EP1945084A1

EP1945084A1 - A system for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners

Info

Publication number: EP1945084A1
Application number: EP06807992A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ilkka Hakulinen
Original assignee: Erkyte Oy AB
Current assignee: OY ERKYTE AB
Priority date: 2005-11-10
Filing date: 2006-11-10
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Also published as: FI20051140A0; WO2007054613A1; EP1945084A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner comprising a connecting element to which its dust bag can be detachably connected by means of a connecting plate. According to the invention, the system comprises a vacuum cleaner-specific integral piece (1) having a general-purpose connector (2) for attaching the dust bag (5) thereto, as well as a vacuum cleaner-specific connecting plate (3) for attaching the integral piece to the connecting element of the vacuum cleaner, as well as a limited number of dust bags (5) of various sizes, each of them having similar opposing pieces (6) of a general-purpose connector. Also, according to the invention, dust bags of various sizes have been marked with different symbols (4), the symbol being the same for all those vacuum cleaner models for which the dust bag in question is suited, and the user only has to remember the symbol for the vacuum cleaner of his or her own when buying a dust bag for it.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR USING DUST BAGS OF VACUUM CLEANERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a system defined in the preamble of claim 1 for using dust bags of a vac- uum cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A generally known problem with vacuum cleaners provided with dust bags is the big number of vari- ous vacuum cleaner brands and the different models associated with the different brands. Their sizes and shapes vary so that the dust bags must be manufactured for each brand and model specifically, meaning that a well-stocked shop must be able to offer, for example, 50-100 various dust bags to cover at least part of the demand. This takes up a lot of shelf space in a shop and tending to a shelf requires a lot of work. Furthermore, it is often difficult for a consumer to remember the brand or at least the model of the vacuum cleaner of his or her own.

To eliminate these problems, there has been a suggestion to move to using just one dust bag size, whereby the problems referred to above would be avoided. In that case, a vacuum cleaner-specific or model-specific connecting plate has been replaced with a modifiable connecting plate, which can be folded and/or torn by the user so as to suit the vacuum cleaner of the user's own. However, this requires of the user too many procedures and it is thus not suited for general use.

Another known solution is to tear the connecting plate of a used model-specific dust bag and to glue to it a one-size dust bag with an adhesive edging. A removable cardboard connecting plate does not, however, withstand very long, so before long one has to buy an original dust bag again in order to get a new connecting plate. In addition, this solution also requires technical understanding to such an extent that not every vacuum cleaner user manages with it .

It has also been noticed that one-size dust bags are impractical and inefficient as they involve too many compromises. In any case, there are several different sizes of vacuum cleaners, so their dust collection capacities and shapes also vary greatly. In case a one-size bag is suitable for the biggest vacuum cleaner, then in the smallest vacuum cleaners it will crinkle and fold so that it will accommodate hardly any dust. On the other hand, if one uses in turn dust bags that fit small vacuum cleaners, then a big part of a big vacuum cleaner's benefit, i.e. the big capac- ity, remains unused, and above all, a small bag in a big vacuum cleaner does not withstand but tears relatively quickly due to atmospheric pressure.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of the invention to eliminate the drawbacks referred to above .

One specific objective of the invention is to create a system which has eliminated the problems brought along by several various dust bags, whether considered from the viewpoint of a manufacturer, a seller or a user. Another starting point for the invention is the finding that one cannot operate efficiently and reasonably using just one identical dust bag. In addition, the basic starting point for the in- vention has been an extensive and unlimited group of consumers, that is, the system must be easy-to-use and completed, and it shall not require technical understanding or construction skills, nor shall it require a good memory for various model labels or codes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The system of the invention for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners is characterized by what has been presented in claim 1.

In the system of the invention for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner comprises a connecting element to which the dust bag thereof can be detachably connected by means of a connecting plate. According to the invention, the system comprises a vacuum cleaner-specific integral piece having a general-purpose connector for connecting the dust bag thereto, as well as a vacuum cleaner-specific connecting plate for connecting the integral piece to the connecting element of the vacuum cleaner, as well as a limited number of dust bags of various sizes having similar opposing pieces of general-purpose connectors. In addition, in the system, dust bags of various sizes are marked with different symbols, which symbol is common to all those vacuum cleaner models for which the dust bag in question is suited. In this manner, in the system of the invention, the user only has to remember the symbol of his/her vacuum cleaner when buying a dust bag for it .

The invention is also characterized by the fact that the general-purpose connector in the inte- gral piece and the opposing piece of the general- purpose connector in the dust bag are pieces to be mechanically connected to one another. In other words, they are not based on weakly operating adhesive or glue fastening but have distinct mechanical fastening elements such as threads, grooves, sleeves, locking protuberances, locking projections and similar. In this manner, they have suitable opposing elements that can be moved with respect to one another and against each other and attached to one another, enabling one to achieve a mechanical junction structure that can be opened and closed over and over again, making it pos- sible to use the same integral piece throughout the entire service life of the vacuum cleaner.

In the system of the invention one has found it very functional and sufficient that one only uses three dust bags of a different size. These enable one to cover, to a sufficient extent, vacuum cleaners of various sizes so that one avoids the disadvantages brought along by just one dust bag size, which were discussed in the beginning of the description. However, particularly in case the sizes of vacuum cleaners will get both smaller and bigger in future, it is possible that one may need several bag sizes. Hence, preferably, the system includes dust bags of 3 to 5 different sizes. In the invention it is also substantial that one does not use complicated technical or foreign terms or codes consisting of numbers and/or letters as the symbol but general and easily distinguishable visual symbols that are easy to remember. As the symbol it is also possible to use e.g. colors in dust bags of various sizes. In this manner, the users only have to remember whether the symbol of their vacuum cleaner was red, blue or yellow.

As the symbol it is also possible to use various figures or marks such as checks, stripes, triangles, squares or similar geometrical figures. Similarly, as the symbol it is possible to use figures representing e.g. the nature, plants or animals. Characteristic of the 3 to 5 symbols to be used is that they are commonly known, easy to recognize, as well as easy to distinguish from one another so that the users will never confuse them with one another but will easily remember the symbol their vacuum cleaner.

It is also possible that the shape of the dust bag or that of its sales packaging is used as the symbol. In this manner, while on sale, the dust bags can be folded to be e.g. substantially rounded, oval or angular, and the sales packages are, for example, of a shape described above .

It must also be noted that in the system of the invention, providing the dust bags with certain symbols does not necessarily mean that the dust bags themselves would be provided with these symbols. Naturally, it is obvious that it is sufficient and in accordance with the invention that the symbol can be found in conjunction with the dust bags. Therefore, the symbol can be found in the dust bag itself, in the opposing piece of the general-purpose connector associated with it; it can be attached to these in an appropriate manner; or incorporated into the sales package. The most convenient way to provide the vacuum cleaner-specific integral piece, which is an essential part of the system, would be to incorporate it into the vacuum cleaner package, or to provide it in the form of a separate accessory, in conjunction with the sales of the vacuum cleaner. However, in order to also include owners of old vacuum cleaners in the system it is preferable that integral pieces are sold, for example, in the same selling rack with dust bags, the space requirement of the selling rack being considera- bly smaller when there are e.g. only three sizes of dust bags requiring more space .

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system includes a separate mark indicating the symbol, such as an adhesive label, which can be at- tached to the surface of the vacuum cleaner to indicate the symbol of the dust bag suiting the vacuum cleaner in question. Preferably, this kind of mark can be sold or given to the user of the system in conjunction with the integral piece. Naturally, it is also possible that a vacuum cleaner manufacturer has joined the system so that the vacuum cleaner is already provided with a mark indicating the symbol, disposed ei- ther on the surface or beneath the hinged cover. In one embodiment, the integral piece is provided with a symbol of the bag as well, that is, the dust bag and the integral piece corresponding to it are e.g. of the same color, or they have the same patterning, or are provided with the same kind of mark.

The most preferable way to manufacture an integral piece consisting of a general-purpose connector and a connecting plate is to make it from plastic by injection molding to form one uniform body. In this manner, it is made a durable and easy-to-use accessory that will last the entire service life of the vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the general-purpose connector and the opposing piece of the general-purpose connector include circumferential mating surfaces corresponding to one another as well as clamping devices corresponding to one another for locking them to one another so that their mating surfaces come together. While it is in principle possible to use any kinds of clamping elements for clamping purposes, such as threads or snap joints, it is, however, most preferred to use as the clamping devices locking gaps or locking projections corresponding to one another so that the dust bag can be fastened to the integral piece by screwing them with respect to one another, for example 90 degrees. This enables fast and accurate locking movements. Moreover, preferably, the locking gaps and/or locking projections include wedge-like clamps that during the 90 degree screwing, clamp the joint making it compact. In this manner, the fastening of the dust bag and the integral piece to one another is implemented substantially hermetically, which cannot be done as efficiently in the case of pressable snap joints or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, the suction inlet of the integral piece is provided with a gasket surrounding it, such as a rubber ring or a rubber flange, which substantially hermetically seals one end of the suction hose of the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, in the system, the dust bags are microfibre bags. Firstly, microfibre bags are hydrophobic, i.e. they do not absorb humidity, whereby no fungi or mold growth is formed in them. Secondly, they have a better filtration capability and air permeabil_^ ity compared to conventional paper bags. In addition, microfibre bags are lightweight and resilient, whereby they closely fit into the dust bag spaces of various sizes of different vacuum cleaners. Particularly here the three dust bag sizes have been found to function flawlessly and without side effects in the vacuum cleaners of various sizes available on the market at present .

The system for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners, according to the invention, has significant advantages compared to the prior art.

The system facilitates both the operation of a dust bag manufacturer, of their sellers and their users in many ways .

After the initial investment, once the molds of the integral pieces have been made, it is sufficient to manufacture 3 to 5 dust bags of various sizes instead of the present 50 to 100 bags. In this manner, the manufacture can be easier and more profitably automated; the storage needs are reduced; the trans- portation and distribution to the sellers are facilitated and the deliveries are made faster.

In shops, the selling racks get smaller and tidier. Being less space requiring, their deployment is facilitated and their maintenance and servicing are reduced and substantially simplified.

From a user's standpoint, the significance of the system is the biggest . Vacuum cleaners work as well as before although the number of bags has been reduced. When heading for a shop, one does not have to remember the vacuum cleaner brand or model, nor needs one to stand long before the selling rack of a shop pondering how to find the bag for one ' s vacuum cleaner. There are only three bags of various sizes that owing to their visible, clearly distinguishable and easily memorable symbols are distinguished from one another even before the buyer has reached the selling rack. The dust bag can be taken off the rack as easily as a milk container from a cooler of a shop.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following section, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 schematically represents one integral piece of the invention as seen from the top,

Fig. 2 represents a dust bag which is suited to be attached to the integral piece of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 schematically represents a selling rack to be used in the system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 represents one integral piece 1 of the invention. It consists of one uniform plastic body having a general -purpose connector 2 for fastening the dust bag thereto, as well as a connecting plate 3, by which the integral piece can be fastened to the con-÷ necting element of the vacuum cleaner.

Usually, the connecting plate 3 is a straight and relatively flat plate whose shape and size vary according to what vacuum cleaner model it is meant to be fastened. In a manner known per se, it can include various gaps, indentations or folds, characteristic of a specific vacuum cleaner model . The connecting plate of Fig. 1 also has a symbol 4 on the surface thereof, i.e. the same kind of lineation or coloring as in the corresponding dust bag to be fastened thereto in Fig. 2. The general-purpose connector 2 of the integral piece 1 shown in Fig. 2 and the opposing piece 6 of the general-purpose connector of the dust bag 5 shown in Fig. 2 have circumferential, planar mating surfaces 7 and 8 corresponding to one another, which are pressed against one another when attaching the dust bag to the integral piece by means of the clamping devices. The clamping devices consist of locking gaps 9 included in the mating surface 7 of the general-purpose connector 2 and of locking projections 10 disposed in the mating surface 8 of the opposing piece 6. The locking gaps have a wider part from which the corresponding locking projections 10 can be pushed through the locking gap, as well as narrower, elongated parts into which the locking projections are screwed into a locking position.

As is apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, one of the four locking gaps and locking projections is round in shape while the others are angular. In this manner, it is ensured that the dust bag can always be installed and fastened into just one given position with respect to the integral piece.

The integral piece has in the middle of the circumferential mating surface 7 of the general- purpose connector 2 a suction inlet 11, attached to or supported on the edging of which there is a gasket 12 surrounding the inlet opening. When the end of a hose of a vacuum cleaner is pushed into the inlet opening 11, the gasket 12 tightens the end of the hose into the inlet opening substantially hermetically. In this manner, a hermetical and leakproof connection can be achieved from the hose to the dust bag 5 disposed on the other side of the integral piece. Fig. 3 schematically shows a simple and tidy selling rack to be achieved by the system of the invention. At the upper edge of the selling rack there is a number of vacuum cleaner-specific or model- specific integral pieces 13, from which the consumer chooses the integral piece suiting his/or vacuum cleaner when joining the system of the invention. Thereafter, the consumer can forget the brand or model of the vacuum cleaner of his or her own. Each integral piece and/or the corresponding package are marked with a symbol 17, these being of three different types (a stripe, a check, a circle) .

Underneath in the rack there are dust bag packages 14, 15, 16 of no more than three different sizes. Each dust bag size is marked with its own symbol, such as with a color (in the figure a stripe, a check, a circle) . One of these symbols is also attached to the vacuum cleaner-specific integral pieces, so that having chosen the integral piece suiting the vacuum cleaner of his or her own, the consumer knows the exact dust bag size suiting the vacuum cleaner. In this manner, when shopping the next time, all the consumer has to do is to choose the correct bag size from the three alternatives based on the symbol . The invention is not limited merely to the examples referred to above, but many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A system for using dust bags of vacuum cleaners, the vacuum cleaner comprising a connecting element, to which the dust bag thereof can be detach- ably connected by means of a connecting plate, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system comprises : a vacuum cleaner-specific integral piece (1) having a general-purpose connector (2) for attaching the dust bag (5) thereto, as well as a vacuum cleaner-specific connecting plate (3) for attaching the integral piece to the connecting element of the vacuum cleaner, as well as - a limited number of dust bags (5) of various sizes, each of them having similar opposing pieces (6) of a general -purpose connector; and that the dust bags of various sizes are marked with different symbols (4) , the symbol being the same for all those vacuum cleaner models for which the dust bag in question is suited, whereby the user only has to know the symbol for the vacuum cleaner of his or her own when buying a dust bag for it.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system includes 3 to 5 different sizes of dust bags (14, 15, 16) .

3. The system as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that as the symbol (4) , different colors are used in dust bags of various sizes .

4. The system as defined in claim 1 or 2, c ha r a c t e ri z e d in that as the symbol (4) , various figures, marks or images are used.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that as the symbol, the shape of the dust bag or that of the sales package thereof is used.

6. The system as defined in any one of claims

1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system includes a separate mark representing the symbol, such as an adhesive label which can be attached to the surface of the vacuum cleaner to indicate the symbol for the dust bag suiting that specific vacuum cleaner.

7. The system as defined in any one of claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the corresponding integral piece is also provided with a symbol corresponding to the dust bag.

8. The system as defined in any one of claims

1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the integral piece (1) consisting of a general-purpose connector and a connecting plate is a uniform body that has been injection molded from plastic.

9. The system as defined in any one of claims

1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the general- purpose connector (2) and the opposing piece (6) of the general-purpose connector include mechanical locking elements corresponding to one another, which whil- st being moveable or transferable against one another, lock the general-purpose connector (2) and the opposing piece (6) of the general-purpose connector to one another .

10. The system as defined in any one of claims 1-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the general-purpose connector (2) and the opposing piece (6) of the general-purpose connector include circumferential mating surfaces (7, 8) corresponding to one another as well as clamping devices corresponding to one another for locking them to one another so that their mating surfaces come together.

11. The system as defined in claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clamping devices include locking gaps (9) corresponding to one another and locking projections (10) so that the dust bag can be attached to the integral piece by screwing them with respect to one another, for example 40 to 90 degrees .

12. The system as defined in claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the locking gaps and/or locking projections include wedge-like clamps for attaching the dust bag and the integral piece to one another substantially hermetically.

13. The system as defined in any one of claims 1-12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the in- tegral piece includes a peripheral gasket (12) of the suction inlet (11) by means of which the suction hose of the vacuum cleaner can be hermetically connected to the vacuum cleaner.

14. The system as defined in any one of claims 1-13, c ha r a c t e r i z e d in that the dust bags are microfibre bags that owing to their resiliency can be accommodated into dust bag spaces of various shapes of different vacuum cleaners.