JP2004208709A - Suction port body and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction port body whose maneuverability is excellent and a vacuum cleaner provided with the same. <P>SOLUTION: The suction port body is formed by connecting a connecting tube 52 to communicate with a suction port 35 and is rotatively attached to a casing body 21. A flexible tube 54 which has flexibility is communicating with the connecting tube 52 and a suction port 35 respectively, and attached inside of the casing body 21 through the connecting tube 52. The flexible tube 54 inhibits the dust sucked through the suction port 35 from entering a joint between the casing body 21 and the connecting tube 52. The flexible tube 54 is flexible, and can rotate the connecting tube 52 easily against the casing body 21, and the maneuverability of the floor brush 16 becomes excellent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a suction port body having a suction port and a vacuum cleaner having the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of suction port body includes a case body having a suction port opened on a lower surface facing a floor surface to be cleaned. A connection port communicating with the suction port is formed at the rear of the case body. The distal end side of a bellows-shaped flexible tube is rotatably connected to this connection port via a joint portion. The proximal end of the flexible tube is communicated with an extension tube communicated with the suction side of the electric blower. Then, when the operator operates the extension pipe, the angle of the suction port body and the extension pipe is changed via the joint portion, and cleaning is performed corresponding to various positions on the floor surface (for example, Patent Document 1 and See Patent Document 2.).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-346739 A (pages 2-3, FIGS. 2 and 3)
[0004]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-102125 A (page 4-5, FIGS. 3 to 5)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described suction port body, since the connection portion between the flexible tube and the connection port is exposed in the case body, the suction port is not rotated when the flexible tube is rotated up and down with respect to the case body. Dust sucked from the mouth, especially fine dust such as sand, that is, fine dust enters between the joint portion and the case body from the connection portion between the flexible tube and the connection port, and the flexible tube becomes difficult to rotate. However, the operability is not good.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suction port body with good operability and a vacuum cleaner having the same.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a connection pipe which is connected to a suction port and is rotatably attached to a case body, and which is connected to the connection pipe and the suction port, respectively, and is provided at least from the inside of the case body to the inside of the connection pipe. And a cylinder having the following. The cylindrical body prevents dust sucked from the suction port from entering the connection portion between the case body and the connection pipe, and since the cylindrical body has flexibility, the connection pipe can be easily moved with respect to the case body. It can rotate, and the operability becomes good.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a configuration of an electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0009]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaner main body, and the cleaner main body 1 collects dust sucked together with intake air generated by driving an electric blower 2 housed therein by a detachable dust collection pack (not shown). It is a dusty vacuum cleaner.
[0010]
In addition, the cleaner body 1 has a body suction port 7 that communicates with the suction side of the electric blower 2 and sucks air from outside. A base end side, which is an exhaust side of a bendable elongated cylindrical hose body 11, is connected to the main body suction port 7 in communication therewith. On the distal end side, which is the suction side of the hose body 11, a hand operation unit 12 capable of selecting an operation mode or the like of the electric blower 2 is provided. The hand operation unit 12 is provided with a plurality of setting buttons 13 for setting a driving state of the electric blower 2 and the like in the cleaner main body 1 to a predetermined state. The portion 14 protrudes toward the base end side, which is the exhaust side.
[0011]
Further, an elongate and contractible elongated substantially cylindrical extension tube 15 is detachably connected to the distal end of the hand operation unit 12 in a detachable manner. In addition, a floor brush 16 as a suction port body, which is installed on a floor surface as a surface to be cleaned in the room, for example, and sucks dust on the floor surface, is provided on the distal end side which is the suction side of the extension pipe 15. Are detachably connected to each other. Therefore, the floor brush 16 is communicated with the suction side of the electric blower 2 through the extension pipe 15, the hose body 11, and the main body suction port 7.
[0012]
The floor brush 16 includes a horizontally long case body 21 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the case body 21 includes a lower case 22 having an open upper surface, and an upper case 23 having an open lower surface that covers the open upper surface. Is attached. In addition, a bumper 24 is sandwiched and attached between the lower case 22 and the upper case 23.
[0013]
Further, on a lower surface of the upper case 23, a rib 25 projecting substantially vertically downward is integrally provided. The rib 25 is located near the front side in the case body 21 and partitions the inside of the case body 21 into a front suction chamber 26 and a rear suction chamber 27.
[0014]
A plurality of, for example, two front suction ports 31 are formed in the front side surface of the lower case 22, which is the front part of the front suction chamber 26. These front suction ports 31 allow the front of the case body 21 and the front suction chamber 26 to communicate with each other.
[0015]
An opening / closing body 32 that closes the front suction port 31 so as to be able to open and close is attached to each of the front suction ports 31 so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction. The upper and lower ends of these opening / closing bodies 32 are pivotally supported on the front side surfaces in the front suction chamber 26, and are urged forward of the case body 21. In addition, a pair of protruding portions 33 protruding substantially horizontally toward the front are integrally provided at a front portion of the opening / closing body 32, respectively.
[0016]
Further, an opening 34 is formed at the lower end of the rib 25 at a portion corresponding to the opening / closing body 32. The opening 34 allows the front suction chamber 26 and the rear suction chamber 27 to communicate with each other.
[0017]
A suction port 35 is formed in the lower surface of the lower case 22, which is the lower portion of the rear suction chamber 27, opposite to the floor surface. A rotary brush 36 as a rotary cleaning body is rotatably attached to the suction port 35.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, housing portions 41, 41 are integrally provided at substantially the centers of the rear portions of the upper case 23 and the lower case 22 of the case body 21, respectively. The housing portions 41, 41 project horizontally toward the rear of the case body 21, and the housing body 41, 41 forms the case body 21 in a convex shape in plan view.
[0019]
Further, a substantially rectangular notch 42 is formed in the center area of the housing 41 of the lower case 22 in the width direction. A driven rear wheel 43 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the notch.
[0020]
The connection pipe 44 is fixed to the case body 21 between the lower case 22 and the upper case 23. The connecting pipe section 44 is located between the housing sections 41, 41, and defines a wind path chamber 45 in the case body 21. Further, the front end of the connecting pipe portion 44 is gradually expanded in diameter toward the rear suction chamber 27 and communicates with the rear of the rear suction chamber 27.
[0021]
Further, a joint part 51 as a rotating pipe is rotatably attached to the rear end of the connecting pipe part. A connection pipe 52 is attached to the joint 51. That is, the joint portion 51 is a connection portion between the case body 21 and the connection pipe 52. Further, the distal end side, that is, the front end side of the connection pipe 52, which is the suction side, communicates with the air passage chamber 45. Therefore, the front end side of the connection pipe 52 communicates with the suction port 35 via the air passage chamber 45 and the rear suction chamber 27.
[0022]
The front end of the connection pipe 52 is a shaft support 53 that protrudes in the radial direction. The shaft support 53 is supported by the joint body 51 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. As a result, the connection pipe 52 is rotatable with respect to the case body 21 from a state substantially parallel to the floor surface to a state substantially perpendicular to the floor surface. Further, the base end side, which is the exhaust side of the connection pipe 52, that is, the rear end side, protrudes rearward of the case body 21 from between the housing portions 41, 41 of the case body 21. Further, the rear end side of the connection pipe 52 is detachably connected to the front end side of the extension pipe 15. Therefore, the connection pipe 52 is connected to the suction side of the electric blower 2 through the extension pipe 15, the hand operation unit 12, the hose body 11, and the main body suction port 7.
[0023]
On the inner peripheral surface on the rear end side of the connecting pipe portion 44 in the case body 21, the suction side of the cylindrical flexible tube 54 as a flexible tubular body, that is, the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side is provided. For example, it is attached by bonding or the like. The rear end side, which is the exhaust side of the flexible pipe 54, is inserted into the connection pipe 52, and extends to a substantially central area in the axial direction of the connection pipe 52. Therefore, the rear end side of the flexible tube 54 is located outside the case body 21 as shown in FIG.
[0024]
The outer peripheral surface on the rear end side of the flexible tube 54 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the connection tube 52 by, for example, bonding. That is, the flexible tube 54 is attached from the inside of the case body 21 to the inside of the connection tube 52. In other words, the flexible tube 54 is attached from upstream to downstream of the shaft support 53, which is before and after the shaft support 53 on the distal end side of the connection tube 52.
[0025]
Therefore, the flexible tube 54 is attached so as to cover the connecting portion between the connecting tube portion 44 and the joint portion 51 and the connecting portion between the joint portion 51 and the connecting tube 52, that is, the inner surface of the rotating portion of the floor brush 16. Have been. As a result, the distal end of the flexible pipe 54 communicates with the suction port 35 via the air passage chamber 45 and the rear suction chamber 27, and the proximal end communicates with the connection pipe 52, so that the flexible pipe 54 can be inserted inside the flexible pipe 54. A flexible air path 55 is formed. Further, the contact surface between the inner peripheral surface of the joint portion 51 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft support portion 53 is isolated from the air passage chamber 45 and the flexible air passage 55 by the flexible tube 54. Not in communication with 55. Further, the flexible tube 54 is attached in a state where a predetermined expansion / contraction margin is provided in the axial direction.
[0026]
Here, the flexible tube 54 includes a skin body 61 formed of a flexible synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride into a substantially cylindrical shape. The skin 61 is provided with a spiral concave portion 62 along the inner peripheral surface that is the periphery. The recess 62 is provided on substantially the entire skin 61 from one end to the other end in the axial direction of the skin 61. The recess 62 is formed in a circular cross section. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the skin body 61 corresponding to the concave portion 62 protrudes in the radial direction.
[0027]
Further, a support 63 as a shape retaining member is entirely fitted in the recess 62. The support 63 is formed in a spiral shape, and has a circular cross section along the inside of the concave portion 62. For this reason, the support body 63 is spirally wound along the inner peripheral surface of the skin body 61, and the inner peripheral surface of the support body 63 is fitted with the support body 63 in the recess 62. It is substantially flush with the inner peripheral surface of the body 61. Further, the support 63 is formed of a member harder than the skin 61. As a result, when the connection pipe 52 is rotated with respect to the case body 21 or when the inside of the flexible pipe 54 becomes negative pressure due to the driving of the electric blower 2, The flexible deformation of the skin body 61 in the central axis direction is suppressed.
[0028]
A flexible cylindrical cover 64 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the skin 61. The cover 64 is formed in a thinner film than the skin 61, and the entire outer peripheral surface is attached to the entire inner peripheral surface of the skin 61. That is, the cover 64 is attached from one end of the skin 61 to the other end in the axial direction. For this reason, the support 64 is sandwiched and fixed between the cover 64 and the skin 61. Therefore, the flexible tube 54 has the same characteristics as, for example, the hose body 11, has a predetermined elasticity along the axial direction, and is slightly flexibly deformable in the central axis direction.
[0029]
Next, a method of assembling the floor brush according to the embodiment will be described.
[0030]
First, the base end of the flexible tube 54 is inserted into the connection tube 52, and the base end of the flexible tube 54 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the connection tube 52 with, for example, an adhesive.
[0031]
Next, the distal end side of the flexible tube 54 is protruded from the distal end side of the connection tube 52 and is inserted into the connection tube portion 44, and the front end side of the flexible tube 54 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the connection tube portion 44 by, for example, an adhesive. Fix with.
[0032]
In this state, the proximal end side of the connection pipe section 44 and the distal end side of the connection pipe 52 are connected to the joint section 51.
[0033]
Further, the connecting pipe section 44, the connecting pipe section 52, and the joint section 51 are sandwiched from above and below together with the bumper 24 by the lower case 22 and the upper case 23 to which the rotating brush 36 is rotatably mounted, thereby forming the floor brush 16. .
[0034]
Next, a cleaning operation according to the embodiment will be described.
[0035]
When performing cleaning, a floor brush 16 is connected to the cleaner body 1 via a hose body 11 and an extension tube 15. Then, the operator pushes and holds the holding portion 14 of the hose body 11 to move the floor brush 16 back and forth on the floor surface.
[0036]
Further, the rotating brush 36 is appropriately rotated and driven in accordance with the state of the floor surface to scrape dust adhered to the floor surface.
[0037]
At this time, dust on the floor surface is sucked together with air from the suction port 35 of the floor brush 16 by a suction force generated by driving the electric blower 2 in the cleaner body 1.
[0038]
When the floor brush 16 is brought close to the wall, the protrusion 33 of the opening / closing body 32 comes into contact with the wall, and the opening / closing body 32 rotates inward of the case body 21, and the front suction port 31 is opened. The dust on the floor beside the wall is sucked together with air from the front suction port 31 of the lever. When the opening / closing body 32 moves the floor brush 16 away from the wall, the front suction port 31 is closed again by the urging force.
[0039]
The air sucked together with dust from the suction port 35 and the front suction port 31 of the floor brush 16 sequentially passes from the suction port 35 to the rear suction chamber 27, the air path chamber 45, and the flexible air path 55, and passes through the extension pipe 15 After being sucked from the hose body 11 into the main body suction port 7, the dust sucked into the dust collection pack accommodated in the cleaner body 1 is captured by the air.
[0040]
As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the flexible pipe 54 is attached from the inside of the case body 21 to the inside of the connection pipe 52, and the inner peripheral surface of the joint portion 51 is formed in the air passage chamber 45 and the flexible air passage. 55, the fine dust such as the sand sucked into the case body 21 of the floor brush 16 or the driving of the electric blower 2 is stopped. The flexible tube 54 prevents fine dust and the like falling into the case body 21 from entering the contact surface between the joint portion 51 and the shaft support portion 53.
[0041]
Further, since the flexible tube 54 has elasticity and flexibility, the flexible tube 54 expands and contracts and flexibly deforms when the connection tube 52 is vertically rotated with respect to the case body 21. The connection pipe 52 can be operated in substantially the same manner as when the flexible pipe 54 is not attached.
[0042]
As a result, the rotation of the joint portion 51 in the circumferential direction and the rotation of the connecting pipe 52 in the vertical direction do not become heavy due to the sucked fine dust and the like, and the operability of the floor brush 16 can be improved.
[0043]
Further, by attaching the flexible tube 54 with a predetermined expansion / contraction margin in the axial direction, even when the operator turns the connection tube 52 upward through the grip portion 14, the flexible tube 54 is flexible. The operability of the floor brush 16 can be improved without the connecting pipe 52 being pulled downward by the pipe 54.
[0044]
Furthermore, when the operator rotates the joint portion 51 in the circumferential direction through the grip portion 14, that is, when the connection tube 52 is twisted in the circumferential direction, the flexible tube 54 is twisted in the center axis direction. Although it is slightly flexibly deformed, a minimum flexible air passage 55 is secured by the support 63, and the dust suction performance can be secured.
[0045]
By attaching the covering 64 to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube 54, unnecessary irregularities are not formed in the flexible air passage 55, so that the dust suction performance can be ensured, and the sucked fine dust can be secured. Can also be prevented from entering between the support 63 and the concave portion 62 and the like, so that fine dust does not affect the operation of the flexible tube 54, and the operability of the floor brush 16 can be further improved.
[0046]
In the above-described embodiment, the support 63 is not limited to the spiral shape, and various configurations are possible, for example, a plurality of annular support members 63 are attached separately in the axial direction of the skin 61. is there.
[0047]
The flexible tube 54 may be softer than the hose body 11 as long as it has predetermined characteristics such as strength and elasticity.
[0048]
Further, as long as the flexible tube 54 has flexibility, various other forms such as a bellows tube formed in a bellows shape are possible.
[0049]
Furthermore, if the flexible tube 54 can cover the connecting portion between the case body 21 and the connecting pipe 52, the mounting position in the case body 21 on the distal end side and the mounting position in the connecting pipe 52 on the base end side Can be set arbitrarily.
[0050]
In addition to the canister type vacuum cleaner, the floor brush 16 can be used in an upright type or a handy type in which the floor brush 16 is formed directly on the lower surface of the cleaner body 1.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the cylindrical body prevents dust sucked from the suction port from entering the connection portion between the case body and the connection pipe, and since the cylindrical body has flexibility, the connection pipe can be attached to the case body. It is easy to rotate, and operability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a suction port body in one embodiment of a vacuum cleaner of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the suction port body.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the electric vacuum cleaner.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Vacuum cleaner body 2 Electric blower
16 Floor brush as suction body
21 Case body
35 Suction port
52 Connection tube
54 Flexible tube as cylinder
63 Supports as shape-retaining members

Claims (3)

A case body formed with a suction port,
A connection pipe connected to the suction port and rotatably attached to the case body;
A suction pipe body which is provided with at least the inside of the connection pipe from the inside of the case and which is in communication with the connection pipe and the suction port, and which has flexibility. 2. The suction port body according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder body is provided along a periphery of the cylinder body, and further includes a shape-retaining member for suppressing a flexible deformation of the cylinder body. A vacuum cleaner body containing an electric blower,
A vacuum cleaner comprising the suction port according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a connection pipe communicates with a suction side of the electric blower.

Images