GB2241177A

GB2241177A - Foldable filter element for domestic vacuum cleaners

Info

Publication number: GB2241177A
Application number: GB9103276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johann Goldner
Original assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Rowenta Werke GmbH
Priority date: 1990-02-15
Filing date: 1991-02-15
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-15
Also published as: NL9100015A; ITMI910086V0; ES1016974U; GB2241177B; FR2658066A3; SE9100029L; FR2658066B3; SE467037B; SE9100029D0; NL194292B; DE9001768U1; GB9103276D0; ITMI910086U1; IT221602Z2; NL194292C; ES1016974Y

Abstract

A filter element is made of non-woven filler fabric 7 and has four flaps to which are bonded respective frames 9, 10, 11, 12 with ridges 15. In use the element is folded into open box-shape and fitted into an openwork container (2) to form a lining which separates the container wall from a dust-receiving filter bag (3) of a vacuum cleaner. Portions 14 of the element overlap, and ridges 15 engage in slots (16) in the container to make seals. <IMAGE>

Description

Foldable filter element for domestic vacuum cleaners The invention relates to a foldable filter element for domestic vacuum cleaners.

It is known from DE-OS 34 03 105 to provide a filter element consisting of non-woven filter material or the like for domestic vacuum cleaners having a dust collecting chamber, a box-shaped filter container releasably mounted therein, into which a filter bag can be inserted. Between the outer wall of the filter bag and the filter container the filter element is secured so as to be removable together with the filter container from the dust collecting chamber. The filter element is permanently secured to the inner wall of the filter container. This known apparatus has the disadvantage that, when the filter element has to be changed, this can only be done together with the filter container.

The high cost of materials thus incurs unnecessary costs for the user. The storage and transportation of this filter container are also exceptionally expensive.

From British Patent No. 1 030 256, a filter container is known in which a cylindrical filter element is releasably mounted. The geometrical dimensions of the filter element correspond to those of the filter container. Because of its rigid three-dimensional shape, this filter element can only be deformed to a limited extent but cannot be folded. Therefore this filter element is very bulky, thereby incurring unnecessary costs in storage and transport. This filter element is not very suitable as a replacement part.

Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a foldable filter element for domestic vacuum cleaners having a box-shaped filter container, in which a filter bag for collecting dust can be inserted, the filter element being securable in use between the filter bag and the filter container, the filter element consisting of filter material which is non-woven or the like, the three-dimensional shape of the filter element corresponding to the inner surface defined by inner faces of the filter container, four filter frames being connected to the filter material, the dimensions of said frames being similar to the dimensions of corresponding inner faces of the filter container, and in the installed position the filter frames locating on the corresponding inner faces of the filter container.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provides a foldable filter element removably securable in a filter bag container of a domestic vacuum cleaner, the filter element having flaps each provided with a frame to secure the flap to the filter bag container when the filter element is installed therein.

At least in its preferred forms the invention provides an add-on filter element for a domestic vacuum cleaner, which does not have the abovementioned disadvantages of the known apparatus, which has the smallest possible geometric dimensions before it is installed in the vacuum cleaner, which can be releasably secured to the filter container and which adapts to the three-dimensional shape of the filter container once installed.

Since the filter element is foldable it can have the smallest possible geometric dimensions in the folded state. This is particularly advantageous for the storage and transportation of replacement parts, since the space taken up is exceptionally small and the cost saving on transport is very great. The filter element is easy to instal in the filter container and this can be done without difficulty. In the installed state, the filter element adapts to the three-dimensional shape of the filter container, whilst the filter frames locate closely on the corresponding inner faces of the filter container. Consequently the internal capacity of the filter container is not restricted by the filter element.

It is preferred for the filter frames to be connected to the filter material on the side thereof which in use is remote from the filter bag. Thus the filter frames can abut directly on the filter container.

Each filter frame preferably has at least one sealing rib for engagement with a corresponding recess of the filter container. Thus in a preferred form the invention provides the filter element in combination with the filter container, wherein on each filter frame at least one sealing rib is formed, and wherein the filter container has recesses which correspond to the sealing ribs, the filter element and the filter container being releasably connected to each other in the installed position by means of the ribs and recesses. By means of the sealing ribs mounted on the filter frames and engaging in corresponding recesses in the filter container, the filter element can be released from and tightly connected to the filter container.

Advantageously, the sealing ribs and the recesses are substantially tapered in construction. As a result, the filter element is easily detachable from the filter container. The connection between the filter element and filter container is sealed so that no dust-laden stray air can penetrate unfiltered into the motor chamber.

The foldable filter element is preferably intended for use with a vacuum cleaner having a dust collecting chamber and a box-shaped filter container releasably mounted therein, the filter element being securable to the filter container so as to be removable therewith from the dust collecting chamber. The inner faces of the filter container on which the filter frames locate are preferably side faces. The filter container can thus advantageously be removed from the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner together with the filter element attached to it and the full filter bag and be carried to the dustbin for emptying, without any need to worry that the filter element might be lost. Another advantage is the fact that anyone can easily replace an unserviceable filter element with a new one. The filter container does not have to be replaced at the same time as the filter element.Also, the filter element can, if desired, be installed later as an add-on part. This may be the case if, for example, the purchaser of a vacuum cleaner subsequently turns out to have a dust allergy which makes it absolutely essential to fit a filter for health reasons.

Preferably the filter material includes tabs which, in the installed position, seal the edges between the individual filter frames. Such tabs can reliably prevent any dust-laden air from flowing out into the atmosphere. Preferably, therefore, the filter element includes at least two portions or flaps opposed to each other in the installed position and extending beyond the filter frames connected to said portions or flaps at both ends to form tabs which abut on adjacent portions or flaps of the filter material to form edge seals. In a preferred embodiment, portions or flaps of filter material which are adjacent to each other in the installed position are each provided with tabs at both ends, any two adjacent tabs abutting on one another to form an edge seal. Considering the filter container as having side faces which are vertical in a preferred mode of use, the tabs extend beyond their respective filter frames in the horizontal direction.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a filter element according to the invention in the installed position; Figure 2 shows the filter element in the noninstalled position; Figure 3 shows a detail "A" of Fig. 1 in longitudinal section; and Figure 4 shows a detail "A" according to Fig. 1 in cross section in a horizontal plane.

In Figure 1, the dust collecting chamber 1 of a domestic vacuum cleaner 1 is shown. A box-shaped, airpermeable filter container 2 is releasably mounted in the dust collecting chamber 1. Arranged in the filter container 2 is a filter or dust bag 3 which is releasably connected in known manner to the suction hose and suction tube. The filter container 2 is closable by means of a lid 5 with filter bag holding means 4 provided thereon. Provided in the filter container 2 is a filter element 6 of non-woven filter material 7, which is releasably secured to the inner wall 8 of the filter container 2. The filter element 6 shown in Fig. 2 consists of four rectangular filter frames 9, 10, 11, 12, which are fixedly connected to the non-woven filter material 7.The dimensions of the filter frames 9, 10, 11, 12 correspond substantially to the dimensions of the side faces 13 of the filter container 2. The filter frames 9, 10, 11, 12 are overlapped by the non-woven filter portions or flaps 17, 18, 19, 20 so as to form non-woven filter tabs 14 at both ends of the flaps. In the installed position, any two adjacent non-woven tabs 14 abut on one another so as to form an edgewise seal.

Sealing ribs 15 are formed on the filter frames 9, 10, 11, 12. As shown in Fig. 3, in the installed position, the sealing ribs 15 engage in corresponding recesses 16 in the filter container 2, thereby releasably securing the filter element 6 to the filter container 2. The sealing ribs 15 and the recesses 16 are tapered (viewed in cross section) in construction, so that the connection between the filter container 2 and filter element 6 is reliably sealed and no stray dust-laden air can penetrate into the motor space of the vacuum cleaner. In the installed position, the tabs 14 of non woven filter overlap with one another, forming edge seals as shown in Fig. 4.

In the non-installed position, the filter element 6 has the three-dimensional shape of the opened-out inner surface of the filter container 2 (Fig. 2). In the installed position the filter element 6 assumes the three-dimensional shape of the filter container 2, by virtue of its foldability (Fig. 1), the filter element 6 being releasably and tightly secured on the filter container 2 by means of the sealing ribs 15.

Claims

1. A foldable filter element for domestic vacuum cleaners having a box-shaped filter container, in which a filter bag for collecting dust can be inserted, the filter element being securable in use between the filter bag and the filter container, the filter element consisting of filter material which is non-woven or the like, the three-dimensional shape of the filter element corresponding to the inner surface defined by inner faces of the filter container, four filter frames being connected to the filter material, the dimensions of said frames being similar to the dimensions of corresponding inner faces of the filter container, and in the installed position the filter frames locating on the corresponding inner faces of the filter container.

2. A filter element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter frames are connected to the filter material on the side thereof which in use is remote from the filter bag.

3. A filter element as claimed in claim 2, in combination with the filter container, wherein on each filter frame at least one sealing rib is formed, and wherein the filter container has recesses which correspond to the sealing ribs, the filter element and the filter container being releasably connected to each other in the installed position by means of the ribs and recesses.

4. A filter element according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least two portions of the filter material which oppose each other in the installed position extend beyond the filter frames connected to said portions at both ends to form tabs which abut on adjacent portions of the filter material to form edge seals.

5. A filter element as claimed in claim 4, wherein portions of the filter material which are adjacent to each other in the installed position are each provided with tabs at both ends, any two adjacent tabs abutting on one another to form an edge seal.

6. A foldable filter element removably securable in a filter bag container of a domestic vacuum cleaner, the filter element having flaps each provided with a frame to secure the flap to the filter bag container when the filter element is installed therein.

7. A foldable filter element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.