Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a dust container detachably mounted in a body of the vacuum cleaner and configured to perform vacuum cleaning via air suction even in a detached state. The vacuum cleaner includes the body having a hose attaching part and an accommodation recess, the dust container separably inserted into the accommodation recess, and including a hose mounting port, a filter, a knob, and a coupling part formed near the filter on an outer surface of the dust container, a main motor received near the filter of the dust container in the body and driven to suck air, a power supply device to supply power to drive the main motor, and an assistant driving unit separably inserted into the accommodation recess, and including a fastening part releasably coupled to the coupling part and an assistant motor received in the assistant driving unit to suck air.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a main body;   a first motor housed in the main body;   a dust container releasably engaged with the main body, wherein when engaged, the dust container and the main body form a first vacuum cleaner using the first motor and the dust container;   a hand-held module releasably engaged with the main body;   a second motor housed in the hand-held module;   wherein the hand-held module and the dust container are configured to be coupled with each other to form a second vacuum cleaner using the dust container and the second motor, wherein when the dust container is engaged with the main body, the dust container is not operably coupled with the hand-held module.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust container comprising an air inlet port and an air outlet port, wherein the air outlet port is configured to be connected to both the main body and the hand-held module, wherein the air outlet port is in fluid communication with the main body when the dust container is engaged with the main body. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the air outlet port is not in fluid communication with the hand-held module when the dust container is engaged with the main body. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the hand-held module comprises an air inlet port configured to be coupled with the air outlet port of the dust container, wherein the air inlet port of the hand-held module and the outlet port of the dust container faces different directions when the dust container is engaged with the main body. 
   
   
       5 . A method of using a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 providing the vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the hand-held module and the dust container are engaged with the main body;   disengaging the dust container from the main body;   disengaging the hand-held module from the main body; and   coupling the hand-held module and the dust container to form the second vacuum cleaner.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the hand-held module is disengaged from the main body after coupling the hand-held module and the dust container. 
   
   
       7 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body comprising a hose attaching part and an accommodation recess;   a dust container separably inserted into the accommodation recess, the dust container comprising a hose mounting port for coupling with a hose, a filter to filter foreign matter, a handle, and a coupling part formed near the filter on an outer surface of the dust container;   a main motor housed in the body;   a power supply to supply power to drive the main motor; and   an assistant driving unit separably inserted into the accommodation recess, the assistant driving unit comprising a fastening part configured to be releasably coupled to the coupling part and an assistant motor housed in the assistant driving unit.   
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 7 , wherein the assistant driving unit comprises:
 an assistant case comprising the fastening part;   the assistant motor housed in the assistant case near the dust container; and   an assistant power source connected to the assistant motor to supply power thereto.   
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein when the assistant case is inserted in the accommodation recess, the fastening part is located such that, as the coupling part of the dust container is inserted downward into the accommodation recess, the coupling part is coupled to the fastening part. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the coupling part comprises a coupling hole formed in an extension part extending from upper and lower sides of a rear surface of the dust container, and the fastening part comprises at least one latch protrusion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the assistant case configured to be inserted into the coupling hole. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one latch protrusion comprises a plurality of latch protrusions, one of which is integrally formed with a button protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the assistant case, the button being supported by an elastic member received in the assistant case. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the assistant case comprises an assistant handle. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the main body comprises a guide rib in the accommodating recess to guide the assistant case as the assistant case is inserted in the accommodation recess. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the assistant power source comprises a power cable and a plug. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the assistant power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 15 , wherein the battery is housed in the assistant case and configured to be charged via the power supply.