Patent Publication Number: US-2007119015-A1

Title: Portable vacuum cleaner and method for storing a vacuum hose

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/681,737, filed May 17, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      This application relates to a portable vacuum cleaner and a method for storing a vacuum.  
     BACKGROUND  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,961 describes a vacuum cleaner that includes a base, a housing, and a vacuum hose. A disadvantage with the vacuum cleaner is that the vacuum cleaner does not allow a user the ability to store the vacuum hose within a portion of the housing. As a result, the user would have difficulty storing the vacuum cleaner in a compact region of a vehicle.  
      Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized that it would be advantageous to have a portable vacuum cleaner configured to store the vacuum hose within a groove extending around a periphery of the housing.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A portable vacuum cleaner in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum generating device. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a housing configured to hold the vacuum-generating device therein. The housing has a groove extending around a periphery of the housing for receiving and holding a vacuum hose therein during storage of the housing. The vacuum hose has first and second ends. The first end is operably coupled to the vacuum-generating device.  
      A method for storing a vacuum hose of a portable vacuum cleaner in accordance with another exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes disposing the vacuum hose in a groove extending around a periphery of a housing of the portable vacuum cleaner. The method further includes retracting, at least partially, a power cord into the housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic of a portable vacuum cleaner in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1  illustrating an enlarged view of a retractable power cord and a vacuum hose;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1  illustrating a nozzle having a light emitting diode;  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1  disposed within a vehicle; and  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic of the portable vacuum cleaner of  FIG. 1  stored within a seat in the vehicle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portable vacuum cleaner  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The portable vacuum cleaner  10  comprises a housing  12 , a vacuum hose  14 , a vacuum-generating device  17 , a nozzle  22 , a retraction device  33 , a power cord  35 , and a power socket  34 .  
      The housing  12  is provided to hold the vacuum-generating device  17  therein. The housing  12  has a groove or multiple grooves extending around the periphery of the housing  12  for receiving and holding the vacuum hose  14  therein. In particular, the vacuum hose  14  is wrapped around the groove extending around a periphery  40  of the housing several times in an overlapping manner as shown in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, the vacuum hose  14  is retained in close contact with the periphery of the housing  12 . Because the vacuum hose  14  is compressed against the groove extending around the periphery of the housing  12 , the vacuum hose  14  is prevented from being damaged when the portable vacuum cleaner  10  is turned in any direction or if it is dropped on a hard surface. The housing  12  preferably has an oval periphery as shown in  FIG. 3 . In an exemplary embodiment, the housing  12  has a length of 350 mm, a height of 90 mm, and a width of 180 mm.  
      In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in the Figures, the housing further comprises a plurality of tab members  17 , each of which is configured to have a raised portion  19  for retaining the hose around the periphery of the housing when the hose is received in the groove or grooves formed around the housing.  
      In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the tab members are located in a flange portion or portions  21  of the housing. Flange portions  21  define an upper limit and a lower limit of the grooves or grooves that traverse the periphery of the housing. In addition, a central rib or raised area  23  between the two flanges will provide a means for defining two grooves that traverse the periphery of the housing. Of course, more or less than two grooves are contemplated for use in exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the hose and/or the nozzle are configured to have a diameter large enough so that it will cooperate with the groove as well as the tab members in order to secure the same to the housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the tab members are formed from a resilient material such as plastic or equivalents thereof wherein the tabs are capable of deflecting away from the hose as it is inserted into the groove and thereafter returning to its original position thus, causing the hose to be retained within the groove of the housing as well as providing ease of removal. In other words the tab members are configured for flexible movement with regard to the flange member and will have natural bias thus causing the same to be returned to an un-deflected position after a biasing force has been removed.  
      In addition, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the housing of the vacuum cleaner is configured to receive the hose around its periphery to provide a compact exterior profile, which allows the vacuum cleaner to be easily stowed in an area beneath a vehicle seat (see  FIG. 8 ).  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the vacuum-generating device  17  is provided to generate a vacuum in the vacuum hose  14 . The vacuum-generating device  17  is disposed within the housing  12 . The device  17  includes a removable filter  26 , a fan  28 , a motor  30 , and a switch  32 .  
      The removable filter  26  is provided for collecting dust particles. The removable filter  26  is disposed within the housing  12 , which includes a cover (not shown) that is removably secured to the housing  12 . The dust particles are filtered and maintained in the filter  26  until the filter  26  is cleaned or replaced by a user.  
      The fan  28  is provided for generating a vacuum in the vacuum hose  14  for drawing the dust particles into the housing  12 . The fan  28  comprises a first side and a second side. Fan  28  has an exhaust port within the second side and an intake port within the first side. During operation, when an electrical current is routed from a power socket  34  to the motor  30  via a switch  32 , the fan  28  is rotated, thereby producing a vacuum within the vacuum hose  14  for directing the dust particles into the filter  26 .  
      The motor  30  is provided to rotate the fan  28 . The motor  30  is preferably a lightweight DC motor.  
      The switch  32  is provided for controlling energization of the motor  30 . The switch  32  is electrically coupled to the power cord  35 . When the switch  32  has a closed operational position, the motor  30  is energized and rotates the fan  28 . Alternately, when the switch  32  has an open operational position, the motor  32  is de-energized.  
      The vacuum hose  14  is provided for collecting the dust particles and routing the dust particles to the filter  26 . The vacuum hose  14  is operably coupled to the housing  12  and is coupled to a first end of the housing  12 . The vacuum hose  14  comprises a plastic tube. In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum hose  14  has a length of at least 3 feet and a diameter of at least 1¼ inch. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a side view of the portable vacuum cleaner  10  is depicted where the vacuum hose  14  is wrapped around the groove extending around a periphery of the housing  40  for receiving and holding the vacuum hose  14  therein during storage.  
      The power cord  35  is provided for energizing the portable vacuum cleaner  10 . The power cord  35  is operably coupled to the housing  12  and is electrically coupled between the switch  32  and the power socket  34 . To be operable, it is required that the power cord  35  conduct electrical signals. Thus, the power cord  35  is typically composed of several conductors covered by required insulation layers. The power cord  35  has a relatively large length in order to allow the portable vacuum cleaner  10  to operate in any location within the vehicle  50 . In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle  22  has a length of 210 mm.  
      The retraction device  33  is provided to retract the power cord  35  at least partially within the housing  12  when the housing  12  is being stored. The device  33  is further configured to allow the power cord  35  to be dispensed out of the housing  12  by a user.  
      The power socket  34  is provided to route electrical current from a current source (not shown) to the retractable power cord  35 .  
      The electrical lead  36  is provided for energizing the light emitting diode  24 . The electrical lead  36  preferably is routed from the housing  12  through the vacuum hose  14  to the nozzle  22 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2, 5  and  6 , the nozzle  22  is provided for collecting the dust particles. The nozzle  22  is configured to be coupled to an end of the vacuum hose  14  and includes a light emitting diode  24  and an electrical lead  36 . The nozzle  22  is preferably made of a lightweight plastic material with a high resistance to heat and high endurance in order to optimize its ability to remove the dust particles from carpeting or hard surfaces. The light emitting diode  24  is provided for emitting a light when the motor  30  is energized. The light emitted by the light emitting diode  24  provides a user with better visual ability for locating the dust particles. The light emitting diode  24  is electrically coupled through the electrical lead  36  that extends through the vacuum hose  14  to the switch  32 . As shown, the vacuum hose  14  is operably coupled to the housing  12  at the first end and operably coupled to the nozzle  22  at a second end.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , a use of the portable vacuum cleaner within a vehicle  50  will now be explained. The vehicle  50  includes seats  52  as shown. The user of the vehicle  50  has placed the portable vacuum cleaner  10  on top of the seat  52 . The power cord  35  of the portable vacuum cleaner  10  is connected via the power socket  34  to an electrical source to energize the portable vacuum cleaner  10 . Once the portable vacuum cleaner  10  is energized, the user is capable of utilizing the portable vacuum cleaner  10  to collect the dust particles within the vehicle  50 . The portable vacuum cleaner  10  may be positioned in any location of the vehicle  50  for operation purposes.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , the portable vacuum cleaner  10  is easily stored in a compact manner under the seat  52  of the vehicle  50 . In particular, the relatively small size of the portable vacuum cleaner  10  and the unique means for stowing the vacuum hose  14  enables the user to easily store the portable vacuum cleaner  10  within the vehicle  50 .  
      While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.