AU1675701A

AU1675701A - Handling stick

Info

Publication number: AU1675701A
Application number: AU16757/01A
Authority: AU
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2000-01-31
Filing date: 2001-01-31
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Also published as: US20030204926A1; EP1122034A2; HU0100493D0; DE10009983A1; EP1122034A3; PL345433A1; CA2332670A1

Description

Our Ref:7567980 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT *eee Applicant(s): Carl Freudenberg Hoehnerweg 2-4 D-69469 Weinheim Germany Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Handling stick The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 S99PA0 135 1 25.01.2000/Re/de Handling Stick Description Technical Field The present invention relates to a handling stick for equipment, in particular cleaning equipment, such as wiping equipment, wiping mops, brooms or the like, where the handling stick has at least two tubular stick elements, which can be connected to each other, where the tubular stick elements form a hollow space, where a connecting piece is provided for connecting a first stick element and a second stick element, which connecting piece extends at least partially into the hollow space formed by the stick elements, where the connecting piece has a first connecting section and a second connecting section, where the first connecting section is designed to connect with the first stick element and the second connecting section to connect with the second of the stick elements and where the first and/or the second connecting section comprises a fixing thread, which can be engaged with connecting means arranged at the first and/or second stick element.

State of the Art Such handling sticks are known. They are designed in such a way that two connecting pieces are provided for each two tubular stick elements, one of which connecting pieces is fixed to a first stick element and the other to a second of the stick elements. In this arrangement, one of the connecting pieces comprises a connecting pin with a screw thread and the other connecting piece has a mating thread. The disadvantage of this known construction is that the manufacture is time-consuming and therefore expensive, especially since for the connection of two stick elements two connecting pieces are required. Furthermore, the known handling sticks do not have an optimum of stability in the region of the connection points of the individual stick elements.

99PAO0135 2 25.01 .2000/Re/de Description of the invention It is therefore the object of the invention to make available a handling stick of the type mentioned at the outset which can be produced in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner and has a high stability.

The object of the present invention is achieved in that the first and/or second connecting section has a bearing surface to bear against the inner surface of the stick element and that the fixing thread is arranged within the region of the bearing surface. In this way it is achieved that a stable connection between two stick elements can be accomplished with a single connecting piece. Due to the bearing surface abutting the inner surface of the stick elements, a particularly good transmission of forces is obtained. Since, furthermore, a single connecting piece is required to connect two stick elements, the manufacturing costs can be considerably reduced.

Advantageously, the connecting means are formed by at least one projection which protrudes into the hollow space formed by the stick elements. This 20 projection can then engage the thread which is arranged at the connecting piece in the area of the bearing surface.

In accordance with a further development of the inventive idea it is proposed that the connecting means are formed by at least two projections, which are arranged on an imaginary, helical connecting line. The lead of the imaginary, helical connecting line corresponds to the thread lead of the fixing thread. This construction offers the advantage that the manufacturing costs can be reduced significantly, since it is not required for a thread insert to be inserted at the stick element or for a thread to be formed which is an expensive manufacturing process.

Advantageously the tubular stick element is made of metal, in particular of steel.

99PAO 135 3 25.0i.2000/Re/de In particular, where the stick element consists of metal, the projections can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively by embossing deformations of the stick element. In this case, for instance, so called dotting marks can be arranged at the outside of the stick element, which enable a deformation of the stick material for the formation of projections, which protrude into the hollow space defined by the stick elements.

A further improvement is achieved in that, in the region between the first and the second connecting section, the connecting piece is provided with a collar protruding beyond the bearing surface of the first and/or second connecting section. This collar in particular acts as limit stop for the fixing thread and allows within the region of the connection between stick element and connecting piece for a compressive and tensile stress being applied increasing the stability.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the connecting sections are essentially cylinder-shaped. This allows an adaptation to the preferably also cylindrical hollow space within the tubular stick elements. In this way a large area of abutment is obtained between the bearing surfaces of the connecting section and the tubular stick element.

The costs are further reduced in that the connecting piece is designed to be hollow.

It is furthermore advantageous that the connecting piece is made ofa plastic material, in particular polyamide.

A particularly cost-effective manufacture is achieved in that the connecting piece has a thread only within the region of the first connecting section and that the bearing surface, in the region of the second connecting piece, is provided in the form of a cylinder. In this case a connection between the second connecting piece and the second stick element can be made in that the cylindrical connecting section is inserted into the stick end and the tubular material is deformed thereupon. Hereby a force-closed and/or conjugate connection between the stick 99PA 135 4 25.01.2000/Re/de element and the second connecting section is achieved. In this arrangement it is sufficient for a secure connection if the deformation is only by way of punch marking, for instance by applying dotting marks.

Brief description of drawings Below, a preferred embodiment example of the invention is described by reference to the drawings. Shown are in Figure 1: a perspective view of a handling stick according to the invention, Figure 2: a top view of a section of a stick element according to the invention, Figure 3: a bottom view of the stick element shown in Figure 2, 15 Figure 4: a top view ofa connecting piece according to the invention.

oi :oo• Embodiments of the invention 20 Figure 1 shows a handling stick 1 for equipment. It is used, in particular, for cleaning equipment, such as wiping equipment, wiping mops, brooms or the like.

The handling stick has at least two tubular stick elements 2, which can be S0connected to each other. At its upper end, the handling stick 1 has a handle 3, which is arranged at one end of the stick element 2 and completes the top of the handling stick.

At the lower end of the stick element 2' shown, further identical stick elements can be added. In this way it is possible to achieve a comparatively substantial total length of the handling stick 1 with relatively short stick elements 2, This is of advantage in particular, if the handling stick 1 is to be accommodated in relatively small packages.

99PA0 135 25.01.2000/Re/de To connect a first stick element 2 and a second stick element a connecting piece 4 is provided. A comparable and identical connecting piece 4' is located at the lower end of the stick element 2'.

The handling stick 1 can be connected via connecting means (not shown) at its lower end with cleaning equipment, for instance wiping equipment, wiping mops, brooms or the like.

Figures 2 to 4 show in greater detail, how the tubular stick elements 2, 2' are connected via connecting pieces 4, 4'.

The connecting piece 4 is formed such that it can extend at least partially into the hollow space 5 defined by the stick elements 2, This connecting piece 4 has a first connecting section 6 and a second connecting section 7. The first connecting section 6 is provided to connect with the first stick element 2 and the second connecting section 7 to connect with the second stick element In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first as well as the second connecting section oooo 6, 7 has a fixing thread each, which can be engaged with connecting means arranged at the first and/or second stick element. Furthermore the first and the 20 second connecting section 6,7 has bearing surfaces 9, 9' which are arranged and formed in such a way that they can bear against the inner surface of the stick element 2 or the stick element 2' respectively. In this arrangement the outer form ooooo of the bearing surfaces 9, 9' is matched in size and shape to the inner surface 10 of the stick element 2, 2' indicated by a dashed line. Furthermore a fixing thread 11 or 11' is proposed in the region of the bearing surfaces 9, 9' respectively.

Preferably, the fixing thread 11, 11' only occupies a relatively small area of the bearing surface 9, Preferably the fixing thread 11, 11' occupies less than and, especially preferred, less than 20 of the bearing surface 9, 9'.

The fixing thread 11, 11' in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 is provided with a radius at the thread root and is adapted to the connecting means 8 of the stick 99PAO0135 6 25.01.2000/Re/de elements 2, 2' such that the stick element [2 -not in German source text] or 2' and the connecting pieces 4 or 4' respectively can be screwed together by hand.

The connecting means 8 are formed by at least one projection which protrudes into the hollow space 5 of the stick element 2. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, four projections are proposed, however even with only two projections a very good connection between stick element 2 and connecting piece 4 can be achieved. The projections 8 are arranged on an imaginary helical connection line whose lead corresponds to the thread lead of the fixing thread 11, 11'.

The tubular stick element 2, 2' according to the present embodiment example consists of metal, in particular of steel. The projections 8 are produced by embossing deformations of the stick element 2, This can be achieved •15 particularly cost-effectively by applying dotting or punch marks on the outer surface of the stick elements 2, 2'.

At the connecting piece 4, there is in the region between the first and second connecting sections 6,7 a circumferential collar protruding beyond the bearing 20 surfaces 9, 9' of the first and second connecting sections 6, 7. The height of the collar is such that it corresponds to at least the mnaterial thickness of the tubular stick element 2, so that a continuous outer surface results when the handling stick 1 is fully assembled.

The connecting sections 6, 7 are essentially cylindrical at their outer surface and hollow on the inside. The connecting pieces 4 consist of a plastic material, in particular of polyamide.

As an alternative to the view shown in Figure 4, the connecting piece 4 may be optionally provided with a screw thread only in the region of the first connecting section 6, and the bearing surface 9' may be formed as a continuous, in particular cylindrical, surface, in the region of the second connecting section 7. A reliable 99PA0135 7 25.01.2000/Re/de and stable connection between the second connecting section 7 and stick element 2' is achieved in that initially the second connecting section 7 is inserted into the interior of the stick element 2, 2" and subsequently deformations are arranged at the tubular material by which the connecting piece 4 and stick element 2 are reliably connected. These deformations can be similar in design to the connecting means 8 and can also be produced by dotting marks or comparable deformations of the stick material.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general acknowledge in Australia.

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Claims

25.01.2000/Re/de The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A handling stick for equipment, in particular cleaning equipment, such as wiping equipment, wiping mops, brooms or the like, where said handling stick has at least two tubular stick elements which can be connected to each other, where said tubular stick elements form a hollow space where a connecting piece is provided for connecting a first stick element and a second stick element where said connecting piece extends at least partially into said hollow space formed by said stick elements where said connecting piece 4') has a first connecting section and a second connecting section where said first connecting section is designed to connect with said first stick element and said second connecting section to connect with said second stick element and where said first and/or said second connecting 1• section 7) comprises a fixing thread (11, 1 which can be engaged with connecting means arranged at said first and/or second stick element (2, characterised in that said first and/or second connecting section 7) has a bearing surface to bear against the inner surface (10) of said stick element and that said fixing thread (11, 11 is arranged within the region of said bearing surface 2. A handling stick according to Claim 1, characterised in that said connecting means are formed by at least one projection which protrudes into said hollow space formed by said stick elements 3. A handling stick according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said connecting means are formed by at least two projections, which are arranged on an imaginary, helical connecting line. 4. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said tubular stick element is made of metal, in particular of steel. 99PAO135 9 25.01.2000/Re/de A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said projections are manufactured by way of embossing deformation of said stick elements 6. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that, in the region between said first and said second connecting sections said connecting piece is provided with a collar (12) protruding beyond said bearing surface of said first and/or second connecting section 7). 7. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said connecting sections 7) are essentially cylinder-shaped. 0 8. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said 15 connecting piece is designed to be hollow. 9. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said connecting piece is made of a plastic material, in particular polyamide. s** 10. A handling stick according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said connecting piece has a thread only within the region of said first connecting section and that said bearing surface in the region of said S second connecting section is in the form of a cylinder. 11. A handling stick, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 31 st day of January 2001 CARL FREUDENBERG By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE