Vacuum cleaner including a removable dirt collection assembly

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a vacuum cleaner housing, a suction nozzle, a motor configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle, a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing, and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing. The dirt collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and a motor shroud at least partially enclosing the motor housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner housing;   a suction nozzle;   a motor configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle;   a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing; and   a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing, the dirt collection assembly including
 a dirt cup, 
 a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and 
 a motor shroud at least partially enclosing the motor housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the motor shroud defines a cavity configured to receive the motor housing. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the cavity of the motor shroud is generally shaped to substantially receive the motor housing. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is electrically coupled to a battery. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , further comprising a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly generally defines a handle axis, and wherein the dirt cup generally defines a longitudinal axis disposed generally along the handle axis when the dirt cup assembly is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is disposed adjacent the motor shroud in a direction defined by the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the motor shroud is disposed adjacent the dirt cup, and wherein the longitudinal axis passes through a cavity defined by the motor shroud. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the motor shroud is disposed substantially between the dirt cup and the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and the vacuum cleaner housing for selectively removing and securing the dirt collection assembly to the vacuum cleaner housing. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base including a suction nozzle;   a handle assembly movably coupled to the base for movement between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position;   a motor configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle;   a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled to the handle assembly; and   a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly and the base, the dirt collection assembly including
 a dirt cup, 
 a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and 
 a motor shroud at least partially enclosing the motor housing. 
   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the motor shroud defines a cavity configured to receive the motor. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the cavity of the motor shroud is generally shaped to receive at least a portion of the motor housing. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the motor is electrically coupled to a battery disposed on the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the handle assembly generally defines a handle axis, and wherein the dirt cup generally defines a longitudinal axis disposed generally along the handle axis when the dirt cup assembly is connected to the handle assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the handle is disposed adjacent the motor shroud in a direction defined by the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the motor shroud is disposed adjacent the dirt cup, and wherein the longitudinal axis passes through a cavity defined by the motor shroud. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the motor shroud is disposed substantially between the dirt cup and the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , further comprising a latch operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and at least one of the base or the handle assembly for selectively removing and securing the dirt collection assembly to the at least one of the base or the handle assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner housing;   a suction nozzle;   a motor configured to generate a suction force through the suction nozzle;   a motor housing at least partially enclosing the motor and coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing; and   a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to the vacuum cleaner housing, the dirt collection assembly including
 a dirt cup, 
 a handle for removing the dirt collection assembly, and 
 a cavity for at least partially receiving the motor housing. 
   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the cavity is disposed substantially between the dirt cup and the handle. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the dirt collection assembly further comprises a motor shroud defining the cavity, wherein the motor shroud is generally shaped to substantially receive the motor housing. 
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the motor is electrically coupled to a battery. 
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , further comprising a latch operatively coupled between the dirt collection assembly and the vacuum cleaner housing.