Retaining plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, having a closure device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retaining plate 1 for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, including a base plate 2 having a passage opening 3 formed therein and a closure device for closing the passage opening 3, where the closure device includes two closure parts 4, 5 arranged in a plane parallel to the passage opening 3, and where the closure parts 4, 5 are movable relative to each other in the plane, so that, by a closing movement in the plane, they are movable to a closure position at which they close the passage opening 3 by overlapping each a respective part of the passage opening 3.

Claims

1. A retaining plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a base plate having a passage opening formed therein and a closure device for closing the passage opening, wherein the closure device comprises two closure parts arranged in a plane parallel to the passage opening, wherein the closure parts are movable relative to each other in the plane, so that, by a closing movement in the plane, the closure parts are movable to a closure position at which the closure parts close the passage opening by overlapping each a respective part of the passage opening, wherein the closure parts are interconnected via a connection element, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is caused by displacing the connection element in a direction of movement parallel to the plane of the closure parts, and wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement of the closure parts comprises a first movement component perpendicular to the direction of movement of the connection element and a second movement component parallel to the direction of movement of the connection element.

2. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein each of the closure parts is pivotable about an axis.

3. The retaining plate according to claim 2, wherein each axis is defined by a hinge through which the respective closure part is connected to the connection element.

4. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the closure parts are configured symmetrically to an axis of symmetry, which extends parallel to the direction of movement of the connection element.

5. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is a guided movement, wherein the closure parts each comprise a curved guide surface which, during the closing movement, runs along a guide element arranged on the base plate.

6. The retaining plate according to claim 5, wherein the curved guide surface is arranged on a lateral surface of the respective closure part and the respective guide element is configured as a projection on the base plate.

7. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is a guided movement, wherein the closure parts each comprise a guide element which, during the closing movement, runs along a curved guide surface provided on the base plate.

8. The retaining plate according to claim 7, wherein the curved guide surface is configured as a groove in the base plate and the guide elements are each configured as a respective projection on the closure parts engaging the groove.

9. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein stops are provided on the base plate to prevent the closure parts from moving beyond the closure position or an open position.

10. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a projection, and wherein a locking element of a closure part engages behind the projection at an open position of the closure device.

11. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the base plate or the closure device is thermoformed shaped t.

12. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein the base plate or the closure parts are made from recycled plastic.

13. A vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a bag wall and a retaining plate connected thereto, the retaining plate comprising: a base plate having a passage opening formed therein and a closure device for closing the passage opening, wherein the closure device comprises two closure parts arranged in a plane parallel to the passage opening, wherein the closure parts are movable relative to each other in the plane, so that, by a closing movement in the plane, the closure parts are movable to a closure position at which the closure parts close the passage opening by overlapping each a respective part of the passage opening, wherein the closure parts are interconnected via a connection element, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is caused by displacing the connection element in a direction of movement parallel to the plane of the closure parts, and wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement of the closure parts comprises a first movement component perpendicular to the direction of movement of the connection element and a second movement component parallel to the direction of movement of the connection element.

14. The retaining plate according to claim 1, wherein each of the closure parts is pivotable about a common axis.

15. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein each of the closure parts is pivotable about an axis.

16. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein each of the closure parts is pivotable about a common axis.

17. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein the closure parts are configured symmetrically to an axis of symmetry, which extends parallel to the direction of movement of the connection element.

18. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is a guided movement, wherein the closure parts each comprise a curved guide surface which, during the closing movement, runs along a guide element arranged on the base plate.

19. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein the closure device is configured such that the closing movement is a guided movement, wherein the closure parts each comprise a guide element which, during the closing movement, runs along a curved guide surface provided on the base plate.

20. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 13, wherein stops are provided on the base plate to prevent the closure parts from moving beyond the closure position or an open position.

Description

(1) Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter making reference to the exemplary figures, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of an exemplary retaining plate having the closure parts arranged at an open position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of an exemplary retaining plate having the closure parts arranged at a closure position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a further exemplary retaining plate; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an illustration of an intermediate step of the production process of an exemplary retaining plate.

(6) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary retaining plate 1 comprising a base plate 2 having a passage opening 3 formed therein. In addition, two closure parts 4, 5 can be seen, which are interconnected via a connection element 6. The closure parts 4, 5 are arranged in a plane that extends parallel to the passage opening 3 and thus to the base plate 2. The closure parts 4, 5 are shown at an open position, i.e. they do not block the passage opening 3. The closure parts 4, 5 are arranged such that they are laterally displaced relative to the passage opening 3. In the present example, the closure parts 4, 5 are configured symmetrically to the axis 7, which extends parallel to the plane of the passage opening 3. Also the passage opening 3 as well as the base plate 2 are configured symmetrically to the axis of symmetry 7 in the present example.

(7) FIG. 1 also shows two raised portions or projections 8, 9 provided on the base plate 2. As can clearly be seen from the description following hereinafter, the projections 8, 9 have various functions for the closure mechanism.

(8) The closure parts 4, 5 are connected via a film hinge, which is not shown, in the area of the connection element 6. In the simplest case, the film hinge itself may define the connection element. In this case, the connection element is extended even further, whereby the closure device can be handled more easily.

(9) The closure parts are movable relative to each other in the plane in which they are arranged. In particular, they are pivotable about an axis defined by the film hinge, which is not shown. This axis extends perpendicular to the plane of the sheet and thus perpendicular to the plane of the passage opening 3 and to the plane of the closure parts. In addition, a movement of the closure parts 4, 5 in a direction parallel to the axis of symmetry 7 is possible. For closing the passage opening, the connection element 6 can in particular be moved by an operating person in a direction parallel to the axis of symmetry 7 and away from the passage opening 3. As a result, also the closure parts 4, 5 move in this direction until they enter into engagement with the projections 8, 9.

(10) The closure parts 4, 5 each have a curved guide surface 10, 11, which faces the projections 8, 9. When the guide surfaces 10, 11 come into contact with the edges 12, 13 of the projections 8, 9, the movement of the closure parts 4, 5 will be guided such that the curved guide surface will move along the edges 12, 13. Through the curvature of the guide surfaces 10, 11, a movement component of the closure parts 4, 5 perpendicular to the direction of movement of the connection element 6 is generated. In other words, the closure parts 4, 5 are moved towards each other. Simultaneously, the closure parts 4, 5 additionally move translationally with a movement component parallel to the direction of movement of the connection element 6.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the closure parts 4, 5 at the closure position. At this position, they close the passage opening, which is no longer visible in this figure, by overlapping it when seen from above. In the present case, a respective half of the passage opening 3 is overlapped by a respective one of the closure parts 4, 5.

(12) In order to prevent the closure parts 4, 5 from moving beyond the closure position, parts of the projections 8, 9 define stops with which parts of the closure parts 4, 5 are in engagement at the closure position. In particular, the closure parts 4, 5 have laterally provided thereon projections 14, 15, which cooperate with the projections 8, 9 acting as stops.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary retaining plate 1. Just as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base plate 2, a passage opening 3 as well as closure parts 4, 5 are provided. The closure parts 4, 5 are again interconnected by a connection element 6. FIG. 3 also shows projections 8, 9. In contrast to the above embodiment, the projections 8, 9 do, however, not have the function of a guide element. Instead, the base plate 2 has provided therein a groove 16 surrounding the passage opening 3. In addition, each of the closure parts 4, 5 comprises a guide element 17, 18 in the form of a projection engaging the groove 16. It follows that the guided closing movement of the closure parts 4, 5 towards each other is, in this example, accomplished by the fact that the projections 17, 18 of the closure parts 4, 5 move along a curved guide surface of the groove 16. The closing movement again results in a combination of a translational movement and a pivoting movement, so that the closure parts can be arranged at the closure position of FIG. 2. At the closure position, the projections 8, 9 again serve as stops for preventing a movement beyond the closure position.

(14) The closing of the passage opening 3 is reversible. The connection element 6 can be moved in a direction of movement parallel to the axis of symmetry 7 and towards the passage opening 3. The closure parts 4, 5 will then move in an opening movement in a direction opposite to the above-described closing movement, until they arrive again at the open position of FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively.

(15) FIG. 4 illustrates the production of an exemplary retaining plate as well as additional features of an exemplary closure device.

(16) According to an example, the base plate may be configured as a thermoformed shaped part. This allows a particularly cost-efficient production, since no cost-intensive injection molding tool has to be manufactured. In addition, recycled plastic can be used for thermoforming, and this is advantageous from an ecological point of view.

(17) The retaining plate 1, which is shown in FIG. 4 and which has not yet been finished, comprises a base plate configured as a thermoformed part. The base plate comprises a middle part 19 as well as wing sections 20, 21 arranged on opposite sides. The wing sections 20, 21 can each be pivoted about the side of the middle part 19 on which they are arranged. For this purpose, the wing sections 20, 21 may be connected to the middle part 19, e.g. via a film hinge or a folding line.

(18) After the closure parts 4, 5, which are interconnected by a bar-shaped connection element 6 in this example, have been arranged, the wing sections 20, 21 can be folded towards the middle part 19 in such a way that the wing sections 20, 21 will overlap with the middle part 19 as well as with the closure parts 4, 5. The wing sections 20, 21 have openings 22, 23 provided therein, so that the passage opening 3 will not be covered in the overlapped condition of the middle part 19. The folded-over wing sections 20, 21 can then be connected to, e.g. welded to the middle part 19 in order to fix them in their position in a plane parallel to the plane of the passage opening 3. Through the folded-over wing sections 20, 21, also the closure slide, which is defined by the closure parts 4, 5 and the connection element 6, will be fixed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the passage opening 3. The closure parts 4, 5 can then only be moved in the common plane in which they are arranged and which is arranged parallel to the plane of the passage opening 3.

(19) The closure slide of the embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs slightly from the closure slide according to FIGS. 1 to 3. Firstly, the connection element 6 is bar-shaped and each of the closure parts 4, 5 is connected to the connection element 6 via a separate film hinge 24, 25. In addition, the closure parts 4, 5 each comprise a locking element 26, which, in the depicted open position of the closure parts 4, 5, engages behind a respective projection 27, 28 arranged on the base plate. Due to the fact that the locking element 26 enters into locking engagement with the projection 27, 28, the closure slide cannot easily move away from the open position. The closure parts 4, 5 can thus be fixed or secured in a defined initial position. This can be of advantage in particular for transporting the retaining plate. In this way, it can be guaranteed that the operating person will find a completely open closure slide, when a vacuum cleaner filter bag provided with the retaining plate is to be installed in the vacuum cleaner.

(20) The force acting on the closure slide during the above-described closing movement then causes the locking element 26 to disengage from its engagement with the projections 27, 28, thus allowing the above-described closing movement.

(21) In the example shown, also the projections 14, 15 on the closure parts 4, 5 act as locking elements, which engage behind the projections 27, 28. In this way, additional fixing in the open position can be achieved. It would also be imaginable that the function is achieved by the projections 14, 15 alone and that no separate locking elements 26 are used.

(22) FIG. 4 also shows additional stops 29, 30, which prevent the closure parts 4, 5 from being moved beyond the position shown in FIG. 4.

(23) It follows that the retaining plate described offers a simple, reasonably-priced and spacesaving alternative to known closure solutions. It goes without saying that features specified in the above-describe embodiments are not limited to these special combinations and can also be used in arbitrary other combinations.