Collection apparatus for use with blower/vacuum units

• US 6,170,118 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Curtis Mcintyre
• Original Assignee: Upkeeper Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, Michael A., McIntyre, Paul Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US08/953,847
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 153/271, 153/276, 153/23, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/327.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1418 Impermeable dust collecting bags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A mobile, lightweight, universal collection apparatus for use with blower/vacuum units for quickly and easily collecting and storing large amounts of bulky debris or materials which is readily disassembled for conveniently storing and shipping the apparatus. The collection apparatus includes a large container, a removable lid, a disposable or reusable liner, an intake hose attachment and a base with rollers for movably supporting the container. The preferred container is comprised of one or more transparent, flat panels adapted to be readily secured together to form a cylindrical-shaped container for holding large amounts of debris or materials. The removable lid is transparent and is mounted on the container and includes a power unit connection for attaching the blower/vacuum unit, an inlet connection for attaching various intake hose attachments and an integral filter. The power unit connection and inlet connection are universally adapted to be connected to different power units and to different accessories, respectively. In use, debris is drawn into the inlet connection through the intake hose attachment by a blower/vacuum unit and deposited in the liner within the container. The collection apparatus also includes a mobile base for supporting the container and easily maneuvering the container over a large area. The base may include a platform for carrying a gasoline or propane powered generator and a storage component for storing various attachments and extra liners for the container.

Claims

1. A collection apparatus for collecting and storing large amounts of bulky materials or debris, said apparatus comprising:

a. a large container having an open top, a bottom and a hollow interior for storage of debris;

b. a removable lid adapted to securely fit and cover the open top of the container, said lid having a top outer side, and a bottom underside, said top outer side including a raised portion, and said bottom underside including a depression formed by the raised portion, said lid having an integral filter adapted to fit in the depression and being selectively and removably attached therein, and including a power unit connection adapted for removably attaching a blower/vacuum unit to the lid and an inlet connection adapted for removably attaching a variety of different intake hose attachments to the lid and receiving debris into said container; and

c. a base for supporting the bottom of the container.

2. The collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container is a standard-size drum.

3. The collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a disposable or reusable liner having an open top end and being adapted to fit inside said container for lining said container and collecting debris therein.

4. The collection apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid is transparent.

5. The collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter is positioned between said power unit connection and the interior of the container for filtering the air drawn through the power unit connection by the vacuum unit.

6. The collection apparatus of claim 5, wherein said inlet connection is positioned separate from said power unit connection whereby debris enters said container directly without passing through said power unit connection.

7. The collection apparatus of claim 1, said base further comprising a plurality of rollers for easily and rotationally maneuvering said container over a large area.

8. The collection apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base further includes a platform attached to the base for carrying a gasoline or propane powered generator.

9. The collapsible container of claim 7, wherein said base includes a handle for pushing and maneuvering said base.

10. The collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means attached to said container and to said lid for securing said lid to said container.

11. The collection apparatus of claim 1, said lid further comprising a rim and a foam stripping along the interior of said rim for securing said lid to a container and providing an air seal between the lid and the container.

12. The collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically powered vacuum unit adapted to be attached to said power unit connection.

13. The collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fuel powered vacuum unit adapted to be attached to said power unit connection.

14. A collection apparatus for collecting and storing large amounts of bulky materials or debris, said apparatus comprising:

a. a large container having an open top, a bottom and a hollow interior for storage of debris;

b. a removable lid adapted to securely fit and cover the open top of the container, said lid having an integral filter and including a power unit connection adapted for removably attaching a blower/vacuum unit to the lid and an inlet connection adapted for removably attaching a variety of different intake hose attachments to the lid and receiving debris into said container; and

c. a base for supporting the bottom of the container;

said container further comprising one or more substantially flat panels having opposite side ends, said panels adapted to be secured to one another to form a collapsible container having a hollow interior, an open top and an open bottom.

15. The collection apparatus of claim 14, said panels further comprising a means for connecting said panel side ends to each other to form the collapsible container.

16. The collection apparatus of claim 15, wherein said container is mounted on said base and said base defines a closed bottom of said container.

17. The collection apparatus of claim 15, wherein said panels are a sturdy, lightweight, resilient plastic.

18. The collection apparatus of claim 17, wherein said panels are transparent.

19. The collection apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a disposable or reusable liner having an open top end and being adapted to fit inside said container for lining said container and collecting debris therein, wherein said liner includes a plurality of through holes near the open top end for providing ventilation and preventing the liner from collapsing as air is drawn into the vacuum unit.

20. The collection apparatus of claim 19, wherein said liner is a transparent plastic bag.

21. The collection apparatus of claim 14, said lid further comprising a top outer side and a bottom underside and said integral filter selectively and removably secured to said underside of the lid, wherein said lid includes a hook and loop type fastener with complementary mated fastener strips on the lid and said filter, respectively for selectively and removably securing said filter to said underside of said lid.

22. The collection apparatus of claim 14, said power unit connection further comprising a universal coupling for attaching a vacuum unit to the lid.

23. The collection apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one intake hose attachment adapted to be attached to the inlet connection in the lid for collecting debris.

24. The collection apparatus of claim 23, said inlet connection further comprising a universal inlet adapter for quickly and easily attaching said intake hose attachment to said lid and for receiving bulky debris into said container.

25. The collection apparatus of claim 24, further comprising an intake hose having an attachment component, said attachment component being adapted to be received by said inlet adapter.

26. The collection apparatus of claim 23, said intake hose attachment further comprising a flexible input hose.

27. The collection apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means attached to said base and to said lid for securing said lid to said container.

28. The collection apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means is a hook and ring assembly and a flexible cord for securing the lid in place.

29. A lid for use with blower/vacuum units for covering an open top of a large container, said lid comprising:

a. a top outer side and a bottom underside, said top outer side including a raised portion;

b. a power unit connection in the top outer side near the center of the raised portion, said power unit connection extending through and forming a first through hole in the bottom underside of the lid and being adapted to be attached to a vacuum unit or a blower unit;

c. an inlet connection in the top outer side including a raised inlet port extending through and forming a second through hole in the bottom underside of the lid and being adapted for large diameter intake capability for receiving vacuumed debris,

d. a depression on the bottom underside of the lid formed by the raised portion; and

e. a filter adapted to fit in the depression and being selectively and removably attached therein.

30. The lid of claim 29, wherein said depression and said filter includes a hook and loop type fastener with complementary mated fastener strips for selectively and removably securing said filter to said bottom underside of said lid.

31. The lid of claim 29, wherein said filter is positioned across the first through hole for filtering the air drawn through the power unit connection by the vacuum unit.

32. The lid of claim 29, said power unit connection further comprising a coupling having a first end adapted to be attached to said power unit connection and a second end adapted for attachment to a vacuum unit.

33. The lid of claim 29, said inlet connection further comprising a raised inlet port extending above said top outer side of the lid.

34. The lid of claim 29, said inlet connection further comprising an inlet adapter adapted to be secured to said raised inlet port for attaching a collection hose to said lid for collecting debris.

35. The lid of claim 34, further comprising an intake hose having an attachment component, said attachment component being adapted to be received by said inlet adapter.

36. The lid of claim 34, wherein said lid is formed of a durable lightweight, plastic material.

37. The lid of claim 29, further comprising a rim for securing said lid to an open top of a container.

38. The lid of claim 37, further comprising a foam stripping along the interior of said rim for securing said lid to a container.

39. The lid of claim 37, said rim further comprising a means for further securing said lid to a container.

40. The lid of claim 39, wherein said means is a hook and ring assembly and a flexible cord for securing the lid in place.