U.S. patent application number 10/675498 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for bagless vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Lee, Hyun-Ju, Yoo, Dong-Hun.
Application Number | 20040194249 10/675498 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30439438 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040194249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Hyun-Ju ; et
al. |
October 7, 2004 |
Bagless vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner including a brush, a driving motor for
generating a suction force, a main body including said driving
motor and a filter mounting, a dust suction tube having one end
connected to said filter mounting and the other end connected to
said brush, a filter assembly mounted within said filter mounting
to filter out dust from external air drawn into the main body
through said dust suction tube and the brush, and a main body cover
coupled to the filter assembly to facilitate the selective
insertion and removal of the filter assembly into and from said
filter mounting and locked to said main body.
Inventors: |
Lee, Hyun-Ju; (Jeonju-city,
KR) ; Yoo, Dong-Hun; (Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
30439438 |
Appl. No.: |
10/675498 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 ;
15/327.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/347 ;
015/327.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2003 |
KR |
2003-21456 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bagless vacuum cleaner comprising: a brush; a driving motor
for generating a suction force; a main body including said driving
motor and a filter mounting; a dust suction tube having one end
connected to said filter mounting and the other end connected to
said brush; a filter assembly mounted within said filter mounting
to filter out dust from external air drawn into said main body
through said dust suction tube and said brush; and a main body
cover coupled with said filter assembly to facilitate the insertion
and removal of said filter assembly into and from said filter
mounting and being capable of locking to said main body.
2. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said
filter assembly further comprises: a filter housing having an
opening; a first filter unit connected within said filter housing;
and a second filter unit placed between an endwall of said filter
housing and said first filter unit.
3. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said
filter housing includes an engagement loop connected to said main
body cover and a safety lever for preventing said filter assembly
from being mounted into said filter mounting when said first filter
unit is not fully connected within said filter housing.
4. The bagless vacuum cleaner according/to claim 2, wherein said
filter housing further comprises an opening cover for selectively
opening and closing said opening.
5. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein said
filter housing further comprises an opening cover for selectively
opening and closing said opening.
6. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said
second filter unit comprises a second filter, a second filter
holder for supporting said second filter, and a filter net
enclosing said second filter within said second filter holder.
7. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said
first filter unit further comprises a first filter and a first
filter holder for supporting said first filter.
8. A bagless vacuum cleaner comprising: a brush; a driving motor
for generating a suction force; a main body including said driving
motor and a filter mounting; a dust suction tube having one end
connected to said filter mounting and the other end connected to
said brush; a cyclone dust collector provided in said dust suction
tube for separating said dust from air drawn into the collector by
circulating the air within the cyclone dust collector; a filter
assembly mounted into said filter mounting and comprising a filter
housing, a first filter unit and a second filter unit to filter out
dust and dirt from external air drawn into said main body through
said dust suction tube and said brush; and a main body cover having
first, second and third hooks, each of which are shaped and
configured to engage said filter assembly, and a handle for
facilitating the selective insertion and removal of said filter
assembly into and from said filter mounting.
9. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said
handle of said main body cover has at least one hook which can be
locked into corresponding locking grooves formed on said main
body.
10. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said
filter assembly further comprises a safety lever.
11. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said
filter housing of said filter assembly includes an opening, which
exactly corresponds with said dust suction tube, and an opening
cover for selectively opening and closing said opening.
12. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said
filter housing of said filter assembly includes an opening, which
corresponds with said dust suction tube, and an opening cover for
selectively opening and closing said opening.
13. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein said
filter housing of said filter assembly includes an engagement loop,
which is shaped and configured to engage with said first hook of
said main body cover, and a plurality of locking jaws, which can be
engaged with said second and third hooks of said main body
cover.
14. A bagless vacuum cleaner comprising: a brush; a driving motor
for generating a suction force; a main body including said driving
motor and a filter mounting having a filter guide; a dust suction
tube having one end connected to said filter mounting and the other
end connected to said brush; a cyclone dust collector provided in
said dust suction tube to remove dust from air drawn into the
cyclone dust collector by circulating the air within the cyclone
dust collector; a filter assembly mounted within said filter
mounting and comprising a filter housing and a first filter unit
locked into said filter housing; and a main body cover detachable
from said filter assembly, said main body being provided with a
handle.
15. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein said
handle of said main body cover has a plurality of hooks which can
be locked into corresponding locking grooves formed on said main
body.
16. The bagless vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein said
filter assembly includes a support projection and at least on
locker capable of holding a tool for cleaning said filter on one
side thereof.
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 bagless vacuum cleaner which can
completely filter out dust, dirt and debris, and which enables a
user to easily remove collected dust and to clean a filter, without
the need to replace the dust filter.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional vacuum cleaner comprises
a main body 201, a flexible hose 210, an extended tube 212, an
operation handle 221 provided with a switch 220, and a brush
230.
[0005] The main body 201 includes a motor (not shown) for
generating a suction force, a filter mounting 204, a replaceable
paper bag 205, a main body cover 203 and wheels 202. Generally, the
motor (not shown) is mounted in the rear part of the main body 201.
The main body cover 203 has an air suction hole 206 for suction of
air into the main body. Also, the filter mounting 204 is provided
in the front part of the main body 201 and receives the paper bag
205. It is typical to provide at least one pair of wheels 202 for
easily moving the main body 201 of the vacuum cleaner.
[0006] One end of the flexible hose 210 is connected to the air
suction hole 206, while the other end is connected to the operation
handle 221. The operation handle 221 is provided with the switch
220 for selectively operating or stopping operation of the vacuum
cleaner. The extended tube 212 has one end connected to the
operation handle 221 and the other connected to the brush 230. The
brush 230 tightly contacts a dirty floor to be cleaned and drawn in
air containing any bits of dust, dirt and debris by the suction
force generated by the vacuum cleaner.
[0007] The air is drawn into the main body 201 through the extended
tube 212 and the flexible hose 210. When passing through the paper
bag 205, the air, including the entrained dust, dirt and debris, is
filtered so that only clean air with dust removed is vented out
from the main body 201 through the motor.
[0008] Since a conventional vacuum cleaner uses a consumable paper
bag 205, the user has to regularly replace the paper bag 205 with a
new one. Also, the paper bag 205, which filters out dust in a
primary filtering stage, cannot sufficiently or completely filter
out an excessive amount of dust, dirt and debris.
[0009] In addition, when replacing the paper bag 205 with a new one
in the conventional vacuum cleaner, it is necessary for the user to
open the main body cover 203 and hold it with one hand, while
removing the paper bag 205 and inserting a new paper bag with the
other hand. Even if the main body cover 203 is detachable from the
main body, the user must first separate the main body cover 203 in
order to remove the paper bag 205.
[0010] Also, it is not easy to see whether the air suction hole 206
of the main body cover 203 exactly fits with an inlet 207 of the
paper bag 205. If the user does not properly insert the paper bag
205 into the filter mounting 204 and the paper bag inlet 207 does
not correspond with the air suction hole 206, dust particles will
accumulate within the filter mounting 204, without being
sufficiently filtered out. This may eventually cause mechanical
trouble with the vacuum cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems occurring in conventional vacuum
cleaners, and one object of the present invention is to provide a
bagless vacuum cleaner which eliminates the need to replace a
filter.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bagless vacuum cleaner, which can sufficiently remove dust, dirt
and debris by filtering the air containing dust in successive
filtering operations.
[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a bagless vacuum cleaner having an easily detachable filter
assembly, which can prevent operation of the vacuum cleaner when
the filter assembly is incompletely assembled.
[0014] In order to accomplish the above objects, there is provided
a vacuum cleaner comprising: a brush; a driving motor for
generating a suction force; a main body including said driving
motor and a filter mounting; a dust suction tube having one end
connected to said filter mounting and the other end connected to
said brush; a filter assembly mounted within said filter mounting
to filter out dust from external air drawn into the main body
through said dust suction tube and said brush; and a main body
cover coupled with the filter assembly to facilitate the insertion
and removal of the filter assembly into and from said filter
mounting and being capable of locking to said main body.
[0015] Preferably, the filter assembly comprises: a filter housing
having an opening; a first filter unit locked into the filter
housing; and a second filter unit placed between and endwall of the
filter housing and the first filter unit. Also, it is desirable
that the filter housing includes an engagement loop connected to
the main body cover and a safety lever for preventing the filter
assembly from being mounted into the filter mounting when the first
filter unit is not completely locked into the filter housing.
[0016] The filter housing further comprises an opening cover for
selectively opening and closing said opening. Preferably, the
second filter unit should include a second filter; a second filter
holder for supporting the second filter; and a filter net enclosing
the second filter within the second filter holder.
[0017] The first filter unit preferably includes a first filter and
a first filter holder for supporting the first filter.
[0018] In order to accomplish the above objects of the present
invention, there is also provided a bagless vacuum cleaner
comprising: a brush; a driving motor for generating a suction
force; a main body including said driving motor and a filter
mounting; a dust suction tube having one end connected to said
filter mounting and the other end connected to said brush; a
cyclone dust collector provided in said dust suction tube for
separating the dust from air drawn in by circulating the air within
the cyclone dust collector; a filter assembly mounted within said
filter mounting and comprising a filter housing, a first filter
unit and a second filter unit to filter out dust and dirt from
external air drawn into the main body through the dust suction tube
and the brush; and a main body cover having first, second and third
hooks, each of which are shaped and configured to engage the filter
assembly, and a handle for facilitating the selective insertion and
removal of the filter assembly into and from said filter
mounting.
[0019] Preferably, the handle of the main body cover has at least
one hook which can be locked into corresponding locking grooves
formed on the main body. Also, it is desirable to provide the
filter assembly with a safety lever for preventing the filter
assembly from being mounted into the filter mounting when
incompletely assembled.
[0020] The filter housing of the filter assembly has an opening
which exactly fits with the dust suction tube, an opening cover for
selectively opening and closing said opening, an engagement loop
shaped and configured to engage the first hook of the main body
cover, and a plurality of locking jaws which can be engaged into
the second and third hooks of the main body cover.
[0021] Also, the bagless vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention may comprise: a brush; a driving motor for generating a
suction force; a main body including said driving motor, a filter
mounting having a filter guide; a dust suction tube having one end
connected to said filter mounting and the other end connected to
said brush; a cyclone dust collector provided in said dust suction
tube to remove dust from air drawn into the cyclone dust collector
by circulating the air within the cyclone dust collector; a filter
assembly mounted into said filter mounting and comprising a filter
housing and a first filter unit locked into the filter housing; and
a main body cover detachable from the filter assembly and the main
body and provided with a handle.
[0022] The handle of the main body cover has a plurality of hooks
which are shaped and configured to lock into locking grooves formed
on the main body. Preferably, the filter assembly includes a
support projection and at least one locker for holding a tool
capable of cleaning the filter on one side thereof.
[0023] Accordingly, the bagless vacuum cleaner of the present
invention produces the greatest filtering effect due to triple
filtering by the filter assembly comprising the first and second
filter units and the cyclone dust collector.
[0024] Since the filter assembly is semi-permanent, the user can
reduce expenditures by not replacing filters.
[0025] Also, the safety lever provided on the filter housing
prevents any incomplete insertion of the filter assembly into the
filter mounting and ensures complete filtration.
[0026] Since the bagless vacuum cleaner of the present invention
connects the main body cover to the filter assembly and provides a
handle on the main body cover, the user can easily insert and
separate the filter assembly, without the need to touch the filter
assembly. In other words, the user can insert and separate the
filter assembly, without dirtying his or her hands.
[0027] Further, the opening formed on the filter housing is
automatically opened and closed by the opening cover. Since the
filter assembly is inserted or separated according to the guide of
a guide member, the opening of the filter housing can exactly fit
to correspond with the air suction hole. When the filter assembly
is separated, no dust or dirt from the filter assembly will be
permitted to dirty the surroundings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The above objects and other advantages of the present
invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum
cleaner;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according
to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a filter assembly
of the bagless vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of the filter housing
shown in FIG. 3, which shows the configuration of a safety lever of
the filter housing;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial cross-section, taken
approximately along line V-V of FIG. 3, which shows the engagement
of the filter housing with a first filter unit;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the filter assembly being
inserted into a filter mounting of the main body of the bagless
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, without being
completely assembled;
[0035] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate the process of inserting a filter
assembly into a filter mounting of the vacuum cleaner according to
the present invention, wherein
[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the filter assembly before
being inserted into the filter mounting;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the inside
structure of the filter mounting; and
[0038] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the filter assembly after
insertion into the filter mounting;
[0039] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate the connection of the filter
assembly and the main body cover and a process for providing the
connection, wherein
[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the main body cover,
including the filter housing of the filter assembly according to
the present invention; and
[0041] FIGS. 11 and 12 are representative views showing the stages
of the process of connecting the filter housing of the filter
assembly with the main body cover and the process of separating the
two elements; and
[0042] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the main body with the main
body cover closed, showing the connection of the handle provided on
the main body cover to the main body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view generally showing a bagless
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
2, the bagless vacuum cleaner of the present invention comprises a
main body 100, a filter assembly 150, a flexible hose 180, a
cyclone dust collector 190, an extended tube 185, a brush 187 and a
handle 182, including a switch 183. The flexible hose 180 and the
extended tube 185 constitute a dust suction tube.
[0045] The main body 100 includes a main body cover 120, at least
one wheel 106 and a driving motor (not shown). The main body 100
further includes a filter mounting 101. The main body cover 120 is
provided with a cover handle 121 which is useful in inserting or
removing the filter assembly 150, fixed to the main body cover 120
into or from the filter mounting 101. The filter assembly 150 is
shaped and configured for insertion into the filter mounting 101.
Since the extended tube 185, brush 187, handle 182 and flexible
hose 180 are conventional elements and included in a conventional
vacuum cleaner, as shown in FIG. 1, no further explanation will be
made with respect to these elements.
[0046] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the filter
assembly of the bagless vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of the filter
housing shown in FIG. 3, which shows the configuration of a safety
lever of the filter housing. FIG. 5 is a perspective view in
partial cross-section taken approximately along line V-V of FIG. 3,
which shows the connection of the filter housing to a first filter
unit. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the filter assembly being
inserted into the filter mounting, without being completely
assembled.
[0047] As shown in the above drawings, the filter assembly 150
(FIGS. 2 and 6) includes a filter housing 152 (FIGS. 3-5), a first
filter unit 170 and a second filter unit 160. The filter housing
152 includes a safety lever 153 and an engagement loop 154,
respectively disposed at a lower part and an upper part thereof.
Also, the filter housing 152 has an opening 155 formed at a
sidewall through which external air is drawn in, and a plurality of
engagement recesses 152a formed in opposite sidewalls of the filter
housing 152 contacting the first filter unit 170.
[0048] The first filter unit 170 includes a first filter 171 and a
first filter holder 172. The first filter 171, being a pleated
filter, is nested within and supported by the first filter holder
172. The first filter holder 172 includes a plurality of laterally
extending engagement projections 172a which are shaped and
configured to lock into the engagement recesses 152a of the filter
housing 152.
[0049] The second filter unit 160 includes a second filter 161 and
a second filter holder 162. The second filter 161 is generally made
of a porous material, such as a sponge. The second filter holder
162 preferably forms a plurality of windows 163 which are covered
by a filter net 164 in a net form.
[0050] Assembly of the filter assembly 150 is completed by locking
the engagement projections 172a of the first filter unit 170 into
the engagement recesses 152a of the filter housing 152, with the
second filter unit 160 being disposed between an endwall of the
filter housing 152 and the first filter unit 170. The filter
assembly 150 is mounted into the filter mounting 101 (see FIG. 2 or
6) of the main body. However, when the filter assembly 150 is not
completely assembled or when the first filter unit 170 is not fully
engaged with the filter housing 152, the safety lever 153 protrudes
toward one side of the filter assembly 150 and interrupts the
insertion of the filter assembly into filter mounting 101 on one
sidewall as shown in FIG. 6, thereby preventing the filter assembly
150 from being inserted into the filter mounting 101. In other
words, the safety lever 153 ensures that the device is operational
only upon complete assembly of the filter assembly 150.
[0051] The structure and function of the safety lever 153 will be
described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the safety lever 153 has a locking
projection 153a which can be inserted into a hole 156 formed on a
sidewall of the filter housing 152. When the first filter unit 170
is engaged with the filter housing 152 in the direction of arrow
"C" (FIG. 5), the safety lever 153 with the locking projection 153a
is received within the filter housing 152 by the first filter
holder 172.
[0053] When the filter assembly 150 is completely assembled as
described above, the safety lever 153 is placed within the filter
housing 152 so that the filter assembly 150 can be fitted into the
filter mounting 101. If the filter assembly 150 is not completely
or properly assembled, it cannot be fitted into the filter mounting
101, thereby preventing incomplete filtering caused by incomplete
assembly of the filter assembly 150.
[0054] FIGS. 7 to 9 show the process of inserting the filter
assembly 150 into the filter mounting 101. FIG. 7 shows the filter
assembly 150 before being inserted into the filter mounting 101.
FIG. 9 shows the filter assembly 150 after insertion into the
filter mounting 101. FIG. 8 shows the inside structure of the
filter mounting 101.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 7, the filter assembly 150, which is
connected to the main body cover 120, is inserted into or removed
from the filter mounting 101. It will be described below how to
insertion of the filter assembly 150, connected to the main body
cover 120, proceeds into the filter mounting 101.
[0056] In order to insert the filter assembly 150 into the filter
mounting 101, the user should hold the handle 121, provided on the
main body cover 120, and slidably insert down a second guide member
152b, formed on the filter assembly 150 (FIG. 7), along the inside
of a first guide member 103 formed in the filter mounting 101 (see
FIG. 8). Before the filter housing 150 is inserted into the filter
mounting 101, an opening cover 158 covers the opening 155 formed on
the filter housing 152 due to the elastic force of a spring 159, as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0057] During the process of the filter assembly 150 being inserted
into the filter mounting 101, the lower part of the opening cover
158 is interrupted by the top of a sealing member 102 (see FIG. 8)
formed at one side of the filter mounting 101. The protruding top
of sealing member 102 causes the opening corner 158 to lift up in
the direction of arrow "D" in FIG. 9, overcoming the recovery force
of an associated spring 159 holding the cover 158 closed, to open
the opening 155 of the filter housing 152. Thus, when the filter
assembly 150 is completely inserted in the filter mounting 101, the
opening 155 of the filter housing 152 exactly fits with the air
suction hole 104 (see FIG. 8) to provide the capability to connect
to the flexible hose 180 (see FIG. 2).
[0058] The user can remove the filter assembly 150 out of the
filter mounting 101, holding the handle 121 on the main body cover
120, for the purpose of cleaning the filter assembly 150. During
the removal process, the opening cover 158 is released from contact
with the sealing member 102 and returns to cover the opening 155 of
the filter housing 152 by the return force of the spring 159 (see
FIG. 7).
[0059] Therefore, as the user simply inserts the filter assembly
150, using the second guide member 152b to engage the inside of the
first guide member 103, the opening 155 of the filter assembly 150
will automatically fit with the air suction hole 104 of the main
body 100. When separating the filter assembly 150 from the filter
mounting 101 to clean the filter assembly 150, the user needs only
to lift up the main body cover 120, holding the handle 121. Then,
the opening cover 158 will cover the opening 155 again to prevent
dust particles from leaking out of the filter assembly 150 during
the time that the filter assembly remains outside of the filter
mounting 101.
[0060] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate the connection between the filter
assembly 150 and the main body cover 120 and a process for
completing the connection. FIG. 10 is a partially exploded
perspective view of the main body cover 120 and the filter housing
152 for explaining the process for connecting the two elements.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are detail views showing the process of connecting
the filter housing to the main body cover and the converse process
of separating the two elements.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 10, the main body cover 120 has first to
third hooks 122, 123, 124 respectively, disposed at the bottom or
endwall thereof. The first hook 122 is formed at the center of one
side of the bottom. The second hook 123 and third hook 124 are
formed at the other side of the bottom, spaced a predetermined
distance apart from each other. The first hook 122 is retained to
be biased in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 10 by an elastic
spring (not shown). Also, the filter housing 152 includes an
engagement loop 154 disposed on the top thereof and has a plurality
of locking jaws 157 formed on one surface at either upper side
thereof.
[0062] Further, the filter housing 152 forms a support projection
302 and a plurality of lockers 301 for holding a tool for cleaning
the filter on one side thereof. In FIG. 10, a brush 300 is
illustrated as an example of the cleaning tool.
[0063] FIG. 11 shows in detail partial cross-section the connected
state of the main body cover 120 and the filter housing 152. When
the main body cover 120 is pressed toward the filter housing 152 in
the direction of arrow F, with the second and third hooks 123, 124
being placed for engagement with the locking jaws 157 (FIG. 10),
the first hook 122 can be engaged with the engagement loop 154 as
shown in FIG. 11.
[0064] The user can easily separate the filter housing 152 from the
main body cover 120 by lifting up the first hook 122 in the
direction of arrow G in FIG. 12 thereby releasing the first hook
122 from the corresponding engagement loop 154.
[0065] As described above, the main body cover 120 and the filter
housing 152 are easily connected and separated. Thus, the user can
easily insert and remove the filter assembly 150 into and from the
filter mounting 101 using the handle 121, without dirtying his or
her hands. FIG. 13 shows the main body 100 for explaining the
connection of the handle 121 provided on the main body cover 120 to
the main body 100. As shown in FIG. 13, a fourth hook 105 and a
fifth hook 106 are formed at both sides of the handle 121, and two
corresponding grooves 107 are formed at corresponding positions on
the main body 100. If the filter assembly 150 is inserted in the
filter mounting 101 and the handle 121 provided on the main body
cover 120 is pushed down, the fourth and fifth hooks 105, 106 will
be locked into the grooves 107, thereby connecting the handle 121
to the main body 100 in an out of the way position.
[0066] Since the handle 121 is connected to the main body 100, the
main body cover 120 will not be separated from the main body 100
even if the main body 100 is suddenly rotated during operation.
[0067] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *