VACUUM-CLEANER FILTER BAG FOR A HAND-HELD VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

The invention comprises a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a base element, a cover element having an inflow opening and a retaining plate surrounding the inflow opening at least in part is connected to the cover element, and at least four intermediate elements which are arranged between the base element and the cover element and each comprise a passage opening aligned with the inflow opening of the cover element, where the intermediate elements are configured as filter elements and each comprise nonwoven fabric and/or fibrous nonwoven, where the intermediate element directly adjoining the base element is connected to the base element along the outer edge of the intermediate element or along the edge of the passage opening, and where adjacent intermediate elements are connected to each other alternately along the edge of the passage openings and along their outer edge.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising: a base element; a cover element, where an inflow opening is provided in said cover element and a retaining plate surrounding said inflow opening at least in part is connected to said cover element; and at least four intermediate elements which are arranged between said base element and said cover element and each comprise a passage opening which is in alignment with said inflow opening of said cover element; where said intermediate elements are configured as filter elements and each comprise nonwoven material and/or fibrous nonwoven; where said intermediate element directly adjoining said base element is connected to said base element along an outer edge of said intermediate element or along an edge of said passage opening; and where adjacent intermediate elements are connected to each other alternately along said edge of said passage openings and along their outer edge.

2. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said intermediate elements are formed to be congruent.

3. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said cover element is formed to be congruent with said intermediate elements.

4. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where an outer contour of said base element corresponds to that of said cover element and said intermediate elements.

5. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said base element is impermeable to air and/or has a surface profile, wherein the surface profile comprises one or more elevations positioned on a side facing away from an interior of said bag.

6. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where the ratio of the maximum expansion of said intermediate elements to the diameter of said respective passage opening is at most 4.

7. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said intermediate elements are formed to be disk-shaped.

8. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said base element is formed to be transparent.

9. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where an element permeable to air is connected to said base element on a side facing away from a bag content, where said element permeable to air is formed over the entire surface or in a discontinuous manner.

10. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said retaining plate comprises a closure element for closing said inflow opening.

11. The vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1, where said intermediate elements are configured to be different.

12. A method for the manufacture of a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising the steps of: providing a base element; providing at least four intermediate elements each comprising a passage opening, where said intermediate elements are configured as filter elements and each comprise nonwoven material and/or fibrous nonwoven; connecting a first intermediate element to said base element along an outer edge of said intermediate element or along said edge of said passage opening; connecting the remaining intermediate elements among each other and to said first intermediate element such that adjacent intermediate elements are connected to one another alternately along said edge of said passage openings and along their outer edge, where said passage openings are in alignment with one another.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing a cover element, where an inflow opening is provided in said cover element, and connecting said cover element to a second of said intermediate elements so that said inflow opening is in alignment with said passage opening of said intermediate element.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising pre-compacting connecting regions of said intermediate elements, said base element, and/or said cover element.

15. The method according to claim 13, where the method further comprises first connecting said intermediate elements to one another in pairs along their outer edge excluding said first and said second intermediate element, and then connecting said intermediate elements previously connected in pairs along said edge of said passage openings among each other or to said first or second intermediate element.

16. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 6, wherein the diameter of said respective passage opening is at most 3.

17. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 7, wherein said intermediate elements have a circular, oval, or angular cross section.

18. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 11, wherein the said intermediate elements are comprised of different materials and/or have different material parameters.

Description

[0070] Further features and advantages of the invention shall be described hereafter with reference to the exemplary figures, where:

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag when folded up;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag when unfolded;

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a base element of an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag; and

[0074] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a top view onto and a cross section through intermediate elements of an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag when folded up. The vacuum cleaner filter bag comprises a base element 1 which in the simplest example is a filter element, but can also be formed to be impermeable to air. The exemplary base element 1 has the shape of a circular disk.

[0076] The bag also comprises a cover element 2 which comprises an inflow opening in the form of a central passage hole and can likewise be configured as a filter element. A retaining plate 3 is connected, in particular welded or adhesively bonded, to the cover element. Retaining plate 3 is used to affix the vacuum cleaner filter bag in a corresponding retainer in a housing of a vacuum cleaner. Retaining plate 3 comprises a passage hole which is in alignment with the inflow opening of cover element 2.

[0077] Finally, four intermediate elements 4 are provided which are arranged between base element 1 and cover element 2 and each comprise a passage opening which is in alignment with the inflow opening of cover element 2.

[0078] Intermediate elements 4 are configured as filter elements and each comprise nonwoven fabric and/or fibrous nonwoven.

[0079] Intermediate element 4 directly adjoining base element 1 is connected to base element 1 along the outer edge of intermediate element 4. Connection 6 can be realized as a welded connection or an adhesive connection.

[0080] Intermediate element 4 directly adjoining cover element 2 is connected to cover element 2 likewise along the outer edge of intermediate element 4. Connection 6 can again be realized as a welded connection or an adhesive connection.

[0081] Therebetween, adjacent intermediate elements 4 are connected to one another alternately along the edge of the passage openings and along their outer edge, so that a zigzag fold is formed. Connection 5 along the edge of the passage openings can again be realized as a welded connection or an adhesive connection. In other words, each intermediate element 4 is connected to an adjacent intermediate element 4 along their outer edge and to another intermediate element along the edge of the passage openings. The result is a vacuum cleaner filter bag whose shape resembles a bellows.

[0082] In the folded state, the intermediate layers are arranged approximately in parallel.

[0083] When the filter bag is inserted into the corresponding installation space of a vacuum cleaner, it unfolds automatically due to the action of gravity and/or due to the suction airflow, but only in the axial direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the bag. This is illustrated in FIG. 2. The fold sides flip open so that the bag extends in the longitudinal direction. The centers of the passage openings of intermediate elements 4 and the centers of the inflow openings of cover element 2 and retaining plate 3 are disposed on this longitudinal axis. The bag does not expand in the radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, since the zigzag folds are affixed at connections 5, 6.

[0084] The vacuum cleaner filter bag thus obtained is particularly suitable for a hand-held vacuum cleaner and in particular so-called stick vacuum cleaners, in particular for cordless battery vacuum cleaners. Due to the fact that the vacuum cleaner filter bag does not expand in the radial direction during operation, it can be easily removed from the vacuum cleaner. Ideally, the container of the vacuum cleaner in which the bag is located only needs to be tilted to the extent that the bag drops out due to the effect of gravity.

[0085] The achievable length of the vacuum cleaner filter bag depends on the number of folds and the depth of the folds, it can therefore be precisely determined in advance and adapted to the installation space of the vacuum cleaner. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, two folds are provided between base element 1 and cover element 2. But it is also conceivable to form more than these two folds. For example, 6 to 8 folds can be formed. In this case, more than four intermediate elements 4 are required accordingly. The diameter of the passage openings of intermediate elements 4 together with their outer diameter again determines the depth of the folds. With a larger number of folds, the thickness of the intermediate layers can be reduced in order to reduce the package size.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary base element 1 as can be used for a bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This base element 1 in the form of a circular disk can be made of filter material. But it can also be configured as a plastic or cardboard disk. In the case of a plastic disk, it can also be transparent. Base element 1 can have a profile for guiding the air to the intake opening of the motor or for spacing base element 1 at least in part from the base of the receiving region of the vacuum cleaner.

[0087] Outer edge 7 of base element 1 can be pre-compacted, for example, by ultrasonic welding, thermal welding, or by applying pressure.

[0088] FIG. 4A shows an exemplary intermediate element 4 in a top view. It is presently configured as a circular ring with a passage opening 8 at the center. Edge 9 of passage opening 8 can again be pre-compacted.

[0089] A first such intermediate element 4 can be connected, for example, along the outer edge to base element 1 of FIG. 3 by way of a connection 6. An adjoining further such intermediate element 4 can be provided, where intermediate elements 4 are connected to inner edge 9 of passage openings 8. This is again followed by such an intermediate element 4 which is connected to the outer edge of previous intermediate element 4. This continues until a bag, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained.

[0090] In principle, it would also be possible to connect the first intermediate element along edge 9 of passage opening 8 to the base element. In this case, the connection to next intermediate element 4 is effected via the outer edge of intermediate elements 4.

[0091] Instead of the above-described sequential connection of intermediate elements 4, intermediate elements 4 can also first be connected in pairs. A cross section for such a double ring structure is shown in FIG. 4B.

[0092] One or more such double rings can then be adhesively bonded one after the other to a structure composed of base element 1 and first intermediate element 4. The connection is respectively effected at the edge of passage openings 8. Finally, a structure of cover element 2 and second intermediate element 4 follows.

[0093] In the simplest case, cover element 2 is formed in the same way as intermediate elements 4. In this case, the structure of cover element 2 and second intermediate element 4 is a double ring structure as shown in FIG. 4B. A retaining plate 3 is there finally connected to cover element 2, and the corresponding filter bag is thus obtained.

[0094] Numerous advantages can be obtained with the bag shape described.

[0095] The bag can be folded up to save space and is still easy to insert. It is not necessary to unfold it before inserting it.

[0096] The bag unfolds automatically and only in the axial direction. The type of folding and fixation of the folds prevents the expansion in the radial direction.

[0097] The number of folds and the depth of the folds in combination with the length of the available installation space determines the usable surface of the bag.

[0098] Removal is very easy because the diameter of the bag does not increase with use.

[0099] The number of folds can be changed to adapt to the material thickness. Thinner materials can be processed with more folds than more voluminous materials.

[0100] The usable volume of the bag is also influenced by the depth of the folds

[0101] Retaining plate 3 can have a semi-automated or fully automated closure.

[0102] Intermediate elements 4 can be made of different materials. The different filter properties can be advantageous for facilitating certain flow paths or for making them more difficult.

[0103] Base element 1 of the bag can be made of a structured plastic material that is e.g. permeable to air due to perforation. This prevents the extraction from being blocked. The full filter surface remains usable.

[0104] Alternatively, the base surface can be made of material with a particularly high collection capacity.

[0105] The bag can have various shapes. The cross sections can be round, oval, angular, star-shaped This is defined only by the die.

[0106] More complex bag shapes can also be realized by combining different diameters or shapes. For example, conical bags or asymmetrical shapes can be formed.

[0107] An exemplary manufacturing method for a vacuum cleaner filter bag described above comprises the steps of:

arranging two filter material elements on top of each other. This can be done by folding a web of filter material. Alternatively, two filter material webs can also be unwound on top of one another. The sides of the material laminates containing a collection layer point towards each other.

[0108] For the combination of the base element and the first intermediate element, only one hole is introduced into a filter material element. In the case of the intermediate elements and the cover element, the center hole is punched into both filter material elements.

[0109] The two filter material elements can be connected to one another by welding the outer contour of the later intermediate elements to one another. The adhesive region or the welding region can be pre-compacted.

[0110] The intermediate elements, the cover element, and the base element are punched out.

[0111] The number of pairs of elements required for the bag shape are successively adhesively bonded or welded to one another The connection surface can again be pre-compacted. Finally or initially, the retaining plate is adhesively bonded or welded on.

[0112] It goes without saying that the features mentioned in the embodiments described above are not restricted to this specific combination of features, but are also possible in any other random combination. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the geometries shown in the figures are only by way of example and are also possible in any other random configuration.