Dirt collector for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dirt collector that includes a housing and an air-permeable filter media extending from the housing such that the filter media and housing at least partially define a collection volume. The housing has an inlet opening in fluid communication with the volume and at least a portion of the housing is transmissive of infrared radiation

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dirt collector comprising:
 a housing; and   an air-permeable filter media extending from the housing such that the filter media and housing at least partially define a collection volume;   the housing having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the volume;   wherein at least a portion of the housing is transmissive of infrared radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The dirt collector according to  claim 1 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 750 and 3000 nanometer (nm). 
     
     
         3 . The dirt collector according to  claim 2 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation has a percent transmission of infrared radiation of greater than or equal to 50%. 
     
     
         4 . The dirt collector according to  claim 2 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 800 and 1000 nanometer (nm). 
     
     
         5 . The dirt collector according to  claim 1 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation is a window in the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The dirt collector according to  claim 1 , where the housing is formed of polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         7 . The dirt collector according to  claim 1 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation has a thickness in a range from 1 to 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The dirt collector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second housing, wherein the housing, the second housing, and the filter media define the collection volume. 
     
     
         9 . The dirt collector according to  claim 8 , where the second housing is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 750 and 3000 nanometer (nm). 
     
     
         10 . A dirt collector comprising:
 a housing; and   an air-permeable filter media extending from the housing such that the filter media and the housing at least partially define a collection volume;   the housing having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the volume;   wherein at least a portion of the housing is translucent or transparent.   
     
     
         11 . The dirt collector according to  claim 10 , where at least a portion of the translucent or transparent housing is transmissive of infrared radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The dirt collector according to  claim 11 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 750 and 3000 nanometer (nm). 
     
     
         13 . The dirt collector according to  claim 12 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation has a percent transmission of infrared radiation of greater than or equal to 50%. 
     
     
         14 . The dirt collector according to  claim 12 , where the portion of the housing transmissive of infrared radiation is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 800 and 1000 nanometer (nm). 
     
     
         15 . The dirt collector according to  claim 10 , where the housing is formed of polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         16 . The dirt collector according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second housing, wherein the housing, the second housing, and the filter media define the collection volume. 
     
     
         17 . The dirt collector according to  claim 16 , where the second housing is transmissive of infrared radiation of a wavelength between 750 and 3000 nanometer (nm).