RU2345698C2 - Vacuum cleaner that contains noise-attenuating device arranged with possibility to change place of installation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: household objects and personal effects.

SUBSTANCE: vacuum cleaner is used for cleaning of surfaces and comprises body with source of suction located inside, brush unit for engagement with cleaned surface and collection of air contaminated with dust and/or foreign substance, elements for air passage comprising extension tube, handle element and flexible hose located between brush unit and vacuum cleaner body, and noise-attenuating device, which may be installed between elements for air passage. Noise-attenuating device is arranged with the possibility of its installation with the possibility of removal between brush unit and extension tube, between extension tube and handle element and between handle element and flexible hose. It is possible to install noise-attenuating device between flexible hose and vacuum cleaner body. Noise-attenuating device comprises body arranged in the form of tube that has openings in external peripheral surface, element of the first jacket installed so that it envelopes external peripheral surface of noise-attenuating device body, noise-attenuating element installed between body of noise-attenuating device and element of the first jacket, and locking device installed in noise-attenuating device body to provide combination of this body with elements for air passage with the possibility of removal.

EFFECT: provides possibility for user to quickly change place of noise-attenuating device installation place between elements for air passage according to zones of noise creation that change in process of vacuum cleaner application.

4 cl, 6 dwg

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The priority of this application is claimed on Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0092806, filed September 25, 2006 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner comprising a noise attenuation device that is located on a connecting duct for air between the vacuum cleaner body and the brush assembly and is designed to absorb noise generated by the vacuum cleaner.

Description of the prior art

In general, a vacuum cleaner collects air contaminated by dust and / or foreign matter from a surface to be cleaned using the suction force generated by the engine and separates dust and / or foreign matter from air. This vacuum cleaner can be classified as a vertical type vacuum cleaner, cylinder type vacuum cleaner, handle-type vacuum cleaner, etc. depending on its shape. The cylinder-type vacuum cleaner is made with a housing, a brush assembly and elements for the passage of air. The vacuum cleaner body inside contains a suction motor and a dust collecting unit. The suction brush comes in contact with the surface being cleaned and thus collects dust and / or foreign matter from the surface being cleaned. Air passage elements are located between the vacuum cleaner body and the brush assembly in order to direct air collected through the brush assembly to the vacuum cleaner body. Air passage elements typically consist of an extension tube, a grip element, and a flexible element. That is, the brush assembly is connected to an extension tube connected to the handle element, and a flexible hose is connected to and located between the extension tube and the cleaner body. Accordingly, air contaminated by dust and / or foreign matter collected through the brush assembly typically enters the dust collector assembly through an extension tube, a handle element, and a flexible hose.

During the operation of the vacuum cleaner, a suction-generating motor is installed, which is installed in the vacuum cleaner housing, which causes a vacuum to be created in the engine compartment of the vacuum cleaner. This vacuum is then transmitted to the brush assembly through the air passage elements. When the vacuum is transmitted to the brush assembly, as described above, air and dust and / or foreign matter on the surface to be cleaned is collected through the brush assembly and then enters the vacuum cleaner body through the air passage elements. During the passage of the collected air and dust and / or foreign matter through the elements for the passage of air in different places of these elements, noise occurs. In particular, noises occur in the brush assembly and connecting portions between the brush assembly and the extension tube, between the extension tube and the handle element, between the handle element and the flexible hose, and also between the flexible hose and the vacuum cleaner body. Since dust and / or a foreign substance, such as hair or the like, adheres to or adheres to the respective connecting portions, thereby changing the shape of the air channel, noise may occur at the corresponding connecting portions, of different sizes or levels depending on the use this vacuum cleaner.

In order to reduce the noise created in the air channel between the brush assembly and the vacuum cleaner body, Japanese Patent Document No. H02-307418 proposes a sound-absorbing device of an extension tube in which a portion of the extension tube is cut into holes and a sound-absorbing element is installed in this area. In addition, Korean Patent Document No. 10-120616 proposes a structure comprising a noise-absorbing material mounted on an inner peripheral surface of a nozzle portion of a brush assembly to absorb noise generated by air entering the brush assembly. However, these conventional absorbing devices do not allow a change in the installation location, and their design complicates the installation. Therefore, vacuum cleaners containing conventional absorbent devices have disadvantages in that they can reduce the noise generated in the places where the absorbent devices were originally installed, but the installation location of the absorbing devices cannot be changed in accordance with the places where the noise was created, changing while using vacuum cleaners. In addition, the disadvantages of vacuum cleaners containing conventional absorbent devices are that they are inconvenient during operation and repair, since noise absorbing devices or noise absorbing material are firmly mounted on an extension tube or brush assembly, which makes it difficult to clean noise absorbing devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems inherent in the prior art. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner comprising a sound-absorbing device configured to change its mounting location between connecting portions of an extension tube, a grip element and a flexible hose that are located between the vacuum cleaner body and the brush assembly, so that the vacuum cleaner body and the brush assembly communicate with each other .

Another aspect of the present invention is the creation of a vacuum cleaner containing a sound-absorbing device, which has a simplified design, which is easily detachable and which is convenient during operation and repair.

The above aspect is achieved by creating a vacuum cleaner containing a housing with an internal suction source, a brush assembly for contacting the surface to be cleaned and thus collecting air contaminated with dust and / or foreign matter, air passage elements located between the vacuum cleaner body and the assembly brushes, and a sound-absorbing device located between the elements for the passage of air. A sound-absorbing device is located with the possibility of changing the installation location between the elements for air passage. Therefore, this vacuum cleaner can be convenient to use, as the user can simply change the installation location of the noise absorption device in accordance with the places of noise generation that change during use of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, this vacuum cleaner is mainly convenient for operation and repair, because for repair or replacement, you can simply disconnect only the sound-absorbing device.

In this case, the elements for the passage of air may contain an extension tube, a flexible hose and a grip element, and the noise absorption device may be located with the possibility of removal between the brush assembly and the extension tube.

Alternatively, the noise attenuation device may be disposed removably between the extension tube and the handle member, between the handle member and the flexible hose, between the flexible hose and the cleaner body.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the noise absorption device comprises a housing made in the form of a tube having a plurality of holes on the outer peripheral surface, an element of the first casing located with a girth of the outer peripheral surface of the noise absorption device, a noise absorption element located between the noise absorption device body and the element the first casing, and locking means mounted on the housing of the noise absorption device with provided combining it with a noise absorbing device elements for the passage of air detachably.

In this case, the locking means can be made so that it contains a support element located on the body of the noise absorption device, a lever element located rotatably at the upper side of the support element, an elastic element located between the body of the noise absorption device and the lever element, and an element of the second a casing located so that it covers the lever element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above aspects and other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner in which a noise absorption device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted between a brush assembly and an extension tube;

figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the plot And shown in figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner in which a noise reduction device according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted between an extension tube and a grip member;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner in which a noise absorption device according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted between a handle member and a flexible hose;

5 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner in which a noise reduction device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted between a flexible hose and a cleaner body; and

6 is a graph illustrating experimental data of a noise reduction effect in a vacuum cleaner in which a noise absorption device according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is installed between a brush assembly and an extension tube, in comparison with a vacuum cleaner in which such a noise absorption device is not installed.

It should be understood that in the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to similar elements and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to this invention, in which the noise attenuation device 50 is removably mounted between the brush assembly 40 and extension tube 45.

A vacuum cleaner in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 10, a brush assembly 40, a sound absorption device 50, and air passage elements. In this case, the elements for the passage of air, which are elements located between the body 10 of the vacuum cleaner and the node 40 of the brush for directing air and dust and / or foreign matter entering the node 40 of the brush to the body 10 of the vacuum cleaner, comprise a flexible hose 20, an extension tube 30 and handle element 60.

In accordance with figures 1 and 2, the housing 10 of the vacuum cleaner is made with an engine that creates a suction (not shown) to create a vacuum, a dust bag or dust collection unit (not shown) for separating dust and / or foreign matter from the air and the connecting part 11, connected to the flexible hose 20. In the connecting part 11 is made of a connecting groove (not shown).

The flexible hose 20 is made with the first connecting part 21, the second connecting part 23 and the locking means 25. The first connecting part 21 contains a connecting groove (not shown) made in it, and the locking means 25 is located on the second connecting part 23. The handle 60 on its the front side is provided with a connecting groove (not shown), and on its rear side with a locking element 65. In addition, the extension tube 30 is made with a connecting groove 39 located on its front side and locking e ementom 35 disposed at its rear side. The nozzle portion 41 of the brush assembly 40 is made with a locking element 45. In this case, the structures of the above-described connecting grooves and locking elements 25, 35, 45 and 65 are similar to the connecting groove 59 and the locking means 55 of the noise absorption device 50, which are described below.

The device 50, which absorbs the noise created by the elements for the passage of air between the brush assembly 40 and the vacuum cleaner body 10, comprises a body 51, a sound-absorbing element 52, a first casing element 53 and a locking means 55.

The housing 51 of the sound-absorbing device is made in the form of a cylindrical tube. The housing 51 on its front side has a connecting groove 59 made to connect with the locking means 45 of the brush assembly, and on its rear side has a connecting hole 57 made to align with the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube 30, which is described below. The locking means 55 of the housing 51 is located on the rear side of the housing 51 for connection with the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube. In addition, the housing 51 has openings 58 formed on the outer peripheral surface of its central part.

To absorb noise, the noise absorption element 52 is placed in the form of a winding of the outer peripheral surface of the Central part of the housing 51 so that it covers the holes 58 made along this part, and the element 53 of the first casing is located so that it covers the outer side of the noise absorption element 52.

The locking element 55 is located on the rear side of the housing of the noise reduction device, and the supporting element 55a is fixedly located on the rear side of the housing 51. The lever element 55b is rotatably disposed above the supporting element 55a with it. A protrusion 55bc is formed on the front side of the lever member 55b, extending downwardly for insertion into the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube through the connecting hole 57 of the noise reduction device. In this case, the connecting hole 57 is made in a place that corresponds to the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube. On the rear side of the lever member 55b, a press part 55bb of the sound absorber is protruded upward so that the user can press it. Between the lever member 55b and the housing 51, a spring member 55c is arranged to exert mutual elastic force between the lever member 55b and the housing 51. In addition, a second housing member 55d is provided to close the upper portion of the lever member 55b.

On the other hand, the locking means 25, 65, 35 and 45 of the flexible hose 20, the grip element 60, the extension tube 30 and the brush assembly 40 are made similar in structure and design to the locking means 55 of the device 50. Also, the connecting holes 47 (connecting holes of the flexible hose 20 , the handle element 60 and the extension tube 30 not shown) of the flexible hose 20, the handle element 60, the extension tube 30 and the brush assembly 40 are made similar in shape to the connecting hole 57 of the device 50.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description will be given of the installation of the device 50 between the brush assembly 40 and the extension tube 30 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. First of all, when the user presses the pressure portion 45bb of the brush assembly 40, the brush assembly lever 45b, rotatably mounted on the brush assembly support element 45a, is rotated clockwise and thereby the protrusion 45bc of the brush assembly is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle . In this state, when the front side 50a of the housing 51 is inserted into the nozzle portion 41 of the brush assembly 40, and then the connecting groove 59 of the noise attenuation device 50 and the connecting hole 47 of the brush assembly 40 are aligned, the user removes the external force acting on the pressure portion 45bb of the assembly 40 brushes. When the external force is removed, as described above, the protrusion 45bc of the brush assembly is rotated counterclockwise, and then inserted into the connecting holes 47 of the brush assembly and the coupling groove 59 of the device 50 by means of the spring force 45c. As a result, the brush assembly 40 and the device 50 are joined together with a connector. After that, the user performs an operation similar to that described above using the locking means 55 of the device 50, so that the rear side 50b of the device 50 and the front side 30a of the extension tube are connected to each other.

More specifically, when the user presses the pressure portion 55bb of the device 50, the lever member 55b rotatably mounted on the support member 55a of the device 50 is rotated clockwise, and thus the protrusion 55bc of the noise absorber is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle. In this state, when the front side 30a of the extension tube 30 is inserted into the rear side 50b of the device 50, and then the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube and the connecting hole 57 of the noise absorption device 50 are aligned, the user removes the external force acting on the pressure portion 55b of the device 50. When removing external force, as described above, the protrusion 55bc of the noise absorber is rotated counterclockwise, and then inserted into the connecting holes 57 of the device 50 and the connecting groove 39 of the extension tube 30 beyond due to the elastic force of the spring element 55c of the device 50. As a result, the device 50 and the extension tube 30 are combined with the possibility of separation.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the device 50 can be moved and mounted between the extension tube 30 and the grip member 60. In this case, the user first separates a sound-absorbing device 50 from them, mounted between the extension tube 30 and the brush assembly 40, as shown in figure 1. The disconnect operation is performed in the reverse order of the above operation. That is, after pressing the pressing part 55bb of the locking means, the extension tube is separated from the rear side 50b of the device 50, and after pressing the pressing part 45bb of the locking means 45, the front side 50a of the device 50 is separated from the nozzle part 41 of the brush assembly 40. Then, the rear side 30b of the extension tube 30 and the front side 50a of the device 50 are connected to each other using the locking means 35 of the extension tube, and the rear side 50b of the device 50 and the front side of the handle element 60 are connected to each other using the locking means 55 of the device 50. B In this case, the method and structural elements for installing the noise absorption device 50 between the extension tube 30 and the grip element 60 are similar to the method and structural elements for installing the noise absorption device va 50 between the brush assembly 40 and the extending tube 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the device 50 is movable and removably mounted between the handle member 60 and the flexible hose 20. In this case, the rear side 60b of the handle member 60 and the front side 50a of the device 50 are connected to each other using the locking means 65 of the grip member 60, and the rear side 50b of the device 50 and the front side 20a of the flexible hose 20 are connected to each other using the locking means 55 of the device 50. In this case, the method and structural elements for installing the device oystva 50 between the handle element 60 and the flexible hose 20, similar structural elements and a method for mounting the device 50 between the brush assembly 40 and the extending tube 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the device 50 can be moved and removably mounted between the flexible hose 20 and the cleaner body 10. In this case, the rear side 20b of the flexible hose 20 and the front side 50a of the device 50 are connected to each other using the locking means 25 of the flexible hose 20, and the rear side 50b of the device 50 and the connecting part 11 of the vacuum cleaner body 10 are connected to each other using the locking means 55 device 50. In this case, the method and structural elements for installing the device 50 between the flexible hose 20 and the housing 10 of the vacuum cleaner are similar to the method and structural elements for installing the device 50 between the brush assembly 40 and the extension tube 30 as shown in figures 1 and 2.

The front side 50a of the device 50 is structurally made with an outer diameter almost equal to the inner diameter of the nozzle portion 41 of the brush assembly 40, so that it can be inserted into the nozzle portion 41 of the brush assembly 40. Also, the inner diameters of the rear sides 30b, 60b and 20b of the extension tube 30, the handle member 60 and the flexible member 20 are made the same as the inner diameter of the nozzle portion 41 of the brush assembly 40. Accordingly, the front side 50a of the device 50 can be inserted in the nozzle portion 41 and in the rear sides 30b, 60b and 20b of the extension tube 30, the handle member 60 and the flexible member 20.

The rear side 50b of the device 50 is structurally made with an inner diameter almost equal to the outer diameter of the front side 30a of the extension tube 30, so that it can accommodate the front side 30a of the extension tube 30 inside. In addition, the outer diameter of the connecting part 11 and the outer diameters of the front sides 60a and 20a of the grip element 60 and the flexible element 20 are made the same as the outer diameter of the front side 30a of the extension tube 30. Accordingly, the rear side 50b of the device 50 can accommodate dinitelnuyu item 11 and front sides 30a, 60a and 20a of the extension pipe, the grip element 60 and flexible member 20.

Next, with reference to figures 1, 2 and 6, a description is given of a noise absorption mechanism in accordance with an air stream when a device 50 made in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is removably mounted between the brush assembly 40 and the extension tube 30.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, if outside air is collected through the brush assembly 40, then outside air and dirt and / or foreign matter loaded inward create noise while passing through the brush assembly 40 and channel elements. The above-mentioned noises are transmitted outward through the openings 58 of the housing 51. However, due to the absorption of the noise by the sound-absorbing element 52 covering the openings 58, they can be significantly reduced.

6 is a graph illustrating experimental data of a noise reduction effect in a vacuum cleaner in which a device 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed between the brush assembly 40 and the extension tube 30. In the graph, the solid line represents the dependence of the dBA on frequency when not installed the device 50 between the node 40 of the brush and the extension tube 30, and the dashed line represents the dependence of the dBA on the frequency when the device 50 is installed between the node 40 of the brush and the extension tube 30. From this graph it follows that the dBA values when the device 50 is installed between the brush assembly 40 and the extension tube 30 are reduced in the entire frequency band compared to the dBA values when the device 50 is not installed between them.

In addition, since a decrease in dBA at high frequencies is observed in the entire frequency band, it is possible to reduce the noise that excites the nervous system of the human body. Accordingly, the listed noises to which the user responds can be significantly reduced. In addition, as follows from the graph, in the low frequency band there is a significant decrease in dBA values, which represent a significant noise level in the entire frequency band. That is, this means that the device 50 reduces the noise in the low frequency band, which determines the overall noise level.

As follows from the foregoing, in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the vacuum cleaner is configured so that the noise absorption device is removably mounted between the brush assembly and the extension tube, between the extension tube and the handle element, between the handle element and the flexible hose, and between flexible hose and vacuum cleaner body. Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the invention, it is possible to change the installation location of the noise absorption device in that area on the air channel connecting the brush assembly and the vacuum cleaner body where noise is intensively generated, which makes it possible to improve the noise reduction efficiency.

In addition, the vacuum cleaner in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention is convenient to operate and repair due to the possibility of installing a noise absorption device with the possibility of removal in any area between the brush assembly and the extension tube, between the extension tube and the handle element, between the handle element and the flexible hose and between flexible hose and vacuum cleaner body.

The above embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and cannot be construed as limiting the invention. The description of this invention is intended to illustrate and does not limit the scope of legal protection of the claims. For specialists in this field of technology will be obvious many options, modifications and changes. In the claims, items describing the means and function are intended to encompass the structures described herein as performing the specified function, and not only structural equivalents, but also similar structures.

Claims (4)

1. A vacuum cleaner containing
housing with a suction source located inside
a brush assembly for contacting the surface to be cleaned and thus for collecting air contaminated with dust and / or foreign matter,
air passage elements including an extension tube, a grip element and a flexible hose located between the brush assembly and the cleaner body, and
sound-absorbing device that can be installed between the elements for the passage of air,
moreover, the sound-absorbing device is made with the possibility of its installation with the possibility of removal between the brush assembly and the extension tube, between the extension tube and the handle element and between the handle element and the flexible hose. 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, in which the noise reduction device is arranged to be installed between the flexible hose and the body of the vacuum cleaner. 3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, in which the noise reduction device comprises
a housing made in the form of a tube having holes in the outer peripheral surface,
an element of the first casing, located so that it covers the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the sound-absorbing device,
a sound-absorbing element located between the body of the sound-absorbing device and the element of the first casing, and
locking means mounted on the housing of the noise-absorbing device with the provision of combining this housing with elements for the passage of air with the possibility of removal. 4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, in which the locking means contains
a support element located on the housing of the noise absorption device,
a lever element rotatably located on the upper side of the support element,
an elastic element located between the body of the sound-absorbing device and the lever element, and
an element of the second casing, located so that it covers the lever element.

Images