Vacuum Cleaner Cleanout System

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having an inlet nozzle, a dirt collection chamber having a chamber opening, and a lid adapted to selectively close the chamber opening. The lid includes a lid passage that extends between a lid inlet and a lid outlet, and the lid outlet is in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber. A dirty air inlet passage is fluidly connected between the inlet nozzle and the lid inlet. A fan is provided and adapted to convey dirty air into the inlet nozzle, through the dirty air inlet passage, through the lid passage, and into the dirt collection chamber. The lid passage includes a removable portion that can be removed to expose at least a portion of the lid passage to allow removal of obstructions from the lid passage. The vacuum may have a plug recess to hold a power cord plug while it powers the vacuum.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an inlet nozzle;   a dirt collection chamber having a chamber opening;   a lid adapted to selectively close the chamber opening, the lid comprising a lid passage extending between a lid inlet and a lid outlet, the lid outlet being in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber;   a dirty air inlet passage fluidly connected between the inlet nozzle and the lid inlet;   a fan adapted to convey dirty air into the inlet nozzle, through the dirty air inlet passage, through the lid passage, and into the dirt collection chamber;   wherein the lid passage comprises a removable lid passage portion that can be removed to expose at least a portion of the lid passage to allow removal of obstructions from the lid passage.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accessory inlet nozzle; and   an accessory valve having a first position in which the inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber and the accessory inlet nozzle is not in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber, and a second position in which the accessory inlet nozzle is in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber and the inlet nozzle is not in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber;   wherein the fan is further adapted to convey dirty air into the accessory inlet nozzle, and into the dirt collection chamber.   
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber comprises a cyclone separator. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection chamber comprises a bag chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the lid outlet comprises a bag attachment tube adapted to enter a filter bag inlet. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dirt collection chamber comprises a rigid chamber;   the dirty air inlet passage comprises a rigid tube located adjacent the dirt collection chamber, the rigid tube having a tube outlet adjacent the chamber opening; and   the lid is adapted to simultaneously cover the chamber opening and the tube outlet and thereby place the lid inlet in fluid communication with the tube outlet and the lid outlet in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber.   
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is adapted to convey dirty air into the dirt collection chamber under positive pressure. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is adapted to convey dirty air into the dirt collection chamber under negative pressure. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the removable lid passage portion is pivotally mounted to the lid. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the lid passage comprises a first tube portion and a second tube portion that fit together to form a generally rounded tube, the second tube portion comprising the removable lid passage portion. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the removable lid passage portion is pivotally mounted to the lid. 
   
   
       14 . An upright vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an inlet nozzle;   a dirt collection chamber having a chamber opening;   a lid adapted to selectively close the chamber opening, the lid comprising a lid passage extending between a lid inlet and a lid outlet, the lid outlet being in fluid communication with the dirt collection chamber;   a dirty air inlet passage fluidly connected between the inlet nozzle and the lid inlet;   a fan adapted to convey dirty air into the inlet nozzle, through the dirty air inlet passage, through the lid passage, and into the dirt collection chamber;   wherein the lid passage comprises a removable lid passage portion that can be removed to expose at least a portion of the lid passage to allow removal of obstructions from the lid passage.   
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the removable lid passage portion is pivotally mounted to the lid. 
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , further comprising a movable cord hook attached to a vacuum cleaner surface, wherein the movable cord hook is selectively movable to a first position in which the movable cord hook is generally flush with the vacuum cleaner surface, and a second position in which the movable cord hook protrudes from the vacuum cleaner surface and can receive and retain a looped power cord. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the movable cord hook is adapted to support the vacuum cleaner for lifting when it is in the second position. 
   
   
       19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an inlet nozzle;   a dirt collection chamber;   a dirty air inlet passage fluidly connected between the inlet nozzle and the dirt collection chamber;   a fan adapted to convey dirty air into the inlet nozzle, through the dirty air inlet passage, and into the dirt collection chamber;   a power cord adapted to provide electrical power to the vacuum cleaner, the power cord terminating at a power cord plug;   a plug recess formed in a surface of the vacuum cleaner and adapted to hold the power cord plug while the power cord plug is providing electrical power to the vacuum cleaner.   
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a lid adapted to selectively close the dirt collection chamber, the lid comprising a lid passage extending between the inlet nozzle and the dirt collection chamber;   wherein the lid passage comprises a removable lid passage portion that can be removed to expose at least a portion of the lid passage to allow removal of obstructions from the lid passage.