Ac/dc hand portable wet/dry vacuum having improved portability and convenience

A utility vacuum comprising:

• a canister;
• a powerhead assembly coupled to the canister and having a fan inlet, a fan, a motor for providing rotary power to the fan, a receptacle assembly and an electric circuit for distributing electrical power to the motor, the fan being in fluid communication with the fan inlet;
• a filter in fluid communication with the fan inlet;
• a shut-off device associated with the powerhead assembly, the shut-off device being configured to prevent the fan from drawing a liquid into the fan inlet when a volume of the liquid in the canister exceeds a predetermined volume;
• and
• wherein the receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing, which is configured to receive a battery pack, and a connector with a plurality of terminals that are configured to electrically couple the battery to the electric circuit;
• and
• wherein the powerhead assembly includes a housing in which the fan, the motor and the electric circuit are housed, the housing including an inlet and an outlet, wherein operation of the utility vacuum draws an intake flow of air into the canister through the inlet and discharges a discharge flow of air through the outlet;
• wherein a compartment is defined by the housing and a lid, the lid being movable relative to the housing between a first condition, which permits ingress of the battery to the compartment and egress of the battery pack from the compartment, and a second condition, in which ingress of the battery pack to the compartment and egress of the battery pack from the compartment is inhibited;
• and
• wherein the utility vacuum further comprise a latch that can be engaged to maintain the lid in the second condition, the latch including a first latch element that is coupled to the lid and a second latch element that is coupled to the housing, the first and second latch elements being engaged to one another to engage the latch.