Apparatus for connecting hose to a cleaner and wet/dry cleaner using same

Abstract

A hose connection apparatus of a dry/wet vacuum cleaner comprises a hose holder mounted at an air inlet of a cleaner body, a hose connection pipe connected to the air inlet, and connected to a suction hose at an end thereof, a secondary connection pipe formed between the hose holder and an outer circumference of a dust receptacle to move between first and second positions, and an operation unit for moving the secondary connection pipe between the first and second positions. The operation unit preferably comprises a cover attached to the cleaner body at a pivoting axis, and acts to move the secondary connection pipe between first and second positions depending on the opening and closing operations of the cover. In the first position, the secondary connection pipe is moved toward the air inlet. In the second position, the secondary connection pipe is moved toward and into contact with the communication hole formed at the dust receptacle. The secondary connection pipe is moved to the second position when the cover is closed, and to the first position when the cover is open.

1 . A hose connection apparatus for connecting a suction hose to an air inlet of a cleaner body, the cleaner body being arranged and configured to detachably receive and support a dust receptacle, the hose connection apparatus comprising: 
 a hose holder mounted adjacent the air inlet of the cleaner body;    a hose connection pipe for connection to the air inlet, and being connected to a suction hose at an end thereof;    a secondary connection pipe formed between the hose holder and an outer circumference of the dust receptacle arranged and configured to move between first and second positions; and    an operation unit for moving the secondary connection pipe between the first and second positions, whereby    in the first position, the secondary connection pipe is removed from the dust receptacle and is withdrawn toward the air inlet of the cleaner body, and    in the second position, the secondary connection pipe is biased toward the communication hole formed at the dust receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover that pivots around an axis disposed adjacent the cleaner body capable to open and close the cleaner body, wherein the operation unit moves the secondary connection pipe between the first and second positions in association with the opening and closing operations of the cover.  
   
   
       3 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the operation unit further comprises: 
 a pair of guide members mounted at both sides of the secondary connection pipe, each of the guide members including a first slant projection having a predetermined slant;    a second slant projection part having a slant corresponding to the slant of the first slant projection part;    a pair of guide shafts supporting the second slant projection part, each guide shaft being mounted within one of a pair of the communication holes that penetrate both sides of the hose holder; and    an resilient member resiliently biasing the secondary connection pipe toward the first position, and    the pair of guide shafts being arranged to move reciprocally in a vertical direction depending on the opening and closing operations of the cover.    
   
   
       4 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the guide shafts include a head part coming in contact with the cover when closed and a body part extending away from the head part, the second slant projection parts being integrally formed with the body part.  
   
   
       5 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient member comprises a pair of compression coil springs respectively disposed adjacent the first slant projection part of the guide member on an opposite side thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein 
 a plurality of locking members each having a locking hole are disposed at predetermined positions relative to each other on an inner circumference of the air inlet, and    a plurality of locking projections disposed on an outer circumference of the hose connection pipe, arranged and configured for locking to the locking holes,    whereby, the hose connection pipe is detachably connected to the air inlet.    
   
   
       7 . The hose connection apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first gasket interposed between the hose connection pipe and the air inlet; and    a second gasket disposed around the communication hole of the dust receptacle, thereby preventing undesirable ingress of air flowing into the dust receptacle other than from the suction hose.    
   
   
       8 . A dry/wet vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a vacuum generator which generates a suction force;    a cleaner body in which the vacuum generator is disposed in a lower part thereof, and a dust collecting chamber including an air inlet and an air outlet;    a dust receptacle detachably mounted in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body, the dust receptacle having a communication hole fluidly communicating with the air inlet of the cleaner body;    a cover mounted on top of the cleaner body, and pivoting about an axis to open and close the top of the cleaner body;    a suction brush connected to the cleaner body by a suction hose, for cleaning a surface to be cleaned; and    a hose connection apparatus connecting the suction hose to the air inlet of the cleaner body,    wherein, in association with an opening and closing operation of the cover, the hose connection apparatus comes into tight contact with the communication hole of the dust receptacle when the cover is closed, and is separated by a predetermined distance from the dust receptacle so as not to obstruct the vertical motion of the dust receptacle when the cover is opened, and thereby to facilitate removal of the dust receptacle from the cleaner body.    
   
   
       9 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the hose connection apparatus further comprises: 
 a hose holder mounted adjacent the air inlet of the cleaner body;    a hose connection pipe for connection to the air inlet, and being connected to the suction hose at an end thereof; and    a secondary connection pipe formed between the hose holder and the dust receptacle to move between a first position and a second position, in which first position the secondary connection pipe is near the air inlet, and in the second position the secondary connection pipe is near the communication hole; and    an operation unit for moving the secondary connection pipe between the first and second positions.    
   
   
       10 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the operation unit further comprises: 
 a pair of guide members mounted at both sides of the secondary connection pipe, each of the guide members including a first slant projection having a predetermined slant;    a second slant projection part having a slant corresponding to, but opposite in orientation relative to, the slant of the first slant projection part;    a pair of guide shafts supporting the second slant projection part, each guide shaft being mounted within one of a pair of the communication holes that penetrate both sides of the hose holder; and    an resilient member resiliently biasing the secondary connection pipe toward the first position, and    the pair of guide shafts being arranged to move reciprocally in a vertical direction depending on the opening and closing operations of the cover.    
   
   
       11 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein each of the guide shafts include a head part coming in contact with the cover when closed and a body part extending away from the head part, the second slant projection parts being integrally formed with the body part.  
   
   
       12 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member comprises a pair of compression coil springs respectively disposed adjacent the first slant projection part of the guide member disposed on an opposite side thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of clam  8 , wherein 
 a plurality of locking members, each having a locking hole, are disposed at predetermined positions relative to each other on an inner circumference of the air inlet, and    a plurality of locking projections disposed on an outer circumference of the hose connection pipe, arranged and configured for locking with the locking holes,    whereby the hose connection pipe is detachably connected to the air inlet.    
   
   
       14 . The dry/wet vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a first gasket interposed between the hose connection pipe and the air inlet; and    a second gasket disposed around the communication hole of the dust receptacle, thereby preventing undesirable ingress of air flowing into the dust receptacle other than from the suction hose.