Handle and wand system for vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A locking interface for use in a vacuum cleaner system to detachably join a first member of the system to a second member of the system, the locking interface comprising:
- a suction conduit wall in the first member surrounding a suction conduit, the suction conduit wall having a slot opening therein near a female end of the first member, the first member also including an end wall at the first end of the first member, the end wall having a plurality of contact access openings therein;
a first plurality of conducting wires running generally parallel to the suction conduit and along the first member, each of the conducting wires terminating at the female end of the first member in an electrical contact, each of the electrical contacts being located adjacent a contact access opening in the end wall;
a latch including a button and a locking arm having a locking tooth, the latch being movably mounted on the first member to permit the locking tooth to move in the slot opening in the suction conduit wall;
a spring for biasing the latch such that the locking tooth of the latch is biased towards the suction conduit;
a cylindrical flange attached to the second member at a male end of the second member, the cylindrical flange fitting into the suction conduit at the female end of the first member;
a locking projection on the cylindrical flange of the second member;
wherein, the second member is detachably joined to the first member with the cylindrical flange of the second member fitting into the suction conduit of the first member such that the locking projection extends into the slot opening in the suction conduit wall with the locking projection engaging the locking tooth to prevent the first member from being separated from the second member until the button is depressed to compress the spring and move the locking tooth away from the locking projection and permit the second member to be removed from the first member.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a handle and wand system for a vacuum cleaner is provided which includes an enclosed electrical system which may be used to provide electrical power to a powered floor nozzle or other powered nozzles. The handle and wand system of the present invention may be employed in either a canister vacuum or a central vacuum unit. In one embodiment, the system includes a handle and suction hose assembly which permits the hose, which includes conducting wires, to be freely rotated while attached to the handle. In another embodiment, means are provided for easily attaching, locking and detaching the components of the handle and wand system of the present invention while providing both a vacuum seal and a plurality of low resistance electrical contacts between the elements of the system of the present invention. In a further embodiment, a swivel elbow is provided to attach the handle and wand system of the present invention to a powered floor nozzle. In another embodiment, an interface is provided easily for attaching, locking and detaching the handle and wand system of the present invention to and from non-powered cleaning tools.
77 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A locking interface for use in a vacuum cleaner system to detachably join a first member of the system to a second member of the system, the locking interface comprising:
-
a suction conduit wall in the first member surrounding a suction conduit, the suction conduit wall having a slot opening therein near a female end of the first member, the first member also including an end wall at the first end of the first member, the end wall having a plurality of contact access openings therein; a first plurality of conducting wires running generally parallel to the suction conduit and along the first member, each of the conducting wires terminating at the female end of the first member in an electrical contact, each of the electrical contacts being located adjacent a contact access opening in the end wall; a latch including a button and a locking arm having a locking tooth, the latch being movably mounted on the first member to permit the locking tooth to move in the slot opening in the suction conduit wall; a spring for biasing the latch such that the locking tooth of the latch is biased towards the suction conduit; a cylindrical flange attached to the second member at a male end of the second member, the cylindrical flange fitting into the suction conduit at the female end of the first member; a locking projection on the cylindrical flange of the second member; wherein, the second member is detachably joined to the first member with the cylindrical flange of the second member fitting into the suction conduit of the first member such that the locking projection extends into the slot opening in the suction conduit wall with the locking projection engaging the locking tooth to prevent the first member from being separated from the second member until the button is depressed to compress the spring and move the locking tooth away from the locking projection and permit the second member to be removed from the first member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification