Attachment mechanism for vacuum cleaner accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10702111-B2
Application number	US-201815875533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2018
Priority date	Jan 19, 2018
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

An attachment mechanism for connecting vacuum cleaner accessories includes a plurality of teeth arranged axially along an outer surface of an outer attachment tube of a first vacuum cleaner accessory, and a locking tab positioned on an outer surface of an inner attachment tube of a second vacuum cleaner accessory. The locking tab includes a pivot extension extending radially outward from the outer surface of the second vacuum cleaner accessory, and a latch pivotably connected to the pivot extension. The latch includes a finger engagement portion and a latching portion located on opposite sides of the pivot extension. The latching portion includes a latch tooth that extends from a bottom surface of the latching portion. The latch tooth is positioned to engage the teeth upon insertion of the inner attachment tube into the outer attachment tube to secure the first vacuum cleaner accessory to the second vacuum cleaner accessory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaning system comprising:
an inlet port;
an outlet port;
a suction unit fluidly connected between the inlet port and the outlet port, and operable to generate air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port;
a first vacuum cleaner accessory fluidly connected to the inlet port and including an inner attachment tube; and
a second vacuum cleaner accessory fluidly connected to the inlet port and including an outer attachment tube, the outer attachment tube sized and shaped to receive the inner attachment tube therein, wherein the first vacuum cleaner accessory is connected to the second vacuum cleaner accessory by an attachment mechanism comprising:
a plurality of teeth arranged axially along an outer surface of the outer attachment tube; and
a locking tab positioned on an outer surface of the inner attachment tube, the locking tab comprising:
a pivot extension extending radially outward from the outer surface of the inner attachment tube;
a latch pivotably connected to the pivot extension, the latch including a finger engagement portion and a latching portion located on opposite sides of the pivot extension, the latching portion including a latch tooth that extends from a bottom surface of the latching portion, wherein the latch tooth is positioned to engage at least one of the plurality of teeth upon insertion of the inner attachment tube into the outer attachment tube to secure the first vacuum cleaner accessory to the second vacuum cleaner accessory; and
an S-shaped spring attached to the outer surface of the inner attachment tube and to the finger engagement portion, wherein the S-shaped spring biases the locking tab towards a latched position in which the latch tooth engages the teeth.

2. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged to define a row of teeth, the row of teeth having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are open such that rotation of the first vacuum cleaner accessory relative to the second vacuum cleaner accessory disengages the latch tooth from the at least one of the plurality of teeth.

3. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein depression of the finger engagement portion causes the latch tooth to disengage the row of teeth.

4. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the inner attachment tube includes a tapered end portion that tapers inwards towards an end of the inner attachment tube such that the inner attachment tube forms a friction fit with the outer attachment tube when the inner attachment tube is inserted into the outer attachment tube.

5. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 4 , wherein the inner attachment tube includes a plurality of circumferential grooves defined along an outer surface of the tapered end portion, the plurality of circumferential grooves configured to limit friction between the inner attachment tube and the outer attachment tube.

6. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of grooves is defined by a plurality of circumferential rings and a plurality of recessed, tapered surfaces, wherein a proximal-most ring of the plurality of rings has a diameter sized to prevent insertion of the outer attachment tube beyond the proximal-most ring.

7. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 6 , wherein a proximal-most tapered surface of the plurality of tapered surfaces has a greater taper angle than each of the other tapered surfaces.

8. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the first vacuum cleaner accessory and the locking tab are integrally formed as a single molded piece.

9. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the second vacuum cleaner accessory is a surface cleaning tool.

10. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the first vacuum cleaner accessory is one of a hose adapter, a vacuum tube, and a vacuum tube extension.

11. An attachment mechanism for connecting a first vacuum cleaner accessory to a second vacuum cleaner accessory, the attachment mechanism comprising:
a plurality of teeth arranged axially along an outer surface of an outer attachment tube of the first vacuum cleaner accessory; and
a locking tab positioned on an outer surface of an inner attachment tube of the second vacuum cleaner accessory, the outer attachment tube sized and shaped to receive the inner attachment tube therein, the locking tab comprising:
a pivot extension extending radially outward from the outer surface of the second vacuum cleaner accessory;
a latch pivotably connected to the pivot extension, the latch including a finger engagement portion and a latching portion located on opposite sides of the pivot extension, the latching portion including a latch tooth that extends from a bottom surface of the latching portion, wherein the latch tooth is positioned to engage at least one of the plurality of teeth upon insertion of the inner attachment tube into the outer attachment tube to secure the first vacuum cleaner accessory to the second vacuum cleaner accessory; and
an S-shaped spring attached to the outer surface of the inner attachment tube and a bottom surface of the finger engagement portion, wherein the S-shaped spring biases the locking tab towards a latched position in which the latch tooth engages the teeth.

12. The attachment mechanism of claim 11 , wherein depression of the finger engagement portion exerts a force against the S-shaped spring and causes the locking tab to pivot about the pivot extension such that the latch tooth disengages from the at least one of the plurality of teeth.

13. The attachment mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the second vacuum cleaner accessory, the locking tab, and the S-shaped spring are integrally formed as a single molded piece.

14. The attachment mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged to define a row of teeth, the row of teeth having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are open such that rotation of the first vacuum cleaner accessory relative to the second vacuum cleaner accessory disengages the latch tooth from the at least one of the plurality of teeth.

15. A method of connecting a first vacuum cleaner accessory including an outer attachment tube to a second vacuum cleaner accessory including an inner attachment tube, the first vacuum cleaner accessory including a plurality of teeth arranged axially along an outer surface of the outer attachment tube, the second vacuum cleaner accessory including a locking tab positioned on an outer surface of the inner attachment tube, the locking tab including a pivot extension extending from the outer surface of the second vacuum cleaner accessory, a latch pivotably connected to the pivot extension, and an S-shaped spring attached to the outer surface of the second vacuum cleaner accessory and a bottom surface of the latch, the latch including a finger engagement portion and a latching portion located on opposite sides of the pivot extension, the latching portion including a latch tooth that extends from a bottom surface of the latching portion, the method comprising:
aligning the outer attachment tube of the first vacuum cleaner accessory with the inner attachment tube of the second vacuum cleaner accessory;
inserting the inner attachment tube into the outer attachment tube to a sufficient depth such that the inner attachment tube sealingly engages the outer attachment tube, and
biasing the locking tab towards a latched position in which the latch tooth engages the teeth using the S-shaped spring; and
engaging at least one of the plurality of teeth with the latch tooth to secure the fi

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Tomasiak Mark J
• Williams Matthew A
• Wilsey Greg
• Wolford John

Classifications

• A47L9/242

  Hose or pipe couplings · CPC title

• A47L9/02 Primary

  Nozzles (suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00) · CPC title

• A47L5/36 Primary

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title

• Y10S285/921

  Snap-fit · CPC title

• F16L37/096

  by means of hooks hinged about an axis · CPC title