Apparatus and System for Drying a Clay Court and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A clay court drying apparatus including a vacuum attachment, wherein the vacuum attachment may include a vacuum head; an intake portion formed in a first region of the vacuum head; and an outlet portion formed in a second region of the vacuum head. The clay court drying apparatus may further include a filter mechanism disposed at the intake portion of the vacuum head.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A clay court drying apparatus, comprising:
 a. a vacuum attachment, comprising:
 i. a vacuum head; 
 ii. an intake portion formed in a first region of the vacuum head; and 
 iii. an outlet portion formed in a second region of the vacuum head; and 
   b. a filter mechanism disposed at the intake portion of the vacuum head.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism is integrated with the intake portion of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism is removable from the intake portion of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the filter mechanism comprises a filter frame and fasteners arranged about the filter frame, wherein the fasteners allow for the filter mechanism to be attached to and removed from the intake portion of the vacuum head. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism is configured to allow the passage of liquid therethrough while substantially blocking the passage of solid particulates. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism comprises a mesh fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mesh fabric comprises a multi-layer mesh fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mesh fabric comprises a mesh size in the range of about 1-mm to about a 2-mm. 
     
     
         9 . A clay court drying system, comprising:
 a. a vacuum attachment, comprising:
 i. a vacuum head; 
 ii. an intake portion formed in a first region of the vacuum head; and 
 iii. an outlet portion formed in a second region of the vacuum head; 
   b. a filter mechanism disposed at the intake portion of the vacuum head; and   c. a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum attachment and configured to provide a vacuum force through the filter mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the vacuum source is operatively coupled to the vacuum attachment by at least one of a vacuum wand and a vacuum hose. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum source is operatively coupled to the outlet portion of the vacuum head of the vacuum attachment by the at least one of the vacuum wand and the vacuum hose. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a clay court drying system, the method comprising:
 a. providing a clay court drying system, comprising:
 i. a vacuum attachment, comprising:
 a vacuum head; 
 an intake portion formed in a first region of the vacuum head; and 
 an outlet portion formed in a second region of the vacuum head; 
 
 ii. a filter mechanism disposed at the intake portion of the vacuum head; and 
 iii. a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum attachment and configured to provide a vacuum force through the filter mechanism. 
   b. activating the vacuum source;   c. running the vacuum attachment over a playing surface of a clay court to be dried; and   d. deactivating the vacuum source.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the filter mechanism is configured to allow the passage of liquid therethrough while substantially blocking the passage of solid particulates. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the filter mechanism comprises a mesh fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mesh fabric comprises a multi-layer mesh fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mesh fabric comprises a mesh size in the range of about 1-mm to about a 2-mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum source is operatively coupled to the vacuum attachment by at least one of a vacuum wand and a vacuum hose.