Ceiling mounted vacuum system

• US 6,817,058 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vacs America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vacs America, Inc.
• Inventors: Harrelson, Clyde W. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/094,052
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 153/01, 153/15, 153/14
• 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 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0063 External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/362 with stored material housed within a casing or container B65H75/368 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-contained vacuum system attachable to the ceiling of a building is described. The system includes a housing having a hose storage compartment and a vacuum source compartment; a vacuum hose extendable between a retracted position in the hose storage compartment, and an extended position extending from the hose storage compartment; a reversible drive mechanism within the housing to move the hose between retracted and extended positions; a positioning mechanism to lower and raise the housing; a control device in the form of a control handle with switches, connected to the distal end of the hose and a vacuum source mounted in the vacuum source compartment, the hose having an inner end communicating with a debris collector.

Claims

1. A self-contained vacuum system comprising:

a) a housing attachable to the ceiling of a building;

b) a positioning means for moving said housing between a raised position and a lowered position;

c) a vacuum hose having an inner end within said housing and a distal end external said housing; and

d) a control means for activating said positioning means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises at least one motorized pulley attached to said housing and at least one cable with first and second ends for attaching said housing to the ceiling.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first end of said at least one cable is attachable to the ceiling and said second end of at least one cable is attachable to said at least one motorized pulley.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said control means is at least one switch on said hose distal end.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a debris collector and a vacuum source mounted within said housing, said hose inner end communicating with said debris collector and said vacuum source communicating with said debris collector.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a reversible drive means within said housing to move said hose between an extended position from said housing and a retracted position within said housing.

7. The system of claim 1, including a debris collector access door within said housing.

8. The system of claim 1, including a hinge on an end of said housing for attaching said end of said housing to the ceiling.

9. A self-contained vacuum system comprising:

a) a housing attachable to the ceiling of a building;

b) a positioning means to move said housing between a raised position and a lowered position;

c) a vacuum hose having an inner end and a distal end, said hose extendable between a retracted position in said housing, and an extended position extending from said housing;

d) a handle connected to said distal end of said hose;

e) a control means for activating said positioning means;

f) a reversible drive means to move said hose between said retracted and extended positions;

g) a debris collector mounted in said housing, said inner end communicating with said debris collector; and

h) a vacuum source within said housing in communication with said debris collector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said reversible drive means is mounted within said housing.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said control means comprises an array of switches on said handle, at least one of said switches for controlling said reversible drive means and at least one of said switches for controlling said positioning means and at least one of said switches for controlling power to said vacuum source.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said housing includes a filter bag access door opening into said housing.

13. The access door of claim 12, wherein said access door is hinged to said housing.

14. A vacuum system attachable to the ceiling of a structure comprising:

a) a housing attachable to the ceiling of a building having a hose storage compartment and a vacuum source compartment;

b) a positioning means to move said housing between a raised position and a lowered position;

c) a vacuum hose having a distal end extendable between a retracted position in said hose storage compartment, and an extended position extending from said hose storage compartment;

d) a control means on said hose for activating said positioning means;

e) a reversible drive means mounted in said hose storage compartment to move said hose between said retracted and extended positions;

f) a debris collector mounted in said vacuum source compartment, said hose having an inner end communicating with said debris collector; and

g) a vacuum source mounted in said vacuum source compartment, said source communicating with said debris collector.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a divider wall separates said vacuum source compartment and said hose storage compartment.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said positioning means comprises at least one motorized pulley attached to said housing and at least one cable having a ceiling attachment end and a pulley attachment end.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said debris collector is a disposable filter bag held within said housing.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said control means is a control handle at the distal end of said hose, said control handle includes switches for controlling said reversible drive means and for controlling said positioning means and for switching power to said vacuum source.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein an end of said housing adjacent to said hose storage compartment includes a hinge attachable to the ceiling.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein an end of said housing adjacent to said vacuum source compartment includes a filter bag access door.

21. A self-contained vacuum system comprising:

a) a housing having a bottom surface, said bottom surface mountable in a plane flush with the ceiling of a building;

b) a positioning means for moving said housing between a raised position and lowered position;

c) a vacuum hose extendable between a retracted position in said ceiling and an extended position extending downward from said ceiling; and

d) a reversible drive means mounted in said housing to move said hose between said retracted and extended positions.

22. The self-contained vacuum system of claim 21, further including wall switches for activating said positioning means and said reversible drive means.

23. The self-contained vacuum system of claim 21, further including a hand held remote control for activating said positioning means and said reversible drive means.

24. The self-contained vacuum system of claim 21, wherein said positioning means is at least one spring for facilitating the manual positioning of said housing between said raised position and said lowered position.

25. The self-contained vacuum system of claim 21, wherein said housing further includes a hinged end attached to the ceiling.