Pipe joints or couplings – Vacuum cleaner type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-05-29
Nicholson, Eric (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Vacuum cleaner type
C285S303000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237962
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a telescopable wand assembly of a vacuum cleaner which is selectively adjustable in length and provides an improved sealing structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A vacuum cleaner is a device for sucking dust or debris on a floor by a suction force generated by a motor. Generally, the vacuum cleaner includes a wheel-mounted main body, the motor generating the suction force, and a dust collecting chamber receiving the dusts and debris drawn into the main body. A flexible hose extends from the main body to a brush which draws the dust and debris on the floor.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional canister type vacuum cleaner
10
. Referring to
FIG. 1
, vacuum cleaner
10
comprises a plurality of sub-assemblies that a user can easily assemble for use or disassemble for storage.
Vacuum cleaner
10
includes a canister housing
12
connected through a hose
14
to a handle assembly
16
. Handle assembly
16
is connected to a floor engaging nozzle
24
through a wand assembly
18
having a tubular wand portion
20
and a dust cup assembly
22
.
Although not shown, housing
12
includes a motor which develops vacuum pressure at an opening
26
to draw dust and debris into a dust bag
28
as is well known. Housing
12
includes a canister hood assembly
30
for mounting attachments and a cover
32
for enclosing such attachments.
Handle assembly
16
includes an outwardly extending metal tube
46
in communication with a quick release element
38
. Tube
46
includes a swaged male end
48
receivable in an expanded female end
50
of a wand tube
20
. Referring also to
FIG. 2
, tube male end
48
includes a quick release element
52
receivable in an aperture
54
in wand tube
20
for interlocking tubes
46
and
20
.
However, in the conventional vacuum cleaner as described above, the wand tube is fixed in length without taking account of a height of the user and a space of a room to be cleaned.
Meanwhile, U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,943 discloses a telescopic tube connection for a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a hose which is connected to a vacuum cleaner housing. An outer end of the hose has a tube handle. The tube handle is connected to a nozzle by a tube shaft. The tube shaft is movable relative to the tube handle and can be releasably locked in different positions. The cleaner is conveniently provided to allow the operator to adjust the relative length of the tube shaft by moving the tube shaft relative to the tube handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to provide an improved structure superior to the above described conventional structures. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a telescopable wand assembly of a vacuum cleaner in which a metal plate formed with a plurality of notches thereon is attached to a light weight pipe such that the metal plate engages with a locking mechanism of a pipe extending from a handle portion and in which an improved sealing structure is provided between the two pipes, thereby preventing an air leakage therebetween.
In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, there is provided a telescopable wand assembly of a vacuum cleaner having a handle portion and a nozzle portion, the assembly comprising: a first pipe communicated with the nozzle portion and including a main body made of a synthetic resin and a notch portion made of a metal, the notch portion being attached to an outer surface of the main body; a second pipe communicated with the handle portion and receiving a part of the first pipe; a first means for interlocking the first and second pipes in such a manner that the first and second pipes are slidable with respect to each other by discrete intervals, the first means including a rod making contact with the notch portion and a knob portion suppressing and releasing the rod; a second means for guiding a sliding of the first pipe into the second pipe and blocking a longitudinal movement of the rod with respect to the second pipe; a third means for sealing a gap between the first and second pipes; and a fourth means for supporting the third means and preventing the first pipe from being entirely separated from the second pipe.
The main body of the first pipe is formed at an upper portion thereof with a cut-off portion extending along a longitudinal direction thereof, the cut-off portion being formed at both radial ends thereof with stepped portions respectively, and the notch portion includes a metal plate substantially identical to the cut-off portion in shape and is formed at an upper surface thereof with a plurality of transverse notches spaced apart form each other by predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the first pipe, the notch portion being formed at both sides thereof with bending portions respectively, each of which engaging with respective stepped portion.
The stepped portion is formed with at least one projection, and the notch portion is formed at a position thereof corresponding to the projection with a hole which engages with the projection.
The first means is provided at an upper portion of the second pipe, the knob portion including a knob movable in the longitudinal direction of the second pipe and formed at an upper portion thereof with a dome portion, a rib downward extending from the knob and a scroll formed upwardly from a lower end of the rib, and the first and second pipes being engaged when the rod is positioned between the rib and one of the notches of the first pipe, the first and second pipes being slidable when the rod is received in the scroll.
A front end of the knob portion makes contact with a compression spring which is in turn supported by the second pipe so that the knob portion is urged rearwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the second pipe, the rib of the knob portion suppressing the rod when the knob portion is in a normal position, and the rod being disengageable from the notch of the first pipe when an external force urges the knob so as to move the knob and thereby the scroll is translated above the rod.
The second means includes a hollow cylinder member having a predetermined length and fixedly inserted into the second pipe, an inner surface of the cylinder member making contact with the outer surface of the first pipe so as to slidably guide the first pipe, the cylinder member being formed at a position thereof facing the rod with a slot for allowing the rod to vertically move therethrough.
The third means includes a rubber ring press-fitted into the second pipe, positioned behind the cylinder member and having a corrugated shape along a radial direction thereof.
The fourth means includes a stopper provided behind the rubber ring in the second pipe and having an engageable shape with the rubber ring, the stopper being engaged with the rubber ring to minimizing deflections of the rubber ring in longitudinal and radial directions with respect to the second pipe.
The first pipe is formed at an underside thereof with a guide groove extending to a portion adjacent to an end of the first pipe engaging with the second pipe, and the stopper is formed at an underside thereof with a tab inserted into the guide groove so as to prevent the first pipe from rotating with respect to the second pipe and to prevent the first pipe from being entirely separated from the second pipe by abutting to an end of the guide groove.
The stopper is cut at an upper end thereof so that the stopper is deformable in size within a predetermined range.
As described above, the main body of the first pipe is made of synthetic resin whereas only the notch portion is made of metal, which enables the first pipe to be light in weight and prevents the notch portion from being easily worn, hereby reducing a manufacturing cost thereof.
In addition, the wand assembly can be easily changeable in length thereof by manipulating the knob portion. Furthermore, the rubber ring is supported by the stopper so as to be ma
Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd.
Nicholson Eric
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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