TW201722334A - Device for connection of electric coupling elements offering an improved functionality for connecting electrical coupling elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of a cleaning device (2), an electric cable (4) and a device (1) for connecting an electrical coupling element (5) of the electric cable (4) to an electrical coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2), wherein the electric cable (4) may be directed to the electrical coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2) in the guide tube (3) of the cleaning device (2), and wherein the guide tube (3) has a recess (8) which is arranged from outside the guide tube (3) to permit access to the electrical coupling element (5) of the electric cable (4). In order to provide an alternative combination, which in particular offers an improved functionality, it is proposed that the device (1) can be arranged at least partially around the guide tube (3) on the guide tube (3), wherein the device (1) comprises a device nose (10), which is at least partially engageable in the recess (8) for the displacement effect on the electrical coupling element (5) of the electric cable (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a device (1) for connecting an electrical coupling element (5) of an electric cable (4) to an electrical coupling element (6) of a cleaning device (2) as well as a corresponding method.

Description

Device for connecting electrical coupling elements

The invention relates to a cleaning device, a cable and a combination of means for connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the cable can be directed to the cleaning device in a control tube of the cleaning device An electrically coupled component, wherein the steering tube has a gap that allows operation of the electrical coupling element of the cable from outside the steering tube.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the electrical coupling element of the cable is directed inside the control tube of the cleaning device to the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device, It is connected to the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device.

The cleaning device referred to in the present invention is, for example, a vacuum cleaner or a wet wipe device. In particular, the present invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner wherein the cleaning device has a steering tube with a handle for the user to manipulate the cleaning device. The steering tube can be telescopically designed so that the user can adjust the control tube to an advantageous length. The cleaning device is typically attached with an attachment during use, which may for example be an electric brush or the like.

In order to connect the cleaning device to the power connector, it is customary to pass the cable through the control tube and to the cleaning device, which is usually provided with a fan or other electrical device. Area. In order to pass the electrical coupling element of the cable or cable into the control tube, in the prior art, the electrical coupling element has a device integrally formed with the electrical coupling element, the device extending outward through the gap of the control tube, And forming an operation portion for the user of the cleaning device to operate.

Based on this, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative combination of a cleaning device, a cable and a device for connecting the electrical coupling element of the cable to the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device, such a combination in particular to provide an improved function.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention first proposes a cleaning device, a cable and a combination of means for connecting the electrical coupling element of the cable to the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device, wherein the cable can be cited in the control tube of the cleaning device An electrical coupling element to the cleaning device, wherein the control tube has a recess allowing operation of the electrical coupling element of the cable from outside the steering tube, and wherein the device can be placed in control in a manner that at least partially surrounds the steering tube On the tube, wherein the device has a device stud that can be at least partially embedded in the gap to impart an action to the electrical coupling element of the cable.

According to the invention, the device for connecting the electrical coupling element is not a component of the electrical coupling element of the cable, but a separately constructed tool that abuts against the control tube from the outside and induces electrical coupling of the cable through the gap. The movement of components. According to the invention, the device can be placed externally on the actuating tube, wherein the device can at least partially enclose the actuating tube as a buckle and is clamped or sleeved on the actuating tube. This device can for example be made of a flexural elastic material, in particular of a thermoplastic plastic, so that the device will fork and bite the control tube when pressed against the control tube. The flexible design of the device also provides over-clamping protection because of the excessively continuous application of electrical coupling elements to the cable. In the case of a piece, the device can be extended over the fully connected position of the two electrical coupling elements to prevent damage to the electrical coupling element and/or the cleaning device.

The invention further provides that the electrical coupling element of the cable has coupling studs for generating a function of inducing movement by means of the device studs. Thereby, the electrical coupling elements of the cable and the device correspond to each other such that when the device abuts against the steering tube of the cleaning device, the device studs of the device can act on the coupling studs of the electrical coupling elements of the cable. In this way, the electrical coupling element of the cable can be moved inside the control tube in the direction of the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device. In the foregoing, it has been proposed to construct the device stud as a projection of the abutment surface. Similarly, the coupling stud of the electrical coupling element of the cable can also be constructed as a projection. When the device moves inside the steering tube, the two projections come into contact, thereby realizing movement by the device.

Furthermore, the cable of the electrical coupling element of the cable can be connected between the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device and the coupling stud, with the cable being guided in the actuating tube, for engagement with the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device. Components, especially snap springs. The snap-fit elements of the electrical coupling elements of the cable are used to engage the corresponding electrical coupling elements of the cleaning device. When the two electrical coupling elements continue to approach, the snap-fit elements of the electrical coupling elements of the cable move into the electrical coupling elements of the cleaning device and are snap-fitted there. The snap-in of the snap-in component allows the user of the device to obtain an audible and/or tactile signal that the two electrical coupling components have successfully established a connection. The snap element is preferably constructed as a snap spring (eg, a leaf spring). The flexural elastic design of the snap element can be achieved, for example, by the use of a flexural elastic material such as a metal or thermoplastic elastomer. When the electrical coupling element of the cable moves in the direction of the electrically coupled element of the cleaning device inside the steering tube, the snap element is positioned before the coupling stud. Wherein, the device stud of the device catches the side of the coupling post facing away from the engaging component, and continues to move the electrical coupling component of the cable until the engaging component is embedded in the cleaning device Electrically coupled components up to now. Wherein, the engaging element and the coupling stud are preferably two separate elements, so that the required flexibility of the engaging element does not affect the mechanical stability of the coupling stud at the same time, and vice versa.

The coupling studs and/or the snap elements can be at least partially embedded in the gap of the actuating tube. When the coupling stud is at least partially embedded in the gap, the coupling stud and the device stud form an optimal overlap in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the steering tube, such that the force for moving the electrical coupling element of the cable can act On the largest possible area. At the same time, the coupling studs and the device studs are prevented from passing each other without contact. In addition, the coupling protrusion and/or the engaging element can be inserted into the gap to define the orientation of the electrical coupling element of the cable, that is, the electrical coupling element of the cable can only be introduced into the control tube of the cleaning device in a specific orientation. . In addition, the embedding of the gap has the function of guiding the electrical coupling element of the cable, so that the inclination of the electro-coupling element inside the steering tube can be more reliably prevented.

Advantageously, the electrical coupling element of the cable is between the coupling stud and the snap element and has an embedding region into which the stud of the device is embedded. The embedding region between the coupling stud and the engaging component is used to accommodate the device stud after the device stud passes over the coupling stud. When the device studs continue to apply force to the coupling studs and thus continue to apply force to the electrical coupling elements of the cable, the electrical coupling elements of the cable are continuously moved toward the electrical coupling elements of the cleaning device until the engaging members finally engage Clean the inside of the electrical coupling element of the device. When the device stud is further applied to the coupling stud on this basis, the device stud can be integrated into the embedding region beyond the coupling stud. This produces a signal that can be perceived by the user through tactile and/or audible perception, and the user obtains information that the electrical coupling element has reached the engaged state. However, if the user does not stop applying force to the electrical coupling component of the cable, the device stud is brought into contact with the engaging component, and the device expands due to the expansion of the periphery of the electrical coupling component of the cable, and finally the self-electrical coupling component, or Slip off the control tube of the self-cleaning device. Thereby achieving effective Excessive snap protection to prevent damage to the electrical coupling element and/or cleaning device and/or the device.

Preferably, the cable, which is guided in the actuating tube, has a slope which rises in the direction of the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device on the side facing away from the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device. This ramp allows the device stud to more easily pass over the coupling stud. When the electrical coupling element of the cable is continuously moved by this device (and the frictional resistance is thus increased), the device stud is moved along the rising ramp on the steering tube as the device expands until the coupling stud is finally The device posts are advantageously embedded in the embedding region between the coupling stud and the engaging element. Since the ramp is advantageously formed only on one side of the coupling stud that faces away from the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device, the device stud cannot pass over the coupling stud in reverse. If it is necessary to separate the electrical coupling elements of the cable and the cleaning device from each other in the future, the separation of the coupling elements can be achieved by the reverse movement of the device studs.

Furthermore, the invention proposes a device for connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the device is G-shaped in cross section, and wherein the first end region of the G-shape There is a device-oriented projecting stud, and wherein the second end region has an outwardly directed, in particular straight, extension.

The device stud is formed on the inwardly facing abutment surface of the device, so that according to the invention, the device can extend into the control tube through the gap and initiate movement of the electrical coupling element of the cable there. It is recommended that the contact surface of the device be placed as close as possible to the actuating tube of the cleaning device, for example to prevent tilting of the device relative to the actuating tube. If the steering tube has, for example, a circular cross section, the device should also have a circular cross section and a corresponding diameter. If the control tube has a rectangular cross section, the device should also have a corresponding rectangular cross section. By making the device correspond to the shape of the steering tube, the following situation can be achieved simultaneously, that is, in the case that the device is placed against the control tube, the device stud does not need the user to enter One step of assistance can be embedded in the gap of the control tube. This is especially the case if the device is designed to correspond to the steering tube so that the device can only form a single orientation on the steering tube. This can be achieved particularly easily by the fact that the actuating tube and the device are of an asymmetrical design such that the actuating tube only allows the device to form a possible orientation. Alternatively, the user can visually identify which side of the steering tube the gap is formed in, and thus how the device studs of the device should be oriented.

The G-curved abutment surface of the device allows the device to be rotated about the steering tube to correct for possible angular misalignment between the void and the device stud. Therefore, the user does not have to pay special attention to whether the device stud is embedded in the gap of the control tube from the beginning when the device is mounted to the control tube. The device has a circumferential opening in the form of a G-shaped profile, allowing the device to be clamped to the steering tube. In addition, the device has a resilient snap that at least partially encloses the steering tube while having flexural elasticity. In particular, the abutment surface of the device can also have two protrusions which are arranged opposite each other along the circumference, and the protrusions are respectively embedded in the gaps which are erected on the control tube. In this way, when the device stud is to be inserted into the gap, it is not necessary to maintain the specific orientation of the device on the steering tube. Specifically, the device can also be mirror mounted in reverse on the steering tube. This is especially true where the cross-sectional shape is not circular but rather elliptical or similar.

The invention further proposes that the device is made of an elastically deformable material, in particular a plastic. Plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene are particularly suitable. In addition, the device can be made of metal or composite material.

The invention further proposes that, in cross-section, the device has a widest diameter of 30 mm to 60 mm, in particular 40 mm, and a minimum diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, in particular 20 mm, and its length perpendicular to its cross-section is 10 mm to 60 mm. Especially 30mm. The above dimensions are used to place the device from the outside Clean the optimal size of the device's steering tube and provide the user with sufficient surface for the device to place. The above profile is about all open faces, which are perpendicular to a viewing direction in which the G-shape can be recognized. This section is equivalent to the end face of the G shape.

In order to facilitate the user's operation of the device, the device may further have an operating portion directed towards the outside, in particular an edge arranged transversely to the direction of movement. As such, the user beneficially has an active component along the entire perimeter of the device to initiate movement of the electrical coupling elements of the cable. Thereby, the force can be better introduced into the device and the force is better applied to the electrical coupling element.

Finally, the invention also proposes a method of connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the electrical coupling element of the cable is guided inside the control tube of the cleaning device toward the electrical coupling element of the cleaning device. And connected to the electrical coupling element, wherein the means for moving the electrical coupling element of the cable is externally mounted to the steering tube such that the device at least partially encloses the steering tube and the device is convex The post is at least partially embedded in the gap of the actuating tube and acts on the coupling stud of the electrical coupling element of the cable such that the electrical coupling element of the cable moves towards the electrically coupled element of the cleaning device. The advantages of the method of the invention can be derived in conjunction with the above description of the device and the combination of the cleaning device and the device.

The invention is explained in detail below in conjunction with the examples.

1‧‧‧(connection) device

2‧‧‧Cleaning equipment

3‧‧‧Control tube

4‧‧‧ cable

5‧‧‧(cable) electrical coupling element

6‧‧‧(cleaning equipment) electrical coupling elements

7‧‧‧ (manipulation tube) vertical axis

8‧‧‧ (manipulation tube) gap

9‧‧‧Coupled column

10‧‧‧ device stud

11‧‧‧Snap surface

12‧‧‧Clamping components

13‧‧‧Embedded area

14‧‧‧(coupling stud) slope

15‧‧‧Operation Department

16‧‧‧Handles

17‧‧‧ switch

18‧‧‧Shell

19‧‧‧(case) chamber

20‧‧‧Fan

21‧‧‧Tube coupling

22‧‧‧ (connecting device / G-shaped) first end zone

23‧‧‧ (connecting device / G-shaped) second end zone

24‧‧‧ (second end zone) extension

25‧‧‧Additional; nozzle

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of the cleaning device; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning device; Figure 3 is a perspective perspective view of the device of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device; Figure 5 is a first view of the electrical coupling component of the cable; Figure 6 is a second view of the electrical coupling component; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the electrical coupling component of the cleaning device; A perspective perspective view of a cleaning device for a partially introduced cable; FIG. 9 is a perspective perspective view of a cleaning device having a partially introduced cable and a device attached to the cable; FIG. 10 is a cleaning device as shown in FIG. A partial enlarged view of the device area.

1 and 2 show different views of the cleaning device 2, which is here constructed as a hand-held household vacuum cleaner. The cleaning device 2 has a telescopic steering tube 3 with a handle 16 provided at the end. A switch 17 that can be operated by a thumb is provided in the handle 16. The cable 4 is guided in the handle 16 and the actuating tube 3 and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 7 of the actuating tube 3 to the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2. The electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2 is here constructed as a plug. Corresponding to this, the cable 4 has an electrical coupling element 5 which is constructed here as a socket.

The cleaning device 2 has a housing 18 and a fan 20 with a chamber 19 for receiving a filter. Furthermore, the housing 18 has a tube coupling 21, not shown, which can be connected to the suction nozzle 25 of the cleaning device 2, which can be separated from the cleaning device 2. The nozzle can be, for example, a suction/brushing nozzle whose brush can be rotated by a separate drive. The actuating tube 3 of the cleaning device has a recess 8 which allows the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 guided in the actuating tube 3 to be operated. In Figures 1 and 2, the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 and the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2 are connected to each other (plugged together).

3 and 4 show different views of the device 1 for connecting the electrical coupling elements 5, 6. Viewed in cross section, the device 1 is generally G-shaped, wherein the first end region 22 of the G-shape has a device stud 10 formed on the inwardly directed abutment surface 11. The second end region 23 of the G-shape has an extension 24 that is typically convex for the G-shape and that projects straight from the remaining curved guide. This extension is used as an active element when the device 1 is mounted or separated from the steering tube 3. The device 1 has an operating portion 15 on its outwardly oriented side for the user's hand to act. When the device 1 is in a state of abutment against the actuating tube 3, the operating portion 15 forms an edge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 7 of the actuating tube 3, which edge acts as a support when the user's hand applies a force. The device 1 is composed of a flexible elastic material, which is composed of a thermoplastic plastic, so that the device 1 is expandable, and the end regions of the G-shape can be separated from each other.

Figures 5 and 6 show the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 in two perpendicular views. The electrical coupling element 5 has a coupling stud 9 constructed as a projection and a flexing resilient snap element 12. An embedding region 13 is formed between the coupling stud 9 and the engaging element 12 for receiving the device stud 10 of the device 1 during installation. The coupling stud 9 has a ramp 14 that rises in the direction of the snap element 12 on the side facing away from the snap element 12 .

FIG. 7 shows the section of the housing 18 of the cleaning device 2 facing the actuating tube 3. As previously mentioned, the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2 is constructed as a plug whose contact points towards the control tube 3 and thus also to the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4. Of course, the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2 can also be constructed as a socket, while the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 can be constructed as a plug.

8 and 9 show the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 in two different positions inside the control tube 3 of the cleaning device 2. In Fig. 8, the electrical coupling element 5 is located in the transition zone between the steering tube 3 and the handle 16. In Figure 9, the electrical coupling element 5 is in one The position of the housing 18 of the cleaning device 2 is approached. The device 1 is placed on the steering tube 3 to act on the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4. By means of the device 1, the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 can be guided further towards the housing 18 of the cleaning device 2.

The mode of operation of the invention when connecting the electrical coupling elements 5, 6 by means of the device 1 will be explained in more detail below.

First, the user of the cleaning device 2 introduces the cable 4 into the handle 16 of the cleaning device 2 and the steering tube 3 in a manner that the electrical coupling element 5 is in the front. Since the electrical coupling element 5 has the shape shown in FIG. 6, the electrical coupling element 5 can only form an orientation inside the handle 16 and the steering tube 3. The predetermined orientation of the electric coupling element 5 inside the actuating tube 3 causes the coupling stud 9 and the engaging element 12 to automatically enter the region of the gap 8 of the actuating tube 3, so that both can be seen through the gap 8, or Can be touched by the device 1. The user first moves the cable 4 inside the steering tube 3 by continuing to insert the cable 4 into the handle 16 (re-guidance). Once the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 enters the area of the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2, the user 固定 secures the device 1 to the steering tube 3. To this end, the user presses the device 1 against the steering tube 3 by the opposite sides of its G-shape, so that the device 1 expands based on its flexural elasticity, and the device 1 at least partially encloses the steering tube 3 . In the meantime, the user rotates the device 1 about the longitudinal axis 7 of the control tube 3 as appropriate until the device stud 10 is inserted into the gap 8 of the control tube 3. However, since the section of the actuating tube 3 is substantially elliptical here, the device 1 is automatically adjusted accordingly, so that the user only has to pay attention to the following when placing the device 1 on the actuating tube 3, ie the user will The device 1 is moved towards the gap 8 of the control tube 3 with the open side.

The user then moves the device 1 on the actuating tube 3 in the direction of the housing 18 of the cleaning device 2, that is to say in the direction of the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2. Thereby, the coupling of the device stud 10 of the device 1 against the coupling of the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 is thereby achieved. The studs 9 cause the movement of the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4. When the device 1 continues to move towards the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2, the device stud 10 moves along the ramp 14 of the coupling stud 9 with the device 1 disengaged. At the same time, the snap-in element 12 of the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 is embedded in the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2. This produces a click sound that can be perceived by the user. The device stud 10 is inserted over the coupling stud 9 and the device stud 10 is embedded in the embedding region 13 of the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4, and such actuation is also perceptible by the user.

If the user passes over the engagement position of the electrical coupling elements 5, 6 and applies force to the device 1 in the direction of the electrical coupling element 6 of the cleaning device 2, the device 1 is again peeled off and slides from the embedding region 13 to the engagement. Above element 12, and slipping off the steering tube 3.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with a hand held vacuum cleaner, the invention is also applicable to other cleaning devices 2, such as wet wipe devices or the like. In addition, the control tube 3 does not have to be provided on the housing 18 of the cleaning device 2 in a retractable manner. In principle, the invention is also not limited to hand-held vacuum cleaners. Rather, the device 1 can likewise be used to connect the electrical coupling element 5 of the cable 4 to the housing 18 which is separated from the attachment by means of a suction hose.

1‧‧‧(connection) device

2‧‧‧Cleaning equipment

3‧‧‧Control tube

4‧‧‧ cable

5‧‧‧(cable) electrical coupling element

7‧‧‧ (manipulation tube) vertical axis

8‧‧‧ (manipulation tube) gap

15‧‧‧Operation Department

16‧‧‧Handles

17‧‧‧ switch

18‧‧‧Shell

21‧‧‧Tube coupling

25‧‧‧Additional; nozzle

Claims (10)

A cleaning device, a cable and a combination of means for connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the cable (4) is in the control tube (3) of the cleaning device (2) An electrical coupling element (6) leading to the cleaning device (2), wherein the steering tube (3) has a gap (8) allowing electrical coupling to the cable (4) from outside the control tube (3) The component (5) is operated, characterized in that the device (1) can be placed on the control tube (3) in such a way as to at least partially enclose the control tube (3), wherein the device (1) has A device stud (10) can be at least partially embedded in the gap (8) to apply an action to the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4). The combination of claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) has a coupling stud (9) for generating a function of inducing movement by the device stud (10). In the combination of claim 2, wherein the cable (4) guided in the steering tube (3) is viewed, the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) is in the cleaning device (2) Between the electrical coupling element (6) and the coupling stud (9), there is a snap element (12) for engaging with the electrical coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2), in particular a snap spring. A combination of claim 2 or 3, wherein the coupling stud (9) and/or the snap element (12) can be at least partially embedded in the gap (8) of the steering tube (3). A combination of claim 3 or 4, wherein the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) is between the coupling stud (9) and the engaging element (12) for the device stud (10) ) embedded embedding area (13). The combination of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the coupling stud (9) is facing away from the cleaning device (4) with the cable (4) guided in the steering tube (3) One side of the electrical coupling element (6) has a direction towards the electrical coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2) Rise the slope (14). A device for connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, characterized in that the device (1) is G-shaped in cross section, wherein the first end region of the G-shape ( 22) has a device-oriented stud (10), and wherein the second end region (23) has an outwardly directed, in particular straight, extension (24). The device of claim 7, wherein the device (1) is made of an elastically deformable material, in particular made of plastic. The device of claim 7 or 8, wherein the device (1) has a widest diameter of 30 mm to 60 mm, in particular 40 mm, and a minimum diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, in particular 20 mm, in cross section, and vertical The length of the section is from 10 mm to 60 mm, in particular 30 mm. A method of connecting an electrical coupling element of a cable to an electrical coupling element of a cleaning device, wherein the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) is directed inside the control tube (3) of the cleaning device (2) The electrical coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2) is guided and connected to the electrical coupling element, characterized in that the device (1) for moving the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) Disposed from the outside onto the actuating tube (3) such that the device (1) at least partially encloses the steering tube (3) and the device stud (10) of the device (1) is at least partially embedded The control tube (3) has a gap (8) and acts on the coupling stud (9) of the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) such that the electrical coupling element (5) of the cable (4) faces The electric coupling element (6) of the cleaning device (2) moves in the direction.