Patent Application
20190321940
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
The device herein disclosed generally relates to the shielding of debris that might escape through air intake openings in a vacuum shroud during the use of power tools to remove tiles.
Tile removal creates large amounts of dust and debris and is often accomplished using power rotary tools which in turn tend to create more dust and debris. Vacuum shrouds accomplish the task of removing the dust from the air. However, a flaw with most vacuum shrouds is that they require air intake holes in order to function properly and this in turn creates an opportunity for debris to fly out of these air intake holes.
Most prior art focuses upon vacuum shrouds that prevent debris from escaping by making the air intake passages extend to near the area the tool is in use or by drawing air in from under a skirt surrounding the shroud.
So as to reduce the complexity and length of the Detailed Specification, and to fully establish the state of the art in certain areas of technology, Applicant(s) herein expressly incorporate(s) by reference all of the following materials identified in each numbered paragraph below.
McCutchen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,598 discloses a vacuum shroud for a floor grinding machine. The vacuum shroud has a rigid cover with a cylindrical skirt and a vacuum port. The cylindrical guard has a plurality of vertical ribs protruding inwardly and these ribs in conjunction with the skirt define a plurality of vertical air inlet passages. The air flow through the air inlet passages is then supposed to prevent dust and debris from escaping the device.
King, U.S. Publication No. 20140352106 discloses a system and method for a shield for use with a rotary tool. The shield is coupled to the rotary tool attachment in order to either partially or fully enclose the rotary tool attachment. The shield has a plurality of air intake inlets. The air intake inlets are however not covered.
Romine, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,389 discloses a dust confining vacuum sander. This comprises a shroud with air intake opening, a vacuum opening and a sander. This amounts to a vacuum shroud with a sanding implement attached to it.
Azar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,207 discloses a dust collection shroud for hand held power tools. This is comprised of a round lid containing a vacuum hose connection and a dense skirt along the sides. The air is drawn in through the skirt which is used to prevent dust and debris from escaping.
Applicant(s) believe(s) that the material incorporated above is “non-essential” in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57, because it is referred to for purposes of indicating the background of the invention or illustrating the state of the art. However, if the Examiner believes that any of the above-incorporated material constitutes “essential material” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.57(c)(1)-(3), Applicant(s) will amend the specification to expressly recite the essential material that is incorporated by reference as allowed by the applicable rules.
The present invention provides among other things a system for preventing debris from flying out the air intake openings of the vacuum shroud. In some implementations, this is accomplished by aligning the air intake openings of the vacuum shroud with the air passage way of the vacuum shroud attachment ring and coupling the two devices. The vacuum shroud attachment ring has an internal structure wherein, there is a curved hook like structure above the lower opening of the vacuum shroud attachment ring that debris runs into and is commensurately allowed to fall back into the vacuum shroud. Around this structure, towards the inner area of the vacuum shroud attachment ring, there is an offshoot of the air passageway that curves around the upper extremities of the curved hook like structure and through an opening on the outer side of the vacuum shroud attachment ring. The vacuum shroud attachment ring may be comprised of rubber, metal, plastics, wood, chitin, ceramic, glass, wax, stone/cement, diamond, Styrofoam, ice, or paper to name a nonlimiting few.
A vacuum shroud attachment may comprise an exterior air passageway wall and an interior air passageway wall wherein the interior air passageway wall is comprised of a vertical portion extending away from a base towards the exterior air passageway wall. The vertical portion may be coupled to an arched hook shaped portion with the terminal end extending towards the base. The air passageway may also comprise a plurality of vertical air passageway walls extending from the base to the exterior air passageway walls configured to divide the air passageway into a plurality of air passageways which are configured to be in fluid communication between a plurality of air intake openings and air exit openings.
The exterior air passageway wall may comprise a vertical portion extending away from the base which couples at the point most distal from the base to an arched portion. On the opposing end, the arched portion may be coupled to a horizontal section.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be configured to detachably couple to a vacuum shroud.
The plurality of vertical air passageway walls may be coupled to a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth may be configured to narrow the air intake openings.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be comprised of at least one of a nylon, plastic, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, wood, ceramic, stone, wax, paper, glass, ice.
A vacuum shroud attachment may comprise an exterior air passageway wall. The air passageway may comprise a plurality of vertical air passageway walls extending from the base to the exterior air passageway walls configured to divide the air passageway into a plurality of air passageways which are configured to be in fluid communication between a plurality of air intake openings and air exit openings.
The exterior air passageway wall may be comprised of a vertical portion extending away from the base which couples at the point most distal from the base to a flat portion. On the opposing end, the flat portion may be couple to a horizontal section.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be configured to detachably couple to a vacuum shroud.
The plurality of vertical air passageway walls may be coupled to a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth may be configured to narrow the air intake openings.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be comprised of at least one of a nylon, plastic, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, wood, ceramic, stone, wax, paper, glass, ice.
A vacuum shroud attachment may comprise an exterior air passageway wall and an interior air passageway wall wherein the interior air passageway wall may be comprised of a vertical portion extending away from a base towards the exterior air passageway wall. The air passageway also may comprise a plurality of vertical air passageway walls extending from the base to the exterior air passageway walls configured to divide the air passageway into a plurality of air passageways which are configured to be in fluid communication between a plurality of air intake openings and air exit openings.
The exterior air passageway wall may comprise a vertical portion extending away from the base which couples at the point most distal from the base to a quarter circle portion. On the opposing end, the quarter circle portion may be couple to a horizontal section.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be configured to detachably couple to a vacuum shroud.
The plurality of vertical air passageway walls may be coupled to a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth may be configured to narrow the air intake openings.
The vacuum shroud attachment may be comprised of at least one of a nylon, plastic, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, wood, ceramic, stone, wax, paper, glass, ice.
Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventor is fully aware that he can be his own lexicographer if desired. The inventor expressly elects, as his own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless he clearly states otherwise and then further, expressly sets forth the “special” definition of that term and explains how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor's intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.
The inventor is also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.
Further, the inventor is fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or “step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventor not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DETAILED DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the figures, like reference numbers refer to like elements or acts throughout the figures.
Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.
In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.
The invention's embodiments usually include an exterior air passageway wall. The exterior air passageway wall in most embodiments comprises a vertical portion extending away from a base, this vertical portion may be angled from the base and does not need to extend perpendicularly from the base, although it may if necessary. This vertical portion in most embodiments will couple to another piece which may be arched, tented, triangular, flat, circular, or any shape that leaves space for the presence of a potential structure between the point of the vertical portion most distant from the base and the base itself. This other piece will then in some embodiments have a terminal piece on the side most distant to the point at which it couples to the vertical portion.
Underneath the exterior air passageway wall and in some embodiments, there may exist an interior air passageway wall. In some embodiments this may simply exist solely of a vertical portion extending from the base. In other embodiments this vertical portion may be coupled to an arched hook like portion, wherein the arched hook like portion is above an air exit opening which itself is nestled between the vertical portions of the exterior and interior air passageway walls. The arched hook like portion need not follow any particular curve, yet may be tented, triangular, flat to name a few nonlimiting structures. The arched hook like portion will extend towards the exterior air passageway walls vertical portion and it will extend towards the base. It will however not block an air passageway which is formed between the interior and exterior air passageway wall and configured to be in fluid communication between a series of air intake openings, located on the side opposite of the vertical portion of the exterior air passageway wall, and an air exit openings, located along the base between the vertical portions of the interior air passageway wall and exterior air passageway wall.
In other embodiments, the interior air passageway wall may simply not exist. However the air intake openings still will remain in fluid connection to the air exit openings.
Additionally, there are a plurality of vertical air passageway walls configured to divide the air passageway into a plurality of air passageways. These vertical air passageway walls are configured to extend from the base to the exterior air passageway walls. Where the vertical air passageway walls intersect with the air intake openings they are coupled to a plurality of teeth. These teeth are configured to narrow the air intake openings and may take one of many forms. For example, the teeth may be diamond shaped, square shaped, rectangular, circular, oval, to name a nonlimiting few.
The device may be operated in environments comprised of gases, liquids, or plasmas and the substances may flow in either direction through the air passageway. Though in most embodiments a gas will be drawn through the air intake openings and exit through the air exit openings.
It is an objective of the invention to deflect debris and through the use of environmental factors return the debris to the vacuum shroud the vacuum shroud attachment is coupled to.
In some embodiments the air intake openings will be dispersed around the outer perimeter of the device and in other embodiments the air intake openings may be dispersed around the interior perimeter of the device.
In some embodiments, the entire structure may have no interior air passageway wall whereas in other embodiments the entire structure may be comprised solely of a structure where the interior air passage wall has only the vertical segment or maybe it can also have the hook like structure affixed to the vertical segment. In yet other embodiments, the vacuum shroud attachment 100 may have any combination of these segments.
The vacuum shroud attachment in its many embodiments need not all operate solely with air. In other embodiments, the vacuum shroud may be used with liquids, gases, or plasmas.
Depending on the embodiment, there are a plurality of ways to couple or affix the vacuum shroud attachment to other structures such as a vacuum shroud to name a nonlimiting few. The vacuum shroud attachment may be coupled through methods such as clamps, hook and loop fastener, screws, clips, adhesive, being slid onto a track or thread, to name a few nonlimiting options.
In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a vacuum shroud attachment, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other vacuum shroud attachments.
