U.S. patent application number 11/506425 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for exhaust structure of vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Sang Bo Kang.
Application Number | 20070039124 11/506425 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37757772 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070039124 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Sang Bo |
February 22, 2007 |
Exhaust structure of vacuum cleaner
Abstract
An exhaust structure of a vacuum cleaner prevents reduction in
vacuum force by air leakage resulting from inclination of a dust
container towards one side, and permits reduction in use of a
sealing material. The exhaust structure comprises a main body
having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon, a
suction fan positioned inside the discharge port, a dust container
mounted at one side of a flow passage between the suction port and
the discharge port and having a suction opening and an exhaust
opening formed at one side thereof, and an exhaust conduit
extending between the exhaust opening and the discharge port.
Inventors: |
Kang; Sang Bo; (Incheon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
37757772 |
Appl. No.: |
11/506425 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/225 20130101;
A47L 5/28 20130101; A47L 9/0081 20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/10 20060101
A47L009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2005 |
KR |
2005-75745 |
Claims
1. An exhaust structure of a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main
body having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon; a
suction fan positioned inside the discharge port; a dust container
mounted at one side of a flow passage between the suction port and
the discharge port, and having a suction opening and an exhaust
opening formed at one side thereof; and an exhaust conduit
extending between the exhaust opening and the discharge port.
2. The exhaust structure according to claim 1, wherein the suction
port is formed at an upper end of the main body, and the discharge
port is formed at a lower front side of the main body, the main
body having a mounting part formed between the suction port and the
discharge port such that the dust container is detachably mounted
to the mounting part of the main body in a sliding manner.
3. The exhaust structure according to claim 1, further comprising:
a soft sealing material interposed between an upper surface of the
exhaust conduit and the exhaust opening.
4. The exhaust structure according to claim 1, further comprising:
a cover installed at a lower end of the exhaust conduit connected
to the suction fan to cover an induction port of the suction
fan.
5. The exhaust structure according to claim 1, further comprising:
a housing fastened to the main body to define the suction fan, the
housing having a discharge hole formed on a surface facing a
discharge outlet of the suction fan and to which a filter is
installed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and, more
particularly, to an exhaust structure of a vacuum cleaner, which
comprises suction and exhaust openings formed at one side of a dust
container, and an exhaust conduit provided outside the dust
container, thereby preventing the dust container from tilting
towards one side by pressure causing air and foreign substances to
be induced into a main body of the vacuum cleaner.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, according to shapes and using postures, vacuum
cleaners can be classified into a canister type vacuum cleaner,
which provides convenience in corner cleaning and movement while
allowing easy replacement of a brush or a nozzle, and an upright
type vacuum cleaner, which provides convenience in maintenance and
allows easy cleaning of a large space.
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a
conventional upright type vacuum cleaner.
[0006] The conventional upright type vacuum cleaner comprises a
suction unit 2 to suck air containing foreign substances on a
floor, a main body 4 mounted on an upper side of the suction unit 2
and containing a suction means therein to suck the air, and a
handle 6 installed to an upper side of the main body 4 so as to be
gripped by a user.
[0007] As the vacuum cleaner is operated, the suction unit 2 sucks
air containing dust and foreign substances through a collection
opening formed at a lower side thereof while moving on a floor to
be cleaned.
[0008] The main body 4 is provided with the suction means to suck
the air through the suction unit 2 therein. Accordingly, the air is
sucked through the lower surface of the suction unit 2 by operation
of the suction means received in the main body 4.
[0009] A lower portion of the main body 4 is hinged to a rear side
of the suction unit 2 such that the main body 4 can be tilted
rearwards at a predetermined angle with respect to the suction unit
2.
[0010] The handle 6 is installed to the upper side of the handle 4
such that, when using the vacuum cleaner, the user grips the handle
6, and manipulates the vacuum cleaner.
[0011] For example, when performing a cleaning operation for a part
desired to be cleaned, the user grips the handle 6, and adjusts an
inclined angle of the main body 4 with respect to the suction unit
2.
[0012] A dust container 8 is detachably mounted to the main body 4
through a front center of the main body 4. The dust container 8
filters, and collects the foreign substances from the air sucked
thereto through the suction unit 2.
[0013] In the conventional vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1, the dust
container 8 collects the foreign substances from the air sucked
thereto in a cyclone manner.
[0014] For air flow in the conventional upright type vacuum cleaner
constructed as above, first, air containing dust and foreign
substances is sucked through a suction port formed at the lower
surface of the suction unit 2 via operation of the suction means
received in the main body 4.
[0015] The sucked air flows into the dust container 8 via the main
body 4. Then, with the foreign substances removed from the air in
the dust container 8, the air is discharged to an outside through
an exhaust outlet via an interior of the main body 4.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the dust container
of FIG. 1, which has a suction opening 21 formed at an upper
portion, and an exhaust opening 22 formed at a lower portion.
[0017] If the suction opening is formed at the upper portion of the
dust container, and the exhaust opening is formed at the lower
portion thereof, a vacuum force increases during driving of the
vacuum cleaner, and causes an increase in shielding force at the
suction opening, which results in a problem of reducing the suction
force of the vacuum cleaner.
[0018] In addition, since an exhaust conduit passing through the
dust container is disposed straightly, a pressure increase caused
by the vacuum force forces the dust container to be inclined to the
suction opening side so that a gap is created between the main body
and the dust container at a connecting portion around the exhaust
opening opposite to the suction opening, thereby causing a
reduction in vacuum force, and air leakage.
[0019] In order to solve the problem, sealing materials must be
provided to both the suction opening and the exhaust opening
between the dust container and the main body, thereby increasing
the number of components. Accordingly, there is a need of an
improved vacuum cleaner which overcomes the problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention has been made in view of the above
problems of the conventional vacuum cleaner, and it is an object of
the present invention to provide an exhaust structure of a vacuum
cleaner, in which suction and exhaust openings are formed at one
side of a dust container, thereby preventing air leakage at a
connecting portion around the exhaust opening even when a dust
container is tilted to the suction opening side by a vacuum force,
and reducing use of a sealing material.
[0021] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the
above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an
exhaust structure of a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body
having a suction port and a discharge port formed thereon; a
suction fan positioned inside the discharge port; a dust container
mounted at one side of a flow passage between the suction port and
the discharge port and having a suction opening and an exhaust
opening formed at one side thereof; and an exhaust conduit
extending between the exhaust opening and the discharge port.
[0022] Preferably, the suction port is formed at an upper end of
the main body, and the discharge port is formed at a lower front
side of the main body, the main body having a mounting part formed
between the suction port and the discharge port such that the dust
container is detachably mounted to the mounting part of the main
body in a sliding manner.
[0023] Preferably, the exhaust structure further comprises a soft
sealing material interposed between an upper surface of the exhaust
conduit and the exhaust opening.
[0024] Preferably, the exhaust structure further comprises a cover
installed to a lower end of the exhaust conduit connected to the
suction fan to cover an induction port of the suction fan.
[0025] Preferably, the exhaust structure further comprises a
housing fastened to the main body to define the suction fan, the
housing having a discharge hole formed on a surface facing a
discharge outlet of the suction fan and to which a filter is
installed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
upright type vacuum cleaner;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a dust container
of the conventional upright type vacuum cleaner;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a dust
container of the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
exhaust structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting
structure of an exhaust conduit in the exhaust structure of the
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the exhaust
structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as
follows.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded
perspective view illustrating a dust container of the vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention.
[0036] The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention
comprises: a main body 10 having a predetermined space defined
therein, and having a suction port 12 and a discharge port 14; a
suction unit 15 detachably attached to a lower side of the main
body 10 to stand the main body 10 upright, and having a dust
collection port (not shown) and a discharge opening 18; a suction
hose 70 positioned between the suction port 12 and the discharge
opening 18; an extension pipe 30 detachably attached to the main
body 10 and having a hollow space to define a flow passage along
which dust is induced; a handle 20 detachably mounted to an upper
end of the extension pipe 30 to further define the flow passage
along which the dust is induced; a suction fan 62 positioned at one
side of the flow passage extending from the suction port 12 to the
discharge port 14; a dust container 50 detachably mounted at one
side of the flow passage; and a filter 60 positioned inside the
discharge port 14.
[0037] The construction described above constitutes an upright type
vacuum cleaner, as an example, to which the exhaust structure of
the present invention can be applied. This vacuum cleaner can be
converted into a canister type vacuum cleaner in such a way that,
after separating the extension pipe 30 and the handle 20 from the
main body 10, the suction hose 70 is disconnected from the
discharge opening 18, and is connected with the handle 20, followed
by separating the main body 10 from the suction unit 15. In this
regard, it should be noted that the exhaust structure of the vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention can be applied to any
kind of vacuum cleaner which comprises the dust collecting
container and the filter, such as a general canister type vacuum
cleaner and a general upright type vacuum cleaner.
[0038] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
exhaust structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting
structure of an exhaust conduit in the exhaust structure of the
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view illustrating the exhaust structure of the
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
[0039] The exhaust structure of the vacuum cleaner according to the
present invention comprises: the main body 10 having the
predetermined space defined therein, and having the suction port 12
and the discharge port 14; the suction fan 62 positioned inside the
discharge port 14; the dust container 50 mounted into the main body
through one side of the flow passage between the suction port 12
and the discharge port 14, and having a suction opening 52 and an
exhaust opening 54 formed at one side thereof; and an exhaust
conduit 82 extending between the exhaust opening 54 and the
discharge port 14.
[0040] With this structure, when the suction fan 62 is driven,
foreign substances and air are induced through the suction port 12,
and flow into the dust container 50 via the suction opening 52 of
the dust container 50. Then, the foreign substances are collected
in the dust container 50 by means of a dust collection filter 56 as
shown in FIG. 7. Meanwhile, the air with the foreign substances
primarily filtered therefrom flows towards a lower side of the main
body 10 along the exhaust conduit 82 through the exhaust opening
54, and is discharged to the outside through the discharge port
14.
[0041] At this point, inclination of the dust container 50 towards
one side occurs due to a vacuum force from the suction fan 62.
However, according to the present invention, since the suction
opening 52 and the exhaust opening 54 are formed on the upper
surface of the dust container 50, it is possible to prevent the air
from being leaked at a connected portion between the dust container
and the main body even when the dust container 50 is inclined
towards the side where the suction opening 52 and the exhaust
opening 54 are formed.
[0042] The suction port 12 is formed at an upper end of the main
body 10, and the discharge port 14 is formed at a lower front side
thereof. In addition, the main body 10 has a mounting part formed
between the suction port 12 and the discharge port 14 such that the
dust container 50 is detachably mounted to the mounting part of the
main body in a sliding manner. For smooth insertion and detachment
of the dust container 50, it is desirable that the mounting part 11
be slightly smaller than the dust container 50. In this regard,
when the suction fan 62 is driven, the dust container 50 is
inclined towards the suction port 12.
[0043] Thus, a soft sealing material 86 is disposed between an
upper end of the exhaust conduit 82 and the exhaust opening 54,
preventing reduction in vacuum force due to air leakage between the
exhaust conduit and the exhaust opening.
[0044] A cover 84 is provided to a lower end of the exhaust conduit
82 connected with the suction fan 62 to prevent air from being
leaked between the suction fan 82 and the exhaust conduit 82. The
cover 84 has a circular dish shape which can cover an upper side of
the suction fan 62, and is formed at one side with a protruded hole
coupled to the exhaust conduit 82, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0045] In addition, a housing 64 is fastened to the main body 10 to
define the front side of the suction fan 62, and has a discharge
hole 64a formed through a surface facing a discharge outlet 62a of
the suction fan 62 such that a filter 60 is installed at a front
side of the discharge hole 64a. Accordingly, foreign substances
contained in the air are secondarily filtered when they flow to the
discharge port 14 through the discharge hole 64a, thereby
permitting maintenance of fresh environment in the room.
[0046] Operation of the exhaust structure of the vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention will be described
hereinafter.
[0047] First, when power is applied to the vacuum cleaner and
drives the suction fan 62, dust and other foreign substances are
induced through the suction port 12, and flow into the dust
container 50 through the suction opening 52. Then, the foreign
substances are collected in the dust container 50 by means of the
dust collection filter 56, while the air flows into the suction fan
62 along the exhaust conduit 82 through the exhaust opening 54 and
is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 14 via the
discharge hole 64a of the housing 64.
[0048] The air is secondarily filtered while passing through the
filter 60. At this time, the sealing material 86 and the cover 84
prevent the air from being leaked between the exhaust conduit 82
and the dust container 50 and between the exhaust conduit 82 and
the suction fan.
[0049] As a result, the exhaust structure of the vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention can prevent the reduction of the
vacuum force by the air leakage resulting from inclination of the
dust container towards one side, and can permit reduction in use of
a sealing material.
[0050] According to the present invention, in the exhaust structure
of the vacuum cleaner, the suction opening and the exhaust opening
are formed at one side of the dust container, and the discharge
conduit is installed from the exhaust opening to the discharge port
of the main body such that, even when the dust container is tilted
towards one side during driving of the vacuum cleaner, it is
possible to prevent reduction in vacuum force caused by a loss of
air, thereby enhancing an operation efficiency of the vacuum
cleaner and reducing consumption of electricity.
[0051] In addition, since the exhaust structure of the vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention prevents the air
leakage, an excessive number of sealing materials is not required,
thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
[0052] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed 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 disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *