GB2426697A

GB2426697A - Vacuum cleaner suction head with hitting means

Info

Publication number: GB2426697A
Application number: GB0511415A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yong-Gon Song
Original assignee: Kwang Dong Precision Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kwang Dong Precision Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-03
Filing date: 2005-06-03
Publication date: 2006-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-03
Also published as: GB2426697B; GB0511415D0

Abstract

A suction head for a vacuum cleaner is provided with reciprocating means 40 for striking a surface to be cleaned, where the surface is for example bedclothes, the hitting means 40 preventing the fabric from being sucked fully into the head, thus blocking it. The head comprises upper and lower casings 21,22. The lower casing has the usual suction entry, but is also provided with a plurality of sliding holes 124 within which the hitting members 40 can slide up and down. A turbine 31 is mounted in the head and has a camshaft 130 extending laterally from both sides and provided with a series of cams 131. These drive the hitting members up and down. The turbine is driven by a flow of air admitted through an opening 122. In order to cease operation of the hitting members 40 when cleaning a hard floor for example, a slidable shutter 125 is provided to shut off the airflow over the turbine. The cams ca be arranged to thrust the hitting members all simultaneously or in sequence, and if desired, more than once per revolution. A standard hose connection 430 is at the rear of lower casing 22.

Description

1 2426697

SUCTION HEAD FOR VACUUM CLEANER

The present invention relates to a suction head for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a suction head for a vacuum cleaner having a bedclothes dust brushing function for hitting bedclothes such as a carpet with one suction head to brush away impurities such as dust adhered thereto, and a general cleaning function for cleaning a hard stuff or feature such as the floor of a parlor or room.

Referring to Fig. 1, generally, a vacuum cleaner includes a main body I including, for example, a motor for generating suction force, a suction head 2 for sucking, for example, dust on the floor by means of the suction force from the main body 1, and a flexible hose 3 and an extension pipe 4 for connecting the main body I and the suction head 2.

Thus, if a user manipulates a switch 6 installed in a handle 5 to operate the vacuum cleaner, the motor in the main body 1 is driven to conduct suction.

Accordingly, dust is sucked through a suction hole 2a formed on the bottom of the suction head 2 as shown in Fig. 2, and the sucked dust is collected in a dust collector (not shown) in the main body I through the extension pipe 4 and the connection hose 3.

When a user cleans the floor, such a general suction head 2 is generally used. However, this suction head 2 may be inconvenient for cleaning depending on a place to be cleaned. Thus, the suction head 2 is fabricated so as to be detachable from the extension pipe 4, and a user may mount a different kind of suction head to suck dust.

However, as shown in Fig. 2, in case of cleaning a stuff or feature having a flexible surface easily deformed such as a sheet or curtain with the use of the vacuum cleaner equipped with the conventional suction head 2, a part of a feature L to be cleaned is frequently sucked into the suction hole 2a due to the suction force generated in the suction head 2. In this case, a user should take off the feature L sucked into the suction hole 2a of the suction head 2 by hand to continue the cleaning work. In addition, if the suction hole 2a of the suction head 2 is clogged by the feature L, the vacuum motor is overloaded causing a failure of the vacuum cleaner.

Meanwhile, a different kind of suction head may be made for cleaning features made of fabric such as bedclothes, sheet and carpet. Such a suction head for cleaning fabric may be provided with rollers rotating on the fabric when the suction head moves on the fabric.

There are many suction heads suitable for cleaning fabric. For example, GB 961,455 discloses a vacuum cleaner having a carpet dust brushing function. A cam is mounted to one side of a cylindrical cleaning roller with a plurality of brushes and a leaf spring is mounted with a boss on the spring engaging the cam when the roller is rotating. An arm perpendicularly operating against the leaf spring is mounted so that the leaf spring makes the arm be ascended to brush away dust adhered to the carpet when the cylindrical roller is rotated. However, this vacuum cleaner requires additional components such as a motor and a belt to drive the cylindrical roller, and these components are continuously operated while the vacuum cleaner is operating whether a user wants to do or not, thereby shortening the life of the vacuum cleaner.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0005598 discloses a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, which prevents bedclothes, such as sheets, and curtains, to be cleaned from being sucked into a suction hole of the suction head during the cleaning operation, and at the same time brushes away dust existing in a surface to be cleaned by hitting the surface. This suction brush has a plurality of blades, and a hitting member is installed in the top of the suction hole and protrudes a predetermined length from outer circumference of both ends of the turbine that is rotated by suction force of the motor in the main body of the vacuum cleaner so as to hit the feature to be cleaned through the suction hole when the turbine is rotating.

However, this vacuum cleaner is designed for cleaning only carpet or bedclothes. Thus, when cleaning a hard place such as a floor, the hitting member protruding a predetermined length when continuously rotated generates serious noise. In addition, since the turbine keeps operating when the motor in the cleaner body is driven, a user cannot selectively operate the turbine.

Meanwhile, Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0044213 discloses a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, wherein a cam member is connected to a rotary shaft connected by means of a belt to a turbine that always rotates when the motor for the vacuum cleaner is driven, and this cam member moves dust brushing protrusions of a shaking member up and down so as to brush away and suck dust adhered to bedclothes, for example. However, since the turbine is always operated when the vacuum cleaner is operating, the dust brushing protrusions generate noise when a user cleans the floor of a parlor or room and the user may not selectively operate the shaking member as desired, as mentioned above.

In addition, Korean Patent Application No. 2002-0073350 discloses a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, wherein a plurality of cams are mounted on the outer circumference of a rotary shaft that is rotated by a turbine via a belt.

The turbine is always operated by the sucked air when the vacuum cleaner is operating, and the cams instantly press protruding members down when the rotary shaft is rotating so that the protruding members press a feature to be cleaned for brushing away dust adhered to the feature and prevent the feature from being sucked into the suction hole of the suction head.

However, this vacuum cleaner requires a driving means such as a belt and gear for transferring a rotating force of the turbine, increasing production costs.

In addition, since the turbine is always operated when the vacuum cleaner is turned on, the protruded members cause noise when a user cleans the floor of a parlor or room, and the user may not selectively operate the protruded members as necessary.

The present invention is designed in consideration of such problems, and therefore an object of the invention is to provide a suction head for a vacuum cleaner, which prevents a feature to be cleaned from being sucked into a suction hole when a user cleans a flexible feature such as a sheet, carpet or curtain, thereby facilitating easy cleaning.

The invention provides a suction head for a vacuum cleaner, which is designed for operating only when a user cleans bedclothes such as sheets, and carpets, for example, but not operating when the user cleans a hard feature such as the floor of a parlor or room.

Thus, the vacuum cleaner may easily suck dust through the suction hole when cleaning the floor of a parlor or room though a turbine is not rotated, while, when cleaning bedclothes, for example, the turbine is rotated to brush away and suck dust adhered thereto, thereby enabling two cleaning modes with one cleaner.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a suction head for a vacuum cleaner, which includes a suction head main body including upper and lower cases combined in contact with each other, a connection member mounted to one side of the suction head main body and communicated with a main body of the vacuum cleaner, a suction hole formed in the lower case adjacent to the connection member, an air introduction hole formed in front of the suction hole so as to selectively operate a turbine and control a speed of the turbine, a turbine container and a plurality of sliding holes formed between the air introduction hole and the suction hole; a turbine having a plurality of blades and received in the turbine container so as to be rotated only when the air introduction hole is open; a plurality of hitting members slidably mounted to the sliding holes formed in the lower case of the suction head main body; and a pressing member extended from both ends of the turbine, the pressing member being rotated together with the turbine to press the hitting members in the sliding holes so that the hitting members hit a stuff or feature to be cleaned.

The stuff or feature to be cleaned may be a floor covering or a soft furnishing.

The pressing member employed in the present invention is preferably a camshaft with a plurality of cams that press one end of the hitting members to hit the feature to be cleaned.

In addition, each of the cams is preferably mounted on an outer circumference of the camshaft to press the hitting member two times per one rotation of the camshaft so that the hitting members hit the feature to be cleaned at the same time.

Alternatively, the cams may be formed on an outer circumference of the camshaft at predetermined angles to press the corresponding hitting member one time per one rotation of the camshaft so that the hitting members hit the feature to be cleaned subsequently.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-.

Fig. I is a perspective view schematically showing configuration of a conventional vacuum cleaner; Fig. 2 is a sectional view for illustrating operation of a suction brush of the conventional vacuum cleaner; Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction head according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing configuration of the suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a bottom of the suction head shown in Fig. 4 according to the present invention; Figs. 6a and 6b are sectional views showing operation states of a turbine employed in the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 4 according to the present invention; Figs. 7a and 7b are sectional views showing operation states of a dust brushing member; and Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing configuration of a suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction head according to the present invention is illustrated, in which the same reference numeral as shown in Fig. I designates the same component and it is not described in detail here.

As shown in Fig. 3, the suction head according to the present invention includes a suction head main body 20, and the main body 20 includes upper and lower cases 21 and 22 combined to be in contact with each other. A connection member 430 communicated with the main body I of the vacuum cleaner is mounted to one side of the suction head, and a suction hole 121 which may be a washing water suction hole is formed in the lower case 22 adjacent to the connection member 430.

In addition, an air introduction hole 122 is formed in front of the suction hole 121 so as to selectively operate a turbine 30 and control a rotating speed of the turbine 30, and a turbine container 123 and a plurality of sliding holes 124 are formed between the air introduction hole 122 and the suction hole 121. As well understood from Fig. 3, the suction head main body 20 has a window 20a so that a user may observe whether a lot of dust is adhered to the turbine 30.

The turbine 30 employed in the present invention has a plurality of blades 31, and it is received in the turbine container 123 and is arranged to rotate only when the air introduction hole 122 is open. Though a turbine employed in the conventional vacuum cleaner is operated even when cleaning the floor of parlor or room, the turbine 30 is not operated when cleaning the floor of parlor or room, but dust is sucked only through the suction hole 121.

Meanwhile, in the sliding holes 124 of the lower case 22, hitting members each having a head 41 and a pillar 42 are slidably mounted, respectively.

These hitting members 40 hit a feature to be cleaned by means of a pressing, pushing, engaging or striking member.

Here, the pressing member extends from both ends of the turbine 30 and is rotated together with the turbine 30 to press or push the hitting members 40 in the sliding holes 124 to hit the feature to be cleaned.

As shown in Fig. 4, the pressing member is preferably configured with a camshaft 130 having a plurality of cams 131 that press one end of the hitting members 40 to hit the feature to be cleaned.

As shown in Figs. 4, 7a and 7b, the cams 131 are formed on the outer circumference of the camshaft 130 so as to press the corresponding hitting members 40 two times per one rotation of the camshaft 130 and so that the hitting members 40 hit the feature to be cleaned at the same time. Thus, two cams 131 are formed on the outer circumference of the camshaft 130, so the hitting member 40 hits the feature to be cleaned two times when the camshaft 130 rotates once.

In addition, a rotary shaft 133 is fixed in the camshaft 130, and bearings 134 are axially installed at both ends of the rotary shaft 133.

As shown in Fig. 5, wheels 140 and support wheels 141 are mounted on a lower surface of the lower case 22 to facilitate movement of the suction head main body 20, and when the motor in the vacuum cleaner main body is driving, dust may be sucked through the suction hole 121.

Now, operation of the suction head according to one embodiment of the present invention is described.

At first, if a user desires to clean bedclothes such as a sheet, or a carpet, the user pushes up an introduced air control knob 125 in an arrow direction of Fig. 6a so that the air introduction hole 122 is opened. Then, the user turns on a power switch 6 shown in Fig. 3 to operate the vacuum cleaner. At this time, by means of the sucking force of the motor configured in the main body of the vacuum cleaner, air is introduced through the suction hole 121, and the air introduced through the air introduction hole 122 makes the turbine 70 rotate. In addition, if a feature L such as a carpet is cleaned by moving the suction head 20 on a surface thereof, dust and impurities adhered to the feature L are sucked into the suction hole 121 and the air introduction hole 122 together with air.

Meanwhile, the air introduced through the air introduction hole 122 is flowed to the turbine container 123 to rotate the turbine 30. If the turbine 30 is rotated, the camshaft 130 is also rotated. Thus, by rotation of the camshaft 130, the cams 131 provided on its outer circumference press the hitting members 40.

If a pressing force is applied to the hitting members 40, their pillars 142 are protruded down through the sliding holes 124 to push down the feature L that tends to be sucked into the suction hole 121 as shown in Figs. 7a and 7b, thereby preventing the suction hole 121 from being clogged by the feature L. At the same time, dust and impurities adhered to the feature are easily sucked through the suction holes 121 and 122 together with air. In order to increase a sucking force by the turbine 30, it is required to control an opening degree of the introduced air control knob 125.

As mentioned above, as the hitting members 40 hit the surface to be cleaned, dust adhered to and included in the feature L to be cleaned are exposed outside, and the exposed dust is introduced into the vacuum cleaner through the suction holes 121 and 122 together with air.

As a result, the hitting members 40 improve the cleaning efficiency by hitting the feature to be cleaned so that the feature is not sucked into the vacuum cleaner through the suction hole 121 and dust and impurities adhered to the feature are floated.

Meanwhile, if a user desires to clean a place such as the floor of a parlor or room, the user pushes down the introduced air control knob 125 as shown in Fig. 6b so that the air introduction hole 122 is closed. Then, the user turns on the power switch 6 shown in Fig. 3 to operate the vacuum cleaner. At this time, dust and air may be sucked into the main body of the vacuum cleaner only through the suction hole 121 by means of the sucking force of the motor in the main body of the vacuum cleaner.

However, since the introduced air control knob 125 is closed, the turbine 30 is not rotated, and thus the hitting members 40 are not operated.

As mentioned above, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention may act as a bedclothes-dedicated cleaner that brushes away impurities such as dust adhered to the bedclothes by opening the knob 125 so that the turbine is rotated and the hitting members 40 hit the bedclothes or a carpet, and a general cleaner that may clean a hard place such as the floor of a parlor or room by closing the knob 125 SO that the turbine is not rotated.

Fig. 8 shows a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention. This vacuum cleaner is identical to that of Fig. 4, except that a plurality of cams are formed on an outer circumference of the camshaft 230 at predetermined angles to press the corresponding hitting members 40 one time per one rotation of the camshaft 230 so that the hitting members 40 sequentially hit the feature to be cleaned subsequently. For one side of the turbine 30, the cams 231, 232, 233 or 234, 235, 236 cause the hitting members 40 to hit the feature one at a time. Thus, the same reference numeral as in Fig. 4 designates the same component, not described in detail here.

As well known from Fig. 8, since a plurality of cams 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, and 236 are formed on the camshaft 230 at substantially 90 degrees, the hitting members 40 are subsequently pressed by these cams when the camshaft 230 is rotating, thereby hitting the bedclothes subsequently to remove dust.

As described above, the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention very usefully has a bedclothes dust brushing function for brushing away impurities such as dust adhered to the bedclothes or carpet, for example, by hitting the bedclothes or carpet, and a general cleaner function for cleaning a hard place such as the floor of a parlor or a room, just using only one suction head.

Though the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the drawings but may be changed and modified in various ways within the scope defined in the following claims.

For example, an elastic member may be additionally provided for restoring the hitting members operated by the cams to their original positions, the number of cams formed on the outer circumference of the camshaft may be increased or decreased rather than the shown one, and the cam may be configured to make the hitting member hit several times when the camshaft rotates once.

In addition, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention may be a canister cleaner as shown in Fig. 3, but it may also be an upright vacuum cleaner or a small portable vacuum cleaner.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A suction head for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction head

main body including upper and lower cases combined to be in contact with each other, a connection member mounted on one side of the suction head main body and arranged to communicate with a main body of the vacuum cleaner, a suction hole formed in the lower case adjacent to the connection member, an air introduction hole formed in front of the suction hole so as to selectively operate a turbine and control a speed of the turbine, a turbine container and a plurality of sliding holes formed between the air introduction hole and the suction hole; the suction head including said turbine, said turbine having a plurality of blades and being received in the turbine container, said turbine arranged to be

rotated when the air introduction hole is open;

a plurality of hitting members slidably mounted in the sliding holes formed in the lower case of the suction head main body; and a pressing member extending from both ends of the turbine, the pressing member being rotated together with the turbine to press the hitting members in the sliding holes so that the hitting members hit a feature to be cleaned.
2. The suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is a camshaft with a plurality of cams that press one end of the hitting members to hit the feature to be cleaned.
3. The suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein each of the cams is mounted on an outer circumference of the camshaft to press the hitting member a number of times per one rotation of the camshaft.
4. The suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the hitting members hit the feature to be cleaned at the same time.
5. The suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cams are arranged to press the hitting members two times per one rotation of the camshaft.
6. The suction head for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the cams are formed on an outer circumference of the camshaft at predetermined angles to press the corresponding hitting member one time per one rotation of the camshaft so that the hitting members hit the feature to be cleaned subsequently.
7. A suction head for a vacuum cleaner constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7b or Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.