CA2542287A1 - Vacuum cleaners and hoses - Google Patents
Vacuum cleaners and hoses Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2542287A1 CA2542287A1 CA002542287A CA2542287A CA2542287A1 CA 2542287 A1 CA2542287 A1 CA 2542287A1 CA 002542287 A CA002542287 A CA 002542287A CA 2542287 A CA2542287 A CA 2542287A CA 2542287 A1 CA2542287 A1 CA 2542287A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- section
- length
- hose assembly
- hose
- vacuum cleaner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—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
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—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
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/244—Hose or pipe couplings for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
- Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
- Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
- Electric Suction Cleaners (AREA)
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner hose (2) has an inner flexible section (25) slidable within an outer flexible section (20). A rear end fitting (28) on the inner section prevents it being pulled from the outer section and seals with a coupling (24) at the forward end of the outer section (20) when fully extended. The inner section (25) has a natural extended length and is retracted for storage by closing a valve at the forward end of the hose (2) so that suction from the cleaner (1) causes a reduced pressure within the hose sufficient to retract the inner section. The inner section (25) is retained within the outer section (20) by engaging a coupling (33) at the forward end of the inner section with the coupling (24) at the forward end of the outer section.
Description
VACUUM CLEANERS AND HOSES
This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the kind including a suction unit and a flexible hose assembly.
Cylinder vacuum cleaners are used with a hose. Upright vacuum cleaners may also be used with a hose where it is necessary to clean less accessible locations.
Hoses are also used in central vacuum cleaner installations, where a suction unit and ducting is built into a building. A long hose is useful in some situations but causes problems with storage and manipulation. The length of a hose is usually a compromise between a long length for ease of use and a short length to facilitate storage. One form of hose that can be long yet is easy to store is the extensible or stretch hose, which has a naturally short length b-ut can be pulled to extend it to a longer length. The hose has a helical reinforcement with a natural contracted length but which can be extended resiliently. Although these hoses can be used satisfactorily, they have a disadvantage because the force needed to extend the hose and to maintain its extension makes it more difficult to manipulate the cleaning head.
Furthermore, the force may pull over or move the vacuum cleaner or any furniture around which the hose is lead.
One solution to this is the retractable hose, which has a naturally extended length and which can be retracted by suction. This is achieved by selecting the resilience of the helical reinforcement of the hose so that the suction created by the vacuum cleancr when the far end of the hose is obstructed is sufficient to pull the hose to a retracted length. The hose is then held in its retracted state so that it does not extend when the vacuum clear3er is turned off.
This form of retractable hose is described in WO 03/024294. Although this form of hose has many advantages, there may be situations where it is desirable to have a hose that can be extended to even longer lengths but without an increased storage length, or where the construction of the hose does not allow for it to be retracted by suction, or where a non-retractable form of hose is preferred.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative vacuum cleaner and hose.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner of the above-specified kind, characterised in that the hose assembly includes at least two flexible sections one of which has a smaller external diameter than the other and is slidable within the other, and that the two sections are arranged to seal with one another at least when the two sections are extended relative to one another.
The flexible sections are preferably corrugated. The smaller diameter section may be stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
Alternatively, the smaller diameter section may be retractable from a natural extended length to a shorter length, such as by suction applied by the suction unit when the end of the hose assembly is occluded. The shorter length of the smaller diameter section may be substantially equal to the length of the larger diameter section. The two sections of the hose assembly may be provided with cooperating couplings that can be engaged with one another to retain the two sections in a compact configuration one within the other for storage. The larger diameter section of the hose assembly may be stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner, characterised in that the hose assembly includes inner and outer corrugated, flexible sections, that the inner section has a first end slidably retained within the outer section, that the hose assembly has a short configuration where the major part of the length of the inner section extends within the outer section and the first end of the inner section is located adjacent the first end of the outer section, and that the hose assembly has a longer configuration where the inner section is extended beyond a second end of the outer section and the first end of the inner section is located adjacent the second end of the outer section and in which a seal is provided between the two sections.
The imier section is preferably extensible from a~ shorter length substantially equal to the length of the outer section to a longer length greater than that of the outer section.
A vacuum cleaner including a hose assembly and its method of use, according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of the cleaner and hose assembly in an extended state; and Figure 2 is a simplified enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the hose assembly in an extended state.
With reference first to Figure 1 there is shown a vacuum cleaner including a suction unit 1, a hose assembly 2 and a cleaning wand 3 with a cleaning head 4 at one end.
The unit 1 is conventional, being a portable cylinder cleaner with a pump, dust collection bag, controls and filters of the usual kind (not shown). The unit ~
has a suction inlet 10 towards one end to which the hose assembly 2 is connected.
With reference now also to Figure 2, the hose assembly 2 has a first, outer section 20 with a coupling 21 at one end connected with the suction inlet 10. The main part of the first section 20 is provided by a corrugated, flexible tubular wall 22 of a plastics material, which is reinforced by a helical wire 23. The invention is also applicable to other forms of hose, such as tho se made entirely of plastics. The end of the first section 20 remote from the vacuum cleaner housing 1 is terminated by a sealing coupling 24. The first section 20 of the hose assembly 2 is typically about 1.8m long and is relatively inextensible axially. The first hose section 20 may alternatively be of a stretch construction, that is, one that has a natural short, retracted length but can be pulled by applying an axial force to a longer length against the axial resilience of the hose.
The hose assembly 2 also has a second, inner, smaller diameter section 25, which is flexible and corrugated, being provided by a sleeve 26 of a highly flexible plastics material supported on the outside of a helical reinforcement member in the form of a spring metal wire 27, as described in W003024294. The helical reinforcement wire 27 has a natural extended state but can be compressed axially against its resilience by an applied external force. The sleeve 26 is sufficiently flexible that the second section 25 itself naturally takes up the extended length of the reinforcement wire helix 27. The sleeve 26 has shallow hills extending outwardly between turns of the reinforcement wire 27, thereby allowing the sleeve to fold outwardly when the hose is retracted. The second section 25 is terminated at one end by a rigid circular end fitting 28 located within the first, larger diameter section 20 and freely slidable along it. The dimensions of the end fitting 28 and the coupling 24 on the first section are such as to prevent withdrawal of the end fitting. The end fitting 28 and the coupling 24 have engaging sealing surfaces 29 and 30 that extend laterally and abut and seal with one another when the end fitting is pulled against the coupling. The natural, extended length of the second section 25 is about 3.6m and it can be retracted to a length of about the same as that of the first section, that is, about 1.8m. This gives a total maximum length of about 5.4m.
In general, if both sections of the hose are non-retractable or non-compressible the minimum overall length of the hose will be about 50% of its maximum length. Where one of the hose sections is retractable, as described above, the same maximum length can be achieved but the minimum length can be only about 25% of the maximum.
The opposite end of the second section 25 is terminated by a handle 32, such as of the kind described in GB2403403. The rear end of the handle 32 is formed with a coupling 33 adapted to mate with the coupling 24 at the end of the first section 20. The handle 32 has a trigger 34 that can be operated by the user to close a valve (not shown) within the handle and thereby prevent or restrict flow of air through the handle and hence along the hose assembly 2. The cleaning wand 3 is connected to the forward end of the handle 32.
., Before use, the second section 25 is retracted and withdrawn within the first, outer section 20, as shown by the broken lines in Figure 2, and is held in this retracted state by engagement of the couplings 33 and 24, thereby providing a relatively compact configuration for storage. The hose assembly 2 can be used in this compact configuration for cleaning where a longer length is not needed. A stretch construction of the first section 20 facilitates use in this compact configuration. Normally, however, the user would release the two couplings 33 and 24 so that the resilience of the second section 25 extends it to its natural extended length. The user then pulls the second section 25 slightly to pull it out of the first section 20 to its maximum extent, in a telescopic fashion. Until the end fitting 28 is pulled into sealing engagement with the coupling 24, air will be able to flow between the outside of the second section 25 and the coupling on the first section 20, so the suction effect at the cleaning head will be reduced. Once the end fitting 28 is engaged with the coupling 24, a seal is formed between the surfaces 29 and 30 preventing leakage of air into the hose assembly 2 except at the cleaning head 4. The total length of the extended hose assembly 2 is, therefore, equal to the combination of the length of the first section 20 and the extended length of the second section 25, that is, about 5.4m. It will be appreciated that, if the first, outer section 20 has a stretch construction, the overall effective length of the entire hose assembly can be further extended by applying a light pulling force to the remote end of the assembly.
When the user has finished cleaning and wishes to store the cleaner, he closes the trigger 34 on the handle 32 to restrict air flow along the hose assembly 2.
This creates a suction pressure within the hose assembly 2 thereby retracting the second section 25 in length. The suction also has the effect of withdrawing the second section 25 back into the first section 20, telescopically, like a piston. Once the end fitting 28 is displaced from the coupling 24, some air will flow into the first section 20 at the coupling but it is still easy for the user fully to retract the second section 25 into the first with the combination of the suction and some manual guiding and pushing. When the second section 25 has been withdrawn fully into the first section 20 and has been retracted in length, the coupling 33 on the handle 32 is engaged with the coupling 24 on the first section. The vacuum cleaner can now be tunied off allowing pressure within the hose assembly 2 to rise to atmosphere. The tendency of the second section 25 to extend is restrained by engagement of the couplings 33 and 24.
-, By providing for the second section 25 to slide within the first section 20 the overall effective length of the hose assembly 2 can be further extended over the arrangement described in W003024294 without any increase in the stowed length of the hose assembly.
Or, the same extended length can be achieved with a hose assembly having reduced stowed length.
The invention could also be used with conventional hoses that cannot be extended or retracted in length. In the simplest case, the user would simply pull the smaller diameter hose out of the larger diameter hose to its full extent when cleaning and would push the two hoses telescopically together when the vacuum cleaner is to be stored. This enables the effective usable length of the hose to be up to twice that of the stowed length. In a modification of this arrangement employing conventional hose sections, the remote end of the hose assembly could have a valve similar to that described above that the user can close so that suction is created within the hose assembly. The suction helps produce a telescopic piston effect to withdraw the smaller diameter hose into the larger diameter hose.
It will be appreciated that the hose assembly could have various different configurations. For example, the hose assembly could include three or more hose sections of different diameters nested one within the other, so that the effective, usable, extended length of the hose is three or more times the stowed length. The larger diameter section could be secured at the remote end of the hose assembly and the smaller diameter section secured with the vacuum cleaner housing. The hose need not have a wire-reinforced construction but could, for example, be a low cost hose made entirely of plastics material.
The seal between the different sections of the hose need not be provided by abutting lateral surfaces but could instead be provided by one or more sliding seals, such as provided on the outer section facing inwardly to make a wiping seal with the outside of the inner section, or on the inner section facing outwardly to make a wiping seal with the inside of the outer section, or both of these arrangements.
The invention is not confined to portable cylinder cleaners but could be used with upright cleaners, central vacuum cleaner installations, fixed garage forecourt vacuum cleaners or the like.
This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the kind including a suction unit and a flexible hose assembly.
Cylinder vacuum cleaners are used with a hose. Upright vacuum cleaners may also be used with a hose where it is necessary to clean less accessible locations.
Hoses are also used in central vacuum cleaner installations, where a suction unit and ducting is built into a building. A long hose is useful in some situations but causes problems with storage and manipulation. The length of a hose is usually a compromise between a long length for ease of use and a short length to facilitate storage. One form of hose that can be long yet is easy to store is the extensible or stretch hose, which has a naturally short length b-ut can be pulled to extend it to a longer length. The hose has a helical reinforcement with a natural contracted length but which can be extended resiliently. Although these hoses can be used satisfactorily, they have a disadvantage because the force needed to extend the hose and to maintain its extension makes it more difficult to manipulate the cleaning head.
Furthermore, the force may pull over or move the vacuum cleaner or any furniture around which the hose is lead.
One solution to this is the retractable hose, which has a naturally extended length and which can be retracted by suction. This is achieved by selecting the resilience of the helical reinforcement of the hose so that the suction created by the vacuum cleancr when the far end of the hose is obstructed is sufficient to pull the hose to a retracted length. The hose is then held in its retracted state so that it does not extend when the vacuum clear3er is turned off.
This form of retractable hose is described in WO 03/024294. Although this form of hose has many advantages, there may be situations where it is desirable to have a hose that can be extended to even longer lengths but without an increased storage length, or where the construction of the hose does not allow for it to be retracted by suction, or where a non-retractable form of hose is preferred.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative vacuum cleaner and hose.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner of the above-specified kind, characterised in that the hose assembly includes at least two flexible sections one of which has a smaller external diameter than the other and is slidable within the other, and that the two sections are arranged to seal with one another at least when the two sections are extended relative to one another.
The flexible sections are preferably corrugated. The smaller diameter section may be stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
Alternatively, the smaller diameter section may be retractable from a natural extended length to a shorter length, such as by suction applied by the suction unit when the end of the hose assembly is occluded. The shorter length of the smaller diameter section may be substantially equal to the length of the larger diameter section. The two sections of the hose assembly may be provided with cooperating couplings that can be engaged with one another to retain the two sections in a compact configuration one within the other for storage. The larger diameter section of the hose assembly may be stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner, characterised in that the hose assembly includes inner and outer corrugated, flexible sections, that the inner section has a first end slidably retained within the outer section, that the hose assembly has a short configuration where the major part of the length of the inner section extends within the outer section and the first end of the inner section is located adjacent the first end of the outer section, and that the hose assembly has a longer configuration where the inner section is extended beyond a second end of the outer section and the first end of the inner section is located adjacent the second end of the outer section and in which a seal is provided between the two sections.
The imier section is preferably extensible from a~ shorter length substantially equal to the length of the outer section to a longer length greater than that of the outer section.
A vacuum cleaner including a hose assembly and its method of use, according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of the cleaner and hose assembly in an extended state; and Figure 2 is a simplified enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the hose assembly in an extended state.
With reference first to Figure 1 there is shown a vacuum cleaner including a suction unit 1, a hose assembly 2 and a cleaning wand 3 with a cleaning head 4 at one end.
The unit 1 is conventional, being a portable cylinder cleaner with a pump, dust collection bag, controls and filters of the usual kind (not shown). The unit ~
has a suction inlet 10 towards one end to which the hose assembly 2 is connected.
With reference now also to Figure 2, the hose assembly 2 has a first, outer section 20 with a coupling 21 at one end connected with the suction inlet 10. The main part of the first section 20 is provided by a corrugated, flexible tubular wall 22 of a plastics material, which is reinforced by a helical wire 23. The invention is also applicable to other forms of hose, such as tho se made entirely of plastics. The end of the first section 20 remote from the vacuum cleaner housing 1 is terminated by a sealing coupling 24. The first section 20 of the hose assembly 2 is typically about 1.8m long and is relatively inextensible axially. The first hose section 20 may alternatively be of a stretch construction, that is, one that has a natural short, retracted length but can be pulled by applying an axial force to a longer length against the axial resilience of the hose.
The hose assembly 2 also has a second, inner, smaller diameter section 25, which is flexible and corrugated, being provided by a sleeve 26 of a highly flexible plastics material supported on the outside of a helical reinforcement member in the form of a spring metal wire 27, as described in W003024294. The helical reinforcement wire 27 has a natural extended state but can be compressed axially against its resilience by an applied external force. The sleeve 26 is sufficiently flexible that the second section 25 itself naturally takes up the extended length of the reinforcement wire helix 27. The sleeve 26 has shallow hills extending outwardly between turns of the reinforcement wire 27, thereby allowing the sleeve to fold outwardly when the hose is retracted. The second section 25 is terminated at one end by a rigid circular end fitting 28 located within the first, larger diameter section 20 and freely slidable along it. The dimensions of the end fitting 28 and the coupling 24 on the first section are such as to prevent withdrawal of the end fitting. The end fitting 28 and the coupling 24 have engaging sealing surfaces 29 and 30 that extend laterally and abut and seal with one another when the end fitting is pulled against the coupling. The natural, extended length of the second section 25 is about 3.6m and it can be retracted to a length of about the same as that of the first section, that is, about 1.8m. This gives a total maximum length of about 5.4m.
In general, if both sections of the hose are non-retractable or non-compressible the minimum overall length of the hose will be about 50% of its maximum length. Where one of the hose sections is retractable, as described above, the same maximum length can be achieved but the minimum length can be only about 25% of the maximum.
The opposite end of the second section 25 is terminated by a handle 32, such as of the kind described in GB2403403. The rear end of the handle 32 is formed with a coupling 33 adapted to mate with the coupling 24 at the end of the first section 20. The handle 32 has a trigger 34 that can be operated by the user to close a valve (not shown) within the handle and thereby prevent or restrict flow of air through the handle and hence along the hose assembly 2. The cleaning wand 3 is connected to the forward end of the handle 32.
., Before use, the second section 25 is retracted and withdrawn within the first, outer section 20, as shown by the broken lines in Figure 2, and is held in this retracted state by engagement of the couplings 33 and 24, thereby providing a relatively compact configuration for storage. The hose assembly 2 can be used in this compact configuration for cleaning where a longer length is not needed. A stretch construction of the first section 20 facilitates use in this compact configuration. Normally, however, the user would release the two couplings 33 and 24 so that the resilience of the second section 25 extends it to its natural extended length. The user then pulls the second section 25 slightly to pull it out of the first section 20 to its maximum extent, in a telescopic fashion. Until the end fitting 28 is pulled into sealing engagement with the coupling 24, air will be able to flow between the outside of the second section 25 and the coupling on the first section 20, so the suction effect at the cleaning head will be reduced. Once the end fitting 28 is engaged with the coupling 24, a seal is formed between the surfaces 29 and 30 preventing leakage of air into the hose assembly 2 except at the cleaning head 4. The total length of the extended hose assembly 2 is, therefore, equal to the combination of the length of the first section 20 and the extended length of the second section 25, that is, about 5.4m. It will be appreciated that, if the first, outer section 20 has a stretch construction, the overall effective length of the entire hose assembly can be further extended by applying a light pulling force to the remote end of the assembly.
When the user has finished cleaning and wishes to store the cleaner, he closes the trigger 34 on the handle 32 to restrict air flow along the hose assembly 2.
This creates a suction pressure within the hose assembly 2 thereby retracting the second section 25 in length. The suction also has the effect of withdrawing the second section 25 back into the first section 20, telescopically, like a piston. Once the end fitting 28 is displaced from the coupling 24, some air will flow into the first section 20 at the coupling but it is still easy for the user fully to retract the second section 25 into the first with the combination of the suction and some manual guiding and pushing. When the second section 25 has been withdrawn fully into the first section 20 and has been retracted in length, the coupling 33 on the handle 32 is engaged with the coupling 24 on the first section. The vacuum cleaner can now be tunied off allowing pressure within the hose assembly 2 to rise to atmosphere. The tendency of the second section 25 to extend is restrained by engagement of the couplings 33 and 24.
-, By providing for the second section 25 to slide within the first section 20 the overall effective length of the hose assembly 2 can be further extended over the arrangement described in W003024294 without any increase in the stowed length of the hose assembly.
Or, the same extended length can be achieved with a hose assembly having reduced stowed length.
The invention could also be used with conventional hoses that cannot be extended or retracted in length. In the simplest case, the user would simply pull the smaller diameter hose out of the larger diameter hose to its full extent when cleaning and would push the two hoses telescopically together when the vacuum cleaner is to be stored. This enables the effective usable length of the hose to be up to twice that of the stowed length. In a modification of this arrangement employing conventional hose sections, the remote end of the hose assembly could have a valve similar to that described above that the user can close so that suction is created within the hose assembly. The suction helps produce a telescopic piston effect to withdraw the smaller diameter hose into the larger diameter hose.
It will be appreciated that the hose assembly could have various different configurations. For example, the hose assembly could include three or more hose sections of different diameters nested one within the other, so that the effective, usable, extended length of the hose is three or more times the stowed length. The larger diameter section could be secured at the remote end of the hose assembly and the smaller diameter section secured with the vacuum cleaner housing. The hose need not have a wire-reinforced construction but could, for example, be a low cost hose made entirely of plastics material.
The seal between the different sections of the hose need not be provided by abutting lateral surfaces but could instead be provided by one or more sliding seals, such as provided on the outer section facing inwardly to make a wiping seal with the outside of the inner section, or on the inner section facing outwardly to make a wiping seal with the inside of the outer section, or both of these arrangements.
The invention is not confined to portable cylinder cleaners but could be used with upright cleaners, central vacuum cleaner installations, fixed garage forecourt vacuum cleaners or the like.
Claims (10)
1. A vacuum cleaner including a suction unit (1) and a flexible hose assembly (2) connected therewith, characterised in that the hose assembly (2) includes at least two flexible sections one of which (25) has a smaller external diameter than the other (20) and is slidable within the other, and that the two sections are arranged to seal with one another at least when the two sections are extended relative to one another.
2. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flexible sections (20 and 25) are corrugated.
3. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the smaller diameter section (25) is stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
4. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the smaller diameter section (25) is retractable from a natural extended length to a shorter length.
5. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 4, characterised in that the smaller diameter section (25) is retractable by suction applied by the suction unit (1) when the end (32) of the hose assembly (2) is occluded.
6. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the shorter length of the smaller diameter section (25) is substantially equal to the length of the larger diameter section (20).
7. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the two sections (20 and 25) of the hose assembly (2) are provided with cooperating couplings (24 and 33) that can be engaged with one another to retain the two sections in a compact configuration one within the other for storage.
8 8. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the larger diameter section (20) of the hose assembly (2) is stretchable from a natural short length to a longer length by applying an axial force.
9. A hose assembly (2) fox a vacuum cleaner, characterised in that the hose assembly (2) includes inner and outer corrugated, flexible sections (25 and 20), that the inner section (25) has a first end (28) slidably retained within the outer section (20), that the hose assembly (2) has a short configuration where the major part of the length of the inner section (25) extends within the outer section (20) and the first end (28) of the inner section (25) is located adjacent the first end (21) of the outer section (20), and that the hose assembly (2) has a longer configuration where the inner section (25) is extended beyond a second end (24) of the outer section (20) and the first end (28) of the inner section (25) is located adjacent the second end (24) of the outer section (20) and in which a seal (29, 30) is provided between the two sections (20 and 25).
10. A hose assembly according to Claim 9, characterised in that the inner section (25) is extensible from a shorter length substantially equal to the length of the outer section (20) to a longer length greater than that of the outer section.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0403877.4A GB0403877D0 (en) | 2004-02-21 | 2004-02-21 | Vacuum cleaners and hoses |
GB0403877.4 | 2004-02-21 | ||
PCT/GB2005/000196 WO2005079651A1 (en) | 2004-02-21 | 2005-01-21 | Vacuum cleaners and hoses |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2542287A1 true CA2542287A1 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
Family
ID=32040137
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002542287A Abandoned CA2542287A1 (en) | 2004-02-21 | 2005-01-21 | Vacuum cleaners and hoses |
Country Status (11)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070113375A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1715781A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007524485A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20060115357A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1921792A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2005215193A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0506443A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2542287A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB0403877D0 (en) |
NO (1) | NO20064276L (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005079651A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1619988A1 (en) * | 2003-04-25 | 2006-02-01 | Smiths Group PLC | Vacuum cleaner apparatus with a retractable hose |
US8411382B2 (en) * | 2009-07-23 | 2013-04-02 | Bertil R. L. Werjefelt | Emergency vision apparatus with distributed stowage space |
DE102014109743A1 (en) * | 2014-07-11 | 2016-01-14 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Suction hose for a vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner with such a suction hose |
CN105919516A (en) * | 2016-06-12 | 2016-09-07 | 金华市春光橡塑软管有限公司 | Bendable storage type hose and vacuum cleaner |
US11357375B2 (en) * | 2020-03-24 | 2022-06-14 | Rightnow Co., Ltd | Dust collecting device with extendible and flexible air tube |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19843973B4 (en) * | 1998-01-16 | 2015-11-05 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Hose arrangement for a vacuum cleaner |
DE29915879U1 (en) * | 1999-09-09 | 1999-12-09 | Sellteck GmbH, 22297 Hamburg | Rotatable hose, especially for vacuum cleaners |
JP2005520582A (en) * | 2001-09-19 | 2005-07-14 | スミスズ グループ ピーエルシー | Vacuum cleaner and its hose |
DE10162455A1 (en) * | 2001-12-19 | 2003-07-17 | Werner Jablonski | Elongating method for suction hose of vacuum cleaner involves using flexible extendable hose connected between cleaner and vacuum head unit |
EP1619988A1 (en) * | 2003-04-25 | 2006-02-01 | Smiths Group PLC | Vacuum cleaner apparatus with a retractable hose |
GB2403403B (en) * | 2003-06-24 | 2006-07-19 | Smiths Group Plc | Vacuum cleaner with suction-retractable hose |
GB0407655D0 (en) * | 2004-04-03 | 2004-05-05 | Smiths Group Plc | Vacuum cleaner hose assemblies |
-
2004
- 2004-02-21 GB GBGB0403877.4A patent/GB0403877D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2005
- 2005-01-21 EP EP05701959A patent/EP1715781A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2005-01-21 WO PCT/GB2005/000196 patent/WO2005079651A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2005-01-21 BR BRPI0506443-0A patent/BRPI0506443A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2005-01-21 JP JP2006553635A patent/JP2007524485A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2005-01-21 CN CNA2005800054890A patent/CN1921792A/en active Pending
- 2005-01-21 US US10/588,798 patent/US20070113375A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-01-21 KR KR1020067006849A patent/KR20060115357A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2005-01-21 AU AU2005215193A patent/AU2005215193A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2005-01-21 CA CA002542287A patent/CA2542287A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2006
- 2006-09-21 NO NO20064276A patent/NO20064276L/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR20060115357A (en) | 2006-11-08 |
EP1715781A1 (en) | 2006-11-02 |
WO2005079651A1 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
AU2005215193A1 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
BRPI0506443A (en) | 2006-12-26 |
US20070113375A1 (en) | 2007-05-24 |
JP2007524485A (en) | 2007-08-30 |
GB0403877D0 (en) | 2004-03-24 |
CN1921792A (en) | 2007-02-28 |
NO20064276L (en) | 2006-11-21 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FZDE | Discontinued |