Dirt collection system for a vacuum cleaner

In an improved dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner having a motor-fan assembly with a suction inlet opening, an agitator chamber, a dirt collecting chamber, and a housing, the motor-fan assembly creating a dirt laden airstream from the agitator chamber to the dirt collecting chamber, the improvement comprising a dirt collecting chamber comprised of a dirt cup for collecting dirt particles, the dirt cup comprised of:

• a bottom wall;
• a rear wall extending generally upward from said bottom wall;
• a pair of curved side walls, wherein said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, and said bottom wall define the dirt collecting chamber;
• a dirty air inlet opening formed in one of said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, or said bottom wall;
• a clean air outlet opening formed in one of said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, or said bottom wall;
• a handle having a cavity at an upper end;
• a lid having an open position and a closed position pivotally connected to said dirt cup, said lid including a peripheral edge;
• and
• a thumb tab extending radially outward from said lid for pivoting said lid between said open position and said closed position.

A method of removing accumulated dirt particles and debris from a dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner, comprised of the steps of:

• providing a vacuum cleaner having a dirt collecting system including a dirt cup for collecting dirt particles and debris filtered from a dirt laden airstream generated by the dirt collecting system;
• providing a lid pivotally connected to said dirt cup having a closed position and an open position;
• providing a handle attached to the dirt cup;
• providing a thumb tab extending from a peripheral edge of said lid;
• directing the dirt laden airstream into the dirt cup and depositing dirt particles and debris into the dirt cup;
• grasping the handle with one hand and removing the dirt cup from the vacuum cleaner;
• depressing the thumb tab with a thumb from the same hand to move the lid from the closed position to the open position;
• and
• inverting the dirt cup to remove accumulated dirt particles and debris from the dirt cup.

An improved dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner having a motor-fan assembly with a suction inlet opening, an agitator chamber, a dirt collecting chamber, and a housing, the motor-fan assembly creating a dirt laden airstream from the agitator chamber to the dirt collecting chamber, the improvement comprising a dirt collecting chamber comprised of a dirt cup for collecting dirt particles, the dirt cup comprised of:

• a bottom wall;
• a rear wall extending generally upward from said bottom wall;
• a pair of curved side walls, wherein said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, and or said bottom wall define the dirt collecting chamber;
• a dirty air inlet opening formed in one of said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, or said bottom wall;
• a clean air outlet opening formed in one of said pair of curved sidewalls, said rear wall, or said bottom wall;
• a handle having a cavity at an upper end;
• a lid having an open position and a closed position pivotally connected to said dirt cup, said lid including a peripheral edge;
• and
• a thumb tab extending radially outward from said lid for pivoting said lid between said open position and said closed position;
• wherein said thumb tab extends into said cavity in said handle and rotates therein as said lid is pivoted between said closed position and said open position.