Abstract:
An attachment device  10  for a receptacle, the attachment device  10  comprising a plate  11  adapted to fit onto the top of the receptacle, the plate  11  supporting a powered fan  20  that communicates with the receptacle through an aperture  12  in the plate  11 , the device  10  having a second aperture adapted to engage one end of a flexible hose whereby in use the plate  11  is placed in sealed engagement on the top of the receptacle and the fan  20  causes air to be sucked into the receptacle through the hose to establish a vacuum that draws material through the conduit into the receptacle.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to attachment devices to receptacles such as bins, drums and in particular wheeled rubbish bins. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Vacuum/blower devices are frequently used to collect leaves and other waste material from gardens. These devices are usually electrically powered and incorporate a bag or other collection means into which the leaves and other debris can be collected. It is then common practice to empty the bags into a green rubbish bin, often of the wheeled variety that is supplied by the local council. Households frequently have receptacles such as rubbish bins, drums or wheeled rubbish bins and this invention relates to a device that extends the use of such receptacles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to the present invention there is provided an attachment device for a receptacle, the attachment device comprising a plate adapted to fit onto the top of the receptacle, the plate supporting a powered extraction fan that communicates with the receptacle through an aperture in the plate, the device having a second aperture adapted to engage one end of a flexible hose whereby in use the plate is placed in sealed engagement on the top of the receptacle and the fan causes air to be sucked into the receptacle through the hose. 
         [0004]    Preferably, the underside of the plate is provided with a peripheral seal that ensures that the plate is in sealed engagement on the receptacle. The attachment device may also include one or more clamps to clamp the plate against the top of the receptacle. 
         [0005]    The fan may be driven by an electric motor, powered by a source of mains electricity, or by a small petrol engine. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the motor and fan are supported by a housing that locates in a centrally positioned aperture in the plate and the conduit is preferably a flexible concertina vacuum hose that, when not in use, can be wrapped around the device for storage. The plate may also incorporate a hook that allows the device to be hung for storage. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a vacuum attachment device in accordance with a first embodiment when attached to a wheeled rubbish bin, 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is another side elevation of the wheeled rubbish bin, 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wheeled rubbish bin, 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the attachment device, 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the front of the device, 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view along the line A of  FIG. 5 , 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the device from the top, 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the device from the underside, 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the device from the top in exploded configuration, 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the underside of a device in accordance with a second embodiment, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a part cross sectional view through the device illustrating a fan blade assembly with a plenum chamber. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9  of the accompanying drawings, in a first embodiment, an attachment device  10  is designed for use with the open top of a wheeled rubbish bin B. The attachment device  10  comprises a rectangular plate  11  with a flat underside  13  and upwardly curved top  14 , supporting a centrally positioned aperture  12  of squarish cross section. The device  10  also includes a fan assembly  20  that comprises an electric motor, fan and filter  23  all contained within a housing  25 . The housing  25  has a periphery  27  that is a sliding fit within the aperture  12  so that the filter  23  of the fan assembly  20  extends into the interior of the wheeled rubbish bin B. The aperture  12  has an upwardly projecting ledge  28  on which the underside of the housing  25  abuts, with a rubber or plastics seal (not shown) positioned therebetween. 
         [0020]    The flat underside  13  of the plate  11  has a wide rectangular rubber seal (not shown) secured to the outer periphery. The rubber seal is adapted to engage the upper surface of the bin B to improve the seal between the device  10  and the bin B. 
         [0021]    The upper surface  14  of the plate  11  comprises raised arcuate ribs  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33  in each corner that extend towards the center of the aperture  12 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the fan assembly  20  has similarly profiled ribs  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  that merge with the arcuate ribs of the plate to define complete ribs that extend diametrically across the top of the assembly. One rib  23  on the upper surface of the plate includes a cutout  39  that includes a cylindrical hollow projection  40  that is in communication with a second aperture  41  in the base of the lid. The cylindrical projection  40  is adapted to engage a concertina flexible vacuum hose (not shown) that can be pressed into the projection so that the hose is firmly secured to the attachment device. 
         [0022]    The hose terminates in a head of tapered configuration that could be coupled to a variety of different vacuum tools (not shown). A pair of clamps (not shown) may be positioned on either side of the top  14  of the plate  11  each having a downwardly extending clip that extends under the rim of the bin B to clamp the plate  11  across the mouth of the bin. It is understood that the design and operation of the clamps and tie down clips would vary and a number of proprietary items are envisaged. 
         [0023]    The electric motor that drives the fan would be of comparatively heavy duty, that is with an output of between 1500 and 2200 w. A small petrol engine, usually two-stroke could be used instead of the electric motor. For dry use, the downwardly projecting component of the fan assembly would include a bag type filter  23  that could be removed and cleaned as necessary. In a situation where the device is to be used in a wet mode, a wet one way valve seal would be provided on the underside of the fan assembly  20 . 
         [0024]    In use, the lid (not shown) of the bin B is opened to hang against the rear of the bin, the plate  11  is firmly secured through the clamps to the top of a wheeled rubbish bin B. The vacuum hose is coupled to the connector  40  and then the electric motor is coupled to a source of mains electricity. When the motor starts the extraction fan draws air out of the bin B through the filter  23  to set up a partial vacuum within the bin that in turn draws air into the bin through the vacuum hose and second aperture  41 . The power of the fan provides an effective suction through the vacuum hose and the bin B can be wheeled to a suitable place in the garden where leaves and other such debris can be collected directly into the bin B. As described earlier, the bin B can also be used in both a wet or dry mode and can be used to pick up liquids, slurries and like materials. 
         [0025]    In a second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a mulching unit has been incorporated into the device  100 , thus allowing the bin B to hold more material than would be the case where no attempt is made to reduce the size of the material which is sucked in through the flexible hose. 
         [0026]    As in the first embodiment, a central housing  125  that includes the electric motor  10  and fan is located in an aperture  112  in the plate  111  that is adapted to sit on the top of a rubbish bin B. 
         [0027]    The difference in this embodiment is that the fan assembly  160  is mounted in a plenum chamber  161  and the plenum chamber  161  is in direction communication with the aperture  140  which is coupled to the flexible hose  155 . The housing  125  supports the plenum chamber  161  which is surrounded by open grilles  175  with the housing  125  being fixed across the top of the aperture  112 . The fan assembly  160  has the effect of sucking air into the plenum chamber  161  via the aperture  140  and hose  155  and then blowing the air into the bin B via an outlet duct  143 . The air escapes from the bin B through the aperture  12  in the centre of the plate which is surrounded by a mesh filter  171  to prevent particulate material escaping. The air then escapes through the grilles  175  in the housing  125 . The fan is driven by the electric motor  150  that is located centrally of the housing  125 . 
         [0028]    The fan blade assembly  160  in is two parts and comprises a set of radial blades  164  that serve a dual role of generating the air current and operating as mulching blades. A dividing wall  165  separates the blade set  164  from cooling blades  166  on the opposite side of the wall facing the electric motor  150 . The radial blades  164  have leading cutting edges  148  that serve to cut up material that is drawn into the unit. The mulched material is then forced by the air current via an elbow shaped chute  170  in to the bin B. The air escapes from the bin B via the mesh filter  171  and through the grilles  175  in the top of the housing  125 . The mulching ratio is designed to be approximately 10:1. 
         [0029]    Although the device  10  has been designed with specific use in a garden on a wheeled rubbish bin, it is understood that the device could be used on other receptacles such as 44 gallon drums, or normal rubbish bins, or any receptacle that has an open top on which the device can be secured. 
         [0030]    The peripheral seal is designed to have the width to accommodate the mouths of bins of differing sizes. 
         [0031]    The fan assembly  20  is removable from the device so that bulky items can be added to the bin through the aperture  12 . It is however understood that in other embodiments the motor and fan assembly would form an integral part of the device. 
         [0032]    The housing  25 ,  125  or upper surface  14  of the plate  11 ,  111  may have an upstanding handle that allows the device to be lifted and transported and the handle also serves as a hook on which the device can be hung for storage. It is also envisaged that the device would include means to allow the vacuum hose to be wrapped around the top of the device for storage. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings the device is moulded in polypropylene. However, it is understood that the device could also be manufactured in diecast aluminum. 
         [0034]    To improve the packaging of the product the plate could include a central fold line of thin walled material or hinges that allow the plate to be folded in half for storage in the side of a box that would carry the motor. Suitable locking pins could be used to hold the two halves open to define the rectangular planar plate that is placed on a wheeled rubbish bin.