US-12622368-B2 - Rake/vacuum apparatus

US12622368B2US 12622368 B2US12622368 B2US 12622368B2US-12622368-B2

Abstract

A combination rake/refuse collector has a rake portion which traps leaves and other debris, a handle portion which contains a hollow tube, a connector portion which connects the hollow tube to a vacuum unit, and a storage/processing container. The vacuum unit and storage processing container are carried via a shoulder harness with two straps on the back of user. The vacuum unit sucks leaves and other debris collected by the rake portion, through the hollow tube and the connector portion, and directs them to the vacuum storage bag where they are shredded and exhausted into the leaf vacuum bag. The handle portion allows the user to direct the rake portion.

Inventors

Cody Mathew Williams

Assignees

Cody Mathew Williams

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240122

Claims (13)

1 . A device for collecting and processing debris, consisting of, a rake portion, a handle portion, a connector, a vacuum portion, and a bag/box unit, where the handle portion additionally comprises a hollow tube, where the rake portion additionally comprises a plurality of tines and a suction head, where the suction head is connected to the hollow tube, and where the hollow tube is connected to the connector by a first quick connect adaptor, and where the connector is connected to the vacuum portion by a second quick connect adaptor, Where the vacuum portion consists of an upper housing and a lower housing, where the upper housing and the lower housing each have two semicircular cavities, where the two semicircular cavities in the upper housing and the two semicircular cavities in the lower housing line up to form two circular openings when the upper housing is attached to the lower housing, Wherein the vacuum portion additionally comprises a mulching unit upper half and a mulching unit lower half, a battery housing, a battery connector slot, an electric motor and a mulching impeller, where the battery housing accepts a rechargeable battery through the battery connector slot, wherein the electric motor powers the mulching impeller, where the mulching impeller has a plurality of curved blades, wherein the mulching impeller sits in a circular depression molded into the upper housing and the lower housing, wherein, when the mulching impeller spins, the mulching impeller takes a quantity of air from an input pipe, and redirects the quantity of air through the exhaust pipe, creating a vacuum in the input pipe, wherein the vacuum sucks up a quantity of debris through the rake portion and the hollow tube, wherein the mulching impeller takes in a quantity of debris, and shreds the quantity of debris into a quantity of mulched debris, wherein the quantity of mulched debris is extruded into the exhaust pipe, wherein the input pipe is connected to the handle portion at an input adaptor, where the input adaptor is flexible tube connection, and wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to an outside portion by an exhaust pipe adaptor, wherein the input adaptor and the exhaust pipe adaptor each has a spring-loaded protective screen, wherein the lower housing additionally comprises an on/off switch and an intensity dial, wherein the plurality of tines direct a quantity of leaves toward the suction head, where the vacuum generates an amount of suction, where the amount of suction picks up the quantity of leaves from in front of the suction head and pulls them through the suction head, first through the hollow tube, second through the connector, and third, into the vacuum, and fourth, through the mulching shredding impeller and exhausted into the bag/box unit, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shoulder harness, where the shoulder harness comprises two shoulder straps, wherein the vacuum portion is worn as a backpack, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a waist harness, where the handle portion is hollow, such that the hollow tube is the inside of the handle portion, where the handle portion additionally comprises at least one side handle, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shredder, where the shredder cuts the quantity of leaves into a plurality of small particles, where the vacuum portion expels the plurality of small particles from a side exhaust vent into the attached bag/box unit, where the bag/box unit has a folded configuration and an expanded configuration, where the rake portion is attached to the handle portion by an interchangeable connector, where a plurality of rake portions can be attached to the handle portion through the interchangeable connector.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, the upper housing is attached to the lower housing by one or more screws.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the exhaust portion additionally comprises a card holder and the bag/box unit comprises a card and a bag, wherein the bag is removable from the device for emptying and reattachment, wherein the card is easily removable from a card slot by a card handle and allows the bag to be easily replaceable.
4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the outside portion is a blower, wherein the card is removable, and the bag is removed, and the connector and handle portion are attached to the exhaust port to create the blower.
5 . A vacuum/blower device for collecting and processing debris, comprising a rake portion, a handle portion, a connector, a vacuum portion, and a bag/box unit, where the handle portion additionally comprises a hollow tube, and where the hollow tube is connected to the connector by a first quick connect adaptor, and where the connector is connected to the vacuum portion by a second quick connect adaptor, wherein an exhaust portion of the vacuum portion additionally comprises a card holder and the bag/box unit comprises a card and a bag, wherein the bag is removable from the device for emptying and reattachment, wherein the card is easily removable from a card slot by a card handle and allows the bag to be easily replaceable, wherein the card slot is removable, and the bag is removable, and the connector and handle portion are attached to the exhaust port to create a blower, wherein the rake portion additionally comprises a plurality of tines and a suction head, where the suction head is connected to the hollow tube, wherein the vacuum portion consists of an upper housing and a lower housing, where the upper housing and the lower housing each have two semicircular cavities, where the two semicircular cavities in the upper housing and the two semicircular cavities in the lower housing line up to form two circular openings when the upper housing is attached to the lower housing, wherein the vacuum portion additionally comprises a mulching unit upper half and a mulching unit lower half, a battery housing, a battery connector slot, an electric motor and a mulching impeller, where the battery housing accepts a rechargeable battery through the battery connector slot, wherein the electric motor powers the mulching impeller, where the mulching impeller has a plurality of curved blades, wherein the mulching impeller sits in a circular depression molded into the upper housing and the lower housing.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein, when the mulching impeller spins, the mulching impeller takes a quantity of air from an input pipe, and redirects the quantity of air through the exhaust pipe, creating a vacuum in the input pipe, wherein the vacuum sucks up a quantity of debris through the rake portion and the hollow tube.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the mulching impeller takes in a quantity of debris, and shreds the quantity of debris into a quantity of mulched debris, wherein the quantity of mulched debris is extruded into the exhaust pipe.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the input adaptor and the exhaust pipe adaptor each has a spring-loaded protective screen.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the lower housing additionally comprises an on/off switch and an intensity dial.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the input pipe is connected to the handle portion at an input adaptor, where the input adaptor is flexible tube connection, and wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to an outside portion by an exhaust pipe adaptor.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tines direct a quantity of leaves toward the suction head, where the vacuum generates an amount of suction, where the amount of suction picks up the quantity of leaves from in front of the suction head and pulls them through the suction head, first through the hollow tube, second through the connector, and third, into the vacuum, and fourth, through the mulching shredding impeller and exhausted into the bag/box unit, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shoulder harness, where the shoulder harness comprises two shoulder straps, wherein the vacuum portion is worn as a backpack, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a waist harness, where the handle portion is hollow, such that the hollow tube is the inside of the handle portion, where the handle portion additionally comprises at least one side handle, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shredder, where the shredder cuts the quantity of leaves into a plurality of small particles, where the vacuum portion expels the plurality of small particles from a side exhaust vent into the attached bag/box unit, where the bag/box unit has a folded configuration and an expanded configuration, where the rake portion is attached to the handle portion by an interchangeable connector, where a plurality of rake portions can be attached to the handle portion through the interchangeable connector.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein, the upper housing is attached to the lower housing by one or more screws.
13 . A bag for collecting mulched debris, comprising, a bag with an attached card, wherein the card has a card handle, wherein the card removably fits into a card slot, where the card slot is attached to an exhaust port of a vacuum mulching device, where the card slot is attached to a vacuum mulching unit, where the vacuum mulching unit comprises a rake portion, a handle portion, a connector, a vacuum portion, and a bag/box unit, where the handle portion additionally comprises a hollow tube, where the rake portion additionally comprises a plurality of tines and a suction head, where the suction head is connected to the hollow tube, and where the hollow tube is connected to the connector by a first quick connect adaptor, and where the connector is connected to the vacuum portion by a second quick connect adaptor, where the vacuum portion consists of an upper housing and a lower housing, where the upper housing and the lower housing each have two semicircular cavities, where the two semicircular cavities in the upper housing and the two semicircular cavities in the lower housing line up to form two circular openings when the upper housing is attached to the lower housing, wherein the vacuum portion additionally comprises a mulching unit upper half and a mulching unit lower half, a battery housing, a battery connector slot, an electric motor and a mulching impeller, where the battery housing accepts a rechargeable battery through the battery connector slot, wherein the electric motor powers the mulching impeller, where the mulching impeller has a plurality of curved blades, wherein the mulching impeller sits in a circular depression molded into the upper housing and the lower housing, wherein, when the mulching impeller spins, the mulching impeller takes a quantity of air from an input pipe, and redirects the quantity of air through the exhaust pipe, creating a vacuum in the input pipe, wherein the vacuum sucks up a quantity of debris through the rake portion and the hollow tube, wherein the mulching impeller takes in a quantity of debris, and shreds the quantity of debris into a quantity of mulched debris, wherein the quantity of mulched debris is extruded into the exhaust pipe, wherein the input pipe is connected to the handle portion at an input adaptor, where the input adaptor is flexible tube connection, and wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to an outside portion by an exhaust pipe adaptor, wherein the input adaptor and the exhaust pipe adaptor each has a spring-loaded protective screen, wherein the lower housing additionally comprises an on/off switch and an intensity dial, wherein the plurality of tines direct a quantity of leaves toward the suction head, where the vacuum generates an amount of suction, where the amount of suction picks up the quantity of leaves from in front of the suction head and pulls them through the suction head, first through the hollow tube, second through the connector, and third, into the vacuum, and fourth, through the mulching shredding impeller and exhausted into the bag/box unit, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shoulder harness, where the shoulder harness comprises two shoulder straps, wherein the vacuum portion is worn as a backpack, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a waist harness, where the handle portion is hollow, such that the hollow tube is the inside of the handle portion, where the handle portion additionally comprises at least one side handle, where the vacuum portion additionally comprises a shredder, where the shredder cuts the quantity of leaves into a plurality of small particles, where the vacuum portion expels the plurality of small particles from a side exhaust vent into the attached bag/box unit, where the bag/box unit has a folded configuration and an expanded configuration, where the rake portion is attached to the handle portion by an interchangeable connector, where a plurality of rake portions can be attached to the handle portion through the interchangeable connector, wherein, the upper housing is attached to the lower housing by one or more screws.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This utility patent application claims priority back to US Utility No. 19, filed 12 Dec. 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT This invention was not federally sponsored. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to the general field of devices for collecting leaves and other debris, then mulching and disposing of them, and more specifically toward a combination rake/vacuum apparatus that can be carried on the back of a user. Statement of the Problem Solved How to collect fallen leaves off a lawn or other part of a person's property has been a problem facing property owners for centuries. A more recent problem has arisen in stadiums and arenas where patrons purchase food and drinks in paper and plastic wrappers and cups, and the leave their debris, along with peanut shells, partially eaten food, popcorn, confetti and other debris under the stadium seats. Prior Art There is considerable prior art that attempts to collect leaves on a lawn. There are simple rakes, which require a user to physically contain the leaves (usually with one hand pressing the leaves against the rake) and lifting them into a trash can or other container. There are also motorized lawn tractors that can suck up cut grass and could be used to remove and store leaves, but these are expensive and not good for fine-tuned leaf cleanup. U.S. Pat. No. 9,961,838 to Horth describes a lawn debris collection assembly having a plenum assembly configured to be positioned in close proximate relationship with a lawn surface having lawn debris lodged between lawn blades of a lawn. The plenum assembly is movable along the lawn surface and configured to house a positive air-pressure stream in such a way that the positive air-pressure stream is directed toward the lawn debris, and the positive air-pressure stream, in use, dislodges the lawn debris from between the lawn blades. The plenum assembly is also configured to house a negative air-pressure airstream in such a way that the negative air-pressure airstream, in use, flows from the plenum assembly to a debris-collection bag. The negative air-pressure airstream, in use, urges the lawn debris to move from the plenum assembly to the debris-collection bag. This device is quite complicated and is basically a vacuum cleaner at the end of a pole. An equally cumbersome device is found in US 20160066513 to Gray, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,266,763 to Hays requires a large bag and an unwieldy suction device. U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,615 to Ries is a patent that covers a blower attachment to a rake, which creates an air stream generated by air stream generating device to be directed into a loosely defined plane. The raking attachment comprises a generally triangular shaped top wall, an opposing triangular shaped bottom face, side walls and an inlet throat with the side walls joined to at least a portion of the top wall and the bottom face wherein the top wall, bottom face and side walls extend longitudinally from the inlet throat. The top wall also extends beyond a terminal end of the bottom face and terminates in an end wall that is disposed at an angle relative to the top wall. However, this invention does not have the capacity to pick up the leaves and dispose of them. U.S. Pat. No. 8,266,763 to Hays describes a leaf and lawn vacuum bagger, however this invention does not provide a backpack and lacks a rake or vacuum and also fails to provide a biodegradable paper bag for leaf storage. U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,125 to Makita provides a backpack power apparatus but fails to have a rake, a vacuum and also does not provide a leaf bag. CN 212175647 teaches another backpack-style leaf cleaning device, but this invention fails to provide a rake or vacuum, and there is no bag for disposal of leaves. However, none of the prior art offers an easy way for a person to collect leaves and other debris from a lawn in an effective manner without requiring a large and expensive vehicle such as a lawn tractor. The current invention provides a solution by combing a rake and a vacuum in a novel manner. The invention provided is a combination rake/refuse collector that has a rake portion which traps leaves and other debris, a handle portion which contains a hollow tube, a connector portion which connects the hollow tube to a vacuum unit/processing. The vacuum unit contains a battery-driven brushless motor that turns an alloy or plastic shredding impeller and is carried via two straps on the back of user. The shredding impeller has curved blades and redirect air from in input pipe to an exhaust pipe. This redirection causes a vacuum to form in the input pipe which sucks leaves and other debris collected by the rake portion, through the hollow tube and the connector portion, and directs them to shredding impeller, which mulches the leaves and then redirects the mulch into th