Suction port assembly and a vacuum cleaner having the same

Abstract

A suction port assembly for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner having such a suction port comprises upper and lower housings, a plurality of suction ports formed in the lower housing, and a plurality of suction paths formed in the upper and lower housings to guide the air drawn in through the suction ports. With this arrangement, the efficiency of cleaning the lateral sides of the suction port assembly can be enhanced, and thus a wide area can be efficiently cleaned.

1 . A suction port assembly comprising: 
 upper and lower housings coupled to each other, said lower housing having a central part between first and second sides;    a plurality of suction ports formed in the lower housing; and    a plurality of suction paths formed in at least one of the upper and lower housings to guide air drawn in from the plurality of suction ports.    
     
     
         2 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of suction ports include a first suction port and a second suction port, formed in the lower housing and spaced from each other, and wherein the plurality of paths includes a first suction path and a second suction path, which communicate with the first suction port and the second suction port, respectively.  
     
     
         3 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first suction port is formed between the central part and one side of the lower housing, and the second suction port is formed between the central part and the other side of the lower housing.  
     
     
         4 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 lateral channels, formed to be recessed from the bottom surface of the lower housing and opening through the sides of the lower housing, operatively coupled to the first and second suction ports;    a central dust moving channel formed to be recessed from the bottom surface of the lower housing in such a manner that the first and second suction ports are fluidically coupled to each other; and    one or more front dust moving channels formed to be recessed from the bottom surface of the lower housing and extending through the front of the lower housing in such a manner that the front end of the lower housing is fluidically coupled to the first and second suction ports.    
     
     
         5 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the upper housing comprises: 
 a suction path cover defining the top of the first and second suction paths and mounted to the lower housing; and    a top cover located over the path cover and connected to the lower housing.    
     
     
         6 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the suction path cover has an arch-shaped section when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the drawn-in air.  
     
     
         7 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first joint part formed along the edge of the path cover; and    a second joint part formed in the lower housing to correspond to the first joint part, so that it can be engaged with the first joint part while maintaining airtightness.    
     
     
         8 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second joint parts are a pair of correspondingly stepped parts.  
     
     
         9 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second joints parts consist of a connection rib and a connection recess corresponding to the connection rib.  
     
     
         10 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a compression rib formed on the bottom surface of the top cover; and    a guide rib formed on the top surface of the path cover in a shape substantially corresponding to the compression rib such that the compression rib can be seated on the guide rib.    
     
     
         11 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the path cover is formed from a transparent material.  
     
     
         12 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a flow guide rib formed on the first and second path by which the drawn-in air can be guided toward a vacuum source.    
     
     
         13 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flow guide rib comprises: 
 a first flow guide rib part formed on the first path; and    a second guide rib part formed on the second path in such a manner that the second guide rib part is connected to one end of the first flow guide rib.    
     
     
         14 . The suction port assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second flow guide rib parts are formed with a guide surface with a predetermined curvature.  
     
     
         15 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a cleaner body having a vacuum source;    a vacuum extension path having first and second ends, the first end of which is connected to the cleaner body in such a manner that air can pass through the extension path to the vacuum source; and    a suction port assembly connected to the second end of the vacuum extension path, the suction port assembly including upper and lower housings, a plurality of suction ports formed in the lower housing, and a plurality of suction paths formed in the upper and lower housings to guide the air drawn in from the suction ports.    
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of suction ports are composed of a first suction port and a second suction port formed in the lower housing and spaced from each other, the plurality of suction paths include a first path and a second path that communicate with the first suction port and the second suction port, respectively.  
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the upper housing comprises: 
 a path cover defining the top of the first and second suction paths and connected to the lower housing; and    a top cover located over the path cover and connected to the lower housing.    
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the suction port assembly further comprises: 
 a first joint part formed along the edge of the path cover; and    a second joint part formed in the lower housing to correspond to the first joint part, so that it can be engaged with the first joint part.    
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the suction port assembly further comprises: 
 a compression rib formed on the bottom surface of the top cover; and    a guide rib formed on the top surface of the path cover in a shape corresponding to that of the compression rib.    
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the suction port assembly further comprises: 
 a flow guide rib formed on the first and second path so that the drawn-in air can be guided toward a vacuum source.