Patent Description:
Vacuums typically include impeller units which generate suction fluid flow into a separator which separates suction debris from an airflow. Vacuums include dirty fluid inlets in fluid communication with the impeller unit to direct dirty fluid from work surfaces and into the separator. Occasionally, dirty fluid inlets are provided by hoses coupled to the separator. Suction nozzle attachments or other accessory tools are removably attached to the separator via the hose to extend the reach of the suction. Each of <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> represents prior art disclosing a vacuum cleaner and dustpan attachment according to the preambles of claims <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The invention is disclosed in independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>; preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims. The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a vacuum cleaner including a body movable over a surface to be cleaner, a suction source positioned in the body, and a suction port in fluid communication with the suction source. The body includes a plurality of feet. A dustpan attachment is removably coupled to the body. The dustpan attachment includes a housing having a recess and a vacuum port fluidly coupled to the suction port, and a pair of flanges extending from the housing. Each flange is removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of feet. When each of the pair of flanges is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of feet, the recess cooperates with the surface to form a suction channel having a suction inlet formed in a front of the housing and opening forwardly, wherein the suction inlet is in fluid communication with the suction port.

The disclosure provides, in another independent aspect, a dustpan attachment for use with a vacuum cleaner configured to clean a surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a suction port, and a suction source disposed in the body for generating airflow through the suction port. The dustpan attachment includes a housing, a vacuum port extending through the housing, and a recess defined within the housing. The vacuum port is configured to fluidly couple to the suction port. The housing includes a top wall and a plurality of walls extending from the top wall to a bottom edge. The bottom edge is configured to contact the surface. When the bottom edge contacts the surface, the recess is configured to cooperate with the surface to form a suction channel having a suction inlet in communication with the vacuum port and formed in a front of the housing and opening forwardly. A pair of flanges extends from the housing and is configured to removably couple to the body.

The disclosure provides, in another independent aspect, a method of using a dustpan attachment with a vacuum cleaner to clean a surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a suction source positioned within the body, and a suction port in fluid communication with the suction source. The method includes connecting a pair of attachment features on the dustpan attachment to a pair of mounting features of the vacuum cleaner, thereby positioning the dustpan attachment adjacent the surface and forming a suction inlet at a front thereof. Then, connecting the suction port with a vacuum port of the dustpan attachment. Then, operating the suction source to draw air through the suction inlet into the body.

<FIG> illustrates a vacuum cleaner <NUM> to be coupled to an accessory tool <NUM>. The vacuum cleaner <NUM> includes a body <NUM> movable over a surface S. The body <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and a lid <NUM> selectively removable from the base <NUM>. The vacuum cleaner <NUM> includes a vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM>, a separator <NUM>, and a clean air outlet. The vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> is provided on the base <NUM>. The separator <NUM> is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> and is configured to separate debris (e.g., solid debris and/or liquid working fluid) from clean air. The vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> may act as a suction port for the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The clean air outlet is in fluid communication with the separator <NUM> opposite the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> such that the clean air that passes through the separator <NUM> is exhausted through the clean air outlet to the surroundings of the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The illustrated base <NUM> functions as a debris collector to receive solid debris and/or liquid working fluid that is separated by the separator <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated vacuum cleaner <NUM> is a canister style wet/dry vacuum cleaner operable to vacuum solid debris and/or liquid working fluid. Optionally, a seal is provided between the base <NUM> and the lid <NUM>. Other arrangements of the vacuum cleaner <NUM> are possible, such as an upright extractor, a stick or pole vacuum, or a handheld vacuum.

The vacuum cleaner <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> disposed in the body <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is configured as a suction source to generate suction to draw fluid through the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is powered by a power source <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may be a battery pack which is selectively coupled to the lid <NUM> of the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. Other arrangements or locations of the power source <NUM> are possible. For example, some embodiments may include a power cord for connecting the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to a main power grid for receiving alternating current.

The base <NUM> is supported on a chassis <NUM> including at least one wheel <NUM>. A user operating the vacuum cleaner <NUM> may grasp a portion of the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to translate the vacuum cleaner <NUM> along a surface S towards a portion of the surface S that needs to be cleaned. The user may also lift the vacuum cleaner <NUM> from the surface S using a handle <NUM> coupled to the lid <NUM> to move the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to the portion of the surface S that needs to be cleaned.

The illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of wheels <NUM>. The wheels <NUM> include caster-type wheels, which allow the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to slide along the surface S in any direction. The chassis <NUM> includes a plurality of feet <NUM> extending radially outwardly from the base <NUM>. Each of the plurality of feet <NUM> support one of the plurality of wheels <NUM> below the foot <NUM>. Each of the plurality of feet <NUM> include an accessory connector <NUM> positioned above the foot <NUM>. The accessory connector <NUM> is configured to mechanically secure an accessory of the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The accessory may be a suction nozzle, an extension tube, a flexible hose <NUM>, an accessory tool such as a dustpan attachment <NUM>, or the like. The accessory connector <NUM> includes an annular recess <NUM>. The accessory may include a cylindrical end that fits within the annular recess <NUM>. The accessory connector <NUM> may secure the accessory to the vacuum cleaner <NUM> during use or for storage of the accessory on the vacuum cleaner <NUM> while the accessory is not in use. The illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of accessory connectors <NUM> on the chassis <NUM>. The vacuum cleaner <NUM> may include additional accessory storage on the lid <NUM>. The additional accessory storage may use accessory connectors similar to accessory connectors <NUM> or may use different mounting methods to retain accessories.

With reference to <FIG>, the vacuum cleaner <NUM> may be used with an accessory such as the flexible hose <NUM> to extend the inlet of the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The flexible hose <NUM> includes a first hose end 90a, removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM>, and a second hose end 90b, opposite the first hose end 90a, which may act as a suction port for the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. The second hose end 90b may be removably secured to one of the accessory tools.

<FIG> illustrate the accessory tool <NUM> formed as a dustpan attachment <NUM> in more detail. The accessory tool <NUM> may be used with other types of vacuum cleaners, such as upright cleaners, wet/dry vacuums, extractors, and more.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the dustpan attachment <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a top wall <NUM> and a plurality of walls <NUM> extending from the top wall <NUM> to a bottom edge <NUM>. The plurality of walls <NUM> and the top wall <NUM> define a recess <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, surrounded by the bottom edge <NUM>. The bottom edge <NUM> may be positioned against the surface S. The bottom edge <NUM> includes a groove <NUM> to receive a sealing element <NUM> or sealing member <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> may include a resilient sealing material. For example, the sealing element <NUM> may be formed as a rubber gasket. In some embodiments, other sealing materials may be used. The sealing element <NUM> cooperates with the surface S when the bottom edge <NUM> is placed against the surface S to prevent fluid flow under the bottom edge <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes one or more mounting surfaces <NUM> which may couple the accessory tool <NUM> to the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting surfaces <NUM> include a pair of flanges <NUM> positioned on either side of the housing <NUM> and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge <NUM>. Each flange <NUM> includes an annular projection <NUM> extending from a lower surface of the flange <NUM>. The annular projection <NUM> may have a diameter sized to correspond to the diameter of the annular recess <NUM> of the accessory connector <NUM>. The accessory tool <NUM> may be mounted on the vacuum cleaner <NUM> by fitting each annular projection <NUM> into one of the annular recesses <NUM>. Therefore, the annular projections <NUM> function as a pair of attachment features on the dustpan attachment <NUM> and the annular recesses <NUM> function as a pair of mounting features on the vacuum cleaner <NUM>. When the accessory tool <NUM> is mounted to the vacuum cleaner <NUM>, the bottom edge <NUM> may be supported in contact with the surface S to prevent air from flowing underneath the bottom edge <NUM>. In other embodiments, the bottom edge <NUM> may be supported adjacent the surface S to minimize flow underneath the bottom edge <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> also includes a front opening <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, a front lip <NUM> extends from a front edge <NUM> of the top wall <NUM>. The front opening <NUM> is positioned beneath the front lip <NUM> and forms a suction inlet <NUM> when the bottom edge <NUM> is positioned against the surface S. The front opening <NUM> opens forwardly and extends along almost the entire width of the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the front opening <NUM> has a width W of between <NUM> and <NUM> inches, <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the width W may correspond to a width of a head of a standard sweeping implement such as a broom B (<FIG>). The suction inlet <NUM> extends between a first end <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, adjacent one end of the suction inlet <NUM>, and a second end <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, adjacent the opposite end of the suction inlet <NUM>. The bottom edge <NUM> also extends between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> around the recess <NUM>. The bottom edge <NUM> includes resilient sealing material continuously between the first end <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The suction inlet <NUM> extends into the housing <NUM> along a first axis A1 (<FIG>). When the bottom edge <NUM> is positioned against the surface S, the first axis A1 is generally horizontal. The suction inlet <NUM> has a cross sectional area C1 (or first area C1) measured perpendicular to the first axis A1. The suction inlet <NUM> is generally rectangular in shape.

As shown best in <FIG>, the dustpan attachment <NUM> further includes a vacuum port <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum port <NUM> is coupled to the top wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In other embodiments, the vacuum port <NUM> may extend from any of the plurality of walls <NUM>, or may extend through or span multiple walls, including the top wall <NUM> or the plurality of walls <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum port <NUM> includes a connector <NUM> extending from the top wall <NUM>. The connector <NUM> includes an outer wall <NUM> defining a channel <NUM> which extends along a second axis A2 through the housing <NUM> and connects to the recess <NUM>. When the bottom edge <NUM> is positioned against the surface S, the second axis A2 extends generally vertically. The vacuum port <NUM> has a generally circular shape and a cross sectional area C2 (or second area C2) measured perpendicular to the second axis A2. The cross sectional area C2 of the vacuum port <NUM> is generally equal in size to the cross sectional area C1 of the suction inlet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the bottom edge <NUM> is positioned against the surface S, the recess <NUM> cooperates with the surface S to create a suction channel <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> helps to seal the suction channel <NUM> around the bottom edge <NUM>. The suction channel <NUM> extends between the suction inlet <NUM> and the vacuum port <NUM>. The suction channel <NUM> converges in the width direction, such that the air is funneled toward the vacuum port <NUM>. The vacuum port <NUM> may be removably coupled to the flexible hose <NUM>. This effectively moves the inlet of the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to the suction inlet <NUM> of the dustpan attachment <NUM>. As such, the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> is in fluid communication with the suction inlet <NUM>. When the flexible hose <NUM> is secured to the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> and the dustpan attachment <NUM>, the fluid flow path extends from the suction inlet <NUM> of the dustpan attachment <NUM>, through the flexible hose <NUM>, and into the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the flanges <NUM> can be removed from the accessory connectors <NUM> and the accessory tool <NUM> may be movable along the surface S to a position spaced from the body <NUM> while connected to the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> via the flexible hose <NUM>. This affords a range of motion for the accessory tool <NUM> to move relative to the base <NUM> and the lid <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, while connected to the vacuum cleaner <NUM> and positioned with the bottom edge <NUM> on the surface S, a suction zone <NUM> (also referred to as a suction area <NUM>) may be created adjacent to the suction inlet <NUM>. In use, the vacuum cleaner <NUM> can be powered on, so that the motor <NUM> creates a suction flow through the vacuum cleaner <NUM> to the suction zone <NUM>. An operator can use a sweeping implement such as a broom B to move debris across the surface S into the suction zone <NUM>. Debris that enters the suction zone <NUM> is drawn into the dustpan attachment <NUM> through the suction inlet <NUM>. Debris is then transmitted through the suction channel <NUM>, the channel <NUM> of the vacuum port <NUM>, the flexible hose <NUM>, the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM>, and to the separator <NUM>. Debris is then collected in the base <NUM> and clean air is exhausted through the clean air outlet. Once the surface S has been cleaned, the vacuum cleaner <NUM> can be powered off. The dustpan attachment <NUM> can be removed from the flexible hose <NUM>. The flexible hose <NUM> can be removed from the vacuum cleaner inlet <NUM> or can be coupled to a different accessory tool. The dustpan attachment <NUM> can remain coupled to the accessory connectors <NUM> or be removed and stored elsewhere. The debris collected in the base <NUM> can be emptied. The vacuum cleaner <NUM> can be moved and stored as needed.

Claim 1:
A vacuum cleaner (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) movable over a surface (S) to be cleaned, the body including a plurality of feet (<NUM>);
a suction source (<NUM>) positioned in the body;
a suction port in fluid communication with the suction source; and
a dustpan attachment (<NUM>) removably coupled to the body, the dustpan attachment including:
a housing (<NUM>) including a recess (<NUM>) and a vacuum port (<NUM>) fluidly coupled to the suction port; and
characterised by comprising:
a pair of flanges (<NUM>) extending from the housing, wherein each flange is removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of feet;
wherein when each of the pair of flanges is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of feet, the recess cooperates with the surface to form a suction channel (<NUM>) having a suction inlet (<NUM>) formed in a front of the housing and opening forwardly, wherein the suction inlet is in fluid communication with the suction port.