US1764127A

US1764127A - Vacuum-cleaner bag

Info

Publication number: US1764127A
Application number: US216856A
Authority: US
Inventors: David E Stolpe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-09-01
Filing date: 1927-09-01
Publication date: 1930-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-17

Description

Jun 17, 1930.

Filed Sept. 1, 1927 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES DAVID E. STOLPE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VACUUM-CLEANER BAG Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,856.

My invention relates to improvements in dust-receiving bags for vacuum cleaners, and consists essentially of a peculiarly constructed receptacle of air-tight material,

which receptacle is closed at the upper end, has inlet and clean-out openings in the lower end, a suitable closure being provided for the clean-out opening, and also has in one or both sides openings covered with material of a character to permit air to pass through, supporting rods for said covering materlal, a cage for each of said last-named openings, spacer rods in said cage, a cover plate also in said cage, resilient means to press said plate toward said last-named rods, a pad receivable or insertable between said spacer rods and said plate, a bracket or clip at the to of said receptacle for the purpose of attac ing the latter to and supporting it outwardly from the handle of a vacuum cleaner, it being understood that the receptacle at the bottom is attachable to said cleaner, and yielding means which permits said clip to slide up and down on said handle, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable in order to render the bag complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

as The primary object of my invention is to produce a vacuum-cleaner bag that is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, can be readily attached to and detached from almost any vacuum cleaner, and is capable of preventing practically any and all dirt, dust, bacteria, and other impurities from escaping into and contaminating the atmosphere outside of said bag, as is the case'when the ordinary vacuum-cleaner bag is used.

Another object is to construct the bag proper or receptacle with a sediment tra in which is received the coarser portions 0 the dirt and dust sucked up by the vacuum cleaner, to which said receptacle is attached, and forced or driven from said cleaner into said receptacle, and from which trap such coarser portions can be easily and quickly removed.

A further object is to provide the receptacle with convenient means for opening and closing the sediment-trap mouth, and to enable the contents of the trap to be removed without taking the receptacle from the cleaner.

Still another object is to afford means for supporting the receptacle at the top in proper position relative to the vacuumcleaner handle, and maintaining said receptacle in its full extended conditions longi- 6o tudinally, at all times and regardless of the amount of distension of said receptacle, whereby is prevented sagging which would be liable to interfere with the functioning of the receptacle to the best advantage.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in 70 which- Figure 1 is a top plan of a vacuum-cleaner bag which embodies a practical form of my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of said bag, showing the same connected with a vacuum cleaner; Fig. 3, an enlarged, cross section through the bag, taken on lines 3-3, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detail, with parts broken away and removed, of one of the so foraminous windows and associated parts and members with which both sides of the receptacle are provided or equipped; Fig. 5, an enlarged, longitudinal section through one side of the receptacle and the foraminous window, taken on lines 55, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a detail of the means for connecting the receptacle with the vacuumcleaner handle, as viewed from the rear, and with said handle in an upright position; Fig. 7 a plan of the bottom of the receptacle, showing in its open condition the closure for the clean-out opening, and, Fig. 8, a plan of one of the absorbent, air-purifyin pads.

imilar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 2 is represented, in side elevation, a vacuum cleaner 1 having a tubular dis- 1c:

charge pipe 2 in the outside of which is set a pin 4. The handle of the cleaner 1 is represented at 6 in Fig. 1, 2, and 6.

A receptacle 7, made of some suitable material that is impervious to air, or through which air can not pass, such as rubber-sheeting forexample, is provided at the bottom with a ring 8 having therein a bayonet-slot 9, and at the top with a clip 10. The re ceptacle 7 is bifurcated at the lower terminal, as represented at 11, to form an intake 12 above and a sediment trap 13 below.

The ring 8 is secured to the intake 12, around the open end (14, Fig. 7) thereof, and said end is adapted to fit over the discharge end of the tubular member 2, and to be fastened in place thereon by means of the bayonet-slot 9 and the pin 4, attachment and detachment being made in the usual and well-known manner.

The sediment trap 13 has a clean-out 'opening 15 (Fig. 7) in the bottom, and a closure is provided for said opening, which closure may be in the form or consist of a pair of jaws 16 secured to the edges of said opening and pivotally connected with each other at 1717. These jaws are provided with a pair of shank-and-ballfasteners 18. This closure is similar to that commonly used on shopping bags and the like. When the'jaws'l6 are open, as in Fig. 7, the contents of the trap 13', and of the entire receptaclefor that matter, can be readily re-' moved, and this without detaching said receptacle from the cleaner member 2.

The top of the receptacle 7 is permanently closed by means of a clip bar 19, and the clip 10 is securely fastened to said bar on one side. This clip. has two arms which extend outwardly from the bar 19, and terminate in curved fingers, as 20, that are capable of embracing and grasping the handle 6, but said fingers must not grasp said handle so tightly that they can not slide up and down thereon. An inverted U-shaped link 21, a spring 35, and a screw-eye 36 are provided to maintain the receptacle 7 under tension, and enable it to expand and contract freely under the action of the vacuum cleaner 1, and when dirt is forced into and accumulates in said receptacle, on the one hand, and is removed therefrom, on the other hand.

The link 21 is an inverted U-shaped member having at the bottom outwardly and upwardl extending hooks, as 37, which are passed t rough openings in the arms of the clip 10 at points near the bar 19, and having at the top an eye 38. The screw-eye 36 is set in the handle 6 above the clip 10. The

spring 35 at the top ishooked into the screw eye 36, and at the bottom into the link eye 38.

As the receptacle expands or is distended,

and contracts or is collapsed, the clip 10,

sliding on the handle 6,.is accordingly drawn downwardly against the resiliency of the spring 35, and drawn upwardly by said spring, thus being prevented from sagging, and always maintained in proper condition and position for the work required of it.

Without means for the escape of airfrom the receptacle 7, the cleanerl could not, of course, be operated successfully, I, therefore, provide in each side of said receptacle, a short distance below the clip bar 19, an opening 22, and stitch or otherwise secure by its edge portions to the edge portions of said opening a foraminous window 23, because, if these openings were not covered, the escaping air would take with it the dust and dirt forced into the receptacle by the cleaner 1. These two windows may be made of fabric such as is generally used for ordinary vacuum-cleaner bags, and are of a character that permits air and the finer particles of dust and dirt to pass through, the

latter being as a matter of course carried along with the former. Each window 23 is on the inside of the receptacle 7, and surrounding the opening covered by said window on the outside of said receptacle is a ing arranged at an incline from above downwardly and outwardly, in order to afford ample space for the escape of air beneath the lower edges of members presently to be described- -see Fig. 5.

A cage 27 having top and side pieces is mounted on each side of the receptacle 7, in adjacency to corresponding edges of the window 23 on that side. The cage 27 is perpendicular to the side of the receptacle 7 on which said cage is mounted, and has at the inner edges outwardly extending flanges 28 that" rest on the terminals of the spacer rods 26 and are secured in place by adhesive tape, or other suitable means. A cover plate 29 fits within each cage 27, and is yieldingly held in place therein by means of a bow spring 30, which extends crosswise of said plate and has its ends attached at 31 to the receptacle 7 on each side of the cage 27 spanned by said spring. In the center of each plate 29, on the outside thereof, is a knob 32, and one of the springs 30 is fasin the cages 27, and forced toward the two sets of rods 26, by the springs 30.

An absorbent pad 33 is made of a shape and size to enter the lower, open end of each cage 27, between the rods 26 and the plate 29 in said cage. The two pads 33 are formed of material, which is capable of taking up moisture, mounted on skeleton frames, and when in operative positions are located in front of the windows 23, but are spaced therefrom and held at an incline by the rods 26. To facilitate the removal of the pads 33 from their cages, each of said pads is provided at one end with a tab 34.

When the pads 33 are thrust into the cages 27 from below, the springs 30 yield as said pads press the plates 29 outwardly. The pads are forced upwardly in the cages until the upper ends of said pads encounter the tops of said cages, and the pads are therein held by the spring-pressed plates 29. Upon the withdrawal of the pads, the springs 30 press the plates 29 against the rods 26.

Before the pads 33 are introduced into the cages 27, said pads should be moistened with water, or a disinfectant solution, to insure, when said pads are in place, the lodgment on and in said pads and the extension thereby of all dust, bacteria, and other impurities that escape with the air through the windows 23. Upon their removal, the pads can be washed and cleansed and made ready for use the next time.

In practice, assuming that the intake 12 is properly connected with the cleaner pipe 2, and the clip 10 with the handle 6, and that the jaws 16 are closed, it is first necessary to moisten the pads 33 and insert them in the cages 27. Then, as the dust-ladened air under pressure from the cleaner is forced into the receptacle 7, through the intake 12, said air impinges on the closed upper-end portion of said receptacle, spreads out on the sides of the receptacle, and passes out through the windows 23. The windows 23 strain out of the air the coarse particles of dust and dirt, which fall down in the receptacle, but the fine and even microscopic particles, including any bacteria that may be present, pass through said windows with the air, and are caught by the pads 33.

The heavier and larger particles of dust and dirt drop into the lower portions of the receptacle and into the trap 13, from which they are removed, whenever necessary, through the clean-out opening 15, after first opening the jaws 16.

At the end of the vacuum-cleaning operation, the pads 33 are withdrawn from the cages 27 and thoroughly washed to remove all impurities therefrom.

Owing to the manner in which the receptacle 7 is constructed, no dust and dirt can clog the intake 12, consequently the entrance to the receptacle for the air and whatever may be commingled therewith is free at all times, which is an important advantage.

The construction, whereby the pads 33 are tilted outwardly at their lower ends, prevents said pads from shutting ofi' or preventing, or unduly interfering with, the escape of the air after it has passed through the windows 23 and has had the impurities removed therefrom by passing in contact with said pads.

Obviously any fabric or other material through which it is possible for air to pass must also permit the finer particles of dust and dirt to pass through.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this bag may be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the handle 0% a vacuum cleaner, of a bag for said cleaner, said bag comprising a receptacle attachable at the lower end to said cleaner, and provided at the upper end with a clip having fingers to grasp and slide on said handle, a link attached to said clip, and a spring connected at the bottom with said link and at the top with said handle. I

2. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising a receptacle of material which is impervious to air, and having therein a side opening, a window of foraminous material secured to said receptacle over said opening, a cage secured to said receptacle on the outside and on three sides of said opening, a plate in said cage, means to hold said plate in place, and a pad adapted to catch and hold impurities, and receivable in said cage between said said receptacle over said opening, a cage secured to said receptacle on the outside and on three sides of said opening, a plate in said cage, yielding means to hold said plate in place, and a pad adapted to catch and hold impurities, and receivable in said cage between said window and said plate.

4. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising a receptacle of material which is impervious to air, and having therein a side opening, a window of foraminous material secured to said receptacle over said opening, a cage secured to said receptacle on the outside and on three sides of said opening, a plate in said cage, means to hold said plate in place, a pad adapted to catch and retain impurities, and receivable in said cage between said window and said plate, and means to hold the end of said pad that is at the open end.

of said cage outwardly away from said window.

5. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising a receptacle of material which is impervious to air, and having therein a side opening, a Window of foraminous material secured to said receptacle over said'opening, supporting rods fonsaid-window secured to said receptacle outside of the window, spacer rods secured to said receptacle and extending outside of said supporting rods, a cage secured to the outside of said receptacle adjacent to three sides of said window, a cover plate in said cage, a spring arranged to force said plate toward said supporting rods, and a pad adapted to catch and retain impurities, and receivable between said supporting rods and said plate, said pad being removable.

,6. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising a recptacle attachable at the lower end to a' vacuum cleaner, and provided at the upper end with a member which has parts to grasp the handle of said cleaner and support said member rigidly from said handle at all times, but capable of sliding up and down on the handle, together, with yielding means to support said member on said handle in the longitudinal direction thereof.

7. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising in combination, a receptacle of material which is impervious to air and having a side opening therein, a Window of foraminous material secured to said receptacle over said opening, a pad of absorbent material overlying said window and spaced therefrom to provide a passageway therebetween at one end thereof.

8. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising in combination, a receptacle of material which is impervious to air and having an opening in a side thereof, a window of foraminous material overlying said opening, a pad of absorbent material overlying said window adapted to catch and hold impurities, the

said pad being disposed above said window to provide an unrestricted air passageway therebetween at one side thereof.

9. A vacuum-cleaner bag comprising in combination, a receptacle of material which is impervious to air and having an opening in a side thereof, a window of foraminous material over said opening, a cage surrounding said opening and window for receiving a pad and having an open side, a pad of absorbent material in said cage overlying said window having an end spaced therefrom to provide a space therebetween which co-operates with the open side of the cage to form an air passageway for air discharged through the window.

DAVID E. STOLPE.