U.S. patent application number 13/375920 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-12 for canister type vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Chung Ook Chong, Eung Dal Kim.
Application Number | 20120084939 13/375920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44066700 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120084939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Eung Dal ; et
al. |
April 12, 2012 |
CANISTER TYPE VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A canister type vacuum cleaner is disclosed. An object of the
present invention is to provide a canister type vacuum cleaner
including a suction nozzle having a movement direction changed
smoothly and quickly, even in case of colliding with an obstacle.
The canister type vacuum cleaner includes a body, a wheel member
rotatably provided in the body and supporting the body, the wheel
member including a main rotation member rotatably provided in the
body and an auxiliary rotation member rotatably provided in the
main rotation member to be rotated along a predetermined rotational
direction different from a rotational direction of the main
rotation member.
Inventors: |
Kim; Eung Dal; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Chong; Chung Ook; (Changwon-si, KR) |
Family ID: |
44066700 |
Appl. No.: |
13/375920 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
November 25, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR09/06967 |
371 Date: |
December 2, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/415.1 ;
15/300.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60B 19/003 20130101;
B60Y 2200/80 20130101; B60B 2200/49 20130101; A47L 5/362 20130101;
A47L 9/009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/415.1 ;
15/300.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20060101
A47L009/02; A47L 5/00 20060101 A47L005/00 |
Claims
[0119] 1. A canister type vacuum cleaner comprising: a body; a
wheel member rotatably provided in the body and supporting the
body, the wheel member comprising: a main rotation member rotatably
provided in the body; and an auxiliary rotation member rotatably
provided in the main rotation member to be rotated in a
predetermined rotational direction different from a rotational
direction of the main rotation member.
2. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the main rotation member comprises an accommodation part
accommodating the auxiliary rotation member and the auxiliary
rotation member is roller-shaped and installed in the accommodation
part.
3. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the auxiliary rotation member is arranged to be rotated along a
predetermined rotational direction that is orthogonal to a
rotational direction of the main rotation member.
4. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the auxiliary rotation member is arranged to be rotated along a
predetermined rotational direction that is diagonal to a rotational
direction of the main rotation member.
5. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the plurality of the wheel member are provided and the plurality of
the wheel members are rotatably arranged at least one of side and
lower portions of the body.
6. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein
at least one wheel member provided in the side portion of the body
is arranged oblique with respect to the side portion of the
body.
7. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the wheel member comprises, a first wheel member; and a second
wheel member having a predetermined size larger than the size of
the first wheel member, and the first wheel member is rotatably
arranged to the lower portion of the body and the second wheel
member is rotatably arranged to the side portion of the body.
8. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the plurality of the wheel member are provided and rotational
directions of the main rotation members provided in the plurality
of the wheel members are same to each other.
9. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the plurality of the wheel member are provided and rotational
directions of the main rotation members provided in the plurality
of the wheel members are different from each other.
10. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein
an outermost portion of the auxiliary rotation member is extended
outward further than an outermost portion of the main rotation
member only to maintain contact with a floor.
11. A canister type vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; a
wheel member provided in the suction nozzle, the wheel member
comprising: a main rotation member rotatably provided in the
suction nozzle; and a plurality of auxiliary rotation members
rotatably provided in the main rotation member.
12. The canister type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11,
wherein the auxiliary rotation members are roller-shaped and the
main rotation member comprises an accommodation part rotatably
accommodating each of the auxiliary rotation members, and an
outermost portion of the auxiliary rotation member is extended
outward further than an outermost portion of the main rotation
member to maintain contact with a floor.
13. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein
the wheel member comprises; a rotational shaft supporter that is
rotatably coupled to the body; and partition walls that is provided
in the rotational shaft to form the accommodation part.
14. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, wherein
the partition wall is extended outward from a rotational shaft
supporter of the first wheel member and, an end of the partition
wall is divided in two ways to disperse the load in case of
contacting a floor.
15. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11, wherein
main rotation member is configured to be rotated a forward or
rearward direction of the body and the suction nozzle, the
auxiliary rotation member is configured to rotated toward
orthogonal or diagonal direction with respect to a rotational
direction of the main rotation member
16. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the main rotation member of the first wheel member comprises; a
rotational shaft supporter that is rotatably coupled to the body;
and partition walls that is provided in the rotational shaft to
form the accommodation part.
17. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the accommodation parts are provided between the partition walls to
accommodate the auxiliary rotation members therein rotatably and,
the auxiliary rotation member accommodated in the accommodation
part is rotatably coupled to the partition wall
18. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the partition wall is extended outward from a rotational shaft
supporter of the first wheel member and, an end of the partition
wall is divided in two ways to disperse the load in case of
contacting a floor.
19. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the auxiliary rotation member of the first wheel member is
configured to be in shape of Rugby ball or raised pot.
20. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein
auxiliary rotation members of the second wheel member are arranged
along an outer circumferential surface of a main rotation member in
a single line.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a canister type vacuum
cleaner, more specifically, to a canister type vacuum cleaner that
includes a body or suction nozzle having an efficient direction
change.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Vacuum cleaners are home appliances that are able to suck
external dust by using a vacuum pressure generated by a motor
provided in each of their bodies.
[0003] Such vacuum cleaners may be categorized based on their
shapes into canister types and upright types. A canister type
vacuum cleaner relating to the present invention includes a body
having a motor, a dust collection device, and a dust separation
device provided therein, a suction hose and a suction nozzle
provided in an end of the suction hose.
[0004] At least one wheel member is provided in a lower or side
surface of the body. If a user pulls the suction hose, the body
will move toward the direction of the pulling.
[0005] A wheel member is provided in a lower surface of the suction
nozzle. If the user clears dust while moving the suction nozzle
forward and rearward, the suction nozzle will move forward and
rearward with help of the wheel member in a rolling contact with
the floor.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0006] When moved by the rolling motion of the wheel member, the
body can move freely in a predetermined space without obstacles. If
it collides against an obstacle during the motion, a direction of
the force applied to the body by the collision will change the
direction of the rolling motion of the wheel member such that a
sliding friction, not the rolling motion, may be generated between
the lower surface of the wheel member and the floor.
[0007] Because of that, the body happens to be upturned and the
wheel member will not be rolled by its sliding friction but dragged
in a surface contact with the floor.
[0008] Furthermore, if the body is located in rear of the user, the
user should inconveniently hold the body and change the direction
of the body to move the body in another direction. Especially, if
the body is located in a limited space, this inconvenience will
emerges noticeably.
[0009] In the meanwhile, if the user tries to move the body or
suction nozzle toward a diagonal or orthogonal direction with
respect to the original direction, such the movement trajectory
draws an arc only to enlarge a rotation radius thereof.
Technical Solution
[0010] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is
to provide a canister type vacuum cleaner including a suction
nozzle having a movement direction changed smoothly and quickly,
even in case of colliding with an obstacle.
[0011] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a canister type vacuum cleaner includes a
body; a wheel member rotatably provided in the body and supporting
the body, the wheel member including a main rotation member
rotatably provided in the body; and an auxiliary rotation member
rotatably provided in the main rotation member to be rotated along
a predetermined rotational direction different from a rotational
direction of the main rotation member.
[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, a canister type
vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle; a wheel member provided
in the suction nozzle, the wheel member including a main rotation
member rotatably provided in the suction nozzle; and a plurality of
auxiliary rotation members rotatably provided in the main rotation
member.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0013] The present invention has following advantageous
effects.
[0014] According to the canister type vacuum cleaner, the movement
direction of the body or the suction nozzle may be changed
smoothly. A rotational radius with respect to the direction change
is reduced, compared with the conventional vacuum cleaner. As a
result, the movement direction can be changed even in a narrow
cleaning space.
[0015] Furthermore, if the body collides with an obstacle, the
movement direction of the body may be changed quickly toward the
direction of the shock caused by the collision and then it may be
re-changed quickly toward a direction intended by a user.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure.
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side-sectional view illustrating a canister type
vacuum cleaner having a wheel member mounted thereto according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first wheel
member of the wheel member according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first wheel
member of the wheel member according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a second wheel of
the wheel member according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side-sectional view illustrating a canister type
vacuum cleaner having a wheel member mounted thereto according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a plane view illustrating the canister type vacuum
cleaner having the wheel member mounted thereto according to the
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side-sectional view illustrating a canister type
vacuum cleaner having a wheel member mounted thereto according to a
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a side-sectional view and a plane view
illustrating a canister type vacuum cleaner having a wheel member
mounted thereto according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, respectively;
[0026] FIGS. 9A and 9B are a side-sectional view and a plane view
illustrating a canister type vacuum cleaner having a wheel member
mounted thereto according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, respectively;
[0027] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
canister type vacuum cleaner having a wheel member mounted thereto
according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operational state of
the canister type vacuum cleaner having the wheel member mounted
thereto according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a suction nozzle
having a wheel member mounted thereto according to the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
suction nozzle having the wheel member mounted thereto according to
the present invention; and
[0031] FIG. 14 is a plane view illustrating the operational view of
the suction nozzle having the wheel member mounted thereto
according to the present invention.
BEST MODEL
[0032] As follows, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
will be described in the accompanying drawings.
[0033] A vacuum cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention includes a body 10, a dust collection device
11 provided in the body 10 and a wheel member 100 provided in side
and lower surfaces of the body 10.
[0034] the plurality of the wheel members 100 are provided and
specifically, the wheel members 100 includes a first wheel member
110 provided in a lower portion of the body 10 and a second wheel
member 120 provided in a side portion of the body 10. The size of
the second wheel member 120 is larger than the size of the first
wheel member 110.
[0035] Here, the wheel member 100 includes a main rotation member
111 and 121 rotatably provided in the body 10 and a plurality of
auxiliary rotation members 112 and 122 arranged in an outer portion
of the main rotation member 11 and 121.
[0036] If Characteristics of such the wheel member 100 will be
described, a rotational direction of the main rotation member 111
and 121 and is designed different from a rotational direction of
the auxiliary rotation members 112 and 133. As a result, the wheel
member 100 may be movable freely according to a direction which a
force applied to the body 10 toward.
[0037] That is, if the user pushes the body 10 by using his/her
hand or foot forward and rearward, the body 10 may movable forward
and rearward according to the rotation of the main rotation member
111 and 121.
[0038] If the user moves the body 10 rightward and leftward, the
body 10 may movable leftward and rightward according to the
rotation of the auxiliary rotational members 112 and 122.
[0039] A rotational shaft supporter 113 and 123 is provided in a
center of the main rotation member 111 and 121 and the rotational
shaft supporter 113 and 123 is rotatably coupled to the body
10.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the plurality of the auxiliary
rotation members 112 are provide in the main rotation member 111 of
the first wheel member and accommodation parts 114 are provided in
the main rotation member to accommodate the auxiliary rotation
members 112.
[0041] Here, the accommodation parts are provided as many as the
auxiliary rotation members 112 and they are partitioned off by a
partition wall 115.
[0042] The partition wall 115 extends from the rotational shaft
supporter 113 in a radial direction and an end of the partition
wall 115 is divided into two portions to support the load of the
body (10, see FIG. 1) dividedly.
[0043] The auxiliary rotation members 112 are rotatably coupled to
the partition wall 15 and the auxiliary rotation members 112 have a
roller-shape.
[0044] If the main rotation member 11 is rotated toward a
predetermined direction, each auxiliary rotation member may have a
diameter larger gradually toward its center from its end. That is,
the auxiliary rotation member is shaped like a raised pot.
[0045] The auxiliary rotation members 112 may be arranged in two
lines with respect to the main rotation member 111 and it is
preferable that one of the auxiliary rotation members 112 arranged
in a predetermined line is alternative with respect to another one
arranged in the other line.
[0046] This is because at least one of the auxiliary rotation
members 112 had better be contactable with the floor in order to
move right after the force is applied toward the rotational
direction of the auxiliary rotation member 112.
[0047] In the meanwhile, an outermost portion of each auxiliary
rotation member 112 is extended further than an outermost portion
of the main rotation member 111 to be in contact with the
floor.
[0048] As a result, if there is a momentary direction change during
the movement toward the rotational direction of the main rotation
member 111, the body 10 may be movable toward the rotational
direction of the auxiliary rotation member 112.
[0049] FIG. 2B illustrates a first wheel member having auxiliary
rotation members 112 more and larger than those of the auxiliary
rotation members 112 shown in FIG. 2A.
[0050] Here, if the force is applied toward `A` direction, the main
rotation member 111 is rotated toward `A` direction and the
auxiliary rotation members 112 are simultaneously moved toward `A`
direction momentarily in contact with the floor, and vice
verse.
[0051] If the force is applied toward `B` direction, the auxiliary
rotation members 112 in contact with the floor are rotated and the
overall first wheel member 112 is rotated toward `B` direction.
Here, the main rotation member 111 is not rotation-moved or
rotation-moved little.
[0052] As a result, the wheel member shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B may
be movable freely in all of the directions according to the user's
intention.
[0053] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the
first wheel member relatively smaller than that of the above
embodiment.
[0054] The first wheel member 210 according to this embodiment
includes main rotation members 211 spaced apart a predetermined
distance from each other and a plurality of auxiliary rotation
members 212 arranged between the main rotation members 211 in a
diagonal appearance.
[0055] A rotational shaft supporter 213 is provided in a center of
the main rotation member 211.
[0056] Here, the plurality of the auxiliary rotation members 212
may be arranged adjacent to each other. An outermost portion of
each auxiliary rotation member 212 may be extended further than an
outermost portion of the main rotation member 211.
[0057] This is because a fast direction change of the auxiliary
rotation members 212 has to be embodied.
[0058] According to this embodiment, a movement direction of the
main rotation member 211 is referenced to as `A` and a movement
direction of the auxiliary rotation members 212 provided diagonal
with respect to `A` direction is referenced to as `B`. If the
arrangement of the auxiliary rotation members 212 is reverse, a
movement direction of the reversely arranged auxiliary rotation
members 212 is referenced to as `C`.
[0059] In case the first wheel member according to this embodiment
and the first wheel member arranged reversely with respect to the
arrangement of the auxiliary rotation members 212 according to this
embodiment are mounted to the body, respectively, the movement
direction of the body may be opposite to A, B and C direction. That
is, the body may be movable freely in 6 directions.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the second wheel member 120
of the wheel member according to the present invention.
[0061] As mentioned above, the second wheel member 120 includes the
main rotation member 121 having the rotational shaft supporter 123
and the plurality of the auxiliary rotation members 122 rotatably
provided in the outer portion of the main rotation member 121.
[0062] Accommodation parts 124 are provided in the main rotation
member 121 to accommodate the auxiliary rotation members 122.
[0063] Here, the auxiliary rotation members 122 may be arranged in
a circumferential portion of the main rotation member 121, spaced
apart a predetermined distance from each other. Also, an outermost
portion of each auxiliary rotation members 122 may be extended
further outward than an outermost portion, that is, an outer
circumferential surface of the main rotation member 121.
[0064] This is because the rotational direction has to be changed
quickly between the main rotation member 121 and the auxiliary
rotation members 122 as mentioned above.
[0065] Compared to the auxiliary rotation members 112 provided in
the first wheel member 110 shown in FIG. 2, a shape of the
auxiliary rotation member 122 arranged in the second wheel member
120 looks like a cylinder having a regular sectional diameter.
[0066] This is because a rate between the length of the auxiliary
rotation member 112 of the first wheel member 110 and the
circumference of the first wheel member 110 is different from a
rate between the length of the auxiliary rotation member 122 and a
circumference of the second wheel member 120.
[0067] That is, the length of the auxiliary rotation member 112 of
the first wheel member 110 shown in FIG. 2 is approximately
1/7.about.1/8 of the overall circumference of the first wheel
member and the length of the auxiliary rotation member 122 of the
second wheel member 120 shown in FIG. 4 is 1/20.about. 1/25 of the
circumference of the second wheel member 120.
[0068] As the circumference of the wheel member is different from
the length of the auxiliary rotation member more noticeably, the
shape of the auxiliary rotation member may be a cylindrical
roller.
[0069] Here, the body may be movable freely along `A` that is a
rotational direction of the main rotation member 121 and `B` that
is a rotational direction of the auxiliary rotation members 122 and
along opposite directions to theses directions. If the auxiliary
rotation members 122 are arranged in a diagonal direction, the body
may be movable freely in more directions.
[0070] FIG. 5 is a plurality of wheel members 300 mounted in side
and rear portions of the body 10.
[0071] Here, the size and arrangement of the wheel member 300
arranged in the body 10 is similar to the size of the second wheel
member 120 and the arrangement of the auxiliary rotation members
122. According to this embodiment, auxiliary rotation members 302
are arranged in an outer circumferential portion of a main rotation
member 301 in a diagonal direction.
[0072] The main rotation member 301 of the wheel member 300
provided in the side portion of the body 10 is for the forward and
rearward movement of the body 10 and the main rotation member 301
of the wheel member 300 provided in the rear portion of the body 10
is for rightward and leftward movement of the body 10.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, the main rotation member 301 and the
auxiliary rotation members 302 are arranged in a diagonal direction
with respect to each other. Here, orthogonal arrangement may be
considerable.
[0074] The main rotation members 301 provided in both opposite side
portions of the body 10 may be arranged diagonally with respect to
a center line (L) of the body 10.
[0075] The main rotation member 301 provided in the rear portion of
the body 10 may be arranged orthogonally with respect to the center
line (L).
[0076] With this arrangement, the movement direction of the body 10
includes a rotational direction of the main rotation member 201
provided in the side portion of the body 10 and an opposite
direction as shown in `E` and `G`.
[0077] `E` and `G` may be forward, with being diagonal with respect
to the center line (L) and thus they may be forward directions and
the opposite direction may be a rearward direction.
[0078] Furthermore, there are `F` and `H` that are rotational
directions of the auxiliary rotation members 302 diagonal with
respect to `E` and `G` and opposite directions to `F` and `H`.
[0079] There are `I` that is the rotational direction of the main
rotation member 301 provided in the rear portion of the body 10 and
opposite direction to `I`. Also, there are `j` that is the
rotational direction of the auxiliary rotation members 302 provided
in the main rotation member 301 and an opposite direction to
`J`.
[0080] As a result, if the rotational direction of the main
rotation members 301 is arranged different from each other, with
the plurality of the wheel members 300 mounted to the body 10
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, quite a lot of
movement directions may be generated.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wheel member 400 mounted
to another type of the canister vacuum cleaner.
[0082] Here, a canister type vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 7
includes a body 20 and supporters 21 provided in front and rear
portions of the body 20, spaced apart a predetermined distance from
the floor, to prevent the body 20 from falling.
[0083] Wheel members 400 are rotatably provided in both opposite
side portions of the body 10. Here, the wheel members are provided
in both sides of the body 20 and thus they are supported by the
supporters 21 forward and rearward.
[0084] That is, if the body 20 is inclined forward or rearward too
much, the supporters 21 will contact with the floor and the body 21
is prevented from falling.
[0085] Like the above wheel members, the wheel member 400 includes
a main rotation member 401 having rotational shaft supporters and a
plurality of auxiliary rotation members 402 provided in outer
circumferential portions of the main rotation member 401,
roller-shaped in contact with the floor.
[0086] Such the configuration enables the movement of the body 20
to change quickly in the rotational direction of the main rotation
member 401 or the auxiliary rotation members 402.
[0087] FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating a canister type
vacuum cleaner having diverse movement directions, respectively.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show the wheel member 500 is arranged in three
directions with respect to a side of a body 30.
[0088] According to this embodiment, the wheel member 500 maybe
arranged oblique upward. Here, a wheel member 500 includes a main
rotation member 501 and a plurality of auxiliary rotation members
502 that are movable freely along rotational directions,
respectively.
[0089] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a wheel member 600
arranged in diverse directions with respect to a side of a body.
Here, the wheel member 600 includes a main rotation member 601 and
a plurality of auxiliary rotation members 602.
[0090] The wheel member 600 may be arranged oblique downward, with
surrounding a side of the body 40.
[0091] Detailed configuration of the wheel member 600 shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9 is similar to the detailed configuration of the
second wheel member 120 shown in FIG. 4 and it will be omitted
accordingly.
[0092] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a wheel member arranged in
a different type.
[0093] Here, a wheel member 700 similar to the first wheel member
110 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted to a body 50.
[0094] That is, a coupling groove 150 is provided in the body 50 to
couple the wheel member 700 thereto. Here, the plurality of the
coupling grooves may be provided corresponding to the plurality of
the wheel members 700.
[0095] The wheel member 700 includes a main rotation member 701 and
a plurality of auxiliary rotation members 702 and a rotational
shaft supporter 703 is provided in a center of the main rotation
member 701.
[0096] A rotational shaft 151 extended from an inner surface of the
coupling groove 150 is supportedly inserted in the rotational shaft
supporter 703.
[0097] According to this embodiment, the wheel members 700 are
arranged in three locations of a lower surface of the body 50 to
disperse the load and the number of the wheel members may be
diversified.
[0098] As follows, operation of the body of the canister type
vacuum cleaner including the wheel member according to the present
invention will be described.
[0099] Here, the embodiment which will be the operational object is
the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1 and the present invention is not
limited thereto, applicable to the other embodiments.
[0100] As shown in FIG. 11A, if the user moves forward with holding
the handle 16 provided in the suction hose 17 to move the suction
nozzle 15, the first wheel member 110 and the second wheel member
120 provided in the body 10 will be rotated.
[0101] Especially, the first wheel member 110 and the second wheel
member 120 are rotated toward the rotational direction of the main
rotation members 111 and 121, respectively, and they may help the
forward movement of the body 10.
[0102] If the user pushes by using his/her hand or foot, the body
may be movable rearward smoothly.
[0103] Here, the auxiliary rotation members 112 and 122 may be
rotated toward the above direction little or not at all, even with
contacting with the floor.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 11B, in case the body 10 collides against
an obstacle (O) while the user pulls the body 10, or the user
pushes the body 10 sideward, the movement of the wheel member 100
(110 and 120) is different from the movement shown in FIG. 11A.
[0105] That is, the auxiliary rotation members 112 and 122 are
rotated toward the direction to which the shock applied by the
obstacle (O) or the force applied by the user, which is a left
direction here, only to move the body 10 toward this direction.
[0106] The rotational direction of the auxiliary rotation members
112 and 122 is set different from that of the main rotation member
111 and 121. However, if this rotational direction of such the
auxiliary rotation members 112 and 122 is identical or similar to
the direction of the external force, the auxiliary rotation members
are rotated toward the direction.
[0107] Hence, if given the force toward the rotational direction of
the main rotation member 111 and 121, the body 10 will move toward
the main rotation member 111 and 121 again.
[0108] In case the direction of the force moving the body 10 is
changed momentarily, the body 10 may correspondingly move toward
the direction of the force with the help of the main rotation
member 111 and 121 and the auxiliary rotation members 112 and
122.
[0109] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a wheel member mounted to
the suction nozzle 60 of the canister type vacuum cleaner.
[0110] Here, the suction nozzle 60 includes a suction nozzle case
61 and a wheel member 800 rotatably mounted to a rear portion of
the suction nozzle case 61.
[0111] Here, a suction tube 62 is provided in a rear portion of the
suction nozzle 60 and the wheel member 800 is mounted in a
predetermined portion adjacent to a connection portion between the
suction tube 62 and the suction nozzle 60.
[0112] The position of the wheel member 800 is not limited to the
above portion and it may be located in an inner, side or front
portion of the suction nozzle case 61.
[0113] If a heater 63 for steam generation to steam-clean and a
water tank 64 or an agitator and a motor for directly driving the
agitator are mounted in the suction nozzle case 61 to as shown in
FIG. 13, the weight of the suction nozzle is quite a lot.
[0114] Because of that, the configuration of the wheel member 800
is necessary for the user to vacuum-clean with moving the quite
heavy suction nozzle 60.
[0115] The configuration of the wheel member 800 is similar to that
of the first wheel member 110 shown in FIG. 2. That is, the wheel
member 800 includes a main rotation member 801 and a plurality of
auxiliary rotation members 802 rotatably mounted to the main
rotation member 801.
[0116] As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the rotational direction of
the main rotation member 801 is substantially identical to the
forward/rearward movement direction of the suction nozzle 60 and
the rotational direction of the auxiliary rotation member 802 is
substantially identical to the leftward/rightward movement
direction of the suction nozzle 60.
[0117] This embodiment presents that the rotational direction of
the main rotation member 801 is orthogonal to that of the auxiliary
rotation members 802 and the present invention is not limited
thereto. The rotational direction of the auxiliary rotation members
802 may be diagonal to that of the main rotation member 801.
[0118] 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 invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
MODE FOR INVENTION
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
SEQUENCE LIST TEXT
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