Waste receptacle and vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is described herein that uses an elongated design that provides the various vacuum components along nearly an entire length of the vacuum cleaner and in-line with one another. According to some embodiments, at least one waste receptacle, a filter structure, and a motor are each axially aligned with a longitudinal central axis of a body of the vacuum cleaner. An air suction inlet may also be arranged at a distal end of the body and axially aligned with the longitudinal central axis. In some examples, the body maintains a substantially constant diameter along its entire length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body having a longitudinal central axis and a substantially constant cross-sectional area along an entire length of the body extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   an air suction inlet at the distal end of the body;   a first waste receptacle within the body and adjacent to the distal end of the body;   a motor housed in the body between the first waste receptacle and the proximal end of the body; and   a second waste receptacle downstream from the first waste receptacle,   wherein each of the first waste receptacle, the air suction inlet, and the motor are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second waste receptacle is configured to collect smaller sized particles compared to the first waste receptable. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first waste receptable has a greater volume compared to the second waste receptable. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first section and a second section along its length, the vacuum cleaner comprising a hinge disposed within the body and configured to rotate the second section of the body about the hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the second section of the body is configured to rotate about the hinge such that the second section of the body is aligned substantially parallel to the first section of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the second waste receptacle is adjacent to the hinge within the body. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosed air passageway extending through the second waste receptacle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the handle includes a grip that intersects the longitudinal central axis of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising an air suction tube that extends through at least a portion of the first waste receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the air suction tube is axially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second waste receptacle is located between the first waste receptacle and the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the body is a cylindrical body having a substantially constant diameter along an entire length of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the entire length of the body is at least 75% of the entire length of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the entire length of the body is at least 90% of the entire length of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first waste receptacle includes a first housing section and a second housing section, and wherein the first housing section is arranged to move axially with respect to the second housing section. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the second housing section is coupled to the body. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the first housing section is designed to fit within the second housing section. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable nozzle assembly configured to be coupled to the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the vacuum cleaner along the longitudinal central axis of the body from the distal end to the proximal end is at least 2 feet.