Abstract:
A lid that can be placed over a bucket and transform the bucket into a pre collection shop vac chamber. Fittings are provided to allow fluid collection air exhaust and vacuum regulation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a bucket lid . . . and, more particularly, to . . . converting a bucket into a vacuum chamber.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     During the process of shop vac operation it is often necessary to use it to suck up materials that you don&#39;t wish to be in contact with any more than you have to. Many materials are hazardous to ones health and others are harmful to the shop vac itself, in any case its always followed by a messy clean up and heavy lifting.  
         [0003]     It is therefore an object of the invention to . . . help fascilatate shop vac operation without messy clean up.  
         [0004]     It is another object of the invention to . . . Save time during the process of transfering fluids from shop vac to storage containers.  
         [0005]     It is another object of the invention to . . . Saving your back from heavy liffting of fluids accumulating in shop vac.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the invention to . . . Save mechanical and non-mechanical shop vac parts such as filters and motors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided . . . a lid that can be placed over a bucket and transform the bucket into a pre collection shop vac chamber. Fittings are provided to allow fluid collection air exhaust and vacuum regulation. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top detail view of a standard five gallon bucket lid, with fittings to allow for hookup of vacuum supply, vacuum hose,and vacuum regulating vent plate;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a horizontal detail view of a standard five gallon bucket lid showing vacuum inlet and outlet ports allignment of vacuum regulator plate;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top exploded view of a vacuum regulator plate, with three holes/vents in addition to three flaps/grips;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom exploded view of a vacuum regulator plate with holes/vents and center mounting knob/axis; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an edge view of a bucket lid with tapered edge and tapered inlet and outlet ports. 
     
    
       [0014]     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top detail view of a standard five gallon bucket lid  1 , with fittings to allow for hookup of vacuum supply, vacuum hose,and vacuum regulating vent.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom detail view of a standard five gallon bucket lid  1  with inlet and outlet ports, in addition to vacuum regulating vent.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a horizonal detail view of a five galloon bucket lid  1 , with additional ports.  
         [0018]     The “Sucket Bucket” concept was concieved after buying a brand new shop vac only to suck gunk into it. The idea is to place the “Sucket Bucket” lid onto a bucket and instead of sucking fluids into your shop vac, you attach your shop vac hose,to the “Sucket Bucket” lid and use an additional hose from the “Sucket Bucket” lid for sucking fluids directly into your bucket, instead of your shop vac,  
         [0019]     A simple set of holes in the lid with a plate to rotate and expose the holes,work to control excessive vacum which tends to collapse the bucket. Its a simple idea which works best when inbound fluids are directed to the edge, but not absolutley necessary for operation. I&#39;m showing two hookups but more could be provived, to allow additional options for hook up sizes, also the lid can be equiped with tapered fittings to accomodate hose sizes that vary. Even the lid edge can be tapered to fit off size buckets.  
         [0020]     In research and development we found that the “Sucket Bucket” lid works easiest when the lid was left attachted to a bucket that we had modified. We removed the lower portion of a bucket which gave us a lid that can easily slip over the top of the bucket allowing us to move quickly from bucket to bucket filling them quickly and easily without physicalliy lifting any fluid by hand.  
         [0021]     We are very excited about our idea and discoveries of how well it works and excited about how it can save exposure to materials that may not be heathful.  
         [0022]     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0023]     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.