Wet/dry vacuum tools

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to vacuum tools. In one example, a first wet/dry crevice tool is provided that can be coupled to a vacuum source and a cleaning fluid source. The first tool includes a vacuum orifice and a cleaning fluid nozzle assembly coupled to a cleaning fluid actuation mechanism to controllably deliver cleaning fluid to a target area to be cleaned. The vacuum orifice and the cleaning fluid nozzle assembly are configured to sealingly interface with another cooperating tool. The first tool includes latching mechanisms and tolerance rails to enable secure coupling of the first tool to another cooperating tool, for example a liquid containment tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wet/dry vacuum tool, comprising:
 a tool body including a grip region, the grip region is configured to couple to a vacuum source and a cleaning fluid source;   the tool body further including a wet/dry cleaning region disposed opposite the grip region end; the wet/dry cleaning region includes:
 a cleaning fluid nozzle assembly including a fluid nozzle and a flanged ring surrounding the fluid nozzle, wherein the fluid nozzle is fluidly coupled to the cleaning fluid source, and the flanged ring configured to sealingly couple to a different wet/dry vacuum tool; 
 a controllable fluid delivery actuator to controllably couple and decouple the cleaning fluid source from the fluid nozzle; and 
 a vacuum orifice fluidly coupled through the body to the vacuum source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an agitator assembly coupled to wet/dry cleaning region of the body, the agitator assembly including a plurality of filaments extending from the body.   
     
     
         3 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controllable latch disposed between the grip region and the wet/dry cleaning region, the latch configured to controllable couple and decouple the wet/dry vacuum tool to and from the different wet/dry vacuum tool.   
     
     
         4 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein the controllable fluid delivery actuator comprising:
 a slidable piston conduit coupled to the cleaning fluid source and to a trigger actuator;   a release valve coupled to one end of the slidable piston conduit; the release valve defined in a chamber of the body and including a gasket having a liquid tight seal in a first position of the release valve and a permitting fluid to flow around the gasket and release valve in a second position of the release valve; and   a spring surrounding the piston conduit, the spring causing the slidable piston conduit and the release valve to be biased the first position; wherein movement of the trigger actuator causes the slidable piston conduit and the release valve to be the second position to cause cleaning fluid to be delivered to the nozzle.   
     
     
         5 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an abutment surface disposed between the grip region and the wet/dry cleaning region of the body, the abutment surface to sealingly mate with an interface surface of the different wet/dry vacuum tool.   
     
     
         6 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an alignment rail disposed between the grip region and the wet/dry cleaning region of the body, the alignment rail to mate with an alignment slot associated with the different wet/dry vacuum tool.   
     
     
         7 . The wet/dry vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one alignment recess disposed between the grip region and the wet/dry cleaning region of the body, the alignment recess to mate with an alignment tab associated with the different wet/dry vacuum tool.   
     
     
         8 . A wet/dry containment vacuum tool for cooperating with a different wet/dry vacuum tool, the wet/dry containment vacuum tool comprising:
 a tool body comprising:
 an interface region, the interface region comprising:
 a tool interface surface to mate with an abutment surface of the different wet/dry vacuum tool; 
 a cleaning fluid interface comprising a ring member and an annular gasket, the ring member surrounding and spaced from the annular gasket; wherein 
 the annular gasket is configured to sealingly receive a nozzle associated with the different wet/dry vacuum tool; and 
 a vacuum interface to sealingly mate with a vacuum orifice associated with the different wet/dry vacuum tool; and 
 
 a wet/dry cleaning region, the wet/dry cleaning region comprising:
 a cleaning fluid nozzle fluidly coupled to the cleaning fluid interface; and 
 a vacuum orifice fluidly coupled through the body to the vacuum interface; and 
 
 a containment region disposed between the wet/dry cleaning region and the interface region, the containment region comprising:
 a removable canister coupled to the body, the canister to receive liquid and/or solids in an airflow path defined between the vacuum orifice and the vacuum interface. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The wet/dry containment vacuum tool of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an airflow director plate disposed adjacent the removable canister within the body, the airflow director plate to direct airflow in the airflow path toward a bottom end of the canister.   
     
     
         10 . The wet/dry containment vacuum tool of  claim 9 , wherein the airflow director plate comprises a first lobe for directing airflow from the vacuum orifice toward the bottom end of the canister, and a second lobe to direct airflow from the canister to the vacuum interface. 
     
     
         11 . The wet/dry containment vacuum tool of  claim 8 , wherein the cleaning fluid interface is also configured to receive a flange ring member associated with the different wet/dry tool, the flange ring member to be sealingly received in the space between the ring member and the annular gasket. 
     
     
         12 . The wet/dry containment vacuum tool of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an agitator assembly coupled to wet/dry cleaning region of the body, the agitator assembly including a plurality of filaments extending from the body.   
     
     
         13 . The wet/dry containment vacuum tool of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a hook disposed within the interface region, the hook configured to controllably couple and decouple the wet/dry containment vacuum tool to and from the different wet/dry vacuum tool.   
     
     
         14 . A cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set, comprising:
 a first tool, the first tool having a first tool body including a grip region, the grip region is configured to couple to a vacuum source and a cleaning fluid source;   the first tool body further including a first wet/dry cleaning region disposed opposite the grip region end; the first wet/dry cleaning region includes:
 a cleaning fluid nozzle assembly including a first fluid nozzle and a flanged ring surrounding the fluid nozzle, wherein the fluid nozzle is fluidly coupled to the cleaning fluid source; 
 a controllable fluid delivery actuator to controllably couple and decouple the cleaning fluid source from the fluid nozzle; and 
 a vacuum orifice fluidly coupled through the body to the vacuum source; and 
   a second tool, the second tool having a second tool body that includes an interface region, a second wet/dry cleaning region and a containment region disposed between the wet/dry cleaning region and the interface region, wherein:
 the interface region comprising:
 a tool interface surface to mate with the first wet/dry tool; 
 a cleaning fluid interface comprising a ring member and an annular gasket, the ring member surrounding and spaced from the annular gasket; wherein 
 the annular gasket is configured to sealingly receive the first fluid nozzle associated with the first tool; and 
 a vacuum interface to sealingly mate with a vacuum orifice of the first tool; and 
 
 the second wet/dry cleaning region comprising:
 a second fluid nozzle fluidly coupled to the cleaning fluid interface; and 
 a second vacuum orifice fluidly coupled through the second tool body to the vacuum interface; and 
 
 the containment region comprising:
 a removable canister coupled to the body, the canister to receive liquid and/or solids in an airflow path defined between the second vacuum orifice and the vacuum interface. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an airflow director plate disposed adjacent the removable canister within the second body, the airflow director plate to direct airflow in the airflow path toward a bottom end of the canister.   
     
     
         16 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 15 , wherein the airflow director plate comprises a first lobe for directing airflow from the vacuum orifice toward the bottom end of the canister, and a second lobe to direct airflow from the canister to the vacuum interface. 
     
     
         17 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , wherein the cleaning fluid interface is also configured to receive the flange ring member of the first tool, the flange ring member to be sealingly received in the space between the ring member and the annular gasket. 
     
     
         18 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an agitator assembly coupled to the first wet/dry cleaning region of the first body, the agitator assembly including a plurality of filaments extending from the first body.   
     
     
         19 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an agitator assembly coupled to the second wet/dry cleaning region of the second body, the agitator assembly including a plurality of filaments extending from the second body.   
     
     
         20 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a controllable latch disposed between the grip region and the first wet/dry cleaning region, the latch configured to controllably couple and decouple the first tool and the second tool.   
     
     
         21 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , wherein the controllable fluid delivery actuator comprising:
 a slidable piston conduit coupled to the cleaning fluid source and to a trigger actuator;   a release valve coupled to one end of the slidable piston conduit; the release valve defined in a chamber of the first body and including a gasket having a liquid tight seal in a first position of the release valve and permitting fluid to flow around the gasket and release valve in a second position of the release valve; and   a spring surrounding the piston conduit, the spring causing the slidable piston conduit and the release valve to be biased the first position; wherein movement of the trigger actuator causes the slidable piston conduit and the release valve to be the second position to cause cleaning fluid to be delivered to the nozzle.   
     
     
         22 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an abutment surface disposed between the grip region and the first wet/dry cleaning region of the first body, the abutment surface to sealingly mate with the interface surface of the second body.   
     
     
         23 . The cooperating wet/dry vacuum tool set of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an alignment rail disposed between the grip region and the first wet/dry cleaning region of the first body, and an alignment slot disposed in the interface region of the second body, the alignment rail to mate with the alignment slot.