Electric vacuum cleaner

Abstract

This invention provides a miniaturized electric vacuum cleaner when the retaining part is attached to the vacuum cleaner body. The electric vacuum cleaner (VC) includes: a vacuum cleaner body (1), a hose (2), a suction pipe (3), and a retaining part (5). The vacuum cleaner body (1) has a separation part (13) for separating dust and a suction part (110) connected to the separation part (13) at one end. One end of the hose (2) is connected to the other end of the suction part (110). One end of the suction pipe (3) is connected to the other end of the hose (2). The retaining part (5) is held in the vacuum cleaner body (1) in a manner that allows it to be detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body (1) with the suction pipe (3) connected to the hose (2). When attached to the vacuum cleaner body (1), the retaining part (5) covers at least a portion of the hose (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric vacuum cleaner in which the vacuum cleaner body is connected to the suction pipe via a flexible hose. Background Technology

[0002] As is well known, a stick-type handheld electric vacuum cleaner is configured such that the suction tube is connected to the main body of the vacuum cleaner via a flexible hose, and the suction tube is held in place of the main body of the vacuum cleaner in a way that allows for easy attachment and removal. In this configuration, when considering various handling situations during cleaning or storage space when not in use, it is desirable to achieve a miniaturized design with the holding part attached to the main body of the vacuum cleaner.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-51167 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem this invention aims to solve is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can be miniaturized while the retaining part is assembled in the vacuum cleaner body.

[0007] An electric vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a vacuum cleaner body, a hose, a suction tube, and a retaining part. The vacuum cleaner body has: a separation part for separating dust, and a suction part having one end connected to the separation part. One end of the hose is connected to the other end of the suction part. One end of the suction tube is connected to the other end of the hose. With the suction tube connected to the hose, the retaining part is held to the vacuum cleaner body in a manner that allows it to be detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body. When attached to the vacuum cleaner body, the retaining part covers at least a portion of the hose.

[0008] Based on the above configuration, when cleaning is performed with the retainer detached from the vacuum cleaner body, cleaning above becomes easy and effortless. When cleaning is performed with the retainer attached to the vacuum cleaner body, the electric vacuum cleaner handles the situation well. Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner can be configured or stored in a space-saving manner when not in use. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a side view showing the state in which the retaining part of the electric vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment is assembled to the vacuum cleaner body.

[0010] Figure 2 It means Figure 1 A perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner with its retainer attached to the main body.

[0011] Figure 3 (a) indicates Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an example of a part of an electric vacuum cleaner. Figure 3 (b) indicates Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of another example of a part of an electric vacuum cleaner.

[0012] Figure 4 It means Figure 1 A side view of the electric vacuum cleaner with the retainer detached from the main body.

[0013] Figure 5 It means Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the retainer of an electric vacuum cleaner detached from the main body of the vacuum cleaner.

[0014] Figure 6 A side view of the electric vacuum cleaner of the second embodiment with the retaining part assembled in the vacuum cleaner body.

[0015] Figure 7 It means Figure 1 A perspective view of the electric vacuum cleaner with its retainer attached to the main body.

[0016] Figure 8 It means Figure 1 A side view of the electric vacuum cleaner with the retainer detached from the main body.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0018] VC Electric Vacuum Cleaner 1 Vacuum Cleaner Body

[0019] 2. Hose 3. Suction tube

[0020] 5 Holding section 13 Separation section

[0021] 19 Main control unit 20 Wiring

[0022] 53 Holding part 110 Attraction part Detailed Implementation

[0023] (First Embodiment)

[0024] The first embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] Figure 2 In this context, VC stands for electric vacuum cleaner. The user holds the electric vacuum cleaner VC and causes it to operate, used to remove dust from the area to be cleaned. In this embodiment, a stick-type electric vacuum cleaner will be used as an example for explanation.

[0026] The electric vacuum cleaner VC includes a vacuum cleaner body 1. A hose 2 is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1. An air suction pipe 3 is connected to the hose 2. An air intake 4 is detachably connected to the air suction pipe 3. Furthermore, the air suction pipe 3 is held to the vacuum cleaner body 1 in a detachable manner relative to the vacuum cleaner body 1 via a retaining part 5. Hereinafter, in the vacuum cleaner body 1, the side connected to the hose 2 will be designated as the front side, and the opposite side as the rear side. That is, in this embodiment, arrow FR points towards... Figure 1 The left side in Figure 1 is represented as the front side, and the right side (pointed to the right by arrow RR) is represented as the rear side. The explanation follows from this. The front and rear sides correspond to the front and rear views seen by the user when the electric vacuum cleaner VC is in use. Furthermore, the front-to-back direction is used as the first reference direction. Figure 1 The upper side indicated by arrow U and the lower side indicated by arrow D are the second reference directions, i.e., the vertical direction. The upper side corresponds to the side visible to the user when the electric vacuum cleaner VC is in use. Furthermore, the direction that intersects or is orthogonal to the first and second reference directions is the third reference direction, i.e., the left-right direction. The left-right direction is: Figure 1 The direction intersecting or perpendicular to the paper. Furthermore, since the stick-type electric vacuum cleaner VC is used in various postures, the terms "front and back," "up and down," and "left and right" in the following description are merely for the purpose of clarifying the structure and configuration. Figure 1 The orientation is taken as a reference, but it is not intended to limit the structure and configuration of the implementation method to these orientations.

[0027] The vacuum cleaner body 1 is generally elongated in shape. The vacuum cleaner body 1 is elongated in the front-to-back direction. That is, the hose 2 is connected to one end of the vacuum cleaner body 1 along its length. The outer contour of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is a basket portion 10 covered by a rigid component such as synthetic resin.

[0028] The vacuum cleaner body 1 includes a suction tube 11. The suction tube 11 is a portion that communicates with the hose 2 and is used to draw in dust-laden air. The suction tube 11 is arranged along the length direction of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The suction tube 11 is located at the upper and front parts of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the suction tube 11 is disposed in the first main body portion 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The first main body portion 12 is a suction tube receiving portion. The first main body portion 12 is formed into an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction. In the illustrated example, the first main body portion 12 constitutes the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the suction tube 11 integrally comprises a suction section 110 and a connecting section 111. The suction section 110 constitutes the upstream portion of the suction tube 11. The suction section 110 is formed in a straight tube shape. The suction section 110 extends in the front-to-back direction. That is, the suction section 110 is arranged along the length direction of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The suction section 110 extends along... Figure 1 The connecting portion 111 extends in the left-right direction. It constitutes the downstream portion of the suction tube 11. The connecting portion 111 is connected to one end of the suction portion 110, i.e., the downstream side. While the connecting portion 111 can have any shape, it is preferably formed as a straight tube. The connecting portion 111 extends in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the suction portion 110. The connecting portion 111 extends in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 111 extends downward relative to the suction portion 110. The connecting portion 111 extends in the vertical direction. Figure 1 It extends vertically. Therefore, the suction tube 11 is bent into an L-shape at the position where the suction part 110 connects to the connecting part 111. In this embodiment, the suction part 110 is a long tube and the connecting part 111 is a short tube. That is, in the illustrated example, the suction part 110 is formed to be longer than the connecting part 111.

[0030] The upstream end of the suction tube 11 is the main body suction port 112. At the suction section 110, the end opposite to the connecting section 111 is the main body suction port 112. The main body suction port 112 is located at the front end of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the main body suction port 112 has an opening direction along the front-back direction. Furthermore, the downstream end of the suction tube 11 is the main body connecting port 113. At the connecting section 111, the end opposite to the suction section 110 is the main body connecting port 113. In this embodiment, the main body connecting port 113 has an opening direction along the vertical direction.

[0031] The separation portion 13 is connected to the main body connection port 113. That is, one end of the suction portion 110 is connected to the separation portion 13 via the connection portion 111 or the main body connection port 113. The separation portion 13 is provided on the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the separation portion 13 is detachable from the vacuum cleaner body 1. In the illustrated example, the separation portion 13 is installed on the separation portion assembly portion 14 in a manner that allows it to be detached from the separation portion assembly portion 14 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The separation portion assembly portion 14 is formed on the lower side of the first main body portion 12. That is, the separation portion 13 is configured to be adjacent to the suction tube 11 and the lower side of the first main body portion 12.

[0032] Furthermore, the separation section 13 has an inlet 130 through which dust-laden air can be introduced. The inlet 130 communicates with the main body communication port 113. The inlet 130 is located on the side of the separation section 13. The separation section 13 is used to separate dust from the dust-laden air introduced through the inlet 130. Although the separation section 13 can be a filter or a dust collection bag, it is preferably a centrifugal separation section. That is, the separation section 13 causes the dust-laden air to swirl and centrifugally separate the dust. The separation section 13 can be constructed as a multi-segment centrifugal separation section or a single-segment centrifugal separation section. In addition, the separation section 13 can also be a combination of a centrifugal separation section and a filter, etc. That is, in this embodiment, the separation section 13 only needs to be configured to have at least a centrifugal separation section.

[0033] In addition, the separation section 13 has an outlet 131 for discharging the air from which the separated dust has been discharged to the outside of the separation section 13. The outlet 131 is located at the end of the separation section 13. In this embodiment, the separation section 13 also has a storage section 132 for storing the separated dust.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separating portion 13 is formed in an elongated shape. Preferably, the separating portion 13 is cylindrical. In the illustrated example, the central axis of the separating portion 13 is along its length. The central axis of the separating portion 13 is the central axis of the cylindrical shape of the separating portion 13. In this embodiment, this central axis is parallel or substantially parallel to the centrifugal separation axis of the separating portion 13, and preferably coincides with or substantially coincides with the centrifugal separation axis of the separating portion 13. The central axis of the separating portion 13 is arranged along the front-to-back direction. That is, the central axis of the separating portion 13 is along... Figure 1 It is arranged in the left-right direction as shown. In this configuration, the separation section 13 is formed such that the inlet 130 opens to the upward side, the outlet 131 opens to the rearward side, and the storage section 132 is located at the front side.

[0035] In this embodiment, the separation section 13 includes a container, namely a cup section 134, for retaining dust. Additionally, the separation section 13 includes a mounting section 135 mounted on the cup section 134. In this embodiment, the mounting section 135 is a structure comprising a cylindrical section that forms the center of the swirling flow of dust-laden air, and a cylindrical section for centrifugal separation that causes the dust-laden air to swirl on its inner circumferential surface. The cup section 134 and the mounting section 135 are detached and reattached to each other along the central axis of the separation section 13. The cup section 134 is formed at one end of the separation section 13 along its length. The mounting section 135 is formed at the other end of the separation section 13 along its length. An inlet 130 is formed on the side of the cup section 134. An outlet 131 is formed at the end of the mounting section 135 opposite to the cup section 134.

[0036] An electric blower 15 is connected to an outlet 131. The electric blower 15 is disposed on the vacuum cleaner body 1. The electric blower 15 is located at the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the electric blower 15 is disposed on the second main body portion 16 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The second main body portion 16 is an electric blower receiving portion. In the illustrated example, the second main body portion 16 is located adjacent to the lower side of the first main body portion 12. Furthermore, the second main body portion 16 is located adjacent to the rear side of the separation assembly portion 14. That is, the second main body portion 16 is located both below and behind the first main body portion 12. In the illustrated example, the second main body portion 16 constitutes the rear portion of the vacuum cleaner body 1. Therefore, the electric blower 15 is located further downward than the suction pipe 11 and is located rearward relative to the separation portion 13.

[0037] Additionally, the intake side of the electric blower 15 is connected to the outlet 131, and the exhaust side of the electric blower 15 is connected to the main exhaust port (not shown). The electric blower 15 includes a fan and an electric motor that rotates the fan; negative pressure is generated by the rotation of the fan, thereby drawing in air, which is then passed through the electric motor and discharged from the main exhaust port.

[0038] The electric blower 15 is configured such that its central axis runs along the front-to-back direction. That is, the central axis of the electric blower 15 is configured to be parallel or substantially parallel to the central axes of the suction section 110 and the separation section 13 of the suction pipe 11. In this embodiment, the central axis of the electric blower 15 is parallel or substantially parallel to the axes of the suction section 110 and the separation section 13 of the suction pipe 11. The central axis of the electric blower 15 is the center of the rotation axis of the motor or fan. In this embodiment, the central axis of the electric blower 15 is located on the central axis of the separation section 13. However, this is not a limitation; the electric blower 15 can be configured such that its central axis is not on the central axis of the separation section 13, or that its central axis is inclined relative to the central axis of the separation section 13. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electric blower 15 is configured such that the motor is at the front and the fan is at the rear. That is, the electric blower 15 is configured such that the suction side is at the front and the exhaust side is at the rear.

[0039] The operation of the electric blower 15 is controlled by a control mechanism. The control mechanism is located in the vacuum cleaner body 1. The control mechanism can also be located at any position on the vacuum cleaner body 1. For example, the control mechanism can be located in the first main body section 12 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. Alternatively, the control mechanism can be located behind the suction tube 11. Preferably, the control mechanism is a microcomputer or similar device.

[0040] The electric blower 15 and the control mechanism are powered by a power supply unit 17. The power supply unit 17 is located in the vacuum cleaner body 1 at the rear. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 17 is disposed in the third main body portion 18 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The third main body portion 18 is a power supply unit housing. In the illustrated example, the third main body portion 18 is located adjacent to the rear side of the second main body portion 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, the power supply unit 17 is located at the rear side of the electric blower 15. Furthermore, the power supply unit 17 is located on the exhaust side of the electric blower 15. In the illustrated example, the power supply unit 17, the electric blower 15, and the separation portion 13 are arranged in the front-rear direction, i.e. Figure 1 The parts are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The third main body 18 and the second main body 16 can also be formed integrally. That is, the electric blower 15 and the power supply 17 can also be arranged in the same housing in the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0041] In this embodiment, the power supply unit 17 uses a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery. However, it is not limited to this; the power supply unit 17 can also be a cable reel device that draws power from a commercial power source. The power supply unit 17 is arranged in an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the power supply unit 17 is cooled by the exhaust from the electric blower 15, or by drawing in outside air using the negative pressure generated by driving the electric blower 15, and then using this outside air to cool the power supply unit 17.

[0042] Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner body 1 is held by the body handle 19. The body handle 19 is a cleaning handle used for operating or holding the electric vacuum cleaner VC when cleaning the area being cleaned. The body handle 19 is located at the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 1. That is, the body handle 19 is located at the end of the vacuum cleaner body 1 on the side opposite to the hose 2 or the main suction port 112. In the illustrated example, the body handle 19 is located at the end in the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The body handle 19 is arranged in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the body handle 19 is arranged along the vertical direction. At least one end of the body handle 19 is connected to the basket portion 10 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, both ends of the body handle 19 are connected to the basket portion 10. The body handle 19 can be formed in any shape. In this embodiment, the main body gripping portion 19 is formed in a bent or curved shape. In the illustrated example, the main body gripping portion 19 is integrally provided with a first main body gripping portion 190 connected to the third main body portion 18 and a second main body gripping portion 191 connected to the first main body portion 12.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first main body grip 190 is a main grip for the user to hold. The first main body grip 190 protrudes from the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 1 in the vertical direction. In addition, in this embodiment, the first main body grip 190 is inclined upward and forward.

[0044] The second main body grip 191 protrudes from the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 1 along the front-rear direction. It is formed such that the upper part of the first main body grip 190 is connected to the rear part of the second main body grip 191. That is, the main body grip 191 is formed such that it is bent at the point where the first main body grip 190 and the second main body grip 191 are connected. However, it is not limited to this; the main body grip 191 may also be bent so that it is smoothly connected from the first main body grip 190 to the second main body grip 191.

[0045] Preferably, the main body handle 19 is provided with a setting mechanism, such as a button or switch, for setting the on / off state of the electric blower 15. The setting mechanism sends a signal corresponding to the setting to the control mechanism. However, this is not a limitation; the setting mechanism can also be located at any position easily accessible to the user, such as the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0046] One end of the hose 2, i.e., the downstream end, is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1. Another end of the hose 2 is connected to the suction tube 11. One end of the hose 2 is connected to the other end of the suction section 110, i.e., the front or upstream end, and communicates with the suction section 110. That is, one end of the hose 2 is connected to and communicates with the main body suction inlet 112. One end of the hose 2 is configured to be coaxial with the suction section 110 of the suction tube 11 or the main body suction inlet 112. In this embodiment, the hose 2 is a flexible hose that can extend and retract freely in the length direction. The hose 2 is formed using a flexible component. Furthermore, the hose 2 is shaped like a breechblock.

[0047] In this embodiment, a wiring 20 is provided on the hose 2. The wiring 20 is arranged across both ends of the hose 2. Through the wiring 20, one end of the hose 2, i.e., the side of the vacuum cleaner body 1, and the other end of the hose 2, i.e., the suction tube 3, are electrically connected to each other. Although the wiring 20 is depicted as a simple straight line in the drawings for clarity, it is actually extendable according to the extension and retraction of the hose 2, for example, it can be arranged in a spiral shape centered on the axis of the hose 2. The wiring 20 is configured to be electrically connected to the power supply unit 17 and to allow power from the power supply unit 17 to the suction tube 3 and / or Figure 2 The electric motor of the suction inlet body 4 shown is powered. Additionally, Figure 1 The wiring 20 shown is configured to be electrically connected to the setting mechanism and to be able to supply air from the setting mechanism to the suction pipe 3 and / or Figure 2 The suction port 4 shown transmits a signal. Additionally, Figure 1 Although only one wiring 20 is shown in the diagram for clarity, the number of wiring 20 can be set as needed.

[0048] The inhalation tube 3 is also called an extension tube. The inhalation tube 3 is formed using rigid synthetic resin or similar components. Furthermore, the inhalation tube 3 is formed into a straight tube shape. The inhalation tube 3 is formed into a long shape. One end of the inhalation tube 3, i.e., the downstream end, is connected to the other end of the flexible hose 2, i.e., the upstream end, and communicates with the flexible hose 2. One end of the inhalation tube 3 is configured to be coaxial with the other end of the flexible hose 2.

[0049] Figure 2 The suction inlet 4 shown is used to assist in the intake of dusty air when cleaning areas below the floor. The suction inlet 4 can have any configuration. In the illustrated example, the suction inlet 4 is a floor brush with a housing 40 and a connecting pipe 41, wherein the housing 40 has a suction inlet, and the connecting pipe 41 is connected to the suction pipe 3. In this embodiment, a rotating cleaning body is disposed at the suction inlet. The rotating cleaning body is driven by an electric motor or drive unit, depending on the type of area being cleaned. Power is supplied to the drive unit from the power supply unit 17 via wiring 20, and the drive unit operates according to the operation of the setting mechanism. Preferably, the suction inlet 4 is detachable from the suction pipe 3. More preferably, the suction inlet 4 has multiple types of components with different designs, each of which can be selectively installed on the suction pipe 3 depending on the type of area being cleaned.

[0050] With the suction tube 3 connected to the flexible tube 2, Figure 1 The retaining part 5 shown is held in a detachable manner to the vacuum cleaner body 1. That is, while maintaining communication or connection between the hose 2 and the suction tube 3, the retaining part 5 can be assembled or detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, the retaining part 5 is attached to and detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1 by means of a clamp or other detachment mechanism. The detachment mechanism can be provided at any position of the retaining part 5 and / or the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0051] The retaining part 5 includes a retaining connection part 50 that connects to the hose 2 and the suction tube 3. The retaining connection part 50 is formed at a connection point where the other end of the hose 2 (i.e., the upstream end) and the one end of the suction tube 3 (i.e., the downstream end) are connected. In this embodiment, the retaining connection part 50 is cylindrical. The upstream end of the hose 2 is coaxially fitted into the retaining connection part 50 internally, and the downstream end of the suction tube 3 is coaxially mounted to the retaining connection part 50. In the illustrated example, the upstream end of the hose 2 is coaxially fitted into the retaining connection part 50 from the rear, and the downstream end of the suction tube 3 is coaxially mounted to the front side on the opposite side.

[0052] Furthermore, the retaining part 5 has a covering part 51. The covering part 51 is a hose cover, which is formed such that, with at least the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose cover covers at least a portion of the hose 2. In this embodiment, "covering" means not merely being located opposite the outside of the component, but rather being close to or covering the component, enclosing at least a portion of the component internally. With the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the covering part 51 is located at least covering the upper part of the hose 2. That is, the covering part 51 is configured to overlap the upper part of the hose 2 when the retaining part 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1. In the illustrated example, the covering part 51 is formed such that, in the portion covering at least a portion of the hose 2, the portion opposite the hose 2 bends along the outer periphery of the hose 2. That is, the covering part 51 bends so that the lower portion opposite the hose 2 protrudes upwards. When the retaining part 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the covering part 51 is located at a position that overlaps with at least the upper half of the hose 2 when viewed from the left and right directions.

[0053] In this embodiment, the covering portion 51 covers at least a portion of the hose 2 and at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner body 1 when the retaining portion 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1. The covering portion 51, when the retaining portion 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, is positioned to extend from the upper part of the hose 2 across the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 1. Furthermore, the covering portion 51 is formed such that its width in the left-right direction is slightly larger than that of the hose 2. Therefore, when the retaining portion 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose 2 is not visible or is difficult to see from above. Additionally, the covering portion 51 extends rearward from the retaining connection portion 50. In this embodiment, the covering portion 51 is formed in an elongated shape. Furthermore, the upper part of the covering portion 51 is formed such that it gradually slopes upward from the retaining connection portion 50 towards the rear. Additionally, the covering portion 51 may also have an opening that exposes a portion of the hose 2 and / or a portion of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the retaining part 5 includes a hose retaining part 52. When the retaining part 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose retaining part 52 retains at least a portion of the hose 2 against its own weight. The hose retaining part 52 retains at least the upper half of the hose 2's shape. Figure 3 (a) or Figure 3 As shown in (b), the hose retainer 52 intersects the virtual plane P at point 2. This virtual plane P is a plane that includes the axis of the hose 2 and is orthogonal to the direction of gravity, i.e., the downward direction in the figure. Figure 3As shown in example (a), the hose retainer 52 can be formed as a claw-like shape protruding radially along the outer periphery of the hose 2, or as shown in the example (a). Figure 3 As shown in other examples (b), it is formed with a gap smaller than the outer shape of the hose 2 and supports the hose 2 from both sides. The hose retaining portion 52 is disposed at the lower end of the covered portion 51. Furthermore, the hose retaining portion 52 can be formed either as a continuous unit throughout the retaining portion 5, or as a discontinuous unit with more than one location along the axis of the hose 2. Preferably, the hose retaining portion 52 retains at least a portion of the hose 2 in a detachable manner. The hose 2 retained by the hose retaining portion 52 is as follows... Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the retaining part 5 can be released while detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1. That is, preferably, the hose 2 is detached from the hose retaining part 52 when the hose 2 is extended or retracted due to the sweeping operation.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the holding part 5 includes a holding part 53. The holding part 53 is a cleaning holding part for cleaning operations. When cleaning the part to be cleaned, the holding part 53 holds the suction pipe 3 and / or Figure 2 The suction port 4 shown is operated. Figure 1 As shown, the grip portion 53 is configured to connect to the end of the covered portion 51 at the retaining portion 5. The grip portion 53 is located at the end of the retaining portion 5 opposite to the retaining connection portion 50. In this embodiment, the grip portion 53 is formed to protrude rearward from the covered portion 51. The grip portion 53 can also be formed in any shape that allows a user to grip it. In this embodiment, the grip portion 53 is formed in a bent or curved shape, and is configured to overlap with the main body grip portion 19 when the retaining portion 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, covering at least a portion of the main body grip portion 19. In the illustrated example, the grip portion 53 includes a first grip portion 530 and a second grip portion 531 integrally.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first gripping portion 530 is formed along the vertical direction. That is, the first gripping portion 530 is formed in a direction intersecting the length direction of the holding portion 5. The first gripping portion 530 is formed with the same shape as the first main body gripping portion 190 of the main body gripping portion 19. In addition, the first gripping portion 530 is not an essential component.

[0057] The second grip portion 531 is formed along the front-to-back direction. That is, the second grip portion 531 is formed along the length direction of the holding portion 5. The second grip portion 531 is formed with the same shape as the second main body grip portion 191 of the main body grip portion 19. That is, the grip portion 53 is formed to be bent at the position where the first grip portion 530 and the second grip portion 531 are connected. It is not limited to this, the grip portion 53 may also be bent so that it is smoothly connected from the first grip portion 530 to the second grip portion 531.

[0058] Alternatively, a setting mechanism may be provided in the grip section 53, similar to that in the main grip section 19. The setting mechanism need only be provided in at least one of the grip section 53 and the main grip section 19.

[0059] Next, the cleaning operation of the first embodiment will be described.

[0060] The VC electric vacuum cleaner can clean in both of the following states: State 1 is as follows: Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, with the retaining part 5 assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1 and the suction pipe 3 connected to the hose 2, the retaining part 5 is held in the vacuum cleaner body 1. State 2 is as follows: Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the retaining part 5 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1 with the suction pipe 3 connected to the hose 2, and the retaining part 5 is then removed from the vacuum cleaner body 1. The electric vacuum cleaner VC is in... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 In the shown configuration, it is suitable for cleaning areas primarily below the floor. Additionally, the VC electric vacuum cleaner... Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 The state shown is suitable for cleaning areas other than the ground, such as stairs, curtains, or walls above the ground.

[0061] exist Figure 1 as well as Figure 2In the shown state, the retaining part 5 is assembled to the vacuum cleaner body 1 via the disassembly and assembly mechanism. Thus, the suction part 110 of the suction tube 11, the hose 2, and the suction tube 3 are arranged in a straight line, and are held and fixed to the vacuum cleaner body 1 in a coaxial position. That is, the axes of the suction part 110, the hose 2, and the suction tube 3 are arranged on the same axis L. Furthermore, in this state, the hose 2 is retracted along the retaining part 5. That is, the hose 2 is positioned along the retaining part 5. Additionally, the hose 2 is positioned along the retaining part 5 at a predetermined position fixed relative to the retaining part 5. When the hose 2 is retracted along the retaining part 5, at least a portion of it can be either housed inside the retaining part 5 and / or the vacuum cleaner body 1, or exposed relative to the retaining part 5 and / or the vacuum cleaner body 1. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the hose 2 is covered by the covering portion 51 of the retaining portion 5. Specifically, at least the upper half of the hose 2 is covered by the covering portion 51 of the retaining portion 5, and the hose 2 is held and stored under or on the back side of the covering portion 51 by the hose retaining portion 52. That is, the hose 2 is in a state where at least a portion is stored in the retaining portion 5. The hose 2 may be either compressed or in its natural length, but it is configured so that it will not extend or retract during the cleaning operation. In addition, the holding portion 53 is fixed to the main body holding portion 19 at a position that overlaps integrally with the main body holding portion 19. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main body holding portion 19 and the holding portion 53 are positioned where they intersect with the axis L. In the illustrated example, at the position where the first main body holding portion 190 and the first holding portion 530 intersect with the axis L, they extend across one side (the upper side) and the other side (the lower side) relative to the axis L. Furthermore, in this embodiment, at least a portion of the grip portion 53 is positioned such that the second grip portion 531 is approximately parallel to the suction portion 110. That is, the second grip portion 531 is positioned approximately parallel to the axis L. In the illustrated example, it is positioned such that the second grip portion 531 is offset upward relative to the axis L. Additionally, in this embodiment, at least a portion of the main body grip portion 19, i.e., the second main body grip portion 191, is positioned approximately parallel to the suction portion 110. Moreover, when the user operates the setting mechanism by gripping the main body grip portion 19 or the grip portion 53 overlapping with the main body grip portion 19, the control mechanism activates the electric blower 15 according to the operation of the setting mechanism. The user operates the entire electric vacuum cleaner VC by using the main body grip portion 19 or the grip portion 53 overlapping with the main body grip portion 19, thereby drawing in dust-laden air from the suction pipe 3 or from the suction inlet body 4.

[0062] In addition, Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 In the shown state, by releasing the attachment of the retaining part 5, which is applied by the disassembly mechanism, to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the suction pipe 3 is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 1 only via the hose 2. That is, in this state, the hose 2 becomes flexible by releasing the fixation between it and the retaining part 5. Preferably, the hose 2 can be detached from the retaining part 52. When the user holds the main body handle 19 and the handle 53 and operates the setting mechanism, the control mechanism actuates the electric blower 15 according to the operation of the setting mechanism. The user operates the suction pipe 3 or the suction inlet 4 through the handle 53, and draws in dust-laden air from the suction pipe 3 or the suction inlet 4. The distance between the suction pipe 3 and the vacuum cleaner body 1 changes according to the user's operation on the suction pipe 3 or the suction inlet 4, and the hose 2 extends or retracts appropriately according to this change in distance.

[0063] The dust-laden air is drawn in through the suction pipe 3, hose 2, and suction pipe 11, and then drawn into the separation section 13 from the inlet 130. The separation section 13 separates the dust in the dust-laden air and stores it in the storage section 132. The air after the dust separation is completed is discharged from the outlet 131. The air discharged from the separation section 13 is then drawn into the electric blower 15 to cool the electric blower 15. After that, the air is exhausted from the main exhaust port to the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 1.

[0064] Thus, according to the first embodiment, with the retaining part 5 assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1, since the suction part 110, the hose 2, and the suction pipe 3 are arranged in a straight line, the electric vacuum cleaner VC can be positioned in the direction intersecting the suction part 110, the hose 2, and the suction pipe 3, that is... Figure 1 The design is elongated in the vertical direction, allowing the electric vacuum cleaner VC to be miniaturized when the retaining part 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1. As a result, the electric vacuum cleaner VC handles cleaning well when cleaning with the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, and can be configured or stored in a space-saving manner when not in use.

[0065] Furthermore, with the retaining part 5 assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1, since the suction part 110, the hose 2, and the suction pipe 3 are arranged in a straight line, the suction air path for dust-laden air can be formed in a straight line from the suction pipe 3 to the hose 2 and the suction part 110. As a result, pressure loss is reduced, and thus suction efficiency is good.

[0066] The hose 2 is designed to be flexible and retractable. When the retaining part 5 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, it is retracted along the retaining part 5. Even if the hose 2 is of sufficiently long length, it can be configured to be compact. Furthermore, when the retaining part 5 is attached to or detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose 2 can be extended or retracted, and the radial dimension, i.e., the cross-sectional area, of the hose 2 does not change significantly depending on the sweeping action. Therefore, the changes in suction load caused by the extension or retraction of the hose 2, i.e., changes in the sweeping posture of the user or the electric vacuum cleaner VC, are minimized.

[0067] With the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, at least a portion of the hose 2 is covered. Therefore, the retaining part 5 and at least a portion of the hose 2 are overlapped. With the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the electric vacuum cleaner VC can be miniaturized, and the portion of the hose 2 that protrudes to the outside can be suppressed, resulting in a good appearance.

[0068] With the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, at least a portion of the hose 2 is held in place, making it difficult for the hose 2 to jump out of its retracted state when the retaining part 5 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1. In particular, since the hose 2 is flexible, even when it is retracted with the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the hose 2 will elastically recover its shape when the retaining part 5 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1. Therefore, by holding at least a portion of the hose 2 in place by the retaining part 5, it is possible to reliably prevent the hose 2 from jumping out due to its elastic recovery deformation.

[0069] Since the holding part 5 has a handle 53 for cleaning operation, the suction pipe 3 and / or the suction inlet 4 can be easily operated by holding the handle 53 while the holding part 5 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 1. Therefore, when cleaning areas above or to the side of the user, or steps, the vacuum cleaner body 1 does not need to be lifted up; simply operating the lightweight suction pipe 3 and / or suction inlet 4 reduces the burden on the user's hands during cleaning.

[0070] Furthermore, when the retaining part 5 is assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1, since at least a portion of the gripping part 53 is approximately parallel to the suction part 110, the retaining part 5 assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1 does not protrude much from the vacuum cleaner body 1 in a direction intersecting with the direction of the suction part 110. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner body 1 and the electric vacuum cleaner VC can be miniaturized.

[0071] Since the separation section 13 is a centrifugal separation section, it is configured such that its central axis is approximately parallel to the suction section 110. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner body 1 can be made elongated in the direction intersecting the direction of the suction section 110, thereby enabling the vacuum cleaner body 1 and the electric vacuum cleaner VC to be miniaturized.

[0072] The vacuum cleaner body 1 has a main body handle 19 for cleaning operation. Therefore, by holding the vacuum cleaner body 1 with the main body handle 19, it is easy to operate, thereby making the cleaning action easier.

[0073] Furthermore, with the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the body handle 19 is positioned at an angle intersecting the axis L of the suction pipe 3. Therefore, with the retaining part 5 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the suction pipe 3 is positioned along the extension line of the user's hand holding the body handle 19. This makes it easier to operate the suction pipe 3 during cleaning.

[0074] Since the hose 20 is provided with a wiring 20, the electric motor can be provided in the suction pipe 3 or the suction inlet body 4, and its electric motor can be operated by power supply from the power supply unit 17. For example, if the suction inlet body 4 is provided with a drive unit that rotates the rotary cleaning body, the rotary cleaning body can be rotated according to the type of part being cleaned, thereby enabling more reliable dust collection.

[0075] (Second Implementation)

[0076] Next, refer to Figures 6 to 8 The second embodiment will be described below. Furthermore, components and functions identical to those in the first embodiment described above will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0077] In this embodiment, the holding portion 53 of the retaining portion 5 of the electric vacuum cleaner VC is formed in a straight line. That is, the holding portion 53 is provided in a straight line, protruding from the end of the covered portion 51 along the length direction of the retaining portion 5. When the retaining portion 5 is assembled to the vacuum cleaner body 1, the holding portion 53 overlaps with the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 1 and is located in front of the main body holding portion 19.

[0078] Thus, even if the gripping part 53 is formed in a straight line, when the holding part 5 is assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1, by having the same configuration as the first embodiment described above, that is, by arranging the suction part 110, the hose 2 and the suction pipe 3 in a straight line, the same effect as the first embodiment described above can be achieved. That is, when the holding part 5 is assembled on the vacuum cleaner body 1, the electric vacuum cleaner VC can be miniaturized.

[0079] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are all included within the scope and spirit of the present invention, and also within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner, characterized in that, The electric vacuum cleaner has the following features: The vacuum cleaner body has a separation section for separating dust and a suction section connected to the separation section at one end; A flexible, retractable hose, one end of which is connected to the other end of the suction part; The inhalation tube has one end connected to the other end of the hose; as well as A retaining part, which, when the suction tube is connected to the hose, is held to the vacuum cleaner body in a manner that allows for easy attachment and detachment relative to the vacuum cleaner body, and holds at least a portion of the hose in a detachable manner. The retaining portion has a covered portion formed such that, in the portion covering at least a portion of the hose, the portion opposite to the hose bends along the outer periphery of the hose and has a width in the left-right direction slightly greater than the hose. When the retaining portion is assembled to the vacuum cleaner body, the covered portion covers and retains a portion of the hose protruding from one end of the suction tube along the axis, thereby causing the hose to be retained along the retaining portion and causing the suction portion, the hose, and the suction tube to be arranged in a straight line.

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retaining part has a holding part for cleaning operations.

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, characterized in that, With the retaining part assembled to the vacuum cleaner body, at least a portion of the gripping part is substantially parallel to the suction part.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The separation section is a centrifugal separation section, configured such that the central axis is approximately parallel to the suction section.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The vacuum cleaner body has a main handle for cleaning operations. The main body holding part is located at a position where it intersects the axis of the suction pipe when the holding part is assembled into the vacuum cleaner body.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, It has wiring configured in the hose.

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