Air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an air discharge structure of a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to an air discharge structure of a vacuum cleaner which automatically opens and closes a discharge grill in the cleaner body in accordance with whether the vacuum cleaner is being used or not, thereby preventing external dust from entering into the vacuum cleaner when it is not in use.

2. Description of the Background Art

A general conventional air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the discharge structure comprises an exhaust grill 4 having a plurality of fine holes or slits at an exhaust opening (not shown) formed in a motor chamber (not shown) of a cleaner body 1 in fluid communication with the outside environment, and an exhaust filter (not shown), removably attached to the exhaust opening inside the exhaust grill 4, to filter out fine dust from the exhaust air flowing out of the exhaust grill 4. Additionally, a suction port 2 is provided for drawing air into the cleaner body.

During operation of a vacuum cleaner employing the exhaust device as described above, as the cleaning operation begins, air and entrained dust is drawn into the vacuum cleaner from a surface being cleaned through a suction brush (not shown), which is in fluid communication with the suction port 2. The air and dust drawn into the cleaner body 1 are directed toward a dust collecting chamber (not shown) of the cleaner body 1, where the dust is separated from the air and is collected in a paper bag or other filter. The cleaned air flows through the exhaust filter and the exhaust grill 4 and is discharged to the environment outside the cleaner body 1. Additionally, fine dust, which has not been separated by the paper bag filter, is filtered out of the air before discharge in a secondary filtering operation.

However, because the exhaust grill 4 of the conventional air discharge structure is normally exposed to the outside of the cleaner body 1, external dust or contaminants can easily enter into the cleaner through the holes or slot of the exhaust grill 4, especially when the cleaner is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional arrangement. An aspect of the present invention is to provide an air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner that is capable of selectively opening communication to an exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is in use and closing the exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is not in use, thereby preventing external dust or foreign substances from entering into the cleaner body through the exhaust grill.

The above aspects and/or other features of the present invention can be substantially achieved by providing an air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner comprising an exhaust grill cover that is openable and closable by the built up pressure of exhaust air flowing out from a vacuum-generating motor of a cleaner body. Because the exhaust grill cover is hingedly connected to the cleaner body, with a resilient member disposed between the exhaust grill cover and the vacuum cleaner body, the exhaust grill cover can be automatically returned to the closed condition when the vacuum cleaner stops operation.

The air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner comprises an exhaust grill through which exhaust air is discharged from a vacuum motor chamber mounted in a vacuum cleaner body, an exhaust grill cover disposed in a position corresponding to the exhaust grill, so as to close the exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is not in operation, the exhaust grill being able to open to provide for air flow using back pressure of the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is in operation, and a resilient member disposed in a seating hole which is located in proximity of the exhaust grill, the resilient member being arranged and configured to return the exhaust grill cover to the closed position when the vacuum cleaner stops operation.

The exhaust grill cover is openable and closable about a hinge connection to the vacuum cleaner body.

The exhaust grill cover comprises open spaces which are defined by a plurality of ribs on the surface facing the exhaust grill, and in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact area of the exhaust air flowing from the exhaust grill and the exhaust grill cover is increased to as large as possible area.

The exhaust grill cover comprises an air blocking plate for directing exhaust air discharged from the exhaust grill toward both sides of the exhaust grill cover.

The resilient member comprises a plate spring which is bent at a predetermined position to permit insertion into the corresponding seating hole.

The resilient member comprises a resilient lever for contacting the exhaust grill cover and a separation preventing protrusion for preventing the resilient member from withdrawing from the vacuum cleaner body.

The separation preventing protrusion comprises first and second separation preventing protrusions, each of the first and the second separation preventing protrusions being integrally formed with the resilient member body, and having a portion protruding outwardly therefrom. The first and the second separation preventing protrusions extend in opposite directions to prevent separation of resilient member from the vacuum cleaner body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above aspects and features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a conventional air discharge structure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner, in which an exhaust grill cover is opened by exhaust pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exhaust grill and an exhaust grill cover for a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views, shown in partial cross-section, respectively illustrating an exhaust grill cover of an air discharge structure being closed and open according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail view illustrating the operational principle of the exhaust grill cover shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Alternative embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, identical drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements in the embodiments shown by different drawing figures. The parameters defined in the following description, such as the detailed construction, elements and operation are only provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited by the defined parameters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail, since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, an air discharge structure for a vacuum cleaner according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an exhaust grill 103 which is in fluid communication with a vacuum motor chamber (not shown) disposed inside a cleaner body 101. An exhaust grill cover 110 is formed to have a corresponding shape with the exhaust grill 103 and so to be openable and closable in accordance with whether exhaust air is flowing through the exhaust grill 103. A resilient member 120 returns the exhaust grill cover 110 to a closed position from an open position when the pressure from the exhaust air is no longer present.

The exhaust grill 103 has a plurality of fine holes, and accordingly, air and entrained dust flowing through the suction port 102 of the cleaner body 101 pass through the dust chamber, where the dust is filtered and the clean air is discharged to the outside environment through the exhaust grill 103. An exhaust filter (not shown) is disposed between the exhaust grill 103 and the vacuum motor chamber. The exhaust filter is supported on the exhaust grill 103, and as particles of fine dust are filtered by the exhaust filter, the cleaned air can be discharged to the outside environment.

The exhaust grill cover 110 is formed to have a corresponding shape so as to cover the exhaust grill 103, and it is preferably connected by a hinge to the upper side of the vacuum cleaner body 101, as shown in FIG. 3. The exhaust grill cover 110 comprises at least one hinge hole 111 formed in a position corresponding to at least one hinge protrusion 104 in the proximity of the exhaust grill 103. The exhaust grill cover 110 is openable and closable by rotational movement about the at least one hinge hole 111 with respect to the exhaust grill 103.

The exhaust grill cover 110 preferably includes a protrusion 112 for contact with a resilient member 120, which will be described below in greater detail, and an air blocking plate 113 that is formed at the front of the grill cover 110 to guide exhaust air current from the exhaust grill 103 to the left and right sides of the vacuum cleaner 100. The air blocking plate 113 acts to guide exhaust air from the vacuum motor chamber to the left and right sides of the operator, while simultaneously preventing the air from blowing toward the front of the cleaner body 101 where the operator usually stands, thereby providing convenience to the user.

In order to increase contact area available for contact by the exhaust air being discharged from the exhaust grill 103, i.e., in order to utilize the force developed by back pressure from the exhaust air, a plurality of open spaces or gaps 115 are defined, each between an adjacent pair of a plurality of ribs 114. As the air is exhausted through the open spaces 115, maximum force from the exhaust air back pressure can be transferred to the exhaust grill cover 110.

The resilient member 120 provides a resilient recovery force that returns the exhaust grill cover 110 to the closed position for closing the exhaust grill 103, and as shown in FIG. 3, is formed as a plate spring, which is formed to produce a predetermined bent portion.

More specifically, the resilient member 120 is bent such that it can have a bottom section area corresponding with that of a seating hole 130 formed adjacent the exhaust grill 103 and is therefore capable of being received in the seating hole 130. In one preferred example, the resilient member 120 may be bent twice to provide a shape substantially like the letter ‘J’.

The resilient member 120 may further comprise a resilient lever 121 extended upwardly from the bottom section so as to be able to contact the exhaust grill cover 110. A plurality of first separation preventing protrusions 122 extend rearwardly to be adjacent the vacuum cleaner body 101, and a second separation preventing protrusion 123 extending toward the front of the vacuum cleaner body 101 in the direction of the suction port 102 (FIG. 2).

The resilient member 121 is in contact with and engages the protrusion 112 disposed on the inner side of the exhaust grill cover 110, with one end corresponding to the protrusion 112, as shown in FIG. 3, and being partially bent toward the protrusion 112 to facilitate contact therewith.

The first separation preventing protrusions 122 are formed on either side of the resilient lever 121, and are provided to prevent the resilient member 120 from withdrawing from the seating hole 130. To this end, the first separation preventing protrusions 122 are integrally formed with the resilient member 121 to press the inner circumference of the seating hole 130 by exerting a predetermined pressure against the walls thereof.

The second separation preventing protrusion 123 is disposed on the side of the resilient member 121 opposite the first separation preventing protrusions 122, and extends in an opposite direction to the first separation preventing protrusions 122 so as to offset the resilient pressure of the first separation preventing protrusions 122 on the inner circumference of the seating hole 130.

By the cooperation of the first and second separation preventing protrusions 122 and 123, the resilient member 120 has a tight interference fit within the inner circumference of the walls defining the seating hole 130, and thus preventing the resilient member 120 from moving upwardly out of the seating hole 130.

As a result, the exhaust grill cover 110 constructed as above is caused to remain in a closed position, so as to close the exhaust grill 103, as shown in FIG. 4, when the vacuum cleaner 100 is not in use. The exhaust grill cover 110 opens the exhaust grill 103 by rotating the exhaust grill cover 110 in an upward direction about the hinge protrusion 104 and the hinge hole 111 as a result of the upwardly directed force caused by the back pressure of the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust grill 103 when the vacuum cleaner 100 is in use, as shown in FIG. 5.

When the exhaust grill cover 110 is opened by the back pressure of the exhaust air, as shown in FIG. 6, the resilient member 120 presses the resilient lever 121 to deform in the direction indicated by arrow F. The resilient lever 121 exerts recovery force to the hinged exhaust grill cover 110 so as to bias it toward the initial position (FIG. 4), in the direction indicated by arrow A of FIG. 6 with respect to the protrusion 112. Accordingly, the exhaust grill cover 110 is subjected to a recovery force causing it to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B. Because the back pressure of the exhaust air discharged through the exhaust grill 103 is larger than the recovery force from the resilient pressure of the resilient member 120, the exhaust grill cover 110 is retained in the open state.

When the vacuum cleaner 100 stops operation, discharge of air exhaust also ceases. Accordingly, by the resilient recovery force of the resilient member 130, the exhaust grill cover 110 is caused to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B of FIG. 6, and to return to the initial position, which closes the exhaust grill 103. Because the flow rate of the exhaust air decreases gradually, rather than being cut off abruptly, the exhaust grill cover 110 has a gradual changing moment force and therefore, the exhaust grill cover 110 is rotated to the closed position smoothly without snapping shut.

As a result, the exhaust grill 103 is not exposed to the outside environment when not in operation, and entrance of external dust through the exhaust grill 103 into body 101 is prevented when the vacuum cleaner 100 is not in use.

As described above in a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the exhaust grill cover is automatically opened from the closed position by the force of the back pressure of the exhaust air discharged through the exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is in use. When the vacuum cleaner stops operation, or when it is not in use, the exhaust grill cover, disposed between the exhaust grill cover and the cleaner body, is pressed by the resilient member to the initial position, and thereby closes the exhaust grill. Accordingly, because the exhaust grill is not exposed to the external environment, external dust is prevented from entering through the exhaust grill when the vacuum cleaner is not in use.

The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatus. Also, the description of the embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the following claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon achieving a full understanding of the present invention.