Central vacuum hose storage system

• US 5,740,582 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vacs America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vacs America, Inc.
• Inventors: Harrelson, Clyde W. II
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/667,436
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 15/314, 15/315, 15/323, 137/355.16, 137/355.2, 137/355.28, 137/360
• US Class Current: 15/315
• 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: A47L 9/0063 External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/362 with stored material housed within a casing or container B65H75/368 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6918 With hose storage or retrieval means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/698 Wall

Abstract

A central vacuum hose storage unit to be positioned between the studs of a wall having upper and lower storage chambers and a reversible hose drive assembly positioned to deploy a vacuum hose from a stored position in the lower chamber outwardly through the upper chamber. The drive assembly includes a pair of spaced drive rollers each including a toothed gear with a central shaft opening, and a hose engaging member secured to the gear, the periphery of the roller members having opposed concave faces together defining a hose receiving nip, and radially extending, equally spaced, flexible hose engaging segments extending transversely across the concave faces, and a reversible drive means operatively connected to both roller gears.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extending and retracting a vacuum cleaner hose comprising:

a) first and second spaced hose guides, said guides having axially aligned hose receiving orifices;

b) first and second opposed hose drive rollers, said rollers having concave faces together defining a hose receiving nip axially aligned with the orifices of said guides;

c) drive means for reversibly rotating said rollers in opposite directions; and

(d) a pivotable mount supporting said first drive roller, and a mount release, whereby said roller is pivotable between an engaged position and a release position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rollers further include hose gripping projections extending from said concave faces.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said projection extend radially outward and transversely across said concave faces.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said projections are flexible.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means is comprised of an electric motor, and gear wheels connecting said motor to said first and second drive rollers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second drive rollers are each comprised of a gear having a central shaft opening, gear teeth about its periphery and an cylindrical annular shoulder extending outwardly from one side of said gear, and an annular hose engaging member secured about said shoulder, the periphery of said member having a concave face.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said gear is formed of a rigid material, and said member is formed of a flexible material.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gear teeth of the first roller mesh with the gear teeth of the second roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each member further includes radially extending, equally spaced, flexible hose engaging segments extending transversely across said concave face.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hose has a given outer diameter, and the distance between the faces of said drive rollers is less than said given diameter.

11. A hose storage unit for storing a vacuum hose in a wall having adjacent studs comprising:

a) first and second storage chambers positioned between adjacent studs of a wall;

b) a divider wall extending between said studs and separating said chambers; and

c) a reversible hose drive assembly positioned to move said hose from a stored position in said first chamber outwardly through said second chamber.

12. The unit of claim 11, further including hose guides on opposite sides of said drive assembly to guide said hose through said assembly.

13. The unit of claim 11, wherein said drive assembly includes a pair of hose drive rollers between said guides, said rollers having opposed concave faces together defining a hose receiving nip.

14. The unit of claim 13, wherein said drive rollers include radially extending, equally spaced, flexible hose engaging segments.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said hose engaging segments extend transversely across said concave faces.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said drive assembly includes an electric motor having a shaft, said first and second drive rollers include meshing gears, and an intermediate gear engaging one of said meshing gears and said motor shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said drive means further includes a release switch to deactivate said motor when a predetermined torque on said motor is incurred.

18. The unit of claim 11, further including a third chamber for housing a suction device.

19. The unit of claim 11, further including a door to provide access into said second chamber.

20. An apparatus for extending and retracting a vacuum cleaner hose comprising:

a) first and second spaced hose guides, said guides having axially aligned hose receiving orifices;

b) first and second opposed hose drive rollers, said rollers having concave faces together defining a hose receiving nip axially aligned with the orifices of said guides; and

c) drive means for reversibly rotating said rollers in opposite directions, said drive means including a motor and a release switch to deactivate said motor when a predetermined torque on said motor is incurred.