Abstract:
A portable vacuum canister is disclosed for vacuuming debris by a hand-held suction hose and for transferring the debris down through the vacuum canister and into an existing garbage disposal for grinding, where it is then washed down the drain. The vacuum canister adapts and slides into an existing disposal opening.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a portable vacuum canister capable of interconnection with and deployment of waste into a sink drain having a waste grinder in direct communication with the sink drain flange covering a sink drain opening. The portable vacuum canister is used for vacuuming debris and dumping the debris into a garbage disposal or waste grinder associated with the sink for grinding of the debris, flushing and release into a municipal waste stream or septic system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Vacuum cleaning devices are designed by and large to operate by suctioning dust or debris from a surface. The general theory underlying the concept behind conventional vacuum cleaning devices is well-known. Typically, vacuum cleaning devices use some form of an electromechanical mechanism to create a partial vacuum to suction various kinds of particles into the vacuum cleaning device. Air pumps function by transferring air load from an inlet port to an outlet port (exhaust). The transfer of air load creates a region of lower pressure. The pressure gradient between this region of lower pressure and the ambient pressure creates suction, whereby particles are propelled toward the lower pressure region. The greater the pressure difference between the region of lower pressure and the region of ambient pressure, the greater the suction. 
         [0003]    From this fundamental principle of fluid dynamics, various prior vacuum cleaning devices have been developed to suction particles, with a large majority of these vacuum cleaning devices designed to suction debris from floors and carpets. Generally, the most popular current vacuum cleaning devices fall into one of several design categories: upright vacuum cleaners, hand-held vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, backpack vacuum cleaners, and central vacuum systems, wherein a central location in a building provide vacuum inlets at strategic places throughout a building. 
         [0004]    In the specialized field encompassing vacuum devices designed specifically for suctioning debris from kitchen countertops, stoves, sinks and the like, and thereafter discharging the debris into a garbage disposal, the scope of the prior art is limited and includes especially few references. U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,783 to Arnold teaches of a vacuum system that employs a hose to suction waste materials from a sink. The waste materials are then transferred to a waste container. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,939 to Grimes teaches of a hose that sucks materials via a vacuum generator into a grinder/garbage disposal. Another reference, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,392 to Huisma, teaches of a central vacuum system, wherein a vacuum tool is employed to suction debris from the kitchen sink area to the sewage system via conduits and a separator. 
         [0005]    The prior art described above suffers various deficiencies in its application of vacuuming debris from sinks and thereafter discharging the debris to a garbage disposal in a sink drain. Specifically, the prior art does not teach of a portable vacuum canister with an open bottom that is specially designed to adapt and slide into an existing sink drain flange in communication with a grinder or garbage disposal opening, such that debris, vacuumed by a hand-held hose, is directed into a disposal, ground up, and sent and washed down the drain. Accordingly, there is a need for a relatively simple, inexpensive and portable vacuum canister that can vacuum and dispose of debris into a garbage disposal in an efficient and non-labor intensive manner. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with the invention, there is provided a portable vacuum canister specially designed to correspondingly engage the opening of a sink drain flange covering a sink drain opening which is interconnected with a garbage disposal. The vacuum canister employs a suction hose for vacuuming debris; an airblower for generating vacuum; optionally a float cage with a float ball for permitting wet vacuum; a cyclone-shaped funnel for achieving constant suction, better dust separation and increased suction power; and an internal discharge control for selectively controlling discharge from the bottom of the vacuum canister during vacuum operation. 
         [0007]    The vacuum canister invention has many practical applications. The vacuum canister can be used for fast cleaning. In particular, the vacuum canister can be used to pick up and quickly dispose of biodegradable food, water and drinks that are on kitchen sinks, counter tops, toasters, cook tops, cook top hoods, ovens, cabinets, drawers, floors, high chairs, and any other conceivable object that would reside near a sink. 
         [0008]    The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims. It is intended that all changes or modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents are embraced by the claims. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and configurations shown. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  depicts an overall diagrammatic view of the inventive vacuum canister in operable connection with a sink drain flange and garbage disposal associated therewith. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  provides an exploded view of the exterior housing for the inventive vacuum canister. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is a side elevational view illustrating a vacuum hose with attachments and accessories operable with the vacuum canister of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective view illustrating airflow and debris movement within the inventive vacuum canister. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  is a top elevational view, partial fragmentary view of an upper portion of the inventive vacuum canister. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective partially exploded view of an embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a backflow-flap-controlled discharge opening. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a float-ball-valved discharge opening. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a rotating cam valved discharge opening. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a mechanical-dump-basket-controlled discharge opening. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a backflow-flap-controlled discharge offset from center. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3B  is a closer perspective view of the vacuum canister embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3C  provides an overall diagrammatic view of the vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 3A  in operable connection with a drink drain flange and garbage disposal associated therewith. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having a paddle impeller for controlling discharge. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a closer perspective view of the discharge control employed by the vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 4A   
           [0025]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of an impeller of the inventive vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4D  is an exploded view of the impeller system of the vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 4A  incorporating a fan cage. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4E  is an exploded view of the impeller system of the vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 4A  incorporating fan blades. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4F  is a side view of the impeller system illustrated in  FIG. 4E . 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the inventive vacuum canister having an airblower mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The invention is directed to a vacuum canister designed for vacuuming materials, such as particulates and/or fluids, from surfaces and transporting the materials to a sink drain having a grinder or garbage disposal mechanism coupled to the sink drain flange, releasing the materials through the sink drain flange and drain opening and into the grinder or garbage disposal mechanism for grinding an disposal into a municipal waste stream or septic system.  FIG. 1A  illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention. The vacuum canister device  100  has two chambers, an upper first chamber  140  that is formed at an upper section of the vacuum canister  100  and a lower second chamber  150  that is formed at a lower section of the vacuum canister  100 . The upper first chamber  140  possesses a substantially cylindrical shape, while the lower second chamber  150  possesses a substantially frustroconical shape. A top region of the upper first chamber  140  is occupied by a vacuum generating element  130 . This vacuum generating element  130  can be an airblower or any other electromechanical mechanism that generates vacuum inside the canister device  100 . A standard airblower can include a motor powered fan or impeller enclosed in a blower housing. Inside the upper chamber  140 , it is desirable to provide a removable filter housing  160  with a float ball  165  is provided to allow for wet vacuuming. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11B  provides an exploded view of the canister&#39;s casing. Suction hose  120  is interconnected with the upper first chamber  140 . Preferably, the suction hose  120  is formed of a lightweight and flexible material, such as polyvinyl chloride, rubber or any material widely known in the vacuum hose art, to allow for easy handling. Naturally, a person skilled in the art could also select another material not described above (such as soft flexible metal) which has been associated with vacuum hoses. Although not shown, the vacuum hose  120  can also be corrugated, so that it is shaped to have folds, ridges or grooves. As shown on  FIG. 1C , the suction hose  120  is provided a vacuum head  121 , designed to possess a large surface area for vacuuming even large pieces of debris. Additionally, various attachments can be appended to the suction hose  120  and/or vacuum head  121  to provide for additional cleaning options. For example, the vacuum head  121  can be fastened with a scouring pad/sponge  122 , formed of tough fibers and abrasives, for scouring pots and pans. Likewise, a cleaning fluid dispenser  123  can also be employed for dispensing cleaning fluid to the vacuum head  121  via a fluid carrying hose  124 . Additionally, an on/off switch can be designed to be on the end of the suction hose  120  near the vacuum head  121 , instead of on the vacuum canister  100  itself, so that a user can effortlessly turn on/off vacuuming. Although not shown in the drawings, the suction hose  120  can also be designed to be retractable to the vacuum canister  100 , thereby providing easier use to the user. 
         [0032]    Referring back to  FIG. 1A , the lower second chamber  150  possesses a substantially conical shape. Near the bottom of the lower second chamber  150 , a discharge control  170  is provided to close shut what would otherwise be a bottomless canister. When the discharge control  170  is in an open state, particles, suctioned through suction hose  120  and transferred down the vacuum canister  100 , pass through a flange  190   a  and are discharged into a drain  182  of a kitchen sink  181 . Therefrom, the particles descend to a garbage disposal  183 , installed under the kitchen sink  181 , where the particles are ground up and shredded into small pieces, so they can be passed through plumbing without clogging. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1D  provides a closer view of the above-described embodiment of the invention. Additionally,  FIG. 1D  illustrates the air pathway taken by particles and fluids suctioned from a vacuum head  121  on suction hose  120 . Initially, the particles enter through a vacuum head  121  of the suction hose  120 . Thereafter, the particles pass through the length of the suction hose and enter the first upper chamber  140  of the vacuum canister device  100 .  FIG. 1E  provides a top view of the upper first chamber  140 . Immediately upon entering the upper first chamber  140 , the incoming particles crash hard against a wall of upper first chamber  140  and into the air already being evacuated through the spinning downward spiral action inside the cyclone. The resulting crash in turbulence breaks the heavier and lighter particles apart, and the spinning air throws the heavy particles outward against the cyclone walls. Air flow at the cyclone walls is slowed by friction. As a result, heavier particles get trapped in the slower moving air. Slowly, gravitational forces pull these heavier particles down. The cone-shaped bottom of the cyclone-shaped vacuum canister is designed to be angled at a proper degree to keep the air speed constant. This design keeps the heavier particles pressed tightly to the cyclone walls of the lower second chamber  150 . As a result, the heavier particles slide downward and along the cyclone walls of the lower second chamber  150 . Eventually, these heavier particles fall and become trapped at the bottom of the vacuum canister  100 . Near the bottom of the cone is an area called a reversal point where the spinning air without the heavier particles reverses direction. This clean air then spirals up through the center of the cyclone and then exits through the cyclone outlet through the exhaust. 
         [0034]    At the bottom of the lower second chamber  150 , a discharge control  170  is employed for controlling the opening and closing of the vacuum canister  100 . A flange  190   a  is provided for discharging particles and fluids from the vacuum canister  100 . The flange  190   a  is designed to fittingly and sealingly engage the drain  182  of a sink  181  and is thereby interconnected to a garbage disposal  183 . 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the bottom of the vacuum canister  100  is closed during vacuum operation and opened when vacuum operation is off. In this particular embodiment, closing shut the bottom of the vacuum canister  100  during operation helps the vacuum canister  100  sustain the pressure gradient needed to generate suction. After operation, when the pressure gradient is no longer necessary, the discharge control  170  opens the bottom of the vacuum canister  100  to permit dumping of debris into the drain  182  and subsequently into the garbage disposal  183 . 
         [0036]    Various possible discharge controls  170  are available. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , a backflow valve  171   a  is used to control flow of debris coming out of the vacuum canister  100 . Essentially, the backflow valve  171   a  prevents fluids from flowing in a direction opposite that of intended flow. Thus, the backflow valve  171   a  allows fluids to flow in only one direction, namely in the direction of discharge. To achieve this control, the backflow valve  171   a  uses a backflow flap  172   a , capable of two possible positions, an opened position and a closed position. The backflow flap  172   a  is fastened to a hinged spring. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , the opening and closing of the backflow flap  172   a  is controlled by suction. During vacuum operation, suction causes the backflow flap  172   a  to be lifted into a closed position. This action temporarily causes a vacuum trap. The closing of the discharge control  170  of the vacuum canister  100  allows for particles to be collected on a collection bin  173   a  with a flap dam  174  located at the lower portion of the collection bin  173   a . When vacuum operation shuts down, natural gravitational forces and the lack of suction causes the backflow flap  172   a  to slide down and descend into an opened position. Accordingly, particles accumulated in the collection bin  173   a  falls downwards through the backflow valve  171   a  and into the drain  182 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 2B-2D , alternative discharge controls  170  are shown, wherein the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar structure. 
         [0038]    In the alternative discharge control  170  embodiment of  FIG. 2B , a float ball  176  is enclosed inside a float ball cage  177 . The float ball cage  177  extends upwards and borders a float ball dam  175 . During vacuum operation, the float ball  176  is suctioned upwards thereby closing shut the discharge control  170  and thus the bottom of the vacuum canister  100 . When vacuum operation shuts down, natural gravitational forces and the lack of suction causes the float ball  176  to descend into a lower position, thereby allowing particles accumulated on the collection bin  173   a  to fall downwards through the float ball dam  175  into the drain  182 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2C  illustrates another possible discharge control  170 . In this embodiment, a rotating cam  178  or slide gate valve is used to open or close the bottom of the vacuum canister. A user could open and close the bottom of the vacuum canister  100  by manually turning the rotating cam. Similarly, in the discharge control  170  illustrated in  FIG. 2D , a mechanical dump basket  179  is used to close shut the bottom of the vacuum canister  100 . After vacuum operation is over, a user could take out the mechanical dump basket  179  to manually dump the collected debris into a drain  182 . 
         [0040]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the vacuum canister  100  is designed to have an overall cylindrical shape. In contrast to the above-mentioned embodiments previously described, wherein the upper portion of the vacuum canister is formed in a cylindrical shape while the lower portion of the vacuum canister is formed in a conical-cyclonic shape, the entire vacuum canister  100  embodied in  FIG. 3A , from top to bottom, is formed exteriorly in a substantially cylindrical shape. This cylindrical-shape feature enhances stability of the vacuum canister  100  by lowering the vacuum canister&#39;s center of gravity. Accordingly, the vacuum canister  100  is less likely to rock back and forth during operation. In this preferred embodiment, vacuum generating element  130  is situated at the top of the vacuum canister  100 . The vacuum generating element  130  creates vacuum through a motor  131  connected to an impeller/airblower  132  by a rod  133 . An exhaust outlet  134  is provided for releasing air. The exhaust outlet  134  interconnects a filter receiver  135 , which is sized to slidably receive a filter  136 . Similar to the above-mentioned embodiments, a cone-shaped funnel  137  is employed to generate the cyclone action that is effective for achieving constant suction, better dust separation, and increased suction power. Dead spaces  138  are incorporated into the vacuum canister  100  to provide the vacuum canister  100  with an exterior cylindrical shape. These dead spaces  138  are positioned between the cone-shaped funnel  137  and the shell outward wall  139 . The dead spaces can be left empty with air, or they can be filled with sound reducing materials to drown out noise generated during operation of the vacuum canister  100 . 
         [0041]    Just like the embodiments described above, the bottom of the vacuum canister  100  embodiment of  FIG. 3A  includes a discharge control  170 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , a backflow valve  171   b  with backflow flap  172   b  is adopted for controlling the discharging of particles and fluids. The backflow flap  172   b  is capable of two possible positions, an opened position and a closed position. The backflow flap  172   b  is fastened to a hinged spring. In this preferred embodiment, the opening and closing of the backflow flap  172   b  is controlled by vacuum suction. During vacuum operation, vacuum suction causes the backflow flap  172   b  to be lifted into a closed position. This action temporarily causes a vacuum trap. The closing of the discharge control  170  allows for particles to be collected on a chute  173   b , which is positioned below the cone-shaped funnel  137 . When vacuum operation shuts down, natural gravitational forces and the lack of suction will cause the backflow flap  172   b  to slide down and descend into an opened position. Accordingly, particles and fluids accumulated in the discharge chute  173   b  fall down through the backflow valve  171   b  and into the drain  182 . A flange  190   b  is provided for discharging particles and fluids from the vacuum canister  100 . The flange  190   b  is designed to fittingly and sealingly engage the drain  182  of a sink  181  and is thereby interconnected to a garbage disposal  183 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , the flange  190   b  is designed to be offset from the center of the vacuum canister bottom  191 . This design makes it easier for a user to place and fit the vacuum canister over the drain  182 . A closer inside view of the vacuum canister embodiment of  FIG. 3A  is provided in  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3C  provides an exterior view of the vacuum canister embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4A  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. The vacuum canister device  200  retains a substantially cylindrical shape, except for the portion near the bottom of the vacuum canister. The top portion of the vacuum canister is occupied by a vacuum generating element  230 . As described above, the vacuum generating element  230  can be an airblower or any other contraption that generates vacuum inside the canister  200 . The standard airblower can include a motor powered fan or impeller  232  enclosed in a blower housing. The suction hose  220  is interconnected with the upper portion of the vacuum canister  200 . The pathway shown in  FIG. 1E  and previously described is also applicable to the embodiment of  FIG. 4A . As the particles and fluids enter the cyclone section  237  of the vacuum canister  200 , the particles and fluids are separated in a manner similar to that described above for other embodiments. The exhaust air travel upwards and pass through a screen  234  and into a chamber  236 . From there, the exhaust air enters a channel tube  201 . In contrast, the heavier particles fall downwards in a spiraling manner and exits the cyclone section  237  into a collection chamber  250 . 
         [0043]    The embodiment of  FIG. 4A  differs from the previously described embodiments in the discharge control  270  employed for discharging particles and fluids. The embodiment of  FIG. 4A  uses a paddle impeller  271  situated at the bottom portion of the vacuum canister  200 . The paddle impeller  271  is formed with a plurality of paddles  272  that revolves in a spinning manner. As illustrated in  FIG. 4F , with each rotation, the paddles collect particles  281  and fluids from a collection chamber  250  when in an upward-facing state and empty particles  281  and fluids when in a downward-facing state. The discharged particles and fluids pass through a discharge chamber  280  before exiting the vacuum canister through a flange  290 . The paddle impeller  271  can be designed to rotate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the exhausted air generated by the vacuum generating element  230  is captured and sent down a channel tube  201 . This exhaust air blows on the fan cage  273  of the paddle impeller  271  thus powers the paddle impeller  271 . Thereafter, exhausted air continues through inner carry tube  202  and passes through a connecting tube  203  before exiting into the direction of the rotating paddles  272 . As it exits the connecting tube  203 , the exhaust air blows trapped particles off the rotating paddles  272 , thereby cleaning the rotating paddles  272 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4B  gives a closer view of the discharge control  270  employed by the vacuum canister  200  embodiment of  FIG. 4A . A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various types of fan contraptions could be used to capture the energy from the exhaust air and transfer this energy into rotational movement of the paddle impeller  271 . For instance, fan blades  274  can be used in lieu of a fan cage  273  for capturing the energy necessary to power the paddle impeller  271 .  FIG. 4C  presents a perspective view of the paddle impeller  271  comprising of fan blades  274  joined to the inner carry tube  202  that is connected to a plurality of paddles  272 .  FIG. 4D  provides an exploded view of the paddle impeller  271 . The paddle impeller  271  is comprised of the fan cage  273 , the carry tube  202 , and paddles  272 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4E , when fan blades are  274  are used, the paddle impeller  271  would comprise of fan blades  274 , the carry tube  202 , and paddles  272 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates another inventive embodiment of the vacuum canister  300 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the vacuum canister device  300  possesses a substantially cylindrical shape. A vacuum generating element  330  is used to create vacuum. This vacuum generating element  330  can be an airblower or any other contraption that suctions particles into the vacuum canister  300  via a suction hose  320  and a suction inlet  321  interconnected to the vacuum canister  300  and simultaneously blows these particles out of the vacuum canister  300  through a flange  390 . The standard airblower can include a motor  331  powering an impeller  332  or fan rotating via a rod  333 . The airblower is enclosed in a blower housing. The exhaust air vent out to the side through a filter  336 . Additionally, insulation  308  can be provided to lessen the noise stemming from the motor during operation. 
         [0046]    Essentially, the invention embodied in  FIG. 5  operates by having a motor  331  spin an impeller  332  or fan, thereby creating suction and pulling all air, particles, and fluids into the vacuum canister  300  through the impeller  332  or fan. Simultaneously, the motor creates a blowing action, whereby air, particles, and particles are blown out of the vacuum canister  300  into the sink drain  382  and eventually into the garbage disposal  383 . Unlike previous inventive embodiments, the vacuumed particles and fluids are not held or stored inside the vacuum canister  300 . Thus, a discharge control, like those in the previous embodiments, may not be necessary. 
         [0047]    The above-described vacuum canisters and methods are example implementations. The implementations illustrate possible approaches for removing debris from a sink area and discharging the debris into a vacuum canister designed to fittingly and sealingly engage a sink drain. The actual implementation may vary from the configurations discussed. Moreover, various other improvements and modifications to this invention may occur to those skilled in the art, and those improvements and modifications will fall within the scope of this invention as set forth in the claims below. 
         [0048]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific exemplary embodiment described above. All changes or modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced herein. 
         [0049]    As used in this application, the articles “a” and “an” refer to one or more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.