Extendable hose for a vacuum cleaner

• US 6,108,861 A
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1995
• 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: Vystrcil, Robert A., Kalman, Jeffrey M., Thur, Charles J., Wright, Michael F., Cipolla, Mark E., Salo, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/083,353
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 15/315, 15/323, 15/334, 15/410
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction motor and a filter chamber. A floor nozzle is connected to the housing. A hose, which communicates with the filter chamber, includes a first end, an intermediate portion and a second end. A wand, which has a first end and a second end, is selectively mounted on the housing. At least a part of the hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through the wand from the first end to the second end. The hose first end is secured to the wand first end. A connector assembly is secured on the hose second end. When the wand is selectively mounted on the housing, a section of the hose intermediate portion is stowed in the wand. When the wand is spaced from the housing, the section of the hose intermediate portion is pulled out of the wand.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing comprising a filter chamber;

a hose including a first end, an intermediate portion and a second end, said hose being in communication with said filter chamber;

a tubular wand selectively mounted on said housing, said wand having a first end and a second end, wherein said hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through said wand from said wand first end through said wand second end and wherein said hose first end is fastened adjacent said wand first end; and

,

a connector assembly secured on said hose second end, wherein when said wand is mounted on said housing a section of said hose intermediate portion is stowed in said wand and when said wand is spaced from said housing said section of said hose intermediate portion is pulled out of said wand.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said connector assembly comprises:

an inner member which cooperates with said hose second end; and

,

an outer member which encircles said inner member and is secured thereto, said outer member being provided with a grasping surface.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein:

said inner member includes an outwardly facing groove; and

,

said outer member includes an inwardly facing rib which is accommodated in said groove.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 further comprising a means for rotatably mounting said inner member in relation to said outer member.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said hose second end is fastened to said inner member and wherein said inner member comprises an inwardly extending threaded portion and said hose comprises a helically extending rib and a helically extending groove wherein said helically extending groove is received in said threaded portion of said inner member.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a ring mounted on said hose, said ring being positioned between said wand second end and said connector assembly.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6 wherein said ring comprises an outer periphery on which a finger is mounted.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 wherein said finger cooperates with an aperture formed in said housing to selectively secure said ring to said housing.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 wherein said ring comprises an inner periphery having a radially inwardly extending shoulder, wherein said shoulder engages a helically extending groove in said hose to mount said ring at a selected location along a longitudinal axis of said hose.

10. An extendable hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a hose including a first end, an intermediate portion and a second end;

a wand selectively mounted on a housing of the vacuum cleaner, said wand having a first end and a second end, wherein said hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through said wand from said wand first end toward said wand second end and said hose first end is fastened to said wand adjacent its first end; and

,

a hose connector assembly spaced from said wand second end, said hose second end being secured to said hose connector assembly, wherein when said wand is mounted on said vacuum cleaner housing, a section of said hose intermediate portion is stowed in said wand and when said wand is spaced from said vacuum cleaner housing, said section of said hose intermediate portion is pulled out of said wand.

11. The extendable hose assembly of claim 10, wherein said hose connector assembly comprises:

a hose swivel having a screw thread on an inner periphery thereof for engaging said hose second end; and

a hose connector mounted on said hose swivel.

12. The extendable hose assembly of claim 10 further comprising a ring mounted on said hose, said ring comprising an outer periphery on which is mounted a finger, said finger cooperating with an aperture formed in said housing to selectively secure said ring to said housing.

13. The extendable hose assembly of claim 12 wherein said ring further comprises an inner periphery having a radially inwardly extending shoulder, wherein said shoulder engages a helically extending groove in said hose to mount said ring at a selected location along a longitudinal axis of said hose.

14. An extendable hose assembly, comprising:

a tubular wand having a first end and a second end;

a hose having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion therebetween, said hose first end being secured to said wand first end and said hose intermediate portion extending longitudinally through said wand;

a connector assembly including an inner member and outer member, said inner member having a first surface secured to said hose second end and a second surface cooperating with said outer member to mount said outer member on said inner member.

15. The hose assembly of claim 14, wherein said inner member comprises a hose swivel having a first portion secured to said hose second end and a second portion secured to said outer member.

16. The hose assembly of claim 15, wherein said hose swivel first portion comprises a screw thread located on an inner periphery thereof for engaging said hose second end.

17. The hose assembly of claim 15, wherein said hose swivel includes a circumferential groove defined in an outer periphery thereof and wherein said outer member comprises a hose connector including a tubular member having an inner periphery from which extends a radially inwardly oriented rib for cooperating with said groove.

18. The hose assembly of claim 14 further comprising a ring mounted on said hose, said ring being positioned between said wand second end and said connector assembly.

19. The hose assembly of claim 18 wherein said ring comprises an outer periphery on which a finger is mounted, wherein said finger is adapted to engage an associated vacuum cleaner housing to selectively secure said ring to said associated vacuum cleaner housing.

20. The hose assembly of claim 18 wherein said ring comprises an inner periphery having a radially extending shoulder, wherein said shoulder engages a helically extending groove in said hose to mount said ring at a selected location along a longitudinal axis of said hose.