Wet/dry vacuum cleaner with built-in dustpan accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9282861-B2
Application number	US-201313893307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2013
Priority date	Oct 18, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

Described is a vacuum cleaner, such as a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, having an improved vacuum hose storage assembly and dust pan assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner having a debris collection drum. The integrated pickup port in the dust pan can be formed by the shape of the product its used on or become a separate piece such as used in this design. The advantage of having the design integrated in the vacuum allows the user to pick up debris either collected by a broom or by other means into the collection chamber of the vacuum without having to remove the hose from the storage position and without having to hold the product while in use; freeing the users hands to control the broom or other device to direct additional debris to the vacuum for collection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a lid;
a collection drum having an interior region for collecting solid debris;
a powerhead assembly including a motor assembly attached to the lid, wherein the powerhead is in air flow communication with the collection drum, and wherein the motor assembly draws air from the interior of the collection drum;
a vacuum inlet on a wall of the drum, wherein the inlet directs vacuumed material into the interior region of the collection drum; and
a dust pan assembly removably attached to an exterior wall of the collection drum, the dust pan assembly having an open region adjacent a bottom surface of the drum.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a filter cage attached to the lid, such that the filter cage extends downwardly into the collection drum when the lid is attached to the collection drum.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the drum includes at least one partially cylindrical side wall.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum inlet attaches to a hose.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the dust pan assembly comprises a front face, two side walls, a bottom face, and a throat opposite the bottom face extending upwardly and sized to receive a vacuum tool at least partially therein.

7. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 6 , wherein the side walls have a height, and wherein the height is greatest where the side walls attach to the exterior wall of the collection drum, and the height is smallest where the side walls meet the front edge of the debris holding surface.

8. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 5 , wherein the open region is in fluid communication with the interior of the drum.

9. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a collection drum having an interior region for collecting solid debris, the drum defined by a bottom surface and at least one upwardly extending sidewall;
a lid secured to a top portion of the drum, the lid including a powerhead assembly, wherein the powerhead is in air flow communication with the collection drum, and wherein the motor assembly draws air from the interior of the collection drum;
a vacuum inlet on the sidewall of the drum, wherein the inlet directs vacuumed material into the interior region of the collection drum; and
a dust pan assembly attached to an exterior wall of the collection drum, the dust pan assembly having an opening adjacent the bottom surface of the drum.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , further comprising a filter cage attached to the lid, such that the filter cage extends downwardly into the collection drum when the lid is attached to the collection drum.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the drum includes at least one partially cylindrical side wall.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the vacuum inlet attaches to a hose.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the dust pan assembly comprises a front face, two side walls, a bottom face, and a throat opposite the bottom face extending upwardly and sized to receive a vacuum tool at least partially therein.

15. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 14 , wherein the side walls have a height, and wherein the height is greatest where the side walls attach to the exterior wall of the collection drum, and the height is smallest where the side walls meet the front edge of the debris holding surface.

16. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 13 , wherein the opening of the dust pan assembly is in fluid communication with the interior of the drum.

17. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a collection drum having an interior region for collecting solid debris, the drum defined by a bottom surface and at least one upwardly extending sidewall;
a vacuum inlet on the sidewall of the drum, wherein the inlet directs vacuumed material into the interior region of the collection drum;
a hose attached to the vacuum inlet;
a tool attached to the hose;
a lid secured to a top portion of the drum, the lid including a powerhead assembly, wherein the powerhead is in air flow communication with the collection drum, and wherein the motor assembly draws air from the interior of the collection drum, thereby creating a vacuum within the drum and drawing air and debris through the hose and tool; and
a dust pan assembly attached to an exterior wall of the collection drum, the dust pan assembly having an opening adjacent the bottom surface of the drum and a throat for receiving the tool.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , further comprising a filter cage attached to the lid, such that the filter cage extends downwardly into the collection drum when the lid is attached to the collection drum.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

20. The vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17 , wherein the opening of the dustpan assembly is in fluid communication with the tool, the hose, and the interior of the drum.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Schultz Douglas
• Ritterling Douglas K
• Glasgow Shane

Classifications

• A47L9/0027

  specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools · CPC title

• A47L7/0004

  Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners (floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30) · CPC title

• A47L9/02

  Nozzles (suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00) · CPC title

• A47L9/0018 Primary

  integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner · CPC title

• A47L13/52

  Dust pans; Crumb trays · CPC title