Patent ID: 7418763

Claim:
A portable vacuum comprising: an inlet housing defining an inlet that is configured to receive dirt, dust and debris therethrough; an outlet housing releasably coupled to the inlet housing, the outlet housing defining a handle, an intake, and an exhaust outlet; a fan assembly mounted in the outlet housing, the fan being operable for generating an air flow that is exhausted through the exhaust outlet; a hose having a first end, which may be selectively coupled to the exhaust outlet, and a second end; and a set of inflator nozzles, each of the inflator nozzles including a coupling portion, which is configured to selectively engage the second end of the hose, a tapered male connector that defines an outlet aperture, a hollow body portion, which is disposed between the coupling portion and the tapered male connector, and a relief aperture that extends through a wall of the inflator nozzle into a generally hollow interior; wherein the tapered male connector of each inflator nozzle is differently sized; and wherein the relief aperture is formed on a forward face of the hollow body portion, the forward face being oriented relative to the coupling portion such that when the relief aperture is closed by a thumb of a person using the portable vacuum, at least a portion of a force exerted by the thumb to close the relief aperture at least partially urges the inflator nozzle in a direction toward the second end of the hose.