US20050217070A1

US20050217070A1 - Vacuum cleaner and a suction brush assembly thereof

Info

Publication number: US20050217070A1
Application number: US10/924,359
Authority: US
Inventors: Byung-jo Lee; Dae-yeoun Moon
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: GB0420328D0; GB2412570A; KR100603208B1; GB2412570B; AU2004208654B2; AU2004208654A1; KR20050097834A

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having an upper casing, a lower casing, and an extension pipe connector, and a brush assembly for the vacuum cleaner. The brush assembly comprises a casing constructing a body of the brush assembly, an extension pipe connector connected to the casing, and a locking unit for releasably connecting the casing and the extension pipe connector to each other. The locking unit omits at least one bolt connector, thereby simplifying the structure and assembly procedure, and fewer parts are used in accordance with the invention.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a suction brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner and more particularly, to a suction brush assembly improved in an assembly structure between an extension pipe connector and a casing, and a vacuum cleaner using the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a brush assembly of a conventional vacuum cleaner comprises an upper casing, a lower casing, and an extension pipe connector. The upper and the lower casings are assembled to each other, and one of the casings is connected to the extension pipe connector. The extension pipe connector is connected to an extension pipe connected to a main body of the vacuum cleaner, so that air can flow to the main body.
The upper and the lower casings are respectively provided with a fastening hole for engagement with a bolt. The fastening holes are formed at appropriate locations in the upper and the lower casings so that they correspond to each other when the casings are assembled into a casing assembly, and the casings are securely engaged by the bolt, thereby assembling the casings to provide a unitary housing. That is, by inserting the bolt through the fastening holes, the upper and the lower casings are assembled into the casing assembly.
A bolt is usually used in attaching the extension pipe connector to the upper or the lower casing in the conventional vacuum cleaner. One of the upper and the lower casings has a fastening hole for connection with the extension pipe connector, and the extension pipe connector also has a corresponding fastening hole. By passing the bolt through the fastening holes, the extension pipe connector is connected to one of the casings.
Thereafter, in the manufacturing process of the conventional vacuum cleaner, after one of the upper and the lower casings is fastened to the extension pipe connector by the bolt passing through the fastening hole, the upper and the lower casings are assembled to each other by a bolt.
According to the above assembly procedure and resulting structure, the upper and the lower casings, and the extension pipe connector do not separate from each other when the brush assembly experiences an impact. However, the bolt fastening structure requires a complicated manufacturing process, and also requires unnecessary use of extra materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure in the connection of upper and lower casings to the extension pipe connector, and a vacuum cleaner including such a connection.
In order to achieve the an above-described aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a casing assembly including an upper casing and a lower casing, an extension pipe connector connected at a rear of the casing assembly, and a locking unit formed on the casing assembly and on the extension pipe connector to releasably connect the casing assembly to the extension pipe connector.
The locking unit comprises a locking rib formed on at least one of the lower or upper casing or on the extension pipe connector, and a rib receiving space formed on at least the other of the lower or upper casing or the extension pipe connector.
The locking rib is formed on the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed on the lower or upper casing.
The rib receiving space has a locking projection therein, and the locking rib has a locking groove for receiving the locking projection, and the locking projection engages the locking groove by the insertion of the locking rib in the rib receiving space.
The locking rib extends as a flange on both sides of the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed in each side of the upper casing.
The brush assembly further comprises a hook formed on a front of one of the upper casing or on the lower casing, and a hook recess is formed on the other one of the upper casing or the lower casing for engagement with the hook.
The upper and the lower casings respectively comprise at least one fastening boss at disposed at a rear portion of the casing assembly.
In order to achieve the another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner body having a suction force generating part, an extension pipe for directing dust and air toward the cleaner body, an extension pipe connector connected to the extension pipe, a casing assembly connected to the extension pipe for drawing in dust on a surface: being cleaned, and a locking unit formed on the casing assembly and on the extension pipe connector to releasably connect the casing assembly and the extension pipe connector to each other.
The locking unit comprises a locking rib formed on at least one of the casing assembly or the extension pipe connector, and a rib receiving space formed in at least the other one of the casing assembly or the extension pipe connector.
The locking rib is formed preferably on the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed preferably in the casing assembly.
The rib receiving space has a locking projection therein, and the locking rib has a locking groove for receiving the locking projection, and the locking projection engages the locking groove by the insertion of the locking rib into the rib receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The above aspect and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a brush assembly of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper casing of the brush assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the upper casing of the brush assembly ready for engagement with an extension pipe connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the brush assembly shown in FIG. 1 the cross-section being taken approximately along section line 5A-5A; and
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed portion A of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.
Referring to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaner body 10, a suction hose 12 shown in broken lines, a handle unit 16, an extension pipe 14, and a brush assembly 100. The cleaner body 10 houses therein a motor (not shown) that generates a driving force to provide suction for the vacuum cleaner. The suction hose 12 is connected to the cleaner body 10 to guide air drawn into the brush assembly 100, together with entrained dust and dirt, toward the cleaner body 10. The handle unit 16 comprises various operation buttons (not shown), and is connected at one end to the suction hose 12, as shown. The extension pipe 14 is connected to the other end of the handle unit 16. The brush assembly 100 is connected to an end of the extension pipe 14 opposite that of the connection to the handle 16, and the bottom of the brush assembly 100 contacts a surface being cleaned to draw in dust therefrom.
Referring to FIG. 2, the brush assembly 100 further comprises a casing 110, an extension pipe connector 200 engaged with the casing 110, and a locking unit 300 for securely connecting the casing 110 and the extension pipe connector 200.
The casing 110 is divided into an upper casing 120 and a lower casing 140.
The lower casing 140 includes a suction port 142, at least one second fastening boss 144, a hook 148, a turbine assembly 152, and a rotating brush 154. The suction port 142, is formed on a bottom of the lower casing 140 to penetrate through the bottom wall thereof, and enables the suction handle 100 to draw in dust on the surface being cleaned.
Each second fastening boss 144 is formed on the lower casing 140 to correspond to a first fastening boss 124 (FIG. 3) disposed on the upper casing 120. Either each first boss 124 (FIG. 3) or each second boss 144 has therein a screw thread configured to receive a fastening member 146, such as a bolt.
A bolt is preferably employed for the fastening member 146 which is inserted through the first boss 124 (FIG. 3) and is screwed into screw thread of the second boss 144 to assemble the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140 together, thereby providing a unitary housing.
The hook 148 is formed on a front end of the lower casing 140 to correspond to a hook recess 128 formed on the upper casing 120. The hook 148 and the hook recess 128 are engaged with each other, thereby attaching the front ends of the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140 to each other.
The turbine assembly 152 preferably is formed at a rear portion of the lower casing 140, and rotates by a vacuum suction force generated by the motor (not shown) located in the cleaner body 10 (FIG. 1). Blade 153 disposed around the turbine assembly 152 rotate by the momentum of the drawn-in air, and accordingly, the assembly 152 rotates around an axle, as shown.
The rotating brush 154 is rotatably mounted on its own axle at a front portion of the lower casing 140, and has a plurality of bristle tufts 155 planted thereon. The rotating brush 154 is connected to the turbine assembly 152 by a belt (not shown) and is enabled to rotate correspondingly to rotation of the turbine assembly 152, thereby agitating any dust embedded on the surface being cleaned.
An upper casing frame 136 and a lower casing frame 156 (FIG. 2) provide an additional enclosure to the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the upper casing 120 includes hook recess 128 at the front for hook engagement with the lower casing 140 (FIG. 2), and at least one first fastening boss 124 for engagement with the lower casing 140 by the fastening member 146 (FIG. 2). The upper casing 120 comprises a longitudinal partition 125 and a lateral partition 126, which are attached to a projection plate 304 preferably disposed at lateral sides of the upper casing 120, so as to reinforce the integral strength of the upper casing 120. At least one hook recess 128 is provided on the front of the upper casing 120. The hook recess 128 may be integrally formed with the upper casing 120 along a front edge and side edges of the upper casing 120. Each first fastening boss 124 is disposed at a rear portion of the upper casing 120, and is fastened to the corresponding second fastening boss 144 (FIG. 2) by the fastening member 146 (FIG. 2), such as a bolt, so that the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140 (FIG. 2) are connected to each other. The number of first and the second fastening bosses 124 and 144 (FIG. 2) is respectively at least one each, but it is not so limited. The hook recess 128 may be formed in the lower casing 140 (FIG. 2) and the hook 148 may be disposed at the upper casing 120, as an alternative configuration.
FIG. 4 shows the connection structure between the upper casing 120 and the extension pipe connector 200. As shown by dashed arrows, the extension pipe connector 200 is assembled with the upper casing 120 by sliding the extension pipe into the upper casing. Locking ribs 314, flanged on both sides of a front portion of the extension pipe connector 200, are inserted in to a rib receiving space 302 (shown in more detail in FIGS. 5A and 5B) formed in the upper casing 120, which will be described below. To facilitate the insertion, the locking rib 314 has a locking groove 318 for engagement with a corresponding locking projection 308 formed on the rib receiving space 302. Accordingly, assembly is effected by sliding the extension pipe connector 200 into the upper casing 120 so that locking projections 308 engage the grooves 318.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the locking unit 300, shown in detailed cross-section, comprises a rib receiving space 302, a projection plate 304, a locking projection 308, a locking rib 314, and a locking groove 318.
The rib receiving space 302 is defined in the upper casing 120 and is configured to receive the locking rib 314. The rib receiving space 302 is defined by a projection 304 defining a bottom wall, an inner surface 306 of the upper casing 120 defining a ceiling, the longitudinal partition 125 (FIG. 3) defining a sidewall, and the lateral partition 126 (FIG. 3) defining a front. The side opposite to the longitudinal partition 125 is open, and a rear of the rib receiving space 302 is also open so as to receive the locking rib 314.
Each projection plate 304 is substantially curved to enable smooth insertion of the locking rib 314 into the upper casing 120. One end of each projection plate 304 is integral with or connected to the corresponding longitudinal partition 125 (FIG. 3), and one side of each projection plate 304 is connected to the corresponding lateral partition 126 (FIG. 3). A part of the other end of each projection plate 304 is connected to the respective first fastening boss 124.
The locking projection 308 disposed on the projection plate 304 is configured for engagement with the locking groove 318. The locking projection 308 is preferably rounded to ease the engagement with the projection groove 318. However, the configuration is not so limited. In addition, the locking projection 308 may be interchangeably formed on the upper casing 120, which defines the ceiling of the rib receiving space 302.
The locking rib 314 is preferably provided at both sides of the front end of the extension pipe connector 200 and is configured to engage the curved projection plate 304 by a circular movement when being inserted. The locking groove 318 is depressed on the locking rib 314 to correspond in shape therewith and the location for engagement corresponds with the position of the locking projection 308 to provide a mating relationship. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the locking groove 318 may be configured by a hole penetrating through the locking rib 314.
Although the brush assembly 100 has been described above for use in a turbine brush having a rotating brush 154 which operates in association with the turbine assembly 152 rotating as a result of the suction force generated by the motor in the cleaner body 10, the present invention is not limited to the turbine brush only, but may be applicable to other general brush assemblies as well.
Hereinbelow, the assembly structure of the brush assembly 100 for a vacuum cleaner, according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5B in greater detail.
The brush assembly 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises the upper and lower casings 120 and 140, respectively, which are releasably assembled with each other, as shown in FIG. 2. The turbine assembly 152 is mounted between the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140. The turbine assembly 152 rotates as a result of the vacuum suction force generated by a suction force generating part and is mounted at a rear portion of the lower casing 140. The rotating brush 154 is connected to the turbine assembly 152 by a belt (not shown) and is disposed at a front portion of the lower casing 140.
In the construction of the brush assembly 100, the extension pipe connector 200 is connected to the upper casing 120 by inserting it therein to, as shown in FIG. 4. The locking ribs 314, flanged on both sides of the extension pipe connector 200, are inserted into the rib receiving space 302 at either side of the upper casing 120. In the insertion process, the locking projection 308 formed on the projection plate 304 and forming the bottom of the rib receiving space 302 engages the locking groove 318 of the locking rib 314, thereby releasably connecting the upper casing 120 and the extension pipe connector 200. The projection plate 304 is connected to the extension pipe connector 200 by insertion using a circular movement, required by its curved shape. Accordingly, the upper casing 120 and the extension pipe connector 200 can be releasably connected to each other easily, compared to using a complicated bolt-fastening structure according to a conventional method. Therefore, the assembly procedure is simplified, and the number of parts requiring assembly can be reduced.
As shown in FIG. 5A, after the connection of the upper casing 120 and the extension pipe connector 200, the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140 are assembled by the hook recess 128 formed at the front of the upper casing 120 and the corresponding hook 148 formed at the front of the lower casing 140. The hook recess 128 and the hook 148 may be interchanged in position, and the number of the hook recess 128 and the hook 148 is preferably at least one, but may use a plurality thereof. The hook recess 128 and the hook 148 may be integrally formed with the frames 136 and 156 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A) of the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140, respectively. Also, in an alternative arrangement the upper casing 120 may have both a hook recess 128 and a hook 148 on its frame 136 while the lower casing 140 has a corresponding hook 148 and hook recess 128 on its frame 156.
After assembling the casings 120 and 140 by attaching the hook 148 and hook recess 128 as described above, the upper and the lower casings 120 and 140 are fastened through the first and the second fastening bosses 124 and 144, using a fastening member 146, such as a bolt, as shown in FIG. 5A.
As can be appreciated from the above description of the brush assembly of a vacuum cleaner, by engaging one side of the upper and the lower casings with the extension pipe connector by using the locking unit rather than a bolt, the assembly procedure is simplified, and the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, by using the simplified assembly procedure, the casings and the extension pipe connector are not easily separated from each other when the brush assembly experiences an impact.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a casing assembly including an upper casing and a lower casing;

an extension pipe connector connected at a rear of the casing assembly; and

a locking unit formed on the casing assembly and the extension pipe connector to releasably connect the casing assembly to the extension pipe connector.

2. The brush assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking unit further comprises:

a locking rib formed on at least one of the lower or upper casing or the extension pipe connector; and

a rib receiving space formed in at least the other one of the lower or upper casing or on the extension pipe connector.

3. The brush assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking rib is formed on the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed in the upper or lower casing.

4. The brush assembly of claim 3, wherein a locking projection is formed in the rib receiving space, and the locking rib has a locking groove for receiving the locking projection, and

the locking projection engages the locking groove by the insertion of the locking rib in the rib receiving space.

5. The brush assembly of claim 3, wherein the locking rib extends as a flange on both sides of the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed in each side of the upper casing.

6. The brush assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a hook is formed on a front of one of the upper casing or the lower casing; and

a hook recess is formed on the other one of the upper casing or the lower casing for engagement with the hook.

7. The brush assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper and the lower casings respectively comprise at least one fastening boss disposed at a rear portion of the casing assembly.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body having a suction force generating part;

an extension pipe for directing dust and air toward the cleaner body;

an extension pipe connector connected to the extension pipe;

a casing assembly connected to the extension pipe for drawing in dust on a surface being cleaned; and

a locking unit formed on the casing assembly and the extension pipe connector to releasably connect the casing assembly and the extension pipe connector to each other.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the locking unit further comprises:

a locking rib formed on at least one of the casing assembly or the extension pipe connector; and

a rib receiving space formed in at least the other one of the casing assembly or the extension pipe connector.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the locking rib is formed on the extension pipe connector, and the rib receiving space is formed in the casing assembly.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the rib receiving space has a locking projection therein and the locking rib has a locking groove for receiving the locking projection, and

the locking projection engages the locking groove by the insertion of the locking rib into the rib receiving space.