JP5363170B2 - Vacuum cleaner hose - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hose for a vacuum cleaner which has excellent design, and is capable of being easily manufactured. <P>SOLUTION: The hose for the vacuum cleaner has a flexible hose wall 1 which is cylindrically formed of synthetic resin. The hose wall 1 is composed by layering and integrating a plurality of layers. The outermost layer 101 of the hose wall is transparent or translucent, and a foamed resin layer 102 is disposed adjacent to the inner side of the outermost layer 101. The color of the outermost layer 101 is preferably different from that of the foamed resin layer 102, and the outer surface of the outermost layer 101 is preferably a flat glossy surface. Further, the foamed resin layer 102 has preferably a bubble structure mainly of an closed cell structure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a flexible hose made of a synthetic resin excellent in flexibility, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner hose used in a vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner hose (so-called cleaner hose) connected between the main body of the vacuum cleaner and the hand control unit has various structures that take into account the flexibility, crush resistance, design and durability of the hose. Things are known.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaner hose in which a coated wire in which a hard steel wire is covered with a urethane resin is spirally arranged inside a hose wall made of a PVC (vinyl chloride) resin material and integrated. According to the cleaner hose, it is disclosed that distortion of the hose can be prevented even when used for many years, and the bare steel wire at the end of the hose can be easily stripped. Patent Document 2 discloses a flexible hose in which the inner layer and the outer layer of the hose wall are each formed of TPU (polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer) having a specific composition, thereby improving the wear resistance and weather resistance of the hose. It is disclosed that the hose wall can be prevented from yellowing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-190062 JP 2007-154957 A

In these vacuum cleaner hoses, not only the functional aspects of vacuum cleaner hoses, such as strength, durability, and handleability, but also the design aspects of vacuum cleaners as household appliances have come to be emphasized. Usually, the vacuum cleaner hose is colored.

However, there have been many restrictions on improving the design of the vacuum cleaner hose due to cost and functional balance. For example, when coloring a hose for a vacuum cleaner, it is usual that a coloring agent such as a pigment is kneaded into a resin material that constitutes the hose wall. Since it is colored in a single color, the appearance of the hose wall becomes monotonous, and it cannot be denied that it tends to lack a high-class feeling.

In addition, in order to give a high-class feeling to the hose, special pigments (pearl-like pigments) that give a pearl-like texture are sometimes kneaded into the resin material. In addition, streaks during extrusion molding may occur, and the appearance quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, there has been a demand for a vacuum cleaner hose that can be manufactured more easily and can improve the design of the hose.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner hose that is easy to manufacture and has high design.

As a result of intensive studies, the inventors have made the hose wall a laminated structure, the outermost layer is a transparent or translucent layer, and a foamed resin layer is provided adjacent to the inner side of the outermost layer. The present invention has been completed by knowing that it is improved.

The present invention is a vacuum cleaner hose having a flexible hose wall formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by a synthetic resin, and the hose wall is formed by laminating and integrating a plurality of layers, and is the outermost layer of the hose wall. Is a transparent or translucent layer having airtightness, and a foamed resin layer having a cell structure mainly composed of a closed cell structure is provided adjacent to the inside of the outermost layer. It is.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the outermost layer and the foamed resin layer have different colors (claim 2), or the outer surface of the outermost layer is preferably a smooth glossy surface (claim 3) .

According to the present invention, a transparent or translucent outermost layer and a foamed resin layer adjacent to the innermost layer are combined, and the appearance of the hose wall becomes a satin pattern, and the design of the hose is improved. In addition, the resulting hose has a sense of depth in the appearance of the hose wall. Moreover, such a hose can be easily manufactured by laminating and integrating the layers constituting the hose wall.

Furthermore, when the outermost layer and the foamed resin layer have different colors (claim 2), there is an effect of making the satin pattern more prominent.

Further, when the outer surface of the outermost layer is a smooth glossy surface (Claim 3), it can have a unique and glossy hose appearance with a satin pattern, and the hose outer surface. As a result, the haze prevention effect of the hose can be increased and the aesthetics of the hose can be maintained over a long period of time.

Further, according to the present invention (claim 1), since those having a cellular structure comprising mainly closed cell structure foam resin layer, even when using a foamed resin layer as a hose inner layer, foam structure Can be prevented from being contaminated by dust or the like inside the hose, so that the aesthetics of the hose can be maintained for a long time.

The external view of the vacuum cleaner in which the hose for vacuum cleaners of this invention is used. The fragmentary sectional view of the hose for vacuum cleaners of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of the hose wall of the hose for vacuum cleaners of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of the resin strip S used as the hose wall of the hose for vacuum cleaners of this invention. Sectional drawing of the hose wall of the hose for vacuum cleaners of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The external appearance enlarged photograph of the outer surface of the hose for vacuum cleaners of 1st Embodiment of this invention. An enlarged external view of the outer surface of a conventional vacuum cleaner hose. Sectional drawing of the hose wall of the hose for vacuum cleaners of 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a hose for a vacuum cleaner of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall appearance of a vacuum cleaner, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a flexible hose according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a hose wall portion of the hose shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner hose A has one end of the hose A connected to an intake port provided in the vacuum cleaner body 10 via a connection pipe 11, and the other end of the hose A is connected to the hand operating unit 12. The extension pipe 13 and then the floor nozzle 14 are continuously connected to the hand operation unit 12 to constitute a vacuum cleaner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner hose A is formed of a soft synthetic resin so that the flexible hose wall 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. A hose is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the hose wall. A hard reinforcing body 6 that reinforces the shape and prevents the hose from being crushed by negative pressure or the like is spirally attached. The soft synthetic resin hose wall 1 is a hose wall having a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG.

Below, the laminated structure of the hose wall which is the structure peculiar to the hose wall of the flexible hose A of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the hose wall 1 and the hard reinforcing body 6 along the hose axial direction, and FIG. 3 shows the lower side of the figure as the hose inner side. That is, the hose wall 1 has attachment parts 7 and 7 formed so as to cover and surround the outer periphery of the hose of the hard reinforcement body 6, and is bonded to the hard reinforcement body 6 on the inner periphery of the attachment part 7.

In addition, in the section between the adjacent rigid reinforcement bodies 6 and 6 and the attachment portions 7 and 7, the hose wall 1 is formed to be a cylindrical hose wall extending substantially parallel to the hose shaft, The hose wall has a laminated structure in which a foamed resin layer 102 made of foamed resin is laminated and integrated so as to be adjacent to the inside of the hose outer layer 101 made of a translucent synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the hard reinforcing body 6 and the attaching portion 7 are provided in a spiral shape, and the foamed resin layer 102 is also a layer formed in a spiral shape. Further, the hose outer layer 101 is integrally formed of the same resin material so as to form a series of resin layers with the attaching portion 7, and the airtightness of the hose A is maintained.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the hose outer layer 101 laminated | stacked on the outer side of the foamed resin layer 102 is formed so that it may become a smooth glossy surface.

Examples of the soft synthetic resin constituting the hose outer layer 101 in the present invention include, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate resin (EVA), soft vinyl chloride resin (PVC), low density polyethylene resin (LDPE), and thermoplastic urethane elastomer (TPU). A transparent or translucent resin material can be used among such soft synthetic resin materials. The resin used for the outer layer 101 may be colored, but is preferably uncolored or lighter than the foamed resin layer. As will be described later, there is an advantage that a flexible strip constituting the hose wall can be formed by extrusion molding or can be bonded by heat welding. is not.
In the present embodiment, a translucent soft vinyl chloride resin kneaded with a pearl pigment and colored in light gray is used as a resin material for the hose outer layer 101.

Examples of the foamed resin constituting the foamed resin layer 102 in the present invention include soft synthetic resin materials such as ethylene vinyl acetate resin (EVA), soft vinyl chloride resin (PVC), low density polyethylene resin (LDPE), and urethane resin. A soft foamed resin material obtained by foaming can be used. In addition, as the foamed resin constituting the foamed resin layer 102, it is preferable to select a resin material that can be integrated with the resin material forming the outer layer 101 by adhesion or adhesion.

The foamed resin material used for the foamed resin layer 102 is preferably a color different from that of the resin material of the hose outer layer, and in particular, at least of the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 so as to be different from each other. One is preferably colored. The foamed resin material may be an opaque resin material or a translucent resin material.

The bubble structure of the soft foam resin constituting the foamed resin layer 102 may be a bubble structure mainly composed of an open cell structure, a bubble structure mainly composed of a closed cell structure, or an intermediate cell structure. However, it is preferable that the cell structure has a closed cell structure. When the foamed resin material has a cell structure mainly composed of a closed cell structure, even when the foamed resin layer is an inner layer of the hose exposed to the inner space of the hose as in this embodiment, dust in the hose, etc. As a result, the foam structure of the foamed resin layer can be prevented from becoming dirty and the appearance quality of the hose can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the appearance quality of the hose can be maintained for a long time.

In this embodiment, a translucent soft foamed vinyl chloride resin colored light yellow is used for the foamed resin layer 102 of the hose, and the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 are molded by co-extrusion of each layer. Are fused to each other. The foamed soft vinyl chloride resin used is a foamed resin in which microcapsules that expand in volume when heated are kneaded into the soft vinyl chloride resin and foamed using the heating during extrusion molding. It is a foamed resin.

In the present embodiment, the hard reinforcing member 6 includes a metal wire such as a steel wire or a hard steel wire, a resin-coated metal wire obtained by coating the metal wire with a resin, or a hard material such as a polypropylene resin, a high-density polyethylene resin, or a polyamide resin. A hard synthetic resin wire obtained by extruding a synthetic resin into a linear shape can be used. Since the hard reinforcing body is attached to the hose wall, it is preferable to select one having good adhesiveness with the adhesive used or one that can be thermally welded. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a resin wire made of a hard synthetic resin extruded into a hollow pipe shape is used as the hard reinforcement body 6.
In the present embodiment, the hollow pipe-shaped hard reinforcement bodies 6 and 6 are made of hard vinyl chloride resin, and the three hard reinforcement bodies 6 and 6 are wound in a three-helix shape to attach the hose wall 1. The inner surfaces of the portions 7 and 7 are bonded and integrated by heat fusion.

The vacuum cleaner hose of the above embodiment can be manufactured by the following manufacturing method called a so-called spiral molding method.
First, the materials constituting the hard reinforcing body 6, the hose outer layer 101, and the foamed resin layer 102 are respectively adjusted and colored and supplied to an extruder to prepare for extrusion molding. At this stage, the foamable resin material constituting the foamed resin layer 102 is in an unfoamed state.

A soft resin material constituting the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 is extruded from a separate extruder in a semi-molten state and supplied to a co-extrusion die. Co-extrusion into strip S. Corresponding to the hose wall structure of the hose A, the resin strip S is provided with portions 7S and 7S serving as attachment portions, portions 1S and 1S serving as hose outer layers, and portions 2S and 2S serving as hose foamed resin layers. Yes. At this time, the foamable resin constituting the foamed resin layer 102 is foamed by heating at the time of extrusion molding, and the portions 2S and 2S become foamed resin layers having a cell structure mainly including closed cells. Further, the portion 1S constituting the outer layer 101 is coextruded from the die in this step, so that the outer surface becomes a smooth glossy surface.

A hard resin material constituting the hard reinforcing body 6 is extruded from another extruder into a hollow pipe shape and spirally wound around a known hose forming shaft. At this time, three hard resins are extruded from the extruder to form a hard reinforcing body, which is wound around a hose forming shaft in a three-row spiral shape.

Further, the hose wall is formed by spirally winding the above-described resin strip S around the outer periphery of the hard reinforcing bodies 6 and 6. At that time, the hard reinforcing bodies 6 and 6 are stored inside the attaching portions 7S and 7S of the resin strip S, and both side edges adjacent to the resin strip S are outside the hard reinforcing body 6. They are overlapped with each other so that they are fused and integrated. Thereafter, the resin is cooled and solidified to complete the hose. Through the above steps, the hard reinforcing body 6 is fused to the inner peripheral surface of the attachment portion 7, and the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 are fused and integrated to produce the vacuum cleaner hose of the present invention with an indefinite length. The hose obtained can be cut into a predetermined length and used for a vacuum cleaner.

The function and effect of the present invention will be described.
In the present invention, the hose outer layer 101 of the hose wall having a laminated structure is transparent or translucent, and the foamed resin layer 102 is provided adjacent to the inner side of the hose outer layer 101. The foamed structure of the foamed resin layer 102 is observed through 101, and the hose wall 1 can be given an appearance having a satin pattern.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged photograph of the outer surface of the hose according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows an enlarged photograph of the outer surface of the conventional hose in which the opaque outer hose layer is colored with silver. Both are photographs of the same magnification (about 20 times) taken with a power high scope, but in the hose of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the cell structure of the foamed resin layer is seen through the outer layer of the hose. It can be seen that it is observed as a pear-like pattern as a whole. In addition, the portion where the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 were laminated had a gold color such that the color tone of the hose wall 1 was shining.

Usually, in order to make the appearance of the resin molded product a satin finish, it is necessary to transfer the satin pattern with an injection mold or a transfer roller, and such a method is difficult to adopt in a so-called spiral molding method, In the prior art, it has been difficult to make the appearance of the hose have a satin finish.

In addition, the satin pattern obtained by these conventional methods is a satin pattern due to the uneven shape of the surface to the last, and in terms of design, it has a flat impression as a whole and lacks the three-dimensional appearance design surface, so-called It was the same as the “matte treatment”, and the appeal of luxury was low.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the satin pattern on the exterior is realized and perceived by the foam structure of the foamed resin layer 102 in the back of the hose outer layer 101 being seen through, so the impression of the exterior of the hose wall is three-dimensional. It has a sense of depth, is highly appealing for luxury, and has a good design. In order to enhance the feeling of depth, it is particularly effective to knead a pearl pigment or a mica pigment into the hose outer layer 101 as in this embodiment.

In the hose for a vacuum cleaner of the present invention, a hose wall having a pear-like appearance can be produced by laminating and integrating the foamed resin layer adjacent to the inside of the transparent or translucent hose outer layer 101. There is no need to apply special processing to the outer surface of the hose such as transfer of the hose, and the manufacture of the hose is simple.

Further, when the hose outer layer 101 and the foamed resin layer 102 are configured to have different colors as in the present embodiment, the foamed structure of the foamed resin layer 102 at the back of the outer layer 101 is visible from the outside of the hose. This is particularly effective in enhancing the sense of luxury of the hose by increasing the recognition of the satin pattern on the exterior of the hose. Further, in this embodiment, the hose outer layer and the foamed resin layer are formed by combining the thin yellow foamed resin layer 102 and the thin pearl gray translucent hose outer layer 101 so that the hose looks like a golden hose. By combining different colors, the degree of freedom in expressing the color of the hose appearance can be increased.

In addition, according to the present invention, the surface of the hose outer layer can be a smooth glossy surface while having a satin appearance as in the present embodiment. In that case, the hose outer layer surface is glossy and glossy on the surface of the hose, while having a satin appearance that would normally be frosted. The luxury feeling can be further enhanced. Moreover, if the hose outer layer surface is a smooth glossy surface, the hose outer surface is less likely to become dirty, and even if it becomes dirty, it becomes easy to clean, and the aesthetics of the hose can be easily maintained over a long period of time.

Further, when the foamed resin layer 102 has a cell structure mainly having a closed cell structure, even if the hose wall is configured such that the foamed resin layer 102 is exposed on the inner peripheral surface of the hose, It is possible to prevent the foamed structure of the foamed resin layer 102 from being contaminated by dust or the like inside the hose, and the hose appearance can be well maintained over a long period of time.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, in the following description, portions different from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and descriptions of the same portions will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, the cross section of the hose wall of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the hose wall 30 is laminated and integrated by a transparent hose outer layer 301, a foamed resin layer 302 adjacent to the inner periphery thereof, and a hose inner layer 303 adjacent to the inner periphery thereof. It is configured as a three-layered hose wall. In this way, another layer may be added inside the hose of the foamed resin layer 302. In the present invention, the outermost layer of the hose wall of the laminated structure is a transparent or translucent layer and is adjacent to the inside thereof. If the layer to be provided is a foamed resin layer, the same effect can be obtained. When the other resin layer is provided inside the hose of the foamed resin layer, the foamed resin layer 302 is also translucent, and the foamed resin layer 302 and the hose inner layer 303 are different from each other, It is more preferable to increase the contrast between the two so that the foamed structure of the foamed resin layer 302 is easily visible through the outer hose layer.

Whether the outer layer of the hose is transparent or translucent is not particularly limited, but when the transparency is increased, the satin pattern is more clearly perceived, but the hose wall stacking structure is also visually recognized from the outside. On the other hand, as the transparency of the outer layer of the hose decreases and becomes translucent, the satin pattern becomes obscure and the laminated structure of the hose wall becomes difficult to understand, so the design and impression of the entire hose and vacuum cleaner Accordingly, it is preferable to select transparent or semi-transparent hose outer layer.

As in the first embodiment, the hose of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 sequentially spirals the constituent material of the hose wall and the resin material of the hard reinforcement body 36 on a known hose molding shaft by a so-called spiral molding method. It can be manufactured by winding it. In this embodiment, prior to spiral molding (winding step) of the foamed resin layer 302, a foamed resin sheet (for example, a foamed polyethylene sheet) that has been foamed in advance is slit to prepare a foamed resin strip, The hose integrated and laminated by spirally winding and integrating the both sides of the foamed resin strip so that they are sandwiched between the inner layer 303 and the outer layer 301 in the hose forming step The wall 30 can also be manufactured.

If a foamed resin strip that has already been foamed is used at the time of the hose wall molding process, use a hose wall that has been adjusted and inspected in advance for the degree of foaming (such as the size and density of the bubbles). It is more preferable for improving the appearance quality of the hose. Further, the integration between the layers of the hose wall laminated together and the hard reinforcing body may be performed by heat fusion as described above, or may be performed using an adhesive or an adhesive. .

Furthermore, about the material of the hose wall 1 and the structure of the hard reinforcement body 6, various structures can be employ | adopted according to the function requested | required of a hose. Moreover, in the description of the above embodiment, the hose wall and the rigid reinforcement body are all described in the configuration in which the members are spirally wound and integrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, As long as the function of the hose can be maintained and manufactured, the hose wall can be manufactured by extruding the outer layer of the hose or the foamed resin layer into a cylindrical shape, or the hard reinforcement can be omitted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the substantially cylindrical hose wall 40 is a hose wall having a configuration in which bellows-like uneven stripes are alternately provided in a spiral shape or a ring shape along the hose axial direction, and a rigid reinforcement body. It is also possible to use a hose that does not have Such a hose is formed by, for example, co-extrusion of a translucent hose outer layer 401 and a foamed resin layer 402 into a coaxial cylindrical shape, and a hose wall by a continuous blow molding method of a so-called conduit hose using an annular moving mold. It can be manufactured by forming 40 bellows shapes. Thus, in the present invention, the substantially cylindrical hose wall includes one in which the hose wall is formed in a bellows shape or a corrugated shape.

The vacuum cleaner hose of the present invention can be used for household vacuum cleaners and the like. According to the hose for a vacuum cleaner of the present invention, the appearance quality of the hose can be improved, the design of the vacuum cleaner can be improved, and the industrial utility value is high.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hose wall 101 Outer layer 102 Foamed resin layer 6 Hard reinforcement body 7 Attachment part 30, 40 Hose wall 301, 401 Outer layer 302, 402 Foamed resin layer 303 Inner layer 36 Hard reinforcement body 10 Vacuum cleaner main body 11 Connection pipe 12 Hand operation part 13 Extension Pipe 14 Nozzle for floor

Claims (3)

A vacuum cleaner hose having a flexible hose wall formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by a synthetic resin,
The hose wall is formed by laminating and integrating a plurality of layers,
The outermost layer of the hose wall is an airtight transparent or translucent layer,
A vacuum cleaner hose, characterized in that a foamed resin layer having a cell structure mainly having a closed cell structure is provided adjacent to the inside of the outermost layer. The hose for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the outermost layer and the foamed resin layer have different colors. 2. The hose for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the outermost layer is a smooth glossy surface.