Bagless dustcup

1. A separator system for use in a vacuum cleaner, the separator system comprising:

a dust cup assembly removably secured to a vacuum cleaner housing, the dust cup assembly comprising:

a dust cup chamber comprising:

a cup end wall,

a sidewall extending from the cup end wall, and

an open end opposite the cup end wall;

a cyclone module removably attached to the open end, the cyclone module comprising:

a generally planar wall that extends to a perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet opening comprising a first hole through the generally planar wall, the inlet opening being located proximal to the perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet protrusion extending from the inlet opening towards the cup end wall, the inlet protrusion comprising at least one curved wall adapted to receive dirty air through the inlet opening and turn the dirty air to initiate a cyclonic airflow in the dust cup,

an outlet opening comprising a second hole through the generally planar wall,

a frustoconical filter cage surrounding the outlet opening and extending in a direction from the generally planar wall towards the cup end wall, the filter cage comprising a plurality of appendages arranged in a generally circular array around the outlet opening, and a solid disk-like member attached to the plurality of appendages at a location spaced from the generally planar wall, and

a filter surrounding the filter cage; and

a vacuum suction source mounted in the vacuum cleaner housing and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source being fluidly connected to the outlet opening when the dust cup assembly is secured to the vacuum cleaner, and selectively operable to draw air through the dust cup assembly.

2. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is generally cone-shaped.

3. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is removably attached to the generally planar wall.

4. The separator system of claim 3 , wherein the filter is removably attached to the generally planar wall by a plurality of hooks that extend from the filter and fit into corresponding openings through the generally planar wall, the hooks and openings being adapted to engage one another upon relative rotation thereof.

5. The separator system of claim 4 , further comprising a filter receptacle adapted to surround the filter, and wherein the hooks are integrally formed with the filter receptacle.

6. The separator system of claim 3 , further comprising a filter receptacle adapted to surround the filter and capture it in place against the generally planar wall.

7. The separator system of claim 1 , further comprising a handle operatively connected to the generally planar wall and adapted to facilitate removal of the cyclone module from the dust cup chamber.

8. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet protrusion comprises a volute structure.

9. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening receives dirty air from an inlet chimney provided in the vacuum cleaner housing, the inlet chimney extending generally parallel to an axis extending from the open end of the cup to the cup end wall.

10. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is located at the center of the dust cup chamber.

11. The separator system of claim 1 , further comprising a plenum chamber member forming at least a portion of an enclosed passage between the outlet opening and the vacuum suction source.

12. The separator system of claim 11 , further comprising a handle operatively connected to the generally planar wall and plenum chamber, and adapted to facilitate removal of the cyclone module from the dust cup chamber.

13. The separator system of claim 11 , further comprising an outlet conduit forming at least another portion of the enclosed passage between the outlet opening and the vacuum suction source.

14. The separator system of claim 13 , wherein the outlet conduit is integrally formed with the dust cup chamber.

15. The separator system of claim 1 , wherein the cup end wall comprises a step-like barrier.

16. A separator system for use in a vacuum cleaner, the separator system comprising:

a dust cup assembly removably secured to a vacuum cleaner housing, the dust cup assembly comprising:

a dust cup chamber comprising:

a cup end wall,

a sidewall extending from the cup end wall,

an open end opposite the cup end wall, and

wherein the cup end wall comprises a step-like barrier;

a cyclone module removably attached to the open end, the cyclone module comprising:

a generally planar wall that extends to a perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet opening comprising a first hole through the generally planar wall, the inlet opening being located proximal to the perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet protrusion extending from the inlet opening towards the cup end wall, the inlet protrusion comprising at least one curved wall adapted to receive dirty air through the inlet opening and turn the dirty air to initiate a cyclonic airflow in the dust cup, and

an outlet opening comprising a second hole through the generally planar wall,

a filter covering the outlet opening and extending from the outlet opening towards the cup end wall; and

a vacuum suction source mounted in the vacuum cleaner housing and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source being fluidly connected to the outlet opening when the dust cup assembly is secured to the vacuum cleaner, and selectively operable to draw air through the dust cup assembly.

17. The separator system of claim 16 , further comprising a filter cage surrounding the outlet opening and extending in a direction from the generally planar wall towards the cup end wall, the filter cage comprising a plurality of appendages arranged in a generally circular array around the outlet opening, and wherein the filter surrounds the filter cage.

18. The separator system of claim 17 , further comprising a solid disk-like member attached to the plurality of appendages at a location spaced from the generally planar wail.

19. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a vacuum cleaner housing;

a dust cup assembly removably secured to the vacuum cleaner housing, the dust cup assembly comprising:

a dust cup chamber comprising:

a cup end wall,

a sidewall extending from the cup end wall, and

an open end opposite the cup end wall;

a cyclone module removably attached to the open end, the cyclone module comprising:

a generally planar wall that extends to a perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet opening comprising a first hole through the generally planar wall, the inlet opening being located proximal to the perimeter of the dust cup,

an inlet protrusion extending from the inlet opening towards the cup end wall, the inlet protrusion comprising at least one curved wall adapted to receive dirty air through the inlet opening and turn the dirty air to initiate a cyclonic airflow in the dust cup, and

an outlet opening comprising a second hole through the generally planar wall,

a frustoconical filter cage surrounding the outlet opening and extending in a direction from the generally planar wall towards the cup end wall, the filter cage comprising a plurality of appendages arranged in a generally circular array around the outlet opening, and a solid disk-like member attached to the plurality of appendages at a location spaced from the generally planar wall, and

a filter surrounding the filter cage;

a brushroll chamber in fluid communication with the inlet opening; and

a vacuum suction source mounted in the vacuum cleaner housing and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source being fluidly connected to the outlet opening when the dust cup assembly is secured to the vacuum cleaner, and selectively operable to draw air into the brushroll chamber and through the dust cup assembly.

20. The separator system of claim 19 , wherein the cup end wall comprises a step-like barrier.