U.S. patent application number 10/849415 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for wet/dry vacuum.
This patent application is currently assigned to One World Technologies Limited. Invention is credited to Parrott, David A..
Application Number | 20050257340 10/849415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34936422 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050257340 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parrott, David A. |
November 24, 2005 |
Wet/dry vacuum
Abstract
A wet/dry vacuum is disclosed. The wet/dry vacuum preferably
includes a base, a handle coupled with the base, a lid coupled with
the handle, and a container that is removable from the base. In
operation, the container is placed on the base. As the handle is
rotated towards the rear of the base, the handle secures the
container to the base by lowering the lid onto the container.
Inventors: |
Parrott, David A.;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
One World Technologies
Limited
|
Family ID: |
34936422 |
Appl. No.: |
10/849415 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 7/0042 20130101;
A47L 9/327 20130101; A47L 9/009 20130101; A47L 5/365 20130101; A47L
7/0038 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/32 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A wet/dry vacuum comprising: a base having an upper and a lower
portion; a handle pivotably mounted to said upper portion of said
base, said handle being moveable between a first and second
position; a lid incorporating a vacuum motor housing, said lid
being attached to said handle so that said lid moves to a first lid
position when said handle is in said first position and to a second
lid position when said handle is in said second position; and a
container detachably mounted to said base, wherein said container
is removeable when said handle is in said first position and is
secured when said handle is in said second position.
2. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said container
is a conventional five gallon construction bucket.
3. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 2, wherein said container
is manufactured from PVC.
4. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said handle is
an overmold handle.
5. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1 wherein a seal is
coupled with an outer perimeter of said lid.
6. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 5, wherein said seal is
manufactured from foam rubber.
7. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said lid
further comprises a tapered truncated cone with an exterior surface
capable of forming a seal with said container.
8. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said lid
further comprises a tapered truncated cone with an interior surface
capable of forming a seal with said container.
9. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein a secondary
locking mechanism is coupled with said lid to secure said lid with
said container.
10. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum
unit comprises a motor and a hose coupled with said motor.
11. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 1, wherein a pivot is
utilized to couple said lid to said handle.
12. A method of operating a wet/dry vacuum, the method comprising:
(a) providing a vacuum unit, said vacuum unit comprising a base, a
pivotable handle coupled with said base, and a lid coupled with
said handle, wherein said lid houses a vacuum motor; (b) inserting
a container onto said base; and (c) rotating said handle towards
the rear of said unit, wherein the rotation of said handle lowers
and secures said lid to said container.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said container is a
conventional five gallon construction bucket.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said container is
manufactured from PVC.
15. A wet/dry vacuum comprising: a base having an upper and a lower
portion; a handle mounted to said upper portion of said base; and a
bucket releasably attached to said base.
16. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 15, wherein said bucket
is a construction site bucket.
17. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 15, further comprising a
lid attached to said handle, said lid having a seal and
incorporating a vacuum motor housing.
18. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 17, wherein said lid
further comprises a tapered truncated cone with an interior capable
of forming a seal with said container.
19. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 17, wherein said lid
further comprises a tapered truncated cone with an exterior capable
of forming a seal with said container.
20. The wet/dry vacuum according to claim 17, wherein a secondary
locking mechanism is coupled with said lid to secure said lid with
said bucket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Wet/dry vacuums are commonly used for various cleaning
purposes, including cleaning both solid and liquid debris. In
general, the wet/dry vacuums utilize a canister into which both
solid and liquid debris are drawn. Typically, a plug is found at
the bottom of the canister, which can pulled when it is desired to
empty the contents of the canister. However, it is often desirable
to be able to empty the canister at a level above the bottom of the
canister. Accordingly, a wet/dry vacuum that overcomes these
deficiencies is needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0002] The invention may be better understood with reference to the
following figures and detailed description. The components in the
figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wet/dry vacuum of a
preferred embodiment.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operation of a
wet/dry vacuum of a preferred embodiment.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a view of the underside of a lid modified with
concentric lips and gaskets to accommodate different diameter
buckets.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of another lid modified
with a different size gasket to accommodate a variety of different
diameter buckets.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a view of a truncated cone with a gasket formed in
its interior that can also accommodate different diameter
buckets.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wet/dry vacuum with
truncated cone with a gasket formed on its exterior that can
accommodate different diameter buckets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described
below include a wet/dry vacuum and a method of utilizing the
wet/dry vacuum. The wet/dry vacuum preferably includes a base, a
handle coupled with the base, a lid coupled with the handle, and a
container that is removable from the base. The phrase "coupled
with," as used herein, means coupled either directly or indirectly
via one or more intervening elements. In operation, the container
is placed on the base. As the handle is rotated towards the rear of
the base, the handle secures the container to the base by lowering
the lid onto the container. In addition, the wet/dry vacuum is
designed so that it utilizes a conventional bucket, which
preferably is a five gallon bucket.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
a wet/dry vacuum 8. The vacuum generally includes a base 10, a
handle 12, a lid 14, and a container 16. The base 10 includes a
lower portion 70 and an upper portion 72. In the preferred
embodiment, the lower portion 70 comprises a support plate 18 with
an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 22. The preferable shape of
the support plate 18 is rounded, but alternate shapes such as
square or rectangular may be utilized as well. The support plate 18
also has a front 24 and a back 26. In the preferred embodiment, the
upper portion 72 comprises a rear support member 28 with two sides
52. In the preferred embodiment, the back of the support plate 18
is attached to the rear support member 28, preferably at the lower
end of the rear support member 28. The support plate 18 and the
rear support member 28 may either be formed integrally as shown or
as separate pieces that are fastened together using bolts, clips,
pins or other fasteners. The preferable shape of the rear support
member 28 is rectangular, but alternate shapes such as square or
circular may be utilized as well. The base 10 is preferably formed
from plastic. The base 10 can also be formed from alternative
materials such as ceramic, wood or metal. In operation of the
wet/dry vacuum 8, a container 16 is inserted and placed on the base
10. The container 16 is likewise removable from the base 10 once
operation of the wet/dry vacuum 8 is complete.
[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the wet/dry
vacuum 8 is constructed to be operated with a five gallon bucket to
be used as the container 16. The container 16 is preferably formed
from PVC. The container 16 can also be formed from alternative
plastics or other lightweight materials. A five gallon PVC bucket
is the preferred container because of its versatility, durability,
and disposability. Five gallon PVC buckets are commonly found
(especially on construction worksites and around many homes), they
are inexpensive, and they can also be purchased at a wide variety
of hardware stores. Other advantages of five gallon PVC buckets are
that they are sealable and also recyclable. Alternatively, the
wet/dry vacuum 8 can be constructed so that it can be operated with
various sizes of PVC buckets other than the preferred size of five
gallons. As will be explained, the operation for sealing the vacuum
to the bucket may allow for different size buckets to be used with
the same vacuum.
[0012] Also in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of wheels are
coupled to the lower surface 22 of the support plate 18, which
allow the wet/dry vacuum 8 to be easily moved. Preferably, two
domed rear caster wheels 30 are coupled at opposite sides to the
lower surface 22 of the support plate 18 at the back of the support
plate 18. The rear caster wheels 30 are preferably formed from
rubber, but can also be formed from alternate materials such as
plastic or metal. The domed feature of the rear caster wheels 30
helps prevent the rubber of the wheels from scuffing any surfaces
that the wheels may come in contact with, such as walls,
sideboards, etc., thus making the wet/dry vacuum 8 home friendly.
Also coupled to the lower surface 22 of the support plate 18 at the
plate's front end is a front wheel 32. Preferably, the front wheel
32 is located in the middle of the support plate 18, and is formed
from a ball and socket construction, which enables the wet/dry
vacuum 8 to easily change direction as it is being moved.
[0013] A handle 12 is coupled with the upper portion 72 of the base
10. Preferably, the handle 12 is attached to the upper end of both
of the two sides 52 of the rear support member 28 of the base 10.
Preferably, the handle 12 is rotatably coupled with each side 52 of
the rear support member 28 with a pivot 34 that allows the handle
12 to have rotational motion relative to the base 10. The handle 12
is preferably comprised of a grip portion 38 and two supports 40.
The grip portion 38 is coupled at each of its ends to either one of
the supports 40. In the preferred embodiment, the grip portion 38
is formed with an overmold construction, which provides a secure
grip and also adds an aesthetic feature to the handle 12 of the
wet/dry vacuum 8. Preferably, the upper portion of each support 40
is coupled with the grip portion 38, and the lower portion of each
support 40 is coupled with the base 10. In addition, the two
supports 40 may also be coupled with each other via a support bar
42 located in between the two members. The handle 12 is preferably
formed from plastic.
[0014] A lid 14 is coupled with the handle 12 so that rotation of
the handle 12 simultaneously moves the positioning of the lid 14
relative to the base 10. Preferably, the lid 14 is rotatably
coupled with the support bar 42 of the handle 12 with a pivot 44.
The pivot 44 also operates as a cam locking mechanism to assist in
securing the lid 14 to the bucket 16. Alternatively, a secondary
latch or locking mechanism 80 placed on the lid 14 could be used to
secure the lid 14 to the bucket 16, either as a substitute for the
cam located in the pivot 44 or as an additional means of securing
the lid 14 to the bucket 16. The lid 14 preferably also has a lip
54 that allows the lid 14 to engage the bucket 16, for example by
way of locking or snapping into place on the bucket 16. However,
because a vacuum is created, the lip 54 is not necessary to secure
the lid 14 to the bucket 16. In the preferred embodiment, the lid
14 is comprised of a housing 46 for a vacuum motor (not shown) and
an attachment 48 for a hose that is coupled with the housing 46. A
sealing gasket 50 is preferably attached around the bottom of the
motor housing 46. The gasket 50 provides a tight seal with the
container 16 when the lid 14 is lowered onto the container 16 for
operation of the wet/dry vacuum 8. The gasket 50 can be
manufactured from a variety of materials that are able to form a
seal between the lid 14 and the container 16. In the preferred
embodiment, the gasket 50 is manufactured from foam rubber.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the operation of the wet/dry vacuum of a
preferred embodiment. To operate the wet/dry vacuum 8, a container
16 needs to be inserted and placed on a base 16 of the wet/dry
vacuum 8. In operation, the handle 12 and the lid 14 of the wet/dry
vacuum 8 can be moved between two positions. In the first position
210, the handle 12 is positioned forward from the rear support
member 28 of the base 10, whereas the lid 14 is positioned so that
when the container 16 is inserted in the base 10, the lid 14 is
located at a position above the container 16 and is also not in
contact with the container 16. To place the handle 12 and the lid
14 in the second position, the handle 12 is rotated towards the
rear of the base 10 until it is locks into place in its second
position 220. As the handle 12 is rotated on the pivots 34, the lid
14 is simultaneously lowered over the container 16. When the handle
12 is locked into its second position 220, the lid 14 is lowered to
the point where if is locked onto the container 16. The opening of
the lid 14 along with the rubber gasket fits over the edge of the
container 16 to affix the lid 14 to the container 16 (as shown in
FIG. 1), which allows for the operation of the wet/dry vacuum
8.
[0016] Different size buckets may be used with a single vacuum by
making certain modifications to the vacuum. Specifically, by
allowing a wide range of rotational motion of the handle 12 on the
pivots 34, buckets of different heights may accommodated between
the lid 14 and the base 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 14 may also
be modified by having a series of concentric lips 54' that allow
the lid 14 to engage different diameter buckets. Further, the
gasket 50 may be provided in between each of the concentric lips
54' on the underside of the lid 14 lid to provide effective sealing
for the different size buckets. Of course, any number of concentric
lips and gaskets can be used. As an alternative, since the lips 54'
are not necessary to secure the lid 14 to the bucket, a lid 14
having a larger gasket 50 (i.e., a greater difference between the
inner 56 and outer 58 gasket diameters) on its underside, as shown
in FIG. 4, will also allow for different diameter buckets to be
used with the same vacuum. Again, different size gaskets can be
used to accommodate a varying range of bucket diameters.
[0017] As another alternative manner in which to utilize different
sized buckets with the same vacuum, the gasket 50 can be formed
around the interior of a tapered truncated cone 60, as shown in
FIG. 5. The truncated cone 60 can be formed with the largest
diameter at the bottom 62 of the cone 60, with the diameter of the
cone 60 decreasing from the bottom 62 to the top 64 of the cone 60.
In this embodiment, the gasket 50 is formed around the interior of
the cone 60, so that when the lid 14 is lowered onto a bucket, the
gasket 50 is able to effectively secure the lid 14 to the bucket.
Furthermore, the tapering effect of the cone 60 will allow the
gasket 50 to secure the lid 14 to buckets with varying diameters.
Therefore, the size of the truncated cone 60 (i.e., the distance
between the top 64 and the bottom 62 of the cone 60) can vary based
on the range of bucket sizes that the vacuum can be utilized
with.
[0018] Alternatively, the truncated cone 60 shown in FIG. 5 can be
inverted in relation to the lid 14, as shown in FIG. 6, and still
be utilized with different sized buckets. In this embodiment, the
gasket 50 will be formed around the exterior of the truncated cone
60'. Further in this embodiment, the largest diameter of the cone
60' is formed at the top 64' of the cone 60', with the diameter of
the cone 60' decreasing from the top 64' to the bottom 62' of the
cone 60'. The tapering effect of the cone 60', along with the
gasket 50 formed on its exterior, will allow the gasket 50 to
secure the lid 14 to buckets with varying diameters.
[0019] Various embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated. However, the description and illustrations are by way
of example only. Many more embodiments and implementations are
possible within the scope of this invention and will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention is not
limited to the specific details, representative embodiments, and
illustrated examples in this description. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be restricted except in light necessitated by
the accompanying claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *