READILY REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT HANDLE

• US 3,897,607 A
• Filed: 03/19/1973
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph O. Brent, Richard H. Schaffer
• Original Assignee: Joseph O. Brent, Richard H. Schaffer
• Inventors: Schaffer, Richard H., Brent, Joseph O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troutman, Doris L.
• Application Number:
  US05/342,743
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 16/114 294/64 280/47.37
• US Class Current: 16/422
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/022 Scraper handles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A detachable handle for a vacuum cleaner, tool, floor scrubber, sweeper or other device, which handle may be moved freely and effectively when in its installed position, yet which can be readily removed or thereafter re-installed merely by moving a slidable member, without it being necessary to remove or install screws or other fastening devices.

Claims

1. An implement handle arrangement comprising a handle upon the lower portion of which, insertion means is utilized, and a receiving means having a recess therein of a size for receiving said insertion means, a slidable member operatively disposed upon and removably secured to said insertion means, with said slidable member being movable between a first position and a second position, said slidable member when disposed in the first position allowing said insertion means to be inserted into said receiving means as well as to be removed easily therefrom, whereas movement of said slidable member to its second position during the time that the insertion means is inside the recess of said receiving means, causing a diminishment of the clearance in the recess, such that said insertion means is locked to said receiving means.

2. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which said slidable member is part of a spring, said spring having an upstanding portion, and retention means for engaging said upstanding portion such that said spring can be removably secured in the position corresponding to the handle locking position.

3. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein movement of said upstanding portion away from said retention means enables said slidable member to be moved to its first position, such that the handle can be removed from the implement.

4. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which said insertion means involves a pair of spaced members, arranged to be received by receiving means in the form of a pair of similarly spaced receiving members.

5. An implement handle arrangement comprising a handle upon the lower portion of which insertion means is contained, and receiving means having a recess therein for receiving said insertion means, means for removably locking said insertion means in the recess of said receiving means when the pair of means have been interfitted, said insertion means being somewhat smaller than the recess provided in said receiving means, but being retained in the locked condition therein by a slidable member, said slidable member normally being secured with respect to said insertion means in a withdrawn position in which it does not reside upon an active portion of said insertion means where it can contact said receiving means, said slidable member thus not normally inhibiting the removal of the insertion means from the receiving means, said slidable member being movable such that a tip portion thereof resides upon an active portion of said insertion means when it has been inserted into said receiving means, with the interrelation of the several components being such that said tip of said slidable member when inside said receiving means, diminishing the clearance of said recess and effectively preventing removal of said insertion means until such time as the slidable member has been moved back to the withdrawn position. Pg,13

6. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 5 in which retention means are provided for normally holding said slidable member in the position in which it inhibits removal of the handle.

7. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 5 in which said insertion means involves a pair of spaced members, arranged to be received by receiving means in the form of a pair of similarly spaced receiving members.

8. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which said slidable member is part of a spring of substantially U-shaped configuration, a mid portion of said U-shaped spring having an upstanding portion, and retention means for engaging said upstanding portion such that said spring can be removably secured in the position corresponding to the handle locking position.

9. In a handle arrangement for a power unit or the like, means on one end of said handle configured to be inserted into an interfitting relationship with means on the unit to be equipped with a handle, the first mentioned means being equipped with a locking contour thereon, and the second mentioned means having a contour-receiving portion, such that when said first and second mentioned means have been interfitted, a locking together is achieved, means for preventing a separation of said first mentioned and said second mentioned means, said means for preventing separation involving the use of a slidable member movably secured with respect to said first mentioned means and arranged to reside on occasion atop said first mentioned means, said slidable member, when disposed atop said first mentioned means, substantially decreasing the clearance otherwise existing between said first and said second means when interfitted, thus locking said locking contour in engagement with said contour-receiving portion.

10. The handle arrangement as defined in claim 9 in which retention means are provided for normally retaining said slidable member in the locking position in which it resides upon said first mentioned means, which retention means can be overcome at such time as the handle is to be removed.

11. The handle arrangement as defined in claim 9 in which said first mentioned means involves a pair of spaced members, arranged to be received by second mentioned means in the form of a pair of similarly spaced receiving members.

12. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 11 in which said slidable member is part of a spring of substantially U-shaped configuration, a mid portion of said U-shaped spring having an upstanding portion, and retention means for engaging said upstanding portion such that said spring can be removably secured in the handle locking position.

13. In a handle arrangement for a power unit or the like, means on one end of said handle configured to be inserted into an interfitting relationship with means on said unit, the first mentioned means being equipped with a locking contour thereon, and the second mentioned means having a contour-receiving portion, such that when said first mentioned and second mentioned means have been interfitted, a locking together can be achieved, a clearance normally existing between said first mentioned and second means when they have been interfitted, means for preventing a separation of said first mentioned and said second mentioned means by minimizing the clearance, thus to prevent relative movement, said means for minimizing clearance involving a slidable member having a tip portion arranged to reside on occasion upon said first mentioned means, said tip portion, when residing upon said first mentioned means, substantially decreasing the clearance otherwise existing between said first mentioned and said second mentioned means, thus forcing said locking contour to engage said contour-receiving portion, said slidable member, upon being withdrawn such that its tip portion does not reside upon the first mentioned means, allowing sufficient clearance for said locking contour to be moved from engagement wIth said contour-receiving portion.

14. The handle arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which said first mentioned means involves a pair of spaced members, arranged to be received by second mentioned means in the form of a pair of similarly spaced receiving members.

15. The handle arrangement as defined in claim 14 in which said slidable member is a spring of substantially U-shaped configuration, having a pair of tip portions arranged to reside on occasion upon said spaced members, a mid portion of said U-shaped spring having an upstanding portion, and retention means for engaging said upstanding portion such that said spring can be removably secured in the handle locking position.

16. An implement handle arrangement usable for removably providing a handle upon an implement, said handle having an insertion member at its lower end, and the implement having a receiving member arranged to receive said insertion member, said receiving member having a recess therein that is normally larger than said insertion member, slidable means secured upon said insertion member and movable with respect thereto on occasion in order to increase the effective size of said insertion member, such that when the receiving member and the insertion member have been interfitted, the movement of said slidable means relative to said insertion means locks the members together and prevents the undesired removal of the handle from the implement.

17. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 16 in which said insertion member is equipped with a slot having a hooklike portion, and said receiving member is equipped with a pin to be engaged by said hooklike portion when said members have been interfitted, with said slidable means serving to prevent movement of said hooklike portion away from said pin until such time as it is desired to remove said handle.

18. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 17 in which the handle is equipped with a spaced pair of insertion members and the implement is equipped with a spaced pair of receiving members for receiving said insertion members, said slidable means being in the form of a generally U-shaped spring whose tip portions are disposed along said insertion members, said tip portions, when extended, serving to bring about the locking relationship between the insertion and receiving members.

19. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 18 in which retention means are provided adjacent said U-shaped spring, such that said spring will normally be retained in a selected position.

20. The implement handle arrangement as defined as claim 18 in which said U-shaped spring is equipped with an upstanding portion adapted to be contacted on occasion by the hand or foot of the user in order that the spring can readily be moved toward or away from the locking position.

21. The implement handle arrangement as defined in claim 20 in which means defining an aperture are provided in which said upstanding portion is slidable, said aperture having inner sides along which said upstanding portion can travel as said tip portions are moved to and from locking positions, said upstanding portion being configured to fit tightly between said inner sides of said aperture, said aperture having notches therein possessing considerable slope, which notches serve to hold said upstanding portion in whatever position corresponds to an effective locking position of said tip portions with respect to said insertion and receiving members.