Vacuum system and method

1. A central vacuum system connectable to an interior portion of an inhabitable structure, the central vacuum system comprising:

a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion removably secured to the upper portion, and a side wall defining a collection chamber, the side wall defining an opening communicating between atmosphere and the collection chamber;

a vacuum motor supported in the housing and being operable to move debris from the interior portion into the collection chamber; and

a bag supported in the collection chamber, the bag being accessible through the opening.

2. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , wherein the side wall supports a door for movement relative to the housing between a closed position, in which the door substantially covers the opening, and an opened position, in which the door is moved away from the opening.

3. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , wherein the bag includes a flange, and further comprising an adapter extending into the collection chamber and being engageable with the flange to fluidly connect the bag to the vacuum motor.

4. The central vacuum system of claim 3 , wherein the adapter is accessible through the opening.

5. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , further comprising a bag mounting assembly extending into the collection chamber for supporting the bag.

6. The central vacuum system of claim 5 , wherein the bag mounting assembly is accessible through the opening.

7. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , further comprising a locking assembly operable to removably secure the lower portion to the upper portion.

8. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes an outer wall, and further comprising a bag supported in the collection chamber, the vacuum motor being operable to direct debris into a space between the bag and the outer wall of the lower portion.

9. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be secured to the inhabitable structure, the bag being accessible through the opening when the central vacuum system is secured to the inhabitable structure.

10. The central vacuum system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a display panel on a first side of the housing, and wherein the opening is positioned on the first side of the housing.

11. A central vacuum system connectable to an interior portion of a structure, the central vacuum system comprising:

a housing having a wall defining a collection chamber;

a bag mounting assembly extending into the collection chamber;

a bag having a flange connectable with the bag mounting assembly to secure the bag in the collection chamber, the flange defining an inlet and supporting a cover, the cover being moveable relative to the flange between a closed position, in which the cover substantially covers the inlet, and an opened position, in which at least a portion of the cover is moved away from the inlet; and

a vacuum motor supported in the housing and being operable to move debris from the interior portion into the bag;

wherein the cover is connectable to the bag mounting assembly so that, when the flange is removed from the bag mounting assembly, the cover is moved between the opened position and the closed position.

12. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein the cover assembly is moveable between the opened position and the closed position while at least a portion of the bag is positioned in the collection chamber.

13. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein one of the cover and the bag mounting assembly defines an aperture and the other of the cover and the bag mounting assembly includes a protrusion engageable in the aperture.

14. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein the bag mounting assembly is pivotably connected to the housing wall for movement relative to the wall.

15. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein moving the cover between the opened position and the closed position helps prevent debris from exiting the bag when the bag is removed from the collection chamber.

16. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein the cover defines an aperture, and wherein, when the cover is moved toward the opened position, the aperture is substantially aligned with the inlet of the flange.

17. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , further comprising an adapter extending into the collection chamber and being engageable with the flange to fluidly connect the bag to the vacuum motor.

18. The central vacuum system of claim 17 , wherein the bag mounting assembly is pivotably connected to the housing wall for movement relative to the wall between a locking position, in which the adapter is engageable with the flange, and an unlocking position, in which the flange is moveable away from the adapter.

19. The central vacuum system of claim 11 , wherein the wall includes an upper end, a lower end, and a side wall, and wherein, the side wall defines an opening communicating between atmosphere and the collection chamber.

20. The central vacuum system of claim 19 , wherein the bag is accessible through the opening.

21. The central vacuum system of claim 19 , wherein the bag mounting assembly is accessible through the opening.

22. A method of operating a central vacuum system connectable to an interior portion of an inhabitable structure, the central vacuum system including a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall defining a collection chamber, the side wall defining an opening communicating between atmosphere and the collection chamber, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a vacuum motor supported in the housing;

inserting a bag into the collection chamber through the opening in the side wall;

directing debris from the interior portion into the bag with the vacuum motor;

disconnecting the lower portion of the housing from the upper portion of the housing; and

removing the bag, having debris therein, from the collection chamber.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the central vacuum system includes a door, and further comprising moving the door relative to the side wall between a closed position, in which the door substantially covers the opening, and an opened position, in which the door is moved away from the opening.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the vacuum system includes a locking assembly, and wherein disconnecting the lower portion of the housing from the upper portion of the housing includes moving the locking assembly between a locking position, in which the locking assembly secures the lower portion of the housing to the upper portion of the housing, and an unlocking position, in which the lower portion of the housing is moveable relative to the upper portion of the housing.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the vacuum system includes an adapter extending into the collection chamber, and wherein inserting the bag into the collection chamber through the opening in the side wall includes connecting the bag to the adapter.

26. A method of operating a central vacuum system connectable to an interior portion of an inhabitable structure, the central vacuum system including a housing having a wall defining a collection chamber, a vacuum motor supported in the housing, and a bag mounting assembly extending into the collection chamber, the method comprising the acts of:

inserting a bag into the collection chamber, the bag having a flange defining an inlet and supporting a cover;

connecting the flange to the bag mounting assembly;

moving the cover relative to the flange toward an opened position, in which the cover is moved away from the inlet;

connecting the cover to the bag mounting assembly;

moving debris from the interior portion into the bag with the vacuum motor;

disconnecting the flange from the bag mounting assembly; and

removing the bag from the collection chamber;

wherein, when the flange is disconnected from the bag mounting assembly, the cover is moved relative to the flange between the opened position and a closed position, in which the cover substantially covers the inlet.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein one of the cover and the bag mounting assembly defines an aperture and the other of the cover and the bag mounting assembly includes a protrusion, and wherein connecting the cover to the bag mounting assembly includes engaging the protrusion in the aperture.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the vacuum system includes an adapter extending into the collection chamber, and wherein connecting the flange to the bag mounting assembly includes engaging the adapter in the inlet.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the bag mounting assembly is pivotably connected to the housing wall, and wherein connecting the flange to the bag mounting assembly includes moving the bag mounting assembly relative to the wall between a locking position, in which the adapter is engageable with the flange, and an unlocking position, in which the flange is moveable away from the adapter.

30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the cover defines an aperture, and wherein moving the cover relative to the flange toward the opened position includes substantially aligning the aperture of the cover with the inlet of the flange.

31. The method of claim 26 , wherein the housing includes an upper end, a lower end, wherein the wall extends between the upper end and the lower end and defines an opening communicating between atmosphere and the collection chamber, and wherein inserting the bag into the collection chamber includes inserting the bag through the opening in the wall.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion connected to the upper portion, and wherein removing the bag from the collection chamber includes disconnecting the lower portion from the upper portion.