Abstract:
A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is provided, the nozzle having a structure in which suction performance may be improved. The nozzle may include a nozzle body, and an agitator rotatably installed in the nozzle body. Air may follow a first flow path through the nozzle, and a second flow path which diverges from the second flow path at the agitator, so as to uniformly distribute air flow through the nozzle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Embodiments relate to a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner. 
         [0002]    Generally, vacuum cleaners are devices that suck air containing dusts using a vacuum pressure generated by a suction motor installed inside a main body to filter the dusts in the main body. 
         [0003]    In such a vacuum cleaner, air sucked from a suction nozzle should smoothly flow into a cleaner main body. In addition, dusts should be easily separated from air containing the dusts. These are good criteria of vacuum cleaner performance. 
         [0004]    Generally, a suction part for sucking foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned is disposed in a bottom surface of the suction nozzle. The foreign substances sucked through the suction part may be introduced into the main body via a predetermined flow path. 
         [0005]    However, according to a related art vacuum cleaner, there is a limitation that a suction force of the suction motor is not uniformly applied to the suction part. Furthermore, there is a limitation that the suction force is weakly applied to both sides of the suction nozzle. In this case, the suction performance of the suction nozzle may be deteriorated. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments provide a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner in which a suction force of a suction motor is uniformly applied to an entire surface of the suction nozzle. 
         [0007]    Embodiments also provide a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner in which a structure of a foreign substance suction flow path disposed in the suction nozzle is improved to improve suction performance of the nozzle. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes: a nozzle body in which a first flow is generated; an agitator rotatably coupled to the nozzle body; a cover member covering at least side of the agitator, the cover member including a slit part by which at leas portion of the first flow is bypassed; and a flow path formation part through which a second flow passing through the slit part flows, the flow path formation part being disposed in the nozzle body. 
         [0009]    According to the nozzle for the vacuum cleaner, the suction force of the suction motor may be uniformly applied to both ends of the suction nozzle to easily absorb foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned. 
         [0010]    Also, since a separate flow path is disposed in a cover of the suction nozzle to suck the foreign substance, a phenomenon in which the foreign substances are not sucked into the main body due to a rotation flow generated in an agitator of the suction nozzle may be minimized. 
         [0011]    Thus, since the foreign substances sucked through the suction nozzle are easily introduced into the main body of the cleaner, the suction performance of the cleaner may be improved. Therefore, user&#39;s product reliability may be improved. 
         [0012]    The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a suction nozzle according to an embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a suction nozzle according to an embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cover member according to an embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an air flow in a suction nozzle according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, that alternate embodiments included in other retrogressive inventions or falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vacuum cleaner  1  according to an embodiment includes a main body  10  defining an outer appearance thereof and a suction nozzle  100  disposed at a side of the main body  10  to suck air containing foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned. 
         [0023]    In detail, the main body  10  includes a driving part (not shown) for providing a suction force. The driving part may include a suction motor. The suction force generated in the suction motor may be applied to the suction nozzle  100 . 
         [0024]    A handle  40  for moving the main body  10  and the suction nozzle  100  is disposed on an upper portion of the main body  10 . A grasp part for allowing a user to easily grasp the main body  10  may be disposed on the handle  40 . 
         [0025]    Also, the handle  40  is connected to the main body  10 . The main body  10  includes a suction tube  50  through air containing foreign substances flows when a portion expect a floor is cleaned and a connection hose  60  through which the air sucked through the suction tube  50  flows into the main body  10 . 
         [0026]    Also, the main body  10  includes a suction flow path tube  80  connected to the suction nozzle  100  to allow the air sucked through the suction nozzle  100  to flow into the main body  10 . The suction flow path tube  80  may be formed of a flexible material. 
         [0027]    The suction nozzle  100  sucks the air containing the foreign substances of the floor while adjacently moving along the floor. The suction nozzle  100  includes a nozzle body (see reference numeral  110  of  FIG. 2 ) defining an outer appearance thereof and an upper cover  160  covering an upper side of the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0028]    The main body  10  is rotatably coupled to the suction nozzle  100 . The main body  10  is rotated with respect to the suction nozzle  100  within a range of a predetermined angle. A rotation lever  22  for controlling the rotation of the main body is disposed at a side of an upper portion of the suction nozzle  100 . 
         [0029]    Moving wheels  21  for easily moving the suction nozzle  100  are disposed on both sides of the suction nozzle  100 . The user may push or pull the handle  40  to allow the moving wheels  21  to be rotated. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a suction nozzle according to an embodiment. A configuration of the suction nozzle from which the upper cover  160  is separated is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the suction nozzle  100  according to an embodiment includes a nozzle body  110  defining an outer appearance thereof and a connection tube  180  disposed in the nozzle body  110  to allow the air sucked through the suction nozzle to flow into the main body  10 . The connection tube  180  connects the nozzle body  110  to the main body  10 . 
         [0032]    A united, or common, pipe  119  in which a plurality of suction flow paths (that will be described later) is united is disposed on the nozzle body  110 . The air sucked into the nozzle body  110  may be introduced into the main body  10  via the united pipe  119  and the connection tube  180 . 
         [0033]    A main suction part  111  through which the air containing the foreign substances is sucked is defined in a bottom surface of the nozzle body  110 . At least portion of the bottom surface of the nozzle body  110  is opened to define the main suction part  111 . 
         [0034]    An agitator  120  for separating the foreign substances from the surface to be cleaned is disposed on the nozzle body  110 . The agitator  120  is rotatably coupled to an upper side of the main suction part  111 . A spiral blade  121  for scraping the surface to be cleaned while rotating may be disposed on an outer circumference of the agitator  120 . 
         [0035]    Agitator coupling parts  112  to which the agitator  120  is coupled is disposed on both sides of the nozzle body  110 . Coupling parts (see reference numeral  122  of  FIG. 4 ) disposed on both sides of the agitator  120  are coupled to the agitator coupling parts  112 . 
         [0036]    A driving part  170  providing a driving force for rotating the agitator  120  is disposed in the nozzle body  110 . The driving part  170  may include a driving motor. 
         [0037]    A power transmission part  172  for transmitting the power of the driving part  170  to the agitator  120  is disposed at a side of the driving part  170 . The power transmission part  172  may include a belt, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a power transmission member such as a chain or a gear may serve as the power transmission part  172 . 
         [0038]    The power transmission part  172  may be coupled to a side of the agitator  120 . For this, a driving connection part  124  to which the power transmission part  172  is connected is disposed on the outer circumference of the side of the agitator  120 . 
         [0039]    A bottom plate  140  allowing a bottom surface of the nozzle body  110  to be spaced a predetermined distance from the surface to be cleaned is coupled to a lower portion of the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0040]    At least one bottom guide  142  allowing the main suction part  111  to be spaced from the surface to be cleaned is disposed on the bottom plate  140 . The bottom guide  142  may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of bottom guides  142  may pass through the main suction part  111  and be spaced from each other. 
         [0041]    In a state where the suction force generated by the suction motor acts, it may prevent the main suction part  111  from adhering to the surface to be cleaned due to the bottom guide  142 . 
         [0042]    Auxiliary wheels  26  for smoothly moving the suction nozzle  100  may be disposed on the bottom surface of the nozzle body  110 . That is, the auxiliary wheels  26  may serve as a movement unit together with the moving wheels  21 . 
         [0043]    An impact absorption member  190  for buffering an external impact transmitted to the suction nozzle  100  is disposed on a circumference of a lower portion of the nozzle body  110 . The impact absorption member  190  is configured to absorb the impact even through the suction nozzle  100  is bumped against a well or an edge when the suction nozzle  100  performs the cleaning process. 
         [0044]    A flow path formation part  115  through which at least portion of the air sucked from the main suction part  111  flows is disposed in the nozzle body  110 . The flow path formation part, or flowguide,  115  extends from both sides of the nozzle body  110  up to the united pipe  119 . 
         [0045]    The flow path formation part  115  protrudes upward from the nozzle body  110 , and a space in which the air flows may be defined therein. 
         [0046]    A cover member  130  covering at least portion of the nozzle body  110  is disposed at a side of the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0047]    The cover member  130  may be disposed on an upper side of a space in which the agitator  120  is disposed. The cover member  130  may be formed of a transparent material to allow the rotation operation of the agitator  120  to be viewed from the outside. The cover member  130  may be called an “agitator cover” in that the cover member  130  covers an upper side of the agitator  120 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a suction nozzle according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cover member according to an embodiment. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the suction nozzle  100  according to an embodiment includes the nozzle body  110  defining a lower outer appearance thereof, the agitator  120  rotatably coupled to the nozzle body  110 , and the cover member  130  covering the upper side of the agitator  120  in a state where the agitator is coupled to the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0050]    In detail, a mounting space  110   a  in which the agitator  120  is disposed is defined in the nozzle body  110 . The mounting space  110   a  extends upward from the main suction part  111  with a size capable of receiving the agitator  120 . 
         [0051]    An opening  110   b  opened in front and upper sides of the mounting space  110   a  is defined in the nozzle body  110 . The cover member  130  is disposed on the opening  110   b.    
         [0052]    A first coupling rib  117  for coupling the cover member  130  is disposed on the nozzle body  110 . A second coupling rib  1371   s  disposed at a position corresponding to the first coupling rib  117  on the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0053]    The first coupling rib  117  and the second coupling rib  137  may be coupled to each other by a separate coupling member (not shown). Although a separate reference number, a plurality of coupling ribs may be disposed on the nozzle body  110  and the cover member  130 . 
         [0054]    A suction hole  118  through which the air sucked from the main suction part  111  is sucked is defined in the nozzle body  110 . The suction hole  118  communicates with the united pipe  119 , and the air sucked through the main suction part  111  may flow into the united pipe  119  through the suction hole  118 . 
         [0055]    The flow path formation part  115  in which at least portion of the air sucked from the main suction part  111  flows is disposed in the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0056]    The flow path formation part  115  includes lateral parts  115   a  protruding upward from both sides of the nozzle body  110  and an extension part  115   b  extending from the each lateral part  115   a  in a center direction of the nozzle body  110 . A side of the extension part  115   b  communicates with the united pipe  119 . 
         [0057]    The cover member  130  includes a cover body  131  formed of a transparent material and slit parts  135  by which at least portion of the air sucked from the main suction part  111  is bypassed. At least side of the cover body  131  is opened to define the slit parts  135 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the respective slit parts  135  include a slit end  135   a  allow the sucked air to be bypassed toward an upper side of the cover body  131  and an extension slit  135   b  extending from the slit end  135   a  in a center direction of the cover member  130 . 
         [0059]    Here, the slit part  135  may be disposed on both sides of the cover body  131 . A shield part  135   c  may be disposed on one slit part  135  of the two slit parts  135  to space the slit end  135   a  from the extension slit  135   b . The power transmission part  172  may be disposed below the shield part  135   c.    
         [0060]    A guide rib  138  coupled to the suction hole  118  is disposed at a rear side of the cover member  130 . The guide rib  138  may be inserted into the suction hole  118  and allow the nozzle body  110  and the cover member  130  to be closely attached to each other. 
         [0061]    In this case, a flow (first flow) passing through the suction hole  118  from the main suction part  111  and a flow (second flow) passing through the flow path formation part  115  are separated from each other, and thus, the first and second flows may be stabilized. 
         [0062]    A position and configuration extending from the slit end  135   a  to the extension slit  135   b  may correspond to those of the flow path formation part  115  in a state where the cover member  130  is coupled to the nozzle body  110 . 
         [0063]    In detail, the slit end  135   a  is disposed below the lateral parts  115   a  of the flow path formation part  115 , and the extension slit  135   b  is disposed below the extension part  115   b.    
         [0064]    Thus, the sucked air bypassed through the slit end  135   a  may flow into the united pipe  119  via the extension part  115   b  within the lateral part  115   a . Also, the sucked air bypassed through the extension slit  135   b  may flow into the united pipe  119  from the inside of the extension part  115   b.    
         [0065]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an air flow in a suction nozzle according to an embodiment. 
         [0066]    An air flow according to am embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0067]    The air sucked through the main suction part  111  of the suction nozzle  100  may be sucked into the main body  10  of the cleaner while forming a plurality of flows. 
         [0068]    The plurality of flows includes a first flow (an “a” direction of  FIG. 6 ) in which the air sucked through the main suction part  111  flows into the united pipe  119  via the suction hole  118  and a second flow (a “c” direction of  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) in which at least portion of the first flow is bypassed to pass through the flow path formation part  115  and flow into the united pipe  119 . 
         [0069]    Here, the first flow may be called a “main flow”, and the second flow may be called a “sub flow”. The first flow and the second flow are united at the united pipe  119  to form a “united flow”. The united flow may be sucked into the main body of the cleaner via the connection tube  180 . 
         [0070]    In detail, a main flow path  141  through which the first flow passes is disposed at a rear side of the nozzle body  110 . That is, a large amount of air sucked through the main suction part  111  may flow into the united pipe  119  via the main flow path  141 . 
         [0071]    A sub flow path  142  through which the second flow passes is disposed at an upper side of the nozzle body  110 . Here, the sub flow path  142  may be disposed inside the flow path formation part  115 . A portion of the air sucked through the main suction part  111  may flow into the united pipe  119  via the sub flow path  142 . 
         [0072]    The second flow may be classified into a flow flowing from the slit end  135   a  to the lateral part  115   a  and a flow flowing from the extension slit  135   b  to the extension part  115   b.    
         [0073]    A small amount of the suction force of the suction motor may be applied to both ends of the nozzle body  110  disposed at a relatively long distance from the united pipe  119 . 
         [0074]    However, since the suction force may be applied through the sub flow path extending from the slit end  135   a  to the flow path formation part  115 , the suction force may be sufficiently applied to both ends of the nozzle body  110 . As a result, the suction performance of the nozzle may be improved. 
         [0075]    In addition, a rotation flow equal to a flow “b” of  FIG. 6  may be generated within the nozzle body  110  when the agitator  120  is rotated. According to a related art cleaner, there is a limitation that sucked air does not flow into a main body by the rotation flow, but continuously flow. 
         [0076]    However, according to the embodiment, the separate flow (second flow) flowing into the sub flow path  142  through the slit ends  135   a  and the extension slit  135   b  may be generated to flow into the united pipe  119 . Therefore, the suction performance of the nozzle may be improved. 
         [0077]    Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.