Animal litter vacuum device

Abstract

A handheld vacuum device which contains a head portion, an interface for a waste container to detachably connect thereto, and a gripping portion connected to the head portion. The interface is configured on a front end of the head portion. The head portion is configured with a latch device that is adapted to lock the waste container to the head portion, and to unlock and facilitate a drop of the waste container from the head portion by a user's one hand operation on the latch device. The user can keep his or her hands completely clean without having to worry about contacting animal feces by accident.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld vacuum device, comprising
 a) a head portion;   b) an interface for a waste container to detachably connect thereto; the interface configured on a front end of the head portion; and   c) a gripping portion connected to the head portion;
 wherein the head portion is configured with a latch device that is adapted to lock the waste container to the head portion, and to unlock and facilitate a drop of the waste container from the head portion by a user's one hand operation on the latch device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the latch device further comprises a button movably mounted on the head portion; the button adapted to be operated by the user with a finger to unlock the waste container from the head portion. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 2 , wherein the latch device further comprises a lever hinged to the head portion between two ends of the lever; one of the two ends formed as or coupled with the button which is adapted to be pressed by the user; the other one of the two ends formed as or coupled with a hook member that is adapted to grip a protruded rim of the waste container. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the interface further comprises a circumferentially extending sidewall at the front end of the head portion that delimits an opening; the opening facing an insertion direction of the waste container and adapted to receive at least a part of the waste container. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 4 , wherein the latch device further comprises a latch member that is movable at least partially into the opening to secure the waste container once installed to the handheld vacuum device. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 1 , further comprises a worklight installed at the head portion. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 1 , further comprises a plurality of battery cells received within the gripping portion; the gripping portion defining a longitudinal direction where the plurality of battery cells is aligned in an end-to-end manner along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld vacuum device of  claim 4 , wherein the circumferentially extending sidewall has a length in the range of 2-3 mm in the insertion direction. 
     
     
         9 . A waste container for a vacuum device, comprising:
 a) a container body;   b) a filter within the container body; and   c) a flap member secured to a first end of the container body; the flap member defining an inlet for air and waste;
 wherein the container body further comprises a second end which is adapted to be connected and locked to an interface of the vacuum device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The waste container of  claim 9 , wherein the filter is coupled to the container body at the first end of the container body. 
     
     
         11 . The waste container of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the container body has a circular shape; the waste container further comprising a first ring member and a second ring member which are adapted to be fastened to the first end of the container body; the first ring member and the second ring member further adapted to clamp a circumferential edge of the flap member and a circumferential edge of the filter. 
     
     
         12 . The waste container of  claim 11 , wherein the flap member has a disk shape that defines the circumferential edge of the flap member. 
     
     
         13 . The waste container of  claim 11 , wherein the filter has a shape substantially corresponding to that of the container body; the filter having a protruded rim which defines the circumferential edge of the filter. 
     
     
         14 . The waste container of  claim 11 , wherein the first ring member and the second ring member are adapted to be fastened to the first end of the container body by frictional fit. 
     
     
         15 . The waste container of  claim 10 , wherein a first end of the filter is welded to the first end of the container body. 
     
     
         16 . The waste container of  claim 9 , wherein the container body has a truncated cone shape with an opening on each of the first and second ends; the waste container being stackable on another similar waste container with the truncated cone shape. 
     
     
         17 . The waste container of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the container body is formed with a protruded rim by which the waste container is adapted to be connected and locked to the interface of the vacuum device. 
     
     
         18 . The waste container of  claim 9 , wherein the container body is made of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         19 . The waste container of  claim 9 , wherein the first end of the container body has an inlet with a diameter in the range of 10 mm to 60 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A vacuum device kit comprising a handheld vacuum device according to  claim 1 , and a waste container, comprising:
 a) a container body;   b) a filter within the container body; and   c) a flap member secured to a first end of the container body; the flap member defining an inlet for air and waste;
 wherein the container body further comprises a second end which is adapted to be connected and locked to an interface of the vacuum device.