JP6248667B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, in a canister type electric vacuum cleaner, a hand handle that is provided with a tubular body through which an air flow including dust collected from the surface to be cleaned flows, and a gripping portion that is a part gripped by a user at a position away from the tubular body (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-000437 A (FIG. 4)

The hand handle body of such a conventional vacuum cleaner is molded from resin, and has a curved surface, a branching portion, an opening, and a portion to be a mounting position for mounting components in order to form a shape of a grip portion that is easy to hold. .
When molding such a hand handle body, a flow mark (weld line) is likely to cause uneven flow of the resin material at the position where these parts are formed inside the molding die, and the appearance of the molded product is poor. May come out.
Moreover, in order to ensure the rigidity of a holding part and the pipe body from which this holding part branches, it is necessary to form the rib which protrudes on the surface, and there exists a subject that the design of a design will become restrictions.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner having a hand handle body excellent in design.

In order to solve the above problem, in a vacuum cleaner having a main body provided with an electric blower inside, a suction hose having one end connected to the main body, and a hand handle body attached to the other end of the suction hose, The hand handle body includes a tube body forming an air passage communicating with the suction hose, a branch portion branched from the tube body to form a grip portion, a side cover covering at least a side surface of the branch portion, and a branch portion An upper surface cover that covers the upper surface, the upper surface cover is further fixed to the branch portion with screws, and the side surface cover is attached so as to reach the upper surface of the branch portion from the tubular body through the side surface of the branch portion. What is necessary is just to comprise so that the screw which fixes a cover to a branch part may be covered from upper direction .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vacuum cleaner which has a hand handle body which improved the external appearance design property can be obtained.

Whole perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 The left view of the site | part from the suction inlet body of a vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 to a hose The perspective view seen from the left rear of the hand handle body of the electric vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 Left side view of hand handle body of electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hand handle body of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 The disassembled perspective view of the hand handle body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment The partial disassembled perspective view of the hand handle body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment Left side view of hand handle body of electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 (state with left side cover removed) The figure which looked at the hand handle body of the electric vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 from back 9 is a partially exploded view of the hand handle body 4 in FIG. 9 (with the right side cover removed). The figure which looked at the hand handle body of the vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 from the upper part The left view which shows the usage condition of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1. The right view which shows the usage condition of the vacuum cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1. Left side view of hand handle body of electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 The partial disassembled perspective view of the hand handle body of the electric vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 2 (the state where the left side cover is removed) Sectional drawing of sectional position XX shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
First, the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion from the suction port body 6 to the hose 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a main body (cleaner main body) 2, a hose 3, a hand handle body 4, an extension pipe 5, and a suction port body 6.
The suction port body 6 is a part that takes in dust (dust) on the floor surface into the inside together with air from an opening formed downward. A connection pipe 6 a that is connected to an extension pipe 5 described below is provided at the end of the suction port body 6 on the intake side.

Next, the extension pipe 5 is one of the dust collecting connection bodies connected to the hand handle body 4 described later, and exhibits a straight cylindrical shape as a whole. One end of the extension pipe 5 is connected to the connection pipe 6 a of the suction port body 6, and the other end is connected to the hand handle body 4.
The user can remove the suction port body 6 from the extension pipe 5 by operating a button 5 a provided on the extension pipe 5.

The extension pipe 5 includes a brush 5c at the end on the intake side. The brush 5c is used by being brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned with the suction port body 6 removed, and can be moved to the vicinity of the opening of the extension pipe 5 on the intake side.
The user can expand and contract the extension tube 5 by operating the expansion / contraction button 5b provided at the end of the extension tube 5 on the exhaust side.

Here, the extension pipe 5 has been described as an example of the dust collecting connection body connected to the hand handle body 4, but in addition to this, the extension tube 5 is configured to have a narrowed tip so that dust in a narrow portion can be easily sucked. Nozzles and brushes with a bristle brush planted at the tip so that dust such as gaps can be easily written out are also dust collecting connectors.
The suction port body 6 is also a dust collecting connection body because it is indirectly attached to the hand handle body 4 by being attached to the extension pipe 5.

Next, the hand handle body 4 is a part that the user has when cleaning, and is a part that becomes an operation body. The user holds the hand handle body 4 and operates the hand handle body 4 to suck the dust falling with the dust collecting connection body facing the surface to be cleaned.
For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the user operates the hand handle body 4 to change the position and orientation of the suction port body 6 attached to the extension pipe 5. An end portion on the intake side (suction side opening 41) of the hand handle body 4 is connected to an end portion on the exhaust side of the extension pipe 5.
The user can remove the extension tube 5 from the hand handle body 4 by operating a release button 4 a provided on the hand handle 4. The hand handle body 4 includes a brush 400 for use in a state where the extension pipe 5 is removed at the end on the intake side.

Next, the hose 3 is composed of a hollow member whose main part is a bellows shape with flexibility. An end portion on the intake side of the hose 3 is connected to the hand handle body 4. The end of the hose 3 is provided with a hard connecting portion 3 a at the exhaust side, and this connecting portion 3 a is connected to the main body 2.
The main body 2 is connected to the connecting portion 3a of the hose 3 and separates dust from air containing dust (dust-containing air). The main body 2 discharges air (clean air) from which dust has been removed from an exhaust port (not shown) opened at the rear. Garbage separated from the air is stored inside the main body 2.
By connecting each part as described above, a continuous air passage F from the dust collecting connection body such as the suction port body 6 and the extension pipe 5 to the hand handle body 4, the hose 3, and the main body 2 is formed. It is formed.

Next, the main body 2 includes an electric blower 11 and a dust collecting portion 12 inside.
The electric blower 11 generates an airflow that flows down in the main body 2 from the dust collection connector on the suction side toward the exhaust port on the exhaust side in the air passage F formed in the vacuum cleaner 1.
When the electric blower 11 performs a suction operation, the dust on the floor surface is sucked into the suction port body 6 together with the air. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction port body 6 passes through each of the suction port body 6, the extension pipe 5, the hand handle body 4, and the hose 3 and is sent to the main body 2.

  The dust collecting unit 12 separates dust flowing into the main body 2 from air (airflow). The dust collecting unit 12 captures dust separated from the air. FIG. 1 shows a paper pack type separation device as an example of the dust collecting unit 12. As the dust collecting unit 12, a cyclone type separation device or another type of separation device may be employed.

  Further, the main body 2 includes large wheels 13 on both sides and small wheels (not shown) on the lower surface. The small wheel is attached so that its direction can be freely changed. For this reason, the main body 2 can change the direction with the wheel 13 and the small wheel in contact with the floor surface.

Next, the hand handle body 4, which is a main part of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the hand handle body 4 includes a tube body 40 that forms a part of the air path F and serves as a base, a branch portion 44 that is provided so as to branch from the tube body 40, and a tube body 40 and each cover 48 covering the outer periphery of the branching portion 44.
The tubular body 40 has a shape that linearly extends from the intake side opening 41 toward the exhaust side, bends from a middle position (bend position 43) downward and obliquely backward, and extends linearly toward the exhaust side opening 42. It is made.

A branch portion 44 is provided above the rear side of the bent position 43 of the tube body 40.
The branch portion 44 includes a branch front portion 44a that extends obliquely upward and rearward from the branch position 45 on the upper surface of the tubular body 40, and a branch rear end 44c that curves from the rear side of the branch front portion 44a and extends obliquely downward and rearward. A branch rear portion 44b is formed, and has an arch shape extending from the branch position 45 to the branch rear end 44c.
The tube body 40 and the branch portion 44 are integrally formed by resin molding.

5 to 7, on the upper surface of the branch front portion 44a, a pair of left and right wall portions are hung from the branching position of the tubular body 40 and the branch portion 44 to the rear end of the branch front portion 44a. 44e is formed.
An upper surface recess 44g is formed between the left and right wall surfaces 44e. The upper surface recess 44g is open upward, and an operation switch 46a for turning on / off the electric blower and changing the output and a motion sensor 46b for detecting the movement and vibration of the hand handle body 4 are formed inside the recess. Is provided.

Further, the left and right wall surfaces 44g are respectively engaged with first engagement openings 44h with which engagement claws of the upper cover 48a described later are engaged, and engagement claws 482b, 482c of the left and right covers 48b, 48c described later. A second engagement opening 44i is formed.
In addition, on the upper surface of the pipe body 40 extending from the intake side opening 41 to the branching portion 44, the communication means 47 that performs non-contact communication with an external device and the dust collection connection body connected to the intake side opening 41 are released. A button 4a is provided.
Both of the substrate 46 and the communication means 47 are electrically connected to a control means (not shown) for controlling each part of the vacuum cleaner 1 provided in the main body 2 and outputs a signal to the control means.

Next, referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, tubular ribs 40 b that protrude in a strip shape in the direction in which the tubular body 40 extends are formed on the side surface of the tubular body 40. The tubular rib 40b is located below the position where the branch portion 44 is connected, and is for increasing the rigidity of the tubular body 40.
Further, on the side surface of the branching portion 44, a branching portion rib 44j is formed which protrudes from the tubular body 40 toward the end of the branching front portion 44a and extends in a band shape. The branch ribs 44j are for increasing the rigidity of the branch 44.
The hose 3 is connected to the exhaust side opening 42 by inserting the tube body 40 into the opening of the hose 3.

Next, referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 7, the following covers 48 are attached to the outside of the tube body 40 and the branching portion 44 that are configured as described above to form the appearance of the hand handle body 4.
The cover 48 includes an upper cover 48a, a left side cover 48b, a right side cover 48c, a left rear side cover 48d, and a right rear side cover 48e. These covers are formed by resin molding.

First, the upper cover 48a is a cover that covers the upper surface of the branch portion 44 from the suction side opening 41, and pushes the operation switch to a position facing the button opening 481a facing the release button 4a and the operation switch mounted on the substrate 46. A portion 482a is formed.
The operation switch pressing portion 482a has “arrow mark”, “ON / OFF”, “eco mode”, and the like indicating that the output of the electric blower is changed on the surface, and the user presses the position. As a result, the corresponding operation switch is pressed and a signal is transmitted to the control means. The control means controls the output of the electric blower based on these signals.

In the upper cover 48 a configured as described above, the engaging claw 483 a engages with the first engaging opening 44 h formed in the branch portion 44.
Then, the screw opening 485a that opens in the upper cover 48a is screwed into the screw hole 44d formed in the upper surface of the branching portion 44 through the screw 484a from above, thereby covering the upper surface of the branching portion 44 from the suction side opening 41. In this state, it is attached and fixed to the tube body 40.
In a state where the upper cover 48a is attached as described above, the first gripping portion that is positioned to be gripped by the user by the lower surface 441b of the branch rear portion 44b and the upper surface 486a of the upper cover 48a covering the upper surface of the branch rear portion 44b. 49a is formed.

Next, the left side cover 48b is a cover that covers the tubular body 40 and the branching portion 44 that extend from the lower surface of the tubular body 40 to the left side surface, pass through the left side surface of the branch front portion 44a, and reach the upper left side of the branching portion 44. .
A plurality of engagement claws 482b are provided on the back surface of the left side cover 48b. By engaging this engagement claw 482b with a tube engagement opening 40c provided on the lower surface of the tube 40 and a second engagement opening 44i formed in the branch portion 44, Attached across the branch 44.

  Since the left side cover 48b is attached to the surface of the tube body 40, an outer shell projecting outward from the outer surface of the tube body 40 by the thickness Δd1 of the left side cover 48b is formed. That is, a step having a height of Δd1 is formed between the tube body 40 and the left side cover 48b (see FIG. 11).

Here, the left side cover 48 b is attached after the upper cover 48 a is attached to the branch portion 44. Thereby, before the left side cover 48b is attached, the concave portion 44g which is the attachment position of the substrate 46 can be confirmed from the second engagement opening 44i.
That is, the second engagement opening 44i can be used as an opening for confirming whether or not the substrate 46 is attached. The confirmation opening may be formed separately from the second engagement opening 44i.

Next, the right side cover 48c is a cover that covers the pipe body 40 and the branching portion 44 that extend from the lower surface of the tube body 40 to the right side surface, pass through the right side surface of the branch front portion 44a, and reach the upper right side of the branching portion 44. .
A plurality of engaging claws 482c are provided on the back surface of the right side cover 48c. The engaging claw 482c engages with the tube engaging opening 40c provided on the lower surface of the tube 40 and the second engaging opening 44i formed in the branching portion 44, so that the tube 40 Attached across the branch 44.

  Since the right side cover 48c is attached to the surface of the tube body 40, an outer shell projecting outward from the outer surface of the tube body 40 by the thickness Δd1 of the right side cover 48c is formed. That is, a step having a height of Δd1 is formed between the tube body 40 and the right side cover 48c (see FIG. 11).

Here, the right side cover 48 c is attached after the upper cover 48 a is attached to the branch portion 44. Thereby, before the left side cover 48c is attached, the concave portion 44g which is the attachment position of the substrate 46 can be confirmed from the second engagement opening 44i.
That is, the second engagement opening 44i can be used as an opening for confirming whether or not the substrate 46 is attached. The confirmation opening may be formed separately from the second engagement opening 44i.

The left side cover 48b and the right side cover 48c described above are configured so as to be symmetrical with each other. By attaching them as described above, the left side cover 48b and the upper side of the branch portion 44 are attached to the left side surface. The cover 48b and the right side cover 48c are combined.
Accordingly, the left and right side covers 48b and 48c are attached to the tube body 40 and the branch portion 44, thereby covering the tube ribs 40b and the branch portion 44 formed on the surfaces of the tube body 40 and the branch portion 44, thereby providing a hand handle body. An appearance design surface continuously extending from one side surface of 4 to the other side surface is formed.

In the hand handle body 4 described above, as described above, the tube body 40 and the branching portion 44 and the left and right side surface covers 48b and 48c are made separate members, so that even if the left and right side surface covers 48b and 48c are damaged or dirty, The cover can be replaced.
In particular, since the hand handle body 4 is provided with the hose 3 at the rear end, when the hand handle body 4 is dropped, the left and right side covers 48b and 48c are likely to come into contact with the floor surface. By replacing the attached side cover, repairs to deal with scratches and dirt can be completed.

Furthermore, the left and right side covers 48b and 48c have steep curved surfaces, corner portions, and gently curved surfaces with no openings, so that flow marks (molding defects) are unlikely to occur. Therefore, when molding the left and right side covers 48b and 48c, a material that improves designability (for example, a metallic material (such as aluminum powder or pearl powder) that reflects light to show a shine) is applied to the resin that is a molding material. A method of kneading and molding (hereinafter, kneading molding) can be used.
Thereby, even if it is the hand handle body 4 which has the site | part of the complicated shape which a flow mark tends to generate | occur | produce at the time of shaping | molding, the external appearance design which is the texture close | similar to coating can be obtained by resin molding.

  Further, if the left and right side covers 48b, 48c are made of a soft member such as an elastomer, the impact received by the hand handle body 4 when the hand handle body 4 is dropped can be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 10, the screw hole 44 d formed on the upper surface of the branch portion 44 is positioned below the alignment position of the left side cover 48 b and the right side cover 48 c at the upper alignment position of the branch portion 44. doing.
That is, by attaching the left side cover 48b and the right side cover 48c as described above, the screw hole 44d and the screw 484a positioned in the screw hole can be covered so as not to be seen from the outside. .

Next, the left rear side cover 48d is a cover that covers the portion from the rear side of the exhaust side opening 42 to the branch position 45 from the left. The right rear side cover 48e is a cover that covers the portion from the rear side of the exhaust side opening 42 to the branch position 45 from the right direction.
The left rear side cover 48d and the right rear side cover 48e are configured to be symmetrical to each other. The left rear side cover 48d and the right rear side cover 48e sandwich the tubular body 40 from the left and right directions with the exhaust side opening 42 inserted into the hose 3 and the hose 3 attached to the tubular body 40. Attached to the body 40.

  As described above, the left rear side surface cover 48d and the right rear side surface cover 48e are joined together from the left and right directions, so that the cylindrical hose presser portion 48df and the tubular hose presser portion 48df extending forward. One connection portion 48dfa and a second connection portion 48dfb extending rearward from the hose holding portion 48df are formed.

The hose 3 is sandwiched between the hose pressing portion 48 df and the tube body 40 and fixed so as not to be detached from the tube body 40.
Further, the continuous first connecting portion 48dfa is fixed enters the recess 40a extending from the branch portion 4 4 formed tube 40 to the edge of the exhaust-side opening 42 of the tube 40, the surface of the outer surface of the tubular body 40 Connected smoothly.
The second connection portion 48 dfb is connected to the branch portion 44 by sandwiching the branch rear end 44 c of the branch portion 44 between the left rear side cover 48 d and the right rear side cover 48 e from the left-right direction.

Moreover, since the outer diameter of the site | part comprised by the pipe body 40 to which the 1st connection part 48dfa was attached, and the 1st connection part 48dfa is smaller than the outer diameter of the hose holding | suppressing part 48df, between both site | parts Thus, a step Δd2 is formed.
By making the front side of the hose holding portion 48 df narrow (squeezed portion 48 dfc), the difference in the outer diameter between the portion formed by the tube body 40 and the first connection portion 48 dfa and the hose holding portion 48 df The resulting step difference Δd2 is smoothly connected (see FIG. 11).

  In the vicinity of the branch position 45 of the hand handle body 4 configured in this way, a second grip portion 49b that is a position to be gripped by the user is formed. The second grip portion 49b is a portion extending from the rear side of the left and right side covers 48b, 48c of the hand handle body 4 to the hose pressing portion 48df (shaded portion in FIG. 1).

Thus, the hand handle body 4 is provided with the first gripping portion 49a and the second gripping portion 49b.
Since the 1st holding | grip part is located away from the pipe body 40, operation of the hand handle body 4 provided with the dust collection connection body can be performed with a light force. Further, since the second gripping portion is provided at a position close to the tube body 40, the operation can be performed at a position closer to the dust collection connection body attached to the tube body 40, and the dust collection connection body can be Easy to match the position where is falling.

Further, referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 13, by configuring the periphery of the second grip portion 49b as described above, the hand handle body 4 is moved forward while the user grips the second grip portion 49b. Since the step Δd1 is formed between the left and right side covers 48b and 48c and the tube body 40, the gripped fingers come into contact with the rear surfaces 481b and 481c of the left and right side covers 48b and 48c. It becomes a forward stopper.
In particular, the rear surfaces 481b and 481c of the left and right side covers 48b and 48c are inclined to the rear with respect to the tube body 40. Therefore, when the user grasps the second grip 49b, 481b and 481c are easy to contact on the surface. Thereby, it is easy to apply the force from the hand to the hand handle body 4 and the operation is easy.

  Further, when the user grips the second grip portion 49b and pulls the hand handle body 4 backward, there is a step between the hose pressing portion 48df and the tube body 40, which is the second grip portion 49b. Since Δd2 is formed, the hand comes into contact with the hose pressing portion 48df (squeezed portion 48dfc) and becomes a backward stopper.

  Further, since the second grip 49b is located in the vicinity of the branch position 45, when the user grips the second grip 49b, a hand is placed at the gap between the tube 40 and the branch 44. Will enter. Thereby, the lower surface of the branch part 44 can hold | maintain the upper surface of a hand, and operation of the hand handle body 4 becomes easier.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, the left side cover 48 b extends from the lower surface of the tube body 40 to the left side surface, passes through the left side surface of the branch front portion 44 a, and reaches the upper left side of the branch portion 44. 44 is covered.

A plurality of engagement claws 482b are provided on the back surface of the left side cover 48b. The engaging claw 482b is attached across the branch portion 44 from the tubular body 40 by engaging with the second engagement opening 44i formed in the branch portion 44.
In the state where the left side cover 48b is attached as described above, a space Ra is formed between the left side cover 48b and the tube body 40.
Similarly, a space Rb is also formed between the right side cover 48c and the tube body 40.

The left side cover 48 b and the right side cover 48 c are engaged with each other on the lower side of the tubular body 40 in a state where the left lateral cover 48 b and the right lateral cover 48 c are attached to the tubular body 40 and the branch portion 44. A space R is formed which is connected on the lower side.
A plurality of connection openings 40 d, which are openings that connect the inside of the tubular body 40 serving as the air path F and the space portion R, are formed at positions facing the space portion R of the tubular body 40.

By forming the space portion R around the tube body 40 serving as the air path F in this way, the space portion R becomes an expansion space for airflow including dust flowing inside the tube body 40. Thereby, the noise which arises when an airflow flows through the inside of the tubular body 40 can be made small.
In particular, the bending position 43, which is a bent portion of the tubular body 40, is likely to gather noise frequency nodes, so that the noise is further reduced by providing the space R in the vicinity of the bending position 43 of the tubular body 40. The effect can be expected.
Further, if a sound absorbing member is disposed in the space R (Ra, Rb), an effect of further reducing noise can be expected.

  As described above, in each of the embodiments, the positional relationship of each part and the front / rear, up / down, left / right orientations of the hand handle body 4 and the tube body 40 from the intake side opening 41 to the bending position 43 are in a horizontal state (see FIGS. 4 and 12). In the description, the intake side opening 41 is the front and the exhaust side opening 42 is the rear.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner, 2 main body, 3 hose, 4 hand handle body, 5 extension pipe (dust collection connection body), 6 suction inlet body, 40 pipe body, 41 intake side opening, 42 exhaust side opening, 44 branch part, 45 Branch position, 46 substrate, 47 communication means, 48 cover, 49a first gripping part, 49b second gripping part.

Claims (6)

In a vacuum cleaner having a main body provided with an electric blower inside, a suction hose with one end connected to the main body, and a hand handle body attached to the other end of the suction hose,
The hand handle body is
A tube body forming an air passage communicating with the suction hose, a branch portion branched from the tube body to form a gripping portion, a side cover that covers at least a side surface of the branch portion, and an upper surface of the branch portion An upper surface cover ,
The upper surface cover is fixed to the branch portion from above with screws,
The side cover is attached to reach from the tube through the side surface of the branch part to the upper surface of the branch part, and covers the screw for fixing the upper surface cover to the branch part from above . The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the side cover is made of a soft member . The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side cover is made of a resin including a metallic material that reflects light . The side cover is provided on the hand handle body across the pipe body from the side surface of the branch portion,
Space is formed between the side cover and the tubular body,
The tube has an opening connecting the interior of the space and the tube is formed,
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the space and the inside of the tubular body communicate with each other through the opening . Wherein the inter-empty, vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, characterized in that a sound absorbing material. The spatial the electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that positioned in the vicinity of the site of bending of the tubular body.

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