Flexible crevice tool for vacuum cleaners

• US 9,277,845 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Aaron P., Fester, Joseph A., Miner, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/684,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,287 Days
• Field of Search: 154/151, 154/14, 154/17, 154/20, 153/001
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/04 for using the exhaust air for other purposes, e.g. for distribution of chemicals in a room, for sterilisation of the air spraying or atomising in general B05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprises an elongated body having a plurality of furrows for imparting flexibility to the accessory tool. The elongated body is further be made of a material that is selected to impart flexibility to the accessory tool so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 45° without kinking or breaking in a direction transverse to and laterally of elongated cross-sectional configuration.

Claims

1. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion having an exterior surface, a substantially smooth interior surface defining an air flow channel, and a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the air flow channel for ingestion of debris-containing air; and

a plurality of spaced furrows formed in the exterior surface transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the furrows having a relatively narrow width as compared with the spacing on each side of the furrows;

wherein the elongated portion has two spaced, straight side walls joined by a curved upper wall and a curved lower wall which together define a cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material that is selected to impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the nozzle opening comprises a rim that lies in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body; and

where the furrows lie in planes that are parallel to the plane of the rim.

2. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the furrows are circumferentially formed in the exterior surface around the elongated portion.

3. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the body is integrally molded in one piece.

4. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated portion is oval in cross-sectional configuration.

5. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated portion tapers toward the nozzle opening.

6. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein at least the elongated portion is made of one of nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

7. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion is bendable about a radius through an angle of at least 45°

without kinking or breaking.

8. The accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle of at least 90°

without kinking or breaking.

9. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion having an exterior surface, a substantially smooth interior surface defining an air flow channel, and a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the air flow channel for ingestion of debris-containing air;

a plurality of spaced furrows formed in the exterior surface transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the furrows having a relatively narrow width as compared with the spacing on each side of the furrows; and

a wire affixed to or within the elongated portion, wherein the wire has sufficiently stiffness and malleability so that the elongated portion can be formed to and can releasably remain in bent position;

wherein the elongated portion has two spaced, straight side walls joined by a curved upper wall and a curved lower wall which together define a cross-sectional configurations perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material that is selected to impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis.

10. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion having an exterior surface, a substantially smooth interior surface, two spaced, straight side walls joined by a curved upper wall and a curved lower wall which together define a cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and a nozzle opening for ingestion of debris-containing air;

a wire affixed to or within the elongated portion, wherein the wire has sufficiently stiffness and malleability so that the elongated portion can be formed to and can releasably remain in bent position; and

a plurality of spaced furrows formed in an exterior surface of the body, the furrows having a relatively narrow width as compared with the spacing on each side of the furrows;

wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material to impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle of at least 45°

without kinking or breaking.

11. The accessory tool of claim 10 wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle of at least 90°

without kinking or breaking.

12. The accessory tool of claim 11 wherein the elongated portion is oval in cross-sectional configuration.

13. The accessory tool of claim 12 wherein the elongated portion tapers toward the nozzle opening.

14. The accessory tool of claim 10 wherein at least the elongated portion is made of one of nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

15. The accessory tool of claim 10 wherein the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle of at least 45°

without kinking or breaking in a direction transverse to and laterally of elongated cross-sectional configuration.

16. A crevice tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose, the attachment end having an opening that extends along a normal axis of the tool;

an elongated portion extending from the attachment end and defining a longitudinal axis of the tool, the elongated portion having two spaced, straight side walls joined by a curved upper wall and a curved lower wall which together define a cross-sectional configuration parallel to the normal axis, and comprising;

an exterior surface;

a substantially smooth interior surface defining an air flow channel; and

a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the air flow channel for ingestion of debris-containing air, wherein the nozzle opening lies in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis and the normal axis; and

a plurality of spaced furrows formed in the exterior surface transverse to the longitudinal axis, the furrows having a relatively narrow width as compared with the spacing on each side of the furrows;

wherein the furrows lie in planes that are parallel to the plane of the nozzle opening, and the furrows impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis.

17. The crevice tool of claim 16, wherein the attachment end comprises a substantially circular cross-section parallel to the normal axis for attachment to a suction hose.