Filter assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly (10) for a vacuum cleaner. The assembly (10) is a cup (23) that generally surrounds a cartridge chamber (20). Located in the chamber (20) is a filter cartridge (21). The assembly (10) further includes means to illuminate the chamber (20), the means including light pipes (29) and a circuit board (27).

1 . A filter assembly including:
 a hollow body providing a duct through which air passes from an inlet to an outlet, the duct including a filter chamber, an inlet duct portion joining the inlet with the filter chamber and located laterally to the filter chamber, an outlet duct portion joining the filter chamber and the outlet, with the hollow body also including a filter cover at least partly enclosing the filter chamber;   a filter located in an upper portion of the filter chamber, the filter cooperating with the hollow body so that air flow from the inlet to the outlet passes through the filter; and   a light assembly mounted in the hollow body and including a powered light source cooperating with the hollow body to illuminate the filter chamber, and wherein at least part of the filter chamber is visible through a filter cover to provide for visual inspection of the filter and the filter chamber, and wherein the air enters the filter chamber to follow to the filter wherefrom the air passes inward through the filter to be delivered to the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter cover is a removable cup has at least portion that is transparent so that a user of the filter assembly may view the filter. 
     
     
         4 . The filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the light assembly includes the powered light source cooperating with the removable cup so that the removable cup is illuminated. 
     
     
         5 . The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the removable cup is formed of light conducting material, with the light source directing light at an edge of the removable cup. 
     
     
         6 . The filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the powered light source includes at least one LED, with each LED delivering light to a light pipe that transmits light to be delivered to the removable cup. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cover is transparent to provide for visual inspection of the filter chamber and the filter without removal of the filter cover. 
     
     
         10 . The filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the light assembly includes the powered light source cooperating with the removable cup so that the removable cup is illuminated. 
     
     
         11 . The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the removable cup is formed of light conducting material, with the powered light source directing light at an edge of the removable cup. 
     
     
         12 . The filter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the powered light source includes at least one LED, with each LED delivering light to a light pipe that transmits light to be delivered to the removable cup. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The filter assembly of claim  7 , wherein the filter cover includes a closed base from which the filter cover upwardly extends. 
     
     
         15 . The filter assembly of claim  8 , wherein the filter covering including a base from which the filter cover upwardly extends, and at least a portion of the filter cover is transparent to provide for visual inspection of the filter chamber and filter without removal of the filter cover. 
     
     
         16 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter cover has at least a portion that is transparent so that a user of the filter assembly may view the filter, the light assembly includes the powered light source cooperating with the filter cover so that the filter cover is illuminated, with the filter cover being formed of light conducting material, with the powered light source directing light at an edge of the filter cover. 
     
     
         17 . The filter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the powered light source includes at least one LED, with each LED delivering light to a light pipe that transmits light to be delivered to the filter cover. 
     
     
         18 . The filter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the filter cover includes a closed base from which the filter cover upwardly extends. 
     
     
         19 . The filter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the filter cover is transparent to provide for visual inspection of the filter chamber and the filter without removal of the filter cover. 
     
     
         20 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter cover is a removable cup, with the removable cup including a closed base from which the removable cup upwardly extends, and at least a portion of the removable cap is transparent to provide for visual inspection of the filter chamber and the filter without removal of the filter cover. 
     
     
         21 . A filter assembly including:
 a hollow body providing a duct through which air passes from an inlet to an outlet, the duct including a filter chamber, an inlet duct portion joining the inlet with the filter chamber, an outlet duct portion joining the filter chamber and the outlet, with the hollow body also including a filter cover at least partly enclosing the filter chamber;   a filter located in the filter chamber, the filter cooperating with the hollow body so that air flow from the inlet to the outlet passes through the filter; and   a light assembly mounted in the hollow body and including a powered light source cooperating with the hollow body to illuminate the filter chamber, and wherein at least part of the filter chamber is visible through the filter cover to provide for visual inspection of the filter chamber, and wherein the light assembly includes the light source, with the filter cover formed of light conducting material, with the light source directing light at an edge of the filter cover to illuminate the filter cover.   
     
     
         22 . The filter assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the filter cover is a cup, with the cup having at least a portion that is transparent so that a user of the assembly may view the filter. 
     
     
         23 . The filter assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the light source includes at least one LED, with each LED delivering light to a light pipe that transmits light to be delivered to the filter cover. 
     
     
         24 . The filter assembly of  claim 23 , wherein at least portion of the cover is transparent to provide for visual inspection of the chamber and filter without removal of the cover