vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can effectively utilize the filter material of a dust collection bag. [Solution] The electric vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner body 14, an electric blower 10, a suction pipe section 140, a dust collection chamber 1410, a plurality of support sections 141320, and a notch 141321. The electric blower 10 is located on the vacuum cleaner body 14. The suction pipe section 140 is provided on the vacuum cleaner body 14 and connected to an air passage. The dust collection chamber 1410 is provided on the vacuum cleaner body 14 and a dust collection bag 110 can be attached and detached to it so that the inlet opening 11000 communicates with the suction pipe section 140. The support section 141320 is formed extending in the front-rear direction from the bottom 14132 of the dust collection chamber 1410 and supports the filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110 that has expanded in the dust collection chamber 1410. The notch 141321 is formed on the support section 141320.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electric vacuum cleaner having a dust collection chamber with a detachable dust collection bag.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a stick-type electric vacuum cleaner that is used by connecting an extension pipe and a suction tool to the other end of a longitudinal vacuum cleaner body having a gripping portion at one end. In a stick-type electric vacuum cleaner, when a paper pack is used in the dust collection portion, due to its manufacturing structure and in order to allow the filter material to open entirely by the introduced dust-containing air, it is preferable to have a square shape centered on the inlet of the dust-containing air. When the extension pipe is in a straight line with the vacuum cleaner body, in order to ensure the dust collection volume, the introduction portion from the extension pipe to the dust collection bag has to be inclined, and therefore the dust collection bag is also arranged to be inclined along the inclination of the introduction portion in order to introduce the dust-containing air into the center of the dust collection bag. As a result, dead spaces where the dust collection bag cannot enter occur in the front lower part and the rear upper part of the dust collection chamber, and the operability of cleaning deteriorates due to an increase in the weight and size of the vacuum cleaner body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can effectively utilize the filter material of the dust collection bag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The vacuum cleaner of this embodiment uses a dust collection bag having an inlet opening and a bag-shaped filter material communicating with the inlet opening. The vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner body, an electric blower, a suction pipe section, a dust collection chamber, a plurality of support sections, and a notch. The electric blower is located on the vacuum cleaner body. The suction pipe section is provided on the vacuum cleaner body and connected to an air passage. The dust collection chamber is provided on the vacuum cleaner body and allows for the attachment and detachment of a dust collection bag so that the inlet opening communicates with the suction pipe section. The support sections are formed at the bottom of the dust collection chamber, extending in the front-to-back direction, and support the filter material of the dust collection bag when it is expanded in the dust collection chamber. The notches are formed on the support sections. The suction pipe section has a connecting pipe section located downstream of the upstream end. The axis of the connecting pipe section intersects with the axis of the upstream end of the suction pipe section, and during operation, it intersects with the lower part of the dust collection bag facing the filter media support section of the dust collection bag, which is installed in the dust collection chamber, without any obstructions through the inlet opening of the dust collection bag. The operation of the electric blower forms a flow path that wraps around the side and lower part of the filter media at a position in front of the notch and behind the inlet opening. . [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the inside of the dust collection chamber of one embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 2] A longitudinal cross-sectional front view showing the same vacuum cleaner. [Figure 3] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a part of the same electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 4] This is an exploded perspective view showing the same vacuum cleaner. [Figure 5] This is a central cross-sectional view showing a magnified portion of the same vacuum cleaner. [Figure 6] This is a central cross-sectional view showing the same electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the same electric vacuum cleaner. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0008] In Figure 7, 1 represents an electric vacuum cleaner. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a suction vacuum cleaner that cleans by sucking up dust and air into the dust collection unit 11 using the operation of an electric blower 10. The operation, or operating state, of the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is set by the user via an operation switch 12, and a control unit 13 such as a microcomputer controls the electric blower 10, etc., according to the operation input to the operation switch 12.

[0009] In this embodiment, the electric blower 10, dust collection unit 11, operation switch 12, and control unit 13 are arranged in the vacuum cleaner body 14. The electric vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment can be used as a stick-type or handheld electric vacuum cleaner by connecting an air duct 15 to the vacuum cleaner body 14 as needed. The air duct 15 has, for example, an extension pipe 150 which is a straight pipe section, and a suction tool 151 which is also called a suction port or suction head. The user can arbitrarily select between using the electric vacuum cleaner 1 as a stick type using the extension pipe 150 and the suction tool 151, and using the electric vacuum cleaner 1 as a handheld type using the suction tool 151 or without using the air duct 15. In this embodiment, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 is a cordless type that is powered by a battery 16 such as a secondary battery. In other words, in the electric vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment, the electric blower 10 and the control unit 13 can be operated by power supplied from the battery 16.

[0010] As shown in Figure 6, the vacuum cleaner body 14 is formed in a longitudinal shape. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 14 will be defined as the front-to-back direction, and the directions perpendicular to it will be defined as the up-down direction and the left-to-right direction. In the figure, the front direction is indicated by arrow FR, the rear direction by arrow RR, the up direction by arrow U, the down direction by arrow D, the left direction by arrow L, and the right direction by arrow R. Note that in the operating state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1, as shown in Figure 7 for example, the longitudinal direction of the vacuum cleaner body 14 may be inclined relative to the part being cleaned depending on the position of the part being cleaned, so these front-to-back, up-and-down, and left-to-right directions do not necessarily coincide with the directions in the operating state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.

[0011] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the vacuum cleaner body 14 is arranged from front to rear in the order of suction pipe section 140, main body section 141, and grip section 142. The air passage 15 (shown in Figure 7) is detachable from the suction pipe section 140, the electric blower 10, dust collection section 11, and control unit 13 are arranged in the main body section 141, the battery 16 is detachable, and the operating switch 12 is located in the grip section 142.

[0012] The suction pipe section 140 is located at the very front of the vacuum cleaner body 14 and is the inlet for the airflow generated by the electric blower 10 to the dust collection section 11. The suction pipe section 140 is formed in a tubular shape. In this embodiment, the suction pipe section 140 is located at the upper end of the vacuum cleaner body 14. The suction pipe section 140 has a connecting pipe section 1400 which is the upstream end, a connecting pipe section 1401 which is the middle section, and an introduction pipe section 1402 which is the downstream end. The connecting pipe section 1400 is the part to which the air passage body 15 (shown in Figure 7) is attached and detached. The connecting pipe section 1400 has an axis A1 which is the central axis along the front-rear direction and protrudes forward from the front end of the main body section 141. The connecting pipe section 1401 is an inclined section having an axis A2 which is the central axis in the direction that inclins downward from the connecting pipe section 1400 toward the introduction pipe section 1402. In other words, the suction pipe section 140 is bent at the point where the connecting pipe section 1400 and the communication pipe section 1401 are connected. The communication pipe section 1401 extends into the interior of the front part of the main body section 141. The axis A2 of the communication pipe section 1401 passes through the inlet opening 11000 of the dust collection bag 110 (described later) and is positioned to directly intersect the bottom 14132 of the dust collection chamber 1410 via the lower part of the filter material 1101 without intersecting any obstacles that obstruct the airflow. In this embodiment, the axis A2 does not intersect the introduction pipe section 1402 of the suction pipe section 1401 at least on its rearward extension before intersecting the bottom 14132 of the dust collection chamber 1410. However, the axis A2 may intersect the introduction pipe section 1402 of the suction pipe section 1401 on its rearward extension. Furthermore, the introduction pipe section 1402 has an axis that is the central axis along the front-rear direction. That is, the suction pipe section 140 is bent at the position where the connecting pipe section 1401 and the introduction pipe section 1402 are connected. The introduction pipe section 1402 is formed to be shorter in the axial direction compared to the connecting pipe section 1400 and the connecting pipe section 1401.

[0013] The main body 141 is formed in a longitudinal shape in the front-to-back direction. The main body 141 has a dust collection chamber 1410 that communicates with the suction pipe 140 and forms part of the dust collection section 11, and a blower chamber 1411 that houses the electric blower 10 and the control unit 13, formed at the front and rear. In addition, a battery mounting section 1412 into which the battery 16 is attached and detached is formed at the lower part of the main body 141. In this embodiment, the battery mounting section 1412 is located below the blower chamber 1411, that is, at the lower rear side of the main body 141. The outer shell of the main body 141 is composed of a case body 1413 that surrounds part of the dust collection chamber 1410 and the blower chamber 1411, and a lid body 1414 that can be attached to and detached from the case body 1413.

[0014] In this embodiment, the dust collection unit 11 is constructed by mounting the dust collection bag 110 and the filter frame 111 in the dust collection chamber 1410. The lower side of the dust collection chamber 1410 is covered by a case body 1413, and the upper side is openable and closable by a lid 1414. By opening the lid 1414 or removing it from the case body 1413, the dust collection bag 110 and the filter frame 111 can be attached to and detached from the dust collection chamber 1410.

[0015] In the illustrated example, the bottom of the dust collection chamber 1410, the lower part of the side sections connected to the bottom, and the front and rear sections connected to the bottom are covered by the case body 1413, while the upper parts of the side sections of the dust collection chamber 1410 and the upper part connected to the upper parts of the side sections are covered by a lid 1414 that can be opened and closed. That is, the dust collection chamber 1410 in this embodiment is surrounded by a front wall 14130, side wall sections 14131, a bottom 14132, and a rear wall section 14133, which are part of the case body 1413. The upper part of the dust collection chamber 1410, surrounded by the upper ends of the front wall section 14130, side wall sections 14131, and rear wall section 14133, is an opening 14100 that is rectangular in shape and long in the front-to-back direction when viewed from above, and the dust collection bag 110 and filter frame 111 are attached to and detached from this opening 14100. The opening 14100 is surrounded by a sealing body 14101, and the lid 1414, which is attached to and held in the case body 1413, is in close contact with the sealing body 14101, thereby airtightly closing the dust collection chamber 1410. In this embodiment, the lid 1414 is formed in an arch shape that curves in the left-right direction between the side wall portions 14131.

[0016] The front wall portion 14130 is located on both sides and below the rear end of the suction pipe portion 140. The front wall portion 14130 has a dust bag holding portion 141300 formed therein for holding the dust bag 110. The dust bag holding portion 141300 is located behind the introduction pipe portion 1402 of the suction pipe portion 140. The dust bag holding portion 141300 is located on both the left and right sides and below the introduction pipe portion 1402 and forms a groove that opens toward the opening 14100, i.e., upward. In this embodiment, the dust bag holding portions 141300 located on both the left and right sides restrict the left and right position of the dust bag 110, and the dust bag holding portion 141300 located below the lid 1414, i.e., inside the dust collection chamber 1410, holds the dust bag 110 between them from above and below.

[0017] The dust collection bag 110 held between the dust collection bag holding part 141300 and the lid side holding part 14140 is also called a paper pack or the like. The dust collection bag 110 has a holding plate 1100 which is a flat mouth frame, and a bag-shaped filter medium 1101 communicating with the holding plate 1100. When the holding plate 1100 is attached from the opening 14100 to the dust collection bag holding part 141300, it is hermetically connected to the suction pipe part 140. Then, the dust collection bag 110 passes the dust-containing air through the filter medium 1101 via the suction pipe part 140 and accumulates dust inside the filter medium 1101.

[0018] The holding plate 1100 is formed of, for example, paper or the like. An inflow opening 11000 is formed in the holding plate 1100. The inflow opening 11000 is an inlet for the dust-containing air into the dust collection bag 110. The inflow opening 11000 is formed, for example, in a circular shape. The inflow opening 11000 is arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with the introduction pipe part 1402 of the suction pipe part 140 in a state where the dust collection bag 110 is held in the dust collection bag holding part 141300 and attached to the dust collection chamber 1410, and has an axis A3 which is a central axis along the front-rear direction. The axis A3 of the inflow opening 11000 shall mean a virtual line passing through the center of the inflow opening 11000 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the holding plate 1100 or the opening surface of the inflow opening 11000. Preferably, the inflow opening 1100 is located at the center of the holding plate 1100.

[0019] The inflow opening 11000 is airtightly connected to the introduction pipe portion 1402 of the suction pipe portion 140. In the present embodiment, the inflow opening 11000 is airtightly connected to the suction pipe portion 140 via a seal member 1403 disposed in the introduction pipe portion 1402 of the suction pipe portion 140. As shown in FIG. 5, the seal member 1403 has an annular seal portion 14030. The seal portion 14030 is disposed on the end face of the introduction pipe portion 1402 of the suction pipe portion 140. The seal portion 14030 is formed in an annular shape and is arranged coaxially or substantially coaxially with the suction pipe portion 140. The seal portion 14030 is, for example, in an annular shape. The seal portion 14030 is formed of a member having elasticity such as synthetic resin. The seal portion 14030 is pressed in the front-rear direction against the front surface of the holding plate 1100 at the position of the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 11000 in a state where the dust collection bag 110 is held by the dust collection bag holding portion 141300 and attached to the dust collection chamber 1410.

[0020] Further, a check valve 14031 is formed in the seal member 1403. The check valve 14031 prevents the dust collected by the filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110 from spilling from the inflow opening 11000 to the suction pipe portion 140 side, thereby preventing the dust from spilling from the suction pipe portion 140 when the posture of the cleaner body 14 is, for example, such that the front portion faces downward. The check valve 14031 is integrally formed with the seal portion 14030. That is, the check valve 14031 is formed of an elastic member. The check valve 14031 is supported at the upper part inside the seal portion 14030. Further, the front position of the check valve 14031 is restricted by a stopper portion 14032 formed in the seal portion 14030. Therefore, the check valve 14031 can bend in the front-rear direction with the upper part as a fulcrum and is prevented from rotating forward from the position where it abuts against the stopper portion 14032.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the filter material 1101 is formed in a bag shape that communicates with the inlet opening 11000 of the retaining plate 1100. The filter material 1101 is made of, for example, paper or nonwoven fabric. In this embodiment, the filter material 1101 is relatively rigid and has low shape conformability. The front end of the filter material 1101, which is the opening side, is integrally fixed to the retaining plate 1100, and by introducing dust-laden air into the interior from the inlet opening 11000, it can expand in the dust collection chamber 1410 and accumulate dust inside. It is preferable that the filter material 1101 becomes a rectangular parallelepiped when expanded.

[0022] The side wall portions 14131 extend along the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the side wall portions 14131 extend in the front-rear direction while remaining parallel or substantially parallel to each other.

[0023] The bottom portion 14132, which is connected to the lower part of both side walls 14131, is also connected to the lower part of the front wall 14130 and the rear wall 14133, and closes the lower part of the dust collection chamber 1410. In this embodiment, the bottom portion 14132 extends in the front-rear direction.

[0024] A support portion 141320 is formed on the bottom portion 14132. The support portion 141320 supports and receives the inflated filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110, thereby forming an air passage 14134 between the lower surface of the filter material 1101 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 14132. That is, the air passage 14134 is located below the inflated filter material 1101. In this embodiment, the support portion 141320 is formed in a rib shape. The support portion 141320 is formed singly or in multiples in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, multiple support portions 141320 are formed and are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. In the illustrated example, the support portions 141320 are arranged in three rows in the left-right direction, with a support portion 141320 located in the center in the left-right direction and support portions 141320 located to the left and right of it. The support portion 141320 extends along the front-rear direction on the bottom portion 14132. Therefore, the ventilation passage 14134 is located along the front-rear direction on the bottom portion 14132.

[0025] A notch 141321 is formed in at least one of the support portions 141320. The notch 141321 is a portion that allows ventilation by connecting the air passages 14134 formed on both sides of the support portion 141320 to each other in the left-right direction. The notch 141321 is formed in at least the outermost support portion 141320 among the multiple support portions 141320 in terms of their arrangement width. In this embodiment, since the support portions 141320 are arranged in three rows in the left-right direction, the notch 141321 is formed in at least the leftmost and rightmost support portions 141320. An example is shown in which the notch 141321 is not formed in the support portion 141320 located in the center in the left-right direction, but the notch 141321 may be formed there. Therefore, the left side of the support portion 141320 is connected to the ventilation passage 14134 located to the right of the support portion 141320 located to the left by the notch portion 141321, and the right side of the support portion 141320 is connected to the ventilation passage 14134 located to the left of the support portion 141320 located to the right by the notch portion 141321. In the illustrated example, the notch portion 141321 is formed in the support portion 14132 so as to make the support portion 141320 intermittent in the front-rear direction, extending up to the bottom portion 14132. However, the notch portion 141321 may be formed as a recessed shape in the upper part of the support portion 141320, or as a hole that penetrates the lower part or the intermediate part in the vertical direction of the support portion 141320.

[0026] The rear end of the support portion 141320 extends to a position close to or adjacent to the rear wall portion 14133. The rear wall portion 14133 forms a partition wall between the dust collection chamber 1410 and the blower chamber 1411, with the dust collection chamber 1410 formed in front of the rear wall portion 14133 and the blower chamber 1411 formed behind the rear wall portion 14133. The rear wall portion 14133 extends in the vertical, horizontal, and vertical directions and has a thin plate-like shape with thickness in the front-to-back direction. The front surface of the rear wall portion 14133 is the rear wall of the dust collection chamber 1410, and the rear surface of the rear wall portion 14133 is the front wall of the blower chamber 1411.

[0027] A communication opening 14135 is formed in the rear wall portion 14133, connecting the dust collection chamber 1410 and the blower chamber 1411. The communication opening 14135 is formed to penetrate the rear wall portion 14133 in the front-to-back direction, which is the thickness direction. A filter frame 111 is attached to the dust collection chamber 1410 so as to cover the communication opening 14135. In this embodiment, the filter frame 111 has a filter. In the illustrated example, the filter frame 111 has a frame body that holds the filter. The filter frame 111 is attached to and detached from the dust collection chamber 1410 by sliding it vertically into the gap between the filter frame holding portion 14136, which is formed continuously or intermittently in the vertical direction in front of the rear wall portion 14133, in this embodiment in front of the outer edge portion 141331, and the rear wall portion 14133. The filter of the filter frame 111 prevents dust spilled from the dust collection bag 110 when the dust collection bag 110 is removed from the dust collection chamber 1410, and dust that accidentally enters the dust collection chamber 1410 during attachment or detachment of the dust collection bag 110, from being sucked into the electric blower 10. Between the filter of the filter frame 111 and the rear wall portion 14133, a ventilation passage 14137 is formed, which is connected to the ventilation passage 14134 and extends in the vertical direction. The ventilation passage 14137 is connected to the communication opening 14135. Note that the frame of the filter frame 111 is not limited to being attached to and detached from the dust collection chamber 1410, but the frame may be integrally formed inside the dust collection chamber 1410.

[0028] Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the rear wall portion 14133 has a rib 141330 that extends upward in connection with the bottom portion 14132. The ribs 141330 are formed continuously or intermittently. The ribs 141330 are formed singly or in multiples in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, multiple ribs 141330 are formed and are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The upper end of the rib 141330 extends to the vicinity of the lower end of the communication opening 14135.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at least one of the ribs 141330 is integrally connected to the rear end of the support portion 141320. For example, among the ribs 141330, the rib 141330 located in the center in the left-right direction, and the ribs 141330 that are one rib apart in the left-right direction relative to it, are connected to the rear end of the support portion 141320. Therefore, some of the ribs 141330 are located between the support portions 141320.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the blower room 1411, which is adjacent to the dust collection room 1410 via the rear wall portion 14133, is a space in which the front, back, left, right, and top and bottom are covered by the case body 1413. The electric blower 10 is housed in the blower room 1411. In this embodiment, for example, the electric blower 10 and the control unit 13 are housed in the blower room 1411. In other words, the blower room 1411 also serves as the control room. In the blower room 1411, an exhaust port 14110 is opened on the side of the case body 1413, which connects the blower room 1411 to the outside air, i.e., the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 14. In the blower room 1411, the electric blower 10 is positioned with its suction port 100 facing forward, and its central axis A4, which passes through the center of the suction port 100, aligned along the front-rear direction. Therefore, axes A1, A3, and A4 are parallel or approximately parallel to each other. The electric blower 10 is compact, and space is created behind, below, and on both sides of the electric blower 10 in the blower room 1411. A brushless motor is preferably used for the electric motor of the electric blower 10.

[0031] The suction port 100 of the electric blower 10 is in close contact with the area around the communication opening 14135 on the rear surface of the rear wall portion 14133 via a sealing member 101, and the communication opening 14135 and the suction port 100 are airtightly connected. Therefore, the dust collection chamber 1410 and the suction port 100 of the electric blower 10 are airtightly connected via the communication opening 14135. The suction port 100 of the electric blower 10 is close to the communication opening 14135 or the rear surface of the rear wall portion 14133 with a predetermined gap in the front-rear direction.

[0032] A gripping section 142 for the user to grasp and operate the vacuum cleaner is connected to the blower chamber 1411. In this embodiment, the gripping section 142 is connected to the upper part of the blower chamber 1411. In the illustrated example, at least a portion of the suction pipe section 140 is located on the axis of the front end of the gripping section 142. Therefore, the upper surface of the connecting pipe section 1400 of the suction pipe section 140, the upper surface of the lid 1414 which is the upper part of the main body section 141, and the upper surface of the gripping section 142 form a design that is aligned in a substantially straight line. That is, the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner body 14 including the gripping section 142 is formed in a straight line and is aligned in a straight line with the extension pipe 150 of the air passage 15 shown in Figure 7. An operation switch 12 is located near the gripping section 142.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the lid 1414 has a lid-side restricting portion 14141 that contacts the upper part of the filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110. The lid-side restricting portion 14141 bites into the bulging filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110, preventing the filter material 1101 from shifting position laterally in the dust collection chamber 1410. In this embodiment, the lid-side restricting portion 14141 is formed in a rib shape. The lid-side restricting portion 14141 is formed as a single or multiple portion in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, multiple lid-side restricting portions 14141 are formed and are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The lid-side restricting portion 14141 is positioned vertically opposite to the support portions 141320 located to the left and right, excluding the support portion 141320 located in the center in the left-right direction.

[0034] When cleaning, the user first opens the lid 1414 and inserts the dust bag 110 and filter frame 111 into the dust collection chamber 1410 through the opening 14100. The filter frame 111 is inserted by sliding it between the filter frame holder 14136 and the rear wall 14133. The dust bag 110 is inserted by sliding the retaining plate 1100 between the dust bag retaining parts 141300 on both the left and right sides. After this, the lid 1414 is attached to the case body 1413, and the retaining plate 1100 of the dust bag 110 is sandwiched between the lower dust bag retaining part 141300 and the lid-side retaining part 14140 to hold the dust bag 110, and the opening 14100 is airtightly closed. Generally, the dust collection bag 110 remains installed in the dust collection chamber 1410 until a predetermined amount of dust has accumulated in the filter material 1101, and the filter frame 111 is not removed from the dust collection chamber 1410 except for filter maintenance. Therefore, if the dust collection bag 110 and filter frame 111 are already installed in the dust collection chamber 1410, installation work is unnecessary.

[0035] Then, the user, holding the gripping part 142, operates the operation switch 12 to set the operation of the electric blower 10 to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 starts the electric blower 10 with the set operation. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 10 acts from the suction port 100 through the communication opening 14135 to the dust collection chamber 1410, the filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110, and the suction pipe section 140. The user then moves the vacuum cleaner 1 over the area to be cleaned, sucking dust into the dust collection section 11 either through the air passage 15 connected to the suction pipe section 140, or directly from the suction pipe section 140.

[0036] As shown in Figure 5, in the dust collection section 11, the flow of dust-containing air W is inclined downward and rearward as it passes from the connecting pipe section 1400 of the suction pipe section 140 to the connecting pipe section 1401, pushing the check valve 14031 backward and opening it. The dust-containing air W then flows inclined from the introduction pipe section 1402, mainly through the inlet opening 11000 of the holding plate 1100, to the filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110, and the dust DU filtered by the filter material 1101 accumulates inside the filter material 1101. The clean air W1 that has passed through the filter material 1101 passes through the filter of the filter frame 111 and through the ventilation passage 14134, and is drawn into the suction port 100 of the electric blower 10 through the communication opening 14135 from the ventilation passage 14137 shown in Figure 6, cools the electric blower 10, and is then discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner body 14 through the exhaust port 14110 inside the blower chamber 1411.

[0037] At this time, the support portion 141320 supports the expanding filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110, keeping the lower part of the filter material 1101 separated from the bottom portion 14132, ensuring an air passage 14134 at the bottom of the filter material 1101, while the rear of the filter material 1101 is supported by the frame of the filter frame 111, protecting the filter and ensuring an air passage 14137 at the rear of the filter material 1101, allowing the clean air that has passed through the filter material 1101 to be drawn into the electric blower 10 through the suction port 100 via the communication opening 14135.

[0038] Normally, in the dust collection bag 110, the airflow is mainly directed backward at the position immediately behind the retaining plate 1100, making it difficult for airflow to occur in the lateral direction, especially upward, and thus the filter material 1101 does not spread out laterally easily. Therefore, in this embodiment, a notch 141321 is formed in the support portion 141320, so that a flow path can be secured in front of the notch 141321 and immediately behind the retaining plate 1100, allowing the filter material 1101 to be pushed out laterally even at the position immediately behind the retaining plate 1100 of the dust collection bag 110, and enabling effective use of the entire filter material 1101 to reliably collect dust.

[0039] In particular, since the notches 141321 are formed in the outermost support portion 141320 in the left-right arrangement width, which is the direction in which the multiple support portions 141320 extend and intersect with each other, it is possible to easily form an airflow that flows from the side of the ventilation passage 14134 toward the inside of the ventilation passage 14134.

[0040] Furthermore, the axis A2 of the connecting pipe section 1401 of the suction pipe section 140 directly intersects with the lower part of the filter material 1101 through the inlet opening 11000 during operation of the vacuum cleaner 1, without passing through any other obstacles, i.e., without crossing any other obstacles. As a result, dust-laden air flowing along the axis A2 of the connecting pipe section 1401 is introduced into the dust collection bag 110 without hitting any obstacles, passes through the filter material 1101, and flows towards the ventilation passage 14132 at the bottom 14132 of the dust collection chamber 1410. This prevents fine dust such as powder from concentrating on the rear end face of the filter material 1101 facing the suction port 100 of the electric blower 10, mitigating clogging of the rear end face of the filter material 1101 caused by the adhesion of fine dust, preventing a decrease in suction power caused by this clogging, and ensuring that the filter material 1101 is spread reliably to the vicinity of the holding plate 1100. Furthermore, dust particles DU, such as cotton lint, that are separated on the underside of the filter material 1101 when dust-containing air is blown onto them are pushed backward by the dust-containing air W blown from the diagonal front (as shown in Figure 5), allowing the dust to accumulate sequentially inside the filter material 1101.

[0041] Since the axis A1 of the suction pipe section 140 on the connecting pipe section 1400 side, the axis A3 of the inlet opening 11000 of the dust collection bag 110 attached to the dust collection chamber 1410, and the axis A4 of the electric blower 10 are parallel or approximately parallel to each other, the entire filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110 can be efficiently utilized, and the vacuum cleaner body 14 can be made long in the direction of these axes A1, A3, and A4, and slim in the direction intersecting them, resulting in a compact and stylish design.

[0042] Since the ribs 141330 rise from the bottom 14132 of the dust collection chamber 1410 along the rear wall 14133 which forms the downstream part of the dust collection chamber 1410, it is possible to prevent the filter material 1101 from blocking the air passage 14137 from the air passage 14134 at the bottom of the dust collection chamber 1410 toward the suction port 100 of the electric blower 10.

[0043] A sealing member 1403 is placed in the inlet pipe section 1402 of the suction pipe section 140, and the annular sealing portion 14030 of the sealing member 1403 is brought into close contact with the periphery of the inlet opening 11000 relative to the holding plate 1100 of the dust collection bag 110 attached to the dust collection chamber 1410 to ensure airtightness, while a check valve 14031 is provided with the upper part of the sealing portion 14030 as a pivot point, so that the suction pipe section 140 is in a stored state facing downwards. This prevents dust accumulated inside the dust collection bag 110 from flowing back out of the suction pipe section 140, and when the electric blower 10 is in operation, the shoulder of the check valve 14031 guides dust-laden air toward the ventilation passage 14134 at the bottom of the dust collection bag 110, thereby preventing dust from concentrating on the rear end face of the filter material 1101 facing the suction port 100 of the electric blower 10, and allowing the entire filter material 1101 of the dust collection bag 110 to be used effectively.

[0044] Since the upper surface of the air passage 15 connected to the suction pipe section 140 and the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner body 14 including the grip section 142 are aligned in a nearly straight line, it is possible to achieve a small and lightweight design while creating a unified aesthetic. Furthermore, the user holding the grip section 142 during use can easily see the area to be cleaned, and the rotation operation of the grip section 142 is linked to the suction tool 151, resulting in an electric vacuum cleaner 1 with excellent operability.

[0045] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1. Electric vacuum cleaner 10 Electric blower 14. Vacuum cleaner body 15. Air duct 110 Dust collection bag 140 Suction pipe section 142 Gripping part 1100 Holding plate 1101 Filter media 1400 Upstream end of connecting pipe section 1401 Communication pipe section 1402 Inlet pipe section, which is the downstream end 1403 Sealing component 1410 Dust collection room 11000 Inflow opening 14030 Seal part 14031 Check valve 14132 Bottom 14133 The rear wall section, which is the wall section. 141320 Support part 141321 Notch 141330 Rib A1,A2,A3,A4 Axis

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner that uses a dust collection bag having an inlet opening and a bag-shaped filter material communicating with the inlet opening, The vacuum cleaner body and This vacuum cleaner unit has an electric blower, The vacuum cleaner body is provided with a suction pipe section to which an air duct is connected, The vacuum cleaner body is provided with a dust collection chamber on which the dust collection bag can be attached and detached, such that the inlet opening communicates with the suction pipe section. A plurality of support parts are formed at the bottom of this dust collection chamber, extending in the front-to-back direction, to support the filter material of the dust collection bag that is expanded in the dust collection chamber, These support parts are equipped with notches formed in them, The suction pipe section has a connecting pipe section located downstream of the upstream end, The axis of the connecting pipe section intersects with the axis of the upstream end of the suction pipe section, and during operation, intersects with the lower part of the dust collection bag facing the support portion of the filter material of the dust collection bag without passing through any obstacles, through the inlet opening of the dust collection bag installed in the dust collection chamber. The operation of the electric blower creates a flow path that wraps around the side of the filter material towards the lower side, in front of the notch and behind the inlet opening. A vacuum cleaner characterized by the following features.

2. The axis of the upstream end of the suction pipe section, the imaginary line perpendicular to the opening surface of the inlet opening of the dust collection bag mounted in the dust collection chamber, and the axis of the electric blower are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The electric vacuum cleaner according to feature 1.

3. The wall portion forming the downstream part of the dust collection chamber, Ribs rise from the bottom of the dust collection chamber along this wall, The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the following features.

4. The dust collection bag has a retaining plate on which the inlet opening is formed, The suction pipe section is equipped with a sealing member located at its downstream end, The sealing member is The dust collection bag attached to the dust collection chamber has an annular sealing portion that is in close contact with the peripheral edge of the inlet opening relative to the holding plate, This includes a check valve with the upper part of the seal as the pivot point. The electric vacuum cleaner according to feature 1.

5. The vacuum cleaner body has a gripping part for gripping operation, The upper surface of the air passage connected to the suction pipe and the upper surface of the vacuum cleaner body, including the gripping portion, are aligned in a substantially straight line. The electric vacuum cleaner according to feature 2.

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