Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner, comprising a cleaner body; a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup including a dust cup body which at least partially forms a dust cup cavity and a dust cup outlet; the dust cup including a dust cup door configured to selectively open and close the dust cup outlet; and at least one of a releasably connectable connector assembly to hold the dust cup door in a closed position, the releasably connectable connector assembly comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising a first connector magnet, and/or a deformable debris obstructor located in the dust cup cavity upstream of the dust cup outlet and dust cup door, which extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dust cup cavity as to shield the dust cup door from debris in the dust cup cavity. A docking station is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a cleaner body;   a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup including a dust cup body which at least partially forms a dust cup outlet;   the dust cup including a dust cup door configured to selectively open and close the dust cup outlet; and   a releasably connectable connector assembly to hold the dust cup door in a closed position, the releasably connectable connector assembly comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising a first connector magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector magnet comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the releasably connectable connector assembly further comprises a second connector which connects with the first connector;
 wherein the second connector comprises a second connector ferromagnetic material; and   wherein, when the dust cup door is in the closed position, the first connector and the second connector are arranged such that the second connector ferromagnetic material is held by a magnetic force of the first connector magnet.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the releasably connectable connector assembly further comprises a second connector which connects with the first connector;
 wherein the second connector comprises a second connector magnet; and   wherein, when the dust cup door is in the closed position, the first connector and the second connector are arranged such the second connector magnet and the first connector magnet are held to one another by a magnetic force of the first connector magnet and the second connector magnet, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector magnet is provided with the dust cup body. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the releasably connectable connector assembly further comprises a second connector which connects with the first connector;
 wherein the second connector comprises a second connector ferromagnetic material; and   wherein the second connector ferromagnetic material is provided with the dust cup door.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust cup door is biased towards the closed position by a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a further releasably connectable connector assembly to hold the dust cup door in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the releasably connectable connector assembly is adjacent the further releasably connectable connector assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the further releasably connectable connector assembly comprises a further first connector and a further second connector;
 wherein the further first connector comprising a further first connector hook; and   wherein the further second connector comprises a further second connector hook latch.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the first connector hook is provided with a dust cup door retainer pivotably coupled to the dust cup body; and
 wherein the second connector hook latch is provided with the dust cup door.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the dust cup door retainer is transitionable between a locked position and an unlocked position; and
 wherein, when the dust cup door is in the closed position, the dust cup retainer is in the locked position.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the dust cup door retainer is biased towards the locked position by a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust cup body at least partially forms a dust cup cavity; and
 a deformable debris obstructor is located in the dust cup cavity upstream of the dust cup outlet and dust cup door, which extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dust cup cavity as to shield the dust cup door from debris in the dust cup cavity.   
     
     
         15 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a cleaner body;   a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup including a dust cup body which at least partially forms a dust cup cavity and a dust cup outlet;   the dust cup including a dust cup door configured to selectively open and close the dust cup outlet; and   a deformable debris obstructor located in the dust cup cavity upstream of the dust cup outlet and dust cup door, which extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dust cup cavity as to shield the dust cup door from debris in the dust cup cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the deformable debris obstructor comprises a debris obstructor shield formed of a plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the debris obstructor shield is elastically deformable in a direction towards the dust cup door in response to negative pressure introduced into the dust cup cavity through the dust cup outlet, and elastically recoverable in a direction away from the dust cup door in response to the negative pressure being terminated. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the debris obstructor shield includes a debris obstructor shield hinge region formed of the plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the debris obstructor shield is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the dust cup cavity such that the debris obstructor shield is transitions closer to the dust cup door as the debris obstructor shield extends away from the debris obstructor shield hinge region. 
     
     
         20 . A cleaning system comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner, comprising
 a cleaner body; 
 a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup including a dust cup body which at least partially forms a dust cup cavity and a dust cup outlet; 
 the dust cup including a dust cup door configured to selectively open and close the dust cup outlet; and 
 at least one of
 a releasably connectable connector assembly to hold the dust cup door in a closed position, the releasably connectable connector assembly comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising a first connector magnet, and/or 
 a deformable debris obstructor located in the dust cup cavity upstream of the dust cup outlet and dust cup door, which extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the dust cup cavity as to shield the dust cup door from debris in the dust cup cavity; and 
 
   a docking station, the vacuum cleaner configured to dock with the docking station