Vacuum unit with hose attachment member

• US 6,782,582 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Philip B., Dawson, John, Kucera, Jeffery R., Firdaus, Usman
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/367,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 153/28, 153/23, 153/34, 154/10, 153/36, 153/35, 153/38
• US Class Current: 15/323
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/47 Vacuum or blower devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24

Abstract

A vacuum unit used to vacuum lawn debris includes a vacuum unit body having at least first and second inlet openings and at least one flap that can be adjusted to selectively cover and open the second opening. The vacuum unit body includes a flap adjustment member that is located within the second opening and that includes a contact surface that contacts the flap. Preferably, the flap adjustment member has one end that is adapted to receive a vacuum hose. The flap adjustment member can be placed into a first position where it causes the flap to open the second opening and a second position where it permits the flap to cover the second opening. The vacuum hose has a handle that can be attached to the vacuum unit handle permitting the vacuum hose to remain permanently attached to the vacuum unit even when the vacuum hose is not being used.

Claims

1. A vacuum unit comprising:

a vacuum unit body;

a vacuum unit handle that extends from said vacuum unit body;

an attachment bracket operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment bracket having a reception portion;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels operatively connected to said vacuum unit body;

an engine operatively supported by said vacuum unit body;

at least a first fan blade positioned within said vacuum unit body and selectively rotated by said engine, said at least first fan blade for use in creating a vacuum pressure within said vacuum unit body;

a hose attachment member operatively connected to said body for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said body; and

,

a hose that includes a first end that is adapted to be attached to said hose attachment member, a second end adapted to be used in vacuuming associated debris and a hose handle that is adapted to be selectively attached to said reception portion of said attachment bracket.

2. The vacuum unit of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein said hose handle has an extending member that extends from said hose handle; and

,

wherein said reception portion of said attachment bracket has a slot adapted to receive said extending member of said hose handle thereby maintaining said hose above the ground.

6. The vacuum unit of claim 2 wherein said extending member comprises a tip secured in said slot.

7. The vacuum unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a hose head operatively connected to said second end of said hose.

8. The vacuum unit of claim 1 wherein said hose is flexible.

9. The vacuum unit of claim 6 further comprising:

an attachment means operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment means is adapted to support said hose handle on said vacuum unit handle, said attachment means comprises;

1) an attachment portion and a clip portion;

2) wherein said clip portion has a longitudinal axis X—

X and the attachment portion has a longitudinal axis Y—

Y;

wherein angle A is the angle between the two axes;

a hose head operatively connected to said second end of said hose; and

,

wherein said hose is flexible.

3. The vacuum unit of claim further comprising:

an attachment means operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle;

said attachment means adapted to support said hose handle on said vacuum unit handle.

4. The vacuum unit of claim 3 wherein said attachment means comprises:

an attachment portion and a clip portion.

5. The vacuum unit of claim 4 wherein said clip portion has a longitudinal axis X—

X and the attachment portion has a longitudinal axis Y—

Y;

wherein angle A is the angle between the two axes.

10. A method of attaching a hose handle to a vacuum unit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vacuum unit body, a vacuum unit handle that extends from said vacuum unit body, an attachment bracket operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment bracket having a reception portion, a plurality of ground engaging wheels operatively connected to said vacuum unit body, an engine operatively supported by said vacuum unit body, and at least a first fan blade positioned within said vacuum unit body and selectively rotated by said engine, said at least first fan blade for use in creating a vacuum pressure within said vacuum unit body, and a hose attachment member operatively connected to said body for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said body;

providing a hose that includes a first end that is adapted to be attached to said hose attachment member, a second end adapted to be used in vacuuming associated debris, and a hose handle that is adapted to be selectively attached to said reception portion of said attachment bracket, said hose handle having an extending member that extends from said hose handle and wherein said reception portion of said attachment bracket having a slot adapted to receive said extending member of said hose handle;

attaching said first end of said hose to said hose attachment member; and

,

inserting said hose handle into said reception portion of said attachment bracket;

rotating said hose handle;

engaging said extending member in said slot of said reception portion; and

,

maintaining said extending member in said slot of said reception portion.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment means operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment means adapted to provide additional support to said hose handle;

inserting said hose handle into said attachment means; and

maintaining said hose above the ground.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a nozzle operatively connected to said second end of said hose comprising;

1) a nozzle body having first and second openings;

2) a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said flap selectively covering said first and second openings;

3) a flap adjustment member having a contact surface that selectively contacts said flap, said flap adjustment member being selectively adjustable with respect to said nozzle body into first and second positions, said flap covering said first opening when said flap adjustment member is in said first position and covering said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said second position; and

,

rotating said flap adjustment member to said first position.

13. A method of storing a vacuum unit hose comprising the steps of:

providing a vacuum unit body, a vacuum unit handle that extends from said vacuum unit body, an attachment bracket operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment bracket having a reception portion, a plurality of ground engaging wheels operatively connected to said vacuum unit body, an engine operatively supported by said vacuum unit body, at least a first fan blade positioned within said vacuum unit body and selectively rotated by said engine, said at least first fan blade for use in creating a vacuum pressure within said vacuum unit body, and a hose attachment member operatively connected to said body for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said body;

providing a hose that includes a first end that is adapted to be attached to said hose attachment member, a second end adapted to be used in vacuuming associated debris and, a hose handle that is adapted to be selectively attached to said reception portion of said attachment bracket, said hose handle having an extending member that extends from said hose handle and wherein said reception portion of said attachment bracket has a slot adapted to receive said extending member of said hose handle thereby maintaining said hose above the ground;

inserting said extending member on said reception portion;

rotating said hose handle; and

,

engaging said extending member in said slot of said reception portion.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment means operatively connected to said vacuum unit handle, said attachment means adapted to provide additional support to said hose handle; and

,

inserting said hose handle into said attachment means, said hose remaining with said vacuum unit body for storing purposes.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

providing a nozzle operatively connected to said second end of said hose comprising;

1) a nozzle body having first and second openings;

2) a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said flap selectively covering said first and second openings;

3) a flap adjustment member having a contact surface that selectively contacts said flap, said flap adjustment member being selectively adjustable with respect to said nozzle body into first and second positions, said flap covering said first opening when said flap adjustment member is in said first position and covering said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said second position; and

rotating said flap adjustment member to said first position.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

rotating said flap adjustment member to said second position;

removing said hose handle from said vacuum unit handle; and

,

vacuuming associated debris through said second end of said hose.