EP1849392B1 - Holder plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The plate (1) has a closing flap (4) arranged on a base plate (2) in a rotatable manner for closing a passage aperture (3). An embossed flat spring (6) is arranged in such a manner that bending angle of the spring in a preset pivoting angular region is smaller than an opening angle of the closing flap. The closing flap is brought from one position to another position by a restoring force of the spring against an opening direction. The spring is arranged in the direction rear to the flap. The spring is made of a metal e.g. spring steel, and plastic e.g. thermosetting elastomer or polymer.

Description

The invention relates to a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag and a vacuum cleaner filter bag with such a holding plate.

Vacuum cleaner filter bags are placed inside the housing of a vacuum cleaner to pick up the sucked-in dust. For mounting the vacuum cleaner filter bag in the interior of the housing, vacuum cleaner filter bags each comprise a holding plate, by means of which the vacuum cleaner filter bag can be fixed to a holding device provided in the interior of the housing.

Such retaining plates have a passage opening through which an air flow with dust particles can enter the interior of the filter bag. For various reasons, it is desirable that this passage opening can be closed. On the one hand can be prevented by a sealed passage opening when disposing of a filled vacuum cleaner filter bag that emerges in the filter bag accumulated dust. Furthermore, some vacuum cleaner filter bags contain loose particles, for example for odor absorption. In order to prevent falling out of these particles, a closing of the passage opening is also advantageous.

Such a holding plate with a passage opening, which can be closed by means of a closure part, is made of WO 01/26526 known. In this holding plate, a leaf spring cooperates with the closure part, wherein the spring characteristic is selected such that the bending force, starting from a closed position initially rises sharply, then almost abruptly drops to a minimum and then rises again. The disadvantage of this holding plate is that the bending force increases relatively sharply at larger opening angles. In this way, a complete opening of the passage opening, which must be achieved during operation by the suction air flow of the vacuum cleaner, difficult.

Another retaining plate is from the DE 102 09 718 known. In this holding plate, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, a spring element for a closure flap is designed as a tension spring, which is mounted on the side of the closure flap on which it is loaded during the opening of the closure flap to train. The disadvantage is that this spring element in operation of the vacuum cleaner is always located in the flow path of the air flow, whereby dirt is deposited on the spring. This often fibrous dirt affects the function of the spring and the closure function of the flap. In addition, the tension spring is subject to high wear by the impinging dirt particles.

In view of the cited prior art, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, in which an improved opening and closing mechanism is made possible. This object is achieved by a holding plate according to claim 1.

By such an arrangement of the spring element, that the bending angle is smaller than the corresponding opening angle of the closure element by pivoting the closure element in a pivoting angle range when opening the passage opening, it is achieved that the bending force required when pivoting the closure element to overcome the restoring force of the spring is relatively weak increases. This allows a reliable and wide opening of the passage opening even with weak suction air flows.

The opening angle is the angle by which the closure element from the first position in which the passage opening is closed, and a second position in which the passage opening is opened, is pivoted. The bending angle is the angle by which the spring element is bent during pivoting of the closure element from the first position to the second position. When the passage opening is closed, the opening angle is equal to zero; the initial bending angle then takes a fixed Value that is, for example, zero or small (depending on the bias voltage). Starting from this initial bending angle, it is then determined by what bending angle the spring element is bent during a pivoting of the closure element.

The bending angle can be less than the opening angle, in particular over the entire pivot angle range. Alternatively, the bending angle for opening angle greater than 10 °, in particular greater than 20 °, be less than the opening angle.

The bending angle of the spring element upon pivoting the closure element in the opening direction from the first position to a second position may be 10% lower, in particular 20% lower, preferably 30% lower, more preferably 40% lower, most preferably 50% in the predetermined pivot angle range. , be less than the opening angle of the closure element.

The spring element is preferably designed and / or arranged such that it can be brought from the first position into the second position and / or as a function of a suction air flow from the second position into the first position by a suction air flow.

The spring element can, viewed in the opening direction, be arranged behind the closure element. This has the advantage that the spring element is not arranged in the flow path when the passage opening is open.

The opening direction is the direction in which the closure element is pivoted from the first position in which the passage opening is closed to a second position in which the passage opening is opened. Thus, the spring element is arranged in the air flow direction behind the closure element in this case.

The closure element or the base plate has a hole and the spring element is arranged such that one end of the spring element engages in a pivoting of the closure element in the opening direction into the hole. In a leaf spring as a spring element, the end may in particular be a longitudinal end of the leaf spring.

By this engagement in the hole is achieved in an advantageous manner that the bending angle of the spring element during pivoting of the closure element in the opening direction is less than the opening angle of the closure element.

The spring element may be fixedly connected to the base plate or the closure element at the opposite end and to rest in a movable manner on the closure element or the base plate. In particular, when the closure element has a hole, in particular a blind hole or a depression, the spring element can be fixedly connected to the base plate at the other end and rest on the closure element in a displaceable manner. Upon pivoting of the closure element from the first position to a second position, the support region of the closure element is then displaced along the spring element, so that the end of the spring element engages in the hole.

The hole may be a through hole or a blind hole. In particular, the blind hole or a depression in the closure element has the advantage that the air flow path in the opened state of the passage opening is only slightly hindered.

The hole may in particular be a blind hole, the bottom of which comprises an elastic material and / or a foil, in particular an elastic foil. Engages the one end of the spring element in a pivoting of the closure element in the hole and reaches the bottom, so allows an elastic material advantageously further pivoting of the closure element, in which then the hole bottom, namely the elastic material, by the application of the End of the spring element is deformed. In this way, the spring characteristic can be additionally influenced.

In particular, if the hole is provided in the base plate, it may be formed as a through hole. In this case, the connection of the holding plate may be formed with a bag wall such that the through hole does not open the bag interior. With such a suitable welding or bonding of the bag wall with the holding plate is thus prevented that exits through this through hole dirt from the Beutelinnem.

The spring element may be a flat spring, a leaf spring, in particular a cambered leaf spring, a torsion spring or a shaped spring. For example, a cambered Leaf spring, ie, a leaf spring with a continuous curvature transverse to the longitudinal axis, even with thin springs to a high pressure force.

In the holding plates described above, the closure element or the base plate may have a support region on which the spring element in a contact region of the spring element movably rests, wherein the support region is movable along the contact region during pivoting of the closure element in the opening direction such that the bending angle in the predetermined swivel angle range is less than the corresponding opening angle. In particular, when the spring element is firmly connected to the base plate, the closure element may have the support area.

The spring element can be movably arranged on the closure element or the base plate of the holding plates described above and cooperate with the closure element or the base plate in such a way that the spring characteristic curve is degressive when the closure element is pivoted in a predetermined swivel angle range.

In particular, the closure element or the base plate may have a support region, on which the spring element rests movably in a contact region of the spring element, wherein the support region and / or the contact region are formed such that the spring characteristic curve is degressive when the closure element is pivoted in a predetermined swivel angle range.

This can be selected in particular for larger opening angle a degressive spring characteristic, which simplifies further opening in these opening angles. For larger opening angles, it is sufficient if the required bending force for a given pivoting angle is small, as long as the bending force at small opening angles is sufficiently large to securely close the passage opening, when the closure element is acted upon in the first position by no suction air flow with a force ,

A degressive spring characteristic is understood to mean a characteristic curve in which the spring force or bending force applied via the closure element as a function of the opening angle or pivoting angle decreases as the opening angle increases Derivative has. The amount of the spring force or bending force corresponds to the amount of the restoring force acting on the closure element at the corresponding opening angle.

The spring element may have a recess or a depression in the contact region. This results in a simple way a suitable spring characteristic; upon pivoting of the closure element in the opening direction along the contact region, a degressive curve of the characteristic is obtained as soon as the support region reaches the recess or depression.

The support area may be formed in the form of a survey. Such a survey makes it possible to precisely select the interaction of closure element or base plate and spring element, in particular the corresponding support of the spring element. In addition, when such a survey engages when pivoting the closure element in a recess or depression of the spring element, a degressive behavior of the spring characteristic is achieved.

The closure element may comprise a surface, in particular a planar surface, which at least partially comprises a collar on the front side in the opening direction.

Such a collar, i.e., a protrusion at least partially surrounding the surface of the closure element, increases the surface of attack for an air flow during operation of the holding plate, which promotes the opening of the passage opening by pivoting the closure element.

In the holding plates described above, the base plate and / or the closure element may comprise a plastic or cardboard.

In particular, the base plate and closure element may be integrally formed and the closure element be connected via a fold line or a film hinge with the base plate, wherein a pivot axis is formed by the fold line or the film hinge.

This can be made in a particularly simple manner one of the holding plates described above.

The invention further provides a vacuum cleaner filter bag having one of the holding plates described above.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Halteplatte mit geschlossener Durchtrittsöffnung;

Figur 2

eine Querschnittsansicht der Halteplatte von Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine Querschnittsansicht einer Halteplatte mit geöffneter Durchtrittsöffnung;

Figur 4

eine Querschnittsansicht einer alternativen Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Halteplatte; und

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform einer Blattfeder für eine Halteplatte.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to FIGS. It shows

FIG. 1

a plan view of a holding plate according to the invention with a closed passage opening;

FIG. 2

a cross-sectional view of the holding plate of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

a cross-sectional view of a holding plate with an opened passage opening;

FIG. 4

a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a holding plate according to the invention; and

FIG. 5

a plan view of an embodiment of a leaf spring for a holding plate.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view (opposite to the opening direction) on a holding plate according to the invention 1. This holding plate 1 comprises a base plate 2, which is provided for example in the form of an injection molded part made of a plastic. In the base plate 2, a passage opening 3 is provided, which is closed in the example shown by a closure element or a flap 4. Closure element 4 and base plate 2 are integrally formed as an injection molded part, wherein the closure element 4 is connected via a film hinge 5, by which a pivot axis is formed with the base plate 2.

Furthermore, a spring element 6 is provided in the form of a leaf spring to hold the closure element 4 in the first position shown, the closure position. A longitudinal end 7 of the leaf spring 6 is fixed by embedding in the plastic with the Base plate 2 connected. The other longitudinal end 8 is movable on the closure element 4. The leaf spring 6 is in the opening direction behind, in the plan view shown opposite to the opening direction, however, arranged in front of the closure element 4.

In the closure element 4, a hole 9 is further provided, in which the leaf spring 6 engages upon pivoting of the closure element 4 in the opening direction. The leaf spring 6 is cambered, thus has transverse to the longitudinal axis on a continuous curvature. Due to this curvature, the leaf spring 6 touches the surface of the closure element 4 only at its longitudinal side edges.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view through the retaining plate of FIG. 1 along the line AA, which runs along one of the longitudinal axes of the leaf spring 6.

As this cross-sectional view can be seen, the one longitudinal end 7 of the leaf spring 6 is embedded in the plastic of the base plate 2 and thus fixed. The other longitudinal end 8 touches in the region of the side edges of the leaf spring (the contact area) the closure element 4, so that is held at a suitably selected bias of the leaf spring, the closure element by the restoring force of the spring in the first position shown or closed position.

The holding plate 1 is connected to the bag wall 10 of a vacuum cleaner filter bag, for example glued. Alternatively, the bag wall may also have fixedly connected fastening elements with which a retaining plate can then be detachably connected in a non-destructive manner, so that such a retaining plate can be reused several times. The bag wall may have a filter structure, as for example in the EP 0 960 645 is described.

The hole 9 is in the example shown in blind hole, the bottom 12 is formed by an elastic film. Such an elastic covering of the hole 9 can be effected by spraying a TPE (thermoplastic polymer) in the 2K process onto this region of the closure element. Due to such a soil, dirt is prevented from leaking through the hole from the bag interior.

During operation of the vacuum cleaner filter bag in a vacuum cleaner housing, the closure element 4 is acted upon by a suction air flow with a force which opposes the restoring force of the leaf spring 6 acts. If the force of the suction air flow exceeds the restoring force of the leaf spring, the closure element in the opening direction 11, see FIG. 2 , and thus pivoted in the direction of the interior of the filter bag around the pivot axis formed by the film hinge 5.

As a result of this pivoting movement, the abutment region of the closure element 2 shifts along the side edges of the leaf spring 6 in the direction of the clamped longitudinal end 7. This results in the other longitudinal end 8 engaging in the hole 9 provided in the closure element. Due to this engagement, the bending angle β of the leaf spring 6 is smaller than the opening angle α of the closure element. In this way, the bending force required for pivoting the closure element 4 is kept low, so that the passage opening 3 can be reliably opened even with a weak suction air flow.

At sufficiently deep penetration of the leaf spring 6 in the hole 9, this reaches the bottom 12 in the form of a film which is deformed upon further pivoting in the opening direction. In this way, the spring characteristic can be additionally modified by the elastic bottom.

Alternatively to the example shown, the blind hole may also be formed by a depression in the closure element, so that the bottom is not elastic in the case of a stiff plastic. Furthermore, the hole 9 may instead be a continuous hole. The latter is particularly advantageous in a design with a hole in the base plate and not in the closure element, since then the connection of the holding plate with the filter material of the bag wall can be chosen such that the hole does not open into the interior of the bag (ie outside the bag wall opens) and thus no dirt can escape from the bag through this.

In FIG. 4 FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a retaining plate. FIG. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 extends along the longitudinal axis of the leaf spring 6. Again, the leaf spring 6 is cambered, but in addition, in the longitudinal direction of a recess 13. In the example shown, furthermore, the leaf spring 6 does not lie directly with its side edges on the planar surface of the closure element 4. Instead, it is on the flat surface of the closure element 4 an elevation in the form of a pin 14 is provided, through which the support region of the closure element 4 is formed for the contact region of the leaf spring 6.

Upon pivoting of the closure element 4 in the opening direction, the pin 13 moves along the longitudinal axis of the leaf spring in the direction of the clamped longitudinal end 7. Once the pin 13 reaches the recess 13 of the leaf spring, due to the arrangement of leaf spring and pin, the spring characteristic degressive, so that from this opening angle of the closure element 4, the further expended force for pivoting the closure element 4 is lower.

An alternative embodiment of a leaf spring 6 for use in a holding plate according to the invention is shown schematically in the plan view of FIG. 5 shown. The leaf spring is cambered and has recesses 15 on its two longitudinal sides in the curved wall.

Such a leaf spring 6, for example, in the in FIGS. 1 to 3 shown holding plates are used. In the closed state of the passage opening, the movable longitudinal end of the leaf spring lies on its side edges on the closure element. When the closure element is pivoted about the pivot axis, the support region of the closure element travels along the contact region of the leaf spring formed by the side edges of the leaf spring in the direction of the clamped longitudinal end, wherein the movable longitudinal end engages in the blind hole provided in the closure element. As soon as the leaf spring engages with its recesses 14 in the blind hole of the closure element, then the spring characteristic is also degressive here.

As an alternative to the embodiments shown in the figures, the leaf spring can also be fixed to the closure element and be arranged movably on the base plate. In this case, a hole can then be provided in the base plate, in which the non-clamped longitudinal end of the leaf spring engages in a pivoting of the closure element in the opening direction.

In principle, other springs, such as torsion springs or spring form, can be used instead of the leaf spring described in the embodiments.

It is understood that the embodiments described above are to be understood by way of example and that the features shown and described can also be combined with each other in a different manner.

Claims (14)

1. A holder plate (1) for a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising
   a base plate (2) having a passage opening (3);
   a closure element (4) pivotably arranged on the base plate and used for closing said passage opening, and
   a spring element (6) which is arranged such that,

   when the closure element is pivoted in an opening direction (11) from a first position in which the passage opening is closed to a second position in which the passage opening is open, the bending angle (β) of the spring element is, in a predetermined pivot angle range, smaller than the respective opening angle (α) of the closure element, and

   that, by means of a restoring force of the spring element, the closure element is adapted to be moved from the second position to the first position in a direction opposite to the opening direction, characterized in that

   the closure element or the base plate is provided with a hole (9) and that the spring element is arranged such that one end thereof will engage the hole when the closure element is being pivoted in the direction of opening.
2. A holder plate according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is arranged behind the closure element, when seen in the direction of opening.
3. A holder plate according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is fixedly connected to the base plate or the closure element with the opposite end thereof and abuts movably on the closure element or on the base plate.
4. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hole is a throughhole or a blind hole.
5. A holder plate according to claim 4, wherein the hole is a blind hole whose bottom (12) comprises a foil, in particular an elastic foil.
6. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element is a flat spring, a leaf spring, in particular a cambered leaf spring, a torsion spring or a shaped spring.
7. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element is movably arranged on the closure element or on the base plate and co-operates with said closure element or said base plate in such a way that, when the closure element is being pivoted, the spring characteristic will be degressive in a predetermined pivot angle range.
8. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element or the base plate has a support area on which the spring element movably rests in a contact area of said spring element, said support area and/or contact area being implemented such that, when the closure element is being pivoted, the spring characteristic will be degressive in a predetermined pivot angle range.
9. A holder plate according to claim 8, wherein the spring element has a recess (15) or a depression (13) in said contact area.
10. A holder plate according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said support area is implemented in the form of a raised portion (14).
11. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element comprises an area at least part of which is provided with a collar provided on the front side of said area when seen in the direction of opening.
12. A holder plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate and/or the closure element comprises a plastic material or a cardboard material.
13. A holder plate according to claim 12, wherein the base plate and the closure element are formed integrally with one another and wherein the closure element is connected to the base plate via a fold line or a film hinge (5), a pivot axis being defined by said fold line or said film hinge.
14. A vacuum cleaner filter bag including a holder plate according to one of the preceding claims.

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