Patent ID: 8001650

Claim:
An apparatus configured to be connected to the ductwork of a central vacuum system for removing debris in the immediate vicinity of the apparatus, comprising: a housing defining a compartment, said compartment defining an interior space and an access opening to said interior space, said compartment defining a secondary opening; a hollow first length of storage conduit having one open end connected to said secondary opening of said housing and having a distal open end configured to be connected to the ductwork of the central vacuum system; a length of flexible hose having a nozzle end and a distal end disposed opposite said nozzle end, said distal end including a retaining fixture disposed within said storage conduit and configured to slide within said storage conduit, said hose being configured to be resiliently expandable and contractable between a fully contracted state and a fully expanded state, the length of said hose in the fully contracted state being no more than the length of said first length of said storage conduit, said hose being configured to remain in the fully contracted state in the absence of force being applied to stretch the length of said hose, the length of said hose in the fully expanded state being greater than the length of said hose in the fully contracted state; a vacuum nozzle fitted to said nozzle end of said hose, said vacuum nozzle being configured to prevent passage of said nozzle completely through said secondary opening of said housing; a cover connected to said housing and configured to be moveable between a closed position that blocks user access to said access opening of said housing and seals said cover to said housing and an open position that permits user access to said access opening of said housing; and an activation switch configured to be connected to control operation of the central vacuum system, said switch being carried by said housing and configured to activate the central vacuum system when said cover is moved to said open position and to deactivate the central vacuum system when the cover assumes said closed position.