Hand-held vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a handy cleaner that can be converted into a canister type vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner includes the handy cleaner. Further, a handy cleaner-integrated vacuum cleaner has an improved dust container-mounting structure to allow convenient conversion into a handy cleaner, and an improved suction path structure allow convenient accommodation of the handy cleaner. The handy cleaner includes a dust container having an intake port and an exhaust port to allow circulation of air therethrough and including a filter disposed in the dust container to separate foreign matter from the air, and a driving unit detachably mounted to the dust container to generate suction force in the dust container and including a suction duct communicated with the intake port and an exhaust opening communicated with the exhaust port.

1 . A hand-held vacuum cleaner device comprising: 
 a first member comprising a first housing and a dust container defined by or enclosed in the first housing;    a second member comprising a second housing and a suction source enclosed in the second housing, wherein the first and second housings are engaged with each other to form a single body handheld vacuum cleaner;    an air intake tube configured to initially receive outside air, wherein the air intake tube is in fluid communication with the first housing, wherein a first airflow is to be formed via the air intake tube to the dust container when the suction source is operating; and    wherein the first and second members are arranged such that a second airflow is to be formed from the first housing to the second housing when the suction source is operating, wherein directions of the first and second airflows generally cross each other when viewed from the top of the handheld vacuum cleaner.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated handle of the handheld vacuum cleaner, and wherein when viewed from the top, the first member is generally on one side of the elongated handle and the second member is generally on the other side of the elongated handle.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated handle is fixed to the first housing.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the directions of the first and second airflows cross each other at about a right angle.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the directions of the first and second airflows cross each other at an angle other than a right angle.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a first inlet and a first outlet formed in the first housing, wherein the first inlet is configured to receive the first airflow.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the second member comprises a second inlet and a second outlet formed in the second housing, wherein the second inlet and the first outlet are engaged so as to permit the second airflow from the first housing to the second housing, and wherein the second member is configured to discharge air reaching the suction source through the second outlet.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second inlet and outlet are substantially opposingly positioned in the second housing.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second member further comprises a conduit provided in the second housing and interconnecting between the air intake tube and the first inlet of the first member.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first housing defines an internal airflow path between the first inlet and the first outlet, wherein the internal airflow path is configured to generate a swirling airflow therethrough.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first housing defines an internal airflow path between the first inlet and the first outlet, wherein the device further comprises a filter in the internal airflow path such that air flowing into the first housing via the first inlet is filtered by the filter prior to being discharged from the first housing via the first outlet.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first housing comprises a first wall, and the second housing comprises a second wall, wherein the first wall and the second wall oppose and contact each other, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are formed through the first wall.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second member comprises a second inlet formed in the second housing and configured to engage with the first outlet so as to permit the second airflow from the first housing to the second housing, wherein the second inlet is formed through the second wall.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second member further comprises a conduit provided in the second housing, wherein the conduit has a first opening through the second wall, wherein the opening of the conduit is positioned to engage with the first inlet.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the conduit has a second opening connected to the air intake tube, wherein the first airflow is configured to made to the dust container through the air intake tube, the second opening, the conduit, the first opening, and the first inlet in order.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery housed in either the first housing or the second housing.  
   
   
       17 . A hand-held vacuum cleaner device comprising: 
 a first member comprising a first housing and a dust container defined by or enclosed in the first housing;    a second member comprising a second housing and a suction source enclosed in the second housing, wherein the first and second housings are engaged with each other to form a single body handheld vacuum cleaner; and    an air intake tube hingedly connected to the first member or the second member, and configured to hingedly rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the air intake tube is in full fluid communication with the dust container, wherein in the second position the air intake tube is substantially not in fluid communication with the dust container.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the second member comprises a conduit formed in the second housing, wherein the conduit interconnects between the air intake tube and the dust container.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the air intake tube comprises a distal end, wherein in the first position the distal end is at a first distance, wherein in the second position the distal end is at a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising an elongated handle of the handheld vacuum cleaner, and wherein when viewed from the top, the first member is generally on one side of the elongated handle and the second member is generally on the other side of the elongated handle.