Cleaning nozzle assembly

Abstract

A cleaning nozzle assembly of a vacuum cleaner. The cleaning nozzle assembly includes: a lower case having a main inlet and a lower sub-inlet to guide foreign substances and air to be introduced into the lower case, wherein the lower case is open at an upper side thereof and includes a partition wall isolating the main inlet from the lower sub-inlet and having a connection hole; an upper case coupled to the lower case to cover the open upper side of the lower case; and an inflow setting unit setting inflow of foreign substances and air into the lower case through the lower sub-inlet and an upper sub-inlet by opening/closing the connection hole. The cleaning nozzle assembly can switch inlets of a cleaning nozzle receiving air and foreign substances, thereby selectively providing dust suction over a wider area and intensive dust suction, can prevent noise from being generated by wheels of the cleaning nozzle, and allows the cleaning nozzle to remain horizontal with respect to a floor when a transfer pipe provided to the cleaning nozzle for changing a cleaning location during cleaning is lifted up.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning nozzle assembly, comprising:
 a lower case having a main inlet and a lower sub-inlet to guide foreign substances and air to be introduced into the lower case, the lower case being open at an upper side thereof and comprising a partition wall isolating the main inlet from the lower sub-inlet and having a connection hole;   an upper case coupled to the lower case to cover the open upper side of the lower case; and   an inflow setting unit setting inflow of foreign substances and air into the lower case through the lower sub-inlet and an upper sub-inlet by opening/closing the connection hole.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflow setting unit comprises:
 a plate member reciprocating along the partition wall and having an open hole to open/close the connection hole;   a manipulation knob extending from one side of the plate member; and   a switch knob mounted on the upper case to reciprocate the manipulation knob for opening/closing the connection hole.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper case has a guide wall supporting a lateral portion of the plate member at one side thereof to guide the plate member to reciprocate; and the manipulation knob is provided with a supporting and transferring member to be guided to reciprocate along the other side of the guide wall. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the main inlet is rotatably provided with a brush, the brush comprising a rotary rod formed of wood to reduce or prevent thermal deformation and bristles disposed on a circumferential surface of the rotary rod to sweep foreign substances into the lower case, the bristles forming a helical trajectory from both sides of the rotary rod toward a predetermined portion within the lower case in an axial direction of the rotary rod to collect foreign substances to the predetermined portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower case or the upper case is provided at both sides thereof with ribs, and a wheel member is rotatably provided to each of the ribs and comprises a bearing member provided to the rib, a roller member provided to the bearing member, and a buffer member surrounding a circumferential surface of the roller member. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower case and the upper case are provided with a transfer duct guiding transfer of introduced foreign substances and air and connected to a transfer pipe; and the transfer pipe prevents the lower case from rotating by virtue of a first confining unit when the lower case is lifted up. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the first confining unit comprises:
 a first groove formed on an inner surface of the transfer duct; and   a first protrusion protruding from a circumferential surface of the transfer pipe and received by a corresponding first groove to prevent the lower case from rotating with respect to the transfer pipe.   
     
     
         8 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower case and the upper case are provided with a transfer duct guiding transfer of introduced foreign substances and air and connected to a transfer pipe; a connector is rotatably provided to the transfer duct to connect the transfer pipe to the transfer duct and erect the transfer pipe; and the transfer duct is prevented from rotating in an upright state with respect to the upper case by virtue of a second confining unit. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the second confining unit comprises:
 a second groove formed on the upper case contacting the transfer pipe in an upright state; and   a second protrusion protruding from a circumferential surface of the transfer pipe and received by a corresponding second groove to prevent the transfer pipe from rotating with respect to the upper case.   
     
     
         10 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a handle is rotatably provided to the upper case, the handle being prevented from protruding outside the upper case. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning nozzle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper case has an upper sub-inlet corresponding to the lower sub-inlet.