Cleaner

Abstract

To provide a cleaner for facilitating exchange of a filter part.SOLUTION: A cleaner includes: a cleaner body which incorporates a suction source for generating suction force to suck dust and is equipped with a dust storage chamber to which air containing the dust is sucked by actuation of the suction source; a lid body for forming the dust storage chamber together with the cleaner body while being attached to the cleaner body; a filter part arranged inside the dust storage chamber; a fixing part for fixing the filter part to the lid body; and an operation part to be operated in releasing the fixing of the filter part with respect to the lid body. The lid body is separable from the cleaner body. The operation part and the filter part are attached to the lid body so as to allow the lid body to be exposed outward when detached from the cleaner body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a filter unit that traps dust. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vacuum cleaner 300 shown in Fig. 14. This vacuum cleaner 300 includes a vacuum cleaner body 310, a suction tube 320 extending forward from the vacuum cleaner body 310, and a suction nozzle 330 attached to the end of the suction tube 320. The vacuum cleaner body 310 includes a housing 311 and a suction source 312 arranged at the rear of the internal space of the housing 311. In addition, a bag-shaped filter section 313 is arranged in front of the suction source 312, as shown in Fig. 15.

[0003] 16, an outlet 314 is formed in the front of the housing 311 to enable replacement of the filter unit 313. This outlet 314 is opened and closed by a lid 315 attached to the top of the housing 311. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-42898 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When replacing filter unit 313, the user rotates lid 315 upward to open outlet 314. In this state, the user reaches his / her hand between lid 315 and housing 311 and inserts his / her hand into housing 311 through outlet 314. Then, the user removes used filter unit 313 and fixes new filter unit 313 inside housing 311. During such replacement work, the user's hand may hit lid 315 or the inner wall surface of housing 311, hindering the replacement work of filter unit 313.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the filter portion can be easily replaced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vacuum cleaner of the present disclosure includes a vacuum cleaner body that incorporates a suction source that generates a suction force for sucking in dust and forms a dust storage chamber into which dust-containing air is sucked in by operation of the suction source, a lid body that is attached to the vacuum cleaner body and forms the dust storage chamber together with the vacuum cleaner body, a filter section arranged in the dust storage chamber, a fixing section for fixing the filter section to the lid body, and an operating section that is operated to move the fixing section so as to release the fixing of the filter section to the lid body. The lid body is configured to be separable from the vacuum cleaner body, and the operating section and the filter section are attached to the lid body such that they are exposed to the outside when the lid body is removed from the vacuum cleaner body. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The above described technique allows for easy replacement of the filter portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in an upright position [Diagram 2] Perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in a backward tilted position [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner body forming a dust chamber of the vacuum cleaner; [Figure 4] Cross-section of the vacuum cleaner body [Diagram 5] A perspective view of a cover for closing a dust chamber of a vacuum cleaner. [Figure 6] Perspective view of the cover [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter section accommodated in a dust storage chamber; [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fixing unit that fixes the filter unit to the lid body; [Figure 9] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body when a suction source built into the vacuum cleaner body is stopped; [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body when a suction source built into the vacuum cleaner body is in operation; [Figure 11] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body with dust stored in the dust storage chamber; [Figure 12] Cross-section of the lid [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cover when the filter unit is not attached; [Figure 14] A perspective view of a conventional vacuum cleaner [Figure 15] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner body forming a dust storage chamber of a conventional vacuum cleaner; [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum cleaner body with an open dust chamber; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in order to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, for example, detailed description of already well-known matters or duplicate description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stick type vacuum cleaner 100. The vacuum cleaner 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0012] (Overall structure of the vacuum cleaner) The vacuum cleaner 100 has a vacuum cleaner body 110 incorporating a suction source 111 that generates a suction force for sucking in dust, a suction tube 120 extending downward from the vacuum cleaner body 110, and a suction nozzle 130 attached to the lower end of the suction tube 120 and moving on the floor surface. The suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 shown in FIG. 1 are in an upright position relative to the suction nozzle 130.

[0013] A grip part 140 formed so as to be gripped by a user protrudes upward from the vacuum cleaner body 110, and an operating part 141 is provided on the outer surface of the grip part 140, which is operated by the user to activate or stop the suction source 111. When a user grips the grip part 140 and pulls it backward, the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 tilt backward about the lower end of the suction tube 120 as an axis, and assume a backward tilted position relative to the suction nozzle 130 as shown in FIG.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the suction source 111 is accommodated in the upper part of the vacuum cleaner body 110. A battery 112 that stores power for the suction source 111 is disposed behind the suction source 111. The suction source 111 and the battery 112 are arranged in the front-rear direction inside the vacuum cleaner body 110. When a user operates the operation unit 141 to activate the suction source 111, power is supplied from the battery 112 to the suction source 111, and the suction source 111 generates an upward suction force. The suction source 111 may be composed of a motor and a rotating blade configured to be rotationally driven by the motor to generate an upward airflow.

[0015] A dust storage chamber 113 into which dust-containing air is sucked by operation of the suction source 111 is formed below the suction source 111 and the battery 112. In detail, the front part of the dust storage chamber 113 is formed by the lower part of the vacuum cleaner body 110, and the rear part of the dust storage chamber 113 is formed by a lid body 114 attached to the lower part of the vacuum cleaner body 110 from the rear side. As shown in Fig. 2, the lid body 114 is configured to be removable from the vacuum cleaner body 110 in the rearward direction, and in this state, the front and rear parts of the dust storage chamber 113 are open to the outside.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the front part of the dust chamber 113 on the side of the cleaner body 110 becomes gradually deeper toward the upper side. The front end of the dust chamber 113 is defined by the lower part of the front wall 115 of the cleaner body 110. The upper end of the dust chamber 113 is defined by a partition wall 116 protruding rearward from the front wall 115 so as to separate the dust chamber 113 from an upper space in which the suction source 111 and the battery 112 are housed. The left end of the dust chamber 113 is defined by a left partition wall 117 extending downward from the left end of the partition wall 116. The right end of the dust chamber 113 is defined by a right partition wall 118 extending downward from the right end of the partition wall 116. The lower end of the dust chamber 113 is defined by a lower wall 119 forming the lower end of the cleaner body 110.

[0017] The rear edges of the partition wall 116, the left partition wall 117, the right partition wall 118 and the lower wall 119 form an opening that opens rearward when the lid body 114 is removed from the vacuum cleaner body 110. A seal body 151 is attached to the rear edges of the partition wall 116, the left partition wall 117, the right partition wall 118 and the lower wall 119, and this seal body 151 is compressed by the lid body 114 when the lid body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110. As a result, the vacuum cleaner body 110 and the lid body 114 are connected airtightly, and the inflow of air into the dust chamber 113 from the joint between the vacuum cleaner body 110 and the lid body 114 is suppressed.

[0018] 4, suction source 111 is disposed above the front portion of partition wall 116, and outlet 152 is formed in the front portion of partition wall 116 to allow air to flow from dust storage chamber 113 to suction source 111. Filter unit 155 is attached to outlet 152. Filter unit 155 is configured to capture dust contained in the air while allowing air to pass through. Therefore, dust flowing from dust storage chamber 113 to suction source 111 is reduced by filter unit 155.

[0019] A rear portion 153 of the partition wall 116 is inclined outward (upward), and the front portion of the dust chamber 113 formed by the vacuum cleaner body 110 becomes wider in the vertical direction toward the rear (i.e., toward the lid body 114).

[0020] 3, the left partition wall 117 and the right partition wall 118 protrude rearward from the front wall 115. The protruding height of the left partition wall 117 and the right partition wall 118 from the front wall 115 gradually decreases from the partition wall 116 toward the bottom wall 119. Therefore, on the cleaner body 110 side, the dust chamber 113 is deeper on the partition wall 116 side and shallower on the bottom wall 119 side.

[0021] An engagement claw 154 that engages with the lower end of lid body 114 protrudes from the lower surface of bottom wall 119. Lid body 114 is capable of tilting rearward about engagement claw 154 as an axis, as shown in Fig. 2. After tilting lid body 114 rearward, the user can remove lid body 114 from vacuum cleaner body 110 by pulling lid body 114 out of engagement claw 154.

[0022] 5, the cover 114 has an outer wall 160 having a concave cross section that opens forward (i.e., toward the cleaner body 110). The outer wall 160 has a rear wall 161 that forms the rear surface of the cleaner 100, a pair of clamping walls 162, 163 that protrude forward from the rear wall 161 with a gap between them in the left-right direction, and a bottom wall 164 that forms the bottom surface of the cover 114. The bottom wall 164 is provided with an engagement portion 165 that is configured to be able to engage with the engagement claw portion 154 of the cleaner body 110. Note that no wall is provided at the upper end of the outer wall 160, and the outer wall 160 opens not only forward but also upward.

[0023] The left-right interval between the sandwiching walls 162, 163 is set so as to allow the vacuum cleaner body 110 to be fitted between the sandwiching walls 162, 163 when the cover body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110. In this state, the upper part of the left sandwiching wall 162 overlaps the left partition wall 117 of the vacuum cleaner body 110 from the outside, and the right sandwiching wall 163 overlaps the right partition wall 118 of the vacuum cleaner body 110 from the outside. In other words, the cover body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110 in a state in which the vacuum cleaner body 110 is sandwiched between the sandwiching walls 162, 163 on the left and right. At this time, the sandwiching walls 162, 163 are in a state of being pressed against the left partition wall 117 and the right partition wall 118 with a certain amount of force, but this force does not have to be large enough to create an airtight seal structure between the sandwiching walls 162, 163, the left partition wall 117 and the right partition wall 118.

[0024] In order to prevent the user's hands from slipping on the outer surface of the lid body 114 when removing the lid body 114 from the vacuum cleaner body 110 and when attaching the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110, anti-slip portions 166, 167 are formed on the outer surfaces of the clamping walls 162, 163. In this embodiment, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 are formed by ribs that protrude from the outer surfaces of the clamping walls 162, 163 and extend in the vertical direction.

[0025] In the space surrounded by the rear wall 161, the sandwiching walls 162, 163, and the lower wall 164, there are provided a sealing wall 171 and a tube holding portion 172 protruding forward (i.e., toward the cleaner body 110) from the rear wall 161. The sealing wall 171 is provided to form the rear of the dust storage chamber 113 together with the rear wall 161. In detail, the sealing wall 171 is configured such that the front end of the sealing wall 171 compresses the sealing body 151 attached to the rear edges of the partition wall 116, the left partition wall 117, the right partition wall 118, and the lower wall 119 of the cleaner body 110 over the entire length. As a result, the cleaner body 110 and the lid body 114 abut against each other airtightly, and the inflow of air into the dust storage chamber 113 from these joints is suppressed when the suction source 111 is operated.

[0026] Tube holding portion 172 protrudes from rear wall 161 so as to divide the rear of dust storage chamber 113, which is formed by sealing wall 171 and rear wall 161, into upper and lower portions. Tube holding portion 172 is spaced leftward from the right side portion of sealing wall 171. A fixing lever portion 180 is disposed between the right side portion of sealing wall 171 and tube holding portion 172 to fix filter portion 173, which is configured to be able to store dust, to tube holding portion 172.

[0027] Above pipe holding portion 172, the protruding height of sealing wall 171 from rear wall 161 is smaller than the protruding height of sandwiching walls 162, 163 from rear wall 161. The protruding height of sealing wall 171 gradually decreases going upward from pipe holding portion 172, and the protruding height of the upper end portion of sealing wall 171 is the smallest within sealing wall 171.

[0028] 6, filter portion 173 is housed in the space above tube holding portion 172. At this time, a part of filter portion 173 is surrounded in the circumferential direction by outer wall portion 160 of lid body 114 having a concave cross section. Therefore, after separating lid body 114 from vacuum cleaner body 110, if the user holds lid body 114 so that rear wall 161 faces downward, dust that has spilled down from filter portion 173 can remain on lid body 114.

[0029] The filter section 173 has a substantially rectangular fixed plate 174 disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the tube holding section 172, and a bag body 175 attached to the fixed plate 174. The bag body 175 is in a folded state in FIG. 6, but when dust flows into the bag body 175, it expands as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The bag body 175 is configured to allow air to pass through while capturing dust contained in the air. The dust is stored inside the bag body 175. For example, the bag body 175 can be formed from a fibrous material such as paper or nonwoven fabric.

[0030] Fixed plate 174 is made of a material having higher rigidity than bag body 175, and may be made of, for example, cardboard. Inlet 176 that allows dust to flow into bag body 175 is formed in approximately the center of fixed plate 174, as shown in Fig. 7. Inlet 176 opens downward when cover 114 is attached to vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0031] Fixed lever portion 180 is attached to cover body 114 in order to remove filter portion 173 from cover body 114 after cover body 114 is separated from vacuum cleaner body 110. Fixed lever portion 180 has an operating portion 185 that is rotatable leftward (i.e., toward the inside of cover body 114) about a fixed shaft portion 184 fixed to cover body 114.

[0032] On the opposite side of the operating unit 185 with respect to the fixed shaft portion 184, there is provided a fixing portion 186 configured to sandwich the fixing plate 174 of the filter portion 173 with the tube holding portion 172. The fixing portion 186 shown in Fig. 6 is in a fixed position where the fixing plate 174 of the filter portion 173 is sandwiched between the fixing portion 186 and the tube holding portion 172. At this time, the operating unit 185 is in a first position where it fits inside the sealing wall 171 as shown in Fig. 6.

[0033] When the user presses operation portion 185 to the left (i.e., toward the inside of cover body 114), fixing portion 186 retreats from the fixed position shown in Fig. 6 so as to move away from tube holding portion 172, and moves to the release position shown in Fig. 5. In other words, fixing lever portion 180 is configured so that fixing plate 174 of filter portion 173 is released from between tube holding portion 172 and fixing portion 186 by operating operation portion 185.

[0034] 8, the fixed lever portion 180 further includes a front cylinder portion 181 to which the operating portion 185 is connected, a rear cylinder portion 182 arranged at a position spaced rearward from the front cylinder portion 181, and a biasing portion 183 arranged between the front cylinder portion 181 and the rear cylinder portion 182. In this embodiment, the biasing portion 183 is formed of a torsion spring, and biases the fixed portion 186 toward the fixed position shown in FIG.

[0035] 5 is inserted through the front tubular portion 181, the biasing portion 183, and the rear tubular portion 182. The fixed shaft portion 184, the front tubular portion 181, the biasing portion 183, and the rear tubular portion 182 are disposed in the space below the tube holding portion 172.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the front tube portion 181 is located forward of the front edge of the seal wall 171 forming the rear of the dust storage chamber 113 and the front edges of the sandwiching walls 162, 163 protruding from the outside of the seal wall 171. In other words, when the cover body 114 is removed from the vacuum cleaner body 110, the front tube portion 181 is in a position protruding from the space surrounded by the seal wall 171 and the space surrounded by the outer wall portion 160 of the cover body 114, and is exposed to the outside. At this time, the operating unit 185 connected to the front tube portion 181 is also in a position protruding from the space surrounded by the seal wall 171 and the space surrounded by the outer wall portion 160 of the cover body 114, and is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the user can operate the operating unit 185 without being hindered by the cover body 114.

[0037] The fixing part 186 has a connecting part 191 connected to the front cylinder part 181 and the rear cylinder part 182 and protruding into the space above the tube holding part 172, and a pressing part 187 bent leftward from the connecting part 191. The pressing part 187 is located above the fixing plate 174 of the tube holding part 172 and the filter part 173, and presses the right end part of the fixing plate 174 against the tube holding part 172 by the biasing force of the biasing part 183. In other words, the right end part of the fixing plate 174 is sandwiched between the pressing part 187 and the tube holding part 172. The pressing part 187 is connected to the operating part 185 via the connecting part 191 and the front cylinder part 181, and can move integrally with the operating part 185. When the user presses the operating part 185 leftward, the pressing part 187 is displaced obliquely upward to the right. As a result, the fixing plate 174 is released from between the pressing portion 187 and the tube holding portion 172 .

[0038] As shown in Fig. 8, a push-out portion 188 protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of rear cylinder portion 182. Push-out portion 188 is provided to push out fixing plate 174 of filter portion 173 in a direction away from tube holding portion 172 when filter portion 173 is removed from lid body 114. To allow push-out portion 188 to protrude from rear cylinder portion 182 provided below tube holding portion 172 into the space above tube holding portion 172, an opening 189 is formed between tube holding portion 172 and rear wall 161 of lid body 114 as shown in Fig. 5.

[0039] Pushing part 188 is integrated with operating part 185 via rear cylinder part 182, connection part 191 of fixing part 186, and front cylinder part 181, and can move integrally with operating part 185. When the user pushes operating part 185 to the left, pushing part 188 protrudes into the space above tube holding part 172 through opening 189, and pushes fixing plate 174 of filter part 173 upward and away from tube holding part 172.

[0040] A part of the suction tube 120 is accommodated in the space below the tube holding part 172, and the tube holding part 172 holds the base end 124 of the suction tube 120. When the filter part 173 is fixed to the tube holding part 172 by the fixing lever part 180, the base end 124 of the suction tube 120 faces the inlet 176 of the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173. In this state, dust that has passed through the suction tube 120 is allowed to flow into the bag body 175 through the inlet 176 of the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173.

[0041] The suction tube 120 forms a flow path extending from the base end 124 to the suction nozzle 130 shown in Fig. 1, and dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source 111 flows through this flow path. In detail, the suction tube 120 has a base end tube section 121, an extension tube section 122 extending downward from the base end tube section 121, and a tip tube section 123 attached to the lower end of the extension tube section 122, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the base end pipe section 121 has a second pipe section 126 which is fixed to the pipe holding section 172 and extends into the space below the pipe holding section 172. The second pipe section 126 is formed of an elbow pipe. One end of the second pipe section 126 forms the base end 124 of the suction pipe 120, and the other end 128 of the second pipe section 126 opens towards the vacuum cleaner body 110. A seal body 129 is attached to the end 128.

[0043] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, a check valve 190 is attached near the base end 124 of the second tube section 126. Figure 9 shows the check valve 190 when the suction source 111 is not operating, and this check valve 190 closes the flow path of the second tube section 126. On the other hand, Figure 10 shows the check valve 190 when the suction source 111 is operating, and this check valve 190 is curved upward by the upward suction force of the suction source 111 to open the flow path of the second tube section 126. At this time, a part of the check valve 190 enters the filter section 173 through the inlet 176 of the fixed plate 174.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the base end pipe section 121 further has a first pipe section 125 formed integrally with the vacuum cleaner body 110, and is configured to be separable into the first pipe section 125 and the second pipe section 126. The lower end portion of the first pipe section 125 is formed so that the extension pipe section 122 shown in FIG. 1 can be inserted into it. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end section 127 of the first pipe section 125 is bent toward the cover body 114, and the end face of the upper end section 127 faces the end section 128 of the second pipe section 126. The end face of the upper end section 127 is pressed against a seal body 129 attached to the end section 128 of the second pipe section 126, and the first pipe section 125 and the second pipe section 126 are connected to each other via the seal body 129. For this reason, the inflow of air from the joint between the first pipe section 125 and the second pipe section 126 is suppressed by the seal body 129.

[0045] The upper end of the extension tube 122 is removable from the first tube 125, and the tip tube 123 is removable from the lower end of the extension tube 122. The tip tube 123 is attached to the rear of the suction nozzle 130 so as to allow the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 to move from the upright position shown in FIG. 1 to the backward tilted position shown in FIG. 2. Inside the suction nozzle 130, a suction space (not shown) communicating with the flow path of the suction tube 120 is formed, and this suction space opens downward to allow dust on the floor surface to flow in. The suction nozzle 130 has a width sufficient to keep the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 in an upright position unless an external force is applied to the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0046] (Vacuum cleaner in action) The user grips the grip portion 140 and places the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 in a backward tilted position as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the user operates the operating portion 141 to activate the suction source 111. This operation causes the suction source 111 to generate an upward suction force. The suction force of the suction source 111 acts on the check valve 190 through the bag body 175 of the filter portion 173, which is breathable. Therefore, the check valve 190 is curved upward by the suction force of the suction source 111, as shown in FIG. 10. In this state, the internal space of the filter portion 173 communicates with the flow path of the suction tube 120. Since the flow path of the suction tube 120 communicates with the suction space of the suction nozzle 130, the internal space of the filter portion 173 also communicates with the suction space of the suction nozzle 130 through the flow path of the suction tube 120. Therefore, the suction force of the suction source 111 acts on the suction space of the suction nozzle 130 through the internal space of the filter portion 173 and the flow path of the suction tube 120.

[0047] The suction space of suction nozzle 130 opens downward. Therefore, when a user moves suction nozzle 130 forward on a floor surface, the opening of this suction space faces the floor surface, and dust on the floor surface is sucked up into the suction space of suction nozzle 130 by the upward suction force of suction source 111. This dust then flows through the flow path of suction tube 120 and flows into bag body 175 of filter part 173 through inlet 176 of fixing plate 174 of filter part 173. Then, this dust is captured by bag body 175 and stored in bag body 175.

[0048] The internal pressure of dust chamber 113, which houses filter portion 173, becomes lower than the pressure around dust chamber 113 while suction source 111 is operating. Therefore, the air around dust chamber 113 tries to flow into dust chamber 113 through the joint between vacuum cleaner body 110 and lid body 114 which form dust chamber 113. However, since seal body 151 compressed by vacuum cleaner body 110 and lid body 114 is disposed at this joint, the inflow of air through this joint is suppressed.

[0049] Furthermore, the pressure inside the flow path of suction tube 120 also becomes lower than the pressure outside suction tube 120, and the air outside suction tube 120 tries to flow into the flow path of suction tube 120 through the joint between first tube section 125 and second tube section 126 of suction tube 120. However, since a seal body 129 compressed by first tube section 125 and second tube section 126 is disposed at this joint, the inflow of air through this joint is suppressed.

[0050] Since the inflow of air through the joint between the vacuum cleaner body 110 and the lid body 114 and the joint between the first tube part 125 and the second tube part 126 is suppressed, the decrease in suction force in the dust storage chamber 113 and the suction tube 120 is suppressed. Therefore, a suction force large enough to suck up dust on the floor surface can be applied to the suction space of the suction nozzle 130.

[0051] When the user finishes cleaning the desired floor area, he / she operates the operating unit 141 to stop the suction source 111. Then, the user places the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 in an upright position as shown in FIG. 1. Since the width of the suction nozzle 130 is large, the vacuum cleaner 100 can be left on the floor with the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 in an upright position. At this time, the inlet 176 of the filter unit 155 opens downward, but the base end 124 of the suction tube 120 facing the inlet 176 is closed by the check valve 190. Therefore, the check valve 190 prevents dust from falling from the filter unit 155.

[0052] When the user subsequently cleans another floor area, he or she tilts the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 backward again. At this time, the corner formed by the rear wall 161 of the lid 114 and the tube holding part 172 is at the lowest position in the dust storage chamber 113. Therefore, dust in the filter part 173 accumulates on this corner as shown in FIG.

[0053] When the user operates the suction source 111 with the suction tube 120 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 in a backward tilted position, an airflow is generated in the dust storage chamber 113 from the base end 124 of the suction tube 120 toward the outlet 152, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 11. At this time, the dust accumulated in the corners is not affected by the airflow and is likely to remain accumulated in the corners. Therefore, the amount of dust flowing toward the outlet 152 on the airflow is reduced. As a result, the dust is prevented from being adsorbed on the inner surface of the bag body 175 of the filter part 173 so as to block the outlet 152. Therefore, the strength of the airflow from the base end 124 of the suction tube 120 toward the outlet 152 is likely to be maintained.

[0054] However, if a large amount of dust accumulates inside filter portion 173, the resistance caused by the dust increases, and the suction force acting on the suction space of suction nozzle 130 decreases. To solve this problem, filter portion 173 can be replaced with a new filter portion 173 as follows.

[0055] A user grasps the lid body 114 and pulls it backward in order to replace the filter portion 173. At this time, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 provided on the outer surface of the lid body 114 can prevent the user's hands from slipping on the lid body 114.

[0056] When the user pulls the lid body 114 rearward, the lid body 114 tilts rearward about the engagement portion 165 as shown in Fig. 2. As the lid body 114 tilts rearward, the second tube portion 126 on the lid body 114 side moves away from the first tube portion 125 on the vacuum cleaner body 110 side. Therefore, the user can tilt the lid body 114 rearward without being hindered by the suction tube 120.

[0057] At this time, end 128 of second tube 126 opens obliquely upward as lid 114 tilts backward. Therefore, even if dust remains inside second tube 126, the dust is unlikely to spill out from end 128. Even if dust does spill out from end 128, the dust can be received by bottom wall 164 or rear wall 161 of lid 114. Thereafter, the user can pull lid 114 obliquely upward and rearward to separate it from vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0058] In order to reduce the force required to pull the lid 114 backward from the vacuum cleaner body 110, the clamping walls 162, 163 of the lid 114 are configured not to clamp the vacuum cleaner body 110 with an excessively strong force. In this case, the clamping walls 162, 163 cannot come into airtight contact with the vacuum cleaner body 110. For this reason, a sealing wall 171 is provided between the clamping walls 162, 163, and the inflow of air into the dust chamber 113 from the joint between the vacuum cleaner body 110 and the lid 114 is suppressed by the sealing wall 171.

[0059] That is, if a seal structure is formed between the clamping walls 162, 163 and the vacuum cleaner body 110, the clamping walls 162, 163 are pressed against the vacuum cleaner body 110 with a force strong enough to prevent air from flowing in. In this case, the frictional force between the clamping walls 162, 163 and the vacuum cleaner body 110 may become excessively high, and the user must apply a strong force to the lid body 114 to remove the lid body 114 from the vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0060] On the other hand, if a seal structure is formed using a seal wall 171 provided separately from the clamping walls 162, 163 that clamp the vacuum cleaner body 110, the clamping walls 162, 163 do not need to be pressed against the vacuum cleaner body 110 with a strong force. Therefore, the clamping walls 162, 163 can be configured to lightly clamp the vacuum cleaner body 110, and the user can separate the lid body 114 from the vacuum cleaner body 110 with a small force.

[0061] When the cover 114 is separated from the vacuum cleaner body 110, the dust storage chamber 113 is opened to the outside, but the dust is retained within the bag 175 of the filter section 173. Therefore, scattering of dust when the cover 114 is separated from the vacuum cleaner body 110 is suppressed.

[0062] When the cover 114 is separated from the vacuum cleaner body 110, the upper end 127 of the first pipe portion 125 and the end 128 of the second pipe portion 126 are also opened to the outside as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Therefore, the user can visually check whether dust is clogged in the first pipe portion 125 and the second pipe portion 126 through the upper end 127 of the first pipe portion 125 and the end 128 of the second pipe portion 126. If dust is clogged in the first pipe portion 125 and the second pipe portion 126, the user can remove the dust through the upper end 127 of the first pipe portion 125 and the end 128 of the second pipe portion 126.

[0063] Since the filter part 173 is fixed on the lid body 114 side by the fixed lever part 180 attached to the lid body 114, the filter part 173 and the fixed lever part 180 are removed from the vacuum cleaner body 110 together with the lid body 114. The user can then hold the lid body 114 so that the rear wall 161 of the lid body 114 faces downward and carry it to a trash can. At this time, the sealing wall 171 and the clamping walls 162, 163 of the lid body 114 are in a position in which they stand upward from the rear wall 161. Therefore, even if dust falls from the filter part 173, the dust can be retained on the lid body 114 by the sealing wall 171 and the clamping walls 162, 163.

[0064] The user can carry lid body 114 together with filter portion 173 close to the trash can, and then perform the task of separating filter portion 173 from lid body 114. In this task, the user operates operating portion 185 of fixed lever portion 180. At this time, since fixed lever portion 180 and filter portion 173 are separated from vacuum cleaner body 110, the task of removing filter portion 173 from lid body 114 is not hindered by vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0065] In addition, the cover 114 has a concave cross section and surrounds a part of the filter section 173 in the circumferential direction, but most of the filter section 173 is exposed to the outside when the cover 114 is separated from the vacuum cleaner body 110. In this state, the operation section 185 of the fixed lever section 180 is also exposed to the outside, so that the user can access the filter section 173 and the operation section 185 without being hindered by the cover 114.

[0066] When the user pushes operating portion 185 leftward against the biasing force of biasing portion 183, pressing portion 187 of fixing portion 186 of fixing lever portion 180 is displaced in a direction away from tube holding portion 172. In other words, fixing portion 186 moves to the release position shown in Fig. 5, and the state in which fixing plate 174 of filter portion 173 is sandwiched between pressing portion 187 of fixing portion 186 and tube holding portion 172 is released.

[0067] In this state, when the user pulls bag body 175 of filter part 173 in a direction away from tube holding part 172, filter part 173 is removed from lid body 114. In this pulling direction, the amount of protrusion of seal wall 171 from rear wall 161 gradually decreases, and the amount of protrusion of seal wall 171 at a position facing tube holding part 172 is smallest. Therefore, the user can pull out filter part 173 in the direction away from tube holding part 172 without being hindered by seal wall 171. Furthermore, since outer wall part 160 of lid body 114 is open in this direction, the pulling out of filter part 173 is not hindered by outer wall part 160 either.

[0068] After the user pulls out filter portion 173 in this manner, check valve 190 closes base end 124 of second pipe portion 126. Therefore, even if dust remains in second pipe portion 126, check valve 190 prevents the dust from falling from base end 124 onto cover body 114 after filter portion 173 has been removed.

[0069] The filter part 173 can be easily pulled out not only in the direction away from the tube holding part 172, but also in the direction away from the rear wall 161 of the lid body 114. That is, when the user pushes the operating part 185 leftward, the pushing part 188 of the fixed lever part 180 pushes the fixed plate 174 of the filter part 173 through the opening 189 of the tube holding part 172, and the fixed plate 174 moves away from the tube holding part 172. At this time, in the pushing direction of the filter part 173 by the pushing part 188, the protruding amount of the sealing wall 171 from the rear wall 161 is small, so that the bag body 175 of the filter part 173 is easily run up onto the sealing wall 171. If the bag body 175 runs up onto the sealing wall 171, the bag body 175 is not compressed and deformed, and the fixed plate 174 is not pushed back by the restoring force of the bag body 175. That is, the gap between the fixed plate 174 and the tube holding part 172 is easily maintained.

[0070] A user can insert a fingertip into the gap between fixing plate 174 and tube holding part 172 to pinch fixing plate 174. Then, the user can move fixing plate 174 in a direction away from rear wall 161 of cover body 114, thereby separating filter part 173 from cover body 114. Note that the user may also pinch fixing plate 174 and pull filter part 173 out in a direction away from tube holding part 172.

[0071] If the user does not want to touch filter section 173, the user can hold cover 114 over the trash can with rear wall 161 of cover 114 facing upward while pressing operating section 185 to the left. In this case, filter section 173 falls into the trash can due to gravity.

[0072] When a user tries to discard the filter part 173 in this way, if the pushing part 188 does not push the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173 in a direction away from the tube holding part 172, the following problem may occur. That is, when the suction source 111 generates a suction force, the check valve 190 enters the filter part 173 as shown in FIG. 10. Then, when the suction source 111 stops, the check valve 190 returns to the position shown in FIG. 9. As a result of the repeated change in position shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, it is assumed that the check valve 190 is plastically deformed, and even when the suction source 111 stops, a part of the check valve 190 remains in the filter part 173. In this state, if the filter part 173 is displaced in a direction away from the rear wall 161 of the cover body 114 while sliding against the tube holding part 172, the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173 may get caught by the check valve 190 and damage the check valve 190.

[0073] On the other hand, if the pushing portion 188 pushes out the fixed plate 174 in a direction away from the tube holding portion 172, the check valve 190, which has been plastically deformed as described above, can come out of the filter portion 173. In this state, the fixed plate 174 does not get caught on the check valve 190, and the filter portion 173 can fall out of the cover 114. Therefore, damage to the check valve 190 when the filter portion 173 is replaced is suppressed.

[0074] The protruding height of the sealing wall 171 from the rear wall 161 is set so that the filter portion 173 can easily fall from the lid body 114. That is, in the portion adjacent to the filter portion 173, the protruding height of the sealing wall 171 from the rear wall 161 is smaller than the protruding height of the sandwiching walls 162, 163 from the rear wall 161. Since the protruding height of the sealing wall 171 is relatively small, the contact area between the filter portion 173 and the sealing wall 171 is small. As a result, the frictional force resisting the fall of the filter portion 173 from the lid body 114 is not excessively large, and the filter portion 173 can easily fall from the lid body 114.

[0075] In order to further reduce the frictional force between the filter section 173 and the sealing wall 171, the sealing wall 171 may protrude from the rear wall 161 of the lid body 114 in an outwardly inclined position. In this case, when the lid body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110, the rear part of the dust storage chamber 113 has a shape that expands in the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction as it approaches the vacuum cleaner body 110. When a user separates the lid body 114 from the vacuum cleaner body 110 and holds the lid body 114 in a position in which the rear part of the dust storage chamber 113 opens downward, the rear part of the dust storage chamber 113 becomes wider as it approaches downward, and the filter section 173 may easily fall off the lid body 114. The sealing wall 171 may be inclined outward over its entire length, but for example, as shown in FIG. 12, only the upper end of the sealing wall 171 when the lid body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110 may be inclined outward.

[0076] After separating the used filter unit 173 from the lid body 114, the user attaches a new filter unit 173 to the lid body 114. That is, the user pushes the operating unit 185 of the fixing lever unit 180 leftward again to separate the fixing unit 186 from the tube holding unit 172. Then, the fixing plate 174 of the filter unit 173 is inserted into the gap between the fixing unit 186 and the tube holding unit 172. When the user releases the operating unit 185 in this state, the fixing unit 186 is displaced to the fixed position shown in FIG. 6 by the biasing force of the biasing unit 183, and the fixing plate 174 is sandwiched between the fixing unit 186 and the tube holding unit 172. As a result, the new filter unit 173 is fixed to the lid body 114.

[0077] Thereafter, the user tilts the lid body 114 backward, and engages the engagement portion 165 of the lid body 114 with the engagement claw portion 154 of the vacuum cleaner body 110. Then, when the user rotates the lid body 114 toward the vacuum cleaner body 110 around the engagement portion 165 as an axis, the vacuum cleaner body 110 fits between the clamping walls 162, 163 of the lid body 114.

[0078] The vacuum cleaner body 110 is configured to prevent the filter section 173 from getting caught on the vacuum cleaner body 110 during such an installation operation. That is, the rear section 153 of the partition wall 116 of the vacuum cleaner body 110 is inclined as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the front section of the dust chamber 113 formed by the vacuum cleaner body 110 becomes wider in the vertical direction as it approaches the lid body 114. This can prevent the filter section 173 from getting caught at the front entrance of the dust chamber 113.

[0079] It is anticipated that a user may attempt to attach cover 114 to cleaner body 110 without attaching filter portion 173 to cover 114. Such an erroneous operation can be prevented as follows.

[0080] That is, when a user attaches the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110 in a state in which the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173 is sandwiched between the tube holding part 172 and the fixing part 186, the operating part 185 is in a first position that fits inside the seal wall 171 as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, in a state in which the filter part 173 is attached to the lid body 114, the operating part 185 is not sandwiched between the lid body 114 and the vacuum cleaner body 110, and the attachment of the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110 is not hindered by the operating part 185. On the other hand, if a user attempts to attach the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110 in a state in which the user has forgotten to attach the filter part 173 to the lid body 114, the fixing lever part 180 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 by the urging force of the urging part 183 by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the fixing plate 174 of the filter part 173.

[0081] As a result of the rotation of the fixed lever part 180, the fixed part 186 of the fixed lever part 180 moves from the fixed position to a position closer to the tube holding part 172 as shown in FIG. 13. At this time, the operating part 185 is displaced to the right and reaches a second position where it overlaps with the sealing wall 171 and the front edge of the right clamping wall 163 in the front-rear direction. In this state, if the user attempts to attach the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110, the operating part 185 is sandwiched between the lid body 114 and the vacuum cleaner body 110. Since the operating part 185 prevents the lid body 114 from being attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110, the user can check the state of the lid body 114 and notice that the filter part 173 is not attached to the lid body 114. Then, the user can attach the filter part 173 to the lid body 114 and then reattach the lid body 114 to the vacuum cleaner body 110.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the filter portion 173 has a bag shape. Alternatively, the filter portion 173 may be a plate-shaped filter component.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, the lid body 114 is sandwiched between the vacuum cleaner body 110 by the sandwiching walls 162, 163, and the lid body 114 is prevented from unintentionally falling off the vacuum cleaner body 110 when the lid body 114 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110. Alternatively, the lid body 114 may be prevented from falling off the vacuum cleaner body 110 by other methods. For example, if the vacuum cleaner body 110 and the lid body 114 are configured to be magnetically attracted to each other, the lid body 114 is less likely to fall off the vacuum cleaner body 110 unintentionally. In this case, the lid body 114 may not have the sandwiching walls 162, 163. If the lid body 114 is not provided with the sandwiching walls 162, 163, the lid body 114 may have a flat plate shape.

[0084] In the above-described embodiment, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 are configured by ribs protruding from the outer wall portion 160 of the lid body 114. Alternatively, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 may have other shapes capable of preventing the user's hand from slipping on the lid body 114. For example, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 may be configured by a plurality of protrusions provided on the outer wall portion 160 of the lid body 114. Alternatively, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 may be rubber plates attached on the outer wall portion 160 of the lid body 114. Note that, when the outer surface of the lid body 114 itself has a high coefficient of friction with respect to the user's hand, the anti-slip portions 166, 167 may be omitted.

[0085] In the above-described embodiment, the front part of the dust chamber 113 formed by the vacuum cleaner body 110 becomes wider in the vertical direction as it approaches the lid body 114 attached to the vacuum cleaner body 110 due to the inclination of the partition wall 116. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner body 110 may be configured such that the front part of the dust chamber 113 becomes wider in the horizontal direction as it approaches the lid body 114.

[0086] In the above-described embodiment, the fixed portion 186 is formed integrally with the operating portion 185 as a part of the fixed lever portion 180. Alternatively, the fixed portion 186 may be formed as a component separate from the operating portion 185. In this case, the fixed portion 186 is configured to operate in response to an operation on the operating portion 185. For example, in the case where the operating portion 185 is configured by a push button, the fixed portion 186 may be a piston member configured to electromagnetically move in a direction away from the tube holding portion 172 when the push button is pressed.

[0087] In the above-described embodiment, the second tube 126 is detachable from the first tube 125 when the cover 114 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 110. Alternatively, the second tube 126 may maintain a connected state with the first tube 125 when the cover 114 is detached from the vacuum cleaner body 110. For example, if the upper end 127 of the first tube 125 is extendable, the connected state between the first tube 125 and the second tube 126 may be maintained even if the cover 114 is tilted backward relative to the vacuum cleaner body 110. When the cover 114 is tilted backward relative to the vacuum cleaner body 110, the connected portion between the first tube 125 and the second tube 126 becomes accessible to the user, so that the user can release the connection between the first tube 125 and the second tube 126. The user can then separate the second tube 126 from the first tube 125.

[0088] In the embodiment described above, the cover 114 is removed rearward from the cleaner body 110. Alternatively, the cleaner 100 may be configured such that the cover 114 is removed forward, to the right or to the left from the cleaner body 110.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 100 is a stick type. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner 100 may be a self-propelled vacuum cleaner (a so-called robot vacuum cleaner), a canister type vacuum cleaner, or a handheld type vacuum cleaner.

[0090] (Effects, etc.) The vacuum cleaner 100 according to the above embodiment has the following characteristics and provides the following effects.

[0091] A vacuum cleaner according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment includes a vacuum cleaner body that incorporates a suction source that generates a suction force for sucking in dust and forms a dust storage chamber into which air containing dust is sucked in by the operation of the suction source, a lid body that is attached to the vacuum cleaner body and forms the dust storage chamber together with the vacuum cleaner body, a filter section arranged in the dust storage chamber, a fixing section for fixing the filter section to the lid body, and an operating section that is operated to move the fixing section so that the filter section is released from the lid body. The lid body is configured to be separable from the vacuum cleaner body, and the operating section and the filter section are attached to the lid body such that they are exposed to the outside when the lid body is removed from the vacuum cleaner body.

[0092] In the above-mentioned configuration, when the suction source is operated, dust flows into the dust storage chamber formed by the vacuum cleaner body and the lid body due to the suction force of the suction source. The filter unit captures the dust in the dust storage chamber, so that the dust is stored in the dust storage chamber. When it becomes necessary to replace the filter unit, the user separates the lid body from the vacuum cleaner body. At this time, the operating unit operated to release the fixing of the filter unit to the lid body is attached to the lid body, so that when the lid body is separated from the vacuum cleaner body, the operating unit and the filter unit are also separated from the vacuum cleaner body. Therefore, the user can operate the operating unit and access the filter unit without being hindered by the vacuum cleaner body. In addition, at this time, the operating unit is exposed to the outside, so the user can operate the operating unit without being hindered by the lid body. When the operating unit is operated, the fixing unit moves and the fixing of the filter unit to the lid body is released. In this state, the filter unit is also exposed to the outside, so the user can remove the filter unit from the lid body without being hindered by the lid body.

[0093] In the above-mentioned configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a suction tube forming a flow path through which dust sucked by the suction force of the suction source flows. The filter unit may have a fixed plate having an inlet formed therein, and a bag body for storing dust that has passed through the inlet. The cover body may have a tube holding part to which the base end of the suction tube is connected. The operation unit may be configured to move the fixed part between a fixed position where the fixed plate is sandwiched between the fixed part and the tube holding part, and a release position where the fixed part retreats from the fixed position and the fixation of the fixed plate by the fixed part is released. When the fixed plate is sandwiched between the fixed part and the tube holding part, the fixed plate allows dust that has passed through the suction tube to flow into the cover body through the inlet.

[0094] In the above-mentioned configuration, the filter unit is attached to the cover body with the fixing plate of the filter unit sandwiched between the tube holding part that holds the base end of the suction tube and the fixing part. When the suction source is operated in this state, dust that has passed through the suction tube flows into the bag of the filter unit through an inlet formed in the fixing plate and is stored in the bag. Therefore, the dust remains in the bag even when the cover body is removed from the vacuum cleaner body, and scattering of the dust is suppressed.

[0095] When a user removes the cover from the vacuum cleaner body and operates the operating part, the fixing part moves from the fixed position where the fixing plate is sandwiched between the fixing part and the pipe holding part to the release position, and the fixing of the fixing plate by the fixing part is released. As a result, the user can easily remove the fixing plate from between the fixing part and the pipe holding part.

[0096] In the above-mentioned configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a pushing portion that, when the operating portion is operated, pushes out the fixing plate in a direction away from the pipe holding portion.

[0097] In the above-described configuration, when a user operates the operating portion, the fixing plate is pushed out by the pushing portion and separated from the tube holding portion, so that the user can easily insert his / her fingers between the fixing plate and the tube holding portion and grasp the fixing plate.

[0098] In the above-mentioned configuration, the lid body may be open in a direction in which the pushing portion pushes out the fixing plate when the lid body is detached from the vacuum cleaner body.

[0099] In the above-described configuration, a user can remove the cover from the vacuum cleaner body and operate the operation part. By operating the operation part, the push-out part pushes out the fixing plate of the filter part in a direction that separates it from the tube holding part. In this direction, the cover is open, so that the displacement of the filter part by the push-out part is not hindered. Also, the user can pull out the filter part in the pushing direction by the push-out part.

[0100] In the above-mentioned configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a biasing portion that biases the fixing portion toward the fixing position.

[0101] In the above-described configuration, the user can remove the filter unit from the cover by operating the operating unit to move the fixing unit from the fixing position to the release position. After that, the user can insert a fixing plate of a new filter unit between the fixing unit and the tube holding unit while holding the fixing unit in the release position. Then, when the user releases the operating unit, the fixing unit returns to the fixing position due to the biasing force of the biasing unit, and the fixing plate of the new filter unit is sandwiched between the tube holding unit and the fixing unit.

[0102] In the above-mentioned configuration, the fixing part may be connected to the operating part so as to move integrally with the operating part. The operating part may be configured to be in a first position that does not prevent the connection of the lid body to the vacuum cleaner body when the fixing part is in the fixed position. The biasing part may move the fixing part from the fixed position to a close position that is closer to the tube holding part side when the fixing plate is not sandwiched between the fixing part and the tube holding part. The operating part may be displaced to a second position that prevents the attachment of the lid body to the vacuum cleaner body as the fixing part moves to the close position.

[0103] In the above-mentioned configuration, when the fixing part is in the fixing position, the operating part is in the first position. In this state, the cover is attached to the vacuum cleaner body without being hindered by the operating part. However, it is assumed that the user will attempt to attach the cover to the vacuum cleaner body without attaching the filter part to the cover. In this case, the fixing part is moved from the fixing position to a closer position toward the tube holding part side by the biasing force of the biasing part. This closer position differs from the fixing position by the thickness of the fixing plate. Since the fixing part is connected to the operating part, the difference in the position of the fixing part appears as a change in the position of the operating part. That is, the position of the operating part also changes depending on the presence or absence of the fixing plate between the fixing part and the tube holding part. When the fixing plate is not between the fixing part and the tube holding part, the fixing part moves to the closer position, and the operating part is displaced to the second position, and the attachment of the cover to the vacuum cleaner body is hindered by the operating part in the second position. This prevents the user from attaching the cover to the vacuum cleaner body in a state where the filter part has been forgotten to be attached to the cover.

[0104] In the above-mentioned configuration, the suction tube may have a first tube portion fixed to the vacuum cleaner body, and a second tube portion forming a base end of the suction tube and extending from the tube holding portion to be connected to the first tube portion. The second tube portion may be configured to be separated from the first tube portion when the cover body is removed from the vacuum cleaner body.

[0105] In the above-described configuration, the second tube portion is detachable from the first tube portion fixed to the vacuum cleaner body, so that the user can separate the cover body from the vacuum cleaner body without being hindered by the suction tube.

[0106] In the above-mentioned configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a seal provided at a joint between the first tube part and the second tube part. The seal may be configured to be compressed by the first tube part and the second tube part when the cover body is attached to the vacuum cleaner body, thereby suppressing air from flowing into the flow path of the suction tube through the joint.

[0107] When air flows in through the joint between the first and second tubes, the suction force acting on the suction tube may decrease. In order to suppress such a decrease in suction force, in the above-mentioned configuration, a seal body is provided at the joint between the first and second tubes. When the cover body is attached to the vacuum cleaner body, the seal body is compressed by the first and second tubes. As a result, the inflow of air through the joint between the first and second tubes is suppressed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0108] The vacuum cleaner of the above-described embodiment is suitably used as a device for cleaning work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 100·········vacuum cleaner 110 Vacuum cleaner body 111...Suction source 113························dust storage room 114 Lid body 120...Suction tube 124... Proximal end 125...First pipe section 126...Second tube section 129 Seal body 141·············Operation section 172...Pipe holding part 173 Filter section 174...Fixing plate 175...Bag body 176····························Inlet 183... Actuating section 185......Operation section 186...Fixed part 188...Extrusion section

Claims

1. a vacuum cleaner body incorporating a suction source that generates a suction force for sucking in dust and forming a dust storage chamber into which air containing dust is sucked by the operation of the suction source; a cover body attached to the vacuum cleaner body and forming the dust chamber together with the vacuum cleaner body; A filter unit disposed in the dust storage chamber; a fixing portion for fixing the filter portion to the lid body; an operating unit that is operated to move the fixing unit so as to release the fixing of the filter unit to the lid body, The cover is configured to be separable from the vacuum cleaner body, The operation unit and the filter unit are attached to the cover body such that they are exposed to the outside when the cover body is detached from the vacuum cleaner body.

2. The dust collector further includes a suction pipe that forms a flow path through which the dust sucked by the suction force of the suction source flows, The filter unit includes a fixed plate having an inlet formed therein and a bag body that collects dust that has passed through the inlet. The cover body has a tube holding portion to which a base end of the suction tube is connected, the operation unit is configured to move the fixing unit between a fixing position where the fixing plate is sandwiched between the fixing unit and the pipe holding unit and a release position where the fixing unit retracts from the fixing position and releases the fixing of the fixing plate by the fixing unit, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed plate, when sandwiched between the fixed portion and the tube holding portion, allows dust that has passed through the suction tube to flow into the lid body through the inlet.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , further comprising a pushing portion that, when the operating portion is operated, pushes the fixing plate in a direction away from the pipe holding portion.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 , wherein the lid body is open in a direction in which the pushing portion pushes out the fixing plate when the lid body is detached from the vacuum cleaner body.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , further comprising a biasing portion that biases the fixing portion toward the fixing position.

6. the fixed portion is connected to the operation portion so as to move integrally with the operation portion, The operation unit is configured to be in a first position that does not hinder connection of the lid body to the vacuum cleaner body when the fixing unit is in the fixing position, When the fixing plate is not sandwiched between the fixing portion and the pipe holding portion, the biasing portion moves the fixing portion from the fixing position to an approaching position closer to the pipe holding portion, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein the operation portion is displaced to a second position that prevents the lid body from being attached to the vacuum cleaner body when the fixing portion is moved to the approach position.

7. the suction tube has a first tube portion fixed to the vacuum cleaner body, and a second tube portion forming the base end of the suction tube and extending from the tube holding portion to be connected to the first tube portion; The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the second tube portion is configured to be separated from the first tube portion when the cover body is removed from the vacuum cleaner body.

8. The nozzle further includes a seal member provided at a joint between the first pipe portion and the second pipe portion, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the sealing body is configured to be compressed by the first tube portion and the second tube portion when the cover body is attached to the vacuum cleaner body, thereby suppressing the inflow of air from the joint into the flow path of the suction tube.

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