GB2458179A

GB2458179A - Cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2458179A
Application number: GB0815231A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dong-Hun Yoo
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-12-05
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2009-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-20
Also published as: KR20090058929A; GB0815231D0; AU2008203326A1; AU2008203326B2; KR101408726B1; GB2458179B; US20090144932A1

Abstract

A cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 for a vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cyclone unit 50 disposed in a cleaner body 30 with its longitudinal central axis thereof parallel to a first wall 31 of the cleaner body. The cyclone unit 50 has dust-discharge opening 57 formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof. A dust receptacle 70 disposed at a side of the cyclone unit 50 for attachment to, or detachment from, the cleaner body 30. The dust receptacle 70 has a top wall 72 in which a dust-entrance opening 73 is formed corresponding to the dust-discharge opening 57 of the cyclone unit 50.

Description

Cyclonic Dust-Collecting Apparatus This invention relates to a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, and in particular to a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus usable th an upright or canister vacuum cleaner.

Generally, a vacuum cleaner is classified as either an upright vacuum cleaner or a canister vacuum cleaner. An upright vacuum cleaner and a canister vacuum cleaner both have advantages and disadvantages. So, a user can select and use one of the two types of vacuum cleaner according to particular needs.

However, a user may need both types of vacuum cleaner. In this case, a user must buy both a canister vacuum cleaner and an upright vacuum cleaner, thereby feeling a financial burden.

In order to solve this problem, a combined vacuum cleaner that can be used both as a canister cleaner and an upright cleaner has been developed. A conventional combined vacuum cleaner uses a dust bag as a dust-collecting apparatus. There is now a requirement to develop a combined vacuum cleaner that uses a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus, as such an apparatus has good dust-separating efficiency and easy usability. Throughout this specification, the term "dust" should be understood to include not only dust, but other contaminants that are picked up, during use, by a vacuum cleaner.

The present invention has been developed in order to overcome the above drawbacks and other problems associated with conventional arrangements. An aim of the present invention is to provide a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus capable of being used as either a canister

I

vacuum cleaner or as an upright vacuum cleaner.

The present invention provides a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus for disposal in a vacuum cleaner body having a first wall that becomes a base surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second wall that becomes the base surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direclion thereof, the apparatus comprising: a cyclone unit disposed in the cleaner body so that its longitudinal central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a dust-discharge opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof; and a dust receptacle disposed at said side surface of the cyclone unit, the dust receptacle being configured for attachment to, or detachment from, the cleaner body, the dust receptacle having a top wall in which a dust entrance opening is formed, the dust enirance opening corresponding to the dust-discharge opening of the cyclone unit.

The cyclone unit may comprise a hollow, cylindrical cyclone body whose central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body; an air-discharge pipe formed at a base surface of the cyclone body; and an air-entrance pipe disposed at said side surface of the cyclone body adjacent to the second wall of the cleaner body.

The cyclone unit may further comprise a dust-discharge pipe extending from said side surface of the cyclone body at the dust-discharge opening.

The dust receptacle may have an external prcection prcjecting from around the dust-entrance opening of the dust receptacle.

The cyclone unit may further comprise a support wall formed around the dust-discharge pipe, the support wall colTesponding to the top wall of the dust receptacle; and a sealing projection formed at the support wall around the external projection of the dust receptacle.

The cyclone unit may be provided with a gasket disposed between the sealing projection and the external prqjection.

The dust receptacle may further comprise an internal projection formed at an inner surface of the top wall of the dust receptacle to project inside the dust receptacle from around the dust-entrance opening.

The cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus may further comprise a discharge duct disposed at the second wall of the cleaner body, the discharge duct connecting the air-discharge pipe of the cyclone unit and a vacuum generator.

The dust receptacle may comprise a dust receptacle body having the top wail in which the dust-entrance opening is formed; a handle disposed at a side surface of the dust receptacle body; a base cover disposed at a lower end of the dust receptacle body, the base cover being such as to be openable and closable; and a base cover opening unit for selectively opening and closing the base cover.

The base cover may be pivotally disposed at a side surface of the dust receptacle body.

The base cover opening unit may comprise: a fixing hook disposed at a side of the base cover, the fixing hook being formed to engage a fixing projection disposed on the dust receptacle body; and a release lever for causing the fixing hook to be released from the fixing projection.

The release lever may be formed to move along the handle.

The base cover opening unit may comprise a resilient member disposed at a top end of the release lever for biasing the release lever upwards.

The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a first wall that becomes a base surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second wall that becomes the base surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction thereof; and a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus disposed in the cleaner body, the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus having a cyclone unit and a dust receptacle, wherein the cyclone unit is disposed in the cleaner body so that its longitudinal central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body, and wherein the dust receptacle is disposed at a side of the cyclone unit for attachment to, or detachment from, the cleaner body.

Preferably, the cyclone unit is provided with a dust-discharge opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof In a preferred embodiment the dust receptacle has a top wall in which a dust entrance opening is formed, the dust entrance opening corresponding to the dust-discharge opening of the cyclone unit.

Advantageously, the cyclone unit comprises: a hollow, cylindrical cyclone body having a central axis parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body; an air-discharge pipe formed at a base surface of the cyclone body; and an air-entrance pipe disposed at a side surface of the cyclone body adjacent to the second wall of the cleaner body.

Preferably, the cyclone unit further comprises: a substantially rectangular dust-discharge pipe extending from said side surface of the cyclone body at the dust-discharge opening.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, th reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus constructed according to the invention, the vacuum cleaner being shown when in use as an upright vacuum cleaner; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1, the vacuum cleaner being shown when in use as a canister vacuum cleaner, Figure 3 isacross-sectiontakenontheline Ill-Ill ofFigure 1; Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of the vacuum cleaner similar to that of Figure 3, but showing a dust receptacle separated from the cleaner, Figure 5 is a cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view similar to that of Figure 5, but showing the receptacle separated flm the cleaner, Figure 7 is an underneath perspective view of a cyclone unit forming part of the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the dust receptacle of the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus of Figure 3; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dust receptacle of Figure 8 when a base cover thereof is opened.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.

The matters defined in the desciiption, such as the detailed construction and elements thereof, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it will be apparent that the present invention may be carried out without all those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are omitted to provide a clear and concise description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a vacuum cleaner 1 having a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40, a nozzle unit 10, an extension pipe assembly 20, and a cleaner body 30.

The nozzle unit 10 moves over a surface to be cleaned, and draws in dust. A suclion port (not illustrated), through which air and dust are drawn, is formed in the base surface of the nozzle unit 10. A body-mounting portion 11, onto which the cleaner body 30 is mounted, is formed on the top surface of the nozzle unit 10. A pair of wheels 12, which allow the nozzle unit 10 to move smoothly over a surface to be cleaned, are disposed at opposite sides of the nozzle unit.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as an upnght cleaner, as illustrated in Figure 1, the cleaner body 30 is coupled to the body-mounting portion 11 of the nozzle unit 10.

The extension pipe assembly 20 connects the nozzle unit 10 to the cleaner body 30, and includes an extension pipe 21 and a flexible hose 22. A grip 23 is formed at a connecting portion between the extension pipe 21 and the flexible hose 22, enabling a user to grab the grip in order to move the nozzle unit 10. When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as an upright cleaner, as illusirated in Figure 1, the extension pipe assembly 20 is fixed to a rear surface of the cleaner body 30, that is to a side wall 32 thereof.

The cleaner body 30 supports a vacuum generator (not illustrated), which generates, in use, a suction force to draw in dust. and the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 which separates and collects the drawn-in dust. The cleaner body 30 has an end 31 that becomes the base of the cleaner body when the cleaner is in the upright mode as illustrated in Figure 1. The side wall 32 becomes the base of the cleaner body 30 when the cleaner is in the canister mode as illustrated in Figure 2. The end wall 31 contacts the body-mounting portion 11 of the nozzle unit 10 when the vacuum cleaner I is in the upright mode, as illustrated in Figure 1. The side wall 32 is substantially perpendicular to the end wall 31, and the extension pipe assembly 20 is fixed to the side wall. The cleaner body 30 has a first portion 33 in which the vacuum generator is disposed, and a second portion 34 in which the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus is disposed, the two portions being separated by a partition wall 35. The vacuum generator is disposed between the partition wall 35 and the end wall 31. The cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 is disposed above the partition wall 35. The second portion 34, in which the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 is disposed, has an open front surface.

The vacuum generator is in fluid communication th the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus via a discharge duct 36 (see Figure 3) disposed at an inner surface of the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 includes a cyclone unit for separating dust from the drawn-in dust-cariying air, and a dust receptacle 70 for collecting the separated dust The cyclone unit 50 is disposed with its longitudinal central axis CL parallel to the end wall 31 of the cleaner body 30. Accordingly, when the vacuum cleaner I is used in the upright mode, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the longitudinal central axis CL of the cyclone unit 50 is substantially horizontal with respect to a surface 3 to be cleaned. The cyclone unit 50 includes a cyclone body 51 forming a space in which the drawn-in air and dust whirl, an entrance pipe 52 for allowing the dust and air to enter the cyclone body, and an air-discharge pipe 53 through which "clean" air, from which dust has been removed, is discharged.

The cyclone body 51 is substantially cylindrical, and a dust-discharge opening 57, through which the separated dust discharged, is formed at an upper portion of a side surface of the cyclone body, that is at a position remote from the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30. The dust-discharge opening 57 is substantially rectangular, and is sized so that the dust separated in the cyclone body 51 can be smoothly discharged therethrough by centrifugal force, and so dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 can be prevented from flowing backwards into the cyclone body through the dust-discharge opening. A top cover 55 is detachably disposed at the top end of the cyclone body 51. A guide pipe 55a is formed to extend from an inner surface of the top cover 55 towards the air-discharge pipe 53. A dust-discharge pipe 58 is provided inside the dust-discharge opening 57, this pipe extending along the outside side surface of the cyclone body 51. The dust-discharge pipe 58 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the dust-discharge opening 57, and to has a larger cross-sectional area than that of the dust-discharge opening. The dust-discharge pipe 58 is rectangular, having a rectangular section larger than that of the dust-discharge opening 57.

The air-discharge pipe 53 is formed substantially at the centre of the base surface of the cyclone body 51, and the base surface thereof is disposed against the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30. The air-discharge pipe 53 is substantially hollow and cylindrical, with opposite open ends, and is in fluid communication with the discharge duct 36 disposed at the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30. Therefore, air discharged from the air-discharge pipe 53 moves to the vacuum generator via the discharge duct 36. As illustrated in Figure 3, a filter 54 having a plurality of slits 54a is disposed at the top end of the air-discharge pipe 53. The filter 54 filters dust moving with discharged air.

The entrance pipe 52 is disposed at the lower portion of the side surface of the cyclone body 51, that is at a position adjacent to the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30. Air entering the entrance 52 whirls inside the cyclone body 51 around its longitudinal central axis CL. The entrance pipe 52 is in fluid communication with the extension pipe assembly 20.

A support wall 60 supports the cyclone body 51, as illustrated in Figure 3, and is disposed below the cyclone body 51. A leading end 58a of the dust-discharge pipe 58 projects from the support wall 60, as illustrated in Figure 7. A sealing prqjection 61 is disposed around the leading end 58a of the dust-discharge pipe 58 on a base surface of the support waIl 60. A connecting groove 62, in which a connecting protrusion 76 fonned at a top wall 72 of the dust receptacle 70 is inserted, is formed at the outer circumference of the support waIl 60.

The dust receptacle 70 is disposed at one side of the cyclone unit 50, that is below the cyclone unit as illustrated in Figure 3, and is detachable with respect to the cleaner body 30.

Consequently, the dust receptacle 70 can be mounted to, or separated from, the end wall 31 of thecleanerbody3oinaparalleldirection,andcanbeseparatedfromthesidewall32ina perpendicular direction. When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used in the upright mode, the dust receptacle 70, as illustrated in Figure 4, is substantially horizontally mountable to, and separable from, the cleaner body 30.

The dust receptacle 70 has a substantially rectangular tank shape with a closed top end, as illustrated in Figure 8. The dust receptacle 70 comprises a dust receptacle body 71 having the top wall 72. A dust-entrance opening 73, corresponding to the dust-discharge opening 57 of the cyclone unit 50, is foimed in the top wall 72 of the dust receptacle body 71. An external projection 74 projects outside the dust receptacle body 71 around the dust-entrance opening 73. The projection 74 is insertable into the space between the sealing projection 61 and the dust-discharge pipe 58. Accordingly, when the dust receptacle 70 is connected to the cyclone unit 50, a connecting portion between the leading end 58a of the dust-discharge pipe 58 of the cyclone unit 50 and the dust-entrance opening 73 of the dust receptacle 70 is sealed by the sealing projection 61. When a sealing member (not illustrated), such as a gasket, is disposed inside the sealing projection 61, that is in the space between the sealing projection and the external projection 74, sealing efficiency is increased. An internal projection 75 projects towards the base of the dust receptacle body 71 from an inner surface of the top wall 72 of the dust receptacle body 71. The internal projection 75 prevents dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 from flowing backwards through the dust-entrance opening 73. The connecting protrusion 76 is formed at the outer circumference of the top wall 72 of the dust receptacle body 71, and is insertable into the connecting groove 62 of the cyclone unit 50. Therefore, when connecting the dust receptacle 70 to the cyclone unit 50, a user is required to push and insert the dust receptacle into the cyclone unit. For this purpose, a lifting unit 90 (see Figure 3) is disposed below the dust receptacle 70 to cause the dust receptacle to move up and down.

The lifting unit 90 is configured with a cam and a lever to cause the dust receptacle 70 to move up and down. Conventional lifting units can be used as the lifling unit, so a detailed

description of this unit will be omitted.

The dust receptacle 70 includes a handle 77 disposed at a side surface of the dust receptacle body 71, and a base cover 78 that is disposed at the lower end of the dust receptacle body 71 and can be opened and closed. A base cover opening unit 80 (see Figures 3 to 6) is provided for selectively opening closing the base cover 78.

The base cover 78 is connected to a side wall of the dust receptacle body 71 by two hinges 79 (see Figures 8 and 9).

Referring to Figure 3, the base cover opening unit 80 includes a fixing hook 82, a fixing protrusion 83, a release lever 81, and a resilient member 85. The fixing hook 82 is disposed on side of the base cover 78, that is at that side of the base cover opposite to the side at which the hinges 79 are disposed. The fixing prolnision 83 is disposed at the lower end of the dust receptacle body 71 so that it can be connected tothe fixing hook 82 when the base cover 78 is closed. The release lever 81 is formed to release a leading end of the fixing hook 82 from the fixing protrusion 83. The resilient member 85 biases the release lever 81 resiliently upwards.

The release lever 81 may be disposed inside the handle 77 for movement therealong, so that the handle is formed to support and guide the movement of the release lever. A release button 84 is formed at one end of the release lever 81. The resilient member 85 is disposed underneath the release button 84, that is between the release button and the handle 77, as illustrated in Figure 3. A lower end 81 a of the release lever 81 is formed to push the fixing hook 82, as illustrated in Figure 3. Accordingly, when the release button 84 is pushed, the release lever 81 is moved downwards along the handle 77. When the release lever 81 is moved downwards, the lower end 81 a of the release lever 81 presses the fixing hook 82 to release the fixing hook from the fixing protrusion 83. When the fixing hook 82 is released from the fixing protrusion 83, the base cover 78 rotates downwards on the hinges 79 under gravity, so that the base of the dust receptacle 70 is opened (see Figure 9). On the other hand, when the user releases pressure on the release button 84, the release button is moved upwards by the resilient member 85. Accordingly, when the user closes the base cover 78, the fixing hook 82 is caught on the fixing protrusion 83 of the dust receptacle body 71, so that the base cover is fixed to the dust receptacle body 7! (see Figure 8).

Operation of the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 will now be explained with reference to the drawings.

When the vacuum cleaner I is used in the upright mode (see Figure 1), the end wall 31 of the cleaner body 30 is fixed to the body-mounting portion 11 of the nozzle unit 10, so the cleaner body 30 moves integrally with the nozzle unit 10. At this time, the extension pipe 21 and the flexible hose 22 of the extension pipe assembly 20 are fixed to an outer surface of the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30.

In this upright mode, when the vacuum generator operates to generate a suction force, dust and air axe drawn in by the nozzle unit 10, and pass to the cleaner body 30 through the extension pipe assembly 20.

The dust and air, which arrive in the cleaner body 30, enter the cyclone body 51 of the cyclone unit 50 through the entrance pipe 52 (as indicated by the arrow A). The dust and air which, as indicated by the arrow B in Figure 3, whirl around the longitudinal central axis CL of the cyclone unit 50, which is substantially horizontal wit 3pect to the surface 3 to be cleaned.

While whirling, the dust is separated from the air, and is discharged into the dust receptacle 70 through the dust-discharge opening 57 formed in the cyclone body 51 (as indicated by the arrow C). As the dust-discharge opening 57 is located at the lower portion of the cyclone unit 50, the dust separated in the cyclone unit 50 is smoothly discharged. On the other hand, clean air, from which dust has been removed, is discharged towards the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30 through the air-discharge pipe 53 (as indicated by the arrow D). The clean air discharged towards the side wall 32 moves towards the vacuum generator through the discharge duct 36 disposed at the side wall 32 (s indicated by the arrow E).

When emptying the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70, the user moves the dust receptacle downwards to be separated from the cyclone unit 50. After that, the user grips the handle 77 of the dust receptacle 70, and then takes the dust receptacle out in a direction parallel to the surface 3 to be cleaned (indicated by the anow HI in Figure 4). After that, when the user presses the release button 84 disposed on the handle 77, the release lever 81 moves downwards to cause the fixing hook 82 to be r1eased from the fixing protrusion 83. When the fixing hook 82 is released from the fixing protrusion 83, the base cover 78 opens on the hinges 79,asillustratedinFigure9, sothatthedustcollectedinthedustreCeptaCle7OdropStObe discharged. Then, when the user pushes the base cover 78 upwards to close it, and the fixing hook 82 is caught on the fixing protrusion 83 so that the base cover is fixed to the dust receptacle body 71.

After that, the user inserts the dust receptacle 70 in a direction parallel to the surface 3 to be cleaned (as indicated by the arrow H2 in Figure 4) so that the dust receptacle is positioned below the cyclone unit 50. Then, the user operates the lifting unit 90 so that the dust receptacle is moved upwards and connected to the cyclone unit 50. The external projection 74 and the connecting protrusion 76 formed at the top wall 72 of the dust receptacle 70 are inserted respectively into the sealing projection 61 and the connecting groove 62 formed at the supporting wall 60 of the cyclone unit 50.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used in the upright mode, the dust separated in the cyclone unit is smoothly discharged through the dust-discharge opening 57, and the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 does not flow backwards to the cyclone unit When the vacuum cleaner I is used in the canister mode, the cleaner body 30 is separated from the nozzie unit 10, and is positioned on the surface 3 to be cleaned. The side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30 then becomes the bottom surface. Accordingly, the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 is rotated by approximate 90° compared to when the vacuum cleaner 1 is in the upright mode. The nozzle unit 10 is connected to the cleaner body 30 via the extension pipe assembly 20. The user can then grasp the grip 23 of the extension pipe assembly 20 and move the nozzle unit 10 to clean.

When the vacuum generator is operated to generate a suclion force, dust and air drawn-in by the nozzle unit 10 move to the cleaner body 30 via the extension pipe assembly 20. The dust and air then enter the cyclone body 51 of the cyclone unit 50 via the entrance pipe 52 (as indicated by the arrow A'). The dust and air entering the cyclone body 51 (as indicated by the arrow B' in Figure 5), whirl around the longitudinal central axis CL of the cyclone unit 50, which is substantially vertical with respect to the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30, that is th respect to the surface 3 to be cleanel While whirling, the dust is separated from the air, and is discharged to the dust receptacle 70 through the dust-discharge opening 57 formed at the upper ponion of the cyclone body 51 (as indicated by the arrow C'). The dust is whirled along the cyclone body 51 and moves upwards by centrifugal force, thereby being smoothly discharged to the dust receptacle 70 through the dust-discharge opening 57. Clean air, from which dust has been removed, is discharged towards the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30 through the air-discharge pipe 53 (as indicated by the arrow D'). The clean air discharged towards the side wall 32 moves towards the vacuum generator through the discharge duct 36 disposed at the second sidewall 32 (as indicated by the arrow E').

When emptying the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70, the user moves the dust receptacle away from the cyclone unit 50 to be separated from the cyclone unit The user then grabs the handle 77 of the dust receptacle 70, and takes the dust receptacle 70 out in a direction vertical to the surface 3 to be cleaned (as indicated by the arrow VI in Figure 6). Since the dust-entrance opening 73 is at a position remote from the base of the dust receptacle 70, that is at the highest position with respect to the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30, as illustrated in Figure 5, the dust collected in the dust receptacle does not leak through the dust-entrance opening during separation of the dust receptacle.

Thereafter, the user holds the dust receptacle 70 so that its base cover 78 faces downwards, and then presses the release button 84 disposed on the handle 77. The user then actuates the release lever 81 to cause the fixing hook 82 to be released from the fixing protrusion 83 so that the base cover 78 is opened downwards on the hinges 79. When the base cover 78 is opened, the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 can drop to be discharged under gravity. Then, when the user closes the base cover 78, and the fixing hook 82 is caught on the fixing protrusion 83 so that the base cover is fixed to the dust receptacle body 71.

After that, the user mounts the dust receptacle 70 in the cleaner body 30 in the vertical direction with respect to the side wall 32 of the cleaner body 30 (as indicated by the arrow V2 in Figure 6), Then, the user operates the lifting unit 90 so that the dust receptacle 70 is moved towards the cyclone unit 50, thereby completing the mounting of the dust receptacle. The external projection 74 and the connecting protrusion 76 formed at the top wall 72 of the dust receptacle 70 are respectively inserted into the sealing prqjection 61 and the connecting groove 62 formed at the support wall 60 of the cyclone unit 50.

When the vacuum cleaner 1 is in the canister mode, the dust separated by the cyclone unit 50 is smoothly discharged through the dust-discharge opening 57, and the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 does not flow backwards towards the cyclone unit 50.

With the vacuum cleaner 1, even when the user changes between the upright and the canister modes, the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 does not flow backwards towards the cyclone unit 50. Also, when the user separates the dust receptacle 70 from the cleaner body 30, the dust collected in the dust receptacle does not leak.

With the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40, when the posilion of the cleaner body 30 is changed so that the vacuum cleaner 1 is converted from the upright mode to the canister mode (or the reverse), the dust collected in the dust receptacle 70 does not flow backwards towards the apparatus.

Furthemiore, when the user separates the dust receptacle 70 from the cleaner body 30, the dust does not leak from the dust receptacle.

Therefore, the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus 40 can be used in a vacuum cleaner that can be used both in the canister mode and the upright mode.

While an embodiment of the present invention has been descnbe4, additional variations and modifications of the embodiment may occur to one skilled in the art once the basic inventive concept has been understood. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be constnied to include both the above embodiment and all such variations and modifications that fall vithin the scope of the claims. Qaln

Claims

1. A cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus for disposal in a vacunm cleaner body having a first wall that becomes a base surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof; and a second wall that becomes the base surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction thereof; the apparatus comprising: a cyclone unit disposed hi the cleaner body so that its longitudinal central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a dust-discharge openingformedaupperporfionofasidesurfacethereOf;afld a dust receptacle disposed at said side surface of the cyclone unit the dust receptacle being configured for attachment to, or detachment from, the cleaner body, the dust receptacle having a top wall in which a dust-entrance opening is formed, the dust entrance opening conesponding to the dust-discharge opening of the cyclone unit.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cyclone unit comprises: a hollow, cylindrical cyclone body whose central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body, an air-discharge pipe formed at a base surface of the cyclone body; and an air entrance pipe disposed at saidside surface of the cyclone body adjacent to the second wall of the cleaner body.

3. Appamtus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises: a substantially rectangular dust-discharge pipe extending flm said side surface of the cyclone body at the dust-discharge opening.

4. Apparatusasclaimedinanyoneofclairnslto3,whereinthedustreceptacle further comprises an external projection projecting from around the dust entrance opening of the dust receptacle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises: a support wall formed around the dust-discharge pipe, the support wall corresponding to the top wall of the dust receptacle; and a sealing prqjection formed at the support wall around the external prjec1ion of the dust receptacle.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further compnsing a gasket disposed between the sealing prqjection and the external projection.

7. Apparatus in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the dust receptacle further comprises: an internal prcjection formed at an inner surface of the top wall of the dust receptacle to project inside the dust receptacle from around the dust-entrance opening.

8. Apparatus as claimed hi claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 7 when appendant to claim 2, further comprising: a discharge duct connecting the air-discharge pipe of the cyclone unit and a vacuum generator, the discharge duct being disposed at the second wall of the cleaner body.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 8, wherein the dust receptacle comprises a dust receptacle body having the top wall in which the dust-entrance opening is formed; a handle disposed at a side surface of the dust receptacle body; a base cover disposed at the lower end of the dust receptacle body, the base cover being such as to be openable and closable; and a base cover opening unit for selectively opening and closing the base cover.

10. Apparatus as claimed hi claim 9, wherein the base cover is pivotally disposed at said side surface of the dust receptacle body.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base cover opening unit comprises: aflxinghookdisposedatasideofthebasecover,thefixinghookbeingfonnedtobe engaged with a fixing projection disposed on the dust receptacle body and arelaseleverforcausingthefldnghooktobereleasedfmmtheflxingprqjection.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the release lever is formed to move along the handle.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, fwlher comprising a resilient member disposed at a top end of the release lever for biasing the release lever upwards.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a first wall that becomes a base surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a lonjtudinal direction thereof, and a second wall that becomes the base surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction thereo and a cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus disposed in the cleaner body, the cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus having a cyclone unit and a dust receptacle wherein the cyclone unit is disposed in the cleaner body so that its longitudinal central axis is parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body, and wherein the dust receptacle is disposed at a side of the cyclone unit for attachment to, or detachment from, the cleaner body.

15. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cyclone unit is provided with a dust-discharge opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof.

16. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 15, wherein the dust receptacle has a top wall in which a dust-enirance opening is formed, the dust-entrance opening corresponding to the dust-discharge opening of the cyclone unit

17. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the cyclone unit comprises: a hollow, cylindncal cyclone body having a central axis parallel to the first wall of the cleaner body; an air-discharge pipe formed at a base surface of the cyclone body; and an air-entrance pipe disposed at a side surface of the cyclone body adjacent to the second wall of the cleaner body.

18. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cyclone unit further comprises: a substantially rectangular dust-discharge pipe extending from said side surface of the cyclone body at the dust-discharge opening.

19. A cyclonic dust-collecting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described th reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.

20. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.