US3714765A - Wall-mounted vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A CENTRAL POWER AND COLLECTOR UNIT FOR A WALL-MOUNTED, BUILT-IN VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING A CASE TO BE ENGAGED IN AN OPENING IN A WALL STRUCTURE AND DEFINING A POWER CHAMBER AND A COLLECTOR CHAMBER, SAID CASE HAVING A MOUNTING FLANGE ABOUT ITS PERIMETER TO ENGAGE AND TO BE FIXED TO THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE WALL STRUCTURE ABOUT SAID OPENING THEREIN, SAID CASE HAVING INLET AND OUTLET PORTS IN ITS SIDES TO CONNECT WITH INLET AND EXHAUST DUCTS WITHIN THE WALL STRUCTURE AND SPACED A DISTANCE NOT LESS THAN 3/4" OR GREATER THAN 4 3/8" REARWARD OF THE FLANGE, SAID UNIT HAVING AN AIR INLET TUBE EXTENDING FROM THE POWER CHAMBER INTO THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND AN OUTLET PORT COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND A POWER DRIVEN BLOWER IN THE POWER CHAMBER, A FILTER BAG IN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING THE INLET TUBE, AN AIR CONDUCTING ORIENTING PAD IN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER OVERLYING THE OUTLET PORT AND HAVING AN AIR CONDUCTING INNER SURFACE ENGAGING THE BAG TO HOLD SAID BAG CENTRALLY IN ITS RELATED CHAMBER IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE SIDES OF THE CHAMBER AND HAVING AIR CONDUCTING SIDES COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SIDES OF THE CHAMBER AND BAG.

D R A W I N G

Description

1973 c. 1.. SIMONELLI WALL-MOUNTED VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1970 gun? Inuenzqr far-Z l. 30970/79/4 3,714,765 WALL-MOUNTED VACUUM CLEANER Carl L. Simonelli, Glendora, Calif., assignor to Central Vac international, inc, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed st. 19, 19743, Ser. No. 81,647 Int. Cl. 361d 46/00 U.S. Cl. 55-472 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A central power and collector unit for a wall-mounted, built-in vacuum cleaner comprising a case to be engaged in an opening in a wall structure and defining a power chamber and a collector chamber, said case having a mounting flange about its perimeter to engage and to be fixed to the front surface of the wall structure about said opening therein, said case having inlet and outlet ports in its sides to connect with inlet and exhaust ducts within the Wall structure and spaced a distance not less than %1" or greater than 4 /8" rearward of the flange, said unit having an air inlet tube extending from the power chamber into the collector chamber and an outlet port communicating between the collector chamber and a power driven blower in the power chamber, a filter bag in the collector chamber and having an opening receiving the inlet tube, an air conducting orienting pad in the collector chamber overlying the outlet port and having an air conducting inner surface engaging the bag to hold said bag centrally in its related chamber in spaced relationship from the sides of the chamber and having air conducting sides communicating with the space between the sides of the chamber and bag.

This invention has to do with a vacuum cleaning means and is more particularly concerned with certain improvements in that class or type of vacuum means comprising a wall-mounted power collector unit adapted to connect and communicate with a wall installed vacuum service duct system and to cooperatively connect with a flexible vacuum service hose.

The type or class of vacuum cleaning means here concerned with is commonly referred to or termed a built-in vacuum system or a central vacuum system. Such systems are built into wall structures in dwellings and the like, about central, wall-mounted, box-like units, in which motor driven vacuum pumps or blowers are housed and in which collector means are provided to collect dirt, dust and debris gathered by the systems.

The provision and use of such systems has, for many years, been restricted to large industrial and commercial institutions, such as factories, hotels and the like. Such restricted use has been due to the high cost of components, high cost of installation, the unavailability of small, neat, compact and quiet or relatively silent operating blowers and the unavailability of easy, convenient and practical collecting means; that is, collecting means which are such that the ordinary housewife can service, handle and manipulate.

In recent years, small, quiet operating motor driven vacuum blower units of modest price and of sufficient capacity to serve central vacuum systems for the average dwelling have become available and standardized; further, with the advent and development of paper vacuum cleaner collecting and/or filter bags, the establishment or provision of easy and convenient to use and service collecting means has been made feasible.

As a result of the above, there has, in recent years, been rapid increase in the number of central vacuum cleaning systems available to home builders and the like.

UnitedStates Patent O "ice 3,7i4,?fi5 Patented Feb. 6, 1973 The cost of such systems has lowered to within practical range and cost of installation is minimal.

The principal shortcoming yet to be found in those systems presently being produced resides in the size of the central unit, that is, the unit which houses the blower and the collecting means.

The standard wall structure in dwellings and the like is established of 3 x 4 studs, finished to 2%" x 3%", and wood, veneer panels or lathe and plaster skins ranging from A3" to a standard maximum of thick. The studs are commonly arranged with their major dimensions at right angles to the skins and so that the cells defined by the wall are 3%" thick or deep, from skin to skin. The maximum thickness of such Walls, with /1" skins, is 5%".

Since the minor dimension of commercially available blower units suitable for use in such systems is about 6" and these units must be suitably supported and housed within the case or housing of the central unit of such systems, the establishment of a central unit 5%" deep, or less, is not practical or feasible and all known commercially available central units of the class here referred to are deeper or thicker than 5 /8" and must project a substantial distance outward, from one or both of the skins of the Walls in which they are mounted.

Attempts have been made to slim or minimize the depth of such units, so they do not project outwardly from related Walls an excessive distance. In doing so, bulbus, blister-like enlargements are established in the unit housings or covers which render them unsightly and obvious mechanical and utilitarian appliances.

In attempts to minimize the depth of such units, the prior art has compromised by increasing the lateral and/ or vertical extent of the units to accommodate necessary components and means, with the result that the units have become exceedingly wide and/or high, are of odd or unusual dimensional proportioning and are such that they are quite obvious and apparent.

It is desired that such units be of a size and dimensions not noticeably larger and distinct in size and dimension from an average wall picture frame, built-in radio, radio speaker or other small appliances which are commonly found in a dwelling, which are aesthically acceptable and which are not, as a general rule, noticed.

Another shortcoming to be found in such units resides in the fact that it is common and accepted practice, when employing paper filter bags in vacuum collecting means, to arrange the bags in a vacuum chamber, provide an inlet fitting or fixture at one end of the chamber to connect with the interior of the bag and to provide an air outlet fitting or fixture at the other or opposite end of the chamber, communicating with the chamber and about the exterior of the bag and so that substantially straight and complete flow of air, longitudinally of the chamber and of the bag therein is eflFected, thus gaining full filtering effect afforded by the bag and maximum efficiency.

Such practice requires that the central unit not only be sufiiciently great in vertical or horizontal extent to accommodate the filter bag, fully extended in the vacuum chamber provided for said bag, but also be sufiiciently great in dimension to accommodate the inlet and outlet fixtures and/0r fitting at the opposite ends of the chamber and those other ducts and the like related to the noted fixtures and fittings.

The above practice results in efficient and efiective but excessive large central units.

Attempts have been made to direct the flow of air into and out of the vacuum chambers and filter bags in such units in other than the direct, axial manner referred to above and to thereby effect a reduction in size and dimension of the units, but such attempts have resulted in poor, inefiective and/or inetficiently operating systems where a small and limited extent of the bag is utilized to filter and pass the air being moved.

To date, primary attention has been directed to the establishment and provision of central units for built-in or central vacuum cleaning systems which are designed specifically for installation in a standard deep wall structure such as referred to above and with the view of connecting the unit with a related system of 2" plastic or metal inlet service and outlet exhaust ducts arranged centrally in and extending through the 3%" cells defined by the wall structures in the dwelling in which the system is to be installed. While such units have proven suitable in standard 5% walls, they are not suitable for mounting and installation in any other structural wall and necessitate, often extensive, on the building site, modification of the wall structure to effect their installation when they are installed in other than a conventional 5 /8 wall structure.

The size, weight and dimensions of such central units make mounting them on and in a panel or wall skin, less than A" thick or deep, undesirable and frequently impractical or impossible.

In recent years, with the ever and rapidly increasing establishment of mobile home, trailers and pre-fabricated buildings established of modular pannels and the like, the establishment of wall structures ranging from ,43" to 2 /2 have become increasingly more common.

Those commercially available central units provided by the prior art, designed for installation in standard 5 /8" Walls are not suitable for installation in thinnner wall structures such as referred to above and which are becoming increasingly more common.

With few exceptions, the cases or box-like housings of those central units provided by the prior art are oriented in the openings provided in their related wall structures to receive them by the edges of said openings and by the inner surface of the skins of the walls, remote from the skins of the walls which the openings enter and by studs and like structure withtin the Walls. The cases are, as a general rule, fixed in their related walls by mounting brackets, straps and like mechanical devices secured to the cases and parts or portions of the wall structures, by means of screw fasteners and/or nails, or by means of screw fasteners or nails engaged directly with and between parts or portions of the wall structure and sides, walls or panels of the cases per se.

An object of my invention is to provide a wall-mounted central unit for a built-in vacuum cleaning system of the character referred to incorporating a novel and improved relationship of components, parts and portions whereby the overall dimensions of the unit is substantially reduced.

Yet another object and feature of this invention is to provide a unit of the character referred to comprising a case which is 12" x 12" in lateral and vertical extent and which is specifically designed for engagement and mounting in a 12" x 12" opening in any wall or panel structure, regardless of the depth or thickness of the panel or Wall structure.

It is an object and feature of this invention to provide a unit of the character referred to wherein the case is provided with an outwardly projecting mounting flange about its perimeter to engage the front surface of the panel or skin of the wall about the opening provided therein and which is fastened to said skin whereby the unit is mounted on or carried by said panel or skin.

It is an object of the invention to arrange the flange in predetermined spaced relationship from the front edge of the case and from openings and fittings in the sides of the case so it serves to orient the front edge of the case for desired engagement and arrangement of a front cover structure with the case and the panel or wall and so it serves to orient the said openings and fittings in the sides of the case in predetermined relationship with the rear surface of the carrying or supporting panel or wall skin and with ducting means adjacent thereto.

Still another object and feature of my invention is to provide a unit of the character referred to having novel collecting means wherein the effective and efiicient air flow into and out of the filter bag and vacuum chamber is at one, common side of the chamber and the bag, remote from the ends thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will be apparent and understood from the foilowing detailed description of one preferred form and carrying out of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my new central unit;

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by line 22 on FIG. 1 showing my unit mounted in a wall panel;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing my unit engaged in a standard frame and stud wall;

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 5--5 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view taken as indicated by line 7-7 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view taken substantially as indicated by line 99 on FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a view taken substantially as indicated by line 101tl on FIG. 1.

The central unit U provided by the present invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a forwardly opening box-like case C having left and right side walls 10 and 11, top and bottom walls 12 and 13, a rear wall 14 and an open front. The case is 12" in vertical and lateral extent and is approximately 6% in depth.

The case C is provided with an outwardly projecting 1" mounting flange F about its perimeter, defined by the top,-bott0m and side walls.

The flange F can be and in the instant case is shown formed integrally with its related walls of the case by rearwardly and thence outwardly bent and formed extensions on the forward edges of said walls and so that the forward edges of said walls are established of two thicknesses of material and define a radiused, forwardly disposed, rim-like edge 15 about the open front of the case.

The flange F is spaced rearward of the front edge 15 of the case about and is on a vertical plane parallel therewith. The flange F is provided with longitudinally spaced fastener receiving openings 16 along each of its sides and in the case illustrated the corners defined by the several side portions of the flange are suitably mitred.

It will be noted that the flange is spaced approximately 5%" from the rear wall 14 of the case.

The case is next characterized by a fiat partition P spaced between the side walls, extending vertically between the top and bottom walls and forwardly from the rear wall to the plane of the open front of the case. The partition P is sealed and in air-tight relationship with the top, bottom and rear walls and has a straight, smooth rim edge 15 cooperatively related to the edge 15 of the case to establish an integral continuation or part thereof. The partition =P divides the interior of the case to define a vacuum chamber V and a power chamber D each of which is coextensive with the vertical extent and depth of the case and one half the lateral extent of the case. The vacuum chamber occurs at the left side and the power chamber at the right side of the case and each is two times greater in vertical extent than it is in lateral extent.

The case is next provided with a horizontal partition 17 in the power chamber substantially midway between the top and bottom walls and extend g laterally between the wall 11 and partition P and forwardly from the rear wall 14 to the forward portion of the chamber D. The partition 17 divides the power chamber into a lower motor and blower compartment 13 and an upper compartment 19 to accommodate an electrical junction box or the like, vacuum service fittings and duct connecting means as will hereinafter be described.

The right hand wall 11 of the case is provided with a laterally outwardly opening upper opening or port 20 communicating with the upper portion of the upper compartment 19 of the chamber D, a laterally outwardly opening lower exhaust opening or port 21 communicating with the lower compartment 18 of the chamber D and a central opening 22 between the openings 20 and 21 and communicating with the lower portion of the upper compartment of the chamber D. The central axes of the several openings 20, 21 and 22 are spaced approximately 2%" rearward from the rear surface of the flange F and so that when the case is mounted in a through opening in a standard framed and plastered wall structure, with standard 4" skins or panels and the flange F is seated on the exterior surfaces of one of said skins, about the opening therein, the several noted openings occur wholly within the 3 /8" cells defined by the wall, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The lower portion of the right hand wall 11 of the case is provided with a coupling bracket J to cooperatively receive a flange fitting for the exhaust ducting. The bracket J has a flat, substantially square plate 23 with vertical side and horizontal top and bottom edges. The plate 23 is arranged outward of and overlies the lower exhaust opening 21 and is provided with apertures 24 communicating with the opening 21. The plate 23 is next provided with spaced laterally outwardly projecting, vertical flanges 26 on its two vertical side edges, inwardly projecting and opposing retaining lips 27 on the outer edges of said flanges, and a laterally outwardly projecting horizontal stop flange 28 on its loWer edge.

The plate 23 is approximately 2%"): 2%" and is arranged so that the vertical flange 26 at the forwardly disposed edge of the plate is spaced rearwardly from the flange F approximately 1" and is sufficiently free to accommodate an edge portion of a A" panel or standard wall skin, with which the adjacent portion of the flange F is engaged and seated with, and its rear vertical flange is spaced approximately 3%" from the flange F and is spaced forwardly of the inside surface of the rear skin of such a wall about /3", as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The plate 23, with its flanges 26, 28 and lips 27 established a protective screen, to overlie the opening 21 and coupling bracket adapted to slidably receive and retain standard square 2%" x 2%" square or round flanges of flanged coupling fittings for 2" plastic or metal tubing.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings, I have shown a typical flange fitting 30 for plastic tubing related to the bracket 3'. The fitting 30 has a square or round flange 31 with a flat laterally inwardly disposed bearing surface 32 and outer surface 33 and a short, central, 2" in diameter tubular neck 34 projecting laterally outwardly from the outer surface 32. The flange is slidably engaged between flanges 26 of the bracket. The lips 27 slidably engage the outer surface 33 of the flange 31 and urge and hold the sealing surface 32 thereof in tight sealing engagement with the opposing surface of the plate portion of the bracket. The stop flange 28 of the bracket limits downward movement of the flange 31 and cooperates with the flanges 26 to orient the tubular neck 34 concentrically with the opening 21 in the case and with which clip is related.

The neck 34 of the fitting is shown connected with a related section 35 of an exhaust ducting means by means of a nipple 36, in accordance with common practice.

It is to be noted that if an exhaust ducting means is not required or employed, the bracket J effectively screens the 6 opening 21 and prevents access into the case and to the motor driven blower therein and which is related to the opening 21.

The partition P is provided with an upper opening or port 37 in axial alignment with the opening or port 20 and a lower opening or port 38 which is in substantial alignment with the exhaust opening or port 21.

Arranged in the compartment 18 in the chamber 'D of the case is a standard motor driven vacuum fan or blower unit B with cylindrical side walls 40 and flat axially disposed ends 41 and 42. The unit B is slightly less than 6" long, and is about 6" in diameter. It has a central inlet opening 43 at its end 41 and an axially oflset outlet opening 44 at its other end 42. The unit B is provided with annular resilient gaskets at its opposite ends and is slidably engaged in the compartment 18 with the gaskets 45 at its ends in pressure sealing engagement with the wall 11 and partition P of the case and with its outlet 44 aligned with the exhaust port 21 and with its inlet 43 aligned with the port 38 in said partition.

In the lower portion of the upper compartment 19 of the chamber D, and carried by the horizontal partition 17 is a junction box 50 which box carries a terminal block 51 with which an electric service cord 52 is connected. The cord 52 extends through the opening 22 in the case wall 11 and is connected with a suitable power source, in accordance with common and accepted practice.

The motor of the unit B is connected with the terminal block 5 1 by a power cable 53, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the upper portion of the compartment 19, of the chamber 1), above the box 50, I provide an air conducting T-fitting with a laterally extending, horizontal, tubular head portion with a laterally outwardly opening inlet end 61, a laterally inwardly opening outlet end 62 and a central forwardly projecting, forwardly opening leg portion 63. The leg portion is, in the preferred carrying out of the invention, provided with a forwardly disposed mounting flange 64.

The T-fitting 60 is arranged in the compartment 19 with its head portion in axial alignment with the openings or ports 20 and 37 in the wall 11 and partition P of the case. The inlet end portion 61 of said head portion projects through the opening 20 and connects with the outlet end a duct 65 of a vacuum service duct system in or adjacent the wall or panel in which the unit U is mounted and with which said unit is related.

Since the vacuum service duct system with which the unit U is related and of which the duct 65 is a part can vary Widely in form and design and does not form a part of or effect the present invention, the whole of such a system has not been illustrated and further detailed description thereof will be avoided.

The outlet end 62 of the head portion of the T-fitting 60 is connected with a short straight filter bag mounting duct '66 which projects through the opening 37 and a short distance into the vacuum chamber V to connect with a filter bag F arranged therein. The opening 37 in the partition 37 is provided with an annular rubber grommet 67 which yieldingly engages about and seals with the bag mounting duct 66.

The free end of the duct 66, in the chamber V is provided with an annular radially outwardly projecting bag retaining head 68, as clearly illustrated in 'FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The mounting flange 64 of the T-fitting 60 is secured to a suitable mounting bracket 69 in the compartment 19 of the case.

The leg portion 63 of the fitting 60 communicates with and carries a short forwardly projecting, forwardly opening, vacuum service tube 70, the forward end of which projects from the case. The tube 70 has a flat forward open end 72 which is adapted to releasably connect with a flexible vacuum service hose (not shown) by means of a tapered coupling tube or cuff on said hose, slidably and wedgingly engaged in the tube 70 and is normally closed by a valving closure carried by a cover plate related to the case and which will hereinafter be described.

The fitting 60 is preferably a standard plastic duct fitting for 2 plastic ducting and the ducts 65 and 66 and the service tube 70 are established of 2" plastic ducting.

In practice, the construction can he established of larger or smaller standard ducting and related fittings, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Further, the air conducting ducts and fittings of the construction can be established of metal and/or can be especially formed or fabricated in any desired manner without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It is important to note that with the structure thus far described the flow of air from duct 65 through the fitting 60 and duct 66 is straight through flow, free of turns and angles and that the structure in the case conducting the intiowing air is free of elbow joints and the like which are costly, space consuming and result in the turning of air with resulting loss of efficiency.

It is also to be noted that the flow of air through the blower unit B from the chamber V and out of the port 21 and/or into the duct system is straight through and that no ducts, tubes, fittings or other air conducting means is required or provided in and through the compartment 18 of the chamber D.

The vacuum chamber V accommodates and is provided with a bag orienting filter pad which overlies the port 38 in the partition P and projects laterally therefrom and into the chamber V. The pad 0 is a flat, rectangular or round unit and can, if desired and as illustrated, include an outer rigid cage 80 established of rigid screening or perforated sheet stock and a filler 81 of fiberous or interconnected cellular filtering material.

The cage 80 has a fiat vertical outer wall 82 spaced a predetermined distance from the partition P and has flat top bottom and side walls 83 about its perimeter. The top, bottom and side walls 83 have inner edges which rest and seat on the partition in spaced relationship from and about the opening 38. The top, bottom and side walls can, as shown, be about /1 deep. The filter core or filler 81 is disposed within and is contained by the cage and overlies the opening 38.

The pad 0 is releasably retained in the chamber in overlying relationship with the opening or port 38 by a suitable retaining means. In the case illustrated, the retaining means comprises bail-like wire 84- fixed to the partition P and extending diagonally across the pad to engage the outer wall 82 thereof and yieldingly urge and hold the pad in tight engagement on the partition.

It will be noted that the retaining means 84 is such that it permits easy and convenient removal of the pad 0, for the purpose of servicing and cleaning said pad.

In practice, the pad can be of any desired construction; for example, it can simply consist of filter paper or fabric, suitably carried and/or supported by screening. The filter bag F within the chamber V is a simple bag established of filter paper and defines flat top and bottom walls 85 and 86, front and rear walls 87 and 88 and left and right hand side walls 89 and 90. The bag F is of predetermined size and is smaller in lateral and vertical extent and in depth than the chamber V and so that when it is fully extended or expanded within the chamber and is centralized within said chamber, the several walls thereof occur in predetermined spaced relationship from the adjacent opposing walls of the chamber.

In the case illustrated, the dimensions of the bag are such that the spaces between the bag and the chamber walls are substantially the same as the depth of the pad 0, or about /3".

The upper end portion of the right hand wall 96 of the bag F is provided with an inlet opening 91 which is reinforced by an apertured paper retaining plate 92 which plate is adapted to be slidably and sealingly engaged onto the bag mounting tube 66 and yieldingly urged over the retaining head 68 on said tube, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

When the open front of the chamber V is closed and sealed, as will hereinafter be described and when the construction is in operation, the minus pressure in the chamber V about the bag F and created by the blower unit B causes the bag to be inflated by the air, under greater pressure, entering the upper end of the bag through the opening 91 and the duct 66 engaged through said opening.

As the bag is inflated in the manner set forth above, the lower portion of its right hand wall 90 is drawn into engagement with and is held in engagement on the flat outer, perforated wall 82 of the cage 86 of the pad 0. When the bag is thus engaged with the cage, it is effectively held in centrally oriented position in the chamber with its several walls spaced from the opposing adjacent walls of the chamber and so that the entire remaining exterior surface of the bag is free to breathe or pass air outwardly from within the bag to the space in the chamber about said bag.

The perforated side walls 83 of the cage of the pad 0 are unobstructed by the bag, are exposed to the space in the chamber V about the bag and the filtered air within said space is drawn freely through the pad 0, through the blower unit B and is thereafter exhausted from the construction.

The dust and dirt drawn into the upper end portion of the bag F drops to the lower end of the bag and is, to an extent, drawn and compacted therein by the greater pressure differential created in the lower portion of the bag by the direct, engaging relationship of the lower portion of the wall thereof with the pad 0. That is, due to the direct contact of the lower portion of the wall 98 of the bag with the pad 0, a sulficient downward flow of air is induced within the bag to urge dust and dirt and debris to the lower portion or bottom thereof.

It is to be noted that the foregoing combination and relationship of the bag F in the chamber V and with the duct 66 and pad 0 is a novel, extremely effective and etlicient combination and relationship of parts.

The unit U that I provide next includes a cover plate L releasably secured to the case to overlie the chamber D and a closure or door E pivotably carried by the plate L and adapted to normally overlie and seal the open forward side of the chamber V.

The plate L is a simple fiat metal plate arranged in front of and overlying the chamber D. The plate has top, bottom and outer edge portions which project a limited distance outward from their related top, bottom and side of the case and has a vertical inner edge 91 which is spaced sheet metal brackets 97, fixed to its rear surface and partition P of the case. The plate is further, preferably, provided with a rearwardly projecting flange 92 about its perimeter. The top and bottom walls 12 and 13 of the case are notched as at 93 to accommodate the portion of the flange 92 on the inner edge of the plate whereby the plate can be moved rearward ly relative to the case a sufiicient distance so that the flanged plate obscures the case and the flange F thereof.

The rear surface of the plate is provided with a pair of vertically spaced brackets 94 with laterally outwardly projecting retaining pins 95. The pins 95 project laterally outwardly into and through a pair of vertically spaced retaining openings 96 established in the right hand side wall 11 of the case, forward of the flange F. The brackets and pins serve to hold the right hand side of the plate L in position over the case.

The plate L is next provided with a pair of vertically spaced sheet metal brackets 97, fixed to its rear surface and having laterally inwardly projecting aperture mounting tabs 98 which occur rearwardly of the plate flange 92 and project laterally inwardly from the inner edge 91 of the plate. The tabs 98 occur outward of the top and bottom walls of the case and are releasably secured to the flange F of the case by screw fasteners 99 engaged through the tabs and into internally threaded mounting posts 100 fixed to the flange.

It will be apparent that upon releasing and removing the fasteners 99, the plate L can be moved forwardly and turned so that the pins 94 are disengaged from within the openings 96, affording easy and convenient removal of the plate and access to the chamber D.

In addition to the foregoing, the plate is provided with a service opening 101 through which the forward end of the vacuum service tube 70 freely projects. A small closure plate 102 is pivotably secured to the front of the plate L, by hinge means M to normally overlie the opening 101 and the forward end of the tube 70. The closure 102 carries a flat, flexible rubber sealing disc 103, at its normally rearwardly disposed side or surface, which disc engages and overlies the forward open end 71 of the tube 70 to seal that end of said tube.

The closure plate 102, hinge means M and disc '3 establish a manually operable clapper valve means for sealing and obscuring the tube 70 and which is such that it affords easy and convenient access to said tube for engagement of a vacuum service hose therewith.

The closure E is a flat sheet metal plate arranged adjacent the front of the case to overlie the vacuum chamber V and has top, bottom and side edge portions which project outwardly from the adjacent portions of the top and bottom walls 12 and 13 and from the left hand wall 10 of the case and an inner edge portion 110 which extends beyond and to the right of the partition P to terminate adjacent the inner edge 91 of the plate L. The closure E, like the plate L is provided with a rearwardly projecting flange 111 about its perimeter which flange is accommodated by the notches 93 in the top and bottom walls of the case.

The right hand or inner edge portion of the door E is pivotally mounted on the left hand or inner adjacent edge portion of the plate L by a pair of vertically spaced hinges H. The hinges H are fixed to the inner surface of the plate L and have elongate arms extending laterally of the construction to bridge the flanges on the inner adjacent edges 91 and 110 of the plate and door and which are fixed to the inner edge portion of the door or the flange thereof, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

Since the particular hinge means provided to mount the door E to the plate L can vary widely, without departing from the spirit of this invention, further detailed description of the hinge means illustrated can and will be dispensed with.

The left hand side of the door E is releasably latched to the case by means of a spring actuated latch means S with parts fixed to the inner surface of the door and on the flange F adjacent the wall 10 of the case.

Since the latch means S can vary widely in form and construction, without departing from the spirit of this invention, I will dispense with further unnecessary description of the latch means I have elected to illustrate in the drawings.

Finally, the door E is provided with and carries sealing means K to seal with the rims 15 and 15 about the forward open side of the chamber V which means in cludes a continuous sealing strip of resilient material, such as non-interconnected cellular foam plastic, fixed to the rear surface of the door and adapted to establish continuous uninterrupted pressure sealing engagement with the rims 15 and 15 about the chamber when the door is urged to its normal closed position and is releasably held in said position by the latch means S and the minus pressure in the chamber V, when the construction is in operation.

With the structure described, it will be apparent that servicing of the construction as when it is desired to replace the bag F, it is a simple and convenient operation to open the door E to gain access to the chamber V and 10 to thereafter remove a used and filled bag and to replace it with a new bag.

In practice, the unit is provided with suitable switch means to turn the construction on and off. In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the control switch is a pressure sensitive button switch carried by the plate L to occur behind and normally engaged and held in an open position by the closure plate 102. The switch 120 is connected with the terminal block 51 by suitable conductors (not shown).

Since the number of types of switching and/or control means available and adaptable for use in connection with my construction is considerable and since such means do not effect the novelty and spirit of my invention, I have elected not to disclose and will not burden the disclosure with further and unnecessary considerations thereby.

It is to be noted that with the structure that I provide the unit U is mounted and supported entirely by the flange F, on the front surface of the Wall panel or front skin of the wall structure with which the unit is related, about the unit receiving opening therein and does not require or rely upon the provision and use of mounting brackets, straps or the like and does not require other and secondary structure related to and/or a part .of the panel or Wall structure.

It is also to be noted that the flange F, in addition to mounting the case, as above set forth, also orients and arranges the case so that the inlet and exhaust ports and the fittings and ducts related thereto are arranged and disposed in predetermined spaced relationship rearward of the flange and so that they occur in predetermined spaced relationship rearward of the panel or wall skin with which the flange F is engaged.

With the structure provided, the inlet and exhaust openings and the electric service opening in the right side of the case occur within A" and 4 /8" from the rear surface of the flange F. With such a relationship of parts, it will be apparent that the unit can be conveniently mounted in and with a panel up to in thickness and that it can be conveniently mounted in an opening in a standard 2 x 4 framed and plastered wall structure having standard thick skins and so that the noted ports in its left side are centrally arranged and open into the cell defined by the wall structure and can be conveniently connected with inlet and exhaust ducting arranged in and through the cells of the wall.

It is to be noted that the rearward edge of the bracket J is spaced approximately /8" from the opposing inside surface of the rear skin of a standard wall structure when the front skin thereof is thick; accordingly, the thickness of the front skin can be reduced in thickness, to /s" in thickness (such as a veneer panel) and the ports in the left side of the case and the bracket J and fittings related thereto would still occur wholly within the cell of the wall for connecting with ducting therein.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A wall mounted vacuum cleaner unit comprising a substantially square case having horizontal top and bottom walls, vertical side walls, a vertical rear wall and an open front, an outwardly projecting mounting flange about the perimeter of the case on a vertical plane spaced reanward of the open front, a partition extending between the top and bottom walls and forwardly from the rear wall to the plane of said open front, said partition defining a vacuum chamber in the left side of the case and a power chamber in the right side of said case, the forward edges of the partition and the case about said vacuum chamber defining a sealing rim, a cover means releasably mounted on the case to overlie the open front thereof and including a hinged door normally overlying the open front of the vacuum chamber and having sealing means comprising a body of resilient sealing material on the door normally establishing uninterrupted pressure sealing engagement with the sealing rim, air inlet and service means extending horizontally and laterally through the upper portion of the power chamber and including a bag mounting tube projecting through the partition into the upper portion of the vacuum chamber and a duct connecting part projecting through a port in the right hand side wall to connect with a vacuum service duct, a motor powered vacuum blower unit with oppositely disposed inlet and outlet openings engaged in the lower portion of the power chamber with said inlet opening registered with a port in the partition and communicating with the lower portion of the vacuum chamber, and with said outlet opening registered with an exhaust port in the said right hand side wall, said vacuum cleaner unit engaged in an opening in a panel of a wall structure having front and rear surfaces with said flange engaged with said front surface and secured thereto by fastener means engaged through said flange and into the Wall structure and with said ports spaced rearward of said rear surface, a filter bag arranged in said vacuum chamber and having Walls occurring in spaced opposing relationship with the walls of that chamber and having an inlet opening through which said bag mounting tube is engaged and a part fixed to the right hand side wall of the case toproject laterally outwardly therefrom and defining a forwardly disposed stop shoulder spaced rearward of the flange to cooperate therewith to accommodate an adjacent portion of the pane1, said part having an air conducting screen portion over lying the exhaust port and having laterally outwardly projecting flange means to releasably engage and hold a coupling flange of a flanged fitting of a related exhaust duct system.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ports in the side of the case are located to be entirely within a distance not to exceed 4%" from the rear of said flange.

3'. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ports in the side of the case are located to be entirely within a distance not to exceed 4 /8 from the rear of said flange, and a distance not less than from said 4. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inlet and outlet openings of the blower unit are in flat inner and outer ends of said unit, said unit being slightly less in longitudinal extent than the lateral extent of the power chamber, a resilient annular gasket at one end of the blower unit about the opening therein and engaged with the adjacent opposing wall of the power chamber to yieldingly hold the power unit in proper position in the power chamber.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air inlet and service means includes a forwardly projecting forwardly opening inlet service tube projecting through an opening in the cover means overlying the open front of the case and a manually engageahle clapper valve means carried by said cover means and normally engaged with and sealing the open forward end of said service tube.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1, including a part fixed to the right hand side wall of the case adjacent one of the ports therein to project laterally outwardly therefrom and defining a forwardly disposed stop shoulder spaced a predetermined distance not less than rearward of the flange to cooperate therewith to accommodate an edge portion of the panel about the opening therein.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said part has an air conducting screen portion overlying the exhaust port and laterally outwardly projecting portions to releasably engage and hold a part of a related exhaust duct system communicating with said exhaust port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,494 4/ 1956 Buda --372 3,023,447 3/1962 Senne 15-4314 3,076,068 1/ 1963 Racklyefi 15-314 3,334,370 8/1967 Boyd 15--327 E 3,422,482 1/ 1969 Hamrick 15-327 R 3,568,239 3/1971 Harnrick 15314 3,568,240 3/ 1971 Hamrick '153 14 3,279,157 10/1966 Andersson-Sason et al 55410 BERNARD NOZICK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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