Vacuum hose port mounting brackets and related methods

Abstract

A mounting system for a central vacuum system hose valve box operable for secure attachment to a wall stud or frame member. The system includes flanges at the front of the valve box for attachment of either the left or right side of the front of the box to a stud or frame member. An additional rear bracket is provided for attachment of the rear of the valve box to the same wall stud or frame member. These dual attachments provide a firm and secure mount of the valve box to the wall stud, thus avoiding damage or disconnection encountered by other flimsy mounts. This configuration ensures a robust and reliable connection, maintaining the operational integrity of the vacuum hose system while providing ease of installation and maintenance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support structure for a central vacuum system hose outlet box comprising:
 a. a housing having an interior, an exterior, a front surface, and a rear surface;   b. at least one first flange on a first side of said front surface, and at least one second flange on an opposite second side of said front surface wherein each of said first and second flanges is operable for engagement with a wall stud; and   c. a bracket member comprising an elongated body operable for engagement with the rear surface of said housing and a third flange member attached at one end of said elongated body wherein said third flange is operable for engagement with said wall stud.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second flanges includes at least one opening operable to receive a fastener for securement to a wall stud. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 2  wherein a pair of first flanges are provided at a top and a bottom of said first side of said front surface and a pair of second flanges are provided at a top and a bottom of said opposite side of said front surface. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 3  wherein all of said first and second flanges are mounted perpendicularly to a plane of said front surface and are operable for engagement against a side surface of a wall stud. 
     
     
         5 . The housing of  claim 2  wherein all of said first and second flanges are mounted in parallel to a plane of said front surface and are operable for engagement against a front surface of a wall stud. 
     
     
         6 . The housing of  claim 2  wherein said third flange includes at least one opening operable to receive a fastener for securement to a wall stud. 
     
     
         7 . The housing of  claim 6  wherein said elongated body includes at least one opening operable to receive a fastener for securement to the rear surface of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The housing of  claim 6  wherein the rear surface of said housing includes at least one opening, and said elongated body includes at least one tab that is operable to snap fit into said opening to secure said elongated body against said rear surface. 
     
     
         9 . The housing of  claim 6  wherein said at least one first flange is attached to a wall stud and said at least one third flange is attached to the same wall stud. 
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 7  wherein said at least one first flange is attached to a wall stud and said at least one third flange is attached to the same wall stud. 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 8  wherein said at least one first flange is attached to a wall stud and said at least one third flange is attached to the same wall stud. 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 7  wherein an end of said elongated body is attached to a center of said third flange such that the bracket has a T-shape. 
     
     
         13 . The housing of  claim 7  wherein an end of said elongated body is attached to an end of said third flange such that the bracket has an L-shape. 
     
     
         14 . The housing of  claim 6  further comprising a door assembly secured to an exterior surface of a wall adjacent to said stud, the door assembly having a compressible sealing member that is operable to engage with a recess on a front surface of said outlet box. 
     
     
         15 . A vacuum hose outlet box assembly comprising:
 a. a valve box including a front surface, a rear surface, a pair of perpendicular flanges positioned at upper and lower corners of the front surface, and at least one bore hole on each flange;   b. a bracket member comprising an elongated body with a flange member at an end thereof, wherein the flange member has at least one through hole therein and wherein said elongated body includes at least one snap tab thereon;   c. at least one receiving aperture on the rear surface of the valve box configured to engage with the at least one snap tab of the bracket member; and   d. a plurality of fasteners configured to secure the valve box and the bracket to a wall stud through the at least one bore hole in each perpendicular flange and the at least one through hole in the flange member of the bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the end of said elongated body is attached to a center of said third flange such that the bracket has a T-shape. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the end of said elongated body is attached to an end of said third flange such that the bracket has an L-shape. 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a central vacuum outlet box comprising the steps of:
 a. positioning a pair of flanges located along a front surface of the outlet box against a surface of a wall stud;   b. securing the outlet box to the wall stud by advancing fasteners through at least one through hole in each flange;   c. aligning a bracket with at least one receiving aperture on a rear surface of the outlet box, the bracket comprising an elongated body with a flange member at an end thereof forming a T-shape, wherein the flange member has at least one through hole therein and wherein said elongated body includes at least one snap tab thereon;   d. engaging the at least one snap tab of the bracket with the at least one receiving aperture on the outlet box; and   e. fastening the bracket to the wall stud by advancing additional fasteners through the at least one through hole in the bracket flange member.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of flanges located along a front surface of the outlet box have an orientation that is perpendicular to a plane of said front surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of flanges located along a front surface of the outlet box have an orientation that is parallel to a plane of said front surface.