JP2007050140A - Electric cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems in a conventional electric cleaner, that a main body collides with a floor surface and falls; the main body is turned to an instable state; and cleaning work is obstructed since the main body is suddenly decelerated and stopped when the main body is drawn. <P>SOLUTION: Since a leg part 41 is provided on the front lower part of the main body 21 and the leg part 41 is projected to come into contact with the floor surface in linkage with the sudden deceleration of the main body 21, the leg part 41 automatically receives the inclining and falling force of the main body 21. Consequently, the main body 21 is supported and the stability of the main body 21 is maintained continuously. Thus, the main body 21 does not obstruct cleaning work by colliding with the floor surface and falling, and the cleaning work is continued, that is, handleability is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner used in general households.

  Conventionally, this type of vacuum cleaner moves the suction tool for floor substantially back and forth along the floor surface while grasping the operation handle provided near the joint between the flexible hose and the extension pipe at the time of cleaning work. Dust is sucked in. If the cleaning operation is continued, the distance between the operation handle and the main body is increased, and the flexible hose is stretched. When the operation handle is pushed forward in this state, the main body is also pulled at the same time, the operation resistance is increased, and the operability is extremely lowered. In order to avoid this, the user moves the operating handle more powerfully and quickly than in a normal cleaning operation, and pulls the main body through the flexible hose. When performing this pulling-in operation, the user often does not keep observing the main body or does not visually check the main body (for example, see Patent Document 1).

8 and 9 (a) and 9 (b) show a conventional vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG.8 and FIG.9, it is comprised from the cleaner body 1, the flexible hose 2, the extension pipe 3, the operation handle 4, the main wheel 5, the auxiliary wheel 6, and the turning part 7. Yes.
JP-A-5-285072

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the operation handle 4 is moved strongly and quickly when the main body 1 is pulled (arrow A), the main body 1 goes straight toward the user holding the operation handle 4 (arrow B). And when the main body 1 approaches to a certain extent, the flexible hose 2 reaches the limit of deformation, and the main body suddenly decelerates and stops.

  At this time, since a large inertial force is applied to the main body 1, the auxiliary wheel 6 cannot receive this inertial force and tilts forward or sideward. When the inertial force is large, a part of the main body 1 moves to the floor surface. It will collide. Further, when the inertial force is large, the floor surface is inclined, or there is an obstacle, there is a problem that the main body 1 falls.

  In particular, on a smooth floor surface such as flooring or tiles, or a main body with a large inertial force, the main body once started to move travels a long distance straight. On the other hand, if the main body has a small mass, the main body will immediately accelerate and the inertial force will act frequently, causing sudden deceleration when the main body stops.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a vacuum cleaner that improves usability by preventing tilting of the main body, collision with the floor surface, and falling when the main body suddenly decelerates and stops. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a leg portion is provided at the front lower portion of the main body, and the leg portion protrudes so as to contact the floor surface in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body.

  As a result, the leg portion automatically receives the inclination of the main body and the force to fall, thereby supporting the main body and maintaining the stability of the main body.

  The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention can continue the cleaning work continuously without hindering the cleaning work due to the main body colliding with the floor or falling down, that is, the usability can be improved.

  1st invention, the main body of a vacuum cleaner, the flexible hose which one end is connected to the said main body, and the other end is connected to an extension pipe, The floor suction tool connected to one end of the said extension pipe, A main wheel provided on the main body, an auxiliary wheel disposed on the bottom of the main body, a turning part that rotatably connects the main body bottom part and the auxiliary wheel, and a leg part provided on the front lower part of the main body, The leg protrudes so as to come into contact with the floor surface in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body, so that the leg automatically receives the force of the main body tilting or falling, thereby supporting the main body. Since the stability of the main body is continuously maintained, there is no hindrance to the cleaning work due to the floor collision or overturning of the main body, and the cleaning work can be continued continuously, that is, the usability can be improved.

  In the second invention, in particular, by providing a protective cover around the protrusion of the leg of the main body of the first invention, there is no collision or catching on a part of the user or an obstacle when the leg protrudes. Thus, the certainty of stopping the main body can be increased.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the leg part of the first aspect of the invention is integrally formed with the shock absorber disposed on the outer peripheral part of the main body, so that no additional parts are required when the leg part contacts the floor surface. The main body can be stopped without damaging the floor surface with a simple configuration.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the leg portion of the first or second aspect of the invention is configured integrally with the turning portion, and when the turning portion contacts the floor surface, the auxiliary wheel and the floor surface are separated from each other. As a result, the main body can be smoothly stopped with a simple configuration without requiring additional parts.

  The fifth aspect of the invention is particularly provided with a storage part for storing the turning part of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, and the turning part including the auxiliary wheel is stored in conjunction with the protrusion of the leg part. With this configuration, the leg portion quickly comes into contact with the floor surface, so that the main body can be quickly brought into a stable stopped state.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, a slide part connected to the leg part is provided in the main body of any one of the first to fifth aspects, and the slide part slides forward in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body. By moving, the slide part pushes out the leg part and protrudes from the main body, so that the leg part is projected by simple means using inertia force without providing a detection means such as a sensor. Can do.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, the flexible hose according to any one of the first to fifth inventions and the main body are connected at a place where the flexible hose can be inclined upward, By adopting a structure in which the leg portion protrudes in conjunction with the inclination of the inclined portion, the leg portion is protruded by a simple means using the force with which the flexible hose is inclined without providing a detection means such as a sensor. Can do.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the leg portion is stored in conjunction with the main body stop according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the invention, so that the leg portion impedes running when the main body starts moving again. Therefore, the cleaning operation can be continued quickly.

  In the ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, an intake pipe communicated with the intake path of the main body is provided in a part of the slide part of the sixth aspect of the invention, and after the slide part slides and moves, The vacuum part is used to pull the slide part back to the original position, and at the same time, the leg part connected to the slide part is also stored, so that only a part of the suction force of the vacuum cleaner is used. Thus, the slide portion can be operated, and the slide portion can be operated with a simple configuration. Since the leg portion does not impede traveling when the main body starts moving again, the cleaning operation can be continued quickly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is a side view showing when the legs are not operating, and FIG. ) Is a side view showing the operation.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (a), (b), the vacuum cleaner main body 21 (henceforth only the main body 21) incorporates the electric blower 22 and the dust collection chamber 23. FIG. Further, the floor suction tool 24 incorporates a rotating brush (not shown), and a rotating part 26 is provided on the extension pipe 25 side of the floor suction tool 24, via the suction tool rotating part 26. The extension tube 25 is pivotally connected. The extension tube 25 and the main body 21 are connected by a flexible hose 27. Further, an operation handle 28 is provided at one end of the extension tube 25, and an operation switch 29 is disposed in the vicinity of the operation handle 28. The extension tube 25 is telescopic, and the length can be freely adjusted according to the height of the user.

  In addition, a pair of main wheels 31 is provided on the lower side of the main body 21 on the rear side with respect to the course direction, and an auxiliary wheel 32 is provided on the front side of the main wheel 31. 33 is arranged at the outer peripheral end portion.

  Further, a pair of legs 41 whose ends are covered with a rubber elastic body are built in the bottom of the main body 21 and can reciprocate in a protruding hole 42 provided substantially in front of the bottom of the main body 21. A slide part 43 is connected to the rear side of the leg part 41 inside the main body 21, and the leg part 41 projects when the slide part 43 slides forward, and the leg part 41 is stored when the slide part slides backward. It is configured.

  The slide part 43 slides in the slide part base 44, and one end of the slide part base 44 is communicated via an intake passage 45 and an intake pipe 46 between the electric blower 22 and the dust collection chamber 23. . Around the projecting hole 42, a protective cover 47 facing the floor and covered with an elastic body is disposed. A rubber-like resistor 48 having a high friction coefficient is disposed in the protruding hole 42.

  About the vacuum cleaner comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  In order to perform the cleaning work, when the operation handle 28 is held and the operation switch 29 is operated, the electric blower 22 and the rotating brush are operated to generate a suction force and suck up the dust on the floor surface. At this time, the floor suction tool 24 is moved substantially back and forth along the floor surface while grasping the operation handle 28, and the dust on the floor surface is gradually sucked.

  If the cleaning operation is continued, the distance between the operation handle 28 and the main body 21 is increased, and the flexible hose 27 is stretched. When the operation handle 28 is pushed forward in this state, the main body 21 is also pulled at the same time, the operation resistance is increased, and the operability is extremely lowered. In order to avoid this, the user moves the operation handle 28 more powerfully and quickly than the normal cleaning operation (arrow A), and pulls the main body 21 through the flexible hose 27 (arrow B).

  When the main body 21 comes close to a certain extent, the flexible hose 27 reaches the limit of deformation, and the main body 21 suddenly decelerates and stops.

  At this time, a large inertia force still acts on the slide portion 43, and the leg portion 41 slides forward from the slide portion base 44 and further pushes the leg portion 41, whereby the leg portion 41 moves from the projection hole 42 to the floor surface. The main body 21 is supported so as not to be inclined. When the leg 41 is protruding, it freely moves in the protruding hole 42. However, after the leg 41 comes into contact with the floor surface, the leg 41 and the resistor 48 come into contact with each other for a while. 41 can support the main body 21.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the leg portion 41 is provided at the front lower portion of the main body 21, and the leg portion 41 protrudes so as to contact the floor surface in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body 21. The leg 41 automatically receives the inclination of the main body 21 and the force to fall, supports the main body 21, and maintains the stability of the main body 21, so that the main body 21 is cleaned by collision with the floor or falling. It is possible to continue the cleaning operation without hindering the operation, that is, the usability can be improved.

  Further, by providing the protective cover 47 around the leg portion 41 of the main body 21, there is no collision or catching on a part of the user or an obstacle when the leg portion 41 projects, and the main body 21 can be reliably stopped. Can be increased.

  Further, a slide part 43 connected to the leg part 41 is provided in the main body 21, and the slide part 43 slides forward in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body 21, so that the slide part 43 pushes out the leg part 41. By adopting a configuration of projecting from the main body 21, the leg portion 41 can be projected by simple means using inertia force without providing detection means such as a sensor.

  Further, the slide portion 43 slides in the slide portion base 44 with a certain degree of airtightness, and one end of the slide portion base 44 is communicated with the intake passage 45 of the main body 21 via the intake pipe 46. The slide part 43 is pulled back to the original position by using the vacuum pressure of the intake air generated in the intake passage 45 after the slide part 43 is slid, so that the slide part 43 is pulled back to the original position. Since the leg portion 41 connected to the housing 43 is also housed, the slide portion 43 can be operated only by using a part of the suction force of the vacuum cleaner. Since the leg part 41 does not impede travel when the main body starts moving again, the cleaning operation can be continued quickly.

(Embodiment 2)
Fig.3 (a) is a side view which shows the time of the non-operation of the leg part of the vacuum cleaner of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, FIG.3 (b) is a side view which shows the time of operation | movement.

  Since the configuration other than the leg portion 41 is the same as that of the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the leg portion 41 is configured integrally with a rubber cushion 51 disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the main body 21 (the hidden line of the leg portion 41 is not shown in FIG. 3). When 41 comes into contact with the floor surface, the main body can be stopped without damaging the floor surface with a simple configuration without requiring additional parts.

(Embodiment 3)
Fig.4 (a) is a side view which shows the time of non-operation of the leg part of the vacuum cleaner of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and FIG.4 (b) is a side view which shows the time of operation | movement.

  Since the configuration other than the leg portion 41 is the same as that of the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the leg portion 41 is configured integrally with the turning portion 33, and when the turning portion 33 is grounded to the floor surface, the auxiliary wheel 32 and the floor surface are separated from each other. The main body can be smoothly stopped with a simple configuration without necessity.

(Embodiment 4)
Fig.5 (a) is a side view which shows the time of the leg part of the vacuum cleaner of the 4th Embodiment of this invention not operating, FIG.5 (b) is a side view which shows the time of operation | movement.

  Since the configuration other than the turning unit 33 is the same as that of the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the storage portion for storing the turning portion 33 is provided in the main body 21, and the turning portion 33 including the auxiliary wheel 32 is stored in conjunction with the protrusion of the leg portion 41. Since the leg portion 41 quickly comes into contact with the floor surface, the main body can quickly enter a stable stopped state.

(Embodiment 5)
Fig.6 (a) is a side view which shows the time of the leg part of the vacuum cleaner of the 5th Embodiment of this invention not operating, FIG.6 (b) is a side view which shows the time of operation | movement.

  In addition, since structures other than the flexible hose 27 and the leg part 41 are the same as that of 1st Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, an inclined portion 61 capable of inclining the flexible hose 27 upward is provided at a location where the flexible hose 27 and the main body 21 are connected, and the inclined portion 61 is connected to the leg via the transmission portion 62. Since it is connected to the leg connecting part 63 that is connected to the part 41, the leg 41 protrudes in conjunction with the inclination of the inclined part 61, so that it is flexible without providing a detection means such as a sensor. The leg part 41 can be protruded by a simple means using the force with which the hose 27 is inclined.

(Embodiment 6)
Fig.7 (a) is a side view which shows the time of operation | movement of the leg part of the vacuum cleaner of the 6th Embodiment of this invention, and FIG.7 (b) is a side view which shows the time of leg part accommodation. .

  Since the configuration other than the leg portion 41 and the intake pipe 46 is the same as that of the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a detection unit 71 such as an acceleration sensor or a piezo element is provided inside the leg portion 41, and the valve 72 on the intake pipe 46 is opened when the acceleration reaches zero (the valve 72 is configured by the main body 21). (The detector 71 and the valve 72 are electrically controlled by a control unit (not shown)). That is, by adopting a configuration in which the leg portion 41 is accommodated in conjunction with the stop of the main body 21, the leg portion 41 does not impede travel when the main body 21 starts to move again, so that the cleaning operation can be continued quickly.

  As described above, the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention can continue the cleaning operation without hindering the cleaning operation due to the collision of the main body with the floor surface or falling, that is, the usability can be improved. Since it is possible, it is useful as a vacuum cleaner or the like used in general households.

The side view which shows the structure of the vacuum cleaner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) Side view showing when the leg portion is not operating in the first embodiment of the present invention (b) Side view showing when the leg is operating (A) Side view showing the non-operating state of the leg in Embodiment 2 of the present invention (b) Side view showing the same operating state (A) Side view showing when the leg portion is not operating in Embodiment 3 of the present invention (b) Side view showing the same operating state (A) Side view showing when the leg portion is not operating in Embodiment 4 of the present invention (b) Side view showing the same operating state (A) Side view showing when the leg portion is not operating in Embodiment 5 of the present invention (b) Side view showing the same operating state (A) Side view showing when the leg portion is operating in Embodiment 6 of the present invention (b) Side view showing when the leg portion is stored Side view showing the configuration of a conventional vacuum cleaner (A) Side view showing when the conventional vacuum cleaner is moved (b) Side view showing the stop due to sudden deceleration

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Main body 24 Floor suction tool 25 Extension pipe 27 Flexible hose 28 Operation handle 31 Main wheel 32 Auxiliary wheel 33 Turning part 41 Leg part 43 Slide part 45 Intake path 46 Intake pipe 47 Protective cover 51 Buffer 61 Inclined part

Claims (9)

A main body of a vacuum cleaner; a flexible hose having one end connected to the main body and the other end connected to an extension pipe; a floor suction tool connected to one end of the extension pipe; A wheel, an auxiliary wheel disposed on the bottom of the main body, and a turning portion that rotatably connects the bottom of the main body and the auxiliary wheel, and a leg portion is provided at a lower front portion of the main body to rapidly decelerate the main body. A vacuum cleaner configured to project so that the leg portion comes into contact with the floor surface in conjunction with the door. The vacuum cleaner of Claim 1 which provided the protective cover in the circumference | surroundings from which the leg part of a main body protrudes. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion is integrated with a shock absorber disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the main body. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leg portion is configured integrally with the turning portion, and the auxiliary wheel and the floor surface are separated from each other when the turning portion contacts the floor surface. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a storage unit that stores the swivel unit is provided, and the swivel unit including the auxiliary wheel is stored in conjunction with the protrusion of the leg unit. A slide part connected to the leg part is provided in the body, and the slide part slides forward in conjunction with the rapid deceleration of the main body, so that the slide part pushes out the leg part and protrudes from the main body. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is configured. 2. A configuration in which an inclined portion where the flexible hose can be inclined upward is provided at a location where the flexible hose and the main body are connected, and the leg portion protrudes in conjunction with the inclination of the inclined portion. The vacuum cleaner of any one of -5. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the leg portion is stored in conjunction with the main body stop. An intake pipe communicating with the intake path of the main body is provided in a part of the slide part, and the slide part is returned to its original position using the vacuum pressure of the intake path through the intake pipe after the slide part slides. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner is configured to be retracted back and to accommodate a leg portion connected to the slide portion at the same time.