EP2823745B1

EP2823745B1 - Cleaner and nozzle for the same

Info

Publication number: EP2823745B1
Application number: EP14162712.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Youngmin Hyun; Jinwook Seo
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2013-07-10
Filing date: 2014-03-31
Publication date: 2018-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-31
Also published as: KR101496012B1; CN104274124A; RU2014122859A; KR20150011405A; CN104274124B; RU2582443C2; EP2823745A1

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaner and a nozzle for the same.
In general, a cleaner is a machine that sucks dust at a cleaning surface and therefore performs cleaning.
The cleaner may suck the dust from the cleaning surface while moving the nozzle.
The nozzle for a prior cleaner may include a body, and a pair of side nozzle sections rotatably connected to the body, as disclosed in Korea Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0097368 . Therefore, it was possible that the cleaning surface having a wall surface type was cleaned by the nozzle for the prior cleaner.
A suction path of a pair of side nozzle sections is communicated with a passage of the body in case of cleaning a
general cleaning surface by the nozzle for the prior cleaner, and therefore air and dust introduced into the suction path through a pair of side nozzle sections may flow into the body. However, a pair of side nozzle sections is rotated on cleaning a corner such as a wall surface and is not communicated with a path of the body and therefore there is a problem in that the cleaning using the side nozzle sections is impossible.
Further, since, referring to the nozzle of the prior cleaner, a rotational axis of a pair of side nozzles in the body is positioned at a bottom of the path of the body, the dust, etc. at the cleaning surface is jammed into the rotational axis and therefore there is a problem in that the side nozzle section is smoothly not rotated.
EP 1 314 388 A1 discloses a dust vacuum cleaner head, comprising: a central body including a central part of an open chamber; and at least two side bodies rotatably joined to the central body, the at least two side bodies including respective side parts of the open chamber communicating with said central part.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a cleaner and a nozzle for the same capable of sucking the dust from the cleaning surface having a wall surface type through the main nozzle and movable nozzle.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a cleaner including a cleaner body; and a nozzle communicated with the cleaner body, wherein the nozzle includes a main nozzle having a main passage, and at least one movable nozzle, rotatably coupled with the main nozzle, having a plurality of passages, the plurality of passages are communicated with the main passage when the at least one movable nozzle is not rotated, and at least one passage of the plurality of passages are communicated with the main passage when the at least one movable nozzle is rotated by an external force.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nozzle for the cleaner including a main nozzle having a main passage, and at least one movable nozzle, rotatably coupled with the main nozzle, having a plurality of passages, all of the plurality of passages is communicated with the main passage when the at least one movable nozzle is not rotated, and at least one passage of the plurality of passages are communicated with the main passage when the at least one movable nozzle is rotated by an external force.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a state removing a cover of a main body from the nozzle.
FIG. 6 shows a state removing a movable nozzle from FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 shows a base of the main nozzle.
FIG. 8 shows air flowing of the nozzle in a state that does not rotate the movable nozzle.
FIG. 9 shows air flowing of the nozzle in the state that rotates the movable nozzle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Hereinafter, a side contacting a cleaning surface is called a bottom side when a nozzle contacts the cleaning surface, and the side facing the bottom side is called a top side. In addition, referring to the nozzle, the side connected to a connection tube is called the rear of the nozzle, the side facing the connection tube is called the front of the nozzle, and alignment directions of a movable nozzle and main nozzle are called direction of right and left in a state that does not apply an external force to the movable nozzle.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG.1 to FIG.3, the cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cleaner body 1 provided with a suction motor(not shown) for generating a suction force , and a nozzle 5 communicated with the cleaner body 1 to suck dust and air at the cleaning surface while moving along with the cleaning surface.
Technologic characteristics of the present invention are present in the nozzle 5, and therefore the detailed description about the cleaner body 1 is omitted.
The nozzle 5 may include a main nozzle 10, one or more movable nozzles 20 and 30 rotatably connected to the main nozzle 10, and a connection tube 40 rotatably connected to the main nozzle 10. The connection tube 40 may be connected to the cleaner body 1 by a connection device (including a suction tube, a suction hose and a handle, etc.).
Two movable nozzles 20 and 30 rotatably connected to the main nozzle 10 is, for example, enclosed in FIG. 2, but the number of the movable nozzles 20 and 30 is not limited in the present invention.
The main nozzle 10 may include a main passage 140 that may flow air and the dust (hereinafter, refer to "air" only for the convenience of the description). The connection tube 40 receives air from the main passage 140 and transfers the received air to the connection device.
The main nozzle 10 may include a first suction port 146 to suck air at the front of the nozzle 5. Air may be suctioned through the first suction port 146 irrespective of positions of the movable nozzles 20 and 30.
The movable nozzles 20 and 30 may include a first movable nozzle 20 (positioned at the right in FIG 3), and a second movable nozzle 30 (positioned at the left in FIG 3) independently moving with the first movable nozzle 20.
The each movable nozzle 20 and 30 may include a second suction port 211 and 311 to suck air from the side in the whole nozzle 5, and a third suction port 213 and 313 to suck air from the front in the whole nozzle 5.
Therefore, a first suction port 146 of the main nozzle 10 may be positioned between the third suction port 213 of the first movable nozzle 20 and the third suction port 313 of the second movable nozzle 30.
The each movable nozzle 20 and 30 may include first passages 212 and 312 to flow air sucked through the second suction ports 211 and 311. The first passages 212 and 312 may be extended in the direction of right and left according to the longitudinal direction of the movable nozzles 20 and 30 in the state (the same state as it shown in FIG.3) that does not apply an external force to the movable nozzles 20 and 30.
Further, the each movable nozzle 20 and 30 may include second passages 214 and 314 to flow air sucked through the third suction ports 213 and 313. The second passages 214 and 314 may be positioned at the front of the first passages 212 and 312.
A bottom side of the movable nozzles 20 and 30 may be provided with the second suction ports 211 and 311, the third suction ports 213 and 313, the first passages 212 and 312 and the second passages 214 and 314.
The main nozzle 10 may include a first connection passage 142 to communicate the first passages 212 and 312 and the main passage 140 of the movable nozzles 20 and 30, and a second connection passage 144 to communicate the second passages 214 and 314 and the main passage 140 of the movable nozzles 20 and 30.
The first connection passage 142 and second connection passage 144 may be disposed at the bottom side of the main nozzle 10.
Therefore, air sucked through the first suction port 146 may directly flow into the main passage 140 in FIG.3. Air sucked through the second suction ports 211 and 311 passes through the first passages 212 and 312 and the first connection passage 142 and then may flow into the main passage 140. Air suctioned through the third suction ports 213 and 313 passes through the second passages 214 and 314 and the second connection passage 144 and then may flow into the main passage 140.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows a state removing a cover of a main body from the nozzle, FIG. 6 shows a state removing a movable nozzle from FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 shows a base of the main nozzle.
Referring to FIG.4 to FIG.7, the main nozzle 10 may include a main body 11, a base 12 coupled with the bottom side of the main body 11, a cover 13 coupled with the top side of the main body 11. But, the cover 13 may be omitted according to the type of the main nozzle 10.
The main body 110 may include a first body 111, a second body 112 positioned at the upper part of the first body 111 and spaced apart from the first body 111, and a connection body 111A for connecting the first body 111 and the second body 112.
The first body 111 may include a protuberating section 111B to be convexly rounded upwardly. The base 12 is coupled with the bottom side of the first body 111, and the bottom surface of the first body 111 and the base 12 define the main passage 140. In addition, the base 12 may be provided with the first suction port 146, the first connection passage 142 and the second connection passage 144.
A space between the first body 111 and the second body 112 may be positioned with a part of the each movable nozzle 20 and 30. The top side (a position higher than main passage) of the first body 111 may be provided with a shaft 113 to rotate the each movable nozzle 20 and 30.
The shaft 113 may be formed, for example, at the protuberating section 111B. A top surface of the protuberating section 111B may be formed as a flat surface so that the movable nozzles 20 and 30 are stably rotated. As another example, it is possible to protrude the shaft 113 downwardly at the bottom surface of the cover 13. Even in this case, the shaft 113 is positioned at the top side (the position higher than the main passage) of the first body 111.
The shaft 113 provides the center of common rotation to the each movable nozzle 20 and 30. As another example, it is possible to dispose a plurality of shafts providing the center of rotation to the each movable nozzle 20 and 30. In this case, the centers of rotation for each movable nozzle 20 and 30 may not be coincided.
The second body 112 may be provided with an opening 114 allowing the part of each movable nozzle 20 and 30 to penetrate.
The first movable nozzle 20 may include a first movable body 21, and a first movable cover 22 coupled with the top side of the first movable body 21.
The second movable nozzle 30 may include a second movable body 31, and a second movable cover 32 coupled with the top side of the second movable body 31.
The movable covers 22, 32 of the each movable nozzle 20 and 30 may be provided with the first passages 212 and 312, the second passage 214 and 314, the second suction ports 211 and 311, and the third suction ports 213 and 313.
The second movable body 31 may include a second seating section 320 to seat on the protuberating section 111B of the first body 111. The first movable body 21 may include a first seating section 220 capable of placing on the second seating section 320. On the contrary, the first seating section 220 is seated on the protuberating section 111B of the first body 111, and the second seating section 320 is seated on the first seating section 220.
The first seating section 220 is provided with a first hole 222 allowing the shaft 113 to penetrate, and the second seating section 320 is provided with a second hole 222 allowing the shaft 113 to penetrate.
In the present invention, the main passage 140 is formed at the down part of the first body 111, the shaft is formed at the top side of the first body 111, and therefore it is prevented that the dust moves into the shaft on performing cleaning using the nozzle, thereby to smoothly rotate the movable nozzle.
In addition, in order to stably rotate the each movable nozzle 20 and 30, the second seating section 320 is provided with a guide protrusion 324, and the first seating section 220 is provided with a guide hole 224 allowing the guide protrusion 324 to penetrate. On the contrary, it is possible that the first seating section 220 is provided with the guide protrusion and the second seating section 320 is provided with a guide hole allowing the guide protrusion to penetrate.
The guide hole 224 may be formed in an arc shape to prevent the interference with the guide protrusion 324 when the movable nozzles 20 and 30 are relatively rotated.
On the other hand, although not shown in drawing, the main nozzle 10 may further include an elastic member providing an elastic force to the movable nozzles 20 and 30 to maintain the movable nozzles 20 and 30 as the state shown in FIG. 3. The elastic member may be, for example, a torsion spring allowing the shaft 113 to penetrate, one end of the torsion spring contacts the first movable nozzle 20, and the other end of the torsion spring contacts the second movable nozzle 30.
In addition, it is also possible that a plurality of elastic members elastically supports the each movable nozzle 20 and 30 independently. In this case, the elastic member may be the torsion spring or a leaf spring.
In addition, although not shown in drawing, the main nozzle 10 is provided with a stopper to limit the rotation in the state that rotates each movable nozzle 20 and 30 by the external force by a certain angle.
On the other hand, the connection tube 40 may include a first tube 41, and a second tube 42 connected to the first tube 41. When the first tube 41 is seated on the base 12, the cover 13 may be fastened into the base 12. As another example, the first tube 41 may be integrated into the second tube 42.
Hereinafter, a action for the nozzle of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 shows air flowing of the nozzle in the state that does not rotate the movable nozzle, and FIG. 9 shows air flowing of the nozzle in the state that rotates the movable nozzle.
Firstly, referring to FIG. 8, each movable nozzle 20 and 30 is approximately maintained at 180 degree when the external force is not applied to each movable nozzle 20 and 30.
In this state, air sucked through the first suction port 146 directly flows into the main passage 140.
Air sucked through the second suction ports 211 and 311 passes the first passages 212 and 312 and the first connection passage 142 and then flows into the main passage 140.
Air sucked through the third suction ports 213 and 313 passes the second passages 214 and 314 and the second connection passage 144 and then flows into the main passage 140.
Air is suctioned at the front and the side of the nozzle 5, and air is suctioned by the main nozzle and the movable nozzle.
Referring to FIG.9, the part or all of a plurality of movable nozzle 20 and 30 may be rotated by a wall of a corner in case of cleaning a cleaning surface having the type such as the corner using the nozzle.
Referring to FIG. 9, air sucked through the first suction port 146 directly flows into the main passage 140 on rotating all of the movable nozzle 20 and 30.
Further, when the movable nozzles 20 and 30 are rotated, the first passages 212 and 312 are not communicated with the main passage 140, and the second passages 214 and 314 are communicated with the first connection passage 140.
Therefore, air sucked through the third suction ports 213 and 313 passes through the second passages 214 and 314 and the first connection passage 142 and then flows into the main passage 140.
That is, in the present invention, all the passage of the movable nozzle is not blocked on rotating the movable nozzle, some passages (second passage) of the passages are not blocked, they may be communicated with the main passage, and therefore it is possible to suck air through the main nozzle and movable nozzle in case of cleaning the corner.
In addition, since the second connection passage 144 is directly exposed from the outside, the second connection passage 144 performs a role of the suction port, and therefore air may directly flow into the main passage through the second connection passage 144.
Thus, there is an advantage in that may maximally secure a cleanable area in case of cleaning the corner.
In the above embodiment, it is described that, in the state that does not rotate the movable nozzle by the external force, the first passage is connected to the main passage by the first connection passage and the second passage is connected to the main passage by the second connection passage, but on the contrary, the first passage and second passage may be connected to the main passage by a single connection passage. In this case, when the movable nozzle rotates over a certain angle, the first passage is not aligned with the connection passage and therefore is not communicated with the main passage, and the second passage is aligned with the connection passage and therefore is communicated with the main passage.
In addition, in the above embodiment, the second passage is connected to the main passage by the first connection passage and the first passage is blocked with the main passage in the state that does rotate the movable nozzle by the external force. Unlike this, it is also possible to form a third connection passage at the side facing the first and second connection passages. In this case, the second passage is connected to the main passage by the first connection passage and the first passage may be connected to the main passage by the third connection passage in the state that does rotate the movable nozzle by the external force.
Further, even when the first and second passage are connected to the main passage by a single connection passage as above, it is possible that all of the first and second passage are connected to the main passage in the state that rotates the movable nozzle by widely forming a width of the single connection passage.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

A cleaner, comprising:
a cleaner body (1); and

a nozzle (5) communicated with the cleaner body,

wherein the nozzle (5) includes a main nozzle (10) having a main passage (140), and at least one movable nozzle (20, 30) rotatably coupled with the main nozzle (10) and having a plurality of passages (212, 214, 312, 314),
wherein the plurality of passages (212, 214, 312, 314) includes a first passage (212, 312) and a second passage (214, 314),

the plurality of passages (212, 214, 312, 314) are communicated with the main passage (140) when the at least one movable nozzle (20, 30) is not rotated,
characterized in that the first passage (212, 312) is not communicated with the main passage (140) and the second passage (214, 314) is communicated with the main passage (140) when the at least one movable nozzle (20, 30) is rotated by an external force, and

the main nozzle (10) includes a first connection passage (142) to communicate the first passage (212, 312) and the main passage (140) when the at least one movable nozzle (20, 30) is not rotated, and a second connection passage (144) to communicate the second passage (214, 314) and the main passage (140).
The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second passage (214, 314) is communicated with the first connection passage (142) when the movable nozzle (20, 30) is rotated by the external force.
The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein air and dust are directly sucked through the second connection passage (144) when the movable nozzle (20, 30) is rotated by the external force.
The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of passages (212, 214, 312, 314) includes a first passage (212, 312) and a second passage (214, 314), and the main nozzle includes a single connection passage to communicate the first passage (212, 312), the second passage (214, 314), and the main passage when the movable nozzle (20, 30) is not rotated, and to communicate the second passage (214, 314) with the main passage when the movable nozzle (20, 30) is rotated.
The cleaner according any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main nozzle (10) includes a main body (11), and a base (12) coupled with a bottom side of the main body, and a bottom side surface of the main body (11) and the base (12) define the main passage (140).
The cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the main nozzle (10) is provided with a shaft (113) to provide a center of rotation for the at least movable nozzle (20, 30),
wherein the shaft (113) is disposed at a position higher than the main passage (140).
The cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the main body (11) includes a first body (111), and a second body (112) at the upper part of the first body (111),
wherein a top surface of the first body (111) is provided with the shaft (113).
The cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the at least one movable nozzle (20, 30) includes a first movable nozzle (20), and a second movable nozzle (30), the second movable nozzle includes a second seating section (320) placed on the first body (111), and the first movable nozzle (20) includes a first seating section (220) seated on the second seating section (320),
wherein the shaft (113) passes through the first and second seating sections (220, 320).
The cleaner according to claim 6, further comprising a cover (13) to cover the top side of the main body (11),
wherein the shaft (113) is formed at the cover (13).