Self-sealing bag arrangement for a floor cleaning device

Abstract

A filtration bag assembly may include an air permeable bag and a collar affixed thereto. The collar may include an opening that communicates with the interior of said bag and at least one panel that is movable to selectively obscure the opening. The collar includes a bottom surface and a pair of opposed tabs extending laterally from opposed lateral edges of the collar. A bracket is secured to the floor cleaning apparatus and includes a pair of opposed legs, that each includes a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface. During insertion of the collar into said bracket, the first ramp surface slidingly contacts the bottom surface and the second ramp surface slidingly contacts said tabs to move the collar upwardly into fluid communication with a nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial assembly view of a floor cleaning device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the filtration bag assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the filtration bag assembly of FIG. 2 in a closed orientation;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the filtration bag assembly of FIG. 2 in an open orientation;

FIG. 5 if a top view of the filtration bag assembly of FIG. 2 in a closed orientation;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the filtration bag assembly of FIG. 2 in a closed orientation;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the receiving bracket of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the receiving bracket;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the receiving bracket along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A-F are sequential sectional views of the filtration bag assembly during insertion and removal from the receiving bracket; and

FIGS. 11A-F are sequential close-up isometric views of the filtration bag assembly during insertion and removal from the receiving bracket.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner bag arrangement in a floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a filtration bag assembly including an air permeable bag and a collar affixed thereto, said collar including an opening that communicates with the interior of said bag and at least one panel that is movable to selectively obscure said opening, said collar including a bottom surface and a pair of opposed tabs extending laterally from opposed lateral edges of said collar;a bracket secured to the floor cleaning apparatus and including a pair of opposed legs, that each include a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface; andwherein during insertion of said collar into said bracket, said first ramp surface slidingly contacts said bottom surface and said second ramp surface slidingly contacts said tabs to move said collar upwardly into fluid communication with a nozzle.

2. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 1 wherein each said leg includes a first slide surface that terminates at said first ramp surface, said first slide surface being positioned laterally inwardly relative to said second ramp surface and slidingly contacting said bottom surface when said filtration bag assembly is inserted into said bracket.

3. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first ramp surface and said second ramp surface are oriented at the same angle.

4. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 1 wherein each said leg further includes a first resting surface and a second resting surface, said first resting surface extending rearwardly from said first ramp surface and said second resting surface extending rearwardly from said second ramp surface, wherein said collar is positioned on said first and second resting surfaces when said opening is aligned with said nozzle.

5. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 1 wherein said collar includes a bottom panel and a top panel, said bottom panel including an aperture, said top panel secured to said bottom panel to allow sliding relative movement and including an aperture.

6. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 5 wherein when said bottom panel aperture and said top panel aperture define said opening, and when said bottom panel aperture and said top panel aperture are unaligned, said opening is obstructed.

7. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 5 wherein said bottom panel includes a catch and said bracket includes an interference member, said catch engaging said interference member during removal of said collar from said bracket, said catch engages said interference member to cause said top panel to slide relative to said bottom panel.

8. The vacuum cleaner bag arrangement of claim 7 wherein said catch includes a downwardly extending projection and said catch includes an upwardly extending wedge having a ramped portion on the forward facing surface thereof.

9. A dirt retaining arrangement in a floor cleaning apparatus comprising: a bag assembly including a dirt collection bag and a collar, said collar including an opening to provide access to the interior of said bag and a catch extending from said collar;a bracket secured to the floor cleaning apparatus and including at least one ramp surface for directing said collar into alignment with an exhaust nozzle and an interference member extending from said bracket; andwherein said collar is slidingly received by said bracket and said collar includes a first orientation wherein said opening is unobstructed and a second orientation wherein said opening is obstructed, when said collar is removed from said bracket said catch engages said interference member to cause said collar to move from said first orientation to said second orientation.

10. The dirt retaining arrangement of claim 9 wherein said collar includes a bottom panel and a top panel, said bottom panel including an aperture and said top panel including an aperture, said top panel being secured to said bottom panel to allow sliding relative movement.

11. The dirt retaining arrangement of claim 10 wherein said first orientation occurs when said bottom panel aperture is aligned with said top panel aperture and said second orientation occurs when said bottom panel aperture is displaced from said top panel aperture.

12. The dirt retaining arrangement of claim 10 wherein said interference member includes an upwardly sloped ramp portion that terminates at a top surface and said catch extends downwardly from said bottom panel.

13. The dirt retaining arrangement of claim 12 wherein said catch includes a generally triangular shape.

14. The dirt retaining arrangement of claim 12 wherein rearward movement of said collar into said bracket causes said catch to ride up said ramp portion to traverse said interference member, and forward motion of said collar causes said catch to engage said interference member and inhibit continued sliding movement until said collar moves from said first orientation to said second orientation.

15. A method of installing and removing a filtration bag into a floor cleaning apparatus comprising: providing a filtration bag assembly including a dirt collection bag and a collar, said collar including an opening to provide access to the interior of said bag and a catch extending from said collar, said collar including a first orientation wherein said opening is unobstructed and a second orientation wherein said opening is obstructed;inserting said filtration bag assembly into a bracket, said bracket including a rear stop member, an interference member and opposed legs that each provide at least one surface upon which said collar is slidably received; andsliding said collar rearwardly until said collar contacts said rear stop member, thereby aligning said opening with a nozzle.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of pulling said collar forwardly until said catch engages said interference member.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of continuing to pull said collar forwardly after said catch engages said interference member, thereby moving said collar from said first orientation to said second orientation.