AC/DC portable wet/dry vacuum having improved portability and convenience

Abstract

A wet/dry utility vacuum with a canister, a powerhead assembly with a fan, a shut-off device that prevents the fan from drawing liquids into the fan inlet when a volume of the liquid in the canister exceeds a predetermined volume. The powerhead assembly includes a controller that permits the utility vacuum to be operated in a desired power mode so that the user may employ either an AC power source or a DC power source, such as a battery pack, for example. In some applications, the battery pack may be interchangeable with the battery packs of various cordless tools, including drill/drivers and saws. A tool set and a method for operating a battery-powered tool set are also provided.

1 . A utility vacuum comprising: 
 a housing having an intake portion;    a canister removeably attached to the housing;    a powerhead assembly located within the housing and having a fan, a motor for providing rotary power to the fan, and a power supply for distributing electrical power to the motor; and    a battery associated with the power supply, the battery providing a source of direct current electrical power for powering the power supply,    wherein the powerhead assembly is oriented in a substantially vertical fashion.    
   
   
       2 . The utility vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the powerhead assembly is located above the canister.  
   
   
       3 . The utility vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein operation of the utility vacuum draws an intake flow of air into the canister through the inlet and discharges a discharge flow of air through the outlet.  
   
   
       4 . The utility vacuum of  claim 3 , further comprising a filter, wherein the flow of air into the canister also passes through the filter.  
   
   
       5 . The utility vacuum of  claim 4 , wherein the filter includes a washable material.  
   
   
       6 . The utility vacuum of  claim 3 , further comprising a flexible hose that is configured to be coupled with the inlet.  
   
   
       7 . The utility vacuum of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible hose has a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a body interconnecting the first end and second end, the flexible hose being positionable in a storage position wherein the first end is coupled to the inlet and the body is coupled to a portion of a handle portion of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The utility vacuum of  claim 7 , wherein the second end of the hose is coupled to the intake portion of the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The utility vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is removeable from the utility vacuum.  
   
   
       10 . The utility vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is located adjacent the intake portion of the housing between the canister and the intake portion of the housing.  
   
   
       11 . A utility vacuum comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet;    a canister removeably attached to the housing;    a powerhead assembly located within the housing and having a fan, a motor for providing rotary power to the fan, and a power supply for distributing electrical power to the motor;    a battery associated with the power supply, the battery providing a source of direct current electrical power for powering the power supply, and    a flexible hose,    wherein the flexible hose has a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a body interconnecting the first end and second end, the flexible hose being positionable in a storage position wherein the first end is coupled to the inlet and the body is coupled to a portion of a handle portion of the housing.    
   
   
       12 . The utility vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the hose is coupled to an intake portion of the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The utility vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the battery is located adjacent an intake portion of the housing between the canister and the intake portion of the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The utility vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the battery is removeable from the utility vacuum.  
   
   
       15 . The utility vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes an outlet, wherein operation of the utility vacuum draws an intake flow of air into the canister through the inlet and discharges a discharge flow of air through the outlet.  
   
   
       16 . The utility vacuum of  claim 15 , further comprising a filter, wherein the flow of air into the canister also passes through the filter.  
   
   
       17 . The utility vacuum of  claim 16 , wherein the filter includes a washable material.  
   
   
       18 . The utility vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the powerhead assembly is oriented in a substantially vertical fashion.  
   
   
       19 . The utility vacuum of  claim 18 , wherein the powerhead assembly is located above the canister.