Vacuum device

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, an inlet defining an opening through which debris is provided into the housing, a cyclone chamber configured to receive the debris from the inlet, the cyclone chamber being annular, defining a central opening and a debris opening positioned radially outward of the central opening. The vacuum cleaner includes a dust collection chamber configured to receive the debris from the cyclone chamber via the debris opening, a suction motor assembly positioned within the housing and configured to generate an airflow through the inlet and the cyclone chamber, and an airflow passage extending from the central opening of the cyclone chamber to the suction motor assembly. The suction motor assembly draws the airflow from the cyclone chamber through the airflow passage. The airflow passage extends downward from the cyclone chamber and into an interior of the dust collection chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a housing defining a longitudinal axis;   an inlet defining an opening through which debris is provided into the housing;   a cyclone chamber configured to receive the debris from the inlet, the cyclone chamber being annular, defining a central opening and a debris opening positioned radially outward of the central opening;   a dust collection chamber configured to receive the debris from the cyclone chamber via the debris opening;   a suction motor assembly positioned within the housing and configured to generate an airflow through the inlet and the cyclone chamber; and   an airflow passage extending from the central opening of the cyclone chamber to the suction motor assembly, wherein the suction motor assembly is configured to draw the airflow from the cyclone chamber through the airflow passage, and wherein the airflow passage extends downward from the cyclone chamber and into an interior of the dust collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator plate positioned within the housing to separate the cyclone chamber from the dust collection chamber, wherein the debris opening is formed within the separator plate, and wherein the airflow passage passes through the separator plate. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the separator plate is movable relative to the housing to provide access to an interior of the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet is located external to a remainder of the housing, the vacuum cleaner further comprising an internal inlet channel located within the housing and extending between the inlet and the cyclone chamber, wherein the separator plate is movable relative to the housing to provide access to an interior of the internal inlet channel. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow passage extends downward and then rearward from the central opening to the suction motor assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-motor filter positioned within the airflow passage and arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing such that the airflow through the pre-motor filter, perpendicular to a plane of the pre-motor filter, is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow passage is located centrally within the dust collection chamber such that the dust collection chamber extends to either widthwise side of the airflow passage. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the airflow passage is integrally formed as a single component with the dust collection chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dust collection chamber is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to an open position to permit emptying of the dust collection chamber, wherein at least a portion of the airflow passage is movable with the dust collection chamber between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a grate positioned at the central opening and configured to prevent large debris within the cyclone chamber from entering the airflow passage. 
     
     
         11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a housing defining a longitudinal axis;   an inlet located external to a remainder of the housing, the inlet defining an opening through which debris is provided into the housing, the inlet extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;   a cyclone chamber configured to receive the debris from the inlet, the cyclone chamber being annular, defining a central opening and a debris opening positioned radially outward of the central opening;   an internal inlet channel located wholly within the housing and extending between the inlet and the cyclone chamber,   a dust collection chamber configured to receive the debris from the cyclone chamber via the debris opening;   a suction motor assembly positioned within the housing and configured to generate an airflow through the inlet, the internal inlet channel, and the cyclone chamber;   an airflow passage extending from the central opening of the cyclone chamber to the suction motor assembly, wherein the suction motor assembly is configured to draw airflow from the cyclone chamber through the airflow passage, and   a separator plate positioned within the housing to separate the cyclone chamber from the dust collection chamber, wherein the debris opening is formed within the separator plate, and wherein the separator plate is movable relative to the housing to provide access to an interior of the cyclone chamber and an interior of the internal inlet channel.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the separator plate defines a lower surface of at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and at least a portion of the internal inlet channel. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the separator plate is rotatable about a hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the dust collection chamber is movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the separator plate is accessible for movement relative to the housing when the dust collection chamber is in the open position. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one adjustment mechanism that selectively holds the separator plate in a use position and is rotatable away from the separator plate to allow the separator plate to be opened. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the internal inlet channel is non-linear and deviates from the longitudinal axis of the housing such that the airflow is introduced tangentially to the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a housing defining a longitudinal axis;   an inlet located external to a remainder of the housing, the inlet defining an opening through which debris is provided into the housing;   a cyclone chamber configured to receive the debris from the inlet, the cyclone chamber being annular, defining a central opening and a debris opening positioned radially outward of the central opening;   a dust collection chamber configured to receive the debris from the cyclone chamber via the debris opening;   a suction motor assembly positioned within the housing and configured to generate an airflow through the inlet and the cyclone chamber; and   an airflow passage extending from the central opening of the cyclone chamber to the suction motor assembly, wherein the suction motor assembly is configured to draw the airflow from the cyclone chamber through the airflow passage,   wherein the housing defines a hinge pin extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,   wherein the dust collection chamber defines an L-shaped bracket that extends over and around the hinge pin such that the dust collection chamber is rotatable about an axis of the hinge pin between a closed position and an open position, and   wherein the L-shaped bracket is removable from the hinge pin when the dust collection chamber is in the open position such that the dust collection chamber is removable from the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the L-shaped bracket of the dust collection chamber is not removable from the hinge pin in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein a majority of the hinge pin is visible and external to a remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , further comprising a latch assembly configured to secure the dust collection chamber in the closed position, the latch assembly including a handle, a latch arm, and a catch plate, wherein the handle is a user engagement member that is coupled to the dust collection chamber and is rotatable relative to the dust collection chamber, wherein the latch arm is a bar shaped as an inverted-U engaged with the handle, and wherein the catch plate defines a hook supported by the housing that is engageable by the latch arm when the latch assembly secures the dust collection chamber to the housing in the closed position. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a light configured to illuminate a surface to be cleaned by the vacuum cleaner, wherein the light includes a plurality of light emitting diodes or a plurality of fiber optic cables. 
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the suction motor assembly includes a motor, an impeller blade, and a foam sleeve positioned around the motor to decrease blade pass frequency peaks generated by a speed and a blade count of the impeller blade. 
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is adjustable relative to the housing such that the orientation of a distal end of the inlet is rotatable relative to the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the housing includes an attachment structure for attaching to components having a mating attachment structure.