U.S. patent application number 10/209215 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for upright type vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Jeon, Hyung-Il, Park, Jung-Seon, Yang, Iil-Won.
Application Number | 20030145420 10/209215 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19719081 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030145420 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Jung-Seon ; et
al. |
August 7, 2003 |
Upright type vacuum cleaner
Abstract
An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner body pivotably
connected to a suction port assembly, plural locking recesses
formed in a side of the cleaner body, and a resilient pedal
pivotably mounted on the suction port assembly, and having a
locking protrusion which is sequentially locked in the one or more
locking recesses when the cleaner body rotates. The locking
recesses comprise a parallel position recess in which the locking
protrusion is locked when the cleaner body rotates to a parallel
position with respect to a surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, even
when the cleaner body is in a position parallel to the surface to
be cleaned for a long time, the resilient support portion of the
resilient pedal is prevented from being deformed permanently.
Inventors: |
Park, Jung-Seon;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Yang, Iil-Won; (Gwangju-city,
KR) ; Jeon, Hyung-Il; (Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
19719081 |
Appl. No.: |
10/209215 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/325 20130101;
A47L 5/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/351 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 4, 2002 |
KR |
2002-6150 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An upright type vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction port
assembly; a cleaner body connected to the suction port assembly,
the cleaner body and the suction port assembly being freely
pivotable with respect to each other; at least one locking recess
formed in a side of the cleaner body; and a resilient pedal
pivotably mounted on the suction port assembly and having a locking
protrusion which is sequentially locked in the at least one locking
recess when the cleaner body pivots with respect to the suction
port assembly such that the cleaner body pivots in a stepwise
manner, the at least one locking recess comprising a parallel
position recess in which the locking protrusion of the resilient
pedal is locked when the cleaner body pivots to a parallel position
with respect to a surface to be cleaned.
2. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least
one locking recess further comprises: an upright position recess in
which the locking protrusion is locked when the cleaner body is in
an upright position with respect to the surface to be cleaned; and
one or more inclined position recesses in which the locking
protrusion is locked when the cleaner body pivots at a
predetermined angle with respect to the surface to be cleaned.
3. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the resilient
pedal further comprises: a pedal body pivotably mounted on the
suction port assembly, the pedal body comprising the locking
protrusion protruding from a side toward the cleaner body and a
pedal portion being subject to an external force to release the
locking protrusion from the at least one locking recess; and a
resilient support portion for resiliently pressing a side of the
pedal body to pivot the pedal body in a direction where the locking
protrusion presses the cleaner body.
4. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein the resilient
support portion further comprises a plate element integrally
protruding from a lower side of the pedal body, the plate element
having a bending portion to be supported by an inner wall of the
suction port assembly.
5. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein the at least
one locking recess has a slanted surface such that the locking
protrusion is easily released from the at least one locking recess
when the cleaner body pivots into the upright position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner,
and more particularly to an upright type vacuum cleaner comprising
a cleaner body and a suction port assembly that are connected to
each other and can rotate freely with respect to each other.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a general upright type vacuum
cleaner 100 comprises a cleaner body 110 and a suction port
assembly 130. The suction port assembly 130 has a dust suction hole
(not shown) formed in the underside thereof, which is connected
with the cleaner body 110 through an air passage. The cleaner body
110 comprises a rotation shaft portion 115 protruding from two
lower opposing sides of the cleaner body 110 and the suction port
assembly 130 comprises two oppositely disposed rotation shaft holes
136, each of which is completely formed with a mounting cover 135
being mounted over the rotation shaft hole 136 to form a retainer
for one each of the two ends of he rotation shaft portion 115. The
cleaner body 110 and the suction port assembly 130 are connected to
each other as the rotation shaft portion 115 is inserted into the
rotation shaft hole 136, allowing the cleaner body 110 and the
suction port assembly 130 to rotate freely with respect to each
other. According to the upright type vacuum cleaner 100, a user can
perform cleaning operations by varying the angle between the
surface to be cleaned and the cleaner body 110 depending on the
different cleaning surfaces.
[0005] The cleaner body 110 has one or more locking recesses 140
formed in a side thereof. The suction port assembly 130 is provided
with a mounting portion 137 and a resilient pedal 150 that is
pivotably mounted on the mounting portion 137. The resilient pedal
150 has a locking protrusion 154 protruding from a side thereof.
The locking protrusion 154 is sequentially locked in the one or
more locking recess 140 when the cleaner body 110 rotates relative
to the suction port assembly 130.
[0006] The resilient pedal 150 also has a resilient support portion
155 in the shape of a plate that is formed integrally with a lower
end of the resilient pedal 150. The resilient pedal 150 is mounted
on the mounting portion 137 such that an end of the resilient
support portion 155 is supported on an inner wall 137a of the
mounting portion 137. Accordingly, the locking protrusion 154
resiliently presses a side surface of the cleaner body 110 and then
is sequentially locked in the one or more locking recesses 140 when
the cleaner body 110 rotates. In order for the cleaner body 110 to
be released from the locking state in which the locking protrusion
154 is locked in the one or more locking recesses 140 and to once
again be free to rotate, a resilient pedal portion 153 is pressed
to pivot the resilient pedal 150, releasing the locking protrusion
154 from the one or more locking recesses 140.
[0007] The one or more locking recesses 140 preferably include an
upright position recess 141 and an inclined position recess 142,
which are formed along a portion to which the locking protrusion
154 contacts when the cleaner body 110 rotates. When the cleaner
body 110 is in an upright position, the locking protrusion 154 is
locked in the upright position recess 141. Accordingly, the cleaner
body 110 does not rotate but is held in the upright portion when
the upright type vacuum cleaner 100 is not in use. When the upright
type vacuum cleaner 100 is in use, with the cleaner body 110 being
rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to a surface to be
cleaned, the locking protrusion 154 is locked in one of the
inclined position recesses 142. Accordingly, when the vacuum
cleaner 100 is lifted up over an obstacle such as a threshold
during cleaning, the suction port assembly 130 rotates no more than
the predetermined angle with respect to the cleaner body 110.
[0008] When in use, the cleaner body 110 of the upright type vacuum
cleaner 100 may lie parallel to the surface to be cleaned, as shown
in FIG. 3, and accordingly the locking protrusion 154 is pressed to
the side surface of the cleaner body 110 such that the resilient
support portion 155 remains subject to an external force that
deforms the resilient support portion 155 (FIGS. 1 and 2). If the
upright type vacuum clear 100 is used in this way for a long time,
the resilient support portion 155 may become deformed. When that
happens, there is a problem of reduced recovery force of the
resilient support portion 155.
[0009] In addition, as described above, when the cleaner body 110
is used lying in parallel to the surface to be cleaned, the side
surface of the cleaner body 110 is pressed by the locking
protrusion 154 such that there is a contact resist generated at a
contacting portion between the locking protrusion 154 and the
cleaner body 110 when the cleaner body 110 rotates. Accordingly,
there is also a problem that the cleaner body does not smoothly
rotate due to the contact resist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been developed to solve the
above-described problems. Accordingly, it is a first object of the
present invention to provide an upright type vacuum cleaner
improved in construction so that it becomes capable of preventing
deformation of a resilient pedal and reducing any rotation resist
of the cleaner body.
[0011] According to the present invention in order to achieve the
above objects, an upright type vacuum cleaner comprises a suction
port assembly, a cleaner body connected to the suction port
assembly, the cleaner body and the suction port assembly pivoting
freely with respect to each other, at least one locking recess
formed in a side of the cleaner body, and a resilient pedal
pivotably mounted on the suction port assembly, and having a
locking protrusion which is sequentially locked in the at least one
locking recess when the cleaner body pivots, and the at least one
locking recess comprises a parallel position maintaining recess in
which the locking protrusion of the resilient pedal is locked when
the cleaner body pivots to a parallel position with respect to a
surface to be cleaned.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the at least one locking recess comprises a upright
position recess in which the locking protrusion is locked when the
cleaner body is in an upright position with respect to the surface
to be cleaned, and one or more inclined position maintaining
recesses in which the locking protrusion is locked when the cleaner
body pivots at a predetermined angle with respect to the surface to
be cleaned.
[0013] The resilient pedal preferably comprises a pedal body
pivotably mounted on the suction port assembly, the pedal body
comprising a locking protrusion protruding from a side toward the
cleaner body and a pedal portion being subject to an external force
to release the locking protrusion from the one or more locking
recesses and a resilient support portion for resiliently pressing a
side of the pedal body to rotate the pedal body in a direction
where the locking protrusion presses the cleaner body.
[0014] The resilient support portion comprises a plate element
integrally protruding from a lower side of the pedal body, the
resilient member having a bending portion to be supported by an
inner wall of the suction port assembly.
[0015] One or more of the locking recesses may have a slanted
surface such that the locking protrusion is easily released from
the locking recess when the cleaner body rotates in the upright
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above objects and characteristic of the present
invention will be more apparent by describing a preferred
embodiment of the present invention in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a
conventional upright type vacuum cleaner;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an elevational rear view showing a detail of the
upright type vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 in an assembled state;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an elevational side view showing the upright type
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 in use;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an upright
type vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of the
upright type vacuum cleaner of FIG. 4 showing the operation of the
upright type vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in greater detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. With respect to those components having
constructions and functions similar to those of the conventional
upright type vacuum cleaner described with reference to FIGS. 1
through 3, identical reference numerals are assigned. Therefore, a
detailed description of like numbered parts will be omitted.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an upright type vacuum
cleaner 200 according to the present invention includes a cleaner
body 110 and a suction port assembly 130 rotatably connected to the
cleaner body 110. A driving shaft 116 rotates in association with
the rotation of a suction motor (not shown) which is built within
the cleaner body 110, and the reference numeral 138 refers to a
connection pipe for connecting a dirt suction hole (not shown) to
the cleaner body 110 to allow air to flow therethrough.
[0024] The cleaner body 110 has a plurality of locking recesses 240
formed in proximity to the suction port assembly 130. A resilient
pedal 150, having a locking protrusion 154, is pivotably mounted on
the suction port assembly 130. Accordingly, when the cleaner body
110 rotates with respect to the suction port assembly 130, the
locking protrusion 154 is resiliently locked in one of the locking
recesses 240, thereby sequentially restricting the cleaner body 110
from rotating.
[0025] The resilient pedal 150 includes a pedal body 151 and a
resilient support portion 155. The pedal body 151 includes the
locking protrusion 154 protruding from a side thereof, a rotation
shaft 152 formed through a center thereof, and a pedal portion 153
formed on an upper portion thereof. The pedal body 151 is pivotably
mounted on the suction port assembly 130 in such a manner that the
rotation shaft 151 is rotatably connected to a mounting portion 137
of the suction port assembly 130. At this point, the pedal portion
153 is exposed in an upward direction from the suction port
assembly 130. Accordingly, a user presses a top of the pedal
portion 153 to pivot the pedal body 150 during use of the upright
type vacuum cleaner 200.
[0026] The resilient support portion 155 resiliently urges the
pedal body 151 to pivot the pedal body 151 in a predetermined
direction. In this embodiment, the resilient pedal 150 is provided
with a resilient support portion comprising a plate member 155,
which protrudes from a lower end of the pedal body 151. The plate
member 155 is integrally formed with the pedal body 151 and has a
bending portion formed at a center thereof.
[0027] As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the pedal body
151 is mounted on the mounting portion 137 such that an end of the
plate member 155 is supported on an inner wall 137a (FIG. 2) of the
mounting portion 137. When the pedal portion 153 is subject to an
external force, the pedal body 151 pivots and thus the plate member
155 is deformed. As a result of its resilient characteristics, the
plate member 155 is subject to a recovering force. Being released
from the external force, the plate member 155 has a tendency to
recover its original shape due to the recovering force, and
accordingly, the pedal body 151 is automatically returned to its
initial position. The initial position of the pedal body 151 is a
position where the locking protrusion 154 resiliently presses a
side of the cleaner body 110.
[0028] Meanwhile, the resilient pedal 150 is not limited to the
described preferred embodiment. That is, various changes and
modifications can be made if the resilient pedal 150 includes the
pedal body 151 pivotably mounted on the suction port assembly 130
to pivot by a pressure of a user, and the resilient support portion
155 for resiliently pressing the pedal body 151.
[0029] A lower side of the cleaner body 110, which contacts with
the locking protrusion 154 of the resilient pedal 150 when the
cleaner body 110 rotates, has a partially concave configuration to
form the plurality of the locking recesses 240. The locking
recesses 240 include an upright position recess 241, an inclined
position recess 242, and a parallel position recess 243, as shown
in FIG. 4.
[0030] The upright position recess 241, on which the locking
protrusion 154 is locked, allows the cleaner body 110 to maintain
its upright position with respect to a surface to be cleaned.
Accordingly, when the upright type vacuum cleaner 200 is not in
use, generally with the cleaner body 110 being in the upright
position with respect to the surface to be cleaned, the locking
protrusion 154 is locked in the upright position recess 241 such
that the cleaner body 110 is prevented from rotating regardless of
an external force or of its own weight.
[0031] The inclined position recess 242 restricts the cleaner body
110 from rotating beyond a predetermined angle between the cleaner
body 110 and the suction port assembly 130. That is, when the
cleaner body 110 rotates at the predetermined angle with respect to
the suction port assembly 130, the locking protrusion 154 is locked
in the inclined position recess 242, thereby preventing the cleaner
body 110 from further rotating beyond the predetermined angle.
Accordingly, when there is a small obstacle such as a threshold
ahead, the upright type vacuum cleaner 200 is easily lifted to
avoid the obstacle during cleaning. The plural inclined position
recesses 242 can be provided, if necessary.
[0032] The parallel position recess 243, on which the locking
protrusion 154 may be locked, allows the cleaner body 110 to
maintain its parallel position with respect to the surface to be
cleaned. When the cleaner body 110 lies in a position parallel to
the surface to be cleaned, the plate member 155 is in relaxed
state. Accordingly, even when the upright type vacuum cleaner 200
is used with the cleaner body 110 lying in a position parallel to
the surface to be cleaned for a long time, permanent damage to
plate member 155 is prevented.
[0033] The parallel position recess 243 has a slanted surface 243a
formed on a side thereof. When the cleaner body 110 is rotated into
an upright position, due to the presence of the slanted surface
243a, the locking protrusion 154 is easily released from the
parallel recess 243. Accordingly, when the locking protrusion 154
presses a side surface of the cleaner body 110 it is moved along
the slanted surface 243a of the parallel position maintaining
recess 243, since the plate element 155 is in relaxed state to some
extent, the load on the plate member 155 is decreased. Therefore,
there is an effect of decreasing an operation resist, which is
generated when the locking protrusion 154 resiliently presses the
side surface of the cleaner body 110. It is preferred that the
inclined position recess 242 has a slanted surface 242a to decrease
the operation resist, which is generated when cleaner body 110
rotates.
[0034] According in the upright type vacuum cleaner 200 constructed
as described above, the locking protrusion 154 is locked in the
locking recesses 240 such that the cleaner body 110 is prevented
from rotating further toward the cleaning surface. For a further
rotation of the cleaner body 110 toward the cleaning surface, the
locking protrusion 154 has to be released from the locking recesses
240. In order for the locking protrusion 154 to be released from
the locking recesses 240, a user must press the pedal portion 153
to pivot the resilient pedal 150. After the locking protrusion 154
is released from the locking recesses so that the cleaner body 110
rotates by pressing of the pedal portion 153, the resilient pedal
150 automatically pivots due to a resilient force of the resilient
support portion 155 and allows the locking protrusion 154 to
contact with the cleaner body 110.
[0035] According to the present invention as described above, the
resilient support portion 155 is in relaxed state even when the
cleaner body 110 is in a parallel position with respect to the
surface to be cleaned, since the locking protrusion 154 is locked
in the parallel position recess 243 which is formed on the side
surface of the cleaner body 110.
[0036] Accordingly, the resilient support portion 155 is in relaxed
state even when the cleaner body 110 is in parallel to the surface
to be cleaned for a long time, and as a result, the resilient
support portion 155 is prevented from being deformed
permanently.
[0037] Also, when the cleaner body 110 rotates and the locking
protrusion 154 moves in proximity to the parallel position recess
243, the resilient support portion 155 is subject to a lesser load
due to the presence of the slanted surface 243a formed on the
parallel position recess 243. Therefore, there is an effect of
decreasing the operation resist of the rotating operation of the
cleaner body 110.
[0038] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described, it is understood that the present invention should
not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes
and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the
spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *