Patent ID: 8074321
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. A vacuum cleaner that has: an inlet on a base unit; a collection chamber in the base unit that has an upstream side that is in fluid communication with the inlet; a separable unit that is releasably engaged to the base unit, can be used as a stand-alone vacuum cleaner, and has a second collection chamber; an outlet on the separable unit; a vacuum source in the separable unit that is in fluid communication with the outlet and with the second collection chamber; a second inlet on the separable unit through which all dust and/or debris enter the second collection chamber when the separable unit is used as a stand-alone vacuum cleaner; an aperture on the base unit that can be connected to the second inlet, placing the vacuum source in fluid communication with a downstream side of the collection chamber in the base unit; a projection on the inlet on the separable unit that extends outwardly and has a lateral profile; and a recessed channel on the base unit that is sized to receive the projection on the inlet on the separable unit, and closely fits the lateral profile to automatically orient the separable unit to base unit.