Filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner

A method of operating a filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a wall support to a wall of a dirt cup;
• securing a screen panel having a number of screen elements to a filter element to form a fine particle separation chamber;
• positioning the screen panel and filter element proximate to the wall support;
• forming a portion of the wall of a coarse particle separation chamber by securing the screen panel and filter element to the wall support;
• separating coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden air entering said dirt cup with said screen panel and separating fine particles from said dirt laden air with said filter element;
• collecting said coarse particles in said coarse particle separation chamber and collecting said fine particles in said fine particle separation chamber;
• providing a fine particle exit opening in fluid communication with an upper portion of the fine particle separation chamber;
• and
• emptying the contents of the fine particle separation chamber via the fine particle exit opening.

A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a dirt cup adapted to receive dirt laden air from the vacuum cleaning apparatus;
• a screen panel supported in said dirt cup defining a coarse particle collection chamber;
• a filter element located downstream of said screen panel and attachable thereto to define a fine particle collection chamber, wherein said filter element is detachable from said screen panel within said dirt cup to empty said fine particle collection chamber into said coarse particle collection chamber;
• and
• said conjoined screen panel and filter element are removable from said dirt cup to empty said fine particle collection chamber outside of said dirt cup;
• wherein said fine particle collection chamber defines a fine particle exit opening upwardly, wherein said dirt cup is invertible to empty said fine particle collection chamber via said fine particle exit.