Patent Publication Number: US-2018035857-A1

Title: Vacuum accessory storage system and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a system and method for storing vacuum accessories, and more particularly, to a system with one or more accessory holders that mount to one or more rails and configured to store one or more vacuum accessories. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A vacuum cleaner, and in particular a vacuum cleaner designed for home or shop use, typically includes a vacuum assembly and a collection bin or tank that are provided together as a single, often easily movable, unit that draws a vacuum and collects debris. Typically, there may be several accessories that may be attached interchangeably to some portion of the vacuum cleaner. Each accessory typically is designed to meet a particular functional purpose. Some typical accessories include different nozzles of various shapes and sizes, extension tubes, and/or hoses, that are adapted to be releasably attached to the vacuum cleaner, such as interchangeably and operatively attached to a vacuum inlet into tank or to a hose or tube attached to the vacuum inlet to provide the user with various different functional benefits relative to each accessory, in a manner well understood in the art. 
     For a user, having multiple different accessories for use with the vacuum cleaner can be very convenient and helpful. However, as the number of different accessories grows, so too grows the challenge to store the accessories in a neat and orderly manner. While many different methods of storing the accessories are possible, many are either confined to a specific location and/or arrangement of specific accessories, or do not provide a neat and orderly arrangement. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the vacuum accessory storage system of the present disclosure to provide an improved system for storing one or more vacuum accessories. 
     According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a vacuum accessory storage system includes an elongate rail having a length extending from first end to a second end, and an accessory holder that mounts to the elongate rail, for example, in order to store a vacuum accessory. In some arrangements, the accessory holder may include a body having a front side and a back side, and at least one bracket disposed on the front side that holds a vacuum accessory. The back side of the accessory holder may slidably mount to the rail, such that the rail supports the accessory holder, and the accessory holder slides along the length of the rail. 
     According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a method of storing vacuum accessories with a vacuum accessory storage system as disclosed herein includes mounting the accessory holder onto an end of the rail, sliding the accessory holder to a selected location along the length of the rail, and coupling a vacuum accessory to the accessory holder. Optionally, the rail may be attached to a support surface, such as a wall. In some arrangements, the rail supports the accessory holder, and the accessory holder supports the vacuum accessory, for example, for storage when not in use on the vacuum cleaner. 
     According to some aspects of the present disclosure, an accessory holder configured to hold a vacuum accessory includes a body, at least one bracket that holds a vacuum accessory, and a channel that slidably receives an elongate rail to slidably mount the accessory holder to a rail. The bracket may be disposed on a front side of the body, and the channel may be disposed on a back side of the body. 
     In further accordance with any one or more of the foregoing aspects and exemplary arrangements, a vacuum accessory storage system, accessory holder, and/or a method of storing vacuum accessories according to the teachings of the present disclosure may include any one or more of the following optional features and/or forms. 
     In some arrangements, the bracket or brackets may be configured to be complementary to and releasably hold at least one vacuum accessory. For example, the bracket or brackets may be configured to releasably hold any one or more of a vacuum tube, a vacuum nozzle, and a round brush. The brackets may be complementary to and configured to releasably hold other various different types, shapes, and sizes of vacuum accessories. Preferably, although not necessarily, the brackets are configured to correspond and be complementary to only one type, shape, and size of vacuum accessory. 
     In some arrangements, the accessory holder may include a channel on the back side of the body that slidably receives the elongate rail. To operatively mount the accessory holder to the rail, the channel of the accessory holder may slide over the end of the rail. An end of the rail may be tapered, such as by being rounded, so that the tapered end helps guide the rail into the channel. The channel may be defined by one or more angle members. For example, the accessory holder may have an upper angle member protruding from the back side of the body and a lower angle member protruding from the back side of the body, which together may define all or at least a portion of the channel along the back side of the body. 
     In some arrangements, the accessory holder may include a lock that locks the accessory holder at each one of a plurality of locations along the length of the elongate rail. The lock may include an engagement member that is resiliently urged toward a locked position against the rail and a release member that, when pushed, moves the engagement member to an unlocked position away from the rail. The lock may have the form of a resilient tab with the shape of an angle member, which may also help define a portion of the channel. 
     In some arrangements, the elongate rail may include a plurality of teeth spaced apart from each other along the length of the elongate rail. The engagement member of the lock may engage the teeth in the locked position to lock the accessory holder in one of the locations along the length of the elongate rail. The engagement member of the lock may disengage from the teeth in the unlocked position to allow the accessory holder to slide along the length of the rail. 
     In some arrangements, the rail may have a central web, an upper track extending along an upper edge of the central web, and/or a lower track extending along a lower edge of the central web. One or both of the upper track and the lower track may extend along the entire length of the rail. One or both of the upper track and the lower track may be slidingly received within the channel on the back side of the accessory holder. The upper track may include an upper flange extending upwardly from the central web and forming an elongate upper groove extending along a portion of or the entire length of the rail. The upper track may be smooth along its entire length or may have the teeth for engaging the lock. The teeth may be disposed within the elongate upper groove and spaced apart from each other along the length of the elongate rail. The lower track may include a lower flange extending downwardly from the central web and forming an elongate lower groove extending along a portion of or the entire length of the rail. The lower groove may be smooth along its entire length or may have teeth for engaging the lock. 
     In some arrangements, the location of the accessory holder may be adjusted along the rail, for example, by disengaging the lock on the accessory holder to unlock the accessory holder and sliding the accessory holder along the rail. The accessory holder may be locked at a selected location along the rail, for example, by engaging the lock to lock the accessory holder at the selected location. 
     In some arrangements, a second accessory holder may be mounted onto an end of the rail. The second accessory holder may be slid to a second selected location along the length of the rail. A second vacuum accessory may be coupled to the second accessory holder. 
     In some arrangements, a second rail may be attached to the support surface. A second accessory holder may be mounted onto an end of the second rail. The second accessory holder may be slid to a second selected location along the length of the second rail. One of the vacuum accessories may be coupled to the second accessory holder. 
     The vacuum accessory storage system disclosed herein is believed to provide the user with an easy system of storing vacuum accessories in a neat and orderly manner. The vacuum accessory storage system may be customizable and easily adapted for installation in different locations and arrangements and to store different combinations of vacuum accessories. The vacuum accessory storage system may be easily expanded and/or may be contracked to accommodate additional or fewer accessories. 
     Additional optional aspects, arrangements, forms, and/or advantages of the vacuum accessory storage system disclosed herein will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended drawings, each different functionally operable and technically effective combination of which is expressly included as a part of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a vacuum accessory storage system assembled according to some aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective exploded view of the vacuum accessory storage system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear isometric view of an accessory holder and rail of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum accessory, accessory holder, and rail operatively mounted on a wall along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the circled portion of  FIG. 4  showing a slide lock of the accessory holder in a locked position; and 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the circled portion of  FIG. 4  showing the slide lock of the accessory holder in an unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show one exemplary arrangement of a vacuum accessory storage system  10  in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. The vacuum accessory storage system  10  includes at least one elongate rail  12  and at least one accessory holder  14  that mounts to the elongate rail  12 . The term accessory holder  14 , as used hereinafter, refers to any one of the specific types of accessory holders  14   a - d  as the description relates to common elements across all of the individual types of accessory holders  14   a - d . Each accessory holder  14   a - d  is configured to releasably couple to and carry a different vacuum accessory  16 ,  18 , or  20 . Each accessory holder  14  includes a body  22  having a front side  24  (visible in  FIG. 1 ) and a backside  26  (visible in  FIG. 3 ). At least one bracket  28  is disposed on the front side of the body and configured to releasably hold one of the vacuum accessories  16 - 20 . The backside  26  of the accessory holder  14  slidably mounts to one of the rails  12  such that the rail  12  supports the accessory holder  14  and the accessory holder  14  can slide along the length of the rail. Thus, a vacuum accessory may be stored on the front side  24  of the accessory holder  14 , while the back side is slidably attached to the rail  12 . 
     In the depicted arrangement, two elongate rails  12  are shown. However, the storage system  10  could include only a single elongate rail  12  or more than two elongate rails. Each of the rails  12  has a length extending along an axis from the first end to a second end and is configured to be mounted to a support structure. In this exemplary arrangement, each of the elongate rails  12  is mounted to a wall  30 . However, the rails  12  can be mounted to any support structure suitable for supporting the rails  12  and the vacuum accessories  16 - 20 . For example, the rails  12  could be mounted to a column, a ceiling, a floor, a workbench, or any other type of suitable support structure, as would be understood in the art. In the present example, the rails may be attached to the wall  30  with fasteners, such as screws or nails, extending through opposite ends of the rail and into the wall. However, the rails  12  may be mounted to the support structure in any suitable fashion, such as with other fasteners, adhesive, clips, clamps, magnets, and so on. 
     In addition, in this exemplary arrangement, four different individual accessory holders  14  are depicted, each of which is specially adapted to hold a different vacuum accessory  16 ,  18 , or  20 . For example, accessory holders  14   a  and  14   b  are configured to releasably hold a pair of extension tubes (also called wands)  16 . Accessory holder  14   c  is configured to releasably hold a vacuum nozzle  18 . Accessory holder  14   d  is configured to releasably hold a round brush  20 . However, fewer or more accessory holders  14  and/or different types of accessory holders  14  may be operatively used with the rails  12  as part of a vacuum accessory storage system  10  in accordance with the present teachings. To accomplish this, each different type of accessory holder  14  may include a different type of bracket or set of brackets  28 . Each bracket or set of brackets  28  is specifically configured to releasably hold a respective one of the accessories  16 ,  18 , or  20 . For example, the accessory holders  14   a  and  14   b  include brackets  28  that are complementary to and configured to releasably hold the vacuum tubes  16 . The accessory holder  14   c  includes brackets  28  that are complementary to and configured to releasably hold the nozzle  18 . The accessory holder  14   d  includes brackets  28  that are complementary to and configured to releasably hold the round brush. The specific configurations of the brackets  28  relative to each different vacuum accessory  16 - 20  may take any of various forms suitable for releasably holding the given vacuum accessory  16 ,  18 , or  20 . Further, the accessory holders may include additional types of brackets  28  which are adapted and configured to couple to yet other types, forms, and/or shapes of vacuum accessories. 
     From the above description, it can be seen that the vacuum accessory storage system  10  can provide significant flexibility to a user to adapt the storage system  10  to accommodate more or fewer vacuum accessories, different support arrangements, and so on. The storage system  10  is expandable and/or modular such that the system can be extended to store additional different types of vacuum accessories and can be expanded and/or rearranged by a user. The storage system  10  also allows the user to mix and match what types of accessory holders  14  to use as part of the storage system  10 , which allows the user to easily adapt the storage system  10  to any of many different sets of vacuum accessories. 
     In  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the accessory holder  14  includes a channel  32  on the backside  26  of the body  22 . The channel  32  extends between opposite open ends and is shaped and sized to slidably receive the rail  12  so that the accessory holder  14  slides over either end of the rail  12  and then slides along the axis of the rail  12 . In this way, the accessory holder  14  can be slidably positioned in any desired position between the opposite first and second ends of the rail  12 . The channel  32  may be formed in any suitable manner capable of slidably receiving the rail  12  as described above. In this exemplary arrangement, the channel  32  is defined by a plurality of angle members, including at least one upper angle member  34   a  and at least one lower angle member  34   b , extending outwardly from a back side of the body  22  and defining opposite upper and lower edges of the channel  32 . In this arrangement, the accessory holder  14  includes two such upper angle members  34   a  and one such lower angle member  34   b , which are spaced apart vertically (as seen in the drawing) to define the channel  32  there between. However, the channel  32  may be formed by any number of angle members and/or by other structures suitable for forming the channel  32  along a back side of the body  22  of the accessory holder  14  capable of slidably receiving the rail  12  therethrough. 
     One or both of the ends of the rail  12  may be tapered, which may make it easier to guide the end of the rail  12  into either end of the channel  32 . The tapered ends may take any of many different forms. In the depicted example, each end is rounded with a semi-circular radius. However, the tapered ends may have a wedge-shaped taper or any other similar taper that leads from a thinner profile at the end tip of the rail to a thicker profile along the majority of the length of the rail  12 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3-6 , in the exemplary arrangement of the drawings, the rail  12  includes an elongate central web  36  extending along the axis from the first end of the rail to the second end of the rail. An upper track  38  extends along the upper edge of the central web  36  from the first end of the rail to the second end of the rail  12 . A lower track  40  extends along the lower edge of the central web from the first end of the rail to the second end of the rail. When the accessory holder  14  is operatively mounted onto the rail  12 , each of the central web  36 , the upper track  38 , and the lower track  40  are disposed within the channel  32 , and the upper track  38  engages the upper wall of the channel  32  and the lower track  40  engages the lower wall of the channel  32 . In this arrangement, the upper track  38  is formed by an upper flange  42  the projects upwardly from the top edge of the central web  36 . The back side of the upper flange  42  is offset inwardly from the backside of the central web  36 , thereby forming an elongate upper groove  44  that extends along the backside of the rail  12 , which is configured to be facing the support surface, such as the wall  30 , when operatively mounted thereon, along the entire length of the rail. Similarly, the lower track  40  is formed by a lower flange  46  that projects downwardly from the bottom edge of the central web  36 . The backside of the lower flange  46  is offset inwardly from the backside of the central web  36 , thereby forming an elongate lower groove  48  that extends along the backside of the rail along its entire length. Thus, when the backside of the rail  12  is mounted against a support surface, such as the wall  30 , the upper groove  44  and the lower groove  48  are formed between respective upper flange  42  and lower flange  46  and the opposing surface of the wall  30 . Thus, when the accessory holder  14  is mounted onto the rail  12 , the downwardly extended flanges of the upper angle members  34   a  slide into the upper groove  44  and the upwardly extending flange of the lower angle member  34   b  slides into the lower groove  48 , and thereby prevent the accessory holder  14  from falling off the rail  12 . It is contemplated, however, that the exact form of the rails  12  and the channel  32  may take different forms suitable for slidably mounting the accessory holder  14  to the rail  12 , and need not necessarily be limited to the shapes and forms shown in the drawings. 
     Optionally, the accessory holder  14  can include a lock  50  to lock the accessory holder at any selected location along the length of the rail  12 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3-6 , the lock  50  includes an engagement member  52  and a release member  54 . The engagement member  52  is configured to resiliently press against and/or engage the rail  12  to lock the accessory holder  14  in a selected location along the rail  12 . The release member  54 , when pushed by a user, moves the engagement member  52  to an unlocked position disengaged from the rail  12 . In the exemplary arrangement of the drawings, both the release member and the engagement member  52  are formed as different parts of a resilient tab that is partially cut out of the body  22 . The tab is shaped as an angle member that also helps define the upper edge of the channel  32 . Preferably, at least the body  22 , and preferably the entire accessory holder  14 , is formed of relatively rigid plastic, such as by injection molding, so that the tab forming the engagement member  52  and the release member  54  can be resiliently pushed inwardly as shown by the arrow A in  FIG. 6  and will spring back to its normal position shown in  FIG. 5  when nothing is pushing against it. However, the lock  50  does not need to be limited to the exact arrangement shown in the drawings, but rather may take other forms that include an engagement member  52  to lockingly engage the rail  12  and a release member  54  to disengage the engagement member  52  from the rail  12  when it is desired to slide the accessory holder  14  along the length of the rail  12 . 
     Optionally, the elongate rail  12  may include a plurality of teeth  56  axially spaced apart from each other along the length of the elongate rail configured to interact with the lock  50  to provide a positive locking action of the accessory holder  14  with the rail  12 . In this arrangement, the teeth  56  are disposed in an along the upper groove  44 , extending almost entirely from the first end to the second end of the upper groove  44 . Thus, the teeth  56  define alternating projections and recesses along the upper groove  44 . The engagement member  52  of the lock  50  is formed by a downwardly projecting finger or flange member of the resilient tab that fits into the recesses between adjacent teeth  56 . In the locked position, as shown in detail in  FIG. 5 , the release member  54  is in its unstressed normal position and the engagement member  52  sits in one of the recesses between adjacent teeth  56 , in which position the engagement member  52  prevents the accessory holder  14  from sliding axially along the length of the rail  12  by abutting against the side of the adjacent teeth  56 . In the unlocked position, as shown in detail in  FIG. 6 , the release member  54  is pushed inwardly in the direction A, for example by a user&#39;s finger, which pushes the engagement member  52  out of the recess between the teeth  56 , in which position, the accessory holder  14  can slide axially along the length of the rail  12 . When pressure is removed from the release member  54 , the entire tab including the engagement member  52  springs back to the locked position shown in  FIG. 52  and again locks the accessory holder  14  at a selected position along the rail  12 . It is understood that the lock  50  could simply clamp against a portion of the rail  12  without including the teeth  56 . However, addition of the teeth  56  may provide an even more secure locking mechanism to maintain the accessory holder  14  in any one of a plurality of different selected locations along the length of the rail  12 . The lower groove  48  in this arrangement does not include any teeth, but rather is smooth along its entire length. However, in other arrangements, the lower groove  48  could also or alternatively include teeth  56  to engage with the lock  50 , either in the exemplary form shown in the drawings or in another form. 
     The vacuum accessory storage system  10  can be used to store vacuum accessories, such as  16 - 20  and/or other types of vacuum accessories, in many different ways and methods. In fact, one of the advantages of the storage system  10  is its flexibility and adaptability to be used in many different ways. In one anticipated method, an accessory holder  14  is mounted onto the end of one of the rails  12 , for example, by inserting one of the ends of the rail  12  into one of the ends of the channel  32 . Thereafter, the accessory holder  14  may be slid along the length of the rail  12  to any selected one of many different potential locations along the length of the rail  12 . The appropriate vacuum accessory  16 ,  18 , or  20  may be coupled to the accessory holder  14  at any convenient time either before or after the accessory holder  14  has been mounted to the rail  12  and/or slid to the selected location along the rail  12 . In the exemplary arrangement of the drawings, it may be most convenient to couple the vacuum accessory to the accessory holder  14  after the accessory holder has been slid and locked into the a desired position along the rail because the front side of the release member  54  of the lock  50  is covered by the vacuum accessory when operatively mounted to the accessory holder  14  with the brackets  28 . However, in some arrangements, the lock  50  may be positioned on the accessory holder  14  in such an arrangement that the vacuum accessory does not cover the release member  54  when operatively mounted, or the accessory holder  14  may completely omit the lock  50 , in either of which cases the accessory holder  14  can be adjusted along the length of the rail  12  with the vacuum accessory operatively mounted thereto. Assuming the rail  12  is attached to and/or supported by a suitable support structure, either before or after the accessory folder  14  has been mounted thereon, the rail  12  in this arrangement thereby supports the accessory holder  14 , which in turn supports the respective one of the vacuum accessories  16 ,  18 , or  20  for storage. 
     In the arrangement in which the accessory holder  14  includes the lock  50 , the lock  50  may be disengage, for example by pushing in the release member  54  in the direction of the arrow A, and the accessory holder  14  may then be slid along the length of the rail  12  with the lock  50  so disengaged. Then, when the accessory holder  14  is located at a selected location along the rail  12 , the lock  50  is reengaged, for example by removing the pressure from against the release member  54 , such that the engagement member  52  resiliently springs back towards the locked position against the rail  12  and/or between the teeth  56 , thereby locking the accessory holder  14  in the selected position along the rail  12 . 
     The vacuum accessory storage system  10  may be used with a single rail  12  and one or more various accessory holders  14  operatively mounted to the rail  12  as described above. However, as is shown in the figures, the vacuum accessory storage system  10  may be expanded to include more than one rail  12 . For example, in the arrangement shown in the drawings, an upper rail  12  and a lower rail  12  are attached to a support surface, such as the wall  12 . The accessory holder  14   c  may be operatively mounted to the upper rail  12  in order to store the nozzle  18 . The accessory holder  14   d  may be operatively mounted to the lower rail  12  in order to store the round brush  20 . In order to store the vacuum tubes  16 , an upper accessory holder  14   a  is operatively mounted to the upper rail  12  and a lower accessory holder  14   d  is operatively mounted to the lower rail  12  directly below the upper accessory holder  14   a . In this arrangement, a lower end of each vacuum tube  16  is mounted to the lower accessory holder  14   b  with the appropriate brackets  28 , and an upper portion of each vacuum tube  16  is mounted to the upper accessory holder  14   a  with the appropriate brackets  28 . Of course, this is just one exemplary arrangement of a nearly infinite number of arrangements that could be implemented by a user depending upon the specific support structure circumstances and/or which vacuum accessories the user wishes to store. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     A vacuum accessory storage system according the teachings of the present disclosure provides a convenient way to easily and neatly store any number and variety of different vacuum accessories. The vacuum accessory storage system may be adapted and/or configured for use with other types of vacuum cleaners to provide improved user configurability for carrying various vacuum attachments. 
     The technical examples described and shown in detail herein are only exemplary of one or more aspects of the teachings of the present disclosure. Additional aspects, arrangements, and forms within the scope of the appended claims and all technically operative combinations of features disclosed herein are contemplated, the rights to which are expressly reserved.