VACUUM DECORATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A vacuum decoration system for removably attaching an ornamentation to a robotic vacuum includes an ornamentation having an exterior surface and a coupler releasably coupling the ornamentation to the robotic vacuum. The coupler generally includes a pair of mating members that are releasably coupled to each other. One of the mating members is attached to the exterior surface and the other of the mating members is attached to the robotic vacuum. The ornamentation may have any shape or design, such as a figurine, a religious symbol, a holiday themed symbol, or a symbol that represents a hobby or pastime. The ornamentation may also include a plurality of battery-operated lights.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to novelty decoration devices and more particularly pertains to a new novelty decoration device for removably attaching an ornamentation to a robotic vacuum.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to novelty decoration devices. Some references disclose toy figures with a plurality of light sources. Other references disclose devices and ornamental designs for dashboard ornaments. The prior art also discloses household objects, such as napkin rings, with interchangeable ornaments that releasably couple to the household ornaments. However, the prior art lacks a disclosure of ornamentation devices that can be releasably and interchangeably coupled with a robotic vacuum.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a robotic vacuum having a top surface, an ornamentation having an exterior surface, and a coupler releasably coupling the ornamentation to the top surface. The coupler generally includes a pair of mating members that are releasably coupled to each other. One of the mating members is attached to the exterior surface and the other of the mating members is attached to the top surface. The ornamentation may have any shape or design, such as a figurine, a religious symbol, a holiday themed symbol, or a symbol that represents a hobby or pastime. The ornamentation may also include a plurality of battery-operated lights.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vacuum decoration system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top isometric exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top isometric exploded detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side exploded detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top isometric exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 11 thereof, a new novelty decoration device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the vacuum decoration system 10 generally comprises a robotic vacuum 12 having a top surface 14, an ornamentation 20 having an exterior surface 22, and a coupler 30 releasably coupling the ornamentation 20 to the top surface 14. In some embodiments, an adhesive 32 secures the coupler 30 to the top surface 14.

Embodiments of the coupler 30 comprise a pair of mating members that are releasably coupled to each other. One of the mating members may be attached to the exterior surface 22 and the other of the mating members may be attached to the top surface 14. In some exemplary embodiments, the coupler 30 is configured to attach and detach the ornamentation 20 to the top surface 14 via relative rotational motion between the ornamentation 20 and the top surface 14. However, any coupler 30 may be used.

For example, one of the mating members may define a female coupler 34 and the other of the mating members may define a male coupler 36. The female coupler 34 includes a plate 38 and a sleeve 40 extending away from the plate 38. In the examples provided in FIGS. 2 and 4, the sleeve 40 has a cylindrical shape.

The male coupler 36 may include a rod 42 that is removably extendable into the sleeve 40. A pair of pins 44 may be positioned on the rod 42, extending laterally outwardly from the rod 42. Generally, the pair of pins 44 extend in opposite directions with respect to each other. The sleeve 40 includes a pair of slots 46 positioned therein to releasably receive the pair of pins 44. As shown in FIG. 3, each slot 46 may have a generally L-shaped configuration comprising a vertical portion 48 and a horizontal portion 50. The vertical portion 48 and the horizontal portion 50 may intersect at an angle ranging from 80° to 100°, for example at a 90° angle. In such examples, the vertical portion 48 is generally perpendicular to the plate 38 and the horizontal portion 50 is generally parallel with the plate 38. In the embodiments shown the vertical portion 48 extends outwardly through a top edge 52 of the sleeve 40.

A plurality of stops 54 is mounted to the sleeve 40. Each of the pair of slots 46 has an edge 56. At least one of the plurality of stops 54 is positioned on the edge 56 to retain one of the pair of pins 44 within a respective one of the pair of slots 46.

In the embodiments shown in the figures, the female coupler 34 is positioned on the robotic vacuum 12 and the male coupler 36 is positioned on the ornamentation 20. In such embodiments, the adhesive 32 is positioned on the plate 38 opposite of the sleeve 40. In other embodiments, the female coupler 34 may be positioned on the ornamentation 20 and the male coupler 36 may be positioned on the robotic vacuum 12. In alternative embodiments, the coupler 30 may not comprise a female coupler 34 and a male coupler 36. For example, a jaw coupling or other coupling may be used.

A light emitter 58 may be mounted on some embodiments of the ornamentation 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the ornamentation 20 may have a design and shape resembling a ghost with a plurality of light emitters 58 arranged to light up the eyes and mouth of the ghost. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the ornamentation 20 is designed to resemble a menorah, and the light emitter 58 may be arranged to light up each of the candles. In the example depicted in FIG. 10, the ornamentation 20 resembles a vehicle, and the light emitter 58 may be configured to light up the headlights or brake lights. The ornamentation 20 may have any other shape or design, such as a Christmas tree with a light emitter 58 that lights up the decorative lights. The light emitter 58 may be configured to light up a portion of the ornamentation 20, or the entirety of the ornamentation 20.

A power supply 60 may be attached to the ornamentation 20. For example, the power supply 60 may comprise a battery positioned within the ornamentation 20. A switch 62 may be electrically coupled to the power supply 60 and light emitter 58. The switch 62 is actuatable to turn the light emitter 58 on or off. As shown in FIG. 7, the switch 62 may be mounted on the ornamentation 20.

In use, the user may choose from a range of ornamentation 20 options, as shown in FIG. 1. The user may then insert the male coupler 36 into the female coupler 34 and apply rotational movement to engage the pair of pins 44 within the pair of slots 46 until the each of the pair of pins 44 reaches the edge 56 of each of the respective pair of slots 46. The force provided by the user's rotation of the ornamentation 20 relative to the top surface 12 will push the pair of pins 44 past the plurality of stops 54. The plurality of stops 54 provides enough resistance to maintain the position of the pair of pins 44 within the pair of slots 46 so that the ornamentation 20 is securely attached to the robotic vacuum 12. The user can push the switch 62 to activate the light emitter 58. When the user wants to change or the ornamentation 20, the user may apply rotational movement in an opposite direction to push the pair of pins 44 past the plurality of stops 54. The male coupler 36 can then disengage from the female coupler 34 and the ornamentation 20 may be lifted from the top surface 14. In embodiments using different coupler 30 configurations, a different relative directional movement may be applied to engage and disengage the coupling 30. For example, with a sleeve coupling, the user may need to apply relative vertical movement to the ornamentation 20 and the robotic vacuum 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A decorative attachment system, comprising:

a robotic vacuum having a top surface;

an ornamentation having an exterior surface;

a coupler releasably coupling the ornamentation to the top surface; and

the coupler comprising a pair of mating members being releasably coupled to each other, one of the mating members being attached to the exterior surface and the other of the mating members being attached to the top surface.

2. The decorative attachment system of claim 1, wherein one of the mating members defines a female coupler and the other of the mating members defines a male coupler.

3. The decorative attachment system of claim 2, the female coupler further comprising a plate and a sleeve extending away from the plate.

4. The decorative attachment system of claim 3, wherein the sleeve has a cylindrical shape.

5. The decorative attachment system of claim 3, the male coupler further comprising:

a rod being removably extendable into the sleeve;

a pair of pins being positioned on the rod and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the pair of pins extending in opposite directions with respect to each other; and

the sleeve including a pair of slots positioned therein to releasably receive the pair of pins.

6. The decorative attachment system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of stops being mounted to the sleeve, each of the pair of slots having an edge having at least one of the stops positioned thereon to retain the pins within a respective one of the pair of slots.

7. The decorative attachment system of claim 3, further comprising an adhesive securing the coupler to the top surface.

8. The decorative attachment system of claim f, wherein the adhesive is positioned on the plate opposite the sleeve.

9. The decorative attachment system of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter being mounted on the ornamentation.

10. The decorative attachment system of claim 9, further comprising a power supply being attached to the ornamentation.

11. The decorative attachment system of claim 10, the power supply further comprising a battery positioned within the ornamentation.

12. The decorative attachment system of claim 10, further comprising a switch being electrically coupled to the power supply and light emitter, the switch being actuated to turn the light emitter on or off.

13. The decorative attachment system of claim 12, wherein the switch is mounted on the ornamentation.

14. A decorative attachment system, comprising:

a robotic vacuum having a top surface;

an ornamentation having an exterior surface;

a coupler releasably coupling the ornamentation to the top surface;

an adhesive securing the coupler to the top surface;

the coupler comprising a pair of mating members being releasably coupled to each other, one of the mating members being attached to the exterior surface and the other of the mating members being attached to the top surface;

one of the mating members defining a female coupler;

one of the mating members defining a male coupler;

the female coupler including a plate and a sleeve extending away from the plate, the sleeve having a cylindrical shape;

the male coupler including: a rod being removably extendable into the sleeve; a pair of pins being positioned on the rod and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the pair of pins extending in opposite directions with respect to each other; the sleeve including a pair of slots positioned therein to releasably receive the pair of pins;

a plurality of stops being mounted to the sleeve, each of the pair of slots having an edge having at least one of the plurality of stops positioned thereon to retain a one of the pair of pins within a respective one of the pair of slots;

the adhesive being positioned on the plate opposite of the sleeve;

a light emitter being mounted on the ornamentation;

a power supply being attached to the ornamentation, the power supply comprising a battery positioned within the ornamentation; and

a switch being electrically coupled to the power supply and light emitter, the switch being actuated to turn the light emitter on or off, the switch being mounted on the ornamentation.