U.S. patent application number 10/675445 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-18 for cyclone vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Jin, Hyoung-Jong, Oh, Jang-Keun.
Application Number | 20040226130 10/675445 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29782092 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040226130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-Keun ; et
al. |
November 18, 2004 |
Cyclone vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A cyclone vacuum cleaner having an operation handle that can be
directly connected with assorted accessory brushes, includes a main
body, an operation handle disposed on an air suction path extending
from the main body to provide a means of user manipulation, a
cyclone dust collector disposed between the operation handle and
the main body to collect dust, and a brush connected to the
operation handle to draw in air from an area to be cleaned,
including entrained dust, and a flexible hose connecting the
operation handle to the main body. The cyclone dust collector may
be disposed at various positions between the operation handle and
the main body, including between an end of the flexible hose and
the operation handle, in an intermediate position between two
sections of the flexible hose or between a distal end of the
flexible hose, removed from the operation handle, and the main
body.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-Keun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Jin, Hyoung-Jong;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
29782092 |
Appl. No.: |
10/675445 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/104 20130101;
A47L 9/1666 20130101; A47L 9/1691 20130101; A47L 9/1683
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2003 |
KR |
2003-31351 |
May 16, 2003 |
KR |
2003-31352 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cyclone vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body; a flexible
hose assembly extending from the main body; an operation handle
connected by one end to the flexible hose assembly, and the other
end to an extension pipe to be joined with a brush which is in
contact with an area to be cleaned; a cyclone dust collector
disposed between the main body and the operation handle to collect
dust; and a brush connected to the operation handle draw in the
dust on the area to be cleaned.
2. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cyclone dust
collector is disposed between the operation handle and the flexible
hose assembly.
3. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the flexible hose
assembly comprises a first flexible hose to be connected to the
operation handle and a second flexible hose to be connected to the
main body, and the cyclone dust collector is disposed between the
first and second flexible hoses.
4. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cyclone dust
collector further comprises: a cyclone body for generating an air
whirlpool current with respect to air flowing in, comprising an air
inlet fluidly communicating with the operation handle, and an air
outlet fluidly communicating with the main body; a dust receptacle
removably connected to the cyclone body by a locking unit; a first
upstream prevention member integrally formed with the dust
receptacle; a dust separation grill which is downwardly extending
from the air outlet in the cyclone body, having a plurality of fine
holes in a surface thereof; and a second upstream prevention member
formed at the lower part of the dust separation grill removed from
the air outlet.
5. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the locking unit
further comprises: a hinge projection formed on the operation
handle; and a hinge hole formed in the dust receptacle
corresponding to the hinge projection.
6. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the dust
receptacle has a connecting end formed in the shape of an arc of an
imaginary circle having a locus at the hinge projection.
7. A cyclone vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body; a flexible
hose assembly at one end to be connected to and extending from the
main body; an operation handle connected to the main body through
at another end of the flexible hose assembly, the operation handle
connected to an extension pipe for use with a brush which is
intended for contact with an area to be cleaned; a cyclone dust
collector connected to the flexible hose assembly and to the main
body; and a brush connected to the operation handle for drawing in
dust located on the area to be cleaned.
8. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the cyclone dust
collector further comprises: a cyclone body comprising an air inlet
fluidly communicating with flexible hose assembly, and an air
outlet fluidly communicating with the main body, the cyclone body
being shaped and configured so as to be capable of generating an
air whirlpool current with respect to air flowing into the cyclone
body; a dust receptacle removably connected with the cyclone body
for collecting the dust separated from the air whirlpool; a first
upstream prevention member integrally formed with the dust
receptacle; a dust separation grill extending downwardly from the
air outlet in the cyclone body, and having a plurality of fine
holes formed in a surface thereof; and a second upstream prevention
member formed at the lower part of the dust separation grill
removed from the air outlet.
9. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the air inlet of
the cyclone dust collector is oriented in a coaxial direction
relative to the air outlet.
10. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the air inlet of
the cyclone dust collector is oriented in a non-coaxial direction
relative to the air outlet.
11. The cyclone vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the air path
between the air inlet and the air outlet is skewed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a cyclone vacuum
cleaner, and more particularly, to a cyclone vacuum cleaner of
which an operation handle can be directly connected to assorted
accessory brushes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A cyclone is an apparatus for separating particles in a
fluid using centrifugal force. The cyclone has been widely used in
industrial fields as a dust collector due to its simple structure
and durability against heat and pressure. The cyclone is also used
in vacuum cleaners.
[0005] A vacuum cleaner having a dust collector, as shown in FIG.
1, reduces the amount of dust being collected in a paper filter
which is disposed in a main body 30, by gathering relatively large
dust which is entrained in air drawn into a cyclone dust collector
20. Therefore, the paper filter disposed in main body 30 can be
used for longer periods without requiring cleaning or replacement.
In addition, the vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust collector
20 enables effective cleaning while simultaneously inhibiting
overload on a motor.
[0006] A vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust collector 20 draws
in air, including entrained dust and dirt, through a brush 10 and
extension pipe 11 of the vacuum cleaner to an essentially
cylindrical main body 21 of the cyclone dust collector 20. The air
stream enters the cylindrical body 21 an oblique or tangential
direction. Accordingly, an air whirlpool or cyclone is generated,
and thereby the various dust and dirt entrained in the air are
separated by centrifugal force of the cyclone, and are collected in
a dust receptacle 22. Air from which dust is removed reverses
direction of travel from the bottom of the dust receptacle 22
rotating within a smaller radius and gradually rising toward a
central portion at the top of the cyclone dust collector 20, and
then is discharged to the main body 30 through an operation handle
23 and a flexible hose assembly 24.
[0007] However, it is inconvenient to use a conventional vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone dust collector 20 between the extension
pipe 11 and the operation handle 23, since an accessory brush (not
shown), such as a crevice tool or a dusting accessory, is connected
directly to the operation handle 23, and therefore, the area to be
cleaned is obstructed by the dust collector 20. Moreover, an
extension pipe with a predetermined length is needed to connect the
accessory brush (not shown) to the operation handle 23.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved cyclone vacuum cleaner in order to removably connect an
accessory brush directly to an operation handle.
[0009] In order to achieve the above-described objects of the
present invention, there is provided a cyclone vacuum cleaner
comprising a main body, a flexible hose assembly extending from the
main body, an operation handle, wherein one end is connected to the
flexible hose assembly and the other end is connected to an
extension pipe for use with a brush which is in contact with an
area to be cleaned, a cyclone dust collector for collecting dust
disposed between the main body and the operation handle, and a
brush to draw in the dust on the area to be cleaned being connected
to the operation handle.
[0010] According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention,
it is preferable that the cyclone dust collector is disposed
between the operation handle and the flexible hose assembly.
[0011] In addition, according to a second preferred embodiment of
the invention, the flexible hose assembly comprises a first
flexible hose to be connected to the operation handle and a second
flexible hose to be connected to the main body. The cyclone dust
collector is disposed between the first and second flexible
hoses.
[0012] The cyclone dust collector may further comprise a cyclone
body for generating an air whirlpool current with respect to air
flowing into the cyclone body, which has an air inlet leading to
the operation handle, and an air outlet in fluid communication with
the main body, a dust receptacle removably connected to the cyclone
body by a locking unit, a first upstream prevention member
integrally formed with the dust receptacle, a dust separation grill
which is extending downwardly from the air outlet in the cyclone
body and having a plurality of fine holes in a surface thereof, and
a second upstream prevention member formed at the lower part of the
dust separation grill removed from the air outlet.
[0013] The locking unit may further comprise a hinge projection
formed on the operation handle and a hinge hole formed in the dust
receptacle corresponding to the hinge projection.
[0014] A connecting end of the dust receptacle, corresponding to a
virtual arc of an imaginary circle, having a locus on the hinge
projection, the virtual arc on the plane is disposed in a direction
perpendicular to a shaft of the hinge projection.
[0015] In addition, a cyclone vacuum cleaner according to a third
preferred embodiment may comprise a main body, a flexible hose
assembly at one end connected to and extending from the main body,
an operation handle one end of which is connected to another end of
the flexible hose assembly, and the other end of the operation
handle is connected to an extension pipe to be joined with a brush
which will be contacted with an area to be cleaned, a cyclone dust
collector which is connected to the flexible hose assembly, and the
other end is connected to the main body, and a brush for drawing in
dust on the area to be cleaned.
[0016] The cyclone dust collector may comprise a cyclone body for
generating an air whirlpool current with respect to air flowing
into the cyclone body, which has an air inlet providing fluid
communication to the flexible hose assembly, and an air outlet
providing fluid communication to the main body, a dust receptacle
removably connected with the cyclone body by a locking unit, a
first upstream prevention member integrally formed with the dust
receptacle, a dust separation grill extending downwardly from the
air outlet in the cyclone body with a plurality of fine holes
formed on a surface thereof, and a second upstream prevention
member formed at the lower part of the dust separation grill
removed from the air outlet.
[0017] Further, in a cyclone vacuum cleaner according to a fourth
preferred embodiment, the air inlet of the cyclone dust collector
is oriented in a coaxial direction relative to the air outlet.
[0018] Further, in a cyclone vacuum cleaner according to the fifth
preferred embodiment, the air inlet of the cyclone dust collector
is oriented in a non-coaxial direction relative to the air
outlet.
[0019] If the air inlet of the cyclone dust collector is in a
non-coaxial orientation relative to the air outlet, it is
preferable that the air path of the cyclone dust collector is
skewed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0020] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings
where:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a
conventional cyclone dust collector;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side view of a cyclone dust collector disposed
between an operation handle and a flexible hose assembly, according
to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away plan view showing a structure
of a dust receptacle of the cyclone dust collector of FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the cyclone dust collector shown
disposed in the middle of the flexible hose assembly, according to
a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with the
cyclone dust collector disposed between the main body and the
flexible hose assembly, according to a third preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side view of the main body of a vacuum cleaner
according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side view of the main body of a vacuum cleaner
according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a cyclone vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIGS. 2 through 4 show a cyclone dust collector disposed
between an operation handle and a flexible hose assembly. Portions
having the same objective and structure and identifying essentially
identical elements as the prior art will be referred to by the same
reference numerals.
[0030] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0031] A cyclone dust collector 100 comprises a cyclone body 110, a
dust receptacle 120, a dust separation grill 130, and first and
second upstream prevention members 140, 150, respectively.
[0032] The cyclone body 110 forms an air whirlpool current with
respect to air flowing into the body 110. It comprises an air inlet
111 fluidly communicating with the operation handle 23, and an air
outlet 112 fluidly communicating with the main body 30 through a
flexible hose assembly 24.
[0033] The dust receptacle 120 is removably connected to the
cyclone body 110 by a locking unit 200. The locking unit 200 will
be described in detail below.
[0034] The first upstream prevention member 140 is integrally
formed with the dust receptacle 120 and provides a primary means
for preventing dust collected in the cyclone body 110 from flowing
into the main body 30.
[0035] The dust separation grill 130 extends downwardly in a
direction away from the air outlet of the cyclone body 110, and has
a plurality of fine holes 131 formed in a surface thereof.
[0036] The second upstream prevention member 150 is formed at the
lower part of the dust separation grill 130, removed from the
connection of the grill 130 to the cyclone body 110, and provides
for providing secondary dust filtering, i.e., for separating dust
which has not been filtered by the first upstream prevention member
140.
[0037] The cyclone dust collector 100 having the above structure is
connected on one end of its structure to the operation handle 23
providing the air inlet 111, and at the other end is connected to
the flexible hose assembly 24, providing the air outlet 112.
[0038] On the other hand, since the cyclone dust collector 100 is
disposed between the operation handle 23 and the flexible hose
assembly 24, the dust receptacle 120 may become obstructed by the
operation handle 23 when separating the two. Therefore, the dust
receptacle 120 is removably connected with the cyclone body 110 by
the locking unit 200 so as to provide a structure not obstructed by
the operation handle 23.
[0039] The locking unit 200 comprises a hinge projection 210
extending from the operation handle 23, and a hinge hole 220 formed
in the dust receptacle 120 corresponding to the hinge projection
210 for cooperation therewith.
[0040] It is preferable that the hinge projection 210 extends from
the lower surface of the operation handle 23. However, the hinge
projection 210 can be formed on the side surface of the operation
handle 23, if necessary or desired.
[0041] A connecting end of the dust receptacle 120 may be formed in
the shape of an arc following an imaginary circle having a center
or locus at the hinge projection 210, when viewed from above, as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0042] It is preferable that the dust separation grill 130 does not
exceed in length beyond the connecting end, so that the rotation of
the dust receptacle 120 is not obstructed.
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates in a side view a second embodiment of the
present invention, wherein the cyclone dust collector 100 is
disposed in the middle of the flexible hose assembly 24 between two
separated sections of hose. Again, like or similar elements are
identified by identical reference numerals.
[0044] In this embodiment, the flexible hose assembly 24 is
comprised of a first flexible hose 24a, one end of which is
connected to the operation handle 23, and a second flexible hose
24b, one end of which is connected to the main body 30 of the
cleaner. The cyclone dust collector 100 is disposed between the
first and second flexible hoses 24a, 24b.
[0045] Therefore, it is possible to removably connect the dust
receptacle 120 to the cyclone body 110 by means of the locking unit
200, which is comprised of the hinge projection 210 and the hinge
hole 220. However, other appropriate connection means, such as a
rotation connection system, which is the subject an application by
the present applicant, disclosed in Korean Patent 2001-0046138 may
also be used.
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the
present invention, wherein the cyclone dust collector 100 is
directly connected to the main body 30 of the cleaner. In this
embodiment, one end of the cyclone dust collector 100, which is the
air inlet, is connected to the distal end of flexible hose assembly
24 furthest from the operation handle 23, and the other end, which
is the air outlet, is connected to the main body 30. Since the
cyclone dust collector 110 is fixed directly to the main body 30 in
this case, cleaning work becomes easier since the combination of
the cyclone dust collector 100 and main body 30 move together as
one structure.
[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a fourth and the fifth embodiments of the
present invention, respectively.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cyclone dust collector 300
comprises a cyclone body 310 and a dust receptacle 320. The cyclone
dust collector 300 comprises an air inlet 311 connected to the
flexible hose assembly 24, and an air outlet 312 connected to a
suction port 31 of the main body 30. The dust receptacle 320
collects dust separated by an air whirlpool current, and is
removably connected to the cyclone body 310, which itself is
disposed above the main body 30.
[0049] In the cyclone body 310, as in FIG. 6, the air inlet 311 can
be disposed in a coaxial orientation relative to the air outlet
312. The air inlet 311 can also be disposed in a non-coaxial
orientation relative to the air outlet 312, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0050] Hereinafter, the operation of the cyclone vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention will be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0051] Suction force is generated by a suction motor as power is
applied, and then air, including entrained dust, is drawn into the
cyclone dust collector 100 through a brush 10, which draws in dust
located on an area to be cleaned, and then through an operation
handle 23. Then, the air is directed to the air inlet 111 of the
cyclone body 110, which creates a downwardly directed whirlpool
current guided by an air path forming body.
[0052] As the centrifugal rotation force of the air whirlpool
current increases, even fine dust entrained in the air can be
separated from the rotating air whirlpool current. The separated
dust descends along the inside wall of the cyclone body 110 and is
collected in the bottom of the dust receptacle 120.
[0053] The downwardly directed air whirlpool current, from which
dust is now removed, reverses direction from the bottom of the
cyclone body 110, and forms an ascending current rotating with a
smaller radius within the outer, downwardly directed air current.
Here, if the rotation force of the air whirlpool current increases,
turbulence, which is normally generated in the bottom of the
cyclone body 110 as the air current reverses direction, can be
reduced. Accordingly, an air whirlpool current can be generated
which can separate dust from the air more effectively. The
ascending current passes through the dust separation grill 130, and
then flows through the flexible hose assembly 24 into a dust
collecting chamber (not shown) located in the main body 30 (FIG.
1).
[0054] Meanwhile, dust which is collected in the dust receptacle
120 may also ascend together with the ascending current. However,
relatively large particles of dust cannot pass through the holes
131 of the dust separation grill 130, and the large dust particles
drop to the bottom of the dust receptacle 120.
[0055] The remaining procedures at the dust collecting chamber in
the main body 30 are performed in a conventional manner as those of
a general vacuum cleaner, and are not further described herein.
[0056] When cleaning narrow spaces, accessory brushes 40, such as a
crevice tool, can be directly connected to the operation handle 23
instead of being connected to an end of an extension pipe 11.
[0057] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, accessory brushes can be directly connected to the
operation handle 23, and therefore, inconvenience resulting from
having to carry a heavy extension pipe can be reduced.
[0058] 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 form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *