that adjusts lengths of the first and the second extension pipes; and

a manipulation handle that is disposed on the second extension pipe; and

a hose clamping device that clamps the flexible hose to a predetermined position, wherein the hose clamping device comprises;

a first hose clamping unit that clamps the flexible hose at symmetric positions of the first extension pipe; and

a second hose clamping unit that is disposed relatively lower than the first clamping unit.

16. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first hose clamping unit comprises:

two clamping rings that are disposed at predetermined positions of the flexible hose and have hooking recesses; and

hooking protrusions that are disposed on the first extension pipe and press-fitted into the hooking recesses.

17. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second hose clamping unit has an opening that is disposed on the first extension pipe and has a radius corresponding to a diameter of the flexible hose to allow the flexible hose to be held therein.

18. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a brush assembly that travels along a cleaning surface and draws in dirt-entrained air therethrough;

a cleaner body that is connected to the brush assembly and has a dust collector;

a fixing unit that detachably mounts the cleaner body onto the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as an upright type vacuum cleaner and dismounts the cleaner body from the brush assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type vacuum cleaner; and

a regulation unit that restricts a horizontal rotation of the brush assembly if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly,

wherein the brush assembly comprises;

a suction brush;

a connector that is connected to the suction brush and is rotated in a vertical direction; and

an extension pipe assembly that is connected to the connector,

wherein the extension pipe assembly comprises;

a first extension pipe that is connected to the connector;

a second extension pipe that has one end connected to the first extension pipe and the other end connected to the cleaner body via a flexible hose, the second extension pipe being inserted into the first extension pipe;

an adjusting unit that adjusts lengths of the first and the second extension pipes; and

a manipulation handle that is disposed on the second extension pipe,

wherein the fixing unit comprises;

a first locking member that supports a lower portion of the cleaner body; and

a second locking member that supports an upper portion of the cleaner body and is locked and released by a user,

wherein the first locking member comprises;

a hook member that is integrally formed with the connector; and

a hook receiving recess that is formed on a position of the cleaner body corresponding to the hook member, wherein the hook member is L-shaped, and

wherein the regulation unit comprises;

a key hole that is formed penetratingly through the hook member;

a fixing key that is ascendable and descendable in the key hole;

an elastic member that elastically supports the fixing key; and

a key recess that is disposed opposite the fixing key of the suction brush,

wherein, if the cleaner body is mounted onto the brush assembly, the fixing key is pressed by the cleaner body and thus is inserted into the key recess, and if the cleaner body is dismounted from the brush assembly, the fixing key is returned to an original position.