CN112741537A

CN112741537A - Electric vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN112741537A
Application number: CN202011158280.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 太田博司
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2019-10-29
Filing date: 2020-10-26
Publication date: 2021-05-04
Also published as: JP2021069482A; JP7357508B2

Abstract

The electric vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner body including a handle portion; wherein the handle portion comprises: a grip portion; and a grip sensor provided at the grip portion; the grip portion includes one end disposed on an index finger side of a hand of a user gripping the grip portion and the other end disposed on a little finger side, and is defined as a grippable range from the one end to the other end; in the grippable range, the grip sensor is disposed in a range in which a one-end-side grip range when the one end is gripped and a other-end-side grip range when the other end is gripped overlap.

Description

Electric vacuum cleaner

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner.

Background

As an electric vacuum cleaner, japanese patent No. 3427405 proposes a canister (canister) type electric vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body, a flexible tube including one end connected to the cleaner body, a hand operation portion provided at the other end of the flexible tube, a grip portion protruding rearward from a rear end of the hand operation portion in a cantilever shape, an extension tube including one end connected to the hand operation portion, and a suction port body connected to the other end of the extension tube, wherein a grip sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided at the grip portion.

The electric vacuum cleaner is configured such that the grip sensor is configured such that light from the light emitting unit does not reach the light receiving unit and turns OFF the light receiving unit in a state where the grip portion is not gripped by a user, the grip portion is gripped by the user so that the light from the light emitting unit reaches the light receiving unit and turns ON the light receiving unit, or such that the light from the light emitting unit does not reach the light receiving unit and turns OFF the light receiving unit in a state where the grip portion is gripped by the user, the light from the light emitting unit reaches the light receiving unit and turns ON the light receiving unit in a state where the grip portion is not gripped by the user, and an output of a rotary brush motor provided in the suction port body is controllable based ON an output of the grip sensor.

Disclosure of Invention

In the conventional vacuum cleaner, the grip sensor may not operate normally depending on the position and grip method of the grip portion gripped by the user.

For example, in the case of a configuration in which the grip sensor is provided at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the grip portion and is turned ON when the grip portion is gripped, the grip sensor is not turned ON when the user grips the rear end of the grip portion behind the grip sensor. In the case of a configuration in which the light emitting element of the grip sensor is provided at the rear end (or the front end) of the handle portion and the light receiving element is provided at the front end (or the rear end) of the handle portion, and the grip sensor is turned ON when the handle portion is not gripped, if the hand gripping the handle portion is slightly relaxed, it is assumed that the light of the light emitting element is still blocked by the fingers of the hand, and if so, the light receiving element does not receive the light and does not turn ON the grip sensor.

An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner in view of the above-described circumstances.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body including: an electric component storage part for storing an electric blower for sucking dust and a control part; and a handle part which is arranged at the rear of the electric component accommodating part and is supported by a user; wherein

The handle portion includes: a grip portion to be gripped by a user when in use; and a grip sensor provided in the grip portion in such a manner that a finger of a hand of a user gripping the grip portion is detected and converted into an electric detection signal, which is output to the control portion;

the control part can control the output of the electric blower based on the detection signal;

the grip portion includes one end disposed on an index finger side of a hand of a user gripping the grip portion and the other end disposed on a little finger side, and is defined as a grippable range from the one end to the other end;

in the grippable range, the grip sensor is disposed in a range in which a one-end-side grip range when the one end is gripped and a other-end-side grip range when the other end is gripped overlap.

According to the electric vacuum cleaner of an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the electric blower does not operate depending on the holding position of the holding portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a cleaner body of the electric cleaner of the first embodiment.

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of the cleaner body of figure 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a grip sensor of the grip portion of the cleaner body shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating an upper grippable range of the grip portion of the cleaner body of fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a lower grippable range of the grip portion of the cleaner body of fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to fig. 7 showing a state where a hand gripping the grip portion is opened.

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to fig. 8 showing a state where a hand gripping the grip portion is opened.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the hand-held nozzle is detached from the cleaner body in the electric vacuum cleaner of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged left side view of the electric vacuum cleaner of the fourth embodiment in which the hand-held nozzle is attached to the cleaner body.

Fig. 13(a) to (C) are views for explaining the position of the gap formed between the handy nozzle and the surface to be cleaned when the inclination angle of the electric vacuum cleaner of the fourth embodiment with respect to the surface to be cleaned is changed.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

< integral construction of electric vacuum cleaner >

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electric vacuum cleaner in the first embodiment, and fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the electric vacuum cleaner in the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 includes a cleaner body 10, a battery 40 detachably attached to the cleaner body 10, an extension pipe 60 including one end 61a detachably connected to the cleaner body 10, and a suction port body 70 detachably connected to the other end 61b of the extension pipe 60. In the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the suction port body 70 may be directly connected to the cleaner body 10 without the extension pipe 60.

In the present embodiment, the case where the grip sensor is provided in the grip portion of the handle portion of the wand-type cordless vacuum cleaner of the type in which the dust collecting device is provided in the cleaner body is exemplified, but the present invention is also applicable to the case where the grip sensor is provided in the grip portion of the handle portion of the hand-held electric vacuum cleaner of the type in which the dust collecting device is provided on the extension pipe side, the upright type vacuum cleaner, the bedding vacuum cleaner, or the like.

The cleaner body 10 includes a driving device 20 provided with an electric blower 22, a control unit 23, and a grip sensor 21bs, and a dust collecting device 30 detachably attached to the driving device 20. The cleaner body 10 will be described in detail later.

The extension pipe 60 includes a pipe body 61, and a plurality of conductive cables 62 disposed along the pipe body 61.

In addition, the plurality of conductive cables 62 include pin terminals 62a provided on the side of one end 61a and clip-shaped terminals 62b provided on the side of the other end 61b, respectively.

The suction port body 70 includes a suction port body 71, a joint portion 72 coupled to the suction port body 71 so as to be rotatable about a first axis in the front-rear direction, and a connection pipe portion 73 coupled to the joint portion 72 so as to be rotatable about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

The suction port body 71 includes a case 71a including a suction port (not shown) at the bottom, a rotary brush 74 rotatably provided in the case 71a near the suction port, a rotary brush motor 75 for rotating the rotary brush 74, a motor drive circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the rotary brush motor 75, a plurality of conductive cables 76 including a pin terminal 76a at the tip end thereof and electrically connected to the motor drive circuit, and a rotational force transmission mechanism 77 (e.g., Pulley mechanism) for transmitting the rotational force of the rotary brush motor 75 to the rotary brush 74.

In a state where the suction port body 70 and the extension pipe 60 are connected, the pin terminals 76a of the plurality of conductive cables 76 of the suction port body 70 are inserted into the clip terminals 62b of the plurality of conductive cables 62 of the extension pipe 60 and electrically connected.

In a state where the extension pipe 60 and the cleaner body 10 are connected, the pin terminals 62a of the plurality of conductive cables 62 of the extension pipe 60 are inserted into clip-shaped terminals 26a of a plurality of conductive cables 26 of the cleaner body 10, which will be described later, and electrically connected.

In addition, when the suction port body 70 is used by being directly connected to the vacuum cleaner 10 without the extension pipe 60, the pin terminal 76a is directly inserted into the clip terminal 26a and electrically connected.

< construction of vacuum cleaner body >

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a cleaner body of an electric cleaner according to a first embodiment, and fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner body of fig. 4. In fig. 4 and 5, the front, rear, left, right, and up-down directions in which the cleaner body 10 (a pipe portion 21d described later) is horizontally viewed from the user are indicated by arrows, and the structure of the cleaner body will be described based on these front, rear, left, and up-down directions.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the driving device 20 of the cleaner body 10 includes a case 21, and the case 21 includes an electric component housing portion 21a housing the electric blower 22 and the control portion 23, a grip portion 21b provided behind the electric component housing portion 21a, a battery mounting portion 21c provided at a lower end of the electric component housing portion 21a, and a pipe portion 21d provided in front of an upper portion of the electric component housing portion 21 a.

The electric component housing portion 21a of the case 21 is a substantially cylindrical portion, and is provided with a cylindrical air inlet 21aa opening forward, and a lattice component 21ab (see fig. 5) is fitted into the air inlet 21 aa.

Further, an exhaust port 21ac including a plurality of small holes is provided in the right side wall of the electrical component housing portion 21 a.

The electric blower 22 is disposed behind the air inlet 21aa in the electric component housing part 21a so that the rotation axis of the electric blower 22 is positioned above and parallel to the center line P passing through the center of the air inlet 21 aa.

The control unit 23 includes a circuit board 23a, and the circuit board 23a is disposed behind the electric blower 22. The circuit board 23a of the control unit 23 may be provided at a position other than the position shown in fig. 5.

The control unit 23 is electrically connected to the battery via a not-shown conductive cable, and is electrically connected to the electric blower 22 via a conductive cable 25 (see fig. 3).

The grip portion 21b includes an upper end portion 21ba extending rearward from an upper portion of the electric component housing portion 21a, a lower end portion 21bb extending rearward from a lower portion of the electric component housing portion 21a, and a grip portion 21bc connecting the upper end portion 21ba and the lower end portion 21 bb. The grip portion 21bc is provided with a grip sensor 21bs provided in the grip portion 21bc so as to detect the fingers of the hand of the user gripping the grip portion 21bc and output a detection signal to the control portion 23. Further, a battery lock mechanism 21bd is provided below the grip portion 21 b. The grip sensor 21bs will be described in detail later.

A coupling portion 21ae continuously connected to the upper end portion 21ba of the handle portion 21b is provided above the electric component housing portion 21a, and an operation portion 21e including a power switch is provided on an upper surface of the coupling portion 21ae and an upper surface of the upper end portion 21ba of the handle portion 21 b.

The battery lock mechanism 21bd includes a lock release button portion 21bda provided below the grip portion 21bc, a claw portion 21bdb including an inclined surface portion which is slidably in contact with the lock release button portion 21bda, and a biasing member 21bdc (e.g., a compression coil spring) which biases the claw portion 21bdb downward.

According to the battery lock mechanism 21bd, when the lock release button 21bda is pushed forward, the front end of the lock release button 21bda pushes the inclined surface portion of the claw portion 21bdb, and the claw portion 21bdb moves upward against the biasing force of the biasing member 21 bdc. When the pressing of the unlock button 21bda is released from this state, the pawl 21bdb is pressed by the biasing member 21bdc and moved downward, whereby the unlock button 21bda moves to the rear initial position (position shown in fig. 5).

The battery mounting portion 21c includes a recess portion that opens downward and rearward, and the recess portion is provided in an inclined shape that slightly rises from the rear toward the front (for example, around 10 °). In addition, a power receiving terminal (not shown) electrically connectable to a power supply terminal (not shown) of the battery 40 is provided in a rear portion of the recess of the battery mounting portion 21 c.

Also, the left and right side surfaces in the recess are provided with ribs (not shown) extending in the longitudinal direction, and the left and right ribs of the battery mounting portion 21c are fitted to the grooves 41 (see fig. 4) provided along the left and right sides of the battery 40 during battery mounting. At this time, the claw portions 21bdb of the battery lock mechanism 21bd are locked in the notch recesses 42 on the rear upper surface of the battery 40, whereby the battery 40 is locked in the mounted state in the battery mounting portion 21c (see fig. 5).

The pipe portion 21d projects forward from a projecting portion 21ad projecting forward from the air inlet 21aa at the upper portion of the electric component housing portion 21a, and has an air inlet 21da at the front end.

In the pipe portion 21d, clip-shaped terminals 26a (see fig. 3) of the plurality of conductive cables 26 are provided in a closed space 21dd (see fig. 5) below the suction port 21da, and a spacer plate including a plurality of insertion holes 21db (see fig. 4) communicating with the clip-shaped terminals 26a is provided at the front end of the closed space 21 dd.

The conductive cable 26 is electrically connected to the control unit 23 (see fig. 3).

When the one end 61a of the extension pipe 60 is inserted into and connected to the suction port 21da of the pipe portion 21d of the drive device 20, the plurality of pin terminals 62a of the extension pipe 60 are inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 21db of the pipe portion 21d and electrically connected to the plurality of clip-shaped terminals 26 a.

As shown in fig. 5, the dust collecting device 30 is a cyclone type dust collecting device including a dust collecting container 31 and a filter part 32 detachably attached to the dust collecting container 31, and is attached in a lateral direction along a lower end of a pipe part 21d of the driving device 20. That is, a space between the lower end of the tube part 21d of the driving device 20 and the air inlet 21aa of the electric component housing part 21a is configured as a mounting part of the dust collecting device.

An inlet 31a (see fig. 5) is provided in a part of the peripheral wall of the dust collection container 31, and an outlet 21dc (see fig. 5) connectable to the inlet 31a of the dust collection container 31 is provided at the lower end of the pipe portion 21d of the driving device 20. Therefore, when the cleaner body 10 is driven, the air containing dust flowing into the pipe portion 21d of the driving device 20 flows into the dust collection container 31 through the outlet 21dc and the inlet 31 a.

The filter unit 32 of the dust collecting device 30 includes a cup 32a detachably fitted into an opening of the dust collecting container 31, an inner cylinder 32b connected to a center hole of the cup 32a and housed in the dust collecting container 31, and a filter body 32c provided on the cup 32a on the opposite side of the inner cylinder 32 b.

When the cleaner body 10 is driven, a part of the relatively large first dust among the air containing dust flowing into the dust container 31 is centrifugally separated by rotating in the dust container 31, and the other first dust is captured by the mesh part provided in the inner cylindrical part 32 b. The relatively fine second dust passing through the mesh portion is captured by the filter body 32 c. The air from which dust is removed by the filter body 32c flows into the driving device 20 through the air inlet 21aa, and is exhausted through the exhaust port 21ac by the electric blower 22.

< other configurations of grip portion and grip sensor >

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a grip sensor of the grip portion of the cleaner body shown in fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating an upper grippable range of the grip portion of the cleaner body of fig. 4, and fig. 8 is a view illustrating a lower grippable range of the grip portion of the cleaner body of fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to fig. 7 showing a state in which a hand gripping the grip portion is open, and fig. 10 is a view corresponding to fig. 8 showing a state in which a hand gripping the grip portion is open.

As shown in fig. 3 to 8, the grip portion 21bc of the grip portion 21b is inclined forward from the lower end toward the upper end. In this grip portion 21bc, a window portion 21bca opening in the direction of the electrical component housing portion 21a is provided on the inner surface facing the electrical component housing portion 21a, and a frame member 21bx is provided on the peripheral edge portion of the window portion 21bca (see fig. 6). The window 21bca and the frame member 21bx are sealed by an insulating sealing material. Thus, static electricity generated on the outer surface of the grip portion 21bc is less likely to be conducted to the grip sensor 21bs via the frame member 21bx, and the grip sensor 21bs is protected from static electricity. In the present embodiment, the window 21bca and the frame member 21bx are sealed by the insulating sealant, but the insulating sealant may be disposed at any position where it can be sealed between the window 21bca and the frame member 21 bx.

The grip sensor 21bs is provided at the grip portion 21bc so as to be located behind the electric blower 22.

The grip sensor 21bs includes a light emitting module S1 and a light receiving module S2 (see fig. 6) which are integrated with each other, and is attached to a flat surface of the frame member 21bx which is disposed in the grip portion 21 bc.

The grip sensor 21bs is configured to emit light L1 toward the finger light emitting element of the hand H of the user gripping the grip portion 21bc, and the light receiving element receives light L2 of the light emitting element reflecting the fingers of the hand H to output a detection signal (see fig. 7).

The space between the frame member 21bx and the grip sensor 21bs may be sealed by an insulating sealing material. Further, the rib r2 of the frame member 21bx may be pressed by a rib r1 provided in the grip portion 21 bc.

The frame member 21bx includes a hole 21bxa through which light L1 and L2 of the light emitting module S1 pass, and an end face 21bxb facing the electrical component housing portion 21a and protruding toward the electrical component housing portion 21a side from an outer face 21bcb (inner face) of the grip portion 21 bc. In this case, the projection of the end face 21bxb from the outer face 21bcb is preferably about 0.1 to 0.3mm, for example.

Further, hole 21bxa of frame member 21bx expands outward from the inside of grip 21bc (see fig. 6).

Further, since the index finger and the little finger of the hand holding the grip portion 21bc are naturally brought into close contact with each other, the inner side (palm side) of the finger positioned in the frame member 21bx is press-fitted into the hole portion 21bxa, and thus, it becomes difficult for external light to enter the hole portion 21bxa, and it becomes easy to recognize whether or not the hole portion 21bxa is blocked by the finger.

By attaching the grip sensor 21bs to the grip portion 21bc in this manner, the projection of the frame member 21bx can be recognized by the fingers of the hand of the user who grips the grip portion 21 bc. In addition, since no finger touches the grip sensor 21bs (the light emitting element S1 and the light receiving element S2), erroneous detection due to adhesion of dirt, sebum, or the like of the finger to the grip sensor 21bs can be prevented. Further, a transparent protective film may be provided on the surface of the grip sensor 21 bs.

In addition, since hole portion 21bxa of frame member 21bx is expanded outward, the area of the finger of the hand of the user holding the grip portion is increased by the light from light emitting element S1, and the detection range of the finger by grip sensor 21bs is expanded.

As shown in fig. 3, the grip sensor 21bs is electrically connected to the control unit 23 via a conductive cable 27, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 23.

The control unit 23 controls the outputs of the electric blower 22 and the rotary brush motor 75 based on the detection signal from the grip sensor 21 bs.

In the cleaner body 10, the position of the grip sensor 21bs provided in the grip portion 21bc is set as follows.

That is, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the grip portion 21bc includes one end disposed on the index finger F2 side and the other end disposed on the little finger F5 side of the hand H of the user who grips the grip portion 21 bc. Specified as a grippable range from one end to the other end; in this grippable range, the grip sensor 21bs is arranged in a range R3 (see fig. 5) where the one-end-side grip range R1 shown in fig. 7 when one end is gripped and the other-end-side grip range R2 shown in fig. 8 when the other end is gripped overlap.

More specifically, in the case of the present embodiment, the upper end portion 21ba and the lower end portion 21bb of the handle portion 21b define the grippable range of the grip portion 21bc, the one end side grippable range R1 is an upper side grippable range R1 in which the user's hand H can grip the grip portion 21bc in a state of being in contact with the upper end portion 21ba, and the other end side grippable range R2 is a lower side grippable range R2 in which the user's hand H can grip the grip portion 21bc in a state of being in contact with the lower end portion 21 bb. The grip sensor 21bs is disposed in a range R3 where the upper grip range R1 and the lower grip range R2 overlap.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the grip sensor 21bs is arranged at a position shifted to a position higher than the middle of the grip portion 21bc in the longitudinal direction in the overlapping range R3. Thus, the grip sensor 21bs is easily arranged at a position facing the middle finger or ring finger of the hand when the user grips the grip portion 21bc at a substantially middle position of the height range.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the width W of the opening between the grip portion 21bc and the electrical component housing portion 21a is the widest at the position where the grip sensor 21bs is provided. Accordingly, even if the user sticks out the finger gripping the upper side gripping range R1 of the grip portion 21bc as shown in fig. 9 or the user sticks out the finger gripping the lower side gripping range R2 of the grip portion 21bc as shown in fig. 10, the finger at the position gripping the sensor 21bs is less likely to hit the electrical component housing portion 21a, and the switching operation of ON and OFF of the grip sensor 21bs becomes favorable. That is, since the grip handle can be held, the electric vacuum cleaner 1 can be moved with only one finger (for example, the middle finger) before the grip sensor 21bs being turned on and the electric blower 22 and the rotary brush motor 75 being stopped, and the usability is improved.

When cleaning the floor surface by the electric vacuum cleaner 1 configured as described above, as shown in fig. 7 and 6, where the user holds the grip portion 21bc, the finger is also detected by the grip sensor 21bs, and a detection signal is output from the grip sensor 21bs to the control portion 23 (see fig. 3). Thus, the control unit 23 drives the electric blower 22 and the rotary brush motor 75 based on the detection signal.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, when the hand H of the user gripping the grip portion 21bc is opened, the grip sensor 21bs does not detect the finger and the detection signal is not output to the control portion 23. Thereby, the control unit 23 stops the electric blower 22 and the rotary brush motor 75.

(second embodiment)

In the present invention, the shape of the grip portion of the cleaner body is not limited to the curved shape as in the first embodiment, and may be, for example, a circular arc shape. In this case, the entire circular arc-shaped grip portion is a grip portion, an upper grip range of the grip portion is defined by an upper portion of the electric component housing portion 21a (see fig. 4), a lower grip range of the grip portion is defined by a lower portion of the electric component housing portion 21a, and a grip sensor is provided in a range where the upper grip range and the lower grip range overlap.

(third embodiment)

In the present embodiment, the suction port body is not limited to the first embodiment, and may be a suction port body that rotates the drum by a motor other than the configuration in which the rotating brush is rotated by the motor for rotating the brush, and moves itself. In this case, the control unit is controlled so that the movable roller rotates when the grip sensor is turned ON and stops when the grip sensor is turned OFF. In addition, the motor for the rotary brush can also be used for driving the movable roller to rotate.

Alternatively, the suction inlet body may not include a motor. In this case, the ON/OFF drive of the grip sensor is controlled by only the electric blower.

(fourth embodiment)

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the hand-held nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner of the fourth embodiment is detached from the cleaner body, and fig. 12 is a partially enlarged left side view of the electric vacuum cleaner of the fourth embodiment where the hand-held nozzle is attached to the cleaner body. Fig. 13(a) to (C) are views for explaining the position of the gap formed between the handy nozzle and the surface to be cleaned when the inclination angle of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the fourth embodiment with respect to the surface to be cleaned is changed. In fig. 11 to 13, the same elements as those in fig. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Note that, in fig. 11 and 12, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions in which the cleaner body 10 (pipe portion 21d) is horizontally viewed from the user are indicated by arrows, and the structure of the hand-held nozzle will be described based on these front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions.

As shown in fig. 11, 12, and 13, the electric vacuum cleaner 101 of the fourth embodiment includes the vacuum cleaner body 10 described in the first embodiment and the hand-held nozzle 80 detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body 10, and is excellent in usability for cleaning, for example, the upper surface of a shelf, the upper surface of furniture, a floor surface, and the like.

Hereinafter, the description of the vacuum cleaner body 10 will be omitted, and the configuration of the handy nozzle 80 and the usage state of the electric vacuum cleaner 101 will be described.

The handy nozzle 80 includes an insertion port 81 at the rear end thereof, into which the front end (the suction port 21da side) of the pipe portion 21d of the cleaner body 10 is detachably inserted, and a suction port 82 at the front end thereof, through which air containing dust is sucked.

The front end of the suction port 82 constituting the handy nozzle 80 includes an inverted U-shaped upper edge 83a, left and

right edges

83b, 83c connected to the left and right ends of the upper edge 83a, and a lower edge 83d connected to the left and

right edges

83b, 83c, as viewed from the front. The lower end of the left edge 83b and the lower edge 83d are connected via a rounded portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees in front view, and the right edge 83c and the lower edge 83d are connected via a rounded portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees in front view. This increases the strength around the lower edge 83d, and the lower edge is less likely to deform when pressed.

At the front end edge of the suction port 82, the upper edge portion 83a projects forward from the lower edge portion 83 d. Therefore, the left edge portion 83b and the right edge portion 83c are inclined from the bottom toward the top toward the front when viewed from the left-right direction (see fig. 12), but are not straight, and are inclined while being curved into an arc shape that gradually expands toward the front.

According to this vacuum cleaner 101, since the left edge portion 83b and the right edge portion 83C of the leading edge of the hand-held nozzle 80 are curved, as shown in fig. 13(a) to (C), the entire leading edge of the hand-held nozzle 80 is less likely to come into close contact with the surface F to be cleaned during cleaning, and the handleability is good.

To describe in detail, as shown in fig. 12 and 13(a), when the upper edge portion 83a of the hand-held nozzle 80 is brought into contact with the surface F to be cleaned, a gap G1 is formed between the lower edge portion 83d side of the hand-held nozzle 80 and the surface F to be cleaned.

As shown in fig. 12 and 13(B), when the left edge 83B and the right edge 83c of the hand-held nozzle 80 are brought into contact with the surface F to be cleaned, the gap G1 between the lower edge 83d of the hand-held nozzle 80 is reduced, and a gap G2 is formed between the upper edge 83a and the surface F to be cleaned.

As shown in fig. 12 and 13(C), when the lower edge 83d of the hand-held nozzle 80 is brought into contact with the surface F to be cleaned, the gap G1 on the lower edge 83d side of the hand-held nozzle 80 is eliminated, and the gap G2 on the upper edge 83a side is increased.

Thus, according to the hand held nozzle 80, even if a part of the leading edge comes into contact with the surface F to be cleaned, since a gap is formed between the part of the leading edge and the surface F to be cleaned, dust on the surface F to be cleaned from the gap flows into the hand held nozzle 80 together with air and is removed. Therefore, the entire front end edge of the hand nozzle 80 is less likely to be attracted by the surface F to be cleaned in close contact therewith, and the electric vacuum cleaner 101 cannot be moved smoothly, and the grip operability is improved. The hand nozzle 80 is integrally formed of the same resin material, but the front end edge portion on the suction port 82 side may be formed of a resin material, rubber, or the like that is softer than other portions. Even if the hand-held nozzle 80 of the present embodiment is pressed against the surface F to be cleaned with a force that is assumed to be normally used, the entire front end edge of the hand-held nozzle 80 has a strength that does not come into close contact with the surface F to be cleaned (a gap is present).

Further, when the electric blower is used in a hand-held state, only the fingers before the grip sensor 21bs are opened and closed at a time while the grip portion 21b is gripped, and thus the ON and OFF of the electric blower can be switched, and the electric blower is excellent in usability. In particular, when the user sees garbage everywhere, the user can easily turn ON the electric blower only when the user sucks the garbage, rather than turning ON the electric blower directly. Therefore, the use of such a method contributes to reduction in power consumption (extension of usable time of the battery 40).

In addition, according to the electric vacuum cleaner 101 of the fourth embodiment, when the handy nozzle 80 is attached to the cleaner body 10, the extension pipe 60 (see fig. 1) can be inserted into the suction port 82 of the handy nozzle 80, and the extension pipe 60 can be connected to the suction port 21da of the pipe portion 21d of the cleaner body 10. Therefore, the floor surface cleaning can be performed by connecting the suction port body 70 to the cleaner body 10 via the extension pipe 60 without removing the hand nozzle 80, and the extension pipe 60 can be removed to clean the upper surface of the rack, the upper surface of the furniture, the floor surface of the stairs, and the like, and the usability is excellent.

(other embodiments)

In the present invention, the grip sensor is not limited to the optical sensor as in the first embodiment, and may be, for example, a touch sensor that is turned ON by touching a finger that grips the grip portion.

(conclusion)

An electric vacuum cleaner according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a cleaner body comprising: an electric component storage part for storing an electric blower for sucking dust and a control part; and a handle part which is arranged at the rear of the electric component accommodating part and is supported by a user; wherein

According to this configuration, even when the user grips the grip portion at a position from one end to the other end thereof, the grip sensor can detect the finger of the hand, and thus high-precision detection by the grip sensor can be realized. That is, the possibility that the electric blower does not operate depending on the holding position of the holding portion can be reduced. Therefore, in cleaning by the electric vacuum cleaner, the control of the electric blower by the control section, which is controlled by the user gripping the grip section and by the control section so that the electric blower is driven, and the control of the electric blower by the control section, which is controlled by the control section so that the electric blower is stopped when the grip section is not gripped, can be performed with high accuracy.

Further, according to this configuration, not only the electric blower but also the motor for the rotary brush of the suction port body connected to the cleaner body can be controlled with high precision.

The electric vacuum cleaner according to an aspect of the present invention may be configured as follows, or may be appropriately combined with these.

The handle portion may include: an upper end portion protruding rearward from an upper portion of the electric component housing portion; a lower end portion protruding rearward from a lower portion of the electric component housing portion; and the grip portion extending in a vertical direction connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion;

the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the grip portion define the grippable range of the grip portion;

the one end side holding range is an upper side holding range in which the user can hold the grip portion in a state where the user's hand contacts the upper end portion;

the other-end side holding range is a lower-side holding range in which the user can hold the holding portion in a state where the user's hand contacts the lower end portion.

That is, in the handle portion having such a design, the upper grip range is defined when the handle portion is gripped with the index finger touching the upper end portion, the lower grip range is defined when the handle portion is gripped with the little finger touching the lower end portion, and the grip sensor is provided in the range where the upper grip range and the lower grip range of the handle portion overlap. Even in the grip portion designed in this manner, it is possible to perform highly accurate detection of the grip sensor and highly accurate control of the electric components such as the electric blower by the control portion.

The grip sensor may be disposed in the overlapping range at a position above a middle of the grip portion in the longitudinal direction.

According to this configuration, the grip sensor is easily disposed at a position facing the middle finger or ring finger of the hand when the user grips substantially at the middle position of the range of the height of the grip portion.

The grip portion may include: a window portion that opens in the direction of the electrical component housing portion; a frame member provided at a peripheral edge portion of the window portion;

the grip sensor includes a light emitting element mounted on the frame member and configured to emit light toward fingers of a hand of a user gripping the grip portion, and a light receiving element configured to receive the light of the light emitting element reflecting the fingers of the hand, thereby outputting the detection signal;

the frame member includes a hole portion through which the light passes, and includes an end surface facing the electric component housing portion and protruding toward the electric component housing portion side than an outer surface of the grip portion;

the grip sensor is disposed further toward the inside of the grip portion than the end surface of the frame member.

According to this configuration, the user can recognize the position of the grip sensor by grasping the grip portion and contacting the protruding end surface of the frame member with his or her fingers. Therefore, the user can adjust the degree of grasping of the grasping portion and intentionally switch the grasping sensor between ON and OFF.

The hole of the frame member may be expanded from the inside of the grip portion to the outside.

According to this configuration, since the area of the finger of the hand of the user gripping the grip portion illuminated by the light from the light emitting element increases, the detection range of the finger by the grip sensor is expanded.

The peripheral edge of the window portion of the grip portion and the frame member may be sealed with an insulating sealing material.

According to this configuration, even if static electricity is generated on the outer surface of the grip portion due to friction between the user's hand and the grip portion, the static electricity is less likely to be conducted from the outer surface of the grip to the grip sensor through the frame member by the insulating sealing material, and the grip sensor can be protected from the static electricity.

The width of the opening between the grip portion and the electrical component housing portion may be the widest at the position where the grip sensor is provided.

According to this configuration, when the user opens the hand holding the grip portion, the fingers at the position holding the sensor are less likely to hit the electrical component housing portion. In other words, the finger-extending operation can be increased when the grip sensor is turned OFF. This can suppress erroneous detection that the grip sensor is not turned OFF due to a small space in which a finger can be extended.

May also include: a suction port body connected to the cleaner body directly or via a connection pipe; wherein

The suction port body includes: rotating the brush; and a motor for the rotary brush, which rotates the rotary brush;

the control portion may control an output of the motor for the rotary brush based on the detection signal.

According to this configuration, in addition to the control of the suction force (electric blower) in the cleaner body, the control of the dust suction force by the rotary brush in the suction port body can be performed.

In addition, the disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the description above, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a cleaner body comprising:

an electric component storage part for storing an electric blower for sucking dust and a control part; and

a handle portion provided behind the electric component housing portion and supported by a user; wherein

The handle portion includes:

a grip portion to be gripped by a user when in use; and

a grip sensor provided in the grip portion so as to detect a finger of a hand of a user gripping the grip portion and output a detection signal converted into electricity to the control portion;

2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,

the handle portion includes:

an upper end portion protruding rearward from an upper portion of the electric component housing portion;

a lower end portion protruding rearward from a lower portion of the electric component housing portion; and

the grip portion extending in a vertical direction connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion;

3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2,

the grip sensor is disposed in the overlapping range at a position above the middle of the grip portion in the longitudinal direction.

4. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the grip portion includes:

a window portion that opens in the direction of the electrical component housing portion; and

a frame member provided at a peripheral edge portion of the window portion;

5. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4,

the hole of the frame member is expanded from the inside of the grip portion toward the outside.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 or 5,

the peripheral edge of the window portion of the grip portion and the frame member are sealed with an insulating sealing material.

7. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the width of the opening between the grip portion and the electrical component housing portion is the widest at the position where the grip sensor is provided.

8. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

a suction port body connected to the cleaner body directly or via a connection pipe; wherein

The suction port body includes:

rotating the brush; and

a motor for the rotary brush, which rotates the rotary brush;