Docking station for coupling autonomous vacuum to central vacuum

Abstract

A central vacuum system for collecting debris can include an autonomous vacuum system and a central vacuum fluidly connected to a remote intake port, the central vacuum being operable to generate a central airflow into the remote intake port. The autonomous vacuum system can comprise a collection bin fluidly connected to a debris intake and further include an onboard vacuum operable to generate a suction airflow from the debris intake into the collection bin to the onboard vacuum to draw debris through the debris intake into the collection bin. The autonomous vacuum system can further comprise an output connector fluidly connected to the collection bin. The output connector can be coupled to a remote intake port fluidly connected to a central vacuum operable to generate a central airflow to draw debris from the collection bin into the remote intake port positioned in the remote space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A central vacuum system for collecting debris within a remote space, comprising:
 a central vacuum fluidly connected to a remote intake port, the central vacuum being operable to generate a central airflow into the remote intake port; and   an autonomous vacuum system comprising:
 a collection bin fluidly connected to a debris intake, 
 an onboard vacuum operable to generate a suction airflow from the debris intake into the collection bin to the onboard vacuum to draw debris through the debris intake into the collection bin, and 
 an output connector fluidly connected to the collection bin; 
   wherein the autonomous vacuum system is movable to couple the output connector to the remote intake port such that the central airflow draws debris from the collection bin into the remote intake port.   
     
     
         2 . The central vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vacuum system further comprises:
 a movement system including at least one of a wheel, tracker, roller, gear, or combination thereof for moving the autonomous vacuum system.   
     
     
         3 . The central vacuum system of  claim 2 , wherein the movement system is operable to move the autonomous vacuum system between a docked position in which the output connector is coupled to the remote intake port and an undocked position in which the output connector is decoupled to the remote intake port. 
     
     
         4 . The central vacuum system of  claim 3 , wherein the onboard vacuum is operable to generate the suction airflow to draw debris through the debris intake into the collection bin when the autonomous vacuum system is in the undocked position. 
     
     
         5 . The central vacuum system of  claim 3 , wherein the onboard vacuum is operated to generate the suction airflow while the central vacuum is operated to generate the central airflow when in the docked position to agitate debris within the collection bin. 
     
     
         6 . The central vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote intake port is at a predetermined height in a wall defining the remote space. 
     
     
         7 . The central vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the onboard vacuum is operable to generate the suction airflow in a pulsed sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile system of  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vacuum system further comprises:
 at least one roller proximate the debris intake;   wherein the at least one roller is rotatable to draw debris into the debris intake.   
     
     
         9 . The central vacuum system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dock for receiving the autonomous vacuum system, the dock comprising:
 a docking port fluidly connected to the remote intake port; and 
 at least one alignment feature; 
   wherein the at least one alignment feature is configured to engage the autonomous vacuum system to align the output connector with the docking port.   
     
     
         10 . The central vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the dock further comprises:
 at least one alignment feature configured to engage the autonomous vacuum system to align the output connector with the docking port.   
     
     
         11 . The central vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the dock further comprises:
 a garage housing defining an internal space for receiving the autonomous vacuum system; and   a garage door moveable between an open position permitting access to the internal space and a closed position obstructing access to the internal space.   
     
     
         12 . The central vacuum system of  claim 11 , wherein the garage is mounted beneath a cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The central vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the autonomous vacuum system further comprises:
 an onboard power supply for powering the autonomous vacuum system; and   at least one device contact for receiving an electrical current to charge the onboard power supply.   
     
     
         14 . The central vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein the dock further comprises:
 at least one dock contact corresponding to the at least one device contact;   wherein the at least one dock contact is positioned to contact the at least one device contact to provide the electrical current to the at least one device contact to charge the onboard power supply.   
     
     
         15 . The central vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the docking port further comprises:
 a selective valve moveable between a closed position obstructing airflow through the remote intake port and an open position permitting airflow through the remote intake port;   wherein the selective valve is biased to the closed position, wherein engagement of the output connector to the docking port moves the selective valve to the open position.   
     
     
         16 . A method for collecting debris in a remote space, comprising:
 providing an autonomous vacuum system comprising a collection bin, a debris intake, and an onboard vacuum;   operating the onboard vacuum to generate a suction airflow from the debris intake into the collection bin to the onboard vacuum to draw debris through the debris intake into the collection bin;   coupling an output connector to a remote intake port, wherein the output connector is fluidly connected to the collection bin; and   operating a central vacuum fluidly connected to the remote intake port to generate the central airflow drawing debris from the collection bin into the remote intake port.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 moving the autonomous vacuum system into a docked position in which the output connector is coupled to the remote intake port; and   moving the undocked position in which the output connector is decoupled to the remote intake port.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the onboard vacuum is operated to generate the suction airflow to draw debris through the debris intake into the collection bin when the autonomous vacuum system is in the undocked position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the onboard vacuum is operated to generate the suction airflow and the central vacuum operated to generate the central airflow when in the docked position to agitate debris within the collection bin and facilitate moving debris into the remote intake port. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 operating the onboard vacuum to pulse the suction airflow.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 moving the autonomous vacuum system along a predetermined path;   wherein the autonomous vacuum system is positioned to coupled the output connector to the remote intake port at one position on the predetermined path.