Patent Publication Number: US-8978200-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner with latch mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/368,098, filed Jul. 27, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vacuum cleaners can use a removable dirt cup to store collected dirt, dust and other contaminates for later disposal. The dirt cup can have a latch mechanism that selectively secures the dirt cup to the vacuum cleaner in a position to receive dirt, dust, and other contaminates. The latch mechanism also allows the dirt cup to be selectively removed from the vacuum cleaner to be emptied. Conventional latch mechanisms fasten only the dirt cup to the vacuum cleaner. 
     Some known latch mechanisms directly engage the dirt cup and require vertical movement of the dirt cup in order to secure or remove the dirt cup relative to the vacuum cleaner. For example, such latch mechanisms directly engage a bottom of the dirt cup to raise the dirt cup to secure it to the vacuum cleaner and lower the dirt cup to remove it from the vacuum cleaner. Examples of such latch mechanisms include: U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,406 to Oh, issued May 11, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,816 to Oh et al., issued May 18, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,584 to Choi, issued Aug. 31, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,868 to Jeong, issued Aug. 2, 2005. Other latch mechanisms indirectly engage the dirt cup to selectively raise or lower the dirt cup. One example of such a latch mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,667 to Yang et al., issued Jan. 31, 2006. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, a latch mechanism for selectively fastening a dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a mounting structure for mounting a dirt cup and a filter housing, and at least one sloped projection on the mounting structure. The latch mechanism comprises a filter housing having at least one sloped surface at a position corresponding to the position of the sloped projection on the mounting structure and a top portion configured to support a dirt cup, wherein movement of the filter housing in a first direction relative to the mounting structure, with the at least one sloped surface bearing against the at least one sloped projection, results in the movement of the filter housing, and thus the dirt cup, in a second direction transverse to the first direction with respect to the mounting structure. 
     Further according to the invention, a vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a mounting structure, a filter housing selectively mounted in the mounting structure, a dirt cup selectively mounted in the mounting structure and supported by the filter housing, a first sloped portion on the mounting structure in supporting relationship to the filter housing, and a second sloped portion on the filter housing corresponding to the first sloped portion, wherein the first sloped portion and the second sloped portion are configured such that movement of the filter housing in a first direction relative to the mounting structure as the first and second sloped portions bear against each other results in the movement of the filter housing and thus the dirt cup, in a second direction transverse to the first direction relative to the mounting structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the invention with a latch mechanism in a latched position. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the foot assembly of the vacuum cleaner from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum cleaner taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the vacuum cleaner from  FIG. 1 , with the dirt cup shown unlatched and removed from the vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 5  is a front partial perspective view of the vacuum cleaner from  FIG. 1 , illustrating a latch mechanism of the vacuum cleaner. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with the latch mechanism in an unlatched position. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism in a latched position. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism in an unlatched position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a latch mechanism for vacuum cleaners. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a removably-mounted dirt cup. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a dirt cup with an improved latch mechanism integrated with a filter assembly for removably mounting the dirt cup to a vacuum cleaner. For purposes of description related to the figures, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1  from the perspective of a user behind the vacuum cleaner, which defines the rear of the vacuum cleaner. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the vacuum cleaner  10  comprises an upright handle assembly  12  pivotally mounted to a foot assembly  14 . The upright handle assembly  12  comprises a main body  16  housing a filtration system  18  for separating contaminants from a working airstream. As illustrated, the filtration system  18  includes a bagless cyclonic filter in the form of a cyclone separator  20 , a removable dirt cup  22  for receiving and collecting the separated contaminants from the cyclone separator  20 , and a secondary filter assembly  24  for filtering working air downstream of the cyclone separator  20 . The main body  16  also has a first hand grip  26  provided on an upper surface of the main body  16  that can be used for lifting the entire vacuum cleaner  10 . A handle  28  extends upwardly from the first hand grip  26  and is provided with a second hand grip  30  at one end that can be used for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner  10  over a surface to be cleaned. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the vacuum cleaner  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The handle  28  selectively supports a vacuum hose  32 , which is coupled at one end to the cyclone separator  20  and at the opposite end to a removable wand  34 . The wand  34  is removable from the vacuum cleaner  10  for above-the-floor cleaning; when mounting to the vacuum cleaner  10 , the wand  34  is in fluid communication with the foot assembly  14 . 
     The foot assembly  14  includes a foot assembly casing  36  having a suction nozzle opening  38  formed therein and an agitator  40  provided adjacent the suction nozzle opening  38 . The agitator  40  is illustrated as a rotating brushroll; however, it is within the scope of the invention for other types of agitators to be used, such as a stationary brush or a blade-type wiper. A working air path fluidly communicates the suction nozzle opening  38  with the filtration system  18  (shown in  FIG. 1 ); specifically, the working air path extends from the suction nozzle opening  38 , through the wand  34  and vacuum hose  32 , and into the cyclone separator  20 . A pair of rear wheels  42  and a pair of front wheels  44  are provided on the foot assembly casing  36  for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner  10  over a surface to be cleaned. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the main body  16  taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . A motor cavity  46  is formed at a lower end of the main body  16  and contains a conventional suction source such as a motor/fan assembly  48  oriented transversely therein. The motor/fan assembly  48  is in fluid communication with and downstream of the cyclone separator  20 . 
     The cyclone separator  20  includes a housing  50  having a side wall  52  with a lower edge  54  and defining a cyclonic chamber  56  having an air inlet  58  coupled with one end of the vacuum hose  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and an air outlet  60  in fluid communication with the motor/fan assembly  48 . The inlet  58  can be oriented tangentially, such that the tangential airflow generated from inlet  58  is directed into the cyclonic chamber  56 . A grill assembly  62  can be positioned between the cyclonic chamber  56  and the outlet  60 . 
     The dirt cup  22  includes a bottom wall  64  with a peripheral side wall  66  extending upwardly therefrom to an upper edge  68  defining an open-topped dirt collection chamber  70 . The dirt cup  22  can be substantially cylindrical, with the bottom wall  64  and the upper edge  68  both having a circular, though not necessarily equally-sized, shape. The bottom wall  64  can further include a dome-like shape, with a central portion of the bottom wall  64  being higher than a peripheral portion of the bottom wall  64 . 
     An air outlet conduit  72  is formed with the dirt cup  22  and is in fluid communication with the outlet  60  from the cyclone separator  20 . The air outlet conduit  72  extends upwardly from an opening  74  in the bottom wall  64 . While the air outlet  60  is described herein as being the air outlet from the cyclone chamber  56 , the opening  74  may be considered to be the air outlet from the cyclone separator  20 , since the outlet  60  and opening  74  are in direct fluid communication via the air outlet conduit  72 . 
     One or more upstanding projection(s) or finger(s)  76  protrude upwardly from the inner surface of bottom wall  64  to inhibit the vacillation of the debris deposited in the dirt cup  22 , thereby disrupting the currents that would tend to carry smaller dirt particles upwardly and back into the cyclonic air flow. The fingers  76  can also deflect dirt particles within the dirt cup  22  to further encourage agglomeration of the dirt particles within the dirt cup  22 . As illustrated, the fingers  76  are arranged in a spaced relationship between the side wall  66  and the air outlet conduit  72 . 
     A first seal or gasket  78  can be provided between the lower edge  54  of the cyclone separator  20  and the upper edge  68  of the dirt cup  22  and a second seal or gasket  80  can be provided between the grill assembly  62  the cyclone separator  20  and the air outlet conduit  72  of the dirt cup  22 , which forms an air-tight seal between the dirt cup  22  and the cyclone separator  20  when the dirt cup  22  is mounted to the main body  16  beneath the cyclone separator  20 . 
     As illustrated herein, the secondary filter assembly  24  is a pre-motor filter assembly, and filters working air as it exits the cyclone separator  20  prior to entering the motor cavity  46 . A tertiary filter assembly (not shown) can also be provided, and can comprise a post-motor filter assembly positioned downstream of the motor/fan assembly  48  to filter working air prior to exhausting the working air to the atmosphere through exhaust openings  84  formed in the main body  16 . However, it is within the scope of the invention for the secondary filter assembly  24  to alternately comprise a post-motor filter assembly, such that the secondary filter assembly  24  is fluidly downstream of the motor/fan assembly  48 . 
     The secondary filter assembly  24  comprises a filter housing  86  in fluid communication with the inlet to the motor/fan assembly  48  and configured to receive a removable filter member  88  for filtering working air from the cyclone separator  20  prior to entering the motor cavity  46 . In the illustrated arrangement, the filter housing  86  is positioned above the motor cavity  46  and below the dirt cup  22 . 
     The filter housing  86  includes a bottom wall  90  with a peripheral side wall  92  extending upwardly therefrom to an upper edge  94  defining an open-topped filter chamber  96 . The filter housing  86  can be substantially cylindrical, with the bottom wall  90  and the upper edge  94  both having a circular, though not necessarily equally-sized, shape. The bottom wall  90  can be provided with an outlet opening  98  and filter mounting features  100  ( FIG. 4 ) positioned on the bottom wall  90  around the outlet opening  98 . 
     The filter housing  86  is configured to support the dirt cup  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the dirt cup  22  is supported on a top portion of the filter housing  86 . More specifically, the bottom wall  64  of the dirt cup  22  rests on the upper edge  94  of the filter housing  86 . At least one of the dirt cup  22  and the filter housing  86  can be formed with one or more features to facilitate a secure placement of the dirt cup  22  on the filter housing  86 . As illustrated herein, the bottom wall  64  of the dirt cup  22  is provided with a peripheral lip  102  spaced slightly inwardly of juncture between the bottom wall  64  and the side wall  66 . The lip  102  is received within the side wall  92  of the filter housing  86  so that the bottom wall  64  of the dirt cup  22  rests on the upper edge  94  of the filter housing  86 . 
     The filter member  88  includes an inner filter  104  positioned between a bottom member  106  and a top member  108 . An outer filter  110  is also positioned around the inner filter  104 , also between the bottom member  106  and a top member  108 . The bottom member  106  includes corresponding filter mounting features (not shown), which engage the filter mounting features  100  of the filter housing  86  to secure the filter member  88  within the filter housing  86 . The top member  108  includes a handle  114  for facilitating the attachment or detachment of the filter member  88  within the filter housing  86 . As illustrated, the inner filter  104  comprises a pleated filter, such as a HEPA-type filter, and the outer filter  110  comprises an unpleated filter, such as a sponge-type filter, although the filter assembly  24  can use other types of filters. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in which the dirt cup  22  and the filter assembly  24  are shown removed from the vacuum cleaner  10 , the main body  16  comprises a mounting structure  116  that selectively receives the dirt cup  22  and the filter assembly  24 . The mounting structure  116  as illustrated herein comprises a recess  118  in a front portion of the main body  16  that includes a rear wall  120  joined to a bottom wall  122 . A conduit  124  defining an inlet  126  to the motor cavity  46  extends from the bottom wall  122 . While not illustrated, a filter can be provided at the inlet  126  to the motor cavity  46 . 
     The dirt cup  22  and the filter assembly  24  are received within the recess  118  in a stacked configuration, with the filter housing  86  resting on the bottom wall  122  and the dirt cup  22  above the filter housing  86 , but below the cyclone separator  20 . Like both the dirt cup  22  and the filter housing  86 , the recess  118  can be substantially cylindrical in shape to receive the dirt cup  22  and filter housing  86 . However, it is within the scope of the invention for the dirt cup  22 , filter housing  86 , and recess  118  to be non-cylindrical and/or to have different shapes. When the filter assembly  24  is received by the mounting structure  116 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the conduit  124  is aligned with the outlet opening  98  of the filter housing  86 , and the inlet  126  is in fluid communication with the outlet opening  98 . In turn, the dirt cup  22  is received on top of the filter housing  86 , with the air outlet conduit  72  in fluid communication with the outlet  60  of the cyclone separator  20  and with filter chamber  96  of the filter assembly  24 . 
     In operation, the vacuum cleaner  10  draws in dirt-laden air through the foot assembly  14  and into the filtration system  18  where the dirt is substantially separated from the air. The airflow, containing particulate matter, passes through air inlet  58  and into the cyclone chamber  56  to travel around the grill assembly  62 . As the airflow travels about the cyclone chamber  56 , heavier dirt particles are forced toward the side wall of the housing  50 . These particles fall under the force of gravity and are collected in the dirt cup  22 . As the inlet air traverses through the cyclone chamber  56 , casting dirt particles toward the side wall of the housing  50 , the inlet air will be drawn inwardly through the grill assembly  62 , which changes the velocity of the air flow, causing it to shed additional dirt particles. These dirt particles are also urged toward the dirt cup  22  by the circulating air flow in cyclone chamber  56 . The air flow then passes through the outlet  60 , downwardly through the air outlet conduit  72  and into the filter housing  86  where the air passes through both filters  104 ,  110  of the filter member  88  to remove additional fine dirt particles are from the airflow. Thereafter, the airflow continues on to the motor cavity  46 , past the motor/fan assembly  48 , and through the 4 exhaust openings  84 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a latch mechanism  128  is provided for selectively latching the dirt cup  22  to the main body  16 . The latch mechanism  128  can be integrated with the filter assembly  24 , whereby a portion of the filter assembly  24  is moved to latch or unlatch the dirt cup  22  to or from the main body  16 . As such, the filter assembly  24  acts as an actuator for the latch mechanism  128 . As illustrated herein, the latch mechanism  128  includes both the mounting structure  116  and the filter housing  86 , wherein movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116  causes the filter housing  86 , and thus the dirt cup  22 , to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the mounting structure  16 . Upward movement of the filter housing  86  effects the latching of the dirt cup  22  to the main body  16 , while downward movement of the filter housing  86  effects the unlatching of the dirt cup  22  from the main body  16 . 
     To facilitate the movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 , a first sloped portion  130  is provided on the mounting structure  116  and a second sloped portion  132  is provided on the filter housing  86  which corresponds to the first sloped portion  130 . Movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116  causes the first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  to bear against each other, thereby causing the filter housing  86 , and thus the dirt cup  22 , to move upwardly and downwardly, as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The first sloped portion  130  provided on the mounting structure  116  can include at least one sloped surface  134 . The at least one sloped surface  134  can be defined by an upper surface of at least one sloped projection  136  on the mounting structure  116 . As illustrated herein, a plurality of sloped projections  136  are provided on the bottom wall  122  of the mounting structure  116 . Specifically, three sloped projections  136  are provided at generally equally-spaced intervals around the conduit  124 . 
     Each sloped projection  136  can include a sloped inner wall  138  and a sloped outer wall  140  positioned outwardly from the inner wall  138 . The upper surfaces of the inner and outer walls  138 ,  140  therefore collectively define the sloped surface  134 . The inner and outer walls  138 ,  140  define a space  142  therebetween. 
     The inner and outer walls  138 ,  140  collectively define an incline portion  144 , a peak portion  146 , and a drop portion  148  of the sloped projection  136 . The peak portion  146  includes the highest point of the sloped projection  136 , and therefore the highest point of the sloped surface  134 , with respect to the bottom wall  122  of the mounting structure  116 . The incline and drop portions  144 ,  148  extend from different sides of the peak portion  146  to join the bottom wall  122 . The incline portion  144  can have the same or a different gradient as the drop portion  148 . The incline and drop portions  144 ,  148  are defined by the direction of rotation of the filter housing  86  when latching the dirt cup  22  to the main body  16 , as will be described in greater detail below. The sloped projections  136  can be formed as continuous or near continuous lobe-like structures, with the incline and drop portions  144 ,  148  of adjacent sloped projections  136  meeting or almost meeting each other along the bottom wall  122 . 
     The second sloped portion  132  provided on the filter housing  86  can include at least one sloped surface  150  at a position corresponding to the position of the sloped surface  134  on the mounting structure  116 . The at least one sloped surface  150  can be defined by an upper surface of a sloped projection  152  on the filter housing  86 . As illustrated herein, a plurality of sloped projections  152  are provided on the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86 . Specifically, three sloped projections  152  are provided at generally equally-spaced intervals around the outlet opening  98  in the bottom wall  90 . 
     Each sloped projection  152  can include a sloped main wall  154  and one or more cross walls  156  which are formed transverse to the main wall  154 . The upper surfaces of the main and cross walls  154 ,  156  therefore collectively define the sloped surface  150 . 
     The main wall  154  defines an incline portion  158 , a peak portion  160 , and a drop portion  162  of the sloped projection  152 . The peak portion  160  includes the highest point of the sloped projection  152 , and therefore the highest point of the sloped surface  150 , with respect to the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86 . The incline and drop portions  158 ,  162  extend from different sides of the peak portion  160  to join the bottom wall  90 . The incline portion  158  can have the same or a different gradient as the drop portion  162 . The incline and drop portions  158 ,  162  are defined by the direction of rotation of the filter housing  86  when latching the dirt cup  22  to the main body  16 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  can extend in a circumferential direction of the mounting structure  116  and filter housing  86  respectively, such that rotation of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116  causes upward and downward movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 . Specifically, the sloped projections  136  of the first sloped portion  130  can extend in a circumferential direction around the conduit  124  in the bottom wall  122  of the mounting structure  116 , and the sloped projections  152  of the second sloped portion  132  extend in a circumferential direction around the outlet opening  98  in the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86 . 
     The latch mechanism  128  further includes a position limiter for limiting the movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 . As illustrated herein, the position limiter comprises a locking pin  164  and a locking pin receiver  166  configured to selectively receive the locking pin  164 . As illustrated, the locking pin  164  is provided on the filter housing  86  and projects downwardly from the bottom wall  90 . The locking pin receiver  166  is provided on the mounting structure  116  and projects upwardly from the bottom wall  122 . The locking pin receiver  166  includes a semi-cylindrical wall  168  defining an inner hollow  170  which is accessible through a slot  172  in the wall  168 . The semi-cylindrical wall  168  can be deformable, such that that locking pin  164  is forced through the slot  172  and into the inner hollow  170  to lock the filter housing  86  in a predetermined position with respect to the mounting structure  116 . A ramped recessed portion  174  is formed in the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86  to provide clearance for the locking pin receiver  166  relative to the filter housing  86  as the filter housing  86  moves with respect to the mounting structure  116 . 
     Other configurations of the position limiter are possible. In one alternate configuration, the locking pin  164  can be provided on the mounting structure  116  and the locking pin receiver  166  can be provided on the filter housing  86 . Still other configurations of the position limiter do not rely upon a locking pin/receiver arrangement, but rather use other means for limiting the rotation of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 , such as hooks, tabs, detents, etc. In one such configuration, the first and second sloped portions can be provided with corresponding shoulders, wherein the shoulders are configured to bear against one another to limit rotation of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 . 
     The filter housing  86  can further be provided with a handle  176  for facilitating movement of the filter housing  86  relative to the mounting structure  116 . The handle  176  can be integrally formed with the filter housing  86  as a projection extending from a portion of the side wall  92 . As illustrated, the handle  176  extends from the side wall  92  near the upper edge  94  of the side wall  92 . 
     In operation, the latch mechanism  128  is movable between a latched position, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , in which the dirt cup  22  is secured to the vacuum cleaner  10 , and an unlatched position, shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , in which the dirt cup  22  can be removed from the vacuum cleaner  10 . In the latched position, both the dirt cup  22  and the filter assembly  24  are received by the mounting structure  116 , with the bottom wall of the filter housing  86  resting on the bottom wall  122  of the recess  118  and with the bottom wall  64  of the dirt cup  22  resting on the top edge of the filter housing  86 . 
     To move the latch mechanism  128  from the latched position to the unlatched position, the filter assembly  24  is moved. To do so, the handle  176  or another portion of the filter housing  86  is gripped by a user, and sufficient force is applied to rotate the filter housing  86  in a first direction A relative to the mounting structure  116 . As the filter housing  86  rotates in the first direction A, the second sloped portion  132  on the filter housing  86  bears against the first sloped portion  130  of the mounting structure  116 , which results in movement of the filter housing  86  in a second direction B, which is transverse to the first direction A, with respect to the mounting structure  116 . More specifically, as the first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  bear against each other, the drop portion  162  of the sloped projections  152  on the filter housing  86  will ride downwardly along the drop portion  148  of the sloped projections  136  on the mounting structure  116 , which lowers the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86  toward the bottom wall  122  of the mounting structure  116 , and draws the filter housing  86  downwardly within the recess  118  of the mounting structure  116 . Since the dirt cup  22  rests upon the filter housing  86 , the dirt cup  22  will also be drawn downwardly. The first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  continue to bear against each other until the peak portion  160  of the sloped projections  152  on the filter housing  86  reach the valley formed between the incline and drop portions  144 ,  148  of adjacent sloped projections  136  on the mounting structure  116 . 
     As the filter housing  86  is rotated, the locking pin  164  is moved out of the locking pin receiver  166 . The position limiter can be configured such that moving the locking pin  166  out of the locking pin receiver is accompanied by a tactile and/or audible feedback to let the use know that the filter housing  86  is unlocked from the mounting structure  116 . 
     The mounting structure  116  comprises an upper surface of the recess  118 , which selectively closes an open top of the dirt cup  22 . As such, movement of the filter housing  86  in the second direction A forms a gap G between the upper surface and the dirt cup  22 . The upper surface can be defined by a lower surface of the cyclone housing  50 , whereby the gap G is formed between the lower edge  54  of the cyclone housing  50  and the upper edge  68  of the dirt cup  22 . 
     To remount the dirt cup  22  to the vacuum cleaner  10 , the filter assembly  24  is first seated in the recess of the mounting structure  116 . The dirt cup  22  is thereafter seated on top of the filter housing  86 . The filter assembly  24  is then moved by gripping the handle  174  or another portion of the filter housing  86  and applying sufficient force to rotate the filter housing  86  in a third direction C, which is opposite the first direction A, relative to the mounting structure  116 . As the filter housing  86  rotates in the third direction C, the second sloped portion  132  on the filter housing  86  bear against the first sloped portion  130  of the mounting structure  116 , which results in movement of the filter housing  86  in a fourth direction D, which is opposite the second direction B and transverse to the third direction C, with respect to the mounting structure  116 . More specifically, as the first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  bear against each other, the incline portion  158  of the sloped projections  152  on the filter housing  86  will ride up the incline portion  144  of the sloped projections  136  on the mounting structure  116 , which displaces the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86  with respect to the bottom wall  122  of the mounting structure  116  and pushes the filter housing  86  upwardly within the mounting structure  116 . Since the dirt cup  22  rests upon the filter housing  86 , the filter housing  86  will exert a force to the bottom wall  64  of the dirt cup  22  and the dirt cup  22  will also be pushed upwardly. The first and second sloped portions  130 ,  132  continue to bear against each other until the peak portion  160  of the sloped projections  152  on the filter housing  86  reaches the peak portion  146  of the sloped projections  136  on the mounting structure  116 . 
     As the filter housing  86  is rotated, the locking pin  164  is moved towards the locking pin receiver  166 , and will eventually encounter the locking pin receiver  166 . Continued force from the user will press the locking pin  164  through the slot  172  and into the inner hollow  170  of the locking pin receiver  166  to lock the filter housing  86  in a predetermined position with respect to the mounting structure  116 . The position limiter can be configured such that snapping the locking pin  164  into the locking pin receiver  166  is accompanied by a tactile and/or audible feedback to ensure the user that the filter housing  86  is correctly positioned and locked on the mounting structure  116 . The latch mechanism  128  can be configured so that the peak portion  160  of the sloped projections  152  on the filter housing  86  reaches the peak portion  146  of the sloped projections  136  on the mounting structure  116  as the locking pin  164  is received by the locking pin receiver  166 . 
     While not illustrated herein, either of the first or second sloped portions  130 ,  132  can comprise a sloped recess, rather than a projection  136 ,  152  extending from the mounting structure  116  or the filter housing  86 . For example, the sloped surface  150  of the second sloped portion  132  can be located within a recess in the bottom wall  90  of the filter housing  86 . The recess can be configured to at least partially receive the sloped projections  136  of the mounting structure  116 . Furthermore, features of the latch mechanism  128  provided on the filter housing  86  can be reversed with features of the latch mechanism  128  provided on the mounting structure  116 . 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. The illustrated vacuum cleaner is but one example of the variety of vacuum cleaners with which this invention or some slight variant can be used. While shown and described for use with an upright vacuum cleaner, the latch mechanism  128  can be used with any type of vacuum cleaner, such as canister vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuum cleaners, hand-held vacuum cleaners, or built-in central vacuum cleaning systems. The latch mechanism  128  can also be used with vacuum cleaners adapted to take up fluids, such as extractors and steam cleaners. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. It should also be noted that all elements of all of the claims may be combined with each other in any possible combination, even if the combinations have not been expressly claimed.