Patent Publication Number: US-RE39595-E

Title: Vacuum cleaner tank assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to vacuum cleaners and in particular to a vacuum cleaner assembly for securely housing a filter bag inside a receptacle or tank. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vacuum cleaners often include a disposable filter bag. The filter bag collects particulate matter from air passing through the filter bag for subsequent disposal. Typically, the filter bag is removably mounted in a tank or other receptacle associated with the vacuum cleaner. When the filter bag is full, it is removed and an empty filter bag is installed in the tank. 
     Most filter bags include a cardboard plate with an aperture aligned to an opening in the filter bag. To install an empty filter bag in the vacuum cleaner tank, in such a way as to prevent unwanted movement of the filter bag, the aperture in the cardboard plate is pushed on to a filter bag mount. The filter bag mount is connected to the vacuum cleaner tank and to a hose. The combination usually remains in place due to friction or an interference fit. An aperture in the filter bag mount allows dirty air to pass from the hose to the filter bag where the dirt is collected. In order to reduce the amount of dirty air that escapes (i.e., air which fails to pass through the filter bag), and to help maintain the position of the filter bag, the filter bag mount may include a raised flange or other seal. 
     Prior art systems allow an individual to replace the filter bag in such a way as to reduce movement and dirty air escape, however, these prior art systems suffer from certain drawbacks. The filter bag mount with raised flange requires the user to force and/or bend the cardboard plate into position. As a result, user&#39;s often find it difficult to install a new filter bag. Further, damage may occur to the cardboard plate, thereby increasing the amount of dirty air that escapes or possibly resulting in the cardboard plate and bag becoming entirely dislodged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner assembly for attaching a filter bag to a receptacle, the filter bag including a plate, and the receptacle including an inlet, is provided. The assembly includes a filter bag retainer. The assembly also includes a first fitting extending from outside the receptacle through the tank inlet, through the filter bag retainer, and into the filter bag. A second fitting engages the filter bag retainer to trap the first fitting adjacent to the filter bag retainer. 
     In some embodiments, the filter bag retainer includes first and second slots for receiving the plate on the filter bag. Further, the filter bag retainer may include a threaded cylinder forming a retainer aperture, wherein the threaded cylinder is inserted through the inlet. Still further, the filter bag retainer may include a first threaded aperture, and the second fitting may include a second threaded aperture, wherein the first threaded aperture is adapted to pass through the inlet and couple to the second threaded aperture. In some embodiments, the second fitting is further adapted to bold a hose adjacent to the inlet fitting. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first fitting includes a first ridged member and a second ridged member . Further, the filter bag retainer comprises a threaded cylinder and a first abutment. Still further, the second fitting includes a threaded inner surface and a second abutment. Accordingly, the assembly is adapted to trap the first ridged member against  between the first abutment and to trap the second ridged member against  the second abutment as the threaded inner surface is tightened on to the threaded cylinder. 
     In any of the foregoing, the vacuum cleaner assembly may further comprise a hose, wherein the hose comprises a grooved aperture. In such an instance, the second fitting includes a ridge and the grooved aperture couples to the ridge. In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle comprises a tank. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a receptacle with an inlet. Further, vacuum cleaner includes a filter bag with a filter bag aperture. Still further, the vacuum cleaner includes a plate connected to the filter bag, wherein the plate also has an aperture. Yet further, the vacuum cleaner includes a filter bag retainer with first and second retainer slots, a threaded cylinder, and a cylinder abutment, wherein the plate slides into the retainer slots and the threaded cylinder is inserted into the tank aperture. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a first fitting with a ridged end, a non-ridged end, and a first  ridged member, and a second ridged member,  wherein the non-ridged end is inserted through the inlet, the filter bag aperture, and the plate aperture. Also, the vacuum cleaner includes a second fitting with a threaded inner surface and a fitting abutment, wherein the threaded inner surface engages the threaded cylinder thereby forcing  trapping the first  ridged member against  between the cylinder abutment and forcing the second ridged member against  the fitting abutment. 
     In some embodiments, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a hose with outer ribs and inner ribs, wherein the outer ribs engage the threaded inner surface of the second fitting and the inner ribs engage the threaded  ridged end of the first fitting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a vacuum cleaner tank assembly, constructed in accordance with teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is front view of a filter bag assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the vacuum cleaner tank assembly of FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken generally along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of detail A in FIG.  3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Vacuum cleaners typically comprise a motor assembly, a tank or other receptacle, a lid, a motor assembly, a hose inlet on the receptacle, and a hose that attaches to the hose inlet at one end and has a nozzle at the other end. The lid has a rim which is designed to fit over the edge of the receptacle of the vacuum cleaner. Around the periphery of the lid are several latch ports which cooperate with latches on the receptacle in order to hold the lid on the receptacle. The lid houses a motor assembly that is in air flow communication with the receptacle through a filter. Generally, the motor assembly includes an electric motor, a power cord for use with an electrical outlet, an air impeller, various housings, and other associated equipment. The motor of the motor assembly drives an impeller that creates a low pressure area inside the receptacle. The pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the receptacle creates a suction effect at the hose inlet, which causes dust, debris, and liquids to enter the receptacle through the hose. 
     Referring to FIG.  1  and  FIG. 2 , a vacuum cleaner tank or receptacle  10  ( FIG. 1 ) is used to house a filter bag  12  (FIG.  2 ). The filter bag  12  includes an aperture  14  surrounded by a gasket  15  through which air containing particulate matter may pass for filtering. The tank  10  includes an inlet  16  through which the air may pass to the filter bag aperture  14 . The filter bag  12  may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, paper, foam, cloth or other woven materials. The filter bag  12  is securely held in place inside the filter tank  10 , in part, by a filter bag retainer  18 . The filter bag retainer  18  may be formed from plastic materials, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, and/or similar materials. Preferably, the filter bag retainer  18  includes two slots  20 . The slots  20  are used to receive a plate  22  on the filter bag  12 . Preferably, the plate  22  is made of cardboard and contains an aperture  24  substantially the same size as the inlet  16 . The plate  22  is permanently attached to the filter bag  12  in a known manner such that the plate aperture  24  substantially aligns with the filter bag aperture  14 , thereby creating a filter bag assembly  26 . 
     The filter bag retainer  18  includes a threaded cylinder  28  forming a retainer aperture  30 . Further, the threaded cylinder  28  includes a cylinder abutment  31 . Preferably, the retainer aperture  30  is substantially the same size as the filter bag aperture  14 , the plate aperture  24 , and the inlet  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the filter bag assembly  26  is attached to the filter bag retainer  18  by sliding the plate  22  into the retainer slots  20 . The filter bag assembly  26  is then held in position inside the tank  10  by inserting the threaded cylinder  28  through the inlet  16  from the inside of the tank  10  to the outside of the tank  10 . As a result, the inlet  16 , the retainer aperture  30 , the plate aperture  24 , and the filter bag aperture  14  are coaxially aligned. 
     For the purpose of restricting both horizontal and vertical movement of the aligned apertures ( 14 ,  16 ,  24 ,  30 ), an inlet fitting  32  is provided. The inlet fitting  32  is cylindrical in shape with a ridged end  34  and a non-ridged end  36 . By inserting the non-ridged end  36  of the inlet fitting  32  through the aligned apertures ( 14 ,  16 ,  24 ,  30 ) in a direction from outside the tank  10  to inside the tank  10 , the filter bag assembly  26  is prevented from sliding out of the retainer slots  20 . Accordingly, the filter bag  12  is secured to the retainer  18  by the inlet fitting  32  inside the tank  10 , and the particulated air may pass easily through all of the apertures ( 14 ,  16 ,  24 ,  30 ). 
     For the purpose of loosely trapping the inlet fitting  32  adjacent the filter bag retainer  18 , a swivel fitting  38  is provided. The swivel fitting  38  is cylindrical in shape and includes a threaded inner surface  40  and a swivel fitting abutment  42 . The threaded inner surface  40  of the swivel fitting  38  engages and joins the threaded cylinder  28  of the filter bag retainer  18  by rotation of the swivel fitting  38 . As the swivel fitting  38  is tightened down on the filter bag retainer  18 , a first ridged member  44  of the inlet fitting  32  is loosely trapped adjacent  between the cylinder abutment  31 , and a second ridged member  46  of the inlet fitting  32  is loosely trapped adjacent  the swivel fitting abutment  42  (see FIGS.  3 - 5 ). 
     In addition, a hose  48  is provided. The hose  48  includes a series of outer ribs  52  and a series of inner ribs  54  forming a grooved aperture. The inner ribs  54  engage and couple to the  a second ridged member  46  of the inlet fitting  32  preferably using a force fit in a known manner. In this configuration, the end of the hose  48  may travel with the rotating swivel fitting  38  (see FIGS.  3 - 5 ). 
     In summary, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a vacuum cleaner tank assembly for securely housing a filter bag inside a vacuum cleaner tank has been provided. Systems implementing the teachings of the invention do not require the user to force and/or bend the cardboard plate into position. As a result, user&#39;s will find it easier to install a new filter bag. Further, less damage will occur to the cardboard plate, thereby decreasing the amount of dirty air that escapes. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.