Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02531828 2005-12-30
CENTRAL VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM BATTERY HOUSING AND HANDLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to central vacuum cleaning systems. More particularly,
it relates to hose
handles for central vacuum cleaning systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Central vacuum cleaning systems were originally quite simple. One placed a
powerful central
vacuum source external to the main living space. The source was connected
through interior
walls to a long flexible hose that terminated in a handle and nozzle. When an
operator desired to
use the system, the operator went to the source and turned it on. The operator
then went inside,
picked up the handle and directed the nozzle to an area to be cleaned.
Although many elements of the basic system remain, many improvements have been
made.
Rigid pipes typically run inside interior walls to numerous outlets spaced
throughout a building.
This allows an operator to utilize a smaller hose while covering an equivalent
space. This is an
advantage as the hose can be quite bulky and heavy.
Various communication systems have been developed. Some systems sense sound or
pressure in
the pipes to turn the vacuum source on or off, see for example United States
patent no. 5,924,164
issued 20 July 1999 to Edward W. Lindsay under title ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATOR FOR
CENTRAL VACUUM CLEANERS. Other systems run low voltage wires between the
source
and the outlet. The source can be turned on and off at an outlet by a switch
that may be activated
by insertion or removal of the hose. The hose may also contain low voltage
wires to allow the
source to be controlled from a switch in the handle, see for example United
States patent no.
5,343,590 issued 6 September 1994 to Kurds R. Radabaugh under title LOW
VOLTAGE
CENTRAL VACUUM CONTROL HANDLE WITH AN AIR FLOW SENSOR. The switch
can be a simple toggle switch, or a more sophisticated capacitive switch.
The low voltage wires running along the pipes can be replaced by conductive
tape or the like on
the pipes, see for example United States patent number 4,854,887 issued 8
August 1989 to Jean-
Claude Blandin under title PIPE SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL SUCTION CLEANING
INSTALLATION. Separate low voltage conductors in the walls can be avoided
altogether by
using mains power wires to transmit communication signals between the outlet
and the source,
see for example United States patent no. 5,274,878 issued 4 January 1994 to
Kurtis R.
Radabaugh et al under title REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL VACUUM
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SYSTEMS. A handheld radio frequency wireless transmitter can be used by an
operator to turn
the source on or off, see for example US patent no. 3,626,545 issued 14
December 1971 to Perry
W. Sparrow under title CENTRAL VACUUM CLEANER WITH REMOTE CONTROL.
Line voltage is brought adjacent the vacuum outlets and connected through
separate conductors,
or integrated spiral wound conductors on the hose, to the handle. Line voltage
can then be
brought from the handle to powered accessories, such as a power beater bar,
connected to the
nozzle. Line voltage can be switched on and off to the powered accessory using
the same switch
in the handle that controls the source. Alternatively, the powered accessory
may have its own
power switch.
Improvements to, or alternative or additional features for, central vacuum
cleaning systems are
desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the invention provides a combination for use within a
central vacuum cleaning
system. The combination includes a central vacuum cleaning system hose handle
including a
battery compartment, and a battery housing for releas ably retaining a
battery. The battery
compartment is within the handle and has an aperture through the handle to
provide external
access to the compartment through the handle. The housing has an open position
and a closed
position. External access to the battery is prevented when the housing is in
the closed position.
External access to the battery is permitted when the housing is in the open
position.
The battery housing may be interchangeable with an attachment power plug
housing such that
the hose handle may be combined with either the battery housing or the plug
housing. The
battery housing may have an external profile similar to the plug housing.
The housing may be a drawer. The drawer and compartment may have a slide
mechanism on
which the drawer can be extended into and out of the handle through the
aperture. The drawer
and compartment may have a first stop to limit the depth to which the drawer
can slide into the
handle through the aperture. The drawer and compartment may have a second stop
to limit the
depth to which the drawer can be extended out of the handle through the
aperture. External
access to the battery may be prevented when the drawer is extended into the
handle to the first
stop. External access to the battery may be permitted when the drawer is
extended out of the
handle to the second stop.
The slide mechanism may have a combination of rails and guides on the drawer
and
compartment. The slide mechanism may have a combination of rails on the drawer
and guides
on the compartment.
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The drawer and compartment may have a releasable locking mechanism to inhibit
the drawer
from extending out of the compartment when the handle is in use. The slide
mechanism may
have a releasable locking mechanism to inhibit the drawer from extending out
of the
compartment when the handle is in use. The drawer and compartment may have a
boss that
inhibits the drawer from extending out of the compartment when the handle is
in use. The
drawer may have a boss on one of the rails to releasably engage the handle at
the aperture to
inhibit the drawer from extending out of the compartment when the handle is in
use.
The handle may have an external shell, and the aperture is in the shell.
The drawer may have a crib, and the drawer may releasably retain the battery
in the crib. The
drawer may have a first contact at one end of the crib and a second contact at
an opposing end of
the crib, with the drawer releasably retaining the battery between the
contacts in the crib. At
least one of the contacts may be a spring contact to releasably retain the
battery between the
contacts within the crib.
The crib may have a bed that is generally formed to a longitudinal profile of
the battery. The
crib may have a curved bed for receiving a cylindrical battery. The drawer may
be oriented
generally parallel to a longitudinal wand adapter axis of the handle with the
crib opening away
from the wand adapter axis. The crib may open from beneath the wand adapter
axis when the
handle is held in a normal operating position with the wand adapter axis
directed downwardly.
In a second aspect the invention provides a battery drawer for use in a
central vacuum cleaning
system hose handle having a compartment for retaining a central vacuum
cleaning system
attachment power plug and an aperture through the handle to provide external
access to the plug.
The drawer has a first slide mechanism portion, a first stop surface, and a
second stop surface.
The battery drawer releasably retains the battery. The first slide mechanism
portion acts in
combination with the compartment to provide a slide mechanism on which the
drawer can be
extended into and out of the handle through the aperture. The first stop
surface acts in
combination with the compartment to provide a first stop to limit the depth to
which the drawer
can slide into the handle through the aperture. The second stop surface in
combination with the
compartment provides a second stop to limit the depth to which the drawer can
be extended out
of the handle through the aperture. External access to the battery is
prevented when the drawer is
extended into the handle to the first stop. External access to the battery is
permitted when the
drawer is extended out of the handle to the second stop.
The first slide mechanism portion may have rails. The drawer may have a
releasable locking
mechanism to inhibit the drawer from extending out of the compartment when the
handle is in
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use. The drawer may have a boss that inhibits the drawer from extending out of
the compartment
when the handle is in use. The drawer may have a boss on one of the rails to
releasably engage
the handle at the aperture to inhibit the drawer from extending out of the
compartment when the
handle is in use.
The drawer may have a crib, with the drawer releasably retaining the battery
in the crib. The
drawer may have a first contact at one end of the crib and a second contact at
an opposing end of
the crib. In this case the drawer releasably retains the battery between the
contacts in the crib.
At least one of the contacts may be a spring contact to releasably retain the
battery between the
contacts within the crib.
The crib may have a bed that is generally formed to a longitudinal profile of
the battery. The
crib may have a curved bed for receiving a cylindrical battery. The drawer may
be oriented
generally parallel to a longitudinal wand adapter axis of the handle with the
crib opening away
from the wand adapter axis. The crib may open from beneath the wand adapter
axis when the
handle is held in a normal operating position with the wand adapter axis
directed downwardly.
In a third aspect the invention provides a combination for use in a central
vacuum cleaning
system. The combination includes a central vacuum cleaning system hose handle
for use with a
battery to power at least one device, and a battery housing retained by the
hose handle. The
battery housing includes an open position to provide access to the battery
external to the handle
such that the battery can be removed from or inserted into the housing, and a
closed position to
retain the battery and prevent access to the battery.
The battery housing may be compatible with a compartment within the hose
handle that is also
compatible with an attachment power plug housing such that the hose handle may
be combined
with either the battery housing or the plug housing. The battery housing may
have an external
profile similar to the plug housing.
The battery housing may be a battery drawer that in the open position drawer
extends out of the
handle to provide access to the battery external to the handle, and that in
the closed position
extends into the handle to retain the battery and prevent access to the
battery.
The drawer may include a crib with an interior curved bed, opposing first crib
end and second
crib end, a first electrical contact extending into the crib from the first
crib end, and a second
electrical contact extending into the crib from the second crib end. The crib
and contacts may be
dimensioned such that the battery is retained within the crib after the
battery is placed is the crib.
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The contacts may be spring type contacts that allow the battery to be manually
inserted and
removed while firm contact is maintained between the contacts and electrodes
of the battery
when the battery is in the crib.
The drawer and handle may have a plurality of rail/guide combinations spaced
about the drawer
The handle may further include an exterior shell that extends about the
handle, and an aperture in
the shell, and the drawer may slide through the aperture.
The handle may have two attached casing halves. The drawer may be inserted in
the handle
The drawer and shell may include a manually releasable locking mechanism for
the drawer.
The battery housing may include a body which has an internal chamber to
receive the battery,
and has an opening to provide access through an aperture in the handle to the
chamber.
The housing may have a cap that has an open position and a closed position,
such that access
The cap may be hingedly connected to the body, such that the cap swings on a
hinge between the
In the closed position a lock may be provided between the cap and body to
prevent the cap from
opening inadvertently. The lock may include a boss on one of the cap and body
and a
corresponding hollow on the other of the cap and body. The battery housing may
include a
spring mechanism to allow the cap to pop open when unlocked.
cap slides into and out of the body to cover access to the chamber.
These and other aspects of the invention, including methods thereof, will be
evident from the
detailed description and FIGS. of the preferred embodiments provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more were
clearly how it may be
carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying
drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view from below, to the front and one side of a
central vacuum cleaning
system hose handle with a battery housing in the form of a battery drawer,
battery and hose in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention with the drawer
extended from the
handle;
FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the hose handle, drawer and hose of FIG. 1
with the drawer
inserted into the handle;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1 showing two handle shell
halves with the
battery drawer extended from one shell half;
FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view from above, behind and to one side the
same perspective as
FIG. 1 of the battery drawer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a close-up perspective view from below, in front, and to one side of
the battery drawer
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the battery drawer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the battery drawer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a top view of the battery drawer of FIG. 1 with connecting wires;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the battery drawer of FIG. 1 with connecting wires;
FIG. 10 is a front cross section view of the battery drawer of FIG. 1 through
10-10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a cutaway front view of a building containing a central vacuum
cleaning system
utilizing the hose handle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 (PRIOR ART) is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 3
with an
attachment power plug in place of the battery drawer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a portion of an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 3
with a battery
housing in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
in place of the
battery drawer of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 13 with a
battery housing in
accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the present invention in
place of the battery
drawer of FIG. 1.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the FIGS., a central vacuum cleaning system hose handle 2100 uses
a battery 2102 to power
at least one device 2103 such as, for example, a radio frequency (RF)
transmitter, RF receiver, RF
transceiver or a user interface such as those described in co-pending United
States patent application
no. 10/936,699 filed 9 September 2004 (issued as US 7,403,360) under title
CENTRAL VACUUM
CLEANING SYSTEM CONTROL SUBSYSTEMS. In the FIGS, the device 2103 is shown
generically as utilizing
a printed circuit board; although, it should be recognized that the device
2103 is not required to have a
printed circuit board. It is to be noted that the battery 2102 may be used to
power devices 2103 in the
handle 2100 or external to it by way of conductive wires, not shown. The
handle 2100 also contains a
wand adapter 2104. A hose 2105 is connected to the handle 2100.
The term "battery" is used herein. It is understood that a battery may have
one or more cells. The cells
may be in one or more discrete packages. The battery may be rechargeable or
non-rechargeable. A
battery also includes a plurality of batteries. The batteries may be
electrically connected in parallel or
series.
Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the handle 2100 retains a battery
drawer 2106. The battery
drawer 2106 acts as a battery housing 2106 for the battery 2102. The drawer
2106 has an open position
in which it extends out of the handle 2100 to provide access to the battery
2102 external to the handle
2100. When the battery drawer 2106 is extended the battery 2102 can be removed
from or inserted
into the drawer 2106 for easy replacement or recharge.
Referring to FIG. 2, the drawer 2106 also has a closed position in which it
extends into the handle 2100
to retain and prevent access to the battery 2102.
In this description terms of orientation such as top, bottom, side, front and
rear will be used for ease of
reference in describing the specific embodiment shown in the FIGS. These terms
are used with respect
to a longitudinal axis 2107 of the wand adapter 2104 as the adapter 2104exits
the handle 2100 when
used in its normal cleaning position with the adapter 2104 angled downwardly
from the handle 2100
towards a floor 2108 or other horizontal surface being cleaned (see FIG. 11).
Thus, top, bottom and side
are generally looking from above, below and to the side, respectively, of the
axis 2107 or an object
parallel thereto; while, front is closer to the surface being cleaned and rear
is further from the surface to
be cleaned, in both cases generally looking parallel to the axis 2107. It is
to be noted that the principles
described herein can be applied in many different orientations.
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Referring primarily to FIGS. 4-10, the drawer 2106 has a crib 2109 with an
interior curved bed
2110, front crib end 2112 (FIG. 9), and rear crib end 2114. Extending into the
crib 2109 from
the front crib end 2112 is a front electrical contact 2116 (FIG. 9) and
extending into the crib from
the rear crib end 2114 is a rear electrical contact 2118.
The crib 2109 and contacts 2116, 2118 are dimensioned such that the battery
2102 (FIG. 1) is
releasably retained within the crib 2109 after the battery 2102 is placed is
the crib 2109.
Preferably the contacts 2116, 2118 are spring contacts that allow the battery
2102 to be easily
manually inserted and removed while firm contact is maintained between the
contacts 2116,
2118 and electrodes of the battery 2102 when the battery 2102 is in the crib
2109. The drawer
2106 has top rails 2124, 2126, side rails 2128, 2130 and bottom rails 2132,
2134.
Referring to FIG. 3, the handle 2100 has interior surfaces that act as
corresponding top guides
2136, side guides 2138 and bottom guides 2140. The rails 2124, 2126, 2128,
2130, 2132, 2134
and the respective guides 2136, 2138 and 2140 allow the drawer 2106 to slide
smoothly in and
out of the handle 2100.
The handle 2100 has an exterior shell 2143 that extends about the handle 2100.
An aperture
2145 in the shell 2143 also provides an aperture 2145 in the handle 2100. The
drawer 2106
slides through the aperture 2145 into the handle 2100. As can be seen in an
exploded view of the
handle 2100, the handle 2100 is most easily manufactured in two casing halves
2146a, 2146b.
The casing halves 2146a, 2146b can be attached using various methods, such as
screws, not
shown.
A portion of the guides 2136, 2138, 2140 is shown in the FIG. on casing half
2146a. It is
understood that casing half 2146a has a corresponding portion of the guides
2136, 2138, 2140.
The portions of the guides 2136, 2138, 2140 on the respective halves 2146a,
2146b are not
necessarily symmetrical. The aperture 2145 is also formed partially by casing
half 2146a and
partially by casing half 2146b. This allows the drawer 2106 to be inserted in
the handle 2100
before the halves 2146a, 2146b are attached.
The drawer 2106 has a boss 2148 on the bottom rail 2124 and a boss 2150 on the
bottom rail
2126. As the drawer 2106 slides into the handle 2100 the bosses 2148, 2150
engage the shell
2143. The bosses 2148, 2150 and shell 2143 are sufficiently hard, yet elastic
to allow the bosses
2148, 2150 to pass over the shell 2143 with an applied force, while preventing
the drawer 2106
from sliding back out of the handle 2100 during ordinary use of the handle
2100. The bosses
2148, 2150 and shell 2143 in combination provide a manually releasable locking
mechanism for
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the drawer 2106. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, other
manually releasable locking
mechanisms may be used.
The drawer 2106 has a generally flat end cap 2152 at least some portion of
which is larger than -
the aperture 2145 extending over the shell 2143. The cap 2152 meets the shell
2143 and acts as
a stop for the drawer 2106 to limit the distance that the drawer 2106 is
inserted into the handle
2100. The bosses 2148, 2150 are set back from the end cap 2152 approximately
the depth of the
shell 2143 to hold the cap 2152 against the shell 2143. As well as limiting
the chance that the
drawer 2106 will inadvertently open, the drawer 2106 is limited from shaking
about when in the
closed position such that the battery 2102 might be caused to disengage from
the contacts 2116,
2118.
The drawer 2106 has flanges 2154 outwardly extending from an overside 2156 of
the drawer.
Respective stop surfaces 2158 of the flanges 2154 meet the shell 2143 and act
as a stop to limit
the distance that the drawer 2106 can be extended out of the handle 2100. The
stop surfaces
2158 are positioned behind the rear crib end 2114 to permit the drawer 2106 to
extend
sufficiently to allow the interior of the crib to be fully accessible from
outside the handle 2100.
Between the side rails 2128, 2130 and their respective top rails 2124, 2126,
overside 2160 of the
drawer 2106 is inwardly angled. This permits the flanges 2154 to project
outwardly while not
extending further than the side rails 2128, 2130. In this way the flanges 2154
do not interfere
with the interaction of the side rails 2128, 2130 and the guides 2138.
Similarly, the flanges 2154 do not extend further upwardly than the top
rails,2124, 2126. In the
drawings, the flanges 2154 are raised slightly from the top rails 2124, 2126
to permit passage of
the flanges over a raised portion of one of the top guides 2136.
As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the bed 2110 has a semi-circular section 2142
with straight
extensions 2144, 2146. The bottom surfaces of the extensions 2144, 2146 form
the rails 2124,
2126. The extensions 2144, 2146 also extend outwardly beyond the rear crib end
2114 to
provide stop surfaces 2164. The stop surface 2164 engages shell 2143 in the
event that a upward
rotational force is applied on the drawer 2106 when it is extended. In
addition, the extensions
2144, 2146 also provide additional support to the crib ends 2112, 2114 while
not obstructing
access to the battery 2102.
The crib ends 2112, 2114 have respective supports 2166 that extend below the
bottom rails 2132,
2134. The supports 2166 provide support to the contacts 2116, 2118 to provide
the proper
alignment with the battery electrodes.
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Between the cap 2152 and the end 2112 is a slot 2167 for receiving one end of
contact 2116 to
which an insulated conductor wire 2168 is attached by soldering or otherwise.
There is a groove
2170 in the end 2112 along which the wire 2168 can run to a hole 2172 through
the overside of
the drawer 2106. The hole 2172 exits at a channel 2174 between the top guides
2136. The wire
2168 can run in the channel 2174 so as not to affect the sliding operation of
the drawer 2106.
A wire 2176 from the other contact 2118 can simply extend from rear of the
drawer 2106. The
wires 2168, 2176 should have sufficient slack within the handle 2100 to allow
sliding of the
drawer 2106. The wires 2168, 2176 are shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 and partially
in FIGS. 6 and
10, but not the other FIGS for clarity.
The wires 2168, 2176 can be extended to any required locations within the
handle 2100. The
guides 2136, 2138 and that part of the shell 2143 adjacent to the aperture
2145 form a battery
compartment 2177 of the handle 2100. The compartment 2177 can be placed at any
accessible
and available location in the handle 2100.
A groove 2178 extends into rear 2180 of the cap 2152. The groove 2178 is
externally accessible
when the cap 2152 is closed. This provides a visual indication to the user
that the drawer 2106 is
operable. The groove 2178 provides a point of entry for a fingernail or a
tool, such as a coin or
table knife, to be used to begin the sliding motion.
As is typical for existing hose handles, the shell 2143 is preferably formed
from a hard plastic for
the housing 2106. For ease of design and manufacture, the drawer 2106 can be
formed from the
same material as the shell 2143; however, another hard resilient material may
be used. The
compartment 2177 could be a separate piece from the shell 2143 that is snapped
into, or
otherwise held in fixed relation to, the shell 2143. The compartment 2177 can
be partially or
fully sealed from the remainder of the handle 2100, subject to access to the
wires 2168, 2176.
This may be advantageous to prevent dirt or another matter from entering the
handle 2100
through the aperture 2145.
Referring to FIG. 11, the hose handle 2100 and housing 2106 are shown in use
in a central
vacuum cleaning system indicated generally as 2300 in use in a dwelling 2301
by an operator
2302. The system 2300 has a central vacuum unit 2303 connected through pipes
2304 and wall
valves 2306 to hose 2105. As indicated previously, hose 2105 is connected to
handle 2100.
Handle 2100 is connected to wand adapter 2104. Wand extensions 2308 are
connected to
cleaning attachments 2310. As is known to those skilled in the art many
alternative
configurations are possible for central vacuum cleaning systems, some of which
are discussed in
the Background section hereof.
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CA 02531828 2013-12-24
Referring to FIG. 12, it has been found to be particularly advantageous to
utilize a single handle shell
2143 for either battery power source and line power source configurations. In
battery powered
configurations the battery drawer 2106 (FIG. 3) can be used as described
above. In line powered
applications an attachment power plug 2180 (for connection to powered cleaning
attachment such as a
powered brush roll 2310, FIG. 11) and hose handle power interface 2182 (for
receiving low voltage
communication wires and line power wires from the central vacuum cleaning
system hose, not shown in
FIG. 12) can be used as in existing handles today. For example, the hose
handle 2100 and attachment
plug 2180 shown in the drawings are those found in a ProgressionTM hose handle
manufactured for
Plastiflex of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. The components to which the
different power sources are
connected within the handle 2100 will likely differ, for example, battery
powered applications will lend
themselves to wireless communication as mentioned previously, while line
powered applications will
likely connect through the hose handle power interface 2182 to wires in a hose
as mentioned above.
The power plug 2180 has a plug housing 2184 that is physically configured for
retention by the handle
2100 while providing access to plug connections 2186.
The drawer 2106 should be designed to fit within and utilize without
modification the same
compartment 2177 as the attachment power plug 2180. For example, the drawer
2106 described above
has been configured to utilize posts 2188 and 2190 as bottom guides 2140, ribs
2192 (one of which is
indicated with a reference numeral in FIG. 3) as top guides 2136 and side
guides 2138 (two of which are
indicated with a reference numeral in FIG. 3). The compartment 2177 is made up
of the posts 2188,
2190, ribs 2192 and that part of the shell 2143 adjacent to the aperture 2145.
The aperture 2145 has an
arrow head configuration as this is the shape of the plug tip 2194 used in the
preferred embodiment.
The plug 2180 has a shoulder 2196 that extends outwardly to rest against the
shell 2143 and to stop the
plug 2180 from exiting the handle 2100 through the aperture 2145 when in use.
As will be evident to
those skilled in the art other stops or other means altogether could be used
to fix the plug 2180 within
the handle 2100. Similarly, other means could be used altogether to retain the
housings 2106, 2200
(FIG. 13) within the handle 2100 provided that external access (access
external to the handle 2100) to
the battery 2102 is available and the housing 2182 is interchangeable with
housing 2106, 2200.
Existing handles may be easily converted from line power source to battery
applications using the
aperture 2145. Thus, the hose handle 2100 may be easily converted between
battery and line power
source configurations. A manufacturer need only produce one handle 2100 for
both applications.
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The drawer 2106 may take on many different configurations and placements
within the handle
2100. It has been found to be particularly advantageous to place the drawer
2106 such that the
drawer 2106 is beneath the wand adapter 2105 such that the crib 2109 opens
away from the
wand adapter 2105. This allows the user to simply shake the drawer 2106,
possibly by tapping
or shaking the handle 2100, to cause the battery to fall from the drawer 2106.
While this is an advantageous position, it is still possible to orient the
drawer 2106 in a
completely different position, for example above the wand adapter 2104. If
there is sufficient
room between the wand adapter 2104 and the drawer 2106 to access the battery
2102 then the
drawer 2106 could open with the crib 2109 opening downwardly. Alternatively,
the drawer 2106
could open with the crib 2108 opening upwardly. Where the crib 2109 opens
upwardly, the user
could twist the handle with the wand adapter axis 2107 oriented upwardly and
the battery 2102
could again be caused to fall from the crib 2109.
The drawer 2106 could take on many other orientations, for example,
perpendicular to the axis
2107 or at any other angle. Corresponding modifications would be required to
the shell 2143 for
any change in orientation from that shown in the FIGS.
The crib 2109 could have a different configuration to house alternate battery
sizes and shapes.
The battery 2102 shown in the drawings is a VINNIC L1028 12V 23A manufactured
by Chung
Pak Battery Works Ltd. and distributed by Evergreen (C.P.) U.S.A. Inc. of San
Francisco,
California. This battery 2102 is readily available and has sufficient life to
power basic on/off
wireless communications for a hose handle 2100 of a central vacuum cleaning
system 2300.
Other configurations, for example, may include a bed, not shown, with three
flat sides to house a
battery with a rectangular cross-section.
Similarly, the overside 2156 of the drawer 2106 could have other cross-
sections provided that it
is dimensioned to fit through the aperture 2145. Rails and guides could be
interchanged so that
the rails are on battery compartment 2177 and the guides are on the drawer
2106. It is not
necessary to have six rails, provided that the drawer 2106 is limited from
movement up and
down and side to side, and allowed to slide in and out and provides access to
the battery 2102.
For example, three rail/guide combinations equal spaced about the drawer 2106
could hold the
drawer 2106 in place.
Alternative configurations might include a cap that does not extend to cover
the aperture 2145,
rather the cap fits within the aperture 2145 flush with the shell 2143. The
drawer 2106 could
include an internal stop to limit the distance the drawer 2106 is inserted
into the handle 2100.
An externally accessible pull tab or catch could be used to pull the drawer
2106 to be useful.
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CA 02531828 2005-12-30
The battery compartment 2104 need not be used in association with all or any
of the other central
vacuum cleaning system aspects described herein. It is only required that the
central vacuum
cleaning system hose handle 2100 have a battery for use within the system in
order for the
compartment 2104 and drawer 2106 to be useful.
Referring to FIG.13, in another embodiment the compartment 2177 retains a
battery housing
2200. The housing 2200 has an external profile similar to the plug housing
2180. Again, the
housing 2200 has an external profile that fits within the compartment 2177 and
the housing 2200
is retained by the compartment 2177. The housing 2200 has a body 2202 with an
internal
chamber 2204 to receive the battery 2102. The body 2202 has an opening 2205 to
provide
access through the aperture 2145 to the chamber 2204.
The housing 2200 has a cap 2206 that has an open position A and a closed
position B, such that
access external to the handle 2100 is provided to the battery 2102 in the
chamber 2204 through
the aperture 2145 when the cap 2206 is in the open position A, while such
access is prevented
when the cap 2206 is in the closed position B. Attachment of the cap 2206 to
the body 2202 can
be temporary or permanent. For example, the cap 2206 may be hingedly connected
to the body
2202, such that the cap 2206 swings on a hinge, such as living hinge 2208,
between the open
position A and closed position B. In the closed position B some form of lock
can be provided
between the cap 2206 and body 2202 to prevent the cap 2206 from opening
inadvertently. The
lock can be as simple as a tab with boss 2210 on one of the cap 2206 and body
2202 and a
corresponding hollow 2212 on the other of the cap 2206 and body 2202. A spring
mechanism
can be provided, for example the living hinge 2208 may be biased to open
position A, to allow
the cap 2206 to pop open when unlocked. Although advantageous, a spring
mechanism is not
necessary for those configurations where a simple shake of the handle 2100,
with or without
battery 2102, will cause the cap 2206 to move to the open position A. The cap
2206 has a double
contact 2213a, while the body has a contact 2213b to provide electrical
connection from battery
electrode 2213c to wire 2168. The remainder of the handle 2100 and wiring is
the same as that
of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 14, alternatively, the cap 2206 of the housing 2200 may be
attached to the
body 2202 by way of corresponding guide mechanisms 2214a, 2214b, such that the
cap 2206
slides into and out of the body 2202 to cover access to the chamber 2204. The
housing 2200 of
FIG. 14 is otherwise similar to the housing 2200 of FIG. 13.
Other configurations of battery housings and compartments within central
vacuum cleaning
system hose handles to house a battery within a compartment of a hose handle
and allow external
access to the battery through an aperture in the handle will be evident to
those skilled in the art
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CA 02531828 2005-12-30
based on the principles described herein. Such a housing and compartment will
include a
housing that is interchangeable within a hose handle compartment with a line
power source plug
housing.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is
made with reference to the
preferred embodiment and that it is possible to make other embodiments
employing the
principles of the invention which fall within its spirit and scope as defined
by the following
claims.
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