AU2013101544A4 - Coupling for a vacuum hose - Google Patents

Abstract

H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 A coupling for connecting a hose to a handle, including a swivel connector for anchoring the hose to the handle.

Description

H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 COUPLING FOR A VACUUM HOSE FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a coupling for a vacuum hose. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A vacuum hose is generally formed of a flexible tube that has a helical reinforcing rib running along the outside of the tube. The hose is extends between a vacuum cleaner machine and a handle that is coupled to a rigid pipe fitted with a vacuum head. [0003] The handle has an enlarged throat to receive an end of the hose and the throat has an internal thread to provide threaded engagement with the helical rib of the hose, in order to lock the hose in the handle. The handle is moved in many directions during a cleaning operation and this causes the hose to wear. [0004] Figure 1 shows a hose 1 that has been subject to wear at an outer end 2 of a handle 3 to such a degree that the hose 1 has developed a split 4. As soon as the hose splits, loss of suction occurs at the vacuum head and vacuum cleaning is no longer possible. [0005] Although the hose 1 can be repaired by removing the split section and re threading the hose 1 into the handle 3, a short-term fix is often employed by using tape 5 to wrap around the hose 1 and handle 3. Such a fix is often employed by commercial cleaners who, if they are on a job, do not have time to return the vacuum cleaner for maintenance. [0006] The tape 5 is then left on the hose 1 for subsequent jobs and inevitably starts to H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 -2 leak and provide a sub-optimal cleaning outcome. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention seeks to provide an alternative coupling between a vacuum hose and a handle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a coupling for connecting a hose to a handle, including a swivel connector for anchoring the hose to the handle. [0009] Preferably, the coupling includes a locking collar arranged to fit with a throat of the handle, to capture the connector to the handle. [0010] Preferably, the swivel connector has a tubular body with an external flange that abuts with the collar. [0011] Preferably, the flange is an annular flange arranged to be seated on the collar. [0012] Preferably, the collar includes a sleeve section, snap fit fasteners and a annular cap, wherein the sleeve section fits inside a throat of the handle so that the cap fits over an open end of the throat and is secured in place by the snap fit fasteners. [0013] Preferably, the sleeve section defines a seat for the annular flange. [0014] Preferably, the tubular body of the swivel connector has an internal thread for engagement with the hose, the tubular body extending outwardly from the flange, through the annular cap when the collar is fitted to the handle, to protect the hose from direct connection and wear against the collar.

H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 -3 [0015] In another aspect, there is provided a vacuum cleaner handle including a coupling, as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The invention is described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an image illustrating prior art connections between a vacuum hose and a handle; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a swivel connector; Figure 2b is a side view of the swivel connector; Figure 2c is an end view of the swivel connector; Figure 2d is a cross-sectional view of the swivel connector; Figure 3 is an image of the swivel connector; Figure 4a is a plan view of a collar; Figure 4b is a side view of the collar; Figure 4c is a cross-sectional view of the collar; Figure 4d is a perspective view of the collar; Figure 5 is an image showing partial assembly of a coupling and a handle; H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 -4 Figure 6 is an image showing the coupling fitted to the handle; and Figure 7 is an image showing a handle with a coupling attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Referring firstly to Figures 2 and 3, a swivel connector 6 is shown as including a tubular body 7 with an annular flange 8 located between larger diameter and a smaller diameter sections 9, 10 of the connector. The larger diameter 10 section includes an internal thread 12 toward one end 13. [0018] Referring now to Figure 4, a collar 14 is shown as including a sleeve section 15, an annular cap 16 and snap-fit fasteners 17. The sleeve section 15 is formed of two arc shaped walls 18 that project from the cap 16. The fasteners 17 are located between the walls 18 and are integrally moulded with the cap 16. Each fastener 17 includes a resilient tab 19 with an outwardly extending lug 20. [0019] With regard to Figure 5, the swivel connector 6 and collar 14 are combined as a coupling 21 for connecting a hose 22 to a handle 23. The hose 22 is already screw threaded into the tubular body 7 of the swivel connector 6 and the smaller diameter section 9 is shown being inserted into an open end 24 of a throat 25 of the handle 23. [0020] The collar 14 is positioned on the tubular body 7 in a position whereby the fasteners 17 align with openings 26 in the handle 23. To install the coupling 21, the sleeve section 15 is pushed into engagement with the handle 23 until the cap 16 abuts and covers the open end 24 of the throat 25, at which stage the fasteners 17 will snap fit into the openings 26. [0021] As the collar 14 is inserted into the handle 23, the sleeve section 15 engages the flange 8 and pushes the swivel connector 6 into the throat 25. Once installed, the sleeve H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 -5 section 15 forms a seat for the flange 8 in order to anchor the swivel connector 6 into the handle 23, while allowing relative rotation between the flange 8 and the collar 14. [0022] Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, the coupling 21 is shown in the fully assembled condition, connected into the handle 23. In that condition, the lugs 20 of the fasteners 17 are shown locked into the openings 26, which secures the collar 14 into the throat 25 of the handle 23 and anchors the swivel connector 6 to the handle 23. The swivel connector 6 is, however, still free to rotate within the collar 14 to accommodate any relative twist or rotation between the hose 22 and the handle 23. [0023] It should be noted, there is no direct contact between the hose 22 and the handle 23 so the prior art problem of wear and splitting is avoided. Instead, the wear zone is between the collar 14 and the tubular body 7, which projects through the collar 14. The collar 14 and swivel connector 6 are preferably formed of the same moulded plastics material so the degree of actual wear resulting from the swivel connector 6 rotating with the collar 14 will be minimal. [0024] In the event some component of the coupling 21 is damaged, the coupling 21 can be readily swapped out by simply releasing the fasteners 17 from the openings 26 and fitting a new coupling, as required. [0025] As may be readily appreciated, the invention clearly addresses the problem of hose wear and splitting identified in relation to the prior art hose connections.

H:\cab\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\CAB\5827705_I.DOC-25/11/2013 -6 LIST OF PARTS 1. Hose 2. Outer end 3. Handle 4. Split 5. Tape 6. Swivel connector 7. Tubular body 8. Annular flange 9. Section 10. Section 11. 12. Internal thread 13. One end 14. Collar 15. Sleeve section 16. Annular cap 17. Fastener 18. Wall 19. Tab 20. Lug 21. Coupling 22. Hose 23. Handle 24. Open end 25. Throat 26. Opening

Claims (8)

1. A coupling for connecting a hose to a handle, including a swivel connector for anchoring the hose to the handle.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a locking collar arranged to fit with a throat of the handle, to capture the connector to the handle.

3. The coupling of claim 2, wherein the swivel connector has a tubular body with an external flange that abuts with the collar.

4. The coupling of claim 3, wherein the flange is an annular flange arranged to be seated on the collar.

5. The coupling of claim 4, wherein the collar includes a sleeve section, snap fit fasteners and a annular cap, wherein the sleeve section fits inside a throat of the handle so that the cap fits over an open end of the throat and is secured in place by the snap fit fasteners.

6. The coupling of claim 5, wherein the sleeve section defines a seat for the annular flange.

7. The coupling of claim 6, wherein the tubular body of the swivel connector has an internal thread for engagement with the hose, the tubular body extending outwardly from the flange, through the annular cap when the collar is fitted to the handle, to protect the hose from direct connection and wear against the collar.

8. A vacuum cleaner handle including a coupling of any one of claims 1 to 7.