Hand vacuum with filter indicator
First Claim
1. A hand-held 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, a fan mount and an outlet, the handle being configured to be grasped by a single hand of a user to permit the user to maneuver the hand-held portable vacuum and orient the inlet into a desired position, the fan mount being disposed between the intake and the outlet;
a fan assembly mounted in the fan mount and housed by the outlet housing, the fan assembly having a fan inlet and being operable for generating an air flow therethrough;
a filter disposed between the inlet and the intake and being releasably coupled to one of the inlet housing and the outlet housing; and
a filter indicator coupled to the outlet housing and being in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between the fan inlet and the intake, the filter indicator including a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held portable vacuum having a filter indicator that is coupled to an outlet housing and in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between a fan inlet and an intake. The filter indicator includes a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure. The filter indicator is employed to indicate to the user of the hand-held vacuum that replacement and/or cleaning of the filter is required. The vacuum may also be used in a blower mode with a set of inflator nozzles to permit a user to inflate an article.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A hand-held portable vacuum comprising:
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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, a fan mount and an outlet, the handle being configured to be grasped by a single hand of a user to permit the user to maneuver the hand-held portable vacuum and orient the inlet into a desired position, the fan mount being disposed between the intake and the outlet;
a fan assembly mounted in the fan mount and housed by the outlet housing, the fan assembly having a fan inlet and being operable for generating an air flow therethrough;
a filter disposed between the inlet and the intake and being releasably coupled to one of the inlet housing and the outlet housing; and
a filter indicator coupled to the outlet housing and being in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between the fan inlet and the intake, the filter indicator including a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A bag-less, hand-held portable vacuum comprising:
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a dirt cup having an inlet that is configured to receive dirt, dust and debris therethrough; and
a housing assembly having a housing, a fan assembly and a filter indicator, the housing being releasably coupled to the dirt cup and including a handle and an intake, the handle being configured to be grasped by a single hand of a user to permit the user to maneuver the hand-held portable vacuum and orient the inlet into a desired position, the fan assembly being mounted in the housing and having a fan inlet, the filter indicator being coupled to the housing and in fluid communication with a portion of the housing between the fan inlet and the intake, the filter indicator being responsive to an air pressure in the portion of the housing and providing at least one of a visual and an audible alarm when the air pressure reaches a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A portable vacuum comprising:
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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, 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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A hand-held portable vacuum comprising:
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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, a fan mount and an outlet, the handle being configured to be grasped by a single hand of a user to permit the user to maneuver the hand-held portable vacuum and orient the inlet into a desired position, the fan mount being disposed between the intake and the outlet;
a fan assembly mounted in the fan mount and housed by the outlet housing, the fan assembly having a fan inlet and being operable for generating an air flow therethrough;
a filter disposed between the inlet and the intake and being releasably coupled to one of the inlet housing and the outlet housing;
a filter indicator coupled to the outlet housing and being in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between the fan inlet and the intake, the filter indicator including a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure;
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, 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.
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33. A portable vacuum comprising:
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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 tubular extension; and
an adaptor for selectively coupling the hose to the exhaust outlet, the adaptor including a first coupling portion, a second coupling portion, and a deflectable portion that is disposed between the first and second coupling portions, the first coupling portion having an outer perimeter that is sized to be received into the exhaust outlet, the second coupling portion being configured to engage a first end of the tubular extension, the deflectable portion in response to the application of a force to the adaptor that exceeds a predetermined force;
wherein the adaptor is sufficiently rigid to support the tubular extension without deflection.
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Specification