# US 11,027,894 B2 · Vacuum cleaner including combined handle and lid latch system and methods of assembling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,894 B2 - Document ID: US11027894B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/965,334 - Filed: 2018-04-27 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27 - Assignees: Emerson Electric Co. - Applicants: Emerson Electric Co. - Inventors: Mark J. Tomasiak; Alex J. Wall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027894B2 ## CPC - A47L 7/0019: {Details of the casing} - B65D 45/18: of snap-over type - A47L 9/32: Handles - A47L 9/327: {for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing} - A47L 9/1409: {Rigid filtering receptacles (dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683)} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber, a lid mounted to a top of the canister, a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid, and a lid latch rotatably connected to the canister. The lid latch is rotatable between a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, and a second position, in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. A bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum cleaner comprising: a canister defining a debris chamber and having a top; a lid mounted to the top of the canister; a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid; and a lid latch rotatably connected to the canister, the lid latch rotatable between a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, and a second position, in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister; wherein a bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the canister includes at least one post, the lid latch rotatably connected to the at least one post such that the lid latch rotates about the at least one post. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the bottom of the lid latch includes a tubular base extending along a rotational axis from a first end to a second end, the base defining at least one cavity in which the at least one post is positioned, wherein the base further defines at least one notch extending into the base from one of the first end and the second end, the notch sized and shaped to permit passage of the at least one post therethrough to connect and disconnect the lid latch from the canister. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the at least one post includes a first post and a second post, the first post extending into the at least one cavity from the first end of the base and the second post extending into the at least one cavity from the second end of the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the canister includes a latch receiving portion including two latch mounts spaced laterally apart from one another to define a latch receiving recess therebetween, each of the latch mounts extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the canister and including a post extending into the latch receiving recess, wherein the lid latch is rotatably connected to each of the latch mount posts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the latch mounts are integrally formed as one piece with the canister. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the latch mounts are formed separately from and connected to the canister. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the lid latch includes an arcuate latching portion depending from a top of the lid latch, wherein the latching portion deflects from an initial position to a second, deflected position upon engagement with the lid such that the latching portion exerts a downward biasing force against the lid when the lid latch is in the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the lid includes a latch seat having an upper surface that engages the latching portion when the lid latch is in the second position, wherein the latch seat includes a tooth protruding vertically upward from the upper surface, and wherein the latching portion includes a latch tooth that engages that latch seat tooth to inhibit rotation of the lid latch from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the top of the lid latch includes a finger tab extending upward from the latching portion, wherein the finger tab is spaced from a radial outer surface of the lid when the lid latch is in the second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the lid latch includes a stop tab configured to engage a stop tab of the canister upon rotation of the lid latch from the second position to the first position to inhibit rotation of the lid latch beyond the first position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the lid latch stop tab is configured to deflect inward upon engagement with the canister stop tab during rotation of the lid latch from a rotational position beyond the first position towards the second position such that the lid latch stop tab traverses the canister stop tab. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the lid latch is spaced at least 0.5 inches from the exterior surface of the canister. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the lid latch is a first lid latch, the vacuum cleaner further including a second lid latch rotatably connected to the canister at a location diametrically opposite to the first lid latch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a powerhead connected to the lid, the powerhead including a motor and an impeller connected to the motor, the impeller operable to generate airflow through the canister from the debris inlet to an outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the lid is formed integrally as one piece with the powerhead. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the powerhead is removably connected to the lid. ### Claim 18 A method of assembling a vacuum cleaner system including a canister defining a debris chamber, a lid, and a debris inlet defined by one of the canister and the lid, the method comprising: mounting the lid to a top of the canister; rotatably connecting a lid latch to the canister such that a bottom of the lid latch is spaced from an exterior surface of the canister to define a handle opening that allows a user to insert their fingers into the handle opening and grip the bottom of the lid latch; and rotating the lid latch from a first position, in which the lid latch is disengaged from the lid, to a second position in which the lid latch engages the lid to secure the lid to the canister. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the canister includes at least one post, and wherein the bottom of the lid latch includes a tubular base extending along a rotational axis from a first end to a second end, the base defining at least one cavity and at least one notch extending into the base from one of the first end and the second end; wherein rotatably connecting the lid latch to the canister includes inserting the at least one post through the at least one notch and into the at least one cavity such that the lid latch is rotatable about the at least one post. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the lid latch includes a stop tab, the method further comprising rotating the lid latch towards the second position after inserting the at least one post into the at least one cavity such that the lid latch stop tab engages and traverses a stop tab of the canister, wherein the lid latch stop tab engages the canister stop tab to inhibit subsequent rotation of the lid latch beyond the first position.