Portable vacuum systems, namely, backpack mounted vacuum systems, are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,047,164 provides for a backpack mounted cotton picking machine having a vacuum mounted to the backpack and a battery located in a battery compartment on a waist belt. A wire connects the battery with the vacuum to supply power thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,712 teaches a backpack mounted vacuum cleaner system with a rechargeable battery that can be removed and replaced. Alternatively, the system can have both a rechargeable battery and an electrical plug for connecting with an external power source. A blower motor is connected to the battery or plug to spin the fan in the blower and pull debris-laden air through a cloth separation means. The cloth separation means retains the collected debris for subsequent removal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,371 teaches a backpack mounted vacuum cleaner system having a lower casing designed to be releasably mounted to an upper casing. The lower casing is a debris collector. An air entry port supplies dirt laden air tangentially to the interior surface of the lower casing. The air entry port may be located on either the right or left side of the system. A centrifugal force is applied to the dirt-laden air causing it to rotate within chamber. The larger and heavier dirt is deposited in the lower portion of the lower casing. The air moves upwardly where it passes through the motor and then through an exit port designed to direct air away from the operator. A HEPA type filter may be located in the exit port.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,211 teaches a handheld, battery-powered electric vacuum cleaner system having a battery pouch attached to a belt. The battery pouch is used for holding a rechargeable and replaceable battery. A power cord connects the battery to the motor portion of the vacuum cleaner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,026 provides for a backpack mounted vacuum system. A canister is removably attached to the bottom portion of the backpack. The canister collects debris from the air stream and contains a filter. A vacuum motor is located in the upper portion of the backpack, thus drawing air through the hose, into the canister, through the filter and then out the top of the vacuum through outlets.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,610 provides for a modular backpack vacuum system. The device comprises a filter unit and a motor unit that are designed to be releasably attached to each other. The patent states that multiple filter units could be used for different purposes. For example, one filter unit could have a HEPA filter or another could have a wet/dry filter. Depending on the application, the filter unit could be selected and attached to the motor unit. The filter unit can be attached to the motor unit with pins, compression fittings, band fittings and/or screw type threads. Use of a standard electrical connection, or rechargeable batteries, as a power source is generally disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,586 discloses a portable vacuum system that can be configured to wear as a backpack. A power source, such as a set of rechargeable batteries, may be used to power the vacuum motor. The motor, power source and debris bag are contained within either a semi-rigid or rigid enclosure. A collapsible debris wand is connected to the backpack.
The prior art described above all suffers from the same disadvantage. Namely, the prior art designs fail to provide a sufficient debris laden fluid path into the debris-collecting portion of the system. The debris laden fluid paths provided the systems described above are likely to clog thus reducing the efficiency of the vacuum system.
The prior art systems also are not designed to reduce strain and fatigue to the operator. More specifically, the handle portions of the prior art vacuum systems do not facilitate control over, or operation of, the floor brush and the vacuum system.
In light of these disadvantages, a backpack mounted vacuum system which is designed to reduce the likelihood of clogs and increase operator efficiency is needed.