Disposable dust bag for vacuum cleaner and the like

Claim 2

In a vacuum cleaner comprising: (A) a connector through which air is discharged, said connector providing a wall portion having an end and peripherally spaced outwardly extending projections substantially adjacent to said end; and (B) a disposable dust bag mounted on said connector including (i) a dust collection chamber formed of a permeable sheet material defining an inlet in said dust bag; (ii) a substantially rigid collar around said inlet and having an opening therein proportioned to fit over said connector and said projections when said collar is being mounted on said connector; and (iii) an elastomeric seal around said inlet providing an opening, said seal extending adjacent the sides of said projections both remote from said end and adjacent said end, said seal forming an airtight sealing engagement with the surface of said connector so that said seal forms an airtight seal between said dust bag and said connector when said collar is in an installed position on said connector; the improvement wherein said collar further defines peripherally spaced pivotable portions disposed about said opening and having free ends disposed radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, when said collar is in said installed position said free ends at least indirectly engaging the sides of said projections remote from said end at an angle and resisting movement of said collar relative to said connector out of said installed position, said pivotable portions being aligned with said projections both in said installed position and during mounting.

Claim 3

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivotable portions pivot toward said end during mounting of said collar on said connector to enable said collar to clear said projections.

Claim 4

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 2, wherein in said installed position said pivotable portions project toward said projections at an angle of about 45°.

Claim 5

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seal is a thin diaphragm mounted on said collar and extending radially inwardly into said opening in said collar, said diaphragm forming an airtight seal with said connector when said collar is in said installed position.

Claim 6

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 4, wherein said diaphragm provides an opening slightly smaller than said end of said connector.

Claim 7

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 5, wherein, in said installed position, said diaphragm biases said pivotable portions towards said projections at an angle.

Claim 8

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivotable portions are forcibly deformable during movement of said collar out of said installed position.

Claim 9

A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are at least two of said projections equidistantly spaced from said end of said connector and at least two of said pivotable portions on said collar.

Claim 10

In a vacuum cleaner comprising: (A) a connector through which air is discharged, said connector providing a wall portion having an end and at least a pair of peripherally spaced outwardly extending projections substantially adjacent to said end; and (B) a disposable dust bag mounted on said connector including (i) a dust collection chamber formed of a permeable sheet material defining an inlet in said dust bag; (ii) a substantially rigid collar around said inlet and having an opening therein proportioned to fit over said connector and said projections when said collar is being mounted on said connector; and (iii) an elastomeric seal around said inlet providing an opening, said seal extending adjacent the sides of said projections both remote from said end and adjacent said end, said seal forming an airtight sealing engagement with the surface of said connector so that said seal forms an airtight seal between said dust bag and said connector when said collar is in an installed position on said connector, said seal being a thin diaphragm mounted on said collar, extending radially inwardly into said opening in said collar, and forming a lip seal with said connector when said collar is in said installed position, said diaphragm providing an opening slightly smaller than said end of said connector; the improvement wherein said collar further defines at least a pair of peripherally spaced pivotable portions disposed about said opening and having free ends disposed radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions pivoting toward said end during mounting of said collar on said connector to enable said collar to clear said projections, when said collar is in said installed position said free ends at least indirectly engaging the sides of said projections remote from said end at about a 45° angle and resisting movement of said collar relative to said connector out of said installed position, said diaphragm biasing said pivotable portions towards said projections at an angle, said pivotable portions being aligned with said projections both in said installed position and during mounting, said pivotable portions being forcibly deformable during movement of said collar out of said installed position.

Claim 11

In a vacuum cleaner comprising: (A) a connector through which air is discharged, said connector providing a wall portion having an end and at least a pair of peripherally spaced outwardly extending projections substantially adjacent to said end; and (B) a disposable dust bag mounted on said connector including (i) a dust collection chamber formed of a permeable sheet material defining an inlet in said dust bag; (ii) a substantially rigid collar around said inlet and having an opening therein proportioned to fit over said connector and said projections when said collar is being mounted on said connector; and (iii) an elastomeric seal around said inlet providing an opening, said seal extending adjacent the sides of said projections both remote from said end and adjacent said end, said seal forming an airtight sealing engagement with the surface of said connector so that said seal forms an airtight seal between said dust bag and said connector when said collar is in an installed position on said connector, said seal being a thin diaphragm mounted on said collar, extending radially inwardly into said opening in said collar, and forming a lip seal with said connector when said collar is in said installed position, said diaphragm providing an opening slightly smaller than said end of said connector; the improvement wherein said collar further defines at least a pair of peripherally spaced pivotable portions disposed about said opening and having free ends disposed radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions pivoting toward said end during mounting of said collar on said connector to enable said collar to clear said projections, when said collar is in said installed position said free ends at least indirectly engaging the sides of said projections remote from said end at about a 45° angle and resisting movement of said collar relative to said connector out of said installed position, said diaphragm biasing said pivotable portions towards said projections at an angle, said pivotable portions being aligned with said projections both in said installed position and during mounting, said pivotable portions being forcibly deformable during movement of said collar out of said installed position.

Claim 12

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a porous sheet defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; (B) a connector having an outlet having an end through which the air is delivered by a vacuum cleaner and which provides only a pair of peripherally spaced outwardly extending projections; and (C) a substantially rigid collar secured to said sheet around said inlet, said collar providing an opening and having only a pair of peripherally spaced radially pivotable portions disposed about said opening and extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, an elastic diaphragm on said collar providing an opening smaller than said opening in said collar, said collar being adapted to be mounted on said connector, said collar being installed, maintained in an installed position, and removed with said pivotable portions aligned with said projections, in said installed position said collar, said diaphragm and said pivotable portions extending past said projections at the side thereof remote from said end with said pivotal portions at least indirectly engaging the sides of said projections remote from said end at an angle to releasably secure said collar on said connector in said installed position, said diaphragm extending into engagement with the surface of said connector on the sides of said projections both remote from said end and adjacent said end to provide an airtight seal with said connector when said collar is in said installed position.

Claim 13

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a porous sheet defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; (B) a connector having an outlet having an end through which the air is delivered by a vacuum cleaner and which provides only a pair of peripherally spaced outwardly extending projections; and (C) a substantially rigid collar secured to said sheet around said inlet, said collar providing an opening and having only a pair of peripherally spaced radially pivotable portions disposed about said opening and extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, an elastic diaphragm on said collar providing an opening smaller than said opening in said collar, said collar being adapted to be mounted on said connector, said collar being installed, maintained in an installed position, and removed with said pivotable portions aligned with said projections, in said installed position said collar, said diaphragm and said pivotable portions extending past said projections at the side thereof remote from said end with said pivotal portions at least indirectly engaging the sides of said projections remote from said end at an angle to releasably secure said collar on said connector in said installed position, said diaphragm extending into engagement with the surface of said connector on the sides of said projections both remote from said end and adjacent said end to provide an airtight seal with said connector when said collar is in said installed position.

Claim 14

A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said diaphragm is stretched over said projections.

Claim 15

A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said diaphragm engages said connector when said collar is in said installed position to form a seal with said connector preventing said diaphragm from blowing through said collar when exposed to air pressure.

Claim 16

A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein, in said installed position, said diaphragm biases said pivotable portions towards said projections at an angle.

Claim 17

A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said pivotable portions are forcibly bendable during movement of said collar out of said installed position.

Claim 20

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a flexible body of air-permeable sheet material defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; and (B) a connector providing an annular wall surrounding a passage and having an end adapted to be connected to a vacuum cleaner through which the air is delivered to said chamber, said annular wall being provided with peripherally spaced projections providing radially extending rearwardly facing surfaces; said bag providing mounting means surrounding said inlet including an elastomeric diaphragm and a substantially rigid collar, said collar having an opening therein and pivotable portions disposed about said opening and aligned with said projections, said pivotable portions extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions being sized to indirectly engage said rearwardly facing surfaces at an angle when said bag is in a mounted position on said connector, to clear said projections by pivoting during mounting of said collar on said connector, and to bend during forcible removal of said collar from said connector, thereby allowing movement of said collar past said projections, said diaphragm providing an opening therein aligned with said end of said connector and being sized to be stretched past said projections from the sides thereof adjacent said end to the sides of said projections remote from said end and into airtight sealing engagement with said annular wall on the side of said projections remote from said end, said diaphragm engaging said annular wall and biasing said pivotable portions into indirect engagement with said rearwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 21

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a flexible body of air-permeable sheet material defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; and (B) a connector providing an annular wall surrounding a passage and having an end adapted to be connected to a vacuum cleaner through which the air is delivered to said chamber, said annular wall being provided with peripherally spaced projections providing radially extending rearwardly facing surfaces; said bag providing mounting means surrounding said inlet including an elastomeric diaphragm and a substantially rigid collar, said collar having an opening therein and pivotable portions disposed about said opening and aligned with said projections, said pivotable portions extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions being sized to indirectly engage said rearwardly facing surfaces at an angle when said bag is in a mounted position on said connector, to clear said projections by pivoting during mounting of said collar on said connector, and to bend during forcible removal of said collar from said connector, thereby allowing movement of said collar past said projections, said diaphragm providing an opening therein aligned with said end of said connector and being sized to be stretched past said projections from the sides thereof adjacent said end to the sides of said projections remote from said end and into airtight sealing engagement with said annular wall on the side of said projections remote from said end, said diaphragm engaging said annular wall and biasing said pivotable portions into indirect engagement with said rearwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 22

A dust bag mounting system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said projections tilt rearwardly towards said projections.

Claim 23

A dust bag mounting system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said collar is formed of substantially rigid but forcibly deformable material.

Claim 24

A dust bag mounting system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said annular wall is a substantially cylindrical wall and said projections extend outwardly from said annular wall, said opening in said collar being generally circular between said pivotable portions and being sized to closely fit around said cylindrical wall between said pivotable portions.

Claim 25

A dust bag mounting system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said diaphragm provides an opening slightly smaller than said cylindrical wall, said diaphragm stretching over said projections to provide a seal with said connector.

Claim 26

A dust bag mounting system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said chamber is an elongated vertically extending chamber having ends, and said collar is spaced from said ends of said chamber.

Claim 27

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a flexible body of air-permeable sheet material defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; and (B) a connector providing an annular wall surrounding a passage and having an end adapted to be connected to a vacuum cleaner through which the dirt-laden air is delivered to said chamber, said annular wall being provided with peripherally spaced projections providing radially outwardly extending rearwardly facing surfaces; said bag providing mounting means surrounding said inlet including an elastomeric diaphragm and a substantially rigid but forcibly deformable collar, said collar having an opening therein and pivotable portions disposed about said opening and aligned with said projections, said opening in said collar being sized to closely fit around said annular wall between said pivotable portions, said pivotable portions extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions being sized to indirectly engage said rearwardly facing surfaces at an angle when said bag is in a mounted position on said connector, to clear said projections by pivoting during mounting of said collar on said connector, and to bend during forcible removal of said collar from said connector, thereby allowing movement of said collar past said projections, said diaphragm providing an opening therein aligned with said end of said connector and sized to be slightly smaller than said annular wall, said diaphragm being sized to be stretched over and past said projections from the sides thereof adjacent said end to the sides of said projections remote from said end and into airtight sealing engagement with said annular wall on the side of said projections remote from said end, said diaphragm engaging said annular wall to provide a seal with said connector, and biasing said pivotable portions into indirect engagement with said rearwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 28

A disposable vacuum cleaner dust bag mounting system comprising: (A) a flexible body of air-permeable sheet material defining a dust collection chamber having an inlet; and (B) a connector providing an annular wall surrounding a passage and having an end adapted to be connected to a vacuum cleaner through which the dirt-laden air is delivered to said chamber, said annular wall being provided with peripherally spaced projections providing radially outwardly extending rearwardly facing surfaces; said bag providing mounting means surrounding said inlet including an elastomeric diaphragm and a substantially rigid but forcibly deformable collar, said collar having an opening therein and pivotable portions disposed about said opening and aligned with said projections, said opening in said collar being sized to closely fit around said annular wall between said pivotable portions, said pivotable portions extending radially inwardly further than the remainder of said collar when said pivotable portions and said collar remainder are in the same plane, said pivotable portions being sized to indirectly engage said rearwardly facing surfaces at an angle when said bag is in a mounted position on said connector, to clear said projections by pivoting during mounting of said collar on said connector, and to bend during forcible removal of said collar from said connector, thereby allowing movement of said collar past said projections, said diaphragm providing an opening therein aligned with said end of said connector and sized to be slightly smaller than said annular wall, said diaphragm being sized to be stretched over and past said projections from the sides thereof adjacent said end to the sides of said projections remote from said end and into airtight sealing engagement with said annular wall on the side of said projections remote from said end, said diaphragm engaging said annular wall to provide a seal with said connector, and biasing said pivotable portions into indirect engagement with said rearwardly facing surfaces.