Bendable joint, cleaner connecting pipe, and cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12446746-B2
Application number	US-202217900850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2022
Priority date	May 19, 2022
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A bendable joint includes a first articulation pipe, a second articulation pipe, and a lock. The first articulation pipe includes a first articulation portion at one end. The second articulation pipe includes a second articulation portion at one end. The first articulation portion is articulated with the second articulation portion so that the first articulation pipe is rotatable relative to the second articulation pipe. The lock is on the first articulation pipe and is configured to lock and adjust relative positions of the first articulation pipe and the second articulation pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bendable joint, comprising:
a first articulation pipe comprising a first articulation portion at an end of the first articulation pipe;
a second articulation pipe comprising a second articulation portion at an end of the second articulation pipe, the first articulation portion being articulated with the second articulation portion and the first articulation pipe being rotatable relative to the second articulation pipe; and
a lock disposed on the first articulation pipe and being configured to lock and adjust relative positions of the first articulation pipe and the second articulation pipe,
wherein the lock comprises a latch switchable between a first position and a second position;
the second articulation portion comprises at least one limiting recess;
the latch in the first position is inserted into one of the at least one limiting recess and locks the relative positions of the first articulation pipe and the second articulation pipe; and
the latch in the second position is removed from the limiting recess and enables the first articulation pipe to rotate relative to the second articulation pipe;
wherein the lock further comprises an unlocking button and a transmission member, and the unlocking button drives the latch to switch between the first position and the second position through the transmission member.

2. The bendable joint according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first articulation pipe comprises a housing and an inner bush within the housing;
the housing comprises a button mounting hole, the unlocking button passing through the button mounting hole; and
the inner bush has a latch mounting position and a transmission member mounting position, the latch being at the latch mounting position and slidable along a direction toward the second articulation portion, and the transmission member being at the transmission member mounting position and slidably fitted with the latch.

3. The bendable joint according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first elastic member between the transmission member and the inner bush, and
a second elastic member between the latch and the inner bush.

4. The bendable joint according to claim 3 , wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are springs.

5. The bendable joint according to claim 3 , wherein:
an axis of the first articulation pipe and an axis of the second articulation pipe are in a front-rear direction, and an axis of an articulated member between the first articulation portion and the second articulation portion is in a left-right direction;
two latches are on left and right sides of the inner bush; and
two first elastic members are in one-to-one correspondence with the two latches.

6. The bendable joint according to claim 5 , wherein an axis of each first elastic member is in the front-rear direction, a backward thrust is imposed on the latch, and the latch abuts against the second articulation portion.

7. The bendable joint according to claim 3 , wherein:
the transmission member is above the latch; and
an axis of the second elastic member is in an up-down direction, and an upward thrust is imposed on the transmission member.

8. The bendable joint according to claim 2 , wherein:
the transmission member comprises a support leg, the support leg comprises a sliding slope; and
the latch comprises a sliding groove, the support leg being inserted into the sliding groove, and the sliding slope being pressed against an inner wall of the sliding groove.

9. The bendable joint according to claim 8 , wherein two support legs are on left and right sides of the transmission member, and a lower part of each support leg is inserted into the sliding groove.

10. The bendable joint according to claim 8 , wherein:
an inner wall of the sliding groove abutting against the sliding slope is wedged; and
the wedged wall of the sliding groove faces backward, the sliding slope faces forward, and the sliding slope and the wedged wall are opposite to each other.

11. The bendable joint according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of limiting recesses spaced apart from each other around an edge of the second articulation portion,
wherein the latch is inserted into one of the limiting recesses, and the first articulation pipe is coaxial with the second articulation pipe.

12. The bendable joint according to claim 11 , wherein the second articulation portion is disk-shaped; the edge of the second articulation portion is an arc surface; and the plurality of limiting recesses are on the arc surface.

13. The bendable joint according to claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of limiting recesses comprise a straight limiting recess and a plurality of curved limiting recesses;
the latch is inserted into the straight limiting recess, and the first articulation pipe is coaxial with the second articulation pipe; or
the latch is inserted into the curved limiting recess, and the first articulation pipe forms a predetermined angle with the second articulation pipe.

14. The bendable joint according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of curved limiting recesses are on a first side of the straight limiting recess, and a second side of the straight limiting recess is an arc surface.

15. The bendable joint according to claim 1 , wherein:
a pressing direction of the unlocking button is along a radial direction of the first articulation pipe; and
a direction in which the latch moves between the first position and the second position is parallel to an axial direction of the first articulation pipe.

16. The bendable joint according to claim 1 , further comprising two protective covers that are coaxial with the first articulation portion, wherein the two protective covers are arranged at two axial ends of the first articulation portion and are coupled to the first articulation pipe or the second articulation pipe.

Assignees

• Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
• Beijing Shunzao Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Tiantian
• Tang Cheng
• Duan Fei

Classifications

• Y10T403/32361

  Engaging recess in radial face · CPC title

• F16C11/10

  Arrangements for locking · CPC title

• F16B7/042

  with a locking element, e.g. pin, ball or pushbutton, engaging in a hole in the wall of at least one tube · CPC title

• F16L33/32

  comprising parts outside the hoses only (F16L33/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L27/023

  Universal and rotating joints · CPC title