Bagless vacuum cleaner with improved dirt removal system

Abstract

A bagless vacuum cleaner having a removable dust extraction and collection unit. The removable dust extraction and collection unit has an enclosed inlet chamber and an enclosed outlet chamber. The bottom wall of the enclosed inlet chamber is pivotally hinged such that the bottom wall can be alternatively opened and closed. When opened, accumulated dust within the inlet chamber is conveniently gravitated out of the dust extraction and collection unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 (a) a chasse having a base unit and a housing unit, the base unit having an air inlet and roller means for moving the vacuum cleaner across a flat surface;    (b) an air blower disposed within the chasse;    (c) a removable dust extraction and collection unit disposed within the housing unit, the dust extraction and collection unit comprising: 
 (i) an enclosed inlet chamber, the inlet chamber being substantially cylindrical in shape, the inlet chamber comprising a bottom wall, at least one generally vertical sidewall, an upper section, a lower section and an inlet opening, the upper section of the inlet chamber having an air inlet opening through the sidewalls; and  
 (ii) an enclosed outlet chamber disposed concentrically within the upper section of the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber having a bottom wall and a top wall, the top wall having a top wall opening, the sidewalls having a plurality of inlet apertures, the inlet apertures being disposed in a band around the sidewalls of the outlet chamber; and  
   (d) duct work for serially connecting in fluid communication the air inlet in the base unit, the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber and the air blower;    wherein, the bottom wall of the enclosed inlet chamber of the dust extraction and collection unit is pivotally hinged to the at least one side wall such that the bottom wall can be alternatively pivoted between (i) a closed bottom wall position wherein the bottom wall is sealed against the at least one side wall so that dust can be retained within the enclosed inlet chamber and (ii) an open bottom wall position wherein the bottom wall is pivoted away from the at least one side wall such that dust within the enclosed inlet chamber can be dumped out of the enclosed inlet chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the enclosed inlet chamber further comprises a latch for alternatively retaining and releasing the bottom wall from the closed bottom wall position.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the latch is pivotably attached to the enclosed inlet chamber such that the latch can be alternatively pivoted between (i) a closed latched position wherein the latch firmly retains the bottom wall of the enclosed inlet chamber in the closed bottom wall position and (ii) an open latch position wherein the latch does not retain the bottom wall in the closed bottom wall position and the bottom wall is free to pivot to the open bottom wall position.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the latch is caused to move from the closed latch position to the open latch position by pushing upon a spring-loaded latch opening button.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the dust extraction and collection unit further comprises a locking mechanism for firmly retaining the dust extraction and collection unit within the chasse.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the locking mechanism comprises a moveable locking pin which is moveable between a closed locking pin position wherein the locking pin engages the chasse to thereby firmly retain the dust extraction and collection unit within the chasse and (ii) an open locking pin position wherein the locking pin does not engage the chasse, thereby allowing the dust extraction and collection unit to be removed from the chasse.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the locking pin is caused to move from the closed locking pin position to the open locking pin position by pushing on a spring-loaded locking pin button.