Leaf vacuum with rotary cutting blade

Claim 2

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a suction tube extending from the inlet of the housing; a fan located within the housing for creating suction in the suction tube; a motor for driving the fan; a transmission shaft extending from the fan and rotatably secured to the fan; a rotary blade secured to the transmission shaft for rotation therewith; and a stationary blade located between the rotary blade and the fan; wherein fan pieces are provided on the rotary blade such that rotation of the rotary blade creates suction.

Claim 3

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction tube is detachably connected to the housing.

Claim 4

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the rotary blade is located within the suction tube and axially spaced from the fan.

Claim 5

The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the rotary blade is spaced from the fan by a distance greater than the diameter of the suction tube.

Claim 6

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a stationary support for supporting an end of the transmission shaft spaced from the fan.

Claim 7

The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the stationary blade is formed on the stationary support and the stationary support supports the transmission shaft via a rolling element bearing.

Claim 8

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the transmission shaft includes a flexible shaft portion and a non-flexible shaft portion.

Claim 9

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the rotary blade and the stationary blade are located adjacent one another in the suction tube.

Claim 10

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the rotary blade and fan rotate about a common axis.

Claim 11

The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction tube is removable from the housing and further comprising a hinged cover adapted to cover the housing inlet when the suction tube is removed.

Claim 12

An outdoor vacuum cleaner for picking up and shredding leaves and other debris, the vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a suction tube detachably mounted to the housing at the inlet; a fan located within the housing for creating suction in the suction tube; a motor for driving the fan; a rotary blade located in the suction tube; a stationary blade mounted in the suction tube between the fan and the rotary blade at a location proximate the rotary blade; a transmission shaft rotatably secured to the fan and extending from the fan past the stationary blade to the rotary blade, whereby the rotary blade is rotatably secured to the transmission shaft and the transmission shaft is supported on the stationary blade; wherein fan pieces are provided on the rotary blade such that rotation of the rotary blade creates suction.

Claim 13

An outdoor vacuum cleaner for picking up and shredding leaves and other debris, the vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet; a suction tube detachably mounted to the housing at the inlet; a fan located within the housing for creating suction in the suction tube; a motor for driving the fan; a rotary blade located in the suction tube; a stationary blade mounted in the suction tube between the fan and the rotary blade at a location proximate the rotary blade; a transmission shaft rotatably secured to the fan and extending from the fan past the stationary blade to the rotary blade, whereby the rotary blade is rotatably secured to the transmission shaft and the transmission shaft is supported on the stationary blade; wherein fan pieces are provided on the rotary blade such that rotation of the rotary blade creates suction.

Claim 14

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the rotary blade is spaced from the fan by a distance greater than the diameter of the suction tube.

Claim 15

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the transmission shaft includes a flexible shaft portion and a non-flexible shaft portion.

Claim 16

The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the suction tube is removable from the housing and further comprising a hinged cover adapted to cover the housing inlet when the suction tube is removed.

Claim 17

A vacuum cleaner for picking up debris comprising: a fan body that includes a suction tube having an inlet end and a fan casing; fan means located with the fan body for creating suction to draw debris into the suction tube; cutting means comprising rotary blade means and stationary blade means for cutting the debris; wherein the cutting means is located in the suction tube for cutting debris drawn into the suction tube; wherein the cutting means comprises a rotary blade and fan pieces are provided on the rotary blade such that rotation of the rotary blade creates suction.

Claim 18

A vacuum cleaner for picking up debris comprising: a fan body that includes a suction tube having an inlet end and a fan casing; fan means located with the fan body for creating suction to draw debris into the suction tube; cutting means comprising rotary blade means and stationary blade means for cutting the debris; wherein the cutting means is located in the suction tube for cutting debris drawn into the suction tube; wherein the cutting means comprises a rotary blade and fan pieces are provided on the rotary blade such that rotation of the rotary blade creates suction.

Claim 19

The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the suction tube is detachably connected to the fan casing.

Claim 20

The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, further comprising a transmission shaft that includes a flexible shaft portion and a non-flexible shaft portion.