AU2010347852B2

AU2010347852B2 - Vacuum cleaner with dust visualization device

Info

Publication number: AU2010347852B2
Application number: AU2010347852A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jung Bae Hwang; Man Tae Hwang
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2010-03-10
Filing date: 2010-03-10
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-10
Also published as: WO2011111883A1; AU2010347852A1; CN102905595A; KR20120081178A; CN102905595B; KR101356531B1

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner for resolving the problem of dust that is jammed between the components of a dust visualization device in the dust visualization device of the vacuum cleaner so that air flow in the dust visualization device may be kept smooth. In order to achieve this object, a vacuum cleaner with a dust visualization device according to the present invention comprises: a suction nozzle; and the dust visualization device provided to the suction nozzle so as to accumulate dust sucked by the suction nozzle. The dust visualization device includes: an air-dust separating member provided at one side of the suction nozzle, and having an opening section for discharging dust and air, and an air flow hole provided separately from the opening section for the flow of air; a housing section for receiving the dust separating member; and an air guide device rotatively provided to the housing section for selectively guiding air outside the housing section to the inside of the housing.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [TITLE OF INVENTION] VACUUM CLEANER WITH DUST VISUALIZATION DEVICE [TECHNICAL FIELD] [1] The present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner, e.g., to a vacuum cleaner with a dust visualization device for enabling a user to see dust being drawn during cleaning with his or her naked eyes. [BACKGROUND] [2] The vacuum cleaner is an electric product for drawing dust and air with vacuum, separating the dust from the air to clean a surface to be cleaned, and provided with a body, a suction pipe connected to the body, and a suction nozzle connected to the suction pipe. [3] In a state the body is put into operation to form vacuum in the body, if the user cleans the cleaning surface while holding the suction pipe to adjust a moving direction of the suction nozzle, the dust on the cleaning surface is drawn into the body through the suction pipe together with the air. Then, the dust is separated from the air. [4] In the meantime, in a position of the user, there have been demands to know in the middle of the cleaning whether the dust is being drawn properly, and how much is a quantity of the dust being drawn. In order to meet such demands, the dust visualization device has been attached to one side of the suction nozzle. [5] A related art dust visualization device has a problem in that the dust drawn in, and accumulated in the dust visualization device is trapped in gaps in the dust visualization device to require cleaning after disassembly of the body, later. [5a] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. [SUMMARY] [5b] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; and a dust visualization device, wherein the dust visualization device includes; an air dust separating member provided to one side of the suction nozzle to have an opening for discharging dust and air and an air flow hole provided separate from the opening for flow of the air, a housing for housing the dust separating member, and an air guiding unit rotatably provided to the housing for selective guiding of air from an outside of the housing to an inside of the housing. [5c] The present invention also provides a vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; and a dust visualization device provided to the suction nozzle for accumulating dust drawn by the suction nozzle; wherein the dust visualization device includes; a housing of a transparent or semi-transparent material, a dust separating member in the housing, and an air guiding member including a dial unit having a communication hole for making selective communication of an outside and an inside of the housing as the dial unit coupled to the housing is rotated. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] [5d] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [6] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [7] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a suction nozzle and a dust visualization device in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [8] FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled perspective view of a suction nozzle and a dust visualization device in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [9] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [10] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of a locus of a swirling flow in a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [11] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a dust separating member in a dust visualization device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. [12] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a dust separating member in a dust visualization device in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. [13] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a state before a dial unit is rotated. [14] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic view of a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a state after a dial unit is rotated. [15] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic view of a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing dust remained and accumulated in a housing. [16] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic view of a dust visualization device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a dust removal process from a housing. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION] [17] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a vacuum cleaner which can solve a problem of dust trapped in gaps between components of a dust visualization device by maintaining an air flow in the dust visualization device smooth.

[18] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a vacuum cleaner which enables easy removal of dust from an inside of a dust visualization device by introducing external air to the inside of the dust visualization device. [19] In embodiments, a vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle, and a dust visualization device, wherein the dust visualization device includes an air dust separating member provided to one side of the suction nozzle to have an opening for discharging dust and air and an air flow hole provided separate from the opening for flow of the air, a housing for housing the dust separating member, and an air guiding unit rotatably provided to the housing for selective guiding of air from an outside of the housing to an inside of the housing. [20] In embodiments, a vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle, and a dust visualization device provided to the suction nozzle for accumulating dust drawn by the suction nozzle, wherein the dust visualization device includes a housing of a transparent or semi-transparent material, a dust separating member in the housing, and an air guiding member including a dial unit having a communication hole for making selective communication of an outside and an inside of the housing as the dial unit coupled to the housing is rotated. [21] Thus, embodiments of the present invention may enable smooth escape of the air introduced to the dust visualization device, and prevent the dust from trapping in gaps in the dust visualization device. [22] And, by rotating the dial unit provided to one side of the dust visualization device, making the inside and the outside of the dust visualization device in communication with each other to introduce external air to the inside, the dust may be removed the dust from an inside of the housing in the dust visualization device, easily. [23] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [24] However, though aspects of the present invention are not limited to embodiments suggested herein, but a person skilled in this field of art will devise other embodiment within the same scope of the aspect easily, it is apparent that the other embodiment also belongs to the scope of the present invention. [25] Referring to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a body 10, a suction pipe 20, a suction nozzle 100 connected to the suction pipe 20, wherein the suction pipe 20 includes an extensible first suction pipe 21 connected to the suction nozzle 100, and a corrugated second suction pipe 22 connected to the first suction pipe 21 and the body 10. [26] There is a cylindrical dust visualization device 200 provided to one side of the suction nozzle 100.

OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [27] The dust visualization device 200 has dust and air introduced thereto at the time of operation of the vacuum cleaner, performing a function of enabling a user to know that the vacuum cleaner is in dust drawing operation, presently. [28] The suction nozzle 100 and the dust visualization device 200 will be described, with reference to FIG. 2. [29] The suction nozzle 100 has an exterior divided into an upper case 110 and a lower case 120, wherein the lower case 120 has a suction flow passage 121 on an underside and a punching member 132 provided adjacent to the suction flow passage 121 to punch a cleaning surface while moving up/down. [30] And, between the upper case 110 and the lower case 120, there is a power generating unit 131 connected to the punching member 132 for causing the up/down movement of the punching member. [31] In a rear side of an upper side of the lower case 120, there is a mounting recess 123 in communication with the suction flow passage 121 for mounting a portion of the dust visualization device 200 thereto. The mounting recess 123 is cylindrical, substantially. [32] In detail, an upper side of the mounting recess 123 is a semi-cylindrical recess at a rear portion of the upper case 110 of the suction nozzle 100, and a lower 7 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 side of the mounting recess 123 is a semi-cylindrical recess at a rear portion of the lower case 120 of the suction nozzle 100. [33] The first suction pipe 21 provided in rear of the suction nozzle 100 is not, inserted in the suction nozzle 100 directly, but connected to the suction nozzle 100 in a mode in which the first suction pipe 221 is connected to a suction pipe connection member 140 a portion of which is inserted in the mounting recess 123. [34] The suction pipe connection member 140 has a front side with a semi-cylindrical recess, and a rear side with a pipe shape for enabling to connect to the first suction pipe 21. [35] In a state the portion of the dust visualization device 200 is coupled to a front side of the suction pipe connection member 140, the suction pipe connection member 140 and the dust visualization device 200 are mounted to the mounting recess 123. [36] The dust visualization device 200 includes a connection member 210, a dust separating member 220 provided to an end portion of the connection member 210, a housing 230 connected to the connection member 210 and housing the dust separating member 220, and an air guiding unit 240 provided to an end portion of the 8 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 housing 230 for guiding external air to an inside of the housing 230, selectively. (37] The connection member 210 has a pipe shape, with an inlet 211 provided in one side of an outside circumference in communication with the suction flow passage 121, and an outlet 212 provided to an opposite side of the inlet 211 in communication with the first suction pipe 21. (38] Referring to FIG. 3, there is a supporting plate 213 projected from an upper side of the inlet 211 for serving as a blocking member which covers a space between the inlet 211 and the suction flow passage 121 for making the dust entered to the space, not to move upward, but to be introduced to the inlet 211, directly. [39] Referring to FIG. 2, the dust separating member 220 is mounted to the end portion of the connection member 210 for separating the dust from the air by cyclone. [40] The dust separating member 220 includes a hollow coupling portion 221 coupled to the connection member 210, a conical dust separating portion 222 connected to one side of the coupling portion 221 to have a diameter which becomes the more gradually as the dust separating portion 222 goes to an outer side the more, and an opening 223 formed in an end portion of the dust 9 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 separating portion 222 for discharging the air and the dust. [41] In the meantime, there is an annular rib 224 on an outside circumference of the dust separating portion 222 adjacent to the coupling portion 221 having a height as large as a gap between an outside of the dust separating portion 222 and an inside wall space of the housing 230 for preventing the dust from being trapped in, and stuck to the gap. [42] And, in a case the dust and the air swirls round the dust separating portion 222, the rib 224 also serves guiding movement of the dust and the air to move along a surface of the rib 224. [43] And, provided to an edge of the coupling portion 221, there are fastening projections 225 for fastening the coupling portion 221 to the connection member 210. As the fastening projections 225 are placed in the connection member 210, the dust separating member 220 is fixedly coupled to the connection member 210. [44] And, the coupling makes an inside space of the connection member 210 and an inside space of the dust separating member 220 to be in communication with each other. 10 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [45] The housing 230 houses the dust separating member 220 and couples to an outside circumference of the connection member 210. [46] If a vacuum is formed in the body 10 (See FIG. 1) in a state the housing 230 is housed in the dust separating member 220, the air and the dust passed through the suction nozzle 100 is discharged from the opening 223 and introduced to the inside of the housing 230 after passed through the suction flow passage 121, the connection member 210, and the dust separating member 220. (47] The air and the dust introduced to the inside of the housing 230 swirls an outside circumference of the dust separating portion 222, wherein the dust heavier than the air moves along the inside wall of the housing 230 and deposit on the inside of the housing 230 by centrifugal force. [48] And, the air separated from the dust is introduced to the opening 223 again, passes through the outlet 212 in the connection member 212, and is introduced to the body 10 (See FIG. 1) along the first suction pipe 21. [49] In detail, the housing 230 includes a first body portion 231 having a predetermined inside space, and a second body portion 232 provided to one side of the 1l OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 first body portion 231 having a diameter slightly smaller than the first body portion 231. (50] The second body portion 232 has one side provided with a first communication hole 233 for making an outside and an inside of the housing 230 to be in communication. [51] The one side of the second body portion 232 has an inserting hole 234 provided at a center for inserting a fixing shaft 251 of a dial cover member 250 to be described later, and a fastening portion 235 is provided to an inside edge of the first body portion 231 for fixedly coupling to the connection member 210. [52] The second body portion 232 is rotatably coupled to a rotatable dial unit 241. [53] The dial unit 241 includes a cover plate 241 having a section in conformity with a section of the second body portion 232, and a holding portion 242 formed at an edge of the cover plate 241 having a thickness thicker than a thickness of the cover plate 241 for easy holding by a user. [54] The cover plate 241 has a pass through hole 243 in a center for passing through of the fixing shaft of the dial cover member 250, and a second communication hole 244 provided to other portion of the cover plate 241 to 12 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 be in selective communication with the first communication hole 233. [55] And, the dial unit 241 has opposite sides provided with receiving recesses 245 constructed of the outside surface of the cover plate 241 and an inside wall of the holding portion for receiving the second body portion 232 and the dial cover member 250, respectively. [56] It is preferable that the dial cover member 250 is provided in conformity with a shape of the receiving recess 245. [57] Of opposite sides of the dial cover member 250, a fixing shaft 251 is projected from a center of a side which is to make a surface to surface contact with the receiving recess 245 for inserting in and securing to the inserting hole 234 in the second body portion 232. [58] And, a third communication hole 254 is provided in other portion of the dial cover member 250 to be in selective communication with the first and second communication holes 233, and 234. [59] There are no position changes of the first communication hole 233 in the second body portion 232 of the housing 230, and the third communication hole 254 in the dial cover member 230. Because the housing 230 and the dial cover member 250 are mounted in a secured state. 13 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 (60] In the meantime, it is preferable that the first communication hole 233 and the third communication hole 254 are formed opposite to each other. This is for making the first communication hole 233 and the third communication hole 254 to be in communication or to be blocked depending on a change of a position of the second communication hole 244. (61] Since the dial unit 241 is rotatably provided, the position of second communication hole 244 varies. If the user rotates the dial unit 241 to position the second communication hole 244 between the first communication hole 233 and the third communication hole 254, the inside and the outside of the housing 230 can be made to be in communication. [62] And, if the user rotates the dial unit 241 to position the second communication hole 244 outside of the first communication hole 233 and the third communication hole 254, the communication between the inside and the outside of the housing 230 is blocked. [63] Referring to FIG. 3, the dust visualization device 200 is inserted in one side of a rear side of the suction nozzle 100 such that the dust and the air drawn through the suction nozzle 100 are introduced to the inside of the dust visualization device 200, and flows to the first suction pipe 21 after separating the dust. 14 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [64] Since the housing 230 is formed of a transparent material, enabling to see an inside entirely, the dust accumulated in the housing 230 in a process of dust separation is also visible from an outside of the housing 230 as it is, accordingly. [65] In the meantime, it is preferable that the holding portion 242 provided to the dial unit 241 has a diameter larger than a diameter of the housing 230 to make the holding portion 242 projected beyond an outside diameter of the housing 230, for the user to hold the holding portion, easily. [66] And, it is preferable that the holding portion 242 has a holding recess 242a formed at a portion of an outside surface for preventing the holding portion from slipping at the time the user holds and rotates the holding portion. [67] Referring to FIG. 4, the dust separating portion 222 of the dust separating member 220 has an air flow hole 226 formed in an outside circumference for flow of air separate from the opening 223. [68] The air flow hole 226 is provided for smooth flow of the air from the inside of the housing 230 toward the connection member 210 passed through the dust separating member 220. 15 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [69] The air flow hole 226 is provided for discharging the dust not only through the opening 223, but also through the air flow hole 226 in a case the user rotates the dial unit 241 to introduce the air from the outside of the dust visualization device 200 to the inside of the housing 230. [70] As described before, the annular rib 225 along the outside circumference of the dust separating portion 222 is provided to fill the gap between the outside circumferential surface of the dust separating portion 222 and the inside wall of the housing 230. [71] The rib 225 prevents the dust and other foreign matters swirling in the housing 230 from moving to a back side of the rib 225. [72] The rib 225 does not surround the outside circumference of the dust separating portion 222 entirely, but surrounds the outside circumference of the dust separating portion 222 except a portion having the air flow hole 226 provided therein. [73] And, the rib 225 is arranged beyond the air flow hole 226 in an opening 223 direction. [74] This is because, if the air flow hole 226 is beyond the rib 225 in the opening 223 direction, the dust separating function can not be performed properly due 16 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 to escape of the dust and the other foreign matters moving along the rib 225 through the air flow hole 226. [75] That is, while the dust, other foreign matters, and the air are introduced to the inside of the housing through the opening 223, and swirled by a swirling flow, a portion thereof is deposited in the housing, and the other portion thereof swirls along the rib 225 after moving to the rib 225. [76] In this state, continuous swirling movement of the dust and the foreign matters along the rib 225 can be made without escaping through the air flow hole 226 if a distance between a point the opening 223 is positioned at which the swirling flow starts and the rib 225 is shorter than a distance between a point the opening 223 is positioned and the air flow hole 226. [77] Even though there is no rib 225 provided to a portion the air flow hole 226 is formed, the dust and the foreign matters can swirl owing to inertia. [78] In the meantime, a bent rib 227 is provided around the air flow hole 226 connected to the rib 225 to surround the air flow hole 226. It is preferable that the bent rib 227 has a shape of "C" to be able to surround the air flow hole 226. [79] Alike the rib 225, the bent rib 227 also serves preventing the dust and the foreign matters in the 17 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 housing 230 from trapping to stick between the outside circumferential surface of the dust separating portion 222 and the inside of the housing 230. [80] It is preferable that the air flow hole 226 is arranged in a direction the same with the outlet 212 in the connection member 210, which is an opposite direction to a direction the inlet 211 (See FIG. 2) in the connection member 210. [81] A position of the air flow hole 226 is fixed thus because strength of the swirling flow formed by the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 of the connection member 210 and the opening 223 in the dust separating portion 222 becomes the weakest relatively in the vicinity of the air flow hole 226 to position the dust and the foreign matters thereon the smallest. [82] The strength of the swirling flow is as illustrated in FIG. 5. [83] If the strength of the swirling flow is weakened the most, to make a speed thereof the slowest relative to other portions, and a pressure of the air in the vicinity of the air flow hole 226 higher than other portions, the air can move toward the body direction having the vacuum formed therein more smoothly passing through the air flow hole 226. 18 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [84] If the air flow hole 226 is provided in an underside of the dust separating portion 222, the dust D accumulated thereon moves in a direction of the connection member 210 (See FIG. 2) outwardly passed through the air flow hole 226. [85] And, if the air flow hole 226 is provided in a top side of the dust separating portion 222, making an air speed the highest at the portion, to make an air pressure the lowest, air movement toward the body becomes slower than other portions. [86] This is because the portion has a smallest pressure difference from the vacuum. [87] Consequently, an original intention for providing the air having the dust separated therefrom in a direction of the connection member 210 through a place other than the opening may fail. [88] FIG. 6 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a connection member and a dust separating member. In this instance too, the connection member 1210 has an inlet 1211 formed in one side of an outside circumferential surface, and an outlet (Not shown) formed opposite thereto. [89] The dust separating member 1220 coupled to the connection member 1210 includes a cylindrical portion 1221 having a cylindrical shape, and a conical portion 19 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 1222 projected to one side from the cylindrical portion 1221. [90] The conical portion 1222 has an end portion provided with an opening 1223 for discharging the air and the dust, and the cylindrical portion 1221 has an outside circumferential surface provided with an air flow hole 1224. The outside circumferential surface of the conical portion 1222 has a connection rib 1225 provided thereto connected to a surface of the cylindrical portion 1221. [91] The connection rib 1225 is provided for preventing the swirling flow from developing on a surface of the cylindrical portion 1224 and on a surface of the conical portion 1222. The swirling flow interfered thus by the connection rib 1225 moves to the outside circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 1221. [92] Owing to this, most of the swirling flow is formed along the outside circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion. [93] The air flow hole 1224 is formed adjacent to the connection rib 1225. This is because the air flow is the slowest at this portion too, allowing the air to be introduced to an inside of the dust separating member 1220 through the air flow hole 1224. 20 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [94] FIG. 7 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a connection member and a dust separating member. In this instance too, the connection member has an inlet 1211 formed in one side of an outside circumferential surface, and an outlet (Not shown) formed opposite thereto. [95] The dust separating member 1220 is divided into a cylindrical portion 1221 and a conical portion 1222. The conical portion 1222 has an opening 1222 formed in one end portion and the cylindrical portion 1221 has an air flow hole 1224 in an outside circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 1221 the same as the second embodiment. [96] However, one of differences from the second embodiment is that an inlet 1226 is formed in one side of the cylindrical portion 1221 in addition to the air flow hole 1224. [97] This is for introducing the dust which swirls owing to cyclone action into an inside of the dust separating member 1220 through the inlet 1226 again, and introducing to the body 40 (See FIG. 1) guided by the suction pipe 20 (See FIG. 1) after passing through the connection member 1210. [98] Though the dust separating member 220, or 1220 shown in FIG. 4 or 6 is for a user who prefers the dust 21 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 accumulated in the housing, the dust separating member 1220 in FIG. 7 is for a user who prefers to see a fixed amount of the dust swirling instead of accumulation in the housing. [99] Accordingly, if the inlet 1226 is provided in one side of the cylindrical portion in the vicinity of a side of the conical portion 1222, the dust discharged from the opening 1222 swirls in the housing together with the air, and is introduced to the inlet 1226. [100] According to this, an amount of the dust and the air swirling in the housing (Not shown) may be fixed. [101] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate before and after rotation of the dial unit 241. [102] As described before, if the user applies external force to rotate the dial unit 241, the dial unit 241 serves making the inside and the outside of the housing 230 (See FIG. 4) in communication with each other, and if the external force is removed, the dial unit returns to an original state to block the outside and the inside of the housing 230. [103] For this, the dial unit 241 has an elastic member 246 for returning the position of the dial unit 241, preferably a torsion spring. [104] That is, in a state shown in FIG. 8, i.e., in a state the dial unit 241 is not rotated, a face of a 22 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 center plate 241 of the dial unit is visible through the third communication hole 254. This means that the first communication hole 233 (See FIG. 4) in the housing 230 is not in communication with the third communication hole 254 in the dial cover member 250. [105] In this state, the elastic member 246 maintains a state in which no deformation has taken place. [106] However, in a state shown in FIG. 9, i.e., the dial unit 241 is rotated, since the first communication hole 233, the second communication hole 244, and the third communication hole 254 are positioned at the same positions to one another, to become a communication state, making the inside and the outside of the housing 230 (See FIG. 4) in communication with each other, an environment is formed in which the external air can be introduced to the inside. [107] However, in this instance, the elastic member 246 is deformed, making a restoring force to act in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the dial unit 241. [108] In this state, if the user releases the dial unit 241, the restoring force restores the dial unit 241 to the original state, to a state as shown in FIG. 8, blocking the communication between the inside and the outside of the housing 230. 23 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [109] The operation of the vacuum cleaner with a dust visualization device will be described, with reference to the attached drawings. [110] Referring to FIG. 10, upon formation of the vacuum in the body as the body 10 (See FIG. 1) of the vacuum cleaner is put into operation, the dust and the air is introduced through the suction nozzle 100 (See FIG. 1). [111] The dust and the air passed through the suction nozzle 100 are introduced to the inlet 211 in the connection member 210. The dust and the air passed through the inlet 211 thus moves to an inside of the dust separating member 220, and therefrom, is discharged to the inside of the housing 230 through the opening 223 in the end portion of the dust separating member 220. [112] In this instance, a swirling flow is formed in the housing 230, to move round the dust separating portion 222. [113] The dust contained in the swirling flow is accumulated on a bottom of the inside of the housing 230 while turning along an inside wall of the housing 230 by centrifugal force. On the other hand, the air separated from the dust is introduced to the inside of the dust separating member 220 through the opening 223 and the air flow hole 226, again. 24 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [114] And, the air separated from the dust is discharged through the outlet 212 in the connection member 210. Owing to such action, the dust is remained in the housing 230 of a transparent material. [115] As the action is continuous, increasing an amount of the dust remained in the housing 230, the user can perceive with eyes that continuous dust suction and separation is being made, presently. [116] Since it is required to prevent introduction of external air through other portion except the inlet 211, the dial unit 241 blocks a space between the first communication hole 233 in the housing 230 and the third communication hole 254 in the dial cover member 250, to prevent the introduction of the external air through those parts. [117] Referring to FIG. 11, in a case the amount of the dust remained and accumulated in the housing 230 during operation of the vacuum cleaner is large exceedingly, the user rotates the dial unit 241. [118] Upon rotating the dial unit 241, the first communication hole 233, the second communication hole 244, and the third communication hole 254 come to the same positions, to make the inside and the outside of the housing 230 in communication. 25 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 [119] In this instance, a pressure in the housing 230 becomes lower than external atmospheric pressure owing to the vacuum in the body, substantially. Therefore, if the inside and the outside of the housing 230 are in communication with each other, the external air is introduced to the housing through the first, second and third communication holes 233, 244, and 254. [120] The air introduced to the inside of the housing 230 thus is introduced to the inside of the dust separating member 220 through the opening 223 in the dust separating member 220 and the air flow hole 226, together with the dust remained and accumulated in the housing 230. [121] Then, the dust moves to the outlet 212 in the connection member 210 and, therefrom, moves to the body 10 (See FIG. 1) through the suction pipe 20 (See FIG. 1). [122] owing to such action, the dust is removed from the housing 230, and such an air flow is kept until the dial unit 241 is rotated to remove the communication state of the first, second and third communication holes 233, 244, and 254. [123] In the meantime, if the user puts a user's hand off the dial unit 241 in a state the dial unit 241 is rotated, the dial unit 241 returns to an original state 26 by the restoring force of the elastic member 246 (See FIG. 8), to remove the communication state between the first and third communication holes 233 and 254, accordingly as shown in FIG. 10. [124] Consequently, a state is repeated, in which the state of communication between the inside and the outside of the housing 230 is removed, and the dust passed through the suction nozzle 100 (See FIG. 1) is remained and accumulated in the housing 230, again. [125] Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [126] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [127] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; and a dust visualization device, wherein the dust visualization device includes; an air dust separating member provided to one side of the suction nozzle to have an opening for discharging dust and air and an air flow hole provided separate from the opening for flow of the air, a housing for housing the dust separating member, and an air guiding unit rotatably provided to the housing for selective guiding of air from an outside of the housing to an inside of the housing.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dust visualization device further includes a connection member for connecting the suction nozzle, the dust separating member, and the housing, wherein the connection member includes; an inlet in communication with the suction nozzle for guiding the dust and the air drawn through the suction nozzle to the dust separating member and the housing, and an outlet for guiding the air and the dust escaping from the dust separating member and the housing toward a direction of a suction pipe which connects the suction nozzle to a body. 28 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00

3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the opening is formed at a center of an end portion of the dust separating member, and the air communication hole is provided in a surface of the dust separating member spaced a predetermined distance from the opening.

4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a rib provided between a surface of the dust separating member and an inside wall of the housing for preventing the dust from trapping in a gap between the surface of the dust separating member and the inside wall of the housing, wherein the rib is provided along a surface of the dust separating member.

5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rib is connected to a bent rib which surrounds a portion of the air communication hole.

6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rib is arranged closer to the outlet than to the air communication hole by a predetermined distance. 29 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dust separating member is conical, the opening is provided at a center of an end portion of the dust separating member, and the air flow hole is provided in a surface of the dust separating member formed in a shape of a sloped surface.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dust separating member includes a cylindrical portion, and a conical portion, wherein the opening is provided in an end portion of the conical portion, and the air flow hole is provided in a surface of the cylindrical portion.

9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the air flow hole is formed adjacent to the inlet.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guiding unit includes; a dial unit rotatably mounted to an end portion of the housing having the first communication hole formed therein, the dial unit having a second communication hole, and a dial cover member for covering the dial unit, the dial cover member having a projection from a center portion for fixedly mounting to the end portion of the housing, and a 30 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 third communication hole for selective communication with the second communication hole.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an elastic member provided between the dial unit and the end portion of the housing, or the dial unit and the dial cover member for returning the dial unit to an original position when a forced power which rotates the dial unit is removed.

12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dial unit is provided to make the first, second and third communication holes in communication with one another, making the inside and the outside of the housing in communication when the dial unit is rotated.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dial unit is rotatably provided between one side of the housing and the dial cover member, wherein the dial cover member includes a fixing shaft to be coupled to the one side of the housing, and the dial unit has a pass through hole for the fixing shaft to pass.

14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dial unit includes; 31 OPP-AZ-2010-0016-WO-00 receiving recesses on opposite sides for receiving the one end portion of the housing and the dial cover member respectively, and a holding portion provided to an outside circumferential surface for the user to hold.

15. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; and a dust visualization device provided to the suction nozzle for accumulating dust drawn by the suction nozzle; wherein the dust visualization device includes; a housing of a transparent or semi-transparent material, a dust separating member in the housing, and an air guiding member including a dial unit having a communication hole for making selective communication of an outside and an inside of the housing as the dial unit coupled to the housing is rotated.

16. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: a first communication hole provided in the housing; a second communication hole provided in the dial unit; and a third communication hole provided in a dial cover member coupled to the dial unit, 32 wherein the second communication hole is provided in a surface of the dial unit for making the first communication hole and the third communication hole in communication selectively as the dial unit is rotated.

17. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an elastic member provided between the dial unit and the dial cover member for providing an elastic restoring force to the dial unit.

18. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.