Vacuum hose management,Retractable canister hose and fitting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for vacuum hose management is illustrated and described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance. The apparatus includes a hose having a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a holding component coupled to the hose. The holding component is tension mounted to a housing of the vacuum appliance. The holding component has a first and a second position, the first position corresponding to the hose within the housing, and the second position corresponding to the hose partially outside the housing. The apparatus also includes a connector connected to the second end of the hose, the connector sized larger than an opening in the housing through which the hose is threaded. The holding component may be a wheel mounted on an arm, with the arm rotatably coupled to the housing through a pivot and a spring.

1 . An apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance, comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a holding component coupled to the hose, the holding component tension mounted to a housing of the vacuum appliance, the holding component having a first and a second position, the first position corresponding to the hose within the housing, the second position corresponding to the hose partially outside the housing; and    a connector connected to the second end of the hose, the connector sized larger than an opening in the housing through which the hose is threaded.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first end of the hose is coupled to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the first end of the hose is connected to the vacuum pump.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hose-holding component is a first wheel mounted on a first end of an arm, the arm coupled through a spring to an anchor of the housing.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the arm is mounted at a second end on a pivot extending from the housing, the spring connected to the arm between the first end and the second end.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the arm is mounted at a midpoint between the first end and a second end on a pivot extending from the housing, the spring connected to the second end.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hose-holding component is a wheel mounted on a spring, the spring connected at one end to the housing.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a connector connected to the wheel and to a first end of the hose.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the connector is coupled through an internal hose to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the connector is connected to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a second wheel rotatably coupled through an axle to the housing, the hose threaded about the second wheel and the first wheel.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first guide, the hose threaded about the first guide, the first guide positioned to guide the hose through the opening.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a second guide, the hose threaded about the second guide, the second guide positioned opposite the first guide to guide the hose through the opening.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the first guide and the second guide are rollers rotatably mounted to the housing.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the first guide and the second guide are pins extending from the housing.    
     
     
         16 . A method of managing a vacuum hose in a vacuum appliance housing, comprising: 
 moving a hose-holding component responsive to tension on the vacuum hose, thereby allowing extension of the hose outside of the housing; and    moving the hose-holding component responsive to release of tension on the vacuum hose, thereby allowing retraction of the hose into the housing.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 activating vacuum while the hose is outside the housing; and    deactivating vacuum when the hose returns to the housing.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 storing the hose within the housing.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the hose-holding component is a wheel mounted on a bar that is mounted rotatably on a pivot of the housing.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 an anchor is connected to the housing; and    a spring is connected to the anchor and connected to the bar.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the hose-holding component is a wheel mounted on a spring, the spring mounted on the housing.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the hose-holding component is a bracket connected to the hose, the bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance, the bracket on the housing.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for managing a vacuum hose in a vacuum appliance, comprising: 
 means for holding the hose within the vacuum appliance, the means for holding also for moving responsive to tension on the hose from outside the vacuum appliance; and    means for guiding the hose through an opening in a housing of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 means for guiding the hose from the means for holding the hose to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance, comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a bracket connected to the vacuum appliance, the bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance; and    a nozzle mounted on the vacuum appliance, the nozzle suitable for connection to the second end of the hose, the nozzle coupled to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 an internal hose connected to the nozzle and connected to the vacuum pump.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the nozzle is connected to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a secondary bracket, the secondary bracket mounted on the vacuum appliance, the secondary bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance, comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a bracket connected to the vacuum appliance, the bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance; and    a connector connected to the second end of the hose, the connector coupled to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 an internal hose connected to the connector and connected to the vacuum pump.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the connector is connected to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a secondary bracket, the secondary bracket mounted on the vacuum appliance, the secondary bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance, comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a first bracket mounted on the vacuum appliance, the first bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance;    a second bracket mounted on the vacuum appliance, the second bracket to hold the hose in proximity to the vacuum appliance; and    a connector connected to the second end of the hose, the connector coupled to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the first bracket is mounted on a first surface of the vacuum appliance at a first location with a first orientation;    the second bracket is mounted on the first surface of the vacuum appliance at a second location with a second orientation; and wherein    the first orientation is opposite the second orientation and the first location is at a distance from the second location sufficient to allow for wrapping of the hose around the first bracket and the second bracket.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the first bracket is mounted on a first surface of the vacuum appliance with a first orientation;    the second bracket is mounted on a second surface of the vacuum appliance with a second orientation; and wherein    the first orientation and the second orientation collectively cause the first bracket to face away from the second bracket and the second bracket to face away from the first bracket.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 an internal hose connected to the connector and connected to the vacuum pump.    
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein: 
 the connector is connected to a vacuum pump of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein: 
 the first surface of the vacuum appliance is internal to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein: 
 the first surface of the vacuum appliance is external to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein: 
 the first surface and the second surface of the vacuum appliance are both internal to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein: 
 the first surface and the second surface of the vacuum appliance are both external to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         42 . A method of storing a vacuum hose on a housing of a vacuum appliance, the vacuum appliance having a first external bracket and a second external bracket, the first external bracket mounted opposite the second external bracket, the first external bracket facing away from the second external bracket and the second external bracket facing away from the first external bracket, comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose around the first external bracket; and    wrapping the vacuum hose around the second external bracket.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose further around the first external bracket.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose further around the second external bracket.    
     
     
         45 . A method of storing a vacuum hose on a housing of a vacuum appliance, the vacuum appliance having a first bracket and a second bracket, the first bracket mounted opposite the second bracket, the first bracket facing away from the second bracket and the second bracket facing away from the first bracket, comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose around the first bracket; and    wrapping the vacuum hose around the second bracket.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose further around the first bracket.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 wrapping the vacuum hose further around the second bracket.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the first bracket is mounted on a first surface of the vacuum appliance and the second bracket is mounted on a second surface of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein: 
 the first surface and the second surface are internal to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein: 
 the first surface and the second surface are external to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the first bracket is mounted on a first surface of the vacuum appliance and the second bracket is mounted on the first surface of the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein: 
 the first surface is internal to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein: 
 the first surface is external to the vacuum appliance.    
     
     
         54 . An attachable hose storage apparatus for storing a vacuum hose for use with a home vacuum packaging appliance, the attachable hose storage apparatus comprising: 
 means for storing a vacuum hose; and    means for attaching said attachable hose storage apparatus to a working surface.    
     
     
         55 . The attachable hose storage apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said means for storing a vacuum hose is a spool shaped mechanism around which said vacuum hose may be wrapped.  
     
     
         56 . The attachable hose storage apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said means for attaching said attachable hose storage apparatus is a hooking mechanism.  
     
     
         57 . The attachable hose storage apparatus of  claim 54  wherein said working surface is a surface of a home vacuum packaging appliance.  
     
     
         58 . The attachable hose storage apparatus of  claim 54  wherein said working surface is a surface of kitchen counter or wall.  
     
     
         59 . A vacuum packaging appliance capable of convenient storage of a vacuum hose, said vacuum packaging appliance comprising: 
 a hood having an underside that is only exposed when said hood is open; and    a hose storage management system built into said underside of said hood.