Vacuum Cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprising a floor-engaging unit having a suction inlet, an upright body mounted to said floor-engaging unit and including means for creating a suction and means for separating and collecting dirt from an airstream drawn in by said suction, a unit having a handle and a tubular portion extending from said handle, said tubular portion forming a suction inlet and being coupled to said body via a flexible hose, and said tubular portion being attachable to said body with said handle projecting for the user to grasp for manoeuvring the cleaner over the floor, wherein said tubular portion comprises first and second tubes which are telescopically coupled together to enable said tubular portion to be extended when detached from said body.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising a floor-engaging unit having a suction inlet, an upright body mounted to said floor-engaging unit and including means for creating a suction and means for separating and collecting dirt from an airstream drawn in by said suction, a unit having a handle and a tubular portion extending from said handle, said tubular portion forming a suction inlet and being coupled to said body via a flexible hose, and said tubular portion being attachable to said body with said handle projecting for the user to grasp for manoeuvring the cleaner over the floor, wherein said tubular portion comprises first and second tubes which are telescopically coupled together to enable said tubular portion to be extended when detached from said body.  
   
   
       2 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tube is joined to or extends from the handle.  
   
   
       3 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tube is formed as a suction nozzle or tool.  
   
   
       4 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the second tube forms an outer tube disposed over the first or inner tube.  
   
   
       5 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion includes means serving to lock or latch the first and second tubes against relative longitudinal displacement, when the tubes are in one or more predetermined positions relative to one another.  
   
   
       6 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 5 , wherein the tubes latch together only when in a fully extended condition or in a fully contracted condition, but not when in any intermediate positions.  
   
   
       7 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 4 , further comprising a latching mechanism which comprises a sleeve mounted on the second tube and arranged for limited displacement longitudinally of that tube.  
   
   
       8 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 7 , wherein the latching mechanism is arranged so that upon displacement of the sleeve forwardly, when the tubes are in a contracted condition, the latch between the two tubes becomes disengaged to permit the tubes to be extended by a continuing displacement of the sleeve in the forward direction.  
   
   
       9 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 7 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a resiliently biased part provided at one end thereof with a projection which engages with a recess formed in the outer surface of the first or inner tube when the tubes are in their contracted condition, and an element coupled to the sleeve and arranged to act on the resiliently biased part, to displace its projection out of its recess in the first tube, upon displacement of the sleeve in the forward direction.  
   
   
       10 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , wherein the latching mechanism is also arranged so that upon displacement of the sleeve rearwardly, when the tubes are in an extended condition, the latch between the two tubes becomes disengaged to permit the tubes to be contracted by a continuing displacement of the sleeve in the rearward direction.  
   
   
       11 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a second resiliently biased part, provided at one end thereof with a projection which engages with a recess formed in the outer surface of the inner tube when the tubes are in their extended condition, the element coupled to the sleeve being arranged to act on the second resiliently biased part, to displace its projection out of its recess in the first tube, upon displacement of the sleeve in the rearward direction.  
   
   
       12 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , wherein the resiliently biased part comprises a leaf spring.  
   
   
       13 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , wherein the element coupled to the sleeve comprises a roller.  
   
   
       14 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13 , wherein the roller is coupled to the sleeve by a member which fits into a window formed in the sleeve, and includes at least one projection which is formed with a notch which receives an axle portion of the roller.  
   
   
       15 . A vacuum cleaner according  claim 1 , wherein the second tube is provided, at its rear end, with an external screw-thread, and an internally screw-threaded sleeve is engaged over this.  
   
   
       16 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 15 , wherein rotation of the sleeve serves to compress a compression ring disposed between the second tube and the first tube, in order to clamp these together.  
   
   
       17 . A tubular arrangement which comprises inner and outer tubes which are longitudinally slidable relative to one another, and means for latching said tubes at least in one relative longitudinal position, said latching means comprising a sleeve disposed around said outer tube and arranged for limited longitudinal displacement along said outer tube and arranged so that displacement of said sleeve in a predetermined longitudinal direction serves to disengage the latch between the two tubes to permit said outer tube to be displaced in said direction relative to said inner tube by a continuing displacement of said sleeve in said direction.