Portable cleaning assembly

• US 7,210,193 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Original Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Inventors: Williamson, Susan J., Moore, Glen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/605,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 153/21, 153/39, 153/276, 153/271, 153/272, 153/52, 206/576
• 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 including an upper end having an opening and a lower end having a bottom, wherein said waste container is 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;

wherein said bottom of said waste container is in engagement with said transport mechanism and wherein said vacuum unit is supported on said waste container.

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 said waste container.

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

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein 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 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 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 a sidewall extending between said upper end and said lower end with handles extending therefrom.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said vacuum unit is supported by said sidewall.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said vacuum unit is removably mounted to said sidewall.

22. An assembly as se-set forth in claim 19 wherein said vacuum unit is supported by said handle.

23. 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.

24. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said waste container has an exterior surface for securing said vacuum attachments thereto.

25. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 further including a hook and loop fasteners disposed on said exterior surface and said vacuum attachments for securing said vacuum attachments thereto.

26. An assembly as set forth in claim 25 further including a hose rest extending from said exterior surface for supporting said vacuum attacbment.

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

28. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said bladder is housed within said vacuum unit.

29. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said bladder is housed within said waste container.

30. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 further including a spiny nozzle extending from said bladder for spraying said cleaning solution.

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

32. An assembly as set forth in claim 31 wherein said vacuum handle includes a switch for powering on and off said vacuum unit.

33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 further including power brush connected to said handle and operable by said switch.

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

35. An assembly as set forth in claim 34 further including a release hose extending within said waste container and connected to said exhaust port for releasing a bag within said waste container.

36. 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 collecring debris;

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

wherein said vacuum unit has a male threaded element and said waste container has a female element for threadably engaging one another; 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.

37. 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;

wherein said vacuum unit further includes projections for engaging said waste container; 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.

38. An assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein said waste container has slots for receiving said projections to lock said vacuum unit thereto.

39. 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 including an upper end having an opening and a lower end having a bottom and including slots, wherein said waste container is separate from said debris collection device of said vacuum unit for collecting waste; and

a transport mechanism integrally formed with said vacuum unit having projections such that said projections are received by said slots to support and to lock said waste container thereto for moving 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.

40. An assembly as set forth in claim 39 wherein said vacuum unit is threadably received by said waste container.

41. 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 including an upper end having an opening and a lower end having a bottom, wherein said waste container is separate from said debris collection device of said vacuum unit for collecting waste;

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

a sub-transport mechanism supporting said other one of said vacuum unit and said waste container for moving in tandem with said transport mechanism.

42. An assembly as set forth in claim 41 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.