Central vacuum cleaner cross-controls

• US 7,958,594 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
• Inventors: Cunningham, J. Vern
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US11/543,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 153/01, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/301
• 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 turn off the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated,

wherein the appliance is a telephone and the telephone is activated when there is an incoming call on the telephone.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is adapted to turn off the cleaning system when there is an incoming telephone call.

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

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the adapter is a telephone line adaptor adapted to sense incoming calls on the telephone line.

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

6. 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 turn off the central vacuum cleaning system upon receipt of a communication at the receiver that the appliance has been activated,

wherein the appliance is a doorbell.

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

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising an adapter adapted to sense activation of the appliance and transmit a communication to the receiver.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the receiver is a wireless radio frequency receiver and the communications are wireless radio frequency communicators.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the adapter is a doorbell adapter adapted to sense activation of the doorbell.

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

receiving communications at the central vacuum cleaning system when there is an incoming telephone call to a telephone, and

controlling the central vacuum cleaning system to turn off the system upon receipt of the communications.

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

receiving communications at the central vacuum cleaning system when a doorbell is activated, and

controlling the central vacuum cleaning system to turn off the system upon receipt of the communications.