Patent ID: 12245733

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates a vacuum cleaner10to be coupled to an accessory tool200. The vacuum cleaner10includes a body12movable over a surface S. The body12includes a base14and a lid18selectively removable from the base14. The vacuum cleaner10includes a vacuum cleaner inlet22, a separator26, and a clean air outlet. The vacuum cleaner inlet22is provided on the base14. The separator26is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner inlet22and is configured to separate debris (e.g., solid debris and/or liquid working fluid) from clean air. The vacuum cleaner inlet22may act as a suction port for the vacuum cleaner10. The clean air outlet is in fluid communication with the separator26opposite the vacuum cleaner inlet22such that the clean air that passes through the separator26is exhausted through the clean air outlet to the surroundings of the vacuum cleaner10. The illustrated base14functions as a debris collector to receive solid debris and/or liquid working fluid that is separated by the separator26. In the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated vacuum cleaner10is a canister style wet/dry vacuum cleaner operable to vacuum solid debris and/or liquid working fluid. Optionally, a seal is provided between the base14and the lid18. Other arrangements of the vacuum cleaner10are possible, such as an upright extractor, a stick or pole vacuum, or a handheld vacuum.

The vacuum cleaner10includes a motor42disposed in the body12. The motor42is configured as a suction source to generate suction to draw fluid through the vacuum cleaner inlet22. The motor42is powered by a power source50. The power source50may be a battery pack which is selectively coupled to the lid18of the vacuum cleaner10. Other arrangements or locations of the power source50are possible. For example, some embodiments may include a power cord for connecting the vacuum cleaner10to a main power grid for receiving alternating current.

The base14is supported on a chassis54including at least one wheel70. A user operating the vacuum cleaner10may grasp a portion of the vacuum cleaner10to translate the vacuum cleaner10along a surface S towards a portion of the surface S that needs to be cleaned. The user may also lift the vacuum cleaner10from the surface S using a handle58coupled to the lid18to move the vacuum cleaner10to the portion of the surface S that needs to be cleaned.

The illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of wheels70. The wheels70include caster-type wheels, which allow the vacuum cleaner10to slide along the surface S in any direction. The chassis54includes a plurality of feet62extending radially outwardly from the base14. Each of the plurality of feet62support one of the plurality of wheels70below the foot62. Each of the plurality of feet62include an accessory connector74positioned above the foot62. The accessory connector74is configured to mechanically secure an accessory of the vacuum cleaner10to the vacuum cleaner10. The accessory may be a suction nozzle, an extension tube, a flexible hose90, an accessory tool such as a dustpan attachment200, or the like. The accessory connector74includes an annular recess66. The accessory may include a cylindrical end that fits within the annular recess66. The accessory connector74may secure the accessory to the vacuum cleaner10during use or for storage of the accessory on the vacuum cleaner10while the accessory is not in use. The illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of accessory connectors74on the chassis54. The vacuum cleaner10may include additional accessory storage on the lid18. The additional accessory storage may use accessory connectors similar to accessory connectors74or may use different mounting methods to retain accessories.

With reference toFIG.1, the vacuum cleaner10may be used with an accessory such as the flexible hose90to extend the inlet of the vacuum cleaner10. The flexible hose90includes a first hose end90a, removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner inlet22, and a second hose end90b, opposite the first hose end90a, which may act as a suction port for the vacuum cleaner10. The second hose end90bmay be removably secured to one of the accessory tools.

FIGS.2-6illustrate the accessory tool200formed as a dustpan attachment200in more detail. The accessory tool200may be used with other types of vacuum cleaners, such as upright cleaners, wet/dry vacuums, extractors, and more.

As shown inFIGS.2and3, the dustpan attachment200includes a housing204. The housing204includes a top wall208and a plurality of walls212extending from the top wall208to a bottom edge224. The plurality of walls212and the top wall208define a recess228in the housing204, surrounded by the bottom edge224. The bottom edge224may be positioned against the surface S. The bottom edge224includes a groove232to receive a sealing element236or sealing member236. The sealing element236may include a resilient sealing material. For example, the sealing element236may be formed as a rubber gasket. In some embodiments, other sealing materials may be used. The sealing element236cooperates with the surface S when the bottom edge224is placed against the surface S to prevent fluid flow under the bottom edge224.

The housing204includes one or more mounting surfaces240which may couple the accessory tool200to the vacuum cleaner10. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting surfaces240include a pair of flanges244positioned on either side of the housing204and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge224. Each flange244includes an annular projection246extending from a lower surface of the flange244. The annular projection246may have a diameter sized to correspond to the diameter of the annular recess66of the accessory connector74. The accessory tool200may be mounted on the vacuum cleaner10by fitting each annular projection246into one of the annular recesses66. Therefore, the annular projections246function as a pair of attachment features on the dustpan attachment200and the annular recesses66function as a pair of mounting features on the vacuum cleaner10. When the accessory tool200is mounted to the vacuum cleaner10, the bottom edge224may be supported in contact with the surface S to prevent air from flowing underneath the bottom edge224. In other embodiments, the bottom edge224may be supported adjacent the surface S to minimize flow underneath the bottom edge224.

With reference toFIGS.2and4, the housing204also includes a front opening248. In the illustrated embodiment, a front lip252extends from a front edge256of the top wall208. The front opening248is positioned beneath the front lip252and forms a suction inlet260when the bottom edge224is positioned against the surface S. The front opening248opens forwardly and extends along almost the entire width of the housing204. In some embodiments, the front opening248has a width W of between 6 and 20 inches. More specifically, the width W may correspond to a width of a head of a standard sweeping implement such as a broom B (FIG.6). The suction inlet260extends between a first end261of the housing204, adjacent one end of the suction inlet260, and a second end262of the housing204, adjacent the opposite end of the suction inlet260. The bottom edge224also extends between the first end261and the second end262around the recess228. The bottom edge224includes resilient sealing material continuously between the first end261of the housing204and the second end262of the housing204. The suction inlet260extends into the housing204along a first axis A1(FIG.5). When the bottom edge224is positioned against the surface S, the first axis A1is generally horizontal. The suction inlet260has a cross sectional area C1(or first area C1) measured perpendicular to the first axis A1. The suction inlet260is generally rectangular in shape.

As shown best inFIG.2, the dustpan attachment200further includes a vacuum port264. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum port264is coupled to the top wall208of the housing204. In other embodiments, the vacuum port264may extend from any of the plurality of walls212, or may extend through or span multiple walls, including the top wall208or the plurality of walls212. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum port264includes a connector268extending from the top wall208. The connector268includes an outer wall272defining a channel276which extends along a second axis A2through the housing204and connects to the recess228. When the bottom edge224is positioned against the surface S, the second axis A2extends generally vertically. The vacuum port264has 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 C2of the vacuum port264is generally equal in size to the cross sectional area C1of the suction inlet260.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, when the bottom edge224is positioned against the surface S, the recess228cooperates with the surface S to create a suction channel280. The sealing element236helps to seal the suction channel280around the bottom edge224. The suction channel280extends between the suction inlet260and the vacuum port264. The suction channel280converges in the width direction, such that the air is funneled toward the vacuum port264. The vacuum port264may be removably coupled to the flexible hose90. This effectively moves the inlet of the vacuum cleaner10to the suction inlet260of the dustpan attachment200. As such, the vacuum cleaner inlet22is in fluid communication with the suction inlet260. When the flexible hose90is secured to the vacuum cleaner inlet22and the dustpan attachment200, the fluid flow path extends from the suction inlet260of the dustpan attachment200, through the flexible hose90, and into the vacuum cleaner inlet22. In some embodiments, the flanges244can be removed from the accessory connectors74and the accessory tool200may be movable along the surface S to a position spaced from the body12while connected to the vacuum cleaner inlet22via the flexible hose90. This affords a range of motion for the accessory tool200to move relative to the base14and the lid18.

As shown inFIGS.5and6, while connected to the vacuum cleaner10and positioned with the bottom edge224on the surface S, a suction zone284(also referred to as a suction area284) may be created adjacent to the suction inlet260. In use, the vacuum cleaner10can be powered on, so that the motor42creates a suction flow through the vacuum cleaner10to the suction zone284. An operator can use a sweeping implement such as a broom B to move debris across the surface S into the suction zone284. Debris that enters the suction zone284is drawn into the dustpan attachment200through the suction inlet260. Debris is then transmitted through the suction channel280, the channel276of the vacuum port264, the flexible hose90, the vacuum cleaner inlet22, and to the separator26. Debris is then collected in the base14and clean air is exhausted through the clean air outlet. Once the surface S has been cleaned, the vacuum cleaner10can be powered off. The dustpan attachment200can be removed from the flexible hose90. The flexible hose90can be removed from the vacuum cleaner inlet22or can be coupled to a different accessory tool. The dustpan attachment200can remain coupled to the accessory connectors74or be removed and stored elsewhere. The debris collected in the base14can be emptied. The vacuum cleaner10can be moved and stored as needed.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.