Removable dirt cup assembly with external filter

• US 20050071946A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Pullins, Alan T., Gogel, Nathan A., Hitzelberger, Joel E., Hafling, Danielle M., Medley, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1409 Rigid filtering receptacles dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dirt cup for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing defining a dirt collection chamber, an inlet and an outlet in the housing in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber and a filter holder on the housing external to the dirt collection chamber and downstream from the outlet. A vacuum cleaner incorporating the dirt cup is also provided.

Claims

1. A dirt cup for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing defining a dirt collection chamber;

an inlet in said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;

an outlet in said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber; and

a filter holder on said housing external to said dirt collection chamber and downstream from said outlet.

2. The dirt cup of claim 1 further including a prefilter held on said housing across said outlet.

3. The dirt cup of claim 2, further including a filter in said filter holder.

4. The dirt cup of claim 3, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

5. The dirt cup of claim 4, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

6. The dirt cup of claim 4, wherein said housing includes a top wall, a first sidewall and a bottom wall.

7. The dirt cup of claim 6, wherein said inlet and said outlet are both in said first sidewall.

8. The dirt cup of claim 7, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

9. The dirt cup of claim 8, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

10. The dirt cup of claim 8 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner.

11. The dirt cup of claim 1, further including a filter in said filter holder.

12. The dirt cup of claim 11, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

13. The dirt cup of claim 12, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

14. The dirt cup of claim 12, wherein said housing includes a top wall, a first sidewall and a bottom wall.

15. The dirt cup of claim 14, wherein said inlet and said outlet are both in said first sidewall.

16. The dirt cup of claim 15, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

17. The dirt cup of claim 16, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

18. The dirt cup of claim 16 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner.

19. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a nozzle assembly;

a canister assembly;

a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly; and

a dirt cup carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;

said dirt cup being characterized by a housing defining a dirt collection chamber;

an inlet in said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;

an outlet in said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber; and

a filter holder on said housing external to said dirt collection chamber and downstream from said outlet.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19 further including a prefilter held on said housing across said outlet.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, further including a filter in said filter holder.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

24. The vacuum cleaner cup of claim 22, wherein said housing includes a top wall, a first sidewall and a bottom wall.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 24, wherein said inlet and said outlet are both in said first sidewall.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 25, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner.

29. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, further including a filter in said filter holder.

30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 30, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

32. The vacuum cleaner of claim 30, wherein said housing includes a top wall, a first sidewall and a bottom wall.

33. The vacuum cleaner of claim 32, wherein said inlet and said outlet are both in said first sidewall.

34. The vacuum cleaner of claim 33, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

35. The vacuum cleaner of claim 34, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

36. The vacuum cleaner of claim 34 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner.

37. A dirt cup for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing including an inlet and an outlet;

a dirt collection chamber formed in said housing;

a cleaning tool; and

a channel on said housing for holding said cleaning tool.