Multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner

• US 6,026,541 A
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ambrose Shing-Yin Leung, Benson Chung-Pun Leung, Kevin Bailey, Troy Gene Anderson
• Original Assignee: Ambrose Shing-Yin Leung, Benson Chung-Pun Leung, Kevin Bailey, Troy Gene Anderson
• Inventors: Leung, Ambrose Shing-Yin, Leung, Benson Chung-Pun, Bailey, Kevin, Anderson, Troy Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/164,536
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 15/344, 15/414, 15/415.1
• US Class Current: 15/414
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L

Abstract

A multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner combines the functionality of both a crevice tool and an extension wand in a single instrument. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner includes an insertion end adapted for friction-fit slidable mounting into the nozzle end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, a nozzle end adapted for cleaning crevices and the like, and a self-supporting accordion-joint interconnecting the two ends. The self-supporting accordion-joint, preferably an annular bellows, is both axially extendable and bendable off-axis. When it is in its axially collapsed condition, the multi-purpose attachment tool serves as a crevice tool, but when it is axially extended, or axially extended and bent off-axis, the multi-purpose attachment tool serves as a crevice tool and/or an extension wand depending on the cleaning application.

Claims

1. A single, multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner operable in one mode as a crevice tool and in another mode as an extension wand, thereby overcoming the need to provide separate tools for different functions and therewith overcoming the need to provide storage space for multiple attachment tools and reducing the possibility of loss or misplacement of several, different attachment tools, comprising:

an attachment end adapted for mounting to a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

a nozzle end; and

a self-supporting and selectably configurable accordion-joint integrally formed with and interconnecting said attachment and nozzle ends in fluid-tight communication;

in one configuration, the self-supporting accordion-joint is axially collapsed on itself to provide operation in a crevice tool mode;

in another configuration, the self-supporting accordion-joint is axially extended to provide operation in an elongated extension wand mode; and

in a third configuration, the self-supporting accordion-joint is both axially extended and bent off-axis to provide operation in at least one of a crevice tool mode and an extension wand mode.

2. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein, for each said configuration, the attachment tool retains its shape, whether axially collapsed, axially extended or extended and bent off-axis, and enables to clean spillage located in both small areas such as crevices and in regions spaced at different, variable distances, including otherwise hard-to-reach, off-axis locations.

3. The multi-purpose attachment tool of claim 1, wherein said attachment end, nozzle end and accordion-joint are of one-piece construction, that, while providing entirely satisfactory use in each of its different modes, is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

4. The multi-purpose attachment tool of claim 3, wherein said attachment end, nozzle end and accordion-joint of one-piece construction are integrally formed of a plastic material by blow molding.

5. The multi-purpose attachment tool of claim 1, wherein said accordion-joint is an annular bellows.

6. The multi-purpose attachment tool of claim 1, wherein said attachment end is adapted for friction-fit insertion into said hand-held vacuum cleaner.

7. A multi-purpose attachment tool for a vacuum cleaner operable in at least one of a crevice tool mode and an extension wand mode, comprising:

an attachment end adapted for mounting with said vacuum cleaner;

a nozzle end adapted for cleaning crevices; and

a self-supporting joint that is both axially expandable and bendable off-axis coupling said attachment end and said nozzle end in fluid-tight communication;

whenever said self-supporting expandable joint is axially collapsed, said multi-purpose attachment tool is configured as a crevice tool;

whenever said self-supporting expandable joint is axially extended, said multi-purpose attachment tool is configured as an extension wand; and

whenever said self-supporting expandable and bendable joint is both axially extended and bent off-axis, said multi-purpose attachment tool is configured in at least one of an extension wand mode and a crevice tool mode depending on the situation of the cleaning application.

8. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein said self-supporting joint that is both expandable and bendable is an accordion-joint.

9. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein said self-supporting accordion-joint is an annular bellows.

10. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein said annular bellows is integral with said attachment and nozzle ends and formed of a plastic material by blow molding.