Flexible crevice tool attachment for vacuum appliances
First Claim
1. An accessory tool for a vacuum appliance, the tool comprising:
- an extended tool body;
an attachment end of the extended body for slidably mounting the tool to a hose assembly connected to the vacuum appliance;
a nozzle end longitudinally spaced apart from the attachment end and having an air flow entrance; and
a self-supporting, flexible region integrally formed with and intermediate between the attachment end and the nozzle end, wherein the flexible region comprises a support skeleton consisting of a semi-rigid material, the support skeleton comprising an upper support spine and a lower, opposite support spine, a plurality of support ribs extending between the upper and lower support spines and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the support ribs forming rib spaces between the individual ribs; and
wherein the flexible region further comprises a flexible layer extending over an outer surface of the plurality of support ribs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible accessory tool for a vacuum appliance is described, comprising an elongated body with a body portion having an attachment end, a nozzle end spaced apart from the attachment end and having an opening formed therein, and a flexible intermediate region for imparting flexibility to the accessory tool during use. The flexible intermediate region is made up of a rigid skeleton portion having a one or more ribs and support struts, over which a layer of non air-permeable flexible material is applied. During use, the flexible accessory tool may be bent to extreme angles in order to reach and clean debris from hard to reach areas, while not suffering from a decrease in vacuum air flow through the tool as it flexes.
44 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An accessory tool for a vacuum appliance, the tool comprising:
- an extended tool body;
an attachment end of the extended body for slidably mounting the tool to a hose assembly connected to the vacuum appliance;
a nozzle end longitudinally spaced apart from the attachment end and having an air flow entrance; and
a self-supporting, flexible region integrally formed with and intermediate between the attachment end and the nozzle end, wherein the flexible region comprises a support skeleton consisting of a semi-rigid material, the support skeleton comprising an upper support spine and a lower, opposite support spine, a plurality of support ribs extending between the upper and lower support spines and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the support ribs forming rib spaces between the individual ribs; and
wherein the flexible region further comprises a flexible layer extending over an outer surface of the plurality of support ribs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- an extended tool body;
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7. A flexible accessory tool for a vacuum appliance, the tool comprising:
- an extended body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
an attachment end located at a first end of the extended body for slidably mounting the tool to a hose assembly connected to the vacuum appliance;
a nozzle end spaced longitudinally apart from the attachment end and having an air flow entrance formed therein a self-supporting, flexible region integrally formed with and intermediate between the attachment end and the nozzle end, wherein the flexible region comprises a support skeleton, the support skeleton comprising;
an upper support spine;
a lower support spine located opposite the upper support spine; and
a plurality of support ribs extending between the upper support spine and the lower support spine and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body of the tool, the support ribs forming rib spaces in between the individual ribs; and
a non air-permeable flexible material extending over the one or more support ribs. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- an extended body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
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12. An accessory tool for a vacuum appliance, the tool consisting essentially of:
- a hollow, tubular body portion with a working air passageway formed therein about a central longitudinal axis, the body having an attachment end at a first end of the tubular body portion for attachment to a vacuum appliance;
an elongated, tapered body region extending from a second, opposite end of the tubular body portion;
a nozzle opening located at the distal end of the tapered body region for the fluid uptake of debris-containing air into the working air passageway of the tool; and
, an elongated flexing region spaced intermediate between the tapered body region and the nozzle opening, wherein the elongated flexing region comprises a support skeleton consisting of a semi-rigid material, the support skeleton comprising;
an upper support spine;
a lower support spine located opposite the upper support spine;
a plurality of support ribs extending between the upper and lower support spines and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, the support ribs forming a plurality of rib spaces between the individual ribs; and
further comprising an elastomeric material overmolded over an outer surface of the elongated flexing region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- a hollow, tubular body portion with a working air passageway formed therein about a central longitudinal axis, the body having an attachment end at a first end of the tubular body portion for attachment to a vacuum appliance;
Specification