Abstract:
A hose lock apparatus for a vacuum clean that provides easy attachment and detachment of a hose to and from an air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body, is disclosed. The hose lock apparatus includes a hose clamp in a form of a hollow cylinder and engaged with an end of the hose therein. The hose clamp further includes a locking protrusion along an outer circumference. The hose lock apparatus includes an air inlet portion which is configured at the vacuum-cleaner body to receive an end of the hose clamp. The air inlet portion includes an insertion hole for guiding the locking protrusion towards an inserting direction, and a seating groove connected to the insertion hole to receive the locking protrusion when the hose clamp is rotated by a predetermined number of degrees. When the hose clamp is attached to the air inlet, a cleaning work with the hose is enabled.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to copending Korean Patent Application No. 2003-101478 filed on Dec. 31, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. 
   CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is related to the copending application entitled, “Hose Lock Apparatus for Vacuum Cleaner,” (Korean Application 2003-100431, filed Dec. 30, 2003), which disclosure is commonly owned by the same assignee as the present application and is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner that provides easy attachment and detachment of the hose to/from the vacuum cleaner body. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A typical vacuum cleaner creates a partial vacuum by rotating an impeller in its body and entraining air. The vacuum cleaner includes a flexible hose connected to its body to provide a passage for air and dust from select areas. Particularly, an upright-type vacuum cleaner, which is one variant type of vacuum cleaners, generally has a hose at an air inlet at the rear portion of the body which is connected to an auxiliary brush to conveniently clean crevices such as stairs or corners of the room. 
     FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an example of the upright-type vacuum cleaner with a hose for the auxiliary suction brush at the rear end of the body.  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a hose lock apparatus for vacuum cleaners according to the conventional art for locking the hose to the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body. 
   The hose lock apparatus  10  for conventional vacuum cleaners includes a hose clamp  12  locked at an end of a hose  3 , a clamp holder  14  secured at the vacuum cleaner body  1 , and a clamp connector  16  fixing the hose clamp  12  to prevent separation from the clamp holder  14 . The hose clamp  12  is configured in the form of an angular pipe of 90 degrees and includes the hose  3  locked at an end. The other end of the hose clamp  12  is inserted in the clamp holder  14 , configured to connect to the air inlet provided at the vacuum cleaner body, and has a locking means to lock the clamp connector  16  at the outer side. 
   The clamp holder  14  includes a hole  15  in the middle to receive the other end of the hose clamp  12 , and two locking holes around the hole  15 . The clamp holder  14  is attached to the vacuum cleaner body  1  by connecting two screws  18  through two locking holes. The clamp connector  16  locks the hose clamp  12  to prevent separation from the clamp holder  14 , and is locked at the hose clamp  12  by the lock apparatus at the other end of the hose clamp  12 . 
   The process for attaching the hose lock apparatus  10  with the above construction to the vacuum cleaner body  1  is described below. 
   First, the hose  3  is engaged to one end of the hose clamp  12 . The clamp holder  14  is inserted into the other end of the hose clamp  12 , and the clamp connecter  16  is fitted over the other end of the hose clamp  12 , thereby locking the clamp holder  14  in the hose clamp  12 . The clamp holder  14  is attached to the vacuum cleaner body  1  by inserting two screws  18  into the locking hole of the clamp holder  14 , and inserting the other end of the hose clamp  12  into the air inlet provided at the vacuum cleaner body  1 . Since the hose clamp  12  is locked in an end of the hose  3  and is not separable from the clamp holder  14 , the hose  3  can be securely locked with the air vacuum cleaner body  1 . Furthermore, a cleaning work using hose  3  can be done through the hose  3  connected in the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body  1  by the hose clamp  12 . 
   As described above, a conventional air vacuum cleaner cleans with the hose  3  by attaching the hose  3  to the vacuum cleaner body  1  via the hose lock apparatus  10 . 
   Since the hose lock apparatus  10  requires a user to lock the clamp holder  14  in the hose clamp  12 , and securing the clamp holder  14  with two screws  18  to the air vacuum cleaner body  1 , it is inconvenient for the user to assemble the hose  3  to the air vacuum cleaner body  1 . In addition, when the hose  3  is blocked by foreign substances, the two screws  18  must be unscrewed, the clamp holder  14  has to be disassembled, and the hose  3  is separated from the vacuum cleaner body  1  to remove the foreign substances from the hose  3 . Thus, it is inconvenient to remove the foreign substances. Particularly, production cost of the hose lock apparatus for vacuum cleaners according to the conventional art is relatively high because the hose lock apparatus requires three discrete parts  12 ,  14  and  16 . 
   Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, wherein an object of the present invention is to provide a hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner that a user can easily attach a hose to a vacuum cleaner body without requiring screws, and separate the hose from the vacuum cleaner body with convenience as the need arises such as in the removal of foreign substances from a blocked hose, and thus, improving the use and convenience of using a vacuum cleaner. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner that requires a lesser number of necessary parts and is inexpensive in production cost. 
   In order to achieve the above aspects, a hose lock apparatus is provided for vacuum cleaners that locks a hose for drawing in dust to the vacuum cleaner body. The hose lock apparatus includes a hose clamp that is in the form of a hollow cylinder and is engaged with an end of the hose therein. The hose lock apparatus includes a locking protrusion along the outer circumference and an air inlet portion that is configured at the vacuum cleaner body to receive the end of the hose clamp. The air inlet portion includes an insertion hole for guiding the locking protrusion to insertion and, a seating groove connected to the insertion hole to receive the locking protrusion when the hose clamp is rotated by a predetermined degrees. Thus, when the hose clamp is attached to the air inlet a cleaning work with the hose is enabled. 
   The locking rib may be configured at the outside of the hose clamp wherein a guiding groove corresponding to the locking rib is configured at the inside of the air inlet. The locking groove may be configured at the locking rib on the inside of the air inlet when the hose clamp is rotated by predetermined degrees. The edges of the locking protrusion of the hose clamp, and the seating groove of the contacting air inlet when the hose clamp inserted in the air inlet is rotated by predetermined degrees, may be chamfered. The edges of the locking protrusion of the hose clamp may be chamfered. The edge of an entrance part of the air inlet may be chamfered. 
   As described above, with the hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user can easily attach the hose to the vacuum cleaner body. Inserting the hose clamp into the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body and then rotating the hose clamp by predetermined degrees are all that are needed to lock the hose to the vacuum cleaner body. In addition, when it is necessary to separate a hose from the vacuum cleaner body to remove dust from the hose, the hose can be separated from the body simply by rotating the hose clamp by the predetermined degrees in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is convenient to detach the hose from the vacuum cleaner body, and, convenience of using a vacuum cleaner is increased. Since only a clamp is necessary to lock the hose to a vacuum cleaner body, product cost can be decreased. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or became apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to seal, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing of a perspective view showing a upright-type vacuum cleaner in which a hose is secured by a conventional hose lock apparatus; 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing of an exploded perspective view showing an example of the hose lock apparatus for the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing of an exploded perspective view showing a hose lock apparatus for the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a drawing of a perspective view showing a hose clamp of the hose lock apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a drawing of a fragmentary perspective view showing a chamfered portion of the hose clamp shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a drawing of a fragmentary perspective view showing a chamfered portion at the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a drawing of a rear view of the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner; 
       FIG. 7B  is a drawing of a rear view showing a hose clamp inserted in the air inlet; 
       FIG. 7C  is a drawing of a rear view showing a hose clamp rotated by predetermined degrees and then locked in the air inlet; 
       FIG. 8  is a drawing of a perspective view showing a hose clamp attached to the air inlet of the hose lock apparatus for a vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the hose lock apparatus for vacuum cleaners according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a hose clamp. The hose lock apparatus  100  includes a hose clamp  120  secured at an end of the hose  3 , and an air inlet  110  configured at the vacuum cleaner body  101 . The hose clamp  120  may be configured as a hollow cylinder, with one end securely receiving one end of the hose therein, and a protrusion  123  on the outer circumference of the other end. In one embodiment, the hose clamp  120  may be configured as a dual-structured cylinder as shown in  FIG. 4 . The inside of the large-diameter cylinder  121  is fitted with an end of the hose  3 . The small-diameter cylinder  122  has a diameter corresponding to that of the air inlet  110 , and the protrusion  123  corresponding to an insertion hole  111  of the air inlet  110  configured at the outside. The diameter of the cylinder  121  is preferably sized to cover the air inlet  110  when the hose clamp  120  is assembled to the air inlet  110 . The outside of the bigger cylinder  121  is preferably formed by knurling, or configured as knurls  126 , for ease in attachment and detachment of the hose clamp  120  with respect to the air inlet  110 . The hose  3  can be secured by several methods; by using adhesives at the inside of the cylinder  121  of the hose clamp  120 , or by configuring female screws at the inside of the cylinder  121  of the hose clamp  120  and male screws at the end of the hose  3  and connecting the screws. 
   The locking protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  locks the hose clamp  120  to prevent separation from the air inlet  110  and is formed corresponding to the insertion hole  111  of the air inlet  110 . An edge  123   a  ( FIG. 5 ) of the locking protrusion  123  at the side inserted in the insertion hole  111  of the air inlet  110  is preferably chamfered for ease in inserting the hose clamp  120 . The edge  123   b  ( FIG. 5 ) of the locking protrusion  123  at the side inserted in the seating groove  112  of the air inlet  110  is also preferably chamfered so that the hose clamp  120  that is inserted in the air inlet  110  can be easily rotated by a number of predetermined degrees. Only one of the locking protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  is configured, however, at least two of the locking protrusions are preferred. According to the present embodiment, two locking protrusions  123  are configured at intervals of 180 degrees. 
   The hose clamp  120  may further include a locking rib  124  for securing the hose clamp  120  to prevent separation from the air inlet  110  by a force pressed on the hose clamp  120  when a user cleans with the hose  3 . The locking rib  124  is configured at the outside of the small-diameter cylinder  122  with the locking protrusion  123  as shown  FIG. 4 , and is formed such that the user can rotate, by a predetermined number of degrees, the hose clamp  120  in the air inlet  110 . Accordingly, the locking rib  124  includes a substantially circular arc section. Only one of the locking rib  124  of the hose clamp  120  is configured, although at least two are preferred. When two locking protrusions  123  are provided to the hose clamp  120  as in the present embodiment, the two locking ribs  124  are preferably configured between the two locking protrusions  123 . 
   The air inlet  110  is configured at the vacuum cleaner body  101  and connects to an air suction tube (not shown) which is connected to an impeller (not shown) provided at the inside of the vacuum cleaner body  101 . The air inlet  110  includes side walls  118  of predetermined length at the inside of the body  101  as shown  FIG. 3 . An insertion hole  111  that guides a locking protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120 , and a seating groove  112  that locks the locking protrusion  123  to prevent separation from the air inlet  110 , are formed from the side walls  118  (refer to FIG.  6  and  7 A). Axially-spaced inserting holes  111  are configured corresponding to the shapes and numbers of the locking protrusions  123  of the hose clamp  120 . The seating groove  112  is connected to the lower part of the inserting hole  111 , is formed circumferentially along the side walls  118  of the air inlet  120 , and is formed corresponding to the locking protrusion  123  to prevent separation of the hose clamp  120  from the inserting direction. Accordingly, the locking protrusion  123  is received in the seating groove  112  by fitting the locking protrusion  123  to the insertion hole  111 , inserting the hose clamp  120  into the insertion hole  111  and rotating the clamp by a predetermined number of degrees toward the seating groove  112 . Thus, the hose clamp  120  does not separate from the air inlet  110 . The seating groove  112  of the air inlet  110  is sized preferably so that the locking protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  is received in the seating groove  112  when the hose clamp  120  is rotated approximately 30 degrees (refer to  FIG. 7C ). 
   When locking ribs  124 , are configured at the hose clamp  120 , the guiding groove  113  corresponding to the locking rib  124  is provided at the side walls  118  of the air inlet  110  for easy insertion of the hose clamp  120  into the air inlet  110 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . The guiding groove  113  is configured at the side wall  118  of the air inlet  110  at the side in contact with the locking rib  124  when the locking protrusion  123  is inserted in the inserting hole  111 . When the hose clamp  120  is rotated by a predetermined number of degrees and is received in the seating groove  112 , the locking groove  114  is provided preferably at the side wall  118  of the air inlet  110  to be received by the locking rib  124  and to prevent the hose clamp  120  from rotating. When the hose clamp  120  is rotated approximately 30 degrees and the locking protrusion  123  is received in the seating groove  112 , the locking groove  114  is configured 30 degrees apart from the guiding groove  113 . The quantities of the guiding groove  113  and the locking groove  114  are determined by the quantity of the locking rib  124  of the hose clamp  120 . Accordingly, when there are two locking ribs  124 , the guiding groove  113  and the locking groove  114  of the air inlet  110  are also configured as two, respectively. 
   When the hose clamp  120  is inserted in the entrance part  110 A ( FIG. 6 ) of the air inlet  110 , the entrance part is chamfered preferably to prevent interference, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Specifically, when the hose clamp  120  is rotated in the air inlet  110 , the entrance edge  10 B of the seating groove  112  is also chamfered so the seating groove  112  does not interfere with the locking groove  123 . 
   Hereinafter, operation of the hose lock apparatus of vacuum cleaners according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   The hose clamp  120  is locked at an end of the hose  3 . When a female screw is formed at the inside of the cylinder  121  with a larger diameter than the hose clamp  120 , and a male screw is formed at the end of the hose  3 , the hose clamp  120  is assembled to the end of the hose  3  by a screw coupling. The locking protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  is aligned with the insertion hole  111  of the air inlet  110 , and the small-diameter cylinder  122  of the hose clamp  120  is urged into the air inlet  110 . When the cylinder  121  with a diameter larger than the hose clamp  120  contacts the vacuum cleaner body  101  with the air inlet  110 , the protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  is received in the seating groove  112  by rotating the hose clamp  120  toward a predetermined direction, clock-wise, about 30 degrees. As a result, the hose  3  is locked to the vacuum cleaner body  101  as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the locking rib  124  is configured at the hose clamp  120  and the guiding groove  113  is provided at the air inlet  110 , the locking protrusion  123  and locking rib  124  of the hose clamp  120  are aligned with the insertion hole  111 . The guiding groove  113  and the hose clamp  120  are then inserted in the air inlet  110  (refer to FIG.  7 B). When the cylinder  121  with a diameter larger than the hose clamp  120  contacts the vacuum cleaner body  101  having the air inlet  110 , the protrusion  123  of the hose clamp  120  is received in the seating groove  112  by rotating the hose clamp  120  approximately 30 degrees (refer to  FIG. 7C ). Since the locking groove  114  is configured at the side wall  118  of the air inlet  110 , the locking rib  124  of the hose clamp  120  is received in the locking groove  114 . Therefore, the hose clamp  120  does not separate from the air inlet  110  by a force used by the user when the user grabs the hose for cleaning tasks. 
   When it is desired to separate the hose  3  from the air inlet  110  of the vacuum cleaner body  101 , the hose  3  can be easily separated by rotating the hose clamp  120  in an opposite direction, counterclockwise, approximately 30 degrees, and then pulling the hose clamp  120  in an axial direction. 
   Additional advantages, objects, and features of the embodiments of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part, will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the embodiments of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.