Abstract:
Disclosed is a locking unit to fix a removable cyclone dust collector in a receiving portion of a main body of a vacuum cleaner. The locking unit comprises a locking recess formed at one side of a contact surface of the cyclone dust collector and the receiving portion. A lock element ascends and descends between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to the locking recess and passes through a hole which is formed at another side of the contact surface of the cyclone dust collector and the receiving portion. An operating member selectively moves the lock element to the locking position and the unlocking position.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application claims priority to copending Korean Patent Application No.10-2003-0042054, filed Jun. 26, 2003, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus, and more specifically, to a locking unit to removably fix a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus to an upright type vacuum cleaner.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Referring to FIG. 3, an upright type vacuum cleaner comprises a main body  20  with a suction brush unit  10  mounted therein, and a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  received in a receiving portion  21  of the main body  20  of the vacuum cleaner. The cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  centrifugally separates dust and dirt from air, which is a technology well known in the related art. The cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  is fixed in the receiving portion  21  using a locking unit.  
           [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  fixed in the receiving portion  21  by a conventional locking unit  100 . FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the conventional locking unit of FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional locking unit  100  includes a supporting bracket  101  disposed on a bottom plate  45  of the receiving portion  21  (see FIG. 3), a movable disk  111  rotatably disposed in the supporting bracket  101 , and a locking disk  121  disposed at an upper portion of the movable disk  111  to move upward and downward.  
           [0005]    A hinge axis  112  is formed at a center portion of the movable disk  111 , and at a center of the hinge axis  112  an axis hole  113  is formed. The axis hole  13  of the movable disk  111  is rotatably connected with an axis  102  which protrudes at a center of the region surrounded by the supporting bracket  101 . The hinge axis  112  of the movable disk  111  is rotatably connected with a hinge hole  123  at a center of the locking disk  121 . On a top side of the movable disk  111 , a cam  115  is formed along a circumference of the movable disk  111  at a predetermined inclination.  
           [0006]    Also, on a bottom side of the locking disk  121  a cam  125  is formed along a circumference of the locking disk  121  at a predetermined inclination. Accordingly, upon rotating the movable disk  111  in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction, the locking disk  121  is moved upward and downward by the cooperation of the cam  115  of the movable disk  111  and the cam  125  of the locking disk  121 . At an outer surface of the movable disk  111  an operating lever  118  is formed extending in a radial direction of the movable disk  111  for a user to rotate the movable disk  111  in the clockwise or counter clockwise direction.  
           [0007]    At a bottom side of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30 , a receiving recess  133  is depressed inwardly for receiving the locking unit  100 . At an inner wall of the receiving recess  133  a fixing recess  135  is formed to engage with the locking disk  121 . For instance, upon rotating the movable disk  111  in the clockwise direction by moving the operating lever  118 , the locking disk  121  is ascended. The locking disk  121  ascends into the fixing recess  135  of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  131 , and by engaging the fixing recess  135  and the movable disk  111 , the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  131  is fixed.  
           [0008]    However, the locking unit  100  of the conventional cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  described above has a complicated structure and a bulky size. Also, it is difficult to manufacture and assemble the locking unit  100 , since the receiving recess  133  and the fixing recess  135  are respectively formed at the bottom side of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30 , to thereby increase the manufacturing cost. In addition, separating the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus  30  from the receiving portion  21  is complicated. Especially, the bulky locking unit  100  is exposed outside to thereby depreciate an appearance of the vacuum cleaner.  
           [0009]    From the user&#39;s viewpoint, it is difficult to manipulate the locking unit  100  with one hand by moving the operating lever  118  in the horizontal direction with respect to the vacuum cleaner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In view of the above shortcomings, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a locking unit of a cyclone dust collector having a simple structure, which enables easy and convenient manufacturing and assembling to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost.  
           [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a locking unit of a cyclone dust collector which enhances an appearance of a vacuum cleaner.  
           [0012]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a locking unit by which a cyclone dust collector is fixed with a simple operation.  
           [0013]    To accomplish the above aspects and features of the present invention, a locking unit of a cyclone dust collector of a vacuum cleaner, which is removably received in a receiving portion of a main body of the vacuum cleaner, includes a locking recess formed at one side of a contact surface of the cyclone dust collector and the receiving portion, a lock element ascending and descending between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to the locking recess and passes through a hole which is formed at the other side of the contact surface of the cyclone dust collector and the receiving portion, and an operating member to selectively move the lock element to the locking position and the unlocking position.  
           [0014]    The locking recess is formed by depressing upwardly at a bottom side of the cyclone dust collector, and the lock element is received in a manipulating unit disposed at a lower portion of the receiving portion to move upward and downward through the hole at a bottom side of the receiving portion.  
           [0015]    The operating member includes a grip rotatably exposed toward a front side of the manipulating unit, an extended bar extending from the grip toward the lock element passing through the front side of the manipulating unit, and an operating cam formed on a free end of the extended bar eccentrically. The operating cam rotates together with the grip and moves the lock element upward and downward  
           [0016]    At the front side of the manipulating unit an indicator is disposed to indicate locking and unlocking of the lock element with respect to the locking recess.  
           [0017]    According to the structure mentioned above, the locking unit of the cyclone dust collector may have a simple structure enabling easy manufacture and assembly, and a reduced manufacturing cost. In particular, using the locking unit, the cyclone dust collector operates easily. Also, while the cyclone dust collector is separated, there is no distraction from the appearance of the vacuum cleaner. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The above aspects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional locking unit for a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of an upright type vacuum cleaner;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional cyclone type dust collecting apparatus;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upright type vacuum cleaner having a locking unit for a cyclone dust collector according to the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a main body of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an enlarged assembly view of a main portion of FIG. 4, depicting a structure of the locking unit of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a body casing of FIG. 4, depicting a supporting rib supporting an extended bar of an operating member,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting the operating member in detail; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged sectional views of a main portion of FIG. 5, respectively, depicting ascending and descending of a lock element in a locking recess by the operating member.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]    Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upright type vacuum cleaner having a locking unit of a cyclone dust collector according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upright type vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upright type vacuum cleaner  1  comprises a main body  20  having an receiving portion  21  formed therein, a cyclone dust collector  30  removably mounted in the receiving portion  21 , and a suction brush unit  10 . The main body  20  has a handle  3  at an upper portion thereof.  
         [0030]    The main body  20  comprises a body casing  23  and a front panel  25  coupled to a front side of the body casing  23 . At a lower portion of the front panel  25  is mounted a vacuum generator  5 , which is shielded by a cover  7 . The front panel  25  has an opening at a center thereof to form the receiving portion  21 . The front panel  25  has a manipulating unit  41  at a lower portion of the receiving portion  21 , in which the locking unit  50  is disposed. The manipulating unit  41  is partitioned by a bottom plate  45  and a front plate  43  of the receiving portion  21 .  
         [0031]    The main body  20 , which has the body casing  23  and the front panel  25 , is usually provided with an inlet pipe  23   a  and an outlet duct  23   b . The inlet pipe  23   a  interconnects a suction port of the cyclone dust collector  30  with the suction brush unit  10 . The outlet duct  23   b  interconnects a discharge port of the cyclone dust collector  30  with the vacuum generator  5 . When the vacuum generator  5  is driven, a suction force is applied to the suction brush unit  10 , drawing in air containing dust and dirt into the inlet pipe. The drawn in air is directed into the cyclone dust collector  30  via the suction port, and the dust and dirt is centrifigally separated from the air and collected in the cyclone dust collector  30 . As a result, clean air is discharged to the discharge port and outside through the outlet duct  23   b.    
         [0032]    To centrifugally separate dust and dirt from air, the cyclone dust collector  30  includes a cyclone body  31  and a dust receptacle  33  removably disposed at a lower portion of the cyclone body  31 . The cyclone dust collector  30  is well-known technology and has been disclosed in many patent applications by various applicants including the present applicant. Accordingly, a detailed description of the cyclone dust collector  30  is omitted. However, according to the present invention, at a lower portion of the cyclone dust collector  30 , i.e., at a bottom side of the dust receptacle  33 , a locking recess  35  (see FIGS. 9 and 10) is formed. The locking recess  35  will be described in detail later together with a lock element  71 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is an enlarged assembly view of a main portion of FIG. 4 in assembly, depicting the structure of a locking unit of the cyclone dust collector  30 . FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the locking unit  50  comprises the lock element  71  disposed in the manipulating unit  41  to ascend and descend through the bottom plate  45  of the receiving portion  21 , the locking recess  35  (FIG. 9) formed at a bottom  34  of the cyclone dust collector  30 , and an operating member  81  to ascend the lock element  71  through the front side of the manipulating unit  41 .  
         [0034]    In the bottom plate  45  of the receiving portion  21 , a lock element hole  44  (see FIG. 4) is formed for the ascent/descent of the lock element  71 . The lock element  71  received in the lock element hole  44  is ascended to a locking position (see FIG. 10) and descended to an unlocking position (see FIG. 9). The lock element  71  is locked to and unlocked from the locking recess  35  of the bottom  34  of the cyclone dust collector  30 . Extended portions  73 ,  75  are protruded outside the lock element  71  for limiting a range of ascending and descending movement of the lock element  71 . The extended portion  75  (upper) is extended outward from an upper portion of the lock element  71 , and the extended portion  73  (lower) is extended outward from both sides of the lock element  71 . The extended portions  73 ,  75  are positioned at a regular distance from each other, and the bottom plate  45  of the receiving portion  21  is disposed between the extended portions  73  and  75 . At the lock element hole  44  of the bottom plate  45 , a rib  46  is projected upwardly to support the ascending and descending of the lock element  71 .  
         [0035]    The operating member  81 , as shown in FIG. 7 in detail, comprises an extended bar  85  having a regular sectional radius, a grip  82  at one end of the extended bar  85  extending in a radial direction thereof, and a operating cam  86  formed at a center portion of the extended bar  85 . The extended bar  85  passes through the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41  and is received therein. The front plate  43  has a through hole  48  to allow the passing of the extended bar  85 . The through hole  48  is formed opposed to the extended bar  85  so as to allow the passing of the operating cam  86  which is integrally formed with the extended bar  85 .  
         [0036]    The grip  82  is rotatable and exposed on the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41 . At both sides of the grip  82 , knurls  83  are formed for an easy grip by a user. At an inner side of the grip  82 , i.e., at a side opposing to the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41 , a movable threshold  84  is projected. At a centerportion of the movable threshold  84  amovable projection  89  is projected. The movable threshold  84  and the movable projection  89  are connected with fixed limiting projections  94 ,  94 ′ and fixed protuberances  99 ,  99 ′ formed at the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41 , which will be described later on.  
         [0037]    The operating cam  86  is extended from the extended bar  85  in an opposite direction to the extension direction of the grip  82  with respect to the extended bar  85 . On turning the grip  82  to a horizontal plane, the operating cam  86  is subsequently disposed in a horizontal plane. The operating cam  86  in the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 9, allows the lock element  71  to descend, i.e., to the unlocking position. On tuning the grip  82  to a vertical plane, the operating cam  86  is subsequently rotated to a vertical direction. The operating cam  86  in the vertical plane, as shown in FIG. 10, causes the lock element  71  to ascend, i.e., to the locking position.  
         [0038]    An indicator  91  is disposed at the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41  to indicate the position of the lock element  71 . With respect to the indicator  91  includes a “LOCK” mark formed at the vertical position and an “UNLOCK” mark formed at the horizontal position (see FIG. 5). When the grip  82  is positioned at the “LOCK” mark, this means that the lock element  71  is at the locking position with respect to the locking recess  35  of the cyclone dust collector  30 . When the grip  82  is positioned at the “UNLOCK” mark, this means that the lock element  71  is descended to the unlocking position.  
         [0039]    The indicator  91  includes the fixed limiting projections  94 , 94 ′ respectively protruded at the “LOCK” mark and the “UNLOCK” mark. The fixed limiting projections  94  and  94 ′ in cooperation with the movable threshold  84  of the grip  82  prevent an excessive rotation of the grip  82 . At an inner side of each fixed limiting projection  94 , 94 ′, the fixed protuberances  99 , 99 ′ are projected, respectively. Each of the fixed protuberances  99 , 99 ′ is engaged with the movable projection  89  of the grip  82 . Accordingly, the grip  82  of the operating member  81  is securely positioned at the “LOCK” mark or the “UNLOCK” mark on the indicator  91 .  
         [0040]    A terminal end  88  of the operating member  81 , which is passed through the front plate  43  of the manipulating unit  41  and received therein, is rotatably supported by a supporting rib  26 . As shown in FIG. 8, the supporting rib  26  may preferably be disposed in the body casing  23 .  
         [0041]    The locking unit  50  having the above structure enables the user to manipulate the grip  82  of the operating member  81  with convenience, with the grip  82  exposed toward a front of the manipulating unit  41 . In order to separate the cyclone dust collector  30  from the receiving portion  21 , the user rotates the grip  82  to the “UNLOCK” mark. The grip  82  is secured at the “UNLOCK” mark by the engagement of the movable projection  89  with the fixed protuberance  99 ′ of the indicator  91 . The user separates the cyclone dust collector  30 , removes the dust and dirt in the dust receptacle  33 , and re-mounts the cyclone dust collector  30  in the receiving portion  21 .  
         [0042]    In order to fix the cyclone dust collector  30  in the receiving portion  21 , the user rotates the grip  82  to the lock mark. With the grip  82  at the lock mark, the operating cam  86 , eccentric to the extended bar  85 , raises the lock element  71 . At the locking position, the lock element  71  and the locking recess  35  of the dust receptacle  33  are engaged with each other to thereby securely fix the cyclone dust collector  30  in the receiving portion  21 .  
         [0043]    According to the above embodiment, in the main body  20  of the vacuum cleaner  1 , the manipulating unit  41  at the lower portion of the front panel  25  includes the operating member  81  and the lock element  71 , while the dust receptacle  33  of the cyclone dust collector  30  includes the locking recess  35 . However, the aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will also be accomplished by variations such as the dust receptacle  35  having the operating member  81  and the lock element  71 , and the manipulating unit  41  having the locking recess  35 .  
         [0044]    While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, additional variations and modifications in that embodiment may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.