Suction port body of vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaner comprising the same

Abstract

To provide a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner that can be made lightweight without impairing assemblability, and the vacuum cleaner comprising the same.SOLUTION: A suction port body of a vacuum cleaner comprises: a rotary brush 40 for cleaning a surface to be cleaned; a lower case 21 pivotally supporting and housing one end of the rotary brush 40; and a bearing cover 50 attached to the lower case 21, and holding the other end of the rotary brush 40. The bearing cover 50 comprises: a deflection part capable of being deflected and deformed; and a claw part formed in the deflection part. The bearing cover 50 is inserted into the lower case 21, the deflection part is deflected and deformed, the claw part is fitted into a fitting hole 21b1 formed in the lower case 21, and thereby the rotary brush 40 is fixed to the lower case 21. A bottom surface of the bearing cover 50 is provided with an airtightness holding member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suction head of a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vacuum cleaner equipped with an LED light source for illuminating a floor surface. A protective cover is disposed in front of the LED to protect the LED. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-110472 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, if the protective cover is configured as a single unit, the device becomes heavy, which is problematic in that it is inconvenient for the user. In addition, if the number of parts to be assembled increases, there is also a problem that the ease of assembly is impaired.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, and has an object to provide a vacuum cleaner suction body that can be made lighter without compromising ease of assembly, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a rotating cleaning body for cleaning a surface to be cleaned, a case for supporting and housing one end of the rotating cleaning body, and a bearing cover attached to the case and holding the other end of the rotating cleaning body, wherein the bearing cover comprises a flexible portion that can be flexibly deformed and a claw portion formed on the flexible portion, and the rotating cleaning body is fixed to the case when the bearing cover is inserted into the case, and the flexible portion flexibly deforms so that the claw portion fits into a fitting hole formed in the case, and an airtight member is provided on the bottom surface of the bearing cover. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner suction body that can be made lighter without compromising ease of assembly, and a vacuum cleaner including the same. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing an example of a vacuum cleaner to which a suction body of the present embodiment is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction mouth body as viewed from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction mouth body as viewed from the bottom side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the state in which the upper case has been removed from the suction mouth body. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper case has been removed from the suction mouth body. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a perspective view of the unit cover as viewed from the inside. FIG. [Figure 10] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit cover as viewed from the outside. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a front view of the LED cover. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG. 15. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a bearing cover; [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21] 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of FIG. 20. [Figure 22] FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the state where the sensor lever of the suction body is ON. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the state where the sensor lever of the suction body is in the OFF position. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the sensor lever. [Figure 26] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the joint portion and showing the joint portion in an upright state. [Figure 27] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the joint portion and illustrating the state in which the joint portion is laid down. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sensor lever. [Figure 29] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sensor lever of the suction mouth body is switched on. FIG. [Diagram 30] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the suction mouth body when turned upside down. [Diagram 31] FIG. [Diagram 32] FIG. [Diagram 33] 13 is a top view showing a state in which the joint portion is attached to the lower case. FIG. [Diagram 34] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIV-XXXIV of FIG. [Diagram 35] FIG. [Diagram 36] FIG. [Figure 37] 4 is a plan view showing the rear surface side of the upper case. FIG. [Figure 38] FIG. [Figure 39] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIX-XXXIX of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a vacuum cleaner to which the suction body of this embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 1000 can be used in various forms, such as a handheld form or a stick form, for cleaning.

[0010] The electric vacuum cleaner 1000 is of a cyclone type, and is configured to include a vacuum cleaner body 1, a dust case (dust collection device) 2, and a rechargeable battery 3.

[0011] The vacuum cleaner main body 1 is configured to include a main body section 10, a motor case section 11, and a handle section 12. An electric blower (not shown) that generates suction power is housed in the motor case section 11. The handle section 12 is provided with an operation switch SW for switching the suction power.

[0012] One end of the extension tube 300 is connected to a connection port of the vacuum cleaner body 1 so as to communicate with the dust case 2 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The other end of the extension tube 300 is connected to the suction mouth body 400. The extension tube 300 has a ventilation passage (not shown) formed therein, and is provided with wiring (not shown) that electrically connects the rechargeable battery 3 and a brush motor (not shown) of the suction mouth body 400.

[0013] It should be noted that the vacuum cleaner 1000 is not limited to the stick type vacuum cleaner shown in the figure, but can be applied to corded or cordless vacuum cleaners such as handheld vacuum cleaners and canister (cylinder type) vacuum cleaners.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suction body as viewed from above. As shown in Figure 2, the suction mouth body 400 is of a power brush type in which the brush is rotated by a motor, and is configured to include a suction mouth main body 20 and a joint portion 30 that is rotatably connected to the suction mouth main body 20.

[0015] The suction mouth body 20 is configured by combining a lower case 21, an upper case 22, and a unit cover 23. The lower case 21, the upper case 22, and the unit cover 23 are all formed from a synthetic resin material. For example, the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 are formed from ABS resin or the like. The unit cover 23 is formed from a resin such as glass-filled nylon, which is harder than ABS resin. In addition, the lower case 21 is provided with a bumper portion 24. This bumper portion 24 is formed from an elastomer resin, and is configured with the lower case 21 by double molding.

[0016] Fig. 3 is a front view of the suction body 400 in the state shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the front. 3, bumper portion 24 is provided on the front side of lower case 21, and is formed to extend in the width direction (left and right direction). Moreover, a lower portion of bumper portion 24 is formed to be shorter than the width dimension of suction mouth body 20. Moreover, the right end of the upper portion of bumper portion 24 extends to the right end portion of lower case 21, and the left end extends to unit cover 23.

[0017] The suction mouth body 20 is formed such that the upper case 22 is shorter in the left-right direction (width direction) than the lower case 21. In other words, the suction mouth body 20 is configured such that a part of the lower case 21 protrudes from the right end of the upper case 22, and the unit cover 23 protrudes from the left end of the upper case 22.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the suction body as viewed from the bottom side. 4, the suction body 400 is configured to include a rotating brush (rotating cleaning body) 40 and a bearing cover 50. Details of the bearing cover 50 will be described later.

[0019] The rotating brush 40 is disposed along the left-right direction (width direction) of the suction port body 20, and is rotatably supported in the brush chamber Q. The rotating brush 40 is also provided continuously from one end side to the other end side in the left-right direction of the suction port body 20 (the axial direction of the rotating brush 40).

[0020] The rotating brush 40 includes a plurality of types of brushes, such as brushes with different hardness and height, and the brushes are arranged in a spiral shape.

[0021] The joint part 30 is adapted to be used in a stick state by connecting it to an extension tube 300 (see FIG. 1) or to be used in a handy state by connecting it directly to the vacuum cleaner body 1. The joint part 30 is also configured to include a straight tube part 31, a rotating joint part 32, and a rotating cover 33.

[0022] In addition, legs 25 are formed on the back surface of the lower case 21. The legs 25 are molded from resin integrally with the lower case 21. The legs 25 have extensions 25a, 25a extending rearward from the vicinity of both the left and right sides of the rotating joint 32, and a connecting portion 25b connecting the rear ends of the extensions 25a, and are configured to have a U-shape in a plan view. Wheels 25c are rotatably supported by the connecting portion 25b.

[0023] Additionally, the lower case 21 is provided with bristles 120, which are shaped to follow the shape of the rotating brush 40, behind the rotating brush 40. Providing such bristles 120 prevents dust that is picked up from the front by the rotating brush 40 from flying out rearward. Additionally, the bristles 120 have a rotation axis (not shown) parallel to the rotating brush 40, and are configured to rotate in the front-to-rear direction.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a top view showing the state where the upper case is removed from the suction body, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state where the upper case is removed from the suction body. 5 and 6, the lower case 21 houses an LED board 60 (wiring board) on which a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) 61, 61 are mounted. A protective member 62 (a member that integrally forms a member that forms a flow path and a protective cover) that protects the LEDs 61 is provided in front of the LED board 60. The protective member 62 is configured to be exposed to the outside from a notch 22a (see FIG. 3) formed in the upper case 22.

[0025] Further, in the protective member 62, a flow path portion 64 (a member forming a flow path) that constitutes a part of the flow path that communicates with the joint portion 30 is integrally formed behind the LED board 60.

[0026] Additionally, an electric motor 70 is disposed in the lower case 21 as a drive source for driving the rotating brush 40. The electric motor 70 is located at one end (left side) in the left-right direction. Additionally, a control board 80 for controlling the rotating brush 40 is disposed in the lower case 21 on the opposite side in the left-right direction to the electric motor 70.

[0027] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the joint portion 30 is partially raised. 7, the straight pipe section 31 of the joint section 30 is formed to extend in a substantially straight line, and a curved surface section 31a formed to bulge outward is formed at the tip section. In addition, the straight pipe section 31 is formed with a terminal section 34 that is electrically connected to the electric motor 70 that drives the rotating brush 40.

[0028] The rotating joint 32 is formed with a curved surface portion 32a shaped to fit the outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33. The rotating cover 33 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the straight pipe portion 31 and the rotating joint 32. The inner surface 33a of the rotating cover 33 slides against the curved surface portion 31a of the straight pipe portion 31. The outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33 slides against the curved surface portion 32a of the rotating joint 32.

[0029] Fig. 8 is a top view of the unit cover 23. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the electric motor 70 is attached to the unit cover 23. As shown in Fig. 8, the unit cover 23 is configured as a separate part from the lower case 21 and the upper case 22, and forms part of the outer shell of the suction mouth body 20 (see Fig. 2). In other words, the unit cover 23 is configured to be exposed to the outside of the suction mouth body 20.

[0030] Further, the unit cover 23 is formed with a motor fixing portion 23a to which the electric motor 70 is fixed.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the unit cover as viewed from the inside. As shown in Fig. 9, the unit cover 23 has an electric motor 70 fixed to a motor fixing portion 23a at the rear, and a clutch 71 rotatably supported in front of the electric motor 70. The clutch 71 is a connection portion to which the rotating brush 40 (see Fig. 4) is connected. The clutch 71 is formed in a cup shape, and has a plurality of protrusions 71b formed on the inside thereof at intervals in the circumferential direction to fit with the rotating brush 40 (see Fig. 4).

[0032] The reason why the electric motor 70 and the clutch 71 are attached to the unit cover 23 in this way is that the shaft distance can be stabilized. The unit cover 23 is made of a stable hard material such as glass-filled nylon as described above. What is important for the suction body 400 is the distance between the shaft of the electric motor 70 and the shaft of the clutch 71 (shaft distance). If this distance is not stable, the distance will become closer or farther due to variations in parts, and the tension of the belt will also change. This causes the level of noise to vary depending on the product, and the rotation to become unstable. Therefore, in this embodiment, the unit cover 23 is made of a hard material as a means for fixing the electric motor 70 and the clutch 71.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. As shown in Fig. 10, a small diameter pulley (drive pulley) 72 on the motor side is provided on a rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70. A large diameter pulley (rotating cleaning body pulley) 73 on the brush side is provided on a rotating shaft 71a of the clutch 71. A toothed belt (drive belt) 74 is stretched between the small diameter pulley 72 and the large diameter pulley 73. In addition, a tension pulley 75 for increasing the winding angle of the toothed belt 74 is provided on the unit cover 23.

[0034] After the small diameter pulley 72, large diameter pulley 73, toothed belt 74, and tension pulley 75 are assembled into the unit cover 23, the electric motor 70 for driving the brushes is attached and assembled into the lower case 21. In addition, a clutch 71 (see FIG. 9) is fixed to the large diameter pulley 73.

[0035] As a result, when the electric motor 70 is driven, a driving force is transmitted from the small diameter pulley 72 to the large diameter pulley 73, and the clutch 71 rotates. Since the rotating brush 40 and the protrusion 71b of the clutch 71 are engaged with each other, the rotating brush 40 rotates integrally with the clutch 71, and the rotating brush 40 can be attached to and detached from the clutch 71.

[0036] 10 also shows the vertical axis distance L1 and the front-rear axis distance L2 between the rotating shaft 70a of the small diameter pulley 72 and the rotating shaft 71a of the large diameter pulley 73. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70 and the rotating shaft 71a of the clutch 71 are integrally held by the unit cover 23. Since they are attached to the lower case 21 in this state, errors in the axis distances L1 and L2 between the small diameter pulley 72 and the large diameter pulley 73 and assembly variations can be reduced.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the unit cover as viewed from the outside. As shown in Fig. 11, unit cover 23 has side surface 23b constituting the outer side surface of suction mouth body 20 (see Fig. 2), front surface 23c constituting the outer front surface, and top surface 23d constituting the outer upper surface. In addition, notch 23e that does not constitute the outer surface is formed between front surface 23c and top surface 23d. The left end of lower case 21 is adapted to fit into notch 23e.

[0038] A hole 23f that communicates with the inside of the unit cover 23 is formed in the side surface 23b of the unit cover 23. A groove 23g that extends from the hole 23f toward the notch 23e is formed in the side surface 23b. The left end of the bumper portion 24 is adapted to fit into the groove 23g.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the unit cover. As shown in FIG. 12, the unit cover 23 is formed with a bottom surface 23h that constitutes the outer bottom surface of the suction mouth body 20 (see FIG. 2).

[0040] In this way, by configuring unit cover 23 with side surface 23b (see FIG. 11) as the outer shell side surface, front surface 23c as the outer shell front surface, and bottom surface 23h as the outer shell bottom surface, it is possible to reduce the weight of suction body 400. To be more specific, in conventional suction body, a portion that was made up of double or triple walls formed by the unit cover and outer shell parts is configured as a single wall, making it possible to reduce the weight of suction body 400.

[0041] Furthermore, by configuring upper surface 23d (see FIG. 11) of unit cover 23 as the outer upper surface, it is possible to reduce the size of upper case 22 and the weight of suction mouth body 400. In more detail, a conventional upper case is generally formed to be connected to both ends, and the entire outer upper surface is configured by the upper case, but in this embodiment, unlike the conventional case, the outer upper surface is configured by unit cover 23. This allows the width of upper case 22 to be shorter than conventional cases, and the weight of the upper surface side portion can be reduced by eliminating a double wall or the like.

[0042] The bottom surface 23h is provided with a brush 91. The brush 91 is made of a lint brush and is fixed by adhesive. The brush 91 is elongated in the front-rear direction and is disposed toward the outside of the bottom surface 23h.

[0043] In this way, by providing the brush 91 on the unit cover 23, which is smaller, workability can be improved rather than providing the brush 91 on the lower case 21, which is larger. In more detail, if a brush bonding operation is required, a drying process is required. If the shape of the part is small, the space required for placing the part can be reduced, improving workability.

[0044] In addition, a cutout portion 23i that does not form an outer shell is formed in the bottom surface 23h. The left end portion of the lower case 21 is fitted into this cutout portion 23i. The brush 91 is arranged to extend forward from the edge of the cutout portion 23i. The brush 91 is also arranged to wrap around from the bottom surface 23h to the lower part of the front surface 23c.

[0045] Fig. 13 is a top view of the lower case. Fig. 13 shows the lower case 21 alone, with the unit cover 23 on which the electric motor 70 is mounted, the control board 80 (see Fig. 5), the LED board 60 (see Fig. 5), the protective member 62 (see Fig. 5), the joint part 30 (see Fig. 5), and the like removed from the lower case 21.

[0046] As shown in Figure 13, the lower case 21 has an upper surface portion 21a that forms the outer contour of the suction mouth body 20 (see Figure 2), a right side surface portion 21b that forms the outer contour of the right side, and a rear surface portion 21c that forms the outer contour of the rear side.

[0047] Further, an opening 21d is formed on the upper surface of the lower case 21, into which the electric motor 70, the control board 80, the LED board 60, the protective member 62, the flow path portion 64, etc. are attached.

[0048] As described above, the lower case 21 is integrally formed with the bumper portion 24 by double molding. The bumper portion 24 has a bumper front portion 24a disposed in front of the lower case 21, a bumper right side portion 24b disposed on the right side, and a bumper left side portion 24c disposed on the left side. The bumper right side portion 24b is fixed to the right side portion 21b.

[0049] The bumper left side surface portion 24c extends rearward from the bumper front portion 24a, and has a protrusion 24d formed on the inside of the tip. The protrusion 24d is hook-shaped and is adapted to fit into a hole 23f (see FIG. 11). The bumper left side surface portion 24c is also adapted to fit into a groove 23g (see FIG. 11).

[0050] Furthermore, by providing the bumper right side portion 24b and the bumper left side portion 24c, the left and right side surfaces of the suction body 400 can be protected.

[0051] By shaping the bumper portion 24 in this way, even if the unit cover 23 is configured as part of the outer shell and is configured to be detachable from the lower case 21, it is possible to attach the bumper left side portion 24c to the unit cover 23 after attaching the unit cover 23 to the lower case 21. The suction mouth body 20 can be constructed more inexpensively than in the case where the bumper left side portion 24c is configured to be double-molded with the unit cover 23.

[0052] Also, by forming a hole 23f on the side surface 23b of the unit cover 23 and inserting and fixing the protrusion 24d of the bumper portion 24 into this hole 23f, it is no longer necessary to divide the bumper portion 24, and workability can be improved. In detail, if the bumper portion 24 is divided into two parts, and the bent part is made into a different part, or if it is double-molded on the unit cover 23, the number of parts increases, and the work of double-molding increases on the divided part. By providing the bumper portion 24 as in this embodiment, it is only necessary to double-mold the lower case 21, and workability can be improved. Also, if the bumper portion 24 is divided, it is necessary to fill or fix the divided part, but by not dividing it as in this embodiment, the connecting part is not necessary, and weight can be reduced.

[0053] In this embodiment, the hole 23f is formed on the side surface 23b, but the hole may be formed on the front surface 23c. In this case, a protrusion is provided on the bumper portion 24 at a position opposite the hole 23f.

[0054] Furthermore, a mounting hole 21j for mounting the protective member 62 is formed in the opening 21d of the lower case 21. The mounting hole 21j communicates with the brush chamber Q in which the rotating brush 40 is housed.

[0055] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an LED cover. As shown in Fig. 14, the protective member 62 includes a protective plate 63 and a flow path portion 64. The protective plate 63 is for protecting the LED 61, is formed elongated in the left-right direction, and is arranged so as to fit into a cutout 22a of the same shape formed in the upper case 22 (see Fig. 3). This makes the surface of the protective plate 63 flush with the surface of the upper case 22. The protective plate 63 is made of a resin that transmits light from the LED 61. In other words, the protective member 62, including the flow path portion 64, is molded from the same resin that can transmit light.

[0056] The flow path portion 64 constitutes a part of the flow path that communicates between the brush chamber Q (see FIG. 7) in which the rotating brush 40 (see FIG. 7) is accommodated and the joint portion 30. The flow path portion 64 constitutes the upper side of the flow path, and has a semi-cylindrical portion 64a.

[0057] Further, the protective member 62 is formed with a contact portion 63a below the protective plate 63, which contacts the inner wall surface of the upper case 22. The contact portion 63a is formed to have substantially the same length as the protective plate 63 in the left-right direction.

[0058] FIG. 15 is a front view of the LED cover. 15, the contact portion 63a is disposed at a position protruding downward from the lower edge of the protective plate 63. A part of the semi-cylindrical portion 64a of the flow path portion 64 protrudes upward from the upper edge of the protective plate 63. The flow path portion 64 protrudes downward from the lower edge of the contact portion 63a. Both left and right ends 64b, 64c of the flow path portion 64 are formed to extend downward along the mounting hole 21j of the lower case 21.

[0059] FIG. 16 is a top view of the LED cover. 16, the protective plate 63 and the flow path portion 64 are connected by a connecting portion 63b. The connecting portion 63b is formed so that the width in the left-right direction is shorter than that of the protective plate 63. The connecting portion 63b is also configured so that a gap S in the front-rear direction is formed between the protective plate 63 and the flow path portion 64 in a top view.

[0060] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG. As shown in Fig. 17, the connecting portion 63b is formed with a board holding portion 63c for holding the LED board 60. The board holding portion 63c is formed with a concave shape in a vertical cross-sectional view and extends in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). The board holding portion 63c has a width in the front-rear direction that is long enough to fit the lower portion of the LED board 60. This allows the LED board 60 to be stably held. The protective member 62 is also formed with a restricting protrusion 63d that restricts the LED board 60 from moving in the left-right direction.

[0061] In addition, a lens-shaped portion 63e is formed on the back surface (rear surface) of the protective plate 63. This lens-shaped portion 63e is formed in an uneven shape (Fresnel lens) and is configured to direct the light of the LED 61 through the protective plate 63 to the floor surface (surface to be cleaned).

[0062] In this way, by providing the protective member 62 in which the protective plate 63 and the flow path portion 64 are integrated, that is, by integrating the parts, it is possible to reduce the weight of the suction body 400 and improve the ease of assembly.

[0063] Furthermore, by integrating the substrate holding portion 63c with the protective member 62, the weight of the suction body 400 can be reduced and the assembly of the suction body 400 can be improved.

[0064] In addition, a lens-shaped portion 63e for shining light from the LED 61 onto the floor surface is formed on the rear surface of the protective plate 63. With this configuration, the floor surface can be brightly illuminated, improving usability, and since there is no need to attach a separate part with a lens function, the weight of the suction mouth body 400 can also be reduced.

[0065] Furthermore, since the portion other than the protective plate 63 through which the light of the LED 61 passes is covered by the upper case 22, the surface shape can be made smooth, improving the design.

[0066] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a bearing cover. As shown in Fig. 18, the bearing cover 50 has a mechanism that allows it to be attached to and detached from the lower case 21. By removing the bearing cover 50 from the lower case 21, the rotating brush 40 (see Fig. 4) can be removed from the lower case 21. This makes it possible to remove dust and hair adhering to the rotating brush 40, making it easier to clean the rotating brush 40.

[0067] In addition, the bearing cover 50 has a bottom surface portion 51a facing the floor surface, a right side surface portion 51b extending upwardly from the right edge of the bottom surface portion 51a by a short distance, a front surface portion 51c extending upwardly from the front edge of the bottom surface portion 51a by a short distance, and a back surface portion 51d extending upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom surface portion 51a by a short distance.

[0068] The bearing cover 50 is provided with a locking member 55 that is operated when removing the bearing cover 50 from the lower case 21 (see FIG. 4). The locking member 55 is formed integrally with a recess 51s that is cut out in a concave shape toward the outside (right side). The locking member 55 is formed at a position that is recessed upward from the bottom surface portion 51a.

[0069] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the inside of the bearing cover. 19, the bearing cover 50 has a left side surface portion 51e extending upward from the left edge of the bottom surface portion 51a. A rotating brush holding portion 51f that is cut out in a substantially semicircular shape is formed in the left side surface portion 51e.

[0070] FIG. 20 is a side view of the bearing cover. 20, the bearing cover 50 is provided with a brush (airtightness maintaining member) 92. The brush 92 is made of a lint brush and is fixed by adhesive or the like. The brush 92 is disposed so as to wrap around from the bottom surface portion 51a to the front surface portion 51c.

[0071] The locking member 55 is disposed toward the rear of the bearing cover 50. The locking member 55 is formed to protrude upward beyond the right side surface portion 51b.

[0072] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI in FIG. As shown in Fig. 21, the locking member 55 has a flexible portion 55a formed in a generally U-shape in cross section, and a claw portion 55b formed on the outer surface of the flexible portion 55a. The locking member 55 also has a pressing portion 55c that is pressed when releasing the lock. The pressing portion 55c is located below the base of the flexible portion 55a, and is configured not to protrude downward or to the right from the recess 51s. The claw portion 55b has a generally triangular shape in cross section.

[0073] A slit-shaped fitting hole 21b1 (see FIG. 4) into which the claw portion 55b fits is formed in the right side surface portion 21b of the lower case 21. In the state shown in FIG. 21, when the pressing portion 55c is pressed leftward and the bending portion 55a is bent, the claw portion 55b comes out of the fitting hole 21b1 and the lock is released. This allows the bearing cover 50 to be removed from the lower case 21.

[0074] FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the bearing cover. 22, the brush 92 attached to the bottom surface portion 51a is formed in a substantially Z-shape in a plan view from the bottom surface. A front portion 92a of the brush 92 is located toward the outside (right side) of the bottom surface portion 51a. A rear portion 92b of the brush 92 is located toward the inside (left side) of the bottom surface portion 51a.

[0075] However, when locking member 55 (see FIG. 21) is configured with bending portion 55a and claw portion 55b, a recessed space (recess 51s) is inevitably formed. When such a space is formed, dust and the like are easily sucked in from the position of the recessed space, and dust is easily sucked in through the gap between the bearing cover and the floor surface (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 22). With such a configuration, the airtightness of the suction port body is lost, and the suction capacity is reduced.

[0076] Therefore, in this embodiment, the brush 92 is attached to the bottom surface portion 51a of the bearing cover 50 to prevent the airtightness from being impaired. Also, the brush 92 is formed into a substantially Z-shape, and the rear portion 92b of the brush 92 is disposed inside the recess 51s (on the rotating brush 40 side). This ensures airtightness between the space on the right side of the suction port body 20 (see FIG. 2) in the recess 51s and the brush chamber Q (see FIG. 7).

[0077] Additionally, on the front side where recess 51s is not formed, brush 92 is disposed on the outside of bottom surface 51a. This allows a wider suction area to be secured from the front of suction mouth body 20 (see FIG. 2) (see solid arrow in FIG. 22), improving usability when cleaning.

[0078] In addition, an inclined portion 92c is formed between the front portion 92a and the rear portion 92b of the brush 92 so as to be positioned outward as it approaches the front. This allows the air sucked in from the front to flow smoothly toward the rotating brush 40.

[0079] In such a bearing cover 50, a flexible portion 55a with a claw portion 55b is provided, and the rotating brush 40 is fixed by fitting the claw portion 55b into the fitting hole 21b1 of the lower case 21. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the suction mouth body 400 by integrating the parts, and also improves the ease of assembly.

[0080] In addition, the brush 92 is provided on the bearing cover 50, and the brush 92 is disposed inside (on the suction port side) of the locking member 55 (claw portion 55b). This makes it possible to prevent the airtightness from decreasing due to the presence of the recess 51s in which the locking member 55 is provided, and thus prevent the suction performance from deteriorating.

[0081] Brush 92 is formed in a substantially Z-shape in plan view from the bottom surface. That is, brush 92 is arranged such that the rear side where locking member 55 is provided is on the inside and the front side is on the outside. This allows locking member 55 (claw portion 55b and bending portion 55a) to be configured in front of suction mouth body 400 while ensuring the suction width.

[0082] Fig. 23 is a side view showing the suction body's sensor lever in the ON position, and Fig. 24 is a side view showing the suction body's sensor lever in the OFF position. As shown in Fig. 23, the lower case 21 is provided with a sensor lever 100 that stops the rotation of the rotating brush 40 when it detects that the suction body 400 has left the floor surface (surface to be cleaned) M. This sensor lever 100 has an arm 101 extending from the lower case 21 and a wheel 102 provided on the arm 101. In Fig. 23, the suction body 400 comes into contact with the floor surface M, pushing up the sensor lever 100 and driving the rotating brush 40 to rotate.

[0083] Furthermore, the sensor lever 100 is not provided inside the suction mouth body 20, but is configured to protrude to the outside of the suction mouth body 20. By configuring the sensor lever 100 to rotate to the outside of the suction mouth body 20 in this manner, the suction mouth body 20 can be made smaller in size.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 24, when the suction body 400 is separated from the floor surface, the sensor lever 100 rotates so as to project downward from the bottom surface of the suction body 20, and the rotation of the rotating brush 40 stops. The sensor lever 100 is provided with a biasing member (not shown) that biases the sensor in the direction to turn the sensor OFF. Even if the suction body 400 is turned upside down, the sensor lever 100 projects as shown in Fig. 24, and the rotation of the rotating brush 40 stops.

[0085] FIG. 25 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the sensor lever. 25, the sensor lever 100 is located near a leg 25 formed on the lower case 21. More specifically, the sensor lever 100 is disposed adjacent to the extension 25a on the right side of the leg 25.

[0086] However, if the sensor lever 100 is configured to rotate outward from the suction mouth body 20 in this way, for example when the suction mouth body 400 is slid left and right to clean a narrow space, the sensor lever 100 may receive a force F from the leg of a chair or the like, which may damage the sensor lever 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, by arranging the sensor lever 100 near the leg 25, which is a strong part of the lower case 21, it becomes possible for the leg 25 to receive the force F, thereby preventing damage to the sensor lever 100. Furthermore, since there is no need to configure the sensor lever 100 from a strong part, manufacturing costs do not increase.

[0087] Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint structure in an upright state, and Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint structure in a fallen state. As shown in Fig. 26, a claw 32b into which the rotating cover 33 fits is formed on the inner wall of the rotating joint 32. Although Fig. 26 shows only the right side, a claw into which the rotating cover 33 fits is also formed on the left side in a similar manner. Also, the claw 32b is formed long along the edge of the rotating cover 33.

[0088] When the joint section 30 is in an upright state, the straight pipe section 31 pulls the rotating cover 33 outward, and the rotating cover 33 is exposed to the outside. When the straight pipe section 31 is in a vertically upright state, the movement of the rotating cover 33 is restricted by contact with the claws 32b.

[0089] As shown in Fig. 27, when the joint part 30 is in a fallen state, the curved surface part 31a of the straight pipe part 31 overlaps with the inner surface 33a of the rotating cover 33 so as to face the curved surface part 32a of the rotating joint part 32 so as to face the outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33 so as to face the curved surface part 32a of the rotating joint part 32. At this time, as in the conventional case, if the joint part does not have a member corresponding to the rotating cover 33 and a member corresponding to the rotating cover 33 is integrally formed with the straight pipe part 31, when the joint part is laid down, the flow path is blocked by the pipe part as shown by the dashed line. Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing the rotating cover 33, the flow path is not blocked even if the joint part 30 is laid down.

[0090] FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the sensor lever. 28, the sensor lever 100 has a rotating shaft 103, which is rotatably supported by the lower case 21. The sensor lever 100 also has a switch pressing portion 104 formed integrally with the rotating shaft 103 for operating a switch that turns the operation of the rotating brush 40 ON and OFF. The sensor lever 100 also has a spring 105 that biases the sensor in the direction of turning it OFF.

[0091] Furthermore, the sensor lever 100 has a sensor weight portion 106 formed integrally with the rotating shaft 103 on the side opposite to the switch pressing portion 104 of the rotating shaft 103. This sensor weight portion 106 is a safety device that prevents the rotating brush 40 from rotating even when the suction mouth body 400 is turned upside down, and has a U-shaped weight housing portion 106a.

[0092] One end of the weight housing 106a is fixed to the rotating shaft 103, and a groove 106b is formed at the other end. The groove 106b has tip portions 106b1 and 106b2 that are thin in the axial direction, and the tip portions 106b1 and 106b2 are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 103.

[0093] Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the suction body's sensor lever in the switched-on state. Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing the suction body's sensor lever in the switched-off state. Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the suction body when turned upside down. As shown in Fig. 29, a spherical weight 107 is accommodated in the weight accommodating portion 106a. The lower case 21 in which the sensor weight portion 106 is provided is formed with a wall portion 21e to prevent the weight 107 from jumping out forward from the weight accommodating portion 106a. The lower case 21 is also formed with a rib 21s at a position opposite to the groove portion 106b. The rib 21s is plate-shaped and is formed to protrude rearward.

[0094] In the switch-ON state shown in Fig. 29, a part of the weight 107 projects forward from the weight housing portion 106a, and the weight 107 abuts against the rear surface of the wall portion 21e. In Fig. 29, the tip portion 106b2 constituting the groove portion 106b is hidden behind the rib 21s.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 30, when the suction body 400 is turned upside down, the sensor lever 100 (see FIG. 28) rotates around the pivot 103 by the biasing force of the spring 105, and the groove 106b of the weight accommodating section 106a moves away from the rib 21s. In addition, in the lower case 21, a recess 21f with a concave surface facing downward is formed on the upper part of the weight accommodating section 106a. When the suction body 400 is turned upside down, the rib 21s and the groove 106b move away from each other, opening the recess 21f and allowing the weight to fall into the recess 21f. At this time, the weight 107 is sandwiched between the rib 21s and the groove 106b, so that the weight accommodating section 106a does not return to the switch-on state. Therefore, when the suction body 400 is turned upside down, the switch does not turn on and the rotating brush 40 does not rotate.

[0096] Furthermore, when suction body 400 is lifted off the floor surface in a normal state, weight 107 is housed in weight housing section 106a by gravity, as shown in Fig. 30. Then, when suction body 400 comes into contact with the floor surface in this state, weight housing section 106a rotates, the switch is turned ON, and rotating brush 40 rotates, as weight 107 does not restrict the operation of weight housing section 106a.

[0097] Incidentally, in the conventional sensor lever, a large spherical weight is provided to be sandwiched between the tip of the U-shaped member and the wall. Thus, the size of the weight is restricted, and the weight cannot be made small. In this embodiment, therefore, by forming the rib 21s and the groove portion 106b, the weight 107 can be made small and can be sandwiched between the tip of the weight accommodating portion 106a and the rib 21s even when the suction mouth body 400 is turned upside down. In this way, by making the weight 107 small, the sensor lever 100 can be made smaller and lighter.

[0098] Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the joint part. Fig. 32 is a side view of the joint part. Fig. 33 is a top view showing the joint part attached to the lower case. Figs. 31 to 33 show the state in which the straight pipe part 31 of the joint part 30 is raised in an oblique direction. As shown in Fig. 31, a cylindrical connecting portion 32c that is connected to the suction mouth body 20 (see Fig. 2) is formed in the rotary joint portion 32. Furthermore, rectangular through holes 32d, 32e, and 32f are formed in the connecting portion 32c at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 32, a through hole 32g is further formed in the connection portion 32c. The through hole 32g is formed at a distance from the through hole 32f in the circumferential direction. In this manner, the through holes 32d to 32g are formed in the connection portion 32c in a concentrated manner on the left side. Note that the number of the through holes 32d to 32g is not limited to four, and may be more or less than four.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 33, when the joint part 30 is attached to the lower case 21, the connection part 32c is connected to the flow path part 64 of the protection member 62. In addition, a gap S1 for taking in air is formed on the left side surface of the lower case 21. When the electric blower of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is driven and a suction force is generated, air flows from the brush chamber Q (see Fig. 26) through the joint part 30 and at the same time, outside air is taken in through the gap S1. The air taken in through the gap S1 cools the electric motor 70, and then is taken into the joint part 30 through the through holes 32d to 32g.

[0101] Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIV-XXXIV in Fig. 3. Note that Fig. 34 shows a state cut at the position of the electric motor 70. As shown in Fig. 34, the rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70 is located above the rotating shaft 40a of the rotating brush 40. This allows the rotating brush 40 and the electric motor 70 to overlap partially in the vertical direction, shortening the front-to-rear dimension of the suction mouth body 20 while also reducing the vertical dimension. In Fig. 34, the circular line L10 indicates the arrangement line of the rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70, and the straight line L11 indicates the arrangement line of the LEDs 61.

[0102] Incidentally, the LED board 60 cannot illuminate the floor unless it is higher than the rotating brush 40. For this reason, the motor 70 is placed at a position where the height can be maintained as close as possible, minimizing the dimensions in the up-down and front-back directions.

[0103] Fig. 35 is a top view showing the inside of the lower case, Fig. 36 is a front view of the joint, and Fig. 35 is an enlarged view of the right side of Fig. 5. 35, lower case 21 is provided with a stopper member 110 and a coil spring 111 that biases stopper member 110 leftward in the left-right direction. Stopper member 110 is supported by lower case 21 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. One end of coil spring 111 opposite stopper member 110 is held by lower case 21, and the other end abuts against an end face of stopper member 110.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 36, the joint portion 30 has a recess 32s formed on the right side surface of the rotating joint portion 32, into which the stopper member 110 (see FIG. 35) fits.

[0105] However, if the suction mouth body 20 is configured to rotate freely relative to the joint portion 30, when the suction mouth body 400 is lifted, the side where the electric motor 70 is provided becomes heavy, and the left side of the suction mouth body 20 tilts downward. Therefore, in this embodiment, a stopper member 110 and a coil spring 111 are provided, and when the suction mouth body 20 is held horizontal, the stopper member 110 is pressed by the coil spring 111, and the stopper member 110 fits into the recess 32s. This makes it possible to prevent the suction mouth body 20 from tilting even when the suction mouth body 400 is lifted. The fit between the stopper member 110 and the recess 32s is such that the stopper member 110 fits into the recess 32s with just enough force to prevent the suction mouth body 20 from tilting when the suction mouth body 400 is lifted, and the structure has a spring force that causes the stopper member 110 to immediately come out of the recess 32s when the user rotates the suction mouth body 20 relative to the joint part 30 while cleaning.

[0106] FIG. 37 is a plan view showing the back surface side of the upper case. As shown in Fig. 37, recesses 22b serving as a plurality of weight-reducing portions are formed in a plurality of locations on the rear surface of upper case 22. Forming these recesses 22b makes it possible to reduce the weight of upper case 22, and thus the weight of suction body 400. Furthermore, recesses 22b are formed as elongated holes that are long in the front-rear direction with a predetermined width, and are formed at intervals in the left-right direction. This achieves weight reduction while ensuring strength against loads from above that are likely to be applied to upper case 22.

[0107] Furthermore, the back surface of the upper case 22 is formed with screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e.

[0108] Fig. 38 is a bottom view of the suction body. Fig. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIX-XXXIX in Fig. 3. 38, the suction mouth body 400 is formed by fixing the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 with screws. The lower case 21 is formed with screw insertion holes (not shown) through which the screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted. The screw insertion holes are formed at positions facing the above-mentioned screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e in the up-down direction.

[0109] Screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted into the respective screw insertion holes from the bottom side of the lower case 21, and are screwed into screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e of the upper case 22 and fixed.

[0110] The lower case 21 is provided with a screw fixing portion for fixing the unit cover 23 to the lower case 21 using a screw 121d.

[0111] 39, in suction mouth body 400, lower case 21 and upper case 22 are fixed by claw engagement in addition to the screw fixing described above. That is, claw 22t is formed at the front end edge of upper case 22, and claw 22u is formed at the rear end edge of upper case 22. A recess 21t into which claw 22t fits is formed in the upper part of lower case 21, and a hole 21u into which claw 22u fits is formed in the rear part of lower case 21.

[0112] In addition, an inclined surface 21v that inclines downward so as to be positioned forward is formed on the back surface (rear surface) of the lower case 21. Providing the lower case 21 with such an inclined surface 21v makes it possible to reduce the contact area with the floor surface, thereby reducing the resistance when the suction body 400 is moved and improving usability.

[0113] As described above, the suction mouth body 400 of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment includes the LED board 60 on which the LEDs are mounted, a protective cover that protects the LEDs 61, and the flow path portion 64 that communicates with the vacuum cleaner main body 1. The flow path portion 64 and the protective plate 63 are integrally formed. This allows for weight reduction and improved ease of assembly by integrating the parts.

[0114] In the present embodiment, the protective member 62 integrally forming the flow path portion 64 and the protective plate 63 is integrally formed with the substrate holding portion 63c that holds the LED substrate 60. This allows for weight reduction and improved ease of assembly by integrating the parts.

[0115] In the present embodiment, the protective plate 63 is formed with a lens-shaped portion 63e for directing light from the LEDs 61 onto the floor surface M. This allows the floor surface M to be brightly illuminated without changing the weight of the suction body 400, improving usability.

[0116] Furthermore, this embodiment includes the upper case 22 that covers everything except the protective plate 63. This can improve the design.

[0117] Moreover, the electric vacuum cleaner 1000 of this embodiment is provided with the above-mentioned suction body 400. This allows the suction body 400 to be made lighter in weight, improving ease of use during cleaning. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 1 Vacuum cleaner body 2 Dust case 20 Mouthpiece body 21 Lower case (case) 21b1 Fitting hole 21s Rib 21v slope 22 Upper case (case) 22a Notch 23 Unit cover (mounting cover) 23a Motor fixing part 23b Side (outer side) 23c Front (outer shell front) 23d Top surface (top surface of outer shell) 23e Notch 23f hole 23g groove 23h Bottom (outer bottom) 24 Bumper section 24d protrusion 25 Legs 25a Extension 25b Joint 25c wheels 30 Joint 31 Straight pipe section 31a Curved part 32 Rotating joint 32a Curved section 32b Claws 32c Connection 32d,32e,32f,32g through hole 32s recess 33 Rotating cover 33a Inside 33b External surface 40 Rotating brush (rotating cleaning body) 50 Bearing cover 51s recess 55 Locking member 55a Flexure 55b Claw part 55c Pressing part 60 LED board (wiring board) 61 LED (light source) 62 Protective member (member forming a flow path and a protective cover together) 63 Protective plate (protective cover) 63c Board holder 63e Lens shape part 64 Flow path portion (member forming the flow path) 70 Electric motor (drive unit) 71 Clutch 71a Rotating shaft 71b Protrusion 72 Small diameter pulley 73 Large diameter pulley 74 Toothed Belt 75 Tension pulley 80 Control Board 91 Brush 92 Brush (airtight material) 100 Sensor lever 101 Arm 102 wheels 103 Rotating shaft 104 Switch press part 105 Spring 106 Sensor weight part 106a Weight storage section 106b Groove 106b1, 106b2 Tip 107 Weight 110 Stopper member 111 Coil spring 400 Suction head (vacuum cleaner suction head) 1000 Vacuum Cleaner L1,L2 center distance M Floor surface Q Brush Room S1 Gap

Claims

1. A rotating cleaning body that cleans a surface to be cleaned; a case for axially supporting and housing one end of the rotary cleaning body; a bearing cover attached to the case and holding the other end of the rotary cleaning body; The bearing cover includes a flexible portion that is flexible and a claw portion that is formed on the flexible portion, The bearing cover is inserted into the case, and the flexible portion is flexible and deformed so that the claw portion fits into a fitting hole formed in the case, thereby fixing the rotating cleaning body to the case, A suction head of a vacuum cleaner, wherein an airtight member is provided on a bottom surface of the bearing cover.

2. The suction head of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, The suction head of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the airtight member is a brush.

3. The suction head of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, A suction head of a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that the brush is arranged along the rear to front of the bearing cover.

4. In the suction head of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, A suction head of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the flexible portion is disposed behind the bearing cover.

5. A vacuum cleaner comprising the suction head of the vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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