Auxiliary Vacuum Hose Unit for Easier Central Cleaning Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central vacuum cleaning systems face challenges with the need to carry long, heavy hoses between stations, making cleaning laborious, and existing solutions often require permanent installation within building structures or cumbersome operation.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary vacuum device that is location-specific, externally mountable, and includes a manageable length of flexible hose with a docking station and on/off switch, allowing for quick and safe usage while protecting the central vacuum system from overloading and enabling easy activation and deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central vacuum cleaning system uses a long flexible hose to connect cleaning stations throughout the building, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the hose becomes unwieldy and heavy making operation laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the long hose into multiple shorter segments by providing intermediate storage locations throughout the building. Each segment can be independently managed and stored, transforming one long unwieldy hose into several manageable shorter hoses that can be easily carried and stored.
2Ease of operation
If portable vacuum cleaners are used independently of the central system, then portability is improved, but power is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the advantages of both central vacuum systems and portable cleaners by providing intermediate storage locations that hold hoses connected to the central system. This allows users to access high-powered central vacuum suction at various locations while maintaining the portability and flexibility of having multiple short hoses instead of one long hose.
3Productivity
If wall-mounted vacuum systems are installed within building structures, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but installation complexity and structural requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vacuum hose storage and dispensing function from the building's structural walls and provides it through separate intermediate storage locations. This can be implemented as freestanding units or simple wall-mounted components that don't require integration into the building's structural fabric, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining cleaning efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary vacuum device for a central vacuum cleaning system is location specific and comprises a housing mountable externally on an inlet of a mounting plate of the system, a dedicated flexible concertina hose is provided on the device and a cleaning tool mounting probe is registrable with a docking station. With the probe docked in the docking station the device is in the ‘off’ position and with the probe removed therefrom the device is in the ‘off/standby’ mode. A push on/off button is used to complete the procedure for starting the system and for stopping it in an ‘off/standby’ mode.