Portable Cleaning Assembly

• US 20040103493A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Original Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Inventors: Williamson, Susan J., Moore, Glen E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0045 specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1481 Means for removing bags in suction cleaners, e.g. ejecting means; Means for exchanging bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation

Abstract

The subject invention provides a vacuum unit, a waste container, and a transport mechanism. The vacuum unit applies a vacuum to clean an area to collect debris and the waste container collects waste by a user separate from debris collected by the vacuum unit. The transport mechanism supports the vacuum unit and the waste container thereof for moving the vacuum unit and the waste container across the area while applying the vacuum to collect the debris and while allowing independent filling of the waste container with waste.

Claims

1. A portable cleaning assembly comprising;

a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to clean an area comprising a motor for creating the vacuum and a debris collection device in fluid communication with said motor for collecting debris;

a waste container separate from said debris collection device of said vacuum unit for collecting waste; and

a transport mechanism supporting said vacuum unit and said waste container thereof for moving said vacuum unit and said waste container across the area while applying the vacuum to collect the debris and while allowing independent filling of said waste container with waste.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism is further defined as wheels for moving about said area.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism is further defined as at least three castors for moving about said area.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism is removable from one of said waste container and said vacuum unit.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transport mechanism further includes projections for engaging one of said waste container and said vacuum unit to secure the transport mechanism thereto.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said vacuum unit and said waste container has slots for receiving said projections.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transport mechanism has one of a male and a female threaded element and one of said vacuum unit and said waste container has said other of said male and said female element for threadably engaging one another.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism is integrally formed with one of said vacuum unit and said waste container.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum unit further includes a power source for operating said motor.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said power source is further defined as batteries.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further including a battery fan for cooling said batteries.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further including a battery storage for storing said batteries.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said battery storage is further defined as within said vacuum unit.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said battery storage is further defined as within said waste container.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said battery storage is further defined as within said transport mechanism.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a vacuum tool attached to said vacuum unit for storing said batteries.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism further includes a bed being generally horizontal for supporting said vacuum unit and said waste container next to one another.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said transport mechanism further includes a handle extending upwardly from said bed for moving about said area.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said waste container further includes an upper end having an opening and a lower end having a bottom such that said bottom is in engagement with said transport mechanism.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said vacuum unit is supported on said waste container.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said waste container further includes a sidewall extending between said upper end and said lower end with handles extending therefrom.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said vacuum unit is supported by said sidewall.

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said vacuum unit is removably mounted to said sidewall.

24. An assembly as se set forth in claim 21 wherein said vacuum unit is supported by said handle.

25. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said waste container is supported by said vacuum unit.

26. An assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said vacuum unit is threadably received by said waste container.

27. An assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said vacuum unit further includes projections and wherein said waste container further includes slots to receive said projections for locking thereto.

28. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including vacuum attachments for connecting to said vacuum unit for applying said vacuum to the area.

29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said waste container has an exterior surface for securing said vacuum attachments thereto.

30. An assembly as set forth in claim 29 further including a hook and loop fasteners disposed on said exterior surface and said vacuum attachments for securing said vacuum attachments thereto.

31. An assembly as set forth in claim 30 further including a hose rest extending from said exterior surface for supporting said vacuum attachments.

32. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a bladder for storing a cleaning solution.

33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said bladder is housed within said vacuum unit.

34. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said bladder is housed within said waste container.

35. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 further including a spray nozzle extending from said bladder for spraying said cleaning solution.

36. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a clip for securing a cord thereto.

37. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a vacuum handle connected to said vacuum unit for attachment to vacuum tools.

38. An assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein said vacuum handle includes a switch for powering on and off said vacuum unit.

39. An assembly as set forth in claim 38 further including power brush connected to said handle and operable by said switch.

40. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum unit is further defined as including an intake port and an exhaust port.

41. An assembly as set forth in claim 40 further including a release hose extending within said waste container and connected to said exhaust port for releasing a bag within said waste container.

42. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport mechanism further includes a sub-transport mechanism such that said transport mechanism supports one of said vacuum unit and said waste container and said sub-transport mechanism supports said other.

43. An assembly as set forth in claim 42 further including a linkage between said transport mechanism and said sub-transport mechanism to move said transport mechanism and said sub-transport mechanism at the same time.

44. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum unit has a male threaded element and said waste container has a female element for threadably engaging one another.

45. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum unit further includes projections for engaging said waste container.

46. An assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said waste container has slots for receiving said projections to lock said vacuum unit thereto.