Flexible Crevice Tool for Vacuum Cleaners

Abstract

An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprises an elongated body having a plurality of furrows for imparting flexibility to the accessory tool. The elongated body is further be made of a material that is selected to impart flexibility to the accessory tool so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 45° without kinking or breaking in a direction transverse to and laterally of elongated cross-sectional configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible crevice tool according to the present invention coupled with a vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible crevice tool from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view the flexible crevice tool from FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the flexible crevice tool from FIG. 1, illustrating the side-to-side flexing of the crevice tool.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the flexible crevice tool from FIG. 1, illustrating the up-and-down flexing of the crevice tool.

Claims

1. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion having a nozzle opening for ingestion of debris-containing air and a plurality of spaced furrows formed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body;whereby the furrows are shaped and the elongated portion is made of a material that is selected to impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis.

2. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the furrows are circumferentially formed around the elongated portion.

3. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the nozzle opening comprise a rim that lies in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body.

4. The accessory tool of claim 3, wherein the furrows lie in planes that are parallel to the plane of the rim.

5. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the body is integrally molded in one piece.

6. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated portion has an elongated cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

7. The accessory tool of claim 6, wherein the elongated portion is oval in cross-sectional configuration.

8. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated portion tapers toward the nozzle opening.

9. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein at least the elongated portion is made of one of nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

10. The accessory tool of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion is bendable about a radius through an angle up to 45° without kinking or breaking.

11. The accessory tool of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 90° without kinking or breaking.

12. The accessory tool of claim 1 and further comprising a wire affixed to or within the elongated portion, wherein the wire has sufficiently stiffness and malleability so that the elongated portion can be formed to and can releasably remain in bent position.

13. An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a body having an attachment end for attachment to a suction hose and an elongated portion that has an elongated cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and has a nozzle opening for ingestion of debris-containing air;whereby the elongated portion is made of a material and is so designed to impart flexibility to the elongated portion transversely to the longitudinal axis so that the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 45° without kinking or breaking.

14. The accessory tool of claim 13 wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 90° without kinking or breaking.

15. The accessory tool of claim 14 wherein the elongated portion is oval in cross-sectional configuration.

16. The accessory tool of claim 15 wherein the elongated portion tapers toward the nozzle opening.

17. The accessory tool of claim 13 wherein at least the elongated portion is made of one of nitrile rubber, thermoplastic urethane, polypropylene, and polyurethane.

18. The accessory tool of claim 13 wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion can be bent about a radius through an angle up to 45° without kinking or breaking in a direction transverse to and laterally of elongated cross-sectional configuration.

19. The accessory tool of claim 13 and further comprising a wire affixed to or within the elongated portion, wherein the wire has sufficiently stiffness and malleability so that the elongated portion can be formed to and can releasably remain in bent position.