US3179442A

US3179442A - Vacuum cleaner hose

Info

Publication number: US3179442A
Application number: US64922A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustaf E Lofgren
Original assignee: Electrolux Corp
Current assignee: Electrolux Corp
Priority date: 1960-10-25
Filing date: 1960-10-25
Publication date: 1965-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-20

Description

April 20, 1965 G. E. LoFGREN VACUUM CLEANER HOSE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 25. 1960 INVENTOR Gus rnf E. Lofsef/v H15 ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 G. E. LoFGREN 3,179,442

VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Filed 001'.. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Gz/smf E LofGeE/v HIS ATTORNEY April 20, 1965 G. E. I QFGREN 3,179,442

VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Filed Oct. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Gusrnr E. Lof-GEEN HIS ATTORNEY' United States Patent Oiiiee Patented Apr. 20, 1965 3,179,442 e VACUUM CLEANER HSE Gustaf E. Lotgren, Riverside, Conn., assigner to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 25, 1964), Ser. No. 64,922

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-7) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to improvements in suction hose for use with tank or canister type vacuum cleaners. j

Heretofore it has been common practice to connect the oor cleaning tool to the tank or canister by means of a conduit comprising a rigid section, frequently termed a wand, connected at its lower end to the nozzle and a flexible hose between the upper end of the rigid section and the canister or tank. In normal use the rigid or wand section serves as both a suction conduit and a manipulating handle for the nozzle and is usually held at an upward inclination to the floor. Inasmuch as the hose extends downwardly from the upper end of the wand, it has been common practice to provide a bend in a tube permanently connected to the hose and removably connectable to the wand. While this is satisfactory j when the device is used as above described `with a door cleaning tool, thisrigid bent portion` may not be convenient when an upholstery nozzle `or the like is connected directly to the end of the tube inasmuch as the angle may be wrong.

In accordance with the presentinvention the aforementioned rigid bent tube is eliminated and means are `provided for selectively retaining a curve or bend in the `portion of the hose adjacent to the end `thereof which is sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings` which formpart of this specification and of` which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of one embodiment of my invention used with a-.tank type vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is an lenlarged `elevational View of a portion of the device shown in FlG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2,.but with certain parts in different positions; j

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but of a second embodiment of my invention; Y e

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2jof a third embodiment of my invention; i

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a fourth embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational View of the apparatus ehown in FIG. 7,A but with certain parts in different positions;

FIG. 9 ispan elevational .view similar to FIG. 2, of `a fifth embodiment ofmy invention; A i FIG. 10 isa 4perspective View of a complete vacuum cleaner assembly Vincluding the embodiment `shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. l1 nis a viewsirnilar to FIG. 2 of a still further embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. l2 is an elevational view of the uapparatus shown in FIG. l1, but with certain parts in different positions.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, reference character 1 0 designates generally a tank type vacuum cleaner which is provided with a motor-fan unit 12 and a dust bag 14. The vacuum cleaner 1t) includes a front cover 16 to which may be removably secured one end of a llexible resilient hose 18. The opposite end of the hose is provided with a coupling member 20 which is shown in the form of a short straight tube. The end of coupling 20 may be removably inserted in the upper end of a rigid tubular handle 22 which usually comprises two identical sections. The lower end of the handle or wand 22 is connected to an elbow 24 forming part of a iloor cleaning tool or nozzle 26.

In FIG. 1 the parts are shown in the position which they normally occupy when in use. As will be seen, the wand Z2 extends upwardly from the nozzle 26 at an angle to the oor being cleaned, while the hose 18 extends downwardly from the upper end of the wand to the vacuum cleaner itl which is supported on the same floor. This means that there `must be a rather abrupt bend between the upwardly extending wand 22 and the portion of the hose 18 which extends back down to the iloor. As above stated, this curvature has been obtainedheretoore by making the coupling member 20 .considerably longer and in the form of a bent tube.

However, in accordance with the present invention I provide means for selectively retaining a suitable curve or bend in the hose itself.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 there is provided a tension exerting means designated generally by reference character 28 and comprising a pair of rings 3@ and 32 having an inner diameterslightly greater than the outer diameter ofthe hose 1S. Ahexible but non-stretchable member, such as a cord 34 is secured at opposite ends to the rings 30 and 32. AIfthe rings` are no further apart on the hose 18 as measuredV along the surface ofthe hose than the length of the cord 34 the hose may be straight between the rings, as is shown in FIG. 3. However, the rings may be slid further apart along the hose 18 by `bending the portion `of the hose between them. Due to the resiliency ofthe hose the cord 34 will thus be placed under tension and will tilt or cant the rings Sti and 32 so asrto cause them to bind against the hose 18 and thus remain in the positions in which they are placed. This retains a bend or curve in that portion of the hose between the rings 30 and 52 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. When it is desiredl to .permit the hose Vto straighten `out, one of the rings is tilted towards a plane normal to the axis of the hose, thus reducing the frictional engagement which Apermits the ring to be slid `along the hose towards the other ring.

The tension exerting means 28 `shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 may be placed anywhere alongthe length of the hose and hence may be used to retain a bend in any portion of the latter. However, it is usually desirable to have the bend only at `the end of the hose adjacent to the coupling 2Q and in .FIG. 4 there is illustrated an arrangement which ,will accomplish this. As here illustratedone end ofthe cord 34 is connected to .aprojection 36 extending radially from -theecoupling 2t) and hence this end of the cord is permanently fixed -with respect to the hose. The other end of the cord is connected to the ring 32 which may be slid Valong the hose in order to produce `and retain curvature therein, in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. Instead of sliding the ring 32 longitudinally along the hose, it may also be rotated so as to wrap the cord 34 around the hose, as shown irl FIG. 4. This causes the cord to exert tension between the coupling 2t) and the ring 32 which retains curvature in the hose.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 one end, of the cord 34 is secured to a ring 38 which is xed to the hose 18 at a point spaced from the coupling 20. The other end of the cord is secured to a lever 40 which is sa pivotally mounted at 42 on the coupling. Thus, when the lever is pivoted in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. it causes the cord 34 to produce and retain curvature in that portion of the hose between the coupling and the ring 38. On the other hand,

l when the lever is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction so as to extend along the hose toward the ring 33, the distance between the end of the lever 4@ and the ring 38 is no greater than that of the cord 34, and hence the latter exerts no tension tending to bend the hose. As shown in FIG. 6, detents 44 are provided for retaining the lever 40 in the position shown in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 a strap or the like 34 is secured at one end to a ring 38 fixed to the hose 18. The strap is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 45 which may be engaged by a hook 46 carried by a ring fixed to the hose adjacent to the coupling 20. Thus, if the hook 46 is engaged in any but the last hole 45, the elfective length of the strap 34', will be less than the length measured along the hose between the

rings

38 and 48 and therefore will produce and retain curvature in the hose, the amount of the curvature depending upon which hole is engaged by the hook 46. If the hook Lis engaged in the last hole, asillustrated in FIG. 8, the effective length of the strap 34 is equal to the length of the hose between the rings 3S and 48, and hence no curvature is produced in the hose.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 a flexible sleeve 5@ of plastic or the like is placed around the portion of the hose 18 which is adjacent to the coupling 20. A flexible but non-stretchable tension exerting member 34" is connected to the endrof the tube Stiv/hich is adjacent to coupling 20 and may be molded in one piece withthe tube. The opposite end of the tube is provided with a plurality of notches 52 which are spaced longitudinally 'along and at increasing radial distances from the hose. A ring 54 is secured to the end of member 34" and encircles the sleeve 50 so that it may be engaged within any of the notches 52. 'I'he parts are so proportioned that when the ring 54 engages the last notch 52, as shown in FIG. 9, it imposes and retains curvature in the tube S0 and in the portion of the hose 18 whichfextends within the tube. The degree of curvature may be varied by engaging the ring 54 in different notches and the ring may be disengaged from all of the notches if it is desired to have the hose extend straight.

A foot 56 may extend in a generally radial direction from the end of sleeve adjacent to coupling 20 for the purpose of providing a support for holding the wand and hose in an upright position. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the lower end of foot 56 may be placed on any convenient surface, such as the top of table 58 for the purpose of holding the wand and hose. It is convenient to rest the parts in this manner when the operator is temporarily called away, thus making it unnecessary to stoop down and pick them up when resuming cleaning.

v turnbuckle.

to rigid nature of the tube 60, this curvature is made up of two curved portions, one between the coupling 2% and one end of the tube 60 and the other between the collar 66 and the other end of the tube. It the turnbuckle is turned in the opposite direction it increases the effective length of the rods '72 and 74 so that the hose may extend straight, as is shown in FIG. 12.

In this embodiment, inasmuch as the

rods

72 and 74 and the turnbuckle 76 constitute a substantially rigid structure, the latter will prevent any change in curvature of the hose, except that caused by turning of the In other words, with the parts in the position shown in FIG. l2, the portion of the hose between the coupling 2@ and the collar 66 is retained straight. In the other embodiments, on the other hand, the hose can always assume a curvature greater than that imposed by the tension exerting means; However, dueto the resiliency of the hose, it always tends to straighten itself out, and therefore the tension exerting means, working against this tendency, retains curvature in the hose.

It will thus be seen that in all of the embodiments a tension exerting means is provided for retaining curvaturein a desired portion of the resilient hose, thus doing away with the necessity of a separaterigid bent tube and making it possible to have the entire hose straight when this is desired. k

While I have shown several embodiments of my invention it is to be understood ythat this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that its scope is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

l. In a vacuum cleaner conduit, a resilient hose, a coupling member secured to said hose, a flexible sleeve surrounding a portion of said hose adjacent to said coupling, an elongated tension exerting member secured at one end to one end of said sleeve, the other end of said sleeve being formed with a plurality `of notches spaced lengthwise ofthe hose, and means on the other end of said tension member selectively engageable with said notches for retaining curvature in said sleeve and in the portion of the hose within the sleeve.

2. In a vacuum cleaner conduit, Ya resilient hose, a coupling member secured to said hose, a flexible sleeve surrounding a portion of said hose adjacent to said coupling, an elongated tension exerting mem-ber secured at one end to one end of said. sleeve, a supportingmember secured to said one end of said sleeve and extending therefrom in. a generally radial direction for retaining said hose on a supporting surface, the other end of said sleeve being formed with a pluralityk of notches spaced lengthwise of thel hose, and means on the other end of said tension member selectively engageable with said notches for retaining curvature in saidl sleeve and in the portion of the hose within the sleeve.

In the embodimtnts illustrated inFIGS ll and 12 a rigid tube 60 surrounds the portion ofthe hose 18 adjacent Y to the coupling 20. One end of the tube 60 is pivotally connected at 62 to the coupling 20, while the other end of the tube is pivotally connected at 64 to collar 66 which surrounds the hose 18 but may slide axially with respect thereto. The coupling 20 is provided with an arm 68 extending radially therefrom while the collar- 66 is provided with a 4similar arm 70, both of these arms extend radially yfrom the same side of the hose. A pair of

rods

72 and 74 coupled by means of a turnbuckle 76 are connected between the arms 68 and '70. Thus, turning the turnbuckle 76 in one direction draws the

arms

68 and 70 towards each other, as shown in FIG. 11, so as to produce and retain curvature'in the hose `between the coupling 20 and the collar 66. n Actually, due

References lCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. HUNTER C. BOURNE, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A VACUUM CLEANER CONDUIT, A RESILIENT HOSE, A COUPLING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID HOSE, A FLEXIBLE SLEEVE SURROUNDING A PORTION OF SAID HOSE ADJACENT TO SAID COUPLING, AN ELONGATED TENSION EXERTING MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END TO ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE, THE OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES SPACED LENGTHWISE OF THE HOSE, AND MEANS ON THE OTHER END OF SAID TENSION MEMBER SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID NOTCHES FOR RETAINING CURVATURE IN SAID SLEEVE AND IN THE PORTION OF THE HOSE WITHIN THE SLEEVE.