HK1069299B - Wand assembly for a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

Bar-shaped component of household appliance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a telescopic rod assembly for a household appliance. The wand assembly is particularly, but not exclusively, for use in a vacuum cleaner.

Background

Cylinder vacuum cleaners generally comprise a cleaner body which is drawn on by the user. The main body is provided with separating means for separating dirt and dust from the air flow. Air flow is directed into the main body through the hose and the user-manipulated wand assembly, and a cleaning tool is mounted on the distal end of the wand. The hose and wand assembly comprises a flexible elongate tube which is attached to the main body of the cleaner and a rigid wand. The wand typically has two rigid tubes which are telescopically connected to one another. One of the sections is rigidly connected to the handle, while the other section is telescoped within the tube. Some form of locking mechanism or ratchet mechanism is provided to secure the two lengths of hard tubing in a particular position relative to each other. In this way the overall length of the wand is adapted to the physical dimensions (height or arm length) of the user. An example of such a wand is disclosed in US 3,083,041.

There is a trend towards vacuum cleaners which are made more compact so that they can be stored more conveniently. Although there are many examples of cleaners having a compact cleaner body, most of these cleaners provide a bulky two-part wand which is difficult to store when not in use. From a packaging point of view, the dimensions of the stick often determine the minimum dimensions of the packaging box required to package the product.

It is known to provide a wand with three segments. By providing a greater number of rods, the overall length of the rod when folded is shorter than a two-segment rod. However, providing a wand with three or more sections increases the complexity of the wand for the user. Especially when it is opened for use and retracted for storage, it is more time consuming and frustrating.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a rod-shaped body for a home appliance, comprising: a plurality of tubes sized to telescope inside one another so as to be movable between an extended position and a storage position; and a storage tube into which said tubes can be retracted when in a storage position; the storage tube has a hook for engaging the smallest of the tubes to hold the tubes in the storage position. Numerous other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the appended claims.

Such an arrangement is particularly useful for cylinder or canister cleaners. However, they may also be used in general for other types of vacuum cleaners or other domestic appliances, such as carpet shampooers.

Drawings

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1 and 2 show a wand according to the invention in an extended condition;

FIG. 3 shows the wand of FIG. 1 in a retracted state;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the wand of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed section through a portion of the wand of FIG. 1 when the wand is locked in an extended position;

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of a portion of the wand shown in cross-section in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed section through another portion of the wand of FIG. 1;

figures 8 and 9 show the locking mechanism when storing the wand tube of figure 1;

FIG. 10 shows a portion of the locking mechanism of FIGS. 8 and 9 in greater detail;

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIGS. 8-10;

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a locked wand in an extended position;

FIG. 13 is a more detailed partial view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12;

figures 14 and 15 show an alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism when storing the tubes of the wand;

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a wand with the locking mechanism shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 18 shows the wand of FIGS. 16 and 17 in a fully retracted and locked condition;

figures 19 and 20 show the wand tube in more detail about to be brought into the locked condition; and

figure 21 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the wand securing mechanism.

Detailed Description

The wand comprises three separate sections of tubing 20, 30 and 40 which are successively smaller in diameter and can telescope inside one another. The three lengths of tubing are retracted into the storage tube 10. Handle 12 is connected to storage tube 10 and can be manipulated by a user. A hose 18 extends from the section 16 of the storage tube 10 and is connected to the tube by a swivel 17.

The tubes 20, 30 and 40 are slidable one inside the other and are movable between a storage position (as shown in figures 3 and 4) and a deployed position (as shown in figures 1 and 2) with one tube extending from the other such that only one end of the tubes overlap one another. Fig. 4 is a section along line a-a of fig. 3 showing the tubes in a fully retracted position within storage tube 10. The tubes 20, 30 and 40 are tapered in diameter and longer in length. The length of each tube is selected so that it fully occupies the effective length of the storage tube 10 when the securing mechanisms 25, 35 are placed against each other.

The distal end of the tube 40 is adapted to receive a floor tool (not shown) in any known manner. Such as a floor tool, may be connected to the tube 40 by means of a press fit, a bayonet fit, a snap fit, a threaded ferrule and sleeve, or by any other suitable mechanism. Instead of a floor tool, an accessory tool may be fixed to the pipe 40.

The securing mechanisms 15, 25 and 35 can lock the tubes to each other as desired when the tubes are in the deployed position, or allow the tubes to move freely with respect to each other as desired when the tubes are retracted. A securing mechanism 15 is provided on storage tube 10 for securing tube 20 to storage tube 10. Another securing mechanism 25 is provided at the distal end of tube 20 to secure tube 20 to tube 30, and another securing mechanism 35 is provided at the distal end of tube 30 to secure tube 30 to tube 40.

Fig. 5 shows the securing mechanism 25 on the tube 20 in more detail, while fig. 6 shows another view of the securing mechanism 25 and the end of the tube 20. The same applies to the operation of the fixing means 35 on the tube 30. The fixing means 25 comprise a ring fitted on the outside of the tube 20. The first annular portion 251 of the ring 250 projects forwardly from the end of the tube 20 and forms an opening having a diameter which is narrower than the diameter of the tube 20 itself, thus enabling it to be positioned over the tube 20. The diameter of the opening in the ring portion 251 is smaller than that of the tube 20, but it is sufficient to accommodate the tube 30. The first annular portion 251 has a forwardly inclined surface 252. The axially rearward end of the first annular portion 251 is a second annular portion. This second annular portion includes a plurality of arms (generally 259 in fig. 6) that are connected to the first annular portion 251 and extend axially rearward. Between each arm 259 are arcuate portions 258 that fit alongside the outer surface of the tube 20. The arcuate portion 258 also connects the first annular portion 251 and projects axially rearward by a distance shorter than the distance that the arm projects. These arc-like portions 258 and arms 259 are circumferentially separated by a narrow gap 257. 3 arms 259 are shown, which has been found to be a preferred minimum number, but it is also possible to provide other numbers of arms 259. Each arm 259 has a radially inwardly projecting projection 254 which seats in an aperture 263 in the wall of the tube 20. This projection 254 also seats in a recess 314 in the tube 30 when the tubes are in the locked position as shown, so as to lock the tubes 20 and 30 together. The arm 259 also has a radially outwardly extending portion 255 having an inclined surface 256. The projection 255 is able to rotate about the ring 251 and the material from which the securing mechanism is made is sufficiently resilient that it will not break either when it is flexed outwardly or when it is returned to the position shown in the drawings. To release the tubes 20 and 30, the arms 259 flex radially outward, rotating about the ring portion 251. This brings the arms 259 radially outwardly a sufficient distance to allow the projections 254 to reach radially outside the tube recesses and outside the collar 310. The inner surface 266 of each arm 259 has a concave cross-sectional shape that is easily grasped by the user, as would be necessary. The securing mechanism 25 also has a set of projections 265. This is the means for retention in the corresponding hole 264 in the tube 20. The end of the tube 30 includes a ferrule 310 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the remainder of the tube 30 to the left of the ferrule. The function of this ferrule is to hold the tube 30 in the middle of the tube 20 as it is trapped between the ring portion 251 and the projection 254. The ring portion 314 is of smaller diameter than the ferrule and provides a recess to receive the projection 254 of the securing mechanism. As shown in fig. 5, the ferrule 310 may be formed by increasing the thickness of the tube, or by securing a ring of additional material around the tube where a ferrule is desired. The final annular portion 312 of the tube 30 is shown here having the same diameter as the ferrule 310. This is preferred because this portion 312 bears against the adjacent wall of the tube 20 and acts to stabilise the tube, it also acts to support the seal 260 closer to the inner wall of the tube 20. However, the annular portion 312 may have the same diameter as the remainder of the tube 30.

A seal 260 is provided on each length of pipe for sealing between the pipes. The seal 260 is located at one end of the tube 30 and is secured to the inner surface of the tube. The seal may be glued or clamped in place.

The seal 260 projects both axially and radially outside the tube to enable sealing against the inner surface of the thicker tube 20. The axially endmost portion of the tube 20 is of a smaller diameter than the remainder of the tube so that the seal 260 fits well against the inner surface of the tube 20. The case of a straight to thinner tip diameter transition is shown as portion 220 on the tube.

Figures 7 to 9 show the securing mechanism on the storage tube 10 in more detail. For clarity, only the release collar 15 and the tube 20 (the tube in which the collar 15 functions) are shown. Release clip 15 includes an annular member 155 having a portion 151 that extends outwardly of the housing of storage tube 10 and is manually operable to release the clip. The release catch 15 is supported (not shown) by the storage tube 10 so that it can move in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube 10. The active portion of the snap ring is a protrusion 152 that extends radially inward from the ring member 155. As shown in fig. 9, when tube 20 is fully withdrawn from storage tube 10, protrusion 152 is located in a groove 156 on the outer surface of tube 20, which acts to lock the tube in this position. The indentations 154 in the projections 152 accommodate the ridges 22 and function to prevent the tubes from twisting relative to one another. The forwardmost portion of storage tube 10 has an inclined flat surface 102 which is thinner in diameter than tube 10 and also thinner than ferrule 110 of tube 20. Thus, tube 20 cannot be pulled out of storage tube 10 to the outside of collar 110. The ramp 102 functions to open the securing mechanism 25 when the tubing is collapsed, as will be described more fully below. Seal 210 seals tube 20 to storage tube 10.

Preferably the tubes are not twisted relative to each other. An axially extending ridge 22 is provided along the outer surface of each tube 20, 30 and 40, and each securing mechanism has a groove (267, fig. 6) corresponding to this ridge. In use, as a tube slides within another tube, the ridge 22 also slides within the groove 267, but the groove 267 prevents any rotational movement. The ridge 22 may be extruded with the tube.

The wand is preferably lockable over different overall lengths so that users of different body sizes (height, arm length) can comfortably use the wand. To meet this requirement, the uppermost tube 20 is provided with a set of locking positions, as shown in fig. 11. These locking positions may be notches 230 in the ridge 22 extending along the length of the tube 20. For this embodiment, the release catch 15 does not have the notch 154 as shown in fig. 10. Thus, the protrusion 152 is continuous such that there is one of the notches 230 positioned in the locked position.

The tube may be made of metal, such as steel or aluminium, or even hard plastic, preferably of a material of constant thickness, the ridges and grooves being obtained by shaping the tube. This has the advantage of reducing the weight of the final product as much as possible.

In the above embodiments, the securing mechanism is made of a resiliently flexible material, such as nylon. However, the same rotational movement of the arms can be achieved by making each arm as a separate part, providing a pivot between each arm and the rest of the securing mechanism. The resilience of the arm can be achieved by mounting a spring between the arm and the tube, or between the arm and a fixed part of the fixing mechanism.

Although the above embodiments show the securing means 25, 35 as separate parts from the tube, the securing means may also be made integral with the tube. The plastic securing means may be moulded (or otherwise formed) around the metal tube or moulded (or otherwise formed) with the plastic tube.

The operation of the rod-shaped body will be described below. To deploy the wand, the user grasps handle 12 and holds storage tube 10 and pulls the narrowest tube 40 axially out of storage tube 10. Each tube 20, 30 and 40 slides outwardly from storage tube 10. The order in which the tubes slide out of storage tube 10 is determined by the friction that exists between the tubes and is not critical. As each tube reaches the deployed position relative to the other, e.g., as tube 30 slides to the position relative to tube 20 as shown in fig. 5, the tubes automatically lock in this position. Referring to fig. 5, the projections 254 of the securing mechanism 25 are forced radially outward as the angled surfaces 256 ride over the collar 310 on the tube 30. The projection 254 itself eventually returns to the depression in the tube 30. The ring-shaped part 251 of the securing means prevents the tube 30 from any further sliding. The ferrule 310 on the tube 30 is now held securely between this annular portion 251 and the vertical face of the protrusion 254, immovable in both longitudinal directions. Thus, the tube 30 is now locked relative to the tube 20. The seal 260 seals against the inwardly tapered portion 220 of the tube 20. Tube 40 is locked in a similar manner with respect to tube 30. Once all the tubes are locked, the wand is ready for use. It will be appreciated that each tube is automatically locked in the deployed position without the user having to separately operate the securing mechanism on each tube.

The operation procedure for the retraction of the wand will now be described. The user first operates the release catch 15 on the storage tube 10. This will release the collar from the tube 20. The user pushes the distal end of tube 40 axially toward storage tube 10. This causes tube 20 to slide within storage tube 10. Once the tube 20 is fully retracted within the storage tube 10, the securing mechanism 25 pushes on a leading edge 102 on the storage tube 10 (as shown in fig. 4), causing the arms of the securing mechanism 25 to flex radially outward, releasing the tube 30 from the tube 20. The tube 30 is then retracted into the storage sleeve until the securing mechanism 35 pushes the securing mechanism 25. As before, this causes the arms of the securing mechanism to flex radially outwardly so that the tube 40 is released from the tube 30. As the user continues to push tube 40, tube 40 retracts into storage tube 10 and the wand is fully retracted. Complete retraction of the wand is achieved with a continuous and swift movement without the user having to operate each of the securing mechanisms 25 and 35 separately.

Figures 12 and 13 show another embodiment of the wand, using views similar to those shown in figures 5 and 6. As previously mentioned, the tubes 20 'and 30' represent two adjacent sections of the wand. The main difference in this embodiment is that the collar 310 of the tube 30 in figure 5 is replaced by an inclined surface 470 and the protrusion 254 in figure 5 is replaced by a protrusion 454 having radially flared straight faces on both sides rather than having an inclined surface on one side thereof. This alternative arrangement performs the same function as the previous one in that the protrusions 454 move radially outwardly as the tube 30' is deployed towards the locked position. Here, the inclined surface 470 of the tube 30' cooperates with the protrusion 454 to effect this movement. Fig. 18 and 19 compare these two embodiments in more detail.

There are several other differences in the embodiment shown in fig. 12. The tube 30' has holes 414 pressed out on it rather than grooves formed on the outer surface of the tube. This has been found to be simpler to manufacture. To compensate for the fact that the tube 30 'has a hole in its outer wall, the seal 460 extends further into the tube 30' in the longitudinal direction. It can be seen that not only does the innermost portion of seal 460 abut the inner wall of inclined surface 470 of tube 30 ', but the outermost portion 462 of seal 460 also abuts the inner wall of tube 20'. In use, the protrusion 454 seats itself in the aperture 414 when the tube is locked. Movement of the tube 30' in any longitudinal direction is avoided by virtue of the radial faces of the protrusions 454. Such an arrangement has been found to provide a more positive indication to the user as to whether the tubes are locked, as compared to the arrangements described above.

Fig. 14 and 15 illustrate another securing mechanism 500 for a storage tube 10, herein designated as 10'. Fig. 14 shows the widest tube 20 'in the deployed and locked position relative to the storage tube 10'. The locking mechanism 500 includes an actuator 510 and a locking lever 560. The actuator 510 is pivotally connected to the pivot 520 of the storage tube 10 'and the locking lever 560 is pivotally connected to the pivot 540 on the other portion of the storage tube 10'. The actuator 510 carries a rib 515 which bears against the inclined surface 535 of the lock lever 560 and in use movement of the actuator 510 in the direction 580 causes the rib 515 to move along the inclined surface 535 causing the lock lever 560 to be raised or lowered in the direction shown at 585. The projection 530 on the locking lever 560 sits in a recess 590 in the wall of the tube 20 'for locking the position of the tube 20'. Operation of the actuator 510 causes the projection 530 to be raised from its seated position, which causes the tube 20' to be retracted. Locking lever 530 also carries a hook 550 which can hold collar 610 on cap 600 on the distal end of tube 40'. When all tubes are retracted into the storage tube 10 ', the cap snaps over the end of the storage tube 10', and the hook 550 hooks over the collar 610. All of the tubes 20 ', 30', 40 'are securely retained within the storage tube 10' until the actuator 551 is operated to release the hook 550. The leading edge of hook 550 includes an inclined surface 551 which is moved by collar 610 as the tube is retracted into storage tube 10'. This allows the hook to automatically ride over the collar 610, thereby holding the cap 600 as the tube is moved to the storage position (as shown in fig. 18). It should be understood that the ferrule 610 may be provided as part of the tube 40' rather than as part of a separate connector 600. In the storage position, the cap 600 fits over all of the securing mechanisms of the other sections, thus protecting them from damage during storage.

The locking arrangement described above can work in the same manner as the arrangement shown in figure 11 to lock the tube 20' in various deployed positions. At the uppermost end of the tube 20' there will be provided a set of locking recesses as indicated at 590 in figure 14. These locking positions can be provided by further notches 590 in the ridge 595 extending along the length of the tube 20'.

Figure 21 shows a further different embodiment of a fixing means for a tube. Here, the arms 259, 459 of the previous embodiments are replaced by a locking part 700 that can move in a radial direction. Locking part 700 is held by a rearwardly extending rib 745 of a ring portion 740 that fits around tube 20'. A spring 750 is located between the rib 745 and the locking part 700 and acts to bias the locking part 700 against the tube 30'. This embodiment operates in the same manner as described above and is capable of automatically assuming the locked and released positions without manual operation by the user. In use, the inclined leading edge 741 of the collar 740 on a locking mechanism will press against the inclined surface 710 of the adjacent locking mechanism, causing the tube to be automatically released. The locking part 700 is shown with a square protrusion 720 but may have a sloped surface as shown in fig. 19.

The wand shown in the drawings has three separate lengths of tubing, with the exception of the storage tubes, but it will be appreciated that such a wand may have only two or more than three lengths of tubing. The extra pipe sections should have the same type of securing mechanism as 25, 35 shown in the illustrated embodiment. Although the handle is shown as part of the storage cannula, this handle may be an elbow fitting inside the distal end of the storage cannula instead of the section 16 shown in fig. 1.

Claims (11)

1. A wand for a domestic appliance comprising: a plurality of tubes sized to telescope inside one another so as to be movable between an extended position and a storage position; and a storage tube into which said tubes can be retracted when in a storage position; the storage tube has a hook for engaging the smallest of the tubes to hold the tubes in the storage position.

2. The wand of claim 1, wherein: the storage tube is provided with a handle allowing a user to operate the wand.

3. The wand of claim 2, wherein: the handle is provided on one side wall of the storage tube.

4. A wand according to claim 3, wherein: the handles are positioned side-by-side along the storage tube and do not extend beyond the end of the storage tube.

5. A wand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: at the storage location, each tube completely fills the available length of storage tube.

6. A wand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: fixing means are provided between adjacent tubes to selectively fix the tubes to each other or to allow free movement between them.

7. The wand of claim 6, wherein: a securing device is also provided between the storage tube and the adjacent tube.

8. A wand according to claim 6 or 7 wherein: in the storage position, the fastening devices abut one another.

9. A wand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: each tube is provided with a seal for sealing with another tube.

10. A wand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: three tubes are provided.

11. A wand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the wand is adapted to be connected to a vacuum cleaner.