Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system to mount a filter bag to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner by providing an adapter for mounting the filter bag to a drain opening in the wet/dry vacuum cleaner drum and restricting the typical vacuum port, forcing the vacuum materials to enter through the drain opening and into the bag. The lid of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner can be removed independently of the bag to avoid rupturing the bag. Further, the bag can rest on the bottom of the drum for support.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/829,083, filed Oct. 11, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure related to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, the disclosure relates to wet/dry vacuum cleaners. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The type of vacuum cleaners known as “wet/dry” vacuum cleaners can interchangeably suction either water or air. Thus, special structures accompany a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Typically, a suction system with a motor creates the vacuum and is mounted in a lid that is removably attached to a collection drum. A portion of the lid, herein termed a mounting assembly, extends at least partially downward into the drum and mounts a filter support assembly and filter that generally covers a vacuum intake to the suction assembly in the lid. The collection drum receives the vacuumed materials in a loose unbagged state. The suction system in the lid suctions external air or water through a hose into an upper opening in the drum so that water or dirt is deposited throughout the drum below the opening. Remaining material, mainly air, then flows radially inward through the filter for filtering, continues through the filter support assembly into a suction impeller in the lid, and then is exhausted from the vacuum cleaner. 
     To empty the drum, the lid is removed and the drum is turned over to dump the contents into a waste container. Many larger wet/dry vacuum cleaners have a drain opening in the side of the drum at a low elevation. If the contents are primarily liquid, an operator can remove a drain opening cap from the drain opening to discharge the liquid contents into a waste container. 
     There is sometimes a desire for a paper filter bag for collecting fine, relatively dry debris. A number of non-wet/dry vacuum cleaners have a vacuum inlet transitioning into a tube that simply extends into a specially designed storage area where a paper filter bag can be placed and supported for such purposes. However, for a typical wet/dry vacuum cleaner, such capabilities are not enjoyed due to its multi-functional use. In the case of wet/dry vacuum cleaner where the vacuum inlet is integrated into the lid, it is impractical to install a paper filter bag on the inlet and then remove the lid and a full paper filter bag without rupturing the bag due to the suspended weight of the debris therein. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for a system, method, and device for mounting a filter bag to wet/dry vacuum cleaner. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system to mount a filter bag to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner by providing an adapter for mounting the filter bag to a drain opening in the wet/dry vacuum cleaner drum and restricting the typical vacuum port, forcing the vacuum materials to enter through the drain opening and into the bag. The lid of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner can be removed independently of the bag to avoid rupturing the bag. Further, the bag can rest on the bottom of the drum for support. 
     In one embodiment, the disclosure provides an adapter for mounting a filter bag to a collection drum in a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, comprising: an inlet attachable to an outside surface of the drum at an opening in the drum; an inner plate attachable to the inlet from an inside surface of the drum through the opening; an outer housing adapted to be coupled to the inner plate on an inside of the drum; and a flange holder adapted to be coupled to the outer housing and support a flange on the filter bag on the inside of the drum. 
     The disclosure also provides a method of mounting a filter bag in a drum of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner using an adapter, comprising: mounting a first portion of the adapter inside the drum and extending a first tube of the portion through an opening in the drum; mounting a second portion of the adapter outside the drum and coupling the second portion to the opening in the drum causing a second tube to extend through the opening from outside the drum and engage the first tube, and to couple the first tube and the second tube inside the opening in the drum; and mounting a filter bag to the first portion of the adapter inside the drum independently of a lid on the wet/dry vacuum cleaner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the inventions disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of the inventive concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, the figures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate the inventive concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art as required by 35 U.S.C. §112. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary wet/dry vacuum cleaner with a drain opening. 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional schematic view showing the adapter inserted through an opening in a vacuum cleaner collection drum. 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional schematic view of the adapter coupled to an opening formed at a higher elevation in the drum relative to  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet from an outside view. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet from an opposite direction. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective schematic view of an inner plate. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate from the opposite direction. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective top schematic view of an outer housing. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective schematic view of the outer housing from a viewpoint inside the drum outwardly. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective schematic view of a flange holder from inside the drum in an outward direction. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective schematic view of the flange holder from the opposite direction. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top perspective schematic view of a cap adapted to cover a vacuum port in the vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 7B  is a bottom perspective schematic view of the cap. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate coupled to the outer housing. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate and outer housing coupled to the drum opening. 
         FIG. 8C  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet coupled to the drum opening and the inner plate. 
         FIG. 8D  is a cross sectional schematic view of the inner plate and outer housing coupled to the inlet on opposite sides of the drum opening  30 . 
         FIG. 8E  is a cross sectional enlarged schematic view of the interaction of the compression tube  60  and the tube  36 . 
         FIG. 8F  is a perspective schematic view of the flange holder hingeably coupled to the outer housing inside the drum. 
         FIG. 8G  is a perspective schematic view of the filter bag engageable with the flange holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more illustrative embodiments incorporating the invention disclosed herein are presented below. Not all features of an actual implementation are described or shown in this application for the sake of clarity. It is understood that the development of an actual embodiment incorporating the present invention and numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer&#39;s goals, including compliance with system-related, business-related and other constraints, which vary by implementation and from time to time. While a developer&#39;s efforts might be complex and time-consuming, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner system. The exemplary system is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner  4  that includes a collection drum  6  and a lid  8  removably attached to the collection drum such that the lid can be removed to empty debris or liquids contained therein. As with known wet/dry vacuums, a motor is generally coupled to the mounting assembly on the inside portion of the lid  8 , which is operable to create the vacuum inside the collection drum  6  to draw debris or liquid into the collection drum through a vacuum port  10  generally located at an upper portion of the drum wall under normal operating conditions. The collection drum further includes a drain  12  located at a lower portion of the drum wall, so that liquid can be emptied from the collection drum without removing the lid when the motor is off. The lid  8  of the vacuum cleaner  4  generally includes the mounting assembly, filter support assembly, and filter, all described in the background section, coupled to the underside of the lid. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional schematic view showing the adapter inserted through an opening in a vacuum cleaner collection drum.  FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional schematic view of the adapter coupled to an opening formed at a higher elevation in the drum relative to  FIG. 2A . The  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B will be described in conjunction with each other. An adapter  20  is designed to use an opening  30  in the wall of the drum in the wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The opening could, for example, be the drain  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . The adapter is formed from multiple parts including a first portion that is mounted internal to the drum and a second portion mounted external to the drum and coupled to the first portion through the opening. While the different components will be described as individual components that are coupled to each other, it is to be understood that one or more of the components could be made integral to the other components to achieve the overall purpose of providing an adapter as described herein. The term “coupled,” “coupling,” and like terms are used broadly herein and can include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and can further include integrally forming one functional member with another. The coupling can occur in any direction, including rotationally. 
     The adapter  20  can be used for existing wet/dry vacuum cleaners having an opening  30  or can be provided with new vacuum cleaners. In general, the adapter is located at a position in the drum such that a filter bag attached to the adapter can be at least partially supported by the adapter and, at least in some cases, supported by an inside bottom surface of the drum. The configuration allows the lid  8 , shown in  FIG. 1 , to be removed in a generally understood manner for wet/dry vacuum cleaners without disturbing the integrity of the bag attached to the adapter and therefore to the drum in the vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     To force the vacuum through the opening  30  instead of through the typical vacuum port  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , a cap described below can be used to selectively cover the vacuum port. Thus, a vacuum source from the suction system generally located in the lid  8  will draw dirt and other vacuumed media through the adapter and into the filter bag for collection before passing the filtered air through the remainder of the vacuum system. As will be described in more detail below, the adapter uniquely provides interconnection using existing threads or other coupling means of the existing opening to couple the first portion  21  and second portion  23  together on the inside and outside of the drum wall. 
     In general, the adapter includes an inlet  22  disposed outside of the drum wall  18 . The inlet is generally removably coupled to the opening  30 . The second portion of the adapter, disposed on the inside of the drum wall  18 , generally includes an inner plate  24  that is coupled to the inlet  22  through the opening  30 . The inner plate can be coupled to an outer housing  26 . The outer housing  26  forms a transition for the filter bag to be mounted thereon. A flange holder  28  is coupled to the outer housing  26 . In at least one embodiment, the flange holder is hingeably attached to the outer housing. The flange holder supports a flange on the filter bag, shown in  FIG. 8G , in cooperation with an outlet of the outer housing  26 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the inner plate  24  can be mounted in one orientation when the opening  30  is at a lower elevation, such that insufficient space occurs below the opening. Conversely, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the inner plate  24  can be reversed in its orientation when the opening  30  is at a higher elevation such that sufficient space below the opening allows the inner plate  24  to be disposed at least partially below the opening. In either example, the outer housing  26  can be oriented at the same orientation relative to the drum wall  18  and opening  30 . The inlet  22  includes an end adapted to receive a vacuum hose or other attachment as would be generally used with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. This end is distal from the other end that attaches to the opening  30 . Thus, the vacuum substance will generally flow through the inlet  22  from outside the drum  18  through an opening in the inner plate  24  into the outer housing  26  and through the outlet of the outer housing  26  into a filter bag shown in  FIG. 8G . 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet from an outside view.  FIG. 3B  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet from an opposite direction. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other. Generally, the inlet can be a tubular product of various cross sections, such as circular or other geometric cross sections, with a first end  34  forming an entrance and a second end  42  forming an exhaust. The first end  34  can include a hose connector  38 , such as a groove, ridge, or other device or formation. The hose connector  38  is adapted to be coupled with a vacuum hose or other tube external to the vacuum cleaner. The second end  42  includes a tube  36  that can be integral to the end  42  and attaches to the opening  30  in the drum, as described herein. The tube  36  includes an outer surface  40  that can be used to provide a seal with the inner plate  24  through the opening  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2A  and described in further detail below. Further, the second end  42  can include a connector  44  that is adapted to connect the inlet  22  to the drum opening  30 , shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B. In at least one embodiment, the connector can include internal threads adapted to mate with external threads on the opening  30 . In such an embodiment, the inner diameter of the threads of the connection  44  would correspond to the outer diameter of the threads on the opening, and the outer periphery of the tube  36  along the surface  40  would generally correspond to or be less than the inner diameter of the opening  30 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective schematic view of an inner plate.  FIG. 4B  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate from the opposite direction. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other. In at least one embodiment, the inner plate comprises of a thin plate with a tube that extends into the opening in the drum. The inner plate  24  generally includes a plate  48 , a first ramp plate  50 , and a second ramp plate  52 . The first and second ramp plates form an angled ramp  54 . The combination of the shape and positioning in the outer housing described herein assists in minimizing debris filling the flow passages in the adapter such as the outer housing and reducing re-circulation to provide a more efficient flow-through. The inner plate  24  further includes one or more connectors  56 , such as a tab, that can be coupled with the outer housing. 
     The inner plate can further include a compression tube  60 . The compression tube in at least one embodiment is adapted to be placed into the inner surfaces of the opening  30  shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B. To facilitate expansion and contraction of the tube in the opening, the compression  60  can have one or more slots  62  formed longitudinally along the sidewall of the compression tube. In at least one embodiment, the compression tube  60  has an inner surface that can be at least slightly larger than the external surface  40  of the tube  36  on the inlet  22 , shown in  FIG. 3B . The interaction of the compression tube  60  with the tube  36  facilitates the engagement of the inner first portion of the adapter with the outer second portion of the adapter through the opening  30 , described in further detail below. 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective top schematic view of an outer housing.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective schematic view of the outer housing from a viewpoint inside the drum outwardly. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other. In general, the outer housing facilitates redirecting the incoming airflow from the opening  30  into a filter bag. The outer housing  26  generally includes a top  68 , sides  70 , and a bottom  72 . The top, bottom and sides converge toward a back  78 . An outlet  74  is disposed through the back  78  and directed toward an inward volume of the drum of the vacuum cleaner, discussed above. The outlet  74  is adapted to contact and seal with a filter bag opening through an elastic membrane on the filter bag, as shown in  FIG. 8G  below. 
     The outer housing  26  can further include a foot  80 . The foot  80  in at least one embodiment generally includes a first side  84  and a second side  86  spaced from the first side  84  to form a hinge opening  88  therebetween. A cross member  90  is coupled to one or more of the sides  84 ,  86 . The cross member  90  forms a rotational point for a hinge located on the flange holder, described in more detail below. 
     The outer housing  26  can further include one or more receivers  76 . The receiver  76  is adapted to receive the connector  56  coupled to the inner plate  24  described above. In general, a plurality of receivers is used to receive a plurality of connectors  56 . In at least one embodiment, the receivers and corresponding connectors are symmetrically disposed so that the inner plate can be rotated 180 degrees and still be coupled to the outer housing. 
     Further, the outer housing can include a latch portion  94 . The latch portion  94  generally includes a base  96  with an extension  98  extending upwardly from the base  96 . The latch portion is adapted to be removably coupled with the flange holder  28  described below. 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective schematic view of a flange holder from inside the drum in an outward direction.  FIG. 6B  is a perspective schematic view of the flange holder from the opposite direction. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other. The flange holder  28  generally includes a top  100 , side  102 , bottom  104 , second side  106 . The sides  102 ,  106  generally include an upper first flange  108  and a lower second flange  110 . The upper flange and lower flange are spaced a distance to form a channel  112  therebetween. The channel  112  is dimensioned to slidably receive a flange on a filter bag, shown in  FIG. 8G  below. Similarly, the bottom  104  generally includes an upper first flange  114  and a lower second flange  116  spaced a certain distance to form a channel, similar to channel  112 . Thus, in general, the top  100 , lower second flange  110 , lower second flange  116  are co-planer to form a lower mounting support surface for a flange on a filter bag. Similarly, the upper first flange  108  and upper first flange  114  are co-planer to form an upper mounting support surface for the flange on the filter bag. 
     The flange holder  28  further includes a mating hinge portion  120 . The hinge portion  120  is adapted to be coupled with the hinge portion  82  on the outer housing  26 , shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B. More particularly, the hinge portion  120  can include a lower hinge support  122  with an upwardly extending hinge extension  124 . The hinge portion  120  can further include an upper hinge support  126  having a downwardly extending hinge extension  128 . The lower hinge support  122  and upper hinge support  126  are generally spaced a distance from each other to allow for engagement over the cross member  90  of the foot  80  of the outer housing  26 , shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B. Thus, the mounting flange  28  can be hingeably coupled with the outer housing  26  by engagement of the hinge portion  120  with the hinge portion  82 . 
     The flange holder  28  can further include a mating latch portion  130  adapted to be selectively coupled with the latch portion  94  on the outer housing  26 , shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B. The latch portion  130  can include a latch extension  132  adapted to engage the latch extension  98  on the housing  26 . A convenient release  134  can be coupled to the latch portion  130  to assist in selectively disengaging or engaging the latch portion  94  of the outer housing. 
       FIG. 7A  is a top perspective schematic view of a cap adapted to cover a vacuum port in the vacuum cleaner.  FIG. 7B  is a bottom perspective schematic view of the cap. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner normally provides suction through the vacuum port  10  described in  FIG. 1 . To effectively utilize the adapter  20  herein, this vacuum port can be sealed with a cap  136  to force a vacuum flow through the opening  30 , shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B. In general, the cap  136  includes a flange  138  that assists in restricting insertion of the cap too far into the opening  30 , with a sealing surface  140  sized to seal against the inside surface of the opening  30 . For added convenience, the cap can include a rib  142  that forms a pair of recesses  144 ,  146  for handling. The rib  142  can further include one or more extensions  148 . The extension  148  can include a connector  150  formed to engage and be coupled with the opening  30  to seal the opening  30 , for example, when the vacuum port  10  is to be used in a customary manner. 
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate coupled to the outer housing.  FIG. 8B  is a perspective schematic view of the inner plate and outer housing coupled to the drum opening.  FIG. 8C  is a perspective schematic view of the inlet coupled to the drum opening and the inner plate.  FIG. 8D  is a cross sectional schematic view of the inner plate and outer housing coupled to the inlet on opposite sides of the drum opening  30 .  FIG. 8E  is a cross sectional enlarged schematic view of the interaction of the compression tube  60  and the tube  36 .  FIG. 8F  is a perspective schematic view of the flange holder hingeably coupled to the outer housing inside the drum.  FIG. 8G  is a perspective schematic view of the filter bag engageable with the flange holder. The figures will be described in conjunction with each other.  FIGS. 8A-8G  illustrate, without limitation, various exemplary steps in assembling the adapter and coupling it to the drum wall through the opening in the drum. Thus, an existing opening, such as a drain opening in a collection drum of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, can provide a relatively efficient and simple installation of the adapter to support the filter bag described herein. 
     In  FIG. 8A , the inner plate  24  can be coupled with the outer housing  26  by engaging the connector  56  with the receiver  76 . Other receiver/connector assemblies can be used and the position of the connector/receiver can be switched such that the outer housing includes the connector and the inner plate includes the receiver. Further, these components, and other components, can be coupled integrally to each other. 
     In  FIG. 8B , the inner plate  24  and the outer housing  26  can be coupled to the drum wall  18  of the drum  6  on a first opening surface  158 . Generally, the first opening surface  158  will be an inside portion of the drum wall  18 . The tube  60  of the inner plate  24  can be inserted through the opening  30  such that the outer surface of the tube  60  is in at least proximity to the inner surface of the opening  30 . 
     In  FIG. 8C , the end  42  of the inlet  22  can be coupled from the opposite direction, that is to a second opening surface  160  of the drum  6 .  FIG. 8D  shows the attached position of the inlet  22  with the inner plate  24  and  FIG. 8E  shows an enlarged view. Both figures will be described in conjunction with  FIG. 8C . In at least one embodiment, the inlet  22  can be threaded with the internal threads  44  described in  FIG. 3B  to an external thread existent on the opening  30 . Further, the tube  36 , as part of the end  42 , is concurrently inserted through the inner surfaces of the opening  30 . The external surface  40  of the tube  36  can be sized to engage the sealing surface  64  of the tube  60 . In at least one embodiment, one or more of the engagement surfaces can include a taper. As the inlet  22  is placed into position on the opening  30 , the taper forces a compression fit between the inner surface of the opening  30 , the tube  60 , and the tube  36 . This compression fit can physically secure the inner plate and the outer housing coupled to the inner plate into position on the inside of the drum by using an external connector through the inlet  22 . Thus, no further attachments, supports, or fastening devices are necessary on the inside of the drum. Secondly, the compression fit can provide a sufficient seal between the inlet  22 , the opening  30 , and the outlet  74  of the outer housing  26  on the inside of the drum. 
     In  FIG. 8F , the flange holder  28  can be coupled to the outer housing  26  by engaging the hinge portion  120  of the flange holder with the hinge portion  82  of the outer housing  26 . The hinging action is useful to allow insertion of the filter bag and subsequent rotation and sealing of the bag with the outlet of the outer housing. 
     In  FIG. 8G , a filter bag  154  having a filter flange  156  can be slideably engaged with the flange holder  28 . The filter flange  156  can be slid into the channel  112  formed between the upper and lower flanges described in reference to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B. Once the filter flange is in position, the flange holder  28  can be rotated toward the outer housing  26  and latched into position using the latch portion  130  of the flange holder  28  in conjunction with the latch portion  94  of the outer housing. A flexible sealing membrane  164  surrounds an opening  162  on the filter bag to sealingly engage the outer surface of the outlet  74 . The opening  162  is sized to fit over an outer surface of the outlet  74  of the outer housing  26 . Thus, the first portion  21  including at least the inner plate  24  can be coupled on one side of the drum wall to a second portion  23 , including at least the inlet  22  from an opposite side of the wall, such as the exterior of the drum. In at least one embodiment, the two portions can be coupled together as a self-contained adapter, independent of additional fasteners that might otherwise be attached to the vacuum cleaner. The first portion  21  can further include the outer portion  26  and the flange holder  28 . 
     The various steps described or claimed herein can be combined with other steps, can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited, various steps can be interlineated with the stated steps, and the stated steps can be split into multiple steps. Unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, should be understood to imply the inclusion of at least the stated element or step, or group of elements or steps, or equivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of any other element or step, or group of elements or steps, or equivalents thereof. Also, any directions such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions and orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to the figures and are not to be limiting of the actual device or system or use of the device or system. The device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations. 
     The invention has been described in the context of preferred and other embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Apparent modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by the Applicants, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicants intend to protect all such modifications and improvements to the full extent that such falls within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims. 
     Further, any documents to which reference is made in the application for this patent as well as all references listed in any list of references filed with the application are hereby incorporated by reference. However, to the extent statements might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this invention, such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the Applicant(s).