Vacuum cleaner

• US 20020059689A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Hayakawa, Koichi Ito, Naoyuki Ohara, Seizo Hayashi, Tamaki Nishikori, Tomonori Kato, Toru Odachi
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Hayakawa, Koichi Ito, Naoyuki Ohara, Seizo Hayashi, Tamaki Nishikori, Tomonori Kato, Toru Odachi
• Inventors: Ito, Koichi, Hayakawa, Hiroshi, Kato, Tomonori, Odachi, Toru, Nishikori, Tamaki, Ohara, Naoyuki, Hayashi, Seizo
• Granted Patent: US 6,684,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/346
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0072 Mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/08 with means adapted for blowing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2863 Control elements activated by pivoting movement of the upright vacuum cleaner handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/10 Handles, reels and switches

Abstract

In the invention, a brush body 30 that is rotated and driven by a motor 32 is disposed in a suction unit 2, and dust is sucked from the suction unit 2 by a blower 4, while exhaust of the blower 4 is sent to the suction unit 2 side through an exhaust passage 27. While the exhaust of the blower 4 is blown to the motor 32 exhaust is blown to the floor for lifting the dust from the floor to enhance the dust collection efficiency, and moreover, if the output of the motor 32 for driving the brush 30 is increased, temperature rise of the motor 32 can be suppressed, and thus durability may be enhanced.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a blower for sucking dust from a suction unit, a dust scraper disposed in said suction unit, a motor for rotating and driving this dust scraper, and an exhaust passage for sending exhaust of said blower to said suction side, wherein the exhaust of said blower is blown to said motor,

wherein the suction unit includes an intake unit on which the suction force ofthe blower acts, and an exhaust unit for passing the exhaust of said blower, and

wherein part of exhaust wind from the blower is circulating into the exhaust unit of the suction unit, part of the exhaust wind is released outside of the suction unit, and the air flow rate circulating from the exhaust unit to the intake unit is adjusted to 50 to 95% of the total exhaust from the blower.

2. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the air flow rate released outside of the suction unit, or the air flow rate circulating into the suction unit, or both of them are adjustable.

3. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein exhaust units are provided at one end and confronting end of the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided in the middle of these exhaust units.

4. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein intake units are provided at one end and confronting end of the suction unit, and an exhaust unit is provided in the middle of these intake units.

5. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein an exhaust port opened in the width direction of the suction unit is provided ahead of the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided behind the suction unit.

6. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein an exhaust port opened in the width direction of the suction unit is provided behind the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided ahead of the suction unit.

7. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the wind velocity of the exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit is faster than the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit.

8. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the wind velocity ofthe exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit is slower than the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit.

9. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the wind velocity ofthe exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit and the wind velocity ofthe intake wind sucked into the intake unit are nearly the same.

10. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the wind velocity of the exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit, or the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit, or both of them are adjustable.

11. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein a dust scraping element in a band form is spirally wound around the dust scraper, and the air stream along the twist of the dust scraping element of a band form generated by rotation of the dust scraper, and the air stream flowing from the exhaust unit to the intake unit are matched in direction.

12. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein a mechanism for guiding the exhaust wind from the exhaust unit smoothly in the intake unit direction is provided near the exhaust unit of the suction unit.

14. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein a bar protrusion projects from the handle arm body, plural extension tubes made of pipes or the like are formed on the protrusions, a handle is disposed at the leading ends of the extension tubes, and these extension tubes and handle are detachably composed.

15. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the bar protrusion from the handle arm body, and the handle provided at the leading ends of the extension tubes are detachably composed.

16. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the bar protrusion from the handle arm body is used as a second handle.

17. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the handle arm body is designed to be rotated by about 90°

in the longitudinal direction on the floor.

18. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the handle arm body is rotated ahead of the cleaner main body, or the rear side of the cleaner main body is used as the heel rest, so that the cleaner main body is set in stored state when the cleaner main body is set in vertical state.

19. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein rotation of the handle arm body is thrust by a spring, the spring force is set larger than the force of rotation of the intake port by the own weight, the own rotating force of the intake port is set smaller than the force applied to the handle at the leading ends of the extension tubes, the rotation ofthe handle arm body is suppressed when the cleaner main body is lifted in the air, and rotation of the handle arm body is facilitated when set in cleaning state.

20. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein rotation of the extension tubes and handle extended from the handle arm body is stopped in the nearly vertical direction of the floor, and the force of the rotating the handle arm body to the backward of the cleaner main body is set smaller than the forward rotating force of the cleaner main body.

21. A vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the current feed circuit of the blower is opened or closed by rotating the handle arm body.

37. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the air stream circulating from the exhaust unit to the intake unit is formed almost parallel to the floor in the longitudinal direction of the suction unit.

38. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein an intake unit is provided a, one end ofthe suction unit, and an exhaust unit at other confronting end, and an air stream circulating from the exhaust unit to the intake unit is formed.

39. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein exhaust units are provided at one end and confronting end of the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided in the middle of these exhaust units.

40. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein intake units are provided at one end and confronting end of the suction unit, and an exhaust unit is provided in the middle of these intake units.

41. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein an exhaust port opened in the width direction of the suction unit is provided ahead of the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided behind the suction unit.

42. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein an exhaust port opened in the width direction of the suction unit is provided behind the suction unit, and an intake unit is provided ahead of the suction unit.

43. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the wind velocity ofthe exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit is faster than the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit.

44. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the wind velocity ofthe exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit is slower than the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit.

45. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the wind velocity of the exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit and the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit are nearly the same.

46. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the wind velocity ofthe exhaust wind released from the exhaust unit, or the wind velocity of the intake wind sucked into the intake unit, or both of them are adjustable.

47. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dust scraper is disposed rotatably or oscillatably.

48. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein a dust scraping element in a band form is spirally wound around the dust scraper, and the air stream along the twist of the dust scraping element of a band form generated by rotation of the dust scraper, and the air stream flowing from the exhaust unit to the intake unit are matched in direction.

49. A vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein a mechanism for guiding the exhaust wind from the exhaust unit smoothly in the intake unit direction is provided near the exhaust unit ofthe suction unit.

75. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the air stream circulating from the exhaust unit to the intake unit is formed almost parallel to the floor in the longitudinal direction of the suction unit.

76. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein an intake unit is provided at one end ofthe suction unit, and an exhaust unit at other confronting end, and an air stream circulating from the exhaust unit to the intake unit is formed.

77. A vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the dust scraper is disposed rotatably or oscillatably.

13. A vacuum cleaner having an intake port for sucking dust at the front side, and having a handle arm body for rotating or sliding at least part of the outer circumference of cleaner main body behind it.

22. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body accommodating a secondary battery and a blower and having a connection terminal for charging, and a charger having a charging terminal connected to the terminal connector for charging of the cleaner main body, wherein said charger has a box portion for accommodating a power transformer, and the charging terminal projects from the side wall of this box portion.

25. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein a pair of guides are provided from the vicinity of the both end faces of the front side of the box portion of the charger, and the main body is guided to the charger side by these guides.

26. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein the front upper side of the box portion of the charger is a slope.

27. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein a terminal connector for charging is provided in the cleaner main body.

28. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein a charging terminal is provided at a position remote from the central line in the width direction of the box portion ofthe charger, and a power transformer is disposed near said terminal.

29. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein a guide position for setting the cleaner main body is provided in the box portion of the charger.

30. A vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein a roller projects behind the cleaner main body.

59. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein a pair of guides are provided from the vicinity of the both end faces of the front side of the box portion of the charger, and the main body is guided to the charger side by these guides.

60. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein a pair of guides are provided from the vicinity of the both end faces of the front side of the box portion of the charger, and the main body is guided to the charger side by the guides.

61. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein the front upper side of the box portion of the charger is a slope.

62. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein the front upper side of the box portion of the charger is a slope.

63. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein a terminal connector for charging is provided in the cleaner main body.

64. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein a terminal connector for charging is provided in the cleaner main body.

65. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein a charging terminal is provided at a position remote from the central line in the width direction of the box portion of the charger, and a power transformer is disposed near said terminal.

66. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein a charging terminal is provided at a position remote from the central line in the width direction of the box portion ofthe charger, and a power transformer is disposed near said terminal.

67. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein a guide position for setting the cleaner main body is provided in the box portion of the charger.

68. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein a guide position for setting the cleaner main body is provided in the box portion of the charger.

69. A vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein a roller projects behind the cleaner main body.

70. A vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein a roller projects behind the cleaner main body.

23. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body accommodating a secondary battery and a blower and having a connection terminal for charging, and a charger having a charging terminal connected to the terminal connector for charging ofthe cleaner main body, wherein a suction unit for sucking dust by suction force of the blower is provided ahead of said cleaner main body, said charger has a box portion for accommodating a power transformer, said terminal projects from the side wall of this box portion, and said terminal is inserted into the terminal connector disposed at other position than the suction unit of said cleaner main body.

24. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body accommodating a secondary battery and a blower and having a connection terminal for charging, and a charger having a charging terminal connected to said terminal connector of the cleaner main body, wherein said charger has a box portion for accommodating a power transformer, a mounting portion extending forward from the front lower side of the box portion of the charger for mounting part of the cleaner main body, and a mating portion provided on this mounting portion to be engaged with the engaging portion at the lower side ofthe cleaner main body, and said terminal projecting from the side wall ofthe box portion and the terminal connector are connected when said cleaner main body is mounted on the charger.

31. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body accommodating a secondary battery and a blower and having a connection terminal for charging connected to the secondary battery, and a charger having a charging terminal connected to said terminal connector of the cleaner main body, wherein said cleaner main body has a switch connected between the secondary battery and the blower, and a manipulation unit for this switch, this manipulation unit has an engaging portion to be engaged with a mating portion provided in said charger for setting the cleaner main body on the charger, and this engaging portion moves corresponding to the operation of the manipulation unit, so that the engaging portion is not engaged with the mating portion at the ON position of the manipulation unit of the switch.

32. A vacuum cleaner of claim 31, wherein a manipulating handle rotatably held in the cleaner main body is provided, and this handle is used as the manipulation unit of the switch.

33. A vacuum cleaner of claim 31, wherein the engaging portion is confronting from the bottom of the cleaner main body.

34. A vacuum cleaner of claim 31, wherein a penetration hole of the mating portion provided in the charger is provided in the bottom of the cleaner main body, and the mating portion and engaging portion are engaged with each other through this.

35. A vacuum cleaner of claim 33, wherein a slope is provided on the outer circumference of the leading end of the mating portion provided in the charger.

36. A vacuum cleaner of claim 31, wherein notice means operating only when the cleaner main body and charger are electrically connected is provided in either one of the inside of the charger or the inside of the cleaner main body.

71. A vacuum cleaner of claim 34, wherein a slope is provided on the outer circumference of the leading end of the mating portion provided in the charger.

72. A vacuum cleaner claim 32, wherein notice means operating only when the cleaner main body and charger are electrically connected is provided in either one of the inside of the charger or the inside of the cleaner main body.

50. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body having an intake port for sucking dust at the front side, and having one of dust collection chamber or blower, or both of them, incorporated behind it, further comprising a handle arm body for rotating or sliding at least part of the outer circumference of the cleaner main body, on the center of rotation nearly in the center of said cleaner main body.

51. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein a bar protrusion projects from the handle arm body, plural extension tubes made of pipes or the like are formed on the protrusion, a handle is disposed at the leading ends of the extension tubes, and these extension tubes and handle are detachably composed.

52. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the bar protrusion from the handle arm body and the handle provided at the leading ends of the extension tubes are detachably composed.

53. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the bar protrusion from the handle arm body is used as a second handle.

54. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the handle arm body is designed to be rotated by about 90°

in the longitudinal direction on the floor.

55. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the handle arm body is rotated ahead of the cleaner main body, or the rear side of the cleaner main body is used as the heel rest, so that the cleaner main body is set in stored state when the cleaner main body is set in vertical state.

56. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein rotation of the handle arm body is thrust by a spring, the spring force is set larger than the force of rotation of the intake port by the arm weight, the own rotating force of the intake port is set smaller than the force applied to the handle at the leading ends of the extension tubes, the rotation of the handle arm body is suppressed when the cleaner main body is lifted in the air, and rotation of the handle arm body is facilitated when set in cleaning state.

57. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein rotation of the extension tubes and handle extended from the handle arm body is stopped in the nearly vertical direction of the floor, and the force of the rotating the handle arm body to the backward ofthe cleaner main body is set smaller than the forward rotating force of the cleaner main body.

58. A vacuum cleaner of claim 50, wherein the current feed circuit of the blower is opened or closed by rotating the handle arm body.

73. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body;

an intake port at a front side of said main body;

a handle to be interconnected with said main body such that said handle is capable of one of rotating and sliding along an outer periphery of said main body between a first position at which said handle is positioned behind said intake port and a second position at which said handle is positioned in front of said intake port.

74. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 73, wherein said handle is to be interconnected with said main body such that said handle is capable of one of rotating and sliding along an outer circumference of said main body between a first position at which said handle is positioned behind said intake port and a second position at which said handle is positioned in front of said intake port.