Dirt cup assembly with attachable and detachable external filter holder
A dirt cup for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing defining a dirt collection chamber, an inlet and an outlet in the housing in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber and a selectively attachable and detachable filter holder on the housing external to the dirt collection chamber and downstream from the outlet. A vacuum cleaner incorporating the dirt cup is also provided.
1. In a vacuum cleaner including a main housing, the improvement comprising a dirt cup including:
a dirt cup housing for removably attaching to the main housing and defining a dirt collection chamber, said housing including a first sidewall;
an inlet in said first sidewall of said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;
an outlet in said first sidewall of said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber; and
an attachable and detachable filter holder on said dirt cup housing external to said dirt collection chamber and downstream from said outlet.
2. The dirt cup of claim 1 further including a prefilter held on said dirt cup housing across said outlet.
3. The dirt cup of claim 2 , further including a filter in said filter holder.
4. The dirt cup of claim 3 , wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.
5. The dirt cup of claim 4 , wherein said prefilter is a screen.
6. The dirt cup of claim 4 , wherein said dirt cup housing includes a top wall and a bottom wall.
7. The dirt cup of claim 6 , wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.
8. The dirt cup of claim 7 , further including a first latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.
9. The dirt cup of claim 7 further including a second latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner.
10. The dirt cup of claim 1 , further including a filter in said attachable and detachable filter holder.
11. The dirt cup of claim 10 , wherein said filter includes a support and a pleated filter media.
12. The dirt cup of claim 11 , further including a prefilter held on said dirt cup housing, wherein said prefilter is a screen.
13. The dirt cup of claim 11 , wherein said dirt cup housing includes a top wall and a bottom wall.
14. The dirt cup of claim 13 , wherein said bottom wall is connected by a hinge to a second sidewall.
15. The dirt cup of claim 14 , further including a first latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said bottom wall in a closed position.
16. The dirt cup of claim 14 further including a second latch carried on said dirt cup housing and securing said dirt cup to a canister assembly forming part of the main housing of the vacuum cleaner.
17. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a nozzle assembly;
a canister assembly;
a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly; and
a dirt cup carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;
said dirt cup being characterized by a housing defining a dirt collection chamber, said housing including a first sidewall;
an inlet in said first sidewall of said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;
an outlet in said first sidewall of said housing in fluid communication with said dirt collection chamber;
an attachable and detachable filter holder on said housing external to said dirt collection chamber and downstream from said outlet.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the dirt cup is carried on the canister assembly.