# US 2021/0274988 A1 · Cleaning tool and vacuum cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0274988 A1 - Document ID: US20210274988A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/329,382 - Filed: 2021-05-25 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-22 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Yohei ASAHI; Koshiro TAKANO; Marika HARAMAKI; Kimiyoshi SOMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274988A1 ## CPC - A47L 9/02: Nozzles (suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00) - A47L 9/00: Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners - A47L 9/0693: {Specially shaped nozzles, e.g. for cleaning radiators, tubes, fans or the like; Dusters} - A47L 9/242: {Hose or pipe couplings} - A47L 9/327: {for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A cleaning tool includes a body for sucking in dust on a surface to be cleaned, a suction pipe, and a joint for connecting the suction pipe to the body. The joint is positioned closer to one end of the body with respect to a center of the body in a longitudinal direction of the body and is positioned substantially at center in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A second rotating portion of the joint is connected to the body so as to be rotatable around a second axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. A first rotating portion of the joint is rotatably connected to the second rotating portion so as to be rotatable relative to the second rotating portion around a first axis of rotation being at an intersecting position or a skewed position with respect to the second axis of rotation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning tool, comprising: a body for sucking in dust on a surface to be cleaned; a suction pipe; and a joint for connecting the suction pipe to the body, the joint being positioned closer to one end of the body with respect to a center of the body in a longitudinal direction of the body and being positioned substantially at center in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the joint includes a first rotating portion and a second rotating portion, wherein the second rotating portion is connected to the body so as to be rotatable around a second axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body, and wherein the first rotating portion is rotatably connected to the second rotating portion so as to be rotatable relative to the second rotating portion around a first axis of rotation being at an intersecting position or a skewed position with respect to the second axis of rotation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electric cleaner, comprising: the cleaning tool according to claim 1; and a cleaner main body including an electric air blower, wherein the suction pipe is connected to the cleaner main body, and wherein a central axis of the cleaner main body is parallel to a central axis of the suction pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body when the suction pipe is rotated in a twisting direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electric cleaner, comprising: the cleaning tool according to claim 1; a cleaner main body including an electric air blower; and a handle coupled to the cleaner main body, wherein the suction pipe is connected to the cleaner main body, and wherein a central axis of the handle is coincide with a central axis of the cleaner main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electric cleaner, comprising: the cleaning tool according to claim 1; a cleaner main body including an electric air blower; and a handle for gripping by a user, the handle being coupled to the cleaner main body, wherein the suction pipe is connected to the cleaner main body, and wherein a central axis of the handle is coincide with a central axis of the electric air blower. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An electric cleaner, comprising: the cleaning tool according to claim 1; and a handle for gripping by a user, wherein a central axis of the handle is coincide with a central axis of the suction pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The electric cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body by operating the handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The electric cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body by operating the handle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electric cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body by operating the handle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The electric cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body when the handle is rotated in a twisting direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The electric cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body when the handle is rotated in a twisting direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The electric cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion are rotatable while maintaining an opening direction of a suction opening formed in a bottom surface of the body when the handle is rotated in a twisting direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The cleaning tool according to claim 3, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The electric cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The electric cleaner according to claim 4, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The electric cleaner according to claim 5, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The electric cleaner according to claim 6, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The electric cleaner according to claim 7, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The electric cleaner according to claim 8, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) The electric cleaner according to claim 9, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The electric cleaner according to claim 10, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The electric cleaner according to claim 11, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The electric cleaner according to claim 12, further comprising a supporting portion configured to support a downward force of the joint by contact with the surface to be cleaned, the supporting portion being at least partially positioned between the joint and the surface to be cleaned in a height direction when the body is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the joint is connected to an end portion of the one end of the body.