US3421298A - End closure for a disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1969 o. F. DOWNEY 3,421,298

END CLOSURE FOR A DISPOSABLE VACUUM CLEANER DUST BAG Filed March 28, 1967 INVENTOR. Dm/ID FlDow/vsv HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end closure plate consisting of a pair of discs one of which has a plurality of flaps formed therein by die cutting and the other disc has an aperture aligned with the flaps when the discs are united in juxtaposition. Each of the flaps is held in closed position by a rivet-like member of elastic material one end of which is connected with a flap and the other end is connected with the opposite juxtaposed disc. In use the flaps are opened by the suction tube of a vacuum cleaner.

Background of the invention Disposable vacuum cleaner dust bags are known from US. Patents 2,596,806, 2,596,807 and 2,596,808. Essentially the known dust collectors consist of a filter bag for collecting dust and dirt and an end closure in the form of a cardboard plate attached to an open end of the filter bag. The end closure serves to hold the bag in its operative position in a vacuum cleaner and is provided with one or more latex rubber sheets which close to prevent spillage of dust and dirt when the bag is removed from the machine. While the bags according to the foregoing patents are completely satisfactory in operation they are expensive due to the use of relatively large latex rubber sheets and a time consuming method of manufacturing the end closure.

Summary of the invention The relatively large size latex rubber membranes or sheets according to the prior art must consist of an eX- pensive rubber formulation because of the high localized stresses the membranes are subjected to in use. In addition these latex rubber membranes must be held in place by gluing which requires time for the glue to set before the end closure can be considered completed and removed from the manufacturing machine.

In accordance with this invention the flaps of a disposable dust bag end closure are closed by means of rivetlike members of elastic material, which may be pretensioned, and are anchored in place in a positive manner without the requirement for time to allow a glue or adhesive to set. Further, the elastic rivets according to the invention do not engage the inlet pipe of the vacuum cleaner so that rivets cannot be damaged, severed or torn by the inlet pipe resulting in failure of the dust bag to be closed when removed from the vacuum cleaner.

An object of the invention is to provide an end closure for a dust bag which is less expensive than known closures but which is nevertheless reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic rivet for a dust bag closure means which is assembled with the end closure in a quick and simple manner.

Further objects, features and advantages of this inven tion. will become apparent from the following description of the drawing illustrating embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable paper dust 3,421,298 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 "ice :ollector having an end closure according to this inven- FIG. 2 is a perspective plan view of an end closure according to the invention showing the discs thereof subsequent to a die cutting operation and prior to folding and gluing the two halves of the end closure together as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the end closure of FIG. 2 in folded position and having the elastic rivets inserted;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the operative position of the flaps and elastic rivets of a completed end closure; FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a dust bag according to the invention in use in a vacuum cleaner.

Detailed description of the drawing In the figures, reference numeral refers generally to a disposable dust collector used in a vacuum cleaner of the type shown in the above mentioned patents. The dust collector 10 comprises a porous, paper filter bag 11 which is closed at one end by a fold 12 and is attached at its other end to an end closure plate 13 of relatively stiff material such as cardboard. The open end of the paper bag 11 attached to the closure plate 13 in known manner. The end closure plate 13 has an opening 15 formed in the outer disc 16 which is aligned with the opening in the bag (not shown). The inner disc 17 has a pair of flaps 18 which may be rectangular, as shown, circular, oval or other configuration. Each flap 18 is hinged on the disc 17 by means of a score line 19. Each flap is also provided with a small aperture 20 corresponding with a similar aperture 21 in the disc 16.

When the discs 16, 17 are juxtapositioned as shown in FIG. 3 an elastic rivet 25, having enlarged heads 26 at each end, are inserted through the aligned apertures 20, 21 in any suitable maner. As shown in FIG. 4 the shank of the elastic rivet is elongated when the flaps 18 are pushed apart by a suction tube T (FIG. 5) incorporated in the front cover 31 of a vacuum cleaner. When the tube T is removed from the end closure 13 the elastic rivet snaps the flaps to their closed position thus insuring against spillage of the contents of the bag during removal from the cleaner and disposal.

The exterior shape of the discs 16, 17, the openings and flaps therein are all formed in a single operation while the discs are opened prior to folding. Once the discs are united in juxtaposition the elastic rivets are inserted and then the bag 11 is attached. Each of the operations may be performed by known means.

What is claimed is:

1. An end closure plate for a disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag; the improvement comprising a pair of united juxtapositioned discs, one of said discs having an opening therethrough adapted to receive a suction tube of a vacuum cleaner, the other of said discs having a plurality of flaps integral therewith and hinged thereto, an aperture in each said flap and a corresponding aperture in said one disc aligned with said aperture in each flap, an elastic rivet extending through each said aligned pair of apertures in a plane substantially parallel with the axis of said opening, said elastic rivet being secured to the remote surfaces of each said disc by enlarged head portion thereof.

2. An end closure plate according to claim 1 with the addition of a filter bag secured to one of said discs.

3. An end closure plate according to claim 1 wherein said elastic rivet is pretensioned.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Patus 128146 Cawley 137-527 X Chatfield 261-114 Muentener 55367 Williams 137527 X Restemeier -1 137527 X Berquist 55367 X Anderson 55377 X Borkoski 55367 Dippel 55368 X Lofgren 55367 X Cranmer 55367 X Bramhall et a1. 55363 4 Anderson et a1 55367 X Green 2441 Shufiiebotharn 55367 Brown 229'62.5 Hoifmann 24 30.5 X

Great Britain.

FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner. DENNIS E. TALBERT, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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