Abstract:
A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is provided which includes a built in accessory tool. The suction nozzle includes a main body with an inlet which contacts the cleaning surface, and a connection portion which connects the main body of the nozzle to the vacuum cleaner. The nozzle also includes an accessory tool which communicates with the main body of the suction nozzle through a connection hose, and which, when extended, makes use of the suction force flowing through the main body of the suction nozzle. When not in use, the accessory tool is secured to the main body of the suction nozzle. In this manner, smaller, more narrow areas may be cleaned without first having to separate the suction nozzle from the vacuum cleaner in order to use an accessory tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, which is formed integrally with an accessory tool capable of efficiently cleaning places such as corners. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   A general vacuum cleaner will be first described with reference to  FIG. 1 . As shown in the figure, the general vacuum cleaner comprises a main body  2  for containing a motor capable of generating suction power, a connection hose  4  made of a flexible material and connected to the interior of the main body to communicate therewith, an extension tube  6  constructed such that it can be connected to the connection hose  4  and its length can be adjusted, and a suction nozzle  8  which is installed at a lower end of the extension tube  6  and sucks air containing foreign substances from a floor. 
   The main body  2  houses the motor for generating the suction power by forming vacuum as well as a filtering device for filtering out the foreign substances from the sucked air. A pair of wheels  2   a  are installed at lower portions of the main body  2  so that the main body  2  of the vacuum cleaner can be moved to a desired place. On one side of the main body are installed a power plug  2   b  for supply of electric power and a power cord connected thereto. The power cord is wound around a cord reel within the main body. A grip portion  5  which a user grasps with hands is detachably installed at an upper end of the extension tube  6 . The grip portion  5  is provided with an operation button  5   a  for controlling an operation of the vacuum cleaner. 
   When cleaning is performed, the suction nozzle  8  sucks the air containing the foreign substances from a place to be cleaned by means of the suction power generated in the main body  2 . The air sucked thus is introduced into the main body through the extension tube  6  and the connection hose  4 . The foreign substances filtered out by the filtering device are collected on one side of the interior of the main body  2 , and the filtered air passes by the motor to dissipate heat from the motor and then is discharged to the outside. 
   An open inlet through which the air is sucked is formed in a bottom face of the suction nozzle  8  for sucking the air containing the foreign substances from a floor to be cleaned. The suction nozzle  8  is constructed to be detachably coupled to the extension tube  6 . Therefore, the suction nozzle  8  with a general configuration as shown in the figure is usually used for cleaning of large and flat places such as floors of rooms or living rooms. If necessary, the suction nozzle  8  is separated from the end of the extension tube  6  and then an additional tool such as a crevice tool or brush tool can be connected thereto. For example, in case of cleaning a very narrow place, the crevice tool instead of the suction nozzle  8  is connected to the extension tube  6 . In case of cleaning upholstery, a sofa or the like, the brush tool with a brush attached to a front face of an inlet thereof is connected to the extension tube. 
   With the configuration of such a conventional suction nozzle, there is inconvenience in that in case of cleaning corner places, the vacuum cleaner can be used only when the suction nozzle  8  is separated from and then an additional accessory tool is connected to the extension tube. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is contemplated to solve the problem in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning corner or narrow places as well as a general floor. 
   According to the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a main body with an inlet for sucking air containing foreign substances; a connection portion formed at a rear surface of the main body of the suction nozzle for guiding the sucked air to a main body of the vacuum cleaner; an accessory tool that is formed to be smaller than the main body of the suction nozzle and has an inlet for sucking the air containing the foreign substances; and a connection hose for allowing the accessory tool to communicate with the interior of the main body of the suction nozzle. 
   With such a configuration, relatively wide places can be easily cleaned by the main body of the suction nozzle, and narrow places such as corners of stairs can also be easily cleaned by the accessory tool of the suction nozzle. 
   Preferably, the accessory tool is constructed to be detachably mounted on a side surface of the main body of the suction nozzle. For example, a vertical mounting protrusion is formed at the side surface of the suction nozzle and a mounting recess with a closed upper end into which the mounting protrusion is inserted is formed at a side surface of the accessory tool, so that the accessory tool can be detachably mounted on the main body of the suction nozzle. 
   Preferably, a connection duct communicating with the connection portion is installed in the main body of the suction nozzle, and an opening for guiding the air, which has been sucked into the main body of the suction nozzle, into the connection duct is formed at a front end of the connection duct. 
   A rear end of the connection hose of the accessory tool may be connected to the connection duct to communicate therewith in the main body of the suction nozzle. Alternatively, the rear end of the connection hose of the accessory tool may be connected to the connection portion to communicate therewith at a rear portion of the main body of the suction nozzle. 
   The suction nozzle may further comprise an opening/closing means for opening and closing the opening. The opening/closing means may comprise an opening/closing lever that is installed above the front end of the connection duct and is circular in cross section and an opening/closing plate for opening or closing the opening, the opening/closing lever is rotatably supported on the connection duct, and sidewall portions of the connection duct for defining the opening are formed in the shape of an arc, whereby the opening is opened or closed by means of the rotation of the opening/closing lever. 
   Preferably, the suction nozzle further comprises an agitator installed to be rotatably supported just above the inlet of the main body of the suction nozzle, and a rotating means for causing the agitator to rotate. The rotating means for causing the agitator to rotate may comprise, for example, a driving motor installed in the main body of the suction nozzle, and a belt for transmitting rotational force from the driving motor to the agitator. 
   With the use of the agitator, a surface of a carpet and the like can be easily cleaned. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of a general vacuum cleaner; 
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary perspective view of a suction nozzle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view showing a use state of the suction nozzle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction nozzle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of an accessory tool of the suction nozzle and a main body of the suction nozzle according to the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 6(   a ) and ( b ) are exemplary views showing a procedure of using the accessory tool of the suction nozzle of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention comprises a main body  100  with a bottom surface having a predetermined area so as to clean generally wide places, and an accessory tool  200  connected to and mounted on one side of the main body  100  through a connection hose  220  so as to clean narrow places. 
   The main body  100  is a portion for sucking air containing foreign substances from a general floor by using the bottom surface thereof having the predetermined area. Meantime, the accessory tool  200  is detachably installed on the main body  100 , and thus, it can be used together with the main body  100  as shown in  FIG. 3  or independently from the main body  100 , if necessary. The accessory tool  200  of the present invention may be implemented in various configurations, e.g., a small crevice tool shown in the figure or a small brush tool. 
   Further, the main body  100  and the accessory tool  220  are connected to each other through the connection hose  220 . The connection hose  220  is made of a flexible material, connects the one side of the main body  100  to the accessory tool  200  and causes the air containing the foreign substances introduced through the accessory tool  200  to be introduced into the main body  100 . 
   The bottom surface of the main body  100  is formed with an inlet  112  for sucking the air by means of suction power generated in a main body of the vacuum cleaner. A connection portion  110  is formed at a rear end of the main body  100  to communicate with an extension tube of the vacuum cleaner. Therefore, the air sucked through the inlet  112  is guided into the connection portion  110 . 
   In the present invention, the air sucked through the main body  100  and the accessory tool  200  is guided into the main body of the vacuum cleaner through the connection portion  110 . The connection portion  110  may be connected to the extension tube of the vacuum cleaner or directly to a grip portion to which an upper end of the extension tube is detachably connected. 
   Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, an agitator  114  is rotatably installed just above the inlet  112 . The agitator  114  is rotatably supported by both inner side surfaces of the main body  100 , and brushes  116  are helically installed on an outer surface of the agitator. The agitator  114  is used for cleaning of a carpet or the like and installed in a state where distal ends of the brushes  116  slightly protrude downward beyond the inlet  112 . Therefore, when the agitator  114  rotates, the brushes  116  come into contact with a surface of the carpet or the like so as to shake off the foreign substances such as dirt adhering to the carpet. The foreign substances such as dirt that have been shaken off in such a way are sucked together with the air through the inlet  112 . 
   A driving motor  120  for causing the agitator  114  to rotate is installed within the main body  100 . A belt  124  is wound around an output shaft of the driving motor  120  and one end of the agitator  114 . Thus, rotational force from the driving motor  120  is transmitted to the agitator  114  through the belt  124 . Accordingly, as described above, as the agitator  114  rotates upon cleaning of the carpet, the foreign substances such as dirt can be shaken off from the carpet. 
   However, various modifications may be made to the configuration for causing the agitator  114  to rotate. For example, if a turbine is installed within a connection duct  130 , the turbine rotates by means of the force of a wind generated by the suction. The agitator  114  can be constructed to rotate even by means of connection of the turbine and the agitator through the belt. 
   The connection portion  110  extends forward to form the connection duct  130 . An opening  132  is formed at a front end of the connection duct  130 . The air containing the foreign substances sucked through the inlet  112  is introduced into the connection duct  130  through the opening  132  and then into the extension tube of the vacuum cleaner through the connection portion  110  formed at the rear end of the connection duct  130 . 
   An inlet  202  for sucking the air containing the foreign substances is formed at an end of the accessory tool  200 . As described above, the accessory tool  200  of the present invention is implemented to be smaller than the main body  100  so that it can easily clean corner portions. Further, the accessory tool  200  may be modified in a variety of types of accessory tools, as described above. It will be apparent that the accessory tool may be constructed in the form of a small accessory tool that is similar to a crevice tool shown in the figures or has a brush. 
   The accessory tool  200  is constructed to communicate with the main body  100  through the connection hose  220 . That is, the connection hose  220  connected to a rear end of the accessory tool  20  may be installed to communicate with a front part of the connection portion  110  or with the connection duct  130  in the main body  130 . 
   With such a connection hose  220  that communicates with the connection duct  130  or the front part of the connection portion  110 , the air sucked through the accessory tool  200  is guided into the extension tube of the vacuum cleaner through the connection portion  110 . 
   Further, it is preferred that the accessory tool  200  be detachably installed on the main body  100 . In other words, when cleaning is mainly performed using the main body  100 , the accessory tool  200  is constructed to move and suck the air containing the foreign substances together with the main body  100  in a state where the accessory tool  200  is mounted on the main body  100 . If necessary, the accessory tool  200  can be separated from the main body  100  to be used independently. 
   Therefore, the accessory tool  200  is detachably installed on the main body  100  and structures for such detachable installation will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  6 ( a ) and ( b ). As shown in the figures, a mounting protrusion  150  is formed to protrude outward from a side surface of the main body  100 , and a mounting recess  210  into which the mounting protrusion  150  can be fixedly inserted is formed in a side surface of the accessory tool  200  corresponding to the side surface of the main body. 
   The mounting protrusion  150  is formed to have such a predetermined vertical length that the accessory tool  200  can be fitted over the mounting protrusion in a vertical direction. The section of the mounting protrusion may be T-shaped in the same manner as the embodiment shown in the figures. Further, the mounting recess  210  has such a predetermined vertical length that it can be fitted over the mounting protrusion  150  in the vertical direction, i.e. downward from above. An upper end of the mounting recess  210  is closed. Thus, the mounting recess  210  of the accessory tool  200  can be fitted over the mounting protrusion  150  downward from above, so that the accessory tool  200  can be mounted on the main body  100  and kept in a fixed state. Accordingly, when cleaning is performed in such a state, the air containing the foreign substances is sucked through the inlet  102  of the main body  100  and even through the inlet  202  of the accessory tool  200 . 
   Moreover, in a case where the accessory tool  200  is required to be separated from the main body  100 , for example, in case of cleaning a narrow place that cannot be cleaned using the main body  100 , there is no choice but to use the accessory tool  200 . In this case, the accessory tool  200  can be separated from the main body and used independently. 
   In the aforementioned embodiment, it has been described that the accessory tool  200  is detachably installed on the main body  100  by forming the mounting protrusion  150  and the mounting recess  210  and fitting the mounting recess  210  of the accessory tool  200  over the mounting protrusion  150  downward from above. However, it will be apparent that the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent that so far as the accessory tool  20  can be mounted on the main body  100  to be kept in the fixed state or can be separated from the main body to be used independently, various modifications may be made to the connection relationship between the accessory tool  200  and the main body  100  and any known detachable-connection means may be utilized. 
   In the case where the accessory tool  200  is independently used according to the present invention, it will be apparent that suction power through the accessory tool  200  is further enhanced if the air introduced through the inlet  112  of the main body  100  is blocked. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6(   a ) and ( b ), it can be seen from  FIG. 6(   a ) that the opening  132  at the front end of the connection duct  130  installed in the main body  100  is opened. In such a state, it will be apparent that the air sucked through the inlet  112  of the main body  100  is introduced into the connection duct  130  through the opening  132 . Further, the air sucked through the inlet  202  of the accessory tool  200  in such a state is introduced into the connection duct  130  through the connection hose  220 . 
   Therefore, when the accessory tool  200  is separated to be used independently in such a state, the suction power through the accessory tool  200  is relatively weak. It will be apparent that when the opening  132  formed at the front end of the connection duct  130  is closed, suction power through the main body  100  does not exist and thus the suction power through the accessory tool  200  becomes relatively strong. 
   According to the present invention, the suction nozzle is provided with an opening/closing device capable of selectively opening or closing the opening  132 . For example, an opening/closing lever  140  is installed above the opening  132  of the connection duct  130 . Further, the opening/closing lever  140  is circular in cross section and designed to have an opening/closing plate  142  formed at a lower portion thereof to be interlocked therewith. It is preferred that the opening/closing plate  142  be formed in the shape of an arc corresponding to the opening/closing lever  140  having the circular cross-section. 
   Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the front end of the connection duct  130  at which the opening  132  is formed is also shaped to correspond to the shape of the opening/closing lever  140 . Thus, the opening/closing plate  142  can maintain the closed or opened state of the opening  132 . 
   The state shown in  FIG. 6(   a ) is the opened state of the opening  132  where the opening/closing plate  142  of the opening/closing lever  140  is positioned at a side of the connection duct  130 . If the accessory tool  200  is intended to be used independently in this state, strong suction power is required. Thus, the opening  132  should be closed using the opening/closing lever  140 . 
   To this end, if the opening/closing lever  140  is rotated in a predetermined direction as shown in  FIG. 6(   b ), the opening/closing plate  142  formed at the lower portion of the opening/closing lever  140  is rotated to close the opening  132 . 
   In the state where the opening  132  is closed in such a way, air is not substantially sucked through the inlet  112  of the main body  100 . Then, the suction power generated in the main body of the vacuum cleaner is transmitted to the accessory tool  200  and thus stronger suction power is exerted by the accessory tool. 
   Next, other modified embodiments of the present invention having the same subject as the previous embodiment will be discussed. 
   The previous embodiment of the present invention is constructed such that the air sucked through both the accessory tool  200  and the main body  100  is introduced into the extension tube of the vacuum cleaner by using the single connection portion  110 . 
   It is sufficient that the connection hose  220  connected to the accessory tool  200  is configured to join a suction passage of the main body  100  at a position just before the connection portion  110 . For example, it is possible to cause a rear end of the connection hose  220  to communicate with the connection portion  110  or to be connected to the connection duct  100  in the main body  130 , as described above. 
   Since the opening  132  of the connection duct  130  is to substantially guide the air, which has been sucked through the inlet  112  of the main body  100 , into the connection portion  110 , it will be apparent that the opening may be of any configuration so far as it can guide the air, which has been sucked through the inlet  112 , into the connection portion  110 . 
   Further, various modifications may be made to the configurations of the opening/closing lever  140  and the opening/closing plate  142  for blocking inflow of the air through the inlet  112  of the main body  100 . The opening/closing plate  142  is to prevent the air sucked through the inlet  112  from being introduced into the connection duct  130 . Thus, those skilled in the art can make various modifications within the technical scope that only the air sucked through the accessory tool  200  is caused to be introduced into the connection portion  110  by blocking the air guided from the interior of the main body  100  into the connection portion  110 . For example, other modifications may be made within the scope that that only the air sucked through the accessory tool  200  is caused to be introduced into the connection portion  110  by selectively blocking the interior of the connection duct  130 . 
   Moreover, although the opening/closing plate  142  and the opening/closing lever  140  are constructed to have the arc or circular cross-section in the illustrated embodiment, they are not limited thereto. For example, it will be apparent that any known structures can be employed to selectively block the opening  132  of the connection duct  130  so far as they can block the opening  132 . 
   According to the present invention described above, it can be expected to obtain the following advantages. With the present invention, the main body  100  can be utilized upon cleaning of a floor, and the accessory tool  200  can be utilized, if necessary, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, in case of cleaning narrow corner places such as stairs, more efficient cleaning can be performed by utilizing the aforementioned accessory tool  200 . 
   Furthermore, it will be apparent that the suction power through the accessory tool  200  can be substantially enhanced by blocking the opening  132  of the main body  100 . Such enhancement of the suction power of the accessory tool means that the cleaning using the accessory tool can be more efficiently performed. Thus, convenience of cleaning can be substantially more improved. 
   When the agitator installed in the main body  100  of the suction nozzle of the present invention is used, there is convenience in that a carpet can be more efficiently cleaned. 
   It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications within the scope of the technical sprit of the invention, as described above. Further, the present invention should be construed based on the appended claims.