Lid for wet/dry vacuum cleaner with integrated hose retainer

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a canister, a vacuum hose, a motor, an impeller, and a one piece lid. The canister defines a debris chamber and has a top. The impeller is connected to the motor and is operable to generate air flow upon operation of the motor. The one piece lid includes a hose retainer and is mounted to the top of the canister. The hose retainer includes at least two retaining tabs spaced from a central portion of the lid to define an insertion opening. The retaining tabs deflect away from a retention position in a first direction to an open position when the vacuum hose is inserted through the insertion opening. The retaining tabs are biased in a second direction towards the retention position such that the retaining tabs exert a positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a canister defining a debris chamber and having a top;   a vacuum hose fluidly connected to the debris chamber, the vacuum hose has a vacuum hose diameter;   a motor;   an impeller connected to the motor, the impeller operable to generate air flow upon operation of the motor; and   a one piece lid including a hose retainer, the lid mounted to the top of the canister;   wherein the hose retainer includes at least two retaining tabs spaced from a central portion of the lid to define an insertion opening, the retaining tabs deflect away from a retention position in a first direction to an open position when the vacuum hose is inserted through the insertion opening;   wherein the retaining tabs are biased in a second direction towards the retention position such that the retaining tabs exert a positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion opening has an insertion opening width, the insertion opening width is about 78% to about 82% of a diameter of the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining tabs each include a vertical portion and a curved portion extending from the vertical portion, the curved portion defines a curved portion radius. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the curved portion radius is about 90% to about 95% of a radius of the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the curved portion extends from a curved-vertical portion interface to a curved portion tip, the curved portion tip extends over a hose retention area defined by the hose retainer and the central portion of the molded lid, the curved portion tip defining an insertion angle configured to exert the positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the insertion angle is about 185 degrees to about 195 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the curved portion extends from a curved-vertical portion interface to a curved portion tip, a retention angle is defined between the curved portion radius at the curved-vertical portion interface and the curved portion radius at the curved portion tip. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the retention angle is about 50 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . A hose storage system for storage of a vacuum hose for a vacuum cleaner, the hose storage system comprising:
 a hose retainer attached to a portion of the vacuum cleaner, the hose retainer and the portion of the vacuum cleaner are a one piece portion of the vacuum cleaner;   wherein the hose retainer includes at least two retaining tabs spaced from a central portion of the lid to define an insertion opening, the retaining tabs deflect away from a retention position in a first direction to an open position when the vacuum hose is inserted through the insertion opening;   wherein the retaining tabs are biased in a second direction towards the retention position such that the retaining tabs exert a positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer.   
     
     
         10 . The hose storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the insertion opening has an insertion opening width, the insertion opening width is about 78% to about 82% of a diameter of the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         11 . The hose storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the retaining tabs each include a vertical portion and a curved portion extending from the vertical portion, the curved portion defines a curved portion radius. 
     
     
         12 . The hose storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the curved portion radius is about 90% to about 95% of a radius of the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         13 . The hose storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the curved portion extends from a curved-vertical portion interface to a curved portion tip, the curved portion tip extends over a hose retention area defined by the hose retainer and the portion of the vacuum cleaner, the curved portion tip defining an insertion angle configured to exert the positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer. 
     
     
         14 . The hose storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the insertion angle is about 185 degrees to about 195 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The hose storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the curved portion extends from a curved-vertical portion interface to a curved portion tip, a retention angle is defined between the curved portion radius at the curved-vertical portion interface and the curved portion radius at the curved portion tip. 
     
     
         16 . The hose storage system of  claim 15 , wherein the retention angle is about 50 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A lid for a vacuum cleaner, the lid comprising:
 a hose retainer attached to the lid, the hose retainer and the lid are a one piece lid;   wherein the hose retainer includes at least two retaining tabs spaced from a central portion of the lid to define an insertion opening, the retaining tabs deflect away from a retention position in a first direction to an open position when a vacuum hose is inserted through the insertion opening;   wherein the retaining tabs are biased in a second direction towards the retention position such that the retaining tabs exert a positive retention force on the vacuum hose when positioned within the hose retainer.   
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the insertion opening has an insertion opening width, the insertion opening width is about 78% to about 82% of a diameter of the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 17 , wherein the retaining tabs each include a vertical portion and a curved portion extending from the vertical portion, the curved portion defines a curved portion radius. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 19 , wherein the curved portion radius is about 90% to about 95% of a radius of the vacuum hose.