Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum including a suction inlet and a suction source. The vacuum also includes a dirt cup in fluid communication with the suction inlet and the suction source. The dirt cup includes a first stage cyclonic separator and a dirt collection chamber. A housing of the dirt cup includes a first end, a second end, and a neck region between the first end and the second end. The housing has an outer dimension that decreases in a direction from the first end toward the neck region and an outer dimension that decreases in a direction from the second end toward the neck region. The dirt cup includes a shroud within the housing, and the shroud includes a flange that divides the housing at the neck region. The dirt collection chamber and at least a portion of the shroud are between the second end of the housing and the flange.

1 . A vacuum comprising:
 a suction inlet;   a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet, the suction source including a motor and a fan;   a dirt cup in fluid communication with the suction inlet and the suction source, the dirt cup including
 a first stage cyclonic separator, 
 a dirt collection chamber, 
 a housing having a first end, a second end, and a neck region between the first end and the second end, the housing having an outer dimension that decreases in a direction from the first end toward the neck region and an outer dimension that decreases in a direction from the second end toward the neck region, 
 a shroud within the housing, the shroud including a flange dividing the housing at the neck region, wherein the dirt collection chamber and at least a portion of the shroud are between the second end of the housing and the flange, 
 wherein the flange inhibits air flow along the housing at the neck region between the first end and the second end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the housing forms an hourglass shape. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is transparent or translucent, and the dirt cup further comprising a decorative panel visible through the housing between the first end and the flange. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , further comprising a second stage cyclonic separator, wherein at least a portion of the second stage cyclonic separator is between the first end of the housing and the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum of  claim 4 , the second stage cyclonic separator further comprising one or more cyclones, each cyclone defining a perimeter and having an inlet being substantially tangential to the perimeter of the corresponding cyclone. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud is positioned in the first stage cyclonic separator and includes a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum of  claim 9 , wherein the flange includes a seal that seals against the housing at the neck region. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum of  claim 7 , wherein the flange includes a first flange member and a second flange member, the seal positioned between the first flange member and the second flange member. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the flange seals against the housing at the neck region. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an upper portion disposed between the first end and the flange and a lower portion disposed between the second end and the flange, wherein the flange inhibits air flow along the housing at the neck region between the upper portion and the lower portion.