Abstract:
A hose and wand assembly for a domestic appliance includes a flexible hose portion, a rigid wand portion and a handgrip portion. The hose terminates in a curved end portion which couples to the wand in such a manner that the hose is able to swivel about the longitudinal axis of the wand. The end portion has an outlet which communicates with the interior of the wand. A support is located on the outer wall of the end portion upstream of the outlet. The support is capable of pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the rigid wand portion. The hose is also rotatable with respect to the wand about the longitudinal axis of the hose.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a hose and wand assembly for a domestic appliance, particularly but not exclusively for a vacuum cleaner. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cylinder vacuum cleaners generally comprise a main body containing separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow. The airflow is introduced to the main body via a hose and wand assembly to the distal end of which is normally attached a cleaning tool. The hose and wand assembly comprises a rigid wand portion which is attached to the main body via a flexible hose. The flexible hose is commonly connected to the wand portion by way of a rotatable coupling which allows the flexible hose to rotate about its own axis whilst remaining coupled to the rigid wand portion. A handgrip portion is commonly located at the end of the rigid wand portion remote from the cleaning tool and adjacent the flexible hose. By means of the gripping portion, the cleaning tool is manoeuvered over the surface to be cleaned so as to introduce dirt-laden air to the main body. The dirt can then be separated from the airflow and retained in the main body whilst the cleaned air is returned to the environment. 
   Upright vacuum cleaners normally include a main body containing dirt and dust separating apparatus to which dirt-laden air is introduced via a ground-engaging cleaning head mounted on the body. However, many upright vacuum cleaners are convertible into cylinder cleaners by way of a hose and wand assembly which can optionally be brought into operation in place of the ground-engaging cleaning head. The hose and wand assembly normally used in connection with an upright vacuum cleaner has the same general construction as that described above in relation to cylinder cleaners. Other domestic appliances such as carpet shampooing machines can include hose and wand assemblies of the same type. 
   A difficulty associated with conventional hose and wand assemblies is that they can be cumbersome and difficult to manoeuvre, particularly when accessing restricted areas and when the hose becomes distorted due to an excessive amount of twisting. Also, in order to allow a sufficient length of flexible hose for most purposes, and in order to ensure that the incoming air is not restricted whilst passing along the hose, a flexible hose of substantial length and diameter has to be provided. In order to provide sufficient durability, the flexible hose therefore has to be made of a durable material and this can result in the hose being relatively heavy which inevitably causes some restrictions to the manoeuverability of the hose and wand assembly and/or the floor tool carried thereby. Hoses along which electrical conductors must be provided can be heavier still, and are sometimes less flexible. A further difficulty with conventional hose and wand assemblies is that, in order to achieve good pick-up results, the cleaning tool must be pressed firmly to the floor or carpet. This means that the hose, which can be bulky and/or heavy, must be lifted further off the ground which is inconvenient for the user and adds to the load and stresses acting on the user&#39;s hand and wrist. The loads and stresses acting on the user&#39;s hand can also be increased if the user chooses to move the body of the cleaner across the floor by pulling either the hose or the handle of the wand in the desired direction. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,883 describes a hose and wand assembly for a vacuum cleaner in which a rigid elbow is interposed between a suction pipe (wand) and a hose, the elbow having a rotating knuckle joint which allows the hose to rotate with respect to the pipe. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a hose and wand assembly for a domestic appliance in which the manoeuverability is improved. It is a further object of the invention to provide a hose and wand assembly for a domestic appliance which, in use, reduces the loads and stresses applied to the user&#39;s hand. 
   The invention provides a hose and wand assembly for a domestic appliance comprising a flexible hose portion connectable to a body of the appliance, a rigid wand portion attachable to or including a tool for use with the appliance, and a handgrip portion attached to the rigid wand portion, the rigid wand portion being manoeuvrable, in use, by means of the handgrip portion, the flexible hose portion terminating in a curved end portion which couples to the rigid wand portion in such a manner that the flexible hose portion is able to swivel about the longitudinal axis of the rigid wand portion, the end portion having an outlet which communicates with the interior of the wand, and wherein the end portion has a support on the outer wall thereof, the support being located upstream of the outlet and capable of pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the rigid wand portion. 
   By coupling the rigid wand portion to the flexible hose portion in a manner which allows swivelling about the longitudinal axis of the rigid wand portion, many of the stresses developed within the flexible hose portion during normal use of the hose and which are transmitted to the rigid wand assembly are eliminated. The flexible hose portion is able to swivel with respect to the rigid wand portion in response to any torsional stresses developed so that the stresses which would otherwise be transmitted to the wand are reduced or eliminated. In this way, the user of the domestic appliance is not required to apply physical forces to overcome the torsional stresses which might otherwise be developed. The position of the tool is thereby easier to control and the manoeuverability of the tool over the surface to be cleaned is improved. 
   By supporting the end portion of the hose at a position upstream of the outlet, the hose is rotatably coupled to the wand. This significantly reduces the proportion of the weight of the hose which is borne by the connection between the outlet of the hose and the wand. This allows the hose to rotate more freely with respect to the wand and also reduces the likelihood of the seal at the outlet from becoming damaged. 
   It will be appreciated that the curved end portion of the hose could be a smoothly curved arc, an angled part or any other non-straight conduit that causes the hose to extend away from the wand in a different direction to the longitudinal axis of the wand. 
   These improvements to the conventional hose and wand assembly have particular application to domestic appliances, specifically vacuum cleaners. They have particular benefits for elderly and disabled users. However, by eliminating unwanted stresses which might otherwise be applied to a user&#39;s hand and wrist, the improvements can also be beneficial to all users. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a cylinder vacuum cleaner incorporating a hose and wand assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of part of the hose and wand assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the part shown in  FIG. 2  taken from the other side; and 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are first and second rear views respectively of the part shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , illustrating two different positions of the hose portion with respect to the pipe portion thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The vacuum cleaner  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  comprises a main body  12  having a handle  14 , supporting wheels  16  and separating apparatus  18 . The separating apparatus  18  illustrated in this embodiment takes the form of a cyclonic separating device of a type known to be used in domestic vacuum cleaners. A full description of this type of separating apparatus can be found in EP 0 042 723B but this arrangement does not form part of the present invention. Indeed, the separating apparatus  18  illustrated in  FIG. 1  could quite adequately be replaced by the more conventional bag-type separator or other separation apparatus if desired. The main body  12  also houses other essential components of a vacuum cleaner; namely, an electrically operated motor, a fan driven by the motor and arranged to develop suction within the separating apparatus  18 , filters designed and located so as to protect the fan and motor, an electric cable for connection to a mains supply and an on/off control switch. All of these components, none of which are specifically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , are well known and commonly present in domestic vacuum cleaners. 
   The vacuum cleaner  10  also includes a hose and wand assembly  20 . The hose and wand assembly  20  comprises a flexible hose portion  22  which is connected at its proximal end and in a known manner to the main body  12  via a connecting socket (not shown). The connecting socket leads directly to a dirty air inlet of the separating apparatus  18 . The hose portion  22  is constrained and held in a fixed position by a collar  24  located on an arm  26  which projects forwardly from a lower portion  28  of the main body  12 , in a currently known manner. 
   The hose portion  22  is manufactured from a durable plastics material using any known, standard construction. The hose portion  22  also carries a tool holder  30  on which three accessory tools  32  are conveniently stored. 
   The hose and wand assembly  20  also comprises a rigid wand portion  34 , the interior of which communicates with the distal end of the hose portion  22 . The wand portion  34  consists of two telescopically-slidable portions so that the overall length of the wand portion  34  can be adjusted to suit the needs of the user of the vacuum cleaner  10 . The end of the wand portion  34  remote from the hose portion  22  is adapted and arranged to receive a floor tool  36  in any known manner. For example, the floor tool  36  can be connected to the wand portion  34  by means of an interference fit, interconnecting bayonet fittings, snap-fit connections, a screw threaded collar and sleeve, or by any other suitable means. It is highly advantageous if the floor tool  36  is connectable to the wand portion  34  by means which will also allow the accessory tools  32  to be connected to the wand portion  34  as and when desired. It will be appreciated that the means by which the portions of the wand portion are telescopically moveable, and the means by which the floor tool  36  and/or the accessory tools  32  are connected to the wand portion  34 , are immaterial to the present invention. 
   A handgrip portion  38  is attached to the end of the wand portion  34  adjacent its connection with the hose portion  22 . The handgrip portion  38  includes a gripping portion  40  which is designed and located so as to be grasped by a user of the vacuum cleaner  10 . When the gripping portion  40  is grasped by the user, the user is able to manoeuvre the floor tool  36  (or other accessory tool  32  attached to the distal end of the wand portion  34 ) across a surface to be cleaned so as to introduce dirt-laden air into the separating apparatus  18  via the wand portion  34  and the flexible hose portion  22 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show the connection between the hose portion  22  and the wand portion  34  in the vicinity of the handgrip portion  38 . As can be seen, the end of the wand portion  34  to which the hose portion  22  is connected comprises a hollow tube portion  42 . The hollow tube portion  42  extends on a first side thereof in a direction away from the wand portion  34  so as to form a support member  44  for the gripping portion  40 . A first end of the gripping portion  40  is rigidly attached to the support member  44  and the gripping portion  40  is contoured and shaped so as to be comfortably grasped by a user of the vacuum cleaner  10 . A second end of the gripping portion  40  is connected to a second support member  46  forming part of the handgrip portion  38 . The second support member  46  is rigidly connected to the hollow tube portion  42 . A control button  48  is provided on the gripping portion  40  so as to be immediately accessible to the user. Electrical connectors (not shown) connecting the control button  48  to the appropriate control devices within the vacuum cleaner  10  are housed within the second support member  46  and lead to appropriate contacts and connections within the vacuum cleaner. A button  50  for manually operating a bleed valve (not shown) is provided on the gripping portion  40 . The bleed valve does not form part of the present invention. 
   An opening  52  is formed on the side of the support member  44  remote from the handgrip portion  38 . The interior of the hollow tube portion  42  is shaped so as to form a circular socket  54  having an internal diameter similar to that of the rest of the wand portion  34 . A resilient lip  56  is formed on the internal surface of the hollow tube portion  44  a short distance from the circular socket  54 . 
   An internal wall  58  is located inside the support member  44  and extends across the interior thereof on the side of the opening  52  remote from the wand portion  34 . A peg  60  extends through an aperture in the internal wall  58  from the side thereof remote from the wand portion  34  to the opposite side. The peg  60  protrudes into the cavity between the internal wall  58  and the circular socket  54 . 
   The hose portion  22  comprises an end portion  62  to which the flexible hose  64  is attached. The flexible hose  64  is attached to the end portion  62  in such a manner that the flexible hose is able to rotate about the longitudinal axis L thereof at the point at which the connection is made. Essentially, the end  64   a  of the flexible hose  62  is received in a socket  62   a  of the end portion  62  in a snap-fit manner which also allows the end  64   a  to rotate freely within the socket  62   a.    
   The end portion  62  comprises a conduit which is curved in side view. The distal end of the end portion  62 , i.e. the end remote from the flexible hose  64 , is dimensioned so as to fit with little or no play into the circular socket  54 . A lip seal  66  is provided around the end of the end portion  62  which is received within the circular socket  54 . This end of the end portion  62  also includes a circumferential groove  68  located and adapted to receive the resilient lip  56  when the end portion  62  is properly located within the circular socket  54 . A projection  70  is also provided on the external surface of the end portion  62  in order to limit axial movement of the end portion  62  within the circular socket  54 . 
   Located on the wall of the end portion  62 , at a position which intersects with the longitudinal axis X of the wand portion  34 , is a supporting lug  72 . The supporting lug  72  is generally cylindrical in shape and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The supporting lug  72  has a blind bore  74  located therein, the blind bore  74  also extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis X. The blind bore  74  is dimensioned so as to receive the peg  60  in a freely rotatable manner. An aperture  76  is provided in the wall of the support member  44  adjacent the head of the peg  60 . The aperture  76  is dimensioned so as to receive a channel  78  which is mounted on the end portion  62  of the hose portion  22 . The channel  78  is dimensioned and adapted to carry electrical conductors (not shown) extending between the flexible hose  64  and the control button  48 . 
   When the hose portion  22  is connected to the wand portion  34 , the end portion  62  is inserted into the circular socket  54  as far as the projection  70  will allow. In this position, the resilient lip  56  engages with the circumferential groove  68  so as to prevent the end portion  62  from being withdrawn. The lip seal  66  engages with the interior surface of the hollow tube portion  42  in a manner which will allow relative rotation between the wand portion  34  and the end portion  62  about the longitudinal axis X. 
   At the same time as the end portion  62  is engaged within the circular socket  54 , the blind bore  74  in the supporting lug  72  becomes axially aligned with the peg  60 . The channel  78  passes through the aperture  76  into the interior of the support member  44  so as to provide a passageway for the electrical connectors. The co-operation of the peg  60  and the blind bore  74  means that the end portion  62  is held within the support member  44  whilst allowing relative rotation between the end portion  62  and the wand portion  34  about the longitudinal axis X. The peg  60  can be screw-threaded to ensure that the peg  60  cannot become disengaged from the blind bore  74 . 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gripping portion  40  of the handgrip portion  38  is located on the side of the coupling between the hose portion  22  and the wand portion  34  which is remote from the wand portion  34 . In other words, the gripping portion  40  is located so that, when the vacuum cleaner  10  is in use, the gripping portion  40  is behind the coupling and therefore closer to the user than the coupling. This is also beneficial to the user from the point of view of reducing the amount of stress applied to the user&#39;s hand and wrist during operation of the vacuum cleaner  10 . 
   As can also be seen from  FIG. 3 , the angle a between the longitudinal axis L of the flexible hose portion  22  and the longitudinal axis X of the wand portion  34  is less than 120°. In the embodiment illustrated, the angle a is substantially 115°. This is quite considerably less than the angle between the same axes in prior art arrangements, this angle normally being as great as 135° or 140°. By reducing the angle a to substantially 115°, the portion of the hose and wand assembly  20  is better balanced than in known arrangements so that, when the floor tool  36  is pressed onto the floor or surface to be cleaned, the hose portion  22  does not need to be lifted as far as has previously been required. Again, stresses applied to the user&#39;s hand and wrist are reduced. 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , the hose portion  22  can be swivellingly turned about the longitudinal axis X of the wand portion  34 . The limits of angular rotation are at least 60° but are more preferably as great as 90°. This free rotation between the portions of the hose and wand assembly  20  means that torsional forces which might otherwise have been generated within the assembly during use thereof are either not so generated or are absorbed. Torsional forces which might have been developed within the hose are therefore not passed on to the wand portion  34  and, more particularly, to the handgrip portion  38 . This means that the user of the vacuum cleaner  10  does not have to apply physical forces to the vacuum cleaner in order to counter the torsional forces which might otherwise have acted upon the users hand. The manoeuverability of the hose and wand assembly is thereby greatly improved which means that the vacuum cleaner as a whole is easier to use. 
   It will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the embodiment illustrated above. For example, the type of separating apparatus contained within the main body  12  can, as mentioned previously, be cyclonic or of the more conventional bag configuration. Neither is the design of the wand portion relevant to the present invention: the wand portion need not be made telescopic if this feature is not required. Other variations and alternative configurations, for example of the handgrip portion, will be apparent to a skilled reader.