Latch Assembly for a Vacuum System

A latch assembly for a vacuum cleaner, the latch assembly comprising:

• a buckle attached to a vacuum housing;
• a lower latch assembly comprising:
• a handle connected a dirt container;
• a button mounted on the handle and adapted to move relative to the handle between a first button position and a second button position;
• a spring adapted to bias the button from the second button position to the first button position;
• a locking member adapted to move between a first lock position in which the locking member is positioned to engage the buckle, and a second lock position in which the locking member is positioned not to engage the buckle;
• wherein the button has one or more first surfaces adapted to move the locking member from the first lock position to the second lock position when the button is moved from the first button position to the second button position, and one or more second surfaces adapted to move the locking member from the second lock position to the first lock position when the button is moved form the second button position to the first button position.

A central vacuum cleaner comprising:

• an upper housing having a vacuum fan contained therein;
• a dirt container adapted to selectively connect to a bottom of the upper housing to receive dirt separated by the central vacuum cleaner from an air flow generated by the vacuum fan;
• at least one buckle extending downward from the upper housing;
• at least one latch mounted on the dirt container to selectively connect the dirt container to the upper housing, the at least one latch comprising:
• a handle rigidly attached to the dirt container and configured to be held by a hand of a user;
• a movable button located on the dirt container at a location where the button can be operated by the hand of the user while the hand is holding the handle;
• and
• a lock movable by the button between a first position in which the lock is positioned to engage the buckle, and second position in which the lock is positioned not to engage the buckle.