Patent ID: 8210577
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: A47L,F16L

Abstract:
1. In combination: a fluid blower; a first tubular element having a first axis, a first portion with a radially outwardly facing surface and a first connecting assembly with a first circumferentially facing surface; and a second tubular element having a second portion with a second axis, a radially inwardly facing surface, and a second connecting assembly with a second circumferentially facing surface, the first and second tubular elements made from a moldable, non-metallic material, the first portion extendable within the second portion so that the radially inwardly facing surface on the second tubular element surrounds the radially outwardly facing surface on the first tubular element and the radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces engage to produce a frictional holding force between the first and second tubular elements, the first and second tubular elements positionable in a first relative axial position wherein relative movement of the first and second tubular elements around the first and second axes between a) a first relative rotational position and b) a second relative rotational position causes the first and second connecting assemblies to cooperate to draw the first and second portions axially towards each other, the first and second connecting assemblies cooperating so that the first and second circumferentially facing surfaces confront each other with the first and second tubular elements in the second relative rotational position to thereby block relative movement of the first and second tubular elements from the second relative rotational position back into the first relative rotational position, one of the first and second portions having a third circumferentially facing surface that confronts one of a) one of the first and second circumferentially facing surfaces on the other of the first and second portions and b) a fourth circumferentially facing surface on the other of the first and second portions, with the first and second tubular elements relatively moved around the first and second axes from the first relative rotational position past the second relative rotational position into a third relative rotational position to thereby block relative movement of the first and second tubular elements from the third relative rotational position back into the second relative rotational position, the first and second tubular elements connected to the fluid blower so that fluid propelled by the fluid blower is directed through the first and second tubular elements, wherein the first portion has a first radially outwardly extending projection and the second portion has a first groove in which the first projection guidingly moves as the first and second tubular elements are changed between the first and second relative rotational positions, wherein the first radially outwardly extending projection defines the first circumferentially facing surface and the second circumferentially facing surface resides in a path traveled by the first radially outwardly extending projection as the first and second tubular elements are changed between the first and second relative rotational positions, wherein the first and second tubular elements are positionable in a second relative axial position wherein relative movement of the first and second tubular elements from the first relative rotational position into the second relative rotational position causes the first and second connecting assemblies to draw the first and second portions axially towards each other further than with the first and second tubular elements in the first relative axial position and the first and second tubular elements moved from the first relative rotational position into the second relative rotational position so that the frictional holding force between the first and second tubular elements with the first and second tubular elements in the second relative axial position and changed from the first relative rotational position into the second relative rotational position is greater than the frictional holding force between the first and second tubular elements with the first and second tubular elements in the first relative axial position and changed from the first relative rotational position into the second relative rotational position, the first and second tubular elements movable between the first and second relative axial positions without requiring relative rotational movement between the first and second tubular elements around the first and second axes.