Central vacuum cleaner cross-controls

• US 20070079467A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/314
• 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

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning system for use in a structure. System has receiver adapted to receive communication that an appliance has been activated, and a control circuit adapted to control the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated. Example appliances include doorbell, telephone or ERV. System may have a communication module that communicates with corresponding appliance communication module. The system communication module may transmit communications to the appliance communication module. Alternatively, the appliance communication module may transmit communications to the system communications module. The modules may both receive and transmit. Preferably, communications between modules are radio frequency (RF) wireless, however wired communications, where wiring is possible or available, are also suitable.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaning system for use in a structure, the system comprising:

a) a receiver adapted to receive communication that an appliance has been activated, and

b) a control circuit adapted to control the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a telephone and the telephone is activated when there is an incoming call on the telephone.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the control circuit is adapted to activate an alert in the vacuum cleaning system to alert a user to an incoming telephone call.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the alert is an audible, visual or tactile alert.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the control circuit is adapted to turn off the cleaning system when there is an incoming telephone call.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a doorbell.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control circuit is adapted to activate an alert in the vacuum cleaning system to alert a user to activation of the doorbell.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the control circuit is adapted to turn off the cleaning system when the doorbell is activated.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an adapter adapted to sense activation of the appliance and transmit a communication to the receiver.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the adapter is a telephone line adaptor adapted to sense incoming calls on the telephone line.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the adapter is a doorbell adapter adapted to sense activation of the doorbell.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is a wireless radio frequency receiver and the communications are wireless radio frequency communicators.

13. A combination for use in a structure, the combination comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaning system in the structure,

b) an appliance in the structure,

c) a system communications module associated with the system, and

d) an appliance communications module associated with the appliance,

wherein the system communications module and appliance communications module are adapted to transmit communications to one another and to receive communications from one another, wherein such communications communicate a condition of the system or appliance with which the transmitting module is associated to the receiving module, and the appliance or system with which the receiving module is associated is adapted to be controlled in accordance with the received communications.

14. A combination for use in association with a structure, the combination comprising:

a) a vacuum cleaning system in the structure,

b) an air intake device,

c) a system communications module associated with the system, and

d) an air intake device communications module associated with the air intake device,

wherein the system communications module is adapted to transmit communications and the air intake device communications module is adapted to receive communications from the system communications module, and the air intake device is adapted to provide make-up supply air to the structure in proportion to running time of the vacuum cleaning system.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the air intake device is an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) in the structure.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the ERV is a heat recovery ventilator (HRV).

17. The combination of claim 14 wherein the system communications module is adapted to transmit wirelessly, and the air intake device communications module is adapted to receive the transmissions wirelessly.

18. The combination of claim 14 wherein the vacuum cleaning system is a central vacuum cleaning system comprising a central control module adapted to control a vacuum source of the system and comprising a remote control module adapted to wirelessly transmit communications to the central control module, and the air intake device communications module is adapted to receive transmissions wirelessly from the remote control module.

19. The combination of claim 14 wherein the air intake device is a blower.

20. The combination of claim 14 wherein the air intake device is adapted to utilize pressure differential to draw in make-up air to the structure.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein the air intake device is a damper.

22. A method of controlling a central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

receiving communications at the central vacuum cleaning system when an appliance has been activated, and

controlling the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of the communications.