Gas separation – Flexible or collapsible bag type – With securing or supporting means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2002-06-18
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Flexible or collapsible bag type
With securing or supporting means
C055S368000, C055S376000, C055SDIG002, C015S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06406507
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of supporting and shielding flexible outer bags of vacuum cleaners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vacuum cleaners are a pervasive and well-established appliance for commercial and residential floor care. A wide variety of vacuum cleaner configurations are available to suit the needs of a particular application or user, including upright vacuums, canister models, and hand-held models. A common element in many vacuum cleaner configurations is a flexible outer bag.
A prior art vacuum cleaner
20
with a flexible outer bag
22
is shown in FIG.
1
. In this embodiment, the outer bag
22
includes a bag body
23
that has an enclosed end
24
and an openable end
25
that leads to an interior region (not shown) of the bag
20
. In operation, dust and particulates are collected by a vacuum head
28
from a floor surface and are propelled by a flow of air into the interior region.
FIG. 2
shows another flexible outer bag
30
having an enclosed top edge
34
, enclosed lateral edges
36
A,
36
B, and an openable front panel
35
that provides access to an interior region
35
. A support means
32
supports the top edge
34
, and small portions of the lateral edges
36
A,
36
B, of the flexible outer bag
30
. The support means
32
includes a frame
33
, which is attached to a backing plate
38
. The frame
33
projects vertically from the backing plate
38
to support the top edge
34
of the bag
30
, and extends laterally to support the upper regions of the lateral edges
36
A,
36
B. The frame
33
thus supports only the top edge
34
, and a small portion of each lateral edge
36
A,
36
B. Support means
32
of the type shown in
FIG. 2
are described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,392 issued to Thomas et al.
The backing plate
38
(typically constructed of cardboard) is attached to the flexible outer bag
30
and has an aperture
39
disposed therethrough. The aperture
39
is aligned with an opening
31
in the flexible outer bag
30
. The backing plate
38
may be mounted over an exhaust port (not shown) that projects into the interior region
35
. An inner bag
40
may then be mounted over the exhaust port to receive the dirty air and particulate from the vacuum head.
FIG. 3
shows another prior art flexible outer bag
60
having an enclosed top edge
62
, enclosed lateral edges
63
, and an openable front panel
65
that provides access to an interior region (not shown). A support means assembly
50
supports the top edge
62
and also partially surrounds and protects the top edge
62
and small portions of the lateral edges
63
of the flexible outer bag
60
. Support means assemblies of the type shown in
FIG. 3
are described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,913 issued to Vermillion.
Although desirable results are achievable using prior art the support means (FIGS.
2
and
3
), certain problems still exist with respect to support and protection of the flexible outer bag. For example, the flexible outer bag may deform and come into contact with the inner bag. Such contact may decrease the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner because the inner bag may not fill with dirt or particulate to its maximum capacity. The areas of contact between the flexible outer bag and the inner bag may also reduce the airflow, and thus, the filtering efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, the prior art support means do little to protect the inner bag from being bumped or struck during operation of the vacuum cleaner which may cause damage to the flexible outer bag or the inner bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward structures and methods of supporting and shielding flexible outer bags of vacuum cleaners. In one aspect, a support structure includes a backing plate adapted to be disposed within the flexible outer bag, and at least one support member attached to the backing plate and projecting away from the backing plate. The backing and support members are adapted to contact and extend proximate respective portions of the outer bag, providing three-dimensional support to the outer bag. Alternately, a plurality of airflow apertures may be disposed through the support structure. In further aspects, the support member may be a support wall, a plurality of support tabs having airflow gaps therebetween, or may include a frame member.
In another aspect, a shield structure includes a backing member adapted to be positioned proximate to and extend over at least a portion of a rear panel of an outer bag of a vacuum cleaner. First and second sidewall members are attached to and project away from the backing member, the first and second sidewall members being adapted to be positioned proximate to and extend over at least a portion of corresponding lateral side panels of the outer bag. Alternately, the shield structure may further include a top member attached to and projecting away from the backing member, the top member being adapted to be positioned proximate to and extend over at least a portion of a top panel of the outer bag. In a further aspect, a front shielding member may be attached to the shield structure, the front member being adapted to be positioned proximate to and extend over at least a portion of a front panel of the outer bag.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3498031 (1970-03-01), Fesco
patent: 3654661 (1972-04-01), Scott
patent: 3763635 (1973-10-01), Schmitz
patent: 3971643 (1976-07-01), Hufton
patent: 4182618 (1980-01-01), Tschudy
patent: 4240812 (1980-12-01), Schaefer et al.
patent: 4349361 (1982-09-01), Scott et al.
patent: 4514200 (1985-04-01), Sumerau et al.
patent: 4566884 (1986-01-01), Jones et al.
patent: 4701975 (1987-10-01), Hampton et al.
patent: 4724574 (1988-02-01), Bowerman et al.
patent: 5007133 (1991-04-01), Lackner et al.
patent: D328166 (1992-07-01), Lackner et al.
patent: 5216779 (1993-06-01), Glenn, III
patent: 5222276 (1993-06-01), Glenn, III
patent: 5230121 (1993-07-01), Blackman
patent: 5367741 (1994-11-01), Hampton et al.
patent: 5390392 (1995-02-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5414893 (1995-05-01), Hampton et al.
patent: 5774930 (1998-07-01), Sommer et al.
patent: 5961676 (1999-10-01), King et al.
patent: 6033451 (2000-03-01), Fish et al.
Cohen Shane P.
Paterson Chris M.
Ponjican Sam
Verdura Javier
Faegre & Benson LLP
Oreck Holdings LLC
Pham Minh-Chan T.
Simmons David A.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and methods for supporting and shielding flexible... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and methods for supporting and shielding flexible..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and methods for supporting and shielding flexible... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2936047