JP2007215986A - Vacuum cleaner having steam cleaning function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner having a steam cleaning function, in which steam cleaning alone can be performed by structuring into a single unit a brush for the steam cleaning function, a connecting hose and a handle, and thereby making the unit easily detachable from the cleaner body. <P>SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body having a suction motor and a dust collecting apparatus; a flexible hose connected to the dust collecting apparatus from the outside of cleaner body; and a cleaning unit which communicates with the flexible hose so that dust on the surface to be cleaned is sucked into the cleaner body through a suction force generated by the suction motor, and which is equipped with a steam generator operated by an electric power supplied from the cleaner body and also with a dust-cloth rotating part. The cleaning unit is freely detachable from the cleaner body and can be supplied with an electric power directly from a different power source in a state detached from the cleaner body so as to individually perform the steam cleaning. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner for steam cleaning.

  Generally, a vacuum cleaner, in particular, a canister type vacuum cleaner, has a main body and a brush separated from each other, and is connected to a connecting pipe and a flexible hose. Cleaning is performed by absorbing dust and other foreign matters through a brush connected by a flexible hose.

  In the conventional vacuum cleaner as described above, after the absorption motor in the main body operates and absorbs dust and other foreign substances on the floor through the brush and separates the dust and other foreign substances in the air absorbed by the filter with the filter Cleaning is performed by discharging only the absorbed air to the outside.

  Therefore, the vacuum cleaner as described above is cleaned by the operation of separating dust and other foreign substances sucked together with the absorbed air with a filter, so that the dirt stuck to the floor, tile floor and window gaps is removed. I could not. As a result, dust and other foreign matters must first be removed with a vacuum cleaner and then wiped off again with a water cloth.

  In order to solve such problems, Korean Patent Registration No. 194379 describes a technique that also serves as a steam cleaning through a general vacuum cleaner. In such a conventional technique, a water tank, a water supply pump, and a heater are attached to one side of a brush body and a brush connecting pipe of a vacuum cleaner, and a steam pipe is connected to the heater. At this time, the steam tube is attached to one side of the rotating brush member attached in the brush. When cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner equipped only with an inhalation function by spraying steam onto the rotating brush member of the brush and one side of the surface to be cleaned through the steam tube to remove the dirt stuck to the surface to be cleaned with high-temperature steam. It became possible to separate and absorb even dirt that could not be removed.

By the way, when such a conventional vacuum cleaner for steam cleaning uses only the steam cleaning function without using the suction cleaning function, the steam cleaning is carried out while carrying a heavy vacuum cleaner body unrelated to the steam cleaning function. There was a bug that had to be done. Thereby, the usability of the vacuum cleaner is deteriorated, and there is a problem that the merchantability for the product is lowered.
Korean Patent Registration No. 194379

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide only a steam cleaning by making a brush, a connecting pipe, and a handle that can perform a steam cleaning function into a single unit. When performing this, it is providing the vacuum cleaner combined with a steam cleaner which can be easily separated from the cleaner body and used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner body including a suction motor and a dust collector, a flexible hose connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a steam generating unit, and a cleaning unit including a dust cloth. And the cleaning unit is connected to the flexible hose for steam or vacuum cleaning or separated from the flexible hose to perform the steam cleaning independently. Provide a vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, since the present invention can be used independently by separating the cleaning unit from the cleaner body, the user simply separated the flexible hose and the cleaning unit of the cleaner body when using only the steam cleaning function. Thereafter, since the steam cleaning can be performed using only the cleaning unit, the user can easily perform the steam cleaning.

  The present invention further includes a first electric wire connected to the cleaner body and a second electric wire connected to the first electric wire.

  The first and second electric wires have female / male connectors at both ends, respectively, and the female connectors of the first and second electric wires are applied from the cleaner body to the cleaning unit at both ends of the first and second electric wires. The vacuum cleaner main body is provided with a female connector into which the male connector of the first electric wire is inserted. Thereby, the electric shock accident by the female connector provided in the cleaner body in the state where the cleaner body is connected to the power source can be prevented.

  Preferably, the first electric wire is fixed to the flexible hose in the longitudinal direction, and the second electric wire is fixed to the extension pipe in the longitudinal direction. As a result, when the first and second electric wires are not fixed and droop downward due to gravity, it is possible to prevent a factor that obstructs cleaning such as stepping on the first and second electric wires or being caught by other objects.

  In addition, the present invention further includes a third electric wire that is connected to the second electric wire during the steam cleaning by separating the cleaning unit from the flexible hose. Thereby, when using only a steam cleaning function, the wide area | region can be cleaned smoothly by using the 3rd electric wire of the length which covers a cleaning area | region.

  The cleaning unit includes a handle detachably coupled to the flexible hose, a connecting pipe coupled to the handle, and a brush coupled to the connecting pipe. In this case, the brush includes a steam generating unit that stores water and generates steam, and a rag rotating unit that rotates the rag.

  Further, the cleaning unit further includes an expansion pipe inserted so as to be able to be pulled out from the inside of the connection pipe. In this case, the expansion pipe preferably interconnects the handle and the connection pipe.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said 2nd electric wire contains the coil part wound by the coil shape extended | stretched only the length corresponding to the drawing length of the said expansion pipe drawn out from a connection pipe.

  According to the present invention as described above, since the cleaning unit can be used independently from the cleaner body, when the user uses only the steam cleaning function, the flexible hose and the cleaning unit of the cleaner body are used. Since the steam cleaning can be performed using only the cleaning unit after the separation, the user can easily perform the steam cleaning without carrying a heavy vacuum cleaner body.

  Also, by placing female connectors in the subsequent stages in the direction in which power is applied from the main body of the cleaner to the vacuum cleaner unit, this occurs when the user inadvertently contacts the connector of the cleaner where current is flowing. Electric shock accidents can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, a configuration of a vacuum cleaner for steam cleaning according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steam cleaner and vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a first connector portion attached to the cleaner body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner 10 for steam cleaning according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cleaner main body 11, a flexible hose 13, a cleaning unit 20, a first electric wire 41, and a second electric wire 43. Including.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 11 is attached with a suction motor (not shown) and a dust collector (not shown) that provide suction force on the inside. A first connector 11 a that is electrically connected to an electric wire (not shown) provided in the cleaner body 11 is provided outside the cleaner body 11. The first connector 11a is formed of a female connector having a connection hole H (see FIG. 2) that can prevent an electric shock accident that occurs when the vacuum cleaner is in contact with the power source and is inadvertently touched by the user. It is preferred that Accordingly, the second connector 42a of the first electric wire 41 connected to the first connector 11a is formed of a male connector from which a connection pin P (see FIG. 2) inserted into the connection hole H of the first connector 11a is projected. It is preferred that

  One side of the flexible hose 13 is connected to a dust collector (not shown) of the cleaner body 11 and the other side is attached to and detached from one side of the cleaning unit 20, specifically, one side of a handle 21 described later. Freely connected to each other. Since the outer side of the flexible hose 13 is fixed along the outer side of the flexible hose 13 by a large number of fixing members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 of the first electric wire 41, the first electric wire is used for cleaning. It does not prevent cleaning by 41 being hung down away from the flexible hose 13.

  The cleaning unit 20 has a handle 21 whose one end is detachably connected to the other end of the flexible hose 13, one end connected to the other end of the handle 21, and an expansion tube 24 and an expansion tube 24 having a predetermined length. And a brush 25 whose one side is connected and connected to the other end of the connection tube 23.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the cleaning unit 20 is demonstrated in detail based on FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cleaning unit including a brush, a connecting pipe, and a handle portion that are used separately from the cleaner body during steam cleaning.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a selection switch and an adjustment switch provided on the handle.

  FIG. 5 is a partial schematic perspective view showing a connecting portion between the handle and the flexible hose.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the expansion pipe is pulled out from the connecting pipe.

  The handle 21 shown in FIG. 3 includes a selection switch 21a (see FIG. 4) that can perform vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning functions of the vacuum cleaner simultaneously or selectively on one side of the handle 21. The selection switch 21a is a main body of the vacuum cleaner. 11 and the cleaning unit 20 are used when the cleaning function is selected in a separated or combined state. The handle 21 also includes an adjustment switch 21b (see FIG. 4) for adjusting ON / OFF of the vacuum cleaning function and the strength of the suction force. The operation of the selection switch 21a and the adjustment switch 21b will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the handle 21 is detachably coupled to the other end of the flexible hose 13 on one side. As for the connection between the handle 21 and the flexible hose 13, various connection methods can be applied within a limit that keeps a predetermined hermeticity so as not to lower a suction pressure such as a snap connection or a screw connection.

  On the other hand, in a place adjacent to the connecting portion where the flexible hose 13 and the handle 21 are coupled, as shown in FIG. 5, the third connector 42b of the first electric wire 41 and the fourth connector 44a of the second electric wire 43 are mutually connected. Connected. In this case, the third connector 42b is formed of a female connector having a connection hole H in the latter stage (see FIG. 5) in the direction in which power is applied from the cleaner body 11 to the cleaning unit 20 at both ends of the first electric wire 41. It is preferable. Such a configuration is to prevent the user from being electrocuted when the third connector 42b is in contact with the vacuum cleaner in a state where the power of the vacuum cleaner is turned on, similarly to the first connector 11a (see FIG. 2).

  Further, the fourth connector 44a connected to the third connector 42b is disposed in the first stage (see FIG. 5) in the direction in which the power is applied from the cleaner body 11 to the cleaning unit 20 among both ends of the second electric wire 43. The connection pin P to be inserted into the connection hole H of the three connector 42b is formed by a male connector in a protruding form. In this way, by transmitting the power supplied through the cleaner body 11 through the coupling between the first and second electric wires 41 and 43 to the cleaning unit 20, a steam generating unit 61 and a plurality of drive motors, which will be described later, are transmitted. Electric power can be supplied to 63a and 63b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pipe 23 has an expansion pipe 24 inserted and coupled to the inside thereof so that the length can be extended for the convenience of cleaning. The side is slidably inserted inside the connecting tube 23. Thereby, in the initial state of the connecting pipe 23 as shown in FIG. 1, the connecting pipe 23 can be extended long by sliding the connecting pipe 23 along the extension pipe 24 in the arrow direction as shown in FIG. In connection with such expansion of the connecting pipe 23, the second electric wire 43 is a coil portion 43 a wound in a coil shape (see FIG. 1) around a boundary portion between the handle 21 and the connecting pipe 23. Form. The coil portion 43a has a predetermined elasticity, and when the connecting tube 23 slides along the extension tube 24 in the direction of the arrow, the coil portion 43a wound corresponding to the extended length of the connecting tube 23 is The length is extended while extending almost straight. Thereby, the power supply to the brush 25 is performed safely even when the connecting pipe 23 is expanded. Further, since the second electric wire 43 is fixed to the outside of the connecting pipe 23 by a number of fixing members 66, 67, 68 like the first electric wire 41, the second electric wire 43 is separated from the connecting pipe 23 during cleaning. It does not hinder cleaning by dripping in the direction. In this embodiment, although the coil part 43a was employ | adopted for the expansion | extension of the 2nd electric wire 43, it is not limited to this, The 2nd electric wire 43 can be extended by the various methods which an expert can implement.

  7A and 7B are a plan view and a bottom view showing the brush.

  FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing fifth and sixth connector portions arranged behind the brush.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the brush 25 is provided with a steam generator 61 for generating and spraying steam on the inner side. The steam generating unit 61 stores water, boiles the stored water to a certain temperature to generate steam, and then sprays the steam toward a large number of steam injection holes 25 b formed on the bottom surface of the brush 25. In the present embodiment, the steam generating unit 61 is described as being provided inside the brush 25, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the steam generating unit 61 may be provided outside the brush 25, for example, on the connecting pipe 23. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the brush 25 is provided with a large number of rag rotating portions 25 c and 25 d for rotating a rag (not shown) on the bottom surface. It is rotationally driven by a large number of drive motors 63a and 63b provided inside. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the dust cloth is rotated by the dust cloth rotating portions 25c and 25d has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the dust cloth can be simply attached to the bottom surface of the brush 25 without being rotated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the brush 25 is connected to the fifth connector 44b of the second electric wire 43 at the rear so that the steam 25 can be supplied with electric power by the steam generator 61 and the drive motors 63a and 63b. Is provided. The fifth connector 44b is a female connector having a connection hole H. The reason for forming the female connector in this way is to prevent an electric shock accident as in the case of the first connector 11a (see FIG. 2) and the second connector 42a (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, the sixth connector 45a is fixed to the lower end of the connecting pipe 23 via the fixing bracket 46, and is electrically connected to the steam generating portion 61 and the numerous drive motors 63a and 63b in the brush 25 via a predetermined electric wire 45. Is done. An unexplained reference numeral 25 a described in FIG. 7B indicates a filth intake port for guiding the filth on the surface to be cleaned into the brush 25.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration will be described, and in particular, will be described separately for each cleaning function mode set through the selection switch 21a (see FIG. 4).

<I> When using only the vacuum cleaning function,
As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning unit 20 is coupled to the flexible hose 13 of the cleaner body 11 so that electric power is applied from the cleaner body 11 through the first and second electric wires 41 and 43. In this state, after the selection switch 21a (see FIG. 4) arranged on the handle 21 is set to the “vacuum” cleaning mode, the strength of the suction force is changed from low to high through the adjustment switch 21b (see FIG. 4). If it moves to the direction, the suction motor (not shown) of the cleaner body 11 will drive. In this way, vacuum cleaning is performed while the cleaning unit 20 and the cleaner body 1 are moved together along the surface to be cleaned in a state where a predetermined suction force is generated in the brush 25.

<II> When using the vacuum cleaning function and the steam cleaning function at the same time,
As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning unit 20 is coupled to the flexible hose 13 of the cleaner body 11 so that electric power is applied from the cleaner body 11 through the first and second electric wires 41 and 43. In this state, when the selection switch 21a disposed on the handle 21 is set to the “vacuum & steam” cleaning mode, the steam generating unit 61 (see FIG. 7A) starts to generate steam. In this case, a large number of drive motors 63a, 63b (refer FIG. 7A) rotationally drives according to the time of steam injection. Further, when the strength of the suction force is moved from “weak” to “strong” through the adjustment switch 21b, a suction motor (not shown) of the cleaner body 11 is driven.

  Thus, vacuum cleaning is performed by a predetermined suction force generated from the brush 25, and at the same time, steam generated from the steam generating unit 61 is applied to the surface to be cleaned through the many steam injection holes 25b (see FIG. 7B). Steam cleaning that can remove dirt and the like stuck to the surface to be cleaned is performed by rotating the dust cloth through a number of dust cloth rotating plates 25c and 25d (see FIG. 7B) that are sprayed and driven by a number of drive motors 63a and 63b. Do.

<III> When using only the steam cleaning function,
As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning unit 20 is separated from the flexible hose 13 of the cleaner body 11, and the third and fourth connectors 42b and 44a of the first and second electric wires 41 and 43 connected thereto are connected. Disconnect the connection between. Thereafter, the third connector 47a of the third wire 47 is directly connected to an outlet (not shown) provided on the wall or the like using the third wire 47 longer than the first wire 41, and the eighth wire of the third wire 47 is connected. The connector 48 b is connected to the fourth connector 44 a of the second electric wire 43.

  In this state, when the selection switch 21a is set to the “steam” cleaning mode, the steam generated from the steam generating portion 61 is sprayed to the surface to be cleaned through the numerous steam injection holes 25b, and a large number of the drive motors 63a. , 63b is used to rotate a dust cloth (not shown) through a large number of dust cloth rotating plates 25c, 25d, thereby independently performing steam cleaning that can remove dirt stuck to the surface to be cleaned.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described above. In fact, those skilled in the art will make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present invention based on the above description without departing from the technical scope of the present invention described in the claims. It will be possible. Therefore, such changes and modifications should be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner combined with steam cleaning by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partially expanded perspective view which shows A part displayed on FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning unit which isolate | separates from the cleaner main body at the time of steam cleaning, and is used independently. It is the schematic which shows the selection switch and adjustment switch to which the handle shown in FIG. 3 was attached. It is a partially expanded perspective view which shows B part displayed on FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the case where an expansion pipe is pulled out from a connection pipe. It is a top view which shows a brush. It is a bottom view which shows a brush. It is a partially expanded perspective view which shows C part displayed on FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Vacuum cleaner main body 11a 1st connector 13 Flexible hose 20 Cleaning unit 21 Handle 23 Connection pipe 24 Expansion pipe 25 Brush 41 1st electric wire 42a 2nd connector 42b 3rd connector 43 2nd electric wire 44a 4th connector 44b 5th connector 45a 6th connector

Claims (11)

A vacuum cleaner body equipped with a suction motor and a dust collector;
A flexible hose connected to the cleaner body;
A cleaning unit equipped with a steam generator and a dust cloth,
The vacuum cleaner may be connected to the flexible hose for steam or vacuum cleaning, or may be separated from the flexible hose to perform steam cleaning independently.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a first electric wire connected to the cleaner body and a second electric wire connected to the first electric wire. The first and second electric wires have female / male connectors at both ends,
3. The female connector of the first and second electric wires is disposed at a subsequent stage of a power supply direction applied from the cleaner body to the cleaning unit among both ends of the first and second electric wires. Vacuum cleaner.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum cleaner body is provided with a female connector into which the male connector of the first electric wire is inserted.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the first electric wire is fixed to the flexible hose in the longitudinal direction, and the second electric wire is fixed to the extension tube in the longitudinal direction.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a third electric wire connected to the second electric wire during steam cleaning by separating the cleaning unit from the flexible hose. The cleaning unit is
A handle removably coupled to the flexible hose;
A connecting pipe coupled to the handle;
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a brush coupled to the connecting pipe.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the brush includes a steam generating unit that stores water and generates steam, and a cloth rotating unit that rotates the cloth. The cleaning unit further includes an expansion pipe inserted so as to be able to be pulled out from the inside of the connection pipe,
The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the extension pipe interconnects the handle and the connecting pipe.   10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the second electric wire is extended by a length corresponding to a drawing length of the expansion pipe drawn from the connecting pipe.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the second electric wire includes a coil portion wound in a coil shape so that a part thereof has elasticity.

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