EXTENTSION TUBE AND VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an extension tube and a vacuum cleaner including the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Vacuum cleaners are home appliances for use in cleaning a floor, which are adapted to inhale air from a floor using a pressure difference of air generated by rotation of a motor, remove various foreign substances such as dust, fine dust, bacteria, and mold contained in the air by means of a dust collection assembly or a filter member provided inside a body of the cleaner, and then discharge the air outside again.

These vacuum cleaners may be implemented in a variety of models depending on the structures or functions applied thereto. For example, a cyclone type of vacuum cleaner forms a rotating airflow in a sucked air, which utilizes centrifugal force generated by rotation of the air to separate foreign substances from the air, and may be used semi-permanently because no dust bag is required. Further, a handy-type or stick-type vacuum cleaner is relatively small in size, and a filter for filtering the air being sucked in is also provided relatively small. Such a filter may include a filter sheet laminated with nonwoven fabric, micro filters, or the like.

Conventional vacuum cleaners are equipped with a suction assembly for generating suction power, a cleaner head for sucking dust or foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned, an extension pipe with a passage adapted to transfer dust or foreign substances sucked from the cleaner head, and a dust collection assembly for filtering and accommodating the dust or foreign substances sucked through the extension pipe. Development continues on lightweighting to make vacuum cleaners more portable and easier to use.

One way to lighten weight of the vacuum cleaners is to make up a portion of the extension pipe from a lightweight material, such as a carbon material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical Solution

Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a novel structure for maintaining component alignment during multi-stage stretching operation of an extension tube of a vacuum cleaner, either in its straight movement or against a torsional motion of the cleaner in use.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may incorporate a lightweight stable material of pipe, such as e.g., carbon, glass or the like, into an extension pipe of a vacuum cleaner, without requiring a complicated manufacturing process.

A cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a body, a cleaner head, a pipe structure configured to connect the body and the cleaner head and including a plurality of pipes including a first pipe that is slidable with respect to an adjacent pipe of the plurality of pipes to extend and retract the pipe structure, a support member on the first pipe along a longitudinal direction of the first pipe and including a rail groove formed at one end of the support member, and a connection cap including a pipe coupling part coupled to the first pipe and a support member coupling part coupled to the one end of the support member. The support member coupling part may include a guide rail configured to be coupled to the rail groove.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe may be made of a carbon material, a glass material or an aluminum material.

According to an embodiment, the guide rail may extend in a longitudinal direction of the first pipe.

According to an embodiment, a thickness of the guide rail may increase as the guide rail approaches an outer end of the connection cap.

According to an embodiment, a length of the guide rail may be 10% or more of a length of the first pipe.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe may include an anti-rotation groove at a portion of the first pipe where the connection cap is mounted. The connection cap may include an anti-rotation protrusion that is insertable into the anti-rotation groove.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of pipes may include a second pipe adjacent to the first pipe and slidable in the first pipe.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe and the second pipe may be in fluid communication with each other.

According to an embodiment, the second pipe may be made of a carbon material, a glass material or an aluminum material.

According to an embodiment, the cleaner may include a sealing member configured to seal a space between the first pipe and the second pipe when the first pipe slides.

According to an embodiment, a portion of the sealing member may be secured to an inner circumferential surface of the second pipe.

An extension pipe configured to connect a body of a vacuum cleaner with a cleaner head to form a suction passage, according to an embodiment, may include a pipe structure including a plurality of pipes, and the plurality of pipes may include a first pipe that is slidable with respect to an adjacent pipe of the plurality of pipes to extend and retract the extension pipe, a support member on the first pipe along a longitudinal direction of the first pipe and including a rail groove at one end of the support member, and a connection cap including a pipe coupling part coupled to the first pipe and a support member coupling part coupled to the one end of the support member. The support member coupling portion may include a guide rail configured to be coupled to the rail groove.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe may be made of a carbon material, a glass material or an aluminum material.

According to an embodiment, a thickness of the guide rail may increase as the guide rail approaches an outer end of the connection cap.

According to an embodiment, a length of the guide rail may be 10% or more of a length of the first pipe.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe may include an anti-rotation groove at an end of the first pipe on which the connection cap is mounted. The connection cap may include an anti-rotation protrusion protruding so as to be insertable into the anti-rotation groove.

According to an embodiment, the first pipe may include a body coupling groove formed at a side end of the body. The first pipe may include a body connection member fit-coupled to the body coupling groove and detachably coupled to the body, as a connection member connecting the side end of the body to the body.

According to an embodiment, an other end of the support member may be coupled to the body connection member. The body connection member may include an insertion groove formed so that the other end of the support member is insertable into the insertion groove.

According to various embodiments proposed in the disclosure, the vacuum cleaner may not only reduce manufacturing costs but also reduce the weight of the pipe, by removing a structure (e.g., a wing part) integrally formed by injection in the pipe to accommodate an existing support member (or a torsion prevention member).

According to various embodiments proposed in the disclosure, the cleaner may add a separate connection cap structure for coupling and fixing the support member (or the torsion prevention member) with a structure of a stretchable extension pipe, thereby implementing a simple cylindrical lightweight carbon pipe. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the pipes making up the extension pipe may be made of a lightweight stable material, such as carbon or glass material, without complicating its manufacturing process.

The effects that can be obtained from example embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned herein may be clearly derived and understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the example embodiments of the disclosure belong from the following description. That is, unintended effects according to implementing the example embodiments of the disclosure may also be derived by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field from the example embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the resent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a suction assembly and a dust collection assembly of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a dust collection container in a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaner head according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an internal configuration of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 9A to 9F are views for explaining a coupling process of a part of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a coupling relationship between a support member and a connection cap of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for comparing a first pipe according to an embodiment with a conventional pipe corresponding thereto.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for comparing an extension pipe according to an embodiment with a conventional extension pipe corresponding thereto.

In the following description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein certain examples to be implemented are illustrated as examples in the drawings. Further, other examples may be used and structural modifications may be made without departing from the scope of various examples.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the disclosed invention. However, the disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In conjunction with the description, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for substantially the same or similar components. Further, in the drawings and their related descriptions, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and brevity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 may be a stick-type vacuum cleaner. Throughout the disclosure, such a stick-type vacuum cleaner will be mainly described as an example, but the vacuum cleaner according to embodiments of the disclosure may be various types of vacuum cleaners such as e.g., a handy type, a stick type, a handy-stick type, a canister type, or an upright type of vacuum cleaner. An extension pipe structure described herein may be applied not only to the vacuum cleaner but also to various types of stick-type cleaners, such as e.g., a wet mop cleaner, requiring such an extension pipe structure, but the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described as an example for explanation, hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 may include a cleaner body 10, a suction assembly 20, a dust collection assembly 30, an extension pipe 40, or a cleaner head 50.

According to an embodiment, the cleaner body 10 may include a battery mounting unit 11, a handle 12, an operator unit 13, or a connection pipe 14. The cleaner body 10 may further include a controller 60 or a battery 70. The battery mounting unit 11 may be provided to hold and fix the battery 70, for example. The battery mounting unit 11 may be provided so that the battery 70 is mounted in a vertical direction, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The handle 12 may be provided for a user to grip the vacuum cleaner 1. The handle 12 may be located, for example, in a place adjacent to the battery mounting unit 11. The handle 12 may be located, for example, at an upper part of the vacuum cleaner 1. The battery 70 may supply power to the suction assembly 20, for example. The battery 70 may be implemented, for example, as a rechargeable secondary battery. A charging terminal may be provided on one surface of the battery 70.

According to an embodiment, the operator unit 13 may be arranged on an outer side of the cleaner body 10. The operator unit 13 may form a part of the exterior of the cleaner body 10, for example. The operator unit 13 may be positioned, for example, around the handle 12. Accordingly, the user may conveniently touch the operator unit 13 while holding the handle 12. According to an embodiment, the operator unit 13 may include a power button and a pair of adjustment buttons. The power button may be, for example, a toggle button for switching a turn-on state or a turn-off state. The pair of adjustment buttons may be, for example, a button set for adjusting a suction intensity of the vacuum cleaner 1. According to an embodiment, the operator unit 13 may be provided with a separate button according to each cleaning mode. In addition, various functions of buttons may be added onto the operator unit 13.

According to an embodiment, the connection pipe 14 may be provided to connect to the extension pipe 40. The connection pipe 14 and the extension pipe 40 may be detachably coupled to each other. The connection pipe 14 may be provided, for example, at a lower part of the cleaner body 10, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The connection pipe 14 may have a hollow through which air introduced from the cleaner head 50 may pass. The connection pipe 14 may have, for example, one end connected to the dust collection assembly 30 and the other end connected to the extension pipe 40. Accordingly, the connection pipe 14 may provide a flow path for air to flow passing through the extension pipe 40 and into the dust collection assembly 30.

According to an embodiment, the controller 60 may be accommodated within the cleaner body 10. The controller 60 may control, for example, driving of the suction assembly 20. In other words, the controller 60 may adjust driving intensity of the suction assembly 20 according to the user's input to the operator unit 13.

According to an embodiment, the suction assembly 20 may be coupled to one side of the cleaner body 10. The suction assembly 20 may have a cylindrical appearance as a whole, for example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The suction assembly 20 may be arranged such that its longitudinal direction is a direction substantially parallel to an extending direction of the extension pipe 40. The suction assembly 20 may generate power to make a suction force inside the cleaner body 10, for example. The air containing foreign substances or dust may be sucked through the extension pipe 40 by the suction force of the suction assembly 20, and those foreign substances or dust may be collected in the dust collection assembly 30.

According to an embodiment, the dust collection assembly 30 may be connected to the suction assembly 20. According to an embodiment, as illustrated, the dust collection assembly 30 may be coupled to a lowermost end of the suction assembly 20. That is, the suction assembly 20 may be disposed between the cleaner body 10 and the dust collection assembly 30. The dust collection assembly 30 may filter the air sucked with the suction force generated by the suction assembly 20 to collect dust or foreign substances therein.

According to an embodiment, the extension pipe 40 may have a double pipe structure in which two pipes having different diameters overlap. According to an example, the overall length of the extension pipe 40 may be adjustable by sliding either one of the two pipes making up the double pipe structure with respect to the other pipe. The extension pipe 40 may have, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the cleaner head 50 may be connected to the extension pipe 40. The cleaner head 50 may suck foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned, while its one surface travels along the surface to be cleaned. The sucked foreign substances may pass through the extension pipe 40 and then be accommodated in the dust collection assembly 30.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a suction assembly and a dust collection assembly of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a dust collection container in a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction assembly 20 may include an impeller 21, a rotation shaft 22, a suction motor 23, a suction unit 24, a discharge unit 25, or a discharge filter member 26. The suction assembly 20 may generate a suction force capable of sucking foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned, for example, by rotation of the suction motor 23. When the suction motor 23 rotates, an air flow is generated by rotation of the impeller 21, so that the air may be introduced into the suction unit 24 and then discharged to the discharge unit 25. The discharge unit 25 may be formed to form a plurality of through-holes along a circumferential surface forming an outer appearance of the suction assembly 20.

According to an embodiment, the impeller 21 may be located inside the suction unit 24. The impeller 21 may be coupled to a part of the rotation shaft 22, for example. The rotation shaft 22 may be coupled to a hollow portion in the center of the impeller 21 to make up the rotation shaft of the impeller 21. When the impeller 21 rotates, a suction airflow may be formed.

According to an embodiment, the suction motor 23 may be provided inside the suction assembly 20. The suction motor 23 may transmit rotational power to the rotation shaft 22, for example. Accordingly, the rotational power may be transmitted to the impeller 21 connected to the rotation shaft 22.

According to an embodiment, the discharge filter member 26 may be provided adjacent to an inner surface of the discharge unit 25. The discharge filter member 26 may be disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the discharge unit 25. The discharge filter member 26 may be disposed between the suction motor 23 and the discharge unit 25. The cross-sectional shape of the discharge filter member 26 may correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the discharge unit 25. A diameter of the cross-section of the discharge filter member 26 may be less than a diameter of the cross-section of the discharge unit 25.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dust collection assembly 30 may include a dust collection filter 31 or a dust collection container 32. The dust collection container 32 may form an exterior of the dust collection assembly 30, for example. The dust collection container 32 may be made of a transparent material so that the user can see the amount of foreign substances collected therein.

The dust collection filter 31 may be provided inside the dust collection container 32, for example. According to an embodiment, the dust collection filter 31 may include a receiving case 311, a first cyclone 312, an intermediate wall 313, or a second cyclone 314.

According to an embodiment, the receiving case 311 may be coupled to a lower part of the suction assembly 20. The receiving case 311 may, for example, accommodate at least a portion of the second cyclone 314 inside it.

According to an embodiment, the receiving case 311 may include a guide 3111 or a shutter 3112. The guide 3111 may be provided, for example, adjacent to an opening 321 through which the dust collection container 32 and the connection pipe 14 communicate with each other. For example, the guide 3111 may be provided to guide the air introduced from the opening 321 of the dust collection container 32 to rotate in a circumferential direction. The shutter 3112 may be provided, for example, adjacent to the guide 3111 or the opening 321 of the dust collection container 32. The shutter 3112 may open or close the flow path to adjust a flow of air passing through the opening 321 of the dust collection container 32. The controller 60 of FIG. 1 may control the opening and closing of the shutter 3112 to adjust the suction power.

According to an embodiment, the first cyclone 312 may be located at the deepest place within the dust collection container 32. The first cyclone 312 may generate, for example, a centrifugal force by causing the air passing through the guide 3111 and introducing into the dust collection container 32 to rotate in the circumferential direction. A primary filtering of dust or foreign substances of the air may be made by centrifugal force. The filtered dust or foreign substances may be received in the dust collection container 32. After such primary filtering, the air may penetrate the intermediate wall 313.

According to an embodiment, the intermediate wall 313 may have a cylindrical shape. The intermediate wall 313 may include, for example, a fine through hole (not shown) through which air passes. For example, the intermediate wall 313 may have one side coupled to the first cyclone 312 and may receive at least a portion of the second cyclone 314 therein. The air primarily filtered by the first cyclone 312 may pass through the intermediate wall 313 and then move to the second cyclone 314.

The intermediate wall 313 may be implemented, for example, as a cylindrical metal mesh that filters out foreign substances. When the primarily filtered air passes through the intermediate wall 313, any dust or foreign substances larger than the size of the fine through hole may not pass through the intermediate wall 313 and then may be secondarily filtered out. After this secondary filtering, the air may move to the second cyclone 314.

According to an embodiment, the second cyclone 314 may include a plurality of small cyclone units 314a. According to an embodiment, the small cyclone unit 314a may include a cylindrical portion 3141, a cone portion 3142, or an inlet 3143. The inlet 3143 may be formed on a lateral surface of the cylindrical portion 3141. The cone portion 3142 may be connected to a lower end of the cylindrical portion 3141. The secondary filtered air entering the inlet 3143 may rotate inside the small cyclone unit 314a, and fine dust may be then separated from the air by centrifugal force, thereby performing tertiary filtering. The separated fine dust may fall downward while rotating in the circumferential direction along the cone portion 3142, and the air may move toward the suction unit 24.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaner head according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an internal configuration of FIG. 4

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cleaner head 50 may include a pipe connection part 51, a case 52, a brush 53, and a driving unit 54.

According to one embodiment, the case 52 may include a main case 521 or a side case 522. The main case 521 may be provided, for example, such that its portion covers an upper part of the brush 53. An upper area of the brush 53 of the main case 521 may be formed of a curved surface. A pair of side cases 522 may be provided on both sides of the main case 521, for example. The side case 522 may be formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the main case 521 at both ends of the main case 521.

According to an embodiment, the pipe connection part 51 may be connected to the extension pipe 40. For example, the pipe connection part 51 may have a hollow structure therein and provide a flow path so that the air sucked from the brush 53 side can move to the extension pipe 40. The pipe connection part 51 may be detachably coupled to the extension pipe 40. The pipe connection part 51 may be disposed at the rear of the main case 521. The cross-sectional shape of the pipe connection part 51 may vary according to the cross-sectional shape of the extension pipe 40.

According to one embodiment, the brush 53 may be disposed to be rotatable inside the case 52. The brush 53 may rotate about a rotation shaft 531. The rotation shaft 531 may be disposed so that both ends thereof contact the side cases 522 on both sides. The brush 53 may have a cylindrical shape as a whole, for example. The brush 53 may be made of a material having high adhesion to dust or foreign substances accumulated on the surface to be cleaned.

According to an embodiment, the driving unit 54 may include a driving motor 541, a driving shaft 542, or a driving belt 543. The driving motor 541 may rotate the driving shaft 542. The driving shaft 542 may be connected to the rotation shaft 531 by the driving belt 543 to transmit the rotational power of the driving shaft 542 to the rotation shaft 531. The driving unit 54 may receive power from the battery 70 and may adjust a rotation speed and/or a rotation direction of the brush 53 according to a command from the controller 60. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner 1 may suck air around the surface to be cleaned using the suction force generated by the suction unit 24, and cause dust or foreign substances on the surface to be sucked using the rotation of the brush 53, thereby cleaning the surface. The controller 60 may adjust the suction force by adjusting the rotation speed of the driving motor 541.

According to an embodiment, the driving unit 54 may transmit the rotational power of the driving motor 541 to the brush 53 using a meshing structure (e.g., a gear assembly), unlike the pulley structure illustrated. In other words, the driving motor 541 may be inserted into the brush 53 to transmit power to the brush 53 using the meshing structure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an extension pipe according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the extension pipe according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the extension pipe according to an embodiment.

The extension pipe 40 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may have generally the same or similar configuration as the extension pipe 40 of the vacuum cleaner 1 of FIG. 1. The extension pipe 40 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be a component constituting the vacuum cleaner 1 of FIG. 1. According to an example, the extension pipe 40 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be modularized to replace an extension pipe of any conventional vacuum cleaner. The extension pipe 40 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be applied not only to vacuum cleaners, but also to various types of stick-type cleaners such as a wet mop cleaner, which requires an extension pipe structure.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the extension pipe 40 may have a pipe structure 41 configured to be extendable and retractable, including a plurality of pipes. The pipe structure 41 may connect the body (e.g., the cleaner body 10 of FIG. 1) and the cleaner head (e.g., the cleaner head 50 of FIG. 1). The pipe structure 41 may include the plurality of pipes configured to be slidable with respect to adjacent pipes. The plurality of pipes may include, for example, a first pipe 412 or a second pipe 411.

The second pipe 411 may be connected to, for example, the cleaner head 50. The second pipe 411 and the cleaner head 50 may be connected to each other by a head connection member 45. Different end portions of the head connection member 45 may be coupled to the second pipe 411 and the cleaner head 50, respectively, so that the second pipe 411 and the cleaner head 50 may be connected to each other.

The first pipe 412 may be connected to, for example, the body 10. The first pipe 412 and the body 10 may be connected by a body connection member 44. Different ends of the body connection member 44 may be coupled to the first pipe 412 and the body 10, respectively, so that the first pipe 412 and the body 10 may be connected to each other. For example, the body connection member 44 may be configured such that a pull-in portion 441 having a diameter less than that of the first pipe 412 is inserted into the first pipe 412 to be coupled to the first pipe 412 by means of a coupling protrusion 442 on the pull-in portion 441.

According to an example, the second pipe 411 and the cleaner head 50 may be directly coupled without a separate connection member, or the first pipe 412 and the body 10 may be directly coupled without an additional connection member. The first pipe 412 may include a first end 412a and a second end 412b that is an end opposite to the first end 412a.

According to an example, the second pipe 411 may include a second-first pipe 4111 and a second-second pipe 4112 having a diameter less than that of the second-first pipe 4111. The second-first pipe 4111 may form an outer appearance of the extension pipe 40. The second-second pipe 4112 may be disposed inside the second-first pipe 4111. The second-first pipe 4111 may have, for example, a diameter sufficient to allow not only the second-second pipe 4112 but also the first pipe 412 and the support member 42 to be drawn into it. A space into which the first pipe 412 slides may be provided in an inner space of the second-first pipe 4111. The diameter of the second-second pipe 4112 may be less than the diameter of the first pipe 412. The second-first pipe 4111 may be formed, for example, by an injection molding. The second-first pipe 4111 may include, for example, a plastic or aluminum material, and the disclosure is not limited thereto. The second-second pipe 4112 may include, for example, a plastic or aluminum, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the second-second pipe 4112 may include a carbon material or a glass material. For example, the second-second pipe 4112 may include carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), although the disclosure is not limited thereto, and it may be made of various materials having relatively high chemical stability from corrosion or the like. According to an example, the second-second pipe 4112 may have a cylindrical shape as a whole, except for a groove or through-hole structure formed in its part. For example, when only the second-second pipe 4112 is separated and then viewed from the outside, it may be formed to look like a cylindrical shape as a whole. For example, the second-second pipe 4112 may be configured such that shapes and structures protruding to the outside other than the cylindrical shape are omitted.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 may be disposed within the second pipe 411 to be slidable along a longitudinal direction (e.g., x-axis direction) of the second pipe 411. The length of the extension pipe 40 may be expanded or contracted by sliding the first pipe 412 with respect to the second pipe 411. The first pipe 412 may be disposed such that it is not visible from the outside or at least only partially visible from the outside, in the state of the length of the extension pipe 40 reduced. The first pipe 412 may be, for example, disposed between the second-first pipe 4111 and the second-second pipe 4112, when it is inserted into the second pipe 411. The first pipe 412 may include, for example, a plastic or aluminum material, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 may include a carbon material or a glass material. For example, the first pipe 412 may include carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be formed of various lightweight materials having relatively high chemical stability from corrosion and the like.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 may have a cylindrical appearance as a whole, except for a groove or through-hole structure formed in a portion thereof. For example, it may be formed to look like a cylindrical shape as a whole when viewed from the outside with only the first pipe 412 being separated. The first pipe 412 may be manufactured, for example, without any shape or structure protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412. As the connection cap 43 is configured to couple and fix the support member 42 and the first pipe 412 to each other, such a protruding shape or structure for coupling to the support member 42 on the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412 may be omitted, and as a result, the first pipe 412 may be mass-produced even when a carbon material or a glass material is used therefor. The first pipe 412 may be manufactured, for example, without any shape or structure protruding inward from the inner circumferential surface of the first pipe 412.

According to an example, the weight of the vacuum cleaner 1 may be reduced owing to the first pipe 412 and/or the second-second pipe 4112 including a carbon or glass material, which is a lightweight material.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 and/or the second-second pipe 4112 may be manufactured by laminating several prepregs. As used herein, the prepreg may refer to an intermediate material for a carbon fiber composite material in the form of a sheet that is impregnated with resin and carbon fibers in a predetermined ratio. The prepreg may be configured such that carbon fibers are arranged in one direction. For example, in a prepreg laminate with multiple layers of prepregs stacked, the carbon fiber orientation of one prepreg may be different from the carbon fiber orientation of another adjacent prepreg. For example, when the prepregs are stacked, the prepregs may be stacked such that the carbon fiber orientation is perpendicular between adjacent prepregs. The prepreg laminate stacked in multiple layers may be manufactured in a cylindrical pipe shape by a winding method using a mandrel. By manufacturing the prepreg stacked in multiple layers, the strength of the first pipe 412 and/or the second-second pipe 4112 made of a carbon material may be greatly enhanced.

According to an example, the extension pipe 40 may include a support member 42 (or a twist prevention member), a connection cap 43, and a body connection member 44. The support member 42 may be disposed to prevent the first pipe 412 from twisting when the first pipe 412 is slid to expand or contract the length of the extension pipe 40. The support member 42 may be disposed on the first pipe 412 in a longitudinal direction (e.g., x-axis direction) of the first pipe 412. For example, the support member 42 may be disposed to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412. One end 421 of the support member 42 may be coupled to the support member coupling part 431 of the connection cap 43. Further, the other end 422 of the support member 42 may be coupled to the body connection member 44. For example, the other end 422 of the support member 42 may be coupled to an insertion protrusion 442 and an insertion region 443 of the body connection member 44. The support member 42 may be configured to be fixed by the body connection member 44 and the connection cap 43 that are connected to both ends thereof, so that it resists against an external force, such as torsion, that may occur during sliding movement of the first pipe 412. Therefore, even if such an external force acts, it is possible to prevent the first pipe 412 from being twisted or damaged by the resistance of the support member 42.

According to an embodiment, the support member 42 may include a rail groove 423 formed at one end 421. The rail grooves 423 may be located, at one end 421 of the support member 42, on sides of both ends along the width direction (e.g., y-axis direction). The support member 42 may be configured to be inserted into the support member coupling part 431 of the connection cap 43 in a direction parallel to the length direction of the first pipe 412 by the rail groove 423.

According to an example, the connection cap 43 may be mounted at an end opposite to one end of the first pipe 412 connected to the body 10. For example, the body 10 may be connected to one side of the first pipe 412 and the connection cap 43 may be mounted on the other side of the first pipe 412. The connection cap 43 may be formed by, for example, an injection method. The connection cap 43 may be made of, for example, a plastic material.

According to an example, the connection cap 43 may include a pipe coupling part 432 coupled to a pipe (e.g., the first pipe 412). When mounted onto the first pipe 412, the connection cap 43 may be mounted to abut the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412, but it is only of an example and the connection cap 43 may be fastened and coupled to the first pipe 412 in a variety of ways that may be implemented within the technical level of those skilled in the art. The shape of the pipe coupling part 432 may be, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole.

As an example, as described later with reference to FIG. 9F, the connection cap 43 may include a cap coupling protrusion 4321 protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the pipe coupling part 432. The first pipe 412 may include a cap coupling groove 4122. When the connection cap 43 and the first pipe 412 are connected, the cap coupling protrusion 4321 of the connection cap 43 and the cap coupling groove 4122 of the first pipe 412 may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other and fastened thereto. In an example, the cap coupling protrusion 4321 may have, for example, a hook structure.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 may include an anti-rotation groove 4123 disposed at an end on which the connection cap 43 is mounted. According to an example, the connection cap 43 may include an anti-rotation protrusion 4322 formed to protrude to be inserted into the anti-rotation groove 4123, as shown in FIG. 9F. The anti-rotation protrusion 432 may be located, for example, on an inner circumferential surface of the pipe coupling part 432. When the connection cap 43 is mounted on the first pipe 412, the anti-rotation protrusion 4322 may be inserted into the anti-rotation groove 4123, thereby preventing the connection cap 43 from rotating in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the first pipe 412. In order to prevent the rotation of the connection cap 43, the size of the anti-rotation protrusion 4322 may correspond to the size of the anti-rotation groove 4123. The anti-rotation protrusion 4322 may suppress the rotation of the connection cap 43 to fix the support member 42 more firmly.

According to an example, the connection cap 43 may include a support member coupling part 431 disposed along its radial direction in part of its outer side. The support member coupling part 431 may be formed to protrude outward in the radial direction of the pipe coupling part 432, for example. As described above, the support member 42 may be coupled to the support member coupling part 431. The support member coupling part 431 may extend, for example, by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the first pipe 412.

According to an example, the support member coupling part 431 may include a guide rail 4311 configured to be coupled with the rail groove 423 of the support member 42, as described above. The guide rail 4311 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the first pipe 412.

In order to prevent the first pipe 412 from twisting, the support member 42 needs to be in close contact with and stably secured to the first pipe 412. In the disclosure, the length of the guide rail 4311 (or the length of the support member coupling part 431) may be configured to be greater than or equal to a predetermined length in order to bring the support member 42 into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412 and secured thereto. A region in which the support member 42 and the support member coupling part 431 of the connection cap 43 are coupled may be formed to be greater than or equal to a predetermined level so that the support member 42 can be stably fixed on the first pipe 412.

According to an example, the length of the guide rail 4311 (or the length of the support member coupling part 431) may be greater than or equal to a predetermined ratio of the length of the first pipe 412. Here, the length of the guide rail 4311 and the length of the first pipe 412 may refer to each length measured in the longitudinal direction (or x-axis direction) of the first pipe 412. Here, the predetermined ratio may be 10%, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as the length of the guide rail 4311 increases, the length of the support member coupling part 431 may also increase.

According to an example, the body connection member 44 may be configured to connect the first pipe 412 and the body 10. According to an example, the support member 42 may be coupled to the body connection member 44. For example, the body connection member 44 may be coupled to the connection pipe of the body 10 (e.g., the connection pipe 14 of FIG. 1). For example, the connection pipe 14 of the body 10 may be inserted into the body connection member 44 to be fastened to the body connection member 44. The other end 422 of the support member 42 may be coupled to the body connection member 44.

According to an example, the body connection member 44 may include a release mechanism 49 that allows to the body 10 to be detached from the body connection member 44. The release mechanism 49 may be coupled to the body connection member 44. The release mechanism 49 may include a lever 493, a spring 492, and a button 491. For example, the release mechanism 49 may be coupled to the body connection member 44 such that a portion of the lever 493 penetrates into the body connection member 44. The body 10 and the body connection member 44 may be coupled being caught by a groove in the body 10 corresponding to the inwardly protruding lever 493. When the button 491 is pressed, the lever 493 may be detached from the groove of the body 10, causing the body 10 to be separated from the body connection member 44. The pressed button 491 may be returned to its position prior to being pressed by the reaction force of the spring 492.

According to an example, the release mechanism 49 may include an outer wall member 494 that forms an exterior of a portion of the extension pipe 40. When the release mechanism 49 is coupled to the body connection member 44, the outer wall member 494 and the body connection member 44 may have cylindrical shapes having different diameters approximately for each section. The outer wall member 494 of the release mechanism 49 may serve to fix the movement of the support member 42, for example.

According to an embodiment, the extension pipe 40 may include a holder member 46. The holder member 46 may be located inside the body connection member 44 or the release mechanism 49. Here, the term ‘inside’ may refer to a direction toward the center of the first pipe 412. The holder member 46 may fix the position of the release mechanism 49 coupled to the body connection member 44. As shown in FIG. 9E, the holder member 46 may include a support member passing part 461 configured to allow the support member 42 to pass therethrough.

According to an embodiment, the extension pipe 40 may include a head connection member 45. The head connection member 45 may be configured to connect the second pipe 411 and the cleaner head 50. The head connection member 45 may be coupled to the second-first pipe 4111 and the second-second pipe 4112 using a hook. For example, the head connection member 45 may be coupled to a pipe connection part (e.g., the pipe connection part 51 of FIG. 1) of the cleaner head 50.

According to an embodiment, the extension pipe 40 may include a sealing member 47 configured to seal the space between the first pipe 412 and the second-second pipe 4112. The first portion 471 of the sealing member 47 may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the second-second pipe 4112. For example, the first portion 471 of the sealing member 47 may be attached and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the end opposite to the end at which the second-second pipe 4112 is connected to the cleaner head 50. In the sealing member 47, a second portion 472 different from the first portion 471 may be configured to seal the space between the first pipe 412 and the second-second pipe 4112 when the first pipe 412 slides with respect to the second pipe 411. The first portion 471 may have a smaller diameter than the second portion 472. The first pipe 412 may slide with the sealing member 47 being in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first pipe 412, for example.

Foreign substances such as dust sucked from the cleaner head 50 may move along the second-second pipe 4112 and the first pipe 412 and be then transported to the body 10. In this case, the sealing member 47 may be disposed to prevent those foreign substances, such as dust, from flowing out along the space formed between the second-second pipe 4112 and the first pipe 412.

According to an example, when the length of the extension pipe 40 is extended by exposing the first pipe 412 to the outside of the second pipe 411, the extension pipe 40 may include a stopper 48 for determining its extendable length.

FIGS. 9A to 9F are views for explaining a process of coupling respective components of the extension pipe according to an embodiment.

The components illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9F may be the components included in the extension pipe 40 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8. The assembly sequence illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9F is an example to illustrate the coupling relationship of the respective associated components centered on the first pipe 412, and the extension pipe for the vacuum cleaner does not necessarily have to be sequentially assembled in the order of FIGS. 9A to 9F.

First, referring to FIG. 9A, the first pipe 412 may have a cylindrical shape as a whole. The cross section of the first pipe 412 may have a circular shape over the entire range, for example. The cross section of the first pipe 412 may have the same size over the entire range, for example.

According to an example, the first pipe 412 may include a body coupling groove 4121 for coupling with the head connection member 45, a cap coupling groove 4122 for coupling with the connection cap 43, and an anti-rotation groove 4123 for preventing rotation of the connection cap 43. The body coupling groove 4121 may be located, for example, in the vicinity of the first end 412a of the first pipe 412. The cap coupling groove 4122 and the anti-rotation groove 4123 may be located, for example, in the vicinity of the second end 412b of the first pipe 412.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the body connection member 44 may be coupled to the first end 412a of the first pipe 412. The body connection member 44 may include, for example, a pull-in portion 441 that is pulled-in into the first pipe 412. The diameter of the pull-in portion 441 may be less than the diameter of the first pipe 412. For example, the pull-in portion 441 may be inserted into the first pipe 412 such that its outer circumferential surface is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first pipe 412.

The body connection member 44 may include a body coupling protrusion 442 for fit-coupled to the body coupling groove 4121 of the first pipe 412. The body coupling protrusion 442 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the pull-in portion 441, for example. When inserted into the first end 412a of the first pipe 412, the body coupling protrusion 442 may be fitted into the body coupling groove 4121 of the first pipe 412, thereby coupling the body connection member 44 and the first pipe 412. The body coupling protrusion 442 may have, for example, a hook shape.

Referring to FIG. 9C, the support member 42 may be coupled to the body connection member 44. The body connection member 44 may form, for example, an insertion region 443 and an insertion groove 444 into which the other end 422 of the support member 42 is inserted. The insertion groove 444 may be, for example, a groove into which an outer edge portion 422a of the other end 422 of the support member 42 is inserted. When the other end 422 of the support member 42 is inserted into the insertion region 443 of the body connection member 44, the support member 42 may be arranged to extend in a direction parallel to the first pipe 412 with its portion contacting the first pipe 412, as shown in FIG. 9D.

According to an example, the body connection member 44 may include at least one fitting portion 445 disposed in the insertion groove 444. The at least one fitting portion 445 may be formed to extend in a direction parallel to the support member 42 (e.g., x-axis direction), respectively.

According to an example, the support member 42 may include at least one fitting groove 425 disposed inside the other end 422. The at least one fitting groove 425 may be, for example, coupled to the fitting portion 445 when the support member 42 is coupled to the body connection member 44. The fitting groove 425 may be coupled to the fitting portion 445 in a force-fit matter, for example. By coupling of the fitting groove 425 and the fitting portion 445, the other end 422 of the support member 42 may be firmly secured to the body connection member 44.

Referring to FIG. 9D, the release mechanism 49 may be coupled onto the support member 42 coupled to the body connection member 44. The release mechanism 49 may be coupled onto the other end 422 of the support member 42. For example, the release mechanism 49 may be located on the insertion region 443 of the body connection member 44.

The release mechanism 49 may be coupled by the lever 493 passing through a lever through hole 424 formed in the other end 422 of the support member 42. The outer wall member 494 of the release mechanism 49 may cover the other end 422 of the support member 42 so that it is not visible from the outside. The release mechanism 49 may be coupled to the other end 422 of the support member 42 to fix the movement of the support member 42.

Referring to FIG. 9E, the holder member 46 may be coupled to the inside of the body connection member 44 or the release mechanism 49. The holder member 46 may have, for example, an annular shape having a diameter larger than that of the first pipe 412. The holder member 46 may be, for example, inserted at the second end 412b of the first pipe 412 and then moved toward the body connection member 44, so as to be coupled to the inside of the body connection member 44. For example, the holder member 46 may include a support member passing part 461 that is a space through which the support member 42 passes. By coupling the holder member 46 to the inside of the body connection member 44, the support member 42 may be prevented from being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (e.g., x-axis direction) of the first pipe 412. The holder member 46 may have, for example, an advantageous effect of more firmly fixing the support member 42.

Referring to FIG. 9F, the connection cap 43 may be mounted onto the second end 412b of the first pipe 412. When the connection cap 43 is mounted onto the first pipe 412, the support member 42 may be inserted into and fixed to the support member coupling part 431 of the connection cap 43.

The connection cap 43 may be mounted onto the second end 412b of the first pipe 412 by fitting the cap coupling protrusion 4321 into the cap coupling groove 4122 of the first pipe 412. The cap coupling protrusion 4321 may have, for example, a hook shape. When the connection cap 43 is mounted onto the second end 412b of the first pipe 412, the anti-rotation protrusion 4322 of the connection cap 43 may be inserted into the anti-rotation groove 4123 of the first pipe 412. The shape and size of the anti-rotation protrusion 4322 may be made to correspond to the shape and size of the anti-rotation groove 4123. The structure of the anti-rotation protrusion 4322 and the anti-rotation groove 4123 may prevent the connection cap 43 from rotating in the circumferential direction of the first pipe 412, in a state of the connection cap 43 being mounted onto the first pipe 412.

When peripheral components are coupled to the first pipe 412, one end 421 and the other end 422 of the support member 42 may be fixed by the body connection member 44 and the connection cap 43, respectively. The fixed support member 42 may be maintained in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 412. The support member 42 disposed on the first pipe 412 may offset any external force, such as twisting, that may occur during a sliding movement of the first pipe 412 and its subsequent stretching/retraction of the extension pipe 40.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a coupling relationship between a support member and a connection cap of an extension pipe according to an embodiment.

The support member 42 and the connection cap 43 shown in FIG. 10 may have substantially the same or similar configuration as the support member 42 and the connection cap 43 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

The thickness of the guide rail 4311 of the connection cap 43 may be formed to be thicker along a direction in which the support member 42 is inserted (e.g., −x axis direction). The thickness of the guide rail 4311 may be formed to be thicker as it approaches the outer end of the connection cap 43 (i.e., the end proximal to the second pipe 411). Here, the thickness of the guide rail 4311 may be measured on the basis of the radial direction (or z-axis direction) of the first pipe 412. For example, the thickness D1 of an end at which the rail groove 423 first comes into contact with the guide rail 4311 may be thinner than the thickness D1′ at its opposite end.

According to an example, the rail groove 423 of the support member 42 may also have a variable thickness structure corresponding to the shape of the guide rail 4311. For example, the thickness D2 of a closed end of the rail groove 423 may be thinner than the thickness D2′ of its opposite open end.

Such a variable thickness structure of the guide rail 4311 and the rail groove 423 may facilitate coupling of the support member 42 and the connection cap 43 during the assembly. For example, the rail groove 423 may become thicker as it goes toward an edge of one end 421 of the support member 42. For example, the guide rail 4311 may become thicker as it goes toward an edge of the second end 412b of the first pipe 412. When the rail groove 423 and the guide rail 4311 first face each other so that the support member 42 is coupled with the connection cap 43, a thickened portion of the rail groove 423 is placed to face a thin portion of the guide rail 4311, so that the coupling may become more convenient. In addition, due to the variable thickness structure of the guide rail 4311, it is possible to fix the coupling of the support member 42 more firmly when the rail groove 423 of the support member 42 is inserted over the entire range of the guide rail 4311.

In the vacuum cleaner described above, the length of the extension pipe may be extended and contracted as the first pipe slidingly moves into or out of the main pipe. The support member for supporting the first pipe sliding into and out of the main pipe may be fixedly disposed onto the first pipe. In the case of using a variety of connecting configurations for the support member described in the disclosure, it will be possible to fix the support member stably onto the first pipe using a separate structure, even if a dedicated space for the support member to be inserted is not directly formed onto the first pipe. Therefore, even in case where each pipe making up the extension pipe, in particular, the first pipe includes a material configuration such as e.g., a carbon material or a glass material, it is possible to produce a stable extension pipe structure without a sharp increase in manufacturing time or costs, thereby enabling lightweight of the vacuum cleaner without compromising enhanced productivity.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for comparing a first pipe according to an embodiment with a conventional pipe corresponding thereto. FIG. 12 is a diagram for comparing an extension pipe according to an embodiment with a conventional extension pipe corresponding thereto.

In FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 12(a), some configurations of an extension pipe structure mounted on a conventional stick-type vacuum cleaner are shown. The pipe 1100 shown in FIG. 11(a) may have a function similar to that of the first pipe 412 (in FIG. 11(b)) of the disclosure. For example, the conventional pipe 1100 may be mounted to be stretchable with respect to other adjacent pipes 1300. For the conventional pipe 1100, a support member 1200 (or a torsion preventing member) should be mounted on to prevent torsion or the like from occurring during the operation of the vacuum cleaner.

The conventional pipe 1100 includes a cylindrical portion 1110 and a pair of wing portions 1120 configured to extend from a circumference of the cylindrical portion 1110 to one side to form a mounting space 1130. The support member 1200 is slidably mounted in the mounting space 1130. Such a shape of the conventional pipe 1100 is generally manufactured by injection molding. For the injection molding, plastic, aluminum, or the like may be used to manufacture the conventional pipe 1100.

The conventional pipe 1100 has a pair of wing portions 1120 formed over the entire extent along the longitudinal direction of the pipe 1100, which has a disadvantage of using a large amount of unnecessary materials (plastic or aluminum) to form the wing portions 1120. Thus, the amount of material required to manufacture the wing portions 1120 increases the overall costs and also increases the weight of the conventional pipe 1100. In the disclosure, such a configuration of the wing portions 1120 may be eliminated by the connection cap 43 configuring the support member coupling part 431 having the guide rail 4311 for inserting and fixing of the support member 42. As the guide rail 4311 replaces the role of the conventional wing portion 1120, in the disclosure, it is possible to reduce manufacturing the costs and reduce the overall weight by omitting the wing portion for the first pipe 412. The first pipe 412 without the wing portion may bring about a weight reduction of about 40% compared to the conventional pipe 1100, and the amount of material used to manufacture the conventional pipe 1100 may also be reduced by about 40%, resulting in an overall cost saving effect.

One of the methods for reducing the weight of stick-type vacuum cleaners is to incorporate a pipe made of a carbon or glass material into the extension pipe. When such a carbon or glass material is used to manufacture the pipe of the stick-type vacuum cleaner, mass production by an injection molding may be difficult. The wing portion 1120 formed on the conventional pipe 1100 has generally a shape capable of mass-production when manufactured by the injection method, but there is a problem that additional processes such as a manual work are required to make the shape such as the wing portion 1120 even for a pipe made of carbon or glass material, and such an additional processes make it difficult to mass-produce the pipes within a predetermined time period. In the disclosure, the simple cylindrical first pipe 412 with the wing portion 1120 removed may be utilized by replacing the role of the wing portion 1120 for fixing the support member 1200 with the support member coupling part 431 of the connection cap 43, and thus the mass production of the first pipe 412 may be possible even with such a carbon or glass material applied. The first pipe 412 made of a carbon material may bring about a weight reduction effect of about 40% compared to the pipe made of an aluminum material with the same shape.

The terms used in the disclosure are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the technical features of the disclosure thereto. For example, an element expressed in a singular form should be understood as a concept including plural elements, unless the context explicitly dictates only such a singular form. As used herein, each of the phrases such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B or C”, “at least one of A, B and C”, and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Further, it should be appreciated that the term ‘and/or’ used herein encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items. The terms such as “comprise”, “include”, “have”, and “consist of” used herein are only intended to designate that there are features, components, parts, or a combination thereof described in the disclosure, and are not intended to exclude in advance a possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, components, parts, or a combination thereof, by using these terms. The expressions such as “first”, “second”, and the like used herein may modify various components regardless of the order and/or importance, and are only used to distinguish one component from other components and do not limit the corresponding components in view of other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

As used in the disclosure, the expression “configured to ˜” may be used interchangeably with, depending on the context, for example, “suitable for ˜”, “having the ability to ˜”, “designed to ˜”, “modified to ˜”, “made to ˜”, “capable of ˜” or the like. The term “configured to ˜” may not necessarily mean only “specially designed to ˜” in hardware. Instead, in some situations, the expression “a device configured to ˜” may mean that the device is “capable of ˜” together with another devices or components. For example, a phrase “a device configured (or adapted) to perform A, B, and C” may refer to a dedicated device for performing a corresponding operation or refer to a general-purpose device capable of performing various operations including the corresponding operation.

Meanwhile, the terms such as e.g., “upper”, “lower”, “forward/backward direction” and the like used in the disclosure are defined on the basis of the accompanying drawings, and the shapes and positions of the corresponding component are not limited by these terms.

While the foregoing description of the disclosure has been made focused on specific embodiments, the disclosure is not limited to those specific embodiments and should be understood to encompass various modifications, equivalents, and/or substitutions of various embodiments.

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	PCT/KR2023/013311	Sep 2023	WO
Child	19058571		US

EXTENTSION TUBE AND VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING SAME

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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