Abstract: A fan having a housing including a front piece that is separable but connectable to a back piece is disclosed. The front piece has a first connecting edge and a downstream edge, and the back piece has a second connecting edge and an upstream edge. The second connecting edge is configured to be connected to the first connecting edge. The fan may include a handle, the handle having a first portion integral with the front piece and a second portion integral with the back piece, the first portion configured to be connected to the second portion. The fan may further include air guide ribs provided on an interior surface of the housing and/or a ramp that starts at a location downstream of the upstream edge of the housing and ends at the downstream edge of the housing.

Abstract: A squeegee accessory for a wet/dry vacuum may include a housing and a squeegee assembly removably attached to a front end of the housing. The housing may include a front end including a fluid inlet, a back end including a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. The squeegee assembly may include a bracket, a squeegee removably disposed between first and second plates of the bracket, and an insert removably disposed between first and second blades of the squeegee. The insert may have an elongated body and a rib disposed on the elongated body, the rib touching the inner surface of the squeegee to define a barrier of an airflow path formed between the insert and the squeegee.

Abstract: A fan having a housing including a front piece that is separable but connectable to a back piece is disclosed. The front piece has a first connecting edge and a downstream edge, and the back piece has a second connecting edge and an upstream edge. The second connecting edge is configured to be connected to the first connecting edge. The fan may include a handle, the handle having a first portion integral with the front piece and a second portion integral with the back piece, the first portion configured to be connected to the second portion. The fan may further include air guide ribs provided on an interior surface of the housing and/or a ramp that starts at a location downstream of the upstream edge of the housing and ends at the downstream edge of the housing.

Abstract: A squeegee accessory for a wet/dry vacuum may include a housing and a squeegee assembly removably attached to a front end of the housing. The housing may include a front end including a fluid inlet, a back end including a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. The squeegee assembly may include a bracket, a squeegee removably disposed between first and second plates of the bracket, and an insert removably disposed between first and second blades of the squeegee. The insert may have an elongated body and a rib disposed on the elongated body, the rib touching the inner surface of the squeegee to define a barrier of an airflow path formed between the insert and the squeegee.

Abstract: A latch mounts in an opening on the lidcage of a conventional vacuum cleaner. A stationary piece has a hooked arm that locks against an edge on the lidcage, and can be clipped in place without other fasteners. It also has a hose fence that helps hold a stored hose. A movable piece has a tongue that slides within a channel on the stationary piece. When locked, the tongue engages the bead and a lock latches onto an edge, inhibiting the tongue from moving to the unlocked position. The lock is on an actuator tab that extends from the stationary piece and can be deflected by a user to release the lock. A spaced finger edge may be engaged by a user while pressing the actuator tab. A barb on the tongue engages the same edge that the lock latches onto, and resists removal of the tongue from the channel.

Abstract: The disclosed vacuum assembly can be mounted in a vehicle. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected. Alignment bosses fit in aligned openings when the tank is in the mounted position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit.

Abstract: A latch mounts in an opening on the lidcage of a conventional vacuum cleaner. A stationary piece has a hooked arm that locks against an edge on the lidcage, and can be clipped in place without other fasteners. It also has a hose fence that helps hold a stored hose. A movable piece has a tongue that slides within a channel on the stationary piece. When locked, the tongue engages the bead and a lock latches onto an edge, inhibiting the tongue from moving to the unlocked position. The lock is on an actuator tab that extends from the stationary piece and can be deflected by a user to release the lock. A spaced finger edge may be engaged by a user while pressing the actuator tab. A barb on the tongue engages the same edge that the lock latches onto, and resists removal of the tongue from the channel.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cord retainer that has a friction fit connection with an accessory receiver. The cord retainer is arranged to be selectively and detachably coupled to the accessory receiver. The vacuum cleaner may include a plurality of accessory receivers at different locations, and the cord retainer may be arranged to be selectively and detachably coupled to any one of two or more of the accessory receivers.

Abstract: A portable vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a rechargeable battery and a DC motor. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a DC power input port for receiving DC power from a remote power source. The DC motor is operable in response to power from either the battery or the remote power source.

Abstract: Mating connectors enable a vacuum cleaner section to be releasably attached to a toolbox section. The connectors include a downward-facing tongue that fits in a corresponding horizontal slot. The tongue has a vertical slot that corresponds with a vertical flange adjacent the slot. An interacting tab and slot prevent the vacuum cleaner section from being removed from the toolbox section when a closeable top on the toolbox section is closed. The two sections attach in a position in which upright side walls on the vacuum cleaner section align with the upright sides on the toolbox section, and an extended horizontal work surface is formed by portions of the hinged top on the toolbox section and the vacuum cleaner section. A handle on the vacuum cleaner section can form part of the horizontal work surface, which has parallel lateral grooves with co-linear segments on opposite sides of a recessed channel.

Abstract: A battery powered vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner comprises a motor, a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells arranged in a generally horseshoe configuration and wrapped about the motor, and a battery door providing access to the battery pack and adapted to permit removal of the battery pack from the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit.