JPS61240931A - Coupling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates primarily to a coupling device used for connecting an extension tube of a vacuum cleaner to a main body.

Conventional technology Conventionally, when connecting an extension pipe to a vacuum cleaner, the sixth
As shown in the figure, the inner wall 6 of one connecting part and the outer wall 7 of the other connecting part are formed in a slightly tapered shape, and the connection can be made by fitting them together, or by connecting both of them as shown in FIG. The connecting part is formed into a tapered shape, and a lock button 11 is provided that protrudes from a hole 9 provided in a part of the connecting part 8 and is attached to the inside of the connecting part 8 via a leaf spring part 1° to connect both sides. In some cases, the lock button 11 is configured to fit into a hole 12 provided in the other connecting portion, and by fitting the lock button 11 into the holes 9 and 12, both are fixed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, for example, the one shown in FIG. 6, if it is loosely fitted with weak force or if excessive force is applied during use, it will easily come off, and the fitting will not work. There was a problem that if the insertion force was too strong, it would be difficult to remove. Further, although the one shown in FIG. 6 does not have to worry about coming off during use, it is inconvenient that the lock button 11 must be strongly pressed in the direction of the arrow when connecting or disconnecting the two.

Further, if there are variations in size and shape during manufacturing, the depth of the taper fitting will not be constant, causing the holes 9 and 12 to shift, making it difficult to securely fix them. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a lock button 11, a leaf spring part 10, etc. protrude from the inside of the connecting part 8, and dirt and the like tend to adhere thereto during use, causing a malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to securely connect and fix extension pipes, etc., to easily connect and disconnect them, and to prevent dust from adhering to the inner wall surface, thereby preventing malfunctions. The purpose of this invention is to provide a coupling device that is unlikely to cause this.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a groove that does not cover the entire circumference along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the end of the first member,
The depth of the groove is configured so that it gradually becomes shallower in the circumferential direction from the center to the end of the groove, and the inner wall of the insertion hole of the second member is inserted into the groove of the tube. A projectable locking member is provided, and the locking member is pressed by an elastic pressing means such as a spring so as to project inside the insertion hole.

Operation When one end of the first member is inserted into the insertion hole, the locking member fits into the groove of the first member to prevent the first member from coming off. Also, by rotating the first member while inserted, the depth of the groove where the locking member fits will gradually become shallower, and the locking member will eventually come out of the groove, so inserting the first member The hole can be easily removed.

EXAMPLE An example of a case where the coupling device of the present invention is used to connect the main body of a vacuum cleaner and an extension tube will be described below.

In Fig. 2, 11L is the air intake part (second member) of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 which has a built-in electric blower and filter as shown in Fig. 1, and its inner wall is formed into a slightly tapered shape. A locking member 3 for locking an extension pipe is fitted into a recess 2 provided in a part of the inner wall. A plurality of serrated protrusions 3a are provided on the surface of the locking member 3.
& has a vertical surface on the inside of the main body and a slope on the outside. A spring 4 is inserted between the back surface of the locking member 3 and the bottom surface of the recess 2, and the protrusion 3'&
The locking member 3 is pressed toward the center of the intake port so as to project toward the center of the intake port portion 11.

However, the maximum protrusion amount of the locking member 3 is determined by the engagement of the lip 3b with the protrusion 2a provided on the edge of the recess 2.On the other hand, 551L has a main body as shown in FIG. 1, and is formed into a tapered cylindrical shape so as to fit into the intake port 1a. As shown in FIG. 3, the 0 groove 6b in which a plurality of grooves 5b are arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction is provided only in a part along the circumferential direction of the connection part 6&, and the central part is It is the deepest and gradually becomes shallower toward both ends in the circumferential direction.

The operation will be explained below. When the extension tube 5 is inserted into the intake port 11L, the outer slope of the protrusion 31L of the locking member 3 is pushed by the tip of the connecting part 5&, and the protrusion 3a is pushed into the recess 2. When the groove 5b of the connecting portion 52L reaches the locking member 3, the protrusion 3a is fitted into the groove 6b by the pressing force of the spring 4.

In this way, the external side is formed into a gentle slope,
Since the protrusion 3& is easily pushed in, the extension tube 6 is inserted further into the interior and is brought into close contact with the tapered surface of the intake port 1& without any gaps. On the other hand, the inner side surface of the protrusion 3a is a substantially vertical surface, and this vertical surface engages the side wall of the groove 6b.
This prevents the extension tube 5 from coming off.

When removing the extension tube 5 from the main body 1, by rotating the extension tube 6, for example, in the direction of arrow C, the protrusion 3a is pushed up to the bottom of the groove 5b, and one end 6C of the groove 6b passes through the protrusion 3a. After that, the extension tube 5 can be easily removed since the protrusion 32L does not fit into the groove 6b.

As described above, in this embodiment, if the connection part 5& of the extension pipe 5 is loosely fitted into the intake port 1a of the main body 1, or if excessive force is applied during use, the fit between the two becomes loose. Also, due to the check structure formed by the groove 5b and the protrusion 31L,
The extension tube 6 will not come off. On the other hand, in order to remove the non-return structure, it is only necessary to rotate the extension tube 6 to a predetermined position, which is a simple operation. Furthermore, even if the depth of the fitting is not constant and the position of the groove 5b is shifted due to variations in dimensions that occur during manufacturing, by providing a plurality of grooves 5b, the protrusion 3a can be placed in any one of the grooves. This allows the extension tube 5 to be securely fixed. Furthermore, there are no protruding objects inside the extension tube Sa, and no dust or the like will adhere thereto.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a groove that does not cover the entire circumference along the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the first member, and a groove that does not extend over the entire circumference of the second member into which the first member is inserted. A locking member is provided on the inner wall, a portion of which protrudes from the inner wall and fits into the groove of the first member, and the locking member is pressed in the center direction by an elastic pressing means. The second member can be securely fixed without easily coming off, can be easily connected and disconnected, and can eliminate the possibility of dust etc. adhering to the inside of the second member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner using the coupling device.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupled state of the coupling device, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing the state of the coupling device when the coupling is released, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupled state of the coupling device.
6 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of a conventional coupling device. 1a...Intake port part (second member), 2...
・Concavity. 3...Locking member, 31L...Protrusion,
4...Spring, 5...Extension pipe (first member), 5a...Connection part, 5b...
·groove. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A coupling device for removably coupling a first member having a cylindrical end by inserting it into an insertion hole provided in a second member, the coupling device having a circumferential surface on an outer surface of the cylindrical end. a locking member provided with a groove that does not cover the entire circumference along the direction, and movable on the inner wall of the insertion hole so as to protrude into the insertion hole;
An elastic pressing means is provided for pressing the locking member toward the center of the insertion hole, and the depth of the groove is formed to gradually become shallower in the circumferential direction from the center of the groove to the end of the groove, The coupling device is characterized in that the locking member is fitted into the groove by inserting the locking member into the insertion hole, thereby locking and fixing the first member and the second member.