Adapter

Abstract

Adapter for connecting a handle arranged on a suction pipe of a vacuum cleaner to a connection piece for a vacuum cleaner hose, characterized in that the adapter is formed from a tubular body whose openings have a different diameter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adapter according to the preamble of claim 1. The adapter is used to connect a handle arranged on a suction tube of a vacuum cleaner to a connection piece for a vacuum cleaner hose.

[0002] It is known in the art that the vacuum cleaner hose can be detachably connected directly to the handle of the vacuum cleaner via a connector. The vacuum cleaner hose is attached directly to the connector. The connector is inserted into the opening in the handle to connect the vacuum cleaner hose to the handle. There, the connector is clamped or locked to enable a detachable connection between the handle and the connector of the vacuum cleaner hose. The vacuum cleaner hose is separated from the handle in order to be able to vacuum either directly with the vacuum cleaner hose without the suction tube and / or the floor nozzle or after attaching a different vacuum cleaner nozzle.

[0003] A disadvantage of this solution known in the prior art is that it is not possible to connect the handle to vacuum cleaner hoses and / or their connectors that have a larger or smaller diameter than the opening of the handle.

[0004] The invention therefore has the object of providing an adapter with which handles and vacuum cleaner hoses / connectors having different diameters can be connected to each other.

[0005] Such a connection is particularly useful when a vacuum cleaner tube with a floor nozzle is attached to the handle, and the suction tube with the floor nozzle is to be used in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner that has a vacuum cleaner hose with a larger or smaller diameter. This allows existing floor nozzles and vacuum cleaners of different sizes and manufacturers to be combined, or replacement parts of different sizes can be used during repairs.

[0006] This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0007] According to the invention, the adapter is formed from a tubular body so that the suction air can pass through the adapter. In the embodiment according to the invention, the air inlet and outlet openings of the adapter have different diameters.

[0008] Embodiments of the adapter according to the invention alternatively have either an air inlet opening whose diameter is smaller than the air outlet opening or an air outlet opening which has a smaller diameter than the air inlet opening.

[0009] In the first alternative, handles with a smaller opening can be connected to vacuum cleaner hoses / connectors with a larger diameter. In the second alternative, however, handles with a larger opening can be connected to vacuum cleaner hoses / connectors with a smaller diameter.

[0010] In these versions, the air inlet opening of the adapter is inserted into the opening of the handle, while the connection piece of the vacuum cleaner hose is inserted into the air outlet opening of the adapter.

[0011] In preferred embodiments, the air inlet and outlet openings each have a diameter of either 35 mm or 55 mm. These are the dimensions most commonly used for handles and / or vacuum cleaner hoses, and therefore there is a high demand for connecting handles and vacuum cleaner hoses of different diameters.

[0012] A preferred embodiment allows the adapter to be locked to the handle to provide a secure yet detachable connection. For this purpose, a locking device is arranged in the area of the outer wall surrounding the opening with the smaller diameter.

[0013] According to the invention, it is further provided that locking lugs are provided in two opposite areas on the outer wall, which move axially inwards when pressure is applied and axially outwards when pressure is released. The locking lugs are formed by incisions in the outer wall. A projection is provided on the outer surface of the locking lug in the lower area, while the upper area of the locking lug projects axially beyond the area of the outer wall of the adapter. To attach the adapter to the handle, it is generally sufficient to insert the adapter into the opening in the handle until the projection of the locking lug engages with the circumferential groove in the inner wall of the opening in the handle.

[0014] When the adapter is pushed into the opening in the handle, the locking lug is pressed in far enough until the projection of the locking lug slides along the inner wall of the handle until, due to the pre-tension of the locking lug, the projection engages in the circumferential groove in the inner wall of the handle. This holds the adapter securely in the handle to prevent the adapter from accidentally coming loose from the handle, even when subjected to tensile stress from the vacuum cleaner hose. In this position, the upper section of the locking lug protrudes over the edge of the handle so that it is accessible to the user and can be pressed in. If the upper sections of the locking lug are pressed in simultaneously on both sides of the adapter, the projections are released from the circumferential groove and the adapter can then be pulled out of the handle again.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, a circumferential groove is arranged in the adapter in the region of the lateral inner wall of the air outlet opening. If the connecting piece of the vacuum cleaner hose has a locking device with a pre-tensionable locking projection, the connecting piece of the vacuum cleaner hose can be pushed into the air outlet opening until the locking projection engages the circumferential groove and thus connects the adapter to the connecting piece of the vacuum cleaner hose. Preferred embodiments of the invention are those in which the adapter is releasably attached to the connecting piece of the vacuum cleaner hose by means of locking connections on the side with the air inlet opening in the handle and on the other side with the air outlet opening.

[0016] Furthermore, in one embodiment according to the invention, a circumferential groove is arranged in the region of the bottom wall of the opening with the larger diameter, before the region of the opening with the smaller diameter adjoins it within the adapter. In this embodiment, the inner walls of the adapter are vertical both in the region of the larger opening and in the region of the smaller opening, and accordingly, a step with a base running around the smaller opening is formed in the transition region between the two openings. A circumferential groove can be arranged in this base region, for example to insert a seal.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the adapter comprises, as an additional component, a tubular sealing element that can be inserted into the area of the opening with the larger diameter. This tubular sealing element guides the suction flow evenly through the adapter toward the vacuum cleaner hose and prevents air from escaping from the suction flow or becoming swirled within the adapter. The tubular sealing element preferably has the same diameter as the smaller diameter of the adapter's opening.

[0018] To secure the tubular sealing element within the adapter, a further embodiment of the invention provides for the edge of the tubular sealing element to be inserted into the circumferential groove in the base area of the adapter. This effectively prevents air leakage or air buildup in the transition area between the openings with different diameters within the adapter. If the connector is then connected to the adapter, the suction flow is completely guided through an opening of constant diameter through the adapter, and the tubular sealing element is securely held between the base area of the adapter and the connector of the vacuum cleaner hose.

Claims

[1] Adapter for connecting a handle arranged on a suction tube of a vacuum cleaner with a connector for a vacuum cleaner hose, characterized by that the adapter is formed from a tubular body whose openings have different diameters. [2] Adapter according to claim 1, characterized by that the air inlet opening has a smaller diameter than the air outlet opening. [3] Adapter according to claim 1, characterized by that the air outlet opening has a smaller diameter than the air inlet opening. [4] Adapter according to claim 1-3, characterized by that the openings have a diameter of 35 mm and 55 mm. [5] Adapter according to claims 1-4, characterized by that a locking device is arranged in the area of the outer wall surrounding the opening with the smaller diameter. [6] Adapter according to claim 5, characterized bythat locking lugs are provided in two opposite areas of the outer wall of the adapter, which move axially inwards when pressure is applied and axially outwards when pressure is released. [7] Adapter according to one of claims 1-6, characterized by that a circumferential groove is arranged in the area of the lateral inner wall of the opening with the larger diameter. [8] Adapter according to one of claims 1-7, characterized by that a circumferential groove is arranged in the area of the bottom wall of the opening with the larger diameter, before the area of the opening with the smaller diameter adjoins. [9] Adapter according to one of claims 1-8, characterized by that the adapter comprises a tubular sealing element which can be inserted into the area of the opening with the larger diameter. [10] Adapter according to claim 9, characterized bythat the tubular sealing element can be inserted into the circumferential groove in the bottom wall of the opening with the larger diameter.