Vacuum hose retraction system
AssigneeM.D. Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsBrian Graves, Crispin Mercado
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides unique portable or stationary hose retraction systems in a single compact unit having a hose, a chamber or plenum for storing the hose, a vacuum source, and a unique valve mechanism attached to the chamber or plenum for holding the hose in place while it is being used, and releasing the hose to allow it to be extended by the user or retracted by the system using the vacuum source. An optional debris collection chamber with filter may be provided adjacent to the vacuum hose chamber, such that the vacuum source draws air through both the debris collection chamber and through the vacuum hose chamber.
Claims14
A portable vacuum cleaning unit having a hose retraction apparatus, comprising:
- a. a vacuum hose;
- b. a portable housing comprising a wide vacuum hose chamber for storing said vacuum hose in a loose configuration within said chamber;
- c. a vacuum source positioned within said housing and being operable to evacuate said vacuum hose chamber to create a partial vacuum in said vacuum hose chamber when said vacuum source is operating and draw air and debris through said vacuum hose into a debris collection chamber positioned within said housing and adjacent to said vacuum hose chamber;
- and
- d. a vacuum hose valve extending through a wall of said vacuum hose chamber having a vacuum hose port having an outer open end external to the wall through which said vacuum hose can be drawn into or out of said vacuum hose chamber, said port comprising a sleeve body having a tab located thereon and a flared receiver at the outer end, an elastomeric sealing boot extending into the open end of said receiver and positioned around said hose, said boot having a flared outer end shape that is complementary to the shape of the receiver, and an extension attached to said boot extending away from said outer end in an axial direction of the port, said extension having a recessed extending in the axial direction into the extension and along a length in a substantially circumferential direction of the port for engagement with said tab, said slot having a recessed notch extending further in the axial direction into said extension for engagement with said tab, said valve having an open position when said tab is located in said slot and external to said notch and a closed position when said tab is located in said notch, wherein said vacuum hose is fixed in position and said boot is sealingly engaged against said receiver when said valve is in said closed position, and said vacuum hose may be drawn into or out of said vacuum hose chamber and said boot is not engaged against said receiver when said valve is in said open position.
A portable vacuum cleaning unit having a hose retraction apparatus, comprising:
- a. a vacuum hose;
- b. a portable vacuum hose chamber for storing said vacuum hose in a loose configuration within said chamber;
- c. a vacuum source operable to draw air through said vacuum hose chamber;
- and
- d. a vacuum hose port extending through a wall of said vacuum hose chamber and having an outer open end external to the wall through which said vacuum hose can be drawn into or out of said vacuum hose chamber, said port comprising a sleeve body having a tab located thereon and a flared receiver at the outer end, an elastomeric sealing boot extending into the open end of said receiver and positioned around said hose, said boot having a flared outer end shape that is complementary to the shape of the receiver, and an extension attached to said boot extending away from said outer end in an axial direction of the port, said extension having a recessed slot extending in the axial direction into the extension and along a length in a substantially circumferential direction of the port for engagement with said tab, said slot having a recessed notch extending further in the axial direction into said extension for engagement with said tab, such that said boot is sealingly engaged against said receiver when said tab is located in said notch, and said boot is not engaged against said receiver when said tab is located in said slot and external to said notch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.