(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0198769 A1
`Lee et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`US 2005O198769A1
`
`(54) VACUUM CLEANER
`(75) Inventors: Ho Gul Lee, Busan-si (KR); Tae
`Young Woo, Busan-si (KR); Il Gyeong
`Go, Jinhae-si (KR); Ha Jong Sung,
`Changwon-si (KR)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FLESHNER & KIM, LLP
`P.O. BOX 221200
`CHANTILLY, VA 20153 (US)
`(73) Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
`(21) Appl. No.:
`11/006,644
`y
`- - -
`9
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 8, 2004
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 11, 2004 (KR)................................ P2004-OO16483
`Mar. 11, 2004 (KR).
`P2004-0016484
`Mar. 11, 2004 (KR).
`... P2004-OO16487
`Apr. 9, 2004 (KR)................................ P2004-0O24412
`
`
`
`Publication Classification
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................ A47L 9/10; A47L 9/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................. 15/353; 15/327.1
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner including a Sucking nozzle
`for Sucking air, a dust collecting assembly including a dust
`collecting container with an opened top Surface, a top lid for
`opening and closing a top of the dust collecting container, an
`inlet for Sucking air to the inside of the dust collecting
`container, a filtering device coupled with the top lid, and an
`outlet provided at a bottom of the dust collecting assembly
`for discharging clean air to a lower part of the dust collecting
`container; and a cleaner body including a dust collecting
`assembly receiving receSS for detachably receiving the dust
`collecting assembly, a polluted air outlet provided at the dust
`collecting assembly receiving receSS and coupled with the
`dust collecting assembly inlet for discharging polluted air
`Sucked in through the Sucking nozzle, and a clean air inlet
`provided on a floor of the dust collecting assembly receiving
`receSS and communicating with the outlet of the dust col
`lecting assembly, and a clean air conduit for discharging the
`clean air to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 1 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 1
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 2 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 2
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 3 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 3
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 4 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 4
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 5 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 5
`
`56a
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 6 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 6
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 7 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 7
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 8 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 8
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`Dyson Ex1031
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 9 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 9
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 10 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 10
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`Dyson Ex1031
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 11 of 16
`FIG. 11
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`
`
`570
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`Dyson Ex1031
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 12 of 16
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`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 13 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
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`FIG. 13
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 14 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 14
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 15 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 15
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`Dyson Ex1031
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 15, 2005 Sheet 16 of 16
`
`US 2005/0198769 A1
`
`FIG. 16
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`US 2005/O198769 A1
`
`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`WACUUM CLEANER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0001. This application claims the benefit of Korean
`Application Nos. P2004-16483, P2004-16484, P2004
`16487, and P2004-24412, four of which were filed on Mar.
`11, 2004, and are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully
`set forth herein.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002) 1. Field of the Invention
`0003. The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner,
`and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner with a dust
`collecting assembly detachably provided.
`0004 2. Discussion of the Related Art
`0005. In general, as an apparatus for cleaning a floor or
`a carpet in a room, a vacuum cleaner Sucks in polluted
`outside air containing impurities through operation of an air
`Sucking device Such as a motor provided in a cleaner body,
`and collects impurities Separated from polluted air, and
`discharges cleaned air to an outside thereof.
`0006. Hereinafter, a related art vacuum cleaner will be
`described referring to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the
`related art vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body 1 and a
`sucking nozzle 2. An air sucking device (not shown) such as
`a motor and a fan Sucking in interior air is provided in the
`cleaner body 1, and polluted outside air is Sucked in through
`the Sucking nozzle 2 by air Sucking force generated by the
`air Sucking device.
`0007. In this case, the cleaner body 1 includes a main
`controller for controlling the abovementioned air Sucking
`device and the cleaner, and a dust collector receiving groove
`for receiving a dust collector 5 Separating impurities from
`the polluted air Sucked in through the Sucking nozzle 2, and
`collecting the impurities.
`0008. A wheel 8 is provided on both sides at a lower part
`of the cleaner body 1, and an outlet 8a is provided at the
`wheel 8 for discharging clean air Separated from the impu
`rities in the dust collector.
`0009 Between the cleaner body 1 and the sucking nozzle
`2, a coupling pipe 3 is provided, the coupling pipe 3
`including a Sucking hose 3a made of a flexible material, a
`handle 3b, and an extended pipe 3C, for communicating the
`cleaner body 1 with the Sucking nozzle 2.
`0.010 When power is applied to the vacuum cleaner
`Structured as aforementioned, and an operation of the
`Vacuum cleaner is Started, by the air Sucking force generated
`by the air Sucking device in the cleaner body 1, the polluted
`outside air is passed through the Sucking nozzle 2 and the
`coupling pipe 3, and flowed into the dust collector disposed
`in the cleaner body.
`0.011 The interior cleaning is performed by separating
`the impurities Such as dust contained in the polluted air from
`the dust collector 5, and discharging only cleaned air to the
`outside thereof through the outlet 8a.
`0012. In the vacuum cleaner configured and operated as
`abovementioned, when a predetermined time is passed, and
`
`the dust collector is filled with impurities, a user needs to
`Separate the dust collector from the cleaner body 1 to empty,
`and mount the dust collector back into the dust collector
`receiving groove of the cleaner body.
`0013 The vacuum cleaner with the dust collector 8
`detachably provided as abovementioned is on development
`to a vacuum cleaner with a dust collector having a structure
`wherein the airflow resistance is minimized, and wherein it
`is easy to discharge impurities and to clean the inside of the
`dust collector.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0014. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
`Vacuum cleaner that Substantially obviates one or more
`problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
`art.
`0015. An object of the present invention is to provide a
`Vacuum cleaner having a structure for minimizing airflow
`resistance.
`0016. Another object of the present invention is to pro
`vide a vacuum cleaner having a structure wherein it is easy
`to discharge impurities collected in the dust collecting
`assembly, and to clean the inside thereof.
`0017 Another object of the present invention is to pro
`vide a vacuum cleaner having a filtering device easily
`cleaned and replaced.
`0018. Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
`invention will be set forth in part in the description which
`follows and in part will become apparent to those having
`ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following
`or may be learned from practice of the invention. The
`objectives and other advantages of the invention may be
`realized and attained by the Structure particularly pointed out
`in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
`appended drawings.
`0019. To achieve these objects and other advantages and
`in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embod
`ied and broadly described herein, a vacuum cleaner includes
`a Sucking nozzle for Sucking in air containing impurities by
`operation of a motor; a dust collecting assembly including a
`dust collecting container having an opened top Surface and
`a dust collecting Space for collecting the impurities therein,
`a top lid for opening and closing the top of the dust
`collecting container, an inlet for Sucking the air to the inside
`of the dust collecting container, a filtering device provided
`in the dust collecting container for filtering impurities Such
`as dust, and an outlet provided at a bottom Surface of the dust
`collecting assembly for discharging clean air to a lower part
`of the dust collecting container; and a cleaner body includ
`ing a dust collecting assembly receiving receSS for detach
`ably receiving the dust collecting assembly, a polluted air
`outlet provided at the dust collecting assembly receiving
`receSS and coupled with the dust collecting assembly inlet
`for discharging polluted air Sucked in through the Sucking
`nozzle, and a clean air inlet provided on a floor of the dust
`collecting assembly receiving receSS and communicating
`with the outlet of the dust collecting assembly, and a clean
`air conduit including a first end connected to the clean air
`inlet and a Second end having a clean air outlet for discharg
`ing the clean air to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
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`US 2005/O198769 A1
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`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`0020. The top lid is detachably provided at the top of the
`dust collecting container. The filtering device is detachably
`coupled to the top lid. In this case, the top lid includes a pass
`through hole perpendicularly bored Such that the filtering
`device is inserted and withdrawn from the upper side of the
`top lid.
`0021. The filtering device is coupled on the top lid by
`means of a projector formed at a top end of the filtering
`device and a coupling lever provided on a top Surface of the
`top lid for fixing the projector. The filtering device includes
`a filter formed in a cylindrical form having a perpendicular
`hollow, and a filter Supporter for Supporting the filter. The
`filtering device further includes a Supplementary filter pro
`vided inside of the filter and formed in a hollow.
`0022. The dust collecting assembly further includes an
`inner flow tube having a bottom end coupled with the outlet
`of the dust collecting assembly and a top end extended
`upward toward the filtering device, for guiding the clean air
`Separated from the dust collecting assembly to the outside of
`the dust collecting container. The inner flow tube includes a
`flow tube cover provided at the second end thereof so as to
`prevent the impurities from being flowed into the inside
`thereof.
`0023 The dust collecting assembly includes a separation
`plate provided in the dust collecting container for preventing
`the impurities collected at a lower part of the dust collecting
`container from being risen by the air flow.
`0024. The separation plate is opened by rotation when the
`impurities collected in the dust collecting container are
`discharged. In more detail, the Separation plate includes two
`Semicircular plates mounted to be rotated in an upper
`direction of the dust collecting container. It is desirable that
`the Separation plate is provided at a lower part of the filtering
`device.
`0.025 The dust collecting container includes a top con
`tainer formed in a cylindrical form; a bottom lid having a
`first end rotatably coupled with a first side of a lower end of
`the top container; and a lid fixing device Selectively fixing
`the bottom lid such that the bottom lid opens and closes the
`bottom of the top container.
`0026. The lid fixing device includes a hook member
`having a hook provided at a first end thereof for caching the
`Second end of the bottom lid; and a hook Supporter provided
`at a Second Side of the top container for Supporting the hook
`member. The hook member is rotatably coupled with the
`hook Supporter and having a Second end coupled with an
`elastic material providing restoring force. The bottom lid
`includes a projector provided at a Second end of the bottom
`lid and hooked by the hook of the hook member.
`0027. The dust collecting assembly inlet is provided at a
`predetermined location on a side of the dust collecting
`container in a tangential direction Such that the polluted air
`Sucked into the inner Space of the dust collecting container
`is spiraled.
`0028. The dust collecting assembly further includes an
`anti rotation plate having a predetermined height and radi
`ally provided in the dust collecting container for preventing
`the impurities from being rotated by Spiraled air.
`0029. It is to be understood that both the foregoing
`general description and the following detailed description of
`
`the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are
`intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
`claimed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0030 The accompanying drawings, which are included
`to provide a further understanding of the invention and are
`incorporated in and constitute a part of this application,
`illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with
`the description Serve to explain the principle of the inven
`tion. In the drawings,
`0031
`FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view showing a
`related art Vacuum cleaner;
`0032 FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a
`Vacuum cleaner in accordance with a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention;
`0033 FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a
`dust collecting assembly being Separated from a cleaner
`body, the dust collecting assembly provided in a vacuum
`cleaner in accordance with the present invention;
`0034 FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing an
`inside Structure of a Sucking nozzle provided in a vacuum
`cleaner in accordance with the present invention;
`0035 FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing a
`first embodiment of a dust collecting assembly provided in
`a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the present invention;
`0036 FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view showing
`the dust collecting assembly of FIG. 5;
`0037 FIG. 7 illustrates a lower surface of the top lid of
`the dust collecting assembly of FIG. 5;
`0038 FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view showing a
`dust collecting assembly provided with a separation plate of
`FIG. 5;
`0039 FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view
`showing a Second embodiment of the dust collecting assem
`bly provided at the vacuum cleaner in accordance with the
`present invention;
`0040 FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view showing
`the dust collecting assembly of FIG. 9;
`0041
`FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view showing
`another preferred embodiment of a separation plate provided
`in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the present inven
`tion;
`0042 FIG. 12 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view
`showing a third embodiment of a dust collecting assembly
`provided in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the present
`invention;
`0043 FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view showing
`the dust collecting assembly of FIG. 12;
`0044 FIG. 14 illustrates a floor plan showing an ampli
`fied “A” section of FIG. 13;
`004.5
`FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view showing
`an opened lower lid of the dust collecting assembly of FIG.
`12; and
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`US 2005/O198769 A1
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`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view showing
`0.046
`another embodiment of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0047 Reference will now be made in detail to the pre
`ferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of
`which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wher
`ever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
`throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
`0.048
`Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a vacuum cleaner in
`accordance with the present invention includes a Sucking
`nozzle 10 moving along a floor and Sucking in air containing
`impurities, a cleaner body 20 coupled with the head, and a
`handle 30 coupled with the cleaner body.
`0049. The sucking nozzle 10 includes a plurality of
`wheels 11 at a lower part thereof, moves along the floor in
`a State of being close thereto, and Sucks in polluted air
`containing impurities from outside through a main inlet (not
`shown) provided at a lower part thereof.
`0050. In this case, it is desirable that a width of the
`Sucking nozzle 10 is 12 to 16 inches, and an agitator is
`provided on an inner Surface of the main inlet of the Sucking
`nozzle. The agitator (not shown) is for separating the impu
`rities Such as dust Stuck on the floor and Sucking in the
`impurities along with outside air. The agitator includes a
`rotation axis 12a formed in a cylindrical form and having
`both ends supported by both sides of the main inlet, and a
`rotation brush 12b provided on an outer circumferential
`Surface of the rotation axis. In this case, it is desirable that
`the rotation brush 12b is provided in a spiral direction on the
`outer circumferential Surface of the rotation axis 12a.
`0051) The cleaner body 20 is rotatably provided at an
`upper part of the Sucking nozzle 10 to be rotatable in a
`predetermined range in a back and forth direction, and a
`rotation adjusting lever 13 is provided at an upper rear
`Surface of the Sucking nozzle 10 for adjusting rotation of the
`cleaner body 20.
`0.052 Owing to the structure abovementioned, a user can
`adjust the cleaner body 20 to a desired angle by pushing or
`pulling the handle 30 while Stepping on the rotation adjust
`ing lever 13 according to the height of the user or a location
`to be cleaned.
`0.053 An electric wire fixing member 21, on which an
`electric wire is wound, is provided on a rear Surface of the
`cleaner body 20. In more detail, the electric wire fixing
`member 21 is formed in a ring form to be Symmetrical to
`each other in up and down direction or on right and left
`direction on a rear Surface of the cleaner body.
`0054) In the cleaner body 20, an air sucking device (not
`shown) having a motor is provided for generating air Suck
`ing force, and the polluted outside air is Sucked in through
`the main inlet of the sucking nozzle 10 by an operation of the
`air Sucking device.
`0055. In this case, it is desirable that the rotating axis (S)
`of the motor is coupled to the rotating axis 12a of the agitator
`of the Sucking nozzle by means of a belt, Such that along
`with generating Sucking force for Sucking in the polluted air,
`the rotation brush 12b of the agitator and the rotating axis
`
`coupled thereto are rotated. It is also desirable that a Sensor,
`particularly a temperature Sensor (not shown) is provided at
`the cleaner body 20 for Sensing overload of the air Sucking
`device So as to automatically cut off power when the air
`Sucking device is overheated more than a predetermined
`temperature. The air Sucking device may be provided in the
`sucking nozzle 10. On a lower front surface of the cleaner
`body 20, a lamp (L) is provided for lightening a front of the
`Vacuum cleaner.
`0056. In front of the cleaner body 20, a dust collecting
`assembly receiving receSS 22 having the dust collecting
`assembly 50 is provided, dust collecting assembly 50 sepa
`rating impurities included in the polluted air from the
`polluted air, and collecting.
`0057 The dust collecting assembly groove 22 includes a
`receiving Space depressed rearward So as to have a Space for
`receiving the dust collecting assembly 50 on a front surface
`of the cleaner body 20. In other words, the dust collecting
`assembly receiving receSS 22 is Sunken on the front Surface
`of the cleaner body to be correspondent to an exterior of the
`dust collecting assembly 50 for receiving the dust collecting
`assembly 50.
`0058. The dust collecting assembly 50 collects the impu
`rities Separated from the polluted air, and discharges cleaned
`air when the polluted air is Sucked in through the main inlet
`of the sucking nozzle 10.
`0059) The dust collecting assembly 50 includes a detach
`able device 70 is provided at an upper part of the dust
`collecting assembly receiving receSS 22, the detachable
`device 70 having restoring force by an elastic member, and
`on a front surface of the dust collecting assembly 50, a
`groove is provided for catching the detachable device 70.
`0060. The detachable device 70 structured as abovemen
`tioned fixes the dust collecting assembly 50 on the cleaner
`body 20 during assembly of the dust collecting assembly 50
`and releases the dust collecting assembly 50 during Separa
`tion of the dust collecting assembly 50.
`0061. In other words, during separation of the dust col
`lecting assembly 50, a user Separates the dust collecting
`assembly 10 from the cleaner body 20 by pressing the
`detachable device 70 downward and releasing the detach
`able device from the groove 56a, and during assembly of the
`dust collecting assembly, the user fixes the dust collecting
`assembly 50 on the cleaner body 20 by pushing the dust
`collecting assembly from the front of the cleaner body into
`the dust collecting assembly receiving receSS 22 and making
`the detachable device 70 to be caught by the groove 56a by
`means of the restoring force.
`0062) The dust collecting assembly 50 structured as
`abovementioned collects the impurities by filtering impuri
`ties through a cyclone method, or through a method for
`Separating impurities by using a filtering device. AS a
`method for Separating the impurities in the dust collecting
`assembly 50, both the cyclone method and the method for
`Separating impurities by using a filtering device can be
`adopted at the same time.
`0063. The dust collecting assembly configured to collect
`the impurities by using the cyclone method makes the air
`flow in a cyclonic movement, the air flowed into the dust
`collecting assembly, and the dust collecting assembly con
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`US 2005/O198769 A1
`
`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`figured to Separate the impurities by the method for Sepa
`rating impurities by using a filtering device has the filtering
`device in the dust collecting assembly So as to remove the
`impurities from the polluted air and discharge clean air to the
`outside thereof. At the dust collecting assembly configured
`to adopt both of the cyclone method and the method for
`Separating impurities by using a filtering device includes
`both structures above mentioned.
`0064. Hereinafter, referring to FIG.3 to 8, a first embodi
`ment of the dust collecting assembly Structured to Separate
`the impurities Such as dust by using the cyclone method
`firstly, and then Separate minute dust by using the filtering
`device Secondly, and the vacuum cleaner with the dust
`collecting assembly will be described.
`0065 Referring to FIG.3 to 8, the dust collecting assem
`bly 50 includes a dust collecting container 51 formed in a
`perpendicular form with a center axis perpendicularly pro
`Vided at the dust collecting assembly receiving receSS 22,
`having a collecting container formed in a cylindrical form
`for Separating and collecting impurities Such as dust by
`using the cyclone principle therein, and having an open top
`thereof, an inlet 52 provided on a side of the dust collecting
`container, an outlet 53 for discharging clean air to a lower
`part of the dust collecting container, a dust collecting con
`tainer handle 54 provided on a front outer wall of the dust
`collecting container 51, and a top lid 56 attachably and
`detachably mounted at an upper part of the dust collecting
`container 51 for opening and closing an upper part of the
`dust collecting container, and having a groove 56a Over
`which the detachable device 70 is caught.
`0.066. In the present invention, the outlet 53 of the dust
`collecting assembly discharges clean air Separated from the
`impurities Such as dust to a lower Side thereof, and corre
`sponding to this, a clean air inlet 23 is provided on a floor
`of the dust collecting assembly receiving receSS 22 for
`communicating with the outlet 53 of the dust collecting
`assembly.
`0067. The cleaner body 20 includes a polluted air sucking
`pipe (not shown) guiding the polluted air Sucked in through
`the main inlet of the Sucking nozzle 10 to the dust collecting
`assembly inlet 52 and having a polluted air outlet coupled at
`an end thereof to the dust collecting assembly inlet 52, and
`a clean air conduit (not shown) including the clean air inlet
`23 provided at a first end thereof and a clea clean air outlet
`25 provided at a Second end thereof for discharging the clean
`air to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
`0068 The polluted air sucking pipe is provided to pass
`through the inside of the cleaner body 20, or to be exposed
`outside of the cleaner body 20. In this case, when the
`polluted air Sucking pipe is provided to be exposed outside
`of the cleaner body 20, the polluted air Sucking pipe is made
`of an elastic material and a predetermined portion of the pipe
`is detachably coupled to the cleaner body 20 such that the
`user can clean a corner by using the polluted air Sucking
`pipe. When the corner is cleaned as abovementioned, it is
`desirable that an accessory coupled to the polluted air
`Sucking pipe is provided on a rear Surface or on a side of the
`cleaner body.
`0069. Meanwhile, a fan (not shown) is provided at the air
`Sucking device Such as the motor. In the present invention,
`it is desirable that the fan is provided at the clean air conduit
`for forcing air flow in the vacuum cleaner.
`
`0070 The dust collecting assembly inlet 52 is provided at
`a predetermined location of the upper part of the dust
`collecting container in a tangential direction Such that the
`polluted air drawn into the dust collecting Space is spiraled
`in the dust collecting container 51.
`0071. In more detail, the dust collecting assembly inlet 52
`is provided in the tangential direction on the upper side of
`the dust collecting container 51, and the polluted air guided
`by the polluted air Sucking pipe is spiraled in the dust
`collecting container 51 and is separated into the impurities,
`Such as dust, and clean air.
`0072. In this case, the dust collecting assembly 52 is
`projected to the outside So as to be inserted into and coupled
`to the polluted air discharger, and the dust collecting assem
`bly 52 is inclined to a predetermined degree such that the air
`flows from the upper part to the lower part thereof.
`0073. The dust collecting assembly 50 further includes a
`filtering device 80 detachably coupled to the top lid 56 and
`filtering impurities such as dust. The filtering device 80 is
`detachably provided at the dust collecting container 51 along
`with the top lid when the filtering device is coupled to the top
`lid and the top lid is opened.
`0074.
`In more detail, the filtering device 80 includes a
`filter 81 formed in a cylindrical form and filtering the
`impurities, and filter supporter 82, 83 for supporting the
`filter 81.
`0075. The filter supporter includes a bottom end Sup
`porter 82 supporting a lower end of the filter 81 for main
`taining a circular form thereof, and a top end Supporter 83
`Supporting a top end of the filter. The filtering Supporter, of
`course, may be formed in a cylindrical form (not shown)
`with a plurality of pass through holes Supporting an inner
`surface of the filter. The filtering device 80 further includes
`a Supplementary filter (not shown) provided on an inner
`Surface of the filter 81, filtering minute dust, and having a
`perpendicular hollow.
`0076. It is desirable that the filter 81 has a plurality of
`blocks perpendicularly provided on an Outer circumferential
`Surface at predetermined intervals along a circumferential
`direction, and formed in a pleated form, Such that an area
`being in contact with flowing air is maximized.
`0077. The filter 81 includes more than a predetermined
`Strength with regard to a strong flow of air, and made of a
`material that maintains the form during washing. It is also
`desirable that the filter Supporter is made of Synthetic resins,
`which is washable.
`0078. A clean air guiding passage 84 is provided in the
`filtering device 80 through which the air passed through the
`filters to be cleaned flows.
`007.9 The top end supporter 83 of the filtering device is
`formed to be larger than the bottom end supporter 82, and
`the top end supporter 83 is fixed to the top lid by a filter
`fixing device 90 incorporated integrally into a lower surface
`of the top lid 56.
`0080 Meanwhile, for fixing the filtering device 80 to the
`top lid 56, a plurality of grooves 83a having a predetermined
`depth and width on an Outer circumferential Surface of the
`top supporter 83, and a push projection 83b provided
`between two grooves of the grooves.
`
`Dyson Ex1031
`Page 21
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`US 2005/O198769 A1
`
`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`0081. The filter fixing device 90 includes a filter fixing
`member 91 formed in cylindrical form and having a cou
`pling projection 91a projected to the inside thereof Such that
`the filtering device 80 passes through the grooves 83a of the
`top end Supporter when the filtering device is mounted on
`the top lid 56, a shifting member 92 formed in a cylindrical
`form and being shifted by the press projection to one Side,
`and a filter coupling confirmer 93 coupled to the shifting
`member 92 for moving along with the shifting member 92
`and preventing the filtering device from being coupled to the
`top lid and the dust collecting container 51 when the filtering
`device is not mounted to the top lid 56.
`0082 In this case, the shifting member 92 includes an
`inserting groove 92a for receiving the push projection 83b of
`the top end Supporter, and a fixing end 92b projected to the
`inside thereof for fixing the push projection 83b at a prede
`termined location of the filtering device.
`0083) The filter coupling confirmer 93 is moved to the
`Same direction as the shifting direction of the shifting
`member 92, and is projected outside through the groove
`provided on a side of the top lid 56 when the filtering device
`80 is separated from the filtering device of the top lid. For
`this, an elastic member Such as a Spring 94 is provided inside
`of the filter coupling confirmer 93, and the spring 94 applies
`preSSure to an inner Surface of the filter coupling confirmer
`93 so as to project outside through the