GB2447716A

GB2447716A - Upright vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2447716A
Application number: GB0723096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yun-Sup Hwang; Myoung-Sun Choung; Dong-Hun Yoo
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2007-11-23
Publication date: 2008-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-23
Also published as: AU2007234560A1; CN101268922A; US20080229539A1; GB0723096D0; KR100837360B1; GB2447716B

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes a nozzle unit 100, an inlet 115 formed on a bottom surface of the nozzle unit 100, an injection path 170a disposed near the inlet, a suction motor 130 mounted in the nozzle unit, and a main body 200 attached to the nozzle unit and in fluid communication with the suction motor. The injection path 170a ejects air towards a surface to be cleaned. The suction motor 130 generates a suction force to draw in air and dust through the inlet 115. The main body 200 separates dust from the air using a cyclone arrangement with a centrifugal force, collects the dust, and discharges the air to the nozzle unit 100. The air discharged from the main body 200 flows through the suction motor 130, is ejected from the injection path 170a towards the surface to be cleaned to agitate it, and is then suctioned into the inlet 115 so that a portion of the discharged air circulates within the vacuum cleaner 10.

Description

Upright Vacuum Cleaner This invention relates to an upright vacuum

cleaner, and in particular to an upright vacuum cleaner which draws in air together with dust through a nozzle unit, collects the dust in a S cyclonic dust-collecting unit, filters the drawn-in air, and discharges the filtered air.

A conventional upright vacuum cleaner generally draws in dust along with air using a suction force to clean a surface, such as a floor, a carpet or the like. The term "dust" will be used hereinafter to refer collectively to dust, dirt, particulates, and other similar materials.

Such a conventional upright vacuum cleaner is provided with a main body, and a nozzle unit which is installed at a lower part of the main body, so as to move over a surface to be cleaned. A dust-collecting unit and a motor chamber are mounted inside the main body. The dust-collecting unit collects dust drawn in from the surface being cleaned. The motor chamber is disposed below the dust-collecting unit, and a suction motor is mounted in the motor chamber.

In a known conventional upright vacuum cleaner, instead of discharging the air outside of the vacuum cleaner after separating out the dust, the air is drawn back inside the vacuum cleaner, Such an upright vacuum cleaner is described in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20- 144875. This upright vacuum cleaner draws in air together with dust from a surface to be cleaned through a nozzle unit. The air and dust then flow into the main body where the dust is separated from the air. The dust is then collected in a dust bag. The air flows through the dust bag into a suction motor mounted in the main body, and is discharged to the nozzle unit.

I

Accordingly, the discharged air can be made to circulate constantly within the upright vacuum cleaner.

However, in this conventional upright vacuum cleaner which draws back in the discharged air, the suction motor is mounted in the main body. Thus, the main body has a large mass and volume. Accordingly, the weight and size of the main body may make cleaning more difficult.

Furthermore, in this conventional upright vacuum cleaner, the suction motor is disposed downstream of the dust bag, and the dust bag is generally attached to a body portion in fluid communication with the suction motor. Therefore, the path along which air is drawn in is frequently blocked or constricted, due to the accumulation of dust in the dust bag. As a result, the suction motor may experience pressure loss and excessive loading. Accordingly, the dust-collecting efficiency, and consequently the cleaning efficiency, of thecleaner may be reduced.

An aim of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages, and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aim of the present invention is to provide an upright vacuum cleaner using discharged air drawn back into the vacuum cleaner, in which the weight and volume of a main body of the cleaner are reduced so as to enable a user to perform cleaning easily using the vacuum cleaner.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an upright vacuum cleaner using discharged air drawn back into the vacuum cleaner, which cleaner has an improved dust-separating efficiency and dust-collecting efficiency, so that the cleaning efficiency can be enhanced.

The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle unit; an inlet formed on a bottom surface of the nozzle unit; an injection path disposed adjacent to the inlet, the injection path being provided for ejecting air towards a surface to be cleaned; a suction motor mounted in the nozzle unit, the suction motor being arranged to generate a suction force to draw in air and dust through the inlet; and a main body coupled to the nozzle unit and in fluid communication with the suction motor, the main body being configured to separate dust from the air drawn in througJ the inlet using a centrifugal force, to collect the dust, and to discharge the air to the nozzle unit; wherein air discharged from the main body flows through the suction motor, is ejected from the nozzle unit through the injection path towards the surface to be cleaned, and is then suctioned into the inlet of the nozzle unit by the suction motor so that a portion of the discharged air circulates within the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the main body comprises: a frame whose lower end is pivoted to the nozzle unit; a handle disposed at an upper end of the frame; and a dust-collecting unit mounted on the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, the dust-collecting unit comprises: a cyclonic part having a substantially cylindrical shape; an inflow port disposed at one side of the cyclonic part to give a rotation force to the drawn-in air; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the cyclonic part, the dust bin being arranged to collect dust separated from the drawn-in air and descending from the cyclonic unit due to gravity; and an exhaust pipe penetrating a bottom surface of the dust bin, and extending substantially vertically and substantially centrally of the dust bin, the exhaust pipe being such as to discharge the drawn-in air towards the nozzle unit.

Advantageously, the cleaner further comprises a guide duct providing fluid communication between the dust-collecting unit and the nozzle unit, the guide duct being mounted inside the lower end of the frame which is pivoted to the nozzle unit.

Preferably, the cleaner further comprises a first filter disposed between the exhaust pipe and the guide duct.

The nozzle unit may comprise: a housing; a motor chamber disposed in the housing, the motor chamber receiving the suction motor; a discharge path disposed at the housing in fluid communication with the injection path, the discharge path being provided to guide air discharged from the motor chamber to the front of the housing; and at least one injection hole formed at a terminal end of the injection path.

Advantageously, the injection path is curved inwardly with a predetermined curvature towards the rear of the housing, so that the at least one injection hole is disposed towards the inlet.

Preferably, the nozzle unit further comprises a second filter disposed in the discharge path.

Conveniently, the nozzle unit further comprises a rotatable brush rotatably mounted inside the inlet and driven by the suction motor, the rotatable brush being positioned to strike dust attached to the surface to be cleaned and to separate the dust from the surface to be cleaned while rotating.

Advantageously, the cleaner further comprises an air re-intake passage in fluid communication with the dust-collecting unit, the air re-intake passage being arranged to receive air discharged from the nozzle unit and air drawn-in containing dust on the surface to be cleaned, and pass it to the dust-collecting unit.

Preferably, the air re-intake passage comprises: a first connection pipe having one end in fluid communication with the inlet of the nozzle unit; a flexible hose having one end coupled to the other end of the first connection pipe, the flexible hose being disposed to the exterior of the nozzle unit; and a second connection pipe having one end in fluid communication with the flexible hose, and an opposite end in fluid communication with the dust-collecting unit.

The invention also provides an upright vacuum cleaner comprising: means for receiving air and dust from a surface to be cleaned, said means being disposed in a nozzle unit; means for generating a suction force to draw in the air and the dust, said means for generating a suction force being within the means for receiving air and dust; means for separating the dust from the air, said separation means being disposed in a main body coupled to the nozzle unit; collection means for collecting the dust, the collection means being disposed in the main body; and means for discharging the air to the means for receiving air and dust, so that a portion of the air recirculates through the upright vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the means for separating the dust from the air includes means for forming a cyclone to separate the dust from the air by centrifugal force.

Advantageously, the cleaner further comprises a first means for filtering air from the means for separating dust from the air.

Conveniently, the means for receiving air and dust further comprises a second means for filtering air.

Preferably, the cleaner further comprises means for ejecting air towards the surface to be cleaned, means for agitating dust, and means for guiding air from the means for receiving air and dust from a surface to be cleaned to the means for separating the dust from the air.

The invention further provides an upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a nozzle unit; a suction motor mounted in the nozzle unit; an inlet formed at a bottom surface of the nozzle unit; S at least one injection hole disposed adjacent to the inlet; a main body coupled to the nozzle unit; a cyclone disposed in the main body, a first air flow path disposed between the inlet and the cyclone; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone; and a second air flow path disposed between the cyclone and the at least one injection hole, wherein air and dust are received through the inlet, the dust is separated from the air by the cyclone, the air is discharged through the at least one injection hole, and a portion of the air recirculates through the upright vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the cleaner further comprises at least one filter in the second air flow path.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner constructed according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view, in partial section, of the upright vacuum cleaner of Figure 1, showing air flow paths; Figure 3 is a front elevational view, in partial section, of the upright vacuum cleaner of Figure I, showing the air flow paths; and Figure 4 is a side elevational view, in section, of a nozzle unit of the upright vacuum cleaner of Figure 2, showing the air flow paths.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar elements in the different figures. The matters set forth in the description below, such as the detailed construction and method of operation, are only provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and should not be considered as limiting.

The present invention can be carried out without using some or all of those defined elements.

Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention in unnecessary detail.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an upright vacuum cleaner 10 having a nozzle unit and a main body 200 which is connected to the nozzle unit. In such an upright vacuum cleaner 10, the centre of gravity is in the nozzle unit 100, and thus the main body 200 can be lighter than the nozzle unit 100, so that a user can easily move the vacuum cleaner.

The main body 200 includes a frame 210 and a dust-collecting unit 230. The frame 210 may include a handle 211. The handle 211 is disposed at the upper end of the frame 210, so that the vacuum cleaner 10 can be moved by a user. The main body 200 includes a pair of pivots 213 which are disposed at the lower end thereof to be pivoted to a housing 110 of the nozzle unit 100. The dust-collecting unit 230 includes a cyclonic part 240 and a dust bin 250. The cyclonic part 240 separates dust from air by centrifugal force.

The cyclonic part 240 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an inflow port 241 is disposed on one side of the cyclonic part. The dust bin 250 collects dust that descends due to gravity after being separated from the drawn-in air in the cyclonic part 240. The dust bin 250 is detachably connected to the lower side of the cyclone part 240.

The main body 200 includes an ascent/descent lever 280 and a filter casing 271. The lever 280 can be used to press the dust bin 250 towards the cyclonic part 240, or to release the dust bin from the cyclonic part. The filter casing 271 houses a filter, and is detachably coupled with the frame 210.

The nozzle unit 100 draws in dust from a surface to be cleaned while moving over the surface.

The nozzle unit 100 includes the housing 110, an inspection window 101, a front casing 113, a height-adjusting knob 180, a discharge path 170, and wheels 190. The inspection window 101 is provided for viewing internal components of the nozzle unit 100, such as a rotatable brush 150 (see Figure 3). The front casing 113 covers the rotatable brush 130. The height-adjusting knob 180 can be used to raise and lower the nozzle unit 100 so as to prevent carpets or other sensitive surfaces from being damaged by the rotation of the rotatable brush 130.

The discharge path 170 guides air towards the front of the housing 110. The wheels 190 are rotatably mounted on both sides of the housing 110, so that the nozzle unit 100 can smoothly move across the surface to be cleaned.

Referring to Figure 2, the nozzle unit 100 includes a motor chamber 111, a suction motor 130, an inlet 115, the rotatable brush 150, and a front casing 113. The suction motor 130 provides, in use, a suction source to draw in dust from the surface to be cleaned. The suction motor is mounted in the motor chamber 111, and constitutes a drive source to drive the rotatable brush 150. The brush 150 is rotatably mounted inside an inlet 115 disposed on a bottom surface of the housing 100. The front casing 113 is disposed at the front of the motor chamber Ill.

An air re-intake passage 300 provides fluid communication between the nozzle unit 100 and the main body 200. The air re-intake passage 300 guides drawn-in air containing dust, along with the air discharged from the nozzle unit 100, towards the dust-collecting unit 230. The air re-intake passage 300 includes a first connection pipe 301, a flexible hose 303, and a second connection pipe 305. One end of the first connection pipe 301 fluidly. communicates with the inlet 115, and an opposite end thereof is disposed at the rear of the housing 110. The opposite end of the first connection pipe 301 is connected to a first end of the flexible hose 303, and a second, opposite end of the flexible hose 303 is connected to one end of the second connection pipe 305. Although the flexible hose 303 used as in a portion of the air re-intake passage 300, the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, a flexible hose can be used as the entire air re-intake passage 300. The opposite end of the second connection pipe 305 is connected to the inflow port 241.

The drawn-air flowing through the air re-intake passage 300 is in fluid communication with the cyclonic part 240 of the dust-collecting unit 230. The air re-intake passage 300 guides air through the inflow port 241 which is configured horizontally relative to the cyclonic part 240.

The inflow port 241 is also disposed at a tangent to the cyclonic part 240, in order to cause rotation of the drawn-in air flowing through the air re-intake passage 300. The rotation of the drawn-in air causes dust to separate from the drawn-in air by centrifugal force. The dust then descends into the dust bin 250 because of gravity.

A grille filter 243 is disposed at the centre of the cyclonic part 240 to prevent separated dust of a predetermined size from flowing back into the suction motor 130. To prevent dust that may be descending into the dust bin 250 from flowing back into the cyclonic part 240, a skirt 245 is disposed to extend from a lower end of the grille filter 243. The skirt 245 extends over a predetermined portion of an inside surface of the cyclonic part 240. The diameter of the bottom of the skirt 245 is greater than the outer diameter of the grille filter 243.

The dust-collecting unit 230 has an exhaust pipe 260 in order to discharge the drawn-in air passing through the grille filter 243 towards the nozzle unit 100. The exhaust pipe 260 penetrates a bottom surface of the dust bin 250. The exhaust pipe 260 extends vertically through the centre of the dust bin 250, so that an upper end of the exhaust pipe fluidly communicates with a lower end of the grille filter 243. A first filter 273 is disposed below the lower end of the exhaust pipe 260, and so filters the air discharged through the exhaust pipe. The first filter 273 is housed in the filter casing 271.

The exhaust pipe 260 is in fluid communication with a guide duct 215 which guides air to the motor chamber Ill. The guide duct 215 is mounted on at least one of the pivots 213 (see Figure 3). The first filter 273 is disposed between the exhaust pipe 260 and the guide duct 215, so that filtered air can flow into the motor chamber 111 through the guide duct.

The frame 210 includes a receptacle unit 217 for mounting the dust-collecting unit 230, the receptacle unit being mounted at the front of the frame.

Referring to Figure 3, the suction motor 130 is a drive source for driving the rotatable brush 150, by transferring a drive force to the brush via a drive belt 151. The drive belt 151 is wound around a drive shaft 131 and the rotatable brush 150.

Injection holes 171 are disposed in the bottom surface of the nozzle unit 100, so as to be immediately adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. The injection holes 171 are positioned adjacent to the front of the rotatable brush 150. Thus, the air from the injection holes 171 is directed towards the surface to be cleaned, which surface faces the bottom surface of the housing 110 near the front of the rotatable brush 150. This air agitates dust which increases suction efficiency. Air from the injection holes 171 prevents agitated dust from flying towards the outside of the nozzle unit 100. The injection holes 171 also guide the agitated dust to flow directly into the inlet 115 (see Figure 2).

The flexible hose 303 (see Figure 2) is disposed around the pivots 213 of the frame 210 so that the main body 200 can smoothly rotate about the pivots during cleaning operations.

Referring to Figure 4, the housing 110 is provided with the discharge path 170 and with an injection path 1 70a. The discharge path 170 is configured to guide air discharged from the motor chamber 111 towards the front of the housing 110. The injection path I 70a is in fluid communication with the discharge path 170, in order to inject the discharged air towards the surface to be cleaned. The injection holes 171 are formed at a terminal end of the injection path I 70a, and are in an area immediately adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. The injection path I 70a is curved inwardly, with a predeternunecj curvature towards the rear of the housing 110, so that the injection holes 171 are disposed towards the inlet 115.

Additionally, air discharged through the injection holes 171 circulates in the vacuum cleaner 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is possible to form an opening (not shown) which enables a portion of the discharge path 170 to be opened selectively in order to prevent the inside temperature of the housing 110 from rising excessively due to heat generated by the suction motor 130.

A second filter 173 is disposed at the discharge path 170, in order to filter air discharged from the motor chamber 111. Thus, air filtered by the first filter 273 is also filtered by the second filter 173. The second filter 173 includes, for example, a hepa filter in order to filter fine dust particles.

Hereinafter, operation of the upright vacuum cleaner described above will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

When the vacuum cleaner 10 is supplied with power, the suction motor 130 disposed in the nozzle unit 100 generates a suction force. The suction force is generated between the inlet of the nozzle unit 100 and the surface to be cleaned. Air can then be drawn into the nozzle unit 100 through the inlet 115, together with dust from the surface to be cleaned.

After flowing through the inlet 115, the drawn-in, dust-carrying air flows through the air re-intake passage 300, and into the cyclonic part 240 of the dust-collecting unit 230. As the drawn-in air flows through the inflow part 214, the inflow port causes the drawn-in air to rotate. The rotation of the air causes dust to separate therefrom by centrifugal force. The dust separated from the drawn-in air descends due to gravity. The dust may then be collected in the dust bin 250. The air then flows through the grille filter 243 into the exhaust pipe 260.

The air flowing through the exhaust pipe 260 is filtered by the first filter 273, and then flows through the guide duct 215 and into the suction motor 130. The air is then discharged from the suction motor 130 to the motor chamber 111. The discharged air is guided towards the injection path I 70a through the discharge path 170. The discharged air may be ejected to the surface to be cleaned via the injection holes 171. The dust on the surface to be cleaned, for example dust embedded in a carpet, is agitated by the discharged air, thereby increasing the suction efficiency. The air discharged to the surface to be cleaned flows into the inlet 115 of the nozzle unit 100. Thus, air can circulate in the vacuum cleaner 10.

The suction motor 130 is disposed in a lower part (the nozzle unit 100) of the vacuum cleaner 10. Thus, because the suction motor 130 is not disposed in the main body, it is possible to reduce the weight and volume of a main body of the cleaner. Therefore, anyone can easily use the vacuum cleaner for cleaning.

Additionally, the dust-collecting unit 230 which uses a cyclonic part 240 for dust separation, maximises the dust-separating efficiency, and thus increases the cleaning efficiency.

Furthermore, air drawn into the vacuum cleaner 10 is prevented from being substantially discharged outside of the vacuum cleaner during the cleaning operation. Accordingly, it is possible to contain any odour from the dust.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present invention can be readily applied to other types of apparatus. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims 1. An upnght vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle unit; an inlet

fonned on a bottom surface of the nozzle unit; an injection path disposed adjacent to the inlet, the injection path being provided for ejecting air towards a surface to be cleaned; a suction motor mounted in the nozzle unit, the suction motor being arranged to generate a suction force to draw in air and dust through the inlet; and a main body coupled to the nozzle unit and in fluid communication with the suction motor, the main body being configured to separate dust from the air drawn in through the inlet using a centrifugal force, to collect the dust, and to discharge the air to the nozzle unit; wherein air discharged from the main body flows through the suction motor, is ejected from the nozzle unit through the injection path towards the surface to be cleaned, and is then suctioned into the inlet of the nozzle unit by the suction motor so that a portion of the discharged air circulates within the vacuum cleaner.
2. A cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises: a frame whose lower end is pivoted to the nozzle unit; a handle disposed at an upper end of the frame; and a dust-collecting unit mounted on the frame.
3. A cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dust-collecting unit comprises: a cyclonic part having a substantially cylindrical shape; an inflow port disposed at one side of the cyclonic part to give a rotation force to the drawn-in air; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the cyclonic part, the dust bin being arranged to collect dust separated from the drawn-in air and descending from the cyclomc unit due to gravity; and an exhaust pipe penetrating a bottom surface of the dust bin, and extending substantially vertically and substantially centrally of the dust bin, the exhaust pipe being such as to discharge the drawn-in air towards the nozzle unit.

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4. A cleaner as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a guide duct providing fluid communication between the dust-collecting unit and the nozzle unit, the guide duct being mounted inside the lower end of the frame which is pivoted to the nozzle unit.
5. A cleaner as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a first filter disposed between the exhaust pipe and the guide duct.
6. A cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the nozzle unit comprises: a housing; a motor chamber disposed in the housing, the motor chamber receiving the suction motor; a discharge path disposed at the housing in fluid communication with the injection path, the discharge path being provided to guide air discharged from the motor chamber to the front of the housing; and at least one injection hole formed at a terminal end of the injection path.
7. A cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the injection path is curved inwardly with a predetermined curvature towards the rear of the housing, so that the at least one injection hole is disposed towards the inlet.
8. A cleaner as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the nozzle unit further comprises a second filter disposed in the discharge path.
9. A cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the nozzle unit further comprises a rotatable brush rotatably mounted inside the inlet and driven by the suction motor, the rotatable brush being positioned to strike dust attached to the surface to be cleaned and to separate the dust from the surface to be cleaned while rotating.
10. A cleaner as claimed in claim 2 or in any one of claims 3 to 9 when appendent to claim 2, further comprising an air re-intake passage in fluid communication with the dust-collecting unit, the air re-intake passage being arranged to receive air discharged from the nozzle unit and air drawn-in containing dust on the surface to be cleaned, and pass it to the dust-collecting unit.
II. A upright vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air re-intake passage comprises: a first connection pipe having one end in fluid communication with the inlet of the nozzle unit; a flexible hose having one end coupled to the other end of the first connection pipe, the flexible hose being disposed to the exterior of the nozzle unit; and a second connection pipe having one end in fluid communication with the flexible hose, and an opposite end in fluid communication with the dust-collecting unit.
12. An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: means for receiving air and dust from a surface to be cleaned, said means being disposed in a nozzle unit; means for generating a suction force to draw in the air and the dust, said means for generating a suction force being within the means for receiving air and dust; means for separating the dust from the air, said separation means being disposed in a main body coupled to the nozzle unit; collection means for collecting the dust, the collection means being disposed in the main body; and means for discharging the air to the means for receiving air and dust, so that a portion of the air recirculates through the upright vacuum cleaner.
13. A cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for separating the dust from the air includes means for forming a cyclone to separate the dust from the air by centrifugal force.
14. A cleaner as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising a first means for filtering air from the means for separating dust from the air.
15. A cleaner as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for receiving air and dust further comprises a second means for filtering air.
16. A cleaner as claimed in anyone of claims 12 to 15, further comprising means for ejecting air towards the surface to be cleaned.
17. A cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising means for agitating dust.
18. A cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, further comprising means for guiding air from the means for receiving air and dust from a surface to be cleaned to the means for separating the dust from the air.
19. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a nozzle unit; a suction motor mounted in the nozzle unit; an inlet formed at a bottom surface of the nozzle unit; at least one injection hole disposed adjacent to the inlet; a main body coupled to the nozzle unit; a cyclone disposed in the main body; a first air flow path disposed between the inlet and the cyclone; a dust bin detachably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone; and a second air flow path disposed between the cyclone and the at least one injection hole, wherein air and dust are received through the inlet, the dust is separated from the air by the cyclone, the air is discharged through the at least one injection hole, and a portion of the air recirculates through the upright vacuum cleaner.
20. A cleaner as claimed in claim 19, further comprising at least one filter in the second air flow path.
21. An upright vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.