Abstract:
An improved system for adapting the intake configuration of a central vacuum cleaning system is disclosed. The canister of the central vacuum cleaning system is provided with at least two vacuum intake openings from which an installer can choose to insert an intake coupler means and at least one intake closure means or cap of the present invention. Insertion and attachment of the intake coupler means and the cap(s) is achieved by use of a novel twist-to-lock interface provided between the vacuum intake openings and the coupler and cap(s). Attachment of the coupler and the cap(s) is accomplished easily and quickly by hand and without the need for glue, clamps, tools, or any other equipment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a central vacuum cleaner apparatus, and more particularly, to an adaptable twist lock intake system for use with a canister commonly included in a built-in vacuum cleaner frequently found in a building such as a house and useful for vacuuming floors, carpets, drapes, upholstery, etc. in the house.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A first known type of central vacuum cleaning apparatus traditionally has one main vacuum (suction) intake on one side of the canister unit and a utility vacuum (suction) intake on the front of the canister unit. The main suction intake is used for connecting the network of piping in the house to the canister unit, and the utility suction intake is used when the homeowner wants to use the vacuum in a location that is relatively close to the canister unit. Typically, only one of these intakes is used at a time.  
           [0003]    A second type of central vacuum cleaning apparatus has a dual intake configuration, wherein two vacuum (suction) intakes are located on diametrically opposite of each other on the wall of the canister unit. When one of these two vacuum intakes is used for connecting the piping network in the house, the other is either capped off or utilized as a utility vacuum intake with the result that only one of the suction intakes is used at a time.  
           [0004]    In view of the foregoing, it is desirable for an installer of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus to have an option to use a main vacuum intake located on either the left or the right side of the canister unit and to be able to utilize a simple intake coupling assembly. Additionally, it is further desirable for the homeowner to have a cleaning apparatus provided with a usable front-located utility vacuum intake.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is an improved system for adapting the intake configuration of a central vacuum cleaning system. The present invention provides not only a custom vacuum intake connection arrangement for an installer, but also the convenience of a front-located utility vacuum intake for a homeowner. In general, the canister of the central vacuum cleaning system of the present invention is provided with at least two vacuum intake openings from which the installer can choose, depending upon which is in the most convenient location. The installer attaches the intake coupler of the present invention at the selected intake opening and a cap of the present invention at the non-selected opening(s) to close or cap them off.  
           [0006]    Attachment of the intake coupler and cap of the present invention is achieved by use of a novel “twist-to-lock” interface between the canister unit openings and the coupler and cap. The intake coupler of the present invention comprises a unitary tube having a central flange with two locking tabs. The intake openings of the canister are circular holes with notches that are complementary to the locking tabs. Installation of the intake coupler into the intake opening is accomplished without the need for glue, clamps, tools or any other equipment by inserting the coupler into the desired intake opening so that the flange meets the canister wall surrounding the opening. A gasket is positioned within the interface to provide an adequate seal. Partial rotation of the intake coupler relative to the canister wall causes the tabs to engage their respective intake opening notches.  
           [0007]    The cap of the present invention is constructed and arranged similarly to the intake coupler. The cap is provided with the same basic flange, tabs and gasket; however, when it is installed, the body of the cap extends mostly into the interior of the canister unit from the flange. The cap is provided with a diametrical wall to permit hand rotation at its external end.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a means for an installer of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus to have an option to use a main vacuum intake located on either side of the canister unit for connecting the apparatus to the vacuum piping network installed in the house.  
           [0009]    It is another aspect of the present invention not only to provide a means for an installer of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus to have an option to use a main vacuum intake located on either side of the canister unit, but also for the homeowner to have a cleaning apparatus provided with a usable front-located utility vacuum intake.  
           [0010]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide an intake coupler means having a unitary construction that is simpler and less costly to manufacture and install than conventional, multi-piece coupler means.  
           [0011]    It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide an intake coupler means that requires the use of no installation paraphernalia and no extra pipe pieces.  
           [0012]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide an intake closure means that, along with the intake coupler means of the present invention, can be readily installed, removed and relocated to any other intake opening of the canister unit at any time during the lifetime of the cleaning apparatus.  
           [0013]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident by reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intake coupler of the intake system of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1, taken along the line  3 - 3  shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1, taken along the line  4 - 4  shown in  3 ;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation view of the intake coupler shown in FIG. 1, taken in the flange and tab region of the coupler;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is side view of a lug provided on the intake coupler shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is an end view of the lug shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an intake closure of the intake system of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the intake closure shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the intake closure shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1I is a side cross-sectional view of the intake closure shown in FIG. 8, taken along the line  11 - 11  shown in FIG. 10;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a plan view of a gasket used with the intake coupler shown in FIG. 1 and with the intake closure means shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the gasket shown in FIG. 12 and taken along the line  13 - 13  therein;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1 and the gasket shown in FIG. 12 relative to a wall portion of a canister of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus, that defines a canister intake opening used with the intake system of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 shows an exploded perspective view of the closure shown in FIG. 8 and the gasket shown in FIG. 12 relative to another wall portion of the canister shown in FIG. 14, that defines a canister intake opening similar to that shown in FIG. 12 and that is also used with the intake system of the present invention; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 shows a side elevation view of a portion of a canister of a central vacuum cleaning apparatus, having the intake coupler shown in FIG. 1 and the intake closure means shown in FIG. 8 installed in intake openings provided in the canister wall. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    An intake coupler means  10  included in the intake system of the present invention is shown in FIGS.  1 - 7 . The coupler  10  generally comprises a unitary, conduit-like main body  12  having a first end (outlet) section  12   a , a second end (inlet) section  12   b  and a mid-section  12   c  that lies between the first and second end sections  12   a  and  12   b . The section  12   a  has a central, longitudinally extending axis A, the section  12   b  has a central longitudinally extending axis B, and the section  12   c  has a central longitudinally extending axis C. As most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the axes A and C intersect at a point lying on a plane oriented perpendicularly to the axes A and C and passing through the first angular bend  12   d  and the first arcuate bend  12   e  where the sections  12   a  and  12   c  join one another. The axes A and C intersect one another at an obtuse angle a ac  that preferably will be 135° Similarly, the axes B and C intersect at a point lying on a plane oriented perpendicularly to the axes B and C and passing through the second angular bend  12   f  and the second arcuate bend  12   g  where the sections  12   b  and  12   c  join one another. The axes B and C intersect one another at an acute angle a bc  that preferably will be 22.5°.  
         [0031]    The sections  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  of the body  12  collectively form a winding, inner passageway  14  that extends between a first circular opening  12   a , defined by the first end section  12   a  of the main body  12  and a second circular opening  12   b , defined by the second end section  12   b  of the main body  12 . The diameter of the passageway  14  at the second circular opening  12   b , is marginally larger than the diameter at the first circular opening  12   a   1 . This is the case because the second end section  12   b  of the body  12  includes a radially extending flange portion  12   b   2  and an axially extending sleeve portion  12   b   3  that cooperatively define a widened neck region  14   a  of the passageway  14 .  
         [0032]    A lug  16  projects radially outward from and axially along the sleeve portion  12   b   3  of the second end section  12   b . As indicated by FIGS. 2, 3,  6  and  7 , the lug  16  comprises a first side wall  16   a , a second side wall  16   b , and an outer wall  16   c . The first and second side walls  16   a  and  16   b  are parallel to one another and extend radially away from and axially along the outer surface of the portion  12   b   3 . The outer wall  16   c , which is spaced radially away from and extends axially parallel relative to the portion  12   b   3 , is joined at its opposing axially extending edges to the radially outermost ends of the first and second side walls  16   a  and  16   b . The inner faces of the first side wall  16   a , the second side wall  16   b , and the outer wall  16   c  form a channel  17 . The channel  17  openly communicates at first opening  17   a  with the neck region  14   a  of the passageway  14 , at second opening  17   b  with the second circular opening  12   b , and at third opening  17   c  with the region exterior to the axially extending sleeve portion  12   b   3  of the second end (inlet) section  12   b . The channel  17  is also provided with first and second orifices  17   d  and  17   e  that respectively extend through the first and second side walls  16   a  and  16   b  of the lug  16 . A bolt  11  extends through the orifices  17   d  and  17   e . A nut  13  secures the bolt  11 . The nut  13  and bolt  11  are used to adjust the circumference of the axially extending sleeve portion  12   b   3  of the second end (inlet) section  12   b  for clamping the intake coupler  10  to a clamping flange of a vacuum piping network.  
         [0033]    The mid-section  12   c  of the coupler  10  includes a flange  18  and a pair of flange tabs  19 . The flange  18  is integrally joined at its radially innermost curved edge to the outer surface of the mid-section  12   c  and has a first annular face  18   a , a second annular face  18   b  and a radially outer curved edge  18   c . The first annular face  18   a  is generally oriented toward the inlet end of the coupler  10 , and the second annular face  18   b , which is parallel to the face  18   a , is oppositely oriented toward the outlet end of the coupler  10 .  
         [0034]    The pair of flange tabs  19  includes a first flange tab  19   a  and a second flange tab  19   b . The flange tabs  19   a  and  19   b  are integrated transversely with the flange  18  at the second annular face  8   b  and circumferentially with the mid-section  12   c  at the outer surface thereof. The flange tabs  19   a  and  19   b  are positioned on the second annular face  18   b  and the outer face of the mid-section  12   c  so that they are diametrically opposite one another. The flange tabs  19   a  and  19   b  are structurally identical in all respects; therefore, a description of the structure of only one of them, the flange tab  19   a , will be provided here, and it will be recognized that whatever structural description is provided for the tab  19   a  will be equally applicable to the other tab  19   b.    
         [0035]    The flange tab  19   a  is comprised of three integrated segments: an arcuate first end segment  19   a   1 , a straight middle segment  19   a   2  and a straight second end segment  19   a   3 . The arcuate first end segment  19   a , serves, among other things, as a means to join the tab  19   a  to the flange  18 . The straight middle segment  19   a   2  extends in a plane that is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis C of the mid-section  12   c  of the main body  12 . The second end segment  19   a   3  adjoins the straight middle segment  19   a   2  and is angled away from the second annular face  8   b  of the flange  18  and toward the straight middle segment  19   a   2  of the tab  19   a . The second annular face  18   b  of the flange  18 , the outer surface of the mid-section  12   c  and the surfaces  19   a   1 ′,  19   a   2 ′ and  19   a   3 ′ of the tab  19   a  cooperate to define a circumferentially extending slot  15   a  between the flange  18  and the tab  19   a . The purpose of the circumferentially extending slot  15   a  along with a corresponding slot  15   b  formed between the flange  18  and the tab  19   b  will be explained later.  
         [0036]    An intake closure means  20  included in the intake system of the present invention is shown in FIGS.  8 - 11 . The intake closure means  20  is a stopper-like structure molded from a plastic substance and having a substantially radially extending, disc-like base portion  22 , a substantially axially extending, cylindrical main body portion  24  and a substantially radially extending, annular flange portion  26 . The closure means  20  also has a radially and axially extending partition portion  28  that, along with the disc-like base portion  22  and the cylindrical main body  24 , defines a pair of recesses  27  and  29  that are situated on opposite sides of the partition  28  and are dimensionally the same in all respects. The partition portion  28  allows for hand grasping and manipulating the closure means  20  in a manner as will be hereinafter discussed.  
         [0037]    The intake closure means  20  also has a pair of closure means flange portion tabs  23  that are diametrically located relative to each other. The pair of closure means flange portion tabs includes a closure means flange portion first tab  23   a  and a closure means flange portion second tab  23   b . The first and second tabs  23   a  and  23   b  are structurally and dimensionally the same as the flange tabs  19   a  and  19   b  provided on the intake coupler means  12 . The tabs  23   a  and  23   b  are integrated transversely with the flange  26  at an annular face  26   a  that is oriented toward the base portion  22  of the closure means  20 . The tabs  23   a  and  23   b  are also integrated circumferentially with the cylindrical main body portion  24  at the outer surface thereof. In a manner not unlike that described above in connection with the tabs  19   a  and  19   b , the tabs  23   a  and  23   b , the flange  26  and main body portion  24  cooperatively define a pair of circumferentially extending slots  25   a  and  25   b . The slots  25   a  and  25   b  have the same purpose as the slots  15   a  and  15   b  provided on the intake coupler means  12 , which purpose will be hereinafter explained. Projections  21  project from the base portion  22  to form opposed and offset engagement surfaces  21   a . The projections  21  can be, for example, molded as a part of the closure  20  in an A-shaped configuration. The engagement surfaces  21   a  are arranged so that a lever, such as a wrench or screwdriver can be inserted between the surfaces. A force can then be applied to the lever to rotate the intake closure  20  to facilitate installation and removal.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 12 and 13 show a gasket  30  included with the intake system of the present invention. The gasket  30  is made of a resilient solid substance such as Santoprene® rubber, or any other substance having suitably similar properties. The gasket  30  is used with the intake coupler means  10  and with the intake closure means  20  in a way that will hereinafter be explained. The gasket  30  is comprised of a pair of first and second axially disposed, parallel faces  32  and  34  and a pair of first and second radially disposed, concentric edges  36  and  38 . The first edge  38  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the radially curved outer edge  18   c  of the flange  18  of the coupler means  10  and the diameter of the radially curved outer edge  26   a  of the flange  26  of the closure means  20 . Adjacent the first edge  38 , the gasket is thicker to form an axial flange  39 . The diameter of the second edge  36  of the gasket  30  is smaller than the diameter of the radially curved outer edge  18   c  of the flange  18  of the coupler means  10  and the diameter of the radially curved outer edge  26   b  of the flange  26  of the closure means  20 . The second edge  36  defines a central void  37  in the gasket  30 . The edge  36  further defines a pair of first and second notches  31  and  33 . The notches  31  and  33  have longitudinally extending central axes  31 ′ and  33 ′ that are equidistantly offset by a distance “d” relative to a transverse axis D that extends through the center of the gasket  30 . The notches  31  and  33  are shaped to have arcuate first ends  31   a  and  33   a , straight parallel sides  31   b  and  31   c  and  33   b  and  33   c , and open second ends  31   d  and  33   d . The notches  31  and  33  are configured to permit the gasket  30  to be applied to the coupler means  10  and the closure means  20  in a manner that will now be described.  
         [0039]    In the case of the coupler means  10 , the central void  37  receives the first end (outlet) section  12   a  of the conduit-like main body  12 . The flange  39  of the gasket  30  faces away from the flange  18  of the coupler  10 . The edge  36  is then slid axially along the outer surface of the first end (outlet) section  12   a  and thereafter along the outer surface of the mid section  12   c  of the conduit-like main body  12  until the gasket  30  abuts the first flange tab  19   a  and the second flange tab  19   b . The gasket  30  is then gently stretched in the radial direction over the tabs  19   a  and  19   b  and, if necessary, rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise so that the notches  31  and  33  receive first curved end segments of the tabs  19   a  and  19   b  and either of the axially disposed, parallel faces  32  and  34  contacts the second annular face  18   b  of the flange  18 .  
         [0040]    In the case of the closure means  20 , the central void  37  receives the disc-like base portion  22  and the cylindrical main body portion  24  of the closure means  20 . The edge  36  is then slid axially along the outer surface of the main body portion  24  until the gasket abuts the first flange tab  23   a  and the second flange tab  23   b . The gasket  30  is then gently stretched in the radial direction over the tabs  23   a  and  23   b  and, if necessary, rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise so that the notches  31  and  33  receive first curved end segments of the tabs  23   a  and  23   b  and either of the axially disposed, parallel faces  32  and  34  contacts the second annular face  23   c  of the flange  18 . With the gasket  30  assembled to the coupler means  10  and the closure means  20  in the manner just described, the coupler means  10  and the closure means  20  are ready for use with the canister unit  40 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 14 and 15 show a portion of a cylindrical, preferably metal, canister unit  40  that is adapted for use with the intake system of the present invention. The portion of the canister unit  40  includes a canister wall segment  42  and a portal structure  44 . The portal structure  44  is preferably formed in the wall segment  42  by a known stamping process. The portal structure  44  projects radially outward from the wall  42  and defines a canister intake opening  46  of the present invention. The portal structure  44  comprises a first gusset-like portion  44   a , a second gusset-like portion  44   b  and a ring-like plate portion  44   c . The curved edges  44   a , and  44   b , of the first and second gusset-like portions  44   a  and  44   b  lay in a plane that is tangent to the wall  42  at the canister intake opening  46  and cooperate with adjoining portions of the canister wall  42  to define the periphery of the ring-like plate portion  44   c.    
         [0042]    The canister intake opening  46  includes a flange shaped to receive and co-act equally well with either the first and second flange tabs  19   a  and  19   b  included on the flange  18  of the mid-section  12   c  of the intake coupler means  10  or the first and second tabs  23   a  and  23   b  included on the annular flange portion  26  of the closure means  20  to form a mounting structure for mounting the intake couler to the suction intake. The canister intake opening  46  is defined by the first and second arcuate edges  46   a  and  46   b , by the third and fourth arcuate edges  46   c  and  46   d , by the first and second straight edges  46   e  and  46   f , and by the third and fourth edges  46   g  and  46   h . The first and second straight edges  46   e  and  46   f  respectively join terminal points of the first and third arcuate edges  46   a  and  46   c  and of the second and fourth arcuate edges  46   b  and  46   d  to form the sharp notches  47 , and the third and fourth edges  46   g  and  46   h  respectively join terminal points of the second and third arcuate edges  46   b  and  46   c  and of the first and fourth arcuate edges  46   a  and  46   d  to form the blunt notches  48 . The tabs  19   a  and  19   b  or  23   a  and  23   b  are received by the opening  46  so that either the annular face  18   b  of the flange  18  of the coupler  10  or the annular face of the flange  26  of the closure means  20  abuts the ring-like plate portion  44   c  of the portal  44  and either the free end of the straight second end segment  19   a   3  of the tab  19   a  (or segment  19   b   3  of the tab  19   b ) or the comparable free end of the straight end segment of the tab  23   a  (or the tab  23   b ) is received by one of the sharp notches  47 , i.e., the free end of the tabs  19  or  23  is spaced arcuately counter-clockwise relative to and axially inward from either the first straight edge  46   e  or the second straight edge  46   f  of the opening  46 . With the free end of the tabs  19   a  and  19   b  or  23   a  and  23   b  received in the manner just described, the coupler means  10  or the closure means  20 , along with the gasket  30  assembled thereto in the manner explained hereinabove, can simply and expeditiously be rotated clockwise by hand in the opening  46  until the arcuate first end segment  19   a   1  of the tab  19   a  (or segment  19   b   1  of the tab  19   b ) abuts one or the other of the straight edges  46   e  or  46   f  or until the comparable arcuate first end segment of the tab  23   a  (or the tab  23   b ) similarly abuts one or the other of the straight edges  46   e  or  46   f . Once the coupler means  10  or the closure means  20  has been rotated in the opening  46  in the described manner, portions of plate  44   c  that define the third and fourth edges  46   c  and  46   d  of the opening  46  are received in the circumferentially extending slots  15   a  and  15   b  of the coupler means  10  or in the comparable circumferentially extending slots of the closure means  20  with the gasket  30  being situated between the inside face of the plate  44   c  and the tabs  19   a  and  19   b  or  23   a  and  23   b . The portions of plate  44   c  that define the third and fourth edges  46   c  and  46   d  of the opening  46  preferably are gently indented gently inward toward the center of canister unit  40 . Inward indentation of the third and fourth edges  46   c  and  46   d  causes the flange  18  and of the coupler means  10  or the flange  23  of the closure means  20  to be drawn slightly inward as either of them is rotated in the opening  46  which in turn causes the gasket  30  to be compressed and to thus establish an air-tight seal between the coupler means  10  and the canister unit  40  or between the closure means and the canister unit  40  and to thus restrict axial movement of the coupler means  10  or the closure means  20  relative to the ring-like plate  44   c.    
         [0043]    In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that the intake coupling system of the present invention makes it possible for an installer to select one or the other of the two portal structures  44  for receiving the intake coupler  10  based on which of the structures  44  is most convenient for making a connection with an end of the vacuum piping network installed in the house and to effectively seal off the non-selected portal structure  44  with the closure means  20 . It should further be evident that the intake coupling system of the present invention makes it possible for the intake coupler means  10  and the closure means  20  to be installed into and removed from the portal structures  44  simply by twisting them by hand and without the need for any tools or application of sealant substances such a glue or cement.  
         [0044]    Although a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described hereinabove, it will be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts and their respective features may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.