Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Provided is a vacuum cleaner capable of efficiently utilizing exhaust of an electric blower when the vacuum cleaner is used as a blower. An exhaust air path ( 37 ) is arranged in a body portion ( 21 ) so as to communicate between an exhaust side of the electric blower and an exhaust port. A connecting port ( 34 ) is arranged on the body portion ( 21 ). A blower air path ( 38 ) is arranged in the body portion ( 21 ) so as to communicate between the exhaust side of the electric blower and the connecting port ( 34 ). A switching valve ( 39 ) is arranged capable of opening and closing the connecting port ( 34 ), so as to switch between the exhaust air path ( 37 ) and the blower air path ( 38 ) according to the opening and closing. An attachment ( 17 ), when being attached to the connecting port ( 34 ), communicates with the blower air path ( 38 ) upon switching by the switching valve ( 39 ).

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a body portion including an electric blower;   a dust-collecting unit communicating with a suction side of the electric blower so as to catch and collect dust and dirt by operation of the electric blower;   an exhaust port arranged on the body portion;   an exhaust air path arranged in the body portion so as to communicate between an exhaust side of the electric blower and the exhaust port;   a connecting port arranged on the body portion;   a blower air path arranged in the body portion so as to communicate between the exhaust side of the electric blower and the connecting port;   a switcher arranged capable of opening and closing the connecting port, so as to switch between the exhaust air path and the blower air path according to the opening and closing; and   an attachment, when being attached to the connecting port, communicating with the blower air path upon switching by the switcher.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , the vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a fixing part for fixing the switcher at a position of the connecting port being closed, wherein   the attachment, upon being attached to the connecting port, releases fixing of the switcher by the fixing part so as to open the connecting port, and makes the switcher switch to the blower air path.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the attachment includes a releasing part,   the fixing part is operated by the releasing part so as to release the fixing of the switcher when the attachment is attached to the connecting port.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the attachment, when being attached to the connecting port, fixes the switcher having switched to the blower air path.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the switcher opens and closes the connecting port to alternatively switch between the exhaust air path and the blower air path, and   the attachment is detachable to and from the connecting port opened by operation of the switcher.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the attachment, when being attached to the connecting port, opens the connecting port and fixes the switcher having switched to the blower air path.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the switcher is a valve body including a pivotal shaft in a downstream side of exhaust of the electric blower.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , the vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction air path arranged in front of the electric blower in the body portion so as to communicate with the suction   side of the electric blower, wherein   the connecting port is arranged between the suction air path and the electric bower.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein
 at least a part of the blower air path and the exhaust port are located in front of the electric blower in the body portion.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vacuum cleaner is a handy-type vacuum cleaner.