Vacuum Cleaner Conduit Equipped With A Hinge Device

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner conduit includes first and second rigid conduit parts a hinge device configured to allow a pivoting of the first and second rigid conduit parts about a hinge axis and between unfolded and folded configurations; a locking member configured to lock the first and second rigid conduit parts the unfolded configuration; and an unlocking member including two lateral gripping parts located on either side of one of the first and second rigid conduit parts, each of the lateral gripping parts being intersected by a plane parallel to the hinge axis and containing a central longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner conduit in the unfolded configuration of the first and second rigid conduit parts.

1 . A vacuum cleaner conduit defining an air flow passage and comprising:
 a first rigid conduit part and a second rigid conduit part,   a hinge device connecting the first and second rigid conduit parts to each other, the hinge device including a hinge axis and configured to allow a pivoting of the first rigid conduit part relative to the second rigid conduit part about the hinge axis and between an unfolded configuration in which the first and second rigid conduit parts are substantially aligned with each other and a folded configuration in which the first and second rigid conduit parts define between them an angle less than 180°,   a locking member configured to lock the first and second rigid conduit parts in the unfolded configuration, the locking member and the hinge device being substantially diametrically opposed relative to a central longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner conduit in the unfolded configuration of the first and second rigid conduit parts, the locking member pivotally mounted on one of the first and second rigid conduit parts about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the hinge axis and configured to pivot between a locking position in which the locking member is configured to cooperate with the other of the first and second rigid conduit parts so as to lock the first and second rigid conduit parts in the unfolded configuration, and a release position in which the locking member is configured to release the other of the first and second rigid conduit parts so as to allow a pivoting of the first and second rigid conduit parts in the folded configuration, and   an unlocking member secured in movement to the locking member and pivotally mounted about the pivot axis and between a rest position and an unlocking position, the vacuum cleaner conduit configured such that a movement of the unlocking member from the rest position to the unlocking position causes a displacement of the locking member from the locking position to the release position,   wherein the unlocking member includes first and second lateral gripping parts located on either side of one of the first and second rigid conduit parts, each of the first and second lateral gripping parts comprising at least one gripping surface, each of the first and second lateral gripping parts being intersected by a plane parallel to the hinge axis and containing the central longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner conduit in the unfolded configuration of the first and second rigid conduit parts.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the unlocking member comprises a connection part connecting the first and second lateral gripping parts to each other, the first and second lateral gripping parts extending respectively on either side of the connection part. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second lateral gripping parts extends longitudinally beyond the connection part. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 2 , wherein the connection part includes a first transverse edge located at a first separation distance relative to the pivot axis, and a second transverse edge located at a second separation distance relative to the pivot axis, is the second separation distance being greater than the first separation distance, each of the first and second lateral gripping parts extending beyond a transverse plane passing through the second transverse edge of the connection part and extending perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner conduit in the unfolded configuration of the first and second rigid conduit parts. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second lateral gripping parts includes a first gripping portion located at a first longitudinal distance relative to the pivot axis and a second gripping portion located at a second longitudinal distance relative to the pivot axis, the second longitudinal distance being greater than the first longitudinal distance, each of the first and second lateral gripping parts connected to the connection part only at the respective first gripping portion. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the unlocking member includes a central notch extending between the first and second lateral gripping parts, the central notch extending from an end of the unlocking member located opposite the locking member and towards the pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second lateral gripping parts comprises a gripping rib extending over at least part of the periphery of the corresponding lateral gripping part. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking member and the unlocking member are made in a single piece. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a covering part configured to cover at least partly the locking member. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge device is configured to be located above a portion of the air flow passage extending near the hinge device, when the vacuum cleaner conduit is in normal conditions of use. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid conduit portion is configured to be fluidically connected to a vacuum cleaner body equipped with a suction unit, and the second rigid conduit part is configured to be fluidically connected to a nozzle configured to be in contact with a floor to be cleaned. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible conduit connecting the first and second rigid conduit parts and at least partially defining the air flow passage. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one biasing element configured to bias the unlocking member in the rest position and/or the locking member in the locking position. 
     
     
         14 . An upright vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner body equipped with a suction unit and a handling interface,   a nozzle configured to be in contact with a floor to be cleaned, and   a vacuum cleaner conduit according to  claim 1 , the vacuum cleaner conduit mechanically and fluidically connecting the vacuum cleaner body to the nozzle.