Abstract:
A vacuum system includes a storage cabinet which is adapted to be located in a wall, such as between studs or the like, on each floor or in any area. The storage cabinet stores a retractable hose as well as storage for debris collected by the hose. The system is used in the manner of a central vacuum system, but is installed in each room or area of interest rather than one location in a building.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the general art of vacuum cleaner systems, and to the particular field of central vacuum cleaner systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     To avoid the difficulty and inconvenience of moving vacuum equipment around a living space, central vacuum systems have been developed. Central vacuum systems include a motorized suction fan and a dust collector, and an elongated flexible hose extending from the suction assembly. The hose normally has a handle at its distal end. Various accessories are typically proved for attachment to the handle.  
         [0003]     Generally, central vacuum systems have a permanently located motorized suction fan, at least one vacuum hose outlet located near an area of living space to be vacuumed, and a conduit connecting the suction fan to the outlet. A flexible hose having a connection end and a handle end is releasably attached at its connection end to the outlet when the surrounding living space is to be vacuumed. Electrical wiring normally extends from the suction fan to the outlet and connects with other wiring extending through the hose to a control means in the handle of the hose, which completes an electrical control circuit.  
         [0004]     Central vacuum systems have gained wide popularity and acceptance, particular in homes. However, one continuing annoyance is the need to store the vacuum hose when the system is not being used. Often, the problem is addressed by storing the hose in a closet, or carrying the hose to a remote area such as a garage. Such solutions are either inconvenient or unsightly.  
         [0005]     Various means have been suggested by the related art to address this problem. For example, some patents describe central vacuum systems wherein the hose is inserted into the conduit joining the suction fan and the outlet when the hose is not in use. Moving the hose about the house is sometimes difficult and cumbersome, thereby vitiating some of the advantages associated with a central vacuum system.  
         [0006]     Some central vacuum systems include a hose storage compartment that can be positioned between the studs of the wall of a house or other structure so that the vacuum hose can be retracted into the compartment when not in use and withdrawn therefrom when it is to be used. A potential problem with this central vacuum hose storage system is that the storage system components are located in an inaccessible area that makes repair of components difficult.  
         [0007]     Although the above discussed art provides some improvement over storage of a vacuum hose in a closet or garage, improvement is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a central vacuum system that includes a storage cabinet which is adapted to be located in a wall, such as between studs or the like, on each floor or in any area. The storage cabinet stores a retractable hose as well as storage for debris collected by the hose. The system is used in the manner of a central vacuum system, but is installed in each room or area of interest rather than one location in a building.  
         [0009]     Using the vacuum system embodying the present invention will permit a user to move from area to area without requiring the user to carry a hose with them because each area will have its own hose.  
         [0010]     The system can include an accessory cart that can be moved from area to area to carry accessories such as hose extensions, brushes and the like. However, the main hose, which can be very heavy and cumbersome, need not be carried about because such hose is already in the storage cabinet in the area to be cleaned.  
         [0011]     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0012]     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wall-mounted storage unit included in the vacuum system embodying the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portable attachment cart unit included in the vacuum system embodying the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a vacuum system  10  which is adapted to be located in a particular area, such as a room, or the like, and which acts like a central vacuum cleaner system, but does so from each individual area rather than from an area central to the entire building. System  10  comprises a housing  12  which is adapted to fit into a wall, such as a wall of a room and is sized to fit between studs of the wall. Thus, the overall width of the housing will be less than the spacing between wall studs, such as for example, twenty-four inches.  
         [0016]     Housing  12  includes a first end wall  14  which is a top end when the housing is in use, a second end wall  16  which is a bottom end when the housing is in use and a longitudinal axis  18  which extends between first end wall  14  and second end wall  16 . Housing  12  further includes a first side wall  20 , a second side wall  22  and a width dimension  24  that extends between first side wall  20  and second side wall  22 . A first face  30  is an outer face when housing  12  is in use and a second face  32  is an inner face when the housing is in use. Thus, housing  12  will be mounted in a wall such that first face  30  will be flush with the outer surface of a wall while second face  32  will be located inside the wall.  
         [0017]     A flange  34  is unitary with first face  30  and surrounds first face  30  and extends outwardly of the side walls and end walls and defines an annular shoulder  36  around the first face. Annular shoulder  36  will abut the outside surface of the wall in which housing  12  is located. A storage compartment  40  is defined by the side walls, end walls and second face of the housing. Storage compartment  40  is open adjacent to first face  30 .  
         [0018]     A door  44  is hingeably mounted on flange  34  to move between a storage compartment covering position and a storage compartment uncovering position, with the storage compartment uncovering position being shown in  FIG. 1 . A first divider wall  50  is mounted on the housing in the storage compartment and extends between the first and second side walls and is spaced apart from first end wall  14 . A second divider wall  52  is mounted on the housing in the storage compartment and extends from second end wall  16  in the direction of longitudinal axis  18  toward first end wall  14  and is connected to first divider wall  50 .  
         [0019]     The divider walls divide storage compartment  40  into subcompartments. The subcompartments include a first subcompartment  60  defined by first divider wall  50  and first side wall  20  and first end wall  14 , a second subcompartment  62  defined by first divider wall  50  and second side wall  22  and first end wall  14  with second subcompartment  62  being located adjacent to first subcompartment  60 , a third subcompartment  64  defined by second divider wall  52  and first side wall  20  and second end wall  16  and first divider wall  50 , and a fourth subcompartment  66  defined by second divider wall  52  and second side wall  22  and second end wall  16  and first divider wall  50 .  
         [0020]     A first cover  70  is mounted on the housing and covers first subcompartment  60 , a second cover  72  is mounted on the housing and covers second subcompartment  62 , a third cover  74  is mounted on the housing and covers third subcompartment  64 . Third cover  74  has an access hole  76  defined therethrough. A fourth cover  78  is mounted on the housing and covers fourth subcompartment  66 . All of the covers can be moved or removed as suitable to uncover the associated subcompartment for access thereto. The covers can be transparent if desired as well.  
         [0021]     A motor  80  is located in the first subcompartment and is common type and the details thereof will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The details of motor  80  are not important to this invention and will not be claimed, as such the details of motor  80  will not be discussed. A motor control system  82  is located in the second subcompartment. Motor control system  82  connects motor  80  to a power source, such as utility power, when activated to activate the motor.  
         [0022]     A hose  90  is mounted in the third subcompartment. Hose  80  extends through access hole  76  defined through the third cover and is operatively connected to motor  80  to be retracted when the motor is activated. Opening  76  can include a rubber gasket  78  if desired. Hose  80  has an intake end  82  and a second end  84  which is fluidically connected to a debris storage system which can include a canister  86  removably mounted in housing. The details of the system used to retract hose  80  are not important to this invention and will be understood by those skilled in the art from the teaching of disclosure such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,615, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The details of the retraction system for hose  80  are not important to this invention and as such will not be discussed or claimed.  
         [0023]     Motor control system  82  can also include a circuit C 1  for controlling suction applied to hose  90  as well as a switch-controlled circuit C 2  for retracting hose  90  into the housing. Housing  12  fits into a wall between studs and thus, the width dimension as measured between side walls  20  and  22  is less than normal stud spacing, which generally is twenty-four inches. The depth of housing  12  as measured between faces  30  and  32  is approximately the same as the normal depth of a wall. In this manner, housing  12  is placed in a room and operates like a central vacuum cleaner system for that room. Door  44  can be decoratively covered so it fits into the decor of a room.  
         [0024]     Hose  90  is pulled out for use and the motor controls are used to operate the system, which has a suction system operated by a motor and the motor controls in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art of vacuum cleaners. Since the details of the vacuum suction system are not important to this invention, they will not be claimed or discussed. The hose need not be carried from room to room, but is simply retracted into housing  12  after use. A housing can be located in each room of a building so that vacuuming can be carried out in the just-described manner without requiring a user to carry a hose from place to place or to store it after use.  
         [0025]     System  10  can also include an accessory cart  130  which is used to carry small accessories, such as a hose extension  132 , a brush unit  134 , special adapter  136  or the like. Cart  130  includes a housing  140  on which mounts, such as mount  142 , are attached to hold accessories, and further includes wheels  144  and a handle  146  so it can be easily moved from place to place as required.  
         [0026]     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.