# US 2017/0280953 A1 · Vacuum cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280953 A1 - Document ID: US20170280953A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/631,010 - Filed: 2017-06-23 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-08 - Assignees: Bissel Homecare, Inc. - Applicants: BISSEL Homecare, Inc. - Inventors: Alan J. Krebs; Joseph A. Fester - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280953A1 ## CPC - A47L 5/28: Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) - A47L 5/225: {Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners} - A47L 9/122: {flat} - A47L 9/14: Bags or the like; {Rigid filtering receptacles;} Attachment of, or closures for, bags {or receptacles} - A47L 9/1427: {Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters} - A47L 9/1481: {Means for removing bags in suction cleaners, e.g. ejecting means; Means for exchanging bags} - A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions} - A47L 9/165: {Construction of inlets} - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - A47L 9/19: Means for monitoring filtering operation - A47L 9/325: {for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle} - 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) ## Abstract A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a dirt separating and collecting system. The dirt separating and collecting system can include a bagless filter module and a bagged filter module that can be interchanged to convert the dirt separating and collecting system between a bagless configuration and a bagged configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction nozzle; and a dirt separating and collecting system convertible between a bagless configuration and a bagged configuration, comprising: a housing comprising a cover with an air inlet in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and a lower housing coupled with the cover and comprising an air outlet; a bagless filter module comprising an exhaust grill and a standpipe; and a bagged filter module comprising an inlet guide and a filter bag; wherein in the bagless configuration, the exhaust grill is mounted to the cover and the standpipe is mounted in fluid communication with the exhaust grill and the air outlet; and wherein in the bagged configuration, the exhaust grill and the standpipe are removed from the housing, and the inlet guide is mounted to the cover and the filter bag is mounted in fluid communication with the inlet guide and the air outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, and further comprising a foot assembly and an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to the foot assembly, wherein the suction nozzle is provided on the foot assembly and the dirt separating and collecting system is provided on the upright handle assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cover is at least partially transparent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the lower housing is opaque. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the lower housing is selectively removable from the vacuum cleaner without removing the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vacuum cleaner system of claim 5, and further comprising a latch assembly that selectively lowers the lower housing away from the cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner system of claim 1, wherein the bagless filter module comprises a cyclonic filter module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, and further comprising a pre-motor filter provided in the lower housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the lower housing comprises an outlet grill and the pre-motor filter is upstream of the outlet grill. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the lower housing comprises a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to an open top, and wherein the air outlet is provided in the bottom wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the lower housing further comprises ribs on the interior surface of the side wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter bag comprises a flexible air-permeable filter material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the bagged filter module further comprises an inlet guide interface structure configured to support the filter bag below the inlet guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the inlet guide interface structure comprises a filter bag air inlet leading into an interior of the filter bag, and in fluid communication with the helical inlet guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the bagged filter module further comprises a gasket between the inlet guide interface structure and the inlet guide to fluidly seal the filter bag with the helical inlet guide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the inlet guide comprises a helical inlet guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the helical inlet guide comprises a helical ramp and a lip provided on an outer edge of the helical ramp configured to seal against the cover. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner system of claim 1, and further comprising an attachment mechanism for removably attaching one of the exhaust grill or the inlet guide to the cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vacuum cleaner system of claim 18, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a bayonet mount. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a locking receiver configured to interchangeably receive the exhaust grill and the inlet guide.