Patent ID: 12207781

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a cleaner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The same or equivalent components may be provided with the same or similar reference numbers, even in different embodiments, and description thereof will not be repeated.

In describing the present invention, if a detailed explanation for a related known function or construction is considered to unnecessarily divert the gist of the present disclosure, such explanation has been omitted but would be understood by those skilled in the art.

The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand the technical idea of the present invention and it should be understood that the idea of the present invention is not limited by the accompanying drawings. The idea of the present invention should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes besides the accompanying drawings.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating one example of a cleaner100according to the present invention, andFIG.2is a sectional view of an area A illustrated inFIG.1. As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, a cleaner100according to the present invention includes a cleaner main body110and a suction unit120.

The cleaner main body110defines appearance of the cleaner100. As illustrated inFIG.1, the cleaner100according to the present invention may be a robot cleaner that performs a function of cleaning a floor while traveling on a predetermined area by itself. At this time, cleaning the floor includes sucking foreign substances such as dust present on the floor or mopping the floor.

In the embodiment of the robot cleaner, the cleaner main body110may include a wheel unit111for traveling, and a controller (not illustrated) for controlling an operation of the wheel unit111. In addition, the cleaner main body110may include a battery (not illustrated) for supplying power, and the battery may be detachably mounted on a bottom surface of the cleaner main body110, for example.

The suction unit120is connected to the cleaner main body110and serves to suck air containing dust. As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the suction unit120may be disposed in a shape protruding from one side of the cleaner main body110. The one side where the suction unit120protrudes may be a front side (F) to which the cleaner of the present invention travels. In addition, the suction unit120, as illustrated inFIG.1, may have a shape protruding to both of right and left sides.

The cleaner100according to the present invention may further include a sensing unit130. As illustrated inFIG.1, the sensing unit130may be disposed to face the front side F of the cleaner main body110where the suction unit120is located. More specifically, the sensing unit130may be disposed on an upper side of the suction unit120, and detect features to prevent the suction unit120located at the foremost side F of the cleaner100from bumping into an obstacle or the like.

Meanwhile, a dust container140may be detachably coupled to the cleaner main body110. In this embodiment, the dust container140may be located on a rear side R as another side of the cleaner main body110, or may be formed to protrude toward the rear side R of the cleaner main body110. In addition, when the dust container140is mounted on the cleaner main body110, the dust container140may be covered with a dust container cover150.

According to the connection relation between the suction unit120and the dust container140, air containing dust, which is introduced through the suction unit120, may be guided into the dust container140along an intake flow path112within the cleaner main body110. The dust is separated from the air while passing through a filter or cyclone of the dust container140, and collected in the dust container140. The separated dust is discharged from the dust container140, and finally exhausted to outside through an exhaust port via an exhaust flow path within the cleaner main body110.

The foregoing description has been given of overall components of the cleaner100of the present invention. Hereinafter, a brush assembly121provided in the suction unit120of the cleaner100according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The suction unit120of the cleaner100according to the present invention includes a brush assembly121for effectively sucking dust and foreign substances present on a floor. The brush assembly121is brought into contact with the floor as a space to be cleaned, and serves to help a smooth introduction of foreign substances into the suction unit120. As illustrated inFIG.2, the brush assembly121may be accommodated within the suction unit120, and specifically, may be detachably accommodated so as to be managed by a user in a clean condition.

In case of a general vacuum cleaner, the brush assembly121may be rotated by rolling friction with the floor according to a user's manipulation. In case of the robot cleaner, the brush assembly121may be automatically rotated by a separate driving motor. Hereinafter, the brush assembly121will be described on the basis of an example of the robot cleaner illustrated inFIGS.1and2.

FIG.3is a perspective view illustrating the brush assembly121according to one embodiment of the present invention. Also,FIG.4Ais an enlarged view of an area B illustrated inFIG.3, andFIG.4Bis a schematic sectional view of an area C illustrated inFIG.3. Hereinafter, description will be given of one embodiment in which foreign substances such as hair and the like are prevented from remaining with being tangled in the brush assembly121.

The brush assembly121according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rotating rod121a,brush portions121b,and blades121c.

The rotating rod121ais a component that plays a role of supporting and rotating the brush portions121bto be described later. The rotating rod121amay be configured to be detachably coupled to the suction unit120so that the user can manage the brush assembly121in a clean state. The rotating rod121amay be formed in a cylindrical shape extending long in left and right directions with respect to the front side F to which the cleaner is moved. The rotating rod121amay be rotatably supported by the suction unit120at both left and right end portions thereof.

The brush portions121bfunction to sweep foreign substances such as dust and the like on the floor and help the foreign substances to be sucked into the cleaner. Each of the brush portions121bmay be provided with a plurality of bristles121bbprotruding from an outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod121aand disposed in a radial direction of the rotating rod121a.The brush portions121bmay be configured to extend to both left and right sides together with the rotating rod121a.In particular, as illustrated inFIG.3, the brush portions121bmay be disposed along a preset path where a plurality of spirals are connected along the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod121a.

On the other hand, each of the blades121cis a component for preventing thin and long foreign substances such as hair and the like from being caught (tangled) in the brush portion121b.The blade121cmay be erected adjacent to a rear side R′ of the brush portion121bon the rotating rod121awhen a rotating direction of the rotating rod121ais assumed as a front side F′. The blade121cmay uprightly protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod121aand extend to both right and left ends of the rotating rod121aalong a preset path of the brush portion121b.

Particularly, the blade121c,as illustrated inFIG.4B, is disposed adjacent to the brush portion121b.In some cases, the blade121cmay be arranged to be in close contact with the brush portion121b,or may be disposed with being spaced apart from the brush portion121bat a preset interval.

However, the blade121cof the present invention is brought into contact with the brush portion121bat least when the rotating rod121ais rotated. Specifically, as the brush portion121bhaving elasticity is pressed by the floor at the front side F′ of the rotating direction, the brush portion121bmay be brought into contact with the blade121cat the rear side R′.

Hereinafter, an effect that the blade121ccan prevent or extremely limit hair and the like from being tangled will be described with reference toFIGS.4A and4B.

Long and thin foreign substances such as hair and the like may be tangled in the plurality of bristles121bband the tangled foreign substances may not be easily removed merely by suction force of the suction unit120. As illustrated inFIG.4A, when each blade121cis formed to substantially cross the rotating rod121ain an axial direction of the rotating rod121a,the hair is caught by the blade121cso as to be prevented from being tangled in the plurality of bristles121bbconstituting the brush portion121b.Particularly, as illustrated inFIG.4B, when the blade121cis positioned so as to be closely adhered to or as close as possible to the rear side R′ of the brush portion121b,it is also possible to prevent the hair from being caught in an upper end portion of the brush portion121b.

In the meantime, the blade121cmay be made of an elastic material, like the brush portion121b,and may be made of a thin rubber film, for example. Particularly, the blade121cmay be made of a material having a smaller elastic modulus than the brush portion121b.Thus, the blade121ccan prevent the introduction of foreign substances without interfering with the operation of the brush portion121bof elastically sweeping the floor.

Also, as illustrated inFIG.4B, the brush portion121band the blade121cmay have the same height h in a radial direction of the rotating rod121a.That is, the brush portion121band the blade121cmay protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod121aby the same height.

When the blade121chas a lower height than the brush portion121b,hair may be caught and remain in the bristles121bbof the upper end portion of the brush portion121b,which are higher than the blade121cin height, even if the blade121cis closely adhered to the rear side of the brush portion121b.Conversely, when the blade121cprotrudes higher than the brush portion121b,the blade121cmay hit the floor to cause noise and damage during rotation of the brush assembly121. Therefore, when the blade121cis formed at the same height as the brush portion121b,the hair introduction can be more effectively prevented.

Meanwhile, as illustrated inFIG.4B, the brush assembly121may further include support members121d,and the support members121dmay serve to support the blades121c,respectively. The support member121dmay be erected adjacent to the rear side R′ of the blade121cin the rotating direction of the rotating rod121a,so as to support the blade121cduring rotation of the brush assembly121.

In some cases, each of the support members121d,similar to the brush portion121b,may be provided with a plurality of bristles121bbarranged in the radial direction of the rotating rod121a.That is, the blade121cmay be positioned between the plurality of bristles121bbthat are arranged on both left and right ends of the rotating rod121a.

When the support member121dis reinforced on the rear side of the blade121c,the blade121cmay be restricted from being lowered in height due to being pressed down on the floor when the brush assembly121is rotated. This may result in more reducing possibility that hair is tangled in the brush portion121b.

Particularly, when the support member121dis provided with the plurality of bristles121bblike the brush portion121b,an addition of a separate member or process can be minimized. In this case, since the support member121d,similar to the brush portion121b,has a greater elastic modulus than the blade121c,the support member121dcan sufficiently play the role of supporting the blade121cat the rear.

On the other hand, the support member121ddisposed at the rear of the blade121cmay serve to support the blade121even if its height is not necessarily the same as that of the blade121c.However, another embodiment may be implemented in which the support member121das well as the brush portion121bis configured by the plurality of bristles121bb,and as illustrated inFIG.4B, may protrude by the same height h as the brush portion121band the blade121c.

In this embodiment, hair can be restricted or prevented from being caught in the brush assembly121even if the rotating rod121ais rotated toward one of the front side F′ or the rear side R′. That is, the support member121dand the brush portion121bperform a brush function and a support function, respectively. This may be effective particularly in a general vacuum cleaner when the brush assembly121is frictionally rolled by the user's manipulation alternately to the front side F and the rear side R on the floor.

FIGS.5A to5Care conceptual views for comparing effects by the brush assembly121according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG.5Ais a conceptual view illustrating a state in which hair is tangled around a brush assembly21without a blade. In a robot cleaner as one embodiment of the present invention, if blades are not provided, hair is consecutively introduced into the brush portions spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of the rotating rod21a,so as to be tangled (wound, twisted) around the brush assembly21.

FIG.5Bis a conceptual view illustrating a state in which a hair is tangled around a brush assembly21having blades21cdisposed apart from the brush portions21b.Even if the blade21cis mounted on the rotating rod21a,the hair may still be introduced into a predetermined portion of an upper end of the brush portion21bbecause the rotating rod21ahas a predetermined radius of curvature. In such a case, it is difficult to prevent the hair from getting tangled during the operation of the cleaner, although the removal of the hair after operation of the cleaner may be somewhat facilitated.

FIG.5Cis a conceptual view illustrating a state in which a hair is sucked when the brush assembly121according to the one embodiment of the present invention is mounted. The blade121cis disposed adjacent to the brush portion121bso as to be in contact with the brush portion121bwhen the brush assembly121rotates. In this case, the hair may be prevented from being tangled in each brush portion121barranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating rod121a,or may be separated by the suction force of the suction unit120even if the hair is finely introduced into the upper end portion. This may also result in preventing the hair from remaining in the tangled state within the brush assembly121after cleaning.

The structure of the brush assembly for preventing foreign substances such as hair and the like from being introduced and remaining in the brush assembly has been described. Hereinafter, a structure of facilitating a fabrication of the brush assembly will be described according to different embodiments for convenience of understanding.

FIG.6is an exploded perspective view illustrating components of a brush assembly220illustrated inFIG.3in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG.6, a brush assembly220according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a rotating rod221, covers222, and brush units223.

Similar to the foregoing embodiment, the rotating rod221may be formed in a cylindrical shape extending long to both left and right sides with respect to the front side F to which the cleaner is moved, and may be rotatably accommodated in a rotation unit.

The cover222is a component mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221, and is provided in plurality to form brush slits224. As illustrated inFIG.6, the plurality of covers222are arranged with being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the rotating rod221, and a space between the neighboring covers222becomes the brush slit224. The cover222may have a shape that substantially extends from one end to another end of the rotating rod221. The plurality of covers222may be arranged in parallel with being spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the brush slit224may be a long and narrow space connected from the one end to the another end of the rotating rod221. The brush slit224may have a shape in which one or a plurality of spirals are connected along the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221.

FIG.7is a schematic sectional view illustrating the brush unit223illustrated inFIG.6in a direction in which the brush unit223is inserted into the rotating rod221. Each of the brush units223of the present embodiment includes the brush portion121bof the foregoing embodiment, and serves to sweep foreign substances such as dust and the like on the floor to be sucked into the cleaner. However, the brush unit223of this embodiment is formed to be inserted into the brush slit224from an end portion of the rotating rod221.

To have the insertable structure, the brush unit223is provided with a base portion223aand a brush portion223b.The base portion223aextends along the brush slit224, and is formed to be inserted between the cover222and the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221. As illustrated inFIG.7, the base portion223ais formed to extend to the front side F′ and the rear side R′ in the rotating direction of the rotating rod221, so as to be inserted into an inner circumferential surface of the cover222at the front side F′ and the rear side R′. The base portion223amay extend in an axial direction of the rotating rod221by a length corresponding to a path of the brush slit224.

The brush portion223bmay be mounted on the base portion223a,and formed in a direction protruding to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221through the brush slit224. That is, the brush portion223bmay be provided with a plurality of bristles which are directed in the radial direction of the rotating rod221and arranged in parallel along the brush slit224.

The brush assembly220according to the other embodiment of the present invention may be assembled in sequence of mounting the plurality of covers222on the rotating rod221and inserting the brush units223into one end portion of the rotating rod221in the axial direction of the rotating rod221. With this coupling structure, the plurality of brush units223can be easily formed and the brush units223can be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221even in a complicated spiral shape.

Further, the brush unit223including the base portion223aand the brush portion223bmay be separately fabricated. Accordingly, a plurality of bristles can be mounted on the flat base portion223aat once without being individually planted in the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft221. This may result in reducing time and costs required for mounting the bristles with more dense and uniform intervals.

In the meantime, the brush unit223of this embodiment may further include a blade223csimilar to that in the foregoing embodiment. The blade223cmay be disposed at the rear side R′ that is an opposite direction of the rotating direction corresponding to the front side F′ so as to be brought into contact with the brush portion223bduring the rotation of the brush assembly220. The blade223ccan prevent an introduction of hair and the like into the brush portion223b,as illustrated in the foregoing embodiment.

In addition, in this embodiment, by further providing the blade223c,an effect of further providing on the base portion223aan adhesion surface on which the brush portion223bcan be fixed is obtained. That is, as the additional adhesion surfaces are provided by the blades223cin the radial direction of the rotating rod221, the brush portions223bwith dense and uniform intervals can be firmly provided.

Also, similar to the foregoing embodiment, the brush unit223may be further provided with a support member223dto support the blade223c.In addition, the support member223dand the brush portion223bmay also be made of the same material so as to perform the same function.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the support member223dand the brush portion223bmay be integrally formed with each other, and or may be connected to cover an end portion of the base portion223aof the blade223c.As illustrated inFIG.7, the plurality of bristles extending in a U-shape in the radial direction of the rotating rod221may surround the blade223c,and the surrounded end portion may be pressed to be coupled to the base portion223a.This may allow the brush unit223to be formed at once.

Meanwhile, the brush assembly220according to another embodiment of the present invention may additionally require a process of assembling the rotating rod221and the cover222by the addition of the plurality of covers222. For convenience of this assembling process, a hook coupling manner may be applied.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG.6, the cover222may be provided with a hook portion (or hook)222e,and the rotating rod221may be provided with a hook receiving portion (or recess)221e.The hook portion222emay protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the cover222toward the rotating rod221and may be provided with a hook surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the cover222at an end thereof. The hook receiving portion221emay be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221so that the hook portion222eis inserted therein and a hook surface may be locked to prevent separation of the cover222.

The hook portion222eand the hook receiving portion221emay facilitate the assembling process of the brush assembly220without a coupling member such as a separate screw or the like.

In addition, an end cover225may be provided on at least one end portion of the rotating rod221to firmly seal and couple the brush assembly220. As illustrated inFIG.6, the end cover225may be formed in a circular shape so as to cover the end portion of the rotating rod221, and cover end portions of the plurality of covers222at once. In particular, the end cover225may support the previously-inserted brush units223in the axial direction of the rotating rod221so as to prevent the brush units223from being separated from the brush slits224.

The brush assembly220may further include a connection pin226as illustrated inFIG.6. The connection pin226may be elastically supported by the elastic member227toward the inside of the rotating rod221, and protrude in the axial direction of the rotating rod221through a through hole225gwhich is formed through the end cover225. At this time, the connection pin226may be provided with a locking portion226gwhich is engaged with an inner surface of the end cover225, and may be positioned so as not to be completely separated from the through hole225gby use of an elastic member227. The connection pin226may be pressed into the end cover225when the brush assembly220is mounted in the suction unit, and then protruded by elastic force when the brush assembly220is inserted into a proper position supported by the suction unit so as to be rotatably coupled.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of covers222may have a shape in which at least two spiral shapes are combined in the axial direction of the rotating rod221. By the plurality of covers222, the brush slit224may also extend into a shape of being bent at least once on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating rod221.

FIG.8is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the brush units223illustrated inFIG.6are separately fabricated. As illustrated inFIG.8, the brush units223may be easily fabricated in a shape of extending in one direction during a separate fabricating process. The brush unit223may be made of an elastic material to be easily inserted into the brush slit224even when the brush slit224is not linearly formed.

That is, the base portion223aand the brush portion223bof the brush unit223are made of an elastic material. Accordingly, even when the brush unit223is inserted into the brush slit224which has a bent shape, the brush unit223may be inserted into the brush slit224with its shape deformed. Thus, the brush unit223does not have to separately be fabricated to correspond to various shapes, and can be fabricated according to a process by which bristles can be arranged densely. In addition, the brush assembly220may be formed in a shape having various brush arrangements as well as the shape of the brush assembly220illustrated inFIG.6.

The foregoing embodiments are merely given of those embodiments for practicing a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention.