KR20050023320A - Push-lock handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Push-lock handle assembly 10 includes fragments 12, 14, 16 that are mutually coupled by axial movement using D-shaped tabs 40 and recesses 43. Slits and grooves allow the tabs 40 to deform slightly inward while being inserted. According to another form, a handle section 12, at least one rod-shaped section 16, and one auxiliary attachment section 14 are formed. By simple axial movement the parts snap together.

Description

Push-lock handle assembly {PUSH-LOCK HANDLE ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a handle, and more particularly to a handle composed of a plurality of interconnecting parts as handles of mops, rain and other objects.

Mops, rain, paint roller handles, dusters, and other similar devices often have long handles that allow the user to stand upright and work on the floor, thus allowing the user to place the device on a ceiling or high wall. This eliminates the need to use a ladder to stand. Normally the handles are long enough to allow the product to be stored and displayed in a form that is particularly large in size and occupies a relatively large space.

On the other hand, when a consumer purchases a very long device as described above, the device may not be easily mounted in a general grocery cart and may also be difficult to store in the trunk of a small car. In this case, consumers have no choice but to carry the device by hand to the cash register and store it in the vehicle by hand. In addition, consumers may be forced to store and transport the device in the passenger seat space of the vehicle, which may result in the passenger seat space not being used.

Folding handles have been devised to minimize or prevent such problems. For example, telescopic handles with a number of concentric cylindrical sections have been developed, especially for painting or often in devices such as golf ball retrievers. Alternatively, some handles are designed to have foldable sections hinged to one another (see US Pat. No. 5,943,727).

Such structures have rather unstable joints that can be loose (or even detachable), which can be particularly acute when rotational forces are applied to the handle. Such structures also often tend to produce more warpage, particularly in the joint portion, when stress is applied to give the handle a feeling of separation.

Many attempts have been made to solve this problem. For example, US Pat. No. 4,911,573 discloses the use of bayonet to join sections of the handle. Each section has a male end and a female end, each of which engages with the ends of adjacent sections. The male ends have L-shaped grooves and spring members which are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the male end.

The female end has a cylindrical opening, which is formed with a transverse boss, so that the transverse protrusion is seated in the L-shaped groove when the male end is inserted into the female end and twisted into the opening. The protrusion is firmly fixed in the groove because the groove has a decreasing depth. The male end also has a hole in which the spring member of the male end snaps adjacent sections. However, such a structure provides a rigid connection, but its manufacture is somewhat complicated in that it requires a spring member.

Likewise, the ends of the extension rods of the vacuum cleaner are often provided with connectors which can be mutually fastened. In most cases, the extension rod segments have a structure that can be elastically slid and inserted into engagement, and the spring-loaded spherical tabs formed in the male portions of the extension rods snap into the radial holes of the male fragments so that the two members are provisionally coupled to each other. do. The lower end of the lowermost extension is connected to a floor treatment device (eg a brush), the upper end of the uppermost extension is connected to a hose, and the hose may have a handle region. However, it is clear that this type of connection device is not only slightly more expensive to manufacture, but also designed to have a configuration that makes a connection that is not permanent in any case.

Thus, there has conventionally been a need for improved multi-member handles, in particular handles that can be mounted, stored, and sold in the state of multiple pieces, as well as being easily permanently assembled by the consumer.

1 is a perspective view of a mop with a multiple piece handle in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side view of region 2-2 of FIG. 1.

3 is an enlarged partial plan view of region 2-2 of FIG. 1.

4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of region 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded side view showing the position of the parts preceding the axial movement to reach the position of FIG. 3; FIG.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 (without the bar mop).

7 is a top end view of the male connecting end of the central section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, but showing another male connection end. FIG.

The present invention provides a multi-piece handle that allows the parts to be snapped quickly and, after joining, essentially having a strong structure along its length as if it were a single structure. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a handle assembly comprising at least two elongate sections, one of which has a male connection end and the other having a female connection end.

The male connecting end is formed with an inner cavity and a recess, the recess being spaced from and distal from the distal outer edge of the elongated section. The male connecting end has a dimension that can be fitted in the cavity, the male connecting end has a D-shaped spring tab, and the D-shaped spring tab is deformed inward when the male connecting end is inserted into the inner cavity. . The tab and recess may be sized such that when the male connecting end is disposed within the female connecting end and the tab and the recess are aligned with each other, the tab is snapped outward and inserted into the recess so that the two elongated sections It is sized to allow them to be joined together.

In a preferred form, the recess extends from the cavity and extends radially to penetrate the outer wall of the elongate section having the male connection end. The male connecting end has a reduced outer diameter compared to most other elongated sections having a male connecting end, the male connecting end has a hollow structure, and the male connecting end extends to the terminal outer edge of the male connecting end. And a pair of slits extending in the axial direction, wherein the male connection end is formed with the two tabs and the female connection end is formed with the two recesses. Further, preferably, the female connecting end has an axial groove extending from the terminal outer edge of the female connecting end to the recess.

According to another aspect, the D-shaped tab has a curved leading edge and a straight trailing edge, the trailing edge protrudes more radially outwardly than the leading edge, the concave portion has a D shape, and the tab is intermediate It is radially inclined from the point to the trailing edge of the tab, and when the tab is seated in the recess, the tab extends radially less than the thickness of the recess.

According to another aspect of the invention, an elongated handle section having an outer surface and a lower connection end suitable for functioning as a handle; At least one elongate rod-shaped section having an upper connection end and a lower connection end; And an elongated auxiliary equipment attachment section having an upper connector and a lower yoke structure. The lower yoke structure has a plurality of arms for receiving auxiliary equipment.

The upper and lower connecting ends are characterized in that the handle section is snap-fastened to one rod-shaped section by axial relative movement so that a tab formed in one of the sections moves radially outward into the recess of the other section. It has a structure that allows it. The upper and lower connection ends have one rod-shaped section snapped to the auxiliary section by axial relative motion such that a tab formed in one of the sections moves radially outward into the recess of the other section. It has a structure that allows it.

Thus, the parts can be snapped together with a simple axial movement. As a result, and due to the flat sides of the D-shaped tab and the recess, relative rotation between the parts becomes very difficult. In addition, due to the inclined structure of the tab, the direction of the leading edge of the portion having the "D" shaped contour, the slits formed along the male portion, and the axial groove formed along the cavity of the male end, etc., a large force is required to join the sections. This is not required. On the other hand, since the flat side of the D-shaped tab abuts the flat side of the recess when the parts are fastened to each other, it is very difficult to separate the joined sections.

The sections can be molded at a reasonable cost, and if each of the intermediate rod sections are made identical (with one male end and one male end), the rod sections of the middle part are in any order. Can be combined with each other.

These and other advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed description and the drawings.

The present invention provides a multi-segment handle that can be effectively connected to other devices, such as the head of a mop or a paint roller. The handle of the present invention consists of a plurality of, preferably short (less than one foot in length) sections, which sections can be displayed on a conventional horizontal shelf and can be easily carried home by the consumer. It can be packaged and sold as a small package.

1 to 6, the handle has an upper handle section 12, a lower auxiliary section 14 and one or more rod-shaped sections 16. The parts are preferably molded from a suitable rigid plastic.

Preferably, handle section 12 is a molded body having a length of about 10 to 35 cm and a diameter of 5 cm or less. The handle section also outlines the ergonomic gripping portion (eg, finger position). An opening 18 is formed at the top of the handle section 12, and the handle 10 is inserted directly through the opening 18 or indirectly through an appropriate belt (not shown) threaded to the opening 18. Are suspended by hooks, nails and the like. The lower end of the handle section 12 may have a male or male connection end 20. It is important, however, that the corresponding part of the rod-shaped section 16 adjacent to the handle section should have an end of the corresponding shape.

An auxiliary section 14 is formed at the opposite end of the handle 10, to which the auxiliary section 14 attaches various auxiliary equipment, such as a haired head (as in a rain or a brush) and a wet or dry mop head. Can be. The auxiliary section 14 has a yoke 24 formed at its lower end. The yoke portion 24 has two arms 26, each of which extends from or through one side of the upright member 30 (see FIG. 1) of the auxiliary equipment 22, as is conventional. It has a recessed part 28 which can accommodate the hinge pin (not shown). On the opposite side of the yoke portion 24 of the auxiliary section 14 is provided a diameter connecting end 31. Likewise, the diameter connecting end may also be a male or male end, provided that the corresponding portion of the rod-shaped section 16 coupled thereto should have an end of the corresponding shape.

Between the handle section 12 and the auxiliary section 14, one or more interconnected rod-shaped sections 16 are provided. The number of rod-shaped sections 16 depends on the desired length of the handle in its detached state, taking into account the desired length of the handle when the handle 10 is engaged and the size of the product packaging. In the preferred form for FIG. 1, the handle 10 has five identical rod-shaped sections 16. In addition, the entire handle has a typical length of the mop handle.

Each rod-shaped section 16 preferably has a hollow structure and has the same outer diameter over most of its length, but with a reduced diameter at the male connecting end 32. The male connecting end has an inner cavity 33 (see FIG. 7) suitable for receiving a corresponding male connecting end, wherein the corresponding male connecting end has a reduced diameter and is slightly larger than the inner cavity 33. Has

2, 3 and 5, the male connection end 34 has a rising band portion 36 is formed in the transition portion of the outer diameter. The band portion 36 increases the annular strength of the male connection end 34 and thus enables a stronger and integrated connection. The male connection end 34 has two axial slits 38, which are 180 degrees apart from one another and extend from the band portion 36 through the terminal outer edge of the male connection end 34.

The slits 38 allow the male connection end 34 to bend inward, resulting in two spring tabs with protrusions 40 extending radially outward from the male connection end 34. do. The protrusions 40 are 180 degrees apart from each other and 90 degrees from the slits 38, respectively. Importantly, the protrusions 40 basically have a D-shape on its plan view and (preferably) its D-shaped curvature faces the distal periphery, while the long, flat side is close to the band portion 36 and somewhat flat. The sides are formed to cross the central axis.

The protrusions 40 are quite low and even at their thickest parts. The protrusions 40 extend from the flat side to the central point 42 with a first thickness and then inwardly inclined to the distal periphery.

3 and 5, the female connecting end 32 is formed with two D-shaped recesses 44 in communication with the internal cavity 33, the D-shaped recesses 44 being 180 degrees apart from each other. Oriented so as to axially align with the protrusion 40 of the male connection end 34, the flat side is formed so as to be closest to the terminal outer edge of the female connection end (32). As shown in FIG. 7, the female connecting end 32 is formed with two shallow parallel grooves 46 which extend axially from the distal outer edge to the recess 44.

The handle section 12 preferably has a male connecting end 20 having the same shape and dimensions as the male connecting end 34 of the rod-shaped sections 16, and the auxiliary section 14 preferably It has the same female connecting end 31 as the female connecting end 32. Thus, by engaging the male connection end 20 and the female connection end 32 of the handle section 12, the handle section 12 is engaged with the adjacent rod section 16.

The male connecting end 31 of the auxiliary section 14 is engaged with the male connecting end 34 of the adjacent rod-shaped section 14. Three further rod-shaped sections 16 are coupled to each other and at the same time connected to rod-shaped sections 16 coupled to the handle section 12 and the auxiliary section 14.

2 to 5, adjacent sections are joined to each other by inserting the male connection end into the female connection end. The adjacent sections approach each other while the protrusions 40 align with the axial grooves 46. Then, the male connecting end is bent inward until the protrusions 40 reach the recesses 44. At this time, the spring force of the embedded spring causes the protrusions 40 to "snap" radially inward to engage in position. When so joined, the sections are not separated even if they are twisted or pulled in the opposite direction because of the mutual engagement of the flat sides of the respective D-shaped bodies as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Since the protrusions 40 have a height lower than the thickness of the recesses 44, the protrusions 40 form recesses in the recess 44. This, and due to the rigidity of the plastic, makes it difficult to separate the sections by pressing the male end. Thus, the handle is not only strongly connected at the joint, but also once the sections are connected, it is in a substantially permanent connection.

Thus, the above structure provides a handle that is composed of a plurality of small pieces that can be packaged and sold in a small package and at the same time has a rigidity as if it were a single structure after joining the pieces. It should be noted, however, that the fragments may be prepared to be more easily separated from each other.

Another form of male connection end 34A for handle section 12 and rod section 16 is shown in FIG. 8. As in the above embodiment, the male connection end 34A of the present embodiment has a decreasing diameter from the main body of the section, and has a rising band 36A and two D-shaped protrusions 40A spaced 180 degrees apart from each other. do. However, the slits in this embodiment are somewhat different. In particular, two pairs of slits 38A are formed in this embodiment. Each pair of slits extends in the central axis direction about half the length of the end adjacent to both sides of the projections 40A, thus forming cantilevered spring tabs. Using rigid plastics, this embodiment can provide essentially permanent connections as described above. However, the structure confines the deformation to the smaller cantilevered spring tabs, thereby reducing the required deformation force. Thus, the above modified embodiment of the male connection end may be adapted to a configuration that facilitates disassembly of the handle, in particular to a configuration that combines plastic with reduced rigidity and protrusions extending beyond the recesses. have.

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in considerable detail. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations of the embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, although a number of short rod sections have been described as preferred embodiments, an assembly having only one rod section (regardless of length) is possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. To clarify the entire scope of the invention, reference should also be made to the claims which follow.

The present invention provides an improved handle assembly.

Claims (12)

At least two elongate sections, one of the sections having a male connection end and the other having a male connection end, The male connecting end is formed with an inner cavity and a recess, the recess being spaced apart from the distal outer edge of the elongated section and in communication with the inner cavity, the male connecting end having a dimension that can fit within the cavity, The male connecting end has a D-shaped spring tab, and when the male connecting end is inserted into the inner cavity, the D-shaped spring tab is deformed inward, and the size of the tab and the recess is such that the male connecting end is the female shape. A handle assembly arranged in a connection end and said tab and recess are sized such that when the tab and recess are aligned with each other, the tab snaps outward and is inserted into the recess to engage the two elongated sections with each other. . The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess extends from the cavity and extends radially through the outer wall of the elongate section having the male connection end. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the male connection end has a reduced outer diameter compared to most other elongate sections having male connection ends. The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the male connection end has a hollow structure. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the male connecting end comprises a pair of slits extending axially to the distal outer edge of the male connecting end. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the male connection end has two tabs and the female connection end has two recesses. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the female connection end has an axial groove extending from the distal outer edge of the female connection end to the recess. The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the D-shaped tab has a curved leading edge and a straight trailing edge, and the trailing edge protrudes more radially outwardly than the leading edge. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess has a D shape. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is radially inclined from an intermediate point to the trailing edge of the tab. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein when the tab is seated in the recess, the tab extends in a radial direction less than the thickness of the recess. An elongated handle section having an outer surface and a lower connection end suitable for functioning as one handle; At least one elongate rod-shaped section having an upper connection end and a lower connection end; And An elongated auxiliary equipment attachment section having an upper connector and a lower yoke structure, wherein the lower yoke structure includes an elongated auxiliary equipment attachment section having a plurality of arms for receiving the auxiliary equipment, The upper and lower connecting ends are characterized in that the handle section is snap-fastened to one rod-shaped section by axial relative movement so that a tab formed in one of the sections moves radially outward into the recess of the other section. Has a structure to allow; And The upper and lower connection ends have one rod-shaped section snapped to the auxiliary section by axial relative motion such that a tab formed in one of the sections moves radially outward into the recess of the other section. Handle assembly, characterized in that having a structure to enable.