Patent Publication Number: US-10321796-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0024022, filed on Feb. 29, 2016 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a vacuum cleaner refers to a device for sucking dust and foreign materials from a surface to be cleaned using a suction motor provided in a main body and filtering dust and foreign materials in the main body. 
     The vacuum cleaner may be classified into an up-right type vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle connected to a main body thereof and moving along with the main body and a canister type vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle connected to a main body through an extension pipe, a handle, a hose, etc. 
     A vacuum cleaner is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1552437. 
     The vacuum cleaner of the related art includes a cleaner body including a suction motor for generating suction force, a suction part communicating with the cleaner body to suck in air and dust, a connection part for connecting the suction part and the cleaner body, and a battery provided in the cleaner body to supply power to the suction motor. 
     Meanwhile, in order to replace the battery or charge the battery using a charger, the battery should be detached from the cleaner body. 
     However, in the related art, since a battery assembly is provided in the cleaner body, the cleaner body should be disassembled in order to replace or repair a battery assembly, thereby causing user inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner capable of easily mounting a battery in a cleaner body thereof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body is two-point supported by wheels. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner capable of improving driving stability of a cleaner body thereof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner for preventing a cleaner body thereof from being overturned backward. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body including a suction motor. The cleaner body includes a main body, wheels for moving the main body; and a battery detachably provided at a back side of the main body to supply power to the main body. The main body is capable of rotating about a rotation center of the wheels, and, when the battery is detached from the cleaner body, a center of gravity of the main body is located at a front side of a vertical line passing through the rotation center of the wheels. 
     When the battery is attached to the cleaner body such that the cleaner body is two-point supported by the wheels, the center of gravity of the cleaner body may be located at a back side of the vertical line passing through the rotation center of the wheels. 
     When the battery is detached from the cleaner body, a front side of a bottom of the main body may contact a floor. 
     A battery attachment part in which the battery is mounted may be formed at the back side of the main body, and a direction of the battery attached to the battery attachment part may form an acute angle with respect to the vertical line. 
     The vacuum cleaner may further include a supporter provided on a bottom of the main body to restrict a backward rotation range of the main body, in order to prevent the cleaner body from being overturned backward. 
     The vacuum cleaner may further include a sensor for sensing motion of the main body and a controller for controlling driving of the wheels by information sensed by the sensor. 
     When the sensor is turned on, driving of the wheels may be controlled such that the center of gravity of the cleaner body is located on the vertical line passing through the rotation center of the wheels. 
     When the sensor is turned off, driving of the wheels may be stopped. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing a state in which a main body of  FIG. 1  is inclined forward. 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing a state in which the main body of  FIG. 1  is inclined backward. 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing the configuration of a supporter of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view sequentially showing a state of attaching a battery to the cleaner body of the cleaner. 
         FIG. 6  is a view sequentially showing a state of detaching a battery from the cleaner body of the cleaner. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In describing the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used herein to describe various elements of the present invention, these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element and essential, order, or sequence of corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “accessing” another element, one element may be “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “accessing” another element via a further element although one element may be directly connected to or directly accessing another element. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the vacuum cleaner  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cleaner body  10  and a suction device  20 . The cleaner body  10  includes a suction motor for generating suction force. When the suction motor is driven to generate suction force, the suction device  20  may guide air including dust to the cleaner body  10 . 
     The suction device  20  may include a suction part  21  for sucking dust off a surface to be cleaned, e.g., a floor, and connection parts  22 ,  23  and  24  for connecting the suction part  21  to the cleaner body  10 . The connection parts  22 ,  23  and  24  may include an extension pipe  24  connected to the suction part  21 , a handle  22  connected to the extension pipe  24  and a suction hose  23  for connecting the handle  22  to the cleaner body  10 . The cleaner body  10  may include a connector  103  connected to the suction hose  23 . 
     The cleaner body  10  includes a main body  110 , wheels  120  and a battery. 
     The main body  110  includes a dust canister  105  in which dust sucked through the suction device  20  is stored. The dust canister  105  may be detachably mounted in the main body  110 . In addition, the dust canister  105  may be provided in front of the main body  110  and may be made of a transparent material to enable a user to view the inside of the dust canister. 
     The main body  110  may include a grip part  106  gripped by the user. The user may grip the grip part  106  in order to lift up or incline the main body  110 . 
     The vacuum cleaner  1  may include a dust separator (not shown) for separating air and dust sucked by the suction device  20 . The dust separator may be provided separately from or integrally with the dust canister  105 . 
     The wheels  120  may be rotatably coupled to the main body  110 . The wheels  120  may form a pair and may be coupled to both sides of the main body  110 . 
     The battery  130  may be detachably coupled to the main body  110 . If the battery  130  is coupled to the main body  110 , the battery  130  may be integral with the main body  110 . The battery  130  may move along with the main body  110 . 
     The battery  130  may be responsible for supplying power necessary to drive the vacuum cleaner  1 . The battery  130  may be a secondary battery which may be charged or discharged. The battery  130  may be connected with a power cord (not shown) for supplying commercial power. 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing a state in which a cleaner body of  FIG. 1  is inclined forward,  FIG. 3  is a view showing a state in which the cleaner body of  FIG. 1  is inclined backward, and  FIG. 4  is a view showing the configuration of a supporter of  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , at least a part of the bottom of the main body  110  is separated from a floor. Thus, the main body  110  may rotate to the front side or the back side of the wheels  120 . 
     A part, in which the connector  103  is provided, of the cleaner body  10  with respect to a vertical line passing through a rotation center of the wheels  120  may be defined as a front side and a part, in which the battery  130  is provided, may be defined as a back side. In addition, the main body  110  rotating forward means that the main body  110  rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (see  FIG. 2 ) in the figure and the main body  110  rotating backward means that the main body  110  rotates in a clockwise direction (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cleaner body  10  may further include a driving unit (not shown) for driving the wheels  120 . 
     The driving unit may be automatically controlled by a controller, such that the wheels  120  may be automatically driven along a direction desired by the user. That is, the controller may perform control such that the cleaner body  10  automatically follows motion of the user. 
     The cleaner body  10  may further include a sensor (not shown) for sensing motion of the cleaner body  10 . The controller may control driving of the wheels  120  by information sensed by the sensor. 
     As the sensor, a gyro sensor for sensing a current angle and a current speed of the cleaner body upon operating the cleaner body  10  may be used. 
     The gyro sensor senses angular velocity from the Coriolis force applied in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a moving object rotates and may measure not only the angle of the moving object but also change in position of the moving object from a first reference point. 
     If the sensor is turned off, the wheels  120  may not be driven. In this case, the cleaner body  10  is inclined according to the position of the center of gravity thereof. For example, when the center of gravity of the cleaner body  10  is located at the front side of the vertical line V passing through the rotation center  122  of the wheels  120 , the cleaner body  10  is inclined forward as shown in  FIG. 2  and, when the center of gravity of the cleaner body  10  is located at the back side of the vertical line V, the cleaner body  10  is inclined backward as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The cleaner body  10  may include a first bottom B and a second bottom C. The second bottom C extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the first bottom B. 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 2 , the first bottom B is substantially aligned with the floor G. In contrast, the second bottom C is separated from the floor G and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the floor G. 
     When the sensor is turned on, the controller may control driving of the wheels  120  such that the center of gravity of the cleaner body  10  is located on the vertical line V passing through the rotation center  122  of the wheels  120 . 
     In this case, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first bottom B of the cleaner body  10  may be separated from the floor G. 
     The cleaner body  10  may further include a supporter  140 . The supporter  140  may extend from the second bottom C of the cleaner body  10 . The supporter  140  may perform a function for restricting the angle of the cleaner body  10  inclined backward. 
     The supporter  140  may include an auxiliary wheel  142 . The auxiliary wheel  142  may rotate by friction with the floor G. Therefore, the cleaner body  10  may be smoothly driven. 
     The supporter  140  may further include an extension  144 . The auxiliary wheel  142  may be rotatably connected to one side of the extension  144 . 
     The supporter  140  may further include a rotation shaft  146 . The other side of the extension  144  may be rotatably connected to the main body  110  by the rotation shaft  146 . 
     The extension  144  may rotate within a predetermined range. More specifically, the extension  144  may rotate upward or downward within a range of a to a′. The main body  110  may include a stopper (not shown) for restricting the rotation range of the extension  144 . 
     The supporter  140  may further include an elastic member  150 . For example, the elastic member  150  may be a torsion spring. 
     One end  152  of the elastic member  150  may be supported by the main body  110  and the other end  153  of the elastic member  150  may be supported by the extension  144 . The elastic member  150  may apply elastic force such that the extension  144  rotates in a clockwise direction in the figure. 
     When the main body  110  is inclined forward to the maximum extent, the front part of the bottom B of the main body  110  may contact the floor G. Thus, the maximum angle of the main body  110  rotated forward may be restricted. 
     In contrast, when the main body  110  is inclined backward, the supporter  140  may contact the floor G. Thus, the maximum angle of the main body  110  rotated backward may be restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the main body  110  from being overturned forward or backward. 
     Since elastic force of the elastic member  150  is applied to the extension  140  in a clockwise direction (see  FIG. 4 ) in the figure, when the main body  110  is excessively inclined backward, forward rotation force may be applied to the main body  110  by the supporter  140 . 
     When the main body  110  rotates backward to the maximum extent, the bottom B of the main body  110  forms a predetermined angle θ with respect to the floor G. At this time, the angle θ between the bottom B of the main body  110  and the floor G may be about 17° to 20°. 
     The battery  130  may include a cover  131 . In a state in which the battery  130  is mounted in the main body  110 , the cover  131  may be exposed. Thus, the cover  131  may form at least a part of the appearance of the main body  110 . In addition, the user may detach the battery  130  from the main body  110  or attach the battery to the main body  110  without disassembling the main body  110 . The cover  131  may include a grip part facilitating attachment and detachment of the battery  130  to and from the main body  110 . 
     Hereinafter, a process of attaching and detaching the battery  130  to and from the main body  110  will be described in detail. Hereinafter, assume that the center of gravity of the main body  110  is located at the front side of the main body  110  when the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110  and is located at the back side of the main body  110  when the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view sequentially showing a state of attaching a battery to the cleaner body of the cleaner. 
     (a) of  FIG. 5  shows a state in which the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 , (b) of  FIG. 5  shows a state in which the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 , and (c) of  FIG. 5  shows a state in which the main body  110  is inclined backward. 
     A battery attachment part  107  coupled with the battery  130  is formed in the main body  110 . The battery attachment part  107  may be a recess formed in the main body  110 . In addition, an attachment guide (not shown) for guiding attachment of the battery  130  may be formed in the battery attachment part  107 . 
     The battery attachment part  107  is formed at the lower side of the main body  110  and thus the battery  130  is attached to the lower side of the main body  110 . The center of gravity of the battery  130  may be located at the lower side of the rotation center of the wheels  120  in a state in which the battery  130  is mounted in the main body  110 . 
     Accordingly, when the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  may be moved downward, it is possible to improve driving stability of the cleaner body  10 . 
     When the battery  130  is attached to the lower side of the main body  110 , it is possible to improve driving stability. However, since the battery  130  is attached to the lower side of the main body  110 , user inconvenience may be caused upon attaching the battery  130 . 
     However, in a state in which the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  may be located at the front side of the vertical line passing through the center of the wheels  120 . Therefore, when the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 , the main body  110  may be inclined to the front side of the wheels  120 . 
     As the main body  110  is inclined forward, the front side of the bottom of the main body  110  contacts the floor. At this time, the battery attachment part  107  is inclined upward. Therefore, the user may easily attach the battery  130 . 
     The battery  130  may be obliquely attached to the main body  110  by the attachment guide provided in the battery attachment part  107 . More specifically, the insertion direction S of the battery  130  may form an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction V and the floor. Accordingly, when the front side of the bottom of the main body  110  contacts the floor, the insertion direction S of the battery  130  forms an acute angle with respect to the floor. 
     When the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  may move backward. That is, in a state in which the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  may be located at the back side of the vertical direction passing through the center of the wheels  120 . 
     That is, when the battery  130  is attached to the main body  110 , the main body  110  may be inclined to the back side of the wheels  120 . At this time, the supporter  140  may selectively contact the floor. At this time, the bottom B of the main body  110  forms a predetermined angle θ with respect to the floor G. 
       FIG. 6  is a view sequentially showing a state of detaching a battery from the cleaner body of the cleaner. 
     More specifically, (a) of  FIG. 6  shows a state before the battery  130  is detached from the main body and (b) of  FIG. 6  is a state after the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 . 
     In order to detach the battery  130  from the main body  110 , the user may directly apply force to the main body  110  to incline the main body  110  forward. Next, the user may detach the battery  130  in a direction opposite to the insertion direction S. The user may grip the grip part  106  and then apply force forward in order to incline the main body  110  forward. 
     When the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  moves forward. Therefore, the main body  110  may be maintained in a forward inclined state. 
     In the vacuum cleaner  1  of the present invention, in the state in which the battery  130  is mounted in the main body  110 , the main body  110  rotates backward such that the bottom of the main body  110  is separated from the floor. That is, the main body  110  may be two-point supported by the wheels  120 . In this case, since the cleaner body  10  easily passes an obstacle and friction applied to the wheels  120  is reduced, it is possible to reduce user labor required to move the main body  10 . 
     When the battery  130  is detached from the main body  110 , the center of gravity of the main body  110  moves forward to rotate forward and thus the battery attachment part  107  provided at the lower back side of the main body  110  is raised. Therefore, the user can easily attach the battery  130  to the battery attachment part  107 .