Collecting sawdust and other debris from power saws

Abstract

An apparatus that may be attached between a five gallon bucket and a power saw so that debris generated by the power saw is collected in the five gallon bucket. The power saw may be one of a plurality of compatible power saws. The apparatus including a debris conduct, a duct and a skirt disposed about an upstream edge of the duct.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris collection apparatus for use with a bucket and a power saw so that debris generated by the power saw is collected in the bucket, the power saw being one of a plurality of compatible power saws, the power saw including a rotating sawblade and an discharge port positioned proximate the rotating sawblade, the apparatus comprising:
 a duct having an upstream edge, a downstream edge and a duct wall extending between the upstream edge and the downstream edge, the duct wall having an inner surface defining a tube lumen,   the duct having a collapsed shape and an extended shape, the duct being repeatedly extendable from the collapsed shape to the extended shape for use with the power saw, the duct also being repeatedly collapsible from the extended shape to the collapsed shape for transportation or storage, the duct having a first length while assuming the collapsed shape and a second length while assuming the extended shape, the second length being greater than the first length;   the downstream edge of the duct wall defining a downstream opening fluidly communicating with the duct lumen, the downstream opening and the duct lumen being adapted and dimensioned to receive an upper portion of a five gallon bucket, the inner surface of the duct wall forming a friction fit with the upper portion of the five gallon bucket when upper portion is advanced through the downstream opening;   a skirt extending in the upstream direction beyond the upstream edge of the duct wall, the skirt comprising a sheet material extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge, the forward edge undulating between a plurality of peaks and valleys so that the sheet material forms a plurality of flaps, each flap being disposed between a pair of valleys, each flap having a base portion and a tip portion, each flap having a width, the width of each flap becoming smaller as the flap extends in an upstream direction from the base portion to the tip portion, each flap defining a plurality of holes;   the being skirt disposed about the upstream edge of the duct wall and the skirt being positioned so that a plane defined by the upstream edge of the duct wall extends through the sheet material between the forward edge of the skirt and the roots of the peaks so that a margin of unrestricted sheet material extends in the upstream direction beyond the upstream end of the duct;   a debris conduit having an upstream end and a downstream end, the debris conduit comprising a conduit wall extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, the conduit wall defining a debris channel   a retaining element for detachably attaching the upstream end of the debris conduit to the discharge port of the power saw, the retaining element comprising a hose, the hose comprising a hose wall having a first edge and a second edge, the hose wall extending between the first edge and the second edge, the hose wall comprising an everted portion, a non-inverted portion and a fold disposed between the everted portion and the non-inverted portion, the hose wall folding back upon itself at the fold;   wherein, when the skirt is attached to the power saw and the upstream end of the debris conduit is connected to the discharge port of the power saw, debris thrown by the rotating sawblade passes through the debris channel defined by the conduit wall and falls into the five gallon bucket.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the duct is between about 10 inches and about 14 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the duct is has a collapsible bellows configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the duct wall comprises an inner sleeve, a support wire disposed about the inner sleeve, and an outer sleeve disposed about both the support wire and the inner sleeve so that the support wire is disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, the support wire forming a plurality of turns, each turn encircling the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the duct is sized for use with a 5 gallon bucket. 
     
     
         7 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , in combination with a miter or chop saw and whereby when the duct is attached to the saw the duct extends horizontally and then substantially vertically by gravity. 
     
     
         8 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first length is less than 12 inches and the second length is greater than 36 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve of the duct comprise polymeric film. 
     
     
         10 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the duct is collapsed in contained in packaging with the debris conduit and with instructions for use. 
     
     
         11 . An kit for use with a bucket and a miter or chop saw mounted on a stand so that debris generated by the miter or chop saw is collected in the bucket, the power saw including a saw head with a rotating sawblade, the saw head pivotal about a horizontal axis, and an discharge port positioned proximate the rotating sawblade, the kit comprising:
 a duct having an upstream edge, a downstream edge and a duct wall extending between the upstream edge and the downstream edge, the duct wall having an inner surface defining a interior,   the duct having a collapsed shape and an extended shape, the duct being repeatedly extendable from the collapsed shape to the extended shape for use with the power saw, the duct also being repeatedly collapsible from the extended shape to the collapsed shape for transportation or storage, the duct having a first length while assuming the collapsed shape and a second length while assuming the extended shape, the second length being greater than the first length;   the duct wall comprising an inner sleeve, a support wire disposed about the inner sleeve, and an outer sleeve disposed about both the support wire and the inner sleeve so that the support wire is disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, the support wire forming a plurality of turns, each turn encircling the inner sleeve;   the downstream edge of the duct wall defining a downstream opening fluidly communicating with the duct lumen, the downstream opening and the duct lumen being adapted and dimensioned to receive an upper portion of a five gallon bucket, the inner surface of the duct wall forming a friction fit with the upper portion of the five gallon bucket when upper portion is advanced through the downstream opening;   a skirt extending in the upstream direction beyond the upstream edge of the duct wall, the skirt comprising a sheet material extending between a forward edge and a rearward edge, the forward edge undulating between a plurality of peaks and valleys so that the sheet material forms a plurality of flaps, each flap being disposed between a pair of valleys, each flap having a base portion and a tip portion, each flap having a width, the width of each flap becoming smaller as the flap extends in an upstream direction from the base portion to the tip portion, each flap defining a plurality of holes;   the being skirt disposed about the upstream edge of the duct wall and the skirt being positioned so that a plane defined by the upstream edge of the duct wall extends through the sheet material between the forward edge of the skirt and the roots of the peaks so that a margin of unrestricted sheet material extends in the upstream direction beyond the upstream end of the duct;   a debris conduit having an upstream end and a downstream end, the debris conduit comprising a conduit wall extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, the conduit wall defining a debris channel;   packaging enclosing the duct with the skirt and the debris conduit, the packaging including instructions for attaching the apparatus to a saw.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a retaining element for detachably attaching the upstream end of the debris conduit to the discharge port of the power saw, the retaining element comprising a hose, the hose comprising a hose wall having a first edge and a second edge, the hose wall extending between the first edge and the second edge, the hose wall comprising an everted portion, a non-inverted portion and a fold disposed between the everted portion and the non-inverted portion, the hose wall folding back upon itself at the fold.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein, when the skirt is attached to the power saw and the upstream end of the debris conduit is connected to the discharge port of the power saw, debris thrown by the rotating sawblade passes through the debris channel defined by the conduit wall and falls into the five gallon bucket. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the duct is has a collapsible bellows configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the duct is sized for use with a  5  gallon bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet material comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve of the duct comprise polymeric film. 
     
     
         18 . A debris collection apparatus for a saw mounted on a stand, the stand elevating the saw above floor level 2 to 4 feet, the saw having a saw head that is pivotal upwardly and downward manually about a horizontal axis for sawing boards, the saw having a rearward debris discharge port, the apparatus comprising:
 a collapsible main duct with a diameter of 8 inches to 20 inches that is attachable to the saw to encompass the rearward debris discharge port, the collapsible main duct having a bellows configuration;   a debris conduit having an upstream end and a downstream end, the debris conduit comprising a conduit wall extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, the conduit wall defining a debris channel, the upstream end of the debris conduit connectable to the rearward debris discharge port, the debris conduit having a diameter of from 1 ½ inches to 4 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 18  wherein an upstream end of the main duct is attachable to the saw by way of an elastic skirt extending from the upstream end. 
     
     
         20 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 18  in combination with a saw and a debris collection receptacle, the main duct attached to the saw and the majority of the main duct extending substantially vertically and position over the receptacle.