US20060096057A1

US20060096057A1 - Illumination accessory assembly for vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: US20060096057A1
Application number: US10/983,859
Authority: US
Inventors: Dean Chatfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-08
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2006-05-11

Abstract

An illumination accessory assembly for vacuum cleaner includes a transparent extension having a first end capable of releasable connection to a vacuum cleaner hose and having a distal vacuum cavity intake end. A LED is positioned so the LED illumination transverses the transparent extension medium and exits the distal end and walls of the transparent extension. The invention provides the operator an illuminated clear line of sight around and through the transparent extension of the area to be cleaned and illuminates the contents in the initial vacuum cavity of the transparent extension for improved operator cleaning efficiency.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The operation of cleaning of dust, loose dirt, etc. in dimly lit or confined areas is often difficult to perform using a vacuum cleaner with conventional attachments. Various vacuum cleaner hose attachments with illumination means have been proposed to improve the function of the operation of cleaning in the areas described. Although effective in illuminating the surface area intended to be cleaned, existing devices exhibit obstructed operator lines of sight that impact the effectiveness of the operator to clean the illuminated surface.
Therefore, it is desirable to have an illumination accessory for a vacuum cleaner hose that can illuminate the surface to be cleaned that exhibits a clear operator line of sight around and through the attachment device. It is also desirable to have this device illuminate the interior of the initial vacuum cavity of the attachment to provide the operator an illuminated line of sight of the contents being vacuumed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an initial vacuum intake accessory for a vacuum cleaner hose that utilizes a transparent extension that is a vacuum passage device that is also a lighting device for illuminating a surface to be cleaned, whereby an operator can find dust and loose dirt in a dimly lit or confined location with a clear line of sight around and through the transparent extension of the area to be cleaned. It is also the object of this present invention to provide illumination of the initial vacuum cavity inside the transparent attachment, whereby an operator has an illuminated clear line of sight of the contents being vacuumed.
In order to obtain the aforementioned objective, it is also the object of the present invention that the light means, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED), be positioned in line with the transparent extension medium wherein the transparent extension medium is the path for the light means illumination to transverse to the distal end and out the distal end to provide utility lighting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the overall arrangement of an example vacuum cleaner with an example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory attached;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the present invention example illumination accessory attached to an example vacuum cleaner nozzle;
FIG. 3 depicts the overall arrangement of an example vacuum cleaner with an example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly attached;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with transparent extension and with body cover detached from the example vacuum cleaner nozzle;
FIG. 5 is an exploded enlarged perspective of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly depicted removed from the example vacuum cleaner nozzle and with body cover removed to depict the body, light means, alternative power means, and alternative switch means;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with body cover in place;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with the body cover removed;
FIG. 8 is a section view of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with the body cover removed;
FIG. 9 is a section view of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with the body cover in place and the assembly installed on the end of the example vacuum cleaner nozzle;
FIG. 10 is a section view of the example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory assembly with the transparent extension removed and the body assembly with cover removed from the example vacuum cleaner nozzle;
FIG. 11 depicts the overall arrangement of an example vacuum cleaner with an example embodiment of the present invention illumination accessory as a permanent nozzle attached to the example vacuum cleaner hose; and
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective of the present invention example illumination accessory as a permanent nozzle attached to an example vacuum cleaner hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described as a vacuum cleaner accessory. It is understood that the present invention is not limited in use by the term vacuum cleaner and can be used on other vacuum utility devices such as a shop vac or canister vacuum. It is also understood that the present invention is not limited in use by the term accessory and can be a permanent component of a vacuum cleaner.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 depict an example embodiment of an illumination accessory for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the example vacuum cleaner 10 with connected example vacuum cleaner hose 12 and connected example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14 are depicted with the disclosed illumination accessory 17 attached to example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14.
FIG. 2 depicts the illumination accessory 17 as comprised of the transparent extension 20 with first end 36 and light means 21 embedded between the outer wall 27 and inner wall 28 of transparent extension 20. Depicted is light means power source wiring 23 that connects light means 21 to the power source means not depicted in example vacuum cleaner 10 in FIG. 1. The light means power source wiring 23 is depicted attached to example vacuum cleaner hose 12 and example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14.
The utility light features of the present invention illumination accessory 17 results from the light means illumination 25 entry into attachment extension 20. The light means illumination 25 transverses through the attachment extension 20 medium 13 and emanates through distal end 35 of attachment extension 20 as directional illumination 22. The light means illumination 25 transverses through the attachment extension 20 medium 13 and emanates through the outer wall 27 of attachment extension 20 as peripheral illumination 24. The light means illumination 25 transverses through attachment extension 20 medium 13 and emanates through the inner wall 28 of attachment extension 20 as internal vacuum cavity illumination 26.
FIG. 2 depicts the illumination accessory 17 attached to example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14 wherein the example vacuum nozzle 14 vacuum cavity 18 is extended by illumination accessory 17 as vacuum cavity 15.
FIG. 3 through FIG. 10 depict an example embodiment of an illumination accessory assembly 30 for a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 the example vacuum cleaner 10 with connected example vacuum cleaner hose 12 and connected example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14 are depicted with the disclosed illumination accessory assembly 30 attached to example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 depict the illumination accessory assembly 30 as comprised of the body assembly 32, the transparent extension 34, and the body cover 90. The body assembly 32 is comprised of the body 40, the light means 41, power source means 45, and the switch means 46.
Body 40 has a first end 50 that is to be connected to an example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14. Body 40 is configured so the distal end 48 is to be connected to the transparent extension 34. Body 40 is also comprised of body vacuum cavity 54 and body outer surface 52 as depicted in FIG. 8 through FIG. 10.
FIG. 5 depicts top cover 91 as a housing comprised of power source access opening 94, switch means access opening 96, reflective means 81, and top cover end wall 89. Panel 98 is depicted as a removable component of the top cover 91 that connects to the power source access opening 94, with the purpose of providing access to the power source means 45. Top cover 91 connects to body 40 along connection line 93. Panel 98 connects to power source access opening 94 along connection line 97.
FIG. 5 depicts the bottom cover 92 as a housing comprised of reflective means 81, and bottom cover end wall 87. Bottom cover 92 connects to body 40 along connection line 95.
FIG. 5 depicts the light means 41 example as a LED 29 that is comprised of the LED illumination emitter 42, the LED wiring 43, and the LED circuit panel 44.
FIG. 5 depicts transparent extension 34 as tubular housing 60 with medium 59 which is thick enough at the first end 70 to receive the light source means illumination 80 from the LED illumination emitter 42. Tubular housing 60 is depicted with light means notch 62. Light means notch 62 is sized larger than the LED illumination emitter 42 and is intended for the reception of LED illumination emitter 42. Light means notch 62 surface 63 is a polished surface to receive light means illumination 80 entry into transparent tube 60 medium 59.
FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 depict alignment notch 61 in tubular housing 60 for the reception of alignment stud 56 which is attached to body 40. Alignment stud 56 guides the proper installation of tubular housing 60 to protect LED illumination emitter 42. FIG. 10 depicts reflective means 83 on first end 70.
The utility light features of the present invention illumination accessory assembly 30 that result from the light means illumination 80 entry into tubular housing 60 medium 59. The light means illumination 80 transverses through the tubular housing 60 medium 59 and emanates through distal end 64 as directional illumination 82. The light means illumination 80 transverses through the tubular housing 60 medium 59 and travels through the outer wall 66 of tubular housing 60 as peripheral illumination 84. The light means illumination 80 transverses through the tubular housing 60 medium 59 and travels through the inner wall 68 of tubular housing 60 as internal vacuum cavity illumination 86.
FIG. 4 depicts the illumination accessory assembly 30 detached from example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14. Depicted also is the vacuum cavity 18 of example vacuum cleaner nozzle 14. It is through the connection of illumination accessory assembly 30 to example vacuum nozzle 14 that vacuum cavity 18 is extended by the illumination accessory assembly 30 as vacuum cavity 54 and vacuum cavity 72.
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 depict an example embodiment of an illumination accessory for a vacuum cleaner as a permanent component of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 11 the example vacuum cleaner 10 with connected example vacuum cleaner hose 12 are depicted with the disclosed illumination accessory 117 connected to example vacuum cleaner hose 12.
FIG. 12 depicts the illumination accessory 117 as comprised of the transparent extension 120 with first end 136 and light means 121 embedded between the outer wall 127 and inner wall 128 of transparent extension 120. Depicted is light means power source wiring 123 that connects light means 121 to the power source means not depicted in example vacuum cleaner 10 in FIG. 11. Wiring 123 is depicted attached to example vacuum cleaner hose 12.
The utility light features of the present invention illumination accessory 117 results from the light means illumination 125 entry into attachment extension 120. The light means illumination 125 transverses through the attachment extension 120 medium 113 and emanates through distal end 135 of attachment extension 120 as directional illumination 122. The light means illumination 125 transverses through the attachment extension 120 medium 113 and emanates through the outer wall 127 of attachment extension 120 as peripheral illumination 124. The light means illumination 125 transverses through attachment extension 120 medium 113 and emanates through the inner wall 128 of attachment extension 120 as internal vacuum cavity illumination 126.
FIG. 12 depicts the illumination accessory 117 attached to example vacuum cleaner hose 12 wherein the example vacuum hose 12 vacuum cavity 11 is extended by illumination accessory 117 as vacuum cavity 115.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner hose accessory comprising:

a) a transparent extension having a first end that connects to a vacuum cleaner hose and having a distal end; and

b) at least one light means positioned so illumination from said light means transverses through the transparent extension and illumination exits the transparent extension at the distal end.

2. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transparent extension is a tubular housing having reflective means located adjacent the first end, the tubular housing having a tapered configuration where the first end outer diameter is greater than the distal end outer diameter, the tubular housing having a tapered wall configuration where the first end wall thickness is greater than the distal end wall thickness, and the tubular housing having a distal end that is polished.

3. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light means is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a power source means.

5. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a switch means to control power to the light means.

6. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transparent extension is removable from the vacuum cleaner hose and the first end is sized and shaped to be friction connected and slip released from a vacuum cleaner hose.

7. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein illumination that exits the transparent attachment distal end provides operator utility lighting.

8. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein a percentage of the light means illumination exits the transparent tubular housing extension outer wall and provides operator utility lighting.

9. An accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein a percentage of the light means illumination exits the transparent tubular housing extension inner wall and provides operator utility lighting of the interior vacuum cavity.

10. A vacuum cleaner hose accessory assembly configured with a body that has a first end that connects to a vacuum cleaner hose and a distal end, with the accessory assembly comprising:

a) a transparent extension having a first end and a distal end, with the first end that connects to the distal end of the body; and

11. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the transparent extension is a tubular housing, the tubular housing having a notch for each light means and within which each light means is inserted, the tubular housing having reflective means located adjacent the first end, the tubular housing having tapered configuration where the first end outer diameter is greater than the distal end outer diameter, the tubular housing having tapered wall configuration where the first end wall thickness is greater than the distal end wall thickness, and the tubular housing distal end is polished.

12. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the light means is a light emitting diode (LED).

13. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the accessory assembly comprises a power source means.

14. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the accessory assembly comprises a switch means to control power to the light means.

15. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the body first end is of the size and sloped shape to be friction connected and slip released from a conventional vacuum cleaner hose nozzle.

16. An accessory assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the body device contains a cover means comprising the following:

a) two part cover configuration,

b) removable panel to access power source means,

c) opening to access switch means,

d) reflective means, and

e) contains light means switch and power related wiring.

17. An accessory as set forth in claim 10, wherein illumination that exits the transparent attachment distal end provides operator utility lighting.

18. An accessory as set forth in claim 10, wherein a percentage of the light means illumination exits the transparent tubular housing extension outer wall and provides operator utility lighting.

19. An accessory as set forth in claim 10, wherein a percentage of the light means illumination exits the transparent tubular housing extension inner wall and provides operator utility lighting of the interior vacuum cavity.

20. A vacuum cleaner transparent vacuum inlet housing comprising:

a) a first end that connects to a vacuum cleaner and having a distal end;

b) at least one light means positioned so illumination from said light means transverses through the transparent vacuum inlet housing and illumination exits the transparent vacuum inlet housing at-the distal end; and

c) said light means is located near the first end of the transparent vacuum inlet housing to provide the operator with a clear line of sight around and through the transparent vacuum inlet housing.