GB2388156A

GB2388156A - Snap-fitting attachment for tubular articles

Info

Publication number: GB2388156A
Application number: GB0309501A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Gailes; Christopher Robert Duncan
Original assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Current assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2003-04-25
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-25
Also published as: GB0209786D0; GB2388156B

Abstract

This invention relates to an attachment for an appliance or tubular article and has particular reference to cleaning appliances such as mops, trolleys or vacuum cleaners having tubular members. In the cleaning of industrial premises such as hotels and offices, the cleaning staff generally perform their functions using a service or janitorial trolley. The present invention provides an attachment for a tubular article which comprises: a) a split cylindrical sleeve Portion 10 adapted to resiliently splay to permit snap-fitting of the attachment to the tubular article, and b) a hook or engagement element 22 carried by the sleeve portion, wherein after snap fitting of the sleeve portion to the tubular article, the sleeve grasps the tubular article. This facilitates the attachment of appliances or buckets, for example, to a janitorial trolley.

Description

( ó 2388 1 56 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RE - COG TO AhACHMU FOR CAWING

APPLIANCES

This invention relates lo an attachment JOT an appliance or tubular article and has 5 particular reference to cleaning appliances. In the cleaning of industrial premises such as hotels and offices, the cleaning staff generaliv perform their functions using a service Ol janitorial trolley. These trolleys have facilities for carrying supplies and also a variety of mops, pails. buckets blooms, brushes and vacuum cleaning accessories together with, possibly, means for carrying a vacuum cleaner as well.

10 Such janitorial trolleys ate well known, but they suffer from the disadvantage that the storage arrangements for individual items such as, for example. as mops ate relatively restricted and there is usually only one place on the trolley in which such a mop can be satisfactorily accommodated. The tendency in recent years has been for these trolleys to glow ever larger in size with a result that while adequate accommodation is ]5 provided for these various accessories on the trolled there is one place and one place only and if an operative has continually to walk around a trolley to fetch a given implement, then in the course of servicing a numbe' of hotel bedrooms or a number of individual offices. this can amount to a significant amount of wasted time. What is requited is a easy means for simply attaching OT hooking onto such a trolley various 20 articles.

One of the major disadvantages of providing hooks on appliances is that those hool;s tend to engage with something whether that particular inteTengagement is desirable or not. There is. therefore. a demand for an attachment for an article which will enable it

( to be engaged or disengaged with that article and is also adjustable as to the manner in which it interengages with a janitorial or like trolley.

According to the present invention there is provided an attachment for a tubular S article of pre-determined outside diameter, which attachment comprises: a) a split cylindrical sleeve portion adapted to resiliently splay to permit snap-fitting of the attachment to the tubular article, and b) a hook or engagement element carried by the sleeve portion, wherein after snap fitting of the sleeve portion to the tubular article, the sleeve grasps the tubular article.

The internal diameter of the sleeve may be selected to be less than the predetermined article outside diameter, whereby the sleeve resiliently urges against the tubular article aher snap fitting.

15 Preferably, the sleeve is split by a slot formed in the sleeve portion. The slot may extend coaxially of a rotational axis of the cylindrical sleeve.

In a preferred arrangement, the slot is formed with a cut-away leading edge portion which provides a region of relatively increased slot spacing, thereby 20 facilitating entry of the tubular article into the sleeve.

In one embodiment the hook or engagement element is a hook. The hook may be integrally forr;ned with the sleeve.

It is preferred that the hook extends from one end region of the cylindrical 5 sleeve. In this way, when the hook is loaded, the reaction on the sleeve is an urging of an opposite internal surface of the other end region of the sleeve into intimate contact with the tubular article, thereby enhance in the grasping engagement of the sleeve with the tubular article.

10 Preferably, the slot in the cylindrical sleeve is formed in a portion of the sleeve that is not directly opposite the hook or engagement element. This ensures that as the attachment is loaded, the degree to which the hoop stresses applied tend to split the sleeve is minimized. In a preferred configuration, the slot is formed at a location the sleeve that is 90 rotational degrees from the location of the 15 hook or engagement element.

According to another aspects of the invention there is provided a mop comprising a mopping head for cleaning a floor and an elongate tubular handle portion, wherein the handle has snap-fitted thereon an attachment according to 20 any previous claim. Mops are well known, but a preferred type is described in PCr/GB98/00725.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner wand having a rigid tubular portion which has snap-fitted thereon an attachment according to any previous claim. A vacuum cleaner having a tubular wand is widely available under the trade name "Henry" supplied by Numatic 5 International Limited of UK.

According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a janitorial trolley having a tubular space frame structure, wherein a portion of the tubular structure has snap-fitted thereon an attachment according to any previous claim.

10 Janitorial trolleys having a tubular space frame structure are available from Numatic International Limited of UK, for example under the trade name "Comb) System".

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided 15 an attachment for a tubular article which attachment comprises a split cylindrical sleeve portion adapted to engage with a tubular part of said article, and a hook engagement element formed integrally therewith, the arrangement being such that the internal diameter of the sleeve portion is selected whereby it exerts a resistance to sliding on the tubular article sufficient to support a 20 weight or load applied to said engagement element without imparting significant sliding movement of the sleeve portion with respect to the tube.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that by selecting the material of the sleeve portion and the internal diameter for a given tube, the sleeve portion can be caused or allowed to "grip" the tube to an extent sufficient to maintain the attachment in position and take a predetermined load without movement upon 5 the tube portion while at the same time permitting the application of a sliding force to the attachment to allow it to be moved up and down the tube. The width of the split on the cylindrical sleeve is preferably selected to allow it to be "snapped" over the tube and similarly disengaged. The material of the cylindrical sleeve portion may be formed of the thermoses or cured plastic or 10 resin material having sufficient rigidity to provide the necessary "grip" upon a tube to which it is applied and yet at the same time be sufficiently compliant to allow the split to be open to enable the article to be snapped onto and away from the tube of a dimension which it is adapted to accommodate. It follows, therefore, that the internal diameter of the sleeve portion is tubes specific and 15 in one aspect of the invention the sleeve portion is adapted to fit about tubes having an outside diameter selected from 15 mm, 25 mm or 32 mm.

In one embodiment of the present invention the sleeve portion is provided with a longitudinal split. In another embodiment the split may be skewed with 20 respect to the axis of the sleeve portion.

s

( The hook may, in one aspect of the invention, comprise a flat, intermediate portion extended substantially radially of the sleeve and having an upper surface generally continuous with the plane containing the end annulus of the sleeve portion, and a hook end extending substantially perpendicular to said 5 intermediate portion and in a plane in generally spaced parallel relationship with the axis of said sleeve portion.

The sleeve portion may be adapted to be snapped onto the handle of a boom or vacuum cleaner tube with a hook projecting in a downward direction. In this 10 way, the attachment in accordance with the invention. may simply be slid along the tubular part of the broom or cleaner tube and then engaged with a trolley or like storage means so that the broom or tube is hung therefrom until it is required again. In use the broom or tube may be used with the attachment in place, or in the alternative, the attachment may be disengaged for reattachment 15 later to the same or similar device.

In an alternaivc embodiment of the present invention, the attachment/ can be simply reversed so thal the hook end is now directed uppermost whereupon it serves as a hook IO carry cleaning cloths, clothes, coats, elc.

5 Many other applications of such a device will be readily appalen'o the person skilled in the art.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the

accompanying informal drawings of an attachment in accordance with the present ]O invent/ion: Figure] is a perspective view of an attachment in accordance with the present invention. ]S Figure 2 is an underside view of the attachment of Figure].

Figure 3 is a front view of the atachrnen1 of Figure].

Figure 4 is a rear view of the attachment of Figure].

Figure 5 is a lop view of the attachment of Figure 1.

The auachnen1 shown in Figu''e 1 comprises a generaliv cviindrical body portion]0 having an upper end 1] and a lower end] 2. The real pall of the attachment (see 2S Figure 4) is provided faith a longitudinal slit 13 defined by, opposed longitudinal

edges 14 and 15 respectively. The upper surface 1] radius 16 to each of the longitudinal edges 14 and 15 and the lower part of each of edges]4 and 15 is CUT away towards end 12 to aid "clipping" the sleeve over a suitably sized tube.

S The other end] 1 carries a radially extending intermediate arm 22 which is formed integrally with sleeve]0. the outer extremity 23 of which is curved downwardly to provide a depending portion 24 which extends downwardly until the lower extremity 25 is substantially coplanar with the annulus defining the lower surface 12 of sleeve 10. The underside of the intermediate portion is provided with a pair of reinforcing ]0 ribs 30 see Figure 2. the internal portion of which is Tadiused at 3]. The internal 1acmg surfacing 32 of portion 24 is provided With a slightly convex surface and me external surface 33 is concaved as shown in Figure 2. An indication of the size of tube to which the attachment is intended may be provided on the upper surface of the intermediate portion at] 4 - see Figure 1.

In use the attachment is applied to a tube to which it is lo be applied by embracing the lube with a cut-away portion 17 of the faces]3 and 14 of the longiudina] gap. The devices made from a molded plastics OT resinous material which is either cured or cross-linked to pTo\'ide a springy resilience to the sleeve portion whereby urging the 20 cut-away portion]7 over the end of the tube forces apart the two surfaces 13 and 14 to snap over the tube and lo spring back and engage the item upon the tube. The springyness of the sleeve should be sufficient that when applied to a tube of appropriate the slit is held slightly apart so that The sleeve serves to"grip' the tube.

The force with which the gripping takes place is determined largely by the function 25 that the attachment has lo perform. If the attachment has to SUppOTt the weight of an

appliance then the grip shall be sufficient lo support the weight of that appliance without any sliding motion on the tube. The application of further pressure longitudinally of the tube should enable the attachment to be slid along the tube to a convenient position. To disengage, the hook portion 24 and intermediate portion 22 are grasped by an operative and the device is twisted lo ease the expanded portion slightly over the bulge of the tube to which it is applied to separate once again the surfaces defining the split or gap in the cylindrical portion to enable it to be disengaged from the tube.

10 In use the application of an attachment such as that described above to a vacuum cleaner: brooms and mops has been''ound lo provide an increased level of convenience for operatives and a reduction in the time spent loading and unloading appliances onto a janitorial trolley.

Claims

1. An attachment for a tubular article of pre-determined outside diameter, which attachment comprises: 5 a) a split cylindrical sleeve portion adapted to resiliently splay to permit snap-fitting of the attachment to the tubular arnicle, and b) a hook or engagement element carried by the sleeve pornion, wherein aher snap fitting of the sleeve portion to the tubular article, the sleeve grasps the tubular article.

In -

2. An attachment as claimed in claim I wherein the internal diameter of the sleeve is selected to be less than the predetermined article outside diameter, whereby the sleeve resiliently urges against the tubular article after snap fitting.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sleeve is split by a slot formed in the sleeve portion.

4. An attachment as claimed in claim 3 wherein the slot extends coaxially of 20 a rotational axis of the cylindrical sleeve.

5. An attachment as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the slot is formed with a cut-away leading edge portion which provides a region of relatively increased slot spacing, thereby facilitating entry of the tubular article into the sleeve.

S

6. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hook or engagement element is a hook.

7. An attachment as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hook is integrally 10 formed with the sleeve.

8. An attachment as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the hook extends from one end region of the cylindrical sleeve.

15

9. An attachment as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8 wherein the slot in the cylindrical sleeve is formed in a portion of the sleeve that is not directly opposite the hook or engagement element.

10. An attachment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the slot is formed at a 20 location the sleeve that is 90 rotational degrees from the location of the hook or engagement element.

(

11. An attachment as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures of the drawings.

12. A mop comprising a mopping head for cleaning a floor and an elongate 5tubular handle, wherein the handle has snap-fitted thereon an attachment according to any previous claim.

13. A vacuum cleaner wand, having a rigid tubular portion which has snapfitted thereon an attachment according to any previous claim.

14. A janitorial trolley having a tubular space frame structure, wherein a portion of the tubular structure has snap-fitted thereon an attachment according to any previous claim.