Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirt cup having a side wall and a bottom wall, a tangentially directed inlet in the side wall and an axially directed outlet. An inside surface of the side wall includes ribbing to help remove dirt and debris from the airstream and improve vacuum cleaner performance and efficiency.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirt cup having a side wall and a bottom wall, a tangentially directed inlet in the side wall and an axially directed outlet. An inside surface of the side wall includes ribbing to help remove dirt and debris from the airstream and improve vacuum cleaner performance and efficiency.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a base unit having a suction inlet, a suction generator and a locating element. The vacuum cleaner also includes first and second dirt collection modules. The first dirt collection module has a receiver that cooperates and engages with the locating element so that it may be properly secured to the base unit. An adapter allows the second dirt collection module to be properly secured to the base unit instead of the first dirt collection module.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes an arcuate side wall, a tangentially directed inlet, an axially directed outlet, a dirt collection chamber and a shroud provided between the dirt collection chamber and the axially directed outlet. The shroud includes a filter surface having a plurality of air flow apertures and a helical step extending around the shroud through the filter surface.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body, a cyclonic dirt collection vessel and a suction generator. The cyclonic dirt collection vessel includes at least one non-concentric cyclone.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet and a control assembly including a control stalk. A dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a toroidal cyclone. The toroidal cyclone has an inlet port, a clean air outlet port and a particle outlet provided in a wall of the toroidal cyclone between the inlet and outlet port. A cork screw baffle is received in the toroidal cyclone. The cork screw baffle defines a spiraling air path through the toroidal cyclone. A suction generator, carried on the body, draws the air stream through the dirt collection vessel.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet. A suction generator is carried on the body. In addition a dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. The dirt collection vessel is characterized by a compound airflow guide provided adjacent the axially directed outlet. The compound airflow guide includes a blade portion and a frustoconical portion.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet and a control assembly including a control stalk. A dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a toroidal cyclone. The toroidal cyclone has an inlet port, a clean air outlet port and a particle outlet provided in a wall of the toroidal cyclone between the inlet and outlet port. A cork screw baffle is received in the toroidal cyclone. The cork screw baffle defines a spiraling air path through the toroidal cyclone. A suction generator, carried on the body, draws the air stream through the dirt collection vessel.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet and a control assembly including a control stalk. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. A dirt collection vessel includes a housing, having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a labyrinthine air flow path connecting the dirty air inlet with the clean air outlet, and a dirt collection chamber opening to the labyrinthine air flow path.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is carried on the nozzle assembly. A dirt cup receiver is carried on the canister assembly. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The vacuum cleaner also includes a dirt cup assembly including (1) a dirt collection chamber having a first cylindrical sidewall and a tangentially directed inlet, (2) a first axially directed outlet, (3) a primary filter covering that outlet, (4) an air spreader, (5) a first feed passageway extending between the outlet and the spreader and (6) a secondary fine particle filter including multiple vortex chambers.