Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an arrangement in a vacuum cleaner for indoor use, which vacuum cleaner com¬ prises a vacuum hose for sucking dust containing air, as well as a discharge coupling for connecting a discharge hose for discharging directly into open space.

Background of the invention

More and more people develop asthma and allergy, and it is today presumed that two out of five children develop some form of asthma or allergy. It has also been observed that adult people having had no problems through a long life, suddenly may become hyper-cases. There is reason to believe that this unfavourable development is due to pollution and bad indoor climate.

The present invention has been considered in connection with improvement of indoor climate, and especially as regards the improvement of the environment occurring dur¬ ing indoor vacuum cleaning.

In connection with the indoor environment there are many people who react to dust and microparticles floating around in the air. These floating particles can comprise anything from domestic dust to excrements from mite. In connection with traditional vacuum cleaners with or with¬ out HEPA filters, the harmful microparticles will be blown back to the room. It is also known that a plurality of vacuum cleaners generate unpleasant odours in the exhausted air, which neither disappear with additional filter.

Another phenomenon which can occur during the vacuum cleaning using traditional vacuum cleaners, is that the used air which is evacuated, will set the room air in

motion. This entails that silent dust will be set in motion and float about in the room together with the more or less filtered microparticles. The result is larger dust concentrations in the air during the vacuum cleaning itself. The vacuum cleaning will therefore be regarded as detrimental to health for many people.

Prior art

From DE 24 40 221 there is known a so-called central vacuum cleaner system, it here being used a vacuum appa¬ ratus for providing a subpressure, the vacuum apparatus at the same time being connected to a pipe stem which has been arranged in the walls of the house, which entails a costly installation if not installed during the construc- tion of the building, and which could hardly be installed later if brick houses are concerned. Such a prior art central vacuum cleaning system is preferably limited to buildings having a frame work construction, wherein it is simpler during the erection of the building to provide a hidden arrangement.

However, such hidden arrangement could be hampered with the disadvantage that if a leakage should occur, the hidden arrangement could be very difficult to repair. In order to avoid leakages, it is necessary that profession¬ al artisans will do a good installation job, which of course will make the arrangement more costly. Besides, strong requirements are made on the prior art central vacuum cleaner system, for example if the central vacuum cleaner is located in a central heating room, since in connection therewith there exist heavy regulations for wall lead-through openings in connections with such in¬ stallations.

From DE 38 02 222 there is known an adapter for a vacuum cleaner, which makes it possible to rebuild a vacuum cleaner such that a discharge hose can be connected

thereto. Through this discharge hose the discharge air or the off-air can be directed out in open space, as this is specifically illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 2 of said publication. By means of the adapter and the dis- charge hose the discharge air will avoid being dissipated through slots having a large surface in the vacuum cleaner, which may be favourable for people suffering from allergy. However, DE 38 02 222 does not inform whether the expression open space should mean through an open window or out into the room itself wherein the va¬ cuum cleaning is effected.

From US 5 191 673 there is previously known a remote controlled, centralized vacuum cleaner or ventilation system, but also here it is in connection with a wall valve suggested a network of pipes which at the downstre¬ am end portion is provided with a very special subpres- sure valve system, which entails a very complicated and costly system.

US 3 676 986 relates to a built-in central vacuum device, especially contemplated in connection with installation in car, boat or caravan, but this involves a stationary affixed unit which does not have any of the health advan- tages compared with conventional vacuum cleaners.

Besides, one needs access to the vacuum cleaner for the emptying thereof, which means that the device cannot be used in ordinary homes unless the vacuum cleaner is arranged in a closet or a bench.

Objects of the invention

The object of the present invention is consequently to provide a simple and cheap solution related to a vacuum cleaner problem which has existed for a long time, and which has previously only been resolved by expensive and complicated central vacuum cleaner arrangements.

Another object of the invention is to give instructions for a system which can be installed in a simple manner without limitations as regards the building structure, i.e. it could be installed just as simply in framework structure walls as in brick walls.

The invention has also for an objective to provide a system which does not require a specific building permis¬ sion for possible amendments of residential houses.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a system which is so to say free of maintenance, said sys¬ tem also providing simple and easy inspection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system wherein the vacuum effect at the mouthpiece is optimized in relation to an arrangement based on a cen¬ tral vacuum cleaner, a central vacuum cleaner arrangement being subjected to a pressure drop in a relatively long hidden pipe constellation.

Brief discussion of the invention

The objectives and the solution is in connection with the present invention achieved by an arrangement as stated in the preamble, which according to the invention is charac¬ terized in that the arrangement comprises a wall lead- through opening to which the discharge hose can be con¬ nected for direct evacuation of discharge air from the vacuum cleaner through said wall lead-through opening and out into open space or to a storeroom or similar.

Further features and details of the present arrangement will appear from the following description taken in con¬ nection with the drawings, as well as the attached patent claims.

Brief discussion of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematical view illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates on a larger scale parts of the inven- tion, being included in the embodiment according to Fig. 1.

Description of embodiments

In connection with the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, it is according to the invention possible by using a mobile vacuum cleaner to guide all of the operative air and cooling air from the vacuum cleaner motor through a concentrated exhaustion on the vacuum cleaner, and to guide this air flow though, a connection hose to a wall lead-through opening and out of the room in which the vacuum cleaning is taking place, for example directly out from the house, and it is then possible to resolve all health related problems and problems involving bad odour related to the vacuum cleaner proper.

In Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 designates a vacuum cleaner nozzle which is guided along a surface to be vacuum cleaned, for sucking in dust containing air. The vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is attached to a sucking pipe 2 which is in turn is extended with a long vacuum hose 3, for example of a length of 9 m, which vacuum hose 3 is connected to the inlet 4 to a vacuum cleaner 5A compris¬ ing a motor unit 5 and a discharge coupling 6 for dis¬ charging operative air and cooling air for the motor 5. To the discharge coupling 6 there is connected a dis¬ charge hose 7, for example of a length of 0,5 m, and this discharge hose 7, as this is also illustrated in Fig. 2, is connected to an internal blowing valve 8 having a lid 8A which can be opened and closed and be for example spring loaded for sealed closing when the system is out of use. From the internal blowing valve 8 a blowing pipe 9 extends through one of the walls 11 of the room, for

example an outer wall for externally or on the other side of the room to be connected to an outer blowing valve 10, which, as indicated by a throttle 10A, has an automatic open/close function depending on whether the system is in use or not.

In case the system is to be installed in a house, it being a house having an outer wall of framework construc¬ tion or brick, the only structural work which is necess- ary is the drilling of a hole of approximately 50 mm through the house wall, whereafter said internal blowing valve 8, the blowing pipe 9 through the wall, as well as the external blowing valve 10 can be installed and be ready for use together with said vacuum cleaner 5A in- eluding its auxiliary means.

By means of a vacuum cleaner hose 3 of a length of 9 m which can be a standard length for vacuum cleaners for such a system, the person operating the vacuum cleaner can cover approximately 100 m ² of floor space from one discharge point in the wall.

In an average house in Scandinavia it should thus be possible to cover the complete building with 2 to 3 dis- charge points.

It is to be understood that such a wall lead-through opening 8, 9, 10 which has been discussed herein, of course can be installed not only in outer walls, but also in connection with walls giving access to closets, store¬ rooms, pipe channels, etc, which also involves that the person operating the vacuum cleaner is not exposed to the discharge or dust turbulence during the vacuum cleaning itself.