US 12,256,886 B2
Vacuum inlet valve assembly with sliding pins
Darrell V. Nieschwitz, Louisville, OH (US); Greg A. Calderone, Canton, OH (US); and Shawn C. Metz, Louisville, OH (US)
Assigned to H-P PRODUCTS, INC., Louisville, OH (US)
Filed by H-P Products, Inc., Louisville, OH (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/330,906.
Application 18/330,906 is a division of application No. 17/172,197, filed on Feb. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,707,174.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/972,935, filed on Feb. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0309773 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. A47L 9/24 (2006.01); A47L 5/38 (2006.01); F16L 5/02 (2006.01); F16L 25/00 (2006.01); F16L 37/14 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 9/242 (2013.01) [A47L 5/38 (2013.01); F16L 5/027 (2013.01); F16L 37/144 (2013.01); F16L 25/0045 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locking sleeve for connection with a valve box assembly of a central vacuum system, the locking sleeve comprising:
a first end adapted to couple to a wall of a valve box assembly;
a second end opposite the first end;
a central vertical axis between the first end and the second end;
a first side adapted to be adjacent to a rear wall of a valve box assembly;
a second side opposite the first side;
a central horizontal axis between the first side and the second side, wherein the central horizontal axis is perpendicular to the central vertical axis;
a slidable locking mechanism moveable in a sliding manner, wherein the slidable locking mechanism selectively locks a vacuum hose assembly to the valve box assembly of the central vacuum system;
wherein the slidable locking mechanism comprises:
a first locking member; and
a different second locking member;
wherein the slidable locking mechanism is moveable between an unlocked position, a first locked position, and a second locked position, wherein when the slidable locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the first locking member and the different second locking member do not couple directly to the hose assembly and the hose assembly is able to freely extend and retract relative to the valve box assembly;
wherein when the slidable locking mechanism is in the first locked position, the first locking member couples to a hose cuff on the hose assembly and locks the hose assembly relative to the valve box assembly;
wherein when the slidable locking mechanism is in the second locked position, the different second locking member couples to a hose rib positioned along an intermediate length of the hose assembly and locks the hose assembly relative to the valve box assembly;
wherein prior to sliding the slidable locking mechanism to the second locked position, the hose assembly is moved into the valve box to alter a length of hose extending from the valve box assembly.