Vacuum Cleaner and Floor Dustpan System

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning filter and a sweeper stand that also functions as an electric dustpan when the vacuum is seated within the sweeper stand is provided. The vacuum includes a housing having an air inlet at one end of the housing and a handle at the other end of the housing. An air passageway includes a deflector to direct dirt into a dirt collection tray which is pivotably mounted to the housing. A filter mounted on the motor divider wall and a filter cleaning arch mounted on the dirt collection tray so that the filter cleaning arch strikes the filter to dislodge dirt collected on the filter as the dirt collection tray pivots open. The sweeper stand includes a housing for receiving the hand vacuum, an opening for directing dirt laden air into an air inlet of the hand vacuum. Power switches to actuate the hand vacuum when the hand vacuum is seated in the sweeper stand are provided.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an elongated housing defined by an upper wall, a lower wall and two opposed side walls with a portion of the lower wall defining a dirt collection tray, and an air inlet at one end and a hand grip at the other end;   a motor compartment defined within the housing including a vacuum motor positioned therein;   the dirt collection tray is hingedly connected to a portion of the lower wall of the housing;   an inlet air passageway defined by the upper wall and intermediate inner wall; and   a filter mounted in the housing above the pivotable collection tray.   
   
   
       2 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an elongated housing defined by an upper wall, a lower wall and two opposed side walls with a portion of the lower wall defining a dirt collection tray, and an air inlet at one end and a hand grip at the other end;   a motor compartment defined within the housing including a vacuum motor positioned therein;   the dirt collection tray is hingedly connected to a portion of the lower wall of the housing;   an inlet air passageway defined by the upper wall and intermediate inner wall;   a filter mounted on a filter housing with ribs, where the filter housing is mounted above the pivotable collection tray; and   a filter cleaning arch mounted on the dirt collection tray;   wherein upon opening the dirt collection tray, the filter cleaning arch strikes the ribs of the filter housing with the filter attached to dislodge dirt collected on the filter as the dirt collected in the dirt collection tray is emptied.   
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet air passageway includes a deflector that extends downward from the upper housing at the end of the passageway to direct dirt downwardly towards the dirt collection tray. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein a second filter surrounds the filter. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a power cord. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a rechargeable battery housing below the vacuum handle for holding rechargeable batteries. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the filter is a non-pleated filter. 
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the air passageway is divided in three sections across the length of the air passageway. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a cooperating sweeper stand for storing the vacuum cleaner when not in use,
 the sweeper stand having a base with a horizontal opening, configured to hold the vacuum cleaner substantially vertical with its air inlet at the opening of the sweeper stand.   
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a vacuum floor nozzle mountable at the nozzle opening for converting the vacuum cleaner to a stick vacuum. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , further including a pipe handle for mounting to the vacuum handle to extend the height of the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       12 . An electric dustpan including a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a sweeper stand comprising:   a housing for receiving the vacuum cleaner;   a opening for directing dirt laden air into an air inlet of the sweeper stand and nozzle of the vacuum cleaner; and   wherein the vacuum cleaner is seated in the sweeper stand with the air inlet facing the opening of the sweeper stand and a handle of the vacuum cleaner facing away from the nozzle.   
   
   
       13 . The electric dustpan of  claim 12 , further comprising a power switch to actuate the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       14 . The electric dustpan of  claim 12 , including a sweeper stand handle for portability. 
   
   
       15 . An electric dustpan including a battery-operated vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a sweeper stand comprising:   a housing for receiving the vacuum cleaner;   a opening for directing dirt laden air into an air inlet of the sweeper stand and nozzle of the vacuum cleaner;   a charging unit for recharging the battery operated vacuum cleaner; and   wherein the vacuum cleaner is seated in the sweeper stand with the air inlet facing the opening of the sweeper stand and a handle of the vacuum cleaner facing away from the nozzle.   
   
   
       16 . The electric dustpan of  claim 15 , further comprising a power switch to actuate the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       17 . The electric dustpan of  claim 15 , including a sweeper stand handle for portability. 
   
   
       18 . An electric dustpan including a battery-operated vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a charging unit and a sweeper stand, wherein the sweeper stand comprises:   a housing for receiving a vacuum cleaner;   a opening for directing dirt laden air into an air inlet of the sweeper stand and nozzle of the vacuum cleaner; and   wherein the vacuum cleaner is seated in the sweeper stand with the air inlet facing the opening of the sweeper stand and a handle of the vacuum cleaner facing away from the nozzle;   wherein the bottom of the sweeper stand is seated on the charging unit to recharge the battery-operated vacuum cleaner.   
   
   
       19 . The electric dustpan of  claim 18 , further comprising a power switch to actuate the vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       20 . The electric dustpan of  claim 18 , including a sweeper stand handle for portability. 
   
   
       21 . A stick vacuum comprising:
 a vacuum including a housing having an air inlet at one end of the housing and a hand grip at the other end of the housing;   a stick handle that detachably attaches to the handle of the vacuum; and   a nozzle that detachably attaches at one end to air inlet of the vacuum.   
   
   
       22 . The stick vacuum of  claim 21 , the vacuum further comprises:
 a housing having an air inlet at one end and a hand grip at the other end;   the housing includes a motor compartment with a vacuum motor;   the housing is formed with an air passageway including a deflector at the end of the passageway to direct dirt downwardly into a dirt collection tray;   the dirt collection tray hingedly connected to the housing to provide access to the dirt collection tray;   a pleated filter mounted on the motor divider wall; and   a filter cleaning arch mounted on the dirt collection tray;   wherein the filter cleaning arch strikes the pleats of the pleated filter to dislodge dirt collected on the filter as the dirt collection tray pivots from the housing to discard the dirt collected in the dirt collection tray.   
   
   
       23 . The stick vacuum of  claim 21 , the vacuum further comprises:
 a housing having an air inlet at one end and a hand grip at the other end;   the housing includes a motor compartment with a vacuum motor;   the housing is formed with an air passageway including a deflector at the end of the passageway to direct dirt downwardly into a dirt collection tray;   the dirt collection tray hingedly connected to the housing;   a filter mounted on a filter housing with ribs, where the filter housing is mounted on the motor divider wall; and   a filter cleaning arch mounted on the dirt collection tray;   wherein upon opening the dirt collection tray, the filter cleaning arch strikes the ribs of the filter housing with the filter attached to dislodge dirt collected on the filter as the dirt collected in the dirt collection tray is emptied.   
   
   
       24 . A nozzle for use in a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an air passageway that is divided in three sections across the length of the air passageway for equalizing the suction across the nozzle.