Abstract: The invention is a floor care appliance such as vacuum cleaner having several embodiments of a dirt particle separating and collecting system removably inserted and sidewardly disposed into a recess in the floor care appliance's housing. One embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system includes a translucent dirt cup having an apertured wall between a dirt particle collecting chamber and a second chamber housing a primary filter. One other embodiment is a translucent bag container for housing a filtration bag. The filtration bag may or may not be disposable and may or may not have a HEPA rating. Other embodiments include utilizing a single dirt container for housing the apertured wall and primary filter combination, a filtration bag only, or a combination of a filtration bag and the apertured wall and primary filter combination. Portions of the various embodiments of the dirt collecting systems may be seen through cutaway portions of the cleaner housing.

Abstract: The invention is floor care appliance such as vacuum cleaner having two embodiments of a dirt particle separating and collecting system removably inserted into a recess in the floor care appliance's housing. One embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system includes a translucent dirt cup having an apertured between two adjacent dirt particle collecting chambers and a primary filter located in one of the chambers. The other embodiment is a translucent bag container and a filtration bag. The filtration bag may or may not be disposable and may or may not have a HEPA rating. When either embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is installed in the housing, a portion of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is not visible in the area in the front of the floor care appliance. Another portion of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is visible in the area in the front of the floor care appliance.

Abstract: A dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup formed with a first dirt collecting chamber and a second dirt collecting chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the first dirt collecting chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the first dirt collecting chamber. An exhaust opening is formed in the second dirt collecting chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The aperture wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden air and depositing the coarse particles in the first dirt collecting chamber. A filter member is positioned within the second dirt collecting chamber and communicates with the exhaust port. The filter element filters fine particles from the air stream and deposits the fine particles within the second dirt collecting chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a floor care appliance such as vacuum cleaner having several embodiments of a dirt particle separating and collecting system removably inserted and sidewardly disposed into a recess in the floor care appliance's housing. One embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system includes a translucent dirt cup having an apertured wall between a dirt particle collecting chamber and a second chamber housing a primary filter. One other embodiment is a translucent bag container for housing a filtration bag. The filtration bag may or may not be disposable and may or may not have a HEPA rating. Other embodiments include utilizing a single dirt container for housing the apertured wall and primary filter combination, a filtration bag only, or a combination of a filtration bag and the apertured wall and primary filter combination. Portions of the various embodiments of the dirt collecting systems may be seen through cutaway portions of the cleaner housing.

Abstract: The invention is floor care appliance such as vacuum cleaner having two embodiments of a dirt particle separating and collecting system removably inserted into a recess in the floor care appliance's housing. One embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system includes a translucent dirt cup having an apertured between two adjacent dirt particle collecting chambers and a primary filter located in one of the chambers. The other embodiment is a translucent bag container and a filtration bag. The filtration bag may or may not be disposable and may or may not have a HEPA rating. When either embodiment of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is installed in the housing, a portion of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is not visible in the area in the front of the floor care appliance. Another portion of the dirt particle separating and collecting system is visible in the area in the front of the floor care appliance.

Abstract: A conversion valve arrangement for converting a vacuum cleaner from floor use to off-the-floor use. A valve door located in the suction duct leading from the nozzle body shuts off the suction airstream to the nozzle body when the vacuum cleaner is moved into the upright stored position. A projection on the motor housing located beneath the handle engages a resilient member cooperating with a crank arm on the valve door to close the valve door when the handle is moved to the upright position. The resilient member is comprised of a front valve arm and a rear valve arm pivotally linked together. The motion of the rear valve arm is transmitted to the front valve arm in one direction by a stop. The motion of the rear valve arm is transmitted to the front valve arm in the opposite direction by the stiffness of a spring disposed between them.