U.S. patent application number 11/183971 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for wet-cloth brush for vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner having the same.
Invention is credited to Soon-tack Lim, Jang-keun Oh.
Application Number | 20060130272 11/183971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36087603 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130272 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Jang-keun ; et
al. |
June 22, 2006 |
Wet-cloth brush for vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner having the
same
Abstract
A wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, which generates minor
vibration and enables a user to check the operation of a wet-cloth
board, comprises a brush body, a fan mounted to the brush body to
be rotated by drawn-in air, an eccentric cam mounted to the brush
body and operated in association with a power transmitter that
transmits a rotational power of the fan, and at least two wet-cloth
boards separably mounted to the brush body to move along a locus of
the eccentric cam.
Inventors: |
Oh; Jang-keun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Lim; Soon-tack; (Gimhae-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
36087603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/183971 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0416 20130101;
A47L 9/0433 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/380 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20060101
A47L009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2004 |
KR |
2004-110043 |
Claims
1. A wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a brush
body; a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by drawn-in
air; a plurality of eccentric cams mounted to the brush body and
operated in association with a power transmitter that transmits a
rotational power of the fan; and at least two wet-cloth boards
mounted to the brush body to move along a locus of the eccentric
cam.
2. The wet-cloth brush of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter
comprises: a plurality of worms mounted to a rotation shaft
protruded from opposite sides of the fan; and a plurality of worm
wheels meshing with the worms and having the eccentric cam at a
lower end thereof, respectively.
3. The wet-cloth brush of claim 2, wherein the worm wheels formed
at both sides of the fan are rotated in the opposite directions to
each other.
4. The wet-cloth brush of claim 1, wherein the wet-cloth boards
comprises: a cam groove formed as a long groove for insertion of
the eccentric cam; and a guide projection formed at one side of the
cam groove and inserted in a guide groove formed as a long groove
on the brush body.
5. The wet-cloth brush of claim 4, wherein the two wet-cloth boards
repeatedly and linearly move so as to gather at a center part of
the brush body and separate from each other.
6. The wet-cloth brush of claim 5, wherein the two wet-cloth boards
respectively have a sloping edge on the sides facing each
other.
7. The wet-cloth brush of claim 1, wherein the wet-cloth boards are
mounted to a lower part of the brush body to partly protrude from
the brush body.
8. A vacuum cleaner performing wet-cleaning by drawing in
dust-laden air through a wet-cloth brush, wherein the wet-cloth
brush comprises: a brush body; a fan mounted to the brush body to
be rotated by the drawn-in air; first and second worms respectively
mounted to rotation shafts formed on both sides of the fan; first
and second worm wheels mounted in the brush body to mesh with the
first and the second worms; first and second eccentric cams
respectively mounted at a lower part of the first and the second
worm wheels and deviated from rotational centers of the worm
wheels; and first and second wet-cloth boards including a cam
groove formed as a long groove for insertion of anyone of the first
and the second eccentric cams, and a guide projection formed at one
side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove formed as a
long groove in the brush body.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first and the second
wet-cloth boards repeatedly and linearly move so as to gather at a
center part of the brush body and separate from each other.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first and the second
wet-cloth boards respectively have a sloping edge on the sides
facing each other.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first and the second
wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the brush body to
partly protrude from the brush body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-110043, filed Dec. 22,
2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a brush for a vacuum
cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, embodied by attaching a
wet-cloth to a brush.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] When cleaning a place such as a room, it is general to use a
vacuum cleaner first to remove dust and impurities and then use a
wet cloth to wipe down. However, since such a two-step cleaning
work is inconvenient for a user, a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum
cleaner, which enables vacuuming and wiping simultaneously, has
been introduced and spread.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wet-cloth brush of a
vacuum cleaner.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional wet-cloth brush 1 for
a vacuum cleaner comprises a brush body 10, a fan 20, a power
transmitter 30, and a wet-cloth board 40.
[0008] The brush body 10 has an air inducing path 11 for drawing in
dust-laden air by a suction force generated in a cleaner body (not
shown). The fan 20 is mounted on the air inducing path 11 of the
brush body 10 to be rotated by the dust-laden air which is drawn
in. A pinion gear 21 is mounted under the fan 20 to rotate in
association with the fan 20. The power transmitter 30 comprises a
pulley gear 31, first and second belts 35 and 37, a first pulley 36
and a second pulley (not shown).
[0009] The pulley gear 31 comprises a gear part 32 meshed with the
pinion gear 21 and first and second pulley parts 33 and 34 formed
on both sides of the gear part 32. The first pulley 36 and the
second pulley (not shown) are rotatably mounted to the brush body
10 and have a protrusion (not shown) at a certain distance from a
rotational center thereof, respectively. At an upper part of the
wet-cloth board 40, recesses (not shown) are formed for insertion
of the protrusions of the first pulley 36 and the second
pulley.
[0010] The above-structured wet-cloth brush 1 operates as follows.
When the dust-laden air is drawn in by the suction force, the fan
20 mounted on the air inducing path 11 is rotated. By rotation of
the fan 20, the pinion gear 21 disposed under the fan 20 is
rotated. Therefore, the gear part 32 of the pulley gear 31 in mesh
with the pinion gear 21 is rotated. When the pulley gear 31 rotates
according to rotation of the gear part 32, the first pulley 36 and
the second pulley are rotated, which are connected with the first
and the second pulley parts 33 and 34 of the pulley gear 31 through
the first and the second belts 35 and 37. Accordingly, the
protrusions of the first pulley 36 and the second pulley crank, and
consequently, the wet-cloth board 40 engaged with the protrusions
of the first and the second pulleys 36 crank. As a result, the
wet-cloth attached to a lower surface of the wet-cloth board 40
wipes away a surface being cleaned, such as a floor.
[0011] In the conventional wet-cloth brush 1, however, the
wet-cloth board 40 reciprocates very fast, and such a fast motion
increases noise and vibration. The vibration is transmitted up to a
handle through an extension pipe 3 of the vacuum cleaner, thereby
making the user uncomfortable.
[0012] In addition, since the wet-cloth board 40 is not obviously
seen during the operation, the user cannot instantly recognize
whether the wet-cloth is working right.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the
above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present
invention is to provide a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner,
capable of reducing noise and vibration by decreasing a motional
speed of a wet-cloth board and by providing a plurality of
wet-cloth boards that symmetrically operate, and a vacuum cleaner
having the same.
[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, enabling a user to instantly
check the performance of the wet-cloth brush by making the
wet-cloth in operation seen from above the wet-cloth brush, and a
vacuum cleaner having the same.
[0015] In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the
present invention, there is provided a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum
cleaner, comprising a brush body, a fan mounted to the brush body
to be rotated by drawn-in air, a plurality of eccentric cams
mounted to the brush body and operated in association with a power
transmitter that transmits a rotational power of the fan, and at
least two wet-cloth boards separably mounted to the brush body to
move along a locus of the eccentric cam.
[0016] The power transmitter comprises a plurality of worms mounted
to rotation shafts protruded from opposite sides of the fan; and a
plurality of worm wheels meshing with the worms having the
eccentric cam at a lower end thereof, respectively.
[0017] The worm wheels formed at both sides of the fan are rotated
in the opposite directions other.
[0018] The wet-cloth boards comprises a cam groove formed as a long
groove for insertion of the eccentric cam; and a guide projection
formed at one side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide formed
as a long groove on the brush body.
[0019] The two wet-cloth boards repeatedly and linearly move so as
to gather at a center part of the brush body and separate from each
other.
[0020] The two wet-cloth boards respectively have a sloping edge on
the sides facing each other.
[0021] The wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the
brush body to partly protrude from brush body.
[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a vacuum performing wet-cleaning by drawing in
dust-laden air through a wet-cloth brush, wherein cloth brush
comprises a brush body; a fan mounted to the brush body to be
rotated by the drawn-in air; first and second worms respectively
mounted to rotation shafts formed on both sides of the fan; first
and second worm wheels mounted in the brush body to mesh with the
first and the second worms; first and second eccentric cams
respectively mounted at a lower part of the first and the second
worm wheels and deviated from rotational centers of the worm
wheels; and first and second wet-cloth boards including a cam
groove formed as a long groove for insertion of anyone of the first
and the second eccentric cams, and a guide projection formed at one
side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove formed as a
long groove in the brush body.
[0023] The first and the second wet-cloth boards repeatedly and
linearly move so as to gather at a center part of the brush body
and separate from each other.
[0024] The first and the second wet-cloth boards respectively have
a sloping edge on the sides facing each other.
[0025] The first and the second wet-cloth boards are mounted to a
lower part of the brush body to partly protrude from the brush
body.
[0026] According to the above described wet-cloth brush of a vacuum
cleaner, the noise and vibration during the cleaning work can be
reduced because the two wet-cloth board reciprocates oppositely to
each other at a low speed.
[0027] Furthermore, in the wet-cloth brush according to an
embodiment of the present invention, the user can instantly
recognize the operation of the wet-cloth because the wet-cloth
boards are seen from above the wet-cloth brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0028] The above aspect and other features of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary
embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein;
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a
conventional wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wet-cloth brush for a
vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the wet-cloth brush of FIG.
2;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of the wet-cloth brush
according to an embodiment of the present invention, for explaining
the power transmission structure;
[0033] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view showing an eccentric
cam, a guide groove and a cam groove of the wet-cloth brush
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a view for illustrating an assembly structure of
first and second eccentric cams of the wet-cloth brush according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a view showing an exemplary wet-cloth board of the
wet-cloth brush according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0036] FIGS. 8A to 8C are views for illustrating a reciprocating
motion of two wet-cloth boards of a wet-cloth brush according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner comprising
the wet-cloth brush according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawing figures.
[0039] In the following description, same drawing reference
numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings.
The matters defined in the description such as a detailed
construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to
assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it
is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without
those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions
are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention
in unnecessary detail.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a wet-cloth brush 100 for a
vacuum cleaner comprises a brush body 110, a fan 120, a power
transmitter 130, eccentric cams 141 and 142, and wet-cloth boards
151 and 152.
[0041] The brush body 110 is detachably mounted to a pipe 221 of an
extension pipe. The brush body 110 has an air inducing path 112
along which a dust-laden air, being drawn in through an air inlet
111 disposed at a lower part thereof, flows toward the pipe 221. A
cover (not shown) is attached at an upper part of the brush body
110, thereby shielding the fan 120 and the power transmitter 130
and forming the air inducing path 112.
[0042] The fan 120 comprises a blade part 121, and first and second
rotation shafts 122 and 123 projected from rotational centers of
opposite ends of the blade part 121. The fan 120 is rotatably
mounted in the air inducing path 112 of the brush body 110 by the
first and the second rotation shafts 122 and 123. The first and the
second rotation shafts 122 and 123 are supported by ball bearings
124 and 125, respectively.
[0043] The power transmitter 130 consists of a worm and a worm
wheel having a significant reduction gear ratio. The wet-cloth
brush 100 of the present embodiment comprises first and second
power transmitters 131 and 132 to transmit power of the first and
the second rotation shafts 122 and 123 of the fan 120. The first
power transmitter 131 comprises a first worm 133 mounted to the
first rotation shaft 122 of the fan 120 and a first worm wheel 134
meshed with the first worm 133 and rotated parallel with respect to
the brush body 110. The second power transmitter 132 is disposed to
correspond to the first power transmitter 131 with respect to the
fan 120. The second power transmitter 132 comprises a second worm
135 mounted to the second rotation shaft 123 and a second worm
wheel 136 meshed with the second worm 135 and rotated parallel with
respect to the brush body 110. The first and the second worm wheels
134 and 136 are rotatably supported by first and second rotation
supporting members 114 and 116 such as bearing and bush mounted to
the brush body 110. The first worm and worm wheel 133 and 134 and
the second worm and worm wheel 135 and 136 may be applied by a worm
and a worm wheel rotating in the same direction. More specifically,
the first worm and worm wheel 133 and 134 and the second worm and
worm wheel 135 and 136 may rotate all to the right. However, in
order to reduce noise generated by the reciprocating motion of the
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, it is preferable that the first worm
and worm wheel 133 and 134 rotate in the opposite direction to the
second worm and worm wheel 135 and 136. For example, the first worm
and worm wheel 133 and 134 may rotate to the right whereas the
second worm and worm wheel 135 and 136 rotate to the left.
According to this structure, as the fan 120 operates, the first and
the second worm wheel 134 and 136 are rotated in the opposite
directions.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the eccentric cams 141 and 142
are disposed under the worm wheels 134 and 136 to convert a
rotational motion of the worm wheels 134 and 136 to a straight
motion, in cooperation with the cam grooves 153 and 156 formed in
the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. The eccentric cams 141 and 142
are configured as a pin formed at a predetermined distance `e` from
rotational centers of worm wheel shafts 134a and 136a. In this
embodiment, the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 of
a pin shape are disposed under the first and the second worm wheels
134 and 136, respectively.
[0045] The wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are mounted at a lower part
of the brush body 100 and respectively have the cam grooves 153 and
156 for insertion of the eccentric cams 141 and 142. The cam
grooves 153 and 156 have a certain width for smooth insertion of
the eccentric cams 141 and 142 and a certain length by which the
eccentric cams 141 and 142 move. That is, the length of the cam
grooves 153 and 156 determines a reciprocating distance of the
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. Each of the cam grooves 153 and 156
of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 has guide projections 154 and
157 at one side thereof. The guide projections 154 and 157 are
inserted in a guide groove 115 to restrict a movement of the
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. The guide groove 115 is configured as
a long groove formed at one side of the rotation supporting members
114 and 116, which support the worm wheels 134 and 136, on the
brush body 110. For more stable movement of the wet-cloth boards
151 and 152, a pair of the guide grooves 115 are preferably
disposed on both sides of the rotation supporting members 114 and
116, respectively. The movement of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
is determined by relationships between the cam grooves 153 and 156
and the guide grooves 115 formed on the brush body 110. According
to the wet-cloth brush 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 5, the cam grooves 153 and 156 of the wet-cloth boards 151 and
152 are disposed perpendicularly to the rotation shafts 122 and 123
of the fan 120 whereas the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110
are disposed parallel with the rotation shafts 122 and 123 of the
fan 120, with respect to a length direction of the grooves. That
is, the cam grooves 153 and 156 of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
are perpendicularly disposed to the guide grooves 115 of the brush
body 110 with respect to the length directions of the grooves.
Also, the wet-cloth brush 100 comprises a pair of the guide grooves
115 on both sides of the first and the second rotation supporting
members 114 and 116 that support the first and the second worm
wheels 134 and 136 of the brush body 110, respectively, and a pair
of the guide projections 154 and 157 on the wet-cloth boards 151
and 152 to correspond to the guide grooves 115. The guide
projections 154 and 157 have at an upper part thereof
escape-prevention members 155 and 158 fixed by a fastening member
such as a bolt, respectively, to restrain the wet-cloth boards 151
and 152 from escaping from the guide grooves 115 of the brush body
110. A plain washer having a diameter greater than a width of the
guide groove 115 may be used for the escape-prevention members 155
and 158. Therefore, as the eccentric cams 141 and 142 are rotated
by the worm wheels 134 and 136, the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
can linearly reciprocate through the cam grooves 153 and 156
inserted with the eccentric cams 141 and 142 and the guide
projections 154 and 157 inserted in the guide grooves 115, without
being separated from the brush body 110. On the other side of the
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, which is opposite to a side where the
cam grooves 153 and 156 and the guide projections 154 and 157 are
formed, a plurality of sticking seats 159 (FIG. 3), such as velcro
tape, are provided to attach the wet-cloth (not shown).
[0046] Although the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and
152 may be operated by the first and the second eccentric cams 141
and 142 independently, it is preferable that they are operated in
association with each other. In order for reduction of the
vibration, the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 may be symmetrically
operated. For example, if the first wet-cloth board 151 moves
toward a center part of the brush body 110, the second wet-cloth
board 152 moves toward the center part, and if the first wet-cloth
board 151 moves outward with respect to the brush body 110, so does
the second wet-cloth board 152. In other words, the first and the
second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 reciprocate in motions of
gathering at the center part of the brush body 110 and separating
to outer parts of the brush body 110. To this end, the first and
the second worm wheels 134 and 136 are rotated in the opposite
directions to each other. The first and the second eccentric cams
141 and 142 are disposed in the same direction, as shown in FIG.
6.
[0047] However, in the above-operated wet-cloth brush 100, a finger
or any other stuff may be pinched by the first and the second
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 gathering to the center part. To
prevent this, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
preferably have sloping edges 151a and 152a facing each other,
respectively. In greater detail, the sloping edges 151a and 152a
are formed by sharpening the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 from
bottom surfaces 151c and 152c directly attached with the wet-cloth
toward upper surfaces 151d and 152d directly mounted to the brush
body 110.
[0048] Furthermore, the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 have a certain
size for allowing the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 to be partly
exposed and shown by a user from above the brush body 110.
Therefore, the user can check the operation of the wet-cloth boards
151 and 152 while operating the vacuum cleaner. In this embodiment,
both comers 113 of a side of the brush body 110, the side connected
to the pipe 221, are rounded while the first and the second
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are substantially formed as a
rectangle. Accordingly, one corner of the respective wet-cloth
boards 151 and 152 can always be shown through the rounded comers
113 of the brush body 100. Additionally, it is preferable that
flank sides 151b and 152b of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are
shown, protruding from the brush body 110, when the both wet-cloth
boards 151 and 152 are moved to the outermost limit, as shown in
FIG. 8.
[0049] Hereinbelow, the operation of the wet-cloth brush for a
vacuum cleaner will be described in reference to FIGS. 2 thorugh
8.
[0050] When a suction force is generated by a motor mounted in a
cleaner body (not shown), dust-laden air is drawn in through the
air inlet 111 formed in the brush body 110. While passing through
the air inducing path 112, the drawn-in air rotates the fan 120
which is supported on the air inducing path 112 with both sides
thereof by the ball bearings 124 and 125. As the fan 120 rotates,
the first and the second worms 133 and 135 mounted to the rotation
shafts 122 and 123 are integrally rotated. Accordingly, the first
and the second worm wheels 134 and 136 in mesh with the first and
the second worms 133 and 135 are rotated. Thereby, the first and
the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 integrally formed with a
lower part of the worm wheels 134 and 136 are rotated at a certain
distance from the rotational centers of the first and the second
worm wheels 134 and 136, as shown in FIG. 6. Because the first worm
and worm wheel 133 and 134 and the second worm and worm wheel 135
and 136 rotate in the opposite directions to each other, if the
first worm wheel 134 rotates clockwise, for example, the second
worm wheel 136 rotates counterclockwise.
[0051] As the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142
rotate, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
linearly reciprocate in a length direction of the brush body 110 by
the cam grooves 153 and 156 inserted with the first and the second
eccentric cams 141 and 142 and the guide projections 154 and 157
inserted in the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110. Here,
since the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 are
symmetrically disposed and rotated in the opposite directions, as
shown in FIG. 6, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and
152 also symmetrically reciprocate by rotation of the fan 120.
[0052] FIGS. 8A to 8C show the operation of the first and the
second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. More specifically, FIG. 8A
shows the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 as
moved to the outermost limit by rotation of the first and the
second eccentric cams 141 and 142. FIG. 8B shows the wet-cloth
boards 151 and 152 being gathering toward the center part of the
brush body 110, and FIG. 8C show the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
as moved to the center part of the brush body 110 as much as
possible. By the symmetrical movement of the first and the second
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 as the above, the vibration generated
by the reciprocating motion of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 can
be decreased and prevented from being transmitted up to the handle
222 (FIG. 9) through the pipe 221.
[0053] In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A, the flank side 151b and
152b of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are partly protruded from
the brush body 110 when the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are moved
to the outermost limit. Therefore, the user can easily check the
operation of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152.
[0054] Moreover, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and
152 respectively have sloping sides 151a and 152a facing each
other, as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, a finger or other stuff is
not pinched by the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 although the
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are moved to the center part.
[0055] FIG. 9 shows the operation of a vacuum cleaner applying the
wet-cloth brush 100 according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 9, a vacuum cleaner 200 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, comprises a wet-cloth brush
110 for drawing in dust-laden air, the extension pipe 220 fluidly
connecting the wet-cloth brush 100 with a cleaner body 230, and the
cleaner body 230 including a dust collecting chamber 235 and a
motor chamber 231.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wet-cloth brush 100
comprises the brush body 110 having the air inlet 111 for drawing
in dust-laden air from a surface being cleaned, and a pair of
wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 linearly reciprocating with respect to
the brush body 110. Since the structure of the wet-cloth brush 100
has been described above, detailed description thereof will be
omitted. The extension pipe 220 comprises a pipe 221 removably
attached with the wet-cloth brush 100, the handle 222 for moving
the wet-cloth brush 100, and a flexible hose 223 fluidly connecting
the handle 222 and the cleaner body 230. The dust collecting
chamber 235 includes a contaminant collecting unit (not shown) for
separating and collecting dust from the dust-laden air drawn in
through the wet-cloth brush 100. The contaminant collecting unit
may be implemented by any of a general dust bag and a cyclone dust
collecting unit. The motor chamber 231 has a motor assembly 210 for
generating the suction force for drawing in the dust-laden air
through the wet-cloth brush 100. The motor assembly 210 comprises a
motor 211, an impeller (not shown) rotated by the motor 211, and a
diffuser 212 for inducing the air drawn in by the impeller to the
motor 211.
[0058] When cleaning a place using the vacuum cleaner 200 according
to an embodiment of the present invention, a power switch is turned
on to rotate the motor 211 in the motor chamber 231. As the motor
211 rotates, the impeller mounted to a leading end of a motor shaft
is rotated. By this, the dust-laden air is drawn in through the air
inlet 111 of the wet-cloth brush 100.
[0059] The drawn-in air flows along the air inducing path 112 in
the brush body 100, thereby rotating the fan 120. According to
rotation of the fan 120, the pair of wet-cloth boards 151 and 152
are symmetrically operated by the eccentric cams 141 and 142, the
cam grooves 153 and 156, the guide grooves 115 and the guide
projections 154 and 157 to linearly reciprocate (See FIG. 4). As a
result, the surface being cleaned such as floor can be thoroughly
wiped away by the wet-cloth (not shown) attached to the bottom
surfaces 151c and 152c of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. During
this, the user holding the handle 222 can view each of the one
corner of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 from above the brush
body 110. In addition, since the flank sides 151b and 152b are
partly protruded from the brush body 110 when the wet-cloth boards
151 and 152 are moved to the outermost limit, the user can confirm
whether the cleaning work is being performed right. While passing
through the contaminant collecting unit of the dust collecting
chamber 235, the dust-laden air passed through the fan 120 is
cleaned since the dust is separated therefrom. The cleaned air is
passed through the motor 211 via the impeller and the diffuser 212
and discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 230 through an
outlet 233.
[0060] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain 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.
* * * * *