JP7846577B2 - vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner.

As background technology for this field, there is Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-131795 (Patent Document 1). This publication states that "an electric vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner body having a main unit connection port, a storage stand for supporting and storing the vacuum cleaner body, and a charging path provided on the storage stand for charging the secondary battery of the vacuum cleaner body while it is stored in the storage stand. The storage stand comprises a support portion for supporting the vacuum cleaner body with the main unit connection port facing downwards, a recess having a bottom plate facing the main unit connection port when the vacuum cleaner body is supported by the support portion, and a side wall portion having a notch that opens the recess to the side of the storage stand to ensure visibility." (See abstract).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-131795

In the vacuum cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1, the electric blower, dust separation and collection unit, and secondary battery are not arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction. As a result, the size of the vacuum cleaner in the short direction is large, and there is a problem in that it is not possible to miniaturize the vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can be miniaturized.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner, comprising a vacuum cleaner body, an electric blower housed in the vacuum cleaner body, a cylindrical dust collector connected to the suction side of the electric blower, and a battery unit detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body for storing the power consumed to drive the electric blower, wherein the battery unit and the vacuum cleaner body each have legs at their lower ends, the dust collector, the motor of the electric blower, and the battery unit are arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body , the two legs are shaped to protrude downward, and when the battery unit is attached to the vacuum cleaner body , the tip of the suction port of the vacuum cleaner body faces diagonally upward when the battery unit is supported by the legs of the battery unit and the legs of the vacuum cleaner body in a horizontal plane .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner that can be made smaller.
Other issues, configurations, and effects not mentioned above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

This is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, stored in a support stand. This is an exploded view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner as seen from the left. This is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a plan view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5. This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area around the release button of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area around the release button of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a side view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right side. This is a side view of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left side. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 10. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Figure 10. This is a plan view of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention with accessories connected. This is a perspective view showing a support stand for an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a side view showing an electric vacuum cleaner and support stand according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram illustrating the usage of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, when cleaning a floor surface with the vacuum cleaner in a stick configuration. This is a diagram illustrating the usage of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, specifically when cleaning high places with the stick-type vacuum cleaner.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment stored in its support base.
As shown in Figure 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 100 can be used in various configurations, such as handheld and stick, for cleaning. The support stand 70 in which the electric vacuum cleaner 100 is stored stores the electric vacuum cleaner 100 in a stick configuration with the extension tube 300 (accessory) and standard suction nozzle 400 (accessory) connected, and is composed of a base part 71 and a stand part 72. The electric vacuum cleaner 100 can also be used with various accessories, such as a small suction nozzle (accessory), a broom-type suction nozzle (accessory), and an extension hose (accessory), none of which are shown. The standard suction nozzle 400 is a power brush type in which the brush is rotated by a motor.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment. In the drawings following Figure 2, the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions are shown as appropriate from the perspective of the vacuum cleaner body 1.
As shown in Figure 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 100 is composed of a vacuum cleaner body 1, a dust case 2 (dust collector), a storage battery 3, and an airtight sealing member 90.

The vacuum cleaner body 1 comprises a main body 10, a motor case 11, and a handle 12.

The main body 10 has a connection port 10a (suction port) to which the extension tube 300 and standard suction nozzle 400 (see Figure 1) are connected. This connection port 10a is molded from the same resin as the main body 10, motor case 11, and handle 12. The connection port 10a has a roughly circular opening and faces forward. Accessories such as the aforementioned extension tube 300, standard suction nozzle 400, small suction nozzle (not shown), and broom-type suction nozzle (not shown) (hereinafter collectively referred to as attachments) can be connected to the connection port 10a. The connection port 10a contains a terminal (not shown) electrically connected to the circuit board 50 (see Figure 6). When a motor-driven accessory such as the standard suction nozzle 400 is connected, the brush rotates due to the electrically connected motor.

Furthermore, the main body 10 is equipped with a detachable dust case 2, and also includes an inlet pipe 14 (see Figure 3) that supplies air containing dust, drawn in through the connection port 10a, to the dust case 2.

The motor case 11 contains an electric blower 40 (see Figure 6) and a circuit board 50 (see Figure 6). Furthermore, a circular intake port (not shown) is formed on the front of the motor case 11, into which clean air, after dust collection by the dust case 2, is drawn.

The handle portion 12 is provided on the rear side of the main body portion 10 and has a grip portion 12a that is formed in a substantially L shape. This grip portion 12a has a first grip portion 12a1 that extends linearly so as to the rear in the front-rear direction, and a second grip portion 12a2 that extends linearly in a substantially vertical direction. The second grip portion 12a2 extends substantially downward from the rear end of the first grip portion 12a1. The first grip portion 12a1 is located in front of the second grip portion 12a2. The second grip portion 12a2 is slightly inclined so that its upper part faces forward in the vertical direction. The first grip portion 12a1 and the second grip portion 12a2 are formed in a substantially rod shape and are continuous. By configuring both the first grip portion 12a1 and the second grip portion 12a2 in a linear shape in this way, it becomes easier for the user to recognize the position of the handle. Furthermore, since the first gripping portion 12a1 and the second gripping portion 12a2 are connected in such a way that they bend at an angle close to a right angle, it is difficult for the hand to slip towards the second gripping portion 12a2 when gripping the first gripping portion 12a1, and conversely, it is difficult for the hand to slip towards the first gripping portion 12a1 when gripping the second gripping portion 12a2.
The first gripping portion 12a1 extends in the front-rear direction, gradually becoming higher towards the rear. This makes it easier to insert a hand into the gap 12c (see Figure 6).

Furthermore, an operation button 12b is provided on the upper surface of the first gripping portion 12a1 of the handle portion 12. The operation button 12b consists of, for example, three buttons: "Strong," "Standard," and "Off."

The front and rear upper ends of the main body 10 are provided with release buttons 18a and 18b, which are operated when removing accessories such as the extension tube 300. Pressing these release buttons 18a and 18b releases the lock between the main body 10 and the accessories, allowing the accessories to be removed from the main body 10. The mechanism of the release buttons 18a and 18b will be described later.

Furthermore, an airtight sealing member 90 can be attached to the front end of the main body 10. This airtight sealing member 90 has a roughly circular cylindrical body 91. The cylindrical body 91 has an annular elastic portion 91a formed of soft resin at its tip. The cylindrical body 91 has a connecting portion 91b at its base end, formed of a harder material than the elastic portion 91a, and connectable to the main body 10. The cylindrical body 91 is constructed by integrally molding two different components: the elastic portion 91a and the connecting portion 91b. The elastic portion 91a is made of an elastically deformable (flexible) material such as elastomer. By attaching such an airtight sealing member 90 to the connection port 10a of the vacuum cleaner body 1, the entire tip 90s of the airtight sealing member 90 can be brought into close contact with the floor surface, improving suction power compared to when it is not in close contact. Also, by forming the connecting portion 91b from a hard material, the airtight sealing member 90 can be stably attached to the main body 10 without falling off.

In this embodiment, the example given is that the elastic portion 91a is formed of an elastic material such as an elastomer, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire cylindrical body 91 may be formed of the same material as the connecting portion 91b, and the tip of the cylindrical body 91 may be provided with short, electrostatically flocked bristles arranged in an annular pattern. Even with such electrostatic flocking, similar to elastomers, it becomes possible to bring the tip of the airtight-holding member 90 into close contact with the floor surface, thereby improving the suction force.

A vertically elongated fitting groove 10b is formed on the outer surface of the connection port 10a of the main body 10. One fitting groove 10b is formed on each of the left and right sides. A projection (not shown) is formed at the base end of the connection portion 91b, which engages with the fitting groove 10b through a recessed and concave-concave pattern for locking.

Furthermore, the main body 10 may be provided with a light-emitting element above the connection port 10a.

The battery 3 supplies power to the motor 40a (see Figure 6) of the electric blower 40, which generates suction force, and is composed of a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride battery. The battery 3 also has a roughly semi-cylindrical case 3a made of synthetic resin, and can be attached to and detached from the main body 10 by sliding the case 3a in the front-to-back direction.

Figure 3 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner 100 in the state shown in Figure 2, viewed from the left side.
As shown in Figure 3, the dust case 2 is a cyclone type and has the function of separating the dust-containing air sucked in from the inlet pipe 14 into dust and air, and collecting the dust. The dust case 2 is positioned in front of the motor case section 11 with its axial direction in the front-to-back direction and has a substantially cylindrical storage section 2a. A substantially rectangular inlet 2b (see Figure 2) connected to the inlet pipe 14 is formed on the top surface (side) of the dust case 2. The dust-containing air flowing into this inlet 2b becomes a swirling flow, centrifugal force acts on the dust, and after being separated into dust and air within the dust case 2, the air from which the dust has been separated is discharged from the rear (back) of the dust case 2.

Furthermore, a lid 2c, which opens and closes to dispose of dust accumulated inside the dust case 2, is rotatably supported on the front of the dust case 2 via a hinge portion 2d. A lid locking mechanism 2e for releasing the lock on the lid 2c is provided on the upper part of the lid 2c. The internal mechanism of the dust case 2 can be constructed based on Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-137165.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner according to this embodiment.
As shown in Figure 4, the vacuum cleaner 100 has a dust case 2 mounted below the main body 10 and in front of the motor case 11. In this case, when the dust case 2 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the lid lock mechanism 2e is hidden on the side of the vacuum cleaner body 1. This is because if the lid lock mechanism 2e were located on the opposite side (outside), there is a risk that the lid lock mechanism 2e may be released during cleaning. However, by hiding the lid lock mechanism 2e on the side of the vacuum cleaner body 1, malfunctions can be prevented. For example, when cleaning under a sofa or bed in stick mode, the vacuum cleaner body 1 may be brought close to the floor surface horizontally. In this case, if the lid lock mechanism 2e were located on the front side, there is a possibility that it may come into contact with the floor surface and release the lid lock mechanism 2e. The position of the lid lock mechanism 2e and the hinge portion 2d is not limited to this, and they may be located on the left or right side of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

Furthermore, the dust case 2 is equipped with a detachable cleaning brush 2s (see Figures 2 and 3). This cleaning brush 2s is positioned in a location that is difficult to see from the outside when the dust case 2 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1. Therefore, it is unlikely to come off during operation, and there is no need to store the cleaning brush 2s separately from the vacuum cleaner 100.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner according to this embodiment.
As shown in Figure 5, the connection portion 91b of the airtight sealing member 90 has extension portions 91b1, 91b1 that extend rearward on both the left and right sides. A concave portion 91b2 is formed between the left extension portion 91b1 and the right extension portion 91b1 in a plan view. This concave portion 91b2 fits with the front end portion 10d1 of the projection portion 10d formed on the upper tip surface of the main body portion 10. This allows the airtight sealing member 90 to be positioned in the front-rear and left-right directions relative to the connection port 10a (see Figure 2).

The inlet pipe 14 formed on the main body 10 extends diagonally to the right and rear, then downwards, and is connected to the inlet 2b (see Figure 2) of the dust case 2. This allows for the generation of a swirling flow within the dust case 2's containment section 2a, effectively separating dust by centrifugal force.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5.
As shown in Figure 6, the motor case 11 of the main body 10 houses an electric blower 40. The electric blower 40 is driven by a motor 40a. Also, a circuit board 50 (circuit board) that controls the vacuum cleaner body 1 is housed inside the motor case 11, above the electric blower 40.

Furthermore, the electric blower 40 and the circuit board 50 are arranged to overlap vertically. This allows for a reduction in the front-to-back dimension of the vacuum cleaner body 1. Additionally, the motor case portion 11 of the electric blower 40 is formed to bulge out towards the handle portion 12, thereby reducing the front-to-back (overall length) dimension of the main body 10.

Furthermore, the electric blower 40 and the circuit board 50 are located below the first gripping portion 12a1 of the handle portion 12. This ensures that when the user operates the vacuum cleaner 100 by gripping the first gripping portion 12a1, the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 100 is near the bottom of the first gripping portion 12a1. Therefore, when using the vacuum cleaner 100 with the nozzle facing upwards, it can be held stably.

Furthermore, a gap 12c for inserting a hand is formed between the first gripping portion 12a1 and the upper surface 11c of the motor case portion 11. Also, a gap 12d is formed between the second gripping portion 12a2 and the back surface 11d of the motor case portion 11.

Furthermore, the thickness T1 of the first gripping portion 12a1 is formed to be thin, while the thickness T2 of the second gripping portion 12a2 is formed to be thicker than T1. In other words, the first gripping portion 12a1 is slender, and the second gripping portion 12a2 is thick. Thus, when cleaning by gripping the second gripping portion 12a2, increasing the thickness T2 of the second gripping portion 12a2 makes it easier to grip deeply and also increases the strength of the second gripping portion 12a2.

The battery 3 can be, for example, made of a highly energy-efficient lithium-ion battery. Furthermore, the battery 3 is positioned below the second gripping portion 12a2 of the handle portion 12. By placing the battery 3 at the rear end of the vacuum cleaner 100 in this way, the center of gravity of the handle portion 12 is brought closer to the second gripping portion 12a2, making it easier to operate when using the vacuum cleaner 100 with the tip facing upwards.

Inside the dust case 2, a filter 5 is housed at the axial rear end of the storage section 2a. This filter 5 is constructed by folding it into a pleated shape, which allows for a larger filter area and reduces pressure loss due to the filter 5.

Furthermore, filter 5 is composed of, for example, a high-density HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter). A HEPA filter is an air filter that has a particle collection efficiency of 99.97% or more for particles with a diameter of 0.3 μm at the rated airflow rate, and an initial pressure loss of 245 Pa or less.

As shown in Figure 6, the dust case 2, motor 40a, and battery 3 are arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In particular, the dust case 2 and motor 40a are arranged coaxially along the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the electric vacuum cleaner 100. The motor 40a and battery 3 require a large space for installation. However, by arranging the motor 40a and battery 3 in a straight line with the dust case 2, the vertical width of the vacuum cleaner 100 can be reduced, making the vacuum cleaner 100 more compact.

In Figure 6, arrow F indicates the flow of air drawn into the vacuum cleaner 100. The air drawn into the dust case 2 enters the electric blower 40. This air passes around the motor 40a, cooling it. A portion of the air that has passed through the motor 40a flows through the battery 3, cooling it. The remaining portion of the air that has passed around the motor 40a and the air that has passed through the battery 3 merge at the circuit board 50, cooling the circuit board 50, and is then discharged outside the vacuum cleaner 100 system.
In this case, since the battery 3 is positioned directly behind the motor 40a, it is easy to circulate cooling air into the battery 3. This makes it easier to cool the battery 3 efficiently.

Behind the intake pipe 14, a circuit board housing space 50a is provided within the housing above the motor 40a for housing the circuit board 50. The front of the vacuum cleaner 100 has a certain vertical thickness because the intake pipe 14 must be formed to generate a swirling flow inside the dust case 2. Therefore, even if the housing of the vacuum cleaner 100 is given some vertical thickness to form the circuit board housing space 50a behind it, the overall vertical thickness of the vacuum cleaner 100 does not increase. Thus, by housing the circuit board 50 in the circuit board housing space 50a, there is no need to provide a separate space for the circuit board 50, thus suppressing an increase in the vertical thickness of the vacuum cleaner 100.

Furthermore, in this case, since the placement position of the circuit board 50 is higher, the wiring between the circuit board 50 and the connection port 10a and operation button 12b, which have connection terminals for the accessories, can be shortened. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the vacuum cleaner 100 can be reduced by shortening the wiring and improving work efficiency during manufacturing.

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the areas around the release buttons 18a and 18b. Pressing either release button 18a or 18b releases the connection of the extension tube 300, standard nozzle 400, and other accessories to the vacuum cleaner body 1. Figure 7 shows the state where neither release button 18a nor 18b is pressed. In this state, when release button 18a is pressed, the release button 18a and its base end 18a1 tilt forward and downward. This releases the predetermined locking mechanism, allowing the accessories to be removed from the vacuum cleaner body 1.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8, when the release button 18b is pressed, the release button 18b and its base end 18b1 tilt forward and downward. A long shaft-shaped member 18c is positioned between the base end 18a1 of the release button 18a and the base end 18b1 of the release button 18b. When the base end 18b1 of the release button 18b tilts forward and downward, it pushes one end of the shaft-shaped member 18c forward. This causes the shaft-shaped member 18c to move forward, and its other end presses against the base end 18a1 of the release button 18a, causing the release button 18a and its base end 18a1 to tilt forward and downward. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the predetermined locking mechanism is released, and the airtight sealing member 90 can be removed from the vacuum cleaner body 1.

By providing both a release button 18a and a release button 18b, the user of the vacuum cleaner 100 can remove the accessories from the vacuum cleaner body 1 by operating the release button 18b while still holding the first grip 12a1.

Figure 9 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner, seen from the right side.
Detachable mechanisms 2g and 19 for attaching and detaching the dust case 2 to the vacuum cleaner body 1 are provided at the lower rear end of the dust case 2 and the lower front end of the vacuum cleaner body 1. That is, when the dust case 2 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the detachable mechanism 2g and the detachable mechanism 19 are connected by a predetermined mechanism. These detachable mechanisms 2g and 19 extend to the lowest part of the electric vacuum cleaner 100, with the lower end of the detachable mechanism 19 being the lowest part of the electric vacuum cleaner 100, and a leg portion 19a is provided below this detachable mechanism 19. A leg portion 3n is also provided at the rearmost lower end of the storage battery 3.

When the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on a horizontal plane F with its underside facing down, heavy components such as the motor 40a and battery 3 are located at the rear lower part of the vacuum cleaner 100. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 100 is supported on the horizontal plane F by its legs 19a and 3n. At this time, leg 19a is located at the lowest point of the vacuum cleaner 100, and also at the midpoint of the vacuum cleaner 100's longitudinal direction. As a result, when the vacuum cleaner 100 is placed on the horizontal plane F, its front faces diagonally upward, as shown in Figure 9. Therefore, the tip of the connection port 10a, which serves as the suction port, also faces diagonally upward. Consequently, the tip 90s of the airtight sealing member 90 also faces diagonally upward. Therefore, when the vacuum cleaner 100 is supported on the horizontal plane F, dust remaining inside the connection port 10a and the airtight sealing member 90 is less likely to spill out.

As shown in Figure 9, the battery 3 can be charged by connecting an AC adapter (not shown) to terminal t located on the right side of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

Figure 10 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment, seen from the left side. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 10.
In the housing structure of the vacuum cleaner 100, the housing 20 covering the motor 40a and circuit board 50 is a single flame-retardant case. Because the motor 40a and circuit board 50 are not covered by a double or triple housing structure, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be made lighter.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in Figure 10.
As shown in Figure 12, the storage battery 3 is a battery pack, with five single cells 3h arranged in a case 3a, two vertically and two horizontally, and one in the center. By orienting the axial direction of the single cells 3h in the front-to-back direction, the width of the storage battery 3 can be made narrower than if the axial direction of the single cells 3h were oriented horizontally.

Furthermore, the case 3a houses the single cell 3h, held in place by a synthetic resin holding member 3j. This holding member 3j is configured such that a gap 3k is formed between the upper and lower single cell 3h.

By forming such a gap 3k, air can circulate around each individual cell 3h, allowing for effective cooling of each cell 3h.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the vacuum cleaner with its accessories connected.
As shown in Figure 13, the electric vacuum cleaner 100 is configured so that the extension pipe 300 can be connected while the airtight sealing member 90 is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this way, even with the airtight sealing member 90 connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the position of the connection port 10a for connecting the extension pipe 300 does not change. Therefore, the total length L of the vacuum cleaner body 1, extension pipe 300 and standard suction nozzle 400 can be kept short. As a result, the position of the standard suction nozzle 400 is closer to the user's hand, improving maneuverability and ease of use.

In the electric vacuum cleaner 100 shown in Figure 13, even when the extension tube 300 to which the standard suction nozzle 400 is connected is removed from the stick configuration to the handheld configuration, the airtight sealing member 90 remains attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1. Therefore, cleaning can be performed with enhanced suction power.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the case where the extension tube 300 and the standard nozzle 400 are connected to the vacuum cleaner 100 was described as an example, but the invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the standard nozzle 400 can be directly connected to the connection port 10a, allowing the vacuum cleaner 100 to be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner. This increases the airtightness with the floor surface due to the airtight sealing member 90, thereby increasing the suction power.

Thus, with the vacuum cleaner 100, various accessories (attachments) can be attached and detached while the airtight sealing member 90 remains attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, allowing for quick switching between cleaning modes. Furthermore, since the airtight sealing member 90 can remain attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, high suction power can be maintained even when the vacuum cleaner 100 is in handheld mode with the airtight sealing member 90 attached.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the support stand for the vacuum cleaner. Note that the support stand 70 shown in Figure 14 is in a state with the vacuum cleaner 100 and all accessories (attachments) removed. As shown in Figure 14, the support stand 70 is composed of a base portion 71 and a stand portion 72.

The base portion 71 has a substantially rectangular mounting surface 71a on which the standard suction nozzle 400 (see Figure 1) is placed. This mounting surface 71a is provided with a locking portion 71a1 that prevents the standard suction nozzle 400 from sliding forward.

The stand portion 72 extends vertically upward from the stand portion support portion 71b, which is located behind the mounting surface 71a. An engaging portion 72a is provided on the upper front part of the stand portion support portion 71b.

Figure 15 is a side view showing the vacuum cleaner and its support stand.
As shown in Figure 15, the vacuum cleaner 100 is supported on the support base 70 with the extension tube 300 and standard nozzle 400 still connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1. Specifically, a roughly L-shaped hook 301 with its tip facing downwards is provided at the end of the extension tube 300. This hook 301 is then engaged with an engaging portion 72a (Figure 14) provided on the stand portion 72 of the support base 70. The standard nozzle 400 is also locked to a locking portion 71a1 on the mounting surface 71a. In this way, the entire vacuum cleaner 100 can be supported on the support base 70 with the vacuum cleaner body 1 side facing upwards and the standard nozzle 400 side facing downwards.

In this way, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be placed on the support base 70 while still in its stick configuration, allowing it to be used immediately in its stick configuration the next time cleaning is needed.

Furthermore, the mounting surface 71a of the base portion 71 extends forward of the extension tube 300. This allows the standard suction nozzle 400 to be supported on the mounting surface 71a when the standard suction nozzle 400 is connected to the extension tube 300, i.e., when the extension tube 300 and the standard suction nozzle 400 are connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1 (stick configuration). Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 100 can be stably supported on the support base 70.

Figure 16 shows the usage configuration of a stick-type vacuum cleaner when cleaning a floor surface.
Figure 16 shows a case where the vacuum cleaner 100 (with the airtight sealing member 90 attached) is connected to the extension tube 300 and the standard suction nozzle 400 to form a stick, and the vacuum cleaner 100 is extended in front of the user to clean the floor. In this case, the user can clean by moving the vacuum cleaner 100 back and forth while gripping the second gripping portion 12a2 of the handle portion 12. Although not shown, when cleaning the floor with the vacuum cleaner 100 positioned to the left or right of the user, the user can move the vacuum cleaner 100 back and forth while gripping the first gripping portion 12a1 of the handle portion 12. In this way, the user can change the position of the handle portion 12 when cleaning the floor.

Figure 17 shows how to use a stick-type vacuum cleaner when cleaning high places.
By the way, in the case of a vacuum cleaner where the center of gravity is towards the tip when it is in stick form (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-137165), when cleaning a place higher than the floor surface, the user has to lift the tip of the vacuum cleaner upwards, which can easily put a strain on the wrist.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 17, the heavy components of the vacuum cleaner 100, namely the electric blower 40 (see Figure 6) and the battery 3, are located close to the handle 12 (close to the user's hand). This brings the center of gravity G of the vacuum cleaner 100 closer to the user's hand. This makes cleaning easier, even when using the vacuum cleaner 100 in stick mode to clean areas higher than the floor, thus improving usability. While Figure 17 illustrates cleaning stairs as an example, this method is also effective when lifting the vacuum cleaner 100 to clean the panels of an air conditioner's indoor unit, etc.

Furthermore, when using the vacuum cleaner 100 in stick mode, to remove dust remaining in the corners of stairs, the extension tube 300 and standard nozzle 400 are removed from the vacuum cleaner 100 to convert it into a handheld unit. In this case, since the airtight sealing member 90 remains attached to the vacuum cleaner 100, cleaning can be performed with increased suction power, preventing any dust from being left behind.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are included. For example, the embodiments described above are explained in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described.

1. Vacuum cleaner unit 2. Dust case (dust collection device )
3. Storage Battery (Battery Unit)
3n Legs 19a Legs 40 Electric blower 40a Motor 100 Electric vacuum cleaner F Horizontal plane (horizontal surface)

Claims (1)

The vacuum cleaner body and
The electric blower housed in the vacuum cleaner body,
A cylindrical dust collector connected to the suction side of the electric blower,
The vacuum cleaner body has a battery unit that is detachably attached to the lower rear part and stores the power consumed to drive the electric blower,
The battery unit and the vacuum cleaner body each have legs at their lower ends.
The dust collector, the motor of the electric blower, and the battery unit are arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body .
The two legs mentioned above have a shape that protrudes downwards.

An electric vacuum cleaner characterized in that, when the battery unit is attached to the vacuum cleaner body, the tip of the suction port of the vacuum cleaner body faces diagonally upward when the battery unit is supported on a horizontal plane by the legs of the battery unit and the legs of the vacuum cleaner body .