Vacuum cleaner
View Patent ↗Several alternate improvements of a vacuum cleaner are provided. In one aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes interchangeable components. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner comprises a chamber having a top, and a first cleaning stage and suction motor are provided on the top. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a reconfigurable divider plate.
1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising
(a) a member having a dirty fluid inlet;
(b) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus and including a suction motor;
(c) at least one cyclone positioned in the fluid flow path and having at least one material outlet; and,
(d) a reconfigurable divider plate associated with the material outlet, the divider plate being reconfiqurable by at least one of the following:
i. the divider plate is replaceable with an alternate divider plate;
ii. the divider plate has a configuration that is variable;
iii. the divider plate has a portion that is removable;
iv. the divider plate has a portion that is movable to an alternate in use position; and,
v. the divider plate is moveable with respect to a separated material outlet of the cyclone to an alternate in use position.
2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate is replaceable with an alternate divider plate.
3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a configuration that is variable.
4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the divider plate is variable from a planar configuration to a bow shaped configuration.
5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a portion that is removable.
6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the removable portion comprises a central section of the divider plate.
7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate has a portion that is movable to an alternate in use position.
8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the movable portion comprises a central section of the divider plate.
9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the divider plate is moveable with respect to a separated material outlet of the cyclone to an alternate in use position.
10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the divider plate is moveable towards the separated material outlet.
11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the divider plate is moveable laterally with respect to the separated material outlet.