Power tool dust-collecting assembly and accessories

Abstract

A power tool dust-collecting assembly for collecting dust from a dust port of a power tool includes an airflow-producing subassembly for sucking sawdust and/or other dust from the dust port. A coupling component is provided for coupling an air-and-dust input port of the airflow-producing subassembly to the dust port of the power tool, and a bag subassembly is included for collecting dust from a dust output port of the airflow-producing subassembly. Those parts form a motorized dust bag that is adapted to be physically supported by the dust port of the power tool without requiring other support. One embodiment includes a secondary input portion of the coupling component for capturing dust from beneath the power tool. Various adapters and accessories enable use for various tasks while disconnected from the power tool.

1 . An assembly for collecting dust from a dust port of a power tool, the assembly comprising:
 means for sucking dust from the dust port, including an airflow-producing subassembly having an air-and-dust input port and a dust output port, which airflow-producing subassembly is adapted to suck dust and air into the air-and-dust input port and release the dust through the dust output port;   means for coupling the air-and-dust input port of the airflow-producing subassembly to the dust port of the power tool, including a coupling component connected to the air-and-dust input port of the airflow-producing subassembly; and   means for collecting dust from the dust output port of the airflow-producing subassembly, including a bag subassembly connected to the dust output port;   wherein the coupling component, the airflow-producing subassembly, and the bag subassembly form a combination of components that is adapted to be physically supported by the dust port of the power tool without other support when the coupling component is connected to the dust port of the power tool.   
   
   
       2 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for sucking dust from beneath the power tool, including a secondary input portion of the coupling component for coupling to a region beneath the power tool. 
   
   
       3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling component includes a rigid member adapted to slip onto the dust port of the power tool. 
   
   
       4 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bag subassembly includes a zipper for enabling a user to empty dust from the bag assembly. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bag subassembly is at least partially composed of a flexible fabric material. 
   
   
       6 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for coupling electrical power to the vacuum-generating subassembly. 
   
   
       7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter component having a first end portion that mates with the input port on the subassembly and a second end portion that mates with the dust port on the power tool. 
   
   
       8 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one accessory for enabling use of the assembly as a separate vacuum cleaner apparatus when disconnected from the power tool. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one accessory enabling use of the assembly as a separate blower apparatus when disconnected from the power tool. 
   
   
       10 . An assembly for collecting dust from a dust port of a power tool, the assembly comprising:
 means for sucking dust from the dust port, including an airflow-producing subassembly having an air-and-dust input port and a dust output port, which airflow-producing subassembly is adapted to suck dust and air into the air-and-dust input port and release the dust through the dust output port;   means for coupling the air-and-dust input port of the airflow-producing subassembly to the dust port of the power tool, including a coupling component connected to the air-and-dust input port of the airflow-producing subassembly; and   means for collecting dust from the dust output port of the airflow-producing subassembly, including a bag subassembly connected to the dust output port;   wherein the coupling component, the airflow-producing subassembly, and the bag subassembly form a combination of components that is adapted in size and weight to be positioned immediately adjacent to the dust port of the power tool, to be connected directly to the dust port without an interconnecting hose, and to be physically supported by the dust port without other support when the coupling component is connected to the dust port of the power tool.   
   
   
       11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising means for sucking dust from beneath the power tool, including a secondary input portion of the coupling component for coupling to a region beneath the power tool. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the coupling component includes a rigid member adapted to slip onto the dust port of the power tool. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the bag subassembly includes means for enabling a user to empty dust from the bag assembly. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the bag subassembly is at least partially composed of a flexible fabric material. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising means for coupling electrical power to the vacuum-generating subassembly. 
   
   
       16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising an adapter component having a first end portion that mates with the input port on the subassembly and a second end portion that mates with the dust port on the power tool. 
   
   
       17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one accessory for enabling use of the assembly as a separate vacuum cleaner apparatus when disconnected from the power tool. 
   
   
       18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one accessory enabling use of the assembly as a separate blower apparatus when disconnected from the power tool.