JP2005160814A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum cleaner without requiring a user to right the posture of a cleaner body in whichever direction the cleaner body may overturn. <P>SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner 100 comprises an electric blower 1 for generating suction force, the cleaner body 6 with the built-in electric blower 1, and a pair of wheels 4 supporting the cleaner body 6 with an outer peripheral face 41, a side face and a rotation axis 4c. The shape of the wheels 4 is defined so that the visible outline 61 of part of the cleaner body 6 where the electric blower 1 is built is surrounded by the visible outline 41 of the wheels 4 as seen from the direction parallel to the rotation axis 4c of the wheels 4. A cover member 7 is formed to project outward from the side faces of the wheels 4 toward the axis of rotation 4c of the wheels 4 from the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheels 4 as seen from the direction orthogonally crossing the rotation axis 4c of the wheels 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner used in a general household, and more particularly to improvement in running performance of the vacuum cleaner.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an electric vacuum cleaner having improved traveling performance so that it can be turned quickly and can respond promptly to an operation associated with a user's cleaning work.

  FIG. 10 shows, for example, a front view (a) and a side view (b) showing a vacuum cleaner proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-105769 (Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the vacuum cleaner 10 pivotally supports the vacuum cleaner main body 11 with only a pair of wheels 14. The electric blower 12 is disposed such that the position of the center of gravity 18 of the vacuum cleaner body 11 is on the opposite side of the suction port 16 with respect to the rotation center 17 of the wheel 14. Furthermore, the wheel 14 is arrange | positioned so that the side in which the gravity center 18 of the vacuum cleaner main body 11 is located with respect to the rotation center 17 of the wheel 14 may be completely hidden from the side surface having the wheel 14. Note that a dust collecting paper pack 13 is disposed on the electric blower 12. A handle 15 is provided on the upper portion of the electric vacuum cleaner body 11. By providing such a configuration, it is said that the direction change and inversion of the vacuum cleaner body can be performed quickly and easily.

  Moreover, FIG. 11 is the figure which looked at the vacuum cleaner proposed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-93280 (patent document 2) from the front, for example.

As shown in FIG. 11, the electric vacuum cleaner 20 includes a vacuum cleaner body 21 formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed from the front (the exterior shape of the vacuum cleaner body 21 is a substantially columnar shape or a substantially spherical shape), a cleaning device. A pair of wheels 22 as a traveling means of the machine body 21 is provided. The center of gravity 21 g of the cleaner main body 21 is provided on the surface to be cleaned from the center 21 c of the arc 21 d on the extended line of the outer shape of the surface orthogonal to the transition direction of the cleaner main body 21. The wheel 22 is disposed in the cleaner main body 21 so as to be positioned within the arc on the extension line of the arc 21d on the extension line of the outer shape. This vacuum cleaner is said to be highly usable because it is configured to rise to its original state even if the vacuum cleaner body 21 falls during the cleaning operation.
JP-A-6-105769 JP 2003-93280 A

  However, according to the vacuum cleaner 10 shown in FIG. 10, when the vacuum cleaner body 11 is pulled, the wheel 14 rides on an obstacle or the like and loses the balance. The floor surface could be damaged. Moreover, since the vacuum cleaner main body 11 cannot be raised when the vacuum cleaner main body 11 rolls over, it is necessary to raise the vacuum cleaning main body 11 every time it rolls over.

  Moreover, according to the vacuum cleaner 20 shown in FIG. 11, when the vacuum cleaner body 21 rolls over, it can get up to its original state, but the direction of the suction port is suddenly changed to the opposite direction. When the cleaning work is going to be performed, the main body may turn over, so it was necessary to return the main body to its original state. Further, when the upper and lower positions of the main body are completely turned over by an obstacle or the like, it is difficult for the main body to get up to the original state.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the vacuum cleaner which does not need to raise a vacuum cleaner main body, even if it falls down in all directions.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the floor surface or the like is not damaged by the wheels when the vacuum cleaner body rolls over.

  An electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is a pair of an electric blower that generates a suction force, a vacuum cleaner body that incorporates the electric blower, a vacuum cleaner body that supports the vacuum cleaner body, and that has an outer peripheral surface, a side surface, and a rotation axis. With wheels. The shape of the wheel is determined so that the outline of the vacuum cleaner main body in the portion incorporating the electric blower is surrounded by the outline of the wheel when viewed from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. Furthermore, the projecting portion is formed so as to project outward from the side surface of the wheel as it goes from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel to the rotational axis of the wheel as seen from the direction orthogonal to the rotational axis of the wheel.

  In the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the shape of the wheel is determined so that the outline of the main body of the vacuum cleaner in the part containing the electric blower is surrounded by the outline of the wheel when viewed from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the wheel is located on the outer side than the main part of the vacuum cleaner in the part incorporating the electric blower. For this reason, the wheel must be cleaned even if it is going to be cleaned suddenly by turning it completely upside down, or when the top and bottom positions of the main body are completely turned over by an obstacle. The cleaner body can be run following the transition of the machine body.

  In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, since the protruding portion is formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the wheel, the outer peripheral surface of the wheel moves away from the traveling surface, thereby cleaning the wheel in the vertical and horizontal directions. Even if the machine body falls, the running surface rolls along the shape of the protrusion. In this case, the protrusion is formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the wheel as it goes from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel to the rotation axis of the wheel as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheel. The main body of the vacuum cleaner may return to the position of the original use state or be in a position that is inverted upside down from the original use state, and the wheel may follow the transition of the main body of the vacuum cleaner and run the main body of the cleaner. it can. Therefore, according to the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, it is not necessary to wake up the cleaner body even if the cleaner body falls down in any direction.

  In the vacuum cleaner of this invention, it is preferable that the electric blower is disposed on the rotation axis of the wheel. In this case, the weight of the electric blower acts in the process of rolling the running surface along the shape of the protrusion even if the cleaner body falls down in the vertical and horizontal directions of the wheel due to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel moving away from the running surface. By doing so, the vacuum cleaner main body can easily return to the original use state position, or can be in a position that is inverted from the original use state.

  Moreover, in the vacuum cleaner of this invention, it is preferable that a protrusion part is a cover member provided so that the side surface of a wheel might be coat | covered.

  Furthermore, in the electric vacuum cleaner of this invention, it is preferable that the protrusion has a curved outer shape that forms a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape in a cross section viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheel. In this case, even if the cleaner body falls down in the vertical and horizontal directions of the wheel due to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel moving away from the traveling surface, the curved shape described above is in the process of rolling the traveling surface along the shape of the protrusion. As a result, the main body of the vacuum cleaner can easily return to the original use state position, or be in a position that is inverted upside down from the original use state.

  When a protrusion has said external shape, it is preferable that the protrusion is formed so that it may extend to the hose connection part formed in the cleaner body. In this case, even if the cleaner main body contacts the furniture or the like during the cleaning operation, the cleaner main body can be smoothly moved and moved without being caught by the furniture or the like.

  It is preferable that a handle is provided on the protruding portion formed so as to extend to the hose connecting portion. In this case, the cleaner body can be easily carried.

  It is preferable that a space is provided between the protrusion formed so as to extend to the hose connection and the cleaner body. In this case, the vacuum cleaner can be reduced in weight.

  The belt is preferably provided so as to pass through the space. In this case, the cleaning work can be performed by using the belt and hanging the cleaner body on the shoulder.

  In the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, it is preferable that the protruding portion is covered with a soft material or a cloth material. In this case, it is possible to prevent the wheels from damaging the floor surface or the like when the cleaner body falls. When the protruding part is formed to extend to the hose connection part formed on the vacuum cleaner body, even if the vacuum cleaner body contacts the furniture etc. during the cleaning operation, it effectively damages the furniture etc. Can be prevented.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to wake up the cleaner body even if the cleaner body falls down in any direction, so that the running performance or operability of the vacuum cleaner can be improved.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, since the floor surface or the like is not damaged by the wheels when the cleaner body rolls over during the cleaning operation, the cleaning operation can be performed safely.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 shows a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view including a suction port parallel to a rotation axis of a wheel, and FIG. 2 is a diagram including a suction port orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheel. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG.

  As shown in these drawings, the electric vacuum cleaner 100 has an electric blower 1, a hose connection portion 2, and a dust collection chamber 3 built in the vacuum cleaner body 6. The electric blower 1 generates a suction force. The hose connection portion 2 is for connecting the hose as a suction port for sucking dust on the surface to be cleaned through the extension pipe and the hose by the suction force of the electric blower 1. The dust collection chamber 3 is for collecting dust sucked in by the suction force of the electric blower 1.

  The cleaner body 6 is supported by a pair of wheels 4. The wheel 4 has an outer peripheral surface (outline in FIG. 2) 41, a side surface, and a rotation axis 4c. As shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from a direction parallel to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4, the outer shape line 61 of the cleaner body 6 in the portion incorporating the electric blower 1 is surrounded by the outer shape line 41 of the wheel 4. The shape is defined. Specifically, the outer line 61 of the vacuum cleaner main body 6 in the portion incorporating the electric blower 1 is formed in an arc shape, and the outer diameter of the wheel 4 and the vacuum cleaner main body 6 are smaller than the diameter of the wheel 4. The shape is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, the cover member 7 serving as a protrusion is viewed from the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4, and the wheel 4 moves toward the wheel rotation axis 4 c from the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheel 4. It is formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a cross section parallel to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4 (a cross section viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4) is hatched in the cross section including the suction port. The outline of the cover member 7 indicated by the part is a curved line forming a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, in a cross section parallel to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4 (a cross section viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4), in a cross section that does not include the suction port, The outline of the cover member 7 shown is a curved line forming a substantially circular shape or a substantially oval shape. The cover member 7 is provided as a separate member so as to cover the side surface of the wheel 4. However, the cover member 7 may be configured to be integrated with the wheel 4 or configured to be integrated with the cleaner body 6. May be.

  The electric blower 1 is disposed on the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric blower 1 is arranged so that the central axis 1 c of the electric blower 1 intersects the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4.

  In the vacuum cleaner 100 as the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from a direction parallel to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4, The shape of the wheel 4 is determined so that the outline 61 of the cleaner body 6 is surrounded by the outline 41 of the wheel 4. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheel 4 is located outward rather than the part of the cleaner main body 6 of the part incorporating the electric blower 1. For this reason, the cleaner body 6 is rotated in the completely upside down direction, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow R or S in FIG. 2, and the direction in which the hose connection portion 2 faces is suddenly changed to perform the cleaning work. Or when the upper and lower positions of the cleaner body 6 are completely turned over by an obstacle or the like, the wheel 4 follows the transition of the cleaner body 6 and the cleaner body 6 Can be run.

  Moreover, in the vacuum cleaner 100 as Embodiment 1 of this invention, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, the cover member 7 as a protrusion part is formed so that it may protrude outside from the side surface of the wheel 4. As shown in FIG. . Thereby, even if the cleaner body 6 falls down in the vertical and horizontal directions of the wheel 4 due to the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheel 4 being separated from the traveling surface, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow P or the arrow Q in FIG. Even if the cleaner body 6 is rotated in the direction and the cleaner body 6 falls down, or the cleaner body 6 is turned up and down in the direction indicated by the arrow T or U in FIG. Even if 6 falls, the cleaner body 6 rolls along the running surface along the outer shape of the cover member 7. In this case, the cover member 7 is formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the wheel 4 toward the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4 from the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheel 4 when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 4 c of the wheel 4. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner main body 6 returns to the original use state position in the rolling process or is turned upside down from the original use state, so that the wheel 4 moves to the cleaner main body 6. Following this, the cleaner body 6 can be run. Therefore, even if the cleaner body 6 falls in any direction, it is not necessary to raise the cleaner body 6 again, and the user can easily continue the cleaning operation.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the cover member 7 as the protruding portion forms a substantially circular or substantially elliptical shape in a cross section viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis 4c of the wheel 4 as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. It has a curved outer shape. Thereby, even if the cleaner body 6 falls down in the vertical and horizontal directions of the wheel 4 due to the outer peripheral surface 41 of the wheel 4 being separated from the traveling surface, the traveling surface smoothly rolls along the shape of the cover member 7. The cleaner main body 6 can easily return to the original use state position, or can be in a position that is inverted upside down from the original use state.

  FIG. 4 shows a vacuum cleaner 200 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2 parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outer surface of the cover member 7 as the protruding portion is covered and protected by a protective material 8 made of a soft material or a cloth material such as a nonwoven fabric. Thereby, when the cleaner main body 6 falls, it can prevent that the wheel 4 damages a floor surface etc.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cover member 7 as the protruding portion is formed so as to extend to the hose connecting portion 2 formed in the cleaner body 6. In this case, in the cross section (FIG. 1) including the suction port in a cross section parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel 4, the outline of the cover member 7 is a curved shape forming a substantially circular shape or a substantially oval shape. Even in a cross section (FIG. 3) that is parallel to the rotation axis of the cover member 7 and does not include the suction port, the outline of the cover member 7 is a curved line that forms a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape. Thereby, even if the cleaner main body 6 contacts the furniture or the like while traveling, the cleaner main body 6 can be smoothly moved and moved without the cover member 7 being caught by the furniture or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a top view showing a vacuum cleaner 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the outer surface of the cover member 7 formed so as to extend to the hose connection portion 2 formed in the cleaner body 6 has a protective material 8 (hatched line) made of a soft material or a cloth material such as a nonwoven fabric. It is covered and protected by the part marked with. Thereby, even if the cleaner body 6 contacts the furniture or the like during the cleaning operation, the furniture or the like can be effectively prevented from being damaged.

  FIG. 7 shows a vacuum cleaner 500 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 including a suction port orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheel.

  In the cover member 7 formed so as to extend to the hose connection portion 2 as in FIG. 5, a handle 9 is provided below the hose connection portion 2 as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the cleaner body 6 can be easily carried using the handle 9.

  FIG. 8 is a top view showing a vacuum cleaner 600 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, similarly to FIG. 5, the cover member 7 as the protruding portion is formed so as to extend to the hose connection portion 2 formed in the cleaner body 6. Space portions 62 are provided on the left and right sides of the hose connection portion 2 between the cover member 7 formed so as to extend to the hose connection portion 2 and the cleaner body 6. Thereby, by providing the cover member 7, the increase in an extra weight can be suppressed and a vacuum cleaner can be reduced in weight.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner 700 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the belt 71 is provided through the space 62 shown in FIG. As a result, the cleaning work can be performed with the belt 71 on the shoulder of the cleaner body 6 on the shoulder.

  The embodiment disclosed above should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the scope of claims, and includes all modifications and variations within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

It is sectional drawing which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of this invention, and includes a suction inlet parallel to the rotating shaft line of a wheel. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line | wire of FIG. 1 which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of this invention, and contains a suction inlet orthogonal to the rotating shaft line of a wheel. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2, showing the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention and parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line of FIG. 2 which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 of this invention, and is parallel to the rotating shaft line of a wheel. It is a perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line | wire of FIG. 1 which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 5 of this invention, and contains a suction inlet orthogonal to the rotating shaft line of a wheel. It is a top view which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is the front view (a) and side view (b) which show the conventional vacuum cleaner proposed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 6-105769. It is the figure which looked at the conventional vacuum cleaner proposed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-93280 from the front.

Explanation of symbols

  1: electric blower, 2: hose connection, 4: wheel, 4c: wheel rotation axis, 6: vacuum cleaner body, 7: cover member, 8: protective material, 9: handle, 41: outer peripheral surface of wheel (outer shape) Line), 61: Outline line of vacuum cleaner body, 62: Space portion, 71: Belt, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700: Electric vacuum cleaner.

Claims (9)

An electric blower that generates a suction force;
A vacuum cleaner body containing the electric blower;
A pair of wheels that support the vacuum cleaner body and have an outer peripheral surface, a side surface, and a rotation axis;
The shape of the wheel is determined so that the outline of the vacuum cleaner main body of the part incorporating the electric blower is surrounded by the outline of the wheel, as seen from the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel,
A protrusion formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the wheel as it goes from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel toward the rotation axis of the wheel, as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the wheel;
A vacuum cleaner comprising:   The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric blower is disposed on a rotation axis of the wheel.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a cover member provided so as to cover a side surface of the wheel.   The said protrusion part has the curved external shape which forms a substantially circular shape or a substantially elliptical shape in the cross section seen from the direction orthogonal to the rotating shaft line of the said wheel, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 Electric vacuum cleaner.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portion is formed to extend to a hose connection portion formed in the vacuum cleaner body.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein a handle is provided on the protruding portion formed to extend to the hose connection portion.   The vacuum cleaner of Claim 5 or Claim 6 with which the space part is provided between the said protrusion part formed so that it may extend to the said hose connection part, and the said cleaner body.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a belt is provided so as to pass through the space.   The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the protruding portion is covered with a soft material or a cloth material.

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