Vacuum collection device useful in yard maintenance

Abstract

A portable, vacuum-powered collection device is useful in yard maintenance and other similar applications where debris, some of which may be bulky, is being collected. The collection device makes use of a receptacle adapted to be worn on a user's back during operation. The receptacle has an opening for emptying its contents. A vacuum unit is operatively associated with the receptacle so that it can move leaves through an intake passage and collect them in the receptacle. In one implementation, the receptacle includes a lid secured to cover a corresponding opening in the bottom portion of the receptacle. When the lid is opened, the contents of the receptacle can be emptied. In certain other implementations, a mechanism is included in the collection device which is configured or adapted so that the user can selectively open the lid to empty the contents of the receptacle while still wearing the receptacle on the back.

1 . A portable, vacuum-powered leaf collector, comprising:
 a receptacle dimensioned to hold leaves and adapted to be worn on a user's back during operation, the receptacle having an opening for emptying contents of the receptacle;   an elongated member with an intake passage defined therein, the intake passage having an opening positionable near leaves to be collected;   a vacuum unit operatively coupled to the intake passage and the receptacle to move the leaves through the intake passage and collect them in the receptacle;   a lid secured to cover the opening in the receptacle; and   a mechanism adapted to allow the user to selectively open the lid to empty the contents of the receptacle while the user is wearing the receptacle on the back.   
   
   
       2 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a release activatable by the user to open the lid. 
   
   
       3 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is electrical, electronic, mechanical, or electro-mechanical. 
   
   
       4 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is defined by a housing having a bottom portion with a bottom, wherein the opening is defined in the bottom portion. 
   
   
       5 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , further comprising a device adapted to close the opening of the receptacle upon user activation while the user is wearing the receptacle. 
   
   
       6 . The leaf collector of  claim 4 , wherein the lid comprises at least one panel. 
   
   
       7 . The leaf collector of  claim 6 , wherein the panel has an edge hingedly secured to the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The leaf collector of  claim 4 , wherein the housing includes at least some substantially rigid portions and includes an inlet through which air is drawn into the receptacle and a baffle through which air exists the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The leaf collector of  claim 4 , wherein the housing has an average width between one and two feet, whereby the housing width does not extend beyond the shoulders of the user. 
   
   
       10 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is slidable relative to the receptacle. 
   
   
       11 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a portion defining an inlet therein, the inlet communicating with the intake passage to receive debris therethrough for collection in the receptacle. 
   
   
       12 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes left and right sides corresponding to the left and right sides of the user, and the sides are configured to permit the elongated member to be selectively attached to either one of the sides, thereby accommodating left- or right-handed operation of the collector. 
   
   
       13 . The leaf collector of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is further adapted to permit the user to move the lid from an open position to a closed position while the user is wearing the receptacle on the back. 
   
   
       14 . A portable, vacuum-powered collection device useful in yard maintenance, the device comprising:
 a housing having at least some substantially rigid portions dimensioned to be worn on the user's back, and having a volume defined therein for collecting debris, the housing having an overall width selected so as not to extend laterally beyond the user's shoulders, thereby facilitating use of the device in tight spots in the yard, the housing having upper and lower portions;   a vacuum assembly operatively connected to the housing to collect the debris in the housing;   an opening defined in the lower portion of the housing;   a movable lid for the opening; and   a mechanism adapted to allow the user to selectively open the lid while the user is wearing the receptacle on the back.   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a receptacle defined by the housing, the receptacle in communication with the vacuum assembly to receive the debris therein. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the lid comprises a door hingedly secured relative to the housing. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the door comprises at least one panel having an edge hingedly connected to the housing. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the vacuum assembly comprises a handheld vacuum unit, and further comprising flexible tubing defining an inlet passage, the vacuum unit being in operative communication with the housing through the tubing. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the mechanism comprises a release activatable by the user to open the lid, and a cable operatively connected to the release. 
   
   
       20 . A portable, vacuum-powered leaf collector comprising:
 a collection unit adapted to be worn on a user's back during operation;   an elongated member with an intake passage defined therein, the intake passage having an opening positionable near leaves to be collected;   a vacuum unit operatively coupled to the intake passage and the collection unit to move the leaves through the intake passage and collect them in the collection unit;   a tube connected to the intake passage, the tube sized to receive outdoor debris;   wherein the collection unit includes a volume in communication with the intake passage and into which the leaves are collected;   wherein, during operation of the collector, the collection unit and the volume into which leaves are collected are dimensioned and positionable to remain substantially between the user's shoulders, whereby the user can circulate between obstacles spaced from each other by a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the user.   
   
   
       21 . The leaf collector of  claim 20 , wherein the collection unit includes a housing defining a receptacle therein, the receptacle having an opening for emptying contents of the receptacle. 
   
   
       22 . The leaf collector of  claim 21 , further comprising a lid secured to cover the opening in the receptacle. 
   
   
       23 . The leaf collector of  claim 20 , further comprising a mechanism adapted to allow the user to selectively open the collection unit to empty the contents thereof while wearing the collection unit on the back. 
   
   
       24 . The method of collecting debris from an area to be cleared, the debris including leaves or other yard material, the method comprising the steps of:
 carrying a collection unit in a desired position relative to the user's body;   operating a vacuum unit to draw debris from the area to be cleared through an intake passage and into the volume of the collection unit, the intake passage connected to a tube sized to receive outdoor debris;   moving the collection unit from the area to be cleared to a location for depositing the debris collected in the volume;   opening the collection unit while it is in the desired position in which it is being carried, whereby the contents of the collection unit are emptied.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of carrying the collection unit in a desired position comprises wearing the collection unit on the back between the shoulders; and wherein the step of opening the collection unit comprises releasing a door while wearing the unit on the back.