Patent Description:
An example of such a container is disclosed for instance in <CIT>. Thanks to the connector plate, the opening of the dust bag can be reliably positioned and oriented to receive a flow of dust laden air from the vacuum cleaner inlet. Further, the connector plate can for instance trigger a feedback switch in the receiving holding device of the vacuum cleaner to verify that a dust container has been correctly installed in the receiving device, thus enabling the vacuum cleaner to prevent use in case of an absent or incorrectly installed dust container. Such use could otherwise damage the vacuum cleaner by injecting heavily dust laden air into a fan/motor arrangement.

Further connector plate are known from <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

One problem associated with dust containers of this type is how to make the dust container more versatile, and operable with even more efficient and compact vacuum cleaners.

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to obtain a more versatile dust container. This object is achieved by means of a combination of a connector plate adapter and a connector plate, for a vacuum cleaner dust container as defined in claim <NUM>. More specifically in such a combination, the connector plate has an opening and is adapted to be connected to a dust bag to correctly position the dust bag opening within a vacuum cleaner by the connector plate being slid into a holding device of the vacuum cleaner. The connector plate adapter is configured to make up an extending portion that extends from one edge of the connector plate. The connector plate adapter and the connector plate have substantially corresponding widths, such that the connector plate adapter and the connector plate can be slid into a common holding device. The connector plate adapter is removable or separate from the connector plate. This means that the connector plate together with the connector plate adapter can be used in a holding device which is extended to provide for instance a feedback function at a distance from the dust bag opening. Such a feedback function can for instance assess that a dust container has been correctly fitted in the vacuum cleaner before allowing the vacuum cleaner to start. The dust container can however also be used in older types of vacuum cleaners with shorter holding devices simply by separating or not using the adapter.

The connector plate adapter may comprise stiffness reducing features, configured to provide a decreased bending stiffness about an axis perpendicular to the direction in which it is adapted to be inserted into a holding device. This may be achieved by providing a plurality of living hinges, allowing the connector plate adapter to be bent into a step-wise curvature. Living hinges may be provided at <NUM>-<NUM> locations along the direction that the connector plate adapter extends from the connector plate.

More generally, the connector plate adapter may comprise bending zones reducing its bending stiffness about an axis perpendicular to the axis in which it is adapted to be inserted into a socket. Such bending zones may, in addition to living hinges, include features from the group of perforations and reduced thickness portions.

The connector plate and the connector plate adapter may comprise connection means to be attached to each other, such as a dovetail connection.

The connector plate adapter may be U-shaped, comprising lateral arm portions and a bridge portion interconnecting the arms at their distal ends. This provides a room for a shutter arrangement that can be used to close the dust container after use. At least one locking opening may be provided in the bridge portion to interact with a locking function in a holding device. In alternative versions, at least one dent is provided in the edge of the connector plate adapter facing away from the connector plate to allow the connector plate adapter to be fitted in such a holding device even if the locking function is not used.

The connector plate adapter and/or the connector plate may comprise injection molded plastic, such as polypropylene, PP, or may alternatively be made from e.g. cardboard or paperboard.

A lateral abutment may be provided on at least one corner of the connector plate facing away from the connector plate adapter. Such an abutment can rest on the rim of the holding device to further stabilize and position the connector plate therein.

The extending portion may be configured to activate functions in the vacuum cleaner.

A dust container comprising a dust bag and such a combination of a connector plate adapter and a connector plate is also considered.

Further a connector plate adapter for a vacuum cleaner dust container connector plate is considered, wherein the adapter comprises means for interacting with a device in a vacuum cleaner holding device, and stiffness reducing features, such as living hinges, perforations or reduced thickness portions, configured to provide a decreased bending stiffness about an axis perpendicular to the direction in which it is adapted to be inserted into a holding device.

The present disclosure relates to a combination of a connector plate adapter and a connector plate for a dust container, as well as corresponding dust containers and adapters.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a dust container <NUM> for a vacuum cleaner. The dust container <NUM> has a dust bag <NUM>, which is schematically indicated and is made of an air permeable material, as is well known per se. A connector plate <NUM> is attached to the dust bag <NUM>, for instance by being glued thereto, and has an opening <NUM> that coincides with an opening in the dust bag <NUM>. The connector plate <NUM> is configured to position the opening <NUM> in a correct manner in relation to an air inlet in the body of a vacuum cleaner. This can be carried out by sliding the connector plate <NUM> into a socket or holding device in the vacuum cleaner. This operation positions the opening <NUM> correctly, such that the dust bag <NUM> receives a flow of dust laden air, whereby the dust bag is capable of removing most of the dust from the air flow. A gasket <NUM> may be attached to the connector plate <NUM> at the opening <NUM> so as to provide a sealing function, reducing leaks in the flow from an inlet hose to the dust bag <NUM>.

The applicant's previous application <CIT> describes a dust container connector plate which is adapted to a vacuum cleaner with improved usage of the interior space inside the vacuum cleaner. That connector plate comprises a central portion, including the aforementioned opening, and a portion that extends from the central opening. The extending portion has a lower stiffness than the central portion and can therefore be bent out of the plane of the remainder of the connector plate without bending the central portion. Such a connector plate can be inserted in a vacuum cleaner holding device which is not flat but curved and thus can follow the curvature of the inner wall of the vacuum cleaner. Better use can be made of the interior space, and the vacuum cleaner can therefore be more efficient. The end of the extending portion can be used to activate functions in the vacuum cleaner, for instance indicating that a dust container is correctly installed to enable use of the vacuum cleaner. Such indicating functions in the holding device can, thanks to the length of the extending portion be located at some distance from the opening in the bag/connector part. The extending portion also helps keeping the dust connector in place in the holding device. Edges of the connector plate <NUM> become supported by the holding device.

The presently disclosed dust container can be used with a vacuum cleaner having such a curved holding device, but can also be used together with older types of vacuum cleaners that lack this feature and have much shorter holding devices.

With reference to <FIG>, the connector plate <NUM> of <FIG> comprises a removable adapter <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> makes up an extending portion that extends from one edge of the connector plate <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the connector plate <NUM> comprises line-shaped perforations <NUM>, more clearly visible in the enlarged portion shown in <FIG>. If the connector plate <NUM> with the attached adapter <NUM> are made in one piece for instance in injection molded polypropylene, PP, the perforations may be used to separate the adapter <NUM> from the connector plate <NUM>, by folding the connector plate <NUM> at the perforations <NUM> a couple of times and subsequently tearing the adapter <NUM> off, as illustrated in <FIG>. The dust container with the fitted connector plate <NUM> may now also be used in a vacuum cleaner with a much shorter holding device only allowing connector plates with the length L.

It should be noted that the adapter <NUM> may be provided as a part separate from the connector plate <NUM> to start with. A separate adapter, similar to as illustrated in <FIG>, could be inserted into a vacuum cleaner holding device in advance in order to activate any functions therein, and the connector plate <NUM> can be inserted afterwards in order to correctly position a dust container opening. While this does not give the advantage of the adapter <NUM> helping stabilizing the connector plate <NUM> in the holding device, it means that the adapter can be installed permanently in the holding device if desired, thus saving material. In general, the connector plate <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> may have the same width W (cf. <FIG>) along the insertion direction in which they are inserted in the holding device, at least along a part thereof. The connector plate <NUM> may be provided with lateral abutments <NUM> that extend further laterally and thus rest on the rim of the vacuum cleaner holding device opening to further stabilize the connector plate <NUM> in the holding device when inserted.

<FIG> illustrate two other embodiments where a connector plate <NUM> and an adapter can be temporarily connected to each other, such that a connector plate adapter <NUM> can be reused together with a number of connector plates <NUM> and still helps with stabilizing the connector plate <NUM> in a holding device.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a connector plate <NUM> and a connector plate adapter <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the connector plate <NUM> and its adapter <NUM> are interconnected by means of dovetail couplings <NUM>, with tongues and grooves formed in the face of the connector plate <NUM> and the adapter <NUM>, as shown in the enlarged portion of <FIG>, such that the adapter <NUM> can be released and reused, snapped together with another connector plate when the dust bag of the present connector plate <NUM> is full.

<FIG> shows a side view of one alternative connector plate configuration. In this example, a dovetail connection <NUM> is instead arranged along an edge in the connector plate <NUM> and a corresponding edge in the connector plate adapter <NUM>, such that the dovetail connection is visible from the side of the connector plate and adapter combination as shown in <FIG>. The tongue of the connector plate <NUM> is slid into the groove of the connector plate adapter <NUM>.

Needless to say, the skilled person can accomplish other ways of connecting a connector plate to an adapter <NUM> such as other snap-fitting variations.

By using a combination as described in <FIG>, a combination where the adapter <NUM> can be reused together with a number of connector plates <NUM> is achieved. At the same time, the adapter <NUM> contributes with keeping the dust container correctly located in the vacuum cleaner.

With reference again to <FIG>, the adapter <NUM> may comprise lateral arm portions <NUM>, extending from the connector plate <NUM>, and a bridge portion <NUM>, interconnecting the arms at their distal ends, i.e. distant from the connector plate <NUM>. This arrangement serves to leave a free space in between the arm portions <NUM>, which may be used e.g. by an optional shutter arrangement <NUM>. The bridge portion <NUM> may comprise locking openings <NUM>, which interact with a locking arrangement in the vacuum cleaner holding device, which snaps into the openings when the connector plate <NUM> is fitted, thereby requiring a predetermined pulling force, in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, in order to remove the dust bag if the connector plate <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> are not separated. Thereby, the dust bag is not removed inadvertently.

The shutter arrangement <NUM> may generally be designed as soft flexible sheet with an opening that initially coincides with the opening <NUM> of the connector plate <NUM>. When the bag is full, the shutter arrangement <NUM> is pulled such that its opening moves away from the opening <NUM> in the connector plate <NUM> and closes the bag. The shutter arrangement <NUM> may be guided by tabs <NUM> in the connector plate <NUM>.

The adapter <NUM> may have a decreased bending stiffness compared to the connector plate <NUM>. More specifically, the bending stiffness, about an axis perpendicular to the direction along which the adapter <NUM> and the connector plate <NUM> are inserted in the holding device, is made lower by means of stiffness reducing features. This makes bending of the adapter <NUM> easier when inserted in a curved holding device.

<FIG> illustrated the connector plate <NUM> and adapter <NUM> combination where the adapter <NUM> is bent as if inserted into a holding device Typically, the adapter <NUM> may be configured to be more easily bent backwards, towards the dust bag, as this is how the dust container would best fit inside a vacuum cleaner. This can be accomplished as illustrated in <FIG> by means of living hinges <NUM>. <FIG> shows a side view of the connector plate <NUM> and adapter <NUM> combination. As illustrated, living hinges <NUM> may be provided on the adapter <NUM> at four locations along the direction in which the combination is inserted in a holding device. Those living hinges <NUM> provide joints that are bent to an extent determined by the curvature of the holding device, and need not be uniformly bent, as illustrated in <FIG>. Needless to say, fewer or more than four joints may be provided, although the adapter <NUM> should be bent at a plurality of locations along the insertion direction to provide a step-wise curvature. <NUM>-<NUM> locations may be considered a suitable number.

Alternatively, a lower bending stiffness of the adapter <NUM> may be achieved by providing an adapter <NUM> that is thinner or comprises a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the connector plate <NUM>. It would also be possible to provide an adapter <NUM> which is configured to have a lower bending stiffness by means of a number of perforations being provided along its length, or another geometric feature that lowers the stiffness, such as reduced thickness portions.

The connector plate and the adapter can be produced by injection molding a plastic, such as polypropylene, PP, either as one piece or in two separate pieces as discussed above. The connector plate and the adapter could also be produced in cardboard/paperboard, optionally laminated with a plastic material.

<FIG> shows a simplified version of a connector plate <NUM> and a connector plate adapter <NUM> combination. This combination can be produced in cardboard or paperboard, and has no shutter arrangement. The connector plate <NUM> and the connector plate adapter <NUM> may be produced in one piece to be separated e.g. by means of a tear line <NUM>, or may be produced as two separate pieces. The connector plate has an opening <NUM> and may be provided with a gasket <NUM>. To provide bending zones, reducing the connector plate adapter's <NUM> bending stiffness about an axis perpendicular to the direction in which it is inserted into a holding device, linear perforations <NUM> may be provided thereon.

The connector plate <NUM> may be provided with lateral abutments <NUM> that rest on the rim of the vacuum cleaner holding device opening to further stabilize the connector plate <NUM> in the holding device when inserted. There may be provided a handle <NUM> that is produced in one piece with the connector plate <NUM> and facilitates removal of the latter. Even if locking openings of the type shown in <FIG> are not used, dents <NUM> may be provided in the edge of the connector plate adapter <NUM> facing away from the connector plate <NUM>, such that the connector plate adapter easily can be fitted in a holding device provided with that type of locking function.

Claim 1:
A combination of a connector plate adapter (<NUM>) and a connector plate (<NUM>), for a vacuum cleaner dust container (<NUM>), the connector plate (<NUM>) comprising an opening (<NUM>) and being adapted to be connected to a dust bag to correctly position a dust bag opening within a vacuum cleaner by the connector plate being slid into a holding device of the vacuum cleaner, the adapter (<NUM>) being configured to make up an extending portion that extends from one edge of the connector plate (<NUM>), wherein the connector plate adapter (<NUM>) and the connector plate have substantially corresponding widths, such that the connector plate adapter and the connector plate can be slid into a common holding device, and wherein the connector plate adapter (<NUM>) is removable or separate from the connector plate (<NUM>).