GB2290462A

GB2290462A - Dual mode vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2290462A
Application number: GB9502001A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jin Bang Lee; Byung Cheol Choi; Seon Kyu Kim; Suk Gu Kim; Yeong Je Jeon; Seon Young Hong; Nam Ho Lee
Original assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-22
Filing date: 1995-02-02
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-02
Also published as: GB2290462B; FR2721495B1; CN1118241A; JPH08506A; DE19522349C2; TW251230B; FR2721495A1; DE19522349A1; GB9502001D0

Description

DUAL MODE VACUUM CLEANER The present invention relates to a dual mode

vacuum cleaner. 5 Generally, a vacuum cleaner may be classified as a canister mode cleaner or as an upright mode cleaner.

A conventional canister mode vacuum cleaner has a brush head connected to a cleaner body by way of a flexible hose. This facilitates its use for cleaning normally inaccessible areas. However, because the cleaner has a number of separated components it occupies a large space, and it may be difficult to assemble and disassemble.

A conventional upright mode vacuum cleaner is particularly easy to use, but Its brush head cannot be used to clean more inaccessible areas.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide a vacuum cleaner which combines the advantages of each type. US-A 4393536 describes a canister mode vacuum cleaner which may be operated with its canister arranged to extend either horizontally or substantially upright. However, the vacuum cleaner in this US patent has a relatively heavy weight so that such difficulties and time-consumption may be further increased.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the noted difficulties are reduced.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dual mode vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body coupled to a connector pipe, a dirt-collecting body having an air path accommodated therein, and a flexible hose for interconnecting the connector pipe and the air path within the dirt-collecting body.

The present invention also provides a dual mode vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body section Including a cylindrical outer base, a pair of wheels provided at opposite sides of the cylindrical outer case, and a connector pipe disposed at an upper portion of the cylindrical outer case; a dirt-collecting section including an air path accommodated therein, a paper filter connected to the air path to filter an air having passed the air path, a pair of side pipes incorporated at opposite sides thereof; a flexible hose for interconnecting the connector pipe and the air path through an air filter; a handle movably assembled with the dirt-collecting section; a brush head rotatably coupled beneath the dirt- collecting section through a spherical universal joint; a first means for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section with/from each other; a second means for adjusting height of the handle; and a third means for holding the flexible hose.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first means has an arcuate concavity formed at a front face, and a first leaf spring fixed behind the arcuate concavity, respectively of the cleaner body section, and a pair of windows formed in a rear wall, an arcuate convexity formed under the windows, and a scissors-like pair of levers disposed inside the rear wall, respectively of the dirt-collecting section.

The second means may include a circular base plate incorporated with an upper portion thereof so as to define a cylindrical recess thereon, two opposite second engagement holes formed at an inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical recess and cut through into interior of the side pipes, a cover section of an inverted frusto-conical shape covering the top thereof,-and a pair of extension rods coupled with the handle and movably fitted in the side pipes.

The third means may have a holder body having a semicircular section for fitting the flexible hose thereon, a holder cover pivotally assembled with the holder body, and a pair of spacer pipes spaced from and incorporated with the holder body in which the extension rods are fitted.

In an embodiment, the first means may Include a coupler-receiving recess formed in a front face of the cleaner body section, a coupler pivotally fixed on a rear surface of the dirt-collecting section and detachably received in the coupler-receiving recess, and a fourth means for pivotally suspending and assembling/disassembling the coupler.

The fourth means may include a pair of suspension canopies provided on a surface of a rear wall, a pair of engagement brackets fixed under the suspension canopies on an outer surface of, and a second leaf spring fixed at an inner surface of,respectively of the dirt-collecting section, the second leaf spring having a concave arc section formed at a lower end thereof.

When the vacuum cleaner is switched between a canister mode and an upright mode, the grips are forced to make the levers be closer. Then, the second engagement protuberances are retreated into the interior of the side holes while brushing against the second compression spring, so that dirtcollecting section can be detached from or assembled with the cleaner body section.

In an embodiment, the switching between the two used modes Is performed automatically by the pivoting of the coupler.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a dual mode vacuum cleaner of an embodiment of the present invention, respectively in a canister mode and in an upright mode thereof; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaner body section of the vacuum cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 Is a schematic constructional view of a dirt-collecting section of the cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a handle of the cleaner as shown In Figures 1 and 2; Figures 8 and 9 are an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of a cover section with the top of the dirt-collecting section of the cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively; Figure 10 is a rear view of the dirt-collecting section of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 equipped with several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section with respect to each other; Figure 11 is a front view of the cleaner body section of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 equipped with several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section with respect to each other; Figures 12 and 13 are cross sectional views of assembling parts of the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section shown In Figures 10 and 11; Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a coupler with parts of the dirt-collecting section and the cleaner body section of a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the coupler as shown in Figure 14; Figure 16 is a side elevation of a dual mode vacuum cleaner having the coupler of Figure 15 when the dirt-collecting section is upright at right angles to the ground; Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupler in a circle A as shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a side elevation of a dual mode vacuum cleaner having the coupler of Figure 15 when the dirt-collecting section is coupled concretely through the coupler; Figure 19 is an enlarged perspective view of the coupler in a circle B as shown in Figure 18; Figure 20 is a schematic side view of the coupler In states as shown in Figures 17 and 19, respectively; Figure 21 Is a schematic side elevation showing a 5 conventional canister mode vacuum cleaner; Figure 22 is a schematic side elevation showing a conventional upright mode vacuum cleaner; and Figure 23 is a schematic view showing structure of a conventional dual mode vacuum cleaner.

Generally, a vacuum cleaner may be classified as a canister mode cleaner or as an upright mode cleaner.

Figure 21 shows a schematic side elevation of a conventional canister mode vacuum cleaner. As shown, the conventional canister mode vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body 12 having a dirt collecting chamber and a blow chamber defined therein, and a flexible hose 18, a grip 15, suction pipes 16, and a brush head 13, each separated from, but interconnected to, the cleaner body 12.

In a cleaning operation using the canister mode vacuum cleaner, a user can easily move the brush head 13 to an area to be cleaned without lifting or holding the cleaner body 12 which has a large volume and heavy weight. Thus, every nook and corner can be cleaned relatively easily because the cleaner body 12 and the brush head 13 can be moved separately.

However, the cleaner has many components separated from each other so It occupies a large space, and it is difficult and annoying to assemble or disassemble the components for storing or operating the cleaner. Moreover, handling of the cleaner during a cleaning operation may give annoyance to the user because the cleaner body 12 and the brush head 13 are moved separately.

Figure 22 shows a schematic side elevation of a conventional upright mode vacuum cleaner. The upright mode vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body 22 having a dirt collecting chamber and a blow chamber defined therein, and a flexible hose 26, a grip 25, and a brush head 23, all Incorporated with the cleaner body 22.

The upright mode cleaner does not occupy a large space when stored or operated, and the cleaner can be easily handled during a cleaning operation because the cleaner body 22 and the brush head 23 are incorporated with each other and moved together.

However, in a cleaning operation using the upright mode vacuum cleaner, a user cannot easily move the brush head 23 to a relatively narrow or obscure area due to the relatively large volume and heavy weight of the cleaner body 22 which always has to be moved together with the brush head 23, so that every nook and corner cannot be cleaned easily.

Figure 23 is a schematic constructional view of a vacuum cleaner as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,393,536 which, when the vacuum cleaner is to be used in an upright mode, has a canister 31 assembled with suction pipes 30 through attachment device 33 in the form of spaced-apart clamps disposed at an upper portion of the canister 31, and the air sucked through a brush 32 and filtered In canister 31 is exhausted again through the brush 32.

The vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figure 23 is dual mode and may be used either in the upright mode or in the canister mode as is required. However, the above identified U.S. patent does not disclose the construction and the shape of the attachment device 33 for assembling the canister 31 and the suction pipes 33 with each other, and it may be difficult and time-consuming to assemble or disass emb le the canister 31 and the suction pipes 33 with respect to each other for switching the operating mode of the cleaner. Moreover, the dirt collecting chamber and the blow chamber are defined only in the canister 31 and accordingly the canister 31 has a relatively large volume.

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a dual mode vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively in a canister mode and an upright mode thereof.

As shown in these figures, the dual mode vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body section 100, a dirt-collecting section 200, a flexible hose 300, a handle 400, and a brush head 500. Flexible hose 300 interconnects the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 with each other. Handle 400 Is assembled with the dirt-collecting section 200 in such a manner that its height may be adjusted, and the brush head 500 is rotatably coupled beneath the dirt-collecting section 200 through a spherical universal joint 510.

Figures 3 and 4 show respectively a side sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner body section 100 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Cleaner body section 100 has a substantially cylindrical outer case 102, a pair of wheels 110 provided at the opposite sides of the cylindrical outer case 102, and a connector pipe 114 disposed at an upper portion of the cylindrical outer case 102. Cylindrical outer case 102 also accommodates a cord reel 136 on which an electric power cord is wound. A protective cap 112 is coupled onto an outer peripheral surface of each wheel 110, and an end of the flexible hose -g- 300 is fitted in the connector pipe 114.

A driving motor 120 is encased in an inner case 130 disposed in the cylindrical outer case 102. Inner case 130 has a sound-absorbing member 132 applied on the Inner surface thereof, and a bumper 134 is disposed on the bottom of the inner case 130 to support the driving motor 120.

Figure 5 is a schematic constructional view of the dirt-collecting section of the cleaner as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The dirt-collecting section 200 accommodates an air path 260, and a paper filter 250 Is connected to the air path 260 for filtering air which has passed through the air path 260, as shown in Figure 5. Dirt-collecting section 200 also includes a cover section 210 of an inverted frusto-conical shape disposed at an upper portion thereof, a pair of side pipes 240 incorporated at the opposite sides thereof, and a display 230 (Figure 1) provided on the outer surface thereof to indicate the amount of dirt collected. Cover section 210 has a button 220 provided on the outer surface thereof to enable adjustment of the height of the handle 400. A first opening 215 is formed at the centre of the cover section 210 in a first sleeve 216 which extends upwardly from the first opening 215.

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the handle 400 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Handle 400 has a shape substantially as the letter "C", and is coupled with a pair of extension rods 402. One end of each of the extension rods 402 is fitted in each of the opposite ends of the handle 400, whilst the other end of each extension rod 402 is fitted in a respective one of the side pipes 240 of the dirt-collecting section 200.

Meanwhile, a holder 410 for holding the flexible hose 300 is provided beneath the handle 400. Holder 410 has a shape substantially as a butterfly, and Includes a holder body 412 having a generally semicircular section, a holder cover 414 pivotally assembled with the holder body 412, and a pair of spacer pipes 420 spaced from and incorporated with the holder body 412. Holder body 412 and the holder cover 414 define a cylindrical tunnel for fitting.flexible hose 300 therein when the holder cover 414 is closed, as shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows an alternative holder 10 410 without a holder cover 414 forming another embodiment of the present invention. Figures 8 and 9 are an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of the cover section 210 with the top of the dirt-collection section 200 of the cleaner as shown in Figure 1 and 2 respectively. Dirt-collecting section 200 also includes a substantially circular base plate 224 incorporated with an upper part thereof so as to define a substantially cylindrical recess 239 thereon, as shown in 20 Figures 8 and 9. Two opposite second engagement holes 244 respectively interconnected to each side pipe 240 are formed at the Inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical recess 239. 25 The base plate 224 has two pairs of brackets 222 fixed on opposite outer portions of the upper surface thereof respectively corresponding to each second engagement hole 244, a second opening 225 formed at the centre thereof, and a second sleeve 226 extending upwardly from the second 30 opening 225. Second opening 225 is interconnected to the air path 260 by way of the paper filter 250. One end of the flexible hose 300 is fitted In the connector pipe 114, whilst the other end of the flexible 35 hose 300 is fitted in the second opening 225 by way of the first opening 215.

A pair of actuators 212 Is pivotally fixed respectively at each pair of brackets 222. Each actuator 212 has a lever arm 217, a first engagement protuberance 214 protruding in a direction opposite to lever arm 217, and a pair of first hinge pins 218 disposed between the lever arm 217 and the first engagement protuberance 214.

Each pair of first hinge pins 218 protrudes In opposite directions to each other and respectively substantially at right angles to the lever arm 217 and the first engagement protuberance 214. Each pair of first hinge pins 218 Is fitted in each pair of brackets 222.

A pair of first compression springs 219 is disposed under each of the lever arms 217, and Is retained on the base plate 224 by a pair of spring pins 229 fitted therein.

Cover section 210 is assembled on the top of the dirt-collecting section 200 so as to cover cylindrical recess 239 in which the above components are assembled.

Each of the extension rods 402 has a plurality of first engagement holes 404 in substantially vertical alignment with each other. Each of the first engagement holes 404 is also in alignment with a second engagement hole 244. Each of the first engagement protuberances 214 is fitted in each of the first engagement holes 404 through a second engagement hole 244 as is shown in Figure 9.

Figures 10 to 13 show in detail several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 with respect to each other.

Figure 10 is a rear view of the dirt-collecting section 200 of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 equipped with several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 to/from each other.

12- Figure 11 is a front view of the cleaner body section of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 equipped with several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 to/from each other. Figures 12 and 13 are cross sectional views of assembling parts of the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Dirt-collecting section 200 has a pair of levers 272 disposed inside a rear wall 201 thereof as shown in Figure 10. Each of the levers 272 has a first lever hole 285 formed at the centre thereof, a grip 273 attached at the upper end thereof, and a second engagement protuberance 276 extending outwardly from the lower end thereof. The levers 272 are scissors-like, that is, the levers 272 are assembled and intersect with each other by a first lever pin 275 fitted through first lever holes 285 thereof. A second compression spring 277 is disposed between the lower ends of the levers 272 so as to apply an outward biasing force to the second engagement protuberances 276.

Rear wall 201 of the dirt-collecting section 200 has a pair of windows 274 formed therein, and an arcuate convexity 279 disposed under the windows 274. The arcuate convexity 279 has an elongated key groove 278 formed at a lower portion thereof, and side holes 288 formed at the opposite sides thereof. Grips 273 are disposed directly inside windows 274, and second engagement protuberances 276 are inserted in side holes 288.

The cleaner body section 100 includes an arcuate concavity 179 formed at the front face thereof, and a first leaf spring 172 fixed behind the arcuate concavity 179.

The first leaf spring 172 has a convex arc section 178 formed at the lower end thereof. Convex arc section 178 protrudes out over the bottom of the arcuate concavity 179 so as to be engageable with the key groove 278 as is shown in Figure 12.

The operation of the dual mode vacuum cleaner described above and illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 will now be described.

When the vacuum cleaner is to be used in an upright mode, the vacuum cleaner is operated as if it were stored, that is, the vacuum is operated with the cleaner-body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 assembled with each other as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the angle of the vacuum cleaner with respect to the ground is adjusted by tilting the vacuum cleaner while allowing the arcuate convexity 279 to slide against the elastic contact between the arcuate convexity 279 and the convex arc section 178 as shown in Figure 13. When the vacuum cleaner is stored or operated when extending at nearly right angles to the ground, the convex arc section 178 is engaged in the key groove 278 as is shown in Figure 12.

When the vacuum cleaner is switched to be used in canister mode, the user must force grips 273 to make the levers 272 be closer. Then, the second engagement protuberances 276 having been inserted In the third engagement holes 176 are retreated into the interior of the side holes 288 while pushing against the second compression spring 277, so that the dirt-collecting section 200 can be detached from the cleaner body section 100.

When the vacuum cleaner is switched to be used in an upright mode again, the grips 273 are forced again to make the levers 272 be closer. Then, the arcuate convexity 279 is inserted in the arcuate concavity 179 so that the convex arc section 178 is engaged in the key groove 278. Then, the force having been applied to the grips 273 Is released, so that the second engagement protuberances 276 are fitted again in the third engagement holes 216, and thereby the dirt-collecting section 200 is concretely assembled with the cleaner body section 100. 5 In a vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment, the height of the handle 400 of the vacuum cleaner may be adjusted if necessitated, for example, by the used condition of the vacuum cleaner, the user's physical condition, and the like.

Hereinafter, a process for adjusting the height of the handle 400 will be described.

When the button 220 disposed at an upper part of the cover section 210 Is pressed, the button 220 pushes the lever arms 217 of the actuators 212 so that the actuators 212 pivot about the first hinge pins 218. Accordingly, the first engagement protuberances 214 having been engaged In the first engagement holes 404 through the second engagement holes 244 are released therefrom. Then, the user can pull out or push in the extension rods 402 to select the proper height for the handle 400. Then the pressing force which had been applied to the button 220 is released to make the actuators 212 pivot in the inverse direction to the above pivoted direction by the first compression springs 219, so that the first engagement protuberances 214 are engaged again in the nearest first engagement holes 404 through the second engagement holes 244.

In the vacuum cleaner, dirt-entrained air sucked through the brush head 500 is flowed through the air path 260 and then is filtered through the paper filter 250. The filtered clean air is flowed through the flexible hose 300 and the cleaner body section 100, and then is exhausted therefrom. Therefore, the flexible hose 300 is prevented from being blocked by dirt and thereby the cleaning efficiency of the cleaner is Improved.

The vacuum cleaner can be used tidily and conveniently without hindrance using the flexible hose 300 because the flexible hose 100 is held by the holder 410. The-length of the flexible hose 300 can be adjusted by changing the fitted position of the flexible hose 100 in the holder 410.

Figures 14 to 20 show another embodiment of a dual mode vacuum cleaner of the present Invention.

Figure 14 shows an exploded perspective view of a coupler 650 with parts of the dirt-collecting section and the cleaner body section of this embodiment of the invention, and Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the coupler 650 shown in Figure 14.

The dual mode vacuum cleaner of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 13 except for several components for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 to/from each other as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

Referring to Figures 14 and 15, the coupler 650 is pivotally suspended by a pair of suspension canopies 610 provided on the face of a rear wall 201 of the dirt-collecting section 200. Coupler 650 includes a lower case 651, an upper case 653 assembled with the lower case 651 by bolts 690, and a pair of scissors-like levers 672 encased in lower and upper cases 651 and 653.

Coupler 650 also includes a pair of substantially cylindrical heads 652 protruding outwardly from the upper end thereof, and a second lever pin 675 fixed on the inner surface of the lower case 651. Each cylindrical head 652 has a second hinge pin 654 protruding outwardly from the outer side surface thereof to be hingedly fitted in the suspension canopy 610, and an elongated key swell 655 formed at an upper periphery of the cylindrical head 652.

Coupler 650 also includes a pair of rectangular upper holes 657 formed at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of substantially circular lower holes 658 formed directly below the upper holes 657, when the lower and upper cases 651 and 653 have been coupled with each other.

Each lever 672 has a second lever hole 685 formed at the centre thereof, a compression protuberance 673 Incorporated with the upper end thereof, and a third engagement protuberance 676 extending outwardly from the lower end thereof. Levers 672 are assembled and Intersect with each other by way of a second lever pin 675 fitted through the second lever holes 685 thereof. A third compression spring 678 is disposed between the lower ends of the levers 672 so as to apply an outward biasing force to the third engagement protuberances 676. Compression protuberances 673 protrude out of upper holes 657, whilst third engagement protuberances 676 protrude out of lower holes 658.

Rear wall 201 has a pair of engagement brackets 620 corresponding to compression protuberances 673 and fixed under suspension canopies.610 on the outer surface thereof as shown in Figure 14, and a second leaf spring 612 fixed at the inner surface thereof as shown in Figure 20. Second leaf spring 612 has a concave arc section 618 formed at the lower end thereof. Concave arc section 618 is engageable with key swell 655 as shown In Figure 20.

The cleaner body section 100 includes a coupler-receiving recess 189 formed at the front face thereof. Coupler-receiving recess 189 has two opposite fourth engagement holes 186 formed in the opposite inner 5 side thereof and corresponding to the third engagement protuberances 676 so that the third engagement protuberances 676 can be inserted in the fourth engagement holes 186.

The operation of the dual mode vacuum cleaner illustrated in Figures 14 to 20 will now be described.

Figure 16 shows a side elevation of a dual mode vacuum cleaner having the coupler 650 of Figure 15. Figure 16 shows the vacuum cleaner when the dirt-collecting section 200 is upright extending substantially at right angles to the ground, and Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the circular area A of Figure 16 and showing the coupler 650 on an enlarged scale. Figure 18 shows a side elevation of the dual mode vacuum cleaner of Figure 16 when the dirt-collecting section 200 is coupled concretely by way of the coupler 650, and Figure 19 is an enlarged perspective view of the circular area B of Figure 18. Figure 20 Is a schematic side view of the coupler 650 in states as shown in Figures 17 and 19, respectively.

When the vacuum cleaner is used in the upright mode, the coupler 650 is inserted in the coupler-receiving recess 189, and the third engagement protuberances 676 are fitted in the fourth engagement holes 186, as shown in Figure 18.

In this case, the coupler 650 can pivot about second hinge pins 654, and accordingly the angle of the vacuum cleaner with respect to the ground may be easily changed by relatively simple operation of the handle 400.

When the vacuum cleaner is switched to be used in the canister mode, the cleaner-body section 100 is upright as is shown In Figure 16. in this case, the coupler 650 is pivoted clockwise in Figure 20 by the weight of the cleaner body section 100, while the compression protuberances 673 are pushed into upper holes 657 by sliding contact between the compression protuberances 673 and the engagement brackets 620. When the coupler 650 Is completely_pivoted so as to be in close contact with the rear wall 201 of the dirt-collecting section 200, the compression protuberances 673 and the third engagement protuberances 676 are completely retreated respectively into the upper and lower holes 657 and 658, and the key swells 655 of thecylindrical heads 652 are engaged In the concave arc section 618 as shown by the solid lines In Figure 20.

Then, the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 can be easily detached and used separately from each other as is shown In Figure 2, because the engagement between the coupler 650 and the coupler-receiving recess 189 has been released.

Even after the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 are completely separated from each other, the coupler 650 is maintained in contact with the rear wall 201 of the dirt-collecting section 200.

When the vacuum cleaner is switched to be used in the upright mode again, the cleaner-body section 100 Is upright as is shown in Figure 16. Then, the coupler 650 is inserted in the coupler-receiving recess 189 and then pivoted counterclockwise as seen In Figure 20. In this case, the compression protuberances 673 having been pushed in the upper holes 657 protrude out again by the third compression spring 678.

When the coupler 650 is completely pivoted so that the compression protuberances 673 are not In contact with the engagement brackets 620, the compression protuberances 673 and the third engagement protuberances 676 completely protrude out from the upper and lower holes 657 and 658, and the key swells 655 of the cylindrical heads 652 are not engaged In the concave arc section 658 as shown by broken lines in Figure 20.

The process for adjusting the height of the handle 400 and the air flow in the vacuum cleaner in the embodiment of Figures 14 to 20 Is substantially the same as described above with reference to the first embodiment as illustrated in Figures 1 to 13.

As described above in detail, in a dual mode vacuum cleaner of the Invention, the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 are made as two separate bodies and assembled or disassembled. Therefore, the volume of the cleaner body section 100 can be minimized and the cleaner body section 100 can be easily moved even when the cleaner is used in the canister mode.

Further, the cleaner can be easily switched between the two modes of use, that is, the canister and upright modes, not only because of the separation of the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200, but also because of the above described mechanism for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200.

Furthermore, the cleaner body section 100 and the dirt-collecting section 200 are connected by way of one flexible hose 300, and the flexible hose 300 Is tidily held by the holder 410 even in the course of the operation of the cleaner, so the handling of the cleaner Is not hindered by the flexible hose 300.

There Is an additional advantage In that the flexible hose 300 is prevented from being blocked by dirt and thereby the cleaning efficiency of the cleaner Is improved, because the brush head 500 Is directly connected to the dirt-collecting section 200 prior to being connected through the flexible hose 300.

Whilst the present Invention has been particularly Illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes In form and detail may be effected therein without departing from the scope of the Invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dual mode vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body coupled to a connector pipe, a dirt-collecting body having an air path accommodated therein, and a flexible hose for interconnecting the connector pipe and the air path within the dirt-collecting body.

2. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising means for assembling and disassembling the cleaner body and the dirt-collecting body with respect to each other.

3. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a filter is provided in the air path within the dirt-collecting body, and wherein a brush head is rotatably coupled to a base of said dirtcollecting body.

4. A dual mode vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body section including a cylindrical outer case, a pair of wheels provided at opposite sides of the cylindrical outer case, and a connector pipe disposed at an upper portion of the cylindrical outer case; a dirt-collecting section including an air path accommodated therein, a paper filter connected to the air path to filter an air having passed the air path, and a pair of side pipes incorporated at opposite sides thereof; a flexible hose for interconnecting the connector pipe and the air path through an air filter; a handle movably assembled with the dirt-collecting section; a brush head rotatably coupled beneath the dirt collecting section through a spherical universal joint; a first means for assembling/disassembling the cleaner body section and the dirt-collecting section with/from each other; a second means for adjusting a height of the handle; and a third means for holding the flexible hose.

5 5. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In Claim 4. wherein the cylindrical outer case has a cord reel accommodated therein, and an inner case disposed therein.

6. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the inner case has a sound-absorbing member applied on an inner surface thereof, a driving motor encased therein, and a bumper disposed on a bottom thereof to support the driving motor.

7. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein each of the wheels has a protective cap coupled on an outer peripheral surface thereof.

8. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the first means has an arcuate concavity formed at a front face, and a first leaf spring fixed behind the arcuate concavity, respectively of the cleaner body section, and a pair of windows formed in a rear wall, an arcuate convexity formed under the windows, and a scissors-like pair of levers disposed Inside the rear wall, respectively of the dirt- collecting section.

9. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the arcuate convexity has an elongated key groove formed at a lower part thereof, and side holes formed at opposite sides thereof, and the first leaf spring has a convex arc section formed at a lower end thereof, the convex arc section protruding outward over bottom of the arcuate concavity so as to be engageable with the key groove.

10. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In Claim 9, wherein each of the levers has a first lever hole formed at a centre thereof, a grip attached at the upper end thereof, a second engagement protuberance extending outward from the lower end thereof so as to be inserted Into the side holes, and a second compression spring disposed between the lower ends of the levers so as to apply an outward biasing force to the second engagement protuberances.

11. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In Claim 10, wherein the levers are assembled and intersect with each other by a first lever pin fitted through the first lever holes thereof.

12. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the grips are disposed directly inside the windows.

13. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 12, further comprising a display provided on an outer surface of the dirt-collecting section to indicate amount of the collected dirt.

14. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In any of Claims 4 to 13, wherein the second means has a circular base plate incorporated with an upper part of the dirt-collecting section so as to define a cylindrical recess thereon, two opposite second engagement holes formed at an inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical recess and cut through into interior of the side pipes, a cover section of an inverted frusto-conical shape covering the top thereof, and a pair of extension rods coupled with the handle and movably fitted in the side pipes.

15. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the base plate has two pairs of brackets fixed on opposite outer portions of the upper surface thereof, each of the pairs respectively corresponding to each of the second engagement holes, and a pair of actuators respectively pivotally fixed respectively at each pair of the brackets, and the cover section comprises a button provided on the outer surface thereof to pivot the actuator.

16. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 15, wherein each of the actuators is disposed under the button so as to be in contact therewith, the actuator having a lever arm elastically supported by a first compression spring disposed thereunder, a first engagement protuberance protruding in a direction opposite to the lever arm, and a pair of first hinge pins disposed between the lever arm and the first engagement protuberance, the first compression spring being retained on the base plate by a pair of spring pins fitted therein, each pair of the first hinge pins protruding in opposite directions to each other and respectively at right angles with the lever arm and the first engagement protuberance and being fitted in each pair of the brackets.

17. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the cover section has a first opening formed at the centre thereof, and a first sleeve extending upward from the first opening, the base plate has a second opening formed at the centre thereof and interconnected to the air path through the paper filter, a second sleeve extending upward from the second opening, so that one end of the flexible hose is fitted In the first and the second openings to be interconnected to the paper filter, while the other end of the flexible hose Is fitted In the connector pipe.

18. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In any of Claims 14 to 17, wherein each of the extension rods has a plurality of first engagement holes in vertical alignment with each other, the first engagement holes in each extension rod being in alignment with each of the second 5 engagement holes, each of the first engagement protuberances being fitted in the first engagement hole through the second engagement hole.

19. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 18, wherein the third means has a butterfly-shape and comprises a holder body having a semicircular section for fitting the flexible hose thereon, a holder cover pivotally assembled with the holder body, and a pair of spacer pipes spaced from and incorporated with the holder body in which the extension rods are fitted.

20. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 19, wherein the first means has a coupler-receiving recess formed in a front face of the cleaner body section, a coupler pivotally fixed on a rear surface of the dirt-collecting section and detachably received in the coupler-receiving recess, and a fourth means for pivotally suspending and assembling/disassembling the coupler In/from the coupler-receiving recess.

21. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In Claim 20, wherein the fourth means has a pair of suspension canopies provided on a surface of a rear wall, a pair of engagement brackets fixed under the suspension canopies on an outer surface of, and a second leaf spring fixed at an Inner surface of, respectively of the dirt-collecting section, the second leaf spring having a concave arc section formed at a lower end thereof.

22. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed In Claim 21. wherein the coupler has a lower case, an upper case assembled with the lower case by bolts, a pair of scissors-like levers encased therein, a pair of cylindrical heads protruding outward from the upper end thereof, a second lever pin fixed on the inner surface of the lower case, a pair of rectangular upper holes formed at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of circular lower holes formed directly below the upper holes, when the lower and the upper cases have been coupled with each other.

23. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 22, wherein each of the cylindrical heads has a second hinge pin protruding outward from an outer side surface thereof to be hingedly fitted In the suspension canopy, and an elongated key swell formed at an upper periphery of the cylindrical head to be engageable with the concave arc section.

24. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 23, wherein each of the levers has a second lever hole formed at the centre thereof, a compression protuberance Incorporated with the upper end thereof and corresponding to the engagement bracket, a third engagement protuberance extending outward from a lower end thereof, and a third compression spring disposed between lower ends thereof so as to apply an outward biasing force to the third engagement protuberances, the levers being assembled and intersecting with each other by the second lever pin fitted through the second lever holes thereof.

25. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 24, wherein the compression protuberances protrude out of the upper holes, while the third engagement protuberances protrude out of the lower holes.

26. A dual mode vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the coupler-receiving recess has two opposite fourth engagement holes formed in opposite Inner sides thereof and corresponding to the third engagement protuberances so that the third engagement protuberances can be Inserted In the fourth engagement holes. 5

27. A dual mode vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.