Vacuum cleaner nozzle and vacuum cleaner equipped therewith

Abstract

To provide a suction port body of a vacuum cleaner capable of achieving weight saving without deteriorating assemblability, and to provide a vacuum cleaner including the same.SOLUTION: The suction port body of a vacuum cleaner includes: a rotary brush for cleaning a floor surface; an electric motor 70 for driving the rotary brush; a clutch for transmitting a driving force from the electric motor 70 to the rotary brush; a unit cover 23 to which the electric motor 70 and the clutch are attached; and a lower case which houses the rotary brush and the electric motor 70 and to which the unit cover 23 is attached. A side surface 23b, a front surface 23c, a top surface 23d, and a bottom surface of the suction port body are configured as part of an outer shell of the unit cover 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suction nozzle for an electric vacuum cleaner and an electric vacuum cleaner including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with an LED light emission source for illuminating a floor surface. A protective cover for protecting the LED is disposed in front of the LED.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the electric vacuum cleaner described in Patent Document 1, if the protective cover is configured as a single member, there is a problem that the device becomes heavy and usability is impaired. There is also a problem that assemblability is impaired when the number of components to be assembled increases.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suction nozzle for an electric vacuum cleaner that can achieve weight reduction without impairing assemblability, and an electric vacuum cleaner including the same.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The present invention comprises: a rotary cleaning body that cleans a surface to be cleaned; a drive unit that drives the rotary cleaning body; a clutch that transmits driving force from the drive unit to the rotary cleaning body; said Drive unit and a mounting cover to which the clutch is attached, and said rotary cleaning body and said Drive unitThe device comprises a case that houses the intake port and to which the mounting cover is attached, wherein the mounting cover constitutes a part of the outer casing of the intake port and has a shape that serves as the bottom surface, side surface, front surface, and top surface of the outer casing, a notch that does not constitute the outer casing is formed between the front surface and the top surface of the outer casing, the end of the case fits into the notch, and the case is provided with an integrally molded bumper portion, and the bumper portion is fixed to the mounting cover by inserting the projection of the bumper portion into a hole formed in the side surface of the outer casing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle that can be made lighter without compromising ease of assembly, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with the same. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing an example of a vacuum cleaner to which the suction nozzle of this embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from above. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the mouthpiece. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from the bottom. [Figure 5] This is a top view showing the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 3. [Figure 8] This is a top view of the unit cover. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the unit cover from the inside. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the unit cover from the outside. [Figure 12] This is a bottom view of the unit cover. [Figure 13]It is a top view of the lower case. [Figure 14] It is a perspective view showing an LED cover. [Figure 15] It is a front view of the LED cover. [Figure 16] It is a top view of the LED cover. [Figure 17] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in Fig. 15. [Figure 18] It is a perspective view showing a bearing cover. [Figure 19] It is a perspective view showing the inner side of the bearing cover [Figure 20] It is a side view of the bearing cover. [Figure 21] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI in Fig. 20. [Figure 22] It is a bottom view of the bearing cover. [Figure 23] It is a side view showing the case where the sensor lever of the suction nozzle body is ON. [Figure 24] It is a side view showing the case where the sensor lever of the suction nozzle body is OFF. [Figure 25] It is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the sensor lever. [Figure 26] It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the joint portion, showing a state where the joint portion is erected. [Figure 27] It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the joint portion, showing a state where the joint portion is fallen. [Figure 28] It is a perspective view showing the sensor lever. [Figure 29] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the sensor lever of the suction nozzle body is switch ON. [Figure 30] It is a cross-sectional view when the suction nozzle body is turned upside down. [Figure 31] It is a perspective view of the joint portion. [Figure 32] It is a side view of the joint portion. [Figure 33] It is a top view showing a state where the joint portion is attached to the lower case. [Figure 34] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXXIV-XXXIV in Fig. 3. [Figure 35]This is a top view showing the inside of the lower case. [Figure 36] This is a front view of the joint. [Figure 37] This is a plan view showing the back side of the upper case. [Figure 38] This is a bottom view of the mouthpiece. [Figure 39] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIX-XXXIX. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a side view showing an example of a vacuum cleaner to which the suction nozzle of this embodiment is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the electric vacuum cleaner 1000 can be used in various configurations, such as handheld and stick-type, for cleaning.

[0010] Furthermore, the 1000 electric vacuum cleaner is a cyclonic type and consists of a vacuum cleaner body 1, a dust case (dust collector) 2, and a rechargeable battery 3.

[0011] The vacuum cleaner body 1 is composed of a main body section 10, a motor case section 11, and a handle section 12. The motor case section 11 houses an electric blower (not shown) that generates suction power. The handle section 12 is equipped with an operation switch SW for switching the suction power.

[0012] One end of the extension tube 300 is connected to the connection port of the vacuum cleaner body 1 so as to communicate with the dust case 2 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The other end of the extension tube 300 is connected to the suction nozzle 400. The extension tube 300 also has a ventilation passage (not shown) formed therein and is equipped with wiring (not shown) that electrically connects the rechargeable battery 3 to the electric motor (not shown) for the brush of the suction nozzle 400.

[0013] Furthermore, the electric vacuum cleaner 1000 is not limited to the stick-type vacuum cleaner shown in the illustration, but can also be applied to corded and cordless electric vacuum cleaners such as handheld vacuum cleaners and canister (cylinder type) vacuum cleaners.

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from above. As shown in Figure 2, the suction nozzle 400 is a power brush type in which the brush is rotated by a motor, and is composed of a suction nozzle body 20 and a joint 30 that is rotatably connected to the suction nozzle body 20.

[0015] The suction nozzle body 20 is composed of a lower case 21, an upper case 22, and a unit cover 23. The lower case 21, upper case 22, and unit cover 23 are all made of synthetic resin. For example, the lower case 21 and upper case 22 are made of ABS resin. The unit cover 23 is made of a resin that is harder than ABS resin, such as glass-filled nylon. The lower case 21 is also provided with a bumper section 24. This bumper section 24 is made of elastomer resin and is formed by double molding with the lower case 21.

[0016] Figure 3 is a front view of the mouthpiece. Note that Figure 3 shows the mouthpiece 400 in the state shown in Figure 2, viewed from the front. As shown in Figure 3, the bumper portion 24 is provided on the front side of the lower case 21 and extends in the width direction (left-right direction). The lower part of the bumper portion 24 is shorter than the width dimension of the suction port body 20. The upper part of the bumper portion 24 extends from the right end to the right end of the lower case 21 and from the left end to the unit cover 23.

[0017] The suction nozzle body 20 is formed such that the upper case 22 is shorter in the left-right direction (width direction) than the lower case 21. In other words, the suction nozzle body 20 is configured such that a part of the lower case 21 protrudes from the right end of the upper case 22, and the unit cover 23 protrudes from the left end of the upper case 22.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece as seen from the bottom. As shown in Figure 4, the suction nozzle 400 is composed of a rotating brush (rotating cleaning body) 40 and a bearing cover 50. Details of the bearing cover 50 will be described later.

[0019] The rotating brush 40 is positioned along the left-right direction (width direction) of the suction nozzle body 20 and is rotatably supported within the brush chamber Q. Furthermore, the rotating brush 40 is continuously provided from one end to the other of the suction nozzle body 20 in the left-right direction (axial direction of the rotating brush 40).

[0020] Furthermore, the rotating brush 40 is equipped with multiple types of brushes, such as brushes with different hardness and height, and each brush is arranged in a spiral pattern.

[0021] The joint section 30 is designed to be used in a stick configuration by connecting it to the extension pipe 300 (see Figure 1), or in a handheld configuration by connecting it directly to the vacuum cleaner body 1. The joint section 30 is also composed of a straight pipe section 31, a rotating joint section 32, and a rotating cover 33.

[0022] Furthermore, the lower case 21 has legs 25 formed on its back surface. These legs 25 are integrally molded with the lower case 21. The legs 25 also have extensions 25a, 25a that extend rearward from near both the left and right sides of the pivot joint 32, and a connecting portion 25b that connects the rear ends of the extensions 25a, and are configured to form a U-shape in plan view. A wheel 25c is rotatably supported on the connecting portion 25b.

[0023] Furthermore, the lower case 21 is provided with a brush 120 shaped to follow the rotation brush 40, located behind the rotation brush 40. By providing such a brush 120, dust and debris scooped up from the front by the rotation brush 40 are prevented from flying out the rear. The brush 120 also has a pivot axis (not shown) parallel to the rotation brush 40 and is configured to rotate in the front-rear direction.

[0024] Figure 5 is a top view showing the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the mouthpiece with the upper case removed. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lower case 21 houses an LED substrate 60 (wiring board) on which multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 61, 61 are mounted. A protective member 62 (a member that integrally forms a channel and a protective cover) is provided in front of the LED substrate 60 to protect the LEDs 61. The protective member 62 is also configured to be exposed to the outside through a notch 22a (see Figure 3) formed in the upper case 22.

[0025] Furthermore, the protective member 62 has a flow channel portion 64 (a member that forms a flow channel) integrally molded behind the LED substrate 60, which constitutes part of the flow channel that communicates with the joint portion 30.

[0026] Furthermore, an electric motor 70, which serves as a drive source for driving the rotating brush 40, is located in the lower case 21. The electric motor 70 is located at one end (left side) in the left-right direction. Also located in the lower case 21, on the opposite side from the electric motor 70 in the left-right direction, is a control board 80 for controlling the rotating brush 40.

[0027] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 3. Note that Figure 7 shows the joint section 30 partially raised. As shown in Figure 7, the straight pipe section 31 of the joint section 30 is formed to extend in a substantially straight line, and a curved section 31a is formed at its tip to bulge outwards. In addition, a terminal section 34 is formed on the straight pipe section 31 that is electrically connected to the electric motor 70 that drives the rotating brush 40.

[0028] The rotating joint portion 32 has a curved portion 32a that conforms to the shape of the outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33. The rotating cover 33 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the straight pipe portion 31 and the rotating joint portion 32. The inner surface 33a of the rotating cover 33 slides against the curved portion 31a of the straight pipe portion 31. The outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33 slides against the curved portion 32a of the rotating joint portion 32.

[0029] Figure 8 is a top view of the unit cover. Figure 8 shows the unit cover 23 with the electric motor 70 attached. As shown in Figure 8, the unit cover 23 is a separate component from the lower case 21 and the upper case 22, and forms part of the outer casing of the suction nozzle body 20 (see Figure 2). In other words, the unit cover 23 is configured to be exposed to the outside of the suction nozzle body 20.

[0030] Furthermore, the unit cover 23 has a motor fixing portion 23a formed therein, to which the electric motor 70 is fixed.

[0031] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the unit cover from the inside. As shown in Figure 9, the unit cover 23 has an electric motor 70 fixed to a motor fixing part 23a at its rear, and a clutch 71 rotatably supported in front of the electric motor 70. The clutch 71 is a connecting part to which the rotating brush 40 (see Figure 4) is connected. The clutch 71 is cup-shaped, and has multiple projections 71b formed on its inside at circumferential intervals to engage with the rotating brush 40 (see Figure 4).

[0032] The reason for mounting the electric motor 70 and clutch 71 to the unit cover 23 is to stabilize the distance between the shafts. As mentioned above, the unit cover 23 is made of a stable, rigid material such as glass-filled nylon. The important aspect of the suction port 400 is the distance between the shaft of the electric motor 70 and the shaft of the clutch 71 (the distance between the shafts). If this distance is not stable, variations in the parts will cause the distance to become shorter or longer, and the tension of the belt will also change. This can result in variations in noise levels depending on the product, and instability in rotation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the electric motor 70 and clutch 71 are fixed using a rigid unit cover 23.

[0033] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 10, a small-diameter pulley (drive pulley) 72 is provided on the rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70. A large-diameter pulley (rotating cleaning body pulley) 73 is provided on the rotating shaft 71a of the clutch 71. A toothed belt (drive belt) 74 is stretched between the small-diameter pulley 72 and the large-diameter pulley 73. In addition, a tension pulley 75 is provided on the unit cover 23 to increase the winding angle of the toothed belt 74.

[0034] After assembling the small-diameter pulley 72, large-diameter pulley 73, toothed belt 74, and tension pulley 75 into the unit cover 23, the motor 70 for brush drive is attached and assembled into the lower case 21. A clutch 71 (see Figure 9) is also fixed to the large-diameter pulley 73.

[0035] As a result, when the electric motor 70 is driven, driving force is transmitted from the small-diameter pulley 72 to the large-diameter pulley 73, causing the clutch 71 to rotate. Since the rotating brush 40 and the projection 71b are fitted together in the clutch 71, the rotating brush 40 rotates as a single unit, and the rotating brush 40 can be attached to and detached from the clutch 71.

[0036] Figure 10 also shows the vertical distance L1 and the longitudinal distance L2 between the rotating shaft 70a of the small-diameter pulley 72 and the rotating shaft 71a of the large-diameter pulley 73. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 70a of the electric motor 70 and the rotating shaft 71a of the clutch 71 are held together by the unit cover 23. Since it is mounted on the lower case 21 in this state, errors in the axial distances L1 and L2 between the small-diameter pulley 72 and the large-diameter pulley 73, as well as assembly variations, can be reduced.

[0037] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the unit cover as seen from the outside. As shown in Figure 11, the unit cover 23 has a side surface 23b that forms the outer side of the suction port body 20 (see Figure 2), a front surface 23c that forms the outer front, and a top surface 23d that forms the outer top. A notch 23e that does not form the outer casing is formed between the front surface 23c and the top surface 23d. The left end of the lower case 21 is fitted into this notch 23e.

[0038] Furthermore, a hole 23f is formed on the side surface 23b of the unit cover 23, which communicates with the inside of the unit cover 23. Also, a groove 23g is formed on the side surface 23b, extending from the hole 23f toward the notch 23e. The left end of the bumper portion 24 is fitted into this groove 23g.

[0039] Figure 12 is a bottom view of the unit cover. As shown in Figure 12, the unit cover 23 has a bottom surface 23h that forms the outer bottom surface of the suction port body 20 (see Figure 2).

[0040] In this way, by configuring the unit cover 23 with the side 23b (see Figure 11) as the outer side, the front 23c as the outer front, and the bottom 23h as the outer bottom, the weight of the suction nozzle 400 can be reduced. More specifically, in conventional suction nozzles, the parts that were double or triple walls due to the unit cover and outer parts are now made into a single wall, making it possible to reduce the weight of the suction nozzle 400.

[0041] Furthermore, by configuring the upper surface 23d (see Figure 11) of the unit cover 23 as the outer upper surface, it becomes possible to miniaturize the upper case 22 and reduce the weight of the suction port 400. In detail, conventional upper cases are generally formed by connecting to both ends, and the entire outer upper surface is composed of the upper case. However, in this embodiment, unlike conventional designs, the outer upper surface is composed of the unit cover 23. As a result, the width of the upper case 22 can be made shorter than in conventional designs, and the weight can be reduced by eliminating double walls and other structures on the upper surface.

[0042] A brush 91 is provided on the bottom surface 23h. This brush 91 is made of a lint brush and is fixed in place by adhesive. This brush 91 is formed to be elongated in the front-to-back direction and is positioned towards the outer edge of the bottom surface 23h.

[0043] Thus, by providing the brush 91 on the smaller unit cover 23 rather than on the larger lower case 21, work efficiency can be improved. More specifically, if the brush requires adhesive bonding, a drying process is necessary. A smaller part reduces the space required to store that part, thus improving work efficiency.

[0044] Furthermore, a notch 23i is formed in the bottom surface 23h, which does not constitute the outer casing. The left end of the lower case 21 is fitted into this notch 23i. The brush 91 is positioned extending forward from the edge of the notch 23i. The brush 91 is also positioned to wrap around from the bottom surface 23h to the lower part of the front surface 23c.

[0045] Figure 13 is a top view of the lower case. Figure 13 shows the lower case 21 alone, with the unit cover 23 on which the electric motor 70 is installed, the control board 80 (see Figure 5), the LED board 60 (see Figure 5), the protective member 62 (see Figure 5), the joint 30 (see Figure 5), etc. removed from the lower case 21.

[0046] As shown in Figure 13, the lower case 21 has an upper surface portion 21a that forms the outer casing of the suction nozzle body 20 (see Figure 2), a right side surface portion 21b that forms the outer casing of the right side, and a rear surface portion 21c that forms the outer casing of the rear.

[0047] Furthermore, an opening 21d is formed on the upper surface of the lower case 21, into which the electric motor 70, control board 80, LED board 60, protective member 62, flow path section 64, and the like are mounted.

[0048] Furthermore, as described above, the lower case 21 is integrally formed with the bumper portion 24 by double molding. The bumper portion 24 has a front bumper portion 24a located on the front side of the lower case 21, a right bumper side portion 24b located on the right side, and a left bumper side portion 24c located on the left side. The right bumper side portion 24b is fixed to the right side portion 21b.

[0049] The left side portion 24c of the bumper extends rearward from the front portion 24a of the bumper, and a projection 24d is formed on the inner side of its tip. This projection 24d is hook-shaped and is designed to fit into the hole 23f (see Figure 11). The left side portion 24c of the bumper is also designed to fit into the groove 23g (see Figure 11).

[0050] Furthermore, by providing the right side portion 24b and the left side portion 24c of the bumper, the left and right sides of the suction port 400 can be protected.

[0051] By shaping the bumper portion 24 in this way, even if the unit cover 23 is configured as part of the outer casing and is detachable from the lower case 21, it becomes possible to attach the left side bumper portion 24c to the unit cover 23 after the unit cover 23 has been attached to the lower case 21. The intake port body 20 can be manufactured at a lower cost than when the left side bumper portion 24c is constructed by double molding onto the unit cover 23.

[0052] Furthermore, by forming a hole 23f in the side surface 23b of the unit cover 23 and inserting the projection 24d of the bumper section 24 into this hole 23f for fixation, it becomes unnecessary to construct the bumper section 24 in sections, thereby improving workability. In more detail, if the bumper section 24 were to be divided into two parts, with the bent portion being made into a different part, or double-molded into the unit cover 23, the number of parts would increase, and the double-molding work would also increase on the divided part. By providing a bumper section 24 as in this embodiment, it is only necessary to double-mold into the lower case 21, thus improving workability. Also, if the bumper section 24 were divided, it would be necessary to fill or fix the divided part, but by not dividing it as in this embodiment, the connection part becomes unnecessary, making weight reduction possible.

[0053] In this embodiment, the case in which the hole 23f is formed on the side surface 23b was described as an example, but the hole may also be formed on the front surface 23c. In that case, a projection is provided at a position opposite to the hole 23f of the bumper portion 24.

[0054] Furthermore, the lower case 21 has a mounting hole 21j formed within the opening 21d, into which a protective member 62 is attached. This mounting hole 21j is in communication with the brush chamber Q in which the rotating brush 40 is housed.

[0055] Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the LED cover. As shown in Figure 14, the protective member 62 comprises a protective plate 63 and a flow channel portion 64. The protective plate 63 protects the LED 61 and is formed to be elongated in the left-right direction, and is positioned to fit into a notch 22a of the same shape formed in the upper case 22 (see Figure 3). As a result, the surface of the protective plate 63 is flush with the surface of the upper case 22. The protective plate 63 is also made of a resin that transmits light from the LED 61. In other words, the protective member 62, including the flow channel portion 64, is molded from the same resin that is capable of transmitting light.

[0056] The flow channel section 64 constitutes a part of the flow channel that connects the brush chamber Q (see Figure 7), which houses the rotating brush 40 (see Figure 7), and the joint section 30. The flow channel section 64 also constitutes the upper side of the flow channel and has a semi-cylindrical section 64a.

[0057] Furthermore, the protective member 62 has a contact portion 63a formed below the protective plate 63 that abuts against the inner wall surface of the upper case 22. This contact portion 63a is formed to have approximately the same length in the left-right direction as the protective plate 63.

[0058] Figure 15 is a front view of the LED cover. As shown in Figure 15, the contact portion 63a is positioned to protrude downward from the lower edge of the protective plate 63. In addition, a portion of the semi-cylindrical portion 64a of the flow path portion 64 protrudes upward from the upper edge of the protective plate 63. Furthermore, the flow path portion 64 protrudes downward from the lower edge of the contact portion 63a. In addition, both left and right ends 64b and 64c of the flow path portion 64 are formed to extend downward along the mounting holes 21j of the lower case 21.

[0059] Figure 16 is a top view of the LED cover. As shown in Figure 16, the protective plate 63 and the flow channel section 64 are connected by a connecting section 63b. This connecting section 63b is formed to be shorter in width in the left-right direction than the protective plate 63. Furthermore, the connecting section 63b is configured such that, when viewed from above, a gap S in the front-rear direction is formed between the protective plate 63 and the flow channel section 64.

[0060] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII in Figure 15. As shown in Figure 17, the connecting portion 63b has a substrate holding portion 63c formed therein, which holds the LED substrate 60. This substrate holding portion 63c is formed in a concave shape in a vertical cross-sectional view and extends in the left-right direction (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). The width of the substrate holding portion 63c in the front-rear direction is long enough to fit the lower part of the LED substrate 60. This allows the LED substrate 60 to be held stably. In addition, the protective member 62 has a restricting projection 63d that restricts the movement of the LED substrate 60 in the left-right direction.

[0061] Furthermore, a lens-shaped portion 63e is formed on the back surface (rear) of the protective plate 63. This lens-shaped portion 63e is formed in an uneven manner (Fresnel lens) and is configured to direct the light from the LED 61 through the protective plate 63 towards the floor surface (surface to be cleaned).

[0062] In this way, by providing a protective member 62 that integrates the protective plate 63 and the flow path section 64, that is, by integrating the parts, the suction port 400 can be made lighter while improving ease of assembly.

[0063] Furthermore, by integrating the substrate holding portion 63c with the protective member 62, the weight of the suction nozzle 400 can be reduced while improving the ease of assembly of the suction nozzle 400.

[0064] Furthermore, a lens-shaped portion 63e is formed on the back surface of the protective plate 63 to direct the light from the LED 61 onto the floor surface. This configuration allows for brighter illumination of the floor surface, improving usability, and also eliminates the need to attach a separate part with a lens function, thus reducing the weight of the suction nozzle 400.

[0065] Furthermore, since the portion of the LED 61 that is not covered by the protective plate 63 is covered by the upper case 22, a smooth surface shape can be achieved, improving the aesthetic appeal.

[0066] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the bearing cover. As shown in Figure 18, the bearing cover 50 is equipped with a mechanism that allows it to be attached to and detached from the lower case 21. By removing the bearing cover 50 from the lower case 21, the rotating brush 40 (see Figure 4) can be removed from the lower case 21. This makes it possible to remove dust and hair attached to the rotating brush 40, and makes cleaning the rotating brush 40 easier.

[0067] Furthermore, the bearing cover 50 has a bottom portion 51a facing the floor surface, a right side portion 51b that extends briefly upward from the right edge of the bottom portion 51a, a front portion 51c that extends briefly upward from the front edge of the bottom portion 51a, and a rear portion 51d that extends briefly upward from the rear edge of the bottom portion 51a.

[0068] Furthermore, the bearing cover 50 is provided with a locking member 55 that is operated when removing it from the lower case 21 (see Figure 4). This locking member 55 is integrally formed in a recess 51s that is cut out in a concave shape toward the outside (right side). The locking member 55 is also formed in a position that is recessed upward from the bottom surface portion 51a.

[0069] Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the inside of the bearing cover. As shown in Figure 19, the bearing cover 50 has a left side portion 51e that extends upward from the left edge of the bottom portion 51a. A rotating brush holding portion 51f, which is cut out in a substantially semicircular shape, is formed in this left side portion 51e.

[0070] Figure 20 is a side view of the bearing cover. As shown in Figure 20, the bearing cover 50 is provided with a brush (airtight sealing member) 92. This brush 92 is made of a lint brush and is fixed in place by adhesive or the like. The brush 92 is also arranged to wrap around from the bottom surface 51a to the front surface 51c.

[0071] Furthermore, the locking member 55 is positioned towards the rear of the bearing cover 50. Also, the locking member 55 is formed to protrude upward from the right side surface portion 51b.

[0072] Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI in Figure 20. As shown in Figure 21, the locking member 55 has a flexible portion 55a formed in a roughly U-shape in cross-section, and a claw portion 55b formed on the outer surface of the flexible portion 55a. The locking member 55 also has a pressing portion 55c that is pressed when the lock is released. The pressing portion 55c is located below the base of the flexible portion 55a and is configured not to protrude downward or to the right from the recess 51s. The claw portion 55b has a roughly triangular shape in cross-section.

[0073] A slit-shaped fitting hole 21b1 (see Figure 4) into which the claw portion 55b fits is formed on the right side surface 21b of the lower case 21. In the state shown in Figure 21, when the pressing portion 55c is pressed to the left, the flexible portion 55a bends, causing the claw portion 55b to disengage from the fitting hole 21b1 and the lock is released. This allows the bearing cover 50 to be removed from the lower case 21.

[0074] Figure 22 is a bottom view of the bearing cover. As shown in Figure 22, the brush 92 attached to the bottom surface 51a is formed in a roughly Z shape when viewed from the bottom surface. The front part 92a of the brush 92 is located towards the outside (right side) of the bottom surface 51a. The rear part 92b of the brush 92 is located towards the inside (left side) of the bottom surface 51a.

[0075] However, if the locking member 55 (see Figure 21) is composed of a flexible portion 55a and a claw portion 55b, a recessed space (recess 51s) will inevitably be formed. When such a space is formed, dust and other particles are easily sucked in from the location of the recessed space, and dust and other particles are easily sucked in through the space between the bearing cover and the floor surface (see dashed arrow in Figure 22). With such a configuration, the airtightness of the suction port is compromised, resulting in a decrease in suction capacity.

[0076] Therefore, in this embodiment, the brush 92 is attached to the bottom surface 51a of the bearing cover 50 to prevent the airtightness from being compromised. Furthermore, the shape of the brush 92 is made roughly Z-shaped, and the rear part 92b of the brush 92 is positioned on the inside of the recess 51s (on the side of the rotating brush 40). This ensures airtightness between the space to the right of the suction port body 20 (see Figure 2) in the recess 51s and the brush chamber Q (see Figure 7).

[0077] Furthermore, on the front side where the recess 51s is not formed, the brush 92 is positioned on the outside of the bottom surface 51a. This allows for a wider suction area to be secured from the front of the suction nozzle body 20 (see Figure 2) (see solid arrow in Figure 22), improving ease of use when cleaning.

[0078] Furthermore, a sloping section 92c is formed between the front part 92a and the rear part 92b of the brush 92, so that it is positioned outward as it moves forward. This allows the airflow drawn in from the front to be smoothly directed towards the rotating brush 40.

[0079] In this bearing cover 50, a flexible portion 55a with a claw portion 55b is provided, and the rotating brush 40 is fixed by fitting the claw portion 55b into the fitting hole 21b1 of the lower case 21. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the suction body 400 by integrating the parts, and also improves ease of assembly.

[0080] Furthermore, a brush 92 is provided on the bearing cover 50, and the brush 92 is positioned inside (towards the suction port) of the locking member 55 (claw portion 55b). This prevents the airtightness from decreasing and the suction performance from deteriorating due to the presence of a recess 51s where the locking member 55 is provided.

[0081] Furthermore, the brush 92 is formed in a roughly Z-shape when viewed from the bottom. In other words, the rear side of the brush 92, where the locking member 55 is provided, is on the inside, and the front side is on the outside. This allows the front of the suction port 400 to accommodate the locking member 55 (claw portion 55b and flexible portion 55a) while ensuring sufficient suction width.

[0082] Figure 23 is a side view showing the mouthpiece when the sensor lever is ON. Figure 24 is a side view showing the mouthpiece when the sensor lever is OFF. As shown in Figure 23, the lower case 21 is provided with a sensor lever 100 that stops the rotation of the rotating brush 40 when it detects that the suction nozzle 400 has left the floor surface (surface to be cleaned) M. This sensor lever 100 has an arm portion 101 extending from the lower case 21 and a wheel 102 provided on the arm portion 101. In Figure 23, the suction nozzle 400 is in contact with the floor surface M, the sensor lever 100 is pushed up, and the rotating brush 40 is driven to rotate.

[0083] Furthermore, the sensor lever 100 is not located inside the mouthpiece body 20, but is configured to protrude from the outside of the mouthpiece body 20. By configuring the sensor lever 100 to rotate to the outside of the mouthpiece body 20 in this way, the mouthpiece body 20 can be made smaller.

[0084] As shown in Figure 24, when the suction nozzle 400 is lifted off the floor, the sensor lever 100 rotates so that it pops out downward from the bottom surface of the suction nozzle body 20, and the rotation of the rotating brush 40 stops. The sensor lever 100 is also provided with a biasing member (not shown) that biases it in the direction of turning the sensor OFF. Furthermore, even if the suction nozzle 400 is turned upside down, the sensor lever 100 pops out as shown in Figure 24, and the rotation of the rotating brush 40 stops.

[0085] Figure 25 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the sensor levers. As shown in Figure 25, the sensor lever 100 is located near the leg portion 25 formed on the lower case 21. More specifically, the sensor lever 100 is positioned adjacent to the right-side extension portion 25a of the leg portion 25.

[0086] However, if the sensor lever 100 is configured to rotate to the outside of the suction nozzle body 20 in this way, for example, when the suction nozzle body 400 is slid from side to side to clean a narrow space, the sensor lever 100 may be subjected to a force F from the legs of a chair or the like, and the sensor lever 100 may be damaged. Therefore, in this embodiment, by positioning the sensor lever 100 near the leg portion 25, which is a high-strength component of the lower case 21, the force F can be received by the leg portion 25, and damage to the sensor lever 100 can be prevented. In addition, since it is not necessary to construct the sensor lever 100 from a high-strength component, the manufacturing cost will not increase.

[0087] Figure 26 shows the structure of the joint and is a cross-sectional view showing the joint in an upright position. Figure 27 shows the structure of the joint and is a cross-sectional view showing the joint in a collapsed position. As shown in Figure 26, a claw 32b is formed on the inner wall of the rotating joint 32, into which the rotating cover 33 fits. Although Figure 26 only shows the right side, a similar claw for the rotating cover 33 is formed on the left side as well. Furthermore, the claw 32b is formed to be long along the edge of the rotating cover 33.

[0088] When the joint section 30 is in an upright position, the straight pipe section 31 pulls the rotating cover 33 outward, exposing the rotating cover 33 to the outside. Also, when the straight pipe section 31 is in a vertically upright position, the movement of the rotating cover 33 is restricted by contact with the claw 32b.

[0089] As shown in Figure 27, when the joint section 30 is tilted, the curved portion 31a of the straight pipe section 31 overlaps with the inner surface 33a of the rotating cover 33, facing it. Also, the outer surface 33b of the rotating cover 33 overlaps with the curved portion 32a of the rotating joint section 32, facing it. In this case, as in the conventional design, if there is no member corresponding to the rotating cover 33 in the joint section and a member corresponding to the rotating cover 33 is integrally formed in the straight pipe section 31, when the joint section is laid down, the flow path is blocked by the pipe section, as shown by the dashed line. Therefore, in this embodiment, by newly providing the rotating cover 33, the flow path is no longer blocked even when the joint section 30 is tilted.

[0090] Figure 28 is a perspective view showing the sensor lever. As shown in Figure 28, the sensor lever 100 has a pivot shaft 103, which is rotatably supported by the lower case 21. The sensor lever 100 also has a switch press 104 integrally formed with the pivot shaft 103 for operating a switch that turns the operation of the rotating brush 40 ON and OFF. The sensor lever 100 also includes a spring 105 that biases the sensor in the OFF direction.

[0091] Furthermore, the sensor lever 100 has a sensor weight portion 106 integrally formed with the pivot shaft 103 on the side opposite to the switch pressing portion 104 of the pivot shaft 103. This sensor weight portion 106 is a safety device that prevents the rotating brush 40 from rotating even when the suction nozzle 400 is turned upside down, and has a U-shaped weight housing portion 106a.

[0092] Furthermore, one end of the weight housing portion 106a is fixed to the pivot shaft 103, and a groove portion 106b is formed at the other end. This groove portion 106b has tip portions 106b1 and 106b2 that are formed to be thin in the axial direction, and is constructed by spacing the tip portions 106b1 and 106b2 apart in the axial direction of the pivot shaft 103.

[0093] Figure 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the mouthpiece sensor lever in the ON position. Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view showing the mouthpiece sensor lever in the OFF position. Note that Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view when the mouthpiece is inverted. As shown in Figure 29, a spherical weight 107 is housed in the weight housing section 106a. The lower case 21, on which the sensor weight section 106 is provided, has a wall section 21e formed therein to prevent the weight 107 from protruding forward from the weight housing section 106a. In addition, the lower case 21 has a rib 21s formed opposite the groove section 106b. The rib 21s is plate-shaped and is formed to protrude to the rear.

[0094] In the ON state shown in Figure 29, a portion of the weight 107 protrudes forward from the weight housing 106a, and the weight 107 is in contact with the rear surface of the wall 21e. Note that in Figure 29, the tip portion 106b2 that constitutes the groove 106b is hidden behind the rib 21s.

[0095] As shown in Figure 30, when the suction nozzle 400 is turned upside down, the sensor lever 100 (see Figure 28) rotates around the pivot shaft 103 due to the biasing force of the spring 105, and the groove 106b of the weight housing 106a separates from the rib 21s. In addition, the lower case 21 has a recess 21f formed above the weight housing 106a, with the concave surface facing downwards. When the suction nozzle 400 is turned upside down and the rib 21s and the groove 106b separate, the recess 21f opens, and the weight falls into the recess 21f. At this time, the weight 107 is sandwiched between the rib 21s and the groove 106b, so the weight housing 106a does not return to the switch ON state. Therefore, when the suction nozzle 400 is upside down, the switch does not turn ON, and the rotating brush 40 does not rotate.

[0096] Furthermore, when the suction nozzle 400 is floating above the floor in a normal state, the weight 107 is housed in the weight housing 106a by gravity, as shown in Figure 30. When the suction nozzle 400 then comes into contact with the floor, the weight 107 does not restrict the movement of the weight housing 106a, so the weight housing 106a rotates, the switch turns ON, and the rotating brush 40 rotates.

[0097] Incidentally, in conventional sensor levers, a large spherical weight was provided that was sandwiched between the tip of the U-shaped member and the wall. Thus, there were constraints on the size of the weight, and it was not possible to reduce the weight. Therefore, in this embodiment, by forming the rib 21s and groove 106b, even if the weight 107 is made smaller, the weight 107 can be sandwiched between the tip of the weight housing 106a and the rib 21s even when the suction port 400 is turned upside down. In this way, by making the weight 107 smaller, it was possible to make the sensor lever 100 smaller and lighter.

[0098] Figure 31 is a perspective view of the joint. Figure 32 is a side view of the joint. Figure 33 is a top view showing the joint attached to the lower case. Figures 31 to 33 show the straight pipe section 31 of the joint 30 raised at an angle. As shown in Figure 31, the rotating joint 32 has a cylindrical connecting portion 32c which connects to the suction nozzle body 20 (see Figure 2). In addition, rectangular through holes 32d, 32e, and 32f are formed in the connecting portion 32c at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0099] As shown in Figure 32, a through hole 32g is further formed in the connecting portion 32c. The through hole 32g is formed with a circumferential gap between it and the through hole 32f. Thus, the through holes 32d to 32g are concentrated towards the left side of the connecting portion 32c. Note that the number of through holes 32d to 32g is not limited to four; there may be more or fewer than four.

[0100] As shown in Figure 33, when the joint 30 is attached to the lower case 21, the connecting portion 32c is connected to the flow path portion 64 of the protective member 62. In addition, a gap S1 for taking in air is formed on the left side of the lower case 21. When the electric blower of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is driven and suction force is generated, air flows from the brush chamber Q (see Figure 26) through the joint 30, and at the same time, outside air is taken in through the gap S1. The air taken in through the gap S1 cools the electric motor 70 and is then taken into the joint 30 through the through holes 32d to 32g.

[0101] Figure 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIV-XXXIV in Figure 3. Note that Figure 34 shows the view cut at the position of the electric motor 70. As shown in Figure 34, the rotation axis 70a of the electric motor 70 is positioned above the rotation axis 40a of the rotating brush 40. This allows the rotating brush 40 and the electric motor 70 to partially overlap in the vertical direction, thereby shortening the front-to-back dimension of the suction nozzle body 20 while also reducing its vertical dimension. In Figure 34, the circular line L10 indicates the alignment line of the rotation axis 70a of the electric motor 70, and the straight line L11 indicates the alignment line of the LED 61.

[0102] Incidentally, the height of the LED board 60 must be above the height of the rotating brush 40 in order to illuminate the floor. For this reason, the electric motor 70 is placed in a position that just barely maintains the required height, minimizing the dimensions in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0103] Figure 35 is a top view showing the inside of the lower case. Figure 36 is a front view of the joint. Note that Figure 35 is an enlarged view of the right side of Figure 5. As shown in Figure 35, the lower case 21 is provided with a stopper member 110 and a coil spring 111 that biases the stopper member 110 to the left in the left-right direction. The stopper member 110 is supported by the lower case 21 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. One end of the coil spring 111 opposite to the stopper member 110 is held by the lower case 21, and the other end abuts against the end face of the stopper member 110.

[0104] As shown in Figure 36, the joint portion 30 has a recess 32s formed on the right side of the pivot joint portion 32 into which the stopper member 110 (see Figure 35) fits.

[0105] However, if the suction nozzle body 20 is configured to rotate freely relative to the joint 30, when the suction nozzle body 400 is lifted, the side where the electric motor 70 is located becomes heavier, causing the left side of the suction nozzle body 20 to tilt downwards. Therefore, in this embodiment, a stopper member 110 and a coil spring 111 are provided so that when the suction nozzle body 20 is placed horizontally, the stopper member 110 is pressed by the coil spring 111, causing the stopper member 110 to fit into the recess 32s. This prevents the suction nozzle body 20 from tilting even when the suction nozzle body 400 is lifted. Furthermore, the stopper member 110 is fitted into the recess 32s with a force such that the suction nozzle body 20 does not tilt when the suction nozzle body 400 is lifted, and the structure has a spring force such that if the user rotates the suction nozzle body 20 relative to the joint 30 while cleaning, the stopper member 110 will immediately come out of the recess 32s.

[0106] Figure 37 is a plan view showing the back side of the upper case. As shown in Figure 37, multiple recesses 22b, which serve as material-reducing sections, are formed on the back surface of the upper case 22. By forming these recesses 22b, the weight of the upper case 22 can be reduced, thereby reducing the weight of the suction port 400. Furthermore, the recesses 22b are formed as elongated holes that are long in the front-to-back direction with a predetermined width, and are spaced apart in the left-to-right direction. This ensures strength against upward loads that are likely to be applied to the upper case 22 while reducing weight.

[0107] Furthermore, screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e are formed on the back surface of the upper case 22.

[0108] Figure 38 is a bottom view of the mouthpiece. Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIX-XXXIX in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 38, the suction port 400 is secured by screws between the lower case 21 and the upper case 22. The lower case 21 has screw insertion holes (not shown) through which screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted. The screw insertion holes are formed in positions opposite to the aforementioned screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e in the vertical direction.

[0109] Screws 121a, 121b, and 121c are inserted through the respective screw holes from the bottom of the lower case 21 and screwed into the screw bosses 22c, 22d, and 22e of the upper case 22, thereby securing them in place.

[0110] Furthermore, the lower case 21 is provided with a screw fixing section using screws 121d for fixing the unit cover 23 to the lower case 21.

[0111] As shown in Figure 39, the suction port 400 is fixed to the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 by a claw fitting in addition to the screw fixing described above. Specifically, a claw 22t is formed at the front edge of the upper case 22, and a claw 22u is formed at the rear edge of the upper case 22. A recess 21t into which the claw 22t fits is formed at the top of the lower case 21, and a hole 21u into which the claw 22u fits is formed at the rear of the lower case 21.

[0112] Furthermore, the rear surface of the lower case 21 has an inclined surface 21v that slopes downwards towards the front. By providing the lower case 21 with such an inclined surface 21v, the contact area with the floor surface can be reduced, thereby reducing resistance when moving the suction nozzle 400 and improving ease of use.

[0113] As described above, the suction nozzle 400 of this embodiment comprises an LED substrate 60 on which LEDs are mounted, a protective cover for protecting the LEDs 61, and a flow path section 64 communicating with the vacuum cleaner body 1. The flow path section 64 and the protective plate 63 are integrally formed. This allows for weight reduction and improved ease of assembly through the integration of parts.

[0114] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protective member 62, which integrally forms the flow channel 64 and the protective plate 63, has an integral substrate holding portion 63c for holding the LED substrate 60. This allows for weight reduction and improved ease of assembly through the integration of components.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protective plate 63 has a lens-shaped portion 63e formed therein for shining the light of the LED 61 onto the floor surface M. This allows the floor surface M to be brightly illuminated without changing the weight of the suction nozzle 400, improving ease of use.

[0116] Furthermore, this embodiment includes an upper case 22 that covers everything except the protective plate 63. This improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0117] Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 1000 of this embodiment is equipped with the aforementioned suction nozzle 400. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the suction nozzle 400, thereby improving ease of use during cleaning. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0118] 1. Vacuum cleaner body 2 Dust Cases 20 Mouthpiece body 21 Bottom case (case) , cover member ) 21b1 Fitting hole 21s Rib 21v slope 22 Upper case (case) , cover member ) 22a Notch 23 Unit cover (mounting cover) , cover member ) 23a Motor fixing part 23b Side view (outer side view) 23c Front (Front of outer casing) 23d Top surface (outer top surface) 23e Notch 23f hole 23g groove 23h Bottom surface (outer bottom surface) 24 Bumper section 24a Front bumper 24c Bumper left side (bumper side) 24d protrusion 25 Legs 25a Extension 25b Connecting section 25c wheels 30 Joint section 31 Straight pipe section 31a Curved part 32 Rotating joint section 32a Curved section 32b Nail 32c connection 32d,32e,32f,32g through hole 32s recess 33 Rotating Cover 33a Inner surface 33b External surface 40 Rotating Brush (Rotating Cleaning Body) 50 Bearing Cover 51s recess 55 Locking member 55a Flexible section 55b Claw part 55c Pressing part 60 LED circuit boards (wiring boards) 61 LEDs (light source) 62 Protective member (a member that integrally forms a flow path and a protective cover) 63 Protective plate (protective cover) 63c Board holder 63e Lens shape section 64 Flow channel section (member forming the flow channel) 70 Electric motor (drive unit) 71 Clutch 71a Rotation axis 71b Protrusion 72 Small diameter pulley (Drive pulley) 73 Large diameter pulley (Rotating cleaning pulley) 74 Toothed belt 75 Tension Pulley 80 Control board 91 Brush 92 Brush (Airtight sealing component) 100 Sensor lever 101 Arm 102 wheels 103 Rotary shaft 104 Switch press part 105 Spring 106 Sensor weight section 106a Weight storage section 106b Groove 106b1, 106b2 tip 107 weights 110 Stopper member 111 Coil spring 400 Nozzle (Vacuum cleaner nozzle) 1000 Electric Vacuum Cleaner L1,L2 center distance M Floor surface Q Brush Room S1 Gap

Claims

1. A rotating cleaning body that cleans the surface to be cleaned, A drive unit that drives the rotating cleaning body, A clutch that transmits the driving force from the drive unit to the rotating cleaning body, The drive unit and the clutch are mounted on a mounting cover, The system comprises a case that houses the rotating cleaning body and the drive unit and to which the mounting cover is attached, The aforementioned mounting cover constitutes a part of the outer casing of the suction port body and has a shape that serves as both the bottom surface of the outer casing, the side surface of the outer casing, the front surface of the outer casing, and the top surface of the outer casing. A notch is formed between the front surface of the outer shell and the upper surface of the outer shell, which does not constitute the outer shell. The end of the case fits into the notch, The suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner is characterized in that the case is provided with an integrally molded bumper portion, and the bumper portion is fixed to the mounting cover by inserting a projection of the bumper portion into a hole formed in the outer side surface.

2. In the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner described in claim 1, A groove is formed on the outer surface from the hole toward the notch. The suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner is characterized in that the end of the bumper portion is fitted into the groove.

3. In the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or claim 2, The suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner is characterized in that a brush is fixed to the outer bottom surface.

4. A vacuum cleaner characterized by comprising the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner described in claim 1 or claim 2.

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