AU666947B2 - Ducted vacuum hose retriever/compartment - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 11 28/5/91 AUSTRLIA 66 9 4 7 egulation 3.2 Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: C14t~eTI. z C~teV'E....

**The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best *method of performing it known to me:- 2 DUCTED VACUUM HOSE RETRIEVER COMPARTMENT This invention relates to a device which retrieves and stores away the vacuum hose into a compartment using the power of the vacuum.

For many people there is the problem of having impropeor insufficient space for storing this hose and particularly neatly, as the hose is so awkwardly long in size (normally 8-9 metres long) and of slippery surface.

People are currently storing the elongated hose in cupboards or linen cabinets perhaps thrown about somewhere on the floor in a room, or hung on a wall using the hook provided in the vacuum kit. Whichever •of these methods is being used the hose takes up far too much room and if not neatly placed can obstruct 15 the opening and closing of doors and cupboards.

It has the tendancy of becoming squashed, dented or damaged if heavier items are dropped or stored on the hose and the risk of it been torn/ripped by a sharp instrument is extremely common. Also the hose should not become tangled hence with this invention it will be kept untangled and tucked away neatly and safely allowing full use of cupboard space and freeing doors of any obstructions, 3 Some people find it awkward to reel it and put it away.This is due to it's length and also it's slippery surface. Indeed this invention takes advantage of the slippery texture/feel and this assists the hose to be fed into the storage duct with ease.

This invention overcomes all these problems as it automatically 'sucks-feeds' the hose into the vacuum duct which would normally be installed away under the sub-floor,in the roof space or elsewhere alike.

In one form of the invention,the reasonable convenient :and economical way of the installation is by using the existing duct work of the vacuum cleaner.

In another form of the invention the reasonable storage duct may comprise of another pipe,laid under the house or in the roof area or underground or even exposed outside the building.

Another way of making a storage duct is by forming the pipe in a 'U'-shape for example. This may become costly but it can be used where space is limited. This storage duct may be made of other suitable materials other than plastic such as steel the like.

I 4 To assist with the understanding of this invention, reference is given to the accompanying drawings which show an example of the invention.

In the drawings Fig.l shows an example of a feeding compartment for feeding/storing the flexible hose.

Referring to Fig.l an opening is cut in the floor and the feeding box 1 is fastened with nails or similar fasteners 3 under the floor.(similar to a ducted heating boot).

The storage duct 4 is inserted in the feed box 1,through the 50mm hole 8,and grommet 14 protruding 100mm in the box.Connect ducted vacuum power wires 9 to the on/off switch 5 (if the feed box is to be utilised for a ducted heating boot,then connect ducted heating duct to collar 7.

15 Fig.2 indicates a typical ducted vacuum system which incorporates the ducted vacuum hose compartment located at the up-stream end of the vacuum duct. Duct branches leading to hose attachment outlet for vacuuming can be made on the vacuum duct between the compartment and the vacuum motor 16.

5 To store the flexible hose: Open lid 2 Place cap 11 over the end 12 of the flexible hose nozzle end to hold suction.

Turn switch 5 to 'ON' position to start vacuum motor.

Feed the other end 13 of the flexible hose in the storage pipe passing it through the guide rollers.

The suction automatically draws the flexible hose in place as it feeds through. Should the speed of the suction be too high, a hole drilled in cap 11 will reduce this speed ie. the larger the hole the slower the suction.

Once all the hose is 'sucked'through, turn switch 5 to 'OFF'position.

Remove cap 11 and leave loose in feed box for next time.

15 Close lid.

When the flexible hose is required to be used.

Open lid 2.

Pull manually the entire hose 12-13.

Fit cap 10 over the end of the duct 4.

Use flexible hose from any vacuum outlet as normal.

Incidentally, the ducted vacuum hose compartment according to this invention,is not restricted to a feed box as described in the above example, but it may be used without such box ie. directly to the storage duct particularly in split level houses.

5a An alternative cap no,17 can be used instead of and 11 If cap 17 is used to operate the system, follow the instructions above and where references are given to 10 or 11 substitute this to cap 17 only.

6 In another form of the invention, in regard to the guiding rollers, the rollers(6) may be deleted completely and a funnel shape adaptor (18) fig 4 connected to the end of the duct within the compartment of fig 1 Which will eliminate possible damage to the flexible hose from the lip of the duct as it enters the storage duct, To install it, off the SOeO..

floor. Ie. in a wall cavity it will require a 90 degree bend on the duct work. This bend must be of a larger radius than the standard duct bend,to avoid any 16 clogging of the flexible hose.

Although it Is not common for one household to have two of these flexible hoses to store at one time It may be possible; In this situation a second compartment (20)fig 3 Is installed in another area but on the same installation.

20 hence both nozzles (12)of the two flexible hoses are required to have a rubber seal (19)fig 4 around their neck so as they will rest on the adaptor (18) when the flexible hose is completely retracted, A separate cup (17) for each hose is also required otherwise loss 26 of suction will occur,

Claims (5)

1. 9. S. S *9 9 9**S THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. Apparatus for storage or retrieval of a ducted vacuum hose of a ducted vacuum cleaning system, said apparatus including: a storage duct for said hose; guide means capable of guiding said hose along said storage duct, said storage duct being connectable to a source of retraction or e'xtensigie.for said hose wherein said retraction of said hose is driven by a source of suction, whereby at est p4rat-ef said hose is storable in said storage duct. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source of suction is the vacuum motor of said ducted vacuum cleaning system. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, and further including a storage box for housing said guide means and wherein said storage duct is associated with said storage box whereby to facilitate retraction or extension of said hose fed to or from said storage duct through said storage box. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said storage box is a ducted heating boot. 5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said guide means is in the form of a pair of guide rollers capab! of feeding or drawing said hose along said storage duct. 20 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said guide means comprises a funnel shaped adaptor capable of connection to said storage duct. 7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said storage duct comprises existing ductwork of said ducted vacuum cleaning system. 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said storage duct is U-shaped. 9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and further including adjustment means for adjusting the speed of retraction of said hose. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said adjustment means comprises a cap capable of being fitted over one end of said hose.
2. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cap is apertured.
3. 12. Apparatus for storage or retrieval of a ducted vacuum hose of a ducted vacuum cleaning system, substantially as herein before described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
4. 13. A ducted vacuum cleaning system including: a vacuum motor; ductwork communicating with said vacuum motor capable of defining a network of vacuuming sites and points of access to said duct work; agb/stds/300229462A guide means capable of guiding a ducted vacuum hose along at least part of said duct work whereby to facilitate retraction or extension of said hose fed to or from said ductwork, said ductwork being connectable to a source of retraction ortS..n.io_ -for said hose, wherein said retraction of said hose is driven by said vacuum motor, whereby tleastpF 'arl said hose is storable in sali storage duct.
5. 14. A method for storing a ducted vacuum hose of a ducted vacuum cleaning system, said method including the steps of: providing a source of suction; capping one end of said hose; and feeding said hose through guide means whereby said guide means is capable of guiding said hose along a storage duct, said storage duct being connectable to a source of retraction for said hose, said retraction being driven by said source of suction, whereby to store at-lcast-pat f said hose in said duct. A method according to claim 14, wherein said source of suction is the vacuum motor of said ducted vacuum cleaning system. 15 DATED THIS 5th day of October 1995. OBERINS S 20 NPFtent Attorneys for PAUL SYMEON PETZIERIDES *oo 8 ABSTRACT: A device for retrieving and storing away into a compartment the vacuum hose using its own power, is disclosed. The device consists of a storage feed box fitted in or on floor level or other convenient place in the house. The box is concealed and can be utilised as a ducted heating outlet. By using this device, the flexible hose is kept straight, neat and safely stored away, concealed and without any risks of getting 10 damaged. It also frees storage space in the house where it is normally stored .id PAUL S. PETZIERIDES date