Vacuum tools
A vacuum tool is configured to be removably coupled to a hose or wand of a vacuum. The vacuum tool comprises a first portion, a second portion, a flexible portion and a mechanical joint. The first portion and the second portion are connected by the flexible portion and coupled by the mechanical joint, so these portions are in fluid communication from various angles. And the mechanical joint comprises a detent and multiple recesses coupled to the detent. As a result, a user can use the vacuum tool in various situations more conveniently by bending the mechanical joint.
1 . A vacuum tool configured to be removably coupled to a hose or wand of a vacuum, the vacuum tool comprising:
a first portion including a first axis and a first aperture oriented along the first axis;
a second portion including a second axis and a second aperture oriented along the second axis, the second portion including a connection portion including
an inner wall forming a conduit in fluid communication with the second aperture, the conduit including an outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the hose or wand of the vacuum,
an annular end wall having a proximal end coupled to the inner wall and extending radially outwardly from the inner wall in a direction perpendicular to the second axis to a distal end opposite the proximal end,
a flare wall coupled directly to the distal end of the annular end wall and including a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, each of the radially outer surface and the radially inner surface extending radially outwardly from the inner wall and the annular end wall at an oblique angle to the annular end wall, the radially outer surface of the flare wall being an outermost surface of the connection portion and the vacuum tool,
an outer wall coupled to the flare wall and extending from the flare wall, the outer wall surrounding a majority of the inner wall, and
an annular channel formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, the annular channel configured to receive an end of the hose or wand of the vacuum;
a flexible portion coupled between the first portion and the second portion, the flexible portion including a third aperture that is in fluid communication between the first and second apertures; and
a mechanical joint coupled between the first portion and the second portion, the mechanical joint having a first recess and a second recess and a first detent that is configured to be selectively received in the first recess and the second recess,
wherein the first portion is movable between a first orientation relative to the second portion in which the first axis is positioned at a first angle relative to the second axis and a second orientation relative to the second portion in which the first axis is positioned at a second angle relative to the second axis,
wherein the first detent is configured to be selectively received in the first recess to hold the first and second portions in the first orientation and the first detent is configured to be selectively received in the second recess to hold the first and second portions in the second orientation, and
wherein the first portion defines an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet.
2 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the first detent of the mechanical joint is selectively biased into one of the first recess or the second recess by a first biasing mechanism.
3 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical joint includes a first leg fixed to the first portion and a second leg fixed to the second portion, wherein one of the first leg and the second leg defines the first recess and the second recess and another of the first leg and the second leg defines the first detent.
4 . The vacuum tool of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical joint is a first mechanical joint and the first leg extends along a first side of the first portion and the second leg extends along a first side of the second portion such that the first leg is coupled to the second leg, and further comprising a second mechanical joint that includes a third leg fixed to and extending along a second side of the first portion opposite the first side and a fourth leg fixed to and extending along a second side of the second portion opposite the first side such that the third leg is coupled to the fourth leg, wherein one of the third leg and the fourth leg defines a third recess and a fourth recess and another of the third leg and the fourth leg defines a second detent configured to be selectively received in the third recess to hold the first portion in the first orientation and the second detent is configured to be selectively received in the fourth recess to hold the first portion in the second orientation.
5 . The vacuum tool of claim 4 , wherein the first detent of the first mechanical joint is selectively biased into one of the first recess or the second recess by a first biasing mechanism and the second detent of the second mechanical joint is selectively biased into one of the third recess or the fourth recess by a second biasing mechanism.
6 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes at least one opening in fluid communication with the first aperture and at least one brush element coupled to the first portion, the at least one opening being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis and defining the inlet.
7 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is movable to a third orientation relative to the second portion in which the first axis is parallel to the second axis and the first mechanical joint further includes a third recess, and the first detent is configured to be selectively received in the third recess to hold the first and second portions in the third orientation.
8 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is 45 degrees and the second angle is 90 degrees.
9 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a coupling portion that is coupled to the mechanical joint and a brush portion that is removably coupled to the coupling portion, the flexible portion extending between the coupling portion and the second portion.
10 . The vacuum tool of claim 9 , wherein the brush portion is a first brush portion having a first length, the first brush portion being interchangeable with a second brush portion having a second length.
11 . The vacuum tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall is coupled to the flare wall at an outermost edge of the connection portion.
12 . The vacuum tool of claim 11 , wherein the outer wall is coupled only to the flare wall and extends from the flare wall along the second axis in a direction away from the first portion.
13 . The vacuum tool of claim 12 , wherein the outer wall is coupled at one end to the flare wall and has an opposite free end.
14 . The vacuum tool of claim 13 , wherein the outer wall has a linear radially inner surface along an entire length.
15 . A vacuum tool configured to be removably coupled to a hose or wand of a vacuum, the vacuum tool comprising:
a first portion including
a first axis,
a first aperture oriented along the first axis,
a first leg, and
a second leg on an opposite side of the first axis from the first leg;
a flexible portion coupled to the first portion, the flexible portion including a flexible passage in fluid communication with the first aperture;
a second portion including
a second axis,
a second aperture oriented along the second axis, the second aperture in fluid communication with the flexible passage,
a first leg,
a second leg on an opposite side of the second axis from the first leg, and
a connection portion configured to be coupled to the hose or wand of the vacuum, the connection portion including
an inner wall being an innermost wall of the connection portion and defining an outlet oriented along the second axis, the outlet in fluid communication with the second aperture, the outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the hose or wand of the vacuum,
an annular end wall extending linearly and directly from the inner wall in a direction perpendicular to the second axis,
a flare wall extending directly from the annular end wall at an oblique angle,
an outer wall extending directly from the flare wall and forming an outermost edge of the connection portion with the flare wall, the outer wall and the flare wall being outermost walls of the connection portion and the vacuum tool and surrounding a majority of the inner wall, and
an annular channel formed by the inner wall and the outer wall, the annular channel being uninterrupted between the inner wall and the outer wall and configured to receive an end of the hose or wand of the vacuum;
a first mechanical joint coupling the first leg of the first portion with the first leg of the second portion; and
a second mechanical joint coupling the second leg of the first portion with the second leg of the second portion.
16 . The vacuum tool of claim 15 , wherein the connection portion is integrally formed with the second portion as a single piece.
17 . The vacuum tool of claim 15 , wherein the first portion is a single, integral piece.
18 . The vacuum tool of claim 15 , wherein the first leg of the first portion and the second leg of the first portion extend in a direction parallel to the first axis.
19 . The vacuum tool of claim 18 , wherein the first leg of the second portion and the second leg of the second portion extend in a direction parallel to the second axis.
20 . The vacuum tool of claim 19 , wherein
the first mechanical joint includes the first leg of the first portion disposed radially outwardly relative the first axis and the second axis from the first leg of the second portion, and
the second mechanical joint includes the second leg of the first portion disposed radially outwardly relative the first axis and the second axis from the second leg of the second portion.
21 . The vacuum tool of claim 20 , wherein
the first mechanical joint further includes a first cap disposed radially outwardly relative the first axis and the second axis from the first leg of the first portion, and
the second mechanical joint further includes a second cap disposed radially outwardly relative the first axis and the second axis from the second leg of the first portion.
22 . The vacuum tool of claim 21 , wherein
the first mechanical joint further includes a first detent mechanism covered by the first cap, and
the second mechanical joint further includes a second detent mechanism covered by the second cap.
23 . The vacuum tool of claim 15 , wherein the flexible portion is at least partially exposed between the first portion and the second portion and between the first mechanical joint and the second mechanical joint.