Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
  • B25G3/00—Attaching handles to the implements
  • B25G3/38—Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
  • A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
  • Y10T403/32—Articulated members
  • Y10T403/32008—Plural distinct articulation axes

Definitions

• the invention relates to a hinge system arranged between a driven tool movable on a working surface and a manual driving member and which comprises a first integral part of the tool and able to pivot about a horizontal axis and a second integral part of the member and attached to the first part and mounted articulated about an axis arranged in a plane orthogonal to the horizontal axis.
• Jointing systems of the universal type are already known along two orthogonal axes so as to allow movement of the tool subordinate to the directional pulse given to the manual organ. Such articulation is described, for example, in US Patent 2006/0230567.
• the first part can pivot in a vertical plane oriented in the direction of forward or backward movement of the tool, but also, that the second piece by its articulation on said first piece allows a displacement of the manual organ in planes transverse to the movement of the tool allowing lateral orientation to the right or left of the organ.
• this pivoting and this articulation causes the subordination of the orientation of the tool on the surface to be worked in the maneuver of the manual organ so that a rotation of the manual organ to the right causes a pivoting of the tool to the right and vice versa and in particular a pivoting at right angles to the tool.
• this tool of parallelepipedal general shape, can work transversely to the displacement to clean a large surface, and longitudinally to enter narrow spaces.
• At least the second piece is formed by a flexible structure with a longitudinal neutral axis comprising a base fixed to the first piece of the tool, a head fixed to the member; said base and head being connected by a pair of opposed ribs and parallel to the neutral axis and extending in a plane transverse to the horizontal axis, said torque being bent under the effect of a force applied orthogonally to its plane and transmitted by the manual organ.
• Such a hinge system can be mounted, for example, on a cleaning broom whose tool is constituted by a plate of generally parallelepipedal shape carrying a textile envelope.
• a recurring problem with this type of broom is the complexity of insertion of the duct into the joint and the partial crushing of the duct in the articulation system causing the stoppage of the distribution of the duct. liquid at a curvature a little too strong given to the hinge system under the constraint of the manual control body.
• Another object of the invention is therefore to overcome this dysfunction.
• the flexible structure of the second piece has a generally tubular shape with the ribs extending in diametrically opposed generatrices so as to enclose a flexible hose for driving a fluid; the base, and the head each having an orifice adapted to allow the passage of said pipe.
• This set of a first rigid part associated with a second flexible part is thus able to enclose a hose pipe of a fluid having substantially the same section as that of the tubular flexible assembly. Thanks to this construction, whatever the curvatures given to the second part, the flexible pipe keeps a substantially constant cross section substantially reducing the fluidic pressure losses.
• a hinge system is particularly suitable for responding to the problem of dust suction in vacuum cleaners.
• the first piece is also formed by a tubular flexible structure with longitudinal neutral axis made in one assembly with the second piece; said part comprising a fixing foot to the tool, two opposite ribs and parallel to the neutral axis which are respectively connected to said foot and to an intermediate support supporting the pair of ribs opposite and parallel and connected to a head fixed to the and extending in a plane orthogonal to the plane containing the pair of ribs; said pair of ribs having a series of axially spaced rings.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system of FIG. articulation according to the invention mounted on a tool such as a vacuum nozzle without representation of the hood and its suction pipe;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the hinge system alone illustrated in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view along a median plane of the nozzle of Figure l, with representation of the hood and a suction pipe internal to the system;
• Figure 4 is an elevational view of the hinge system alone schematically illustrated, on another scale, in a right-angle bending position;
• Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 on a smaller scale of an alternative embodiment of a hinge system according to the invention.
• the hinge system designated as a whole by the reference 1, is intended to be arranged between a driven tool 2 displaceable on a working surface S 2 and a manual driving member 3.
• the tool is a nozzle comprising a suction mouth 4
• the driving member 3 is formed by the combination of a rigid sleeve associated with a hollow handle 3 'connected by a tube, not shown, to housing of a vacuum cleaner not shown.
• This articulation system comprises, in a general manner, a first part 6 mounted integral with the tool 2 and able to pivot about a horizontal axis, and a second part 7 integral with the member 3 and attached to the first part and mounted articulated about an axis A arranged in a plane orthogonal to the first horizontal axis.
• This first part 6, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, comprises a platform 11 which is carried at a distance from the horizontal axis by two mutually opposed U-shaped transverse tabs 11 each supporting a journal 5, and on which is fixed the second part 7.
• the articulation system is characterized in that at least the second part 7 is formed by a flexible structure with longitudinal neutral axis N comprising a base 8 fixed to the first part 6 of the tool, a head 9 attached to the member 3; said base and head being connected by a pair of ribs 12 opposite and parallel to the neutral axis N and extending in a plane transverse to the horizontal axis, said pair 12 being able to be bent under the effect of an applied force orthogonal to its plane and transmitted by the manual organ 3.
• the second piece 7 of flexible structure is made of a single piece of plastic material, the pair of ribs 12 having flexibility characteristics allowing it to obtain a bending with a radius of curvature between zero and ninety-five degrees.
• the first piece 6, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, is rigid and comprises a platform 11 which is carried away from the horizontal axis by two opposite transverse tabs generally U-shaped and each supporting a journal 5, and on which is fixed the second part 7.
• the horizontal axis is defined by the two journals 5 resting in bearings 10 from the housing or more precisely a plate P of the tool.
• this embodiment of the flexible ribs attached at their ends to the base and the head there is obtained a hinge system which has a rigidity in the plane containing said ribs and a transverse flexibility allowing articulation in two opposite directions relative to to the said plane of the ribs.
• this second piece can be easily manufactured by mass-produced molding and assembled in a single operation on all the known tools, which contributes to obtaining a low cost price.
• Another advantage related to this embodiment in a single flexible structure is that there are more pieces of waste for poor performance of the manufacturing dimensions and / or assembly of the second part on the first part.
• the flexible material is a plastic having a modulus of elasticity of the order of 250 to 350 MPa, by example a plastic type polyethylene or composite.
• each rib (12) has a groove (12 ') for receiving a flexible reinforcement, not shown.
• This reinforcement may preferably be made by a wire of the piano wire type or by a nylon thread. This reinforcement can also be inserted by overmoulding during molding of the part.
• the flexible structure of the second piece has a generally tubular shape with the ribs 12 extending in diametrically opposite generatrices so as to contain a flexible pipe 15 (Figure 3) for driving a fluid, the base 8, and the head 9 each having an orifice 8a, 9a ( Figure 2) adapted to allow the passage of said pipe.
• This tubular shape allows, among other things, a good and simple attachment respectively to the platform 11 having an axial orifice and to the member 3 which also have a tubular complementary shape.
• this attachment can be obtained by a screw connection or by mechanical locking. This construction will be better explained later in a specific application.
• the latter comprises between the base 8 and the head 9 a series of rings 14 spaced axially and connected to the ribs 12 constituting thus a pierced cage.
• the rigidity of the hose is a function in particular of the section given to the ribs, the greater it is, the stiffer the rigidity is increased.
• the hinge system thus made of two integral parts, one rigid and the other flexible, provides by the combination of movements induced under the constraint of the manual drive member, a pivoting around the pins 5 forming the axis of the piece set rigid- flexible part in a high or low direction in a vertical plane passing through the neutral axis, an articulation of the flexible part in one or more planes transverse to said axis H, and also or concurrently a change of direction of the tool according to a rotational movement about said neutral axis induced by said member on the two rigid and flexible integral parts.
• the pivoting movement is generally used to adapt the manual organ to the size of the user, as well as to the virtually vertical position called storage, and the lowered position said passage under the furniture.
• this pivoting movement of the rigid part 6 around the journals 5 on the bearings 10 is carried out without constraint and prevents undesired lifting of the anterior working face of the tool, especially during the advancement of the tool with the manual organ lowered.
• the transverse hinge movement allows the various scanning positions during the advancement of the tool on the surface to be worked.
• the change of direction obtained by the cooperation of the two orthogonal pairs formed by the trunnions-ribs assembly under the subordination of the rotation of the manual organ and the articulation movement, is used to bring the tool to the right or the left during its advancement in view, in particular to use the tool in its smaller dimension with its anterior face of work parallel to the direction of travel to go into nooks, niches or reduced spaces.
• the perforated cage of the flexible structure contains the corrugated-type flexible hose 15 which is schematically represented and whose diameter can be relatively large, of the order 35 millimeters.
• the pipe 15 passes through, not only said cage, but also the first piece 6 via the hole made axially in the platform 11 and passes between the journals 5 and bearings 10 until it is connected at its lower end to a sleeve M having a suction opening 4a mounted upstream of the mouth 4, while its upper end is fixed on the member 3.
• the fixing of the pipe 15 on the head 9 and on the sleeve M can be achieved by gluing or mechanical locking , or even overmolding with the flexible structure 7.
• This pipe makes it possible to ensure, with optimization, the flow of air coming from the suction mouth 4 of the nozzle 2, via the opening 4a, to the pipe member 3 formed at present by the hollow handle 3 '. even connected to a suction tube (not shown).
• the cage made in one piece with its multiple rings, allows to drive and accompany said pipe in all its movements of pivoting, bending and rotation without causing crushing or significant reduction of its fluid passage section, or axial settlement during a strong thrust of the pipe member in the direction of advance of the nozzle tool.
• the rings in their compression zone, are substantially adjacent and thus ensure a uniform curvature without breaking or crushing of the inner hose.
• the articulation system comprises, in place of the rigid part, a first part formed by a flexible tubular structure to longitudinal neutral axis made in a single assembly with a second piece 7; said part 6 comprising a base 13 for fastening to the tool, two ribs 17 opposite and parallel to the neutral axis which are respectively connected to said foot and to an intermediate support 16 supporting a pair of opposite and parallel ribs 12 and connected to a head 9 fixed to the member 3 and which extend in a plane orthogonal to the plane containing the pair of ribs 12; said pair of ribs 17 having a series of rings 18 spaced axially.
• the hinge system thus produced in a single molded part, can provide by the combination of the two couples, under the constraint of the manual driving member, a pivoting of the assembly in the high or low direction in a vertical plane passing by the neutral axis, a joint in one or more planes transverse to the neutral axis, and also or concurrently a change of direction of the tool according to a rotational movement about said neutral axis induced by said member.
• These various movements are optimized by the construction and arrangement of axes Pa and A located at a distance on the neutral axis of the assembly on either side of the support 16.
• the tests carried out for this variant embodiment according to the invention lead to preferentially choosing a different spacing between the rings of each pair so as to obtain a different bending.
• the pair of ribs 17 has rings 18 close together for a belching of the piece 6 with a uniform curvature of between zero and forty five degrees, while the rings 14 of the pair of ribs 12 are spaced apart thus allowing greater curvature of the piece 7 at an angle of the order of 9o to 95 degrees.
• the part 6 with its close-fitting rings enables the user, when pivoting the manual member in a vertical plane for lowering or raising the manual member, to transmit more easily this movement and lift, with ease, slightly the anterior working face of the nozzle to suck larger debris than that of dust.
• the squeegee tool 2 has a parallelepiped shaped plate covered with a hood and whose anterior portion has a large suction opening forming the suction mouth 4 through which passes part of a cylindrical brush 19 driven by an electric motor 20.
• the plate comprises receiving means of the articulation system which are adapted to the construction of the latter, that is with rigid part and flexible part, or that of the variant with the set of two flexible parts.
• the flexible structure of the second part 7 is implanted by its annular base 8 on the platform 11 mounted pivotably on the bearings 10 implanted in the posterior region of the cover C 1 while the annular head 9 is integral with the driving member 3 which can be either the hollow handle 3 'connected by a tube to the housing of a sled type vacuum cleaner (not shown), or a brush-type vacuum cleaner housing (not shown) a front portion provided with a suction duct is attached to the head 9 and another part has a handle.
• the suction tool is of the rotary brush type driven by an electric motor
• at least one of the ribs 12 or in the case of the variant the ribs 12 and 17 are adapted to receive an electrical conductor, not shown, connected to the vacuum cleaner, and through the base 8 to the motor 20 or, in the case of the variant, the support 16 comprises for this purpose on its periphery a groove, shown schematically at 21, connected to said ribs and for receiving said electrical conductor.
• Such a hinge system formed of either a flexible part integral with a rigid part or a set of two integral flexible parts can thus replace the universal articulation systems arranged on the tools of all brushes with or without hose, and in particular on the suction nozzles by offering the convenience of use in extreme angular operating positions imposed by the manual organ, while minimizing pressure losses in the suction pipe.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
• Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
• Harvester Elements (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-19 FR FR0803480A patent/FR2932708B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-06-18 WO PCT/FR2009/051157 patent/WO2009153525A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2009-06-18 EP EP09766087.2A patent/EP2309909B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2009-06-18 US US12/999,168 patent/US8468649B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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