JP7400349B2 - Vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner system.

In a vacuum cleaner, there is a suction port body formed with a suction port for sucking dust, a suction pipe connected to the suction port body, and a suction pipe that is biased towards one end side from the longitudinal center of the suction port body in plan view. BACKGROUND ART A suction device is known that includes a connecting portion that connects a suction port body and a suction pipe at a position where the suction device is connected to the suction port (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-214508

However, in a vacuum cleaner as shown in Patent Document 1, the position of the suction port body that sucks in dust during use and the grip portion that the user holds and operates the suction port body is such that the suction pipe (pipe body) Via apart. Since the suction port body and the suction pipe (pipe body) are connected at a position that is biased toward one end side of the longitudinal center of the suction port body, the suction port body is There may be cases where it is difficult to operate the mouth.

This invention was made to solve such problems. The purpose is to create a vacuum cleaner that can efficiently use the length of the suction port in the longitudinal direction, easily clean wide and narrow areas, and improve the operability of the suction port. Our goal is to provide a vacuum cleaner system.

A vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a main body provided with a grip portion for a user to grip, a suction tool formed with a suction port for sucking dust, one end connected to the suction tool, and the other end connected to the suction tool. a hollow cylindrical pipe body connected to the main body and having a curved axis; a suction port body having an outer shape whose width is smaller in a second direction perpendicular to the width of the suction port body, and a joint portion for connecting the suction port body and the pipe body; A distance along the first direction from the center of the first direction to the gripping part is shorter than a distance along the first direction from the center to the joint part, and the suction port body It has a tapered shape in which the width in the second direction decreases from the side where the joint portion is provided in one direction to the opposite side.

A vacuum cleaner system according to the present invention includes a vacuum cleaner configured as described above, and a support device on which the main body of the vacuum cleaner is placed, and wherein the main body is placed on the support device. The external shape of the vacuum cleaner in the state is front and back asymmetrical when viewed from the side, the external shape of the support device is front and rear asymmetrical when viewed from the side, and the external shape of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device is The overall external shape of the machine and the support device is symmetrical in side view.

According to the vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner system of the present invention, the length in the longitudinal direction of the suction port can be used efficiently, wide areas and narrow areas can be easily cleaned, and the operability of the suction port can be improved. This has the effect that it is possible to improve

1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a front view of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a sectional view of a main body of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a main body, a pipe body, and a suction tool of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are removed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the main body of the vacuum cleaner and the suction tool are connected according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a suction tool of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a top view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a bottom view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is a side view of a suction tool of a vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a usage state of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another usage state of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another usage state of the vacuum cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part in the modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional view of the principal part in the modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner based on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a side view of a support device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a support device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the support device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the support device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a front view of a vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a top view of a vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a vacuum cleaner and a support device of a vacuum cleaner system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure showing the modification of the vacuum cleaner system concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Modes for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and overlapping explanations will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In the following description, for convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed based on the illustrated state. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and may freely combine each embodiment, modify any component of each embodiment, or modify each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Any component of the embodiment can be omitted. In addition, the front side and the rear side are sometimes expressed as side surfaces.

Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 37. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 3 is a front view of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 5 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the main body of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the main body, pipe body, and suction tool of the vacuum cleaner are removed. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the main body of the vacuum cleaner and the suction tool are connected. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 10 is a top view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 12 is a side view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a vacuum cleaner in use. 15 and 16 are perspective views showing other usage states of the vacuum cleaner. 17 to 20 are side views showing modified examples of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 21 is a side view showing a modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 22 is a rear view showing a modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the main parts of a modified example of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 24 is a sectional view of main parts in a modified example of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a modification of the suction tool of the vacuum cleaner. FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the support device. FIG. 27 is a side view of the support device. FIG. 28 is a front view of the support device. FIG. 29 is a rear view of the support device. FIG. 30 is a top view of the support device. FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 32 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 33 is a front view of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 34 is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 35 is a top view of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a vacuum cleaner and a support device of the vacuum cleaner system. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a modification of the vacuum cleaner system.

The vacuum cleaner 100 according to this embodiment is a cordless vertical vacuum cleaner or stick type vacuum cleaner. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the vacuum cleaner 100 includes a main body 110, a pipe body 120, and a suction tool 130. In the following, the vertical, longitudinal, and horizontal directions of the vacuum cleaner 100 will be specified based on the states shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. 1 to 5 show a state in which the vacuum cleaner 100 stands upright and the main body 110 is disposed above the suction tool 130.

The main body 110 is for separating dirt and dust from the air taken inside and discharging the air from which dirt and dust have been removed. The clean air discharged from the main body 110 is returned indoors, for example. Hereinafter, air containing dirt and dust will also be referred to as "dust-containing air." Air from which dirt and dust have been removed is also called "clean air."

The tube body 120 is, for example, a straight member having a rectangular cylindrical shape. Note that the shape of the tubular body 120 is not limited to this. Alternatively, for example, the tubular body 120 may have a cylindrical shape. Further, instead of the cylindrical shape, the outer shape of the tubular body 120 may have a circular cross section. Furthermore, the tubular body 120 is not limited to a straight shape and may be rod-shaped.

One end of the tube 120 is connected to the main body 110. The other end of the tube body 120 is connected to a suction tool 130. As will be described later, the tube body 120 is formed to be attachable to and detachable from the main body 110 and the suction tool 130, respectively. The suction tool 130 is for sucking, for example, dirt and dust on the floor together with air from an opening formed downward, that is, a suction port to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body 110 includes a case portion 112 and a dust collection portion 116. The case portion 112 has, for example, a cylindrical shape. The case portion 112 is provided with a grip portion 111 . The grip part 111 is for a user to hold when cleaning using the vacuum cleaner 100. In the configuration example described here, the grip portion 111 is provided to protrude upward from the center of the upper surface of the case portion 112. The grip portion 111 has, for example, a cylindrical shape. The axis of the grip part 111 coincides with the axis of the case part 112.

An exhaust port (not shown) is formed on the rear side of the case portion 112. Case portion 112 is, for example, a molded product. The dust collecting section 116 is arranged below the case section 112. The dust collecting section 116 is detachably attached to the case section 112. The dust collection section 116 has, for example, a cylindrical shape with the same diameter as the case section 112. The axis of the dust collecting section 116 coincides with the axis of the case section 112. Therefore, the outer circumferential surface of the dust collecting section 116 has an appearance that is continuous with the outer circumferential surface of the case section 112. That is, the overall appearance of the main body 110 has, for example, a cylindrical shape.

The main body 110 includes a connecting pipe section 117. The connecting pipe section 117 is arranged on the rear side of the dust collecting section 116 and below the case section 112. A main body connection port 118 is formed at the lower end of the connection pipe portion 117 . The upper end side of the connecting pipe section 117 communicates with the inside of the dust collection section 116 attached to the case section 112. In this way, the suction tool 130, the pipe body 120, and the connecting pipe portion 117 form an intake air path from the outside to the inside of the main body 110. Note that the cross-sectional shapes of the intake air passages of the pipe body 120 and the connecting pipe portion 117 are, for example, circular.

The inside of the dust collecting section 116 communicates with the inside of the case section 112 through an opening formed in the upper part of the dust collecting section 116 . The inside of the case portion 112 communicates with the outside through the aforementioned exhaust port. That is, an exhaust air path from the dust collecting section 116 to the outside is formed inside the case section 112.

Inside the case portion 112, an electric blower 115, a secondary battery 113, and a circuit board 114 are provided. The electric blower 115 is for generating airflow in the above-mentioned intake air passage and exhaust air passage. Electric blower 115 is electrically connected to secondary battery 113. The electric blower 115 is driven by being supplied with power from the secondary battery 113. Circuit board 114 controls power supply from secondary battery 113 to electric blower 115 . The secondary battery 113 is made of, for example, a lithium ion battery. For example, an operation switch (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the grip portion 111 or the main body 110. The operation switch is for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner 100. The operation switch is electrically connected to the circuit board 114.

The dust collecting section 116 is for separating dirt and dust from the dust-containing air and temporarily storing the separated dirt and dust. The dust collection unit 116 separates dirt and dust from the air by centrifugal force by swirling the dust-containing air inside. In other words, the dust collecting section 116 is a cyclone separation device having a cyclone separation function.

The electric blower 115 is driven according to the operation of the operation switch. When the electric blower 115 is driven, a suction force acts on the intake air path, and dust-containing air is sucked in from the suction tool 130. The dust-containing air sucked into the suction tool 130 passes through the pipe body 120 and the connecting pipe section 117 and is taken into the dust collecting section 116 . In the dust collecting section 116, dirt and dust are separated from the dust-containing air. The clean air discharged from the dust collection section 116 passes through the electric blower 115. The clean air that has passed through the electric blower 115 advances through the exhaust air path and is discharged to the outside of the main body 110 from the exhaust port.

As shown in FIG. 7, a tube connecting portion 121 is provided at one end of the tube 120. As shown in FIG. The tube connection portion 121 is connectable to the main body connection port 118 of the main body 110 . A tube connection port 122 is provided at the other end of the tube 120 . The suction tool 130 includes a suction port body 131 and a joint portion 132. One end of the joint portion 132 is connected to the suction port body 131. A suction tool connection part 133 is provided on the other end side of the joint part 132. The suction device connection part 133 is connectable to the tube body connection port 122 of the tube body 120.

Note that the suction tool connection portion 133 can also be connected to the main body connection port 118 of the main body 110. By connecting the suction tool connection part 133 to the main body connection port 118, as shown in FIG. Can be used. Further, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be used as a hand-held vacuum cleaner by removing the suction tool 130 and the pipe body 120 and sucking air directly from the main body connection port 118.

Next, the configuration of the suction tool 130 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13. The suction tool 130 includes a suction port body 131 and a joint portion 132. The joint portion 132 connects the suction port body 131 and the pipe body 120. The suction port body 131 is a portion of the suction tool 130 excluding the joint portion 132.

A suction port 13 is formed on the bottom surface of the suction port body 131 . When the electric blower 115 starts the suction operation, dust-containing air is sucked from the suction port 13 . In addition to the bottom surface of the suction port body 131, the suction port 13 may be formed on any one of the side, front, and rear surfaces of the suction port body 131. Moreover, the suction port 13 may be formed on a plurality of surfaces of the suction port body 131 mentioned above. However, at least one of the suction ports 13 is formed downward. That is, the suction port 13 may be formed on the bottom surface and one or more side surfaces of the suction port body 131, for example. When the suction port body 131 has suction ports 13 on a plurality of surfaces, the suction port body 131 is formed so that the opening of the suction port 13 formed on the bottom surface is the largest.

The suction port body 131 of the suction device 130 has a proximal end 15 and a distal end 16. In Figures 1 to 5, the proximal end 15 is located at the rear and the distal end 16 at the front. The joint portion 132 is located closer to the proximal end 15 than the distal end 16 when viewed from above. In the configuration example described here, the joint portion 132 is located at the proximal end 15.

Let L be the length (maximum length) from the proximal end 15 to the distal end 16. The direction from the proximal end 15 to the distal end 16 is referred to as the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 . Let W be the width (maximum width) of the suction port body 131. The width W is the size of the suction port body 131 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above. The length L of the suction port body 131 is longer than the width W of the suction port body 131.

In this embodiment, the shape of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above is a rectangle. The direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above is hereinafter referred to as the lateral direction of the suction port body 131. Here, if the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 is referred to as a first direction and the width direction of the suction port body 131 is referred to as a second direction, the suction port body 131 has a width that is smaller than the width in the first direction when viewed from above. The outer shape has a smaller width in the second direction perpendicular to the direction. The joint portion 132 is provided at a position offset from the center to the end side in the first direction.

In this embodiment, it extends linearly from the proximal end 15 to the distal end 16 when viewed from above. The configuration is not limited to this, and the proximal end 15 and the distal end 16 may at least partially have a curved or bent appearance when viewed from above. Further, the distal end 16 may have a tapered shape. In such a case, the length L of the suction port body 131 refers to the maximum length in the longitudinal direction between the proximal end 15 and the distal end 16 when viewed from above.

In this embodiment, the width W of the suction port body 131 is constant along the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131. The width W of the suction port body 131 is not limited to such a configuration, and the width W of the suction port body 131 may change along the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131. In that case, the width W of the suction port body 131 refers to the maximum width of the suction port body 131.

The length L in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above is set to be 10 cm or more and 25 cm or less. Preferably, the length L is 15 cm or more and 25 cm or less. More preferably, the length L is 15 cm or more and 20 cm or less.

The joint portion 132 is preferably provided on a side surface of the suction port body 131 that corresponds to one end in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above. Note that the joint portion 132 may be provided on a side surface or a rear surface of the suction port body 131 that corresponds to one end in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 in a side view. Note that the surface corresponding to one end here is not limited to one surface, and may be a plurality of surfaces. Specifically, the case where the surface corresponding to one end is a plurality of surfaces includes, for example, the case where the surface corresponding to one end is stepped. In this case, a joint portion 132 is provided at a portion spanning one or more of the stepped surfaces.

Moreover, it is preferable that the joint part 132 be arrange|positioned at the center of the width direction of the suction port body 131 in top view. In the configuration example described here, the joint portion 132 is provided on the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131.

The appearance of the suction port body 131 is formed by combining the lower case 11 and the upper case 12. A rotary brush 21 is rotatably housed inside the suction port body 131. The rotating brush 21 is provided inside the suction port body 131 so as to face the suction port 13 . The rotating brush 21 is rotationally driven by a motor 22, which is a driving means built into the suction port body 131. The driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted to the rotating brush 21 via the belt 23, and rotates the rotating brush 21 in a preset direction.

A wheel 14 supported by a support member (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the suction port body 131. This support member is rotatably attached to the suction port body 131. Further, this support member allows the wheels 14 to protrude toward the floor when the suction port body 131 is floating from the floor, and allows the wheels 14 to protrude toward the floor when the suction port body 131 is on the floor. It is configured to be retracted inside 131.

The suction port body 131 has a built-in switch (not shown) that is turned on when the wheel 14 is retracted. When this switch is turned on, the rotating brush 21 becomes drivable. The rotating brush 21 is driven while the electric blower 115 is driven in accordance with the operation of the operation switch 7.

Note that the suction tool 130 does not need to include the rotating brush 21. When the suction tool 130 does not include the rotating brush 21, it is preferable that the suction tool 130 has a shape that is laterally symmetrical in appearance. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the difference in dirt and dust removal performance depending on the cleaning direction.

The joint section 132 in this embodiment includes a first rotating section 31 and a second rotating section 32. The second rotation part 32 is connected to the suction port body 131 so as to be rotatable about the second rotation axis Y. The first rotating section 31 is connected to the second rotating section 32 so as to be rotatable about the first rotating axis X. Further, the first rotating portion 31 includes the suction tool connecting portion 133 described above.

The second axis of rotation Y is not parallel to the first axis of rotation X. The second axis of rotation Y is in a position of intersection or twist with respect to the first axis of rotation X. In the figure, the first rotation axis X and the second rotation axis Y are indicated by dashed lines. In this embodiment, the second rotation axis Y is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131. The first axis of rotation, X, is in a substantially perpendicular or orthogonal relationship to the second axis of rotation, Y. In this way, the joint portion 132 in this embodiment has a first rotation axis X and a second rotation axis Y, which are a plurality of rotation axes that are not parallel to each other. Therefore, the joint portion 132 is freely rotatable in a plurality of directions.

As described above, the joint portion 132 is connected to the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131. The second rotating portion 32 of the joint portion 132 is rotatably connected to the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131 about the second rotation axis Y. As the second rotating part 32 of the joint part 132 rotates around the second rotation axis Y, the direction of the first rotation axis X changes, but the first rotation axis X is different from the second rotation axis Y. maintained perpendicular or orthogonal.

The second rotating part 32 is rotatable about the second rotation axis Y with respect to the suction port body 131 within a preset angle range. The first rotating part 31 of the joint part is rotatable about the first rotating axis X with respect to the second rotating part 32 within a preset angular range. Even when the joint portion rotates around the first rotation axis X and the second rotation axis Y, the opening direction of the suction port 13 is maintained. That is, the pipe body 120 connected to the joint portion 132 can be tilted within a preset angle range with respect to the suction port body 131 while maintaining the opening direction of the suction port 13.

As shown in FIG. 12, by rotating the joint part 132 around the first rotation axis X, the angle of the joint part 132 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 can be changed. The joint portion 132 is rotatable around the first rotation axis X, for example, within a range of 70° to 180°.

The double-headed arrow in FIG. 13 indicates an example of the angular range in which the joint portion 132 can rotate about the second rotation axis Y. When the upward direction in the vertical direction is 0°, the joint portion 132 is rotatable, for example, in a range from −90° to 90° about the second rotation axis Y.

10 to 13 show a state in which the angle of the joint portion 132 around the second rotation axis Y is 0°. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when the angle of the joint part 132 around the second rotation axis Y is 0°, the joint part 132 and the pipe in the direction along the short direction of the suction port body 131 are The width of the body 120 is equal to or smaller than the maximum length of the suction port body 131 in the lateral direction. In other words, the length of the joint part 132 and the pipe body 120 in the direction along the short direction of the suction port body 131 when the angle of the joint part 132 around the first rotation axis X is 0 degrees is It is formed to be equal to or smaller than the length of the mouth body 131 in the transverse direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the joint portion 132 is arranged in the lateral direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above in a state where the angle of the joint portion 132 around the second rotation axis Y is 0°. It has symmetry with the line passing through the center of as the axis of symmetry. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the angle of the joint part 132 about the first rotation axis It is in.

In the vacuum cleaner 100 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 14, the user cleans the vacuum cleaner 100 while holding the grip portion 111 and tilting the main body 110, for example. Double-headed arrows in FIG. 14 indicate an example of how to move the grip part 111. The movement in the twisting direction A is rotation of the grip portion 111 around the central axis. The movement in the inclination direction B is a movement that changes the angle of the grip portion 111 and the tube body 120 with respect to the floor surface.

FIG. 15 shows a usage pattern in which the suction port body 131 is moved along the width direction. FIG. 16 shows a usage pattern in which the suction port body 131 is moved along the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, the usage pattern shown in FIG. 15 will also be referred to as an "L-shaped configuration," and the usage format shown in FIG. 16 will also be referred to as an "I-shaped configuration."

When cleaning using the vacuum cleaner 100, the user basically grips the grip portion 111 and operates the suction port body 131. For example, when the grip part 111 is rotated in the twisting direction A shown in FIG. 14, the joint part 132 is rotated, and the direction of the suction port body 131 is changed. That is, the user changes the orientation of the suction port body 131 when moving it back and forth as seen from the user, for example, by twisting the grip portion 111. In this case, the usage form of the suction port body 131 changes between an L-shape and an I-shape. When the suction port body 131 is used in an L-shape, the cleaning range becomes wider. On the other hand, when the suction port body 131 is used in an I-shape, the cleaning range becomes narrower. When the usage pattern changes between the L-shape and the I-shape, the suction port body 131 rotates about the joint portion 132 when viewed from above. At this time, the suction port body 131 rotates without the bottom surface separating from the surface to be cleaned, such as the floor surface. The radius of rotation of the suction port body 131 at this time is approximately the same as the length of the suction port body 131 in the longitudinal direction when viewed from above.

The suction port body 131 is formed with a suction port 13 for sucking in dust. The pipe body 120 is connected to the suction port body 131 by a joint part 132. The joint portion 132 has a plurality of rotation axes that are not parallel to each other, and connects the suction port body 131 and the pipe body 120 at a position that is biased toward one end side with respect to the longitudinal center of the suction port body 131 in a top view. are doing. As a result, compared to, for example, a case where the joint part 132 is arranged at the center of the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 (hereinafter also referred to as a "T-shaped" vacuum cleaner), the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 is The distance between the end of the joint part 132 and the joint part 132 becomes longer. That is, the radius of rotation when rotating the suction port body 131 around the joint portion 132 becomes longer when viewed from above. Therefore, the length of the suction port body 131 in the longitudinal direction can be used efficiently. As a result, the cleaning range when the suction port body 131 is rotated can be widened, and efficient cleaning can be performed in a short time.

Further, depending on the situation, the usage form of the suction port body 131 can be changed between an L-shape and an I-shape. For example, when cleaning a large area such as the center of a room, the suction port body 131 is used in an L-shape. Further, for example, when cleaning a narrow place such as a gap between furniture, the suction port body 131 is used in an I-shape. In other words, by simply changing the direction of the suction port body 131, it is possible to clean various scenes, both wide and narrow. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove and replace the suction port body 131 depending on the cleaning location. As a result, the burden on the user can be reduced.

Note that the vacuum cleaner 100 configured in this manner has a symmetrical appearance in front and rear views, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner 100 has an asymmetric appearance when viewed from the side.

Furthermore, in the vacuum cleaner 100 configured as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, for example, the center of the suction port body 131 in the first direction, that is, the longitudinal direction, when viewed from above. The distance along the first direction from C to the grip portion 111 is shorter than the distance from the center C to the joint portion 132 along the first direction. Therefore, while enjoying the advantages of the L-shape and I-shape described above, the user can enjoy a feeling similar to that of a conventional T-shape vacuum cleaner in which the joint part 132 is arranged at the longitudinal center C of the suction port body 131. can be used and is easy to clean.

Moreover, as shown in particular in FIG. 5, the center C of the suction port body 131 in the first direction is arranged inside the outer shape of the grip part 111 when viewed from above. That is, the center C is included in the outer shape of the grip portion 111 when viewed from above. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the grip part 111 is attached to a virtual plane P that passes through the center C of the suction port body 131 in the first direction and is perpendicular to both the bottom surface 0 of the suction port body 131 and the first direction. It is arranged so that it intersects with Therefore, when using the vacuum cleaner 100, the positional relationship between the suction port body 131 and the grip part 111 can be similar to that of a conventional T-shaped vacuum cleaner, and the user can easily handle the vacuum cleaner 100. It is.

In addition, the example of a structure in case the axis|shaft of the pipe|tube 120 which connects the main body 110 and the suction tool 130 is linear was demonstrated above. However, the shape of the axis of the tube 120 is not limited to this, and the axis of the tube 120 may be curved or bent. What is shown in FIG. 17 is a configuration example in which the axis of the tubular body 120 is curved. By curving or bending the axis of the tubular body 120, the main body 110 can be more easily placed closer to the center of the suction tool 130.

Further, in the above description, a configuration example has been described in which the position where the tube body 120 is connected to the main body 110 is the rear end portion of the lower surface of the main body 110. However, the position where the tubular body 120 is connected to the main body 110 is not limited to this, and the end of the tubular body 120 may be connected to the center of the main body 110 in a side view. FIGS. 18A to 18C show configuration examples in which the end of the tube body 120 is connected to the center of the main body 110 when viewed from the side. In FIG. 18(a), the axis of the tubular body 120 is straight. FIGS. 18(b) and 18(c) are examples in which the axis of the tubular body 120 is bent.

Furthermore, as a modification of the vacuum cleaner 100 of this embodiment, configurations as shown in FIGS. 19(a) to 19(c) may also be considered. In FIG. 19(a), the end of the tube 120 is connected to the center of the main body 110 in a side view, but a part of the tube 120 is connected to the center of the main body 110 in a side view. This is a modified example in which the axis of the tubular body 120 is bent so that it is placed forward. Moreover, what is shown in FIG. 19(b) is a modification in which the grip portion 111 is provided not at the center of the upper surface of the case portion 112 of the main body 110 but at the front end of the upper surface of the case portion 112. In this example, the upper end side of the grip portion 111 is gently curved toward the rear. FIG. 19(c) shows a modification in which the tubular body 120 is made straight and the main body 110 is curved when viewed from the side. In any of the above modifications, the distance from the longitudinal center of the suction port body 131 to the grip portion 111 is made shorter than the distance from the longitudinal center of the suction port body 131 to the joint portion 132. can do.

As mentioned above, in the vacuum cleaner 100 of this embodiment, the distance from the longitudinal center C of the suction port body 131 to the grip part 111 is longer than the distance from the center C to the joint part 132. short. Therefore, when the user holds the grip part 111 with his right hand in the L-shaped configuration in which the suction port body 131 is moved along the transverse direction, the joint portion 132 is arranged on the left side of the center of the suction port body 131 when viewed from the user. When used in this orientation, the joint portion 132 and the tube body 120 tend to interfere with the user's body. Therefore, when the user holds the grip part 111 with the right hand in the L-shaped configuration, it is preferable to use the joint part 132 in an orientation in which the joint part 132 is disposed on the right side of the center of the suction port body 131 when viewed from the user. On the other hand, when the user holds the grip part 111 with the left hand in the L-shaped configuration, it is preferable to use the joint part 132 in an orientation in which the joint part 132 is disposed on the left side of the center of the suction port body 131 when viewed from the user. Due to such circumstances, the direction of movement of the suction port body 131 may be reversed. Therefore, the rotation direction of the rotating brush 21 may be switchable, for example, by operating the aforementioned operation switch.

Note that in the above description, the grip portion 111 was provided separately from the case portion 112 of the main body 110. However, regarding this point, as shown in FIG. 20, the case portion 112 of the main body 110 itself may also serve as the grip portion 111. In this case as well, when viewed from above, the distance from the longitudinal center of the suction port body 131 to the case portion 112, which is the grip portion 111, is longer than the distance from the longitudinal center of the suction port body 131 to the joint portion 132. It's shorter.

As described above, the joint portion 132 of the suction tool 130 is provided on the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131. The lower end of the joint portion 132 is located at a higher position than the bottom surface of the suction port body 131. Here, if the force of the user holding the grip part 111 pushing the suction tool 130 is too strong, the distal end 16 side of the suction port body 131 will lift up, and the joint part 132 will come into contact with the surface to be cleaned such as the floor. there is a possibility. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a protrusion 134 may be provided on the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131.

As shown in these figures, the protruding portion 134 is arranged below the joint portion 132. When the suction port body 131 is placed on the surface to be cleaned, the protruding portion 134 is arranged between the joint portion 132 and the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, when the user holds and pushes the grip part 111, it is possible to prevent the distal end 16 side of the suction port body 131 from lifting up and the joint part 132 from coming into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

Note that the protruding portion 134 may be provided integrally with other members constituting the suction port body 131 , or may be a separate member. Further, the suction port 13 may be formed to extend up to the protrusion 134. Note that, as shown in FIG. 21, the joint portion 132 is provided on a side surface of the suction port body 131 that corresponds to one end in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 when viewed from above. Further, the joint portion 132 is provided on a side surface or a rear surface of the suction port body 131 that corresponds to one end in the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 in a side view.

The details of the structure of the joint portion 132 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 are as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. That is, the joint section 132 includes a first rotating section 31 , a second rotating section 32 , a spherical section 33 , and a shutter section 34 . The second rotating part 32 is rotatably attached to the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131. A spherical portion 33 is provided at one end of the first rotating portion 31 . The first rotating section 31 is rotatably attached to the second rotating section 32 via the spherical section 33 . The other end side of the first rotating part 31 is connected to a suction tool connecting part 133. A shutter section 34 is provided between the spherical section 33 of the first rotating section 31 and the second rotating section 32. This shutter section 34 widens the movable range of the first rotating section 31 relative to the second rotating section 32 while preventing a gap from forming between the first rotating section 31 and the second rotating section 32.

In the configuration example set forth herein, the joint portion 132 is mostly made of a resin material. For example, the first rotating part 31, the second rotating part 32, the spherical part 33, and the shutter part 34 are made of resin material. In other words, most of the parts forming the internal air passage of the joint portion 132 are made of resin material. Note that the shutter section 34 may not be provided.

Note that the joint portion 132 of the suction tool 130 is not located at the end surface of the proximal end 15 of the suction port body 131, but between the proximal end 15 and the distal end 16 of the suction port body 131, as shown in FIG. , and may be located closer to the proximal end 15 than the distal end 16. As shown in the figure, the joint section 132 includes a first rotating section 31 and a second rotating section 32. The second rotation part 32 is connected to the suction port body 131 so as to be rotatable around the second rotation axis Y. The first rotating section 31 is connected to the second rotating section 32 so as to be rotatable around the first rotating axis X. In FIG. 25, the first rotation axis X and the second rotation axis Y are indicated by dashed lines. The second rotation axis Y is in a twisted position with respect to the first rotation axis X.

The grip portion 111 does not need to be formed entirely into a rod shape. The gripping portion 111 may have a rod-shaped portion and a ring-shaped tip. In this case, the rod-shaped portion may be formed to have a uniform diameter. The ring-shaped tip portion may be formed into a curved shape or may be formed into a straight shape. The ring-shaped tip is formed such that the maximum length in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the rod-shaped portion is larger than the diameter of the rod-shaped portion. When the grip part 111 is formed in this way, even if the diameter of the rod-shaped part is uniform, when the user's hand slips from the grip part 111, the tip of the grip part 111 can be held by the thumb and little finger. It is possible to support it at the base of the This prevents the grip 111 from slipping off the hand when using the vacuum cleaner 100, and further improves operability, similar to the case where the entire grip 111 is rod-shaped and the tip is relatively thick. This has the effect of improving. In other words, regardless of whether or not the entire gripping portion 111 is formed into a rod shape, the end portion of the gripping portion 111 in the longitudinal direction that is far from the suction port body 131 expands in the direction away from the central axis of the rod-shaped portion. If it is formed in such a shape, the effect can be obtained.

The vacuum cleaner 100 configured as described above has a symmetrical appearance when viewed from the front and from the rear, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner 100 has an asymmetric appearance in a side view.

Next, the configuration of the support device 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 to 30. The support device 200 includes a pedestal section 210, an arm section 220, and a support section 230.

The pedestal section 210 has a mounting section 211 and an outer peripheral section 212. The outer peripheral portion 212 has a circular or annular shape when viewed from above. The outer peripheral portion 212 forms an outer contour of the pedestal portion 210 when viewed from above. The mounting portion 211 is formed to extend along the diameter of the outer peripheral portion 212 . That is, the outer peripheral part 212 is arranged to surround the mounting part 211, and the mounting part 211 is arranged at the center of the pedestal part 210.

The mounting portion 211 is formed so that its width in side view is the same as the longitudinal dimension of the suction tool 130 or longer than the longitudinal dimension of the suction tool 130. In a state where the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the support device 200 , the suction tool 130 is placed on the upper surface of the placement part 211 .

The arm portion 220 is formed to extend upward from the base portion 210. One end of the arm portion 220 is fixed to a portion where the outer peripheral portion 212 and the mounting portion 211 are connected. In the configuration example shown here, the arm portion 220 projects upward from the front end portion of the pedestal portion 210 when viewed from the side. In a side view, the arm portion 220 is curved or bent such that the upper portion thereof approaches the axis passing through the center of the pedestal portion 210.

The arm portion 220 has a straight shape in a front view or a rear view. The arm portion 220 is disposed at the center of the pedestal portion 210 in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front or from the rear. In the configuration example described here, the arm portion 220 has the same shape as the pipe body 120 of the vacuum cleaner 100. That is, the arm portion 220 and the tube body 120 are made of members having a circular cross section and the same diameter.

The support section 230 is formed above the pedestal section 210. The support section 230 is connected to one end of the arm section 220. The support part 230 is fixed to the upper surface of the arm part 220, for example. That is, the arm portion is a portion that connects the pedestal portion 210 and the support portion 230.

The arm portion 220 is arranged so as to overlap the center of the support portion 230 in the left-right direction in a front view or a rear view. In the configuration example shown here, the support portion 230 has a truncated cone shape. However, the shape of the support part 230 is not limited to this, and the support part 230 may have a cylindrical shape, for example. The support portion 230 is arranged so that its center coincides with the pedestal portion 210 when viewed from above. That is, the axis of the support part 230 coincides with the axis passing through the center of the pedestal part 210 in the left-right direction. The support surface part 231 on the upper surface of the support part 230 has a circular shape with the same diameter as the main body 110 of the vacuum cleaner 100.

The support device 200 configured as described above has a symmetrical appearance when viewed from the front and from the rear. On the other hand, when viewed from the side, the support device 200 has an asymmetric appearance.

Next, the configuration of the vacuum cleaner system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 36. The vacuum cleaner system 1 includes the vacuum cleaner 100 and the support device 200 configured as described above. 31 to 35 show a state in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the support device 200. Hereinafter, the state in which the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the support device 200 will also be referred to as a "support state."

In the supported state, the main body 110 of the vacuum cleaner 100 is located on the support part 230 of the support device 200. Furthermore, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the main body 110 faces at least a portion of the support surface portion 231 of the support portion 230 .

In the supported state, a space surrounded by the arm portion 220, the tube body 120, the suction tool 130, and the support portion 230 is formed in a side view. Further, the axis of the support portion 230 coincides with the axis of the main body 110. Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 230 has an appearance that is continuous with the outer circumferential surface of the main body 110. That is, in the supported state, the overall appearance of the case portion 112, the dust collection portion 116, and the support portion 230 has a cylindrical shape, for example.

In the supported state, the upper end of the arm portion 220 is at the same height as the bottom surface of the main body 110. Further, the tube body 120 is arranged behind the arm portion 220. At this time, the connecting tube portion 117 and the tube body 120 overlap the center of the support portion 230 in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear. One longitudinal end of the suction tool 130 placed on the placement portion 211 faces the rear portion of the arm portion 220 . At this time, the tube body 120 overlaps the arm portion 220 in the front view and the rear view. Further, in a side view, the arm portion 220 and the tubular body 120 are in a line-symmetrical relationship with the axis of the main body 110 and the support portion 230 as an axis of symmetry.

The outline of the vacuum cleaner system 1 in the front view and the rear view corresponds to the superposition of the outline of the vacuum cleaner 100 and the outline of the support device 200 in the front view and the rear view. As described above, the vacuum cleaner 100 and the support device 200 each have a symmetrical external shape when viewed from the front and from the rear. Therefore, the overall external shape of the vacuum cleaner system 1 including the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 and the support device 200 is as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 when viewed from the front and It has a symmetrical shape when viewed from the rear.

The outline of the vacuum cleaner system 1 in a side view corresponds to a combination of the outline of the vacuum cleaner 100 and the outline of the support device 200 in a side view. The external shape of the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 is asymmetrical in the front and rear as viewed from the side, mainly due to the joint portion 132 being disposed at one end of the suction tool 130 in the longitudinal direction. be. Furthermore, the outer shape of the support device 200 is also asymmetrical in the front and rear when viewed from the side. However, as shown in FIG. 32, the overall external shape of the vacuum cleaner system 1 including the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 and the support device 200 is symmetrical in side view. . Therefore, the integrity of the entire vacuum cleaner system 1 can be improved.

In addition, the external shape of the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 is mainly due to the joint portion 132 being disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the suction tool 130. It is asymmetrical. The outer shape of the support device 200 is also asymmetrical in a top view, as shown in FIG. 30 and the like. However, the overall external shape of the vacuum cleaner system 1 including the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 and the support device 200 is symmetrical when viewed from above. Therefore, the integrity of the entire vacuum cleaner system 1 can be further improved.

In the vacuum cleaner system 1 configured as described above, the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200 can move the main body 110 as shown in FIG. It can be removed from the support device 200 by moving it in the first direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the suction port body 131 . Then, as shown in FIG. 36, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be attached to and detached from the support device 200.

At this time, the support device 200 may include a magnet 232 that can apply an attractive force to a part of the vacuum cleaner 100 with the main body 110 placed on the support device 200. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 36, a magnet 232 is provided on the rear surface of the support section 230 of the support device 200. The magnet 232 is arranged at a position facing the tube body 120 of the vacuum cleaner 100 in the supported state. In the supported state, the portion of the tube body 120 that faces the magnet 232 of the support portion 230 includes a magnetic material such as metal that is attracted by the magnet 232. By doing so, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be easily placed at an appropriate position on the support device 200 using the attractive force of the magnet 232. Further, it is possible to prevent the vacuum cleaner 100 in a supported state from accidentally coming off from the support device 200.

Note that the support device 200 may be a charging stand that can charge the secondary battery 113 of the vacuum cleaner 100. In this case, as shown in FIG. 37, a power receiving section 119 is provided on the front surface of the main body 110 of the vacuum cleaner 100. The power receiving unit 119 has a function of receiving power supply. The power receiving section 119 is, for example, a terminal electrically connected to the circuit board 114 inside the case section 112.

Further, the support device 200 is provided with a power feeding section 241. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 37, a columnar part 240 is provided on the upper part of the support part 230. A power feeding section 241 is provided on the columnar section 240. The support device 200 has a power cable (not shown). The power supply unit 241 is electrically connected to a power cable by, for example, a lead wire (not shown). When the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the support device 200, the power receiving section 119 and the power feeding section 241 are electrically connected. The power feeding unit 241 and the power receiving unit 119 may perform power transmission in a non-contact manner using an electromagnetic resonance method. Then, when the power cable of the support device 200 is connected to an external power source and the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the support device 200, the secondary battery 113 of the vacuum cleaner 100 is connected to the power supply unit 241 and the power reception unit 119. is charged.

Note that the vacuum cleaner 100 may include an attachment that can be attached to or removed from one or both of the main body connection port 118 of the main body 110 and the pipe body connection port 122 of the pipe body 120. In this case, the arm portion 220 of the support device 200 may include an attachment holding portion capable of holding an unused attachment. At this time, it is preferable that the attachment holding portions be provided at equivalent positions in the vertical direction on both left and right sides of the arm portion 220, respectively. By doing so, the support device 200 can hold a plurality of attachments.

1 Vacuum Cleaner System 11 Lower Case 12 Upper Case 13 Suction Port 14 Wheel 15 Proximal End 16 Distal End 21 Rotating Brush 22 Motor 23 Belt 31 First Rotating Part 32 Second Rotating Part 33 Spherical Part 34 Shutter Part 60 Extension Tube Holder 100 Vacuum cleaner 110 Main body 111 Grip part 112 Case part 113 Secondary battery 114 Circuit board 115 Electric blower 116 Dust collection part 117 Connection pipe part 118 Main body connection port 119 Power receiving part 120 Pipe body 121 Pipe connection part 122 Pipe connection port 130 Suction device 131 Suction port body 132 Joint portion 133 Suction device connection portion 134 Projection portion 200 Support device 210 Pedestal portion 211 Placement portion 212 Outer peripheral portion 220 Arm portion 230 Support portion 231 Support surface portion 232 Magnet 240 Column portion 241 Power supply portion

Claims (9)

a main body provided with a gripping part for a user to grip;
a suction tool formed with a suction port for sucking in dust;
a hollow cylindrical tube body having one end connected to the suction tool, the other end connected to the main body, and having a curved axis;
The suction device is
a suction port body having an outer shape in which the suction port is formed on a bottom surface, and a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is smaller than a width in the first direction when viewed from above;
a joint portion for connecting the suction port body and the pipe body,
In a top view, a distance along the first direction from the center of the suction port body in the first direction to the grip portion is shorter than a distance along the first direction from the center to the joint portion. ,
In the vacuum cleaner, the suction port body has a tapered shape in which the width in the second direction becomes smaller as it goes from the side where the joint part is provided in the first direction to the opposite side. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the center of the suction port body in the first direction is arranged inside an outline of the grip portion when viewed from above. The gripping portion is arranged to pass through the center of the suction port body in the first direction and intersect with a virtual plane perpendicular to both the bottom surface of the suction port body and the first direction. 1. The vacuum cleaner according to 1. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the other end of the tubular body is connected to the center of the main body in side view. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the suction port body includes a rotating brush that is arranged at the suction port and whose rotation direction can be switched. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
a support device on which the main body of the vacuum cleaner is placed;
The external shape of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device is asymmetrical in a side view,
The outer shape of the support device is asymmetrical in a side view,
In the vacuum cleaner system, the overall external shape of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device and the support device is symmetrical in a side view. The external shape of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device is asymmetrical in front and rear when viewed from above,
The outer shape of the support device is asymmetrical in a top view,
7. The vacuum cleaner system according to claim 6 , wherein the overall external shape of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device and the support device is symmetrical in front and rear when viewed from above. The vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device can be removed from the support device by moving the main body in the first direction. vacuum cleaner system. The support device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , further comprising a magnet capable of applying an attractive force to a part of the vacuum cleaner with the main body placed on the support device. vacuum cleaner system.

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