IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0645078
(2006-12-22)
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등록번호 |
US-7735188
(2010-07-05)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Mueting, Raasch & Gebhardt, P.A.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
▼
A blower/vacuum having an air inlet cover and a blower tube, both of which attach to a blower housing for operation of the blower/vacuum in a blower mode. The air inlet cover may removably attach to both the blower housing and to the blower tube. In some embodiments, operation of the blower/vacuum m
A blower/vacuum having an air inlet cover and a blower tube, both of which attach to a blower housing for operation of the blower/vacuum in a blower mode. The air inlet cover may removably attach to both the blower housing and to the blower tube. In some embodiments, operation of the blower/vacuum may generally be restricted unless both the blower tube and the air inlet cover are first installed. The blower/vacuum may further be adapted to operate in a vacuum mode by removing the air inlet cover and blower tube and replacing the same with a vacuum tube assembly and a vacuum collection container, respectively.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A portable blower/vacuum comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a blower tube to removably couple to the air outlet; and an air inlet cover to removably cover the air inlet, the air inlet cover comprising: a first attachment member attachable to the bl
What is claimed is: 1. A portable blower/vacuum comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a blower tube to removably couple to the air outlet; and an air inlet cover to removably cover the air inlet, the air inlet cover comprising: a first attachment member attachable to the blower tube; a second attachment member attachable to the housing; and at least one retaining surface proximate the second attachment member, wherein the at least one retaining surface is configured to abut one or more outwardly facing stop surfaces formed on the housing and wherein the at least one retaining surface is located immediately outboard of the one or more outwardly facing stop surfaces, the at least one retaining surface comprising two parallel and spaced-apart vertical retaining surfaces each configured to contact one of the one or more outwardly facing stop surfaces of the housing. 2. The blower/vacuum of claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining surface is lateral to the second attachment member. 3. The blower/vacuum of claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining surface is contained within a plane. 4. The blower/vacuum of claim 1, wherein the first attachment member comprises a cylindrical member. 5. The blower/vacuum of claim 1, wherein the air inlet cover further comprises an interlock protrusion to extend into the housing. 6. The blower/vacuum of claim 1, wherein the blower tube further comprises a first attachment receiver to receive the first attachment member. 7. A portable blower/vacuum comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the housing comprises a first vacuum attachment receiver; a blower tube to removably couple to the air outlet; and an air inlet cover to removably cover the air inlet, the air inlet cover comprising: a first attachment member attachable to the blower tube, the blower tube comprising a first attachment receiver to receive the first attachment member, wherein the first attachment receiver of the blower tube nests within the first vacuum attachment receiver of the housing when the blower tube is coupled to the air outlet; a second attachment member attachable to the housing; and at least one retaining surface proximate the second attachment member, the at least one retaining surface configured to abut one or more stop surfaces formed on the housing. 8. The blower/vacuum of claim 7, wherein the housing further comprises a second attachment receiver to receive the second attachment member of the air inlet cover. 9. The blower/vacuum of claim 8, wherein the second attachment receiver comprises one or more flexible, resilient tabs configured to engage the second attachment member of the air inlet cover. 10. The blower/vacuum of claim 8, further comprising a vacuum tube assembly also operable to removably cover the air inlet of the housing in place of the air inlet cover, wherein the vacuum tube assembly comprises: a first vacuum attachment member for attachment of the vacuum tube assembly to the first vacuum attachment receiver; and a second vacuum attachment member for attachment of the vacuum tube assembly to the second attachment receiver. 11. The blower/vacuum of claim 10, further comprising a collection bag attachable to the air outlet of the housing in place of the blower tube. 12. The blower/vacuum of claim 7, wherein the air inlet cover is bound by an aft surface that is flush with a proximal aft surface of the housing. 13. A portable blower/vacuum comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the housing comprises a resilient flexible tab proximate a rear portion of the housing; a blower tube to removably couple to the air outlet, the blower tube comprising a first attachment receiver; and an air inlet cover to removably cover the air inlet, the air inlet cover comprising: a transverse cylindrical member for connecting the air inlet cover to the first attachment receiver of the blower tube; a transverse lip for snap-fit coupling of the air inlet cover to the resilient flexible tab of the housing; and two spaced-apart retaining surfaces located at opposite ends of the transverse lip and facing one another, the spaced-apart retaining surfaces operable to bear against corresponding stop surfaces on an outer surface of the housing. 14. The blower/vacuum of claim 13, further comprising a vacuum tube assembly to removably cover the air inlet in place of the air inlet cover, wherein the vacuum tube assembly comprises: a first vacuum attachment member for connecting the vacuum tube assembly to a first vacuum attachment receiver located on a forward portion of the housing; and a second transverse lip for attachment of the vacuum tube assembly to the resilient flexible tab of the housing. 15. The blower/vacuum of claim 14, further comprising a collection bag attachable to the air outlet of the housing in place of the blower tube. 16. A portable blower/vacuum comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the housing comprises: an attachment receiver; and vertical first and second stop surfaces on first and second laterally opposing sides of the housing, respectively; a blower tube to removably couple to the air outlet; and an air inlet cover to attach to the housing and removably cover the air inlet, the air inlet cover comprising: an attachment member for coupling the air inlet cover to the attachment receiver of the housing; and vertical and spaced-apart first and second retaining surfaces located proximate the attachment member, wherein the first and second retaining surfaces are positionable in contact or close proximity to the first and second stop surfaces of the housing, respectively, when the air inlet cover is attached to the housing. 17. The blower/vacuum of claim 16, wherein the air inlet cover comprises an aft surface that is flush with an aft surface of the housing when the air inlet cover is attached to the housing to yield a smooth transition between the housing and the air inlet cover in the vicinity of the attachment receiver. 18. The blower/vacuum of claim 16, wherein the air inlet cover further comprises an interlock protrusion engageable with an interlock switch located within the housing when the air inlet cover is attached to the housing. 19. The blower/vacuum of claim 16, wherein the air inlet cover is contained within a plan envelope of the housing when the air inlet cover is attached to the housing. 20. The blower/vacuum of claim 16, further comprising a vacuum tube assembly to removably cover the air inlet in place of the air inlet cover, wherein the vacuum tube assembly comprises: a vacuum attachment member for receipt by the attachment receiver of the housing; and two parallel and spaced-apart retaining surfaces proximate an aft end of the vacuum tube assembly. 21. The blower/vacuum of claim 20, further comprising a collection bag attachable to the air outlet of the housing in place of the blower tube.
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