Cleaning device

Abstract

Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. The collection chamber has an inlet opening through which debris-entrained air enters the collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is off, the cover prevents debris from leaving the collection chamber through the inlet opening. The wall of the collection chamber moves when negative pressure is applied to the collection chamber, and the wall movement moves the cover from the inlet opening, allowing the debris-entrained air to enter the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the moving part of the wall is an air filter.

1 . A replacement head for use with a cleaning device, comprising:
 a housing having a suction inlet for allowing debris to flow therethrough, and a dirt collection chamber configured to receive debris from the suction inlet, at least a portion of at least one wall of the dirt collection chamber being movable in response to a vacuum force applied to the dirt collection chamber; and   a cleaning sheet coupled to the housing and having a surface configured to contact a surface to be cleaned;   wherein the housing is configured to couple to a cleaning device such that a vacuum source can apply a vacuum force to the dirt collection chamber to draw debris through the suction inlet into the dirt collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The replacement head of  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber comprises a flexible bag. 
     
     
         3 . The replacement head of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the flexible bag covers the suction inlet and is configured to move away from the suction inlet when a vacuum force is applied to the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The replacement head of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is air permeable to allow a vacuum force to be applied to the dirt collection chamber while retaining debris therein. 
     
     
         5 . The replacement head of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one engagement element configured to mate with an engagement element on a cleaning device for removably attaching the replacement head to a cleaning device. 
     
     
         6 . The replacement head of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning sheet is planar. 
     
     
         7 . A replacement head for use with a cleaning device, comprising:
 a cleaning sheet having a surface configured to contact a surface to be cleaned;   a housing mounted on the cleaning sheet and having a bag therein defining a dirt collection chamber, at least a portion of the bag being flexible, and the bag being coupled to an inlet in the housing for allowing debris to flow into the dirt collection chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is directly attached to the cleaning sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is permanently attached to the cleaning sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the bag is air permeable to allow a vacuum force to be applied to the dirt collection chamber while retaining debris therein. 
     
     
         11 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the bag covers a suction inlet in the housing and is configured to move away from the suction inlet when a vacuum force is applied to the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein the housing includes a suction inlet adjacent to an edge of the cleaning sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein the housing includes at least one engagement element configured to mate with an engagement element on a cleaning device for removably attaching the replacement head to a cleaning device. 
     
     
         14 . The replacement head of  claim 7 , wherein the cleaning sheet is planar. 
     
     
         15 . A replacement head for use with a cleaning device, comprising:
 a housing having a suction inlet configured to receive debris and a portion configured to couple to a vacuum source;   a flexible bag disposed within the housing and coupled to the suction inlet, the flexible bag including an air-permeable portion configured to allow a vacuum source coupled to the housing to apply a vacuum force to the dirt collection chamber to draw debris through the suction inlet for collection within a dirt collection chamber; and   a cleaning sheet coupled to the housing and configured to contact a surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         16 . The replacement head of  claim 15 , further wherein the bag is configured to expand in response to a vacuum force applied to the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The replacement head of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning sheet is removably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The replacement head of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes at least one engagement element configured to mate with a corresponding engagement element on a cleaning device to mate the replacement head to the cleaning device. 
     
     
         19 . The replacement head of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning sheet is planar.