Patent Publication Number: US-2007094837-A1

Title: Vacuum cleaner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-102617, filed Oct. 28, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface to be cleaned. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a locking unit so that a dust collection unit can be selectively attached and separated with respect to a cleaner body.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Generally, a vacuum cleaner draws in dust-laden air using a vacuum force generated by a vacuum motor mounted in a cleaner body, and separates and collects dust from the air in the cleaner body to finally dump the collected dust. The vacuum c leaner adopts the principle of cyclone in order to separate and collect dust. In such a vacuum cleaner, a dust collection unit is separably mounted to a cleaner body. Korean Patent Publication No. 2005-13693 (filed by LG Electronics Co., Ltd.) discloses the vacuum cleaner in which a handle is exposed on an upper part of a dust collection unit and a locking/unlocking device is provided for connection between the dust collection unit and a cleaner body. In this vacuum cleaner, a user can detach the dust collection unit from the cleaner body by inserting his/her fingers in a grab space formed at the handle mounted to the upper part of the dust collection unit with one hand and pressing a button formed on the cleaner body with the other hand so that the dust collection unit is released from the cleaner body, and pulling up the dust collection unit.  
      However, in the conventional vacuum cleaner, the user has to use both hands as described above to hold the dust collection unit and the cleaner body, respectively. In other words, separation of the dust collection unit from the cleaner body is inconvenient.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner improved in user&#39;s convenience by enabling a user to mount and separate a dust collection unit with respect to a cleaner body with one hand.  
      In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body having a mounting portion a dust collection unit for separating dust from outside air, the dust collection unit being mounted to the mounting portion, the dust collection unit having a handle and a locking unit for detachably fixing the dust collection unit mounted in the mounting portion with respect to the cleaner body, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking member for movement between a connecting position and a releasing position, the connecting position for being engaged with a connection recess formed on the cleaner body and the releasing position for being released from the connection recess; and a button member formed on an outer surface of the dust collection unit for pressing operation, and wherein when a user grabs the handle of the dust collection unit, the button member is pressed from an initial position so that the locking member is moved from the connecting position to the releasing position, thereby releasing the dust collection unit and the cleaner body.  
      The locking unit further comprises a releasing m ember moved in association with the locking member, and a gear member operating the releasing member and the button member in association with each other.  
      The gear member converts a rotational motion of the button member to a linear motion and transmits the linear motion to the releasing member. The gear member, the locking member, and the releasing member are integrally formed.  
      The button member comprises a partition protruded from one side thereof to press the gear member during the rotational movement of the button member  
      The vacuum cleaner further comprises a cover part mounted to an upper part of the dust collection part to cover the upper part of the dust collection part. The button member and the handle are disposed on the cover part to face each other, and the button member is hinged on the cover part.  
      The locking unit further comprises a spring for restoring the button member to the initial position when the user releases the handle.  
      The dust collection unit comprises a dust collection part for drawing in the outside air, centrifugally separating dust from the outside air, and collecting the separated dust, and a cover part mounted to an upper part thereof to cover the dust collection unit, the cover part comprises the button member on a top side and the releasing member therein, and the locking member is integrally formed with either side of the releasing member.  
      The vacuum cleaner further comprises a grab space for inserting user&#39;s fingers is formed inside the cover part so that when the user inserts fingers in the grab space, the button member is pressed, thereby releasing connection between the dust collection unit and the cleaner body.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust collection unit having a handle, a cleaner body and a vacuum source mounted to the cleaner body and generating a suction force, wherein when the handle is grabbed, the dust collection unit is separated from the cleaner body and when the handle is released, the dust collection unit is locked to the cleaner body.  
      The dust collection unit comprises a locking unit, and the locking unit comprises a button member that rotates, and at least one locking member that is linearly moved by rotation of the button member.  
      The locking unit further comprises a gear member converting rotational motion of the button member to linear motion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
      The above aspect and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein;  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a dust collection unit cover of  FIG. 1  with a button member thereof not pressed yet, in a state where a handle is not grabbed by a user;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of  FIG. 2  cut along a line III-III;  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the dust collection unit cover of  FIG. 1  with the button member thereof pressed, in a state where the handle is grabbed by the user; and  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of  FIG. 4  cut along a line V-V. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.  
      In the following description, the matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner, separately showing a dust collection unit and a cleaner body.  FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a cover part separated from a dust collection unit of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side-sectional view of  FIG. 2  cut along a line III-III.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner body  10 , a dust collection unit  40 , and a locking unit  60 .  
      In the cleaner body  10 , a suction source (not shown) for drawing in outside air is mounted at the rear portion, and wheels  14  are mounted on both sides of the rear portion to help the cleaner body  10  travel. Front and upper portions of the cleaner body  10  are opened, thereby forming a mounting portion  15  for receiving the dust collection unit  40  that will be explained hereinafter. The dust collection unit  40  is detachably mounted to the mounting portion  15  and for this, a connection recess  11  is formed on either side of an upper part of the mounting portion  15  for connection and separation with respect to a locking member  21  formed at the dust collection unit  40 . In addition, a guide recess  13  having a substantially square form is formed at a lower part of the front of the cleaner body  10  for engagement with a protrusion  25  of the dust collection unit  40 . The guide recess  13  helps the dust collection unit  40  be mounted at a correct position of the cleaner body  10  and firmly fixes the dust collection unit  40  as mounted in the mounting portion  15  to prevent the dust collection unit  40  from shaking or separating from the cleaner body  10  during carrying and operation of the vacuum cleaner.  
      Being connected with the cleaner body  10 , the dust collection unit  40  draws in the outside air, and separates and collects dust from the outside air using a centrifugal force. To this end, the dust collection unit  40  comprises a dust collection part  30  and a cover part  20 .  
      Inside the dust collection part  30  are provided a cyclone (not shown) for centrifugally separating the dust from the outside air and a dust receptacle (not shown) for storing the dust separated by the cyclone. Although a cyclone-type dust collection part is taken as an example in this embodiment, the present invention is applicable to other types of dust collection units. A protrusion  25  for engagement with the guide recess  13  of the cleaner body  10  is formed at a lower part of the dust collection part  30 .  
      The cover part  20  is mounted to an upper part of the dust collection part  30  to cover the upper part of the dust collection part  30 . A handle  20   a  and a button member  22  of the locking unit  60  are formed on a top side of the cover part  20 . The handle  20   a  is fixed to the cover part  20 , and the button member  22  is disposed to face the handle  20   a  as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that a user can grab the handle  20   a  only when the button member  22  is pressed. Also, the button member  22  is mounted to pivot on a hinge  29 . The locking unit  60  is mounted to the cover part  20 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the locking unit  60  comprises the button member  22 , a releasing member  26 , a partition  23 , a locking member  21 , a gear member  24 , and a spring  28 . The button member  22  is disposed on the top side of the cover part  20  while the others  26 ,  23 ,  21 ,  24 , and  28  are disposed on a bottom side  20 - 2  of the cover part  20 .  
      The button member  22  comprises the hinge  29  disposed at either side thereof to pivot by a predetermined angle. The button member  22  seals a grab space  27  formed between the cover part  20  and the dust collection part  30 , together with the handle  20   a . In order to insert his/her fingers in the grab space  27  to grab the handle  20   a , the user needs to press one side of the button member  22 , thereby pivoting the button member  22  and opening the grab space  27  (see  FIG. 5 ).  
      The releasing member  26  is mounted to the bottom side of the cover part  20  to be movable in directions shown by arrows F 1  and F 2  in  FIG. 4 . The releasing member  26  is spaced by a predetermined distance from the button member  22 . The locking member  21  is integrally formed with either side of the releasing member  26  in this embodiment. However, the locking member  21  may be detachably mounted to the releasing member  26 . As the releasing member  26  moves in the directions F 1  and F 2  of  FIG. 4 , the locking member  21  accordingly moves in the same directions. Since being mounted to the bottom side  20 - 2  of the cover part  20 , the releasing member  26  is not shown from the outside. A slit  51  is formed on either side of the releasing member  26 , and a screw  50  formed on the releasing member  26  is inserted in the slit  51  so as to fix the releasing member  26  and the cover part  20  in a semi-restricted state.  
      The partition  23  is protruded downward from either side of the bottom side  20 - 2  of the cover part  20 . Therefore, the partition  23  is rotated as the button member  22  pivots on the hinge  29 , thereby pressing the gear member  24 . Additionally, the partition  23  has an inversed T-shape for enhancing hardness to endure an external force during rotation of the button member  22  and may be integrally formed with the button member  22 .  
      The locking member  21  comprises a hook part  21  a at the lower part and is protruded from either side of the releasing member  26 . The locking member  21  is integrally formed with the releasing member  26  and therefore moves together with the releasing member  26 . In order to mount the dust collection unit  40 , the locking member  21  is inserted in the connection recess  11  formed on the cleaner body  10 , and the hook part  21   a  formed at the lower part of the locking member  21  is locked in the connection recess  11  having a flattened U-shape. When separating the dust collection unit  40  from the cleaner body  10 , the locking member  21  is moved in the direction F 1  of  FIG. 3 , thereby releasing connection between the dust collection unit  40  and the cleaner body  10 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gear member  24  is disposed between the partition  23  and the releasing member  26  inside the cover part  20 . According to the present embodiment, the gear member  24  is integrally formed with the releasing member  26 . As the button member  22  is pivoted, the partition  23  is rotated thereby pressing one side of the gear member  24 . Consequently, the gear member  24  moves the releasing member  26  in the direction F 1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the spring  28  biases the releasing member  26  with one end thereof at the bottom side of the cover part  20 . The other end of the spring  28  is fixed to one side of the bottom side  20 - 2  of the cover part  20 . When a force is applied to the button member  22  in an arrowed direction F 4 , the releasing member  26  is moved in the direction F 1  of  FIG. 3 , and the spring  28  is compressed. When the force applied in the direction F 4  is removed, the releasing member  26  is restored by a recovery force of the spring  28  and accordingly, the button member  22  is restored to its initial position.  
      When the user grabs the handle  20   a  to hold the dust collection unit  40  and presses one side of the button member  22 , the button member  22  is pivoted by a predetermined angle in the direction F 4 . As a result, the partition  23  protruded on the button member  22  moves the gear member  24  to the rear side by a predetermined distance W. When the gear member  24  is moved, the locking member  21  in connection with the releasing member  26  is moved to a releasing position P 2 , as being engaged with the connection recess  11  of the cleaner body  10 . Here, the hook part  21   a  formed at the locking member  21  has length preferably equal to or greater than the predetermined distance W for engagement with the connection recess  11  of the cleaner body  10 . Thus, the dust collection unit  40  can be separated from the cleaner body  10  by the operation of the locking unit  60 . Here, rotation of the button  22  induces linear motion of the releasing member  24  because the releasing member  24  fixed in the semi-restricted state by the cover part  20  and the screw  50  moves along the slit  51  formed at the releasing member  24 .  
      Meanwhile, as the button member  22  is pressed to separate the dust collection unit  40  from the cleaner body  10 , the grab space  27  is formed between the cover part  20  and the button member  22  and exposed to the outside, so that the user is able to hold and lift the dust collection unit  40  by inserting his/her fingers in the grab space  27 . It is preferred that the grab space  27  is formed near the user&#39;s side for convenient use.  
      When the force pressing the button member  22  is removed to release connection between the dust collection unit  40  and the cleaner body  10 , the spring  28  mounted to one side of the releasing member  26  and the rear side of the cover  20  restores the button member  22  to the initial position. In other words, when the button member  22  is pressed, the releasing member  26  is moved to the rear side thereby compressing the spring  28 . When the external force is removed from the button member  22 , on the contrary, the button member  22  is restored to the initial position by the recovery force of the compressed spring  28 . Also, the locking member  21  is moved to a connecting position P 1 , thereby locking the dust collection unit  40  to the cleaner body  10 .  
      Hereinafter, the operation of mounting and separating the dust collection unit  40  with respect to the cleaner body  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5 .  
      When the user mounts the dust collection unit  40  of the cleaner body  10 , the user presses the button member  22 . Simultaneously, the user grabs the dust collection unit  40  by inserting his/her fingers in the grab space  27  and inserts the dust collection unit  40  in the mounting portion  15  formed on the cleaner body  10  in an arrowed direction F. In order to guide the dust collection unit  40  to the correct position of the cleaner body  10 , the protrusion  25  is set to the guide recess  13  formed on the cleaner body  10 .  
      More specifically, when the user presses the button member  22 , the partition  23  integrally formed with the button member  22  is pivoted on the hinge  29  by the predetermined angle in the direction F 4 . Therefore, the releasing member  26  contacted with the partition  23  is moved in the direction F 1 . At this time, the releasing member  26  connected with the cleaner body  10  through the screw  50  inserted in the slit  51  is linearly moved in the direction F 1  along the slit  51 .  
      According to this, the locking member  21  fixed to both ends of the releasing member  26  is moved in the direction F 1 . To summarize, as the user presses the button member  22 , the locking member  21  is moved to the releasing position P 2 . When the user inserts the dust collection unit  40  in the cleaner body  10  with the button member  22  pressed and removes the force for pressing the button member  22 , the releasing member  26  is moved to the connecting position P 1  by the recovery force of the spring  28  and accordingly, the locking member  21  mounted to the releasing member  26  is also moved to the connecting position P 1 . Simultaneously, the gear member  24  protruded on the releasing member  26  is moved in the direction F 1 , thereby pushing the partition  23  in the direction  23  so that the button member  22  is restored to the initial position.  
      Separation of the dust collection unit  40  from the cleaner body  10  can be achieved by performing the above processes in the reverse order.  
      According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can grab the dust collection unit  40 , and mount and separate the dust collection unit  40  with respect to the cleaner body  10  with one hand simultaneously. Therefore, mounting and separation of the dust collection unit  40  can be more facilitated than when using a conventional dust collection unit mounting/separating device.  
      As can be appreciated from the above description of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the grab space  27  is formed as the button member  22  formed on the cover part  20  is pressed so that the dust collection unit  40  can be lifted and separated from the cleaner body  10 . As a consequence, the dust collection unit  40  can be separated with only one hand.  
      Furthermore, since the grab space  27  is formed only when the user intends to mount and separate the dust collection unit  40 , appearance of the vacuum cleaner can be improved.  
      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.