Belt-mounted vacuum apparatus and methods

• US 6,393,656 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Embree, Michael E., Paterson, Christopher M., Moshenrose, Paul A., Fish, William G., McCain, James, Reynolds, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/619,799
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 15/327.5,347,352
• US Class Current: 15/327.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back

Abstract

Belt-mounted vacuum apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a belt-mounted vacuum apparatus includes a belt member adapted to engage about an operator'"'"'s waist, a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member, and a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and spaced apart from the dirt receptacle. The vacuum unit is operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle. In alternate embodiments, the vacuum unit may be spaced apart from the dirt receptacle by a small distance, or may be positioned on opposite sides of the operator. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a belt member having a stiffened portion. The stiffened portion may, for example, comprise an outer shell. Alternately, the belt member may also include a flexible, padded layer that engages with the operator'"'"'s waist. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus includes a belt member, a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and located at an accessible location on the belt member, and a vacuum unit. The dirt receptacle may be located proximate a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist, or along a left or right side of the operator'"'"'s waist, or at any other accessible location on the belt member.

Claims

1. A vacuum apparatus adapted to be worn by an operator, comprising:

a belt member adapted to engage about the operator'"'"'s waist;

a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and having an intake port; and

a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and spaced apart from the dirt receptacle, the vacuum unit being substantially opposite from the dirt receptacle on the belt member and operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

2. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle by a small distance.

3. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the belt member includes a back portion adapted to at least partially engage with a back side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the vacuum unit being attached to the back portion.

4. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the belt member includes a front portion adapted to at least partially engage with a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the dirt receptacle being attached to the front portion.

5. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dirt receptacle includes a suction outlet and the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet operatively coupled to the suction outlet by a conduit, the vacuum unit creating a suction within the dirt receptacle that draws particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

6. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet and a dirty-air outlet, the dirty-air outlet being operatively coupled to the intake port of the dirt receptacle by a conduit, the vacuum unit drawing particulates through the suction inlet and propelling the particulates through the conduit into the intake port.

7. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dirt receptacle includes an inner bag.

8. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dirt receptacle is hingedly attached to the belt member.

9. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the belt member includes a stiffened portion and an inner flexible portion adapted to be engageable with the operator'"'"'s waist.

10. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the intake port includes a swivel assembly.

11. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power cord operatively connected to the vacuum unit.

12. A vacuum apparatus adapted to be worn by an operator, comprising:

a belt member adapted to engage about the operator'"'"'s waist, the belt member having a stiffened portion;

a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and having an intake port; and

a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

13. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the belt member includes a flexible portion coupled to the stiffened portion and adapted to be engageable with the operator'"'"'s waist.

14. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the stiffened portion comprises an outer shell and wherein the belt member includes an inner flexible portion coupled to the outer shell and adapted to be engageable with the operator'"'"'s waist.

15. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the stiffened portion comprises a plastic portion.

16. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle.

17. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle to a position that is substantially opposite from the dirt receptacle on the belt member.

18. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the belt member includes a front portion adapted to at least partially engage with a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the dirt receptacle being attached to the front portion.

19. A vacuum apparatus adapted to be worn by an operator, comprising:

a belt member adapted to engage about the operator'"'"'s waist;

a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and located at an accessible location on the belt member, the dirt receptacle having an intake port; and

a vacuum unit attached to the belt member substantially opposite from the dirt receptacle on the belt member and operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

20. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the belt member includes a front portion adapted to be proximate a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist and the accessible location comprises a location disposed along the front portion.

21. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the accessible location comprises a location adapted to be along a left or right side of the operator'"'"'s waist.

22. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle.

23. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the dirt receptacle includes a suction outlet and the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet operatively coupled to the suction outlet, the vacuum unit creating a suction within the dirt receptacle that draws particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

24. A method of operating a belt-mounted vacuum, comprising:

engaging a belt about an operator'"'"'s waist;

generating a suction airflow at a suction inlet of a vacuum unit;

drawing a particle-laden airflow through an intake port of a dirt receptacle;

filtering the particle-laden airflow; and

drawing the suction airflow through a conduit coupled between a suction outlet of the dirt receptacle and the suction inlet of the vacuum unit, wherein drawing the suction airflow through a conduit comprises drawing the suction airflow through a conduit from a first location to a second location substantially opposite the operator'"'"'s waist from tie first location.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein drawing the suction airflow through a conduit comprises drawing the suction airflow through a conduit from a first location proximate a first portion of the belt to a second location proximate a second portion of the belt, the second portion being spaced apart from the first portion.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at an accessible position.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at a position along a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at a position along a left or right side of the operator'"'"'s waist.

29. A method of operating a belt-mounted vacuum, comprising:

engaging a belt about an operator'"'"'s waist;

drawing a particle-laden airflow through an intake port of a vacuum unit;

propelling the particle-laden airflow from the vacuum unit though a conduit into a dirt receptacle, wherein propelling the particle-laden airflow from the vacuum unit through a conduit into a dirt receptacle comprises propelling the particle-laden airflow through a conduit from a first location to a second location substantially opposite the operator'"'"'s waist from the first location; and

filtering the particle-laden airflow.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein propelling the particle-laden airflow from the vacuum unit through a conduit into a dirt receptacle comprises propelling the particle-laden airflow through a conduit from a first location proximate a first portion of the belt to a second location proximate a second portion of the belt, the second portion being spaced apart from the first portion.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at an accessible position.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at a position along a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising positioning the dirt receptacle at a position along a left or right side of the operator'"'"'s waist.

34. A vacuum apparatus adapted to be worn by an operator, comprising:

a belt member adapted to engage about the operator'"'"'s waist;

a dirt receptacle hingeably attached to the belt member and having an intake port; and

a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and spaced apart from the dirt receptacle, the vacuum unit being operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

35. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle by a small distance.

36. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the vacuum unit is substantially opposite from the dirt receptacle on the belt member.

37. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the belt member includes a back portion adapted to at least partially engage with a back side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the vacuum unit being attached to the back portion.

38. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the belt member includes a front portion adapted to at least partially engage with a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the dirt receptacle being attached to the front portion.

39. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the dirt receptacle includes a suction outlet and the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet operatively coupled to the suction outlet by a conduit, the vacuum unit creating a suction within the dirt receptacle that draws particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

40. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet and a dirty-air outlet, the dirty-air outlet being operatively coupled to the intake port of the dirt receptacle by a conduit, the vacuum unit drawing particulates through the suction inlet and propelling the particulates through the conduit into the intake port.

41. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the dirt receptacle includes an inner bag.

42. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the belt member includes a stiffened portion and an inner flexible portion adapted to be engageable with the operator'"'"'s waist.

43. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the intake port includes a swivel assembly.

44. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a power cord operatively connected to the vacuum unit.

45. A vacuum apparatus adapted to be worn by an operator, comprising:

a belt member adapted to engage about the operator'"'"'s waist, the belt member including a stiffened portion and an inner flexible portion adapted to be engageable with the operator'"'"'s waist;

a dirt receptacle attached to the belt member and having an intake port; and

a vacuum unit attached to the belt member and spaced apart from the dirt receptacle, the vacuum unit being operatively coupled with the dirt receptacle such that an airflow created by the vacuum unit propels particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

46. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the vacuum unit is spaced apart from the dirt receptacle by a small distance.

47. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the vacuum unit is substantially opposite from the dirt receptacle on the belt member.

48. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the belt member includes a back portion adapted to at least partially engage with a back side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the vacuum unit being attached to the back portion.

49. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the belt member includes a front portion adapted to at least partially engage with a front side of the operator'"'"'s waist, the dirt receptacle being attached to the front portion.

50. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the dirt receptacle includes a suction outlet and the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet operatively coupled to the suction outlet by a conduit, the vacuum unit creating a suction within the dirt receptacle that draws particulates through the intake port and into the dirt receptacle.

51. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the vacuum unit includes a suction inlet and a dirty-air outlet, the dirty-air outlet being operatively coupled to the intake port of the dirt receptacle by a conduit, the vacuum unit drawing particulates through the suction inlet and propelling the particulates through the conduit into the intake port.

52. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the dirt receptacle includes an inner bag.

53. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the dirt receptacle is hingeably attached to the belt member.

54. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the intake port includes a swivel assembly.

55. The vacuum apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising a power cord operatively connected to the vacuum unit.