Rotatable attachment assembly for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum bag attachment assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing member connectable to the vacuum cleaner. A locking handle is movably connected to the housing member and movable between first and second positions. An opening in the locking handle receives a fitting of a vacuum bag. Moving the locking handle between the first and second positions connects and disconnects the vacuum bag and the attachment assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum bag attachment assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing member connectable to a body of a vacuum cleaner;   a locking handle movably connected to said housing member and movable between first and second positions; and   an opening in said locking handle for receiving a fitting of a vacuum bag, moving said locking handle between said first and second positions securely connects and disconnects said attachment assembly and the vacuum bag.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a locking ring is connected to said locking handle such that movement of said locking handle between said first and second positions rotates said locking ring to axially move the vacuum bag fitting toward and away from said locking ring, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a plurality of teeth of said locking are received by a recess of said locking handle such that said locking ring rotates with movement of said locking handle.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said locking ring is threaded to threadably engage the vacuum bag fitting.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a projection extends outwardly from said outer cap to receive said locking handle and said locking ring.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a retaining ring is connected to said housing member to secure said locking handle and said locking ring between said housing member and said retaining ring.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 first and second shoulders of said housing member limit rotation of said locking handle between said first and second positions.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein
 a groove on said housing member receives corresponding guide rails on the vacuum bag fitting to substantially prevent rotation of the vacuum bag when being connected to and disconnected from said attachment assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said housing member is removably connected to said body of said vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said housing member is hingedly connected to said body of said vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         11 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner body; and   an attachment assembly connected to said vacuum cleaner body, said attachment assembly including
 a housing member connectable to said vacuum cleaner body; 
 a locking ring rotatably connected to said housing member; 
 a locking handle connected to said locking ring and rotatable with said locking ring such that movement of said locking handle between first and second positions rotates said locking ring; and 
 a retaining ring connected to said housing member to secure said locking handle and said locking ring between said housing member and said retaining ring. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said vacuum cleaner body includes a stop member such that when said locking handle is in said first position said stop member prevents said outer cap from being fully connected to said vacuum cleaner body and when said locking handle is in said second position said housing member can be fully connected to said vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 12 , wherein
 said locking handle is moved from said first position to said second position to connect a vacuum bag to said attachment assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 a plurality of teeth of said locking are received by a recess of said locking handle such that said locking ring rotates with movement of said locking handle.   
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said locking ring is threaded to receive a threaded fitting of the vacuum bag.   
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13 , wherein
 first and second detents of said retaining ring receive a flexible arm of said locking ring in said first and second positions, respectively, thereby generating tactile and audible indicia that the vacuum bag is connected or disconnected.   
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 first and second shoulders of said housing member limit rotation of said locking handle between said first and second positions.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 a projection extends outwardly from said housing member to receive said attachment assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the vacuum bag fitting is receivable between an outer surface of said housing member projection and an inner surface of said locking ring.   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said attachment assembly is connected to said housing member before connecting said housing member to said vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         21 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said housing member is removably connected to said body of said vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         22 . The vacuum bag attachment assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said housing member is hingedly connected to said body of said vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         23 . A method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner, comprising the steps of
 connecting a fitting of a vacuum bag with an attachment assembly of a vacuum cleaner;   rotating a locking handle of the attachment assembly from a first position to a second position to secure the vacuum bag to the attachment assembly; and   connecting the attachment assembly to a body of the vacuum cleaner to enclose the vacuum bag in the vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         24 . The method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 23 , further comprising
 connecting an outer cap of the attachment assembly to the vacuum cleaner to enclose the vacuum bag in the vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         25 . The method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the outer cap is prevented from being fully connected to the vacuum cleaner body when the locking handle is in the first position.   
     
     
         26 . The method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 moving the locking handle from the first position to the second position rotates a locking ring of the attachment assembly threadably engaged with the vacuum bag fitting thereby securing the vacuum bag to the attachment assembly.   
     
     
         27 . The method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the vacuum bag is prevented from rotating when connecting the vacuum bag fitting to the attachment assembly.   
     
     
         28 . The method of connecting a vacuum bag to a vacuum cleaner according to  claim 23 , further comprising
 pivoting a cover of the attachment assembly to a closed position with respect to the body of the vacuum cleaner to enclose the vacuum bag in the vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         29 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner body;   a vacuum bag having a threaded fitting extending outwardly therefrom;   an attachment assembly connected to a housing member, said housing member being connectable to said vacuum cleaner body, said attachment assembly comprising
 a locking ring rotatably connectable to said housing member; 
 a locking handle connected to said locking ring and rotatable with said locking ring such that movement of said locking handle between first and second positions rotates said locking ring; and 
 a retaining ring connected to said housing member to secure said locking handle and said locking ring between said housing member and said retaining ring. 
   
     
     
         30 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 29 , wherein
 said vacuum bag fitting has an inner surface and an outer surface, said threads being disposed on said outer surface.   
     
     
         31 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 30 , wherein
 at least one guide rail is disposed on said inner surface of said vacuum bag fitting.   
     
     
         32 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 31 , wherein
 said housing member has an outwardly extending projection to rotatably receive said locking ring, and a groove on an outer surface of said outer cap projection to receive said at least one guide rail on said vacuum bag fitting thereby substantially preventing rotation of said vacuum bag when said vacuum bag threaded fitting engages said attachment assembly.   
     
     
         33 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 29 , wherein
 said housing member is hingedly connected to said vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         34 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 29 , wherein
 said housing member is removably connected to said vacuum cleaner body.