Portable cleaning assembly with waste container

• US 7,979,954 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Original Assignee: Vacbarrel LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Glen E., Williamson, Susan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/333,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 153/23, 153/47, 153/276, 153/52, 154/13, 15D/IG.1
• US Class Current: 15/323
• 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 and a waste container. 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 vacuum unit includes a battery for powering a motor of the vacuum unit. The vacuum unit also includes an exhaust port which exhausts air in an exhaust path. The battery is disposed in the exhaust path to provide for cooling of the battery.

Claims

1. A cleaning assembly comprising;

a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to clean debris from an area including a motor for creating the vacuum along a vacuum path, a debris collection device in fluid communication with said motor for collecting the debris, and an exhaust port in fluid communication with said motor for exhausting air into an exhaust path;

at least one battery electrically connected to said motor for supplying electrical power to said motor and disposed at least partially within said exhaust path such that at least a portion of the air exhausted from said exhaust port cools said at least one battery; and

a waste container associated with said vacuum unit and isolated from said vacuum path for collecting waste separate from the debris collected by said vacuum unit.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism supporting said vacuum unit and said waste container thereof for moving said vacuum unit and said waste container while applying the vacuum to collect the debris and while allowing independent filling of said waste container with waste.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a battery storage for storing said at least one battery.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said battery storage is further defined as within said vacuum unit.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exhaust path extends to said waste container for releasing a waste liner from said waste container with the air exhausted from said exhaust port.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a release hose extending within said waste container and connected to said exhaust port for providing at least a portion of said exhaust path and fluid communication between said waste container and said exhaust port.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a diverter disposed between said exhaust port and said waste container for controlling the flow of air into said waste container.

8. A cleaning assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said waste container is supported by said vacuum unit.

9. A cleaning assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum unit is supported by said waste container.