EP2155031A1

EP2155031A1 - Three part tube

Info

Publication number: EP2155031A1
Application number: EP08741858A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Jonsson; Anna-Karin Trydegard; Esbjörn SVANTESSON; Andreas Pohl; Henrik Troberg
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2007-05-07
Filing date: 2008-04-23
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: SE0701108L; EP2155031A4; US20100306960A1; CN101677728A; WO2008136724A1; CN101677728B; SE531274C2

Abstract

This invention relates to a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a first inner tube, a second inner tube, and an outer tube, wherein the first and second inner tubes are arranged to form a first and second telescopic link relative to a first and a second end portion of the outer tube, respectively. The outer tube forms the intermediate tube of the three-part tube while at the same time being fully accessible in any position, whereby one common grip for operating both of the two respective telescopic links, formed by the first and second inner tubes and the intermediate outer tube, of the three part telescopic tube is obtained.

Description

THREE PART TUBE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a three part telescopic tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The idea of using telescopic tubes to be able to adjust the length of a vacuum cleaner tube is known. One advantage with telescopic vacuum cleaner tubes is to be able to optimize the tube length for a specific cleaning task or for the length of a person that is using the vacuum cleaner. Telescopic tubes also provide the benefit of minimizing the length of the tube when not in use, thus facilitated storage is provided. The basic concept of telescopic tubes is to have an inner tube that is movably arranged within an outer tube. The tubes are further provided with a locking member, for instance a simple form of recess and engagement means that is released by means of a control mechanism, for instance by pressing down a release button, while the user pushes or pulls out the movable tube with respect to the outer tube. When the required length of the tube has been reached the locking member keeps the inner tube in position. Telescopic tubes comprising three tubes joined with two telescopic links in the same unit are available on the market today. With two telescopic links a telescopic tube, which can be minimized in respect to its maximum length, i.e. when the two movable tubes are fully protracted, is obtained. The two telescopic links are controlled by two separate control mechanisms, each controlling one individual telescopic link. A problem with this known three-part telescopic tube is that the adjusting the length of the tube by operating the telescopic links can be experienced as troublesome. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a three part telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner that alleviates the above-mentioned problem of the prior art.

This object is achieved by a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention as defined in claim 1.

Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a first inner tube, a second inner tube, and an outer tube. The first and second inner tubes are slidably arranged inside the outer tube and the first and second inner tubes are lockable relative the outer tube. The first inner tube is arranged relative to a first end portion of the outer tube to form a first telescopic link with the outer tube such that the first inner tube is protractible from the first end portion. The second inner tube is arranged relative to a second end portion of the outer tube to form a second telescopic link with the outer tube such that the second inner tube is protractible from the second end portion.

Thus, there is provided a three-part telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, where the outer tube encompasses two inner tubes that each are arranged to form a telescopic link at a respective end of the outer tube. Hence, the outer tube forms the intermediate tube of the three-part tube while it at the same time is fully accessible in any position: fully protracted position, fully retracted position or any intermediate position in between these positions. Thus both tubes are easily accessible at their respected end at all times, wherein the total length of the tube is easily adjustable.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 2, the first inner tube and the first end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a first releasable locking member, and the second inner tube and the second end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a second releasable locking member. Due to the releasable locking members, the tubes can be securable locked relative each other in a locking position of the locking members and easily movable relative each other in a released position of the locking member.

In accordance with the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 3, the provision of a control mechanism for the locking members, which control mechanism is arranged on the outside of the outer tube, the telescopic functions of the two respective telescopic links can be easily controlled.

In accordance with the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 4, the control mechanism is arranged to control the first and second locking members simultaneously.

This example embodiment of the invention provides a telescopic three part tube, which has two telescopic links that are controlled with only one control mechanism that is arranged to control the first and second locking members simultaneously. The telescopic tube is thereby allowed to be operated from retracted to protracted position by a one grip operation, which considerably simplifies the length adjustment of the telescopic tube. Using one control mechanism further simplifies the construction complexity compared with the art, i.e. fewer parts can be used, and thus the manufacturing costs of the tube can be decreased. In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner the control mechanism comprises an interconnecting part between the first locking member and the second locking member, which is favourable for allowing simultaneous control of the first and second locking member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 5, the interconnecting part is at least a part of a cylinder shell surface encompassing the outer tube. Since the outer tube is accessible in all position it allows for a common grip when protracting and/or retracting the first and second telescopic links. The interconnecting part may be an integrated part of the outer tube.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 6, the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to be released when receiving a longitudinally directed force in excess of a predefined threshold force. Hence, the operation of the telescopic tube is user friendly. The user only has to grab the outer tube with one hand and push or pull the inner tubes with the other hand to change the inner tube positions. According to an example embodiment, it is even possible to protract or retract the first and second inner tubes at the same time by using a third support, e.g. one foot on the suction nozzle, to fixate one end of the telescopic tube and than push or pull the tubes in the required direction.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 7, the control mechanism includes a releasable locking device, for releasing the first and second locking members allowing the repositioning of the inner tubes to a required position. When deactivating the locking device and after reaching the new required position, the locking device then locks the telescopic tube in the new position. In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 8, the outer tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube and the second inner tube, and the second inner tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube. Thus, the first inner tube can be retracted into the second inner tube, which in turn can be retracted into the outer tube. This allows for achieving a minimized length of the telescopic tube in the fully retracted position. Thus, valuable space can be saved when storing the tube.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 9, the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is continuously adjustable, thus making it possible for the user to make a precise adjustment of the length to fit to his or her own height or to some other required criteria, like for instance required radial range of the vacuum cleaner tube.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 10, the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is stepwise adjustable, allowing fixed preferred positions of the telescopic tube.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 11, at least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner nozzle. According to an example embodiment, wherein the first inner tube has a smaller diameter than the second inner tube, it is more favourable to connect the vacuum cleaner nozzle to the first inner tube than the second inner tube. Due to the first inner tube having a smaller diameter than the second inner tube, The air steam will flow from a smaller diameter tube to a greater diameter tube, whereby the risk that dust particles in the. air stream will run a clog the tube or that larger debris will get stuck further up the tube.

Furthermore, placing the first inner tube with the smallest diameter closest to the vacuum cleaner nozzle is favourable to the weight distribution of the vacuum cleaner tube, and makes the telescopic tube easier to manoeuvre for the user.

In accordance with an embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, as defined in claim 12, at least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner housing or a flexible tube. The telescopic tube is advantageously connected directly to the vacuum cleaner housing or to a flexible tube depending on the type of vacuum cleaner. On an upright model one end of the telescopic tube is preferably placed directly on the vacuum cleaner housing while the other end is provided with a handle, while on a canister model the telescopic tube is used as the vacuuming tube and is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle in one end and to a flexible tube in the other end. In an alternative upright model the telescopic tube is used as a vacuuming tube and is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle at one end, and to the vacuum cleaner housing at the other end, see Figure 5.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematic drawings of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention: a) in fully protracted position, b) in an intermediate position, c) in an intermediate position, and d) in fully retracted position;

Fig. 2 a) and b) shows cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 a) and b) shows cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. Fig. 5 a) and b) shows schematic drawings of embodiments of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. Ia) , there is shown a schematic drawing of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner 10 according an embodiment of the present invention. The telescopic tube 10 comprises a first inner tube 11, herein after referred to as the lower tube 11, a second inner tube 12, herein after referred to as the upper tube 12, and an outer tube 13. The upper tube 12 is arranged to be longitudinally movable inside the outer tube 13, while the lower tube 11 is arranged to be longitudinally movable inside the upper tube 12 and the outer tube 13. Hence, the outer tube 13 encompasses at least a portion of the upper tube 12 and at least a portion of the lower tube 11. In this embodiment the outer tube 13 is of about the same length as, but somewhat shorter than, the lower tube 11 and upper tube 12. Hence, the outer tube 13 contributes to a substantial part of the fully protracted telescopic tube 10, while at the same time allowing the inner tubes, 11 and 12, to be almost fully retracted into the outer tube 13. This minimizes the length of the fully retracted position of the telescopic tube 10 with respect to the fully protracted position of the telescopic tube 10. However, in an alternative embodiment the length proportions of the lower tube 11, the upper tube 12 and the. outer tube 13 may be chosen differently and is not excluded from the scope of the invention as claimed.

The telescopic tube 10 further comprises a control mechanism 14, which is arranged at the outer tube 13, and further controls the longitudinal movability of the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11. Fig. Ia) shows the telescopic tube 10 in its fully protracted position, with the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11 in the maximum protracted position out of the outer tube 13, with only a minor part of the total length of the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11 still arranged inside the outer tube 13. To manipulate the telescopic tube 10 into a fully retracted position, the user simply grabs the outer tube 13, and hence the control mechanism 14, with a first hand and then apply a longitudinal force onto, for instance, the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e. the user grabs the tube 12 and pushes it towards the outer tube 13, see Fig. Ib) . The user then grabs the lower tube 11 with his second hand, while keeping the first hand on the outer tube 13, and pushes the lower tube 11 towards the outer tube 13, see Fig. Ic) . To manipulate the telescopic tube 10 from fully retracted position, which is shown in Fig. Id) to fully protracted position, the user simply grabs the outer tube 13, and the control mechanism 14, with a first hand and then apply a longitudinal force on to, for instance, the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e. grabs the tube 12 and pulls it out of the outer tube 13. Then the user grabs the lower tube 11 with his second hand, while keeping the first hand on the outer tube 13, and pulls the lower tube 11 out of the outer tube 13.

Any intermediate position between the fully protracted position and fully retracted position is allowed for the lower tube 11 and the upper tube 12.

In this embodiment the control mechanism is activated by overcoming a threshold force working on each locking member as described herein under.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the inner tubes, 11 and 12, have the same diameter.

Referring now to Fig. 2, which shows a cross- sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, the relation between the diameters of the three tubes 11, 12, and 13, is set so that the outer tube 13 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the upper tube 12, while the upper tube 12 has a larger diameter than the lower tube 11. Hence, the outer tube 13 encompasses both inner tubes, 11 and 12, when the telescopic tube 10 is in a retracted position. A vacuum cleaner nozzle 40 preferably, as shown in Fig. 2 b), is connected to the lower tube 11.

The control mechanism 14, which is arranged at the outer tube 13, comprises a first locking member 15 and a second locking member 16. The first releasable locking member 15 is arranged at a first end portion 13a of the outer tube 13 and bear against the lower tube 11.

Furthermore the first locking member 15 is arranged to lock the position of the lower tube 11. The second locking member 16 is arranged at a second end portion 13b of the outer tube 13 and bear against the upper tube 12. Furthermore the second locking member 16 is arranged to lock the position of the upper tube 12. When the control mechanism 14 is subjected to a longitudinally applied force, according to the description above where retraction and protraction of the telescopic tube was done by simply pulling or pushing the constituent tubes 11,12, and 13 apart or together, respectively, the control mechanism 14 is arranged to release the first locking member 15 and the second locking member 16 simultaneously. The longitudinally directed force must excess a predefined threshold force, i.e. the received force must be greater than the force caused onto the inner tubes, 11 and 12, by the locking members holding the upper tube 12 and lower tube 11 in position. When the locking members, 15 and 16, are released the inner tubes, 11 and 12, are longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube 13. When the control mechanism 14 is no longer subjected to a longitudinal force, the locking members are reactivated and lock the inner tubes 11 and 12 in position. According other embodiments of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner the locking members, 15 and 16, are realized as friction means or clamping means or a combination thereof. In these embodiments the positions of the inner tubes 11, 12 relative to the outer tube 13 are continuously adjustable. When using friction means as the locking mechanisms 15 and 16, the control mechanism 14 is preferably designed as an integrated part of the outer tube 13 or the control mechanism 14 is designed to simply constitute the outer tube 13. An alternative way to manipulate the telescopic tube 10 from fully retracted position, which is shown in Fig. Id) to fully protracted position, is in this alternative embodiment that the user grabs the lower tube 11 with a first hand and then apply a force on to the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e. grabs the tube 12 and pulls the lower tube 11 and upper tube 12 apart. Figure 3 and 4, show cross-sectional views of embodiments according to the present invention. Hereinafter the telescopic link for the upper tube 12 is described, but the description is valid for the telescopic link for the lower tube 11 as well. Here, the upper tube 12 (and lower tube 11) is provided with a guide track 20 extending along the upper tube 12, and a plurality of positioning recesses 21 distributed along the upper tube 12. The guide track 20 is arranged to engage with a guide protrusion 30 arranged on the locking member 16. The function of the guide protrusion 30 and the guide track 20 is to keep the upper tube 12 from turning with respect to the outer tube 13 and can be arranged anywhere circumferential of the upper tube 13. The locking member 16 further comprises a positioning protrusion 31 that is arranged to lock the longitudinal position of the upper tube 12 by engaging with anyone of the positioning recesses 21. The locking member 16 is further provided with an M-shaped portion 37, se Fig. 4, which is kept in position with two biasing springs 32 and 33. A protruding portion 34 on the M-shaped portion 37 is arranged to press against the positioning protrusion 31 which then maintain engaged to a positioning recess 21. When the control mechanism 14 is operated, according to the description above, a longitudinally applied force in excess of a threshold force works on the control mechanism 14, whereby one of the biasing springs 32 or 33 is compressed and the protruding portion 34 of the reshaped portion 37 is repositioned to release the locking member 16 (and locking member 15) when the positioning protrusion 31 is released. When the locking member 16 is released the upper tube 12 is movable longitudinally relative to the outer tube 13. When the control mechanism is no longer subjected to a force, the protruding portion 34 of the M-shaped portion 37 is repositioned to lock the locking member 16 when the positioning protrusion 31 reengage with another positioning recess 21b, whereby the position of the upper tube 12 is fixated. In this embodiment the position of the inner tubes, 11 and 12, relative to the outer tube 13 is stepwise adjustable due to the stepwise distribution of the positioning recesses 21. It should be clear that the locking members can be realized in a number of ways by any suitable well-known telescopic tube locking means.

I an alternative embodiment the upper, lower and outer tubes, 11, 12, and 13, have an oval shape, hence guide tracks are not necessary, since the shape of the tubes prevents the tubes from rotating with respect to each other. Hence, the guide protrusion 30 and guide track 20 can be left out of the construction. Of course, any suitable cross section can be used for the tubes, for example a rectangular or a polygonal cross section.

In an alternative embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner at least one of the inner tubes 11, 12 is arranged to be fully detachable from the outer tube 13. In an alternative embodiment of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner the control mechanism further includes a releasable locking device 18, for locking the inner tube 11 and the upper tube 12 in position.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a telescopic tube 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connectable to a vacuum cleaner housing. As it can be seen in Fig. 5 a) the telescopic tube 10 is connected to the top of a vacuum cleaner housing 55 of an upright vacuum cleaner 50. The upper tube 12 (or lower tube 11 if the telescopic tube 10 is connected to the upright vacuum cleaner via the upper tube 12) is here preferably provided with a handle 56, which may be fixated or detachable.

In Fig. 5 b) the upper tube 12 of a telescopic tube 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is connected to a flexible vacuum cleaner tube 70, which flexible vacuum cleaner tube 70 is connected to a canister vacuum cleaner 60. The lower tube 11 of the telescopic tube 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle 40. In an alternative embodiment the telescopic tube 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner housing 55 in one end and a vacuum cleaner nozzle 40 in the other end as illustrated for the vacuum cleaner model shown in Fig. 5 c).

Above, embodiments of the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims have been described. These should be seen as merely non-limiting examples. As understood by a skilled person, many modifications and alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

It is to be noted, that for the purposes of this application, and in particular with regard to the appended claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, that the word "a" or "an", does not exclude a plurality, which per se will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a first inner tube, a second inner tube, and an outer tube, wherein the first and second inner tubes are slidably arranged inside the outer tube and wherein the first and second inner tubes are lockable relative to the outer tube, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that: the first inner tube is arranged relative to a first end portion of the outer tube to form a first telescopic link with the outer tube such that the first inner tube is protractible from the first end portion, and the second inner tube is arranged relative to a second end portion of the outer tube to form a second telescopic link with the outer tube such that the second inner tube is protractible from the second end portion.

2. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first inner tube and the first end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a first releasable locking member, and the second inner tube and the second end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a second releasable locking member.

3. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the first and second locking members, wherein the control mechanism is arranged on the outer tube.

4. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the control mechanism comprises an interconnecting part between the first and the second locking member, wherein the first and second locking members are simultaneously controllable by the interconnecting part.

5. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the interconnecting part comprises a shell surface, such as at least a part of a cylinder surface, which is arranged over and along the outer tube.

6. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the claims 2 - 5, wherein the first and second locking members are arranged to be released when receiving a longitudinally directed force in excess of a predefined threshold force.

7. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the claims 3 - 6, wherein the control mechanism includes a releasable locking device, for releasing and locking the first and second locking members.

8. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outer tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube and the second tube, and the second inner tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube.

9. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the previous claims, wherein the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is continuously adjustable.

10. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the previous claims, wherein the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is stepwise adjustable.

11. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner nozzle.

12. A telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to any the previous claims, wherein at least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner housing or to a flexible tube.