U.S. patent application number 11/269632 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for vacuum cleaner with sterilizing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hak-bong Lee, Jang-keun Oh.
Application Number | 20060236496 11/269632 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36617224 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060236496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Jang-keun ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Vacuum cleaner with sterilizing system
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner with a sterilizing system including a safety
device for a sterilizer thereof. The vacuum cleaner according to an
embodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaner body and a
suction brush. The suction brush comprises a sterilizer using an
ultraviolet (UV) ray; and a safety device interrupting power supply
to the sterilizer when the suction brush is moved apart from the
surface being cleaned by a predetermined distance. Here, the safety
device comprises a micro switch controlling power to the
sterilizer, a micro switch operator released from contact with the
micro switch as the suction brush is separated from the surface
being cleaned by an amount at least equal to the predetermined
distance, thereby turning off the micro switch, and a biasing
member that biases the micro switch operator in a certain
direction.
Inventors: |
Oh; Jang-keun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Lee; Hak-bong; (Damyang-gun,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36617224 |
Appl. No.: |
11/269632 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/339 ;
15/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 7/0061 20130101;
A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L 9/2889 20130101; A47L 9/2842 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/339 ;
015/351 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/00 20060101
A47L005/00; A47L 9/00 20060101 A47L009/00; A47L 5/28 20060101
A47L005/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2005 |
KR |
2005-33713 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner having a suction brush for drawing in dust from
a surface being cleaned, wherein the suction brush comprises: a
sterilizer; and a safety device interrupting power supply to the
sterilizer when the suction brush is moved apart from the surface
being cleaned by a predetermined distance, the safety device
comprising, a micro switch turning the sterilizer on and off, a
switch operation part, the switch operation part being released
from contact with the micro switch when the suction brush is
separated from the surface being cleaned by at least the
predetermined distance, thereby turning off the micro switch, and a
resilient member biasing the switch operation part in a direction
away from the micro switch.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the switch operation part
comprises: a wheel rotated by friction with the surface being
cleaned; and a wheel guide supporting the wheel and in selective
contact with an actuator of the micro switch.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the wheel guide moves
through a bottom frame of the suction brush.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the safety device is
disposed at a rear portion of the suction brush not exposed to the
outside.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the sterilizer comprises
a UV sterilizing lamp.
6. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body including a suction
motor and a dust separator; and a suction brush disposed at a lower
portion in fluid communication with the cleaner body to draw in
dust-laden air from a surface being cleaned and discharge the
dust-laden air into the cleaner body, wherein the suction brush
comprises, a UV sterilizing lamp, a micro switch turning the UV
sterilizing lamp on and off, a switch operation part, the switch
operation part being released from contact with the micro switch as
the suction brush is separated from the surface being cleaned by at
least a predetermined distance, thereby turning off the micro
switch, and a resilient member biasing the switch operation part in
a direction away from the micro switch.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the switch operation part
comprises a wheel rotated by friction with the surface being
cleaned; and a wheel guide supporting the wheel and in selective
contact with an actuator of the micro switch.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-33713,
filed Apr. 22, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner
having a sterilizer, such as an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and a safety
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Vacuum cleaners are mainly divided into either an upright
type or a canister type. Conventional vacuum cleaners comprise a
cleaner body with a suction motor and a dust collecting chamber
therein, and a suction brush for drawing in dust from a surface
being cleaned.
[0004] Recently, in order to remove not only dust and dirt but also
germs and ticks inhabiting the surface being cleaned, such as
carpet and bedclothes, vacuum cleaners with a sterilizer, such as
an ultraviolet (UV) sterilizing lamp in the suction brush have been
developed.
[0005] However, the UV light of the sterilizer could hurt a
person's skin and eyes if the UV ray is projected on the person
accidentially. Therefore, various ideas have been suggested to
solve such a problem. For example, commonly owned Korean Utility
Model Laid-open No. 1997-50925 discloses a suction brush equipped
with a switch member for operating the UW sterilizing lamp only
when the suction brush is in contact with the surface being
cleaned. However, the suction brush introduced in the above Utility
Model is not appropriate for the upright-type vacuum cleaner
because the upright-type vacuum cleaner usually cleans a wide hall
or a carpet spread on a wide hall and is often lifted by a
predetermined height when being moved from a hall floor up to the
carpet. The frequent lift caused as the vacuum moves up from the
hall floor to the carpet causes the UV sterilizing lamp to turn off
frequently and lose power. Therefore, the user has to monitor the
vacuum cleaner constantly.
[0006] Korean Utility Model Registration No. 342660 discloses a
suction brush having a floor sensor which interrupts power supply
to the UV sterilizing lamp when a bottom portion of the suction
brush is apart from the surface being cleaned by a predetermined
distance. However, the sensor considerably increases the
manufacturing cost and requires a complicated circuit structure. If
the sensor does not properly function, the vacuum cleaner may not
operate.
[0007] Furthermore, although a tilt switch and a mercury switch can
also interrupt the power supply to a UV sterilizing lamp when the
suction brush is tilted by a predetermined angle, those switches
are not effective when having to clean a slant surface. Those
switches are also ineffective when the suction brush is vertically
lifted with respect to the floor, instead of being tilted, because
the operation of the UV sterilizing lamp will continue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] 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 vacuum cleaner equipped with a safety
device capable of stopping operation of a sterilizer when a suction
brush is moved apart from a surface being cleaned by a
predetermined distance.
[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
vacuum cleaner with simpler construction and stabler operation by
mechanically controlling the operation of the sterilizer.
[0010] In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the
present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a
cleaner body and a suction brush drawing in dust-laden air from a
surface being cleaned and discharging the dust-laden air into the
cleaner body. The suction brush comprises a sterilizer; and a
safety device that interrupts a power supply to the sterilizer when
the suction brush is moved apart from the surface being cleaned by
a predetermined distance.
[0011] The safety device comprises a micro switch that controls the
electrical power supplied to the sterilizer; a micro switch
operator that, when released from contact with the micro switch as
the suction brush is separated from the surface being cleaned by an
amount equal to at least a predetermined distance, operates the
micro switch; and a biasing member that biases the micro switch
operator in a certain direction.
[0012] The micro switch operator comprises a wheel rotated by
friction with the surface being cleaned; and a wheel guide
supporting the wheel that selectively contacts an actuator of the
micro switch. The wheel guide travels substantially perpendicular
to the bottom surface of the suction brush. The safety device is
disposed at a rear portion of the suction brush not to be exposed
to the outside. The sterilizer comprises at least one means of
emitting UV light for sterilizing the surface being cleaned.
[0013] The vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention is capable of controlling electrical power supply to at
least one other component of the vacuum cleaner, depending on the
position of the micro switch, in coordination with controlling
electric power to the sterilizer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0014] 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:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright-type vacuum
cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a suction brush of FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a suction brush of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the structure of a
safety device in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 5 to 7 are partial perspective views of the suction
brush, showing the operation of the vacuum cleaner having the
safety device of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a simplified flowchart illustrating the operation
processes of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a canister-type vacuum cleaner
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawing figures.
[0023] 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 provided only 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.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, an upright-type vacuum cleaner 100
comprises a cleaner body 110 and a suction brush 120 formed at a
lower portion of the cleaner body 110 to draw in dust-laden air,
moving along a surface being cleaned. A dust separator 130, being
removably mounted to the cleaner body 110, separates and collects
dust from the dust-laden air drawn in through the suction brush
120. In the cleaner body 110, a suction motor (not shown)
functioning as a driving source is mounted to generate a suction
force for drawing in the dust-laden air through the suction brush
120.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction brush 120 has a
rotary drum 121 at a front portion and a pair of driving wheels 122
at a rear portion thereof. A bottom frame 123 of the suction brush
120 has a transmission window 141 opened toward the surface being
cleaned. A sterilizer 140 comprises a UV sterilizing lamp for
sterilizing the surface being cleaned and is mounted in an inner
space 142 of the transmission window 141. The UV ray generated by
the sterilizer 140 is projected to the surface being cleaned such
as a carpet, thereby removing germs and ticks.
[0026] A safety device 150 is mounted at the rear portion of the
suction brush 120, that is, near the driving wheels 122. When the
suction brush 120 is separated from the surface being cleaned by a
predetermined distance, the safety device 150 turns off the
sterilizer 140. The reason for disposing the safety device 150 at
the rear portion of the suction brush 120 is to reduce the
possibility that the vacuum cleaner 100 may be damaged by external
obstacles during operation.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, the safety device 150 comprises a micro
switch 160, a micro switch operator 170 and a biasing member
180.
[0028] The micro switch 160 controls power supplied to the
sterilizer 140. More specifically, the micro switch 160 comprises a
micro contact separation and a snap action device (actuator, 161)
to mechanically turn on and off a certain apparatus by a
predetermined operation and a predetermined power. Since the
principle of the micro switch 160 is generally known, detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0029] The micro switch operator 170 turns on the micro switch 160
to operate the sterilizer 140 when the suction brush 120 is within
a predetermined distance of the surface being cleaned. When the
suction brush 120 is moved apart from the surface being cleaned by
an amount at least equal to the predetermined distance, the switch
operation part 170 turns off the micro switch 160 to stop operation
of the sterilizer 140.
[0030] The micro switch operator 170 comprises a wheel 171 and a
wheel guide 172 that supports the wheel 171 and contacts the
actuator 161 of the micro switch 160. The wheel guide 172 is
mounted to move substantially up and down through an opening (not
shown) formed on the bottom frame 123 (FIG. 2) of the suction brush
120. The wheel guide 172 has a substantially semicircular shape and
mounts the wheel 171 at a lower portion thereof by an axis 174. An
upper portion of the wheel guide 172 is contacted with the actuator
161 of the micro switch 160. When ascending by the predetermined
distance, the wheel guide 172 presses the actuator 161, thereby
turning on the micro switch 160. When descending by more than the
predetermined distance, the wheel guide 172 is separated from the
actuator 161, thereby turning off the micro switch 160.
[0031] The biasing member 180, being connected to the upper portion
of the wheel guide 172 by one end and supported by the suction
brush 120 by the other end, resiliently biases the wheel guide 172
in a certain direction that is away from the micro switch 160.
While the vacuum cleaner 100 (FIG. 1) is normally working, the
suction brush 120 is contacted with the surface being cleaned and
accordingly, the wheel 171 is brought into contact with the surface
being cleaned. Therefore, the wheel guide 172 ascends, overcoming
the resilience of the biasing member 180, and presses the actuator
161 of the micro switch 160. When the suction brush 120 gets apart
from the surface being cleaned by a predetermined distance, the
wheel guide 172 is biased away from the actuator 161 by the biasing
member 180. Accordingly, the wheel guide 172 is released from
contact with the actuator 161, and the contact of the micro switch
160 is moved from an on state to an off state. As a result, the
operation of the sterilizer 140 is stopped.
[0032] As described above, the safety device 150 can ensure stable
operation of the vacuum cleaner 100 by interrupting power supply to
the sterilizer 140 with the simple mechanical structure.
[0033] Meanwhile, since the sterilizer 140 is stopped when the
suction brush 120 is separated from the surface being cleaned by
the predetermined distance, determination of the separation
distance matters. According to an embodiment of the present
invention, the sterilizer 140 is not stopped merely by releasing
contact between the suction brush 120 and the surface being cleaned
but stopped when the suction brush 120 is separated from the
surface being cleaned by at least a certain predetermined distance.
This is to prevent loss of power and inconvenience to the user.
Because the upright-type vacuum cleaner usually cleans a wide floor
or a carpet placed on the wide floor and is often lifted from the
floor, for example, by a height of the carpet when being moved from
the floor up to the carpet, the sterilizer 140 is turned off every
time the vacuum cleaner is moved up from the floor to the carpet.
The frequent operation of the switch causes loss of power and the
user has to intervene frequently. Since thickness of the carpet
does not generally exceed approximately 20 mm, it is preferable
that the predetermined distance be approximately the thickness of
the carpet or approximately 20 mm. However, this is only by way of
an example; therefore, the present invention is not limited so.
[0034] Hereinbelow, the operation of the vacuum cleaner 100 having
the safety device 150 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5
to 7.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, while the vacuum cleaner 100 is
normally working, the suction brush 120 moves in contact with a
surface being cleaned A. At this time, the driving wheels 122 of
the suction brush 120 and the wheel 171 of the safety device 150
are in contact with the surface being cleaned A. Accordingly, the
wheel guide 172 is lifted, thereby pressing the actuator 161 of the
micro switch 160. Therefore, the micro switch 160 is turned on, and
the sterilizer 140 is operated to project the UV ray for
sterilization.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, when the suction brush 120 cleans a
carpet C spread on the surface being cleaned A, the front portion
of the suction brush 120 ascends along the carpet C. Here, while
the driving wheels 122 of the suction brush 120 are in contact with
the surface being cleaned A, the wheel 171 and the wheel guide 172
of the safety device 150 are lifted by a height H of the carpet C.
However, when the distance H is less than a predetermined distance
X, the wheel guide 172 of the safety device 150 continuously
applies pressure on the actuator 161 of the micro switch 160,
thereby keeping the micro switch 160 in the on state. Accordingly,
the sterilizer 140 can continuously project the UV ray.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 7, when the vacuum cleaner 100 is
moved after the cleaning or tipped over by mistake, the suction
brush 120 is separated from the surface being cleaned A. Therefore,
the wheel 171 of the safety device 150 is separated from the
surface being cleaned A. The wheel guide 172 is biased away from
the actuator 161 by the biasing member 180. When the distance H
between the suction brush 120 and the surface being cleaned A is
equal to or more than the predetermined distance X, contact between
the wheel guide 172 and the actuator 161 of the micro switch 160 is
released. Accordingly, the contact of the micro switch 160 is moved
to the off state, thereby stopping the operation of the sterilizer
140.
[0038] The safety device 150 according to an embodiment of the
present invention, may serve as a switch for other parts of the
vacuum cleaner 100, for example, the suction motor (not shown) of
the cleaner body 110 and the rotary drum 121 (FIG. 2). In this
case, the safety device 150 may stop operation of the suction motor
(not shown) or the rotary drum 121 when operation of the sterilizer
140 is stopped. When the vacuum cleaner 100 is moved after cleaning
or tipped over by mistake with a power switch turned on, if the
suction motor (not shown) or the rotary drum is continuously
driven, loss of power and even an accident may be caused. A
simplified flowchart of FIG. 8 shows processes for controlling the
vacuum cleaner 100 in this case.
[0039] When power is applied to the vacuum cleaner 100 (S10), the
suction motor (not shown) in the cleaner body 110 or the rotary
drum 121 of the suction brush 120 is driven. At the same time, the
sterilizer 140 is applied with the power (S20). Although the
sterilizer 140 is turned on upon application of the power to the
vacuum cleaner 100 in this embodiment, power of the sterilizer 140
may be separately turned on and off by providing a power switch
(not shown) to the sterilizer 140.
[0040] During the cleaning, when the distance H between the suction
brush 120 and the surface being cleaned A is less than the
predetermined distance X (S30), approximately 20 mm, the micro
switch 160 is turned on and that allows the sterilizer 140 to keep
projecting the UV ray onto the surface being cleaned (S40).
However, when the distance H becomes equal to or more than the
predetermined distance X, the micro switch 160 is turned off (S50)
so that the operation of the sterilizer 140 is stopped (S60).
[0041] When the sterilizer 140 is turned off, power supply to the
vacuum cleaner 100 is blocked off. Accordingly, operation of the
suction motor in the cleaner body 110 or the rotary drum 121 of the
suction brush 120 is stopped (S70). When power supply to the vacuum
cleaner 100 is not blocked off (S80), it is determined again
whether the distance H between the suction brush 120 and the
surface being cleaned A is less than the predetermined distance X
(S20).
[0042] In regard to this embodiment, the safety device 150 applied
to the upright-type vacuum cleaner 100 has been illustrated and
described; however, the present invention is not limited so and can
be applied to a canister-type vacuum cleaner as well.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 9, a canister-type vacuum cleaner 200
comprises a cleaner body 210 and a suction brush 220. The cleaner
body 210 and the suction brush 220 are fluidly communicated through
an extension pipe 230 and a connection hose 240. The cleaner body
210 includes a dust separator 250 and a suction motor 260, and the
suction brush 220 includes the sterilizer 140 and the safety device
150. The safety device 150 is the same one applied in the previous
embodiment. The canister-type vacuum cleaner 200 is generally used
for domestic cleaning because operation and moving of the suction
brush 220 is facile. By using the suction brush 220 according to
the present embodiment, germs and ticks inhabiting bedclothes and
carpets in general home can be removed.
[0044] As can be appreciated from the above description of the
vacuum cleaner, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, upon separation of the suction brush from the surface
being cleaned by an amount equal to at least the predetermined
distance, the micro switch is turned off, thereby interrupting
power supply to the sterilizer. As a result, risk of projecting UV
light on a human body can be prevented. Also, since the power
applied to the sterilizer is controlled by the micro switch
operator comprising a wheel and a wheel guide, construction can be
simplified, thereby decreasing the manufacturing cost. In addition,
operational stability is improved.
[0045] 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. The examples and
embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and
are not limiting.
* * * * *