Abstract:
A suction brush assembly is provided that includes a suction brush casing having a dust introducing channel for introducing dirt and a suction port for drawing the dirt from the dust introducing channel; a first and a second rotation plates rotatably disposed on a bottom surface of the suction brush casing and rotating in the opposite direction to each other; a rotation power source for providing power for rotating the rotation plates; a power transmission transmitting the rotation power of the rotation power source to the rotation plates; and a dirt guidance member formed on the first and the second rotation plates, for scraping off hairs or feathers from a surface to be cleaned to guide them to the dust introducing channel so that the hairs or the feathers can be easily guided to the suction port.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a suction brush assembly, and more particularly, to a suction brush assembly to remove hair or contaminants scattered on an object being cleaned efficiently. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A vacuum cleaner suctions dust or contaminants from an object being cleaned, using a suction pressure generated in a suction motor housed within a main body, and a suction brush assembly contacting at a lower portion to the object being cleaned. 
         [0005]    However, such suction brush assembly has a limit in its suction efficiency when cleaning pet hair or human hair scattered around the object being cleaned. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a suction brush assembly for removing contaminants such as pet hair or human hair from an object being cleaned efficiently and thus maximizing cleaning efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a suction brush assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a suction brush assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an interior of a suction brush casing of  FIG. 1 , by cutting away an upper portion; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a suction port in a varied configuration from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first rotating plate of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a first rotating plate in a varied configuration from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a first rotating plate in a varied configuration from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a first rotating plate in a varied configuration from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a second rotating plate in a varied configuration from the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a suction brush assembly  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. 
         [0017]    The suction brush assembly  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention operates to collect and suction human hair or pet hair scattered around an object being cleaned, in which the downstream side is connected through a generally known extension passage (not illustrated) for fluid communication with the cleaner main body which houses therein a vacuum motor (not illustrated) and a dust separating device (not illustrated). 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the suction brush assembly  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a suction brush casing  110 , a turbine fan  130 , a first rotating plate  150 , a second rotating plate  170 , and a driving force transmitting means  190 . 
         [0019]    The suction brush casing  110  includes an extension pipe connector  120  formed on the rear portion to be connected with the extension passage (not illustrated) of the cleaner, and a rectangular suction port  115  extended lengthwise in the front lower portion. Contaminants are introduced through the suction port  115 , moved through the inside of the suction brush casing  110  to the extension pipe connector  120 , and entered into the extension passage (not illustrated). 
         [0020]    The turbine fan  130  is rotatably installed on a rear portion of the suction brush casing  110 . 
         [0021]    The turbine fan  130  includes a plurality of turbine blades  130   a . Accordingly, the turbine fan  130  is rotated as the incoming air through the suction port  115  collides against the turbine blades  130   a.    
         [0022]    The first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  are rotatably mounted on the lower portion of the suction brush casing  110  to rake in human or pet hair on the object being cleaned toward the suction port  115 . To this end, the center of rotation of the first rotating plate  150  is fixed to a first rotating shaft  155  ( FIG. 3 ), and the first rotating shaft  155  ( FIG. 3 ) is rotatably inserted in an inner portion of the suction brush casing  110 . The center of the second rotating plate  170  is fixed to the second rotating shaft  175  ( FIG. 3 ), and the second rotating shaft  175  (FIG.  3 ) is rotatably inserted in an inner portion of the suction brush casing  110 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  have a plurality of projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  formed to have an appropriate thickness to efficiently rake in human or pen hair from the object being cleaned toward the suction port  115 . The projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  are made of rubber material according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The plurality of projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  are spiraled from the center portion of the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170 , at a predetermined space apart from each other. In other words, the projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  are formed on the lower surface of the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  in a spiral pattern. The first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  have opposite spirals, and referring to  FIG. 2 , the projecting ribs  152   a  of the first rotating plate  150  spiral from the center of the first rotating plate  150  clockwise, and the projecting ribs  172   a  of the second rotating plate  170  spiral from the center of the second rotating plate  170  counterclockwise. 
         [0023]    While the projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  are formed to have a predetermined thickness, other alternatives are possible. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second projecting ribs  152   b  may be implemented as multi-layered ribs  152   b  and arranged in an alternate pattern with the projection ribs  152   a  at predetermined intervals. 
         [0024]    While the projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  are formed in a spiral configuration on the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  to guide human or pet hair toward the suction port  115  in the exemplary embodiment explained above, other alternatives are possible. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plurality of rods  152   c  having extended tops may be arranged on the first rotating plate  150  in a clockwise spiral fashion. In this example, another rods are formed on the second rotating plate  170  in a counterclockwise spiral fashion. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plurality of hook loop members  152   d  may be arranged on the first rotating plate  150  in a clockwise spiral fashion around the center of the first rotating plate  150 . In this example, loop members are formed on the second rotating plate  170  in a spiral fashion which is opposite to that on the first rotating plate  150 . 
         [0026]    While the rubber projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  are formed on the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  in a spiral pattern to rake human or pet hair on the object being cleaned and move this toward the suction port  115  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, other alternatives are possible. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a plurality of bristles  152   e  may be planted in the first rotating plate  150  in a spiral arrangement around the center of the first rotating plate  150 , and bristles are also planted in the second rotating plate  170  in an opposite spiral arrangement to that of the bristles  152   e  planed in the first rotating plate  150 . The bristles  152   e  may be made of various materials. 
         [0027]    The driving force transmitting means  190  operates to transmit a driving force generated by the turbine fan  130  to the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170 . The driving force transmitting means  190  includes a worm  137  extending horizontally along the coaxial direction of the turbine fan  130 , and worm wheels  157  and  177  formed on the upper portion of the first and second rotating shafts  155  and  175  to correspond to the worm  137 . However, the turbine fan  130  may transmit driving force to the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  in various alternative manners. While the above exemplary embodiment employs the turbine fan  130  to generate a driving force from the incoming air, a separate motor may be used instead of the turbine fan  130  to transmit the driving force to the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170 . 
         [0028]    In the above structure, a suction force is generated in the suction port  115  as the suction motor (not illustrated) starts operating inside the cleaner body, and thereby suctions dust-entrained air from an object being cleaned. In this process, the incoming air collides with the turbine blades  130   a  of the turbine fan  130  to rotate the turbine fan  130 . According to the rotation of the turbine fan  130 , the worm  137  formed coaxially with the turbine fan  130  rotates, transmitting the driving force to the worm wheels  157  and  177 . By the driving force transmitted to the worm wheels  157  and  177 , the first and second rotating shafts  155  and  175  integrally formed with the worm wheels  157  and  177  rotate together, and as a result, the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  fixed with the first and second rotating shafts  155  and  175  are rotated accordingly. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first rotating plate  150  rotates counterclockwise, and the second rotating plate  170  rotates clockwise. In other words, the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  are rotated toward the center part  115   a  of the suction port  115 . 
         [0029]    While the suction port  115  of the suction brush assembly  100  is extended lengthwise along the front portion of the suction brush casing  110 , other alternatives are possible. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the suction port  115  may be formed to overlap a part of the central axes of the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170 . 
         [0030]    While the first rotating plate  150  rotates counterclockwise, the projecting ribs  152   a  are arranged on the first rotating plate  150  in a clockwise spiral fashion around the center of the first rotating plate  150 , and the second rotating plate  170  rotates clockwise, and the projecting ribs  172   a  are arranged on the second rotating plate  170  in a counterclockwise spiral fashion around the center of the second rotating plate  170 , other alternatives are possible. For example, when the first rotating plate  150  rotates clockwise and the second rotating plate  170  rotates counterclockwise, the projecting ribs formed on the first rotating plate  150  may be arranged in a counterclockwise spiral fashion around the center of the first rotating plate  150 , and the projecting ribs of the second plate  170  may be arranged in a clockwise fashion around the center of the second rotating plate  170 . 
         [0031]    Hereinbelow, the operation and effect of the suction brush assembly  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0032]    When the suction motor (not illustrated) housed inside the cleaner body is driven, suction force is generated in the suction port  115 , to suction dust-entrained air from an object being cleaned. Accordingly, the turbine fan  130  rotates by the incoming air, and the force by the rotation of the turbine fan  130  is transmitted to the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  by the driving force transmitting means  190  to rotate the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first rotating plate  150  rotates counterclockwise, and the second rotating plate  170  rotates clockwise. As the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  rotate, the projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a  formed on the first and second rotating plates  150  and  170  scratch human or pet hair off from the object being cleaned. At this situation, because the projecting ribs  152   a  of the first rotating plate  150  are formed in a clockwise spiral fashion around the center of the first rotating plate  150  and the first rotating plate  150  rotates counterclockwise, human or pet hair raked by the projecting ribs  152   a  is pushed toward the suction port  115 . 
         [0034]    Furthermore, because the projecting ribs  172   a  of the second rotating plate  170  are formed in counterclockwise spiral fashion around the center of the second rotating plate  170  and the second rotating plate  170  rotates clockwise, human or pet hair raked by the projecting ribs  172   a  are pushed toward the suction port  115 . As the human or pet hair is raked and pushed toward the suction port  115  by the projecting ribs  152   a  and  172   a , the hair is introduced into the dust separating device (not illustrated) mounted in the cleaner body (not illustrated) through the extension passage (not illustrated). 
         [0035]    A user of the suction brush assembly can clean human or pet hair more efficiently, because this contaminant is raked off from the object being cleaned and pushed toward the suction port. As a result, cleaning efficiency is increased.