EP1559360A1

EP1559360A1 - Extension device for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1559360A1
Application number: EP05100546A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicola Bedeschi; Gabriele Missio
Original assignee: De Longhi SpA
Current assignee: De Longhi SpA
Priority date: 2004-01-30
Filing date: 2005-01-27
Publication date: 2005-08-03
Also published as: ITUD20040017A1

Abstract

Extension device (10) for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus, comprising at least two tubular elements (11, 12) able to be mounted coaxially slidable one with respect to the other, to define a telescopic structure (13) whose overall length can vary from a minimum value (l_min) to a maximum value (l_max) and inside which the steam is able to pass; inside the two tubular elements (11, 12) there is an elastic pipe (15), connected under seal to the respective free ends (16, 17) of the tubular elements (11, 12), in order to convey the steam inside the telescopic structure (13) and follow every variation in the length of the latter.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an extension device for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus, such as for example a vacuum cleaner, an electric brush or suchlike. To be more exact, the extension device according to the present invention comprises at least two tubular elements, each one connected to a different operating assembly of the cleaning apparatus, such as for example to a steam generator assembly and, respectively, to a steam delivery assembly. The two tubular elements are mounted able to slide axially one with respect to the other, so as to define a telescopic structure of variable length, which allows to vary the distance between the delivery assembly and the generator assembly, while still allowing the steam to pass between the two.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extension devices used in steam cleaning apparatuses are known, and are able to allow the user to increase or reduce the distance between two different operating assemblies of the cleaning apparatus, such as for example a steam generator assembly and a steam delivery assembly.
Known extension devices consist of a plurality of tubular elements with different diameters and mounted able to slide coaxially one with respect to the other, so as to define a telescopic structure. In this way the tubular elements can be positioned between a compact position wherein they define a minimum length of the telescopic structure, and an extended position, wherein they define a maximum length of the telescopic structure.
These tubular elements are also able to allow the steam to pass from the generator assembly to the delivery assembly.
One of the main disadvantages of known extension devices is the difficulty of ensuring the passage of steam inside the tubular elements, without substantial losses of load occurring during the passage.
In order to overcome this disadvantage, it is known to provide sealing elements, such as O-rings or suchlike, positioned between two adjacent tubular elements, in order to prevent the steam from leaking from possible fissures.
This solution has some limits, however, connected to the constant wear to which the sealing elements are subjected, and the high temperatures reached by the steam which deteriorate them in a short time.
Another known solution provides a complex shaping of the ends of the tubular elements. In this case, the reciprocal cooperation of the ends defines chambers for the passage of the steam which allow the steam to pass from one to the other of the tubular elements, in order to limit the losses of load.
This last known solution is not very effective, however, it is particularly expensive, and is not advantageously applied in non-professional domestic apparatuses, which are normally characterized by simplicity and economy of construction.
One purpose of the present invention is to achieve an extension device for a steam cleaning apparatus of the type comprising at least two tubular elements able to slide coaxially with respect to each other, which will guarantee the passage of steam inside the tubular elements, substantially without any losses of load and which, at the same time, is simple and economic to make.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied this invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with these purposes, an extension device for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least two tubular elements mounted able to slide coaxially one with respect to the other, in order to define a telescopic structure with an overall length that varies from a minimum value to a maximum value and inside which the steam is made to pass.
According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the extension device also comprises an elastic pipe arranged inside the two tubular elements and connected under seal to the respective free ends thereof, in order to convey the steam inside the telescopic structure and follow every variation in the length of said structure.
In this way, the extension device according to the present invention guarantees the passage of the steam inside the telescopic structure, substantially without losses of load, since the steam, remaining inside the elastic pipe all the time, cannot leak out of it and hence out of the telescopic structure through the fissures that form between the two tubular elements.
For this reason neither the sealing packing elements normally arranged between the tubular elements nor the complex shapings provided in the state of the art are not necessary, to allow the steam to pass.
The extension device according to the present invention, apart from being particularly functional, is also simple and economic to make.
In a preferential form of embodiment, the elastic pipe is advantageously arranged in a cylindrical spiral, so as to follow even more, and without the risk of breaking or tearing, the variations in length of the telescopic structure.
According to another form of embodiment, a plurality of telescopic structures can be attached together in series, in order to increase in a desired manner the minimum and/or the maximum value of length that can be reached.
Advantageously, in correspondence with the free ends there are attachment means of a removable type, able to allow a rapid and effective attachment of two adjacent telescopic structures.
This possibility of attaching several telescopic structures confers on the device according to the present invention characteristics of modularity which allow it to be applied substantially for any user and/or domestic steam apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an extension device according to the present invention;
fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the extension device in fig. 1, in a first operating position;
fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the extension device in fig. 1 in a second operating position;
fig. 4 shows two telescopic structures of the extension device in fig. 1 during a step of reciprocal connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, an extension device 10 according to the present invention is able to be applied to a domestic steam cleaning apparatus, of a substantially known type and not shown in the drawings. The device 10 comprises a first tubular element 11 and a second tubular element 12, able to slide coaxially one with respect to the other so as to define a telescopic structure 13.
To be more exact, the first tubular element 11 has an outer diameter of a value mating with the value of the inner diameter of the second tubular element 12, so that the tubular elements 11 and 12 can be moved axially one inside the other, between a compact position (fig. 2), wherein the minimum length "l_min" of the telescopic structure 13 is defined, and an extended position (fig. 3), wherein the maximum length "l_max" of the telescopic structure 13 is defined.
To guide the positioning of the two tubular elements 11 and 12 between the compact position and the extended position, two guide seatings 22 are provided, having a determinate length and made longitudinally on the outer surface of the second tubular element 12. Inside the guide seatings 22 respective sliding teeth 23 are able to slide, made in a piece on the outer surface of the first tubular element 11. Apart from guaranteeing an angularly controlled sliding of the two tubular elements 11 and 12, the teeth 23 define the variation in total length of the telescopic structure 13.
According to a variant not shown in the drawings, the sliding teeth 23 can have lateral ribs which, in cooperation with respective recesses made on the inner surfaces of the guide seatings 22, define a plurality of positions, and hence of predetermined lengths, of the telescopic structure 13.
According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the extension device 10 also comprises an elastic pipe 15, hollow inside and arranged inside the two tubular elements 11 and 12, in this case wound in a cylindrical spiral for a substantially segment, which is connected under seal to the free ends 16 and, respectively, 17 of the first tubular element 11 and the second tubular element 12. The elastic pipe 15 is able to allow the passage of the steam from one to the other of the free ends 16 and 17.
To be more exact, the elastic pipe 15 is connected to the two ends 16 and 17 by means of respective threaded ring nuts 19 which connect the ends thereof, respectively, to a female connection pipe 20, arranged coaxial to the first tubular element 11, and to a male connection pipe 21, arranged coaxial to the second tubular element 12.
In this way, when the two tubular elements 11 and 12 are for example taken from the compact position to the extended position, the elastic pipe 15 is automatically drawn along a longitudinal direction, and follows the variation in length of the telescopic structure 13 (figs. 2 and 3).
The free ends 16 and 17 can be alternatively connected to two operating assemblies of the domestic cleaning apparatus, such as for example a steam generation assembly and a steam delivery assembly, not shown here, or (fig. 4) to mating free ends 17 and 16 of an adjacent telescopic structure 13.
In this last case, the male pipe 21 is taken to cooperate under seal with the female pipe 20 of the adjacent telescopic structure 13, so as to guarantee the passage of steam from another of the telescopic structures 13 connected without substantial losses of load occurring.
The two telescopic structures 13 are kept in a condition of reciprocal assembly by means of assembly means.
The assembly means comprise a through housing hole 25 made in correspondence with the end 16 of the first tubular element 11, and a snap-in button 26 arranged in correspondence with the end 17 of the second tubular element 12. The latter is able to be selectively arranged in cooperation with the through housing hole 25 of the end 16 of the first tubular element 11 of the adjacent telescopic structure 13.
In this way, the two telescopic structures 13 are attached together, thus doubling the values of minimum length l_min and maximum length l_max that can be reached.
In the same way, if a single telescopic structure 13 connects the two operating assemblies of the apparatus, on each of said assemblies will be provided, respectively, the housing hole 25 and the snap-in button 26.
It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the extension device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that, instead of the housing hole 25 and the snap-in button 26, the attachment means comprise any other system, such as for example a bayonet, an expansion system or otherwise, able to removably attach the telescopic structure 13 to another adjacent telescopic structure or to an operating assembly of the domestic apparatus.
It also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the telescopic structure 13 consists of more than two tubular elements.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of extension device for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Extension device for a steam cleaning domestic apparatus, comprising at least two tubular elements (11, 12) able to be mounted coaxially slidable one with respect to the other, to define a telescopic structure (13) whose overall length is variable from a minimum value (l_min) to a maximum value (l_max) and inside which said steam is able to pass, characterized in that it further comprises an elastic pipe (15), disposed inside said two tubular elements (11, 12) and connected under seal to the respective free ends (16, 17) of said tubular elements (11, 12), in order to convey said steam inside said telescopic structure (13) and to follow every variation in the length of said telescopic structure (13).
Extension device as in claim 1, characterized in that said elastic pipe (15) is arranged in a spiral.
Extension device as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said tubular elements (11, 12) is able to be connected by means of the respective free ends (16, 17) to a respective tubular element (12, 11) of a second adjacent telescopic structure (13).
Extension device as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said tubular elements (11, 12) is able to be connected by means of the respective free ends (16, 17) to a corresponding operating assembly of said domestic apparatus, in order to transport steam from one to the other operating assembly.
Extension device as in claim 1, characterized in that the reciprocal sliding of said tubular elements (11, 12) is guided by guide means (22, 23).
Extension device as in claim 5, characterized in that said guide means comprise at least a guide seating (22) having a determinate length and made on one of said tubular elements (12), and at least a sliding tooth (23) made on the other of said tubular elements (11), said sliding tooth (23) being able to slide inside said guide seating (22) in order to guide the reciprocal sliding of said tubular elements (11, 12) and define the variation in total length of said telescopic structure (13).
Extension device as in claim 1, characterized in that said elastic pipe (15) is connected to said free ends (16, 17) by means of respective threaded elements (19) able to connect the ends thereof, respectively, to a female pipe (20), arranged coaxial to one of said tubular elements (11), and to a male pipe (21), arranged coaxial to the other of said tubular elements (12).
Extension device as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said free ends (16, 17) comprise respective assembly means (25, 26) of the removable type, able to allow the attachment of two adjacent telescopic structures (13) and/or to one of said operating assemblies.
Extension device as in claim 8, characterized in that said assembly means comprise a through housing hole (25) made in correspondence with one of said free ends (16), and a snap-in button (26) arranged in correspondence with the other of said free ends (17).