Vacuum cleaner hose assembly

• US 5,784,757 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Cipolla, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/587,860
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 15/347, 15/350, 15/351, 15/366, 15/377, 15/383, 29/456, 29/525.01, 285/7, 285/235, 285/390, 285/903
• US Class Current: 15/351
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings

Abstract

A vacuum hose assembly includes an air inlet connector, a flexible hose, and rigid tube. Screw threads are provided on one end of the air inlet connector. Screw threads are also provided on one end of the rigid tube. The three components of the hose assembly are coupled by screwing one component to another. Therefore, the air inlet connector is coupled to the flexible hose by screwing the air inlet connector into the flexible hose so that the screw threads of the air inlet connector engage with the ridges of the flexible hose. Furthermore, the rigid tube is coupled to the flexible hose by screwing the rigid tube into the flexible hose so that the screw threads of the rigid tube engage with the ridges of the flexible hose.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle body including a nozzle opening;

a main body case pivotally connected to said nozzle body; and

,

a hose assembly having a first end connected to said nozzle body and a second end connected to a filter bag, said hose assembly comprising;

an air inlet connector secured to said nozzle body and communicating with said nozzle opening, said air inlet connector comprising;

a first end secured to said nozzle body, and

a second end having screw threads on an exterior wall thereof;

a flexible hose having;

first screw threads located on an interior wall thereof at a first end of said flexible hose for coupling said second end of said air inlet connector to said first end of said flexible hose by mating said exterior screw threads of said second end of said air inlet connector with said first screw threads of said first end of said flexible hose, and

second screw threads located on said interior wall of said flexible hose at a second end thereof; and

a rigid tube secured in said main body case, said rigid tube including;

a first end having screw threads on an exterior wall thereof for coupling said first end of said rigid tube to said second end of said flexible hose by mating said exterior screw threads of said first end of said rigid tube with said interior screw threads on said second end of said flexible hose, the first end of the rigid tube including a tapered shoulder, and

a second end located in said main body case.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said main body case comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein said flexible hose comprises a vinyl material.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein said flexible hose includes a helically extending rib and a helical groove defined between adjacent sections of said rib.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein said air inlet connector comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein said rigid tube comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

7. A vacuum cleaner hose assembly for connecting a nozzle opening and a filter bag, said hose assembly comprising:

an air inlet connector secured to a nozzle body of the vacuum cleaner and communicating with said nozzle opening, said air inlet connector comprising;

a first portion having a snap connector with a flanged top edge,

a second portion having a recess sized to fit the flanged top edge of the snap connector,

a first end secured to said nozzle body, and

a second end having screw threads on an exterior wall of said air inlet connector;

a flexible hose having;

first screw threads located on an interior wall thereof at a first end of said flexible hose for coupling said second end of said air inlet connector to said first end of said flexible hose by mating said exterior screw threads of said second end of said air inlet connector with said first screw threads of said first end of said flexible hose, and

second screw threads located on said interior wall of said flexible hose at a second end thereof; and

,

a rigid tube secured in a main body case, said rigid tube including;

a first end having screw threads on an exterior wall thereof for coupling said first end of said rigid tube to said second end of said flexible hose by mating said exterior screw threads of said first end of said rigid tube with said interior screw threads on said second end of said flexible hose, and

a second end secured to the main body case of the vacuum cleaner.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein said main body case comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein said flexible hose comprises a vinyl material.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 said flexible hose includes a helically extending rib and a helical groove, said helical groove defined between adjacent sections of said rib.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 wherein said air inlet connector comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 wherein said rigid tube comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

13. A vacuum cleaner hose assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first portion and said second portion have rib sections, said rib sections cooperating to form said air inlet connector screw threads when said first portion and said second portion are mated.

14. A vacuum cleaner hose assembly for connecting a nozzle opening and a filter bag, the hose assembly comprising:

an air inlet connector secured to a nozzle body of the vacuum cleaner and communicating with the nozzle opening, the air inlet connector having;

a first end secured to the nozzle body, and

a second end having screw threads on an exterior wall of the air inlet connector;

a flexible hose comprising a unitary construction of a vinyl material and a helically extending rib defining a helical groove between adjacent sections of the rib, the flexible hose also having;

first screw threads located on an interior wall thereof at a first end of the flexible hose for coupling the second end of the air inlet connector to the first end of the flexible hose by mating the exterior screw threads of the second end of the air inlet connector with the first screw threads of the first end of the flexible hose, and

second screw threads located on the interior wall of the flexible hose at a second end thereof; and

,

a rigid tube secured in a main body case, the main body case including a rigid thermoplastic material, the rigid tube including;

a first end having screw threads on an exterior wall thereof for coupling the first end of the rigid tube to the second end of the flexible hose by mating the exterior screw threads of the first end of the rigid tube with the interior screw threads on the second end of the flexible hose, and

a second end secured to the main body case of the vacuum cleaner.

15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 14 wherein the air inlet connector comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.

16. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the rigid tube comprises a rigid thermoplastic material.