EP0880334B1 - Filtering accessory and device for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner equipped with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a connection tube for vacuum cleaner, in particular for domestic use, characterised in that it consists of a tube (4) comprising a first end (21) capable of being substantially sealingly secured by a fixing means (3) to a support (1) comprising an opening (23) and designed for a substantially sealed connection with the filler pipe (14), and a second end (22) on which is fitted a connecting means (5) to co-operate removably with a linkage means (7) mounted around a filler neck (49) of a dust bag (6).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners sled or tank type, or more generally to any suction device intended for cleaning.

The present invention relates to particular means allowing to adapt a filter intended to collect dust on a vacuum cleaner.

PRIOR TECHNIQUE

In the prior art, there are known devices called vacuum cleaners, which are equipped with a suction turbine, and a hose fitted with a dust extraction cleaning tool. The vacuum cleaner hose is removable and it has a tubular end which is adapted to be connect to an opening on the vacuum cleaner itself.

The pipe and the turbine are connected by a dust filter. The opening of the vacuum cleaner intended to connect with the hose is related with the dust filter.

The dust filter is, for example, constituted by a bag made of paper mounted on a cardboard or cardboard collar and inserted by the user in the dust filter receptacle, in the vacuum cleaner. The dust filter lets the suction air from the turbine and has an orifice fitted with a flap to let dust sucked in from the paper bag enter the cleaning tool and transferred through the vacuum cleaner hose to the filter dust.

When the paper bag is full, the user must remove it to throw it away and replace it with an identical paper bag. Now, depending on the brand and of the model of the vacuum cleaner, the paper bags are different both in shape only by means of attachment to the vacuum cleaner proper.

As a result, vacuum cleaner manufacturers often design new forms of filters adapted to their new model. This results in a additional design cost.

In addition, vacuum cleaner manufacturers must then manage numerous references of dust filters and / or paper bags, and keep them available to their customers for fairly long periods. he This results in difficulties in managing and maintaining these stocks.

Furthermore, retailers are left with the difficulty that for satisfy the demands of their customers, they should have in stock a large number of dust filter references for each brand and every model on the market. However, such a situation is quite rarely verified. he This results in supply difficulties for users.

Finally, the user always has the risk of obtaining filters spare parts which are not suitable for the vacuum cleaner. This results in costs and unnecessary hassle.

Document FR-A-1 071 345 describes a vacuum cleaner comprising a hose and a housing for a dust bag. The dust bag has a filling opening with a removable connection means to the filling pipe, such as a threaded ring secured to the bag around the orifice filling.

Some models of vacuum cleaners are designed so that they do not only work if they recognize certain types of filters. It's the case especially when the dust bag is mounted on a cardboard. In this In this case, the vacuum cleaner may include a switch or an inhibitor device which prevents its functioning (its starting) as long as the cardboard mounted on the dust bag is not properly engaged. Such a safety prevents aspiration into the dust bag receptacle when it is not installed.

It is known from document EP-A-0 107 785 to produce a bag for dust for a vacuum cleaner, having a filling opening around which adhesives are arranged to secure the bag to a cardboard.

This realization has the advantage of being able to use the dust with any type of vacuum cleaner, since it suffices to secure the bag on a cardboard suitable for the vacuum cleaner.

However, this embodiment suffers from numerous drawbacks. The replacing a bag filled with dust with a new bag requires tearing off the adhesive, which contributes to degrading the surface of the cardboard, if the adhesive is removed from the cardboard each time the bag, or leave an uneven layer of adhesive on the cardboard and therefore not very conducive to ensuring a good seal.

As a result, this achievement is not satisfactory.

It is also known, from document US-A-3,675,399, a vacuum cleaner in which a dust bag is removably mounted on a adapter. The latter comprises a plate provided with a coincident opening with the interior of a cylindrical protuberance integral with this plate. then mounting the bag on this plate, the protrusion enters the opening of the bag with dust. The assembly is then disposed in a reversible and removable manner on slides 32 located on the wall of the vacuum cleaner surrounding the orifice air inlet. The plate being adapted to the slides, themselves adapted to the vacuum cleaner, the assembly then remains specific to a vacuum cleaner, even if different types of bags can be used.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention therefore aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and allow the user to dispense with the filters dust specifically designed for the vacuum cleaner used.

The aims assigned to the invention are achieved with a means adaptation including the features of claim 1.

Thus, the user can adapt the connecting tube according to the invention to a support, for example a cardboard box, connect a dust bag to it and install the dust filter thus formed in the vacuum cleaner. When the bag dust is full, the user can throw away this bag and replace it with a new bag. The connection means of the connecting tube makes it possible to reuse the same connecting tube with the bags used successively. Way to fixing allows the connection tube to be secured to the support.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved with a filtration device comprising an adapter according to the invention.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved with a vacuum cleaner on which is mounted an adapter according to the invention.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe d'une partie d'un aspirateur équipé d'un dispositif de filtration selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe d'une partie d'un autre aspirateur équipé d'un dispositif de filtration selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe d'une partie d'un autre aspirateur équipé d'un dispositif de filtration selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 représente un premier mode de réalisation d'un tube de liaison selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 représente un second mode de réalisation d'un tube de liaison selon l'invention,
• les figures 6 et 7 représentent deux vues en perspective schématiques de modes de réalisation d'un sac à poussières d'un dispositif de filtration selon l'invention.
• la figure 8 représente une vue schématique en perspective d'un sac à poussières à cartonnette selon l'état de la technique.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below with reference to the figures appended by way of example, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a sectional view of part of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of part of another vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of part of another vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 represents a first embodiment of a connecting tube according to the invention,
• FIG. 5 represents a second embodiment of a connecting tube according to the invention,
• Figures 6 and 7 show two schematic perspective views of embodiments of a dust bag of a filtration device according to the invention.
• Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a dust bag with cardboard according to the prior art.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

The connecting tube 4 according to the invention is intended to be used with a dust bag 6 to make an adaptable universal filtration device in most vacuum cleaners. A vacuum cleaner has a receptacle 13 provided to receive the dust bag 6 and a filling pipe 14, such as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner comprises a filling tube 14 of the dust bag 6 with a diameter and a length which fluctuate according to the models. Sometimes it is made up of a simple collar. It is used to transfer the air flow sucked in by the vacuum cleaner turbine and charged with dust collected by the vacuum cleaner’s broom, towards the dust bag 6.

Most disposable dust filters used in vacuum cleaners consist of a paper bag mounted on a cardboard.

In Figure 8, there is shown the detached perspective view of a state of the art dust filter comprising a bag 77 made of paper and one end 74 of which is glued to a cardboard 70 with a hole central 73. The cardboard is generally made of a relatively cardboard flexible which is stuck on a folded paper bag. The latter, by collage on the zone 75 around the filling orifice 76, represented between the contour in mixed lines and the edge of the orifice 76, is mounted on the rear face of the cardboard box 70 and constitutes with the cardboard box, a dust filter traditional.

The accessory according to the invention consists of a connecting tube 4 comprising a first end 21 capable of being secured to substantially sealed by means of attachment 3 to a support 1, and a second end 22 on which is disposed a connection means 5 designed to cooperate detachably with a connecting means 7 mounted around a filling orifice 49 of a dust bag 6. The first end 21 of tube 4 advantageously comprises a flange 24.

The support 1 has an orifice 23 and is provided for connection substantially tight with the filling pipe 14.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the support 1 is constituted by a cardboard. As mentioned in the preamble, several types vacuum cleaners require to operate to detect the presence of the dust by the arrangement of a cardboard box. The cardboard is mounted in the receptacle 13 so as to form a substantially sealed connection with the filling hose 14.

According to another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner does not need to cardboard to work. As shown for example in Figure 3 the support 1 consists of an inner wall of receptacle 13 in which opens hole 23.

The filling pipe 14 is removable from the receptacle 13, such as shown in Figure 2. According to another embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3 the filling pipe 14 is secured to the receptacle 13. The filler pipe 14 shown in Figure 1 is prominent inside the receptacle 13. The filling pipe 14 shown in Figure 3 opens simply in the wall of the receptacle 13, through the orifice 23.

The vacuum cleaner in which the invention is used can obviously include a support 1 consisting of a cardboard box and a filling 14 secured to receptacle 13, or a support 1 consisting of a inner wall of receptacle 13 and a removable filling pipe 14 from the receptacle 13. Depending on the types of vacuum cleaners, the lengths and diameters of the filler pipe vary.

The connecting tube 4 and the dust bag 6 form a device for filtration according to the invention, adaptable to most types of vacuum cleaners.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner is shown partially in section, the connecting tube 4 and the dust filter 6 being seen also in section and partially.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receptacle received the device filter according to the invention mounted on the cardboard forming the support 1, the cardboard having been taken from a filter recommended by the manufacturer of the vacuum cleaner. We note that this provision authorizes that be kept additional devices such as a non-return valve which would be fitted including the original cardboard.

Once fitted, the inventive cardboard dust filter therefore comprises the cardboard box 1 mounted on a connecting tube 4 by means 2, then a universal dust bag 6 by a connecting means 7.

According to one embodiment, the fixing means 3 is constituted by adhesive means, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The adhesive means is advantageously placed on the first end 21 of the tube 4. The user thus has a connection tube ready for be mounted on the support 1.

Preferably, the adhesive means consists of a ring double-sided adhesive well known in the trade.

1) résister à l'effort de traction et/ou de cisaillement appliqué lors de la connexion du tube de liaison sur le sac;

2) rattraper les différences de niveaux produites par l'arrachement des fibres de la surface de la cartonnette lors de l'enlèvement du sac original ;

3) résister à l'effort de dépression d'aspiration.

The double-sided adhesive ring has a first layer of glue, used to glue the ring initially on the first end 21 of the connecting tube 4. The ring then has an annular support made of microporous foam, serving on the one hand of support for the layers of adhesive glues, and on the other hand, making it possible to make up for the irregularities of the surface on which the connecting tube will be glued. Then, the ring comprises a second layer of adhesive, protected by a film peelable by the user, and intended to come to permanently secure the connecting tube 4 with the suitable face of the cardboard or the support 1. The ring double-sided adhesive must in fact be formed so as to;

1) resist the tensile and / or shear force applied when connecting the connecting tube to the bag;

2) to make up for the differences in levels produced by the tearing of the fibers from the surface of the cardboard during the removal of the original bag;

3) resist the effort of vacuum suction.

These imperatives are solved with a foam substrate microporous 2 to 5 millimeters thick.

According to an alternative embodiment, the adhesive means consists of a layer of glue.

According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the fixing means is constituted by at least one suction cup.

According to another embodiment, also not shown in figures, the fixing means comprises mechanical elements such as clips or rivets passing through the collar 24 of the tube 4 as well as the support 1. Advantageously, a seal disposed between the end 21 of the tube 4 and the support 1 guarantees the tightness of the assembly.

In Figure 6, there is shown an embodiment of a bag dust used in the filtration device according to the invention. The bag dust is made of a flexible textile material, such as a non-woven fabric and especially polypropylene. The material is laminated in the form a sheet which is formed into a closed bag with an opening for filling.

In one embodiment, the bag consists of the connection of two sheets 40 and 41 of the aforementioned material. The leaves are shaped circular and their periphery constitutes an edge 42 or 43 which are secured by welding, especially by ultrasound, gluing or sewing in the edge areas 42 and 43.

One 40 of the two sheets has a filling orifice 49 to through which the dust-laden air, sucked in by the vacuum cleaner, passes through the bag with dust.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting means 7 between the dust bag 6 and the connecting tube 4 is a connecting means disconnectable. Preferably, it is constituted by a ring 44 with thread "quarter-turn", which cooperates with an external thread of the connecting tube 4, which forms the disconnectable connection means 5.

As shown in Figure 6, the removable connecting means 7 comprises an annular ring 44 whose internal bore 45 carries sectors of thread 46 and 47, so as to produce a "quarter-turn" nut. The ring is intended to be welded, in particular by ultrasound, or glued around the orifice filling 49 in zone 48.

In Figure 7, there is shown another embodiment of a bag filter from the filtration device according to the invention. The dust bag of FIG. 7 comprises sheets in the shape of a polygon, preferably a hexagon. The filling orifice 50 can be offset from the center of the sheet.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, two sheets are glued edge to edge along straight edges such as edge 51, as described for zones 42 and 43 of the bag in FIG. 6.

Preferably, the material comprises two or three layers. The first layer, arranged towards the outside of the bag, is made, as it already has been described in synthetic material, for example polypropylene. The second layer is made of a fibrous material. We choose a material made of micro-fibers that retain the finest dust particles. Layer external material is chosen so as to give solidity to the dust bag, flexibility so as to allow it, when vacuuming fill the entire vacuum container. Advantageously a third layer, internal, is added to stop the coarsest dust and avoid rapid clogging of the inner layer.

It is clear, that other shapes or other materials can be envisaged which meet the same criteria mentioned above. In particular, the bag can be made from a single sheet whose edges are joined by a ring link. Similarly, the annular ring 44 can be produced directly on the periphery of the filling orifice by carrying out local hardening of the sheet of nonwoven fabric, by heating it locally and / or by bringing of the material.

The hexagonal shape of the leaves in Figure 7 helps minimize cutting losses when the sheets cut to make bags dust according to the invention is collected on one or two rollers. Indeed, cutting can be done edge to edge for most of the hexagons cut on a rectangular strip, except on the sides of the strip and on the opening cut.

The arrangement of the two sheets making up the bag dust cooperates with the flexibility of the nonwoven fabric, as well as with the revolution shape of the bag, so that the maximum volume available in the receptacle is anyway occupied by the bag when it fills. We thus avoids the disadvantage of folded paper bags which must have a geometry strictly calculated to adapt to the shape of the receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner to which they are dedicated.

The ring 44 forming the connection means 7 is advantageously permanently attached to the dust bag 6 as explained with the aid of Figures 6 and 7.

In Figure 4, there is shown a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the connecting tube 4. The tube 4 has the shape a hollow cylinder, the end 22 of which having an orifice 15 is intended to come in connection with the filling opening of the dust bag. The orifice of universal dust bag of the filtration device of the invention is still the even. Therefore, all the connection tubes of the replacement kits according to the invention have an end 22 intended to come into relation with the orifice dust bag of the same diameter. In Figure 4, the connecting tube is a model intended to "shrink" the diameter of the bag filling orifice, to adapt it to a smaller diameter filling pipe. To this end, the end 21 comprising an orifice 16 is provided with an annular shoulder in the plane perpendicular to the axis of cylinder 4 so that the diameter inlet port 16 is smaller than the diameter of outlet port 15 towards the dust bag.

The connection means 5 is for example formed by a thread made in the form of a helical groove on the external face of the end 22 of the connecting tube 4, designed to cooperate with the thread 45 of the ring 44.

In Figure 5, there is shown another model of connecting tube in which the end 21, comprising an inlet orifice 17, intended to come in relation to the filling pipe 14, and in relation to the support 1, is of a larger diameter than that of the outlet orifice 15. The tube of link 4 of Figure 5 is said "diameter enlarger". This can be caused in particular because the filling pipe 14 in the dust filter receptacle, inside the vacuum cleaner is of a diameter more important than that of the orifice 49 of the dust bag.

• la première section cylindrique liée à l'orifice d'entrée 17, présente un épaulement en forme d'anneau qui borde l'orifice 17, de sorte que le tube de liaison 4 peut s'adapter à des cartonnettes dont l'orifice est de fort diamètre ;
• la seconde section cylindrique liée à l'orifice de sortie 15 présente toujours le même diamètre quel que soit l'aspirateur ou la cartonnette considérée.
• et les deux sections cylindriques sont raccordées par une section de liaison 18 d'adaptation des diamètres.

For this reason, the tube 4 is advantageously constituted by two cylindrical sections:

• the first cylindrical section linked to the inlet orifice 17 has a ring-shaped shoulder which borders the orifice 17, so that the connecting tube 4 can be adapted to cardboard boxes whose orifice is large diameter;
• the second cylindrical section linked to the outlet orifice 15 always has the same diameter regardless of the vacuum cleaner or the box considered.
• and the two cylindrical sections are connected by a connecting section 18 for adapting the diameters.

Similarly, the lengths of the various filling pipes 14 according to the models of vacuum cleaners, can be adapted by tubes of link 4 of various lengths, and particularly, although this is not described here, by abutment of several connecting tubes.

A plurality of connecting tubes 4 "wideners" or "shrinkers" of diameters, as well as adapters of lengths of filling pipes, forms a universal mounting kit or replacement kit for dust.

The invention is used in the following manner.

When the cardboard is essential for the operation of the vacuum cleaner the user extracts the dust filter from the vacuum cleaner receptacle original to replace because it is filled with dust. Instead of throwing it away the user immediately removes the cardboard box from this filter dust, which, remember, is simply stuck on the full paper bag of dust.

Then, he gets a universal mounting kit for dust according to the invention which mainly comprises a plurality of tubes link.

Having cleared it, the user discards the old dust filter without cardboard and presents the latter in front of the set of connection tubes of the kit mounting, to select the length and diameter suitable for the pipe filling 14 in the receptacle of the vacuum cleaner.

It assembles the connecting tube 4 on a suitable face of the cardboard recovered, so that the holes 16 or 17 of the connecting tube 4 and 23 of the cardboard correspond.

The suitable side of the cardboard which must receive the tube of bond is necessarily the one that carried the old dust bag of the filter original, because any cuts or asymmetries in the cardboard freeze its orientation.

It remains for the user to mount the universal dust bag 6 on the standard orifice 15 of the connecting tube 4.

The filtration device according to the invention can then be inserted into the vacuum cleaner receptacle which, again receiving a cardboard filter, can operate normally.

When the cardboard is not essential for the operation of the vacuum cleaner, or that the bags usually used in the appliance do not have no cardboard, the user directly fixes the end 21 of the connecting tube 4 on the support 1 around the orifice 23 using the means of fixing 3.

Later, the universal dust bag 6 being full of dust, it just buy a set of refills consisting of dust bags universal 6 fitting on the connecting tube 4. The connecting tube 4 can remain permanently fixed to the support 1. Advantageously the connecting tube 4 is permanently mounted on support 1. The user no longer has need to disassemble said tube, since it suffices to replace bag 6, by example when the one is full, and not the universal filtration device.

Any vacuum cleaner equipped with a connection tube 4 from a kit universal for dust filter can use a universal dust bag 6.

The present invention has been described by way of illustration only by examples of realization of the drawings.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the technical field of suction devices for cleaning.

Claims (8)

1. An adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) to fit a cardboard stiffener plate (70) of a vacuum cleaner, in particular a domestic vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner including, inter alia, a receptacle (13) designed to receive the dust bag (6) and a filling duct (14) for filling the dust bag, said cardboard stiffener plate (70) being provided with an orifice (23) and being designed to be connected in substantially leaktight manner to the filling duct (14), said adapter consisting of a tube (4), connection means (5) designed to co-operate removably with coupling means (7) mounted around a filling orifice (49) in the dust bag (6) being disposed on the second end (22) of the tube (4), said adapter being characterized in that the first end (21) of the tube (4) is provided with a collar (24) provided with fixing means (3) constituted by adhesive means or by staples organized to fix said collar permanently and in substantially leaktight manner around the orifice (23) in the cardboard stiffener plate (70).
2. An adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) to fit the inside wall of a receptacle (13) of a vacuum cleaner, in which wall an orifice (23) opens out that is designed to be connected in substantially leaktight manner to a filling duct (14) for filling the dust bag, said adapter consisting of a tube (4), connection means (5) designed to co-operate removably with coupling means (7) mounted around a filling orifice (49) in the dust bag (6) being disposed on the . second end (22) of the tube (4), said adapter being characterized in that the first end (21) of the tube (4) is provided with a collar (24) provided with fixing means (3) constituted by adhesive means or by staples for fixing said collar permanently and in substantially leaktight manner around the orifice (23).
3. An adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the adhesive means are disposed on the first end (21) of the adapter tube.
4. An adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive means are a double-sided adhesive ring.
5. An adapter for a dust bag (6) according to claim 4, characterized in that the adhesive ring includes a substrate made of a microporous foam.
6. An adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tube (4) includes a diameter-reducing segment (16) or a diameter-enlarging segment (17) and/or a length-adapting segment (18), said segments being organized to enable the filling duct (14) to be inserted into said tube (4).
7. A dust filter device for a vacuum cleaner, in particular a domestic vacuum cleaner, said dust filter device being characterized in that it includes an adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) according to claims 1 to 6 and associated with said dust bag (6), said adapter including coupling means (7) mounted around a filling orifice (49).
8. A vacuum cleaner, in particular a domestic vacuum cleaner, characterized in that it includes an adapter for adapting a dust bag (6) according to claims 1 to 6.

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