Vacuum bag with reinforcement patch

Claim 2

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable outer bag formed of paper; (B) an air-permeable inner bag formed of meltblown thermoplastic polymeric material disposed within said outer bag; and (C) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said outer bag; said inner bag, said outer bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said inner bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes: (D) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch; formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; thereby to protect a portion of said outer bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 3

The vacuum bag of claim 1 wherein said patch has a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD).

Claim 4

The vacuum bag of claim 1 wherein said patch is disposed intermediate said inner and outer bags.

Claim 5

The vacuum bag of claim 1 wherein said patch is adhered to an inner surface of said outer bag.

Claim 6

The vacuum bag of claim 1 wherein the surface area of said patch is less than 20% of that of said outer bag but greater than that of said channel.

Claim 7

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable outer bag formed of paper; (B) an air-permeable inner bag formed of meltblown thermoplastic polymeric material disposed within said outer bag; and (C) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said outer bag; said inner bag, said outer bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said inner bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes: (D) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed intermediate said inner and outer bags opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; said patch having a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD); said patch being adhered to an inner surface of said outer bag, and the surface area of said patch being less than 20% of that of said outer bag but greater than that of said channel; thereby to protect a portion of said outer bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 8

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable outer bag formed of paper; (B) an air-permeable inner bag formed of meltblown thermoplastic polymeric material disposed within said outer bag; and (C) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said outer bag; said inner bag, said outer bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said inner bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes: (D) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed intermediate said inner and outer bags opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; said patch having a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD); said patch being adhered to an inner surface of said outer bag, and the surface area of said patch being less than 20% of that of said outer bag but greater than that of said channel; thereby to protect a portion of said outer bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 9

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable bag; and (B) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said bag; said bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes (C) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; thereby to protect a portion of said bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 10

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable bag; and (B) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said bag; said bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes (C) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; thereby to protect a portion of said bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 11

The vacuum bag of claim 7 wherein said patch has a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD).

Claim 12

The vacuum bag of claim 7 wherein said patch is adhered to an inner surface of said bag.

Claim 13

The vacuum bag of claim 7 wherein the surface area of said patch is less than 20% of that of said bag but greater than that of said channel.

Claim 14

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable bag; and (B) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said bag; said bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes (C) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; said patch having a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD); said patch being adhered to an inner surface of said bag, and the surface area of said patch being less than 20% of that of said bag but greater than that of said channel; thereby to protect a portion of said bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.

Claim 15

In a vacuum bag for a vacuum cleaner having a dirt-laden air outlet, said vacuum bag comprising: (A) an air-permeable bag; and (B) an air-impermeable collar disposed on an outer surface of said bag; said bag and said collar defining therethrough a channel of given area for passage therethrough of a dirt-laden air outlet into said bag; the improvement wherein said vacuum bag additionally includes (C) an air-impermeable reinforcement patch formed of flashspun polyolefin material disposed opposite and at least partially below said channel when said vacuum bag is in use; said patch having a thickness of about 127-279 microns, an Elmendorf tear strength of 3.5 N (both MD and CD), and a work to break of 4.4 Nm (MD) and 5.2 Nm (CD); said patch being adhered to an inner surface of said bag, and the surface area of said patch being less than 20% of that of said bag but greater than that of said channel; thereby to protect a portion of said bag generally opposite the outlet from penetration and tearing by particles entrained in the dirt-laden air expelled at high speed from the outlet.