Double-wall Vacuum Cleaner Filter Bag

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner filter bag used particularly in upright type vacuum cleaners. The bag comprises a main receptacle portion of air pervious material and a tubular portion of air impervious material. The tubular portion is affixed to the main receptacle portion at facing openings in each portion such that air passing through the tubular portion and into the main receptacle portion does not directly impinge against adhesive junctions or seals made in the formation of the main receptacle portion. The main receptacle portion has a double-wall formed from two sheets of porous filter paper which are joined together and folded in the construction of the receptacle portion. Each of these sheets, if taken alone, being unable to effectively withstand the force of a direct stream of air from the tubular portion, but the combined sheets forming the double-wall is able to effectively withstand the force of such a direct stream of air without rupturing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner filter bag, and more particularly to a double-wall vacuum cleaner filter bag useful for upright type vacuum cleaners.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,522 entitled VACUUM CLEANER FILTER BAG, granted to John J. Fesco on Jan. 27, 1970, discloses a similar bag comprising a main bag portion formed of a single sheet of porous or air pervious paper and a tubular portion of air impervious material. The main bag portion is formed of a single sheet of air pervious paper folded substantially in half along a top fold line and adhesively joined to define a receptacle structure having a bottom seam opposite the top fold line. The arrangement disclosed in this patent provides for the tubular portion to be affixed to the main bag portion at facing openings in each portion such that air passing through the tubular portion and into the main bag portion does not directly impinge against adhesive junctions or seals made in the formation of the main bag portion.

Unfortunately, the bag disclosed in the above-mentioned patent requires the single sheet of air pervious paper of the main bag portion to be considerably thick in order to effectively withstand the force of a direct stream of air from the tubular portion without rupturing. Accordingly, the cost of the thick porous paper makes this patented bag quite expensive. Additionally, because of the fold line along the top portion of the main bag portion, a large amount of adhesive is required in this patented bag to secure the tubular portion to the main bag portion. This adhesive is the only means used in connecting these two portions together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a main receptacle portion of air pervious material and a tubular portion of air impervious material, the tubular portion being affixed to the main receptacle portion at facing openings in each portion such that air passing through the tubular portion and into the main receptacle portion does not directly impinge against adhesive junctions or seals made in the formation of the main receptacle portion, the main receptacle portion including a double-wall formed from two sheets of porous filter paper which are joined together and folded to construct the receptacle portion, the combined sheets being able to effectively withstand the force of a direct stream of air from the tubular portion without repturing, whereby each of the sheets if taken alone being unable to effectively withstand such a force, the main receptacle portion including a longitudinally extending seam, a top folded seam and a bottom folded seam, the top folded seam closes the top portion of the tubular portion and also joins this top portion of the tubular portion to the top portion of the main receptacle portion.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner filter bag which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art bags.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter bag which is readily adaptable to or modifiable for use in any upright vacuum cleaner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a filter bag which is durable and inexpensive.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a filter bag having a double-wall main receptacle portion formed from two sheets of porous filter paper which is able to effectively withstand the force of a direct stream of air from the tubular portion of the filter bag without rupturing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a filter bag with a tubular portion affixed to a main receptacle portion whereby a top folded seam closes the top portions of both the tubular portion and main receptacle portion, and also joins these top portions together.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a filter bag in which the adhesive bag seals are not readily ruptured by air passing through a tubular portion of the bag and into a main bag portion thereof.

And still yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a filter bag having the objectives as mentioned which may be readily and efficiently manufactured at low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of part as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the constructed double-wall vacuum cleaner filter bag in accordance with the present invention, showing the apertures in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bag in an expanded condition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of the receptacle portion of the bag, showing the inner surface thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank of the receptacle portion of the bag, showing the outer surface thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the blank taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the receptacle portion of the bag, stippled for adhesive;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the receptacle portion of the bag taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the connecting tube portion of the bag, stippled for adhesive;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view, partially sectional and fragmented, illustrating the bag in an expanded condition; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the bag taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail for purposes of illustration, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the invention in an assembled condition to define a vacuum cleaner filter bag 10. The bag 10 includes a receptacle portion 12 joined to a connecting tube portion 14 of air impervious material. The receptacle portion 12 includes a double-wall formed from two sheets of porous filter paper which are joined together and folded in such a manner, as will be set forth in more detail hereinafter below, to provide a longitudinally extending seam 16, a top folded seam 18 and a bottom folded seam 20. The top folded seam 18 also closes the top portion of the connecting tube portion 14 and joins same to the receptacle portion 12. FIG. 2 shows the bag in an expanded condition, with the receptacle portion 12 ready to receive and hold the dust and dirt particles therein, the particles being obtained from the dust-laden air forced through the tube portion 14 by the air-directing means of the vacuum cleaner (not shown).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the blank 22 used to form the receptacle portion 12, with FIG. 3 showing the inner surface thereof and FIG. 4 showing the outer surface thereof. A sheet 24 of porous filter paper is superposed over a sheet 26 of porous filter paper to form the blank 22. The sheet 24, which forms the inner surface or lining of the receptacle portion 12, is preferably not as strong as the sheet 26, which forms the outer surface or layer of the receptacle bag 12. Accordingly, inner sheet 24 can be made from a less-expensive porous paper, and can be made thinner in cross-section than the outer sheet 26, where the outer sheet 26 can also be made from a less-expensive porous paper which is more porous. The combined sheets 24 and 26 will effectively withstand the air pressure or force within the receptacle portion 12 when in use, by retaining the dust and dirt particles therein without a rupture, break or tear. It is noted that the combination of sheets 24 and 26 is less porous than each of these sheets 24, 26 taken separately.

The thinner inner sheet 24, if taken alone, would not be able to withstand this air pressure or force without rupturing. Though the thicker outer sheet 26 may be able to withstand this air pressure or force without rupturing, the outer sheet 26 by itself would not be effective because of its increased porosity. Accordingly, the above-mentioned air pressure would force the dust and dirt particles through the single sheet 26, if taken alone, making this sheet 26 ineffective. This is particularly true each time the vacuum cleaner is started, at which time the air pressure or force is at its greatest.

However, it should be noted that both the inner and outer sheets 24 and 26 can be made from the same type or quality of porous paper, wherein the combined thickness of these two sheets would effectively withstand the air pressure or force exerted in the bag 10, and still provide a blank that is less expensive than and just as effective as a similar blank having the same cross-sectional thickness but made from a single sheet of porous paper. The cost of the porous paper used in vacuum cleaner filter bags is not directly proportional to its thickness, where the cost of the paper increases exponentially in relationship to the thickness of the porous paper. For example, doubling the thickness of the paper may increase the cost thereof four times the amount of the original cost. Therefore, the cost of two of these sheets combined would be only half the cost of a single sheet having the same thickness and effectiveness as the combined sheets. Additionally, a single sheet of porous paper may have a higher cost than the combined sheets of porous paper having a greater thickness than the single sheet, where each of the combined sheets is thinner than the single sheet. It should also be noted that each of the combined sheets, if taken alone, would not be able to effectively withstand the air pressure or force of a direct stream of air which impinges against the inner walls of the bag 10, for the reasons stated above.

Each of the sheets 24 and 26 is provided with an elongated opening 28A and 28B, respectively, in the longitudinally extending front panels 30A and 30B, respectively, thereof. Each of the longitudinally extending rear panels 32A and 32B of the sheets 24 and 26, respectively, is provided with a transversely extending bottom tab member 34A and 34B, respectively. Longitudinally extending panels 36A and 38A of the inner sheet 24 and longitudinally extending panels 36B and 38B of the outer sheet 26 together form one gusseted side wall 44 of the receptacle portion 12. Longitudinally extending panels 40A and 42A of the inner sheet 24 and longitudinally extending panels 40B and 42B of the outer sheet 26 together form the other opposing gusseted side wall 46 of the receptacle portion 12, as best shown in FIG. 7. Additionally, both the inner sheet 24 and the outer sheet 26 are provided with a longitudinally extending front connecting panel 48A and 48B, respectively, the purpose of which will be set forth below.

The top folded seam 18 is formed from the transversely extending panels 50A and 52A of inner sheet 24 and the transversely extending panels 50B and 52B of outer sheet 26. The bottom folded seam 20 is formed from the transversely extending panel 54A of the inner sheet 24 and the transversely extending panel 54B of the outer sheet 26, together with the tab members 34A and 34B. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the outer front panel 30B is transversely wider than the inner front panel 30A to conceal the inner panel 30A, as will be shown hereinafter below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet 26 is superposed over sheet 24 in such a manner that the openings 28B and 28A are in facing alignment with each other. Preferably, the sheets 24 and 26 are secured together, at least along three of the edges thereof, such as the top edge 56, the side edge 58 and the bottom edge 60, to prevent the sheets from shifting relative to each other during the forming of the receptacle portion 12. A commercially available water-resistant adhesive 62, well known in the art, is used to join the panels at these edges. Additionally, the inside portions around the opening 28A are secured to the inside portions around the opening 28B by a commericially available water-resistant adhesive 64, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The tight seal around the openings 28A and 28B prevents air from going inside between the sheets 24 and 26 when the bag 10 is in use, which could cause the receptacle portion 12 to break or tear from this air pressure between the sheets, or which could allow the dust and dirt particles to escape from the bag 10.

Prior to folding the blank 22 into the receptacle 12, commercially available water-resistant adhesive stripes are provided on the blank 22 so that suitable pressure or other means can be utilized to firmly adhesively secure the panels of the blank 22 together to form the receptacle 12. Three closely spaced, longitudinally extending adhesive stripes 66, 68 and 70 are provided, the stripes 66 and 68 being on the inner front panel 30A, and the stripe 70 being on the outer front panel 30B, as best shown in FIG. 3. A transversely extending adhesive stripe 72 is provided across panel 54A. Additionally, a transversely extending adhesive stripe 74 is provided across tab portion 34A, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, an adhesive stripe 76 is provided transversely across the rear panel 32B at a top portion thereof within the panel 50B. Two transversely spaced apart adhesive stripes 78 and 80 are provided at a top portion of the front panel 30B within the panel 52B. Each of the stripes 78 and 80 are approximately a third of the width of the front panel 30B. Additionally, a stripe of adhesive 82 is provided across an upper portion of front connecting panel 48B within the panel 52B, as best shown in FIG. 6. A transversely extending adhesive stripe 84 is provided across a bottom portion of the front panel 30B within panel 54B, and an additional adhesive stripe 84 is provided across a bottom portion of panel 48B within the panel 54B.

To form the receptacle portion 12 of the bag 10, the blank 22 is folded into the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, the blank 22 is folded to form the gusseted side walls 44 and 46, with the front panels 30A and 30B overlying the front connecting panels 48A and 48B. The panels 30A and 30B are pressed against the panels 48A and 48B so that the adhesive stripes 66, 68 and 70 join these panels together, and conceals the inner panel 30A, as shown in the drawings, to define the seam 16. At the same time, the adhesive stripe 72 joins the bottom portions of the inner panels together to close the bottom of the receptacle portion 12, thereby maintaining the side walls 44 and 46 in a gusseted condition.

The panels 54B and 54A and tab members 34A and 34B are folded upwardly onto front panels 30B and 48B to provide an additional sealing of the bottom of the receptacle bag 12, wherein the adhesive stripes 84, 86 and 74 secure these panels together to form the bottom fold 20, as shown in FIG. 9. An additional adhesive stripe 88, preferably water-resistant, is provided around the opening 28B of the front panel 30B for joining the connecting tube portion 14, as set forth hereinbelow.

FIG. 8 shows the connecting tube portion 14, formed from an air impervious material such as paper, in a folded condition ready for attachment to the receptacle portion 12. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connecting tube portion 14 includes a rear panel 90 provided with an elongated opening 92 for association with the openings 28A and 28B of the receptacle portion 12. The opening 92 may be the same size as the openings 28A and 28B, or may be slightly smaller thereof, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, to prevent the stream of air from impinging against the sides of the openings 28A and 28B. An adhesive stripe 94, preferably a water-resistant adhesive, is provided around the opening 92 of the rear panel 90 of the connecting tube portion 14 for joining the connecting tube portion 14 to the receptacle portion 12.

The connecting tube portion 14 also includes a pair of longitudinally extending front panels 96 and 98, which are joined together in an overlapping arrangement by a commercially available water-resistant adhesive disposed longitudinally therebetween. Longitudinally extending side panels 98 and 100 form one gusseted side wall 102, with longitudinally extending side panels 104 and 106 forming the other opposing gusseted side wall 108 of the connecting tube portion 14. Transversely extending panels 110 and 112 form a portion of the top folded seam 18 as will be set forth hereinafter below.

An additional transversely extending stripe of adhesive 114, preferably a water-resistant adhesive, is provided transversely across the rear panel 90 and the front panels 96 and 98 (not shown) at a top portion of each within the panel 112. The lower end of the connecting tube portion 14 is left open at 116 for connection to a conventional vacuum cleaner discharge fitting (not shown). In accordance with convention practice, a spring-clamp, elastic ring or the like (not shown) can be used to ensure a close fit of the lower end of the connecting tube portion 14 around the end of the discharge fitting.

To join the connecting tube receptacle portion 12, the tube rear panel 90 is placed against the receptacle front panel 30B with the openings 92, 28A and 28B in facing alignment, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Pressure is then applied against these panels so that the adhesive stripes 88 and 94 join these panels together around the openings therein. Additionally, adhesive stripe 114 joins the top portion of panel 90 to the top portion of panel 30B. Top receptacle panels 50A and 50B and top tube panel 110 are folded over the top receptacle panels 52A and 52B and the tube panel 112, so that the adhesive stripes 78, 80, 82 on receptacle panels 30B and 48B and the adhesive stripe 114 on tube panels 96, 98 hold these panels in a folded condition. These panels are then again folded over to form the top folded seam 18, being held in the folded condition by the adhesive stripe 76 on the top portion of receptacle panel 32B. Accordingly, the connecting tube portion 14 is held within the top folded seam 18 as best shown in FIG. 9, wherein the vacuum cleaner filter bag 10 is now in its assembled configuration.

As shown above, in addition to the provision in the filter bag of this invention of placing the apertures in such a position so that an incoming air stream does not directly impinge against a structurally weaker portion of the bag such as an adhesive junction, this invention permits the use of thinner and less expensive porous paper for the formation of the receptacle portion. Though each of these sheets individually might not be able to effectively withstand the air pressure or force of a direct stream of air directly impinging thereagainst, the combination of these thinner sheets would effectively withstand such a force of a direct stream of air struck against the receptacle bag walls of this invention, as set forth above. The cost of these combined sheets is far less expensive than the cost of a single sheet of porous paper of the same thickness. It should also be noted that the increased cost for the manufacture of a double-wall bag is far less expensive than the saving in the cost of the porous paper.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein described would suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only, and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a receptacle portion of air pervious material and a connecting tube portion of air impervious material;

said receptacle portion including two sheets of said air pervious material joined together to define a double-wall front panel, a double-wall rear panel, double-wall side panels and top and bottom ends;

said double-wall front panel being provided with an opening extending through both of said two receptacle sheets;

first sealing means closing said bottom end of said receptacle portion;

said tube portion including a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, and top and bottom ends;

said rear wall being provided with an aperture therethrough;

joining means securing said tube rear wall against said receptacle front panel with said tube aperture in facing communication with said receptacle opening;

said bottom end of said tube portion being open for connection to a vacuum cleaner discharge fitting;

second sealing means joining said top ends of said receptacle and tube portions together and also closing both of said top ends;

said second sealing means being a double-folded seam provided with an adhesive for retaining said tube top end within said receptacle top end in a folded condition to close both of said top ends;

said two receptacle sheets together being able to effectively withstand a force of a direct stream of air passing through said tube portion into said receptacle portion while retaining dust and dirt particles without rupturing, each one of said two receptacle sheets taken alone being more porous than said two receptacle sheets together and being unable to effectively withstand said force;

one of said receptacle sheets, defining an inner lining of said receptacle portion, being thinner than the other one of said receptacle sheets which defines an outer layer of said receptacle portion; and

said inner lining taken alone being unable to withstand said force without rupturing.

2. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein one panel of said other outer receptacle sheet is wider than a corresponding panel of said one inner receptacle sheet to conceal said one panel within a longitudinally extending seam of said receptacle portion.

3. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein adhesive means are disposed between said two receptacle sheets to secure said receptacle sheets together and to prevent said receptacle sheets from shifting relative to each other.

4. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adhesive means are disposed at least along three outer edges of said receptacle sheets on inner facing portions of said receptacle sheets.

5. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adhesive means are also disposed on inside facing portions of said receptacle sheets around said opening extending through both of said two receptacle sheets to prevent air from going inside between said receptacle sheets.