Telescopic Wand for a Vacuum Cleaner

Abstract

A telescopic wand for a vacuum cleaner includes an inner tube, an outer tube, and a catch, wherein the inner tube includes multiple projections, the outer tube includes a pair of bosses, and the catch includes a locking stub. The catch pivotally attaches to the outer tube and pivots between lock and unlock positions. The locking stub projects between two of the projections in the lock position and is lifted clear of the projections in the unlock position. Applying a push or pull force to the wand when in the locked position causes a first projection to abut a side of the locking stub and the bosses to abut an opposite side thereof, and applying the push or pull force to the wand when in the unlock position causes the inner tube to slide relative to the outer tube and the second projection to pass between the bosses.

1 . A telescopic wand for a vacuum cleaner, the wand comprising an inner tube, an outer tube, and a catch, wherein:
 the inner tube comprises a plurality of projections, the outer tube comprises a pair of bosses, and the catch comprises a locking stub;   the catch is pivotally attached to the outer tube and pivots between a lock position and an unlock position;   the locking stub projects into a recess between two of the projections when the catch is in the lock position, and the locking stub is lifted clear of the projections when the catch is in the unlock position;   applying a push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes a first of the two projections to abut a side of the locking stub and the bosses to abut an opposite side of the locking stub; and   applying the push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the unlock position causes the inner tube to slide relative to the outer tube and a second of the two projections to pass between the bosses.   
     
     
         2 . The telescopic wand of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube comprises a flat section from which the projections project, and the flat section is wider than the projections such that the flat section extends along either side of each projection. 
     
     
         3 . The telescopic wand of  claim 2 , wherein the inner tube has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a major segment of a circle or oval, and the flat surface corresponds to a chord of the major segment. 
     
     
         4 . The telescopic wand of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube has a cross-sectional shape that is circular or oval. 
     
     
         5 . The telescopic wand of  claim 1 , wherein the catch pivots about a pivot point that is located above the projections. 
     
     
         6 . The telescopic wand of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube comprises a pair of further bosses, applying a push force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes the first of the two projections to abut the side of the locking stub and the bosses to abut the opposite side of the locking stub, and applying a pull force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes the second of the two projections to abut the opposite side of the locking stub and the further bosses to abut the side of the locking stub. 
     
     
         7 . The telescopic wand of  claim 6 , wherein applying the push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the unlock position causes the inner tube to slide relative to the outer tube and the first of the two projections to pass between the further bosses. 
     
     
         8 . The telescopic wand of  claim 1 , wherein applying the push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes the first of the projections to apply a first force to the locking stub and the bosses to apply a second force to the locking stub, and the second force is equal and opposite to the first force and has the same line of action as the first force. 
     
     
         9 . A telescopic wand for a vacuum cleaner, the wand comprising an inner tube, an outer tube, and a catch, wherein:
 the inner tube comprises a plurality of projections, the outer tube comprises a pair of bosses, and the catch comprises a locking stub;   the catch is pivotally attached to the outer tube and pivots between a lock position and an unlock position;   the locking stub projects into a recess between two of the projections when the catch is in the lock position, and the locking stub is lifted clear of the projections when the catch is in the unlock position; and   applying a push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes a first of the two projections to apply a first force to the locking stub and the bosses to apply a second force to the locking stub, the second force being equal and opposite to the first force and having the same line of action as the first force.   
     
     
         10 . The telescopic wand of  claim 9 , wherein applying the push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the unlock position causes the inner tube to slide relative to the outer tube and a second of the two projections to pass between the bosses. 
     
     
         11 . The telescopic wand of  claim 9 , wherein the outer tube comprises a pair of further bosses, applying a push force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes the first of the two projections to apply the first force to the locking stub, and applying a pull force to the wand when the catch is in the lock position causes a second of the two projections to apply a third force to the locking stub and the further bosses to apply a fourth force to the locking stub, and the fourth force is equal and opposite to the third force and has the same line of action as the third force. 
     
     
         12 . The telescopic wand of  claim 11 , wherein applying the push or pull force to the wand when the catch is in the unlock position causes the inner tube to slide relative to the outer tube and the first of the two projections to pass between the further bosses.