WO1997049325A1

WO1997049325A1 - Filtering accessory and device for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner equipped with same

Info

Publication number: WO1997049325A1
Application number: PCT/FR1997/001152
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xavier Laplace; Robert Hurkmans; Jacques Bonnet
Original assignee: Seb S.A.
Priority date: 1996-06-26
Filing date: 1997-06-26
Publication date: 1997-12-31
Also published as: RU2183421C2; PT880334E; ES2197352T3; AU3449297A; TR199800316T1; DE69721735T2; JPH11512952A; EP0880334B1; CZ297789B6; JP4089834B2; EP0880334A1; ATE239416T1; PL184283B1; DE29723256U1; FR2750314B1; PL325058A1; CZ92398A3; FR2750314A1; CN1196668A; AU733932B2

Abstract

The invention discloses a connection tube for vacuum cleaner, in particular for domestic use, characterised in that it consists of a tube (4) comprising a first end (21) capable of being substantially sealingly secured by a fixing means (3) to a support (1) comprising an opening (23) and designed for a substantially sealed connection with the filler pipe (14), and a second end (22) on which is fitted a connecting means (5) to co-operate removably with a linkage means (7) mounted around a filler neck (49) of a dust bag (6).

Description

ACCESSORY AND FILTRATION DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER AND VACUUM CLEANER PROVIDED WITH SUCH AN ACCESSORY

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners of the canister or tank type, or more generally to any suction device intended for cleaning.

The present invention relates to special means for adapting a filter intended to collect dust on a vacuum cleaner.

PRIOR ART

In the state of the art, apparatuses known as vacuum cleaners are known, which are equipped with a suction turbine, and with a hose equipped with a dust cleaning tool. The vacuum cleaner hose is removable and has a tubular end which is adapted to connect to an opening of the vacuum cleaner itself.

The pipe and the turbine are connected by a dust filter. The opening of the vacuum cleaner intended to connect with the hose is related to the dust filter.

The dust filter is, for example, constituted by a paper bag mounted on a flange of cardboard or cardboard and which the user inserts in the receptacle of the dust filter, in the vacuum cleaner. The dust filter lets in the suction air from the turbine and has an orifice fitted with a flap to allow the dust sucked in from the cleaning tool to enter the paper bag and transferred through the vacuum cleaner hose. to the dust filter.

When the paper bag is full, the user must remove it for disposal and replace it with an identical paper bag. Now, depending on the brand and of the model of the vacuum cleaner, the paper bags are different both in shape and in means of attachment to the vacuum cleaner itself.

As a result, vacuum cleaner manufacturers often design new forms of filters adapted to their new model. This results in an additional design cost.

In addition, vacuum cleaner manufacturers must then manage numerous references of dust filters and / or paper bags, and keep them available to their customers for fairly long periods. This results in difficulties in managing and maintaining these stocks.

In addition, retailers are finding it difficult to satisfy the demands of their customers, they should have in stock a large number of dust filter references for each brand and each model on the market. However, such a situation is quite rarely verified. This results in supply difficulties for users.

Finally, the user always has the risk of obtaining replacement filters which are not suitable for his vacuum cleaner. This results in unnecessary expense and hassle.

The document FR-1 071 345 describes a vacuum cleaner comprising a filling hose and a housing for a dust bag. The dust bag has a filling opening provided with a removable connection means to the filling pipe, such as a threaded ring secured to the bag around the filling opening.

Some models of vacuum cleaners are designed so that they only work if they recognize certain types of filters. This is particularly the case when the dust bag is mounted on a cardboard. In this case, the vacuum cleaner may include a switch or an inhibiting device which prevents its operation (its start-up) as long as the cardboard box mounted on the dust bag is not properly engaged. Such a safety prevents aspiration into the dust bag receptacle when it is not installed.

It is known from document EP-0 107 785 to produce a dust bag for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a filling orifice around which adhesives are arranged making it possible to secure the bag to a cardboard box.

This embodiment offers the advantage of being able to use the dust bag with any type of vacuum cleaner, since it suffices to secure the bag on a cardboard suitable for the vacuum cleaner.

However, this achievement suffers from numerous drawbacks. Replacing a bag filled with dust with a new bag requires removing the adhesive, which contributes to degrading the surface of the cardboard box, if the adhesive is removed from the cardboard box each time the bag is changed, or leave on the cardboard a layer of adhesive, irregular and therefore not very conducive to guarantee a good seal.

As a result, this embodiment is not satisfactory.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention therefore aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to allow the user to overcome the dust filters specifically designed for the vacuum cleaner used.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved with a connecting tube comprising the features of claim 1.

Thus, the user can adapt the connecting tube according to the invention to a support, for example a cardboard box, connect a dust bag to it and install the dust filter thus formed, in the vacuum cleaner. When the dust bag is full, the user can discard this bag and replace it with a new bag. The connection tube connection means allows the same connection tube to be reused with the bags used successively. The fixing means makes it possible to secure the connecting tube to the support. The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved with a filtration device comprising a connecting tube according to the invention.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved with a vacuum cleaner on which is mounted a connecting tube according to the invention.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below with reference to the figures appended by way of example, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a sectional view of part of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of part of another vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of part of another vacuum cleaner equipped with a filtration device according to the invention,

FIG. 4 represents a first embodiment of a connecting tube according to the invention,

FIG. 5 represents a second embodiment of a connecting tube according to the invention,

- Figures 6 and 7 show two schematic perspective views of embodiments of a dust bag of a filtration device according to the invention.

- Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a dust bag with cardboard according to the prior art.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

The connecting tube 4 according to the invention is intended to be used with a dust bag 6 to produce an adaptable universal filtration device in most vacuum cleaners. A vacuum cleaner comprises a receptacle 13 designed to receive the dust bag 6 and a filling pipe 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner comprises a filling tube 14 of the dust bag 6 with a diameter and a length which vary according to the models. Sometimes it is made up of a simple collar. It is used to transfer the air flow sucked in by the vacuum cleaner turbine and loaded with dust collected by the vacuum cleaner brush, towards the dust bag 6.

Most disposable dust filters used in vacuum cleaners consist of a paper bag mounted on a cardboard box.

In Figure 8, there is shown the detached perspective view of a dust filter of the prior art comprising a bag 77 made of paper and one end 74 of which is glued to a cardboard 70 with a central hole 73. The cardboard is generally made of a relatively flexible cardboard which is glued to a folded paper bag. The latter, by bonding to the area 75 around the filling orifice 76, represented between the contour in phantom and the edge of the orifice 76, is mounted on the rear face of the cardboard box 70 and constitutes with the cardboard box, a traditional dust filter.

The accessory according to the invention consists of a connecting tube 4 comprising a first end 21 capable of being joined in a substantially sealed manner by a means of attachment 3 to a support 1, and a second end 22 on which is disposed a means connection 5 provided for cooperating detachably with a connection means 7 mounted around a filling orifice 49 of a dust bag 6. The first end 21 of the tube 4 advantageously comprises a flange 24.

The support 1 has an orifice 23 and is provided for a substantially sealed connection with the filling pipe 14. O 97/49325 PC17FR97 / 01152

6

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the support 1 is constituted by a cardboard. As mentioned in the preamble, several types of vacuum cleaners require to function to detect the presence of the dust bag by the provision of a cardboard box. The cardboard is mounted in the receptacle 13 so as to form a substantially sealed connection with the filling pipe 14.

According to another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner does not need a cardboard to operate. As shown for example in FIG. 3, the support 1 is constituted by an interior wall of the receptacle 13 into which the orifice 23 opens.

The filling pipe 14 is removable from the receptacle 13, as shown in FIG. 2. According to another embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the filling pipe 14 is integral with the receptacle 13. The filling pipe 14 shown in the FIG. 1 is prominent inside the receptacle 13. The filling pipe 14 shown in FIG. 3 simply opens into the wall of the receptacle 13, through the orifice 23.

The vacuum cleaner in which the invention is used may obviously include a support 1 constituted by a cardboard box and a filling pipe 14 integral with the receptacle 13, or a support 1 constituted by an interior wall of the receptacle 13 and a filling pipe 14 removable from receptacle 13. Depending on the types of vacuum cleaners, the lengths and diameters of the filling hose vary.

The connecting tube 4 and the dust bag 6 form a filtration device according to the invention, adaptable to most types of vacuum cleaners.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner is shown partially in section, the connecting tube 4 and the dust filter 6 being also seen in section and partially.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receptacle received the filtration device according to the invention mounted on the cardboard forming the support 1, the cardboard having been taken from a filter recommended by the manufacturer of the vacuum cleaner. We note that this provision authorizes the keeping of additional devices such as a non-return valve which would be fitted in particular with the original cardboard.

Once mounted, the cardboard dust filter of the invention therefore comprises the cardboard box 1 mounted on a connecting tube 4 by a fixing means 2, then a universal dust bag 6 by a connecting means 7.

According to one embodiment, the fixing means 3 is constituted by an adhesive means, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The adhesive means is advantageously disposed on the first end 21 of the tube 4. The user thus has a connecting tube ready to be mounted on the support 1.

Preferably, the adhesive means consists of a double-sided adhesive ring well known in the trade.

The double-sided adhesive ring has a first layer of glue, used to glue the ring initially on the first end 21 of the connecting tube 4. The ring then has an annular support made of microporous foam, serving on the one hand of support for the layers of adhesive glues, and on the other hand, making it possible to make up for the irregularities of the surface on which the connecting tube will be glued. Then, the ring comprises a second layer of adhesive, protected by a film peelable by the user, and intended to come to permanently secure the connecting tube 4 with the suitable face of the cardboard or the support 1. The ring double-sided adhesive must in fact be constituted in such a way as to: 1) resist the tensile and / or shearing force applied when the connection tube is connected to the bag;

2) to make up for the differences in levels produced by the tearing of the fibers from the surface of the cardboard during the removal of the original bag;

3) resist the suction vacuum force. These imperatives are resolved with a microporous foam substrate 2 to 5 millimeters thick.

According to an alternative embodiment, the adhesive means consists of a layer of adhesive.

According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the fixing means consists of at least one suction cup.

According to another embodiment, also not shown in the figures, the fixing means comprises mechanical elements such as staples or rivets passing through the flange 24 of the tube 4 as well as the support 1. Advantageously a seal disposed between the end 21 of the tube 4 and the support 1 guarantees the tightness of the assembly.

In Figure 6, there is shown an embodiment of a dust bag used in the filtration device according to the invention. The dust bag is made of a flexible textile material, such as a non-woven fabric and in particular polypropylene. The material is laminated in the form of a sheet which is shaped into a closed bag with a filling opening.

In one embodiment, the bag consists of the joining of two sheets 40 and 41 of the aforementioned material. The sheets are circular in shape and their periphery constitutes an edge 42 or 43 which are joined by welding, in particular by ultrasound, gluing or sewing in the edge areas.

42 and 43.

One 40 of the two sheets has a filling orifice 49 through which the dust-laden air, sucked in by the vacuum cleaner, passes through the dust bag.

In a preferred embodiment, the connection means 7 between the dust bag 6 and the connection tube 4 is a disconnectable connection means. Preferably, it is constituted by a ring 44 with thread "quarter-turn", which cooperates with an external thread of the connecting tube 4, which forms the disconnectable connection means 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the removable connection means 7 comprises an annular ring 44 whose internal bore 45 carries thread sectors 46 and 47, so as to produce a "quarter-turn" nut. The ring is intended to be welded, in particular by ultrasound, or bonded around the filling orifice 49 in the zone 48.

In Figure 7, there is shown another embodiment of a dust bag of the filtration device according to the invention. The dust bag of FIG. 7 comprises sheets in the shape of a polygon, preferably a hexagon. The filling orifice 50 can be offset from the center of the sheet.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, two sheets are glued edge to edge along the straight edges like the edge 51, as described for the zones 42 and 43 of the bag of FIG. 6.

Preferably, the material comprises two or three layers. The first layer, disposed towards the outside of the bag, is made, as already described, of synthetic material, for example polypropylene. The second layer is made of a fibrous material. We choose a material made of micro-fibers which retains the finest dust particles. The outer layer of synthetic material is chosen so as to give solidity to the dust bag, flexibility so as to allow it, during suction, to fill the entire receptacle of the vacuum cleaner. Advantageously, a third, internal layer is added to stop the coarsest dust and avoid rapid clogging of the internal layer.

It is clear that other shapes or other materials can be envisaged which meet the same criteria mentioned above. In particular, the bag can be made from a single sheet whose edges are joined by a ring link. Similarly, the annular ring 44 can be produced directly on the periphery of the filling orifice by locally hardening the sheet of nonwoven fabric, by heating it locally and / or by adding material.

The hexagonal shape of the sheets in FIG. 7 makes it possible to minimize cutting losses when the sheets cut to produce dust bags according to the invention are taken from one or two rollers. Indeed, the cutting can be done edge to edge for the majority of the hexagons cut on a rectangular strip, except on the sides of the strip and on the cut out orifice.

The arrangement of the joining of the two sheets constituting the dust bag cooperates with the flexibility of the nonwoven fabric, as well as with the shape of revolution of the bag, so that the maximum of the volume available in the receptacle is in any case occupied by the bag when it fills. This avoids a disadvantage of folded paper bags which must have a geometry strictly calculated to adapt to the shape of the receptacle 13 of the vacuum cleaner to which they are dedicated.

The ring 44 forming the connection means 7 is advantageously permanently secured to the dust bag 6 as has been explained with the aid of FIGS. 6 and 7.

In Figure 4, there is shown a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the connecting tube 4. The tube 4 has the shape of a hollow cylinder whose end 22 having an orifice 15 is intended to come in connection with the filling opening of the dust bag. The opening of the universal dust bag of the filtration device of the invention is always the same. Therefore, all the connecting tubes of the replacement kits according to the invention have an end 22 intended to come into contact with the orifice of the dust bag of the same diameter. In Figure 4, the connecting tube is of a model intended to "shrink" the diameter of the bag filling orifice, to adapt it to a filling tube of smaller diameter. To this end, the end 21 comprising an orifice 16 is provided with an annular shoulder in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 4 so that the diameter of the inlet through the orifice 16 is smaller than the diameter of the outlet orifice 15 towards the dust bag.

The connection means 5 is for example formed by a thread made in the form of a helical groove on the external face of the end 22 of the connecting tube 4, intended to cooperate with the thread 45 of the ring 44.

In FIG. 5, another model of connection tube has been shown in which the end 21, comprising an inlet orifice 17, intended to come into relation with the filling pipe 14, and in relation to the support 1, is of a larger diameter than that of the outlet orifice 15. The connecting tube 4 of FIG. 5 is said to be "diameter enlarger". This situation can be caused in particular because the filling pipe 14 in the receptacle of the dust filter, inside the vacuum cleaner is of a larger diameter than that of the orifice 49 of the dust bag.

For this reason, the tube 4 is advantageously constituted by two cylindrical sections:

- The first cylindrical section linked to the inlet orifice 17, has a ring-shaped shoulder which borders the orifice 17, so that the connecting tube 4 can adapt to cardboard boxes whose orifice is of large diameter;

- The second cylindrical section linked to the outlet orifice 15 always has the same diameter regardless of the vacuum cleaner or the box considered.

- And the two cylindrical sections are connected by a connecting section 18 for adapting the diameters.

In the same way, the lengths of the various filling pipes 14 according to the models of vacuum cleaners, can be adapted by connection tubes 4 of various lengths, and in particular, although this is not described here, by abutment of several tubes link. A plurality of connecting tubes 4 "expanders" or "narrowers" of diameters, as well as adapters of lengths of filling pipes, form a universal mounting kit or replacement kit for dust filter.

The invention is used in the following manner.

When the cardboard box is essential for the functioning of the vacuum cleaner the user extracts from the receptacle of the vacuum cleaner the original dust filter to be replaced because it is filled with dust. Instead of throwing it away immediately, the user then removes the cardboard box from this dust filter, which, it should be remembered, is simply stuck on the paper bag full of dust.

Then, he obtains a universal mounting kit for a dust filter according to the invention which mainly comprises a plurality of connecting tubes.

Having cleared it, the user throws away the old dust filter without his cardboard box and presents the latter in front of the set of connecting tubes of the mounting kit, to select the one of length and diameter adapted to the filling pipe 14 in the receptacle of the vacuum cleaner.

It assembles the connecting tube 4 on a suitable face of the recovered cardboard, so that the orifices 16 or 17 of the connecting tube 4 and 23 of the cardboard correspond.

The suitable face of the cardboard which must receive the connecting tube is necessarily that which carried the old dust bag of the original filter, because the possible cuts or asymmetries of the cardboard freeze its orientation.

It remains for the user to mount the universal dust bag 6 on the standard orifice 15 of the connection tube 4. The filtration device according to the invention can then be inserted into the receptacle of the vacuum cleaner which, once again receiving a cardboard filter, can operate normally.

When the cardboard is not essential for the operation of the vacuum cleaner, or the bags usually used in the device do not include a cardboard, the user fixes the end 21 of the connecting tube 4 directly on the support 1 around orifice 23 using the fixing means 3.

Later, the universal dust bag 6 being full of dust, it will suffice to buy a set of refills consisting of universal dust bags 6 which are mounted on the connecting tube 4. The connecting tube 4 can remain permanently fixed on the support 1. Advantageously, the connecting tube 4 is permanently mounted on the support 1. The user no longer needs to dismantle said tube, since it suffices to replace the bag 6, for example when the one is full , not the universal filtration device.

Any vacuum cleaner fitted with a connection tube 4 from a universal dust filter kit can use a universal dust bag 6.

The present invention has been described by way of illustration only by the exemplary embodiments of the drawings.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the technical field of suction devices intended for cleaning.

Claims

1. Connecting tube, for a vacuum cleaner, in particular domestic, characterized in that it consists of a tube (4) having a first end (21) capable of being secured in a substantially sealed manner by a fixing means (3) to a support (1) having an orifice (23) and provided for a substantially sealed connection with the filling pipe (14), and a second end (22) on which is disposed a connection means (5) intended to cooperate so removable with a connecting means (7) mounted around a filling orifice (49) of a dust bag (6).

2. Connecting tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end (21) has a flange (24).

3. Connecting tube according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing means (3) is constituted by an adhesive means.

4. Connecting tube according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive means is disposed on the first end (21) of the connecting tube.

5. Connecting tube according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the adhesive means is a double-sided adhesive ring.

6. Connection tube according to claim 5, characterized in that the adhesive ring comprises a microporous foam substrate.

7. Connecting tube according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fixing means (3) comprises staples.

8. Connecting tube according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is permanently mounted on the support (1).

9. Connecting tube according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it cooperates with a cardboard box specific to a given vacuum cleaner, said cardboard box forming the support (1).

10. Connecting tube according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a section for narrowing the diameters (16) or a section for widening the diameters (17) and / or an adaptation section lengths (18) provided for introducing into said tube (4) the

5 filling (14).

11. Dust filtration device, for a vacuum cleaner, in particular domestic, characterized in that it comprises a connecting tube according to claims 1 to 10 and a dust bag (6) comprising a connecting means (7) mounted around 'a filling orifice (49).

IO 12. Dust filtration device according to claim 11, characterized in that the dust bag (6) is made of at least one sheet of a flexible, non-woven textile material, such as polypropylene.

13. A dust filtration device according to claim 12, characterized in that the dust bag (6) is constituted by the joining is edge to edge of at least two sheets (40, 41; 51), one of which (40) is provided with the filling orifice (49), the joining being carried out by sewing, gluing or welding, in particular by ultrasound.

14. Dust filtration device according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the material of the dust bag 0 (6) comprises at least one polypropylene layer and one layer, disposed on the polypropylene layer on the side inside the bag, made of a fibrous material, to achieve fine filtration of dust.

15. Dust filtration device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the connecting means (7) comprises

25 an annular ring (44) secured to the bag in the vicinity of its filling orifice (49) by welding, in particular by ultrasound, gluing or otherwise.

16. Vacuum cleaner, domestic in particular, characterized in that it comprises a connecting tube (4) according to claims 1 to 10.

17. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, characterized in that the support (1) is a cardboard box specific to a given vacuum cleaner.

18. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the connecting tube (4) is permanently fixed on the support (1).