Patent Publication Number: US-7895708-B2

Title: Hose assembly for suction cleaner

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a hose assembly for a suction cleaner (vacuum cleaner), providing a connection between a suction unit and a wand, handle or cleaning tool of the cleaner. 
     The invention has been devised in relation to a suction cleaner of the so called “cylinder” type. This type of cleaner comprises a suction unit having a source of suction (a motor and impeller) and a separator/collector arrangement, for separating entrained dirt from the flow of air created by the source of the suction and for collecting and retaining such separated dirt for appropriate disposal. The separator/collector may include one or more filters for removing the dirt from the air flow and/or one or more “cyclonic” separators in which separation is effected by centrifugal force; the type of separator/collector is of no relevance to the present invention. In use, the suction unit is positioned in the vicinity of where a cleaning operation is being carried out and a flexible suction hose connects the suction unit to a cleaning tool being wielded by a person carrying out the cleaning. For floor cleaning and for cleaning some other surfaces, the cleaning tool usually is connected at the end of a elongate rigid wand, possibly telescopically extendible and contractible, whose other end is connected to the suction hose. 
     Apart from the cylinder type of suction cleaner, the other main type of cleaner is the “upright” type in which a floor cleaning head is provided as part of a generally upstanding suction unit, the whole cleaner being manoeuvrable over a floor surface by an operator. It is known that such a cleaner can have a suction hose either provided on the suction unit and able to be deployed for use with other cleaning tools, or possibly as a separate component, to be attached to the suction unit for use with cleaning tools other than the floor cleaning head. The present invention is also able to be used with the suction unit of an upright type of cleaner, if it has provision for use with a suction hose as above described. 
     Certain cleaning operations are facilitated if the hose of a suction cleaner is as long as possible. For example the cleaning of a stairway is conveniently carried out with the suction unit being positioned at the top or bottom of the stairway, in which case the hose needs to be long enough to enable an operator to clean a reasonable number of stairs therebetween. In most domestic situations, a hose at least four metres long, and possibly longer, is desirable. 
     The most robust and least expensive, and therefore most widely used, type of hose for suction cleaners is of plastics material and corrugated configuration. It is not intended to be extended lengthwise to any significant extent when it is subject to lengthwise tension, at least under the forces likely to be encountered in normal use. However, such a hose of sufficient length to make the cleaner versatile and easy to use in circumstances such as those described above is bulky and hence presents a storage problem, when the cleaner is not in use. Too long a hose can sometimes be inconvenient for other cleaning jobs, and be vulnerable to damage. 
     Suction hoses are known which are able to be extended when subject to lengthwise tension which revert to their original contracted length when no tension is applied. However when a cylinder type of cleaner is in use, the person using it typically drags the suction unit around by pulling on the hose, and this is difficult and impractical with an extendible hose. 
     Hence the provision of a hose of or capable of reaching a reasonable length, without introducing potential disadvantages, is a problem in relation to suction cleaners, and it is broadly the object of the present invention to address this problem. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a hose assembly for a suction cleaner, comprising: 
     a suction hose portion which is able to be extended lengthwise when subject to lengthwise tension and to return to a lengthwise-contracted configuration when relieved of the lengthwise tension, and a support means extending lengthwise of the hose portion and co-operable therewith to constrain at least part of it in its contracted configuration. 
     The support means may be flexible, so that when the hose portion is in its contracted configuration and constrained by the support means it is still able to be bent reasonably freely, and thus used as a relatively short flexible suction hose if required. 
     Various configurations of the support means may be provided in accordance with the invention. In the embodiments described hereafter the support means is of plastics material and includes a wall portion extending along the hose portion adjacent one side thereof, and at least one formation extending circumferentially at least partially around parts of the hose portion. 
     Thus, when the hose portion is contracted, it is constrained by the support means in such a way as to occupy its minimum volume, and to be protected to some extent against sharp bending and the like which might cause damage. It can easily be used for pulling the suction unit of a cylinder cleaner around. 
     Alternatively the support means may be of generally tubular form to enclose at least part of the length of the hose portion when contracted. Possibly it could be of openwork form, comprising a lattice, mesh or the like. 
     The support means preferably has a length which corresponds to the length of the hose portion when it is in its contracted configuration. 
     The hose portion may have a connector at one end, for releasable connection to a suction unit of a suction cleaner, to a further hose portion, to a cleaning tool, or to a handle for connection to a wand or cleaning tool, and the support means may be connected to such a connector. A further connector may be provided at the other end of the hose portion, and the support means be releasably connected to such a further connector, to be releasable therefrom when the hose portion is to be extended. 
     The connectors may be of any appropriate type such as are well known for use in relation to hoses, wands, and cleaning tools of suction cleaners. For example bayonet type connectors may be utilised, or push-fit spigot and socket connectors, connectors incorporating retractable retaining lugs, clips, or the like. 
     A hose assembly in accordance with the invention may further comprise a suction hose portion which is substantially non-extendible in normal use. 
     In this case, the total length of hose available to be used is that of the non-extendible hose portion plus the maximum extended length of the extendible hose portion, the later being available for use when the extendible hose portion has been released from its constraint by the support means. When the extendible hose portion has been contracted and constrained by the support means, the overall length of the hose assembly is much less, so that less volume for its storage is required and the extendible hose portion is less vulnerable to damage when stored (or when it is in use but not in the extended configuration). When the extendible hose portion is contracted, an excess length of hose is less likely to cause a problem or hazard when cleaning operations are being performed which do not require the maximum hose length. 
     In the case of a hose assembly having extendible and non-extendible hose portions, the hose portion which is extendible may be adapted to be connected to a suction unit of a cleaner and the substantially non-extendible hose portion be connected or adapted to be connected to a handle for connection to a cleaning tool. 
     Alternatively the hose portion which is substantially non-extendible may be adapted to be connected to a suction unit, and hose portion which is extendible be connected to a handle for connection to a cleaning tool or wand. 
     In the later case, the support means may be connected to a connector at an end of the extendible hose portion, which provides a connection to the substantially non-extendible hose portion, whilst the support means may be releasably connected to the handle, to be released therefrom when the extendible hose portion is required to be extended. 
     As an alternative to the use of “external” support means for the extendible hose portion, in the case of a hose assembly wherein the extendible hose portion is connected to a handle for connection to a cleaning tool or wand, the support means may comprise a portion of or associated with the handle, forming a chamber within which at least part of the extendible hose portion can be accommodated when it is in its contracted configuration. Such a chamber may be of tubular form, of diameter such that the extendible hose portion can be entered therein when in its contracted configuration and deployed therefrom as required. 
     The end of the extendible hose portion where it is connected or connectable to the non-extendible hose portion may be provided with means by which it can be retained at an open end of the chamber whence it can be deployed. For example a connector between the extendible and non-extendible hose portions may have a formation engageable with the handle, e.g. by bayonet, clip, friction-retention, or other means. 
     The end of the extendible hose portion remote from the non-extendible hose portion may be moveable lengthwise within the chamber but arranged to be held captive at an open end of the chamber so as not to be removable therefrom, unless required. 
     These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagramatic illustration of a hose assembly used with a cylinder type of vacuum cleaner; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a first embodiment of hose assembly in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a second embodiment of hose assembly in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a further embodiment of a hose assembly in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, this illustrates diagrammatically the suction unit  10  of a cylinder type of suction cleaner, having a body  11  within which is disposed a source of suction i.e. an electric motor and an impeller, and a separator/collector arrangement for separating dirt from the flow of air created by the source of suction and for collecting and retaining such separated dirt for appropriate disposal. A suction hose  12  is connected to an inlet on the body  11 , one end of the hose  12  having a fitting  13  e.g. a bayonet fitting for detachable connection of the hose  12  to the inlet on the body  11 . At the opposite end of the hose  12  to the end connected to the suction unit  10 , the hose is connected to a handle  14  having a curved (or other form) tubular part  15  affording a passage for suction air flow from an inlet to the hose  12 , and a manually-graspable part  16 . For ease of use, the connections of the hose  12  to the fitting  13  and handle  14  will usually allow for swivelling of the hose relative to the handle and the fitting  13  or body  11 , about the axis of the air flow passages established with these parts. 
     The handle  14  provides an inlet connection at  17  to a cleaning tool, e.g. an upholstery tool, crevice tool, dusting brush or the like, or, as shown in  FIG. 1  to a wand  18  which may be in one or two parts and rigid or telescopically extendible. The connection  17  may be a push-on fit, or any other type of connection. A floor cleaning tool  19  is shown connected at the lower end of the wand  18 , and the handle  14  and wand  18  enable a user to manoeuvre the head  19  over a floor surface being cleaned. 
     The hose  12  is typically of a plastics material and of corrugated configuration to enable it to be bent relatively easily as may be required in use. Whilst such a hose inevitably has some ability to extend under lengthwise tension, it is intended not to extend to any significant degree under normal loads encountered in use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , these show part of a hose assembly in accordance with the invention. 
     In these figures, a length of hose which preferably is substantially non-extendible and corresponds to the hose  12  shown in  FIG. 1  is indicated at  20 . A connection  21 , which may be the same type of connection by which the hose  12  is connected to the tubular part  15  of handle  14 , connects the hose portion  20  to a hose portion  22  which is extendible when subject to lengthwise tension. A typical construction of such hose incorporates a helical springy metal element within a relatively flexible tubular plastics covering, the springy characteristics of the metal element causing the hose to contract to its shortest length when it is not under lengthwise tension. The opposite end of the hose portion  22  is connected to a handle assembly  23 . 
     The handle assembly  23  comprises a front portion  24  with an inlet spigot  25  for connection to a wand or cleaning tool. The spigot  25  may be tapered, for a push fit to the tool or wand, retained by friction therebetween. Rearwardly of the spigot  25 , the handle  23  has a part  26  of tubular configuration, within which the end region of the hose portion  22  can lie, either in its contracted configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 , or extended as shown in  FIG. 3 . Above its part  26 , the handle  23  has a manually-graspable part  29 . 
     A support means indicated generally at  30  is provided for the extendible hose portion  22 . This is a moulding of a flexible plastics material, e.g. polypropylene, whose length corresponds to the length of the second hose portion which lies outside the handle  23  when the hose portion is contracted. The support means  30  has an end  31  which embraces the second hose portion closely adjacent its connection  21  to the first hose portion  20 , and which secures the support means to the second hose portion. The support means further comprises a wall portion  32  which extends alongside the second hose portion  22  and formations  33 ,  34  which extend circumferentially at least partially around corresponding parts of the extendible hose portion. These formations allow the hose portion to be extended and contracted through the formations. At the front of the formation  34 , the support means  30  has a formation  35  by which it can be detachably connected to the handle  29 , e.g. by means of a releasable clip. 
     When the extendible hose portion  22  is contracted to its shortest length and the support means  30  connected to the handle  23 , the support means holds the extendible hose portion in its contracted configuration and protects it to some extent by preventing it from being bent too tightly or kinked. In this condition, the hose can be used up to the total of the length of the first hose portion  20  and the contracted length of the hose portion  22 . If the handle is pulled to move the suction unit of the cleaner around, the support means transmits the pulling force to the hose portion  20 , relieving the extendible hose portion  22  of tension forces. If a greater length of hose is required, the support means can be released from the handle  23 , and, by pulling on the handle to subject the hose to lengthwise tension, the extendible hose portion can be extended up to its maximum extended length. In doing this, the extendible hose portion  22  pulls through the formations  33 ,  34  on the support means. When the greater length of hose is no longer required, the extendible hose portion can be allowed to contract until the support means can be reconnected to the handle  23 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings, these show an alternative arrangement of hose assembly in accordance with the invention. A first hose portion of substantially non-extendible hose is indicated at  40 , and a second hose portion of extendible hose at  41 . The hose portions are joined by a connector  42  which has outwardly extending lugs  43 . The free end of the extendible hose portion  41  has a cuff  44 . 
     A handle assembly is indicated generally at  45 , and this comprises a body part  46  which is curved and of tubular configuration defining an internal tubular chamber  47  able to accommodate the second hose portion  41  when in its contracted configuration. At its front end, the body part  46  of the handle has a inlet spigot  48  for engagement with a wand or cleaning tool as above described and at the front end of the chamber  47  adjacent the spigot  48  there is an internal flange  49  with which the cuff  44  at the end of the hose portion  41  engages when the hose portion  41  is fully accommodated in the chamber  47 . At the opposite, rear, end of the body part  46  of the handle the body has formations for bayonet type engagement by the lugs  43  on the connector  42 , this engagement being shown at  50  in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. Other types of engagement could be utilised instead of bayonet engagement. The free end of the body part  46  beyond the engaging formation is flared outwardly as indicated at  51 , to provide a smooth surface for contact by the hose portion  41  when it is deployed for use as described hereafter. Also adjacent this end of the body part  46 , there is a retaining clip  52  which is engageable with the cuff at the free end of the hose portion  41 , to retain it within the body part  46 , but which can be operated to disengage it from the cuff  44  to release the hose portion  41  completely from the handle assembly  45 . 
     Above the body part  46 , the handle assembly has a hand grip part  55  shaped for comfortable holding by a user. 
     In use of the hose assembly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the connector  42  is engaged with the body part  46  and the handle assembly  45 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the length of hose available to be used is the length of the substantially non-extendible first hose portion  40 . If a greater length of hose is required, the connector  42  can be disengaged from the handle assembly by a small angular movement and pulling, and then when the handle assembly is pulled further away from the hose portion  40  the extendible hose portion  41  is extended to deploy from the chamber  47 . The cuff  44  at the end of the extendible hose portion  41  will slide rearwardly within the chamber  47  until it reaches the retaining clip  52  preventing further such movement. The length of hose available to be used is then the total of the length of the non-extendible hose portion  40  plus the extended length of the extendible hose portion  41 . The flared end of the body part  47  of the handle assembly provides a smooth entry and exit of the extendible hose portion relative to the chamber  47 , during its deployment and use. After use, the extendible hose portion  41  can be contracted and fed back into the chamber  47  until the connector  42  is able to be engaged with the body portion  46 . 
     Possibly the extendible hose portion  41  could be provided with more than one cuff lying within the chamber when the hose portion is contracted. In addition to the cuff  44  at the free end of the hose portion, an intermediate cuff spaced between the ends of the hose portion could be provided. Then, the extendible hose portion could be extended and deployed in two stages from the chamber  47 , to give the required additional length of hose. 
     Possibly not all the extendible hose portion need be able to be accommodated within the chamber  47  when contracted: a part of the hose portion may remain outside the chamber and a support means for such part may be provided. Such a support means may be detachable from the handle, analogously to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , or remain attached thereto. It may provide for holding a cleaning tool or tools for storage when not in use. 
     Extendible hoses are known which are able to extend to four or possibly even six times their contracted length, and longer extensions may be available in future. Thus a contracted length of, e.g., 30 cms of extendible hose, which is easily accommodated in a handle body portion  46  without making the latter inconveniently long, can provide nearly two metres of additional hose length available to the user when required. 
     Various types of hose fittings for connection to handles, wands or cleaning tools of suction cleaners, or to suction units thereof, are known in the art. Whilst we have referred above to bayonet-type fittings, and tapered push-fit connections to a wand or cleaning tool, it will be appreciated that other forms of such connection may be utilised whilst still retaining the main principle of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings, these show a further embodiment of hose assembly in accordance with the invention. This hose assembly may be used as the sole hose for a suction cleaner, or could possibly be used as the assembly of extendible hose portion  22  and support means  30  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a hose portion  60  of extendible hose, and a support means therefor indicated generally at  61 . The hose portion  60  is provided at one end with a connector cuff  62  enabling the hose to be connected to a suction unit, or to a handle, a further hose, a cleaning tool or a wand. At its other end, the hose portion  60  has a connector cuff  63  for sealing, preferably swivelable, connection to a suction unit, a handle, a further hose, a tool, or wand, as appropriate bearing in mind what the other end of the hose assembly will be connected to. The cuff  63  further has a receiving body part  64 , extending towards the opposite end of the hose assembly and having two diametrically opposed retaining clips  65  for co-operation with the support means, as described hereafter. 
     The support means  61  comprises a wall portion  66  extending lengthwise of the hose  60  along one side thereof. At one end the wall portion  66  is connected to a formation  67  which extends around the hose  60  and forms part of or is attached to the connector cuff  62 . At the opposite end of the support means the wall portion  66  ends in a formation  68  which extends around the hose  60  and is releasably connected to the body part  64  of the connector cuff  63 , being retained thereto by the clips  65 . Between its ends, the support means has three formations  69 ,  70 ,  71  which extends at least partially around the hose  60 , so that the hose and support remain together over the length of the support means. 
       FIG. 6  shows the hose assembly with the extendible hose portion  60  in its fully-contracted condition, and the support means connected to the cuff  63 ,  64  as aforesaid. The hose assembly may be stored in this condition, or used for cleaning jobs if a relatively short length of hose is adequate. The hose is capable of being bent as required when in this condition, although it can be expected to have at least a tendency to return to the straight condition as illustrated. When a longer length of hose is required, the clips  65  can be released from the formation  68  at the end of the support means, and the extendible hose pulled out from the support means in the direction indicated by arrow  70  in  FIG. 7 . 
     When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. 
     The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.