Patent Publication Number: US-7581286-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner and dust collection unit thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and particularly to a dust collection unit of a vacuum cleaner allowing a user to handle it conveniently. Further, the invention relates to a dust collection unit of a vacuum cleaner allowing a user to separate, install and clean it conveniently. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A vacuum cleaner is generally classified into a canister vacuum cleaner and an upright vacuum cleaner. Particularly, the upright vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a nozzle unit and a handle that are integrally formed, so the vacuum cleaner itself is moved when a user pushes or pulls a handle with gripping it. At this time, dusts on the floor are sucked through the nozzle to clean the floor. A general configuration of such an upright vacuum cleaner is already well known from many documents, so its detail description is omitted. 
   Meanwhile, a dust collection unit is detachably installed in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. When the vacuum cleaner operates, the dust collection unit is installed in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. When a predetermined amount of dirt is accumulated in the dust collection unit, the dust collection unit is separated from the main body such that captured dirt is discharged. Inside the dust collection unit, a cyclone member capturing dirt using a cyclone way and a filtering member separating dirt using a filtering way can be formed respectively. The filtering member is generally fixed to a lower surface of an upper cover of the dust collection unit. 
   Meanwhile, in order for a user to separate the dust collection unit from the main body, a dust collection box handle extending in a vertical direction is generally formed at a side surface of a dust collection box. To operate the dust collection box handle, a user holds the dust collection box handle using one hand and operates a hanging structure using the other hand. Also, in order to separate the upper cover of the dust collection unit, the user holds and lifts up a corner of the upper cover. 
   However, to pull out the dust collection unit holding the dust collection box handle, it is disadvantageous that a user has to hold the dust collection box handle using one hand and to operate a hanging structure using the other hand. Also, since the dust collection box handle is formed in a vertical direction, it is disadvantageous that the user has to hold the dust collection box hand with the user&#39;s body down. 
   Further, when the user pulls up the upper cover with holding a cover handle formed at a predetermined portion of the upper cover using one hand, the cover is pulled out with leaning toward one direction and therefore dirt attached to the filtering member may be detached therefrom. Of course, the detached dirt causes a user to feel displeasure. Furthermore, since the whole of the cover is not pulled out exactly upward, it is disadvantageous that the upper cover and the dust collection box are interfered with each other and are not easily pulled out. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
   An object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit thereof that allow a user to handle it conveniently. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit thereof that allow a user to conveniently separate or install it from/at a body of the vacuum cleaner with holding the dust collection unit. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit thereof that allow a user to more conveniently separate an upper cover of the dust collection unit. 
   Further another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner and a dust collection unit thereof having a more improved appearance by getting rid of portions protruded outward from the dust collection unit. 
   Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle unit for sucking outer air; a body into which the air sucked through the nozzle unit is introduced; a motor received in the nozzle unit or the body; a suction fan for sucking air using a rotational force of the motor; and a dust collection unit detachably installed in the body, for filtering foreign particles contained in the introduced air, wherein the dust collection unit comprises a cylindrical dust collection container and a handle protruded from a predetermined portion of an outer circumferential surface of the dust collection container and having an opened bottom. Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a detachable lever formed at an upper side portion of the body adjacent to the dust collection unit and manipulated by a user. 
   Another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dust collection unit of a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a dust collection container for collecting foreign particles therein, and having a handle formed on an outer circumference thereof, the handle having an opened bottom through which a user&#39;s hand is inserted; an upper cover for selectively opening and closing an upper surface of the dust collection container; and a pair of finger grooves concaved from an upper surface of the upper cover such that a user holds the upper cover when the upper cover is separated from the dust collection container. 
   Another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: a nozzle unit for sucking outer air; a body into which the air sucked through the nozzle unit is introduced, the body receiving at least a motor and a suction fan therein; a manipulation handle formed at an upper portion of the body and allowing a user to manipulate the body; a connection hose connecting the nozzle unit with the body; a dust collection unit detachably installed in the body, for filtering foreign particles contained in the introduced air; a detachable lever formed at an upper side portion of the body adjacent to the dust collection unit and manipulated when the dust collection container is separated or installed; a handle formed on an outer circumference of the dust collection container and having an opened bottom such that user&#39;s fingers are inserted; and an upper cover for selectively opening and closing an upper surface of the dust collection container. 
   According to the present invention, a user can handle the dust collection unit more conveniently from the body. Also, the separation operation of dirt from the dust collection unit can be made simple and convenient. In addition, since the dirt captured on the filter is not detached while the foreign particles are discarded, it is possible to use the dust collection unit more delightfully. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a state of when a dust collection unit is disassembled from a vacuum cleaner of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the dust collection unit; and 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line II-II′ of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the upright vacuum. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upright vacuum cleaner  1  macroscopically includes a suction nozzle unit  10  contacts with a floor to suck outer air, a body  20  in which main parts including a suction motor and a fan are mounted, and a manipulation handle  30  formed on an upper portion of the vacuum cleaner such that the vacuum cleaner is moved in an easy way during the cleaning work. The cleaning work using the vacuum cleaner is conducted as follows. First, air is sucked through the suction nozzle unit  10  together with foreign particles. The foreign particles are separated from the sucked air while passing through the body  20  and cleaned, and then the cleaned air is exhausted through a predetermined discharge hole. In addition, in order to move the vacuum cleaner to a desired position, a user grips the manipulation handle  30  of the vacuum cleaner and then pulls or pushes the vacuum cleaner  1 . 
   In detail, the suction nozzle unit  10  is used for sucking outer air and has a substantially rectangular shape with an opening opened toward the floor. The suction nozzle unit  10  is hinged to the body  20 , and a pivoting lever  3  controls this hinge movement. In addition, for better movement of the suction nozzle unit  10 , the suction nozzle unit f 10  further includes wheels  2  installed at a rear portion of the suction nozzle unit  10 , and a height control knob  4  installed on an upper surface of the suction nozzle unit  10  for height control of the suction nozzle unit  10 . The air sucked into the suction nozzle unit  10  is guided to the body  10  by means of a hose  29 . For this purpose, both ends of the hose  29  are connected to the suction nozzle unit  10  and the body  20 , respectively. 
   In detail, the body  20  includes a front case  21  for protecting a front portion of the body  20  and a rear case  22  for protecting a rear portion of the body  20 , and the front and rear portions are fixed with each other by a certain manner such as fitting or screwing. Furthermore, the body  20  is provided with a dust collecting unit  100  for collecting dusts from the air sucked through the hose  29 , a detachable lever  26  for separating the dust collecting unit  100  from the body  20  in a convenient way, a discharge cover  24  formed in a side of the body  20  for allowing the air free from foreign particles to be discharged, a lamp  25  for lighting the floor at night so that the vacuum cleaner may be manipulated in a convenient way, a mini nozzle seat  28  concaved in the top of the front case  21 , and a mini nozzle  40  selectively received in the mini nozzle seat  28 . The mini nozzle  40  may be used for cleaning places that are not directly contacted with the main body of the upright cleaner like a corner and received in the mini nozzle seat  28  during a custody time. Inside the dust collection unit  100 , a cyclone type dust collection member capturing foreign particles using a cyclone way and a filtering type dust collection member separating foreign particles using a filtering way can be formed respectively. The two dust collection members are disposed inside the body  20 . 
   In addition, the body  20  is also provided on its rear side with a code hook  36  protruded at upper and lower positions of the body  20  so that a power line is wound kept in custody thereon, a hose guide  37  that configures at least a part of the hose  29  and is made of strong materials unlike the hose  29 , and a holder  38  protruded on the rear side of the body  20  so as to support the hose guide  37 . The hose guide  37  is used for convenient positioning of the mini nozzle  40  when the mini nozzle is used in connection to the hose  29 . 
   Meanwhile, to the hose guide  27 , another suction nozzle unit like the mini nozzle  40  may be conveniently connected. For this purpose, one end of the hose guide  37  connected to the hose  29  is easily separated, and then another suction nozzle unit such as the mini nozzle  40  may be connected thereto. In addition, the hose  29  has a bellows shape, so its length may be shortened while being kept in custody and elongated over five times when being used by a user. Thus, the hose  29  allows a user to clean a place far away from the main body of the vacuum cleaner. 
   In addition, at the top of the front case  21 , the hose  29  may be seated in a shrunk state, and a moving handle  27  is formed for a user to grip to carry the vacuum cleaner. The moving handle  27  may be used not only for holding and carrying the vacuum cleaner but also for holding the hose  29 . 
   In detail, the manipulation handle  30  includes a handle  31  for a user to grip conveniently while the vacuum is operating, and an operation switch  34  formed at a predetermined position of the handle  31  and used for controlling operation of the vacuum cleaner itself such as initiation of operation of the vacuum switch and suction force of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, a length of the manipulation handle  30  may be conveniently adjusted. In more detail, for adjustment of length, the manipulation handle  30  includes an extension pipe  33  extended downward to the handle  31 , and a fixed pipe  32  that supports the extension pipe  33  and allows the extension pipe  33  to be moved through it by means of selective manipulation of an extension lever  35  so that the length of the manipulation handle  30  may be shortened or elongated. 
   The present invention mainly has an interest on the dust collection unit  100 , particularly on improved convenience in use of the dust collection unit  100 . The dust collection unit  100  communicates with the body  20  to suck unfiltered air and exhaust filtered clean air toward the body  20 . Hereinafter, the structure and operation of the dust collection unit will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a state of when the dust collection unit is disassembled from a vacuum cleaner of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the body  20  is provided therein with a motor (not shown) for generating a suction force and a suction fan (not shown) rotating using a power of the motor such that outer air and foreign particles are sucked through the suction nozzle unit  10 . A dust collection unit seat  70  is formed at a central portion of the body  20 . The dust collection unit seat  70  is concaved toward an inside of the body  20  from a front side of the body  20  such that the dust collection unit  100  is inserted into and installed at the dust collection unit seat  70 . 
   In detail, a suction unit  71  that is an air introduction path is formed protruding from a rear surface of the dust collection unit seat  70 . The suction unit  71  communicates with a discharge hole (see  165  of  FIG. 6 ) of the dust collection unit  100 . Therefore, the air introduced into the dust collection unit  100  from the body  20  is filtered at the dust collection unit  100  and then is again introduced into the inside of the body through the suction unit  71 . The suction unit  71  is protruded so as to be exactly aligned with the discharge hole  165  because the discharge hole  165  of the dust collection unit  100  is concaved toward an inside of the dust collection unit  100 . 
   A filter  72  is attached on a front surface of the suction unit  71  to filter foreign particles contained in air introduced thereinto. In particular, the filter  72  filters foreign particles which were not filtered by the dust collection unit  100  and introduced into the inside of the body  20 , thereby preventing components such as a motor (not shown) built in the body  20  from being damaged. In addition, the dust collection unit seat  70  includes a pair of guide grooves  74  formed in a bottom surface  73  thereof in a front and rear direction thereof. The pair of guide grooves  74  are aligned with guide protrusions (not shown) formed at a lower surface of the dust collection unit  100  such that the dust collection unit  100  is exactly inserted into the dust collection unit seat  70 . Of course, the bottom surface  73  of the dust collection unit seat  70  supports the weight of the dust collection unit  100 . 
   The dust collection unit  100  seated on the dust collection unit seat  70  of the body  20  is shaped in a cylinder such that foreign particles are filtered by a cyclone way. The dust collection unit  100  filters foreign particles contained in the air sucked through the suction nozzle unit  10  and it is detachably assembled in the dust collection unit seat  70 . The dust collection unit can collect foreign particles therein using a general cyclone way, using a separate filter, or using the cyclone and the filter at the same time. 
   The body  20  is further provided at a front surface thereof with the detachable lever  26 . The detachable lever  26  moves up and down centering on a hinge shaft (not shown). One end of the detachable lever  26  is latched on a detachable groove (see  142  of  FIG. 4 ) of the dust collection unit  100 . Accordingly, the detachable lever  26  is used to fix an upper side of the dust collection unit  100 , or is used to separate the dust collection unit  100  as a user manipulates the detachable lever  26  to release the latch between the detachable groove  142  and the dust collection unit  100 . 
   In detail, in order to separate the dust collection unit  100 , as a user pushes the detachable lever  26  with holding a handle  130  using one hand, the latch between the detachable lever  26  and the detachable groove  142  is released. Then, when the user holds the handle  130  and pulls the dust collection unit  100  outward, the dust collection unit  100  can be separated from the body  20 . Therefore, it is preferable that the handle  130  is protruded outward from an upper side portion of the dust collection container  100  and a lower surface of the handle  130  is opened. In addition, it is preferable that the handle  130  is formed integrally with the dust collection container  110  for convenient fabrication thereof. Since the opened lower surface of the handle  130  enables a user to insert his or her hand from a lower side of the handle  130  to an upper side of the handle  130  and grip the handle  130 , the user need not duct his/her head. In other words, since the user pushes the detachable lever  26  downward using his/her thumb of one hand and inserts fingers of the other hand from a lower direction of the handle  130  to an upper direction and extracts the handle  130 , there disappears inconvenience that the user ducts his/her head so as to hold the handle  130 . 
   Also, the handle  130  further includes a handle cover  144 , which covers an upper surface of the handle  130  to make the appearance of the handle  130  better. In addition, to enable separation of the upper cover after the dust collection unit  100  is separated, the dust collection unit  100  further includes a finger groove  190  formed at a top surface of the dust collection unit  100 . 
   Next, inner construction of the dust collection unit  100  according to the spirit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  is a disassembled perspective view of the dust collection unit. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the dust collection unit  100  includes a cylindrical dust collection container  110  forming the appearance thereof. A suction guide  112  is formed at an upper side portion of the dust collection container  110 . The suction guide  112  is protruded outward from the dust collection container  110  to guide the air introduced into the dust collection container  110  such that the air flows in a tangential direction along an inner wall of the dust collection container  110 . Accordingly, the suction guide  112  is protruded along the tangential direction of the dust collection container  110 . Also, the cylindrical shape of the dust collection container  110  is used for rotating the sucked air. 
   Inside the dust collection container  110 , a separation plate  120  is disposed to separate foreign particles having a relatively high weight in the foreign particles contained in the introduced air at a lower side of the dust collection container  110 . Inner space of the dust collection container  110  is partitioned into an upper space and a lower space by the separation plate  120 . The separation plate  120  is formed having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the dust collection container  110  such that the foreign particles drop. In addition, the separation plate  120  has a communication hole  122  formed in a vertical direction to guide a downward drop of the separated foreign particles. In other words, the foreign particles contained in the air passes through the communication hole  122  of the separation plate  120  and are moved downward. Also, the separation plate  120  has a central portion concaved by a predetermined depth so as to mount a filter assembly  150  thereon. 
   In addition, the handle  130  is formed at the other outer circumferential surface of the suction guide  112 . The handle  130  is protruded toward a lateral direction from an upper portion of the dust collection container  110  to allow a user to separate and couple the dust collection unit  100  from the body  20  with ease. Accordingly, a bottom portion of the handle  130  is opened such that a user&#39;s hand is inserted upward from an inside of the handle  130 . The opened bottom surface of the handle  130  enables the user&#39;s fingers to be latched on a predetermined latch jaw and allows the user to firmly grip the dust collection unit  100 . 
   Also, an upper surface of the dust collection container  110  is shielded by an upper cover  140 . The upper cover  140  is openably and closably installed at an upper side of the dust collection container  110 . The upper cover  140  has a detachable groove  142  formed downward at an upper central portion thereof. A rear end of the detachable lever  26  is latched on the detachable groove  142 . The upper cover  140  also includes a handle cover  144  formed at a side portion thereof, for covering the handle  130 . The handle cover  144  is formed in a shape corresponding to the appearance of the handle  130 . A filter lever  146  for fixing the filter assembly  150  is disposed below the upper cover  140 . The filter lever  146  is installed movably with a freedom in one direction to selectively fix a coupling rib  156  of the filter assembly  150 , thereby controlling separation and coupling of the filter assembly  150 . 
   The handle  130 , which is one feature of the present invention, is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the other side of the suction guide  112 . Since the lower surface of the handle  130  is opened, a user can insert his or her hand inward through the lower side of the handle  130  and firmly grip the handle  130  as the user&#39;s finger is latched on a predetermined latch jaw. Also, the handle  130  is formed at an opposite portion to the suction guide  112  such that when the user holds the handle  130 , the suction guide  112  is positioned at an opposite position to the handle  130 . Therefore, the handle  130  does not hinder the handling operation of the dust collection unit  100 . 
   The upper cover  140  further includes one pair of finger grooves  190  formed at the top surface thereof. The pair of finger grooves  190  correspond to a portion concaved downward from an upper surface of the upper cover and are formed at a position symmetric to a center point  200  of the upper cover  140 . In order to separate the upper cover  140  easily using one hand with gripping the handle  130  using the other hand, the pair of finger grooves  190  may be formed at a position spaced by an equal distance from a handle cover  144 . 
   The finger grooves  190  are concaved at a predetermined depth from the upper surface of the upper cover  140 . Preferably, the finger grooves  190  are formed integrally with the upper cover  140 . 
   The filter assembly  150  is installed below the upper cover  140 . The filter assembly  150  is made in the shape of a cylinder, to filter foreign particles contained in sucked air. Preferably, the filter assembly  150  is made in a dual structure so as to completely filter the foreign particles. In detail, the filter assembly includes a bellows filter  152  having a bellows repeated in a vertical direction, and a net filter  154  disposed on an outer surface of the bellows filter  152 . The coupling rib  156  is protruded toward the lateral direction from the upper portion thereof. The coupling rib  156  is selectively coupled with the filter lever  146  provided in the upper cover  140 . Accordingly, when the coupling rib  156  is latched on the filter lever  146 , the filter assembly  150  is fixed to the upper cover  140 . The filter assembly  150  is further provided at a central portion thereof with a discharge guide passage  158  formed in a vertical direction. The discharge guide passage  158  guides a downward discharge of the air that has passed through the filter assembly  150 . Therefore, the air that has passed through the net filter  154  and the bellows filter  152  is guided by the discharge guide passage  158  and is moved downward. 
   Also, a discharge guide pipe  160  is formed along a lower central portion of the separation plate  120 . The discharge guide pipe  160  has a lower end bent toward a side direction and is finally made in the form of ‘ ’. The discharge guide pipe  160  guides the air discharged through the discharge guide passage  158  of the filter assembly  150  toward a lower side direction of the dust collection container  110 . Accordingly, the discharge guide pipe  160  has a circular inner circumference and a top end having an inner diameter that is at least equal to or larger than an inner diameter of the discharge guide passage  158 . 
   Also, a foreign particle shielding film  162  is disposed at an upper end of the discharge guide pipe  160 . The foreign particle shielding film  162  is made of a flexible material such as rubber, and is shaped in a radially cutaway structure so as to make flow easy. The foreign particle shielding film  162  prevents the foreign particles attached on the filter assembly  150  from dropping and being introduced into the inside of the discharge guide pipe  160  when the filter assembly  150  is separated upward together with the upper cover  140 . In addition, since the foreign particle shielding film  162  is made of a flexible material, it is curved downward along the airflow while the dust collection unit  100  operates and accordingly has no influence on the operation of the dust collection unit  100 . 
   In addition, the dust collection unit has an exhaust part  164  formed at a rear side thereof. The exhaust part  164  is to guide discharge of air flowing through the discharge guide pipe  160  and it receives the protruded suction unit  71  of the body  20 . In other words, the protruded suction unit  71  is protruded forward from the inner circumferential surface of the dust collection unit seat  70  of the body  20  and the exhaust part  164  is concaved forward by a predetermined portion from a rear surface of the dust collection container  110  so as to receive therein the protruded suction unit  71 . The exhaust part  164  has a discharge hole  165  through which air flowing through the discharge guide pipe  160  is discharged. The discharge hole  165  is preferably formed in the shape of a rectangle to correspond to the protruded suction unit  71 . Of course, it is preferable that the discharge hole  165  is exactly in contact with an end of the protruded suction unit  71  such that the air flowing therein is completely sealed. 
   In addition, the dust collection unit  100  further includes a lower cover  170  which is freely openable and closable. The lower cover  170  is to remove the foreign particles collected in the dust collection unit  100 . The lower cover  170  is provided at a predetermined portion thereof with a hinge portion  168  such that the lower cover  170  is rotatable with respect to the dust collection container  110 , and further provided at another predetermined portion thereof with a coupling portion  166  such that the lower cover  170  is fixed to the dust collection container  110 . Since the coupling portion  166  is formed inside the exhaust part  164  concaved from the rear surface of the dust collection container  110 , it is not observed by a user manual eye, resulting in the enhancement in the appearance. Of course, since the coupling portion  16  is received inside the dust collection container  110  so as not to be in contact with external impact, unexpected damage can be prevented. Of course, in another aspect, since the lower side of the dust collection container  110  is smaller in width than the upper side due to the existence of the exhaust part  164 , the lower cover  170  has a smaller width than the upper cover  140 . 
   The operation of the dust collection unit  100  will now be described. 
   Air introduced through the suction hole  112  rotates. At this time, foreign particles having a relatively large size pass through the separation plate  120  and are collected in a downward direction. Foreign particles having a relatively small size are collected in the filter assembly  150 . The filtered air while passing through the filter assembly  150  passes through the discharge guide passage  158  to be guided in a downward direction and is finally discharged outside the dust collection unit  100 . 
   Meanwhile, in order to remove the foreign particles collected on the upper surface of the lower cover- 170  of the dust collection unit  100 , it is required that the dust collection unit  100  be separated from the body  20  and the lower cover  170  be opened. The above operation will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 5 . 
   To separate the dust collection unit  100  from the body  20 , the detachable lever  26  is pushed downward using a thumb. When the detachable lever  26  is pushed downward, the rear end of the detachable lever  26  is extracted from the detachable groove  142  of the dust collection unit  100 . Accordingly, when the handle  130  of the dust collection unit  100  is gripped and pulled forward, the dust collection unit  100  is separated from the body  20 . At this time, pushing the detachable lever  26  using the thumb of one hand gripping the handle  130  is to allow the user to conveniently extract the dust collection unit  100  using the other hand. At this time, the thumb of one hand applies a power pushing the detachable lever downward and other fingers of the same hand applies a power pushing the handle  130  upward. In other words, since a sum power of the thumb power and the other fingers&#39; power is applied, the user need not duct his/her head or does not make a mistake in dealing with the dust collection unit  100 . 
   Also, since the handle  130  is designed to have an increased width as it travels from an upper side to a lower side thereof, the handle  130  is in harmony with other components of the vacuum cleaner and is endurable against an external impact. The lower end portion of the handle  130  has an enough width so that the user&#39;s fingers can be inserted thereinto and accordingly, the user can grip the handle  130  conveniently. 
   After the dust collection unit  100  is separated, an operation to remove the foreign particles collected in the dust collection container  110  is performed. First, the foreign particles collected in the dust collection container  110  by a cyclone way are removed while the lower cover  170  is opened. In addition, the dirt captured by the filter assembly is removed by a separate cleaning after the upper cover  140  is removed and the filter assembly  150  is separated from the upper cover  140 . 
   Next, the separation operation of the upper cover  140  from the dust collection unit  140  will now be described. 
   To extract the dust collection unit  100 , the user grips the handle  130  with his/her one hand and inserts his/her thumb and forefinger into the finger grooves  190  and grips the upper cover  140  with the other hand. When the upper cover  140  is gripped by the user&#39;s fingers inserted into the fingers grooves  190 , the user can separate the upper cover  140  from the dust collection container  110  by pulling the upper cover  140  upward. 
   Since the upper cover  140  is separated by the above operation, it can be prevented that the upper cover  140  is pushed in a predetermined direction and latched by the dust collection container  110  during the separation of the upper cover  140 . In addition, since the upper cover  140  is smoothly extracted from the dust collection container  110 , vibration that may be applied to the upper cover  140  can be suppressed. To this end, the worry that the foreign particles captured on the filter assembly drop is removed. 
     FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line II-II′ of  FIG. 5 . From  FIG. 6 , the shape of the finger groove  190  can be understood. The finger groove  190  is concaved downward from the upper surface of the upper cover  140  and the latch jaw  191  is formed at an inner portion of the concaved finger groove  190 . When the user grips the finger groove  190 , the fingers are latched by the latch jaw  191 . Accordingly, if the user dose not weaken the gripping force after the fingers are inserted, the user&#39;s fingers are not extracted from the finger groove  190 . Of course, since the latch jaw  191  is formed toward a center of the upper cover  140 , it is possible to firmly grip the upper cover  140  using a pair of fingers facing each other. 
   According to the present invention, the dust collection unit can be conveniently separated from the body. In other words, the dust collection unit can be handled only with one hand. In detail, the user can separate the dust collection unit in a simple way using only one hand by pushing the detachable lever downward using a thumb of his/her one hand, inserting his/her fingers into an inner upper portion of the handle to grip the handle and pulling the dust collection unit forward. Since due to the above separation operation of the dust collection unit, the user need not duct his/her head so as to grip the dust collection unit, the user can handle the dust collection unit more conveniently. Also, since the fingers&#39; power is concentrated on a center of the palm, the worry that the dust collection unit deviates from a desired direction is removed. 
   In addition, in separating the upper cover from the dust collection unit, the user&#39;s convenience is improved. In detail, since the finger grooves of the upper cover are formed integrally with the upper cover and concaved inward from the upper surface of the upper cover, interference between the finger grooves and other components is excluded during the installation and separation of the dust collection unit, which makes the handling more convenient. Further, since the upper cover can be handled using a thumb and a forefinger, the handling of the upper cover is more convenient. 
   Furthermore, since the handle is formed integrally with the dust collection container and the finger grooves are formed integrally with the upper cover, production cost is saved and productivity is enhanced. Of course, the appearance of the dust collection unit is improved. 
   While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments exemplified with the upright vacuum cleaner, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that that the spirit of the present invention may be applied to the canister vacuum cleaner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.