Patent Publication Number: US-7594296-B2

Title: Convertible vacuum cleaner

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a convertible vacuum cleaner that can be operated in two modes, an upright type mode and a canister type mode. The present invention further relates to a convertible vacuum cleaner that can be stably and conveniently used. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A vacuum cleaner is an electrically powered cleaning device that lifts dust and dirt by suction generated by a motor or a fan. A variety of vacuum cleaners such as a canister type, an upright type, a stick type, and a handy type are used according to places that are to be cleaned. Among the vacuum cleansers, the canister and upright type vacuum cleaners have been most widely used. 
     The canister type vacuum cleaner can be effectively used in the case where the user intends to clean a place such as stairs or a closet with an obstacle. That is, the canister type vacuum cleaner has a nozzle connected to a cleaner main body by a flexible hose and/or an extending tube, thereby lifting dust and dirt by suction. However, the canister type vacuum cleaner has a disadvantage in that the user draws the nozzle as well as the cleaner main body connected to the nozzle by the flexible hose. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to manipulate the vacuum cleaner. Particularly, when the user intends to clean a relatively wide area, the quick movement is deteriorated. 
     In the upright type vacuum cleaner, since a nozzle having a rotational brush is integrally coupled to a cleaner main body having a motor driving chamber and a dust collecting chamber, it can be effectively used when the user intends to clean a wide area such as a carpet or a floor. On the contrary, the upright type vacuum cleaner is not effective in cleaning the cleaning area with an obstacle such as steps and furniture. 
     Considering the above facts, a convertible vacuum cleaner having the advantages of both the canister and upright type vacuum cleaners while solving the disadvantages has been developed. The convertible vacuum cleaner is converted into one of canister and upright type modes according to the cleaning area. Such a convertible vacuum cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,321. 
     The convertible vacuum cleaner has, however, a couple of problems as follows: 
     1. Since the structure is complicated, it is difficult for the user to manipulate. 
     2. Since a lower end of the cleaner main body is designed to be fixed on a support base, the cleaner main body may be damaged by being dropped from the support base when outer impact is transmitted to the cleaner main body. 
     3. Many parts are required to make the cleaner, thereby increasing the manufacturing costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a convertible vacuum cleaner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible vacuum cleaner having a cleaner main body that can be securely detachably supported on a support base. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible vacuum cleaner having a main body supporting assembly that is designed in a simple structure to securely support the cleaner main body on a support base so that the cleaner main body is not moved even by outer impact. 
     A still another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible vacuum cleaner in which a power connection between a cleaner main body and a support base can be reliably realized. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features 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 objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a convertible vacuum cleaner comprising: a support base extending in a vertical direction; a main body selectively installed on the support base; a power generating unit disposed in the main body to generate outer air sucking force; a suction nozzle unit sucking outer air using the sucking force transmitted from the main body; a dust collection unit disposed in the main body to filter and collect dust and dirt contained in the outer air sucked by the sucking force; a flexible connection hose transmitting the sucking force to the suction nozzle body; a hose coupling portion to which a first end of the connection hose is coupled, the hose coupling portion being formed on the main body; and a hook unit for supporting the main body on the support base. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a convertible vacuum cleaner comprising: a support base extending in a vertical direction; a main body selectively installed on the support base; a power generating unit disposed in the main body to generate outer air sucking force; a suction nozzle unit sucking outer air using the sucking force transmitted from the main body; a dust collection unit disposed in the main body to filter and collect dust and dirt contained in the outer air sucked by the sucking force; a flexible connection hose transmitting the sucking force to the suction nozzle body; a hose coupling portion to which a first end of the connection hose is coupled, the hose coupling portion being formed on the main body; and a first hook member formed on a rear surface of the main body; and a second hook member formed on the support base, the second hook member being associated with the first hook member so as to support the main body on the support base. 
     According to a still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a convertible vacuum cleaner comprising: a support base provided at a top with a handle; a main body selectively installed on the support base; a power generating unit disposed in the main body to generate outer air sucking force; a suction nozzle unit sucking outer air using the sucking force transmitted from the main body; a dust collection unit disposed in the main body to filter and collect dust and dirt contained in the outer air sucked by the sucking force; a flexible connection hose transmitting the sucking force to the suction nozzle body; a hose coupling portion to which a first end of the connection hose is coupled, the hose coupling portion being formed on the main body; a direction roller formed on a rear surface of the main body; and a receiving groove formed on the support base to receive the directional roller of the main body when the main body is installed on the support base. 
     According to a still yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a convertible vacuum cleaner comprising: a support base used when the vacuum cleaner is used as an upright type; a main body selectively installed on a front surface of the support base; a power generating unit disposed in the main body to generate outer air sucking force; a suction nozzle unit sucking outer air using the sucking force transmitted from the main body; a dust collection unit disposed in the main body to filter and collect dust and dirt contained in the outer air sucked by the sucking force; a flexible connection hose transmitting the sucking force to the suction nozzle body; a hose coupling portion to which a first end of the connection hose is coupled, the hose coupling portion being formed on the main body; a first handle formed on a top of the main body used when releasing the main body from the support base; and a second handle formed on a front surface of the main body, the second handle being used when the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type. 
     According to the present invention, since the main body is designed to be installed or separated on or from the support base by a simple structure, the installation and separation of the main body on and from the support base can be easily realized and the installing location of the main body on the support base can be securely supported. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a support base of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a cleaner main body of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion A of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a coupling portion of a cleaner main body and a support base according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a support base of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a cleaner main body of a convertible vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the inventive convertible vacuum cleaner includes a main body  100  housing a plurality of components such as a motor and a fan and collecting dust and dirt, a support base  200  supporting the cleaner main body  100 , and a suction nozzle unit  300  guiding air containing the dust and dirt to the main body  100 . 
     The support base  200  is designed to fix a mounting portion of the main body  100  when the main body  100  is disposed thereon. That is, the main body  100  is selectively hooked and supported on a front surface of the support base  200 . An upper portion of the support base  200  is further projected upward and rounded rearward to define a handle  202 . 
     In a state where the main body  100  is installed on the support base  200 , the user grasps the handle  202  and moves the vacuum cleaner. At this point, the vacuum cleaner is operated as an upright type vacuum cleaner. 
     In a state where the main body  100  is not installed on the support base  200 , only the main body  100  is operated so that the vacuum cleaner is operated as a canister type vacuum cleaner. That is, all of the components required to operate the vacuum cleaner are disposed in the main body  100  so that it is possible that only the main body  100  can be operated. 
     The main body  100  and the support  200  will be described hereinafter in more detail. 
     The main body  100  is designed to be detachable from the support base  200 . In a state where the main body  100  is detached from the support base  200 , the main body  100  is independently used so as to function as the canister type vacuum cleaner. When the main body  100  is fixed on the support base  200 , the main body  100  is used together with the support base  200  so as to function as the upright type vacuum cleaner. That is, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention can be used as a convertible vacuum cleaner. 
     Formed under the main body  100  is a power generating unit  110  generating sucking force. Formed above the power generation unit  110  is a dust collection unit  120  collecting dust and dirt contained in the air. The power generation unit  110  includes a motor (not shown) that generates rotational power when electric power is applied. The sucking force for lifting dust and dirt is generated by the fan rotating by rotational power generated by the motor. The dust collection unit  120  includes a filter for filtering the dust and dirt contained in the air and a dust box collecting the dust and dirt filtered by the filter. A cyclone-type collection filter or a porous filter may be used as the filter. 
     In addition, a pair of main body wheels  130  is installed on both side ends of the main body  100 . The main body wheels  130  allow the main body  100  to move frontward and rearward. When the main body  100  is detached from the support base  200  to independently move, the main body wheels  130  contact the floor and rotate for the effective movement of the main body  100 . 
     A rotational body  140  is rotatably installed on a bottom center of the main body  100 . The rotational body  140  is formed in a circular shape. 
     A roller  142  is installed on the rotational body  140 . As the rotation body  142  is designed to rotate, the roller  142  rotates in a multi-direction. Therefore, when the main body  100  is detached from the support base  200  to be used as the canister type vacuum cleaner, the rotational body  140  and the roller  142  allow the main body  100  to be movable in the multi-direction. 
     When the main body  100  is detached from the support base  200  to be used as the canister type vacuum cleaner, the rear surface of the main body  100  closely faces the floor. At this point, the roller  142  rolls in a state where it contacts the floor. Therefore, the main body  100  can effectively change its advancing direction. When the main body  100  moves, the weight of the main body  100  is supported by the main body wheels  130  allowing the main body  100  to effectively move. 
     The roller  142  is designed to be partly projected from the rear surface of the main body  100 . When the main body is installed on the support base  200 , the projected roller  142  is received in a receiving groove  230  formed on the front surface of the support base  200 . Therefore, the roller  142  can be located on an accurate location without being interfered by the support base  200  when the main body  100  is installed on the support base  200 . 
     A top handle  150  is formed on a top of the main body  10 . The top handle  150  is projected from the top of the main body so that the user can easily grasp the same. Accordingly, the user can manipulate the main body  100  and detach the main body  100  from the support base  100  after grasping the top handle  150 . 
     Describing in more detail, when it is intended to detach the main body  100  from the support base  200 , the user grasps the top handle  150  and lifts the main body  100  upward to detach the main body  100  from the support base  200 . The top handle  150  also functions to conveniently move the main body  100  when it is intended to clean the floor using only the main body  100 . 
     A front handle  152  is further formed on a front surface of the main body  100 . The front handle  152  is projected above from the front surface of the main body  100  so that the user can easily grasp the same. Therefore, when the user intends to move the main body  100  after removing the main body  100  from the support base  200 , the user grasps the front handle  152  to move the main body  100 . 
     The main body  100  is provided at the top with a hose coupling portion  154  to which one end of a connection hose  250  is coupled. Outer air is introduced into the main body  100  through the hose coupling portion  154 . Therefore, the hose coupling portion  154  is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the one end of the connection hose  250 . 
     A coupling groove  160  is formed on the rear surface of the main body  100 . The coupling groove  160  is defined by depressing a portion of the rear surface of the main body  100  to guide the install of the main body  100  on the support base  200  and fixing the location of the support base  200 . 
     That is, the coupling groove  160  is depressed inward from the rear surface of the main body  100  and is further depressed upward as shown in  FIG. 5 . That is, the coupling groove  160  is formed in a ┘-shape. As a result, a front end of the coupling groove  160  functions as a hook step  101  (see  FIG. 5 ). As a result, a hook projection  210  is hooked in the coupling groove  160 . 
     A first terminal  162  is located in the coupling groove  160 . The first terminal  162  functions to connect outer electric power applied to the main body  100  to the support base  200 . The electric power applied to the main body  100  is transmitted to the suction nozzle unit  300  to rotate, for example, an agitator of the suction nozzle. 
     A projection receiving chamber  163  is formed inwardly from the hook groove  160  and the first terminal  162  is received in the projection receiving chamber  163 . An internal structure of the hook groove  160  is illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     A cord fixing member  170  is formed on a side surface of the main body  100 , being projected from the side surface of the main body  100 . That is, the cord fixing member  170  is formed of a pair of projections that are symmetrically disposed. A power cord transmitting outer power to the main body  100  is wound around the cord fixing member  170  when the cleaner is not used. 
     The front surface of the support base  200  is flat to correspond to the rear surface of the main body  100 . The hook projection  210  to be inserted into the hook groove  160  is formed on the front surface of the support base  200 . By inserting the hook projection  210  into the hook groove  160 , the main body  100  is securely fixed on the support base  200 . 
     That is, the hook projection  210  includes a horizontal section  212  projected frontward from the front surface of the support base  200  and a vertical section  214  extending upward from an extreme end of the horizontal section  212 . 
     As described above, the hook projection  210  is formed in the □-shape and selectively inserted in the hook groove  160  (see  FIG. 5 ). When the hook projection  210  is received in the hook groove  160 , the vertical section  214  is hooked on the hook step  101  so that the main body  100  cannot be inadvertently separated from the support base  200 . 
     A second terminal  220  is formed on the hook projection  210 . The second terminal  220  contacts the first terminal  162  so as to transmit power from the main body  100  to the suction nozzle unit  300 . Therefore, it is preferable that the first and second terminals  162  and  220  are formed of high conductive material. 
     Describing in more detail., the second terminal  220  is formed in front of the vertical section  214  of the hook projection  210 . The second terminal  220  is formed in a circular shape corresponding to an outer surface of the first terminal  162  to selectively contact a proximal end of the first terminal  162 . Connected to the second terminal  220  is a power transmission wire  222 . The power transmission wire  222  is designed to transmit the power transmitted from the main body  100  to the second terminal  220  to the agitator (not shown) of the suction nozzle unit  300 . In the case where there are power consumption parts in the support base  200  and the suction nozzle unit  300 , the agitator may be operated by the power transmitted from the terminals  162  and  220 . 
     The connection hose  250  is kept in a state where it is suspended on the support base  200 . That is, the connection hose  250  is formed of a flexible material and hooked on a rear-upper end of the support base  200 . A first end of the connection hose  250  is fitted on the hose coupling portion  154  of the main body  100 . In the drawing, although the connection hose  250  is separated from the coupling portion  154 , the connection hose  250  will be coupled to the hose coupling portion  154  in an actual use. For example, when the cleaner is used as the canister type vacuum cleaner, the first end of the connection hose  250  is coupled to the main body  100  and a second end is coupled to a mini nozzle  260 . When the cleaner is used as the upright type vacuum cleaner, the first end of the connection hose  250  is connected to the main body  100  and the second end is connected to the suction nozzle unit  300 . When the cleaner is not used, the connection hose  250  is suspended on the support base  200 . Furthermore, even when the cleaner is used as the upright type vacuum cleaner, the first end of the connection hose  250  is connected to the main body  100  and the second end may be coupled to the mini nozzle  260 , thereby varying the cleaning method. 
     The mini nozzle  260  is provided on a front-upper portion of the support base  200 . The mini nozzle  260  is selectively installed on the second end of the connection hose  250  to be used to lift dust located on a corner or a narrow space. 
     The suction nozzle unit  300  is pivotally installed on a lower end of the support base  200  to guide the air suction containing the dust and dirt. The suction nozzle unit  300  moves in a state where it closely faces the floor to lift the dust and dirt by suction. Accordingly, a pair nozzle wheels  310  are provided on both rear-side ends of the suction nozzle unit  300  to allow the user to effectively move the cleaner. The suction nozzle unit  300  is provided at a front end with a suction hole for introducing the air containing the dust and dirt. The suction nozzle unit  300  is further provided at an inner bottom with the agitator for separating the dust and dirt from the floor. 
     The operation of the above-described convertible vacuum cleaner will be described hereinafter. 
     A case where the convertible vacuum cleaner is used as the upright type vacuum cleaner will be first described hereinafter. 
     In an upright type cleaning mode, the main body  100  is hooked on the support base  200 . In this state, the user grasps the support handle  202  and inclines the support base  200  rearward by a predetermined angle performs the cleaning operation while moving the cleaner. That is, in a state where the main body  100  is mounted on the support base  200 , when the user inclines the support handle  202  rearward, the support base  200  pivots with reference to its lower end. Therefore, in a state where the suction nozzle  300  contacts the floor, the support base  200  and the main body  100  are inclined rearward together. In this state, the user performs the cleaning work while moving the cleaner. 
     Meanwhile, the outer power is applied to the main body  100  through the power cord  172 , and the applied power is transmitted to a motor (not shown) of the main body  100 . When the motor is driven, sucking force is generated by the fan to lift the dust and dirt. 
     In addition, the power applied to the main body  100  is transmitted to the suction nozzle unit  300  through the terminals formed in the main body  100  and the support base  200 . That is, the outer power applied to the main body  100  is transmitted to the first terminal  162  through the power supply line  168  and is then finally transmitted to the agitator (not shown) of the suction nozzle unit  300  by the contact between the first and second terminals  162  and  220 . The agitator applied with the power rotates to separate the dust and dirt from the floor and the separated dust and dirt are introduced into the suction nozzle unit  300  through the suction hole (not shown). The agitator is designed not to rotate by the motor but to forcedly rotate by flow of the introducing air. When the agitator is designed to forcedly rotate, no electric power is required. 
     The dust and dirt contained in the air introduced through the suction nozzle unit  300  are directed to the main body  100  through the connection hose  250  and then collected in a dust collection unit  120  after being filtered. When a predetermined amount of the dust and dirt is accumulated in the dust collection unit  120 , the user empties the dust collection unit  120 . 
     A case where the convertible vacuum cleaner is used as the canister type vacuum cleaner will be described hereinafter. 
     In a canister type mode, the main body  100  is first separated from the support base  200 . That is, in a state where the main body  100  is installed on the support base  200 , the user grasps the top handle  150  and lifts the main body  100  so that the vertical section  214  of the hook projection  210  can be released from the hook groove  160 . At this point, the engaging state between the hook step  101  and the vertical section  214  is released. In this state, when the user pushes the main body  100  forward, the main body  100  is separated from the support base  200 . 
     In this state, the user can perform the cleaning work in a state where he/she grasps the front handle  152  or he/she disposes the main body  100  on the floor. When the main body  100  is disposed on the floor, the main body wheels  130  and the roller  142  contact the floor. The main body wheels  130  function to move the main body  100  frontward or rearward while the roller  142  functions to move the main body  100  in the multi-direction. 
     As described above, the outer power is applied to the main body  100  through the power cord  172  and the motor and fan disposed in the main body are operated by the applied power, thereby generating sucking force of the vacuum cleaner. 
     The mini nozzle  260  may be connected to the connection hose  250  or other accessories such as a crevice tool may be connected to the connection hose  250  to effectively lift the dust and dirt located on the corner or the narrow space. 
     When the cleaning work is finished, the main body  100  is kept in a state where it is installed on the support base  200 . At this point, as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 5 , the hook projection  210  is inserted in the hook groove  160  of the main body  100  to prevent the main body  100  from being inadvertently separated from the support base  200 . 
     A fixing structure of the main body  100  on the support base  200  will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
       FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view of a circled portion A of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  shows a section view of a coupled portion of the main body and the support base. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as described above, the hook projection  210  includes the horizontal section  212  projected frontward from the front surface of the support base  200  and the vertical section  214  extending upward from an extreme end of the horizontal section  212 . The vertical section  214  is provided at an end with the second terminal  220  to receive the power from the main body  100 . 
     The hook projection  210  is hooked in the hook groove  160  formed on the main body  100 . The first terminal  162  contacting the second terminal  220  is provided in the hook groove  210 . In order for the first terminal  162  to accurately contact the second terminal  220 , movement is performed in a predetermined pattern. The structure and function of the first terminal  162  will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
     The first terminal  162  is bent in a predetermined shape and received in the terminal receiving chamber  163 . The first terminal  162  is biased by an elastic spring  164  toward the second terminal  220 . The elastic spring  164  is preferably formed of a compression spring. The first terminal  162  is biased by the elastic spring  164  so that it can contact the second terminal  220 . 
     In addition, the first terminal  162  is formed in a □-shape, having an upper end pivotally supported on a binge shaft  166 . Accordingly, the first terminal  162  pivots around the hinge shaft  166  by the elastic force of the elastic spring  164  such that a first end of the first terminal  162  can be projected into the hook groove  160  to contact the second terminal  220 , thereby transmitting the electric power. A second end of the first terminal  162  is connected to the power supply line  168  to transmit the electric power applied to the main body to the suction nozzle body  300  or the power consumption parts in the support base  200 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described structure. Those skilled in the art can variously modify and vary the structure according to the concepts of the present invention. 
     For example, the coupling structure defined by the hook projection  210  and the hook groove  160  may be varied within the scope of the concept of the present invention as far as it can easily realize the mounting of the main body  100  on the front surface of the support base  200 . For example, the hook projection  210  may be formed on the main body  100  while the hook groove  160  is formed on the support base  200 . 
     In addition, the power transmission structure can be varied. For example, the second terminal may be formed in the hook groove  160  while the first terminal  162  is provide in the first terminal  162  biased by the elastic spring is provided in the hook projection  210 . 
     According to the present invention, the cleaner main body is designed to be hooked on the front surface of the support base. That is, by the hooking operation, the hook projection and the hook groove are associated with each other to support the main body on the support base. As described above, since the main body is supported on the support base by the simple hooking operation, no special supporting member for supporting the bottom of the main body is required, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs. 
     In addition, the power transmission from the main body to the support base can be simply realized by the terminals provided in the coupling groove and the coupling projection. As a result, the power applied to the main body can be transmitted to the suction nozzle unit by the simple structure. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.