Vacuum assembly

Claim 2

In combination in a vacuum assembly, an open upper-ended container having a first manually engageable handle thereon, a vacuum subassembly including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an electrically energized vacuum motor within said subassembly, and a second manually engageable handle on said subassembly, said subassembly being supportable adjacent the upper end of said Container and define with the container a discharge chamber communicable with said outlet, said first and second handles being movable to a position wherein they are generally aligned with each other when said subassembly is assembled onto said container, whereby said first and second handles may be concomitantly manually grasped in order to transport said assembly.

Claim 3

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first handle is pivotally secured to said container, and wherein said second handle is retractably mounted on said vacuum subassembly.

Claim 4

The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first handle is of a generally U-shaped configuration having a central portion and opposed end portions pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said container.

Claim 5

The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second handle is movable between an upper extended position and a lower retracted position, and wherein said upper extended position is generally coincident with said first handle to permit simultaneous manual engagement of said first and second handles.

Claim 6

The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second handle is formed with an elongated recessed area arranged generally parallel to said first handle and adapted to nestingly receive said central portion of said first handle.

Claim 7

The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vacuum housing comprises an uppermost portion defined in part by a generally horizontally extending plane, and wherein said upper extended position of said second handle is located above said plane and said lower retracted position of said second handle is disposed below said plane, whereby said vacuum housing may be inverted so that same may be supported upon said uppermost portion thereof without interference with said second handle means.

Claim 8

The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is of a generally cylindrical configuration having an open upper end. 8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which includes a radially disposed portion on said vacuum subassembly adapted for sealing engagement with the upper end of said container and cooperable therewith in defining a generally air tight chamber therewithin.

Claim 9

A composite structure including a generally open upper-ended container and an operating mechanism cooperable with the container to perform an operation, said structure including means supporting the mechanism adjacent the upper end of the container, first handle means including a generally U-shaped bail having a central portion and opposite end portions secured to the container, and second handle means mounted on the operating mechanism, said second handle means being movable between an upper extended position and a lower retracted position, said upper extended position being generally coincident with said first handle means so that said first and second handle means are positionable wherein they are substantially aligned with each other when said mechanism is supported on said container, whereby said first and second handle means may be singlehandedly simultaneously grasped to permit concomitant transport of the container and operating mechanism.

Claim 10

A composite structure including a generally open upper-ended container and an operating mechanism cooperable with the container to perform an operation, said structure including means supporting the mechanism adjacent the upper end of the container, first handle means including a generally U-shaped bail having a central portion and opposite end portions secured to the container, and second handle means mounted on the operating mechanism, said second handle means being movable between an upper extended position and a lower retracted position, said upper extended position being generally coincident with said first handle means so that said first and second handle means are positionable wherein they are substantially aligned with each other when said mechanism is supported on said container, whereby said first and second handle means may be singlehandedly simultaneously grasped to permit concomitant transport of the container and operating mechanism.

Claim 11

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said operating mechanism comprises a vacuum assembly.

Claim 12

The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means supporting the mechanism comprises a radially disposed portion of said vacuum assembly adapted for sealing engagement with the upper end of said container and cooperable therewith in defining a generally air tight chamber therewithin.

Claim 13

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second handle means is formed with an elongated recessed area arranged generally parallel to said first handle means and adapted to nestingly receive said central portion of said first handle means.

Claim 14

The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mechanism consists of a vacuum assembly and includes a vacuum housing comprising an uppermOst portion defined in part by a generally horizontally extending plane, and wherein said upper extended position of said second handle means is located above said plane and said lower retracted position of said second handle means is disposed below said plane, whereby said vacuum housing may be inverted so that same may be supported upon said uppermost portion thereof without interference with said second handle means.

Claim 15

The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said container is of a generally cylindrical configuration having an open upper end.

Claim 16

A vacuum assembly adapted for operative association with a generally open upper-ended container having a first manually engageable handle thereon, said assembly including a housing and means for supporting said housing adjacent the upper end of the container, said housing having an upper portion defined in part by an imaginary horizontal plane, a second manual engageable handle on said assembly, said second handle being movable between a retracted position located below said plane and an extended position located above said plane, whereby said second handle may be moved from said retracted position to said extended position to enable manual engagement therewith for transporting said assembly, and wherein said assembly may be inverted and be supported on said upper portion of said housing without interference with said handle means, said second handle being positionable when said vacuum assembly is mounted on said container such that both said first and second handles can be singlehandedly simultaneously grasped in order to transport said assembly and said container.

Claim 17

A vacuum assembly adapted for operative association with a generally open upper-ended container having a first manually engageable handle thereon, said assembly including a housing and means for supporting said housing adjacent the upper end of the container, said housing having an upper portion defined in part by an imaginary horizontal plane, a second manual engageable handle on said assembly, said second handle being movable between a retracted position located below said plane and an extended position located above said plane, whereby said second handle may be moved from said retracted position to said extended position to enable manual engagement therewith for transporting said assembly, and wherein said assembly may be inverted and be supported on said upper portion of said housing without interference with said handle means, said second handle being positionable when said vacuum assembly is mounted on said container such that both said first and second handles can be singlehandedly simultaneously grasped in order to transport said assembly and said container.

Claim 18

The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said container is of a generally cylindrical configuration having an open upper end.

Claim 19

The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means supporting said assembly comprises a radially disposed portion adapted for sealing engagement with the upper end of said container and cooperable therewith in defining a generally air tight chamber therewithin.

Claim 20

The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said second handle is movable upwardly and downwardly along a path arranged at generally right angles to said plane.

Claim 21

The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first handle is pivotally secured to said container.