초록 ▼

An inlet apparatus for central vacuum cleaning systems is described that can be integrated with registers commonly used with heating and air conditioning vents in residential or commercial buildings. In particular, the apparatus opens to provide a vacuum inlet that will either remove debris directly

An inlet apparatus for central vacuum cleaning systems is described that can be integrated with registers commonly used with heating and air conditioning vents in residential or commercial buildings. In particular, the apparatus opens to provide a vacuum inlet that will either remove debris directly, or through an attached hose, using the suction provided by the connected conventional central vacuum cleaning system. The apparatus contains a register body and an inlet that can be integrated with the conventional pipe ductwork used for central vacuum cleaning systems. The apparatus will seal closed when not in use in order to provide full suction to any other inlet currently in use.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A means for integrating an inlet for a central vacuum cleaning system into a register body commonly used in heating and air conditioning systems, comprising: an inlet having a chamber for receiving debris that can be raised to an open position and lowered to a closed position

What is claimed is: 1. A means for integrating an inlet for a central vacuum cleaning system into a register body commonly used in heating and air conditioning systems, comprising: an inlet having a chamber for receiving debris that can be raised to an open position and lowered to a closed position; a main register body commonly used in heating and air conditioning systems having a cavity for accepting said inlet; a means for said inlet to receive pipes and pipe fittings for connecting to a central vacuum cleaning system; and an electrically operated solenoid operatively raising said inlet to said open position and lowering said inlet to said closed position. 2. A combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet, comprising: a register comprising (a) a generally planar face plate of rectangular plan shape, the face plate defining a grill extending across an HVAC register opening defined through the face plate, the face plate further defining a central vacuum system inlet opening therethrough separate from the HVAC register opening, the face plate having a front side and a rear side and having first, second, third, and fourth edges, and (b) a base connected to the rear side of the face plate and defining a duct for connection to an HVAC register boot, the duct being connected to the HVAC register opening in the face plate; a central vacuum system inlet assembly connected with the face plate, the inlet assembly comprising (1) an inlet defining a debris chamber therein, an entrance opening defined in a front side of the inlet leading into the debris chamber, and an exit opening leading out from the debris chamber, the inlet having a top wall, and (2) a conduit member fixedly secured to the register and defining an intake opening and an exit opening for connection to piping leading to a central vacuum unit; the inlet being connected to the register such that the inlet is movable relative to the register between a closed position in which the entrance opening of the inlet is closed by walls of the register, and an open position in which the top wall of the inlet is extended above the front side of the face plate and the entrance opening of the debris chamber of the inlet is exposed such that suction exerted by a central vacuum unit on the exit opening of the conduit member causes debris to be suctioned through the entrance opening into the debris chamber, out the exit opening of the debris chamber and through the conduit member. 3. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, wherein the entrance opening of the debris chamber is proximate the first edge of the face plate when the inlet is in the opening position, and the first edge of the face plate is beveled to facilitate movement of debris to the entrance opening. 4. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, further comprising an electrical switch structured and arranged such that the switch is open when the inlet is in the closed position and is automatically closed by movement of the inlet to the open position. 5. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, further comprising a solenoid connected to an electrical switch, the solenoid being structured and arranged to move the inlet between the open position and the closed position by operating the switch. 6. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, in combination with an attachment body, the attachment body being structured and arranged to connect to the inlet when the inlet is in the open position, the attachment body including a conduit configured to be attachable to a vacuum hose. 7. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, further comprising an electrical receptacle arranged in the register for powering an accessory attached to an opposite end of a vacuum hose. 8. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 2, wherein the inlet slides up and down between the open and closed positions, and wherein an upper surface of the top wall of the inlet is generally flush with the front side of the face plate when the inlet is in the closed position. 9. A combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet, comprising: a generally planar face plate of rectangular plan shape, the face plate having a front side and a rear side, the face plate defining a grill extending across an HVAC register opening defined through the face plate, the face plate further defining a central vacuum system inlet opening therethrough separate from the HVAC register opening; a base connected to the rear side of the face plate and defining a duct for connection to an HVAC register boot, the duct being connected with the HVAC register opening in the face plate; a conduit member fixedly secured to the rear side of the face plate and connected to the central vacuum system inlet opening in the face plate, the conduit member defining an exit opening for connection to piping leading to a central vacuum unit, the central vacuum system inlet opening and conduit member being configured to receive an end of a standard vacuum hose; and a lid pivotally connected to the face plate, the lid being movable between a closed position in which the lid seals only the central vacuum system inlet opening closed such that the HVAC register opening remains open, and an open position in which the central vacuum system inlet opening is open for receiving an end of a standard vacuum hose. 10. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 9, further comprising electrical contacts arranged in the conduit member for use in actuating the central vacuum unit when a metallic surface on an end of a standard vacuum hose makes contact with the electrical contacts so as to complete an electrical circuit. 11. The combined HVAC register and central vacuum system inlet of claim 9, further comprising an electrical receptacle connected to the face plate for powering an accessory attached to an opposite end of a standard vacuum hose.