1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cleaner provided with an accessory.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a vacuum cleaner includes a body generating a suction force, a suction head suctioning air and dirt while coming into contact with a cleaning surface, a handle pipe for user manipulation, an extension pipe connecting the suction head to the handle pipe, and a flexible hose connecting the handle pipe to the body, to perform a cleaning task.
Such a cleaner may be provided with various accessories that can perform a cleaning task instead of the suction head, depending on the type and state of the cleaning surface.
The accessory includes a crevice attachment provided in a flat shape to clean a narrow gap, a dusting attachment having a brush mounted thereon to clean a window frame and a corner, and an upholstery attachment to clean fabrics, all of which are provided as separate attachments that must be individually attached to the handle pipe, one attachment at a time.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a cleaner provided with an accessory assembly capable of enhancing the working efficiency during a cleaning task and convenience of use while having a Crevice, a Dusting and an Upholstery integrally formed with one another.
It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a cleaner capable of easily keeping an accessory assembly.
Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaner includes a body, a handle pipe, a flexible hose, an extension pipe, and an accessory assembly. The body may be configured to generate a suction force. The suction head may be configured to suction air and dirt while making contact with a cleaning surface. The handle pipe may be configured for manipulation by a user. The flexible hose may connect the handle pipe to the body. The extension pipe may connect the suction head to the handle pipe. The accessory assembly may be coupled to the handle pipe to perform a cleaning in place of the suction head. The accessory assembly may include an accessory body, a Dusting on which a brush is mounted, a Crevice to clean a gap, and an Upholstery to clean fabrics, the Upholstery being rotatably coupled to the accessory body.
The Upholstery may include a rotating shaft that protrudes so as to be coupled to the accessory body. The accessory body may include a rotating shaft accommodation part into which the rotating shaft is inserted to allow the Upholstery to be rotatably coupled to the accessory body.
The accessory body may include a stopper part to limit a range of rotation of the Upholstery.
The Crevice may be coupled to one end of the accessory body. The Upholstery may be coupled to other end of the accessory body so as to be provided at an opposite side of the Crevice with respect to the accessory body.
The Dusting may be coupled to an interior portion of the accessory body so as to be slid toward the Upholstery.
The accessory body may include a guide hole configured to guide a movement of the Dusting, and the Dusting may include a manipulation part that is movable along the guide hole to be pressed by the user.
The accessory body may further include a locking hole provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the guide hole to lock the Dusting.
The handler pipe may be provided with a holder part to which the manipulation part is coupled. The accessory assembly may be supported by the handle pipe as the manipulation part is coupled to the holder part.
The holder part may include an accommodation groove, and the manipulation part may include an insertion protrusion that is inserted into the accommodation groove.
The Crevice may be rotatably coupled to the accessory body.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaner includes a body, a suction head, a handle pipe, a flexible hose, an extension pipe, and an accessory assembly. The body may be configured to generate a suction force. The suction head may be configured to suction air and dirt while making contact with a cleaning surface. The handle pipe may be configured for manipulation by a user. The flexible hose may connect the handle pipe to the body. The extension pipe may connect the suction head to the handle pipe. The accessory assembly may be coupled to the handle pipe to perform a cleaning in place of the suction head. The accessory assembly may include an accessory body, a Dusting on which a brush is mounted, a Crevice to clean a gap, and an Upholstery to clean fabrics, the Crevice being rotatably coupled to the accessory body.
The accessory body may include an annular groove, and the Crevice may include a coupling protrusion inserted into the annular groove.
A central axis of the accessory body may be not provided in line with a rotation axis of the Crevice.
The Crevice may include a cap part rotatably coupled to the accessory body, and a nozzle part extending from the cap part.
The rotation axis of the Crevice may be not provided in line with a central axis of the nozzle part.
The Crevice may be rotatably coupled to the accessory body through a universal joint.
The Crevice may include a ball part having a spherical shape, and the accessory body may include a ball housing to support and surround the ball part.
The ball part may include an opening allowing an inside passage of the Crevice to communicate with an inside passage of the accessory body.
The cleaner may further include a packing member that may be coupled between the ball part and the ball housing to maintain airtightness inside passages of the ball part and the ball housing while supporting the ball part.
As described above, the cleaner is provided with an accessory assembly having three types of accessories, including a Crevice, a Dusting and an Upholstery, which are integrally formed with one another, so that a user can efficiently perform a cleaning task depending on a cleaning surface.
In addition, the Upholstery is rotatably provided so as to be kept in a state of coming into close contact with the cleaning surface when the handle pipe is pushed and pulled, thereby enhancing the cleaning efficiency and convenience of use.
In addition, the Crevice is rotatably provided to easily adjust the direction the nozzle part of the Crevice, thereby enhancing the cleaning efficiency and convenience of use.
In addition, an adjusting part to adjust the movement of the dust is coupled to the holder part provided on the handle pipe, so that the accessory assembly is supported by the handle pipe, thereby facilitating the storage of the accessory assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is configured to attach to a handle pipe of a vacuum cleaner. The apparatus may include an accessory assembly to perform a cleaning in place of a suction head of the vacuum cleaner, the accessory assembly comprising an accessory body, a Dusting on which a brush is mounted, a Crevice to clean a gap, and an Upholstery to clean fabrics, the Upholstery being rotatably coupled to the accessory body, wherein each of the accessory body, the Dusting, the Crevice, and the Upholstery are integrally formed with each other as a single unit.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an accessory assembly is configured to perform cleaning in place of a suction head of a vacuum cleaner. The accessory assembly may include an accessory body, a Dusting on which a brush is mounted, a Crevice to clean a gap, and an Upholstery to clean fabrics, wherein the Upholstery is rotatably coupled to the accessory body, and wherein each of the accessory body, the Dusting, the Crevice, and the Upholstery are integrally formed with each other as a single unit.
These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
The body 10 is provided with a fan motor apparatus (not shown) to generated suction force, and a dust collecting apparatus (not shown) to filter dirt from the suctioned air.
The suction head 21 suctions air and dirt by the suction force generated from the body 10. The suction head 21 may be provided in a flat shape to make contact with a hard floor, for example, a wooden floor, or carpet.
The air and dirt suctioned through the suction head 21 is guided to the extension pipe 20. The extension pipe 20 may be a pipe formed of a resin or metal.
The handle pipe 30 may be detachably coupled to an end of the extension pipe 20. A user may easily manipulate the direction of the suction head 21 and the extension pipe 20 while gripping the handle pipe 30. Various manipulation buttons 32 may be provided on the handle pipe 30 to select a function of the cleaner 1.
The flexible hose 23 is provided between the handle pipe 30 and the body 10. The flexible hose 23 is formed of flexible resin such that the handle pipe 30 is freely moved.
According to such a configuration, the air and dirt of the cleaning surface are suctioned to the suction head 21 by the suction force generated from the body 10, and then are guided to the body 10 while sequentially passing through the extension pipe 20, the handle pipe 30 and the flexible hose 23. The dirt of suctioned air is filtered in the body 10, and the filtered air is discharged to the outside of the body 10.
The accessory assembly 40 is configured to clean a cleaning surface, such as a narrow gap and a corner, and fabrics in place of the suction head 21 that has a relatively flat shape.
The accessory assembly 40 is coupled to the handle pipe 30 in place of the extension pipe 20. When the accessory assembly 40 needs to be used, the extension pipe 20 is separated from the handle pipe 30, and the accessory assembly 40 is coupled to the handle pipe 30 to use. On the contrary, when a general cleaning task needs to be performed using the suction head 21 again, the accessory assembly 40 is separated from the handle 30 and the extension pipe 20 is coupled to the handle pipe 30 to perform the cleaning.
A more detailed description of the accessory assembly 40 will be made later. However, in brief, the accessory assembly 40 includes a Dusting (60 in
In addition, the accessory assembly 40 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure further includes an improved structure to enhance the convenience of use and the cleaning efficiency. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the accessory assembly 40 in embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.
Referring to
The accessory body 50 is provided in an approximately cylindrical shape, and is provided at an inside thereof with a passage 56. The accessory body 50 may be provided with a first coupling part 57 that enables the accessory assembly 40 to be coupled to the handle pipe 30 when the Crevice 70 needs to be used. The handle pipe 30 may be insertedly coupled to the first coupling part 57.
The Upholstery 80 is rotatably coupled to one end of the accessory body 50. To this end, the Upholstery 80 is provided with a rotating shaft 81 protruding to couple to the accessory body 50, and the accessory body 50 is provided with a rotating shaft accommodation part 51 into which the rotating shaft 81 may be rotatably inserted. The rotating shaft accommodation part 51 may be a groove or a hole into which the rotating shaft 81 is rotatably accommodated. The rotating shaft 81 of the Upholstery 80 is coupled to the rotating shaft accommodation part 51 of the accessory body 50 so as to enable an idle rotation of the Upholstery 80.
Accordingly, the Upholstery 80 may rotate by itself while having the rotating shaft 81 as a center of rotation when the handle pipe 30 is pushed or pulled, so that the Upholstery 80 comes into close contact with the cleaning surface. The Upholstery 80, which is rotatably coupled to the rotating shaft 81 so as to enable an idle operation, is rotated by the pressing against the cleaning surface. Accordingly, the cleaning efficiency is enhanced, and a motion of using a wrist to make the Upholstery 80 coming into close contact with the cleaning surface is not required, so that user convenience is improved.
Such an Upholstery 80 may be provided at the outside of the accessory body 50 to surround the accessory body 50. Accordingly, the Upholstery 80 is visible so that the operation and position of the Upholstery 80 may be easily recognized by the user.
However, the position of the Upholstery 80 is not limited to the outside of the accessory body 50, and in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure shown in
Meanwhile, the accessory body 50 may be provided with a stopper part (52 in
The Upholstery 80 may be provided with a brush for dusting tasks (82 in
The Crevice 70 may be coupled to the other end of the accessory body 50 so as to be provided at an opposite side of the Upholstery 80 with respect to the accessory body 50.
The Crevice 70 includes a cap part 71 coupled to the accessory body 50, and a nozzle part 73 that extends from the cap part 71 while having a suction port 74 to suction air and dirt from the cleaning surface.
The nozzle part 73 may be provided with a second coupling part 76 that is configured to couple the accessory assembly 40 to the handle pipe 30 when the Upholstery 80 or the Dusting 60 needs to be used. The second coupling part 76 may be insertedly coupled to the handle pipe 30.
Meanwhile, the Crevice 70 may be rotatably coupled to the accessory body 50. To this end, the accessory body 50 may be provided with an annular groove 55, and the Crevice 70 may be provided with a coupling protrusion (72 in
Herein, referring to
As described above, the Crevice 70 is provided to be inclined with respect to the accessory body 50, thereby facilitating an operation orienting the Crevice 70 toward the cleaning surface.
In addition, the rotation axis L2 of the Crevice 70 may not be provided in line with a central axis L3 of the nozzle part 73. That is, the rotation axis L2 of the Crevice 70 may be provided to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ2 with respect to the central axis L3 of the nozzle part 73 of the Crevice 70.
As described, the rotation axis L2 of the Crevice 70 is not provided in line with the central axis L3 of the nozzle part 73 of the Crevice 70, and when the Crevice 70 rotates on the rotation axis L2, the direction of the nozzle part 73 is converted so that a cleaning range is expanded in practice according to the rotation of the Crevice 70.
Meanwhile, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle θ1 between the central axis L1 of the accessory body 50 and the rotation axis L2 of the Crevice 70 is illustrated as the same as the angle θ2 between the rotation axis L2 of the Crevice 70 and the central axis L3 of the nozzle part 73, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the angle θ1 may be different from the angle θ2.
Referring to
To this end, the accessory body 50 is provided with a guide hole 53 formed in a longitudinal direction of the accessory body 50 to guide the movement of the Dusting 60, and the Dusting 60 may be provided with a manipulation part 62 that is moved along the guide hole 53 and pressed by a user.
The guide hole 53 is provided at both ends thereof with locking holes 54a and 54b to lock the manipulation part 62.
Hereinafter, the operation of use of the accessory assembly 40 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
First, when a space having a thin gap needs to be cleaned, the Crevice 70 may be used. When the Crevice 70 needs to be used, the extension pipe 20 is separated from the handle pipe 30, and the accessory assembly 40 is coupled to the handle pipe 30. In this case, the handle pipe 30 is insertedly coupled to the first coupling part (54 in
As shown in
Second, when a corner or a window frame needs to be cleaned, the Dusting 60 may be used. When the Dusting 60 needs to be used, the extension pipe 20 is separated from the handle pipe 30, and the accessory assembly 40 is coupled to the handle pipe 30. In this case, the second coupling part (76 in
As shown in
Third, when fabrics, such as a sofa, bedclothes, and clothing need to be cleaned, the Upholstery 80 may be used. IWhen the Upholstery 80 needs to be used, the extension pipe 20 is separated from the handle pipe 30, and the accessory assembly 40 is coupled to the handle pipe 30. In this case, the second coupling part (76 in
As shown in
As the handle pipe 30 is pushed and pulled, the Upholstery 80 rotates (B) by itself on the rotation shaft 81 by the pressing and contacting that occurs with respect to the cleaning surface, to maintain close contact with the cleaning surface, so that the user may conveniently and efficiently perform the cleaning.
Hereinafter, an accessory assembly of a cleaner in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
Referring to
In detail, the Crevice 170 is rotatably coupled to the accessory body 150, through a universal joint. That is, when compared to the first embodiment in which the Crevice 70 moves on a plane in a way that the suction port 74 thereof follows a certain circle, the Crevice 170 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure moves in a three-dimensional space while having a suction port 174 thereof following a certain sphere. Accordingly, the Crevice 170 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present disclosure may cover a broader range than the Crevice 70 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
The universal joint may employ a variety of structures, including some that are generally known in the art. For example, the universal joint may include a ball part 171 provided on the Crevice 170, and a ball housing 151 provided on the accessory body 150 to accommodate the ball part 171.
The ball part 171 may be provided at a rear end of the Crevice 170 in a spherical shape, and is rotatably accommodated in the ball housing 151 of the accessory body 150.
The ball part 171 has an opening 172 allowing an inside passage 175 of the Crevice 170 to communicate with an inside passage 155 of the accessory body 150. Accordingly, the air and dirt suctioned from the cleaning surface through the suction port 174 of the Crevice 170 are moved to the inside passage 155 of the accessory body 150 while passing through the inside passage 175 of the Crevice 170 and the opening 172.
The ball housing 151 is provided at an inner circumferential surface 152 thereof with a packing member insertion groove 153. A packing member 154 is provided on the packing member insertion groove 153 to come into close contact with the ball part 171 and the ball housing 151 to prevent the ball part 161 from unintentionally rotating inside the ball housing 151 while maintaining the airtightness of the inside passage 175 of the ball part 171 and the inside passage 155 of the ball housing 151.
Hereinafter, an accessory assembly of a cleaner in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
An accessory assembly 240 of a cleaner in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure has a slightly different shape from the first embodiment of the present disclosure, but fundamentally, has the same function as the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
The accessory assembly 240 includes an accessory body 250, a Crevice 270, a Dusting 260 and an Upholstery 280.
The Upholstery 280 includes a rotating shaft 281, and as the rotating shaft 281 is inserted into a rotating shaft accommodation part 251 of the accessory body 250, the Upholstery 280 rotates on the rotating shaft 281 with respect to the accessory body 250. Different from the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the Upholstery 280 in accordance with the third embodiment of the present disclosure is located inside the accessory body 250.
The Dusting 260 is provided with a brush 261 mounted thereon. The Dusting 260 is slidably coupled to the accessory body 250, and for such, the accessory body 250 includes a guide hole 253 formed in a longitudinal direction of the accessory body 250 to guide the movement of the Dusting 260. The Dusting 260 includes a manipulation part 262 that is moved along the guide hole 253 and is pressed by a user.
Meanwhile, the manipulation part 262 is coupled to a holder part 291 provided on the handle pipe 290 such that the accessory assembly 240 is supported by the handle pipe 290.
Here, the manipulation part 262 includes a coupling leg 265 inserted into a coupling groove 266 provided in the Dusting 260, an insertion protrusion 263 inserted into an accommodation groove 292 of the holder part 291, and a connection part 264 connecting the coupling leg 265 to the insertion protrusion 263.
As described above, the accessory assembly 240 in accordance with the third embodiment has the manipulation part 262, which is configured to manipulate the movement of the Dusting 260, provided on the holder part 291 of the handle pipe 290, so that the accessory assembly 240 is easily and simply supported by the handle pipe 290 without using an additional coupling structure.
Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2013-0056257 | May 2013 | KR | national |
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/280,969, filed on May 19, 2014, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0056257, filed on May 20, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6820305 | Albert | Nov 2004 | B2 |
9596967 | Lee | Mar 2017 | B2 |
20090188067 | White | Jul 2009 | A1 |
Entry |
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European Search Report dated Aug. 22, 2014 and issued in corresponding European Patent Application 14159387.1. |
Extended European Office Action dated Oct. 11, 2016 in corresponding European Patent Application No. 14 159 387.1. |
Office Action dated Oct. 2, 2015 in co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 14/280,969 (13 pages). |
Final Office Action dated Mar. 11, 2016 in co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 14/280,969 (6 pages). |
Office Action dated May 26, 2016 in co-pending U.S. Appl. 14/280,969 (8 pages). |
Notice of Allowance Office Action dated Nov. 9, 2016 in co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 14/280,969 (7 pages). |
Corrected Notice of Allowance Office Action dated Jan. 18, 2017 in co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 14/280,969 (7 pages). |
U.S. Appl. No. 14/280,969, filed May 19, 2014, Hyun Ju Lee et al., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170150858 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14280969 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 15428975 | US |