Adjustable vacuum nozzle
First Claim
1. A vacuum unit comprising:
- a vacuum unit body having a vacuum deck and a nozzle;
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
, said nozzle for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said vacuum unit body, said nozzle comprising;
A) a nozzle body having first, second and third openings;
B) a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to said vacuum deck;
C) a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said flap selectively covering said first and second openings; and
, D) a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening, said flap adjustment member having a contact surface that contacts said flap, said flap adjustment member being selectively adjustable with respect to said nozzle body into first and second positions, said flap covers said first opening when said flap adjustment member is in said first position and covers said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said second position.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vacuum unit comprising:
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a vacuum unit body having a vacuum deck and a nozzle;
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
,said nozzle for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said vacuum unit body, said nozzle comprising;
A) a nozzle body having first, second and third openings;
B) a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to said vacuum deck;
C) a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said flap selectively covering said first and second openings; and
,D) a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening, said flap adjustment member having a contact surface that contacts said flap, said flap adjustment member being selectively adjustable with respect to said nozzle body into first and second positions, said flap covers said first opening when said flap adjustment member is in said first position and covers said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vacuum unit comprising:
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a vacuum unit body having a vacuum deck and a nozzle;
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;
said nozzle for use in receiving and transporting associated debris to said vacuum unit body, said nozzle comprising;
A) a nozzle body having first and third openings;
B) a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to said vacuum deck;
C) a second flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said second flap selectively covering said first opening; and
,D) a flap adjustments means operatively connected to said second flap, said flap adjustment means having first and second positions;
said second flap covers said first opening when said flap adjustments means is in said first position and said second flap opens said first opening when said flap adjustment means is in said second position;
said vacuum deck comprising;
A) a vacuum deck body having a second opening;
B) a first flap operatively connected to said vacuum deck body, said first flap selectively covering said second opening; and
,D) a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening, said flap adjustment member having a contact surface that contacts said first flap, said flap adjustment member being selectively adjustable with respect to said vacuum deck body into first and second positions, said first flap covers said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said second position and said first flap opens said second opening when said flap adjustment member is in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of adjusting a nozzle on a vacuum unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vacuum unit that includes a vacuum unit body having a vacuum deck and a nozzle, 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 for use in creating a vacuum pressure within said vacuum unit body;
providing said nozzle that includes a nozzle body having first, second and third openings, a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to said vacuum deck, a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body and a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening;
adjusting said flap adjustment member into a first position thereby causing said flap to cover said first opening and to open said second opening; and
,adjusting said flap adjustment member into a second position thereby causing said flap to open said first opening and cover said second opening. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. The method of claim 111 further comprising the steps of:
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providing said flap adjustment member with a pin;
providing said nozzle body with an adjustment extension that forms said second opening, said adjustment extension having a groove that receives said pin, said groove having first and second ends with first and second notches respectively;
wherein the step of adjusting said flap adjustment member into a first position thereby causing said flap to cover said first opening and to open said second opening, comprises the step of rotating said flap adjustment member in a first direction with respect to said nozzle body thereby sliding said pin within said groove into said first notch; and
,wherein the step of adjusting said flap adjustment member into a second position thereby causing said flap to cover said second opening and to open said first opening, comprises the step of rotating said flap adjustment member in a second direction with respect to said nozzle body thereby sliding said pin within said groove into said second notch. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of adjusting a nozzle on a vacuum unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vacuum unit that includes a vacuum unit body having a vacuum deck and a nozzle, 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 for use in creating a vacuum pressure within said vacuum unit body;
providing said nozzle that includes a nozzle body having first and third openings, a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to said vacuum deck, a second flap operatively connected to said nozzle body and a flap adjustments means operatively connected to said second flap;
providing said vacuum deck that includes a vacuum deck body having a second opening, a first flap operatively connected to said vacuum deck body and a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening;
adjusting said flap adjustment member into a first position thereby causing said first flap to open said second opening; and
,adjusting said flap adjustment means into a first position thereby causing said second flap to cover said first opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A nozzle comprising:
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a nozzle body having first, second and third openings;
a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle body to an associated device;
a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body, said flap selectively covering said first and second openings; and
,a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening, said 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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of adjusting a nozzle comprising the steps of:
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providing a nozzle that includes a nozzle body having first, second and third openings, a connecting means for use in connecting said third opening of said nozzle to an associated device, a flap operatively connected to said nozzle body and a flap adjustment member positioned within said second opening;
adjusting said flap adjustment member into a first position thereby causing said flap to cover said first opening and open said second opening; and
,adjusting said flap adjustment member into a second position thereby causing said flap to cover said second opening and open said first opening. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A vacuum unit comprising:
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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 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. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification