Adapter plate for selectively securing vacuum cleaner to portable tool container

Abstract

An adapter plate for selectively securing a vacuum cleaner to a portable tool container includes a frame and a vacuum cleaner attachment assembly coupled to the frame. The vacuum cleaner attachment assembly includes at least one fixed locking tab positioned to engage a first end of the vacuum cleaner, at least one retractable locking tab movable between an extended position and a retracted position and positioned to engage a second end of the vacuum cleaner opposite the first end, an actuator operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab, and at least one spring operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab to bias the at least one retractable locking tab toward the extended position. Actuation of the actuator causes the at least one retractable locking tab to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adapter plate for selectively securing a vacuum cleaner to a portable tool container, the adapter plate comprising:
 a frame; and   a vacuum cleaner attachment assembly coupled to the frame and including:
 at least one fixed locking tab positioned to engage a first end of the vacuum cleaner; 
 at least one retractable locking tab movable between an extended position and a retracted position and positioned to engage a second end of the vacuum cleaner opposite the first end; 
 an actuator operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab; and 
 at least one spring operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab to bias the at least one retractable locking tab toward the extended position, 
   wherein actuation of the actuator causes the at least one retractable locking tab to move from the extended position to the retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one container attachment clip extending laterally outward from the frame, wherein the at least one container attachment clip is sized, shaped, and positioned to engage at least one latch of the portable tool container to secure the adapter plate to the portable tool container. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one accessory attachment clip coupled to the frame and operable to secure at least one vacuum accessory to the adapter plate. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines an opening adapted to receive at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the opening forms at least part of a flow path with a suction device of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the adapter plate. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines an access opening that provides access to the portable tool container to which the adapter plate is secured. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retractable locking tab includes an upper engagement surface that includes a tapered portion oriented at an oblique angle relative to a travel direction of the at least one retractable locking tab when moving between the extended position and the retracted position such that, when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the adapter plate, the vacuum cleaner engages the tapered portion and moves the at least one retractable locking tab from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring moves the at least one retractable locking tab to the extended position after the vacuum cleaner is installed on the adapter plate such that the at least one retractable locking tab engages and secures the vacuum cleaner to the adapter plate in the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner attachment assembly includes two retractable locking tabs operably coupled to the actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retractable locking tab is operable to selectively engage the vacuum cleaner via actuation of the actuator to release the vacuum cleaner from the adapter plate. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter plate is operable to selectively secure the vacuum cleaner to a lid of the portable tool container. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retractable locking tab is at least partially retracted within the adapter plate in the retracted position. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a portable tool container including a lid and at least one latch;   an adapter plate releasably secured to the portable tool container via the at least one latch, the adapter plate comprising:
 a frame; and 
 a vacuum cleaner attachment assembly coupled to the frame and including:
 at least one fixed locking tab; 
 at least one retractable locking tab movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and 
 an actuator operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab, wherein actuation of the actuator causes the at least one retractable locking tab to move from the extended position to the retracted position; and 
 
   a vacuum cleaner releasably secured to the adapter plate via the vacuum cleaner attachment assembly such that the vacuum cleaner is removable from the adapter plate upon actuation of the actuator,   wherein the at least one fixed locking tab engages a first end of the vacuum cleaner, and the at least one retractable locking tab engages a second end of the vacuum cleaner opposite the first end to secure the vacuum cleaner to the adapter plate.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the adapter plate further comprises at least one container attachment clip extending laterally outward from the frame, wherein the at least one latch of the portable tool container engages the at least one container attachment clip to secure the adapter plate to the portable tool container. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the adapter plate further comprises at least one accessory attachment clip coupled to the frame and operable to secure at least one vacuum accessory to the adapter plate. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame defines an opening in which a portion of the vacuum cleaner is received, wherein the opening forms at least part of a flow path with a suction device of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame defines an access opening that provides access to the portable tool container while the adapter plate is secured to the portable tool container. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one retractable locking tab includes an upper engagement surface that includes a tapered portion oriented at an oblique angle relative to a travel direction of the at least one retractable locking tab when moving between the extended position and the retracted position such that, when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the adapter plate, the vacuum cleaner engages the tapered portion and moves the at least one retractable locking tab from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the adapter plate further comprises at least one spring operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab, and wherein the at least one spring moves the at least one retractable locking tab to the extended position after the vacuum cleaner is installed on the adapter plate such that the at least one retractable locking tab engages and secures the vacuum cleaner to the adapter plate in the extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the adapter plate defines a plurality of slots, wherein the vacuum cleaner is positioned between at least two of the slots, wherein the system further comprises a secondary attachment system that engages a first slot of the at least two slots and a second slot of the at least two slots and extends around the vacuum cleaner to releasably secure the vacuum cleaner to the adapter plate independently of the vacuum cleaner attachment assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A method of selectively securing a vacuum cleaner to a portable tool container, the method comprising:
 connecting an adapter plate to a lid of the portable tool container using at least one latch of the portable tool container, the adapter plate including a frame and a vacuum cleaner attachment assembly coupled to the frame, the vacuum cleaner attachment assembly including at least one fixed locking tab, at least one retractable locking tab movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and an actuator operably coupled to the at least one retractable locking tab and operable to move the at least one retractable locking tab from the extended position to the retracted position; and   securing the vacuum cleaner to the adapter plate by engaging the at least one fixed locking tab with a first end of the vacuum cleaner and engaging the at least one retractable locking tab with a second end of the vacuum cleaner opposite the first end.