Particulate Collector for Drums

Abstract

Collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling out of a drum during mixing. The collector has a body with opposing curved end, an outer and inner surface, a first and second vacuum port extending from the outer to the inner surface, first and second angled hollow pipes, each having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first or second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body. When the collector is placed in the drum, the first and second pipes rest on the drum's rim, such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the pipes, particulates present in the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip, the collector comprising:
 a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface,   a first angled hollow pipe having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body;   a second angled hollow pipe having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body;   wherein when the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum, the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe rest on the rim of the opening at the point where the first portion and the second portions meet;   such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe and the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner end of the first angled hollow pipe extends through the first vacuum port and is rotatably secured to the inner surface and the outer surface of the body by washers around the tubular body of the first angled hollow pipe, in contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of the body; and   the inner end of the second angled hollow pipe extends through the second vacuum port and is rotatably secured to the inner surface and the outer surface of the body by washers around the tubular body of the second angled hollow pipe, in contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the angle at which the first portion of the tubular body and the second portion of the tubular body of the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe meet is 45 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing curved ends of the body are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip of the rim of the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The collector of  claim 4 , wherein an overall shape of the body is semicircular. 
     
     
         6 . The collector of  claim 1 , further comprising a clip for attaching the body of the particulate collector to the drum, the clip comprising: a hook portion for receiving the upper rim of the body, coupled to a second leg, the outer rim of the drum being received between the hook portion and the second leg of the clip. 
     
     
         7 . The collector of  claim 1 , wherein the curved ends of the body engage an inner surface of the opening of the drum, such that when the body is inserted into the opening of the drum, supported by the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe, the curved ends of the body maintain a position of the collector within the opening of the drum through friction. 
     
     
         8 . The collector of  claim 1 , further comprising slots formed in the body adjacent to the curved ends of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The collector of  claim 8 , further comprising at least a first clip and a second clip, each clip being slidably received within the slots formed in the body. 
     
     
         10 . The collector of  claim 9 , wherein each clip comprises: a body with a top surface, a side surface, a bottom surface and a lip defined by a first edge and a second edge, the lip extending axially outwards from the bottom surface and angled relative to the bottom surface such that the first edge is extends further axially outwards than the second edge. 
     
     
         11 . The collector of  claim 9 , wherein the slots define an opening that is greater in size than a thickness of the first and second clips. 
     
     
         12 . The collector of  claim 11 , wherein the opening of the slots further comprises a stop that has a thickness equal to the thickness of the first and second clips. 
     
     
         13 . A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip, the collector comprising:
 a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;   a collection chamber on the outer surface of the body surrounding at least the first vacuum port and the second vacuum port, the collection chamber having a hollow pipe with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the collection chamber;   wherein when the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum and rests on the rim of the opening;   such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         14 . The collector of  claim 13 , wherein the opposing curved ends of the body are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip of the rim of the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The collector of  claim 14 , wherein an overall shape of the body is semicircular. 
     
     
         16 . The collector of  claim 13 , further comprising slots formed in the body adjacent to the curved ends of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The collector of  claim 16 , further comprising at least a first clip and a second clip, each clip being slidably received within a slot formed in the body. 
     
     
         18 . The collector of  claim 17 , wherein each clip comprises: a body with a top surface, a side surface, a bottom surface and a lip defined by a first edge and a second edge, the lip extending axially outwards from the bottom surface and angled relative to the bottom surface such that the first edge is extends further axially outwards than the second edge. 
     
     
         19 . The collector of  claim 17 , wherein the slots define an opening that is greater in size than a thickness of the first and second clips. 
     
     
         20 . The collector of  claim 19 , wherein the opening of the slots further comprises a stop that has a thickness equal to the thickness of the first and second clips.