Background Art Generally, vehicles are typically provided with air ducts to supply cold or warm air into passenger compartments thereof, thus keeping pleasant environments in the passenger compartments. Installed at outlets of the air ducts are vent grills to control the distributed directions of the air discharged from the air ducts. The conventional air ducts of are each constructed to selectively communicate with the passenger compartment or the outside of the vehicle, so that the air duct may feed cold or warm air into the passenger compartment while processing only the air inside the passenger compartment or only the

atmospheric air outside the passenger compartment. Thus, a large amount of dust is deposited on an inner surface of the air duct. The dust deposited in the air duct is introduced into the passenger compartment along with cold or warm air. Furthermore, the dust deposited in the air duct has potentially harmful effects in which a variety of fungi and bacteria may quickly propagate, so that the harmful fungi and bacteria are introduced into the passenger compartment along with the cold or warm air.

Thus, passengers in the passenger compartment are inevitably exposed to the effects of bacteria and fungi through their respiratory organs while breathing, so that the passengers may suffer from a variety of microbial diseases or disorders of the respiratory systems.

In an effort to overcome the above-mentioned problems, fungicides or bactericides may be sprayed into the air ducts of the vehicles to restrict the propagation of the fungi and bacteria in the air duct. However, because a vent grill is provided at the outlet of the conventional air duct so that the vent grill cannot be removed from the air duct, it is virtually impossible to remove all of the dust from the inner surface of the air duct.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made

keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles which is easily inserted into an air duct of a vehicle through a vent grill in a passenger compartment to easily and completely remove dust from an inner surface of the air duct, thus preserving passenger health and keeping a pleasant environment in the passenger compartment.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles, comprising: a main body comprising a drive motor having a locking member on a rotating shaft thereof ; an ON/OFF switch to turn on or off the drive motor; and a tube support member extending forward from a front end of the main body while being spaced in a radial direction apart from an outer surface of the locking member by a predetermined gap ; an electric power connector connected to both the ON/OFF switch and the drive motor of the main body via an electric cord, and removably connected to either of an alternating current consent and a cigar jack provided in a vehicle, thus supplying electricity to the main body ; a power transmission unit having a flexible rod-shaped structure to restore an original shape thereof, with a predetermined diameter and length, the power transmission unit being connected at an end thereof to both the locking member of the drive motor and the tube support member, thus

transmitting a rotating force of the drive motor; and a dust removing unit provided with a locking hole at a rear surface thereof to be detachably coupled to another end of the power transmission unit, with a plurality of dust removing bristles attached around an outer surface of the dust removing unit in radial directions, the dust removing unit being coupled to the end of the power transmission unit to be rotated by a rotating force of the power transmission unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cleaner-for air ducts of vehicles according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a view showing the assembled cleaner for air ducts of vehicles of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to a second embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to a third embodiment of the present invention ;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a cleaner for air ducts according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned view of the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8 ; FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned and enlarged view of a coupled part between a fixed plate and a rotary plate of a winding drum for a power transmission rod provided in the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8; FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a coupled state of the power transmission rod and a rod support unit provided in the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8 ; FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view showing a structure of both a nut receiving part and a nut provided in the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8 ; FIG. 13 is a front view of the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8 from which a drive motor, the power transmission rod and the rotary plate are removed ;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the cleaner for air ducts of FIG. 8 from which only the rotary plate is removed; FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a construction of a rod leading part provided in the cleaner for air ducts according to the present invention ; FIGS. 16a and 16b are sectional views showing an operation of a rod locking unit provided in the rod leading part of FIG. 15 ; and FIG. 17 is a view showing an operation of the cleaner for air ducts of vehicles according to the present invention.

* Designation of reference numerals in the drawings* 10: cleaner for air ducts 11: main body 12: drive motor 13: locking member 14: switch 15: electric power connector 16: power transmission rod 17: dust removing unit 18: coating agent 19: protective tube 20: air duct 21: grill 22: cigar lighter 23: coupler Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Cleaners for air ducts of vehicles according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be

described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 15, each of the cleaners 10 for air ducts of vehicles according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention comprises a main body 11, an electric power connector 15, a power transmission unit 16 and a dust removing unit 17.

The main body 11 preferably has a shape similar to a body of a conventional pistol, so that a user easily uses the cleaner while gripping the body 11 with his/her hand. A drive motor 12 is installed in the main body 11 so that a rotating shaft of the motor 12 projects forward from the front end of the body 11. An ON/OFF switch 14 is provided on a bent portion of the body 11 so that the user who grips the body 11 can easily operate the switch 14 with his/her index finger. The electric power connector 15 comprises a conventional plug or a specific plug having a shape similar to that of a conventional cigar lighter for vehicles. When the electric power connector 15 comprises a conventional plug, the connector 15 is connected to an alternating current (AC) consent. When the electric power connector 15 comprises a plug similar to the cigar lighter's plug, the connector 15 is connected to a cigar jack 22 provided in a vehicle. The connector 15 is connected to the body 11 via an electric cord, thus supplying electricity to the drive motor 12.

The power transmission unit 16 may comprise a power transmission rod 16a alone or the power transmission rod 16a with a protective tube 16b. The power transmission rod 16a comprises a flexible rod-shaped structure that has predetermined diameter and length, with an elastic restoring force to allow the rod 16a to elastically restore its original shape. A first end of the rod 16a is mounted to a locking member 13 of the drive motor 12, while a second end of the rod 16a is coupled to the dust removing unit 17. Thus, the power transmission rod 16 is rotated by the rotating force of the drive motor 12, thus rotating the dust removing unit 17. The protective tube 16b comprises a flexible tubular structure with a predetermined diameter and length and rotatably receives the power transmission rod 16a therein. A first end of the protective tube 16b is locked to a tube support member 24 of the main body 11 so that the tube 16b is not rotated. Thus, the protective tube 16b defines a minimum space in which the power transmission rod 16a is rotated. Due to the protective tube 16b, the power transmission rod 16a is rotated even though the rod 16a is bent. The power transmission rod 16a may comprise an extension spring, which is densely coiled to have a predetermined diameter and length, or a flexible wire, without limit. The protective tube 16b may comprise an extension spring, which is densely coiled to have a predetermined diameter and length, or a flexible plastic

tube, without limit.

The dust removing unit 17 is provided with a locking hole 17a at a rear surface thereof to be coupled to the second end of the power transmission rod 16a. A plurality of dust removing bristles 17b are attached around the outer surface of the dust removing unit 17 in radial directions.

The dust removing unit 17, which is detachably coupled to the second end of the power transmission rod 16a, is rotated in cooperation with the power transmission rod 16a.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner 10 for air ducts of vehicles may further comprise a separate coupler 23.

The separate coupler 23 is provided with both a coupling hole 23a and a coupling boss 23b, and is coupled between the drive motor 12 and the power transmission rod 16a.

The coupling hole 23a is provided on a first surface of the coupler 23 to be detachably coupled to the locking member 13 of the drive motor 12. The coupling boss 23b is provided on a second surface of the coupler 23 to be detachably coupled to the power transmission rod 16a.

In a cleaner 10 for air ducts of vehicles according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the power transmission rod 16a is coated with a flexible resin coat on an outer surface thereof.

To use the above-mentioned cleaner 10 for air ducts

of vehicles according to the present invention, the first end of the power transmission rod 16a is mounted to the locking member 13 of the drive motor 12 of the main body 11. Thereafter, the dust removing unit 17 is mounted to the second end of the power transmission rod 16a, prior to connecting the electric power connector 15 to a power supply consent or a cigar jack of a vehicle.

Thereafter, the front part of the dust removing unit 17 is inserted into the air duct 20 after passing through the vent grill 21. The user operates the ON/OFF switch 14 of the main body 11 with his/her index finger to turn on the drive motor 12. Thus, the locking member 13, the power transmission rod 16a and the dust removing unit 17 are rotated by the rotating force of the drive motor 12 at the same time. In the above state, the dust removing bristles 17b, which are attached around the outer surface of the dust removing unit 17, are rotated to remove dust from the inner surface of the air duct 20. When the user slowly pushes forward the main body 11 in the above state, the power transmission rod 16a is introduced into the air duct 20. Thus, the dust removing unit 17 gradually moves inward along the air duct 20 to reach a deeper portion in the air duct 20, so that the dust removing unit 17 easily and completely removes dust from the air duct 20.

To use the cleaner provided with the protective tube 16b, the power transmission rod 16a is coupled to the

locking member of the drive motor 12. Thereafter, the protective tube 16b is fitted over the power transmission rod 16a so that the power transmission rod 16a rotates in the tube 16b. The first end of the protective tube 16b is mounted to the tube support member 24 of the main body 11, while the dust removing unit 17 is mounted to the second end of the power transmission rod 16a. Thereafter, the dust removing unit 17 and the protective tube 16 are sequentially inserted into the air duct 20 through the vent grill 21. Thereafter, the user operates the ON/OFF switch 14 of the main body 11 to turn on the drive motor, so that both the power transmission rod 16a in the protective tube 16b and the dust removing unit 17 are rotated, while the protective tube 16b is not rotated. Thus, the dust removing unit 17 removes dust from the air duct 20. In the above state, the power transmission rod 16a is free from contact with the vent grill 21, so that the grill 21 is protected from any damage caused by the contact with the power transmission rod 16a. In the case of the power transmission rod 16a which is coated with the coat on the outer surface thereof according to the further embodiment of the present invention, the coat of the power transmission rod 16a which has high flexibility and elasticity minimizes the damage to the grill 21 regardless of contact of the rod 16a with the grill 21.

In a cleaner 10 for air ducts according to a further

embodiment of the present invention, the power transmission unit 16 comprises the power transmitting rod 16a, the protective tube 16b, and a winding drum 30 to wind or unwind the power transmission rod 16a of the power transmission unit 16.

The winding drum 30 comprises a fixed plate 40, a rotary plate 50g a locking bolt 60, an elastic member 70, and a nut 80.

The fixed plate 40 comprises a disc-shaped body that is an integrated body with a predetermined diameter and comprises an outer wall part 41, a winding wall part 42, an assembling protrusion 43, a rod support unit 44, a motor housing part 45, and an elastic member receiving part 46.

The fixed plate 40 is integrally provided on a side of the front portion of the main body 11.

The outer wall part 41 is provided along an upper edge of the fixed plate 40 while protruding upward to a predetermined height, with a locking shoulder 41a provided on an upper end of the outer wall part 41.

The winding wall part 42 protrudes upward from the fixed plate 40 to a predetermined height while extending in parallel to the outer wall part 41 at a position that is spaced inward apart from the outer wall part 41 at a predetermined interval. A winding groove 42a is provided along the outer surface of the winding wall part 42, while a rod leading part 42b is provided on a predetermined

portion of a lower part of the winding wall part 42.

The assembling protrusion 43 protrudes upward from the central portion of the fixed plate 40 while defining a frusto-conical shape with a bolt hole 43a axially formed through a central part of the assembling protrusion 43. The rod support unit 44 protrudes upward at a predetermined position between the winding wall part 42 and the assembling protrusion 43 to support the power transmission unit 16 therein.

That is, the rod support unit 44, which protrudes upward at the predetermined position on the upper surface of the fixed plate 40 between the winding wall part 42 and the assembling protrusion 43, supports therein an end of the power transmission unit 16 on the upper surface of the fixed plate 40. The rod support unit 44 comprises an upward protruding body 44d which is provided on the predetermined position of the upper surface of the fixed plate 40. The upward protruding body 44d has a flange 44c on an upper end thereof, with a seating groove 44a provided on an upper surface of the flange 44c to be depressed downward and a plurality of bolt holes 44b provided on the upper surface of the flange 44c. The rod support unit 44 further comprises a support cap 44g which is placed on and assembled with the upper end of the upward protruding body 44d by a plurality of locking bolts, thus supporting the power transmission unit 16 in the fixed plate 40. The

support cap 44g has a flange on a lower end thereof, with a seating groove 44f provided on a lower surface of the flange to be depressed upward and a plurality of bolt holes 44e provided on the lower surface of the flange to respectively correspond to the seating groove 44a and the plurality of bolt holes 44b of the upward protruding body 44d.

The motor housing part 45 is provided between the winding wall part 42 and the assembling protrusion 43, thus seating a part of the drive motor 12 therein. The elastic member receiving part 46 having a predetermined width is provided on the lower surface of the fixed plate 40 by being depressed upward at a position around the lower end of the bolt hole 43a.

The rotary plate 50, which is mounted to the upper surface of the fixed plate 40, comprises a disc-shaped body that is an integrated body with a predetermined diameter and comprises an outer wall part 51, a rod leading part 52, an assembling protrusion 53, and a nut receiving part 54.

The outer wall part 51 is provided along a lower edge of the rotary plate 50 while protruding downward to a predetermined length, with a locking shoulder 51a provided on a lower end of the outer wall part 51a to be assembled with the locking shoulder 41a of the outer wall part 41 of the fixed plate 40.

The rod leading part 52, which has a predetermined

shape, is provided on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of the outer wall part 51 while protruding outward.

A rod leading hole 52a is defined by the rod leading part 52 so that the rod leading hole 52a communicates with the inside of the outer wall part 52.

The assembling protrusion 53 protrudes downward from the central portion of the rotary plate 50 while defining a frusto-conical shape, with a bolt hole 53a axially formed through a central part of the assembling protrusion 53. The nut receiving part 54 having a predetermined width is provided on the upper surface of the rotary plate 50 by being depressed downward at a position around the upper end of the bolt hole 53a.

The locking bolt 60 is tightened into both the bolt holes 43a and 53a in a direction from the elastic member receiving part 46 of the fixed plate 40 to the nut receiving part 54, thus assembling the fixed plate 40 and the rotary late 50 into a single body.

The elastic member 70 is a compression spring which is placed between the head of the locking bolt 60 and an upper surface of the elastic member receiving part 46 so that the elastic member 70 elastically biases the locking bolt 60 in a direction toward the head of the locking bolt 60. The nut 80 is tightened to the end of the locking bolt 60.

During an operation of the cleaner for air ducts

having the above-mentioned winding drum 30 for the power transmission unit, the winding drum 30 is wound around the outer surface of the winding wall part 42 of the fixed plate 40 while being neatly arranged on the winding wall part 42. That is, the power transmission unit 16 is drawn into or released outward from the winding drum 30 through the rod leading hole 52a of the rod leading part 52 of the rotary plate 50 while being wound around or unwound from the outer surface of the winding wall part 42 of the fixed plate 40 in response to a reversible rotation of the rotary plate 50. Thus, it is possible to freely control the length of a part of the power transmission unit 16 which is released outward from the tub 30.

Furthermore, during the operation of the cleaner for air ducts having the above-mentioned winding drum 30, the winding drum 30 can be controllably rotated at a desired angle in response to the reversible rotation of the rotary plate 50. Thus, the cleaner 10 has a function of easily controlling the length of the released part of the power transmission unit 16 that is released outward from the winding drum 30. The above-mentioned function of controlling the length of the released part of the power transmission unit 16 is achieved by two ratchet gears 54a and 80a that are respectively provided on the nut receiving part 54 and the nut 80.

The ratchet gear 54a of the rotary plate 50 protrudes

on the lower surface of the nut receiving part 54, while the ratchet gear 80a protrudes on a lower surface of the nut 80. That is, the ratchet gear 80a protrudes on the lower surface of the nut 80p which is in contact with the lower surface of the nut receiving part 54 when the nut 80 is tightened to the locking bolt 60, so that the ratchet gear 80a has a shape to coincide with the shape of the ratchet gear 54a.

To rotate the rotary plate 50 of the cleaner 10 having the above-mentioned ratchet gears 54a and 80a in a forward or reversed direction, the user pushes the head of the locking bolt 60, so that the locking bolt 60 moves inward while compressing the elastic member 70. Thus, the nut 80 is spaced apart from the lower surface of the nut receiving part 54, so that the ratchet gears 54a and 80a disengage from each other to allow a free rotation of the rotary plate 50. Thus, the power transmission unit 16 can be drawn into or released from the winding drum 30 as desired. When the user removes the pushing force from the head of the locking bolt 60, the locking bolt 60 elastically restores its original state due to the restoring force of the compressed elastic member 70. In the above state, the nut 80 moves toward the lower surface of the nut receiving part 54, so that the ratchet gears 54a and 80a are brought into engagement with each other. The rotary plate 50 is thus gripped to fix the length of the

released part of the power transmission unit 16.

The ratchet gears 54a and 80a to accomplish the above-mentioned operational function may be variously constructed to have a variety of shapes according to designed operations. That is, when it is desired to make a user push the locking bolt 60 to cause every forward or reversed rotation of the rotary plate 50 and remove the pushing force from the locking bolt 60 to grip the rotary plate 50, the ratchet gears 54a and 80a are designed to have a symmetric cross-section, such as a regular triangular or rectangular-shaped cross-section. However, when it is desired to make the user push the locking bolt 60 to cause only one directional rotation of the forward and reversed rotation of the rotary plate 50, the ratchet gears 54a and 80a are designed to have a right triangular cross-section.

To minimize the vibration of the power transmission unit 16 drawn outward from the winding drum 30 during the operation of the cleaner 10 having the winding drum 30, the cleaner 10 may include a function of temporarily locking a part of the power transmission rod 16a that is placed around the rod leading part 52. The above-mentioned locking function is achieved by providing a longitudinal slot 52c, a control button 52e, and a locking arm 52f to the rod leading part 52.

The longitudinal slot 52c, which has a plurality of

stop portions 52b on a side edge thereof, is provided on an upper surface of the rod leading part 52 to communicate with the rod leading hole 52a. The control button 52e has a locking piece 52d on a side thereof and is movably placed on the longitudinal slot 52c so that the locking piece 52d engages with either of the stop portions 52b. The locking arm 52f is coupled at an upper end thereof to a lower surface of the control button 52e while passing through the longitudinal slot 52c, thus being operated in conjunction with the control button 52e. The locking arm 52f thus selectively locks the protective tube 16b of the power transmission unit that is drawn outward through the rod leading hole 52a.

To lock the power transmission unit 16 after drawing the unit 16 outward from the winding drum so as to prevent vibration of the unit 16 during the operation of the cleaner 10 having the above-mentioned locking function, the control button 52e is pushed from an existing stop portion 52b in a direction. Thus, the locking piece 52d of the control button 52e engages with another one of the stop portions 52b. In the above state, the locking arm 52f moves in cooperation with the control button 52e to push the protective tube 16b to a side of the rod leading hole 52a, thus locking the protective tube 16b to the rod leading hole 52a. Therefore, it is possible to minimize vibration of the power transmission unit 16 caused by the rotation of

the power transmission rod 16a. To wind or unwind the power transmission unit 16, the control button 52e is pushed in a reversed direction to restore its original position. In the above state, the protective tube 16b is released from the locked state, thus being freely drawn into or released from the winding drum.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a cleaner for air ducts of vehicles which is easily inserted into an air duct of a vehicle through a vent grill in a passenger compartment to easily and completely remove dust from an inner surface of the air duct, thus preserving passenger health and keeping a pleasant environment in the passenger compartment.