Cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11458492-B2
Application number	US-201816476146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2018
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus according to the present invention includes a first cleaner for spraying a first detergent through a first nozzle, a second cleaner for discharging a second detergent to an outside of a second nozzle, and a vibration unit for vibrating the second cleaner when the second cleaner discharges the second detergent.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:
a first cleaner for spraying a first detergent through a first nozzle;
a second cleaner for discharging a second detergent to an outside of a second nozzle; and
a vibrator for vibrating the second cleaner when the second cleaner discharges the second detergent,
wherein the second cleaner includes:
a second cleaner container for storing the second detergent therein; and
a power terminal for allowing current to flow to the vibrator,

wherein the second nozzle is configured to spray the second detergent stored in the second cleaner container when current flows to the power terminal,
wherein a front surface of the second nozzle includes a discharge hole, through which the second detergent is discharged, and a plurality of protrusions around the discharge hole, and
wherein the second nozzle is configured to move in the second cleaner container between a first position, at which a conductive surface of the second nozzle does not contact the power terminal such that current does not flow to the power terminal, and a second position, at which the conductive surface of the second nozzle contacts the power terminal such that current flows to the power terminal.

2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a case surrounding the first cleaner, the second cleaner and the vibrator; and
a first container, which is detachably mounted on an outer surface of the case so as to supply the first detergent to the first nozzle.

3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second nozzle is disposed in front of the first nozzle.

4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first cleaner includes a pump for supplying the first detergent stored in the first container to the first nozzle, and
wherein the cleaning apparatus further comprises a battery for supplying power to the pump and the vibrator.

5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the first container includes a surface that contacts the case,
the surface of the first container includes a detergent inlet, into which the first detergent is introduced, and a detergent outlet, from which the first detergent is discharged, and
the first container includes an air hole, which extends to a lateral side surface of the case from a portion thereof at which the detergent inlet is formed.

6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second cleaner further includes a spring, which is disposed in the second cleaner container so as to apply elastic force to the second nozzle, the second nozzle being maintained at the first position by the spring when no other force is applied to the second cleaner.

7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second nozzle is positioned further forward in the first position than in the second position.

8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power terminal includes a pair of terminals that contact the conductive surface of the second nozzle such that current flows between the pair of contacts when the second nozzle is in the second position, and wherein at least one of the pair of terminals does not contact the conductive surface of the second nozzle such that current does not flow between the pair of contacts when the second nozzle is in the first position.

9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive surface is provided on a circumferential surface of the second nozzle, and the discharge hole and the plurality of protrusions are provided on an axial end surface of the second nozzle.

10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrator includes a vibration motor.

11. A cleaning apparatus comprising:
a battery to store electrical power; and
a cleaner to discharge a liquid;
wherein the cleaner includes:
a container to store the liquid therein;
a nozzle having a front surface that includes a discharge hole through which the liquid received from the container is discharged, and a plurality of protrusions provided around the discharge hole,
a vibrator to vibrate the cleaner, and
power terminal to selectively supply current from the battery to the vibrator,

wherein current flows through the power terminal to the vibrator when the liquid is discharged through the nozzle, and
wherein the nozzle is configured to move between a first position, at which a conductive surface of the nozzle does not contact the power terminal such that current does not flow to the power terminal, and a second position, at which the conductive surface of the nozzle contacts the power terminal such that current flows to the power terminal.

12. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a case to receive at least a portion of the cleaner.

13. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the cleaner further includes a spring that applies elastic force to the nozzle, the nozzle being maintained at the first position by the elastic force of the spring when another force is not applied to the cleaner.

14. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the nozzle is positioned further forward in the first position than in the second position, and the nozzle moves toward the second position when another force is applied.

15. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein power terminal includes a pair of terminals that contact the conductive surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the second position such that current flows between the pair of terminals via the conductive surface, and wherein at least one of the pair of terminals does not contact the conductive surface of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the first position.

16. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , to claim 11 , wherein the conductive surface is provided on a circumferential surface of the nozzle, and the discharge hole and the plurality of protrusions are provided on an axial end surface of the nozzle.

17. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the vibrator includes a vibration motor.

18. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured to be received in a mount of a clothes treatment apparatus, and the battery is configured to be charged when the cleaning apparatus is received in the mount of the mount of the clothes treatment apparatus.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Sungho
• Ye Sungmin

Classifications

• D06F43/002 Primary

  Spotting apparatus · CPC title

• B65D25/38

  Devices for discharging contents ({containers formed by folding or erecting paper blanks B65D5/72} ; incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured closure members B65D47/00; for discharging thin flat articles B65D83/08) · CPC title

• B05B13/0221

  characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts (B05B13/0207 takes precedence; conveyors in general B65G) · CPC title

• B65D25/20

  External fittings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44) · CPC title

• D06F3/04

  Hand rubbers, e.g. gloves with corrugated surfaces · CPC title