US3333564A - Vacuum bag indicator - Google Patents

Description

g- 1, 1957 R. s. WATERS 3,333,564

VACUUM BAG INDICATOR Filed June 28, 1966 40 2549 45 2 .142 .4. 21L WWW 22 59 United States Patent Q 3,333,564 VACUUM BAG INDICATOR Robert S. Waters, Oak Brook, 11]., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,250 6 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The indicator comprises three plastic pieces. One piece is a drum chamber open at one end and integrally closed at the other. Another piece is a drum rotatably mounted in the drum chamber. The drum chamber and drum have integral vanes formed therein. The open end of the drum chamber is closed by the third piece which is removable. The drum is rotatably supported in the drum chamber by integral bearing portions formed at opposite ends of the drum and bearing apertures formed in the integrally closed end portion of the drum chamber and in the removable third piece.

This invention relates to a vacuum bag indicator, and more particularly, to an improved vacuum bag indicator for indicating the fill condition of a dust collecting bag for a vacuum cleaner.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved vacuurn'bag indicator having a minimum number of parts which may be readily fabricated and assembled to provide a low cost vacuum bag indicator.

In the preferred form of the invention the vacuum bag indicator essentially comprises three single piece members constructed from a plastic molding material. One of the pieces comprises 'a housing having an integral mounting plate anddrum chamber. One end of the drum chamber is integrally closed. Another piece comprises a rotatable indicator drum positioned inside the drum chamber. The third piece comprises an end closure disc for closing the open end of the drum chamber and providing a bearing support for the corresponding end of the rotatable drum. All the necessary detailed parts of the vacuum bag indicator such as the vanes for rotating the drum and the window for observing the position of the drum are integrally formed on these main three pieces.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organizationand operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying single sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable vacuum cleaner employing the vacuum bag indicator of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken away top plan view of the lefthand corner portion of FIG. 1' showing the indicator in off position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar tothat of FIG. 2 showing the check position of the indicator; 7

FIG. 4 is a broken away side elevation view of the vacuum bag indicator;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the indicator drum of the vacuum bag indicator.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, shown therein is a vacuum cleaner employing the invention. The details of the vacuum cleaner are fully described and claimed in pending Julius P. Wied patent application Serial No. 557,412 filed June 14, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant patent application. The vacuum cleaner comprises ahousing 10 sup- 3,333,564 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 ported on a pair offront wheels 11 andrear wheels 12. The vacuum bag indicator which is referred to generallybyreference numeral 13 is mounted on the top of thehousing 10 adjacent to the front end thereof. The top ofhousing 10 has acarrying handle 14. Avacuum cleaner hose 15 is adapted to be connected to the suction side of the vacuum cleaner at the lower front end thereof. A foot operatedcontrol 16 for energizing and de-energizing the vacuum cleaner is mounted on thehousing 10 adjacent to the connection of thehose 15 to the housing. At its 5 rear end thehousing 10 is provided with a foot operated cord release 17. The vacuum cleaner has a not shown cord reel mechanism inside thehousing 10. The electric extension cord for the vacuum cleaner is storedon this cord reel mechanism and is intended to be withdrawn from insidehousing 10 at the rear end thereof adjacent to foot operated control 17. The control 17 holds the electric extension cord in withdrawn position and also releases it for rewinding on the cord reel mechanism.

Thehousing 10 comprises a pair of metallic shells orpans 18 and 19, and an intermediate single piece plasticmolding material centerframe 20. Thecenterframe 20 has aperipheral flange 21, see also FIGS. 4 and5, which is positioned between the peripheral edges of theshells 18 and 19 to provide a continuous molding about the vacuum cleaner housing between the two shells. as is more particularly described in the mentioned pending Julius P.

Wied patent application, the single piece plastic center and integrally formed with thecenterframe flange 21 is a generally cylindrical closed recess orchamber 23. Theyacuumbag indicator 13 is removably mounted or nested in theshouldered opening 22 and the recess 23.-

The indicator comprises ahousing 24 constructed from plastic molding material. It has atop mounting plate 25 and an underlying integrally formedcylindrical drum chamber 26. The axis ofdrum chamber 26 is parallel to theplate 25. One end of thedrum chamber 26 is closed by anintegral end wall 27. The other end of thedrum chamber 26 is open and closed by adisc 28. Arotatable Opening 38 is. in alignment with theopening 37. One orcylindrical indicator drum 29 is positioned in thedrum 31 formed on opposite ends of thedrum 29. Thetrunnions 31 are integrally formed on a hub portion 32 of the drum. The'trunnions 31 are received inapertures 33 and34 formed respectively in theend wall 27 and thedisc 28.

' Thedrum 29 has an integrally formedvane 35 for rotating the drum by air flow. Thevane 35 extends lengthwise of the drum with a slight helical or spiral curvature. Theplate 25 has an air inlet opening 36, and thedisc 28 is provided with an air outlet opening 37. Theopenings 36 and 37 are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the drum. Thevane 35 is positioned between theopenings 36 and 37 on one side of theannular space 30. An air outlet opening 38 is also formed in one end of therecess 23.

' more fixedstraight vanes 39 are formed integrally on the interior of thedrum chamber 26. Thesevanes 39 extend lengthwise of thedrum chamber 26 and are positioned between theair openings 36 and 37 on the side ofannular space 30 diametrically opposite to the side thereof in i which themovable vane 35 is positioned.

. 3 As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the vacuum cleaner contains a not shown mot-or driven fan or bilower for purposes of creating a vacuum or suction pres- I alignedair outlet openings 37 and 38 in a counterclockwise direction when viewing FIG. 4 by virtue of thefixed vanes 39. Instead the incoming air will have to move out of thedrum chamber 26 in a clockwise direction past the movablespiral vane 35 on thedrum 29. This movement of the air will causevane 35 to move in a clockwise direction which results in rotation of thedrum 29 also in a clockwise direction.

Thevacuum bag indicator 13 is sealingly nested in thecenterframe flange 21. The shoulderedopening 22 has a pair ofnotches 40. Thesenotches 40 are adapted to receive a pair of dependinglugs 41 interg-rally formed on the mountingplate 25. The peripheral portions of the mountingplate 25 overhang or overlie the peripheral 7 motor driven blower or fan of the vacuum cleaner is portions of the shoulderedopening 22. An air sealing ring orgasket 42 is disposed between the overlying edges of theplate 25 andopening 22 to air seal therecess 23 from the atmosphere. When the vacuum bag indicator is assembled into position the mountingplate 25 is nested in the shoulderedopening 22 and thedrum chamber 26 is nestedin'the recess 23.

' Theair outlet opening 37 is properly aligned with respect to thevane 35 and the air inlet opening 36 by alug 43 formed on a peripheral portion of thedisc 28 and a notch 44 formed in the peripheral portion of thedrum chamber 26 at the open end thereof. The lug or atab 43 is receivable in the notch or groove 44 so that theair outlet opening 37 for-med in thedisc 28 can be positioned only in its single illustrated correct location. Theair outlet opening 37 is formed in the peripheral portion ofdisc 28 in alignment with theannular air space 30. The air inlet opening 37 formed in the mountingplate 25 opens into theannular air space 30.

The mountingplate 25 has awindow 45 formed therein for purposes of observing the position of the indicatingdrum 29 from about the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, thehousing 24 is constructed from a transparent or clear plastic molding material so as to integrally provide thewindow 45 in the mountingplate 25. The part of mountingplate 25 aside from thewindow 45 may be suitably masked by a paint coating or thelike. The indicatingdrum 29 is preferably provided with an integral counterweight. By viewing FIG. 4 it will be seen that the bottom half of thedrum 29 comprises asolid portion 46, whereas the other half, thereof, 47 is hollow. Thesolid half 46 comprises an integral counterweight on thedrum 29 for purposes of automatically returning it to the position it is supposed to assume when the suctionfan or blower of the vacuum cleaner is de-energized. Thecounterweight 46 and the hub 32 are integral with each other and thetrunnions 31 are formed at opposite ends of the hub 32. The means 31, 33, 34 for rotatably mounting thedrum 29 inthedrum chamber 26 are aligned with the lengthwise axis of the drum and thedrum chamber 26.

It will be obse'rbed that the air which enters the drum chamber actually flows through the air opening-orpassageway 36 into theannular space 30 in a direction which is generally parallelto the axis of the drum. The

movable-vane is curved clockwise of the drum 'starting from its left hand or exhaust side. Therefore, the

incoming air is directed against thevane 35 to 'give it a thrust component to cause it to rotate clockwise. The two fixedvanes 39 are positioned on opposite sides and 7 relative to themovable vane 35 to act as stops for the de-energized thecounterweight 46 will cause the drum the oil?mark 48 opposite to thewindow 45. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, assuming that the vacuum bag thereof is empty or not overfilled, the air incoming into thedrum chamber 26 through theair inlet opening 36 will be insufiicient to rotate thedrum 29 in a clockwise direction so as to position thecheck mark 49 opposite to thewindow 45. However, the incoming rush of air or resulting air pressure behind thevane 35 will be sufiicient to cause thedrum 29 to rotate slightly in a clockwise direction to remove theoif mark 48 from opposite to thewindow opening 45. This position of the parts is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position of thedrum 29, neither of theindicia 48 or 49 is visible through thewindow 45. Disappearance of the 011mark 48 from thewindow 45 tells the vacuum cleaner user that thevacuum bag indicator 13 is operative. Therefore, the vacuum bag indicator provides a means or mode of operation for checking its own operability. If the vacuumcleaner hose 15 becomes clogged or the vacuum cleaner bag becomes filled, the suction pressure inside the vacuum bag chamber surrounding therecess 23 is appreciably increased.

This change in pressure differential between the inside tion of the vacuum bag. The vacuumcleaner housing 10 can be opened for this purpose by operating alatch button 50 positioned on theflange 21 beneath thehandle 14 1f the vacuum cleaner is free of obstructions except for a sudden impediment or obstruction in thehose 15, theindicator drum 29 will immediately rotate in a clockwise direction to position thecheck mark 49 opposite to thewindow 45. However, if the obstruction is due to a gradual filling or build up of dirt in the vacuum cleaner bag, the movement of theindicator drum 29 in a clockwise directionwill be a gradual one. In other 7 words, as the vacuum bag is being slowly filled or approaching its full condition the check mark will move opposite to the window slowly. Gradually appearance of thecheck mark 49 adjacent to the window ,45 is an advance notice or warning that the vacuum cleaner bag will soon have to be replaced with a clean or empty one. Therefore, the vacuum bag indicator also serves as a means of informing the vacuum cleaner user the extent to which the vacuum cleaner'bag may be approaching its full condition. 7

a It will now be seen that the invention provides an improved and low-cost vacuum bag indicator since a minimum number of parts are'utilized and the necessary minimal number of parts may be readily fabricated by plastic molding operations and then readily assembled together into an operative vacuum bag indicator mechanism. The mechanism is also easy to service and adjust. For example, it is readily removable and disassembled. The device is removable by withdrawing it from its nested position in thecenterframe flange 21. It is disassembled bywithdrawing'the disc 28 from the open end of the drum drawn from the drum chamber. The mechanism can be readily adjusted by virtue of theintegral counterweight 46. Thecounterweight 46 is provided with one or more lengthwise extending holes orpassageways 51. If the weight of thesolid portion 46 needs to be reduced for proper adjustment of the device thenadditional openings 51 can be cut into thesolid portion 46. If the weight needs to be increased, this can be accomplished by positioning some additional material such as slugs of lead in thepassageway 51. Therefore, although the invention is advantageously suitable for use with the vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 1 and more particularly described in the pending Julius P. Wied patent application it is not necessarily restricted thereto. The invention may also be used in vacuum cleaner constructions having different details and different horsepower ratings.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the invention, and that it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A three piece vacuum bag indicator, comprising a housing, a rotatable drum inside said housing, and a closure disc for one end of said housing and drum, said housing comprising a single piece plastic molding material member, said housing having a top horizontal mounting plate and an integral underlying cylindrical drum chamber, said drum chamber having its axis disposed parallel to said plate, one end of said drum chamber being closed by an end wall integral with said drum chamber, the other end of said drum chamber being open, said drum comprising a single piece plastic molding material member and being located in said drum chamber, said closure disc being positioned in the open end of said drum chamber and adjacent one end of said drum, bearing means formed at opposite ends of said drum and in said end wall and disc in alignment with the axis of said drum chamber for rotatably mounting said drum inside said drum chamber, a window formed in said mounting plate to make said drum visible from above said mounting plate, an air vane integrally formed on said drum for rotating the same by air flow, an air inlet opening to said drum chamber formed in said mounting plate, an air outlet opening for said drum chamber formed on said closure disc in a peripheral portion thereof, said openings being positioned along diametrically opposite sides of said drum, said drum being radially spaced inwardly from the interior of said drum chamber forming an annular space therebetween, said openings being in communication with said annular space by being aligned therewith, said vane being positioned in said annular space on one side thereof and circumferentially between said openings, and at least one fixed vane integrally formed on the interior of said drum chamber, said fixed vane being located in said annular space and circumferentially between said openings on the diametrically opposite side of said space.

2. In an indicator as in claim 1, said housing being constructed from transparent plastic molding material whereby said window is integrally formed in said mounting plate, said bearing means comprising bearing trunnions formed at opposite ends of said drum and trunnion receiving apertures formed in the central portions of said end wall and closure disc, and the peripheral portions of said closure disc and the open end of said drum chamber having a lug and notch formed therein which are adapted to be registered with respect to each other to properly position said an outlet opening with respect to said air inlet opening, and indicia formed on said drum which is visible through said window.

3. In an indicator as in claim 1, said indicator being mounted in a plastic centerframe member of a vacuum cleaner casing comprising said centerframe and two metallic shells, said centerframe including an integral peripheral flange positioned between the peripheral portions of said shells, an opening formed in said flange, a closed cylindrical recess integrally formed on said centerframe beneath said flange opening, said indicator being positioned in said recess with the peripheral edges of said mounting plate overlying the peripheral edges of said flange opening, a sealing gasket positioned between said overlying peripheral edges, said recess'depending from said flange into a vacuum bag compartment of said cleaner casing, and another air outlet opening, said another air outlet opening being formed in one end of said recess in alignment with the air outlet opening formed in said closure disc.

4. In an indicator as in claim 3, said flange opening being defined by a shoulder formed in said flange about said flange opening, a pair of notches formed in said shoulder on opposite sides of said flange opening, a pair of depending lugs integrally formed on opposite ends of said mounting plate, said mounting plate being received in said shoulder and said pair of lugs being received in said pair of notches to removably nest said indicator in said recess, and an integral counterweight formed on said drum, said drum being hollow in the half thereof adjacent to its vane and the other half thereof being solid, said solid half comprising said integral counterweight, said drum having a central hub, said hub being integrally formed on said solid half, and said trunnions being formed on opposite ends of said hub.

5. A three piece vacuum bag indicator, comprising a drum housing, a rotatable drum inside said housing, and a removable end closure wall for one end of said housing, said housing comprising a single piece plastic molding material member having a cylindrical drum chamber formed therein, one end of said drum chamber being closed by an integral end wall, the other end of said drum chamber being open, said drum comprising a single piece plastic molding material member and being located in said drum chamber, said removable end closure wall being positioned at the open end of said drum chamber, bearing means formed at opposite ends of said drum and in said end walls in alignment with the axis of said drum chamber for rotatably mounting said drum inside said drum chamber, an air vane integrally formed on said drum for rotating the same, air inlet and outlet openings to said drum chamber, said air openings being formed on generally diametrically opposite sides of said drum, said drum being radially spaced from the interior of said drum chamber by an annular space, said air openings being in communication with said annular space, said vane being positioned in said annular space on one side thereof circumferentially between said air openings, and at least one fixed vane integrally formed on the interior of said drum chamber, said fixed vane being located in said annular space cumferentially between said air openings and on the other side of said annular space.

6. In an indicator as inclaim 5, an integral mounting portion formed on said housing, said air inlet opening being formed in said mounting portion, said air outlet opening being formed in one of said end walls, a window formed in said mounting portion, said window comprising an integral part of said mounting portion, and indicia formed on said drum visible through said window.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,210,793 10/1965 Waters 55274 FOREIGN PATENTS 729,660 5/ 1955 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A THREE PIECE VACUUM BAG INDICATOR, COMPRISING A HOUSING, A ROTATABLE DRUM INSIDE SAID HOUSING, AND A CLOSURE DISC FOR ONE END OF SAID HOUSING AND DRUM, SAID HOUSING COMPRISING A SINGLE PIECE PLASTIC MOLDING MATERIAL MEMBER, SAID HOUSING HAVING A TOP HORIZONTAL MOUNTING PLATE AND AN INTEGRAL UNDERLYING CYLINDRICAL DRUM CHAMBER, SAID DRUM CHAMBER HAVING ITS AXIS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID PLATE, ONE END OF SAID DRUM CHAMBER BEING CLOSED BY AN END WALL INTEGRAL WITH SAID DRUM CHAMBER, THE OTHER END OF SAID DRUM CHAMBER BEING OPEN, SAID DRUM COMPRISING A SINGLE PIECE PLASTIC MOLDING MATERIAL MEMBER AND BEING LOCATED IN SAID DRUM CHAMBER, SAID CLOSURE DISC BEING POSITIONED IN THE OPEN END OF SAID DRUM CHAMBER AND ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID DRUM, BEARING MEANS FORMED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID DRUM AND IN SAID END WALL AND DISC IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE AXIS OF SAID DRUM CHAMBER FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID DRUM INSIDE SAID DRUM CHAMBER, A WINDOW FORMED IN SAID MOUNTING PLATE TO MAKE SAID DRUM VISIBLE FROM ABOVE SAID MOUNTING PLATE, AN AIR VANE INTEGRALLY FORMED ON SAID DRUM FOR ROTATING THE SAME BY AIR FLOW, AN AIR INLET OPENING TO SAID DRUM CHAMBER FORMED IN SAID MOUNTING PLATE, AN

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