Patent attributes
A central vacuum system includes a primary valve box or inlet and a secondary inlet. The central vacuum system includes a hose with a hose plug at the end thereof. The hose is stored in the primary valve box and may be extracted and attached to the secondary inlet. The secondary inlet includes features that enable the hose plug to connect with the secondary inlet. The secondary inlet includes at least one flex member that is configured to connect, in a releasable manner, with a channel formed in the hose plug. The flex member on the secondary inlet includes a section or portion thereof that moves radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the secondary inlet. The portion that moves radially may include a curved profile. This enables the flex member to wrap around a circumferential portion of the hose plug.