AU2005204284B2 - Wet-cloth brush for vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner having the same - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.

Actual Inventor(s): Jang-keun Oh, Soon-tack Lim Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: l'~kP""g WET-CLOTH BRUSH FOR VACUUM CLEANER AND A VACUUM CLEANER HAVING THE

SAME

Our Ref: 750321 POF Code: 456924/456925 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 6006q WET-CLOTH BRUSH FOR VACUUM CLEANER AND A VACUUM CLEANER

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HAVING THE SAME 00 (N This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) of Korean Patent Application SNo. 2004-110043, filed December 22, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of brushes useful, for example, in a vacuum cleaner. In an embodiment, a wet cloth is attached to a brush used in a vacuum cleaner.

Description of the Related Art [0002] When cleaning a place such as a room, it is typical to use a vacuum cleaner first to remove dust and impurities and then use a wet cloth to wipe down surfaces. However, since this two-step process may be inconvenient for a user, a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, which enables vacuuming and wiping simultaneously, has been introduced and used.

I

S[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wet-cloth brush of a vacuum cleaner.

[0004] Referring to FIG. I, a conventional wet-cloth brush 1 for a vacuum cleaner comprises a brush body 10, a fan 20, a power transmitter 30, and a wet-cloth board 00 ,l O [0005] The brush body 10 has an air inducing path 11 for drawing in dust-laden air by a ,l O suction force generated in a cleaner body (not shown). The fan 20 is mounted on the air inducing ,l path 11 of the brush body 10 and is driven to rotate by the dust-laden air which is drawn in. A pinion gear 21 is mounted under the fan 20 to rotate in association with the fan 20. The power transmitter 30 comprises a pulley gear 31, first and second belts 35 and 37, a first pulley 36 and a second pulley (not shown).

[0006] The pulley gear 31 comprises a gear part 32 meshed with the pinion gear 21 and first and second pulley parts 33 and 34 formed on both sides of the gear part 32. The first pulley 36 and the second pulley (not shown) are rotatably mounted to the brush body 10 and have a protrusion (not shown) at a certain distance from a rotational center thereof, respectively. At an upper part of the wet-cloth board 40, recesses (not shown) are formed for insertion of the protrusions of the first pulley 36 and the second pulley.

[0007] The above-structured wet-cloth brush I operates as follows. When the dust-laden air is drawn in by the suction force, the fan 20 mounted on the air inducing path 11 is rotated. By Q)rotation of the fan 20, the pinion gear 21 disposed under the fan 20 is rotated.

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STherefore, the gear part 32 of the pulley gear 31 meshed with the pinion gear 21 is also

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I rotated. When the pulley gear 31 rotates according to rotation of the gear part 32, the first pulley 36 and the second pulley are rotated, which are connected with the first and 00 5 the second pulley parts 33 and 34 of the pulley gear 3 1 through the first and the second belts 35 and 37. Accordingly, the protrusions of the first pulley 36 and the second pulley rotate, and consequently, the wet-cloth board 40 engaged with the protrusions of the first and the second pulleys 36 rotate. As a result, the wet-cloth attached to a lower surface of the wet-cloth board 40 wipes against a surface being cleaned, such as a floor.

100081 In the conventional wet-cloth brush 1, however, the wet-cloth board reciprocates very rapidly, and the speed of this motion increases noise and vibration.

The inventors have found that in conventional designs, this vibration is transmitted up to a handle through an extension pipe 3 of the vacuum cleaner, thereby making the user uncomfortable.

100091 In addition, the inventors have noted that since the wet-cloth board 40 is hidden during the operation, the user cannot instantly recognize whether the wet-cloth is working right.

10009A] The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field 00 0 relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 00 c1 00101 According to the invention there is provided a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum NI 5 cleaner, including: a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; (-i a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by drawn-in air; a plurality of worm gears mounted on rotation shafts protruding from opposite sides of the fan; a plurality of worm wheels, meshing with the worm gears, to be rotated on the brush body; a plurality of pin-shaped eccentric cams mounted on lower ends of shafts of the worm wheels; and at least two wet-cloth boards, separately mounted on the brush body along one side of the inlet, to move back and forth in a straight line by the pin-shaped eccentric cams.

[00111 The invention also provides a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, including a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by drawn-in air; first and second worm gears mounted on respective rotation shafts protruding from opposite sides of the fan, the shafts being rotated by rotation of the fan; 00 O first and second worm wheels, meshing respectively with the first and second worm gears, each of the first and second worm wheels being mounted on a respective wheel shaft; a first pin-shaped eccentric cam mounted on a lower end of the wheel shaft of the first worm wheel; 00 r a second pin-shaped eccentric cam mounted on a lower end of the wheel shaft of the second worm wheel; and at least two wet-cloth boards, separately mounted on the brush body along N one side of the air inlet, and each arranged to be moved back and forth in a straight line by the respective first or second pin-shaped eccentric cam.

10012] In an embodiment, a wet-cloth brush system reduced noise and vibration by decreasing speed of movement of a wet-cloth board, and by providing a plurality of wet-cloth boards that operate symmetrically. This system may be installed, for example, in a vacuum cleaner.

[0013] In further embodiments, the structure of the wet-cloth brush system allows a user to directly observe the wet-cloth brush and thereby check its performance.

[0015] The worm wheels formed at both sides of the fan preferably rotate in opposing directions relative to each other.

[0016] In the exemplary embodiment, the wet-cloth boards include a cam groove formed as a long groove for insertion of the eccentric cam; and a guide projection formed at one side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove formed as a long groove on the brush body.

00 100171 The two wet-cloth boards move linearly so as to repeatedly gather at a center part of the brush body and then separate from each other.

[0018] The two wet-cloth boards respectively have a sloping edge on the sides 00facing each other. 00 C 5 [00191 The wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the brush body to partly protrude from the brush body.

[00201 The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner for performing wet-cleaning by drawing in dust-laden air through a wet-cloth brush, wherein the wet-cloth brush includes: a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by the drawn-in air; first and second worm gears respectively mounted to rotation shafts formed on both sides of the fan; first and second worm wheels mounted in the brush body to mesh with the first and the second worms gears respectively; first and second pin-shaped eccentric cams mounted on lower ends of shafts of the second worm wheels, respectively spaced from rotational centers of the shafts of the first and second worm wheels; and first and second wet-cloth boards including a cam groove, formed as a long groove, for insertion of at least one of the first and the second eccentric cams, and a guide projection formed at one side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove, 00 0 O formed as a long groove perpendicularly to the cam groove, associated with the brush C body.

[00211 In the exemplary embodiment, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 00 move linearly so as to repeatedly gather at a center part of the brush body and then 00 separate from each other.

[0022] The first and second wet-cloth boards respectively have a sloping edge on the sides facing each other.

(0023] The first and the second wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the brush body to partly protrude from the brush body.

[00241 Various embodiments, including the exemplary embodiments described above, reduce noise and vibration during cleaning work because the two wet-cloth boards reciprocate in an opposing motion, and at a low speed.

[00251 Furthermore, in the wet-cloth brush according to these exemplary embodiments, the user can instantly monitor the operation of the wet-cloth because the wet-cloth boards are visible from above the wet-cloth brush system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 00 [0026] These and other features will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: [0027] FIG. I is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner; [0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0029] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the wet-cloth brush of FIG. 2; [0030] FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of the wet-cloth brush according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, for explaining the power transmission structure; [0031] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view showing an eccentric cam, a guide groove and a cam groove of the wet-cloth brush according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0032] FIG. 6 is a view for illustrating an assembly structure of first and second eccentric cams of the wet-cloth brush according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; h [0033] FIG. 7 is a view showing an exemplary wet-cloth board for a wet-cloth brush; o [0034] FIGS. 8A to 8C are views for illustrating a reciprocating motion of two wet-cloth boards of a wet-cloth brush according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 00 0 [0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner comprising the wet-cloth brush Saccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0036] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

[0037] In the following description, similar drawing reference numerals may be used for the same elements even in different drawings. The embodiments described, and their detailed construction and elements, are merely provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out in a variety of ways, and does not require any of the specific features described herein. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention with unnecessary detail.

M [0038] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an exemplary wet-cloth brush 100 for a vacuum cleaner comprises a brush body 110, a fan 120, a power transmitter 130, eccentric cams 141 and 142, and ,l wet-cloth boards 151 and .152.

00 [0039] The brush body 110 is detachably mounted to a pipe 221 of an extension pipe. The tI brush body 110 has an air inducing path 112 along which dust-laden air, being drawn in through an air inlet 111 disposed at a lower part thereof, flows toward the pipe 221. A cover (not shown) is attached at an upper part of the brush body 110, thereby shielding the fan 120 and the power transmitter 130 and forming the air inducing path 112.

[0040] The fan 120 comprises a blade part 121, and first and second rotation shafts 122 and 123 projecting from rotational centers of opposite ends of the blade part 121. The fan 120 is rotatably mounted in the air inducing path 112 of the brush body 110 on the first and the second rotation shafts 122 and 123. The first and the second rotation shafts 122 and 123 are supported by ball bearings 124 and 125, respectively.

[0041] The power transmitter 130 consists of a worm gear and a worm wheel having a significant reduction gear ratio. The wet-cloth brush 100 of the present embodiment comprises first and second power transmitters 131 and 132 to transmit power of the first and the second rotation shafts 122 and 123 of the fan 120. The first power transmitter 131 comprises a first worm gear 133 mounted to the first rotation shaft 122 of the fan 120 and a first worm wheel 134 meshed with the first worm gear 133 and rotating parallel to the brush body 110. The second

(NO

power transmitter 132 is disposed to correspond to the first power transmitter 131 with respect to 0 0 the fan 120. The second power transmitter 132 comprises a second worm gear 135 mounted to ,1 the second rotation shaft 123 and a second worm wheel 136 meshed with the second worm gear S135 and rotating parallel to the brush body 110. The first and the second worm wheels 134 and 136 are rotatably supported by first and second rotation supporting members 114 and 116. For example, rotation supporting members 114 and 116 may comprise a bearing and/or a bushing mounted to the brush body 110. The first worm gear 133 and worm wheel 134 and the second worm gear 135 and worm wheel 136 may be configured so that the worm gears and worm wheels rotate in the same direction. More specifically, the first worm and worm wheel 133 and 134 and the second worm and worm wheel 135 and 136 may all rotate clockwise. However, in order to reduce noise generated by the reciprocating motion of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, it is preferable that the first worm gear 133 and worm wheel 134 rotate in the opposite direction from the second worm gear 135 and worm wheel 136. For example, the first worm gear 133 and worm wheel 134 may rotate clockwise whereas the second worm gear 135 and worm wheel 136 rotate counterclockwise when viewed firom above. According to this structure, as the fan 120 operates, the first worm wheel 134 and the second worm wheel 136 rotate in opposite directions.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the eccentric cams 141 and 142 are disposed under the worm wheels 134 and 136 to convert rotational motion of the worm wheels 134 and 136 to a straight motion, in cooperation with the cam grooves 153 and 156 formed in the wet-cloth boards 0 0 151 and 152. The eccentric cams 141 and 142 are configured to provide a pin formed at a C"1 predetermined distance from rotational centers of worm wheel shafts 134a and 136a. In this 0 embodiment, the pin-shaped first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 are disposed under the first worm wheel 134 and the second worm wheel 136, respectively.

[0043] The wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are mounted at a lower part of the brush body 100 and provided, respectively, with cam grooves 153 and 156 for insertion of the eccentric cams 141 and 142. The cam grooves 153 and 156 have a certain width for smooth insertion of the eccentric cams 141 and 142 and a certain length by which the eccentric cams 141 and 142 move.

That is, the length of the cam grooves 153 and 156 determines a reciprocating distance of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. Each of the cam grooves 153 and 156 of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 has guide projections 154 and 157 at one side thereof. The guide projections 154 and 157 are inserted in a guide groove 115 to restrict a movement of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152. The guide groove 115 is configured as a long groove formed at one side of the rotation supporting members 114 and 116, which support the worm wheels 134 and 136, on the brush body 110. For more stable movement of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, a pair of the guide S grooves 115 are preferably disposed on both sides of the rotation supporting members 114 and 116, respectively. The movement of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 is determined by

N

relationships between the cam grooves 153 and 156 and the guide grooves 115 formed on the c, brush body 110. According to the wet-cloth brush 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in 1 FIG. 5, the cam grooves 153 and 156 of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are disposed perpendicularly to the rotation shafts 122 and 123 of the fan 120 whereas the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110 are disposed parallel with the rotation shafts 122 and 123 of the fan 120, with respect to a length direction of the grooves. That is, the cam grooves 153 and 156 of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are perpendicularly disposed to the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110 with respect to the length directions of the grooves. Also, the wet-cloth brush 100 comprises a pair of the guide grooves 115 on both sides of the first and the second rotation supporting members 114 and 116 that support the first and the second worm wheels 134 and 136 of the brush body 110, respectively, and a pair of the guide projections 154 and 157 on the wetcloth boards 151 and 152 to correspond to the guide grooves 115. The guide projections 154 and 157 have at an upper part thereof escape-prevention members 155 and 158 fixed by a fastening member such as a bolt, respectively, to restrain the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 from escaping from the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110. A plain washer having a diameter greater than a width of the guide groove 115 may be used for the escape-prevention members 155 and 158.

Therefore, as the eccentric cams 141 and 142 are rotated by the worm wheels 134 and 136, the S wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 can linearly reciprocate through thile cam grooves 153 and 156

ID

inserted with the eccentric cams 141 and 142 and the guide projections 154 and 157 inserted in 00 F, the guide grooves 115, without being separated from the brush body 110. On the other side of CK the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, which is opposite to a side where the cam grooves 153 and S156 and the guide projections 154 and 157 are formed, a plurality of sticking seats 159 (FIG. 3), such as velcro tape, are provided to attach the wet-cloth (not shown).

[0044] Although the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 may be operated by the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 independently, it is preferable that they are operated in association with each other. To enhance vibration reduction, the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 may be symmetrically operated. For example, as the first wet-cloth board 151 moves toward a center part of the brush body 110, the second wet-cloth board 152 moves toward the center part at the same time, and as the first wet-cloth board 151 moves outward with respect to the brush body 110, so does the second wet-cloth board 152. In other words, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 reciprocate and repeatedly approach at the center part of the brush body 110 and then separate to outer parts of the brush body 110. To this end, the first and the second worm wheels 134 and 136 may rotate in opposite directions. The first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 are disposed in the same direction, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0045] However, in the above-operated wet-cloth brush 100, a finger or other item may be pinched as the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 move toward the center part.

N

To prevent this, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 preferably have sloping S edges 151a and 152a facing each other, respectively. In greater detail, the sloping edges 151a N and 152a provide a beveled edge for wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, extending between bottom 0 surfaces 151c and 152c attached to the wet-cloth and upper surfaces 151d and 152d directly mounted to the brush body 110.

[0046] Furthermore, the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are sized to allow the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 to be partly exposed and viewed by a user from above the brush body 110.

Therefore, the user can check the operation of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 while operating the vacuum cleaner. In this embodiment, both corners 113 of a side of the brush body 110, the side connected to the pipe 221, are rounded while the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are formed in a generally rectangular shape. Accordingly, one corner of the respective wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 can always be viewed through the rounded corners 113 of the brush body 110. Additionally, it is preferable that flank sides 151b and 152b of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are visible, by protruding from the brush body 110, when the both wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are moved to the outermost limit, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0047] The operation of exemplary embodiments of a wet-cloth brush used in a vacuum cleaner context will now be described in reference to FIGS. 2 through 8.

\C [0048] When a suction force is generated by a motor mnounted in a cleaner body (not shown), dust-laden air is drawn in through the air inlet I I111 formed in the brush body 110. While passing 00 through the air inducing path 112, the drawn-in air rotates the fan 120 which is supported on the In air inducing path 112 with both sides thereof by the ball bearings 124 and 125. As the fan 120 C rotates, the first and the second worms gears 133 and 135 mounted to the rotation shafts 122 and 123 are integrally rotated. Accordingly, the first and the second worm wheels 134 and 136 meshed with the first and the second worm gears 133 and 135 also rotate. Thereby, the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 integrally formed with a lower part of the worm wheels 134 and 136 are rotated at a certain distance from the rotational centers of the first and the second worm wheels 134 and 136, as shown in FIG. 6. Because the first worm gear 133 and worm wheel 134 and the second worm gear 135 and worm wheel 136 rotate in opposite directions, if the first worm wheel 134 rotates clockwise, for example, the second worm wheel 136 rotates counterclockwise.

[0049] As the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 rotate, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 linearly reciprocate in a length direction of the brush body 110 by the cam grooves 153 and 156 which hold the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 and the guide projections 154 and 157 inserted in the guide grooves 115 of the brush body 110.

S Here, since the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142 are symmetrically disposed and rotated in the opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 6, the first and the second wet-cloth boards \0 151 and 152 also symmetrically reciprocate by rotation of the fan 120.

00 S [0050] FIGS. 8A to 8C show the operation of the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151

O

tn and 152. More specifically, FIG. 8A shows the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 C moved to the outermost limit by rotation of the first and the second eccentric cams 141 and 142.

FIG. 8B shows the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 in motion toward the center part of the brush body 110, and FIG. 8C show the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 at their closest approach to the center part of the brush body 110. Through this symmetrical movement of the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152, vibration generated by the reciprocating motion of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 can be decreased and prevented from being transmitted up to the handle 222 (FIG. 9) through the pipe 221.

[0051] In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A, the flank sides 151b and 152b of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 extend partially beyond brush body 110 when the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are at their outermost limit. Therefore, the user can visually verify operation of the wetcloth boards 151 and 152 merely by looking down.

[0052] Moreover, the first and the second wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 respectively have sloping sides 151a and 152a facing each other, as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, fingers and other items will not be pinched by the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 as wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 move toward the center.

00 [0053] FIG. 9 shows the operation of a vacuum cleaner applying the wet-cloth brush 100 1C according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 9, a vacuum cleaner 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a wet-cloth brush 110 for drawing in dust-laden air, the extension pipe 220 fluidly connecting the wet-cloth brush 100 with a cleaner body 230, and the cleaner body 230 including a dust collecting chamber 235 and a motor chamber 231.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wet-cloth brush 100 comprises the brush body 110 having the air inlet 111 for drawing in dust-laden air from a surface being cleaned, and a pair of wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 linearly reciprocating with respect to the brush body 110. Since the structure of the wet-cloth brush 100 has been described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The extension pipe 220 comprises a pipe 221 removably attached with the wetcloth brush 100, the handle 222 for moving the wet-cloth brush 100, and a flexible hose 223 providing a fluid connection between handle 222 and the cleaner body 230. The dust collecting chamber 235 includes a contaminant collecting unit (not shown) for separating and collecting ho) dust from the dust-laden air drawn in through the wet-cloth brush 100. The contaminant collecting unit may be implemented by any desired collecting unit, such as a dust bag or cyclone type device. The motor chamber 231 has a motor assembly 210 for generating the suction force for drawing in the dust-laden air through the wet-cloth brush 100. The motor assembly 210 CN1 comprises a motor 211, an impeller (not shown) rotated by the motor 211, and a diffuser 212 for inducing the air drawn in by the impeller to the motor 211.

[0056] When cleaning using the vacuum cleaner 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a power switch is turned on to activate the motor 211 in the motor chamber 231. As the motor 211 rotates, the impeller mounted to a leading end of a motor shaft is rotated.

By this action, dust-laden air is drawn in through the air inlet I11 of the wet-cloth brush 100.

[0057] The drawn-in air flows along the air inducing path 112 in the brush body 100, thereby rotating the fan 120. According to rotation of the fan 120, the pair of wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are symmetrically operated by the eccentric cams 141 and 142, the cam grooves 153 and 156, the guide grooves 115 and the guide projections 154 and 157 to linearly reciprocate (See FIG. 4).

As a result, the surface being cleaned (such as a floor) can be thoroughly wiped by the wet-cloth (not shown) attached to the bottom surfaces 151 c and 152c of the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152.

During this process, the user holding the handle 222 can view each of the one corner of the wetcloth boards 151 and 152 from above the brush body 110. In addition, since the flank sides 151b Q) and 152b extend in part beyond brush body 110 when the wet-cloth boards 151 and 152 are at their outermost position, the user can confirm whether the cleaning work is being performed correctly. While passing through the contaminant collecting unit of the dust collecting chamber 235, the dust-laden air passed through the fan 120 is cleaned since 00 5 the dust is separated therefrom. The cleaned air is passed through the motor 211 via the impeller and the diffuser 212 and discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 230 through an outlet 233.

100581 While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[00591 Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (13)

1. A wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, including: a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by drawn-in air; 00 5 a plurality of worm gears mounted on rotation shafts protruding from opposite Osides of the fan; Sa plurality of worm wheels, meshing with the worm gears, to be rotated on the brush body; a plurality of pin-shaped eccentric cams mounted on lower ends of shafts of the worm wheels; and at least two wet-cloth boards, separately mounted on the brush body along one side of the inlet, to move back and forth in a straight line by the pin-shaped eccentric cams.

2. A wet-cloth brush for a vacuum cleaner, including a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by drawn-in air; first and second worm gears mounted on respective rotation shafts protruding from opposite sides of the fan, the shafts being rotated by rotation of the fan; first and second worm wheels, meshing respectively with the first and second worm gears, each of the first and second worm wheels being mounted on a respective wheel shaft; a first pin-shaped eccentric cam mounted on a lower end of the wheel shaft of the first worm wheel; a second pin-shaped eccentric cam mounted on a lower end of the wheel shaft of the second worm wheel; and 00 at least two wet-cloth boards, separately mounted on the brush body along one Sside of the air inlet, and each arranged to be moved back and forth in a straight line by Sthe respective first or second pin-shaped eccentric cam. 00 5

3. A wet-cloth brush according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the worm wheels formed at opposite sides of the fan are rotated in opposing directions. (Ni

4. A wet-cloth brush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wet-cloth boards each include: a cam groove for insertion of the respective pin-shaped eccentric cam; and a guide projection formed at one side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove on the brush body.

A wet-cloth brush according to claim 4, wherein the two wet-cloth boards reciprocate linearly between a gathered position near a center part of the brush body and a separated position away from the gathered position.

6. A wet-cloth brush according to claim 5, wherein the two wet-cloth boards each have a sloping edge on the sides facing each other.

7. A wet-cloth brush according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the brush body and are visible from above the brush body in at least one position taken by the wet-cloth boards during operation. 00 O O

8. A vacuum cleaner for performing wet-cleaning by drawing in dust-laden air through a wet-cloth brush, wherein the wet-cloth brush includes: a brush body in which an air inlet is formed; 00 5 a fan mounted to the brush body to be rotated by the drawn-in air; Sfirst and second worm gears respectively mounted to rotation shafts formed on Oboth sides of the fan; first and second worm wheels mounted in the brush body to mesh with the first and the second worm gears respectively; first and second pin-shaped eccentric cams mounted on lower ends of shafts of the second worm wheels, respectively spaced from rotational centers of the shafts of the first and second worm wheels; and first and second wet-cloth boards including a cam groove, formed as a long groove, for insertion of at least one of the first and the second eccentric cams, and a guide projection formed at one side of the cam groove and inserted in a guide groove, formed as a long groove perpendicularly to the cam groove, associated with the brush body.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the first and the second wet-cloth boards reciprocate linearly between a gathered position near a center part of the brush body and a separated position away from the gathered position.

A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the first and the second wet-cloth boards each have a sloping edge on the sides facing each other. 00 ¢c

11. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the first and the second wet-cloth boards are mounted to a lower part of the brush body and are visible from above the brush body in at least one position taken by said first and oo 00 5 second wet-cloth boards during operation of the wet-cloth boards. (N O

12. A wet-cloth brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A vacuum substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.