Abstract:
A vacuum bag mounting assembly for housing a vacuum bag within a vacuum cleaner, where the vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum intake nozzle having an outlet end portion through which sucked in dirt is delivered to the vacuum bag mounting assembly, including a vacuum bag collar receiver that engages a collar of the vacuum bag, a telescopic nozzle end attached to the outlet end portion, the telescopic nozzle end being moveable along the outlet end portion towards and away from the collar of the vacuum bag, and a nozzle engagement member pivotally attached to the vacuum bag collar receiver. The nozzle engagement member is attached to the telescopic nozzle end such that pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a first direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end away from the collar of the vacuum bag and pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a second direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end towards the collar of the vacuum bag.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,168, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to vacuum cleaners having removable vacuum bags.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Conventional vacuum cleaners use fabric or paper bags to capture the dirt and dust picked up by the vacuum cleaner. The process of changing the filter bag is frequently rather difficult and complicated. Past attempts at simplifying the vacuum bag replacement process have included the use of a mounting plate that pivots about a hinge. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,038 discloses the use of a rectangular mounting plate including a channel that receives a collar of a dust bag. The mounting plate includes a pivot pin which is received within a hinge barrel attached to an inner wall of a vacuum cleaner housing. The pivot pin and hinge barrel allow the mounting plate to pivot to an open position in which the collar can be inserted into or removed from the channel and to a closed position in which the collar is disposed in contact with a vacuum hose. A latch means on the mounting plate is used to latch the mounting plate onto the side of the housing opposite the pivot pin.  
         [0004]     The mounting assembly disclosed in the &#39;038 Patent, and other similar mounting assemblies using a hinged mounting plate, are disadvantageous in that they require the vacuum cleaner to have a larger and bulkier construction to allow room for the mounting plate to pivot. Also, the pivoting mounting plate constructions typically require that the mounting plate be latched on or snap-fit into a housing assembly after the vacuum bag is replaced, which adds to the overall complexity of the vacuum bag replacement procedure. In this regard, if the mounting plate is not properly latched on or snap-fit into the vacuum bag housing assembly, the mounting plate may pivot into an open position during use of the vacuum cleaner, thereby disconnecting the vacuum bag from the vacuum hose and allowing dust and dirt particles to scatter throughout the housing assembly. This is particularly problematic in that any free dust or dirt may become lodged in the vacuum cleaner motor or be released back onto the carpet. Further, prior vacuum bag replacement procedures using the hinged mounting plate structure have required the user to operate “in the blind”, in that the user does not have a full view inside the housing assembly to ensure that the mounting plate is properly placed in position.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need for a vacuum bag mounting assembly that allows for easy replacement of vacuum bags and a more compact and light-weight overall vacuum cleaner design.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A vacuum bag mounting assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for housing a vacuum bag within a vacuum cleaner, where the vacuum cleaner comprises a vacuum intake nozzle having an outlet end portion through which sucked in dirt is delivered to the vacuum bag mounting assembly, includes a vacuum bag collar receiver disposed within the vacuum bag storage compartment that engages a collar of the vacuum bag, a telescopic nozzle end attached to the outlet end portion, the telescopic nozzle end being moveable along the outlet end portion towards and away from the collar of the vacuum bag, and a nozzle engagement member pivotally attached to the vacuum bag collar receiver. The nozzle engagement member is attached to the telescopic nozzle end such that pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a first direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end away from the collar of the vacuum bag and pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a second direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end towards the collar of the vacuum bag.  
         [0007]     A vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a vacuum nozzle head, a handle for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner, a vacuum bag mounting assembly for housing a vacuum bag, and a vacuum intake nozzle having an outlet end portion through which sucked in dirt is delivered to the vacuum bag housing assembly. The vacuum bag mounting assembly includes a vacuum bag collar receiver that engages a collar of the vacuum bag, a telescopic nozzle end attached to the outlet end portion of the vacuum intake nozzle, the telescopic nozzle end being moveable along the outlet end portion towards and away from the collar of the vacuum bag, and a nozzle engagement member pivotally attached to the vacuum bag collar receiver. The nozzle engagement member is attached to the telescopic nozzle end such that pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a first direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end away from the collar of the vacuum bag and pivoting of the nozzle engagement member in a second direction results in movement of the telescopic nozzle end towards the collar of the vacuum bag.  
         [0008]     In at least one embodiment, the vacuum bag mounting assembly further includes a latch member. The latch member includes a first end pivotally attached to the nozzle engagement member, a second end frictionally engaged with a bottom wall of the vacuum bag collar receiver; and a torsion spring that provides a spring force that biases the latch mechanism in a vertical position, wherein the vacuum bag collar contacts the second end of the latch member as the vacuum bag collar is inserted into the vacuum bag collar receiver to thereby urge the latch member against the spring force such that the nozzle engagement member is pivoted in the second direction.  
         [0009]     These and other features of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a vacuum bag mounting assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a vacuum bag being placed into the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a profile view of a vacuum bag being placed into the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a nozzle fork being engaged with a telescopic nozzle of the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a profile view of a nozzle fork being engaged with a telescopic nozzle of the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show a cover latch being pivoted downwards to engage a telescopic nozzle of the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are profile views of a cover latch being pivoted downwards to engage a telescopic nozzle of the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are detailed profile views of a cover latch being pivoted downwards to engage a telescopic nozzle of the vacuum bag housing assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a vacuum bag mounting assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a profile view of a vacuum bag collar receiver and a nozzle engagement member of the vacuum bag mounting assembly of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0021]     FIGS.  14 A-D show a vacuum bag collar being inserted into the vacuum bag collar receiver of the vacuum bag mounting assembly of  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  shows the nozzle engagement member latched to the vacuum bag collar receiver of the vacuum bag mounting assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a vacuum bag mounting assembly  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention constructed as part of a vacuum cleaner  10 . The vacuum cleaner  10  includes generally a vacuum nozzle head  12 , a vertically extending main body  14  and a handle  16  extending from the upper portion of the main body  14 . The mounting assembly  1  includes a vacuum bag storage compartment  18  disposed within the base  14  for storing a removable vacuum bag  20 . A vacuum intake nozzle  21 , in communication with the vacuum nozzle head  12  opens into the storage compartment  18 . The mounting assembly  1  also includes a housing cover  22  that covers the storage compartment  18 , a stationary bag collar receiver  24  that extends outwardly from the back wall  19  of the storage compartment  18  and a telescopic nozzle end  26  that is extendable from the vacuum intake nozzle  21 . The housing cover  22  may be removable or hinged to the main body to allow for access to the storage compartment  18 . As explained in more detail below, the housing cover  22 , the bag collar receiver  24  and the telescopic nozzle end  26  cooperate with one another to hold the vacuum bag  20  in an upright position within the storage compartment  18 .  
         [0024]     The vacuum bag  20  includes a collar  28  formed at one end, with a collar opening  30  for attachment to the telescopic nozzle end  26 . A rubber gasket  32  may be disposed around the circumference of the collar opening  30 , so that a tight seal is formed between the telescopic nozzle end  26  and the collar opening  30 . As is known in the art, the collar  28  may be made of a flat rectangular or square-shaped cardboard piece.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bag collar receiver  24  includes a horizontally extending bottom wall  34 , a vertically extending first side wall  36  and a vertically extending second side wall  38 . A U-shaped opening  35  is formed in the bottom wall  34  so that the bag collar receiver  24  forms a fork shaped structure having a first prong  40 , made up of the bottom wall  34  and the first side wall  36 , and a second prong  42 , made up of the bottom wall  34  and the second side wall  38 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , to place the vacuum bag  20  into the vacuum bag storage compartment  18 , the vacuum bag collar  28  is slid into the bag collar receiver  24  such that the first prong  40  and the second prong  42  are disposed underneath the sides of the vacuum bag collar  28 . In this position, the collar opening  30  is positioned directly below and in line with the telescopic nozzle end  26  of the vacuum intake nozzle  21 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner circumference of the telescopic nozzle end  26  is slightly larger than the outer circumference of the vacuum intake nozzle  21 , so that the telescopic nozzle end  26  can be placed over and extend from the end of the vacuum intake nozzle  21  with a friction fit. This allows the telescopic nozzle end  26  to be moved vertically up and down along the vacuum intake nozzle  21  so as to effectively lengthen or shorten the vacuum intake nozzle  21 . Alternatively, the outer circumference of the telescopic nozzle end  26  may be slightly smaller than the inner circumference of the vacuum intake nozzle  21 , so that the telescopic nozzle end  26  can be placed within and extend from the end of the vacuum intake nozzle  21  with a friction fit. The telescopic nozzle end  26  includes an upper flange  44  and a lower flange  46 . The upper and lower flanges  44 ,  46  form a circumferential groove  48  in the telescopic nozzle end  26 . In at least one embodiment, the telescopic nozzle end  26  includes an inner flange  50 , which contacts the end of the vacuum intake nozzle  21  to prevent the telescopic nozzle end  26  from being pushed over the vacuum intake nozzle  21  beyond a certain point. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the telescopic nozzle end  26  may be biased in the up position by a spring or other mechanism.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a nozzle fork  52  extends horizontally from the upper portion of the inside surface of the housing cover  22 . The nozzle fork  52  includes a first nozzle fork prong  54  and a second nozzle fork prong  56 . The first and second nozzle fork prongs  54 ,  56  form a U-shaped opening  58  in the nozzle fork  52 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a spring hook  60  is disposed at the back portion of the nozzle fork  52 . One end of a vertically extending spring  62  is attached to the spring hook  60 . The other end of the spring  62  is fixed to a spring support  64  that extends horizontally from the inside surface of the housing cover  22  above the nozzle fork  52 . The spring  62  biases the nozzle fork  52  upwards. As explained in more detail below, a cover latch  66  disposed on the outer surface of the housing cover  22  may be used to pull the nozzle fork  52  downwards against the upwards bias of the spring  62 .  
         [0029]     The housing cover  22  includes an indented portion  68  and a pivot rod  70  that extends horizontally across the upper portion of the indented portion  68 . The cover latch  66  includes a cam portion  72  and a handle portion  74 . A bore  76  extends horizontally through the cam portion  72 . The pivot rod  70  extends through the bore  76  of the cam portion  72 , so that the cover latch  66  is pivotally attached to the pivot rod  70 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the cover latch  66  is pivoted downwards, the indented portion  68  in the housing cover  22  allows for clearance of the handle portion  74 . A pulley  78  is disposed on the inner surface of the housing cover  22  below the nozzle fork  52 . One end of a cable  80  is fixedly attached to the cam portion  72  of the cover latch  66  and the other end of the cable  80  is fixedly attached to the back portion of the nozzle fork  52 . The cable  80  runs from the cam portion  72  to the nozzle fork  52  around the pulley  78 . Thus, when the cover latch  66  is pulled downwards, the cable  80  is pulled upwards around the cam portion  72  and downwards around the pulley  78 , to thereby provide an overall downward force on the nozzle fork  52  against the biasing force of the spring  62 .  
         [0030]     Once the vacuum bag collar  28  is disposed within the bag collar receiver  24 , the housing cover  22  can be placed over the storage compartment  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as the housing cover  22  is placed over the storage compartment  18 , the U-shaped opening  58  in the nozzle fork  52  is slid around the telescopic nozzle end  26 , so that the first nozzle fork prong  54  and the second nozzle fork prong  56  are disposed within the circumferential groove  48 . The mounting assembly is preferably constructed such that when the telescopic nozzle end  26  is completely retracted, the nozzle fork  52  is vertically aligned with the circumferential groove  48 . As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , once the nozzle fork  52  is engaged with the telescopic nozzle end  26 , the cover latch  66  can be pivoted downwards, which in turn pulls the telescopic nozzle end  26  downwards and in engagement with the collar opening  30 . In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cover latch  66  may also be used to activate a locking mechanism that locks the housing cover  22  in place over the storage compartment  18 .  
         [0031]     It should be appreciated that the mechanisms used to move the telescopic nozzle relative to the vacuum bag collar are not limited to those described herein. For example, in another embodiment of the invention, a sliding lever, rather than a pivoting lever, may be used to control the vertical position of the telescopic nozzle.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a vacuum bag mounting assembly, generally designated as reference number  100 , according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. As in the previous embodiment, the mounting assembly  100  includes a vacuum bag storage compartment  118  disposed within a base  114  of a vacuum cleaner  110  for storing a removable vacuum bag  120 . A vacuum intake nozzle  121 , in communication with the vacuum nozzle head  112  opens into the storage compartment  118 . The mounting assembly  100  also includes a housing cover  122  that covers the storage compartment  118 , a stationary bag collar receiver  124  that extends outwardly from the back wall  119  of the storage compartment  118  and a telescopic nozzle end  126  that is extendable from the vacuum intake nozzle  121 . The housing cover  122  may be removable or hinged to the main body to allow for access to the storage compartment  118 . In the present embodiment, as explained more fully below, the housing cover  122  does not include a mechanism, such as the nozzle fork  52  and cover latch  66 , for lowering and raising the telescopic nozzle end  102 , but instead a nozzle engagement member  150  is pivotally attached to the vacuum bag collar receiver  124  and is manually operable to lower and raise the telescopic nozzle end  102 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a portion of the mounting assembly  100  including the nozzle engagement member  150  and the bag collar receiver  124  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The engagement member  150  includes a base portion  152 , a latch portion  154  and a nozzle opening  153  through which the telescopic nozzle end  126  extends. The base portion  152  of the engagement member  150  is pivotally attached to the bag collar receiver  124  through a pivot means  156 . The first pivot means  156  may include pivot pins  157  (the second pivot pint is not shown in  FIG. 13 ), that extend from either the base portion  152  or a hinge base  158 , that interact with a corresponding through-hole  160  in either the base portion  152  or the hinge base  158 . It should be appreciated that the pivot means  156  is not limited to these components, and may include any other combination of components that allow the engagement member  150  to pivot in relation to the bag collar receiver  124 , such as a pivot pin that extends completely across with width of the base portion  152 . The base portion  152  is also pivotally attached to the telescopic nozzle end  126 , preferably through pivot pins  162  that extend from opposite sides of the telescopic nozzle end  126  and that extend through pivot holes  164  formed in side walls  151  of the base portion  152 .  
         [0034]     The latch portion  154  extends at an angle from the base portion  152 , and includes a latch element  166 . As explained in further detail below, the latch element  166  latches to the vacuum bag collar  128  to lock the vacuum bag  120  in position within the storage compartment  118 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a pair of catch members  180  locks the nozzle engagement member  150  in the up position. One end of each catch member  180  is pivotally attached to the base portion  152  of the nozzle engagement member  150 , preferably though pivot pins  168  that extend from the side walls  151  of the base portion  152  through pivot holes  182  formed in the catch members  180 . Each catch member  180  is biased in the vertical position by a torsion spring  184 , one end of which is urged by spring forces into engagement with an extending portion  153  of the base portion  152  and the other end of which is urged by spring forces into engagement with an extending portion  184  of the catch member  180 . The opposite end of each catch member  180  includes a rounded surface  186  that is frictionally engaged with a bottom wall  125  of the bag collar receiver  124 .  
         [0036]     As shown in FIGS.  14 A-D, the nozzle engagement member  150  is pivoted downwards as the vacuum bag collar  128  is slid into the bag collar receiver  124 . In particular, the vacuum bag collar  128  engages the rounded surface  186  of the catch member  180  ( FIG. 14B ), and then urges the catch member  180  back against the bias force of the torsion spring  184  (FIGS.  14 C-D). Because the catch member  180  is pivotally attached to the nozzle engagement member  150 , as the catch member  180  is urged backwards by the vacuum bag collar  128 , it pulls the nozzle engagement member  150  downwards, which in turn pulls the telescopic nozzle end  126  downwards through the collar opening  130 . Once the nozzle engagement member  150  is in the position shown in  FIG. 14D , it can be manually pulled further downwards so that the latch element  166  engages with a locking hole  129  formed in the vacuum bag collar  128  by a snap-fit.  
         [0037]     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.