Self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body is pivotably mounted to a brush assembly is provided. The self-propelling apparatus includes a sensor unit having a wheel part that pivots in the opposite direction to a moving direction of the vacuum cleaner, a connection part connected with the wheel part and fixed to the brush assembly by one end thereof and a switch part turned on and off according to the connection part, and generating progression and retrogression signals according to pivoting motion of the wheel part, and an interception unit generating an interception signal when the cleaner body is in an upright posture, and a driving unit moving the vacuum cleaner in accordance with the progression and retrogression signals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-35382, filed Apr. 28, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, capable of automatically driving the vacuum cleaner forward and backward. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] An example of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,747, the vacuum cleaner in which, when an operator grips a handle and moves a cleaner body forward or backward, such an action of the operator is transmitted to a driving module through a linkage mechanism connected to the handle so that the vacuum cleaner is automatically driven forward and backward. U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,084 discloses another vacuum cleaner capable of automatically moving forward and backward as the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and / or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a self-propelling apparatus for a vacuum cleaner capable of correctly transmitting an operator's intention of moving the vacuum cleaner forward and backward.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner for a vacuum cleaner, improved in reliability and durability.

Problems solved by technology

However, in such vacuum cleaners disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,747 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,084, while being transmitted through a connection means such as the linkage mechanism or the cable, the operator's intention for driving vacuum cleaner forward and backward may be misunderstood or failed.

This may cause malfunction of the self-propelling apparatus, thereby deteriorating reliability of the apparatus.

Also, the connection means such as the linkage mechanism or the cable complicates the structure and increases the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.

H5-68656 induces problems of the complex structure and the high manufacturing cost.

In addition, repetitive use of the electric torque detector may deteriorate reliability and durability of the apparatus.

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