FR2559049A1 - LOCKING MECHANISM, USED IN PARTICULAR IN VACUUM CLEANERS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A LOCKING MECHANISM, USABLE IN PARTICULAR IN VACUUMS. THIS MECHANISM ALLOWING TO FIX DETACHABLY TWO COMPONENTS 11, 12 THAT CAN SLIDE WITH RESPECT TO ONE THE OTHER, IS IN THE FORM OF COOPERATING STOPS 13; 16 LOCATED ON THE RESPECTIVE COMPONENTS AND OF A STOPPING DEVICE 34 MOUNTED ON COMPONENT 19 AND USED TO BE ENGAGED BEHIND THE STOP 13 OF THE OTHER COMPONENT 11 TO HOLD THE ASSEMBLED COMPONENTS, AND OF A HANGING SURFACE 43 SOLID, BUT REMOTE FROM THE STOPPING DEVICE 34 ALLOWING TO CLAMP THE TWO STOPS BETWEEN ITSELF AND THE STOPPING DEVICE. APPLICATION ESPECIALLY TO VACUUM CLEANERS WITH A SUCKER AND BEATER SYSTEM.

Description

The present invention relates to mechanisms

  inter alia, but not exclusively

  a locking mechanism which is used for

  the. easy fixing and unblocking of sliding parts

  relative to each other, for example a suction cleaning tube or this. which is called a suction tube, and

another part of the vacuum cleaner.

  For many years, in the field

  of the practical use of cleaning appliances to

  or aspirators, vacuum tubes are used.

  ration and / or rigid suction pipe elements

  naked under the name of sucking tubes, so as to allow the user to operate the vacuum cleaner by means of a separate suction nozzle, located at a distance from the body

  main vacuum cleaner. In some cases, this is ob-

  by means of what is called a "conversion" of a

  pirator, which is normally used for net-

  carpet cleaning by means of a suction nozzle.

  killed in the very body of the vacuum cleaner. In this case, through the use of an appropriate conversion mechanism, the

  flow or suction stream is diverted from the main nozzle

  suction pipe towards a tube, pipe or the like attached to the vacuum cleaner. This pipe or pipe is

  end, a suction cleaning tool, for example

  a brush, by means of which vacuum cleaner can be used either to carry out a cleaning "off the ground", according to which the tool is used to clean walls, curtains, furniture or the like, either to perform the carpet cleaning in inaccessible positions,

  for example below the furniture or near the folds

thes.

  Other types of vacuum cleaners, known to one

  generally under the number of vacuum cleaners

  do not carry a suction nozzle mounted in one piece and therefore all cleaning operations with aspirations are carried out via a pipe and / or suction tubes extending up to the nozzles

aspiraticnou analogues.

  According to recent developments, the hose of the suction tube terminates in a suction nozzle inside which a rotary agitator is mounted to be driven by a motor carried by

  the nozzle itself and is powered by a power source.

  tricity carried by the nozzle, by means of a cable extending either to the base of the tube itself, or attached to the

tube in some places.

  In all these devices, it is necessary that the pipe or suction tube can be easily attached to the body of the vacuum cleaner and be detached, that

  the vacuum cleaner is vertical type or can type.

  It is also necessary that the elements of such a

  be connected to each other and, in some cases,

  In some cases, a handle of the tube, or of the suction pipe, is connected to other elements of the pipe or pipe.

  in an easily detachable manner.

  All these systems require the use

  of a suitable locking device operated manually-

  LEMENT. An example of such a locking device is shown in US Pat. No. 3,245,698 to Fromknecht, in which two tubular members are

  connected to each other by means of a ver-

  rusting which carries a hook-shaped latch for engaging above a spoiler carried by one of the tubes.This form of locking device is a simple hook which is put in or out of engagement with the

  projecting part respectively by means of an

  cam control ration for meshing and by means

  a driving operation for clearance. This fasci-

  This patent is an example of many early

  of this type, but despite the efficiency that this type of locking device has

  many years, especially in the case of such

  Positives used in the applicants in hundreds and thousands of vacuum cleaner, it is estimated that it is possible

  to make improvements, in particular to ensure

  effective support when a heavy nozzle located at

  the end of the pipe or tube is likely to receive

  see a shock either in compression or in traction, on the

  the length of the tube thus imposing a compressive load

  traction force at the locking device. In the case of a simple locking device consisting of a

  hook that engages over a protruding part if-

  killed on the tube, in the case where the tube and the part

  protruding parts are both produced by molding a

  plastic material, there is the risk that the part

  is twisted or severely damaged by

  traction forces that tend to act on the hook so that the latter enters the protruding part.Same compression loads along the length of the tube can

  tend to cause damage to the mechanism of

rusting.

  This is why a main object of the present

  The invention is to solve or reduce these disadvantages and to provide a form of general purpose locking mechanism, but in the case of an application

  particular to vacuum cleaners in which we can ob-

  keep the parts locked securely relative to one another. In accordance with the present invention, a mechanism

  locking mechanism for detachable fastening of

  are able to slide relative to one another

  cooperating stops disposed on the respective components

  and a stopper mounted on one component and used to engage behind the stop of the other component

  in order to maintain these assembled components.

  The invention may be further characterized by any of the following features or

  any combination of such features.

  The stop device may be associated with a remote hooking surface, allowing the two stops to be clamped between the stop device and the hooking surface. For example, the snap surface can

  be made in one piece with the stop device.

  The remote hooking surface and the surface provided on the stop of the other component, with which

  the first surface cooperates, can be inclined

  prevent the release of the stop device by sim-

  pivoting of the latter; it is possible to obtain the same effect when only one of the surfaces is thus inclined. The stop device can be mounted on a first component using means allowing both

  relative sliding and relative pivoting of the

  stop with respect to the component; thus after a

  initial slip, it is possible to

  positive stop simply by rotating it.

  It may be possible to provide means in the form of

  spells - molded appropriately in one piece with

  the rest of the shut-off device - to prevent any

  slip of the latter compared to the first

  first component, and to possibly also prevent

  alternating a release movement of that

stop, by pivoting.

  The shutdown device can be assembled

  first component simply by snap-in

  in a compartment in the said component

  without requiring permanent fixation. In the po-

  assembly, the springs can be advantageous

bandaged.

  Said first component is advantageously a handle of a vacuum cleaner or other apparatus, and the

  2559049

  second component may constitute a sucking tube

to a nozzle in operation.

  When used with a vacuum cleaner or other electrical equipment, such a handle may be provided with switches used to operate the vacuum cleaner and / or operate a tool.

  coupled to the vacuum cleaner via the tube

  ceur. Other features and benefits of the

  present invention will emerge from the description given

  hereinafter taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of

  the end of a squeegee tube locked in a hook

  support of the suction tube; FIG. 2 is a corresponding exploded view

  in a general way in Figure 1 and showing the com-

  lock mechanism components; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side elevational view and a bottom view of a locking device; and Figures 5 to 10 are sectional elevation views of parts of the mechanism showing the device

  in the locked position respectively

  in an intermediate position and in the posi-

  5, 6 and 7, the directly adjacent components of the locking device being shown in similar sections to larger

  scale in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

  The positions of the cutting lines of the FIGS.

  5-10, as reported in Figure 4,

  will emerge from the description that follows.

  The suction tube 11 is a molded part made of

  plastic sheet arranged so as to be

  sliding ability in a cylindrical sleeve 12

  placed in the handle. The suction tube is made by molding with a projecting radial stud 13 which can penetrate

  in a slot 14 formed in the cylindrical wall defined

  nisant the sleeve 12, and between two shoulders 15 of an abutment member 16 against which bears the nipple,

  which is located in a curved recess of low pro-

  17. The stud 13 has a flat face 18

  born opposite the recess 17.

  The handle marked as a whole by the reference 19 in Figure 1 comprises three main components, namely a base 21, in which the cylindrical sleeve 12 is molded, an upper portion 22 which is not shown in Figure 2, and a cover 23 which is shown only in Figure 1, although

  its front edge is visible in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

  The base 21 is provided with two rising walls

  24 laterally from each other and from a boss

  25 having a tapped hole with the aid of which the upper part 22 can be fixed to the base by means of a screw 26. Other bosses and screws making it possible to perform a

  secure fixation are not visible in the figures.

  The other main component of the handle is a locking device 27 made by molding polypropylene or other elastic plastics material.

  having good fatigue resistance.

  It can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 that the provision

  locking device has a central part of

  28 with which are formed in one piece by molding the transverse pivots 29 whose ends

  the outside are spring-shaped springs allon-

  31. The pivots29 can slide and rotate in

  respective grooves 32 in the upper parts

  of the two walls 24. The locking device is

  also made in one piece with a button

  33 and a stop device 34 serving to

against the face18 of the nipple 13.

  The stop device 34 comprises a shoulder intended to mesh with the portion 18 of the abutment 16,

  in the locked position, and a ramp 36 terminated

  at the shoulder so that when the squeegee tube is inserted into the sleeve 12, the leading edge of the pin 13 acts on the ramp 36 so as to

  stopping device with respect to the sleeve and allowing

  the passage of the nipple below the ramp, following which the elasticity of the material of the

  locking 27 ensures that the stop device engages

  pledge behind the pin 13 as shown in Figures 8 and 8. The locking device is assembled in a housing 37 formed in the upper part 22 of the

  p: _grne, as is best seen in Figure 10.

  The Douton 33 protrudes through a slot 38 on the

  front side of the upper part and the

  -v is housed in a lower slot 39-sitbued above

  22 under the slot 38 and which opens at its front edge so that the ramp 36 located on the stop device 34 is subjected to a cooperative action with

  the pin 13. The leaf springs 31 are bandaged manually.

  to bear against a wall 41 which is

  integral part of the upper part 22 and constitutes

a rear wall of housing 37.

  In this set, when the upper part

  mounted on the base 21 of the handle, the nipples are

  gorges 32 in the upper parts

  walls 24, and this arrangement can be better seen

  in Figures 8, 9 and 10 which show respectively

  the state in which the squeegee tube is locked

  in position in 'a poirnée, the state in which the

  positive in an intermediate position, and the state in which the stop device is flexed and the tube

sucker is released.

  It should be explained here that, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the section line is a center line as indicated by XX in FIG. 4. In FIG. 8, the section line is the same, except for level of a

  local portion surrounding the pivot 29, where the cut is

  following the line Y-Y in Figure 4, so that one

  can see the wall 24 in elevation and the pivot 29 in section.

  In FIG. 9, the local cut is taken along the line Z-Z of FIG. 4, so that the blade spring 31, the pivot 29 and the wall 24 behind these elements are visible in elevation. In Figure 10 the cut line is the line

  median X-X as for Figures 5, 6 and 7.

  The drawings of the figures were represented from

  this way in order to be able to clearly show the func-

  tioning of the stop device 34, both with regard to the displacement of the pivots 29 in their grooves 32

  and meshing of the stop device 34 with the stud 13.

  In connection with this last point it is necessary to

  ter that the abutment member 16 formed on the base 21 comprises

  face facing the nipple 13, which is in its

  It appears perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical sleeve 12, but has a rear face 42 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10) which is inclined rearwardly so that the thickness of the abutment member 16 is slightly greater at the end. as

  and as one deviates from the axis of the sleeve, that

  calf o this stop member is connected to the wall of the man-

  chon. The stop device comprises a cooperating face 43. We will now describe the operation of the

locking device.

  In the locked conditions shown in FIG. 8, it is really impossible to inadvertently disengage the squeegee tube from the sleeve without depressing the button 33, since any twisting motion

  or pulling on the squeegee tube which could tend to

  evoke the action of a release force on the shoulder-

  located on the stop device 34, is counter-

  square by the action of the cooperating surface 43 of the disc

  positive stop on the rear face 42 of the stop member 16 located on the base 21, and that the face 43 can not go up by sliding against the face 42 being

  given the rear tilt described above. Of the-

  forward placement of the locking device relative to the base is also thwarted as a result of the engagement of the pivots 29 in the front faces of the grooves 32, and the leaf springs 31 ensure that in the absence of a pressing the button 33, the pivots 29

  bear against the front faces of the throats.

  The pin 13 and the stop member 16 are

  positively maintained in close liaison between the

  these 35 and 43 of the stop device.

  When it is desired to release the squeegee tube and the operator depresses the button 33, the locking device 27 can not immediately rotate around

  pivots 29 due to the reaction of the face 42 con-

  face 43, and therefore the initial displacement

  evoked by the depression of the plug 33 is such that

  shown in Figure 9, in which the verifier

  rust is in an intermediate position, the pivots 29 sliding back into the grooves 32 and placing

  under tension the springs 31. This initial displacement allows

  causes the face 43 to move rearwardly from the face 42 located on the abutment member 16, by pivoting

  initially the entire locking device

  turn of the point of contact between the stop device 34 and the stud 13. Once the face 43 has moved away from the face 42, the further movement of the locking device can be carried out by rotation around the pivots 29 When the pivots reach the back of the

  grooves 32, as shown in FIG. 10, the device

  The stopper 34 has risen sufficiently to allow the pin 13 to be released as well as the squeegee tube 11, and it should be noted in FIG. 10 that, in this position, the faces 42 and 43 are still in contact with each other. although now

  the point of contact is close to the outer end

  of the stop member 16. When button 33 is

  released, the elasticity of the springs 31 causes the displacement

  in return from the pivots towards the front of the throat and the

  locking device returns to the position

  felt-in Figure 8, though now the squeegee tube

be released.

  When a new engagement of the suction tube, it is not necessary to press the button since the pin 13 bears against the ramp 36 located on

  stop device 34, and although it does not

  mediately lift the shut-off device, it can repulse

  the latter to the rear when the pivots 29

  along the slots so that immediately afterwards, the movement of the nipple is continued inside the sleeve

  lift the shut-off device when a pivot

  occurs around the pivots. Once the nipple

  passed under the stop device raised to ve-

  ab abut against the stop member 16, the springs 31 cause a return by sliding of the pivots by the other end of the grooves and allow the stop device to come again in the engaged position as shown

in Figure 8.

  This mechanism is formed by the assem-

  component parts which are molded parts

  so that once the machining has been completed,

  vé, manufacture and assembly are operating

  cheap and simple, while still providing a

  effective locking mechanism that provides resistance

  this reasonable vis-à-vis an untimely release of the

  suction tube, without actuation of button 33.

  FIG. 1 shows that the handle 19 comprises various switches, as indicated at 44 and which can be used for operations such as the connection of a power supply via the handle, between the can or the body from the vacuum cleaner and a wire descending along the suction tube 11 to a device driven by a motor and located in a nozzle present at the end of the suction tube. This

  device could be a drummer or a brush

born by an engine.

  The handle itself can be connected to the body

  of the vacuum cleaner via any approved connection

  property, and a long flexible hose connecting the body of the

  pirator to the body of the case makes it possible to use

  the suction tube and the nozzle at its end, at a considerable distance from the body of the vacuum cleaner and

  of its source of power supply.

  The type of handle represented by the mechanism

  release mechanism and the electrical switches

  allow the user to carry out a cleaning

  of places that might otherwise be inaccessible

  using a set of tools

  all of which can be easily brought into contact with the

* itself born and freed from it.

  Figure 1, considered in connection with the

  8 shows that in the locked position it is

  it is much more difficult to disengage

  raking by lifting above the end of the disc

  positive stop 34 than by depression of the button 33, so that the release of the locking device due to inadvertent action exerted on the device

  stop 34 is extremely unlikely.

Claims (13)

  1. Locking mechanism for fixing,   with the possibility of clearance, components (11,19) can   slidable relative to each other, characterized in that it comprises cooperating abutments (13; 16) located on   the respective components and a stop device (34)   on a component (19) and for engaging behind the abutment (13) of the other component (11) so as to maintain these assembled components and that the stopper (34)   is associated with a remote hooking surface (43)   putting the two stops (13; 16) between the arrangement   stopping device (34) and the attachment surface (43).   2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized   in that one or both of the surfaces   formed by the hooking surface (43) and the surface (42) on the abutment (16) provided on the other component and with which it is in contact are inclined in a direction intended to prevent disengagement of the device   stop (34) by simply pivoting the latter.   3. Mechanism according to any one of the   1 and 2, characterized in that the area of ac-   remote hooking (43) is made in one piece with the stop device (34).   4. Mechanism according to any one of the   1 to 3, characterized. in that the device for   end (34) is mounted on one of the components (19) via   connection system (29,30) allowing both a relative sliding of the stop device (34) and component (19).   5. Mechanism according to claim 4, characterized   in that, to release the stop device (34),   can first drag the latter relative to-   said component (19), then rotate it in order to provoke to release.   6. Mechanism according to any of the claims   4 and 5, characterized in that it comprises means in the form of springs (31) preventing the sliding of the stop device (34) from the position in   which it can not rotate with respect to said component health (19).   7. Mechanism according to claim 6, characterized   the spring (31) prevents the spring device from   turn (34) to rotate in a direction allowing its release.   8. Mechanism according to any one of the   6 and 7, characterized in that the spring (31) is   made in one piece with the stop device (34).   9. Mechanism according to any of the claims   1 to 8, characterized in that the device for   end (34) is held together in one of the components (19) by being snap-fitted into a housing   (37) located in that component, without being permanently attached this in the latter.   10. Mechanism according to any of the claims   1 to 9, characterized in that one of the components   the stop device (34) or all the components of this device   positive are the molded plastic parts.   11. Mechanism according to any one of the   1 to 10, characterized in that the component (19)   is a handle for carrying the other component (11).   12. Mechanism according to claim 11,   characterized in that the handle (19) is a handful of   remote control for a vacuum cleaner and used for   cord of a suction tube constituting said other component health (11).   13. Mechanism according to claim 12,   characterized in that the remote control handle (19)   includes controls (34) for operating   a vacuum cleaner located at a distance and / or serving to operate a device in connection with the handle by   via the squeegee tube (11) and / or to control   der a lamp that can be carried by the suction tube.