Upright vacuum cleaner

• US 10,178,931 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jiangsu Midea Cleaning Appliances Co., Ltd. (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Jiangsu Midea Cleaning Appliances Co., Ltd. (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Hu, Wei, Zou, Hui, Xiao, Xiahu
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Marc
• Application Number:
  US15/539,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20180263440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/00 Structural features of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1409 Rigid filtering receptacles dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 : Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 : Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 : Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 : Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 : Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 : User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 : Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 : for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2023/126 : Actuation by rocker lever; Rocker levers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/0827 : for disconnecting the drive

Abstract

A vertical vacuum cleaner (1) is provided, including a brushroll (22); a motor assembly (200) including a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), in which the motor (22) is configured to drive the brushroll (22) to roll via a drive belt (13) and is rotatable between a first upright position where the drive belt (13) is tensioned and a first oblique position where the drive belt (13) is loosened; a body assembly (300) including a body (31) and a bridging member (32) rotatably connected with the motor housing (21); a lever driving device rotatably disposed to the motor housing (21) and having two ends respectively fitted with the bridging member (32) and the motor (22), in which the bridging member (32) is configured to drive the motor (22) to move from the first oblique position to the first upright position via the lever driving device.

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a brushroll;

a motor assembly comprising a motor housing and a motor disposed in the motor housing, wherein the motor is configured to drive the brushroll to roll via a drive belt and is rotatable between a first upright position in which the drive belt is tensioned and a first oblique position in which the drive belt is loosened;

a body assembly comprising a body and a bridging member mounted to the body, wherein the bridging member is rotatably connected with the motor housing to allow the body to be rotatable between a second upright position and a second oblique position; and

a lever driving device rotatably disposed to the motor housing and having two ends respectively fitted with the bridging member and the motor, wherein the bridging member is configured to drive the motor to move from the first oblique position to the first upright position via the lever driving device when the body is moved from the second upright position to the second oblique position.

2. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the bridging member is provided with a sliding rail, the sliding rail defines a sliding-rail tail groove at a tail end thereof, and the sliding-rail tail groove is formed by recessing a surface of the tail end of the sliding rail,

the lever driving device is configured as a lever rotating member rotatably disposed to the motor housing and having two ends fitted with the sliding rail and the motor respectively, wherein when the body is moved from the second upright position to the second oblique position, the body slides a first end of the lever rotating member out from the sliding-rail tail groove to the sliding rail via the bridging member, so as to rotate the lever rotating member, so that a second end of the lever rotating member drives the motor to move from the first oblique position to the first upright position.

3. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the sliding rail is configured as an arc sliding rail whose central axis is a rotating axis of the bridging member.

4. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the sliding-rail tail groove is smoothly transmitted to and connected with the sliding rail via a guide surface.

5. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the sliding rail is provided to an inner top wall of the bridging member.

6. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein one lever rotating member is provided and opposite to a center of a top of a side of the motor away from the brushroll.

7. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the lever rotating member comprises:

a rotational mounting portion rotatably connected to the motor housing;

a first actuating part and a second actuating part respectively fixed to two sides of the rotational mounting portion in a same axial section thereof and extending away from each other, wherein the first actuating part is configured to be fitted with the motor, and the second actuating part is configured to be fitted with the sliding rail.

8. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a surface of the second actuating part configured to be fitted with the sliding rail is configured as a first smooth curved surface.

9. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a surface of the first actuating part configured to be fitted with the motor is configured as a second smooth curved surface.

10. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the lever driving device is configured as a lever cam member, and the lever cam member is rotatably connected to a top wall and/or a side wall of the motor housing, wherein the lever cam member comprises:

a rotational connecting portion rotatably connected to the motor housing;

a first actuating portion and a second actuating portion respectively fixed to two sides of the rotational connecting portion in a same axial section thereof and extending away from each other, wherein the first actuating portion is configured to be fitted with the motor, and the second actuating portion is configured to be fitted with the bridging member;

wherein a maximum distance between the second actuating portion and a center of the rotational connecting portion is greater than a maximum distance between the first actuating portion and the center of the rotational connecting portion;

wherein a width of the first actuating portion is decreased gradually along a direction running away from the rotational connecting portion, and a width of the second actuating portion is decreased gradually along another direction running away from the rotational connecting portion,

wherein one of the motor housing and the rotational connecting portion is provided with a rotating shaft, and the other one of the motor housing and the rotational connecting portion has a hole in which the rotating shaft is fitted; and

wherein the motor is provided with a first contact block configured to be fitted with the first actuating portion.

11. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the lever cam member has a retaining groove, and the first contact block is configured to be fitted in the retaining groove when the motor is located at the first oblique position.

12. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the bridging member is provided with a second contact block configured to be fitted with the second actuating portion.

13. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the lever driving device is configured as a lever cam member, and two lever cam members are symmetrically provided to two side walls of the motor housing.

14. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is provided between the motor and the motor housing and is configured to push the motor to move from the first upright position to the first oblique position when the body is moved from the second oblique position to the second upright position, wherein the motor is provided with a first column and the motor housing is provided with a second column, the elastic member is configured as a spring and has two ends fitted over the first column and the second column respectively, so as to constantly apply a push force on the motor towards the first oblique position.

15. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the motor is rotated from the first oblique position to the first upright position by an angle of 1°

to 10°

.

16. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the motor is rotated from the first oblique position to the first upright position by an angle of 3°

to 8°

.

17. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the motor is rotated from the first oblique position to the first upright position by an angle of 5°

.

18. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a tensioning wheel or another elastic member for adjusting a tension degree of the drive belt.

19. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the bridging member and the body are processed and molded separately and connected by assembling, or the bridging member and the body are processed and molded integrally.

20. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a motor shaft of the motor is arranged vertically, a rotating axis of the brushroll is perpendicular to the motor shaft, and the drive belt is twisted by an angle of 90°

and winded upon the motor shaft and the brushroll respectively, so as to allow the motor to drive the brushroll to roll, wherein the brushroll comprises a first brushroll section provided with bristles, a second brushroll section provided with bristles, and a connecting-shaft section connected between the first brushroll section and the second brushroll section,

the drive belt is winded upon the motor shaft and the connecting-shaft section to allow the motor to drive the brushroll to roll;

wherein respective central axes of the first brushroll section, the second brushroll section and the connecting-shaft section are located in a same line, and the first brushroll section and the second brushroll section are arranged symmetrically with respect to the drive belt; and

a brushroll casing covering the brushroll, wherein the brushroll casing defines a drive-belt mounting chamber configured to accommodate the connecting-shaft section and the drive belt, a first air-suction channel and a second air-suction channel located at both sides of the drive-belt mounting chamber and separated from the drive-belt mounting chamber.