Vacuum system
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one conduit, each of the at least one conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one conduits located outside a building; and
an air-moving unit located inside the building, the air-moving unit including a housing having at least one first aperture therethrough and having at least one second aperture therethrough, and motor means within the housing and positioned between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the motor means capably of moving a fluid in a first direction between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the first open ends of each of the at least one conduits in fluidic communication with the at least one first aperture such that the fluid moved in the first direction by the motor means also moves fluid in the first direction through the at least one conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved vacuum system comprising subsystems for exterior maintenance, interior maintenance, and mail delivery/retrieval. The system includes at least one substantially hollow conduit having first and second open ends, and an air-moving unit. The air-moving unit includes a housing having a first aperture therethrough for receipt of the first open ends of the at least one conduit(s), a second aperture therethrough, a motor capable of moving a fluid in a first direction between the first aperture and the second aperture. The first open end(s) of the at least one conduit(s) is (are) in fluidic communication with the first aperture such that the fluid moved in the first direction by the motor also moves in the first direction through the at least one conduit. The motor is able to operate as a vacuum or blower, and conduits are located inside and/or outside to permit for interior and exterior maintenance, and for mail delivery/retrieval.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least one conduit, each of the at least one conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one conduits located outside a building; and
an air-moving unit located inside the building, the air-moving unit including a housing having at least one first aperture therethrough and having at least one second aperture therethrough, and motor means within the housing and positioned between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the motor means capably of moving a fluid in a first direction between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the first open ends of each of the at least one conduits in fluidic communication with the at least one first aperture such that the fluid moved in the first direction by the motor means also moves fluid in the first direction through the at least one conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least one external conduit, each of the at least one external conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one external conduits located outside a building;
at least one internal conduit, each of the at least one internal conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one internal conduits located inside the building; and
an air-moving unit located inside the building, the air-moving unit including a housing having at least one first aperture therethrough and having at least one second aperture therethrough, and motor means within the housing and positioned between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the motor means capable of moving a fluid in a first direction between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the first open ends of each of the at least one external conduits and each of the at least one internal conduits in fluidic communication with the at least one first aperture such that the fluid moved in the first direction by the motor means also moves in the first direction through the at least one external conduits and the at least one internal conduits. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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at least one external conduit, each of the at least one external conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one external conduits located outside a building;
at least one internal conduit, each of the at least one internal conduits having a first open end and a second open end and being substantially hollow therebetween, the second ends of each of the at least one internal conduits located inside the building;
a first receptacle suitable for receipt of an information container located within the building, the first receptacle having an intake port, an exhaust port, and a sealable opening through which the information container may be inserted into the first receptacle;
a second receptacle suitable for receipt of the information container located outside the building, the second receptacle having an intake port and a sealable opening through which the information container may be inserted into the second receptacle;
first and second delivery conduits, each of the first and second delivery conduits having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end of the first delivery conduit in fluidic communication with the at least one first apertures, the second open end of the first delivery conduit in fluidic communication with the intake port of the first receptacle, the first open end of the second delivery conduit in fluidic communication with the exhaust port of the first receptacle, and the second open end of the second delivery conduit in fluidic communication with the intake port of the second receptacle; and
an air-moving unit located inside the building, the air-moving unit including a housing having at least one first aperture therethrough and having at least one second aperture therethrough, motor means within the housing and positioned between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture, the motor means capably of moving a fluid in a first direction flowing from the at least one first aperture toward the at least one second aperture and in a second direction flowing from the at least one second aperture toward the at least one first aperture, a switch operatively connected to the motor means and operable between a first and second position, such that when the switch is in the first position the motor means causes the fluid to flow in the first direction and when the switch is in the second position the motor means causes the fluid to flow in the second direction and a chamber within the housing and positioned between the motor and the at least one first aperture, the first open ends of each of the at least one external conduits, the first open end of each of the at least one internal conduits, and the first open end of delivery conduit in fluidic communication with the at least one first aperture such that the fluid moved in the first direction by the motor means is capable of moving fluid in the first direction through at least one of the group consisting of the at least one external conduits, the at least one internal conduits, and the delivery conduit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification