Vacuum Cleaner Bag Mounting Structure

Abstract

An apparatus is configured for use with a vacuum cleaner filter bag having a collar panel with an inlet opening. A support structure receives the panel in an installed position in which a tubular part of the vacuum cleaner extends into the bag through the inlet opening. The support structure includes a tab that retains the panel in the installed position. The support structure further includes a pivot that abuts an edge of the panel to guide movement of the panel into the installed position pivotally about the abutting edge.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technology relates to a vacuum cleaner bag and a vacuum cleaner upon which the bag is installed.

BACKGROUND

A disposable filter bag for a vacuum cleaner has a mounting collar for mounting the bag on the vacuum cleaner. The mounting collar includes a paperboard panel that is adhered to the bag at the inlet opening into the bag. A tubular part of the vacuum cleaner is configured to convey debris-laden air into the bag. The bag is mounted on the vacuum cleaner by placing the mounting collar over the tubular part.

SUMMARY

An apparatus is configured for use with a vacuum cleaner filter bag having a collar panel with an inlet opening. The apparatus includes a tubular part that conveys debris-laden air into the bag. The apparatus further includes a support structure that receives the panel in an installed position in which the tubular part extends into the bag through the inlet opening. The support structure has a tab that retains the panel in the installed position, and has a pivot that abuts an edge of the panel to guide movement of the panel into the installed position pivotally about the abutting edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the part shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a disposable filter bag for use with the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a part of the filter bag of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 2, illustrating steps taken to mount the filter bag on the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative part for the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a part for use with the part shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the part of FIG. 9 mounted on the part of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternative part for the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a part for use with the part shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the part of FIG. 14 mounted on the part of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a front view of an alternative part for the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a front view of a part for use with the part shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of alternative part for the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is a front view of a part for use with the part of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of alternative part for the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 22 is a front view of a part for use with the part of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a front view of an alternative part for the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 24 is a front view of a part for use with the part shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the part of FIG. 24 being mounted on the part of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus shown in the drawings has parts that are examples of the elements recited in the claims. The following description thus includes examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. It is presented here to meet the statutory requirements of written description, enablement, and best mode without imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims.

As show schematically in FIG. 1, an upright vacuum cleaner 10 has a base 12 and a handle 14. The base 12 has a nozzle 16 and wheels 18. A hinge 22 supports the handle 14 on the base 12 for movement pivotally throughout a range of positions inclined downward from the upright position shown in FIG. 1. A fill tube 24 extending upward from the base 12 is movable pivotally with the handle 14, and has a bag top adaptor 26 at its upper end. A disposable inner filter bag 30 is mounted on the adaptor 26. The inner filter bag 30 is enclosed within a permanent outer filter bag 32.

In operation, a fan 40 within the base 12 generates a flow of air, indicated by the arrows 43. Debris, such as dirt from household surfaces, is entrained in the air. The debris is transported by the air through the nozzle 16 to the fan 40. The fan 40 drives the debris-laden air upward through the fill tube 24 and through the adaptor 26 into the inner bag 30. The air escapes through the inner bag 30 and the outer bag 32 to the atmosphere, and the debris is retained in the inner bag 30.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, the adaptor 26 is a unitary structure that includes an adaptor tube 44 and a support structure 46. The support structure 46 includes a hanger 48 for suspending the adaptor tube 44 from the handle 14 (FIG. 1). A lower section 50 of the adaptor tube 44 has an inlet 51 for receiving debris-laden air from the upper end of the fill tube 24 (FIG. 1). The lower section 50 is vertical or substantially vertical when the fill tube 24 is in the upright position shown in FIG. 1. A upper section 52 of the adaptor tube 44 has an outlet 53. Preferably, the adaptor tube 44 is an elbow with a bend of more than 90°, and most preferably a bend of 135° as shown in the drawings, so that the upper section 52 is inclined upward from horizontal when in the upright position.

The support structure 46 further includes a support panel 60. A pair of flexible locking tabs 64 project forward from the lower end of the panel 60 on opposite sides of the adaptor tube 44. A pair of retainer brackets 66 project forward from the upper corners of the panel 60 on opposite sides of the adaptor tube 44. The panel 60 and the brackets 66 together define a pair of slots 71 that are open between the panel 60 and the brackets 66.

As shown in FIG. 3, the panel 60 and the brackets 66 also define a pair of inside corners 72 of the support structure 46 beside the slots 71. In this arrangement, the inside corners 72 are spaced apart from each other along a horizontal axis 75 above the upper section 52 of the adaptor tube 44. The horizontal axis 75 serves as a pivotal axis for mounting the inner bag 30 on the support structure 46.

The inner bag 30 is shown separately in FIG. 4. The bag 30 may be formed of any suitable filter bag material known in the art, but is preferably formed of layers of paper and melt blown polypropylene. A mounting collar 80 is adhered to the bag 30. An inlet opening 81 in the mounting collar 80 overlies an inlet opening in the bag 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting collar 80 is formed from a rectangular sheet 82 of paperboard with rounded corners 84 and a transverse centerline 85. An inner edge 86 of the sheet 82 defines a rectangular slot 87 that interrupts the centerline 85 across the middle of the sheet 82. Short sections 88 of the sheet 82 are located at the opposite ends of the slot 87. Additional inner edges 90 define rectangular slots 91 that extend lengthwise of the sheet 82 at locations evenly spaced from the four corners 84.

The two halves 92 and 94 of the sheet 82 are brought into overlapping relationship by folding the sheet 82 about the centerline 85 to form the folded panel 96 shown in FIG. 4. The original four slots 91 are then aligned as a single pair of slots 91 that extend through the panel 96 near the two lower corners 84. The short sections 88 of the sheet 82 (FIG. 5) at opposite ends of the central slot 87 form tabs 98 at the newly formed upper corners of the folded panel 96. The tabs 98 are located at opposite ends of the adjoining horizontal sections of the edge 86, and define inside corners 100 of the panel 96 at those locations.

As further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the paperboard sheet 82 has a pair of oval inner edges 102. The inlet opening 81 in the mounting collar 80 is defined where those edges 102 of the paperboard sheet 82 take adjacent positions in the folded panel 96. A slitted sheet 104 of elastomeric material is adhered between the folded halves 92 and 94 of the panel 96 in a position extending fully across the inlet opening 81.

The bag 30 is mounted on the adaptor tube 44 by placing the collar 80 onto the support structure 46. As show in FIG. 6, the tabs 98 at the upper corners of the collar panel 96 are moved upward into the slots 71 behind the brackets 66. (The bag 30 and the slitted sheet 104 are omitted from FIGS. 6 and 7 for clarity of illustration.) The inside corners 100 of the collar panel 96 are moved upward into abutment with the inside corners 72 of the support structure 46 beside the slots 71. This places the edge 86 of the collar panel 96 on the pivotal axis 75. Each inside corner 72 of the support structure 46 then functions as a pivot to guide movement of the collar panel 96 pivotally about the edge 86 until the collar panel 96 moves into overlying engagement with the support panel 60, as shown in FIG. 7. The slitted elastomeric sheet 104 opens and stretches over the upper section 52 of the adaptor tube 44, and the locking tabs 64 snap into the slots 91, as the collar panel 96 is moved pivotally toward and into that installed position. The collar panel 96 is thus captured vertically between the locking tabs 64 and the brackets 66 on the support panel 60.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative adaptor 200. A collar panel 202 for the alternative adaptor 200 is shown in FIG. 9. This adaptor 200 has many parts that are substantially the same as corresponding parts of the adaptor 26 shown in FIG. 2. Those parts are indicated by the use of the same reference numbers in FIGS. 2 and 8. However, the adaptor 200 has locking tabs 204 that differ from the locking tabs 64 on the adaptor 26. Unlike the locking tabs 64 on the adaptor 26, which are oriented and located to snap through the slots 91 in the associated collar panel 96, the locking tabs 204 on the adaptor 200 are oriented and located to snap into engagement with peripheral edge portions 208 of the associated collar panel 202.

Like the collar panel 96 of FIG. 4, the collar panel 202 of FIG. 9 has a pivotal edge 212, inside corners 214 at opposite ends of the pivotal edge 212, and tabs 216 at the upper corners of the panel 202, all of which are configured to function in the same manner as their counterparts at the panel 96. The panel 202 is thus configured for movement pivotally into the installed position of FIG. 10 in the same manner that the panel 96 is configured for movement pivotally into the installed position of FIG. 7.

The adaptor 300 shown in FIGS. 11-13 also has a pair of pivots 302 on the support panel 304. These pivots 302 are defined by inside corners of a lip 306 extending across the upper end of the support panel 304, and are located on opposite sides of a centrally located alignment tab 308. The collar panel 310 shown in FIG. 14 has a corresponding pair of horizontal pivotal edges 312 for abutting engagement with the pivots 302. The pivotal edges 312 are located on opposite sides of a central alignment notch 315 for receiving the alignment tab 308. A single locking tab 316 at the lower end of the support panel 304 snaps through a corresponding slot 317 in the collar panel 310 to capture the collar panel 310 vertically between the locking tab 316 and the pivots 302 in the installed position shown in FIG. 15.

Another adaptor 350 with a pair of elongated pivots 352 is shown in FIGS. 16-17. Like the pivots 302 on the adaptor 300 of FIG. 1, the pivots 352 on the adaptor 350 of FIG. 16 are defined by a pair of inside corners extending horizontally across the upper end of the support panel 354 on opposite sides of a centrally located alignment tab 356. As shown in FIG. 18, the corresponding collar panel 360 is configured accordingly, with a pair of pivotal edges 362 on opposite sides of a centrally located alignment slot 363. The collar panel 360 further has a pair of slots 365 for a corresponding pair of locking tabs 366 on the support panel 354.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, an adaptor 400 has a pair of locking tabs 402 configured to engage the lower edge 404 of the corresponding collar panel 406 (FIG. 20), but is otherwise the same as the adaptor 350 of FIG. 16. Yet another modification is shown in FIG. 21. This adaptor 450 differs from the adaptor 400 of FIG. 19 by the provision of an additional non-locking alignment tab 452. The additional tab 452 projects from the lower section 454 of the fill tube 456 at a location centered beneath the upper section 458. The corresponding collar panel 470 (FIG. 22) has a slot 471 for the tab 452.

As shown in FIG. 23, an adaptor 500 differs from the other illustrated examples by having inside corners defining pivots 502 at the lower ends 504 of the panel 506. A non-locking alignment tab 508 is located on the fill tube 510 between the lower ends 504 of the panel 506.

Locking tabs 512 and an additional non-locking alignment tab 514 are located at the upper end 516 of the panel 506. The corresponding collar panel 520 (FIG. 24) has horizontal pivotal edges 522 on opposite sides of an alignment slot 523 at its lower end 524, and has an additional alignment slot 527 at its upper end 528. The collar 520 is moved pivotally to its installed position as indicated in FIG. 25.

The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples of how the invention can be made and used. Such other examples, which may be available either before or after the application filing date, are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they have equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vacuum cleaner filter bag having a collar panel with an inlet opening, the apparatus comprising:

a tubular part configured to convey debris-laden air into the filter bag; and

a support structure configured to receive the panel in an installed position in which the tubular part extends into the bag through the inlet opening, including a tab configured to retain the panel in the installed position, and a pivot configured to abut an edge of the panel to guide movement of the panel into the installed position pivotally about the abutting edge.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot is defined by an inside corner of the support structure.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot defines a pivotal axis that is horizontal when the tubular part is upright.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot is one of a plurality of pivots spaced apart along a common pivotal axis.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the tab is a locking tab configured to snap into engagement with the panel upon movement of the panel pivotally into the installed position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the support structure further includes a non-locking tab configured to align the panel with the installed position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the tubular part comprises an elbow with a bend of more than 90°.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure is part of a unitary structure that includes the tubular part.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the unitary structure is a bag top adaptor.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a filter bag having a collar panel with an inlet opening and an edge;

a tubular part configured to convey debris-laden air into the bag; and

a support structure configured to receive the panel in an installed position in which the tubular part extends into the bag through the inlet opening, including a tab configured to retain the panel in the installed position, and a pivot configured to abut the edge of the panel to guide movement of the panel into the installed position pivotally about the abutting edge.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the edge of the panel is a peripheral edge.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the pivot is defined by an inside corner of the support structure.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the pivot defines a pivotal axis that is horizontal when the tubular part is upright.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the pivot is one of a plurality of pivots spaced apart along a common pivotal axis.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the tab is a locking tab configured to snap into engagement with the panel upon movement of the panel pivotally into the installed position.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the support structure further includes a non-locking tab configured to align the panel with the installed position.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the tubular part comprises an elbow with a bend of more than 90°.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the support structure is part of a unitary structure that includes the tubular part.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the unitary structure is a bag top adaptor.