Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner for improving user convenience. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body connected with a suction brush, and a power cord holding device rotatably disposed on the cleaner body. The power cord holding device rotates between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner and a second position to allow a user to wind a power cord after use of the vacuum cleaner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-37700, filed May 4, 2005, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application discloses subject matter that may be related to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/258,180, filed Oct. 26, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-29814 entitled Power Cord Arranging Device For A Vacuum Cleaner (116511-00174), and the subject matter of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner employing a power cord holding device which facilitates the arrangement of a power cord looped around a cleaner body of an upright vacuum cleaner after use.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Vacuum cleaners are largely either a canister type vacuum cleaner or an upright type vacuum cleaner. Conventional canister vacuum cleaners have a cord reel assembly to retract a power cord into a cleaner body after use. Conventional upright vacuum cleaners have a power cord longer than that of the canister vacuum cleaner, so they typically use a winding device disposed on the outside of the cleaner body to store the power cord by winding it around the winding device.  
         [0004]     However, in order to wind the power cord around the winding device of the vacuum cleaner, a user has to bend forward at the waist or drop down on a knee, thereby inconveniencing the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention has been developed in order to solve the above problem in the related art. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure which allows a user to wind a power cord in a more convenient position.  
         [0006]     The above aspect is achieved by providing a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body connected with a suction brush, a power cord holding device rotatably disposed on the cleaner body, and a fixing device to fix the power cord holding device to the cleaner body. The power cord holding device turns between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner, and a second position to allow a user to wind and store the power cord after use of the vacuum cleaner.  
         [0007]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding device is disposed on a side surface of the cleaner body and pivots on a pivoting axis. Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding device includes a power cord winding plate around which the power cord is wound, a first power cord support pin assembly disposed adjacent to the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate, and a second power cord support pin assembly disposed on the other end of the power cord winding plate opposite to the first power cord support pin assembly.  
         [0008]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pin assembly includes a first support pin seating portion formed in the power cord winding plate; a fixing boss protruding from a center of the first supporting pin seating portion; a first power cord support pin having a first penetrating hole defined in a center corresponding to the fixing boss, the first power cord support pin being rotatably mounted in the first support pin seating portion; a screw driven in the fixing boss with a washer; and a first elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first power cord support pin through which the fixing boss penetrates, and the other end supported by the washer.  
         [0009]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pin assembly further includes at least one fixing recess formed on an outer circumference of the first support pin seating portion, and at least one fixing protrusion formed on the first power cord supporting pin corresponding to the fixing recess of the first power cord supporting pin. When the first power cord support pin is pulled out, the fixing protrusion is released from the fixing recess.  
         [0010]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate is formed on the opposite side of the first power cord support pin seating portion and inserted in the cleaner body. Preferably, but not necessarily, an locking ring is disposed around an outer circumference of the pivoting axis, and a ring receiving recess is formed in an insertion recess of the cleaner body in which the pivoting axis is received, the locking ring being received in the ring receiving recess.  
         [0011]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the fixing device includes a first locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the second position, and a second locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the first position. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first locking unit includes a first press button assembly disposed on the power cord winding plate, and a first pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the first press button assembly when the power cord holding device rotates to the second position.  
         [0012]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the first press button assembly includes a first press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and has a second penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; a first press button seated in the first press button seating portion; a second elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first press button seating portion and the other end supported on the first press button; and at least one first hook and at least one first hook receiving recess which are formed on the first press button and the first press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.  
         [0013]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the first pop-up protrusion assembly includes a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleaner body, a pop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in the protrusion seating recess, a third elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other end fitted in the first pop-up protrusion, and a support plate to prevent the first pop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seating recess.  
         [0014]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the second locking unit includes a second power cord support pin assembly disposed in the power cord winding plate, and a second pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the second power cord support pin assembly when the power cord holding device moves to the first position. Preferably, but not necessarily, the second pop-up protrusion assembly has the same structure as that of the first pop-up protrusion assembly.  
         [0015]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the second power cord support pin assembly includes a second press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and having a third penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; a second power cord support pin integrally formed with the second press button seating portion; a second press button movably seated in the second press button seating portion; a fourth elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the second press button seating portion and the other end supported on the second press button; and at least one second hook and at least one second hook receiving recess which are formed on the second press button and the second press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.  
         [0016]     According to the present invention, since the power cord holding device is rotated to a higher position than the conventional vacuum cleaners, a user does not need to bend forward at the waist or drop down at the knees. Accordingly, a user can easily wind the power cord around the power cord holding device to store the cord.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     These and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner employing a power cord holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the power cord holding device in a first position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a first power cord support pin assembly of the vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first power cord support pin assembly of  FIG. 2 , showing the operation of the assembly;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a first press button assembly of the vacuum clean of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , showing the power cord holding device in a first position according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , showing the power cord holding device in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a first pop-up protrusion assembly and a second pop-up protrusion assembly of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are elevational views in section of the second power cord support pin assembly of the vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 , showing the assembly in first and second positions, respectively;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner, showing the power cord holding device positioned at the second position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0029]     A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaner body  100 , a power cord holding device  200  and a fixing device  300 , and a power cord  400 . A dust-collecting device (not shown) and vacuum suction means (not shown) are disposed in the cleaner body  100 . The power cord holding device  200  is rotatably disposed on the cleaner body  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the power cord holding device  200  is located at a side surface of the cleaner body  100 .  
         [0030]     The power cord holding device  200  comprises a power cord winding plate  210 , a first power cord support pin assembly  220 , and a second power cord support pin assembly  230 . The power cord winding plate  210  is pivotably disposed on the cleaner body  100 . Preferably, the pivot axis of the power cord winding plate  210  is coaxially with the first power cord support pin assembly  220 .  
         [0031]     As shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 , the first power cord support pin assembly  220  comprises a first support pin seating portion  221 , a fixing boss  222 , a first power cord support pin  223 , a screw  224 , and a first elastic member  225 . The first support pin seating portion  221  is integrally formed with the power cord winding plate  210  and has two fixing recesses  221   a  formed in an outer circumference thereof. The fixing boss  222  protrudes from the center of the first support pin seating portion  221 .  
         [0032]     The first power cord support pin  223  is rotatably coupled to the first support pin seating portion  221 , and has a first penetrating hole  223   a  (see  FIG. 4 ) formed in a portion corresponding to the fixing boss  222  such that the fixing boss  222  passes through the first penetrating hole  223   a  when the first power cord assembly pin  223  is seated in the first support pin seating portion  221 . The power cord support pin  223  has fixing protrusions  223   b  (see  FIG. 6 ) corresponding to the fixing recesses  221   a  of the first support pin seating portion  221 . When the first power cord support pin  223  is in an upright position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fixing protrusions  223   b  fit into the fixing recesses  221   a.    
         [0033]     In order to turn the first power cord support pin  223  in a clockwise direction from the upright position as shown in  FIG. 3 , the power cord support pin  223  is pulled out to release the fixing protrusions  223   b  from the fixing recesses  221   a . That is, when the first power cord support pin  223  is pulled out, the fixing protrusions  223   b  (see  FIG. 6 ) separates from the fixing recesses  221   a  (see  FIG. 4 ), thereby allowing rotation of the first power cord support pin, as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0034]     The screw  224  is driven in the fixing boss  222  together with a washer  224   a . The washer  224  prevents the first elastic member  225  from escaping from the boss  222 . The first elastic member  225  has one end supported on a bottom  223   c  of the first power cord support pin  223  through which the fixing boss  222  penetrates, and the other end supported on the washer  224   a.    
         [0035]     The other side of the power cord winding plate  210  opposite to the first support pin seating portion  221  is provided with a pivoting axis  211  ( FIG. 7 ) on which the power cord winding plate  210  pivots. An locking ring  212  is disposed around the outer circumference of the pivoting axis  211 . A ring receiving recess is formed in an insert recess  110  of the cleaner body  100  where the pivoting axis  211  is received, for receiving the escape preventing ring  212  as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0036]     The fixing device  300  fixes the power cord holding device  200  at a first position (see  FIG. 1 ) after winding the power cord  400  and when the vacuum cleaner is in use, and fixes the power cord holding device  200  at a second position (see  FIG. 11 ) to wind the power cord  400  after use of the vacuum cleaner.  FIG. 6  shows the power cord winding plate  210  positioned at the first position, and  FIG. 7  shows the power cord winding plate  210  positioned at the second position.  
         [0037]     The fixing device  300  comprises a first locking unit  310  to fix the power cord holding device  200  at the second position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , and a second locking unit  340  (see  FIG. 1 ) to fix the power cord holding device  200  at the first position, as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0038]     As shown in FIGS.  5  to  8 , the first locking unit  310  comprises a first press button assembly  320  and a first pop-up protrusion assembly  330 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first press button assembly  320  is disposed on the power cord winding plate  210  and comprises a first press button seating portion  321 , a first press button  322 , a second elastic member  323 , first hooks  324  and first hook receiving recesses  325 . The first press button seating portion  321  protrudes from the power cord winding plate  210  and has a second penetrating hole  321   a  defined in the center thereof. The second penetrating hole  321   a  is formed in the power cord winding plate  210 .  
         [0039]     The first press button  322  is movably disposed in the first press button seating portion  321 . The first press button  322  has a first press boss  322   a  extending from the center thereof in a lengthwise direction. The second elastic member  323  is disposed around the first press boss  322   a  and has one end supported on a bottom  321   b  ( FIG. 7 ) of the first press button seating portion  321  and the other end connected to the first press button  322  to elastically support the first press button  322 .  
         [0040]     The first hooks  324  and the first hook receiving recesses  325  prevent the first press button  322  from separating from the first press button seating portion  321 . In this embodiment, four first hooks  324  protrude around the first press button  322  at a predetermined interval, and the first hook receiving recesses  325  are formed around the first press button seating portion  321  to correspond to the first hooks  324 .  
         [0041]     The first pop-up protrusion assembly  330  ( FIG. 6 ) comprises a protrusion seating recess  331 , a pop-up protrusion  332 , a third elastic member  333  and a support plate  334  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The protrusion seating recess  331  is depressed in the cleaner body  100  with a predetermined depth. The pop-up protrusion  332  is movably disposed in the protrusion seating recess  331 . The pop-up protrusion  332  has a first cylindrical part  332   a  having a circumference corresponding to the second penetrating hole  321   a  and a second cylindrical part  332   b  having a diameter larger than that of the first cylindrical part  332   a . The third elastic member  333  ( FIG. 7 ) has one end supported on a bottom  331   a  of the protrusion seating recess  331  and the other end inserted into the pop-up protrusion  332 .  
         [0042]     The support plate  334  prevents the pop-up protrusion  332  from escaping from the protrusion seating recess  331 , and has a size corresponding to the size of the protrusion seating recess  331  and has a protrusion penetrating hole  334   a  ( FIG. 8 ) defined in the center thereof to allow the first cylindrical part  332   a  to pass therethrough. The first cylindrical part  332   a  of the pop-up protrusion  332  protrudes to the outside of the support plate  334  through the protrusion penetrating hole  334   a , and the second cylindrical part  332   b  contacts the support plate  334  to restrict the ascending movement of the pop-up protrusion  332 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second locking unit  340  comprises the second power cord support pin assembly  230  and a second pop-up protrusion assembly  350 . The second power cord support pin assembly  230  comprises a second press button seating portion  231 , a second power cord support pin  232 , a second press button  233 , a fourth elastic member  234 , second hooks  235  and second hook receiving recesses  236 .  
         [0044]     The second press button seating portion  231  is formed on the power cord winding plate  210 , and comprises a third penetrating hole  231   a  extending though the power cord winding plate  210 , and a guide boss  231   b  to guide the ascending/descending movements of the second press button  233 .  
         [0045]     The second power cord support pin  232  is integrally formed with the second press button seating portion  231 . The second press button  233  is movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the second press button seating portion  231 , and has a second press boss  233   a  extending from the center of the second press button  233  in a lengthwise direction. The fourth elastic member  234  has one end fitting over the guide boss  231   b  to be supported on a bottom  231   c  of the second press button seating portion  231  and the other end connected to the second press button  233 .  
         [0046]     The second hooks  235  and the second hook receiving recesses  236  prevent the second press button  233  from separating from the second press button seating portion  231 . Preferably, four second hooks  235  are formed around the second press button  233 , and the second hook receiving recesses  236  are formed around the circumference of the second press button seating portion  231  corresponding to the second hooks  235 .  
         [0047]     The second pop-up protrusion assembly  350  is same as the first pop-up protrusion assembly  330 , except for different reference numerals. As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second pop-up protrusion assembly  350  comprises a protrusion seating recess  351 , a pop-up protrusion  352 , a third elastic member  353 , and a support plate  354 . The pop-up protrusion  352  has first and second cylindrical parts  352   a  and  352   b,  and the protrusion seating recess  351  has a bottom  351   a.    
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cleaner body  100  has regulation protrusions  120  to restrict the rotation angle of the power cord holding device  200 . The regulation protrusions  120  comprise a first regulation protrusion  121  to fix the power cord holding device  200  at the first position and a second regulation protrusion  122  to fix the power cord holding device  200  at the second position. Preferably, the first and the second regulation protrusions  121 ,  122  are integrally formed with the cleaner body  100 .  
         [0049]     Hereinafter, operation of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
         [0050]     The power cord holding device  200  is disposed on the cleaner body  100  and rotatable from the first position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to the second position, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The power cord holding device  200  is positioned at the first position to allow a user to unwind the power cord  400  when using the vacuum cleaner, whereas the power cord holding device  200  is positioned and fixed at the second position to allow a user to wind and store the power cord around the power cord holding device  200  after using the vacuum cleaner.  
         [0051]     The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is stowed with the power cord  400  wound around the cleaner body  100 . In order to use the vacuum cleaner, the power cord  400  is unwound and plugged into a wall outlet. To unwind the power cord  400  easily, the user turns the first power cord support pin assembly  220 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . More specifically, in order to turn the first power cord support pin assembly  220 , the first power cord support pin  223  is pulled out such that the fixing recesses  221   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) and the fixing protrusions  223   b  (see  FIG. 6 ) are released from the locking state. Then, the first power cord support pin  223  is turned in a clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction to allow the power cord to be easily unwound. After unwinding the power cord, the first power cord support pin  223  returns its original position to fit the fixing protrusions  223   b  into the fixing recesses  221   a.    
         [0052]     After using the vacuum cleaner, the user releases the second locking unit  340  allowing rotation of the power cord holding device  200 . That is, when the user presses the second press button  233 , the second press button  233  pushes the pop-up protrusion  352  so that the pop-up protrusion  352  releases from the third penetrating hole  231   a  formed in the power cord winding plate  210 . Then, the power cord winding plate  210  is released from the locking state.  
         [0053]     Then the power cord holding device  200  can be rotated from the first position ( FIG. 1 ) to the second position ( FIG. 11 ) by as much as 180°. That is, the power cord holding device  200  is rotated until it contacts the second regulation protrusion  122 . At the second position, the power cord holding device  200  is fixed by the first locking unit  310 . The first pop-up protrusion  332 , which was drawn back to the protrusion seating recess  331  by the power cord holding device  200  at the first position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , pops up through the second penetrating hole  321   a  formed in the first press button assembly  320  and fixes the power cord holding device  200  at the second position, as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0054]     When the power cord holding device  200  is rotated to the second position, the power cord holding device  200  extends toward the handle of the vacuum cleaner closer to the waist of the user, as seen in  FIG. 11 , so that the user does not need to bend forward or drop down to wind the power cord  400 .  
         [0055]     After winding the power cord  400 , the user presses the first press button  322  of the first press button assembly  220  so that the first pop-up protrusion  332  escapes from the second penetrating hole  321   a  and the power cord holding device  200  is rotated to the original first position.  
         [0056]     Since the power cord holding device  200  can be rotated to a higher position than conventional vacuum cleaners, the user does not need to bend forward or drop down allowing the user to more easily wind the power cord  400 .  
         [0057]     The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.