Vacuum hose attachment apparatus

Abstract

A vacuum attachment apparatus for use on conventional service station or car wash vacuums is described. The apparatus is equipped with a rubberized female portion disposed on a wide end of the apparatus, which is configured to mate onto the default vacuum hose end. The apparatus facilitates the cleaning of small crevices with a commercial or industrial vacuum, which conventionally has too large of an intake to reach crevices such as those found between the seats of vehicles, under the seats, within the dash, and in other common locations standard on most contemporary vehicles.

Claims

1. A crevice cleaning tool adapter apparatus, comprising: a body, said body having a crevice tool end and a vacuum hose connection end; said crevice tool end comprising a tube and an intake opening, said vacuum hose connection end fluidically connected to said intake opening and configured to receive a default nozzle, said vacuum hose connection end comprising a channel sized and shaped to extend around an outer perimeter of an intake end of the default nozzle allowing the intake end to fit inside said channel when assembled, said vacuum hose connection end comprising at least one protrusion configured to extend from inside said channel in a direction opposite said crevice tool end and sized and shaped to fit inside the intake end of the default nozzle when assembled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one protrusion is a one protrusion configured to extend in a direction opposite said crevice tool end and sized and shaped to fit inside the intake end of the default nozzle when assembled.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one protrusion is a two protrusions configured to extend in a direction opposite said crevice tool end and sized and shaped to fit inside the intake end of the default nozzle when assembled.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end; wherein a widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of said vacuum hose connection end; and wherein said widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of said at least one protrusion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end and comprises at least one ridge formed by adjacent notches in said intake opening.

6. A crevice cleaning tool adapter apparatus, comprising: a body, said body having a crevice tool end and a vacuum hose connection end; said crevice tool end comprising a tube and an intake opening, said vacuum hose connection end fluidically connected to said intake opening and configured to receive a default nozzle, said vacuum hose connection end comprising a channel sized and shaped to extend around an outer perimeter of an intake end of the default nozzle allowing the intake end to fit inside said channel when assembled, said vacuum hose connection end comprising two protrusions both configured to extend from inside said channel in a direction opposite said crevice tool end and sized and shaped to fit inside the intake end of the default nozzle when assembled.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end; wherein a widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of said vacuum hose connection end; and wherein said widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of said at least one protrusion.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end and comprises at least one ridge formed by adjacent notches in said intake opening.

9. A crevice cleaning tool adapter apparatus, comprising: a body, said body having a crevice tool end and a vacuum hose connection end; said crevice tool end comprising a tube and an intake opening, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end; wherein a widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of said vacuum hose connection end; and wherein said widest width of said tube is perpendicular to a widest width of at least one protrusion, said vacuum hose connection end comprising said at least one protrusion; said vacuum hose connection end fluidically connected to said intake opening and configured to receive a default nozzle, said vacuum hose connection end comprising a channel sized and shaped to extend around an outer perimeter of an intake end of the default nozzle allowing the intake end to fit inside said channel when assembled.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said intake opening is angled at its distal end and comprises at least one ridge formed by adjacent notches in said intake opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

(2) The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein:

(3) FIG. 1 depicts a view of the front of the vacuum attachment apparatus of the present invention, showing how it attaches to a commercial vacuum conventionally found at car washes and service stations.

(4) FIG. 2 exhibits a view of the side of the vacuum attachment of the present invention, as depicted attached to the vacuum hose of the commercial vacuum conventionally found at car washes and service stations.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the vacuum attachment of the present invention, detailing the narrow tip and flattened tubing of the apparatus.

(6) FIG. 4 displays a flow chart detailing the process of installation and use of the apparatus of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5 depicts a second preferred embodiment of the vacuum attachment of the present invention as seen from the top and side.

(8) FIG. 6 depicts the second preferred embodiment of the vacuum attachment of the present invention as seen from the bottom and side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

(10) References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment,

(11) The present invention is a vacuum attachment apparatus configured to affix to the standard oversized inlet of a gas station or car wash vacuum cleaner (referenced as an industrial/commercial vacuum). The apparatus has a body (10) which is equipped with a narrow end (20) and a wide end (30). The wide end (30) is equipped with a rubberized female portion (40), which is configured to stretch over and around the default nozzle of the gas station vacuum, as shown in FIG. 1.

(12) The narrow end (20) is equipped with a flattened tube (50) which is equipped with an intake opening (60). The intake opening (60) is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, and is preferably tapered such that it ends at a point, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The flattened tube (50) portion of the narrow end (20) is preferably angled as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, however alternate embodiments of the present invention may not employ an angled narrow end (20), and may instead be straight.

(13) The wide end (30) preferably has a rounded shape, which tapers outward towards the rubberized female portion (40), as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The rubberized female portion (40) is configured to expand such that it may easily be affixed to the rim of the default vacuum hose nozzle. A silicone or similar stretchable polymer may be used in lieu of rubber in some embodiments of the present invention. For example, rubber, Flexiclear™, or a silicone composite may be employed as the rubberized female portion (40) of the present invention.

(14) Alternate embodiments of the present invention include variations on the size of the intake opening (60), as well as the shape of the intake opening (60). For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the intake opening (60) may be elliptical or squared. In other embodiments, the intake opening may be larger than 1.5 inches, in contrast to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, preferred embodiments of the intake opening (60) are equipped with ridges (70), which are present to facilitate loosening of debris/gunk from within crevices of a vehicle. A hook (80) is also preferably present near the intake opening (60) on the narrow end (20), which is configured to facilitate loosening and ultimate removal of stubborn or heavy-set debris/gunk found within crevices and floorboards of soiled vehicles. The hook (80) may be configured to extend out from the intake opening (60) when needed, and be retracted back within or onto the intake opening (60) when not needed. The retraction of the hook (80) is important when the user is attempting to place the intake opening (60) of the present invention into a crevice so small that the intake opening (60) would not fit into the crevice unless the hook (80) is retracted. The hook (80) is preferably configured to extend and retract about a pivoting hinge.

(15) The process of use of the apparatus of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 4, is preferably as follows:

(16) 1. First, the user retrieves the apparatus of the present invention from his or her vehicle. (100) Alternately, the apparatus of the present invention may be disposed at the car wash or service station for use by its customers. In such cases, the apparatus of the present invention could be reserved behind a clerk counter of the service station/car wash, or may be affixed on or near the vacuum via a tether or chain to prevent theft. The attachment apparatus may also be purchased from the car wash or service station in some locations. Preferably, the user owns the apparatus, and keeps it in his or her vehicle until cleaning is needed.

(17) 2. Next, the user grasps the apparatus, and mates the rubberized female portion (40) to the end of the vacuum hose (to the default, permanently affixed nozzle) of the vacuum by stretching the rubber of the rubberized female portion (40) around the entirety of the default vacuum hose end. (110)

(18) 3. The user then cleans the crevices of his or her vehicle, extending the narrow portion (50) into crevices, which may be reached via the elongated, flattened tubing (50). (120)

(19) 4. In vehicles with extreme debris build-up, the user employs the hook (80) to scrape at the debris, loosening it from the floor and/or crevices such that it may be collected via the suction of the vacuum. (130)

(20) 5. Upon completion, the user removes the rubberized female portion (40) of the apparatus from the default vacuum hose end. (140)

(21) Some alternate embodiments of the present invention may be equipped with one or more lights to facilitate illumination of dark crevices within a vehicle. In such embodiments, at least one light is preferably disposed on the outside of the intake opening (60), near the hook (80), and is configured to cast light down and away from the intake opening (60) to illuminate debris prior to capture within the intake opening (60). In such embodiments, the at least one light is preferably powered via a conventional button-cell battery, housed in a battery compartment disposed adjacent to the light. The battery is connected to at least one light bulb via at least one wire.

(22) Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention may be bundled with additional adapter tips which are configured to fit over the intake opening (60) of the present invention. Such adapter tips amount to interchangeable tips, which have an even smaller intake diameter/size than that of the default intake opening (60) of the present invention. Such adapter tips are configured for use on micro-crevices of a vehicle, such as those found near the automatic gear shift, within automatic window switches, within vehicle ashtray (or similar) compartments, or within air conditioning and heating vents.

(23) In other embodiments of the present invention, more than one hook (80) may be disposed on the intake opening (60), each of which may be configured to extend or contract when needed. In embodiments having more than one hook (80), each iteration of the hook (80) is preferably of a different size and may have a different curvature to facilitate the loosening of gunk/dirt from differing locations within the vehicle, such as scraping the floor under a seat of the vehicle more easily.

(24) Additionally, in other embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus may be equipped with a handle to further facilitate manipulation of the intake opening (60) into the desired position for cleaning of a specific area of the vehicle.

(25) It should be understood that the present invention is configured for use on conventional car wash and gas station industrial/commercial vacuums, which are often equipped with dirty and/or marred default nozzles. The present invention ensures that users need not have the marred and/or dirty default nozzle of the industrial/commercial vacuum fouling or damaging the vehicle by coming into contact with the interior of the vehicle during use. As such, the rubberized female portion (40) of the wide end (30) is configured to completely surround and encompass the potentially marred and/or dirty default tip of the default nozzle of the industrial/commercial vacuum, preventing contamination of the vehicle during use.

(26) An alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. This alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention is equipped with hollow protrusions (90) which extend from the wide end (30), and are fixed within an inside of the rubberized female portion (40) of the present invention. As shown, the protrusions (90) are designed to extend into the default vacuum nozzle of the car wash or gas station vacuum. The protrusions (90) are hollow so as to ensure that the suction of the vacuum is channeled through the hollow cavity within the protrusions to the intake opening (60). The protrusions (90) are present in order to help ensure that the present invention remains affixed to the default vacuum nozzle of the vacuum during use, and aide the rubberized female portion (40) in ensuring firm adhesion of the present invention to the default nozzle.

(27) Some versions of the present invention related to the alternate preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 may not require a rubberized female portion (40), as the protrusions (90) alone are adequate in ensuring sufficient suction channeled from the vacuum through the apparatus to the intake opening (60). Additionally, it should be noted that the ridges (70) of this second preferred embodiment are present in the form of a single ridge (70) or notch formed by a V-cut at the angled tip of the intake opening (60). Such embodiments may be less expensive to manufacture due to the decreased reliance on flexible rubber components. In such embodiments, the flattened tube (50) is preferably approximately ten inches in length, however it is envisioned that other embodiments of the present invention may have a flattened tube (50) of a shorter or longer length.

(28) Having illustrated the present invention, it should be understood that various adjustments and versions might be implemented without venturing away from the essence of the present invention. Further, it should be understood that the present invention is not solely limited to the invention as described in the embodiments above, but further comprises any and all embodiments within the scope of this application.

(29) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.