Universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums

Abstract

A universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums is an apparatus having a belt that fastens around a shop vacuum and has a pivotal tube attached to the belt that an expandable vacuum hose is able to be retracted and stored within or expanded outward for use. The pivotal tube and expandable vacuum hose is pressed against the vacuum inlet via the belt and sealed with a gasket. The exterior side of the belt has accessory loops for holding various vacuum accessory attachments.

Claims

1. A universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums, comprising: a belt including: at least one loop attached thereto adapted to releasably hold accessories thereto; wherein said belt is adapted to adjustably attach around an outer wall of a wet/dry vacuum; an expanding hose including: an elongated cylindrical wall including: a proximal end; a distal end: and a length extending from said proximal end to said distal end; wherein said elongated cylindrical wall forms a hollow interior volume; an attachment portion including: a ring portion; wherein said ring portion is adapted to connect with a ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum; and a connector portion; wherein said connector portion is rotatably connected to said ring portion and extends outwardly therefrom; wherein said ring portion and said hose connector portion form a hollow cylindrical interior volume; wherein said proximal end of said elongated cylindrical wall is pivotally connected to said connector portion of said attachment portion; and an expandable hose member including: a flexible cylindrical wall including: a proximal end; a distal end; an exterior surface; and an interior surface; wherein said flexible cylindrical wall forms a hollow interior volume; and a helical wire; wherein said helical wire is attached to said interior surface of said flexible cylindrical wall from said proximal end to said distal end, such that said expandable hose member is adapted to contract into a contracted configuration and be pulled into a plurality of expanded configurations to thereby adjust the length of said expandable hose member; wherein said expandable hose member is attached to said attachment portion and extends a substantial portion of said length of said elongated cylindrical wall when in said contracted configuration, and is adapted to extend a substantial length beyond said length of said elongated cylindrical wall when in a plurality of said expanded configurations; wherein said ring portion of said attachment portion of said expanding hose is releasably connected to said belt; and wherein said belt is adapted to releasably and adjustably hold said expanding hose to said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum, such that air leaving and entering said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum passes through said expanding hose.

2. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 1, wherein said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose further includes at least one aperture therethrough in proximity to said proximal end thereof, and a flexible tab adjacent each said at least one aperture adapted to releasably contact said exterior surface of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose member to thereby retain said expandable hose member in a chosen configuration.

3. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 1, further comprising at least one elongated attachment tube adapted to be releasably attached to said distal end of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose.

4. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 3, wherein said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose further includes a clip attached thereto adapted to releasably hold one of said least one elongated attachment tube thereto.

5. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 1, wherein said accessories includes a plurality of elongated attachment tubes each adapted to be releasably attached to said distal end of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose.

6. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 5, wherein said plurality of elongated attachment tubes have differing lengths.

7. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 5, wherein said plurality of elongated attachment tubes have differing shapes.

8. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 1, wherein said expanding hose further includes a cap member adapted to releasably connect to and cover said distal end of said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose when said expandable hose member is in said contracted configuration.

9. The universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums of claim 1, further comprising a gasket ring adapted to be placed in between said ring portion of said attachment portion of said expanding hose and said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum and create a vacuum seal there between.

10. An improved wet/dry vacuum system comprising: a wet/dry vacuum including: an outer wall including: an aperture; wherein said aperture allows air to pass therethrough; a ring portion; wherein said ring portion is attached to said outer wall and surrounds said aperture; an inner volume; and a motor; wherein said motor is located within said inner volume and adapted to draw air into said aperture and force air out of said aperture; and a universal hose assembly comprising: a belt including: at least one loop attached thereto adapted to releasably hold accessories thereto; wherein said belt is adapted to adjustably attach around said outer wall of said wet/dry vacuum; an expanding hose including: an elongated cylindrical wall including: a proximal end; a distal end: and a length extending from said proximal end to said distal end; wherein said elongated cylindrical wall forms a hollow interior volume; an attachment portion including: a ring portion; wherein said ring portion is adapted to connect with said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum; and a connector portion; wherein said connector portion is rotatably connected to said ring portion and extends outwardly therefrom; wherein said ring portion and said hose connector portion form a hollow cylindrical interior volume; wherein said proximal end of said elongated cylindrical wall is pivotally connected to said connector portion of said attachment portion; and an expandable hose member including: a flexible cylindrical wall including: a proximal end; a distal end; an exterior surface; and an interior surface; wherein said flexible cylindrical wall forms a hollow interior volume; and a helical wire; wherein said helical wire is attached to said interior surface of said flexible cylindrical wall from said proximal end to said distal end, such that said expandable hose member is adapted to contract into a contracted configuration and be pulled into a plurality of expanded configurations to thereby adjust the length of said expandable hose member; wherein said expandable hose member is attached to said attachment portion and extends a substantial portion of said length of said elongated cylindrical wall when in said contracted configuration, and is adapted to extend a substantial length beyond said length of said elongated cylindrical wall when in a plurality of said expanded configurations; wherein said ring portion of said attachment portion of said expanding hose is releasably connected to said belt; and wherein said belt is adapted to releasably and adjustably hold said expanding hose to said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum, such that air leaving and entering said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum passes through said expanding hose.

11. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 10, wherein said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose further includes at least one aperture therethrough in proximity to said proximal end thereof, and a flexible tab adjacent each said at least one aperture adapted to releasably contact said exterior surface of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose member to thereby retain said expandable hose member in a chosen configuration.

12. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 10, further comprising at least one elongated attachment tube adapted to be releasably attached to said distal end of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose.

13. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 12, wherein said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose further includes a clip attached thereto adapted to releasably hold one of said least one elongated attachment tube thereto.

14. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 10, wherein said accessories includes a plurality of elongated attachment tubes each adapted to be releasably attached to said distal end of said flexible cylindrical wall of said expandable hose.

15. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 14, wherein said plurality of elongated attachment tubes have differing lengths.

16. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 14, wherein said plurality of elongated attachment tubes have differing shapes.

17. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 10, wherein said expanding hose further includes a cap member adapted to releasably connect to and cover said distal end of said elongated cylindrical wall of said expanding hose when said expandable hose member is in said contracted configuration.

18. The improved wet/dry vacuum system of claim 10, further comprising a gasket ring adapted to be placed in between said ring portion of said attachment portion of said expanding hose and said ring portion of said wet/dry vacuum and create a vacuum seal there between.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums with the attachment portion pivoted upward for storage according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment portion and expandable hose member of the universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are a perspective view illustrating the expandable hose member of the universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating an improved wet/dry vacuum system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5B is a perspective view illustrating an in use condition of the improved wet/dry vacuum system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5A.

(8) The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a vacuum hose and more particularly to a universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums as used to provide sufficient length during use and retract to a convenient storage length.

(10) Generally speaking, a universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums is an apparatus having a belt that fastens around a shop vacuum and has a pivotal tube attached to the belt that an expandable vacuum hose is able to be retracted and stored within or expanded outward for use. The pivotal tube and expandable vacuum hose is pressed against the vacuum inlet via the belt and sealed with a gasket. The exterior side of the belt has accessory loops for holding various vacuum accessory attachments.

(11) Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(12) Universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 preferably comprises belt 105 having at least one loop 106 attached that is adapted to releasably hold accessories 155. Belt 105 is adapted to adjustably attach around outer wall 206 of wet/dry vacuum 205 to hold expanding hose 110 having elongated cylindrical wall 111 including proximal end 112, distal end 113, and length 114 extending from proximal end 112 to distal end 113. Elongated cylindrical wall 111 forms a hollow interior volume 115 and attachment portion 125 having ring portion 126 is adapted to connect with ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205. Gasket ring 165 is adapted to be placed in between ring portion 126 of attachment portion 125 of expanding hose 110 and ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 to create a vacuum seal there between.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 2, is a perspective view illustrating universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 with attachment portion 125 pivoted upward for storage according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(14) Connector portion 127 rotatably connects to ring portion 126 and extends outwardly from it. Ring portion 126 and the hose connector portion 127 form hollow cylindrical interior volume 128. Proximal end 112 of elongated cylindrical wall 111 is pivotally connected to connector portion 127 of attachment portion 125. Ring portion 126 of attachment portion 125 of expanding hose 110 is releasably connected to belt 105 and belt 105 is adapted to releasably and adjustably hold expanding hose 110 to ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 such that air leaving and entering ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 passes through expanding hose 110.

(15) Elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 further includes an attached clip 151 adapted to releasably hold one of the elongated attachment tube 150 thereto. At least one elongated attachment tube 150 is adapted to be releasably attached to distal end 138 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expandable hose member 135. Accessories 155 include a plurality of elongated attachment tubes 156 each adapted to be releasably attached to t distal end 138 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expandable hose member 135. The plurality of elongated attachment tubes 150 have differing lengths and differing shapes.

(16) Expanding hose 110 further includes cap member 160 adapted to releasably connect to and cover distal end 113 of elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 when expandable hose member 135 is in the contracted configuration.

(17) Referring now to FIG. 3, is a perspective view illustrating attachment portion 125 and expandable hose member 135 of universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(18) Expandable hose member 135 is attached to attachment portion 125 and extends a substantial portion of the length of elongated cylindrical wall 111 when in the contracted configuration, and is adapted to extend a substantial length beyond the length of elongated cylindrical wall 111 when in a plurality of the expanded configurations.

(19) Elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 further includes at least one aperture 143 therethrough in proximity to proximal end 112, and flexible tab 144 adjacent each aperture 143 is adapted to releasably contact exterior surface 139 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expandable hose member 135 to thereby retain expandable hose member 135 in a chosen configuration.

(20) Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, showing are showing is a perspective views illustrating expandable hose member 135 of universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(21) Expandable hose member 135 having flexible cylindrical wall 136 with proximal end 137, distal end 138, exterior surface 139, and interior surface 140 is located within elongated cylindrical wall 111. Flexible cylindrical wall 136 forms hollow interior volume 141 and helical wire 142 is attached to interior surface 140 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 from proximal end 137 to distal end 138 such that expandable hose member 135 is adapted to contract into a shorter, contracted, configuration or be pulled into a plurality of expanded configurations to thereby adjust the length of expandable hose member 135.

(22) Referring now to FIG. 5A, is a perspective view illustrating improved wet/dry vacuum system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(23) Improved wet/dry vacuum system 200 may comprise wet/dry vacuum 205 having outer wall 206 with aperture 207 that allows air to pass through, ring portion 210 attached to outer wall 206 that surrounds aperture 207, inner volume 215, motor 220 located within inner volume 215 adapted to draw air into aperture 207 and force air out of aperture 207, and universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 comprising belt 105 having at least one attached loop 106 adapted to releasably hold accessories.

(24) Belt 105 is adapted to adjustably attach around outer wall 206 of wet/dry vacuum 205. Expanding hose 110 is included that has elongated cylindrical wall 111 with proximal end 112, distal end 113, and length 114 extending from proximal end 112 to distal end 113 that forms hollow interior volume 115. Attachment portion 125 includes ring portion 126 adapted to connect with ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205. Connector portion 127 is rotatably connected to ring portion 126 and extends outwardly therefrom. Ring portion 126 and hose connector portion 127 form hollow cylindrical interior volume 128 and proximal end 112 of elongated cylindrical wall 111 is pivotally connected to hose connector portion 127 of attachment portion 125. Expandable hose member 135 having flexible cylindrical wall 136 includes proximal end 137, distal end 138, exterior surface 139, and interior surface 140 and flexible cylindrical wall 136 forms hollow interior volume 141.

(25) Referring now to FIG. 5B, is a perspective view illustrating an in use condition of improved wet/dry vacuum system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5A.

(26) Helical wire 142 is attached to interior surface 140 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 from proximal end 137 to distal end 138 such that expandable hose member 135 is adapted to contract into a contracted configuration, or be pulled into a plurality of expanded configurations and adjust to a length. Expandable hose member 135 is attached to attachment portion 125 extending a substantial portion of the length of elongated cylindrical wall 111 when in the contracted configuration and is adapted to extend a substantial length beyond the length of elongated cylindrical wall 111 when in an expanded configuration.

(27) Elongated cylindrical wall 111 of attachment portion 125 of expanding hose 110 is releasably connected to belt 105 and belt 105 is adapted to releasably and adjustably hold expanding hose 110 to ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 such that air leaving and entering ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 passes through expanding hose 110. Elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 further includes at least one aperture 143 therethrough in proximity to proximal end 112, and flexible tab 144 adjacent each aperture 143 is adapted to releasably contact exterior surface 139 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expandable hose member 135 to thereby retain expandable hose member 135 in a chosen configuration.

(28) At least one elongated attachment tube 150 is adapted to be releasably attached to distal end 138 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expanding hose 110. Elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 further includes an attached clip 151 adapted to releasably hold one of elongated attachment tubes 150. Accessories 155 include a plurality of elongated attachment tubes 150 each adapted to be releasably attached to distal end 138 of flexible cylindrical wall 136 of expandable hose member 135. The plurality of elongated attachment tubes 150 are of different lengths and different shapes.

(29) Expanding hose 110 further includes cap member 160 adapted to releasably connect to and cover distal end 113 of elongated cylindrical wall 111 of expanding hose 110 when expandable hose member 135 is in the contracted configuration. Gasket ring 165 is adapted to be placed in between ring portion 126 of attachment portion 125 of expanding hose 110 and ring portion 210 of wet/dry vacuum 205 to create a vacuum seal between the two.

(30) Universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 may be sold as a kit comprising the following parts: at least one belt 105; at least one attachment portion 125; at least one expandable hose member 135; at least one elongated attachment tube 150; at least one cap member 160; at least one gasket ring 165; and at least one set of user instructions. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Universal hose assembly for wet/dry vacuums 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

(31) The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.