U.S. patent application number 10/658274 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for hand vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZWEITA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hsu, Chih-Kao.
Application Number | 20050050675 10/658274 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34468181 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050050675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Chih-Kao |
March 10, 2005 |
Hand vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A hand vacuum cleaner allowing adjustment of its nozzle width
and provided with a built-in hose; one either side or both sides of
a primary nozzle being provided with one set or two sets of
expanded nozzle, each expanded nozzle being comprised of a slider
and a connector inserted to each other, the nozzle getting wider as
both of the slider and the connector outwardly stretched to enlarge
the vacuum cleaning scope, the flexible hose being compressed and
stored in an inner sleeve in a dust receiver, and ejected to extend
its length in the use.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Chih-Kao; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
ZWEITA INTERNATIONAL CO.,
LTD.
Bandar Seri Begawan
BN
|
Family ID: |
34468181 |
Appl. No.: |
10/658274 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/344 ;
15/415.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L
5/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/344 ;
015/415.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/24; A47L
009/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose is essentially comprised of a vacuum cleaner, a primary nozzle
and one set or two set of expanded nozzle, wherein, the vacuum
cleaner including a dust receiver, an opening 18 being provided at
the front end of the dust receiver to accommodate the assembly of
the primary nozzle and the expanded nozzle, a retainer is each
provided to both sides of the inner wall and the bottom of the
opening, a holder containing a release key being provided to the
dust receiver at the top of the opening, and an inner sleeve
extending from the inner wall of the opening in the dust receiver;
the primary nozzle related to a narrow one, having at its terminal
connected to the built-in hose, the hose being compressed and
stored in the inner sleeve of the dust receiver 11, and a
positioning structure of matching hooks being respectively provided
to the top of the primary nozzle and to the release key; and the
expanded nozzle provided alone on either side or each provided on
both sides of the primary nozzle being comprised of a slider and a
connector inserted to each other by sliding, a coil being planted
at where between the slider and the connector movably in the
opening of the dust receiver, the slider being respectively formed
with the holder and the release key a positioning structure by
means of matching hooks; and the slider expanding or retreating by
the load released from or the compression by the coil is
characterized by that: when assembled, the slider retreating and
being positioned in the holder by the hook bit, the release key
when first compressed pushing against the slider, the coil
releasing its load, the slider in turn releasing outwardly the
connector to widen up the nozzle, the release key being compressed
once again to push against the primary nozzle to automatically
eject the primary nozzle and the hose.
2. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a through hole being each
provided on both sides of the holder, a retainer being each
provided to both sidewalls, a through hole being provided at the
lower end of the holder, a hook being each provided to both outer
wall of the release key, a first plunger to release the expanded
nozzle and a second plunger to release the primary nozzle being
provided at a predetermined location, and a return coil being
planted in the release key.
3. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 2, wherein, a reinforcement rib is
connected at where between the first plunger of the release key and
the inner wall of the release key.
4. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, multiple matching hooks are
used to assemble the slider and the connector.
5. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, multiple matching hook bits
extending from the slider and the connector are used to define
relative retainers for the slider and the connector, and another
end of the hook bit provided to the connector defines a limiting
retainer together with the retainer from the inner wall of the
opening.
6. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the hook bit blocks out the
sidewall of the primary nozzle when the slider is retracted.
7. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a hook bit and a matching
groove are respectively provided to the slider and the connector to
define a positioning retainer when the hook bit sliding in the
groove to its extreme.
8. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a recess is provided to the
bottom of the slider to define a retainer jointly with the retainer
provided at the bottom of the opening when the slider moves to
expand the nozzle.
9. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 8, wherein, a limit ring being inserted to
the terminal of the hose, a gradation being provided at the front
end of the wall of the inner sleeve, a retainer ring being locked
to the terminal of the wall of the sleeve, and the limiting ring
defining respectively with the gradation or the retainer ring a
limiting retainer when the hose retracts or expands.
10. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a positioning grain is
provided on the top of the primary nozzle to be inserted in the
through hole provided at the lower end of the holder and positioned
therein when the hose being compressed and stored in the inner
sleeve.
11. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, one end of the coil provided
between the slider and the connector holds against an inner rod in
the dust receiver and penetrates through the connector for the
other end of the coil to hold against the slider.
12. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the hose is related to a
flexible hose to extend for a longer hose when released by
ejection.
13. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the expanded nozzle is
comprised of multiple connectors inserted to one another in
series.
14. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable provided on
either side or on both sides of a narrow primary nozzle of the
vacuum cleaner one set or two sets of expanded nozzle is
characterized by that each set of the expanded nozzle being
comprised of a slider and a connector inserted to each other by
sliding, the primary nozzle being narrow in normal condition when
the slider retreated to be inserted into the connector, and
becoming wider when both of the slider and the connector outwardly
stretched away from each other.
15. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, the vacuum cleaner including
a dust receiver, an opening 18 being provided at the front end of
the dust receiver to accommodate the assembly of the primary nozzle
and the expanded nozzle, a retainer is each provided to both sides
of the inner wall and the bottom of the opening, a holder
containing a release key being provided to the dust receiver at the
top of the opening, and an inner sleeve extending from the inner
wall of the opening in the dust receiver; and a coil being planted
at where between the slider and the connector movably in the
opening of the dust receiver, the slider being respectively formed
with the holder and the release key a positioning structure by
means of matching hooks.
16. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 15, wherein, a through hole being each
provided on both sides of the holder, a retainer being each
provided to both sidewalls, a through hole being provided at the
lower end of the holder, a hook being each provided to both outer
wall of the release key, a first plunger to release the expanded
nozzle and a second plunger to release the primary nozzle being
provided at a predetermined location, and a return coil being
planted in the release key.
17. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 16, wherein, a reinforcement rib is
connected at where between the first plunger of the release key and
the inner wall of the release key.
18. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, multiple matching hooks are
used to assemble the slider and the connector.
19. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, wherein, multiple matching
hook bits extending from the slider and the connector are used to
define relative retainers for the slider and the connector, and
another end of the hook bit provided to the connector defines a
limiting retainer together with the retainer from the inner wall of
the opening.
20. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, a hook bit and a matching
groove are respectively provided to the slider and the connector to
define a positioning retainer when the hook bit sliding in the
groove to its extreme.
21. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, a recess is provided to the
bottom of the slider to define a retainer jointly with the retainer
provided at the bottom of the opening when the slider moves to
expand the nozzle.
22. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 15, wherein, one end of the coil provided
between the slider and the connector holds against an inner rod in
the dust receiver and penetrates through the connector for the
other end of the coil to hold against the slider.
23. A hand vacuum cleaner with nozzle width adjustable and built-in
hose as claimed in claim 14, wherein, the expanded nozzle is
comprised of multiple connectors inserted to one another in
series.
24. A hand vacuum cleaner with built-in hose is characterized by
that an inner sleeve being provided inside a dust receiver of the
vacuum cleaner, the built-in hose being connected to a primary
nozzle of the vacuum cleaner, the hose related to a flexible hose
being compressed and stored in the inner sleeve, a release key
being provided in the dust receiver at where in relation to the
primary nozzle, a positioning structure made of matching hooks
being provided for the release key at where in relation with the
primary nozzle, and the release key when compressed triggering off
the matching hooks for the hose to be ejected and released from the
inner sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to a hand vacuum cleaner,
and more particularly to one provided with adjustable nozzle width
and retractable hose hidden in dust receiver and automatically
ejects in use.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Hand vacuum cleaners generally available in the market have
a fixed nozzle that prevents from adjustment for its width;
therefore, specific external accessories including flexible hose,
wider nozzle or nozzle in other dimensions are required to extend
the hose and/or change the wide of the nozzle. When not used, those
external accessories must be separately stored and fetched out for
assembly when the hand vacuum cleaner is needed. While time is
wasted on the assembly, those external accessories are vulnerable
to loss or damage. Therefore, the separate design of the external
accessories is not very handy for the use of the hand vacuum
cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a
hand vacuum cleaner integrated with adjustable nozzle width and
retractable hose.
[0006] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a
hand vacuum cleaner integrated with adjustable nozzle width. To
achieve the purpose, on one side or on both sides of the principle
nozzle is or provided with one expanded nozzle or two expanded
nozzles. Each expanded nozzle is comprised of a slider and one or
more than one connectors. When the slider retreats to engage to the
connector, the vacuum cleaner operates with its original nozzle
width; when required, both of the slider and the connector expand
outward to allow wider nozzle for larger vacuum area for time
saving, easier operation and significant increase of improved
efficiency to make sure the built-in accessories will not get lost
and to eliminate the need for separate storage of external
accessories.
[0007] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a
hand vacuum cleaner with adjustable nozzle width. To achieve the
purpose, the slider may be adapted to one or more than one
connector by means of matching hookers to ensure that the slider
and the connector won't separate from each other when the slider is
expanded.
[0008] Another purpose yet of the present invention is t provide a
hand vacuum cleaner with retractable hose. To achieve the purpose,
an inner sleeve is provided in the dust receiver of the vacuum
cleaner, and the primary nozzle is adapted with a built-in hose.
The hose is flexible so to be compressed to be stored in the inner
sleeve. The flexible hose will be ejected out of the sleeve for a
doubled length if required to facilitate cleaning where prevents
direct access, such as the drawer, slit or groove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an assembly of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a nozzle in its narrow
status of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a dust receiver of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an expanded nozzle of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an assembly of the expanded
nozzle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the appearance of the
expanded nozzle of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the appearance of the narrow
nozzle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a release key of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the release key of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a bird's view of a local part of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing that the release key of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a
holder.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a cross view of a local part showing the
combination by means of matching hookers between a slider and a
connector of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing that the release key and
the slider of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are
hooked to each other.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing that the release key and
the slider of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are
hooked to each other in position.
[0024] FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing that the slider
compressed by the release key of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention is released.
[0025] FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing those primary members of
the dust receiver of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing that the primary nozzle
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is released
but not yet closed up.
[0027] FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing that the primary nozzle
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is released
and closed up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of the
present invention of a hand vacuum cleaner is essentially comprised
of a cleaner 1, a primary nozzle 2 and one set or two sets of
expanded nozzle 3, 3a. Wherein, the cleaner 1 related to a prior
art includes a dust receiver 11, a strainer 12, a fan 13, a motor
14, a power switch 15, a handle 16, and a battery set 17. In a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, an opening 18 is
formed at the front end of the dust receiver 11 of the cleaner 1 to
accommodate combination of the primary nozzle 2 and both expanded
nozzles 3, 3a. Multiple retainers 181 (181a) and 182 (182a) are
each respectively provided on both sides of the inner wall and the
bottom of the opening 19. A holder 111 is provided to the dust
receiver 11 at the top of the opening 18. As illustrated in FIG. 4,
a through hole 112 is each provided on both sides of the holder
111, a retainer 113 is each provided on both side walls of the
tray, and a through hole 114 is provided at the lower end of the
holder 111.
[0029] The primary nozzle 2 related to a member with narrow nozzle
having at its terminal connected to a flexible hose 21 and a
positioning grain 22 is provided on the wall at the top of the
nozzle.
[0030] Both sets of the expanded nozzle 3, 3a are provided on both
sides, or one set of the expanded nozzle 3 is provided on a
selected side of the primary nozzle 2. Each set of expanded nozzle
3 is comprised of a slider 31 (31a) and a connector 32 (32a)
engaged to each other by sliding. A coil 33 (33a) is provided to
each set of the expanded nozzle 3 placed at where between the
slider 31 (31a) and the connector 32 (32a) moveably inserted in the
nozzle 18 of the dust receiver 11. Both of the slider 31 (31a) and
the connector 32 (32a) are either expanded away from each other as
illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 when the coil 33 (33a) is released,
or retreated into each other as illustrated in FIG. 3 or FIG. 8
when the coil 33 (33a) is compressed.
[0031] The holder 111 provided on the upper wall at the front end
of the dust receiver 11 contains a release key 19 as illustrated in
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. A hook 191 is each provided on both outer walls
of the release key 19. A first plunger 192 is each provided at a
selected location to push and release the expanded nozzle 3 (3a),
and a second plunger 193 to push and release the primary nozzle 3.
A return coil 194 as illustrated in FIG. 12 is pre-planted into the
release key 19 for a fast return of the release key 19 when
compressed. Furthermore, as reinforcement to the structural
strength of the first plunger 192, an additional rib 195 is
connected to the first plunger 192 at where between the first
plunger 192 and the inner wall of the release key 19.
[0032] The expanded nozzle 3 (3a) is comprised of the slider 31
(31a) and a connector 32 (32a) by means of two matching hooks for
both of the slider 31 (31a) and the connector 32 (32a) to retreat
into each other, thus to make sure that they will not disengage
from each other. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, two matching
hook bits 311 (311a) and 321 (321b) respectively extending from the
slider 31 (32a) and the connector 32 (32a) constitute relative
retainers for both of the slider 31 (31a) and the connector 32
(32a) while another end of the hook bit 321 (321a) provided to the
connector 32 (32a) is held by the retainer 181 (181a) from the
inner wall of the opening 18 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Accordingly,
when the expanded nozzle 3 (3a) is stretched out, it functions a
limiting retainer as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 to prevent both
of the slider 31 (31a) and the connector 32 (32a) to disengage from
each other. On the other hand, when the opening returns to narrow
nozzle, the hook bit 311 (311a) is used to block a sidewall 23 of
the primary nozzle 2.
[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the slider 31 (31a) and the
connector 32 (32a) are each respectively provided with the hook bit
312 (312a) and a matching groove 322 (322a) for the hook bit 312
(312a) to slide in the groove 322 (322a) and to function as a
retainer positioning when the hook bit 312 (312a) slides to the
extreme in the groove 322 (322a).
[0034] A recess 313 (313a) is provided at the bottom of the slider
31 (31a) to define a retaining function together with the retainer
182 (182a) provided on the bottom wall in the opening 18.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the hook bit 312 (312a) provided
to the slider 31 (31a) merely defines a positioning function by
hooking up the retainer 113 each provided on both sidewalls of the
tray 111. The first plunger 192 of the release key is merely
indicates a matching relation with the hook bit 312 (312a).
Accordingly, once the release key 19 is compressed as illustrated
in FIG. 16, the first plunger 192 pushes against the hook bit 312
(312a) of the slider 31 (31a) to release externally the connector
32 (32a) by the load released from the coil 33 (33a) to widen up
the nozzle 3.
[0036] An inner sleeve 183 is extended from the inner wall of the
opening 18 of the dust receiver as illustrated in FIG. 17 to
accommodate the built-in flexible hose 21 connected to the primary
nozzle 2. A limiting ring 211 is inserted to the terminal of the
flexible hose 21, a gradation 184 is provided at the front end of
the wall of the inner sleeve 183, and a retainer ring 185 is locked
to the terminal of the wall of the inner sleeve 183 for the
limiting ring 211 to respectively function a limiting retainer with
the gradation 184 or the retainer ring 185 to prevent the flexible
hose 21 from falling off the inner sleeve 183 when the flexible
hose 21 advances or retreats in the inner sleeve 183.
[0037] The positioning grain 22 provided on the wall at the top of
the primary nozzle 2 is inserted into the through hole 114 provided
at the lower end of the holder 111 and is held in position therein
when the flexible hose 21 is compressed to be stored inside the
inner sleeve 183. The build-in flexible hose 21 is further secured
inside the inner sleeve 183 since the hook bit 311 (311a) in normal
condition blocks out the sidewall 23 of the primary nozzle 2.
[0038] The expanded nozzle 3 (3a) has a coil 33 (33a) plated
between the slider 31 (32a) and the connector 32 (32a). One end of
the coil 33 (33a) is fixed to hold against an inner rod 115 or
elsewhere as selected inside the dust receiver 11, and further
penetrates through the connector 32 (32a) for the other end of the
coil 33 (33a) to hold against the slider 31 (31a). Accordingly,
once the release key 19 is compressed, the slider 31 (31a) is
ejected to push outwardly the connector 32 (32a) to widen up the
primary nozzle 2.
[0039] As the primary nozzle is released before the expanded nozzle
3 (3a) has not yet fully expanded, the sidewall 23 of the primary
nozzle 2 is still blocked out by the hook bit 311 (311a).
Therefore, the release key 10 has first to go through a compression
to widen up the expanded nozzle 3 (3a) so to be free from the block
out by the hook bit 311 (311a), then after the second time of
compressing the release key for the second plunger 193 of the
release key 10 to push against the positioning grain 22 of the
primary nozzle 2, and finally the primary nozzle 2 is automatically
ejected together with the flexible hose 21. Meanwhile the expanded
nozzle 3 (3a) retreats to its original status to such extent
allowing only the primary nozzle 2 and its built-in flexible hose
21 to be ejected for vacuum cleaning as illustrated in FIG. 19.
Furthermore, the build-in flexible hose 21 permits itself to be
easily compressed and hidden inside the inner sleeve 183. Once the
flexible hose 21 is ejected, it extends to become a longer hose to
facilitate cleaning areas where prevent directly access for the
hand vacuum cleaner, such as the drawer, slit or groove.
[0040] Within the scope of the teaching of the present invention,
the design of the structure allowing the width of the nozzle
adjustable alone is sufficient to be applied to a hand vacuum
cleaner by allowing wider nozzle to expand the reach of the hand
vacuum cleaner. Meanwhile the improvement involving the storage of
the flexible hose as taught in the present invention can be
individually applied to permit a built-in hose that can be doubled
with its length when in use and easily stored when not used to
eliminate the necessity of external accessories as observed with
the prior art of the hand vacuum cleaner. Both of the expanded
nozzle and the built-in hose are integrated into the present
invention at the same time.
[0041] It is sufficient for members of the present invention
including the slider 31 (31a), the connector 32 (32a) and the coil
33 (33a) of the expanded nozzle 3 (3a) to be provided means of
retractable sliding relatively matching to one another. The
connection structure of each matching hook bit certainly is not
limited to the preferred embodiment as illustrated. Any other
replacement or substitute with equivalent function may be used.
Furthermore, it is not necessarily to provide each expanded nozzle
3 (3a) on both sides of the primary nozzle 2. Instead, a single
expanded nozzle 3 or 3a may be provided on either side of the
primary nozzle 2 to achieve the same purpose of widening up the
nozzle.
[0042] Similarly, multiple connectors 32 (32a) may be connected in
series by the same or equivalent hook bit for the slider 31 (31a)
to drive at one time or by section those multiple connectors 32
(32a) to outwardly expand to define a multi-sectional combination
of the expanded nozzle 3 (3a), thus to further widen up the nozzle.
Therefore, the preferred embodiment given in the present invention
is not to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Any
art involving other equivalent replacement and/or substitute should
fall within the teaching of the present invention.
[0043] The present invention by providing a hand vacuum cleaner
with its nozzle width adjustable and built-in flexible hose is
innovative, advanced and practical. Therefore, this application is
duly filed accordingly.
* * * * *