U.S. patent application number 10/877983 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for extension pipe having a joint for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Park, Joung-soo.
Application Number | 20050125945 10/877983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34511223 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050125945 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Joung-soo |
June 16, 2005 |
Extension pipe having a joint for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
An extension pipe with a joint for a vacuum cleaner which forms
a sealed channel between a cleaner body and a suction brush and
includes a part bendable by a user's selection. The extension pipe
includes a first extension pipe, a second extension pipe pivotably
connected to the first extension pipe, at least one separation
preventing cap penetrating through the first and the second pipes
from the outside of the first extension pipe, and a locking unit
hingedly connected to the first extension pipe. The locking unit
hooks the second extension pipe and selectively locks the pivotal
movements of the first and the second extension pipes. Further, the
locking unit releases the locking of the second extension pipe so
that the first and the second extension pipes can be bent.
Inventors: |
Park, Joung-soo; (Jeonju-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
34511223 |
Appl. No.: |
10/877983 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 27/0849 20130101;
A47L 9/242 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/414 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 2003 |
KR |
2003-91263 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An extension pipe with a joint for a vacuum cleaner, which forms
a sealed channel between a cleaner body and a suction brush and
includes a part bendable by a user's selection, the extension pipe
comprising: a first extension pipe; a second extension pipe
pivotably connected to the first extension pipe; at least one
separation preventing cap penetrating through the first and the
second pipes from the outside of the first extension pipe; and a
locking unit hingedly connected to the first extension pipe, for
hooking the second extension pipe and selectively locking the
pivotal movements of the first and the second extension pipes,
wherein the locking unit releases the locking of the second
extension pipe so that the first and the second extension pipes can
be bent.
2. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
extension pipe comprises: a tubular body; a cylindrical joint with
an open part, the second extension pipe pivotably connected to the
opened part; and a locker receiver in which the locking unit is
received.
3. The extension pipe as claims in claim 2, wherein the cylindrical
joint comprises a first and a second insertion holes through which
the separation preventing caps penetrate for the connection with
the cylindrical joint.
4. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first
insertion hole comprises a plurality of slots defined in
corresponding positions to first insertion protrusions protruding
from the separation preventing cap.
5. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 4, wherein a connecting
line of the plurality of slots forms substantially a circular
line.
6. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second
insertion hole comprises a penetrating hole formed in corresponding
positions to second insertion protrusions protruding from the
separation preventing cap.
7. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and
the second insertion holes are formed in receiving recesses formed
in opposite sides of the cylindrical joint with a predetermined
depth corresponding to a thickness of the separation preventing
caps.
8. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking
unit comprises: a locking lever hinged on the first extension pipe;
and at least one hook protruding from an end of the locking
lever.
9. The extension pipe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second
extension pipe comprises: a locking recess formed in a
corresponding position to the hook; and a locking projection for
preventing reverse pivotal movement of the second extension pipe.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to copending Korean Patent
Application No. 2003-91263 filed on Dec. 15, 2003, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] This application is related to the copending applications
entitled, "Bendable Nozzle For Vacuum Cleaner," (Korean Application
10-2003-72873, filed Oct. 20, 2003), and "Bendable Extension Pipe
Having Joint For Vacuum Cleaner," (Korean Application 2003-72874),
filed Oct. 20, 2003, which disclosures are commonly owned by the
same assignee as the present application and are entirely
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more
particularly, to an extension pipe for a vacuum cleaner which has a
bendable connection part to enable cleaning on the spaces under
furniture such as a bed and a sofa with convenience.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Generally, a vacuum cleaner suctions in dirt and dust from a
cleaning surface together with ambient air using a vacuum suction
force generated by a vacuum suction motor provided in a cleaner
body. The vacuum cleaner has a channel connected between the
cleaner body and a suction brush in a sealed state. The channel may
take various formations according to the kind of the vacuum
cleaner, and in general, a canister type vacuum cleaner includes a
flexible hose for connecting the cleaner body with a handle and an
extension pipe for connecting the handle and the suction brush. The
extension pipe is expandable, contractable, and adjustable in
length. A plurality of extension pipes are provided to be assembled
and disassembled for operation with the vacuum cleaner.
[0005] However, the suction brush connected to the conventional
extension pipe has a disadvantage in that, in order to clean spaces
under furniture such as a bed and a sofa, a user has to adopt a low
posture to bring the suction brush into close contact with the
cleaning surface because the angle between the extension pipe and
the suction brush is usually unadjustable. Also, even if the angle
between the extension pipe and the suction brush is adjustable, the
user still has to bend his/her back to push the suction brush
further into the spaces under the furniture.
[0006] Thus, a need exists in the industry to address the
aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention was developed in order to solve the
problems mentioned above. An object of the present invention is to
provide an extension pipe with a joint for a vacuum cleaner which
enables bending of the extension pipe through simple button
manipulation and without requiring a user to bend his/her back, and
also provides a convenient cleaning performance.
[0008] The above aspect of the present invention is achieved by
providing an extension pipe with a joint for a vacuum cleaner which
forms a sealed channel between a cleaner body and a suction brush
and has a part bendable by a user's selection. The extension pipe
includes a first extension pipe, a second extension pipe pivotably
connected to the first extension pipe, at least one separation
preventing cap penetrating through the first and the second pipes
from the outside of the first extension pipe, and a locking unit
hingedly connected to the first extension pipe for hooking the
second extension pipe and selectively locking the pivotal movements
of the first and the second extension pipes. The locking unit
releases the locking of the second extension pipe so that the first
and the second extension pipes can be bent.
[0009] The first extension pipe may include a tubular body and a
cylindrical joint with an open part, the second extension pipe
pivotably connected to the open part, and a locker receiver in
which the locking unit is received.
[0010] The cylindrical joint may include a first and a second
insertion holes through which the separation preventing caps
penetrate for the connection with the cylindrical joint. The first
insertion hole may include a plurality of slots defined in
positions corresponding to first insertion protrusions protruding
from the separation preventing cap. A connecting line from the
plurality of slots substantially forms a circular line. The second
insertion hole may include a penetrating hole formed in positions
corresponding to second insertion protrusions protruding from the
separation preventing caps. The first and the second insertion
holes may be formed in receiving recesses formed in opposite sides
of the cylindrical joint with a predetermined depth corresponding
to the thickness of the separation preventing cap.
[0011] The locking unit may comprise a locking lever hinged on the
first extension pipe and at least one hook protruding from an end
of the locking lever. The second extension pipe may include a
locking recess formed in a position corresponding to the hook, and
a locking projection for preventing reverse pivotal movement of the
second extension pipe.
[0012] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the
present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in
the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed
description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features, and advantages be included within this
description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be
protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0013] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.
Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an extension pipe with
a joint, for a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of FIG. 1 across line III-III
in which the first and the second extension pipes according to the
embodiment of the present invention are locked and held in a
straight line.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross section view of FIG. 1 across line III-III
in which the first and the second extension pipes according to the
embodiment of the present invention are released from locked state
and held in a bent condition.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of FIG. 2 across line
V-V.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.
[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded
perspective view, respectively, for showing an extension pipe with
a joint for a vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention. The extension pipe includes a first
extension pipe 110 connected to a cleaner body (not shown), and a
second extension pipe 120 bendably connected to the first extension
pipe 110 and also connected to a suction brush (not shown) through
which dirt is drawn in from a cleaning surface. The first and the
second extension pipes 110 and 120 are pivotably connected to each
other through a separation preventing cap 130. The pivotal movement
of the second extension pipe 120 with respect to the first
extension pipe 110 is adjusted by a locking unit 140 hingedly
connected to the first extension pipe 110.
[0021] The first extension pipe 110 includes a first extension pipe
body 111, a cylindrical joint 112 connected to the second extension
pipe 120, and a locking lever receiver 113 in which the locking
unit 140 is received. The first extension pipe body 111 has one
side connected to the cleaner body (not shown) and the other side
connected to the cylindrical joint 112. The first extension pipe
body 111 has a substantially tubular shape.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical joint 112 has one side
open to house therein a joint part 122 formed at the second
extension pipe 120. The cylindrical joint 112 includes receiving
recesses 112c formed in opposite sides thereof. The separation
preventing caps 130 are engaged with the receiving recesses 112c so
that the separation prevention caps 130 can penetrate through the
first and the second extension pipes 110, 120. Each receiving
recess 112c includes first insertion holes 112a and a second
insertion hole 112b defined therein, for allowing the separation
preventing cap 130 to penetrate through the first and the second
extension pipes 110 and 120.
[0023] The second extension pipe 120 has one side connected to the
suction brush (not shown), through which dirt is suctioned in, and
the other side of the second extension pipe 120 is disposed to the
joint part 122 to be connected to the cylindrical joint 112. The
joint part 122 is shaped in a cylinder with a size corresponding to
an inner circumference of the cylindrical joint 112, and pivotably
connected to the cylindrical joint 112 through the separation
preventing caps 130.
[0024] A locking projection 123 is formed on an outer circumference
of the joint part 122. The locking projection 123 is supported by
the cylindrical joint 112 when the first and the second extension
pipes 110 and 120 are held in a straight line. A locking recess 124
is formed in an outer circumference of the joint part 122 opposite
to the locking projection 123, into which the locking unit 140 is
hooked.
[0025] The separation preventing caps 130 are engaged with the
opposite sides of the cylindrical joint 112 to allow the first and
the second extension pipes 110, 120 to pivotably connect to each
other. For engagement with the cylindrical joint 112, the
separation preventing cap 130 includes first and second insertion
protrusions 131, 132 formed on a surface thereof connected to the
cylindrical joint 112 as shown in FIG. 2. When engaged, the first
insertion protrusions 131 are positioned inwardly apart from the
most outer line of the separation separating cap 130 by a
predetermined distance. As shown in FIG. 2, the first insertion
protrusions 131 are each symmetrical to its opposing insertion
protrusion. A connecting line of the plurality of first insertion
protrusions 131 forms a imaginary circular line to facilitate the
pivotal movement of the second extension pipe 120 with respect to
the first extension pipe 110. Preferably, a distance between the
opposite first insertion protrusions 131 corresponds to the
diameter of the joint part 122 for smooth pivoting of the second
extension pipes 120.
[0026] The second insertion protrusions 132 protrude from the
separation preventing cap 130 and are positioned inwardly apart
from the first insertion protrusions 131 by a predetermined
distance. Like the first insertion protrusions 131, the second
insertion protrusions 132 are each symmetrical to its opposing
second insertion protrusion. One difference of the second insertion
protrusions 132 is that they are positioned corresponding to the
spaces between the respective first insertion protrusions 132. As
shown in FIG. 2, the first insertion protrusions 131 and the second
insertion protrusions 132 are formed in an staggered pattern.
[0027] The locking unit 140 includes a locking lever 141, a
resilient member 144, and a hinge pin 143. The locking lever 141 is
hinged on the locking lever receiver 113, which is integrally
formed with the first extension pipe body 111, by the hinge pin 143
with the resilient member 144 interposed therebetween. A hook 142
is formed at an end of the locking lever 141. The hook 142 is
hooked into the locking recess 124 so that the second extension
pipe 120 can be held in a straight line with respect to the first
extension pipe 110. More than one hook 142 may be provided at the
end of the locking lever 141. In this embodiment, two hooks 142 are
formed at the end of the locking lever 141 opposite to each
other.
[0028] Hereinbelow, the operation of the extension pipe having the
joint for a vacuum cleaner will be described in detail.
[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial cross-sectional views illustrating
the extension pipe with the joint for a vacuum cleaner according to
the embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] In conventional operational cleaning of a plane surface such
as floor, the first and the second extensions pipes 110 and 120 are
held in the straight line as shown in FIG. 3. More specifically,
the hooks 142 protruding from the end of the locking lever 141 are
hooked into the locking recesses 124 defined in portions of the
second extension pipe 120 corresponding to the hooks 142 so that
the first and the second extension pipes 110, 120 are held in the
straight line. At an opposite side of the locking recesses 124 the
locking projection 123 is formed for preventing the second
extension pipe 120 from bending to an undesired direction. The
locking projection 123 is supported on a surface of the open part
112d of the cylindrical joint 112 (see FIGS. 2-4). Accordingly,
even when the locking lever 141 moves out of the locking recesses
124 and is released from the locked state, the second extension
pipe body 121 is allowed to pivot only in the arrowed direction of
FIG. 3.
[0031] In cleaning the spaces under furniture such as a bed, the
user presses the locking lever 141 in the `arrowed` direction of
FIG. 4. Accordingly, the hooks 142 move out of the locking recesses
124, thus enabling bending of the second extension pipes 121.
[0032] In order to recover the second extension pipe body 121
connected to the suction brush (not shown) to the straightened
state with respect to the first extension pipe body 111, the user
grips and lifts the first extension pipe body 111. By the weight of
the suction brush connected to the second extension pipe body 121
and to the second extension pipe body 121, the second extension
pipe body 121 reversely pivots to the bending direction until the
hooks 142 are received in the locking recesses 124. Because the
locking lever 141 is connected to the locking lever receiver 113
with the intervention of the resilient member 144 therebetween, the
hooks 142, integrally formed with the locking lever 141, are
automatically hooked into the locking recesses 124 by the resilient
recovering force of the resilient member 144. Accordingly, it is
possible for the user to recover the first and the second extension
pipes 110, 120 to the straightened condition by simply lifting the
first extension pipe body 111 without a separate button
manipulation.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the joint part 122 is received in the
cylindrical joint 112 and includes an open part to maintain a flow
path in a sealed state when the first and the second extension
pipes 110 and 120 are held in the bent condition. Also, since the
separation preventing caps 130 are closely engaged with the first
and the second insertion holes 112a, 112b provided in the receiving
recesses 112c formed in the opposite sides of the cylindrical joint
112 with a predetermined depth, the separation preventing caps 130
are partially released from engagement with the joint 112.
[0034] As described above, since the first and the second extension
pipe 110, 120 can be bent by simply pulling out an operation handle
and a release handle, the user easily cleans the spaces under the
bed or sofa without bending his/her back or adopting a low posture,
and therefore, the user's convenience is improved.
[0035] The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary
and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The
present teaching can be readily applied to other types of
apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the
present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit
the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *