Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes
First Claim
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1. A portable blower device comprising:
- a housing defining at least one inlet and an outlet;
a power source disposed within the housing, the power source having a movable output member;
a fan structure coupled to the output member, the fan structure moving in response to movement of the output member and producing an air flow that enters into the housing from the inlet and discharges out of the housing from the outlet; and
a set of discharge tubes for selectively coupling to the outlet, each of the discharge tubes having a coupling portion that is configured to releasably engage the outlet, the set of discharge tubes including a rigid discharge tube and a flexible discharge tube, the rigid discharge tube being configured such that it does not significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the rigid discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube being configured such that at least a portion of it does significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the flexible discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube including a gripping structure that is configured to be manipulated by an operator to permit a distal end of the flexible discharge tube to be positioned and oriented in a desired manner relative to the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable blower device with a housing, a power source, a fan structure and a set of discharge tubes having a rigid discharge tube and a flexible discharge tube. The blower may be selectivley employed in a first condition, wherein the flexible discharge tube is coupled between an outlet in the housing and a proximal end of the rigid discharge tube, and a second condition, wherein the rigid discharge tube is coupled directly to the outlet in the housing.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable blower device comprising:
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a housing defining at least one inlet and an outlet;
a power source disposed within the housing, the power source having a movable output member;
a fan structure coupled to the output member, the fan structure moving in response to movement of the output member and producing an air flow that enters into the housing from the inlet and discharges out of the housing from the outlet; and
a set of discharge tubes for selectively coupling to the outlet, each of the discharge tubes having a coupling portion that is configured to releasably engage the outlet, the set of discharge tubes including a rigid discharge tube and a flexible discharge tube, the rigid discharge tube being configured such that it does not significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the rigid discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube being configured such that at least a portion of it does significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the flexible discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube including a gripping structure that is configured to be manipulated by an operator to permit a distal end of the flexible discharge tube to be positioned and oriented in a desired manner relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
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17. A portable blower device comprising:
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a housing defining at least one inlet and an outlet;
a fan structure movably supported in the housing and generating an output air flow in response to its movement within the housing;
a discharge tube having a rigid portion and a flexible portion that is removably coupled to the rigid portion, each of the rigid and flexible portions having a coupling portion that is configured to be removably coupled to the outlet;
wherein the portable blower device is operable in a first condition wherein the flexible portion of the discharge tube is engaged to the outlet at a first end and engaged to an end of the rigid portion at a second end to permit fluid communication from the housing through the flexible portion to the rigid portion, and wherein the portable blower device is operable in a second condition wherein the rigid portion of the discharge tube is engaged to the outlet and the flexible portion is not engaged to either one of the outlet and the rigid portion so that the rigid portion is in direct fluid connection with the housing.
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Specification