Cleaning device having vacuum cleaner and docking station

Abstract

A cleaning device including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station to which the vacuum cleaner is dockable. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle, a dust collector, and an extension pipe connecting the suction nozzle and the dust collector. The docking station is configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, charge the vacuum cleaner. The docking station includes a main body including a housing, a suction portion inside the main body and configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, remove foreign substances in the dust collector, a recessed portion recessed from an outside of the housing to an inside of the housing, and a supporter coupled to the housing to support the main body and forming an accommodation space. The recessed portion and the accommodation space are configured so that, to dock the vacuum cleaner to the docking station, a portion of the extension pipe is accommodated in the recessed portion and the suction nozzle is accommodated in the accommodation space at one side of the main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner including a suction nozzle, a dust collector, and an extension pipe connecting the suction nozzle and the dust collector; and   a docking station to which the vacuum cleaner is dockable, and being configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, charge the vacuum cleaner, the docking station including:
 a main body including a housing, 
 a suction portion inside the main body and configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, remove foreign substances collected in the dust collector, 
 a recessed portion recessed from an outside of the housing to an inside of the housing, and 
 a supporter coupled to the housing to support the main body and forming an accommodation space, 
 wherein the recessed portion and the accommodation space are configured so that, to dock the vacuum cleaner to the docking station, a portion of the extension pipe is accommodated in the recessed portion and the suction nozzle is accommodated in the accommodation space at one side of the main body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the docking station includes:
 a docking frame coupled to the housing and configured so that, to dock the vacuum cleaner to the docking station, the dust collector is seated on the docking frame, and 
 a charge terminal mounted on the docking frame, and 
   the vacuum cleaner further includes a charging portion between the dust collector and the extension pipe and configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, receive power from the charging terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the docking station further includes:
 a switch coupled to the docking frame and configured to receive a dust discharge signal, and 
 a rod driving portion configured to operate based on a signal transmitted by the switch. 
   
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the docking station further includes:
 a duct configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, move foreign substances collected in the dust collector to a dust bag, the duct including a recessed surface recessed from the outside to the inside, and 
 a driving portion seating space formed on an outside of the duct by the recessed surface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the rod driving portion is accommodated in the driving portion seating space.   
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the dust collector includes a cover that is rotatable to open and close the dust collector, and   the rod driving portion includes a push rod configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, press the cover.   
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the duct includes a rod passage hole formed in the recessed surface so that the push rod ascends and descends by passing through the duct.   
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the rod driving portion includes:
 a rod driving motor configured to generate power, and 
 a connecting rod having one end coupled to the rod driving motor and an other end coupled to the push rod so as to transmit the power to the push rod. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cleaning device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the connecting rod includes a protrusion extending toward the push rod, and   the push rod includes an interference portion configured to allow the protrusion to be inserted thereinto.   
     
     
         10 . The cleaning device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the suction portion includes a driving device configured to provide power to generate a suction force, and   the rod driving motor and the driving device are configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, operate to discharge dust from the dust collector as a signal is applied to the switch.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the push rod is configured to, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, descend to release the pressure on the cover as the signal is applied to the switch.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the supporter includes:
 a fixing portion configured to accommodate a power supply unit and form a bottom surface of the docking station, and 
 a rotating portion having an upper part coupled to the main body and a lower part coupled to the fixing portion, the rotating portion being rotatable with respect to the fixing portion. 
   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the rotating portion includes:
 a first frame coupled to the housing, 
 a side frame coupled to an edge of the first frame, and 
 a moving frame coupled to a lower portion of the side frame and configured to come into contact with a rail frame of the fixing portion. 
   
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the first frame includes:
 a support portion configured to be coupled to the housing, 
 an extension portion obliquely extending downward from one end of the support portion, and 
 a nozzle seating portion connected to the extension portion and including a surface facing the support portion, the nozzle seating portion forming the accommodation space between the support portion and the nozzle seating portion. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the vacuum cleaner, the main body of the docking station, and the rotating portion of the docking station are, with the vacuum cleaner docked to the docking station, rotatable with respect to the fixing portion as one part.