U.S. patent application number 11/566943 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for cleaner having steam generator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Choon Myun CHUNG, Hyoung Jun KIM, Jeong Ho LEE, Sung IL PARK.
Application Number | 20070130718 11/566943 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37831645 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070130718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHUNG; Choon Myun ; et
al. |
June 14, 2007 |
CLEANER HAVING STEAM GENERATOR
Abstract
A cleaner performs water preheating for a steaming function with
power from an external power source, and generates steam with power
from a battery provided within the cleaner. The cleaner includes a
body, a steam generator provided within the body to generate steam
by changing stored water into vapor; an internal power supply unit
supplying stored electricity to the steam generator; and an
external power supply unit supplying electricity from an external
source to the generator.
Inventors: |
CHUNG; Choon Myun;
(Gwangmyeong-si, KR) ; LEE; Jeong Ho; (Goyang-si,
KR) ; KIM; Hyoung Jun; (Seoul, KR) ; PARK;
Sung IL; (Anyang-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
37831645 |
Appl. No.: |
11/566943 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4086 20130101;
A47L 11/4005 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/320 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/30 20060101
A47L011/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0120547 |
Claims
1. A cleaner comprising: a body; a steam generator provided within
the body to generate steam by changing stored water into vapor; an
internal power supply unit supplying stored electricity to the
steam generator; and an external power supply unit supplying
electricity from an external source to the generator.
2. The cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum suction unit
that sucks particles from a floor and transfers the particles to an
internal storage space, the vacuum suction unit selectively
receiving electricity from the external power supply unit or the
internal power supply unit.
3. The cleaner of claim 2, further comprising a control unit
controlling connections and power transfer between the steam
generator, the vacuum suction unit, the external power supply unit
and the internal power supply unit.
4. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the internal power supply unit
comprises a battery.
5. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein the battery is detachably
connected to the body.
6. The cleaner of claim 4, wherein the battery is rechargeable.
7. The cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a handle potion
connected to the body.
8. The cleaner of claim 7, wherein the internal power supply unit
comprises a battery and wherein the battery is detachably connected
to the handle portion.
9. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the external power supply unit
includes a cord and a plug.
10. A method of controlling a cleaner, comprising the steps of:
determining whether power is being supplied to the cleaner through
an external power supply unit; if power is supplied through the
external power supply unit, operating a steam generator with power
supplied though the external power supply unit; and if power is not
supplied through the external power supply unit, operating the
steam generator with power supplied from an internal power supply
unit.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising charging the
internal power supply unit with power supplied to the cleaner
through the external power supply unit.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied to the cleaner through the
external power supply unit.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied from the internal power supply
unit.
14. A method of controlling a cleaner, comprising the steps of:
preheating water within a steam generator with power supplied
through an external power supply unit; determining whether power
continues to be supplied through the external power supply unit; if
power continues to be supplied through the external power supply
unit, generating steam by heating the preheated water within the
steam generator with power supplied through the external power
supply unit; and if power is not being supplied through the
external power supply unit, generating steam by heating the
preheated water within the steam generator with power supplied from
an internal power supply unit.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising charging the
internal power supply unit with power supplied through the external
power supply unit.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied through the external power supply
unit.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied from the internal power supply
unit.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2005-0120547, filed on Dec. 9, 2005, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cleaner, and more
particularly, to a steam cleaner. Although the present invention is
suitable for a wide range of applications, it is particularly
suitable for cleaning by discharging steam from a bottom surface of
a cleaner body.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, power consumption ranging between 500 W to 1,500
W is needed to produce a phase change from water to steam for
performing a steam function of a cleaner. However, the cleaner
should perform a vacuum suction function of sucking particles by
vacuum from a floor to be cleaned as well as the steam function,
requiring power consumption greater than that for steaming
[0006] Since adequate power could not be provided by a battery,
power is supplied to conventional cleaners via a long cord wire
connected to an external power source.
[0007] However, conventional cleaners have the following
problems.
[0008] First of all, in case of cleaning by providing both the
steam function and the vacuum suction function of the cleaner, the
external power is required and the cord of the cleaner connects the
external power source to the cleaner. The cord can interfere with
and interrupt the cleaning conducted by a user.
[0009] Secondly, the cord connected to the external power source
has a limited length. This limits a cleaning range of the
cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cleaner
that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations
and disadvantages of the related art.
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaner,
by which water preheating for a steam function of the cleaner in
the early stage of operation of the cleaner is achieved by
receiving an external power, and by which a steaming operation is
achieved by receiving power from a battery provided within the
cleaner.
[0012] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0013] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a cleaner according to the present
invention includes a body, a steam generator provided within the
body to generate steam by changing stored water into vapor, an
internal power supply unit supplying stored electricity to the
steam generator; and an external power supply unit supplying
electricity from an external source to the generator.
[0014] Preferably, the cleaner further includes a vacuum suction
unit that sucks particles from a floor and transfers the particles
to an internal storage space, the vacuum suction unit selectively
receiving electricity from the external power supply unit or the
internal power supply unit.
[0015] More preferably, the cleaner further includes a control unit
controlling connections and power transfer between the steam
generator, the vacuum suction unit, the external power supply unit
and the internal power supply unit.
[0016] Preferably, the internal power supply unit comprises a
battery. More preferably, the battery is detachably connected to
the body. More preferably, the battery is rechargeable.
[0017] Preferably, the cleaner further includes a handle potion
connected to the body. More preferably, the internal power supply
unit includes a battery and the battery is detachably connected to
the handle portion.
[0018] Preferably, the external power supply unit includes a cord
and a plug.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
controlling a cleaner includes the steps of determining whether
power is being supplied to the cleaner through an external power
supply unit; if power is supplied through the external power supply
unit, operating a steam generator with power supplied though the
external power supply unit; and if power is not supplied through
the external power supply unit, operating the steam generator with
power supplied from an internal power supply unit.
[0020] Preferably, the method further includes charging the
internal power supply unit with power supplied to the cleaner
through the external power supply unit.
[0021] Preferably, the method further includes operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied to the cleaner through the
external power supply unit.
[0022] Preferably, the method further includes operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied from the internal power supply
unit.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
controlling a cleaner includes the steps of preheating water within
a steam generator with power supplied through an external power
supply unit; determining whether power continues to be supplied
through the external power supply unit; if power continues to be
supplied through the external power supply unit, generating steam
by heating the preheated water within the steam generator with
power supplied through the external power supply unit; and if power
is not being supplied through the external power supply unit,
generating steam by heating the preheated water within the steam
generator with power supplied from an internal power supply
unit.
[0024] Preferably, the method further includes charging the
internal power supply unit with power supplied through the external
power supply unit.
[0025] Preferably, the method further includes operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied through the external power supply
unit.
[0026] Preferably, the method further includes operating a vacuum
suction unit with power supplied from the internal power supply
unit.
[0027] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner configuration of
the cleaner shown in FIG. 1; and
[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the cleaner
shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a
perspective view of an inner configuration of the cleaner shown in
FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the
cleaner shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a cleaner according to one
preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10
configured as a cleaner head and a handle or grip portion 12
provided on one side of the body 10 to be griped by a user in
operating the cleaner. A floorcloth (not shown in the drawings) can
be attached to a bottom of the body 10.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, a steam generator 14 is provided within
the body 10. A prescribed space is provided within the steam
generator 14 to store water therein. The steam generator 14 turns
the water stored in the prescribed space into steam using electric
power received from a power source.
[0036] An outlet (not shown in the drawing) is provided to a lower
side of the steam generator 14 through a bottom of the body 10. The
steam generated from the steam generator 14 is sprayed downwardly
from the bottom of the body 10 via the outlet.
[0037] An external power supply unit 16 is provided to one side of
the body 10 for supplying external power, e.g., an AC power to the
body 10. The external power supply unit 16 includes a cord 18
having a prescribed length. One end of the external power supply
unit 16 is connected to an electrical device within the body 10 and
a plug 20 of the external power supply unit 16 is configured to be
connected to an external power source.
[0038] An internal power supply unit 22 is provided to one end of
the handle 12 to supply a DC power to the body 10. The internal
power supply unit 22 is configured to be detachable from the handle
portion 12 and may include a rechargeable battery.
[0039] Since a power supplied to a building is AC power, the power
supplied to the external power supply unit 16 can be an AC power.
Preferably, the internal power supply unit 22 discharges a DC
power
[0040] A vacuum suction unit 24 is also provided within the body
10. The vacuum suction unit 24 sucks particles from a floor and
transfers the sucked particles to a storage space (not shown in the
drawing) of the body 10.
[0041] The steam generator 14, the external power supply unit 16,
the internal power supply unit 22 and the vacuum suction unit 24
are connected to a control unit 26. The control unit 26 transfers
electrical signals or power between the steam generator 14, the
external power supply unit 16, the internal power supply unit 22
and the vacuum suction unit 24.
[0042] An operation of the cleaner according to the present
invention is explained in detail as follows.
[0043] First of all, a process for preparing an operation of the
cleaner is carried out in the following manner.
[0044] The plug 20 of the external power supply unit 16 of the body
10 is connected to an outlet (not shown in the drawings) provided
in a wall. An AC power is supplied to the body 10 via the plug 20
connected to the outlet, i.e., via the external power supply unit
16.
[0045] If preheating of the water in the steam generator is to be
performed, the control unit 26 is activated to enable the AC
current to be transferred to the steam generator 14 from the
external power supply unit 16. For example, a preheating button on
the body 10 may be pressed to activate the preheating function. The
steam generator 14 receiving the AC current may preheat the water
stored in the steam generator 14 until the water turns into
steam.
[0046] After completion of the preheating in the steam generator
14, the control unit 26 cuts of the AC power supplied to the steam
generator 14 from the external power supply unit 16. The control
unit may inform a user that the preheating is completed, such as by
providing an indication via a panel (not shown in the drawing)
provided on the body 10. For instance, an indicator signal can be
delivered via a display or by lighting or flickering of a display
light.
[0047] The internal power supply unit 22 including the battery
preferably may be charged with the AC power supplied through the
external power supply unit 16. Alternatively, the internal power
supply unit 22 may be detached from the body 10 and then charged by
a separate charging device (not shown in the drawing).
[0048] A process for performing cleaning work using the preheated
cleaner is explained as follows.
[0049] First of all, if a length of the cord 18 of the external
power supply unit 16 is not adequate for reaching a necessary
cleaning range, a user separates the plug 20 of the external power
supply unit 16 from the outlet.
[0050] After the plug 20 has been separated from the outlet, the
cleaner is moved to a place to be cleaned by the user.
[0051] After the cleaner has been moved to the place to be cleaned,
a steaming function is activated, such as by pressing a button. The
control unit 26 then supplies the DC power to the steam generator
14 from the internal power supply unit 22.
[0052] The steam generator 14 receiving the DC power turns the
water into steam completely and discharges the steam via the outlet
provided to the bottom of the body 10. The user is also able to
clean the floor by activating the vacuum suction function, such as
by pressing a vacuum suction button, while the steam function of
the cleaner is working. The vacuum suction unit 24 may also receive
power from the internal power supply unit 22.
[0053] If the length of the cord 18 of the external power supply
unit 16 is adequate for the required cleaning range, the control
unit 26 controls the AC power to be supplied to the steam generator
14 from the external power supply unit 16.
[0054] The steam generator 14 receiving the AC power heats the
preheated water again until the water turns into steam completely.
The steam is externally discharged from the body 10 via the outlet
provided to the bottom of the body 10. The user is also able to
clean the floor to be cleaned by pressing the vacuum suction
button, The vacuum suction unit 24 receiving power from the
external power supply unit 16.
[0055] Accordingly, the present invention provides the following
effects or advantages.
[0056] First of all, water of a cleaner may be preheated by an
external AC power, while cleaning is carried out by a DC power of
an internal battery. In this manner a wireless steam cleaner can be
provided.
[0057] Secondly, steam cleaning is available for an area in which
external AC power is not accessible.
[0058] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications
and variations of the invention.
* * * * *