HK1203137B - Catch device for a vacuum cleaner suction pipe - Google Patents

Description

Locking device for vacuum cleaner suction pipe

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a locking device for connecting a handle to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe, wherein the locking device can be mounted in the end region of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe and comprises at least one sleeve, at least one lever button, and at least one return spring, wherein the lever button has a locking projection and a pivot axis. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe with the locking device.

Background Art

In the prior art, such locking devices are known in various designs and are usually fixed in the end region of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The vacuum cleaner suction pipe can thus be connected to the handle of the suction hose via the locking device, and thus to the vacuum cleaner itself. To connect the handle to the vacuum cleaner suction pipe in a form-fitting manner, a locking recess is provided on the handle, for example, which locks in a form-fitting manner with a locking projection of a lever button. To achieve this connection, the handle is inserted, for example, at its end into the locking device or the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, so that the recess can interact with the locking projection. When the handle is pushed in, the locking projection is deflected by causing the pivotable lever button to pivot back around the pivot axis, thereby releasing the handle from being pushed in. A return spring then resets the lever button, thereby returning the locking projection to the locked position.

A disadvantage of the locking devices known from the prior art is that they are attached directly to the vacuum cleaner suction pipe and are therefore very complex.

Summary of the Invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a locking device which reduces the installation costs on the vacuum cleaner suction pipe.

With regard to the locking device, the aforementioned object is firstly and essentially achieved in that a clamping element is provided which is connected to the sleeve in a form-fitting manner and the lever button is held between the clamping element and the sleeve in a pivotable manner about its pivot axis.

The locking device can be mounted in the end region of a vacuum cleaner suction pipe, wherein the sleeve of the locking device preferably completely surrounds the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The vacuum cleaner suction pipe preferably comprises at least one outer pipe and an inner pipe, wherein the outer and inner pipes can be telescoped relative to each other to enable variable adjustment of the length of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The locking device is used, for example, to connect a handle to the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, but it is also provided that other components, such as a suction hose without a handle, can be connected to the vacuum cleaner suction pipe.

The locking device includes a sleeve, which preferably serves as a support for other components, specifically at least one lever button and at least one return spring. The lever button is held within the sleeve so that it can pivot about a pivot axis, allowing the locking projection of the lever button to move from a locked position to a released position. A clamping element is connected to the sleeve with a positive fit and is arranged on the sleeve such that the lever button is held between the clamping element and the lever button so that it can pivot about its pivot axis. To install the locking device, the lever button can be easily introduced into the sleeve by at least partially inserting it into the sleeve from the outside through an opening. The pivot axis is positioned in the bearing area. Preferably, in the assembled state, the lever button is held with a positive fit between the clamping element and the sleeve. In addition, the return spring is preferably positioned between the sleeve and the return button. Finally, the clamping element is fixed to the sleeve with a positive fit by preferably latching the clamping element with at least one locking hook in a locking area of the sleeve.

The lever button is arranged in a fixed position relative to the sleeve by means of a clamping element, but in such a way that the sleeve can be pivoted within a range of pivoting motion. The lever button is preferably pivoted between a locked position, in which the locking projection of the lever button is locked in the locked state or, if a handle is present, is locked with the handle, and a released position, in which the locking projection of the lever button is not locked or, if a handle is present, removal of the handle is possible.

The present invention has the advantage that the lever button and the return spring are held captive on the sleeve even when the locking device is not mounted on the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. This allows the locking device to be pre-assembled with all components and then mounted on the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, simplifying the overall installation process. Another advantage is that if the locking device becomes dislodged (e.g., due to being dropped), all components of the locking device do not need to be disassembled. Instead, the clamping element holds them together, allowing the locking device to be easily reinstalled.

According to a first embodiment, the advantageous reliability of the fixation of the lever button at the sleeve can be achieved in particular by the following manner: the clamping element has two locking sidewalls arranged parallel to each other, and the sleeve has two locking areas corresponding to the locking sidewalls, in particular the locking sidewalls extending parallel to the longitudinal extension of the sleeve. Thus, the clamping element is connected to the corresponding locking areas at the sleeve by a form fit, for example, by latching, using the two locking sidewalls arranged parallel to each other. For this purpose, the locking sidewalls have locking projections extending over their entire longitudinal extension, which at least partially act on the locking area from the rear in order to achieve a form-fit connection between the clamping element and the sleeve. Optionally, it is also provided that the locking sidewalls each have at least one recess, into which the locking projections at the sleeve engage.

The arrangement of two locking sidewalls extending parallel to one another, whose locking lugs are preferably oriented oppositely to one another, provides the clamping element with advantageous stability when the lever button is fastened to the sleeve. In particular, the locking sidewalls are oriented parallel to the longitudinal extent of the sleeve so that they are arranged perpendicular to the pivot axis of the lever button.

According to another design, the stability of the locking device can be improved by arranging the clamping element on the inner side of the sleeve so that, in the assembled state, it faces the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The lever button is preferably introduced at least partially through the opening into the sleeve from the outside, after which the clamping element is brought closer from the inside and locked with the sleeve. Thus, the lever button is guided toward the sleeve from the outside, while the clamping element is guided from the inside. The arrangement of the clamping element on the inner side of the sleeve prevents the components of the locking device from becoming loose when the locking device is assembled on the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. Consequently, the individual components of the locking device can only be removed from the sleeve after the locking device has been removed from the vacuum cleaner suction pipe.

To improve the pivotability of the lever button, according to another embodiment, it has been found advantageous to provide for at least one first portion of a guide bushing for the pivot axis to be formed on the sleeve, while at least one second portion of the guide bushing to be formed on the clamping element, so that in the assembled state the pivot axis is guided within the guide bushing between the clamping element and the sleeve. The sleeve provides for at least one first portion of the guide bushing for the pivot axis, and it is further provided that two first portions of the guide bushing are arranged opposite each other so that the pivot axis of the lever button is guided on two supports. Advantageously, the two first portions of the guide bushing lie on the same virtual axis.

The first part of the guide bushing for the pivot shaft is, for example, constructed as a half-shell, into which the pivot shaft of the lever button is inserted. The second part of the half-shell, or more precisely, the second part of the guide bushing, is correspondingly arranged on the clamping element and is also constructed as a half-shell, so that the guide bushings surrounding the pivot shaft when the clamping element is installed are preferably constructed on both sides of the pivot shaft. The guide bushings do not necessarily each surround the pivot shaft around its entire circumference; rather, guidance is sufficient to prevent the pivot shaft from leaving the guide bushings. This can be achieved, for example, using two oppositely arranged housing elements that cover at least a portion of the circumference of the pivot shaft. Thus, four half-shell housing elements are provided overall, ensuring reliable guidance of the pivot shaft of the lever button when the locking device is installed. One or more guide bushings are mounted on the sleeve via the clamping element to enclose the pivot shaft and thereby hold the lever button in a pivotable position.

According to another embodiment, the lever button can be advantageously reset to the locked position by supporting a return spring between the sleeve and the lever button, and the return spring always strives to return the lever button to the locked position. The return spring is, for example, configured as a coil spring, a disk spring, or a leaf spring and is arranged between the sleeve and the lever button such that it always strives to return the lever button to the locked position. On the one hand, the return spring is configured as a coil spring and is arranged such that it exerts a torque on the pivot axis of the lever button. On the other hand, the return spring can also be arranged such that it acts as a compression spring and is loaded in the longitudinal direction.

In order to improve the guidance of the lever button in the locking device, according to the next embodiment, it is provided that the clamping element has a recess for the locking projection of the lever button, in particular, the clamping element surrounds the locking projection. The clamping element is connected to the sleeve in a form-fitting manner, wherein a recess that is open on one side or closed is provided in the clamping element, which at least partially surrounds the locking projection. The locking projection is preferably completely surrounded by the recess at its periphery. The locking projection is introduced into the clamping element through the recess, and in particular, this also improves the stability of the lever button during the swinging process, specifically in such a way that the locking projection of the lever button cannot deviate to the side because such movement is prevented by the recess.

According to another embodiment, the stability of the pivoting process is further improved by virtue of the clamping element having a stabilizing bridge arranged centrally within the clamping element, in particular arranged parallel to the longitudinal extent of the sleeve. The stabilizing bridge is preferably arranged centrally between the two locking sidewalls and parallel thereto. In the assembled state, the stabilizing bridge engages between two guide sidewalls provided on the lever button to further prevent the pivoting axis of the lever button from tilting. The guide sidewalls are preferably arranged perpendicular to the pivoting axis so that the pivoting axis passes through the guide sidewalls as a plane normal. Advantageously, a portion of the pivoting axis is provided at the sides of the two guide sidewalls, so that the pivoting axis does not extend completely through the lever button as a single piece, but rather consists of at least two sub-areas.

According to another embodiment, the installation of the locking device can be simplified by providing a sleeve comprising at least one first half-shell and at least one second half-shell, wherein the lever button, the return spring, and the clamping element are arranged in particular on the first half-shell. In the assembled state, the sleeve completely surrounds the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, wherein the sleeve comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, which are respectively placed over the end region of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe and latched to one another. The locking device is pre-assembled in an operative manner on the first half-shell by latching the clamping element in a positively locking manner with the sleeve, specifically with the first half-shell, so that the lever button remains pivotable, thereby enabling the locking projection to pivot between a locked position and a released position.

The locking device is preferably mounted on a two-piece vacuum cleaner suction pipe, specifically a vacuum cleaner suction pipe that comprises an inner pipe and an outer pipe, wherein the inner pipe and the outer pipe can be telescoped relative to each other. The length of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe can be flexibly adjusted in this way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various possibilities for improving and designing the locking device according to the present invention are now described in detail. For this purpose, reference is made to claim 1 of the appended claims and the subsequent description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG1 shows an embodiment of a locking device in a state where it is mounted on a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner.

FIG2 shows an embodiment of a locking device in an exploded view,

FIG3 shows an embodiment of a clamping element in a perspective view,

FIG4 shows an embodiment of the locking device in an assembled state without the vacuum cleaner suction pipe, and

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a locking device in a cross-sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG1 shows an embodiment of a locking device 1 for connecting a handle (not shown) to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe 2. The locking device is mounted in the end region of the vacuum cleaner suction pipe 2 and comprises a sleeve 3 and a lever button 4. The sleeve 3 comprises a first half-shell 3a and a second half-shell 3b, which surround the vacuum cleaner suction pipe 2 around its entire circumference in the end region. The first half-shell 3a and the second half-shell 3b are locked to each other. The lever button 4 is in the locked position.

FIG2 shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a locking device. The locking device 1 comprises a sleeve 3, which in turn comprises a first half-shell 3a and a second half-shell 3b. The first half-shell 3a and the second half-shell 3b of the sleeve 3 can be locked to one another by means of a locking hook 5 and corresponding locking recesses 6. A lever button 4 is shown below the first half-shell 3a, along with a return spring 7. The lever button 4 has a locking projection 8 and a pivot axis 9.

For assembly, the lever button 4 is at least partially introduced into the sleeve 3 through the opening 10 and secured in position by a clamping element 11. Specifically, the clamping element 11 is connected to the sleeve 3 in a form-fitting manner by latching the clamping element 11 with the sleeve 3, in particular the first half-shell 3a. The lever button 4 is then held between the clamping element 11 and the sleeve 3, pivotable about its pivot axis 9. To secure it to the sleeve 3, the clamping element 11 has two parallel locking sidewalls 12, which interact with corresponding locking areas 13 on the sleeve 3 by engaging them from behind in a form-fitting manner. Both the locking sidewalls 12 and the locking area 13 are arranged so that they extend parallel to the longitudinal extent of the sleeve 3, in particular perpendicular to the pivot axis 9.

The clamping element 11 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 3, in particular on the inside of the first half-shell 3a of the sleeve 3, so that the clamping element 11 faces the vacuum cleaner suction pipe in the assembled state. To guide the pivot axis 9 of the lever button 4, two first parts 14 of a guide bushing are formed on the sleeve 3, into which the pivot axis 9 of the lever button 4 is inserted. In the assembled state, the first part 14 of the guide bushing partially surrounds the pivot axis 9. In order to fix the lever button 4 in its position in the assembled state while allowing it to pivot, two second parts 15 of the guide bushing are formed on the clamping element 11. In the assembled state, the pivot axis 9 of the lever button 4 is held fixed in position but pivotably between the first part 14 and the second part 15 of the guide bushing.

In the assembled state, the lever button 4 can be pivoted between a locked position and a released position. The locking projection 8 of the lever button 4 is constantly pressed toward the locked position by the return spring 7 . The return spring 7 is supported between the lever button 4 (more specifically, the locking projection 8 ) and the inner side of the sleeve 3 (more specifically, the first half-shell 3 a ) and acts as a compression spring, exerting a force on the lever button 4 in the direction of the locked position. To better guide the locking projection 8 of the lever button 4 , the clamping element 11 has a recess 16 for the locking projection 8 , which, in the assembled state, surrounds the locking projection 8 on three sides.

FIG3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a clamping element 11. Two locking sidewalls 12 are arranged parallel to one another and extend within the edge region of the clamping element 11. The locking lugs of the locking sidewalls are arranged opposite and pointing toward one another. Two second sections 15 of a guide bushing are arranged between the locking sidewalls 12 to guide the pivot axis of the lever button. A stabilizing bridge 17 is provided in the center of the clamping element 11, parallel to the locking sidewalls 12. In the assembled state, it is arranged between the two guide sidewalls of the lever button and thereby ensures secure guidance of the lever button.

4 shows an embodiment of the locking device 1 in the assembled state of the sleeve 3, or rather the first half shell 3a and the second half shell 3b, without the vacuum cleaner suction pipe. The lever button 4 is accommodated in the first half shell 3a and can be actuated by pressure on its upper side, whereby the lever button 4 is pivoted from the shown locked position into the released position, whereby the locking projection of the lever button 4 releases the positive connection.

FIG5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the locking device 1 in a sectional side view, with the section being taken along a plane in the longitudinal direction of the locking device 1. The locking device 1 is not integrated with the vacuum cleaner suction pipe; more specifically, the first half-shell 3a and the second half-shell 3b of the sleeve 3 are connected. The locking projection 5 of the second half-shell 3b engages with the corresponding locking recess 6 of the first half-shell 3a. The locking projection 8 is in the locked position and is held there by a return spring 7, which is supported on the sleeve 3 on one hand and on the locking projection 8 on the other hand. By operating the lever button 4 (which is thereby pivoted about a pivot axis 9), the locking projection is brought into the released position by pivoting it toward the sleeve 3, particularly toward the first half-shell 3a, thereby compressing the return spring 7. As soon as the user releases the lever button 4, the return spring 7 resets the locking projection 8, thereby returning the lever button 4 to the locked position shown. 5 , a handle (not shown) can be introduced from the left into the locking device 1. The handle first presses the locking projection 8 back from the locked position into the released position, so that the locking projection 8 can then be locked in a positive-locking manner with the locking recess on the handle, i.e. the locking projection 8 is returned to its locked position.

The stabilizing web 17 stabilizes the lever button 4 during pivoting about the pivot axis 9 , wherein the lever button 4 is held in its position by a clamping element 11 inserted from the inside of the sleeve 3 .

Claims (13)

1. A locking device (1) for connecting a handle to a vacuum cleaner suction tube (2), wherein the locking device (1) is mountable in the end region of the vacuum cleaner suction tube (2) and includes at least one sleeve (3), at least one lever button (4), and at least one return spring (7), wherein the lever button (4) has a locking protrusion (8) and a pivot shaft (9). Its features are, The sleeve (3) serves as a support for the lever button (4) and the return spring (7), and is provided with a clamping element (11) which is form-fitted to the sleeve (3), and the lever button (4) is held between the clamping element (11) and the sleeve (3) in a manner that allows it to swing using its swing axis (9). 2. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has two locking sidewalls (12) arranged parallel to each other, and the sleeve (3) has two locking regions (13) corresponding to the locking sidewalls (12). 3. The locking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping element (11) is arranged on the inner side of the sleeve (3) such that the clamping element (11) faces the vacuum cleaner suction pipe (2) in the assembled state. 4. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that at least one first portion (14) of a guide bushing for the swing shaft (9) is constructed at the sleeve (3), and at least one second portion (15) of a guide bushing is constructed at the clamping element (11), such that the swing shaft (9) of the lever button (4) is guided within the guide bushing between the clamping element (11) and the sleeve (3). 5. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the return spring (7) is supported between the sleeve (3) and the lever button (4), and the return spring (7) always strives to return the lever button (4) to the locked position. 6. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has a notch (16) for the locking protrusion (8) of the lever button (4). 7. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has a stabilizing bridging piece (17). 8. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sleeve (3) comprises at least one first half-shell (3a) and at least one second half-shell (3b). 9. The locking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has two locking sidewalls (12) arranged parallel to each other, and the sleeve (3) has two locking regions (13) corresponding to the locking sidewalls (12), wherein the locking sidewalls (12) extend parallel to the longitudinal extension of the sleeve (3). 10. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has a notch (16) for the locking protrusion (8) of the lever button (4), wherein the clamping element (11) surrounds the locking protrusion (8). 11. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the clamping element (11) has a stabilizing bridging piece (17), wherein the stabilizing bridging piece (17) is arranged to extend longitudinally parallel to the sleeve (3). 12. The locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sleeve (3) comprises at least one first half-shell (3a) and at least one second half-shell (3b), wherein the lever button (4), the return spring (7) and the clamping element (11) are arranged at the first half-shell (3a). 13. A vacuum cleaner suction tube (2) having at least one outer tube and at least one inner tube, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are nested relative to each other, characterized in that a locking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is arranged at the vacuum cleaner suction tube (2).