DUST CONTAINER

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dust container or bag (10) having an opening (11) through which dust-laden air flows into the bag, the bag being manufactured from a tube-shaped filter material piece that is flattened out and provided with closures (19) at both ends. The closures extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped piece. The piece is provided with upper and lower filter areas (14, 15) that are joined to one another by folded portions (16), the folded portions constituting two longitudinal side walls. Each folded portion (16) is connected to the upper filter area (14) by a first longitudinal folding line (20) and is connected to the lower filter area (15) by a second longitudinal folding line (21). Each folded portion (16) also includes three additional longitudinal folding lines forming four areas which, in the flattened out state of the bag, at least partly overlap one another. A third folding line (22) connects first and second areas (23, 24), a fourh folding line (25) connects third and fourth areas (26, 27), and a fifth folding line (28) connects the second and the fourth areas (24, 27). The fifth folding line (28) is placed outside the first and second folding lines (20 and 21) relative to a longitudinal axis of said bag.

Description: DUST CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toward vacuum cleaner dust containers or bags that are manufactured from a tube-shaped filter material piece, which is flattened out and includes closures at both ends. The closures extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped piece, and the tube-shaped piece also includes upper and lower filter areas that are joined to one another by folded portions at the two longitudinal side walls. Such dust containers are well known and are used in almost all types of modern vacuum cleaners in order to separate dust particles from the air that flows into the vacuum cleaner. When the dust container is full it is easily removed from the vacuum cleaner and thrown away, resulting in a more hygienic disposal. Dust containers of the aforementioned type are disclosed in DE-U1- 29704079, WO 95/16383 and JP 8-38406. The first reference shows a dust container having a longitudinal folded portion between the upper and lower filter areas. The outer folding line of the longitudinal folded portion is shaped such that it coincides with the folding lines that divide the fold from the upper and lower filter areas. Although the size of the dust container and hence the effective filter area, to a certain degree, adapts to the shape of the various housings in which the dust container is placed in the vacuum cleaner, the effective filter area is still limited. The latter two references show similar arrangements, but in these cases the inner folding lines are placed beside one another. However, the outer folding line is placed such that it coincides with or is placed inside of the folding lines that separate the fold from the upper and lower filter areas. Thus, these bags have the same disadvantages as the bag according to the first reference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a dust container having better flexibility with respect to the adaption of size to the surrounding space and a larger effective filter area than previous containers. In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum cleaner dust container includes a bag having an opening through which dust laden air flows into the bag, and the bag includes a tube-shaped filter material piece that is flattened out and that is provided with closures at both ends. The closures extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped piece. The bag also includes upper and lower filter areas, folded portions and two longitudinal side walls. In further accordance with the present invention, the upper and lower filter areas are joined to one another by folded portions at the two longitudinal side walls. Each folded portion is connected to the upper and lower filter areas by first and second longitudinal folding lines, and includes three additional longitudinal folding lines forming four areas which, when the bag is flattened, at least partially overlap one another. In further accordance with the present invention, a third folding line connects the first and second areas, a fourth folding line connects the third and the fourth areas, and the fifth folding line connects the second and fourth areas. The fifth folding line is located outside relative to the first and second folding lines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and further features of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container as seen along line II-II of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing figures, the dust container according to the present invention includes a dust bag 10 that is manufactured from one or more layers of a filtering, air permeable material. The bag has a bag opening 11 surrounded by a plate 12 glued about the opening. The plate 12 defines a plate opening 13 through which dust-laden air flows into the bag. The plate opening 13 may be partially covered or surrounded by a rubber membrane or 0-ring (not shown) that seals against an inlet tube of the vacuum cleaner. It is submitted that the structure of the plate, plate opening, and 0-ring are well known and common in the art, and do not form part of the present invention. The bag 10 is manufactured by shaping an endless or seamless web of filter material into a flattened tube-shaped substrate having an upper filter area 14 and a lower filter area 15. Upper and lower filter areas 14, 15 are joined to one another by two folded portions 16. The edge parts 17, 18 of the filter material are glued together. The tube-shaped piece is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the web to provide a bag of the desired length. The edge portions 19 that are formed in this manner are folded several times to form overlapping joints that are glued to the upper and/or lower filter areas 14, 15 and, optionally, to the folded portions 16 adjacent the bag ends in order to form sealed closures at the two ends of the bag. The folded portions 16 constitute longitudinal sidewalls of the bag and include a first folding line 20 and a second folding line 21 that join the folded portions 16 to the upper and lower filter areas 14, 15, respectively. Between the first and second folding lines 20, 21 , the folded portions 16 provide three additional folding lines 22, 25, 28 that form or separate four areas 23, 24, 26, 27, as will be apparent from the following description. With reference to Fig. 2, a third folding line 22 of the folded portion 16 is disposed between and connects a first area 23 and a second area 24. A fourth folding line 25 of the folded portion 16 is disposed between and connects a third ares 26 with a fourth area 27. Finally, a fifth folding line 28 of the folded portion 16 is disposed between and connects the second area 24 with the fourth area 27. The fifth folding line 28 is essentially disposed between the first folding line 20 and the second folding line 21. When the bag is flattened out, the folded portion 16 is configured such that the fifth folding line 28 is outside of first and second folding lines 20, 21, while the third and fourth folding lines 22, 25 are inside of the first and second folding lines 20, 21 , as illustrated. Preferably, the fifth folding line 28 is at least 5 mm outside the first and second folding lines, 20, 21. The folding of the bag is such that the fifth folding line 28, when the bag is flattened out, is substantially straight and extends all the way between the two ends of the bag. This results in simplicity with regard to the closure process and an increased active filter area compared to the traditional arrangements.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A dust container for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a bag formed from a flattened tube-shaped filter material, said bag having closures (19) at both ends, the closures extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped piece, said bag also defining an opening through which dust-laden air flows into the bag, said filter material having upper and lower filter areas (14, 15) and folded portions (16), said folded portions being disposed between and connect said upper and lower filter areas and constitute longitudinal side walls of the bag, wherein each folded portion (16) is connected to the upper filter area (14) by a first longitudinal folding line (20) and each folded portion is connected to the lower filter area (15) by a second longitudinal folding line (21), each folded portion (16) including three additional longitudinal folding lines forming four areas which, when the bag is flattened, at least partially overlap one another, the three additional longitudinal lines including: a third folding line (22) connecting a first area (23) to a second area (24); a fourth folding line (25) connecting a third area (26) to a fourth area (27); and, a fifth folding line (28) connecting the second area (24) to the fourth area (27), wherein the fifth folding line (28) is located outside relative to the first and second folding lines (20, 21). 2. The dust container according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second folding lines (20, 21) are substantially vertically aligned when the bag is flattened. 3. The dust container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third and fourth folding lines (22, 25) are substantially vertically aligned when the bag is flattened. 4. The dust container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fifth folding line (28) in the flattened out position of the bag extends substantially straight from one end of the bag to the other. 5. The dust container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the closures (19) is a folded overlapping edge part that is glued to the upper or lower filter area (14,15). 6. The dust container according to claim 5, wherein said edge part also is glued to the second or fourth area (24,27). 7. The dust container according to claim 6, wherein the edge part is folded more than once. 8. The dust container according to claim 1, wherein the fifth folding line is placed more than 5 mm outside the first and/or second folding line. 9. The dust container according to claim 1, wherein the bag is provided with a plate (12) that is secured to an exterior of one of said upper and lower filter areas , said plate having an opening (13) that at least partially coincides with the bag opening (11). 10. The dust container according to claim 1 , wherein the bag opening (11) is placed on the upper or lower filter area (14, 15).

Inventors: HENGVOSS INGRID, HENGVOSS, INGRID
Applicants: ELECTROLUX AB, HENGVOSS INGRID, AKTIEBOLAGET ELECTROLUX, HENGVOSS, INGRID
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47L9
IPC codes: A47L9