Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner hose clip is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner hose clip includes a first curvilinear arm adapted to wrap partially around a portion of a vacuum cleaner hose, and a second curvilinear arm adapted to wrap completely around a second portion of a vacuum cleaner hose to hold the vacuum cleaner hose portions together. The clip further includes a locking mechanism to secure the second curvilinear arm in position around the vacuum hose.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, relates to apparatus for maintaining and storing vacuum cleaner hoses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many vacuum cleaners include flexible hoses which enable a user to reach numerous locations without moving the entire vacuum. For example, in a typical canister type of household vacuum cleaner, the flexible hose may be attached to a swivel coupling provided at the top of the canister to enable the hose to rotate and reach numerous locations. When the user has completed using the vacuum cleaner, the cleaner is typically then placed in a closet or other suitable storage space with the vacuum cleaner hose simply being haphazardly placed in with the vacuum cleaner. 
     However, with wet/dry vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner often remains within a given work space, such as a shop floor or the like. While such units typically include wheels or caster feet to enable the vacuum cleaner to be moved, the vacuum cleaner hose typically remains attached to the wet/dry vacuum cleaner and does not lend itself to tidy and concise storage. As a result, the hose either remains attached to the vacuum cleaner and occupies space on the shop floor in an unorganized and potentially unsafe manner or else the user is forced to create an independent solution such as tying the hose together with external fasteners or removing the hose from the cleaner and storing it separately. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,899 discloses one attempt at a mechanism enabling a vacuum cleaner hose to be clipped together. The clip includes first and second substantially c-shaped sections connected in mirror image relationship to one another. However, the two substantially c-shaped sections provide relatively large, opposed, inlets for receipt of the vacuum hose. As a result, forces imparted to one and/or both of the hoses in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis cutting through the hose clip can cause one or both of the hoses to be removed from the clip. This not only can result in the hose becoming loose, but can also tend to cause the clip to be lost as it is removed from the hose. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner hose clip is provided which comprises a first curvilinear member having first and second ends, a bridge having first and second ends, and a second curvilinear member having first and second ends. The bridge first end is connected to the second end of the first curvilinear member. The first end of the second curvilinear member is connected to the second end of the bridge. The second curvilinear member is adapted to move from a release position wherein the second end of the second curvilinear member is spaced apart from the bridge to a locking position wherein the second end of the second curvilinear member is engaging the bridge. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner hose clip adapted to hold first and second vacuum cleaner hose portions together is provided which comprises a first arm and a second arm. The first arm forms an incomplete loop and is adapted to partially surround a first hose portion. The second arm is connected to the first arm and forms an incomplete loop. The second arm is adapted to partially surround a second hose portion. The first and second arms form a substantially s-shaped hose clip. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is provided which comprises a tank, a vacuum source associated with the tank, a hose connected to an inlet of the vacuum source, and a hose clip connected to the hose. The vacuum hose is adapted to draw matter into the tank. The hose clip includes first and second arms wherein the first arm wraps around the entire circumference of the hose, and the second arm is partially wrapped around the circumference of the hose. 
     These and other aspects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric, fragmentary, view of portions of a vacuum cleaner hose connected by a hose clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention and depicted in a release position; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the hose clip of FIG. 3, but depicted in a locking position; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It is to understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention is generally depicted by reference numeral  20 . While the vacuum cleaner  20  depicted is in the form of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, it is to be understood that other types of vacuum cleaners may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention, including household canister and hand-held vacuums. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner  20  includes the tank  22  to which a lid  24  is removably attached. The lid includes handles  26  to facilitate lifting of the vacuum cleaner  20  as well as removal of the lid  24  when disposal at the contents of the tank  22  is desired. Casters  28  are attached to tank  22  to allow the vacuum cleaner  20  to be easily moved about a worksite. 
     A vacuum source  30  is mounted within the lid  24  and includes an inlet  32  for receipt of debris, as well as an outlet (not shown) in fluid communication with the tank  22 . A flexible vacuum hose  34  includes an outlet  36  connected to the inlet  32  of the vacuum source  30 , as well as an inlet  38  which is adapted to mate with various vacuum tools such as nozzles and brushes (not shown). U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,596, assigned to the present assignee and expressly incorporated herein by reference, discloses one example of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a section of the vacuum hose  34  depicted in FIG. 1 is shown in detail with a hose clip  40  connecting a first portion  42  of the vacuum hose  34  to a second portion  44  of the vacuum hose  34  in a concise arrangement. As a result, the vacuum hose  34  can remain attached to the vacuum  20 , but in a concise and out-of-the-way manner. 
     The hose clip  40  is adapted to move from a release position depicted in FIG. 3, to a locking position as depicted in FIG.  4 . The release position enables the second portion  44  of the vacuum hose  34  to be removed from the hose clip  40 , while the locking position enables the second portion  44  of the hose clip  40  to be maintained on the hose clip  34 . 
     More specifically, the hose clip  40  includes a first curvilinear arm  46  connected to a second curvilinear arm  48 . An expanse of material between the first curvilinear arm  46  and second curvilinear arm  48  forms a bridge  50 . The first curvilinear arm  46  forms a partial loop defining an inlet space  52 . A first end  54  of the first curvilinear arm  46  is spaced away from the bridge  50  a distance α, thereby forming an entryway  56  to the inlet space  52 . 
     In regard to the second curvilinear arm  48 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is adapted to either form a continuous loop (FIG.  4 ), or a partial loop (FIG.  3 ). In either position, the second curvilinear arm  48  forms an inlet space  58 . In the release position, a second end  60  of the second curvilinear arm  48  is spaced away from the bridge  50  a distance β, thereby forming an entryway  62  to the inlet space  58 . 
     The second end  60  of the second curvilinear arm  48  terminates in a hook  64  adapted to mate with a clasp  66  attached to the bridge  50 . The hook  64  includes a ledge  68 , a wall  70  and a lip  72 . The lip  72  terminates in a increased thickness detent  74 . The clasp  66  includes a canted wall  76 , as well as a leg  78  terminating in a increased thickness detent  80 . As shown in FIG. 4, when the hook  64  mates with the clasp  66 , the increased thickness detent  74  flexes the leg  78  away from the bridge  50  sufficiently to allow the detent  74  to pass by the detent  80  and into a socket  82  to frictionally secure the hook  64  to a clasp  66 . The hook  64  and clasp  66  therefore form a locking assembly  84 . In alternative embodiments, other forms of retainers are possible to connect the arm  48  to the bridge  50 . 
     In operation, the second curvilinear arm  48  is primarily designed to remain attached completely around a circumference  86  of a vacuum hose  34 . In so doing, the likelihood of hose clip  40  being lost is lessened. Conversely, the first arm  46  is adapted to allow the vacuum hose  34  to be removed therefrom when the vacuum cleaner  20  is in use, and allow the vacuum hose  34  to be easily reinserted when storage of the vacuum hose  34  is desired. To facilitate this action, the hose clip  40  is preferably manufactured from a resilient material such as plastic to enable the first and second arms  46  and  48  to easily deflect. 
     Since the second curvilinear arm  48  is designed to wrap completely around the circumference  86  of the vacuum hose  34 , and the entry way  56  to inlet space  52  is provided substantially orthogonal to the bridge  50 , the clip  40  has greater ability, as opposed to prior art mechanisms, to withstand forces tending to pull the hose clip portions  42  and  44  apart in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis A passing through the clip  40 . 
     FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of the hose clip  40  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention. The hose clip  40  is similar to the aforementioned embodiment but additionally includes brackets  86  to facilitate attachment of the hose clip  40  to a wall, table, or the like. In so doing the hose  34  can be removed from the vacuum cleaner  20  and conveniently stored separately. 
     As depicted, the brackets  86  laterally flank the second curvilinear arm  48 , although the brackets  86 , or other mechanism for attaching the hose clip to a surface, can be located in a different location on the hose clip  40  including, but not limited to, the first curvilinear arm  46 . Each bracket  86  includes first and second extensions  88  spaced by a recess  90 . The recess  90  is sized so as to allow a fastener, such as a screw or nail (not shown), to extend therethrough. When mounted to a wall or the like, the heads of the fasteners would engage the brackets  86  and sandwich the brackets  86  between the fastener heads and the surface to which the hose clip  40  is attached. In alternative embodiments, the clip  40  may include other mechanisms for fastening the clip  40  to a surface including, but not limited to, an aperture formed directly in the bridge  50 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts a third embodiment of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the invention. The hose clip  40  is similar in many respects to the first two embodiments and wherein like elements are employed, like reference numerals are used. A difference with the third embodiment is that both arms  46 ,  48  are configured to form partial loops. A hook  64  and clasp  66  arrangement are not provided. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a fourth embodiment of a hose clip constructed in accordance with the invention. The hose clip  40  is similar in many respects to the first three embodiments and wherein like elements are employed, like reference numerals are used. A difference with the fourth embodiment is that both arms  46 ,  48  are configured to form a complete loop adapted to completely surround a hose. First and second sets of hooks  64  and clasps  66  are provided. 
     From the foregoing, one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention provides an apparatus which enables vacuum hose portions to be readily and neatly stored, with greater ability to withstand forces tending to pull the hoses apart.