EP3454713B1

EP3454713B1 - Method for producing a dust container, and a connector plate thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3454713B1
Application number: EP16721173.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bert Scheufen; Patrik WERIUS
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2016-05-09
Filing date: 2016-05-09
Publication date: 2024-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-09
Also published as: CN109068912B; RU2709912C1; WO2017194083A1; EP3454713A1; CN109068912A

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a dust container connector plate for a vacuum cleaner.
More specifically, the dust container produced comprises a dust bag, made of an air permeable material, and a connector plate, surrounding an opening in the dust bag, such that the connector plate can correctly position the opening within a vacuum cleaner by the connector plate being inserted in a holder of the vacuum cleaner.

Background

An example of such a container is disclosed for instance in DE-102008037409-A1 , which suggests producing the connector plate by means of injection molding a plastic material. Thanks to the connector plate, the opening of the dust bag can be reliably positioned and oriented to receive a flow of dust laden air from the vacuum cleaner inlet. Further, the connector plate can trigger a feedback switch in the holder of the vacuum cleaner to verify that a dust container has been correctly installed in the holder, thus enabling the vacuum cleaner to prevent use in case of an absent or incorrectly installed dust container. Such use could otherwise damage the vacuum cleaner by injecting heavily dust laden air into a fan/motor arrangement.
One problem associated with dust containers of this type is how to make their use easier for and end user, as well as how to allow efficient production.

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a method that allows efficient production of a dust container with improved features allowing easy use of the end product. This object is achieved by means of a method as defined in claim 1. More specifically, in a method as initially mentioned, the connector plate is produced by injection molding a plastic material in a tool such that the connector plate extends in a main plane. The connector plate further comprises a flexible shutter formed in one piece with the connector plate, and in the tool, the shutter is formed at least partly to extend out of the main plane of the connector plate. This means that a shutter can be provided together with other features in an area of the connector To be inserted on page 1, line 21
Document DE94 03970 U1 discloses a connector plate for a dust container. The connector plate comprises two parts joined together.
Document DE94 08349 U1 discloses a connector plate for a dust container. The connector plate having a shutter piece.
plate, without interfering with such other features during production. In this way generally a greater freedom in configuring the connector plate can be achieved.
For instance, the connector plate may comprise a central portion, surrounding the opening, and an extending portion, comprising lateral arm portions extending from the central portion and a bridge portion interconnecting the arms at their distal ends. The flexible shutter may be attached to the central portion in between the arm portions. This configuration allows a shutter to be folded over the central portion and to close an opening in the central portion by being slid away from the bridge portion. A locking feature, keeping the connector plate in a holder, may be provided in the bridge portion, and it can be made sure that the opening is fully closed when this locking feature releases the connector plate.
Such a locking feature may be provided in the bridge portion as locking openings.
The connector plate may comprise guide tabs at either side of the opening, and the shutter may in a subsequent step be inserted behind the guide tabs.
The shutter may extend out of the main plane of the connector plate by being bent at a fold. This may facilitate the further processing of the connector plate, making it easier to fold the shutter correctly over the connector plate.
The shutter may have a ribbed structure that guides the bending of the shutter, with ribs running transversal to the direction that the shutter extends from the remainder of the connector plate.
The distal end of the shutter may comprise a handle to facilitate use, and the connector plate may be made in polypropylene, PP.
The present disclosure also relates to producing a dust container comprising such a connector plate, and further to a connector plate or a dust container produced accordingly.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 shows a dust container for a vacuum cleaner.
Fig 2 shows a connector plate for a dust container.
Fig 3 shows a perspective view of a connector plate where a shutter is employed.
Fig 4 shows a perspective view of a connector plate where a shutter has not yet been folded over the opening of the connector plate.
Fig 5 shows a side view corresponding to fig 4.
Fig 6 shows an enlarged portion of fig 5.

Detailed description

The present disclosure relates to a dust container 1 for a vacuum cleaner, as illustrated with an example in fig 1. The dust container has a dust bag 5, which is schematically indicated and is made of an air permeable material, as is well known per se. A connector plate 3 is attached to the dust bag 5, for instance by being glued thereto, and has an opening 9 coinciding with an opening in the dust bag 5, such that the opening of the connector plate also becomes the opening of the dust bag as a whole. The connector plate 3 is configured to position the opening 9 of the dust bag in a correct manner in relation to an air inlet in the body of a vacuum cleaner. This can be carried out by sliding the connector plate into a holder or socket in the vacuum cleaner. This operation positions the opening 9 to receive a flow of dust laden air which thereby enters the bag which is capable to remove most of the dust from the air flow. A gasket 7 may be attached to the connector plate 3 at the opening 9 so as to provide a sealing function, reducing leaks in the flow from an inlet hose to the bag 9.
Fig 2 shows a plan view of a connector plate 3. In the present disclosure, the connector plate 3 comprises a central portion 11, which is central with respect to the opening 9 which it surrounds, and may be substantially flat and rectangular. Further, the connector plate 3 comprises an extending portion 13, which may project from an edge of the central portion 11.
When used in a vacuum cleaner, the connector plate 3 may be slid into a holder in the vacuum cleaner with the extending portion leading in the direction of insertion and the central portion as a trailing portion. The width of the central portion 11 and the extending portion 13 may be substantially uniform width from a distal edge 29 of the extending portion, being inserted first, to the edge 31 of the central portion 11 opposite to the distal edge 29. This allows the holder to guide the insertion of the connector plate. Tabs 14 extending laterally from the central portion 11 at the corners most distant from the extending portion 13 may be provided to rest on the exterior of the holder at its entry point.
The central and the extending portions 11, 13, may extend in a common plane, and may be made in one piece, for instance by injection molding polypropylene, PP. Together, the central and extending portions 11, 13 provide a reliable fixation of the dust bag opening 9 in the vacuum cleaner. Additionally, the extending portion 13 may provide a locking function that retains the connector plate in the holder, and an indicating function, triggering a sensor or switch in the holder, that makes the vacuum cleaner aware of a dust bag being correctly inserted, thereby allowing the vacuum cleaner to disable use of a suction function unless a dust bag is correctly fitted.
As is further illustrated in fig 2, the extending portion 13 may comprise lateral arm portions 17, extending from the central portion 11 and a bridge portion 15, interconnecting the arms at their distal ends. This serves to leave a free space in between the arm portions 17, which may be used by a shutter arrangement, as will be shown. The bridge portion 15 may comprise locking openings 19, which interact with a locking arrangement of the holder, snapping into the openings when the connector plate is fitted, thereby requiring a predetermined pulling force, in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, in order to remove the dust bag. Thereby, the dust bag is not removed inadvertently.
The present disclosure relates to a shutter 21 that can be used to close the opening 9, once the dust bag 5 is full and the dust container 1 is to be replaced. As the shutter 21 substantially seals the opening 9, it can be prevented to a great extent that collected dust leaks out of the dust bag when handled to be disposed.
In the present disclosure, the shutter is connected to the central portion 11 in between the lateral arm portions 17, and is made in one piece with the remainder of the connector plate. With reference to figs 3 and 4, the shutter 21 has an opening 33, and is folded on top of the central portion 11 such that the shutter opening 33 coincides with the opening 9 of the dust bag 5, which is the state illustrated in fig 2. The shutter is tucked in under guide tabs 25 provided at both sides of the opening and remains slidable, guided by the guide tabs 25 and the rear surface 27 behind the guide tabs. The shutter can thus be slid upwards in fig 2, such that the shutter opening 33 moves away from the dust bag opening 9, thereby effectively closing this opening. This state is shown in a perspective view in fig 3. The distal end of the shutter may comprise a handle 23 to facilitate this operation.
The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing method suitable for producing a dust container with a connector plate as shown in fig 2. Fig 4 shows a perspective view of a connector plate 3 where a shutter has not yet been folded over the opening of the connector plate. This is the state in which the connector plate is produced, i.e. reflects the shape of the used injection molding tool. As is evident from fig 4, the connector plate 3 extends in a main plane, and the flexible shutter 21 is formed in one piece with the remainder of the connector plate 3. The shutter 21 when produced extends out of the main plane of the connector plate. In the illustrated case, the shutter is produced with a fold 55 about 90 degrees out of the main plane close to the location where it would otherwise interfere with the bridge.
In general there is disclosed a method for producing a dust container with a connector plate 3, surrounding an opening 9 in a dust bag 5, wherein the connector plate 3 is produced by injection molding a plastic material in a tool such that the connector plate extends in a main plane, and wherein the connector plate further comprises a flexible shutter 21 formed in one piece with the connector plate, and wherein in the tool, the shutter is formed to at least partly extend out of the main plane of the connector plate.
One advantage with this method is, with reference to fig 2, that there can for instance be obtained a connector plate where the shutter 21 is activated, closing the opening 9, by pulling the shutter 21 away from the extending portion 13 with the bridge portion 15 that locks the connector plate 3 in the holder. This means that the opening can be fully closed without beginning to remove the connector plate 3 from the holder. The shutter 21 sliding resistance can be lower than the force needed to unlock the bridge portion 15 from the holder. Therefore, when a user pulls the handle 23, the connector plate 3 is not moved out of the holder until the opening is fully closed, thereby preventing that dust leaves the dust bag, which could otherwise be the result from removing the dust container.
Fig 5 shows a side view corresponding to fig 4. As shown, the fold 55 is provided close to the bridge portion 15. One advantage with this configuration that the fold 55 can be used to finish the connector plate 3 by folding the shutter 21 further at this fold 55 and attach the distal part of the shutter 21 at the central portion 11 using the guide tabs, as previously mentioned.
However, a fold can be provided also closer to the central portion 11, even if this may require a bigger tool as the shutter extends more from said main plane, and may require that the shutter is folded also at another location when finishing production of the connector plate 3.
In fig 5, the fold 55 is provided to be about 90° from the main plane of the connector plate 3. However, it is possible to allow the shutter to be inclined at a different angle from the main plane, for instance at 60°.
Fig 6 shows an enlarged portion of fig 5. As shown, the shutter may have a ribbed structure that guides the bending of the shutter in the direction it is deformed when the shutter is slid over the central portion. Thus, the ribs run transversal to the direction that the shutter 21 extends from the remainder of the connector plate 3.
The present disclosure is not limited to the examples described above, and may be varied and altered in different ways, for instance, other plastic materials can be suitable, such as polyethylene, PE.

Claims

Method for producing a connector plate (3) of a dust container (1) for a vacuum cleaner, where the dust container comprises a dust bag (5), made of an air permeable material, and the connector plate (3), surrounds an opening (9) in the dust bag (5) and the connector plate, whereby the connector plate (3) can correctly position the opening (9) within a vacuum cleaner by the connector plate being inserted in a holder of the vacuum cleaner, the connector plate (3) being produced by injection molding a plastic material in a tool such that the connector plate extends in a main plane, characterized by that the connector plate further comprises a flexible shutter (21) formed in one piece with the connector plate, and wherein in the tool, the shutter is formed to extend out of the main plane of the connector plate.
Method according to claim 1, wherein the connector plate comprises a central portion (11), surrounding the opening (9), and an extending portion (13), comprising lateral arm portions (17) extending from the central portion (11) and a bridge portion (15) interconnecting the arms at their distal ends, wherein the flexible shutter (21) is attached to the central portion in between the arm portions (17).
Method according to claim 2, wherein the bridge portion comprises locking openings (19).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector plate comprises guide tabs (25) at either side of the opening (9), the shutter (21) in a subsequent step being inserted behind the guide tabs.
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter extends out of the main plane of the connector plate by being bent at a fold (55).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter (21) has a ribbed structure that guides the bending of the shutter, the ribs running transversal to the direction that the shutter extends from the remainder of the connector plate (3).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end of the shutter comprises a handle (23).
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector plate is made in polypropylene, PP.
Method for producing a dust container (1) for a vacuum cleaner, the dust container comprising a dust bag (5), made of an air permeable material, and a connector plate (3) produced with a method according to any of the preceding claims, surrounding an opening (9) in the dust bag (5).
A connector plate for a vacuum cleaner dust container, wherein the connector plate is produced according to any of claims 1-8
A dust container for a vacuum cleaner, wherein the dust container is produced according to claim 9.