CN110831474A

CN110831474A - Electric vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN110831474A
Application number: CN201880044664.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 江部清; 清水孝吉; 兴津信秀; 大岛郁夫
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2017-08-01
Filing date: 2018-07-31
Publication date: 2020-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-31
Also published as: JP7005212B2; JP2019025146A; WO2019026882A1; CN110831474B; EP3662805A1; EP3662805A4

Abstract

Provided is an electric vacuum cleaner in which a movable handle can be stored at a position not to be an obstacle even when the vacuum cleaner main body is used in a standing state or a reversed state. An electric vacuum cleaner (1) is provided with: a main body case (11) having a handle housing recess (11 a); a main body handle (14) which is provided in the main body housing (11) and can move between a storage position entering the handle storage recess (11a) and a use position departing from the handle storage recess (11 a); and a handle holding mechanism (61) for holding the main body handle (14) at the storage position in the handle storage recess (11 a).

Description

Electric vacuum cleaner

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric vacuum cleaner.

Background

There is known a horizontal type electric vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body and a rotatable body handle provided at a front end portion of the cleaner body.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-204773

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, when the cleaner body is stored in the standing state, the handle of the cleaner body may hang down and become an obstacle to storage. In addition, when the cleaner body is used in a state in which the cleaner body is inverted (turned upside down) with respect to the wheels supporting the cleaner body, the handle of the cleaner body may hang down to hinder the travel.

Therefore, the present invention provides an electric vacuum cleaner capable of accommodating a movable handle at a position not to be an obstacle even when the vacuum cleaner main body is used in a standing state or a reversed state.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body housing having a handle housing recess; a handle provided in the main body case and movable between a storage position where the handle is inserted into the handle storage recess and a use position where the handle is removed from the handle storage recess; and a handle holding mechanism that holds the handle located at the storage position in the handle storage recess.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle holding mechanism is capable of holding the handle positioned at the storage position in the handle storage recess even when the main body housing is in the standing posture.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle holding mechanism is configured to hold the handle positioned at the storage position in the handle storage recess even when the main body casing is in an inverted posture after being inverted.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the handle is preferably provided to the main body casing so as to be swingable.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle is provided so as to be linearly movable in a direction toward and away from the main body casing.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle holding mechanism includes an elastic member that generates a force to move the handle to the storage position.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle holding mechanism includes a concave portion and a convex portion which are provided in the handle and the handle accommodating concave portion and are fitted to each other.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, one of the concave portion and the convex portion is preferably provided in the handle accommodating concave portion.

In the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the handle holding mechanism includes a hook portion that moves by its own weight so as to be hooked on the handle before the handle is disengaged from the handle accommodating recess by its own weight.

In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the hook is preferably provided in the handle accommodating recess.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner and a station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner and a station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner with the main body handle of the embodiment of the present invention drawn out.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a handle holding mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a handle holding mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a handle holding mechanism of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6.

Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing an electric vacuum cleaner and a station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment can be stored while being coupled to a stationary station 2 (fig. 1), and can be used while being separated from the station 2 (fig. 2).

Fig. 1 shows a mode in which the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is coupled to the station 2. This mode is referred to as a storage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. In fig. 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is shown in a state separated from the station 2. This mode is referred to as a mode of use of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a so-called cordless type. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a so-called horizontal type, but is not limited thereto, and may be a vertical type, a stick type, or a hand-held type.

The station 2 has both a function of charging the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and a function of collecting and accumulating dust collected by the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The station 2 is disposed at an appropriate place in a living room.

The user separates the cleaner body 7 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 connected to the station 2 from the station 2 (fig. 2), and moves the electric vacuum cleaner 1 on the surface to be cleaned in a living room or holds the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and moves the electric vacuum cleaner, thereby cleaning the surface to be cleaned. Thereafter, the user returns (connects) the cleaner body 7 to the station 2 and stores it (fig. 1). The station 2 is configured to charge the cleaner body 7 when the cleaner body 7 is connected, and to collect dust accumulated in the electric vacuum cleaner 1 at a proper time. That is, each time the electric vacuum cleaner 1 for cleaning is connected, the station 2 collects dust collected by the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and empties the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

Note that the frequency of collecting dust from the electric vacuum cleaner 1 at the station 2 may not be every time the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the station 2. The station 2 may collect dust from the electric vacuum cleaner 1 every time the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is connected to the station 2 a plurality of times. The station 2 may collect dust from the electric vacuum cleaner 1 every week, that is, collect dust from the electric vacuum cleaner 1 every 7 times, for example, on the premise that the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is used 1 time per day.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner body 7 that can travel on a surface to be cleaned, and a pipe portion 8 that is detachable from the cleaner body 7. The duct portion 8 is fluidly connected to the cleaner body 7.

The cleaner body 7 includes: a main body case 11; a pair of wheels 12 provided on each of the left and right side portions of the main body case 11, and a first dust container 13 detachably attached to the main body case 11; a main body handle 14 provided to the main body case 11; a first electric blower 15 housed in the main body case 11; a cleaner control unit 16 for mainly controlling the first electric blower 15; and a secondary battery 17 for storing electric power supplied to the first electric blower 15.

The cleaner main body 7 drives the first electric blower 15 by the electric power stored in the secondary battery 17. The vacuum cleaner main body 7 causes a negative pressure generated by the first electric blower 15 to act on the duct portion 8. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 sucks air containing dust (hereinafter, referred to as "dust-containing air") from a surface to be cleaned through the duct portion 8, separates the dust from the dust-containing air, collects and accumulates the separated dust, and exhausts clean air from which the dust has been separated.

A main body connection port 18 corresponding to the suction port of the cleaner main body 7 is provided in a front portion of the main body casing 11. The main body connection port 18 is a joint to which the pipe portion 8 can be attached and detached. Main body connection port 18 fluidly connects pipe portion 8 and first dust container 13. The main body connection port 18 may be provided on a side surface or a top surface, for example, in addition to the front surface portion of the main body case 11.

The cleaner body 7 of the present embodiment is coupled to the station 2 in a posture in which the front surface of the body casing 11 faces upward. The posture in which the front surface of the main body case 11 faces upward is referred to as the storage posture of the cleaner main body 7 or the storage posture of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The cleaner main body 7 is connected to the station 2 by dropping (descending) from above. The cleaner body 7 connected to the station 2 is lifted (raised) upward and detached from the station 2. The posture in which the main body connection port 18 is directed upward is also referred to as the standing posture of the cleaner main body 7.

In the usage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the cleaner body 7 is configured such that the front surface of the main body casing 11 faces the traveling direction, i.e., the forward direction. The posture in which the cleaner body can travel on the surface to be cleaned and move in the cleaning place is referred to as the use posture of the cleaner body 7 (fig. 2). The cleaner body 7 in the use posture has wheels 12 provided on the surface to be cleaned and supports the body housing 11 so as to be able to travel.

The wheels 12 support the cleaner main body 7 so as to be able to travel. The cleaner body 7 is supported by casters (not shown) in addition to the pair of wheels 12.

The first dust container 13 stores dust sucked into the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The first dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the dust-containing air flowing into the cleaner body 7, and sends the cleaned air from which the dust has been removed to the first electric blower 15.

The main body handle 14 is used when the cleaner main body 7 is carried. The main body handle 14 is arched in the width direction of the main body case 11.

The first electric blower 15 sucks air from the first dust container 13 to generate a negative pressure (suction negative pressure).

The cleaner control unit 16 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) for storing various calculation programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) relating to a plurality of operation modes set in advance. A plurality of operating modes are associated with the output of the first electric blower 15. Input values (input value of the first electric blower 15, current value flowing through the first electric blower 15) different from each other are set for each operation mode. Each operation mode is associated with an input received by the pipe portion 8. The cleaner control unit 16 selects an arbitrary operation mode corresponding to an input to the duct unit 8 from a plurality of operation modes set in advance, reads the selected operation mode from the storage unit, and operates the first electric blower 15 in accordance with the read operation mode setting.

The secondary battery 17 supplies electric power to the first electric blower 15 and the cleaner control unit 16. The secondary battery 17 is electrically connected to a pair of charging electrodes 19 provided on the cleaner body 7.

The duct portion 8 draws in dust-containing air from the surface to be cleaned by negative pressure applied from the cleaner body 7 and guides the air to the cleaner body 7. The pipe portion 8 includes: a connection pipe 21 serving as a joint that is detachable from the cleaner body 7; a dust collection hose 22 fluidly connected to the connection pipe 21; a hand-operated tube 23 fluidly connected to the dust collection hose 22; a grip 25 protruding from the manual operation tube 23; an operation unit 26 provided in the grip 25; an extension pipe 27 detachably connected to the manual operation pipe 23; and a suction port body 28 detachably connected to the extension pipe 27.

The connection pipe 21 is a joint that is detachable from the main body connection port 18. Connection pipe 21 is fluidly connected to first dust container 13 through main body connection port 18.

The dust collection hose 22 is an elongated and flexible hose having a substantially cylindrical shape. One end (here, the rear end) of the dust collection hose 22 is fluidly connected to the connection pipe 21. The dust collection hose 22 is fluidly connected to the first dust container 13 via a connection pipe 21.

The hand operation pipe 23 relays the dust collection hose 22 and the extension pipe 27. One end (here, the rear end) of the manual operation pipe 23 is fluidly connected to the other end (here, the front end) of the dust collection hose 22. The manual operation pipe 23 is fluidly connected to the first dust container 13 via the dust collection hose 22 and the connection pipe 21.

The grip portion 25 is a portion to be gripped by a hand of a user for operating the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The grip portion 25 protrudes from the manual operation tube 23 in an appropriate shape that can be easily gripped by a hand of a user.

The operation unit 26 includes switches corresponding to the respective operation modes. For example, the operation unit 26 includes a stop switch 26a corresponding to the operation stop operation of the first electric blower 15, a start switch 26b corresponding to the operation start operation of the first electric blower 15, and a brush switch 26c corresponding to the power supply to the suction port body 28. The stop switch 26a and the start switch 26b are electrically connected to the cleaner control unit 16. The user of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can select an operation mode of the first electric blower 15 by operating the operation unit 26. The start switch 26b also functions as a selection switch of an operation mode during operation of the first electric blower 15. The cleaner control unit 16 switches the operation mode in the order of strong → medium → weak → … … each time an operation signal is received from the start switch 26 b. The operation unit 26 may be provided with a strong operation switch (not shown), a medium operation switch (not shown), and a weak operation switch (not shown) independently, instead of the starter switch 26 b.

The extension pipe 27 having a telescopic structure in which a plurality of cylindrical bodies are stacked can be extended and retracted. One end (here, the rear end) of the extension pipe 27 is provided with a joint that is detachable from the other end (here, the front end) of the manual operation pipe 23. The extension pipe 27 is fluidly connected to the first dust container 13 via the manual operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21.

The suction port body 28 can travel or slide on a surface to be cleaned, such as a wooden floor or a carpet, and has a suction port 31 on a bottom surface facing the surface to be cleaned in the traveling or sliding state. The suction port body 28 includes a rotatable cleaning element 32 disposed at the suction port 31, and a motor 33 for driving the rotatable cleaning element 32. One end (here, the rear end) of the suction port body 28 is provided with a joint that is detachable from the other end (here, the front end) of the extension pipe 27. The suction port body 28 is fluidly connected to the first dust container 13 via the extension pipe 27, the manual operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, and the connection pipe 21. That is, the suction port body 28, the extension pipe 27, the manual operation pipe 23, the dust collection hose 22, the connection pipe 21, and the first dust container 13 are a suction air passage extending from the suction port 31 to the first electric blower 15. The motor 33 alternately repeats the start and stop of the operation each time it receives an operation signal from the brush switch 26 c.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 causes the first electric blower 15 to start when the start switch 26b is operated. For example, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1, when the start switch 26b is operated in a state where the first electric blower 15 is stopped, the first electric blower 15 is first started in the strong operation mode, when the start switch 26b is operated again, the first electric blower 15 is operated in the medium operation mode, and when the start switch 26b is operated for the third time, the first electric blower 15 is operated in the weak operation mode, and the following similar operations are repeated. The strong operation mode, the medium operation mode, and the weak operation mode are a plurality of operation modes set in advance. The input value set for the strong operation mode is the largest, and the input value set for the weak operation mode is the smallest. The first electric blower 15 after being activated sucks air from the first dust container 13 to make the inside of the first dust container 13 negative pressure.

The negative pressure in the first dust container 13 acts on the suction port 31 via the main body connection port 18, the connection pipe 21, the dust collection hose 22, the manual operation pipe 23, the extension pipe 27, and the suction port body 28 in this order. The vacuum cleaner 1 sucks in dust on a surface to be cleaned together with air by a negative pressure acting on the suction port 31. The first dust container 13 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked dust-containing air, and sends the air separated from the dust-containing air to the first electric blower 15. The first electric blower 15 exhausts the air sucked from the first dust container 13 to the outside of the cleaner body 7.

The station 2 is provided at an arbitrary position on the surface to be cleaned. The station 2 includes a base 41 to which the cleaner body 7 can be coupled, and a dust collection unit 42 provided integrally with the base 41. The station 2 further includes a dust transport pipe 43 connected to the first dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 in the storage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The base 41 has a width dimension similar to that of the dust collecting portion 42, and extends in a rectangular shape to extend toward the front side of the dust collecting portion 42. The base 41 has a shape and a size capable of accommodating the cleaner body 7 of the electric cleaner 1 in a plan view.

The base 41 includes a charging terminal 45 connectable to the cleaner body 7. When the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is coupled to the station 2, the charging terminal 45 is in contact with and electrically connected to the charging electrode 19 of the cleaner main body 17.

The base 41 has a bulging portion 46, and the bulging portion 46 is disposed so as to abut against a side surface of the cleaner body 7 in the storage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The dust collecting unit 42 is disposed behind the base 41. The dust collecting unit 42 is a box of an appropriate shape that is integrated with the base 41 and can be placed on a surface to be cleaned. The dust collecting portion 42 extends upward from the base 41. The dust collection unit 42 has an appropriate shape that does not interfere with the cleaner body 7 connected to the base 41.

The dust collection unit 42 includes: a housing 47; a second dust container 48 for collecting the waste dust from the first dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43 and accumulating the collected dust; a second electric blower 49 housed in the dust collection unit 42 and fluidly connected to the second dust container 48; a station control unit 51 for mainly controlling the second electric blower 49; and a power supply line 52 for guiding electric power from a commercial ac power supply to the dust collection unit 42.

The top plate of the housing 47 and the base 41 is an integrally molded resin product.

The second dust container 48 is fluidly connected to the dust transport pipe 43. The second dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the air containing dust flowing in from the dust transport pipe 43, and on the other hand, conveys the clean air from which the dust is removed to the second electric blower 49. The second dust container 48 is detachably attached to the left side (right side as viewed from the front) of the dust collection unit 42, and is exposed from the external appearance of the station 2.

The second electric blower 49 sucks air from the second dust container 48 to generate negative pressure (suction negative pressure), and moves dust from the first dust container 13 to the second dust container 48. The second electric blower 49 is housed on the right side (left side as viewed from the front) of the dust collecting unit 42.

The station control unit 51 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) for storing various operation programs, parameters, and the like executed by the microprocessor. The station control unit 51 performs operability control of the second electric blower 49 and charging control of the secondary battery 17 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the first dust container 13 in the storage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. The dust transport pipe 43 is an air passage for moving the dust collected by the electric vacuum cleaner 1 to the second dust container 48. When the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is coupled to the station 2, the dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the first dust container 13, and the first dust container 13 is fluidly connected to the second dust container 48.

The dust transport pipe 43 is connected to the suction side of the second dust container 48. The negative pressure generated by the second electric blower 49 acts on the dust transport pipe 43 via the second dust container 48.

The dust transport pipe 43 has an inlet connected to the first dust container 13 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and an outlet connected to the second dust container 48. The dust transport pipe 43 extends rearward from an inlet disposed on the base 41 to the inside of the dust collection unit 42, and is bent inside the dust collection unit 42 to extend upward to an outlet disposed on the side of the second dust container 48.

The charging terminal 45 is provided on the base 41 in parallel with the inlet of the dust transport pipe 43.

When the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is coupled (returned) to the station 2, the charging electrode 19 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is electrically connected to the charging terminal 45 of the station 2, and the dust transport pipe 43 of the station 2 is connected to the first dust container 13. After that, the station 2 starts charging of the secondary battery 17 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1. In addition, the station 2 causes the second electric blower 49 to be activated at the right time. The second electric blower 49 after being activated sucks air from the second dust container 48 to make the inside of the second dust container 48 negative in pressure.

The negative pressure in the second dust container 48 acts on the first dust container 13 through the dust transport pipe 43. The station 2 sucks in the dust accumulated in the first dust container 13 together with air by the negative pressure acting on the first dust container 13. The second dust container 48 separates, collects, and accumulates dust from the sucked air, and sends the air from which the dust is separated to the second electric blower 49. The second electric blower 49 exhausts the clean air sucked from the second dust container 48 to the outside of the station 2.

The station 2 may be a simple storage table that does not have the function of charging the secondary battery 17 and that collects dust from the first dust container 13. The station 2 may be a charging station having only a charging function of the secondary battery 17. The station 2 may be a dust removal station having only a function of collecting dust from the first dust container 13.

Next, the main body grip 14 of the cleaner main body 7 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in fig. 3, the cleaner body 7 of the electric cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes a pair of wheels 12.

The wheels 12 are disposed at left and right ends of a cylindrical rear half of the body case 11, and are concentrically disposed in the cylindrical rear half of the body case 11. The diameter of the wheel 12 is larger than the height of the body case 11 in the vertical direction (corresponding to the diameter of the rear half of the cylindrical shape). Further, the wheel 12 blocks the rear end portion of the main body case 11 when viewed from the side of the cleaner main body 7, that is, when viewed from the rotation center line direction of the wheel 12. Therefore, even when the main body casing 11 is turned upside down (forward and reverse), the wheels 12 can be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned in the cleaner main body 7. The body housing 11 can be inverted vertically (forward and backward) about the rotation center line of the wheel 12 without causing interference between the rear end portion and the surface to be cleaned. The cleaner body 7 is provided with first auxiliary wheels (not shown) that support the cleaner body 7 with the front side (back side) facing upward, together with the wheels 12. The connection pipe 21 is provided with a second auxiliary wheel (not shown) that supports the cleaner body 7 with the wheel 12 facing upward on the reverse side (ventral side).

Fig. 3 shows the cleaner body 7 in an attitude in which the front side (back side) faces upward.

Further, the cleaner body 7 includes: a main body case 11 having a handle housing recess 11 a; a main body handle 14 provided in the main body case 11 and movable between a storage position (fig. 2) entering the handle storage recess 11a and a use position (fig. 3) departing from the handle storage recess 11 a; and a handle holding mechanism 61 for holding the main body handle 14 at the storage position in the handle storage recess 11 a.

The handle accommodating recess 11a is provided at a front edge portion on the back side of the main body case 11. The handle receiving recess 11a extends following the shape of the front edge portion on the back side of the main body case 11.

Here, in the use posture (lying position) of the cleaner body 7, the use posture in which the handle storage recess 11a of the main body case 11 is directed upward is referred to as a first use posture (abdominal lying position, lying position). The use posture in which the handle housing recess 11a of the main body case 11 faces downward is referred to as a second use posture (a reverse posture, a back lying posture, and a back lying posture). In the first posture, the cleaner body 7 supports the main body case 11 with the wheels 12 and first auxiliary wheels (not shown) with the back side (top surface) of the main body case 11 directed upward. In the second posture, the cleaner body 7 supports the main body casing 11 with the wheels 12 and second auxiliary wheels (not shown) with the ventral side (bottom surface) of the main body casing 11 directed upward.

The body handle 14 is mounted between the left and right wheels 12 in an arch shape. The main body handle 14 is housed in the handle housing recess 11a of the main body housing 11 when not in use (fig. 2 shows a housed state of the main body handle 14). The main body handle 14 is drawn out from the handle storage recess 11a when in use (fig. 3 shows a use state of the main body handle 14).

The main body handle 14 is swingably provided to the main body housing 11. The swing center line of the main body handle 14 extends in the width direction (left-right direction) of the cleaner main body 7 or the main body casing 11. In other words, the main body handle 14 moves so as to be pulled up from the handle accommodating recess 11a around a swing center line extending in the width direction of the main body housing 11.

The body handle 14 is adapted to the front edge of the arc-shaped front half of the body case 11. The main body handle 14 reaches the rear end of the cleaner main body 7 when it is maximally drawn out.

The main body handle 14 can move rearward of the cleaner body 7 substantially over the cleaner body 7 in a first use posture in which the cleaner body 7 is disposed on a horizontal plane and the handle storage recess 11a faces upward.

The main body handle 14 may be configured to be linearly movable in a direction toward or away from the main body housing 11, for example, in an up-down direction in the first usage posture (a direction passing through the back side and the abdomen side, and a direction passing through the top surface and the bottom surface). In other words, the main body handle 14 can also be slidably moved in a direction to approach or separate from the main body housing 11. In this case, the main body handle 14 is drawn out of or inserted into the handle storage recess 11 a.

However, the cleaner body 7 adopts the storage posture (standing posture) in the storage mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, and in the use mode of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the first use posture in which the handle storage recess 11a faces upward is reversed via the standing posture to the second use posture in which the handle storage recess 11a faces downward, or the second use posture in which the handle storage recess 11a faces downward is reversed via the standing posture to the first use posture. When no constraining force is applied to the main body handle 14 in such an operation (posture change) of the cleaner main body 7, the main body handle 14 is detached from or stored in the handle storage recess 11 a. For example, when the cleaner body 7 is operated from the first use posture in which the handle storage recess 11a is directed upward to the standing posture, if any restraining force is not applied to the main body handle 14, the main body handle 14 is detached from the handle storage recess 11a by the inertial force generated by the operation and its own weight, and hangs down on the back side of the cleaner body 7, and becomes an obstacle to the movement or travel of the cleaner body 7. When the cleaner body 7 is stored in the standing posture (fig. 1) in the station 2, if any restraining force is not applied to the main body handle 14, the main body handle 14 is detached from the handle storage recess 11a by its own weight and hangs down on the back side of the cleaner body 7, which is a bad appearance. In the second use posture (reverse posture) in which the handle storage recess 11a faces downward, if any restraining force is not applied to the main body handle 14, the main body handle 14 is detached from the handle storage recess 11a and hangs down on the surface to be cleaned, and movement or travel of the cleaner main body 7 is hindered. For example, in the second usage posture after being turned upside down, if the main body handle 14 hangs down so as to be bent in the traveling direction (forward direction) (as in ceremony), there is a possibility that the main body handle 14 collides so as to abut against a step in the traveling direction. When the main body handle 14 abuts against the step in the traveling direction, the cleaner main body 7 is naturally prevented from traveling.

Therefore, the cleaner body 7 includes a handle holding mechanism 61. The handle holding mechanism 61 holds the main body handle 14 located at the storage position in the handle storage recess 11a when the main body housing 11 is in the standing posture. The handle holding mechanism 61 holds the main body handle 14 located at the storage position in the handle storage recess 11a when the main body housing 11 is in the reverse rotation posture. The handle holding mechanism 61 also holds the main body handle 14 located at the storage position in the handle storage recess 11a when the main body housing 11 is in the intermediate posture between the upright posture and the reverse posture.

The handle holding mechanism 61 includes: an elastic member 62 that generates a force to move the main body handle 14 from the use position to the storage position; an uneven portion 63 provided in the main body handle 14 and the handle accommodating recess 11a and fitted thereto; and a hook portion 64 that swings under its own weight to hook the main body handle 14 before the main body handle 14 is disengaged from the handle housing recess 11a by its own weight.

Fig. 4 to 6 are sectional views of the handle holding mechanism of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, the handle holding mechanism 61 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes projections and recesses 63 and a hook portion 64 in addition to the elastic member 62.

In addition, fig. 4 shows the relationship between the main body handle 14 and the handle holding mechanism 61 in the cleaner main body 7 in the first posture. Fig. 5 shows the relationship between the main body handle 14 and the handle holding mechanism 61 in the vacuum cleaner main body 7 in the upright posture. Fig. 6 shows the relationship between the main body handle 14 and the handle holding mechanism 61 in the cleaner main body 7 in the second posture.

The main body handle 14 is swingably supported by the main body casing 11 of the cleaner main body 7 via a handle shaft 14 a.

The elastic member 62 is, for example, a torsion spring (torsion spring). When the main body grip 14 is moved to the use position after being separated from the storage position, the elastic member 62 is deformed by the movement and accumulates elastic energy. When the force acting on the main body grip 14 (the force moving the main body grip 14 from the storage position to the use position) is reduced or lost, the elastic member 62 consumes the stored elastic energy to generate a force moving the main body grip 14 from the use position to the storage position.

The elastic member 62 may be provided directly on the handle shaft 14a having the swing center line of the main body handle 14, or may indirectly exchange force with the main body handle 14 via the power transmission mechanism 66. The power transmission mechanism 66 is, for example, a speed reduction mechanism, a link mechanism, or a cam mechanism that meshes a plurality of gears (not shown). The elastic member 62 may be a coil spring or a rubber elastic body corresponding to the power transmission mechanism 66.

One of the irregularities 63 is provided in the handle storage recess 11a, and the other of the irregularities 63 is provided in the main body handle 14. The unevenness 63 of the present embodiment includes a convex portion 67 provided in the handle storage concave portion 11a and a concave portion 68 provided in the main body handle 14. When the main body handle 14 enters the handle storage recess 11a and reaches the storage position, the recesses 68 and the protrusions 67 are fitted to each other to hinder the movement of the main body handle 14. One of the recesses and projections 63, for example, the projection 67, may be provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the recess 68. In this case, the handle holding mechanism 61 is preferably provided with, for example, a coil spring (not shown) that generates a spring force in a direction in which the convex portion 67 is fitted into the concave portion 68. In other words, the convex portion 67 is provided so as to be able to protrude from and retract from the inner wall surface of the handle accommodating concave portion 11 a. The direction of the projection 67 preferably intersects the direction of movement of the main body grip 14.

The hook portion 64 is provided in the handle storage recess 11 a. The base portion 69 supporting the hook portion 64 is provided in the handle storage recess 11 a. The main body handle 14 includes a hook receiving portion 71 hooked on the hook portion 64. The hook portion 64 is movably provided, and hangs down by its own weight in a state where the hook is opened upward. The hook portion 64 can be hooked on the hook receiving portion 71, and hangs down by its own weight to be separated or separated from the hook receiving portion 71 when the cleaner body 7 is in the first posture. Further, the hook portion 64 is hooked on the hook receiving portion 71 in the process from the first posture to the standing posture of the cleaner body 7. The body handle 14 is held in the handle storage recess 11a by the hook portion 64 being hooked to the hook receiving portion 71. Further, the hook portion 64 is maintained in a state of being hooked on the hook receiving portion 71 in the process from the standing posture to the second posture of the cleaner body 7 and when the cleaner body 7 is in the second posture. The hook portion 64 is supported by the base portion 69 and can rotate at least 180 degrees around the hook receiving portion 71. In fig. 4 to 6, the acceleration of gravity acting on the hook portion 64 is indicated by a solid arrow G.

The hook portion 64 may be provided with a weight portion 72 for increasing its own weight. In addition, the hook portion 64 may have a hook shape called a hook shape. In this case, the hook portion 64 may include a plurality of hooks including a first handle (not shown) that supports the body handle 14 in the standing posture and a second handle (not shown) that supports the body handle 14 in the reverse posture.

The handle holding mechanism 61 may have at least one of the elastic member 62, the projections and recesses 63, and the hook portion 64. If the main body grip 14 can be held in the grip accommodating recess 11a against the weight of the main body grip 14, the grip holding mechanism 61 need not include all of the elastic member 62, the projections and recesses 63, and the hook portion 64, and may include any one or a plurality of combinations.

As described above, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes the handle holding mechanism 61 that holds the main body handle 14 located at the storage position in the handle storage recess 11 a. Therefore, even when the vacuum cleaner body 7 is used in an upright posture or in a reverse posture in which it is turned upside down (upside down), the vacuum cleaner 1 can prevent the main body handle 14 from coming off the handle storage recess 11 a. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 does not cause the main body handle 14 to hang down and become an obstacle to storage, or cause the main body handle 14 to hook on a step of a surface to be cleaned and obstruct travel.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment further includes an elastic member 62 that generates a force to move the main body handle 14 to the storage position. Therefore, when the main body handle 14 is stored in the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the main body handle 14 can be automatically stored by the restoring force of the elastic member 62 without intentionally moving the main body handle 14 to the handle storage recess 11 a.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes the projections and recesses 63 provided in the main body handle 14 and the handle storage recess 11a and fitted thereto. The irregularities 63 prevent the main body grip 14 from being detached from the grip accommodating recess 11a with an extremely simple structure. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 does not cause the main body handle 14 to hang down and become an obstacle to storage or an obstacle to travel.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, one of the concave portion 68 and the convex portion 67 can be disposed in the handle storage concave portion 11a, and the other can be disposed in the main body handle 14. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can improve the holding force of the main body handle 14 without impairing the manufacturability.

The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment includes a hook portion 64 that moves by its own weight so as to be hooked on the main body handle 14. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can reliably hold the main body handle 14 in accordance with the posture change of the cleaner main body 7. That is, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 does not cause the main body handle 14 to hang down and become an obstacle to storage or an obstacle to travel.

Therefore, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of the present embodiment, even when the cleaner body 7 is used in the upright state or in the inverted state, the movable body handle 14 can be stored at a position that does not become an obstacle.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … electric vacuum cleaner, 2 … station, 7 … vacuum cleaner body, 8 … tube part, 11 … body case, 11a … handle storage recess, 12 … wheel, 13 … first dust container, 14 … body handle, 14a … handle shaft, 15 … first electric blower, 16 … vacuum cleaner control part, 17 … secondary battery, 18 … body connection port, 19 … charging electrode, 21 … connection tube, 22 … dust collection hose, 23 … hand operation tube, 25 … gripping part, 26 … operation part, 26a … stop switch, 26b … start switch, 26c … brush switch, 27 … extension tube, 28 … suction port body, 31 … suction port, 32 … rotary cleaning body, 33 … motor, 41 … pedestal, 42 … recovery part, 43 … dust transport tube, 45 … terminal, … discharge part, 3647 drum 72, … second electric blower case, … second electric blower, 51 … station control part, 52 … power cord, 61 … handle holding mechanism, 62 … elastic component, 63 … concave-convex part, 64 … hook part, 66 … power transmission mechanism, 67 … convex part, 68 … concave part, 69 … base part, 71 … hook receiving part and 72 … counterweight part.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner is provided with:

a main body housing having a handle housing recess;

a handle provided in the main body case and movable between a storage position where the handle is inserted into the handle storage recess and a use position where the handle is removed from the handle storage recess; and

and a handle holding mechanism for holding the handle at the storage position in the handle storage recess.

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,

the handle holding mechanism can hold the handle located at the storage position in the handle storage recess even when the main body housing is in the standing posture.

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2,

the handle holding mechanism can hold the handle located at the storage position in the handle storage recess even if the main body casing is in an inverted posture after being turned upside down.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the handle is swingably provided to the main body case.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the handle is configured to be linearly movable in a direction approaching or separating from the main body case.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the handle holding mechanism includes an elastic member that generates a force to move the handle to the storage position.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the handle holding mechanism includes a concave portion and a convex portion, and the concave portion and the convex portion are provided in the handle and the handle accommodating concave portion and are fitted to each other.

8. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 7,

one of the concave portion and the convex portion is provided in the handle accommodating concave portion.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the handle holding mechanism includes a hook portion that moves by its own weight so as to be hooked to the handle before the handle is separated from the handle storage recess by its own weight.

10. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 9,

the hook is disposed in the handle receiving recess.