Bag compartment for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly, a handle assembly, a bag compartment and a suction generator compartment. A suction generator is held in the suction generator compartment. The bag compartment includes a wall and a plurality of v-shaped ribs projecting from the wall into the bag compartment.

What is Claimed: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body including a nozzle assembly, a handle assembly, a bag compartment and a suction generator compartment; and   a suction generator held in said suction generator compartment;   said bag compartment including a wall and a plurality of v-shaped ribs projecting from said wall into said bag compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein each rib of said plurality of v-shaped ribs includes two opposing legs and an apex. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein each rib of said plurality of v-shaped ribs includes a groove. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said groove is provided at said apex. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said groove is centered on said apex. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein each rib is continuous and each said rib has a height H 1  at said groove that is less than a height H 2  at a portion of said rib not including said groove. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein a ratio of the height H 1  to the height H 2  is between about 1:3 and about 1:6. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said bag compartment includes an inlet at an inlet end and an outlet at an outlet end and said plurality of v-shaped ribs are spaced along said wall between said inlet end and said outlet end. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said grooves in said plurality of v-shaped ribs increase in size from said inlet end to said outlet end. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein said grooves are provided at said apexes of said plurality of v-shaped ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , further including two air flow ribs extending along said wall across said plurality of v-shaped ribs from said inlet end to said outlet end. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said two air flow ribs diverge from one another between said inlet end and said outlet end. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said apexes of said plurality of v-shaped ribs are positioned between said two air flow ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said grooves are centered on said apexes. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said wall includes an access door and said plurality of v-shaped ribs are provided on said access door. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein said wall further includes a surface opposite said access door. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , further including longitudinal air guides projecting from said surface into said bag compartment and extending from said inlet end toward said outlet end. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , further including additional airflow ribs extending from said longitudinal air guides toward said access door'. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein said inlet projects through said surface and said outlet protects through a said end wall. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , further including an angled grate positioned between said surface and said end wall overlying said outlet.