Abstract:
Disclosed is an improved cabinet vacuum cleaner assembly. Improvements include cabinet mounting, use of a double pole switch for switching auxiliary equipment. In addition, an improved front panel latch with track and cover is presented. Spring type contacts formed integral to the housing shell allow for ease of attachment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/832,609, entitled “CABINET VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY” filed Jun. 7, 2013. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of vacuum cleaning devices and, more specifically, to cabinet mounted central vacuum cleaning systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Central vacuum cleaning systems are useful in homes, offices and commercial establishments. These systems generally utilize a unitary centrally located station containing a vacuum supply, a collection receptacle and a plurality of conduits which interconnect various parts of the structure to the central station. The conduits normally terminate in a hose adapter coupling enabling each area to be cleaned by inserting the hose assembly into the hose coupling and activating the central station vacuum supply. The hose assembly is normally moved from one room to another. In some systems the hose coupling also supplies electrical power to a brushing system, sometimes referred to as a powerhead. 
         [0004]    Wall recessed cleaning systems are known that are self-contained so as to include the vacuum supply, vacuum bag and hose receptacle in a single unit, adapted to be situated within an opening prepared in the wall of an existing structure. The problem with such prior art devices was that they were difficult to install within an interior wall recess since they were greater than 6 inches in depth. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,967 discloses a combined inlet structure and switching device for a central vacuum system which includes an inlet housing having top, bottom and side walls defining a vacuum inlet chamber and a front with a dirt receiving opening. An aperture located in the top wall and can be connected to a pipe leading to a central vacuum source. A closure member is movable between first and second positions in order to close or open the aperture. A foot operated actuator is connected to the housing and is able to pivot the closure member between the first and second positions. A spring biases the closure member towards the first position and operates when the actuator is pressed in one direction. When the closure member is moved to the second position, it will remain there unless the actuator is pressed in another, opposite direction. There is also a switch mechanism responsive to movement of the actuator for opening and closing an electrical circuit connected to the central vacuum source. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,016 discloses a suction inlet for a central vacuum system of a building which includes a housing mounted on the floor of the building thereby defining a slot along the floor. The slot can be opened and closed and simultaneously a vacuum duct connected to the housing is opened and closed by a plug member. When the plug and the slot are opened, a switch actuates the central vacuum system to draw air into the housing through the slot across the floor so that dust, dirt and debris on the floor can simply be swept into the slot and drawn away. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,977 discloses a vacuum fitting for connection to a remote source of vacuum, such as a central vacuum system. The vacuum fitting comprising a main body mountable to a fixed structure. The main body includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening; an openable closure is mounted to the main body and is moveable between an open position and position covering the inlet opening; a latch member is selectively positionable to keep the closure in said covering position when positioned between the main body and the closure and to permit said closure to move to an open position when not positioned between said main body and the closure; and a biaser to urge the closure to an open position. A switch is also provided to initiate the remote source of vacuum, such as a central vacuum system, when the closure is moved to the open position by the biaser. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,080 discloses improvements in the operation and design of wall-mounted recessed vacuum cleaner systems. The disclosed invention incorporates an extremely compact motor design which enables the filtering debris receptacle to be arranged directly over the motor housing. The vacuum system of the disclosed invention includes an upper containment compartment and a lower evacuation compartment. The containment compartment houses an air filtering and residue collecting receptacle, e.g. a vacuum bag assembly, which may incorporate HEPA filtration characteristics. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,580,281, issued to the inventor of the present invention, discloses an improved wall-mounted recessed vacuum cleaner system which incorporates vibration dampening mounts between the motor and the outer housing, air channels within the housing to smooth air flow and reduced number of parts to significantly reduce the noise level during operation. The vacuum cleaner system incorporates an extremely compact housing and motor design with a filtering debris receptacle arranged directly over the motor compartment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Disclosed is an improved cabinet vacuum cleaner assembly. Improvements include cabinet mounting, use of a double pole switch for switching auxiliary equipment. In addition, an improved front panel latch with track and cover is presented. Spring type contacts formed integral to the housing shell allow for ease of attachment. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to present a unique vacuum cleaner assembly. 
         [0012]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to employ a double pole switch for switching auxiliary equipment. 
         [0013]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an improved front panel latch with track and cover is presented. 
         [0014]    It is a still further objective of the invention to provide spring type contacts formed integral to the housing shell allow for ease of attachment. 
         [0015]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the cabinet vacuum cleaner; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a top view thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front view thereof; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a rear view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view thereof; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a right view thereof; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a left view thereof; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view illustrated from the left side; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view illustrated from the rear perspective; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a rear view illustrating the spring type contacts; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view taken form  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the cabinet cover; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a rear perspective view of the cabinet cover; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a front view of the cabinet cover latch; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 20  is a pictorial of the cabinet vacuum cleaner installed; 
           [0036]      FIG. 21  is a rear view of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 22  is a side view of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 23  is a front view of the interior of the vacuum cleaner shell; 
           [0039]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the interior of the vacuum cleaner shell; 
           [0040]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner shell with motor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIGS. 10 &amp;13 , the cabinet vacuum system  40  consist of a mainframe  1 , vacuum motor  9 , front panel  2  and vacuum bag  45 . Double pole switch  7 , mounted in motor retainer  6 , is used to switch power to the vacuum motor  9 . Vacuum motor  9  is mechanically constrained in the mainframe  1  by front motor mount  10  at the proximal end and by rear motor mount  8  at the distal end. Front motor mount  10  is constrained in the motor aperture  23  in mainframe  1  by mainframe motor mount  25  on mainframe  1  and retainer motor mount  26  on motor retainer  6 . Vacuum motor  9  is sealed to the vacuum chamber by a plurality of concentric seal rings  24  on front motor mount  10 . Seal rings  24  are biased against the outer wall of the vacuum chamber by means of wedge  22  on motor retainer  6 , also retained by the inside wall of mainframe  1 , thereby translating pressure through rear motor mount  8 , vacuum motor  9  and front motor mount  10 . Motor retainer  6  is captured in mainframe  1  by a plurality of snaps around its periphery. A sound dampener  43 , constructed from open cell urethane foam rubber, is fixed to the inside surface of motor retainer  6  to attenuate motor noise. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , power is applied to the cabinet vacuum system  40  by a Romex or similar type cable consisting of a line, a neutral and a ground wire. One line wire  51  is shown installed in line wire connection  55 . An additional neutral wire connection  54  and line wire connection are used to power auxiliary equipment. The additional line wire connection  53  is switched by means of the secondary pole on double pole switch  7 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  &amp;  14 , line and neutral wire are stripped of insulation  16  and inserted into contact  11 , located in mainframe  1 . Contact  11  is a spring type contact consisting of contact spring  18  and contact surface  21 . The striped wire  17  is inserted into contact  11 . The contact spring  18  biases striped wire  17  against contact surface  21 . A contact lug  19  on contact  11  allows connection to a spade connector for internal connections. A ground contact  15  provides feed-through for the ground wire in mainframe  1 . Contact cover  12  prevents shock hazard and retains a plurality of contacts  11 . Flame path boss  20  provides wire support and spark suppression outside mainframe  1 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  15 ,  16 ,  23 ,  24 , &amp;  25 , the vacuum operates by vacuum motor  9  drawing a vacuum in vacuum chamber  46 . The vacuum chamber  46  is sealed by door  2  and seal  5 . A vacuum bag  45  is installed on inlet tube  31  on front panel  2 . A bag retainer  32  consisting of two protruding rings around vacuum inlet tube  31  retain vacuum bag  45 . Porous vacuum bag material allows vacuum chamber  46  negative pressure to be translated to the inside of vacuum bag  45 . Debris is collected in vacuum bag  45  through vacuum inlet tube  31 . Vacuum ribs  48  located in the vacuum chamber  46  hold the vacuum bag  45  off the side walls vacuum chamber  46  to improve vacuum flow. Cover  3  slides in latch track  37  on front panel  2  to cover the inlet tube  31  when not in use. The evacuated air from vacuum motor  9  is exhausted through exhaust slots  49  on mainframe  1 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , &amp;  15  through  19 , on front panel assembly  27 , latch  4  slides in latch track  37  on front panel  2 . Latch  4  is biased to it maximum distal travel by latch spring  29  contacting spring cavity  44  on front panel  2 . When door  2  is in the closed position, the latch spring  29  keeps the latch tab  28  engaged into the latch receiver slot  47  on bezel  50  of mainframe  1 . A latch finger aperture  30  and finger slot  36  is provided to allow latch to be slid in latch track  37  to disengage latch tab  28  from latch receiver slot  52  to release door  2 . Latch  4  is captured in latch track  37  by cover spring  38 , through spring bearing surface  39 , on cover  3  to bias latch retainer  34  on latch  4  in latch keeper  35  to limit its lateral travel. Door  2  is held in the opposite side by retainer tab  33  engaged in rear latch receiver slot  47 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  9 ,  20 ,  21  &amp;  22 , the cabinet vacuum system  40  is mounted in a cabinet drawer aperture  42  or similar cutout in cabinet  41 . As screw  13  is rotated clockwise, the mounting lug  14  is rotated into a gripping position on the rear side of the front face of cabinet  41 . As screw  13  is further turned clockwise, the front face of cabinet  41  is clamped between mounting lug  14  and bezel  50  on mainframe  1 . This secures cabinet vacuum system  40  to cabinet  41 . 
         [0047]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0048]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.