US 11,723,498 B2
Vacuum pod configured to couple to one or more accessories
Andre D. Brown, Natick, MA (US); Jason B. Thorne, Dover, MA (US); Kai Xu, Suzhou (CN); Lee M. Cottrell, Newton, MA (US); Alexander Calvino, Cranston, RI (US); Gordon Howes, Suzhou (CN); AiMing Xu, Suzhou (CN); Wenxiu Gao, Suzhou (CN); and Oliver Chambers, London (GB)
Assigned to SharkNinja Operating LLC, Needham, MA (US)
Filed by SharkNinja Operating, LLC, Needham, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/447,734.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/693,282, filed on Jul. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0000298 A1, Jan. 2, 2020
Int. Cl. A47L 5/24 (2006.01); A47L 9/16 (2006.01); A47L 9/24 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 5/24 (2013.01) [A47L 9/1683 (2013.01); A47L 9/242 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum pod comprising:
a handle;
a vacuum pod body including a receptacle that defines a channel, wherein the channel includes first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second retention arms disposed on the first and second opposing sidewalls, respectively, wherein distal ends of the first and second sidewalls define an opening and wherein the first and second retention arms are biased inwardly into the channel along a first axis;
a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body;
a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position; and
a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, a first end of the flexible hose is coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose is coupled to the coupling, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose is in the retracted position, the coupling including:
a coupling body secured to the second end of the flexible hose;
a catch that is configured to be at least partially received through the opening along a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis to urge the first and second retention arms outwardly along said first axis; and
a sleeve slidably coupled to the coupling body, the sleeve being configured to slidably move within the channel along a third axis to transition between a retaining position and a release position, the third axis being generally perpendicular to the first and second axes and generally parallel to longitudinal axes of the first and second sidewalls, wherein, when the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body and the sleeve is transitioned from the retaining position to the release position, the sleeve urges the first and second retention arms outwardly.