US20240277198A1

US20240277198A1 - Cleaner station and cleaner system comprising the same

Info

Publication number: US20240277198A1
Application number: US18/682,839
Authority: US
Inventors: Yeonghan JEONG; Jinhyouk Shin; Donggeun Lee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2021-08-09
Filing date: 2022-08-05
Publication date: 2024-08-22
Also published as: EP4385382A1; KR20230022799A; WO2023018117A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a cleaner system including the same. The cleaner system includes a surrounding cleaning device which is disposed in the passage, is driven by the suction force of the dust collection motor, and cleans a surrounding area of the housing. Since the surrounding cleaning device can clean the surrounding area of the housing, the cleaner station is able to conveniently clean dust accumulating around the cleaner station even without separately operating the cleaner coupled to the cleaner station, and the cleaner system includes the cleaner station.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a cleaner system including the same and more particularly to a cleaner station which mounts a cleaner and sucks dust collected in the cleaner, and a cleaner system including the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a cleaner is a home appliance which sucks tiny trash or dust in a way of sucking air by using electricity and fills the trash or dust in a dust bin included in the cleaner product. The cleaner is usually called a vacuum cleaner.
Such a cleaner can be divided into a manual cleaner which performs cleaning by being moved directly by a user and an automatic cleaner which performs cleaning while travels by itself. The manual cleaner can be divided into a canister vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a hand vacuum cleaner, and a stick vacuum cleaner, etc., in accordance with the shape thereof.
Meanwhile, there is a cleaner station on which the cleaner is mounted. The cleaner station allows a cleaner which has finished cleaning to be mounted thereon.
The cleaner station mounts a cleaner and sucks dust collected in the dust bin of the cleaner, so that a user is able to empty the dust bin even without emptying directly the dust bin of the cleaner.
A prior art document discloses a cleaning device including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station.
The prior art document includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collection container which collects foreign substances, and a docking station which is connected to the dust collection container in order to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collection container. The dust collection container is docked to the docking station. The docking station is configured to include a suction device for sucking the foreign substances and internal air within the dust collection container docked to the docking station.
According to prior art document, since there is no need for the user to separate the dust bin from the cleaner and to empty the dust collected within the dust bin, there is an effect of preventing the dust from scattering when the dust is emptied within the dust bin. However, in spite of the prior art document, dust may be accumulated around the docking station due to the following reasons.
For example, dust may scatter when a dust bag placed within the docking station is replaced. In the process of opening a cover of the docking station, taking out the dust bag, and sealing the dust bag in order to replace the dust bag, some of the dust may scatter or accumulate around the docking station.
Alternatively, dust may scatter from the mounted cleaner. When a cleaning module or an extension pipe is separated from the cleaner and only a main body of the cleaner is mounted on the docking station, dust may scatter during the process of separating the cleaning module or extension pipe. Unlike this, when the cleaner itself is mounted on the docking station, dust attached to the cleaning module may drop and accumulate on the floor.
Alternatively, for various reasons not mentioned above, dust may accumulate around the docking station.
As such, while dust may accumulate around the docking station, the docking station is not equipped with a separate cleaning device. Therefore, in order to clean the dust around the docking station, there is an inconvenience of having to separate the cleaner from the docking station and operate the cleaner to clean the dust.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The embodiments of the present disclosure are designed to overcome the problems of a conventional cleaning device which includes a vacuum cleaner and a docking station. That is, the purpose of the embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaner station capable of conveniently cleaning dust accumulating around the cleaner station even without separating the cleaner, and a cleaner system including the cleaner station.
The technical problem to be overcome in this document is not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems. Other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood from those described below by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Technical Solution

One embodiment is a cleaner station including: a housing which forms an external appearance thereof and to which a cleaner is coupled: a dust collector which is disposed within the housing and collects dust present within a dust bin disposed in the cleaner; a passage which is disposed within the housing, of which one end communicates with the dust bin and the other end communicates with the dust collector, and through which the dust present in the dust bin flows; a dust collection motor which is disposed downstream of the passage and generates a suction force to the passage; and a surrounding cleaning device which is disposed in the passage, is driven by the suction force of the dust collection motor, and cleans a surrounding area of the housing.
The surrounding cleaning device includes a cleaning hose. The cleaning hose includes: an elastic portion which has wrinkles formed on at least a portion of a surface thereof; and a support of which one end is coupled to the passage and the other end is coupled to the elastic portion.
Here, the support may be formed of a material that is relatively more solid than a material of the elastic portion.
The cleaner station may further include a cleaning nozzle which is coupled to an end of the elastic portion and sucks dust around the housing. In this case, the support and the cleaning nozzle are positioned in directions opposite to each other along the elastic portion.
The passage may be disposed over the dust collector, and the dust collection motor may be disposed below the dust collector.
Another embodiment is a cleaner system including a cleaner and a cleaner station to which the cleaner is coupled. The cleaner includes: a suction portion in which a suction passage through which air flows; a dust separator which includes at least one cyclone part and separates dust from the air; and a dust bin which stores the dust separated through the dust separator. The cleaner station includes a dust collector which collects the dust within the dust bin: a dust collection motor which generates a suction force to suck the dust within the dust bin into the dust collector; and a housing which includes the dust collector and the dust collection motor therein in a longitudinal direction thereof. When a main body of the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, a longitudinal axis of the dust bin and a longitudinal axis of the cleaner station intersect each other. The cleaner station further includes: a passage which is disposed within the housing, of which one end communicates with the dust bin and the other end communicates with the dust collector, and through which the dust present in the dust bin flows; and a surrounding cleaning device which is disposed in the passage, is driven by the suction force of the dust collection motor, and cleans a surrounding area of the housing.
The surrounding cleaning device may include a cleaning hose. The cleaning hose includes an elastic portion which has wrinkles formed on at least a portion of a surface thereof; and a support of which one end is coupled to the passage and the other end is coupled to the elastic portion.
Here, the support may be formed of a material that is relatively more solid than a material of the elastic portion.
The cleaner station may further include a cleaning nozzle which is coupled to an end of the elastic portion and sucks dust around the housing.
The passage may be disposed over the dust collector, and the dust collection motor may be disposed below the dust collector.

Advantageous Effect

According to the cleaner station and the cleaner system including the same according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above has the following one or more effects.
Since the surrounding cleaning device communicates with the passage and cleans around the cleaner station, it is possible to conveniently clean dust accumulating around the cleaner station even without separately operating the cleaner.
Advantageous effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects and other unmentioned effects can be clearly understood from the description of the claims by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cleaner system including a cleaner station and a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a configuration of the cleaner system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the cleaner system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cleaner system in which a surrounding cleaning device with the omission of a portion of a housing;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the cleaner system in a state where a cover of the surrounding cleaning device is opened in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion “A” in FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the cleaner system with a cleaning hose separated from a passage in FIG. 5 ; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an enlarged cleaning nozzle in FIG. 4 .

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As the present invention can have various embodiments as well as can be diversely changed, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. While the present invention is not limited to particular embodiments, all modification, equivalents and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention are understood to be included therein.
Terms used in the present specification are provided for description of only specific embodiments of the present invention, and not intended to be limiting. An expression of a singular form may include the expression of plural form thereof unless otherwise explicitly mentioned in the context.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein including technical and scientific terms have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms, for example, commonly used terms defined in the dictionary, are to be construed to have exactly the same meaning as that of related technology in the context. As long as terms are not clearly defined in the present application, the terms should not be ideally or excessively construed as formal meaning.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner system including a cleaner station and a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a configuration of the cleaner system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cleaner system 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cleaner station 100 and cleaners 200 and 300. Meanwhile, this embodiment may be implemented without some of the components and does not exclude additional components.
The cleaner system 10 may include the cleaner station 100. The cleaners 200 and 300 may be coupled to the cleaner station 100. The cleaner may include a first cleaner 200 and a second cleaner 300. Specifically, the first cleaner 200 may be coupled to the side of the cleaner station 100. The cleaner station 100 is able to remove dust of a dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200.
First, a structure of the first cleaner 200 will be described as follows.
The first cleaner 200 may refer to a cleaner that is manually operated by a user. For example, the first cleaner 200 may refer to a hand vacuum cleaner or a stick vacuum cleaner.
The first cleaner 200 may be mounted on the cleaner station 100. The first cleaner 200 may be supported by the cleaner station 100. The first cleaner 200 may be coupled to the cleaner station 100.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a direction may be defined based on the disposition of the dust bin 220 on the ground.
The first cleaner 200 may include a main body 210. The main body 210 of the first cleaner may include a body housing (not shown), a suction portion (not shown), a dust separator (not shown), a suction motor (not shown), a handle, and an operation unit.
The body housing may form the external appearance of the first cleaner 200. The body housing may provide a space capable of receiving the components such as the suction motor and a filter (not shown) therein. The body housing may be formed in a shape similar to a cylinder.
The suction portion protrudes outward from the body housing. The suction portion may be combined with the extension pipe 250. The suction portion may provide a passage through which dust-containing air can flow (hereinafter, may be referred to as a “suction passage”).
The dust separator communicates with the suction portion and separates dust from the air sucked into the inside through the suction portion. A space within the dust separator may communicate with a space within the dust bin 220.
The dust separator may be provided with a cyclone part capable of separating dust by cyclonic flow.
The suction motor generates suction force for sucking air. By the suction force, dust-containing air is introduced into the dust bin 220.
The handle 216 may be gripped by a user. The handle 216 may be disposed behind the suction motor 214. For example, the handle 216 may be shaped similarly to a cylinder. Alternatively, the handle 216 may be formed in the shape of a curved cylinder.
The handle 216 may be disposed at a predetermined angle with the body housing 211, the suction motor 214, or the dust separator 213.
The handle is formed to allow the user to grip it.
The operation unit may be disposed on the handle.
The first cleaner 200 may include the dust bin 220. The dust bin 220 may communicate with the dust separator. The dust bin 220 may store the dust separated by the dust separator.
A longitudinal axis of the dust bin 220 is disposed along a central axis direction of the cylindrical dust bin 220. Referring to FIG. 2 , the longitudinal axis of the dust bin 220 is disposed in the front-rear direction when the first cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 100.
When the main body 210 of the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station 100, the longitudinal axis of the dust bin 220 and a longitudinal axis of the cleaner station 100 intersect each other.
The first cleaner 200 may include a battery (not shown). The battery may supply power to the first cleaner 200.
The first cleaner 200 may include the extension pipe 250. The extension pipe 250 may communicate with a cleaning module 260. The extension pipe 250 may communicate with the main body 210. The extension pipe 250 may communicate with the suction portion of the main body 210. The extension pipe 250 may be formed in a long cylindrical shape.
The first cleaner 200 may include the cleaning module 260. The cleaning module 260 may communicate with the extension pipe 250. Therefore, outside air may pass through the cleaning module 260 and the extension pipe 250 and then be introduced into the main body 210 of the first cleaner 200, by the suction force generated by the main body 210 of the first cleaner 200.
Although not shown, the cleaning module 260 may be coupled to a surrounding cleaning device 184. More specifically, the cleaning module 260 may be coupled to a nozzle 1844 of the surrounding cleaning device 184. Accordingly, the surrounding cleaning device 184 can perform various cleaning modes depending on the type of cleaning module 260.
Dust in the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200 may be collected to a dust collector 170 of the cleaner station 100 by gravity and a suction force of a dust collection motor 190. Through this, since the dust in the dust bin 220 can be removed without a separate operation of the user, convenience for users can be provided. In addition, it is possible to remove the inconvenience for the user to empty the dust bin 220 each time. Also, the dust can be prevented from scattering during the emptying of the dust bin 220.
The first cleaner 200 may be coupled to a side of a housing 110. Specifically, a central axis of the dust bin 220 may be arranged in a direction parallel to the ground, and the extension pipe 250 may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the ground.
The second cleaner 300 sucks foreign substances such as dust, etc., on the floor while traveling by itself in an area to be cleaned, so that the area to be cleaned can be automatically cleaned. The second cleaner 300 may include a distance sensor that detects a distance to an obstacle, such as furniture, office supplies, or walls, etc., installed in the cleaning area, a left wheel, and a right wheel which are for allowing the robotic cleaner to move. The second cleaner 300 may be coupled to the cleaner station. Dust in the second cleaner 300 may be collected by the dust collector 170 through a second cleaner passage 182.
Although not shown, as with the first cleaner 200, the second cleaner 300 may include a suction portion, a suction motor, and a dust bin.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cleaner station 100 of the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows.
The first cleaner 200 and the second cleaner 300 may be disposed in the cleaner station 100. Specifically, the first cleaner 200 may be coupled to the side of the cleaner station 100. Accordingly, the cleaner station 100 can remove dust from the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200. The second cleaner 300 may be coupled to a lower portion of the cleaner station 100. Accordingly, the cleaner station 100 can remove dust from the dust bin (not shown) of the second cleaner 300.
The cleaner station 100 may include the housing 110. The housing 110 may form the external appearance of the cleaner station 100. Specifically, the housing 110 may be formed in a column shape including at least one outer wall surface. For example, the housing 110 may be formed in a shape similar to a quadrangular column.
The housing 110 forms a space for receiving various components therein.
The housing 110 may have an inner space capable of receiving the dust collector 170 that stores dust therein and the dust collection motor 190 that generates a flow force for collecting dust to the dust collector 170. A passage 180 may be provided in the inner space.
The housing 110 may include a bottom surface 111, an outer wall surface 112, and a top surface 113.
The bottom surface 111 may support the lower portion in the direction of gravity of the cleaner station 100.
Here, the bottom surface 111 may be disposed toward the ground. The bottom surface 111 may be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle to the ground as well as may be placed parallel to the ground. With such a configuration, the bottom surface is able to stably support the cleaner station 100, and is able to balance the overall weight even when the first cleaner 200 is coupled.
The outer wall surface 112 may mean a surface formed in the direction of gravity, and may mean a surface connected to the bottom surface 111. For example, the outer wall surface 112 may mean a surface connected perpendicular to the bottom surface 111. In another embodiment, it is possible that the outer wall surface 112 is disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with the bottom surface 111.
A communication hole 112 a may be formed in the outer wall surface. The communication hole 112 a communicates an inner space and an outer space of the cleaner station 100.
Referring to FIG. 3 , the communication hole 112 a may be formed in the rear surface among the outer wall surfaces 112. This is because the outer wall surface 112 adjacent to the second cleaner passage 182 is the rear surface. The communication hole may be formed in the left surface, right surface, or other surfaces depending on where the second cleaner passage 182 is installed.
A surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 is disposed in the communication hole 112 a.
Meanwhile, for understanding of the present embodiment, a direction is defined as follows. In the embodiment, a direction may be defined in the state where the first cleaner 200 is mounted on the cleaner station 100.
When the first cleaner 200 or the second cleaner 300 is mounted on the cleaner station 100, a direction in which the first cleaner 200 or the second cleaner 300 is exposed to the outside of the cleaner station 100 may be referred to as a front direction. A surface which is disposed in the front direction may be referred to as a front surface.
Also, a surface facing the front with respect to the inner space of the housing 110 may be referred to as a rear surface of the cleaner station 100.
Also, a surface on the left when the front is viewed with respect to the inner space of the housing 110 may be referred to as a left surface, and a surface on the right may be referred to as a right surface.
The top surface may form the upper exterior of the cleaner station. That is, the top surface may mean a surface that is disposed at the top side in the direction of gravity in the cleaner station and is exposed to the outside.
For reference, in the present embodiment, the upper and lower sides may be defined respectively along the direction of gravity (direction perpendicular to the ground) in a state where the cleaner station 100 is installed on the ground. The up and down direction may be referred to as a longitudinal direction of the cleaner station 100.
Components disposed within the housing 110 may be disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaner station 100. Referring to FIG. 2 , the dust collector 170, the passage 180, and the dust collection motor 190 are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaner station 100.
Here, the top surface can be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle to the ground as well as can be placed parallel to the ground.
A display unit (not shown) may be disposed on the top surface. For example, the display unit may display the state of the cleaner station 100 and the state of the cleaners 200 and 300, and may additionally display information on a cleaning progress status and on a map of a cleaning area, etc.
The cleaner station 100 may include the dust collector 170. The dust collector 170 may be disposed within the housing 110. The dust collector 170 may be disposed in the direction of gravity below a position where the first cleaner 200 is coupled.
The dust collector 170 is received within the housing 110 and collects dust within the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200.
As an example, the dust collector 170 may refer to a dust bag that collects dust sucked from the inside of the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200 by the dust collection motor 190.
The dust collector 170 may be detachably coupled to the housing 110.
Accordingly, the dust collector 170 may be separated from the housing 110 and discarded, and a new dust collector 170 may be coupled to the housing 110. That is, the dust collector 170 may be defined as a consumable part.
The cleaner station 100 may include the passage 180. The passage 180 may connect the cleaners 200 and 300 and the dust collector 170.
The passage 180 is formed to allow dust in the dust bin 220 to flow, and is received in the inner space of the housing 110.
One end of the passage 180 communicates with the dust bin disposed in the cleaners 200 and 300. Specifically, one end of a first cleaner passage 181 communicates with the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200, and one end of a second cleaner passage 182 communicates with the dust bin of the second cleaner 300.
The other end of the passage 180 communicates with the dust collector 170. Accordingly, dust flows through the passage 180, and is then collected to the dust collector 170.
The passage portion 180 may include a first cleaner passage portion 181, a second cleaner passage portion 182, and a passage switching valve 183.
The first cleaner passage 181 may connect the dust collector 170 and the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200.
The dust bin 220 of the first cleaner is disposed above the dust collector 170, and the first cleaner passage 181 communicates with the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner. That is, the first cleaner passage 181 has an overall downward flow direction.
The first cleaner passage 181 may refer to a space between the dust collector 170 and the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200. The first cleaner passage 181 may extend rearward from the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200 and may be bent downward.
The second cleaner passage 182 may connect the second cleaner 300 and the dust collector 170. The dust in the second cleaner 300 may move to the dust collector 170 through the second cleaner passage 182.
The dust bin (not shown) of the second cleaner is disposed below the dust collector 170, and the second cleaner passage 182 communicates with the dust bin of the second cleaner. That is, the second cleaner passage 182 has an overall upward flow direction.
The second cleaner passage 182 may be divided into an upper passage 182 a and a lower passage 182 b.
The upper passage 182 a is disposed above the lower passage 182 b and is spaced apart from the lower passage 182 b. One end of the upper passage 182 a is connected to the dust collector 170 or the passage switching valve 183, and the other end is disposed close to the lower passage 182 b.
The lower passage 182 b is disposed below the upper passage 182 a and is spaced apart from the upper passage 182 a. One end of the lower passage 182 b is connected to the dust bin of the second cleaner 300, and the other end is disposed close to the upper passage 182 a.
The end of the upper passage 182 a and the end of the lower passage 182 b are arranged at regular intervals. The surrounding cleaning device 184 is disposed in the interval. The upper passage 182 a—a cleaning hose 1842—the lower passage 182 b communicate with each other to form the second cleaner passage 182.
The passage switching valve 183 may be disposed between the dust collector 170 and both the first cleaner passage 181 and the second cleaner passage 182. The passage switching valve 183 can selectively open and close the first cleaner passage 181 and the second cleaner passage 182 which are connected to the dust collector 170. Through this, it is possible to prevent a decrease in suction force caused by opening the plurality of passages 181 and 182.
For example, when only the first cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 100, the passage switching valve 183 may connect the first cleaner passage 181 and the dust collector 170 and may disconnect the connection between the second cleaner passage 182 and the dust collector 170. On the contrary, when only the second cleaner 300 is coupled to the cleaner station 100, the passage switching valve 183 may connect the second cleaner passage 182 and the dust collector 170 and may disconnect the connection between the first cleaner passage 181 and the dust collector 170. Also, when the surrounding cleaning device 184 operates, the passage switching valve 183 may connect the second cleaner passage 182 and the dust collector 170 and may disconnect the connection between the first cleaner passage 181 and the dust collector 170.
The dust collection motor 190 may be disposed below the dust collector 170. The dust collection motor 190 may generate a suction force in the passage 180. Through this, the dust collection motor 190 may provide a suction force capable of sucking the dust in the dust bin 220 of the first cleaner 200.
The dust collection motor 190 is disposed downstream of the passage and provides the suction force to the dust bin through the passage. The dust collection motor 190 is disposed below the passage 180, and the flow direction in the passage 180 is from the top to the bottom. Therefore, it can be said that the dust collection motor 190 is disposed downstream of the passage 180. The dust collection motor 190 generates the suction force in the passage 180, and the passage 180 is in communication with the dust bin 220. Therefore, the dust collection motor 190 can provide the suction force to the dust bin 220 through the passage 180.
The cleaner station 100 may include the operation unit.
The operation unit may be disposed in the housing 110. For example, the operation unit may be disposed on the housing 110.
The operation unit may be operated by the user. When the user presses the operation unit, the cleaner station 100 performs an operation corresponding to a user command.
The operation unit can control the surrounding cleaning device 184 in addition to various components of the cleaner station 100. The surrounding cleaning device 184 is controlled by the operation unit of the cleaner station 100, and the surrounding cleaning device 184 can clean the surroundings of the cleaner station by the operation of the dust collection motor 190.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 is a component that cleans the surrounding area of the cleaner station 100. The surrounding cleaning device 184 is disposed in the passage 180.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 forms a portion of the passage 180 when not in use. When the surrounding cleaning device 184 is intended to be used, one end of the surrounding cleaning device 184 is separated from the passage 180 and the surrounding cleaning device 184 cleans the surrounding area.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 forms a portion of the passage 180 when not in use. As described above, the cleaning hose 1842 is connected to the upper passage 182 a and the lower passage 182 b and forms the second cleaner passage 182. Also, When the surrounding cleaning device 184 is intended to be used, the surrounding cleaning device 184 is separated from the passage 180 and cleans the surrounding area.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 forms a portion of the passage 180, sucks dust by the suction force of the dust collection motor 190, and does not require a separate driving element. Therefore, the surroundings of the cleaner can be cleaned with a simple configuration and the volume of the cleaner station 100 is not increased.
For example, after the user takes out the dust collector 170 of the cleaner station 100 and removes the collected dust, the user is able to remove the dust remaining around the dust collector 170 or around the cleaner station 100 by the surrounding cleaning device 184. There is no need to separate the cleaner in order to clean the remaining dust. Hereinafter, the detailed structure and shape of the surrounding cleaning device 184 will be described.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 may include the cover 1841, the cleaning hose 1842, a connecting member 1843, and the nozzle 1844.
When the surrounding cleaning device is not in use, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 covers the communication hole 112 a to shield the cleaning hose 1842. When the surrounding cleaning device is in use, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 opens the communication hole 112 a to allow the cleaning hose 1842 to be taken out. That is, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 selectively covers the communication hole 112 a.
The surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 may be divided into a horizontal portion and a vertical portion.
The horizontal portion of the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 is rotatably disposed on the passage 180. Specifically, the horizontal portion is fixedly coupled to the upper support 1842 a of the cleaning hose 1842, and rotates simultaneously with the upper support 1842 a as the upper support 1842 a rotates.
The horizontal portion extends outward from the passage 180 or the upper support 1842 a.
The vertical portion of the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 extends upward or downward from an outer end of the horizontal portion. Specifically, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 is formed in a plate shape.
When the surrounding cleaning device is not in use, the vertical portion covers the communication hole 112 a to shield the cleaning hose 1842. The vertical portion is disposed on the same plane as the outer wall surface 112 of the housing.
When the surrounding cleaning device 184 is used, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 rotates in one direction. When the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 rotates in one direction, the cleaning hose 1842 is exposed to the outside.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 is disposed on the second cleaner passage 182. The passage 180 may be divided into the first cleaner passage 181 connected to the first cleaner and the second cleaner passage 182 connected to the second cleaner. Among them, the surrounding cleaning device 184 is disposed on the second cleaner passage 182, so that the user can clean the surroundings of the cleaner station 100 by the surrounding cleaning device 184 while emptying the dust bin of the first cleaner. Unlike this, the first cleaner passage 181 and the second cleaner passage 182 are selectively opened and closed by the passage switching valve 183, so that the dust bin of the first cleaner is emptied or the surrounding cleaning device 184 is selectively operated.
When the surrounding cleaning device is not in use, the cleaning hose 1842 forms a portion of the passage 180. When the surrounding cleaning device is in use, the cleaning hose 1842 is separated from the passage 180 and cleans the surrounding area of the cleaner station 100. Specifically, the passage 180 to which the cleaning hose 1842 is connected may be the second cleaner passage 182.
An upper end of the cleaning hose 1842 may be fixedly coupled to the passage 180, and a lower end of the cleaning hose 1842 may be detachably coupled to the passage 180. When the surrounding cleaning device is not in use, the cleaning hose 1842 forms the second cleaner passage 182, through which dust sucked from the second cleaner flows. When the surrounding cleaning device is in use, the lower end of the cleaning hose 1842 is separated from the passage 180, so that the surrounding area of the cleaner station 100 can be cleaned.
The cleaning hose 1842 may include supports 1842 a and 1842 b and an elastic portion 1842 c.
One end of the supports 1842 a and 1842 b is coupled to the passage 180, and the other end is coupled to the elastic portion 1842 c.
The supports 1842 a and 1842 b are made of a solid material. A solid material means that it is relatively more solid than the material of the elastic portion 1842 c.
The supports 1842 a and 1842 b are formed in a cylindrical shape, and air together with dust flows within the supports 1842 a and 1842 b.
The supports 1842 a and 1842 b may include the upper support 1842 a and the lower support 1842 b.
The upper support 1842 a is coupled to a lower end of the upper passage 182 a.
The lower support 1842 b is coupled to an upper end of the lower passage 182 b.
One end of the elastic portion 1842 c is coupled to the other end of the supports 1842 a and 1842 b. The other end of the elastic portion 1842 c is detachably coupled to the passage 180 or detachably coupled to the lower support 1842 b. Specifically, the elastic portion 1842 c is fixedly coupled to a lower end of the upper support 1842 a, and the elastic portion 1842 c is detachably coupled to an upper end of the lower support 1842 b.
Wrinkles are formed on at least a portion of the elastic portion 1842 c, and a plurality of wrinkles is formed in the longitudinal direction of the elastic portion 1842 c. The length of the wrinkles formed on the elastic portion 1842 c can be increased or decreased.
The wrinkles have peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys are formed in the circumferential direction of the elastic portion 1842 c. The radius of the peak may be larger than the radius of the valley.
The peak and valley are alternately arranged, and the peak and valley are formed in plural number in the longitudinal direction of the elastic portion 1842 c.
The connecting member 1843 connects the cleaning hose 1842 and the passage 180. The connecting member 1843 rotatably couples the cleaning hose 1842 to the passage 180. The connecting member 1843 prevents the cleaning hose 1842 from twisting when the cleaning hose 1842 rotates.
The connecting member 1843 can be divided into an upper connecting member 1843 a and a lower connecting member 1843 b. The upper connecting member 1843 a is disposed between the upper passage 182 a and the upper support 1842 a, and freely rotates the upper support 1842 a from the fixed upper passage 182 a. The lower connecting member 1843 b is disposed between the lower passage 182 b and the lower support 1842 b, and freely rotates the lower support 1842 b from the fixed lower passage 182 b.
The connecting member 1843 may include a ball bearing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent friction from occurring when the upper support 1842 a or the lower support 1842 b rotates.
The cleaning nozzle 1844 sucks dust into the cleaning hose 1842. The cleaning nozzle 1844 is disposed at the other end of the elastic portion 1842 c, and at least a portion of the cleaning nozzle 1844 is formed to be insertable into the passage 180.
When the surrounding cleaning device 184 is not in use, the cleaning nozzle 1844 is inserted into the passage 180 or the lower support 1842 b. Conversely, when the surrounding cleaning device 184 is in use, the cleaning nozzle 1844 is separated from the passage 180 or the lower support 1842 b and sucks dust remaining in the surrounding area.
The cleaning nozzle 1844 is formed such that a cross-sectional area of one end of the cleaning nozzle 1844, which is inserted into the passage 180, is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the other end of the cleaning nozzle 1844, which is not inserted into the passage 180.
A cross-sectional area of the longitudinal outer end of the cleaning nozzle 1844 is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the longitudinal inner end. Accordingly, dust can be effectively sucked by maximizing subatmospheric pressure at the longitudinal outer end of the cleaning nozzle 1844.
The cleaning nozzle 1844 may be formed in a truncated cone shape. Here, an outer circumferential surface of the truncated cone is caught by the passage 180 or the lower support 1842 b.
Referring to FIG. 8 , according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the cleaning nozzle 1844 may be inserted into the lower support 1842 b.
Unlike this, although not shown, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower support 1842 b and the lower connecting member 1843 b may not be provided. Here, the cleaning nozzle 1844 may be inserted into the lower passage 182 b.
The support 1842 a and the cleaning nozzle 1844 are positioned in directions opposite to each other along the elastic portion 1842 c. Referring to FIG. 4 , the support 1842 a may be located at the top of the elastic portion 1842 c, and the cleaning nozzle 1844 may be located at the bottom of the elastic portion 1842 c. Unlike this, the support 1842 a may be located at the bottom of the elastic portion 1842 a, and the cleaning nozzle 1844 may be located at the top of the elastic portion 1842 c.
Hereinafter, an operating method of the surrounding cleaning device 184 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is driven by the dust collection motor 190 of the cleaner station 100.
The surrounding cleaning device 184 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is disposed within the housing 110 and is shielded from the outside when not in use.
A user who intends to clean the surroundings of the cleaner station 100 rotates the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 in one direction. When the user presses one side of the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841, the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 and the cleaning hose 1842 are rotated in one direction, and the cleaning hose 1842 is not twisted by the connecting member 1843. When the surrounding cleaning device cover 1841 is rotated in one direction, the cleaning hose 1842 is exposed to the outside.
The user separates the cleaning hose 1842 and cleans the surrounding area. The cleaning nozzle 1844 is disposed in the lower portion of the cleaning hose 1842, and the cleaning nozzle 1844 is pulled out from the lower support 1842 b. The remaining dust can be sucked through the cleaning nozzle 1844. Here, since the cleaning hose 1842 includes an elastic portion 1842 c, the length of the cleaning hose 1842 can be increased or decreased as needed.
Although the present invention has been described above by way of the specific embodiments, this is for describing the present invention in detail. The present invention is not limited thereto and it is clear that the present invention can be modified or improved within the spirit of the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the art.
All simple modifications or changes of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention. The specific scope of protection of the present invention will be apparent by the appended claims.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A cleaner station comprising:

a housing that defines an external appearance of the cleaner station and is configured to couple to a cleaner;

a dust collector disposed within the housing and configured to collect dust from a dust bin of the cleaner;

a passage disposed within the housing and configured to guide the dust, the passage having (i) a first end in fluid communication with the dust bin and (ii) a second end in fluid communication with the dust collector;

a dust collection motor disposed at a downstream portion of the passage and configured to provide a suction force to the passage; and

a surrounding cleaning device connected to the passage and configured to be driven by the suction force of the dust collection motor, the surrounding cleaning device being configured to clean a surrounding area of the housing.

13. The cleaner station of claim 12, wherein the surrounding cleaning device comprises a cleaning hose, the cleaning hose comprising:

an elastic portion having a wrinkled surface; and

a support having (i) a first end coupled to the passage and (ii) a second end coupled to the elastic portion.

14. The cleaner station of claim 13, wherein a hardness of the support is greater than a hardness of the elastic portion.

15. The cleaner station of claim 13, wherein the surrounding cleaning device further comprises a cleaning nozzle coupled to an end of the elastic portion and configured to suction dust from the surrounding area of the housing.

16. The cleaner station of claim 15, wherein the support and the cleaning nozzle are arranged opposite to each other along the elastic portion.

17. The cleaner station of claim 12, wherein the passage is disposed above the dust collector, and the dust collection motor is disposed below the dust collector.

18. The cleaner station of claim 12, wherein the passage is configured to guide the dust in a direction from the dust bin to the dust collector, and

wherein the downstream portion of the passage is disposed closer to the dust collector than to the dust bin.

19. The cleaner station of claim 12, wherein the surrounding cleaning device comprises a cleaning hose configured to be stored inside the housing and to extend to an outside of the housing.

20. The cleaner station of claim 19, wherein the housing comprises an outer wall that defines a communication hole at a position corresponding to the cleaning hose, and

wherein the cleaning hose is configured to extend to the outside of the housing through the communication hole.

21. The cleaner station of claim 20, further comprising a surrounding cleaning device cover that is disposed at the housing and configured to open and close the communication hole, the surrounding cleaning device cover being configured to rotate relative to the outer wall of the housing.

22. The cleaner station of claim 19, wherein the cleaning hose comprises:

an elastic portion having a wrinkled surface; and

a plurality of supports that are disposed at ends of the elastic portion, respectively.

23. The cleaner station of claim 22, wherein the plurality of supports comprise:

an upper support disposed at an upper end of the elastic portion and coupled to the passage and to the elastic portion; and

a lower support spaced apart from the elastic portion and disposed below a lower end of the elastic portion,

wherein the surrounding cleaning device further comprises a cleaning nozzle coupled to the lower end of the elastic portion, and

wherein the lower support is configured to support the cleaning nozzle.

24. A cleaner system comprising:

a cleaner station; and

a cleaner configured to couple to the cleaner station,

wherein the cleaner comprises:

a main body configured to be coupled to the cleaner station,

a suction portion that is coupled to the main body and defines a suction passage configured to receive air,

a dust separator comprising at least one cyclone configured to separate dust from the air, and

a dust bin configured to store the dust separated through the dust separator, wherein the cleaner station comprises:

a dust collector configured to collect the dust from the dust bin,

a dust collection motor configured to generate a suction force for suctioning the dust from the dust bin into the dust collector, and

a housing that accommodates the dust collector and the dust collection motor therein along in a longitudinal direction of the housing,

wherein a longitudinal axis of the dust bin and a longitudinal axis of the cleaner station intersect each other in a state in which the main body of the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, and

wherein the cleaner station further comprises:

a passage disposed within the housing and configured to guide the dust from the dust bin, the passage having (i) a first end in fluid communication with the dust bin and (ii) a second end in fluid communication with the dust collector, and

25. The cleaner system of claim 24, wherein the surrounding cleaning device comprises: a cleaning hose, the cleaning hose comprising:

an elastic portion having a wrinkled surface; and

26. The cleaner system of claim 25, wherein a hardness of the support is greater than a hardness of the elastic portion.

27. The cleaner system of claim 25, wherein the surrounding cleaning device further comprises a cleaning nozzle coupled to an end of the elastic portion and configured to suction dust from the surrounding area of the housing.

28. The cleaner system of claim 24, wherein the passage is disposed above the dust collector, and the dust collection motor is disposed below the dust collector.

29. The cleaner system of claim 24, wherein the surrounding cleaning device comprises a cleaning hose configured to be stored inside the housing and to extend to an outside of the housing.

30. The cleaner system of claim 29, wherein the housing comprises an outer wall that defines a communication hole at a position corresponding to the cleaning hose, and

31. The cleaner station of claim 30, further comprising a surrounding cleaning device cover that is disposed at the housing and configured to open and close the communication hole, the surrounding cleaning device cover being configured to rotate relative to the outer wall of the housing.