Dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

This invention relates to a dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner, and in particular to a dirt-collection chamber which is removable whereby the collected dirt and debris can easily be disposed of. The dirt-collection chamber has an inlet opening through which air may enter the chamber, an outlet opening through which air may leave the chamber, and a disposal opening through which collected dirt and debris can be removed. The disposal opening has an openable cover which is held closed by a latch mechanism. There is a dirt-removal panel in the chamber which is movable towards and away from the disposal opening. The dirt-removal panel is movable by way of an operating handle and the operating handle is connected to an actuator for remotely releasing the latch mechanism.

Description

[0001] DIRT-COLLECTION CHAMBER FOR A VACUUM CLEANER

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to a dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner, and in particular to a dirt-collection chamber which is removable whereby the collected dirt and debris can easily be disposed of.

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] Vacuum cleaners have a motor which typically drives an impeller to create a flow of air. The suction head of the vacuum cleaner has an opening in its bottom wall through which air can enter, the air carrying dirt and debris into the suction head. It is arranged that the air transports the dirt and debris by way of one or more airflow ducts within the suction head. The dirt and debris is transported through the duct(s) to a dirt-collection chamber. The air then passes through one or more filters before leaving the vacuum cleaner, the filters being arranged to trap the dirt and debris within the dirt-collection chamber for subsequent disposal.

[0006] The dirt-collection chamber can contain or comprise a disposable bag, the wall of the bag also acting as a filter. Alternatively, the dirt-collection chamber is a receptacle which can be removed from the vacuum cleaner, emptied, and reinstalled into the vacuum cleaner for re-use. The present invention relates to this alternative type of dirt-collection chamber.

[0007] Many vacuum cleaners are mains powered. Most domestic mains-powered vacuum cleaners fall into two broad classes. The first class is often referred to as cylinder vacuum cleaners. In cylinder vacuum cleaners the suction head is connected to an operating handle which in turn is connected to a flexible hose through which the dirt and debris pass on their way to the dirt-collection chamber. The dirt-collection chamber is located within a body which is separate from the suction head and which also contains the motor, the body usually having wheels or slides by which it may be pulled across the floor during the cleaning operation.

[0008] The second class is often referred to as upright vacuum cleaners. In upright vacuum cleaners the motor and dirt-collection chamber are carried by, or in some cases are integral with, the operating handle, so that the body containing the motor and the dirt-collection chamber typically lie above the suction head during the cleaning operation.

[0009] Battery-powered vacuum cleaners are also known, and may adopt a somewhat different approach with the battery, motor, impeller and dirt-collection chamber all located in the suction head. The operating handle connected to the suction head is therefore used solely for manoeuvring the suction head across the floor being cleaned. A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is described in our patent application WO 2012 / 085567.

[0010] The vacuum cleaner of WO 2012 / 085567 has a dirt-collection chamber which can be removed from the suction head and transported to a bin or the like where the collected dirt and debris is disposed of. The filter is located within the cover or lid of the dirt-collection chamber and is removed with the dirt-collection chamber. The lid including the filter can be opened at the disposal site to allow the chamber to be emptied.

[0011] Cyclonic dirt-collection chambers are known. They often have an outer cavity for fibrous dirt and an inner cavity for fine dirt and dust. The air and fine dirt and dust passes from the outer cavity to the inner cavity by way of a perforated shroud. The lid of a cyclonic dirt-collection chamber can be at an end of the chamber and it is often possible to position that end of the chamber into the mouth of a larger receptacle such as a kitchen bin or the like before the lid is opened, whereby to seek to minimise the likelihood that any of the collected dirt and debris will be spilled. A first known (and common) problem with cyclonic dirt-collection chambers is that dirt and debris becomes trapped between the perforated shroud and the wall(s) of the outer cavity. It is not uncommon for the user to have to break up compressed dirt and debris in order to release it from the outer cavity and it is not desirable for the user to use his or her fingers to pull out trapped debris.

[0012] A second known (and also common) problem with cyclonic dirt-collection chambers results from the separation of the fine dust from the fibrous debris. On emptying into a receptacle such as a kitchen bin, the denser fine dust typically falls into the receptacle first. At least some of the fine dust will become airborne, and care needs to be taken to seek to ensure that the airborne dust remains within the receptacle. Even so, however, when the fibrous debris subsequently falls into the receptacle it can displace at least some of the airborne dust and cause it to escape from the receptacle into the surrounding environment, which is clearly undesirable. If, as is common, the user has to shake the dirt-collection chamber to release the fibrous debris from the outer cavity, the likelihood of airborne dust escaping the receptacle can be exacerbated.

[0013] A third known problem with cyclonic dirt-collection chambers is their space efficiency. As the fibrous debris spins around the outer cavity it becomes relatively aerated. In addition, if the collected dirt fills too much of the chamber it will block the perforations in the shroud and become even harder to remove. In order to minimise this problem, manufacturers provide transparent dirt-collection chambers and provide a “max. fill” marking which the user is expected to observe, and to empty the chamber when the collected dirt reaches that level. It is often remarkable how little dirt is collected in even large cyclonic dirt-collection chambers before the “max. fill” level is reached.

[0014] One of the design intentions of WO 2012 / 085567 is to utilise the airflow to compress the dust and debris into “bales” in the dirt-collection chamber and to make the bales easy to remove when the lid of the dirt-collection chamber is opened. Because the fibrous debris and fine dust are combined in the bales the likelihood of airborne dust being created during emptying is significantly reduced. The production embodiments are particularly successful in achieving these aims, but the user is nevertheless somewhat exposed to the dirt while emptying. Also, the production embodiments have a relatively large lid and a correspondingly large opening through which the bales are emptied; the receptacle into which the chamber is emptied must therefore have a reasonably large mouth into which the dirt-collection chamber can be positioned during emptying.

[0015] WO2017 / 144918 also utilises a dirt-collection chamber in which the fibrous debris and fine dust are combined and collected together, and shares the benefits which that arrangement provides. In addition, a movable dirt-removal panel is located in the dirt-collection chamber and is connected to an operating handle located outside the dirt-collection chamber. The user can move the dirt-removal panel by way of the operating handle to push the collected dirt and debris out through the disposal opening. The dirt-removal panel reduces the likelihood of the user needing to contact the collected dirt and debris, and in particular to insert fingers to dislodge collected dirt and debris, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of fine dust becoming airborne.

[0016] Despite the commercial success of production embodiments of WO 2017 / 144918, the inventors have realised that it is desirable to further reduce the user’s contact with the dirt-collection chamber when the chamber is being emptied. In particular, it is appreciated that some fine dirt and dust will, over time, collect around the dirtcollection chamber of a vacuum cleaner of even the most diligent of users, particularly around the disposal opening and also around the latch which holds the cover closed. Contacting dirty areas of the dirt-collection chamber can cause dirt and dust to be transferred to the user’s hands. This can be unpleasant and unhygienic and can also result in the dirt and dust being transferred to other (clean) surfaces. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] It is an object of the invention to provide a dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner which further reduces the requirement for the user to touch and / or hold parts of the dirt-collection chamber, in particular during the emptying procedure.

[0018] It is another object of the invention to maintain the benefits of the arrangement of WO 2017 / 144918 in collecting the fibrous debris and fine dust together, and disposing of the collected dirt and debris through a disposal opening by way of a dirt-removal panel.

[0019] Whilst the invention has particular utility for a battery-powered vacuum cleaner it is not limited to such use.

[0020] According to the invention there is provided a dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner, the dirt-collection chamber having an inlet opening through which air may enter the chamber and an outlet opening through which air may leave the chamber, the dirt-collection chamber also having a disposal opening with an openable cover, the cover being held closed by a latch mechanism, a dirt-removal panel in the chamber which is movable towards and away from the disposal opening, the dirtremoval panel being movable by way of an operating handle, the operating handle being connected to an actuator for releasing the latch mechanism.

[0021] Accordingly, in addition to enabling a user to move the dirt-removal panel without touching the panel, the operating handle enables the user to release the latch mechanism to open the cover without touching the latch mechanism or the cover. The user can thereby hold the dirt-collection chamber and can manipulate the operating handle to open the cover and to push the collected dirt and debris out through the disposal opening with the minimum of contact with the dirt-collection chamber, and in particular with little or no contact adjacent to the disposal opening.

[0022] Preferably, the operating handle is connected directly to the actuator whereby movement of the operating handle is communicated directly to the actuator. The indirect connection of the operating handle to the actuator by way of linkages and / or other components is nevertheless not excluded, but the direct connection of the operating handle and the actuator reduces the mechanical complexity of the dirtcollection chamber.

[0023] Preferably, the operating handle is directly connected to the dirt-removal panel whereby movement of the operating handle is communicated directly to the operating handle and the operating handle and dirt-removal panel move together towards and away from the disposal opening during the emptying procedure. The direct connection of the operating handle and the dirt-removal panel also reduces the mechanical complexity of the dirt-collection chamber.

[0024] Preferably, and in common with WO2017 / 144918, the dirt-collection chamber is substantially tubular with a first end and a second end, and with the disposal opening at its second end. The dirt-removal panel is preferably movable between a rest position adjacent to the first end and an emptying position adjacent to the second end. The operating handle is preferably similarly movable between a first position adjacent to the first end and a second position adjacent to the second end. It is arranged that when the operating handle is in its first position the dirt-removal panel is in its rest position (and the vacuum cleaner can be used to collect dirt and debris). It is also arranged that when the operating handle is in its second position the dirt-removal panel is in its emptying position (adjacent to the disposal opening).

[0025] Desirably, the operating handle has a releasing position at which the latch is released. Preferably, the releasing position is between the first position and the second position. Accordingly, as the operating handle is moved from its first position to its second position the operating handle passes the releasing position and releases the latch mechanism. Releasing of the latch mechanism is therefore substantially automatic and no special movement of the operating handle or associated componentry is required to release the latch mechanism.

[0026] Desirably, the releasing position is closer to the first position than to the second position, preferably much closer, and ideally very close to the first position. Accordingly, the latch mechanism is released and the cover of the dirt-collection chamber can open, substantially coincident with the commencement of movement of the dirt-removal panel, whereby collected dirt and debris is more-or-less immediately pushed out of the dirt-collection chamber rather than becoming (partially) compressed before the cover opens.

[0027] In common with WO 2017 / 144918, the dirt-collection chamber is removable from the body or suction head of the vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, the user can remove a full dirt-collection chamber and take the dirt-collection chamber to a location where the collected dirt-and debris can be emptied. Also in common with WO 2017 / 144918, it can be arranged that the dirt-collection chamber can only be installed into the vacuum cleaner if the dirt-removal panel is in its rest position, so that it is not possible to use the vacuum cleaner in a way in which dirt and debris can collect “behind” the dirt-removal panel.

[0028] Preferably, the cover is resiliently-biassed to an open position. Whilst it is possible for the cover to be opened by gravity, i.e. with the user tipping the dirt-collection chamber in order to open the cover during the emptying procedure, it is preferred for the cover to be biassed open when the latch is released as this provides a more positive step in the emptying procedure. Preferably, the cover is pivotably mounted by a hinge. Desirably, the spring bias is provided by a torsion spring, the torsion spring ideally being mounted at or adjacent to the hinge.

[0029] Preferably, the cover pivots through at least 90° during its opening movement, and desirably through approximately 120°. It will be understood that the spring-biased opening movement of the cover is preferable to gravity-based opening for example, as it can ensure that the cover is opened fully rather than only partially. An opening movement of at least 90° will in particular reduce the likelihood that any of the collected dirt and debris will engage the cover as it is being emptied.

[0030] Preferably, the latch mechanism includes a latch member which engages a part of the cover to hold the cover in a closed position. Preferably also, the latch mechanism includes a latch rod. Desirably, the latch rod connects the latch member at the second end of the dirt-collection chamber to a latch element at the first end of the dirt-collection chamber. The latch rod enables the latch member to be actuated somewhat remotely, and in particular by way of the latch element at or adjacent to the first end of the dirt-collection chamber. The actuator can therefore be configured to engage and move the latch element at the first end of the dirtcollection chamber, which movement is transmitted by the latch rod to release the latch member at the second end of the dirt-collection chamber.

[0031] Preferably, the dirt-removal panel is slidably mounted to a rail; ideally the rail defines an edge of the inlet opening of the dirt-collection chamber. Desirably, the dirt-removal panel is connected to a slider which is slidably mounted to the rail. Desirably also, the operating handle is connected to the slider whereby the slider provides a common mounting for the dirt-removal panel and the operating handle.

[0032] The actuator is preferably movable between an actuating position and a nonactuating position. Desirably, the actuator is rotatable or pivotable between its actuating position and its non-actuating position. A movable actuator is beneficial because it enables the actuator to selectively engage and move the latch element. In particular, the actuator can engage and move the latch element (and release the latch mechanism) when the operating handle is moving from its first position to its second position. However, when the operating handle is moving back to its first position the actuator can move to a non-actuating position and pass the latch element without releasing the latch mechanism.

[0033] Preferably, the actuator is mounted to the slider whereby the slider provides a common mounting for the dirt-removal panel, the operating handle and the actuator.

[0034] Preferably, the actuator is non-circular. Desirably, the actuator has a projecting edge which can engage a ledge. It can be arranged that when the actuator is moving in the direction from the first end to the second end the projecting edge engages the ledge to maintain the actuator in its actuating position, whereby the actuator can engage and move the latch element. On the other hand, when the actuator is moving in the direction from the second end to the first end the actuator can rotate to its non-actuating position in which the projecting edge does not engage the ledge, whereby the actuator can pass the latch element without moving the latch element. The ledge is preferably a part of the slider.

[0035] Preferably, the latch mechanism includes a resilient biasing element which biases the latch member to a position in which it can hold the cover closed. Desirably, the resilient biasing element engages the latch rod. Accordingly, the resilient biasing element does not need to be connected directly to the latch member but can instead be connected indirectly to the latch member by way of the latch rod. It can thereby be arranged that the resilient biasing element of the latch mechanism is located away from the disposal opening at the second end of the dirt-collection chamber, and can if desired be located close to the first end. The number and complexity of components which are located at the disposal opening can thereby be minimised. Since the region around the disposal opening is where the majority of dust and dirt will inadvertently be deposited, minimising the number and complexity of components in that region will better enable a user to keep that region clean, and will likely make the proper operation of the latch mechanism more reliable.

[0036] In common with WO 2017 / 144918, the dirt-collection chamber can have a filter between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, or downstream of the dirtcollection chamber, as desired.

[0037] Desirably, the inlet opening extends from adjacent to the first end to adjacent to the second end. In common with the dirt-collection chambers of prior art vacuum cleaners, the dirt-collection chamber of the present invention is configured to be oriented across the body or suction head of the vacuum cleaner, and ideally close to a rotatable brush. The dirt-collection chamber ideally spans substantially the full width of the body or suction head and the inlet opening similarly spans substantially the full width. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] Fig .1 shows a first perspective view of a dirt-collection chamber according to the present invention, with the cover closed;

[0040] Fig.2 shows a second perspective view of the dirt-collection chamber of Fig.1 , with the cover open;

[0041] Fig.3 shows a perspective view from the rear of part of the dirt-collection chamber of Figs. 1 and 2, with the dirt-removal panel in the rest position;

[0042] Fig.4 shows a slightly enlarged rear view of a part of the dirt-collection chamber of Fig.3;

[0043] Fig.5 shows a perspective view from the rear of part of the dirt-collection chamber of Figs. 1 and 2, with the actuator in the releasing position;

[0044] Fig.6 shows a slightly enlarged rear view of a part of the dirt-collection chamber of Fig.5;

[0045] Fig.7 shows a perspective view from the rear of part of the dirt-collection chamber of Figs. 1 and 2, with the dirt-removal panel in the emptying position;

[0046] Fig.8 shows a perspective view from the rear of part of the dirt-collection chamber of Figs. 1 and 2, with the actuator in its non-actuating position;

[0047] Fig.9 shows a slightly enlarged rear view of a part of the dirt-collection chamber of Fig.8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figs. 1 and 2 show a dirt-collection chamber 10 of a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner is not shown in these drawings since the type of vacuum cleaner, and the detailed structure, are not relevant to the present invention.

[0049] The only relevant feature of the vacuum cleaner is that it has a removable dirtcollection chamber 10. Accordingly, and in common with known designs of vacuum cleaner, and in particular with the vacuum cleaner which is described in WO 2017 / 144918, the dirt-collection chamber 10 is removable from the body or suction head of the vacuum cleaner and can be carried to a chosen emptying location. Also in common with known designs, the dirt-collection chamber has an inlet opening 12 through which dirt and debris can pass into the dirt-collection chamber in use, and an outlet opening (not seen) through which air can pass. A filter (also not seen) is located at the outlet opening to trap dirt and debris in the dirt-collection chamber 10, in known fashion.

[0050] The dirt-collection chamber 10 has a disposal opening 14 (Fig.2) with an openable cover 16. The cover is shown in its closed position in Fig.1 and in its open position in Fig.2. The cover 16 is mounted by way of a hinge 18 which carries a torsion spring 20. The spring 20 biases the cover 16 to the open position of Fig.2 and it will be seen that in this embodiment the cover 16 pivots through an angle of approximately 120° between its closed position and its open position. The open cover 16 thereby presents little or no obstacle to dirt and debris passing out of the dirt-collection chamber 10, and the likelihood of any dirt and debris inadvertently engaging the cover 16 as it is being emptied is reduced.

[0051] The cover 16 is held closed (against the bias of the spring 20) by a latch member 22. The latch member 22 is movable between a holding position as shown in Fig.3 and a releasing position as shown in Fig.5. When the cover 16 is closed and the latch member 22 is in its holding position a part of the latch member overlies a part of the cover. The cooperating parts of the latch member 22 and cover 16 are not clearly shown in the drawings and their detail is incidental to the invention. Alternatively stated, it will be understood that the cooperating parts of the latch member 22 and cover 16 can take many different detailed forms without departing from the invention.

[0052] Fig.2 also shows the dirt-removal panel 24 and operating handle 26 of the dirtcollection chamber 10. As better seen in the more-detailed view of Fig.7, the dirtremoval panel 24 is mounted to a slider 30 and the slider is slidably mounted to a rail 32 which runs along the top of the inlet 12 and in this embodiment defines the top of the inlet 12.

[0053] Part of the rail 32 is also visible in Figs. 1 and 2. In this embodiment the operating handle 26 is also mounted directly to the slider 30. The operating handle is accessible when the dirt-collection chamber 10 has been removed from the remainder of the vacuum cleaner as in Figs. 1 and 2, and the user can move the operating handle 26 whereby to move the slider 30 along the rail 32.

[0054] Fig .1 represents the operating handle 26 in its first position adjacent to the first end of the dirt-collection chamber 10. When the operating handle 26 is in its first position the dirt-removal panel 24 is in its rest position and the vacuum cleaner can be used to collect dirt and debris in the dirt-collection chamber 10.

[0055] Fig.2 represents the operating handle 26 in its second position adjacent to the second end of the dirt-collection chamber 10. When the operating handle 26 is in its second position the dirt-removal panel 24 is in its emptying position as shown. Dirt and debris which has been collected is pushed out of the dirt-collection chamber 10 as the dirt-removal panel 24 moves to its emptying position.

[0056] Fig.3 shows the dirt-removal panel 24 in its rest position (the first end of the dirtcollection chamber 10 is to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 and to the left in Figs. 3-9 because Figs. 1 and 2 show views from the front and Figs. 3-9 show views from the rear). As most clearly seen in Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 8, the dirt-removal panel 24 comprises a grid with relatively large openings. The dirt-removal panel 24 is nevertheless effective in pushing dirt and debris out of the dirt-collection chamber 10 because the dirt and debris most typically comprises “bales” of dust and dirt in a fibrous mass. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the form of the dirt-removal panel is incidental to the invention and in other embodiments this could be a solid panel.

[0057] Figs.3 and 4 show the actuator 34 which is also mounted to the slider 30 and therefore moves with the operating handle 26 and the dirt-removal panel 24. The actuator 34 is rotatably mounted to the slider 30 by way of a pair of arms 36 (only one of which arms can be seen clearly) and an axle pin 40. The rotatable mounting of the actuator 34 enables it to rotate through a limited angle between an actuating position as seen in Figs. 3-7 and a non-actuating position as seen in Figs. 8 and 9, as explained in more detail below.

[0058] As seen in Figs.3 and 4, the actuator 34 is non-circular and in particular has a projecting edge 42. The projecting edge 42 engages a ledge 44 of the slider 30 and that engagement prevents rotation of the actuator 34 in the anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3-6.

[0059] Figs. 3 and 4 represent the components of the dirt-collection chamber 10 as it is in the condition of Fig.1 and as it would be at the start of an emptying procedure. The cover 14 is therefore closed and held closed by the latch member 22. The operating handle 26 is in its first position and the dirt-removal panel 24 is in its rest position, at the first end of the dirt-collection chamber 10.

[0060] To empty the dirt-collection chamber 10 the operating handle is moved towards the left in Figs. 1 and 2 (and towards the right in Figs. 3-6). During this movement, the actuator 34 engages a latch element 46 as seen in Figs. 5 and 6.

[0061] The latch element 46 is pivotably mounted to a frame element 48 of the dirtcollection chamber. The latch element 46 is connected to a latch rod 50, part of which latch rod 50 is visible in Figs.3 and 4 but most of which is hidden behind the frame element 48. The latch rod 50 interconnects the latch member 22 to the latch element 48 such that pivoting movement of the latch element 46 causes corresponding movement of the latch member 22.

[0062] One end of a tension spring 52 is connected to a bracket 54 which is in turn connected to the latch rod 50. The other end of the tension spring 52 is connected to the frame element 48. The tension spring 52 biases latch rod 50 towards the left as viewed in Figs. 4, 6 and 9. The leftward biasing of the latch rod 50 is communicated to the latch member 22 and it is arranged that the latch member 22 is thereby biased to a position in which the it can hold the cover 14 closed.

[0063] The leftward biasing of the latch rod 50 is also communicated to the latch element 46, the latch element being shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in the position into which it is biased by the spring 52.

[0064] It will be seen from Fig. 6 in particular that the operating handle 26 moves only a small distance from the first position of Fig. 4 before the actuator 34 engages the latch element 46. The engagement with the latch element 46 seeks to rotate the actuator 34 anti-clockwise as viewed, but that rotation is prevented by the projecting edge 42 engaging the ledge 44 of the slider 30.

[0065] Since the actuator 34 cannot rotate as it moves past the latch element 46 it drives the latch element to rotate anti-clockwise as viewed, against the bias of the spring 52. This rotation of the latch element 46 causes corresponding movement of the latch rod 50 and latch member 22, in particular moving the latch member 22 to its releasing position of Fig.5. The cover 14 is released allowing the torsion spring 20 to move the cover to its open position of Fig.2. Figs. 5 and 6 therefore represent the releasing position of the actuator 34, i.e. the position in which the latch mechanism releases the cover.

[0066] Movement of the operating handle 26 away from its first position continues until the operating handle reaches its second position as seen in Fig.7. During this movement the dirt-removal panel 24 pushes collected dirt and debris towards and through the disposal opening 14. The dirt-collection chamber may if desired be manipulated (and agitated if necessary) so that gravity assists the removal of the dirt and debris from the dirt-collection chamber 10.

[0067] It will be understood that as soon as the actuator 34 has passed the latch element 46, the spring 52 returns the latch element 46, the latch rod 50 and the latch member 22 to their holding positions as seen in Fig.7. Accordingly, when the cover 14 is subsequently pushed to its closed position the latch member 22 moves sufficiently to allow the cover to close and then returns under the bias of the spring 52 to hold the cover 14 closed.

[0068] The operating handle 26 can then be slid back to its first position. It will be seen from Figs. 8 and 9 that as the actuator 34 passes the latch element 46 it is able to rotate clockwise as viewed sufficiently to pass the latch element 46 without the latch element moving (and consequently without the latch rod 50 or latch member 22 moving).

[0069] It can if desired be arranged that the dirt-collection chamber 10 cannot be fitted to the body or suction head of the vacuum cleaner unless the operating handle 26 is in its first position in order to ensure that the dirt-removal panel is in its rest position during use of the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A dirt-collection chamber for a vacuum cleaner, the dirt-collection chamber having an inlet opening through which air may enter the chamber and an outlet opening through which air may leave the chamber, the dirt-collection chamber also having a disposal opening with an openable cover, the cover being held closed by a latch mechanism, a dirt-removal panel in the chamber which is movable towards and away from the disposal opening, the dirt-removal panel being movable by way of an operating handle, the operating handle being connected to an actuator for releasing the latch mechanism.

2. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 1 in which the operating handle is connected directly to the actuator.

3. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating handle is connected directly to the dirt-removal panel.

4. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 1 in which the dirt-collection chamber has a first end and a second end with the disposal opening at its second end, in which the operating handle is movable between a first position adjacent to the first end and a second position adjacent to the second end, and in which the operating handle has a releasing position at which the latch mechanism is released, the releasing position being between the first position and the second position.

5. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 4 in which the releasing position is closer to the first position than to the second position.

6. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 5 in which the releasing position is adjacent to the first position.

7. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -7 in which the cover is pivotably mounted by a hinge.

8. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 7 in which the cover is able to pivot through at least 90°.

9. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -8 in which the cover is resiliently-biassed to an open position.

10. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -9 in which the latch mechanism has a latch member and a resilient biasing element, the resilient biasing element biasing the latch member to a holding position.

11. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -10 in which the latch mechanism includes a latch rod connected to the latch member.

12. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 1 1 when dependent upon claim 10 in which the resilient biasing element is connected to the latch rod.

13. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the dirtcollection chamber has a first end and a second end with the disposal opening at its second end, in which the latch rod connects the latch member to a latch element, and in which the latch element is located adjacent to the first end of the dirt-collection chamber.

14. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 13 in which the actuator engages the latch element to release the latch mechanism.

15. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -14 in which the dirtremoval panel and the operating handle are both connected to a slider which is slidably mounted to a rail.

16. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 15 in which the actuator is also mounted to the slider.

17. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -16 in which the actuator is movable between an actuating position and a non-actuating position.

18. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 17 in which the actuator rotates between its actuating and non-actuating positions.

19. A dirt-collection chamber according to any one of claims 1 -18 in which the actuator is non-circular.

20. A dirt-collection chamber according to claim 19 in which the actuator has a projecting edge.

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