Dirt cup latch mechanism for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A latch mechanism for selectively fastening a dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner having a locking recess. The latch mechanism can include a latch member having a portion that is selectively received in the locking recess and a latch actuator comprising a button. When the latch mechanism is actuated, the latch member is moved from a latched position in which the portion of the latch member is received within the locking recess to an unlatched position in which the portion of the latch member is removed from the locking recess, thereby allowing the dirt cup to be removed from the vacuum cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a main body having a locking recess;   a dirt cup removably mounted to the main body and having an outwardly-facing side wall; and   a latch mechanism carried by the dirt cup for selectively fastening the dirt cup to the main body and movable between a latched position in which the dirt cup is secured to the main body and an unlatched position in which the dirt cup can be removed from the main body, the latch mechanism comprising:
 a latch member movably mounted to the side wall of the dirt cup and having a lower end, an upper end, and a locking projection at the upper end that is selectively received by the locking recess; 
 a latch actuator operably coupled with the latch member and comprising a button; and 
 a spring biasing the upper end of the latch member into the locking recess on the main body and biasing the button upwardly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the latch member is slidably mounted to the side wall of the dirt cup. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the button projects from the latch member, between the upper and lower ends of the latch member. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the button and the spring are vertically arranged, with the button above the spring. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the latch member and the button are movable along a vertical axis, whereby downward movement of the button causes downward movement of the latch member. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the button projects orthogonally from the latch member, relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the latch actuator comprises a single button. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the latch actuator is carried on the latch member. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the button is constrained to vertical movement. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the button and the spring are vertically arranged, with the button above the spring. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , and further comprising a cover mounted to the dirt cup and at least partially enclosing the latch member, wherein the button is exterior of the cover. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dirt cup comprises a hand grip on the side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the hand grip comprises a cover that at least partially mounts and encloses the latch member and the latch actuator on the side wall of the dirt cup. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the cover comprises an aperture for receiving the button therein. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises a front wall and two opposing side walls, and wherein the aperture is provided in the front wall of the hand grip. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the spring comprises a single coil spring that is coupled between the latch member and the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the latch member is provided with a frame for receiving the coil spring. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the button and the frame are vertically arranged, with the button above the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , and further comprising a catch formed on the cover and fitted within a lower portion of the frame, with an upper end of the coil spring bounded by the upper end of the frame and a lower end of the coil spring bounded by the catch. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the spring is fixed in relation to the dirt cup and an upper end of the spring is bounded by a portion of the latch member.