U.S. patent application number 16/006492 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-14 for beach vacuum cleaner.
The applicant listed for this patent is LAWRENCE L. CASTALDI, III. Invention is credited to LAWRENCE L. CASTALDI, III.
Application Number | 20190045989 16/006492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65274405 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190045989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CASTALDI, III; LAWRENCE L. |
February 14, 2019 |
BEACH VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner for removal of items, such as cigarette butts
or other debris, from a sandy surface with a minimal amount of sand
contamination includes a receptacle positioned inside the vacuum,
and a hose terminating in an angled nozzle to pick up items. One
hose embodiment includes a transparent member so it can be
monitored for clogging by the accumulated debris. The receptacle
contains a plurality of openings sized to enable sand to be passed
through the receptacle while debris is retained within it.
Embodiments utilize different mechanisms to empty the vacuum and
remove debris. A push button switch can be wired into the vacuum
allowing for improved control of the vacuum, and increase battery
life.
Inventors: |
CASTALDI, III; LAWRENCE L.;
(BOCA RATON, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CASTALDI, III; LAWRENCE L. |
BOCA RATON |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65274405 |
Appl. No.: |
16/006492 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62517991 |
Jun 12, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/106 20130101;
A47L 9/248 20130101; A47L 5/36 20130101; A47L 9/104 20130101; A47L
9/1409 20130101; A47L 9/127 20130101; A47L 9/242 20130101; A47L
9/2857 20130101; A47L 9/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/12 20060101
A47L009/12; A47L 9/14 20060101 A47L009/14 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing including a motor, a
power source, a collection container; the housing further including
a means for activating the motor; a debris collector contained
within the collection container, the debris collector being
attached to the collection container, a hose in communication with
the housing and the collection container, the hose terminating in a
nozzle.
2. The vacuum as described in claim 1, wherein the collection
container further comprises an emptying mechanism, the emptying
mechanism including an opening, a neck extending through the
collection container, the neck including threads, a threaded
closure attached to the neck, and a separation device covering the
opening, the threaded closure being removable, enabling small
debris to be removed from the collection container.
3. The vacuum as described in claim 2, wherein the nozzle is angled
at an angle ranging from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
4. The vacuum as described in claim 2, further comprising a
normally-open switch in electrical communication with the on/off
switch and the motor, whereby when a user depresses the switch, a
circuit is completed and the motor is turned on or off.
5. The vacuum as described in claim 4, wherein the switch is
positioned a distance from the vacuum housing, such that when a
user depresses the switch, a circuit is completed and the motor is
turned on or off.
6. The vacuum as described in claim 3, wherein the hose is
transparent, enabling debris accumulation within the hose to be
seen.
7. The vacuum as described in claim 3, further comprising a filter
contained with the collection receptacle to separate debris.
8. The vacuum as described in claim 7, wherein the filter is a mesh
filter.
9. The vacuum as described in claim 7, wherein the filter is
disposed around a ring that is attached to the container.
10. The vacuum as described in claim 4, wherein the normally-open
switch is mounted on the nozzle whereby contact with a surface will
depress the switch and activate the motor.
11. A method to modify a vacuum cleaner to facilitate the
separation of collected debris, the method comprising the steps of:
installing a means for receiving a debris container within the
collection container; mounting the debris container within the
means for receiving;
12. The method as described in claim 11, further comprising the
step of installing a normally-open switch into the vacuum housing,
the switch in electrical communication with the on/off switch and
the motor, whereby when a user depresses the switch, a circuit is
completed and the motor is turned on or off, thereby conserving
battery life.
13. The method as described in claim 12, wherein the debris
container is chosen from the group consisting of a mesh basket, a
wire basket, a mesh net and a mesh filter.
14. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising the
step of securing the debris container to the member where the
vacuum port enters the collection container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/517,991, filed 12 Jun. 2017 by the present
inventor, and whose contents are incorporated by reference herein
in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to vacuum
cleaners, and primarily to a vacuum cleaner that can be used on
sandy surfaces, such as beaches, to remove debris from the beach
without removing large quantities of the sandy surface. Embodiments
can also be used for cleaning other types of sandy areas, for
example, those commonly found in playgrounds or sand traps on golf
courses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In addition to marine items such as shells, seaweed and
driftwood, for example, that are commonly washed ashore and
accumulate on a beach, items left by human activity, ranging from
food items, lost coins or jewelry, and other items, frequently
cigar and cigarette butts, accumulate on most beaches. Some larger
items, such as beverage containers, plastic and/or paper bags, can
be easily removed by mechanical beach cleaning equipment, such as
sweepers or other types of vehicles. The smaller paper items, such
as butts, present a different problem because they are often not
removed by these devices, or if they are, they are accompanied by a
large amount of sand that is also removed from the beach surface.
Recent reports from several New Jersey beach towns have indicated
that in addition to cigarette butts, other small debris, such as
plastic straws, and plastic straws from boxed drinks, represent a
major source of beach trash. While people may be employed to
manually pick up trash from beach surfaces, it can be a tedious and
repetitive job, and may be an inefficient process considering the
size of many beaches. The present inventor has found a way to
remove small items, such as butts, from a beach's surface and to do
so with a minimal amount of sand contamination after modification
of both a portable vacuum cleaner, and a portable wet/dry vacuum
cleaner. The present specification describes embodiments of the
vacuum, its' method of use and method of being modified.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to produce a vacuum
cleaner that can be used on sandy surfaces to remove items from the
sandy surface, and to do so with a minimal amount of sand
contamination.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method for using a vacuum to remove items from a sandy surface, and
to do so with a minimal amount of sand contamination.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
vacuum cleaner with an emptying mechanism that facilitates emptying
of its' contents without having to disassemble the vacuum.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of modifying a vacuum cleaner for use on sandy surfaces for
removal of items from the sandy surface a minimal amount of sand
contamination.
[0008] A vacuum cleaner for removal of items, such as cigarette
butts or other debris, from a sandy surface with a minimal amount
of sand contamination includes a receptacle positioned inside the
vacuum, and a hose terminating in an angled nozzle to pick up
items. One hose embodiment includes a transparent member so it can
be monitored for clogging by the accumulated debris. The receptacle
contains a plurality of openings sized to enable sand to be passed
through the receptacle while debris is retained within it.
Embodiments utilize different mechanisms to empty the vacuum and
remove debris. A push button switch can be wired into the vacuum
allowing for improved control of the vacuum, and increase battery
life. A carrying strap can be attached to enable a user to carry
the vacuum over a prolonged period.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the first compartment of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1
[0011] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the upper chamber of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates the bottom receptacle, including the
mounting plate and the basket.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the basket with collected items.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial illustration of an alternate embodiment
of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 6A is a rear view, showing the emptying mechanism;
and
[0016] FIG. 6B is a side sectional view to show the emptying
mechanism with the door open.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a plan view of another alternate embodiment of the
present invention, and also illustrates the attachment of a
strap.
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates hose connections; FIG. 8A the connection
to the nozzle; and FIG. 8B the connection from the hose element to
the transparent hose.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 7; FIG. 9A
showing the emptying mechanism; and FIG. 9B emptying mechanism with
the cover attached.
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the vacuum compartment
of the embodiment of FIG. 10, illustrating attachment of the
retaining ring to the inside of the vacuum compartment.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of the push-button
switch and its' connection to the vacuum housing.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of how the push-button
switch is wired into the electrical system of a vacuum.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of the push-button
switch mounted at the nozzle tip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] For purposes of the present specification, while the term
"beach" has its meaning referring to the coastline, such as the
area adjacent an ocean or lake, it is also intended to encompass
beaches that may be found along the shore of a river, stream or
other body of water, as well as other types of sandy areas, such as
sand traps on golf courses, children's sand boxes and the like in
playgrounds, sand areas positioned beneath swings in playgrounds
and the like, or other areas where sand is present or accumulates.
In an extreme example the term "beach" could also encompass sand
dunes or deserts.
[0026] An embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1) is a vacuum
cleaner 100, which comprises a housing 200, a hose 300 and nozzle
350. In this embodiment, the vacuum 100 is a portable, hand-held
vacuum that is battery-powered, but alternate embodiments could
include hand-held, corded vacuums that are powered by standard
electrical power, such as AC current, or other, depending upon the
country of use. Other alternate embodiments could include vacuums
that are upright, "stick" vacuums, or units that are either mounted
to or components of vehicles, such as a street sweeper or beach
cleaning machine. A representative vacuum cleaner useful as the
vacuum for the present invention is a RIDGID.RTM. (Registered
Trademark of RIDGID, Inc., Newark, Del.) 3 Gallon, 18 Volt Cordless
Handheld Wet Dry Vac, sold by The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga. This
vacuum is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable and replaceable
battery. The vacuum is equipped with an expandable locking hose and
a filter 242 for capturing dirt. Depending upon the manufacturer,
other brands or models of a portable vacuum may use different
sizes/styles or types of batteries, and these are intended to be
within the scope of the present invention.
[0027] The housing 200 has a handle 201 and may have indicia 202 on
its sides, or other surfaces. The indicia 202 could be functional,
such as safety warnings (top indicia), or decorative, as in the
bottom indicia (FIG. 1). Housing 200 contains two compartments 210
and 240, with the first compartment 210 positioned at the front of
the housing. First compartment 210 is opened by moving the hinged
cover 212 to an open position, and the power source 214 (a
rechargeable battery) is positioned within the first compartment
and is in electrical communication with an on/off switch 216 and
the motor (not shown).
[0028] The hinged cover 212 includes a prong 220 at its sides that
engages with a prong receiver 222 on the compartment wall 224 to
close the first compartment 210 by a press-fit. The prong 220 and
prong receiver 222 are conventional mechanisms used on many tools,
containers or other devices to effect closure of a housing or like
component, as known to those skilled in the art.
[0029] Second compartment 240 includes an upper chamber 250, and a
bottom receptacle 270 which is attached to the upper chamber 250 by
a pair of latches 280, a first latch on one side of the
compartment, and a second latch on the second side of the
compartment 240. The upper chamber 250 includes an upper surface
251. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and subsequent drawings, the
upper chamber 250 includes a pair of openings in the upper surface
251, a first opening 252 towards the front of the chamber, the
first opening 252 being the opening for the vacuum, and a second
opening 256 towards the back of the chamber, second opening 256
being the opening for use as a blower. The vacuum has dual
functions, and can serve as either a vacuum or as a blower,
depending upon the opening to which a hose is connected. The inner
surface 258 of the upper chamber 250 includes a receptacle for
attaching a filter 242. The bottom receptacle 270 has a pair of
side walls 272 and a pair of end walls 274, the side walls each
having a ridge 276 that extends outward towards the top of the side
wall 274. A mounting plate 278 is attached to the second
compartment bottom near the front end of the second compartment
240, and the mounting plate 278 receives the container basket 290.
The mounting plate 278 minimizes any movement of the basket 290
during use. The mounting plate 278 has a base 280 and side walls
282. The base 280 is attached to the bottom of the second
compartment by a fastener, such as an adhesive or fastener such as
a screw, hook and loop fastener or comparable means for attachment.
The height of the sidewalls 282 is sufficient to retain the basket
290 in place; the sidewalls' height does not have to reach as much
as a quarter of the height of the basket, let alone the full height
of the basket to secure the basket in place. The basket 290 is
mounted within the bottom receptacle 260, and can be secured to
interior wall 262 of the receptacle by means of fasteners 264. The
fasteners can be any one or more of screws, screw eyes, cotter
pins, or hook and loop fasteners to allow for removal of the
basket. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fasteners 264 are
magnets attached near the top of the basket. A pair of metal
contacts 260 are attached to the inside wall of the second
compartment 240 so the magnets will have a contact point which with
to attach, and retain the basket 290 within the second compartment
240. When a fastener such as a screw or screw eye is used,
depending upon how far the screw is positioned within the housing,
or the angle of a screw eye, the basket 290 can also be removable
from the bottom receptacle 270.
[0030] The vacuum 100 is used with the filter 242 present in the
housing 200; the second compartment 240 is closed by attaching the
upper chamber 250 to the bottom receptacle 270 using latches 280,
the basket 290 is positioned beneath the first opening 252, and
near the filter 242. First opening 252 includes a prong 253 onto
which the female end 302 of the hose is attached. The male end 304
of the hose terminates in a projection 304 onto which a nozzle 350
of other attachment can be joined to the hose 300. The vacuum model
purchased and modified by the inventor comes with a single hose,
which is extendable, and which could be used with nozzle 350. It
has been found that the hose assembly 300 in one embodiment of the
present invention (FIG. 1) which contains a transparent hose,
enables the user to watch the flow of material into the vacuum, and
monitor whether the hose is becoming clogged. As will be seen in
the figures, hose clamps 310 are used to secure the connections
between the different types of hose used for this embodiment.
[0031] The second compartment 240 is closed when the upper chamber
250 is joined to the bottom receptacle 270, and held in place by
latch 280. The upper chamber 250 and the bottom receptacle 270 are
aligned with each other, and pushed together. The flaps 284 of the
latch 280 engage with a ridge 276 of both the upper chamber 250 and
the bottom receptacle 270, and close the second compartment 240.
The latch 280 is attached to the side of the upper chamber, as has
been previously described. Each latch 280 comprises a base 282 that
is attached to the upper chamber, and a "wing-like" pair of flaps
284 that extend outward from the base 280. The flap ends 286 engage
the ridges 276 of the upper chamber 250 and the ridge 276 of the
bottom receptacle 270.
[0032] In this embodiment the hose 300 comprises a hose element 302
attached to a transparent hose 304 by means of a connector 306 and
hose clamps 310, and the transparent hose 304 attached to the
vacuum opening 252 by means of a second connector 312 and hose
clamps 310. The hose element 302 can be a "standard" flexible hose
that is commonly sold with wet/dry vacuums, or can be an elongated
extension rod for use with such hoses. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, the hose element 302 is an extension rod.
[0033] The transparent hose 304 has a diameter greater than that of
hose element 302, and the final connector 314 has a diameter larger
than that of the transparent hose 304. The transparent hose 304 can
be a piece of tubing, such as TYGON.RTM. Tubing (Registered
trademark of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp, Solon, Ohio
for flexible non-metallic tubing), or other similar clear tubing.
The final connector 314 can be a type of tubing similar to that
used for a wet/dry vac, or other tubing similar to the "standard"
hose that is capable of withstanding the vacuum without collapsing
or causing operational difficulties.
[0034] The use of a series of hoses, in which the diameter of the
hoses that are closer to the vacuum increase in size, facilitates
removal of items, and prevents the hose from being blocked. The use
of hoses of decreasing diameter as one approaches the vacuum causes
the system to become clogged.
[0035] Other embodiments could use the "standard" hose that is
provided by the manufacturer with the vacuum. In such an
embodiment, the nozzle 350 is attached to one end of the hose, and
the second end of the hose attached to the prong 253 where it is
locked in place by locking mechanism 255. Other embodiments could
utilize a combination of the "standard" hose, or pieces of the
"standard" hose, in combination with the transparent tubing and/or
the other solid tubing and connectors. When using such
combinations, the diameter of the tubing being used should increase
as the tubing extends from the nozzle to the body of the vacuum
itself.
[0036] A nozzle 350 is attached to the "free" end of the hose
element 302 by a press fit and held in place by hose clamps 310.
This inventor has found that the use of a nozzle 350 with a
diagonal end 352 works well to pick up debris from a sandy surface
without being readily clogged.
[0037] Basket 290 includes a bottom 292 and four walls 294, which
may be of equal length (if the basket is square) or unequal length
(if basket is rectangular). The bottom 292 and walls 294 are made
from a wire mesh, and are open, with the openings sized to be large
enough to retain debris 298 that enters through the open top of the
basket, allowing any sand that is drawn in to escape and be
retained within the second compartment 240. Suitable materials for
the basket include various types of wire mesh, chicken wire and the
like, and can be made from materials such as aluminum, steel,
stainless steel, reeds, other plant or natural and/or man-made
fibers and the like. The size of the openings within the bottom and
walls of the basket is more significant to the functioning of the
beach vacuum 100 than the materials used to make the basket
290.
[0038] The weight of the battery and its' position at the front of
the vacuum 100, and/or its' combination with the hose assembly, may
cause the vacuum to be weighted to the front, and a user could
become tired while hand-holding the vacuum for a period of time. A
strap 390 can be attached to the vacuum 100 to alleviate this
problem, allowing the user to place the strap 390 over their
shoulder and position the vacuum 100 more evenly for use. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the strap 390 is attached to the
support wire 380 that connects the vacuum handle 201 with the hose
300. The support wire 380 can be a piece of rope, string, fabric,
metal, paper tube, or similar material that can be used to connect
to items. The wire 380 also keeps the hose 300 elevated to
facilitate its' use with the vacuum 100.
[0039] In alternate embodiments, one or more fasteners can be
attached to the vacuum 100, and used for attachment of the strap
390. Examples of such fasteners include, but are not limited to,
D-rings, loops, carabiners, turnbuckles or the like. The strap 390
can be chosen from any type of strap, such as a guitar strap,
camera strap, backpack strap, or a padded or non-padded strap, a
piece of rope or other material.
[0040] An alternate embodiment of the present invention 500 (FIG.
6) comprises most of the same components as the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 and subsequent figures. This alternate embodiment 500 will
use the same reference numerals as the prior embodiment, except
where there are structural differences. Alternate embodiment 500
includes an emptying mechanism 520 situated in the rear of second
compartment 240. In the alternate embodiment, the emptying
mechanism 520 in the rear wall comprises an opening 522 and a
hinged door 524 that is attached to the rear wall by a fastener
526, and which door 524 will seal against the opening 522 once the
vacuum 100 is turned on. The opening 522 may contain a lip 528 onto
which a sealing means, such as an O-ring 530 can be positioned, and
the hinged door 524 may contain a prong 532 at the end opposite the
hinge to form a press-fit and seal the opening 522 when the vacuum
100 is turned off, so that sand or other debris that has not been
retained by the basket 290 will not leak out. This provides an
easier mechanism for emptying the vacuum 100 between uses, and
eliminates the need to remove the bottom receptacle 270 from the
second compartment. When one is aware that the basket 290 has
approached its capacity or knows it is full, then the user would
have to disassemble the second compartment; the rear emptying
mechanism 520 facilitates emptying the vacuum 100.
[0041] Another alternate embodiment of the present invention 600
(FIG. 7) comprises most of the same components as the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1 and subsequent figures. This alternate embodiment
600 will use the same reference numerals as the prior embodiment,
except where there are structural differences. Alternate embodiment
600 includes an emptying mechanism 620 situated in the rear of
second compartment 240. In this alternate embodiment, the emptying
mechanism 620 includes an opening 624 in the rear wall 622, across
which opening 624 a screen 626 is attached to the rear wall 622 by
an adhesive or a fastener. The screen 624 can be a material similar
to that used for the basket 290, or a wire mesh, nylon screen of
various mesh sizes, or comparable material. As shown in FIG. 9A,
the screen 624 is surrounded by a threaded cover 628 which includes
a threaded throat 630 onto which is threaded a cap 632 (FIG. 9B).
In this embodiment 600, the cap 632 can be removed, and the vacuum
600 raised at its front so that it is tilted to the rear of the
vacuum, and any sand or other items that have passed through the
basket 290 can be removed from the second receptacle without having
to completely open the vacuum 600. After several repeated uses, as
the user determines that the basket 290 is filling up and needs to
be emptied, after the sand etc. has been removed through this
emptying mechanism, the latches 280 can be opened, the bottom
receptacle removed and the basket 290 removed, emptied and placed
back into the bottom receptacle. The vacuum 600 is then reassembled
and is ready for reuse.
[0042] For use, the user positions the basket 290 within the
housing 200, connects the hose 300 to the housing, turns on the
power using power switch 216 which is in electrical communication
with the motor and battery.
[0043] In another embodiment (reference number 800, FIG. 10), the
motor is from a Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
(Dyson Technology Limited, Chicago, Ill.). This motor is stated as
being capable of achieving 110,000 revolutions per minute ("rpm"),
and the weight of a complete vacuum unit is 5.75 pounds (specified
on manufacturer's website, www.dyson.com).
[0044] As in other embodiments, vacuum cleaner 800 comprises a
housing 810, a hose 880 and nozzle 900. The housing 810 has a
handle 812, and a trigger 814 that functions as an on/off switch.
The housing could have indicia (not shown) on its sides, or other
surfaces. The indicia could be functional, such as safety warnings,
or decorative, as seen in other embodiments. Housing 810 includes a
compartment 820 in which the motor and electrical components are
contained, and a second compartment 830 to receive collected waste.
The second compartment 830 is manufactured from a plastic. Second
compartment 830 includes a bottom door 832 which is attached to
compartment wall 834 by hinge 836. Door is held in place by means
of a locking mechanism 838 in communication with a release
mechanism 839 on the housing. By pulling up on the release
mechanism 839 locking mechanism 838 disengages and releases door
832, and the contents of second compartment can be removed or
dumped out from the compartment 830. A gasket and a receptacle that
are mounted on the bottom door 832 are which would be inside the
compartment when the door 832 is closed are not shown in order to
simplify the drawing.
[0045] In this embodiment, the second compartment 830 has been
modified, with a retaining mechanism 840 being attached to the
compartment wall 834, and the retaining mechanism having a base 842
and retaining piece 844 that receives the ring 850 between them,
and the retaining mechanism is closed by a fastener 846 (FIG. 11)
The fastener 846 can be a screw, cotter pin, nail, peg or the like.
The ring 850 has the approximate diameter of the second
compartment, and retains a filter (to be described further below)
within the compartment. The retaining mechanism base 842 can be
attached to the compartment wall 834 by an adhesive, hook and loop
fastener, fasteners such as screws, nail or the like, or other
means of attachment known to those skilled in the art.
[0046] The filter 860 used in this embodiment is a mesh filter
through which ring 850 is inserted and retains the filter 860
within the second compartment. The filter top end 862 is generally
open, and could be secured to the portal component where the vacuum
enters the compartment by a hose clamp (not shown), elastic band,
or similar attachment device. An example of a suitable filter is a
mesh bag that is commonly used to package fruits and vegetables,
such as onions or citrus fruit. The openings are sufficiently wide
to retain debris such as cigarette butts, and allow smaller items,
such as sand particles, to pass through.
[0047] In use, the vacuum's motor is activated, the nozzle directed
at the desired surface to be cleaned, a quantity of debris removed
from that surface, and the motor turned off. In this embodiment,
the user pulls up on the release mechanism 839, the locking
mechanism 838 disengages and releases door 832, and the contents of
second compartment can be removed or dumped out from the
compartment 830. Any sand that has been drawn into the container
has been separated from debris within the filter, and the
accumulated sand is discarded. If necessary, the top of the filter
is opened, and the debris accumulated therein removed and
discarded. In general, the quantity of sand taken up by the vacuum
is minimal in comparison to the quantity of debris removed by the
vacuum.
[0048] Another vacuum embodiment 1000 employs a push-button switch
1050 (FIGS. 12-13), in which a female receptacle 1010 is mounted
within the vacuum's housing and wired into the electrical system of
the vacuum. This embodiment enables the user to operate the vacuum
when needed, rather than a continuously on manner, and allowing for
the conservation of battery life. The push button switch 1050 is
connected to an electrical extension cord 1020 and the extension
cord plug 1030 connected to the receptacle. The base of the
push-button switch 1050 can be covered with electrical tape,
plastic, wood or other material to close the back and prevent
contact with exposed wiring. When the cord is plugged into the
receptacle, the circuitry of the vacuum is interrupted, and the
motor is off. When the switch 1050 is pressed by a user, the
circuit is completed and the motor activated. By having the switch
1050 on an extension cord and the switch 1050 being a distance from
the vacuum's housing, the user can operate the switch 1050 with one
hand while the user's other hand is on the tubing and picking up
debris. When the button of the switch 1050 is released, the motor
is deactivated. In an alternate embodiment, the switch 1050 could
be wired directly in the electrical system rather than through the
electrical receptacle, and could be positioned directly on the
vacuum housing, or extend from the housing in a manner similar to
that shown in FIG. 12.
[0049] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment in which the switch
1050 is mounted at the tip of a nozzle, such that when the nozzle
tip contacts the surface, the vacuum is turned on and debris can be
picked up from the beach surface. The extension cord 1020 can be
taped to the hose, or allowed to hang free. The nozzle has an
angle, and that angle ranges from about 30 degrees to about 75
degrees; in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the angle is
generally about 45 degrees.
[0050] Without being bound by any theory, items like cigarette
butts, paper and other debris have a density that is less than the
density of sand; these lighter items are picked up first by the
vacuum, such that by manipulating the position of the nozzle with
respect to the item and the surface surrounding the item, the item
can be picked up with a minimal pickup of sand from the
surface.
[0051] The embodiments of the present specification are not
intended to be limited for use solely on beaches. These embodiments
could be used in other types of sandy areas, for example, to clean
sand traps on golf courses, children's sand boxes and the like in
playgrounds, sand areas positioned beneath swings in playgrounds
and the like, or other areas where sand is present or accumulates.
In addition, embodiments of the present invention could also be
suitable to remove other small debris, such as plastic straws, and
plastic straws from boxed drinks, from a surface.
[0052] Components such as the basket, mesh filter, the ring, and
the associated mounting hardware could also be packaged and sold
independently of the vacuum, enabling someone who already owns a
particular vacuum unit to retrofit it for use as a beach
vacuum.
[0053] Although embodiments of this invention have been described
with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that
the present disclosure has been made only by the way of
illustration, and that numerous changes in construction and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *
References