JP2003125988A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that conventional cleaners has been improved in operability by carrying out cleaning in two forms of a using state where a suction body communicates with a vacuum cleaner body and a using state as a stick vacuum cleaner, however, in the case the vacuum cleaner is used as the stick vacuum cleaner, storing of a hose detached from a grip pipe has not been taken into consideration and this hose has been a hindrance. SOLUTION: This vacuum cleaner is provided with a locking means for locking a hose portion separated from a hand operating portion to the side of a vacuum cleaner body, for the use of a stick assembly composed of the hand operating portion, an extension pipe, and a suction body, as an independent vacuum cleaner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, a stick-type assembly including a hand operation part, an extension tube, and a suction body is separated from a cleaner main body and a hose part and is independent. The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner that can be used as an electric vacuum cleaner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional vacuum cleaner is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 53142, a dust collector, an electric blower, and a suction body having a secondary battery for supplying power to the electric blower, and an extension pipe / grip pipe connected to the suction body, and the grip is further connected. The vacuum cleaner body is connected to the tube via a hose. When cleaning, not only use the suction body and the cleaner body in communication with each other, but also separate the suction body and the cleaner body, and collect the sucked dust in the dust collecting part in the suction body. It can also be used as a stick type vacuum cleaner. When using it as a stick type vacuum cleaner, connect the extension pipe and the grip pipe to the mouthpiece, and remove the hose connected to the grip pipe before use.
Since the secondary battery is built in the suction body, the secondary battery drives the electric blower as a power source to collect the sucked dust in the dust collecting section in the suction body.

[0003]

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-53142, there are two states, a use state in which the suction body and the cleaner body are communicated with each other and a use state as a stick. Although it improves the operability of the vacuum cleaner by allowing it to be cleaned in a form, when used as a stick, no consideration is given to the method of storing the hose removed from the grip tube, There was a problem that this hose got in the way. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to devise a method of storing the cleaner body and the hose portion in a state of being used as a stick type cleaner. , To provide an electric vacuum cleaner with improved usability.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a typical invention according to the present application, cleaning is performed by using a commercial AC power source, which has a motor, a blower driven by the motor, and a dust collecting section. A machine body, a hose portion connectable to the cleaner body, a hand operation portion connectable to the hose portion and having an air passage formed inside, and a hand operation portion connectable to the hand operation portion and formed an air passage inside An extension pipe and a suction body connectable to the extension pipe are provided, and a stick-shaped assembly including the hand operation part, the extension pipe, and the suction body is separated from the cleaner body and the hose portion, In the electric vacuum cleaner that can be used as an independent electric vacuum cleaner, the hose part separated from the hand operation part is attached and housed in the cleaner main body side attachment part.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an example of the present embodiment, FIG. 7 is a view showing a housed state of the electric vacuum cleaner according to an example of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is shown. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the hose from the hand operation part. 6 to 8, reference numeral 1 is a cleaner body, 2 is a hose portion, 3 is a hand operation portion, 4 is an extension pipe, and 5 is a suction body. In the present embodiment, a state in which the hand operation unit 3, the extension tube 4, and the suction body 5 are connected is hereinafter referred to as a stick-type assembly. In FIG. 6, although not shown, in the cleaner body 1, a motor, a blower driven by this motor, a dust collecting portion for collecting dust sucked by suction air generated in the blower, and a motor A cord reel that winds a power cord that supplies power to the device, a control unit that controls a motor, and the like are built in. In the present embodiment, the commercial AC power source is used as the power source, but the cord reel may be replaced with a secondary battery to be used as a rechargeable type using the DC power source as the power source. The hose portion 2 is provided with a main body joint portion 6 for connecting one end of the hose portion 2 to the cleaner body 1 and having an internal air passage. In addition, the cleaner body 1 has wheels 7 for traveling the cleaner body 1 in a horizontal state.
In addition, a handle 8 that can be raised to a vertical state is provided for carrying the cleaner body 1 in a horizontal state, and the body joint portion 6 further includes the cleaner body 1 shown in FIGS. There is provided a substantially T-shaped gripping projection 9 that functions as a handle portion for carrying the cleaner body 1 when it is placed. The gripping projections 9 stand upright when the cleaner body 1 is placed horizontally so that the cleaner body 1 can travel, and project horizontally when the cleaner body 1 is placed vertically so that the cleaner body 1 cannot run. ing.

The main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner operates the electric blower in response to an optical signal transmitted from the transmission section 16 of the hand operation section 3 when the user operates the hand switch 15 provided mainly in the hand operation section 3. I am trying to let you.
The main body joint section 6 is provided with a light receiving section (optical signal receiving section) 10 for receiving this optical signal. In the present embodiment, the electric blower of the cleaner body 1 is controlled by the optical signal from the hand operation unit 3, but the power line is arranged in the hose portion 2 to clean the hand operation unit 3 and the cleaning unit. Machine body 1
And may be electrically connected. In addition, the hose portion 2 is attached to the gripping projection 9 of the main body joint portion 6 by the hand operation portion 3.
In order to enable the assembly consisting of the cleaner body 1 and the hose portion 2 to be used as an independent vacuum cleaner when detached from the operation button (on / off control of the motor in the cleaner body 1) A power on / off switch) 11 is provided. Arrangement positions of the light receiving portion 10 and the operation button 11 provided on the main body joint portion 6 are arbitrary, and for example, the light receiving portion 10 and the operation button 11 may be provided on the cleaner body 1.

The hose portion 2 is formed of a flexible material having a hollow air passage inside, and a hose joint 12 to the hand operation portion 3 is provided at the other end portion.

The hand operation section 3 is a tubular body section 1 forming an air passage.
3 and a handle body 14 integrated with the tube body portion 13, and the handle body 14 is obliquely projected so as to have a predetermined angle with respect to the tube body portion 13 on the extension line of the axis of the extension tube 4. ing. Then, the hose joint 12 of the hose portion 2 is detachably connected to one end of the tubular body portion 13. The handle body 14 is for the user to hold with his / her hand to perform a traveling operation of the cleaner body 1, a traveling operation of the suction body 5, a rotation operation of the suction body described later, a power on / off operation, and the like. A hand switch 15 and a light emitting section (optical signal transmitting section) 16 for transmitting an optical signal are provided.

In the present embodiment, the extension pipe 4 is a two-joint type extension pipe consisting of an upper extension pipe 17 and a lower extension pipe 18 each having a hollow air passage inside. One end of the lower extension pipe 18 is detachably connected to the other end of the tubular body portion 13 of the hand operation unit 3, and the other end of the upper extension pipe 17 and one end of the lower extension pipe 18 are detachably connected to each other. Is detachably connected to the mouthpiece 3. A storage case 19 for a rechargeable battery is attached to the lower rear surface of the lower extension tube 18.

The mouthpiece 3 has a mouthpiece body 20 and a joint portion 21, and the joint portion 21 is composed of an upper pipe portion 22 and a lower pipe portion 23 each having a hollow air passage inside. Mouthpiece body 2
Although not shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, 0 includes a blower, a blower motor for driving the blower, a rotary brush, a rotary brush motor for driving the rotary brush, a dust collecting unit, and the like. A rotating brush is disposed above the suction opening provided on the bottom surface of the suction main body 20. Also, the mouthpiece body 20
A roller that allows the mouthpiece body 20 to travel is provided on the bottom surface of the.

The other end of the lower extension pipe 18 of the extension pipe 4 is detachably connected to one end of the upper pipe portion 22 of the joint portion 21, and the other end of the upper pipe portion 22 is connected to the lower end. It is connected to one end of the pipe portion 23 so as to be relatively rotatable in the vertical direction by approximately 90 degrees. Further, the other end of the lower pipe portion 23 is a vertical line of a plane which is orthogonal to the bottom surface of the suction body 20 and coincides with the longitudinal direction of the suction body 20 at the center position of the back surface of the suction body 20 (that is, the cylindrical body of the lower pipe portion 23). It is connected to the mouthpiece main body 20 so as to be rotatable by about 180 degrees about the axis of rotation).

By taking the structure of the joint portion 21 as described above, the handle body 14 of the hand-side operation portion 3 is twisted around the extension line of the axis of the extension pipe 4, whereby the suction port main body 20 is placed on the floor surface (cleaning surface). It is possible to freely rotate with, and the state where the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece body 20 is orthogonal to the axis of the extension pipe 4 when viewed from above, and the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece body 20 is parallel to the axis of the extension pipe 4 when viewed from above. It is possible to achieve a different state. It is also possible to lay the extension pipe 4 substantially parallel to the floor surface, or to stand the extension pipe 4 substantially vertically to the floor surface. Therefore, with the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece body 20 in a state where the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece body 20 is parallel to the axis of the extension tube 4, it is possible to easily clean a narrow space, a wall, or the like, and
By laying the extension pipe 4 substantially parallel to the floor surface, it is possible to easily clean the underside of a bed having a low height.

In the present embodiment, by adopting the joint portion 21 having the above-described structure, the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece main body 20 can be parallel to the axis of the extension tube 4 when viewed from above, and the extension tube Since 4 can be laid down substantially parallel to the floor surface, it is possible to easily clean a narrow place or a place with a low height. For this purpose, the width (width direction) dimension and height of the mouthpiece main body 20 are set. It is desirable to have the dimensions as small as possible. Therefore, in order to realize this, in the present embodiment, by disposing the rechargeable battery having a large space for arrangement in the extension tube 4 instead of in the mouthpiece body 20, the width (widthwise direction) dimension of the mouthpiece body 20 and It is possible to reduce the height dimension.

The circuit elements (motor and circuit board) in the mouthpiece body 20 are the circuit elements in the handle body 14 of the hand operation section 3, the tube body section 13 of the hand operation section 3, the extension tube 4 (upper tube). Part 17, the lower pipe part 18) and the joint part 21 (the upper pipe part 22 and the lower pipe part 23) are connected via signal lines respectively arranged, and the above-mentioned charging with the circuit elements in the mouthpiece main body 20. The formula battery is connected to each of the extension pipes 4 and the joint portion 21 via power lines respectively arranged therein. In addition, a battery is separately provided in the handle body 14 as a power source for the circuit elements in the handle body 14. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hand operation portion and the extension pipe, or the extension pipe and the joint portion are mechanically connected so as to form an airtight structure, and are electrically connected by a pin connector or the like. ing.

FIG. 7 shows the state in which the hose portion 2 and the hand operation portion 3 are connected, the cleaner body 1 is placed vertically, and the extension pipe 4 is erected, for example, stored in a corner of a room. It is a figure showing a situation at the time. By taking the posture shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to reduce the occupied area and to stably store the whole so as not to move. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 25 is a stand for holding a stick-type assembly composed of the hand operation part 3, the extension tube 4, and the suction body 5, and this stand 25 charges a rechargeable battery of the stick-type assembly. It also has a function as a charging stand for performing. FIG. 8 shows a stick type assembly (an assembly composed of the hand operation part 3, the extension tube 4 and the suction body 5), an assembly composed of the cleaner body 1 and the hose part 2 from the state of FIG. 8 shows a state in which the stand 25 and the stand 25 are separated from each other.
As shown in, the stand 25 is provided with a connector 25a connectable to a stick-type assembly. 7 and 8, the AC extending from the stand 25
The cord wire is omitted.

FIG. 9 shows that the stick-shaped assembly consisting of the hand-operated portion 3, the extension tube 4 and the suction body 5 is separated from the cleaner main body 1 and the hose portion 2, and the stick-shaped assembly is operated independently. It is a figure which shows the state used as a vacuum cleaner.
In this state, by appropriately operating the hand switch 15 of the handle body 14 of the hand operation unit 3, the blower motor and the rotary brush motor in the suction body 20 which is powered by the rechargeable battery are driven, and by this, , The blower and the rotating brush are driven to rotate and wound up with the rotating brush,
The dust sucked together with the air flow by the blower is sucked into the suction body 20.
It is designed to be sent to the dust collecting part inside.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the storage case 19 for the rechargeable battery is removed from the extension tube 4 and the filter case 26 is removed from the suction port main body 20 from the state of FIG. A storage case 19 for the rechargeable battery is detachably attached to the lower rear side of the lower extension tube 18 of the extension tube 4. By removing the storage case 19, the rechargeable battery inside It is designed to be exchangeable. The filter case 26, which is also a member that forms a part of the upper case of the mouthpiece main body 20, serves as a dust collecting portion that holds the filter and collects dust. By removing it from the main body 20, it is possible to throw away the accumulated dust and replace it with a new filter.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the hand operation unit 3 in an enlarged manner. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 33a denotes a spindle of the lid (shutter member) 33, and 33b denotes the lid 33 which is the tubular body portion 1.
3 is a spring that urges the connection opening of the hose portion 3 to the hose portion 2. In a state where the hose portion 2 (mounting portion 12) is not connected to the connection opening with the hose portion 2, the connection opening is closed by the lid 33, and the hose portion 2 (mounting portion 12) is connected to the connection opening with the hose portion 2. ) Is connected, the lid 33 is pushed up against the spring 33a and positioned at the retracted position.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 35 denotes a clamp claw member that can be tilted, and a button portion 35 is provided by a spring 36.
The a is given a tilting habit in a direction projecting from the opening 37 of the upper grip case 32, and the claw portion 35b of the clamp claw member 35 is inserted into the tube body portion 13 of the hand operation portion 3 to extend the extension tube 4 ( One end of the upper extension pipe 17) is pressed to prevent it from coming off. The lock is released by pressing the button portion 61a, and the extension pipe 4 (upper extension pipe 17) can be easily removed from the pipe body portion 13. A lock mechanism using such a clamp claw member 35 is provided at the connecting portion between the conduit members that form the air passage, if necessary.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a state in which the hose portion 2 is connected to the hand operation portion 3 and a state in which it is not.
In the unconnected state of the hose portion 2 shown in FIG. 12A, the connection opening of the tube body portion 13 with the hose portion 2 is closed (sealed) by the lid 33.
It is possible to prevent objects from being accidentally packed in the connection opening to the hose portion 2 in 3 and to prevent the dirty inner peripheral surface (air passage) inside the tubular body portion 13 from being visible. , Can be nice looking.
On the other hand, in the connected state of the hose portion 2 shown in FIG. 12 (b), the lid 33 is pushed up against the spring 33a and moved to the retracted position, and the hose portion inserted into the tubular body portion 13 is moved. 2 (hose joint 12) presses the operating rod of the limit switch 34 to detect connection of the hose portion 2. The control unit (mounted on the circuit board 29) in the handy operation unit 3 is the limit switch 3
A signal from 4 is used to recognize whether or not the hose portion 2 is attached to the hand operation portion 3, and the hand operation portion 3
The control mode is switched depending on whether or not the hose portion 2 is attached to the.

Next, a method for accommodating the hose portion 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, 8 and 13.

FIG. 13 shows the cleaner body 1 and the hose portion 2 in which the connection state between the hose portion 2 and the stick type assembly consisting of the hand operation portion 3, the extension tube 4 and the suction body 5 is removed from the state of FIG. FIG. A protrusion 38 for locking the hose portion 2 to the cleaner body 1 is provided below the hose joint 12 (on the surface to be cleaned). Further, the main body joint portion 6 of the hose portion 2 is provided with a hook portion 39 as a locking means for locking the projection 38 of the hose joint 12. That is, when the assembly including only the cleaner body 1 and the hose portion 2 is stored, it is difficult to store the hose portion 2 because the hose portion 2 is detached from the hand operation portion 3 and used, but in the present embodiment, the main body joint portion is used. Since the hook portion 39 capable of holding the hose joint 12 of the hose portion 2 is provided on the hose portion 6, when the cleaner body 1 is stored in a vertically placed state, as shown in FIGS. Can be compactly assembled. Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the protrusion 38 is composed of a disc-shaped 40 and a square-shaped convex portion 41, and the concave portion 4 of the hook portion 39 of the main body joint portion 6 is formed.
Since the hose portion 2 is inserted into the concave portion 42, the hose portion 2 can be attached in four directions depending on the insertion direction of the square-shaped convex portion 41 into the concave portion 42, and the hose portion 2 can be attached according to the storage location and the stable shape of the hose portion 2. Yes, you can also reduce the need to install the product in consideration of the direction.

In the present embodiment, the square-shaped convex portion 41 is a square, but a rectangular mounting in two directions or a mounting with a polygonal shape has the same effect.

As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit switches the control mode depending on whether or not the hose portion 2 is attached to the hand operation portion 3, and the cleaner body 1 is used when the hose portion 2 is attached. It can be used as a canister-type vacuum cleaner or as a rechargeable stick-type vacuum cleaner when the hose portion 2 is removed, and the user can select the form according to his / her preference such as the place of use and time.

Further, when the stick type assembly consisting of the hand operation section 3, the extension tube 4 and the suction body 5 is used as an independent cleaner, the cleaner main body 1 and the hose section 2 are placed in a corner of a room or the like. The storage area can be reduced and the storage area can be stably stored so that it does not move, which is convenient.

In the present embodiment, the projection 38 is attached to and housed in the hook 39 provided on the body joint 6, but the hook 39 may be provided on the cleaner body 1 or the gripping projection 9. It has the same effect.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a stick type assembly including a hand operation part, an extension tube, and a suction body is separated from a hose part from a canister type vacuum cleaner to provide an independent vacuum cleaner. In a usable vacuum cleaner, when the stick type assembly consisting of the hand operation part, the extension tube and the suction body is used as an independent vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner body and the hose portion occupy a small area, and , It will be possible to store it stably so that it will not move,
It is possible to improve handleability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cleaner body and a hose portion in an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cleaner body having a hose joint mounted vertically and a hose portion in the electric vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner body of FIG. 2 viewed from the bottom surface thereof.

FIG. 4 is a plan view seen from the bottom surface of the cleaner main body of FIG. 1.

5 is a plan view of the cleaner main body of FIG. 1 as viewed from a side surface thereof.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of the present invention when the vacuum cleaner body is placed vertically and stored.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the assembly including the cleaner body and the hose portion, the hand operation portion, the assembly including the extension tube and the suction body, and the stand are separated from the state of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembly including a hand operation part, an extension tube, and a suction body according to the present invention.

10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a storage case for a rechargeable battery and a filter case are removed from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a hand operation unit.

FIG. 12 is a main-portion cross-sectional view showing a state where the hose portion is connected to and removed from the hand operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an assembly including a cleaner body and a hose portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Vacuum cleaner body, 2 ... Hose part, 3 ... Hand operation part, 4 ...
Extension tube, 5 ... Suction body, 6 ... Main body joint section, 9 ... Grip projection, 12 ... Hose joint, 13 ... Tube section, 15 ... Hand switch, 20 ... Suction body, 21 ... Joint section, 38 ... Protrusion, Three
9 ... Hook part, 40 ... Disc shape, 41 ... Square convex part,
42 ... Recessed portion.

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hirofumi Tanaka             2-15-12 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Stock market             Hitachi, Ltd. Electric Appliance Division F-term (reference) 3B006 PA01                 3B061 AA18

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cleaner body having a motor, a blower driven by the motor, and a dust collecting section, a hose section connectable to the cleaner body, and an air passage formed inside the hose section connectable to the hose section. A hand operation part, an extension pipe connectable to the hand operation part and having an air passage formed therein, and a suction body connectable to the extension pipe, the hand operation portion, the extension pipe, and the suction body An electric vacuum cleaner that can be used as an independent electric vacuum cleaner by separating the stick-type assembly consisting of the vacuum cleaner body and the hose part, and the hose part separated from the hand operation part is cleaned. An electric vacuum cleaner characterized by being locked on the machine body side. 2. The vacuum cleaner body according to claim 1, wherein the hose portion is provided with a joint that is connectable to the hand operating portion and has an air passage formed therein, and the joint is separated from the hand operating portion. An electric vacuum cleaner having locking means for locking the side. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the locking means on the cleaner body side is provided at a joint of the hose portion connected to the cleaner body. 4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the locking means on the cleaner body side is provided in the cleaner body and has a groove shape. 5. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means on the cleaner body side is provided on a handle portion attached to a joint of the hose portion connected to the cleaner body. Vacuum cleaner.