EP1827193B1

EP1827193B1 - Agitator for suction nozzle in vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP1827193B1
Application number: EP04808445A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Young Bok Son; Hyoung Joo Daedong Apt. 117-715 CHO; Kyeong Seon Jeong; Ki Tak Sapadongsung Apt. 109-405 HYUN
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-07
Filing date: 2004-12-16
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-16
Also published as: CN101115428B; CN101115428A; US20080086837A1; KR20060063195A; EP1827193A1; WO2006062267A1; KR101119098B1

Abstract

An agitator (100) for a suction nozzle (10) in a vacuum cleaner is disclosed for largely improving efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, the agitator (100) including a body rotatably provided at an inlet (12) of the suction nozzle (10), and at least one blade assembly (120) including a plurality of blades (121) configured to come in contact with a surface to be cleaned, and mounted at the body (110) along a length direction thereof.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to an agitator provided at a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner.

Background Art

In general, a vacuum cleaner is an apparatus for cleaning a floor or a carpet. The vacuum cleaner basically generates a suction force and includes a body configured to pass the air sucked in, and a suction nozzle connected to the body and sucking in outside air. The suction nozzle is, if necessary, connected to the body by a coupling pipe having a predetermine distance.
The vacuum cleaner sucks in outside air using a suction device provided in the body, separately collects objects such as dust from the air sucked in by a collecting device, and discharges refreshed air outside of the vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner further includes an agitator moving along a surface to be cleaned and sucking in air so as to suck in dust on the floor together with other objects. The agitator is normally rotatably mounted at an inlet of the suction nozzle and includes a brush adhered on an outer circumferential surface thereof. Accordingly, when the agitator is rotated, the brush sweeps the floor and separates the dust and other objects from the floor so as to be easily flowed into the inlet.
The brush includes a plurality of bristles. Owing to many clearances between the plurality of bristles, the brush comes into unequal contact with the surface to be cleaned and thus is unable to sweep many objects on the surface to be cleaned.
On the contrary, the brush characteristically scatters light dust. Accordingly, a conventional agitator is unable to effectively suck in the dust and other objects on the surface to be cleaned.
US 4312542 describes a method of making a brush-beater for a vacuum cleaner. Herein, a brush-beater assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a hollow cylinder having outwardly extending projections formed in the material thereof, and slots diametrically opposed to the projections for receiving brush assemblies. The projections may be formed pneumatically or hydraulically in the cylinder, during the production thereof. An additional projection is provided in front of the brush assemblies.
JP 7000322 describes a suction nozzle for a cleaner. Herein, a rotor constituting a rotary rotor is made of a straight rod-like body, and a plurality of grooves are linearly opened along the longitudinal direction of the rotor on the outer periphery. Nearly equal number of brushes are dispersively planted on the outer periphery of the rotor divided by the grooves, the brushes are fitted to blades inserted into the grooves so that no multiple brushes are arranged on the same revolving periphery of the rotor, and brackets having the same rotation axis are coupled at both ends of the rotor to form the rotary rotor. The blades are bent toward the succeeding brushes during rotation so that their tips approach the brushes.
JP 9047394 describes a suction port body for an electric vacuum cleaner. Herein, on the lower surface of this suction port body, a first rotating brush or a second rotating brush for cleaning the floor surface by being rotated with a horizontal rotary shaft as a center is disposed in front and behind. Further, for the second rotating brush at the back, plural grooves extended in a longitudinal direction are formed on the peripheral surface of an arbor and the elastic blade and a napped blade composed of a soft member are alternately attached to the grooves.
JP 10033424 describes a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner and manufacture of its agitator. Herein, an agitator is formed with a nearly columnar central member and such a belt-like blade for scraping up dust that is arranged roughly in a V-shape along the longitudinal direction on the surface of the central member; also with the agitator rotating, both ends are designed to precede the V-shaped valley of the blade, approaching the nozzle side; as a result, with the agitator rotating, dirt on the floor are successively scraped up from both end sides to the V-shaped valley side of the blade, so that the dirt thus scraped up is efficiently sucked into the suction opening.
JP10211133 describes a sucking tool for a vacuum cleaner. Concerning this sucking tool for a vacuum cleaner, the flow-in angle of sucked air for driving an air turbine is set to allow the air to flow in at a nearly parallel angle with respect to the blades of the air turbine near a flow-in port when the sucking tool is positioned in the air and the flowing angle is set to allow the flow-in air at a nearly vertical angle with respect to the blades of the air turbine in a state where a part of the port is formed to be covered by a floor surface when the sucking tool is positioned on the floor. Thereby, the agitator revolves on the floor and automatically stops revolution at the time of lifting the sucking tool in the air.
DE 3933722 describes a rotary beater. Herein, a rotary beater for use in the suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner comprises a rotatable shaft provided with at least one flexible blade comprising a base material of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer and a covering material of plastics having wear resistance and relatively low co-efficient of friction, the latter being located on that side of the blade which in use comes into contact with the surface being cleaned. The covering material may be made of nylon or polyethylene and may be secured to the base material by an adhesive. The blade may have teeth. The blade may be made by a compression moulding process.
DE 2017685 describes a rotary beater. Herein, the rotary beater comprises a cylindrical brush to be rotated while being in contact with a rug to be cleaned, wherein a reciprocating movement of the rotary beater causes a rotational movement of the cylindrical brush.
GB 588124 describes improvements in and connected with vacuum cleaners or sweepers. Herein, a revoluble self-adjusting brush floatingly mounted within a suction cleaner nozzle is driven by toothed gearing in nozzle supporting wheels so that the brush is pressed into contact with the surface to be cleaned by the effect of the tooth pressure in the gearing. Each wheel comprising a hub, a disc and a rim is rotatably mounted on a stub spindle the outer end of which' is fixed to a bracket secured to the nozzle and on the inner end is rotatably mounted a disc. A bearing in each disc rotatably supports a trunnion attached to the adjacent end of the brush, which trunnion extends within the wheel and carries a pinion to engage a toothed ring. The brush, wheels and bracket form a unit detachably secured to the nozzle.
JP 8252199 describes a suction tool for an electric vacuum cleaner. Herein, a plurality of rotating blades are fixed radially to the outer peripheral surface of a rotating axis and the top edge of the rotating blade is notched and divided into a plurality of strips. The rotating blade is fixed obliquely to the rotating axis. The rotating blade rotates clockwise and strips come into contact with the surface of a floor in the order and are released from the floor surface in the order. At the state immediately after one strip was released from the floor surface, it causes a spring up action by resiliency while the other strips are in contact or going to be in contact with the floor surface. Because the blade is divided into five strips, thereby after the strip comes into contact with the floor surface, the released strip can turn over and spatter, therefore dust collecting effect is more improved compared to that of a conventional blade.
JP 2004081893 describes a suction port for a vacuum cleaner. Herein, the suction port includes an agitator having a rotator and an agitating blade for scraping dust and a pulley provided at the end of the agitator, the pulley is integrally formed with a shaft held and fixed at the rotator and integrally composed with a fixing portion inserted and fitted into a holding portion formed at the end of the rotator. The pulley enables a very strong retention and fixation with respect to a radial load.

Diclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an agitator for a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an agitator for a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, for effectively sucking in dust and other objects on a surface to be cleaned.
This object is solved by the agitator according to claim 1. Further advantages, refinements and embodiments of the invention are described in the respective sub-claims.
Herein, an agitator for a suction nozzle in a vacuum cleaner, comprises a body rotatably provided at an inlet of the suction nozzle; and at least one blade assembly including a plurality of blades configured to come in contact with a surface to be cleaned, and mounted at the body along a length direction thereof.
The body is rotated by friction between the blade assembly and the surface, or forcibly rotated by a driving mechanism. It is preferable that the body be formed in a cylindrical shape.
The plurality of blades comprises flexibility. The plurality of blades is spaced for a predetermined distance from one another. The plurality of blades is serially disposed. The plurality of blades comprises a plurality of square sections. The free ends of the plurality of blades have reduced sections, the free ends coming in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The plurality of blades comprises triangle sections or trapezoid sections.
The plurality of blades is connected with one another. The plurality of blades is formed as one body. The blade assembly further comprises a strip member connecting the plurality of blades to one another. The strip member connects supporting ends of the plurality of blades and is inserted into the body.
The blade assembly is configured to lead objects to a particular location of an inlet with a relatively strong suction force, the objects to be sucked in. The blade assembly is configured to gather objects to a particular location of an inlet with a relatively strong suction force, the objects to be sucked in. The blade assembly is configured to lead objects to a center portion of the inlet, the objects to be sucked in.
The blade assembly is configured to gather the objects to a center portion of the inlet, the objects to be sucked in. The blade assembly comprises a first assembly and a second assembly sloped to a predetermined degree and extended respectively from both sides of the body toward a central axis of the body.
The first and second assemblies are extended so as to be joined, and a joining portion where the first and second assemblies are joined is disposed at the center portion of the inlet. The first and second assemblies are respectively extended in an opposite direction to a rotation direction of the body. The joining portion follows both ends of the blade assembly in a rotation direction of the body.
The blade assembly comprises a first assembly and a second assembly sinking toward a center portion from both ends of the body. The first and second assemblies are extended to be joined with each other. The first and second assemblies are respectively extended in an opposite direction to a rotation direction of the body. It is preferable that the joining portion follow both ends of the blade assembly in a rotation direction of the body.
Meanwhile, the blade assembly is converged on a center portion from both ends of the body. A conversion member of the blade assembly is disposed at the center portion of the inlet. The blade assembly is extended in an opposite direction to the rotation direction of the body from both ends of the body toward the center portion thereof. A conversion member of the blade assembly follows the both ends of the blade assembly in the rotation direction of the body.
The blade assembly is disposed to form a recess portion or an indent portion. The recess member is disposed at a center portion of the inlet. The blade assembly is extended in an opposite direction to the rotation direction of the body from both ends of the body toward the center portion thereof. It is preferable that the recess member follows both ends of the blade assembly in the rotation direction of the body, and the first and second assemblies are extended straight.
Meanwhile, the body comprises a groove for accommodating the blade assembly. The groove is configured to be geared with the blade assembly. The groove comprises a reduced section at an entrance thereof. In more detail, the groove comprises at least one projecting member formed at an entrance thereof and having the blade assembly caught thereon. The groove comprises a section being gradually reduced from a bottom member to the entrance thereof.
The blade assembly is configured to be tightly fitted in the groove. A section of a supporting end of the blade assembly has a same shape as a section of the groove having the supporting end caught thereon. In more detail, the blade assembly comprises at least one projecting member caught on the projecting member of the groove. The blade assembly is at least partially tapered so as to be coupled with the groove.
The groove is configured to allow the blade assembly to be inserted in a lateral direction of the body from an end of the body. The groove is passed through one end of the body.
Due to the present invention, almost all objects on the surface to be cleaned are sucked in through the suction nozzle, and efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is largely improved.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Brief Description of Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.
In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner with an agitator in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a floor plan showing a floor of a suction nozzle having an agitator mounted thereon;
FIGs. 3A to 3B illustrate exploded cross sectional views showing embodiments of an agitator in accordance with the present invention and taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2;
FIGs. 4A to 4C illustrate cross sectional views showing modified embodiments of a blade mounted at the agitator in accordance with the present invention;
FIGs. 5A to 5B illustrate schematic views showing profiles of a blade assembly mounted at the agitator in accordance with the present invention;
FIGs. 6A to 6B illustrate cross sectional views showing modified embodiments of recesses included in a body of the agitator. Fig 6A, however, does not form part of the present invention and has been presented for explanatory purposes only.
FIGs. 7A to 7B illustrate cross sectional views showing modified embodiments of a string member included in the blade assembly of the agitator in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 8 illustrates a floor plan showing a method for mounting the blade assembly to a body in the agitator in accordance with the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
A vacuum cleaner is classified into a canister type vacuum cleaner and an upright type vacuum cleaner. In the canister type vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle is connected with a body via a coupling pipe. In the upright type vacuum cleaner, the body is directly connected with the suction nozzle.
Although the present invention is described referring to embodiments applied to the canister type vacuum cleaner, it is obvious that the present invention may also be applied to the upright type vacuum cleaner without any substantial modification.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner with an agitator in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates a floor plan showing a floor of a suction nozzle having an agitator mounted thereon.
As illustrated in the drawings, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a suction nozzle 10, a body 20, and a coupling pipe 30 provided between the suction nozzle 10 and the body 20. The suction nozzle 20 moves along a surface to be cleaned and sucks in various objects i.e., dust and other objects larger than dust.
The body 20 includes a suction device (not shown), and a collecting device for separating the objects from the air and storing the objects. The coupling pipe 30 connects the suction nozzle 10 and the body 20, as well as guides the air sucked in through the suction nozzle to the collecting device 21.
Electric devices (not shown) for controlling the vacuum cleaner as well as a motor and a fan and so on are mounted in the body 20. A pair of wheels 22 is rotatably provided on both sides of the body 20 such that the body 20 is smoothly moved. The body 20 includes a space for separably accommodating the collecting device 21. A cyclone mechanism or a filtering device may be applied to the collecting device 21 so as to separate the dust and other objects from the air.
The coupling pipe 30 includes an extension pipe 31 connected to the suction nozzle 10, a coupling hose 32 made of a soft material and connected respectively to the extension pipe 31 and the body 20, and a handle 33 provided between the extension pipe 31 and the coupling hose 32.
As well illustrated in FIG. 2 including a floor that faces the surface to be cleaned, the suction nozzle 10 includes a housing 11, an inlet 12 formed on a floor of the housing 11, and an agitator 100 disposed in the inlet 12. The housing 11 includes a predetermined space therein, and a passage is disposed in the space so as to guide the air sucked in from the inlet 12 to the extension pipe 31. In addition, a pair of wheels 11a is rotatably provided at a bottom member of the housing 11 so as to easily move the suction nozzle 10. The inlet 12 is extended on both sides of the bottom member as illustrated.
The agitator 100 rotates and sucks in dust and other objects on the surface to be cleaned, together with the air. In the present invention, the agitator 100 includes a body 100, and at least one blade assembly 120 mounted at the body 100. The agitator 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 and the following drawings.
First of all, the body 100 is rotatably mounted at the inlet 12 and formed in a cylindrical form so as to be smoothly rotated. The body 100 may be freely rotated between the blade assembly 120 and the surface to be cleaned. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the suction nozzle 1 moves in an arrow direction, frictional force is applied to the body 110 in an opposite direction of the arrow direction so as to rotate the body 110. Since a rotation direction of the body 100 is changed according to a forward direction and a backward direction of the suction nozzle 10, efficiency of the agitator 100 may be changed according to a moving direction of the suction nozzle 10. On the other hand, the body may be rotated by an additional driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes an impeller (not shown) mounted in the housing 11, and a belt (not shown) coupled with the impeller and the body 110. Accordingly, the impeller as well as the body 110 connected by a belt is rotated by the air sucked in. Since the driving mechanism enables to continuously rotate the body 110 in a predetermined direction, it is desirable that predetermined efficiency of the agitator is secured. The blade assembly 120 plays a role of separating dust and other objects from the surface to be cleaned such that the dust and other objects are sucked in through the inlet 12 [8-3]. In order to improve cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, a plurality of blade assembly 120 is mounted at the body 110. As illustrated in FIG. 3A and 3B taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2, the blade assembly 120 includes a plurality of blades 121 and extended from the body 110 in a length direction thereof. Each of the plurality of the blades 121 is configured to come in contact with the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, each of the plurality of the blades 121 is made of a soft material and has a body that is continuous and solid. Accordingly, contrary to a conventional brush, the blades 121 uniformly come into contact with the surface to be cleaned, thereby wiping out the almost entire surface when the body 110 is rotated. Therefore, each of the plurality of the blades 121 separates almost all objects from the surface and then suck in through the inlet 12.
When the blade assembly 120 includes only one blade formed in a continuous form, the body 110 may not be smoothly rotated because of excessive fiction against the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, the blade assembly 120 includes a plurality of blades 121, and the plurality of blades 121 are spaced for a predetermined space.
When the blades 121 are overlapped each other, great friction is caused against the surface in the same way. Therefore, the blades 121 are serially disposed along the body 110. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the blades may generally have square sections. In order to reduce the friction against the surface, it is advantageous that each end of the blades 121 being in contact with the surface has a reduced section so as to decrease the friction against the surface.
In other words, the blades 121 have a trapezoid section as illustrated in FIG. 4B, or a triangle section as illustrated in FIG. 4C. The blades 121 may smoothly rotate the body 110 under a substantially small friction. The blades 121 are more flexibly made such that the reduced sections come in uniform contact with the surface.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the blade assembly 120 may include only blades 121 which are independent and separable. It however requires a long time and complicated work to install the blades 121 to the body 110. Accordingly, it is desirable that the blades 121 be coupled with each other so as to be easily mounted at the body 110 as illustrated in FIG. 3B. In more detail, the blade assembly 120 includes a strip member 122 connecting the blades 121 with one another. In other words, the blades 121 are formed as one body by the strip member 122. Shapes of a free end and a middle portion of each of the blades 121 may be changed to a certain degree so as to come into contact with the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, the strip member 122 connects supporting ends, that is, ends of the blades 121 mounted at the body 110 so as to allow the shape change. The strip member 122 may be mounted on a surface of the body 110, but desirably inserted into the body 110 as illustrated in the drawing. When the blade assembly 120 includes only the blades 121, the blades 121 are mounted on the surface of the body 110 or in the body 110.
Besides, suction forces are different according to parts of the inlet 12. Accordingly, in order to suck in the dust and other objects larger than dust better, it is desirable that the blade assembly 120 induce the objects to a place of the inlet, with a strong suction force. Substantially, in order to induce the objects, the blade assembly 120 needs to have an appropriate and a profile or contour.
The profiles of the assembly are illustrated in FIGs 5A and 5B. To meet the convenience in describing, the blade assembly 120 in FIGs 5A and 5B [10-6] includes a first assembly 120a and a second assembly 120b connected with each other.
As illustrated in FIGs. 5A and 5B, the first assembly 120a and the second assembly 120b are sloped and extended respectively from both sides of the body 110 toward a central axis (C) of the body 110. The first and second assemblies 120a and 120b are extended in opposite directions so as to be connected with each other at a predetermined point 120c. Alternatively, the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b may be regarded as sunken toward the center portion from both ends of the body 110 so as to be connected with each other at the point 120c. On the other hand, the blade assembly 120 illustrated in the drawings may be regarded as including a predetermined conversion member 120C converged on the center portion from the both ends of the body 110. Similarly, the blade assembly 120 illustrated in the drawings may also be regarded as disposed on the body 110 so as to have a recess portion 120c. All the aspects mentioned above considered, when the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b are respectively extended straight as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the blade assembly 120 is disposed simply in a "V" shape. When the first and second blades 120a and 120b have a predetermined curvature as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the blade assembly 120 is disposed in a "U" shape. Due to the curvature, the blade assembly 120 enables to smoothly induce and gather the objects on the surface to be cleaned without large friction.
Substantially, the suction force of the inlet 12 is strongest at the center portion thereof and the fist and second assemblies 120a and 120b are disposed to join at a predetermined point of the body 120 corresponding to the center portion of the inlet 12. In other words, the point 120c is located at the center portion of the inlet 12, and similarly the conversion member or the recess member 120c is located at the center of the inlet 12. Accordingly, when the blade assembly 120 is rotated along with the body 110 in the arrow direction, the objects on the surface is induced to the center portion of the inlet 12 by the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b as illustrated as a heavy arrow. At the same time, the objects are gathered to a point where the first assembly 120a and the second assembly 120b are joined, that is, the center of the inlet 12.
Thereafter, the objects gathered to the point are sucked into the center portion of the inlet 12 by the strong suction force of the inlet 12. In other words, the blade assembly 120 of the present invention is configured to guide and gather the objects to the center of the inlet 12 with the strong suction force such that the objects are sucked in well.
[11-20] When the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b are extended respectively from the both ends of the body 110 in a direction same as the rotation direction and as illustrated as a dotted line in FIGs. 5A and 5B, the objects on the surface to be cleaned are guided to ends of the inlet 12 along the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b. Accordingly, the objects are unable to be sucked into the inlet 12. Therefore, it is desirable that the blade assembly 120 is extended from the both ends of the body 110 toward the center portion thereof in an opposite direction to the rotation direction of the body 110.
When the first and second assemblies 120a and 120b are extended in the same direction as the rotation direction of the body 110, the joining point 120c, i.e., the conversion member and the recess member, is ahead of the both ends of the blade assembly 120 as illustrated as the dotted line. Accordingly, with the same reason, it is desirable that the joining point 120c (the conversion member and the recess member) follows the both ends of the blade assembly 120 in the rotation direction of the body 110.
Meanwhile, the blade assembly 120 may be directly adhered to the surface of the body 110 or inserted into the body 110 so as to be firmly coupled thereto. For this reason, the body 110 includes a groove 111 for partially accommodating the blade assembly 120.
It is desirable that the groove 111 be configured to be geared with the blade assembly 120 so as to be firmly geared with the blade assembly 120. In more detail, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the groove 111 includes at least one projecting member 111a extended inwardly from the inlet of the groove 111, and the coupled blade assembly 120 is latched on the projecting member 111a. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the groove 111 has a section gradually reduced from a bottom member to an entrance thereof [12-20]. In other words, the groove 111 has a side wall, that is, a taper member 111b, and the blade assembly 120 is latched on the taper member 111b. Consequently, the groove 111 illustrated in FIGs. 6A and 6B has a reduced section at the entrance thereof so as to be geared with the blade assembly 120. Therefore, the blade assembly 120 is firmly coupled with the body 120 without coming out therefrom.
In the same manner, the blade assembly 120 is configured to be tightly fitted in the groove 111. In order to be tightly fitted in the groove 111, a part of the blade assembly 120, i.e., a section of the support end is has the same shape as the section of the groove 111. In more detail, the as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the blade assembly 120 may include at least one projecting member 122a caught by the projecting member 111a of the groove 111 illustrated in FIG. 6A. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the blade assembly may also include a tapering member 122b so as to be fitted in the groove 111. The projecting member 122a and the tapering member 122b are shown as to be formed at the strip member 122. When the blade assembly 120 includes only the blade 121 without the strip member 122 as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the projection member 122a and the tapering member 122b are formed respectively at the blade 121.
As mentioned above, when the groove 111 is formed as illustrated in FIGs. 6A and 6B, the blade assembly 120 may be firmly coupled with the body 110 without using glue or a fixing member. With the same reason, the blade assembly 120 may be laterally inserted from an end of the body 110. In this case, in order to laterally insert the blade assembly 120, the groove 111 needs to be passed through one end of the body 111 as illustrated as "A." Accordingly, the blade assembly 120 is firmly and easily coupled with the body 110.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

In the agitator of the present invention mentioned above, a blade assembly includes a plurality of blades. Accordingly, an entire surface to be cleaned is uniformly wiped out. The blade assembly is separable from the surface to be cleaned such that all the objects can be sucked into the suction nozzle. The blade assembly also includes an optimum profile so as to guide and to gather the objects to a particular point of the inlet with a strong suction force. Accordingly, almost all objects are sucked into the suction nozzle. Therefore, efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is largely improved by the agitator of the present invention.

Claims

An agitator (100) for a suction nozzle (10) in a vacuum cleaner, comprising a body (20) rotatably provided at an inlet (12) of the suction nozzle (10); and
at least one blade assembly (120) including a plurality of blades (121) configured to come in contact with a surface to be cleaned, and mounted at the body (20) along a length direction thereof,
the body (20) comprises a groove (111) for accommodating the blade assembly (120), characterized in that the groove (111) comprises a section being gradually reduced from a bottom member to the entrance thereof.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the body (20) is forcibly rotated by a driving mechanism.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades (121) is spaced for a predetermined distance from one another.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein free ends of the plurality of blades (121) have reduced sections, the free ends coming in contact with the surface to be cleaned.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades (121) is connected with one another.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) further comprises a strip member (122) connecting the plurality of blades (121) to one another.
The agitator (100) of claim 6, wherein the strip member (122) is inserted into the body (20).
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) is configured to gather objects to a particular location of the inlet (12) with a relatively strong suction force, the objects to be sucked in.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) comprises a first assembly (120a) and a second assembly (120b) sloped to a predetermined degree and extended respectively from both sides of the body (20) toward a central axis of the body (20).
The agitator (100) of claim 9, wherein the first and second assemblies (120a, 120b) are extended so as to be joined, and a joining portion (120c) where the first and second assemblies (120a, 120b) are joined is disposed at the center portion of the inlet (12).
The agitator (100) of claim 9, wherein the first and second assemblies (120a, 120b) are respectively extended in an opposite direction to a rotation direction of the body (20).
The agitator (100) of claim 10, wherein the joining portion (120c) follows both ends of the blade assembly (120) in a rotation direction of the body (20).
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) is disposed to form a recess portion (120c) or an indent portion.
The agitator of claim 13, wherein the recess portion (120c) is disposed at a center portion of the inlet (12).
The agitator of claim 1, wherein the groove (111) is configured to be geared with the blade assembly (120).
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein a section of a supporting end of the blade assembly (120) has a same shape as a section of the groove (111) having the supporting end caught thereon.
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) comprises at least one projecting member (122b) caught on the projecting member (111b) of the groove (111).
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly (120) is at least partially tapered so as to be coupled with the groove (111).
The agitator (100) of claim 1, wherein the groove (111) is passed through one end of the body (20).