cleaning machine

Abstract

To provide a cleaner having a structure in which the weight of a battery hardly affects the operation of the cleaner.SOLUTION: A cleaner comprises: a suction source for generating a suction force for sucking dust; a suction pipe forming a flow passage through which the dust sucked by the suction force of the suction source flows; a battery housing part housing a battery for supplying electric power to the suction source; a grip part extended from the battery housing part, and formed so as to be gripped by a user; and an operation part to be operated in order to activate the suction source. The grip part comprises an extended portion extended on an extended line of the suction pipe from the battery housing part. The operation part is provided in the extended portion of the grip part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner incorporating a battery.

Background Art

[0002] Various vacuum cleaners incorporating a battery have been developed (see Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 11, the vacuum cleaner 900 of Patent Document 1 has a main body 910 incorporating a suction source 911 that generates suction force and a battery 912 that supplies power to the suction source 911. The battery 912 is disposed in front of the suction source 911 within the main body 910.

[0003] The vacuum cleaner 900 further includes a suction pipe 913 that forms a flow path through which dust sucked up from the floor surface by the suction force of the suction source 911 flows, and a dust collecting unit 914 that stores the dust that has passed through the suction pipe 913.

[0004] The upper end of the suction pipe 913 is connected to the main body 910 at a position below the battery 912, and a suction nozzle 915 is connected to the lower end of the suction pipe 913. The suction nozzle 915 is configured to allow the suction pipe 913 to tilt backward from the upright posture shown in FIG. 11. In the tilted-back posture after the suction pipe 913 tilts backward, it becomes easy for the user to move the suction nozzle 915 forward while moving it on the floor surface.

[0005] The suction nozzle 915 forms a suction space that opens toward the floor surface. When the suction force of the suction source 911 acts, dust on the floor surface is sucked into the suction space. This suction space is wider than the flow path of the suction pipe 913. Thereby, when the suction source 911 operates, it becomes possible to suck dust from a wide area on the floor surface.

[0006] The dust collection unit 914 is composed of a roughly cylindrical container and is connected to the suction pipe 913 so that air flowing in with dust through the suction nozzle 915 and suction pipe 913 forms a swirling flow within the dust collection unit 914. As a result of the swirling flow generated within the dust collection unit 914, much of the dust can be centrifuged and stored within the dust collection unit 914. In addition, a filter 916 is placed between the dust collection unit 914 and the suction source 911 to capture fine dust that cannot be centrifuged.

[0007] A rod-shaped grip portion 920 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at a position spaced above the main body portion 910. The space between the grip portion 920 and the main body portion 910 is large enough for the user to insert their fingers. A front end support portion 917 and a rear end support portion 918 are provided to hold the grip portion 920 at a position spaced above the main body portion 910. The front end support portion 917 extends upward from the main body portion 910 above the portion of the main body portion 910 in which the battery 912 is housed, and is connected to the front end of the grip portion 920. The rear end support portion 918 protrudes upward from the rear surface of the main body portion 910 and is connected to the rear end of the grip portion 920.

[0008] The gripping section 920 is provided with an operating section 921, which is operated to activate or deactivate the suction source 911. The operating section 921 is positioned on the front part of the gripping section 920 so that the user can grip the gripping section 920. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-69298 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] The larger the capacity of the battery 912, the longer the vacuum cleaner 900 can be operated continuously. On the other hand, increasing the capacity of the battery 912 also increases its weight. This increase in the weight of the battery 912 negatively impacts the operation of the vacuum cleaner 900 in the following ways:

[0011] When the suction tube 913 is in the upright position shown in Figure 11, the battery 912 is on the extension of the suction tube 913, but the grip portion 920 is behind the extension of the suction tube 913. When the user grasps the grip portion 920 and pulls it backward from this state, the suction tube 913 and the main body 910 tilt backward. In this state, the user's grip portion relative to the grip portion 920 may be lower than the battery 912. That is, the battery 912 is positioned above the user's grip portion when viewed from the user's side in the axial direction of the suction tube 913 (hereinafter, the relative position of the battery 912 with respect to the user's grip portion in this state will be referred to as the "first rotation position"). From this state, if the user tilts the grip portion 920 to the left or to the right, the main body portion 910 and the suction tube 913 rotate around the axis of the suction tube 913, and the orientation of the suction nozzle 915 attached to the tip of the suction tube 913 may change. At this time, the battery 912 may be displaced to a position diagonally above the user's grip portion when viewed from the user's side (hereinafter, the relative position of the battery 912 with respect to the user's grip portion in this state will be referred to as the "second rotation position").

[0012] When changing the direction of the suction nozzle 100, the user tilts the grip 920 to the left or right. Normally, the user cleans the floor by advancing the suction nozzle 915 while maintaining the battery 912 in the first rotation position. However, it is conceivable that the user may unconsciously tilt the grip 920 to the left or right while advancing the suction nozzle 915. If this unconscious operation causes the battery 912 to displace to the second rotation position, the weight of the battery 912 will generate a rotational moment that twists the user's wrist. In this case, the user will exert force on their wrist to resist the aforementioned rotational moment and try to hold the vacuum cleaner 900 so that the battery 912 remains in the first rotation position. If such rotational moments occur frequently, the user may feel fatigue in their wrist and find the vacuum cleaner 900 difficult to handle.

[0013] The present invention aims to provide a vacuum cleaner that is less likely to cause fatigue to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] A vacuum cleaner according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source, a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source, a gripping portion that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user, and an operating portion that is operated to activate the suction source. The battery is located in the battery housing so as to be on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping portion has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension of the suction tube. The operating portion has an extended portion The part on the battery housing side It is located at the base end. A vacuum cleaner according to another aspect of this disclosure comprises a suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked up by the suction force of the suction source, a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source, a gripping section that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user, an operating section that is operated to activate the suction source, and a suction nozzle connected to the end of the suction tube to suck up dust on the floor surface by the suction force of the suction source. The battery is located in the battery housing so as to be on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping section has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing on the extension of the suction tube. The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the part on the battery housing side. The suction nozzle has a nozzle case connected to the end of the suction tube so as to allow the suction tube to be tilted backward from an upright position, and a left nozzle roller and a right nozzle roller attached to the nozzle case in a pair so as to roll on the floor surface. The left and right nozzle rollers support the nozzle case so that it is suspended above the floor surface, allowing it to tilt to the left or right when the suction tube is tilted backward and rotated around its axis. The left nozzle roller makes contact with the floor surface with greater force than the right nozzle roller when the nozzle case tilts to the left, and in this state, it rolls on the floor surface to encourage the suction nozzle to move diagonally forward to the left when the suction nozzle is pushed forward. The right nozzle roller makes contact with the floor surface with greater force than the left nozzle roller when the nozzle case tilts to the right, and in this state, it rolls on the floor surface to encourage the suction nozzle to move diagonally forward to the right when the suction nozzle is pushed forward. A vacuum cleaner according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source, a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source, a gripping section that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user, and an operating section that is operated to activate the suction source. The battery is located in the battery housing so as to be on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping section has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension of the suction tube. The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the part on the battery housing side. The battery housing has a lower wall to which the suction tube is connected, an upper wall to which the gripping section is connected, and an outer peripheral wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between the lower wall and the upper wall. An outlet for removing the battery is formed in the outer peripheral wall. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a cover member that closes the outlet, and a pair of fixing parts provided on the cover member for fixing the cover member to the outer periphery wall. The battery housing is larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. The pair of fixing parts are connected to the outer periphery wall, aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube with the outlet in between. A vacuum cleaner according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source, a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source, a gripping section that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user, and an operating section that is operated to activate the suction source. The battery is located in the battery housing so as to be on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping section has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension of the suction tube. The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the part on the battery housing side. The battery housing has a lower wall to which the suction tube is connected, an upper wall to which the gripping section is connected, and an outer peripheral wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between the lower wall and the upper wall. An outlet for removing the battery is formed in the outer peripheral wall. The vacuum cleaner further includes a battery housing containing terminals that contact the battery, and power lines extending from the terminals to the suction source, forming a power supply path from the battery to the suction source. The battery housing is larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. The battery and terminals are arranged so as not to be aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The aforementioned vacuum cleaner can be operated with reduced impact from the weight of the battery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] Side view of a vacuum cleaner in a standing posture [Figure 2] Side view of a vacuum cleaner in a reclined posture [Figure 3] Developed perspective view of the battery housing portion of the vacuum cleaner [Figure 4] Perspective view of the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner [Figure 5] Bottom view of the suction nozzle [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle [Figure 7] Schematic view of the vacuum cleaner as seen in the axial direction of the suction pipe [Figure 8] Schematic view of the vacuum cleaner when rotated around the axis of the suction pipe [Figure 9] Perspective view of the vacuum cleaner when used as a handy-type vacuum cleaner [Figure 10] Side view of another vacuum cleaner [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view of a conventional vacuum cleaner

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the vacuum cleaner will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, a more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or duplicate descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description overly redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims thereto.

[0018] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a suction-type vacuum cleaner 200 equipped with a suction nozzle 100. Note that the vacuum cleaner 200 shown in Figure 1 is in an upright position. As shown in Figure 2, the vacuum cleaner 200 can also tilt backward from this upright position to a rearward-tilted position. The vacuum cleaner 200 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0019] (Overall configuration of the vacuum cleaner) The vacuum cleaner 200 includes a fan housing 233 that houses a suction source 211 that generates suction force to suck up dust, and a battery housing 232 that houses a battery 212 that supplies power to the suction source 211. The suction source 211 may consist of, for example, a motor and rotating blades formed to be rotated by the motor to create an upward airflow. The battery 212 may be electrically connected to the motor to supply power to the motor of the suction source 211. The battery 212 is configured to be rechargeable, but preferably has a capacity large enough to operate the motor for a long time without charging. If the capacity of the battery 212 is large, the battery 212 may be relatively heavy among the components that make up the vacuum cleaner 200. In this embodiment, the battery 212 weighs more than the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 in the fan housing 233.

[0020] The fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 within the fan housing 233 are located at approximately the same height as the battery housing 232 and are positioned behind the battery housing 232 when the vacuum cleaner 200 is in an upright position. The fan housing 233 is integrated with the battery housing 232, and the fan housing 233 and battery housing 232 constitute the main body 210 of the vacuum cleaner 200. The fan housing 233 constitutes the rear part of the main body 210, and the battery housing 232 constitutes the front part of the main body 210.

[0021] The vertical dimension of the battery housing 232 shown in Figure 1 is larger than its dimensions in the perpendicular left-right (width) and front-back (depth) directions. Therefore, the battery housing 232 can accommodate a battery 212 that is long in the vertical direction.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the battery housing 232 is composed of a substantially semi-cylindrical component with a curved front portion and closed ends. More specifically, the battery housing 232 has a lower wall 234, an upper wall 235 located above the lower wall 234, and an outer peripheral wall 236 located between the lower wall 234 and the upper wall 235. The outer peripheral wall 236 surrounds the battery 212 in the circumferential direction, except for the front portion of the battery 212, and an outlet 237 is formed in the front portion of the outer peripheral wall 236, opening forward to allow the battery 212 to be inserted into and removed from the battery housing 232.

[0023] A rod-shaped gripping section 230, formed to a thickness that can be grasped by the user, extends upward from the upper wall 235. A suction pipe 220 extends downward from the lower wall 234, opposite to the side to which the gripping section 230 is connected, forming a flow path for dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source 211. The battery 212 is fixed in the battery housing 232 along the extension of this suction pipe 220. On the other hand, the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 within the fan housing 233 are located at a position shifted to the rear from the extension of the suction pipe 220.

[0024] A terminal 250 is fixed inside the battery housing 232, and the terminal 250 is configured to electrically connect with the battery 212 when the battery 212 is pushed into the battery housing 232 through the outlet 237. In detail, the terminal 250 has a terminal body 247 that incorporates a circuit for transmitting power from the battery 212, and a plurality of contact plates 248 that protrude forward from the terminal body 247. A pair of power lines 249 are connected to the terminal body 247. These power lines 249 extend into the fan housing 233 and are electrically connected to the suction source 211. These power lines 249 form a power supply path from the battery 212 to the suction source 211. The contact plates 248 are configured to be inserted into connection holes (not shown) formed on the upper part of the rear surface of the battery 212 when the battery 212 is pushed into the battery housing 232 through the outlet 237. When the contact plate 248 is inserted into the connection hole of the battery 212, the terminal 250 is electrically connected to the battery 212. In this state, the terminal 250 and the battery 212 are in contact, aligned in the front-to-back direction.

[0025] An outlet 237 provided in the outer peripheral wall 236 of the battery housing 232 is closed by a cover member 238. The cover member 238 is formed to overlap the battery housing 232 from the front and has a curved, thin plate shape. Fixing parts 241 and 242 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the cover member 238 for fixing the cover member 238 to the outer peripheral wall 236. These fixing parts 241 and 242 are arranged vertically on either side of the outlet 237 when the cover member 238 is blocking the outlet 237, and are screwed to the circumferential surfaces of the upper wall 235 and lower wall 234. A decorative plate 245 is attached to the cover member 238 to hide the screws 243 and 244 used to fix the cover member 238 from the user.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the suction pipe 220 extending downward from the battery housing 232 is composed of three pipe bodies. One of these pipe bodies is a base pipe body 221 that is integrally formed with the lower wall 234 of the battery housing 232. That is, the base end (upper end) of the base pipe body 221 is integrally connected to the lower wall 234 of the battery housing 232.

[0027] A dust collection section 240 is attached to the rear of the base pipe section 221 and below the fan housing section 233, where dust sucked in by the suction force of the suction source 211 is stored. The base pipe section 221 is provided with an outlet (not shown) that opens to the rear so that dust and air can flow out into the dust collection section 240 at the rear of the base pipe section 221. The dust collection section 240 is connected to the outlet of the base pipe section 221 so that the air flowing into the dust collection section 240 from the outlet of the base pipe section 221 forms a swirling flow inside the dust collection section 240. In detail, the dust collection section 240 is made up of a cylindrical container and is connected to the outlet of the base pipe section 221 so that the air flowing in from the outlet of the base pipe section 221 flows along the inner circumferential surface of the dust collection section 240. By generating a swirling flow inside the dust collection section 240, the dust contained in the air flowing into the dust collection section 240 can be centrifuged.

[0028] A filter (not shown) is provided at the top of the dust collection unit 240. This filter is configured to allow air to flow from the dust collection unit 240 toward the suction source 211 in the fan housing 233, while capturing dust contained in this air. As a result, the dust is retained within the dust collection unit 240.

[0029] Of the three tubes mentioned above, the other is the intermediate tube 223 connected to the base tube 221. The intermediate tube 223 is detachable from the base tube 221, and when the intermediate tube 223 is detached from the base tube 221, the vacuum cleaner 200 can be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner. In this state, for example, the vacuum cleaner 200 can be suitably used to clean objects located at high positions, such as curtain rails.

[0030] The remaining tube is a tip tube 222 connected to the lower end (tip) of the intermediate tube 223, and a suction nozzle 100 is connected to the lower end (tip) of the tip tube 222. With the intermediate tube 223, tip tube 222 and suction nozzle 100 attached, the vacuum cleaner 200 can be used as a stick-type vacuum cleaner. In this state, for example, the vacuum cleaner 200 can be suitably used for cleaning floors.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the suction nozzle 100 has a nozzle case 110. The nozzle case 110 has a rear case portion 111 that is long in the left-right direction, and the left case portion 112 and the right case portion 113 protrude forward from the left and right ends of the rear case portion 111. A cover plate 114 that is long in the left-right direction is positioned in front of the rear case portion 111, and the left and right ends of the cover plate 114 are fixed on the left case portion 112 and the right case portion 113. With the cover plate 114 attached, a suction space 115 is formed in front of the rear case portion 111, partitioned by the rear case portion 111, the left case portion 112, the right case portion 113, and the cover plate 114.

[0032] The suction space 115 is provided for sucking up dust from the floor surface and opens downwards. The suction space 115 is wider than the flow path of the suction pipe 220, allowing dust from a wide area of ​​the floor surface to flow into the suction space 115.

[0033] In order to apply the suction force of the suction source 211 to the suction space 115, a connecting passage 119, as shown in Figure 6, extends in the front-rear direction from the rear case portion 111. At the rear of the connecting passage 119, the tip portion 224 of the suction pipe 220 (tip pipe portion 222) is connected to the rear case portion 111. This tip portion 224 has a roughly semi-cylindrical shape that extends in the left-right direction.

[0034] A connecting portion 141 is provided on the rear case portion 111, which is connected to the tip portion 224 of the suction tube 220. This connecting portion 141 is configured to hold the tip portion 224 of the suction tube 220 while allowing the tip portion 224 to rotate around its axis within a predetermined range of rotation. As a result, the suction tube 220 is tiltable within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction. That is, when the suction tube 220 is tilted in the front-rear direction, the tip portion 224 of the suction tube 220 is rotatable relative to the rear case portion 111.

[0035] An opening is formed in the front portion of the peripheral wall of the tip portion 224 of the suction tube 220, which connects the communication passage 119 with the flow path of the suction tube 220. The size of the opening is set so that the flow path of the suction tube 220 is in communication with the communication passage 119 regardless of the angle at which the suction tube 220 is tilted backward. The flow path of the suction tube 220 is in communication with the suction space 115 via the communication passage 119, and the suction force of the suction source 211 acts on the suction space 115.

[0036] The suction space 115 is used not only to secure a wide area for dust on the floor surface to be sucked in, but also to position the brush roller 120 that scrapes the dust on the floor surface. As shown in Figure 5, the brush roller 120 has a roller body 121 that is long in the left-right direction and a plurality of brush rows 122 that protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the roller body 121.

[0037] Rotating shafts (not shown) protrude from the left and right ends of the roller body 121, and these rotating shafts are rotatably supported by the left case portion 112 and the right case portion 113. In other words, the roller body 121 is rotatably supported by the left case portion 112 and the right case portion 113.

[0038] Each brush row 122 is formed by multiple brush bristles arranged spirally on the outer circumferential surface of the roller body 121. As shown in Figure 6, most of the brush roller 120 is housed within the suction space 115, but the brush row 122 located below the roller body 121 protrudes downward from the suction space 115 and contacts the floor surface. This brush row 122 supports the front portion of the nozzle case 110, keeping it suspended above the floor surface. The brush row 122 is configured to have sufficient rigidity to maintain this position.

[0039] To generate the driving force to rotate the brush roller 120, a drive unit 130 (for example, a drive motor) is located inside the rear case section 111, as shown in Figure 5. A transmission mechanism (for example, a pulley and a drive belt; not shown) is formed inside the left case section 112 and the rear case section 111 to connect the drive unit 130 and the brush roller 120 and to transmit the driving force of the drive unit 130 to the brush roller 120. When the drive unit 130 is activated, the brush roller 120 rotates, scraping up dust from the floor surface.

[0040] The front portion of the nozzle case 110 is supported by the brush roller 120, while the rear portion of the nozzle case 110 is supported in a state of being suspended above the floor by the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 shown in Figure 5. The left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to the center line of the suction nozzle 100 (a line extending in the front-rear direction from the center in the width direction of the suction nozzle 100).

[0041] The left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 are rotatably mounted on a roller support portion 125 provided on the rear side of the rear case portion 111. The roller support portion 125 is a substantially C-shaped member in plan view and is connected to the central portion of the rear case portion 111 in the left-right direction.

[0042] At the corners of the roller support portion 125, there are recessed areas 126 and 127 that open downwards to accommodate the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124. Most of the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 are housed within the recessed areas 126 and 127, but parts of the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 protrude from the recessed areas 126 and 127 and come into contact with the floor surface. At this time, the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 support the nozzle case 110 with the rear portion of the nozzle case 110 floating above the floor surface.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5, the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 are mounted on the roller support 125 so as to rotate around a rotation axis that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. The left nozzle roller 123 rolls on the floor surface to assist the suction nozzle 100 in moving diagonally forward to the left. In other words, the inclination of the rotation axis of the left nozzle roller 123 is set so that when the suction nozzle 100 moves forward, the left nozzle roller 123 receives a frictional force F1 from the floor surface diagonally backward to the right as it rolls on the floor surface. On the other hand, the right nozzle roller 124 rolls on the floor surface to assist the suction nozzle 100 in moving diagonally forward to the right. In other words, the inclination of the rotation axis of the right nozzle roller 124 is set so that when the suction nozzle 100 moves forward, the right nozzle roller 124 receives a frictional force F2 from the floor surface diagonally backward to the left as it rolls on the floor surface. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the inclination angle of the rotation axes of the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 may be set to approximately 45° with respect to the center line of the suction nozzle 100.

[0044] The nozzle case 110 is lifted off the floor by the left nozzle roller 123, the right nozzle roller 124, and the brush roller 120. As a result, a space is formed between the left and right ends of the nozzle case 110 and the floor that allows the nozzle case 110 to tilt from side to side. Therefore, when the suction tube 220 is in a backward-tilted position, the user can tilt the nozzle case 110 from side to side by rotating the grip part 230 around its axis. In other words, when the user rotates the grip part 230 around its axis, the suction tube 220 rotates around its axis. The nozzle case 110 attached to the tip of the suction tube 220 tilts from side to side in accordance with the rotation of the suction tube 220.

[0045] The grip portion 230 is integrally formed with the upper wall 235 of the battery housing portion 232. More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the base end of the grip portion 230 is connected to the upper wall 235 on the extension line of the suction tube 220, and the grip portion 230 extends upward from this connection point. In this embodiment, the grip portion 230 is slightly inclined to the rear with respect to the upper wall 235, but it lies on the extension line of the suction tube 220 for almost its entire length. In the following description, the portion of the grip portion 230 that lies on the extension line of the suction tube 220 will be referred to as the "extended portion".

[0046] In this embodiment, the extended portion is approximately the entire length of the grip portion 230, but the shape of the grip portion 230 is not particularly limited as long as the length of the extended portion is greater than or equal to the user's hand width (i.e., the straight-line distance from the radial metacarpal point to the ulnar metacarpal point of the user). For example, if the length of the extended portion is greater than or equal to the user's hand width, the grip portion 230 may be in a position that is further tilted backward relative to the upper wall 235. According to data from the Artificial Intelligence Research Center, the average hand width of Japanese adults is approximately 83 mm, so it is preferable that the length of the grip portion 230 that lies on the extension of the suction tube 220 be set to 83 mm or more.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, an operating section 231 is provided on the front side of the base end portion of the extended section (the portion on the battery housing 232 side when the extended section is divided into two equal parts in the longitudinal direction). The operating section 231 is operated to activate and deactivate the suction source 211 and the drive unit 130. A signal generation circuit (not shown) is provided inside the gripping section 230, which outputs an electrical signal representing the operation performed on the operating section 231. This signal generation circuit is electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) that controls the suction source 211 and the drive unit 130.

[0048] (Vacuum cleaner operation) When the user uses the vacuum cleaner 200 as a stick-type vacuum cleaner, they grasp the grip portion 230 of the vacuum cleaner 200 and pull it backward, changing the posture of the vacuum cleaner 200 from the upright posture shown in Figure 1 to the reclined posture shown in Figure 2. In this state, the vacuum cleaner 200 is less likely to tip forward, and the operation of moving the suction nozzle 100 forward can be easily performed.

[0049] When the user operates the control unit 231, the drive unit 130 of the suction source 211 and the suction nozzle 100 are activated. At this time, the grip portion 230 extends from the battery housing 232 along the extension line of the suction tube 220, and the control unit 231 is located on the battery housing 232 side of this extension. In other words, the control unit 231 is located close to the battery housing 232, so for example, if the user grips the grip portion 230 with their fingers on the control unit 231, the user's grip portion can also be close to the battery housing 232. Furthermore, this grip portion can be located along the extension line of the suction tube 220. That is, the user's grip portion, the battery 212, and the suction tube 220 are aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube 220. In other words, they are aligned approximately coaxially.

[0050] When the suction source 211 is activated, the suction force of the suction source 211 acts on the suction space 115 of the suction nozzle 100 through the connecting passage 119 between the dust collection unit 240, the suction pipe 220, and the suction nozzle 100. As a result, dust on the floor surface is sucked into the suction space 115, flows through the connecting passage 119 and the suction pipe 220, and enters the dust collection unit 240 along with the air. Inside the dust collection unit 240, the air flows in a swirling flow, and the dust contained in this air is centrifuged and stored in the dust collection unit 240.

[0051] When the drive unit 130 is activated, the driving force of the drive unit 130 is transmitted to the brush roller 120. As a result, the brush roller 120 rotates on the floor surface and can sweep up dust and dirt from the floor surface. In addition, the rotational force of the brush roller 120 becomes a propulsive force that moves the suction nozzle 100 forward, so the user can move the suction nozzle 100 forward with little effort.

[0052] At this time, the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 of the nozzle case 110 roll around an axis inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. In other words, the left nozzle roller 123 rolls on the floor surface due to a rightward-facing frictional force F1 between the floor surface and the left nozzle roller 123, while the right nozzle roller 124 rolls on the floor surface due to a leftward-facing frictional force F2 between the floor surface and the right nozzle roller 124. The left-right components of these frictional forces F1 and F2 can cancel each other out because the left nozzle roller 123 and the right nozzle roller 124 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the suction nozzle 100. For this reason, when the user is moving the suction nozzle 100 forward, the suction nozzle 100 is prevented from meandering from side to side.

[0053] To change the direction of the suction nozzle 100, the user simply twists their wrist to rotate the grip portion 230 around its axis. Since the user's grip portion (the base end portion of the extended part of the grip portion 230) is approximately coaxial with the suction tube 220, rotating the grip portion 230 around its axis also rotates the suction tube 220 around its axis. At this time, the suction tube 220 is in a backward-tilted position, and in this position, the nozzle case 110 of the suction nozzle 100 tilts to the left or right due to the rotation of the suction tube 220. More specifically, if the suction tube 220 rotates counterclockwise from the user's perspective, the nozzle case 110 tilts to the left. Conversely, if the suction tube 220 rotates clockwise, the nozzle case 110 tilts to the right.

[0054] When the nozzle case 110 tilts to the left, the left nozzle roller 123 is pressed against the floor with greater force than the right nozzle roller 124. In this case, the influence of the left nozzle roller 123 on the direction of travel of the suction nozzle 100 becomes stronger than the influence of the right nozzle roller 124 on the direction of travel of the suction nozzle 100, causing the suction nozzle 100 to move diagonally forward to the left. Conversely, when the nozzle case 110 tilts to the right, the suction nozzle 100 moves diagonally forward to the right.

[0055] As described above, the user can tilt the nozzle case 110 by rotating the grip portion 230 around its axis. At this time, the user's grip portion (i.e., the base end portion of the extended portion of the grip portion 230), the battery 212, and the suction tube 220 rotate substantially coaxially. Since the battery 212 is positioned on the axis of rotation of this rotational motion, the center of gravity of the battery 212 is on or close to this axis of rotation. For this reason, the battery 212 does not generate a large rotational moment around this axis of rotation, and the user can twist their wrist and rotate the grip portion 230 around its axis without feeling the weight of the battery 212 very much. Since the user does not feel the weight of the battery 212 very much, the battery 212 may have a certain amount of weight. If it is permissible for the battery 212 to have a large weight, it may be permissible to increase the capacity of the battery 212. If the battery 212 has a large capacity, it becomes possible to operate the suction source 211 for a long period of time without having to recharge the battery 212.

[0056] On the other hand, unlike the battery 212, the suction source 211 in the fan housing 233 is not on the extension of the suction tube 220, and when the user rotates the grip 230 around its axis, it moves around the axis of rotation at a position away from the axis of rotation of this rotational movement. For example, if the user rotates the grip 230 around its axis (counterclockwise) with the vacuum cleaner 200 in the backward-tilted position shown in Figure 2, the fan housing 233 moves diagonally upward around the axis from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8. At this time, the weight of the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 generates a rotational moment that acts in the direction opposite to this rotational movement, so the operator can feel the weight of the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 when twisting their wrist and rotating the grip 230 around its axis. Therefore, it is preferable that the weight of the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, in this embodiment, the weight of the fan housing 233 and the suction source 211 is less than the weight of the battery 212.

[0057] Even if the fan housing 233 and suction source 211 are made lighter, they may still have a certain amount of weight. Therefore, if the user releases their grip on the grip 230 while maintaining the position shown in Figure 8, the rotational moment due to the weight of the fan housing 233 and suction source 211 will return the vacuum cleaner 200 to the position shown in Figure 7. In other words, after tilting the suction nozzle 100 by rotating the grip 230 around its axis to change the direction of travel of the suction nozzle 100, the user can return the suction nozzle 100 to the position when it is moving straight simply by releasing their grip on the grip 230.

[0058] During cleaning, the user may attempt to lift the suction nozzle 100 above the floor surface to avoid obstacles. At this time, the user is gripping the handle 230 close to the battery housing 232, so the user's grip is close to the battery 212 in the axial direction of the suction tube 220. In this case, the user can lift the suction nozzle 100 by bending their wrist upward. A rotational moment opposing this movement is generated due to the weight of the battery 212, but since the battery 212 is close to the user's grip, this rotational moment does not become excessively large. Furthermore, the suction source 211 is also close to the user's grip in the axial direction of the suction tube 220 and is relatively lightweight. Therefore, when the user lifts the suction nozzle 100 above the floor surface, they do not feel the weight of the suction source 211 very much and can easily lift the suction nozzle 100.

[0059] It is assumed that the suction nozzle 100 may collide with an obstacle in front of it when the user is moving the suction nozzle 100 forward. The impact force in this case acts backward on the suction nozzle 100. If such an impact force acts on the suction nozzle 100 while the user is holding the grip portion 230, this impact force may act on the battery housing portion 232 through the suction tube 220. Since the battery housing portion 232 is relatively long in the axial direction of the suction tube 220, it is prone to elastic deformation in the axial direction of the suction tube 220 due to this impact force. In particular, since an outlet 237 is formed on the front surface of the battery housing portion 232, and the rigidity of the battery housing portion 232 is reduced around the outlet 237, it is considered that the amount of elastic deformation around the outlet 237 is likely to be large.

[0060] If the battery housing 232 is elastically stretched in the axial direction of the suction tube 220, and the battery 212 and terminal 250 are in contact in the same direction as this stretching, then this contact can be resolved by the stretching of the battery housing 232. That is, if either the battery 212 or the terminal 250 is displaced in the axial direction of the suction tube 220 in accordance with the stretching of the battery housing 232, the battery 212 and terminal 250 may become separated from each other. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the battery 212 and terminal 250 are in contact in the front-rear direction, not in the axial direction of the suction tube 220. Therefore, the contact state of the battery 212 and terminal 250 is less affected by the elastic deformation of the battery housing 232 in the axial direction of the suction tube 220. That is, even if the battery housing 232 is elastically deformed in the axial direction of the suction tube 220, the battery 212 and terminal 250 can maintain contact. In other words, poor contact between the battery 212 and terminal 250 is less likely to occur.

[0061] In this embodiment, the elastic deformation (extension and compression) of the battery housing 232 in the axial direction of the suction tube 220 is suppressed by the cover member 238. That is, if the battery housing 232 attempts to elastically extend in the axial direction of the suction tube 220, the outlet 237 also attempts to expand in the axial direction of the suction tube 220. Fixing parts 241 and 242 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the cover member 238 that closes the outlet 237, and these fixing parts 241 and 242 are fixed to the outer peripheral wall 236 in which the outlet 237 is formed by screws 243 and 244. The fixing parts 241 and 242 are aligned in the direction of expansion of the outlet 237 (i.e., in the axial direction of the suction tube 220) on either side of the outlet 237, so if the outlet 237 attempts to expand, tensile stress is generated in the cover member 238. If the cover member 238 has high rigidity and hardly deforms against such tensile stress, the elastic deformation that expands the outlet 237 in the axial direction of the suction pipe 220 will be suppressed. Conversely, even if a compressive force acts on the battery housing 232 that contracts the outlet 237 in the axial direction of the suction pipe 220, the cover member 238 can resist this compressive force and suppress the elastic deformation of the battery housing 232.

[0062] In this embodiment, the fan housing 233 and the dust collection unit 240 are positioned offset to the rear from the extension line of the suction pipe 220. Therefore, the vacuum cleaner 200 does not become excessively long in the axial direction of the suction pipe 220. In particular, when the vacuum cleaner 200 is used as a handheld vacuum cleaner as shown in Figure 9, the overall length of the vacuum cleaner 200 is not excessively long, so the user can use the vacuum cleaner 200 without bumping it into surrounding furniture. If the length of the vacuum cleaner 200 in the axial direction of the suction pipe 220 is not a problem, the fan housing 233 and the dust collection unit 240 may be provided on the extension line of the suction pipe 220, as shown in Figure 10.

[0063] In the state shown in Figure 9 (handheld vacuum cleaner state), the main body 210 is larger than the suction tube 220 in the width and depth directions, making it prone to contact with surrounding furniture. Therefore, when the main body 210 is about to come into contact with furniture, it is assumed that the user will twist their wrist and rotate the grip portion 230 around its axis to avoid contact between the main body 210 and the furniture. When such a rotational movement occurs, the suction tube 220 rotates approximately coaxially with the user's grip portion, so it can maintain its position on the axis of rotation. In other words, the suction tube 220 hardly displaces in the width and depth directions, making it easier to avoid contact between the suction tube 220 and surrounding furniture during the aforementioned rotational movement.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, the grip portion 230 is inclined slightly backward with respect to the upper wall 235. Alternatively, the grip portion 230 may extend at a right angle to the upper wall 235 along its entire length, so as to be on the extension of the suction tube 220.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 200 is fitted with a wide suction nozzle 100, but other suction nozzles may be fitted to the vacuum cleaner 200. For example, to clean narrow gaps, the user may attach a tapered suction nozzle to the end of the suction tube 220.

[0066] In the embodiment described above, the battery 212 is removable from the battery housing 232 through an outlet 237. In this case, the user can charge the battery 212 with it removed from the battery housing 232. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner 200 may be configured to allow charging of the battery 212 with it housed in the battery housing 232. In this case, the outlet 237 does not need to be formed in the battery housing 232. If the outlet 237 is not formed in the battery housing 232, the structural strength of the battery housing 232 may be improved.

[0067] (Effects, etc.) The vacuum cleaner 200 according to the above embodiment has the following features and provides the following effects.

[0068] A vacuum cleaner according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment includes a suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, a suction tube that forms a flow path for the dust sucked up by the suction force of the suction source, a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source, a gripping part that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user, and an operating part that is operated to activate the suction source. The battery is located in the battery housing so as to be on the extension line of the suction tube. The gripping part has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction tube. The operating part is provided on the base end side of the extended portion.

[0069] According to the above configuration, the operating part is located on the base end of the extended portion of the grip, thus encouraging the user to grip the base end of the grip. Since the extended portion of the grip extends from the battery housing that houses the battery, the user's grip, when holding the base end of the grip, may be close to the battery. In this state, if the user tries to change the direction of the tip of the suction tube by bending their wrist upward, the weight of the battery will act on the user's grip in a direction that opposes this movement. However, since the distance between the user's grip and the battery is short, this rotational moment becomes small. Therefore, even if the user performs such an action, the battery does not place a large load on the user.

[0070] Furthermore, since the extension of the grip portion held by the user extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction tube, the user's grip portion can be approximately coaxial with the suction tube. In this case, when the user twists their wrist and rotates the grip portion around its axis, the suction tube rotates approximately coaxially with the user's grip portion, maintaining its position on the axis of rotation during rotation. For example, it is conceivable that the user rotates the grip portion around its axis to avoid the vacuum cleaner coming into contact with furniture in any part other than the suction tube. In this case, since the suction tube hardly displaces in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, it is easier to avoid the suction tube coming into contact with furniture around it.

[0071] Furthermore, since the battery is positioned on the extension of the suction tube, the user's grip, battery, and suction tube are aligned along the axial direction of the suction tube. As a result, the battery also rotates approximately coaxially with the user's grip. In this case, since the battery rotates on the axis of rotation during this rotational movement, the battery's center of gravity can be on or close to this axis of rotation. Therefore, the battery does not generate a large rotational moment around this axis of rotation. As a result, the user can perform the aforementioned rotational movement without feeling the weight of the battery very much.

[0072] In the above configuration, the extended portion of the gripping part may have a length that is greater than or equal to a predetermined length that is set in advance as the length corresponding to the hand width, which is the straight-line distance from the radial metacarpal point to the ulnar metacarpal point of an adult.

[0073] According to the above configuration, the extended portion of the gripping section extends from the battery housing along the extension of the suction tube for a length equal to or greater than a predetermined length set in advance to correspond to the width of an adult's hand, so that the user can grip the extended portion of the gripping section along the extension of the suction tube with their entire hand.

[0074] In the above configuration, the suction source may be located at a position offset from the extension of the suction tube.

[0075] According to the above configuration, since the suction source is located at a position offset from the extension of the suction tube, the vacuum cleaner does not become excessively long in the axial direction of the suction tube.

[0076] In the above configuration, the suction source may be located adjacent to the battery housing.

[0077] According to the above configuration, the suction source is located at a position offset from the extension of the suction tube and adjacent to the battery housing. Therefore, the suction source is located close to the user's gripping position in the axial direction of the suction tube. If the user were to bend their wrist upward while gripping the handle to change the direction of the tip of the suction tube, the weight of the suction source would act on the user's gripping portion in a direction opposite to this movement. However, since the user's gripping portion and the suction source are located close to each other in the axial direction of the suction tube, this rotational moment is small. Therefore, even if the user performs such an action, the suction source does not place a large load on the user.

[0078] In the above configuration, the suction source may be lighter than the battery.

[0079] According to the above configuration, if the suction source is located at a position offset from the extension of the suction tube and adjacent to the battery housing, the suction source is located away from the axis of rotation in the rotational motion that rotates the gripping part around its axis. Therefore, the suction source may generate a rotational moment that opposes this rotational motion, but since the suction source is relatively light, this rotational moment will not become excessively large.

[0080] In the above configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a suction nozzle connected to the end of the suction tube to suck up dust from the floor surface using the suction force of the suction source. The suction nozzle may have a nozzle case connected to the end of the suction tube to allow the suction tube to tilt backward from an upright position, and a left nozzle roller and a right nozzle roller attached to the nozzle case in a pair so as to roll on the floor surface. The left nozzle roller and the right nozzle roller may support the nozzle case so as to float above the floor surface, allowing the nozzle case to tilt to the left or right when the suction tube is rotated around its axis while the suction tube is tilted backward. The left nozzle roller may make contact with the floor surface with greater force than the right nozzle roller when the nozzle case tilts to the left, and may roll on the floor surface in such a way that it encourages the suction nozzle to move diagonally forward to the left when the suction nozzle is pushed forward in this state. The right nozzle roller may roll on the floor surface in such a way that it makes contact with the floor surface with greater force than the left nozzle roller when the nozzle case tilts to the right, and in this state, when the suction nozzle is pushed forward, it may move diagonally forward to the right.

[0081] With the configuration described above, the user can move the suction nozzle forward on the floor surface by tilting the suction tube from an upright position to a reclined position. When the user is moving the suction nozzle forward in this state, if the grip part is rotated around its axis, the suction tube will rotate approximately coaxially with the grip part, as described above. At this time, the nozzle case tilts to the left or right in accordance with the rotational movement of the suction tube. When the nozzle case tilts to the left, the left nozzle roller makes contact with the floor surface with a stronger force than the right nozzle roller, and the influence of the left nozzle roller on the direction of travel of the suction nozzle becomes stronger than the influence of the right nozzle roller. The left nozzle roller rolls on the floor surface in such a way that it encourages the suction nozzle to move diagonally forward to the left when the suction nozzle is pushed forward, so the user can move the suction nozzle diagonally forward to the left by rotating the grip part and tilting the nozzle case to the left. Conversely, if the user tilts the nozzle case to the right, the suction nozzle will move diagonally forward to the right.

[0082] In the above configuration, the suction source may be positioned behind the battery housing when the suction tube is in an upright position.

[0083] According to the above configuration, the suction source is located behind the battery housing when the suction tube is in an upright position. Therefore, when the suction tube is tilted backward, the suction source is located below the extension of the suction tube. In this state, when the user rotates the grip around its axis to tilt the nozzle case to the left or right, the suction source rotates upward around the axis of this rotation from its position below the extension of the suction tube. At this time, the weight of the suction source acts to return it to its position below the extension of the suction tube. As a result, the user can return the vacuum cleaner to its original tilted position simply by releasing their grip on the grip.

[0084] In the above configuration, the battery housing may have a lower wall to which a suction tube is connected, an upper wall to which a gripping portion is connected, and an outer peripheral wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between the lower wall and the upper wall. An outlet for removing the battery may be formed in the outer peripheral wall.

[0085] According to the above configuration, the outlet for removing the battery is not located on the lower wall to which the suction tube is connected, nor on the upper wall to which the grip is connected, but rather on the outer circumferential wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between these two walls. Therefore, the outlet can be formed without being obstructed by the grip or the suction tube.

[0086] In the above configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include a cover member for closing the outlet and a pair of fixing parts provided on the cover member for fixing the cover member onto the outer peripheral wall. The battery housing may be larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. The pair of fixing parts may be connected to the outer peripheral wall, aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube with the outlet in between.

[0087] According to the above configuration, the battery housing is larger in the axial direction of the suction tube, so it is expected that the elastic deformation of the battery housing will be greater in the axial direction than in the width and depth directions of the suction tube. In particular, the area where the outlet is formed tends to have lower strength, and the amount of elastic deformation of the battery housing tends to be large there. A cover member is attached to the outlet to prevent the battery from coming out of the battery housing, but by providing a pair of fixing parts on this cover member, it is possible to suppress the elastic deformation of the battery housing in the axial direction by utilizing the rigidity of the cover member, as follows. That is, the pair of fixing parts are connected to the outer circumferential wall, aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube with the outlet in between. In this connection state, when the battery housing elastically stretches in the axial direction of the suction tube with the cover member closing the outlet, tensile stress is generated in the cover member, and the elastic deformation of the battery housing in the axial direction can be suppressed by the rigidity of the cover member.

[0088] In the above configuration, the vacuum cleaner may further include terminals housed in a battery housing and in contact with the battery, and power lines extending from the terminals to the suction source, forming a power supply path from the battery to the suction source. The battery housing may be larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. The battery and terminals may be arranged so as not to be aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube.

[0089] According to the above configuration, if the battery is in contact with the terminals, the battery's power can be supplied to the suction source through the terminals and the power lines extending from the terminals to the suction source. If the battery housing is elongated in the axial direction of the suction tube, as described above, it is assumed that elastic stretching deformation of the battery housing in this direction will occur. In this case, if the battery and terminals are aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube, one of the battery or terminals may be displaced in the axial direction of the suction tube as the battery housing stretches, and their contact state may be lost. On the other hand, if the battery and terminals are not aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube, even if the battery housing stretches, their contact state, and consequently the power supply from the battery to the suction source, is more easily maintained. [Industrial applicability]

[0090] The principle of this embodiment is suitably used in devices used for cleaning work. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 100·····Suction nozzle 110·····Nozzle Case 123·····Left nozzle roller 124·····Right nozzle roller 200...Vacuum cleaner 211...Suction source 212... Battery 220...Suction tube 230...Grip part 231...Operation unit 232...Battery housing 234·····Lower wall 235·····Upper wall 236...Outer wall 237... Outlet 238·····Cover component 249... Power lines 250... Terminals

Claims

1. A suction source that generates suction force to suck up dust, A suction tube that forms a flow path through which dust sucked in by the suction force of the aforementioned suction source flows, A battery housing section containing a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned suction source, A grip portion extending from the battery housing and formed to be held by the user, It comprises an operating unit that is operated to activate the suction source, The battery is positioned within the battery housing so as to be located on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping portion has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction pipe, The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the portion on the battery housing side. The suction source is located at a position offset from the extension line of the suction pipe in a vacuum cleaner.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the extended portion of the gripping part has a length that is equal to or greater than a predetermined length that is set in advance as a length corresponding to the hand width, which is the straight-line distance from the radial metacarpal point to the ulnar metacarpal point of an adult.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the suction source is located adjacent to the battery housing.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the suction source is lighter than the battery.

5. A suction source that generates suction force for sucking up dust, A suction tube that forms a flow path through which dust sucked in by the suction force of the aforementioned suction source flows, A battery housing section containing a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned suction source, A grip portion extending from the battery housing and formed to be held by the user, An operating unit operated to activate the suction source, The system includes a suction nozzle connected to the tip of the suction tube so as to suck up dust from the floor surface using the suction force of the suction source, The battery is positioned within the battery housing so as to be located on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping portion has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction pipe, The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the portion on the battery housing side. The suction nozzle comprises a nozzle case connected to the tip of the suction tube so as to allow the suction tube to change from an upright position to a reclined position, and a left nozzle roller and a right nozzle roller attached to the nozzle case in a pair so as to roll on the floor surface. The left nozzle roller and the right nozzle roller support the nozzle case in a state where it is suspended above the floor surface, such that when the suction pipe is in the backward-tilted position and the suction pipe is rotated around its axis, the nozzle case may tilt to the left or right. The left nozzle roller makes contact with the floor surface with greater force than the right nozzle roller when the nozzle case tilts to the left, and in this state, when the suction nozzle is pushed forward, it rolls on the floor surface in such a way that it promotes the movement of the suction nozzle diagonally forward to the left. A vacuum cleaner wherein the right nozzle roller makes contact with the floor surface with greater force than the left nozzle roller when the nozzle case is tilted to the right, and in this state, when the suction nozzle is pushed forward, it rolls on the floor surface in such a way that it promotes the movement of the suction nozzle diagonally forward to the right.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the suction source is positioned behind the battery housing when the suction tube is in the upright position.

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction source that generates a suction force for sucking up dust; a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked up by the suction force of the suction source; a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source; a gripping section that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user; and an operating section that is operated to activate the suction source, The battery is positioned within the battery housing so as to be located on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping portion has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction pipe, The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the portion on the battery housing side. The battery housing has a lower wall to which the suction tube is connected, an upper wall to which the gripping portion is connected, and an outer peripheral wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between the lower wall and the upper wall. An outlet for removing the battery is formed in the outer peripheral wall. The vacuum cleaner mentioned above, A cover member that closes the outlet, The cover member further comprises a pair of fixing parts provided on the cover member for fixing the cover member onto the outer peripheral wall, The battery housing is larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. The pair of fixed parts are connected to the outer wall of the suction pipe, aligned in the axial direction with respect to the outlet, on either side of the outlet, in a vacuum cleaner.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction source that generates a suction force for sucking up dust; a suction tube that forms a flow path for dust sucked up by the suction force of the suction source; a battery housing that houses a battery that supplies power to the suction source; a gripping section that extends from the battery housing and is formed to be held by the user; and an operating section that is operated to activate the suction source, The battery is positioned within the battery housing so as to be located on the extension of the suction tube. The gripping portion has an extended portion that extends from the battery housing along the extension line of the suction pipe, The operating section is provided in the base end portion of the extended portion, which is the portion on the battery housing side. The battery housing has a lower wall to which the suction tube is connected, an upper wall to which the gripping portion is connected, and an outer peripheral wall that surrounds the battery in the circumferential direction between the lower wall and the upper wall. An outlet for removing the battery is formed in the outer peripheral wall. The vacuum cleaner mentioned above, A terminal housed in the battery housing and in contact with the battery, The system further comprises a power line extending from the terminal to the suction source and forming a power supply path from the battery to the suction source, The battery housing is larger in the axial direction of the suction tube than in the width and depth directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the suction tube. A vacuum cleaner in which the battery and the terminals are arranged so as not to be aligned in the axial direction of the suction tube.

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