JP2010148688A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce burdens on a user when lifting a suction port body. <P>SOLUTION: In the vacuum cleaner, a point where the circular arc C11 of a radius 40 mm whose center is the center of a first virtual circle C1 of a diameter of 16 mm which is disposed so as to inscribe a corner part 71 formed of a grip part 8 and a stopper part 9 and be farthest from a first tube body 41 in the direction of a first axis 41a crosses the surface on the opposite side of a communication tube of a handle part 7 is defined as a first point P1. A point where a fourth virtual circle C4 when second-fourth virtual circles C2-C4 of the diameter 18 mm are arranged in the order in contact with the grip part is brought into contact with the grip part is defined as a second point P2. An angle θ (θ<90 degrees) formed by a straight line L1 connecting the first point and the second point with the first axis is not more than 15 degrees. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner provided with a hand handle body.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a hand handle body 204, a connecting pipe 205, and a suction body 206 of a conventional electric vacuum cleaner (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The hand handle body 204 is provided with a handle portion 207 to be held by a user who performs cleaning. The grip portion 207 is formed in an annular shape so that the gripping position of the user's hand is not shifted when the suction body 206 is pushed and pulled. Further, the rear end portion 207a of the outer peripheral surface of the handle portion 207 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the connecting tube 205 so that a pressing force can be easily applied by the user's palm when the suction body 206 is pushed. It is formed at a relatively large angle with respect to it.
JP 2007-89749 A

  When cleaning the stairs or oversteps such as carpets and sills, the mouthpiece 206 needs to be lifted. However, if the mouthpiece 206 is lifted while holding the handle portion 207 of the conventional hand handle body 204 shown in FIG. 7 with one hand, the user feels the mouthpiece 206 heavy and places a burden on the user. was there.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece.

  The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes an electric vacuum cleaner body incorporating an electric blower, a suction hose with one end connected to the electric vacuum cleaner body, a hand handle body connected to the other end of the suction hose, and one end Comprises a connecting pipe connected to the hand handle body and a mouthpiece connected to the other end of the connecting pipe.

  The hand handle body includes a communication pipe that allows the suction hose and the connection pipe to communicate with each other, and a grip portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the communication pipe. The communication pipe has a first pipe connected to the one end of the connection pipe, a second central axis inclined with respect to the first central axis of the first pipe, and the other of the suction hose. A second tubular body connected to the end. The grip portion projects from the outer peripheral surface of the communication tube on the first tube body side, and protrudes toward the communication tube at an end portion of the grip portion opposite to the first tube body. And a stopper portion formed.

  In a cross-sectional view of the hand handle body on a plane including the first central axis of the first tubular body and the second central axis of the second tubular body, a first point and a second point defined by An angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by a straight line connecting with the first central axis is 15 degrees or less.

  [First Point] The first point is a diameter that is inscribed in a corner portion formed by the grip portion and the stopper portion and is farthest from the first tubular body in the first central axis direction. A circular arc having a radius of 40 mm centered on the center of the first virtual circle of 16 mm intersects the surface of the handle portion on the side opposite to the communication pipe, and the first virtual circle in the first central axis direction It is a point located on the opposite side to the said 1st pipe body with respect to the said center.

  [Second Point] The second point is that the second to fourth virtual circles having a diameter of 18 mm are in contact with the surface of the grip portion facing the communication pipe, and adjacent virtual circles are in contact with each other. The fourth virtual circle when sequentially arranged from the virtual circle toward the first tubular body is a point in contact with the surface of the grip portion on the side facing the communication pipe.

  According to the present invention, since the stopper portion is formed at the end portion of the grip portion opposite to the first tubular body so as to protrude toward the communication tube, the position at which the user holds the handle portion is always constant. .

  Since the angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by the straight line connecting the first point and the second point with the first central axis is 15 degrees or less, the user grasps the grip portion and puts the mouthpiece on the floor surface. The wrist bendable angle φ from the placed state is increased. Thereby, the user can lift the mouthpiece if the wrist is bent by an angle much smaller than the bending limit angle. Therefore, the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece is reduced.

  In the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, in a cross-sectional view of the hand handle body on a plane including the first central axis and the second central axis, a tangent line of the handle portion at the first point is the first point. It is preferable that the angle α (α <90 degrees) formed with one central axis is 45 degrees or less. Thereby, it becomes easy to set said angle (theta) small, and the burden of the user at the time of lifting a suction body can be further reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that at least a part of the grip portion is disposed on an extension line of the first central axis. Thereby, since the linear distance from a grip part to a mouthpiece becomes short, the moment required to lift a mouthpiece becomes small. Therefore, the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece can be further reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said stopper part has connected the said grip part and the said connection pipe. As a result, an annular handle portion can be realized, so that fluctuations in the position at which the user grips the handle portion is further reduced, and the possibility that the user's finger is separated from the handle portion during the cleaning operation is reduced. . In addition, the strength of the handle is improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using preferred embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vacuum cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes an electric vacuum cleaner main body 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “main body”), a suction hose 3, a hand handle body 4, a connecting pipe 5, and a suction body 6.

  The main body 2 includes an electric blower 21 that generates an airflow and a dust collection unit 22 that separates and captures dust in the airflow. A suction port 23 is provided at the front of the main body 2 to which a first connection pipe 31 provided at one end of the suction hose 3 is detachably connected. A plurality of wheels 24 for allowing the main body 2 to move are provided on the lower surface of the main body 2.

  The suction hose 3 includes a hollow hose body 30 having flexibility, a first connection pipe 31 is provided at one end, and a second connection pipe 32 is provided at the other end.

  The hand handle body 4 has a function of communicating the suction hose 3 and the connection pipe 5, a function of moving the main body 2, a function of operating the posture of the suction body 6, and a function of controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1.

  The connecting pipe 5 includes a plurality of tubular bodies that are connected so as to be extendable or jointable. One end of the connecting pipe 5 is detachably connected to the hand handle body 4, and the other end is detachably connected to the mouthpiece 6.

  The mouthpiece 6 includes a rotating brush (not shown) disposed along a suction portion that opens linearly, and an electric motor (not shown) that rotates the rotating brush.

  The suction hose 3 and the connecting pipe 5 are provided with electrical wiring (not shown) for controlling and driving the electric blower 21 in the main body 2 and the electric motor in the suction body 6.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the hand handle 4 viewed from the normal direction of a surface including a first central axis 41a and a second central axis 42a, which will be described later, and FIG. 3 is a first central axis 41a and a second central axis 42a. It is sectional drawing of the hand handle body 4 along the surface containing a. In order to simplify the drawing, the internal structure of the handle portion 7 to be described later is omitted in FIG.

  The hand handle body 4 includes a communication pipe 40 that allows the suction hose 3 and the connection pipe 5 to communicate with each other, and an annular grip portion 7 that is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the communication pipe 40.

  The communication pipe 40 includes a first pipe body 41 to which one end of the connection pipe 5 is detachably connected, and a second pipe body 42 to which the second connection pipe 32 of the suction hose 3 is rotatably connected. As shown in FIG. 3, the central axis (hereinafter referred to as “first central axis”) 41a of the first tubular body 41 and the central axis (hereinafter referred to as “second central axis”) of the second tubular body 42. ) 42a intersects with a predetermined angle ψ (ψ ≠ 0 degrees). The first tubular body 41 and the second tubular body 42 may communicate with each other via one or more tubular bodies having a central axis different from the first and second central axes 41a and 42a. For convenience of the following description, in the hand handle body 4, the first tube body 41 side is referred to as “front side”, and the second tube body 42 side is referred to as “rear side”.

  The handle portion 7 includes a grip portion 8 and a stopper portion 9. The grip portion 8 is erected from the outer peripheral surface on the front side (first tube body 41 side) of the communication tube 40 toward the rear side. The stopper portion 9 connects the rear end of the grip portion 8 and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting tube 40 (particularly, the outer peripheral surface of the second tubular body 42). Therefore, the handle portion 7 is formed in an annular shape together with the communication pipe 40.

  The grip portion 8 is smoothly curved as a whole so that a front portion thereof extends substantially parallel to the first central axis 41a and a rear portion thereof extends substantially parallel to the second central axis 42a. The contour of the outer peripheral surface of the front portion of the grip portion 8 opposite to the communication tube 40 extends so as to extend the contour of the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 41 on the side where the grip portion 8 is provided to the rear side. ing. The part spaced apart from the communication pipe 40 on the rear side of the grip part 8 has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape so that the user can easily grip it. At least a part of the grip portion 8 is disposed on an extension line of the first central axis 41a. An operation switch 81 for controlling the electric blower 21 of the main body 2 and the electric motor of the suction body 6 is provided on the front portion of the grip portion 8.

  The stopper portion 9 is a plate-like body in which the dimension in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the paper surface of FIGS. 2 and 3 is larger than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to this (thickness direction). Preferably, the dimension of the stopper portion 9 in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the paper surface of FIGS. 2 and 3 is larger than the dimension of the grip portion 8 in this direction. The rear end of the grip 8 is connected to one main surface of the plate-like body. The stopper portion 9 is curved so that the end portion of the stopper portion 9 on the opposite side to which the grip portion 8 is connected smoothly follows the outer peripheral surface of the communication pipe 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a smooth curved surface is formed at the corner portion 71 formed by the surface of the grip portion 8 facing the connecting pipe 40 and the stopper portion 9. The intersection angle β between the grip portion 8 and the stopper portion 9 is preferably 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

  When the gripper 8 is gripped so that the little finger is in contact with the stopper portion 9 (particularly the corner portion 71), the pushing and pulling operation of the mouthpiece 6 can be stably performed without the finger being separated from the grip portion 8. Therefore, the stopper portion 9 has a function of causing the user to always hold the grip portion 8 at a fixed position.

  A circle C1 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 is inscribed in the corner portion 71 and is arranged to be farthest from the first tubular body 41 in the direction of the first central axis 41a. It is a virtual circle. An arc C11 indicated by a two-dot chain line is centered on the center PC1 of the first virtual circle C1 and has a radius of 40 mm. The points where the arc C11 intersects the surface of the handle portion 7 on the side opposite to the communication tube 40 are defined as a first point P1 and a third point P3. The first point P1 is a point located on the opposite side of the first tubular body 41 with respect to the center PC1 of the first virtual circle C1 in the direction of the first central axis 41a, and the third point P3 is the first central axis This is a point located on the first tubular body 41 side with respect to the center PC1 of the first virtual circle C1 in the direction 41a.

  Circles C2, C3, and C4 indicated by two-dot chain lines are second to fourth virtual circles having a diameter of 18 mm. From the first virtual circle C1 toward the first tubular body 41, the second virtual circle C2, the third virtual circle C3, and the fourth virtual circle C4 are in contact with the surface of the grip portion 8 on the side facing the communication pipe 40. Are arranged in this order. The first virtual circle C1 and the second virtual circle C2 are in contact, the second virtual circle C2 and the third virtual circle C3 are in contact, and the third virtual circle C3 and the fourth virtual circle C4 are in contact. A point where the fourth virtual circle C4 arranged in this way contacts the surface of the grip portion 8 on the side facing the communication pipe 40 is defined as a second point P2.

  In the present invention, the angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by the straight line L1 connecting the first point P1 and the second point P2 with the first central axis 41a is set to be 15 degrees or less.

  Further, the angle α (α <90 degrees) formed by the tangent L2 of the surface opposite to the communication pipe 4 of the handle portion 7 at the first point P1 and the first central axis 41a is set to be 45 degrees or less. It is preferable.

  The operation of the vacuum cleaner of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  FIG. 4 shows a state where the user grips the grip portion 8 of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment with the right hand 100 and cleans the floor surface 10 as in FIG. It is the side view seen from the normal line direction of the surface containing 2 central axes 42a. Here, a user with a height of 160 cm is assumed. In this case, the height from the floor surface 10 of the portion gripped by the right hand 100 of the grip portion 8 with the mouthpiece 6 placed on the floor surface 10 is about 800 mm. The inclination angle of the first central axis 41a (or connecting pipe 5) with respect to the floor surface 10 is about 45 degrees. The forearm 110 of the right hand 100 extends substantially parallel to the first central axis 41a. The right hand 100 gently grasps the grip portion 8, and almost the entire region in the palm width direction is in contact with the surface of the grip portion 8 on the side opposite to the communication pipe 40.

  As described above, the user holds the grip portion 8 so that the little finger 101 is inscribed in the corner portion 71 (see FIG. 2) formed by the grip portion 8 and the stopper portion 9. At this time, the ring finger 102, the middle finger 103, and the index finger 104 are arranged in this order on the first tubular body 41 side with respect to the little finger 101. The little finger 101, ring finger 102, middle finger 103, and index finger 104 on the plane including the first central axis 41a and the second central axis 42a are the first virtual circle C1, the second virtual circle C2, and the third virtual circle C3 shown in FIG. , Corresponding to the fourth virtual circle C4.

  The operation of lifting the mouthpiece 6 with the right hand 100 from the state of FIG. 4 will be described. In order to lift the mouthpiece 6, the user must bend the wrist of the right hand 100 toward the thumb (this movement of the wrist joint is referred to as “torsion”). When the wrist is bent, the portion near the base of the little finger 101 of the palm of the right hand 100 applies a substantially downward force to the first point P1 of the grip portion 8, and the index finger 104 of the right hand 100 is the second point of the grip portion 8. A substantially upward force is applied to P2. The mouthpiece 6 can be lifted by applying the moments generated by the forces opposite to each other applied to the first point P1 and the second point P2 to the grip portion 8.

  An alternate long and two short dashes line L3 indicates the longitudinal direction of the metacarpal bone of the thumb when the mouthpiece 6 is on the floor surface 10, and an alternate long and two short dashes line L4 indicates the middle hand of the thumb when the wrist joint of the right hand 100 is bent to the limit. The longitudinal direction of the bone is shown. The angle φ (φ <90 degrees) formed by the two-dot chain lines L3 and L4 means a bendable angle from the state of FIG. 4, and is about 60 degrees in this embodiment. For example, in order to lift the mouthpiece 6 to the same height as the hand handle body 4, it is necessary to bend the wrist by about 45 degrees. Since this angle of about 45 degrees is smaller than the bendable angle φ, the user can easily lift the mouthpiece 6.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the user is holding the handle portion 207 of the conventional vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. . As in FIG. 4, a user with a height of 160 cm is assumed. The height from the floor surface 10 of the portion gripped by the right hand 100 of the grip portion 207 with the suction body 206 placed on the floor surface 10 is about 800 mm. At this time, the inclination angle of the connecting pipe 205 with respect to the floor surface 10 is about 45 degrees. The forearm 110 of the right hand 100 extends substantially parallel to the connecting tube 205. The right hand 100 gently grasps the handle portion 207, and almost the entire region in the palm width direction is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the handle portion 207. As in FIG. 4, the right hand 100 grips the handle portion 207 so that the little finger 101 is located farthest from the mouthpiece body 206 in the opening of the annular handle portion 207.

  In FIG. 5, as in FIG. 4, the first point P <b> 1 is the action of a substantially downward force applied to the grip portion 207 by the portion near the base of the little finger 101 of the palm of the right hand 100 when the wrist is bent. Is a point. Similarly to FIG. 4, the second point P <b> 2 is an action point of a substantially upward force that the index finger 104 of the right hand 100 applies to the handle portion 207 when the wrist is bent. An angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by the straight line L1 connecting the first point P1 and the second point P2 with the longitudinal axis 205a of the connection pipe 205 is about 30 degrees. Further, the angle α (α <90 degrees) formed by the tangent L2 of the handle 207 at the first point P1 and the longitudinal axis 205a of the connection pipe 205 is about 60 degrees.

  An alternate long and two short dashes line L3 indicates the longitudinal direction of the metacarpal bone of the thumb when the mouthpiece 6 is on the floor surface 10, and an alternate long and two short dashes line L4 indicates the middle hand of the thumb when the wrist joint of the right hand 100 is bent to the limit. The longitudinal direction of the bone is shown. In FIG. 5, the bendable angle φ formed by the two-dot chain lines L3 and L4 is about 30 degrees. For example, the bending angle required to lift the suction body 206 to the same height as the hand handle body 204 is about 45 degrees, which is larger than the possible bending angle φ. Therefore, unlike FIG. 4, the user cannot lift the mouthpiece body 6 to a position higher than the hand handle body 4 simply by bending the wrist joint.

  As apparent from a comparison between FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in the conventional electric vacuum cleaner (FIG. 5), the buckling possible angle φ from the state where the suction body is placed on the floor surface 10 is small. Therefore, even if the suction body is lifted slightly from the floor surface, the bending limit angle of the wrist is reached. As described above, in the conventional electric vacuum cleaner, the user is forced to perform the lifting operation of the mouthpiece in the vicinity of the bending limit angle of the wrist, so that an excessive burden is imposed on the user. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the twistable angle φ from the state where the mouthpiece is placed on the floor surface 10 is increased by devising the shape of the grip portion (grip portion) gripped by the user. I was able to. As a result, it is sufficient to lift the mouthpiece required for normal cleaning work by bending the wrist by a much smaller angle than the bending limit angle. Therefore, the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece is reduced.

  As described above, in the present invention, the angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by the straight line L1 connecting the first point P1 and the second point P2 with the first central axis (longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe) 41a is 15 degrees or less. Therefore, the possible bending angle φ is increased, and the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece can be reduced. The angle θ is preferably 12 degrees or less, more preferably 10 degrees or less.

  Further, by setting the angle α (α <90 degrees) that the tangent line L2 of the handle at the first point P1 and the first central axis 41a to 45 degrees or less, it is easy to set the angle θ to be small. Further, the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece can be further reduced. The angle α is preferably 40 degrees or less, more preferably 30 degrees or less. If the angle α is small, it may be difficult to transmit the pressing force necessary to perform the pushing operation of the mouthpiece from the palm of the user to the handle portion. However, the degree is usually small. Moreover, when a suction body is provided with the rotating brush driven with an electric motor, a part of pressing force required in order to perform pushing operation | movement of a suction body can be supplemented with an electric motor. Therefore, there is almost no problem in practical use.

  In addition, when at least a part of the grip portion, which is a portion gripped by the user, of the grip portion is located on the first central axis 41a, the linear distance from the grip portion to the mouthpiece becomes shorter. The moment required to lift the is reduced. Therefore, the burden on the user when lifting the mouthpiece can be further reduced.

  The above-described embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the stopper portion 9 connects the grip portion 8 and the communication pipe 40 to form the annular handle portion 7, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the stopper portion 9 may only protrude toward the communicating tube 40 at the end of the grip portion 8 without connecting the grip portion 8 and the communicating tube 40.

  For the structure of the mouthpiece, for example, a known configuration can be selected as appropriate and employed. For example, the rotating brush may be configured to rotate by an air flow instead of an electric motor, or may not include a rotating brush.

  The field of use of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be widely used as a vacuum cleaner provided with a hand handle body.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a hand handle body constituting the vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a hand handle body constituting the electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a conventional vacuum cleaner is used. FIG. 6 is a side view of a hand handle body constituting a vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a hand handle body, a connecting pipe, and a mouthpiece body of a conventional electric vacuum cleaner.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner main body 21 Electric blower 22 Dust collector 23 Suction port 24 Wheel 3 Suction hose 30 Hose main body 31 First connection pipe 32 Second connection pipe 4 Hand handle body 40 Communication pipe 41 First pipe body 41a First Central shaft 42 Second tubular body 42a Second central shaft 5 Connecting tube 6 Suction body 7 Handle portion 71 Corner portion 8 Grip portion 81 Operation switch 9 Stopper portion 10 Floor surface

Claims (4)

A vacuum cleaner main body incorporating an electric blower, a suction hose with one end connected to the vacuum cleaner main body, a hand handle body connected to the other end of the suction hose, and one end connected to the hand handle body A vacuum cleaner comprising a connecting pipe and a suction body connected to the other end of the connecting pipe,
The hand handle body includes a communication pipe that allows the suction hose and the connection pipe to communicate with each other, and a handle portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the communication pipe,
The communication pipe has a first pipe connected to the one end of the connection pipe, a second central axis inclined with respect to the first central axis of the first pipe, and the other of the suction hose. A second tube connected to the end,
The grip portion projects from the outer peripheral surface of the communication tube on the first tube body side, and protrudes toward the communication tube at an end portion of the grip portion opposite to the first tube body. And a stopper portion formed by
In a cross-sectional view of the hand handle body on a plane including the first central axis of the first tubular body and the second central axis of the second tubular body, a first point and a second point defined by The vacuum cleaner is characterized in that an angle θ (θ <90 degrees) formed by a straight line connecting with the first central axis is 15 degrees or less.
[First Point] The first point is a diameter that is inscribed in a corner portion formed by the grip portion and the stopper portion and is farthest from the first tubular body in the first central axis direction. A circular arc having a radius of 40 mm centered on the center of the first virtual circle of 16 mm intersects the surface of the handle portion on the side opposite to the communication pipe, and the first virtual circle in the first central axis direction It is a point located on the opposite side to the said 1st pipe body with respect to the said center.
[Second Point] The second point is that the second to fourth virtual circles having a diameter of 18 mm are in contact with the surface of the grip portion facing the communication pipe, and adjacent virtual circles are in contact with each other. The fourth virtual circle when sequentially arranged from the virtual circle toward the first tubular body is a point in contact with the surface of the grip portion on the side facing the communication pipe.   In a cross-sectional view of the hand handle body on a plane including the first central axis and the second central axis, an angle α (α <α formed by a tangent to the handle portion at the first point and the first central axis. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein 90 degrees is 45 degrees or less.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of the grip portion is disposed on an extension line of the first central axis.   The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stopper portion connects the grip portion and the connecting pipe.

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