Utility vacuum

Abstract

A vacuum that includes a container, a hose in fluid communication with the container, a fan assembly coupled to the container, an attachment and an accessory apron. The fan assembly includes a fan housing and a fan that is configured to draw a debris-laden air flow through the hose and into the container. The attachment is capable of being releasably coupled to at least one of the hose and the fan housing. The accessory apron has a strap and a holder that is sized to receive and removably store the attachment. The strap is configured to be releasably secured to at least one of the canister and the fan assembly.

1 . A vacuum comprising:
 a container;   a hose in fluid communication with the container;   a fan assembly coupled to the container, the fan assembly including a fan housing and a fan, the fan being operable for drawing a debris-laden air flow through the hose and into the container;   an attachment that is capable of being releasably coupled to at least one of the hose and the fan housing; and   an accessory apron with a strap and a holder that is sized to receive and removably store the attachment, the strap being configured to be releasably secured to at least one of the canister and the fan assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a pouch that is closed on three sides, the attachment being received into an open side of the pouch. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum of  claim 2 , wherein the holder is formed of a fabric material. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises an elastic band that frictionally engages the attachment. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises a first strap portion and a second strap portion, the first strap portion being coupled to a first side of the holder, the second strap portion being coupled to a second side of the holder opposite the first side. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum of  claim 5 , wherein the strap further comprises a fastener that releasably couples the first and second straps to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener is selected from a group consisting of hook-and-loop fasteners, hooks, snaps and D-rings. 
   
   
       8 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism including a cage and a float that is disposed in the cage, the valve mechanism being received in the canister and in fluid communication with the fan. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum of  claim 8 , further comprising a filter that is disposed about the cage. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum of  claim 8 , wherein the holder comprises a pouch that is closed on three sides, the attachment being received into an open side of the pouch. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum of  claim 10 , wherein the holder is formed of a fabric material. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum of  claim 8 , wherein the holder comprises an elastic band that frictionally engages the attachment. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum of  claim 8 , wherein the strap comprises a first strap portion and a second strap portion, the first strap portion being coupled to a first side of the holder, the second strap portion being coupled to a second side of the holder opposite the first side. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the strap further comprises a fastener that releasably couples the first and second straps to one another. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener is selected from a group consisting of hook-and-loop fasteners, hooks, snaps and D-rings. 
   
   
       16 . A method for operating a vacuum having a container, a hose in fluid communication with the container and a fan assembly coupled to the container, the fan assembly including a fan housing and a fan, the fan being operable for drawing a debris-laden air flow through the hose and into the container, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of accessories, each of the accessories being capable of being selectively coupled at least one of the hose, the fan assembly and another one of the plurality of accessories;   providing an accessory apron having a plurality of holders and a strap;   removably securing the accessory apron to vacuum; and   storing at least a portion of the plurality of accessories in corresponding ones of the holders.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing the accessory apron from the vacuum and removably securing the accessory apron to a user of the vacuum. 
   
   
       18 . A vacuum comprising:
 a hose;   an assembly including a container and a fan assembly, the hose being in fluid communication with the container, the fan assembly being coupled to the container, the fan assembly including a fan housing and a fan, the fan being operable for drawing a debris-laden air flow through the hose and into the container;   a plurality of attachments that are capable of being releasably coupled to at least one of the hose, the fan housing and another one of the plurality of attachments; and   a tool holder with a body that is configured to releasably hold the plurality of attachments, the body being flexible and conforming to an exterior shape of the container when the tool holder is releasably secured around the exterior of the container.   
   
   
       19 . The vacuum of  claim 18 , wherein the body includes a plurality of pouches into which the plurality of attachments are received. 
   
   
       20 . The vacuum of  claim 19 , wherein the tool holder further comprises a pair of straps that are coupled to the opposite ends of the body, the straps being selectively coupled to one another to tighten the tool holder about the assembly.