Vacuum cleaner inner bag

A method for separating particulates from a flow of air and particulates in a vacuum cleaner, the method comprising:

• receiving the flow of air and particulates in the vacuum cleaner;
• providing a porous filter element extending along a filter axis and having an opening generally aligned with an aperture of a supporting surface of the vacuum cleaner and an enclosed end spaced apart from the supporting surface, the filter element comprising a paper material and a fabric material and having a generally constant cross-sectional area when intersected by a plane generally perpendicular to a filter element axis at any location along the filter element axis from the opening to the enclosed end, and a flange extending outwardly away from the opening to engage the supporting surface of the vacuum cleaner, the flange having an elliptically shaped flange aperture aligned with the opening, the filter element extending through the aperture of the supporting surface when the flange engages the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface faces upwardly and the filter element has an upper section and a lower section below the upper section, further wherein the opening of the filter clement portion is in the upper section for directing a flow of air and particulates into the filter element portion from above, the flange comprising a cardboard material and an elastomeric rim substantially surrounding the flange aperture to substantially sealably engage a nozzle projecting into the flange aperture;
• directing the flow of air and particulates into the opening of the filter element along the filter element axis while maintaining a flow area along the filter element axis at a generally constant value from the opening to the enclosed end of the filter element;
• passing at least a portion of the air through the filter element;
• and
• engaging at least a portion of the particulates with an inner wall of the filter clement to prevent the portion of particulates from passing through the filter element.

A method for removably positioning a vacuum cleaner filter in a vacuum cleaner having a filter supporting surface with an aperture extending therethrough, the method comprising:

• inserting a porous filter element portion of the filter through the aperture of the supporting surface, the porous filter element portion substantially surrounding a containment region and having an opening leading into the containment region and an enclosed end spaced apart from the opening, the filter element portion extending along a filter axis and having the opening generally aligned with the aperture, the filter element portion comprising a paper material and a fabric material;
• maintaining a substantially constant cross-sectional area of the containment region along a longitudinal axis extending from the opening to the enclosed end of the filter element portion;
• and
• engaging a flange extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the porous filter element portion with the supporting surface to support the porous filter element portion relative to the supporting surface, the flange having an elliptically-shaped flange aperture aligned with the opening and comprising a cardboard material and an elastomeric rim substantially surrounding the flange aperture to substantially sealably engage a nozzle projecting into the flange aperture.