JPH11128130A - Extension pipe and vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extension pipe surely holding an internal pipe in an advanced condition with case. SOLUTION: Along the circumference direction on the outer circumferential face of an internal pipe 22, a plurality of radially expanded parts 33, in each of which the rear end side edge is formed into a stepped part 34 while the front end side edge is formed into a tapered part 35, are formed in the band-shapes along the axial direction. An adjusting means 23 controlling forward/backward movement of the internal pipe 22 is constructed of a substantially cylindrical fastening member 40 screwed to the front end part of an external pipe 21 and an adjusting ring 41 fitted and held in the fastening member 40. On one side of the internal circumferential face of the fastening member 40, a projection part is arranged provided with a radially expanding slanting face 44 toward the internal thread part 42 side on the other side, screwed to an external thread part 26 in the external pipe 21. By fastening the fastening member 40, the slating face 44 is allowed to abut to an abutting face 49 arranged so as to abut to the face 44 on the outer circumferential face of the adjusting ring 41 provided with a slit, and the adjusting ring 41 is elastically shrunk radially so as to be brought into pressure contact with the internal pipe 22. The adjusting ring 41 is warped against elasticity and climbs up onto the radially expanded part 33, surely controlling forward/backward movement without applying any great fastening force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an extendable extension tube in which an inner tube is inserted into an outer tube so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a vacuum cleaner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an extension pipe which is detachably connected to a cleaner body accommodating an electric blower through a hose and detachably connects a suction port body, for example, a tubular outer pipe as shown in FIG. A telescopic structure is known in which a tubular inner tube 62 is inserted in a retractable manner into a tube 61.

An extendable extension tube shown in FIG.
63 is a female screw portion 65 that is screwed into the male screw portion 64 of the outer tube 61 at one end of the inner circumferential surface at the end of the outer tube 61 provided with the male screw portion 64 on the outer circumferential surface on the side where the inner tube 62 advances and retreats. And a substantially cylindrical tightening member 67 provided with an inclined surface 66 that is inclined at the other end of the inner peripheral surface so that the female screw portion 65 side has a large diameter. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the tightening member 67, a shaft provided with a tapered surface 68 which is fitted to the inner tube 62 and which is inclined on the outer peripheral surface corresponding to the inclined surface 66 with which the inclined surface 66 of the tightening member 67 abuts. A generally cylindrical adjusting ring 69 having a slit along the direction and capable of reducing the diameter is provided. Then, by screwing the tightening member 67 to the outer tube 61 side, the inclined surface 66 of the tightening member 67 comes into contact with the tapered surface 68 of the adjusting ring 69, and the adjusting ring 69 is reduced in diameter and tightened. The advanced state of the inner tube 62 with respect to the outer tube 61 is maintained by the frictional force between the inner peripheral surface of the adjustment ring 69 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 62.

[0004]

However, in the conventional extension tube 63 shown in FIG. 6, the inner tube 62 is tightened and fixed by the tightening member 67 with the inner tube 62 advanced to the maximum, and connected to one end side. When the suction port attached to the other end is run on the floor and cleaned by pushing and pulling the end of the hose, the inner pipe 62 is pressed by the operating force to press against the floor at the time of pushing. It is necessary to strongly tighten the fastening member 67 so as not to be retracted into the outer tube 61 so that the expansion and contraction work may be complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an extension pipe and an electric vacuum cleaner which easily and surely maintain a state in which an inner pipe advances to an outer pipe.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an extension pipe comprising: an outer pipe; an inner pipe which is inserted into the outer pipe so as to be able to advance and retreat substantially coaxially; A substantially cylindrical fastening member having a protruding protrusion and screwing into the outer tube, and a contact portion contacting the protrusion on the outer peripheral surface, and the inner tube is fitted so as to be able to advance and retreat. A substantially cylindrical adjusting ring that is fitted into the fastening member, has resilience, and is elastically deformable when the protruding portion abuts on the abutting portion, and has a larger diameter than the inner tube on the inner tube. A large-diameter portion having a stepped portion provided integrally with at least an outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter inner pipe on a retreating direction side of the inner pipe to the outer pipe.

When adjusting the length, the tightening member screwed to the outer tube is loosened and elastically deformed to restore the adjustment ring whose inner peripheral surface is in pressure contact with the inner tube. To the outer tube, pull it out for a predetermined length, tighten the tightening member again, and bring the protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the tightening member into contact with the contact portion on the outer peripheral surface of the adjusting ring to remove the adjusting ring. The diameter of the adjusting ring is reduced against the elasticity, and the inner peripheral surface of the adjusting ring is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe over the step portion having the larger diameter to hold it tight. By tightening over the step portion on the outer tube side of the large diameter portion, the adjustment ring rides on the step portion, and even if stress is applied in a direction to retract the inner tube with respect to the outer tube, the inner tube is The stepped portion is prevented from being contracted by being hooked on the inner peripheral surface of the adjusting ring, and the advanced state of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube is easily and reliably held.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the extension pipe according to the first aspect, wherein the large-diameter portion has a tapered edge on the side where the inner pipe advances.

Since the edge of the large-diameter portion in the direction in which the inner pipe advances is formed in a tapered shape, for example, when the extension pipe is contracted, the adjusting ring smoothly slides on the tapered portion and gets over the large-diameter portion. The extension and contraction of the extension tube is smooth.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the extension pipe according to the first or second aspect, wherein a plurality of large-diameter portions are provided along the axial direction of the inner pipe.

Since the plurality of large-diameter portions are provided along the axial direction of the inner pipe, the advanced state of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe can be reliably held at a plurality of locations, and the length can be adjusted to an appropriate length.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vacuum cleaner comprising: the extension pipe according to any one of the first to third aspects; and a cleaner main body to which the extension pipe is connected.

[0013] The extension pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the extension state of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe is reliably maintained, so that the extension pipe is prevented from contracting during cleaning. Cleaning workability is improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vacuum cleaner having an extension pipe according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner main body, and the vacuum cleaner main body 1 has a lower case 2a having an open upper surface.
An upper case 2b for closing the rear upper surface of the lower case 2a has a main body case 2 as a case body having a front upper surface opened by sandwiching a bumper 3 on a peripheral edge including a front surface. The case 2 is formed so as to pivotally support a lid 4 that closes the opening of the front upper surface so as to be openable and closable.

The main body case 2 is provided with a not-shown revolving swivel wheel on the front lower surface in the traveling direction, and large-diameter driven wheels 6 and 6 are rotatably provided on the rear side surface of the main body case 2. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 has a turning wheel and a driven wheel 6,6.
And can run on the floor. A handle 7 is provided on the upper part of the main body case 2 so as to be vertically rotatable.

Further, in the vacuum cleaner main body 1, an electric blower (not shown) is disposed on the rear side, and the upper side which communicates with the suction side of the electric blower and has a built-in dust collecting filter is open and has a lid. A dust collection chamber opened and closed by the body 4 is formed on the front side. And on the front side of the vacuum cleaner main body 1,
A connection port 8 is formed to face the dust collection chamber. Also,
In the vicinity of the connection port 8 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1, there is provided a connector section 9 having a pair of electric contact terminals to which power is supplied.

On the other hand, reference numeral 10 denotes a hose. The hose 10 is provided on a flexible hose main body 11 and one end of the hose main body 11, and is detachably inserted and connected to the connection port 8 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1. A connection pipe 12 is provided, and a gripping pipe 13 provided at the other end of the hose body 11 is provided. And connecting pipe
12 is provided with a connector portion having a pair of pin terminals (not shown), which are detachably connected to the connector portion 9 of the vacuum cleaner main body 1. The connector section is electrically connected to an electric wire (not shown) built in the hose 10. Further, this electric wire is electrically connected to a terminal, which is a pair of electric contacts (not shown) provided at the distal end portion of the gripping tube 13, via an operating means 15 provided with, for example, a slide switch 14 provided on the gripping tube 13. It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a suction port body. In the suction port body 18, a rotary cleaning body is rotatably supported facing a suction port (not shown) opened on the lower surface, and the rotary brush is rotated. A driving air turbine is provided. A connecting pipe 19 communicating with the suction port is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the suction port body 18.

On the other hand, reference numeral 20 denotes a telescopic extension tube.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a substantially tubular outer tube 21 formed of an insulator, for example, a synthetic resin into a substantially cylindrical shape.
Similarly, a substantially tubular inner tube 22 similarly formed of a synthetic resin into a substantially cylindrical shape, and an outer tube 21 of the inner tube 22 provided at an end on the side where the inner tube 22 which is the front end of the outer tube 21 advances and retreats. And adjusting means 23 for restricting movement with respect to. And the inner tube 22
Is fitted into the outer tube 21 from the front side, which is one end side, that is, slidably fitted in the axial direction, and the outer tube 21 and the inner tube 22 are coaxially stretchably connected.

At the rear end of the outer tube 21, there is provided a connection fitting portion 25 having a slightly smaller diameter which is removably fitted and connected to the distal end of the gripping tube 13 and which gradually decreases in diameter toward the distal end. Are provided integrally on the same axis. Further, a male screw portion 26 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the outer tube 21, and the leading edge of the outer tube 21 is bent in a flange shape inward, and the leading edge expands in the distal direction of the outer tube 21. The holding surface 27 is inclined so as to be inclined.

At the distal end of the inner tube 22, there is provided a connection fitting portion 30 to which the connecting tube 19 of the suction port body 18 is removably inserted and connected, and has a slightly larger diameter and gradually increases in diameter toward the distal end. It is provided integrally on the same axis. Further, the outer tube, which is the rear end of the inner tube 22,
On the side to be inserted into 21, a retaining portion 31 whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than or approximately the same as the inner diameter of the outer tube 21 is formed, and a retaining step portion 32 is formed on the tip side of the retaining portion 31. ing. Also,
On the outer peripheral surface between the retaining step portion 32 and the connection fitting portion 30 of the inner tube 22,
An outer diameter is formed slightly smaller or substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the outer tube 21 in a belt shape along the circumferential direction, and a large-diameter portion 33 having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the inner tube 22 extends along the axial direction of the inner tube 22. The edge of the large-diameter portion 33 on the side of the retaining portion 31 serves as a step portion 34 and a connection fitting portion.
The 30 side is a tapered portion 35 having a tapered shape.

On the other hand, the adjusting means 23 comprises a substantially cylindrical tightening member 40 screwed to the front end of the outer tube 21 and an adjusting ring 41 fitted and held in the tightening member 40. I have. The fastening member 40 has a male screw portion of the outer tube 21 on the inner peripheral surface on one end side.
26 is provided with a female screw portion 42 to be screwed therein, and on the inner peripheral surface on the other end side, a projecting portion 43 projecting inward is provided, and the diameter of the projecting portion 43 increases toward the female screw portion 42 side. The inclined surface 44 is provided such that Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the tightening member 40, a plurality of non-slip portions 45 protruding in an elongated rib shape along the axial direction.
Is provided.

The adjusting ring 41 is a resilient and elastically deformable member having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter at the position of the large diameter portion 33 of the inner tube 22. As shown in FIG. 5, slits 47 which are formed smaller in diameter than the outer diameter and are continuous with both ends in the axial direction are provided so that the diameter can be reduced against elasticity. The one end edge of the adjusting ring 41 is tapered so that the diameter thereof gradually becomes smaller, and the restricting portion contacts the pressing surface 27 of the outer tube 21.
48 are provided. Further, the outer peripheral surface on the other end side of the adjustment ring 41 has a taper shape corresponding to the inclined surface 44 of the tightening member 40, the diameter of which gradually decreases toward the other end side, and a contact as a contact portion where the inclined surface 44 contacts. A surface 49 is provided.

The large-diameter portion 33 is provided such that the adjusting ring 41 is located at least when the extension tube 20 is in the longest state where the use frequency of the extension tube 20 is high. That is, the retaining step 32 of the retaining portion 31 of the inner tube 22 abuts on the end surface of the adjusting ring 41, which is fitted and held in the fastening member 40 screwed to the outer tube 21, on the regulating portion 48 side, and the inner tube 22 The inner peripheral surface of the adjustment ring 41 on the side from which the inner tube 22 advances is positioned so as to ride on the step portion 34 of the large-diameter portion 33 when the advancement is restricted.

Further, the slit 47 of the adjusting ring 41 is located at the thick portion where the outer dimension becomes the largest,
A locking projection 51 is provided on one of the opposite edges of the slit 47 so as to protrude in a tongue shape in the circumferential direction, and a locking recess 52 having a concave shape in the circumferential direction in which the locking projection 51 is inserted on the other edge of the slit 47. Are provided, and the slit 47 is formed in a substantially U-shape. In addition, between the slits 47, a regulating claw 53 projecting from one edge toward the other edge facing the other and narrowing a gap between the slits 47 is located at an edge portion along the circumferential direction of the slit 47 to suppress leakage. Thick part, which is the thick part where the external dimensions to be made are the largest
Like the 55, it protrudes thick.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

At the time of cleaning, the vacuum cleaner body 1 and the hose 10
And the extension pipe 20 and the suction port body 18 are connected to each other. In this state, the pin terminals, which are the electrical contacts of the connector of the connecting tube 12 of the hose 10, come into contact with the electrical contacts of the connector (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner main body 1.

Then, the user sets the extension tube 20 to a predetermined length in accordance with the height, the location to be cleaned, and the like. That is,
For example, when the length is set to be the longest for cleaning the floor surface at the suction opening body 18, the tightening member 40 of the adjusting means 23 is rotated and loosened. By loosening the tightening member 40, the tightening member 40
4, the inclined surface 44 of the tightening member 40 moves away from the contact surface of the adjusting ring 41 of the adjusting means 23, and the adjusting ring 41 is restored by elastic force and slightly expanded in diameter. As shown in (5), the tightening of the adjustment ring 41 to the inner tube 22 is released. Thereafter, the inner tube 22 is advanced and retracted with respect to the outer tube 21 to a predetermined length to adjust the length dimension of the extension tube 20, that is, the inner tube 22 is drawn out to be the longest. And, again, the fastening member 40
Turn to tighten. By this tightening, the tightening member
The inclined surface 44 comes into contact with the contact surface 49 of the adjustment ring 41 with the state where 40 moves to the outer tube 21 side. Further, when the tightening member 40 is tightened, as shown in FIG. 1, the adjusting ring 41 is elastically deformed to a reduced diameter state such that the inner peripheral surface is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 22, and the large diameter portion 33 is The part that gets on the large diameter part 33
The stepped portion 34 is axially warped against elasticity so as to bite into the inner peripheral surface of the adjustment ring 41. The adjusting ring 41 has an end face on the restricting portion 48 side which comes into contact with the retaining step 32 of the retaining portion 31, and the pressing surface 27 of the outer tube 21 has a regulating portion so that the adjusting ring 41 does not ride on the retaining portion 31. The adjusting ring 41 is attached to the outer tube of the tightening member
It does not move with the movement to the 21 side. For this reason,
The adjustment ring 41 is tightened, and the inner peripheral surface is pressed against the inner tube 22 to prevent the inner tube 22 from moving forward and backward with respect to the outer tube 21 to maintain the length.

Thereafter, the user holds the grip tube 13 and places the suction port 18 on the floor to be cleaned, and drives the electric blower in the vacuum cleaner body 1 to drive the suction port. Run 18 on the floor. By driving this electric blower, the suction port 18
Dust sucked from the suction port of the vacuum cleaner is captured by the dust collection chamber of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 via the extension pipe 20 and the hose 10.

Also, a suction position such as a furniture brush or a crane port is connected to the tip of the extension pipe 20 without using the posture and the cleaning place at the time of cleaning, ie, for example, the suction port body 18 for the floor surface. For example, when cleaning a high place such as a curtain rail or a curtain rail, the length of the inner pipe 22 is adjusted by loosening the tightening member 40 described above.
Adjustment is performed by restricting the movement of the inner tube 22 by moving forward and backward and tightening. Further, when the extension tube 20 is stored after the cleaning is completed, similarly, the inner tube 22 is retracted with respect to the outer tube 21 by operating the adjusting means 23 to loosen or tighten the adjustment ring 41 to the inner tube 22. Store as shortest. In addition, this extension pipe 20
The shortest state is a state in which the end of the connection fitting portion 30 of the inner tube 22 is in contact with the distal end side of the adjustment ring 41.

According to the above-described embodiment, the adjustment ring 41 is fitted to and held by the fastening member 40 screwed to the outer tube 21, and the adjustment ring 41 is fitted to the inner tube 22 which can advance and retreat to the outer tube 21. The large diameter part 33 that gets stuck when it gets up by tightening 40
Is provided in the inner pipe 22, for example, when the suction port body 18 connected by pushing and pulling the end of the hose 10 is moved on the floor surface for cleaning, a force is applied by an operation force pressed against the floor surface. Also, the inner tube 22 is prevented from shrinking so as to retreat into the outer tube 21, the length state is securely held even without tightening with a large force, the expansion and contraction work is easy, and the cleaning workability can be improved.

Further, since a plurality of large-diameter portions 33 are provided along the axial direction, even if the length dimension of the extension tube 20 is changed according to the cleaning condition, the length state is maintained at the place where the large-diameter portion 33 is provided. It can be securely held and usability can be improved.

Further, since a tapered portion 35 is formed on the distal end side of the inner tube 22 of the large diameter portion 33, for example, an extension tube
When contracting 20, the adjusting ring 41 smoothly slides on the tapered portion 35 and gets over the large-diameter portion 33, so that the extension tube 20 can be smoothly expanded and contracted.

The large-diameter portion 33 provided on the outer tube 21 side of the inner tube 22 is moved to a position where the adjustment ring 41 overlaps when the inner tube 22 has advanced to the outer tube 21 to the maximum. Since the contact surface 49 is provided at a position where the contact portion 49 is located closer to the outer tube 21 than the step portion 34, for example, in the longest state where the frequency of use at the time of cleaning is the most likely to be applied in the direction of shrinking, Shrinkage can be prevented and cleaning workability can be improved.

Although the canister-type vacuum cleaner has been described in the above embodiment, the same effect can be obtained with any vacuum cleaner such as an upright type.

Also, a plurality of large-diameter portions 33 have been described.
Only one may be provided. In the case where only one is provided, as described above, for example, the stepped portion 34 of the large-diameter portion 33 is located at a position where the adjustment ring 41 overlaps in a state where the inner tube 22 has advanced to the outer tube 21 to the maximum. And the contact surface 49 is the step 34
It is preferable to provide it so as to be located closer to the outer tube 21 side.

Further, the inclined surface 44 of the projection 43 of the fastening member 40
And the contact surface 49 of the adjustment ring 41 is provided with a pair of inclined surfaces on which the adjustment ring 41 is fastened by being brought into contact. However, at least one of the fastening member 40 and the adjustment ring 41 is provided. May have an inclined surface for tightening the adjustment ring 41 by tightening the tightening member 40.

[0039]

According to the extension pipe of the present invention, the adjusting ring is fitted to and held by the tightening member screwed to the outer tube, and the adjusting ring for inserting the inner tube which can be advanced to and retracted from the outer tube. Since the inner pipe has a large-diameter part that is climbed up and caught by tightening, for example, when the suction port body connected by pushing and pulling the end of the hose is run on the floor surface and cleaned,
Even if force is applied by the operating force pressing on the floor surface, the inner tube can be prevented from shrinking so as to recede into the outer tube, and the state of advance of the inner tube to the outer tube can be easily and reliably achieved without tightening with a large force. It can be held and the workability of expansion and contraction can be improved.

According to the extension pipe of the second aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In addition to the effect of the extension tube described, the edge of the large-diameter portion in the direction in which the inner tube advances is formed in a tapered shape. Because it can get over the part, the extension tube can be expanded and contracted smoothly.

According to the extension pipe of the third aspect, the first aspect.
Or, in addition to the effect of the extension pipe described in 2, the large diameter portion is provided in a plurality along the axial direction of the inner pipe, so that the advanced state of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe can be securely held at a plurality of locations, and the length is appropriately adjusted. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the extension pipe according to any one of the first to third aspects is provided so that the advanced state of the inner pipe with respect to the outer pipe can be reliably maintained, The extension tube can be prevented from shrinking, and the cleaning workability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an extension pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the vicinity of an adjustment means in a tightened state is cut away.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the electric vacuum cleaner with a part cut away.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the extension pipe with a part cut away.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in which the vicinity of the adjusting means in a state where the extension pipe is loosened is cut away.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a slit portion of the adjusting ring.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of adjusting means of a conventional extension pipe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vacuum cleaner body 20 Extension tube 21 Outer tube 22 Inner tube 33 Large diameter part 34 Step part 35 Taper part 40 Tightening member 41 Adjustment ring 43 Projection part 49 Contact surface as contact part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outer tube, an inner tube inserted substantially coaxially into the outer tube so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a projecting portion projecting inward on an inner peripheral surface, and is screwed to the outer tube. A substantially cylindrical tightening member having an abutment portion on the outer peripheral surface that abuts the protruding portion is fitted into the inner tube so as to be able to advance and retreat, and is inserted into the tightening member to provide resilience. A substantially cylindrical adjusting ring that is elastically deformable when the protruding portion abuts on the abutting portion; and the outer tube of at least the inner tube is provided integrally with the inner tube to be larger in diameter than the inner tube. A large-diameter portion having a stepped portion on the outer side of the small-diameter inner tube located in the retracting direction to the inner diameter. 2. The extension pipe according to claim 1, wherein the large-diameter portion has a tapered edge on the side in which the inner pipe advances. 3. The extension pipe according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of step portions are provided along an axial direction of the inner pipe. 4. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising: the extension pipe according to claim 1; and a cleaner main body to which the extension pipe is connected.