Spring contact plate

Abstract

An improved end fitting for a hose adapted for use with a central vacuum system is provided. The end fitting has a housing and a cylindrical member extending from the housing. The cylindrical member is adapted to be received by a wall inlet. The cylindrical member has an end portion of a first diameter and a neck of a second smaller diameter and at least one spring contact plate positioned over the neck to provide an electrical connection to the wall inlet.

1 . An improved hose adapted for use with a central vacuum systems and the like comprising a hose having a first end and a second end, at least one of said ends having an end fitting thereon adapted to be received by a wall inlet, said end fitting having housing and a cylindrical member extending from said housing, said cylindrical member being adapted to be received by said wall inlet, said cylindrical member having and end portion of a first diameter and a neck of a second smaller diameter and at least one spring contact plate positioned over said neck to provide an electrical connection to a wall inlet that is adapted to receive at least a portion of said cylindrical member. 
     
     
         2 . The improved hose according to  claim 1  wherein said spring contact plate comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and a first edge and a second edge at opposite ends of the spring contact plate, said spring contact plate further comprising a first and second side edges extending from said first edge to said second edge and wherein the first and second side edges follow a curved contour of the spring contact plate and wherein at least one side edge of the spring contact plate has a tab that contacts a pin on said housing to prevents axial movement of the spring when the spring is inserted into a Type A wall inlet or a powered head or other accessory. 
     
     
         3 . The improved hose according to  claim 2  wherein said spring contact plate flexes inwardly toward said neck when inserted into a Type A valve. 
     
     
         4 . An improved end fitting for a hose adapted for use with a central vacuum system said end fitting having a housing and a cylindrical member extending from said housing said cylindrical member adapted to be received by a wall inlet, said cylindrical member having an end portion of a first diameter and a neck of a second smaller diameter and at least one spring contact plate positioned over said neck to provide an electrical connection to said wall inlet that is adapted to receive at least a portion of said cylindrical member. 
     
     
         5 . The improved end fitting according to  claim 4  wherein said spring contact plate has a top surface and a bottom surface and a first edge and a second edge at opposite ends of the spring contact plate, said spring contact plate having first and second side edges extending from said first edge to said second edge and wherein the first and second side edges follow a curved contour of the spring contact plate. 
     
     
         6 . The end fitting according to  claim 5  wherein said spring contact plate flexes inwardly toward said neck when said end fitting inserted into a Type A valve. 
     
     
         7 . The end fitting according to  claim 6  wherein at least one side edge of the spring contact plate has a tab that contacts a pin that is on a housing of said end fitting to prevent axial movement of the spring when the spring is inserted into a Type A wall inlet or a powered head or other accessory. 
     
     
         8 . The end fitting according to  claim 6  wherein the first side edge of the spring contact plate has a sidewall extending from the top surface of the plate inwardly toward a center point of the opening in a cylindrical member. 
     
     
         9 . The end fitting according to  claim 8  wherein there is a lip extending outwardly from the sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The end fitting according to  claim 9  wherein the lip is generally parallel to the top surface. 
     
     
         11 . The end fitting according to  claim 10  wherein the lip has one or more tabs extending outwardly of the lip extending from the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The end fitting according to  claim 11  wherein the tabs have a top edge and a pair of side edges extending from the top edge to the edge of the lip and the side edges of the tabs are angled with respect to the edge of said lip. 
     
     
         13 . The end fitting according to  claim 12  wherein a second side edge of the contact spring has a plurality of fingers extending from the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The end fitting according to  claim 13  wherein the fingers extend outwardly of the second side edge of the spring contact plate and generally extend from the same plane as the top and bottom surfaces of the spring contact plate. 
     
     
         15 . The end fitting according to  claim 14  wherein there is a first group of fingers extending from the second side edge that are generally triangular in configuration with a tip and two side edges extending toward said second edge. 
     
     
         16 . The end fitting according to  claim 15  wherein said first group of fingers extend from the side edge of the spring contact place over the outside surface of the cylindrical member and a portion of the end fitting in an area where the cylindrical member is connected to said end fitting. 
     
     
         17 . The end fitting according to  claim 16  wherein there is a second type of finger extending from the second side edge said finger adapted to contact a corresponding raised pin on the housing, said pin preventing axial movement of the spring when the spring is inserted into a wall inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The end fitting according to  claim 17  wherein said second type of finger has a raised angular tip that extends upwardly of the top surface of the contact spring. 
     
     
         19 . The end fitting according to  claim 18  wherein there is a third type of finger extending from said second edge, said third type of finger having a base attached to said side edge of said spring contact plate, said third type of finger further comprising a first side edge and a second side edge and ending in a tip, said third type of finger having a first section at an angle to the top surface of the contact spring, a mid section that is at an angle to said top surface that is different from the angle of the first section and third section having an angle that is different from the angle of the second section. 
     
     
         20 . The end fitting according to  claim 18  wherein at least one of said fingers can form an electrical connection. 
     
     
         21 . The end fitting according to  claim 20  where said electrical connection is with a Fast On connector. 
     
     
         22 . The end fitting according to  claim 20  where said electrical connection is a soldered connection. 
     
     
         23 . The end fitting according to  claim 20  where said electrical connection is a welded connection. 
     
     
         24 . A spring contact plate to provide an electrical connection to a wall inlet comprising
 a top surface and a bottom surface and a first edge and a second edge at opposite ends of the spring contact plate, said spring contact plate having first and second side edges extending from said first edge to said second edge and wherein the first and second side edges follow a curved contour of the spring contact plate and wherein the first side edge of the spring contact plate has a sidewall extending from the top surface of the plate inwardly toward a center point of the opening in a cylindrical member and there is a lip extending outwardly from the sidewall wherein the lip is generally parallel to the top surface said lip having one or more tabs extending outwardly of the lip extending from the sidewall and   wherein a second side edge of the contact spring has a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from the top surface generally in the same plane as the top and bottom surfaces of the spring contact plate and   wherein there is a first group of fingers extending from the second side edge that are generally triangular in configuration with a tip and two side edges extending toward said second edge and a second type of finger extending from the second side edge said finger adapted to contact a corresponding raised pin on a housing of an end fitting, said pin preventing axial movement of the spring and wherein there is a third type of finger extending from said second edge, said third type of finger having a base attached to said side edge of said spring contact plate, said third type of finger further comprising a first side edge and a second side edge and ending in a tip, said third type of finger having a first section at an angle to the top surface of the contact spring, a mid section that is at an angle to said top surface that is different from the angle of the first section and third section having an angle that is different from the angle of the second section.   
     
     
         25 . The spring contact plate according to  claim 20  wherein said top surface flexes inwardly toward said neck when inserted into a Type A valve.