JPH0947410A - Extension pipe for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent dust or the like from being deposited, and improve operability by providing an operation body for moving a constraint element within an inner pipe in such a state as coupled to a recess, engaging a spring with one end of a holder, and forming a slope on the other end thereof, while one end of the operation body being supported and the other end thereof kept in contact with the slope of the holder. SOLUTION: A holder 8 is pressed to an operation body 10, due to the force of a spring 9. Consequently the operation body 10 turns and the end thereof is pushed up along the slope 8a of the holder 8. Also, the upper end 10b of the operation body 10 is held in such a state as projected above a cylinder cover 11. When the operation body 10 is pushed down, the end thereof goes down on the slope 8a of the holder 8, thereby causing the holder 8 to retreat against the force of the spring 9. The operation body 10 operates like a pushbutton. Thus, the holder 8 moves in the condition where fingers are released from the operation body 10, thereby causing the pressing surface 8c of the holder 8 to close the opening 6a of a cylindrical body 6 and pressing a constraint element 7 to the bottom of the recess 2a of the inner pipe 2. On the other hand, the constraint element 7 is made free, when the operation body 10 is pushed by fingers and the holder 8 is made to retreat.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an extension tube for a vacuum cleaner equipped with a mechanism suitable for adjusting the length of the extension tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an extension tube for an electric vacuum cleaner,
There is known an extendable extension tube in which an inner tube is provided so that it can be inserted into and removed from the outer tube, and the length of the inner tube protruding from the outer tube is adjusted and locked.

In this telescopic extension tube, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-184501, an outer tube is fitted with an inner tube having a row of notches, and the notches are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube. The length of the inner pipe protruding from the outer pipe is adjusted by appropriately locking the mechanism provided.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this telescopic extension tube is connected to an outer tube 112, an inner tube 111 having a row of notches 115 that slides inside thereof, and an outer tube 112. Cylinder 118 and restraint element 1 supported by the cylinder 118
22 and the restraining element 122 thereof are provided on the notch 11 of the inner pipe 111.
5, the pressing element 130 is engaged with the restraining element 122 based on the action of the coil spring 128 so as to fix the inner tube 111 to the outer tube 112, while the pressing element 130 is opposed to the action of the coil spring 128. The restraint element 122 is provided with a push button 125 that can be disengaged from the restraint element 122 so that the inner tube 111 can slide in the outer tube 112.
While the pressing element 130 is disengaged, it can move upward with the swing shaft 124 as the axis, while the pressing element 13 is moved.
When the 0 is engaged, the movement is locked by the pressing surface 131.

According to this structure, as shown in FIG. 7, when the push button 125 is pressed with a finger and slid in the direction of arrow A, the pressing element 1 formed integrally with the push button 125 is formed.
30 moves in the direction of arrow A against the coil spring 128 to form a void on the upper surface of the restraining element 122. As a result, the restraining element 122 is free to move upward, and the inner pipe 111 can be slid.

When the finger holding the push button 125 is released, the pressing element 130 is positioned on the upper surface of the restraining element 122 by the force of the coil spring 128, and the restraining element 122 is pressed by the pushing surface 131 as shown in FIG. As a result of pressing down, the inner tube 1
11 is fixed there. In this way, the length of the extension tube can be adjusted arbitrarily.

[0007]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional structure, when the extension tube is expanded and contracted, the push button 125 is used.
Must be pressed with the finger in the tube axis direction,
Poor operability. In other words, this operation must be performed with one hand, and the push button 125 must be slid in the tube axis direction with the thumb to press it against the force of the spring 128, which makes it difficult to operate.

Further, since the push button 125 is configured to slide with respect to the outer tube 112 and the cylindrical body 118, the push button 125
And the outer tube 112, or between the push button 125 and the cylindrical body 11
There is a problem that dust easily enters between the push button 125 and the touch panel 8, and the movement of the push button 125 deteriorates due to the dust entering, and the operability further deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide an extension tube for an electric vacuum cleaner which is less likely to have dust and the like attached thereto and has good operability.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an outer tube and a row of recesses are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer tube so as to be slidable along the axial direction of the tube. Inner tube, a tubular body attached to one end of the outer tube, a restraining element that fits into the recess of the inner tube through an opening formed in the tubular pair, and the restraining element A holder that is fitted in a position to prohibit movement of the inner pipe and a position that allows the restraint element to move in and out of the recess to permit movement of the inner pipe; and a holder that restrains the holder. A spring for biasing the element into the recess to urge the inner tube to move and a holder for allowing the holder element to move in and out of the recess to allow the inner tube to move. And a spring for engaging the spring with one end of the holder. While the inclined surface on the end portion is formed, in which one end is pivotally supported on the operating body and the other end side, characterized in that in contact with the inclined surface of the holder.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body is covered with a cylindrical cover that exposes only the operating body. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the recess is a groove formed in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis of the outer peripheral surface, and the restraining element has the groove. A columnar member which is fitted with a part of the columnar member exposed, wherein the holder is formed of a flat surface portion that presses the columnar member into a groove and a concave portion that houses the columnar member. .

[0013]

1 is a top view of an extension tube for an electric vacuum cleaner showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, (A) shows the extension tube in an extended state, and (B) shows the extension tube. The contracted state is shown.

In FIG. 1, the outer pipe 1 is connected to the inside of the outer pipe 1 at one end side so that the length of fitting can be adjusted by a connecting portion 3 and the inner pipe 2 can be adjusted. The pipe 4 is fixedly connected to the other end of the connection by a connecting portion 5. Therefore, if the inner pipe 2 is locked at the connecting portion 3 while being pulled out from the outer pipe 1, the extension pipe can be maintained in the extended state as shown in FIG. If it is pushed in and locked by the connecting portion 3, the extension tube can be kept in a shortened state as shown in FIG. 1 (B).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the vicinity of the connecting portion 4 of the extension pipe. The extension pipe is provided with the outer pipe 1 and slidably provided in the outer pipe 1 in the pipe axial direction on the outer peripheral surface. An inner tube 2 having recesses 2a formed at a plurality of locations along the outer tube 1, a tubular body 6 attached to one end of the outer tube 1, and a restraining element 7 fitted into the recess 2a of the inner tube 1, A holder 8 that moves between a position where the restraint element 7 is fitted in the recess 2a to prohibit the movement of the inner pipe and a position where the restraint element 7 can be moved in and out of the recess 2a to permit the movement of the inner pipe 2. And a spring 9 for biasing the holder 8 to a position where the restraint element 7 fits in the recess 2a to prohibit the movement of the inner pipe 2, and the holder 8 allows the restraint element 7 to move in and out of the recess 2a. The operating body 10 that moves the inner tube 2 to a position where the inner tube 2 is allowed to move, and a cylindrical cover that exposes only the operating body 10 and covers the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 6. And a over 11 Metropolitan.

That is, the outer tube 1 is made of a resin material, and a resin cylindrical body 6 is fixedly attached to the tip portion thereof.
An inner pipe 2 formed of a metal pipe, one end of which is fitted into the cylindrical body 6 and the outer pipe 1, and the other end of which is connected with a resin pipe 4, is connected to the cylindrical body 6 and the outer pipe 1.

The inner tube 2 has a plurality of recesses 2a formed on the upper surface thereof at appropriate intervals. This recess 2a is the inner tube 2
Is formed by denting the outer peripheral surface in a chord shape in the direction perpendicular to the tube axis. Further, a ring member 12 for preventing the inner tube 2 from falling off from the outer tube 1 is fixed to the tip portion 2b of the inner tube 2. The ring member 12 has a claw portion 1 formed on the inner surface thereof.
By engaging 2a with an opening 2c formed in the inner pipe 2, the inner pipe 2 is firmly fixed to the tip 2b.

As shown in FIG. 3 which is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2, a concave groove portion 2d is formed in the lower portion of the inner pipe 2 along the pipe axial direction so that the inner pipe 2 is inside the outer pipe 1. At the time of putting in and out of the inner tube 2, the concave groove 2d engages with the projection 6b formed in the lower portion of the cylindrical body 6, so that the inner tube 2 does not rotate and the concave portion 2a is always kept in the upper position as shown. It can be stretched and stretched smoothly.

An opening 6a, which is slightly wider than the recess 2a, is formed on the upper surface of the cylindrical body 6, and a holder 8 having a spring 9 interposed therein covers the opening 6a so as to cover the opening 6a. It is arranged so as to be movable.

This holder 8 is a top view of FIG.
As shown in the sectional view taken along the line C-C (B), the view seen from the arrow D (C), and the view seen from the arrow E (D), the inclined surface 8a is provided at one end of the upper surface and the lower surface thereof is restrained. Space 8b for letting out the element 7, and subsequently a pressing surface 8 for pressing the restraining element 7.
c, a space 8e having two guide plates 8d for guiding and holding the spring 9 is formed at the other end of the lower surface. A guide member (not shown) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body 6 so that the holder 8 itself can smoothly and reliably move on the opening 6a of the tubular body 6 in the tube axis direction. An arm member is attached to the holder 8 so as to engage with the member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inclined surface 8 of the holder 8
The operating body 10 is arranged so that the tip portion is in contact with a. This operating body 10 is a top view of FIG.
As shown in the arrow view (B) and the arrow G view (C), an inclined surface is formed on the tip portion 10a so that the inclined surface 8a of the holder 8 can be easily moved. In addition, the operating body 1
0 is made of resin and has a recess formed in the lower surface. The cross section of the operating body 10 shown in FIG. 2 is from the tip of FIG.
b Further, a thick portion shown by a broken line is shown extending to the rear surface 10c.

Further, a shaft portion 10d is formed from the lower surface of the operating body 10 to both side surfaces thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft portion 10d is rotatably supported by a lower bearing portion 6c formed on the tubular body 6 and an upper bearing portion 11a formed on the tubular cover 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 8 is pressed in the direction of the operating body 10 by the force of the spring 9, whereby the operating body 10 is rotated and the tip 10a is inclined to the inclined surface 8a of the holder 8.
Is pushed upward along the upper surface 10b and the cylinder cover 1
It is kept in a state of protruding from 1. When the operating body 10 is pushed down, the tip portion 10a of the operating body 10 is lowered along the inclined surface 8a of the holder 8 and the holder 8 is retracted against the force of the spring 9.

As described above, the operating body 10 operates like a push button, and when the finger is released from the operating body 10, the holder 8 is moved in the direction of the operating body 10 by the force of the spring 9 to press the pressing surface 8c. Closes the opening 6a of the cylindrical body 6, and the restraining element 7
It is pressed against the bottom of the recess 2a. On the other hand, when the operating body 10 is pressed with a finger and the holder 8 is retracted, the space 8b formed in the lower surface of the holder 8 is positioned above the opening 6a of the tubular body 6 and the restraining element 7 becomes free. Become.

The restraint element 7 is made of metal and is formed into a cylindrical shape.
In the state where a part is exposed from the upper part of the recess 2a and pressed by the pressing surface 8c of the holder 8, the restraining element 7 is prevented from moving upward by the pressing surface 8c and fitted into the recess 2a. By maintaining the state, the inner pipe 2 is fixed to the outer pipe 1.

In order to form the connecting portion 3 for connecting the outer pipe 1 and the inner pipe 2 in a stretchable manner, first, the tubular body 6 is fitted to the end portion of the inner pipe 2 and the fitted tubular body is fitted. An annular seal member 13 and a pressing member 14 are attached to the tip portion of 6, and then the ring member 12 is fixed to the tip portion of the inner tube 2 as described above. The tip of the outer tube 1 is provided with a stepped portion 1a to enlarge its diameter, and an unillustrated engaging portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 1b and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve portion 6c. By inserting the enlarged bore portion 1b inside the sleeve portion 6c of the tubular body 6,
Both of them are hermetically connected and fixed with the seal member 13 and the pressing member 14 interposed therebetween. Of course, with this seal member 13,
The seal between the inner tube 2 and the inner tube 2 is also reliably performed.

After that, the restraining element 7 is put into the recess 2a of the inner tube 2 from the opening 6a portion of the cylindrical body 6, and the holder 8 is set from above. Furthermore, with the shaft portion 10d inserted in the lower bearing portion 6c of the tubular body 6, and the operating body 10 is set, the tubular cover 11 is fitted onto the tubular body 6 from the outer pipe 1 side, and the tubular cover 11
The upper bearing portion 11a is disposed on the shaft portion 10d of the operating body 10, and the claw portion 11a is engaged with and fixed to the receiving portion 6d of the cylindrical body 6.

The connecting portion 3 thus constructed is
As shown in FIG. 1, with a simple configuration in which only the operating body 10 is exposed to the tubular cover 11, the user grips the tubular cover 11 portion with one hand, operates the operating body 10 with the thumb, and uses the other hand. The extension tube can be easily expanded and contracted by a simple operation of pushing and pulling the inner tube 2.

That is, when the finger is released from the operating body 10, the holder 8 is pushed toward the operating body 10 by the spring force of the spring 9 as shown in FIG. Located above, the pressing surface 8c of the holder 8 presses the restraining element 7 to lock the movement of the inner tube 2.

When the operating body 10 is pressed with a finger, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the holder 8 is retracted against the force of the spring 9, the space portion 8b formed on the lower surface of the holder 8 is located above the opening 6a of the tubular body 6, and the restraining element 7 is located in the space. It can freely move in and out of the portion 8b. Therefore, in this state, if the inner tube 2 is slid, the restraint element 7 can freely move from the recess 2a to the space 8b, and the inner tube 2 can be freely taken in and out of the outer tube 1. .

As described above, since the extension tube according to the present invention only needs to push the operating body 10, the operation becomes simple. Further, the tubular body 6 and the holder 8 are covered with a tubular cover 11, and moreover, the operating body 10 formed on the tubular cover 11
Since the opening facing is normally closed by the operating body 10, dust is prevented from entering the inside of the tube cover 11, and the mobility of the holder 8 is always kept good.

Although the restraint element 7 is a columnar body in the above embodiment, it may be a sphere. In that case, the recess 2a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 2 also needs to have a hemispherical shape.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation body only needs to be pushed, the extension tube can be easily expanded and contracted, and since the sliding surface is not exposed, the adhesion of dust and the like is prevented. .

According to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
In addition to the effect of the above, the entire connecting portion of the inner pipe and the outer pipe is covered with a cover to leave the operating body for pushing and cleaning, and it is difficult for dust and the like to enter the inside, so that the operating body is always operated well. It is possible to keep the state.

According to the invention of claim 3, claim 1
In addition to the above effect, as a result of the restraint element being formed of a columnar member, it is possible to expect long-term stable action against wear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an extension tube for a vacuum cleaner for explaining an example of an embodiment of the present invention, (A) shows an extended state, and (B) shows a shortened state. Top view of the extension tube for use.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of the holder 8 shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 4A is a top view thereof, FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 4A, and FIG. (D) is an E arrow view of (A).

5A and 5B are explanatory views of the operating body 10 shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 5A is a top view thereof, FIG. 5B is a view of arrow F of FIG.
FIG.

6A and 6B are views for explaining the expansion and contraction operation of the extension pipe shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion showing a state in which the movement of the inner pipe 2 is locked, and FIG. Sectional drawing of a connection part when 10 is pushed and the inner pipe 2 is made slidable in the outer pipe 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a conventional telescopic extension tube can be expanded and contracted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which expansion and contraction of a conventional telescopic extension tube is prohibited.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Outer tube 2 Inner tube 2a Recess 6 Cylindrical body 7 Restraint element 8 Holder 9 Spring 10 Operating body

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Naoki Suetsugu 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer pipe, an inner pipe slidably provided in the outer pipe and having rows of recesses formed at a plurality of positions on an outer peripheral surface along a pipe axial direction, and one end portion of the outer pipe. And a restraint element that fits into the recess of the inner pipe through an opening formed in the pair of cylinders, and the restraint element is fitted into the recess to move the inner pipe. A holder that moves between a prohibiting position and a position that allows the restraint element to move in and out of the recess to permit movement of the inner pipe; and A spring for urging the pipe to a position that prohibits movement, and an operating body that moves the holder to a position that allows the restraint element to move in and out of the recess to permit movement of the inner pipe. While one end of the holder is engaged with the spring and the other end is formed with an inclined surface, An extension tube for an electric vacuum cleaner, wherein one end is pivotally supported by the operating body and the other end is in contact with the inclined surface of the holder. 2. The extension tube for a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder is covered with a cylinder cover exposing only the operation body. 3. The recess is a groove formed in a direction perpendicular to the tube axis of the outer peripheral surface, and the restraint element is a columnar member which is fitted with the groove partially exposed. The extension tube for an electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the holder includes a flat surface portion that presses the columnar member into the concave groove and a concave portion that accommodates the columnar member.