GB2368266A

GB2368266A - A rigid suction tube having an adjustable angle joint

Info

Publication number: GB2368266A
Application number: GB0025934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Silvano Fumagalli
Original assignee: Hoover Ltd
Current assignee: Hoover Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2000-10-24
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-24
Also published as: GB0025934D0; GB2368266B

Abstract

A rigid suction hose for a vacuum cleaner comprises an elongate upper section (14, figure 1) connected to an elongate lower section (16, figure 1) by a joint (15, figure 1). The joint comprising first and second tubular portions 18, 19 interconnected by a pivot 22 and further comprising a projection 24 on the lower section 19 at pivot 22. In use, when the pivot 22 is adjusted, so that the angle between the axes of the upper and lower tube sections 18, 19 is at its minimum and fully articulated for cleaning under furniture, the projection 24 projects downwardly and contacts the floor, thereby keeping the pivot 22 away from the floor, so that the risk of snagging is avoided. There may also be another projection on the upper section 18, or a plurality of projections may be disposed at regular intervals providing supports a different angles of adjustment. The first and second portions of the joint may comprise one piece mouldings of plastics.

Description

A Rigid Suction Tube For Vacuum Cleaner Having An Adjustable Angle Joint

This invention relates to a rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner, having a joint which enables the tube to be articulated.

Conventionally, suction cleaners have been equipped with a rigid suction tube, usually comprising two sections connected together, typically by a taper-fit joint or bayonet coupling, to form a so-called"wand". The wand has provision for attaching cleaning tools or nozzles to its lower end, and is connected at its upper end to the flexible suction hose of the vacuum cleaner. Such tube arrangements have the disadvantage that, for cleaning under furniture, such as beds, it is necessary to lay the rigid suction tube flat on the floor. It will be appreciated that operating the vacuum cleaner in these circumstances is awkward for the user.

European Patent application No. 0 955 004 discloses a vacuum cleaner wand comprising two telescopically interconnected curved tubes. In normal use, the lower tube section (which carries the nozzle) is fully retracted into the upper tube section (which is connected to the suction hose).

In this state, the wand has a upwardly-concave curved shape, but is functionally identical to a conventional straight wand.

In order to clean beneath furniture, the lower tube section is pulled out of the upper tube section to form a long upwardlyconcave curved wand, the axis of which approaches the horizontal towards its lower end. This long, near-horizontal tube section will reach beneath items of furniture easily A disadvantage of the above-mentioned wand is that it is complicated in construction and the telescopic sections are prone to jamming.

European Patent application No. 0 875 195 discloses an wand for a vacuum cleaner whereby, in one embodiment, the wand

comprises two rigid tube sections, joined together in such a way that they may be pivoted relative to one another to form an obtuse angle. The first tube section may then, in use, be laid flat on the floor, whereby the nozzle can reach beneath items of furniture. The second tube section thus rises from the joint at an angle typically in the range of 45 -60 to the horizontal, enabling the user to operate the wand conveniently.

The adjacent tubes are each turned outwardly to form radially-projecting flanges on their ends, set obliquely at about 600 to the axes of both tube sections. The flanges are held in mutual contact by an annular U-section collar which encompasses the flanges. The collar allows relative rotation of the tubes about their respective axes, so as to vary the angle between the axes of the two tube sections from 1800 (ie straight wand) to 120 (for under furniture cleaning).

With this construction, it is necessary to accommodate the flange and retaining collar externally to the actual suction tube, so as not to restrict the air flow by encroaching on the cross-sectional area of the tubes. A disadvantage of this is when cleaning under furniture, the joint has to be held away from the ground, otherwise it may dig into the carpet pile or catch against obstacles thereby constituting a potential obstruction to free movement of the wand structure over the floor.

Another disadvantage of the above construction is that the joint can be damaged if it is repeatedly pushed across the floor.

We have now devised a rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner, having a joint which enables the tube to be articulated and which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner, the tube comprising an elongate upper section having a longitudinal axis connected

to an elongate lower section having a longitudinal axis by a joint which enables the angle between their respective axes to be varied by relative rotation of the sections, the joint comprising first and second tubular portions respectively connected to the upper and lower sections and interconnected by a pivot having a pivot plane aligned obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of both sections, wherein said second portion of the joint comprises a radially projecting formation which projects at least as far as the radial extent of the pivot and which is arranged on the circumference of the second portion at the point where the angle between the axis of the tube and said pivot plane is the greatest.

In use, when the joint is adjusted, so that the angle between the axes of the upper and lower tube sections is at its minimum, i. e. when the tube is fully articulated for cleaning under furniture, the projection projects downwardly and contacts the floor, thereby keeping the joint away from the floor, so that the risk of snagging is avoided.

The projection does not add significantly to the weight of the suction tube but yet enables the user to rest the joint on the floor as the tube is reciprocated for cleaning under furniture.

The two halves of the pivot have to fit together relatively tightly to keep the tube rigid and to maintain the position of the joint by frictional engagement. A disadvantage of this is that it makes it difficult to adjust the angle between the tube sections. However, an advantage of the present invention is that the projection acts as a lever or handgrip which can be used to turn the lower tube section.

Preferably, said first portion of the joint also comprises a radially projecting formation which projects at least as far as the radial extent of the pivot and which is arranged on the circumference of the first portion at the point

where the angle between the axis of the tube and said pivot plane is the greatest, the formation on the first and sections being arranged to align when the tube is fully articulated. The addition of a projection on the first portion of the pivot further reduces the risk of snagging.

Preferably, the projection on the second portion of the joint extends a greater radial distance than said projection on the first portion of the joint.

Preferably, the or each projection comprises an inclined outer surface which is inclined away from the pivot and thereby provides a more gradual transition of the leading edge of the projection for riding over obstacles etc. on the floor.

A plurality of such projections may be disposed at regular intervals circumferentially of the first and/or second portions of the joint, so that supports for the joint are provided at different angles of adjustment of the tube sections.

Preferably, the upper and lower tube sections are separable, so that the cleaner can be used without the lower tube section.

Preferably, the joint is separable from said tube portions, the sections comprising complimentary engaging means so that they can be interconnected without use of the joint.

Preferably, the first and second portions of the joint each comprise one-piece mouldings of plastics material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner having a rigid suction tube in accordance with this invention, the tube being set at its configuration for normal use; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a

joint of the rigid suction tube of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1, showing the tube set at its configuration for cleaning under furniture.

Figure 4 is a side view of the joint of the rigid suction tube, when the tube is configured as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a so-called canister vacuum cleaner having a conventional body 10 connected to a rigid suction tube 11 by a flexible elongate corrugated hose 12 of plastics material.

The rigid suction tube 11 comprises an arcuate tubular plastics handle 13 connected at its one end to the hose 12 and at its other end to an elongate upper tube section 14 formed of metal. The opposite end of the upper tube section 14 is connected via a joint 15 to an elongate lower tube section 16 formed of metal. A cleaning tool 17 is connected to the free end of the lower tube section 16.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, the joint 15 comprises first and second tubular portions 18,19 each formed of a one piece moulding of plastics material and interconnected end-to-end by means of a pivot 22. The opposite ends of the tubular portions 18,19 comprise complimentary engaging portions for respectively engaging the upper and lower tube sections 14,16, which themselves have complimentary engaging portions so that they can alternatively be connected directly together.

The first and second portions 18,19 of the joint 15 respectively carry halves of the pivot 22, the second pivot half comprising a radially projecting flange 20 at its pivot end which lies obliquely with respect its longitudinal axis.

The pivot half of the first tube portion 18 also comprises a radially projecting flange 21 at its pivot end which lies

obliquely with respect its longitudinal axis. The periphery of the flange 21 is turned outwardly and then inwardly to captively engage the radially projecting flange 20 in such a manner as to permit the pivot halves 20,21 to be rotated with respect to each other. The pivot 22 can be formed by the established technique of over-moulding, whereby the joint is moulded as a complete assembly, eliminating the need for any subsequent assembly operation to join the pivot halves 20, 21.

The over-moulding process involves insertion of the second pivot half 20 into the tool used for forming the first pivot half 21. Moulding of the second pivot half 21 then involves formation of its pivot flange in captive engagement with the pivot flange of the second pivot half 20.

In an alternative embodiment, the pivot halves 20, 21 can be interconnected by an annular U-section retaining ring, or by snap engaging one pivot half into the other.

The friction or interference between the pivot halves 20,21 is such that the pivot halves can be manually turned with respect to each other and be kept in a turned position.

However, a detent may be provided to keep the joint 15 in the straight setting.

The second portion 19 of the joint 15 comprises an integral formation 24 arranged to contact the floor when the tube 11 is fully articulated for cleaning under-furniture. The formation 24 is located on the circumference of the second tubular portion 19 of the joint at a point where the angle S between the axis of the tubular portion 19 and said pivot plane is the greatest. The formation 24 comprises an arcuate strip 26 of plastics material having one end attached to the wall of the second portion 19 of the joint 15 adjacent the pivot 22. The strip 26 extends radially outwardly parallel to the parting plane of the pivot 22 to a point located radially outwardly of the pivot 22, where it turns sharply back towards a point on

the wall of the second portion 19 lying axially in front of its opposite end. The formation 24 thus provides an inclined surface facing towards free end of the second tubular portion 19 of the joint 15.

The width of the strip 26 is about one half of the diameter of the second tubular portion 19 of the joint 15. A web 27 of plastics material fills the space under the strip 26, such that the formation 24 is generally t-shaped in its transverse cross section. A plurality of radially-extending reinforcing ribs 28 extend between the wall of the second tubular portion 19 and the underside of the strip 26.

A similar smaller formation 23 is disposed on the first tubular portion 18 of the joint and it will be appreciated that the two formations are circumferentially separated by 1800 when the joint is adjusted so that the upper and lower tube sections 18,19 are in line with each other. With the joint in the straight position, the cleaner can be for conventional floor cleaning.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, in order to clean under furniture, the second portion of the joint 19 is rotated through 1800 thereby bringing the two formations 23,24 in line and articulating the joint by about 600 so that the axes of the upper and lower tube sections 14,16 lie at about 1200 to each other. In this position, the lower tube section 16 extends across the floor and as such greatly eases and facilitates cleaning underneath furniture.

It will be appreciated that when cleaning under furniture, in order to avoid having to hold the joint 15 away from the floor, to prevent the angled pivot halves digging into the carpet pile or catching against obstacles, the formation 24 on the second portion 19 of thee joint rests on the floor and provides a smooth surface which easily slides across the floor as the tube 11 is pushed to and fro. The formations 24,23 provide faces which are respectively inclined relative to the to and fro movement and thus the joint can easily ride over obstacles such as wires or joining strips between adjacent sections of carpet.

A vacuum cleaner having a rigid suction tube in accordance with the present invention is thus much easier to use than known vacuum cleaners having articulated suction tubes.

Claims

Claims 1. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner, the tube comprising an elongate upper section having a longitudinal axis connected to an elongate lower section having a longitudinal axis by a joint which enables the angle between their respective axes to be varied by relative rotation of the sections, the joint comprising first and second tubular portions respectively connected to the upper and lower sections and interconnected by a pivot having a pivot plane aligned obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of both sections, wherein said second portion of the joint comprises a radially projecting formation which projects at least as far as the radial extent of the pivot and which is arranged on the circumference of the second portion at the point where the angle between the axis of the tube and said pivot plane is the greatest.
2. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which said first portion of the joint also comprises a radially projecting formation which projects at least as far as the radial extent of the pivot and which is arranged on the circumference of the first portion at the point where the angle between the axis of the tube and said pivot plane is the greatest, the formation on the first and sections being arranged to align when the tube is fully articulated. The addition of a projection on the first portion of the pivot further reduces the risk of snagging.
3. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the projection on the second portion of the joint extends a greater radial distance than said projection on the first portion of the joint.
4. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in

any preceding claim, in which the or each projection comprises an inclined outer surface which is inclined away from the pivot and thereby provides a more gradual transition of the leading edge of the projection for riding over obstacles etc. on the floor.
5. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which plurality of such projections may be disposed at regular intervals circumferentially of the first and/or second portions of the joint, so that supports for the joint are provided at different angles of adjustment of the tube sections.
6. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper and lower tube sections are separable, so that the cleaner can be used without the lower tube section.
7. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the joint is separable from said tube portions, the sections comprising complimentary engaging means so that they can be interconnected without use of the joint.
8. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second portions of the joint each comprise one-piece mouldings of plastics material.
9. A rigid suction tube for a vacuum cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.