Illuminable attachment for vacuum wand

• US 7,300,172 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jo Ann Lefler
• Original Assignee: Jo Ann Lefler
• Inventors: Lefler, Jo Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US11/220,310
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 362190-191, 362/396, 362/389, 362/253
• US Class Current: 362/191
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0044 Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners

Abstract

An illuminable attachment for a tube having a clamp movable from an open position to a closed position engaging the walls of said tube. The illuminable element is comprised of a housing having a lamp, power supply, switch and circuit means within said housing mountable by said clamp to a tube.

Claims

1. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand comprising:

a) a hinged clamp member having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a first semi-circular clamp element and a second semi-circular clamp element pivotally joined by a hinge;

b) means for securing the distal ends of said clamp elements to one another;

c) a light source disposed within a housing on at least one of said clamp element; and

d) a non-slip coating disposed on the interior portion of said clamp member.

2. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source comprises:

a) at least one light port;

b) a power source in electrical communication with each said light port; and

c) a power switch to selectively enable and disable power distribution to said light port from said power source.

3. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 2, wherein said power source is a DC battery disposed in a battery compartment proximal said light ports.

4. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 2, having a plurality of light ports arranged in a semi-circular array.

5. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 4, wherein said light port array is disposed on said bottom side of said clamp member.

6. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 5, wherein each said light port includes a lamp.

7. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 6, wherein lamp is an LED.

8. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 1, wherein said securing means for said clamp elements comprises a pair of mating flanges disposed on the distal end of said first clamp member and the distal end of said second clamp member.

9. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 8, wherein said flange of said second clamp element has a push spring quick-release comprising:

a) a thumb plate;

b) a shaft extending from said thumb plate; and

c) at least one locking post extending perpendicularly from the distal end of said shaft.

10. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 9, wherein said flange of said first clamp element has a keyway with a circular central portion sized to permit entry of said shaft therethrough and a cut-out peripherally disposed to accommodate passage of said locking post.

11. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 10, wherein said clamp member is installed on a vacuum wand by enclosing said clamp elements therearound with said light array forwardly disposed relative to the vacuum head on said distal end of said wand and aligning and inserting said shaft and locking post through said keyway and cut-out and turning said thumb plate to misalign said locking post with said cut-out.

12. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 11, wherein a spring is disposed on said shaft between said thumb plate and said flange of said second clamp element to provide a bias urging said thumb plate away from said flange.

13. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reduction bushing having an external circumference substantially similar to the interior circumference of said clamp member and an interior circumference substantially equivalent to a standard size vacuum wand.

14. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 13, further including a plurality of said reduction bushings with differing interior circumferences to accommodate different standard sized vacuum wands.

15. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 13, wherein said reduction member is fabricated of a resilient compressible material allow for a greater tolerance when used with odd-sized vacuum wands.

16. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand comprising:

a) a hinged clamp member having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a first semi-circular clamp element and a second semi-circular clamp element pivotally joined by a hinge;

b) means for securing the distal ends of said clamp elements to one another;

c) a light source disposed within a housing on at least one of said clamp element;

d) said securing means for said clamp elements comprises a pair of mating flanges disposed on the distal end of said first clamp member and the distal end of said second clamp member; and

e) said flange of said second clamp element has a push spring quick-release comprising;

i) a thumb plate;

ii) a shaft extending from said thumb plate; and

iii) at least one locking post extending perpendicularly from the distal end of said shaft.

17. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 16, wherein said light source comprises:

a) at least one light port;

b) a power source in electrical communication with each said light port; and

c) a power switch to selectively enable and disable power distribution to said light port from said power source.

18. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 17, wherein said power source is a DC battery disposed in a battery compartment proximal said light ports.

19. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 17, having a plurality of light ports arranged in a semi-circular array.

20. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 19, wherein said light port array is disposed on said bottom side of said clamp member.

21. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 20, wherein each said light port includes a lamp.

22. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 21, wherein lamp is an LED.

23. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 16, wherein said securing means for said clamp elements comprises a pair of mating flanges disposed on the distal end of said first clamp member and the distal end of said second clamp member.

24. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 23, wherein said flange of said second clamp element has a push spring quick-release comprising:

a) a thumb plate;

b) a shaft extending from said thumb plate; and

c) at least one locking post extending perpendicularly from the distal end of said shaft.

25. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 24, wherein said flange of said first clamp element has a keyway with a circular central portion sized to permit entry of said shaft therethrough and a cut-out peripherally disposed to accommodate passage of said locking post.

26. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 25, wherein said clamp member is installed on a vacuum wand by enclosing said clamp elements therearound with said light array forwardly disposed relative to the vacuum head on said distal end of said wand and aligning and inserting said shaft and locking post through said keyway and cut-out and turning said thumb plate to misalign said locking post with said cut-out.

27. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 26, wherein a spring is disposed on said shaft between said thumb plate and said flange of said second clamp element to provide a bias urging said thumb plate away from said flange.

28. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand comprising:

a) a hinged clamp member having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a first semi-circular clamp element and a second semi-circular clamp element pivotally joined by a hinge;

b) means for securing the distal ends of said clamp elements to one another;

c) a light source disposed within a housing on at least one of said clamp element; and

d) a reduction bushing having an external circumference substantially similar to the interior circumference of said clamp member and an interior circumference substantially equivalent to a standard size vacuum wand.

29. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 28, wherein said reduction member is fabricated of a resilient compressible material allow for a greater tolerance when used with odd-sized vacuum wands.

30. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand as recited in claim 28, further including a plurality of said reduction bushings with differing interior circumferences to accommodate different standard sized vacuum wands.

31. An illuminable attachment for a vacuum wand comprising:

a) a hinged clamp member having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a first semi-circular clamp element and a second semi-circular clamp element pivotally joined by a hinge;

b) means for securing the distal ends of said clamp elements to one another;

c) a light source disposed within a housing on at least one of said clamp element;

d) said light source comprises;

i) at least one light port;

ii) a power source in electrical communication with each said light port; and

iii) a power switch to selectively enable and disable power distribution to said light port from said power source; and

e) said power source is a DC battery disposed in a battery compartment proximal said light ports.