Patent Description:
A cleaner is a device that performs cleaning by sucking and wiping dust or foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned.

Such a cleaner may be classified into a manual cleaner that performs cleaning while a user directly moves the cleaner and an automatic cleaner that performs cleaning while the cleaner is driven by itself. The manual cleaner may be classified into a canister cleaner, an upright cleaner, a handheld cleaner, a stick cleaner and the like depending on types of the cleaner.

The above-described cleaner may have a rechargeable battery embedded therein, and the rechargeable battery may supply electric power for operating the cleaner only when being frequently charged. Thus, the cleaner requires a holder that may simultaneously charge the rechargeable battery and hold the cleaner.

Contents of a vacuum cleaner holder are disclosed in <CIT> as the prior art.

The vacuum cleaner holder according to the prior art includes a pedestal for holding a head of a vacuum cleaner to simultaneously charge and hold the vacuum cleaner and a support having charging pins for charging the vacuum cleaner.

Meanwhile, the vacuum cleaner holder according to the prior art, which holds a vacuum cleaner having a center on a lower side thereof, is inserted into support pieces on a lower side of the vacuum cleaner to support the vacuum cleaner. However, in case of a cleaner having a center on an upper side thereof, because a charging terminal should be provided on an upper side, the cleaner holder according to the prior art may not hold the cleaner.

<CIT> discloses a cleaner holder according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. <CIT> discloses a handheld dust collector with a bracket. <CIT> discloses an electric vacuum cleaner which balances functioning as an electric vacuum cleaner and as an air cleaner.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner holder which may simultaneously charge a cleaner and a battery, and which be used in a stand type or a wall-mounted type, as needed.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner holder which may be used while being supported by a floor.

A cleaner holder which is fixed to a wall surface includes: a first body which is fixed to the wall surface on a rear surface of the first body and has a first charging port formed on a front surface of the first body to charge a cleaner, and of which the front surface is in contact with a first surface of the cleaner; a second body which protrudes from the first body and of which an upper surface supports a second surface of the cleaner; and a locking part provided on the first body and coupled to the cleaner.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a cleaner holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a front view of the cleaner holder of <FIG>, <FIG> is a rear view of the cleaner holder of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a cleaner is held on the cleaner holder.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a cleaner holder <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a charging stand <NUM> for charging a battery of the cleaner <NUM>. The charging stand <NUM> may simultaneously support the cleaner <NUM> and charge the battery provided in the cleaner <NUM>.

The cleaner <NUM> may include a cleaner body <NUM> having a suction motor, a battery housing <NUM> in which the battery is accommodated, an extension tube <NUM> and a suction nozzle <NUM>. The cleaner body <NUM> may include a dust separator <NUM> for separating dust and a dust container <NUM> in which the dust separated by the dust separator <NUM> are stored. External air may be introduced by suction force generated in the cleaner body <NUM> through the suction nozzle <NUM> and the extension tube <NUM> and may be moved to the dust container <NUM> provided in the cleaner body <NUM>. Hereinafter, detailed descriptions of the cleaner <NUM> will be omitted.

The charging stand <NUM> includes a first body <NUM> and a second body 110a.

The first body <NUM> includes a charging port <NUM> (or a first charging port). The charging port <NUM> may be in contact with terminals of the cleaner <NUM> to charge the battery provided in the cleaner <NUM>.

An extra battery <NUM> may be accommodated in the second body 110a. The second body 110a may additionally include a charging port (117d) (see <FIG>) (or a second charging port) for charging the extra battery <NUM>.

Extra nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> may be coupled to the charging stand <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> may be attached/detached to/from the cleaner <NUM> or the like. In general, a cleaner may include a plurality of replaceable suction nozzles according to usage. Thus, it is inconvenient to store the suction nozzle that is not used. However, in this way, when the suction nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are stored while being coupled to the charging stand <NUM>, the risk of loss is reduced, and a user may easily use the same. The extra nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> may be named accessories.

Fixing parts 115a and 115b for fixing the charging stand <NUM> to a wall surface may be provided on a rear surface <NUM> of the first body <NUM>. Accordingly, the charging stand <NUM> may be fixed to the wall surface. For example, the fixing parts 115a and 115b may have a hole or groove shape. Accordingly, nails or the like, which are installed on the wall surface, are inserted into the fixing parts 115a and 115b, so that the first body <NUM> may be fixed to the wall surface.

A support part <NUM> for supporting the cleaner body <NUM> may be provided in the second body 110a. The support part <NUM> may support the cleaner body <NUM> from below.

The charging stand <NUM> further includes a locking part <NUM> provided in the first body <NUM>. The locking part <NUM> may be coupled to the cleaner <NUM> to stably fix the cleaner <NUM>.

In detail, the locking part <NUM> may be coupled to the battery housing <NUM> to support the cleaner <NUM>. An inner peripheral surface of the locking part <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to an outer peripheral surface of the battery housing <NUM> to surround the outer peripheral surface of the battery housing <NUM>.

The user may selectively rotate the locking part <NUM> forward/rearward such that the locking part <NUM> may be coupled to the battery housing <NUM>. The locking part <NUM> may include an anti-slide part <NUM> for providing friction force such that the user may easily grip the locking part <NUM>. The anti-slide part <NUM> may include a plurality of bosses on an outer peripheral surface of the locking part <NUM>.

The cleaner holder <NUM> may further include a stand <NUM> for supporting the charging stand <NUM>.

The stand <NUM> may include a base <NUM> supported on a floor and a support <NUM> provided in the base <NUM>. The support <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the charging stand <NUM>.

The support <NUM> may extend from the base <NUM> in a vertical direction. The support <NUM> may be coupled to an electric wire <NUM> provided in the charging stand <NUM>. The electric wire <NUM> may extend from the rear surface <NUM> of the first body <NUM> to be connected to an external power source.

The base <NUM> may include an inclined surface <NUM> on which the suction nozzle <NUM> of the cleaner <NUM> is held and a stopper <NUM> for preventing the suction nozzle <NUM> of the cleaner <NUM> from being separated therefrom.

The stopper <NUM> may protrude from an end of the inclined surface <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> serves to support the suction nozzle <NUM> such that a state in which the suction nozzle <NUM> is stably seated on the base <NUM> may be maintained.

Hereinafter, a method for coupling the cleaner <NUM> to the holder <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a cleaner is held on the cleaner holder. In detail, <FIG> illustrates a state in which the cleaner is coupled to a support part, and <FIG> illustrates a state in which the locking part is coupled to the cleaner.

Referring to <FIG>, a cleaner guide <NUM> for guiding movement of the cleaner body <NUM> may be provided in the second body 110a.

The cleaner guide <NUM> may be provided inside the support part <NUM>. Accordingly, the cleaner body <NUM> may be moved forward/rearward along the cleaner guide <NUM> while being supported by the support part <NUM>. As illustrated, the cleaner body <NUM> is moved along the cleaner guide <NUM> to come into contact with the charging port <NUM>.

The locking part <NUM> may be rotatably connected to the first body <NUM> within a predetermined angle. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the locking part <NUM> is maximally rotated rearward (in a clockwise direction in <FIG>).

The first body <NUM> may include an elastic member (not illustrated) for applying elastic force to the locking part <NUM>. In a state in which the locking part <NUM> is rotated rearward, the elastic member (not illustrated) may apply elastic force to a rear side thereof such that a state in which the locking part <NUM> is rotated rearward is maintained.

The locking part <NUM> may include a push part <NUM>. The push part <NUM> may be provided inside the locking part <NUM>. The push part <NUM> may be pressed by the battery housing <NUM> while the cleaner body <NUM> is moved along the cleaner guide <NUM>.

When the push part <NUM> is pressed by the battery housing <NUM>, the locking part <NUM> may be operated.

In detail, when the locking part <NUM> is operated, the locking part <NUM> may be rotated forward (in a counterclockwise direction in <FIG>) to be coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the battery housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the locking part <NUM> may cover at least a portion of the battery housing <NUM>.

When the locking part <NUM> is rotated forward, the elastic member (not illustrated) may apply elastic force such that a state in which the locking part <NUM> is rotated forward is maintained. Accordingly, the locking part <NUM> may serve to fix the battery housing <NUM> to the first body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which an extra battery is separated from the cleaner holder.

Referring to <FIG>, the charging stand <NUM> includes the second body for accommodating the extra battery <NUM>.

The second body 110a may protrude from the first body <NUM>. A battery accommodating space 117a in which an extra battery <NUM> is to be accommodated may be formed in the second body 110a. The battery accommodating space 117a may be recessed rearward from one surface of the second body 110a. Further, the battery accommodating space 117a may be provided inside the support part <NUM> and the cleaner guide <NUM>.

A charging port 117d for charging the extra battery <NUM> is provided inside the battery accommodating space 117a.

The first and second bodies <NUM> and 110a may include grooves 117b and 117c for allowing the extra battery <NUM> accommodated in the battery accommodating space 117a to be easily gripped.

The grooves 117b and 117c may include a first groove 117b provided in front of the battery accommodating space 117a and a second groove 117c provided on a rear side of the battery accommodating space 117a.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a nozzle is separated from a charging stand.

Referring to <FIG>, the charging stand <NUM> may include connectors 118a and 118b to which the extra nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are selectively coupled. The connectors 118a and 118b may extend from one side of the charging stand <NUM>. The connectors 118a and 118b may be provided in, for example, the first body <NUM> or the second body 110a.

The user may attach/detach the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> to the connectors 118a and 118b as needed. Accordingly, because the extra nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are easily stored and used, user convenience may be improved.

Here, in a state in which the stand <NUM> is coupled to a stand coupling part <NUM> of the charging stand <NUM>, the connectors 118a and 118b may be located in front of the stand <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the charging stand is separated from the support, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the charging stand on which the cleaner is held is mounted on a wall surface.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first body <NUM> may include a coupling part <NUM> to which the support <NUM> is coupled. The support <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the coupling part <NUM>. Accordingly, the user may easily separate the charging stand <NUM> and the support <NUM> from each other.

As needed, the user may fix the charging stand <NUM> from which the support <NUM> is separated to a wall surface <NUM> using the fixing parts 115a and 115b.

When the cleaner holder according to the present disclosure is a wall-mounted type, the charging stand may be fixed to a wall surface in close contact with the wall surface in a state in which the stand is separated from the charging stand, so that space utilization is excellent.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the charging stand is supported by the floor.

Claim 1:
A cleaner holder which is fixed to a wall surface, the cleaner holder comprising:
a first body (<NUM>) fixed to the wall surface on a rear surface of the first body (<NUM>) and has a first charging port (<NUM>) formed on a front surface of the first body (<NUM>) to charge a cleaner (<NUM>), and of which the front surface is in contact with a first surface of the cleaner; and
a locking part (<NUM>) provided on the first body (<NUM>) and coupled to the cleaner;
characterized by
a second body (110a) which protrudes from the first body (<NUM>) and of which an upper surface supports a second surface of the cleaner.