US 6,581,974 B1Granted

Pivot adaptor attachment for vacuum cleaners

AssigneeRagner Manufacturing, LLC

InventorsGary Dean Ragner, Mark Douglas Reed

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Abstract

The disclosed swivel adaptor (20) is assembled into two sections: tool member (40), and adaptor member (60). These two sections are pivotally attached, and can pivot with respect to each other around pivot axis (54). Pivot axis (54) is angled off-axis with respect to the longitudinal axises of the adaptor sections to allow various angled positions for adaptor (20). The angle between the tool port end (42) and adaptor port end (64) being adjustable between an in-line position where members (40) and (60) form a relatively straight adaptor, and a plurality of angled positions where the longitudinal axises of ports (42) and (64) are not parallel. Adaptor (20) has an pivotal air passageway connecting end (45) to end (65). In the straight position, tabs (72) snap into place to provide a holding force to keep the two sections from pivoting during use. By applying a sufficient twisting force on the two sections, tab (72) slips loose and the two sections can rotate about axis (54). Tool member (40) is designed to fit into standard vacuum cleaner nozzles. Adaptor member (60) is designed to fit onto both vacuum wand hoses and vacuum wand ports.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vacuum cleaner connector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner hose end, comprising:

a) an adaptor member, and;
b) a tool member;
c) wherein, said adaptor member comprising an adaptor port end, a adaptor pivot end, and a first air passageway through said adaptor member from said adaptor port end to said adaptor pivot end;
d) wherein, said adaptor port end comprises an elongated conduit with less than five degrees taper for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner hose end, and said adaptor port end defining a first longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of said elongated conduit;
e) wherein, said tool member comprising a tool port end, a tool pivot end, and a second air passageway through said tool member from said tool port end to said tool pivot end;
f) wherein, said tool port end comprises an elongated tube with a tapered exterior surface having less than five degrees of taper for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner tool, and said tool port end defining a second longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of said elongated tube;
g) further including, a pivot joint defined on said adaptor pivot end and said tool pivot end for pivotally connecting said adaptor member and said tool member to each other with said first and second air passageways forming a substantially sealed and continuous air passageway from the end of said adaptor port end to the end of said tool port end;
h) wherein, said pivot joint defines an axis of rotation oriented at an acute angle with respect to both said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis, whereby a pivot angle between the first and second longitudinal axises may be changed by rotating said adaptor member with respect to said tool member
i) wherein, a first pivot angle is defined by the acute angle between the first longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation, wherein a second pivot angle is defined by the acute angle between the second longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation;
wherein said first and second pivot angles are within the range of ten degrees to eighty degrees;
and
j) wherein, the absolute value of the result of the first pivot angle minus the second pivot angle is less than ten degrees, whereby the first and second longitudinal axis can be rotated to less than ten degrees from the in-line position;
k) wherein, the sum of the first and second pivot angles is greater than fifty degrees, whereby the first and second longitudinal axis can be rotated to greater than fifty degrees from the in-line position;
and
l) further including, a means for creating friction within the pivot joint to resist rotation of said pivot tool end with respect to said pivot adaptor end for hold said adaptor member and said tool member together at a stable angle during use, whereby said vacuum cleaner tool may be used for cleaning.

12 more elements

A vacuum cleaner connector for removable attachment between a vacuum cleaner hose and a vacuum cleaner tool, comprising:

a) an adaptor member;
b) a tool member, and
c) a means for pivotally attaching said adaptor member to said tool member having a third air passageway therethrough;
d) wherein, said adaptor member having an adaptor port end opposite said means for pivotally attaching, said adaptor port end defining an elongated cylindrical conduit having an interior surface defining a first air passage therethrough and an exterior surface;
e) wherein, said interior surface defining a taper of less than five degrees for removable attachment by friction fit to a conduit style vacuum cleaner hose end;
f) wherein, said exterior surface defining a taper of less than five degrees for removable attachment by friction fit to a port style vacuum cleaner hose end;
g) wherein, said tool member comprises a tool port end defining an elongated tube with a taper of less than five degrees and a second air passage therethrough for removable attachment by friction fit to a vacuum cleaner tool;
h) wherein, said first, and second air passage are connected together by the third air passageway to provide a substantially sealed and continuous air passageway from said adaptor port end to said tool port end for conducting suction air into said tool port end, through said tool member, through said means for pivotally attaching, through said adaptor member, out said adaptor port end and finally into the vacuum cleaner hose;
i) wherein, said means for pivotally attaching defines a pivot axis that is between thirty and sixty degrees off-axis from the direction of elongation of both said tool port end and said adaptor port end and where exists less than ten degrees difference between the tool port end and the adaptor port end off-axis angle, whereby pivoting of the tool member with respect to the adaptor member changes the angle between the longitudinal direction of said adaptor port end and tool port end.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.