Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus may include a cleaner body and a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body. The dust cup may be configured to pivot between at least three indexed positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a cleaner body having an inlet;   a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup being configured to selectively pivot between at least three indexed positions, wherein each indexed position is a position at which the dust cup is selectively retained, the at least three indexed positions including:
 a first position in which the dust cup is fluidly coupled to the inlet; 
 a second position in which the dust cup is fluidly decoupled from the inlet; and 
 a third position; 
   a dust cup biasing mechanism to urge the dust cup towards the second position; and   a stop biasing mechanism, wherein a force exerted by the dust cup biasing mechanism is insufficient to overcome a force exerted by the stop biasing mechanism, selectively retaining the dust cup in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a filter chamber removably coupled to the cleaner body. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the dust cup is pivotally coupled to the filter chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when the dust cup is in the third position, the dust cup is removable from the cleaner body. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a slidable stop configured to cooperate with the stop biasing mechanism to retain the dust cup in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the slidable stop is configured to slide in response to pivotal movement of the dust cup from the second position toward the third position. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a removal release pivotally coupled to the cleaner body, the removal release being configured to transition between a latching position and a releasing position, wherein, when the removal release is in the latching position, sliding movement of the slidable stop is substantially prevented. 
     
     
         8 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a cleaner body having a handle and an inlet;   a suction motor fluidly coupled to the inlet;   a premotor filter chamber removably coupled to the cleaner body and fluidly coupled to the suction motor; and   a dust cup coupled to the cleaner body, the dust cup being configured to selectively pivot between at least three indexed positions, wherein each indexed position is a position at which the dust cup is selectively retained, the at least three indexed positions including:
 a first position in which the dust cup is fluidly coupled to the inlet; 
 a second position in which the dust cup is fluidly decoupled from the inlet; and 
 a third position; 
   a dust cup biasing mechanism to urge the dust cup towards the second position; and   a stop biasing mechanism, wherein a force exerted by the dust cup biasing mechanism is insufficient to overcome a force exerted by the stop biasing mechanism, selectively retaining the dust cup in the second position.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein, when the dust cup is in the third position, the premotor filter chamber is removable from the cleaner body. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8  further comprising a slidable stop slidably coupled to the premotor filter chamber and configured to configured to cooperate with the stop biasing mechanism to retain the dust cup in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the slidable stop is configured to slide in response to pivotal movement of the dust cup from the second position toward the third position. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  further comprising a removal release pivotally coupled to the cleaner body, the removal release being configured to transition between a latching position and a releasing position, wherein, when the removal release is in the latching position, sliding movement of the slidable stop is substantially prevented. 
     
     
         13 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a cleaner body having a handle and an inlet, the inlet being opposite the handle along a longitudinal axis of the cleaner body;   a suction motor fluidly coupled to the inlet;   a premotor filter chamber removably coupled to the cleaner body and fluidly coupled to the suction motor; and   a dust cup fluidly coupled to the suction motor and pivotally coupled to the premotor filter chamber, the dust cup being configured to selectively pivot between at least three indexed positions, wherein each indexed position is a position at which the dust cup is selectively retained, the at least three indexed positions including:
 a first position in which the dust cup is fluidly coupled to the inlet; 
 a second position in which the dust cup is fluidly decoupled from the inlet; and 
 a third position; 
   a dust cup biasing mechanism to urge the dust cup towards the second position; and   a stop biasing mechanism, wherein a force exerted by the dust cup biasing mechanism is insufficient to overcome a force exerted by the stop biasing mechanism, selectively retaining the dust cup in the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein, when the dust cup is in the third position, the premotor filter chamber is removable from the cleaner body. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  further comprising a slidable stop slidably coupled to the premotor filter chamber and configured to configured to cooperate with the stop biasing mechanism to retain the dust cup in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the slidable stop is configured to slide in response to pivotal movement of the dust cup from the second position toward the third position. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  further comprising a removal release pivotally coupled to the cleaner body, the removal release being configured to transition between a latching position and a releasing position, wherein, when the removal release is in the latching position, sliding movement of the slidable stop is substantially prevented.