Electric vacuum cleaner

• US 6,058,559 A
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoneda, Isao, Yoshimi, Kazuyoshi, Suetsugu, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/100,754
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 15/328, 15/335
• US Class Current: 15/328
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0045 specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner body, a hose to be connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a support pipe to be connected to the hose, and a suction device to be connected to the support pipe. The suction device is provided with running wheels, and the vacuum cleaner body is able to be detachably fastened to the support pipe so that it is supported by the wheels of the suction device when the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the support pipe. The cleaning workability is thus improved, and the external appearance of the vacuum cleaner body in a condition of being detached from the support pipe can be improved.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner body, a hose to be connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a support pipe to be connected to the hose, and a suction device to be connected to the support pipe,

wherein the suction device is provided with running wheels, and the vacuum cleaner body is able to be detachably fastened to the support pipe so that the vacuum cleaner body is supported by the wheels of the suction device when the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the support pipe.

15. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner body does not have wheels.

2. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner body, a hose to be connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a support pipe to be connected to the hose, a rotary pipe to be connected to the support pipe in a rotatable manner, and a suction device to be connected to the rotary pipe,

wherein the vacuum cleaner body is arranged such that the vacuum cleaner body can be fastened to the support pipe in a detachable manner, the vacuum cleaner body is further arranged such that the vacuum cleaner body can be fastened to the rotary pipe in a detachable manner, and

wherein the electric vacuum cleaner is provided with a rotation locking means for preventing rotation of the rotary pipe with respect to the support pipe when the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the support pipe.

3. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a vacuum cleaner body,

(b) a support pipe connected to a suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner body,

(c) a rotary bend connected to the support pipe,

(d) a rotary pipe connected to the rotary bend in a rotatable manner, and

(e) a suction device connected to the rotary pipe,

wherein the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the support pipe in an attachable/detachable manner, the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the rotary pipe in an attachable/detachable manner, and wherein the electric vacuum cleaner further includes a rotation locking mechanism which prevents rotation of the rotary bend with respect to the rotary pipe when the vacuum cleaner body is attached to the rotary pipe at a predetermined position.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the rotation locking means comprises a flat portion formed on the vacuum cleaner body, a flat portion formed on the rotary bend, and a flat portion formed on the rotary pipe.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the rotary bend includes a circumferential surface, and at least a part of the flat portion of the rotary bend is so formed as to project from the circumferential surface of the rotary bend along a tangential direction of the circumferential surface.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein at least a part of the flat portion of the rotary pipe is so formed as to project from a circumferential surface of the rotary pipe along a tangential direction of the circumferential surface.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the rotation locking means comprises projections formed on the rotary bend and the rotary pipe, and concave portions formed on the vacuum cleaner body for fitting with the projections.

8. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner body having a front portion and a rear portion opposite to said front portion, a hose to be connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a support pipe to be connected to the hose, said support pipe having a first end and a second end opposite said support pipe first end,

wherein the support pipe second end is connected to a rotary pipe which is provided with a first engaging portion which detachably engages with a first receiving portion formed in the rear portion of the vacuum cleaner body, and said support pipe is provided with a second engaging portion which detachably engages with a second receiving portion formed in the front portion of the vacuum cleaner body.

9. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the second engaging portion of the support pipe is movable toward said first and second ends of said support pipe.

10. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein a tip portion of the second engaging portion of the support pipe is formed with a slanting surface that is inclined so as to extend away from the support pipe as it extends in a direction from said support pipe second end towards said support pipe first end.

11. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the electric vacuum cleaner includes an energizing means that biases the second engaging portion of the support pipe in a direction from said support pipe first end towards said support pipe second end.

16. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first and second engaging portions as well as the first and second receiving portions are configured such that said first and second engaging portions are capable of being sequentially engaged with, and sequentially detached from, said first and second receiving portions, respectively.

17. An electric vacuum cleaner of claim 8, further comprising a suction device connected to said rotary pipe.

12. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner body, a hose to be connected to the vacuum cleaner body, a support pipe to be connected to the hose, said support pipe having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, and a suction device to be connected to the support pipe, wherein the vacuum cleaner body is detachably fastened to the first side of the support pipe, and wherein the hose is connected to the vacuum cleaner body and said support pipe such that the hose does not extend to the second side of the support pipe.

13. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein at least a part of an upper portion of the support pipe is bent to the first side of the support pipe, said bent portion having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, and an opening is formed at the first end of the bent portion of the support pipe.

14. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein a grip is fastened to the bent portion of the support pipe so as to extend toward said second side of said support pipe.

18. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein a grip is fastened to the support pipe so as to extend toward said second side of said support pipe.

19. The electric vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further comprising a hose retainer attached to said first side of said support pipe so that when said hose is in said hose retainer, said hose does not extend to said second side of said support pipe.