KR100751462B1 - Vacuum Cleaner for both Vacuum Cleaning and Steam Cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

A steam combined vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The disclosed vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body having a suction motor and a dust collector; A flexible hose connected to a dust collector from the outside of the cleaner body; And a steam generating unit and a mop rotating unit communicating with the flexible hose to suck the dirt on the surface to be cleaned into the cleaner body through the suction force generated by the suction motor, and operated by receiving power from the cleaner body. Unit, wherein the cleaning unit is detachably detached from the cleaner body, and is steam-cleaned by itself by receiving power directly from a separate power source in a state of being separated from the cleaner body.

Vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners

Description

Vacuum Cleaner for both Vacuum Cleaning and Steam Cleaning}

1 is a perspective view showing a steam cleaning combined vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating part A of FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a cleaning unit to be used alone to separate from the cleaner body when steam cleaning;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a selection switch and an adjustment switch installed on the handle shown in Figure 3,

5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a portion B shown in FIG. 1;

6 is a perspective view illustrating a case in which the expansion pipe is pulled out from the connecting pipe;

7A and 7B are a plan view and a bottom view of the brush,

8 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a portion C shown in FIG. 1.

* Description of Signs for Main Parts in Drawings *

11: cleaner body 11a: first connector

13: flexible hose 20: cleaning unit

21: handle 23: connector

24: tube 25: brush

41: first wire 42a: second connector

42b: third connector 43: second electric wire

44a: fourth connector 44b: fifth connector

45a: sixth connector 47: third electric wire

48a: seventh connector 48a: eighth connector

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner that can serve as a steam cleaner.

In general, the vacuum cleaner, in particular, the canister vacuum cleaner is composed of a connection between the main body and the brush is connected to the connection tube and the flexible hose, the brush is connected to the connection tube and the flexible hose by the operation of the motor and filter, etc. in the cleaning basic body Cleaning is done by absorbing dust or other foreign substances through the.

The conventional vacuum cleaner as described above, the absorption motor in the main body operates to absorb dust or other foreign matter on the floor through the brush to filter the dust or other foreign matter in the air absorbed by the filter, only the absorbed air Cleaning was performed by the operation to discharge this outside.

Therefore, the vacuum cleaner as described above is cleaned by filtration of dust and other foreign substances sucked together according to the air being absorbed. Therefore, it is impossible to remove dust or dirt stuck on the floor, tile floor, and window gaps. After removing the primary dust or other foreign matter, wipe it again with a mop, so that the cleaning can be completed.

In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Registration No. 194379 discloses a technology that can serve as a steam cleaner through a general vacuum cleaner. Such a conventional technique is to install a water tank, a water supply pump and a heater to one side of the brush body or brush connecting tube of the vacuum cleaner, and to connect the steam pipe to the heater, and to the one side of the rotating brush member mounted in the brush, When steam is sprayed to one side of the rotating brush member and the surface to be cleaned through the steam pipe, the debris, crushed, and bundled parts that are pressed on the surface to be cleaned are degreased by high-temperature steam to be removed from the vacuum cleaner equipped with suction function only. It was able to separate and absorb even the bound times and dirt that could not be.

However, if the conventional steam cleaner combined vacuum cleaner is to use only the steam cleaning function without using the suction cleaning function, there is an unreasonable problem of having to clean the steam while dragging the heavy vacuum cleaner body not related to the steam cleaning function. In addition, this problem has lowered the usability of the vacuum cleaner and has lowered the commercialization of the product.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems, by using a brush, a connecting pipe and a handle that can perform the steam cleaning function as a single unit, when performing only steam cleaning, can be used simply separated from the cleaner body The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner that has a built-in steam cleaner.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cleaner body having a suction motor and a dust collecting device; A flexible hose connected to the cleaner body; And a cleaning unit having a steam generator and a mop, wherein the cleaning unit is used by being connected to the flexible hose for steam or vacuum cleaning, or separated from the flexible hose to perform steam cleaning alone. According to the present invention, since the cleaning unit can be used independently by separating the cleaning unit from the cleaner main body, the user can use the steam cleaning function only when the vacuum cleaner function is used. Since the hose and the cleaning unit can be easily separated and the steam cleaning can be performed using only the cleaning unit, the user can easily clean the steam without much effort.

In addition, the present invention includes a first wire having one end connected to the cleaner body; And a second wire having one end connected to the other end of the first wire and the other end connected to the cleaning unit.

The first and second electric wires have connectors at both ends, respectively, and the female connectors of the first and second electric wires are disposed at the rear end of the power supply direction applied from the cleaner body to the cleaning unit among both ends of the first and second electric wires. The cleaner body is provided with a female connector into which the male connector of the first electric wire is inserted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the user from being shocked by the female connector installed in the cleaner body while the cleaner body is connected to the power source.

The first electric wire is fixed in the longitudinal direction to the flexible hose, the second electric wire is preferably fixed in the longitudinal direction to the extension tube, whereby the first and second electric wire is not fixed and sag down by gravity For example, the first and second wires may be prevented from being prevented from being cleaned by stepping on or being caught by another object.

In addition, the present invention may further include a third wire connected to the second wire when the cleaning unit is separated from the flexible hose and steam cleaning. Accordingly, when only the steam cleaning function is used, it is possible to smoothly clean a large area by using a third electric wire having a length that can cover the cleaning area.

The cleaning unit has a handle that is connected to the other end of the flexible hose in a detachable communication; One end is coupled to the other end of the handle and has a predetermined length; And a brush in which one side is communicatively coupled to the other end of the connection pipe. In this case, the brush may include a steam generating unit for storing water and generating steam, and a mop rotating unit for rotating the mop.

Furthermore, the cleaning unit may further include an expansion pipe which is inserted to be pulled out from the inside of the connection pipe, in which case the extension pipe is preferably arranged to interconnect the handle and the connection pipe.

In addition, the second electric wire preferably includes a coil part wound in a coil shape so as to extend to a length corresponding to the length of the extension pipe drawn out from the connecting pipe.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration of the vacuum cleaner combined vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention in detail. Attached FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steam cleaning 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 installed in the cleaner body.

As for the steam-cleaning combined vacuum cleaner 10 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, the cleaner main body 11, the flexible hose 13, the cleaning unit 20, the 1st electric wire as shown in FIG. An electric wire 41 and a second electric wire 43.

The cleaner body 11 is provided with a suction motor (not shown) and a dust collector (not shown) for providing a suction force inside. In addition, a first connector 11a electrically connected to an electric wire (not shown) installed in the cleaner body 11 is installed outside the cleaner body 11. The first connector 11a has an arm having a connection hole H (see FIG. 2) to prevent an electric shock caused by a user inadvertently contacting the first connector 11a while the vacuum cleaner is connected to a power source. It is preferably made of a connector. Accordingly, the second connector 42a (see FIG. 2) of the first electric wire 41 connected to the first connector 11a has a connection pin P inserted into the connection hole H of the first connector 11a. It is preferable that it is formed of a protruding male connector.

One side of the flexible hose 13 is in communication with the dust collector (not shown) of the cleaner body 11, the other side of one side of the cleaning unit 20 in more detail, one side of the handle 21 to be described later Removably connected in communication. On the outside of the flexible hose 13, the first wire 43 is fixed along the outside of the flexible hose 13 by a plurality of fixing members 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65. It is possible to prevent the first electric wire 41 from falling down from the flexible hose 13 and obstructing the cleaning.

The cleaning unit 20 is a handle 21, one end is detachably connected to the other end of the flexible hose 13, one end is coupled to the other end of the handle 21, expansion tube 24 having a predetermined length, It includes a connecting pipe 23 for inserting the extension tube 24 to be pulled out inside, and a brush 25 one side is in communication with the other end of the connecting pipe (23).

The configuration of such a cleaning unit 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8 as follows. Attached Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a cleaning unit consisting of a brush, a connecting pipe and a handle portion used separately from the cleaning base when cleaning the steam, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a selection switch and a control switch installed on the handle, Figure 5 is a handle It is a partial schematic perspective view which shows the connection part of and a flexible hose, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view which shows the state which pulled out the extension pipe from a connection pipe.

The handle 21 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a selector switch 21a (see FIG. 4) on one side of the handle 21 which can simultaneously or selectively perform the vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning functions of the vacuum cleaner. 21a is used to select a cleaning function in a state in which the cleaner body 11 and the cleaning unit 20 are separated or combined. In addition, the handle 21 is provided with a control switch 21b (see Fig. 4) for adjusting the on / off of the vacuum cleaning function and the strength of the suction force. Operation of the selection switch 21a and the control switch 21b as described above will be described in detail below. Moreover, the handle 21 is detachably coupled to the other end of the flexible hose 13 on one side, as shown in FIG. Coupling between the handle 21 and the flexible hose 13 may be applied to a variety of coupling methods within the limit having a certain airtight so as not to lower the suction pressure, such as snap coupling or screw coupling.

On the other hand, adjacent to the connecting portion to which the flexible hose 13 and the handle 21 are coupled, as shown in FIG. 5, the fourth connector 42b of the first electric wire 41 and the fourth of the second electric wire 43. Connectors 44a are interconnected. In this case, the third connector 42b is connected to the rear end of the first electric wire 41 at the rear end (see FIG. 5) in the direction in which power is applied from the cleaner main body 11 to the cleaning unit 20. It is preferable to form a female connector having the same structure. This configuration is similar to the first connector 11a (see FIG. 2), and the user contacts the third connector 42b while the vacuum cleaner is turned on. This is to prevent electric shock.

In addition, the fourth connector 44a connected to the third connector 42b has a front end in a direction in which power is applied from the cleaner body 11 to the cleaning unit 20 among both ends of the second electric wire 43 (see FIG. 5). ), And the connecting pin P inserted into the connecting hole H of the third connector 42b is formed of a male connector having a protruding shape. As the power supplied through the cleaner body 11 is transferred to the cleaning unit 20 through the coupling between the first and second wires 41 and 43, the steam generator 61 and a plurality of parts to be described later. Electric power can be supplied to the driving motors 63a and 63b.

The connecting pipe 23 is extended to the length for convenience of cleaning, as shown in Figure 6, the expansion tube 24 is inserted and coupled to the inside, such expansion tube 24 is one side of the handle 21 and In communication, the other side is slidably inserted into the connection pipe 23. Accordingly, in the initial state of the connecting pipe 23 as shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the length of the extension pipe 23 can be extended by sliding the connecting pipe 23 in the direction of the arrow along the expansion pipe 24. have. In connection with the extension of the extension tube 23, the second electric wire 43 is coil portion (see Fig. 1) wound in a coil shape (see Fig. 1) by a predetermined section about the boundary between the handle 21 and the connection pipe 23 ( 43a). Such a cord portion 43a extends approximately straight when the cord portion 43a, which is rolled in correspondence with the extended length of the connector tube 23 when the connector portion 23 slides along the expansion tube 24 in the direction of the arrow. As the length is extended. Accordingly, the power supply to the brush 25 can be safely made even when the connecting pipe 23 is expanded. In addition, the second electric wire 43 is fixed to the outside of the connecting pipe 23 by a plurality of fixing members 66, 67, and 68 like the first electric wire 41, so that the second electric wire 43 is cleaned during cleaning. ) Can be prevented from interfering with cleaning as it is drooped away from the connecting pipe 23.

7A and 7B are a plan view and a bottom view of a brush, and FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of portions of fifth and sixth connectors disposed behind the brush.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the brush 25 includes a steam generator 61 for generating and spraying steam. The steam generator 61 stores the water, boils the stored water at a predetermined temperature to generate steam, and sprays the water to the plurality of steam spray holes 25b formed on the bottom of the brush 25. In the present embodiment, for example, the steam generator 61 is installed inside the brush 25, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Of course, the steam generator 61 may be installed outside the brush 25, for example, the connection pipe 23. Do. In addition, the brush 25 is provided with a plurality of mop rotating parts (25c, 25d) for rotating the mop (not shown) on the bottom, as shown in Figure 7b, the plurality of mop rotating parts (25c, 25d) are inside the brush 25 It is rotationally driven by a plurality of installed drive motors 63a and 63b. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the mop is rotated by the mop rotation parts 25c and 25d will be described. However, the mop is not limited thereto, and it is of course possible to simply attach the mop to the bottom of the brush 25 without rotating the mop.

Furthermore, the brush 25 is connected to the fifth connector 44b of the second electric wire 43 at the rear side as shown in FIG. 8 so as to supply electric power to the steam generator 61 and the plurality of driving motors 63a and 63b. And a sixth connector 45a. The fifth connector 44b is formed of a female connector having a connection hole H. The reason for the fifth connector 44b is that of the first connector 11a (see FIG. 2) and the second connector 42a, FIG. Like the above, it is to prevent electric shock. On the other hand, the sixth connector 45a is fixed to the lower end of the connecting pipe 23 through the fixing bracket 46, the steam generator 61 and the plurality of driving in the brush 25 through a predetermined wire (45) It is electrically connected to the motors 63a and 63b. Reference numeral 25a described in FIG. 7B denotes a dirt suction port for directing dirt on the surface to be cleaned into the brush 25.

Hereinafter, the operation of the vacuum cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described, and in particular, the cleaning function mode set through the selection switch 21a (see FIG. 4) will be described.

<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 power can be applied from the cleaner body 11 through the first and second wires 41 and 43. Let's do it. In this state, the selector switch 21a (see Fig. 4) disposed on the handle 21 is set to the "vacuum" cleaning mode, and then the intensity of the suction force is set at "about" through the adjustment switch 21b (see Fig. 4). Moving toward the "river" side drives the suction motor (not shown) of the cleaner body 11. The vacuum cleaning is performed while the cleaning unit 20 and the cleaner main body 11 are moved together along the surface to be cleaned in a state in which a predetermined suction force is generated in the brush 25 in this way.

<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 power can be applied from the cleaner body 11 through the first and second wires 41 and 43. Let's do it. In this state, when the selector switch 21a disposed on the handle 21 is set to the &quot; vacuum & steam " cleaning mode, the steam generator 61 (see FIG. 7A) starts to generate steam, and in this case, The drive motors (63a, 63b, see Fig. 7a) of the rotational drive approximately in time with the steam injection. In addition, when the strength of the suction force is moved from the "weak" to the "strong" side through the control switch 21b, the suction motor (not shown) of the cleaner body 11 is driven.

Accordingly, it is possible to perform vacuum cleaning through a predetermined suction force generated in the brush 25, and at the same time the steam generated by the steam generator 61 through a plurality of steam injection holes (25b, see Fig. 7b) Steam that can be removed from the surface to be cleaned by rotating the mop through a plurality of mop rotating plates 25c, 25d (see FIG. 7B) which are sprayed onto the surface to be cleaned and driven by the plurality of driving motors 63a and 63b. Cleaning can be performed.

<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 of the first and second electric wires 41 and 43 connected therewith. The connection between 42b and 44a is released. Thereafter, the seventh connector 48a of the third electric wire 47 is directly connected to an outlet (not shown) provided on a wall using a third electric wire 47 having a length longer than that of the first electric wire 41. The eighth connector 48b of the third electric wire 47 is connected to the fourth connector 44a of the second electric wire 43.

In this state, when the selector switch 21a is set to the "steam" cleaning mode, steam generated by the steam generator 61 is injected to the surface to be cleaned through the plurality of steam injection holes 25b, and together with Mop (not shown) is rotated through a plurality of mop rotating plates (25c, 25d) driven by the drive motors (63a, 63b) of the steam cleaning to remove the stings and the like on the surface to be cleaned can be performed alone have.

In the present invention as described above, since the cleaning unit can be used independently by separating the cleaning unit, when the user uses only the steam cleaning function, after separating the flexible hose and the cleaning unit of the cleaner body using only the cleaning unit steam Since cleaning can be performed, the user does not need to carry out cleaning while dragging the heavy cleaner body, so that the user can easily clean the steam without much effort.

In addition, the female connector can be arranged at the rear end of the direction in which the power applied from the cleaner body to the cleaner unit is supplied, thereby preventing an electric shock occurring when the user touches the connector of the cleaner in which current is inadvertently flowing. You can prevent it.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with preferred embodiments for illustrating the principles of the invention, the invention is not limited to the construction and operation as such is shown and described. That is, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that many changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, all such suitable changes and modifications and equivalents should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A cleaner body having a suction motor and a dust collector; A flexible hose connected to the cleaner body; A cleaning unit having a steam generator and a mop; A first wire connected to the cleaner body; A second wire connected to the first wire; And, And a third wire connected to the second wire when the cleaning unit is separated from the flexible hose and cleaned by steam. The cleaning unit is connected to the flexible hose for steam or vacuum cleaning, or separated from the flexible hose vacuum cleaner, characterized in that to perform steam cleaning alone. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wires are respectively provided with male and female connectors at both ends, The female connector of the first and second electric wires is disposed at the rear end of the power supply direction applied to the cleaning unit from the cleaner body of both ends of the first and second electric wires. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the cleaner body is provided with a female connector into which the male connector of the first electric wire is inserted. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first electric wire is fixed in the longitudinal direction to the flexible hose, and the second electric wire is fixed in the longitudinal direction to the extension tube. delete 6. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the cleaning unit is A handle detachably coupled to the flexible hose; A connector coupled to the handle; And, And a brush coupled to the connection tube. The method of claim 7, wherein The brush includes a steam generator for storing water and generating steam, and a mop rotating part for rotating the mop. The method of claim 7, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises an expansion pipe which is inserted retractable from the inside of the connecting pipe, The expansion tube is a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that to interconnect the handle and the connector. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the second electric wire includes a coil part rolled up in a coil shape so as to extend to a length corresponding to the length of the extension pipe drawn out from the connecting pipe.

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