Vacuum cleaner apparatus and hose thereof

Abstract

A vaccum cleaner has a hose ( 10, 30, 30 ′) that is retractable in length by the application of reduced pressure from the vacuum cleaner. After use, the free end ( 14, 21, 33 ) of the hose is occluded so that pressure falls within the hose and it is retracted in length. The hose is restrained in its shortened length before suction is turned off. The hose in its retracted state may be stored on or off the vacuum cleaner.

1 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus including a housing ( 1 ) having a suction inlet ( 3 ) and a hose ( 10 ) connected with the inlet, the hose ( 10 ) having a first length during normal use and a second length shorter than the first length when the end ( 14 ,  21 ) of the hose remote from the inlet ( 3 ) is occluded so that pressure falls within the hose, characterised in that the housing ( 1 ) includes a formation ( 4 ) for restraining the hose shorter length.  
     
     
         2 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that apart at least of the length of the hose ( 10 ) has a natural extended length.  
     
     
         3 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a part at least of the length of the hose has a natural retracted length.  
     
     
         4 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the hose includes a valve ( 16 ) towards the end remote from the inlet ( 3 ) for occluding the hose.  
     
     
         5 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the hose has a helical support member ( 11 ′) and a sleeve ( 12 ′) attached thereto, and that the sleeve ( 12 ′) is arranged to fold outwardly between turns of the helical support member ( 11 ′) when the hose is retracted in length.  
     
     
         6 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the apparatus is portable.  
     
     
         7 . A hose ( 10 ) for vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . A hose according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the hose ( 10 ) has an occluder ( 16 ) towards the end of the hose remote from the vacuum cleaner apparatus for occluding passage of air through the hose ( 10 ) so that suction applied by the vacuum cleaner apparatus creates a reduced pressure within the hose sufficient to shorten the hose to its retracted length.  
     
     
         9 . A hose according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the hose ( 10 ) includes an inner resilient helical support member ( 11 ,  11 ′) having a natural extended length and an outer sleeve ( 12 ,  12 D of a flexible material attached with the support member.  
     
     
         10 . A hose according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the outer sleeve ( 12 ′) folds outwardly between the turns of the helical support member when the hose is retracted.  
     
     
         11 . A method of operating vacuum cleaner apparatus including the steps of applying suction to one end of a flexible hose ( 10 ), using a cleaning head ( 15 ) at the opposite end of the hose to clean, occluding flow of air through the hose at the opposite end ( 14 ), allowing pressure in the hose to reduce sufficiently to retract the hose in length, maintaining the end of the hose ( 10 ) on a housing ( 1 ) of the apparatus to retain it in its retracted length, and turning off suction power.  
     
     
         12 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus including a suction inlet ( 3 ) and a hose ( 10 ) connected with the inlet, the hose ( 10 ) having a first length during normal use and a second length shorter than the first length when the end ( 14 ,  21 ) of the hose remote from the inlet ( 3 ) is occluded so that pressure falls in the hose, characterised in that the hose ( 10 ) has a helical support member ( 11 ′) and a sleeve ( 12 ′) attached thereto, and that the sleeve ( 12 ′) is arranged to fold outwardly between turns of the support member ( 11 ′) when the hose is retracted in length.  
     
     
         13 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterised in that a part at least of the length of the hose ( 10 ) has a natural extended length.  
     
     
         14 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterised in that a part at least of the length of the hose has a natural retracted length.  
     
     
         15 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the hose includes a valve ( 16 ) towards the end remote from the inlet ( 3 ) for occluding the hose.  
     
     
         16 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the apparatus includes a restrainer ( 4 ,  34 ,  35 ,  34 ′,  35 ′,  42 ,  49 ) for restraining the hose in its shorter length.  
     
     
         17 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the restrainer ( 4 ) is fixed with a housing ( 1 ) of the apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the restrainer includes a sleeve within which the hose is retracted.  
     
     
         19 . Vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the apparatus is portable.  
     
     
         20 . A hose for vacuum cleaner apparatus according to  claim 12 .  
     
     
         21 . A hose according to  claim 20 , characterised in that the hose ( 10 ,  30 ,  30 ′) has an occluder ( 16 ) towards the end of the hose remote from the vacuum cleaner apparatus for occluding passage of air through the hose so that suction applied by the vacuum cleaner apparatus creates a reduced pressure within the hose sufficient to shorten the hose to its retracted length.  
     
     
         22 . A hose according to  claim 20 , characterised in that the hose ( 30 ,  30 ′) includes a retainer ( 34 ,  35 ,  34 ′,  35 ′,  42 ,  49 ) arranged to retain the hose in its retracted length such that the hose and retainer can be removed from the vacuum cleaner and stored separately in a retracted state.  
     
     
         23 . A hose according to  claim 20 , characterised in that the retainer includes an outer sleeve ( 34 ,  35 ,  34 ′,  35 ′,  42 ) within which the hose is retracted.  
     
     
         24 . A method of operating vacuum cleaner apparatus including the steps of applying suction to one end of a flexible hose ( 10 ,  30 ,  30 ′) having a helical support member ( 11 ′) and a sleeve ( 12 ′) of a flexible material attached with the support member, using a cleaning head ( 15 ) at the opposite end of the hose to clean, occluding flow of air through the hose at the opposite end ( 14 ), allowing pressure in the hose to reduce sufficiently to retract the hose in length and to fold the sleeve ( 12 ′) outwardly between turns of the support member ( 11 ′) without substantially reducing the bore through the hose, restraining the hose in its retracted state, and discontinuing the suction power.