U.S. patent application number 12/061170 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-07 for steam vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to GYUNG-HEE HAAN.
Application Number | 20090113657 12/061170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39410613 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090113657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAAN; GYUNG-HEE |
May 7, 2009 |
STEAM VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A steam vacuum cleaner includes: a base assembly provided with a
vacuum cleaning unit composed of a wet type motor and a dust
receptacle; a main assembly provided with a water bag, a pump, a
heater, and so on; and a neck assembly for connecting the main
assembly rotatable with respect to the base assembly.
Inventors: |
HAAN; GYUNG-HEE; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Office of Michael N. Cohen, P.C.
9025 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 301
Beverly Hills
CA
90211
US
|
Family ID: |
39410613 |
Appl. No.: |
12/061170 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/322 ; 15/320;
15/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1409 20130101;
A47L 11/34 20130101; A47L 9/22 20130101; A47L 9/125 20130101; A47L
9/122 20130101; A47L 11/40 20130101; A47L 11/4097 20130101; A47L
11/4013 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/322 ; 15/320;
15/412 |
International
Class: |
A47L 7/00 20060101
A47L007/00; A47L 9/22 20060101 A47L009/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0032446 |
Claims
1. A steam vacuum cleaner, comprising: a base assembly having a
suction nozzle and a steam ejection port; a main assembly; and a
neck assembly for connecting the main assembly rotatably with
respect to the base assembly, wherein the base assembly is provided
with a dust receptacle connected with the suction nozzle, and a
suction motor for sucking air in through the suction nozzle, and
wherein the main assembly is provided with a steam generator
connected to the steam ejection port.
2. The steam vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the base
assembly is further provided with a bedplate having the suction
nozzle and the steam ejection port formed therein, and a body with
an upper cover to be connected to the bedplate; wherein a front
upper face of the upper cover has a dust receptacle mount groove to
receive the dust receptacle, and a rear lower face of the upper
cover has a suction motor mount groove to receive the suction
motor; and wherein a front face of the duct receptacle mount groove
has a suction duct formed in communication with the suction nozzle,
and a rear face of the duct receptacle mount groove has a first
through hole to receive a suction inlet of the suction motor, a
second through hole to receive a cold air intake duct for the
suction motor, and a third through hole to receive an air exhaust
duct, the third through hole being formed to face the dust
receptacle.
3. The steam vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the main
assembly is provided with a front mount case where the steam
generator is mounted, and a rear mount case to be connected to the
front mount case; and wherein the neck assembly is comprised of a
front neck case connected to the front mount case, and a rear neck
case connected to the front neck case, the front neck case being
united with the front mount case while the rear neck case being
detachably connected to the rear mount case.
4. A housing connected to a main body of a steam vacuum cleaner
provided with a steam generator and a vacuum cleaning unit, in
which the housing comprises: a front mount case; a rear mount case
to be connected to the front mount case; a front neck case for
connecting the front mount case and the main body; and a rear neck
case for connecting the rear mount case and the main body, the
front neck case and the front mount case being united as one unit
while the rear neck case and the rear mount case being detachable
separately.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention claims priority of Korean patent
application number 10-2007-0032446, filed on Apr. 2, 2007, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a steam vacuum cleaner
comprising a base assembly constituted by a wet type motor and a
dust collector, a main assembly constituted by a water bag, a pump,
and a heater, and a neck assembly for connecting the main assembly
rotatably to the base assembly.
[0003] Korean utility model registration Nos. 20-0404402 and
20-0413652 and Korean patent application publication No.
10-2007-0027895 disclosed a steam vacuum cleaner where a dust
collection bin, a suction motor, and a steam generator are all
installed in the main body. Because of this, the main body of the
related art steam vacuum cleaner has a certain height, making it
difficult to clean under the bed or the couch.
[0004] Besides, the main body of the related art steam vacuum
cleaner is bulky and wide such that its contact area with the floor
is large. As the contact resistance requires a bit more force to
move (e.g., push and pull) the cleaner, a user feels more difficult
to clean with this type of cleaner.
[0005] Moreover, the related art steam vacuum cleaner is built in a
manner that ventilation air of the suction motor comes out from
behind the main body to blow away the dust on the floor.
[0006] In addition, since the dust collection bin only has a
function of collecting dust, the filter installed at a suction
opening of the motor is often clogged up. This shortens the
cleaning cycle of the filter and another inconvenience for the user
is posed.
[0007] Still another adverse effect of the related art steam vacuum
cleaner is that when in use for steam cleaning and/or vacuum
cleaning, it is highly possible that the sucked-up steam enters the
motor and causes an electrical short.
[0008] In addition, whether the dust collection bin is installed
inside or outside the main body, its particular shape makes it
difficult to take out.
[0009] Lastly, the related art steam vacuum cleaner uses a motor is
designed to suck air in from the front and discharge the air to a
rear side. Therefore, its low cooling efficiency had to be
compensated by installing a motor with a relatively large
capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] To address deficiencies of the related art, it is,
therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a steam
vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaning block and a steam
generation block separately in a base assembly and a main assembly,
so that the cleaner may have a light and small layout to improve
user convenience.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a steam vacuum cleaner, comprising: a base assembly having a
suction nozzle and a steam ejection port; a main assembly; and a
neck assembly for connecting the main assembly rotatably with
respect to the base assembly, wherein the base assembly is provided
with a dust receptacle connected with the suction nozzle, and a
suction motor for sucking air in through the suction nozzle, and
wherein the main assembly is provided with a steam generator
connected to the steam ejection port.
[0012] According to the exemplary embodiment, the steam generator
is laid out in the main assembly, so the base assembly may have a
reduced height and length to make the cleaner lighter and
smaller.
[0013] Preferably, the base assembly is further provided with a
bedplate having the suction nozzle and the steam ejection port
formed therein, and a body with an upper cover to be connected to
the bedplate; wherein a front upper face of the upper cover has a
dust receptacle mount groove to receive the dust receptacle, and a
rear lower face of the upper cover has a suction motor mount groove
to receive the suction motor; and wherein a front face of the duct
receptacle mount groove has a suction duct formed in communication
with the suction nozzle, and a rear face of the duct receptacle
mount groove has a first through hole to receive a suction inlet of
the suction motor, a second through hole to receive a cold air
intake duct for the suction motor, and a third through hole to
receive an air exhaust duct, the third through hole being formed to
face the dust receptacle.
[0014] Since the air for cooling the suction motor collides with
the walls of the dust collection bin before it is discharged, a
whirr sound of the air getting blown out through the space is
substantially reduced and a minimal amount of floor dust is
scattered around.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the main assembly is provided
with a front mount case where the steam generator is mounted, and a
rear mount case to be connected to the front mount case, and the
neck assembly is comprised of a front neck case connected to the
front mount case, and a rear neck case connected to the front neck
case, the front neck case being united with the front mount case
while the rear neck case being detachably connected to the rear
mount case. This structural feature not only facilitates the
assembly work, but also improves the repair work efficiency
especially when the steam generator mounted at the front mount case
and the PCT for controlling the same are out of order because a
repair person may disassemble only the rear mount case, while
leaving the rear neck case.
[0016] Another aspect of the present invention provides a housing
connected to a main body of a steam vacuum cleaner provided with a
steam generator and a vacuum cleaning unit, in which the housing
comprises: a front mount case; a rear mount case to be connected to
the front mount case; a front neck case for connecting the front
mount case and the main body; and a rear neck case for connecting
the rear mount case and the main body, the front neck case and the
front mount case being united as one unit while the rear neck case
and the rear mount case being detachable separately.
[0017] The other objectives and advantages of the invention will be
understood by the following description and will also be
appreciated by the embodiments of the invention more clearly.
Further, the objectives and advantages of the invention will
readily be seen that they can be realized by the means and its
combination specified in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a steam vacuum cleaner
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a base assembly
having a dust collection bin being removed therefrom;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the base assembly
having a dust collection bin being installed therein;
[0022] FIG. 5a is an exploded perspective view of a dust
receptacle;
[0023] FIG. 5b is an exploded perspective view of an auxiliary
filter;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of a dust receptacle
without a cover;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 6 having a
bedplate being removed therefrom;
[0026] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a motor;
[0027] FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 8;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view showing the interior of a
main assembly;
[0029] FIG. 11 is an exploded rear perspective view of the steam
vacuum cleaner having a water bag being detached therefrom;
[0030] FIG. 12 is an exploded rear perspective view of a manually
depressible release button for a water bag;
[0031] FIG. 13 is an assembled sectional view of FIG. 12; and
[0032] FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the steam vacuum
cleaner having the cover of an exhaust being opened.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be set forth in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the
invention.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a steam vacuum cleaner
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1.
[0035] Referring to the outer appearance shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the steam vacuum cleaner of this embodiment is largely constituted
by a base assembly 100, a main assembly 500, and a neck assembly
300 connecting between the base assembly 100 and the main assembly
500.
[0036] The min assembly 500 has a pipe 550 (to be described) to
which a length-adjustable mop handle 600 is connected in a
detachable manner. The mop handle 600 is composed of a telescopic
stick and a handle.
[0037] The base assembly 100, as depicted in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and
FIG. 7, is composed of a main body 110 including a bedplate 130 and
an upper cover 150, and a vacuum cleaning section installed at the
main body 110.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, the bedplate 130 is provided with a
suction nozzle 131 in front and a steam ejection port 133 in
rear.
[0039] The bottom area around the steam ejection port 133 forms a
Velcro type adhesive face 135 to which a pad is attached for
cleaning.
[0040] The steam ejection port 133 is connected to a steam
generator 570.
[0041] Front frame of the bedplate 130 is preferably formed of a
bumper 140 made of elastic materials like rubber or plastic, such
that the main body 110 can be protected as much as possible from
breaking and cracks due to collision with the wall during
cleaning.
[0042] A dust collection bin mount groove 160 to which a dust
receptacle 200 is mounted is formed at the front upper side of the
upper cover 150, and a motor mount groove 180 to which a suction
motor 800 is mounted is formed at the rear lower side of the upper
cover 150.
[0043] The front face of the dust collection bin mount groove 160
has a suction duct 190 to which a suction nozzle 131 and an inlet
211 of a dust collection bin 210 (to be described) are
connected.
[0044] The rear side of the dust collection bin mount groove 160
has a first through hole 161 where an impeller casing 830 of the
suction motor 800 is arranged, a second through hole 163 where a
cold air intake duct 853 (to be described) is arranged, and a third
through hole 165 where air exhaust duct 855 (to be described) is
arranged.
[0045] Preferably, the dust collection bin mount groove 160 further
has a rib 167 that functions to fasten the dust collection bin 210
to some degree, leaving a small space between the inner
circumference face of the dust collection bin mount groove 160 and
the outer circumference face of the dust collection bin 210.
[0046] Therefore, this space serves as a channel for cold air to
enter the cold air intake duct 853 and hot air to flow out from the
air exhaust duct 855.
[0047] Especially, since the air exhaust duct 855 is disposed
facing the rear side of the dust collection bin mount groove 160,
hot air therefrom collides with the dust collection bin mount
groove 160.
[0048] Therefore, a whirr sound of the air getting blown out
through the space is reduced and a minimal amount of floor dust is
scattered around by the exhausted air.
[0049] The upper cover 150 has hollow hinges 310 and 320 formed at
both sides of it rear portion. The hinges 310 and 320 are formed in
communication with the motor mount groove 180. To these hinges 310
and 320 is the neck assembly 300 (to be described) connected
rotatably.
[0050] Therefore, suction air coming out of the motor assembly 800
is exhausted outside through an exhaust section 700 of the main
assembly 300 via the hinges 310 and 320 in the motor mount groove
180 and then neck cases 330 and 340 of the neck assembly 300.
[0051] The dust receptacle 200, as depicted in FIGS. 4 through 6,
includes the dust collection bin 210 detachably mounted to the dust
collection bin mount groove 160, and a cover 230 for
opening/closing the dust collection bin 210.
[0052] With the cover 230 on the top, water or steam, although this
may have flown into the dust collection bin 210, rarely leaks from
out of the bin.
[0053] The front face of the dust collection bin 210 has a bin
inlet 211 to be connected with the duct 190, and the rear face of
the dust collection bin 210 has a filter mount opening 213 to
accept a main filter section 250.
[0054] The bin inlet 211 preferably has a door 212 that is open by
the force of air being sucked in and closed by the gravity when the
force disappears.
[0055] The operating mechanism of the door 212 stops dust flying
away from the bin inlet 211 when the cleaner is not in use.
[0056] The filter mount opening 213 functions as a
ventilation/exhaust outlet for guiding the air having passed
through the main filter section 250 towards the suction motor.
[0057] In addition, hanger pieces 215 and 216 are formed at the
front and rear faces of the dust collection bin 210. In
correspondence to thereto, safety bars 235 and 236 are formed at
the front and rear faces of the cover 230.
[0058] The hanger pieces 215 and 216 are installed in a manner that
the major axes at both sides of the center can rotate about the
dust collection bin 210.
[0059] With respect to the major axis, a spring is inserted below
the major axis and a stopper is provided above the major axis.
Therefore, when the hanger piece 215 or 216 below is pressed down,
the spring is compressed for seesaw operation with an upper portion
being rushed out and the hanger piece 235 or 236 is rendered in the
lock released state. Meanwhile, when the hanger piece 215 or 216 is
released, it returns to its original position by spring force.
[0060] The stopper checks extreme rotations of the hanger pieces
215 and 216 by the resilient force of the spring, and guides them
to go to their original positions parallel to each other.
[0061] The safety bar 235 is composed of a locking jaw 235a and a
support piece 235b. In particular, the support piece 235b is formed
into a rib. When the hanger piece 215 is locked on the locking jaw
235a, the rib shape support piece 235b makes a line contact with
the dust collection bin 210 so that one can easily engage or
disengage it without much effort.
[0062] The hinge structure for the hanger pieces 215 and 216
facilitates opening and closing of the dust collection bin 210.
That is, a user simply pushes the cover 230 down to connect it to
the dust collection bin 210. Meanwhile, the user opens the cover
230 simply by pressing the hanger piece 215 or 216 and rotating the
cover 230 toward the hanger piece 215 or 216.
[0063] As the cover 230 is opened or closed easily and smoothly,
the dust collection bin does not shake when the user opens the
cover, such that dusts kept in the dust collection bin do not
easily fly out of the bin.
[0064] The cover 230 is preferably exposed outside to help the user
take out the dust receptacle 200 more conveniently.
[0065] To help the user pull out the dust receptacle 200 even more
conveniently, a lift groove 237 is formed at both sides of the
cover 230. The lift groove 237 is recessed in an L shape in size of
a finger.
[0066] The main filter section 250 is mounted to the filter mount
opening 213 of the dust collection bin 210. The main filter section
250 is composed of a main filter 251 and a filter support frame 253
to support the main filter 251.
[0067] The main filter 251 filters the air having passed through
the dust collection bin 210 into the motor assembly 800. The main
filter 251 is made of a fabric and adhered onto the filter support
frame 253.
[0068] The dust collection bin 210 preferably has an auxiliary
filter 260. Referring to FIG. 5a, the auxiliary filter 260 has a
rectangular shape, in which front face 261 and bottom face 263 are
shut, top face 265, left lateral face 266 and rear face 268 have a
screen form, and light lateral face 267 is open.
[0069] The front face 261 and the bottom face 263 are arranged at
an upper portion of the bin inlet 211 to be faced with each other.
In this way, incoming dust, particularly coarse dust, can be led to
and accumulated in areas other than the front face 261 and the
bottom face 263.
[0070] The right lateral face 267 is disposed to face the main
filter section 250.
[0071] The top face 265 and the rear face 268 are configured in a
detachable manner, as depicted in FIG. 5b. To be more specific,
detachable projections 265a and 268a formed at the top screen 265
and the rear screen 268 are detachably inserted into grooves 265b
and 268b formed at the frame of the auxiliary filter 260. These are
conveniently used for assembly or cleaning.
[0072] Optionally, the front face 261, the bottom face 263, and the
left lateral face 266 can be made as separable individual elements,
and the front face 261 and the bottom face 263 can take a screen
structure as well.
[0073] The auxiliary filter 260 is formed into a trapezoidal shape
having a gradually increasing surface area from left to right, so
that air flow may not be bottlenecked and suction/exhaust
efficiencies may be improved.
[0074] Hence, a mixture of coarse dust and fine dust accumulated in
the dust collection bin 210 settles or is distributed evenly around
the auxiliary filter 260, so the user does not need to empty the
dust collection bin 210 too often. In particular, the fact that the
accumulation of dust in the main filter 215 is discouraged as much
as possible lightens the burden of emptying the dust receptacle
frequently.
[0075] The auxiliary filter 260 is supported by a separator 270 and
a support 273, the separator 270 isolating a mount chamber 255 to
which the main filter section 260 is mounted from a dust collecting
chamber 213.
[0076] The separator 270 preferably has a receiving groove 271 to
receive a lower portion of the front face 261 of the auxiliary
filter therein.
[0077] An insertion protrusion 274 is formed at the upper end of
the support 273 to be inserted into an insertion opening 279 formed
at the left hand side of the auxiliary filter 260 for support.
[0078] To prevent the auxiliary filter 260 from being separated
upwardly, a pressing piece 257 to press a right lateral top face
269 of the auxiliary filter 260, and an insertion groove 277 to
press the insertion opening 279 being engaged with the insertion
protrusion 274 are formed at an inner face of the cover 230.
[0079] Referring next to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the motor assembly 800
is constituted by a motor 810, an impeller casing 830, and a
motor-cooling casing 850.
[0080] The motor 810 is composed of a motor drive unit 811 provided
with a cooling fan, and an impeller 813 to receive power from the
motor drive unit 811. The motor 810 is mounted to the motor mount
groove 180, as depicted in FIG. 7.
[0081] The impeller 813 has a structure to suck air in the rotation
axis direction and exhaust the air in the circumference direction,
and it protects the motor drive unit 811 from moisture
intrusion.
[0082] The impeller casing 830 is composed of a circumferential
case 831 to enclose the impeller 813, a suction case 833 connected
to the first through hole 161, and an exhaust port 835 formed at
the circumferential case 831.
[0083] Because the exhaust port 835 stands at right angles to the
circumference direction, the air being exhausted through the
exhaust port 835 travels in a longitudinal direction of the motor
drive unit 811, consequently improving cooling efficiency. The
improvement in cooling efficiency opens up the possibility of using
a motor 810 having a relatively small capacity. That is, a small
size, light weighted, and low noise motor can be advantageously
used for the cleaner.
[0084] The motor drive unit 810 further includes the motor-cooling
casing 850. The motor-cooling casing 850 preferably has, in its
circumference face, the cold air intake duct 853 connected to the
second through hole 163, and the air exhaust duct 855 connected to
the third through hole 165.
[0085] That is, when the cooling fan 815 of the motor drive unit
810 starts operating, cold air in the main body 110 is sucked into
the cold air intake duct 853. This cold sucked air flows toward the
cooling fan 815, taking away heat being produced. The heated air
collides with the walls of the dust collecting bin 210 of the bin
mount groove 160 in its way out through the air exhaust duct
855.
[0086] This cooling flow of the motor drive unit 810 makes it
possible to carry out the high efficiency suction at a given
capacity even if a smaller size motor 810 may have been
utilized.
[0087] Moreover, since the hot air is exhausted after colliding
with the walls of the dust collecting bin 210, less floor dust is
scattered and the noise is reduced to lower levels.
[0088] Preferably, a flow separation packing 860 is further
provided between the motor drive unit 810 and the motor cooling
casing 850.
[0089] That is to say, when cold air enters the motor casing 850,
it is led into the motor drive unit 810, and then hot air flows out
of there along the outer circumference face of the motor drive unit
810 to be exhausted through the air exhaust duct 855. In this way,
the incoming air and the exhausted air do not meet each other, and
the cooling efficiency is therefore enhanced even more.
[0090] Especially, the motor cooling casing 850 is made of a
transparent material as shown in FIG. 9 such that one can see
assembly condition of the flow separation packing 860 with the
naked eye.
[0091] Mount pieces 837 and 857 to be mounted to the motor mount
groove 180 are formed at the suction case 833 and the motor cooling
casing 850, respectively. The motor cooling casing 850 also have a
cord withdrawal hole 856 from which a cord used for supplying power
to the motor is extended.
[0092] Referring next to FIG. 10, the neck assembly 300 is formed
into a fork shape. The neck assembly 300 can be divided into a
front neck case 330 and a rear neck case 340. Lower ends of both
neck cases are connected by hinges 310 and 320, and upper ends
thereof are connected to front and rear mount cases 510 and 520,
respectively.
[0093] The neck cases 330 and 340, together forming an empty
cylindrical case, serve as a guide passage to guide exhausted air
from the motor to an exhaust section 700 (to be described) of the
main assembly 500.
[0094] Each of the neck cases 330 and 340 includes a wire for
connecting a PCB mounted in the main assembly 500 and the motor
assembly 800, and a tube for connecting a heater 575 and a steam
ejection port 133.
[0095] The front mount case 510 has a partition 529 for dividing
the space into an area with the PCB and an area with a steam
generator 570, such that the exhausted air may not flow towards the
PCB.
[0096] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the front neck case 330 is united
with the front mount case 510 of the main assembly, while the rear
neck case 340 is separated from the rear mount case 520.
[0097] Therefore, the rear mount case 520 is first assembled to the
front mount case 510, and the rear neck case 340 is assembled to
the front neck case 330 next. An outer lateral face of the lower
end of the rear mount case 520 has a step height, while an inner
lateral face of the upper end of the rear neck case 340 has a step
height. Thus, these two cases are assembled to each other by
bringing them in touch with each other.
[0098] Based on this assembly structure, the rear neck case 340 and
the rear mount case 520 can be detached separately. As such, if the
PCB or the steam generator 570 needs to be repaired, only the rear
mount case 520 can be disassembled, improving after-sale service
quality.
[0099] The main assembly 500 is composed of housings (i.e. the
front mount case 510 and the rear mount case 520), and the steam
generator 570 loaded at the housings.
[0100] The front mount case 510 is provided with the steam
generator 570 except for a water bag 571 and the PCB. The water bag
571 is detachably installed at the rear mount case 520.
[0101] The steam generator 570 is composed of a water bag 571, a
pump for pumping water in the water bag 571, and a heater 575 for
heating the pumped water and generating steam. An
instantaneous-heating type water heater is used for the heater
575.
[0102] The water bag 571 is detachably installed at a mount space
522 that is formed at the outer face of the rear mount case
520.
[0103] A fastening projection 571a that receives an elastic force
towards the surface is formed at the upper face of the water bag
571, and a water discharge port 571b is formed at the lower face
thereof.
[0104] The fastening projection 571a receiving an elastic force
from springs built in the case 571 of the water bag 571 is
projected toward the surface.
[0105] When the water bag 571 is placed at the mount space 522, the
fastening projection 571b is inserted into a fastening opening 910,
and a water inlet port 571b is connected to a (male) nipple 523.
The male nipple 523 is insertedly coupled into a female nipple 513
connected to a pump 573. Therefore, when the front mount case 510
and the rear mount case 520 are connected, the female nipple 513
and the male nipple 523 are automatically connected. This feature
represents improvements in assembly and connectability.
[0106] In addition, the rear face of the water bag 571 has an
insertion groove 571 into which an insertion projection 521 formed
at the mount space 522 is inserted, thereby ensuring a firm, stable
installment.
[0107] Detaching the water bag 571 is made possible by a detachable
member 900 installed at the rear mount case 520.
[0108] Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the detachable member 900
is constituted by a dorm shaped button 930 enclosing the outer and
inner sides of a guide 920 that is protrusively formed at the rear
mount case 520, a pushing piece 940 for pushing the fastening
projection 571a of the water bag 571, a separation prevention piece
950 for preventing the separation of the pushing piece 940, and a
spring 960 interposed between the separation prevention piece 950
and the pushing piece 940.
[0109] The button 930 is disposed at an upper through hole 970
formed at an upper frame 525 of the rear mount case 520, and the
pushing piece 940 is disposed at a lower through hole 910 formed at
a lower frame 526 of the rear mount case 520. Thus, a space 527
where the separation prevention piece 950 is held is created
between the upper frame 525 and the lower frame 526.
[0110] This upper-lower frame structure creates the space 527 for
the detachable member 900 at the inner face of the rear mount case
520, and the water mount space 522 at the outer face the rear mount
case 520. This is desirable from the perspective of saving the
mount space for the water bag 571 and the detachable member
900.
[0111] The dorm type button 930 is composed of a body 931, a
horizontally extended portion 933 extending in a horizontal
direction from the body 931, and a vertically extended portion 935
extending in a vertical direction from a free end of the
horizontally extended portion 933.
[0112] According to the dorm configuration, a groove 937 between
the horizontally extended portion 933 and the vertically extended
portion 935 encloses the outside and inside of a guide 920 which is
protruded upwardly from the upper frame 525.
[0113] This structure protects the housings 510 and 510 from water
invasion via a through hole 970, and effectively prevents a
possible accident of electric shock received by a person who
conducts an electric shock test by spraying water thereto.
[0114] The separation prevention piece 950 is prevented from being
separated upwardly as its upper end is blocked by the upper frame
525.
[0115] Preferably, the button 930, the pushing piece 940, and the
separation prevention piece 950 are coupled together by means of a
piece 901.
[0116] To prevent water invasion into the piece 901 area, a packing
903 is inserted into a center hollow portion of the button 930.
[0117] To see how the detachable member 900 works, the water bag
571 being installed makes the fastening projection 571a to be
inserted into the through hole 910. In this state, when the button
930 is pressed, it descends along the guide 920 and pushes the
fastening projection 571a with the pushing piece 940. Here, the
portion of the fastening projection 571a pushed by the pushing
piece 940 is tilted. Thus, when the fastening projection 571a is
pushed by this tiled portion, the water bag 571 comes out
automatically at user's convenience. As such, the fastening
projection 571a escapes from the through hole 910, and the water
bag 571 is easily detached by pulling.
[0118] Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 14, the exhaust
section 700 is composed of an exhaust groove 730 formed at the rear
mount case 520, a filter 720 mounted to the exhaust groove 730, and
a filter cover 710 for closing/opening the exhaust groove 730.
[0119] Since the exhaust groove 730 is formed in communication with
the front mount case 510, it is preferable to be formed into a net
shape frame to be able to prevent the separation of the filter
720.
[0120] The filter 720 is preferably a HEPA filter to be able to
filter fine dust and discharge exhausted gas to outside after
sucking in the exhausted gas once. In this way, air discharge rate
is reduced, noise is reduced to lower levels, and floor dust is not
scattered by the discharged air flow. In particular, since the
exhaust section 700 is disposed at the main assembly 500, being
away from the floor, it hardly causes the floor dust to fly
around.
[0121] The filter cover 710 is composed of a cover plate 711
provided with an exhaust hole 712, a detachable projection 713
formed at the upper and lower faces of the cover plate 711, and an
operation unit 715 for operating the detachable projection 713.
[0122] The detachable projection 713 is inserted into a groove 714
formed at the upper and lower inner circumference faces of the
exhaust groove 730.
[0123] The operation unit 715 is composed of a switch used to pull
the detachable projection 713 and recess it toward the cover plate
711, and a spring that is bounced out toward the surface by the
detachable projection 713 when the switch is released. The
operation unit 715 has similar functions to the detachable member
900 of the water bag 571.
[0124] While the present invention has been described with respect
to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims. For instance, although the steam
vacuum cleaner according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is configured in three parts: a base assembly, a neck
assembly, and it may comprise only two parts: a base assembly and a
mop handle assembly. Here, the mop handle assembly includes a
mopstick with one end being rotatably supported to the base
assembly. Further, a steam generator 570 may be provided on the
mopstick, and a dust collecting channel may be formed outside or
inside the mopstick.
[0125] As explained so far, the steam vacuum cleaner of the present
invention has the following advantages.
[0126] First, it is configured with the base assembly including the
vacuum cleaning unit, the main assembly including the steam
generator, and the neck assembly for connecting the main assembly
rotatable with respect to the base assembly and for connecting the
exhaust air from the vacuum cleaning unit to the exhaust section of
the main assembly. With the vacuum cleaning unit and the steam
generator being separated from each other, the base assembly can
have substantially reduced height and length, realizing a small and
light cleaner.
[0127] Second, as the cold air exhaust port of the suction motor is
arranged facing the dust receptacle, the suction motor cooling air
collides with the walls of the dust receptacle in its way out. As a
result, a whirr sound of the air getting blown out through the
space is substantially reduced and a minimal amount of floor dust
is scattered around.
[0128] Third, the front neck case is united with the front mount
case as one unit, while the rear neck case is separable from the
rear mount case. This structural feature not only facilitates the
assembly work, but also improves the repair work efficiency such as
after-sale service quality and assembly performance especially when
the steam generator mounted at the front mount case and the PCT for
controlling the same are out of order because a repair person may
disassemble only the rear mount case, while leaving the rear neck
case.
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