EP3426120B1 - Vacuum-cleaner suction tube - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe according to the preamble of claim 1.

Vacuum cleaner suction pipes are known in the prior art in a variety of configurations. Telescopic vacuum cleaner suction pipes have the advantage that they can be adjusted to the body size of an operator or to different application situations during use for short or long distances by changing the length, on the one hand to enable ergonomic operation and on the other hand to allow a multifunctional use of the vacuum cleaner for various suction tasks to guarantee.

Such vacuum cleaner suction tubes usually comprise a plurality of tube segments which are arranged one behind the other and inserted into one another so that they can be telescoped relative to one another by axial displacement of the tube segments. In order to change the length of the vacuum cleaner suction tube, the tube segments are manually shifted by the operator, ie pushed axially into or onto one another. Various locking mechanisms are known for locking a certain position of the pipe segments, which reliably prevent an unwanted relative movement of the pipe segments during use of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. Recesses are often used in the walls of the pipe segments, which interact with corresponding locking elements on the other pipe segments. Such vacuum cleaner suction pipes are disclosed in DE 195 28 814 C1 , DE 87 07 887 U1 and DE 195 24 290 C1 .

In addition, vacuum cleaner suction pipes are often made of stainless steel, with attachment elements, for example made of plastic, being attached at least in the two end regions of a vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The add-on elements are advantageously pushed onto the vacuum cleaner suction pipe or pushed into the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. A particular requirement is the leak-free seal between the vacuum cleaner suction pipe and the add-on element.

The vacuum cleaner suction pipes known from the prior art have often has the disadvantage that a reliable seal, especially when using certain plastics for the add-on elements, cannot be sufficiently ensured between the vacuum cleaner suction pipe and the add-on element.

On the basis of the aforementioned prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a vacuum cleaner suction pipe which enables a reliable and leak-free connection to an attachment element when using any type of plastic for the attachment element.

In the vacuum cleaner suction pipe dealt with here, it is provided that an axial movement of the end sleeve relative to the outer pipe is blocked by the actuating mechanism and that an inward radial movement of the actuating mechanism relative to the outer pipe is blocked by the inner pipe. In this way, the individual components of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe fix each other. It is not necessary that separate openings are formed on the outer tube in order to fix the end sleeve, since this is blocked in motion by the actuating mechanism. This increases the tightness of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, since only the most necessary openings are formed on the outer pipe, preferably made of stainless steel.

In order to further improve the fixation of the individual components, one embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction tube provides that an outward radial movement of the actuating mechanism relative to the outer tube is blocked by the outer tube. Conversely, an outward radial movement of the actuating mechanism relative to the outer tube is blocked by the actuating mechanism or by the base plate. The base plate is dimensioned such that the actuating mechanism passes outward through the recess of the outer tube, but the base plate remains in the interior of the outer tube and strikes the wall of the outer tube. A pushing or pulling the actuating mechanism outward in the radial direction out of the outer tube is therefore not possible.

The actuating mechanism can lock the end sleeve in position in various ways. In one embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction tube, it is provided that the end sleeve recess has approximately the same size as the dimensions of the base plate, so that the base plate is form-fitting engages in the end sleeve recess. The end sleeve can be inserted into the outer tube during manufacture of the vacuum cleaner suction tube, the actuating mechanism already being located in the outer tube. The end sleeve is inserted into the outer tube until the corresponding elements, that is to say the base plate of the actuating mechanism and the end sleeve recess, are in engagement with one another. If the sleeve receives a movement impulse in this position, the contours of the end sleeve recess hit the base plate and movement is prevented. The stronger the material of the end sleeve, the deeper the end sleeve recess can be. Consequently, the area with which the end sleeve is supported via the end sleeve recess on the base plate of the actuating mechanism is also increased, insofar as the material thickness of the base plate, that is to say the height of the base plate, corresponds to the material thickness of the end sleeve. With increasing material thickness, however, the assembly effort of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe also increases, since the end sleeve must be guided past the base plate during insertion before the base plate can engage in the end sleeve recess. The specialist must therefore take care to find a compromise between material thickness and simple assembly.

The end sleeve recess need not necessarily describe a complete recess. One possible configuration is, for example, a recess in which the base plate can engage, recesses being able to be formed in the recess, so that only the elements of the latching device pass through the end sleeve recess, which contribute to locking the vacuum cleaner suction pipe.

According to the invention, it is provided in the vacuum cleaner suction pipe that the actuating mechanism is connected to the end sleeve in a frictional manner, so that an axial movement of the end sleeve relative to the outer pipe is blocked. In this way, the end sleeve is only inserted into the outer tube, the actuating mechanism or the base plate of the actuating mechanism exerting a sufficiently large friction on the end sleeve so that the end sleeve can no longer be easily removed from the outer tube. In this embodiment, the size and design of the end sleeve recess is irrelevant, as long as it ensures that the locking device in the locking position can pass through the end sleeve recess in the direction of the inner tube, so that the locking device is in engagement in the locking position with at least one locking recess on the inner tube and a movement of the outer tube and inner tube is blocked relative to each other.

An advantageous embodiment provides that elongated webs are formed on the end sleeve, which serve as spacers from the outer tube to the end sleeve, the end sleeve then being connected to the outer tube only via the webs. In this way, for example, the material thickness of the base plate or the actuation mechanism can be selected independently of the end sleeve. In the case of a relatively thick base plate, insertion of the end sleeve may not be possible without damage. The design of the elongated webs, the arrangement of which can be selected such that the base plate is arranged at a distance of two webs, can be selected such that the end sleeve can still be inserted into the outer tube, but the friction between the end sleeve and the base plate is so great that removal of the end sleeve is not easily possible. The arrangement and number of bars can be chosen more or less freely. It would also be conceivable to have a recess or material removal in the end sleeve at the point at which the actuating mechanism is connected to the end sleeve, so that there are no webs at all, but rather the end sleeve only in the area in which the end sleeve with the base plate comes into contact, has a slightly lower material thickness.

In order to make it easier to install the end sleeve, a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe provides that the end sleeve has an insertion end and an outer end and that the insertion end tapers in at least one area. The area in which the introducer tapers should be approximately as large as the width of the base plate. The end sleeve can thus be inserted more easily into the outer tube, since the tapered area means that the friction between the base plate and the end sleeve is not too great. The sleeve can thus be inserted into the outer tube without problems until it reaches its desired position, for example until the end sleeve recess and base plate engage.

So that the end sleeve cannot be inserted too far into the outer tube, a further advantageous embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction tube provides that at least one stop is provided at the outer end.

The stop can only cover a small area or several small areas of the outer end.

In a further advantageous embodiment, however, it is provided that the stop is formed by increasing the outer diameter of the end sleeve. The stop is consequently formed all around. The stop can also be designed, for example, in such a way that the material is bent in the region of the enlarged outer diameter by a channel directed towards the insertion. The end sleeve thus not only abuts the end of the outer tube, but encloses the end of the outer tube. Since the outer tube is usually made of stainless steel or another metal, the ends of the outer tube can be sharp. The channel shape of the stop encases the sharp edge so that the risk of injury is minimized. The material in the area of the enlarged outer diameter does not have to be the same material from which the rest of the end sleeve is made. A foam or rubber mixture can also increase the tightness at the end of the pipe and accordingly also further reduce the risk of injury, since the material is softer than conventional plastics.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe according to the invention it is provided that the outer pipe has exactly one outer pipe recess. One of the advantages of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe according to the invention is that the end sleeve is not fastened separately to the outer pipe, but is held in the outer pipe by the interaction of the individual components. In order to improve the pressure loss and the flow properties of a vacuum cleaner suction pipe, as few openings in the outer pipe as possible are advantageous. In the vacuum cleaner suction pipe according to the invention, only one recess is necessary as long as no further components have to be attached to the outer pipe. With only one recess, on the one hand, the locking device can interact with the inner tube and, on the other hand, the components can be securely connected to one another.

In order to further improve the interaction of the individual components, it is provided in a further embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe that the inner pipe comprises at least one longitudinal groove and that at least one spring corresponding to the longitudinal groove is formed on the end sleeve, so that the inner tube is guided by the end sleeve in the outer tube. In order to ensure that the locking device can always engage in the corresponding locking recesses of the inner tube, it is advantageous to prevent the possibility of rotation of the inner tube. This can be achieved in a simple manner by a tongue and groove configuration on the inner tube and end sleeve. For example, the groove can also be formed in the interior of the end sleeve, a corresponding spring being provided on the inner tube.

Alternatively, it can be provided in a further embodiment that the inner tube comprises at least one longitudinal groove and that at least one spring corresponding to the longitudinal groove is formed on the outer tube, so that the inner tube is guided in the outer tube. In this embodiment too, the longitudinal groove can be formed, for example, in the interior of the outer tube, the corresponding tongue being formed on the inner tube. The groove on the outer tube could be realized, for example, by a deformation of the tube or by two folds in the outer tube, so that a V-shaped groove is created in the outer tube.

A method for producing a vacuum cleaner suction pipe, with at least one inner pipe, with at least one outer pipe, with at least one actuating mechanism and with at least one end sleeve, also fits to the described vacuum cleaner suction pipes, the end sleeve having at least one end sleeve recess, the outer pipe having at least one Has outer tube recess, wherein the inner tube has a plurality of locking recesses and wherein the actuating mechanism has a base plate having at least one locking recess.

To use such a method, it is provided that the actuating mechanism is guided from the inside of the outer tube through the outer tube recess, that the end sleeve is inserted into the outer tube and is blocked in axial movement by the actuating mechanism and that the inner tube is inserted into the end sleeve and the actuating mechanism is blocked in the radial movement by the inner tube. A logical sequence for assembling the vacuum cleaner suction pipe is subdivided into the following steps: inserting the actuating mechanism into the outer pipe, inserting the end sleeve into the outer pipe and locking the end sleeve through the actuation mechanism and ultimately inserting the inner tube. In order to ensure a secure connection of the elements of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, no further elements are necessary, since the individual components hold each other.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines zusammengebauten Staubsauger-Saugrohres,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Teils eines Betätigungsmechanismus,

Fig. 3

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Endhülse in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 4

das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 3 mit einem eingesetzten Teil des Ausführungsbeispiels des Betätigungsmechanismus gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

eine Schnittdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des Staubsauger-Saugrohrs und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung eines Staubsauger-Saugrohrs.

In detail, there are now a variety of options for designing and developing the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. For this purpose, reference is made both to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and to claim 11 as well as the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematic representation of an assembled vacuum cleaner suction pipe,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of part of an actuating mechanism,

Fig. 3

an embodiment of an end sleeve in a perspective view,

Fig. 4

the embodiment according to Fig. 3 with an inserted part of the embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 5

a sectional view of an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner suction tube and

Fig. 6

is a schematic representation of a method for producing a vacuum cleaner suction pipe.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner suction pipe 1. The vacuum cleaner suction pipe 1 has an inner pipe 2, an outer pipe 3, an actuating mechanism 4 and an end sleeve 5. An end sleeve recess 6 is formed in the end sleeve 5 and an outer tube recess 7 is formed in the outer tube 3. The inner tube 2 has locking recesses 8, which serve that the actuating mechanism 4 can engage in the locking recesses 8 by means of a locking device in order to block the relative displaceability of the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 3 relative to one another. The actuating mechanism 4 has two latching recesses 9 (in Fig. 1 not shown) having base plate 10, which is located within the outer tube 3, the rest of the actuating mechanism 4 passing through the outer tube recess 7. The end sleeve 5 is inserted with its introducer 12 into the outer tube 3 such that only its outer end 12 emerges from the outer tube 3. So that the end sleeve 5 can not be inserted too far into the outer tube 3, a stop 13 is provided at the outer end 12 of the end sleeve 5, which is formed from an increase in the outer diameter D of the end sleeve.

The individual components work together in such a way that they fix each other. The base plate 10 of the actuation mechanism is dimensioned such that it is larger than the outer tube recess 7. In this way, the actuation mechanism 4 cannot be pushed out of the inside of the outer tube 3 through the outer tube recess 7. The end sleeve recess 6 of the end sleeve 5 in turn interacts with the base plate 10 of the actuation mechanism 4, so that an axial displacement of the end sleeve 5 is blocked by the actuation mechanism 4. Ultimately, the inner tube 2 prevents the actuating mechanism 4 from being pushed into the outer tube 3 in the radial direction. All components are therefore mutually mutually exclusive.

Fig. 2 shows the base body 14 of the actuating mechanism 4. It comprises the base plate 10 and a holder 15 for the latching device of the actuating mechanism 4. In the base plate 10, two latching recesses 9 are formed, through which the latching device, not shown here, can pass in order to engage with the latching recesses 8 of the Inner tube 2 to engage. The base plate is adapted to the pipe contour, so that the base plate has a curvature 16.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of an end sleeve 5. On the inside 17 of the end sleeve 5 webs 18 are formed, which serve to stabilize the end sleeve 5. In addition, they reduce the contact surface of the inserted inner tube 2 in the end sleeve 5, which additionally reduces the friction. The inner tube 2 can thereby be moved more easily within the end sleeve 5. The movement in the outer tube 3 is correspondingly smoother since the inner diameter of the end sleeve 5 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube 3. For guiding the inner tube 2, not shown here, a spring 19 is formed on the inside 17 of the end sleeve 5, which corresponds to a groove formed on the inner tube 2. The spring 19 is arranged opposite the end sleeve recess 6.

In this exemplary embodiment, the end sleeve recess 6 is merely a recess in the material of the end sleeve 5. In addition, two smaller recesses 20 are formed in the end sleeve recess. The two recesses 20 correspond to the two latching recesses 9 in the base plate 10. A conically tapering region 21 is formed on the inlet 11, which begins at the end sleeve recess 6 and ends at the end of the end sleeve 5 at the inlet 11. The conical region 21 serves to simplify the insertion of the end sleeve 5 into the outer tube 3 if the actuating mechanism 4 is already arranged in the outer tube 3. The actuating mechanism 4 can slide on the conical region 21 during insertion and does not block the end sleeve 5 during the insertion. In this embodiment, the stop 13 is turned towards the introducer 11. In this way, the stop 13 encloses the end of the outer tube 3, not shown here, when the end sleeve 5 is fully inserted into the outer tube 3.

Fig. 4 shows the base body 14 of the actuating mechanism according to Fig. 2 in the end sleeve recess 6 of the end sleeve 5 according to Fig. 3 is inserted. In the Fig. 4 it is easy to see that the end sleeve recess 6 is designed to fit the base plate 10. The base body 14 has hardly any room for movement in the end sleeve recess 6. Conversely, it is also clear that the end sleeve 5 has no room for movement in the outer tube 3, not shown here, if the actuating mechanism 4 is already arranged in the outer tube 3. Because the end sleeve recess 6 is only a recess with two recesses 20, both the inward radial movement of the actuating mechanism 4 and the outward radial movement of the actuating mechanism 4 are blocked if the actuating mechanism 4 and the end sleeve 5 are arranged in their position in the outer tube 3. Fig. 4 also clarifies that the conical region 21 simplifies the insertion of the end sleeve 5 into the outer tube 3. The conical region 21 serves as a ramp for the actuating mechanism 4. As the height increases, the friction also increases and moving the end sleeve 5 into the outer tube 3 becomes more difficult. Without the conical region 21, it is only possible to move the end sleeve 5 past the actuating mechanism 4 to a limited extent.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a vacuum cleaner suction tube 1, in which all components, ie inner tube 2, outer tube 3, actuating mechanism 4 and end sleeve 5 are connected to one another. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the region of the inner tube 2, which is not intended to be immersed in the outer tube 3, is enlarged. In this way, a simple stop 22 is realized. Likewise, both the outer and the inner diameter of the outer tube 3 are enlarged in a section 23. The end sleeve 5 is arranged in this section 23. In the further course of the outer tube 3, the inner and outer diameters are somewhat smaller than in section 23, so that there is no excessive distance between inner tube 2 and outer tube 3, which could lead to unfavorable flow properties during the suction process.

Ultimately show 6a to 6b a schematic representation of a method for producing a vacuum cleaner suction tube 1. In Fig. 6a the actuating mechanism 4 is inserted into the outer tube 3 and passed through the outer tube recess 7. Due to the larger base plate 10, the actuating mechanism 4 cannot be pushed out of the inner tube 3 from the inside.

In Fig. 6b the end sleeve 5 is inserted into the outer tube 3, the actuating mechanism 4 being already arranged in the outer tube. The end sleeve 5 must be guided past the base plate 10 of the actuating mechanism 4 during insertion. The only possibility of the end sleeve 5 to be guided past the base plate 10 is a slight elastic deformation, which in Fig. 6b is strongly exaggerated. The end sleeve 5 is inserted into the outer tube 3 until the base plate 10 engages in the end sleeve recess 6.

Fig. 6c shows how the end sleeve 5 is already arranged completely in the outer tube 3. The actuating mechanism 4 prevents a further movement of the end sleeve 5 into and out of the outer tube 3. In addition, stop 13 blocks a further movement into the outer tube 3. Ultimately, the inner tube 2 is inserted into the end sleeve 5 and also the outer tube 3. The inner tube 2 prevents the actuating mechanism 4 from being pressed or pulled inward into the outer tube 3. The individual components fix each other after completion of the process.

Claims (9)

1. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) with at least one inner tube (2), with at least one outer tube (3), with at least one actuating mechanism (4) and with at least one end sleeve (5) inserted into the outer tube (3), wherein the end sleeve (5) is arranged between the inner tube (2) and the outer tube (3), wherein the end sleeve (5) has at least one end sleeve recess (6), wherein the outer tube (3) has at least one outer tube recess (7), wherein the inner tube (2) has a plurality of snap-in depressions (8), wherein the actuating mechanism (4) passes through the outer tube recess (7), wherein the actuating mechanism (4) comprises a base plate (10) having at least one snap-in recess (9), wherein the actuating mechanism (4) comprises at least one locking device, wherein the locking device is movable from a locking position into at least one unlocking position, wherein the locking device passes through the end sleeve recess (6) in the locking position in the direction of the inner tube (2), wherein the locking device is in engagement with at least one snap-in recess (8) on the inner tube (2) in the locking position and wherein, in the unlocking position, a shifting of the inner tube (2) relative to the outer tube (3) is enabled by the locking device, wherein an axial movement of the end sleeve (5) relative to the outer tube (3) is blocked by the actuating mechanism (4) and in that an inwardly directed radial movement of the actuating mechanism (4) relative to the outer tube (3) is blocked by the inner tube (2) characterized in
   that the actuating mechanism (4) has a friction connection to the end sleeve (5) so that axial movement of the end sleeve (5) relative to the outer tube (3) is blocked.
2. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an outwardly directed radial movement of the actuating mechanism (4) relative to the outer tube (3) is blocked by the outer tube (3).
3. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end sleeve recess (8) has approximately the same size as the dimensions of the base plate (10), so that the base plate (10) engages positively in the end sleeve recess (8).
4. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end sleeve (5) has an insertion end (11) and an outer end (12) and that the insertion end (11) is conical in at least one region.
5. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one stop (13) is provided at the outer end (12).
6. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the stop (13) is formed by an enlargement of the outer diameter (D) of the end sleeve (5).
7. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outer tube (3) has exactly one outer tube recess (7).
8. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner tube (2) comprises at least one longitudinal groove and that at least one tongue (17) corresponding to the longitudinal groove is formed on the end sleeve (5) so that the inner tube (2) is guided by the end sleeve (5) in the outer tube (3).
9. Vacuum cleaner suction tube (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner tube (2) comprises at least one longitudinal groove and that at least one tongue corresponding to the longitudinal groove is formed on the outer tube (3) so that the inner tube (2) is guided in the outer tube (3).

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