DUSTPAN APPARATUS INTEGRATED WITH VACUUM ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present invention discloses a dustpan apparatus integrated with a vacuum assembly. The apparatus comprises a dust collector assembly having a top wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall. At least a portion of a periphery of the top wall, the bottom wall and the rear wall adjoins to define a vacuum housing having a front suction inlet. Further, the top wall defines a dust pan configuration. The apparatus further comprises a handle attached to the dust collector assembly. Further, a motor assembly disposed at the handle is in fluid communication with the suction inlet of the vacuum housing. A filter assembly is disposed between the vacuum housing and the motor assembly. The motor assembly is configured to generate an air stream from the suction inlet to the vacuum housing, thereby enabling suction of debris via the suction inlet.

Claims

1. A dustpan apparatus integrated with a vacuum assembly, comprising: a dust collector assembly having a top wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall, wherein at least a portion of a periphery of the top wall, the bottom wall and the rear wall adjoins to define a vacuum housing having a front suction inlet, wherein the top wall defines a dust pan configuration; a handle attached to the dust collector assembly; a motor assembly in fluid communication with the suction inlet of the vacuum housing; a motherboard connected to the motor assembly, and a filter assembly disposed between the vacuum housing and the motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly is configured to generate an air stream from the suction inlet to the vacuum housing, thereby enabling suction of debris via the suction inlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle extends from the rear wall of the dust collector assembly in substantially a C-shaped configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor assembly is disposed within the handle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a rechargeable power source assembly configured to supply power to the apparatus, wherein the power source assembly is disposed as a portion of the handle and configured to detach from the handle, wherein the power source assembly is connected to the motherboard and the motor assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the power source assembly comprises a housing, a power source disposed within the housing, at least one AC to DC transformer and one or more electrical connectors, wherein the electrical connector extends from an exterior side of the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electrical connector is movable between an extended position and a storage position, wherein the electrical connector is configured to rest in a groove defined on the housing in the storage position, and the electrical connector is configured to pivotally move away from the groove to the extended position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top wall extends beyond an end portion of the bottom wall and terminates at an angle downwards with respect to the bottom wall to form a beveled edge to facilitate to sweep dust over the dust pan configuration with ease.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bottom wall defined as a detachably base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear wall comprises an opening and the filter assembly is removably disposed at the opening, wherein the filter assembly is configured to slide and detach from the rear wall after removal of the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a front portion attached to the rear wall of the dust collector assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the front portion comprises a plurality of apertures configured to fluidly connect the motor assembly to the vacuum housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises one or more indicators configured to indicate a capacity of the power source and charging status of the power source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a floor grip disposed at a base of the handle configured to provide grip while the apparatus is placed on a surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source assembly comprises a tap extending from the housing, wherein the tab enables to detach the power source assembly from the handle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a switch connected to the motherboard to enable to control an operation of the apparatus, wherein the switch is disposed at a top portion of the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The description of the illustrative embodiments can be read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the figures presented herein, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a dustpan apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a front view of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a rear view of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates a top view of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 6 exemplarily illustrates a side view of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates a rear view of a dust collector assembly of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates a filter assembly affixed to the dust collector assembly of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the filter assembly and a base of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 10 exemplarily illustrates a front view of a handle of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 11 exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the handle of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 12 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the power source assembly and the switch from the handle of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 13 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of the power source assembly of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 14 exemplarily illustrates a front view of the power source assembly of the dustpan apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a dustpan apparatus 100 comprises a dust collector assembly 102 and a handle 104. The dust collector assembly 102 comprises a top wall 106, a bottom wall 108 and a rear wall 110 (shown in FIG. 7). A portion of a periphery of the top wall 106, the bottom wall 108 and the rear wall 110 adjoins to define a vacuum housing 112 (shown in FIG. 9). The vacuum housing 112 comprises an open front end. The open front end is a suction inlet 114. The handle 104 is attached to the rear wall 110 of the dust collector assembly 102. Further, the top wall 106 is configured to have a shape complementary to a dust pan. The top wall 106 is defined to have a dust pan configuration.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the top wall 106 of the dust collector assembly 102 extends beyond an end portion of the bottom wall 108. Further, an end portion 116 of the top wall 106 terminates at an angle downwards with respect to the bottom wall 108 to form a beveled edge.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the apparatus 100 comprises a power source assembly 118 and a switch 120. The power source assembly 118 is configured to supply power to the apparatus 100 and the switch 120 enables a user to control the apparatus 100. The switch is disposed at a top portion of the handle 104. The apparatus 100 further comprises one or more indicators 154 configured to indicate a capacity of the power source 138 (shown in FIG. 6) and charging status of the power source 138. The indicator 154 includes light emitting sources, for example, light emitting diodes. Further, the power source assembly 118 is detachably disposed at the handle 104. The power source assembly 118 comprises a tab 156 which enables to detach the power source assembly 118 from the handle 104.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, a portion of the bottom wall 108 is configured as a detachable base 122. The base 122 comprises one or more ridges 124 to assist the user to push and detach the base 122 from the dust collector assembly 102. The apparatus 100 further comprises at least one floor grip 152 disposed at a base portion of the handle 104. The floor grip 152 is configured to provide grip while the apparatus 100 is placed on a surface.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus 100 comprises a motor assembly 126 electrically connected to the power source assembly 118, a motherboard 128 connected to the power source assembly 118 and the switch 120 connected to the motherboard 128. The motor assembly 126 is disposed within the handle 104 and in fluid communication with the vacuum housing 112 and the suction inlet 114. A front portion 130 of the handle 104 attached to the rear wall 110 of the vacuum housing 112 comprises a plurality of apertures 132 to provide the fluid communication between the vacuum housing 112 and the suction inlet 114 (shown in FIG. 10). The motor assembly 126 is configured to generate an air stream from the suction inlet 114 to the vacuum housing 112, thereby enabling suction of debris via the suction inlet 114. In one embodiment, the motor assembly 126 is a brushless DC motor with a suction power range of 12000 to 13000 Pa.

[0036] The power source assembly 118 comprises a housing 136 and a power source 138 disposed within the housing 136. In one embodiment, the power source 138 is a lithium-ion battery. In another embodiment, the power source 138 is a 12V lithium-ion battery.

[0037] The apparatus 100 further comprises AC to DC transformer 140. In another embodiment, the apparatus 100 comprises any electrical system to convert AC power to DC power, for example, a rectifier, inverter and other suitable equipment. Alternatively, the motor assembly 126 may be selected so that it is directly compatible with AC and DC power sources, such that the transformer 140 to feed DC power to the motor assembly 126 is not needed. The power source assembly 118, the motor assembly 126, the vacuum housing 112, motherboard 128 and the filter assembly 142 together defines the vacuum assembly.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the apparatus 100 further a filter assembly 142 disposed between the vacuum housing 112 and the motor assembly 126. The rear wall 110 of the vacuum housing 112 comprises an opening 144 to detachably receive the filter assembly 142.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 9, the base 122 of the apparatus 100 could be detached from the dust collector assembly 102 using the ridge 124. Thereafter, the filter assembly 142 could be slid and removed from the dust collector assembly 102. The base 122 provides access to the vacuum housing 112. The base 122 could be pressed down and pushed away using the ridges 124 to detach the base 122 from the apparatus 100.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the front portion 130 of the handle 104 comprises at least two connectors 146 to lock the handle 104 to the dust collector assembly 102. The rear wall 110 of the handle 104 comprises at least two slots 158 to receive the connectors 146 therein. In one embodiment, the connectors 146 are complementary to the slots 158. Further, the front portion 130 of the handle 104 comprises the plurality of apertures 132 to fluidly connect the motor assembly 126 to the vacuum housing 112.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, the power source assembly 118 is formed as a portion of the handle 104. Further, the power source assembly 118 is detachably attached to the handle 104. The power source assembly 118 includes the housing 136 having the power source 138.

[0042] Further, one or more electrical connectors 148 are disposed at an exterior side of the housing 136. The electrical connector 148 enables to plug in the power source assembly 118 to an electrical socket and recharge the power source 138. The electrical connector 148 is pivotably movable between an extended position and a storage position. The electrical connector 148 is configured to rest in a groove 150 defined on the exterior side of housing 136 in the storage mode, and the electrical connector 148 is configured to pivotally move away from the groove 150 to the extended position.

[0043] During use, the apparatus 100 placed near the garbage to sweep the easily collectable garbage over the dust pan configuration. The placement of the motor assembly 126 at the handle 104 increases the pressure underneath the floor grip 152 or the apparatus 100, which allows to sweep without holding the apparatus 100. Thereafter, the last line of dust from the garbage could be collected using the vacuum assembly. The user could hold the apparatus 100 proximal to the last line of the dust. Further, the user could push the switch 120 at the handle 104 to create suction current. On placing the beveled edge or the suction inlet 114 over the dust, the suction current pushes the dust into the vacuum housing 112. Then, the dust and the garbage could be emptied from the apparatus 100.

[0044] Advantageously, the apparatus 100 allows the user to collect the last line of dust using the vacuum assembly without having to sweep countless times. The apparatus 100 transforms the traditional dustpan and broom routine into an effortless, simple task. Further, the design of the apparatus 100 enables the user to place the apparatus 100 on the surface to sweep and collect the debris without requiring to hold the handle 104 of the apparatus 100. The detachable feature of the power source assembly 118 enables the user to easily recharge the power source 138, without the need to carry and position the whole apparatus 100 at the charging socket.

[0045] While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system, device or component thereof to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0046] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0047] The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The described embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.