Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dirt container having a chamber with an upper opening, and a removable filter element. The filter element has an upper portion with an opening and a peripheral edge that engages an upper edge of the chamber. A filter portion extends from the upper portion, and a handle extends across the opening. The filter portion extends into the chamber when the filter element is mounted thereto. Also provided is an upright vacuum cleaner with a base unit, body unit , and dirt chamber removably mounted to the body unit. A combined filter and lid is mounted to the dirt chamber, and includes a filter member, and a mounting ring extending from the filter member to a sidewall of the dirt chamber to hold the filtration device at a fixed location away from the chamber sidewall. Also provided is a cyclone lid having an annular wall, filter, and handle.

Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational caroming structure.

Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational camming structure.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a floor engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted on the base unit, and a dirt chamber removably mounted to the body unit. A filtration device is removably mounted to the dirt chamber, and includes a first member projecting into the dirt chamber and being adapted to allow air to pass therethrough and remove particles from the airflow, and a second member extending from the first member to a sidewall of the dirt chamber to hold the filtration device at a fixed vertical location within the dirt chamber.

Abstract: An upright suction cleaner having a base, a body pivotally mounted on the base, a suction device, and a dirt separation system. The dirt separation system has a first and second dirt separators. the first of which may include an air-pervious shroud having a plate extending from it. An airflow path extends from the base, through the separation system, and into the suction device. A dirt collecting system is mountable to the body, and includes a first chamber to receive dirt separated by the first dirt separator, and a second chamber to receive dirt separated by the second dirt separator. The chambers are adjacent one another when mounted to the body. A tube forming part of the airflow path between the dirt separation system and the suction device is selectively mountable adjacent the dirt collecting system. An elevator assembly is provided to attach the dirt collecting system to the body.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit, a suction generating device, and first and second dirt separation members. The first dirt separation chamber includes an inlet to receive airflow from the base unit, an outlet, a filter between the inlet and outlet, and a collection chamber having a bottom disposed below the first filter and a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom. The filter has a surface extending in a first direction, and the surface is adapted to pass the airflow radially therethrough. The second dirt separation member includes a cyclone body, an inlet to receive airflow from the first chamber outlet, and an outlet to convey airflow to the suction generating device. This outlet includes a cyclone outlet tube located within and at a first end of the cyclone body and extending in a second direction. A dirt outlet is located opposite the first end of the cyclone body. Another collection chamber is connected to the dirt outlet.

Abstract: An agitator assembly having a spindle having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. One or more primary agitators are attached to the spindle between the first end and the second end, and edge agitators are attached in a generally circumferential pattern around the spindle's first end. In one aspect, the edge agitators may be arranged at different inclination angles. In another aspect, the edge agitators may be attached on offset circumferential lines. In another aspect, at least one of the edge agitators is more flexible than a primary agitator. In another aspect, the first end has an edge cleaning assembly that is attached to the spindle and rotationally fixed relative thereto by one or more rotationally interlocking structures formed integrally with the edge cleaning assembly. Also provided is a cleaner having a housing and a spindle, with a window through the housing to view the first end of the spindle and substantially no other parts of the spindle.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a. first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure. to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed.

Abstract: A method for cleaning surfaces having the steps of depositing a cleaning fluid onto the surface from a cleaning fluid reservoir on a wet extractor, contacting the surface with a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner, applying ultrasonic vibrations to the surface using the hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner to help release soil form the surface, and removing the cleaning fluid and soil using the wet extractor. A wet extractor having an ultrasonic cleaning component is also provided. Further provided is a combined cleaning system having a cleaning device and a hand-held ultrasonic spot cleaner. The cleaning device has a dirt receptacle, a nozzle adapted to be positioned adjacent a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum source adapted to generate a working air flow from the nozzle to the dirt receptacle.

Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational camming structure.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure, to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner for cleaning several floor types. The vacuum cleaner includes a rotational brush roll for interfacing with the several floor types, a multi-speed motor for driving the brush roll, a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of the multi-speed motor, and an input mechanism whereby a user selects a speed of the multi-speed motor. Further, the input mechanism is associated with at least three different speed settings.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure, to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure, to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed.