Patent Publication Number: US-9408510-B2

Title: Household vacuum cleaner attachment

Description:
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of Invention 
     Some embodiments may generally relate to the field of entertaining and/or teaching household hygiene habits to children. 
     B. Description of the Related Art 
     It is well known that teaching children to clean up after themselves can be challenging. It is almost universally true that people tend to prefer leisure and play time as opposed to work. This is especially true of children, and so it is especially helpful to couch work in terms of play. What is needed is a device which entices children to engage in household cleaning activities, by converting work into play. Some embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more benefits or advantages over the prior art. 
     II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments may relate to an attachment for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body having an entertaining three dimensional adaptation for entertaining a child; an outlet end of the main body adapted to engage the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose; and an inlet end of the main body adapted to receive dirt and/or debris contained in an airstream, wherein the inlet end is in fluid communication with the outlet end. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a screen adapted to catch relatively large objects in an intake airstream at the inlet end of the main body. 
     According to some embodiments the screen has a mesh size from about 1 mm to about 25 mm. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a trap disposed downstream from the inlet end of the main body and upstream from the outlet end of the main body, wherein the trap is adapted to catch relatively heavy objects in an inlet airstream before reaching an inline vacuum cleaner. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a separable trap member adapted to be interposed between the outlet end of the main body and the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose, wherein the trap is adapted to catch relatively heavy objects in an inlet airstream before reaching an inline vacuum cleaner. 
     According to some embodiments the entertaining three dimensional adaptation is selected from one or more of an airplane, a sword, a battle tank, a rocket, a hammer, a rifle, a bayonet, a flamethrower, a rocket launcher, a shark, a whale, a snake, an eel, a magic wand, a flower, a baby doll, a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a rolling pin, or a cartoon and/or movie character. 
     According to some embodiments the trap comprises bomb bay doors on the ventral side of an airplane entertaining adaptation attachment, a detachable magazine box on a rifle entertaining adaptation attachment, or a fuel tank of a flamethrower entertaining adaptation attachment. 
     Some embodiment may relate to an attachment for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body having an entertaining three dimensional adaptation for entertaining a child, wherein the entertaining three dimensional adaptation is selected from one or more of an airplane, a sword, a battle tank, a rocket, a hammer, a rifle, a bayonet, a flamethrower, a rocket launcher, a shark, a whale, a snake, an eel, a magic wand, a flower, a baby doll, a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a rolling pin, or a cartoon and/or movie character; an outlet end of the main body adapted to engage the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose; and an inlet end of the main body adapted to receive dirt and/or debris contained in an airstream, wherein the inlet end is in fluid communication with the outlet end. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a screen adapted to catch relatively large objects in an intake airstream at the inlet end of the main body. 
     According to some embodiments the screen has a mesh size from about 1 mm to about 25 mm. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a trap disposed downstream from the inlet end of the main body and upstream from the outlet end of the main body, wherein the trap is adapted to catch relatively heavy objects in an inlet airstream before reaching an inline vacuum cleaner. 
     Some embodiments may further comprise a separable trap member adapted to be interposed between the outlet end of the main body and the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose, wherein the trap is adapted to catch relatively heavy objects in an inlet airstream before reaching an inline vacuum cleaner. 
     According to some embodiments the trap comprises bomb bay doors on the ventral side of an airplane entertaining adaptation attachment, a detachable magazine box on a rifle entertaining adaptation attachment, or a fuel tank of a flamethrower entertaining adaptation attachment. 
     Some embodiments may relate to an attachment for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body having an entertaining three dimensional adaptation for entertaining a child, wherein the entertaining three dimensional adaptation is selected from one or more of an airplane, a sword, a battle tank, a rocket, a hammer, a rifle, a bayonet, a flamethrower, a rocket launcher, a shark, a whale, a snake, an eel, a magic wand, a flower, a baby doll, a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a rolling pin, or a cartoon and/or movie character; an outlet end of the main body adapted to engage the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose; an inlet end of the main body adapted to receive dirt and/or debris contained in an airstream, wherein the inlet end is in fluid communication with the outlet end; a screen adapted to catch relatively large objects in an intake airstream at the inlet end of the main body; and a trap member disposed in fluid communication with an airstream path of the main body, wherein the trap is adapted to catch relatively heavy objects in an inlet airstream before reaching an inline vacuum cleaner. 
     Other benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     
       III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a trap system of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view drawing of an inline screen at an inlet of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of an airplane; 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a flower; 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a rocket; 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of hammer; 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a shark; 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a sword; 
         FIG. 9  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a battle tank; and 
         FIG. 10  is a drawing of an embodiment comprising an entertaining three dimensional adaptation of a magic wand. 
     
    
    
     IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments may comprise an attachment for a household vacuum cleaner which incorporates entertaining three dimensional designs adapted to engage the interest of a child and/or entertain a child through play. For instance, an embodiment may include a main body which may be adapted to engage the suction end of a household vacuum cleaner hose, and may further incorporate an entertaining design calculated and/or adapted to engage the interest of a child. A main body may include an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with each other and define an airflow path. The outlet of the main body may be adapted to engage a suction port of a household vacuum cleaner in a reversible retained relation. Thus, some embodiments may be attached and detached repeatedly, as the need arises. 
     Entertaining three dimensional designs calculated and/or adapted to engage the interest of a child can include, without limitation, one or more of an airplane, a sword, a battle tank, a rocket, a hammer, a rifle, a bayonet, a flamethrower, a rocket launcher, a shark, a whale, a snake, an eel, a magic wand, a flower, a baby doll, a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a rolling pin, or a cartoon and/or movie character. In general an entertaining design can be selected according to the gender and age range of the children defining a target audience. For instance, boys are more likely to be drawn toward sports and military themed embodiments, while girls are more likely to be drawn to doll and flower themed embodiments. However, embodiments may also include popular cartoon and/or movie characters or themes. For instance, a Disney® character theme such as Lady and the Tramp, a Marvel Comics® theme incorporating imagery from X-Men®, Barbie® themes, Sponge Bob Square Pants® themes, or other proprietary themes from popular culture. 
     Embodiments may optionally include means for removing some larger and/or heavier objects from a vacuum airstream. This may be a desirable feature because children may be more inclined than adults to entrain items in a vacuum airstream that should not be vacuumed. Such objects may include, without limitation, relatively large and/or heavy objects which may clog or damage the vacuum cleaner, or items which are not to be disposed of such as toys or valuables that happen to be within reach. One skilled in the art will appreciate that an embodiment can be constructed so that objects having a predetermined mass will tend to fall out of an airstream. A suitable means for removing items from the airstream may tend to remove dirt and small particles while trapping larger items such as coins, jewelry, toys, etc. 
     Examples of suitable means for removing entrained items from an intake airstream can comprise a screen member and/or a gravity-driven trap. For instance, a screen having a suitable predetermined mesh size may be placed at an inlet of the main body so that entrained objects can be readily removed or will simply fall away from the screen when the vacuum is powered off. Additionally or alternatively, a screen may be placed at other points along the airstream flow path of the embodiment as appropriate. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a gravity-driven trap system  100  according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a trap comprises a catch box  110   c  having an air inlet port  110   a  and an air outlet port  110   b . The trap can be disposed inline in an airstream flow path of an embodiment. Thus, an airstream  120  along with entrained debris  130  and  140  enters the trap  100  at the inlet port  110   a , the heavier debris  130  fall out of the airstream  120  and are collected at the bottom of the catch box  110   c , and the remaining smaller debris  140  remain entrained in the airstream  120  and exit through the outlet port  110   b .  FIG. 2  illustrates a screen  200  placed inline in an embodiment&#39;s airstream at a foremost end of the inlet. 
     The remaining  FIGS. 3 through 10  are drawings of illustrative entertaining three dimensional designs. Particularly,  FIG. 3  is a drawing of an airplane design where the inlet port  300  is just under the nose of the plane, and the outlet  310  is disposed in a rear of the plane.  FIG. 4  is a drawing of a flower design where the inlet port  300  is disposed in the center of the flower petals and the outlet port is at the base of the stem  310 . In both  FIGS. 3 and 4  the airstream flow path is shown substantially straight; however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a flow path may be curved or otherwise contoured provided that contours are sufficiently subtle to impede clogging.  FIG. 5  comprises a rocket embodiment with an inlet port  300  at the nose and an outlet port  310  at the tail.  FIG. 6  comprises a hammer embodiment where the inlet port  300  is at the striking surface of the hammer, and the outlet port  310  is at the base of the handle.  FIG. 7  comprises a shark embodiment where the inlet port  300  is at the mouth end of the shark and the outlet port  310  is behind the dorsal fin.  FIG. 8  comprises a sword embodiment where the inlet port  300  is at the tip of the sword and the outlet port  310  is at the hilt.  FIG. 9  comprises a battle tank embodiment where the inlet port  300  is at an end of the cannon and the outlet port  310  is in the turret. Finally,  FIG. 10  comprises a magic wand embodiment where the inlet port  300  is at the tip of the wand and the outlet port  310  is at the base of its handle. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may be changed or modified without departing from the general scope of the invention. The invention is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.