U.S. patent application number 11/347980 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-09 for telescoping wand assembly with a flexible seal.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA. Invention is credited to Eric E. Muhlenkamp.
Application Number | 20070180651 11/347980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38332515 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070180651 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muhlenkamp; Eric E. |
August 9, 2007 |
Telescoping wand assembly with a flexible seal
Abstract
A telescoping wand assembly includes a first tube, a second tube
received in the first tube so as to allow sliding movement
therebetween and a flexible seal carried on the second tube in
sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A
method of making that telescoping wand assembly includes
overmolding a flexible seal on the second tube and inserting the
second tube in the first tube with the overmolded flexible seal in
sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A
vacuum cleaner is also provided incorporating the telescoping wand
assembly of this invention.
Inventors: |
Muhlenkamp; Eric E.;
(Nicholasville, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Assignee: |
PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH
AMERICA
|
Family ID: |
38332515 |
Appl. No.: |
11/347980 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/410 ;
15/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/244 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/410 ;
015/414 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/32 20060101
A47L009/32 |
Claims
1. A telescoping wand assembly, comprising: a first tube; a second
tube received in said first tube so as to allow sliding movement
therebetween; and a flexible seal carried on said second tube in
sliding engagement with an interior surface of said first tube.
2. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 1 wherein said second
tube includes a sealing ring at a first end.
3. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 2, wherein said sealing
ring is constructed from a hard plastic.
4. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 3, wherein said hard
plastic is selected from a group consisting of nylon,
polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.
5. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 2, wherein said sealing
ring includes a first receiver engaging a main body of said second
tube and a second receiver engaging said flexible seal.
6. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 5, wherein said second
receiver includes a series of locking slots.
7. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 6, wherein said flexible
seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and an
annular convex sealing surface.
8. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 7, wherein said mounting
ring includes a plurality of tangs received in said locking
slots.
9. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible
seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and an
annular convex sealing surface.
10. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 9, wherein said annular
convex sealing surface is resiliently biased into engagement with
said interior surface of said first tube.
11. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 1, wherein said second
tube includes a plurality of spaced locking notches and said first
tube carries a locking mechanism with a latch for selectively
engaging said locking notches.
12. A method of making a telescoping wand assembly including a
first tube and a second tube comprising: overmolding a flexible
seal on the second tube; and inserting the second tube in the first
tube to provide said overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement
with an interior surface of the first tube.
13. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a housing; a suction generator
carried on said housing; a dirt collection vessel carried on said
housing; and a telescoping wand assembly including a first tube, a
second tube received in said first tube so as to allow sliding
movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried on said second
tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of said first
tube.
14. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 13, wherein said vacuum
cleaner is a canister-type vacuum cleaner.
15. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 13, wherein said vacuum
cleaner is an upright-type vacuum cleaner.
16. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 13 wherein said second
tube includes a sealing ring at a first end.
17. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 16, wherein said sealing
ring is constructed from a hard plastic.
18. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 17, wherein said hard
plastic is selected from a group consisting of nylon,
polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.
19. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 13, wherein said sealing
ring includes a first receiver engaging a main body of said second
tube and a second receiver engaging said flexible seal.
20. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 19, wherein said second
receiver includes a series of locking slots.
21. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 20, wherein said
flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and
an annular convex sealing surface.
22. The telescoping wand assembly of claim 21, wherein said
mounting ring includes a plurality of tangs received in said
locking slots.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a telescoping
wand assembly incorporating an overmolded, flexible seal, a method
for making that wand assembly and a vacuum cleaner incorporating
that wand assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is relatively common practice today to provide canister
and upright vacuum cleaners with telescoping wand assemblies. Such
assemblies may be lengthened or shortened as desired for a
particular application by simply pressing a button and sliding the
two sections of the assembly relative to each other. A lock then
secures the wand assembly at the desired length. An example of such
a wand assembly is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,474.
[0003] The present invention relates to a telescoping wand assembly
including a flexible seal that provides complete sealing between
the inner and outer tubes of the telescoping wand assembly so as to
enhance the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A telescoping wand assembly includes a first tube, a second
tube received in the first tube so as to allow sliding movement
therebetween and a flexible seal carried on the second tube in
sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube.
[0005] More specifically describing the invention, the second tube
includes a sealing ring at a first end. The sealing ring may be
constructed from a hard plastic including material selected from a
group consisting of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and
mixtures thereof. Further the sealing ring includes a first
receiver engaging the main body of the second tube and a second
receiver for engaging the flexible seal. In addition the second
receiver includes a series of locking slots.
[0006] The flexible seal includes a body having an integral
mounting ring and an annular convex sealing surface. The mounting
ring includes a plurality of tangs received in the locking slots of
the second receiver. The annular convex sealing surface is
resiliently biased into engagement with the interior surface of the
first tube so as to provide a complete seal between the first and
second tubes in all positions of the telescoping wand assembly.
Further, the second tube includes a plurality of spaced locking
notches and the first tube carries a releasable lock for
selectively engaging the locking notches and securing the
telescoping wand assembly at a desired length.
[0007] In accordance with an additional aspect of the present
invention a method is provided for making a telescoping wand
assembly. The method comprises the steps of overmolding a flexible
seal on a second tube and inserting the second tube in a first tube
with the overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement with an
interior surface of the first tube.
[0008] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention a vacuum cleaner is provided comprising a housing, a
suction generator carried on the housing, a dirt collection vessel
carried on the housing and a telescoping wand assembly. As
described above that telescoping wand assembly includes a first
tube, a second tube received in the first tube so as to allow
sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried on the
second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the
first tube.
[0009] In the following description there is shown and described a
preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of
illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the
invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of
other different embodiments and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrates several aspects of the present
invention and together with the description serves to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawing:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canister vacuum cleaner
incorporating the telescoping wand assembly of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the flexible seal
of the wand assembly;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the flexible seal
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the wand assembly; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a detailed, cross sectional view of the wand
assembly including the first tube, the second tube, the flexible
seal and the sealing ring.
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the wand
assembly 10 of the present invention incorporated into the
structure of a canister vacuum cleaner 12. The canister vacuum
cleaner 12 includes a hose 14 connecting the wand assembly 10 to
the canister housing 16. The canister housing 16 includes an
internal chamber 18 as well as a suction inlet 20 and an exhaust
outlet 22 both communicating with that chamber. A suction
generator, in the form of a fan and motor assembly generally
designated by reference numeral 24, is held in the chamber 18.
Additionally, a dirt collection vessel in the form of a filter bag
26 is held in the internal chamber 18 between the suction inlet 20
and the suction generator 24. As illustrated the vacuum cleaner 12
also includes a nozzle 28 for picking up dirt and debris. The
nozzle 28 is connected to the inlet end 52 of the wand assembly 10
opposite the hose 14. The nozzle 28 includes an inlet 30 and an
outlet 32. In the illustrated embodiment the nozzle 28 houses a
motor driven agitator 34 that extends across the inlet 30. A
release handle 36 allows the operator to disconnect the wand
assembly 10 from the nozzle 28 when desired. The wand assembly 10
may then be used alone or in conjunction with other, separate
cleaning tools to perform various cleaning tasks including but not
limited to the vacuuming of baseboards, windowsills, drapes and
upholstery.
[0018] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the wand assembly 10 is a
telescoping wand assembly incorporating a first or outer tube 38, a
second or inner tube 40 received in the first tube so as to allow
sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal 42 carried on the
second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the
first tube. The first tube 38 carries a locking mechanism 44
including an actuator 46 and a spring loaded latch of a type well
known in the art such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,474 (see
FIG. 7 of that document). Specifically, the operator engages the
actuator 46 to release the latch from one of the series of aligned
locking notches 50 provided along the length of the second tube 40.
The operator then slides the second tube 40 in or out of the first
tube 38 in order to adjust the length of the telescoping wand
assembly 10. When the operator then releases the actuator 46, the
spring loaded latch engages in the appropriate locking notch 50 in
order to lock the first tube 38 and second tube 40 together and
maintain the wand assembly 10 at the desired length. It should be
appreciated that in any operating position, the flexible seal 42
provides a full and complete seal between the first and second
tubes 38, 40 of the wand assembly 10 so as to prevent any air leak
and insure that the full power of the suction generator 24 is used
to draw air through the inlet end 52 of the wand assembly 10 and
thereby provide for maximum cleaning efficiency.
[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible seal 42
includes a body 54 having an integral mounting ring 56 and an
annular convex sealing surface 58. As illustrated the mounting ring
56 includes a plurality of outwardly projecting tangs 60. The
flexible seal 42 may be constructed from a number of materials
including but not limited to TPE, PVC and rubber. Reference is now
made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which fully illustrate how the flexible seal
42 is mounted to the second tube 40 and received in the first tube
38 of the wand assembly 10.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the second tube 40 includes a
main tubular body 62 and a sealing ring 64. The sealing ring 64 is
secured over the tapered downstream end 66 of the main body 62 by
means of a first receiver or split sleeve 68. The actual mounting
and securing of the sealing ring 64 to the main body 62 will be
described in greater detail below.
[0021] As further illustrated, the sealing ring 64 also includes a
second receiver or groove 70 for engaging the mounting ring 56 of
the flexible seal 42. More specifically, the second receiver 70
includes a series of locking slots 72 that are oriented, sized and
shaped to receive the cooperating tangs 60 on the mounting ring 56
of the flexible seal 42.
[0022] One possible method of making the telescoping wand assembly
10 comprises overmolding the flexible seal 42 onto the sealing ring
64 and directly forming the cooperating tangs 60 in the slots 72.
Next, the sealing ring 64 with the overmolded flexible seal 42 is
mounted to the main tubular body 62 of the second tube 40.
Specifically, the tapered end 66 of the main body 62 is inserted in
the first receiver 68. Opposed mounting lugs 74 provided along the
interior surface of the receiver 68 engage the tapered end 66 and
are gradually spread as the tapered end is inserted into the
receiver 68. Once the mounting lugs 74 are aligned with the
cooperating cavities 76 formed in the main body 62, the mounting
lugs 74 engage and nest in the cavities 76 positively securing the
sealing ring 64 on the tubular body 62. More specifically, the
sealing ring 64 is constructed from a hard plastic such as, for
example, nylon, polytetrafluroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.
Such a material has the necessary resilient memory to assure that
the mounting lugs 74 are positively secured and nested in the
cavities 76 to complete the connection.
[0023] After connecting the main tubular body 62 with the sealing
ring 64, the second tube 40 is inserted into the first tube 38 with
the overmolded flexible seal 42 in sliding engagement with an
interior surface 78 of the first tube as illustrated in drawing
FIG. 5. As should be appreciated from reviewing FIG. 3, the convex
sealing surface 58 is molded with a larger diameter than the
mounting ring 56. The convex sealing surface 58 must be compressed
radially inwardly to be received inside the first tube 38. The
resilient nature of the flexible seal 42 then biases the sealing
surface 58 into engagement with the interior surface 78 of the
first tube 38 thereby insuring a complete and airtight seal around
the full circumference of the tubes 38, 40.
[0024] The curved outer surface 58 insures that the seal 42 slides
easily along the interior surface 78 of the first tube 38 when the
operator is adjusting the length of the wand assembly 10. That same
curved outer surface 58 and the resilient characteristics of the
material from which the flexible seal 42 is constructed also
insures that a full and complete seal is maintained between the
first and second tubes 38, 40 at all times during vacuum cleaner
operation. Accordingly, the gap between the first and second tubes
38, 40 is effectively sealed at all times and air leaks are
prevented. As a consequence, the full suction power of the suction
generator 24 is transmitted by the wand assembly 10 to the inlet
end 52 of the wand assembly 10 in order to provide maximum cleaning
efficiency.
[0025] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications
or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For
example, the dirt collection vessel may take the form of a dirt cup
instead of a filter bag. That dirt cup may include a tangentially
directed inlet and an axially directed outlet to produce cyclonic
airflow in the dirt collection chamber.
[0026] The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and
equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiments do not
and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims
and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
* * * * *