U.S. patent application number 14/873751 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-07 for vacuum cleaner including a removable dirt collection assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Richard Friend, Will Sebastian.
Application Number | 20160095485 14/873751 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54337394 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160095485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sebastian; Will ; et
al. |
April 7, 2016 |
VACUUM CLEANER INCLUDING A REMOVABLE DIRT COLLECTION ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing, a suction
nozzle, a motor configured to generate a suction force through the
suction nozzle, a motor housing at least partially enclosing the
motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing, and a dirt
collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner
housing. The dirt collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a handle
for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a motor shroud at
least partially enclosing the motor housing.
Inventors: |
Sebastian; Will; (Sagamore
Hills, OH) ; Friend; Richard; (Streetsboro,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. |
Tsuen Wan |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
54337394 |
Appl. No.: |
14/873751 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62059246 |
Oct 3, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/02 20130101; A47L
9/1691 20130101; A47L 5/12 20130101; A47L 5/32 20130101; A47L 9/22
20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/16 20060101
A47L009/16; A47L 9/02 20060101 A47L009/02; A47L 5/12 20060101
A47L005/12 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner housing; a suction
nozzle; a motor configured to generate a suction force through the
suction nozzle; a motor housing at least partially enclosing the
motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing; and a dirt
collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner
housing, the dirt collection assembly including a dirt cup, a
handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a motor
shroud at least partially enclosing the motor housing.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the motor shroud defines
a cavity configured to receive the motor housing.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the cavity of the motor
shroud is generally shaped to substantially receive the motor
housing.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the motor is electrically
coupled to a battery.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, further comprising a handle
assembly, wherein the handle assembly generally defines a handle
axis, and wherein the dirt cup generally defines a longitudinal
axis disposed generally along the handle axis when the dirt cup
assembly is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the handle is disposed
adjacent the motor shroud in a direction defined by the
longitudinal axis.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the motor shroud is
disposed adjacent the dirt cup, and wherein the longitudinal axis
passes through a cavity defined by the motor shroud.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the motor shroud is
disposed substantially between the dirt cup and the handle.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a latch
operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and the
vacuum cleaner housing for selectively removing and securing the
dirt collection assembly to the vacuum cleaner housing.
10. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a base including a suction nozzle;
a handle assembly movably coupled to the base for movement between
an upright storage position and an inclined operating position; a
motor configured to generate a suction force through the suction
nozzle; a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and
coupled to the handle assembly; and a dirt collection assembly
removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly and the
base, the dirt collection assembly including a dirt cup, a handle
for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a motor shroud at
least partially enclosing the motor housing.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the motor shroud
defines a cavity configured to receive the motor.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the cavity of the motor
shroud is generally shaped to receive at least a portion of the
motor housing.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the motor is
electrically coupled to a battery disposed on the vacuum
cleaner.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the handle assembly
generally defines a handle axis, and wherein the dirt cup generally
defines a longitudinal axis disposed generally along the handle
axis when the dirt cup assembly is connected to the handle
assembly.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the handle is disposed
adjacent the motor shroud in a direction defined by the
longitudinal axis.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the motor shroud is
disposed adjacent the dirt cup, and wherein the longitudinal axis
passes through a cavity defined by the motor shroud.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the motor shroud is
disposed substantially between the dirt cup and the handle.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a latch
operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and at
least one of the base or the handle assembly for selectively
removing and securing the dirt collection assembly to the at least
one of the base or the handle assembly.
19. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum cleaner housing; a
suction nozzle; a motor configured to generate a suction force
through the suction nozzle; a motor housing at least partially
enclosing the motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing; and
a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner
housing, the dirt collection assembly including a dirt cup, a
handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a cavity for
at least partially receiving the motor housing.
20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the cavity is disposed
substantially between the dirt cup and the handle.
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the dirt collection
assembly further comprises a motor shroud defining the cavity,
wherein the motor shroud is generally shaped to substantially
receive the motor housing.
22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the motor is
electrically coupled to a battery.
23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, further comprising a latch
operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and the
vacuum cleaner housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/059,246, filed Oct. 3, 2014, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more
particularly, upright vacuum cleaners.
[0003] Vacuum cleaners are typically used to clean floor surfaces,
such as carpeting, by generating suction to draw air and dirt
through a suction nozzle. The dirt is separated from the air inside
the vacuum cleaner and clean air is discharged from the vacuum
cleaner. The dirt is collected inside the vacuum cleaner and can be
emptied or removed.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner
having a vacuum cleaner housing, a suction nozzle, a motor
configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle,
a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled
to the vacuum cleaner housing, and a dirt collection assembly
removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing. The dirt
collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a handle for removing the
dirt collection assembly, and a motor shroud at least partially
enclosing the motor housing.
[0005] In another aspect, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner
having a base including a suction nozzle, a handle assembly movably
coupled to the base for movement between an upright storage
position and an inclined operating position, a motor configured to
generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, and a motor
housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled to the
handle assembly. The vacuum cleaner also includes a dirt collection
assembly removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly
and the base. The dirt collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a
handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a motor
shroud at least partially enclosing the motor housing.
[0006] In yet another aspect, the invention provides vacuum cleaner
having a vacuum cleaner housing, a suction nozzle, a motor
configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle,
a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled
to the vacuum cleaner housing, and a dirt collection assembly
removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing. The dirt
collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a handle for removing the
dirt collection assembly, and a cavity for at least partially
receiving the motor housing.
[0007] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner
having a support assembly and a dirt collection assembly according
to one construction of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the vacuum cleaner
of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum
cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial front perspective view of the vacuum
cleaner of FIG. 1 having the dirt collection assembly removed from
the support assembly.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a partial, semi-transparent side view of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a partial rear perspective exploded view of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Before any constructions of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
[0018] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a vacuum cleaner 10. The illustrated
vacuum cleaner 10 is an upright vacuum cleaner having a vacuum
cleaner housing 15, a handle assembly 12, and a base 14. The base
14 is movable along a surface to be cleaned 16, such as a carpeted
or hard-surface floor. The handle assembly 12 extends from the base
14. The handle assembly 12 allows a user to move and manipulate the
base 14 along the surface to be cleaned 16. The handle assembly 12
is movably coupled to the base 14 such that the handle assembly 12
is movable relative to the base 14 between an upright storage
position (FIG. 1) and an inclined operating position (not shown).
For example, the handle assembly 12 may be pivotable, rotatable,
both pivotable and rotatable (e.g., by way of a ball and socket
joint), etc. with respect to the base 14. In the illustrated
construction, the vacuum cleaner housing 15 includes the handle
assembly 12 and the base 14. In other constructions, the vacuum
cleaner 10 may include other types of vacuum cleaners, such as
stick vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, hand-held vacuum
cleaners, carpet cleaners, etc. In any of these constructions, the
vacuum cleaner 10 includes a vacuum cleaner housing 15 generally
corresponding to the respective type of vacuum cleaner.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 14 includes a floor
nozzle 18 (or suction nozzle) providing an inlet for receiving an
airflow 13 into the vacuum cleaner 10 and a brushroll 20 disposed
proximate the floor nozzle 18 for agitating dirt on the surface to
be cleaned 16. The brushroll 20 is powered for rotation by a
brushroll motor (not shown) (e.g., powered by the power source). In
other constructions, the brushroll 20 may be powered by a turbine
disposed in the airflow passageway powered by the flow of air or by
a suction motor, which will be described in greater detail below.
Power to the brushroll motor can be selectively controlled by an
"on/off" switch disposed on the handle assembly or elsewhere on the
vacuum cleaner. The illustrated floor nozzle 18 includes an opening
formed in a bottom surface 22 of the base 14 adjacent a forward end
24 (FIG. 2) of the base 14. The base 14 includes an airflow
passageway 26 and a first hose connector 28 disposed at a distal
end of the airflow passageway 26. The airflow passageway 26 extends
from the floor nozzle 18 to the first hose connector 28. A first
end 30 of a hose 32 (e.g., a flexible hose) is mechanically coupled
to the first hose connector 28 and is thus fluidly coupled to the
airflow passageway 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A second end 34 of the hose
32 is coupled to an anchor 33 on the handle assembly 12.
[0020] A pair of wheels 36 are coupled to the base 14 adjacent a
rearward end 38 of the base 14. The wheels 36 facilitate moving the
base 14 along the surface to be cleaned 16. In the illustrated
construction, the base 14 includes two wheels positioned on
opposing sides of the base. In other constructions, the base 14 may
include fewer or more wheels. The wheels 36 may be idle wheels or
driven wheels.
[0021] The handle assembly 12 generally defines a longitudinal axis
A, or handle axis. The handle assembly 12 includes a power source
40 for powering a motor 42 (e.g., a suction motor). In the
illustrated construction, the power source 40 includes a battery
pack having battery cells 44. In other constructions, other power
sources may be used, such as a fuel cell, or a cord and a plug for
plugging into a source of utility power, etc.
[0022] The handle assembly 12 also includes a maneuvering handle 46
having a grip 48 for a user to grasp and maneuver the vacuum
cleaner 10. The handle assembly 12 also includes an upright handle
portion 50 and a spine 52 extending from the base 14 towards the
maneuvering handle 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle
assembly 12 includes a switch 54 for activating the motor 42. In
other constructions, the switch 54 may be disposed in any desired
location on the vacuum cleaner.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the spine 52 includes an
elongated tubular receptacle 56 for receiving the upright handle
portion 50, the spine 52 extending generally along, and may be
offset from, the longitudinal axis A. The upright handle portion 50
is coupled to the maneuvering handle 46. In the illustrated
embodiment, the maneuvering handle 46 and the upright handle
portion 50 are removable from the spine for use as a wand. When
coupled with the receptacle 56, the wand 50 extends along the
longitudinal axis A. In the illustrated embodiment, a second hose
connector 58 is disposed at a first distal end 51 of the wand 50
proximate the maneuvering handle 46 for receiving the hose 32 to
fluidly connect the wand 50 to a suction force generated by the
motor 42. The wand 50 may be used to clean above-floor surfaces,
e.g., stairs, drapes, corners, furniture, etc. An accessory tool 60
(e.g., a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, a pet tool, etc.) is
detachably coupled to the handle assembly 12 for storage and may be
coupled to a second distal end 53 of the wand 50 for specialized
cleaning of non-floor surfaces. Other handle assembly
configurations may be provided as desired.
[0024] The handle assembly 12 also includes the motor 42 and a
motor housing 74 that, in the illustrated construction, at least
partially encloses the motor 42. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the
motor housing 74 is coupled to the spine 52 of the handle assembly
12 and cooperates with the spine 52 to substantially enclose the
motor 42. In other constructions, the motor housing 74 may be
positioned in other areas of the handle assembly 12. In other
constructions, the motor housing 74 may partially enclose or fully
enclose the motor 42. The motor housing 74 may also at least
partially enclose a diffuser 68 and an impeller 116, which will be
described in greater detail below. In order to allow the motor 42
to create suction for drawing air through the vacuum cleaner 10,
the motor housing 74 may include an opening 73 (FIG. 5) through
which cleaned air may pass. The motor housing 74 may also include
vents (not shown) for allowing the cleaned air to be expelled from
the motor housing 74.
[0025] The vacuum cleaner 10 includes a dirt collection assembly 62
supported by the handle assembly 12 and removably coupled to the
handle assembly 12. The dirt collection assembly 62 generally
defines a longitudinal axis B, or assembly axis, which in some
embodiments may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal
axis A of the handle assembly 12 when the dirt collection assembly
62 is coupled to the handle assembly 12. The dirt collection
assembly 62 includes a dirt cup 64, a dirt separator 66, a motor
shroud 75, and a dirt collection handle 70 defining a hand grip 72
(FIG. 6). In the illustrated embodiment, the dirt cup 64 is
substantially cylindrical, and the longitudinal axis B may be
defined approximately centrally with respect to the cylindrical
dirt cup 64. The dirt separator 66 may be a cyclonic separator, a
filter bag, or other separator as known in the art as desired for
the application. In the illustrated construction, the longitudinal
axis B is defined by both the dirt cup 64 and the dirt separator
66. In other constructions, the longitudinal axis B may be defined
by only one of the dirt cup 64 or the dirt separator 66, or by the
overall elongation of the dirt collection assembly 62.
[0026] The motor shroud 75 is disposed generally on top of the dirt
cup 64 and the dirt separator 66, e.g., in a direction defined
generally from the base 14 towards the maneuvering handle 46, at
least partially enclosing the motor housing when the dirt
collection assembly 62 is supported by the handle assembly 12. In
the illustrated embodiment, the motor shroud 75 is disposed
substantially between the dirt separator 66 (or dirt cup 64) and
the dirt collection handle 70 (or hand grip 72) with respect to the
longitudinal axis B. In this example, the motor shroud 75 functions
as a fixed linkage between the handle 70 and the dirt cup 64 and
includes a cavity 77 for receiving the motor 42 and the motor
housing 74 when the dirt collection assembly 62 is coupled to the
handle assembly 12. In the illustrated construction, the dirt
collection handle 70 is disposed on the motor shroud 75. In other
constructions, the dirt collection handle 70 may be disposed
elsewhere on the dirt collection assembly 62, such as on the dirt
cup 64. In yet other constructions, it is possible for the dirt
collection assembly 62 to include more than one handle 70. The
handle 70 and the motor shroud 75 may be arranged relative to the
dirt separator 66 as desired for the application. In the
illustrated construction, the longitudinal axis B substantially
passes through the cavity 77 and the handle 70.
[0027] The motor shroud 75 includes the cavity 77 (FIG. 8), which
is defined by the inner casing of the motor shroud 75. The cavity
77 is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the motor
housing 74. In one embodiment, the cavity of the motor shroud is
generally shaped to substantially receive the motor housing. The
motor housing 74 provides a protective casing for the motor 42 when
the dirt collection assembly 62 has been removed (FIG. 7). When the
dirt collection assembly 62 is removed, the motor 42 remains in
contact with the handle assembly 12, through which the motor 42 is
electrically coupled to the power source 40.
[0028] The motor 42 drives the impeller 116 and generates a vacuum
or suction force in the vacuum cleaner 10. The suction force draws
air and dirt into the vacuum cleaner 10 through the floor nozzle
18, through the airflow passageway 26, through the hose 32, through
the anchor 33, and into the dirt collection assembly 62 by way of
an inlet 76 (FIG. 2) in the dirt collection assembly 62. The inlet
76 is mechanically coupled to the anchor 33, thereby fluidly
coupling the dirt collection assembly 62 to the second end 34 of
the hose 32. Thus, the dirt collection assembly 62 is fluidly
coupled to the hose 32 and to the airflow passageway 26 in the base
14. If the first end 30 of the hose 32 is connected to the second
hose connector 58 in the wand 50, then the suction force draws air
and dirt into the vacuum cleaner 10 through the wand 50, through
the hose 32, and into the dirt collection assembly 62.
[0029] The dirt separator 66 removes dirt from the airflow 13 drawn
into the vacuum cleaner 10 by the suction force, and the dirt cup
64 collects the dirt separated by the dirt separator 66. In the
illustrated construction, the dirt separator 66 includes a cyclonic
separator, which is best illustrated in FIG. 5. The cyclonic
separator includes a first cyclone 78 and a second cyclone 80
arranged substantially concentrically with the first cyclone 78. In
the illustrated construction, the dirt separator 66 also includes a
filter 82 (FIG. 5) disposed downstream of the dirt separator 66 for
trapping additional particles remaining in the air stream after the
separator. In other constructions, the dirt separator 66 may
include other types of dirt separators, such as fabric filters,
filter bags, static filters, electrostatic precipitators (ESP), wet
scrubbers, other inertial separators, etc. The diffuser 68 is
disposed downstream of the impeller 116 and slows down the flow of
clean air (air from which at least a portion of the dirt has been
separated) passing through the filter 82, through the opening 73
and into the motor housing 74. The diffuser 68 reduces noise before
the clean air is discharged from the dirt collection assembly 62 by
way of openings (not shown) in the motor housing 74 and,
ultimately, from openings 84 in the motor shroud 75.
[0030] The dirt collection assembly 62 is removably coupled to the
handle assembly 12 such that the dirt collection assembly 62 is
moveable between a connected position (FIGS. 1-6) in which the dirt
separator 66 is in fluid communication with the floor nozzle 18 for
collecting the dirt particles and a disconnected position (FIG. 7)
for emptying the dirt particles from the dirt separator 66 in which
the dirt separator 66 is not in fluid communication with the floor
nozzle 18. The dirt collection assembly 62 includes a latch 86 for
removably coupling the dirt collection assembly 62 to the handle
assembly 12. The latch 86 is coupled to, and actuatable by, an
actuator 88. In the illustrated construction, the actuator 88 is
disposed proximate the dirt collection handle 70, and may be on or
near the hand grip 72. In other constructions, the actuator 88 may
be located on the handle assembly 12 (e.g., on or near the spine
52), on the base 14, or elsewhere on the vacuum cleaner 10. In the
illustrated construction, the actuator 88 includes a button
depressible to move the latch 86 from an engaged position in which
the dirt collection assembly 62 is coupled to the handle assembly
12 (i.e., the connected position) to a released position in which
the dirt collection assembly 62 is de-coupled (and may be removed)
from the handle assembly 12 (i.e., the disconnected position). The
handle assembly includes a latch receptacle 90 (FIGS. 5 and 6) for
receiving the latch 86 and a catch 92 for engaging the latch 86 to
secure the dirt collection assembly 62 to the handle assembly 12.
The actuator 88 is biased to the engaged position by a biasing
member 94 (FIG. 6), such as a coil spring. In other constructions,
the actuator 88 may include other types of buttons actuatable in
different ways, levers, rotatable knobs, magnets, etc., and may
include other types of biasing members such as leaf springs, cup
springs, elastic members, magnets, etc. In yet other constructions,
the dirt collection assembly 62 may be removably coupled to the
base 14, or to another portion of the vacuum cleaner 10. In other
non-upright vacuum cleaner configurations, the motor and motor
housing can be coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing instead of the
handle. In these configurations, such as a canister vacuum cleaner,
the dirt collection assembly is removably mounted to the vacuum
cleaner housing.
[0031] As best illustrated in FIG. 9, the dirt collection assembly
62 includes a door 102 and a dirt cup latch 104 for opening the
door 102 (see also FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, the door
102 is disposed on the bottom of the dirt cup 64 (e.g., in a
direction extending generally from the maneuvering handle 46
towards the base 14 generally along the longitudinal axis A)
generally opposite the dirt collection handle 70. The door 102 is
pivotably coupled to the dirt cup 64 and moveable between a closed
position (FIG. 5) in which the dirt is collected in the dirt cup 64
and an open position (not shown) in which the dirt is released from
the dirt cup 64. The dirt cup latch 104 is disposed proximate the
handle assembly 12 when the dirt collection assembly 62 is in the
connected position (FIG. 5). In the illustrated construction, the
dirt cup latch 104 includes a lever pivotable about a pivot axis P
(FIG. 9), the lever 104 including a first portion 106 on one side
of the pivot axis P and a second portion 108 on an opposite side of
the pivot axis P. The second portion 108 includes a latch portion
110 that engages with a door catch 112 (FIG. 5) to hold the door
102 in the closed position. The first portion 106 is depressible to
release the latch portion 110 from the door catch 112 when the dirt
collection assembly 62 is in the disconnected position to allow the
door 102 to move to the open position. The dirt cup latch 104 can
be actuated when the dirt collection assembly 62 is in the
disconnected position. In the connected position, the dirt
collection assembly 62 is supported on a support surface 114 of the
handle assembly 12, which prevents the door 102 from being able to
open; and, the dirt cup latch 104 is inaccessible because it is
disposed proximate the spine 52 of the handle assembly 12. In other
constructions, other types of dirt cup latches may be employed,
such as other configurations of levers, buttons, magnets, rotatable
knobs, etc.
[0032] In operation, when the motor 42 is energized, the airflow 13
is drawn by the motor 42 into the vacuum cleaner 10 through the
floor nozzle 18 in the base 14. The base 14 directs the airflow 13
into the airflow passageway 26, which directs the airflow 13 into
the hose 32 (FIG. 4). The hose 32 directs the airflow 13 into the
dirt separator 66 of the dirt collection assembly 62. The airflow
13 then circulates sequentially within the first and second
cyclones 78, 80 to remove relatively large dirt and particles from
the airflow 13. The airflow 13 also passes through the filter 82 of
the dirt collection assembly 62 to remove relatively small dirt and
particles from the airflow 13. After passing through the filter 82,
the airflow 13 passes through the opening 73 to the impeller 116,
is directed through the diffuser 68, and toward the motor 42. The
cleaned airflow 13 is then exhausted out of the dirt collection
assembly 62 through the vents (not shown) in the motor housing 74
and the openings 84 formed in the motor shroud 75.
[0033] The dirt collection assembly 62 is manufactured and
assembled together as a subassembly of the vacuum cleaner 10 that
is removable from the vacuum cleaner 10 as one unit. That is the
motor shroud 75, the dirt separator 66, and the dirt cup 64 are
removable together as one unit. The user grasps the dirt collection
handle 70, actuates the latch 86 to release the dirt collection
assembly 62 to the disconnected position, and lifts the dirt
collection assembly 62 from the handle assembly 12 (or from the
base 14 or other portion of the vacuum cleaner 10 in other
constructions). Then, the user actuates the dirt cup latch 104 to
release the door 102 to the open position for emptying dirt from
the dirt cup 64. In the disconnected position, the filter 82 can be
accessed through the cavity 77 for being changed or cleaned as the
cavity 77 no longer receives the motor housing 74. When the dirt
collection assembly 62 is in the disconnected position, the dirt
separator 66 is no longer fluidly coupled do the suction nozzle 18
and the motor 42.
[0034] Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a vacuum
cleaner having a dirt collection assembly that is removable to a
disconnected position while keeping the motor electrically coupled
with the power source. Various features and advantages of the
invention are set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *