Storage cabinet for central vacuum cleaning system

Abstract

A storage cabinet for mounting between a pair of wall studs in a structure having a central vacuum cleaning system is adapted to store a length of flexible cleaning hose, a cleaning wand and other cleaning attachments. A hose valve is located in the cabinet and is connected to one of a plurality of vacuum supply tubes in the structure. A first end of the hose is connectable to the hose valve and a second end is connectable to the cleaning wand. A closure device is provided in the cabinet for sealing an open end of the hose when not in use enabling the other vacuum tubes in the structure to be operational without shutting off the vacuum to the cabinet hose valve.

1 . A central vacuum cleaning system for a structure comprising:
 a vacuum source mounted within or adjacent the structure;   a plurality of vacuum tubes extending from the vacuum source to at least two locations within the structure;   a cabinet located in one of the structure locations, said cabinet containing:
 a hose valve connected to one of the vacuum tubes; 
 a length of hose having a first end connectable to the valve and a second end connectable to a cleaning attachment; and 
 a closure device for sealing one of the ends of the hose enabling the vacuum source to be operational in another of the structure locations. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the first end of the hose is removably connectable to the hose valve. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the cabinet includes a pivotally mounted closure door. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the cabinet is mounted between a pair of spaced studs of a wall of the structure. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the cabinet is formed with an interior storage compartment; in which the hose valve is mounted in the storage compartment; and in which a plurality of brackets are mounted on a back wall of the storage compartment for removably mounting a plurality of cleaning attachments in the storage compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 5  wherein the mounting brackets include a pair of vertically spaced curved brackets for receiving the length of hose in a looped fashion thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the cabinet includes a pair of spaced side walls located adjacent a pair of spaced studs of a wall of the structure and spaced top and bottom walls forming an internal storage compartment, and a pivotally mounted closure door. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the first end of the hose is slidably frictionally engageable in the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure device is an elastomeric member removably attached to an open end of the second end of the hose. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 9  wherein the elastomeric member is a plug insertable into the open end of the second end of the hose. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 9  wherein the elastomeric member is a cap slidably insertable over the open end of the second end of the hose. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure device includes a bracket for removably mounting the second end of the hose in the cabinet and a flapper valve moveable into a sealed closure engagement with an open end of the hose second end by a vacuum created in the said one vacuum supply duct. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure device is a contoured member moveably mounted in a cage located adjacent the second end of the hose when the hose is in a stored condition in the cabinet. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure device is a bracket containing a pad adapted to engage and seal an open end of the second end of the hose when the hose is in a stored condition in the cabinet. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system defined in  claim 1  wherein the closure device is an ON/OFF valve mounted in one of the first and second ends of the hose which opens and blocks an open end of said hose end to the said one vacuum supply duct. 
     
     
         16 . A cabinet adapted to be mounted between spaced wall studs of a structure having a central vacuum cleaning system which includes a vacuum source mounted within or adjacent the structure and a plurality of vacuum source tubes extending from the vacuum source to at least two locations within the structure:
 said cabinet having a plurality of walls forming an internal storage compartment containing:
 a hose valve adapted to be connected to one of the vacuum tubes; 
 a length of hose having a first end connectable to the hose valve and a second end connectable to a cleaning attachment; and 
 a closure device for sealing one of the first and second ends of the hose when stored in the storage compartment enabling the vacuum source to be operational in another of the structure locations. 
   
     
     
         17 . The cabinet defined in  claim 16  wherein the cabinet includes a plurality of brackets mounted in the cabinet for removably mounting a plurality of cleaning attachments in the storage compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The cabinet defined in  claim 17  wherein the mounting brackets include a pair of vertically spaced curved brackets for receiving the length of hose in a looped fashion thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The cabinet defined in  claim 16  wherein the closure device includes a bracket for removably mounting the second end of the hose in the cabinet and a flapper valve moveable into a sealed engagement with an open end of the hose second end by a vacuum created in the said one vacuum supply duct. 
     
     
         20 . The cabinet defined in  claim 16  wherein the closure device is an elastomeric member removably attached to an open end of the second end of the hose.