U.S. patent application number 10/196713 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-11 for vacuum cleaner with reusable filter.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Oh, Jang-keun.
Application Number | 20030167590 10/196713 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19719601 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030167590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-keun |
September 11, 2003 |
Vacuum cleaner with reusable filter
Abstract
A reusable dust collecting filter for a vacuum cleaner which
reduces costs for repair and maintenance of the vacuum cleaner and
reduces waste. The vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body having a dust
collecting chamber and a motor chamber, a cleaning head connected
to the cleaner body via an extension pipe; and a cassette type dust
collecting filter removably disposed in the dust collecting chamber
of the cleaner body, for separating and collecting contaminants in
the airstream. The dust collecting filter is reusable by removal of
collected contaminants and then cleaning of the dust collecting
filter. The dust collecting filter includes a locking mechanism for
locking the dust collecting filter in a mounted position within the
dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner body.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-keun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PLUMSEA LAW GROUP, LLC
10411 MOTOR CITY DRIVE
SUITE 320
BETHESDA
MD
20817
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Gwangju-city
KR
|
Family ID: |
19719601 |
Appl. No.: |
10/196713 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 ;
15/327.1; 15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1409 20130101;
A47L 9/248 20130101; A47L 9/1666 20130101; A47L 9/104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/347 ; 15/353;
15/327.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 5, 2002 |
KR |
2002-11601 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a cleaner body having a dust
collecting chamber and a motor chamber interconnected with the dust
collecting chamber; a suction port connected to the cleaner body
via an extension pipe; a cyclone dust collecting apparatus
connected to the extension pipe, for separating and collecting
contaminants from a contaminant-laden air by a centrifugal force,
the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for generating a vortex of
air from which the centrifugal force is generated; a dust
collecting filter removably disposed in the dust collecting chamber
of the cleaner body for separating and collecting any contaminants
not separated by the cyclone dust collecting apparatus, the dust
collecting filter constructed to be reusable by enabling removal of
collected contaminants from the dust collecting filter and then
cleaning the dust collecting filter; and a locking means for
locking the dust collecting filter in a mounting position in the
dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dust collecting
filter comprises: a filter housing containing a filter and a dust
collecting space; a filter cover movably disposed on the filter
housing to pivot between an opened and closed position of the dust
collecting space of the filter housing; and a handle pivotally
supported on opposing sides of the filter cover.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the filter cover
comprises an observation window through which the state of
collection of the contaminants can be observed.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the locking means
comprises: guide grooves formed along opposing sidewalls of the
dust collecting chamber; semi-cylindrical key recesses formed on
respective ends of the guiding grooves; and semi-cylindrical keys
formed on opposing sides of the handle, the keys being configured
to mate with the guide grooves and adapted to be inserted along the
guide grooves and engaged in the semi-cylindrical key recesses.
5. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner body containing a
motor chamber and a contaminant chamber, said contaminant chamber
including a filter engagement structure; a cleaning head in fluid
communication with said contaminant chamber, said cleaning head
adapted to make contact with a cleaning surface and subject a
vacuum airstream to the cleaning surface to draw in contaminants; a
cassette filter disposed in said contaminant chamber, said cassette
filter comprising a housing, a removable filter disposed in said
housing for collecting contaminants from the airstream, and a lock
mechanism supported on said housing, said lock mechanism including
key to be matingly received in said filter engagement
structure.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein said filter engagement
structure comprises a guide groove terminating in a keyway
configured to receive said key.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6 wherein said key is
semi-cylindrical, said guide groove is sized to receive said key
only in its longitudinal orientation, and said keyway is configured
to enable said key to rotate into its lateral orientation to
thereby lockingly engage said cassette filter into said contaminant
chamber.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 further comprising a handle
integrated with said lock mechanism whereby rotation of said handle
causes a corresponding rotation of said key once said key is
inserted into said keyway.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 further comprising an observation
window in said housing to enable viewing of collection of
contaminants in said cassette filter.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein said removable filter is
washable to enable reuse of the cassette filter.
11. A cassette filter adapted to be inserted into a collection
chamber of a vacuum cleaner, said cassette filter comprising: a
housing containing a filter for collecting contaminants from a
vacuum cleaner airstream and a dust receptacle; a cover attached to
said housing and movable between a closed and opened position; an
integrated handle and lock mechanism supported on said cover for
engagement with a mating structure on the vacuum cleaner.
12. The cassette filter of claim 11 wherein said handle and lock
mechanism comprises a bucket-type handle having a protrusion
adapted to be moved between released and locked positions by
corresponding movement of said handle.
13. The cassette filter of claim 12 wherein said protrusion is a
semi-cylindrical key mounted on the handle with its released
position corresponding to a first position of said handle, and its
locked position corresponding to a second position of said
handle.
14. The cassette filter of claim 11 wherein said cover is hingedly
attached to said housing to pivot between its closed and opened
positions.
15. The cassette filter of claim 14 wherein said filter is washable
and replaceable into said housing for reuse.
16. The cassette filter of claim 13 further comprising a window in
said housing through which contaminant collection can be observed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more
particularly, to a vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for separating and collecting contaminants from
contaminant-laden air with a centrifugal force that is formed by
generating an air vortex and a secondary filter that is removably
positioned in the cleaner and can be cleaned and reused.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,835 assigned to the same assignee as the
present application discloses a vacuum cleaner having a cyclone
dust collecting apparatus.
[0005] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show the structure of the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of U.S. Pat.
No. 6,195,835.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, generally, a vacuum cleaner having a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus includes a cleaner body 1, a
suction port 2 and a cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 disposed
between the cleaner body 1 and an extension pipe 3 that is
connected to the suction port 2.
[0007] The cleaner body 1 has a dust collecting chamber 5, in which
a paper filter 4 is generally disposed, and a motor chamber (not
shown). A lid 6 is movably disposed on the upper portion of the
dust collecting chamber 5 to be pivoted open and closed. The
extension pipe 3 is connected to a handle grip 7 and a flexible
hose 8. One end of the flexible hose 8 is connected to lid 6.
[0008] As shown in FIG. 2, a cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10
includes a cyclone body 20, a dust receptacle 30 and a grill
assembly 40. The cyclone body 20 includes a first connection pipe
21 connected to a suction port extension pipe 3a, a second
connection pipe 22 connected to the cleaner body extension pipe 3b,
an air inflow port 23 interconnected with the first connection pipe
21, and an air outflow port 24 interconnected with the second
connection pipe 22. In the cyclone body 20, the contaminant-laden
air is drawn in through the air inflow port 23, forming a whirling
current.
[0009] The dust receptacle 30 is removably connected to the cyclone
body 20, and receives the contaminants separated from the air by
the centrifugal force of the whirling air current or airstream in
the cyclone body 20.
[0010] The grill assembly 40 is disposed at the air outflow port 24
of the cyclone body 20, to prevent a reverse flow of the collected
contaminants through the air outflow port 24. The grill assembly 40
includes a grill body 41, a plurality of fine holes 42 formed in an
outer circumference of the grill body 41 to form a passage to the
air outflow port 24, and a contaminant reversal preventing plate 43
of conical shape formed at the lower end of the grill body 41.
[0011] In the general vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus constructed as described above, the
contaminant-laden air is drawn in by a suction force that is
generated at the suction port 2 of the vacuum cleaner, into the
cyclone body 20 in a tangential direction through the first
connection pipe 21 and the air inflow port 23. The drawn air flows
downward in the cyclone body 20, forming a vortex air current
(indicated by solid-lined arrows of FIG. 2). In this process,
contaminants are separated from the air by the centrifugal force of
the vortex air hitting the grill, and collected in the dust
receptacle 30.
[0012] As the air current reaches the bottom of the dust receptacle
30, the air flows in a reverse direction, i.e., it flows upward in
the cyclone body 20. The air then flows through the fine holes 42
of the grill assembly 40, the air outflow port 24 and the second
connection pipe 22, and then is discharged into the cleaner body 1
(indicated by a dot-lined arrow of FIG. 2). Some contaminants,
floating in the upwardly moving air current, will be redirected by
the contaminant reversal preventing plate 43 and thus reflected
into the vortex air current. And some contaminants, which are still
entrained in the upwardly moving air current after the contaminant
reversal preventing plate 43, are filtered out at the fine holes 42
of the grill assembly 40 as the air flows through the fine holes
42, and the filtered contaminants are flown into the vortex air
current.
[0013] Any remaining contaminants, which have not been removed even
after the fine holes 42, are discharged through the fine holes 42
and the air outflow port 24. These remaining contaminants are then
filtered out by a secondary filter, paper filter 4 of the cleaner
body 1, while the clean air is discharged outside the vacuum
cleaner via the motor chamber (not shown).
[0014] According to the general vacuum cleaner having the cyclone
dust collecting apparatus, since the contaminants of the
contaminant-laden air drawn in through the suction port 2 are
filtered by the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 disposed at
the extension pipe 3, the amount of contaminants that the paper
filter 4 at the dust collecting chamber 5 is reduced. Accordingly,
the useful life of the paper filter 4 is extended. Even so, paper
filter 4 is a consumable item in that the user still has to pay for
replacement paper filters which are discarded after use.
[0015] Further, the general vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus has a dust collecting chamber which takes a
considerable space of the cleaner body. Accordingly, the cleaner
body becomes bulky and heavy, causing inconvenience to the
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention has been made to overcome the
above-mentioned problems of the related art. Accordingly, it is an
object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner having
a reusable dust collecting filter, that is, a washable dust
collecting filter, and therefore is capable of reducing costs for a
repair or maintenance of the cleaner.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
vacuum cleaner that achieves a compact size and light weight, by
employing a compact-sized cassette type dust collecting filter, and
thus reducing a space occupied by a dust collecting chamber.
[0018] The above objects are accomplished by a vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention, including: a compact cleaner
body having a relatively small dust collecting chamber and a motor
chamber interconnected with the dust collecting chamber; a suction
port connected to the cleaner body via an extension pipe; and a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus connected to the extension pipe
for separating and collecting contaminants from contaminant-laden
air by a centrifugal force, and for generating a vortex of air from
which the centrifugal force is generated. The inventive vacuum
cleaner includes an integrated a dust collecting filter cassette
removably disposed in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner
body for separating and collecting contaminants which pass through
the cyclone dust collecting apparatus. The dust collecting filter
is constructed to be reusable by removing the filter and then
cleaning it of collected contaminants. The dust collecting filter
cassette includes a locking mechanism for locking the dust
collecting filter in a mounting position in the dust collecting
chamber of the cleaner body. The locking mechanism includes guide
grooves formed downward along two opposing sidewalls of the dust
collecting chamber; semi-cylindrical key recesses formed on
respective ends of the guiding grooves; and semi-cylindrical keys
formed on two opposing sides of the handle, for being inserted
along the guide grooves and connected to the semi-cylindrical key
recesses.
[0019] The dust collecting filter also includes a filter housing
having a filter screen and a dust collecting space; a filter cover
movably dispose on the filter housing to pivot open and close the
dust collecting space of the filter housing; and a handle pivotally
supported on two opposing sides of the filter cover. The filter
cover comprises an observation window through which a user can
check the state of collection of the contaminants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above-mentioned objects and the feature of the present
invention will be more apparent by describing the-preferred
embodiment of the present invention by referring to the appended
drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum
cleaner;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a dust collecting filter
being mounted in the body of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the dust collecting
filter shown with the cover in an is opened position;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism
for mounting and locking the dust collecting filter into an
operative position; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the key and recess structure of
the locking mechanism of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a vacuum cleaner according to the
present invention includes a cleaner body 1, a suction port 2, a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 and a dust collecting filter
300.
[0029] The cleaner body 1 includes a dust collecting chamber 100 at
an upstream end and a motor chamber 200 at a downstream end. For
convenience of description, the location of elements will be
described with respect to the one-directional airstream or suction
force. For example, the dust collecting chamber 100 is upstream of
the motor chamber 200 so chamber 100 could be referred to as being
in front of motor chamber 200. Dust collecting chamber 100 is
defined by a front wall 110 and a rear wall 120 which have
apertures 111 and 121 provided therein respectively. Dust
collecting filter 300 is removably disposed in the dust collecting
chamber 100, and a motor 400 is disposed in the motor chamber 200.
The structure of the cleaner body 1 is similar to the structure of
the conventional vacuum cleaner, however, as shown in FIG. 3, the
cleaner body 1 according to the present invention is much smaller
than the conventional cleaner (see FIG. 1) due to the reduced size
of dust collecting chamber 100. Due to the compact-sized dust
collecting chamber 100, the cleaner body 1 is also compact and
light-weight, and accordingly, the use and handling of the cleaner
is more convenient, particularly for tasks that require lifting and
moving body 1.
[0030] The suction port 2 is connected to the cleaner body 1. The
extension pipe 3 is connected a handle grip 7 and a flexible hose
8. One end of the flexible hose 8 is connected to aperture 111 in a
wall 110 of the cleaner body I. As the motor 400 is driven, a
strong suction airstream is generated at the cleaning head or
suction port 2 via flexible hose 8 and extension pipe 3.
[0031] As described earlier in the description of the related art,
the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 is disposed adjacent
extension pipe 3, and the contaminants in the contaminant-laden air
drawn in through the suction port 2 are first filtered out at the
cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10. The construction and
operation of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 is similar to
conventional cyclone dust collecting apparatus.
[0032] In cleaner body 1, a removable dust collecting filter 300 is
disposed in the dust collecting chamber 100 to separate and collect
any contaminants which have not been separated and collected by the
cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10. According to the present
invention, a reusable cassette type dust collecting filter 300 is
advantageous because after the collected contaminants are removed
the filter 300 can be cleaned and returned to its position in the
dust collecting chamber 100 for reuse.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, the dust collecting cassette
filter 300 includes a filter housing 310, a filter cover 320 and a
handle 330. The filter housing 310 has a filter 311 at its
downstream side and a dust collecting space 312 in front of filter
311. In other words, filter 311 is attached to the rear wall of the
dust collecting space 312. A filter cover 320 is movably hinged to
the filter housing 310 by a hinge 321 to pivot between an open or
closed position relative to dust collecting space 312 of the filter
housing 310. When closed, cover 320 covers space 312 and is
substantially parallel to and upstream of filter 311. Cassette
filter 300 is configured to be inserted into dust collecting
chamber 100 with cover 320 in the closed position. Filter cover 320
has an intake aperture 322 aligned and in communication with
aperture 111 in the front wall 110 of the dust collecting chamber
100 when cassette filter 300 is assembled into its operating
position. Accordingly, after the air is discharged from the cyclone
dust collecting apparatus 10, the air flows into the dust
collecting space 312 of the dust collecting filter 300 via aperture
110 and intake aperture 322, where any remaining contaminants are
filtered out by filter 311 and the resulting clean air is
discharged outside of the cleaner body 1 via the motor chamber 200.
Filter cover 320 can also have an observation window 323 through
which the user can check the amount of collected contaminants in
dust collecting space 312.
[0034] Cassette filter 300 has a handle 330 which is movably
supported on both sides of the filter cover 320 in a pivotable
manner. Handle 330 can be pivoted between an assembly position when
dust collecting filter 300 is being mounted in or removed from dust
collecting chamber 100, and a locked, operative position when the
cassette filter 300 is mounted in dust collecting chamber 100.
[0035] To enable reuse of the cassette filter after washing,
mounting and removing dust collecting filter 300 must be
convenient, while ensuring that dust collecting filter 300 remain
in place when it is mounted in dust collecting chamber 100 in its
operative position. To accomplish this, the vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention includes a locking mechanism 500
which not only enables easy removal of dust collecting filter 300,
but also securely locks dust collecting filter 300 in the operative
position in dust collecting chamber 100.
[0036] As best seen in FIGS. 6-7, the locking mechanism 500
includes guide grooves 510 formed along opposing sidewalls of dust
collecting chamber 100, semi-cylindrical key recesses 520 formed at
the distal ends of the guiding grooves 510, and mating
semi-cylindrical keys 530 formed on opposing sides of handle 330.
The keys 530 are configured to be matingly received in recesses 520
via grooves 510 when cassette filter 300 is inserted into place in
body 1. To mount cassette filter 300, the handle 330 of the dust
collecting filter 300 is positioned in an upright manner so that
semi-cylindrical keys 530 of the handle 330 are inserted in guide
grooves 510 of dust collecting chamber 100 with keys 530 positioned
longitudinally in grooves 510. When cassette filter 300 is fully
inserted, keys 530 would have reached key recesses 520 at the
terminus of grooves 510. Key recesses 520 are configured to enable
keys 530 to rotate 90.degree. to a lateral position.
[0037] To lock the cassette filter in place, handle 330 is pivoted
so as to rotate semi-cylindrical keys 530 90.degree. so that at
least a portion of the diametrical surfaces of keys 530 abut
against at least a portion of the walls of the key recesses. To
remove dust collecting filter 300 from the dust collecting chamber
100, as handle 330 is pivoted back to an upright position, the
semi-cylindrical keys 530 rotate so as to clear any abutment walls
of key recesses 520 to thereby unlock the keys and allow movement
in grooves 510. Accordingly, dust collecting filter 300 can be
removed from chamber 100.
[0038] It will be understood that the locking mechanism may be
embodied in a variety of structures and configurations. Any
structure which provides for mating elements which can be moved
relative to one another to provide a releaseable configuration in a
first position and a locked configuration in a second position may
be used for the locking mechanism. Guide grooves or the like may be
provided to facilitate the assembly and locking operation.
[0039] Although this invention has been described in the context of
a canister type of vacuum cleaner with a cyclone dust collecting
device, the filter cassette of the present invention is not limited
to this environment. The inventive filter cassette could be used in
a variety of cleaning apparatus including upright vacuum cleaners,
wet vacuum cleaner, and the like. The filter cassette could also
serve as the sole filter for a vacuum, and is not necessarily
limited to functioning as a second filter that is downstream of a
cyclone dust collecting device as presently described.
[0040] In operation, when motor 400 of the vacuum cleaner according
to the present invention is driven, negative pressure produced in
dust collecting chamber 100 causes a strong suction force at the
suction port 2 of the vacuum cleaner via hose 8 and extension pipe
3. As a result, contaminant-laden air is drawn through the suction
port 2 to cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10. First, the
contaminant-laden air is drawn into the cyclone body 20 in a
tangential direction through the first connection pipe 21 and the
inflow port 23, forming a vortex air current moving downward the
dust receptacle 30. The centrifugal force of the vortex air
separates the contaminants from the air, and the separated
contaminants are received in the dust receptacle 30.
[0041] When the air current reaches the bottom of dust receptacle
30, the contaminant-laden air is discharged to the cleaner body 1
through the fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40, the outflow
port 24 and the second connection pipe 22. At this time, some
contaminants floating in the upwardly moving air in the dust
receptacle 30 are reflected against the dust reversal preventing
plate 43 into the vortex current. The contaminants, still remaining
in the upwardly moving air after the dust reversal preventing plate
43, are entrained in the air and thus discharged through the fine
holes 42 of the grill assembly 40 in the air. At this time, any
contaminants larger than the fine holes 42 are filtered out at the
fine holes 42, and accordingly, the filtered contaminants are
returned to the vortex air.
[0042] Meanwhile, any contaminants still entrained in the air even
after passing the fine holes 42, are discharged through the outflow
port 24 through the fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40, and
filtered at a secondary filter in the cleaner body. A reusable dust
collecting filter 300 is mounted in dust collecting chamber 100 of
cleaner body 1 for this purpose. The resulting clean air after
filtering through the secondary filter is discharged outside the
cleaner, via the motor chamber 200.
[0043] When dust collecting filter 300 becomes full of
contaminants, it can be removed from dust collecting chamber 100,
the contaminants cleaned away by washing, agitation or other means,
and back into dust collecting chamber 100. The user can also
monitor the amount of collecting contaminants in dust collecting
filter 300 through observation window 323.
[0044] As described above, according to the present invention,
since the reusable cassette type dust collecting filter 300 is
employed, there is no need for a consumable filter such as paper
filters which must be discarded. As a result, costs for maintenance
of the vacuum cleaner are greatly reduced. Moreover, since nothing
is discarded, use of the inventive vacuum cleaner will have a
positive environmental impact. In addition, according to the
present invention, since the reusable dust collecting filter 300
can be made smaller than a paper filter or bag, the size of the
dust collecting chamber 100 of the cleaner body 1 is reduced. As a
result, the cleaner body can be more compactly-sized and
light-weight making it more convenient to use and handle the vacuum
cleaner.
[0045] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention should not be limited to the
described preferred embodiment, but various changes and
modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the
present invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *