Automated electronic vacuum system and method

• US 7,356,872 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eyevac LLC
• Original Assignee: Crowleyjones LP
• Inventors: Warren, James M., Gerard, Christian, Andrews, Hoyet H. III, Spurgat, Jeffrey J., Jones, Terry G., Leveridge, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/389,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/10, 153/01
• US Class Current: 15/319
• 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 7/0047 Furniture or stationary devices with suction openings built-in suction cleaners A47L5/38

Abstract

A vacuum device has a housing. The housing forms an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The housing also forms a viewable compartment for retaining refuse vacuumed by the device. A vacuum motor is located in the housing. The vacuum motor has a suction inlet and a vent outlet. The suction inlet is connected to the viewable compartment. The suction inlet is also connected to the inlet opening of the housing. The vent outlet of the vacuum motor is to the outlet opening of the housing. An electric circuit of the device is connected to the vacuum motor. The electric circuit is connected to a sensor and includes a microcontroller. The sensor, for example, an infrared beam and detector, triggers the electric circuit, and programmed control by the microcontroller, when the beam is broken and not detected by the detector. When the beam is broken, the sensor signals the microcontroller and the microcontroller logically powers-on the vacuum motor to suction the refuse into the housing.

Claims

1. A system for vacuuming a refuse resident on a surface, wherein the system contacts and fits on the surface when in use for vacuuming, comprising:

a housing, having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the housing contacting the surface when the system is in use for vacuuming;

a vacuum motor connected to the inlet and the outlet of the housing;

a light source connected to the housing;

a light sensor connected to the housing for sensing the light source; and

a controller, connected to the vacuum motor, for selectively controlling the vacuum motor in response to an event near the surface, the event including interruption of sensing of the light source by the light sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the event is external to the system outside the inlet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller powers on the vacuum motor whenever the event occurs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller powers on the vacuum motor whenever the event is detected via the light sensor.

5. A vacuum device for vacuuming refuse at a surface, comprising:

a housing, having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the housing having a viewable compartment substantially formed integral to the housing, the housing fits on, and at the inlet opening contacts, the surface;

a vacuum motor, having a suction inlet and a vent outlet, each connected to the viewable compartment, and connected at the suction inlet to the inlet opening of the housing and connected at the vent outlet to the outlet opening of the housing;

an electric circuit connected to the vacuum motor;

a light connected to the circuit, fixed to the housing near the inlet opening;

a light sensor connected to the circuit, fixed to the housing near the inlet opening, operable responsive to detection of an external event interruption of sensing of the light by the sensor; and

a microcontroller connected to the circuit and the sensor;

wherein the inlet opening contacts the surface for vacuuming from the surface when remaining substantially laterally stationary on the surface.

6. The vacuum device of claim 5, wherein the outlet opening includes supports for maintaining a filter at the vent outlet.

7. The vacuum device of claim 5, wherein the electric circuit includes switches for programming the microcontroller to selectively control the vacuum motor either on or off;

and wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to selectively control the vacuum motor on, in response to detection of the external event by the sensor.

8. A method of automated operation of a vacuum device, comprising the steps of:

providing a light sensor to the vacuum device;

providing a light source to the vacuum device, the light source visible to the light sensor if not interrupted;

positioning the vacuum device on a surface to be vacuumed by the vacuum device;

sensing an external event to the vacuum device, the external event adjacent the surface for vacuuming by the vacuum device; and

controlling power to the vacuum device, for vacuum operations by the vacuum device, based on the step of sensing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of sensing comprises the step of:

viewing an infrared beam of the light source by the light sensor, the infrared beam detected by the light sensor if not interrupted; and

interfering with the infrared beam to interrupt the step of viewing as the external event.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

manually overriding the step of controlling.