Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
  • A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
  • A47L9/244—Hose or pipe couplings for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a three part telescopic tube.
• Telescopic tubes to be able to adjust the length of a vacuum cleaner tube.
• One advantage with telescopic vacuum cleaner tubes is to be able to optimize the tube length for a specific cleaning task or for the length of a person that is using the vacuum cleaner.
• Telescopic tubes also provide the benefit of minimizing the length of the tube when not in use, thus facilitated storage is provided.
• the basic concept of telescopic tubes is to have an inner tube that is movably arranged within an outer tube.
• the tubes are further provided with a locking member, for instance a simple form of recess and engagement means that is released by means of a control mechanism, for instance by pressing down a release button, while the user pushes or pulls out the movable tube with respect to the outer tube.
• Telescopic tubes comprising three tubes joined with two telescopic links in the same unit are available on the market today. With two telescopic links a telescopic tube, which can be minimized in respect to its maximum length, i.e. when the two movable tubes are fully protracted, is obtained.
• the two telescopic links are controlled by two separate control mechanisms, each controlling one individual telescopic link.
• a problem with this known three-part telescopic tube is that the adjusting the length of the tube by operating the telescopic links can be experienced as troublesome.
• a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner comprising a first inner tube, a second inner tube, and an outer tube.
• the first and second inner tubes are slidably arranged inside the outer tube and the first and second inner tubes are lockable relative the outer tube.
• the first inner tube is arranged relative to a first end portion of the outer tube to form a first telescopic link with the outer tube such that the first inner tube is protractible from the first end portion.
• the second inner tube is arranged relative to a second end portion of the outer tube to form a second telescopic link with the outer tube such that the second inner tube is protractible from the second end portion.
• a three-part telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner where the outer tube encompasses two inner tubes that each are arranged to form a telescopic link at a respective end of the outer tube.
• the outer tube forms the intermediate tube of the three-part tube while it at the same time is fully accessible in any position: fully protracted position, fully retracted position or any intermediate position in between these positions.
• both tubes are easily accessible at their respected end at all times, wherein the total length of the tube is easily adjustable.
• the first inner tube and the first end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a first releasable locking member
• the second inner tube and the second end portion of the outer tube is arranged with a second releasable locking member. Due to the releasable locking members, the tubes can be securable locked relative each other in a locking position of the locking members and easily movable relative each other in a released position of the locking member.
• control mechanism is arranged to control the first and second locking members simultaneously.
• This example embodiment of the invention provides a telescopic three part tube, which has two telescopic links that are controlled with only one control mechanism that is arranged to control the first and second locking members simultaneously.
• the telescopic tube is thereby allowed to be operated from retracted to protracted position by a one grip operation, which considerably simplifies the length adjustment of the telescopic tube.
• Using one control mechanism further simplifies the construction complexity compared with the art, i.e. fewer parts can be used, and thus the manufacturing costs of the tube can be decreased.
• the control mechanism comprises an interconnecting part between the first locking member and the second locking member, which is favourable for allowing simultaneous control of the first and second locking member.
• the interconnecting part is at least a part of a cylinder shell surface encompassing the outer tube. Since the outer tube is accessible in all position it allows for a common grip when protracting and/or retracting the first and second telescopic links.
• the interconnecting part may be an integrated part of the outer tube.
• the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to be released when receiving a longitudinally directed force in excess of a predefined threshold force.
• the operation of the telescopic tube is user friendly. The user only has to grab the outer tube with one hand and push or pull the inner tubes with the other hand to change the inner tube positions.
• the control mechanism includes a releasable locking device, for releasing the first and second locking members allowing the repositioning of the inner tubes to a required position.
• the locking device locks the telescopic tube in the new position.
• the outer tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube and the second inner tube, and the second inner tube has a larger diameter than the first inner tube.
• the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is continuously adjustable, thus making it possible for the user to make a precise adjustment of the length to fit to his or her own height or to some other required criteria, like for instance required radial range of the vacuum cleaner tube.
• the position of the inner tubes relative to the outer tube is stepwise adjustable, allowing fixed preferred positions of the telescopic tube.
• At least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner nozzle.
• the first inner tube has a smaller diameter than the second inner tube
• placing the first inner tube with the smallest diameter closest to the vacuum cleaner nozzle is favourable to the weight distribution of the vacuum cleaner tube, and makes the telescopic tube easier to manoeuvre for the user.
• the telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner at least one of the first and second inner tubes are connectable to a vacuum cleaner housing or a flexible tube.
• the telescopic tube is advantageously connected directly to the vacuum cleaner housing or to a flexible tube depending on the type of vacuum cleaner.
• one end of the telescopic tube is preferably placed directly on the vacuum cleaner housing while the other end is provided with a handle, while on a canister model the telescopic tube is used as the vacuuming tube and is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle in one end and to a flexible tube in the other end.
• the telescopic tube is used as a vacuuming tube and is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle at one end, and to the vacuum cleaner housing at the other end, see Figure 5.
• Fig. 1 shows schematic drawings of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention: a) in fully protracted position, b) in an intermediate position, c) in an intermediate position, and d) in fully retracted position;
• Fig. 2 a) and b) shows cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention
• Fig. 3 a) and b) shows cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
• Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
• Fig. 5 a) and b) shows schematic drawings of embodiments of a telescopic tube for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
• the telescopic tube 10 comprises a first inner tube 11, herein after referred to as the lower tube 11, a second inner tube 12, herein after referred to as the upper tube 12, and an outer tube 13.
• the upper tube 12 is arranged to be longitudinally movable inside the outer tube 13, while the lower tube 11 is arranged to be longitudinally movable inside the upper tube 12 and the outer tube 13.
• the outer tube 13 encompasses at least a portion of the upper tube 12 and at least a portion of the lower tube 11.
• the outer tube 13 is of about the same length as, but somewhat shorter than, the lower tube 11 and upper tube 12.
• the outer tube 13 contributes to a substantial part of the fully protracted telescopic tube 10, while at the same time allowing the inner tubes, 11 and 12, to be almost fully retracted into the outer tube 13. This minimizes the length of the fully retracted position of the telescopic tube 10 with respect to the fully protracted position of the telescopic tube 10.
• the length proportions of the lower tube 11, the upper tube 12 and the. outer tube 13 may be chosen differently and is not excluded from the scope of the invention as claimed.
• the telescopic tube 10 further comprises a control mechanism 14, which is arranged at the outer tube 13, and further controls the longitudinal movability of the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11.
• Fig. Ia shows the telescopic tube 10 in its fully protracted position, with the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11 in the maximum protracted position out of the outer tube 13, with only a minor part of the total length of the upper tube 12 and the lower tube 11 still arranged inside the outer tube 13.
• the user simply grabs the outer tube 13, and hence the control mechanism 14, with a first hand and then apply a longitudinal force onto, for instance, the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e.
• the user grabs the tube 12 and pushes it towards the outer tube 13, see Fig. Ib) .
• the user then grabs the lower tube 11 with his second hand, while keeping the first hand on the outer tube 13, and pushes the lower tube 11 towards the outer tube 13, see Fig. Ic) .
• the user simply grabs the outer tube 13, and the control mechanism 14, with a first hand and then apply a longitudinal force on to, for instance, the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e. grabs the tube 12 and pulls it out of the outer tube 13.
• the user grabs the lower tube 11 with his second hand, while keeping the first hand on the outer tube 13, and pulls the lower tube 11 out of the outer tube 13.
• control mechanism is activated by overcoming a threshold force working on each locking member as described herein under.
• the inner tubes, 11 and 12 have the same diameter.
• Fig. 2 which shows a cross- sectional view of an embodiment of the invention
• the relation between the diameters of the three tubes 11, 12, and 13, is set so that the outer tube 13 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the upper tube 12, while the upper tube 12 has a larger diameter than the lower tube 11.
• the outer tube 13 encompasses both inner tubes, 11 and 12, when the telescopic tube 10 is in a retracted position.
• a vacuum cleaner nozzle 40 preferably, as shown in Fig. 2 b), is connected to the lower tube 11.
• the control mechanism 14, which is arranged at the outer tube 13, comprises a first locking member 15 and a second locking member 16.
• the first releasable locking member 15 is arranged at a first end portion 13a of the outer tube 13 and bear against the lower tube 11.
• the first locking member 15 is arranged to lock the position of the lower tube 11.
• the second locking member 16 is arranged at a second end portion 13b of the outer tube 13 and bear against the upper tube 12. Furthermore the second locking member 16 is arranged to lock the position of the upper tube 12.
• the control mechanism 14 is arranged to release the first locking member 15 and the second locking member 16 simultaneously.
• the longitudinally directed force must excess a predefined threshold force, i.e.
• the received force must be greater than the force caused onto the inner tubes, 11 and 12, by the locking members holding the upper tube 12 and lower tube 11 in position.
• the locking members, 15 and 16 are released the inner tubes, 11 and 12, are longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube 13.
• the locking members are reactivated and lock the inner tubes 11 and 12 in position.
• the locking members, 15 and 16 are realized as friction means or clamping means or a combination thereof. In these embodiments the positions of the inner tubes 11, 12 relative to the outer tube 13 are continuously adjustable.
• the control mechanism 14 is preferably designed as an integrated part of the outer tube 13 or the control mechanism 14 is designed to simply constitute the outer tube 13.
• An alternative way to manipulate the telescopic tube 10 from fully retracted position, which is shown in Fig. Id) to fully protracted position, is in this alternative embodiment that the user grabs the lower tube 11 with a first hand and then apply a force on to the upper tube 12 with a second hand, i.e. grabs the tube 12 and pulls the lower tube 11 and upper tube 12 apart.
• Figure 3 and 4 show cross-sectional views of embodiments according to the present invention.
• the upper tube 12 (and lower tube 11) is provided with a guide track 20 extending along the upper tube 12, and a plurality of positioning recesses 21 distributed along the upper tube 12.
• the guide track 20 is arranged to engage with a guide protrusion 30 arranged on the locking member 16.
• the function of the guide protrusion 30 and the guide track 20 is to keep the upper tube 12 from turning with respect to the outer tube 13 and can be arranged anywhere circumferential of the upper tube 13.
• the locking member 16 further comprises a positioning protrusion 31 that is arranged to lock the longitudinal position of the upper tube 12 by engaging with anyone of the positioning recesses 21.
• the locking member 16 is further provided with an M-shaped portion 37, se Fig. 4, which is kept in position with two biasing springs 32 and 33.
• a protruding portion 34 on the M-shaped portion 37 is arranged to press against the positioning protrusion 31 which then maintain engaged to a positioning recess 21.
• the protruding portion 34 of the M-shaped portion 37 is repositioned to lock the locking member 16 when the positioning protrusion 31 reengage with another positioning recess 21b, whereby the position of the upper tube 12 is fixated.
• the position of the inner tubes, 11 and 12, relative to the outer tube 13 is stepwise adjustable due to the stepwise distribution of the positioning recesses 21.
• the locking members can be realized in a number of ways by any suitable well-known telescopic tube locking means.
• the upper, lower and outer tubes, 11, 12, and 13 have an oval shape, hence guide tracks are not necessary, since the shape of the tubes prevents the tubes from rotating with respect to each other. Hence, the guide protrusion 30 and guide track 20 can be left out of the construction.
• any suitable cross section can be used for the tubes, for example a rectangular or a polygonal cross section.
• the control mechanism further includes a releasable locking device 18, for locking the inner tube 11 and the upper tube 12 in position.
• a telescopic tube 10 is connectable to a vacuum cleaner housing.
• the telescopic tube 10 is connected to the top of a vacuum cleaner housing 55 of an upright vacuum cleaner 50.
• the upper tube 12 (or lower tube 11 if the telescopic tube 10 is connected to the upright vacuum cleaner via the upper tube 12) is here preferably provided with a handle 56, which may be fixated or detachable.
• the upper tube 12 of a telescopic tube 10 is connected to a flexible vacuum cleaner tube 70, which flexible vacuum cleaner tube 70 is connected to a canister vacuum cleaner 60.
• the lower tube 11 of the telescopic tube 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle 40.
• the telescopic tube 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner housing 55 in one end and a vacuum cleaner nozzle 40 in the other end as illustrated for the vacuum cleaner model shown in Fig. 5 c).

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
• Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39943736

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (15)

Citations (4)

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• 2007
  • 2007-05-07 SE SE0701108A patent/SE531274C2/sv unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-04-23 EP EP08741858A patent/EP2155031A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-04-23 CN CN200880015252.4A patent/CN101677728B/zh active Active
  • 2008-04-23 WO PCT/SE2008/000284 patent/WO2008136724A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-04-23 US US12/599,203 patent/US20100306960A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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