Bagless stick type vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle base having a main suction opening formed in an underside thereof. A housing is hingedly connected to the nozzle base. The housing includes a dirt separation chamber and a dirt receptacle for receiving dirt and dust separated by the dirt separation chamber. A conduit connects the nozzle base to the housing. A suction source is located in one of the housing and the nozzle base. The suction source is in fluid communication with the dirt separation chamber. A generally conically shaped filter extends into the dirt separation chamber along a longitudinal axis of the dirt separation chamber.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be:  
     
         1 . An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a nozzle base including a main suction opening formed in an underside thereof;    a housing hingedly connected to said nozzle base, said housing including a dirt separation chamber and a dirt receptacle for receiving dirt and dust separated by said dirt separation chamber;    a conduit connecting said nozzle base to said housing;    a suction source located in one of said housing and said nozzle base and in fluid communication with said dirt separation chamber; and    a generally conically shaped filter extending into said dirt separation chamber along a longitudinal axis of said dirt separation chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein said dirt separation chamber is configured to promote a cyclonic airflow around said filter.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein said dirt separation chamber comprises a dirt cup.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein said housing comprises a socket for selectively accommodating said dirt cup.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein said dirt cup is selectively detachable from said housing.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  further comprising a frame for selectively mounting said filter to said dirt cup.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6  wherein said frame comprises a handle.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  further comprising an end cap secured to said filter.  
     
     
         9 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a nozzle base;    a housing pivotally mounted on said nozzle base, said housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber for separating contaminants from a suction airstream, said housing further comprising an inlet for said cyclonic airflow chamber and an outlet for said cyclonic airflow chamber;    a dirt container selectively mounted in said housing and defining at least a portion of said cyclonic airflow chamber for receiving and retaining dirt and dust separated from said suction airstream in said cyclonic airflow chamber;    an airstream suction source mounted to one of said housing and said nozzle base, said suction source being in fluid communication with said cyclonic airflow chamber and having an inlet disposed downstream from said cyclonic airflow chamber outlet; and    a filter assembly selectively mounted to said dirt container, and extending in said dirt container, said filter assembly comprising a longitudinal axis and a support member including a handle, wherein said longitudinal axis passes through said handle.    
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein said handle extends across at least a portion of an open end of said dirt container.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein said filter assembly includes a filter medium having a first end and a second end and wherein said first end of said filter medium is secured to said support member.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein said filter medium comprises a pleated planar material.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein said filter assembly further includes an end cap to which said filter second end is secured.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein said support member includes an airflow opening extending therethrough.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  wherein two air flow openings are provided in said support member, one on each side of said handle.  
     
     
         16 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a first housing member comprising a cyclonic airflow chamber adapted for separating entrained dirt and dust from a circulating airstream;    a dust cup releasably mounted to said first housing member, said dust cup holding dirt and dust separated by said cyclonic airflow chamber wherein said dust cup includes an open first end and a closed second end;    a second housing member defining a main suction opening;    a first conduit fluidly connecting said main suction opening of said second housing member to an inlet of said cyclonic airflow chamber;    a generally conically-shaped filter assembly selectively mounted in said dust cup and extending along a longitudinal axis of said dust cup; and,    an airstream source mounted to said first housing member and positioned above said cyclonic airflow chamber, said airstream source being adapted for generating and maintaining an airstream flowing through said cyclonic airflow chamber.    
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  wherein said first conduit comprises a rigid tube mounted to said second housing member.  
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17  wherein said second housing member includes a pivot joint to which said rigid tube is connected.  
     
     
         19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a nozzle section;    a housing section connected to said nozzle section and in fluid communication with said nozzle section;    a dust cup selectively mounted to said housing section, said dust cup holding dirt and dust separated from a suction airstream flowing into said housing section;    a suction source in fluid communication with said dust cup;    a cyclonic airflow chamber defined at least partially in said dust cup for separating particulate material entrained in an airstream flowing from said nozzle section towards said suction source; and    a tapered filter assembly extending into said dust cup for further separating dirt and dust from said suction airstream.    
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19  wherein said filter assembly includes a frustoconical filter member.  
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the filter assembly includes a first end located adjacent said suction source, said first end being adapted for selectively mounting said filter assembly to said dust cup.  
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein said filter assembly further comprises an end cap located on a second end thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 20  wherein said filter member comprises a pleated planar filter material.  
     
     
         24 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a housing in communication with a suction opening and comprising a socket;    a dust cup removably mounted in said housing socket, said dust cup comprising an open first end, a closed second end and a side wall;    a filter selectively mounted to said dust cup first end and extending into said dust cup;    a particle separation chamber defined in said dust cup between an interior wall of said dust cup and said filter for separating particles from an airstream flowing from said suction opening through an inlet located in said dust cup side wall; and,    a suction source in fluid communication with said dust cup first end, said suction source being located in said housing for generating and maintaining a suction airstream from said suction opening through said filter.    
     
     
         25 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 24  wherein said dust cup includes a first hinge element which cooperates with a second hinge element located on said housing.  
     
     
         26 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 24  wherein said dust cup includes a handle for facilitating handling of said dust cup.  
     
     
         27 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 26  further comprising a latch for selectively securing said dust cup to said housing.  
     
     
         28 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 24  wherein at least one of said dust cup and said housing includes a wall section that directs air entering said dust cup in a generally tangential orientation relative to an axis of said dust cup.