High performance handheld liquid suction device

Abstract

A handheld suction device may provide an ergonomic and convenient device for cleaning a variety of floor surface soils, including liquid soils. In different configurations, the device may provide a variety of different features to efficiently collect and hold liquid removed from the floor surface and/or prevent vacuum motor flooding if the operator over rotates the device when filled with liquid. In some applications, the handheld suction device provides an interchangeable system that allows the operator to switch between different suction attachments designed for picking up liquid soil and solid soil.

1 . A handheld liquid suction device comprising:
 a handle member operatively connected to a vacuum source;   a suction nozzle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; and   an elongated tubular chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the elongated tubular chamber being engaged with the handle member and the distal end of the elongated tubular chamber being engaged with the suction nozzle; and   a suction tube in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the suction nozzle and extending inside of the elongated tubular chamber;   wherein the elongated tubular chamber comprises a first section and a second section releasably coupled together, the first section being engaged with the suction nozzle and the second section being engaged with the handle member, and   the suction tube has a terminal end opposite the outlet opening of the suction nozzle contained within the first section of the elongated tubular chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the elongated tubular chamber include a coupling member and the second section include a complementary coupling member configured to releasably engage the coupling member, thereby allowing the elongated tubular chamber to be separated into separate sections for discharging liquid collected in the elongated tubular chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap positioned over the terminal end of the suction tube, the cap defining a solid end face and a radial gap through which liquid discharging from the terminal end of the suction tube can flow. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the suction tube extends coaxially with the elongated tubular chamber, and   a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the suction tube divided by a cross-sectional area of the elongated tubular chamber ranges from 0.1 to 0.4.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein suction nozzle tapers from the outlet opening to the inlet opening and comprises a squeegee. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein vacuum source comprises a vacuum motor contained within a vacuum motor housing, and the handle member is formed by the vacuum motor housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the vacuum motor housing carries a power source that supplies power to the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the vacuum motor housing defines an axis of length, the elongated tubular chamber defines an axis of length, and the vacuum motor housing axis of length intersects the elongated tubular chamber axis of length at a non-zero degree angle. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum suction tube in fluid communication with the vacuum source, the vacuum suction tube extending inside of the elongated tubular chamber toward the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the vacuum suction tube has an inlet opening positioned inside of the elongated tubular chamber and an outlet opening engaged with the vacuum source, and the inlet opening is offset from a geometric center of the elongated tubular chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet opening of the vacuum suction tube is positioned closer to an upper surface of the elongated tubular chamber than a lower surface of the elongated tubular chamber, thereby defining a liquid receiving cavity between the vacuum suction tube and the lower surface of the elongated tubular chamber that is configured to collect liquid when the device is tilted to prevent flooding of the vacuum source. 
     
     
         12 . A handheld liquid suction device comprising:
 a handle member operatively connected to a vacuum source;   a suction nozzle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; and   an elongated tubular chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the elongated tubular chamber being engaged with the handle member and the distal end of the elongated tubular chamber being engaged with the suction nozzle; and   a vacuum suction tube in fluid communication with the vacuum source, the vacuum suction tube extending inside of the elongated tubular chamber toward the suction nozzle.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum suction tube has an inlet opening positioned inside of the elongated tubular chamber and an outlet opening engaged with the vacuum source, and the inlet opening is offset from a geometric center of the elongated tubular chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet opening of the vacuum suction tube is positioned in an upper cross-sectional half of the elongated tubular chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet opening of the vacuum suction tube is positioned closer to an upper surface of the elongated tubular chamber than a lower surface of the elongated tubular chamber, thereby defining a liquid receiving cavity between the vacuum suction tube and the lower surface of the elongated tubular chamber that is configured to collect liquid when the device is tilted to prevent flooding of the vacuum source. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the vacuum suction tube tapers from the outlet opening to the inlet opening, such that the inlet opening has a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein vacuum source comprises a vacuum motor contained within a vacuum motor housing, and the handle member is formed by the vacuum motor housing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the vacuum motor housing is configured to contain a battery. 
     
     
         19 . A handheld suction system comprising:
 a handle member operatively connected to a vacuum source; and   at least two interchangeable nozzles selectively engageable with the handle member, including:
 a liquid suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an elongated tubular chamber extending from the suction nozzle and configured for engagement with the handle member, and a suction tube in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the suction nozzle and extending inside of the elongated tubular chamber; and 
 a solid matter suction attachment that includes a suction nozzle defining an inlet opening and an elongated tubular chamber extending from the suction nozzle that is configured for engagement with the handle member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the suction nozzle for the solid matter suction attachment defines a throat of larger cross-sectional area than the suction nozzle for the liquid suction attachment. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a primary elongated tubular chamber engaged with the handle member, the primary elongated tubular chamber having a coupling member, wherein the elongated tubular chamber of the liquid suction attachment and the solid matter suction attachment each include a complementary coupling member configured to releasably engage the coupling member, thereby allowing the liquid suction attachment and the solid matter suction attachment to be interchangeably engaged with the handle member. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the solid matter suction attachment comprises an air filter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein suction nozzle for the liquid suction attachment comprises a squeegee.