Convertible vacuum system

Abstract

A vacuum system has a cabinet that can be mounted to a wall. The cabinet includes a hose extendable form the cabinet between retracted and extended positions. A portable vacuum unit can be removably docked to the cabinet and has a tank and inlet port in fluid communication with the tank. It also has an electrically operated vacuum source. The cabinet has a controller for selectively delivering power to a socket in the cabinet. When the portable vacuum unit is docked to the cabinet with the proximal end connected to the inlet port, and when the controller delivers power to the socket, the hose can be used to vacuum waste into the tank.

1 . A vacuum system comprising: 
 a cabinet adapted to be mounted to a wall    a hose extendable from the cabinet between a retracted position and an extended position and having a proximal end fixed within the cabinet,    a portable vacuum unit detachably mountable to the cabinet and having a tank, an inlet port in fluid communication with the tank, and an electrically operated vacuum source to draw air from the inlet port into the tank, and    a controller in the cabinet for selectively delivering electrical power to a socket,    wherein the proximal end is connectable with the inlet port and the vacuum source is connectable with the socket, so that when the portable vacuum unit is docked to the cabinet with the proximal end connected to the inlet port, and when the controller delivers power to the socket, the hose can be used to vacuum waste into the tank.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein a handle is mounted to the hose and is retained out of the cabinet when the hose is in the retracted position.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum system according to  claim 2  wherein the handle has a light.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum system according to  claim 2  wherein the handle has a nozzle portion and a grip portion, wherein the nozzle portion is angled relative to the grip portion.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum system according to  claim 2  wherein the handle nests within a collar on a top wall of the cabinet.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum system according to  claim 6  wherein the handle is canted relative to the cabinet for ease of access.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein the portable vacuum unit has a power switch operable to actuate the vacuum source when the portable vacuum unit is detached from the cabinet, and a bypass mechanism to bypass the power switch when the portable vacuum unit is docked with the cabinet.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum system according to  claim 7  wherein the controller delivers power to the socket in response to actuation of a switch on the hose.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein the controller delivers power to the socket in response to actuation of a switch on the hose.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum system according to  claim 9  wherein the hose has a handle and the switch is in the handle.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum system according to  claim 10  wherein the switch signals the controller wirelessly.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein the handle has a transmitter coupled to the switch, and the cabinet has a receiver in communication with the controller, the controller being electrically connected to the socket, so that signals from the switch are transmitted to the controller by way of the receiver to energize the vacuum course by way of the socket when the portable vacuum unit is docked.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source and the socket are automatically connected when the portable vacuum unit is docked with the cabinet.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum system according to  claim 13  wherein the portable vacuum unit has a power switch operable to actuate the vacuum source when the portable vacuum unit is detached from the cabinet, and a bypass mechanism to bypass the power switch when the portable vacuum unit is docked with the cabinet.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  further comprising a hose storage compartment in the cabinet where the hose is stored when the hose is in the retracted position.  
     
     
         16 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  further comprising a retraction stop mechanism to limit retraction of the hose.  
     
     
         17 . The vacuum system according to  claim 16  further comprising an extension stop mechanism to limit extension of the hose.  
     
     
         18 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  wherein the proximal end and the inlet port are automatically connected when the portable vacuum unit is docked to the cabinet.  
     
     
         19 . The vacuum system according to  claim 1  further comprising a hose drive assembly wherein the hose can be selectively driven automatically between the retracted and extended positions.  
     
     
         20 . The vacuum system according to  claim 19  further comprising a clutch mechanism to disengage the hose from the hose drive assembly.