Vacuum cleaner with power cord support

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner for improving user convenience. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body connected with a suction brush, and a power cord holding device rotatably disposed on the cleaner body. The power cord holding device rotates between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner and a second position to allow a user to wind a power cord after use of the vacuum cleaner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-37700, filed May 4, 2005, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application discloses subject matter that may be related to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/258,180, filed Oct. 26, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-29814 entitled Power Cord Arranging Device For A Vacuum Cleaner (116511-00174), and the subject matter of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner employing a power cord holding device which facilitates the arrangement of a power cord looped around a cleaner body of an upright vacuum cleaner after use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vacuum cleaners are largely either a canister type vacuum cleaner or an upright type vacuum cleaner. Conventional canister vacuum cleaners have a cord reel assembly to retract a power cord into a cleaner body after use. Conventional upright vacuum cleaners have a power cord longer than that of the canister vacuum cleaner, so they typically use a winding device disposed on the outside of the cleaner body to store the power cord by winding it around the winding device.

However, in order to wind the power cord around the winding device of the vacuum cleaner, a user has to bend forward at the waist or drop down on a knee, thereby inconveniencing the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the above problem in the related art. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure which allows a user to wind a power cord in a more convenient position.

The above aspect is achieved by providing a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body connected with a suction brush, a power cord holding device rotatably disposed on the cleaner body, and a fixing device to fix the power cord holding device to the cleaner body. The power cord holding device turns between a first position to stow or use the vacuum cleaner, and a second position to allow a user to wind and store the power cord after use of the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding device is disposed on a side surface of the cleaner body and pivots on a pivoting axis. Preferably, but not necessarily, the power cord holding device includes a power cord winding plate around which the power cord is wound, a first power cord support pin assembly disposed adjacent to the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate, and a second power cord support pin assembly disposed on the other end of the power cord winding plate opposite to the first power cord support pin assembly.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pin assembly includes a first support pin seating portion formed in the power cord winding plate; a fixing boss protruding from a center of the first supporting pin seating portion; a first power cord support pin having a first penetrating hole defined in a center corresponding to the fixing boss, the first power cord support pin being rotatably mounted in the first support pin seating portion; a screw driven in the fixing boss with a washer; and a first elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first power cord support pin through which the fixing boss penetrates, and the other end supported by the washer.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first power cord support pin assembly further includes at least one fixing recess formed on an outer circumference of the first support pin seating portion, and at least one fixing protrusion formed on the first power cord supporting pin corresponding to the fixing recess of the first power cord supporting pin. When the first power cord support pin is pulled out, the fixing protrusion is released from the fixing recess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate is formed on the opposite side of the first power cord support pin seating portion and inserted in the cleaner body. Preferably, but not necessarily, an locking ring is disposed around an outer circumference of the pivoting axis, and a ring receiving recess is formed in an insertion recess of the cleaner body in which the pivoting axis is received, the locking ring being received in the ring receiving recess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the fixing device includes a first locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the second position, and a second locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the first position. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first locking unit includes a first press button assembly disposed on the power cord winding plate, and a first pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the first press button assembly when the power cord holding device rotates to the second position.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first press button assembly includes a first press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and has a second penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; a first press button seated in the first press button seating portion; a second elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first press button seating portion and the other end supported on the first press button; and at least one first hook and at least one first hook receiving recess which are formed on the first press button and the first press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first pop-up protrusion assembly includes a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleaner body, a pop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in the protrusion seating recess, a third elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other end fitted in the first pop-up protrusion, and a support plate to prevent the first pop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seating recess.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second locking unit includes a second power cord support pin assembly disposed in the power cord winding plate, and a second pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the second power cord support pin assembly when the power cord holding device moves to the first position. Preferably, but not necessarily, the second pop-up protrusion assembly has the same structure as that of the first pop-up protrusion assembly.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the second power cord support pin assembly includes a second press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and having a third penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate; a second power cord support pin integrally formed with the second press button seating portion; a second press button movably seated in the second press button seating portion; a fourth elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the second press button seating portion and the other end supported on the second press button; and at least one second hook and at least one second hook receiving recess which are formed on the second press button and the second press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.

According to the present invention, since the power cord holding device is rotated to a higher position than the conventional vacuum cleaners, a user does not need to bend forward at the waist or drop down at the knees. Accordingly, a user can easily wind the power cord around the power cord holding device to store the cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner employing a power cord holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the power cord holding device in a first position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first power cord support pin assembly of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first power cord support pin assembly of FIG. 2, showing the operation of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a first press button assembly of the vacuum clean of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, showing the power cord holding device in a first position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view in section of the first power cord support pin assembly and the first press button assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, showing the power cord holding device in a second position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a first pop-up protrusion assembly and a second pop-up protrusion assembly of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are elevational views in section of the second power cord support pin assembly of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, showing the assembly in first and second positions, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner, showing the power cord holding device positioned at the second position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaner body 100, a power cord holding device 200 and a fixing device 300, and a power cord 400. A dust-collecting device (not shown) and vacuum suction means (not shown) are disposed in the cleaner body 100. The power cord holding device 200 is rotatably disposed on the cleaner body 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the power cord holding device 200 is located at a side surface of the cleaner body 100.

The power cord holding device 200 comprises a power cord winding plate 210, a first power cord support pin assembly 220, and a second power cord support pin assembly 230. The power cord winding plate 210 is pivotably disposed on the cleaner body 100. Preferably, the pivot axis of the power cord winding plate 210 is coaxially with the first power cord support pin assembly 220.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first power cord support pin assembly 220 comprises a first support pin seating portion 221, a fixing boss 222, a first power cord support pin 223, a screw 224, and a first elastic member 225. The first support pin seating portion 221 is integrally formed with the power cord winding plate 210 and has two fixing recesses 221a formed in an outer circumference thereof. The fixing boss 222 protrudes from the center of the first support pin seating portion 221.

The first power cord support pin 223 is rotatably coupled to the first support pin seating portion 221, and has a first penetrating hole 223a (see FIG. 4) formed in a portion corresponding to the fixing boss 222 such that the fixing boss 222 passes through the first penetrating hole 223a when the first power cord assembly pin 223 is seated in the first support pin seating portion 221. The power cord support pin 223 has fixing protrusions 223b (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the fixing recesses 221a of the first support pin seating portion 221. When the first power cord support pin 223 is in an upright position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing protrusions 223b fit into the fixing recesses 221a.

In order to turn the first power cord support pin 223 in a clockwise direction from the upright position as shown in FIG. 3, the power cord support pin 223 is pulled out to release the fixing protrusions 223b from the fixing recesses 221a. That is, when the first power cord support pin 223 is pulled out, the fixing protrusions 223b (see FIG. 6) separates from the fixing recesses 221a (see FIG. 4), thereby allowing rotation of the first power cord support pin, as shown in FIG. 3.

The screw 224 is driven in the fixing boss 222 together with a washer 224a. The washer 224 prevents the first elastic member 225 from escaping from the boss 222. The first elastic member 225 has one end supported on a bottom 223c of the first power cord support pin 223 through which the fixing boss 222 penetrates, and the other end supported on the washer 224a.

The other side of the power cord winding plate 210 opposite to the first support pin seating portion 221 is provided with a pivoting axis 211 (FIG. 7) on which the power cord winding plate 210 pivots. An locking ring 212 is disposed around the outer circumference of the pivoting axis 211. A ring receiving recess is formed in an insert recess 110 of the cleaner body 100 where the pivoting axis 211 is received, for receiving the escape preventing ring 212 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The fixing device 300 fixes the power cord holding device 200 at a first position (see FIG. 1) after winding the power cord 400 and when the vacuum cleaner is in use, and fixes the power cord holding device 200 at a second position (see FIG. 11) to wind the power cord 400 after use of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 6 shows the power cord winding plate 210 positioned at the first position, and FIG. 7 shows the power cord winding plate 210 positioned at the second position.

The fixing device 300 comprises a first locking unit 310 to fix the power cord holding device 200 at the second position, as shown in FIG. 7, and a second locking unit 340 (see FIG. 1) to fix the power cord holding device 200 at the first position, as shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the first locking unit 310 comprises a first press button assembly 320 and a first pop-up protrusion assembly 330. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first press button assembly 320 is disposed on the power cord winding plate 210 and comprises a first press button seating portion 321, a first press button 322, a second elastic member 323, first hooks 324 and first hook receiving recesses 325. The first press button seating portion 321 protrudes from the power cord winding plate 210 and has a second penetrating hole 321a defined in the center thereof. The second penetrating hole 321a is formed in the power cord winding plate 210.

The first press button 322 is movably disposed in the first press button seating portion 321. The first press button 322 has a first press boss 322a extending from the center thereof in a lengthwise direction. The second elastic member 323 is disposed around the first press boss 322a and has one end supported on a bottom 321b (FIG. 7) of the first press button seating portion 321 and the other end connected to the first press button 322 to elastically support the first press button 322.

The first hooks 324 and the first hook receiving recesses 325 prevent the first press button 322 from separating from the first press button seating portion 321. In this embodiment, four first hooks 324 protrude around the first press button 322 at a predetermined interval, and the first hook receiving recesses 325 are formed around the first press button seating portion 321 to correspond to the first hooks 324.

The first pop-up protrusion assembly 330 (FIG. 6) comprises a protrusion seating recess 331, a pop-up protrusion 332, a third elastic member 333 and a support plate 334 as shown in FIG. 7. The protrusion seating recess 331 is depressed in the cleaner body 100 with a predetermined depth. The pop-up protrusion 332 is movably disposed in the protrusion seating recess 331. The pop-up protrusion 332 has a first cylindrical part 332a having a circumference corresponding to the second penetrating hole 321a and a second cylindrical part 332b having a diameter larger than that of the first cylindrical part 332a. The third elastic member 333 (FIG. 7) has one end supported on a bottom 331a of the protrusion seating recess 331 and the other end inserted into the pop-up protrusion 332.

The support plate 334 prevents the pop-up protrusion 332 from escaping from the protrusion seating recess 331, and has a size corresponding to the size of the protrusion seating recess 331 and has a protrusion penetrating hole 334a (FIG. 8) defined in the center thereof to allow the first cylindrical part 332a to pass therethrough. The first cylindrical part 332a of the pop-up protrusion 332 protrudes to the outside of the support plate 334 through the protrusion penetrating hole 334a, and the second cylindrical part 332b contacts the support plate 334 to restrict the ascending movement of the pop-up protrusion 332.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the second locking unit 340 comprises the second power cord support pin assembly 230 and a second pop-up protrusion assembly 350. The second power cord support pin assembly 230 comprises a second press button seating portion 231, a second power cord support pin 232, a second press button 233, a fourth elastic member 234, second hooks 235 and second hook receiving recesses 236.

The second press button seating portion 231 is formed on the power cord winding plate 210, and comprises a third penetrating hole 231a extending though the power cord winding plate 210, and a guide boss 231b to guide the ascending/descending movements of the second press button 233.

The second power cord support pin 232 is integrally formed with the second press button seating portion 231. The second press button 233 is movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the second press button seating portion 231, and has a second press boss 233a extending from the center of the second press button 233 in a lengthwise direction. The fourth elastic member 234 has one end fitting over the guide boss 231b to be supported on a bottom 231c of the second press button seating portion 231 and the other end connected to the second press button 233.

The second hooks 235 and the second hook receiving recesses 236 prevent the second press button 233 from separating from the second press button seating portion 231. Preferably, four second hooks 235 are formed around the second press button 233, and the second hook receiving recesses 236 are formed around the circumference of the second press button seating portion 231 corresponding to the second hooks 235.

The second pop-up protrusion assembly 350 is same as the first pop-up protrusion assembly 330, except for different reference numerals. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second pop-up protrusion assembly 350 comprises a protrusion seating recess 351, a pop-up protrusion 352, a third elastic member 353, and a support plate 354. The pop-up protrusion 352 has first and second cylindrical parts 352a and 352b, and the protrusion seating recess 351 has a bottom 351a.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cleaner body 100 has regulation protrusions 120 to restrict the rotation angle of the power cord holding device 200. The regulation protrusions 120 comprise a first regulation protrusion 121 to fix the power cord holding device 200 at the first position and a second regulation protrusion 122 to fix the power cord holding device 200 at the second position. Preferably, the first and the second regulation protrusions 121, 122 are integrally formed with the cleaner body 100.

Hereinafter, operation of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The power cord holding device 200 is disposed on the cleaner body 100 and rotatable from the first position, as shown in FIG. 1, to the second position, as shown in FIG. 11. The power cord holding device 200 is positioned at the first position to allow a user to unwind the power cord 400 when using the vacuum cleaner, whereas the power cord holding device 200 is positioned and fixed at the second position to allow a user to wind and store the power cord around the power cord holding device 200 after using the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is stowed with the power cord 400 wound around the cleaner body 100. In order to use the vacuum cleaner, the power cord 400 is unwound and plugged into a wall outlet. To unwind the power cord 400 easily, the user turns the first power cord support pin assembly 220, as shown in FIG. 3. More specifically, in order to turn the first power cord support pin assembly 220, the first power cord support pin 223 is pulled out such that the fixing recesses 221a (see FIG. 2) and the fixing protrusions 223b (see FIG. 6) are released from the locking state. Then, the first power cord support pin 223 is turned in a clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction to allow the power cord to be easily unwound. After unwinding the power cord, the first power cord support pin 223 returns its original position to fit the fixing protrusions 223b into the fixing recesses 221a.

After using the vacuum cleaner, the user releases the second locking unit 340 allowing rotation of the power cord holding device 200. That is, when the user presses the second press button 233, the second press button 233 pushes the pop-up protrusion 352 so that the pop-up protrusion 352 releases from the third penetrating hole 231a formed in the power cord winding plate 210. Then, the power cord winding plate 210 is released from the locking state.

Then the power cord holding device 200 can be rotated from the first position (FIG. 1) to the second position (FIG. 11) by as much as 180°. That is, the power cord holding device 200 is rotated until it contacts the second regulation protrusion 122. At the second position, the power cord holding device 200 is fixed by the first locking unit 310. The first pop-up protrusion 332, which was drawn back to the protrusion seating recess 331 by the power cord holding device 200 at the first position, as shown in FIG. 6, pops up through the second penetrating hole 321a formed in the first press button assembly 320 and fixes the power cord holding device 200 at the second position, as shown in FIG. 7.

When the power cord holding device 200 is rotated to the second position, the power cord holding device 200 extends toward the handle of the vacuum cleaner closer to the waist of the user, as seen in FIG. 11, so that the user does not need to bend forward or drop down to wind the power cord 400.

After winding the power cord 400, the user presses the first press button 322 of the first press button assembly 220 so that the first pop-up protrusion 332 escapes from the second penetrating hole 321a and the power cord holding device 200 is rotated to the original first position.

Since the power cord holding device 200 can be rotated to a higher position than conventional vacuum cleaners, the user does not need to bend forward or drop down allowing the user to more easily wind the power cord 400.

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

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body connected with a suction brush; and

a power cord holding device rotatably coupled to the cleaner body,

the power cord holding device being pivotable between a first stow position adjacent the cleaner body, and a second wind position remote from the suction brush allowing a user to wind a power cord on the power cord holding device.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power cord holding device is disposed on a side surface of the cleaner body and pivots on a pivoting axis.

3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power cord holding device comprises:

a power cord winding plate around which the power cord is wound;

a first power cord support pin assembly disposed adjacent to the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate; and

a second power cord support pin assembly disposed on the other end of the power cord winding plate opposite to the first power cord support pin assembly.

4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first power cord support pin assembly comprises:

a first support pin seating portion formed in the power cord winding plate;

a fixing boss protruding from a center of the first supporting pin seating portion;

a first power cord support pin having a first penetrating hole defined in a center corresponding to the fixing boss, the first power cord support pin rotatably mounted in the first support pin seating portion; and

a first elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first power cord support pin through which the fixing boss penetrates, and the other end supported by the washer.

5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first power cord support pin assembly further comprises:

at least one fixing recess formed on an outer circumference of the first support pin seating portion; and

at least one fixing protrusion formed on the first power cord supporting pin corresponding to the fixing recess of the first power cord supporting pin,

wherein when the first power cord support pin is pulled out, the fixing protrusion releases from the fixing recess such that a locking is released.

6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivoting axis of the power cord winding plate is formed on the opposite side of the first power cord support pin seating portion and inserted in the cleaner body.

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein a locking ring is disposed around an outer circumference of the pivoting axis, and a ring receiving recess is formed in an insertion recess of the cleaner body in which the pivoting axis is received, the locking ring being received in the ring receiving recess.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fixing device to fix the power cord holding device to the cleaner, the fixing device comprises a first locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the second position, and a second locking unit to fix the power cord holding device at the first position.

9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first locking unit comprises:

a first press button assembly disposed on the power cord winding plate; and

a first pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the first press button assembly when the power cord holding device rotates to the second position.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first press button assembly comprises:

a first press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and having a second penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate;

a first press button seated in the first press button seating portion;

a second elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the first press button seating portion and the other end supported on the first press button; and

at least one first hook and at least one first hook receiving recess which are formed on the first press button and the first press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first pop-up protrusion assembly comprises:

a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleaner body;

a pop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in the protrusion seating recess;

a third elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other end fitted in the first pop-up protrusion; and

a support plate to prevent the first pop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seating recess.

12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second locking unit comprises:

a second power cord support pin assembly disposed in the power cord winding plate; and

a second pop-up protrusion assembly formed in the cleaner body and fitted in the second power cord support pin assemlby when the power cord holding device moves to the first position.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second power cord support pin assembly comprises:

a second press button seating portion disposed in the power cord winding plate and having a third penetrating hole which is defined in a center thereof and penetrates through the power cord winding plate;

a second power cord support pin integrally formed with the second press button seating portion;

a second press button movably seated in the second press button seating portion;

a fourth elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the second press button seating portion and the other end supported on the second press button; and

at least one second hook and at least one second hook receiving recess which are formed on the second press button and the second press button seating portion, respectively, to correspond to each other.

14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second pop-up protrusion assembly comprises:

a protrusion seating recess depressed in the cleaner body;

a pop-up protrusion being movable upwardly and downwardly in the protrusion seating recess;

a third elastic member having one end supported on a bottom of the protrusion seating recess and the other end fitted in the pop-up protrusion; and

a support plate to prevent the pop-up protrusion from escaping from the protrusion seating recess.