Vacuum pod configured to couple to one or more accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11723498-B2
Application number	US-201916447734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2019
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An example of a vacuum pod may include a handle, a vacuum pod body, a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the dust cup. The fluid conduit may include a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position and a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body. A first end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the coupling. When the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose may be in the retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum pod comprising:
a handle;
a vacuum pod body including a receptacle that defines a channel, wherein the channel includes first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second retention arms disposed on the first and second opposing sidewalls, respectively, wherein distal ends of the first and second sidewalls define an opening and wherein the first and second retention arms are biased inwardly into the channel along a first axis;
a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body;
a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position; and
a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, a first end of the flexible hose is coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose is coupled to the coupling, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose is in the retracted position, the coupling including:
a coupling body secured to the second end of the flexible hose;
a catch that is configured to be at least partially received through the opening along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis to urge the first and second retention arms outwardly along said first axis; and
a sleeve slidably coupled to the coupling body, the sleeve being configured to slidably move within the channel along a third axis to transition between a retaining position and a release position, the third axis being generally perpendicular to the first and second axes and generally parallel to longitudinal axes of the first and second sidewalls, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body and the sleeve is transitioned from the retaining position to the release position, the sleeve urges the first and second retention arms outwardly.

2. The vacuum pod of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pod body defines a suction motor cavity and at least a portion of the dust cup extends between the suction motor cavity and the handle.

3. The vacuum pod of claim 2 , wherein the dust cup includes a cyclonic region and a debris collection region, wherein at least a portion of the cyclonic region is disposed between the suction motor cavity and the handle.

4. The vacuum pod of claim 1 , wherein a retention hook is disposed on a distal end wall of the channel, the retention hook is biased inwardly into the channel in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel, the distal end wall being opposite an open end of the channel.

5. The vacuum pod of claim 1 , wherein the catch includes a plurality of grooves, each groove being configured to engage a corresponding one the first and second retention arms.

6. A vacuum pod comprising:
a dust cup;
a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the dust cup, the fluid conduit including:
a flexible hose having a first end and a second end, the flexible hose being configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position; and
a coupling coupled to the second end of the flexible hose, the coupling including:
a coupling body secured to the second end of the flexible hose;
a catch; and
a sleeve slidably coupled to the coupling body, the sleeve being configured to slidably transition between a retaining position and a release position; and

a vacuum pod body coupled to the first end of the flexible hose, the vacuum pod body defining a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the catch, the receptacle including a channel having first and second opposing sidewalls and a first and a second retention arm disposed on the first and second opposing sidewalls, respectively, wherein distal ends of the first and second sidewalls define an opening and wherein the first and second retention arms, wherein the first and second retention arms are biased inwardly into the channel along a first axis, the first and second retention arms being configured to engage corresponding grooves defined in the catch when the sleeve is at least partially received through the opening along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the sleeve is configured to move within the channel along a third axis to urge the first and second retention arms outwardly to transition from the retaining position to the release position.

7. The vacuum pod of claim 6 , wherein the vacuum pod body defines a suction motor cavity and at least a portion of the dust cup extends between the suction motor cavity and the handle.

8. The vacuum pod of claim 7 , wherein the dust cup includes a cyclonic region and a debris collection region, wherein at least a portion of the cyclonic region is disposed between the suction motor cavity and a handle.

9. A surface treatment apparatus comprising:
a wand;
a surface treatment head coupled to the wand; and
a vacuum pod fluidly coupled to the wand, the vacuum pod comprising:
a handle;
a vacuum pod body defining a receptacle that includes a channel, wherein the channel includes first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second retention arms disposed on the first and second opposing sidewalls, respectively, wherein distal ends of the first and second sidewalls define an opening and wherein the first and second retention arms are biased inwardly into the channel along a first axis;
a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body; and
a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the dust cup, the fluid conduit including a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position and a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, a first end of the flexible hose is coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose is coupled to the coupling, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose is in the retracted position, the coupling including:
a coupling body secured to the second end of the flexible hose;
a catch that is configured to be at least partially received through the opening along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis to urge the first and second retention arms outwardly along said first axis; and
a sleeve slidably coupled to the coupling body, the sleeve being configured to slidably move within the channel along a third axis to transition between a retaining position and a release position, the third axis being generally perpendicular to the first and second axes and generally parallel to longitudinal axes of the first and second sidewalls, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body and the sleeve is transitioned from the retaining position to the release position, the sleeve urges the first and second retention arms outwardly.

10. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the vacuum pod body defines a suction motor cavity and at least a portion of the dust cup extends between the suction motor cavity and the handle.

11. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the dust cup includes a cyclonic region and a debris collection region, wherein at least a portion of the cyclonic region is disposed between the suction motor cavity and the handle.

12. The surface treatment apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the catch includes a plurality of grooves, each groove being configured to engage a corresponding one the first and second retention arms.

13. The vacuum pod of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a distal end wall and an open end that is opposite the distal end wall.

14. The vacuum pod of claim 13 , wherein the distal end wall includes a retention hook that is biased into the channel.

15. The vacuum pod of claim 14 , wherein, when the coupling is urged int

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Brown Andre D
• Thorne Jason B
• Xu Kai
• Cottrell Lee M
• Calvino Alexander
• Howes Gordon
• Xu Aiming
• Gao Wenxiu
• Chambers Oliver

Classifications

• A47L5/24 Primary

  Hand-supported suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/1683

  Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/242

  Hose or pipe couplings · CPC title

• A47L5/28 Primary

  Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L9/102

  Dust separators (cyclones A47L9/16) · CPC title