US3738091A

US3738091A - Vacuum cleaner filter bag

Info

Publication number: US3738091A
Application number: US00146090A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Fesco
Original assignee: STUDLEY PAPER CO
Current assignee: Studley Paper Co Inc; STUDLEY PAPER CO
Priority date: 1971-05-24
Filing date: 1971-05-24
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a paper-like flexible enclosure, the latter including an open-ended portion. The openended portion includes an end-surface in which is provided an opening, the end-surface being generally pivotally displaceable relative to adjacent portions of the enclosure. A reinforcing collar which is substantially larger both laterally and longitudinally of the extent of the end-surface is connected to the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of the end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent wherein the periphery of the opening is displaced from the planar extent of the end-surface.

Description

United States Patent [191 Fesco VACUUM CLEANER FILTER BAG [75] Inventor: John E. Feseo, South Hempstead,

N.Y, [73] Assignee: Studley Paper Company, Inc.,

lnwood, NY.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 146,090

Fesco 229/62.5 X

[111 3,738,91 June 12, 1973 7/1969 Fesco 11/1969 93/35 X Fesco 137/525 X [57] ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a paperlike flexible enclosure, the latter including an open-ended portion. The open-ended portion includes an endsurface in which is provided an opening, the endsurface being generally pivotally displaceable relative to adjacent portions of the enclosure. A reinforcing collar which is substantially larger both laterally and longitudinally of the extent of the end-surface is connected to the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of the end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent wherein the periphery of the opening is displaced from the planar extent of the end-surface.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Pmmmwm 3.738.091

.JOHN FF. SCO

INVENTOR Anmmm',

PATENIEU JUN 1 2192s smears HN E FESCO INVENTOR BY e mwuaw 61M ATTORNEY;

4 PAIENIEnJumma JOHN E. FESCO INVENTOR FIGQ9 ATTORNEY I VACUUM CLEANER FILTER BAG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to vacuum cleaner filter bags, and more particularly to an arrangement for permitting the bag to be easily mounted in a vacuum cleaner and rapidly. manufactured easily and effectively.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a vacuum cleaner bag.

Vacuum cleaner filter bags are generally manufactured so as to be disposable and, therefore, both the I materials constituting the vacuum cleaner bag and the method of manufacturing the vacuum cleaner bag should be as economical as possible to permit practical disposal of the bag after it has been utilized.

The conventional vacuum cleaner bag is, therefore, constituted of paper and, thus, satisfies one of the economical requirements in that paper or the like is readily available in mass quantities and clearly inexpensive.

However, the method for assembling a vacuum.

cleaner filter bag of conventional variety has serious disadvantages associated therewith, both with regard to the rate at which the filter bags made be manufactured and, also, with regard to the ultimate effectiveness that the bag must have in performance.

In this respect, one conventional vacuum cleaner-filter bag is manufactured by connecting, such by means of an adhesive or the like, a collar of substantially greater rigidity than that of paper to the open-end of a collapsible paper bag, which collar permits ready mounting of the bag in a suitable vacuum cleaner. The collar is provided with a plurality of displaceable panels, the latter which are generally folded inwardly of the open-ended bag and secured to the side walls of the latter, thus, obviating any possibility for the entire arrangement to be effectively collapsed for storage and shipping purposes. Moreover, this procedure requires an intermediary step of displacing the panels or flaps inwardly of the bag enclosure so as to be permanently connected to the latter. This intermediary step requires, at the very least, complex equipment for connecting the collar-t the bag, thus, unduly increasing the overall cost of manufacturing the bag and, furthermore, reducing the rate at which the filter bag may be effectively mass produced.

Other conventional methods of manufacturing vacuum cleaner bags also utilize collars or the like for reenforcing the mouth of the filter bag and, as is generally understood, the conventional collars generally utilize a non-planar surface for connection to the mouth of the filter bag.

As those skilled in the art readily appreciate, whenever the problem exists for connecting a plurality of non-planar surfaces to an article along various nonplanar surfaces of the latter, the manufacturing proceduremust, of necessity, include a generally complex intermediary step for assembling the ultimate article. Obviously, the cost of equipment and the time for mass producing articles of this nature, is unduly excessive and, thus, is less than desireable from both the standpoint of the manufacturer and the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel vacuum cleaner filter bag.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method of mass producing vacuum cleaner filter bags.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner filter bag, the mouth of which, because of the structural arrangement thereof, has a tendency to close at least partially to thereby obviate debris collected therein from spilling out into the confines of the vacuum cleaner when suction has been terminated.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner filter bag that may be readily and completely collapsed for both storage and shipping purposes and which is most economical both from the standpoint of material, labor'and equipment for manufacturing same.

To this end, the present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a paper-like flexible enclosure, the latter including an open-ended portion. The open-ended portion includes and endsurface in which is provided an opening, the endsurface being generally pivotally displaceable relative to adjacent portions of the enclosure. A reenforcing collar which is substantially larger both laterally and longitudinally of the extent of the end-surface is connected to the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of the end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent wherein the periphery of the opening is displaced from the planar extent of the end-surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a generally front elevational view of the assembled vacuum cleaner filter bag pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the bag of I the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear elevational view of the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a generally fragmentary perspective view of the open-ended portion of the bag pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates one surface of the blank used for manufacturing the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a top-side plan view of the endsurface of the bag to which may be coupled a reinforcing collar;

FIG. 8 illustrates the under-surface of the reinforcing collar which may be coupled to the end-surface illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 illustrates the opposite surface of the blank pursuant to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the present invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner filter bag for being mounted in an appropriate vacuum cleaner and is generally comprised of an enclosure such as a paper bag denoted by the reference character 20. The bag 20 includes a flat front portion 22, a flat rear portion 24, an upper openended portion 26 and a lower closed portion 28. Connected to the upper open-ended portion 26, in a manner as will be further clarified below, is a reenforcing collar 30 generally constituted of cardboard or the like so as to be of substantially greater rigidity than that of the bag 20, the latter being constituted generally readily deformable paper or the like. The collar 30, as illustrated in both FIGS. and 8, is generally a rectangular frame and includes a front flap 32, a rear flap 34 and side flaps 36, all of which flaps are generally pivotally displaceable yet integrally connected to the rectangular framed collar 30. In this respect, a generally rectangular scored folding line 38 is provided for permitting the

flaps

32, 34 and 36 respectively to be pivotally displaced relative to the adjoining or adjacent portions of the collar 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 9, the bag is simply a derivation of a blank 40, the latter which is deformed in a manner as will be described below so as to constitute the bag 20. The blank 40 at the opposite sides thereof includes a pair of front-forming panels 42, a pair of adjoining left side-forming panels 44, a pair of right side-forming panels 46 and a single rear-forming panel 48. Also provided in the blank 40 are six longitudinal scored folding lines generally denoted by the

reference characters

50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 respectively. The latter longitudinal scored folding lines generally define the

panels

42, 44, 46 and 48 relative to one another. At the lower portion of the blank 40 are provided three lateral end-

closure panels

62, 64 and 66 respectively, all of which run the entire lateral length of the blank 40. The

panels

62, 64 and 66 are generally defined by the lateral scored

folding lines

68, 70 and 72 respectively.

At the upper end portion of the blank 40, that which corresponds to the open-ended portion 26 of the bag 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1, there is provided a pair of front-forming end-portion undersurface panels 74 spaced from one another along opposite sides of the blank 40, and intermediate of which is provided a rearforming end-portion undersurface panel 76. The lateral scored

folding lines

78 and 80 generally define the longitudinal extent of the

aforementioned panels

74 and 76. Furthermore, the blank 40 is provided with a pair of left-side oblique scored folding lines 82 which intersect one another at right angles and a pair of right-side oblique scored folding lines 84 also intersecting one another at right angles.

The oblique scored folding lines 82, in cooperation with the lateral scored folding line 78 and the longitudinally extending scored

folding lines

50 and 54 respectively, generally define a pair of left-side end-portion triangular undersurface panels 86, and in cooperation with the lateral scored folding line 80, defines a pair of lift-side intermediate triangular panels 88. Similarly, the oblique scored folding lines 84, in cooperation with the laterally extending scored folding line 78 and the longitudinally extending scored

folding lines

56 and 60 respectively, define a pair of right-side end-portion tri angular undersurface panels 90, and in cooperation with the scored folding line 80 defines a pair of rightside intermediate triangular panels 92.

The blank 40 furthermore is provided with, at the opposite sides thereof, a pair of front-forming end-surface panels 94 intermediate of which is provided a rearforming end-surface panel 96. Interposed between the

panels

94 and 96 respectively are a pair of left sideforming end-surface panels 98 and a pair of adjoining right side-forming end-surface panels 100, the

latter panels

98 and 100 having a longitudinal extent defined by the lateral scored folding line and a lateral extent defined by the longitudinally extending scored

folding lines

50, 52, 54, 58 and 60. Moreover, the oblique scored folding lines 82, in cooperation with the longitudinally extending scored

folding lines

50 and 54 respectively, define at the left side of the blank 40, two spaced triangular panels 102, whereas the oblique scored folding lines 84, in cooperation with the longitudinally extending scored

folding lines

56 and 60 respectively, define a pair of right-side triangular panels 104. Each of the

triangular panels

102 and 104 respectively is provided with a slit 106 which terminates at the oblique scored

folding lines

82 and 84 respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, one surface of the blank 40 is provided selectively with a moisture sensitive adhesive or the like, as illustrated by the stippled areas on the

panels

48 and 62 respectively. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the opposite surface of the blank 40 is provided selectively with a moisture sensitive adhesive, the latter being designated by the stippled areas on the

panels

94 and 96 respectively, and extending along the entire extent of one longitudinal side of the blank 40, i.e., along

panels

94, 74 and 42 respectively. The provision of the moisture sensitive adhesive on the opposite sides of the blank 40 will be clarified immediately below.

The blank 40, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9 respectively, may be readily deformed so as to assume a configuration most clearly illustrated in.FIGS. 1-3 and 5 respectively. In this respect, referring specifically to FIG. 9, the

rightmost panels

42, 74 and 94 respectively should be pivotally displaced along the scored folding line 50 so as to overlie in superposed relation the

panels

44 and 48 respectively. The panels 44 which adjoin one another should then be pivotally displaced relative to one another along the scored folding line 52, whereas the panel 48 should be folded relative to the panels 44 respectively along the scored folding line 54 therebetween. The direction of folding the panels aforementioned relative to one another should be such that the panels 44 assume a configuration cooperatively with the

panels

42 and 48 respectively in a manner as illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 4.

Similarly, the panels 46 which adjoin one another along the scored folding line 58 should be folded along the scored folding 58 and in cooperation with the remaining panel 42 and the aforementioned panel 48% folded relative to one another in a manner as illustrated also in cross-section in FIG. 4, define an enclosure open at each of the opposite ends thereof.

After the blank has been deformed as above, it may be opened if necessary and, thereafter, the

panels

94 and 96 respectively should concommittantly be folded along the scored folding line 80 so as to overlie the

panels

74 and 76 respectively and, moreover, the

panels

74 and 76 respectively should concommittantly be folded along the scored folding line 78 so as to generally overlie that surface of the blank 40 which is illustrated in FIG. 6. Of course,.the specific sequence of folding the panels in the aforementioned manner need not necessarily be specifically adhered to and is entirely dependent on the specific machinery utilized for folding the 7 blank 40 so as to conform to a contour as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5 respectively.

At this point, it is significant to note that during the process of folding the end-

surface panels

94 and 96 re spectively relative to the adjoining portions or

panels

74 and 76 respectively, the

triangular panels

86 and 88 at one side of the blank 40 and the

triangular panels

90 and 92 respectively at the other side of the blank 40 are each folded relative to one another into superposed relation generally along the oblique scored folding lines 82 at one side of the blank 40 and the oblique scored folding lines 84 at the other side of the blank 40 so as to define two groups of three right-triangular panels, i.e., one group consisting of two triangular panels 86 and a single combined panel 88 and the other group consisting of the two panels 90 and the single combined panel 92. In this respect, these two groups of triangular panels are folded relative to one another such that they extend generally in superposed relation, in direct contact with one another and inwardly of the bag 20 in opposing relation.

In the course of folding the two aforementioned groups of triangular panels relative to one another in a manner as described above, the panels 98 at one side of the blank 40 and the panels 100 at the opposite side of the blank 40 are generally folded along the scored folding line 80 so as to overlie the enlarged

triangular panels

88 and 92 respectively in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 7. Furthermore, the panels 94 at the opposite sides of the blank 40, which constitute cooperatively the front-forming end-surface of the bag 20 pursuant to the present invention, and the panel 96 interpositioned therebetween are folded along the scored folding line 80 so as to overlie in superposed relation the

panels

98 and 100 in a manner also illustrated in FIG. 7.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the

panels

94, 96, 98 and 100 are folded relative to one another so as to constitute an end-surface in which is provided a generally rectangular opening defined by the free-edges of the aforementioned panels respectively. It should be clear that the end-surface panels aforementioned and the adjoining panels immediately adjacent thereto and separated therefrom by the scored folding line 88 cooperatively define the open-ended portion of the bag 20 which is pivotally displaceable relative to the

panels

42 and 48 respectively along the scored folding line 78 therebetween, the

panels

42, 44, 46 and 48 all being collapsible relative to one another into superposed relation in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the aforementioned open-ended portion is readily displaceable relative to the

panels

42 and 48 respectively so as to overlie the latter in generally superposed relation respectively in a manner as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

The provision of the adhesive defined by the stippled areas on the

panels

94 and 96 respectively permits the latter panels to be fixedly secured to the

panels

74 and 76 respectively in permanent superposed relation. Furthermore, the provision of the adhesive along the longitudinal length of the blank 40, along the

panels

94, 74 and 42, permits the latter panels to be fixedly secured to the

other panels

94, 74 and 42 respectively at the opposite side of the blank 40 in a manner at least partially illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the provision of the adhesive defined by the stippled areas on the

panels

48 and 62 respectively permits the bag 20 to be closed at the opposite end thereof such that the

panels

66, 64 and 62 may be successively overturned relative to one another into superposed relation along the scored

folding lines

72, and 68 respectively as a permanent means for closing one end of the bag 20.

Thus, the bag 20, as assembled in a manner described above, is ready to receive the collar 30, the latter which is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 8. In this respect, the end-surface of the assembled bag 20, in a completely flat condition such that either the panel 76 overlies in superposed relation the panel 48, or alternatively, the connected panels 74 overlie the connected panels 42 respectively, is ready to be contacted by the undersurface of the collar 30, the latter which is in an entirely flat condition, undeformed in a planar extent and including an adhesive generally defined by the stippled area surrounding the

flaps

32, 34 and 36.

It is important to specifically point out at this stage that the manufacturing procedure for assembling the collar 39 relative to the flat end-surface of the open ended portion 26 of the bag 28 requires absolutely no machinery or guides of any form whatsoever for deforming either the bag 20 or the collar 30 when interconnectingthe latter two. In this respect, the flatened end-surface of the bag 20 and the flat contour of the collar 30 may be directly contacted with one another such that the front flap 32 contacts the interconnected panels 94, the rear flap 34 contacts the panel 96 and the side flaps 36 contact the exposed surface of the panels 98 and 198, that surface which is exposed in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the

panels

32 and 34 of the collar 39 are generally identical with one another and substantially larger than the side panels 36, the latter being generally identical to one another and separated from the

panels

32 and 34 respectively through the intermediary of four slits 108 respectively. The periphery of the opening in the collar 30 defined by the freeedges of the

flaps

32, 34 and 36 respectively is generally of dumb-bell configuration so as to enhance easy displacement of the aforementioned flaps relative to one another along the scored folding line 38 of rectangular extent.

Thus, the collar 30 is fixedly connected to the endsurface of the upper open-ended portion 26 of the bag 28 and permits the latter to be easily mounted in an appropriate vacuum cleaner such that dust and debris may be readily collected therein. Furthermore, the inherent tendency of the

flaps

32, 34 and 36 of the collar 30 to retract and return to a planar extent after having been deformed by the inflow of suction air flow, and the nature of the configuration of the open-ended portion 26 to which the collar 30 is fixedly connected, presents the assembled vacuum cleaner filter bag pursuant to the present invention with a capacity for selfclosing, at least partially, and aqueeze collected debris at the mouth of the open-ended portion 26 preventing the debris from spilling outwardly therefrom after the vacuum cleaner has been rendered inoperative.

Another significant feature of the present invention is the fact that not only is the procedural method for manufacturing the bag 29 significantly improved in that there is absolutely no requirement for deforming the bag 20 and collar 30 relative to one another in a complex manner during the interconnecting of the latter, but the ultimate assembled bag and collar may be completely collapsed so as to overlie one another in superposed relation thereby enhancing the capacity to store and transport vacuum cleaner filter bags pursuant to the present invention in great quantity.

As those skilled in the art readily appreciate, the longitudinal and lateral extent of the collar 30 is substantially greater than the longitudinal and lateral extent of the end-surface of the bag to which it is connected and, therefore, the exposed portions of the collar 30 constitute a ledge for resting upon or engaging appropriate structure in a vacuum cleaner such that the upper open-ended portion 26 of the bag 20 and collar 30 to which it is connected extends generally transversely of the superposed configuration of the

panels

42 and 48 respectively. Thus, as suction is induced in the vacuum cleaner, the

panels

42 and 48 respectively separate from one another thereby deforming the upper open-ended portion 26 of the bag 20 from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed nonplanar extent, wherein the periphery of the opening in the upper open-ended portion 26 of the bag 20 is displaced from the planar extent of the collar 30. Of course, as indicated above, the flaps of the collar 30 tend to retract to a planar extent after suction has been terminated thereby squeezing the mouth of the openended portion 26 together and preventing debris from escaping: Obviously, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner filter bag and method for manufacturing the latter which is much more effective and economical than that of the prior art.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclsoure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising an enclosure including an open-ended portion, said open-ended portion including means fondefining an end-surface having a plurality of peripheral portions which together define an opening, said end-surface being displaceable relative to adjacent portions of said enclosure, and reinforcing means operatively associated both with said end-surface and the opening provided in the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of said endsurface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent wherein the peripheral portions of said opening are displaceable from the planar extent of said end-surface.

2. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral portions comprise a plurality of adjoining segments spaced from and displaceable relative to one another, said segments terminating in freeedges cooperatively defining respectively the periphery of said opening.

3. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 2 wherein said enclosure includes a pair of opposing front and rear flat portions displaceable toward and away from one another into and out of generally superposed relation and upon which said open-ended portion is displaceable in superposed relation.

4. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 3 wherein said enclosure further includes two opposing pairs of intermediary flat portions spaced from one another and interconnecting said front and rear flat portions, said pairs ofintermediary flat portions being displaceable toward and away from one another into and out of generally superposed relation with said front and rear flat portions.

5. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 4 wherein said open-ended portion includes a pair of laterally opposing flat segments respectively interconnecting said means which defines said end-surface and said front and rear flat portions respectively, said pair of laterally opposing flat segments being displaceable into and out of superposed relation with said endsurface and into selective superposed contact alternatively with said front and rear flat portions.

6. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said open-ended portion includes two spaced groups of generally triangular flat segments, the segments of each of said groups respectively being displaceable into and out of superposed relation with one another and interconnecting said means which define said end-surface and said pairs of intermediary flat portions respectively.

7. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said groups includes two generally identical right-triangular segments and an intermediate right-triangular segment of substantially larger extent.

8. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means includes a collar of substantially greater rigidity than said enclosure, said collar including a plurality of adjoining flaps displaceable relative to one another and respectively terminating in free-edges which cooperatively, with the free-edges of said end-surface, define the peripheral portions of said opening.

9. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 8 including adhesive means for interconnecting at least said flaps and said end-surface.

10. A 'vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flaps are at least four in number, the free-edges of which surround said opening with a generally dumb-bell configuration.

' 11. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 8 wherein said collar has both a longitudinal and lateral extent greater than the longitudinal and lateral extent of said end-surface.

12. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising an enclosure including an open-ended portion, said open-ended portion including means for defining an end-surface in which is provided a first opening, said end surface being displaceable relative to adjacent portions of said enclosure, reenforcing means having a surface and a second opening in the latter surface, the dimensions of said surface and of said second opening approximating the dimensions of said end-surface and said first opening respectively, and adhesive means interposed between said endsurface and said surface of said reenforcing means for connecting the latter to said enclosure, said reenforcing means being operatively associated both with said end-surface and said first opening provided in the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of said end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent, the peripheral portion of said first opening being substantially coextensive with the peripheral portion of said second opening, both said peripheral portions being displaceable from the planar extent of said endsurface.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising an enclosure including an open-ended portion, said open-ended portion including means for defining an end-surface having a plurality of peripheral portions which together define an opening, said end-surface being displaceable relative to adjacent portions Of said enclosure, and reinforcing means operatively associated both with said endsurface and the opening provided in the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of said end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent wherein the peripheral portions of said opening are displaceable from the planar extent of said end-surface.

2. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said peripheral portions comprise a plurality of adjoining segments spaced from and displaceable relative to one another, said segments terminating in free-edges cooperatively defining respectively the periphery of said opening.

4. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 3 wherein said enclosure further includes two opposing pairs of intermediary flat portions spaced from one another and interconnecting said front and rear flat portions, said pairs of intermediary flat portions being displaceable toward and away from one another into and out of generally superposed relation with said front and rear flat portions.

5. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 4 wherein said open-ended portion includes a pair of laterally opposing flat segments respectively interconnecting said means which defines said end-surface and said front and rear flat portions respectively, said pair of laterally opposing flat segments being displaceable into and out of superposed relation with said end-surface and into selective superposed contact alternatively with said front and rear flat portions.

10. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flaps are at least four in number, the free-edges of which surround said opening with a generally dumb-bell configuration.

11. A vacuum cleaner filter bag as claimed in claim 8 wherein said collar has both a longitudinal and lateral extent greater than the longitudinal and lateral extent of said end-surface.

12. A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising an enclosure including an open-ended portion, said open-ended portion including means for defining an end-surface in which is provided a first opening, said end surface being displaceable relative to adjacent portions of said enclosure, reenforcing means having a surface and a second opening in the latter surface, the dimensions of said surface and of said second opening approximating the dimensions of said end-surface and said first opening respectively, and adhesive means interposed between said end-surface and said surface of said reenforcing means for connecting the latter to said enclosure, said Reenforcing means being operatively associated both with said end-surface and said first opening provided in the latter for permitting at least partial deformation of said end-surface from a generally undeformed planar extent to a deformed non-planar extent, the peripheral portion of said first opening being substantially coextensive with the peripheral portion of said second opening, both said peripheral portions being displaceable from the planar extent of said end-surface.