WASTE TRANSFER AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM FOR BAGLESS VACUUM CLEANERS
A system for the collection and containment of vacuumed dust and debris, and more particularly to waste disposal bags for placement over a portion of a bagless vacuum cleaner, and into which the waste contents of the vacuum cleaner are emptied includes a bag body with a projecting portion and a relatively less projecting portion, an opening which is constricted about a portion of the bagless vacuum cleaner, and a light-tack adhesive strip facing the vacuum cleaner for temporarily affixing the bag thereto. The projecting portion serves as a flap that is folded over the opening to seal the bag once the bag is separated from the vacuum cleaner.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/703,324 filed Sep. 20, 2012.
FIELDThe present invention relates generally to a disposal system for vacuumed dust and debris using sealable bags.
BACKGROUNDBagless vacuum cleaners are increasingly popular for a variety of reasons which include the ability to visually inspect vacuumed contents, and the ability of the vacuum cleaner to maintain suction even when the dust and debris canister is full. Such vacuum cleaners however, can be messy when emptied. Dust and debris can become compacted in the vacuum cleaner. Agitating the vacuum cleaner vigorously over a waste bin in order to free the contents only makes matters worse by inducing fine particles of dust; some under 1 micron, to become airborne. Allergic sensitization, allergic reactions, exacerbation of asthma, and other health problems can be triggered by such airborne dust. It would be desirable to provide a disposal system that avoids spreading dust and debris.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates generally to a system for the collection and containment of vacuumed dust and debris, and more particularly to waste disposal bags for placement over a portion of a bagless vacuum cleaner, and into which the waste contents of the vacuum cleaner are emptied. In particular embodiments presented herein, when a bag opening encircles the portion of a vacuum cleaner, a tightening means for cinching the bag such that it stays connected to the vacuum cleaner can be transversely applied across or around the bag. The tightening means can be tape strip which partly or wholly encircles the bag, rubber banding partly or wholly encircling the bag, or any elastomeric or adhesive material partly or wholly encircling the bag. One embodiment described herein possesses a section of tape that is transversely applied across a bag that has been partially folded against itself once it is mounted to a waste container of a vacuum cleaner. The tape secures the fold and serves to restrict the bag opening encircling a waste containing portion of the bagless vacuum cleaner which is either connected to (in situ), or separated from the vacuum cleaner. Once waste has been transferred from the vacuum cleaner, the bag is separated therefrom, and the bag opening is sealed by pulling a portion of the opening having a section of pressure sensitive adhesive, over the bag opening.
In one aspect of the present invention, a bag opening 200 possesses both a projecting portion and a relatively less projecting portion. On the inner facing side of the projecting portion is at least one, and preferably two light-tack adhesive bands which are exposed by peel-way strips. Prior to applying the bag to a waste container of a vacuum cleaner, one of two adhesive bands on the projecting portion is exposed by removing a peel away strip. When pulling the bag opening over the waste container, one of the exposed light-tack adhesive bands is pressed against the body of the vacuum cleaner. To completely encircle the waste container, the bag is folded against itself as shown in
In another aspect of the present invention, a waste transfer and disposal bag has an opening that is flared somewhat like a funnel with an elasticized waist below the opening. The flared portion is grasped by a user in order to pull the elasticized waist over a portion of a vacuum cleaner. The elasticized waist receives, and fully encircles a portion of the vacuum cleaner; typically that portion which leads to the waste compartment, to prevent dust from escaping and becoming airborne. A bag sealing means includes an adhesive strip exposed by a peel-away backing on a portion of the flared opening which is pressed against another portion of the bag in order to seal the opening.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, an elasticized waist resides below the opening, producing a flared section comprised of projecting and non-projecting portions which are grasped by a user in order to pull the elasticized waist over a portion of a vacuum cleaner for emptying of vacuumed contents. When the waste transfer is complete, the bag is separated from the vacuum cleaner and a sealing means including an adhesive strip, preferably on a surface of the projecting portion, is folded over and adhered to portions of the bag adjacent the non-projecting portion.
The waste disposal bag of the present invention can include a handle or handles which comprise any portion of the bag extending above the bag opening.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that elastic or inelastic bands, flat bands constructed of paper or other material having adhesive portions extending transversely over fold line(s) or gathers produced when bunching or reducing the bag opening to snuggly encircle a waste container can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the body of the transfer and disposal bag can be any material such as plastic, paper, plastic and paper laminates, non-woven synthetics, biodegradable compositions, or any combination of the foregoing whether of single or multiple ply construction. Bags can be produced with or without gussets. Bag manufacture can employ among other processes, blow molding, heat sealing, sonic welding, folding, laminating and gluing together at seams, if any are present.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any elastic material such as flat or cylindrical bands, elastic thread with Lycra® or other suitable material whether natural or synthetic, can be used to produce the elasticized waist of the bag without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Elastic stitching can be applied over circumferential elastic banding to attach the banding to the plastic bag, or elastic materials can be bonded directly to the bag through adhesive means which can include spray application of an elastomer over the elastic materials. The elastic elements can be bonded to the bag in various ways, such as the exemplary methods enumerated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,202 to Raterman, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or by elastic elements sandwiched between relatively non-elastic regions of the bag to constrict the bag opening. One method of attaching a rubber band circumferentially about a bag is to place the bag over a supportive frame that will maintain the bag in a flattened aspect and attach an elastic element to the outer surface of the bag using any suitable attachment means, whether by gluing, heat bonding or by stitching the elastic element to the bag. In any case, it is not intended that this disclosure limit the present invention to any one means of producing an elastic waist for fitting over and conforming to a portion of a vacuum cleaner.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures wherein the scale depicted is approximate.
- 100 bag
- 200 opening
- 210 projecting portion
- 211 lower portion
- 212a upper lip
- 212b lower lip
- 220 elasticized waist
- 230 gather
- 231 fold line
- 232 overlay
- 240 elastic element
- 250 gusset
- 270 adhesive
- 270a upper adhesive band
- 270b lower adhesive band
- 270c cinching adhesive strap
- 271 release strip
- 272 peel-away strip
- 273 tab
- 280 handle
- 300 vacuum cleaner
- 400 debris
In the following description, the term “bag” refers to a bag which is sized and shaped for placement over a waste containment portion, or waste container, of a bagless vacuum cleaner. Bagless vacuum cleaners typically possess a waste and debris canister with or without an access flap for emptying vacuumed waste. The bag of the present invention is sized and shaped to accept, encircle, and conform to at least a waste containing portion of a bagless vacuum cleaner which is either in-situ or separated from the vacuum cleaner. Unless otherwise explained, any technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The term “comprises” means “includes.” All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
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It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. For example, modifications to the bag structure such as the minimum and maximum diameter of opening 200 in order to accommodate a particular make and model of vacuum cleaner as well as the type of closure element(s) used to cinch and therefore temporarily reduce the opening for snug fitting about a vacuum cleaner body, as well as the type of elastic elements used for the waist and the particular method of applying the elastic elements to the bag can be altered as required without departing from the scope of the invention. The bag itself can be rectangular when seen in a plan orientation, or any other shape for fitment about a vacuum cleaner that will suggest itself to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention encompass any further modifications, sealing configurations consistent with the disclosed bag structure, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments as would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure, and which fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A waste transfer and disposal bag for bagless vacuum cleaners comprising:
- (1) a bag having a top edge, a bottom edge, an opening sized and shaped to receive part of a vacuum cleaner, and a sealing means providing circumferential closure around the vacuum cleaner part sufficient to prevent escape of dust particles, and,
- (2) wherein the sealing means includes an adhesive strip with a peel away backing on an inside surface of the bag for temporarily securing the bag opening to the vacuum cleaner part.
2. The bag according to claim 1 further comprising a first projecting portion defining the top edge of the bag, and a second less projecting portion below the first projecting portion.
3. The bag according to claim 1, in which the sealing means further comprises at least one adhesive band attached to the first elongated portion.
4. The bag according to claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive.
5. The bag according to claim 1 further comprising a closure formed when a portion of the bag is adhered to another portion of the bag to occlude the bag opening.
6. The bag according to claim 1 in which the sealing means comprises an elastic member or an adhesive strap.
7. A method for transfer and disposal of waste from bagless vacuum cleaners comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a bag having a top edge and a bottom edge, an opening sized and shaped to receive a part of a bagless vacuum cleaner, and sealing means providing circumferential closure around the vacuum cleaner part sufficient to prevent escape of dust particles, and, wherein the sealing means includes an adhesive strip with a peel away backing affixed to an inside surface of the bag for temporarily securing the bag opening to the vacuum cleaner part,
- (2) adhering the adhesive strip to the vacuum cleaner part,
- (3) transferring waste from the vacuum cleaner to the bag without producing airborne dust particles,
- (4) disconnecting the bag from the vacuum cleaner part,
- (5) closing the opening of the bag,
- (6) disposing of the bag.
8. The bag according to claim 7 further comprising a first projecting portion defining the top edge, and a second less projecting portion below the first projecting portion.
9. The bag according to claim 7 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive.
10. The bag according to claim 7 in which the sealing means comprises an adhesive strap or elastic member.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 2, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 7, 2014
Inventor: CHRISTY Z. HUTCHINS (Gansevoort, NY)
Application Number: 13/757,765
International Classification: B65D 33/18 (20060101);