Blower with interchangeable fixed and flexible tubes

Abstract

A portable blower device with a housing, a power source, a fan structure and a set of discharge tubes having a rigid discharge tube and a flexible discharge tube. The blower may be selectivley employed in a first condition, wherein the flexible discharge tube is coupled between an outlet in the housing and a proximal end of the rigid discharge tube, and a second condition, wherein the rigid discharge tube is coupled directly to the outlet in the housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable blower device comprising: 
 a housing defining at least one inlet and an outlet;    a power source disposed within the housing, the power source having a movable output member;    a fan structure coupled to the output member, the fan structure moving in response to movement of the output member and producing an air flow that enters into the housing from the inlet and discharges out of the housing from the outlet; and    a set of discharge tubes for selectively coupling to the outlet, each of the discharge tubes having a coupling portion that is configured to releasably engage the outlet, the set of discharge tubes including a rigid discharge tube and a flexible discharge tube, the rigid discharge tube being configured such that it does not significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the rigid discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube being configured such that at least a portion of it does significantly deflect when its coupling portion is engaged to the outlet and the remaining portion of the flexible discharge tube extends generally horizontally outwardly from the outlet in an unsupported manner, the flexible discharge tube including a gripping structure that is configured to be manipulated by an operator to permit a distal end of the flexible discharge tube to be positioned and oriented in a desired manner relative to the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary discharge tube for selectively coupling to a distal end of at least one of the rigid and flexible discharge tubes.  
     
     
         3 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid discharge tube is unitarily formed.  
     
     
         4 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible discharge tube includes a flexible hose assembly, a first end structure and a second end structure, the first end structure being coupled to a proximal end of the flexible hose assembly, the coupling portion being integrated into the first end structure, the second end structure being coupled to the distal end of the flexible discharge tube.  
     
     
         5 . The portable blower device of  claim 4 , wherein the first end structure includes a pair of shell members that are configured to fit around and engage the proximal end of the flexible hose assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The portable blower device of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible hose assembly includes a hose portion and a reinforcing member, the reinforcing member being wrapped around the hose portion.  
     
     
         7 . The portable blower device of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing member is wrapped in a helical manner.  
     
     
         8 . The portable blower device of  claim 7 , wherein the first end structure includes a helical engagement member that is configured to threadably engage the reinforcing member.  
     
     
         9 . The portable blower device of  claim 7 , wherein the second end structure includes a helical engagement member that is configured to threadably engage the reinforcing member.  
     
     
         10 . The portable blower device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end structure includes first and second shell members that are configured to fit around and engage the proximal end of the flexible hose assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a handle portion.  
     
     
         12 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder strap that is coupled to the housing, the shoulder strap being configured to be looped over an operator's shoulder to thereby support the weight of the housing, the power source and the fan structure.  
     
     
         13 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is an electric motor.  
     
     
         14 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein the fan structure is an impeller that cooperates with the housing to provide a radially-directed flow of air.  
     
     
         15 . The portable blower device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the coupling portions and the outlet includes an L-shaped channel and the other one of the coupling portions and the outlet includes a protrusion for engaging the L-shaped channel, the L-shaped channel having a first portion that is arranged generally parallel a longitudinal axis of the one of the one of the coupling portions and the outlet and a second portion that is coupled to an end of the first portion and extends circumferentially around a portion of the one of the coupling portions and the outlet away from the first portion.  
     
     
         16 . The portable blower device of  claim 16 , wherein a ramp is formed into the L-shaped channel, the ramp operatively resisting movement of the protrusion between the first and second portions of the L-shaped channel.  
     
     
         17 . A portable blower device comprising: 
 a housing defining at least one inlet and an outlet;    a fan structure movably supported in the housing and generating an output air flow in response to its movement within the housing;    a discharge tube having a rigid portion and a flexible portion that is removably coupled to the rigid portion, each of the rigid and flexible portions having a coupling portion that is configured to be removably coupled to the outlet;    wherein the portable blower device is operable in a first condition wherein the flexible portion of the discharge tube is engaged to the outlet at a first end and engaged to an end of the rigid portion at a second end to permit fluid communication from the housing through the flexible portion to the rigid portion, and wherein the portable blower device is operable in a second condition wherein the rigid portion of the discharge tube is engaged to the outlet and the flexible portion is not engaged to either one of the outlet and the rigid portion so that the rigid portion is in direct fluid connection with the housing.    
     
     
         18 . The portable blower device of  claim 17 , further comprising a secondary discharge tube for selectively coupling to a distal end of the rigid and flexible portions of the discharge tubes.  
     
     
         19 . The portable blower device of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid portion of the discharge tube is unitarily formed.  
     
     
         20 . The portable blower device of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible portion of the discharge tube includes a flexible hose assembly, a first end structure and a second end structure, the first end structure being coupled to a proximal end of the flexible hose assembly, the coupling portion being integrated into the first end structure, the second end structure being coupled to a distal end of the flexible hose assembly and including a handle that is configured to be manipulated by an operator to permit the distal end of the flexible hose assembly to be positioned and oriented in a desired manner relative to the housing.