JP5547470B2 - Suction hose for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a suction hose for a vacuum cleaner having a remote control hand-operating portion at a tip portion and a vacuum cleaner including the same.

  The dust collecting hose provided in the electric vacuum cleaner has one end connected to the vacuum cleaner body and the other end connected to the suction port through a removable extension tube. A hand switch for remotely controlling the operation of the electric blower in the main body of the cleaner is attached to the other end portion (tip portion) of the dust collecting hose.

  The other end portion (tip portion) of the dust collecting hose is a hand operated pipe. This pipe is provided in a cantilevered state so as to extend upward and rearward from the longitudinal intermediate portion of the pipe portion in order to move the suction port body and the pipe portion bent into a dogleg shape. It is formed with a handle part (grip part). This hand operated pipe is provided with a switch part in front of the handle part.

  In this way, the switch portion disposed on the front side rather than the grip portion gripped by the user is an elastic substrate composed of a substrate provided with a pattern circuit having first and second fixed contacts and a dome-shaped conductor. It is formed with a contact piece and a flexible cover film adhered and fixed to the elastic contact piece and its peripheral portion. The substrate of the switch portion is fixed to the outer surface portion of the hand operation pipe on the front side of the handle portion. Therefore, the switch portion having a protruding shape corresponding to the dome shape of the elastic contact piece protrudes from the outer surface of the hand operation pipe (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-33434

  In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, a switch portion is provided on the rear side with respect to the front end portion of the hand operation pipe to which the extension pipe is connected, and a handle portion (grip) is provided on the rear side of the switch portion. Part). Therefore, the distance from the front end portion of the hand operation pipe to the rear end of the handle portion is long, and the hand operation pipe is relatively large. Accordingly, the weight of the hand operation pipe is relatively heavy, and therefore, it is disadvantageous in improving the operability of the hand operation pipe.

  Further, in the cleaning work, there is a case where dust is directly sucked from the front end opening of the hand operation pipe in a state where the extension pipe is removed from the hand operation pipe. In the case of this cleaning mode, as described above, since the distance from the front end portion of the hand operation pipe to the rear end of the handle portion is long, the front end opening of the hand operation pipe is directed to a desired cleaning place. The operability of the hand-operated pipe is relatively poor.

  In addition, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the switch portion is disposed at a position shifted to the front side from the handle portion of the hand operation pipe gripped by the user as described above. Therefore, when pressing the target push button in the switch unit depending on the size of the user's hand or the position where the user grips the handle portion, the thumb of the hand holding the handle portion on the push button As a result, the user may be forced to shift the grip part to the front side and re-grip it, and the operability of the switch part is not good in this respect.

  As described above, the conventional technique has a problem that the operability of the hand operation pipe and the switch unit is not good.

The suction hose for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention has a hand-operated portion connected to a flexible hose portion provided with a current-carrying means, a grip that is spaced above the tube and is gripped by the user. And a plurality of switches electrically connected to the energizing means, and the handle protrudes from the grip portion and the front portion of the hand tube. a front handle base continuous to the front end, so as to project from the rear of the hand tube is formed in the side handle base after continuous from the rear end of the grip portion, the portion gripped by the user of the grip portion is opened to the upper surface In addition, each switch has a plurality of operation recesses corresponding to each switch, and each switch has a switch operation part that is pressed from above, and each switch operation part is lowered from the upper surface of the grip part. Projects from the top of the grip on the bottom of the recess Is characterized in that mounted not so disposed in the respective switch portions are gripped by the user of the grip portion.

According to the present invention, a plurality of switches are provided in the portion gripped by the user of the grip portion of the hand operation portion, the handle of the hand operation portion is reduced in the front-rear direction, and the hand operation portion is lightened accordingly. The operability of the hand control unit can be improved. At the same time, it is not necessary to shift the position for gripping the grip when the switches are pressed by the arrangement of the switches, so that the operability of the switches can be improved. Moreover, since the lower than the upper surface of the portion relative to the handle portion of the hand operation part is gripped by the user of the grip portion of each switch is provided in each of the operation concave portion, the switches in the palm of the hand gripping the grip portion It is possible to prevent the user from being inadvertently pressed and erroneously operated.

It is a side view which shows the vacuum cleaner which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the hand operation part and dust collecting container of the suction hose with which the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 is provided seeing from the rear side. It is a vertical side view which shows the hand operation part of FIG. 2 with a dust collecting container along the direction where the center axis line extends. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal plan view showing the hand operating portion of FIG. 2 together with a dust collecting container along a direction in which the central axis extends. It is sectional drawing which shows the hand operation part of FIG. 2 with a dust container along the direction orthogonal to the center axis line. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the hand operation part and dust container of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a canister-type vacuum cleaner, for example. This electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner main body 2, a suction air passage member 21, and the like.

  A front small wheel 4 made of a turning wheel is attached to the front bottom wall of the cleaner body 2, and a rear small wheel 5 is attached to the rear bottom wall of the cleaner body 2. Furthermore, large wheels 6 (only one is shown) are attached to both sides of the vacuum cleaner body 2 in the width direction. The cleaner body 2 can move on the indoor floor surface (surface to be cleaned) F by rolling of these wheels.

  The cleaner body 2 has a body lid 7. The main body lid 7 is pivotally attached to the cleaner body 2 at the rear end thereof. The main body lid 7 is pivoted about the pivoted portion in the vertical direction so as to be able to open and close the front upper surface of the cleaner main body 2 (upper surface opening of a dust collecting unit accommodating space described later). The vacuum cleaner main body 2 has a suction port 8, and the suction port 8 protrudes upward from the main body lid 7, for example. The suction port 8 communicates with the dust collection portion accommodation space at the front portion of the cleaner body 2. In addition, the code | symbol 9 in FIG. 1 has shown the exhaust part.

  An electric blower 11 is built in the rear part of the cleaner body 2. Exhaust gas sucked into the electric blower 11 and discharged to the outside of the electric blower 11 is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 2 through the exhaust part 9.

  The dust collection part 12 is accommodated in the dust collection part accommodation space of the front part of the cleaner body 2 where the suction negative pressure of the electric blower 11 acts. In other words, the dust collecting unit 12 is positioned upstream of the electric blower 11 and downstream of the suction port 8 and is accommodated in the cleaner body 2. This dust collecting part 12 consists of dust collecting bags, for example, and can be attached or detached to the dust collecting part accommodation space of the cleaner body 2 with the main body lid 7 opened. The dust collection unit 12 is not limited to a dust collection bag, and includes, for example, a pleat filter that separates dust contained in the airflow sucked into the electric blower 11 from the suction port 8 from the air, and is a vacuum cleaner. It may be a dust separation unit which is accommodated in the front part of the main body 2 so as to be able to be put in and out, or a dust separation unit which separates dust and air by inertial separation, for example, centrifugal separation.

  The suction air passage member 21 guides the suction air flow to the dust collecting part 12 accommodated in the cleaner body 2, and as shown in FIG. 1, the suction hose 22, the extension pipe 51, and the suction port body 55. It has.

  The suction hose 22 is formed by providing a vacuum cleaner main body connecting tube 24 at one end of the hose portion 23 and providing a hand operating portion 25 at the other end (tip portion) of the hose portion 23. The hose part 23 has a core wire (not shown) made in a coil shape from a piano wire or the like, and is made in a flexible bellows shape. The core wire, for example, supplies power to a cleaning body motor described later. It also serves as an energizing means for sending and an energizing means for sending a command signal for operation control to the electric blower 11. In addition to the core wire, a dedicated electric wire (energizing means) for supplying power and signals can be provided in the suction hose. The vacuum cleaner main body connection cylinder 24 is detachably connected to the suction port 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the hand operation unit 25 includes a hand tube 26, a handle 35, and a switch 41.

  The proximal tube 26 is formed by connecting an upstream tube member 27 and a downstream tube member 28. As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the upstream side pipe member 27 is formed by integrally projecting a forward inflow pipe part 27b at the center of the base part 27a.

  The downstream side pipe member 28 includes a filter housing part 29, a connecting cylinder part 30, an outflow pipe part 31, a guide wall 32, a junction port 33, and the like.

  The filter housing portion 29 is formed in a trumpet shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward the downstream side (rear side). As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the connecting cylinder part 30 is integrally protruded rearward from the downstream end part of the filter housing part 29 whose diameter has been reduced. The outflow pipe part 31 is fitted and connected to the inside of the connecting cylinder part 30 from the rear side. The outflow pipe portion 31 can rotate around a straight central axis (not shown) of the proximal pipe 26 with respect to the filter housing portion 29. The connecting portion is provided with a slip ring mechanism (not shown), and the slip ring mechanism is electrically connected to the energizing means via the lead wire (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the guide wall 32 is provided inside the downstream end portion of the filter housing portion 29 by forming an air passage 32 f that is bent at a substantially right angle so as to be L-shaped. The inlet of the ventilation path 32f (that is, the inlet of the guide wall 32) is opened forward. The outlet 32a of the ventilation path 32f (that is, the outlet of the guide wall 32) 32a is substantially perpendicular to the central axis (not shown) of the proximal tube 26 and is laterally lateral (see FIG. 4). And in the right direction in FIG.

  The guide wall 32 has a separation wall portion 32b that bends the traveling direction of the dust-containing air flowing through the air passage 32f from the inlet toward the outlet 32a at a substantially right angle. A part of the separation wall portion 32b forms an outlet facing portion 32c that faces the outlet 32a.

  Regardless of the presence of the guide wall 32, the filter accommodating portion 29 and the outflow pipe portion 31 are communicated with each other. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the junction 33 is formed on the opposite side of the outlet 32a with the outlet facing portion 32c as a boundary. As shown in FIG. 6, the junction port 33 is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the proximal tube 26 and protrudes to one side in the lateral direction (left direction in FIGS. 4 and 5).

  The junction port 33 and the outlet 32a are separated from each other by about 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the proximal tube 26, and protrude in directions away from each other. This junction port 33 is provided with a filter housing portion so that an airflow passing from the dust collecting container 71 described later to the outflow pipe portion 31 can be merged with an airflow passing through the upstream filter 62 described later and flowing through the proximal pipe 26. 29 and the outflow pipe portion 31 are communicated with each other.

  In a state where the base portion 27a is fitted from the front side into the large-diameter opening end of the filter housing portion 29, the upstream side pipe member 27 and the downstream side pipe member 28 are connected by being stopped with screws (not shown), The hand tube 26 is assembled.

  The other end portion (tip portion) of the hose portion 23 is fitted and connected to the outer periphery of the outflow tube portion 31 of the proximal tube 26. 2 to 4 and 6, reference numeral 39 denotes a hose cover. The hose cover 39 is attached to the outer periphery of the outflow pipe portion 31 and covers the tip of the hose portion 23.

  Further, a hand brush 40 having a substantially U shape is attached to the outer periphery of the inflow pipe portion 27 b of the hand pipe 26. The hand brush 40 is used when scraping dust accumulated in the corner of the room, and is formed by planting the brush hair 40b on the brush base. The hand brush 40 projects into a pair of bearing portions 27d (only one of which is shown in FIG. 6) formed on the inflow pipe portion 27b at a distance of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction so as to protrude from the inner surface of the hand brush 40. By fitting a pair of provided shaft portions 40a (only one is shown in FIG. 6), the bearing portion 27d and the shaft portion 40a can be rotated about the fulcrum.

  By this rotation, the hand brush 40 can move between the retracted position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the use position indicated by the two-dot chain line. In the retracted position, the entire hand brush 40 is arranged along the outer periphery of the inflow pipe portion 27b of the upstream pipe member 27 with the bristles 40b of the hand brush 40 facing rearward. In the use position, the brush bristles 40b of the hand brush 40 are arranged along the upper part of the front end opening of the hand tube 26 and protruded to the front side from the front end opening.

  A handle 35 extending in the axial direction (front-rear direction) of the hand tube 26 protrudes upward from the hand tube 26. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle 35 is assembled by fixing the handle base 36, the handle cover 37, and the exterior panel 38 with screws (not shown), as shown in FIG. The front handle base 35b and the rear handle base 35c are formed in a substantially U shape.

  The handle base 36 has a substantially U shape and is integrally formed with the downstream side pipe member 28. The handle cover 37 is fixed between both side walls of the handle base 36 with screws (not shown), and the front portion covers the upper front surface of the base portion 27a and the upper portion of the inflow pipe portion 27b. The exterior panel 38 covers the upper front and upper surfaces of the handle 35 and is fixed to the handle cover 37 with screws (not shown).

  The grip portion 35a is a portion that comes into contact with the palm of the hand when gripped by the user's fingers, and is disposed above the proximal tube 26 so as to be spaced apart. The length of the grip part 35a in the front-rear direction is such that the grip part 35a can be gripped so as to be wrapped around from the lower side with four fingers ranging from the index finger of the standard hand size to the little finger. Not set to length.

  The front handle base 35b protrudes upward from the front of the proximal tube 26 and is provided continuously at the front end of the grip 35a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the base of the front handle base portion 35b is formed so as to straddle the upstream pipe member 27 from the front end of the filter housing portion 29 as can be seen from FIG. 3 and FIG. The front handle base 35b is preferably provided as close as possible to the front end opening of the hand tube 26.

  The front surface of the front handle base 35b is provided as a finger hooking surface 35d on which the user's thumb can be hung. For this purpose, the finger hooking surface 35d is formed as a surface substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the proximal tube 26. Here, the term “substantially perpendicular” includes a plane perpendicular to the central axis and an angle range inclined by 10 ° forward and backward with respect to this plane.

  The rear handle base portion 35c is provided so as to protrude upward from the rear portion of the proximal tube 26 and is provided continuously to the rear end of the grip portion 35a. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the base of the rear handle base 35c is formed so as to protrude upward from the connection cylinder 30 as shown in FIGS. The rear handle base 35c is hollow, and the slip ring mechanism (not shown) faces the inside of the base.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a finger passage space S surrounded by the handle 35 and the hand tube 26 is formed on the lower side of the grip portion 35a. The front handle base portion 35b is formed to become gradually narrower as it approaches the grip portion 35a from its base so that the finger passage space S approaches the front side as it approaches the grip portion 35a from the base of the front handle base portion 35b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the thickness of the rear handle base 35c is larger than the thickness of the upper portion of the front handle base 35b. Here, the thickness of the rear handle base 35c and the thickness of the upper portion of the front handle base 35b both indicate dimensions along the front-rear direction, that is, the direction in which the central axis of the proximal tube 26 extends.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the switch 41 for remotely controlling the start / stop of the electric blower 11, input adjustment, and the like by the hand operation unit 25 includes a switch substrate 42 and a plurality of switch members 43, for example.

  The switch substrate 42 has a rectangular shape that can be incorporated in the grip portion 35a. Each switch member 43 is mounted on the switch board 42 together with other electronic components. As shown in FIG. 3, each switch member 43 has a switch operation portion 43a that is pressed from above. In addition, the switch operation part 43a is covered with the cover film from the upper side. Each time the switch operating portion 43a is pressed, the switch member 43 is formed so that a movable contact piece (not shown) is brought into and out of contact with a fixed contact piece (not shown) so as to be repeatedly turned on and off. When disappears, the switch operation unit 43a is raised and returned to the height position before the pressing operation in preparation for the next pressing operation.

  The switch 41 is built in the grip portion 35 a of the handle 35. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of upward ribs 36 a formed on a part of the handle part 35 a of the handle base 36 and a part of the handle part 37 of the handle cover 37. It is arrange | positioned so that it may be pinched | interposed between. Each switch operation portion 43a of the switch 41 attached to the grip portion 35a in this manner is disposed below the upper surface of the switch 41.

  In order to enable the pressing operation of these switch operation portions 43a, a plurality of operation recesses 45 opened on the upper surface of the grip portion 35a are provided in the grip portion 35a. Each operation recess 45 includes an opening formed in the exterior panel 38. Each operation recess 45 is provided at a position corresponding to each switch member 43 individually, and a switch operation portion 43 a is disposed at the bottom of these operation recesses 45. The depth of each operation recess 45 is such that when the user grips the grip portion 35a, the pressing stroke at which the switch 41 is turned on / off even if the palm meat portion enters the operation recess 45 It is set so as not to be given to 43a, and it is preferable to set the depth so that the palm does not come into contact with the switch operation portion 43a regardless of the entry.

  For example, four switch members 43 are used, and among them, the switch member 43 closest to the rear handle base 35 c is used as a power switch for starting and stopping the electric blower 11. The switch member 43 adjacent to the front side of the power switch is used as a function switch for selecting an “eco-automatic operation” mode in which the electric blower 11 is operated in a state where the electric power supplied to the electric blower 11 is limited to a low level. Further, the switch member 43 adjacent to the front side of the “eco-automatic operation” switch member 43 adjusts the electric power supplied to the electric blower 11 to increase the suction force of the electric blower 11 or the electric blower. 11 is used as a function switch for selecting a weak operation mode for weakening the suction force 11. Further, the switch member 43 located adjacent to the front side of the switch member 43 for the strong and weak operation mode and closest to the front handle base 35b is responsible for starting and stopping a rotary cleaning body, which will be described later, driven by the cleaning body electric motor. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of lead wires 47 are connected to the switch board 42 of the switch 41. These lead wires 47 are made of insulation-coated wires, are electrically connected to the respective switch members 43, and are led out from the rear end of the switch substrate 42. Each lead wire 47 passes through the inside of the rear handle base 35c and is electrically connected to the slip ring mechanism (not shown). Therefore, a coiled core wire (conductive means) (not shown) of the hose portion 23 and the switch 41 are electrically connected via the lead wires 47 and the slip ring mechanism. As described above, the thickness of the rear handle base portion 35c is larger than the thickness of the upper portion of the front handle base portion 35b, so that a sufficient wiring space is secured in the rear handle base portion 35c. This wiring is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the extension pipe 51 is formed by combining an inner pipe 52 and an outer pipe 53 so as to be extendable. Therefore, the inner tube 52 is inserted into the outer tube 53 from the tip (upstream end), the insertion depth can be varied, and the length of the extension tube 51 can be adjusted accordingly.

  The front end portion of the inner tube 52 that forms the upstream end portion of the extension tube 51 is held in a protruding state from the front end portion of the outer tube 53 even when the extension tube 51 is contracted the shortest. The rear end of the outer pipe 53 that forms the downstream end of the extension pipe 51 is located on the upstream side of the hand pipe 26 at the front end of the hand pipe 26, that is, inside the inflow pipe portion 27 b that forms the inlet of the hand pipe 26. It can be attached to and detached from the hand tube 26 by inserting / removing from the side.

  The suction inlet 55 shown in FIG. 1 is for a floor suitable for cleaning an indoor floor that is a surface to be cleaned. The suction port body 55 includes a horizontally long suction head 56 and a connection pipe 57 connected to a rear part of the suction head 56 and a central part in the longitudinal direction via a universal joint pipe part. A horizontally long suction opening (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the suction head 56. The downstream side end portion which is the rear end portion of the connection pipe 57 can be attached to and detached from the extension pipe 51 by being inserted into and removed from the front end part of the inner pipe 52 which forms the upstream side end part of the extension pipe 51. It can be attached to and detached from the proximal tube 26 by inserting / removing it into / from the inside of the inflow tube portion 27b that forms the entrance of the proximal tube 26.

  A rotary cleaning body 58 is built in the suction head 56 facing the suction opening. The rotary cleaning body 58 is rotationally driven by the power of a cleaning body electric motor (not shown) built in the suction head 56, and this electric motor is turned on and off by the switch member 43 that is responsible for starting and stopping the rotary cleaning body 58. It has become.

  The hand operating section 25 of the suction air passage member 21 is provided with, for example, a coarse dust separating section 61 as a dust separating section disposed on the upstream side of the dust collecting section 12. The coarse dust separation unit 61 is formed by the upstream filter 62 that is gradually reduced in diameter toward the downstream side, the outflow pipe portion 31 of the hand pipe 26 described above, the guide wall 32 of the hand pipe 26, and the joint of the hand pipe 26. It is formed with a mouth 33.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upstream filter 62 has an inner filter holder 62a and an outer filter holder 62b that are gradually reduced in diameter toward the downstream side, and a net filter 62c made of a thin metal plate that is held between them. doing.

  The upstream filter 62 has a smaller diameter than the filter housing portion 29 of the proximal pipe 26 and is housed in the filter housing portion 29. In this accommodated state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base portion 27 a of the upstream pipe member 27 and the inlet of the guide wall 32 are sandwiched from the front and rear. The rear end portion of the inflow pipe portion 27b is inserted inside the large-diameter opening end portion of the upstream filter 62. A small-diameter open end 62 d of the upstream filter 62 is continuous with the inlet of the guide wall 32. Therefore, the above-described guide wall 32 is provided between the upstream filter 62 and the above-described outflow pipe portion 31 so as to partition them. The outer periphery of the upstream filter 62 and the inner periphery of the filter housing portion 29 are separated from each other, and communicated with the outflow pipe portion 31 between them.

  A dust collecting container 71 is detachably attached to the suction air passage member 21 in the vicinity of the coarse dust separating portion 61. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dust collecting container 71 includes a container main body 72 and a container lid 73 detachably fitted thereto.

  The dust collecting container 71 is disposed below the handle 35. In order to ensure a larger dust collection volume, the dust collection container 71 is formed in a substantially U shape so as to follow the lower half circumference of the proximal tube 26. A dust inlet 74 (see FIG. 6 and the like) and a vent hole 75 (see FIG. 3 and the like) are provided on the inner wall of the container main body 72 of the dust collecting container 71 having such a shape so as to face the dust inlet 74.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the container main body 72 has a first hook 76 and a second hook 77. Each of the first hook 776 and the second hook 77 is composed of a groove opened on the side opposite to the container lid 73. At the same time, a container clamp 78 is attached to the container body 72 in the vicinity of the second hook 77.

  A first engaging portion 79 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the first hook 76 and a second engaging portion 80 that can be engaged and disengaged with the second hook 77 are provided on the outer surface of the lower portion of the proximal tube 26 so as to be integrally separated from each other. ing. By these engagements (hooks), the dust collecting container 71 is attached at a position directly below the handle 35. The dust collection container 71 is arranged in this manner when the user grips the handle 35 and operates the hand operation unit 25 to move the suction port 55 during cleaning. It is difficult to feel the weight of the dust accumulated therein and the weight balance is good, which is preferable for improving the operability of the suction port body 55.

  Furthermore, the attached state of the dust collecting container 71 is held by the container clamp 78 being locked to the groove-shaped locking portion of the first engaging portion 79. Further, the dust collection container 71 can be removed from the hand operation section 25 by pulling the dust collection container 71 rearward in a state where the container clamp 78 is operated and removed from the locking portion.

  The dust inlet 74 of the dust collecting container 71 is in close contact with the outlet 32a of the coarse dust separating unit 61 as shown in FIG. The communication state is maintained. The ventilation port 75 of the dust collection container 71 is in close contact with the junction 33 of the coarse dust separation part 61 as shown in FIG. Retained.

  A filter support member 81 shown in FIG. 6 is built in the dust collecting container 71. The filter support member 81 supports a coarse dust filter 82. The coarse dust filter 82 is disposed so as to cover the upstream side of the vent hole 75, and is provided to prevent the coarse dust accumulated in the dust collecting container 71 from passing through the vent hole 75.

  In order to perform cleaning using the electric vacuum cleaner 1, an extension pipe 51 is connected to the suction hose 22 connected to the suction port 8 as shown in FIG. 1, and a suction port body 55 is further connected to the extension pipe 51. The electric blower 11 may be operated by a switch operation at the hand operating unit 25 after the dust on the surface to be cleaned can be sucked from the suction opening of the suction head 56 of the suction port body 55.

  Accordingly, the dust-containing air introduced into the hand operation unit 25 is separated into dust and air by the coarse dust separation unit 61. That is, among the dust contained in the dust-containing air sucked into the coarse dust separator 61, the dust having a large mass passes through the upstream filter 62 in the axial direction due to its inertia and then hits the guide wall 32 to flow in the direction of flow. As the kinetic energy is reduced, the air is sucked into the dust collecting container 71, and is captured by the coarse dust filter 82 and stored in the dust collecting container 71 in the dust collecting container 71. At the same time, the air that has passed through the coarse dust filter 82 flows out to the outflow pipe portion 31 through the junction port 33, and further passes through the hose portion 23 of the suction hose 22 to collect the dust collecting portion 12 in the cleaner body 2. Sucked into.

  On the other hand, since the suction negative pressure of the electric blower 11 has spread to the space around the upstream filter 62, a part of the air and the fine dust having a small mass that is going to pass through the upstream filter 62 are upstream. After being sucked through the net filter 62c of the filter 62, it joins the airflow flowing from the inside of the dust collecting container 71 through the joining port 33 to the outflow pipe portion 31, and as described above, the dust collecting portion 12 is joined. Inhaled.

  As described above, coarse dust or the like in the dust-containing air is separated from the air in the coarse dust separation unit 61 and stored in the dust collecting container 71. The airflow that has passed through the coarse dust separating unit 61 and is introduced into the dust collecting unit 12 is filtered by the dust collecting unit 12, so that it is included in the air that is about to be sucked into the electric blower 11. Dust is captured by the dust collecting unit 12. In addition, the air sucked into the electric blower 11 through the dust collecting part 12 is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 2 through the exhaust part 9 after flowing through the electric blower 11.

  In order to operate the switch 41 at the start of cleaning or during cleaning, the palm of the user holding the handle 35a is separated from the upper peripheral surface of the grip 35a, and the grip 35a with a finger other than the thumb of one hand of the user. The user's thumb is inserted into the operation recess 45 corresponding to the target switch member 43 to be operated, and is positioned at the bottom of the operation recess 45. What is necessary is just to push in the switch operation part 43a which is present. Thereby, the target switch member 43 is operated, for example, strength control of the electric blower 11 can be performed.

  In this case, it is only necessary to open one hand holding the grip portion 35a, and it is not necessary to shift the grip position back and forth, and the grip portion 35a is supported by a finger from the lower side even when one hand is opened. The pressing operation of the portion 43a can be performed in a stable state.

  In addition, the switch 41 is provided not at a position shifted to the front side from the grip portion 35a of the handle 35 but at the grip portion 35a in contact with the palm, so that a part for providing the switch 41 is arranged side by side on the front side of the grip portion 35a. There is no need to do. Therefore, the length in the front-rear direction of the handle 35 across the front portion and the rear portion of the hand tube 26 can be shortened.

  With the downsizing of the handle 35, the weight of the hand operating portion 25 having the handle 35 can be reduced, so that the operability for moving the suction port body 55 and the like can be improved in this respect.

  Moreover, the switch operation portion 43a of the switch 41 attached to the grip portion 35a is located at the bottom of the operation recess 45 of the grip portion 35a, and does not protrude flush with the upper surface of the grip portion 35a. . Therefore, during the cleaning, the switch operating portion 43a provided by the palm of the gripped hand down from the upper surface is inadvertently pressed while the grip portion 35a of the handle 35 is gripped with one hand of the user. 41 can be prevented from being erroneously operated.

  In this case, since the operation concave portion 45 is formed by an independent hole corresponding to each switch member 43 individually, the depth of the palm meat of the user who grips the grip portion 35a enters the operation concave portion 45 is shallower. This is easy to limit, and this is preferable in terms of preventing erroneous operation of the switch 41 more reliably. However, even if the adjacent operation recesses 45 communicate with each other via a groove that is thinner than the diameter of the operation recess 45, it is possible to prevent the switch 41 from being erroneously operated.

  Further, since the thickness of the rear handle base 35c in the front-rear direction is larger than the thickness of the upper part of the front handle base 35b in the front-rear direction, the grip 35a is moved further forward within the length range of the handle 35 in the front-rear direction. Can do. Accordingly, the user's hand gripping the grip portion 35a and the suction port body in response to the user's hand gripping the grip portion 35a being brought closer to the front end opening of the inflow pipe portion that is the entrance of the proximal tube 26 Since the distance to 55 etc. also becomes short, the operativity for moving the suction inlet 55 etc. can be improved also in this point.

  Further, during cleaning, the extension pipe 51 may be removed from the hand operation unit 25 and dust may be directly sucked from the front end opening of the hand pipe 26 for cleaning. At this time, if necessary, the hand brush 40 may be rotated and disposed at a use position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, and cleaning may be performed while the hand brush 40 scrapes dust.

  In the case of these cleaning modes, as the distance from the front end opening of the hand tube 26 to the grip portion 35a is shortened as described above, the front end opening of the hand tube 26 is directed to a desired cleaning place. The operability can be improved.

  Further, as described above, even when the dust is directly sucked from the front end opening of the hand tube 26 for cleaning, or when dust is sucked from the suction port 55 as shown in FIG. Can select how to hold the handle 35 of the hand operating unit 25 as follows.

  The first method of gripping is a mode in which the grip portion 35a is gripped with this one hand without placing the thumb of one hand of the user against the finger hooking surface 35d formed from the front surface of the front handle base portion 35b. The second method of gripping is a mode in which the grip portion 35a is gripped in a state where the thumb of one hand is applied to the finger-holding surface 35d from the front. This second gripping method can be realized by forming the front surface of the front handle base portion 35b as a surface substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the hand tube 26. As described above, since the gripping method of the handle 35 is diversified, the handle 35 is gripped and cleaned by the first or second gripping method according to the cleaning place, the cleaning mode, the user's preference, and the like. It is possible and easy to use.

  The present invention is not limited to the one embodiment. For example, in one embodiment, the coarse dust separation unit is provided in the hand operation unit, but the separation unit can be omitted to implement the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vacuum cleaner, 2 ... Vacuum cleaner main body, 8 ... Suction port, 11 ... Electric blower, 12 ... Dust collection part, 22 ... Suction hose, 23 ... Hose part, 24 ... Vacuum cleaner main body connection cylinder, 25 ... Hand operation , 26 ... hand tube, 35 ... handle, 35a ... grip part, 35b ... front handle base, 35c ... rear handle base, 35d ... finger resting surface, S ... finger insertion space, 41 ... switch, 42 ... switch board, 43 ... Switch member, 43a ... Switch operation part, 45 ... Operation recess, 47 ... Lead wire, 51 ... Extension pipe, 53 ... Suction port

Claims (3)

A flexible hose portion provided with energization means;
A vacuum cleaner main body connecting tube provided at one end of the hose portion;
The front and rear ends are respectively opened and the rear end is connected to the rear end of the hand tube. The hand tube is spaced above the hand tube and is gripped by the user. A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a handle provided; and a hand operation unit including a plurality of switches electrically connected to the energizing means;
The handle includes the grip portion, a front handle base projecting upward from a front portion of the hand tube and continuing to a front end of the grip portion, and projecting upward from a rear portion of the hand tube. A rear handle base that is continuous with the rear end of the handle, and a plurality of operation recesses that are open to the upper surface of the grip portion that are grasped by the user are individually provided corresponding to the switches. And
Each of the switches has a switch operation portion that is operated to be pressed from above, and the switch operation portion is arranged so as not to protrude from the top surface of the grip portion at the bottom of each operation recess that is lowered from the top surface of the grip portion. A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner, wherein each switch is attached to a portion of the grip portion that is gripped by a user . A finger passage space surrounded by the handle and the hand tube is formed so that the front handle base gradually approaches the front side as the front handle base approaches the grip part from the base, and gradually narrows as the hand handle part approaches the grip part from the base. The rear handle base is formed to have a thickness greater than the thickness of the upper portion of the front handle base, and the lead wire for connecting the energizing means and the switches to the inside of the rear handle base. The suction hose for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein: A vacuum cleaner body having a suction port;
An electric blower built in the vacuum cleaner body,
A dust collecting part located upstream of the electric blower and downstream of the suction port and housed in the cleaner body;
The suction hose according to claim 1 or 2, detachably connected to the suction port,
An extension pipe that is detachably connected to the front end of the proximal pipe of the suction hose;
A suction port detachably connected to the tip of the extension tube or the front end of the proximal tube;
The vacuum cleaner characterized by comprising.

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