Patent 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.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/743,454, filed Mar. 10, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to above-the-floor cleaning attachments for vacuum cleaners. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a cleaning tool that is adaptable for different types small constricted areas. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In addition to having floor suction nozzles for on-the-floor cleaning, vacuum cleaners commonly have cleaning attachment tools that used for above-the floor cleaning operations, where the attachment tool is connected to a vacuum hose on a vacuum cleaner. When performing above-the-floor cleaning, surfaces to be cleaned in small, narrow and/or constricted areas are notoriously difficult to clean because many attachment tools are too large to fit into these areas. Crevice tools specifically developed for cleaning surfaces in small, narrow and/or constricted areas often fail as well since crevice tools are traditionally long, straight, and stiff, and cannot be fit into curved spaces very easily. More over, these crevice tools often require a user to bend over or stoop to achieve a proper orientation between the crevice tool and the surface to be cleaned, which can be painful to many users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, an accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprises a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion having a nozzle opening for ingestion of debris-containing air and a plurality of spaced furrows formed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, whereby 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. 
     In one embodiment, the furrows can be circumferentially formed around the elongated portion. The nozzle opening can comprise a rim that lies in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body. The furrows can lie in planes that are parallel to the plane of the rim. 
     In another embodiment, the body can be integrally molded in one piece. The elongated portion can have an elongated cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. The elongated portion can be oval in cross-sectional configuration. The elongated portion can taper toward the nozzle opening. 
     In yet another embodiment, at least the elongated portion can be made of one of nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane. The longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius up to 45° without kinking or breaking. In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius up to 90° without kinking or breaking. 
     Further according to the invention, an accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprises a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion that has an elongated cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and has a nozzle opening for ingestion of debris-containing air wherein the elongated portion is made of a material and is so designed 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 up to 45° without kinking or breaking. 
     In one embodiment, 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. 
     In another embodiment, a wire is 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flexible crevice tool according to the present invention coupled with a vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the flexible crevice tool from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view the flexible crevice tool from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the flexible crevice tool from  FIG. 1 , illustrating the side-to-side flexing of the crevice tool. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the flexible crevice tool from  FIG. 1 , illustrating the up-and-down flexing of the crevice tool. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a cleaning attachment tool for a vacuum cleaner  100  is provided. The cleaning attachment tool comprises a flexible crevice tool  10  that can be coupled with a vacuum hose  200  connected to the vacuum cleaner  100  for above-the-floor vacuum cleaning. The crevice tool  10  can be used with any type of vacuum cleaner, including, but not limited to, upright vacuum cleaners (illustrated), canister vacuum cleaners, stick-type vacuum cleaners, hand-held vacuum cleaners, etc. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the flexible crevice tool  10  comprises an elongated hollow body comprising an elongated portion  12  that is made of a flexible material that allows the crevice tool  10  to bend or deform as needed, without kinking, so that when a user is cleaning a surface in a hard-to-reach area, for example underneath or behind furniture. The crevice tool  10  can further be flexed to a wide range of curved configurations which requires the user to bend over or stoop less often to achieve a desired cleaning orientation between the crevice tool  10  and the surface to be cleaned. The material has sufficient resilience to otherwise retain a relatively straight shape. The flexible material preferably has a durometer in the range of 75-90 Shore A. Some non-limiting examples of flexible materials that can be used to construct the elongated portion  12  include nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane. 
     As illustrated, the elongated portion  12  has a length L and includes a pair of spaced, generally straight side walls  14 ,  16  joined by a curved upper wall  18  and a curved lower wall  20 . The elongated portion  12  has an elongated cross-sectional configuration, whereby the distance between the upper wall  18  and the lower wall  20  is greater than the distance between the side walls  14 ,  16 . As illustrated, the cross-sectional configuration is roughly oval, although other cross-sectional configurations are possible. The walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  define an exterior surface  17  and an interior surface  19  of the elongated portion  12 . The interior surface  19  can be substantially smooth. The elongated portion  12  has a nozzle rim  21  at one end defining a nozzle opening  22  through which air containing dirt and debris is ingested. The nozzle rim  21  can be formed so that it lies in a plane P N  that is at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis X of the crevice tool  10 , such that a user can hold the crevice tool  10  in an ergonomic manner while maintaining the nozzle opening  22  relatively flat against a surface being cleaned. 
     An attachment end  24  is positioned opposite the nozzle opening  22  and is sized to couple with a vacuum hose, such as the vacuum hose  200 , by a friction fit. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the attachment end  24  has a rim  25  defining an opening (not shown) that extends along a normal axis N of the crevice tool  10 . It is noted that the circumferential flange  26  on the attachment end  24  provides a stop for the end of the vacuum hose  200 . The attachment end  24  can be continuously molded with the elongated portion  12 . Alternately, the attachment end  24  can be made of a stiffer material than the elongated portion  12  to prevent flexing at the junction between the crevice tool and the vacuum hose, and can be attached to the elongated portion  12  using any suitable means. The material chosen for the elongated portion  12  preferably has suitable tear strength to withstand repeated flexing of the elongated portion  12  without separating from the attachment end  24 . 
     As illustrated, the attachment end  24  has a roughly circular cross-sectional configuration. Since the preferred cross-sectional configuration of the elongated portion  12  is oval, a transition portion  28  is formed between the elongated portion  12  and the attachment end  24 , where the cross-sectional configuration of the crevice tool  10  changes from oval to circular. The length L of the elongated portion  12  can be defined between the nozzle rim  21  and the transition portion  28 . 
     An air flow channel  30  is defined by the interior surface  19  through the crevice tool  10  between the nozzle opening  22  and the attachment end  24 . The elongated portion  12  is preferably slightly tapered, so that the air flow channel increases in area from the nozzle opening  22  to the attachment end  24 . The narrowing of the air flow channel  30  near the nozzle opening  22  increases suction at the nozzle opening  22 . 
     The elongated portion  12  can further be formed with a plurality of circumferential furrows  32 . As illustrated, the furrows  32  can be formed in the exterior surface  17  of the elongated portion  12 . Preferably, the furrows are formed on substantially the entire length of the elongated portion  12 . The furrows  32  are spaced from one another by a distance S, and preferably, the distance S is roughly equal between each furrow  32 . The furrows  32  have a width W, which is relatively narrow in comparison with the distance S. The furrows  32  are formed transverse to the longitudinal axis X of the crevice tool  10 , and can lie in an series of planes P F  that are parallel to the plane P N  of the nozzle rim  21 . It is further noted that that the planes P F  and P N  lie at an acute angle to the normal axis N. This configuration imparts the greatest amount of flexibility of the elongated portion  12  while holding the crevice tool  10  in an ergonomic manner. 
     The furrows  32  function to increase the flexing of the crevice tool  10  as illustrated by  FIGS. 5 and 6 , whereby the elongated portion  12  of the crevice tool  10  can be flexed in multiple directions as indicated by the phantom line drawings of the crevice tool  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the elongated portion  12  of the crevice tool  10  can be flexed laterally (side-to-side) such that the longitudinal axis X of the crevice tool  10  at the nozzle opening  22  is orientated at a bend angle up to 90° to the longitudinal axis X at the attachment end  24 , without kinking or breaking of the elongated portion  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the elongated portion  12  of the crevice tool  10  can be flexed longitudinally (up and down) such that the longitudinal axis X of the crevice tool  10  at the nozzle opening  22  is orientated at a bend angle up to 90° to the longitudinal axis X at the attachment end  24 , without kinking or breaking of the elongated portion  12 . As illustrated, the bend angle of the crevice tool  10  is substantially equal whether flexing the elongated portion  12  laterally or longitudinally. The elongated portion  12  of the crevice tool  10  can further be flexed in a combination of lateral and longitudinal flexing. Moreover, since the furrows  32  are formed on substantially the entire length of the elongated portion  12 , the elongated portion  12  can flex along substantially its entire length. 
     The crevice tool  10  can optionally comprise a wire (not shown) affixed to or molded within the elongated portion  12 . The wire is sufficiently flexible or malleable so that the elongated portion  12  can be formed to and can remain in a desire arc without having to apply flexing pressure to the crevice tool  10 . 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is by way of illustration of one embodiment of the invention and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the forgoing description and drawings without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0