WO2000064322A1

WO2000064322A1 - A foot controlling device for telescopic pipes of a vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2000064322A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000681
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Mok Ha
Original assignee: Eunsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-04-22
Filing date: 1999-11-12
Publication date: 2000-11-02
Also published as: DE29920704U1; AU1082100A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foot operating (19) device for adjusting conveniently the length of sucking extension pipes by means of proper function resulted reciprocal mechanic force from mutual operation between a cleaner and user when extension pipe is continuously accomplished sliding function for shorting or extending the length thereof after smoothly unlocking a stopper using foot, which is elastically combined with the inside of said length controlling grip (4). A vacuum cleaner having a sliding extension pipe connected between a handle part and a nozzle part is provided a length controlling grip (4) for enabling to adjust its appropriate length by means of inserting and/or withdrawing the outer pipe (3) from the inner pipe (2) using hand, which is combined with a sliding extension pipe (1) consisted of an inner (2) and outer pipe (3), and a foot operating means attached to said length controlling grip for enabling to appropriately adjust the length of extension pipe using foot.

Description

A Foot Controlling Device for Telescopic Pipes of a Vacuum Cleaner

Technical Field The present invention relates to a foot operating device for combining easily with various kinds of conventional length controlling gripes of a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a foot operating device for adjusting conveniently the length of sucking extension pipes by means of proper function resulted reciprocal mechanic force from mutual operation between a cleaner and user when extension pipe is continuously accomplished sliding function for shorting or extending the length thereof after smoothly unlocking a stopper using foot, which is elastically combined with the inside of said length controlling grip.

Background Art

Generally, an extension pipe for sucking dust, which is connected and combined between a nozzle part and a handle part of a vacuum cleaner, has inconvenient constitution for use because of one segment type or an assembling type interlinked. For solving said inconvenient constitution recently, an extension pipe called telescopic sliding type, which is able to appropriately adjust its length by sliding way, is provided a grip and a stopper combined elastically to the inside of the grip. An internal resilient force is acted on the stopper to unlock when appling force to upward and downward direction of axial direction of said extension pipe.

That is, said conventional vacuum cleaner having a controlling gripper for telescopic extension pipes offers convenient means for adjusting the length of an extension pipe by hands. For accomplishing such function to adjust length change, however, user should be pressed a grip or knob portion and appled axial force to the extension pipe simultaneously using hand for holding stopper to be unlocked, and then pushed or pulled an inner pipe or a handle portion griped using the other hand for adjusting length. Further, there is inconvenience that should be bent one's the upper body or raised the upper portion of the extension pipe for unlock the stopper. Furthermore, there is most inconvenience that should be required both of hands for adjusting the length of an extension pipe. So said conventional vacuum cleaner can not perform its function using foot in spite of being convenient of use when a physically handicapped person or person having not one's hands free will use.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the invention that is provided mutual function for properly adapting and combining to various conventional length controlling grip having a stopper combined with elastic force of spring and to adjust its length.

It is an another object of the invention that is provided convenient function for adjusting length change using both of hands and foot.

Present invention is accomplished convenient constitution enabling to easily set into various conventional length controlling grip and smoothly unlock stopper combined with elastically to the inside of said grip in both of upward and downward direction using foot.

As compared with conventional invention, present invention is, also, accomplished advanced convenient constitution enabling continuously length changing process after smoothly unlocking the stopper via reciprocal mechanic force between a cleaner and user when adjusting a length controlling grip using foot.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The above object and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to be attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment for showing assembled state of a foot working plate. FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view for showing operated state of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the another preferred embodiment for showing assembled state of a foot working plate.

FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view for showing operated state of the another preferred embodiment.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

A length controlling grip 4 of a vacuum cleaner, which is formed sliding combination out of an inner pipe 2 combined with a handle part and an outer pipe 3 combined with a floor nozzle, is provided a sliding extension pipe 1 enabling its appropriate length change by means of inserting and/or withdrawing the outer pipe 3 from the inner pipe 2.

The outer pipe 3 of this invention is provided a foot working means, which is combined with the length controlling grip 4, to adjust appropriate length of the sliding extension pipe 1 using foot. Hereinafter, said foot working means for a sliding extension pipe 1 will be explained in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.

A preferred embodiment A foot working frame 15 of this invention is characterized that an extension pipe ring 16, as a connection means, is combined with the length controlling grip 4 shaped on the outer pipe 3 and formed one flesh thereof and thus enabled to operate said foot working frame 15 using both of hands and foot. As described FIG 1 for a perspective view according to a preferred embodiment and FIG. 2 for a cross-sectional view of assembled state of an insertable foot board 1 10 according to the preferred embodiment, the foot working frame is provided an extension ring 16, as connecting means of foot operating extension device, combined with the lower portion side(a floor nozzle direction) of a length controlling grip 4 attached the outer pipe 3 of a sliding extension pipe 1 . Said extension ring 16 is provided circumferential concave groove 17 for inserting and connecting a foot working frame 15. And the upper and lower end edges of said united foot working frame 15, which is combined with said ring 16 and effected on said grip 4, is provided cylindrical grippers 18, 1 1 1 incised circumference for inserting tightly to a round shape.

Said grippers 18, 1 1 1 is made of resin material having self-form restorative force and thus tightly combined by its self-restorative force when inserting a round shape through incised portion of grippers.

Also, the cylindrical upper gripper 18 shaped the upper portion of said foot working frame is combined with the concave groove 17 of the pipe ring 16 along axial direction. Otherwise, the cylindrical lower gripper 1 1 1 shaped the lower portion of said foot working frame is combined with the outer pipe 3.

A body frame 9 shaped body part between the cylindrical upper and lower gripper 18,1 1 1 is resulted frame constitution of cylindrical rind from incision and remove of its rear part. And the lower part of the body frame 9 is provided protruding Part 1 12 to be made one flesh thereof. For consisting of the body frame 9, a foot board 1 10, as a foot shaped working operating means of the sliding extension pipe 1 , is perpendicularly attached on the lower gripper 1 1 1 of said frame as one flesh type or inserted and/or withdrawn type.

Referring to FIG 3 for showing operated state of the preferred embodiment, the process and principal of this invention will explain with the smoothly unlocking process of stopper, which is connected elastically to the inside of the length controlling grip 4 and thus could moved the both of upward and downward direction when using foot. If the foot board 1 10 positioned one's foot will press to downward side direction referred to FIG 3 for extending the length of the extension pipe, additional force to be acted on the lower portion of said foot board 1 10 will occur torque at the center of boundary between the foot board 1 10 and the body frame 9.

Said torque will convert tensile force to be downwardly acted toward the length controlling grip 4 by means of mechanic action of the protruding Part 1 12 shaped the lower portion of the frame and reciprocal action of the pipe ring 16 combined tightly at up and down axial direction, in spite of said torque is intended to separate the foot working frame 15 inserted to the extension pipe. Even if said torque is caused the gripers 18,1 1 1 to occur some amount of twist force, self-form restorative force of said gripers 18, 1 1 1 is caused them to rapidly restore its original shape after sliding.

The controlling grip 4 will interlock and move to downward direction by means of pressing force of the foot board 1 10. This is just acted like pressing the length controlling grip 4 gripped by hand to downward direction. Therefore, the extension pipe will elongate its length by means of withdrawing the outer pipe from the inner pipe.

Again, if the sliding extension pipe 1 will short its length by means of inserting the outer pipe 3 toward the inner pipe 2, the foot board 1 10 positioned one's the instep of a foot will push to upward side direction. Then, additional force of said foot board 1 10 is occurred torque at the central boundary between the foot board 1 10 and the body frame 9. Said torque will convert tensile force to be upwardly acted toward the length controlling grip 4 by means of reciprocal action of the pipe ring 16 and the upper griper 18 connected tightly with the cylindrical body frame 9 attached to the extension pipe 1 with spaced out uniform apart, in spite of said torque is intended to unity the foot working frame 15 inserted the extension pipe.

Even if said torque is caused the gripers 18,1 1 1 to occur some amount of twist force, self-form restorative force of said gripers 18,1 1 1 is caused them to rapidly restore its original shape after sliding. That is, even if said torque to be upwardly and downwardly acted on the foot board is converted counterclockwise or clockwise revolving force against the frame, the gripers 18, 1 1 1 and the lower protruding Part 1 12 of the foot working frame 15, which is combined with the outer pipe 3 and pipe ring 16 are caused said torque to convert tensile force to be upwardly or downwardly acted thereon. Therefore, said tensile forced as external force will unlock the stopper consisted of the length controlling grip 4.

An another preferred embodiment A foot operating device of this invention is characterized that a side cap 26, as a connection means, combined with the length controlling grip 4 shaped on the outer pipe 3 and formed an assembly part and thus enabled to easily operate using both of hands and foot.

As described FIG 4 for a perspective view according to an another preferred embodiment and FIG. 5 for a cross-sectional view of assembled state of a revolving foot board 1 10 according to the another preferred embodiment, the foot operating device is provided a connector 27 formed on the one side edge(a nozzle direction) of the length controlling grip 4 of the outer pipe 3 attaching a nozzle part 25. Said connector 27 is provided a combining hole 29 for combining with the one side edge of an extension rod 28, which is combined with the side cap 26 of the length controlling grip 4.

The front edge of said extension rod 28 is provide a concave groove 210 for tightly inserting to the combining hole 29 of the connector 27 formed on the side cap 26 of the one side edge of the length controlling grip 4. Said extension rod 28 is fixed on the outer pipe 3 by means of a fixing clip 212, which is made of resilient material like resin material.

Said fixing clip 212, which is provided both of one pair of combining pieces 213 at one side edge thereof and hinge pieces 214 at the other side edge thereof, can combine with and fix on the outer pipe 3 by developing combining pieces 213 on the center of hinge pieces 214.

Said fixing clip 212, of course, is provide the inside diameter for closely combining with the outer pipe 3 and the inserting hole 215 for inserting and combining with the extension rod 28. Otherwise, a revolving board 21 1 , which is combined with the upper edge of said extension rod 28, can perform angular motion .

A guide hole 216, which is formed on the one side edge of said revolving board 21 1 , is combined with the extension rod 28 to be axially combined with an axial pin 217 at axial side thereof. So said extension rod 28 can upwardly and downwardly performed angular motion against the center of the axial pin 217.

That is, said extension rod 28 can upwardly and downwardly perform angular motion toward the upper length controlling grip 4 and lower nozzle part 25 against the center of the axial pin 217. And the lower portion of the guide hole 216 of the revolving board 21 1 is provided a fixing pieces 218 for preventing to downwardly perform angular motion and fixing the revolving board 21 1 to be developed about 90 ° to the outside of the outer pipe 3 when the revolving board 21 1 developed is fixed at vertical position (90 °) against the outer pipe 3. And said fixing pieces 218 is provided a combining hole

219 for separating and assembling the end edge of the extension rod

28 to be tightly inserted by means of the axial pin 217 via the guide hole 216. The reference number 220 denotes status of the revolving board 21 1 for inwardly positioning the extension rod 28 when folding said revolving board 21 1 toward the outer pipe 3.

Referring to FIG 6 for operating state of the another preferred embodiment, the process and principal of this invention will explain with the smoothly unlocking process of stopper, which is connected elastically to the inside of the length controlling grip 4 and thus could moved the both of upward and downward direction when using foot.

If the revolving board 21 1 positioned one's foot will press to down side direction referred to FIG 6 for extending the length of the extension pipe, additional force of said revolving board 21 1 will occur torque at the central combining part between the revolving board 21 1 and the extension rod 28.

Said torque will convert tensile force to be downwardly acted toward the length controlling grip 4 by means of mechanic action of the fixing pieces 218 shaped the lower portion of the extension rod

28 and reciprocal action of the fixing clip 212 combined tightly at up and down axial direction, in spite of said torque is intended to separate the extension rod 28 inserted the inserting hole 215 of the fixing clip 212. The controlling grip 4 will interlock and move to downward direction by means of pressing force of the revolving board 21 1 . This is just acted like pressing the length controlling grip 4 gripped by hand to downward direction. Therefore, the extension pipe will elongate its length by withdrawing the outer pipe from the inner pipe. Again, if the sliding extension pipe 1 will short its length by means of insertion of the outer pipe 3 toward the inner pipe 2, the revolving board 1 10 positioned one's the instep of a foot will push to up side direction. Then, additional force to be acted the lower portion of said revolving board 21 1 is occurred torque at the central combining part between the revolving board 21 1 and the extension rod 28.

Said torque will convert tensile force to be upwardly acted toward the length controlling grip 4 by means of the extension pipe 28, which is tightly combined with the combining hole 29 and the inserting hole 215, in spite of said torque is intended to unity the extension pipe 28 inserted to the extension pipe 1 .

That is, even if said torque to be upwardly or downwardly acted on the board is acted counterclockwise or clockwise revolving force, both of mechanic action of the fixing pieces 218 shaped the lower portion of the extension rod 28 and reciprocal action of the fixing clip 212 combined tightly at up and down axial direction are caused said torque to convert tensile force to be upwardly or downwardly acted thereon. Therefore, said tensile forced as external force will unlock the stopper consisted of the length controlling grip 4.

According to said embodiments of this invention, the sliding extension pipe 1 can continuously perform the length controlling function after smoothly unlocking stopper of the length controlling grip 4. Hereinafter, the continuous function of the sliding extension pipe 1 will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments.

When external force is downwardly acted on the board using foot, said external force will convert tensile force and thus relax the stopper of the length controlling grip 4. Otherwise, the excess external force will downwardly act on the extended portion of the outer pipe 3 and keep one's center of gravity toward the downward direction of the extension pipe. However, said one's center of gravity will keep stability on the extension pipe according to sequent reaction by upwardly drawing the inner pipe.

That is, the force for requiring elongation of the inner pipe will change the length of the extension pipe in proportion to external force to be downwardly acted on board. So, said force can smoothly accomplish function for changing length without another force.

On the contrary, if external force is upwardly acted on the lower portion of the board using one's the instep of a foot, .the inner pipe will go to the inside of the extension pipe. The rear portion of the board can easily positioned on the instep of a foot by inclining the extension pipe having a foot operating means toward the floor because the floor nozzle part(sucking portion) of a vacuum cleaner is contacted on the floor and unrestrictedly inclined against the extension pipe.

When external force is upwardly acted on the board of this invention using one's the instep of a foot, said external force will convert tensile force and thus relax the stopper of the length controlling grip 4. Otherwise, the excess external force will upwardly act on the extended portion of the outer pipe and keep one's center of gravity toward the downward direction of the extension pipe. However, said one's center of gravity will keep stability on the extension pipe according to sequent reaction by downwardly inserting the inner pipe. That is, the force for requiring elongation of the inner pipe will change the length of the extension pipe in proportion to external force to be upwardly acted on the board. So, said force can smoothly accomplish function for changing length without another force.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the length controlling means of the present invention can easily adapt to conventional grip, which offers length changing function using hand only, and particularly offer function to appropriately adjust the length change using foot compared with using hand. Therefore, the convenience of the present invention can raise product competition when using a physically handicapped person or person having not one's hands free. Further, the present invention can offer maximal convenience and conformable products to customer's various demand. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A vacuum cleaner having a sliding extension pipe connected between a handle part and a nozzle part, said vacuum cleaner comprising ; a length controlling grip for enabling to adjust its appropriate length by inserting and/or withdrawing the outer pipe 3 from the inner pipe 2 using hand, which is combined with a sliding extension pipe consisted of a inner and outer pipe; a foot operating device attached to said length controlling grip for enabling to appropriately adjust the length of extension pipe using foot.

2. A foot operating device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising ; an extension ring 16 having circumferential concave groove 17 for combining with a length controlling grip 4; a foot working frame 15 combined with said extension ring 16 having a body frame 9 resulted cylindrical rind from incision and remove of its rear parts, which is consisted of a cylindrical upper gripper 18 having incised circumference for inserting to circumferential concave groove 17 and the cylindrical lower gripper 1 1 1 having incised circumference for inserting to the concave groove 17 of the pipe ring; a foot shaped foot board 1 10 attached on the body frame 9 and the tail shaped protruding Part 1 12 extended the lower part thereof, which is resulted one flesh type or assembly type from combination.

3. A sucking pipe of the foot operating device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising ; an extension rod 28 combined with the outer pipe by a fixing clip and then the one side edge of the length controlling grip thereof; a revolving board 21 1 combined with the end edge of the extension rod 28 by an axial pin and thus upwardly and downwardly performed angular motion by axial pin 217; a fixing piece 218 for preventing to fold said revolving board 21 1 toward the lower of nozzle part by contacting on the outside of the outer pipe 3, which is formed on the lower portion of the revolving board 21 1 ; a combining hole 219 for preventing to fold the revolving board 21 1 toward the upper length controlling grip, which is formed on the fixing piece 218 and then separated and combined with the end edge of the extension rod 28 tightly inserted with thereof.