Electric vacuum cleaner and nozzle unit therefor

• US 20030163891A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Kei, Tamura, Taichi, Shindou, Masaru, Hikida, Nobuharu, Inoue, Teruhisa, Yagi, Mikio, Hato, Shigenori, Kosaka, Genji, Nagai, Kiyomu
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/414
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0483 Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner has a body case 32 with a nozzle 34a open toward a surface to be cleaned, a first pipe 35 coupled to the body case 32 so as to be rotatable in the direction J1, and a second pipe 36 coupled to the first pipe 35 so as to be rotatable in the direction J2. A first and a second air flow passage, formed inside the first and second pipes 35 and 36 respectively, are arranged substantially in a straight line as seen in a side view. The first pipe 35 has a sliding portion 35a that has an arc-shaped cross section and that slides along the inner surface of the body case 32, and this sliding portion 35a is arranged inside the body case 32, which is substantially rectangular, as seen in a plan view.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit kept in contact with a surface to be cleaned for dust suction;

an extension pipe coupled to the nozzle unit;

a hose coupling the extension pipe to a body of the electric vacuum cleaner; and

a handle provided at an end of the extension pipe so as to be held by a user during cleaning, the handle being so formed that an angle of at least a portion thereof is variable relative to the extension pipe.

2. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a coupling member arranged between the extension pipe and the hose,

wherein the handle is formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder so as to be rotatably fitted on the coupling member, and

wherein, when the extension pipe is removed from the coupling member, the handle rotates to a portion of the coupling member at which the extension pipe has been coupled to the coupling member so as to communicate with the hose.

3. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2,

wherein, in a manner interlocked with rotation of the handle, a tip of an auxiliary nozzle provided inside the handle comes out of an end of the handle.

4. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2,

wherein, when the handle communicates with the hose, a tip of an auxiliary nozzle provided inside the handle is made to come out of an end of the handle by a suction force originating from the body of the electric vacuum cleaner.

5. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a lock mechanism for locking the handle in a predetermined rotation position.

6. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

an unlocking switch provided on the handle for unlocking the lock mechanism.

7. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6,

wherein, when the lock mechanism is unlocked, the handle is moved to a predetermined position by weight of the extension pipe itself.

8. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2,

wherein, when the handle is rotated to a predetermined rotation position, the extension pipe and the hose, or the handle and the hose, are arranged in a straight line.

9. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a coupling member arranged between the extension pipe and the hose, the coupling member having;

a rotatable portion for rotating the handle and the hose together relative to the extension pipe; and

a flexible hose-like member for coupling the rotatable portion to a portion of the coupling member at which the extension pipe is coupled to the coupling member.

10. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the handle is divided into two parts that are arranged along an axis of the handle and are coupled by a coupling portion having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle so that the handle can be bent by rotating one of the two parts of the handle about the rotation axis.

11. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the handle is divided into two parts that are kept in contact with each other with a contact interface therebetween inclined relative to an axis of the handle so that the handle can be bent by rotating one of the two parts of the handle about an axis perpendicular to the contact interface.

12. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit kept in contact with a surface to be cleaned for dust suction;

an extension pipe coupled to the nozzle unit;

a hose coupling the extension pipe to a body of the electric vacuum cleaner;

a coupling member arranged between the extension pipe and the hose;

a handle provided on the coupling member so as to be held by a user during cleaning, the handle being formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder; and

an auxiliary nozzle slidable inside the handle, the auxiliary nozzle, when the extension pipe is removed from the coupling member, being moved out at a portion of the coupling member at which the extension pipe has been coupled to the coupling member so as to protrude from the coupling member and communicate with the hose.

13. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit kept in contact with a surface to be cleaned for dust suction;

an extension pipe coupled to the nozzle unit;

a hose coupling the extension pipe to a body of the electric vacuum cleaner; and

a handle provided at an end of the extension pipe so as to be held by a user during cleaning, the handle being coupled to the extension pipe so as to be rotatable coaxially with the extension pipe.

14. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the handle can be locked at least at one rotation position relative to the extension pipe.

15. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13,

wherein a range of rotation of the handle relative to the extension pipe is restricted.

16. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a first groove provided circumferentially on one of the extension pipe and the handle;

second grooves provided at a plurality of positions around a same circumference on said one of the extension pipe and the handle;

a first engagement member provided on the other of the extension pipe and the handle, the first engagement member engaging with the first groove so as to couple the extension pipe and the handle together rotatably; and

a second engagement member provided on said other of the extension pipe and the handle, the second engagement member engaging with one of the second grooves so as to stop rotation of the extension pipe.

17. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a stopper portion provided in the first groove or in the second grooves, the stopper portion striking the first or second engagement member so as to restrict a range of rotation of the extension pipe relative to the handle.

18. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the first and second engagement members are formed as a single member.

19. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

a disengaging member loaded with a force that tends to move it in a predetermined direction and interlocked with the first and second engagement members, the disengaging member, when subjected to a load against the force with which it is loaded, disengaging said one of the second grooves from the second engagement member and, when subjected to a heavier load, disengaging the first groove from the first engagement member.

20. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the second engagement member is loaded with a force that causes it to press said one of the second grooves, and the second grooves have inclined surfaces as axial end surfaces.

21. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the second grooves are formed in a bottom portion of the first groove, and the first engagement member is shared as the second engagement member.

22. An electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16,

wherein said one of the second grooves is disengaged from the second engagement member by rotation of the extension pipe relative to the handle.

23. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body case having a nozzle open toward a surface to be cleaned, the body case having a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a plan view;

a first pipe that has a first air flow passage for allowing passage of a flow of air sucked in through the nozzle and that is coupled to the body case so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a direction of longer sides of the nozzle, the first pipe having a sliding portion that slides along the body case as the first pipe rotates, the sliding portion arranged inside the body case as seen in a plan view; and

a second pipe rotatably coupled to the first pipe, the second pipe having a second air flow passage that communicates with the first air passage.

24. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the first and second air flow passages are arranged substantially along a straight line as seen in a side view, and the second pipe is rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the first air flow passage.

25. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 24,

wherein the first air flow passage is rotatable between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position relative to the surface to be cleaned.

26. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 25,

wherein the rotation axis of the second pipe lies substantially at a center of the body case in a direction of longer sides of the body case, and a width of the first and second pipes in a direction of shorter sides of the body case is smaller than a width of the body case in the same direction as seen in a plan view when the first pipe is held perpendicularly to the surface to be cleaned.

27. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 25,

wherein rotation of the second pipe is restricted when the first air flow passage is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

28. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 25,

wherein the first air flow passage has a maximum cross-sectional area when its angle relative to the surface to be cleaned is in a predetermined range.

29. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

an engagement member having an arc-shaped cross section and engaged with the first pipe so as to be interlocked therewith in accordance with a rotation angle of the first pipe; and

an opening provided in the body case so as to allow rotation of the first pipe, the opening being closed by the sliding portion, which has an arc-shaped cross section and which slides along an inner surface of the body case, and by the engagement member.

30. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a locking member having an arc-shaped cross section and engaged with the engagement member in accordance with a rotation angle of the first pipe, the locking member being arranged inside the engagement member.

31. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a covering portion provided at a front end of the engagement member so as to close a gap between the engagement member and the body case.

32. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

casters provided on a bottom surface of the body case so as to roll on the surface to be cleaned, the casters being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.

33. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 32,

wherein the casters can be moved translationally along the surface to be cleaned.

34. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 32,

wherein the casters are arranged inside the body case as seen in a plan view.

35. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:

recessed portions provided in the bottom surface of the body case so as to have openings in circumferential surfaces of the body case, the recessed portions being used to arrange the casters.

36. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:

supporting members, provided one pair for each of the casters, for supporting shafts of the casters on both sides of the casters; and

reinforcing members for bridging between each pair of supporting members in front of and behind the casters.

37. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the first pipe has an opening provided to allow rotation of the second pipe, and has a movable shutter for closing the opening.

38. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 37,

wherein the shutter is interlocked with the second pipe.

39. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

a restricting member for restricting rotation of the second pipe relative to the first pipe.

40. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 39,

wherein the restricting member has a force-loading member and a ball.

41. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 39,

wherein the restricting member has a dust-proof member for preventing entry of dust.

42. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a rotary brush rotatably arranged inside the body case, the rotary brush having a hollow shaft and blades provided so as to protrude from the shaft, the blades each having a plurality of through holes that communicate with an inside of the shaft.

43. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 42, further comprising:

an attachment/detachment button supported on the body case through a shaft so as to be rotated to press and thereby support an end of the rotary brush; and

a rib provided on the body case so as to restrict rotation of the attachment/detachment button,

wherein a certain amount of play is secured to allow free movement of the shaft of the attachment/detachment button.

44. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body case having a nozzle open toward a surface to be cleaned;

a suction pipe rotatably coupled to the body case so as to allow passage of a flow of air sucked in through the nozzle, the suction pipe having a sliding portion that has an arc-shaped cross section and that slides along an inner surface of the body case; and

a rotary brush rotatably arranged inside the sliding portion.

45. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 44, further comprising:

an air inlet provided on the body case, the air inlet allowing air to be sucked in to rotate the rotary brush;

an engagement member that has an arc-shaped cross section and that is engaged with the suction pipe so as to be interlocked therewith in accordance with a rotation angle of the suction pipe, the engagement member having a hole that communicates with the air inlet; and

an opening provided in the body case so as to allow rotation of the suction pipe, the opening being closed by the sliding portion, which has an arc-shaped cross section and which slides along the inner surface of the body case, and by the engagement member.

46. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a nozzle open toward a surface to be cleaned;

a sealing member rotatably provided in a front portion of the nozzle unit so as to open or close a front portion of the nozzle according as the nozzle unit is moved back and forth, the sealing member having a plurality of projections on a surface thereof facing the nozzle.

47. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 46,

wherein the projections are formed integrally with the sealing member so as to have a substantially conical shape each.

48. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 46,

wherein the projections are arranged in a plurality of rows of projections extending along a direction of longer sides of the sealing member, with the projections in any two adjacent rows located at different positions in the direction of the longer sides of the sealing member.

49. A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 46,

wherein at least part of the projections are arranged near a bottom end of the sealing member.