Vacuum bag mounting assembly

Abstract

A vacuum bag housing assembly for housing a vacuum bag within a vacuum cleaner including a vacuum bag housing, a mounting plate that receives a collar of the vacuum bag, and a plurality of linking members. Each of the plurality of linking levers includes a first end that is pivotally attached to the mounting plate and a second end that is pivotally attached to a fixed portion of the vacuum bag housing. The plurality of linking levers allows the mounting plate to swing between a down and out position and an up and in position within the vacuum bag housing.

1 . A vacuum bag housing assembly for housing a vacuum bag within a vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a vacuum bag housing;    a mounting plate that receives a collar of the vacuum bag; and    a plurality of linking members, each of the plurality of linking levers comprising a first end that is pivotally attached to the mounting plate and a second end that is pivotally attached to a fixed portion of the vacuum bag housing, the plurality of linking levers allowing the mounting plate to swing between a down and out position and an up and in position within the vacuum bag housing.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate comprises a receptacle that receives the collar of the vacuum bag.  
   
   
       3 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one releasable locking member that locks the mounting plate in the down and out position.  
   
   
       4 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a pivoting lever that is biased against the mounting plate when the mounting plate is in the down and out position.  
   
   
       5 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the pivoting lever comprises a cam end, and the collar pushes the cam end aside when the collar is inserted into the receptacle to unlock the mounting plate from the down and out position.  
   
   
       6 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the vacuum bag housing comprises side walls and at least one rib formed on each side wall, and the pivoting lever comprises an end opposite the cam end that is pivotally attached to the at least one rib.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate comprises an opening that receives a vacuum intake hose.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum bag is a closable vacuum bag, and the mounting plate comprises a catch that extends through a cutout formed in the closable vacuum bag.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum bag mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one slot formed in a side wall of the mounting plate; and    a detent mechanism extending from at least one rib formed on a side wall of the vacuum bag housing, the detent mechanism being engaged with the at least one slot when the mounting plate is in the up and in position.    
   
   
       10 . A vacuum cleaner comprising the vacuum bag housing assembly of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a vacuum bag housing assembly;    a vacuum nozzle head disposed at a bottom portion of the vacuum bag housing assembly; and    a handle for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum bag housing assembly comprises: 
 a vacuum bag housing;  
 a mounting plate that receives a collar of the vacuum bag; and  
 a plurality of linking members, each of the plurality of linking levers comprising a first end that is pivotally attached to the mounting plate and a second end that is pivotally attached to a fixed portion of the vacuum bag housing, the plurality of linking levers allowing the mounting plate to swing between a down and out position and an up and in position within the vacuum bag housing.  
   
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate comprises a receptacle that receives the collar of the vacuum bag.  
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one releasable locking member that locks the mounting plate in the down and out position.  
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a pivoting lever that is biased against the mounting plate when the mounting plate is in the down and out position.  
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the pivoting lever comprises a cam end, and the collar pushes the cam end aside when the collar is inserted into the receptacle to unlock the mounting plate from the down and out position.  
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the vacuum bag housing comprises side walls and at least one rib formed on each side wall, and the pivoting lever comprises an end opposite the cam end that is pivotally attached to the at least one rib.  
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate comprises an opening that receives a vacuum intake hose.  
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum bag is a closable vacuum bag, and the mounting plate comprises a catch that extends through a cutout formed in the closable vacuum bag.  
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one slot formed in a side wall of the mounting plate; and    a detent mechanism extending from at least one rib formed on a side wall of the vacuum bag housing, the detent mechanism being engaged with the at least one slot when the mounting plate is in the up and in position.