Patent Publication Number: US-5526842-A

Title: In-wall retractable vacuum cleaning hose access and storage device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     The field of the invention is central vacuum connecting and storage devices for vacuum cleaning hoses used in conjunction with central vacuum systems within building structures. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Central vacuum sources are utilized in many building structures, such as hotels, motels, office buildings and residences. The central vacuum source is connected by appropriate ducting to multiple outlets in various areas requiring vacuum cleaning. A vacuum cleaning hose must be stored conveniently near each outlet, and must connect with ducting from the central source when used for cleaning the adjacent area. Storage between uses is difficult, since to be effective, vacuum hoses must be of considerable length. The hoses may occupy closet space, or are often stacked in unsightly view. Considerable labor is needed to coil the hoses for compact storage in closets for example. And, it must then be laboriously unwound for connection to the central vacuum source for subsequent uses. Portable reels, such as found in U.S. Pat. No. 340,557, may be used to partially alleviate the hose storage problem. For subsequent use however, the vacuum hose must be laboriously unwound from the reel to provide access to both hose ends. Sometimes, a large windlass-like drum is provided upon which the vacuum hose is wound in two or more spiral layers, the winding necessarily aided by mechanical guiding apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,843 discloses such a device which is further equipped with a constant force spring in the form of device which is further equipped with a constant force spring in the form of a coil. A central vacuum delivery duct, and one end of a vacuum hose for cleaning are both connected to the hub of a rotatable drum, the hose being wound about the drum for storage. Intended for heavy industrial application, this device is not suitable for residential in-wall use. A similar windlass drum type apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,675, which shows such a drum in conjunction with a vacuum blower and a dust and dirt deposit chamber. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,963,653, a wall mountable, coin operated, vacuum cleaning device is disclosed for use in hotel, bus station, or airport lavatories. The user may vacuum lint from clothing, for example. The device includes within itself a vacuum blower and deposit receptacle for the lint. A storage reel accepts a short hose wound in a single spiral from a hollow hub to an outer reel rim. The hose is withdrawn against a clock-type spring, charging it with stored energy which is subsequently used to rewind the hose upon the reel. The device as disclosed is not adapted for receiving vacuum from a central source nor for installation within a partition wall structure, nor could it hold longer and larger hoses as needed for cleaning of spacious areas. 
     A need therefore exists for an improved vacuum hose device for installation within walls of structures having central vacuum sources, providing for connection thereto, for storage of the hose, for easy access to the connected hose for use, and for easy re-storage after use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the foregoing in mind, the present invention eliminates or greatly alleviates the foregoing disadvantages in central vacuum system cleaning hose connecting and storage devices, by providing a hose cabinet for installation framed within a studded partition wall of a building structure. A hose storage reel is mounted to rotate within the cabinet, and comprises a pair of parallel disc members secured spaced apart upon a central hub. The hub is journaled to rotate about a stub axle outstanding horizontally from a rear wall of the cabinet. An air passage within the hub is located forwardly from the axle joining portion, and a vacuum cleaning hose is wound in a single spiral about the hub between the discs. An arcuate air passage member joins the hub passage to the end of the hose. This member may be reversed upon installation for selective clockwise and counterclockwise winding of the vacuum hose upon the reel. 
     The hub passage is also connected to a central vacuum supply duct from the central vacuum source located in a remote part of the building structure. A vacuum duct member provided for this purpose is mounted to span between an axially outward opening of the hub passage and the near end of the vacuum supply duct, which enters the cabinet from within the partition wall structure. Holes are provided through the cabinet side, top and bottom walls, for the vacuum source connection, and for exit of the vacuum cleaning hose, as subsequently explained, near each of the four corners of the square cabinet. 
     Affixed to the vertical rear wall of the cabinet is a canister containing a spirally coiled spring, comprising a circular housing with central aligned perforations through its front and rear walls. The hub of the reel has an affixed boss extending rearwardly into the spring canister through the perforation in the foremost canister wall. The boss carries a preferably double lobed notch which engages the inner end of the coil spring. Rotation of the hub boss winds the spring thereabout producing tension within the coiled spring which is later utilized to rewind the hose upon the reel. The spring canister may be installed selectively for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the reel as the hose is drawn therefrom. 
     The hose is withdrawn from the reel through a hose outlet sleeve installed within one of the above mentioned holes in the cabinet walls. The sleeve connects with a hose access structure which has a hose access door opening to the exterior of the wall structure, urged toward closed position by a spring. Retraction of any desired length of hose withdrawn for use is prevented by the door which wedges against the outside wall of the hose, aided by the hose corrugations. The aforesaid hose exit structures may be provided as required to extract the hose either outwardly from the partition wall in which the reel is installed, or through a wall corner or door frame, as may be advantageous in the particular location of the installation. 
     Advantageously, electrical lead containing vacuum hoses for use with powered attachments may be accommodated. A spring leaf electrical contact terminal is mounted on the cabinet rear wall and is connected electrically to the building electrical wiring. The spring leaf contacts bear upon a number of concentric annular electrical contact rings installed upon a rearmost wall of the rotating hub. Inside the hub, the electrical leads of the hose are connected to the contact rings at a terminal post mounted on the hub. 
     It is therefore the principal object of the invention to provide an improved vacuum cleaning device for installation concealed out of sight within a wall of a building structure, by which a vacuum cleaning hose stored therein is connected to a central vacuum source, and from which an desired length of vacuum hose may be withdrawn for use, and into which the vacuum hose is retracted for storage after use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which represent the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of an in-wall retractable vacuum cleaning hose access and storage device in accordance with the invention is shown installed within a partition wall of a building structure, the door of the cabinet of said device being open, and the wall structure being partially cut away to show details of hose guiding and access structures, and provisions for connection of the device to a vacuum duct from the central vacuum source of the building structure, drawn to a reduced scale, 
     FIG. 2 a vertical cross sectional view of the cabinet and enclosed hose winding reel of the device, taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale than that of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 a view of a fragment of the reel of the device of FIG. 1, showing the outwardly facing hub structure, along with fragments of an attached vacuum hose, and a fragment of the front disc of the reel assembly, drawn to approximately full scale, 
     FIG. 4 a vertical section view taken through the spiral spring canister of the invention, along line 4--4 of FIG. 2, showing the spring thereof engaged by a rearwardly extending notched portion of the hub body, drawn to approximately full scale, 
     FIG. 5 a view of a fragment of the device of FIG. 1 as seen from the bottom in the area of connection to the central vacuum supply duct, showing the connection thereof with the vacuum duct of the device, drawn approximately full scale, 
     FIG. 6 a perspective view of a fragment of an embodiment of the device of the invention wherein the hose and access structure opens perpendicularly to the wall structure through the side thereof, rather than from an end structure thereof as shown in FIG. 1, drawn to the scale of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 7 a cross sectional view of fragments of the device of FIG. 1, showing the hose access structure and the end of the hose guiding sleeve leading thereto from the reel, drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale 
     FIG. 8 a vertical cross sectional view of a fragment of the hub structure of the invention positioned about the hub supporting stub axle secured outstanding from the rear wall of the cabinet of the invention, drawn to approximately full scale, and 
     FIG. 9 a front elevation view of another embodiment of the hub structure of the invention, wherein a portion of the air passage through the hub is molded integrally with the body of the hub, drawn to approximately the scale of FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, an in-wall vacuum cleaning hose access and storage device 10 in accordance with the invention is illustrated installed within a stud framed partition wall 11 of a residential structure. A vertical section of a stud 12 is removed to create a space for a sizeable cabinet 13 within wall 11 between the two adjacent vertical double studs 14 and 15. The remaining portions of stud 12 are supported by cross bracing members 16 and 17. Cabinet assembly 13 comprises a vertical rear wall member 18, from which outstand bottom, top and sidewall members 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively. A front access door 23 is secured to sidewall 22 by hinges 24. The walls and door are preferably constructed of thin sheet metal. 
     The inside of cabinet 13 is occupied by a hose storage reel assembly 25, comprising a rearmost disc member 26 facing a front disc member 27. (FIGS. 1 and 2) A rigidly secured horizontal stub axle 28 outstands from rear wall 18, preferably through a stiffening plate 29. Discs 26 and 27 are each secured spaced apart on a central hub 30, as by screws 31 which engage internally threaded bores 32. (FIG. 3) Hub 30 carries an axle bore 33 accepting a brass bearing bushing 34 in turn accepting stub axle 28 thereinto. Hub 30 is prevented from moving off axle 28 by a washer 35 installed about an end portion 36 extending through bushing 34, retained by snap ring 38. 
     An elbow 40 provides an open passage partially through the forward portion of hub 30, with leg 41 directed coaxially outward of hub 30. (FIGS. 1 and 3) The remaining elbow leg 42 is directed radially outward of the hub. Leg 42 is joined by an arcuately formed duct member 43, which may be installed in selective reversed positions to provide selectivity in vacuum hose unwinding direction. Both duct section 43 and central elbow 40 are preferably of molded plastic, and are preferably joined by a suitable bonding material, not shown. 
     Elbow 40 and arcuate duct member 43 are retained together in selected position by interior walls 44 and 45 of hub 30, which outstand from the circular vertical rear wall 91 thereof, and are respectively shaped to conform to inside and outside shapes of the joined elbow 40 and duct 43. Both interior walls join with a cylindrical outer wall 46, about which a vacuum cleaning hose 47 is stored spirally coiled. When used or stored, hose 47 remains connected with end 48 of arcuate duct 43, directed tangentially to hub wall 46. 
     Connecting with axially directed leg 41 of central elbow 40 is a stationary vacuum supply duct assembly 49. Right angle elbow 50 is joined by an elongate duct portion 51 which runs parallel and closely adjacent to reel front disc 27, to join with another elbow 52 which bends inwardly to the cabinet into one of the corner areas thereof. Still another elbow 53 curves to meet an elbow 54 to which is secured a flared end member 55 directed perpendicularly to one of the walls near the corner. End elbow 54 and flared member 55 are fixedly secured together, but may be initially installed selectively rotated to elbow 53 to direct the flare perpendicularly to bottom wall 18 or sidewall 22. This facilitates connection with vacuum source supply duct 56 which enters cabinet 10 through hole 58 through the adjacent cabinet wall. (FIG. 5) Thus, vacuum duct 49 may be utilized selectively to meet vacuum supply duct 56 in the most convenient one of eight corner locations, as may be required for individual installations. 
     Vacuum supply duct assembly 49 is held stationary through its end connections, notwithstanding the rotation of reel assembly 25. The outstanding leg 41 of center elbow 40 accepts the inwardly facing end 59 of elbow 50 snapped thereinto, retained loosely by mating groove and projection 60 and 61 respectively. A shoulder 62 provides rotating contact area for end 59, pressed thereagainst by vacuum force during operation. (FIG. 2) 
     The flared end member 55 has an internal shoulder, not shown, against which the end of vacuum source duct 56 is pressed during operation. 
     Vacuum duct assembly 49, thus held stationary during operation, allows free rotation of reel 25 in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 
     A circular canister 65 containing a spirally wound spring 66, is mounted as by bolts 67 to stiffening plate 29, aligned with axle 28 and hub 30. An axially centered front canister wall perforation 68 and a rear perforation, not shown, are each sized to accept a spring engaging boss 70 extending rearwardly from hub 30. (FIGS. 1 and 2) Boss 70 has a double lobed notch 71, as required to engage an inside end 72 of spring 66. As reel 25 rotates to allow hose 47 to be withdrawn, spring 66 is tensioned as it is wound about boss 70, storing energy for subsequent rewinding of the hose. The front and rear wall perforations permit spring canister 65 to be installed upon rear wall 18 reversed for either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of reel 25 as may be required in particular installations, with the end of spring 66 engaged by the appropriate lobe of notch 71. Preparatory to use directly or by connection to a cleaning implement, not shown, hose 47 is drawn from reel 25 through a sleeve assembly 73 installed extending through a hole 74 through one of the walls adjacent to one of the corners of the cabinet 13. (FIGS. 1 and 7) Rounded entrance 75 prevents snagging of hose 47 as it is withdrawn and retracted. The location of hole 74 within cabinet 13 is selected to facilitate individual installation. 
     Sleeve 73, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, extends through neighboring double stud 14 through a stud bore 76 to join with a sleeve 77 of access structure 81 which in turn extends through a bore 78 through wall corner studs 79 and 80, and the associated wall board. (FIG. 7) A sufficient length of vacuum hose 47 is pulled through structure 81, unwinding from reel 25, to reach the point of intended use. 
     Hose end access structure 81 has a hinged door 82 urged by a spring 83 (best seen in FIG. 1) toward closed position. When hose 47 is partially or fully extended, edge 84 of door 82 bears against hose corrugations 85 to prevent the hose from being retracted back into the wall and onto reel 25. (FIG. 1) 
     Hose end access structure 81 need not necessarily be located at a wall corner. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, such a structure may be located distantly from any corner. A box shaped hose end enclosure 86 occupies interior space in wall 11, with spring loaded door 82 opening outwardly. Edge 84 again prevents rewinding of hose 47 onto reel 25 unless released by user. 
     Preferably in-wall device 10 provides for use of vacuum hoses 41 incorporating electrical leads, such as may be needed, for example, for electrically operated &#34;rug beater&#34; cleaning implements. An electrical connection box 87 is mounted within cabinet 13, and is appropriately connected to the building structure electrical wiring. (FIGS. 1 and 3) Leads 88 from box 87 are connected with an electrical contact terminal 89 mounted on cabinet rear wall 18, having forwardly extending spring leaf contacts 90. On the vertical rear side of wall 91 of hub 30 are installed concentric annular electrical conducting rings 92, situated for sliding contact with the leaf contacts 90. Electrical leads, not shown, join rings 92 to an electrical terminal 93 on hub 30 near the innermost end 94 of hose 47, for connection of leads 95 extending from hose 47. 
     An on-off manual toggle switch 96 on hose end access structure 81 is connected by appropriate leads, not shown, to electrical connection box 87 and to terminal post 93 through leads 88. Switch 96 therefore simultaneously cuts or provides current to the hose leads and the central vacuum generator of the building structure. Spring loaded door 82 carries and elastic tab 97 positioned to press the &#34;off&#34; side of switch 96 when the door fully closes, so that the switch cannot inadvertently remain in the &#34;on&#34; position after rewinding of vacuum hose 47. Door 82 also has an inwardly facing elastic pad 98 to seal the end of hose 47 against any vacuum produced for use of another device 10 at a different location in the building structure. 
     The invention may be expressed in different embodiments without departing from the essential spirit thereof. For example, passage within hub 30 as represented by elbow 40 may be replaced by a passage molded into the hub. (FIG. 9) If desired, the reversible arcuate member 43 may be used with such a molded hub embodiment reversibly to permit connection of the vacuum hose for clockwise or counterclockwise unwinding. 
     Other means than the illustrated cabinet may be employed for mounting the reel assembly within the wall structure. For example, reel assembly 25 could be installed to rotate about axle 28 mounted outstanding from a plate member (not illustrated) provided to span between the vertical double studs 14 and 15. 
     The invention may be embodied in still other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.