Patent Publication Number: US-10765276-B2

Title: Handy-type vacuum cleaner

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-049517 filed on Mar. 14, 2016. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a handy-type vacuum cleaner including a blower attachment to be attached to/detached from a vacuum cleaner main body. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There have been recently, cordless handy-type vacuum cleaners, each of which incorporates a battery such as a secondary battery as a power source part, and a user performs cleaning while gripping its gripping part and carrying the cordless handy-type vacuum cleaner. Such a handy-type vacuum cleaner which is cordless and light in weight is available not only indoors but also outdoors. Therefore, it is expected that installation of a blower function will provide a wider range of use and enhance the value of use. 
     In the case where a vacuum cleaner is used as a blower, in order to use exhaust air from an electric blower normally included for sucking dust and dirt, a blower attachment such as a nozzle or the like is normally connected to an exhaust port arranged on the vacuum cleaner main body housing the electric blower. However, in the case of a handy-type vacuum cleaner with such a configuration, it is concerned that a vacuum cleaner main body is enlarged in size and increased in weight, resulting in hindering original good handling of a compact and light-weight handy-type cleaner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view showing a handy-type vacuum cleaner with a blower attachment attached in a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view showing a part of the handy-type vacuum cleaner with a suction attachment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a dust-collecting unit of the handy-type vacuum cleaner; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a use state of the handy-type vacuum cleaner with the suction attachment attached; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the handy-type vacuum cleaner in a state where the dust-collecting part is detached from a vacuum cleaner main body thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view showing a part of a handy-type vacuum cleaner in a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing a part of a handy-type vacuum cleaner in a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view showing a handy-type vacuum cleaner in a fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A handy-type vacuum cleaner in an embodiment has a vacuum cleaner main body, a gripping part for use for gripping the vacuum cleaner main body, and a blower attachment to be attached to/detached from the vacuum cleaner main body. The vacuum cleaner main body includes an electric blower, a dust-collecting part, a connecting port, a suction air path, and an exhaust air path. The dust-collecting part stores the dust and dirt sucked by driving of the electric blower. The blower attachment is inserted into/extracted from the connecting port. The suction air path communicates between the connecting port and the dust-collecting part. The exhaust air path communicates with the exhaust side of the electric blower. The exhaust air path communicates with the blower attachment when the blower attachment is inserted into the connecting port. 
     A first embodiment will be described in terms of its constitution with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , reference sign  11  denotes a handy-type vacuum cleaner (hereinafter, simply referred to as a vacuum cleaner  11 ). A vacuum cleaning apparatus includes this vacuum cleaner  11 , and a supporting apparatus (supporting stand) which supports the vacuum cleaner  11  when it is not used for cleaning (when it is stored). 
     Then, the vacuum cleaner  11  includes a vacuum cleaner main body  15 , a suction attachment  16  ( FIG. 4 ) which can be attached to/detached from the vacuum cleaner main body  15 , and a blower attachment  17  ( FIG. 5 ) which is selectively connected instead of the suction attachment  16 . In addition, a back-and-forth direction, an up-and-down direction, a left-and-right direction and the like in terms of the vacuum cleaner  11  are based on the use state (cleaning state) in which a side of a main body connecting port  19  (which is a connecting port and described later) faces a side of a cleaning-object surface (floor surface). That is, the directions shown by an arrow U and an arrow D in  FIG. 4  are defined as the up-and-down direction, the directions shown by an arrow FR and an arrow RR are defined as the back-and-forth direction, and the directions shown by an arrow L and an arrow R are defined as the left-and-right direction. 
     The vacuum cleaner main body  15  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a body portion  21 . Also, the vacuum cleaner main body  15  includes a dust-collecting device  22  which is a dust-collecting part. Also, the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) is formed in a longitudinal shape. Further, the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) includes a connecting part  24  arranged on the one end part thereof. The vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) also includes a charging connecting part  25  arranged on the one end part thereof. The vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) further includes a projecting part  26  arranged on the other end part thereof. The vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) also includes a holding part  27  for holding the dust-collecting device  22 . The vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) also includes a gripping part  28  for use for gripping the vacuum cleaner main body  15 . Further, on the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), on the top part facing the dust-collecting device  22 , a suction communicating port  31  is opened as a first opening, while an exhaust communicating port  32  is opened as a second opening, respectively. Also, a main body exhaust port  33  ( FIG. 4 ) is opened on each of the both sides of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). Also, the inside part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) houses an electric blower  35 . The vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) also houses control means  36 . The inside part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) also houses a secondary battery  37  which is a battery as a power source part. Further, the inside part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) is partitioned as a suction air path  41 . The inside part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) is also partitioned as a communicating air path  42 . Further, the inside part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) is partitioned as an exhaust air path  43 . Then, in the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), an opening/closing valve  44  is disposed. In the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), a biaser (biasing means)  45  is also disposed. 
     A main casing  47  which is, for example, made of synthetic resin configures the outer shell of the body portion  21 . The body portion  21  is formed in a longitudinal shape along the back-and-forth direction. 
     The connecting part  24  formed in a cylindrical shape projects from the front end part (lower end part) which is one end part of the body portion  21 . On the front end part of the connecting part  24 , the main body connecting port  19  which one of the suction attachment  16  and the blower attachment  17  ( FIG. 1 ) is selectively inserted into/extracted from is formed. On the connecting part  24 , a clamp part  48  for holding the connected suction attachment  16  or the connected blower attachment  17  ( FIG. 1 ) is provided, and also, a supporting point part  49  which is a support point as a part to be attached when the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21 . 
     The clamp part  48  which can be formed in any of well-known constitution is operably exposed on the upper part of the connecting part  24 . 
     In the embodiment, the supporting point part  49  is recessed on the upper part of the connecting part  24  and located behind the clamp part  48 , that is, on the opposite side to the main body connecting port  19 . 
     The charging connecting part  25  for charging the secondary battery  37  is a part mechanically and electrically connected to the supporting apparatus side. The charging connecting part  25  projects from the front end part (lower end part) of the body portion  21 , and a connecting recess part  51  is arranged on the tip part thereof. Inside the connecting recess part  51 , a charging terminal  52  which is electrically connected to the secondary battery  37  is disposed. The charging connecting part  25  is arranged in the lower part of the connecting part  24 . 
     The projecting part  26  is located in the rear end part (upper end part) which is the other end part of the body portion  21 , and houses the secondary battery  37 . 
     The holding part  27  projects upward from the front part of the gripping part  28  in the body portion  21 . Further, on the holding part  27 , a locking-and-fixing part  55  ( FIG. 5 ) for locking and fixing the dust-collecting device  22  is provided. 
     The gripping part  28  is used for gripping of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). The gripping part  28  which is also called a hand operating part is provided so as to connect between the projecting part  26  and the holding part  27 . Also, the gripping part  28  is formed in a circular shape (in an arch shape) in the rear end part of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), that is, continuously from the upper part of the projecting part  26  to the tip part (front end part) of the holding part  27 . That is, the gripping part  28  is located at the top of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). A setting button  56  is also disposed on the gripping part  28 , which is a setting part for providing setting operation in terms of the electric blower  35  and the like to the control means  36 . The setting button  56  is disposed, for example, at a position shifted forward on the gripping part  28 , so as to be operable by a thumb or the like of the hand gripping the gripping part  28 . 
     The suction communicating port  31  is disposed in the front end side of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) and apart from the exhaust communicating port  32 . That is, the suction communicating port  31  and the exhaust communicating port  32  are disposed apart from each other in a line along the longitudinal direction of the body portion (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ), and are opened along the up-and-down direction. Also, the suction communicating port  31  is located in front of the opening/closing valve  44  and the electric blower  35 . Further, the suction communicating port  31  is configured, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so as to be closed by the blower attachment  17  inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  again, a filter  58 , for example, is disposed on the exhaust communicating port  32 . The exhaust communicating port  32  is located behind the suction communicating port  31 , that is, in the opposite side to the main body connecting port  19 . The exhaust communicating port  32  is located also behind the electric blower  35 . 
     The suction communicating port  31  and the exhaust communicating port  32  are respectively disposed so as to be exposed outside in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). 
     The main body exhaust port  33  ( FIG. 4 ) is an opening through which a part of exhaust air from the electric blower  35  is exhausted when the vacuum cleaner  11  is used as a suction cleaner. 
     The electric blower  35  which is a heavy article and is also called a fan motor, sucks dust-including air into the dust-collecting device  22  by generating negative pressure by driving, sucks for self-cooling the air after separation of dust and dirt by the dust-collecting device  22 , and then discharges the air. The electric blower  35  formed in a cylindrical shape is disposed behind the main body connecting port  19  and the suction air path  41 . The electric blower  35  is also disposed with its fan side, that is, its suction side upward (in the rear side), and its electric device side, that is, its exhaust side downward (in the front side), so as to have an axial direction along the longitudinal direction of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). In the embodiment, the electric blower  35  is disposed between the suction communicating port  31  and the exhaust communicating port  32  on the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). 
     The control means  36  controls the driving of the electric blower  35 . Also, the control means  36  includes a driving control part that makes the electric blower  35  and the like operate according to the setting made by a user via the setting button  56 , and a charging circuit part such as a constant current circuit which receives power from the supporting apparatus side to charge the secondary battery  37 . In the embodiment, a circuit board including a microcomputer as an example is used as the control means  36 . The control means  36  is disposed below (in front of) the electric blower  35 , that is, in the side of the main body connecting port  19  to the electric blower  35  on the body portion  21 . Accordingly, the control means  36  is located in the opposite side to the secondary battery  37  in relation to the electric blower  35 . 
     The secondary battery  37  supplies power to at least the control means  36  and the electric blower  35 . The secondary battery  37  is a battery pack in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series or in parallel. The secondary battery  37  is heavier than the electric blower  35 , and is further the heaviest item in the vacuum cleaner  11 . The secondary battery  37  is disposed along the projecting part  26 . 
     The suction air path  41  communicates with the suction communicating port  31  to communicate between the main body connecting port  19  and the dust-collecting device  22 . That is, the suction air path  41  communicates (directly) between the main body connecting port  19  and the suction communicating port  31  (the suction side of the dust-collecting device  22 ). The suction air path  41  is formed so that its upstream side is located along the longitudinal direction of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) which is the opening direction of the main body connecting port  19  and its downstream side is located along the direction crossing (orthogonal to) the longitudinal direction of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). Accordingly, the suction air path  41  is formed so as to be bent from the upstream side to the downstream side like in a letter L shape. Also, the suction air path  41  is disposed in front of the electric blower  35  and between the electric blower  35  and the main body connecting port  19 . 
     The communicating air path  42  communicates with the exhaust communicating port  32  to communicate between the dust-collecting device  22  and the suction side of the electric blower  35 . That is, the communicating air path  42  communicates (directly) between the exhaust communicating port  32  and the suction side of the electric blower  35 . The communicating air path  42  located behind the electric blower  35  extends along the direction crossing (orthogonal to) the longitudinal direction of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). 
     The exhaust air path  43  communicates with the exhaust side of the electric blower  35 , the main body exhaust port  33  ( FIG. 4 ) and the suction air path  41 . That is, the exhaust air path  43  communicates (directly) between the main body exhaust port  33  ( FIG. 4 ) and the exhaust side of the electric blower  35 . The exhaust air path  43  is located around the electric blower  35  and behind the suction air path  41 . That is, the exhaust air path  43  is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) in line with the suction air path  41 . Accordingly, the exhaust air path  43  is disposed on the line extending in the insertion direction of the suction attachment  16  or the blower attachment  17  ( FIG. 1 ) to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . The exhaust air path  43  is located adjacent to the suction air path  41  via the opening/closing valve  44 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening/closing valve  44  is opened when the blower attachment  17  is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 . This brings the exhaust air path  43  into communicating with the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41 . Also, an exhaust opening not shown in figures is provided in the lower part of the exhaust air path  43 . The exhaust opening directly communicates with the main body exhaust port  33  ( FIG. 4 ). The exhaust opening is further configured to be closed by the blower attachment  17  inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . 
     The opening/closing valve  44  opens and closes the connection between the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43 . The opening/closing valve  44  is operated to be opened and closed by insertion/extraction of the blower attachment  17  with respect to the main body connecting port  19 . The opening/closing valve  44  having a pivotal shaft along the left-and-right direction can pivot in the back-and-forth direction, that is, in the opening direction of the main body connecting port  19 , in other words, in the insertion/extraction direction of the suction attachment  16  ( FIG. 2 ) or the blower attachment  17  with respect to the main body connecting port  19 . The opening/closing valve  44  is located on the rear end part of the suction air path  41  and at the front end part of the exhaust air path  43 . That is, the opening/closing valve  44  is disposed at a position behind and apart from the main body connecting port  19 . In other words, the opening/closing valve  44  is disposed on the line extending in the insertion direction of the suction attachment  16  ( FIG. 2 ) or the blower attachment  17  to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . 
     The biaser  45  biases the opening/closing valve  44  in the closing direction. The biaser  45  is, for example, a torsional spring which biases the opening/closing valve  44  forward, that is, toward the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the suction attachment  16  ( FIG. 2 ) or the blower attachment  17  to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . 
     Then, the opening/closing valve  44  is configured so that, upon insertion and connection of the blower attachment  17  to the main body connecting port  19 , the blower attachment  17  pushes the opening/closing valve  44  rearward against biasing of the biaser  45  to provide opening operation to make the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43  communicate with each other, while in the state where the blower attachment  17  is detached (the state where none of the suction attachment  16  ( FIG. 2 ) and the blower attachment  17  is connected to the main body connecting port  19 ) or the state where as shown in  FIG. 2  the suction attachment  16  is connected to the main body connecting port  19 , biasing of the biaser  45  provides closing operation to block the communication between the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43 . 
     Also, the dust-collecting device  22  separates and stores the dust and dirt sucked by the driving of the electric blower  35 . The dust-collecting device  22  can be attached to/detached from the body portion  21 . The dust-collecting device  22  is a dust-collecting cup including a separator body  61  which separates dust and dirt from dust-including air, and a cup part  62  which is a dust container for containing the dust and dirt separated by the separator body  61 . The dust-collecting device  22  has, at the positions facing the body portion  21  when being attached to the body portion  21 , the openings of a suction port  64  from which dust-including air is sucked by the driving of the electric blower  35 , and of an exhaust port  65  from which air having been sucked from the suction port  64  is discharged to the outside of the dust-collecting device  22  after dust and dirt is separated by the separator body  61  by the driving of the electric blower  35 . Then, the dust-collecting device  22  is attached so that the suction port  64  and the exhaust port  65  face the upper side of the body portion  21 , that is, being attached to the upper part of the body portion  21  with the side of the suction port  64  and the exhaust port  65  downward. 
     The separator body  61  is formed of, for example, synthetic resin or the like. The separator body  61  may be in any configuration. In the embodiment as an example, the separator body  61  is a multi-step centrifugal type housing a first separator part  67  which centrifuges (by cyclone separation) coarse dust being relatively large dust and dirt, a second separator part  68  which centrifuges (by cyclone separation) fine dust (ultrafine dust) being relatively small dust and dirt not having been centrifuged by the first separator part  67 , and a filter body  69  which separates (by filtration and separation) dust and dirt slightly included in the air having passed through the second separator part  68 . The separator body  61  is formed in a generally cylindrical shape, having a circular-arc external surface (generally cylindrical surface). Also, on the external upper part of the separator body  61 , that is, on the opposite side to the cup part  62 , an attaching/detaching mechanism  70  is provided so as to detachably lock the dust-collecting device  22  to the body portion  21  (holding part  27 ). 
     The first separator part  67  which is disposed coaxially with the cup part  62  and partially inserted into the cup part centrifuges dust and dirt (coarse dust) by swirling dust-including air inside the cup part  62 , and compresses and stores the dust and dirt in the cup part  62 . Also, the first separator part  67  further includes a lid body  71 . The lid body  71  capable of locking/unlocking via lid body locking means  72  ( FIG. 3 ) is detached, and thus the filter body  69  is exposed so as to be able to be cleaned. 
     A plurality of the second separator parts  68  are disposed, for example, around the upper side of the first separator part  67 . Each of the separator parts  68  formed in a generally cylindrical shape having a smaller radius compared to the cup part  62  swirls the air having passed through the first separator part  67  inside so as to centrifuge dust and dirt (fine dust) and store the dust and dirt in the cup part  62 . 
     The filter body  69  is disposed above the second separators  68  so as to face the whole exhaust sides of the second separator parts  68 . 
     The cup part  62  formed of, for example, light transmissible synthetic resin or the like in a bottomed cylindrical shape is coaxially attachable to/detachable from the lower end part of the separator body  61 . Accordingly, the external surface of the cup part  62  has a circular-arc surface (generally cylindrical surface). The cup part  62  has an opening as the above-described suction port  64  at the position facing the body portion  21 , and also has a locking part  73  which is a pivot fulcrum at the time when the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21 . Further, the cup part  62  and the separator body  61  are detachably fixed by fixing means  74  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     The locking part  73  projects at a position below the suction port  64  in the opposite side to the separator body  61  on the cup part  62 , that is, in the periphery of the lower end part of the cup part  62 . The locking part  73  engages with the supporting point part  49  of the body portion  21 . This engagement with the supporting point part  49  positions the up-and-down direction and the left-and-right direction of the dust-collecting device  22  to be attached to the body portion  21 . Further, the locking part  73  is used as a rotation center at the position of the supporting point part  49  to pivot the upper side of the dust-collecting device  22  toward the body portion  21 . Then, the attaching/detaching mechanism  70  is operated to lock the dust-collecting device  22  to the locking-and-fixing part  55  ( FIG. 5 ) so that the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21 . 
     The suction port  64  is airtightly connected to the suction communicating port  31  when the dust-collecting device  22  is in an attached state. Accordingly, the suction port  64  is airtightly connected to the main body connecting port  19  (via the suction communicating port  31  and the suction air path  41 ) when the dust-collecting device  22  is in an attached state. The suction port  64  is configured to guide dust-including air along the tangential direction of the cup part  62 . 
     The exhaust port  65  provided, for example, on the lid body  71  is airtightly connected to the exhaust communicating port  32  when the dust-collecting device  22  is in an attached state. Accordingly, the exhaust port  65  is airtightly connected to the suction side of the electric blower  35  (via the exhaust communicating port  32  and communicating air path  42 ) when the dust-collecting device  22  is in an attached state. Also, the exhaust port  65  is disposed above the suction port  64  in the periphery of the upper end part of the dust-collecting device  22 . 
     Then, the suction attachment  16  shown in  FIG. 4  includes, in the embodiment, an extension pipe  75  as a suction tool and a floor brush  76  which is a suction port body as a suction tool, as an example. 
     The extension pipe  75  is formed in a longitudinal shape, specifically in an elongated cylindrical shape. The extension pipe  75  and the blower attachment  17  ( FIG. 5 ) are selectively inserted into and connected to the body portion  21  (connecting part  24  (main body connecting port  19 )) of the vacuum cleaner main body  15 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the extension pipe  75  is airtightly connected to the dust-collecting device  22  via the suction air path  41 , the suction communicating port  31  and the suction port  64 . Also, the base end portion of the extension pipe  75  is locked and held by the clamp part  48  in the state of being inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . The base end portion is also contacted with a positioning part  78  provided inside the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), which positions the extension pipe  75  to the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a floor brush clamp part  79  is provided in the tip side of the extension pipe  75  as a suction port body clamp part which detachably locks and holds the floor brush  76 . 
     The floor brush  76  includes a casing body  81  formed in a laterally long shape, that is, a left-and-right long shape, and a connecting pipe  82  pivotally connected to the casing body  81 . Then, the casing body  81  has an opening as a suction port not shown in figures on the lower part thereof facing a cleaning-object surface. Also, the connecting pipe  82  communicating with the suction port is airtightly connected to the tip side of the extension pipe  75  or the main body connecting port  19 , and the connection is kept by the floor brush clamp part  79  or the clamp part  48 . The base end portion of the connecting pipe  82  is locked and held by the clamp part  48  in a state of being inserted into the main body connecting port  19 , in the same manner as the base end portion of the extension pipe  75 . The base end portion of the connecting pipe  82  is also contacted with the positioning part  78  shown in  FIG. 2  provided inside the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), which positions the connecting pipe  82  to the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). 
     Then, the positioning part  78  is provided in a stepwise shape inside the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ). The positioning part  78  is disposed, for example, on the upstream end part of the suction air path  41 , that is, apart from and in front of the opening/closing valve  44 . The positioning part  78  is configured to position the downstream end part of the extension pipe  75  (suction attachment  16 ) or the connecting pipe  82  of the floor brush  76  in the upstream side, that is, in front of the opening-closing valve  44 , in a state where the extension pipe  75  (suction attachment  16 ) or the connecting pipe  82  of the floor brush  76  is inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . 
     The floor brush clamp part  79  which can be formed in any of well-known constitution is operably exposed on the upper part of the extension pipe  75 . 
     The blower attachment  17  shown in  FIG. 1  which is also called a blower nozzle and formed overall in a longitudinal shape, specifically in an elongated cylindrical shape, integrally includes an attachment body  85  and an insertion part  86  which is located at the end part of the attachment body  85 . Then, the blower attachment  17  is formed to have a smaller outer diameter compared to the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75 ). 
     The attachment body  85  has an external shape (outer diameter) which fits generally with no gap in the suction air path  41  when being inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . That is, the attachment body  85  has a smaller outer diameter compared to the stepwise part of the positioning part  78 . The attachment body  85  is also formed to incline the tip part thereof (front end side) corresponding to the upstream side from the upper side to the lower side. Further, the attachment body  85  is inclinedly formed so that the diameter of the base end side (rear end side) corresponding to the downstream side is gradually reduced toward the insertion part  86 . 
     The insertion part  86  is a part which operates the opening/closing valve  44  against biasing of the biaser  45 . The insertion part  86  has a smaller outer diameter dimension (cross-section area of air path) compared to the attachment body  85 . The insertion part  86  is provided in the base end portion of the attachment body  85 . When the blower attachment  17  is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the insertion part  86  pushes the opening/closing valve  44  rearward to provide opening operation, and thus the insertion part  86  is inserted from the suction air path  41  to the exhaust air path  43 . Accordingly, the blower attachment  17  is formed so that the insertion amount into the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (main body connecting port  19 ) is longer compared to the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75  and floor brush  76  (connecting pipe  82 )). 
     The above-described first embodiment will be described in terms of its operation with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . 
     When the vacuum cleaner  11  is used as a suction cleaner which sucks dust and dirt by the negative pressure generated by the driving of the electric blower  35  to catch and collect dust and dirt in the dust-collecting device  22 , the suction attachment  16  as an example is connected to the vacuum cleaner main body  15 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , to the main body connecting port  19  of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  with the dust-collecting device  22  attached to the body portion  21 , the base end side of the extension pipe  75  is inserted into and connected so as to be detachably locked and held by the clamp part  48 . Further, the connecting pipe  82  of the floor brush  76  is inserted into and connected to the tip side of the extension pipe  75  so as to be detachably locked and held by the floor brush clamp part  79 . In such a state, the floor brush  76  communicates with the extension pipe  75 , and as shown in  FIG. 2  the extension pipe  75  communicates with the dust-collecting device  22  via the main body connecting port  19 , the suction air path  41  and the suction communicating port  31  of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  and via the suction port  64 , and also communicates with the suction side of the electric blower  35  via the exhaust port  65  of the dust-collecting device  22  and via the exhaust communicating port  32  and the communicating air path  42  of the vacuum cleaner main body  15 . In addition, as for the suction attachment  16 , only of the extension pipe  75  without the floor brush  76  ( FIG. 4 ) can be used, or the floor brush  76  ( FIG. 4 ) (instead of the extension pipe  75 ) connected to the main body connecting port  19  can also be used. Further, the main body connecting port  19  in a state where the suction attachment  16  is not attached to the main body connecting port  19  is capable of sucking dust and dirt directly. In any case of these, the opening/closing valve  44  is kept in a closed state due to biasing of the biaser  45  so as to block communication between the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43 . 
     In the vacuum cleaner  11 , a user gripping the gripping part  28  operates the setting button  56  to set an action, and the control means  36  makes the electric blower  35  drive according to the set action. In addition, by use of the negative pressure generated by the driving of the electric blower  35 , dust and dirt on a cleaning-object surface is sucked while a user moves the floor brush  76 , the tip side of the extension pipe  75 , or the main body connecting port  19  with the vacuum cleaner main body  15  on the cleaning-object surface in the back-and-forth direction, the oblique direction and other directions alternately. The sucked dust-including air is sucked via the suction air path  41  and the suction communicating port  31  from the suction port  64  into the dust-collecting device  22 , and almost all of dust and dirt is centrifuged by the first separator part  67  and the second separator part  68 . The ultrafine dust slightly remained, if any, is caught and collected by the filter body  69 . The clean air after centrifuging of dust and dirt is discharged outside the dust-collecting device  22  from the exhaust port  65 , sucked via the exhaust communicating port  32  (filter  58 ) and the communicating air path  42  into the electric blower  35  to cool the electric blower  35 , and then discharged in the air outside the vacuum cleaner main body  15  via the exhaust air path  43  and the exhaust opening from the main body exhaust port  33 . When cleaning is finished, a user operates the setting button  56  to make the control means  36  stop the electric blower  35 . 
     The dust and dirt caught and collected in the dust-collecting device  22  is disposed from the cup part  62  in such a manner that the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) through operation of the attaching/detaching mechanism  70 , and the separator body  61  is detached from the cup part  62  through operation of the fixing means  74  ( FIG. 3 ). The lid body  71  is detached from the separator body  61  through operation of the lid body locking means  72  ( FIG. 3 ) so that the filter body  69  is exposed to remove the dust and dirt stuck on the filter body  69 . Then, the dust-collecting device  22  after disposing of dust and dirt is assembled with the separator body  61  and the cup part  62  having been put together, and again attached to the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) for use. 
     On the other hand, when the vacuum cleaner  11  is used as a blower which jets out exhaust air by the electric blower  35  to blow off dust and dirt, the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ), and further the blower attachment  17  is connected to the vacuum cleaner main body  15 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the base end side of the blower attachment  17  is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19  of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  in a state where the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21 , so as to be detachably locked and held by the clamp part  48 . In such a state, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment body of the blower attachment  17  closes the suction communicating port  31  and the exhaust opening of the lower part of the exhaust air path  43 . Further, the insertion part  86  pushes the opening/closing valve  44  rearward against biasing of the biaser  45 , and is fitted when reaching the inside of the exhaust air path  43 . Accordingly, the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43  communicate with each other. As a result, the exhaust communicating port  32  exposed due to detaching of the dust-collecting device  22  communicates with the suction side of the electric blower  35  via the communicating air path  42 , and the exhaust side of the electric blower  35  communicates with the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41  via the exhaust air path  43 . 
     Then, in the vacuum cleaner  11 , a user gripping the gripping part  28  operates the setting button  56  to set an action, and the control means  36  makes the electric blower  35  drive according to the set action to suck outside air via the exhaust communicating port  32  (filter  58 ) and the communicating air path  42 . The sucked air is sucked into the electric blower  35  to cool the electric blower  35  and discharged, and then flows from the exhaust air path  43  to the blower attachment  17 . A user grips and operates the gripping part  28 , and moves the tip side of the blower attachment  17  with the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) for facing toward a desired position on a cleaning-object surface so as to blow off dust and dirt by the air jetted out from the blower attachment  17 . When cleaning is finished, a user operates the setting button  56  to make the control means  36  stop the electric blower  35 . 
     When cleaning is finished, the attachment  16  or the attachment  17  is detached from the vacuum cleaner  11 , and the vacuum cleaner main body  15  and the attachments  16  and  17  are attached to the supporting apparatus for charging the secondary battery  37  via the charging terminal  52 , as well as for storage. 
     As described above, in accordance with the above-described first embodiment, the exhaust air path  43  is disposed on the line extending in the insertion direction of the blower attachment  17  to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . The opening/closing valve  44  is disposed on the line extending in the insertion direction of the blower attachment  17  to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . The opening/closing valve  44  is operated by insertion/extraction of the blower attachment  17  to the main body connecting port  19  so that the connection of the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43  is opened/closed. This facilitates switching from the air path constitution for a suction cleaner to the air path constitution for a blower simply by connecting the blower attachment  17  to the main body connecting port  19 . Accordingly, complicated switching mechanism or the like is not required and space-saving is achieved, thus suppressing enlargement in size and increase in weight of the vacuum cleaner  11 . 
     Also, since the biaser  45  biases the opening/closing valve  44  toward the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the blower attachment  17  to be inserted into the main body connecting port  19 , the biaser  45  automatically closes the opening/closing valve  44  when the blower attachment  17  is detached from the main body connecting port  19 . This facilitates switching from the air path constitution for a blower to the air path constitution for a suction cleaner. Accordingly, complicated switching mechanism or the like is not required and space-saving is achieved, thus suppressing enlargement in size and increase in weight of the vacuum cleaner  11 . Further, in a state of non-use where the attachment  16  or  17  is not connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the opening/closing valve  44  biased in the closing direction by the biaser  45  firmly blocks the communication between the suction air path  41  and the exhaust air path  43 , thus preventing dust and dirt from entering into the side of the electric blower  35  via the exhaust air path  43 . 
     Moreover, the downstream side of the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75  or floor brush  76  (connecting pipe  82 )) which is selectively inserted into/extracted from the main body connecting port  19  instead of the blower attachment  17  and connected to the main body connecting port  19  is located in the upstream side to the opening/closing valve  44  in the state where the suction attachment  16  is inserted into the main body connecting port  19 . Accordingly, when the suction attachment  16  is connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the opening/closing valve  44  is not operated and switching from the air path constitution for a suction cleaner to the air path constitution for a blower is not performed. Accordingly, even in a state where the main body connecting port  19  is commonly used for the connection with the suction attachment  16  and the connection with the blower attachment  17 , and further where the above-described opening/closing valve  44  is used for switching of the air path constitution, there occurs no trouble that switching between the air path constitution for a suction cleaner and the air path constitution for a blower is performed when not desired. 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . In addition, with regard to the same constitution and action as the above-described first embodiment, the same reference sign is assigned individually and the description thereof is omitted. 
     In the second embodiment, the blower attachment  17  of the above-described first embodiment is formed in a thin tube shape, and in a state where the downstream side of the blower attachment  17  is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the suction attachment  16  (the extension pipe  75  in the embodiment) can be connected to the main body connecting port  19  so as to fit and insert the upstream side of the blower attachment  17 . 
     That is, the part projecting to the outside of the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) from the main body connecting port  19  which is the upstream side of the blower attachment  17  (the external shape (outer diameter dimension) of the tip side of the attachment body  85  in the embodiment) is formed to have a diameter dimension fitting the inner periphery of the base end side which is the downstream side of the extension pipe  75 . 
     As described above, the blower attachment  17  has an external shape which, in the state where the downstream side is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 , allows its upstream side to be inserted into and fitted to the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75 ) connected to the main body connecting port  19 . Accordingly, even for use as a blower, the vacuum cleaner  11  can be used as is in a state where the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75 ) is connected to the main body connecting port  19  so as to cover the blower attachment  17 . That is, the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75 ) can also be used for a blower. Accordingly, a suction attachment and a blower attachment are not required separately, thus preventing increase of cost for varying a blower attachment, resulting in reducing wasteful cost. 
     Especially, in a case of using the extension pipe  75  attached as a suction attachment for a blower, exhaust air can be jetted out to, for example, a narrow and long depth place. While in a case of using a hose body having flexibility attached as an additional suction attachment for a blower, the hose body can be bent so that the tip side alone is moved in various directions without the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ) being turned, thus improving convenience such as being capable of jetting out exhaust air to an intricate place. 
     Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . In addition, with regard to the same constitution as the respective embodiments described above, the same reference sign is assigned individually and the description thereof is omitted. 
     In the third embodiment, the dust-collecting device  22  includes an obstructing part  91  which is a regulating part to obstruct connection of the blower attachment  17  to the main body connecting port  19  in the state where, in the respective above-described embodiments, the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). The obstructing part  91  projects at a position of the rear part of the cup part  62  and apart from the locking part  73 . 
     Also, on the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), a recess part  92  is provided, which is an inserted part into which the obstructing part  91  is inserted when the dust-collecting device  22  is attached. Further, on the bottom part of the recess part  92 , a wall surface part  93  having elasticity is provided. 
     The recess part  92  is disposed at a position behind the positioning part  78 , that is, in the downstream side to the positioning part  78 . Also, the recess part  92  is opened at a position which is in front of and apart from the suction communicating port  31 , and which is on the upper part of the body portion  21  facing the dust-collecting device  22 . 
     The wall surface part  93  is a part configuring the wall surface of the suction air path  41 . The wall surface part  93  is configured to be deformed and expand by the obstructing part  91  inserted into the recess part  92  so as to project toward the inside of the suction air path  41  when the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). Accordingly, in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ), since the wall surface part  93  is pushed in so as to project toward the inside of the suction air path  41  by the obstructing part  91 , the wall surface part  93  interferes with the end part of the blower attachment  17  when the blower attachment  17  is inserted into the main body connecting port  19  in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is attached. The wall surface part  93  is configured to prevent, due to the interference, the blower attachment  17  from being inserted in further than the obstructing part  91  (wall surface part  93 ), in other words, to prevent the blower attachment  17  from being connected, that is, to obstruct (regulate) connection of the blower attachment  17  to the main body connecting port  19 . In addition, as for the suction attachment  16  (extension pipe  75  and floor brush  76  (connecting pipe  82 )), since the end part in the downstream side is inserted no further than the position of the positioning part  78 , the suction attachment  16  is not interfered with the obstructing part  91  (wall surface part  93 ) located behind the positioning part  78 . 
     Also, the wall surface part  93  is further configured to shrink when the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) and thus not to project toward the inside of the suction air path  41  (fictitious line  93   a  in  FIG. 7 ). Accordingly, in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ), the blower attachment  17  can be inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 . 
     As described above, the obstructing part  91  is provided on the dust-collecting device  22  to prevent the blower attachment  17  from being connected to the main body connecting port  19  in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is attached to the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ), thereby preventing the blower attachment  17  from being connected to the main body connecting port  19  unless the dust-collecting device  22  is detached. Accordingly, a user performs operation for detaching the dust-collecting device  22  without forgetting it prior to use of the vacuum cleaner  11  as a blower. This easily and surely prevents a user from performing wrong operation such as using the blower attachment  17  in the state where the dust-collecting  22  is attached. 
     Also, since the obstructing part  91  does not interfere with the suction attachment  16  (the extension pipe  75  nor the floor brush  76  (the connecting pipe  82 )), the vacuum cleaner  11  with the dust-collecting device  22  attached can be used normally as a suction cleaner. 
     Then, in accordance with at least one of the above-described embodiments, the suction communicating port  31  communicating between the suction air path  41  and the dust-collecting device  22  and the exhaust communicating port  32  communicating between the attached dust-collecting device  22  and the suction side of the electric blower  35  are provided on the vacuum cleaner main body  15  (body portion  21 ), wherein the suction communicating port  31  is closed by the blower attachment  17  inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 , and the exhaust communicating port  32  is exposed in the state where the dust-collecting device  22  is detached from the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ). Accordingly, for use of the vacuum cleaner  11  as a blower, the blower attachment  17  is inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19  and the dust-collecting device  22  is detached, thereby allowing the vacuum cleaner  11  to suck air directly from the exposed exhaust communicating port  32  via the communicating air path  42  into the electric blower  35 . This allows air suction into the electric blower  35  with less loss, thus allowing ensuring suction air amount while reducing load of the electric blower  35 . Moreover, the weight corresponding to the dust-collecting device  22  is reduced, thus providing better handling. 
     In addition, since the filter  58  is disposed on the exhaust communicating port  32 , when air is sucked from the exhaust communicating port  32  into the electric blower  35 , dust and dirt is hardly sucked into the electric blower  35 . 
     Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . With regard to the same constitution and action as the respective above-described embodiments, the same reference sign is assigned individually and the description thereof is omitted. 
     In the fourth embodiment, the blower attachment  17  of the above-described first or second embodiment is partitioned by a partition wall  97  into two sections of a communicating section  95  communicating with the suction air path  41  and an exhausting section  96  communicating with the exhaust air path  43 . 
     That is, the partition wall  97  is formed along the longitudinal direction in the blower attachment  17 . The side above the partition wall  97  is the communicating section  95 , while the side below the partition wall  97  is the exhausting section  96 . In other words, the inner air path of the blower attachment  17  is divided by the partition wall  97  into an upper part and a lower part. Also, the upper part from the base end side of the blower attachment  17  which is the end part of the insertion part  86  in the embodiment is cut out and opened. Thus, the communicating section  95  of the blower attachment  17  in the state being inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19  communicates with the suction air path  41  via the upper part of the insertion part  86 , and the exhausting section  96  communicates with the exhaust air path  43  via the end part of the insertion part  86 . That is, as for the blower attachment  17  in the state being inserted into and connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the communicating section  95  is connected to the upstream side of the dust-collecting device  22  via the suction air path  41 , the suction communicating port  31  and the suction port  64 , and the exhausting section  96  communicates with the exhaust side of the electric blower  35 . 
     As described above, since the blower attachment  17  includes the exhausting section  96  communicating with the exhaust air path  43  in the state of being connected to the main body connecting port  19  and the communicating section  95  communicating with the suction air path  41  in the state being connected to the main body connecting port  19 , the body portion  21  (vacuum cleaner main body  15 ) as is with the dust-collecting device  22  attached can be used as a blower simply through connection of the blower attachment  17  for switching from the air path constitution for a suction cleaner to the air path constitution for a blower. Accordingly, a user can easily switch usage of the vacuum cleaner  11  as a suction cleaner or a blower simply by switching an attachment for connection to the main body connecting port  19 , resulting in improving its usability. 
     Also, the dust-collecting device  22  communicates with the suction side of the electric blower  35 , thereby suppressing air including dust and dirt (dust-including air) from being sucked into the electric blower  35 , resulting in protecting the electric blower  35  more surely. 
     In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the charging circuit part may be disposed on the supporting apparatus. 
     Also, as a power source part, not only the secondary battery  37  but also, for example, a cord reel device with power cord for receiving power from an external power source may be used. In this case, the supporting apparatus may not be an item for charging, and further none of the charging connecting part  25 , the charging terminal  52  and the like of the vacuum cleaner  11  is required. 
     In accordance with at least one of the above-described embodiments, the suction air path  41  communicating between the main body connecting port  19  and the dust-collecting device  22  is provided, and the exhaust air path  43  communicating with the exhaust side of the electric blower  35  and also communicating with the blower attachment  17  inserted into the suction air path  41  when the blower attachment  17  is inserted into the main body connecting port  19  is provided, thereby allowing the main body connecting port  19  to be commonly used in the both cases of using as a suction cleaner and as a blower through connection of the blower attachment  17 . Accordingly, more space can be saved than in the case of distinguishing connecting ports for a suction cleaner and for a blower, thereby allowing use as a blower while suppressing enlargement in size and increase in weight. 
     Also, the vacuum cleaner  11  is a cordless-type cleaner in which the secondary battery  37  supplies power to the electric blower  35 , thus allowing the vacuum cleaner  11  to be carried in a wider range and resulting in enhancing the value of use. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.