U.S. patent application number 09/772218 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-06 for operating handle for cleaning device.
Invention is credited to Dingert, Uwe, Dunkel, Joerg, Jurgens, Ralf, Schilling, Richard, Wendelken, Hans-Jurgen.
Application Number | 20030204926 09/772218 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7633120 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030204926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jurgens, Ralf ; et
al. |
November 6, 2003 |
Operating handle for cleaning device
Abstract
An operating handle (1) for devices, particularly for cleaning
devices, such as wiping devices, mops, brooms, or the like. The
operating handle (1) has at least a first and a second tubular
handle element (2, 2') which are able to be joined to one another.
The tubular handle elements (2, 2') form a hollow space (5). A
connecting link (4, 4') is provided for connecting the first and
the second handle element (2, 2'). The connecting link (4, 4')
extends at least partially into the hollow space (5) formed by the
handle elements (2, 2'). A first connecting segment (6) and a
second connecting segment (7) are provided. The first connecting
segment (6) is designed to connect to the first handle element (2),
and the second connecting segment (7) is designed to connect to the
second handle element (2'). The first and/or second connecting
segment (6, 7) has a screw-in thread (11, 11') which is forced into
engagement with connecting agents (8) arranged on the first and/or
second handle element (2, 2'). The first and/or second connecting
segment (6, 7) has a supporting surface (9, 9') for resting against
the inner surface (10) of the handle element (2, 2'). The screw-in
thread (11, 11') is arranged in the region of the supporting
surface (9, 9').
Inventors: |
Jurgens, Ralf; (Mannheim,
DE) ; Dingert, Uwe; (Abtsteinach, DE) ;
Dunkel, Joerg; (Heddesheim, DE) ; Schilling,
Richard; (Rimbach, DE) ; Wendelken, Hans-Jurgen;
(Sinsheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON
ONE BROADWAY
NEW YORK
NY
10004
US
|
Family ID: |
7633120 |
Appl. No.: |
09/772218 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/144.3 ;
15/145; 16/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/469 20150115;
B25G 1/04 20130101; B25G 3/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/144.3 ;
15/145; 16/422 |
International
Class: |
A46B 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 31, 2000 |
DE |
100 09 983.1 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An operating handle (1) for devices, particularly for cleaning
devices, the operating handle comprising: a first and a second
tubular handle element which are able to be joined to one another,
the tubular handle elements forming a hollow space; a connecting
link for connecting the first and the second handle element, the
connecting link extending at least partially into the hollow space
formed by the handle elements, the connecting link having a first
connecting segment and a second connecting segment, the first
connecting segment being designed to connect to the first handle
element and the second connecting segment having being designed to
connect to the second handle element and the first and/or second
connecting segment having a screw-in thread which is forced into
engagement with connecting agents arranged on the first and/or
second handle element, the first and/or second connecting segment
having a supporting surface for resting against an inner surface of
the handle element and the screw-in thread being arranged in the
region of the supporting surface.
2. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting agents are designed as at least one projection that
protrudes into the hollow space formed by the rod elements.
3. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting agents are designed as at least two projections that are
arranged on an imaginary, spiral connecting line.
4. The operating handle according to claim 2, wherein the
projections are produced through a point-by-point deformation of
the handle element.
5. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
projections are produced through a point-by-point deformation of
the handle element.
6. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the tubular
handle element is made of metal.
7. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein a flange
which projects beyond the supporting surface from the first and/or
second connecting segment is provided at the connecting link in the
region between the first and the second connecting segments.
8. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting segments have an essentially cylindrical design.
9. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting link is hollow.
10. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting link is made of plastic.
11. The operating handle according to claim 10, wherein the plastic
is polyamide.
12. The operating handle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting link only has a thread in the region of the first
connecting segment, and wherein the supporting surface is formed as
a cylinder in the region of the second connecting segment.
Description
FILED OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a operating handle for
devices, in particular cleaning devices, such as wiping devices,
mops, brooms, or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Two-piece operating handles per se are known. However, they
are designed in such a way that to connect two tubular handle
elements, two connecting links are provided. One link affixed to
the first handle element and the other link affixed to the second
handle element. In this context, one of the connecting links has an
assembling pin with a screw thread, and the other has a
corresponding thread. The disadvantage of this known construction
is that is complicated to manufacture and consequently expensive,
particularly since two connecting links are needed to connect two
handle elements. Furthermore, the known operating handles lack
stability at the points of connection of the individual handle
elements.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an
operating handle that is particularly simple and inexpensive to
produce and features a high level of stability.
[0004] This object is achieved by an operating handle having a
first and a second tubular handle element. The tubular handle
elements form a hollow space. A connecting link for connecting the
first and second tubular handle elements is provided. The
connecting link projects into the hollow space formed by the handle
elements. The connecting segment is designed to connect to the
first handle element and the second connecting segment is designed
to connect to the second handle element. The first and/or second
connecting segment has a screw-in thread that can be forced into
engagement with connecting agents arranged on the first and/or
second handle segments. The first and/or second connecting segment
has a supporting surface for resting against the inner surface of
the handle element. The screw-in thread is arranged in the region
of the supporting surface. In this way, a stable connection of two
handle elements is achieved using a single connecting link. As a
result of the supporting surfaces resting against the inside of the
handle element, forces are transferred in an especially effective
manner. Since only one connecting link is needed to connect the two
handle elements, manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced.
[0005] Advantageously, the connecting agents are designed as at
least one projection that protrudes into the hollow space formed by
the handle elements. This projection can then be forced into
engagement with the thread that is arranged on the connecting link
in the region of the supporting surface.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, the connecting
agents may be designed as at least two projections that are
arranged on one imaginary, spiral connecting line. In this context,
the slope of the imaginary, spiral connecting line corresponds to
the thread pitch of the screw-in thread. This construction has the
advantage that the manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced
since the handle element does not require a threaded insert, nor
does an expensive thread have to be formed.
[0007] When the handle element is made of metal, it is particularly
easy to form the projections in an inexpensive manner by deforming
the handle element in a point-by-point manner. These so-called
prick-punched points, for example, can be created on the outside of
the handle element, thereby enabling the rod material to be
deformed to form projections that jut into the hollow space formed
by the handle elements.
[0008] An additional improvement is achieved by providing, in the
region between the first and second connecting segments, the
connecting link with a flange that projects beyond the supporting
area, from the first and/or second connecting segment. This flange
acts as a stop for the screw-in thread and allows the screw-in
thread to create a tensile stress and/or compressive stress which
increases the stability in the region of the connection between the
handle element and the connecting link.
[0009] In accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present
invention, the connecting segments have an essentially cylindrical
design. As a result, the connecting segment is adapted to the
likewise preferably cylindrical hollow space in the interior of the
tubular handle element. In this way, a large contact surface
between the supporting surfaces of the connecting segment and the
tubular handle elements can be achieved.
[0010] Costs can be reduced even further if the connecting link has
a hollow design. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the connecting
link is made of plastic, in particular of polyamide.
[0011] A particularly inexpensive manufacturing method is also
achieved in that the connecting link only has a thread in the
region of the first connecting segment, and in that the supporting
surface is formed as a cylinder in the region of the second
connecting segment. In this case, the second connecting segment and
the second handle element can be joined by inserting the
cylindrical connecting segment into the handle end and by
subsequently deforming the tubular material. This results in a
friction-locked and/or form-locked connection between the handle
element and the second connecting segment. In this context, for a
secure connection, it is sufficient when the deformation is carried
out in a point-by-point manner, e.g., by creating prick-punched
points.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The drawings show a preferred exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. The figures show:
[0013] FIG. 1: a perspective representation of an operating handle
according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2: a plan view of a section of the handle element
according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3: a view from below of the handle element depicted in
FIG. 2 according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4: a plan view of a connecting link according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an operating handle 1 for devices. In
particular, the operating handle can be used for wiping devices,
mops, brooms, or the like. In this context, the operating handle 1
has a plurality of tubular handle elements 2, 2' which are able to
be joined to one another. At the upper end, the operating handle 1
has a grip 3, which is arranged at one end of the first handle
element 2, and which terminates the first handle element 2 in an
upward direction. Although not illustrated, identically formed
handle elements can be added at the lower end of the second handle
element 2'. In this way, it is possible to produce a comparatively
long total length of the operating handle 1 using relatively short
handle elements 2, 2'. This is particularly advantageous when the
operating handle 1 is to be packaged in relatively small
packaging.
[0018] For connecting the first handle element 2 and the second
handle element 2', a first connecting link 4 is provided. A
comparable and identically formed second connecting link 4' is
located at the lower end of the second handle element 2'. The
operating handle 1 can be connected at its lower end to cleaning
devices, e.g., wiping devices, mops, brooms, or the like by the
second connecting link.
[0019] FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate how the tubular handle elements
2, 2' are connected via the connecting links 4, 4' in more detail.
The first connecting link 4 is designed so that it can extend at
least partially into a hollow space 5 formed by handle elements 2,
2'. The first connecting link 4 has a first connecting segment 6
and a second connecting segment 7. The first connecting segment 6
is designed to connect to the first handle element 2, and the
second connecting segment 7 is designed to connect to the second
handle element 2'. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG.
4, both first connecting segment 6 and second connecting segment 7
have a screw-in thread that can be forced into engagement with
connecting agents arranged on the first and/or second handle
element. Furthermore, the first and second connecting segments 6, 7
have supporting surfaces 9, 9', which are arranged and designed in
such a way that they can abut against the inner surface of the
first handle element 2 and the second handle element 2',
respectively. In this context, the exterior form of the supporting
surfaces 9, 9' is adjusted in size and shape to the inner contact
surface 10 of the first and second handle elements 2, 2', which is
indicated with a dashed line. Furthermore, in the region of the
supporting surfaces 9, 9', screw-in threads 11 and 11' are
provided. Preferably, in this context, the screw-in threads 11, 11'
only take up a relatively small part of the supporting surfaces 9,
9'. In particular, it is advantageous if the screw-in threads 11,
11' take up less than 40%, or especially less than 20%, of the
supporting surfaces 9, 9'.
[0020] In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the
screw-in threads 11, 11' are provided with a radius at the thread
base and are adapted to the connecting agents 8 of the handle
elements 2, 2' in such a way that the handle elements 2, 2' and
connecting links 4, 4' can be screwed together by hand.
[0021] The connecting agents 8 are designed as at least one
projection that protrudes into the hollow space 5 of the handle
element 2. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,
four projections are provided. However, an exceedingly effective
connection between the handle element 2 and the connecting link 4
can be achieved with just two projections. In this context, the
projections 8 are arranged on an imaginary, spiral connecting line,
their thread pitch corresponding to the thread pitch of the
screw-in threads 11, 11'.
[0022] In accordance with the present exemplary embodiment, the
tubular handle elements 2, 2' are made of metal, in particular of
steel. Any suitable material may be used, however. The projections
8 are created through point-by-point deformations of the handle
elements 2, 2'. This can be carried out particularly inexpensively
by creating prick-punched points or stamped points on the outside
of the handle elements 2, 2'.
[0023] In the region between the first connecting segment 6 and the
second connecting segment 7, a circumferential flange that projects
beyond the supporting surfaces 9, 9' from the first and second
connecting segments 6, 7 is provided at the connecting link 4. The
height of the flange is designed in such a way that it corresponds
to at least the material strength of the tubular handle elements 2,
2', thereby resulting in a continuous outer surface when the
operating handle 1 is assembled.
[0024] The connecting segments 6, 7 are essentially cylindrical on
the outside and are hollow on the inside. The connecting links 4
are made of plastic, particularly of polyamide.
[0025] Alternatively to the representation in FIG. 4, it is also
possible for the connecting link 4 to have only one thread in the
region of the first connecting segment 6, and for the supporting
surface 9' to be formed as a continuous, cylindrical surface in the
region of the second connecting segment 7. The second connecting
segment 7 and the second handle element 2' are then reliably and
durably connected by first inserting the second connecting segment
7 into the interior of the handle elements 2, 2' and by
subsequently deforming the tubular material, thereby reliably
joining the connecting link 4 and the handle element 2. These
deformations can have a design similar to that of the connecting
agents 8 and can also be produced by prick-punched points or
comparable deformations of the rod material.
* * * * *