Patent Abstract:
A blower/vacuum device ( 10 ) having a base ( 11 ) supported on wheels ( 18 ). The device ( 10 ) has a reservoir (bag) ( 17 ) that receives material collected by the device ( 10 ). Mounted on the base ( 11 ) is a motor and impeller assembly ( 21 ) that draws air inward and delivers the air (with collected material) to the bag ( 17 ). The assembly ( 21 ) can also be operated to provide a forward delivery directed air stream.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to vacuum devices and more particularly but not exclusively to vacuum devices to clear outdoor surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Mobile blower/vacuum devices are typically suspended on the user. That is, the motor and impeller and body of the device is suspended on the user with an elongated tube gripped by the user and directed at material to be drawn into the device. A bag is attached to the device downstream of the impeller so that material collected is delivered to the interior of the bag. The bag is air permeable so as to act as a filter. 
         [0003]    It is known in respect of the above devices to alter the attachment of the tube so that the tube is downstream of the impeller so that the device acts as a “blower”. 
         [0004]    A further modification includes the device having a first tube acting as a suction tube, and a second tube fixed thereto acting as a blower tube. A valve is then actuated to deliver air from the impeller to the blower tube or to the bag. 
         [0005]    There is also known mobile vacuum devices that are provided with wheels. They have a base with a motor and impeller, with a duct extending from a forward edge of the device to the impeller, and a second duct extending from the impeller to a bag that stores the collected material. 
         [0006]    The abovementioned devices that are suspended on the user are difficult to operate and are tiresome to use due to their weight. 
         [0007]    The abovementioned vacuum device that is provided with wheels has the disadvantage that it cannot act as a blower. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    There is disclosed herein a blower/vacuum device including: 
         [0010]    a base to move over a surface to which the device is to cause an airstream to pass over; 
         [0011]    at least one wheel fixed to the base to engage the surface to aid a user to move the device over the surface, the wheel having an axis of rotation; 
         [0012]    a handle attached to the body and extending away from the body in a direction of extension generally normal to said axis, the handle being adapted to be gripped by the user so that the user may direct the device over said surface by rotation of said wheel; 
         [0013]    a motor and impeller assembly to cause air to pass through the device; 
         [0014]    a first duct extending to the assembly to deliver air thereto; 
         [0015]    a second duct, the second duct extending away from said assembly so as to duct air therefrom; 
         [0016]    a reservoir to store material collected by the device; 
         [0017]    a third duct, said third duct extending away from said assembly to the reservoir to deliver air thereto together with any material passing through the first duct to the impeller; 
         [0018]    a valve downstream of said impeller to direct therefrom to said second duct and/or said third duct; and wherein 
         [0019]    said first duct has an inlet opening at a forward portion of said base, and said second duct has an outlet opening at said forward portion. 
         [0020]    Preferably, said inlet opening faces downward toward said surface. 
         [0021]    Preferably, said outlet opening directs air in a forward direction relative to said wheels and handle. 
         [0022]    Preferably, said base at least partly defined said first duct. 
         [0023]    Preferably, said valve includes a movable valve member and a portion to be gripped by a user to cause rotation of the valve member between a first position connecting the impeller with said second duct, and a second position connecting the impeller with said third duct. 
         [0024]    Preferably, said valve member is rotated about a generally upright axis. 
         [0025]    Preferably, said wheel is a first wheel, and said device includes a second wheel rotatable about said rotational axis but spaced axially from the first wheel. 
         [0026]    Preferably, said device includes a third and a fourth wheel, the third and fourth wheels being spaced from the first and second wheels, the third and fourth wheels being castor wheels to engage said surface. 
         [0027]    Preferably, said assembly has a rotational axis that is generally upright. 
         [0028]    Preferably, said reservoir is supported by said handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic top plan view of a blower/vacuum device; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the device of  FIG. 1  longitudinally sectioned along the line  2 - 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevation of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top plan view of the device as shown in  FIG. 3  sectioned along the line  4 - 4 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a schematic elevation of the device as shown in  FIG. 3  sectioned along the line  5 - 5 ; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a valve employed in the device of  FIGS. 1 and 3   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]    In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a blower/vacuum device  10 . The device  10  includes a base  11  that would be provided with two rear wheels  12  that are rotatable about an axis  13 . Attached to and extending upwardly from the base  11  is a handle  14  that extends upwardly from the base  11  at an acute angle relative to the ground surface  16  upon which the device  10  is resting. The upper end of the handle  14  has a portion  15  to be gripped by a user and may include one or more controls. 
         [0037]    Attached to and supported by the base  11  and/or handle  14  is a reservoir (bag or container)  17  that receives material collected by the device  10 . 
         [0038]    The base has a second pair of wheels  18  that are “castor” wheels that also engage the surface  16 , so that in combination with the wheels  12  the device  10  may be propelled across the surface  16  by a user gripping the handle  14  and pushing the device  10  in the intended direction of travel. Typically the forward direction of travel would be the direction  19 . Accordingly the base  11  has a forward (leading) portion  20  having regard to the forward direction of travel  19 . 
         [0039]    Mounted on the base  11  is a motor and impeller assembly  21  including an electric (or internal combustion) motor  22  that would be typically provided with electric power by means of a flexible cable. The cable would be operatively associated with the controls on the handle  15  so that a user may select when the motor  22  is operative. 
         [0040]    The motor  22  drives an impeller  23 , with the motor  22  and impeller  23  having a common generally upright rotational axis  24 . The axis  24  is generally normal to the axis  13  although displaced therefrom. 
         [0041]    The impeller  23  is located in a housing  25 , the housing  25  having an inlet  26  through which air is drawn into the housing  25 . The air is caused to rotate by the impeller  23  and is delivered to a valve  27 . 
         [0042]    Extending to the opening  26  is a first duct  27  that extends to an inlet opening  28  at the forward portion  20 . The opening  28  is downwardly facing so as to draw air in from adjacent the surface  16 . Accordingly material on the surface  16  is “drawn” into the opening  28  and delivered to the housing  25 . The first duct  27  is provided by the base  11 , the base  11  consisting of two plastic moulded halves  41  and  42 . 
         [0043]    Extending from the valve  27  is a second duct  29  that extends to the reservoir  17  so as to deliver air thereto together with any material collected by the device  10 . Also extending from the valve  27  is a third duct  30  that extends to a nozzle  31 . The nozzle  31  has an outlet opening  32  again adjacent the forward portion  20  so that the opening  32  is adjacent the opening  28 . The nozzle  31  directs an airstream down toward the surface  16  at an acute angle relative thereto. 
         [0044]    The nozzle  31  includes an airstream direction control device  33  that controls the direction at which air exits the nozzle  31 . The device  33  is rotatable about an inclined axis  34 , with the device  33  including a passage  35 , the position of which may be altered by gripping and turning the knob  36  by moving the knob  36 . By changing the position of the passage  35 , air exiting the nozzle  31  is changed in direction. 
         [0045]    The valve  27  includes a portion  37  that is gripped by a user to select whether air leaving the impeller  23  is directed to the duct  29  or the duct  30 . hi particular the valve  27  includes a movable valve member  38  that is angularly movable about the axis  39  to determine whether air is delivered to the duct  29  or the duct  30 . The valve member  38  has a passage  40  that is changed in position to direct air to the duct  29  or the duct  30 . The axis  39  is generally upright and generally perpendicular to the axis  13  although displaced therefrom. 
         [0046]    In operation of the above described device  10 , a user may select whether air exiting the housing  25  is delivered to the reservoir  17  so that the device  10  acts as a vacuum device, or to deliver air to the nozzle  31  so the device  10  also acts as a blower. 
         [0047]    The above described device  10  has the advantage that should material be missed by the airstream exiting the nozzle  31 , that material is drawn into the opening  18  and again exits via the nozzle  31 . A further advantage of the above described device  10  is the ability to direct the airstream leaving the nozzle  31 . 
         [0048]    A still further advantage of the above described device  10  is that the device  10  can be used as a vacuum or blower that is supported on wheels and therefore alleviates problems associated with such devices that are supported by the user.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4