Portable vacuuming apparatus

Abstract

A hand-carried vacuuming apparatus is convertible between an enlarged dust chamber configuration and a compacted configuration. During the extended configuration the dust-collecting chamber has more dust-holding capacity than in the compacted configuration, and during the compacted configuration the hand-carried vacuum as a whole is more compact and portable than during the extended configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of the type having a suction blower, a dust-collecting chamber, and a handle all integrated into a single primary housing, in which the dust-collecting chamber is convertible between an extended position and a retracted position; wherein
 during the extended position the dust-collecting chamber has more dust-holding capacity than in the retracted position; and   during the retracted position the primary housing is longitudinally shorter than during the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the primary housing comprises a motor housing surrounding the suction blower and having a cylindrical portion; and wherein the dust-collecting chamber comprises a cylindrical dust-collecting housing coaxially connected to the motor housing at the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         3 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the dust-collecting housing is coaxially rotatable relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         4 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the dust-collecting housing is longitudinally translatable relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the dust-collecting chamber is convertible between the extended and retracted positions through a combination of coaxial rotation and longitudinal translation of the dust-collecting housing relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         6 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the suction blower is energized though electrical wiring housed within the motor housing, and the dust-collecting chamber is convertible between the extended and retracted positions without flexing or straining the wiring. 
     
     
         7 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 6  wherein one of the dust-collecting housing and cylindrical portion comprises a spring-biased lug and the other of the dust-collecting housing and cylindrical portion comprises a detent and wherein the dust-collecting chamber is retainable in the extended and retracted positions by cooperation of the spring-biased lug and detent. 
     
     
         8 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a circular seal disposed between the dust-collecting housing and the cylindrical portion to prevent passing of air there-between in any possible position of the dust-collecting housing relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         9 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the dust-collecting housing further comprises an intake nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the intake nozzle is coaxial with the cylindrical portion and disposed distally there-from. 
     
     
         11 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the intake nozzle is adapted to receive a vacuuming attachment from the group including a floor-cleaner, a brush, and a hose. 
     
     
         12 . A hand-carried vacuuming apparatus comprising;
 a suction blower housing comprising a handle; and   a dust-collecting housing connected to the suction blower housing; wherein   the dust-collecting housing is movable relative to the suction blower housing between an extended position and a retracted position; and wherein
 during the extended position the dust-collecting housing has more dust-holding capacity than in the retracted position; and 
 during the retracted position the hand-carried vacuum is shorter in its longest dimension than during the extended position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the suction blower housing comprises a cylindrical portion; and wherein the dust-collecting housing is cylindrical and is coaxially connected to the suction blower housing around the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         14 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the dust-collecting housing is coaxially rotatable relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         15 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the dust-collecting housing is translatable relative to the cylindrical portion along the longest dimension. 
     
     
         16 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the dust-collecting housing is movable between the extended and retracted positions through a combination of coaxial rotation and translation relative to the cylindrical portion along the longest dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the suction blower housing comprises electrical wiring there-within; and the dust-collecting housing is movable between the extended and retracted positions without flexing or straining the wiring. 
     
     
         18 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 17  wherein one of the dust-collecting housing and cylindrical portion comprises a spring-biased lug and the other of the dust-collecting housing and cylindrical portion comprises a detent and wherein the dust-collecting chamber is retainable in the extended and retracted positions by cooperation of the spring-biased lug and detent. 
     
     
         19 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a circular seal disposed between the dust-collecting chamber and the cylindrical portion to prevent suction of air there-between in any possible position of the dust-collecting chamber relative to the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         20 . The hand-carried vacuuming apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the dust-collecting chamber comprises a dust intake nozzle.