Removable dirt cup assembly with external filter

• US 7,181,804 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gogel, Nathan A., Pullins, Alan T., Hitzelberger, Joel E., Hafling, Danielle M., Medley, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till; Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/631,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 153/271, 153/272, 153/277, 153/47, 15350-352, 153/23, 154/71, 154/72, 554/29, 554/93, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/347
• 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. In a vacuum cleaner including a main housing, the improvement comprising a dirt cup including:

a dirt cup housing for removably attaching to the main housing and defining a dirt collection chamber, said housing including a first sidewall;

an inlet in said first sidewall of said dirt cup housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;

an outlet in said first sidewall of said dirt cup housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber; and

a filter holder on said dirt cup 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 dirt cup 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 dirt cup housing also includes a top wall and a bottom wall.

7. The dirt cup of claim 6, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

8. The dirt cup of claim 7, further including a first latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

9. The dirt cup of claim 7 further including a second latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said dirt cup to a canister assembly forming part of the main housing of the vacuum cleaner.

10. The dirt cup of claim 1, further including a filter in said attachable and detachable filter holder.

11. The dirt cup of claim 10, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

12. The dirt cup of claim 11, further including a prefilter, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

13. The dirt cup of claim 11, wherein said dirt cup housing also includes a top wall and a bottom wall.

14. The dirt cup of claim 13, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

15. The dirt cup of claim 14, further including a first latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

16. The dirt cup of claim 14 further including a second latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said dirt cup to a canister assembly forming part of the main housing of the vacuum cleaner.

17. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a nozzle assembly;

a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzle 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, said housing including a first sidewall;

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

an outlet in said first sidewall of 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.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 further including a prefilter held on said housing across said outlet.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, further including a filter in said filter holder.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

22. The vacuum cleaner cup of claim 20, wherein said housing includes a top wall, and a bottom wall.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 22, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to said canister assembly.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, further including a filter in said filter holder.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26, wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.

28. The vacuum cleaner of claim 27, further including a prefilter, wherein said prefilter is a screen.

29. The vacuum cleaner of claim 27, wherein said housing includes a top wall, and a bottom wall.

30. The vacuum cleaner of claim 29, wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.

31. The vacuum cleaner of claim 30, further including a first latch carried on said housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.

32. The vacuum cleaner of claim 30 further including a second latch carried on said housing and securing said dirt cup to said canister assembly.

33. 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 including a handle for manual manipulation; and

a channel on said housing for holding said cleaning tool,

wherein the handle is provided at one end of the cleaning tool and a second end of the tool includes teeth.

34. The dirt cup of claim 33, wherein the cleaning tool is external to said housing.

35. 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, said housing including a first sidewall;

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

an outlet in said first sidewall of said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;

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