Suction port assembly of vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A suction port assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner is foldable so that it can clean a surface being cleaned in close contact. Accordingly, the cleaner can easily clean the cleaning surface even with a slope or angle, while maintaining a suction efficiency of the cleaner constantly. Additionally, damage to the suction port assembly due to collision with the cleaning surface can be avoided.

1 . A suction port assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum source and an extension pipe, the suction port assembly comprising: 
 a body in fluid communication with the vacuum source and being foldable for contact with a non-linear surface being cleaned.    
   
   
       2 . The suction port assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of assembly bodies articulately connected with each other.  
   
   
       3 . The suction port assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of assembly bodies comprises first and second assembly bodies, the second assembly body being rotatably connected to the first assembly body, and wherein the second assembly body is rotatable through a plurality of interior angles with respect to the first assembly body in accordance with an angle of the non-linear surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       4 . The suction port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and the second assembly bodies are positionable at an interior angle of at least 60 degrees with respect to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The suction port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the interior angle varies from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 180 degrees.  
   
   
       6 . The suction port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the interior angle can be varied from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       7 . The suction port assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first assembly body comprises a suction path in fluid communication with the extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the first and the second assembly bodies each have first and second suction holes defined at lower sides thereof, respectively, and wherein the first and the second suction holes are interconnected with the suction path, respectively.  
   
   
       8 . The suction port assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and the second assembly bodies each comprise a plurality of bristles formed along the lower sides thereof, respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The suction port assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of assembly bodies are articulately connected with each other via a hinge.  
   
   
       10 . The suction port assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a hinge groove of the first assembly body;    a hinge protrusion of the second assembly body for advancement into the hinge groove; and    a hinge pin for connecting the hinge groove and the hinge protrusion.    
   
   
       11 . The suction port assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising an elastic member operably connected to the hinge pin.  
   
   
       12 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a vacuum source; and    a suction port assembly comprising a body in fluid communication with the vacuum source and being foldable for contact with a non-linear surface being cleaned.    
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of assembly bodies articulately connected with each other.  
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of assembly bodies comprises first and second assembly bodies, the second assembly body being rotatably connected to the first assembly body, and wherein the second assembly body is rotatable through a plurality of interior angles with respect to the first assembly body in accordance with an angle of the non-linear surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the internal angle varies from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 180 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the internal angle can be varied from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , further comprising an extension pipe in fluid communication with the vacuum source, wherein the first assembly body comprises a suction path in fluid communication with the extension pipe, wherein the first and second assembly bodies each have first and second suction holes defined at lower sides thereof, respectively, and wherein the first and second suction holes are interconnected with the suction path, respectively.  
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second assembly bodies each comprise a plurality of bristles formed along the lower sides thereof, respectively.  
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the suction port assembly further comprises a hinge assembly having a hinge groove, a hinge protrusion for advancement into the hinge groove, a hinge pin for connecting the hinge groove and the hinge protrusion, and an elastic member, wherein the hinge assembly rotatably connects the first and second assembly bodies, and wherein the elastic member biases the first and second assembly bodies.  
   
   
       20 . A method of cleaning a non-linear surface comprising: 
 providing suction from a suction source to a suction port assembly;    pivoting a first portion of the suction port assembly with respect to a second portion of the suction port assembly at an angle that corresponds to the non-linear surface being cleaned; and    moving the suction port assembly along the non-linear surface so that the first and second portions of the suction port assembly simultaneously remain in proximity to the non-linear surface.