U.S. patent application number 10/294338 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for rotary brush for vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Park, Jung-seon, Yang, Iil-won.
Application Number | 20040045125 10/294338 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19720680 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040045125 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Jung-seon ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Rotary brush for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner comprises a drum 110
rotatably supported in a housing 21 of a brush assembly 20 and
provided with bristles 111 on outer circumference, a bearing 120
including outer 122 and inner races 121 and having the outer race
122 press-fit in a groove 112 formed at an end of the drum 110, and
a holder 130 having one side connected with the housing 21 and
another side supporting the inner race 121 for the drum 110 to be
rotatably supported in the housing 21. According to the present
invention having the above-described structure, the number of parts
can be reduced, thereby reducing the number of moving parts and
also reducing the manufacturing costs.
Inventors: |
Park, Jung-seon;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Yang, Iil-won; (Gwangju-city,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
19720680 |
Appl. No.: |
10/294338 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/391 ;
15/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0455 20130101;
A46B 13/001 20130101; A47L 9/0477 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/391 ;
015/182 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/26; A47L
005/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 10, 2002 |
KR |
2002-54624 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rotary brush assembly for insertion into a housing of a vacuum
cleaner comprising: a drum, rotatably supported in the housing of
the brush assembly, provided with bristles along an outer
circumference; a bearing, including outer and inner races, having
the outer race press-fit in a groove formed at an open end of the
drum; and a drum holder having one side connected to the housing
and another side supporting the inner race of the drum to be
rotatably supported in the housing.
2. The rotary brush according to claim 1, wherein the drum holder
further comprises a covering portion covering the end of the drum
for preventing contaminants from entering into the bearing.
3. The rotary brush according to claim 1, wherein a supporting
portion press-fit in the inner race of the bearing is provided on
inwardly facing, proximal surface of the holder.
4. The rotary brush according to claim 3, wherein a supplementary
metallic member is inserted into the supporting portion.
5. The rotary brush according to claim 1, wherein a fixing
protrusion provided on a distal, outwardly facing surface of the
holder is inserted and fixed in a receiving recess formed in the
housing.
6. The rotary brush according to claim 1, wherein the holder
comprises: a cover covering an open end of the drum for preventing
contaminants from entering into the bearing; and a supporting shaft
having one end passing through the cover and press-fit into the
receiving recess formed on the housing and another end press-fit
into the inner race of the bearing.
7. The rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,
wherein a belt connecting portion connected with a driving belt for
rotating the drum is provided at one side of the outer
circumference of the drum.
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 a rotary brush for vacuum cleaner having
simplified structure.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, a vacuum cleaner is an apparatus for sucking dust
and contaminants off of a surface to be cleaned using high vacuum
pressure generated inside the device. FIG. 1 shows an upright type
vacuum cleaner as an example of a conventional vacuum cleaner.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional vacuum cleaner includes a
body 10 comprising a dust-collecting chamber having a dust bag
disposed inside the body 10 and seated by a cover 11, a motor
driving chamber 12, in which a motor is disposed, and a brush
assembly 20 having a suction port.
[0006] In the case of such an upright type vacuum cleaner, when the
motor is driven and suction force is generated, dust and
contaminants on the surface to be cleaned are sucked in with the
external air through the suction port of the brush assembly 20 and
are collected in the dust bag in the dust-collecting chamber.
[0007] Meanwhile, the brush assembly 20 has a rotary brush 30 for
removing contaminants that are deeply embedded in a carpet or a
floor. The rotary brush 30 is rotatably disposed in a housing 21 of
the brush assembly 20 and rotated by a driving belt 22.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view schematically
showing a rotary brush of a conventional vacuum cleaner.
[0009] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary brush 30 for a
conventional vacuum cleaner comprises a drum 31 on which bristles
32 are spirally disposed, a bearing holder 34 press-fit in the
groove 33 formed at an end of the drum 31, a bearing 36 press-fit
in the bearing holder 34 while a washer 35 is interposed between
the bearing 36 and the bearing holder 34, a rotary shaft 37
penetrating the drum 31 and having an end thereof connected to the
bearing 36, and a drum holder 38 connected to an end of the rotary
shaft 37.
[0010] The drum holder 38 is fixed to the housing 21 and a
connection hole 39 is formed at the center of the drum holder 38
for the rotary shaft 37 to be inserted therein. The bearing 36 has
an outer race 36b press-fit into the bearing holder 34, and the
rotary shaft 37 is press-fit within the inner race 36a, which is
rotating relative to the outer race 36b.
[0011] Accordingly, the drum holder 38, the rotary shaft 37, and
the inner race 36a of the bearing 36 are fixed relative to the
housing 21 and the outer race 36b, the bearing holder 34 and the
drum 31 rotate as a unified assembly relative to the inner race
36a.
[0012] The drum 31 has a belt connecting portion 31a at one side of
the outer circumference. The driving belt 22 (FIG. 1), driven by a
motor, is connected to the belt connecting portion 31a.
[0013] However, such a conventional rotary brush 30 requires many
parts and therefore the number of operations necessary for
assembling components and manufacturing costs increase. In
addition, there is strong possibility of defects caused by the
complex structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] One object of the present invention is to solve the
foregoing problems by providing a rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner
having fewer number of parts, a simple structure and a reduction in
the manufacturing costs and in the possibility of defects.
[0015] The foregoing and other objects and advantages are realized
by providing a rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner comprising a drum
rotatably supported in a housing of a brush assembly and provided
with bristles on an outer circumference thereof, a bearing,
including outer and inner races, and having the outer race
press-fit in a groove formed at an open end of the drum, and a drum
holder having one side connected relative to the housing and other
side supporting the inner race for the drum to be rotatably
supported within the housing.
[0016] In the present invention having the above structure, it is
preferable that the drum holder has covering portion covering the
open end of the drum for preventing contaminants from entering into
the bearing.
[0017] In addition, it is preferable that a supporting portion
press-fit in the inner race of the bearing is provided on a
proximal, inwardly facing surface of the drum holder and a
supplementary metallic member is inserted into the supporting
portion.
[0018] Moreover, it is preferable that a fixing protrusion provided
on a distal, outwardly facing surface of the holder is inserted and
fixed in a receiving recess formed on the housing.
[0019] It is preferable that the drum holder comprises a cover
covering an open end of the drum for preventing contaminants from
entering into the bearing, and a supporting shaft having one end
passing through the cover and press-fit into the receiving recess
formed on the housing and another end press-fit into the inner race
of the bearing.
[0020] It is preferable that a belt-connecting portion is connected
with a driving belt for rotating the drum and is provided at one
side of the outer circumference of the drum.
[0021] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the following description
and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in
the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from
practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the
invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out
in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The invention will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away, perspective view showing a
general upright type vacuum cleaner;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotary
brush for a conventional vacuum cleaner;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view showing the rotary brush
of FIG. 2, fully assembled;
[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotary
brush for a vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the rotary brush
of FIG. 4, fully assembled;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotary
brush for a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the rotary brush of
FIG. 6, fully assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] The following detailed description will present a rotary
brush for a vacuum cleaner according to the preferred embodiments
of the invention in reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, a rotary brush 100 for a
vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention
comprises a drum 110, a bearing 120, and a holder 130.
[0032] The drum 110 has bristles 111 spirally disposed on the outer
circumference and a groove 112 formed at both ends. Additionally,
at one side of the outer circumference of the drum 110, a
belt-connecting portion 113 is formed. A driving belt 22 (FIG. 1),
driven by a motor, is connected to the belt-connecting portion
113.
[0033] The bearing 120 is structured to include the inner race 121
and the outer race 122. The outer race 122 of the bearing is
press-fit in the groove 112 of the drum 110. Accordingly, the drum
110 rotates around the inner race 121 together with the outer race
122.
[0034] The holder 130 has a cover portion 131 having a diameter
larger than the outer diameter of the end of the drum 110, a
supporting portion 132 centrally disposed in the inwardly facing,
proximal surface of the cover portion 131, and a fixing protrusion
133 provided on the outwardly facing, distal surface of the
covering portion 131. The holder 130 enables the drum 110 to be
rotatably supported in the housing 21 since the fixing protrusion
133 is press-fit into the receiving recess 23 of the housing 21 and
the supporting portion 132 is press-fit into the inner race 121 of
the bearing 120 disposed in the drum 110. In order words, the
holder 130 and the inner race 121 of the bearing 120 are fixed
relative to the housing 21 and the outer race 122 of the bearing
120 and the drum 110 rotate around the inner race 121. A metallic
supplementary member 134 is preferably inserted inside the
supporting portion 132 for preventing the holder 130 from being
deformed by the load produced during the rotation of the drum
110.
[0035] In the present invention having the above-described
structure, if a motor is driven during cleaning, the driving belt
22 (FIG. 1) connected to the belt-connecting portion 113 of the
drum 110 rotates the drum 110. At this time, the outer race 122 of
the bearing 120 and the drum 110 rotates around the inner race 121
of the bearing 120.
[0036] Meanwhile, since the cover portion 131 of the holder 130
covers the open end of the drum 110, contaminants rising as a
result of the rotation of the drum 110 can be prevented from
entering into the groove 112.
[0037] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present
invention. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the structure of the drum 110 and the
bearing 120 is essentially identical to those in the
above-described preferred embodiment, except for the structure of
the holder 140. In this embodiment, the holder 140 includes a cover
141 having an inserting hole 142 and a supporting shaft 143 having
a protrusion 144 at one end. One end of the supporting shaft 143 is
press-fit into the inner race 121 of the bearing 120 after passing
through the inserting hole 142 of the cover 141 and the other end
of the supporting shaft 143 is press-fit into the receiving recess
23 formed on the housing 21. Therefore, the inner race 121 of the
bearing 120 and the supporting shaft 143 is fixed in the housing
21, and the drum 110 and the outer race 122 of the bearing 120
rotates around the inner race 121. The cover 141 covers the open
end of the drum 100, thereby preventing contaminants from entering
into the groove 112 of the drum 110 in which the bearing 120 is
disposed.
[0038] According to the embodiment of the present invention set
forth above, the holder fixed in the housing supports the inner
race of the bearing disposed at the end of the drum, thereby
providing a rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner having a reduced
number of working parts and operations, and manufacturing costs are
also reduced.
[0039] Moreover, the rotary brush for a vacuum cleaner according to
the present invention has a simpler structure and therefore the
possibility of defects in the moving parts may be reduced.
[0040] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
[0041] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely
exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present
invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other
types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is
intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the
claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not only
structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
* * * * *