Abstract:
The Vacuum Cleaner Accessories Caddy is an accessory belt which can be fitted and secured without tools around the body of a conventional barrel or tank type vacuum cleaner. The device may comprise two components: 1) a wide braided nylon band with attached Velcro™ strap and buckle or eyelet for size adjustment; and 2) a plurality of usually molded plastic holders attached thereto that are designed to secure vacuum cleaner tools and accessories.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/638,927, filed on Dec. 27, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention pertains generally to vacuum cleaners and more specifically to an adjustable caddy for holding and organizing vacuum cleaner accessories.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE FIELD  
       [0003]     Vacuumers, both residential and commercial, need tools. The typical vacuum cleaner has a standard extension wand at the end of the hose, but the user typically needs other tools, such as a floor tool, a crevice tool, and a brush tool. It is desirable for the user to carry these tools with him so that they will be readily available for the job at hand. Many vacuum cleaners do not come with any way to carry such tools.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing a simple and effective way for vacuum cleaner tools and accessories to be carried on the vacuum cleaner itself. The accessories caddy comprises a usually somewhat flexible band or belt with various accessory holders arranged thereon. The accessory holders, generally molded from plastic, are configured for holding the various accessories according to the preferences of the user, and the band is fastened around the body of a vacuum cleaner (such as barrel or tank). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention with band and holders;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of a first embodiment of a holder;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of a second embodiment of a holder; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a detail view of a third embodiment of a holder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the caddy  10  comprising a generally flat, rectangular band or belt  12  and various accessory holders  14  arranged and fastened thereon. The band is to be installed on a typical tank or barrel type vacuum cleaner and so must be both flexible and adjustable—flexible so as to circumscribe the barrel or tank and adjustable so as to fit different sizes of barrels and tanks. The band also must be sturdy enough to hold up a plurality of holders loaded with vacuum cleaner tools and to withstand repeated use. Consequently, the band  12  may be made of any suitable material (i.e., rubber or other pliable band material) and in the embodiments herein shown is generally made of 2″ to 2.5″ wide nylon webbing. The band may also include a rubberized or other non-skid backing on the side adjacent the vacuum cleaner. Such backing would be included to assist in securing the band around the body of the vacuum cleaner, many of which are smooth and/or tapered. Further, the band being rectangular has a first end and a second end and includes closing means to fasten the two ends. Such means may include a buckle or eyelet  13  at one end and a securing strap  15 , which may be of Velcro™ or other hook-and-loop fabric, at the other end. The band is intended to support several holders which may be arranged thereon in the desired configuration according to the references of the user.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows detail of a holder  14  to be mounted on the band and fastened thereon. The holder  14  may comprise a body  16 , a front panel  18 , a back panel  20  and a lock clasp  22 . The body  16 , which may be variously shaped (such as by injection molding or other manufacturing technique) and may be of any suitable material, is in this detail a generally cylindrical canister made of molded plastic and may be integrally molded into or attached to the front panel  18  (e.g., with adhesive) and also may have an opening, a slot  17 , defined vertically along its length. The slot  17  is intended to face outwardly from the band and provides easy access for the tool or accessory loaded into the holder. The body  16  may take various shapes to fit various vacuum cleaner tools or accessories, both standard and custom. Additionally, the holder may be closed at one end, e.g., the bottom of the canister, to accommodate certain accessories. Also, the holder may be in the form of a bag for retaining microtools. Once fastened to the band  12  in the desired arrangement, the holders  14  are to be loaded with vacuum cleaner tools (e.g., floor tool, crevice tool, brush tool) and/or other accessories—spray cleaner, cleaning wipes, etc.  
         [0011]     Front panel  18  is typically a generally flat, rectangular panel attached to the body  16  opposite the vertical slot  17 . It is recommended, though not necessary for the invention, that the front panel  18  be large enough to span the width of the band  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the front panel  18  has a top edge  19   a  and a bottom edge  19   b . Optionally, the front panel may define a plurality of barbs  26  (or other protruding points) on the face  21   a  directed away from the body.  
         [0012]     Hinged to the top edge  19   a  of the front panel  18 , and typically of approximately the same size, is the back panel  20 , such that the two panels are capable of mating upon folding or other action. In the embodiment shown, the back panel  20  is also generally flat and rectangular similar to the front panel  18  and has a mating face  21   b . The back panel  20  defines several small protruding points  26  (traction cleats or barbs) on its interior mating face  21   b  so that when the panels are mated around the nylon band, the barbs  26  grip the band and secure the holder onto the band so that it is stationary and does not slip laterally along the band  12 . In addition, the back panel may further include a spacer  23  on its exterior face  21   c  to hold the band and holders spaced away from the vacuum cleaner barrel or tank. In the embodiment shown, the spacer  23  takes the form of a generally rectangular block affixed to the back panel. If used, the spacer must be designed and positioned so as not to interfere with the operation of the lock clasp, discussed later.  
         [0013]     The holder may further comprise locking means, which in the embodiment shown comprises a lock clasp  22  hingably attached to one side edge of the front panel (towards the bottom edge thereof). Such clasp element may be manufactured integrally with the panel. When the two panels are mated, the lock clasp  22  folds over the back panel  20  and snaps into place on the opposite edge of the front panel, thereby securing the two panels together. When the panels are thusly secured, the barbs of the panel mating face(s) will be driven into the material of the band and will operate to prevent lateral slippage of the holder.  
         [0014]     The holders may thus be adjusted and arranged around the band according to the individual user of the device, but when arranged and locked into place they will not slide or come off.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows detail of a second embodiment of a holder having an alternate lock clasp  30 . In this embodiment, the lock clasp  30  is defined as the back panel itself, and there is a receptacle  32  along the bottom edge of the front panel. The lock clasp/back panel  30  snaps into the receptacle  32  when folded into the mating position. If a spacer is used with this embodiment, to hold the band and holders spaced away from the vacuum cleaner barrel or tank, it can more easily be designed and positioned so as not to interfere with the operation of the lock clasp.  
         [0016]     The holders may thus be adjusted and arranged around the band according to the individual user of the device, but when arranged and locked into place they will not slide or come off.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  show detail of a third embodiment of a holder having an alternate lock clasp  40 . In this embodiment, there is at least one, preferably two as shown, protruding knob  42  protruding from the back face  21   a  of the front panel, which fit through holes  44  in the back panel when mated. The knobs  42  are made to snap securely into the holes  44  and hold the back panel in place—with the barbs being driven into the band. In this embodiment, the tips of the knobs protruding through the back panel may act as a bottom spacer; so there may also be a top spacer  46  mounted on the back panel.