Retaining plate for a vacuum cleaner bag and method for its manufacture

Abstract

Retaining plate (1) for a vacuum cleaner bag, with an inlet opening (2) arranged in the retaining plate (1), which can be closed by a pivotable flap (3) that is integrally formed with the retaining plate (1), wherein the flap (3) is arranged in a receptacle (5) within the retaining plate (1) and can be pivoted from the receptacle (5) into a position covering the inlet opening (2), characterized in that the retaining plate (1) is made of plastic and the flap (3) is pivotably mounted via at least one film hinge (4) formed adjacent to the inlet opening (2), wherein the flap (3) can be locked in the receptacle (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner bag, with an inlet opening arranged in the holding plate, which can be closed by a pivotable flap which is formed integrally with the holding plate, and to a method for producing a holding plate.

[0002] There are vacuum cleaner bags with rectangular retaining plates and a central intake opening. A protruding closure flap is molded onto one edge of the retaining plate, which can be pivoted to close the intake opening. The protruding closure flap is relatively large and can cause handling problems due to its loose connection to the retaining plate. Furthermore, the flat but very long component with the retaining plate and flap is difficult to manufacture using injection molding.

[0003] DE 102 03 460 A1 discloses a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner bag, which is connected to a closure plate via a plurality of slats. The closure plate can be moved relative to the holding plate to close an inlet opening in the holding plate.

[0004] DE 42 37 035 A1 shows a vacuum cleaner bag in which an opening is cut out in a holding plate made of cardboard and paper. The opening can be covered with a closure flap formed in the uppermost layer of the holding plate. DE 200 05 448 U1 also shows a similar holding plate, in which the holding plate is formed from two layers of relatively dimensionally stable cardboard. A closure flap is cut out of the top layer and can be pivoted to cover an air inlet opening. DE 202 14 697 U1 shows another holding plate with a pivotable closure flap.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner bag and a method for its production, which is easy to produce and enables easy handling when closing the inlet opening.

[0006] This object is achieved with a holding plate having the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the flap is arranged in a recess within the retaining plate and can be pivoted from the recess into a position covering the inlet opening. The flap is thus held securely within the recess and does not protrude loosely beyond the retaining plate. The defined arrangement of the flap simplifies handling, allowing the retaining plate and flap to be designed compactly.

[0008] The flap is pivotably mounted via at least one film hinge located adjacent to the inlet opening, allowing the flap to pivot smoothly. To secure the flap in the mount during operation, the flap can be locked into the mount.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the receptacle is formed by a recess having a thinner material thickness than the surrounding retaining plate. The base of the recess is thus thinner, but still forms a reinforcement for the retaining plate, which also offers a high degree of dimensional stability in the area of ​​the receptacle. The receptacle can be surrounded by the thicker retaining plate in a U-shape. The flap preferably has a thickness between 30% and 70%, preferably 40% and 60%, of the thickness of the retaining plate.

[0010] To easily secure the flap, locking means can be molded onto the flap on opposite sides, which can be brought into engagement with locking means on the holder. Furthermore, the flap can also be locked in the position covering the inlet opening, so that the flap is locked in the holder during vacuum operation and can then be locked into the position covering the inlet opening during disposal.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the flap is pivotably mounted on the support plate via two spaced-apart film hinges. This allows the flap to be pivoted precisely, even when transverse forces act on the flap during pivoting.

[0012] For a compact design, the retaining plate is essentially rectangular in plan view, whereby individual projections can be formed for fastening the retaining plate in the chamber of a vacuum cleaner, if necessary with various locking means.

[0013] To simplify handling, the flap can be curved on the side facing away from the at least one film hinge, so that the user immediately recognizes that the flap can be pivoted from the receptacle. The flap can also protrude beyond the retaining plate with a handle section to allow for easy gripping.

[0014] The invention also provides a method for producing a retaining plate for a vacuum cleaner bag, wherein the retaining plate and the flap are produced by injection molding a plastic material. During injection molding, the flap is arranged at an angle to the retaining plate, preferably at an angle between 20° and 70°, and the flap is then pivoted into a receptacle within the retaining plate after being removed from an injection mold. This allows the projected area in the injection mold for producing the retaining plate to be kept small.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a holding plate according to the invention; Fig. 2 a side view of the retaining plate of the Fig. 1 with locked flap, and Fig. 3 a side view of the retaining plate of the Fig. 1 when swiveling the flap.

[0016] A retaining plate 1 can be mounted on a vacuum cleaner bag and comprises an inlet opening 2 arranged adjacent to a pivotable flap 3. The pivotable flap 3 is integrally formed with the retaining plate 1 via two spaced-apart film hinges 4, i.e., points with reduced material thickness and thus increased elasticity.

[0017] In the holding plate 1, a receptacle 5 for the flap 3 is formed, which is formed by a recess, i.e. an area with a smaller material thickness compared to the thickness of the holding plate 1. The holding plate 1 therefore surrounds the receptacle 5 with two webs 6 in a U-shape, wherein the receptacle 5 and the webs 6 are flush on an end face 7 of the holding plate 1.

[0018] On the flap 3, protruding projections 8 are formed on opposite sides, which serve as locking means and can be locked with corresponding locking means adjacent to the receptacle 5, so that the flap 3 in the Fig. 2 can be fixed in the position shown.

[0019] In order to close the inlet opening 2, the flap 3 can be pivoted out of the holder 5, as shown in Fig. 3. The flap 3 can then be pivoted over the inlet opening 2 and locked there if necessary. For this purpose, appropriate locking means can be provided on the inlet opening 2 and the flap 3.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 3 is curved on the side opposite the film hinges 4, with the flap 3 not protruding beyond the end of the receptacle 5. However, it is also possible to design the flap 3 to protrude from the holding plate 1, thus forming a handle portion and simplifying handling.

[0021] To manufacture the retaining plate 1, it is molded in an injection mold with the flap 3 positioned at an angle and then removed from the injection mold. The flap 3 is then pivoted from the angled position into the receptacle 5 and locked there.

Claims

[1] Holding plate (1) for a vacuum cleaner bag, with an inlet opening (2) arranged in the holding plate (1), which can be closed by a pivotable flap (3) which is formed integrally with the holding plate (1), wherein the flap (3) is arranged in a receptacle (5) within the holding plate (1) and can be pivoted out of the receptacle (5) into a position covering the inlet opening (2), characterized by that the holding plate (1) is made of plastic and the flap (3) is pivotally mounted via at least one film hinge (4) formed adjacent to the inlet opening (2), wherein the flap (3) can be locked in the receptacle (5). [2] Holding plate according to claim 1, characterized by that the receptacle (5) is formed by a recess which has a smaller material thickness than the surrounding holding plate (1). [3] Holding plate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the holder (5) is surrounded by the retaining plate (1) in a U-shape. [4] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the flap (3) has a thickness which is between 30% to 70%, preferably 40% to 60% of the thickness of the holding plate (1). [5] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that locking means (8) are formed on opposite sides of the flap (3) and can be brought into engagement with locking means on the receptacle (5). [6] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the flap (3) can be locked in the position covering the inlet opening (2). [7] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the flap (3) is pivotably mounted on the holding plate (1) via two spaced-apart film hinges (4). [8] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the holding plate (1) is substantially rectangular in plan view. [9] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the flap (3) is curved on the side facing away from the at least one film hinge (4). [10] Holding plate according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the flap (3) with a handle section protrudes over the holding plate (1). [11] Method for producing a holding plate (1) for a vacuum cleaner bag, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with an inflow opening (2) arranged in the holding plate (1), which can be closed by a pivotable flap (3) which is formed integrally with the holding plate (1), characterized bythat the holding plate (1) and the flap (3) are produced by injection molding a plastic material, wherein the flap (3) is arranged obliquely to the holding plate (1) during injection molding, preferably at an angle between 20° and 70°, and the flap (3) is pivoted into a receptacle (5) within the holding plate (1) after being removed from an injection mold.

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