Retainer Panel for a Vacuum Cleaner Bag, with Seal

Abstract

The present invention provides a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a base plate made of a plastic and having a passage opening formed therein, and a sealing membrane made of an elastic plastic material, which covers the passage opening and which is connected to the base plate, wherein the sealing membrane has a slit in the area of the passage opening, wherein the sealing membrane is, at least sectionwise, provided with a thickened area along the slit.

Claims

1. A holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, the holding plate comprising: a base plate made of a plastic and having a passage opening formed therein, and a sealing membrane made of an elastic plastic material, which covers the passage opening and which is connected to the base plate, wherein the sealing membrane has a slit in an area of the passage opening, wherein the sealing membrane is, at least sectionwise, provided with a thickened area along the slit.

2. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickened area comprises a bead.

3. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane has two or more slits, the sealing membrane being, at least sectionwise, provided with a thickened area along one slit, a plurality of slits or all the slits.

4. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the elastic plastic material is a thermoplastic or a liquid silicone rubber.

5. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane comprises a corrugated area.

6. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane is curved.

7. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sealing membrane is increased by at least 20% in the region of the thickened area.

8. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane has a thickness of at least 0.10 mm, or a maximum thickness of 1.0 mm.

9. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane has, in the region of the thickened area, a thickness of at least 0.12 mm, or a maximum thickness of 1.20 mm.

10. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickened area extends to only one side of the sealing membrane or to both sides of the sealing membrane.

11. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickened area has a width of at least 0.10 mm, preferably at least 0.20 mm, and/or a maximum width of 0.40 mm, preferably a maximum width of 0.30 mm.

12. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein, outside the thickened area, the sealing membrane has a uniform thickness.

13. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickened area has a constant or a variable thickness along the slit.

14. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane is welded to the base plate or injection molded onto the base plate.

15. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a bag wall consisting of a filter material with an inlet opening, a base plate made of a plastic and having a passage opening formed therein, and a sealing membrane made of an elastic plastic material and covering the passage opening, wherein the sealing membrane is connected to the base plate or the bag wall, wherein the sealing membrane has a slit in an area of the passage opening, and wherein the sealing membrane is, at least sectionwise, provided with a thickened area along the slit.

16. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sealing membrane is increased by at least 50% in the region of the thickened area.

17. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane has a thickness of at least 0.30 mm or a maximum thickness of 0.60 mm.

18. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane has, in the region of the thickened area, a thickness of at least 0.40 mm or a maximum thickness of 0.70 mm.

19. The holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickened area has a width of at least 0.20 mm or a maximum width of 0.30 mm.

Description

[0053] Other features and advantages will be described hereinafter with reference to the figures, in which

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a holding plate with a sealing membrane;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a holding plate with a sealing membrane;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a further schematic cross-sectional view of a holding plate with a sealing membrane; and

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of a holding plate with a sealing membrane.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a top view of a holding plate 1 comprising a base plate 2 made of plastic, e.g. polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in particular recycled PET (rPET). During operation, this holding plate 1 is inserted (as part of a vacuum cleaner filter bag) into a holder in the interior of a dust collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner, so as to hold a vacuum cleaner filter bag in this way. The base plate has formed therein a passage opening 3, which is fully covered by a sealing membrane 4; in particular, no central opening for a connection piece is provided. The sealing membrane is of the single-layer type and consists of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or of liquid silicone rubber (LSR).

[0059] The sealing membrane 4 has two slits 5 in the area of the passage opening 3. In the example shown, the two slits intersect in a T-shaped configuration. One of the two slits extends essentially perpendicular to the other slit. At the ends of the two slits, the slits widen slightly, thus forming (small) circular holes that prevent the sealing membrane from tearing at the slit ends. These holes have a diameter in the range of 1-8 mm.

[0060] Other than in the example shown, the slits may also extend relative to each other at an angle unequal to 90, e.g. at an angle of 45. One of the two slits or both slits may be curved, e.g. U-shaped or wave-shaped.

[0061] At the position of rest or initial position shown, the opposite edges of a slit abut on each other, so that the passage opening 3 is closed by the sealing membrane. When the holding plate (as part of a vacuum cleaner filter bag) has been inserted into a dust collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner, a connection piece of a vacuum cleaner is inserted into the passage opening 3, whereby the sealing membrane 4 is deflected downwards (into the interior of the vacuum cleaner filter bag) and the slits are widened. The connection piece may be provided e.g. in the cover of the vacuum cleaner and enter the passage opening during closing of the cover. As a result, the sealing membrane opens in the passage opening; in so doing, the sealing membrane surrounds the connection piece and seals the latter. When the sealing membrane is being deflected, it is stretched along the circumference of the passage opening 3, in particular in the peripheral area thereof.

[0062] In addition to the slits, the sealing membrane has thickened areas 6. These thickened areas 6 are elongate or linear in shape and extend along and parallel to the respective slit 5. Three of the thickened areas are substantially straight. In addition, a further (curved) thickened area 6 is provided parallel to each of the enlargements at the end of the slits, whereby the risk of tearing is reduced still further at these locations.

[0063] The sealing membrane 4 has, fundamentally, a uniform and constant thickness in a range of from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm across its entire area. This thickness can be measured e.g. in the edge area of the passage opening 3, in particular directly at the edge of the passage opening. In the region of the thickened areas 6, the thickness increases, so that a bead is formed. This bead has a height of 0.1-0.4 mm, starting from the surface of the sealing membrane 4. The maximum thickness of the sealing membrane in the thickened area thus lies in a range of 0.2 to 1.2 mm.

[0064] The line-shaped thickened areas reinforce the sealing membrane in this region. Due to such reinforcing, the sealing membrane is stabilized and has an increased restoring force in these regions. Due to this fact, the sealing membrane will reliably return to its position of rest, in which the passage opening 3 is closed, when the connection piece has been removed. It follows that, when the cover of the vacuum cleaner is opened and the connection piece is thus removed from the passage opening, the vacuum cleaner bag will close and can be disposed of hygienically.

[0065] In the example shown, the vertical slit has a thickened area on both sides thereof (i.e. on the left and on the right). In the case of the horizontal slit, only one thickened area is provided on one side. In addition, thickened areas are arranged at three slit ends.

[0066] Alternative embodiments are, however, possible as well. All the thickened areas are located on the same side of the sealing membrane. The thickened areas may have a constant thickness/height or a variable height over their entire length.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a holding plate 1, comprising a base plate 2 with a passage opening 3 and a sealing membrane 4 covering the passage opening 3. The holding plate 1 is here welded to the bag wall 7 of a vacuum cleaner filter bag. The bag wall 7 comprises one or a plurality of layers of a non-woven fabric.

[0068] In the example illustrated, the base plate 2, the sealing membrane 4 and the bag wall 7 are welded to one another. The holding plate is here typically welded to the bag wall at first positions; the sealing membrane is welded to the holding plate and/or the bag wall at other, second positions.

[0069] In the example shown, the sealing membrane 4 is arranged between the base plate 2 and the bag wall 7. Alternatively, the sealing membrane may also be provided on the side of the base plate facing away from the bag wall. As a further possibility, the sealing membrane may also be fixed (e.g. welded) to the bag wall inside the bag.

[0070] During the production/making of the vacuum cleaner bag, the sealing membrane may either first be connected to the base plate of the holding plate; subsequently, this holding plate is connected to the bag wall. Alternatively, the sealing membrane may first be connected to the bag wall (in the interior of or on the outside of the bag); subsequently, the base plate is connected to the bag wall. These connections may be established in the form of adhesive and/or (ultrasonic) welded connections.

[0071] In the area of the passage opening 3, FIG. 2 shows a slit 5 in the sealing membrane 4, a bead-shaped thickened area 6 being provided on either side of the slit. In this example, both thickened areas are formed only towards one side of the sealing membrane 4, viz. towards the top. Alternatively, the thickened areas may also be formed towards the other side or towards both sides.

[0072] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the sealing membrane, when occupying its position of rest or initial position, is located in a plane parallel to the passage opening 3. When a connection piece has been pulled out, the sealing membrane will reassume its original shape.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, in the case of which the sealing membrane 4 is curved in a radial direction, when occupying its position of rest. This means that, in the example shown, it is curved in the direction of the passage opening 3. In an area around the passage opening center through which the slit 5 extends, the curvature is convex (when the passage opening is seen in a top view from outside). In this embodiment, the bead-shaped thickened areas 6 are formed on the side of the sealing membrane 4 facing away from the passage opening, i.e. they are directed towards the interior of the bag.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a holding plate 1, in which the sealing membrane has provided therein two slits 5 arranged in a cross shape. Along these slits 5, thickened areas 6 are provided sectionwise. These thickened areas do not extend continuously over the entire length of the respective slit, but they are configured separately.

[0075] In addition, the sealing membrane 4 has four corrugated areas 8. The corrugated structure is here configured such that it extends in a circumferential direction, as shown in a similar manner e.g. in DE 86 22 890. In the areas 8, the sealing membrane 4 is thus similar to crepe paper or a corrugated cardboard. Due to the corrugated structure, additional material is provided for the sealing membrane 4 in these areas.

[0076] When a connection piece is inserted into the passage opening 3, the sealing membrane first changes to a smooth condition in the originally corrugated areas, i.e. it is pulled smooth, and only afterwards it will be stretched there. This leads to less stress on the sealing membrane and thus to reliable closing even after a comparatively long period of time.

[0077] It goes without saying that the features disclosed in the various figures and examples may also be combined in an arbitrary different way. In addition, also other configurations for the slits and/or thickened areasas described above are possible.