CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/143,490, filed January 29, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, a filter bag assembly of a vacuum cleaner with a filter bag closure mechanism.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one embodiment a vacuum cleaner is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner comprising a filter bag movable between a coupled position and a removed position, a vacuum exhaust nozzle in communication with the filter bag in the coupled position, and a collar secured to the filter bag. The filter bag includes an opening and the collar is secured to the filter bag about the opening. The collar is selectively positionable in alignment with the vacuum exhaust nozzle. The collar has a slider connected to a cover portion and including a spring. A bracket on the vacuum cleaner to engage the collar in the coupled position. Movement of the filter bag to the coupled position engages the bracket with the slider, sliding the cover portion to open the opening and compressing the spring. The spring expands, sliding the slider moving the cover portion over the opening in the removed position.

[0004] In one embodiment a vacuum cleaner is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner comprising a filter bag movable between a coupled position and a removed position, a vacuum exhaust nozzle in communication with the filter bag in the coupled position, and a collar secured to the filter bag. The filter bag includes an opening and the collar is secured to the filter bag about the opening. The collar is selectively positionable in alignment with the vacuum exhaust nozzle. The collar has a slider connected to a cover portion and including an elastic member. A bracket on the vacuum cleaner to engage the collar in the coupled position. Movement of the filter bag to the coupled position engages the bracket with the slider, sliding the cover portion to open the opening and stretching the elastic member. The elastic member contracts, sliding the slider moving the cover portion over the opening in the removed position.

[0005] In one embodiment a vacuum cleaner bag arrangement in a vacuum cleaner is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner bag arrangement and vacuum cleaner comprising a filter bag, an inlet opening in communication with the filter bag, and a collar selectively positioned in alignment with the inlet opening. The collar has a first lateral track on a first side of the inlet opening and a second lateral track on a second side of the inlet opening opposite the first side. The collar includes a slider extending across and movable within the two lateral tracks. The slider includes a spring and a cover portion. The slider is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the spring is in at least a partially uncompressed position and the cover portion is covering the inlet opening. In the second position the spring is in at least a partially compressed position and the cover portion is not covering the inlet opening.

[0006] In one embodiment a vacuum cleaner is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum bag, a bracket on the vacuum cleaner to selectively receive the vacuum bag, a vacuum exhaust nozzle, a filter bag with an opening, and a collar attached to the filter bag surrounding the opening. The vacuum bag is movable between a coupled position and a removed position. The bracket receives the vacuum bag in the coupled position. The vacuum exhaust nozzle is in communication with the vacuum bag and is configured to direct debris into the vacuum bag. The vacuum bag includes the filter bag and the collar. The collar is engageable with the bracket to align the collar with the vacuum exhaust nozzle in the coupled position. The collar includes a slider connected to a cover portion. The slider is slidable along the collar between a closed position with the cover portion closing the opening and an open position with the cover portion uncovering the opening. Movement of the vacuum bag from the removed position to the coupled position engages the slider with the bracket sliding the slider to the open position. The vacuum bag further includes a spring between the slider and the collar configured to compress when the slider is in the open position and configured to expand to move the slider to the closed position when the vacuum bag moves from the coupled position to the removed position.

[0007] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Fig. l is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with a bag assembly disassembled, according to one embodiment.

[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bag assembly and a bracket according to the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1, according to one embodiment.

[0010] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bag assembly and bracket of Fig. 2, shown in a coupled position.

[0011] Fig. 3a is a perspective view the bag assembly and bracket of Fig. 2 according to an alternative embodiment shown in a coupled position.

[0012] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the collar of the bag assembly of Fig. 2, shown in a removed position.

[0013] Fig. 5 is the bag assembly shown in Fig. 4 with a top portion of the collar removed showing the interior of the collar.

[0014] Fig. 6 is the bag assembly shown in Fig. 3 with a bracket and a top portion of the collar removed showing the interior of the collar.

[0015] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a bag assembly according to an alternative embodiment shown in a removed position with a top portion of the collar removed showing the interior of the collar.

[0016] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bag assembly shown in Fig. 7 shown in a coupled position with a top portion of the collar removed.

[0017] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, a filter bag assembly of a vacuum cleaner with a filter bag closure mechanism. In one embodiment, the filter bag has an inlet opening that is selectively closeable by a cover. The inlet opening needs to be open when the vacuum cleaner is in use, but it is useful for the inlet opening to be closed when the user removes the filter bag to reduce or prevent dirt egress from the filter bag during removal or maintenance. The current disclosure provides an effective, compact, and simple solution to open the inlet opening when the filter bag is coupled to the vacuum cleaner and close the inlet opening when the filter bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner.

[0019] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a foot portion 12 that is pivotally attached to an upright body 14. The foot portion 12 is adapted to move along a surface to be cleaned and remove dirt and debris from the surface. The body 14 may include a handle 16 that a user may grip to move and steer the vacuum cleaner 10. The body 14 also includes a bag compartment 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the bag compartment 18 is accessible via a removable cover 20. The bag compartment 18 is configured to receive and carry a vacuum bag 22, and includes a bag dock including a retaining bracket 24 positioned proximate the upper surface of the bag compartment 18. The bracket 24 is configured to selectively receive and secure the vacuum bag 22 inside the bag compartment 18. The bracket 24 is further configured to align a vacuum exhaust nozzle 26 with an inlet opening 50 in the vacuum bag 22, the vacuum exhaust nozzle 26 configured to direct dirt and debris vacuumed from the surface into the vacuum bag. Other vacuum arrangements may be used in conjunction with the present disclosure, for example, the vacuum cleaner maybe a canister, hand vacuum, or the like.

[0020] The vacuum bag 22 includes an air permeable filter bag 28 and a collar 30. The vacuum bag 22 is movable between a coupled position in which the vacuum bag is coupled to the vacuum cleaner 10 and a removed position in which the vacuum bag 22 is removed from the vacuum cleaner 10. The filter bag 28 is adapted to receive and secure dirt and other debris. The filter bag 28 may be made of a fibrous material or filter media that is air permeable, but otherwise retains particulate matter suspended in air by travelling into the bag 28. The collar 30 is secured to the bag 28 about the inlet opening 50. The collar 30 is made from a semi-rigid or rigid material providing a sturdy mounting surface for securing the bag 28 within the chamber 18 and aligning the vacuum exhaust nozzle 26 with the opening 50. In one embodiment, the collar 30 is formed from a thermoplastic material. The collar 30 is slidably inserted into the bracket 24 to couple the vacuum bag 22 with the vacuum cleaner 10. In the illustrated embodiment, after a user inserts the collar 30 into the bracket 24, the collar 30 is retained in the bracket 24 by closing and latching the removable cover 20 over the vacuum bag 22. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3a, the bracket 24 includes a retaining feature, such as a hook 41 or friction fit, that retains the slider 32 in the coupled position when the removable cover 20 is removed. The retaining force of the hook 41 is overcome by a user applied force pulling the collar 30, releasing the vacuum bag 22. Further, the collar 30 includes a self-closing arrangement that selectively inhibits bag contents from escaping when the bag 28 when the vacuum bag 22 is removed from the vacuum cleaner 10. More specifically, the collar 30 includes a slider 32 configured to selectively close the inlet opening 50 when the bag is removed from the retaining bracket 24.

[0021] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 - 6, the slider 32 is coupled to at least one spring 34 and a cover portion 36. In the embodiment shown in Figs 3 - 6, two springs are provided between the slider 32 and the collar 30. The bracket 24 is positioned to selectively receive the collar 30 in the coupled position (Fig. 3). The collar 30 includes a first lateral track 40 on a first side 44 of the inlet opening 50 and a second lateral track 40' on a second side 46 of the inlet opening 50, opposite the first side 44. The slider 32 is movable along the first and second lateral tracks 40 and 40' between a first position and a second position. In the illustrated embodiment, the first position is forward of the inlet opening 50 and the second position is rearward of the inlet opening 50. The collar 30 further includes a top surface 30' positioned to cover the first and second lateral tracks 40 and 40' and retain the slider 32. Along with the cover portion 36, the top surface 30' further serves to inhibit dust escaping from the inlet opening 50 in the coupled position. When the vacuum bag 22 is coupled to the bracket 24, the slider 32 is in the first position. When the vacuum bag 22 is removed from the bracket, the slider 32 is moved to the second position.

[0022] The slider 32 includes two tabs 42 that extend perpendicularly beyond the first and second lateral tracks 40 and 40'. In the coupled position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, the bracket 24 is positioned to engage the two tabs 42 of the slider 32 as the collar 30 enters the bracket 24 to push the spring or springs 34. In the illustrated embodiment, one spring 34 is disposed in each of the first and second lateral tracks 40, 40' between the slider 32 and a rear portion of the collar 30. The force of inserting the collar 30 into the bracket 24 causes the tabs 42 to engage a front edge

25 of the opening in the bracket causing the slider 32 to compress or partially compress the spring 34 as the slider 32 slides along the lateral tracks to the first position forward of the inlet opening 50. The cover portion 36 is connected to and movable with the slider 32 configured to cover the inlet opening 50 when the slider 32 is in the second position, and movement of the slider 32 to the first position moves the cover portion 36 outside of the collar 30 to open the inlet opening 50.

[0023] The coupled position shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 8, is associated with the collar 30 being in the first position, coupled to the bracket 24. The removed position shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, is associated with the collar 30 being in the second position, removed from the bracket 24. As shown in Fig. 5, in the removed position, the spring 34 is at least partially uncompressed and the cover portion 36 is covering the inlet 50. As shown in Fig. 6, in the coupled position, the spring 34 is in at least a partially compressed position and the cover portion 36 is not covering the inlet opening 50.

[0024] In the removed position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the slider 32 slidably releases from the bracket 24, for example in response to a user applied force pulling the collar 30 from the bracket 24, and the force is removed from the spring 34. The removal of the force of the bracket 24 against the slider 32 allows the spring or springs 34 to at least partially uncompress and the spring force pushes the slider 32 toward the second position rearward of the inlet opening 50 moving the cover portion 36 over the inlet opening 50, inhibiting dirt egress. This arrangement allows the springs 34 to close the inlet opening 50 by moving the cover portion 36 when the vacuum bag 22 is removed, without any additional action of the user. Figs. 5 and 6 show the collar 30 with the top surface 30' removed for clarity, to show the springs 34. The top surface 30' is positioned to cover the first and second lateral tracks 40 and 40'. Fig. 5 shows the springs 36 in a substantially uncompressed position, while Fig. 6 shows the springs 36 is a substantially compressed position. The collar 30 engagement with the bracket 24 helps align the collar 30 with the vacuum exhaust nozzle 26 in the coupled position. [0025] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the slider 32 is coupled to an elastic member 38 and the cover portion 36. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 - 6, the slider 32 is movable along the first and second lateral tracks 40 and 40' between the first position and the second position. In the current embodiment, the elastic member 38 is configured to stretch as the slider 32 slides along the lateral tracks to the first position. Figs. 7 and 8 show the collar 30 with the top surface 30' removed for clarity. In the removed position illustrated in Fig. 7, the slider 32 is in the second position and the inlet opening 50 is closed by the cover portion 36 and the elastic member 38 is contracted. In the coupled position illustrated in Fig. 8, the slider 32 engages the bracket 24 which stretches the elastic member 38. The force of inserting the collar 30 into the bracket 24 causes the tabs 42 to engage a front edge 25 of the opening in the bracket causing the slider 32 to stretch the elastic member 38 as the slider 32 slides along the lateral tracks to the first position. The cover portion 36 connected to and movable with the slider 32 moves outside of the collar 30 opening the inlet with movement of the slider 32 to the first position. In the illustrated embodiment, one elastic member 38 is provided, with one end connected to the slider adjacent the first lateral track 40 and the second end connected adjacent the second lateral track 40' configured to stretch around an outer portion of the inlet opening, as shown in Fig. 8. In another embodiment, two elastic members are provided, one corresponding to the first lateral track 40 and one corresponding to the second lateral track 40', each connected between the slider and a rear portion of the collar.

[0026] The bag 28 may be secured to the collar 30 by adhesive, mechanical fasteners, stitching, heat welding, or the like. The cover portion 36 may be made of cardboard, plastic, film, paper, or the like. The cover portion 36 may be secured to the collar by adhesive, mechanical fasteners, stitching, heat welding, or the like.

[0027] Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.