GB2604405A

GB2604405A - Vacuum-Cleaner Attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2604405A
Application number: GB2104533.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helene Ciric Marie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-03-04
Filing date: 2021-03-30
Publication date: 2022-09-07
Also published as: GB202103083D0; GB202104533D0

Abstract

A vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 is provided comprising: a container body 18 and a lid 20 releasably engagable with the container body 18 to define a containment volume,having an inlet port 28 and an outlet port 26 to the containment volume. A filter or baffle is provided at or adjacent to the outlet port 26, and an upstream suction hose 32 is engaged or engagable with the inlet port 28. The outlet port 26 has a connector for engaging with a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner 12, the containment volume forming an upstream dust or debris collector for the said engaged vacuum cleaner 12.

Description

Vacuum-Cleaner Attachment The present invention relates to a vacuum-cleaner attachment for engagement with at least one vacuum cleaner to provide upstream dust collection capabilities. The invention further relates to a vacuum cleaner system comprising said attachment.

In the construction industry, vast amounts of dust, rubble, and general debris is generated. The dust, in particular, is damaging to standard vacuum cleaners, which will quickly become clogged, damaging the motor. Similarly, traditional household vacuum cleaners do not have sufficient capacity to store the volume of dust and debris generated. Vacuum cleaners which rely on capture of the dust and debris in dust bags are therefore used.

The use of dust bags is environmentally unfriendly. The dust bags themselves are disposed of directly into landfill, along with the dust and debris. However, the dust bags protect the vacuum cleaner itself, and therefore there is no means of using an alternative solution presently known in the art.

It would also be useful to provide a means of clearing up liquid spillages using the same vacuum cleaner which provides dust suction, since liquid will destroy the dust bag, creating more mess.

The present invention seeks to obviate or reduce the above-referenced problems, by the provision of an upstream dust collector attachment for a vacuum cleaner.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum-cleaner attachment comprising: a container body and a lid releasably engagable with the container body to define a containment volume; an inlet port to the containment volume; an outlet port from the containment volume; a filter or baffle at or adjacent to the outlet port; and a suction hose engaged or engagable with the inlet port; the outlet port having a connector for engaging with a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner, the containment volume forming an upstream dust, liquid or debris collector for the said engaged vacuum cleaner.

The present invention provides a commercial and/or domestic device which is capable of removing dust, water, and rubbish from a vacuum site. This can be attached to any 30 given vacuum cleaner, thereby eliminating the need for a separate dust bag.

The invention can such dust, leaves, and debris without needing to use separate bags, and is therefore very cost-efficient. This also improves environmental efficiency, since the number of dust bags which go to landfill is greatly reduced.

The attachment is excellent for use in small workshops as an attachment for small power tools which produce dust, acting as a dust collector. It can also suck up water akin to a wet wax vacuum type, and being larger than currently available devices, allows for the collection of a larger quantity in one go, allowing cleaning of ponds, for instance, as well as garden waste material.

Preferably, the inlet port may be at or adjacent to the lid.

Providing the inlet port at the top of the attachment ensures that debris falls away from the inlet port under gravity, avoiding blockages.

Optionally, the outlet port may be at or adjacent to the lid.

A top-mounted outlet port has the advantage of maximising the containment volume usable before suction is cut off by the blockage of the outlet port by debris.

The vacuum-cleaner attachment may further comprise a secondary outlet port having a connector for engaging with a suction inlet of a secondary vacuum cleaner.

The provision of secondary outlet ports allows for more vacuum power to be provided as a means of compensating for the reduced suction which occurs when a large volume is introduced upstream of the vacuum cleaner.

There may further comprise a filter or baffle at or adjacent to the secondary outlet port.

It is clear that blockages could equally be a problem for a further vacuum cleaner, and thus additional protection using a filter or baffle is desirable.

Optionally, the inlet port may include a diverter conduit inside the container body.

A diverter conduit can be provided to direct dust and debris away from the outlet port, 25 thereby further reducing the risk of accumulation within the vacuum cleaner itself.

Preferably, the diverter conduit may be directed to channel dust or debris in a cyclonic manner inside the container body.

Cyclonic dust direction channels dust towards the outside of the containment volume, further preventing build-up and blockage at the outlet port.

The vacuum-cleaner attachment may further comprise a liquid release valve at or adjacent to a base of the container body.

Where liquid spillages are sucked up, it will be sensible to provide a means of decanting the fluid from the containment volume, so that dust and debris can continue to be accumulated successfully. Furthermore, the ability to suck liquid into the attachment expands the range of uses for the vacuum-cleaner attachment. For instance, it can be used to clean debris and organic matter from ponds, without damaging the operation of the vacuum cleaner itself.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is formed as a barrel.

A drum or barrel shape provides a sturdy and stable volume for holding large amounts of dust and debris.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet port has a width or diameter which is greater than or equal to a width or diameter of the outlet port.

A larger inlet port allows for larger debris to be sucked up, and any loss of suction power can be compensated by the provision of multiple vacuum sources.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a splitter device engagable with the outlet port for connecting a plurality of vacuum cleaners therewith.

The presence of a splitter device eliminates the need to provide multiple outlet ports on the lid itself, which may improve the vacuum retention of the attachment.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is a modular container body to permit adjustment of the containment volume.

The ability to adjust the chamber volume allows for the attachment to be changed according to the size of the task required, without needing to continually empty the container.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein 5 the container body comprises an internal brace to inhibit vacuum compression thereof.

Where flexible materials are used in the construction of the container, it will be apparent that some form of bracing internally is helpful to present atmospheric implosion of the container body.

A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further 10 comprising a hose adapter engagable with the outlet port to allow vacuum cleaners of different hose dimensions to be engaged therewith. The hose adapter is preferably formed from a resiliently flexible material, such as rubber.

The attachment is designed to be universal for different vacuum cleaners, and thus it is preferred that the hose adapter be provided to enable different sizes of suction hose to 15 be engaged therewith.

Preferably, the filter or baffle may comprise a mesh portion, and/or a liquid baffle device.

A mesh will help to prevent larger particulate matter from entering into the vacuum cleaner, even if some dust remains transmissible. A liquid baffle allows any vacuum cleaner to be used as a liquid vacuum cleaner.

Optionally, the filter or baffle may comprise a collar projecting into the containment volume.

An internal collar provides a physical barrier to suction up into the vacuum cleaner through the attachment when full, which not only protects the vacuum cleaner, but also provides an indicator that the containment volume must be emptied.

In one embodiment, the container body may comprise wheels or castors.

Some form of movement capability, and ideally something which is in keeping with any wheels or castors of the vacuum cleaner, will greatly assist the user in moving the vacuum cleaner and vacuum-cleaner attachment together.

A dedicated transport trolley within which the container body is receivable may be provided.

Given how bulky the vacuum-cleaner attachment is, and that the vacuum cleaner must also be simultaneously moved for suction, it is apparent that a dedicated device for 5 moving both components together would be very useful.

Preferably, the dedicated transport trolley may include a vacuum-cleaner receiving portion.

Travelling with both the attachment and vacuum cleaner in a single trolley greatly simplifies the transit process for a user, who no longer needs to carry two bulky devices.

Optionally, the container body may be formed from recycled plastics material.

Utilising heavy-duty recycled material minimises the material wastage in conjunction with the manufacture of the attachment.

Preferably, the containment volume may be at least 60 litres.

A sufficiently large volume for the attachment is required to be of use within a 15 construction site environment.

According to a second aspect of the invention vacuum cleaning system comprising: at least one vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet; and a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the suction inlet of the at least one vacuum cleaner being engaged with the outlet port of the vacuum-cleaner attachment.

The advantage of the present system is that dust bag usage can be almost entirely eliminated in a construction site, by dust and debris being completely collected within the attachment.

Optionally, the at least one vacuum cleaner may be a liquid and debris vacuum cleaner.

The ability to collect both liquid and dust with the same device is something which is 25 completely untenable with existing dust-bag vacuum cleaners.

Preferably, a plurality of said vacuum cleaners may be engagable with the vacuum-cleaner attachment.

Improved vacuum suction can be achieved when more than one vacuum cleaner is connected in parallel.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation from the side of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner system utilising a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side perspective representation of the vacuum-cleaner 10 attachment of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a first perspective representation of the lid of the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a second perspective representation of the lid of the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic representation from below of the lid of the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3; Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of the lid of the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3, inclusive of a filter or baffle; Figure 8 shows a side view of an embodiment of a vacuum suction tool engagable 20 with the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a dedicated transport trolley suitable for use with the vacuum cleaner system of Figure 1; Figure 10 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 11 shows a plan view of an internal brace for a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional representation of a hose adapter engagable with the outlet port of a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 13 shows a perspective representation of a dust filter device releasably 5 engagable with the outlet port of a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 14 shows a perspective representation of a liquid filter device releasably engagable with the outlet port of a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 15 shows a perspective representation of the liquid filter device engaged with an outlet port of a lid of a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 16 shows an embodiment of a splitter device engagable with the vacuum-cleaner attachment of Figure 3; and Figure 17 shows a diagrammatic representation from the side of a second embodiment of a vacuum cleaner system utilising a vacuum-cleaner attachment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a vacuum cleaner system, referenced globally at 10, which comprises a vacuum cleaner 12, a vacuum-cleaner attachment 14, and a vacuum suction tool 16. The vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 serves to form an upstream dust or debris collector for the vacuum cleaner 12, to thereby eliminate the need for replacement of the internal dust collection bag of the vacuum cleaner 12. A containment volume is thus formed within a container body 18 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment, shown as a barrel or vessel having a barrel-like shape. Typically, the container body 18 would be a heavy-duty barrel having a containment volume of between 60 and 200 litres, having an airtight lid 20. The container body 18 may be made of strong plastic, metal, or any other material capable of holding the vacuum power.

The vacuum cleaner 12 includes a vacuum cleaner body 22, within which the vacuum-forming pump is provided, and has a suction hose 24 to which a vacuum suction tool 16 30 would ordinarily be connected in normal use. The suction hose 24 is connected, preferably releasably so, to an outlet port 26 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14.

An inlet port 28 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 is connected to an upstream hose 30, which is in turn connected with the vacuum suction tool 16, thus placing the vacuum-cleaner attachment upstream of the entire vacuum cleaner 12.

The vacuum created in the vacuum cleaner 12 provides suction through the suction hose 24, via the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14, and then through the upstream hose 30 and vacuum suction tool 16. Debris is collected in the containment volume of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14, rather than the dust bag of the vacuum cleaner 12. The upstream hose 30 in the embodiment shown has a 50mm diameter.

Figure 2 shows more specific detail of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14. The inlet and outlet ports 28, 26 are provided on a lid 20 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14, on an in-use upper end of the container body 18. The upstream hose 30 may be integrally formed with the lid 20, or could be releasably engagable therewith. The suction hose 24 is preferably that of the vacuum cleaner 12, typically formed as a 30mm vacuum hose, engaging with the outlet port 26 directly, or via a hose adaptor. The lid 20 itself may engage directly with the container body 18, for example, via an interface fit, and additionally or alternatively include one or more fasteners to hold the lid 20 in place. Clamps may be used, as may a threaded interface, for instance.

The outlet port 26 is or is substantially centrally positioned on the lid, so as to be spaced apart from the walls of the container body 18 A secondary outlet port 32 may be provided on the lid 20 so that a further said vacuum cleaner may be connected to the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 in order to improve the suction power. More than one said secondary outlet port could be provided. This is shown in the depicted embodiment as a 32mm tank connector with a threaded cap for the further vacuum cleaner.

Whilst the inlet port 28, outlet port 26 and secondary outlet port 32 are illustrated as being present on the lid 20, it will be appreciated that any or all of the ports could be positioned elsewhere on the container body 18.

Figure 3 shows the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 having a liquid release valve 34, typically a 22mm valve, at or adjacent to a base of the container body 18. This allows for 30 liquid which has been sucked into the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 to be drained. The provision of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 upstream of the vacuum cleaner 12 allows a standard dust vacuum cleaner to be used as a liquid vacuum cleaner without damage to the vacuum cleaner 12 from the liquid.

The underside of the lid 20 is shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which the perimetric groove 36 which engages with the top of the container body 18 can be seen The outlet port 26 includes in internal collar 38 which can act as a baffle, here projecting 100mm into the containment volume from the lid 20, and may have an internal soft mesh. This allows the vacuum power to be blocked automatically, preventing ingress of the dust or debris into the vacuum cleaner 12 when the containment volume is filled.

The relative dimensions of the outlet port 26 and secondary outlet port 32 can be seen; 10 the outlet port 26 here has the larger diameter. The outlet port 26 and secondary outlet ports 32 may thus have different sizes in order to accommodate vacuum cleaners 12 having suction hoses 24 of differing diameters.

The inlet port 28 may also have a different diameter to that of the outlet port 26, preferably being larger than that of the outlet port 26.

The inlet port 28 has associated a diverter conduit 40 therewith which resides inside the container body 18, and which may be integrally formed as part of the lid 20 and/or the upstream hose 30. This acts to create a cyclonic flow of dust or debris within the containment volume, as shown in Figure 6 (omitting the secondary outlet port for clarity). The diverter conduit 40 thus has a bent shape to direct airflow in a substantially horizontal plane within the container body 18, towards the walls thereof to encourage circulation. Critically, this directs away from the outlet port 26, thereby encouraging dust to settle in the containment volume, rather than being transferred to the vacuum cleaner 12.

In order to limit or further prevent dust from being accumulated through the outlet port 26, a filter or baffle is provided at or adjacent to the outlet port 26. This further improves dust and debris retention within the container body 14. The filter is illustrated as a mesh filter 42 in Figure 7, though other filters, such as NEPA filters, could be considered, as could a physical barrier acting as a baffle between the inlet port 28 and the outlet port 26.

Figure 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vacuum suction tool 16 which may be 30 modular in nature. A T-shaped splitter portion 44, here formed from 50mm tubing, such as PVC pipe, is provided having screw-threaded end caps 46 which allow different tool heads to be engaged therewith.

Figure 9 shows a dedicated transport trolley 48 which is adapted to carry not only the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14, but also the vacuum cleaner 12, thus ensuring that the two do not separate in use. The dedicated transport trolley 48 has a vacuum-cleaner receiving portion 50 and an attachment receiving portion 52. Each portion may have an upstanding perimeter 54 to prevent the vacuum cleaner 12 or vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 from falling off the dedicated transport trolley 48. The dedicated transport trolley 48 may be formed from a durable material, such as metal or plywood.

The dedicated transport trolley 48 may have a handlebar 56 positioned at a comfortable height for a user, as well as wheels or castors 58 to allow it to be moved easily about a site.

There may also be space on the dedicated transport trolley for the power extensions, such as 110W lead extension, for the building site requirements.

Of course, the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14 itself could include wheels or castors, to be able to be moved of its own accord.

A second embodiment of the vacuum-cleaner attachment is indicated in Figure 10A at 114. Features of the second embodiment which are identical or similar to those of the first embodiment will be referenced using identical or similar reference numerals.

Here, the container body 118 is modular, allowing for expansion of the containment volume. Upper and lower body portions 118a, 118b are stackably engagable with one another to create the adjustable internal volume, and clamps or fasteners may be provided to secure the upper and lower body portions 118a, 118b together at the interface area 160.

The vacuum-cleaner attachment 114 is also shown in Figure 10B in which an intermediate central body portion 118c is also inserted, thereby further increasing the containment volume. Any number of body portions could be connected for this kind of expansion.

Figure 11 shows an internal brace 162 suitable for use inside a barrel-like container body 30 18 of the sort shown in either of the first and second embodiments. The internal brace 162 here comprises a plurality of reinforcement bars which prevent compression of the containment volume by exterior atmospheric pressure. This may be of particular importance where the container body 18 is formed from a plastics material, which may be at least in part flexible. For sustainability, said plastics material could be recycled plastics material. The internal brace 162 is particularly useful for the second embodiment, where the modularisafion of the container body 118 likely reduces the overall rigidity. A said internal brace may be provided in at least the central body portion 118c, preferably in the upper body portion 118a, and could also be included in the lower body portion 118b.

Figure 12 shows a hose reducer 164 or similar adaptor which allows for the connection of suction hoses 24 of different diameters to the outlet port 26 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 14. The hose reducer 164 has a first internal bore 166 and a second internal bore 168, respectively having different diameters. The first internal bore 166 is here shown as being larger than the second internal bore 168, allowing a smaller diameter suction hose 24 to be attached to the outlet port 26 than would otherwise be achievable. It can be formed from a resiliently flexible material, such as rubber, thereby adapting to the shape and size of any vacuum cleaner attached thereto.

Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of a dust filter device 142 which is releasably engagable with an outlet port 126 of a vacuum-cleaner attachment 114, such as that shown in Figure 10. The dust filter device 142 includes a connector portion 170 which couples to the collar 138 of the outlet port 126. The dust filter portion 172 is itself formed as a folded paper filter to prevent dust ingress into the vacuum cleaner. The connector portion 170 and dust filter portion 172 may be provided so as to be releasably engagable with one another, or could be integrally formed with one another.

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of a liquid baffle device 174 which is releasably engagable with the outlet port 126 of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 114. It can be swapped with the dust filter device 142 shown in Figure 13 to change the function of the vacuum-cleaner attachment 114 from a dust collector to a liquid collector.

The liquid baffle device 174 may comprise a tubular portion 176, which has at least one 30 aperture 178 therein. The tubular portion 176 is connectable with the outlet port 126 in the same manner as the dust filter device 142. This can be seen in Figure 15, engaged with the lid 120, adjacent to the diverter conduit 140.

Inside the tubular portion 176 is a floating stop 180 which is free to move up and down the tubular portion 176, forming a seal to the outlet port 126 when it rises to a level to block the or each aperture 178. This cuts off the vacuum power, automatically stopping the suction when the liquid level inside the containment volume rises too high, and also prevents the liquid from being sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

A splitter device 282 is shown in Figure 16, which is Y-shaped, but, of course, alternative geometric configurations are available, such as T-shaped splitters. There are first and second suction-hose connectors 284a, 284b which are respectively connectable to first and second vacuum cleaners 212a, 212b. This is illustrated by the vacuum cleaner system 210 in Figure 17. The splitter device 282 allows for more than one vacuum cleaner 212a, 212b to be connected to the vacuum-cleaner attachment 214 simultaneously, which might allow smaller vacuum cleaners 212a, 212b be used with the vacuum-cleaner attachment 214 than might be otherwise intended. The attachment connector 286 of the splitter device 282 is engagable directly with the outlet port 26.

It may be possible to shut off one or more branches of the splitter device 282, for example by using a cap 288 on one of the first or second suction-hose connectors 284a, 284b. This might allow the splitter device 282 to remain in position on the vacuum-cleaner attachment 214 even when only one vacuum cleaner is required.

It is therefore possible to provide a vacuum-cleaner attachment which can be inserted upstream of a vacuum cleaner, particular one used in construction or industrial sites, which thereby greatly reduces the consumption of dust bags for the vacuum cleaner. This has a significant effect on the environmental sustainability of the use of the vacuum cleaner.

The words 'comprises/comprising' and the words 'having/including' when used herein 25 with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

Claims 1. A vacuum-cleaner attachment comprising: a container body and a lid releasably engagable with the container body to define a containment volume; an inlet port to the containment volume; an outlet port from the containment volume, a filter or baffle at or adjacent to the outlet port; and a suction hose engaged or engagable with the inlet port; the outlet port having a connector for engaging with a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner, the containment volume forming an upstream dust, liquid or debris collector for the said engaged vacuum cleaner.
2. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet port is at or adjacent to the lid.
3. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outlet port is at or adjacent to the lid.
4. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a secondary outlet port having a connector for engaging with a suction inlet of a secondary vacuum cleaner.
5. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a filter or baffle at or adjacent to the secondary outlet port.
6. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet port includes a diverter conduit inside the container body.
7. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the diverter conduit is directed to channel dust or debris in a cyclonic manner inside the container body.
8. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a liquid release valve at or adjacent to a base of the container body.
9. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet port has a width or diameter which is greater than or equal to a width or diameter of the outlet port.
10. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a splitter device engagable with the outlet port for connecting a plurality of vacuum cleaners therewith.
11. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is a modular container body to permit adjustment of the containment volume.
12. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body comprises an internal brace to inhibit vacuum compression 15 thereof.
13. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hose adapter engagable with the outlet port to allow vacuum cleaners of different hose dimensions to be engaged therewith.
14. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hose adapter is formed from a resiliently flexible material.
15. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein the filter or baffle comprises a mesh portion.
16. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter or baffle comprises a liquid baffle device.
17. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter or baffle comprises a collar projecting into the containment volume.
18. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body comprises wheels or castors.
19. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a dedicated transport trolley within which the container body is receivable.
20. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in claim 19, wherein the dedicated transport trolley includes a vacuum-cleaner receiving portion.
21. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is formed from recycled plastics material.
22. A vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the containment volume is at least 60 litres. 10
23. A vacuum cleaning system comprising: at least one vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet-and a vacuum-cleaner attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the suction inlet of the at least one vacuum cleaner being engaged with the outlet port of the vacuum-cleaner attachment.
24. A vacuum cleaning system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one vacuum cleaner is a liquid and debris vacuum cleaner.
25. A vacuum cleaning system as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22, wherein a plurality of said vacuum cleaners is engagable with the vacuum-cleaner attachment.