Automatic debris collector for a central vacuum system

An apparatus configured to be connected to the ductwork of a central vacuum system for removing debris in the immediate vicinity of the apparatus, comprising:

• a housing defining a compartment, said compartment defining an interior space and an access opening to said interior space, said compartment defining a secondary opening;
• a hollow first length of storage conduit having one open end connected to said secondary opening of said housing and having a distal open end configured to be connected to the ductwork of the central vacuum system;
• a length of flexible hose having a nozzle end and a distal end disposed opposite said nozzle end, said distal end including a retaining fixture disposed within said storage conduit and configured to slide within said storage conduit, said hose being configured to be resiliently expandable and contractable between a fully contracted state and a fully expanded state, the length of said hose in the fully contracted state being no more than the length of said first length of said storage conduit, wherein the length of said hose in the fully expanded state being at least one and one half times greater than the length of said hose in the fully contracted state;
• a vacuum nozzle fitted to said nozzle end of said hose, said vacuum nozzle being configured to prevent passage of said nozzle completely through said secondary opening of said housing;
• a cover connected to said housing and configured to be moveable between a closed position that blocks user access to said access opening of said housing and an open position that permits user access to said access opening of said housing;
• an activation switch configured to be connected to control operation of the central vacuum system, said switch being carried by said housing and configured to activate the central vacuum system when said cover is moved to said open position and to deactivate the central vacuum system when the cover assumes said closed position;
• a retaining fixture attached to the distal end of said hose, said retaining fixture being disposed within the storage conduit configured to slide axially within the length of the storage conduit, wherein the retaining fixture defines a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a proximal outer cylindrical edge is defined at the proximal end of the retaining fixture, wherein a distal outer cylindrical edge end is defined at the distal end of the fixture, and wherein the outer cylindrical edges of the retaining fixture are configured to facilitate easy sliding of the retaining fixture axially against the interior surfaces of the walls of the storage conduit and so maintain close enough clearance between the retaining fixture and the walls of the storage conduit to sustain the necessary vacuum force while not impeding travel of the distal end of the hose within the storage conduit;
• and
• a connection sleeve disposed to extend through said secondary opening and comprising a cylindrical portion, a funnel member and an annular flange portion disposed between and connected to each of said cylindrical portion and funnel member, said connection sleeve being connected to said compartment via said annular flange portion.