US3557399A - Wand for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A CLEANING TOOL ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A VACUUM CLEANER, SUCH AS A CANISTER-TYPE VACUUM CLEANER, COMPRISING A HOUSEING CONNECTED TO AN OPERATING HANDLE OR WAND, FOR MOVEMENT OF THE HOUSING OVER THE SURFACE, SUCH AS A RUG, TO BE CLEANED. THE HOUSING COMPRISES A SUCTION CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOUSING AND THE LATTER IS ADAPTED TO BE MOVED IN HORIZONTAL CONDITION ACROSS THE SURFACE TO BE CLEANED. THE OPERATING HANDLE IS PROVIDED WITH A GRIP SECTION WHICH ENABLES DIFFERENT SIZES OF PEOPLE HAVING DIFFERENT ARM LENGTHS TO CONVENIENTLY OPERATE THE TOOL AND STILL MAINTAIN THE HOUSING IN GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CONDITION, IRRESPECTIVE OF VARIATIONS IN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR SURFACE AND THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR DUE TO DIFFERENT ARM LENGTHS FOUND IN DIFFERENT SIZES

OF INDIVIDUALS. A NOVEL SECTIONAL CONSTRUCTION OF OPERATING HANDLE IS PROVIDED TOGETHER WITH COUPLING MEANS FOR COUPLING SECTIONS OF THE OPERATING HANDLE TOGETHER AND COUPLING THE LATTER THE TOOL, FOR PROVIDING A CONDUIT FROM THE HOUSING OF THE TOOL TO THE CANISTER OF THE VACUUM CLEANER.

Description

Jan. 26, 1971 L. A. WOLF WAND FOR VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1968 INVENTbR LEE A.WOLF gw m 2 ATTORN s FIG.4

Jan. 26,1971 L. A. WOLF WAND FOR VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheer- 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1968 INVENTOR LEE A WOLF OR FEE Jan. 26, 1971 L. A. WOLF I WAND FOR VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi d Sept. 25, 1968 INVENTOR LEE A. WOLF L. A. WOLF WAND FOR VACUUM CLEANER Jan. 26,1971

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept; 25, 1968 I INVENTOR LEE A. WOLF United States Patent 3,557,399 WAND FOR VACUUM CLEANER Lee A. Wolf, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Haley Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 762,573 Int. Cl. A471 9/ 32 US. Cl. 15-327 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cleaning tool adapted for use with a vacuum cleaner, such as a canister-type vacuum cleaner, comprising a housing connected to an operating handleor wand, for movement of the housing over the surface, such as a rug, to be cleaned. The housing comprises a suction chamber communicating with the underside of the housing and the lating handle is provided together with coupling means for coupling sections of the operating handle together and coupling the latter to the tool, for providing a conduit from the housing of the tool to the canister of the vacuum cleaner.

This invention relates in general to a cleaning tool for use with a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly relates to the wand or operating handle for use with the tool, and for enabling the tool to be conveniently maintained substantially horizontal as it is moved across the surface to be cleaned, irrespective of the different arm lengths found in various sizes of individuals.

Many types of cleaning tools adapted for use witha wand of a vacuum cleaner, such as a canister-type vacuum cleaner, are known in the art. It is conventional in such prior art tools for inlet air to be drawn into the tool where it passes out the outlet of the tool through the wand to the tank of the vacuum cleaner. The present tool is adapted to be maintained in generally horizontal condition asit is moved via the wand and by the operator over the surface to be cleaned in order to maintain optimum cleaning efficiency for the tool. The wand is provided with a predetermined gripping section adjacent'the outer end thereof adapted to be gripped by the operator for expeditiously moving the wand forwardly and rearwardly and thus moving the tool. Different sizes of individuals using the tool and connected wand may have different lengths of arms, and therefore the distance between the hand of the operator and the floor level may vary considerably (within a range of approximately three inches) resulting in a tendency for some sizes of individuals to tip the tool in a gen- .erally vertical plane as the operators arm is swung forwardly and rearwardly during the cleaning operation, ma-

terially diminishing the effectiveness of the cleaning operaiently in moving the latter across the surface to be cleaned, without a tendency to tip the tool vertically from engagement with the surface to be cleanend during operation of the tool. The wand illustrated is of novel sectional construction, for convenient disassembly, and includes a -novel coupling arrangement for coupling the sections to gether and coupling the wand assembly to the tool proper.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel operating wand for use with a vacuum cleaning tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating handle or wand of the above-discussed type wherein the outer end portion thereof includes a gripping section thereon adapted to be gripped by the hand of the operator, and wherein such gripping section is of such size and construction that provision is made for effective operation of the wand by different sizes of operators with their associated varied arm lengths, so that the tool can be maintained substantially horizontal during its movement over the surface to be cleaned, without unduly stressing the operators arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating wand for a cleaning tool with the wand being of a sectional and exteriorly ribbed construction, with coupling means for readily coupling and uncoupling the sections together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wand for a cleaning tool wherein the hand-grip section adjacent the outer end of the wand is of a length considerably greater than the conventional length of the gripping portion of a wand so that the operator can adjust the location which he grips the Wand commensurate with the distance his hand is disposed above floor level, to thereby aid in maintaining the tool substantially horizontally as it is moved across the surface to be cleaned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cleaning tool having the wand of the invention coupled thereto, which in turn is attached as by means of a flexible hose to a canister-type vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view of a cleaning tool with which the Wand of the invention may be used;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top-plan view of the tool of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of the outer end of the operating wand, illustrating the upper Wand section, and showing in detail the hand grip member mounted thereon for the operators hand;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the grip member illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end-elevational view of the FIG. 6 grip;

FIG. 8 is a broken elevational view of the aforementioned upper section of the operating wand;

FIG. 9 is a broken elevational view of the straight central section of the operating wand;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the curved lower section of the operating wand;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view taken generally along the lane of line 11-11 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally along the plane of line 12-12 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged end-elevational view taken along the plane of line 1313 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the plane of line 14-14 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the coupling assembly for coupling one wand section to another wand section and for coupling the wand assembly to the tool and to the flexible hose for the cleaner;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the locking trigger of the coupling assembly illustrated in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 18 is a lengthwise sectional view of the stub connector member used for coupling one wand section to another wand section in the coupling assembly of FIG. 15.

Referring again to the drawings, there is disclosed acleaning tool 10 attached by means of areleasable coupling assembly 12 to an operating handle orwand assembly 14, which in turn is attached as by swivel means 15 to aflexible hose 16 and thence to a source of vacuum represented in the embodiment illustrated by acanistertype vacuum cleaner 18.

Thecleaning tool 10 comprises ahousing 20 which may be formed of any suitable material, and which in the embodiment illustrated includes a generally polygonal, substantiallyflat body portion 22 and an elongated crownedportion 24 extending upwardly from thebody portion 22 and defining a suction chamber 26, and a tubular-like exit portion 28 extending rearwardly from the crownedportion 24, and communicating with suction chamber 26 at an outlet opening 30 (FIG. 2) from the suction chamber.

Thebottom surface 32 of the tool is generally planar with the suction chamber 26 opening onto said bottom surface. Diagonally extendingpassageways 34 may be formed in such bottom surface and extend from communication with the suction chamber 26 diagonally outwardly to terminate adjacent the outer periphery of the tool housing, and provide suction action from the suction chamber to the side edges of the tool.

Theaforementioned crown portion 24 may comprise a generally diagonally slopingfront wall section 36 and aback wall section 36a, with thefront wall section 36 andback wall section 36a being connected by upper wall section and end wall sections, and with the front, back and end wall sections merging at their lower ends with the generallyplanar body portion 22 of the tool housing.

Along the juncture at the front and rear wall sections of the crowned portion with the body portion of the tool, there may be provided a plurality of spaced jet orifices 38 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) which extend from the exterior of the housing diagonally inwardly to communicate adjacent their inner ends with the suction chamber 26 adjacent the bottom of the suction chamber.Orifices 38 create jet streams of inlet air which are adapted to impinge against the surface being cleaned, such as a nap of a carpet, to generally scrub the carpet by the jet streams of air and cause upward boiling of debris material from the carpet, prior to movement of the intake air through the outlet opening 30 from the suction chamber, and then outexit portion 28 to wandassembly 14, and thence to thevacuum cleaner 18 via thehose 16.

As can be seen, thejet orifices 38 are preferably generally evenly spaced along the juncture of the crowned portion with the body portion of the tool housing to more or less uniformly direct impinging jet streams of intake air against the surface being cleaned. Also it is preferably to have the jet orifices on opposite sides of the crowned portion disposed in generally opposing relationship with one another, so that the jet streams of intake air are directed to both sides of the suction chamber at the same general vicinity and downwardly against the surface being cleaned. Such an arrangement aids in maintaining the mobility of the tool as the latter is moved horizontally across the floor in a ski-like effect.

Abrush member 40, which may include an elongated mounting portion and flexible bristles extending outward- 4 1y from the mounting portion, may be mounted in the suction chamber and extends lengthwise thereof generally centrally of the suction chamber for aiding in cleaning the confronting surface.

Thetubular exit portion 28 of the tool housing may be readily coupled to and uncoupled from thewand assembly 14 by means of theaforementioned coupling 12. In this connection,portion 28 has an opening 42 (FIGS. 2 and 4) formed therein adjacent the distal end thereof with akeyway slot 44 being formed on the opposite side of the tubular portion, preferably in generally opposed relation with theopening 42. Thecoupling 12 utilizes an inner tubular connector 46 (FIGS. 15 and 18) which maybe formed as integral part of the wand, but in the embodiment illustrated is shown as a separate piece attached to each of the wand sections, and which receives the distal end of theexit portion 28 of the tool housing therein, as shown inFIG. 15.

Connector member 46 has enlarged ends as can be best seen in FIG. 18 and has mounted thereon aflexible trigger member 48.Trigger 48 comprises abase portion 48a, alocking head portion 48b and a flexible bridging portion 48c.Base portion 48a has anembossment 50 on the underside thereof which is adapted to be received in snug frictional relation in anopening 52 in theconnector member 46, for mounting the trigger on the connector member.Head portion 48b is adapted to be received through an opening54in connector member 46, and intoaforementioned opening 42 in theexit portion 28 of the tool, and thus lock the tool housing to the wand assembly.Head portion 48a oftrigger 48 also includes afulcrum section 48d which engages the confronting surface of theconnector member 46 when thetrigger 48 is in locking coaction with theopening 42. Theaforementioned keyway 44 in theexit portion 28 of the tool housing, is adapted to receive an axially extending key portion 56 (FIGS. 15 and 18) interiorly of theconnector member 46 and in generally close-fitting relation, for preventing relative rotary movement between the coupling assembly and the tool housing.

Encompassing theconnector member 46 and mountedtrigger 48, is aresilient sleeve 58 made from some flexible material, such as rubber, with the sleeve gripping theconnector 46 generally centrally thereof as at 58a and also gripping theexit portion 28 of the tool housing as at 58b (FIG. 15).Sleeve 58 is preferably provided with aninterior embossment 62 identified exteriorly thereof by a moldedbutton portion 62a, and which is adapted to engage the bridging portion 480 of thetrigger 48 substantially as illustrated in FIG. 15.

When it is desired to detach the tool housing fromcoupling 12, it is only necessary to press thebutton portion 62a which causes downward movement ofembossment 62 of the sleeve, deflecting the flexible connecting portion 48c of the trigger inwardly and causing upward pivotal movement of thehead portion 48b aboutfulcrum 48d of the trigger, thereby lifting thehead 48b from locking coaction with theopening 42 inexit portion 28 of the tool housing. Axial withdrawal movement of the housing from the coupling can then be accomplished. Release of the pressure frombutton portion 62a of thesleeve 58 permits the trigger to once again assume the position shown in FIG. 15.Head portion 48b of the trigger has acam surface 66 thereon which is adapted for engagement with the distal end of theexit portion 28 when the tool housing is axially assembled with thecoupling 12, thereby causing automatic upward movement of thehead portion 48b as theexit portion 28 of the tool slides into the receiving end of theconnector 46, until thehead portion 48b mates with theopening 42 as guided by the key 56 andcoacting slot 44, whereupon thehead portion 48b snaps into theOpening 42 to automatically lock the tool housing to the wand assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 14, the operating handle orwand 14 comprises an assembly of wand sections formed of any suitable material, such as for instance polystyrene plastic, and including an upper section 68 (FIGS. and 8), amiddle section 68a (FIG. 9) and alower section 68b (FIG. 10). Thewand sections 68, 68a and 68b are adapted for coupling to one another and to theflexible hose 16 leading to the canister ofvacuum cleaner 18, by couplingassemblies 12 of the same type aforediscussed in connection with the coupling assembly which couples thetool 10 to the wand assembly. Each of thewand sections 68, 68a, 68b is of relatively thin walled tubing (in the order of .2 inch thickness) and haveexterior ribs 70 running lengthwise thereof and spaced circumferentially thereabout, which ribs provide strength to the wand sections and add to the pleasing appearance of the wand.

Each wand section has a reduced sizecylindrical portion 72 on one end thereof (the forward end) which is preferably of a relatively smooth exterior configuration, and which is adapted to be received in one end of aconnector member 46 of the aforementioned construction shown, for instance, in FIG. 18. A suitable adhesive can be applied as at 73 (FIG. 15) to retain the connection betweenconnector member 46 and theend portion 72 of the respective wand section. Each of the wand sections on its rearward end also includescylindrical end portion 74 of reduced diameter which is adapted to be received in the forward end of the associatedconnector member 46, and generally similarly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 15 of the receipt of theexit portion 28 of the tool in the forward end of the associatedconnector 46. In this connection, eachend portion 74 of each wand section includes anopening 42 therein (FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 12), and which is adapted to receive therein thehead portion 48b of the trigger element of the associated coupling assembly, and similarly to that shown in FIG. 15. Also, eachrearward end portion 74 has akeyway 44 formed therein which is adapted to receive the key 44 on the associated connector member of the respective coupling assembly. It will be seen, therefore, that the wand sections are coupled to one another and to thehose 16 by an arrangement similarly to that illustrated in detail in FIG. 15. The wand sections are of relatively thin wall construction as aforediscussed and the keyway 44' in depth extends beyond the thickness of the wall of the respective wand section. Accordingly, an interior raised strip orrib 78 is provided, integrally formed with the wall of the respective wand section, for providing for thekeyway 44 in the respective wand section.Strip 78 preferably runs for the full length of the respective Wand section, even though it is recessed from the exterior only at one end thereof, 0

for providing the keyway 44'.

Theupper wand section 68 is provided with agrip member 80 on its underside, which grip member is adapted to be held by the hand of an operator in the operation of moving thetool 10 and attached wand assembly with respect to the surface being cleaned.Grip member 80 may be formed of any suitable material such as, for instance, flexible polyvinyl chloride plastic, and has a plurality of lengthwise extendinggrooves 82 formed on the top surface thereof which are adapted to receive the associated ofribs 70 spaced circumferentially along the underside ofwand section 68.Grip member 80 may be held in position by a suitable adhesive material so that it positively will not move relative towand section 68.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that thehand grip member 80 extends for a substantial portion of the length ofupper wand section 68. commencing adjacent the rearward end thereof, and extends toward the forward end thereof. In the embodi- -ment illustrated thegrip member 80 extends only along the linear portion ofupper wand section 68 and terminates prior to the curved portion thereof. The underside ofmember 80 is scalloped to providetransverse recesses 84, for receiving the fingers of the operator during operation of the tool by the operators arm moving it horizontally across the surface to be cleaned. In the embodiment illustrated there are provided eleven finger receiving recesses or indentations in the underside ofmember 80. Ordinarily only four or five recesses are found on an implement that is to be gripped or clasped by the hand of a user in the manner of a wand, for receiving the four fingers of the user. However, with the provision of eleven recesses, it will be seen that the hand of the user can be moved lengthwise along grip through a range of lengthwise spaced locations.Wand section 68 slopes downwardly at an angle X of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal (FIG. 5) in the operating condition of the tool when the latter is disposed horizontally for movement in ski-like fashion across the surface to be cleaned. The length ofgrip member 80 in the embodiment illustrated is approximately 10 inches, thus providing in conjunction with the angle X of 20 degrees, a range of approximately 3 /2 inches in vertical dimension in which the grip can be held by the clasped hand of the operator for effective horizontal operation of the tool irrespective of different arm lengths of different operators. The distance differential that the average human individuals clasped hand is generally disposed from floor level varies through a range of approximately 3 inches. In other words, the clasped hand of those with longer arms may be approximately 3 inches closer to the floor level than those with shorter arms. By providing the length ofgrip member 80 with the plurality of lengthwise spaced finger recesses therein so as to make the tool usable throughout the range of different arm lengths of the average human individual, the tool can be operated effectively by practically all individuals for maintaining the tool horizontal as it is moved across the floor level, irrespective of the arm length of the individual. Thus a wand is provided that can be effectively operated by the great majority of individuals, irrespective of their arm lengths, and still enable the operator to grip the wand at the location of thegrip member 80. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the forward end of thegrip member 80 is disposed at a vertical distance Y of approximately 28 inches above floor level, while the rearward end of thegrip member 80 is disposed at a vertical distance Z of approximately 31 /2 inches above floor level, in the horizontal operating condition of the tool. Thus a vertical range of approximately 3 /2 inches is provided for effective horizontal movement of the tool across the surface to be cleaned by individuals with various arm lengths.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a cleaning tool adapted for use with a vacuum cleaner with the tool being connected to an operating handle or wand for movement of the tool in generally horizontal condition across the surface to be cleaned and with the operating handle being of a novel construction and including hand grip means thereon which enables different sizes of people to effectively operate the tool and maintain the latter in generally horizontal condition irrespective of variations in the distance between the floor surface and the clasped hand of the operator. A novel arrangement of sectional construction of operating handle is illustrated and a novel arrangement of coupling means is provided for coupling the sections with respect to one another, and coupling the operating handle or Wand to the tool.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expression of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a cleaning tool for a suction type vacuum cleaner adapted for cleaning a floor surface or the like, comprising a housing with a suction chamber therein communicating with the underside of said housing,

and an operating wand coupled to said tool and extending rearwardly therefrom for moving said housing in generally horizontal relation across the surface to be cleaned, said wand having grip means thereon adapted to be gripped by a tool operator for moving the tool and associated wand with respect to the surface upon movement of the arm of the operator, said grip means comprising an elongated portion on the underside of the wand extending lengthwise thereof substantially linearly, said portion being obliquely oriented with respect to the horizontal and having a plurality of transverse generally finger size indentations therein spaced lengthwise of said portion and adapted to receive fingers of the operator when the wand is gripped by the operator, each of said indentations being disposed at a higher level than the next preceding indentation as compared to the surface to be cleaned in the horizontal condition of the too], said indentations providing a considerable range of finger gripping locations lengthwise of said portion for use by different operators having different lengths of arms for expeditiously maintaining the tool substantially horizontal during movement thereof relative to the surface being cleaned irrespective of the arm length of the particular operator, the number of said indentations being greater than 5.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grip means is disposed adjacent the distal end of said Wand and comprises a member of elongated striplike configuration secured to the underside of the wand, said member having a said plurality of transverse indentations therein spaced lengthwise thereof.

3. The combination in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said grip member is obliquely disposed at an angle of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal and comprises eleven of said indentations spaced lengthwise of said member.

4. The combination in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said wand adjacent said distal end is disposed at an angle of approximately 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal and slopes downwardly toward the horizontal, so that movement of the operators clasped hand from one end of said grip member to the other end thereof varies the vertical distance of the operators clasped hand from floor level through a range of approximately 3 /2 inches, in the generally horizontal position of said tool.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wand comprises a plurality of wand sections, and releasable coupling means coupling said wand sections together into an integral unit.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said coupling means includes an opening adjacent one end of each of said wand sections, and an axially extending keyway in said one end adapted to receive a complementary key on said coupling means, and said coupling means including a movable lug adapted to be received in interlocking coaction in said opening of said wand section with means for moving said lug out of said opening to permit axial separation of each wand section from the adjacent wand section, said coupling means comprising a connector member secured to one end of one wand section and coacting in telescoped relation with an end of the adjacent wand section, said movable lug comprising a resilient trigger member including a base portion attached to said connector member, said trigger member including a head portion defining said lug adapted to be received in said opening and a connecting body portion of flexible material, said head portion having a fulcrum disposed forwardly of said flexible body portion and adapted for engagement with said connector member for causing outward pivotal movement of said head portion out of said opening upon inward deflection of said body portion, said body portion and said fulcrum providing said means for moving said lug out of said opening.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 including a sleeve member encompassing said trigger member and said connector member, said sleeve member being formed of flexible material adapted for deformation upon squeezing thereof for permitting actuation of said trigger member from exteriorly of said sleeve member.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said sleeve member comprises an embossment on the interior thereof adapted for overlying relation with respect to said connecting body portion of said trigger member for applying inward pressure to said connecting body portion for causing outward pivotal movement of said head portion out of said opening, for detaching said wand section from the adjacent wand section.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grip means comprises an elongated strip member mounted on the underside of the wand adjacent the distal end of the wand, and with the underside of said grip strip member having said plurality of lengthwise spaced indentions therein, and wherein the top side of said grip strip member which is disposed in juxtaposed relation to said underside of said wand comprising a plurality of recesses extending lengthwise thereof, and said wand including lengthwise extending rigid exterior ribs spaced circumferentially about said wand, said recesses being formed complementary to said ribs on the wand with at least certain of said ribs being received in said recesses.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein said grip strip member is formed of flexible plastic material, and adhesion means securing said grip strip member to said wand.

11. An operating wand adapted for attachment to a tool of a suction-type vacuum cleaner with the tool being adapted to be moved horizontally by said operating wand across a surface to be cleaned, said wand comprising a plurality of wand sections and means coupling said wand sections together into an integral unit, the outermost of said wand sections including a grip means thereon adapted for gripping by an operator in conjunction with movement of the operators arm, for causing generally horizontal movement of the tool over the surface to be cleaned, said grip means extending lengthwise substantially linearly and comprising a member of elongated strip-like configuration secured to the underside of said outermost wand section, said grip member when in use with the tool being obliquely oriented with respect to the horizontal and having a plurality of transverse generally finger size indentations therein spaced lengthwise of said grip member and adapted to receive fingers of an operator when gripped by the operator, said indentations being of such number and at least greater than 5, with each of said indentations being disposed at a higher level than the next preceding indentation as compared to the surface to be cleaned in the horizontal condition of the tool that they provide a range of gripping locations for use by different operators having different lengths of arms, for expeditiously maintaining the tool substantially horizontal during generally horizontal movement thereof by said wand relative to the surface being cleaned irrespective of the operators arm length.

12. An operating wand in accordance with claim 11 wherein said wand includes an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section and said coupling means being disposed intermediate said sections and detachably coupling said sections together against relative rotational and lengthwise movement with respect to one another, said upper section comprising said outermost wand section, each of said wand sections comprising a tubular portion at one end thereof coacting with the respective of said coupling means, said tubular portion including an opening therein and a keyway slot therein and said coupling means comprising a lug releasably received in said opening and a key releasably received in said slot, and means for moving said lug from said opening for permitting axial withdrawal movement of one wand section with respect to another wand section, said axial withdrawal 9 movement causing said key to be withdrawn from said slot.

13. An operating wand in accordance withclaim 12 wherein said upper wand section adjacent its distal end is angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal at approximately 20 degrees in the horizontal condition of said tool, said grip strip member being secured to said upper wand section on the underside thereof adjacent the outer end thereof, said grip strip member extending for a distance along said upper wand section sufficient to give a vertical differential range of approximately 3 /2 inches for gripping of the grip strip member by different operators having different lengths of arms, so that the tool can be expeditiously maintained substantially horizontal irrespective of operator arm length.

14. An operating wand in accordance withclaim 12 wherein each Wand section comprises a raised rib running lengthwise interiorly of the wand section, said slot being of a depth greater than the thickness of the definingwall 2 of the wand section and extending into said interior rib.

10 15. An operating wand in accordance withclaim 14 wherein said interior rib runs for the full length of the respective wand section, said slot terminating in said tubular portion and being disposed in 180 degrees opposed relation to said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 146,499 3/ 1947 Finn D4917.2 2,184,881 12/1939 Martinet 285-7 2,998,474 8/1961 Pavlic 15327X FOREIGN PATENTS 851,463 10/1960 Great Britain 15-41O 1,002,209 8/1965 Great Britain 15143.2

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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