Nozzle assembly having UV generation unit and vacuum cleaner having the same

• US 7,581,283 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• 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, Yoo, Dong-hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/077,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/24, 153/39, 152/463
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0061 adapted for disinfecting or sterilising
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A nozzle assembly having a UV generation unit and a vacuum cleaner having the same are provided. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle main body that moves over a cleaning surface, a drum brush unit that is formed on the nozzle main body and includes an extension unit, an ultraviolet (UV) generation unit that is formed on the drum brush unit to be folded or unfolded so that the UV generation unit selectively faces the cleaning surface, and a switch that turns the UV generation unit on or off according to whether the UV generation unit is folded or unfolded.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle main body that moves over a cleaning surface;

a drum brush unit that is formed on the nozzle main body and comprises an extension unit;

an ultraviolet (UV) generation unit that is formed on the drum brush unit to be folded or unfolded so that the UV generation unit selectively faces the cleaning surface; and

a switch that turns the UV generation unit on or off according to whether the UV generation unit is folded or unfolded.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the UV generation unit generates UV rays if the UV generation unit is unfolded to face the cleaning surface, and the UV generation unit does not generate UV rays if the UV generation unit is folded to not face the cleaning surface.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the UV generation unit further comprises:

a housing having a housing arm that is pivotably connected to the extension unit of the drum brush unit;

a grill unit that is coupled to the housing and comprises a plurality of holes; and

a UV lamp that is formed between the housing and the grill unit.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a microswitch that is turned on or off by selective interference of the housing arm.

5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, wherein the microswitch is formed on the housing arm.

6. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, wherein the microswitch is formed on the extension unit.

7. The nozzle assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

an elastic member that elastically supports the UV generation unit in a direction in which the UV generation unit is folded; and

a locking unit that keeps the UV generation unit unfolded when the UV generation unit is unfolded.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein the elastic member comprises a spring that is formed at a pivot axis of the housing arm.

9. The nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein the locking unit comprises:

a hook member that is formed at the drum brush unit to move vertically, and comprises a button at an upper part and a hook at a lower part;

a spring which elastically supports the hook member upwards; and

a locking part which is formed at the housing to be hooked by the hook of the hook member when the UV generation unit is unfolded to face the cleaning surface.

10. The nozzle assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking part that is hooked by the hook of the hook member is unlocked if the button of the hook member is pressed.

11. A nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle main body that moves over a cleaning surface;

a drum brush unit that is formed on the nozzle main body and comprises an extension unit; and

an ultraviolet (UV) generation unit that is formed on the drum brush unit to be folded or unfolded so that the UV generation unit selectively faces the cleaning surface,

wherein the UV generation unit generates UV rays if the UV generation unit is unfolded to face the cleaning surface, and

the UV generation unit does not generate UV rays if the UV generation unit is folded to not face the cleaning surface.

12. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body that comprises a dust collecting unit; and

a nozzle assembly, comprising

a nozzle main body that moves over a cleaning surface;

a drum brush unit that is formed on the nozzle main body and comprises an extension unit; and

an ultraviolet (UV) generation unit that is formed on the drum brush unit to be folded or unfolded so that the UV generation unit selectively faces the cleaning surface,

wherein the UV generation unit generates UV rays if the UV generation unit is unfolded to face the cleaning surface and the UV generation unit does not generate UV rays if the UV generation unit is folded to not face the cleaning surface,

the nozzle assembly further being connected to the main body and moving on a cleaning surface.