Suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner suction nozzle that is advantageous in balancing user safety and cost-effectiveness. [Solution] The suction port body includes a rotating brush, a motor that drives the rotating brush, a cover portion that surrounds the rotating brush and the motor and has an open bottom, and a switching mechanism that switches the power supply to the motor on / off depending on the orientation of the suction port body. The switching mechanism includes a movable body, a movable body case that houses the movable body so that the movable body moves inside according to the orientation of the suction port body, and a switch that turns on the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is not pressed and turns off the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is pressed. The movable body case has an opening formed on the side opposite to the bottom, and the switch is positioned so that the movable body presses the hinge lever through the opening when the bottom is facing upward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suction inlet body and a vacuum cleaner.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a suction inlet body for a vacuum cleaner equipped with a rotary brush for scraping dust on the floor surface is known. Conventionally, the suction inlet body is provided with a safety mechanism that prohibits the driving of the rotary brush when the suction inlet body is separated from the surface to be cleaned during use, particularly when the suction inlet body is turned upside down (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional safety mechanism requires various ribs and the like for regulating the free movement of the ball while allowing the rotation of the stopper piece formed in a U shape, so that the number of parts is large and there is a problem in terms of cost.

[0005] The present invention provides a suction inlet body for a vacuum cleaner that is advantageous for achieving both user safety and cost reduction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner suction port is provided, comprising: a rotating brush; a motor for driving the rotating brush; a cover portion surrounding the rotating brush and the motor, with an open bottom; and a switching mechanism for switching the power supply to the motor on and off according to the orientation of the suction port, wherein the switching mechanism includes a movable body; a movable body case housing the movable body such that the movable body moves inside according to the orientation of the suction port; and a hinge lever, which includes a switch that turns on the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is not pressed, and turns off the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is pressed, wherein the movable body case has an opening formed on the side opposite to the bottom, and the switch is positioned such that the movable body presses the hinge lever through the opening when the bottom is facing upward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a suction nozzle for an electric vacuum cleaner that is advantageous in balancing user safety and cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] External perspective view of the vacuum cleaner. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the back side of the suction port. [Figure 3] A diagram showing the drive mechanism of a rotating brush. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the drive mechanism of a rotating brush. [Figure 5] Perspective view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 6] Perspective view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 9] Perspective view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view of the safety mechanism. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view of the safety mechanism. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined in any way. Furthermore, identical or similar configurations will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a vacuum cleaner 1 (electric vacuum cleaner) according to an embodiment. The vacuum cleaner 1 is also called a vacuum cleaner and is configured to create negative pressure using the rotation of a motor, suck up dust with that negative pressure, and collect it in a dust container. The vacuum cleaner 1 has a main body 10, a suction port 20, and an extension pipe 30. The vacuum cleaner 1 shown is a so-called stick-type vacuum cleaner with the handle located on the main body 10, but there are no particular limitations on the type of vacuum cleaner. For example, the vacuum cleaner 1 may be a so-called canister type, for example, in which the main body 10 is provided with wheels and the handle is located on the extension pipe side rather than the main body.

[0011] The main unit 10 may include a motor for creating negative pressure, a dust collection unit, a dust container, a rechargeable battery, a power switch, a display unit, etc. The suction port 20 is the tip of the vacuum cleaner 1, forming a suction port and configured to approach or come into contact with the object to be cleaned, such as a floor surface, to suck up dust. In particular, the suction port 20 of this embodiment is equipped with a rotating brush to assist in the effective suction of dust by scraping dust off the floor surface, as will be described later. For this reason, the suction port 20 may also be called a floor brush. The extension pipe 30 is a connecting pipe that connects the main unit 10 and the suction port 20. The main unit 10 and the extension pipe 30 are configured to be detachable, and the extension pipe 30 and the suction port 20 are also configured to be detachable.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view showing the back side of the suction port body 20. The suction port body 20 has a head portion 22, a connection portion 23 connected to the extension pipe 30, and a joint joint portion 24 that supports the head portion 22 and the connection portion 23 so as to be swingable relative to each other. The head portion 22 may include a rotating brush 21 and a cover portion 25 that surrounds the rotating brush 21 and a motor (described later) that drives the rotating brush 21 and defines a bottom surface 27. The bottom surface 27 of the cover portion 25 is open for the rotating brush 21 to contact the floor surface (the surface to be cleaned). The rotating brush 21 is rotatably supported about its longitudinal axis. The connection portion 23 and the joint joint portion 24 have a cavity that communicates the extension pipe 30 and the suction port formed in the head portion 22.

[0013] The rotating brush 21 has a cylindrical rotating core and rotates about the central axis (longitudinal axis) of the cylinder. A brush composed of a plurality of densely arranged bristles is arranged over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the rotating core. The number and arrangement pattern of the brushes arranged on the rotating core are arbitrary.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive mechanism for driving the rotating brush 21 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover portion 25 in the head portion 22 surrounds the rotating brush 21 and a motor 71 as a drive source for rotating the rotating brush 21. A motor pulley 72 is mounted on the output shaft of the motor 71, and a brush pulley 73 is mounted on a coupling receiver 36 disposed at one end of the rotating brush 21. Also, a belt 74 is suspended between the motor pulley 72 and the brush pulley 73 with an appropriate tension. The belt 74 transmits the driving force of the motor 71 to the brush pulley 73 via the motor pulley 72. When the brush pulley 73 is driven, the rotating brush 21 is rotationally driven via a coupling gear (not shown) engaged with the coupling receiver 36.

[0015] The suction port body 20 is provided with a safety mechanism 26 (see FIG. 2) that prohibits driving of the rotating brush 21 when the suction port body 20 is separated from the surface to be cleaned such as the floor surface during use, particularly when the suction port body 20 is turned upside down.

[0016] In the normal usage state, the head part may be heavy, and the user rarely lifts the head part during use. Even if the user lifts the head part, they will not place it on, for example, the foot or a part of the body of a child. Therefore, there is no great need to prohibit the rotation of the rotating brush just by lifting the head part. Also, although it is stated in the instruction manual and the caution plate that prompts attention that the vacuum cleaner is used by children, people may still touch it in some cases. In such a case, when the head part is turned over, the rotating brush rotates, which may arouse interest and there is a possibility that people will touch it without feeling danger. Therefore, a mechanism is required to prohibit the rotational drive of the rotating brush only when the head part is turned over. However, even if the rotating brush rotates due to the suction inlet body being shaken in the turned-over state, it is considered that in most cases, the suction inlet body is held with both hands and shaken, and it is almost impossible to put one's hand into the rotating brush that is rotationally driven. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a simpler and lower-cost safety mechanism 26 that prohibits the rotational drive of the rotating brush 21 only when the rotating brush 21 is lifted and turned over is realized.

[0017] When the suction inlet body 20 is turned over, it will be in the state shown in FIG. 2. In this state, if no special circuit or the like is provided, the rotating brush 21 will remain rotationally driven. However, in the present embodiment, the safety mechanism 26 prohibits the rotational drive of the rotating brush 21 in this state.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, the configuration of the safety mechanism 26 will be described. In the present embodiment, the safety mechanism 26 is a switching mechanism that switches on / off the power supply to the motor 71 according to the posture of the suction inlet body 20. FIGS. 5 to 8 show the safety mechanism 26 in the normal state (the state where the bottom surface 27 faces downward). FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the safety mechanism 26, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the safety mechanism 26 from another angle, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the safety mechanism 26.

[0019] The safety mechanism 26 may include a movable body B, a movable body case C, and a switch SW. The movable body C may be, for example, an iron sphere (ball). The movable body case C houses the movable body B so that it moves inside according to the orientation of the suction port body 20. The switch SW is equipped with a hinge lever LV and is configured to turn on power to the motor 71 when the hinge lever LV is not pressed, and to turn off power to the motor 71 when the hinge lever LV is pressed. Such a switch SW configuration may be realized by selecting a terminal that conducts when the lever LV is not pressed.

[0020] In this embodiment, the movable body case C has a first stabilizing part C1 that stably holds the movable body B when the bottom surface 27 is facing downwards, and a second stabilizing part C2 that stably holds the movable body B when the bottom surface 27 is facing upwards. The first stabilizing part C1 and the second stabilizing part C2 are connected by a connecting passage C3. The inner diameter of the connecting passage C3 is larger than the outer diameter of the movable body B. Therefore, the movable body B can move freely within the connecting passage C3 depending on the orientation of the suction port body 20. The first stabilizing part C1 and the second stabilizing part C2 have receiving parts at their ends that have a radius of curvature that approximately matches the radius of curvature of the movable body B, so as to be able to stably hold the movable body B. In the normal state shown in Figures 5 to 8 (when the bottom surface 27 is facing downwards), the movable body B falls into the first stabilizing part C1 at the bottom of the movable body case C due to gravity and is held there. In this state, the hinge lever LV of the switch SW is not pressed by the movable body B, and power is supplied to the motor 71.

[0021] Next, referring to Figures 9 to 11, the state of the safety mechanism 26 when the suction port body 20 is turned upside down, that is, when the bottom surface 27 is facing upwards, will be described. Figure 9 is an oblique perspective view of the safety mechanism 26, and Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of the safety mechanism 26.

[0022] Because the suction port body 20 is inverted, the bottom surface 27 faces upward, as shown in Figures 9-11. The bottom surface 27 and the first stabilizing part C1 may be formed integrally. Here, the first stabilizing part C1 is formed at an offset position so that it is lower than the bottom surface 27 towards the second stabilizing part C2. Due to this offset, a step D may be formed in the portion connecting the bottom surface 27 and the first stabilizing part C1, but a separate piece may be placed on the outer surface of the first stabilizing part C1 to eliminate this step D.

[0023] When the suction port body 20 is turned upside down, the movable body B falls due to gravity into the second stabilizing part C2 located at the bottom of the movable body case C, where it is held. The movable body case C has an opening H formed on the side opposite to the bottom surface (bottom surface 27 side) (i.e., the second stabilizing part C2). The movable body B presses the hinge lever LV through this opening H. This causes the switch SW to turn off the power supply to the motor 71. By turning off the power supply to the motor 71, the rotational drive of the rotating brush 21 is stopped.

[0024] In this configuration, if the suction port body 20 is shaken, the centrifugal force may cause the movable body B to release from the second stabilizing part C2, releasing the pressure on the hinge lever LV and potentially causing the rotating brush 21 to rotate. However, since the act of shaking the suction port body 20 is usually performed by holding the main body 10 with both hands, it is difficult to touch the rotating brush 21 while it is rotating.

[0025] (Examples) For example, the specifications of the switch SW built into the suction port body 20 may be as follows: • Movement of the switch SW (from power supply to motor 71 on to off) (height difference of the point of force at hinge lever LV): 4.5 mm • Force required to operate switch SW: 0.25N For the movable body B that presses the hinge lever LV against such a switch, for example, an iron ball with a radius of approximately 9 mm and a mass of approximately 25 g can be used.

[0026] According to the embodiment described above, the rotational drive of the rotating brush is prohibited only when the rotating brush is turned over. This embodiment provides a suction port body that minimizes the number of parts, is inexpensive, compact, lightweight, and ensures adequate safety.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 20: Suction port body, 21: Rotating brush, 25: Cover part, 26: Safety mechanism (switching mechanism), 27: Bottom surface, 71: Motor, B: Movable body, C: Movable body case, LV: Hinge lever, SW: Switch, H: Opening

Claims

1. The suction nozzle body of an electric vacuum cleaner, Rotating brush and A motor that drives the rotating brush, A cover portion surrounds the rotating brush and the motor, and has an open bottom. It has a switching mechanism that switches the power supply to the motor on or off according to the orientation of the suction port body, The aforementioned switching mechanism is Movable body and, A movable body case that houses the movable body such that the movable body moves inside according to the orientation of the suction port body, It includes a hinge lever, a switch that turns on the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is not pressed, and turns off the power supply to the motor when the hinge lever is pressed, The movable body case has an opening formed on the side opposite to the bottom side, The switch is positioned such that when the bottom surface is facing upward, the movable body presses the hinge lever through the opening. A suction port body characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned movable body case is When the bottom surface is facing downwards, the first stabilizing part stably holds the movable body, When the bottom surface is positioned facing upward, a second stabilizing part stably holds the movable body, The suction port body according to claim 1, characterized by having the following features.

3. The suction port body according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom surface of the cover portion and the first stabilizing portion are integrally formed.

4. The suction port body according to claim 3, characterized in that the first stabilizing portion is formed at a position offset from the bottom surface.

5. The suction port body according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable body is a sphere.

6. The movable body case has a connecting passage that connects the first stabilizing part and the second stabilizing part. The inner diameter of the connecting passage is larger than the outer diameter of the movable body. The suction port body according to feature 2.

7. A vacuum cleaner characterized by comprising a suction port body as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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