Abstract:
Disclosed is a removable battery pack for use with a vacuum cleaner, for use with a recharging station. The battery pack is used to power a vacuum, and when discharged can be removed and replaced with another charged battery pack.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled Battery Pack Harness filed by Richard Coombs on Jun. 15, 2006 with application Ser. No. 60/804,909. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for use with vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a battery pack for use with vacuum cleaners. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vacuum cleaners come in several different configurations, such as backpack vacuums, which are mounted on the user&#39;s back as the vacuum is operated. Other configurations include canisters, uprights and other configurations which are commonly known in the vacuum industry. The backpack vacuum in particular has found wide application for use in commercial situations. This can include use in hotels, cleaning airplanes between flights, cleaning commercial office buildings and other situations in which commercial cleaning services would typically clean a facility. The other types of vacuum cleaners are more commonly used in certain other areas due to their different configurations, ease of use, weight and other considerations. 
         [0004]    In each of these uses of vacuum cleaners there occur situations in which it is desirable to have a vacuum cleaner that is battery powered. For instance, when cleaning a stairwell in a commercial building, building codes require that there be no electrical outlets in the stairwell. This makes the stairwell difficult to clean, as the cleaning crew must run an extension cord from inside one of the floor into the stairwell region. 
         [0005]    In the context of cleaning an airplane between flights the backpack vacuum has proved particularly useful. However, using a backpack vacuum for such work requires managing the extension cords which run from outside the plane into the interior of the plane and dragging the cord the length of the airplane while using the vacuum on upholstery and on the floor. It would be much more advantageous to use a battery powered vacuum. 
         [0006]    Another situation in which a battery powered vacuum would be very useful is in a casino, hotel or similar place of business. Casinos in particular are problematic because they are often open 24 hours per day. Even those that have a down period can be problematic; the electrical cords must extend across a lobby or a room and present a trip hazard to both guests and employees. Due to the risk of liability from the trip hazard, it is common for institutions such as these to have a person guarding the cord while another person is operating the vacuum powered by the cord. In these situations utilization of a battery powered vacuum cleaner would make work faster and easier and cheaper by reducing the labor involved in cleaning. 
         [0007]    The problem with using a battery powered device for powering a vacuum, is the vacuum must have sufficient power to operate in a manner that it is useful for commercial operations. It is difficult to find a battery which accomplishes this, and it is difficult to keep that battery charged, as rechargeable batteries would be more desirable than interchangeable batteries. Additionally, if rechargeable batteries are used, they must be used in a system which allows basically continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner. The ideal situation would be a vacuum cleaner which uses two battery packs, with the battery packs interchangeable for use and for charging, and when one battery pack is discharged, the other battery pack would be charged and ready for use. To date, such a system has not been achieved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    These and other objects are accomplished by the battery pack of the invention. The invention is a battery pack for powering a vacuum cleaner, which is removable from the vacuum cleaner for charging, and which interfits with a charging station for recharging. While one battery pack is being charged, the other battery pack can be used to operate the vacuum cleaner. The battery pack of the invention is configured for use with any type of vacuum, including canisters and uprights, and is particularly adapted for use with a backpack vacuum. Although the battery pack could be utilized with any configuration of vacuum cleaner, the discussion of the invention will refer to a backpack type vacuum, with the understanding that the battery pack of the invention can also be configured to operate with other configurations of vacuum cleaners. 
         [0009]    In the instance of the battery pack of the invention being mounted on a backpack vacuum, the battery pack would be in the form of a removable battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a battery plate on which are attached components of the battery pack. The battery plate includes one or more mounting points for attachment to the vacuum, with the battery plate also including one or more battery mounting positions, provided for the attachment of one or more batteries to the battery plate. The battery plate includes an electrical connection unit for interfitting engagement with a corresponding vacuum electrical connection unit. The electrical connection unit is provided for electrical engagement of the batteries on the battery plate with the vacuum motor of the vacuum. 
         [0010]    An engagement guide is also provided on the vacuum for interaction with the corresponding engagement profile on the battery plate. The interaction of the guide and the plate ensure correct engagement of the battery plate mounting points to the vacuum and ensures correct engagement of the battery plate electrical connection unit with the vacuum electrical connection unit. The removable battery assembly of the invention also includes a recharging station with an electrical connection unit for corresponding engagement with the battery plate electrical connection unit. 
         [0011]    The battery plate may be engaged with the vacuum for a period of time and then be removed from the vacuum and replaced by a fully charged battery plate. The discharged battery plate would be engaged with the recharging station for a period of time. The battery plate engages with the vacuum by use of the engagement guide and the engagement profile in a manner which ensures correct engagement of electrical components. 
         [0012]    The recharging station can also include an engagement guide similar to that on the vacuum, for corresponding engagement with the engagement profile of the battery plate. This ensures correct engagement of the battery plate electrical connection unit with the recharging station electrical connection unit. 
         [0013]    The removable battery assembly of the invention can be configured to interfit with a backpack vacuum as well as canister, upright or other forms of vacuums. When used with a backpack vacuum, the removable battery assembly could be configured to interfit with an engagement guide on the backpack vacuum in a position between the backpack carrying harness and the backpack vacuum body. When using this arrangement, the removable battery assembly includes a carrying harness with shoulder straps in which the carrying harness is configured to attach to the backpack vacuum. The battery plate is removable from the carrying harness. In this configuration, the carrying harness and removable battery assembly can be interchanged with the carrying harness of conventional backpack vacuums, and thus be a retrofit to existing backpack vacuums. The harness of this version of the device can include one or more mounting points for attachment to the backpack vacuum. It can also include a first end and a second end, with two shoulder straps for providing lifting capability for a user of the backpack vacuum. Each shoulder strap has an upper end and a lower end, with the uppers ends for attachment to the first end of the harness body and with the lower end for attachment to the second end of the harness body. This version of the device can also include a back-contact area attached to the upper section of the harness body in a lumbar contact area attached to the lower section of the harness body. One or more batteries are provided for attachment with the battery mounts on the harness body, with each battery including electrical contacts for engagement with the electrical connection means of the battery mounts. 
         [0014]    The harness and battery assembly described above can be configured to include a battery plate with an engagement guide for interaction with a corresponding engagement profile on the battery plate. The guide and the profile ensure correct engagement of the battery plate to the harness body. They also ensure correct engagement of the battery plate electrical connection unit with the harness body electrical connection unit. 
         [0015]    The battery plate can also be configured to attach to the vacuum itself, rather than connecting to the harness body. The engagement guide can take a number of configurations, including tracks, rails, slots and grooves or various geometric shapes which interfit with a corresponding geometric shape. 
         [0016]    The invention can take the form of a harness for attaching to a backpack vacuum, with the harness including the battery pack, with batteries, battery plate, engagement profile and engagement guide. The harness and the harness assembly would replace the harnesses on existing backpack vacuums, and would also be attached to new vacuums as they are manufactured, to replace the old style harnesses. The harness of the invention includes one or more mounting points for attachment to the backpack vacuum. The mounting points correspond to the mounting points on the backpack vacuum, and would be different for different models of backpack vacuums. 
         [0017]    The harness body also has an upper and a lower section, with the upper section corresponding generally to the upper back and shoulder area, and the lower section corresponding to the waist region of the user. The harness body may include one or more battery mounts in which batteries for powering the backpack vacuum may be inserted. 
         [0018]    Alternatively, the harness body may include a battery panel, with the battery mounts attached to the battery panel, and the battery panel with its attached batteries and battery mounts being removable to make access easier for replacing batteries or charging batteries. The battery mount and the battery panel could be removable structures, and constructed so that there is an electrical connection for connecting the batteries to the battery mounts. 
         [0019]    Two shoulder straps are attached to the harness body. The shoulder straps provide lifting capability for the user of the backpack vacuum when the harness is attached. Each shoulder strap has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is attached to the upper section of the harness body, and the lower end is attached to the lower section of the harness body. 
         [0020]    The harness body also has a back contact area, which is attached to the upper section of the harness body. This back contact area is typically padded to provide comfort in the shoulder and upper back area of the wearer. The harness also has a lumbar contact area, which is attached to the lower section of the harness body and typically provides padding for the comfort of the wearer in the lumbar region. A waist belt attached to the lower section of the harness body is also an optional feature. 
         [0021]    The harness also includes one or more batteries for engagement with the battery mounts on the harness body. Each battery includes electrical contacts for engaging with the electrical connection means of the battery mounts. The electrical connection means are configured to interfit with the battery electrical contacts, and to have physical structures which guide the batteries into interfitting contact with the electrical connection means of the harness body. The mounting guides are configured to make an incorrect battery orientation impossible. The batteries may be replaceable and removable, or can be built into the battery panel and supplied to the user in a secure mounting. 
         [0022]    The battery panel is removable from the harness assembly. In this configuration the harness body has an electrical connection post. This post is configured for interfitting engagement with an engagement socket of the battery panel. These two electrical connections are configured to make an incorrect electrical connection impossible. The battery panel in the second configuration is removable, and slides in and out of place on the harness body. The harness body is equipped with a track, which is configured to interfit with a corresponding track on the battery panel, so that the battery panel fits into place on the harness body in a secure and controlled insertion path. The track on the harness body and the corresponding track on the battery panel can be configured in a number of different ways, one being a projection, another being a corresponding depression or cutout, or they can be rails such as a t-rail or a l-rail with the corresponding slot in the opposite piece. 
         [0023]    One configuration of the removable battery panel can be one in which the harness body has one or more projections which interfit with one or more corresponding recesses or cutouts on the battery panel. These could take the form of slots, grooves, or cutouts, which correspond to the projections of the harness body. 
         [0024]    The harness can also include a back piece, which is held adjacent but spaced apart from the harness body. This would be attached generally to the lower part of the harness body. The back piece would be for contact with the user&#39;s back and would separate the user&#39;s back from the rest of the harness body. In the spaced apart zone between the back piece and the harness body can be provided a slot or groove into which the battery panel may be slid. One or more projection slots on the spaced apart zone between the back piece and the harness body can provide the guidance and the structure for guiding the battery panel into place and into a controlled electrical connection with the harness body. For instance, a piece which has an orienting shape can be mounted between the back piece and the harness body. The orienting shape having straight sides or a pointed region the shape for corresponding engagement with the shape of a bottom edge of a battery panel, or with slots in the battery panel, or with grooves in the battery panel, or with projections in the battery panel. 
         [0025]    The purpose of the Abstract of the invention is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0026]    Still other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the removable battery assembly of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention with a partially disassembled carrying harness. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the recharging station of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the recharging station with a battery plate attached. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a battery plate. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a backpack harness and a battery aligned but not connected. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the removable battery assembly of the invention mounted to a backpack vacuum. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
         [0035]    In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1 through 7  show the invention to advantage.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the removable battery assembly  10  of the invention, mounted to a vacuum  32 . The invention includes a battery plate  12 , which includes mounting points  14  and battery mounting position  16 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  are batteries  30  attached to the battery plate  12  and the vacuum motor  22  of the vacuum  32 . 
         [0037]    Although the term “battery” is used throughout the application, by battery is meant any type of cordless power system, including batteries, capacitors, and super capacitors. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows the battery plate  12  with battery plate electrical connection units  18 , which are approaching engagement with the vacuum electrical connection unit  20 . The vacuum electrical connection unit  20  is attached to the backpack carrying harness  36 . 
         [0039]    The battery plate  12  includes an engagement profile  26  which is configured for engagement with an engagement guide  24  on the battery harness. The engagement profile  26  and the engagement guide  24  cause the battery plate to be guided into position on the backpack carrying harness  36 , so that the electrical connections shown in  FIG. 2  are correctly aligned, and move into electrical connection  20 . These electrical connections  20  are also configured so that if the battery plate  12  is reversed, the electrical connection cannot be made.  FIG. 2  shows the battery plate  12  of the invention mounted on a backpack carrying harness  36 . Batteries  30  are mounted to the battery plate  12 . The battery plate  12  also includes the battery plate electrical connection units  18 , which are aligned for connection to the vacuum electrical connection units  20 . By the use of the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum and the engagement profile  26  on the battery plate  12 , these electrical connections  20  are guided into electrical engagement and prevented from being connected incorrectly. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows the recharging station  28  of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, this unit is made to inter-fit with the battery plate  12  in a connection similar to the connection between the battery plate  12  and the backpack carrying harness  36 . The recharging station includes charger electrical connection units  34  which are configured to engage with the battery plate electrical connection units  18 . The recharging station includes a charger engagement guide  40 , which is equivalent to the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows the recharging station  28  of the invention. The view in  FIG. 3  showed the electrical connection units  34 .  FIG. 4  shows the electrical connection units  18  fully engaged with the charger electrical connection units  34 .  FIG. 4  shows the battery plate  12 , with a carrying handle  50 , and with attached batteries  30 . Attached to the battery plate  12  are battery plate electrical connection units  18 , which are engaged with the charger electrical connection units  34  of the recharging station  28 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the battery plate  12  itself, with no vacuum or charging unit. The charging plate  12  includes mounting point  14 , which form battery mounting positions  16 . Batteries  30  are mounted on the battery mounting positions  16 . The battery plate  12  includes an engagement profile  26  which is configured to fit with an engagement guide  40  on the recharging station  28  and the vacuum  32 . Although other shapes can be utilized to ensure that the electrical connections are made accurately and correctly, the preferred version is shown in  FIG. 5  which is an engagement profile on the battery plate  12  which forms a large, angular notch in the battery plate. The angular notch fits with the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum, which is an angular projection on the recharging station  28  on the vacuum to guide the connection between the battery plate  12  and either of these units. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the battery plate  12  as it is approaching full engagement on the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum. In this case the engagement guide on the vacuum is part of the backpack carrying harness, but it could also be mounted on the body of the vacuum itself. Shown in  FIG. 6  is the vacuum  32  with a motor  22  and an attached backpack carrying harness  36 . Parts of the backpack carrying harness  36  include a back contact area  46  which is shown in  FIG. 7 . The battery plate  12  engages with the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but a few more features of the carrying harness have been added. The lumbar contact plate  44  has been added, which obstructs the view of the interaction between the engagement guide  24  and the engagement profile  26  on the battery pack. The lumber contact plate  44  also forms a slot into which the battery plate  12  fits and helps to slide into accurate engagement with the engagement guide  24  on the vacuum. This version of the invention includes shoulder straps  38  and a belt  52  which aides in carrying the unit. This version of the vacuum  32  is a backpack vacuum, and although this is the preferred embodiment, the removable battery assembly of the invention can be equally adapted to other styles of backpack such as canisters and uprights. 
         [0045]    While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.