Nozzle for blower and blower

Abstract

To provide a nozzle which is removably attached to an electric blower to improve convenience of the blower.SOLUTION: A nozzle includes: an attachment part configured to be attachable to a blower; and a main part coupled to the attachment part. The main part includes: a discharge port; and a passage which is connected to the discharge port and in which air sent from the blower passes. The main part includes a flexible tube. The flexible tube has a length of at least 15 centimeters and defines at least a part of the passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a nozzle that can be attached to an electrically powered blower. [Background technology]

[0002] Electric blowers capable of blowing away dust and other particles by discharging air from a nozzle are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a blower (a so-called air duster) configured to generate compressed air using a centrifugal fan rotated by a motor and spray the generated compressed air from a nozzle. This blower can be selectively equipped with nozzles of different diameters and lengths as needed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-117442 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a nozzle that can be removably attached to an electric blower, thereby improving the convenience of the blower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a nozzle attachable to an electric blower. The nozzle includes a mounting portion and a main body portion. The mounting portion is configured to be attachable to the blower. The main body portion is coupled to the mounting portion. The main body portion has an outlet and a passageway connected to the outlet and through which air delivered by the blower passes. The main body portion also includes a flexible tube. The flexible tube has a length of at least 15 centimeters (cm) and defines at least a portion of the passageway.

[0006] According to this aspect, the user can bend the flexible tube, allowing for relatively free change in the position and orientation of the outlet relative to the blower. Furthermore, because the flexible tube is at least 15 cm long, the position and orientation of the outlet can be changed over a relatively wide range. Therefore, when the nozzle of this aspect is attached to a blower, the user can change the position from which air is discharged within a relatively wide range by deforming the flexible tube, without having to move the blower. In this way, the nozzle of this aspect can improve the convenience of the blower.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the flexible tube may be connected to the attachment portion so as not to come off from the attachment portion in the air flow direction. According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent the flexible tube from coming off from the attachment portion due to the discharge of air.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the nozzle may further include a cover that covers at least a portion of the flexible tube. The cover may be formed of a material that is harder than the flexible tube. The cover may be removably attached to the flexible tube. According to this aspect, a user can attach the cover to the flexible tube as needed and operate the flexible tube while keeping at least a portion of the flexible tube from bending, thereby improving operability.

[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the main body may have at least one vent located radially outward of the flexible tube. That is, the main body may have at least one vent separate from the outlet. According to this aspect, even when the flow rate of air discharged from only the outlet is relatively small, air flows out through at least one vent, thereby increasing the total flow rate of air discharged from the nozzle. This reduces the possibility of surging.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the nozzle may further include an airflow resistance member disposed in the air passage leading to at least one air vent. According to this embodiment, the airflow resistance member can reduce the speed of air passing through the air passage. This reduces the pressure of the air flowing out of the air vent, preventing high-pressure air from being sprayed at a location other than the intended location of the outlet.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower. The nozzle includes an attachment portion and a main body portion. The attachment portion is configured to be attachable to the blower. The main body portion is formed in a cylindrical shape and protrudes from the attachment portion. The main body portion has an outlet provided at the protruding end of the main body portion and at least one vent hole provided at a side portion of the main body portion. The outlet hole is configured to be able to receive a cylindrical protrusion for injecting air that is provided on an object to be supplied with air. The at least one vent hole opens to the protruding end of the main body portion and is in communication with the outlet hole.

[0012] According to this aspect, a nozzle is realized that is attached to a blower and can supply air to another object via an air injection protrusion. The nozzle of this aspect can improve the convenience of the blower. Furthermore, with the nozzle of this aspect, even if the flow rate of air discharged from the protrusion inserted into the outlet (i.e., supplied to the target object) is relatively small, air is discharged through at least one vent hole, thereby reducing the possibility of surging.

[0013] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the main body may have a stopper. The stopper may be disposed inside the main body and configured to abut against the air injection protrusion when inserted through the discharge port. The length of the at least one vent hole in the axial direction of the main body may be greater than the distance from the discharge port to the stopper in the axial direction of the main body. According to this aspect, even when the air injection protrusion is inserted through the discharge port, air can be reliably discharged to the outside of the main body from the at least one vent hole.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower. The nozzle includes an attachment portion and a main body portion. The attachment portion is configured to be attachable to the blower. The main body portion protrudes from the attachment portion. The main body portion has multiple outlets. According to this aspect, a nozzle that can be attached to the blower and can eject air over a relatively wide range from the multiple outlets is realized. The nozzle of this aspect can improve the convenience of the blower.

[0015] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of outlets may be arranged on the same plane and may face in different directions from one another. According to this aspect, it is possible to realize a nozzle that can eject air over a relatively wide range while minimizing the dimensions in a direction perpendicular to the plane.

[0016] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the nozzle mounting portion may be configured to be locked in the mounting position so as to prevent movement in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the nozzle is moved in a first direction relative to the blower and placed in a predetermined mounting position relative to the blower. According to this aspect, a user can lock the mounting portion to the blower simply by moving the nozzle in one direction. This allows for a nozzle with excellent operability.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a nozzle attachable to an electric blower is provided. The nozzle includes a plurality of tubular members removably connected to one another. At least two of the plurality of tubular members are threadedly coupled to one another. According to the configuration of this aspect, the length of the nozzle in the air flow direction can be shortened by removing at least one of the plurality of tubular members. This allows the user to adjust the length of the nozzle depending on the actual usage. The nozzle of this aspect can improve the convenience of the blower. Furthermore, because at least two of the plurality of tubular members are threadedly coupled, air is less likely to leak from the coupled portions of the tubular members, and the positional relationship between the tubular members is less likely to change even when an external force is applied to the nozzle.

[0018] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the multiple tubular members may include at least a first member configured to be attachable to the blower and a second member removably connected to the first member. A portion of the second member adjacent to the first member downstream of the first member in the air flow direction may be configured to be more flexible than other portions of the nozzle. In this case, even if an external force is applied to the nozzle, the portion of the second member adjacent to the first member bends, thereby reducing the load on other portions and the possibility of damaging the nozzle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the front cover and the locking mechanism. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front cover and the locking mechanism. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side view of the locking sleeve. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. [Figure 18] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the locking mechanism during the process of attaching the nozzle to the air duster. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the locking mechanism when the nozzle is placed in the mounting position. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism when the nozzle is in the mounting position. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism in the process of removing the nozzle from the air duster body. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a protrusion for injecting air. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another nozzle. [Figure 24] FIG. [Figure 25] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV in FIG. 24. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 25. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another nozzle. [Figure 28] FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXX-XXX in FIG. 29. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of another nozzle. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 31. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another nozzle. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another nozzle. [Figure 35] FIG. 35 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 36] FIG. 35 is another enlarged partial view of FIG. 34. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, a nozzle 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 21. The nozzle 1 is additionally attached to the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8 and is used together with the air duster 8. Various types of nozzles can be selectively attached to the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8. A user can use the air duster 8 without attaching a nozzle or with an appropriate nozzle attached, depending on the type of work. The nozzle 1 of this embodiment is an example of a nozzle that can be attached to the air duster 8.

[0021] First, the general configuration of the air duster 8 will be described.

[0022] The air duster 8 is an example of an electric blower. More specifically, the air duster 8 is a type of blower that can blow away dust and other particles by discharging compressed air. As shown in FIG. 1 , the air duster 8 includes a main housing 81 and a handle 83. The main housing 81 accommodates a motor 881 and a centrifugal fan 885. The output shaft 882 of the motor 881 and the centrifugal fan 885 are integrally rotated around a rotation axis A0. The main housing 81 extends along the rotation axis A0. One axial end of the main housing 81 is provided with an opening (inlet port) 810 for drawing air into the main housing 81. The other axial end of the main housing 81 is provided with a nozzle unit 82. The nozzle unit 82 is cylindrically shaped about the rotation axis A0 and has an opening (outlet port) 820 for discharging air from the main housing 81. The diameter of the discharge port 820 is 13.0 millimeters (mm). The handle 83 is a portion that is gripped by the user, and protrudes from the main body housing 81 and extends in a direction that intersects with the rotation axis A0.

[0023] In the following description, for convenience, the direction in which the rotation axis A0 extends is defined as the front-to-rear direction of the air duster 8. In the front-to-rear direction, the direction from the suction port 810 toward the discharge port 820 is defined as the forward direction, and the opposite direction (the direction from the discharge port 820 toward the suction port 810) is defined as the rearward direction. A direction perpendicular to the rotation axis A0 and corresponding to the extension direction of the handle 83 is defined as the up-to-down direction. In the up-to-down direction, the direction in which the handle 83 protrudes from the main body housing 81 (the direction from the main body housing 81 toward the protruding end of the handle 83) is defined as the downward direction, and the opposite direction (the direction from the protruding end of the handle 83 toward the main body housing 81) is defined as the upward direction. A direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and the up-to-down direction is defined as the left-to-right direction.

[0024] A trigger 831 is provided at the upper end of the handle 83. A switch 832 is housed inside the handle 83. A battery 835 for supplying power to the motor 881 is removably attached to the lower end of the handle 83. When the user presses the trigger 831, the switch 832 is turned on, and the motor 881 is driven. As a result, the centrifugal fan 885 is rotated, sucking air into the main body housing 81 through the suction port 810, and the air compressed by the centrifugal fan 885 is discharged from the discharge port 820. When the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8, the air discharged from the discharge port 820 passes through the passage 160 of the nozzle 1 and is discharged from the discharge port 162 of the nozzle 1 (see FIG. 2).

[0025] The detailed configuration of the nozzle 1 will be described below.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle 1 includes a base member 10 that can be attached to the air duster 8, and a flexible tube 16 that is connected to the base member 10.

[0027] First, the base member 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the base member 10 is a long, tubular member extending along a predetermined axis A1. The base member 10 includes an attachment portion 11 and a holding portion 12. In this embodiment, the attachment portion 11 and the holding portion 12 are integrally formed from synthetic resin, but the attachment portion 11 and the holding portion 12 may be formed separately and connected to each other. The attachment portion 11 is a portion configured to be attachable to the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8 (specifically, the locking mechanism 9; see FIG. 1). The holding portion 12 protrudes in the axial direction from one axial end of the attachment portion 11. The holding portion 12 is a portion that engages with the flexible tube 16 to hold the flexible tube 16. The holding portion 12, together with the flexible tube 16, constitutes the main body of the nozzle 1.

[0028] For convenience, in the following description, the direction of the nozzle 1 will be defined based on the orientation of the nozzle 1 when it is attached to the air duster 8. The nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8 so that the axis A1 of the base member 10 coincides with the rotation axis A0. Therefore, the direction in which the axis A1 extends (the axial direction of the base member 10) will be defined as the front-to-rear direction. In the front-to-rear direction, the side of the attachment part 11 (the side connected to the air duster 8) is the rear side of the nozzle 1, and the side of the holding part 12 is the front side of the nozzle 1.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the mounting portion 11 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The mounting portion 11 has a pair of locking pieces 111 that can engage with the locking mechanism 9 (see Figure 1). The pair of locking pieces 111 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis A1 of the base member 10, and each extends in the axial direction. The locking piece 111 is a portion between two slits that extend forward from the rear end of the mounting portion 11. Therefore, the rear end of the locking piece 111 is a free end. With this configuration, the locking piece 111 can elastically deform in the radial direction of the nozzle 1, with the front end as a fulcrum.

[0030] The rear end of the locking piece 111 has a claw 112. The claw 112 protrudes radially inward from the rear end of the locking piece 111. The claw 112 has a front end face 113, a rear end face 114, and an inclined face 115. The front end face 113 and the rear end face 114 are each surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the nozzle 1. The inclined face 115 is a surface that connects the radially inner end of the front end face 113 and the radially inner end of the rear end face 114, and is inclined radially outward toward the rear.

[0031] The rear end portion also has an actuating protrusion 117. The actuating protrusion 117 protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the rear end portion. The circumferential center of the actuating protrusion 117 is located at a position that coincides with the circumferential center of the pawl 112. The actuating protrusion 117 is also positioned slightly forward of the pawl 112, and the rear end of the actuating protrusion 117 is located slightly forward of the rear end of the rear end portion (rear end surface 114 of the pawl 112). When viewed from the radially outside, the rear end surface 118 of the actuating protrusion 117 is formed in a U-shape with a central portion protruding rearward. In other words, the rear end surface 118 of the actuating protrusion 117 is configured as a curved surface.

[0032] The detailed configuration of the nozzle part 82 (locking mechanism 9) of the air duster 8, and the attachment and detachment of the attachment part 11 to the nozzle part 82 will be described in detail later.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the holding portion 12 is formed in a double-cylinder shape having an outer cylinder (cylinder wall) 13 and an inner cylinder (cylinder wall) 14 that are coaxially arranged.

[0034] The outer cylinder 13 is a cylindrical portion extending forward from the mounting portion 11. The outer cylinder 13 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape, with only the rear end portion having a larger outer diameter than the other portions. The inner diameter of the outer cylinder 13 is uniform and slightly larger than the diameter of the discharge port 820 of the air duster 8. Four recesses 135 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the outer cylinder 13. The rear end of each recess 135 is open. In addition, three rectangular openings 137 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the front end portion of the outer cylinder 13. The openings 137 penetrate the outer cylinder 13 (cylinder wall) to connect the inside and outside of the outer cylinder 13 and extend to the front end of the outer cylinder 13.

[0035] The inner tube 14 is a cylindrical portion having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the flexible tube 16. The inner tube 14 is disposed radially inside the outer tube 13 at a distance from the outer tube 13. More specifically, the inner tube 14 is connected to and supported by three ribs 141 disposed circumferentially around the axis A1 and spaced apart. Thus, three spaces extending in the front-rear direction are formed between the outer tube 13 and the inner tube 14 of the holding portion 12, which are partitioned circumferentially by the three ribs 141. The rear end of the inner tube 14 is located forward of the rear end of the outer tube 13 in the front-rear direction (more specifically, forward of the recess 135). The front end of the inner tube 14 is located rearward of the front end of the outer tube 13. The rear ends of the openings 137 of the outer tube 13 are located at the same positions as the front ends of the inner tube 14 in the front-rear direction.

[0036] The flexible tube 16 will now be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the flexible tube 16 is a flexible tubular member made of synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the flexible tube 16 is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has excellent flexibility. The flexible tube 16 is a tubular member with a circular cross section, and has a uniform outer diameter and a uniform inner diameter when no external force is applied. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the flexible tube 16 is 6 mm. The flexible tube 16 has a length of 70 centimeters (cm).

[0037] One end of the flexible tube 16 is connected to the holder 12. Hereinafter, the end of the flexible tube 16 connected to the holder 12 will be referred to as the base end, and the opposite end will be referred to as the tip. In this embodiment, when the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8, air sent out by the centrifugal fan 885 (see FIG. 1 ) of the air duster 8 flows in from an opening at the base end of the flexible tube 16, passes through a passage 160 extending within the flexible tube 16, and is discharged from an opening at the tip. Hereinafter, the opening at the base end of the flexible tube 16 (the inlet at the rear end of the passage 160) will be referred to as the inlet 161, and the opening at the tip end (the outlet at the front end of the passage 160) will be referred to as the outlet 162.

[0038] A cover 18 is attached to a portion of the flexible tube 16, including the tip end. The cover 18 is formed of a material that is harder than the flexible tube 16 (for example, a synthetic resin that is inflexible or significantly less flexible than the flexible tube 16). The cover 18 is a cylindrical member that has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the flexible tube 16, and is fitted onto the outer periphery of the flexible tube 16. The inner circumferential surface of the cover 18 is treated with a non-slip material to prevent the flexible tube 16 from slipping out of place, but the user can pull the cover 18 out of the flexible tube 16 to remove it, or place it in a different position on the flexible tube 16 as needed.

[0039] The connection structure between the flexible tube 16 and the holding portion 12 will be described below.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 to 11, the flexible tube 16 is inserted through the inner tube 14. The base end of the flexible tube 16 protrudes rearward beyond the rear end of the outer tube 13. An engaging member 17 is attached to one end of the flexible tube 16. The engaging member 17 is a cylindrical member having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible tube 16. In this embodiment, the engaging member 17 is composed of a first member 17A and a second member 17B. The first member 17A and the second member 17B are each semi-cylindrical members that are assembled so as to abut on a plane including the axis of the engaging member 17. The first member 17A and the second member 17B have mostly the same configuration. In the following, components common to the first member 17A and the second member 17B will be described using the same reference numerals.

[0041] The first member 17A has two ridges 171A provided on the inner circumferential surface at each of its two axial ends. Each of the ridges 171A extends circumferentially and has a generally triangular cross section. Meanwhile, the second member 17B has one ridge 171B provided on the inner circumferential surface at the center in the front-to-rear direction. The ridge 171B extends circumferentially and has a generally triangular cross section. When the flexible tube 16 is disposed between the first member 17A and the second member 17B and the first member 17A and the second member 17B are combined so that they abut against each other, the first member 17A and the second member 17B press the flexible tube 16 radially inward, and the ridges 171A and 171B bite into the outer circumferential surface of the flexible tube 16. As a result, the first member 17A and the second member 17B hold the flexible tube 16 while restricting the flexible tube 16 from moving in the axial direction of the engaging member 17.

[0042] The reason why the ridges 171A of the first member 17A and the ridges 171B of the second member 17B are arranged at different positions in the axial direction of the engaging member 17 is to reduce the possibility that a load will be applied to the same position in the axial direction when the flexible tube 16 is pulled in the axial direction, causing the flexible tube 16 to tear. However, the first member 17A and the second member 17B may have the same configuration.

[0043] Each of the first and second members 17A and 17B has two protrusions 174 that protrude radially outward from their outer peripheral surfaces. When the first and second members 17A and 17B are assembled, the four protrusions 174 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A rear end 175 of each of the protrusions 174 protrudes radially outward more than the other portions and can be fitted into a recess 135 of the outer tube 13, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the rest of the protrusion 174 can be fitted into the outer tube 13. The length of the protrusion 174 in the front-to-rear direction is approximately equal to the length from the rear end of the inner tube 14 to the rear end of the outer tube 13. With one end of the flexible tube 16 sandwiched between the first and second members 17A and 17B, the rear end 175 of each of the protrusions 174 is positioned circumferentially so that it corresponds to the recess 135, and is fitted into the rear end of the outer tube 13. The first member 17A and the second member 17B are disposed in a position in the front-rear direction where the front end of the protrusion 174 abuts against the rear end of the inner tube 14. In other words, the inner tube 14 restricts the engagement member 17 from moving forward.

[0044] With the above-described connection structure, flexible tube 16 is connected to holding portion 12 via engaging member 17 so as not to slip out forward from holding portion 12. Therefore, when nozzle 1 is attached to air duster 8 and in use, flexible tube 16 can be prevented from coming off holding portion 12 (base member 10) due to the discharge of air.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 8, when the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8, the front end of the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8, which is adjacent to the rear of the engaging member 17, restricts the rearward movement of the engaging member 17. On the other hand, when the nozzle 1 is detached from the air duster 8 as shown in Fig. 4, the user can remove the flexible tube 16, with the cover 18 removed, by pulling it rearward from the holding part 12 together with the engaging member 17. Therefore, the user can attach and use a flexible tube having a different length and / or inner diameter from the flexible tube 16 via the engaging member 17 to the holding part 12 as needed.

[0046] As described above, the nozzle 1 of this embodiment has an outlet 162 and includes a flexible tube 16 that defines a passage 160 connected to the outlet 162. Because the flexible tube 16 can be bent, a user can relatively freely change the position and orientation of the outlet 162 relative to the air duster 8. In particular, because the flexible tube 16 is 70 cm long, a user can change the position and orientation of the outlet 162, i.e., the position and direction of the air spray, within a very wide range without moving the air duster 8. For example, a user can insert the flexible tube 16 into a space that is too narrow to insert the air duster 8 and spray air at the desired location. In this way, the nozzle 1 improves the convenience of the air duster 8.

[0047] In addition, a non-flexible cover 18 can be attached to the flexible tube 16. Therefore, the user can attach the cover 18 to a desired position on the flexible tube 16 as needed and use it. The user can operate the flexible tube 16 without bending the portion covered by the cover 18 (for example, the tip), so the cover 18 can improve the operability of the flexible tube 16.

[0048] Furthermore, the nozzle 1 of this embodiment has a configuration for preventing surging. Specifically, in addition to the discharge port 162, the nozzle 1 is provided with an air vent 132 for increasing the flow rate of air discharged from the nozzle 1.

[0049] Surging refers to a periodic oscillation phenomenon of the pressure and flow rate inside a pipe that occurs when a blower, compressor, or other device is connected to a pipe and operated with the flow rate of the exhaust gas reduced below the normal rate. The characteristics of a blower are generally represented by a characteristic curve (also called a performance curve, pressure curve, etc.) on a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the flow rate of the air exhausted from the blower and the vertical axis represents the static pressure. Surging is known to occur when a blower is operated in a region where the characteristic curve slopes upward to the right (a region in which the static pressure decreases as the flow rate decreases; hereafter referred to as the surging region). The surging region is the region on the graph to the left of a boundary (also called the surging line) determined according to the specifications of the blower.

[0050] In this embodiment, the diameter of the outlet 820 of the air duster 8 is 13.0 mm, while the inner diameter of the flexible tube 16, i.e., the diameter of the outlet 162, is 6 mm. The surging region is determined according to the specifications of the air duster 8 (for example, the specifications of the main body housing 81, motor 881, centrifugal fan 885, etc.). It is known that the flow rate when the air duster 8 is connected to a pipe with an outlet diameter of 6 mm and operated falls within the surging region in the above graph. Therefore, when the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8 and air is discharged only from the outlet 162, surging may occur.

[0051] For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 , in addition to the discharge port 162, the nozzle 1 is provided with a vent 132 on the radially outer side of the flexible tube 16. The vent 132 discharges additional air and increases the total flow rate of air discharged from the nozzle 1, thereby preventing surging. The flow rate to be increased to prevent surging (i.e., the flow rate of air discharged from the vent 132) can be determined based on the characteristic curve and surging region (surging line) of the air duster 8. Furthermore, the required increase in flow rate can be achieved by appropriately setting (increasing) the area of ​​the vent 132. The vent 132 of this embodiment is configured to prevent surging by increasing the total flow rate of air discharged from the nozzle 1 to outside the surging region.

[0052] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 10, an air passage 130 connected to the air vent 132 is provided on the radially outer side of the flexible tube 16. The air passage 130 is a passage extending in the front-rear direction within the outer tube 13, and is composed of a space formed between the outer tube 13 and the engaging member 17 behind the rear end of the inner tube 14, a space formed between the outer tube 13 and the inner tube 14, and an annular space formed between the front end of the outer tube 13 and the flexible tube 16 in front of the front end of the inner tube 14. In this embodiment, when the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8, air blown out by the centrifugal fan 885 of the air duster 8 flows in from an opening at the rear end of the air passage 130 (hereinafter referred to as the inlet 131), passes through the air passage 130, and flows out from the air vent 132. In this embodiment, the air vent 132 is composed of an opening 134 at the front end of the outer tube 13 and the three openings 137 described above.

[0053] In this embodiment, a ventilation resistance member 125 is disposed at the front end of the air passage 130 (the annular space between the front end of the outer tube 13 and the flexible tube 16). The ventilation resistance member 125 is configured to allow air to pass through the interior of the ventilation resistance member 125 while providing resistance to reduce the flow rate. In this embodiment, an open-cell structure made of synthetic resin (e.g., a polyurethane resin sponge) is used as the ventilation resistance member 125. The ventilation resistance member 125 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The ventilation resistance member 125 is fitted into the front end of the outer tube 13 with the flexible tube 16 inserted therethrough. The ventilation resistance member 125 is held in a slightly compressed state between the flexible tube 16 and the outer tube 13. The axial length of the ventilation resistance member 125 is approximately the same as the longitudinal length of an opening 137 provided in the wall of the outer tube 13.

[0054] With this arrangement, air that flows into the air passage 130 from the inlet 131 at the rear end of the outer cylinder 13 as the air duster 8 is operating passes through the air passage 130 and the airflow resistance member 125 and flows out from the air vent 132 to the front of the outer cylinder 13 and to the radially outer side of the outer cylinder 13. The total flow rate of the air discharged from the outlet 162 and the air that passes through the airflow resistance member 125 and flows out from the air vent 132 is set to fall outside the surging region, so no surging occurs at this time.

[0055] In this embodiment, the flow velocity of the air flowing out of the ventilation opening 132 decreases as it passes through the ventilation resistance member 125. Therefore, the pressure of the air flowing out of the ventilation opening 132 is lower than when the ventilation resistance member 125 is not provided. This makes it possible to prevent high-pressure air from being blown into unintended locations from the ventilation opening 132. Meanwhile, the flow rate of the air flowing out of the ventilation opening 132 is lower than when the ventilation resistance member 125 is not provided. Therefore, in this embodiment, the area of ​​the ventilation opening 132 is set larger than the area required when the ventilation resistance member 125 is not provided. Specifically, when the ventilation resistance member 125 is not provided, even if the ventilation opening 132 is formed only by the opening 134 at the front end of the outer tube 13, it is possible to ensure a total flow rate that falls outside the surging region. However, in this embodiment, since the airflow resistance member 125 is arranged, in addition to the opening 134, three openings 137 are provided, thereby increasing the area of ​​the air vent 132 and achieving the required increase in flow rate.

[0056] The configurations of the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8 and the locking mechanism 9 will be described below.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 1 , the main body housing 81 of the air duster 8 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 811 and a front cover 813 connected to the front end of the tubular portion 811. In this embodiment, the front cover 813 is a member formed separately from the tubular portion 811. The front cover 813 is screwed onto the front end of the tubular portion 811 to cover the opening at the front end of the tubular portion 811. The front cover 813 is formed into a tapered funnel shape (cone shape) as a whole. The nozzle portion 82 is the cylindrical front end of the front cover 813. A locking mechanism 9 is attached to the nozzle portion 82. The nozzle 1 is attached to and detached from the nozzle portion 82 via the locking mechanism 9.

[0058] The locking mechanism 9 will now be described. The locking mechanism 9 is configured to lock the nozzle 1 at a predetermined mounting position relative to the air duster 8. As shown in Figure 12, the locking mechanism 9 includes a locking sleeve 91 fixed to the air duster 8, a sliding sleeve 93 arranged so as to be movable only in the forward and backward directions relative to the locking sleeve 91, and a biasing spring 95 that biases the sliding sleeve 93 forward relative to the locking sleeve 91.

[0059] 12 to 16, the lock sleeve 91 is a cylindrical member. The lock sleeve 91 is coaxially fitted onto the nozzle portion 82 of the front cover 813, and is fixed to the front cover 813 by a nut 89.

[0060] The lock sleeve 91 is configured to be able to engage with the nozzle 1. More specifically, the lock sleeve 91 has an outer diameter that is approximately equal to the inner diameter (the inner diameter of the portion excluding the claws 112) of the mounting portion 11 (see FIG. 5) of the nozzle 1. A pair of locking grooves 913 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 91. The pair of locking grooves 913 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the lock sleeve 91. The locking grooves 913 are recesses that are recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 91 and extend circumferentially around the axis. The locking grooves 913 are configured to be able to engage with the claws 112 of the locking pieces 111 of the nozzle 1.

[0061] A guide portion 915 is provided on the front side of each locking groove 913 to smoothly guide the claws 112 of the locking pieces 111 into the locking groove 913. The guide portion 915 is a recess that is recessed radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the locking sleeve 91, and extends from the front end of the locking sleeve 91 to near the front end of the locking groove 913. The guide portion 915 has an inclined surface 916 that gently slopes radially outward toward the rear.

[0062] Furthermore, one circumferential end of each locking groove 913 is connected to an open groove 917. More specifically, the open groove 917 is connected to the end of the locking groove 913 that is located on the clockwise side when viewed from the front of the locking sleeve 91, out of the two circumferential ends of the locking groove 913. The open groove 917 is a recess having approximately the same depth as the locking groove 913, and extends linearly forward to the front end of the locking sleeve 91. In other words, the front end of the open groove 917 is open. The open groove 917 is provided to allow the claws 112 of the locking pieces 111 to escape from the locking grooves 913 (i.e., to allow the nozzle 1 to move forward), and the circumferential width of the open groove 917 is slightly larger than the width of the claws 112 of the locking pieces 111.

[0063] 12, 13, and 17, the slide sleeve 93 is a cylindrical member. The slide sleeve 93 is disposed radially outside the lock sleeve 91 and is held so as to be movable relative to the lock sleeve 91 only in the axial direction (i.e., the front-rear direction).

[0064] The sliding sleeve 93 also has a pair of receiving recesses 935 that can engage with the actuating protrusions 117 (see FIG. 2) provided on the mounting portion 11 of the nozzle 1. The pair of receiving recesses 935 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the sliding sleeve 93. The receiving recesses 935 are recesses that recess rearward from the front end of the sliding sleeve 93, and when viewed from the outside in the radial direction, are formed in a U-shape that generally matches the actuating protrusions 117 of the nozzle 1. The surface that defines the receiving recess 935 is an abutting surface 936 that can abut against the rear end surface 118 of the actuating protrusion 117, and is configured as a curved surface.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 12 , the biasing spring 95 is disposed radially between the lock sleeve 91 and the sliding sleeve 93. The biasing spring 95 in this embodiment is a compression coil spring. The biasing spring 95 is disposed in a compressed state between a spring receiving portion 931 provided inside the sliding sleeve 93 and a shoulder portion 814 provided on the front cover 813 behind the nozzle portion 82. The biasing spring 95 constantly biases the sliding sleeve 93 forward. Therefore, in the initial state when the nozzle 1 is not attached to the locking mechanism 9, the sliding sleeve 93 is held in its forwardmost position. The receiving recess 935 of the sliding sleeve 93 is disposed radially outward of the guide portion 915 of the locking sleeve 91.

[0066] The operation of the locking mechanism 9 will now be described.

[0067] First, the operation of the locking mechanism 9 when the nozzle 1 is attached to the air duster 8 will be described.

[0068] When attaching the nozzle 1 to the air duster 8, the user moves the nozzle 1 linearly backward toward the air duster 8 (hereinafter also referred to as the attaching operation). More specifically, the user properly adjusts the circumferential position of the nozzle 1 relative to the locking mechanism 9, and then pushes the nozzle 1 from the front along the rotation axis A0 into the locking mechanism 9. Note that the actuating protrusion 117 provided on the outer surface of the locking piece 111 of the nozzle 1 (see FIG. 5) and the receiving recess 935 of the slide sleeve 93 (see FIG. 17) can be used as marks for adjusting the position. Aligning the actuating protrusion 117 with the receiving recess 935 in the circumferential direction is equivalent to aligning the claw 112 with the guide portion 915, and ultimately the claw 112 with the locking groove 913.

[0069] When the user pushes the nozzle 1 into the locking mechanism 9, the claws 112 of the pair of locking pieces 111 abut against the pair of guide portions 915 of the locking sleeve 91 (see FIG. 15 ). More specifically, the inclined surfaces 115 of the claws 112 abut against the inclined surfaces 916 of the guide portions 915. As the nozzle 1 moves rearward in this state, the locking pieces 111 elastically deform so that their rear ends move radially outward. As shown in FIG. 18 , when the user further pushes (moves) the nozzle 1 rearward, the rear end surfaces 114 of the claws 112 abut against the abutment surfaces 936 of the receiving recesses 935 of the sliding sleeve 93, moving the sliding sleeve 93 rearward relative to the locking sleeve 91 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 95. The portions of the mounting portion 11 of the nozzle 1 other than the locking pieces 111 enter the gap between the locking sleeve 91 and the sliding sleeve 93.

[0070] When the pawl 112 reaches the locking groove 913 after climbing from the inclined surface 916 of the guide portion 915 onto the outer peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 91, as shown in FIG. 19 , the restoring force of the locking piece 111 moves the pawl 112 radially inward to its initial position and engages with the locking groove 913. At this time, the rear end surface 114 of the pawl 112 disengages from the abutting surface 936 of the receiving recess 935, and the rearward pressure on the slide sleeve 93 is released. As a result, the slide sleeve 93 is moved forward by the biasing force of the biasing spring 95 and is held in a position where the abutting surface 936 of the receiving recess 935 abuts against the rear end surface 118 of the actuating protrusion 117 of the nozzle 1 (hereinafter also referred to as the locked position). In other words, the actuating protrusion 117 is held in a state of being fitted into the receiving recess 935.

[0071] 19, when the sliding sleeve 93 is placed in the locked position, a portion (wall portion) of the sliding sleeve 93 between the rear end (deepest portion of the recess) of the receiving recess 935 and the front end of the spring receiving portion 931 is positioned radially outward of the rear end (claw 112) of the locking piece 111. This wall portion functions as a restricting portion 938 that restricts elastic deformation of the locking piece 111 in a direction that disengages the claw 112 from the locking groove 913, thereby maintaining the engagement between the claw 112 and the locking groove 913. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 20, when the sliding sleeve 93 is biased forward, the receiving recess 935 engages with the actuating protrusion 117, thereby restricting rotation of the nozzle 1 around the rotation axis A0.

[0072] In this way, the locking mechanism 9 locks the nozzle 1 so that it cannot move forward at the position where the claw 112 engages with the locking groove 913 (hereinafter, the position of the nozzle 1 at this time will also be referred to as the mounting position). The locking mechanism 9 also restricts the nozzle 1, which is positioned at the mounting position, from rotating.

[0073] The operation of the locking mechanism 9 when the nozzle 1 is removed from the air duster 8 will now be described.

[0074] When a user removes the nozzle 1, which is locked in the attached position as shown in FIG. 20 , from the air duster 8, the user first rotates the nozzle 1 around its axis relative to the air duster 8 to release the locking mechanism 9 (hereinafter also referred to as the unlocking operation). More specifically, the user grasps the nozzle 1 and rotates it clockwise as viewed from the front about the rotation axis A0. As described above, the sliding sleeve 93 is biased forward in an unrotatable state, and the actuating protrusion 117 is fitted into the receiving recess 935. When the user rotates the nozzle 1 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 95, the end of the rear end surface 118 (curved surface) of the actuating protrusion 117 on the rotation direction side (clockwise as viewed from the front) and the end of the abutting surface 936 (curved surface) of the receiving recess 935 on the rotation direction side cooperate to convert the circumferential force into an axial force that acts on the sliding sleeve 93, moving the sliding sleeve 93 rearward.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 21 , after the actuation projection 117 has disengaged from the receiving recess 935, the nozzle 1 is rotated with the rear end surface 118 of the actuation projection 117 in contact with the front end surface of the slide sleeve 93 while the pawl 112 moves circumferentially within the locking groove 913 (see FIGS. 14 and 15 ). As the user continues to rotate the nozzle 1, the pawl 112 enters the release groove 917 (see FIGS. 14 and 15 ). When the pawl 112 is completely positioned within the release groove 917 (the position of the nozzle 1 at this time is also referred to as the removal position), the engagement of the pawl 112 with the locking groove 913 is released, and the pawl 112 is allowed to move forward along the release groove 917. In other words, the lock provided by the locking mechanism 9 is released.

[0076] After rotating the nozzle 1 to the removal position, the user moves the nozzle 1 linearly forward relative to the air duster 8 to separate it from the air duster 8 (hereinafter also referred to as the separation operation). More specifically, the user pulls the nozzle 1 forward from the locking mechanism 9 along the rotation axis A0. As described above, the release groove 917 has approximately the same depth as the locking groove 913. Therefore, when the nozzle 1 is moved forward in response to the separation operation, the locking piece 111 does not elastically deform, and the claw 112 can move forward within the release groove 917. In addition, as the nozzle 1 moves forward and is separated from the air duster, the slide sleeve 93 is biased by the biasing spring 95 and moves to the forward-most position (see FIG. 12). When the nozzle 1 is separated from the air duster 8 (locking mechanism 9), the removal of the nozzle 1 is complete.

[0077] As described above, when the nozzle 1 is moved rearward relative to the air duster 8 and placed in a predetermined mounting position relative to the air duster 8, the locking mechanism 9 is activated and the mounting part 11 of the nozzle 1 is locked in the mounting position so that it cannot move forward. Therefore, the user can lock the mounting part 11 with the locking mechanism 9 simply by moving the nozzle 1 in one direction (rearward). In this way, the mounting part 11 realizes a nozzle 1 that is easy to operate. Because the nozzle 1 is locked so that it cannot move forward, it will not come off the air duster 8 even when the user pulls the nozzle 1 forward or when air is discharged into the nozzle 1 from the outlet 820 of the air duster 8.

[0078] [Second embodiment] 22 to 26, a nozzle 2 according to a second embodiment will be described. The nozzle 2 is another example of a nozzle that can be attached to an air duster 8. Note that the nozzle 2 of this embodiment has a configuration that is substantially identical to that of the nozzle 1 of the first embodiment in part. Therefore, in the following, the configuration of the nozzle 2 that is substantially identical to that of the nozzle 1 will be assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted or simplified, and different configurations will be mainly described. This point also applies to the following embodiments.

[0079] The nozzle 2 of this embodiment has a configuration suitable for injecting air into an air injection protrusion (also called an air plug) provided on an object to be supplied with air. The object to be supplied with air refers to, for example, an item that is inflated with air (e.g., a swim ring, a beach ball, an air mattress, etc.). FIG. 22 shows an example of a general air injection protrusion 280 having a well-known configuration. As shown in FIG. 22, the protrusion 280 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The protrusion 280 defines a passage 281 that connects the inside and outside of a bag-shaped object 28. The outer and inner diameters of the protrusion 280 are approximately 9.5 mm and 6.5 mm, respectively.

[0080] Protrusion 280 protrudes outward from the outer surface of object 28. A stopper 285 for closing an opening of passage 281 (hereinafter referred to as inlet 282) is connected to the end (protruding end) of protrusion 280 that is located outside object 28. Furthermore, a valve 287 is connected to the end of protrusion 280 that is located inside object 28. Valve 287 is configured to close an opening of passage 281 that is located inside object 28 (hereinafter referred to as outlet 283) by the pressure of air inside object 28. Note that protrusion 280, stopper 285, and valve 287 are integrally formed from flexible synthetic resin (e.g., PVC).

[0081] 23 to 26, the nozzle 2 includes an attachment part 11 configured to be attachable to the nozzle part 82 (more specifically, the locking mechanism 9) of the air duster 8, and a main body part 22 connected to the attachment part 11. The attachment part 11 and the main body part 22 are integrally formed from synthetic resin.

[0082] The main body 22 protrudes forward from the front end of the mounting portion 11 along the axis A2 of the nozzle 2. The main body 22 has a cylindrical wall 225. The wall 225 defines a passage 220 extending in the front-rear direction along the axis A2. Although not shown in detail, when the nozzle 2 is attached to the air duster 8, air delivered by the centrifugal fan 885 of the air duster 8 flows in through an opening at the rear end of the wall 225 (the rear inlet of the passage 220), passes through the passage 220, and is discharged from an opening at the front end of the wall 225 (the front outlet of the passage 220). Hereinafter, the opening at the rear end of the wall 225 will be referred to as the inlet 221, and the opening at the front end of the wall 225 will be referred to as the outlet 222. The diameters of the front end of the passage 220 and the outlet 222 are 10.0 mm.

[0083] A stopper 23 is provided inside the cylindrical wall 225 to determine the position of the tip of the protrusion 280 when inserted (i.e., the insertion distance of the protrusion 280). More specifically, the stopper 23 is a wall portion including the axis A2, and is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 225 across the passage 220. The front end of the stopper 23 is located rearward of the front end of the cylindrical wall 225. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22 , the protrusion 280 can be inserted into the passage 220 through the discharge port 222 to a position where the protruding end of the protrusion 280 abuts against the stopper 23. Furthermore, a pin 231 is attached to the stopper 23. The pin 231 protrudes forward beyond the discharge port 222 and is configured to abut against the valve 287 of the protrusion 280 and open the valve 287 when the protrusion 280 is inserted into the passage 220. However, the pin 231 may be omitted.

[0084] 22 to 26, the cylindrical wall 225 is provided with a vent hole 24. The vent hole 24 is an opening that penetrates the cylindrical wall 225 and connects the inside (passage 220) of the cylindrical wall 225 to the outside. The vent hole 24 opens from a position rearward of the front end of the stopper 23 (i.e., a position closer to the mounting portion 11) to the front end of the cylindrical wall 225 in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 225, and communicates with the discharge port 222. The vent hole 24 can also be said to be an opening that extends rearward from the front end of the cylindrical wall 225 to a position rearward of the front end of the stopper 23.

[0085] With this configuration, when protrusion 280 is inserted into passage 220 via discharge port 222, the portion of vent hole 24 from the front end of cylindrical wall 225 to the same position as the front end of stopper 23 is blocked by the side surface of protrusion 280. On the other hand, passage 220 and the outside of cylindrical wall 225 communicate with each other via the portion of vent hole 24 that is rearward of the same position as the front end of stopper 23.

[0086] In this embodiment, air is supplied into the target object 28 with the protrusion 280 fitted into the front end of the passage 220. The diameters of the passage 220 and the outlet 222 of the nozzle 2 are 10.0 mm. However, the inner diameter of the protrusion 280 (the diameter of the outlet 283 of the passage 281) is smaller, at 6.5 mm. It is known that when the air duster 8 is connected to a pipe with an outlet diameter of 6.5 mm and operated, the flow rate falls within the surging region determined by the specifications of the air duster 8. Therefore, when the nozzle 2 is attached to the air duster 8 and air is discharged only through the protrusion 280, surging may occur.

[0087] Therefore, in this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, the ventilation opening 24 is configured to function to prevent the occurrence of surging. The ventilation opening 24 is configured to prevent surging by increasing the total flow rate of the air discharged from the outlet 283 of the passage 281 of the protrusion 280 and the air discharged from the ventilation opening 24 to outside the surging region. Specifically, by appropriately setting the area of ​​the portion of the ventilation opening 24 that is not blocked by the protrusion 280 (i.e., the portion behind the stopper 23), the total flow rate of the air is set to be outside the surging region.

[0088] When the air duster 8 is in operation, the air flows into the passage 220 of the nozzle 2, passes through the protrusion 280 inserted into the outlet 222, and is supplied into the object 28, and also flows out through the vent 24. No surging occurs at this time.

[0089] As described above, in this embodiment, the nozzle 2 is attached to the air duster 8 and can supply air to other items via the air injection protrusion. The nozzle 2 can improve the convenience of the air duster 8. Furthermore, the nozzle 2 has the vent 24 in addition to the discharge port 222 that can receive the protrusion 280, thereby reducing the possibility of surging. Furthermore, in the nozzle 2, the stopper 23 determines the insertion amount of the protrusion 280 into the passage 220 and prevents the protrusion 280 from completely blocking the vent 24, thereby reliably preventing surging. Note that the stopper 23 may be a simple protrusion or may be omitted. [Third embodiment] 27 to 30, a nozzle 3 according to a third embodiment will be described below. The nozzle 3 is another example of a nozzle that can be attached to the air duster 8. The nozzle 3 of this embodiment has a configuration suitable for blowing air over a wide range.

[0090] As shown in Figures 27 to 30, the nozzle 3 includes an attachment portion 11 configured to be attachable to the nozzle portion 82 (more specifically, the locking mechanism 9) of the air duster 8, and a main body portion 32 connected to the attachment portion 11.

[0091] The main body 32 protrudes forward from the front end of the attachment portion 11 along the axis A3 of the nozzle 3. Most of the main body 32, including the rear end, is cylindrical, while the front end of the main body 32 is formed in a thick fan shape. In this embodiment, the rear half of the main body 32 is formed integrally with the attachment portion 11 from synthetic resin. Meanwhile, the front half of the main body 32 is formed separately from the rear half from synthetic resin and is press-fitted into and connected to the rear half. However, the front and rear half of the main body 32 may be molded integrally and connected to the attachment portion 11, or the attachment portion 11 and the entire main body 32 may be molded integrally.

[0092] The main body 32 has a single inlet 325 and five outlets 326. The inlet 325 is disposed on the axis A3 at the rear end of the main body 32. The inlet 325 is a circular opening. The five outlets 326 are provided spaced apart from one another at the fan-shaped front end of the main body 32. Each outlet 326 is a circular opening.

[0093] The passage 320 connecting the inlet 325 and the five outlets 326 includes a main passage 321 and five branch passages 322. The main passage 321 extends forward from the inlet 325 along the axis A3 of the nozzle 3. The main passage 321 is a passage with a circular cross section and a uniform diameter. Each of the branch passages 322 is also a passage with a circular cross section and a uniform diameter smaller than that of the main passage 321. The five branch passages 322 branch off from the front end of the main passage 321 and connect to the five outlets 326, respectively. All of the branch passages 322 have the same diameter. The axes of the branch passages 322 are all on the same plane including the axis A3 of the nozzle 3. Of the five branch passages 322, the central branch passage 322 extends along the axis A3. Note that the angle between the axes of the two branch passages 322 at both ends on the plane including the axis A3 of the nozzle 3 is 120 degrees.

[0094] Furthermore, all five outlets 326 have the same diameter. The centers of all outlets 326 are on a plane that includes the axis A3 of the nozzle 3. The center of the central outlet 326 is on the axis A3. The centers of the five outlets 326 are arranged at approximately equal intervals.

[0095] The diameter of each outlet 326 is smaller than the diameter of the outlet 820 of the air duster 8. However, the ratio of the total area of ​​the five outlets 326 to the area of ​​the outlet 820 of the air duster 8 (see FIG. 1) is relatively high, and the total flow rate from all outlets 326 is outside the surging region. Therefore, the nozzle 3 is not provided with any particular vent holes to prevent surging.

[0096] When the air duster 8 is in operation, air flows into the nozzle 3 from the inlet 325, passes through the main passage 321 and the five branch passages 322, and is discharged from the five outlets 326. Therefore, the nozzle 3 can deliver air over a relatively wide area. In particular, the five outlets 326 are arranged on the same plane and face in different directions. Therefore, the nozzle 3 can deliver air over a relatively wide area along this plane while keeping the dimensions in the direction perpendicular to this plane small.

[0097] [Fourth embodiment] Hereinafter, a nozzle 4 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 31 and 32. The nozzle 4 is another example of a nozzle that can be attached to an air duster 8. The nozzle 4 of this embodiment differs from the nozzle 1 of the first embodiment (see Figures 7 and 8) in the connection structure between the flexible tube 16 and the base member 10. Other than this connection structure, the configuration of the nozzle 4 is substantially the same as that of the nozzle 1.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 , the nozzle 4, like the nozzle 1, includes a base member 10 including an attachment portion 11 and a holding portion 12, and a flexible tube 16 connected to the base member 10. The holding portion 12 also includes an outer tube 13 and an inner tube 14 connected to the outer tube 13 by a rib 141. In this embodiment, a locking protrusion 145 is provided at the rear end of the inner tube 14, protruding radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube 14. The locking protrusion 145 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and is disposed parallel to the axis A4 of the nozzle 4. The front end surface of the locking protrusion 145 is formed as a gently curved surface 146. Meanwhile, the rear end surface of the locking protrusion 145 is formed as an orthogonal surface 147 that is generally perpendicular to the axis A4. Note that in this embodiment, only one locking protrusion 145 is provided, located at the same position as one of the three ribs 141 in the circumferential direction around the axis A4.

[0099] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flexible tube 16 is provided with a locking hole 165 instead of having the engaging member 17 attached thereto. The locking hole 165 is a through-hole into which the locking protrusion 145 can fit. More specifically, the locking hole 165 is formed in a rectangular shape. The circumferential width of the locking hole 165 is approximately equal to that of the locking protrusion 145, and the length of the locking hole 165 in the front-to-rear direction is slightly greater than that of the locking protrusion 145.

[0100] When assembling the nozzle 4, the flexible tube 16 is inserted into the inner tube 14 from the front side of the base member 10, with the locking holes 165 and the locking protrusions 145 aligned so that their positions coincide in the circumferential direction. Because the front end surface of the locking protrusions 145 is a curved surface 146, the rear end of the flexible tube 16 abuts against the curved surface 146 and elastically deforms, allowing it to move smoothly rearward of the locking protrusions 145. When the flexible tube 16 is positioned so that the locking holes 165 face the locking protrusions 145, the locking protrusions 145 fit into the locking holes 165, and the flexible tube 16 is connected to the base member 10 (holding portion 12). The position of the locking holes 165 in the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube 16 is set so that the base end of the flexible tube 16 protrudes rearward beyond the rear end of the outer tube 13 when the flexible tube 16 is connected to the base member 10.

[0101] As described above, in the nozzle 4 of this embodiment, like the nozzle 1 of the first embodiment, the position and orientation of the outlet 162 relative to the air duster 8 can be changed relatively freely. Furthermore, the nozzle 4 has fewer parts than the nozzle 1, making it easier to assemble at lower cost. Furthermore, the rear end surface of the locking projection 145 is the orthogonal surface 147, which effectively reduces the possibility of the flexible tube 16 coming out forward from the holding portion 12 (base member 10) due to the discharge of air.

[0102] [Fifth embodiment] Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 33, a nozzle 5 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. The nozzle 5 is another example of a nozzle that can be attached to the air duster 8. The nozzle 5 differs from the nozzle 1 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4) in part of the structure of the base member 10 and the connection structure between the flexible tube 16 and the base member 10. The nozzle 5 also differs slightly from the nozzle 4 of the fourth embodiment (see Figure 31) in the connection structure between the flexible tube 16 and the base member 10. Apart from these differences, the nozzle 5 is substantially identical to the nozzle 1 or the nozzle 4.

[0103] As shown in Figure 33, the nozzle 5 includes a base member 10 including an attachment portion 11 and a holding portion 12, and a flexible tube 16 connected to the base member 10. However, in this embodiment, in order to suppress surging, an airflow resistance member 125 (see Figure 4) is not arranged in an air passage 130 formed between the outer tube 13 and inner tube 14 of the holding portion 12. Air that passes through the air passage 130 flows out forward from an opening 134.

[0104] In this embodiment, similar to the fourth embodiment, the base member 10 and the flexible tube 16 are detachably connected by the engagement between the locking projection 145 and the locking hole 165. However, the front end surface of the locking projection 145 is an inclined surface 148 that is gently inclined radially inward toward the rear.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover 18 and the flexible tube 16 are detachably connected by a connection structure similar to that between the base member 10 and the flexible tube 16. More specifically, the long cylindrical cover 18 is provided with a locking protrusion 185 that protrudes radially inward from its inner circumferential surface. The rear end surface of the locking protrusion 185 (the surface facing the base member 10) is an inclined surface that gently slopes radially inward toward the rear (the direction approaching the base member 10). On the other hand, the front end surface of the locking protrusion 185 is an orthogonal surface that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cover 18. Therefore, the cover 18 can be connected to the flexible tube 16 in the same manner as the base member 10.

[0106] In this embodiment, the outlet 162 of the flexible tube 16 is located inside the cover 18, and the air discharged from the air duster 8 passes through the flexible tube 16 and the inside of the cover 18 and is discharged from the opening (outlet) 182 at the tip of the cover 18.

[0107] As described above, in this embodiment, the nozzle 5 is realized in which the flexible tube 16 and the base member 10 and the flexible tube 16 and the cover 18 can be easily connected.

[0108] [Sixth embodiment] 34 to 36, a nozzle 6 according to a sixth embodiment will be described below. The nozzle 6 is another example of a nozzle that can be attached to an air duster 8. The nozzle 6 includes a plurality of tubular members that are detachably connected to one another, and is configured so that the user can adjust the length of the nozzle 6 by removing at least one of the plurality of tubular members depending on the mode of use.

[0109] 34, the nozzle 6 includes a first member 61 that can be attached to the air duster 8, a second member 62 that is detachably connected to the first member 61, and a third member 63 that is detachably connected to the second member 62. Although not shown in detail, a passage 600 is formed inside the nozzle 6, extending from the first member 61 through the second member 62 to the tip of the third member 63, through which air discharged from the air duster 8 passes when the nozzle 6 is attached to the air duster 8.

[0110] 34 and 35, the first member 61 is a cylindrical member extending along a predetermined axis A6. The first member 61 includes an attachment portion 11 that can be attached to the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8 (more specifically, the locking mechanism 9, see FIG. 1), and a holding portion 612 that protrudes from one axial end of the attachment portion 11. The holding portion 612 is formed in a conical cylindrical shape, and the inner and outer diameters of the holding portion 612 decrease toward the tip of the holding portion 612 (the end opposite the attachment portion 11). The axial length of the first member 61 is, for example, within a range of 10 cm to 15 cm.

[0111] The first member 61 is made of synthetic resin and has a degree of rigidity that does not substantially deflect even when an external force is applied to the first member 61. In other words, the first member 61 has almost no flexibility. The first member 61 is made of, for example, fiber-reinforced polyamide resin.

[0112] As shown in FIGS. 34 to 36, the second member 62 is a long, cylindrical member. The length of the second member 62 is, for example, within a range of 30 to 40 cm. The second member 62 is integrally molded from synthetic resin (for example, polyethylene resin). One end of the second member 62 in the longitudinal direction is detachably connected to the first member 61 (more specifically, the holding portion 612). Hereinafter, the end connected to the first member 61 is referred to as the base end 621, and the end opposite to the base end 621 is referred to as the tip end 622. The base end 621 of the second member 62 is formed in a conical cylindrical shape, and the inner and outer diameters of the base end 621 become smaller toward the tip end 622. The base end 621 has a shape that matches the holding portion 612.

[0113] The second member 62 is connected to the first member 61 by fitting the base end 621 into the holding portion 612. The portion of the second member 62 other than the base end 621 protrudes forward of the first member 61. As described above, the holding portion 612 and the base end 621 are conical and cylindrical, so the base end 621 cannot move forward beyond a predetermined position relative to the first member 61. When the base end 621 is in the predetermined position, the rear end of the base end 621 (i.e., the rear end of the second member 62) is located within the rear end of the holding portion 612. Although not shown in detail, when the nozzle 6 is attached to the air duster 8, the front end of the nozzle portion 82 of the air duster 8 abuts against the rear end of the base end 621 in the predetermined position, thereby restricting the second member 62 from moving rearward relative to the first member 61 (i.e., in the direction away from the first member 61).

[0114] In the second member 62, a region (portion) adjacent to the base end portion 621 is configured as a flexible region 625. The region (portion) adjacent to the base end portion 621 can also be said to be a region (portion) adjacent to the first member 61 on the front side of the first member 61 (downstream side in the air flow direction inside the nozzle 6) when the second member 62 is connected to the first member 61. The flexible region 625 is configured to be more flexible (more easily bendable) than other regions of the second member 62. In this embodiment, an expandable and contractible bellows is formed in the flexible region 625.

[0115] 34 and 36, the second member 62 has a male thread portion 627. The male thread portion 627 is provided forward of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the second member 62. The male thread portion 627 has a protrusion that extends spirally in the circumferential direction of the second member 62.

[0116] As shown in FIGS. 34 and 36 , the third member 63 is a long, tubular member. In this embodiment, the length of the third member 63 is, for example, within a range of 30 to 40 cm. The third member 63 is integrally molded from synthetic resin (for example, polyethylene resin). One end of the third member 63 in the longitudinal direction is detachably connected to the second member 62. Hereinafter, the end connected to the second member 62 is referred to as the base end 631, and the end opposite to the base end 631 is referred to as the tip end 632. The base end 631 of the third member 63 is formed as a female thread portion and has a recess extending spirally in the circumferential direction of the third member 63. The base end (female thread portion) 631 can be engaged (screwed) with the male thread portion 627 of the second member 62. The third member 63 is connected to the second member 62 by threading the base end (female thread portion) 631 into the male thread portion 627.

[0117] When the third member 63 is connected to the second member 62, the portion of the second member 62 forward of the male thread portion 627 is disposed within the rear portion of the third member 63. The outer diameter of the portion of the second member 62 forward of the male thread portion 627 is smaller than the inner diameter of the rear portion of the third member 63. The rear portion of the third member 63 is provided with an annular protrusion 635 that protrudes radially inward. The protruding end of the protrusion 635 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the second member 62. As a result, the second member 62 is held in a state where radial movement relative to the third member 63 is restricted, forward of the engagement portion between the base end portion (female thread portion) 631 and the male thread portion 627. Therefore, the positional relationship between the second member 62 and the third member 63 is stably maintained.

[0118] The length of the nozzle 6 configured as above in the direction of axis A6 (i.e., the length in the air flow direction) can be changed by removing the third member 63 from the second member 62, or by removing the second member 62 and the third member 63 from the first member 61. Thus, the user can adjust the length of the nozzle 6 depending on the actual mode of use.

[0119] Specifically, for example, when a user wants to blow dust out of a hole in the floor, the user can use the nozzle 6 with the first member 61, the second member 62, and the third member 63 connected. In this case, the total length of the nozzle 6 is at its maximum, for example, about 70 cm. This allows the user to spray air at a desired location without bending over. On the other hand, when the user wants to spray air closer to the user, the user can remove only the third member 63 to shorten the total length of the nozzle 6 to, for example, about 35 cm. When the user wants to spray air even closer to the user, the user can remove the second member 62 and the third member 63 to shorten the total length of the nozzle 6 to, for example, about 10 cm. In this way, the nozzle 6 can improve the convenience of the air duster 8.

[0120] Furthermore, the second member 62 and the third member 63 of the nozzle 6 are connected by screwing. Therefore, air is less likely to leak from the connecting portion between the second member 62 and the third member 63. Furthermore, even if an external force (particularly an external force in the axial direction that pushes the third member 63 into the second member 62) is applied to the nozzle 6, the positional relationship between the second member 62 and the third member 63 is less likely to change. Therefore, the user can use the nozzle 6 in a stable state.

[0121] The second member 62 is provided with a flexible region 625 (bellows) adjacent to the downstream side of the first member 61 in the air flow direction. In this embodiment, the portions of the second member 62 other than the flexible region 625 and the third member 63 have lower rigidity than the first member 61 and allow for slight bending. However, because the flexible region 625 is more flexible than other portions of the nozzle 6, even if an external force (particularly an external force in a direction intersecting the axis A6) is applied to the nozzle 6, the flexible region 625 bends, thereby reducing the load on other portions. In particular, if the flexible region 625 is not provided, there is a possibility that the second member 62 will break at the boundary between the tip of the first member 61 attached to the air duster 8 and the second member 62. The addition of the flexible region 625 effectively reduces this possibility.

[0122] The correspondence between the components of the above embodiment and the components of the present disclosure is shown below. However, the components of the embodiment are merely examples and do not limit the components of the present disclosure.

[0123] The air duster 8 is an example of a "blower." Each of the nozzles 1, 4, and 5 is an example of a "nozzle." The mounting portion 11 is an example of an "mounting portion." The holding portion 12 and the flexible tube 16 are an example of a "main body portion." The outlet 162 is an example of an "outlet." The passage 160 is an example of a "passage." The flexible tube 16 is an example of a "flexible tube." The cover 18 is an example of a "cover." The vent 132 is an example of a "vent." The airflow resistance member 125 is an example of an "airflow resistance member."

[0124] Nozzle 2 is an example of a "nozzle." Main body 22 is an example of a "main body." Outlet 222 is an example of an "outlet." Vent 24 is an example of a "vent." Protrusion 280 is an example of a "protrusion." Stopper 23 is an example of a "stopper."

[0125] The nozzle 3 is an example of a "nozzle." The main body 32 is an example of a "main body." The outlet 326 is an example of a "outlet."

[0126] The nozzle 6 is an example of a "nozzle." Each of the first member 61, the second member 62, and the third member 63 is an example of a "cylindrical member." The first member 61 and the second member 62 are examples of a "first member" and a "second member," respectively. The flexible region 625 is an example of a "portion of the second member that is adjacent to the first member on the downstream side of the first member in the flow direction."

[0127] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the nozzles according to the present disclosure are not limited to the illustrated nozzles 1 to 6. For example, the following modifications can be made. Furthermore, at least one of these modifications can be adopted in combination with any of the nozzles 1 to 6 illustrated in the embodiments and the inventions described in the claims.

[0128] For example, in the nozzle 1 of the first embodiment, the nozzle 4 of the fourth embodiment, and the nozzle 5 of the fifth embodiment, the length of the flexible tube 16 does not need to be 70 cm and may be shorter or longer. However, in consideration of the degree of freedom in changing the position and orientation of the discharge port 162, it is desirable that the length of the flexible tube 16 be at least 15 cm. The diameter of the flexible tube 16 can also be changed as desired. In this case, if the flow rate of air discharged from the discharge port 162 of the flexible tube 16 is outside the surging region, it is not necessary to provide the vent hole 132. The flexible tube 16 may be made of a flexible material other than PVC.

[0129] The connection structure between the flexible tube 16 and the base member 10 is not limited to the example of the above-described embodiment. For example, the shape, number, and position of the protrusion 174 of the engaging member 17 and the recess 135 of the base member 10 can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the number and positions of the locking holes 165 of the flexible tube 16 and the locking protrusions 145 of the base member 10 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the flexible tube 16 may be permanently fixed to the mounting portion 11. Furthermore, the entire passage 160 does not need to be defined by the flexible tube 16. For example, only a portion of the passage 160 may be defined by the flexible tube 16, and another portion (e.g., a portion near the discharge port) may be defined by a member that has no flexibility (or is significantly less flexible than the flexible tube 16).

[0130] When the vent 132 is provided, its position, number, shape, and area are not limited to those of the above-described embodiment, and can be determined arbitrarily in relation to the surging region, as described above. For example, the shapes of the multiple vents 132 may be different from one another. Furthermore, if the rotation speed of the motor 881 of the air duster 8 (the rotation speed of the centrifugal fan 885) is variable, different characteristic curves exist depending on the rotation speed of the motor 881. Therefore, it is preferable to set the areas of the discharge port 162 and at least one vent 132 so that a total flow rate outside the surging region is ensured regardless of the rotation speed of the motor 881 selected within the settable range.

[0131] The airflow resistance member 125 may be omitted, or the position, number, or shape of the airflow resistance member 125 may be changed. In this case, the configuration of the air vent 132 may be changed in accordance with the change in the airflow resistance member 125 and based on its relationship with the surging region.

[0132] The position, number, shape, and area of ​​the vent hole 24 of the nozzle 2 of the second embodiment can also be changed in the same way. However, the vent hole 24 is configured so that at least a portion thereof is not blocked by the protrusion 280 when the protrusion 280 is fitted into the passage 220 via the discharge port 222. The nozzle 2 may also be provided with a ventilation resistance member.

[0133] The number of outlets 326 of the nozzle 3 of the third embodiment may be any number equal to or greater than two. The position, shape, and area of ​​the outlets 326 may be changed as appropriate. The same applies to the passage 320. For example, the multiple outlets 326 may be arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction around the axis A3. The multiple outlets 326 may be connected to multiple separate passages that respectively extend from multiple inlets. If the total flow rate of air discharged from the changed multiple outlets 326 is within the surging region, an additional vent may be provided.

[0134] The number of cylindrical members constituting the nozzle 6 of the sixth embodiment may be two, four or more. The shape, length, thickness, etc. of each of the first member 61, the second member 62, and the third member 63 may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, for example, the first member 61 and the second member 62 may be detachably connected by screwing. The flexible region 625 may not be a bellows, but may be formed, for example, from a material (e.g., elastomer) that is more elastically deformable than other parts of the nozzle 6. Furthermore, if the entire nozzle 6 has a certain degree of flexibility, the flexible region 625 does not necessarily have to be provided.

[0135] The connection structure between the nozzles 1 to 6 and the air duster 8 is not limited to the connection structure using the attachment portion 11 and the locking mechanism 9. For example, the nozzles 1 to 6 and the air duster 8 may be configured to be threadably engageable with each other.

[0136] Furthermore, for example, the electric blower to which the nozzles 1 to 6 can be attached is not limited to the illustrated air duster 8. For example, the blower may be a multi-stage centrifugal blower equipped with a plurality of centrifugal fans. An axial flow fan may be used instead of the centrifugal fan 885. The power source for the blower may be a disposable battery or an external AC power source. The motor 881 may be an AC motor or a motor with brushes.

[0137] Furthermore, in consideration of the spirit of the present disclosure, the above-described embodiments, and their modifications, the following aspects are constructed. At least one of the following aspects can be adopted in combination with any of the above-described embodiments, their modifications, and the inventions described in the claims. [Aspect 1] The passage connects an inlet through which air sent out by the blower flows and the outlet. [Aspect 2] The flexible tube is connected to the attachment portion in a state in which it can be pulled out from the attachment portion in the direction opposite to the flow direction. According to this aspect, the user can replace the flexible tube as needed. [Aspect 3] further comprising an engaging member attached to the flexible tube; the attachment portion or the main body portion has a recess recessed in the flow direction or a protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to the flow direction, The engaging member is fitted into the recess or the protrusion of the mounting portion or the main body portion. According to this aspect, it is possible to realize a simple connecting structure in which the flexible tube does not come off in the air flow direction. The engaging member 17 is an example of an "engaging member". [Aspect 4] the engaging member is a tubular member having an inner diameter slightly smaller than that of the flexible tube, and includes a first member and a second member combined so as to abut against each other; The first member and the second member are fitted into the recess or the protrusion with the flexible tube sandwiched between them. According to this aspect, a flexible tube connection structure with excellent assembly properties can be realized. The first member 17A and the second member 17B are examples of the "first member" and the "second member", respectively. The recess 135 is an example of the "recess". [Aspect 5] The engaging member has at least one protrusion that protrudes radially inward. According to this aspect, the engaging member can hold the flexible tube more securely. Each of the ridges 171A and 171B is an example of a "protrusion." [Aspect 6] The at least one ventilation hole is an opening for suppressing the occurrence of surging. According to this aspect, the diameter of the discharge port can be made relatively small in accordance with the desired application. [Aspect 7] the flow rate of the air discharged from the outlet is within a surging region determined by the specifications of the blower, The combined flow rate of the air discharged from the at least one vent and the flow rate of the air discharged from the outlet is outside the surging region. According to this aspect, surging can be prevented. [Aspect 8] the area of ​​the discharge port is an area in which the flow rate of air discharged only from the discharge port is within a surging region determined by the specifications of the blower, The combined area of ​​the at least one vent and the discharge outlet is an area in which the total flow rate of air discharged from the discharge outlet and the at least one vent is outside the surging region. [Aspect 9] The body portion has at least one air passage connecting to the at least one air opening. The air passage 130 is an example of an "air passage." [Aspect 10] the main body portion includes a first cylindrical portion disposed radially outward of the flexible tube, The at least one air passage is formed between the first cylindrical portion and the flexible tube. According to this embodiment, at least one ventilation passage can be arranged rationally. The outer cylinder 13 is an example of a "first cylindrical portion." [Aspect 11] The at least one ventilation hole includes a first annular opening formed between one axial end of the first cylindrical portion and the flexible tube, and at least one second opening formed in a side portion of the first cylindrical portion and connected to the annular opening. According to this aspect, a rational configuration is provided that increases the area of ​​at least one ventilation opening and increases the flow rate of air discharged from at least one ventilation opening. Opening 134 is an example of a "first opening." Opening 137 is an example of a "second opening." [Aspect 12] The main body includes a second cylindrical portion disposed radially inside the first cylindrical portion and having the flexible tube inserted therethrough. According to this aspect, it is possible to provide at least one air passage between the flexible tube and the second cylindrical portion while stably holding the flexible tube. The inner tube 14 is an example of the "second cylindrical portion." [Aspect 13] The airflow resistance member is configured to slow down the velocity of air while allowing air to pass through the airflow resistance member. [Aspect 14] The airflow resistance member is formed of an open-cell structure made of synthetic resin. [Aspect 15] the main body has an inlet through which air sent out by the blower flows in and a passage connected to the outlet, When the protrusion is inserted into the passage from the discharge port, a portion of the at least one vent hole is not blocked by the protrusion, and allows communication between the inside and outside of the passage. According to this aspect, it is possible to realize a configuration in which air can reliably flow out from at least one ventilation hole. The passage 220 and the inlet 221 are examples of a "passage" and an "inlet", respectively. [Aspect 16] a flow rate of the air discharged from the protrusion through the outlet into the object to be supplied is within a surging region determined by the specifications of the blower, The combined flow rate of the air discharged from a portion of the at least one air vent to the outside of the passage and the flow rate of the air discharged from the protrusion through the outlet into the inside of the object to be supplied is outside the surging region. [Aspect 17] the main body has an inlet through which air sent out by the blower flows in and a passage connected to the outlet, A portion of the at least one vent hole is on the same side as the attachment portion in the axial direction of the main body portion with respect to the tip of the protrusion when the protrusion is inserted into the passage from the discharge port. [Aspect 18] The main body has at least one inlet through which air blown out by the blower flows, and at least one passage connecting the at least one inlet and the plurality of outlets. The inlet 325 and the passage 320 are examples of an "inlet" and a "passage." [Aspect 19] The at least one inlet is a single inlet, The at least one passage includes a main passage connected to the single inlet, and a plurality of branch passages branching from the main passage and respectively connecting to the plurality of outlets. According to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a rational passage arrangement that guides air to multiple outlets. The inlet 325, the main passage 321, and the branch passage 322 are examples of an "inlet," a "main passage," and a "branch passage," respectively. [Aspect 20] The attachment portion has an elastically deformable locking piece, As it is moved in the first direction relative to the blower, it moves while elastically deforming in contact with the blower, and when it reaches a position opposite a locking recess provided in the blower, it engages with the locking recess by its restoring force. According to this aspect, the nozzle can be locked with a simple configuration. [Aspect 21] the flexible tube has a through hole; The attachment portion or the main body portion has a protrusion that protrudes radially inward of the nozzle and fits into the through hole of the flexible tube. According to this aspect, a connection structure that is easy to assemble is realized without increasing the number of parts. The locking hole 165 and the locking protrusion 145 are examples of a "through hole" and a "protrusion", respectively. [Aspect 22] The surface of the protrusion on the upstream side in the air flow direction is a perpendicular surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the nozzle, and the surface on the downstream side in the air flow direction is a curved surface or an inclined surface. According to this aspect, the flexible tube is unlikely to come loose in the air flow direction, and a connection structure with a simple configuration that is easy to assemble can be realized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 1: nozzle, 10: base member, 11: mounting portion, 111: locking piece, 112: claw, 113: front end surface, 14: rear end surface, 115: inclined surface, 117: actuation protrusion, 118: rear end surface, 12: holding portion, 125: ventilation resistance member, 13: outer tube, 130: ventilation path, 131: inlet, 132: ventilation hole, 134: opening, 135: recess, 137: opening, 14: inner tube, 141: rib, 145: locking protrusion, 146: curved surface, 147: orthogonal surface, 148: inclined surface, 16: flexible tube, 160: passage, 1 61: inlet, 162: outlet, 165: locking hole, 166: locking hole, 17: engaging member, 17A: first member, 171A: ridge, 17B: second member, 171B: ridge, 174: projection, 175: rear end, 18: cover, 185: projection, 2: nozzle, 22: main body, 220: passage, 221: inlet, 222: outlet, 225: cylinder wall, 23: stopper, 231: pin, 24: vent, 28: object, 280: projection, 281: passage, 282: inlet, 283: outlet, 285: plug, 287: Valve, 3: nozzle, 32: main body, 320: passage, 321: main passage, 322: branch passage, 325: inlet, 326: outlet, 4: nozzle, 5: nozzle, 6: nozzle, 600: passage, 61: first member, holding portion 612, 62: second member, 621: base end portion, 622: tip portion, 625: flexible region, 627: male thread portion, 63: third member, 631: base end portion (female thread portion), 632: tip portion, 635: convex portion, 8: air duster, 81: main body housing, 810: suction port, 811: cylindrical portion, 813: Front cover, 814: Shoulder portion, 82: Nozzle portion, 820: Outlet port, 83: Handle, 831: Trigger, 832: Switch, 835: Battery, 881: Motor, 882: Output shaft, 885: Centrifugal fan, 89: Nut, 9: Lock mechanism, 91: Lock sleeve, 913: Retaining groove, 915: Guide portion, 916: Inclined surface, 917: Opening groove, 93: Slide sleeve, 931: Spring receiving portion, 935: Receiving recess, 936: Contact surface, 938: Restricting portion, 95: Biasing spring

Claims

1. A nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower, a mounting portion configured to be attachable to the blower; a main body connected to the mounting portion, the main body having an outlet and a passage connected to the outlet and through which air blown by the blower passes; The nozzle, wherein the body portion has a length of at least 15 centimeters and includes a flexible tube that defines at least a portion of the passageway.

2. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, A nozzle characterized in that the flexible tube is connected to the mounting portion so as not to come off from the mounting portion in the air flow direction.

3. 3. The nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, a cover that covers at least a portion of the flexible tube; The nozzle is characterized in that the cover is formed of a material harder than the flexible tube and is removably attached to the flexible tube.

4. The nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The nozzle, wherein the body portion has at least one vent hole disposed radially outward of the flexible tube.

5. 5. The nozzle of claim 4, A nozzle further comprising an airflow resistance member disposed in an air passage leading to the at least one air opening.

6. A nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower, a mounting portion configured to be attachable to the blower; a cylindrical main body portion protruding from the attachment portion, the main body portion having a discharge port provided at a protruding end of the main body portion and at least one vent hole provided at a side surface of the main body portion; the discharge port is configured to be able to receive a cylindrical protrusion for injecting air that is provided on an object to which air is to be supplied, The nozzle is characterized in that the at least one vent hole opens to the protruding end of the main body portion and communicates with the discharge port.

7. 7. The nozzle of claim 6, the main body portion has a stopper disposed inside the main body portion and configured to come into contact with the protrusion when the protrusion is inserted through the discharge port; A nozzle characterized in that the length of the at least one vent hole in the axial direction of the main body portion is greater than the distance in the axial direction from the discharge port to the stopper.

8. A nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower, a mounting portion configured to be attachable to the blower; a nozzle including a main body portion protruding from the mounting portion, the main body portion having a plurality of discharge ports.

9. 9. The nozzle of claim 8, The nozzle is characterized in that the plurality of ejection ports are arranged on the same plane and face in different directions from each other.

10. The nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The nozzle is characterized in that the mounting portion is configured to be locked in the mounting position so as to be unable to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the nozzle is moved in a first direction relative to the blower and placed in a predetermined mounting position relative to the blower.

11. A nozzle that can be attached to an electric blower, a plurality of tubular members removably connected to one another; A nozzle characterized in that at least two of the plurality of cylindrical members are threadedly engaged with each other.

12. 12. The nozzle of claim 11, the plurality of cylindrical members include at least a first member configured to be attachable to the blower and a second member detachably connected to the first member; A nozzle characterized in that a portion of the second member adjacent to the first member downstream of the first member in the air flow direction is configured to be more flexible than other portions of the nozzle.

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