CLEANING APPARATUS

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20230355059
  • Publication Number
    20230355059
  • Date Filed
    July 11, 2023
    11 months ago
  • Date Published
    November 09, 2023
    7 months ago
Abstract
A cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a driving device for generating suction force, a head member including a suction path into which external air flows by way of the suction force, a dust collection device having one end connected to the head member and having a dust collection chamber, an opening/closing member disposed to divide the suction path from the dust collection chamber, and which includes an opening that allows the suction path to communicate with the dust collection chamber, a cover member which is connected to the opening/closing member to provide elastic force toward the suction path and which is rotated by way of the suction force to selectively open/close the opening, and a stopper member, which protrudes from one surface of the cover member to come in contact with the opening/closing member or the cover member to restrict the rotational angle of the cover member.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field

The disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus in which due to a stopper member, a cover member for opening and closing a suction port of a dust collection device rotates at a predetermined angle regardless of a suction force.


2. Description of Related Art

A cleaning apparatus is a machine for removing rubbish indoors and cleaning the same, and a vacuum cleaning apparatus is generally used at home. A vacuum cleaning apparatus sucks air by using a suction force of the driving device, and then separates rubbish in the sucked air by a device such as a filter to clean the indoor space. The vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a dust collection device therein to filter rubbish by a predetermined filtering device in order to filter rubbish contained in sucked air.


In a related art, there is a problem in that a cover member for opening and closing a suction port of a dust collection device is rotated at a different angle according to the intensity of a suction force, so that a size of flow path may vary according to the intensity of a suction force. In addition, when suction force is weak, elasticity of a cover member may be set to be small to secure a larger size of flow path. In this case, if suction force becomes strong, a cover member rotates at a greater angle. Due to this, there is a problem in that the cover member may lose elasticity and be deformed, or rubbish is flown to the outside before the cover member is closed.


The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.


SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a cleaning apparatus in which due to a stopper member, a cover member for opening and closing a suction port of a dust collection device rotates at a predetermined angle regardless of a suction force.


Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.


In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a driving device for generating suction force, a head member comprising a suction path into which external air flows by way of the suction force, a dust collection device having one end connected to the head member and having a dust collection chamber, an opening/closing member disposed to divide the suction path from the dust collection chamber, and which comprises an opening that allows the suction path and the dust collection chamber to be connected, a cover member which is connected to the opening/closing member to have elastic force toward the suction path and which is rotated by way of the suction force to selectively open/close the opening, and a stopper member which protrudes from one surface of the cover member to come in contact with the opening/closing member or the cover member according to the rotation of the cover member and restricts the rotational angle of the cover member.


The cover member includes a fixed region fixed to the opening/closing member, and a rotational region rotatably connected to the fixed region and having the stopper member formed therein.


The stopper member may be in contact with the fixed region as the cover member rotates.


The rotational region may be formed of a soft material, and the fixed region and the stopper member may be formed of a material having higher rigidity than the rotational region.


The rotational region includes a central region, and a peripheral region disposed to surround the central region and seated on an upper surface of the opening/closing member.


The peripheral region may have thickness thinner than the central region.


The opening/closing member includes a fixing hole, and the fixed region includes a protrusion protruding upward and being inserted into the fixing hole.


The stopper member may be inclined upwardly facing one end connected to the opening/closing member of the cover member.


The stopper member includes an inclined region having one end connected to one surface of the cover member and inclined upwardly facing one end of the cover member, and a support region extending from other end of the inclined region and inclined downwardly facing one end of the cover member.


The cover member may be formed of a soft material.


The stopper member may be in contact with a surface of the opening/closing member or the cover member as the cover member rotates.


The cover member may be connected to a rear side of the opening/closing member.


The cleaning apparatus further includes an extension member slidably connected to an upper end of the dust collection device and connected to the opening/closing member.


The cleaning apparatus further includes a sealing member disposed to surround the opening/closing member and seal between the dust collection device and the opening/closing member.


The cleaning apparatus further includes a first rubbish removal member sliding on the dust collection chamber to discharge rubbish in the dust collection chamber, and a first connection member connecting the first rubbish removal member and the opening/closing member.


The first connection member may be connected to at least one of a left side, a right side, or a front side of the opening/closing member.


The opening/closing member may, when the first rubbish removal member is withdrawn from the dust collection chamber, may move in a direction away from the dust collection device and may open the dust collection chamber, and when the first rubbish removal member is introduced into the dust collection chamber, may move in a direction approaching the dust collection device and may close the dust collection chamber.


The dust collection chamber may be a first dust collection chamber, the cleaning apparatus further includes a cyclone provided to remove rubbish from air passing through the first dust collection chamber, and the dust collection chamber may form the second dust collection chamber in which rubbish separated from the cyclone is collected.


The cleaning apparatus further includes the second rubbish removal member sliding on the first dust collection chamber and second dust collection chamber to discharge rubbish in the second dust collection chamber and a second connection member connecting the first rubbish removal member and the second rubbish removal member.


The dust collection device includes a filtering device disposed within the dust collection chamber and filtering rubbish introduced through the head member, and the first rubbish removal member may slide on one surface of the filtering device to discharge rubbish within the dust collection chamber.


Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion B shown in FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover member according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a cover member is connected to an opening/closing member according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cover member rotates according to an embodiment of the disclosure;



FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of emptying rubbish of the dust collection device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and



FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a portion of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.





Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.


The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.


It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.


It is to be understood that the terms such as “comprise” or “consist of” may, for example, be used to designate a presence of a characteristic, number, operation, element, component, or a combination thereof, and not to preclude a presence or a possibility of adding one or more of other characteristics.


In addition, it should be noted that the drawings as attached are just for easy understanding of the disclosure, and are not illustrated as really scaled, and dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated.


In the disclosure, components required for the description of each embodiment of the disclosure are described and thus, the embodiment is not necessarily limited thereto. Accordingly, some components may be changed or omitted and other components may be added. In addition, components may be disposed and arranged in different independent devices.


Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the contents described in the accompanying drawings, but the disclosure is not limited or restricted by embodiments.


Hereinbelow, the disclosure will be further described with reference to the attached drawings.



FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.


Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a driving device 10, a head member 20, a dust collection device 100, an extension member 30, an opening/closing member 200, a cover member 300, and a stopper member 400.


The driving device 10 may generate suction force. The driving device 10 may include a fan motor unit 11, a battery 12, and a motor filter 13.


The fan motor unit 11 may be provided to introduce external air through the head member 20 and discharge the external air to an exhaust port 102. The fan motor unit 11 may be disposed inside a case 101 of the dust collection device 100.


The battery 12 may provide power necessary to drive the fan motor unit 11. The battery 12 may be a chargeable battery.


The motor filter 13 may be provided to further filter the rubbish of the air before being introduced into the fan motor unit 11 once more. The motor filter 13 may be disposed at an upper portion of the fan motor unit 11 along the direction in which the air having passed through the dust collection device 100 is discharged through the exhaust port 102.


The motor filter 13 may be disposed between the fan motor unit 11 and the dust collection device 100. The motor filter 13 may filter the rubbish from the air passing through the dust collection device 100. The motor filter 13 may be provided as a mesh member.


Accordingly, the cleaning apparatus 1 may prevent the fan motor unit 11 by rubbish or the like by the motor filter 13 and may discharge relatively clean air through exhaust port 102.


The head member 20 may be provided to suck rubbish such as dust existing on a surface to be cleaned while moving on the surface to be cleaned. The head member 20 may include a suction path 21, a head switch 22, a head assembly 23, and a neck 25.


The suction path 21 may be a flow path through which air moves from the head assembly 23 to the dust collection device 100. External air may be introduced into the suction path 21 by the suction force generated by the driving device 10. The suction path 21 formed inside the head assembly 23 may be connected with the dust collection device 100 through the neck 25.


External air and rubbish introduced through the head assembly 23 may be moved to the dust collection device 100 through the neck 25. The neck 25 may be connected to a lower end portion of the dust collection device 100. The neck 25 may be rotatably coupled to the head assembly 23. As the neck part 25 rotates with respect to the head assembly 23, the head assembly 23 may rotate with respect to the dust collection device 100 connected to the neck 25. Accordingly, the degree of freedom of driving may be improved in the cleaning apparatus 1.


In the meantime, the head assembly 23 may include a drum brush. The drum brush has a long cylindrical shape, and a brush (not shown) may be spirally provided on the outer circumferential surface in a direction away from the outer circumferential surface. The drum brush may be rotated by receiving power through a cable 24 disposed at the rear of the cleaning apparatus 1. The cable 24 may connect the battery 12 and the drum brush and may be accommodated in the cleaning apparatus.


The head switch 22 is provided to fix or release the coupling state of the head member 20 and the dust collection device 100. The head switch 22 may fix a location of the dust collection device 100 with respect to the head member 20 by pressing a portion of the dust collection device 100 coupled to the neck 25. When the dust collection device 100 is to be separated from the head member 20, a user may separate the dust collection device 100 from the head member 20 by pressing the head switch 22 downward by the foot to release the dust collection device 100.


As the head switch 22 is disposed in the head member 20, the user may separate the dust collection device 100 from the head member 20 as the user presses the head switch 22 by using the foot while standing without bending the waist.


The dust collection device 100 may be provided such that rubbish sucked through the head member 20 is collected in a dust collection chamber 110, 120. One end of the dust collection device 100 may be connected to the head member 20. Specifically, a lower end of the dust collection device 100 may be connected to the head member 20.


The dust collection device 100 may include a case 101 and the exhaust port 102. The case 101 may form an outer surface of the dust collection device 100. The exhaust port 102 may be composed of a plurality of exhaust holes. The exhaust port 102 may be formed to discharge the filtered air. The exhaust port 102 may be formed on one portion of the rear surface of the case 101.


The extension member 30 may be slidably connected to the upper portion of the dust collection device 100. The extension member 30 may form a part of the outer shape of the cleaning apparatus 1. The extension member 30 may be disposed on an upper portion of the cleaning apparatus 1 so as to be easily gripped by a user. The extension member 30 may be located at the other end opposite to one end in which the opening and closing member 200 is disposed. When the user uses the cleaning apparatus 1, the user may push or pull the head member 20 while gripping the extension member 30.


The extension member 30 may include a first button 31 for adjusting the operation of the cleaning apparatus 1. The first button 31 is provided to receive an input regarding whether to operate the cleaning apparatus 1 according to the intention of a user. The user may adjust the power of the cleaning apparatus 1 and the intensity of the suction force of the driving device 10 through the first button 31.


The extension member 30 may include a second button 32 provided to fix or release the coupling state of the extension member 30 and the dust collection device 100. The second button 32 may fix or release the location of the extension member 30.


For example, when the rubbish collected in the dust collection device 100 is to be discharged to the outside, the user may press the second button 32 to release the extension member 30 with respect to the dust collection device 100, and slide the extension member 30 downward.


The opening/closing member 200 may be arranged to partition the suction path 21 and the dust collection chamber 110, 120. Specifically, the opening/closing member 200 is formed of a plate having a predetermined thickness to partition the suction path 21 of the head member 20 and the first dust collection chamber 110 disposed above the suction path 21.


The opening/closing member 200 is connected to the extension member 30, and if the user pulls the extension member 30 downward, the opening/closing member 200 may move downward along with the extension member 30 and may expose the dust collection chamber 110, 120 outside.


The cover member 300 may be connected to the opening/closing member 200 to have an elastic force toward the suction path, and is rotated by a suction force to selectively open and close the opening 210. That is, the cover member 300 is usually in a state of being supported on the upper surface 201 of the opening/closing member 200 and rotates upward by the suction force generated by the driving device 10, and when the driving device 10 is turned off, the cover member 300 may be rotated downward again by the elastic force and recovered. The cover member 300 may be formed of a soft material.


The stopper member 400 may protrude from one surface of the cover member 300, and as the cover member 300 rotates, the stopper member 400 may be in contact with the opening/closing member 200 or the cover member 300 to restrict a rotational angle of the cover member 300. A specific shape of the cover member 300 and the stopper member 400 will be described later.



FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A shown in FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion B shown in FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.


Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the dust collection device 100 may form the first dust collection chamber 110 and a second dust collection chamber 120 located below the first dust collection chamber 110 along a direction in which air introduced from the head member 20 is discharged through the exhaust port 102.


A filtering device 111 may be disposed inside the case 101. The first dust collection chamber 110 may collect a filtered rubbish when the air introduced through the head member 20 passes through the filtering device 111.


The filtering device 111 may primarily filter the rubbish from the air introduced through the head member 20. The filtering device 111 may extend along a part of the inner surface of the case 101. The rubbish filtered by the filtering device 111 may be collected in the first dust collection chamber 110. The filtering device 111 may be provided as a mesh member.


The air passing through the filtering device 111 may be secondarily filtered by the cyclone 122. The rubbish filtered by the cyclone 122 may move downward and may be collected in the second dust collection chamber 120. The air filtered by the cyclone 122 may move towards the driving device 10.


The cyclone 122 may centrifugally separate rubbish, which is not filtered in the first dust collection chamber 110, from air. As the cyclone 122 separates rubbish from the air passing through the filtering device 111 in a different manner from the filtering device 111, the cleaning efficiency of cleaning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be improved.


Also, the cleaning apparatus may further include a first rubbish removal member 130 sliding on the first dust collection chamber 110 to discharge rubbish in the first dust collection chamber 110 and a first connection member 140 connecting the first rubbish removal member 130 and the opening/closing member 200. The first rubbish removal member 130 may be connected to the extension member 30. That is, when the user pushes the extension member 30 downward, the extension member 30, the first rubbish removal member 130, and the opening/closing member 200 may move integrally downward.


The first rubbish removal member 130 may include a first sweep member 131 formed of an elastic material. The first sweep member 131 may be formed to be in close contact with the inner wall of the filtering device 121.


The first sweep member 131 may be provided to come into close contact with one surface of the filtering device 121 on which rubbish is filtered. When the extension member 30 slides with respect to the dust collection device 100, the first sweep member 131 may slide while being in close contact with the inner surface of the filtering device 121. When the first sweep member 131 makes the extension member 30 slide inside the dust collection device 100, the first sweep member 131 may scrape the inner surface of the filtering device 121 and remove rubbish such as hair tangled on the inner surface of the filtering device 121.


The opening/closing member 200 may open the first dust collection chamber 110 by moving in a direction away from the dust collection device 100 when the first rubbish removal member 130 is withdrawn from the first dust collection chamber 110, and may close the first dust collection chamber 110 by moving in a direction approaching the dust collection device 100 when the first rubbish removal member 130 is inserted into the first dust collection chamber 110.


The cleaning apparatus 1 further includes a cyclone 122 provided to remove rubbish from the air passing through the first dust collection chamber 110, and the dust collection device 100 may form a second dust collection chamber 120 in which rubbish separated from the cyclone 122 is collected.


Also, the cleaning apparatus 1 may further include the second rubbish removal member 150 sliding on the first and second dust collection chambers 110, 120 to discharge rubbish in the second dust collection chamber 120 and a second connection member 160 connecting the first and second rubbish removal members 130, 150.


That is, when the user pushes the extension member 30 downward, the extension member 30, the second rubbish removal member 150, and the first rubbish removal member 130 may move downward together.


The second dust collection chamber 120 may be formed between the first rubbish removal member 130 and the second rubbish removal member 150. In the second dust collection member 120, rubbish filtered by the cyclone 122 may be collected.


The second rubbish removal member 150 may include the second sweep member 151. The second sweep member 151 may include an elastic material. The second sweep member 151 may move while sliding in a state of being in close contact with the inner surface of the case 101 so as to discharge rubbish of the second dust collection chamber 120 when the extension member 30 slides with respect to the dust collection device 100. Accordingly, the second sweep member 151 may empty all of the rubbish of the second dust collection chamber 120.


The first rubbish removal member 130 may include a first sweep member 131 formed of an elastic material. The first sweep member 131 may be formed to be in close contact with the inner wall of the filtering device 121.


The first sweep member 131 may be provided to come into close contact with one surface of the filtering device 121 on which rubbish is filtered. When the extension member 30 slides with respect to the dust collection device 100, the first sweep member 131 may slide while being in close contact with the inner surface of the filtering device 121. When the first sweep member 131 makes the extension member 30 slide inside the dust collection device 100, the first sweep member 131 may remove rubbish such as hair tangled on the inner surface of the filtering device 121 by scrapping the inner surface of the filtering device 121.


The extension member 30 may be connected to the opening/closing member 200 configured to open or close the first dust collection chamber 110. The opening/closing member 200 may be disposed at one end facing the head member 20 of the extension member 30.


The opening/closing member 200 may be configured to be in association with the first rubbish removal member 130 and the second rubbish removal member 150. As the opening/closing member 200 is in association with the first rubbish removal member 130 and/or the second rubbish removal member 150, the first dust collection chamber 110 may be prevented from being unintentionally opened, and the first and second dust collection chambers 110, 120 may be opened only when the rubbish is to be discharged.


The opening/closing member 200 may include an opening 210 to connect the suction path 21 and the first dust collection chamber 110.


The opening/closing member 200 may be provided to move in a direction away from the dust collection device 100 to open the first dust collection chamber 110 when the first rubbish removal member 130 slides and moves from the first dust collection chamber 110.


The opening/closing member 200 may be provided to move toward the dust collection device 100 so as to close the first dust collection chamber 110 when the first rubbish removal member 130 slides into and is inserted into the first dust collection chamber 110.


The opening/closing member 200 may open or close the first dust collection chamber 110 as the extension member 30 slides with respect to the dust collection device 100. The opening and closing member 200 may include an opening 210 formed to allow air introduced from the head member 20 to flow into the first dust collection chamber 110. The opening 210 may be opened and closed by the cover member 300.



FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover member according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a cover member is connected to an opening/closing member according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cover member rotates according to an embodiment of the disclosure.


Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the cover member 300 may include a fixed region 310 fixed to the opening/closing member 200 and a rotation region 320 rotatably connected to the fixed region 310 and having a stopper member 400 formed therein.


The stopper member 400 may be in contact with the fixed region 310 of the cover member 300 as the cover member 300 rotates. In the meantime, a target in contact with the stopper member 400 is not limited thereto and the stopper member 400 may be in contact with the opening/closing member 200.


Accordingly, the cover member 300 may not rotate beyond a predetermined angle. That is, regardless of the intensity of the suction force generated by the driving device 10, the cover member 300 may rotate only up to a designated angle due to the stopper member 400.


For example, if the driving device 10 operates, the cover member 300 may rotate only at a preset angle within the range of 30 degrees to 40 degrees. The rotational angle of the cover member 300 is not limited thereto.


Accordingly, regardless of the suction force of the driving device 10, the same size of flow path may be secured between the head member 20 and the dust collection device 100.


In addition, as the cover member 300 having elasticity is not rotated beyond a predetermined angle, deformation of the cover member 300 can be minimized and elasticity may be maintained continually.


The rotation region 320 of the cover member 300 may be formed of a soft material, and the fixed region 310 of the cover member 300 and the stopper member 400 may be formed of a material having higher rigidity than the rotation region 320.


Accordingly, when the cover member 300 rotates, the fixed region 310 and the stopper member 400 do not slide or deform each other and may be in stably contact to each other while maintaining a fixed shape.


The rotation region 320 of the cover member 300 may include a central region 321 and a peripheral region 322 disposed to surround the central region 321 and seated on an upper surface 201 of the opening/closing member 200. The peripheral region 322 may have a thinner thickness than the central region 321.


Since the central region 321 of the cover member 300 has a thick thickness, the cover member 300 may not be easily deformed even by a strong suction force. Accordingly, the cover member 300 may be stably rotated while maintaining the shape, and may open the opening 210 of the opening/closing member 200.


The peripheral region 322 of the cover member 300 has a thin thickness so that the cover member 300 may be easily deformed. Accordingly, even if small dust is on the upper surface 201 of the opening/closing member 200, the peripheral region 322 may be completely in close contact with the upper surface of the opening/closing member 200 as the shape is deformed corresponding to dust. In other words, when the driving device 10 is turned off and the cover member 300 is restored, the peripheral region 322 may be easily deformed and the cover member 300 may completely close the opening 210 of the opening/closing member 200.


The opening/closing member 200 may include a fixing hole 220, and the fixed region 310 may include a protrusion 311 protruding upward and inserted into the fixing hole 220. Accordingly, the fixed region 310 of the cover member 300 may be stably coupled to the opening/closing member 200 without being separated from the opening/closing member 200.


In addition, the cover member 300 may be connected to the rear side of the opening/closing member 200. Accordingly, when the user finishes cleaning in a state in which the dust collection device 100 is tilted backward (see FIG. 9), even if the dust in the first dust collection chamber 110 falls downward due to gravity, the rear side of the opening 210 of the opening/closing member 200 where the dust is first dropped is already closed by the cover member 300 and the phenomenon that the dust in the first dust collection chamber 110 is discharged to the suction path 21 of the head member 20 may be minimized.


The stopper member 400 may be disposed downwardly inclined toward the one end 301 connected to the opening/closing member 200 of the cover member 300.


Specifically, the stopper member 400 may include an inclined region 410 having one end connected to one surface of the cover member 300 and arranged to be upwardly inclined toward one end 301 of the cover member 300 and a support region 420 extending from the other end of the inclined region 410 and arranged to be downwardly inclined toward one end 301 of the cover member 300.


By the stopper member 400 having the above shape, the support region 420 may be stably supported in a state in which the support region 420 is in contact with the fixed region 310 or the opening/closing member 200 in a wide area.


The stopper member 400 may vertically come into contact with the opening/closing member 200 or the cover member 300 on a surface-to-surface basis as the cover member 300 rotates. Accordingly, even when a strong suction force is applied to the cover member 300, the stopper member 400 is stably supported by the opening/closing member 200 or the cover member 300, and thus the cover member 300 may maintain a rotational angle.


In the meantime, the cleaning apparatus may further include a sealing member 230 disposed to surround the opening/closing member 200 to seal between the dust collection device 100 and the opening/closing member 200.


The sealing member 230 may be arranged along the edge of the opening/closing member 200. The sealing member 230 may include a material having elasticity. The sealing member 230 may be configured by including a material which is more flexible than that of the opening/closing member 200.


The sealing member 230 may be in close contact with an inner surface of the case 101 and may seal the first dust collection chamber 110. Accordingly, the cleaning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may prevent rubbish from being discharged from the first dust collection chamber 110.



FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of emptying rubbish of the dust collection device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a portion of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.


Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the user wishes to remove dust collected in the dust collection device 100 after the cleaning operation is finished, the user may push the extension member 30 downward while pressing the second button 32 to slide the dust collection device 100.


At this time, all of the extension member 30, the driving device 10, the second rubbish removal member 150, and the opening/closing member 200 that are integrally connected may move downward.


When the extension member 30 slides inside the dust collection device 100, the opening/closing member 200 disposed at one end of the extension member 30 may open the first dust collection chamber 110, and the first and second rubbish removal members 130, 150 may slide and discharge rubbish in the first and second dust collection chambers 110, 120 to the outside. The second rubbish removal member 150 may discharge rubbish of the second dust collection member 120 and at the same time may secondarily discharge rubbish in the first dust collection chamber 110. For this, the first and second rubbish removal members 130, 150 may move to a location protruding to the outside of the dust collection device 100.


After rubbish discharge of the first and second dust collection chambers 110, 120 is completed, the user may move the extension member 30 in the direction of withdrawing from the dust collection device 100, and accordingly, the opening/closing member 200 may move to a location to close the first dust collection chamber 110.


According to this configuration, the cleaning apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may easily empty the rubbish of the dust collection device 100 with a relatively simple operation. In addition, the opening/closing member 200 is provided to open and close the first and second dust collection chambers 110, 120 only when the rubbish of the dust collection device 100 is discharged, thereby preventing the rubbish from being scattered even when the dust collection device 100 is separated from the head member 20.


In the meantime, the first connection member 140 may be connected to at least one of the left, right, and front sides of the opening/closing member 200. Accordingly, when dust is empty in a state in which the user obliquely tilts the dust collection device 100 backward, the dust in the first dust collection chamber 110 may be easily discharged to the outside without being disturbed by the first connection member 140.


While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims
  • 1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a driving device for generating suction force;a head member comprising a suction path into which external air flows by way of the suction force;a dust collection device having one end connected to the head member and having a dust collection chamber;an opening/closing member disposed to divide the suction path from the dust collection chamber, and which comprises an opening that allows the suction path and the dust collection chamber to be connected;a cover member which is connected to the opening/closing member to have elastic force toward the suction path and which is rotated by way of the suction force to selectively open/close the opening; anda stopper member which protrudes from one surface of the cover member to come in contact with the opening/closing member or the cover member according to the rotation of the cover member and restricts a rotational angle of the cover member.
  • 2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover member comprises: a fixed region fixed to the opening/closing member; anda rotational region rotatably connected to the fixed region and having the stopper member formed therein.
  • 3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the stopper member is in contact with the fixed region as the cover member rotates.
  • 4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rotational region is formed of a soft material, andwherein the fixed region and the stopper member are formed of a material having higher rigidity than the rotational region.
  • 5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotational region comprises: a central region; anda peripheral region disposed to surround the central region and seated on an upper surface of the opening/closing member.
  • 6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the peripheral region has thickness thinner than the central region.
  • 7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the opening/closing member comprises a fixing hole, andwherein the fixed region comprises a protrusion protruding upward and being inserted into the fixing hole.
  • 8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stopper member is inclined upwardly facing one end connected to the opening/closing member of the cover member.
  • 9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stopper member comprises: an inclined region having one end connected to one surface of the cover member and inclined upwardly facing one end of the cover member; anda support region extending from other end of the inclined region and inclined downwardly facing one end of the cover member.
  • 10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover member is formed of a soft material.
  • 11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stopper member is in contact with a surface of the opening/closing member or the cover member as the cover member rotates.
  • 12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover member is connected to a rear side of the opening/closing member.
  • 13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an extension member slidably connected to an upper end of the dust collection device and connected to the opening/closing member.
  • 14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member disposed to surround the opening/closing member and seal between the dust collection device and the opening/closing member.
  • 15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first rubbish removal member sliding on the dust collection chamber to discharge rubbish in the dust collection chamber; anda first connection member connecting the first rubbish removal member and the opening/closing member.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-2021-0041355 Mar 2021 KR national
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2022/004001, filed on Mar. 22, 2022, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2021-0041355, filed on Mar. 30, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/KR2022/004001 Mar 2022 US
Child 18350337 US