EP1246560B1

EP1246560B1 - Vacuum cleaner handle

Info

Publication number: EP1246560B1
Application number: EP00989159A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gunnar Jansson
Original assignee: Hakaryd AB
Current assignee: Hakaryd AB
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-12-22
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-22
Also published as: DE60039369D1; AU2570201A; ATE399499T1; SE9904768D0; WO2001047402A1; EP1246560A1

Abstract

A bendable tubular shaft with an adjustable length for vacuum cleaning of places which are difficult to access, which shaft (10) comprises a stiff lower pipe (1) for connection to a vacuum nozzle (2), a flexible tubing (3) arranged at one of its ends (3') at the lower pipe (1) and at its other end (3'') to a suction device and an external stiff pipe (4), which is telescopically displaceable over at least the lower pipe (1). The flexible tubing (3) is non-rotatably fixed to the upper portion of the lower pipe (1) and the external pipe (4) is displaceable over both the lower pipe (1) and the flexible tubing (3), which external pipe has a handle (5), which by friction is arranged to engage the tubing (3) in the relative adjustment positions of the lower pipe (1) and the external pipe (4), whereby the length and bending of the shaft (10) are adjustable in response to how the external pipe (4) encloses only the lower pipe (1) and only the flexible tubing (3), respectively, at which latter position also a pivoted movement sideways of the lower pipe (1) is made possible by turning the handle (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a shaft for a vacuum cleaner, which is adjustable in length, can be bent or form an angle in any directions and be controlled also in a bent working position.
Vacuum cleaners comprising a vacuum device, a flexible tubing, a pipe shaft and a nozzle connectable thereto are well known. The pipe shaft often is telescopic and can be adjusted in length, so that a normal adult person by holding the pipe shaft just close to the flexible tubing is able to vacuum clean in a substantially upright position, at least when floors and similar surfaces are vacuum cleaned. Such a vacuum cleaner is shown in WO 99/11170 .
However, problems may arise when other surfaces, for example under objects on the floor, such as sofas or the like are to be vacuum cleaned. Usually, the person who is vacuum cleaning must take another position, for example crawling on the floor, which often is experienced as troublesome. Problems also arise when highly situated surfaces are to be vacuum cleaned, for example cornices, when the person who is vacuum cleaning perhaps must put himself on a chair or another object raised in relation to the floor to be able to reach.
The object of the invention is to solve said previous problems.
According to a preferred embodiment the tubular shaft comprises a lower pipe for connection to a vacuum nozzle, a flexible tubing arranged at one end at the lower pipe and at its other end at a vacuum device, such as a vacuum cleaner, an external pipe with a handle arranged at one end of the pipe, which external pipe is arranged at the flexible tubing, the flexible tubing being rigidly and non-rotatably arranged at the lower pipe, the external pipe having somewhat larger diameter than that of the flexible tubing and the lower pipe and at least partly surrounding the tubing. Furthermore, the external pipe is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the tubing and the lower pipe with the aid of the handle, which by friction which may be overcome engages the tubing, the length and the bending of the shaft being adjustable. The bending is adjustable by pulling the external pipe passed the lower pipe in such a manner that a suitable portion of the flexible tubing is released. Suitably a stop member of any kind is arranged for this purpose. For example it may be a snap-in fastener arranged on the flexible tubing. Hereby also a pivoted movement sideways of the lower pipe and a vacuum nozzle attached to this are permitted. This takes place by turning the handle with the associated external pipe, which by friction against the tubing is turned together with the latter, which makes the cleaning substantially more efficient.
According to a preferred embodiment the handle is tubular and made of a soft polymer material engaging the tubing by friction, which may be overcome when a user grabs hold of the handle and displaces this in a desired direction. Suitably the handle comprises at least one hard and at least one soft portion, preferably a soft portion surrounded by two hard portions. A suitable material is preferably chosen from thermoplastic elastomers TPE.
The design of the shaft makes it possible to vacuum clean also places which are difficult to access, such as under furniture and so on by the bending function. The shaft can also most easily be adjusted, when you need to reach substantially farther than is normal. This may be accomplished by the extensibility of the shaft. It is also possible to vacuum clean highly situated surfaces, such as cornices, curtain rods or the like. Then, further bending devices are suitably used, which will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.
The construction is most simple to produce by for instance injection moulding and extrusion of thermoplastic material. These may also be combined. Also other combinations are possible such as a lower pipe of aluminium etc. This is not described in more detail since it is well known for a skilled man in the art.
The invention will now be described in more detail below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1: shows a perspective view of a shaft for a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention, which is in a non-extended position, a so called "normal position",
Figure 2: shows the same shaft as fig. 1 in an extended position,
Figure 3: shows the same shaft as fig. 2 in a further extended position with an exposed flexible tubing,
Figure 4: shows a possible further bending portion and
Figure 5: shows the bending portion in fig.4 arranged at a vacuum nozzle.

First the invention is described very schematically in figures 1 - 2 to show different positions for a shaft 1 intended for a vacuum cleaner. A more detailed figure description is found in figure 3.
In figure 1 there is shown a shaft 10 for a vacuum device, for example a vacuum cleaner, according to an embodiment of the invention, which is in a non-extended position, a so-called "normal position".
Figure 2 shows the same shaft 10 as in fig. 1 in an extended position, which is used when you want to reach far away. For example, this position is suitable when there is poor accessibility during the vacuum cleaning. The shaft 10 can be extended almost the entire length of a lower pipe 1 by displacing an external pipe 4 before a flexible tubing 3 is exposed between the two pipes 1 and 4, whereby you obtain a long shaft 10. Suitably the external pipe 4 has a length adapted to the lower pipe 1, so that in a maximum non-extended position, which appears from figure 1, the external pipe 4 covers substantially the entire lower pipe 1.
Figure 3 shows the same shaft as in figure 1 - 2, but in a further extended position. Here there is shown how the flexible tubing 3, which when the external pipe 4 is completely extended, is released between the lower pipe 1 and the external pipe 4 and functions as a joint between these, which makes possible a bending of the shaft 10 with an angle α. The angle α is suitably from 135 - 225°.
The shaft 10 comprises a stiff lower pipe 1 for connection to a vacuum nozzle 2, a flexible tubing 3 in one end 3' arranged at the lower pipe 1 and in its other end 3" connectable to a suction device, not shown on the drawing, an external stiff pipe 4 with a handle 5, which external pipe 4 is arranged at the flexible tubing 3. The flexible tubing 3 is rigidly and non-rotatably arranged at the lower pipe 1, the external pipe 4, which has somewhat larger diameter than the flexible tubing 3 and the lower pipe 1 and which at least partly surrounds the tubing 3 and possibly the lower pipe 1, being displaceable by hand force in the longitudinal direction of the tubing 3 and the flexible pipe 1 by displacement with the aid of the handle 5 by overcoming the friction that the handle 5 and in certain degree the external pipe 4 exert on the tubing 3, the pipe 4 engaging the tubing 3 by friction since it is not affected by the displacement with the aid of a handle 5 , whereby the length of the shaft 10 is telescopically adjustable, completely steplessly.
The friction securing the external pipe 4 on the tubing 3 is achieved by the design of the handle 5. The handle 5 is suitably tubular and made of a thermoplastic material, for example a soft polymer material, enclosing the flexible tubing 3, the friction being adapted to be easy to overcome, when a user grabs hold of the handle 5 and displaces the external pipe 4 along the flexible tubing 3.
Suitably, the handle 5 comprises at least two portions, at least one hard portion 5a, which you may hold when displacing the external pipe 4, and an engaging soft portion 5b. The hard portion 5a is intended to be hold when displacing the handle 5, whereby the soft portion 5b exerts friction against the flexible tubing 3 and secures the external pipe 4 in a desired position, after the adjusted displacement to the desired working position. After the displacement of the external pipe 4 to the desired position, you suitably change grip, whereby you suitably hold the soft portion 5b to further increase the friction engagement.
Suitably any form of snap-in lock is arranged on the lower pipe 1, which engages before the shaft has been extended so far that the tubing 3 is exposed. Further snap-in locks may be arranged for example at the vacuum nozzle, which snaps in at the normal position. In addition to this, snap-in locks may be arranged on the flexible tubing 3 to permit a suitable release of the flexible tubing 3 in its bending positions relative to the shaft 10 both in the vertical direction and sideways.
Suitable materials for the handle are thermoplastic elastomers TPE.
Figure 4 shows an example on an articulated pipe 12, which can be arranged between the vacuum nozzle and the lower pipe. The pipe is designed such that the cross section S of the joint is arranged so that the pipe can form a pipe bend of about 45-90°, but also a pipe substantially displaced in parallel.

Claims

A tubular shaft for a vacuum cleaning device and comprising a stiff lower pipe (1) for connection to a vacuum nozzle (2), a flexible tubing (3) arranged at one of its ends (3') at the lower pipe (1) and at its other end (3") to the vacuum cleaning device and an external stiff pipe (4), which is telescopically displaceable over at least the lower pipe (1), characterised in that the flexible tubing (3) is non-rotatably fixed to the upper portion of the lower pipe (1) and the external pipe (4) is arranged displaceable over both the lower pipe (1) and the flexible tubing (3) fixed thereto, which external pipe (4) has a handle (5), which by friction is arranged to engage the tubing (3) in the relative adjustment positions of the lower pipe (1) and the external pipe (4), the length and bending of the shaft (10) being adjustable in response to how the external pipe (4) encloses only the lower pipe (1) and only the flexible tubing (3), respectively, at which latter position also a pivoted movement sideways of the lower pipe (1) is made possible by turning the handle (5).
A shaft according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle (5) has at least one hard and at least one soft portion (5a, 5b), which soft portion (5b) is situated close to the flexible tubing (3) for generating proper friction when adjusting the shaft (10) and for creating a frictional engagement of the tubing (3) at a desired working position.
A shaft according to claim 1, characterised in that the external pipe (4) has an inner diameter which is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the lower pipe (1) and the flexible tubing (3).
A shaft according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer pipe (4) with the handle (5), as well as the flexible tubing (3), are made of a thermoplastic material and that the lower stiff pipe (1) is made of either a thermoplastic material or metal.
A shaft according to claim 1, characterised in that the shaft (10) comprises at least one snap-in fastener, for example on the lower pipe (1), which engages the external pipe (4) before the shaft (10) has been pulled out so far that the flexible tubing (3) is exposed, and/or at the vacuum nozzle (2), which snaps in at the normal position, and/or on the flexible tubing (3) for releasing a suitable length of the flexible tubing (3).
A shaft according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle (5) is made of polymer material, preferably TPE.
A shaft according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shaft (10) is extendable to substantially twice its length.
A shaft according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that an articulated pipe (12), is arranged between the vacuum nozzle (2) and the lower pipe (1), the cross section (S) of which through the joint permits that the pipe (12) form either a pipe bend of about 45-90° or a pipe substantially displaced in parallel.