U.S. patent application number 12/737460 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-19 for blower/vacuum tube attachment.
This patent application is currently assigned to MTD Products Inc.. Invention is credited to Bret Robison.
Application Number | 20110113592 12/737460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41139040 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110113592 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robison; Bret |
May 19, 2011 |
BLOWER/VACUUM TUBE ATTACHMENT
Abstract
A blower/vacuum device has removable blower tube configured to
connect with a connector stub of the device. The connector stub has
a guide path formed in its interior wall and the blower tube has a
latch runner disposed on its outer surface. A flipper is positioned
in the guide path near the end of the circumferential segment of
the guide path and coacts with the latch runner. The flipper is
biased such that its tongue extends into the guide path. When the
blower tube is rotated a sufficient distance such that the latch
runner is rotated past the tongue, the flipper is repositioned by
spring force and the tongue locks the blower tube in place. The
flipper is repositioned to move the tongue out of contact with the
latch runner to permit the blower tube to be rotated in the
disconnect direction and removed from the connecting stub.
Inventors: |
Robison; Bret; (Queen Creek,
AZ) |
Assignee: |
MTD Products Inc.
Valley City
OH
|
Family ID: |
41139040 |
Appl. No.: |
12/737460 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 29, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2009/004368 |
371 Date: |
January 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61137530 |
Jul 31, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 20/47 20180201;
E01H 1/0827 20130101; E01H 1/0809 20130101; A47L 9/242
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/414 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20060101
A47L009/02 |
Claims
1. A blower/vacuum device having a removable blower tube connected
so as to prevent unintentional removal of the blower tube from the
device, said device comprising: a housing having a tubular
connector stub at an air outlet of the housing, wherein at least
one guide path is formed in an interior wall of said connector
stub, the guide path having an insertion point at a proximal end of
guide path located in an outward end of the connecting stub, an
axial section leading from said insertion point, and a
circumferential section leading from said axial section; a
removable blower tube configured to connect with the connector
stub, the blower tube having a latch runner disposed on an outer
surface thereof that is received in the guide path upon insertion
of the blower tube onto the connector stub, the latch runner having
a sloped leading edge and a trailing edge that extends
substantially perpendicular from the outer surface of the blower
tube, wherein said blower tube is compelled to rotate with respect
to the connector stub as said latch runner travels along the
circumferential section of the guide path; a rotatable flipper
located near a distal end of the guide path having a tongue
configured to coact with the latch runner, the flipper having a
locking position in which the tongue extends inward into the guide
path and abuts the trailing edge of the latch runner when the
blower tube is in an installed position, wherein said flipper is
rotatably captured by the housing and is accessible through a
window formed in said housing such that the an external force may
be applied to said flipper; and a spring acting upon the flipper,
wherein said spring biases the flipper into its locking position;
wherein during installation of the blower tube, as the latch runner
progresses along the circumferential section of the guide path, the
sloped leading edge of the latch runner contacts the tongue and
causes the flipper to rotate against the biasing force of the
spring, thereby pushing the tongue out of the way of the latch
runner, and when the blower tube is rotated into its installed
position such that the latch runner moves past the tongue, the
spring repositions the flipper into its locking position so that
the tongue moves behind the trailing edge of the latch runner to
lock the blower tube in place thereby preventing the blower tube
from rotating in a disconnect direction and being removed from the
connector stub, and during disconnect of the blower tube, the
flipper is rotated by the user via application of an external force
on the flipper against the biasing force of the spring to move the
tongue out of contact with the trailing edge of the latch runner
thereby permitting the blower tube to be rotated in the disconnect
direction and removed from the connecting stub.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed of two
component shells, wherein the flipper is rotatably captured between
the two component shells of the housing.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the flipper is located near the
end of the circumferential segment of the guide path
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the flipper has a slot in one end
thereof exposed by the window, wherein said slot is configured to
receive a tool inserted though the window to rotate the
flipper.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein when the blower tube is rotated in
a disconnect direction and an external force is not acting upon the
flipper to rotate the flipper, the tongue catches the perpendicular
rear edge of the latch runner and prevents rotation of the blower
tube in the disconnect direction.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the axial segment of the guide
path extends parallel with the longitudinal center axis of the
connector stub and the circumferential segment is oriented
substantially perpendicular to the axial segment.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the guide path formed in the
interior wall of said connector stub has a substantially U-shaped
cross section.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/137,530 filed Jul. 31,
2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of hand-held
blower/vacuum or dedicated blower devices, and more particularly,
to a mechanical connection between a blower tube and the housing of
the device.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Portable hand-held leaf blowers have become popular outdoor
maintenance products among residential and commercial landscapers,
especially for spring and fall clean-up services. Blowers which can
convert to vacuums provide an added degree of versatility to this
product. A conventional leaf blower/vacuum device has a high speed
impeller rotated by an output shaft of either an electric motor or
an internal combustion engine. The impeller is enclosed within a
scroll formed in the housing of the blower/vacuum device. The motor
or engine is mounted to the housing or is sometimes enclosed within
a separate housing. A handle enables the blower/vacuum device to be
picked up and held with one hand and used to blow or vacuum leaves,
grass clippings, and other debris.
[0006] The blower/vacuum device can be converted for use as either
a blower or a vacuum by attaching an elongated tube to either the
inlet or the outlet of the impeller housing. In a blower mode, the
tube concentrates air expelled through the air outlet to create a
highly-directed stream of high velocity air at the end of the tube.
A cover is placed over the air inlet for preventing accidental
ingestion of objects while permitting a free flow of air into the
air inlet. In a vacuum mode, the blower tube is removed from the
outlet. A vacuum tube, typically having a larger diameter than the
blower tube, is attached to the air inlet after the cover is
removed. Air drawn through an opening in the end of the vacuum tube
tends to entrain leaves and other debris in the vicinity of the end
of the vacuum tube. The leaves are carried by the flow into the fan
and then discharged into a porous collector sack attached to the
outlet.
[0007] During operation or storage of the blower/vacuum device,
contact of the free end of the tube with the ground can occur and
cause the tube to become displaced from its normal operating
position. This can lead to an unintended loosening of the tube or
even cause the tube to drop off. In this way, operation of the
device is negatively affected. Additionally, operation of the
blower/vacuum device without the tube in place can be dangerous, as
removal of the tube exposes the rotating impeller to the operator.
It is therefore desirable to have an improved connection between
the tube and the housing that requires dedicated action on the part
of the user to remove the tube from the housing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIVE FEATURES
[0008] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a
blower/vacuum device. The blower/vacuum device has a housing formed
of two component shells forming a spiral blower scroll. The housing
defines an air inlet for guiding air into the spiral blower scroll
and an air outlet which directs air out from the spiral blower
scroll, the air outlet being formed in generally tangential the
spiral blower scroll. A connector stub is formed in the housing at
the air outlet. The connector stub has a guide path formed in the
interior wall thereof. The blower/vacuum also has a removable
blower tube configured to connect with the connector stub such the
longitudinal center axis of the blower tube aligns with the
longitudinal center axis of the connector stub. The blower tube has
a latch runner disposed on the outer surface thereof. The guide
path is open at an insertion point at an end of the connecting stub
such that it is configured to receive the latch runner upon
insertion of the blower tube into the connector stub. The guide
path includes a first axial segment extending approximately
parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the connector stub, a
circumferential segment essentially at a right angle to the axial
segment, and an arc-shaped transition segment connecting the axial
segment with the circumferential segment. When the blower tube is
inserted into the connecting stub, the blower tube is compelled to
make a rotational movement because of the arc-shaped form of the
transition segment.
[0009] The improvement is a mechanical connection between the
connector stub and the blower tube, wherein the mechanical
connection includes the latch runner disposed on the outer surface
of the blower tube, a flipper positioned in the guide path near the
end of the circumferential segment of the guide path 34 that coacts
with the latch runner, and a spring that biases the flipper such
that a tongue of the flipper extends into the opening of the
connector stub. The flipper is rotatably captured between the two
component shells of the housing. The latch runner has a ramped
leading wall and a rear wall substantially perpendicular to the
surface of the blower tube. The ramped leading wall allows the
latch runner to proceed along the circumferential segment of the
guide path when installing the blower tube and push the tongue of
the flipper out of the way of the latch runner against the biasing
force of the spring as the blower tube is rotated. When the blower
tube is rotated a sufficient distance such that the latch runner is
rotated past the tongue, the flipper is repositioned by force of
the spring and the tongue and moves behind the rear wall of the
latch runner to lock the blower tube in place such that when the
blower tube is rotated in a reverse direction, the tongue of the
flipper catches on the perpendicular rear wall of the latch runner,
thereby preventing the blower tube from rotating in the reverse
direction and being removed from the connector stub. The flipper
can be repositioned by the user to move the tongue out of contact
with the perpendicular rear wall of the latch runner to permit the
blower tube to be rotated in the reverse direction and removed from
the connecting stub. The flipper is positioned such that access to
the flipper is obtainable through a window formed in the surface of
the housing such that a tool may be inserted through the window and
into a slot in the flipper to rotate the flipper.
[0010] These and other features and advantages of this invention
are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed
description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and
methods according to this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The structure, operation, and advantages of the presently
disclosed embodiment of the invention will become apparent when
consideration of the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a portion
of a handheld blower/vacuum device with a blower tube mountable on
a connector stub of the device according to the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the connector stub
and blower tube of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is cutaway view of the blower vacuum device of FIG. 1
showing the mechanical connection between the blower tube and the
connector stub.
[0015] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The invention will now be described in the following
detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein
preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of
the invention. Although the invention is described with reference
to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that
the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to
the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from
consideration of the following detailed description.
[0017] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. land 2 show a
blower/vacuum device 10 having a housing 12 that forms a spiral
blower scroll 14. As is known, an impeller (not shown) is rotatably
driven in the spiral blower scroll 14 by a power source (not shown)
such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine that is
mounted in the housing 12. The housing 12 is desirably assembled of
two component shells 12A, 12B, which in one embodiment are
assembled via screws 16 by means of connection domes or fittings
16A that are disposed on the rims of the component shells 12A, 12B.
A handle 18 is provided on the housing 12 for use by the operator
in manipulating the blower/vacuum device 10.
[0018] Formed in the housing 12 is an air inlet 20 for guiding air
into the spiral scroll 14, and an air outlet 22 that directs air
out from the spiral blower scroll 14. The air outlet 22 is formed
in the housing 12 approximately tangential the spiral blower scroll
14. A connector stub 24 is formed in the housing 12 at the air
outlet 22 and a removable blower tube 26 is joined with the
connector stub 24 such the longitudinal center axis of the blower
tube 26 aligns with the longitudinal center axis of the connector
stub 24. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, an overlap region 28 is
provided between the blower tube 26 and the connector stub 24. An
assembly end 29 of the blower tube 26 is inserted into the
generally tubular connecting stub 24 and secured in the connector
stub 24 by means of a mechanical connection 30 located near the
assembly end 29 in the overlap region 28.
[0019] According to the invention, the mechanical connection 30
comprises at least one latch runner 32, broadly a projection,
disposed on an outer surface 33 of the blower tube 26. In one
embodiment, two latch runners or projections 32 are provided in the
overlap region 28 and lie desirably diametrically opposite each
other with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the blower
tube 26. As best seen in FIG. 1, a guide path or track 34 is formed
as a channel in the interior wall 36 of the connector stub 24 and
has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. At least
one guide path 34 is provided for each of the latch runners 32 on
the blower tube 26. The open channel of the guide path 34 faces the
interior of the connector stub 24.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, each guide path 34 includes a
first axial segment 34A extending approximately parallel to the
longitudinal center axis of the connector stub 24. The guide path
34 is open at its insertion point 37 at the outer end of the
connecting stub 24 such that the guide path 34 is configured to
receive the latch runner 32 upon insertion of the blower tube 26
into the connector stub 24. From its axial segment 34A, the guide
path 34 extends via a transition segment 34B into a circumferential
segment 34C. Each transition segment 34B is shaped so as to
correspond generally to a quarter circle such that the
circumferential segment 34C is oriented substantially perpendicular
with the axial segment 34A.
[0021] To mount the blower tube 26, the assembly end 29 of the
blower tube 26 is inserted into the connecting stub 24 and travel
of the latch runner 32 in the guide path 34 permits the operator to
insert and rotate the tube to its operational position. When the
latch runner 32 enters into the transition segment 34B, the user is
compelled to rotate the blower tube 26 because of the arc-shaped
form of the transition segment 34B. To complete assembly of the
blower tube 26, the user must rotate the blower tube 26 in the
assembly rotational direction (clockwise direction in the
illustrated embodiment) until the mechanical connection 30 latches
as will be described below. In the illustrated embodiment, an end
34D in the circumferential segment 34C lies offset by approximately
90 rotational degrees from the open insertion point 37 of the axial
segments 34A such that the blower tube 26 is rotated a quarter of a
turn in the assembly rotational direction with respect to the
connector stub 24 during the insertion process. However, one
skilled in the art will understand that the degree of rotation can
be more or less than 90 degrees without departing from the scope of
the invention.
[0022] As best seen in FIG. 2, the mechanical connection 30 is
formed with a tongue 40 extending from a flipper 42 positioned near
the end 34D of the circumferential segment 34C of the guide path 34
that coacts with the latch runner 32. The tongue 40 of the flipper
42 extends from a body portion 44 that is rotatably captured in the
connecting stub 24 between the two component shells 12A, 12B of the
housing 12. A spring 46 normally biases the flipper 42 such that
the tongue 40 extends generally in the radial direction into the
connecting stub 24 (in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.
3). It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any
particular embodiment or method of fabrication of the housing and
mechanical connection. Accordingly, terms such as "clockwise" and
"counter-clockwise" and "upper" and "lower" are used to aid in
describing the illustrated embodiment with reference to the
drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting. The flipper 42
is spring biased in the clockwise direction, thereby engaging the
latch runner 32 to "lock" the blower tube 26 in its operational
position as will be discussed below.
[0023] The latch runner 32 is desirably configured so as to have a
generally rectangular cross section with a ramp 50 which leads when
rotating the blower tube 26 in the assembly rotational direction.
The ramp 50 has a slope angle of preferably between 25 to 65
degrees. The rear wall 52 of the latch runner 32 is configured to
extend substantially perpendicular from the surface 33 of the
blower tube 26. The ramp 50 is provided to allow the latch runner
32 to proceed along the circumferential segment 34C of the guide
path 34 when installing the blower tube 26 and push the tongue 40
of the flipper 42 out of the way of the latch runner 32 against the
biasing force of the spring 46 as the blower tube 26 is assembled
with the connector stub 24. When the blower tube 26 is rotated a
sufficient distance such that the latch runner 32 is rotated past
the tongue 40, the flipper 42 rotates clockwise by force of the
spring 46 and the tongue 40 moves behind the rear wall 52 of the
latch runner 32 to lock the blower tube 26 in its operational
position. When the blower tube 26 is rotated counter-clockwise, the
tongue 40 of the flipper 42 catches on the perpendicular rear wall
52 of the latch runner 32, thereby preventing the blower tube 26
from being removed from the connector stub 24. In order to remove
the blower tube 26 from the connector stub 24, the flipper 42 must
first be rotated counter-clockwise to move the tongue 40 out of
contact with the perpendicular rear wall 52 of the latch runner 32.
Once the flipper 42 is rotated, the blower tube 26 can be rotated
counter-clockwise and removed from the connecting stub 24.
[0024] As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body portion 44 of the
flipper 42 is accessible through a window 60 formed in the surface
of the housing 12. Desirably, a tool, such as a screwdriver, must
be inserted through the window 60 and into a slot 62 in the end of
the flipper body 44 in order to apply an external force to the
flipper 42 and rotate the flipper 42. However, it is conceivable
that the flipper 42 may be configured such that the external force
used to rotate the flipper 42 may be applied by the user's finger
such that a tool is not required. Accordingly, the mechanical
connection 30 prevents an unintended loosening of the blower tube
26 while simultaneously requiring the operator to undertake
positive action in order to remove the blower tube 26.
[0025] While this invention has been described in conjunction with
the specific embodiments described above, it is evident that many
alternatives, combinations, modifications and variations are
apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred
embodiments of this invention, as set forth above are intended to
be illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. Various changes
can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this
invention.
* * * * *