Swivel joint for vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A swivel joint for joining a powered nozzle to a vacuum cleaner system, the swivel joint comprising:
- a swivel member joined at a lower end thereof to a powered nozzle, the swivel member including a tubular section at an upper end of the swivel member, the swivel member also having a suction conduit therein and first and second spacing rings protruding from the outside of the tubular section, with a pair of grooves in the outside of the tubular section being located between the spacing rings;
a pair of snap ring contacts, each of which fits into one of the grooves in the tubular section of the swivel member such that each snap ring contact at least partially encircles the tubular section of the swivel member, each of the snap ring contacts being electrically connected to an electrical system in the powered nozzle;
an elbow body having a bore at a lower end thereof and a suction conduit extending from the bore to an upper end of the elbow body, the upper end of the elbow body including an interface for joining the elbow body to the vacuum cleaner system, the elbow body also having at least one contact opening therein;
a pair of swivel contacts mounted to the elbow body, each swivel contact extending through a particular contact opening into the bore, each swivel contact being electrically connected to the interface at the upper end of the elbow body;
wherein a portion of the tubular section of the swivel member is positioned in the bore of the elbow body with the spacing rings contacting the bore and such that each swivel contact makes electrical contact with a corresponding snap ring contact to permit the swivel member to rotate within the bore while electrical contact between each swivel contact the corresponding snap ring contact is maintained.
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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. 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.
73 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A swivel joint for joining a powered nozzle to a vacuum cleaner system, the swivel joint comprising:
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a swivel member joined at a lower end thereof to a powered nozzle, the swivel member including a tubular section at an upper end of the swivel member, the swivel member also having a suction conduit therein and first and second spacing rings protruding from the outside of the tubular section, with a pair of grooves in the outside of the tubular section being located between the spacing rings; a pair of snap ring contacts, each of which fits into one of the grooves in the tubular section of the swivel member such that each snap ring contact at least partially encircles the tubular section of the swivel member, each of the snap ring contacts being electrically connected to an electrical system in the powered nozzle; an elbow body having a bore at a lower end thereof and a suction conduit extending from the bore to an upper end of the elbow body, the upper end of the elbow body including an interface for joining the elbow body to the vacuum cleaner system, the elbow body also having at least one contact opening therein; a pair of swivel contacts mounted to the elbow body, each swivel contact extending through a particular contact opening into the bore, each swivel contact being electrically connected to the interface at the upper end of the elbow body; wherein a portion of the tubular section of the swivel member is positioned in the bore of the elbow body with the spacing rings contacting the bore and such that each swivel contact makes electrical contact with a corresponding snap ring contact to permit the swivel member to rotate within the bore while electrical contact between each swivel contact the corresponding snap ring contact is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A swivel interface for joining a suction hose having a plurality of conducting wires embedded therein to a handle, the swivel interface comprising:
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a tube support having a first end, wherein an end of the suction hose covers the first end of the tube support, the tube support having an outer surface with a plurality of spring contact mounts located on the outer surface; a plurality of spring contacts, each spring contact including a contact leaf, and each spring contact being mounted to one of the spring contact mounts such that the contact leaf on the spring contact extends radially outward from the outer surface of the tube support, with each spring contact being electrically connected to one of the plurality of conducting wires imbedded in the suction hose; a hose cuff attached to the suction hose, the hose cuff having a groove extending around an exterior surface of the hose cuff; a slip ring insulator surrounding a portion of the outer surface of the tube support, the slip ring insulator having a generally tubular configuration with a plurality of contact openings therein, the slip ring insulator being positioned on the tube support such that the contact leaf of each spring contact mounted to the tube support protrudes through one of the plurality of contact openings in the slip ring insulator; a plurality of conducting slip rings mounted on the slip ring insulator such that each conducting slip ring is in contact with the contact leaf of one of the spring contacts; a contact board mounted in the handle, the contact board including a plurality of board contacts, each board contact making electrical contact with a conducting slip ring and being electrically connected to an electrical system in the handle; and a tab in the handle extending into the groove in the hose cuff to permit the hose cuff and the suction hose to be rotated relative to the handle, wherein electrical contact between the conducting wires embedded in the suction hose and the electrical system in the handle is maintained when the hose cuff and suction hose rotate with respect to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification