Vacuum holster

Abstract

A vacuum holster adapted to retain a vacuum nozzle at a vacuum station of a vehicle wash facility is provided. The holster can include an insertion opening sized to receive a wide mouth end of the nozzle therethrough. The holster can include a retention contour distal from the insertion opening optionally forming a nesting recess that flares or widens away from the insertion opening. The nozzle can nest, under the force of gravity pulling down on the nozzle and a vacuum hose, in the nesting recess so that the retention contour retains the nozzle and impairs the nozzle from exiting the holster without being tilted upward to disengage the nozzle from the retention contour. The holster can include a backer plate and a flexible flap beyond the nesting contour, engageable by a suction force through the nozzle to further retain the nozzle in the holster.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum holster adapted to retain a vacuum nozzle at a vacuum station of a vehicle wash facility, the vacuum holster comprising:
 a mounting flange configured to be fixedly attached to a structure to thereby support the vacuum holster relative to the structure;   a first upper sidewall extending rearward from the mounting flange and an opposing second upper sidewall extending rearward from the mounting flange, the first upper sidewall and the second upper sidewall joined with an upper wall extending rearward from the mounting flange, the first upper sidewall, the second upper sidewall and the upper wall bounding an insertion opening extending rearward from the mounting flange, the insertion opening bounded by the mounting flange, the first upper sidewall and the second upper sidewall separated by a first lateral width configured to allow passage of a widest dimension of a vacuum nozzle into the insertion opening;   a first lower sidewall extending rearward from the mounting flange and an opposing second lower sidewall extending rearward from the mounting flange, the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall joined with a lower wall extending rearward from the mounting flange, the first lower sidewall, the second lower sidewall and the lower wall bounding a nesting recess in communication with and below the insertion opening, the nesting recess extending rearward from the mounting flange, the nesting recess bounded by the mounting flange, the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall separated by a second lateral width adjacent the mounting flange, the second lateral width being less than the first lateral width, the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall forming a retention contour beyond which the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle cannot pass when the vacuum nozzle is pulled downward against the retention contour under the force of gravity;   whereby when the vacuum nozzle is disposed in the holster the vacuum nozzle is trapped in the nesting recess via the vacuum nozzle interacting with the retention contour, but removeable via the vacuum nozzle being tilted upward and out of contact with the retention contour during withdrawal of the vacuum nozzle from the holster by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first lower sidewall transitions at a first shoulder to the first upper sidewall,   wherein the second lower sidewall transitions at a second shoulder to the second upper sidewall,   wherein the first shoulder and the second shoulder form at least a portion of the retention contour.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall are separated by a third lateral width distal from the mounting flange, the third lateral width being less than the first lateral width and greater than the second lateral width.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the nesting recess flares wider as the nesting recess extends farther from the mounting flange;   wherein the insertion opening remains substantially the same first lateral width as the insertion opening extends farther from the mounting flange.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum holster of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the vacuum nozzle is inserted in the vacuum holster;   wherein the vacuum nozzle includes a proximal end extending to a vacuum hose;   wherein the vacuum nozzle includes a distal end defining an opening and including the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle;   wherein the vacuum nozzle includes a center portion between the proximal end and the distal end;   wherein the center portion has a center lateral width that is narrower than the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle, such that the center portion fits between the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall and at least partially within the nesting recess.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum holster of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the vacuum hose exerts a downward force on the proximal end of the vacuum nozzle, thereby engaging the center portion against the retention contour in the nesting recess to retain the vacuum nozzle in the vacuum holster.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1  comprising:
 a plurality of fastener bosses joined with at least one of the upper wall, the first upper sidewall, the second upper sidewall, the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall and the lower wall, 
 a backer plate disposed distal from the mounting flange; and 
 a plurality of fasteners extending through the backer plate and into respective ones of the plurality of fastener bosses. 
 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum holster of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the insertion opening and the nesting recess cooperatively form a void inside the holster;   wherein the backer plate closes off the void distal from the mounting flange.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1  comprising:
 a flexible flap disposed adjacent the upper wall and lower wall, 
 wherein the insertion opening and the nesting recess cooperatively form a void inside the holster, 
 wherein the flexible flap faces toward the void distal from the mounting flange, 
 whereby a vacuum drawn through the vacuum nozzle engages a distal end of the vacuum nozzle against the flexible flap to close off a mouth of the vacuum nozzle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum holster of  claim 1  comprising:
 a flexible flap; 
 wherein the upper wall, the first upper sidewall, the second upper sidewall, the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall and the lower wall form a tubular structure having a distal opening located a distance from a proximal opening comprising the insertion opening and the nesting recess; 
 wherein the flexible flap extends over the distal opening; 
 wherein the proximal opening is open and surrounded by the mounting flange; 
 whereby a vacuum drawn through the vacuum nozzle engages a distal end of the vacuum nozzle against the flexible flap. 
 
     
     
         11 . A vacuum holster adapted to retain a vacuum nozzle at a vacuum station of a vehicle wash facility, the vacuum holster comprising:
 a mounting flange configured to be fixedly attached to a structure to thereby support the vacuum holster relative to the structure, the mounting flange surrounding a proximal opening defining an insertion opening and a nesting recess below the insertion opening; and   a plurality of walls extending from the proximal opening toward a distal opening, the plurality of walls defining a first lateral width configured to allow passage of a widest dimension of a vacuum nozzle through the insertion opening and a second lateral width adjacent the mounting flange, the second lateral width being less than the first lateral width, the plurality of walls forming a retention contour beyond which the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle cannot pass when the vacuum nozzle is pulled outward against the retention contour;   whereby when the vacuum nozzle is disposed in the vacuum holster the vacuum nozzle is trapped in the nesting recess via the vacuum nozzle interacting with the retention contour, but removeable via the vacuum nozzle being tilted upward and out of contact with the retention contour during withdrawal of the vacuum nozzle from the holster by a user.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum holster of  claim 11  comprising:
 a backer plate adjacent the plurality of walls and disposed over the distal opening; and 
 a plurality of fasteners joining the backer plate with the plurality of walls. 
 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum holster of  claim 12  comprising:
 a flexible flap disposed between the backer plate and the plurality of walls; 
 whereby a vacuum drawn through the vacuum nozzle engages a distal end of the vacuum nozzle against the flexible flap. 
 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum holster of  claim 11  comprising:
 a flexible flap; 
 wherein the plurality of walls form a closed tubular structure between the proximal opening and the distal opening; 
 wherein the flexible flap extends over the distal opening; 
 wherein the proximal opening is open and surrounded by the mounting flange; 
 whereby a vacuum drawn through the vacuum nozzle engages a distal end of the vacuum nozzle against the flexible flap. 
 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum holster of  claim 11  comprising:
 a longitudinal axis separating a left side and a right side; 
 wherein the first lateral width and second lateral width each span from the left side to the right side; 
 wherein the plurality of walls surround the longitudinal axis entirely from the proximal opening to the distal opening; 
 wherein the retention contour flares wider as the retention contour extends toward the distal opening. 
 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum holster of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the plurality of walls include a lower wall;   wherein the lower wall engages the vacuum nozzle simultaneously while the retention contour engages the vacuum nozzle when the vacuum nozzle is stored in the vacuum holster;   wherein the retention contour bounds the nesting recess and widens from the proximal opening to the distal opening.   
     
     
         17 . A vacuum holster adapted to retain a vacuum nozzle at a vacuum station of a vehicle wash facility, the vacuum holster comprising:
 a plurality of walls extending from a proximal opening toward a distal opening, the plurality of sidewalls defining a tubular structure extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening and having a first lateral width configured to allow passage of a widest dimension of a vacuum nozzle through the proximal opening and into the vacuum holster; and   a retention contour, disposed below the first lateral width, beyond which the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle cannot pass when urged toward the proximal opening with the vacuum nozzle;   whereby when the vacuum nozzle is disposed in the vacuum holster the vacuum nozzle is trapped via the vacuum nozzle interacting with the retention contour, but removeable via the vacuum nozzle being tilted upward and out of contact with the retention contour during withdrawal of the vacuum nozzle from the holster by a user.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum holster of  claim 17  comprising:
 a longitudinal axis separating a left side and a right side; 
 wherein the first lateral width spans horizontally from the left side to the right side; 
 wherein the plurality of walls surround the longitudinal axis entirely from the proximal opening to the distal opening; 
 wherein the retention contour widens as the retention contour extends away from the proximal opening. 
 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum holster of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the retention contour is formed below the first lateral width and includes a second lateral width less than the first lateral width;   wherein the vacuum nozzle includes a second nozzle width distal from the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle which is located near a nozzle opening configured to draw debris into the vacuum nozzle;   wherein the second nozzle width nests adjacent the second lateral width;   wherein the widest dimension of the vacuum nozzle is greater than the second lateral width;   wherein the plurality of walls includes a lower wall forming a lower boundary of a nesting recess;   wherein the lower wall is engaged by a lower vacuum nozzle wall while the vacuum nozzle is at least partially nested in the nesting recess;   wherein the plurality of walls includes a shoulder;   wherein the shoulder is located above the lower wall;   wherein the vacuum nozzle is located above and below the shoulder when the vacuum nozzle is in the nesting recess;   wherein the nozzle opening is disposed above the shoulder when the vacuum nozzle is in the nesting recess.   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum holster of  claim 17  comprising:
 a backer plate adjacent the plurality of walls and disposed over the distal opening; 
 a plurality of fasteners joining the backer plate with the plurality of walls; 
 a flexible flap disposed between the backer plate and the plurality of walls; 
 whereby a vacuum drawn through the vacuum nozzle engages a distal end of the vacuum nozzle against the flexible flap; 
 wherein the proximal opening is open and surrounded by a mounting flange; 
 wherein the mounting flange defines a plurality of fastener holes.