Telescoping wand assembly with a flexible seal

Abstract

A telescoping wand assembly includes a first tube, a second tube received in the first tube so as to allow sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried on the second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A method of making that telescoping wand assembly includes overmolding a flexible seal on the second tube and inserting the second tube in the first tube with the overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube. A vacuum cleaner is also provided incorporating the telescoping wand assembly of this invention.

1 . A telescoping wand assembly, comprising: 
 a first tube;    a second tube received in said first tube so as to allow sliding movement therebetween; and    a flexible seal carried on said second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of said first tube.    
   
   
       2 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 1  wherein said second tube includes a sealing ring at a first end.  
   
   
       3 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing ring is constructed from a hard plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said hard plastic is selected from a group consisting of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing ring includes a first receiver engaging a main body of said second tube and a second receiver engaging said flexible seal.  
   
   
       6 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said second receiver includes a series of locking slots.  
   
   
       7 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and an annular convex sealing surface.  
   
   
       8 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said mounting ring includes a plurality of tangs received in said locking slots.  
   
   
       9 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and an annular convex sealing surface.  
   
   
       10 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said annular convex sealing surface is resiliently biased into engagement with said interior surface of said first tube.  
   
   
       11 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said second tube includes a plurality of spaced locking notches and said first tube carries a locking mechanism with a latch for selectively engaging said locking notches.  
   
   
       12 . A method of making a telescoping wand assembly including a first tube and a second tube comprising: 
 overmolding a flexible seal on the second tube; and    inserting the second tube in the first tube to provide said overmolded flexible seal in sliding engagement with an interior surface of the first tube.    
   
   
       13 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a housing;    a suction generator carried on said housing;    a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing; and    a telescoping wand assembly including a first tube, a second tube received in said first tube so as to allow sliding movement therebetween and a flexible seal carried on said second tube in sliding engagement with an interior surface of said first tube.    
   
   
       14 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is a canister-type vacuum cleaner.  
   
   
       15 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is an upright-type vacuum cleaner.  
   
   
       16 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 13  wherein said second tube includes a sealing ring at a first end.  
   
   
       17 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said sealing ring is constructed from a hard plastic.  
   
   
       18 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said hard plastic is selected from a group consisting of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, ABS and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said sealing ring includes a first receiver engaging a main body of said second tube and a second receiver engaging said flexible seal.  
   
   
       20 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said second receiver includes a series of locking slots.  
   
   
       21 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said flexible seal includes a body having an integral mounting ring and an annular convex sealing surface.  
   
   
       22 . The telescoping wand assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said mounting ring includes a plurality of tangs received in said locking slots.