Bushing seal in a vacuum cleaner brush having a floor cloth

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner brush having a case and a rotary element on which a floor cloth is attached. The rotary element is rotatably disposed on a lower portion of the case. A housing is disposed in the case, having a motor disposed therein, the motor rotatably driving the rotary element. A first and second bushing into which the driven shaft of the rotary element is provided with a blocking element protruding from a bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder along a circumference of the first bushing for preventing dust and dirt from flowing into the first bushing. A ring element protrudes from an upper and inner circumference of the first bushing toward an outer circumference of the driven shaft, the ring element prevents dust and dirt from flowing into the housing. Dust and dirt are thereby prevented from flowing into the housing and damaging various components such as the motor and gears in the housing.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above object and characteristic of the present invention will be more apparent by describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to accompanied drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is an exploded and perspective view showing a conventional brush having a floor cloth;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken approximately along lines I—I and II—II of FIG. 2, and shown in an assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is an exploded and perspective view showing a brush in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken on lines IV—IV and V—V of FIG. 4, and shown in an assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a brush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the brush comprises a case having an upper case and a lower case , a connector joining the rear portion of the case to an extension pipe , a pair of rotary elements , rotatably disposed on a bottom surface of the lower case , a rotation driving portion disposed in the case for rotatably driving the rotary elements , and floor cloths removably attached to the rotary elements .

The rotary elements have driven shafts protruding upwardly from the centers thereof in the shape of a hollow cylinder.

The lower case comprises a suction port , which is disposed at the front portion of the lower case for drawing in dirt-laden air therethrough, and a pair of first bushings protruding upwardly from the bottom surface of the lower case in the shape of a cylinder, into which the driven shafts of the rotary elements are inserted.

The rotation driving portion comprises a driver housing having an upper housing and a lower housing , a bi-directional rotation motor being disposed in the housing and having a pair of rotary shafts rotating bi-directionally, a pair of worm gears , respectively connected to the both rotary shafts of the bi-directional rotation motor , a pair of worm wheels , respectively engaged with the worm gears , and driving shafts disposed at lower portions of the worm wheels and connected to the driven shafts . The lower housing comprises a pair of second bushings protruding upwardly from the bottom of the lower housing in the shape of a cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 5, after assembly, each first bushing of the lower case and each second bushing of the upper housing are located adjacent to and axially aligned with each other. Each driven shaft of the each rotary element is inserted into the first and second bushings and . Each driving shaft of the each worm wheel is fitted into an aperture in the driven shaft of the rotary element and connected thereto such that, if the driving shaft is rotated, the driven shaft is rotated in association with the driving shaft .

On the bottom surface of the lower case a blocking element is provided which protrudes in the shape of a flanged cylinder. The blocking element encloses the circumference of the first bushing such that dust and dirt are prevented from flowing into the first bushing , and thus reducing or eliminating the gap between the bottom surface of the lower case and the top surface of the rotary element .

The first bushing includes a bending element integrally formed at an upper end thereof, a cross section of which can be seen in the shape of a crank. That is, the bending element has a shape in which two rings are vertically connected to each other. The bending element blocks the space between the first bushing and the second bushing , except for the space into which the driven shaft is inserted, such that dust and dirt are prevented from flowing to the second bushing through the first bushing .

Meanwhile, an inside of a bent portion of the bending element forms a chamfered surface . Due to the presence of the chamfered surface , the contacting area between the outer circumference surface of the driven shaft and the inner circumference surface of the bending element is reduced. Accordingly, the driven shaft is easily inserted into the first bushing , and becomes less subjected to rotational loading that may be generated due to friction between the outer circumference surface of the driven shaft and the inner circumference surface of the bending element when the driven shaft is rotated.

Meanwhile, on an upper and inner circumference of the second bushing a ring element is provided which protrudes toward the driven shaft . At an end of the ring element , an inner tubular element is provided which extends from the ring element in a parallel relation to the outer circumference of the driven shaft . That is, on the upper portion of the second bushing , a double cylinder is integrally formed, one on each of the outer side and the inner side of the upper portion of the second bushing . The inner tubular element of the ring element blocks the gap between a lower surface of each worm wheel and the inner space of the second bushing such that dust and dirt are prevented from flowing into the housing through the second bushing . On a connecting portion of the ring element and the inner tubular element , another chamfered surface is provided. Due to the presence of this chamfered surface , the driven shaft is easily inserted into and through the second bushing , and is less subject to rotational loading that may be generated due to friction between the outer circumference surface of the driven shaft and an inner circumference surface of the inner tubular element when the driven shaft is rotated.

In the brush as constructed above, if the bi-directional motor is rotated, the worm gears and the worm wheels are rotated resulting in rotation of the driving shafts . Due to the rotation of the driving shafts , the driven shafts are rotated, resulting in rotation of the rotary elements . Due to the rotation of the rotary elements , the floor cloths attached to the bottom surfaces of the rotary elements are rotated, wiping the dirt off the surface to be cleaned. Simultaneously, the dust-laden air is drawn into the brush through the suction port , and then is discharged into a dust-collecting chamber (not shown) of a cleaner body (FIG. 1) through the connector .

As described above, according to the present invention, since the blocking element blocks dust and dirt from flowing into the gap between the bottom surface of the lower case and the upper surface of the rotary element , the dust and dirt can be prevented from flowing into the housing through the first bushing .

Also, according to the present invention, since the bending element of the first bushing , and the ring element and the inner tube of the second bushing block the dust and dirt, the dust and dirt, which is not blocked by the blocking element , can prevented from flowing into the housing .

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the dust and dirt can be prevented from flowing into the housing , the various components of the rotation driving portion of the brush can be prevented from damage as a result, such as tooth damage to the gears generated from friction between the worm gears and the worm wheels , and the overload of the bi-directional rotation motor .

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, alterations modifications and substitutions may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in, and limited only by, the claims and their equivalents.

CLAIMS

1. A vacuum cleaner brush comprising: a case; a rotary element being rotatably disposed at a lower portion of the case and having a rotary shaft; a floor cloth disposed on a bottom surface of the rotary element; a housing being disposed in the case and having a separate space from the case; a motor disposed in the housing for rotatably driving the rotary element; a first bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder, into and through which the rotary shaft of the rotary element is inserted; a second bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the housing in the shape of a cylinder, the second bushing being adjacent to and axially aligned with the first bushing; and a blocking element protruding from a bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder along a circumference of the first bushing, for preventing dust and dirt from flowing into the first bushing.

2. The brush of claim 1, further comprising a bending element extended from an upper end of the first bushing, a cross section of the bending element having a crank shape.

3. The brush of claim 2, wherein, on a bent portion of the bending element, a chamfered surface is provided such that the rotary shaft is easily inserted into the first bushing.

4. A vacuum cleaner brush comprising: a case; a rotary element being rotatably disposed at a lower portion of the case and having a rotary shaft; a floor cloth disposed on a bottom surface of the rotary element; a housing being disposed in the case and having a separate space from the case; a motor disposed in the housing for rotatably driving the rotary element; a first bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder, into and through which the rotary shaft of the rotary element is inserted; a second bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the housing in the shape of a cylinder, the second bushing being adjacent to and axially aligned with the first bushing; and a ring element protruding from an upper and inner circumference of the first bushing toward an outer circumference of the rotary shaft, for preventing dust and dirt from flowing into the housing.

5. The brush of claim 4, further comprising an inner tube extending from an end of the ring element in the shape of cylinder and in parallel relation with the outer circumference of the rotary shaft, a chamfered surface being provided on a connecting portion of the ring element and the inner tubular element for the easy insertion of the rotary shaft.

6. A vacuum cleaner brush comprising: a case; a rotary element being rotatably disposed at a lower portion of the case and having a rotary shaft; a floor cloth disposed on a bottom surface of the rotary element; a housing being disposed in the case and having a separate space from the case; a motor disposed in the housing for rotatably driving the rotary element; a first bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder, into and through which the rotary shaft of the rotary element is inserted; a second bushing protruding from an inner bottom surface of the housing in the shape of a cylinder, the second bushing being adjacent to and axially aligned with the first bushing; a blocking element protruding from a bottom surface of the case in the shape of a cylinder along a circumference of the first bushing, for preventing dust and dirt from flowing into the first bushing; and a ring element protruding from an upper and inner circumference of the first bushing toward an outer circumference of the rotary shaft, for preventing dust and dirt from flowing into the housing.

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