Suction port assembly of vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner operable on upright mode and canister mode is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction port assembly comprising a suction port and a suction passage to draw in dust-laden air, a cleaner body housing a dust separating unit and a motor connected with the dust separating unit, an operating handle assembly in fluid communication with the cleaner body through a hose and in fluid communication with an extension pipe, and a carrying handle assembly sliding along the cleaner body to increase in length. If the vacuum cleaner is in the upright mode, the extension pipe is in fluid communication with the suction port assembly, is used as a passage for air to pass toward the cleaner body, and supports the cleaner body, while if the vacuum cleaner is in the canister mode, the extension pipe is separated from the cleaner body.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction port assembly comprising a suction port and a suction passage to draw in dust-laden air from an object being cleaned;   a cleaner body housing a dust separating unit and a motor that is connected with the dust separating unit; and   an extension pipe fluidly connected to the cleaner body, which can be attached or detached lengthwise along one portion of the cleaner body,   wherein if the vacuum cleaner operates in an upright mode, the extension pipe is connected with the suction port assembly, the extension pipe is used as a passage for the air to pass toward the cleaner body, and the extension pipe supports the cleaner body, while if the vacuum cleaner operates in a canister mode, the extension pipe is separated from the suction port assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the suction port assembly further comprises a rotating connector which can be connected to or disconnected from the extension pipe. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the rotating connector comprises:
 a hinge shaft in which both ends are rotatably connected to a rear portion of the suction port assembly; and   an engaging pipe engaged with the hinge shaft, connected in fluid communication with the suction passage, and separably engaged with the extension pipe.   
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein, if the vacuum cleaner is in the upright mode, the extension pipe remains connected with the rotating connector, and rotates with respect to the suction port assembly so as to allow the cleaner body to turn with respect to the suction port assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaner body comprises at least one snap-connector formed on one side to be snap-engaged with the extension pipe. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , being convertible from the upright mode to the canister mode by a two-step operation including separating an end of the extension pipe from the rotating connector, and connecting an accessory nozzle to the end of the extension pipe. 
   
   
       7 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction-port assembly comprising a suction port and a suction passage to draw in dust-laden air from an object being cleaned;   a cleaner body housing a dust separating unit and a motor that is connected with the dust separating unit;   an operating handle assembly in which one end is connected in fluid communication with the cleaner body through a hose, and the other end is connected in fluid communication with an extension pipe which is attachable to or detachable from the cleaner body; and   a carrying handle assembly sliding along the cleaner body to increase in length,   wherein, if the vacuum cleaner is in an upright mode, the extension pipe is in fluid communication with the suction port assembly, the extension pipe is used as a passage for air to pass toward the cleaner body, and the extension pipe supports the cleaner body, while, if the vacuum cleaner is in a canister mode, the extension pipe is in fluid communication with the suction port assembly, the extension pipe is used as a passage for air to pass toward the cleaner body, and the extension pipe is separated from the cleaner body.   
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the carrying handle assembly comprises:
 a body part in which a handgrip formed, and the operating handle assembly is docked in a rear side of the body part;   a sliding bar formed in the cleaner body to slide lengthwise along the cleaner body; and   an operating unit connected with the sliding bar, the operating unit being formed on the body part to be partially exposed outside of the cleaner body,   wherein the operating unit selectively locks and unlocks the sliding bar and the operating handle assembly together.   
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the operating unit unlocks the operating handle assembly by turning an exposed part of the body part, and unlocks the sliding bar by pressing the exposed part of the body part. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the operating unit comprises:
 a bar fixing casing fixedly formed in the body part to support the sliding bar;   a rotating part rotatably formed on the upper portion of the bar fixing casing, and comprising a latch protruding from the rear side of the cleaner body to be inserted in a locking hole of the operating handle assembly;   a button part in which an upper portion protrudes from an outer surface of the body part, and a lower portion is disposed inside the rotating part to allow the button part to individually move vertically along the rotating part vertically; and   an elastic member to elastically support the button part to allow the button part to be twisted and compressed with respect to the bar fixing casing.   
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic member is a coil spring in which one end is fixed at the bar fixing casing, and the other end is fixed on an inner side of the button part.