Upright vacuum cleaner

• US 10,188,247 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• 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:
  US15/539,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20180263448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 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

An upright vacuum cleaner (1) includes a brushroll (11); a motor assembly (200) including a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), in which a rotating axis of the motor (22) and a rotating axis of the brushroll (11) are disposed in a non-parallel manner, and the motor (22) drives the brushroll (11) rolling by a drive belt (13) and is rotatable between a first upright position of tensioning the drive belt (13) and a first oblique position of loosening the drive belt (13); a body assembly (300) including a body (31), a bridging member (32) and a dirt cup (37) mounted on the body (31), in which the bridging member (32) is rotatably connected with the motor housing (21) to make the body (31) rotatable between a second upright position and a second oblique position, and the motor (22) is moved by the bridging member (32) from the first oblique position to the first upright position when the body (31) moves from the second upright position to the second oblique position.

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a brushroll;

a motor assembly comprising a motor housing and a motor disposed within the motor housing, wherein a rotating axis of the motor and a rotating axis of the brushroll are disposed in a non-parallel manner, and the motor drives the brushroll to roll via a drive belt and is rotatable between a first upright position wherein the drive belt is tensioned and a first oblique position wherein the drive belt is released;

a body assembly comprising a body, a bridging member mounted to the body and rotatably connected with the motor housing to make the body rotatable between a second upright position and a second oblique position, and a dirt cup mounted to the body;

wherein the motor is moved from the first oblique position to the first upright position by the bridging member when the body moves from the second upright position to the second oblique position.

2. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clutching device disposed between the bridging member and the motor, wherein the motor is moved from the first oblique position to the first upright position by the bridging member via the clutching device, when the body moves from the second upright position to the second oblique position; and

wherein the clutching device comprises;

a first block fixed to the motor;

a second block disposed to the bridging member; and

a lever cam member rotatably disposed to the motor housing and having a first end and a second end configured to cooperate with the first toggling block and the second toggling block respectively.

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

lever cam member comprises;

a rotary joint rotatably connected to the motor housing;

a first toggling part fixed at a first side of an axial section of the rotary joint and cooperated with the first toggling block; and

a second toggling part fixed at a second side of the axial section opposite to the first side, cooperated with the second toggling block, wherein the first and second toggling parts are extended in directions away from each other.

4. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein a maximum distance between the second toggling part and a center of the rotary joint is greater than a maximum distance between the first toggling part and the center of the rotary joint, and widths of the first toggling part and the second toggling part are both decreased gradually along a first direction and a second direction away from the rotary joint.

5. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the lever cam member is provided with a retaining groove, and the first toggling block is fitted within the retaining groove when the motor is moved to the first upright position.

6. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the clutching device comprises:

a first sliding rail formed in the bridging member and comprising a tail end having a first sliding rail tail groove formed by a recess in a surface of the tail end of the first sliding rail; and

a lever rotating member rotatably disposed to the motor housing and comprising a first and second ends configured to cooperate with the first sliding rail and the motor respectively,

wherein when the body is moved from the second upright position to the second oblique position, the first end of the lever rotating member slides from the first sliding rail tail groove to the first sliding rail, and the motor is moved by the second end of the lever rotating member from the first oblique position to the first upright position.

7. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the first sliding rail is configured as an arc sliding rail with a rotating axis of the bridging member as a central axis thereof;

wherein the first sliding rail and the first sliding rail tail groove are connected by means of a smooth transition via a guide surface; and

wherein the first sliding rail is formed in an inner top wall of the bridging member, and one lever rotating member is opposite to a top center of a side of the motor away from the brushroll.

8. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the clutching device comprises:

a second sliding rail disposed to the bridging member;

a toggling tongue fixed to the motor and rotatable relative to the motor housing; and

a lever member having a first end configured to slidably cooperate with the second sliding rail and a second end configured to cooperate with an end of the toggling tongue.

9. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein a stopping block is disposed at a lower end of the second sliding rail to prevent the first end of the lever member from slipping off from the lower end of the second sliding rail.

10. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the second end of the lever member is configured as a hook, and the end of the toggling tongue is configured to be engaged in the hook.

11. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the toggling tongue comprises:

a rotational part, wherein one of the rotational part and the motor housing is provided with a rotating shaft, and the other thereof is provided with a rotating shaft hole configured to rotarily cooperate with the rotating shaft; and

a tongue part having a first end connected with the rotational part and a second end extending along a curve in a direction away from the rotational part, wherein the second end of the tongue part is configured to cooperate with the second end of the lever member.

12. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the second sliding rail extends along an arc with the rotating axis of the bridging member as a central axis thereof.

13. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the clutching device comprises:

a slide chute formed in the bridging member;

a triggering member rotatably supported at the motor housing and having a first end with a sliding column configured to enter the slide chute and slidably cooperate with the slide chute and a second end having a toggling rod configured to prod the motor to move;

wherein the sliding column slides along the slide chute to make the triggering member rotate when the bridging member makes the slide chute move, and the toggling rod prod the motor to rotate relative to the motor housing when the triggering member rotates;

wherein the triggering member comprises;

a first triggering part in which the sliding column is formed;

a second triggering part to which the toggling rod is formed; and

a pivot section connected between the first triggering part and the second triggering part and rotatably passing through the motor housing;

wherein the pivot section is disposed vertically;

the first triggering part is disposed in perpendicular to the pivot section;

along a direction from a first end of the first triggering part adjacent to the sliding column to a second end of the first triggering part adjacent to the pivot section, a vertical height of the first triggering part is decreased gradually and an upper surface of the first triggering part is configured as an arc surface corresponding to a shape of the bridging member,

wherein the motor housing is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the first triggering part and for rotation of the first triggering part;

wherein the pivot section is disposed vertically;

the first triggering part and the toggling rod are disposed in perpendicular to the pivot section;

an angle between an extension direction of length of the toggling rod and an extension direction of length of the first triggering part ranges from 0°

to 90°

;

wherein the toggling rod comprises an oblique surface for pushing the motor housing at an end of the toggling rod;

wherein the slide chute is linear and extends obliquely with respect to a front-and-rear direction.

14. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is disposed 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.

15. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the motor comprises a first column and the motor housing comprises a second column;

the elastic member is a spring and defines a first end and a second end fitted over the first column and the second column respectively to push the motor to the first oblique position;

wherein the drive belt is winded upon a central part in a direction of the axis of the brushroll;

a brushroll casing disposed outside the brushroll and comprising a brushroll air suction channel and a drive-belt mounting chamber for the drive belt, wherein the brushroll air suction channel comprises a first air suction channel and a second air suction channel located at both sides of the drive-belt mounting chamber;

wherein the first air suction channel and the second air suction channel are disposed symmetrically with respect to the drive belt;

wherein the motor housing comprises an air exhaust hole, a dirty air outlet and a clean air inlet, and defines a motor air suction channel and a motor air-exhaust channel therein, the motor air suction channel communicated between the brushroll air suction channel and the dirty air outlet, and the motor air-exhaust channel communicated between the clean air inlet and the air exhaust hole;

wherein the motor air suction channel comprises a first branch channel communicated to the first air suction channel and a second branch channel communicated to the second air suction channel;

wherein the first branch channel and the second branch channel are defined by a motor casing of the motor and the motor housing, and constitute a stereoscopic space with a substantially annular cross section;

wherein the dirty air outlet is connected to an air inlet of the dirt cup via an air-inlet pipe assembly, wherein the air-inlet pipe assembly comprises;

an air-inlet pipe disposed to the motor housing and having a first end connected to the dirty air outlet, and a hose connected between a second end of the air-inlet pipe and the air inlet of the dirt cup;

wherein the dirty air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the dirt cup via a directional control valve that comprises a first ventilating hole, a second ventilatingl hole and a third ventilating hole; and

wherein the first ventilating hole is communicated to the brushroll air suction channel, the second ventilating hole to the air inlet of the dirt cup, the third ventilating hole to the outside, and the directional control valve is configured to switch between a first state of communicating the first ventilating hole and the second ventilating hole and a second state of communicating the third ventilating hole and the second ventilating hole.

16. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the directional control valve comprises:

a three-way pipe comprising a first pipe section, a second pipe section and a third pipe section communicated with one another, the first ventilating hole defined by a free end of the first pipe section and the second ventilating hole defined by a free end of the second pipe section; and

a two-way pipe comprising a fourth pipe section and a fifth pipe section communicated with each other, the third ventilating hole defined by a free end of the fourth pipe section, wherein a fourth ventilating hole is defined by the fifth pipe section, and at least a part of the fifth pipe section extends into the third pipe section and is movable between a first position where the first ventilating hole is communicated with the second ventilating hole and a second position where the fourth ventilating hole is communicated with the second ventilating hole.

17. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the body defines a body air-exhaust channel therein, a first end of the body air-exhaust channel connected to an air outlet of the dirt cup and a second end thereof communicated with the clean air inlet.

18. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising two wheels disposed at two sides of the motor housing respectively and rotatably connected with the motor housing, wherein the bridging member comprises a top plate and two side plates connected at both sides of the top plate, the two side plates clamped between two side walls of the motor housing and the corresponding wheels respectively and rotatably connected with the motor housing.

19. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the top plate of the bridging member is provided with a first connecting pipe in which a positioning column is provided;

the body is provided with a second connecting pipe at a lower end; and

a baffle is provided with a positioning cartridge that is fitted over the positioning column after the second connecting pipe is inserted into the first connecting pipe.

20. The upright vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, further comprising:

a tensioning wheel opposite to a part of the drive belt adjacent to the brushroll to tension the drive belt;

wherein a rotating axis of the wheel is paralleled to the rotating axis of the brushroll; and

wherein the motor rotates from the first oblique position to the first upright position at an angle of 1°

to 10°

.