Outlet for connecting a vacuum-cleaning hose to a centralized vacuum-cleaning installation

A vacuum cleaner assembly for mounting in a surface of a room, the vacuum cleaner assembly comprising:

• a vacuum-cleaning unit including a vacuum-cleaning hose having a rigid end-fitting mounted at one end of the vacuum-cleaning hose, the end-fitting having an outer surface with an opening formed therein, the end-fitting including a guide member formed therein, the end-fitting being releasably mounted to the vacuum-cleaning hose;
• an outlet having a body for mounting in the surface of the room, the body having an open first end and an opposing second end with a channel extending therethrough from the open first end to the second end, the open first end being sealed by a retractable member which retracts from a first position to receive the end-fitting of the vacuum-cleaning hose to a second position, the outlet having a switch disposed therein for signaling the vacuum-cleaning unit to turn on when the retractable member is in the second position, the body including a sleeve extending outwardly from the outlet, the sleeve having an open first end and an open second end which forms an entrance into the channel of the outlet, the sleeve for receiving a member which connects to the vacuum-cleaning unit, the retractable member for actuating the switch when the end-fitting is received within the outlet and orientates the retractable member in the second position, the outlet further including a locking member for releasably locking the end-fitting into the outlet;
• and
• wherein the end-fitting is inserted into the channel of the outlet until the locking member of the outlet engages the guide member of the end-fitting so as to releasably lock the end-fitting within the outlet, the opening formed in the end-fitting being orientated so that the opening communicates with the open second end of the sleeve, the retractable member actuating the switch when the end-fitting is releasably locked within the outlet and the retractable member is in the second position.