Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a suction motor for moving incoming airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet, a primary dirt separator for separating dirt from the incoming airflow and a bin assembly for collecting the separated dirt. The bin assembly comprises a bin body having an open end and surrounding the primary dirt separator, a bin base covering the open end, and a nozzle through the bin base defining a nozzle axis. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a bin base actuator for opening the bin base, a compaction plate 302 arranged to compact the dirt within the bin body, and a compaction handle 303 operatively coupled to the compaction plate to cause the compaction plate to move to compact dirt against the bin base. The compaction handle 303 comprises a base 331 and a pop-up handle 332. Preferably, the handle 332 is pivotally mounted to the base and is movable between a rest position flush with the base and an active position in which the handle extends at an angle of about 100 degrees from the base 331. The compaction handle 303 may slide relative to the bin assembly to cause movement of the compaction plate 302. [Use figures 53 & 56B]