Extension pipe supporting apparatus and a vacuum cleaner having the same

Abstract

An extension pipe supporting apparatus is pivotally attached to a vacuum cleaner extension so as to be retractable into a storage position. The extension pipe supporting apparatus provides an included support for a vacuum cleaner extension pipe by which a vacuum cleaner extension pipe can be independently supported in a substantially upright position. The extension pipe supporting apparatus comprises a shell member mounted to an extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner, and a supporting member engaged with the shell member and pivoting between a first position and a second position, the first position in which the extension pipe is supported in a standing posture on a floor and the second position in which the supporting member is folded to be in contact with the extension pipe. Accordingly, the user can keep the extension pipe in a standing posture on a floor, and therefore, the user does not have to bend over to pick up the extension pipe from the floor when restarting the cleaning work.

1 . An extension pipe supporting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner extension pipe comprising: 
 a shell member mounted to an extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner; and    a supporting member pivotally engaged with the shell member and pivoting between a first position wherein the supporting member supports the extension pipe and a second position wherein the supporting member is folded against the shell member.    
   
   
       2 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell member comprises first and second shell members engaged with each other around the extension pipe and respectively comprising a hinge recess, and wherein, 
 the supporting member comprises a pair of hinge projections rotatably received in the hinge recess.    
   
   
       3 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising: 
 a first elastic spring member coupled to the hinge projections to elastically support the supporting member in the first position; and    a lock to lock the supporting member in the second position.    
   
   
       4 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic spring member comprises a torsion spring.  
   
   
       5 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the locking unit comprises: 
 a pair of hook members having a projection recess and a protrusion and mounted to the left and the right shells to move between a locked position and an unlocked position;    a second elastic spring member for elastically supporting the hook member in the locked position;    a supporting member actuating button on the shell member to move the hook member to the unlocked position; and    a latching jaw formed on the supporting member for engagement with the hook member in the locked position of the hook member.    
   
   
       6 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 5 , comprising a pair of auxiliary supporting members mounted at an end of the supporting member to widen a contacting surface of the supporting member with the floor in the first position, 
 wherein the auxiliary supporting members are respectively provided with the latching jaw.    
   
   
       7 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of auxiliary supporting members are pivotably mounted to the supporting member by a pin with a third elastic spring member disposed thereon so as to be folded in the locked position of the hook member and unfolded in the unlocked position of the hook member.  
   
   
       8 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a cleaner body;    an extension pipe connected to the cleaner body through a flexible hose that couples the cleaner body to the extension pipe and which forms a suction path;    a suction brush connected to an end of the extension pipe; and    an extension pipe supporting apparatus operatively coupled to the extension pipe, supporting the extension pipe to stand on a floor;    wherein the extension pipe comprises: 
 a shell member mounted to the extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner; and  
 a supporting member engaged with the shell member and pivoting between a first position in which the extension pipe is supported in a standing posture on a floor and a second position in which the supporting member is folded to be in contact with the shell member.  
   
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the shell member comprises first and second shell members engaged with each other around the extension pipe and respectively comprising a hinge recess, and 
 the supporting member comprises a pair of hinge projections rotatably received in the hinge recess.    
   
   
       10 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising: 
 a first elastic spring member, elastically supporting the supporting member to the first position; and    a locking unit for locking the supporting member in the second position.    
   
   
       11 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first elastic spring member comprises a torsion spring.  
   
   
       12 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the locking unit comprises: 
 a pair of hook members having a projection recess and a protrusion and mounted to the left and the right shells to move between a locked position and an unlocked position;    a second elastic spring member for elastically supporting the hook member in the locked position;    a supporting member actuating button mounted on the shell member to press the projection recess and thereby move the hook member to the unlocked position; and    a latching jaw formed on the supporting member for engagement with the hook member in the locked position of the hook member.    
   
   
       13 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a pair of auxiliary supporting members mounted at an end of the supporting member to enlarge a contacting surface of the supporting member with the floor in the first position, 
 wherein the auxiliary supporting members are respectively provided with the latching jaw.    
   
   
       14 . The extension pipe supporting apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of auxiliary supporting members are pivotably mounted to the supporting member by a pin with a third elastic spring member disposed thereon so as to be folded in the locked position of the hook member and unfolded in the unlocked position of the hook member.