Vaccum cleaning system for recreational vehicles

• US 20030140443A1
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc. (1670255 Ontario, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malone, James, Porath, Steve, Najm, Joseph L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,735,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/313
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/36 Auxiliary arrangements; Arrangements of living accommodation toilet or washing arrangements B60R15/00; Details

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning system for a recreational vehicle having an internal compartment including a floor and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the floor comprises a vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet, a vacuum hose having inlet and outlet ends and a vacuum line in or extending along one of the walls. The vacuum line is connected to the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner and to the outlet end of the vacuum hose for cleaning the compartment. The vacuum cleaner can be portable and releasably connected to the vacuum line from outside the vehicle, or can be mounted inside the vehicle and permanently connected to the vacuum line.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaning system for a recreational vehicle having an internal compartment, comprising a vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet, a vacuum hose having inlet and outlet ends, a vacuum line in said compartment, and said vacuum line including first coupling means for connecting said vacuum line with said suction inlet and second coupling means for connecting said outlet end of said vacuum hose with said vacuum line.

2. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling means has an inner end in flow communication with said vacuum line and an outer end for connection with said suction inlet, said outer end opening exteriorly of said vehicle.

3. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein said vacuum hose is a first vacuum hose, and a second vacuum hose having a first end for connection with said suction inlet and a second end for connection with said outer end of said first coupling means.

4. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein said first coupling means and said second coupling means are structurally identical.

5. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 2, and a cover for said outer end displaceable between first and second positions respectively covering and uncovering said outer end.

6. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 5, and means for connecting said cover to said first coupling means against separation therefrom.

7. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 6, wherein said means for connecting includes hinge means.

8. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 7, and a spring biasing said cover to said first position.

9. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling means and said second coupling means are structurally identical.

10. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling elements each having an inner end in flow communication with said vacuum line and an outer end in said compartment.

11. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 10, and a cover for each of said coupling elements displaceable between first and second positions respectively closing and opening the outer end of the corresponding coupling element.

12. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 11, and means for connecting said cover to said coupling element against separation therefrom.

13. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 12, wherein said means for connecting includes hinge means, and a spring biasing said cover to said first position.

15. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said compartment includes a floor and a wall extending upwardly therefrom, said vacuum line extending along said floor adjacent said wall.

16. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 15, wherein said vacuum line includes a tubular conduit, said first coupling means extending through said wall and having an inner end in flow communication with said conduit and an outer end for connection with said suction inlet.

17. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 16, wherein said outer end of said first coupling means is exteriorly of said vehicle.

18. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 17, wherein said conduit has opposite ends, and said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling members spaced apart between said opposite ends.

19. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 15, wherein said vacuum line is a tubular conduit having opposite ends and said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling members spaced apart between said opposite ends.

20. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 19, wherein said first coupling means extends through said wall and has an inner end in flow communication with said conduit between said opposite ends and an outer end exteriorly of said vehicle.

21. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of coupling members has an outer end for connection with the outlet end of said vacuum hose, and a cover for the outer end of said first coupling means and for the outer end of each of said plurality of coupling members.

22. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 21, wherein each cover is pivotally mounted on the corresponding one of said first coupling means and said plurality of coupling members.

23. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 22, wherein each cover is pivotally displaceable between first and second positions respectively covering and uncovering the outer end of the corresponding one of said first coupling means and said plurality of coupling members, and a spring for each cover biasing the cover to the first position thereof.

24. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said compartment includes a floor and a wall extending upwardly therefrom, said wall comprising spaced apart wall panels, and said vacuum line being between said wall panels.

25. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 24, wherein said vacuum line includes a tubular conduit between said wall panels.

26. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 24, wherein one of said wall panels has an outer side exteriorly of said vehicle, said first coupling means extending through said one wall panel and including an inner end in flow communication with said vacuum line and an outer end adjacent said outer side of said one wall panel.

27. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 24, wherein said vacuum line has opposite ends and said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling members spaced apart between said opposite ends.

28. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 27, wherein said vacuum line includes a tubular conduit between said wall panels.

29. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 28, wherein one of said wall panels has an outer side exteriorly of said vehicle, said first coupling means including a first coupling member extending through said one wall panel and including an inner end in flow communication with said conduit and an outer end adjacent said outer side of said one wall panel.

30. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 29, wherein each of said wall panels has an outer side and said second coupling means extends through one of said wall panels and has an inner end in flow communication with said conduit and an outer end adjacent the outer side of the one wall panel.

31. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 30, wherein said conduit has opposite ends and said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling members spaced apart between said opposite ends.

32. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 31, wherein each of said plurality of coupling members has an outer end for connection with the outlet end of said vacuum hose, and a cover for the outer end of said first coupling means and for the outer end of each of said plurality of coupling members.

33. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 32, wherein each cover is pivotally mounted on the corresponding one of said first coupling means and said plurality of coupling members.

34. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 33, wherein each cover is pivotally displaceable between first and second positions respectively covering and uncovering the outer end of the corresponding one of said first coupling means and said plurality of coupling members, and a spring for each cover biasing the cover to the first position thereof.

14. A vacuum cleaning system according to claim 14, wherein said first coupling means has an inlet end connect to said vacuum line between two of said coupling elements, and a valve for selectively connecting said inlet end of said first coupling means with the inner end of one and the other of said two coupling elements.

35. A vacuum cleaning system for a recreational vehicle having an internal compartment including a floor and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from said floor and each comprising spaced apart wall panels, said system comprising a vacuum cleaner having a suction inlet, a vacuum hose having inlet and outlet ends, a vacuum line extending along one of said walls adjacent one of the wall panels thereof, first coupling means for connecting said vacuum line with said suction inlet, and second coupling means for connecting said outlet end of said vacuum hose with said vacuum line.

36. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 47, wherein said vacuum cleaner has an exhaust outlet and said plurality of walls includes an exterior wall, and an exhaust conduit extending through said exterior wall and having an inlet end connected to said exhaust outlet and an outlet end opening exteriorly of said vehicle.

37. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 35, wherein said vacuum cleaner is mounted in said compartment.

38. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 35, wherein said vacuum line is in said compartment and extends adjacent said floor and the outer side of said one wall panel.

39. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 35, wherein said vacuum line is between the wall panels of said one wall.

40. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 39, wherein said vacuum cleaner is mounted in said compartment.

41. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 40, wherein said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling elements each having an inner end in flow communication with said vacuum line and an outer end in said compartment.

42. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 41, and a cover for each of said coupling elements displaceable between first and second positions respectively closing and opening the outer end of the corresponding coupling element.

43. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 40, wherein said vacuum line includes a tubular conduit, said first coupling means including a first coupling member connecting said conduit with said suction inlet of said vacuum cleaner.

44. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 43, wherein said second coupling means includes a second coupling member connected to said conduit at a location spaced from said first coupling member.

45. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 44, wherein said conduit has an end spaced from said first coupling member and said second coupling member is at said end of said conduit.

46. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 43, wherein said conduit has two ends spaced from said first coupling member and said second coupling means includes a second coupling member connected to said conduit at each of said two ends.

47. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 43, wherein said compartment includes an enclosed space accessible through a door and said vacuum cleaner is mounted in said enclosed space.

48. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 47, wherein said vacuum line includes a tubular conduit, said first coupling means including a first coupling member connecting said conduit with said suction inlet of said vacuum cleaner.

49. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 48, wherein said vacuum cleaner has an exhaust outlet and said plurality of walls includes an exterior wall, and an exhaust conduit extending through said exterior wall and having an inlet end connected to said exhaust outlet and an outlet end opening exteriorly of said vehicle.

50. The vacuum cleaning system according to claim 35, wherein said second coupling means includes a plurality of coupling elements each having an inner end in flow communication with said vacuum line and an outer end in said compartment and wherein said first coupling means has an inlet end connect to said vacuum line between two of said coupling elements, and a valve for selectively connecting said inlet end of said first coupling means with the inner end of one and the other of said two coupling elements.