U.S. patent application number 11/892972 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for upright vacuum cleaner using return current of discharging air.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Myoung-sun Choung, Yun-sup Hwang, Dong-hun Yoo.
Application Number | 20080229539 11/892972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38926027 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080229539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang; Yun-sup ; et
al. |
September 25, 2008 |
Upright vacuum cleaner using return current of discharging air
Abstract
An upright vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle unit, an
inlet formed on a bottom surface of the suction nozzle unit, an
injection path disposed near the inlet, a suction motor mounted in
the suction nozzle unit, and a main body attached to the suction
nozzle unit and in fluid communication with the suction motor. The
injection path ejects air toward a surface to be cleaned. The
suction motor generates a suction force to draw in air and dust
through the inlet. The main body separates dust from the air using
centrifugal force, collects the dust, and discharges the air to the
suction nozzle unit. The air discharged from the main body flows
through the suction motor, is ejected from the injection path
toward the surface to be cleaned, and is then suctioned into the
inlet so that a portion of the discharged air circulates within the
vacuum cleaner.
Inventors: |
Hwang; Yun-sup;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Choung; Myoung-sun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Yoo; Dong-hun; (Gwangju-city,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
38926027 |
Appl. No.: |
11/892972 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/346 ; 15/345;
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/08 20130101; A47L
5/30 20130101; A47L 9/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/346 ; 15/345;
15/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/14 20060101
A47L005/14; A47L 9/16 20060101 A47L009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 23, 2007 |
KR |
2007-28701 |
Claims
1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction nozzle unit; an
inlet formed on a bottom surface of the suction nozzle unit; an
injection path disposed near the inlet, the injection path ejecting
air toward a surface to be cleaned; a suction motor mounted in the
suction nozzle unit, the suction motor generating a suction force
to draw in air and dust through the inlet; and a main body coupled
to the suction nozzle unit and in fluid communication with the
suction motor, the main body configured to separate dust from the
air drawn in through the inlet using a centrifugal force, collect
the dust, and discharge the air to the suction nozzle unit; wherein
air discharged from the main body flows through the suction motor,
is ejected from the suction nozzle unit through the injection path
toward the surface to be cleaned, and is then suctioned into the
inlet of the suction nozzle unit by the suction motor so that a
portion of the discharged air circulates within the vacuum
cleaner.
2. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
main body comprises: a frame, a lower end of which is hinged to the
suction nozzle unit; a grip disposed at an upper end of the frame;
and a dust collecting unit mounted at the frame.
3. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
dust collecting unit comprises: a cyclone part, the cyclone part
having a substantially cylindrical shape; an inflow port disposed
at one side of the cyclone part to give a rotation force to the
drawn-in air; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the
cyclone part, the dust bin collecting dust separated from the
drawn-in air and descending from the cyclone unit due to gravity;
and an exhaust pipe penetrating a bottom surface of the dust bin
and extending substantially vertically near the center of the dust
bin, the exhaust pipe discharging the drawn-in air toward the
suction nozzle unit.
4. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, further
comprising a guide duct to fluidly communicate between the dust
collecting unit and the suction nozzle unit is mounted inside the
lower end of the frame which is hinged to the suction nozzle
unit.
5. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising a first filter disposed between the exhaust pipe and the
guide duct.
6. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
suction nozzle unit comprises: a housing; a motor chamber disposed
at the housing, the motor chamber receiving the suction motor; a
discharge path disposed at the housing in fluid communication with
the injection path, the discharge path guiding air discharged from
the motor chamber to a front of the housing; and at least one
injection hole formed at a terminal end of the injection path.
7. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
injection path is curved inwardly with a predetermined curvature
toward the rear of the housing, so that the at least one injection
hole is disposed toward the inlet.
8. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
suction nozzle unit further comprises a second filter disposed at
the discharge path.
9. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
suction nozzle unit further comprises a rotating brush rotatably
mounted inside the inlet and driven by the suction motor, the
rotating brush striking dust attached to the surface to be cleaned
and separating the dust from the surface to be cleaned while
rotating.
10. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising an air re-intake passage in fluid communication with the
dust collecting unit, the air re-intake passage receiving air
discharged from the suction nozzle unit with air drawn-in
containing dust on the surface to be cleaned, to the dust
collecting unit.
11. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
air re-intake passage comprises: a first connection pipe with one
end in fluid communication with the inlet of the suction nozzle
unit; a flexible hose with one end coupled to the first connection
pipe, the flexible hose being disposed to the exterior of the
suction nozzle unit; and a second connection pipe with one end in
fluid communication with the flexible hose and an opposite end in
fluid communication with the dust collecting unit.
12. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: means for receiving air
and dust from a surface to be cleaned disposed in a suction nozzle
unit; means for generating a suction force to draw in the air and
the dust, the means for generating a suction force being within the
means for receiving air and dust; means for separating the dust
from the air disposed in a main body coupled to the suction nozzle
unit; means for collecting the dust disposed in the main body; and
means for discharging the air to the means for receiving air and
dust so that a portion of the air recirculates through the upright
vacuum cleaner.
13. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
means for separating the dust from the air includes means for
forming a cyclone to separate the dust from the air by centrifugal
force.
14. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising a first means for filtering air from the means for
separating dust from the air.
15. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
means for receiving air and dust further comprising a second means
for filtering air.
16. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising means for ejecting air toward the surface to be
cleaned.
17. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising means for agitating dust.
18. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising means for guiding air from the means for receiving air
and dust from a surface to be cleaned to the means for separating
the dust from the air.
19. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction nozzle unit; a
suction motor mounted to the suction nozzle unit; an inlet formed
at a bottom surface of the suction nozzle unit; at least one
injection hole disposed near the inlet; a main body coupled to the
suction nozzle unit; a cyclone disposed in the main body; a first
air flow path disposed between the inlet and the cyclone; a dust
bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone; and a second
air flow path disposed between the cyclone and the at least one
injection hole, wherein air and dust are received through the
inlet, the dust is separated from the air at the cyclone, the air
is discharged through the at least one injection hole, and a
portion of the air recirculates through the upright vacuum
cleaner.
20. The upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 19, further
comprising at least one filter in the second air flow path.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0028701, filed on Mar. 23, 2007, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an upright vacuum cleaner.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an upright
vacuum cleaner which draws in air together with dust through a
suction nozzle unit, collects the dust in a cyclone dust collecting
unit, filters the drawn-in air, and discharges the filtered
air.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A conventional upright vacuum cleaner generally draws in
dust or dirt along with air by using a suction force to clean a
surface, such as a floor, a carpeting or the like. The term "dust"
will be used hereinafter to collectively refer to dust, dirt,
particulates, and other similar materials.
[0004] Such a conventional upright vacuum cleaner is provided with
a main body, and a suction nozzle unit which is installed on a
lower part of the main body. The suction nozzle unit moves over the
surface to be cleaned. Mounted inside the main body are a dust
collecting unit and a motor chamber. The dust collecting unit
collects dust drawn in from the surface being cleaned. The motor
chamber is disposed below the dust collecting unit, and a suction
motor is mounted in the motor chamber.
[0005] In some conventional upright vacuum cleaners, instead of
discharging the air outside of the vacuum cleaner after separating
out the dust, the air is drawn back inside the vacuum cleaner. Such
an upright vacuum cleaner is described in Korean Utility Model
Registration No. 20-144875. The upright vacuum cleaner draws in air
together with dust from a surface to be cleaned through a suction
nozzle unit. The air and dust then flow into the main body where
the dust is separated from the air. The dust is then collected in a
dust bag. The air flows through the dust bag into a suction motor
mounted in the main body, and is discharged to the suction nozzle
unit. Accordingly, the discharged air can be made to constantly
circulate within the upright vacuum cleaner.
[0006] However, in the conventional upright vacuum cleaner which
draws back in the discharged air, the suction motor is mounted in
the main body. Thus, the main body has a large mass and volume.
Accordingly, the weight and size of the main body may make cleaning
more difficult.
[0007] Furthermore, in the conventional upright vacuum cleaner, the
suction motor is disposed downstream of the dust bag, and the dust
bag is generally attached to a portion in fluid communication with
the suction motor. Therefore, the path by which air is drawn in is
frequently blocked or constricted due to the accumulation of dust
in the dust bag. As a result, the suction motor may experience
pressure loss and excessive loading. Accordingly, the dust
collecting efficiency, and consequently, the cleaning efficiency of
the cleaner may be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An aspect of the present disclosure is to address at least
the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present
disclosure is to provide an upright vacuum cleaner using discharged
air drawn back into the vacuum cleaner, in which the weight and
volume of a main body of the cleaner are reduced so as to enable a
user to easily perform cleaning using the vacuum cleaner. Another
aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an upright vacuum
cleaner using discharged air drawn back into the vacuum cleaner,
which improves the dust-separating efficiency and dust-collecting
efficiency, so that the cleaning efficiency can be enhanced.
[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides an upright
vacuum cleaner. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a suction
nozzle unit; an inlet formed on a bottom surface of the suction
nozzle unit; an injection path disposed near the inlet, the
injection path ejecting air toward a surface to be cleaned; a
suction motor mounted in the suction nozzle unit, the suction motor
generating a suction force to draw in air and dust through the
inlet; and a main body coupled to the suction nozzle unit and in
fluid communication with the suction motor, the main body
configured to separate dust from the air drawn in through the inlet
using a centrifugal force, collect the dust, and discharge the air
to the suction nozzle unit; wherein air discharged from the main
body flows through the suction motor, is ejected from the suction
nozzle unit through the injection path toward the surface to be
cleaned, and is then suctioned into the inlet of the suction nozzle
unit by the suction motor so that a portion of the discharged air
circulates within the vacuum cleaner.
[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an
upright vacuum cleaner. The upright vacuum cleaner includes means
for receiving air and dust from a surface to be cleaned disposed in
a suction nozzle unit; means for generating a suction force to draw
in the air and the dust, the means for generating a suction force
being within the means for receiving air and dust; means for
separating the dust from the air disposed in a main body coupled to
the suction nozzle unit; means for collecting the dust disposed in
the main body; and means for discharging the air to the means for
receiving air and dust so that a portion of the air recirculates
through the upright vacuum cleaner.
[0011] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an
upright vacuum cleaner. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a
suction nozzle unit; a suction motor mounted to the suction nozzle
unit; an inlet formed at a bottom surface of the suction nozzle
unit; at least one injection hole disposed near the inlet; a main
body coupled to the suction nozzle unit; a cyclone disposed in the
main body; a first air flow path disposed between the inlet and the
cyclone; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the
cyclone; and a second air flow path disposed between the cyclone
and the at least one injection hole, wherein air and dust are
received through the inlet, the dust is separated from the air at
the cyclone, the air is discharged through the at least one
injection hole, and a portion of the air recirculates through the
upright vacuum cleaner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will
be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in partial section of the
upright vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the air flow
paths;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view in partial section of the
upright vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the air flow
paths; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section of a suction
nozzle unit of the upright vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 2,
showing the air flow path.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Hereinafter, a dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, an upright vacuum cleaner 10 according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include at
least a suction nozzle unit 100 and a main body 200 which is
connected to the suction nozzle unit 100. In such an upright vacuum
cleaner 10, the center of gravity may be in the suction nozzle unit
100, and thus the main body 200 can be lighter than the suction
nozzle unit 100, so that a user can easily shift the vacuum cleaner
10.
[0019] The main body 200 may include a frame 210 and a dust
collecting unit 230. The frame 210 may include a grip 211. The grip
211 can be disposed at an upper end of the frame 210 so that the
vacuum cleaner 10 can be moved by a user. The main body 200 may
include a pair of hinge mounting units 213 which are disposed at a
lower end thereof to be hinged to a housing 110 of the suction
nozzle unit 100. The dust collecting unit 230 may include a cyclone
part 240 and a dust bin 250. The cyclone part 240 may separate dust
from air by centrifugal force. The cyclone part 240 may have a
substantially cylindrical shape. An inflow port 241 may be disposed
on one side of the cyclone part 240. The dust bin 250 may collect
dust that may descend due to gravity after being separated from the
drawn-in air in the cyclone part 240. The dust bin 250 may be
detachably connected to a lower side of the cyclone part 240.
[0020] The main body 200 may also include an ascent/descent lever
280 and a filter casing 271. The ascent/descent lever 280 can press
the dust bin 250 toward the cyclone part 240 or release the dust
bin 250 from the cyclone part 240. The filter casing 271 may house
a filter. The filter casing 271 can also be detachably coupled with
the frame 210.
[0021] The suction nozzle unit 100 may draw in dust from a surface
to be cleaned while moving along the surface. The suction nozzle
unit 100 may include the housing 110, an inspection window 101, a
front casing 113, a height adjusting knob 180, a discharge path
170, and wheels 190. The inspection window 101 may be provided to
view an internal component of the suction nozzle unit 100, such as
the rotating brush 130 (shown in FIG. 3). The front casing 113 may
cover the rotating brush 130 (shown in FIG. 3). The height
adjusting knob 180 can raise and lower the suction nozzle unit 100
so as to prevent carpeting or other sensitive surfaces from being
damaged by the rotation of the rotating brush 130. The discharge
path 170 may guide air toward the front of the housing 110. Wheels
190 may be rotatably mounted on both sides of the housing 110 so
that the suction nozzle unit 100 can smoothly move across the
surface to be cleaned.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, the suction nozzle unit 100 may include
a motor chamber 111, a suction motor 130, an inlet 115, a rotating
brush 150, and a front casing 113. The suction motor 130 may
provide a suction source to draw in dust from the surface to be
cleaned. The suction motor may be mounted in the motor chamber 111.
The suction motor 130 may be a driving source to drive the rotating
brush 150. The rotating brush 150 may be rotatably mounted inside
an inlet 115 disposed on a bottom surface of the housing 100. The
front casing 113 may be disposed at the front of the motor chamber
111.
[0023] An air re-intake passage 300 may fluidly communicate between
the suction nozzle unit 100 and the main body 200. The air
re-intake passage 300 may guide drawn-in air containing dust along
with the air discharged from the suction nozzle unit 100 toward the
dust collecting unit 230. The air re-intake passage 300 may include
a first connection pipe 301, a flexible hose 303, and a second
connection pipe 305. One end of the first connection pipe 301 may
fluidly communicate with the inlet 115, and an opposite end thereof
may be disposed at the rear of the housing 110. The opposite end of
the first connection pipe 301 may be connected to a first end of
the flexible hose 303, and a second opposite end of the flexible
hose 303 may be connected to one end of the second connection pipe
305. Although the flexible hose 303 may be used in a portion of the
air re-intake passage 300, the present invention is not limited
thereto. Accordingly, a flexible hose can be used as the entire air
re-intake passage. An opposite end of the second connection pipe
305 may be connected to the inflow port 241.
[0024] The drawn-air flowing through the air re-intake passage 300
may be in fluid communication with the cyclone part 240 of the dust
collecting unit 230. The air re-intake passage 300 may guide air
through the inflow port 241. The inflow port 241 may be configured
horizontally relative to the cyclone part 240. The inflow port 241
can also be disposed at a tangent to the cyclone part 240 in order
to cause rotation of the drawn-in air flowing through the air
re-intake passage 300. The rotation of the drawn-in air may cause
dust to separate from the drawn-in air by centrifugal force. The
dust may then descend into the dust bin 250 because of gravity.
[0025] A grill filter 243 may be disposed at the center of the
cyclone part 240 to prevent separated dust of a predetermined size
from flowing back into the suction motor 130. To prevent dust that
may be descending into the dust bin 250 from flowing back into the
cyclone part 240, a skirt 245 may be disposed to extend from a
lower end of the grill filter 243. The skirt 245 may extend over a
predetermined portion of an inside surface of the cyclone part 240.
A diameter of the bottom of the skirt 245 may be greater than the
outer diameter of the grill filter 243.
[0026] The dust collecting unit 230 may have an exhaust pipe 260 in
order to discharge the drawn-in air passing through the grill
filter 243 toward the suction nozzle unit 100. The exhaust pipe 260
may penetrate a bottom surface of the dust bin 250. The exhaust
pipe 260 may extend vertically through the center of the dust bin
250, so that an upper end of the exhaust pipe 260 can fluidly
communicate with a lower end of the grill filter 243. A first
filter 273 may be disposed between a lower end of the exhaust pipe
260. The first filter 273 can filter the air discharged through the
exhaust pipe 260. The first filter 273 may be housed in the filter
casing 271.
[0027] The exhaust pipe 260 may be in fluid communication with a
guide duct 215. The guide duct 215 can guide air to the motor
chamber 111. The guide duct 215 may be mounted on at least one of
the pair of hinge mounting units 213 (shown in FIG. 3). The first
filter 273 may be disposed between the exhaust pipe 260 and the
guide duct 215 so that filtered air can flow into the motor chamber
111 through the guide duct 215.
[0028] The frame 210 may include a receptacle unit 217 for mounting
the dust collecting unit 230. The receptacle unit 217 may be
mounted at the front of the frame 210.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, the suction motor 130 may be a driving
source to drive the rotating brush 150. In order to drive the
rotating brush 150, the suction motor 130 transfers a driving force
to the rotating brush 150 through a driving belt 151. The driving
belt 151 may be wound between a driving shaft 131 and the rotating
brush 150.
[0030] A plurality of injection holes 171 may be disposed at the
bottom surface of the suction nozzle unit 100 so that they may be
immediately adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. The injection
holes 171 may be near the front of the rotating brush 150. Thus,
the air from the plurality of injection holes 171 may be directed
toward the surface to be cleaned facing the bottom surface of the
housing 110 near the front of the rotating brush 150 to agitate
dust. The agitation of dust may increase suction efficiency. Air
from the injection holes 171 may prevent agitated dust from flying
towards the outside of the suction nozzle unit 100. The injection
holes 171 may also guide the agitated dust to directly flow into
the inlet 115 (shown in FIG. 2).
[0031] The flexible hose 303 (shown in FIG. 2) may be disposed
around the hinge mounting unit 213 of the frame 210 so that the
main body 200 can smoothly rotate about the hinge mounting unit 213
during the cleaning operation.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 110 may be provided with
the discharge path 170 and an injection path 170a. The discharge
path 170 may be configured to guide air discharged from the motor
chamber 111 toward the front of the housing 110. The injection path
170a may be in fluid communication with the discharge path 170 in
order to inject the discharged air toward the surface to be
cleaned. The plurality of injection holes 171 may be formed at a
terminal end of the injection path 170a and may be at an area
immediately adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. The injection
path 170a may be curved inwardly with a predetermined curvature
toward the rear of the housing 110, so that the plurality of
injection holes 171 can be disposed toward the inlet 115.
[0033] Additionally, in the embodiment described above, air
discharged through injection holes 171 circulates in the vacuum
cleaner 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is
possible to form an opening (not shown) which enables a portion of
the discharge path 170 to be selectively opened in order to prevent
the inside temperature of the housing 110 from rising excessively
due to heat generated by the suction motor 130.
[0034] A second filter 173 may be disposed at the discharge path
170 in order to filter air discharged from the motor chamber 111.
If a first filter 273 is provided, air filtered by the first filter
273 may be filtered a second time by the second filter 173. The
second filter 173 may include, for example, a hepa filter in order
to filter fine dust particles.
[0035] Hereinafter, an operation of an upright vacuum cleaner using
discharged air drawn back into the vacuum cleaner according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0036] When the vacuum cleaner 10 is supplied with power, the power
may cause the suction motor 130 disposed in the suction nozzle unit
100 to generate a suction force. The suction force may be generated
between the inlet 115 of the suction nozzle unit 100 and the
surface to be cleaned. Air can then be drawn into the suction
nozzle unit 100 through the inlet 115 together with dust on the
surface to be cleaned.
[0037] After flowing through the inlet 115, the drawn-in air
containing the dust may flow through the air re-intake passage 300
and into the cyclone part 240 of the dust collecting unit 230. As
the drawn-in air flows through the inflow part 214, the inflow port
241 causes the drawn-in air to rotate. The rotating of the air
causes dust to separate therefrom by centrifugal force. The dust
separated from the drawn-in air descends due to gravity. The dust
may then be collected in the dust bin 250. The air may then flow
through the grill filter 243 into the exhaust pipe 260.
[0038] The air flowing through the exhaust pipe 260 may be filtered
by the first filter 273. The air may then flow through the guide
duct 215 and into the suction motor 130. The air may then be
discharged from the suction motor 130 to the motor chamber 111. The
discharged air may then be guided towards the injection path 170a
through the discharge path 170. The discharged air may be ejected
to the surface to be cleaned via the plurality of injection holes
171. The dust on the surface to be cleaned, for example dust
embedded in a carpeting, is agitated by the discharged air, thereby
increasing the suction efficiency. The air discharged to the
surface to be cleaned may flow into the inlet 115 of the suction
nozzle unit 100. Thus, air can circulate in the vacuum cleaner
10.
[0039] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention as described above, the suction motor may be disposed in
a lower part of a vacuum cleaner, such as, in a suction nozzle
unit. Thus, because the suction motor is not disposed in the main
body, it is possible to reduce the weight and volume of a main body
of the cleaner. Therefore, anyone can easily use the vacuum cleaner
for cleaning.
[0040] Additionally, the dust collecting unit used to collect dust
using a cyclone for dust separation maximizes the dust-separating
efficiency, and thus increases the cleaning efficiency.
Furthermore, air drawn into the vacuum cleaner is prevented from
being substantially discharged outside of the vacuum cleaner during
the cleaning operation. Accordingly, it is possible to contain any
odor from the dust.
[0041] The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are
merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the
present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to
other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention is intended to be
illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many
alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *