US5946768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile workstation with vacuum unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-03-14
•
Granted: 1999-09-07
•
Expires: 2017-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A workstation on wheels comprising a housing having a shelf dividing the housing interior into an upper and lower chamber. The shelf supports a vacuum unit that draws air from the lower chamber and exhausts it into the upper chamber. The lower chamber is provided with a vacuum outlet to which is connected an inelastic ductwork. The ductwork includes a nozzle for receiving air and solid materials from a floor surface. The air and solid materials flow through the ductwork and into a bag or bin in the lower chamber where the solid materials are accumulated. The ductwork is rotatable about the vacuum inlet and may be a one-piece L-shaped structure. Alternatively, it may be longitudinally adjustable by multiple interconnecting duct parts or by telescoping segments. The ductwork includes an housing duct to which is connected a valved flexible conduit for providing an auxiliary vacuum source.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:37
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L5/32; A47L9/00; A47L9/0009; A47L9/0072; A47L9/02; A47L9/24; A47L9/242; A47L9/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A workstation comprising: a housing having a vacuum outlet and an interior chamber; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; a vacuum means extending from said outlet for evacuating air and solid material from a directed surface comprising an intake member with an inlet means comprising a nozzle having a nozzle opening for receiving said air and solid material, said intake member including a passageway in communication with said inlet means and said vacuum outlet, said nozzle including adjustment means for varying the debris intake space of said nozzle opening comprising a shield releasably attached to said nozzle at predetermined positions in relation to said nozzle opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A workstation comprising: a housing having a vacuum outlet and an interior chamber; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; a vacuum means extending from said outlet for evacuating air and solid material from a directed surface comprising an intake member with an inlet means comprising a nozzle having a nozzle opening for receiving said air and solid material, said intake member including a passageway in communication with said inlet means and said vacuum outlet, said nozzle including adjustment means for varying the debris intake space of said nozzle opening comprising a shield releasably attached to said nozzle at predetermined positions in relation to said nozzle opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The workstation of claim 1 wherein said intake member includes a housing duct attached to said vacuum outlet, said passageway extending from said housing duct to said inlet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 2 wherein said ductwork is segmented into two or more duct parts held together by an attachment means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The workstation of claim 2 wherein said ductwork comprises two or more telescoping segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The workstation of claim 2 wherein said housing duct is rotatable about the center axis of said vacuum outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 2 including a container means in communication with said housing duct for receiving said air and solid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 6 wherein said container means is selected from the group consisting of a bin and a porous bag.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The workstation of claim 1 including a container means in communication with said vacuum outlet and said vacuum source for receiving said air and solid material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet in communication with said lower chamber; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface, said vacuum source comprising a vacuum unit secured to said shelf for creating a vacuum in said lower chamber; and, a container means in communication with said vacuum outlet for receiving said air and solid material, said container means being located in said lower chamber and being selected from the group consisting of a bin and a porous bag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet in communication with said lower chamber; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface, said vacuum source comprising a vacuum unit secured to said shelf for creating a vacuum in said lower chamber; and, a container means in communication with said vacuum outlet for receiving said air and solid material, said container means being located in said lower chamber and being selected from the group consisting of a bin and a porous bag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 9 wherein said ductwork is segmented into at least two duct parts held together by an attachment means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The workstation of claim 9 wherein said ductwork comprises at least two telescoping segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The workstation of claim 9 wherein said inlet means comprises a nozzle having a nozzle opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The workstation of claim 12 wherein said nozzle includes adjustment means for varying the debris intake space of said nozzle opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The workstation of claim 9 wherein said ductwork includes an housing duct rotatably connected to said vacuum outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The workstation of claim 14 wherein said housing duct includes an auxiliary vacuum means comprising a flexible conduit in communication with said ductwork.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The workstation of claim 15 wherein said auxiliary vacuum means includes a valve means for regulating air flow between said ductwork and said flexible conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; and, a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface, said ductwork including a housing duct rotatably connected to said vacuum outlet, said housing duct having an auxiliary vacuum means comprising a flexible conduit in communication with said ductwork.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet; and, a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface, said ductwork including a housing duct rotatably connected to said vacuum outlet, said housing duct having an auxiliary vacuum means comprising a flexible conduit in communication with said ductwork.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The workstation of claim 17 wherein said auxiliary vacuum means includes a valve means for regulating air flow between said ductwork and said flexible conduit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet, said vacuum source exhausting air into said upper chamber and out through a housing vent; and, a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A workstation comprising: a housing with an interior shelf which separates the housing interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing having a vacuum outlet; a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum outlet, said vacuum source exhausting air into said upper chamber and out through a housing vent; and, a ductwork in communication with said vacuum outlet having an inlet means for drawing-in air and solid material from a directed surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 19 wherein said ductwork is segmented into at least two duct parts held together by an attachment means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The workstation of claim 19 wherein said ductwork comprises at least two telescoping segments.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The workstation of claim 19 wherein said inlet means comprises a nozzle having a nozzle opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The workstation of claim 19 including a container means in communication with said vacuum outlet for receiving said air and solid material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The workstation of claim 23 wherein said container means is located in said lower chamber and is selected from the group consisting of a bin and a porous bag.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |