Pivot adaptor attachment for vacuum cleaners

• US 6,581,974 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ragner Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ragner Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Ragner, Gary Dean, Reed, Mark Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US10/254,472
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 285/7, 285/184, 285/12, 285/272, 285/332, 285/278, 285/280
• US Class Current: 285/7
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0849 the fluid being turned through an angle when passing from one joint element to another

Abstract

The disclosed swivel adaptor (20) is assembled into two sections: tool member (40), and adaptor member (60). These two sections are pivotally attached, and can pivot with respect to each other around pivot axis (54). Pivot axis (54) is angled off-axis with respect to the longitudinal axises of the adaptor sections to allow various angled positions for adaptor (20). The angle between the tool port end (42) and adaptor port end (64) being adjustable between an in-line position where members (40) and (60) form a relatively straight adaptor, and a plurality of angled positions where the longitudinal axises of ports (42) and (64) are not parallel. Adaptor (20) has an pivotal air passageway connecting end (45) to end (65). In the straight position, tabs (72) snap into place to provide a holding force to keep the two sections from pivoting during use. By applying a sufficient twisting force on the two sections, tab (72) slips loose and the two sections can rotate about axis (54). Tool member (40) is designed to fit into standard vacuum cleaner nozzles. Adaptor member (60) is designed to fit onto both vacuum wand hoses and vacuum wand ports.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner connector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner hose end, comprising:

a) an adaptor member, and;

b) a tool member;

c) wherein, said adaptor member comprising an adaptor port end, a adaptor pivot end, and a first air passageway through said adaptor member from said adaptor port end to said adaptor pivot end;

d) wherein, said adaptor port end comprises an elongated conduit with less than five degrees taper for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner hose end, and said adaptor port end defining a first longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of said elongated conduit;

e) wherein, said tool member comprising a tool port end, a tool pivot end, and a second air passageway through said tool member from said tool port end to said tool pivot end;

f) wherein, said tool port end comprises an elongated tube with a tapered exterior surface having less than five degrees of taper for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner tool, and said tool port end defining a second longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of said elongated tube;

g) further including, a pivot joint defined on said adaptor pivot end and said tool pivot end for pivotally connecting said adaptor member and said tool member to each other with said first and second air passageways forming a substantially sealed and continuous air passageway from the end of said adaptor port end to the end of said tool port end;

h) wherein, said pivot joint defines an axis of rotation oriented at an acute angle with respect to both said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis, whereby a pivot angle between the first and second longitudinal axises may be changed by rotating said adaptor member with respect to said tool member

i) wherein, a first pivot angle is defined by the acute angle between the first longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation, wherein a second pivot angle is defined by the acute angle between the second longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation;

wherein said first and second pivot angles are within the range of ten degrees to eighty degrees; and

j) wherein, the absolute value of the result of the first pivot angle minus the second pivot angle is less than ten degrees, whereby the first and second longitudinal axis can be rotated to less than ten degrees from the in-line position;

k) wherein, the sum of the first and second pivot angles is greater than fifty degrees, whereby the first and second longitudinal axis can be rotated to greater than fifty degrees from the in-line position; and

l) further including, a means for creating friction within the pivot joint to resist rotation of said pivot tool end with respect to said pivot adaptor end for hold said adaptor member and said tool member together at a stable angle during use, whereby said vacuum cleaner tool may be used for cleaning.

2. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein, said acute angle between said first longitudinal axis and said axis of rotation is different from said acute angle between said second longitudinal axis and said axis of rotation.

3. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein, said tool member having an overall length of less than twelve inches.

4. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein, the sum of the first and second pivot angles is greater than sixty degrees.

5. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein, the absolute value of the result of the first pivot angle minus the second pivot angle is less than five degrees and the sum of the first and second pivot angles is greater than seventy degrees.

6. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein, the absolute value of the result of the first pivot angle minus the second pivot angle is less than five degrees and the sum of the first and second pivot angles is greater than eighty degrees.

7. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein said acute angle between said first longitudinal axis and said axis of rotation is substantially the same as said acute angle between said second longitudinal axis and said axis of rotation, whereby said first longitudinal axis can be rotated to be substantially parallel to said second longitudinal axis.

8. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 7, wherein said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis intersect said axis of rotation at the same point, whereby the first and second longitudinal axises can be align to provide a substantially in-line configuration.

9. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 5, wherein;

said elongated conduit is defined by a tapered interior surface and a tapered exterior surface;

wherein, said tapered interior surface tapers to a larger diameter toward the extent of said adaptor port end, and said tapered exterior surface tapers to a smaller diameter toward the extent of said adaptor port end, whereby the wall thickness of the adaptor port end is thinnest at the end of the adaptor port;

wherein, said tapered interior surface defines the air passageway and is designed for removable attachment by friction fit to a conduit style vacuum cleaner hose end;

wherein, said tapered exterior surface is designed for removable attachment by friction fit to a port style vacuum cleaner hose end.

10. The vacuum cleaner connector claim 9, wherein:

said tapered interior surface sized for proper fit over a standard 1.25 inch

diameter vacuum cleaner hose wand end.

11. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 10, wherein:

said elongated tube is sized to fit into vacuum cleaner tools with

a standard 1.25 inch diameter connecting port.

12. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 1, wherein:

said means for creating friction comprises a notch and tab configuration defined on said adaptor pivot end and said tool pivot end, wherein at least one tab on one pivot end communicates with at least one notch on the other pivot end and providing sufficient holding friction for proper use of vacuum tools attached to said tool port end.

13. A vacuum cleaner connector for removable attachment between a vacuum cleaner hose and a vacuum cleaner tool, comprising:

a) an adaptor member;

b) a tool member, and

c) a means for pivotally attaching said adaptor member to said tool member having a third air passageway therethrough;

d) wherein, said adaptor member having an adaptor port end opposite said means for pivotally attaching, said adaptor port end defining an elongated cylindrical conduit having an interior surface defining a first air passage therethrough and an exterior surface;

e) wherein, said interior surface defining a taper of less than five degrees for removable attachment by friction fit to a conduit style vacuum cleaner hose end;

f) wherein, said exterior surface defining a taper of less than five degrees for removable attachment by friction fit to a port style vacuum cleaner hose end;

g) wherein, said tool member comprises a tool port end defining an elongated tube with a taper of less than five degrees and a second air passage therethrough for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner tool;

h) wherein, said first, and second air passage are connected together by the third air passageway to provide a substantially sealed and continuous air passageway from said adaptor port end to said tool port end for conducting suction air into said tool port end, through said tool member, through said means for pivotally attaching, through said adaptor member, out said adaptor port end and finally into the vacuum cleaner hose;

i) wherein, said means for pivotally attaching defines a pivot axis that is between thirty and sixty degrees off-axis from the direction of elongation of both said tool port end and said adaptor port end and where exists less than ten degrees difference between the tool port end and the adaptor port end off-axis angle, whereby pivoting of the tool member with respect to the adaptor member changes the angle between the longitudinal direction of said adaptor port end and tool port end.

14. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 13, wherein:

said means for pivotally attaching also defining a means for providing a friction force that resists relative rotation of the members around said pivot axis by frictional contact of at least two sliding surfaces on said means for pivotally attaching, and providing the proper amount of friction to hold said adaptor member and said tool member together at a stable angle during cleaning.

15. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 14, wherein:

said means for pivotally attaching further including a notch and tab configuration, wherein said notch and tab configuration comprising at least one notch and at least one tab, wherein the notch may communicate with the tab to provide specific pivot angles with sufficient holding friction for proper use of vacuum tools attached to said tool port end.

16. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 13, wherein:

wherein, said interior surface tapers to a larger diameter and said exterior surface tapers to a smaller diameter as one moves from said means for pivotally attaching to said adaptor port end, whereby the wall thickness of the adaptor port end is thinnest at the end of the adaptor port.

17. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 13, wherein:

said elongated cylindrical conduit having tapered interior and exterior surfaces designed for attachment to multiple sizes of conduit style vacuum cleaner hose ends and multiple sizes of port style vacuum cleaner hose ends respectfully.

18. A vacuum cleaner connector for removable attachment to a vacuum cleaner hose end, comprising:

a) a tool end with an attachment surface having less than five degrees of taper for mounting a vacuum cleaner tool by friction fit;

b) an adaptor port end opposite said tool end, and

c) a continuous air passageway defined from said tool end to said adaptor port, whereby suction air may flow between said vacuum cleaner tool and said vacuum cleaner hose end;

d) wherein, said adaptor port end defines an elongated conduit having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

e) further including, a means of interior attachment for connecting said interior surface to a male conduit style vacuum cleaner hose end with a substantially airtight seal; and

f) further including, a means of exterior attachment for connecting said exterior surface to a female port style vacuum cleaner hose end with a substantially airtight seal.

19. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 18, wherein:

both said means of interior attachment and said means of exterior attachment define surfaces with less than five degrees of taper for removable attachment by friction fit to the male and female hose ends respectfully.

20. The vacuum cleaner connector in claim 18, further including a pivot joint defined on said vacuum cleaner connector between said adaptor port end and said tool end;

wherein said pivot joint defines a means for changing the relative orientation between the adaptor port end and the tool end, whereby the relative orientation between the vacuum cleaner hose end and the vacuum cleaner tool is adjustable by rotating said pivot joint.