Patent Publication Number: US-10767303-B2

Title: Mountable lint vacuum device and non-marring nozzle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/612,014, filed Jun. 2, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/731,962, filed Jun. 5, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,695,545, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Many households in the United States have a clothes dryer that uses a lint screen to prevent lint from entering a dryer exhaust vent hose. With each load, lint builds on the lint screen and the user must continually clean it. Typical vacuum cleaner devices are not practical for cleaning lint screens because they are bulky and not conveniently located close enough to the lint screen. Typical vacuum cleaner devices also use rigid materials, such as hard plastic, which can easily result in damage to the lint screen (which is normally made of metal). Additionally, using the typical vacuum cleaner on a fine mesh surface results in the production of loud, undesirable whistling sounds while cleaning. These unique problems create a need for an improved lint vacuum device locatable near a lint screen and also a need for a suitable nozzle for cleaning a lint screen. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In some embodiments, a device for cleaning a lint screen of a clothes dryer is provided. The device comprises a vacuum hose, a non-marring nozzle, and a main body assembly. The vacuum hose comprises a first end configured to allow communication with the main body assembly, and a second end configured to mate with a hose adapter. The non-marring nozzle comprises a non-marring nozzle attachment and a hose adapter. The hose adapter comprises an upstream adapter end and a downstream hose adapter end that can be configured to mate with the second end of the vacuum hose to allow communication between the nozzle and the vacuum hose. The main body assembly may be configured to allow communication with the vacuum hose and may include a directional discharge nozzle that can be configured to allow for communication with an area external to the device. 
     In some embodiments, a non-marring nozzle attachment for a vacuum cleaner hose is provided. The non-marring nozzle attachment comprises a hollow member comprising a non-marring flexible material with a downstream end configurable to mate with a vacuum cleaner hose by various mechanisms, and a an upstream end that may have one or more slits that extend around the upstream surface of the upstream end to form one or more fingers. 
     In some embodiments, a kit for cleaning a lint screen of a clothes dryer is provided. The kit comprises a vacuum device, a vacuum hose configured to couple with the vacuum device, a non-marring nozzle configured to couple with the vacuum hose, and a base plate assembly configured to mount the vacuum device to a rigid surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a partial cutaway view of an illustrative example of an embodiment having the inlet hose, end housing assembly, internals of the main body assembly, directional discharge nozzle and base plate assembly; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of a main body assembly with the end housing assembly detached; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top-down cutaway view of an illustrative example of an embodiment which shows the inlet hose, internals of the end housing assembly, internals of the main body assembly, directional discharge nozzle, and union of the inlet hose to the end housing assembly; 
         FIG. 4 a    shows a cross-sectional side profile view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the non-marring nozzle; 
         FIG. 4 b    shows a end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the non-marring nozzle; 
         FIG. 4 c    shows a partial perspective view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the non-marring nozzle; 
         FIG. 5 a    shows an end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the vacuum device inlet end; 
         FIG. 5 b    shows an end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the vacuum device exhaust end; 
         FIG. 6 a    shows an exterior end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the end housing assembly; 
         FIG. 6 b    shows a longitudinal side view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the end housing assembly; 
         FIG. 6 c    shows an interior end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the end housing assembly; 
         FIG. 7  shows an interior end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the main body assembly; 
         FIG. 8  shows cross section view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the exhaust discharge port; 
         FIG. 9 a    shows a top-down view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the slide lock spar; 
         FIG. 9 b    shows a top-down view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the base plate; 
         FIG. 9 c    shows a side view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the base plate; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a bottom view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the main body assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a vacuum device that is small, compact, powerful, and able to be mounted on any rigid surfaces around the household and working areas. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be particularly helpful to clean household and working areas including, but not limited to, lint screens, kitty litter boxes, metal shavings, hair clippings, and woodwork surfaces. The present disclosure may also be particularly helpful in other applications which require cleaning of a delicate, easily damaged surface (e.g., a lint screen, fine mesh surface, delicate clothing, and more). 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a non-marring nozzle attachment specifically adapted for cleaning delicate surfaces without causing damage. Through use of a non-marring nozzle attachment, the present disclosure allows interaction with delicate surfaces, such as lint screens, with limited risk of causing damage. Previously existing rigid nozzles create a loud whistling noise when cleaning delicate surfaces such as lint screens, which can be irritating to the user and limit the hours that a cleaning device can be used. In some embodiments, the present disclosure solves this problem by providing a non-marring nozzle attachment whose surface may be beveled and contain slits so as to allow more intimate contact between the non-marring nozzle attachment and cleaning surface. 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure are small and compact in size, while also being powerful enough to adequately clean a given surface. One way the present disclosure accomplishes this task is through use of the directional discharge nozzle, which allows effluent air to be exhausted from the vacuum device in a deliberate direction and thus limits the back pressure placed on the motor. As a result, the vacuum device may be installed with a more powerful motor than otherwise would be possible in vacuum devices not having a discharge nozzle. Such a configuration may increase the suction pressure at the non-marring nozzle inlet, and make more effective use of the motor. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are thus small and compact in size, while also being powerful enough to clean surfaces or debris that otherwise would not be possible with conventional vacuum devices. 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure may also be used to clean household and working areas even when those areas are located in positions where the discharge airflow might be directly in the line-of-sight of the surface to be cleaned. The directional discharge nozzle may be rotated 360 degrees and thus allow the user to direct effluent airflow in a desired direction (e.g., away from the area being cleaned). 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure may also be used to provide the ability to mount the vacuum device on a variety of rigid surfaces, such as a wall or laundry machine surface, without having to penetrate the rigid surface with nails or screws. The present disclosure may also present users with the ability to easily mount the vacuum device near the desired area of use, at a height desired by the user. In addition, in some embodiments, a base plate assembly may be securable to a rigid surface using adhesive tape, and the vacuum device may further be securable to the base plate assembly. In some embodiments, the vacuum device may be used while the device is mounted and/or can be easily detached so as to be used in another area. In some embodiments, the base plate assembly may also be easily removed and remounted in another desired area. 
       FIG. 1  shows a partial cutaway view of an illustrative example of an embodiment having the inlet hose, end housing assembly, internals of the main body assembly, directional discharge nozzle and base plate assembly. In an embodiment, the vacuum cleaner may be operable to draw air through a vacuum hose  120  to an end housing assembly  112 . The air may then enter a filter chamber  104  stored in a main body assembly  100  section, after which the air may pass through a diffuser plate  106 , impeller  108 , and motor  110 . In some embodiments, the impeller  108  and motor  110  may be housed in an impeller/motor chamber  122 , which may be part of the main body assembly  100 . After passing through the impeller  108 , the effluent air may pass through the directional discharge nozzle  118  to an area external to the vacuum cleaner. In some embodiments, the directional discharge nozzle  118  allows communication between the main body assembly  100  and the area external to the vacuum cleaner. 
     In some embodiments, an electrical cord  116  connects the motor  110  to an electrical source (outlet). The electrical cord  116  may be accessible from the bottom of the impeller/motor chamber  122  of the main body assembly  100  and may be routed between the bottom of the main body assembly  100  and top of the base plate  114 . The electrical cord  116  may also be retractable or wrapped around the base plate assembly  114 . An ON/OFF switch  102  is mounted on the top surface of the main body assembly  100  to either connect or disconnect power from the motor  110  to the electrical source (outlet). 
       FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment, shows a perspective view of an illustrative example of a main body assembly  200  with an end housing assembly detached. An attachment cleat  202  may be formed into the side of the main housing assembly  200  and securely hold a nozzle through positive compression between the inner diameter of the attachment cleat  202  and the outer diameter of the nozzle. In some embodiments, the nozzle referred to will be equivalent to the non-marring nozzle  302  described below in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     A vacuum hose (such as the vacuum hose described above in connection with  FIG. 1 ), when not in use, may be held in the formed concave hose cradle channel  210  of the main body assembly  200 . The hose cradle channel  210  may extend from the attachment cleat  202  around the lower portion of the main body assembly  200  to the hose end securing sleeve  208 . In some embodiments, the hose end securing sleeve  208  may be part of the uniform mold that forms the main body assembly  200 . The downstream end of vacuum hose that is secured to the main body assembly  200  by the hose end securing sleeve  208  may comprise a male-end hose union sleeve  216  that mates with a similarly sized female-end port of an end housing assembly. In some embodiments, this female-end port may be equivalent to the hose union port  608  of the end housing assembly  600  as described below in connection with  FIG. 6 . As such, the male-end hose union sleeve  216  may protrude from the downstream end of a vacuum hose to ensure a positive connection to the female-end port. 
     Similarly, the female-end filter union port  206  of the main body assembly  200  may be mated to a male-end chamber of an end housing assembly to form a positive connection. In some embodiments, this male-end chamber may be equivalent to the male-end filter chamber sleeve  606  of the end housing assembly  600 , as described below in connection with  FIG. 6 . As such, the male-end chamber may protrude from the end housing assembly to ensure a positive connection to the female-end filter union port  206  of the main body assembly  200 . The end housing assembly may be further secured to the main body assembly  200  by inserting protruding posts into the latch assembly ports  218 . In some embodiments, these protruding posts may be equivalent to the latch posts  604  described below in connection with  FIG. 6 . In some embodiments, the end housing assembly may be detached from a main body assembly  200  by pushing two release buttons  212  located on the main body assembly  200  (second end housing release button not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Pushing the release button  212  mechanically releases the end housing assembly. In some embodiments, the main body assembly  200  may also contain slide lock channels  204 , which may be used to mount the vacuum cleaner on a rigid surface. The main body assembly  200  may also have an ON/OFF switch  214 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a top-down cutaway view of an illustrative example of a vacuum device  300  embodiment. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  shows the inlet hose  304 , internals of the end housing assembly  306 , internals of the main body assembly  308 , and directional discharge nozzle  310 . The embodiment also highlights the union of the inlet hose  304  to the end housing assembly  306 . In some embodiments, the vacuum device  300  may have a filter bag  312  to capture the particulate matter and allow cleaned air to pass through the walls of the filter bag  312  to the diffuser plate  314 . The filter bag  312  is located within the filter assembly  316  and is secured in place by installing the end housing assembly  306  onto the main body assembly  308 . In some embodiments, the filter bag  312  itself may comprise micro filtration capabilities. In some embodiments, the filter bag  312  may be a micro filter bag. 
     When dirty, the filter bag  312  may be accessed and replaced by removing the end housing assembly  306 . Once the end housing assembly  306  is removed, the filter bag  312  can be easily accessed and removed. The circular cardboard plate  318  of the filter bag  312  has an opening in the center that contains a flexible rubber seal  320  to ensure there is no leakage, or minimal leakage, of air when mated with the end housing assembly  306 . A second filter bag  312  can be inserted into the filter assembly  316  and the end housing assembly  306  can be installed or reinstalled by aligning the male-end filter assembly union sleeve  322  of the end housing assembly  306  with the respective female-end filter port of the main body assembly  308  and aligning the female-end hose union port  324  of the end housing assembly  306  with the respective male-end hose union sleeve of the main body assembly  308  and pressing together until latched. Such a configuration, where the end housing assembly  306  attaches to the main body assembly  308  using at least one end housing male-end port and one female-end union, may be used to ensure proper mating of the end housing assembly  306  with the main body assembly  308  (e.g, the installation can only be properly aligned in one manner, the structural integrity of the installed device can be better maintained, and so on). In some embodiments, the filter bag  312  used in the vacuum device  300  may be an industry standard filter bag  312  available in various filtration coefficients. 
     In some embodiments, filtered air exiting the filter bag  312  flows to the diffuser plate  314 , which may be rigidly positioned upstream of the impeller  326  and motor  328 . The motor  328  may, for example, include high-suction motors having an amperage rating of up to 10 amps. A function of the diffuser plate  314  in some embodiments is to separate the filter assembly  316  from the impeller/motor chamber  330 , and thus prevent objects from entering and damaging the impeller  326 . The diffuser plate  314  may also provide a safety feature of preventing human body parts from coming in contact with the impeller/motor chamber  326 . In an embodiment, the diffuser plate  314  may be made from a thin metal material (e.g., a sheet of steel), a rigid plastic (e.g., a polycarbonate), or any combination thereof. 
       FIG. 4 a    illustrates an example cross-sectional side profile view an embodiment of a non-marring nozzle  400 . In one embodiment, the non-marring nozzle  400  comprises a non-marring nozzle attachment  406  and a hose adapter  404 . In some embodiments, the hose adapter  404  is a rigid cylindrical hollow sleeve that may be composed of a rigid plastic material and can mate to standard vacuum hose ends used in industry (e.g., 1.25″ diameter type hoses). In other embodiments, the hose adapter  404  may mate with hose ends of different diameter sizes. The downstream end  402  of the hose adapter  404  is capable of being mated to a stretchable vacuum hose (e.g., the hose described above in connection with  FIG. 1 ). The opposite end of the hose adapter, referred to as the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404 , is mated with the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . The upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404  and the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may be removably mated in any suitable manner, including mating through a tapered friction fit, using magnet or magnetic attachments, using mechanical clasps, and so on. In some embodiments, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  and hose adapter  404  are affixed in a more permanent manner (e.g., wherein the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  and hose adapter  404  are glued or welded together). The inner diameter of the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404  may be less than that of the downstream end  402  of the hose adapter  404  so as to allow the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  to mate via a tapered friction fit. In one embodiment, the hose adapter  404  is 2.5″ long in which the downstream end  402  of the hose adapter  404  is 1.5″ long and the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404  is 1″ long. In other embodiments, the upstream end  414  and downstream end  402  of the hose adapter  404  may be longer or shorter depending on the need of the user. 
     In some embodiments, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may be a cylindrical hollow form that can be mated to the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404 . In other embodiments, the shape of the hollow form contact surface area may also be of different shapes, such as a rectangular form, oval form, or square form, In one embodiment the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  encases the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404  such that the hose adapter  404  may extend at least partially through the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . Here, at least partially through shall mean that the upstream end  414  of the hose adapter  404  will cross the plane of the downstream end of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . 
     In some embodiments, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may be made of a flexible, resilient material such as closed cell polyethylene material. In some embodiments, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may be made of a material having an outer diameter and inner diameter that is sized according to the user&#39;s particular need. In one embodiment, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may have a 1.75″ outer diameter and a 1.25″ inner diameter. The non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may similarly have a wall thickness that is sized according to the user&#39;s particular need. 
     In some embodiments, the upstream inlet end portion  408  of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  is the nozzle surface in contact with the surface to be cleaned. This upstream inlet end portion  408  may be beveled towards the interior of airflow such that the upstream inlet end portion  408  has a slope towards the center of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . In some embodiments, this slope may be approximately 45 degrees towards the center of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . The beveling of the upstream inlet end portion  408  may be formed using a sharp tool, including a knife, razor blade, bevel cutter, or other machinery. In some embodiments, the beveling may be performed by a machine, such as a computerized numeric control (CNC) router machine or other types of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) devices. In other embodiments, beveling of the upstream inlet end portion  408  may be performed through a molding or additive manufacturing process. A perspective view of an embodiment of a beveled nozzle is shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
     In an embodiment, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may be beveled in such a way as to form a thin circular edge on the upstream inlet end portion  408  of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . This decreases the amount of material in contact with the surface to be cleaned and as such decreases the likelihood that the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  will cause damage to the cleaning surface (e.g., a fine mesh screen of a lint screen). In some embodiments, the upstream inlet end portion  408  may be beveled to a pointed edge or substantially to a point as to minimize surface area in contact with the surface to be cleaned. 
     In some embodiments, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  may include multiple slits  410 . The slits  410  may be formed on the upstream inlet end portion  408  of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . The slits  410  may be formed along the wall width, such that the slits  410  extend from an outer surface to the inner surface, and from the upstream inlet end portion  408  towards the hose adapter  404 . In some embodiments, the slits  410  are made around the circumference of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 , such that the slits  410  are equally spaced relative to each other. In some embodiments, the slits  410  will be made radially every 0.25″ and penetrate the surface of the inlet end by 0.375″. The equally spaced slits  410  around the circumference of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  create fingers  412  that, when pressed against a surface, extend outwards away from the interior of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . This effect helps distribute to the fingers  412  any force that is applied to the cleaning surface, thus decreasing the likelihood that the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  will cause damage to a lint screen, baseboard trim, or other similar materials. In some embodiments, the fingers  412  have a beveled upstream surface  401  extending between an outer circumferential portion  403  and an inner circumferential portion  405  wherein the outer circumferential portion  403  extends further upstream than the inner circumferential portion  405  of the beveled upstream surface  401 . An advantage of this design may be that the material being cleaned and drawn into the vacuum device will not be trapped in the fingers  412 . When using the vacuum device, a user may, for example, extend his/her reach with the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  to vacuum lint near the far end of the lint screen while pulling the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  towards the user, cleaning up the lint screen from the far end first to the near end second. In doing so, the user may, by applying force to the non-marring nozzle  400 , compress the slits  410  directly contacted with the lint screen, thereby increasing the suction ability of the vacuum as there is less overall flux surface area and a closer fit between the compressed nozzle  400  head to the lint screen surface. 
     In some embodiments, a non-marring nozzle  400  may be used for practical purposes, as well as for convenience. Attaching and detaching the hose adapter  404  to the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  is relatively easy and may, for example, be performed by a user having arthritic joints, limited range of motion, atrophy affecting the hands, or any combination thereof. Thus, the non-marring nozzle attachment  406  can be replaced with minimal cost and effort. 
     As mentioned, the non-marring nozzle  400  can be mated to a hose (e.g., the vacuum hose  510  described below in connection with  FIG. 5 ).  FIG. 5 a    shows an end view of the inlet end of an embodiment, showing the end housing assembly  502  and non-marring nozzle attachment  504 . In one embodiment, the non-marring nozzle attachment  504 , when not in use, may be attached to the side of a main body assembly  512 . In one embodiment, the non-marring nozzle attachment  504  may be attached to attachment cleat  202  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The vacuum hose  510  may have many different diameters and be of different lengths according to the needs of the user. In one embodiment, the vacuum hose  510  may be the industry standard 1.25″ diameter and may be approximately 28″ in length while in the stored condition. The vacuum hose  510  may also be stretchable to approximately 60″ in working length. 
       FIG. 5 b    shows an end view of the exhaust end of an embodiment, showing the directional discharge nozzle  508 , the main body assembly  512 , the vacuum hose  510 , and the base plate  506 . 
       FIGS. 6 a - c    show different views of the end housing assembly  600 . In one embodiment, a function of the end housing assembly  600  is to mate and form a positive connection to the main body assembly of a vacuum device. In some embodiments, this main body assembly may be equivalent to the main body assembly described in connection with  FIG. 2 . Mating between the male-end filter chamber sleeve  606  and a similarly sized female-end filter port is made by a positive connection. In some embodiments, this female-end filter port may be equivalent to the filter union port  206 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . As such, the male-end filter chamber sleeve  606  may protrude from the end housing assembly and form a friction fit with the female-end filter port. The end housing assembly  600  may be further secured to a main body assembly by use of a filter assembly union sleeve  602 , which, in some embodiments, may be equivalent to the filter assembly union sleeve  322  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, the union of the filter assembly union sleeve  602  with the main body assembly may help hold the circular cardboard plate  318  in place. The end housing assembly  600  may be further secured to a main body assembly by use of latch posts  604 , which may be inserted into slots on a main body assembly to form a positive connection. In one embodiment, these slots may be equivalent to the latch assembly ports  704  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an interior end view of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the main body assembly (e.g., a main body assembly described in connection with  FIG. 2 ), highlighting the diffuser plate  700 , latch assembly ports  704 , and removal alcoves  706 . In one embodiment, the diffuser plate  700  consists of multiple pass-through port holes  702  which allow air to pass through while blocking larger objects and preventing them from entering the impeller. The diameter of each port hole  702  may vary depending on the application of the vacuum device. In some embodiments, the port holes  702  may each be approximately 0.125″ in diameter. 
     In an embodiment, slide lock channels  204  may be used to insert a locking spar and mount the vacuum to a base plate assembly. In one embodiment, the locking spar may be equivalent to slide lock spar  904  shown in  FIG. 9 a   . The mounting post receiver holes  708  may allow inserts from a base plate assembly to be inserted into the mounting post receiver holes  708  in order to secure the main body assembly  200  to a rigid surface near the desired working area. In some embodiments, this insert may be equivalent to mounting posts  914  of base plate  918  as shown in  FIGS. 9 b  and 9 c   . In some embodiment, the mounting post receiver holes  708  may be equivalent to the mounting post receiver holes  1004  shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In some embodiments, the user can remove the main body assembly  200  from a base plate by placing the tip of a screw driver or similar device into the removal alcove  706  located on the surface of the main body assembly  200 . The user may then pry the locking spar to release it from a secured position. In one embodiment, an indicator line, such as that shown by indicator line  902  in  FIG. 9 a   , can be used to visually indicate that the locking spar has been released. Once the locking spar has been released, the main body assembly  200  may be able to be removed from the inserts of the base plate assembly. 
     Air that passes through diffuser plate  702  continues through to an impeller, motor, and exhaust discharge port  800  is reached. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the exhaust discharge port  800  comprises the directional discharge nozzle  812 , directional discharge nozzle frame  804 , louvers  806 , retaining ring  808  and a recessed discharge nozzle port in the main body assembly shoulder  802 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the directional discharge nozzle  812  consists of a round external frame located at the exhaust end of a vacuum device. 
     In some embodiments, the directional discharge nozzle  812  can be rotated up to 360 degrees providing the ability to direct the exhaust airflow throughout a range that may be axial with or perpendicular to the mounting plane of a vacuum device. In some embodiments, the directional discharge nozzle  812  may also be rotated 45 degrees to either side. In some embodiments, the directional discharge nozzle frame  804  may be made of a hard plastic or thin metal material. A function of the retaining ring  808  may be to secure the directional discharge nozzle  812  in a particular position to direct or reflect the exhaust airflow in a desired direction. In some embodiments, the directional discharge nozzle  812  can be freely rotated by hand and does not need to be locked in a particular position. In one embodiment, the retaining ring  808  is set into a locking position so as to prevent a user from easily removing the directional discharge nozzle  812 . The retaining ring  808  may be set against the discharge nozzle frame  804 , which may be set adjacent to the main body assembly  802 , such that when a vacuum device is OFF there is enough free space between the retaining ring  808  and discharge nozzle shoulders  802  to allow rotation of the directional discharge nozzle  812  by hand. When the vacuum device is ON, pressure from the exhaust airflow pushes the directional discharge nozzle  812  against the retaining ring  808  so as to further directional rotation of the directional discharge nozzle  812 . 
     In an embodiment, the louvers  806  within the directional discharge nozzle  812  may be set at 45 degrees relative the longitudinal top surface of the nozzle frame  804 . This is in part a safety function of the deive (e.g., to prevent small objects, body parts, electrical cables, etc. from reacing a moving impeller). As such, the louvers in the 45 degree position may be longitudinally parallel to discharge airflow from an impeller/motor chamber. In some embodiments, the louvers  806  may regulate the direction of airflow being exhausted. In some embodiments, this chamber may be equivalent to impeller/motor chamber  122 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the louvers  806  may be set to a degree higher or lower than the 45 degree position depending on the need of the user. In some embodiments, the louvers  806  may be set such that their position will not seal the main body assembly  802  from the area external to the exhaust end of the vacuum embodiment. Thus, in this embodiment, at least a minimum amount of discharge airflow will be allowed to pass through the exhaust discharge port  800  when the vacuum device is ON. 
     A function of the exhaust discharge port  800  is to ensure air flow is exhausted from the vacuum device to the surrounding external area such that minimal back pressure is exerted on the motor. In some embodiments, the diameter of the exhaust discharge port  800  will be larger than the diameter of the non-marring nozzle attachment  406 . In this embodiment, a function of the exhaust discharge port  800  is to decrease the discharge velocity of the exhaust air flow. Any back pressure that is exerted on the motor has the effect of limiting air throughput, thus reducing the suction pressure upstream of the motor at the inlet to the non-marring nozzle. The exhaust discharge port  800  ensures a more effective use of the motor. This function may be important because an embodiment of the present disclosure may be to provide a vacuum device that has the convenience in size of a small vacuum but the power benefits of a large vacuum. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 9 a - c   , the base plate assembly  900  may allow a vacuum device to be mounted to a rigid surface near a working area in different positions, including a vertical, horizontal, tilted, or inverted position, or any combination thereof. The base plate  918  may be comprised of multiple cylindrical mounting posts  914 , each of which may have a formed recess slot  916  located below the mounting post  914 . In some embodiments, the base plate may have six cylindrical mounting posts  914 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 b  and 9 c   . In other embodiments, there may be more or fewer cylindrical mounting posts  914 . The head  920  of each of the cylindrical mounting posts  914  may have a diameter sized to fit within a receiver hole into which the mounting post  914  is inserted. In some embodiments, this receiver hole may be sized to fit within the mounting post receiver holes  1004  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Below the head  920  of each of the cylindrical mounting posts  914  is a mounting post slot  922  used to secure the vacuum device to the base plate  918 . In some embodiments, the longitudinal length of the mounting post slot  922  is equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the slide lock spar  904 . 
     Each cylindrical mounting post  914  may fit into the one of the keyhole slots  906  of a slide lock spar  904 , as shown in  FIG. 9 b   . In some embodiments, each slide lock spar  904  may comprise multiple keyhole slots  906  along the slide lock spar  904 . The slide lock spar  904  may also comprise an indicator line  902  which may be used to indicate to a user when the slide lock spar  904  is locked into a position. The slide lock spar  904  is inserted into a slide lock channel, which may be equivalent to the slide lock channel  204  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The keyhole slots  906  may be comprised of a double keyhole design, in which both a small diameter area and a large diameter area exist within the key hole slot  906 . In one embodiment, the large diameter area may have a diameter equivalent to or larger than the diameter of the object being inserted into it. As such, the insert will not be locked while in this position. In this embodiment, the small diameter area may then have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the object being inserted into it and as such, an insert may be locked into a position by securing it over the small diameter area. A non-limiting example of this may be shown by the keyhole slots  906 , mounting posts  914 , and mounting post slots  922  shown in  FIGS. 9 a  and 9 c   . In this embodiment, the mounting post  914  is first inserted into the large diameter area of a keyhole slot  906 . The slide lock spar  904  may then be pushed into the main body assembly towards the smaller diameter area so as to secure the mounting post  914  to the slide lock spar  904 . As such, at least part of the mounting post head  920  can rest on top of the small diameter area, which may secure around the mounting post slot  922 . 
     In some embodiments, the base plate  918  is attached to the rigid surface near a working area using adhesive strips. In such embodiments, these adhesive strips may contain adhesive material on both the top and bottom sides of the strip with only part of the adhesive strip containing adhesive material and other parts of the adhesive strip containing non-adhesive material. In some embodiments, the adhesive strips may be equivalent to Command™ Strips made by 3M. In some embodiments, the adhesive end of the adhesive strips may be inserted into a formed recess slot  916  such that part of the adhesive end is encased in the recess  916  and part of the non-adhesive end is not encased in the recess  916 . In some embodiments, the non-adhesive end may be equivalent to the adhesive strip tab portion  908 , as shown in  FIG. 9 b   . Once inserted, the adhesive strips can be secured onto the base plate  918  by pushing down on each cylindrical mounting post  914  towards the base plate  918 , thereby securing the top surface of the adhesive end to the base plate  918 . The base plate  918  may the be placed onto the desired mounting area and the other bottom surface of the adhesive end can make contact with and be applied to that mounting area rigid surface. With the base plate  918  securely fastened to the rigid surface, the vacuum device may then be secured to the base plate  918 . The slide lock spars  904  may be inserted into their respective slide lock channels with their indicator lines  902  still visible. The user may then secure the vacuum device to the base plate  918  by inserting the mounting posts  914  through the large diameter area of the keyhole slots  906  of the slide lock spar  904  and pushing the end of the slide lock spar  904  inward towards the center of the vacuum device until the indicator lines  902  are no longer visible and the slide lock spare  904  is flush with the end surface of the main body assembly. At this point, the vacuum device will then be secured to the base plate  918 , which may be mounted to a rigid surface, as previously described. 
     Once mounted, the base plate  918  may be removed from a particular rigid surface and remounted to a different location or rigid surface. To remove the base plate  918  from a particular surface, the adhesive strips may need to be removed from the recess  916 . In some embodiments, removing the adhesive strips from the recess  916  may be accomplished by pulling on the adhesive strip tab portion  908 . 
     The base plate  918  also may be comprised of four mechanical fastener holes  910  and two alignment points  912 . The mechanical fastener holes  910  may be used to mount the base plate  918  to a rigid surface using nails, screws, or the like. The alignment points  912  may be used in conjunction with a leveling tool to ensure the base plate  918  is level when secured onto the rigid surface. 
       FIG. 10  shows a bottom view of the main body assembly  1002  of an embodiment, highlighting a location of the mounting post receiver holes  1004  and slide lock channel  1006 . In some embodiments, the mounting post receiver holes  1004  and slide lock channel  1006  may be used to mount a vacuum device  1000  to a rigid surface using a base plate assembly. In some embodiments, this base plate assembly may be equivalent to the base plate assembly  900  shown in  FIGS. 9 b  and 9 c   . To secure the vacuum device to the base plate assembly  900 , a slide lock spar  904  may be inserted into the slide lock channel  1006 , such that the indicator lines  902  are flush with the end of the main housing assembly. IN such a configuration, the large diameter area of the keyhole slots  906  of the slide lock spar  904  may coincide and are aligned with the mounting post receiver holes  1004  located on the base of the vacuum device  1000 . The mounting posts  914  may then be inserted into the mounting post receiver holes  1004  and keyhole slots  906 . Once inserted, the slide lock spar  904  may be locked in position by pushing the end of the slide lock spar  904  inward towards the center of the vacuum device  1000  until the indicator lines  902  are no longer visible and the slide lock spar  904  is flush with the main body assembly. At this point, the vacuum device  1000  will then be secured to the base plate  918 , which may be mounted to a rigid surface, as previously described. 
     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
     These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.