Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10105022-B2
Application number	US-201414476065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2014
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner that includes a first cleaner module and a second cleaner module that is removably coupled to the first cleaner module. The first cleaner module includes a first body and a first dust collection unit, and the second cleaner module includes a second body and a second dust collection unit. Thus, when done in an upright mode, cleaning can be done with a sufficiently great suction force. When done in a handy mode after the second cleaner module is separated, cleaning can be easily done using the second cleaner module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a first cleaner module to clean a floor in an upright mode, the first cleaner module including
a first body that generates a suction force to suction air,
a first dust collection unit to filter foreign materials from the air suctioned by the first body, and
an extension frame disposed on a rear side of the first cleaner module and connected to the first body, the extension frame having a first coupler located at an upper portion of the extension frame and a recess located at a lower portion of the extension frame; and

a second cleaner module that is removably coupled to a rear side of the extension frame of the first cleaner module and is separable from the first cleaner module to perform cleaning in a handy mode, the second cleaner module including
a second body that generates a suction force to suction air when used in the handy mode, the second body having a second coupler coupled to the first coupler,
an extension pipe extending from the second body and having an inlet portion received in the recess, and
a second dust collection unit to filter foreign materials from the air suctioned by the second body; and

a locking device, disposed on the rear side of the extension frame, to releasably, by a lever that is rotatably installed on the extension frame, lock to a part of the second cleaner module disposed on the rear side of the extension frame to thereby keep the second cleaner module coupled to the first cleaner module.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the suction force that the first body generates is greater than the suction force generated by the second body.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second cleaner module includes a handle used for both cleaning in the upright mode and cleaning in the handy mode.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleaner module further includes a head unit that is disposed at a front side of the first body and suctions the air from the floor.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupler is a protruding male coupler, and the second coupler is a female coupler.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first cleaner module includes the male coupler for the extension frame; and
the second cleaner module includes the female coupler.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein the extension frame includes a cover that is provided at an upper end thereof and covers a part of a second body adjacent to the female coupler.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 , wherein:
the cover includes a guide rail that is formed on an inner surface thereof and guides entry of the second body; and
the second body includes a guide groove that is provided at a portion adjacent to the female coupler and guides the guide rail.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first coupler and the second coupler includes therein a plug module, and the other includes therein a socket module to which the plug module is connected when the first coupler is coupled to the second coupler.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein:
the first cleaner module and the second cleaner module are electrically connected to each other through the plug module and the socket module.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein the second cleaner module further includes a switch that causes power to be selectively applied to the socket module when the male coupler is coupled to the female coupler.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the locking device further includes an elastic member.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the locking device further includes:
a locking member that is rotatably installed on the extension frame; and
an elastic member that elastically supports the locking member and causes the locking member to protrude from the extension frame to thereby lock to the part of the second cleaner module disposed on the rear side of the extension frame, when the locking member is rotated in a first direction, and
wherein the lever enables a user to rotate the locking member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 , wherein:
the lever includes a lever section to receive a force from the user, and a first cam section that interacts with the locking member; and
the locking member includes a locking section that locks into a locking recess of the second cleaner module, and a second cam section that interacts with the first cam section by the rotation of the lever.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the locking device further includes:
a locking member disposed on the rear side of the extension frame and movable between a protruded position, in which the locking member is protruded from the extension frame to lock to the second cleaner module, and a retracted position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the second cleaner module, and
an elastic member that elastically biases the locking member to the protruded portion, and
wherein the lever is operable to move the locking member from the protruded position to the retracted position.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a first cleaner module to clean a floor in an upright mode, the first cleaner module including
a first body that generates a suction force to suction air,
a first dust collection unit to filter foreign materials from the air suctioned by the first body,
an extension frame disposed on a rear side of the first cleaner module and connected to the first body, and
a head unit that is disposed at a front side of the first body and suctions the air from the floor;

a second cleaner module that is removably coupled to a rear side of the extension frame of the first cleaner module and is separable from the first cleaner module to perform cleaning in a handy mode, the second cleaner module including
a second body that generates a suction force to suction air when used in the handy mode, and
a second dust collection unit to filter foreign materials from the air suctioned by the second body; and

a locking device, disposed on the rear side of the extension frame, that releasably locks to a part of the second cleaner module disposed on the rear side of the extension frame to thereby keep the second cleaner module coupled to the first cleaner module, the locking device including
a locking member that is rotatably installed on the extension frame,
an elastic member that elastically supports the locking member and causes the locking member to protrude from the extension frame to thereby lock to the part of the second cleaner module disposed on the rear side of the extension frame, when the locking member is rotated in a first direction, and
a lever that is rotatably installed on the extension frame and enables a user to rotate the locking member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 , wherein:
the lever includes a lever section to receive a force from the user, and a first cam section that interacts with the locking member; and
the locking member includes a locking section that locks into a locking recess of the second cleaner module, and a second cam section that interacts with the first cam section by the rotation of the lever.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Tae Woon
• Kim Tae Gwang
• Cho Jeong Hee
• Kim Tak Soo
• Yoo Dong Hun
• Lee Byung Jo
• Jung Yun Won

Classifications

• A47L5/225 Primary

  Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners · CPC title