Central vacuum cleaning system motor control circuit mounting post, mounting configuration, and mounting methods

• US 6,856,113 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J. Vem
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/843,321
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/538, 318/491, 310/71, 310/85, 439/490, 439/488, 439/620, 153/14, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 318/491
• 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 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0833 for electric motors with control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A central vacuum cleaning system has a motor in a motor housing in a canister with a receptacle. In the motor housing is a motor control circuit with a printed circuit board. The motor control circuit is mounted to the motor housing using a mounting post having a light guide. The mounting post receives light from a light source on the printed circuit board and guides the light through the mounting post to outside the motor housing. The mounting post can guide the light through structural or non-structural elements. The light provides illuminated information messages to a user. The mounting post has a low voltage connection section for receiving low voltage conductors from outside the motor housing. As the motor control circuit is within the motor housing, the motor housing is a motor control housing. The motor control housing can be separate from the motor housing.

Claims

1. A mounting post for receiving light from a light source on a printed circuit board in a motor control circuit for use in a motor control housing of a central vacuum cleaning system, the mounting post comprising:

a) a first securing section for securing the mounting post to the motor control housing such that a portion of the mounting post is accessible from outside the motor control housing,

b) a second securing section for securing the mounting post to the printed circuit board such that the light guide receives light from the light source,

c) a stand-off section between the first securing section and the second securing section for holding the motor control circuit from undesired contact and

d) a light guide for guiding light from the light source through the mounting post for emission from the mounting post outside the motor control housing.

2. The mounting post of claim 1, further comprising:

e) a low voltage connection section for connection to one or more low voltage conductors, the low voltage connection section forming part of that portion of the mounting post that is accessible from outside the motor control housing.

3. The mounting post of claim 1, wherein the mounting post is clear.

4. The mounting post of claim 1, wherein the mounting post is made from polycarbonate resin.

5. The mounting post of claim 1, wherein light is guided through a structural element of the mounting post.

6. The mounting post of claim 1, wherein the standoff section comprises an elongate body within which light is guided.

7. The mounting post of claim 6, wherein the standoff section further comprises a shoulder at one end of the elongate body, the shoulder, at least in part, wider than an opening in the motor housing to prevent the mounting post from fitting through the opening.

8. The mounting post of claim 7, wherein the first securing section comprises:

a) a threaded portion extending from the shoulder, the threaded portion being smaller than the opening in the motor housing;

b) the shoulder,

c) a nut compatible with threads of the threaded portion, and being, at least in part, greater than the opening in the motor housing,

wherein, the mounting post is secured to the motor control housing by placing the threaded portion through the opening from inside the motor control housing and tightening the nut onto the threaded portion from outside the motor control housing.

9. A motor control circuit for use in a central vacuum cleaning system, the motor control circuit comprising:

a) a printed circuit board with a light source mounted to the printed circuit board,

b) and a mounting post as set out in claim 1.

10. A central vacuum cleaning system comprising:

a) a motor housing housing a motor;

b) a motor control circuit for controlling the motor, the motor control circuit having a printed circuit board with a light source mounted to the printed circuit board,

c) and a mounting post as set out in claim 1.

11. A central vacuum cleaning system canister, comprising;

a) a motor housing housing a motor;

b) a motor control circuit for controlling the motor, the motor control circuit having a printed circuit board with a light source mounted to the printed circuit board,

c) and a mounting post as set out in claim 1.

12. A method of providing central vacuum cleaning system information messages from a motor control circuit of the central vacuum cleaning system to a user, the method comprising:

a) Affixing a light source to a motor control circuit printed circuit board,

b) Securing a mounting post to the printed circuit board over the light source, wherein the mounting post is as set out in claim 1,

c) Illuminating the light source to indicate a message to be sent to the user,

d) Guiding light from the light source through the mounting post to outside the motor control housing.