# US 9,775,482 B2 · Vacuum cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,482 B2 - Document ID: US9775482B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/644,761 - Filed: 2015-03-11 - Published: 2015-07-02 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-26 - Assignees: BISSELL Homecare, Inc. - Applicants: BISSELL Homecare, Inc. - Inventors: Phong H. Tran; Steve Butkiewicz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775482B2 ## CPC - A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions} - A47L 5/365: {of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type} - A47L 9/0477: {Rolls} - A47L 9/1633: {Concentric cyclones} - A47L 9/1666: {with filtering means} - A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles} - A47L 9/20: Means for cleaning filters - A47L 9/325: {for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle} - Y10S 55/03: Vacuum cleaner - 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) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A vacuum cleaner has a separation/collection module with a housing and a cover pivotally mounted to the housing by a hinge. A filter assembly is carried by the cover and includes a filter media. When a user of the vacuum cleaner opens the cover, the filter media can be seen by the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction nozzle; a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle; and a separation/collection module comprising: a housing defining a cyclone separator; a cover pivotally mounted to the housing by a hinge and moveable between a close position and an open position; and a filter assembly carried by the cover for movement therewith and comprising a filter media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface through which working air passes; wherein when the cover is moved to the open position the upstream surface of the filter media is viewable from a user's vantage point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the downstream surface of the filter media is hidden from the user's vantage point when the cover is moved to the open position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner from claim 1, wherein the filter assembly is a pre-motor filter assembly and the suction source is fluidly downstream of the downstream surface of the filter media. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly comprises a filter housing coupled with the cover and defining a filter chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the filter housing seals against the housing in the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a filter tray mounted within the filter chamber and retaining the filter media. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a filter tray removably mounted within the cover and retaining the filter media. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the filter tray comprises at least one filter inlet and at least one filter outlet which allow working air to pass through the filter media retained within the filter tray. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the upstream surface and a downstream surface are opposing sides of the filter media. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter media comprises one of a HEPA filter or a porous, non-pleated filter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the separation/collection module comprises an exhaust grill removably mounted to the cyclone separator and comprising a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the filter assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cyclone separator comprises at least one cyclone chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing working airstream and the separation/collection module comprises at least one collection chamber associated with the at least one cyclone chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the at least one cyclone chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an air outlet in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a latch assembly selectively latching the cover in the closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the latch assembly comprises a latch engageable with the housing to latch the cover in the closed position and a latch actuator coupled with the latch, wherein the latch actuator conceals the latch from view from the user's vantage point when the cover is closed. ### Claim 16 A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a suction nozzle; a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle; and a separation/collection module comprising: a housing defining a cyclone separator; a cover pivotally mounted to the housing by a hinge and moveable between a close position and an open position; and a filter assembly carried by the cover for movement therewith and comprising a filter media having an upstream surface and a downstream surface through which working air passes; wherein when the cover is moved to the open position the upstream surface of the filter media is exposed and the downstream surface is hidden. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the filter assembly comprises a filter housing coupled with the cover and defining a filter chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the filter housing seals against the housing in the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the filter assembly further comprises a filter tray removably mounted within the cover and retaining the filter media. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the filter tray comprises at least one filter inlet and at least one filter outlet which allow working air to pass through the filter media retained within the filter tray.