ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSKBAHRIS..MTNORS......................JDIM360 Ver 2.15 (14 Jul 2008) - 1620000/02042072EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA320100901EP08253105.42008092320081015enenen200725505220070928JP200823950220080918JP2010090120103520090401200914A47L 9/00 20060101AFI20090130BHEP A47L 9/24 20060101ALI20090130BHEP deStaubsaugerenVacuum cleanerfrAspirateur1Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba100956130P111805EP00/DCO1-1, Shibaura 1-chomeMinato-ku, Tokyo 105-8001JPToshiba Consumer Electronics Holdings Corporation101046912P111805EP00/DCO2-15, Sotokanda 2-Chome Chiyoda-KuTokyo 101-0021JPToshiba Home Appliances Corporation101046913P111805EP00/DCO2-15, Sotokanda 2-Chome Chiyoda-KuTokyo 101-0021JPSuzuki, Hitoshic/o Toshiba Corporation, Intellectual Prop. Div. 1-1 Shibaura 1-chomeMinato-ku, TokyoJPO'Connell, David Christopher100030418Haseltine Lake LLP Redcliff Quay 120 Redcliff StreetBristol BS1 6HUGBATBEBGCHCYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGRHRHUIEISITLILTLULVMCMTNLNOPLPTROSESISKTRALBAMKRS20100901201035

An upstream-side hose 11 is in the contracted state when in the natural length and can be stretched by an external force, and, at least when in the contracted state, can be accommodated in an extension pipe unit 6. The upstream part of the upstream-side hose 11 is connected to the downstream part of the extension pipe unit 6. A downstream-side hose 12, of which the contractive property when exposed to a negative pressure from a motor fan is smaller than that of the upstream-side hose 11, is connected to the downstream part of the upstream-side hose 11. A securing means 33 that is capable of maintaining the upstream-side hose 11 in the extended state is provided. When cleaning is performed, the securing means 33 maintains the upstream-side hose 11 in the extended state. Ease of cleaning is facilitated by preventing contraction of the upstream-side hose 11 due to negative pressure from the motor fan 2 or other force during cleaning. When stowing away the vacuum cleaner, the entire length of the pipe assembly 4 can be minimized by stowing the upstream-side hose 11 in the contracted state in the extension pipe unit 6, enabling the vacuum cleaner to be stowed easily and neatly.