Hand-held vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a hand-held vacuum cleaner capable of improving operability.SOLUTION: A hand-held vacuum cleaner includes: a body incorporating a blower 6 for generating a suction air flow and a battery 7 for supplying electric power to drive the blower 6; a cylindrical suction tool 5 for sucking dust from the tip by the suction air flow; and a dust collection part 3 for collecting dust sucked by the suction tool 5. One end side in a longitudinal direction of the body is connected to one end side of the dust collection part 3. A side opposite to the tip of the suction tool 5 is connected to the other side of the dust collection part 3. An outer peripheral part of the body is a grip part 41 gripped by a user's hand. An angle formed by the longitudinal direction of the body and the axial direction of the suction tool 5 is larger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to handheld vacuum cleaners. [Background technology]

[0002] A known battery-powered hand cleaner (handheld electric vacuum cleaner) has a roughly L-shaped case body with a cylindrical gripping portion (grip) at the base end and a cylindrical suction portion at the tip end, with a motor and suction fan (blower) housed within the cylindrical suction portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3002063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a handheld vacuum cleaner such as that shown in Patent Document 1, the blower, which is a heavy object, is disposed above the grip that is held by the user's hand. Therefore, when the user moves the nozzle (or suction tool) up, down, left and right to clean, the inertial force of the weight of the blower acting on the wrist holding the grip becomes large, which places a heavy burden on the wrist.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a handheld vacuum cleaner that can reduce the strain on the user's wrist and improve operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The handheld vacuum cleaner of the present disclosure comprises a main body having a built-in blower that generates a suction airflow and a battery that supplies power to drive the blower, a tubular suction tool that sucks up dust from its tip using the suction airflow, and a dust collection section that collects the dust sucked up by the suction tool, one end of the main body in the longitudinal direction is connected to one end of the dust collection section and the other end of the dust collection section is connected to the side opposite the tip of the suction tool, the outer periphery of the main body is a grip section that is held in the hand of a user, and the angle between the longitudinal direction of the main body and the axial direction of the suction tool is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The handheld vacuum cleaner according to the present disclosure has the advantage that it is possible to reduce the burden on the user's wrist and improve operability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view showing the overall appearance of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a side view showing a state in which a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool according to a first embodiment is in use. [Figure 4] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a suction tool according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a suction tool according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views taken along lines C, D and E in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 7] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the suction tool according to embodiment 1 when the protruding amount of the dust remover is at a minimum. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the suction tool according to embodiment 1 when the protruding amount of the dust remover is at its maximum. FIG. [Figure 9] 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the cleaning element in a horizontal cross section of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10]5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the cleaning element in a horizontal cross section of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the cleaning element in a horizontal cross section of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the cleaning element in a horizontal cross section of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the dust remover of the suction tool of embodiment 1 is undergoing maintenance. FIG. [Figure 14] 4 is a vertical sectional view of a first modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a first modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 are cross-sectional views taken along lines C, D and F in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. [Figure 17] 13 is a vertical sectional view of a second modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 18] 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a second modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 19 are cross-sectional views taken along lines C, D and H in FIGS. 17 and 18. [Figure 20] 13 is a vertical sectional view of a third modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 21] 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a third modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 13 is a vertical sectional view of a fourth modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 23] 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a fourth modified example of the suction tool according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the overall appearance of a modified example of the vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The embodiment for carrying out the handheld vacuum cleaner according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be appropriately simplified or omitted. In the following description, for convenience, the positional relationship of each structure may be expressed based on the illustrated state. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and it is possible to freely combine the embodiments and each modified example, modify any component of the embodiments and each modified example, or omit any component of the embodiments and each modified example, within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1 A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 24. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the overall appearance of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool. Fig. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a vacuum cleaner equipped with a suction tool is in use. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the suction tool. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the suction tool. Fig. 6 is a sectional view at sections C, D, and E of Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view when the protruding amount of the dust remover of the suction tool is minimum. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view when the protruding amount of the dust remover of the suction tool is maximum. Figs. 9 to 12 are explanatory views showing the operation of the cleaning body in the horizontal section of the suction tool. Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the dust remover of the suction tool is being maintained. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of a first modified example of the suction tool. Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of the first modified example of the suction tool. Fig. 16 is a sectional view at sections C, D, and F of Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of a second modified example of the suction tool. Fig. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a second modified suction tool. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view at cross-sections C, D and H of Figs. 17 and 18. Fig. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a third modified suction tool. Fig. 21 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the third modified suction tool. Fig. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fourth modified suction tool. Fig. 23 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the fourth modified suction tool. Fig. 24 is a side view showing the overall appearance of a modified electric vacuum cleaner.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a handheld vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment includes a vacuum cleaner body 2, a dust collection unit 3, a nozzle 4, and a suction tool 5. The dust collection unit 3 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 2. The nozzle 4 is attached to the dust collection unit 3. The suction tool 5 is connected to the tip of the nozzle 4. In the following description, the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions are specified based on the state shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0012] The vacuum cleaner body 2 has a housing. In the illustrated configuration example, the housing of the vacuum cleaner body 2 is cylindrical with an outer diameter of 50 mm and a height of 160 mm. The housing of the vacuum cleaner body 2 houses a blower 6 and a battery 7. The housing of the vacuum cleaner body 2 also houses a control board and electric components (not shown). The control board is equipped with a control circuit for controlling the drive of the blower 6 and the charge / discharge of the battery 7. When the blower 6 is driven, negative pressure is generated on one side of the blower 6, generating an airflow. The side where the negative pressure is generated as viewed from the blower 6 is the upstream side of the airflow generated by the blower 6. The battery 7 supplies power to drive the blower 6. The battery 7 also supplies power required for the operation of the circuits mounted on the control board.

[0013] In the configuration example described here, the blower 6 is configured such that the motor as the drive source and the blower fan are integrated together. The blower 6 is disposed on one side of the vacuum cleaner body 2, i.e., in the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 2 in the state shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In addition, in the configuration example described here, the battery 7 is configured as a unit in which four cylindrical lithium ion secondary batteries are bundled together. The battery 7 is disposed on the other side of the vacuum cleaner body 2, i.e., below the blower 6 in the vacuum cleaner body 2 in the state shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0014] Thus, the vacuum cleaner body 2 incorporates the blower 6 that generates the suction airflow and the battery 7 that supplies power to drive the blower 6. The battery 7 is the heaviest of the components that make up the vacuum cleaner 1. The blower 6 is also the second heaviest component after the battery 7.

[0015] A suction port (not shown) is formed in one end face of the vacuum cleaner body 2, i.e., the end face on the side where the blower 6 is located. The end face of the vacuum cleaner body 2 on which the suction port is formed is, in other words, the top face of the vacuum cleaner body 2. An exhaust port (not shown) is formed in the side face of the vacuum cleaner body 2. The suction port is an opening through which the airflow generated by the operation of the blower 6 flows from outside the housing of the vacuum cleaner body 2 into the housing. The exhaust port is an opening through which the airflow generated by the operation of the blower 6 flows from inside the housing of the vacuum cleaner body 2 to outside the housing.

[0016] The dust collecting unit 3 is detachably attached to the upper end of the vacuum cleaner body 2. One end of the dust collecting unit 3 is connected to the vacuum cleaner body 2. The other end of the dust collecting unit 3 is connected to a nozzle 4. The dust collecting unit 3 is hollow and tubular. The internal space of the dust collecting unit 3 is part of the suction air passage. The inside of the dust collecting unit 3 communicates with the suction port of the vacuum cleaner body 2 on the side connected to the vacuum cleaner body 2. The dust collecting unit 3 has a bent cylinder shape with the same diameter as the vacuum cleaner body 2.

[0017] One end of the nozzle 4 is connected to the dust collecting unit 3 as described above. The other end of the nozzle 4 is formed with a suction port 10. In the illustrated configuration example, the suction port 10 of the nozzle 4 is a circular opening with an inner diameter of, for example, 10 mm. The one end of the nozzle 4 connected to the dust collecting unit 3 has approximately the same diameter as the dust collecting unit 3, i.e., approximately the same diameter as the vacuum cleaner body 2. The nozzle 4 is shaped like a funnel, the diameter of which gradually narrows from the one end connected to the dust collecting unit 3 to the other end where the suction port 10 is formed.

[0018] A primary filter 8 and a secondary filter 9 can be attached inside the dust collecting unit 3. The primary filter 8 is a filter with a low fiber density, such as a resin sponge material or tissue paper. The secondary filter 9 is a filter with a high fiber density, such as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter or a ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter. The primary filter 8 is fixed inside the dust collecting unit 3, for example, by connecting the nozzle 4 to the dust collecting unit 3. The secondary filter 9 is fixed inside the dust collecting unit 3, for example, by attaching the dust collecting unit 3 to the vacuum cleaner body 2.

[0019] The suction tool 5 is detachably connected to the other end of the nozzle 4 where the suction port 10 is formed. The suction tool 5 is straight and hollow tubular. An air intake port 14 is formed at the tip, i.e., one end, of the suction tool 5. The rear end, i.e., the other end, of the suction tool 5 can be connected to the other end of the nozzle 4. The configuration of the suction tool 5 will be described in detail later. When the suction tool 5 is not connected to the suction port 10 of the nozzle 4, dust can be sucked from the suction port 10 when the blower 6 is in operation. On the other hand, by connecting the suction tool 5 to the suction port 10 of the nozzle 4, narrow places and the like can be easily cleaned.

[0020] In the electric vacuum cleaner 1 configured as above, a suction air passage is formed that runs from the suction port 10 at the tip of the nozzle 4, through the internal space of the dust collecting part 3 and the suction port of the vacuum cleaner body 2, to the blower 6 inside the vacuum cleaner body 2. Also formed inside the vacuum cleaner body 2 is an exhaust air passage through which the airflow that has passed through the blower 6 is exhausted from the exhaust port of the vacuum cleaner body 2. When a suction tool 5 is attached to the tip of the nozzle 4, the suction air passage is extended to the suction tool 5.

[0021] For example, an operation unit (not shown) is provided on the cleaner main body 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The operation unit is for the user to operate the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1. The operation unit is provided with, for example, a power switch for turning on and off the operation of the blower 6. That is, the blower 6 is driven in response to an operation on the operation unit. When the blower 6 operates, a suction air flow is generated in the above-described suction air passage. In other words, the blower 6 generates a suction air flow. Then, due to the suction force acting in the suction air passage, the dust-containing air is sucked in from the air inlet 14 at the tip of the suction tool 5. That is, the suction tool 5 sucks dust from the tip by the suction air flow generated by the blower 6.

[0022] The sucked dust-containing air passes through the nozzle 4 and is taken into the inside of the dust collecting part 3. In the dust collecting part 3, dust is filtered and separated from the dust-containing air by the primary filter 8 and the secondary filter 9. The separated dust is collected by the dust collecting part 3. That is, the dust collecting part 3 collects the dust sucked by the suction tool 5. As a result, the air flow that has passed through the dust collecting part 3 is discharged as clean air. The clean air discharged from the dust collecting part 3 passes through the blower 6. The clean air that has passed through the blower 6 passes through the above-described discharge air passage and is discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the cleaner main body 2.

[0023] In the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, as described above, one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaner main body 2 is connected to one end side of the dust collecting part 3. Also, the opposite side to the tip of the suction tool 5 is connected to the other end side of the dust collecting part 3. And the dust collecting part 3 is configured in a shape in which the air passage bends. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal direction of the cleaner main body 2 and the direction of the axis X of the suction tool 5 bend at a certain bending angle A. The bending angle A is greater than 90° and less than 180° (90° < A < 180°). Here, as described above, the cleaner main body 2 has a cylindrical shape. The longitudinal direction of the cleaner main body 2 is the direction of the cylindrical axis Y of the cleaner main body 2.

[0024] 2 is the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 1 with the suction tool 5 connected. When the dust collection unit 3, the nozzle 4, and the suction tool 5 are attached to the vacuum cleaner body 2, the center of gravity G1 of the entire vacuum cleaner 1 is located forward and downward of the central axis Y of the cylindrical shape of the vacuum cleaner body 2.

[0025] In the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outer periphery of the vacuum cleaner body 2 is a grip part 41. The grip part 41 is a part that is gripped by the user of the vacuum cleaner with his / her hand. That is, the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment is used by the user by holding the vacuum cleaner body 2 directly in his / her hand. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner body 2 incorporates the battery 7 and the blower 6, which are relatively heavy among the components of the vacuum cleaner 1. Therefore, the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 2 (dust collecting part 3, nozzle 4 and suction tool 5) is lighter than the vacuum cleaner body 2 used as the grip part 41. Therefore, the user can easily move the tip of the suction tool 5 left and right around the grip part 41 of the vacuum cleaner body 2.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 3, when a user holds the cylindrical vacuum cleaner body 2 with an outer diameter of 50 mm in his / her hand, the user can hold the vacuum cleaner body 2 naturally by placing the center of the palm of the hand against the vacuum cleaner body 2 and pinching the vacuum cleaner body 2 between the thumb and the other four fingers opposite the thumb. Holding the vacuum cleaner body 2 in this manner allows the tip of the suction tool 5 to be moved stably from side to side.

[0027] An independent investigation by the inventors of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present disclosure revealed that when the vacuum cleaner body 2 is held in this manner with the wrist in a natural position, the angle between the direction of the forearm and the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 2 (the direction of the central axis Y) is approximately 40 degrees for many people. Therefore, in the configuration example described here, the bending angle A between the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 2 (the direction of the central axis Y) and the direction of the axis X of the suction tool 5 is set to 130°. As described above, the bending angle A is greater than 90° and less than 180°, but is preferably set to an angle within a certain range including 130°, for example, greater than 90° and less than 140°.

[0028] Point P shown in FIG. 3 is an intersection point between a vertical line passing through the center of gravity G1 of the vacuum cleaner 1 and the axis of the cylindrical shape of the vacuum cleaner body 2 in a state in which the longitudinal direction (direction of the central axis Y) of the vacuum cleaner body 2 is inclined forward, i.e., toward the suction tool 5, by an inclination angle B from the vertical direction. As shown in the figure, when the vacuum cleaner body 2 is inclined by the inclination angle B, the intersection point P is located directly above the vertical direction of the center of gravity G1. Specifically, the inclination angle B is, for example, 40°. In the configuration example described here, the vacuum cleaner 1 is configured so that the point P thus determined is sandwiched between the second joints of the index finger and middle finger of a user holding the grip part 41 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 and the first joint of the thumb. That is, for example, the grip part 41 is provided so as to include the point P in a side view. More preferably, the grip part 41 is provided so that the point P is located approximately in the center of the grip part 41 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 in a side view.

[0029] In the vacuum cleaner 1 configured in this manner, when a user holds the grip portion 41, the vacuum cleaner 1 is supported by the user's hands pinching point P from both sides. In this case, the posture of the vacuum cleaner 1 is stabilized with the center of gravity G1 positioned directly below point P in the vertical direction. When the posture of the vacuum cleaner 1 is thus stabilized, the inclination angle B is 40° as described above. Then, by setting the bending angle A to 130° as described above, the direction of the axis X of the suction tool 5 is disposed substantially horizontally. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the up-down direction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 coincides with the vertical direction.

[0030] With the center of gravity G1 positioned directly under the support point P of the user's hand, the load of rotating the user's wrist in the rotation direction R shown in Fig. 3 is small. Therefore, when using the vacuum cleaner 1, the load on the user's wrist is small when operating with the suction tool 5 in a horizontal position. This allows the user to twist the wrist with little load around the horizontal position of the suction tool 5, and enables the user to easily move the tip of the suction tool 5. This reduces the load on the user's wrist and improves operability.

[0031] Next, the suction tool 5 will be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the suction tool 5 includes a suction tool body 11, a cleaning body 12, and a connecting member 13. The suction tool body 11 is, for example, a hollow cylindrical resin nozzle with a total length of 130 mm, an inner diameter of 10 mm, and a thickness of 1.5 mm. The axial direction of the suction tool 5 is the left-right direction in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In this disclosure, the axial direction of the suction tool 5 is also referred to as the first direction or the front-rear direction. The direction of the airflow (suction airflow) when the suction tool 5 sucks dust is parallel to the axial direction of the suction tool 5, i.e., the first direction or the front-rear direction. The suction airflow flows from left to right in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

[0032] As described later, when a suction airflow exists in the suction tool 5, the plate portion 21 of the cleaning body 12 vibrates. The direction of vibration of the plate portion 21 caused by the suction airflow is determined by the structure of the suction tool 5 including the cleaning body 12. The direction of vibration of the plate portion 21 caused by the suction airflow is the depth direction in FIG. 4 and the up-down direction in FIG. 5. In the present disclosure, the direction of vibration of the plate portion 21 caused by the suction airflow is also referred to as the second direction. In the configuration example described here, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the second direction is also referred to as the left-right direction or the lateral direction.

[0033] Moreover, a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction is defined as a third direction. The third direction is the up-down direction in Fig. 4 and the depth direction in Fig. 5. In this disclosure, the third direction is also referred to as the up-down direction or the vertical direction.

[0034] An air intake port 14 is formed at the tip of the suction tool body 11. A connection port 15 is formed at the rear end of the suction tool body 11. As described above, the connection port 15 is connected to the suction port 10 of the nozzle 4.

[0035] Suction tool body 11 has a throttle section 16. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of suction tool body 11 at cross sections C, D, and E shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in the figure, throttle section 16 is configured so that the air passage cross section is substantially rectangular. The width of throttle section 16 in the horizontal direction (second direction) of the air passage is, for example, 6 mm. The width of throttle section 16 in the vertical direction (third direction) of the air passage is, for example, 12 mm. The length of throttle section 16 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 10 mm.

[0036] A reducing tapered section 17 is provided between the intake port 14 of the suction tool main body 11 and the narrowed section 16. The reducing tapered section 17 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually narrows in the lateral direction (second direction) toward the narrowed section 16. In the reducing tapered section 17, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes from a circle to a substantially rectangular shape. The length of the reducing tapered section 17 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 15 mm. That is, the narrowed section 16 is provided in a range of about 15 mm to about 25 mm from the intake port 14.

[0037] An expanded tapered portion 18 is provided on the connection port 15 side of the narrowed portion 16 in the suction tool body 11, i.e., on the opposite side to the intake port 14. The expanded tapered portion 18 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually narrows in the horizontal direction (second direction) as it approaches the narrowed portion 16. In other words, the expanded tapered portion 18 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually widens in the horizontal direction (second direction) as it moves away from the narrowed portion 16. In the expanded tapered portion 18, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes from a substantially rectangular shape to a circular shape. That is, the air passage of the suction tool body 11 becomes a circle with an inner diameter of 10 mm again downstream of the narrowed portion 16. One end of the expanded tapered portion 18 is connected to the narrowed portion 16. The other end of the expanded tapered portion 18 is the point where the width of the air passage in the lateral direction (second direction) does not change when tracing along the axial direction (first direction) from the narrowed portion 16 toward the opposite side of the narrowed portion 16. In the present disclosure, this other end of the expanded tapered portion 18 is also referred to as the end portion of the expanded tapered portion 18. The length of the expanded tapered portion 18 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 15 mm.

[0038] A guide groove 19 is formed in the suction tool body 11. The guide groove 19 is formed in the upper part of the suction tool body 11 near the throttling portion 16. The guide groove 19 serves as a guide when the connecting member 13, which will be described later, is moved in the front-rear direction. A storage groove 20 is formed in the upper part of the air intake port 14 in the suction tool body 11. When the connecting member 13 has moved to the maximum movable position in the rear direction, the tip of the connecting member 13 is stored inside the storage groove 20. This makes it possible to prevent the tip of the connecting member 13 from protruding forward from the end face of the air intake port 14 when the connecting member 13 has moved to the maximum movable position in the rear direction.

[0039] The cleaning body 12 includes a plate portion 21 and a dust remover 22. The plate portion 21 is, for example, a resin member having a long and thin flat plate shape with a length of 120 mm, a height of 7 mm, and a thickness of 0.3 mm. That is, the width of the plate portion in the front-rear direction (first direction) is longer than the width in the vertical direction (third direction). The dust remover 22 is provided at the front end of the plate portion 21. The dust remover 22 is, for example, a bundle of static elimination brushes made of a plurality of conductive fibers with a wire diameter of 0.1 mm and a length of 20 mm. The rear end of the dust remover 22 is bonded near the front end of the plate portion 21. The weight of the entire cleaning body 12 is, for example, about 0.5 grams. The center of gravity G2 shown in FIG. 4 is the center of gravity of the entire cleaning body 12 including the plate portion 21 and the dust remover 22.

[0040] The connecting member 13 is a holding member for holding the cleaning body 12 in the suction tool body 11. The connecting member 13 is movably engaged with the suction tool body 11. One end of the connecting member 13 is engaged with the upper part of the intake port 14 of the suction tool body 11. The other end of the connecting member 13 is connected to the plate part 21 of the cleaning body 12. The connecting member 13 has a metal rod 23 and a resin fiber 24. The metal rod 23 is formed by bending a thin rod-shaped metal having a diameter of 1 mm, for example. The resin fiber 24 is bonded to the rear end of the metal rod 23. The rear end of the connecting member 13, that is, the rear end of the resin fiber 24, is bonded to a connection point 25 of the plate part 21. The connection point 25 is located closer to the connection port 15 side than the center of gravity G2 of the cleaning body 12, that is, downstream of the suction airflow.

[0041] The metal bar 23 has a U-shape in a side view. The metal bar 23 is engaged at the upper part of the intake port 14 by pinching the wall of the suction tool body 11 from the outside and the inside. The metal bar 23 generates a force pinching the upper wall of the suction tool body 11 from above and below by its own elastic force. This elastic force generates an appropriate frictional resistance when the connecting member 13 is moved relative to the suction tool body 11. The metal bar 23 has a ring-shaped part 26. The ring-shaped part 26 is formed at the end of the part of the metal bar 23 arranged on the outside of the suction tool body 11. When the user moves the connecting member 13 in the front-rear direction, the user can easily move the connecting member 13 to a desired position by operating the ring-shaped part 26 with a finger. In addition, the metal bar 23 is guided by the guide groove 19 of the suction tool body 11. Therefore, the connecting member 13 can be stably moved in the front-rear direction.

[0042] By moving the connecting member 13 relative to the suction tool body 11, the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 from the air inlet 14 can be adjusted. FIG. 7 shows the state in which the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 is minimum. FIG. 8 shows the state in which the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 is maximum. The amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 is, for example, 10 mm at minimum and 20 mm at maximum. In this way, by adjusting the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 from the air inlet 14, cleaning can be performed according to the condition of the surface to be cleaned. Note that the cleaning body 12 including the connecting member 13 and the dust remover 22 moves together relative to the suction tool body 11, so the distance between the front end of the connecting member 13 and the tip of the dust remover 22 remains constant. In other words, the greater the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22, the greater the amount of protrusion of the connecting member 13 forward. By doing this, when the air intake 14 of the suction tool 5 is brought close to the surface to be cleaned, the front end of the connecting member 13 abuts against the surface to be cleaned, which prevents the dust removal body 22 from being pressed against the surface to be cleaned more than necessary, thereby preventing the vibration of the cleaning body 12 from being weakened.

[0043] Next, the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1 with the suction tool 5 connected will be described. When a user turns on a power switch (not shown) that starts the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1, power is supplied from the battery 7 to the control board and the blower 6, and the blower 6 is driven. When the blower 6 is driven, negative pressure is generated upstream of the blower 6, and a suction airflow is generated. A suction air passage that communicates with the dust collection unit 3, the nozzle 4, and the suction tool 5 is configured upstream of the suction airflow generated by the blower 6, so that surrounding air is sucked in from the tip of the suction tool 5.

[0044] When a suction airflow is generated inside the suction tool body 11, the cleaning body 12 vibrates, causing the dust remover 22 at the tip to vibrate. When the intake port 14 at the tip of the suction tool 5 is brought close to the surface to be cleaned and the vibrating dust remover 22 is brought into contact with dust adhering to the surface to be cleaned, the dust is removed from the surface to be cleaned and is carried by the airflow flowing into the intake port 14 and sucked into the suction tool body 11.

[0045] Dust sucked in by suction tool 5 is collected by primary filter 8 and secondary filter 9 in dust collection section 3. Primary filter 8 is a filter with low fiber density, and mainly collects large debris such as hair and lint. Secondary filter 9 is a filter with high fiber density, and collects fine dust that cannot be collected by primary filter 8. The air from which dust has been removed passes through blower 6 and is sent out from the vacuum cleaner body 2 through the exhaust port.

[0046] Next, the operation of the cleaning body 12 during suction will be described with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 12. In these figures, the up-down direction of the figures is the lateral direction (second direction) of the suction tool 5, and the left-right direction of the figures is the front-rear direction (first direction, i.e., the direction of the suction airflow) of the suction tool 5. Fig. 9 shows a state where there is no airflow in the suction tool main body 11, and the plate portion 21 is flat and undeformed. Figs. 10 to 12 show a state where there is a suction airflow in the suction tool main body 11, and the plate portion 21 is deformed and vibrates in response to the suction airflow.

[0047] When the plate portion 21 is placed in an air flow, it receives the force of air pressure generated by the difference in wind speed passing through both sides (left and right sides) of the plate portion 21, and the plate portion 21 moves laterally (in the second direction). FIG. 10 shows the plate portion 21 shifted to the left side. Since the force received by the left side of the plate portion 21 is not uniform, the plate portion 21 curves to be convex to the left side, for example, as shown in FIG. 10. Here, the plate portion 21 moves and deforms left and right while connected to the connecting member 13 at the connecting point 25. The curved state of the plate portion 21 also changes depending on the strength of the tension of the connecting member 13. In other words, the curved state of the plate portion 21 also changes depending on the difference in wind speed of the air flow. When the plate portion 21 shifts to the left wall surface inside the suction tool main body 11, the wind speed on the right side of the plate portion 21 increases. When a force is applied in a direction such that the right side of plate portion 21 becomes convex, plate portion 21 is in a state in which two curved portions are formed, one where the left side is curved convex and the other where the right side is curved convex, as shown in Figure 11, for example.

[0048] Furthermore, when the airflow inside suction tool body 11 is disturbed due to the curved state of plate portion 21, the forces that both sides of plate portion 21 receive from the airflow become complex. Then, plate portion 21 comes into a state in which three curved portions are formed, for example, as shown in FIG.

[0049] In this way, the plate part 21 receives the airflow and generates vibrations that repeatedly move and deform. That is, the plate part 21 vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage of the suction tool body 11. The plate part 21 can generate various vibrations depending on the state. Here, when various parameters such as the rigidity, length, connecting position, and rigidity of the connecting member 13 of the plate part 21 are appropriately adjusted according to the wind speed in the suction tool body 11, the plate part 21 self-excited vibrates at a natural frequency and natural mode determined by these parameters. The plate part 21 in the self-excited vibration state is in a stable vibration state in which a curved portion is formed as shown in Figs. 10 to 12, and is less susceptible to a force applied to the plate part 21 from the outside due to contact of the dust remover 22 with the surface to be cleaned, etc., compared to when not in the self-excited vibration state. Therefore, the plate part 21 self-excited vibrates at a natural frequency and natural mode, thereby improving the effect of removing dust from the surface to be cleaned by the dust remover 22.

[0050] The dust remover 22 is provided at the tip of the plate portion 21 so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 21, i.e., the first direction. This allows the energy of vibration in the lateral direction (second direction) of the plate portion 21 to be efficiently transmitted to the dust remover 22. This improves the dust removal effect of the dust remover 22.

[0051] The width of the plate portion 21 in the vertical direction (third direction) is 7 mm, and the diameter of the intake port 14 of the suction tool body 11 is 10 mm. That is, the width of the plate portion 21 in the vertical direction (third direction) is more than half the width of the intake port 14 in the vertical direction (third direction). In this way, the width of the plate portion 21 in the vertical direction (third direction) is preferably more than half the width of the intake port 14 in the vertical direction (third direction). As a result, even if the dust remover 22 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned and the cleaning body 12 receives a reaction force, the plate portion 21 does not tilt significantly in the vertical direction, so that the force pressing the dust remover 22 against the surface to be cleaned due to vibration is unlikely to decrease. Therefore, the dust removal performance of the dust remover 22 can be maintained.

[0052] The suction tool main body 11 is provided with a throttle section 16. The throttle section 16 is a section where the width in the lateral direction (second direction) of the air passage is narrowed. The throttle section 16 makes it possible to make the wind speed of the air flowing through both sides of the plate section 21 faster than the wind speed flowing into the air intake 14. By making the wind speed of the air flowing through both sides of the plate section 21 faster, the force that the plate section 21 receives from the air flow becomes stronger, and the vibration of the plate section 21 becomes stronger. Therefore, the vibration energy accumulated in the cleaning body 12 becomes larger, and the dust removal effect of the dust remover 22 can be improved.

[0053] The narrowed portion 16 has a width of 6 mm in the horizontal direction (second direction) of the air passage and a height of 12 mm in the vertical direction (third direction) of the air passage. Since the air intake port 14 is a circle with a diameter of 10 mm, the width in the horizontal direction (second direction) becomes narrower between the air intake port 14 and the narrowed portion 16 and the width in the vertical direction (third direction) becomes wider. In other words, the suction tool main body 11 is provided with the narrowed portion 16 whose width in the horizontal direction (second direction) of the air passage is narrower than the width of the air intake port 14 in the horizontal direction (second direction).

[0054] The width of the plate portion 21 in the vertical direction (third direction) is 7 mm. The width of the air passage of the restrictor portion 16 in the vertical direction (third direction) is 12 mm. That is, the width of the plate portion 21 in the vertical direction (third direction) is more than half the width of the air passage of the restrictor portion 16 in the vertical direction (third direction). Therefore, a part of the plate portion 21 always reaches the center of the air passage cross section in the restrictor portion 16 where the air speed is the fastest. In other words, a part of the plate portion 21 always passes through the center of the air passage, so that the plate portion 21 can efficiently receive the force of the airflow. In addition, it is possible to improve the dust removal performance even when the amount of airflow of the suction airflow is small.

[0055] The throttle portion 16 is provided within a range in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction, ie, first direction) in which the plate portion 21 is held. With this configuration, the effect of the airflow on the plate portion 21 can be increased.

[0056] A reducing taper section 17 is provided upstream of the constricted section 16, and an expanding taper section 18 is provided downstream of the constricted section 16. This reduces airflow resistance, thereby reducing energy loss caused by providing the constricted section 16. It is also possible to provide the constricted section 16 at the tip of the suction tool main body 11 without providing the reducing taper section 17. In this case, however, the width of the intake port 14 at the tip becomes narrower, making it difficult to suck in dust removed by the dust remover 22 from the intake port 14. Therefore, providing the reducing taper section 17 between the intake port 14 and the constricted section 16 is preferable because it improves cleaning performance.

[0057] The wind speed in the range where the plate part 21 is held is maximum at the position of the throttle part 16. The plate part 21 receives the most force of the airflow at the position of the throttle part 16. Furthermore, if the throttle part 16 is configured to be located between the tip of the plate part 21 and the center of gravity G2 of the cleaning body 12, the plate part 21 vibrates strongly. At this time, the plate part 21 vibrates with the amplitude increasing toward the upstream side and the downstream side with the throttle part 16 as the base point.

[0058] Such a natural vibration state of the plate part 21 is a state in which the plate part 21 efficiently accumulates the energy it receives from the airflow. In particular, when the center of gravity G2 is at the antinode of the amplitude of the plate part 21, the natural vibration is less likely to be disturbed. In addition, in the natural vibration state, the vibration is also strongly transmitted to the dust remover 22 at the tip of the plate part 21, so the dust removal effect of the cleaning body 12 is improved. When the dust remover 22 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned in the natural vibration state, the natural vibration of the plate part 21 is disturbed and the vibration weakens, but when the force that the dust remover 22 receives from the surface to be cleaned weakens, it returns to the natural vibration state again.

[0059] The connecting point 25 is disposed at a position equivalent to the center of gravity G2 in the front-rear direction (first direction) or at a position rearward of the center of gravity G2 (downstream of the suction airflow, i.e., the connection port 15 side). The connecting point 25 also vibrates laterally in accordance with the natural vibration of the plate portion 21, but since the connecting member 13 follows in the laterally direction, the vibration of the plate portion 21 is not impeded. However, there is a more suitable position for the connecting point 25 on the plate portion 21. If the connecting point 25 is configured to be located downstream beyond an appropriate range, the amplitude of the rear end of the plate portion 21 will be reduced. In addition, the length of the plate portion 21 upstream of the connecting point 25 will be longer, making it difficult for self-excited vibration to occur.

[0060] The force that plate portion 21 receives from the airflow is maximum when it is held so that the entirety is contained within suction tool body 11. When plate portion 21 is held so that it protrudes from air intake port 14, the wind speed around the protruding portion is slower than within suction tool body 11, so that the force that plate portion 21 receives from the airflow is reduced and vibration is weakened.

[0061] When adjusting the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 from the air intake 14, moving the connecting member 13 relative to the suction tool body 11 changes the relative positional relationship between the plate portion 21 and the throttle portion 16, and therefore changes the vibration state of the plate portion 21. When the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 is large, the portion of the plate portion 21 located upstream of the throttle portion 16 becomes longer, and the amplitude of the tip of the plate portion 21 becomes larger. As a result, the vibration amplitude of the dust remover 22 becomes larger. On the other hand, when the amount of protrusion of the dust remover 22 is small, the portion of the plate portion 21 located upstream of the throttle portion 16 becomes shorter, and the amplitude of the tip of the plate portion 21 becomes smaller. As a result, the vibration amplitude of the dust remover 22 becomes smaller. In addition, when the connecting member 13 is moved relative to the suction tool body 11, the position of the plate portion 21 that receives the most force from the airflow changes, and therefore the natural frequency of the plate portion 21 also changes.

[0062] When the protruding amount of the dust removing body 22 is large, the amplitude of the dust removing body 22 is large and the wind speed near the tip of the dust removing body 22 is slow, so that it is difficult to suck the dust removed from the surface to be cleaned into the air intake 14. However, for example, in a narrow space or a corner surrounded by surroundings, even if the suction force of the tip of the dust removing body 22 is small, it is possible to suck the dust, so that it is more suitable to have a strong effect of removing the dust attached to the surface to be cleaned. Also, when the protruding amount of the dust removing body 22 is small, the amplitude of the dust removing body 22 is small, but the wind speed near the tip of the dust removing body 22 is fast, so that the dust removed from the surface to be cleaned can be reliably sucked into the air intake 14. Therefore, for example, it is suitable for removing dust attached to fragile and delicate objects. In this way, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present disclosure, the protruding amount of the dust removing body 22 can be appropriately adjusted according to the state of the surface to be cleaned.

[0063] The metal rod 23 and the resin fiber 24 constituting the connecting member 13 have different rigidities. That is, the rigidity of the metal rod 23 is higher than the rigidity of the resin fiber 24. In other words, the flexibility of the resin fiber 24 is higher than the flexibility of the metal rod 23. When the plate portion 21 vibrates, the connecting point 25 moves laterally by being pulled by the plate portion 21. When the connecting point 25 moves, tension is applied to the resin fiber 24, and the metal rod 23 also receives a force on the resin fiber 24 side. The rigidity of the resin fiber 24 is low, and it vibrates laterally following the movement of the connecting point 25. The connection point of the resin fiber 24 with the metal rod 23 also vibrates laterally due to the tension of the resin fiber 24. That is, the rear end of the metal rod 23 also vibrates laterally. However, since the metal rod 23 has a high rigidity, the amplitude is smaller than that of the resin fiber 24.

[0064] At least a part of the cleaning body 12 is held in the suction tool body 11 by the connecting member 13. When the air inlet 14 of the suction tool 5 faces vertically downward while the blower 6 is not operating, a force acts on the cleaning body 12 in a direction protruding from the air inlet 14 due to its own weight. However, since the metal rod 23 and the resin fiber 24 of the connecting member 13 each have rigidity, the cleaning body 12 can be held without moving in a direction protruding from the air inlet 14. Here, the lower the rigidity of the resin fiber 24, the stronger the vibration of the cleaning body 12 can be, so it is desirable to lower the rigidity of the resin fiber 24 to a degree that can prevent the cleaning body 12 from protruding. In this way, the connecting member 13 can suppress the cleaning body 12 from moving toward the air inlet 14 due to its own weight when there is no suction airflow in the air passage of the suction tool body 11. Therefore, when the blower 6 is not operating, the cleaning body 12 can be made less likely to protrude from the suction tool body 11, and the handling of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be improved.

[0065] In the configuration example described above, the connecting member 13 is made of two members having different rigidities, but even if the connecting member 13 is made of a member of uniform rigidity, the cleaning body 12 will vibrate in the same way. However, if the connecting member 13 is made of a member of uniform rigidity, it is desirable to adjust the rigidity so that the vibration of the cleaning body 12 is not hindered and the cleaning body 12 can be held within the suction tool main body 11.

[0066] In the suction tool 5 according to this embodiment, the cleaning body 12 connected to the connecting member 13 can be removed from the suction tool body 11. Therefore, after removing the cleaning body 12 connected to the connecting member 13 from the suction tool body 11, maintenance such as cleaning and replacement of the dust remover body 22 can be easily performed.

[0067] As described above, it is preferable that the resin fibers 24 have a rigidity such that the cleaning body 12 does not move toward the air intake port 14 under its own weight, but it is also preferable that the resin fibers 24 are deformed so that the cleaning body 12 can be easily pulled out to the outside of the air intake port 14 when the user pulls the cleaning body 12 toward the air intake port 14. In this way, maintenance of the dust remover 22 can be performed without removing the connecting member 13 from the suction tool main body 11.

[0068] As a maintenance task, the suction tool 5 itself can be removed from the nozzle 4 to easily remove dust adhering to the dust remover 22. When the suction tool 5 in the state shown in FIG. 4 is used to clean the surface to be cleaned, the dust becomes entangled between the fibers of the dust remover 22 because the bristles of the dust remover 22 are planted in the direction opposite to the direction of the airflow. The removal of dust entangled in the dust remover 22 in this manner will be described with reference to FIG. 13. In order to remove dust entangled in the dust remover 22, the user removes the suction tool 5 from the nozzle 4 of the vacuum cleaner 1, and, for example, reverses the direction of the suction tool 5 to bring the suction port 10 of the nozzle 4 into close contact with the intake port 14 of the suction tool 5. At this time, the connecting member 13 is moved toward the connection port 15, and the tip of the connecting member 13 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 20 of the intake port 14 so that the tip of the connecting member 13 does not protrude from the intake port 14.

[0069] In this state, when the power switch of the vacuum cleaner 1 is turned on, an airflow is generated from the connection port 15 of the suction tool 5 in the direction of the intake port 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the cleaning body 12 held by the connecting member 13 is sucked and moves toward the intake port 14. At this time, the resin fibers 24 are inverted toward the intake port 14, with the end of the metal rod 23 on the connection port 15 side as a base point. Since the metal rod 23 has high rigidity, it is not moved by the force on the intake port 14 side that the cleaning body 12 receives from the airflow. On the other hand, since the resin fibers 24 have low rigidity, they are inverted with the end of the metal rod 23 on the connection port 15 side as a base point. In other words, the cleaning body 12 moves toward the intake port 14 by approximately twice the length of the resin fibers 24.

[0070] In this state, the throttle portion 16 is located within the range of the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the plate portion 21. When air flows on both sides of the plate portion 21, the plate portion 21 vibrates, and a natural vibration is excited depending on the conditions. That is, the cleaning body 12 can vibrate both by air flows in which the air intake port 14 side is the upstream side and air flows in which the air intake port 14 side is the downstream side. Compared to the normal connection method during cleaning (the method of use shown in FIG. 4, etc.), the vibration of the plate portion 21 in this case is weak. However, since the air flows in a direction to remove dust entangled in the dust removing body 22, the lateral vibration of the dust removing body 22 caused by the natural vibration of the plate portion 21 is sufficient to remove the entangled dust. In this way, the dust entangled in the dust removing body 22 can be easily removed by sucking from the air intake port 14 side of the suction tool 5. Therefore, the usability of the vacuum cleaner 1 is improved.

[0071] As described above, the suction tool 5 according to the present disclosure can strongly vibrate the dust removing body 22 to remove dust from the surface to be cleaned without using a heavy driving source such as a motor. In other words, the suction tool 5 is a lightweight suction tool that is highly effective at removing dust and is easy for the user to operate. Moreover, the vacuum cleaner 1 equipped with the suction tool 5 is an electric vacuum cleaner that is easy for the user to operate.

[0072] Furthermore, the suction tool 5 according to the present disclosure does not use any electrical components, and therefore does not require electrical path components such as wiring for transmitting power and signals. Therefore, there is no weight increase due to electrical path components in the suction tool 5 and in the members connected between the suction tool 5 and the vacuum cleaner body 2, etc. Furthermore, no malfunction of the electrical components occurs when the suction tool 5 is washed with water.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the suction tool 5 of the present disclosure, the dust remover 22 itself vibrates, so unlike a typical suction tool that moves the suction tool 5 itself from side to side to remove dust with a brush attached to the tip, it can remove dust even in narrow places where the suction tool 5 cannot be moved from side to side. Therefore, it can be used to clean a variety of surfaces.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the suction tool 5 of the present disclosure, the dust remover 22 is an antistatic brush made of conductive fibers, which enhances the effect of removing fine dust that adheres to the surface to be cleaned due to static electricity. Also, the dust remover 22 can be prevented from becoming charged on the surface to be cleaned due to sliding against the surface to be cleaned.

[0075] Furthermore, in the suction tool 5 according to the present disclosure, the static elimination effect of the connected dust remover 22 can be improved by incorporating an antistatic material such as a carbon material into the resin fibers 24 of the plate portion 21 and the connecting member 13 or by subjecting them to an antistatic treatment. Specifically, for example, the resin fibers 24 of the plate portion 21 and the connecting member 13 are made of a material to which an antistatic agent such as carbon has been added. The carbon may be in the form of fibers. In addition, an antistatic agent made of an organic compound such as an anionic, cationic, or nonionic surfactant may be added. Alternatively, a material to which an antistatic agent made of an organic compound as described above has been applied may be used.

[0076] Furthermore, in suction tool 5 according to the present disclosure, the static elimination effect of connected dust remover 22 can be improved by making suction tool body 11 contain an antistatic material such as a carbon material, by subjecting it to antistatic treatment, or by making suction tool body 11 itself out of a metal material. When suction tool body 11 itself is made of a metal material, it is easy to manufacture suction tool body 11 by using a metal pipe and pressing narrowing portion 16.

[0077] The dimensions of each part in the suction tool 5 described above are merely examples. By configuring each part with a similar size but enlarged or reduced, and optimizing the wind speed of the airflow in the air passage, the dust removal body 22 can similarly achieve the dust removal effect.

[0078] Next, a first modified example of suction tool 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14 to Fig. 16. In this first modified example, the inner diameter of the air passage on the downstream side of expanded tapered section 18 is set to 12 mm, which is the same as the width of narrowed section 16 in the vertical direction (third direction).

[0079] In this first modified example as well, suction tool body 11 includes throttling section 16, contracting taper section 17, and expanding taper section 18. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of suction tool body 11 at cross sections C, D, and F shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. As shown in the figure, throttling section 16 is configured such that the air passage cross section is substantially rectangular. The width of the air passage in the horizontal direction (second direction) of throttling section 16 is, for example, 6 mm. The width of the air passage in the vertical direction (third direction) of throttling section 16 is, for example, 12 mm. The length of throttling section 16 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 10 mm.

[0080] A reducing tapered section 17 is provided between the intake port 14 of the suction tool main body 11 and the narrowed section 16. The reducing tapered section 17 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually narrows in the lateral direction (second direction) toward the narrowed section 16. In the reducing tapered section 17, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes from a circle to a substantially rectangular shape. The length of the reducing tapered section 17 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 15 mm.

[0081] An enlarged tapered portion 18 is provided on the connection port 15 side of the narrowed portion 16 in the suction tool main body 11, that is, on the opposite side to the intake port 14. The enlarged tapered portion 18 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually narrows in the horizontal direction (second direction) as it approaches the narrowed portion 16. In other words, the enlarged tapered portion 18 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually widens in the horizontal direction (second direction) as it moves away from the narrowed portion 16. In the enlarged tapered portion 18, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes from a substantially rectangular shape to a circular shape. That is, the air passage of the suction tool main body 11 becomes a circle with an inner diameter of 12 mm downstream of the narrowed portion 16. Therefore, the width of the air passage in the horizontal direction (second direction) at the end portion of the enlarged tapered portion 18 is wider than the width of the intake port 14 in the horizontal direction (second direction). The length of the enlarged tapered portion 18 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 18 mm.

[0082] The plate portion 21 receives the airflow in the suction tool body 11 and enters a natural vibration state. The wind speed in the range where the plate portion 21 is held is maximum at the position of the throttling portion 16. The plate portion 21 receives the most force of the airflow at the position of the throttling portion 16. The plate portion 21 vibrates with an amplitude that increases toward the upstream side and the downstream side from the throttling portion 16 as a base point. At this time, the wider the width that the rear end of the plate portion 21 can move in the lateral direction, the greater the vibration energy accumulated in the plate portion 21 during the natural vibration. Therefore, according to such a first modified example, the lateral width of the air passage on the connection port 15 side, i.e., the rear end side of the plate portion 21, is made wider than the intake port 14, thereby increasing the vibration of the plate portion 21 and further improving the effect of removing dust from the surface to be cleaned by the dust remover 22.

[0083] Next, a second modified example of suction tool 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 19. In this second modified example, the air passage on the downstream side of expanded tapered portion 18 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape.

[0084] In this second modified example as well, suction tool body 11 includes throttling section 16, contracting taper section 17, and expanding taper section 18. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of suction tool body 11 at cross sections C, D, and H shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. As shown in the figure, throttling section 16 is configured such that the air passage cross section is substantially rectangular. The width of the air passage in the horizontal direction (second direction) of throttling section 16 is, for example, 6 mm. The width of the air passage in the vertical direction (third direction) of throttling section 16 is, for example, 12 mm. The length of throttling section 16 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 10 mm.

[0085] A reducing tapered section 17 is provided between the intake port 14 of the suction tool main body 11 and the narrowed section 16. The reducing tapered section 17 has a tapered shape in which the width of the air passage gradually narrows in the lateral direction (second direction) toward the narrowed section 16. In the reducing tapered section 17, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes from a circle to a substantially rectangular shape. The length of the reducing tapered section 17 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 15 mm.

[0086] An enlarged tapered portion 18 is provided on the connection port 15 side of the narrowed portion 16 in the suction tool main body 11, i.e., on the opposite side to the intake port 14. The enlarged tapered portion 18 is tapered in the horizontal direction (second direction) such that the width of the air passage gradually narrows as it approaches the narrowed portion 16. In other words, the enlarged tapered portion 18 is tapered in the horizontal direction (second direction) such that the width of the air passage gradually widens as it moves away from the narrowed portion 16. In the enlarged tapered portion 18, the cross-sectional shape of the air passage along the suction airflow smoothly changes to a substantially rectangular shape with different vertical and horizontal dimensions. On the downstream side of the enlarged tapered portion 18, i.e., on the connection port 15 side, the cross section of the air passage is substantially rectangular. The width of the air passage in the horizontal direction (second direction) downstream of the enlarged tapered portion 18 is, for example, 14 mm. Therefore, the width of the air passage in the horizontal direction (second direction) at the aforementioned end portion of the expanded tapered portion 18 is wider than the width of the air intake port 14 in the horizontal direction (second direction). Also, the width of the air passage in the vertical direction (third direction) downstream of the expanded tapered portion 18 is, for example, 10 mm. Therefore, the width of the air passage in the vertical direction (third direction) at the aforementioned end portion of the expanded tapered portion 18 is narrower than the width of the air passage in the vertical direction (third direction) at the narrowed portion 16. The length of the expanded tapered portion 18 in the axial direction (first direction) is, for example, about 28 mm.

[0087] The plate portion 21 receives the airflow in the suction tool body 11 and enters a natural vibration state. The wind speed in the range where the plate portion 21 is held is maximum at the position of the throttling portion 16. The plate portion 21 receives the most force of the airflow at the position of the throttling portion 16. The plate portion 21 vibrates with an amplitude that increases toward the upstream side and the downstream side from the throttling portion 16 as a base point. At this time, the wider the width that the rear end of the plate portion 21 can move in the lateral direction, the greater the vibration energy accumulated in the plate portion 21 during the natural vibration. Therefore, according to such a second modified example, the lateral width of the air passage on the connection port 15 side, i.e., the rear end side of the plate portion 21, is made wider than the intake port 14, thereby increasing the vibration of the plate portion 21 and further improving the effect of removing dust from the surface to be cleaned by the dust remover 22.

[0088] In the second modified example, the vertical width of the air passage on the connection port 15 side, i.e., on the rear end side of the plate part 21, is 10 mm, and the vertical movement of the plate part 21, which has a vertical width of 7 mm, in the air passage is restricted. Therefore, even if the dust remover 22 comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned and the cleaning body 12 receives a reaction force, it is possible to prevent the plate part 21 from tilting significantly in the vertical direction. Therefore, the force pressing the dust remover 22 against the surface to be cleaned is unlikely to decrease, and the dust removal effect of the dust remover 22 can be maintained.

[0089] The shape of connection port 15 may be substantially rectangular to match the cross-sectional shape downstream of enlarged tapered portion 18. In this case, when suction tool 5 is connected to circular suction port 10 of nozzle 4, a connecting part or the like that changes the air path shape is appropriately used. Also, the shape of connection port 15 may be made circular by making the cross-sectional shape from enlarged tapered portion 18 to connection port 15 smoothly circular.

[0090] Next, a third modified example of suction tool 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 20 and 21. In this third modified example, a soft material is provided on the inner surface of the air passage of suction tool body 11. That is, in suction tool 5 according to the third modified example, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, elastic member 35 is provided on the inner surface of the air passage of suction tool body 11. Elastic member 35 is, for example, rubber or elastomer resin having a thickness of 1 mm. Elastic member 35 is an example of a soft material. In the illustrated example, elastic member 35 is provided on the inner surface of the air passage on the connection port 15 side of enlarged tapered portion 18 in suction tool body 11.

[0091] When plate portion 21 receives airflow within suction tool body 11 and enters a natural vibration state, plate portion 21 repeatedly collides with the inner surface of the air passage. This collision of plate portion 21 with the inner surface of the air passage of suction tool body 11 propagates vibration to suction tool body 11 and generates noise. By providing elastic member 35 inside the air passage of suction tool body 11, the collision of plate portion 21 is buffered and vibration and noise are reduced. Note that elastic member 35 may be provided not only in a part of the air passage of suction tool body 11 but throughout the entire interior of the air passage. Furthermore, if the entire suction tool body 11 is made of an elastic material instead of a hard resin, the effect of reducing vibration and noise can be further improved.

[0092] Next, a fourth modified example of the suction tool 5 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 22 and 23. In this fourth modified example, dust removers are provided at both ends of the cleaning body 12 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). As shown in Figs. 22 and 23, in this fourth modified example, the suction tool 5 also includes a suction tool body 11, a cleaning body 12, and a connecting member 13. The suction tool body 11 is, for example, a hollow cylindrical resin nozzle with a total length of 145 mm, an inner diameter of 12 mm, and a thickness of 1.5 mm. The direction of the airflow (suction airflow) when the suction tool 5 sucks dust is the axial direction of the suction tool 5, that is, parallel to the first direction or the front-rear direction. The suction airflow flows from left to right in Figs. 22 and 23.

[0093] The cleaning body 12 includes a plate portion 21, a dust removing body 22 (first dust removing body), and a second dust removing body 40. The plate portion 21 is a resin member having a long and narrow flat plate shape, for example, with a length of 120 mm, a height of 7 mm, and a thickness of 0.3 mm. That is, the width of the plate portion in the front-rear direction (first direction) is longer than the width in the vertical direction (third direction). The dust removing body 22 is provided at the front end of the plate portion 21. The dust removing body 22 provided at the front end of the plate portion 21 is also referred to as the first dust removing body 22 to distinguish it from the second dust removing body 40. The second dust removing body 40 is provided at the rear end of the plate portion 21.

[0094] Each of the first dust removing body 22 and the second dust removing body 40 is a bundle of anti-static brushes made of conductive fibers, for example, with a wire diameter of 0.1 mm and a length of 20 mm. The rear end of the first dust removing body 22 is adhered to the vicinity of the front end of the plate portion 21. The front end of the second dust removing body 40 is adhered to the vicinity of the rear end of the plate portion 21. The center of gravity G2 shown in FIG. 22 is the center of gravity of the entire cleaning body 12, which is the combination of the plate portion 21, the first dust removing body 22, and the second dust removing body 40.

[0095] Plate portion 21 is subjected to the airflow within suction tool body 11 and enters a natural vibration state. Accordingly, first dust remover 22 protruding from air intake port 14 also vibrates, and dust on the surface to be cleaned can be removed in the same manner as in the configuration examples described above. On the other hand, second dust remover 40 on the downstream side does not contribute to the removal of dust from the surface to be cleaned, but functions as an extension of plate portion 21 within the air passage of suction tool body 11 and vibrates laterally.

[0096] When the suction tool 5 in the state shown in Fig. 22 is used to clean the surface to be cleaned, the first dust removing body 22 has a fiber-planting direction (extending direction) opposite to the airflow direction, so dust becomes entangled between the fibers of the first dust removing body 22. When removing dust entangled in the first dust removing body 22, the user removes the cleaning body 12 including the connecting member 13 from the suction tool body 11 and switches the front and rear of the cleaning body 12. In other words, the cleaning body 12 is attached to the suction tool body 11 so that the second dust removing body 40 is on the upstream side and the first dust removing body 22 is on the downstream side.

[0097] In this state, when the power switch of the vacuum cleaner 1 is turned on, an airflow is generated in the direction from the intake port 14 of the suction tool 5 to the connection port 15. Then, the cleaning body 12 is in the same natural vibration state as before the direction of the first dust remover 22 and the second dust remover 40 is swapped. Then, the first dust remover 22, which is arranged downstream of the cleaning body 12 and has dust attached thereto, vibrates laterally in the air passage of the suction tool main body 11. At this time, the airflow acts in a direction to remove the dust entangled in the first dust remover 22. Therefore, the dust entangled in the first dust remover 22 is removed by the vibration and the airflow. In this way, by swapping the direction of the cleaning body 12 and sucking it, the dust entangled in the first dust remover 22 and the second dust remover 40 can be easily removed. Therefore, while cleaning the surface to be cleaned with one dust remover, maintenance of the other dust remover can be performed, improving the usability of the vacuum cleaner 1.

[0098] At least one of the length, thickness, amount of bristles, rigidity, etc. of the first dust removing body 22 and the second dust removing body 40 may be different from the other. In this way, dust removing bodies with different performances can be used according to the condition of the surface to be cleaned, further improving the usability of the vacuum cleaner 1.

[0099] Next, a modified example of the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 24. In this modified example, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner body 2, a dust collecting unit 3, a nozzle 4, and a suction tool 5, as shown in the figure. The dust collecting unit 3 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 2. The nozzle 4 is attached to the dust collecting unit 3. The suction tool 5 is connected to the tip of the nozzle 4. The dust collecting unit 3 has a bent cylinder shape with the same diameter as the vacuum cleaner body 2. As a result, as shown in the figure, the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 2 and the axial direction of the suction tool 5 are bent at a certain bending angle A. The bending angle A is greater than 90° and less than 180°, preferably greater than or equal to 120° and less than or equal to 140°, and more preferably 130°.

[0100] In the vacuum cleaner 1 according to this modification, an adjustment hole 42 is formed. The adjustment hole 42 is an opening that communicates with the air passage of the suction airflow in the middle of the air passage of the suction airflow from the air intake 14 of the suction tool 5 to the blower 6. In the illustrated example, the adjustment hole 42 is formed in the dust collecting part 3. The internal space of the dust collecting part 3 communicates with the outside through the adjustment hole 42. The adjustment hole 42 is, for example, a circular shape with a diameter of 8 mm. The adjustment hole 42 is disposed on the side surface opposite to the bent side of the dust collecting part 3. The adjustment hole 42 is provided within a range that the tip of the index finger can reach when the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 moves the support position only with the index finger from a state in which the user holds the grip part 41 of the vacuum cleaner body 2 in his / her hand. That is, in the illustrated example, the adjustment hole 42 can be closed by the fingers of the user's hand holding the grip part 41.

[0101] When the user holds grip portion 41 of vacuum cleaner body 2 in his / her hand, that is, when vacuum cleaner body 2 is tilted from the vertical toward suction tool 5 at angle B (e.g., 40°), and holds point P between the second joint of the index finger and middle finger and the first joint of the thumb, even if the user moves his / her index finger, vacuum cleaner body 2 is held with the other fingers, so the balance of the vacuum cleaner 1 is unlikely to be disturbed.

[0102] When the blower 6 is driven and the adjustment hole 42 is blocked with a finger, all of the airflow generated by the blower 6 is sucked through the air intake 14. At this time, the volume of the airflow sucked through the air intake 14 is maximum, and the vibration of the cleaning body 12 is also maximum. On the other hand, when the adjustment hole 42 is open, outside air is also sucked through the adjustment hole 42, so the airflow sucked through the air intake 14 decreases as the opening degree of the adjustment hole 42 increases. Therefore, the vibration of the cleaning body 12 decreases as the opening degree of the adjustment hole 42 increases. Then, when the adjustment hole 42 is fully opened, the volume of the airflow sucked through the air intake 14 is minimum, and the vibration of the cleaning body 12 is also minimum.

[0103] According to such a modified example, the user can easily adjust the volume of the airflow sucked from the air intake port 14 and the strength of the vibration of the cleaning body 12 by adjusting the opening state of the adjustment hole 42 with his / her index finger according to the state of the surface to be cleaned. The adjustment hole 42 may be formed not only in the dust collecting part 3 but also in the suction tool main body 11 and the nozzle 4. For example, at the connection part between the nozzle 4 and the dust collecting part 3, the adjustment hole 42 is formed in each of the members on the nozzle 4 side and the dust collecting part 3 side that overlap each other. According to such a configuration, by twisting and rotating the connection part between the nozzle 4 and the dust collecting part 3, the overlapping area of ​​the adjustment hole 42 can be changed, and the opening degree including the opening and closing of the adjustment hole 42 can be adjusted. Therefore, the volume of the airflow sucked from the air intake port 14 and the strength of the vibration of the cleaning body 12 can be easily adjusted. The same is true for the connection part between the nozzle 4 and the suction tool 5.

[0104] In the present disclosure, the embodiments and modifications may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Examples of various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices. (Appendix 1) A main body having a built-in blower that generates a suction airflow and a battery that supplies power to drive the blower; a cylindrical suction tool that sucks dust from a tip thereof by the suction airflow; A dust collecting unit that collects the dust sucked by the suction tool, One end of the main body in the longitudinal direction is connected to one end of the dust collecting portion, The other end of the dust collecting unit is connected to the other end of the suction tool opposite to the tip, The outer periphery of the main body is a gripping portion that is gripped by a user's hand, A handheld vacuum cleaner, wherein the angle between the longitudinal direction of the main body and the axial direction of the suction tool is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. (Appendix 2) 2. A handheld vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1, wherein an angle between the longitudinal direction of the main body and the axial direction of the suction tool is greater than or equal to 120 degrees and less than or equal to 140 degrees. (Appendix 3) 3. A handheld vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein an adjustment hole communicating with the air path of the suction airflow is formed in a midway portion of the air path of the suction airflow from the tip of the suction tool to the blower. (Appendix 4) The suction tool is A hollow cylindrical suction tool body having an air intake port formed at the tip and an air passage formed inside; a cleaning body at least a portion of which is disposed in the air passage in the suction tool body and vibrates due to an air flow in the air passage; A handheld vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a holding member for holding the cleaning body. (Appendix 5) The cleaning body is A plate portion having a plate shape; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, 5. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the plate portion vibrates at a natural frequency of the plate portion due to the airflow in the air passage. (Appendix 6) The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, The entirety of the plate portion is disposed inside the suction tool body, 5. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the dust removing body is exposed to the outside of the suction tool body through the air intake port. (Appendix 7) The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, a width of the plate portion in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the suction tool body is perpendicular to a second direction parallel to a vibration direction of the plate portion caused by the airflow in the air passage, and is longer than a width of the plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; 5. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the width of the plate portion in the third direction is at least half the width of the air intake port in the third direction. (Appendix 8) The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, a width of the plate portion in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the suction tool body is perpendicular to a second direction parallel to a vibration direction of the plate portion caused by the airflow in the air passage, and is longer than a width of the plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the suction tool body is provided with a narrowing portion in which the width of the air passage in the second direction is narrower than the width of the air intake in the second direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1. Vacuum cleaner 2 Vacuum cleaner body 3 Dust collection section 4 Nozzles 5 Suction tool 6. Blower 7. Battery 8 Primary Filter 9 Secondary Filter 10 Suction port 11 Suction tool body 12 Cleaning body 13 Connecting members 14 Air Intake 15 Connection port 16 Squeezing section 17 Reduced taper section 18 Expanded tapered section 19 Guide groove 20 Storage groove 21 Plate section 22 Dust removal body 23 metal rod 24 Resin Fiber 25 connection points 26 Crescent 35 Elastic member 40 Second dust removal body 41 Gripping part 42 Adjustment hole

Claims

1. A main body having a built-in blower that generates a suction airflow and a battery that supplies power to drive the blower; a cylindrical suction tool that sucks dust from a tip thereof by the suction airflow; A dust collecting unit that collects the dust sucked by the suction tool, One end of the main body in the longitudinal direction is connected to one end of the dust collecting portion, The other end of the dust collecting unit is connected to the other end of the suction tool opposite to the tip, The outer periphery of the main body is a gripping portion that is gripped by a user's hand, A handheld vacuum cleaner, wherein an angle between the longitudinal direction of the main body and an axial direction of the suction tool is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

2. 2. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the longitudinal direction of the main body and the axial direction of the suction tool is equal to or greater than 120 degrees and equal to or less than 140 degrees.

3. 3. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment hole communicating with the air path of the suction air current is formed in a midway portion of the air path of the suction air current from the tip of the suction tool to the blower.

4. The suction tool is A hollow cylindrical suction tool body having an air intake port formed at the tip and an air passage formed inside; a cleaning body at least a portion of which is disposed in the air passage in the suction tool body and vibrates due to an air flow in the air passage; The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a holding member for holding the cleaning element.

5. The cleaning body is A plate portion having a plate shape; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the plate portion vibrates at a natural frequency of the plate portion due to the airflow in the air passage.

6. The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, The entirety of the plate portion is disposed inside the suction tool body, 5. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the dust removing body is exposed to the outside of the suction tool body through the air inlet.

7. The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, a width of the plate portion in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the suction tool body is perpendicular to a second direction parallel to a vibration direction of the plate portion caused by the airflow in the air passage, and is longer than a width of the plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; 5. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the width of the plate portion in the third direction is equal to or greater than half the width of the air inlet in the third direction.

8. The cleaning body is A plate portion that vibrates due to the airflow in the air passage; a dust remover provided at an end of the plate portion on the intake port side, a width of the plate portion in a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the suction tool body is perpendicular to a second direction parallel to a vibration direction of the plate portion caused by the airflow in the air passage, and is longer than a width of the plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction; The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 , wherein the suction tool body is provided with a narrowing portion in which the width of the air passage in the second direction is narrower than the width of the air intake port in the second direction.

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