Washable cloth vacuum cleaner filter bag having a resealable opening for emptying vacuumed debris

• US 20040112019A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robin A. Mountford
• Original Assignee: Robin A. Mountford
• Inventors: Mountford, Robin A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,786,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/367
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/14 Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1427 Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/02 Vacuum cleaner bags

Abstract

A washable cloth vacuum cleaner filter bag for use on wet/dry vacuum cleaners and in central vacuum cleaner systems includes a first opening for receiving vacuumed debris, means for attaching the first opening to the inlet of the vacuum cleaner or system, and a second opening, which is reversably sealable, for removing the vacuumed debris from the bag. In combination with the bag, the vacuum cleaner or system may be successfully used to suction up fine particulate debris, including gypsum dust and MDF dust. For a preferred embodiment of the new vacuum cleaner filter bag, the bag, which is of generally rectangular shape, is fabricated from a tight weave, synthetic-fiber cloth having a warp of about 160 threads per inch and a weft of about 68 threads per inch. A variety of fastener types may be employed for the reversably sealable second opening. The second opening incorporates a cuff on one side of the opening which is turned inside out to fold over the edge of the other side of the bag.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner filter bag for use with an associated vacuum cleaner system having a debris collection tank with an inlet through which debris is received via pneumatic force from a hose or a network of interconnected pipes outside said tank, said inlet terminating as a tube extending from a wall of the tank into the interior thereof, said vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising:

a cloth bag having a first opening securable to the tube, and a second opening formed by a pair of generally parallel, neighboring first and second unseamed-together edges of mutually-facing expanses of cloth, said second opening extending the entire length of said first and second edges, said first edge incorporating a cuff which, when not turned inside out, faces away from said second edge and incorporates a first sealing strip along its entire length, said second edge incorporating a second sealing strip along its entire length that is generally positioned back-to-back with respect to said first sealing strip, such that when said cuff is turned inside out, it overlaps said first edge with said first and second sealing strips being in intimate sealing contact with one another.

2. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, which further comprises a neck interposed between said first opening and a major portion of said bag, said neck incorporating a partially circumferential sleeve sized to receive an adjustable clamp.

3. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing strips are, alternately, hook and loop fastener material.

4. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing strips are mateable, extruded flexible polymeric zip fasteners.

5. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing strips are mateable, molded polymeric linear snap array strips.

6. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein the cloth from which it is made is washable and woven from synthetic polymeric fibers.

7. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 6, wherein said synthetic polymeric fibers are selected from the group consisting of nylon, rayon, polypropylene, and polyester.

8. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 7, wherein the cloth has a warp range of about 51 to 63 threads per centimeter (approximately 130 to 160 threads per inch) and a weft range of about 22 to 27 threads per centimeter (approximately 56 to 68 threads per inch).

9. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first opening is positioned at an upper end of said bag, and said second opening is positioned at a lower end thereof.

10. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, which further comprises a pair of opposite sides, each of which incorporates a folded pleat for increased bag volume.

15. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second sealing strips are mateable, molded polymeric linear snap array strips.

16. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein the cloth from which it is made is washable and woven from synthetic polymeric fibers.

17. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 6, wherein said synthetic polymeric fibers are selected from the group consisting of nylon, rayon, polypropylene, and polyester.

18. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 7, wherein the cloth has a warp range of about 51 to 63 threads per centimeter (approximately 130 to 160 threads per inch) and a weft range of about 22 to 27 threads per centimeter (approximately 56 to 68 threads per inch).

19. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, wherein said first opening is positioned at an upper end of said bag, and said second opening is positioned at a lower end thereof.

20. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 1, which further comprises a pair of opposite sides, each of which incorporates a folded pleat for increased bag volume.

11. A vacuum cleaner filter bag for use with an associated vacuum cleaner system having a debris collection tank in which, during operation of the system, air pressure is reduced below ambient atmospheric pressure so that debris may be suctioned from outside the tank through an inlet into the tank, said inlet terminating as a tubular member inside the tank, said vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising:

a cloth bag having a first opening securable to the tubular member, and a second opening for removing accumulated debris, said second opening being formed by a pair of generally parallel, neighboring first and second unseamed-together edges of mutually-facing expanses of cloth, said second opening extending the entire length of said first and second edges, said first edge incorporating a cuff which, when not turned inside out, faces away from said second edge and incorporates a first sealing strip along its entire length, said second edge incorporating a second sealing strip along its entire length that is generally positioned back-to-back with respect to said first sealing strip, such that when said cuff is turned inside out, it overlaps said first edge with said first and second sealing strips being in intimate sealing contact with one another.

12. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 11, which further comprises a neck interposed between said first opening and a major portion of said bag, said neck incorporating a partially circumferential sleeve sized to receive an adjustable clamp.

13. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 11, wherein said first and second sealing strips are, alternately, hook and loop fastener materials.

14. The vacuum cleaner filter bag of claim 11, wherein said first and second sealing strips are mateable, extruded flexible polymeric zip fasteners.