US20230210331A1

US20230210331A1 - Cleaner

Info

Publication number: US20230210331A1
Application number: US17/927,271
Authority: US
Inventors: Ingyu Yang; Dongjae LEE; Daeho CHANG; Jungwan RYU
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2020-05-22
Filing date: 2021-05-21
Publication date: 2023-07-06
Also published as: CN115697163A; AU2021277114A1; EP4154783A4; EP4154783A1; WO2021235897A1

Abstract

A cleaner includes: a motor housing in which a motor is provided to generate a suction force for drawing in air; a handle part coupled to the motor housing; a dust bin separably coupled to a lower portion of the motor housing and configured to store therein sucked dust; a cyclone part positioned in the dust bin and configured to separate dust from the air drawn in through a suction part; and a compression part configured to compress the dust in the dust bin, in which the dust bin is separated downward from the motor housing, and a user may easily wash the dust bin.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner, and more particularly, to a cleaner capable of compressing dust stored in a dust bin, thereby making it not necessary to frequently empty the dust bin.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a cleaner refers to an electrical appliance that draws in small garbage or dust by sucking air using electricity and fills a dust bin with the garbage or dust. Such a cleaner is generally called a vacuum cleaner.
The cleaners may be classified into a manual cleaner which is moved directly by a user to perform a cleaning operation, and an automatic cleaner which performs a cleaning operation while autonomously traveling.
Further, depending on the shape of the cleaner, the manual cleaners may be classified into a canister cleaner, an upright cleaner, a handy cleaner, a stick cleaner, and the like.
Patent Document 1 (Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2011-0106917) discloses a handheld vacuum cleaner.
The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a separation device that separates garbage and dust from an air flow.
The separation device includes a centrifugal separator having one or more cyclones.
The centrifugal separator includes a first cyclone having a dust collector. The dust collector may be disposed at a lower side of the first cyclone, and the dust collector may be opened or closed by a base. The base opens or closes the dust collector by being rotated by a hinge.
A plurality of through holes is provided in the first cyclone, and a cover partially having a trapezoidal shape is positioned in the first cyclone. A second cyclone communicates with the first cyclone in the cover.
In the case of Patent Document 1, air in the first cyclone passes through the plurality of holes and then flows in the second cyclone. The dust clogs the plurality of holes of the cover during the process in which the air passes through the plurality of holes.
Therefore, as the plurality of holes is clogged in large numbers, the air does not flow smoothly, and thus separation performance deteriorates. Therefore, the user needs to clean the cover periodically.
In the case of Patent Document 1, because the user needs to open the dust collector by rotating the base and then approach the cover to clean the cover, there is a drawback in that it is not easy to clean the cover.
In addition, in the case of Patent Document 1, the dust separated from the first cyclone and the second cyclone is dropped downward and accumulated on the base.
When the operation of the cleaner is stopped during the process of separating the dust by the cleaner, the separated dust is stored in a low-density state in the dust collector.
In particular, because the dust separated by the first cyclone occupies an excessively large volume compared to a weight thereof, there is a drawback in that it is necessary to frequently remove the dust in the dust collector in order to maintain dust collecting performance.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3699679) discloses a technology capable of compressing dust in a dust collecting casing.
The dust collecting casing includes a dust separating chamber configured to separate dust from air using a centrifugal force, a dust receiving chamber configured to receive the dust introduced from the dust separating chamber, an intake cylinder positioned at a central portion of the dust separating chamber, and a filter disposed outside the intake cylinder.
The air in the dust separating chamber passes through the filter and then enters the intake cylinder.
An outer container is provided outside the intake cylinder, a compression plate is provided at a lower side of the outer container, and brush bristles are provided on an inner circumferential surface of the outer container. The outer container has a plurality of opening portions so as not to interrupt an air flow from the dust separating chamber into the intake cylinder.
An operating lever is provided outside of the outer container in a diameter direction of the outer container in order to allow a user to manipulate the outer container. The operating lever is positioned outside the dust separating chamber.
Therefore, when the user manipulates the operating lever and moves the outer container together with the compression plate downward, the brush bristles on the inner surface of the outer container cleans the filter disposed along an outer circumference of the intake cylinder, and the compression plate compresses the dust stored in the dust receiving chamber.
However, according to Patent Document 2, because the outer container is configured to surround the entire intake cylinder in a state in which the operating lever is not manipulated, the plurality of opening portions is formed in the outer container to allow the air to pass through the outer container.
However, even though the plurality of opening portions is provided in the outer container, a portion having no opening portion acts as resistance against the air flow, and as a result, there is a drawback in that performance of the air flow deteriorates.
In addition, since the outer container is positioned outside the intake cylinder, the dust in the dust separating chamber comes into contact with the outer container in a state in which the operating lever is not manipulated. For this reason, there is a drawback in that the outer container is contaminated and an operation of cleaning the outer container is additionally required.
In addition, according to Patent Document 2, since the operating lever is provided outside the dust separating chamber, a slot needs to be provided in the dust separating chamber in an upward/downward direction in order to allow the operating lever to move in the upward/downward direction.
Because the operating lever cannot cover the entire slot, there is a problem in that the air and the dust in the dust separating chamber leak to the outside through the slot.
In addition, in the case of Patent Document 2, there is no structure for allowing the outer container to move upward or downward without deviation, and as a result, there is a problem in that the upward and downward movements of the outer container are not smoothly performed.
In addition, in the case of Patent Document 2, because the user may manipulate the operating lever after separating the dust collecting casing from a cleaner main body, which inconveniences the user during use.

DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2011-0106917
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3699679

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner having a compression part capable of compressing dust in a dust bin.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner in which a dust bin may be separated from a motor housing of the cleaner having a compression part.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide cleaner in which a sufficient interval is ensured between a dust bin and a secondary cyclone, such that it is possible to prevent a large foreign substance from being caught between the dust bin and secondary cyclone.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner in which a dust bin separated from a motor housing may be washed with water.
Still yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner in which a sealing force in a direction in which a motor housing and a dust bin are coupled is increased.
Another further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner in which a pipe connector of the cleaner is coupled to a dust bin and thus separated, together with the dust bin, from a motor housing, or the pipe connector is coupled to the motor housing such that the dust bin is separated.
Still another further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner that enables a user to more intuitively and conveniently separate or couple a dust bin from/to a motor housing.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, one aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner including: a motor housing in which a motor is provided to generate a suction force for drawing in air; a handle part coupled to the motor housing; a dust bin separably coupled to a lower portion of the motor housing and configured to store therein sucked dust; cyclone parts positioned in the dust bin and configured to separate dust from the air drawn in through a suction part; and a compression part configured to compress the dust in the dust bin, in which the compression part includes: an operating part disposed in the motor housing and configured to move in an upward/downward direction in a space between an outer portion of the filter part and an inner circumferential surface of the dust bin in the dust bin; a manipulation part disposed outside the motor housing and configured to be manipulated to move the operating part in the upward/downward direction; and a transmission part disposed in the motor housing and configured to connect the operating part and the manipulation part.
In this case, the cleaner according to the present disclosure may further include a pipe connector provided between the suction part and the motor housing.
As an example, the pipe connector may be fixedly coupled to the motor housing.
In addition, a compression rail part may be positioned in the motor housing and may guide an upward/downward movement of the transmission part.
The cyclone parts may include: a first cyclone part configured to communicate with the pipe connector; and a second cyclone part configured to separate the dust from the air discharged from the first cyclone part, and the filter part may surround the second cyclone part.
An interval of 14 mm or more may be maintained between an inner circumferential surface of the dust bin and an outer circumferential surface of the second cyclone part.
Each of the motor housing and the dust bin may be formed in a cylindrical shape, a width of the handle part in a leftward/rightward direction may be smaller than a diameter of each of the motor housing and the dust bin, and the manipulation part may be spaced apart from a floor surface in a state in which the motor housing, the dust bin, and the handle part are placed to be in contact with the floor surface.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner including: a motor housing in which a motor is provided to generate a suction force for drawing in air; a handle part coupled to the motor housing; a dust bin separably coupled to a lower portion of the motor housing and configured to store therein sucked dust; cyclone parts coupled to a lower side of the motor housing, disposed in the dust bin, and configured to separate dust from the air drawn in through a suction part; a main filter positioned in the dust bin and configured to filter the air during a process in which the air from which the dust is separated in the cyclone parts passes through the main filter; and a compression part configured to compress the dust in the dust bin, in which the main filter is exposed to the outside in a state in which the dust bin is separated from the motor housing and the main filter is coupled to the lower side of the motor housing.
In addition, the cleaner may further include a prefilter provided in the motor housing and configured to filter the air passing through the motor.
In this case, the cleaner may include a fastening part configured to couple the dust bin to the motor housing in such a way that the dust bin is separable from the motor housing.
The fastening part may include: a button positioned below the pipe connector; a hook positioned in a space between the button and the dust bin and configured to be rotated as the button is pushed; a first catching projection positioned on an outer surface of the dust bin and configured to be fastened to or unfastened from the hook in accordance with whether the hook rotates; and a second catching projection positioned at a lower portion of the outer surface of the dust bin opposite to the first catching projection and coupled to a groove of the handle part.
The hook may include: a first inclined surface configured to come into contact with a rib to rotate the hook clockwise; and a second inclined surface extending from the first inclined surface and configured to rotate the hook counterclockwise.
As another example, the fastening part may include: a pulling lever provided at a side of the handle part adjacent to the dust bin; a rear hook positioned in a space between the pulling lever and the dust bin and configured to be rotated when a user pulls the pulling lever; and a third catching projection formed on the outer surface of the dust bin adjacent to the pulling lever and configured to be fastened to or unfastened from the rear hook in accordance with whether the rear hook rotates.
In this case, the rear hook may include: an extension portion provided to be rotatable while coming into contact with the pulling lever; and a catching portion connected to the extension portion and inclined to have a predetermined angle difference from the extension portion, and an end of the third catching projection may be caught and fastened at a connection point between the extension portion and the catching portion.
In addition, the rear hook may further include an elastic part having an elastic body for rotating the extension portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the extension portion is rotated by the pulling lever.
In this embodiment, the fastening part further may include: a front hook provided to face the rear hook with the dust bin interposed therebetween; and a first catching projection positioned on the outer surface of the dust bin and configured to be fastened to or unfastened from the front hook, and the front hook may be moved by being pushed forward when the first catching projection moves upward.
In addition, the fastening part may further include: a link configured to guide a movement route of the front hook; and an elastic body provided in a space between the link and the front hook.
Meanwhile, a terminal part is positioned on the motor housing and disposed adjacent to the pipe connector, and the terminal part supplies electricity to the suction part when the suction part is coupled to the pipe connector.
As another example, the pipe connector is fixedly coupled to the dust bin.
In this case, a suction port, together with the dust bin, may be separated from the motor housing when the dust bin is separated from the motor housing.
A terminal part may be positioned on the motor housing and disposed adjacent to the suction port, and the terminal part may supply electricity to the suction part when the suction part is coupled to a suction port.
A support portion for supporting the suction port may be positioned on the dust bin.
The dust bin and the motor housing may be sealed by a sealing member, and the sealing member may be positioned at an upper end of the dust bin or a lower end of the motor housing.

Advantageous Effect

According to the present disclosure, the operating part constituting the simple cleaning system is positioned inside the motor housing, and the manipulation part is positioned outside the motor housing. As a result, the user may compress the dust in the dust bin by manipulating the manipulation part.
In addition, according to the present disclosure, the transmission part for transmitting a force for moving the operating part in the upward/downward direction is positioned on the compression rail part in the motor housing. As a result, the dust bin may be separated from the motor housing, and a sufficient interval is ensured between the dust bin and the secondary cyclone, such that it is possible to prevent a large foreign substance from being caught between the dust bin and secondary cyclone.
In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the dust bin is coupled to/separated from the motor housing in the upward/downward direction, it is possible to increase a sealing force in the direction in which the motor housing and the dust bin are coupled.
In addition, according to the present disclosure, the pipe connector coupled to the suction part of the cleaner is fixedly coupled to the dust bin or the motor housing, and the terminal part for supplying electricity to the suction part is installed on the motor housing. As a result, the dust bin may be washed with water.
In addition, according to the present disclosure, the user may intuitively and easily separate and couple the dust bin from/to the motor housing by manipulating the button or the pulling lever.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which the cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is laid and placed on a floor surface.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a dust bin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the dust bin and a motor housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a lower portion of a lower portion of a filter part according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is seated on a dust guide.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which a dust bin and a motor housing of the cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled.

FIGS. 9 to 16 are views illustrating a process of separating the dust bin and the motor housing of the cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a dust bin and a motor housing of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are views illustrating a state in which a pulling lever of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is operated.

FIGS. 21 to 22 are views illustrating a state in which the dust bin is decoupled as the pulling lever of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is operated.

FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a state in which the dust bin separated from the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled to the motor housing.

FIGS. 24 to 26 are views illustrating a process in which the dust bin is fastened to a rear hook in the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 26 to 28 are views illustrating a process in which the dust bin is fastened to a front hook in the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar constituent elements are assigned with the same reference numerals regardless of reference numerals, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.
However, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to some embodiments described herein but may be implemented in various different forms. One or more of the constituent elements in the embodiments may be selectively combined or substituted within the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure.
In addition, unless otherwise specifically and explicitly defined and stated, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be construed as the meaning which may be commonly understood by the person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The meanings of the commonly used terms such as the terms defined in dictionaries may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meanings of the related technology.
In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are for explaining the embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure.
Unless particularly stated otherwise in the context of the present disclosure, a singular form may also include a plural form. The explanation “at least one (or one or more) of A, B, and C” described herein may include one or more of all combinations that can be made by combining A, B, and C.
In addition, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe constituent elements of the embodiments of the present disclosure. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms.
Further, when one constituent element is described as being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘attached’ to another constituent element, one constituent element can be connected, coupled, or attached directly to another constituent element or connected, coupled, or attached to another constituent element through still another constituent element interposed therebetween.
In addition, the explanation “one constituent element is formed or disposed above (on) or below (under) another constituent element” includes not only a case in which the two constituent elements are in direct contact with each other, but also a case in which one or more additional constituent elements are formed or disposed between the two constituent elements. In addition, the expression “above (on) or below (under)” may include a meaning of a downward direction as well as an upward direction based on one constituent element.
Meanwhile, the term ‘disclosure’ may be substituted with a document, a specification, a description, and the like.
Hereinafter, a cleaner according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 6 are views related to a cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of the cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which the cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is laid and placed on a floor surface, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a dust bin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the dust bin and a motor housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a lower portion of a filter part according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is seated on a dust guide.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 , a cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a dust bin 100. The dust bin 100 may include a pipe connector 110 through which air containing dust is introduced. The pipe connector 110 may guide the air containing dust to the dust bin 100.
The cleaner may further include a motor housing 200 having a lower portion to which the dust bin 100 is coupled, and a handle part 300 coupled to the motor housing 200.
For example, the handle part 300 may be positioned on the motor housing 200 so as to be opposite to the pipe connector 110. However, the positions of the pipe connector 110 and the handle part 300 are not limited thereto.
The dust bin 100 may separate the dust introduced into the dust bin 100 through the pipe connector 110 and store the separated dust.
A dust separating part may be positioned in the dust bin 100. The dust separating part may include a first cyclone part 120 capable of separating the dust using a cyclone flow. The first cyclone part 120 may communicate with the pipe connector 110.
The air and the dust introduced through the pipe connector 110 spirally flow along an inner circumferential surface of the first cyclone part 120.
The dust separating part may further include a second cyclone part 130 configured to separate the dust from the air discharged from the first cyclone part 120.
The second cyclone part 130 may include a plurality of cyclone bodies 131 disposed in parallel. The air may pass through the plurality of cyclone bodies 131, respectively.
As another example, the dust separating part may have the single cyclone part.
For example, each of the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200 having the lower portion to which the dust bin 100 is coupled may be formed in a cylindrical shape.
A lower side of the dust bin 100 may be opened or closed by a body cover that rotates by a hinge. However, the lower side of the dust bin 100 may be integrated with a dust bin main body.
The cleaner according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a filter part that filters out the dust which is to be discharged to the outside while passing through a suction part. The filter part may include a main filter 140 provided in the dust bin 100 and disposed to surround the second cyclone part 130.
For example, the main filter 140 is formed in a cylindrical shape and guide, to the second cyclone part 130, the air from which the dust is separated by the first cyclone part 120. The main filter 140 filters out the dust while the air passes through the main filter 140.
To this end, the main filter 140 may include a mesh portion 141 having a plurality of holes. The mesh portion 141 may be made of, but not limited to, a metal material.
In general, the mesh portion 141 is manufactured by a method of forming fine holes in a thin metal plate using a machine tool such as a press machine. In this process, a burr may be formed around the formed hole due to a punching operation of the machine tool. The burr accelerates a situation in which long hair of human or animals are rolled while the air passes through the mesh portion during the use of the product. For this reason, the contaminants may not be separated from the burr structure even though a compression part operates.
Therefore, as an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the post-processing for smoothening the peripheries of the fine holes may be performed after the mesh portion is manufactured. The post-processing removes the burrs formed around the holes, thereby smoothening the surface of the mesh filter. With this effect, hair or long contaminants, which are rolled in the main filter 140 while the air passes through the main filter 140, may be easily separated by the compression part.
Since the mesh portion 141 filters the air and the dust may be accumulated on the mesh portion 141, the mesh portion 141 needs to be cleaned.
Therefore, the cleaner according to the present disclosure may further include a compression part 150, for example, a simple cleaning system for cleaning the main filter 140.
The compression part 150 may include an operating part 151 disposed in the motor housing 200 so as to be movable in an upward/downward direction in the dust bin 100, a manipulation part 153 configured to be manipulated by the user to move the operating part 151 in the upward/downward direction, and a transmission part 155 configured to transmit an operating force of the manipulation part 153 to the operating part 151.
The manipulation part 153 may be disposed outside the motor housing 200. For example, the manipulation part 153 may be disposed at a position higher than a position of a motor 230 disposed in the motor housing 200. In addition, the manipulation part 153 may be disposed at a position higher than a position of the operating part 151.
The transmission part 155 is disposed in the motor housing 200 and formed to be elongated in the upward/downward direction. The manipulation part 153 is coupled to an upper end of the transmission part 155, and the operating part 151 is coupled to a lower end of the transmission part 155.
In a state in which the manipulation part 153 is not manipulated, the operating part 151 is positioned above the main filter 140, and when the manipulation part 153 is manipulated, the operating part 151 is moved downward along an outer circumferential surface of the main filter 140.
The handle part 300 may include a handle body 310 configured to be grasped by the user, and a battery housing 320 disposed below the handle body 310 and configured to accommodate a battery 330.
In a state in which the user grasps the handle body 310 with his/her right hand, the manipulation part 153 may be positioned at the left side of the handle body 310.
Therefore, the user may easily manipulate the manipulation part 153 with his/her left hand that does not hold the handle body 310.
The manipulation part 153 may be moved in a direction parallel to an axis of the cyclone flow in the first cyclone part 120, for example, in the upward/downward direction in a state in which the dust bin 100 is placed on the floor.
A slot 210 may be formed in the motor housing 200 in order to allow the manipulation part 153 to move. The slot 210 may also extend in the direction parallel to the extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow in the first cyclone part 120, that is, in the upward/downward direction.
However, the slot 210 may be formed in the handle body 310.
In the present embodiment, since the extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow is the upward/downward direction in the drawings, for example, the terms “extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow” to be described below may be understood as meaning the “upward/downward direction”.
Referring to FIG. 2 , a diameter D1 of the motor housing 200 may be longer than a horizontal length L1 of the handle part 300. Further, the handle part 300 may be coupled to the motor housing 200 so that a center of the handle part 300 in a leftward/rightward direction is coincident with a center of the motor housing 200.
For example, the manipulation part 153 may be positioned at a boundary portion where the motor housing 200 and the handle part 300 are in contact with each other.
When the cleaner is placed so that the motor housing 200 and the handle part 300 are in contact with the floor F, a space is defined between an outer circumferential surface of the motor housing 200, an outer circumferential surface of the handle part 300, and the floor F because of a difference between the diameter D1 of the motor housing 200 and the horizontal length L1 of the handle part 300, and the manipulation part 153 may be positioned in the space.
In this state, the manipulation part 153 is spaced apart from the floor F.
Therefore, during the process of placing the cleaner on the floor F, it is possible to prevent the manipulation part 153 from colliding with the floor F, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the manipulation part 153 from being damaged or prevent the manipulation part 153 from being inadvertently operated.
For example, the transmission part 155 may be provided in the form of a circular bar, and the manipulation part 153 may be coupled to an upper end of the transmission part 155. That is, the transmission part 155 may have a horizontal cross section having a circular shape.
Further, the transmission part 155 may also extend in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow of the first cyclone part 120.
Since the operating part 151 is positioned inside the motor housing 200 and the manipulation part 153 is positioned outside the motor housing 200, the transmission part 155 may be positioned inside the motor housing 200 to connect the operating part 151 and the manipulation part 153. That is, the manipulation part 153 may penetrate the motor housing 200.
A compression rail part 220 for guiding the upward/downward movement of the transmission part 155 may be provided in the motor housing 200.
The compression rail part 220 may extend in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow of the first cyclone part 120.
Therefore, the transmission part 155 may move in the upward/downward direction in the compression rail part 220.
The motor 230 for generating a suction force may be disposed in the motor housing 200. The suction force generated by the motor 230 may be applied to the pipe connector 110.
The motor 230 may be disposed above the dust bin 100 and the battery 330 based on the extension direction of the axis of the cyclone flow of the first cyclone part 120. The manipulation part 153 may be disposed at a height equal to a height of a part of the motor 230 or positioned at a position higher than a position of the motor 230.
An air guide 240 may be disposed in the motor housing 200 to guide, to the motor 230, the air discharged from the second cyclone part 130.
The second cyclone part 130 may be coupled to a lower portion of the air guide 240. In a state in which the main filter 140 is coupled to the second cyclone part 130, the main filter 140 surrounds the second cyclone part 130.
Therefore, the main filter 140 may also be positioned below the air guide 240. In a state in which the manipulation part 153 is not manipulated, the operating part 151 may be disposed at a position so as to surround the air guide 240.
The operating part 151 may include a compression plate for cleaning the main filter 140.
In the present embodiment, in the state in which the manipulation part 153 is not manipulated, a position of the operating part 151 may be called a standby position of the simple cleaning system.
At the standby position of the simple cleaning system, the operating part 151 may be disposed so as not to overlap the main filter 140. Therefore, the air may pass through the main filter 140.
For example, at the standby position, the operating part 151 may be positioned at a position higher than a position of the main filter 140. Therefore, at the standby position, it is possible to prevent the operating part 151 from acting as flow resistance during the process in which the air passes through the main filter 140.
A dust guide 160 may be provided below the second cyclone part 130. A lower portion of the second cyclone part 130 may be coupled to an upper portion of the dust guide 160. In addition, a lower portion of the main filter 140 may be seated on the dust guide 160.
A lower portion of the dust guide 160 may be seated on a bottom surface of the dust bin 100. The dust guide 160 is spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the dust bin 100, such that an internal space of the dust bin 100 is divided into a first dust storage part 161 configured to store the dust separated by the first cyclone part 120, and a second dust storage part 163 configured to store the dust separated from the second cyclone part 130.
The first dust storage part 161 is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the dust bin 100 and an outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the dust guide 160, and the second dust storage part 163 is defined by an inner circumferential surface of the dust guide 160.
In the case in which the body cover is provided, the lower portion of the dust guide 160 may be seated on the body cover.
The compression plate constituting the operating part 151 may be made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the compression plate may be made of a rubber material. The compression plate may be formed in a ring shape so that the compression plate may clean the entire periphery of the cylindrical main filter 140. As another example, the compression plate may be made of silicone or a fiber material.
Further, at the standby position, the compression plate is on standby at position departing from the main filter 140. During a cleaning process, the compression plate moves in the upward/downward direction while wiping an outer surface of the main filter 140.
An inner circumferential surface of the compression plate may include a cleaning surface that comes into contact with the outer surface of the main filter 140 during the cleaning process. The cleaning surface is a surface, that is, a vertical surface facing the main filter 140.
Therefore, when the compression plate moves downward in a state in which the entire cleaning surface is in contact with a circumference of the main filter 140, the cleaning surface removes the dust attached to the outer surface of the main filter 140.
A diameter of the cleaning surface may be smaller than a diameter of the main filter 140. In the present embodiment, since the compression plate is made of an elastically deformable material, the compression plate may be elastically deformed outward in a radial direction of the main filter 140 during a process in which the compression plate moves downward and the cleaning surface comes into contact with the main filter 140. In the state in which the compression plate is elastically deformed, the cleaning surface may come into contact with the main filter 140.
That is, in the state in which the cleaning surface is in contact with the main filter 140, the cleaning surface may compress the main filter 140. As described above, since the cleaning surface cleans the main filter 140 in the state in which the cleaning surface compresses the main filter 140, the dust attached to the main filter 140 may be effectively removed from the main filter 140.
In addition, since the compression plate is made of an elastically deformable material and the entire periphery of the cleaning surface compresses the main filter 140, the state in which the cleaning surface of the compression plate compresses the main filter 140 is maintained even though a center of the compression plate is inclined with respect to the axis of the cyclone flow during the process in which the compression plate moves downward, such that the main filter 140 may be cleaned.
The compression plate may include an inclined surface inclinedly extending upward and outward in the radial direction from the cleaning surface.
Since the inclined surface is inclined upward and outward, an inner diameter of the inclined surface of the compression plate increases toward the upper side. Further, the inclined surface is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the main filter 140.
The operating part 151 may further include a frame configured to support an outer circumference of the compression plate, and a core portion configured to support an inner circumference of the compression plate.
The core portion may be in contact with a part of the inner circumferential surface of the compression plate.
For example, the core portion may be in contact with an inclined inner surface of the compression plate.
A coupling protrusion may be formed on the compression plate, a coupling hole may be formed in the core portion, and the core portion may be coupled to the compression plate by inserting the coupling protrusion into the coupling hole.
The frame supports the compression plate and is coupled to the core portion, thereby fixing the position of the compression plate.
The transmission part 155 may be provided in the form of a long cylindrical bar. The purpose of this configuration is to enable the transmission part 155 to smoothly move when the transmission part 155 moves in the upward/downward direction in the motor housing 200.
In the present embodiment, the compression plate may be integrally with the core portion and the frame by dual injection molding.
The dust guide 160 may include a storage wall 163 a configured to define the second dust storage part 163, and a support portion 163 b provided at an upper side of the storage wall 163 a and configured to support the second cyclone part 130.
The storage wall 163 a is provided in the form of a column having a horizontal cross section having a circular shape, and a diameter of the storage wall 163 a decreases from the upper side toward the lower side so that a space of the first dust storage part 161 is maximized.
The dust guide 160 may further include an anti-scattering rib 165 extending downward from an upper end of the storage wall 163 a.
For example, the anti-scattering rib 165 may be formed in a cylindrical shape and may surround an upper portion of the storage wall 163 a in a state in which the anti-scattering rib 165 is spaced apart from the storage wall 163 a.
Since the diameter of the storage wall 163 a decreases toward the lower side, a space is defined between an outer circumferential surface of the storage wall 163 a and the anti-scattering rib 165.
The cyclone flow may move downward while flowing along the inner circumferential surface of the dust bin 100. When the cyclone flow reaches a bottom surface of the body cover or the dust bin 100 during the process in which the cyclone flow moves downward, a rotation flow may be changed to an upward flow again.
If there is the upward flow in the first dust storage part 161, there is a problem in that the dust stored in the first dust storage part 161 is scattered.
In the case of the present embodiment, the upward flow in the first dust storage part 161 is changed to a downward flow again by the anti-scattering rib 165 in the space between the anti-scattering rib 165 and the storage wall 163 a.
Therefore, the dust stored in the first dust storage part 161 may be prevented from scattering, and thus the dust may be prevented from flowing reversely toward the second cyclone part 130.
Since the anti-scattering rib 165 extends downward from the upper end of the storage wall 163 a, the dust separated by the first cyclone part 120, together with the cyclone flow, may be smoothly moved to the first dust storage part 161 by the anti-scattering rib 165.
Meanwhile, the support portion 163 b may include an insertion portion 163 b-1 inserted into the lower portion of the main filter 140. When the insertion portion 163 b-1 of the support portion 163 b is inserted into the lower portion of the main filter 140, a lower end of the main filter 140 is seated on a support surface 163 b-2 positioned around the insertion portion 163 b-1 of the support portion 163 b.
In the state in which the main filter 140 is seated on the support surface 163 b-2, the compression plate passes the main filter 140 while moving downward.
A diameter of an outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the support portion 163 b may decrease toward the lower side in order to prevent the outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the support portion 163 b from interfering with the compression plate during a process in which the compression plate moves downward. That is, the outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the support portion 163 b may be inclined inward toward the lower side.
In addition, a maximum diameter of the outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the support portion 163 b may be equal to or smaller than a diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the main filter 140.
In addition, when the dust stored in the first dust storage part 161 is compressed while the compression plate moves downward, the compressed dust may easily move downward because the outer circumferential surface 163 b-3 of the support portion 163 b inclined inward.
The anti-scattering rib 165 may extend downward from a boundary portion between the support portion 163 b and the storage wall 163 a. An outer circumferential surface of the anti-scattering rib 165 may be inclined to define a continuous surface with an outer circumferential surface of the support portion 163 b. That is, an outer diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the anti-scattering rib 165 may decrease toward the lower side.
Since the manipulation part 153 is positioned outside the handle part 300, the user may push an upper surface of the manipulation part 153.
The manipulation part 153 may include a first portion positioned inside the motor housing 200, and a second portion extending in a horizontal direction from the first portion and positioned outside the motor housing 200.
The transmission part 155 is connected to the first portion. The first portion may have a fitting groove into which a part of the transmission part 155 is fitted.
A horizontal cross section of a part of the transmission part 155, which is inserted into the fitting groove, may be formed in a non-circular shape so that a relative rotation between the transmission part 155 and the manipulation part 153 is prevented during the process of manipulating the manipulation part 153.
Since the user needs to push the second portion, a horizontal width of the second portion may be larger than a horizontal width of the first portion.
Specifically, although not illustrated, an elastic member for elastically supporting the manipulation part 153 in the state in which the compression part 150 is positioned at the standby position may be supported on the compression rail part 220.
The elastic member may not provide an elastic force to the manipulation part 153 in a section in which the manipulation part 153 moves downward, except for an initial section.
Therefore, since the elastic member supports the manipulation part 153, the compression part 150 may be prevented from being moved downward inadvertently by a load of the compression part 150.
The elastic member may have various shapes and structures.
Meanwhile, in the cleaner according to the present disclosure, the compression rail part 220 for guiding the upward/downward movement of the transmission part 155 is not provided outside the dust bin 100, and the upward/downward movement of the transmission part 155 is guided only by the compression rail part 220 positioned in the motor housing 200.
Therefore, in comparison with the case in which the compression rail part is provided on an outer circumferential surface of dust bin 100, an outer diameter of the dust bin 100 may be increased, and as a result, it is possible to ensure a sufficient interval d1 between the inner circumferential surface of the dust bin 100 and the second cyclone part 130.
For example, because the interval d1 of 14 mm or more may be ensured between the inner circumferential surface of the dust bin 100 and the second cyclone part 130, it is possible to effectively prevent large foreign substances such as pieces of cereal from being caught at an outlet of the pipe connector 110.
In the present embodiment, the operating part 151 may be moved downward when the user manipulates the manipulation part 153 in one direction. In a state in which the operating part 151 is moved downward to a lowered position, the user may return the operating part 151 to the standby position by moving the manipulation part 153 in the other direction.
In the present embodiment, the cleaner may not have a returning means for returning the operating part 151 to the standby position from the lowered position, but the returning means may be provided.
The pipe connector 110 to which the suction part is coupled is coupled to the dust bin 100, and the dust bin 100 provided with the pipe connector 110 is coupled to the motor housing 200 so as to be separable in the upward/downward direction.
In order to separably couple the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200, the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200 may have coupling means.
For example, referring to FIG. 4 , a threaded portion 170 to be coupled to the motor housing 200 may be provided at an upper end of the dust bin 100.
However, a coupling means having another structure may be provided instead of the threaded portion 170.
In order to increase a sealing force between the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200 coupled to be separable in the upward/downward direction, a sealing member 180 may be positioned at a contact portion between the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200, for example, at the upper end of the dust bin 100.
As described above, since the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200 are provided to be separable in the upward/downward direction, it is possible to increase a sealing force between the dust bin 100 and the motor housing 200.
An electric terminal part 250 is positioned on the motor housing 200 and disposed at a position adjacent to the pipe connector 110. When the suction part is coupled to the pipe connector 110, the electric terminal part 250 is coupled to a terminal of the suction part and supplies electricity to the suction part.
It was not easy to wash the dust bin with water when using the cleaner in the related art in which an electric wire and a terminal part, through which electricity flows, are connected to a cleaner main body and the dust bin. In particular, when the cleaner is operated in a state in which the cleaner is washed with water accidentally by a consumer and moisture is not removed, there is a likelihood that an electric short circuit occurs, which causes a safety problem.
In contrast, since the cleaner according to the present disclosure has the electric terminal part 250 installed on the motor housing 200, the dust bin including no electrical component may be separated from the motor housing and then washed with water to meet the needs of the consumer. Further, lengths of electric wires of the motor and/or an inverter may be reduced.
Further, a structure, for example, a strength reinforcing lead or the like for reinforcing strength of the pipe connector 110 connected to the suction part may be provided on a lower portion of the pipe connector 110 of the dust bin 100.
Hereinafter, a cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 16 .
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which a dust bin and a motor housing of the cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled.
Further, FIGS. 9 to 16 are views illustrating a process of separating the dust bin and the motor housing of the cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the description of the cleaner according to the second embodiment, constituent elements identical to the above-mentioned constituent elements of the cleaner according to the first embodiment will be assigned with the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
The cleaner according to the second embodiment differs from the cleaner according to the first embodiment in that the pipe connector is fixedly coupled to the motor housing instead of the dust bin and a structure for fastening/unfastening the dust bin and the pipe connector is provided.
The cleaner according to the present embodiment will be described. A pipe connector 110-1 is fixedly coupled to the motor housing 200 instead of the dust bin 100.
Further, the cleaner further includes a fastening part 400 configured to couple the dust bin 100 to the motor housing 200 in such a way that the dust bin 100 is separable from the motor housing 200.
The fastening part 400 includes a button 410 positioned on a lower portion of the pipe connector 110-1, and a hook 420 positioned in a space between the button 410 and the dust bin 100. In this case, the hook 420 may be referred to as a front hook 420 or a first hook 420 so as to be distinguished from a hook 470 provided between the dust bin 100 and a pulling lever 460 to be described below. In addition, the hook 470 provided between the pulling lever 460 and the dust bin 100 may be referred to as a rear hook 470 or a second hook 470.
The hook 420 may be rotated clockwise as the button 410 is pushed.
The fastening part 400 further includes a first catching projection 430 positioned on an outer surface of the dust bin 100.
The first catching projection 430 is fastened to and/or unfastened from the hook 420 in accordance with whether the hook 420 rotates.
The fastening part 400 further includes a second catching projection 440 positioned on a lower portion of the outer surface of the dust bin which is opposite to the first catching projection 430.
The second catching projection 440 is coupled to a groove 340 of the handle part 300.
The hook 420 has a first inclined surface 421 configured to come into contact with a rib 411 to rotate the hook 420 clockwise, and a second inclined surface 423 extending from the first inclined surface 421 and configured to rotate the hook 420 counterclockwise.
In FIG. 7 , non-described reference numeral 510 indicates a HEPA filter, non-described reference numeral 520 indicates a prefilter, and non-described reference numeral 530 indicates a dust cap.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter part may further include the HEPA filter 510 and the prefilter 520.
The HEPA filter 510 and the prefilter 520 may be provided at an upper side of the motor housing 200. Therefore, the air passing through the cyclone parts 120 and 130 may be filtered again before the air is discharged to the outside of the cleaner 1 via the motor 230.
Specifically, the HEPA filter 510 is coupled to an upper portion of the motor housing 200 and may filter out the dust before the air passing through the motor 230 is discharged to the outside.
In addition, the prefilter 520 is disposed to surround at least a part of the motor 230 and may filter out the dust before the air passing through the cyclone parts 120 and 130 is introduced into the motor 230. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 , the prefilter 520 may be provided to surround a circumferential surface of the motor 230.
For example, the prefilter 520 may be formed in a cylindrical shape corresponding to a shape of the motor. The HEPA filter 510 may be formed in a circular plate (disk) shape having a predetermined height so that the HEPA filter 510 is fitted with and coupled to the upper portion of the motor housing 200.
Therefore, the air passing through the cyclone part 120 may sequentially flow through the prefilter 520, the motor 230, and the HEPA filter 510 and then be discharged to the outside.
In addition, according to the fastening part 400 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 , the dust bin 100 is coupled to the motor housing 200 in a state in which the hook 420 and the first catching projection 430 are kept fastened to each other and the second catching projection 440 is coupled to the groove 340 of the handle part 300 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ).
In this state, when the button 410 is pushed in a direction opposite to the dust bin 100 in order to separate the dust bin 100 from the motor housing 200, the rib 411 presses the first inclined surface 421 of the hook 420 downward, such that the hook 420 is rotated clockwise and the hook 420 and the first catching projection 430 are unfastened (see FIG. 10 ).
Further, the clockwise rotation of the hook 420 is performed until the rib 411 reaches a boundary point between the first inclined surface 421 and the second inclined surface 423 (see FIG. 11 ). The hook 420 begins to rotate counterclockwise at a point in time at which the rib 411 passes the boundary point between the first inclined surface 421 and the second inclined surface 423 and comes into contact with the second inclined surface 423 (see FIG. 12 ).
When a front portion of the dust bin 100 (a portion directed toward the pipe connector) is pushed downward in the state in which the hook 420 and the first catching projection 430 are unfastened as described above, the dust bin 100 is slightly rotated about the second catching projection 440 (see FIG. 13 ).
Thereafter, the dust bin 100 is slightly pushed forward, such that the second catching projection 440 is separated from the groove 340 of the handle part 300 (see FIG. 14 ). A rear portion of the dust bin 100 is pushed downward again, such that the dust bin 100 is separated from the motor housing 200.
After the dust bin 100 is separated from the motor housing 200 by the above-mentioned process, the dust bin 100 is cleaned. The cleaned dust bin 100 is coupled to the motor housing 200 again in the reverse order of the above-mentioned process.
Meanwhile, the terminal part 250 is positioned on the motor housing 200 and disposed to be adjacent to the pipe connector 110-1. The terminal part 250 supplies electricity to the suction part when the suction part is coupled to the pipe connector 110-1.
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 28 .
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a dust bin and a motor housing of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure are coupled. In addition, FIGS. 19 and 20 are views illustrating a state in which a pulling lever of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is operated, and FIGS. 21 and 22 are views illustrating a state in which the dust bin is decoupled as the pulling lever of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is operated.
Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18 , the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may further include the pulling lever 460.
The pulling lever 460 may be provided at a side of the handle part 300 adjacent to the dust bin 100. In addition, the position of the pulling lever 460 may be provided above the battery housing 320 to allow the user to conveniently grasp the pulling lever 460. That is, the pulling lever 460 may be provided in a vacant space in which the handle body 310 and the battery housing 320 are not disposed so that the user may easily grasp the pulling lever 460. Therefore, the user may grasp the handle body 310 with one hand and manipulates the pulling lever 460 with the other hand.
Referring to FIGS. 17 to 20 , the pulling lever 460 includes a grip portion 461 configured to be grasped by the user to perform a pulling operation, a shaft 462, and a separation arm 463 configured to push the hook by being rotated about the shaft 462.
The grip portion 461 is exposed to the outside of the cleaner, such that the user may intuitively recognize the grip portion 461 and easily manipulate the grip portion 461.
The grip portion 461 may be recessed by a predetermined depth to improve the convenience of the user grasping the grip portion 461. As another example, the grip portion 461 may be provided in the form of a protruding rod, or the grip portion 461 may have various shapes modified to allow the user to conveniently grasp the grip portion 461.
In addition, the grip portion 461 may be provided to be directed toward the left side when the pipe connector 110 or the electric terminal part 250 is viewed from the handle body 310. This is because many users are typically right-handed and thus the user may conveniently manipulate the grip portion 461 with his/her left hand while grasping the handle body 310 with his/her right hand. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto, and the grip portion 461 may be provided to be directed toward the right side, for the same reason, such that the left-handed user may conveniently use the grip portion 461 or the grip portion 461 may be conveniently designed.
When the user pulls the pulling lever 460, the separation arm 463 is rotated and pushes the second hook 470. Specifically, when the user rotates the grip portion counterclockwise, the separation arm 463 may be rotated clockwise about the shaft 462. Therefore, the separation arm 463 pushes an extension portion 471 of the rear hook 470 toward the pipe connector 110 (see FIG. 22 ).
Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22 , the rear hook 470 includes the extension portion 471 configured to come into contact with the pulling lever 460, a catching portion 472 configured to catch a third catching projection 450 to fix a position of the dust bin 100, and an elastic part 473 having an elastic body.
The extension portion 471 and the catching portion 472 are connected to each other. A portion of the extension portion 471 and a portion of the catching portion 472, which are connected to each other, may have shapes corresponding to an end of the third catching projection 450 and thus stably fix the position of the third catching projection 450.
The extension portion 471 rotates the catching portion 472 connected to one end of the extension portion 471 while rotating counterclockwise about the elastic part 473 (see FIG. 22 ). Therefore, the end of the third catching projection 450 fixed in position by being caught by the catching portion 472 departs from the portion of the extension portion 471 and the portion of the catching portion 472 which are connected to each other. In addition, the third catching projection 450 is decoupled, and the dust bin 100 may be naturally released downward in a gravitational direction from the fixed position.
A torsion spring may be selected as the elastic body provided in the elastic part 473. Therefore, in a state in which the extension portion 471 is rotated by an external force, the extension portion 471 receives an elastic restoring force that restores the extension portion 471 to an original state. Therefore, when the user ends the manipulation of the pulling lever 460, the rear hook 470 is restored to the original state.
FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a state in which the uncoupled dust bin is coupled to the motor housing of the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 24 to 26 are enlarged views illustrating a process in which the dust bin is fastened to the rear hook in the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 27 to 29 are enlarged views illustrating a process in which the dust bin is fastened to the front hook in the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 23 , the dust bin 100 may be coupled to the dust housing 200. In the third embodiment of the present disclosure, in a state in which a separate manipulation is not performed on the handle part 300, the dust bin 100 may be coupled by being pushed in a vertical direction based on the gravitational direction. Hereinafter, the process of fastening the dust bin 100 to the front and rear hooks 420 and 470 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 24 to 29 .
Referring to FIGS. 24 to 26 , the dust bin 100 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is fastened to the rear hook 470 at the side of the handle body 310. Specifically, the third catching projection 450 of the dust bin 100 may be fastened to the rear hook 470.
When the user moves the dust bin 100 in the vertical direction, the third catching projection 450 and the catching portion 472 of the rear hook 470 may come into contact with each other (see FIG. 24 ). A third inclined surface 452 (see FIG. 25 ) of the third catching projection 450 may be inclined downward in the radial direction of the dust bin 100. In addition, in a normal state in which the rear hook 470 is not rotated, the catching portion 472 may be inclined downward from the dust bin 100 toward the handle body 310.
An inclination angle of the third inclined surface 452 is gentler in the horizontal direction than an inclination angle of the catching portion 472. Therefore, when the user moves the dust bin 100 upward in the state in which the third inclined surface 452 and the catching portion 472 are in contact with each other, the catching portion 472 may be pushed toward the handle body 310, and the rear hook 470 may be rotated counterclockwise.
The counterclockwise rotation of the rear hook 470 may be performed until an end of the catching portion 472 departs from a boundary of the third inclined surface 452 (see FIG. 25 ). When the end of the catching portion 472 departs from the boundary of the third inclined surface 452, no obstacle for restricting the upward movement of the dust bin 100 is present above the third catching projection 450. Therefore, the dust bin 100 may be moved upward by the user's effort to a height at which the dust bin 100 is fastened to the dust housing 200.
When a protrusion 451 of the third catching projection 450 is moved upward to a height at which the protrusion 451 passes the end of the catching portion 472, the pressing operation of rotating the rear hook 470 counterclockwise is ended. As described above, the elastic part 473 of the rear hook 470 may include the torsion spring, and the rear hook 470 may be restored to the original state by a rotational restoring force of the torsion spring. That is, the rear hook 470 may rotate clockwise.
A groove recessed by a predetermined depth may be defined by an angle difference at a connection point between the catching portion 472 and the extension portion 471. The protrusion 451 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the groove. Therefore, in the state in which the rear hook 470 is restored to the original state, the protrusion 451 may be fastened to the groove, that is, the connection point between the catching portion 472 and the extension portion 471 (see FIG. 26 ).
Referring to FIGS. 27 to 29 , the front hook 420 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may be moved by being pushed by the first catching projection 430. Specifically, the front hook 420 may be moved by being pushed by the first catching projection 430 from the dust bin 100 toward the pipe connector 110.
Referring to FIG. 27 , in the third embodiment of the present disclosure, the first catching projection 430 may be inclined downward and protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the dust bin 100.
Specifically, an upper inclined surface 431 of the first catching projection 430 may be inclined downward toward the pipe connector 110 from the dust bin 100. The upper inclined surface 431 may come into contact with the end of the front hook 420. Therefore, when the dust bin 100 is moved upward, the front hook 420 may be moved by being pushed along the upper inclined surface 431 toward the pipe connector 110 (see FIG. 28 ).
The fastening part 400 may further include a link 425 which is a passageway along which the front hook 420 may be moved by being pushed, and an elastic body 424 provided in a space between the link 425 and the front hook 420 (see FIG. 29 ).
The link 425 may have the space in which one end of the front hook 420 is fastened. Therefore, the link 425 may guide a route along which the front hook 420 moves.
The elastic body 424 may be provided between one end of the front hook 420 and a front boundary of the link. In the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a compression spring (or a coil spring) may be selected as the elastic body 424.
When the user moves the dust bin 100 upward in the gravitational direction, the front hook 420 and the first catching projection 430 may come into contact with each other (see FIG. 27 ).
When the user continuously moves the dust bin 100 upward in the state in which the front hook 420 and the first catching projection 430 are in contact with each other, the front hook 420 may be moved by being pushed forward along the inclination of the upper inclined surface 431 (see FIG. 28 ). The front hook 420 may move in the horizontal direction along the route of the link 425. In this case, the elastic body 424 provided in the link 425 may be compressed by the front hook 420. Therefore, the elastic body 424 may generate a restoring force that pushes the front hook 420 toward the handle body 310.
The front hook 420 may be pushed to a point at which one end of the front hook 420 departs from a boundary of the upper inclined surface 431. When the end of the front hook 420 departs from the boundary of the upper inclined surface 431, no obstacle for restricting the upward movement of the dust bin 100 is present above the first catching projection 430. Therefore, the dust bin 100 may be moved upward by the user's effort to a height at which the dust bin 100 is fastened to the dust housing 200.
When the dust bin 100 is moved upward and the force for pushing the front hook 420 toward the pipe connector 110 is eliminated, the front hook 420 may be moved toward the handle body 310 again by the restoring force of the elastic body 424. In this case, a protrusion 432 of the first catching projection 43 may be caught by and fastened to a groove formed in the front hook 420 (see FIG. 29 ).
According to the cleaner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, the user may couple the separated dust bin 100 to the motor housing 200 by moving the dust bin 100 upward in the gravitational direction without performing a separate manipulation. As a result, the user may more intuitively and conveniently couple the dust bin. While the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will understand that the present disclosure may be carried out in any other specific form without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present disclosure.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A cleaner comprising:

a suction part configured to introduce air to the cleaner;

a motor configured to generate a suction force for introducing the air through the suction part;

a motor housing that accommodates the motor;

a handle coupled to the motor housing;

a cyclone part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part;

a dust bin that accommodates the cyclone part and is separably coupled to a lower portion of the motor housing, the dust bin being configured to store the dust; and

a compression part configured to compress the dust stored in the dust bin,

wherein the compression part comprises:

an operating part disposed in the motor housing and configured to move along an up-down direction in a space defined between an outer portion of the cyclone part and an inner circumferential surface of the dust bin,

a manipulation part disposed outside the motor housing and configured to be manipulated to cause the operating part to move in the up-down direction, and

a transmission part that is disposed in the motor housing and connects the operating part to the manipulation part.

25. The cleaner of claim 24, further comprising:

a pipe connector disposed between the suction part and the motor housing.

26. The cleaner of claim 25, wherein the pipe connector is fixed to the motor housing.

27. The cleaner of claim 24, wherein the compression part further comprises a compression rail disposed in the motor housing and configured to guide movement of the transmission part in the up-down direction.

28. The cleaner of claim 24, wherein each of the motor housing and the dust bin has a cylindrical shape,

wherein a width of the handle in a left-right direction is less than a diameter of each of the motor housing and the dust bin, and

wherein the manipulation part is configured to be spaced apart from a floor surface based on the motor housing, the dust bin, and the handle being in contact with the floor surface.

29. A cleaner comprising:

a suction part configured to introduce air to the cleaner;

a motor housing that accommodates the motor;

a handle coupled to the motor housing;

cyclone parts coupled to a lower side of the motor housing and configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part;

a dust bin that accommodates the cyclone parts and is separably coupled to a lower portion of the motor housing, the dust bin being configured to store the dust;

a main filter coupled to the lower side of the motor housing and disposed in the dust bin, the main filter being configured to filter air having separated the dust through the cyclone parts; and

a compression part configured to compress the dust stored in the dust bin,

wherein the main filter is configured to be exposed to an outside of the cleaner based on the dust bin being separated from the motor housing.

30. The cleaner of claim 29, further comprising:

a prefilter disposed in the motor housing and configured to filter air entering the motor.

31. The cleaner of claim 29, wherein the cyclone parts comprise:

a first cyclone part that is in fluid communication with the suction part; and

a second cyclone part configured to separate the dust from air discharged from the first cyclone part, and

wherein the main filter surrounds the second cyclone part.

32. The cleaner of claim 31, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the dust bin and an outer circumferential surface of the second cyclone part are spaced apart from each other by an interval of 14 mm or more.

33. The cleaner of claim 25, comprising:

a fastening part configured to couple the dust bin to the motor housing and to decouple the dust bin from the motor housing.

34. The cleaner of claim 33, wherein the handle defines a groove configured to be coupled to the fastening part, and

wherein the fastening part comprises:

a button disposed below the pipe connector;

a hook disposed between the button and the dust bin and configured to rotate based on the button being pushed;

a first catching projection disposed at an outer surface of the dust bin and configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the hook based on rotation of the hook; and

a second catching projection disposed at a lower portion of the outer surface of the dust bin and disposed at a position opposite to the first catching projection, the second catching projection being configured to couple to the groove of the handle.

35. The cleaner of claim 34, wherein the fastening part further comprises a rib configured to contact the hook based on rotation of the hook, and

wherein the hook comprises:

a first inclined surface configured to, based on the button moving away from the rib, contact the rib to thereby rotate the hook in a clockwise direction; and

a second inclined surface that extends from the first inclined surface and is configured to move toward the rib based on the hook rotating in a counterclockwise direction.

36. The cleaner of claim 33, wherein the fastening part comprises:

a pulling lever disposed at a side of the handle adjacent to the dust bin;

a rear hook disposed in a space between the pulling lever and the dust bin and configured to be rotated by the pulling lever based on the pulling lever being pulled by a user; and

a catching projection disposed at an outer surface of the dust bin adjacent to the pulling lever and configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the rear hook based on rotation of the rear hook.

37. The cleaner of claim 36, wherein the rear hook comprises:

an extension portion configured to rotate based on contacting the pulling lever; and

a catching portion connected to the extension portion and inclined with respect to the extension portion, and

wherein an end of the catching projection is configured to be caught and coupled to a connection point between the extension portion and the catching portion.

38. The cleaner of claim 37, wherein the extension portion is configured to rotate in a first direction based on contacting the pulling lever, and

wherein the rear hook further comprises an elastic body configured to rotate the extension portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

39. The cleaner of claim 36, wherein the fastening part further comprises:

a front hook that faces the rear hook, the dust bin being disposed between the front hook and the rear hook; and

a first catching projection disposed at the outer surface of the dust bin and configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the front hook, and

wherein the front hook is configured to move forward based on the first catching projection moving upward.

40. The cleaner of claim 39, wherein the fastening part further comprises:

a link configured to define a movement route of the front hook; and

an elastic body disposed in a space between the link and the front hook.

41. The cleaner of claim 25, further comprising a terminal disposed at the motor housing and disposed adjacent to the pipe connector, the terminal being configured to supply electricity to the suction part based on the suction part being coupled to the pipe connector.

42. The cleaner of claim 24, further comprising a sealing member disposed at an upper end of the dust bin and a lower end of the motor housing, the sealing member being configured to seal a gap between the dust bin and the motor housing.

43. The cleaner of claim 25, wherein the pipe connector is fixed to the dust bin and configured to be separated from the motor housing based on the dust bin being separated from the motor housing.

44. The cleaner of claim 43, further comprising a terminal disposed at the motor housing and disposed adjacent to the pipe connector, the terminal being configured to supply electricity to the suction part based on the suction part being coupled to the pipe connector.

45. The cleaner of claim 43, wherein at least a portion of the dust bin supports the pipe connector.

46. The cleaner of claim 43, further comprising a sealing member disposed at an upper end of the dust bin or a lower end of the motor housing, the sealing member being configured to seal a gap between the dust bin and the motor housing.