GB2394649A

GB2394649A - Vacuum cleaner and dust collection module therefor, having two access/removal points

Info

Publication number: GB2394649A
Application number: GB0225477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Barker; Barry Pears; Martyn Riley
Original assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Current assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Priority date: 2002-11-01
Filing date: 2002-11-01
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-01
Also published as: GB0225477D0; GB2394649B

Abstract

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising: a recess (13) for receiving a removable dust collection module (14) and a dust collection module adapted to fit in said recess, wherein said recess is provided with a first access point allowing said dust collection module to be removed from said recess in a fIrst direction (I) and a second access point allowing said dust collection module to be removed from said recess in a second direction (K) opposite to said first direction. Thus, even if the first access point is obstructed by suction tubes, cables or the like or by the mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner, the second access point is almost certain to be free of obstruction because the second access point is located in a position on the vacuum cleaner opposite the first access point. In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a dust collection module (14) for a vacuum cleaner, wherein said dust collection module comprises a first handle (31) on a first side thereof and a second handle on a second side thereof opposite to said first side. Thus, the dust collection module may be removed from the vacuum cleaner with ease either in a first direction or in a second direction completely opposite to the first direction.

Description

DUST COLLECTION MODULES FOR VACUUM CLEANERS

The present invention concerns dust collection modules for vacuum cleaners and their insertion into and removal from the same. Dust collection modules for 5 vacuum cleaners generally come in two main varieties: bagged dust collection modules and bagless dust collection modules. The bagged variety of dust collection module generally comprises a cavity for receiving a disposable dust collection bag and the module is provided with an access point such as a lid or door, which gives access to the cavity and allows the bag to be removed and replaced as required. In 10 addition, the cavity has an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air, and means for securing the dust collection bag within the cavity such that its mouth surrounds the dirty air inlet. Thus during operation of the vacuum cleaner, the dust collection bag acts as a filter for dirty air entering the cavity via the dirty air inlet, and dust entrained with the dirty air is deposited in the dust collection bag, whereas clean air diffuses 15 through the bag and exits the cavity via the clean air outlet. When the bag is full, it is removed from the cavity and replaced with a new, empty bag. More often than not, the bagged variety of dust collection module is integral with the body of the vacuum cleaner, so that the cavity of the dust collection module is merely a cavity within the body of the vacuum cleaner itself. However, vacuum cleaners having a bagged dust 20 collection module which is a removable unit are also known.

The bagless variety of dust collection module generally also comprises a cavity having an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air and a filter mechanism disposed therebetween. The bagless variety of dust collection module differs from the bagged 25 variety, however, in that the filter mechanism does not generally also serve as means for collecting dust entrained with dirty air entering the cavity via the dirty air inlet.

Instead, the bagless variety additionally comprises a re-usable dust receptacle as a permanent part of the dust collection module. Typically, the dust receptacle is merely formed by part of the walls surrounding the cavity, which are provided with a handle 30 and which may be removed, emptied and replaced as required. However, vacuum cleaners having a bagless dust collection module which may be removed from the body of the vacuum cleaner as a unit, emptied and replaced are also known.

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Vacuum cleaners are even known in which a bagged dust collection module may be replaced by a bagless dust collection module in an interchangable fashion. An example of such a vacuum cleaner is described in US Patent No. 5,779,745 assigned 5 to Aktiebolaget Electrolux.

In all varieties of vacuum cleaner, however, there is a requirement for a user either to have access to the interior cavity of the dust collection module or to be able to remove the dust collection module in its entirety from the body of the vacuum 10 cleaner for the purposes of emptying it. However, this requirement means that part of the exterior of the vacuum cleaner must be either permanently free of obstruction or easily rendered free of obstruction by a user in order to allow access to the dust collection module. On the other hand, many parts of the exterior surface of vacuum cleaners are obstructed by suction tubes, cables and other accessories or are rendered 15 inaccessible during use of the vacuum cleaner by its mode of operation. It would therefore be desirable to have a vacuum cleaner wherein the dust collection module is more easily accessible.

The present invention addresses the above problem. Accordingly, in a first 20 aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising: a recess for receiving a removable dust collection module and a dust collection module adapted to fit in said recess, wherein said recess is provided with a first access point allowing said dust collection module to be removed from said recess in a first direction and a second access point allowing said dust collection module to be removed from said 25 recess in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

Thus, even if the first access point is obstructed by suction tubes, cables or the like or by the mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner, the second access point is almost certain to be free of obstruction because the second access point is located in a 30 position on the vacuum cleaner opposite the first access point.

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In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a dust collection module for a vacuum cleaner, wherein said dust collection module comprises a first handle on a first side thereof and a second handle on a second side thereof opposite to said first side. Thus, the dust collection module may be removed from a vacuum cleaner with ease either in a first direction or in a second direction completely opposite to the first direction. 10 The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, which is given by way of example and with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a major portion of a vacuum cleaner according to 15 an embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 is a top plan view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 1; 20 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section along the line A-A through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 2 with a bagged version of the dust collection module inserted therein; Fig. 7 shows the airflow through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 6 when in operation; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section along the line A-A through the vacuum cleaner 25 of Fig. 2 with a bagless version of the dust collection module inserted therein; Fig. 9 shows the airflow through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 8 when in operation; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section along the line A-A through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 2 with the dust collection module removed; 30 Fig. 11 is a more detailed view of the bagless version of the dust collection module removed from the vacuum cleaner body; P-UK-HW1033B

Fig. 12 is a more detailed view of the bagless version of the dust collection module inserted in the vacuum cleaner body; Fig. 13 is a transverse section along the line C-C through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 3 showing a latch mechanism for engaging the rigid portion of the suction tube 5 with the vacuum cleaner body; Fig. 14 is a more detailed view of the part of the latch mechanism of Fig. 13 belonging to the vacuum cleaner body; Fig. 15 is a more detailed view of the part of the latch mechanism of Fig. 13 belonging to the rigid portion of the suction tube; 10 Fig. 16 is a transverse section along the line B-B through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 2 showing a side elevational view of a latch mechanism for engaging the dust collection module in the vacuum cleaner body; Fig. 17 is a transverse section along the line D-D through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 2 showing a different side elevational view of the latch mechanism of Fig. 16; 1 5 and Fig. 18 is a lateral section along the line E-E through the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 3 showing a top plan view of the latch mechanism of Fig. 16.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 5, a major portion of a vacuum cleaner according to 20 an embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 100. The vacuum cleaner comprises a body 10 provided with a pair of front wheels 11 on either side of said body and with a third wheel 25 on the underside thereof (see Figs. 3 to 5 for third wheel 25). Third wheel 25 is free to swivel around axis Y of wheel mount 26, allowing body 10 to be steered round corners (see Fig. 6 for axis Y). Body 10 is also 25 provided with a handle 12 permitting the body to be pushed or dragged around a surface to be cleaned when the vacuum cleaner is in cylinder mode or to be carried in one hand. Housed in recess 13 of body 10 is a removable dust collection module 14, described in greater detail below.

30 Apart from dust collection module 14, body 10 houses three main components: a cable rewind and storage mechanism 27, a fan 28 and a motor 29 (see Fig. 6).

Referring back to Figs. 1 to 5, body 10 is further provided with a power cable outlet P-UIC-HW I 033B

s 16 communicating with cable rewind and storage mechanism 27, a cable release button 17 for operating cable rewind and storage mechanism 27, and a power on/off switch 18. Cable rewind and storage mechanism 27 contains a power cable wound therein, which emerges from body 10 through power cable outlet 16 and which is 5 provided with an electrical plug on the exposed end thereof (not shown in the drawings). Cable rewind and storage mechanism 27 comprises both a spring and a ratchet, and operates in the following manner. Pulling the electrical plug at the exposed end of the power cable unwinds the power cable from storage within the mechanism 27, putting the spring thereof under increasing tension as a greater length 10 of power cable is unwound. However, the ratchet of mechanism 27 prevents the power cable from rewinding back into storage under the tension of the spring. On the other hand, depressing cable release button 17 disengages the ratchet, allowing the unwound length of cable to rewind back into storage under the tension of the spring until such time as depression of the cable release button 17 ceases and the ratchet of 15 mechanism 27 therefore re-engages.

Electrical power travelling down the power cable into the cable rewind and storage mechanism 27 is transmitted to motor 29 via wires contained in one or both of the arms 30 of body 10. Depressing power on/off switch 18 alternately makes and 20 breaks an electrical circuit created by these wires, thereby switching power to motor 29 on and off. When in operation, motor 29 causes fan 28 to rotate at high speed.

In addition to body 10, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a suction tube 20 which is connected at one end thereof to a floor-cleaning head 19 and at the other end 25 thereof to air inlet 23 of body 10. Suction tube 20 comprises a rigid portion 15 and a flexible portion or hose (not shown in the drawings). Arrow 21 in Figs. 1 and 3 represents a continuation of rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20, as well as said hose.

These portions of suction tube 20 not represented in the drawings are generally the same as the portions represented by reference numerals 42 and 13 in the figures of US 30 Patent No. 4,393,536 of Tapp (which describes a convertible vacuum cleaner similar in some respects to that of the present embodiment) and fulfil the same functions, except for the additional feature that in this embodiment of the present invention, the P-UK-HW1033B

flexible hose has a concertina-like structure and behaves as follows. One end of the flexible hose is connected to body 10 at locations 35 represented in Fig. 6.

Accordingly, part of the total length of the flexible hose is contained within channel 40 of body 10 and emerges from channel 40 if pulled in the direction indicated by 5 arrow L. On the other hand, the flexible hose may also partially retract into channel 40 when not under tension, whereby the length of exposed hose may be varied as desired. Rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 comprises two lengths of tube connected 10 together telescopically one inside the other to allow the overall length of rigid portion 15 also to be varied for comfortable operation of the vacuum cleaner by different heights of user in both upright and cylinder mode. The inner length of rigid portion 15 is provided with a row of notches along its outer surface and the outer length of rigid portion 15 is provided with a resiliently depressable protrusion on its inner 15 surface. This protrusion engages with one of the notches on the inner length of rigid portion 15 as the inner length slides within the outer length, whereby moderate force accidentally applied along the length of rigid portion 15 is insufficient to adjust its overall length, but a greater force deliberately applied by a user is sufficient. In upright mode, rigid portion 15 engages with body 10 and is retained in this condition 20 by latches 22, the operation of which will be described in greater detail below with reference to Figs. 13 to 15.

Floor-cleaning head 19 is detachable from suction tube 20 and may be replaced by a crevice tool or by an upholstery tool, so that in cylinder mode, the vacuum 25 cleaner may be used either to clean in crevices or to clean upholstery, respectively.

Turning now to Figs. 6 to 10, there is shown a series of longitudinal sections along line A-A of Fig. 2. Dust collection module 14 comprises a handle 31 allowing dust collection module 14 to be lifted out of body 10 in the direction of arrow J 30 represented in Fig. 6, when suction tube 20 is not engaged with body 10. In addition, dust collection module 14 is provided with a further handle on its underside (not shown in the drawings) and may be removed from bo,dy 10 in the direction of arrow K

also shown in Fig. 6 in a manner to be described in greater detail below with reference to Figs. 16 to 18.

Dust collection module 14 comes in two varieties: a bagged version and a 5 bagless version. In the bagged version shown in Figs. 6 and 7, dust collection module 14 comprises a cavity 32 for receiving a disposable dust collection bag 36 in the manner represented in Fig. 7. The disposable dust collection bag 36 engages with lugs 33 of dust collection module 14 and is protected from fan 28 during operation of the vacuum cleaner by protective wall 34. Lid 37 of dust collection module 14 is 10 removable, allowing bag 36 to be removed and replaced as required. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, airflow proceeds in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7 from floor-cleaning head 19 along suction tube 20 and into bag 36, before passing through fan 28 and motor 29 and exiting out of exhaust vent 24. Dust entrained with air entering via floor-cleaning head 19 is deposited in dust collection 15 bag 36 and clean air leaving dust collection module 14 serves to cool motor 29 before exiting through exhaust vent 24.

In the bagless version of dust collection module 14 shown in Figs. 8 and 9, dust collection module 14 comprises a two-stage filter 38 for filtering dust entrained with 20 air entering via floor-cleaning head 19 in the manner represented in Fig. 9. Filter 38 comprises a coarse filter 39 and a fine filter 41, both of which have a generally cylindrical shape with their longitudinal axes coaxially aligned on central axis Z of dust collection module 14 (see Figs. 9 and 11 for axis Z). Coarse filter 39 is typically made of a stiff wire mesh and fine filter 41 is typically made of matted or tightly 25 woven artificial fibres. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, airflow proceeds in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 9 from floor-cleaning head 19 along suction tube 20 and into dust collection module 14, where the dirty air swirls around coarse filter 39. Large dust particles entrained with the dirty air are filtered out by coarse filter 39 and deposited in container region 42 of dust collection module 14.

30 The partially filtered air passes inwardly through coarse filter 39, where small dust particles still present in the partially filtered air are filtered out by fine filter 41. The fully filtered air then passes up the centre of fine filter 41 and leaves dust collection Pi HW1033B

module 14 via passageway 43, before passing through fan 28 and motor 29 and exiting out of exhaust vent 24. As with the bagged version described above, clean air leaving dust collection module 14 also serves to cool motor 29 before exiting through exhaust vent 24. Lid 37 of dust collection module 14 is removable, allowing 5 container region 42 of dust collection module 14 to be accessed and emptied. In addition, two-stage filter 38, which in operation of the vacuum cleaner is mounted on lid 37, may be disassembled, allowing access to both coarse filter 39 and fine filter 41 for cleaning purposes. Fine filter 41 is also replaceable when degraded by long-term use. Fig. 10 shows the body 10 of the vacuum cleaner with dust collection module 14 (either bagged or bagless version) removed entirely from recess 13. In both versions, channel 40 comprises an inner rigid tube 44 slidingly engageable within an outer rigid tube 45. Outer rigid tube 45 is integral with body 10. Inner rigid tube 44, 15 however, is removable from outer rigid tube 45 for the purposes of packing and shipping the vacuum cleaner in as compact a form as possible. To permit inner rigid tube 44 to be inserted into and removed from outer rigid tube 45, inner rigid tube 44 is provided with a knurled ring 46 by which it may be grasped. Inner rigid tube 44 engages with outer rigid tube 45 by means of a twist-and-click mechanism similar in 20 operation to that of a bayonet-fitting lightbulb. In particular, inner rigid tube 44 is provided on its exterior surface with a pair of protrusions 47, which engage with a pair of corresponding apertures 48 provided on opposites sides of outer rigid tube 45 (see Fig. 1 for the appearance of one of the protrusions 47 and apertures 48).

Protrusions 47 of inner rigid tube 44 are resilient and spring into place in apertures 48 25 when aligned therewith. On the other hand, depressing protrusions 47 through apertures 48 between the forefinger and thumb of one hand permits inner rigid tube 44 to be rotated by grasping knurled ring 46 with the other hand until protrusions 47 are out of alignment with apertures 48 and inner rigid tube 44 may be withdrawn from outer rigid tube 45 by pulling on knurled ring 46. Throughout these operations, the 30 flexible hose portion of suction tube 20 remains attached at locations 35 of inner rigid tube 44 in the manner already described above in relation to Fig. 6.

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Figs. 11 and 12 show the bagless version of dust collection module 14 in greater detail. As may be seen in Fig. 11, handle 31 of dust collection module 14 comprises a push button 49, which is mounted in a rotatable manner on pin 50 (seen end-on in Figs. 11 and 12) and which is also integral with a lever 51. Lever 51 fits snugly into a 5 corresponding recess provided in side wall 52 of dust collection module 14, so as to lie flush therewith. Depressing push button 49 in the direction indicated by arrow P in Fig. 11 causes lever 51 to hinge about pin 50 in the direction indicated by arrow Q. whilst also compressing spring 55. The rear surface of lever 51 is provided with a tooth which when positioned as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, engages with a 10 corresponding shoulder of side wall 52. When lever 51 moves in the direction indicated by arrow Q. however, the tooth of lever 51 disengages from this shoulder, allowing lid 37, together with the coarse and fine filters 39, 41, to be lifted off dust collection module 14 in the direction indicated by arrow R. When lid 37 is replaced and push button 49 is released, the compression of spring 55 causes push button 49 15 and lever 51 to return to the positions shown in Figs. 11 and 12, such that lever 51 lies flush with side wall 52 once more, and dust collection module 14 may be smoothly re inserted into and removed from recess 13 of vacuum cleaner body 10. Accordingly, lid 37 may only be removed from dust collection module 14 if the dust collection module is firstly removed from recess 13, and the dust collection module cannot be 20 opened whilst still housed in recess 13. Lid 37 of the bagged version of dust collection module 14 may be removed in exactly the same way by operation of a similar push button 49, although in this case, coarse and fine filters 39, 41 are absent from lid 37.

25 Figs. 11 and 12 also show that the inlet to dust collection module 14 for air from suction tube 20 is provided with a rubber O-ring 53 to form an air tight seal with channel 40. The outlet from dust collection module 14 for air leaving passageway 43 is surrounded by a raised lip 54 for the similar reason of forming an air tight seal with chamber 60 of body 10 containing fan 28 and motor 29. As may be seen from Fig. 30 12, channel 40 is supplied with a Nylon_ collar 56, which abuts O-ring 53 when dust collection module 14 is inserted in recess 13. Chamber 60 is provided with a further rubber O-ring 57, which forms a friction fit with lip 54 at the same time. Within the Pa HWi033B

aperture enclosed by O-ring 57 is mounted a grille or bars (not shown in the drawings) to prevent users from inserting their fingers into chamber 60 when fan 28 is rotating during operation of the vacuum cleaner. As may be seen, O-ring 57 is mounted on bearings 58 of fan 28.

In the embodiment of dust collection module 14 described in relation to Figs. 6 to 12, the bagged and bagless versions of the dust collection module are fully interchangable in vacuum cleaner body 10. However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown in the drawings, the bagged and bagless versions may be 10 given different external shapes, so that only one of them may be inserted into a vacuum cleaner body 10 having a recess 13 correspondingly shaped to receive the appropriate version of the dust collection module.

The engagement of rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 with vacuum cleaner 15 body 10 for use as a carrying handle, for operation of the vacuum cleaner in upright mode or for storage of the vacuum cleaner, as well as the operation of latches 22 will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 13 to IS. Firstly referring back to Fig. 1 however, it may be seen that the outer length of rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 is provided at two locations along its length with two collars 61 20 corresponding to the positions of latches 22. These collars 61 may also be seen in profile in Figs. 6 to 10 (see especially Fig. 10, where they are labelled). Fig. 13 is a transverse section through body 10 along the line C-C shown in Fig. 3, therefore also providing a transverse section through one of collars 61 and one of latches 22. As may be seen from Fig. 13, pushing rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 in the direction 25 indicated by arrow S causes collar 61 to engage with latch 22. More specifically and as may be seen more clearly from Fig. 14, latch 22 is provided with two opposing shoulders 66 and 67 which engage with ridges 69, 70 of collar 61, shown in cross section in Fig. 15. In the position of latch 22 shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the space between shoulders 66 and 67 is less than the distance between the outermost 30 extremities of ridges 69 and 70. However, top surface 660 of shoulder 66 provides a camming surface for ridge 69, so that as rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 is pushed in the direction indicated in Fig. 13 by arrow S. outer plane surface 705 of ridge 70 P-UK-HW1033B

slides against upper surface 670 of shoulder 67 and ridge 69 pushes latch 22 by a small amount in the direction indicated in Fig. 14 by arrow T. thereby increasing the separation between shoulders 66 and 67 by the same amount. In addition, collar 61 and latch 22 are made of a stiff but resilient plastics material, such as Nylon_ or 5 acrylobutyl styrene (ABS) , which is elastically deformable by a sufficient amount to allow ridges 69, 70 to pass through the space between shoulders 66, 67, even if the separation of shoulders 66, 67 is still slightly less than the distance between the outermost extremities of ridges 69, 70 when the underside of collar 61 contacts lever 64. In order to aid this elastic deformation, a channel 71 is formed in the middle of 10 ridge 70 and the width of channel 71 in the plane of Fig. 15 is able to vary as ridge 70 is deformed, by collar 61 sliding around rigid tube portion 15 in a circumferential direction. Collars 61 are both securely mounted on rigid tube portion 15 however by each being provided with a nose 72, which engages with a corresponding hole made in rigid portion 15.

Once both collars 61 are engaged with both latches 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 13, rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 is therefore unable to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Moreover, although a small lateral movement of rigid portion 15 may be possible, since the separation of shoulders 66, 67 is less than the distance 20 between the outermost extremities of ridges 69, 70, rigid portion 15 is unable to escape from latches 22 in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow S. Referring back to Fig. 10, it may also be seen that rigid portion 15 is unable to slide in a longitudinal direction either because latches 22 are slightly recessed into the body 10 of the vacuum cleaner, thereby creating shoulders 73 on body 10 which collars 61 are 25 unable to pass. Finally, since rigid portion 15 also rests on surfaces 74 of body 10, even if one of latches 22 is released, rigid portion 15 is prevented from twisting in either of the directions indicated by arrows M and N in Fig. 10 (see also the top plan view of Fig. 2 for surfaces 74). Thus, rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 is held securely in engagement with the body 10 of the vacuum cleaner for use as a carrying 30 handle, for operation of the vacuum cleaner in upright mode or for storage of the vacuum cleaner.

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Returning to Fig. 14, operation of latches 22 by a user to release rigid tube 15 from engagement therewith will now be described. As may be seen from Fig. 14, latch 22 comprises a press switch 62, which is mounted in a rotatable manner on pin 63 (seen end-on in Figs. 13 and 14) and which is also integral with a lever 64.

5 Pushing press switch 62 in the direction indicated by arrow T in Fig. 14 increases the separation between shoulders 66, 67 of latch 22 until it is greater than the distance between the outermost extremities of ridges 69, 70 of collar 61. Pushing press switch 62 in the direction indicated by arrow T also causes lever 64 to hinge about pin 63 in the direction indicated by arrow U. thereby lifting rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 10 out of engagement with latch 22. Finally, pushing press switch 62 in the direction indicated by arrow T also compresses spring 65, so that when press switch 62 is released, switch 62 and lever 64 return to the positions shown in Figs. 13 and 14, at which time the separation of shoulders 66 and 67 is less than the distance between the outermost extremities of ridges 69, 70 once again and the undersides of ridges 69, 70 15 rest on top of shoulders 66, 67, so that suction tube 20 is free to be picked up by a user, whilst leaving body 10 immobile. Throughout these operations, arm 68 of switch 62 prevents spring 65 from escaping.

Since each of latches 22 individually constrains rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 20 from moving laterally and longitudinally, as well as from rotating and twisting, rigid portion 15 may only be released from engagement with body 10 when both of latches 22 are operated simultaneously. The simultaneous operation of both of latches 22 is very easily achieved, however, by a user pushing both of press switches 62 at the same time with the thumb of each hand, whereupon rigid tube portion 15 springs out 25 of latches 22 under the action of levers 64.

The insertion of dust collection module 14 into recess 13 of body 10 and its removal therefrom will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 16 to 18. As already mentioned above, lid 37 of dust collection module 14 is provided with 30 a handle 31 allowing dust collection module 14 to be lifted out of body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow J when suction tube 20 is not engaged with body 10.

Dust collection module 14 is also provided with a further handle on its underside (not P-UK-HW1033B

shown in the drawings), allowing it to be removed from body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow K as well. Fig. 16 is a transverse section along the line B-B shown in Fig. 2, therefore also providing a transverse section through a latch mechanism 76 which retains dust collection module 14 in recess]3. As may be seen from Fig. 16, 5 latch mechanism 76 comprises a tooth 77, a spring 78 and a push button 79. Inserting dustcollection module 14 into recess 13 from the underside of body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow J causes shoulder 80 of dust collection module 14 to be guided into recess 13 by chamfer 81 of body 10. Shoulder 80 then pushes tooth 77 in the direction indicated in Fig. 16 by arrow V, compressing spring 78, until the tip of 10 tooth 77 lies flush with wall 85 of body 10. This leaves dust collection module 14 free to continue sliding in the direction of arrow J until tooth 77 is aligned with a recess formed in the side wall of dust collection module 14, whereupon the compression of spring 78 urges tooth 77 in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow V and tooth 77 engages with the recess formed in the side wall of dust 15 collection module 14 in the manner shown in Fig. 16. Friction between the end face of tooth 77 on the one hand and chamfer 84 of the recess on the other prevents further movement of the dust collection module in the direction of arrow J. whilst end stop 83 prevents the dust collection module from being removed in the direction of arrow K, thereby latching dust collection module 14 in place in recess 13 of body 10.

Alternatively, inserting dust collection module 14 into recess 13 from above body 10 in the direction indicated by arrow K allows the dust collection module to slide in recess 13 in the direction of arrow K until chamfer 82 formed on the underside of the dust collection module encounters tooth 77. Chamfer 82 then pushes 25 tooth 77 in the direction indicated by arrow V, compressing spring 78, until the tip of tooth 77 lies flush with wall 85. This leaves the dust collection module free to continue sliding in the direction of arrow K until tooth 77 is aligned with chamfer 84, whereupon the compression of spring 78 urges tooth 77 in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow V and tooth 77 engages with the recess formed in the side wall of 30 the dust collection module in the manner shown in Fig. 16. Once again, dust collection module 14 is latched in place in recess 13 of vacuum cleaner body 10 for the saline reasons as already explained above.

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In order to remove dust collection module 14 from recess 13 in the direction of arrow J. a user merely applies a pulling force to handle 31 of lid 37 sufficient to overcome the friction between the end face of tooth 77 on the one hand and chamfer 5 84 of the recess formed in the side wall of the dust collection module on the other. At this point, chamfer 84 then pushes tooth 77 in the direction of arrow V, compressing spring 78 until the tip of tooth 77 lies flush with wall 85 of body 10, leaving dust collection module 14 free to continue sliding in the direction of arrow J until fully withdrawn from recess 13.

On the other hand, in order to remove dust collection module 14 from recess 13 in the direction of arrow K, a user depresses push button 79 in the direction indicated by arrow W in Fig. 17 and applies a pulling force to the handle provided on the underside of dust collection module 14. Fig. 17 is a transverse section along the line 15 D-D shown in Fig. 2, therefore providing a side elevational view of latch mechanism 76. As may be seen from Fig. 17, push button 79 is mounted on one end of a movable block 86 having an angled face 87. Angled face 87 of block 86 contacts a corresponding angled face forming part of tooth 77, so that when push button 79 is depressed, angled face 87 pushes tooth 77 in the direction indicated by arrow V, 20 compressing spring 78, until the tip of tooth 77 lies flush with wall 85. This leaves dust collection module 14 free to slide in the direction of arrow K for as long as push button 79 remains depressed, so that when a user simultaneously applies a pulling force to the handle provided on the underside of dust collection module 14, the dust collection module may be withdrawn from recess 13 in the direction of arrow K. Removal of dust collection module 14 from recess 13 in either of the directions indicated by arrows J and K is therefore straightforward, and is easily achieved by a user with only two-handed operation in both cases, with one hand being used to grasp one of the two handles provided on the top and bottom of dust collection module 14 30 as desired and the other hand being used either to provide a counterforce pushing on body 10 (in the case of removal in the direction of arrow J) or to depress push button 79 (in the case of removal in the direction of arrow K). Thus dust collection module P-UK-HWI033B

14 may be both inserted into and removed from either the top or the bottom of vacuum cleaner body 10, as desired.

When push button 79 has been depressed and is released, it returns to the 5 position shown in Figs. 16 and 17 in the following manner. Compression of spring 78 urges tooth 77 in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow V, and tooth 77, by contact with angled face 87 of block 86, pushes block 86 in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow W until push button 79 lies flush with the underside of vacuum cleaner body 10. Block 86 is also provided on either side with a pair of 10 wings 88 (one of which may be seen end-on in Fig. 17) which come into contact with an end stop 89 when push button 79 lies flush with the underside of body 10, thereby arresting the travel of block 86 in the direction opposite to arrow W and preventing block 86 from sliding any further in that direction. Wings 88 of block 86 may be seen more clearly in Fig. 18, which is a lateral section along line E-E in Fig. 3 and which 15 therefore also provides a top plan view of latch mechanism 76. As may also be seen from Fig. 18, the end of block 86 opposite to push button 79 emerges through a rectangular hole formed in tooth 77, and both tooth 77 and block 86 slide in channels defined by retaining walls 90, two of which may be seen in side elevation in Fig. 17.

20 Although in the illustrated embodiment, tooth 77 is withdrawn from engagement with dust collection module 14 by operation of push button 79 as described above, in an alternative embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, push button 79 may be replaced by a pivoting lever or other means also appropriate for fulfilling the same function as push button 79.

Also visible in Fig. 18 is part of cable rewind and storage mechanism 27, including the ratchet 91 thereof and guides 92 for a power cable.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention not represented in the drawings, 30 wheels 11 of body 10 are adapted to support the vacuum cleaner in upright mode as well as in cylinder mode. In this alternative embodiment, the parts of body 10 in the region of exhaust vent 24 are shaped to provide a recess for receiving floor-cleaning Pa HWI033B

head 19, such that when rigid portion 15 of suction tube 20 is engaged with latches 22, the underside of floor-cleaning head 19 is coplanar with the outer circumferential surfaces of wheels 11. In this condition, wheels 11 rest on a surface to be cleaned at the same time as floor- cleaning head 19, thereby permitting the weight of body 10 to 5 be supported by the wheels 11 as floor-cleaning head 19 travels over the surface to be cleaned. Pi HW1033B

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a recess (13) for receiving a removable dust collection module (14); and 5 a dust collection module (14) adapted to fit in said recess (13); characterized in that: said recess (13) is provided with a first access point allowing said dust collection module (14) to be removed from said recess in a first direction (J) and a second access point allowing said dust collection module (14) to be removed from 10 said recess in a second direction (K) opposite to said first direction.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim l, wherein said dust collection module (14) is of a bagged variety.

15 3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said dust collection module (14) is of a bagless variety.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said dust collection module (14) is provided in bagged and bagless versions and the bagged and bagless versions 20 are fully interchangable in said recess (13).

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said dust collection module (14) is provided in bagged and bagless versions having different external shapes and said recess (13) is correspondingly shaped to receive only one of said versions.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said dust collection module (14) comprises a first handle (31) on a first side thereof and a second handle on a second side thereof opposite to said first side, and wherein said first handle (31) is operable to remove said dust collection module from said recess 30 (13) in said first direction (J) and said second handle is operable to remove said dust collection module from said recess in said second direction (K).

Pi HW1033B

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said first handle (31) is attached to a removable lid (37) provided on said first side of said dust collection module. 5 8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein said dust collection module (14) further comprising an opening mechanism (49, 50, 51, 55) for disengaging said lid (37) from the dust collection module and wherein said opening mechanism (49, 50, 51, 55) is inoperable when said dust collection module is inserted in said recess (13). 9. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a latch mechanism (76) for retaining said dust collection module (14) in place in said recess (13).

15 10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said latch mechanism (76) comprises a resilient detent (77) engagable with a portion (83, 84) of said dust collection module (14).

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, wherein said resilient detent (77) is 20 formed on an inner surface (85) of said recess (13) and said portion (83, 84) of said dust collection module is formed in a side wall of said dust collection module.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said resilient detent (77) is operable to be retracted by insertion of said dust collection module (14) 25 into said recess (13) in either said first direction (J) or said second direction (K) until said portion (83, 84) of said dust collection module is aligned with said detent for engagement therewith.

13. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims l O to 12, wherein said latch 30 mechanism (76) further comprises a release mechanism (79) provided on said vacuum cleaner for retracting said detent (77) from engagement with said portion (83, 84) of said dust collection module.

P-UK-HWI 033B

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein said dust collection module (14) is operable to be removed from said recess (13) in said first direction (J) without operation of said release mechanism (79), but cannot be removed from said recess in 5 said second direction (K) without operation of said release mechanism.

IS. A dust collection module for a vacuum cleaner, wherein said dust collection module comprises a first handle (31) on a first side thereof and a second handle on a second side thereof opposite to said first side.

16. A dust collection module according to claim 15, wherein said first handle (31) is attached to a removable lid (37) provided on said first side of said dust collection module. 15 17. A dust collection module according to claim 16, further comprising an opening mechanism (49, 50, 5] , 55) for disengaging said lid (37) from the dust collection module, wherein said opening mechanism (49, 50, 51, 55) is rendered inoperable by insertion of said dust collection module into a vacuum cleaner adapted to receive said dust collection module.

18. A bagged version of a dust collection module according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. A bagless version of a dust collection module according to any one of claims 25 15 to 17.

20. A dust collection module according to any one of claims 15 to 19 comprising a portion (83, 84) engagable with a resilient detent (77) of a vacuum cleaner adapted to receive said dust collection module.

21. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Pi HW1033B

22. A bagged dust collection module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6, 7, 11 and 12.

5 23. A bagless dust collection module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 11 and 12.

P-UK-HWI 033B