GB2267067A

GB2267067A - Vehicular built-in vacuum cleaner system.

Info

Publication number: GB2267067A
Application number: GB9210616A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Macgregor; Anthony John White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-19
Filing date: 1992-05-19
Publication date: 1993-11-24
Also published as: GB9210616D0

Abstract

The system is permanently installed in the vehicle body in such a way that the suction in lets 4, which are connected by hoses 3 to the suction container 2, are the vehicle's ashtrays or other suitable waste intakes. Each waste intake may have a waisted throat 15 to prevent larger items from causing a blockage. The suction motor may be operated automatically, eg in response to a photo-electric cell 9, when waste is placed in an intake 4. Flexible hose attachments may be attached to the intakes 4 and the apparatus may allow air to be extracted from the interior of the vehicle, treated and recycled. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a Vehicular vacuum leaner.

Vacuum cleaners are well known for removing dust by suction and are widely used in many varying environments where it is desired to keep dust and dirt to a minimum. For the more common applications, ie., in the home, office factory, etc., vacuum cleaners are essentially mobile, although usually dependent on being attached to, or recharged from some fixed independent power source. It is this form of the apparatus that is largely used for removing dust and dirt in vehicular environments. The disadvantage of the apparatus is that it is invariably used only when dust and dirt has accumulated to an unacceptable degree, and is unable to tackle the accumulation of dust and dirt at source.

According to the present invention there is provided a modified vacuum cleaner permanently fixed within the body of a vehicle in such a way that it's suction inlet(s) is/are the vehicle's ashtray(s) or other suitable form of waste intake(s), the ashtray/waste intake(s) of a design to allow, when waste items placed within, ie., wastepaper, cigarette ash, cigarette ends, etc., the vacuum cleaner to operate for sufficient period of time for waste items to clear safely into vacuum cleaner container, the ashtray/waste intake(s) also of a design to allow hose attachments to be affixed for more flexible suction of vehicle's interior, the whole apparatus of a design to allow air extraction of vehicle interior if and when desired, and/or to allow extracted air to be purified, enhanced, ie., ionised and/or perfumed, and recycled into vehicle's interior.This invention can best be applied in transport environments, ie., vehicular - cars, buses, trains, etc.; marine - boats, hovercraft, etc.: aviational - passenger aircraft, light aircraft, etc., wherever people are travelling together in close confines.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example applied to a motor car with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates how the apparatus might be positioned within a motor car.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 shows an isometric view of an ashtrav/waste intake assembly at the suction inlet.

Figure 4 shows side view and plan of the fixed ashtraiaste intake assembly.

Referrin to the drawing the vacuum cleaner1 I, is permanently secured within the motor car in a position to facilitate easy emptying of the vacuum cleaner container, 2. The power for the vacuum cleaner motor, 14, is derived from the motor car's own power source. The suction hose. 3, between the vacuum cleaner and the fixed ashtray/waste intake assembly(s), A. is concealed from motor car's interior view, 5, within the body of the motor car, 6.

The ashtray/waste intake assembly(s) A, of a design to allow vacuum motor to operate, in the example triggered by a photo electric cell. 9, when a and is placed over ashtray/waste intake to dispense waste item(s), for a timed period sufficient for dispensed item(s) to safely clear through suction hose. 3, into vacuum cleaner container, 2. The suction inlet has "waisted throat", 15, preventing larder items travelling along and possibly blocking suction hose, and which allows such items to be manually removed.

The suction inlet(s), 8, of a design to allow flexible hose attachments to be affixed for more flexible suction of motor car's interior. Apparatus of a design so that separate suction inlet hose(s) may by hand, mechanically or automatically, be shut off, either at the ashtrayiwaste intake assembly or within the suction hose itself (in the example by a lid, 11), to help increase suction at other suction inlet hose(s).

The whole apparatus of a design to allow air extraction of motor car's interior, S, if and when desired (in this example, perhaps for a set timed period each time motor car ignition switched off), allowing airborne dust and dirt to collect in vacuum cleaner container, 2, finer particles and smoke. to extract with air through vacuum cleaner's filter, 19, to motor car's exterior, 13, and/or to allow extracted air to be purified, enhanced, ie., ionised and/or perfumed, and recycled, 16, into motor car's interior, 3.

Claims

1 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner permanently fixed within the body of a vehicle in such a way that it's suction inlet(s) is/are the vehicle's ashtray(s), or other suitable form of waste intake(s).

2 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ashtray/waste intake assembly(s) is/are of a design to allow, when waste items placed within ie., wastepaper, cigarette ash, cigarette ends, etc., the vacuum cleaner to operate for sufficient period of time to allow waste items to clear safely into vacuum cleaner container.

3 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the suction inlet(s) is/are of a design to allow flexible hose attachments to be affixed for more flexible suction of vehicle's interior.

4 A Vehicular Vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the separate suction inlet hoses may by hand, mechanically or automatically, be shut off, either at the ashtray/waste intake assembly or within the suction hose itself, to help increase suction at other suction inlet hose(s).

5 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner as claimed in Claim 1 wherein whole apparatus of a design to allow air extraction of vehicle interior, if and when desired, by manual, mechanical or automatic means, dust and dirt to collect in vacuum cleaner container, finer particles and smoke to filter through to vehicle exterior.

6 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner as claimed in Claims 1 and 5 wherein air may in addition be purified, enhanced, ie., ionised and/or perfumed, and recycled into vehicle's interior.

7 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein suction inlet(s) has waisted throat preventing large items travelling down and possibly blocking suction hose, and which allows such items to be manually removed.

8 A Vehicular Vacuum Cleaner substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.