Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner main body, a suction device, a suction motor, and a dust container. The dust container includes a dust collection body configured to contain dust, an opening/closing portion rotatably coupled to the dust collection body and configured to rotate to thereby open and close at least a portion of the dust collection body, and an operation portion connected to the dust collection body and configured to rotate in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The opening/closing portion is configured to rotate based on the operation portion rotating in the first direction, and configured to rotate based on the operation portion rotating in the second direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 and 35 U.S.C. §365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0068943 filed on Jun. 2, 2016, all of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner. 
       Background 
       [0003]    Generally, the vacuum cleaner is a device that sucks dust-containing air using suction force generated by a suction motor mounted inside a main body thereof, and then filters dust inside the main body. 
         [0004]    Such a vacuum cleaner is divided into a manual vacuum cleaner and an automatic vacuum cleaner. The manual vacuum cleaner is a vacuum cleaner which performs cleaning directly by users and the automatic vacuum cleaner is a vacuum cleaner which performs cleaning while working by itself. 
         [0005]    The manual vacuum cleaner can be divided into a canister type in which a suction nozzle is provided separately from the main body and then is connected by a connection pipe and an upright type in which the suction nozzle is coupled to the main body. 
         [0006]    On the other hand, the vacuum cleaner includes a dust container in which the dust sucked through the suction nozzle into the cleaner main body is stored regardless of the type. In order to maintain the suction force of the vacuum cleaner, the user has to periodically empty the dust stored in the dust container. 
         [0007]    In a case where the user empties the dust container, the dust container is separated from the cleaner main body and the dust container is opened to shake off the dust inside the dust container. 
         [0008]    The registered patent publication No. 10-0751788 (published on Aug. 24, 2007) which is the related art discloses a dust container assembly device for the vacuum cleaner. 
         [0009]    According to the related art, there are problems that a hand of the user may be contaminated by the dust stored in the dust container in the process of opening the dust container and that the dust container is opened unintentionally. 
         [0010]    In addition, in the process of opening the dust container, the user has to grasp the dust container using one hand and open the dust container using the other hand. At this time, in a case of the hand opening the dust container is not a mainly used hand (that is, a right hand of a right-handed person or a left hand of a left-handed person), it is impossible to apply proper force to the dust container, and thus the user may experience difficulties such as dropping the dust container. 
         [0011]    On the other hand, if the dust container is designed to hold the dust container using the left hand and open the dust container using the right hand so that the right-handed person can easily use the dust container, the left-handed person may feel inconvenience in opening the dust container. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which can simply open a dust container. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which can easily open a dust container using either hand of both hands. 
         [0014]    In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner in which an operation portion can be operated using same operation force regardless of a rotation direction. 
         [0015]    A vacuum cleaner according to one aspect includes a cleaner main body, a suction device which guides dust-containing air to the cleaner main body, a suction motor which is provided in the cleaner main body and provides suction force, and a dust container which stores dust sucked through the suction device. 
         [0016]    The dust container includes a dust collection body in which dust is stored, an opening and closing portion for opening and closing the dust collection body, and an operation portion which is connected to the dust collection body to be rotatable in both directions and can open the dust collection body by rotating the opening and closing portion even in a case where the operation portion is rotated in either direction of both directions. 
         [0017]    The vacuum cleaner may further include a first elastic member which is contracted when the operation portion is rotated in one direction, and a second elastic member which is contracted when the operation portion rotates in the other direction, so as to be capable of returning to an initial position even in a case where the operation portion is rotated in either direction of both directions. 
         [0018]    Each of the elastic members may be a coil spring. 
         [0019]    The dust collection body may include a first support portion for supporting one end of each elastic member and the operation portion may include a second support portion for supporting the other end of each elastic member. 
         [0020]    The operation portion may be formed in an arch shape so that the elastic member can be arranged in a rounded state and may further include a third support portion which forms an elastic member accommodation portion in which each of the elastic members is accommodated, together with the first support portion and the second support portion. 
         [0021]    The operation portion may include an operation body, a protrusion portion which protrudes from a rim of the operation body, and inclined portions which are formed at both end portions of the protrusion portion. 
         [0022]    One inclined portion of the inclined portions formed at both end portions of the protrusion portion may press the opening and closing portion in a process of rotating the operation portion. 
         [0023]    The dust collection body may include a fixing protrusion, and the opening and closing portion may include a fixing portion which is fixed to the fixing protrusion in a state where the dust collection body is closed. 
         [0024]    In a state where the opening and closing portion closes the dust collection body, a portion of the fixing portion may be positioned in a space between the inclined portions at both ends of the protrusion portion. 
         [0025]    The fixing portion may include an interference portion which interferes with the inclined portion in the process of rotating the operation portion and a hooking portion which protrudes from the interference portion and is hooked to the fixing protrusion. 
         [0026]    The hooking between the hooking portion and the fixing protrusion may be released by one inclined portion of the inclined portions at both ends of the protrusion portion pressing the interference portion when the fixing portion is rotated in one direction. 
         [0027]    The inclined portion may include a first inclined surface facing a front lower side and a second inclined surface facing a front upper side. A boundary portion may be formed between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, and the boundary portion and the second inclined surface may be sequentially in contact with the hooking portion in a process of rotating the operation portion in one direction. 
         [0028]    The operation body may be provided with a handle for gripping by a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a dust container according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the dust container according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a dust collection body according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an opening and closing portion according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating an operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a rear view illustrating the operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a fastening structure of the operation portion and a main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a state where the operation portion is rotated in one direction according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a process of opening the dust container according to an operation of the operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of the respective drawings, it should be noted that the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are illustrated in different drawings. In addition, in the description of embodiments of the present invention, a specified description of related and known configurations or functions will be omitted in a case where it is determined as hindering the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0040]    In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, the order or the sequence of the components. In a case where a component is described as being “attached”, “coupled”, or “connected” to another component, although the component may be directly attached or connected to the other component, it is to be understood that another component may be “attached”, “coupled”, or “connected” between components, respectively. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a dust container according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.  3  is an exploded perspective view of the dust container according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , a vacuum cleaner  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a suction device  20  and a cleaner main body  30  which is connected to the suction device  20  and sucks air from the suction device  20 . 
         [0043]    The suction device  20  can guide dust-containing air to the cleaner main body  30 . The suction device  20  may include a suction portion  21  for suctioning dust on a floor surface as an example of a surface to be cleaned and a connection portion  22 ,  23 , and  24  for connecting the suction portion  21  to the cleaner main body  10 . 
         [0044]    The connection portions  22 ,  23  and  24  may include an extension pipe  22  which extends from the suction portion  21 , a handle  23  which is connected to the extension pipe  22 , and a suction hose  24  which connects the handle  23  to the cleaner main body  30 . 
         [0045]    The cleaner main body  30  may include a dust container  100  for separating dust and storing the separated dust. 
         [0046]    The dust container  100  may be made of a transparent material so that the user can identify an inside portion thereof. In addition, the dust container  100  may be detachably mounted to the cleaner main body  30 . At this time, the dust container  100  may be separated in a front direction of the cleaner main body  30 . In this case, the front direction may mean a direction toward the suction device  20  with respect to the cleaner main body  30 . A detailed description with respect to the dust container  100  will be described later. 
         [0047]    The cleaner main body  30  may further include a main body cover  31  covering an upper side of the dust container  100 . 
         [0048]    A holder  26  to which the suction hose  23  is coupled is provided on a side of the main body cover  31  and dust-containing air can be sucked to the inside of the dust container  100  through the holder  26 . 
         [0049]    The main body cover  31  may be provided on an upper portion of the cleaner main body  30 . As an example, the main body cover  31  may be rotatably connected to the cleaner main body  30  by a hinge (not illustrated). 
         [0050]    The cleaner main body  30  may further include a motor portion  33  for sucking dust separated air from the dust container  100 . The motor portion  33  may include a suction motor (not illustrated). 
         [0051]    The suction motor generates suction force. When the suction motor is driven to generate the suction force, the dust-containing air can be guided to the dust container  100  through the suction device  20 . Air and dust guided to the dust container  100  are separated from each other in the dust container  100  and dust separated air is discharged from the dust container  100 . On the other hand, the dust separated from the air is stored in the dust container  100 . 
         [0052]    The main body cover  31  may be provided with a handle  35  for gripping by a user. The user can grip the handle  35  when lifting or tilting the cleaner main body  30 . 
         [0053]    The handle  35  may be provided on the upper portion of the main body cover  31 . In addition, the handle  35  may extend in the front and rear direction of the cleaner main body  30  and may be rounded upward. 
         [0054]    The cleaner main body  30  may further include a moving wheel  40 . The moving wheel  40  can move the cleaner main body  30 . 
         [0055]    On the other hand, the dust container  100  includes a dust collection body  110  in which dust is stored and an opening and closing portion  130  which is located under the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0056]    The dust collection body  110  may include a dust storage portion  111  for storing the dust and a dust discharge portion  113  provided on a lower surface of the dust storage portion  111 . 
         [0057]    The dust storage portion  111  may include a cylindrical container passing through in a substantially vertical direction. A filter portion (not illustrated) for separating dust from the air sucked from the suction portion  20  may be provided in an inner space of the dust storage portion  111 . 
         [0058]    The opening and closing portion  130  can be hinged to a lower portion of the dust storage portion  111  and selectively open the dust discharge portion  113 . The opening structure of the opening and closing portion  130  will be described later in detail. 
         [0059]    The dust container  100  may further include an upper cover  170  positioned on the upper side of the dust collection body  110 . The upper cover  170  may be provided with an air suction port  172  and the air sucked from the suction device  20  through the air suction port  172  may be introduced into the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0060]    In addition, the upper cover  170  may be accommodated in the inner space of the main body cover  31  when the dust container  100  is fastened to the cleaner main body  30  and a side of the suction hose  24  can be fastened to the air suction port  172 . 
         [0061]    On the other hand, the upper cover  170  may be provided with an air discharge port (not illustrated), and air in which dust is removed from the filter portion may flow to the motor portion  33  through the air discharge port. 
         [0062]    Accordingly, the air and the dust introduced through the air suction port  172  are separated by passing through the filter portion, the separated dust is stored in the dust storage portion  111  of the dust collection body  110 , and the separated air flows to the motor portion  33  through the air discharge port. 
         [0063]    The dust collection body  110  includes a hinge  115  to which the opening and closing portion  130  is rotatably coupled and a fixing protrusion  116  which interferes with the opening and closing portion  130 . 
         [0064]    The hinge  115  may be provided at a lower end of the dust collection body  110 . The opening and closing portion  130  can be vertically rotatable about the hinge  115  and can selectively open the dust discharge portion  113 . 
         [0065]    The fixing protrusion  116  may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the dust collection body  111 . As an example, the fixing protrusion  116  may be disposed on a lower outer circumferential surface of the dust collection body  110  so as to be adjacent to the dust discharge portion  113 . 
         [0066]    The fixing protrusion  116  may protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0067]    At this time, it can be understood that the direction in which the fixing protrusions  116  extends with respect to the dust collection body  110  is a front side of the dust collection body  110  and the direction in which the hinge  115  is provided is a rear side of the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0068]    On the other hand, the dust container  100  may further include an operation portion  150  fastened to a side of the dust collection body  110  and an elastic member  140  for elastically supporting the operation portion  150 . 
         [0069]    The operation portion  150  may selectively interfere with the opening and closing portion  130  and selectively rotate the opening and closing portion  130 . 
         [0070]    The elastic member  140  may rotate the operation portion  150  such that the rotated operation portion  150  returns to a position for fixing the opening and closing portion  130  (hereinafter, referred to as “reference position”). 
         [0071]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a dust collection body according to the embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an opening and closing portion according to the embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating an operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a rear view illustrating the operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0072]    With reference to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 , the dust collection body  110  may include an accommodation portion  120  in which the operation portion  150  is disposed. The accommodation portion  120  may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the dust collection body  110  and may be disposed on an upper side of the fixing protrusion  116 . 
         [0073]    The accommodation portion  120  may protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0074]    At this time, the accommodation portion  120  may extend from the dust collection body  110  such that a front end thereof is located on the same plane. As an example, in a case where the dust collection body  110  has a cylindrical shape, the extending length of both side portions of the accommodation portion  120  may be longer than an extending length of the upper and lower portions thereof. 
         [0075]    The accommodation portion  120  may be formed in a ring shape about one point when viewed from a front side. As an example, the accommodation portion  120  may have a ring shape about the center portion  124 . The center portion  124  may be provided with a fastening portion for selectively and rotatably fastening the operation portion  150 . 
         [0076]    The dust collection body  110  may include a first support portion  121  which is disposed inside the accommodation portion  120  and supports the elastic member  140 . 
         [0077]    One surface of the first support portion  121  may contact the one end of the elastic member  140  to support the elastic member  140 . 
         [0078]    The dust collection body  110  may include a guide portion  122  which is disposed in an inside portion of the accommodation portion  120  and guides the rotation of the operation portion  150 . 
         [0079]    The guide portion  122  may be an arch-shaped structure spaced apart from the center portion  124  by a predetermined distance. The guide portion  122  is accommodated in the accommodation portion  120  and guides the operation portion  150  rotated in both directions. 
         [0080]    A space portion  123  may be provided between the first support portion  121  and the guide portion  122 . The space portion  123  may be penetrated by a third support portion  162  which will be described later. 
         [0081]    On the other hand, the opening and closing portion  130  includes an opening and closing body  131  for selectively shielding the dust discharge portion  113 , a hinge portion  135  for rotatably fastening the opening and closing body  131  to the dust collection body  110 , and a fixing portion  137  for fixing the opening and closing body  131  to the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0082]    The opening and closing body  131  may have the same shape as the opening shape of the dust discharge portion  113 . As an example, the opening and closing body  131  may have a disk shape. 
         [0083]    The hinge portion  135  may be rotatably fastened to the hinge  115  of the dust collection body  110 . The hinge portion  135  may extend from one side of the opening and closing body  131  and as an example, the hinge portion  135  may extend rearward from the rear side edge of the opening and closing body  131 . 
         [0084]    The fixing portion  137  may extend from the other side of the opening and closing body  131  and as an example, the fixing portion  137  may be bend and extend so as to face a front side of the dust collection body  110  from the front side edge of the opening and closing body  131 . The fixing portion  137  may be selectively hooked to fixing protrusion  116  of the dust collection body  110  to fix the opening and closing body  131  to the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0085]    The fixing portion  137  includes an interference portion  139  extending from the opening and closing body  131  and a hooking portion  138  extending from a rear surface of the interference portion  139  toward a rear side of the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0086]    The interference portion  139  may interfere with the operation portion  150  and the hooking portion  138  may be hooked to the fixing protrusion  116 . 
         [0087]    The operation portion  150  can be rotated in both directions in a state of being accommodated in the accommodation portion  120 . The operation portion  150  may interfere with the interference portion  138  of the opening and closing body  131  in a process of rotating the operation portion  150 . 
         [0088]    The operation portion  150  may include an operation body  151  having a substantial disk shape and an outer circumferential surface portion  154  extending to the operation body  151 . 
         [0089]    The operation portion  150  further includes a through hole  152  passing through the center of the operation body  151 . The through hole  152  may be aligned with the center portion  124  of the dust collection body  110  and the operation portion  150  can be rotatably fastened to the dust collection body  110  by a fastening member (not illustrated) passing through the through hole  152  and being fastened to the fastening portion provided in the center portion  124 . 
         [0090]    The operation portion  150  may further include a handle  153  projecting from the operation body  151  to a front side. The user can rotate the operation portion  150  using the handle  153 . 
         [0091]    The operation portion  150  further includes a protrusion portion  155  protruding from a rim portion of the main body  151  toward a front side and a depressed portion  157 . 
         [0092]    The protrusion portion  155  may be provided on a rim portion of the operation body  151  and the depressed portion  157  may be formed on the other rim portion thereof. As an example, the depressed portion  157  may be formed on a portion of a lower side with respect to the through hole  152 , and the protrusion portion  155  may be formed on the remaining rim portion except for the depressed portion  157 . 
         [0093]    On the other aspect, the protrusion portion  155  protrudes forward from the rim portion of the main body  151  and the depressed portion  157  is provided between the protrusion portions  155  and may be understood that it means a surface which does not protrude from the main body  151 . 
         [0094]    The protrusion portion  155  is formed in an arch shape, and both ends thereof can be spaced apart from each other. Inclined portions  158 A and  158 B may be provided at both end portions of the protrusion portion  155 . 
         [0095]    At this time, the interference portion  139  may be located in a space between the inclined portions  158 A and  158 B at both ends of the protrusion portion  155  in a state where the opening and closing portion  130  closes the dust collection body  110 . 
         [0096]    The inclined portions  158 A and  158 B may extend from a surface positioned at the foremost position of the protrusion portion  155  toward the depressed portion  157 . The inclined portions  158 A and  158 B prevent the formation of a stepped portion between the protrusion portion  155  and the depressed portion  157 . The inclined portions  158 A and  158 B can smoothly press the interference portion  139  according to the rotation of the operation portion  150 . 
         [0097]    The inclined portions  158 A and  158 B may include a first inclined surface  158 A facing the front lower side and a second inclined surface  158 B facing the front upper side and a boundary portion  159  may be formed between the first inclined surface  158 A and the second inclined surface  158 B. 
         [0098]    The boundary portion  159  may refer to a ridge extending from the protrusion portion  155  to the depressed portion  157 . 
         [0099]    On the other hand, a second support portion  161  extending from the outer circumferential surface portion  154  toward the through hole  152  and a third support portion  162  bending and extending from the second support portion  161  are provided on a rear surface of the operation portion  150 . 
         [0100]    At this time, a pair of second support portion  161  and a third support portion  162  is provided on the rear surface of the operation portion  150 . 
         [0101]    The third support portion  162  may be an arch-shaped structure which is spaced apart from the through hole  152  located at the center portion of the operation portion  150  by a predetermined distance and can be formed to face an outer circumferential surface portion  154  each other. 
         [0102]    The elastic member accommodation portion  160  may be provided between the second support portion  161 , the third support portion  162 , and the outer circumferential surface portion  154 . The elastic member  140  may be disposed inside the elastic member accommodation portion  160  and both ends of the elastic member  140  may be in contact with the first support portion  121  and the second support portion  161 . 
         [0103]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a fastening structure of an operation portion and a main body portion according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0104]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , the operation portion  150  is disposed in an inner space of the accommodation portion  120 . At this time, the fastening member (not illustrated) is inserted into the through hole  152  and fixed to the fastening portion  124 . Therefore, the operation portion  150  is rotatable in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction in the inner space of the accommodation portion  120 . 
         [0105]    A plurality of elastic members  140  and  141  may be disposed between the operation portion  150  and the dust collection body  110 . The elastic member may be a coil spring as an example. More specifically, each of the plurality of elastic members  140  is disposed in the elastic member accommodation portion  160  located on the rear surface of the operation portion  150 . 
         [0106]    The plurality of elastic members  140  and  141  includes a first elastic member  140  which is contracted when the operation portion  150  is rotated in a first direction (as an example, a counterclockwise direction) and a second elastic member  140  which is contracted when the operation portion  150  is rotated in a second direction (as an example, a clockwise direction) opposite to the first direction. 
         [0107]    The operation portion  150  is provided with elastic force for rotating in the second direction by the first elastic member  140  and the operation portion  150  is provided with elastic force for rotating in the first direction by the second elastic member  141 . 
         [0108]    At this time, one end of the elastic member  140  is in contact with the first support portion  121  and the other end of the elastic member  140  is in contact with the second support portion  161 . In addition, the third support portion  162  may be inserted into the space portion  123 . 
         [0109]    When the operation portion  150  is rotated in the second direction (clockwise direction in  FIG. 9 ), the fixing portion  137  is moved forward by the protrusion portion  155  and the hooking between the hooking portion  138  and the fixing portion  116  can be released. 
         [0110]    When the operation portion  150  is rotated in the second direction (clockwise direction in  FIG. 9 ), the second elastic member  141  is contracted. In this state, when operating force of the operation portion  150  is removed, the operation portion  150  is rotated in the first direction by the elastic force of the second elastic member  141  to return to the reference position. 
         [0111]    The return to the reference position of the operation portion  150  can be operated in the same manner even in a case where the operation portion  150  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. 
         [0112]    In order to separate the dust container in the manner described above, since the user can rotate the operation portion in the clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction, operability can be improved and the dust container can be easily opened using a hand which is not mainly used. 
         [0113]      FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a state where the operation portion is rotated in one direction according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a process of opening the dust container according to an operation of the operation portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0114]    With reference to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10A , in a case where no rotational force is applied to the operation portion  150 , that is, in a case where the operation portion  150  is disposed at the reference position, since hooking is performed between the hooking portion  138  and the fixing protrusions  116  and the interference is not performed between the interference portion  139  and the depressed portion  157 , the opening and closing portion  130  is not opened. 
         [0115]    On the other hand, when the operation portion  150  is rotated by a predetermined angle θ 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 10B , interference is started to be generated between the boundary  159  of the operation portion  150  and the interference portion  139 . 
         [0116]    When the operation portion  150  is further rotated by a predetermined angle θ 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 10C , the boundary portion  159  pushes the interference portion  139  forward, and the hooking is released between the hooking portion  138  and the fixing projection  116 . At this time, since the opening and closing portion  130  moves downward, the interference portion  139  can be in contact with the first inclined surface  158 A. 
         [0117]    When the operation portion  150  is further rotated by a predetermined angle θ 3  as illustrated in  FIG. 10D , the first inclined surface  158 A pushes the interference portion  139  downward. Since the hooking between the hooking portion  138  and the fixing protrusion  116  is in a state of being released, the lower cover  130  can be opened. 
         [0118]    Accordingly, since the release of the hooking and the opening of the opening and closing portion can be performed at the same time only by the operation of the operation portion  150 , the hands of the user are prevented from getting dirty and the user can easily open the dust container using either hand of both hands.