GB2354935A

GB2354935A - Upright vacuum cleaner with counterbalance mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2354935A
Application number: GB0007296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nae-Jung Kim
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-05
Filing date: 2000-03-24
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: US20010047563A1; GB0007296D0; KR20010035934A

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a lower body portion 20, pivotally attached to an upper portion 10, to which is attached handle 11. Rollers 22 are attached to the lower body portion. The pivoting means comprises hollow pivots 32, which contain means 34 for the mounting and attachment of torsion spring 36. To assemble the cleaner, springs 36 are fitted into pivots 32, the upper body is then placed on the lower such that the pivots rest on support means 24 with one end of the torsion spring protruding from the pivot onto the support. Pivot holders 28 which include a notch to accommodate this protrusion are then attached to support means 24 to secure the upper body 10 to the lower body 20. The torsion springs thus provide a counterbalancing force against rotation of upper body 10 and therefore reduce the effective weight of 10 for the user.

Description

2354935 UPIUGHT TYPE VACUUM CLEANER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an upright type vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to an upright type vacuum cleaner having weight counterbalancing means for allowing users to use the vacuum cleaner with ease.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a vacuum cleaner collects dirts or dust in the air by intaking air with a strong suction force which is generated due to the high pressure difference between an interior and an exterior of a body of the vacuum cleaner while the interior is vacuumized by a motor.

When air is sucked into/let out of the body of the vacuum cleaner, dirt or dust in the air is filtered out by a filter which is located within the body of the vacuum cleaner. Such a vacuum cleaner is divided into various types such as a canister type, upright type, stick type, and handy type, according to their respective shape.

Among the above vacuum cleaners, as shown in FIG. 1, the upright type vacuum cleaner has a brush assembly 2 which is directly connected to the lower portion of a body I of the vacuum cleaner. The body 1 and the brush assembly 2 are connected with each other by a hinge, and can be rotated with each other. A pair of rollers 3 are disposed on the lower end of the body 1, and a handle portion 4 is formed on the upper end of the body 1.

Meanwhile, albeit not shown in the drawings, there are a motor, filter, etc., located in I the body 1, and a suction port, and brush drum, etc. are formed at the brush assembly 2.

In order to clean a certain place with the above vacuum cleaner, a user holds the handle portion 4, and moves the body I and the brush assembly 2 connected with the body I to his/her desired locations.

When cleaning an area, the user usually tilts the body I of the upright type vacuum cleaner, and the body leans over the rollers 3 at the lower end of the body 1. Accordingly, the weight of the body 1 is exerted to the handle portion 4 on the upper end of the body 1, and the user becomes tired when he/she uses the vacuum cleaner for an extended period of time since he/she has to perform the cleaning process under the complete weight of the vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to overcome the above problem of the related art, and accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an upright type vacuum cleaner capable of counterbalancing a partial weight of a body, thereby relieving a user of excessive weight of the body exerted on the handle portion and letting the user perform the cleaning operation for a long period of time without being tired.

The above object is accomplished by an upright type vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, including: weight counterbalancing means disposed at a connective portion for connecting a body of the vacuum cleaner with a brush assembly in a manner that the body and the brush assembly are rotated on each other, the weight counterbalancing means for counterbalancing a partial weight of the body when the body is inclined.

The weight counterbalancing means includes a pair of shafts formed on both sides of 2 the body; a pair of shaft positioning portions formed on the brush assembly corresponding to the pair of shafts of the body; holders connected to the respective shaft positioning portions for rotatably supporting the shafts positioned on the shaft positioning portions; and torsion springs each of which having one end fixed at each shaft, and the other end fixed at the brush assembly, for elastically supporting the body in a perpendicular relation with respect to the brush assembly.

A pair of moving rollers are formed on both rear sides of the brush assembly for a smooth mobility of the vacuum cleaner.

Accordingly, when a user tilts the body of the vacuum cleaner to perform the cleaning operation, a partial weight of the body is supported by the torsion springs, so the user handles less weight exerted on the handle portion, and is less tired even after a long period of cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and the advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional upright type vacuum cleaner; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upright type vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for showing the main portion of the present invention, i.e., weight counterbalancing means of the upright type vacuum cleaner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 3 FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a brush assembly connecting portion having the weight counterbalancing means according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 2 to 4 show an upright type vacuum cleaner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the upright type vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a body 10, a brush assembly 20, and weight counterbalancing means 30 formed at a connective part for connecting the body 10 with the brush assembly 20 in a manner that the body 10 and the brush assembly 20 are rotated on each other, for counterbalancing part of the weight of the body 10 when the body 10 is inclined.

The body 10 includes a vacuum motor, and filter, etc., and a handle portion 11 is formed at the upper portion thereof.

Further, the brush assembly 20 includes a suction port (not shown) formed therein, and other components such as a brush drum, etc. The brush assembly 20 further includes a pair of rollers 22 formed at both rear ends for mobility.

Meanwhile, the weight counterbalancing means 30 includes a pair of shafts 32 formed on both sides of the body 10, a pair of shaft positioning portions 24 formed on the brush assembly 20 to correspond to the pair of shafts 32, holders 26 fastened to the respective shaft positioning portions 24 by bolts 28 for rotatably supporting the shafts 32 positioned on the shaft positioning portions 24, and torsion springs 36 each of which having one end fixed at each shaft 32 and the other end fixed at the brush assembly 20 for elastically supporting the 4 body 10 toward the brush assembly 20 in a perpendicular direction.

The shafts 32 are hollow shafts, and spring holders 34 are formed therein. Each shaft 32 is divided into two semicircular members, and each spring holder 34 includes a hole into which one end of the torsion spring 36 is fit.

The shaft positioning portions 24 are in each semicircle for positioning the shafts 32, and respectively include screw holes formed on both sides thereof.

Further, the holders 26 include semicircular portions corresponding to the respective semicircular portions of the shaft positioning portions 24, and screw holes formed on both sides thereof. Accordingly, as bolts 28 are passed through the screw holes of the holders 26, and are fastened into the screw holes of the shaft positioning portions 24, the holders 26 are coupled with the shaft positioning portions 24, and support the shafts 32.

Each torsion spring 36 is fit into each spring holder 34 formed within each shaft 32, while one end thereof is fixed in the hole formed in the spring holder 34, and the other end is fixed between the shaft positioning portion 24 and the holder 26.

There is no limit to the shape or material for the torsion spring 36 as long as the same can stand the required torsional stress, but it is preferable that the torsion spring 36 is made of a metal coil spring which is wound in a cylindrical fashion.

With the upright type vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, like the conventional vacuum cleaner, the user performs the cleaning operation by pushing or pulling the vacuum cleaner and moving the brush assembly 20 to the desired cleaning surface while holding the handle provided at the body 10. The unique feature of the present invention is the weight counterbalancing means for counterbalancing the partial weight of the body 10, thereby reducing the weight of the body 10 exerted on the handle portion 11, when a user tilts the body 10 to perform the cleaning operation. Such is described in detail below.

When the user tilts the body 10 at a certain angle, the shafts 32 formed in the body 10 are rotated on the shaft positioning portions 24 formed in the brush assembly 20 at the same slanted angle, and accordingly, the torsion springs 36, whose ends are attached at the spring holders 34 provided in the shafts 32 and the other ends are attached at the brush assembly 20, are twisted. Since the torsion springs 36 support the body 10 to be perpendicular to the brush assembly 20, the torsion springs 36 support a partial weight of the body 10. Accordingly, since the torsion springs 36 support the partial weight of the body 10, the user handles less weight of the body 10 and is able to perform the cleaning operation more conveniently.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the weight counterbalancing means supports a partial weight of the body, the user can perform the cleaning operation with reduced weight, and accordingly, the user is less tired even after a long cleaning operation.

As stated above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to this preferred embodiment but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

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Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

I - An upright type vacuum cleaner comprising:

weight counterbalancing means disposed at a connective portion for connecting a body of the vacuum cleaner with a brush assembly in a manner that the body and the brush assembly are rotated on each other, the weight counterbalancing means for counterbalancing a partial weight of the body when the body is inclined; and a pair of moving rollers formed on both rear sides of the brush assembly.
2. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight counterbalancing means comprises:

a pair of shafts formed on both sides of the body; a pair of shaft positioning portions formed on the brush assembly corresponding to the pair of shafts of the body; holders connected to the respective shaft positioning portions for rotatably supporting the shafts positioned on the shaft positioning portions; and torsion springs each of which having one end fixed at each shaft, and the other end fixed at the brush assembly, for elastically supporting the body in a perpendicular relation with respect to the brush assembly.
3. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the torsion springs are metal coil springs which are wound in a cylindrical fashion.

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4. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shafts are hollow shafts, and spring holders are disposed in the shafts, while one end of each torsion spring is fixedly fit in a spring fixing groove formed in each of the spring holders.
5. The upright type vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the other end of each torsion spring is attached between each shaft positioning portion of the brush holder and each holder coupled to the shaft positioning portion.
6. An upright-type vacuum cleaner constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings.

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