Vacuum cleaner with reusable filter

Abstract

A reusable dust collecting filter for a vacuum cleaner which reduces costs for repair and maintenance of the vacuum cleaner and reduces waste. The vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body having a dust collecting chamber and a motor chamber, a cleaning head connected to the cleaner body via an extension pipe; and a cassette type dust collecting filter removably disposed in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body, for separating and collecting contaminants in the airstream. The dust collecting filter is reusable by removal of collected contaminants and then cleaning of the dust collecting filter. The dust collecting filter includes a locking mechanism for locking the dust collecting filter in a mounted position within the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a cleaner body having a dust collecting chamber and a motor chamber interconnected with the dust collecting chamber;    a suction port connected to the cleaner body via an extension pipe;    a cyclone dust collecting apparatus connected to the extension pipe, for separating and collecting contaminants from a contaminant-laden air by a centrifugal force, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for generating a vortex of air from which the centrifugal force is generated;    a dust collecting filter removably disposed in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body for separating and collecting any contaminants not separated by the cyclone dust collecting apparatus, the dust collecting filter constructed to be reusable by enabling removal of collected contaminants from the dust collecting filter and then cleaning the dust collecting filter; and    a locking means for locking the dust collecting filter in a mounting position in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust collecting filter comprises: 
 a filter housing containing a filter and a dust collecting space;    a filter cover movably disposed on the filter housing to pivot between an opened and closed position of the dust collecting space of the filter housing; and    a handle pivotally supported on opposing sides of the filter cover.    
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the filter cover comprises an observation window through which the state of collection of the contaminants can be observed.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the locking means comprises: 
 guide grooves formed along opposing sidewalls of the dust collecting chamber;    semi-cylindrical key recesses formed on respective ends of the guiding grooves; and    semi-cylindrical keys formed on opposing sides of the handle, the keys being configured to mate with the guide grooves and adapted to be inserted along the guide grooves and engaged in the semi-cylindrical key recesses.    
     
     
         5 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a vacuum cleaner body containing a motor chamber and a contaminant chamber, said contaminant chamber including a filter engagement structure;    a cleaning head in fluid communication with said contaminant chamber, said cleaning head adapted to make contact with a cleaning surface and subject a vacuum airstream to the cleaning surface to draw in contaminants;    a cassette filter disposed in said contaminant chamber, said cassette filter comprising a housing, a removable filter disposed in said housing for collecting contaminants from the airstream, and a lock mechanism supported on said housing, said lock mechanism including key to be matingly received in said filter engagement structure.    
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein said filter engagement structure comprises a guide groove terminating in a keyway configured to receive said key.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6  wherein said key is semi-cylindrical, said guide groove is sized to receive said key only in its longitudinal orientation, and said keyway is configured to enable said key to rotate into its lateral orientation to thereby lockingly engage said cassette filter into said contaminant chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  further comprising a handle integrated with said lock mechanism whereby rotation of said handle causes a corresponding rotation of said key once said key is inserted into said keyway.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  further comprising an observation window in said housing to enable viewing of collection of contaminants in said cassette filter.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein said removable filter is washable to enable reuse of the cassette filter.  
     
     
         11 . A cassette filter adapted to be inserted into a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner, said cassette filter comprising: 
 a housing containing a filter for collecting contaminants from a vacuum cleaner airstream and a dust receptacle;    a cover attached to said housing and movable between a closed and opened position;    an integrated handle and lock mechanism supported on said cover for engagement with a mating structure on the vacuum cleaner.    
     
     
         12 . The cassette filter of  claim 11  wherein said handle and lock mechanism comprises a bucket-type handle having a protrusion adapted to be moved between released and locked positions by corresponding movement of said handle.  
     
     
         13 . The cassette filter of  claim 12  wherein said protrusion is a semi-cylindrical key mounted on the handle with its released position corresponding to a first position of said handle, and its locked position corresponding to a second position of said handle.  
     
     
         14 . The cassette filter of  claim 11  wherein said cover is hingedly attached to said housing to pivot between its closed and opened positions.  
     
     
         15 . The cassette filter of  claim 14  wherein said filter is washable and replaceable into said housing for reuse.  
     
     
         16 . The cassette filter of  claim 13  further comprising a window in said housing through which contaminant collection can be observed.