vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To realize a vacuum cleaner capable of improving durability while achieving weight reduction.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 includes: a cleaner body 10 having an electric blower 14 for generating suction force; and a dust collection part 50 for collecting sucked dust. The cleaner body 10 includes: a handle body part 44; a front housing 30 for supporting the handle body part 44 by covering it from a front side; and a rear housing 32 being a component separately arranged from the front housing 30 so as to support the handle body part 44 by covering if from a rear side. A handle part 16 of the cleaner body 10 is constituted by a part of the front housing 30, a part of the rear housing 32, and the handle body part 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner.

Background Art

[0002] {{}} {{}}Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner having a main body case incorporating a dust collection unit, an electric blower, and a cord reel, an extension pipe disposed at one end side of the main body case, a handle portion disposed at the other end side of the main body case, and a receiving portion provided to project from the lower surface of the main body case. {{}}

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] {{}} {{}} {{}}

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] {{}} {{}}The electric vacuum cleaner according to Patent Document 1 above has a problem that the strength of the vacuum cleaner main body is weak, and there is a concern that it may be damaged when, for example, it is knocked over. On the other hand, in order to improve durability, it is conceivable to take measures such as increasing the thickness of the main body case or covering the main body case with a protective cover and combining a plurality of components. However, when such measures are taken, there is a problem that the weight of the electric vacuum cleaner increases. {{}}

[0005] {{}} {{}}Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize an electric vacuum cleaner capable of improving durability while achieving weight reduction. {{}}

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] {{}} {{}}The present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises a vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower that generates suction force, and a dust collection unit that collects the sucked-up dust, wherein the vacuum cleaner body has a handle body, a front housing that supports the handle body so as to cover the handle body from the front, and a rear housing that is a separate part from the front housing and supports the handle body so as to cover the handle body from the rear, and the handle portion of the vacuum cleaner body is composed of a part of the front housing and the rear housing and the handle body.

[0007] The vacuum cleaner of the present invention has a simple configuration in which the handle is supported by a front and rear housing that covers the handle body from the front and rear sides. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention can have higher durability in the handle part, which is subjected to load, than when the handle part is made up of only the handle body. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a vacuum cleaner that is lightweight while improving durability. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that solves the above-mentioned problems. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an exploded view showing the disassembled vacuum cleaner body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the vacuum cleaner body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the handle body and electric blower that constitute the vacuum cleaner body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]This is a perspective view showing the electric blower, dust collection unit, and front cover body that constitute the vacuum cleaner body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an exploded perspective view showing the electric blower, dust collection unit, and front cover body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the vacuum cleaner body of an electric vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the rear. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the vacuum cleaner body of a modified electric vacuum cleaner. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, an electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the overall configuration of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 will be described in general terms, and then the main parts will be described in more detail. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, positional relationships in the vertical, horizontal, and front-to-back directions will be described based on the state in which the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is erected, as shown in Figure 1.

[0011] ≪Overall Configuration of Vacuum Cleaner 1≫ As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a vacuum cleaner with a stick-like (vertical) appearance. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 can be, for example, rechargeable, but in this embodiment, it is powered by an external power source via a power cord. As shown in Figure 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a vacuum cleaner body 10, a dust collection unit 50 (dust collection device), a suction tool 100, and an extension tube 150 (tube section), etc.

[0012] The vacuum cleaner body 10 forms the main body of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 and is the part that exerts suction power to collect dust. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vacuum cleaner body 10 is made up of an electric blower 14 for drawing in air and generating airflow, a control board 20, and other components, all assembled inside the main body case 12 that forms the housing. The vacuum cleaner body 10 also has a handle 16.

[0013] The electric blower 14 generates suction force in the vacuum cleaner 1. The electric blower 14 is provided on the rear side (back side) of the cleaner main body 10 and at a position above the dust collecting part 50 described later.

[0014] The handle part 16 is a part provided for the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 to grip the cleaner main body 10. That is, the vacuum cleaner 1 is configured such that the user can grip the cleaner main body 10 by passing the fingers other than the thumb through an opening formed by, for example, the handle part 16.

[0015] The control board part 20 is for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1 by operating the operation part 46. The control board part 20 can be arranged in each part of the cleaner main body 10, such as above the electric blower 14, at a position adjacent to the electric blower 14 in the front, rear, left, or right directions, or other positions. In the present embodiment, the control board part 20 is arranged at a position below the handle part 16.

[0016] The dust collecting part 50 is a part where dust sucked by the vacuum cleaner 1 is collected. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dust collecting part 50 is provided so as to be continuous with the cleaner main body 10. The dust collecting part 50 can be an appropriate type, such as a so-called paper pack type or a so-called cyclone type dust collecting device. In the present embodiment, the dust collecting part 50 is constituted by a cyclone type dust collecting device. That is, the dust collecting part 50 is configured to collect dust in the process of introducing air from the dust collecting part inlet 52b provided in the outer cylinder 52, forming a swirling airflow in the outer cylinder 52, and then discharging the air. The dust collecting part 50 can adopt a so-called single-stage or multi-stage separation method, but in the present embodiment, a single-stage separation method is adopted. As shown in FIG. 4, the dust collecting part 50 has an outer cylinder 52 (dust cup) and a structure 54, and a dust collecting space 56 is formed between them.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extension pipe 150 is a cylindrical member that detachably connects the cleaner main body 10 and the suction tool 100. One end of the extension pipe 150 is shaped to be insertable into the suction port 40x provided in the cleaner main body 10, and the other end is shaped to be connectable to the suction tool 100. By connecting the cleaner main body 10 and the suction tool 100 via the extension pipe 150, a series of continuous paths (air ducts) from the suction tool 100 to the cleaner main body 10 can be formed.

[0018] The suction tool 100 is directly or indirectly connected to the suction port 40x of the cleaner main body 10 that serves as a suction source. The suction tool 100 has a suction port 103 and a joint portion 104. The suction port 103 opens toward the bottom surface. Also, the joint portion 104 is configured to be connectable to the suction port 40x or the extension pipe 150.

[0019] The electric vacuum cleaner 1 generally has the configuration as described above. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a characteristic structure in the cleaner main body 10. Hereinafter, the cleaner main body 10 will be described in more detail.

[0020] ≪Regarding the cleaner main body 10≫ Hereinafter, in the cleaner main body 10 of the present embodiment, it will be described in more detail. The cleaner main body 10 has characteristic configurations in each part constituting the above-described main body case 12 and the handle portion 16. The cleaner main body 10 has the handle portion 16 on the upper side in the vertical direction and is configured to have the suction port 40x at the lower end portion in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, each part constituting the cleaner main body 10 will be described in more detail.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cleaner main body 10 includes a front housing 30 and a rear housing 32. The front housing 30 and the rear housing 32 are each configured as separate members. Also, the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32 are each configured as a single member. The front housing 30 is a member that constitutes the front side portion in the main body case 12 and the handle portion 16. Also, the rear housing 32 is a member that constitutes the rear side portion in the main body case 12 and the handle portion 16.

[0022] The front housing 30 has a front handle component 30a and a front body component 30b. The front handle component 30a constitutes the part of the front housing 30 corresponding to the handle portion 16. The front body component 30b constitutes the part of the front housing 30 in which the electric blower 14 and the like of the main body case 12 are housed. The front housing 30 is formed by integrally creating the front handle component 30a and the front body component 30b.

[0023] The rear housing 32 has a rear handle component 32a, a rear main body component 32b, and a rear cover component 32c. The rear handle component 32a forms the part of the rear housing 32 corresponding to the handle portion 16. The rear main body component 32b forms the part of the front housing 30 in which the electric blower 14 and the like of the main body case 12 are housed. The rear cover component 32c forms a part of the cylindrical portion 40, which will be described in detail later. The rear housing 32 is formed by integrally integrating the rear handle component 32a, the rear main body component 32b, and the rear cover component 32c.

[0024] In the vacuum cleaner body 10, the handle portion 16 is composed of a part of the front housing 30 and a part of the rear housing 32, as well as the handle body portion 44. The handle portion 16 is also provided with an operating section 46 for turning the electric blower 14 on and off.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the handle body 44 is a ring-shaped component made of resin or the like. The handle body 44 can have any shape, such as a circle, an oval shape (ellipse or oblong), a polygonal shape, or a rod shape. In this embodiment, it has an oval shape. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the handle body 44 has a recess 44a formed along its outer circumference. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, wiring 48 that electrically connects the operating unit 46 and the electric blower 14 is routed through the recess 44a. The wiring 48 exits from the exhaust side of the electric blower 14 and is routed to the rear, top, and front sides of the recess 44 of the handle body 44.

[0026] The handle portion 16 is attached to the handle body portion 44 described above by covering it from the front with the front handle component 30a, which is part of the front housing 30, and by covering it from the rear with the rear handle component 32a, which is part of the rear housing 32, thereby supporting the handle body portion 44. Furthermore, the recess 44a of the handle body portion 44 is covered by the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32. As a result, the wiring 48 routed to the recess 44a is housed in the handle portion 16 while being protected by the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the vacuum cleaner body 10 includes an inlet component 34 in addition to the configuration described above. The vacuum cleaner body 10 also includes an intake-side support 36, an exhaust-side support 37, and an outer circumference support 38 as components for supporting the electric blower 14. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner body 10 includes a cylindrical portion 40 and a hanging portion 42.

[0028] The inlet component 34 has an inlet 34a. The inlet component 34 can be made of a separate component from the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32, or it can be made integrally with either the front housing 30 or the rear housing 32. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the inlet component 34 is made of a separate component from the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32. The inlet component 34 is made of a plate-shaped member that extends laterally (horizontally in this embodiment) across the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32. The inlet 34a is formed by an opening in the inlet component 34 that communicates with an outlet 58 provided on the top surface side of the dust collection section 50.

[0029] The intake-side support portion 36 supports the intake port 14a side of the electric blower 14. In this embodiment, the electric blower 14 is housed inside the vacuum cleaner body 10 with the intake port 14a facing downwards (towards the dust collection section 50). Therefore, the intake-side support portion 36 supports the lower end (dust collection section 50 side) of the electric blower 14.

[0030] The intake-side support portion 36 only needs to be capable of supporting the electric blower 14, but in this embodiment it is made of an elastic material. As a result, the intake-side support portion 36 is capable of supporting the electric blower 14 while absorbing or mitigating vibrations generated in the electric blower 14. The intake-side support portion 36 is located inside the vacuum cleaner body 10, sandwiched between the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32, between the inlet 34a and the intake port 14a of the electric blower 14.

[0031] The exhaust-side support portion 37 supports the electric blower 14 on the exhaust side of the electric blower 14. In this embodiment, the electric blower 14 is housed inside the vacuum cleaner body 10 with the side of the casing 14h where the exhaust port 14b is formed (exhaust side) facing upward (opposite side from the dust collection unit 50). Therefore, the exhaust-side support portion 37 supports the upper end side (opposite side from the dust collection unit 50) of the electric blower 14. The casing 14h has two exhaust ports 14b on the rear side, and opposite each of the two exhaust ports 14b is a main body exhaust port 12b (see Figure 3, etc.) which is the exhaust port of the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0032] The exhaust-side support section 37 only needs to be capable of supporting the electric blower 14, but in this embodiment it is made of an elastic material. As a result, the exhaust-side support section 37 is capable of supporting the electric blower 14 while absorbing or mitigating vibrations generated in the electric blower 14.

[0033] The outer peripheral support portion 38 supports the outer circumference of the electric blower 14. The casing 14h of the electric blower 14 contains a motor housing portion 14x that houses the motor 14m and a fan housing portion 14y that houses the fan 14f. The outer peripheral support portion 38 can be provided at an appropriate location such as the motor housing portion 14x or the fan housing portion 14y, but in this embodiment, it is provided on the outer circumference of the fan housing portion 14y. This allows the outer peripheral support portion 38 to support the circumferential surface of the fan housing portion 14y, where vibrations due to the operation of the fan are expected to occur.

[0034] Furthermore, the outer peripheral support portion 38 only needs to be capable of supporting the electric blower 14, but in this embodiment it is made of an elastic member or a sponge-like member. As a result, the outer peripheral support portion 38 is capable of supporting the electric blower 14 while absorbing or mitigating vibrations generated in the electric blower 14 (especially the fan housing portion 14y). The outer peripheral support portion 38 is positioned inside the vacuum cleaner body 10, sandwiched between the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32.

[0035] The cylindrical portion 40 is a cylindrical part having an opening at one end that serves as a suction port 40x. The cylindrical portion 40 is equipped with a cover body 45 that has a flow path 40y inside which serves as an air passage. The cover body 45 has a front cover body 45a and a rear cover body 45b. The front cover body 45a is the part of the cylindrical portion 40 that faces the front side of the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0036] The front cover body 45a is supported by being sandwiched between the intake side support portion 36 and the rear housing 32. Specifically, the front cover body 45a has a front cover body engaging portion 45c on its upper end that engages with the intake side support portion 36. The front cover body engaging portion 45c is shaped to correspond to the uneven surface formed on the outer circumference of the intake side support portion 36, and is shaped to be fitted into the uneven surface from the side. The front cover body 45a is connected to the intake side support portion 36 by fitting the front cover body engaging portion 45c into the uneven surface of the intake side support portion 36.

[0037] The flow path 40y can also be formed by a front cover body 45a and a rear cover body 45b, but in this embodiment, a hollow flow path component 40z is provided separately. The cylindrical portion 40 is provided with a flow path 40y inside by sandwiching the flow path component 40z between the front cover body 45a and the rear cover body 45b.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, the hanging section 42 is where the power cord 70 is wrapped around the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 10. The power cord 70 supplies power to the electric blower 14 and is pulled out from the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 10. The hanging section 42 is provided on the rear housing 32 so that the power cord 70 can be wrapped around the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0039] The hanging portion 42 may be one or more, but two or more are preferable. As shown in Figure 8, the hanging portion 42 has a first hanging portion 42a and a second hanging portion 42b. The first hanging portion 42a and the second hanging portion 42b are arranged separately in the vertical direction in the rear housing 32. Specifically, the first hanging portion 42a is positioned in the vertical direction of the vacuum cleaner body 10 in a position that overlaps with the electric blower 14 housed in the vacuum cleaner body 10. The second hanging portion 42b is provided on the side of the cylindrical portion 40 that is closer to the suction port 40x.

[0040] The first attachment portion 42a and the second attachment portion 42b each have a bent shape. Specifically, the first attachment portion 42a and the second attachment portion 42b each have a portion that protrudes toward the rear in a side view (rearward projection portion 42c) and a portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting it (intersecting direction projection portion 42d). In this embodiment, the first attachment portion 42a and the second attachment portion 42b each have an L-shaped bend.

[0041] Furthermore, the first mounting portion 42a and the second mounting portion 42b are configured such that one or both (in this embodiment, the first mounting portion 42a) can change the protruding direction of the intersecting projection portion 42d. In this embodiment, the first mounting portion 42a is configured to rotate around a pivot axis extending in the front-rear direction at the rear projection portion 42c. Therefore, by rotating the first mounting portion 42a around the aforementioned pivot axis, the protruding direction of the intersecting projection portion 42d can be changed. On the other hand, the second mounting portion 42b is fixed in a position where the intersecting projection portion 42d protrudes downward at the rear projection portion 42c and cannot be rotated.

[0042] The hanging portion 42 allows the power cord 70 to be wrapped around the rear protrusions 42c, 42c of the first hanging portion 42a and the second hanging portion 42b when the intersecting projection 42d of the first hanging portion 42a is facing upward and the intersecting projection 42d of the second hanging portion 42b is facing downward. This allows the power cord 70 wrapped around the hanging portion 42 to be held in place by the intersecting projections 42d, 42d of the first hanging portion 42a and the second hanging portion 42b, preventing it from falling off. Furthermore, by positioning the intersecting projection 42d of the first hanging portion 42a downward when the power cord 70 is wrapped around the hanging portion 42, the holding of the power cord 70 by the intersecting projections 42d, 42d is released. This allows the power cord 70 to detach naturally from the hanging portion 42 or to be easily removed from the hanging portion 42.

[0043] Here, the aforementioned vacuum cleaner 1 can be leaned against a wall with the vacuum cleaner body 10, extension pipe 150, and suction attachment 100 connected. The hanging part 42 is designed to contact the wall and support the vacuum cleaner body 10 when the vacuum cleaner body 10, extension pipe 150, and suction attachment 100 are connected and the vacuum cleaner is leaned against a wall.

[0044] Furthermore, the hanging portion 42 may be equipped with magnets in the first hanging portion 42a and the second hanging portion 42b. In this embodiment, the first hanging portion 42a has a built-in magnet. This allows the vacuum cleaner 1 to be fixed to the wall or other surface when leaning it against a steel fixture, partition, or wall, providing more stable support for the vacuum cleaner 1 (vacuum cleaner body 10). Alternatively, the first hanging portion 42a and the second hanging portion 42b may be equipped with rubber instead of magnets.

[0045] As described above, the present invention has described a vacuum cleaner 1 that operates by receiving power from a power cord 70, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be a vacuum cleaner equipped with a battery. Specifically, when the vacuum cleaner is battery-powered, it is preferable that the battery 18 be arranged in front of and behind the electric blower 14, as shown in Figure 9. The control board 20 that controls the operation of the electric blower 14 is preferably provided between the electric blower 14 and the battery 18, or between the electric blower 14 and the handle body 44, as illustrated in Figure 9.

[0046] Regarding the effects and benefits: The following describes the effects and other benefits obtained from the vacuum cleaner body 10 described above.

[0047] [Regarding the vacuum cleaner 1 according to the first aspect of the present invention] (1-1) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment comprises a vacuum cleaner body 10 having an electric blower 14 that generates suction force, and a dust collection unit 50 that collects the sucked-up dust. The vacuum cleaner body 10 has a handle body 44, a front housing 30 that supports the handle body 44 so as to cover it from the front, and a rear housing 32 which is a separate part from the front housing 30 and supports the handle body 44 so as to cover it from the rear. The handle portion 16 of the vacuum cleaner body 10 is formed by a part of each of the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32, and the handle body 44.

[0048] As described in (1-1) above, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 has a simple configuration in which the handle portion 16 is supported by the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32, covering the handle body portion 44 from the front and rear. Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can have higher durability for the handle portion 16, which is subjected to load, than if the handle portion 16 were composed only of the handle body portion 44. Therefore, by adopting the configuration described in (1-1) above, it is possible to realize an electric vacuum cleaner 1 that is lightweight while improving durability.

[0049] (1-2) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to (1-1) above is provided with an intake-side support part 36 that supports the intake port 14a side of the electric blower 14, the vacuum cleaner body 10 has an inlet 34a that communicates with the discharge port 58 of the dust collection unit 50, and the intake-side support part 36 is preferably sandwiched between the inlet 34a and the intake port 14a of the electric blower 14 by the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32.

[0050] By having the configuration described in (1-2) above, the vacuum cleaner 1 can hold the intake-side support portion 36 that supports the electric blower 14 by sandwiching it between the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32. As a result, the vacuum cleaner 1 can stably support the electric blower 14 within the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0051] (1-3) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to (1-1) or (1-2) above is provided with an intake-side support part 36 that supports the intake port 14a side of the electric blower 14, and the vacuum cleaner body 10 has an inlet 34a that communicates with the discharge port 58 of the dust collection part 50 and a cylindrical part 40 having a suction port 40x at its end, the cylindrical part 40 is provided with a cover body 45 that has a flow path 40y inside, the cover body 45 has a front cover body 45a and a rear cover body 45b, the intake-side support part 36 is positioned between the inlet 34a and the intake port 14a of the electric blower 14, and the front cover body 45a is sandwiched between the intake-side support part 36 and the rear housing 32.

[0052] As described in (1-3) above, the vacuum cleaner 1 has an intake-side support section 36 positioned between the inlet 34a and the intake port 14a of the electric blower 14, and a front cover body 45a sandwiched between the intake-side support section 36 and the rear housing 32. This configuration allows the intake-side support section 36, the rear housing 32, and the front cover body 45a (cover body 45) to be positioned with high accuracy. As a result, the vacuum cleaner 1 can stably support the electric blower 14, which generates vibrations when driven.

[0053] (1-4) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of (1-1) to (1-3) above is provided with an outer peripheral support portion 38 that supports the outer circumference of the electric blower 14, and the outer peripheral support portion 38 is preferably sandwiched between the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32.

[0054] By having the configuration described in (1-4) above, the electric blower 14, which is supported by the outer peripheral support portion 38, can be stably supported between the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32.

[0055] (1-5) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of the above (1-1) to (1-4) is preferably such that the vacuum cleaner body 10 is equipped with an inlet component 34 having an inlet 34a that communicates with the discharge port 58 of the dust collection unit 50, and the inlet component 34 is integrally formed with the front housing 30 or the rear housing 32.

[0056] By configuring the electric vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (1-5) above, the inlet component 34 can be installed on the vacuum cleaner body 10 in a stable and highly accurate manner.

[0057] (1-6) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of the above (1-1) to (1-5) is preferably such that the vacuum cleaner body 10 has a cylindrical portion 40 having a suction port 40x at its end, and the rear housing 32 constitutes a part of the cylindrical portion 40.

[0058] By adopting the configuration described in (1-6) above, the configuration of the cylindrical section 40 of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be simplified. This allows the vacuum cleaner 1 to reduce the number of parts, thereby reducing weight and manufacturing costs.

[0059] (1-7) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to any of (1-1) to (1-6) above is preferably such that the cylindrical part 40 is equipped with a cover body 45 having a flow path 40y inside, the cover body 45 has a front cover body 45a and a rear cover body 45b, and the rear housing 32 is formed integrally with or as a single part of the rear cover body 45b.

[0060] By adopting the configuration described in (1-7) above, the configuration of the rear cover body 45b of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be simplified. This allows the vacuum cleaner 1 to reduce the number of parts, thereby reducing weight and manufacturing costs.

[0061] Note that the vacuum cleaner 1 in (1-1) to (1-7) above also includes battery-powered vacuum cleaners.

[0062] (1-8) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to any of (1-1) to (1-7) above is provided with an operating part 46 on the handle part 16 for operating the on / off drive of the electric blower 14, the handle body part 44 is configured in an annular shape and has a recess 44a along the outer circumference, and the wiring 48 that electrically connects the operating part 46 and the electric blower 14 is arranged in the recess 44a.

[0063] By configuring the vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (1-8) above, the recess 44a provided in the handle body 44 can be used for routing the wiring 48. This allows the vacuum cleaner 1 to be simplified in its configuration and lighter in weight.

[0064] (1-9) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of the above (1-1) to (1-8) is preferable in which the handle body 44 is composed of one part.

[0065] By configuring the electric vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (1-9) above, the handle body 44 can be simplified and its strength improved compared to when the handle body 44 is composed of multiple parts.

[0066] (1-10) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of the above (1-1) to (1-9) is preferably such that the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32 are each composed of one part.

[0067] By configuring the vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (1-10) above, the front housing 30 and rear housing 32 can be simplified and their strength improved compared to when the front housing 30 and rear housing 32 are composed of multiple parts.

[0068] Note that the vacuum cleaner 1 described in (1-9) to (1-10) above also includes battery-powered vacuum cleaners if the configuration described in (1-8) above is not assumed.

[0069] [Regarding the electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to a second aspect of the present invention] Herein, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-15020, an electric vacuum cleaner is provided having a main body case that houses a dust collection unit, an electric blower, and a cord reel, an extension pipe disposed on one end of the main body case, a handle disposed on the other end of the main body case, and a receiving part that protrudes from the lower surface of the main body case.

[0070] The conventional electric vacuum cleaners described above take into consideration the shape of the handle and the main body case to prevent damage to the wall surface from the plug of the power cord stored in the cord reel, but this has the problem of reducing the degree of freedom in the design of the handle shape and the exterior of the main body case.

[0071] Therefore, the present invention aims to improve the design flexibility of the vacuum cleaner body in a vertical electric vacuum cleaner equipped with a power cord.

[0072] (2-1) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment comprises a vacuum cleaner body 10 having an electric blower 14 that generates suction force, and a dust collection unit 50 that collects the sucked-up dust. The vacuum cleaner body 10 has a handle 16 on the upper side in the vertical direction and a cylindrical part 40 having a suction port 40x at the lower end in the vertical direction. The dust collection unit 50 is provided on the vacuum cleaner body 10 in front of the cylindrical part 40. The vacuum cleaner body 10 has a power cord 70 for supplying power to the electric blower 14 that is pulled out from the rear, and the rear of the vacuum cleaner body 10 is provided with a hanging part 42 around which the power cord 70 is wrapped.

[0073] As described in (2-1) above, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 has a power cord 70 that is wrapped around a hanging part 42 located on the rear side of the vacuum cleaner body 10, eliminating the need to install a cord reel or the like inside the main body case as in conventional technology. Therefore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 offers a high degree of design freedom for the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0074] (2-2) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to (2-1) above is preferably provided with a hanging section 42 on the vacuum cleaner body 10, which is arranged in the vertical direction, with the first hanging section 42a positioned to overlap with the electric blower 14 in the vertical direction, and the second hanging section 42b provided on the side of the cylindrical section 40 that is closer to the suction port 40x.

[0075] By configuring the vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (2-2) above, the first hanging section 42a and the second hanging section 42b can be positioned at different locations in the vertical direction. As a result, the vacuum cleaner 1 can reduce the number of times the power cord 70 is wrapped around the hanging section 42 and improve convenience compared to, for example, a configuration in which the power cord 70 is wrapped around a single winding section, or a configuration in which the first hanging section 42a and the second hanging section 42b are close together.

[0076] (2-3) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to (2-1) or (2-2) above is preferably such that when the vacuum cleaner body 10, extension pipe 150, and suction attachment 100 are connected and leaned against a wall, the hanging part 42 contacts the wall to support the vacuum cleaner body 10.

[0077] By configuring the electric vacuum cleaner 1 as described in (2-3) above, the hanging part 42 can be used to support the vacuum cleaner body 10 when it is stored leaning against a wall.

[0078] (2-4) The electric vacuum cleaner 1 relating to any of (2-1) to (2-3) above is preferably such that the vacuum cleaner body 10 has a handle body portion 44, a front housing 30 that supports the handle body portion 44 so as to cover it from the front, and a rear housing 32 which is a separate part from the front housing 30 and supports the handle body portion 44 so as to cover it from the rear, and the handle portion 16 is made up of a part of the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32 and the handle body portion 44, and the hanging portion 42 is provided on the rear housing 32.

[0079] By adopting the configuration described in (2-4) above, the vacuum cleaner 1 can form the handle portion 16 with a simple configuration in which the handle body portion 44 is supported from the front and rear by the front housing 30 and the rear housing 32. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 1 can have higher durability in the handle portion 16, which is subjected to load, than when the handle portion 16 is composed only of the handle body portion 44. Therefore, by adopting the configuration described in (2-4) above, it is possible to realize a vacuum cleaner 1 that is lightweight while improving durability.

[0080] Furthermore, by providing the hanging section 42 on the rear housing 32 as described in (2-4) above, when the vacuum cleaner 1 is leaned against a wall, part or all of the power cord 70 is hidden behind the main body 10 (back side). As a result, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be leaned against a wall in a way that gives it a neat appearance when viewed from the front.

[0081] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and other embodiments may exist in the spirit and teachings thereof, without departing from the scope of the claims. The components of the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights for these as well in amendments or divisional applications of this application. [Industrial applicability]

[0082] The present invention can be suitably used in electric vacuum cleaners in general. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1: Electric vacuum cleaner 10: Vacuum cleaner body 14:Electric blower 14a: Air intake 16: Handle section 30: Front cabinet 32: Rear cabinet 34:Inlet configuration part 34a:Inlet 36: Intake side support section 38: Outer peripheral support section 40:Cylinder part 40x: Suction port 40y: Flow path 42: Kakebe 42a: First hanging part 42b:Second hanging part 44: Handle body 45: Cover body 45a: Front cover 45b: Rear cover 46:Operation unit 48: Wiring 50: Dust collection unit 58: Outlet 70: Power cord 100: Suction device 150: Extension tube

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner body having an electric blower that generates suction power, A dust collection unit that collects the sucked-in dust, Equipped with, The vacuum cleaner body, The handle body is ring-shaped and has a recess along its outer circumference, A front housing that supports the handle body portion so as to cover it from the front, A rear housing, which is a separate component from the front housing, supports the handle body portion so as to cover it from the rear, It has the following characteristics: The front housing is integrally formed with a front handle component that corresponds to the handle portion in the front housing and a front main body component that houses the electric blower in the front housing. The rear housing is integrally formed with a rear handle component that supports the handle body portion from the rear and covers it, and a rear body component that houses the electric blower. An electric vacuum cleaner characterized in that the handle portion of the vacuum cleaner body is formed by a part of the front housing and the rear housing, and the handle body portion.

2. The electric blower is equipped with an intake side support portion that supports the intake port side, The vacuum cleaner body has an inlet that communicates with the dust collection outlet, The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the intake side support portion is sandwiched between the front housing and the rear housing between the inlet and the intake port of the electric blower.

3. The electric blower is equipped with an intake side support portion that supports the intake port side, The vacuum cleaner body, An inlet that communicates with the discharge port of the dust collection unit, A cylindrical portion having a suction port at one end, It has, The cylindrical portion is equipped with a cover body that has a flow path inside, The cover body comprises a front cover body and a rear cover body. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the intake-side support portion is positioned between the inlet and the intake port of the electric blower, and the front cover body is sandwiched between the intake-side support portion and the rear housing.

4. The electric blower is equipped with an outer peripheral support portion that supports the outer circumference of the electric blower, The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer peripheral support portion is sandwiched between the front housing and the rear housing.

5. The vacuum cleaner body includes an inlet component having an inlet that communicates with the discharge port of the dust collection unit, The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inlet component is integrally formed with the front housing or the rear housing.

6. The vacuum cleaner body has a cylindrical portion with a suction port at its end, The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rear housing constitutes a part of the cylindrical portion.

7. The cylindrical portion is equipped with a cover body that has a flow path inside, The cover body comprises a front cover body and a rear cover body. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterized in that the rear housing is formed integrally with or as a single component of the rear cover body.

8. The handle portion is provided with an operating section for turning the electric blower on and off. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wiring that electrically connects the operating unit and the electric blower is arranged in the recess.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the handle body is composed of a single component.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front housing and the rear housing are each composed of one part.

Images