Bendable nozzle for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Disclosed is a bendable nozzle improved in construction in such a manner that the nozzle body is folded when cleaning out an angled corner area, whereby a convenience in use is enhanced and a wide area is easily cleaned out. The bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle body which is folded and comes into close contact with a wall when it contacts with an angled corner area of the wall. The bendable nozzle includes upper and lower cases provided with a plurality of suction flow passages within the interior thereof. Auxiliary nozzles are hinged to the opposite sides of the upper and lower cases. A corner nozzle moves forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles.

1 . A bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle body, which is folded and comes into close contact with a wall when it contacts with an angled corner area of the wall, wherein the bendable nozzle comprises: 
 upper and lower cases provided with a plurality of suction flow passages within the interior thereof;    auxiliary nozzles hinged to the opposite sides of the upper and lower cases; and    a corner nozzle moving forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles.    
   
   
       2 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suction flow passages include: 
 a first duct connected to the auxiliary nozzles;    a second duct connected to the corner nozzle; and    a cavity where the first and second ducts meet one another.    
   
   
       3 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of suction flow passages are defined by partition walls in such a manner as to meet one another at the cavity, and the first and second ducts and the cavity are sealed by an integrally formed sealing cover.  
   
   
       4 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a front suction duct member moving in cooperation with the forward and backward movements of the corner nozzle while guided in the second duct.    
   
   
       5 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 4 , wherein the front suction duct member includes a locking projection formed at one end thereof and fitted into a locking slot provided in the corner nozzle, whereby the front suction duct moves along with the corner nozzle in cooperation with the forward and backward movement of the corner nozzle.  
   
   
       6 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein each auxiliary nozzle comprises: 
 an auxiliary nozzle base pivotably installed to the lower nozzle case;    an auxiliary nozzle body connected to the auxiliary nozzle base and adapted to longitudinally extend; and    an auxiliary nozzle cover connected to the auxiliary nozzle base and preventing the auxiliary nozzle body from longitudinally breaking away.    
   
   
       7 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 6 , wherein the auxiliary nozzle further comprises: 
 a locking projection formed to project at one end of the auxiliary nozzle body; and    a plurality of engaging indentations provided on the inner periphery of the auxiliary nozzle cover and each having a constant width and depth corresponding to the locking projection, whereby the auxiliary nozzle body is extended and retracted per the width of each engaging indentation when it is longitudinally extended and retracted.    
   
   
       8 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary nozzles are provided with elastic members at the hinge joints thereof, respectively, whereby the elastic members elastically return the auxiliary nozzles to their original positions.  
   
   
       9 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 6 , wherein when the auxiliary blushes are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.  
   
   
       10 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 7 , wherein when the auxiliary nozzles are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.  
   
   
       11 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 8 , wherein when the auxiliary nozzles are aligned in a line, they are in communication with the suction flow passages and when pivoted, they are cut off from the suction flow passages.  
   
   
       12 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the corner nozzle comprises: 
 a corner nozzle body with an angled end;    a suction port formed on the bottom of the corner nozzle body; and    guide slot, to which the auxiliary nozzles are connected.    
   
   
       13 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary nozzles have link members each provided with a guide projection seated in the guide slot, the link members being positioned adjacent to the hinge axles, respectively.  
   
   
       14 . The bendable nozzle according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide slot is formed to receive both of the guide projections of the auxiliary nozzles and to have the circular constant corresponding to the pivot trace of the guide projections such that the corner nozzle will be projected when the included angle between the auxiliary nozzles becomes an acute angle as the auxiliary nozzles are pivoted.  
   
   
       15 . A bendable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 an upper nozzle case;    a lower nozzle case provided with a plurality of suction flow passages;    a flow passage forming member sealing the suction flow passages;    an extendible auxiliary nozzles connected to the suction flow passages and hinged to opposite sides of the upper and lower nozzle cases;    a corner nozzle moving forward and backward in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the auxiliary nozzles; and    a connection tube pivotably connected between the flow passage forming member and the lower nozzle case and connecting the suction flow passages to the cleaner body side.