Trash can/vacuum combination

• US 20040093686A1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew S. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Andrew S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0047 Furniture or stationary devices with suction openings built-in suction cleaners A47L5/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/125 Features allowing the receptacle to be lifted and emptied by its bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/14 Other constructional features; Accessoriesholders or carriers for hand articles A45F5/00; fastening devices E05C
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/188 Vacuum drawing means

Abstract

A combination trash can and vacuum cleaner in which the base of a trash can contains a battery operated vacuum cleaner that is activated by any one of a number of foot pedals. The vacuum is contained in a housing with an internal fan, a debris collection chamber, and an electrically controlled trap door for emptying debris. The device allows for in-room storage of a vacuum cleaner in an aesthetically pleasing manner and for the collection of debris without the need for a dustpan and/or a conventional vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A trash can/vacuum combination comprising:

a trash can component; and

a vacuum cleaner component;

said trash can component being mounted on top of said vacuum cleaner component;

whereby trash is collected in said trash can component and debris is collected in said vacuum cleaner component.

2. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum cleaner component comprises:

an outer container;

a fan;

a screen; and

internal walls;

said fan, said screen, and said internal walls being contained within said outer container;

said internal walls shaped and dimensioned to form an intake chamber, a collection chamber and a discharge chamber;

said intake chamber opening into said collection chamber;

said collection chamber opening into said discharge chamber;

said fan and said screen positioned between said collection chamber and said discharge chamber; and

said outer container being cylindrical in shape with a substantially flat top and a substantially flat bottom, with at least one vent that opens into said discharge chamber, and with at least one opening that opens into said intake chamber;

whereby air flows through said vacuum cleaner component by flowing into said intake chamber, through said collection chamber, through said screen, through said fan, through said discharge chamber, and out of said vent.

3. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 2, further comprising:

a hinged trap door affixed to the bottom of said outer container; and

a trap door latch mechanism affixed to said outer container;

said trap door latch mechanism normally holding said trap door in a closed position;

whereby, when the latch of said trap door latch mechanism is withdrawn, said trap door is released thereby allowing debris collected within said vacuum cleaner component to be emptied.

4. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 3, further comprising:

at least one opening positioned on side of and at base of said outer container, and opening into said intake chamber;

at least one curved foot pedal extended outward from said outer container, said foot pedal being substantially flat with a top, a bottom, a proximal edge, a distal edge, and two side edges, with said distal edge resting on a floor; and

there further being an opening for each corresponding foot pedal, and with each opening being covered by its corresponding foot pedal, an opening being exposed and a proximal edge of said corresponding foot pedal being aligned with the base of said opening, when a corresponding foot pedal is depressed;

whereby, debris is swept into an opening by being swept onto the distal edge of its depressed corresponding foot pedal, across said depressed corresponding foot pedal and off said proximal edge of said depressed corresponding foot pedal.

5. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 4, further comprising a battery compartment contained within said outer container;

a hinged door affixed to the bottom of said outer container;

said battery compartment accessible via said hinged door;

said battery compartment shaped and dimensioned to accommodate at least one battery; and

said battery compartment electrically connected to said fan;

whereby depressing a foot pedal activates said fan, thereby drawing air and debris into said intake chamber from the opening exposed by depressing said foot pedal.

6. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 5, wherein said trash can component is essentially cylindrical in shape, the sides of said trash can component are fabricated of wire mesh;

and the top of said trash can component is open.

7. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 6, wherein said trash can component is secured to said vacuum cleaner component such that lifting said trash can by its rim also lifts said vacuum cleaner component.

8. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 7, further comprising:

a rim of said trash can component, extending outward from the sides of said trash can component;

said rim being rounded such it provides an overhang that is concaved upward;

a plurality of suspension springs;

a ring attached to the underside of said rim via said plurality of suspension springs, said ring encircling said trash can component; and

means for withdrawing said latch into said trap door latch mechanism incorporated in said trap door latch mechanism, said means being activated by squeezing said ring upward toward said rim;

whereby, when said ring is squeezed upward toward said rim, said means for withdrawing said latch is activated, thereby withdrawing said latch and releasing said trap door.

9. The trash can/vacuum combination according to claim 8, further comprising electrical wire running from said rim to said battery compartment and from said rim to said trap door latch mechanism, whereby, when said ring is squeezed upward toward said rim, an electrical circuit is closed providing power from at least one battery contained within said battery compartment to trap door latch mechanism, causing said latch to be withdrawn into said trap door latch mechanism, and thereby releasing said trap door.

10. A vacuum cleaning device comprising:

an outer container;

a fan;

a screen; and

internal walls;

said fan, said screen, and said internal walls being contained within said outer container;

said internal walls shaped and dimensioned to form an intake chamber, a collection chamber and a discharge chamber;

said intake chamber opening into said collection chamber;

said collection chamber opening into said discharge chamber;

said fan and said screen positioned between said collection chamber and said discharge chamber; and

said outer container being cylindrical in shape with a substantially flat top and a substantially flat bottom, with at least one vent that opens into said discharge chamber, and with at least one opening that opens into said intake chamber;

whereby air flows through said vacuum cleaner component by flowing into said intake chamber, through said collection chamber, through said screen, through said fan, through said discharge chamber, and out of said vent; and

whereby top of said outer container means is capable of supporting a trash can without said trash can being secured to said outer container.

11. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a hinged trap door affixed to bottom of said outer container means; and

a trap door latch mechanism affixed to said outer container;

said trap door latch mechanism normally holding said trap door in a closed position;

whereby, when the latch of said trap door latch mechanism is withdrawn, said trap door is released, thereby allowing debris collected within said vacuum cleaner component to be emptied.

12. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one opening positioned on side of and at base of said outer container and opening into said intake chamber;

at least one curved foot pedal extended outward from said outer container, said foot pedal being substantially flat with a top, a bottom, a proximal edge, a distal edge, and two side edges, with said distal edge resting on a floor; and

there further being an opening for each corresponding foot pedal, and with each opening being covered by its corresponding foot pedal, an opening being exposed and a proximal edge of said corresponding foot pedal being aligned with the base of said opening, when a corresponding foot pedal is depressed;

whereby, debris is swept into an opening by being swept onto the distal edge of its depressed corresponding foot pedal, across said depressed corresponding foot pedal, and off said proximal edge of said depressed corresponding foot pedal.

13. The vacuum cleaning device according to claim 12, further comprising a battery compartment contained within said outer container;

a hinged door affixed to the bottom of said outer container;

said battery compartment accessible via said hinged door;

said battery compartment shaped and dimensioned to accommodate at least one battery; and

said battery compartment electrically connected to said fan;

whereby depressing a foot pedal activates said fan, thereby drawing air and debris into said intake chamber from the opening exposed by depressing said foot pedal.