Patent Publication Number: US-7594945-B2

Title: Dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus and a cyclone dust collecting device having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-46824, filed Jun. 1, 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. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus for fixing and separating a dust receptacle with respect to a cyclone unit applied for a vacuum cleaner to centrifugally separate and collect dust from external air as drawn in, and a cyclone dust collecting device having the same. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A cyclone dust collecting device is used for a vacuum cleaner to separate and collect dust from drawn-in air and for this purpose, comprises a cyclone unit that separates the dust from the external air by a centrifugal force and a dust receptacle that collects therein the separated dust. 
     FIG. 1  shows a generally upright-type vacuum cleaner adopting the cyclone dust collecting device. The vacuum cleaner  10  comprises a cleaner body  20  including a motor driving chamber  21  and a dust collecting chamber  22 , a suction brush  30  that draws in dust on a surface being cleaned together with ambient air, and a cyclone dust collecting device  40 . The cyclone dust collecting device  40  comprises a cyclone unit  50  and a dust receptacle  60  and is mounted detachably to the dust collecting chamber  22  of the cleaner body  20 , with the cyclone unit  50  and the dust receptacle  60  connected with each other. The dust receptacle  60  has a handle  61  for convenient mounting and separation of the cyclone dust collecting device  40  with respect to the cleaner body  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cyclone dust collecting device  40  is mounted to the cleaner body  20  in a manner that an air inlet  51  and an air outlet  52  of the cyclone unit  50  are respectively connected to an air suction path  23  and an air discharge path  24  of the cleaner body  20 . Upon starting the vacuum cleaner  10 , a motor (not shown) in the motor driving chamber  21  generates a suction force at the suction brush  30 . Dust-laden air on the surface being cleaned is drawn by a centrifugal force into the cyclone unit  50 , passing through the suction brush  30 , the air suction path  23 , and the air inlet  51 . The air being drawn in is induced spirally along an inner circumference of the cyclone unit  50  by the air inlet  51 , thereby generating an air-vortex. The dust included in the air is separated by the centrifugal force of the air-vortex and collected in the dust receptacle  60 . The dust-separated air is discharged to the outside, passing through a grill  70 , the air outlet  52 , the air discharge path  24 , and the motor driving chamber  21 . 
   When the dust receptacle  60  is filled with the dust by a predetermined amount after the cleaning work, a user separates the cyclone dust collecting device  40  from the cleaner body  20  by grasping the handle  61  to empty the dust receptacle  60 . More specifically, here, the dust receptacle  60  needs to be separated from the cyclone unit  50 . 
   However, while separating the cyclone dust collecting device  40  from the cleaner body  20  or carrying the cyclone dust collecting device  40  to empty the dust receptacle  60 , connection between the dust receptacle  60  and the cyclone unit  50  might be released unintentionally. In this case, the dust in the dust receptacle  60  may be scattered about, thereby contaminating the surroundings. 
   In order to tighten the connection between the dust receptacle  60  and the cyclone unit  50 , screw-connection of the dust receptacle  60  and the cyclone unit  50  has been suggested. However, the screw-connection is inconvenient for the user because the user has to hold one of the dust receptacle  60  and the cyclone unit  50  with one hand while unfastening a screw with the other hand. Furthermore, the dust receptacle  60  and the cyclone unit  50  are not easy to grasp with one hand. 
   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 dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus facilitating separation of a dust receptacle from a cyclone unit and enhancing connection between the dust receptacle and the cyclone unit, and a cyclone dust collecting device having the same. 
   In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the present invention, there is provided a dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus that fixes and separates a dust receptacle with respect to a cyclone unit. The dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus comprises a fixing/separating handle, a locking/unlocking part, and a fixing part. The fixing/separating handle pivots between a first position and a second position, the first position in which the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle are fixed to each other and the second position in which the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle can be separated from each other. The locking/unlocking part fixes and releases the fixing/separating handle when the fixing/separating handle is in the first position. The fixing part to which the fixing/separating handle is pivotably connected, releases connection between the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle when the fixing/separating handle is in the second position. 
   The fixing/separating handle comprises a handle part having a locking groove for engagement with a locking projection formed at the locking/unlocking part; and a hinge connection part formed on opposite ends of the handle part and engaged with a hinge shaft of the fixing part. 
   The locking/unlocking part comprises a button including the locking projection; and a resilient member connected to the button by one end to resiliently bias the button in one direction. 
   The locking/unlocking part is provided to a receptacle handle formed on the dust receptacle. 
   The fixing part includes a first projection formed in adjacent to the hinge shaft, and the hinge connection part comprises an outer frame pivoting in contact with the first projection by an inner circumference thereof and having a separation opening at a predetermined portion, and a hinge connection groove formed at the center of the outer frame and engaged with the hinge shaft, the separation opening being located to correspond to the first projection as the fixing/separating handle is in the second position. 
   The hinge shaft is mounted to the cyclone unit while the first projection is mounted to the dust receptacle. 
   The fixing part further comprises a second projection mounted to the dust receptacle to be located within the outer frame, and the hinge connection part further comprises a fixing rib mounted inside the outer frame, the fixing rib contacting with the second projection as the fixing/separating handle is moved to the second position, thereby restraining the fixing/separating handle from pivoting any more in a direction to the second position. 
   The first position and the second position are substantially perpendicular to each other. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cyclone dust collecting device including a dust receptacle having a receptacle handle and opened upward, and a cyclone unit removably connected to the dust receptacle and centrifugally separating dust from external air, the cyclone dust collecting device comprising a fixing/separating handle pivoting between a first position and a second position, the first position in which the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle are fixed to each other and the second position in which the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle can be separated from each other; a locking/unlocking part mounted to the receptacle handle to fix and release the fixing/separating handle when the fixing/separating handle is in the first position; and a fixing part to which the fixing/separating handle is pivotably connected, releasing connection between the cyclone unit and the dust receptacle when the fixing/separating handle is in the second position. 

   
     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 adopting a conventional cyclone dust collecting device; 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a cyclone dust collecting device adopting a dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view showing a cyclone unit and a dust receptacle of  FIG. 2A , as separated from each other; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a fixing/separating handle of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus of  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a locking/unlocking part of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus of  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fixing part of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus of  FIG. 2A ; 
       FIG. 6  is an inner-perspective view showing the fixing/separating handle and the fixing part of  FIG. 2  as engaged with each other; and 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are views for explaining the operation of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, a dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus and a cyclone dust collecting device having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. 
   In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. 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. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a cyclone dust collecting device  100  comprises a cyclone unit  110  for centrifugally separating dust from drawn-in air, a dust receptacle  120  collecting therein the dust separated by the cyclone unit  110 , and a dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus  200 . The cyclone unit  100  is detachably connected to the dust receptacle  120 , by insertion into the dust receptacle  120 . The cyclone unit  110  comprises an air inlet (not shown) and an air outlet  111  connected to an opening  121  of the dust receptacle  120 . The dust included in the air drawn in through the air inlet is separated from the drawn-in air by the cyclone unit  110 . The separated dust is collected in the dust receptacle  120 , whereas the dust-separated air is discharged to the outside of the cyclone dust collecting device  100  through the air outlet  111 . The dust receptacle  120  has a receptacle handle  130  for use during mounting and separation of the cyclone dust collecting device  100  with respect to a cleaner body  20  ( FIG. 1 ). Since the operation principles and the structure of the cyclone dust collecting device  100  are not the essential feature of the present invention, they will not described herein in detail. 
   A dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus  200  provides a fixed connection between the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  when desired and helps separation of the cyclone unit  110  from the dust receptacle  120  when removing the dust collected in the dust receptacle  120 . The dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus  200  comprises a fixing/separating handle  210 , a locking/unlocking part  220 , and a fixing part  230  ( FIG. 5 ). 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the fixing/separating handle  210  comprises a handle part  211  for a user to grasp, and a hinge connection part  213  formed on opposite ends of the handle part  211 . The fixing/separating handle  210  is mounted to pivot between a first position ( FIG. 2A ) and a second position ( FIG. 2B ). In the first position, connection between the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  is fixed and in the second position, the connection is released. The fixing/separating handle  210  is locked in the first position by the locking/unlocking part  220 , thereby tightly fixing the cyclone unit  110  to the dust receptacle  120 . When the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the second position, the cyclone unit  110  can be separated from the dust receptacle  120 . The first position is substantially perpendicular to the second position. 
   A locking groove  212  is formed at the center of the handle part  211 . The locking groove  212  is engaged with a locking projection  222  ( FIG. 4 ) of the locking/unlocking part  220  when the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the first position. The hinge connection part  213  comprises an outer frame  214  having a tubular form of which one side is open, a hinge connection groove  215  formed at the center of the outer frame  214 , and fixing ribs  216  radially arranged around the hinge connection groove  215 . 
   The outer frame  214  comprises a bottom part  214   b  where the hinge connection groove  215  and the fixing rib  216  are mounted, and a side part  214   a  protruded from an outer circumference of the bottom part  214   b  by a predetermined height and connected to the handle part  211  by an outer surface thereof. The side part  214   a  has a separation opening  214   c  at a predetermined portion. When the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the second position, the separation opening  214   c  is located corresponding to a first projection  232  of the fixing part  230 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The hinge connection groove  215  is engaged with a hinge shaft  231  ( FIG. 5 ) of the fixing part  230  so that the fixing/separating handle  210  can pivot with respect to the hinge shaft  231 . The fixing rib  216  comprises a first rib  216   a  and a second rib  216   b . While the fixing/separating handle  210  is converting from the first position to the second position, the second rib  216   b  is brought into contact with an outer circumference of the second projection  233 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . When the fixing/separating handle  210  reaches the second position, the first rib  216   a  is restricted by the second projection  233 . Therefore, the fixing/separating handle  210  cannot pivot in an arrowed direction B any more (See  FIG. 8 ). 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the locking/unlocking part  220  is disposed at an upper portion of the receptacle handle  130  of the dust receptacle  120  and comprises a button  221  and a resilient member  223 . As the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the first position, the locking projection  222  is engaged with the locking groove  212  formed at the fixing/separating handle  210 . The resilient member  223  is connected to the button  221  by one end and to an inside of the receptacle handle  130  by the other end to resiliently bias the button  221  in an arrowed direction A′. When a lower portion of the button  221  is pressed in the direction A, the button  221  is rotated about a rotation shaft  221   a  and the locking projection  222  is released from the locking groove  212 . 
   The locking/unlocking part  220  of this embodiment is mounted to the receptacle handle  130 . Although the present invention is not limited so, for example, although the locking/unlocking part  220  can be directly mounted to the dust receptacle  120 , it is preferable to provide the locking/unlocking part  220  to the upper portion of the receptacle handle  130  so that the user can easily operate the button  221 , while holding the receptacle handle  130  with one hand, using his/her thumb. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the fixing part  230  comprises the hinge shaft  231 , a first projection  232 , and the second projection  233 . According to the present embodiment, the hinge shaft  231  and the second projection  233  are preferably installed to the cyclone unit  110 , and the first projection  232  to the dust receptacle  120 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the hinge connection part  213  of the fixing/separating handle  210  being engaged with the fixing part  230  when the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the first position. For concise explanation, the bottom part  214   b  ( FIG. 3 ) of the outer frame  214  is omitted in  FIG. 6 . As aforementioned, the hinge shaft  231  is inserted in the hinge connection groove  215  ( FIG. 3 ) so that the fixing/separating handle  210  can pivot with respect to the hinge shaft  231 . 
   An inner circumference of the side part  214   a  of the outer frame  214  contacts with the first projection  232 . When the hinge connection part  213  rotates about the rotation shaft  231  in an arrowed direction C, the side part  214   a  of the outer frame  214  is rotated in contact with the outer circumference of the first projection  232 . As illustrated, since the first projection  232  formed at the dust receptacle  120  is restricted by the outer frame  214 , connection between the dust receptacle  120  and the cyclone unit  110  is maintained. 
   As described above, as the fixing/separating handle  210  is moved to the second position, the hinge connection part  213  is further rotated in the direction C and accordingly, the separation opening  214   c  of the outer frame  214  is located to correspond to the first projection  232  of the fixing part  230 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Since the outer frame  214  can liberally move up and down in an arrowed direction D without restriction by the first projection  232 , the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  can be separated from each other by lifting the handle part  211 . In addition, by the rotation of the hinge connection part  213  as the fixing/separating handle  210  moves to the second position, the first rib  216   a  of the fixing rib  216  is brought into contact with the second projection  233  of the fixing part  230 . As a result, the fixing/separating handle  210  cannot pivot in the direction B any more (See  FIG. 8 ). 
   Hereinbelow, the operations of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus and the cyclone dust collecting device having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   When removing dust collected in the dust receptacle  120  after the cleaning work, the user grasps the receptacle handle  130  of the dust receptacle  120  and separates the cyclone dust collecting device  100  from the cleaner body  20  ( FIG. 1 ). At this time, the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the first position, being fixed by the locking/unlocking part  220 , and the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  are firmly connectioned with each other, as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , in a state that, the fixing/separating handle  210  is in the first position, when the button  221  is pressed in the direction A, the button  221  is rotated about the rotation shaft  221   a , accordingly releasing the engagement between the locking projection  222  and the locking groove  212 . The user grasps with one hand and rotates in the direction B the handle part  211  of the fixing/separating handle  210  which is released. By rotation of the handle part  211 , the hinge connection part  213  is rotated in the direction C with respect to the hinge shaft  231 . Meanwhile, since the outer frame  214  is kept in contact with the first projection  232  of the fixing part  230 , connection between the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  is maintained. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , when the fixing/separating handle  210  moves in the direction B up to the second position, the first rib  216   a  of the fixing rib  216  is restricted by the second projection  233  of the fixing part  230 . Accordingly, the handle part  211  cannot keep rotation in the direction B any more. 
   Meanwhile, since the separation opening  214   c  of the outer frame  214  is located corresponding to the first projection  232  of the fixing part  230 , as the handle part  211  is lifted in the direction D, the outer frame  214  escapes from the first projection  232  through the separation opening  214   c . Accordingly, the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  are separated from each other as shown in  FIG. 2B . After thus separating the cyclone unit  110  from the dust receptacle, the user is able to remove the dust collected in the dust receptacle  120 . 
   To summarize, the user grasps the receptacle handle  130  formed at the dust receptacle  120  and presses the button  221  to release connection between the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120 . Then, by moving the handle part  211  of the fixing/separating handle  210  to a predetermined position and lifting the handle part  211 , the user can separate the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  from each other. In other words, the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  can be separated from each other through a simple operation, thereby facilitating removal of the collected dust. Moreover, except when separating the dust receptacle  120  from the cyclone unit  110  on purpose to empty the dust receptacle  120 , connection between the cyclone unit  110  and the dust receptacle  120  can be firmly maintained. Therefore, unexpected separation of the dust receptacle  120  from the cyclone unit  110  will not easily happen while carrying or operating the cyclone dust collecting device  100 , thereby preventing contamination of the surroundings by the dust scattered about from the dust receptacle  120 . 
   As can be appreciated from the above description of the dust receptacle fixing/separating apparatus  200  and the cyclone dust collecting device  100  having the same, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to separate the dust receptacle  120  from cyclone unit  110  and remove the collected dust conveniently. In addition, since connection between the dust receptacle  120  and the cyclone unit  110  is secured, unexpected separation of the dust receptacle  120  from the cyclone unit  110  can be prevented. 
   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.