Patent Abstract:
A multi-use, dual power mode vacuum cleaner capable of use as an upright vacuum or as a detachable vacuum module further comprising a cyclonic dirt separator has a detachable vacuum module selectively mounted to the base and support member of an upright vacuum cleaner. The vacuum module includes the vacuum motor, motor driven fan, cyclonic dirt separator and hose. The vacuum cleaner may be operated as an upright vacuum, or alternatively, the module can be separated from the base assembly and may be used independently of and at a great distance from the base assembly for a wide variety of cleaning purposes. The vacuum cleaner can be powered by a battery or by conventional household power source.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/521,165, filed Mar. 2, 2004, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to a vacuum cleaner. In one aspect, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a detachable vacuum module comprising a vacuum source and a portable power source for providing power to the vacuum source.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A battery powered combination vacuum cleaner that can be converted from a conventional on-the-floor cleaner to a portable canister cleaner for off-the-floor cleaning operation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,366 to Sepke et al. A dirt cup is positioned in an intermediate portion of an elongated casing including a motor housing. The dirt cup is connected to the motor housing through a removable flat filter that separates debris from the airstream.  
         [0006]     A battery powered upright vacuum utilizing a cyclonic separator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,205 to Conrad. The cyclonic separator is fixed to the upright pivoting handle and can not be removed.  
         [0007]     A battery powered stick vacuum cleaner that mates to a separate charging base is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,451 to Kato.  
         [0008]     A multi-use vacuum cleaner with a detachable vacuum cleaner module that can be used as an upright vacuum cleaner or as a portable vacuum cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,321 to Weaver et al., issued Jun. 11, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,600 to Weaver et al., issued May 10, 1994. A detachable vacuum module is selectively mounted to the foot and support member of an upright vacuum cleaner. The vacuum module includes the vacuum motor, motor driven fan, vacuum bag, and hose. The vacuum cleaner can be operated as an upright vacuum, or alternatively, the module can be separated from the foot and upright support member to be used independently of and at a great distance from the foot and upright support member for a wide variety of cleaning purposes.  
         [0009]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0011050 to Hansen et al., published Jan. 31, 2002, discloses a suction cleaner with a cyclonic dirt separator comprising a dirt collection assembly including a cyclonic separator having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, and a suction source fluidly connected with the cyclonic separator. In one embodiment, the cyclonic dirt separator includes a separator plate cooperating with the housing to separate the cyclonic separator from a dirt collecting cup. The separator plate has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the dirt tank to create a gap between the outer edge of the separator plate and the inner wall of the cyclonic separator.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises a foot assembly having a suction nozzle, an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to the foot assembly for manipulation of the foot assembly along a surface to be cleaned, and a portable cleaning module detachably mounted to the handle assembly so that the vacuum cleaner can be operated as an upright vacuum cleaner when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly or as a portable vacuum cleaner when the portable cleaning module is detached from the handle assembly. The portable cleaning module comprises a module housing, a particle separator mounted to the module housing and having an inlet, a suction conduit having a first end connected to the inlet of the particle separator and a second end removably coupled to the suction nozzle, a motor and fan assembly supported in the module housing for creating a working air flow from the suction nozzle to the particle separator through the suction conduit, and a portable power source coupled to the motor and fan assembly for supplying power to the motor and fan assembly when the portable cleaning module is detached from the handle assembly for operation of the vacuum cleaner as a portable vacuum cleaner.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, the portable power source is adapted to supply power to the motor and fan assembly when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly for operation of the vacuum cleaner as an upright vacuum cleaner.  
         [0012]     In another embodiment, the portable power source comprises a battery pack. The battery pack can comprise a rechargeable battery.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a charging unit mounted in one of the foot assembly and the portable cleaning module and selectively coupled to the portable power source for charging the portable power source. The vacuum cleaner can further comprise a transformer in electrical communication with the charging unit and adapted to connect to a stationary power source for converting alternating current from the stationary power source to direct current for the portable power source.  
         [0014]     In a preferred embodiment, the particle separator is a cyclone separator. In another embodiment, the particle separator is a bag filter.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, a vacuum cleaner and charging base assembly comprise a vacuum cleaner as described above and a charging base to which the foot assembly removably docks, the changing base comprising a charging unit that connects to the portable power source for charging the power source when the foot assembly is docked with the charging base.  
         [0016]     In another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner further comprises an agitator driven by an agitator motor, both mounted to the foot assembly, and the portable cleaning module comprises an interlock switch in communication with the agitator motor, wherein the interlock switch closes when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly to electrically couple the portable power source with the agitator motor. The vacuum cleaner can further comprise a user operated agitator switch between the portable power source and the interlock switch for controlling power to the agitator motor. The vacuum cleaner can further comprise a user operated main power switch between the portable power source and agitator switch. Optionally, the vacuum cleaner can further comprise a lamp mounted to the foot assembly and electrically connected to the interlock switch so that the portable power source supplies power to the lamp when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly and the agitator switch is closed.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a user operated main power switch between the portable power source and the motor and fan assembly for controlling power to the motor and fan assembly. The vacuum cleaner can further comprise a power cord coupled to the main power switch and having a plug that can be removably coupled to a stationary power source for providing power to the motor and fan assembly. In one embodiment, the power cord is mounted to the portable cleaning module. In another embodiment, the power cord is arranged in parallel relative to the portable power supply.  
         [0018]     In yet another embodiment, the cyclone separator further comprises an outlet opening, and the motor and fan assembly comprises an inlet opening connected to the outlet opening of the cyclone separator for drawing the working air flow through the cyclone separator.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, the motor and fan assembly comprises an inlet opening connected to the first end of the suction conduit and an outlet opening connected to the inlet opening of the cyclone separator.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, the foot assembly further comprises an air conduit coupling and a working air conduit coupled to the suction nozzle at a first end and to the air conduit coupling at a second end, and wherein the portable cleaning module further comprises a hose fitting that removably receives the second end of the suction conduit and mates with the air conduit coupling when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly to fluidly communicate the suction nozzle with the cyclone separator.  
         [0021]     In another embodiment, the portable cleaning module further comprises a dirt cup removably mounted to the module housing to collect particles separated from the working air flow by the cyclone separator. In one embodiment, the dirt cup is mounted below the cyclone separator. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     In the drawings:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a handle assembly, a foot assembly, and a detachable vacuum module with a cyclonic separator according to the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the vacuum module of  FIG. 1  separated from the handle assembly and the foot assembly.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of the vacuum module and the foot assembly taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  with a dirt cup removed from the vacuum module.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the cyclonic separator and the dirt cup of the vacuum module in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 3  of an alternative embodiment of a vacuum module according to the invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic representation of the vacuum module and the foot assembly of  FIG. 1  and an electrical system therefor.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7B  is a schematic representation of the vacuum module and the foot assembly of  FIG. 6  and an electrical system therefor.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of the electrical system of the embodiments of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 9A  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 7A  with an alternative electrical system.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9B  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 7B  with an alternative electrical system.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10A  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 7A  with a second alternative electrical system.  
         [0035]      FIG. 10B  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 7B  with a second alternative electrical system. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0036]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vacuum cleaner  10  comprises an upright handle assembly  12  and a foot assembly  14 . The upright handle assembly  12  comprises a module platform  24 , an elongated structural support  19 , and a detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . The elongated structural support  19  is formed by a pair of spaced apart elongated frames in the form of support tubes  20  that are joined to a grip  18  at an upper portion thereof. The support tubes  20  merge in an arc-like configuration at an upper end of the support tubes  20  and merge into the grip  18 . A mechanical stop  22  is positioned approximately midway between a lower end of each support tube  20  and the arc-like configuration. The stop  22  is a block-like structure to provide lateral support for the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . The module platform  24  is rigidly attached to the lower ends of the support tubes  20  in a generally perpendicular fashion and supports a lower end of the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . Wheel axle bearings (not shown) extend through the lower end of the support tube  20  in a horizontal direction. The upright handle assembly  12  including the module platform  24  rotates about the wheel axle bearings. An upholstery tool  26  is removably attached to a recessed upholstery tool caddy  28  located on an upper rearward surface of the upright handle assembly  12 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , the foot assembly  14  comprises a foot housing  30 , a pair of wheels  32 , a brush chamber  34 , and a working air path described in more detail herein. The brush chamber  34  comprises a cavity formed horizontally at a forward section of the foot housing  30  for receiving an agitator, such as a brush  36 . The brush  36  is preferably a well known horizontal axis brush roll driven by a separate brush motor  106  (shown schematically in  FIG. 7A ) located within the foot housing  30 . An electric switch  112  (shown schematically in  FIG. 7A ) on the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  or the handle assembly  12  selectively supplies power to the brush motor  106 . A wheel axle  38  passes through the wheel axle bearings in the support tubes  20  and is rigidly fixed to both sides of the foot housing  30  to rotatably mount the pair of wheels  32  to the vacuum cleaner  10 .  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the working air path in the foot assembly  14  is formed by a suction nozzle  40 , a flexible working air conduit  42 , and an air conduit coupling  44 . The suction nozzle  40  is formed at a lower opening to the brush chamber  34 , and a space between the brush  36  and the brush chamber  34  allows working air to pass through brush chamber  34  to the working air conduit  42 . The flexible working air conduit  42  is fluidly connected to the suction nozzle  40  on one end and extends through the foot housing  30  before terminating at the air conduit coupling  44  on an upper rearward surface of the foot housing  30  to form an uninterrupted working air path through the foot housing  30  from the suction nozzle  40  to the air conduit coupling  44 . A detailed description of a suitable foot assembly  14  and of a suitable mounting between the module platform  24  and the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,524,321 and 5,309,600 to Weaver et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  comprises a module housing  46 , a cyclonic separator  48 , a removable dirt cup  50 , a dirt cup latch  52 , a filter tray assembly  54 , a fan housing  56 , an external hose  58 , and an outlet air conduit  60 . The module housing  46  supports various components of the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 , such as the cyclonic separator  48 , the removable dirt cup  50 , and the fan housing  56 . Although a cyclonic separator  48  is disclosed, it should be appreciated that any dirt separator or filters such as a commonly known bag filter can be used in lieu of the described cyclonic separator  48 . The fan housing  56  can be integrally formed with the module housing  46  or a separate component attached to the module housing  46 . A handle  62  integrally formed in at an upper surface of the module housing  46  provides a convenient location for a user to grasp the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  for lifting the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  from the module platform  24  and holding the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  when separated from the module platform  24 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a fan motor assembly  64  mounted vertically within the fan housing  56  comprises a fan  66  located above a motor  68 . The fan housing  56  includes a fan air inlet  70  in communication with an inlet to the fan  66  and a plurality of working air exhaust apertures  71  for directing working air exhaust from the fan  66  to the atmosphere. Optionally, a post motor filter can be placed between the fan motor assembly  64  and the exhaust apertures  71  to filter particles from the working air exhaust before the working air exhaust enters the atmosphere. The filter tray  54  is removably inserted into a corresponding cavity in the module housing  46  upstream of the fan air inlet  70  to filter particles from the working air before the working air enters the fan motor assembly  64 . The filter tray  54  is a generally box like structure with solid sidewalls supported by a framework structure to create a permeable floor. A permeable foam pre-motor filter  72  fits within the filter tray  54  and is supported by the permeable filter tray floor. The foam filter  72  is air permeable so that the working air passes through an upper surface of the foam filter and exits through a lower surface of the foam filter  72 . The filtered working air exits the foam filter  72  and passes through the filter tray floor to enter the fan inlet  70 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the dirt cup latch  52  removably secures the dirt cup  50  to the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . Preferably, the dirt cup latch  52  also positions the dirt cup  50  vertically within the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . In particular, the dirt cup latch  52  raises the dirt cup  50  within the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  so that an upper end of the dirt cup  50  seals with a lower end of the cyclonic separator  48 . Examples of suitable dirt cup latches are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/711,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,584, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the cyclonic separator  48  comprises a cylindrical sidewall  74 , a circular upper wall  76 , and a cyclone air inlet aperture  78 . The circular upper wall  76  comprises an exhaust outlet  80  having a centrally located aperture therethrough. A collar  82  depends from a lower surface of the upper wall  76 . A separator plate  84  in the form of a solid disk having an upstanding annular collar  86  is suspended from the upper wall  76 . In the preferred embodiment, the upstanding annular collar  86  is aligned with the depending collar  82  of the upper wall  76 . A cylindrical screen  88  is retained between the collars  82 ,  86  and partially forms a toroidal chamber  90  that extends radially between the cylindrical screen  88  and the side wall  74  and vertically between the upper wall  76  and the separator plate  84 . In the preferred embodiment, the air inlet aperture  78  is vertically positioned between the upper wall  76  and the separator plate  84  such that tangential working airflow through the air inlet aperture  78  is directed into the toroidal chamber  90 .  
         [0043]     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the tangential working airflow containing particulate matter passes through the inlet air aperture  78  and into toroidal chamber  90  and travels around the cylindrical screen  88 . As the working air travels about the toroidal chamber  90 , heavier dirt particles are forced toward the sidewall  74 . These particles fall under the force of gravity through a gap  92  defined between an edge of the separator plate  84  and the sidewall  74 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , dirt particles that fall through the gap  92  collect in the dirt cup  50  located below the cyclonic separator  48 . The upper end of the dirt cup  50  mates with the side wall  74  to seal the dirt cup  50  with the cyclone separator  48 . As the working air traverses through the toroidal chamber  90 , casting dirt particles towards the sidewall  74 , the working air is drawn through cylindrical screen  88 , through the exhaust outlet  80 , and into an outlet air conduit  60 . The outlet air conduit  60  is integrally molded in a rear wall of the module housing  46 . Working air moves through the outlet air conduit  60  to the pre-motor filter  72 . The pre-motor filter  72  removes additional particulate matter from the working air prior to the working air being drawn through the fan motor assembly  64 . The optional post-motor filter located downstream of the fan motor assembly  64  removes additional fine particulate matter from the working air exhaust before the working air exhaust is released to the atmosphere. An example of a suction cleaner with cyclonic dirt separation is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0011050 to Hansen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0044]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , one end of the external hose  58  of the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is coupled to the inlet air aperture  78  of the cyclonic separator  48 . The other end of the external hose terminates at a hose adapter  95  that can be removably attached to a hose fitting  94  in the form of a hollow conduit located at a lower rearward surface of the module housing  46 . When the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is mounted to the module platform  24 , the hose fitting  94  couples with the air conduit coupling  44  in the foot assembly  14  to fluidly connect the working air conduit  42  in the foot assembly  14  with the external hose  58  of the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 .  
         [0045]     When the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is attached to the upright handle assembly  12 , the vacuum cleaner  10  can be operated as an ordinary upright vacuum cleaner. When power is applied to the fan motor assembly  64 , the motor  68  turns the fan  66  to create a working airflow. Consequently, suction created at the suction nozzle  40  draws debris into the working air path. Dirt-laden working air flows through the working air conduit  42 , the air conduit coupling  44 , the hose fitting  94 , into the hose  58 , and through inlet air aperture  78  whereby the dirt laden air rotates within the cyclonic separator  48  to separate the dirt from the working air. The working air then passes through the cylindrical screen  88 , through the exhaust outlet  80 , through the outlet air conduit  60 , and into the fan motor assembly  64  as previously described.  
         [0046]     All of the elements that create suction and collect particles from the working air are contained within the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . As a result, the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  can be removed from the handle assembly  12  and the foot assembly  14  for use as a portable vacuum cleaner. As utilized herein, portable refers to use of the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  as a discrete unit separate from the handle assembly  12  and the foot assembly  14 . When used as a portable vacuum cleaner, the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  can be used to clean a variety of surfaces, including above floor surfaces, such as upholstery, and floor surfaces, such as stairs. When the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is detached from the upright handle assembly  12 , the flexible hose  58  can be removed from the hose fitting  94  for attaching the upholstery tool  26  or other suitable tool to the hose adapter  95 .  
         [0047]     An alternative embodiment of a vacuum cleaner  10  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , where components similar to those of the first embodiment are identified with the same numerals. While the first embodiment vacuum cleaner  10  comprises what is commonly known in the vacuum cleaner art as a clean air system, the alternative embodiment vacuum cleaner  10  comprises what is commonly known in the vacuum cleaner art as a dirty air system. In particular, the vacuum cleaner  10  comprises a detachable cyclonic cleaning module  16  having a module housing  46 , a cyclonic separator  48  with a cyclone separation toroidal chamber  90 , a flexible suction conduit in the form of an external hose  58 , and a fan motor assembly  64  having a fan  66  driven by a motor  68 . The hose  58  is connected at one end to the module housing  46  and at an opposite end to a hose adapter  95  removably mounted in a hose fitting  94  that is adapted to mount into the air conduit coupling  44  when the detachable cyclonic cleaning module  16  is mounted to the module platform  24 . As in the first embodiment, the hose  58  is freely movable when the detachable cyclonic cleaning module  16  is removed from the module platform  24 . The fan motor assembly  64  is preferably located above the toroidal chamber  90  and has a fan air inlet  70  that is connected to the hose  58  and an outlet opening  98  that is connected to an air inlet aperture  78  of the toroidal chamber  90  by an air conduit  60 . The cyclonic separator  48  is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. A dirt cup  50  is mounted in the module housing  46  beneath the toroidal chamber  90  to collect dirt and dust separated from the working air in the toroidal chamber  90 . The toroidal chamber  90  has an outlet  80  and an optional filter to remove remaining dirt and dust fines that are not separated from the working air in the toroidal chamber  90 .  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A, 7B , and  8 , an electrical system for the vacuum cleaner  10  of the first embodiment ( FIG. 7A ) and the second embodiment ( FIG. 7B ) comprises a power cord  100  with an electrical contact plug  101  to interface with a stationary power source, as is well known in the vacuum cleaner art. As used herein, a stationary power source is a power source that cannot be readily moved by a user. The most common stationary power source is an electrical system having 120 Volt electrical outlets mounted to a wall of a building for receiving the plug  101 . In the vacuum cleaner  10 , the power cord  100  is connected to a charging unit  102  mounted in the foot assembly  14 . The charging unit  102  can be any commonly known charging unit employing a transformer and a power control circuit board to convert 120 volt AC facility power into a DC voltage with an appropriate power rating. The power control circuit board of the charging unit  102  detects and controls power output from the charging unit  102 . An example of a suitable charging and power control is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,205 to Conrad, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the transformer can be incorporated at the plug  101 . A suitable commercially available rechargeable battery and charging system employing a plug mounted transformer is found on the BISSELL Homecare, Inc. Model 3300 Go-Vac rechargeable stick vacuum cleaner.  
         [0049]     A portable power source in the form of a rechargeable battery pack  104  comprising a suitable number of power cells is removably mounted in the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . The cells can be any commonly known power cell, such as nickel cadmium (NiCad), lithium, or nickel metal hydride (NiMH). Optionally, the battery pack  104  can be replaceable so that the user can install a completely charged battery pack until the discharged battery is fully charged or in the case the battery pack  104  is unable to hold a sufficient charge. An exemplary battery pack is described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,205 to Conrad. The portable power source can be any suitable device that can power the vacuum cleaner  10  without a physical connection to a stationary power source.  
         [0050]     When the detachable cyclone cleaning module  16  is mounted to the module platform  24 , the battery pack  104  is electrically connected to the charging unit  102  for charging the battery back  104 . Current from the battery pack  104  flows to the vacuum fan motor assembly  64  in the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  and to the brush motor  106  located in the foot assembly  14 . A main switch  108  controls current flow from the battery pack  104  to the fan motor assembly  64 . A brush motor interlock switch  110  positioned on the upright handle assembly  12  is normally open and closes when the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is mounted to the handle assembly  12  so that current can flow from the main switch  108  and through a brush switch  112  to the brush motor  106 . The main switch  108  and the brush switch  112  can be manually operated by the user; the user closes the main switch  108  to power to the fan motor assembly  64  and the brush switch  112  to power the brush motor  106 . The brush motor  106  is in a powered state when the main switch  108 , the interlock switch  110 , and the brush switch  112  are all closed. An optional illumination lamp  114  affixed to a forward surface of the foot assembly  14  is wired in parallel to the brush motor  106  and illuminates when the brush switch  112  is closed and the main switch  108  is closed.  
         [0051]     As described previously, the vacuum cleaner  10  can be used in two operating modes: as a conventional upright vacuum when the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is attached to the handle assembly  12  and as a portable vacuum cleaner when the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is separate from the handle assembly  12 . In either operational mode, power can be delivered to the electrical components directly from the stationary power source through the power cord  100  whereby the vacuum cleaner  10  is utilized as a conventional wired product. Alternatively, when the battery pack  104  is sufficiently charged, the vacuum cleaner  10  can be used in a wireless mode. When the vacuum cleaner  10  is used in the wireless mode, the battery pack  104  supplies power to the fan motor assembly  64 , the brush motor  106 , and the lamp  114  when the corresponding switches are closed, and the power cord  100  can be conveniently stored on the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 , such as by being wrapped around conventional cord wraps. When the vacuum cleaner  10  is utilized as a portable vacuum cleaner in the wireless mode, the vacuum cleaner  10  is especially easy to transport during use since the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is not bound to the handle assembly  12 , the foot assembly  14 , or to the stationary power source through the power cord  100 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIGS. 9A  (first embodiment vacuum cleaner  10 ) and  9 B (second embodiment vacuum cleaner  10 ), the charging unit  102  and battery pack  104  of an alternative electrical system are both located in the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16 . Hence, the battery pack  104  can be charged while the detachable cyclonic vacuum module  16  is separated from the handle assembly  12 . As in the previous embodiments, either power mode (wired or wireless) can be utilized in either the upright or portable vacuum cleaner operational modes.  
         [0053]     Referring to  FIGS. 10A  (first embodiment vacuum cleaner  10 ) and  10 B (second embodiment vacuum cleaner  10 ), the charging unit  102  of another alternative electrical system is located in a separate charging base  116  to which the foot assembly  14  can dock when the handle assembly  12  is in the upright configuration. When the foot assembly  14  is docked to the charging base  116 , the charging unit  102  is in electrical communication with the battery pack  104 . An example of this type of charging system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,451 to Kato, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0054]     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. For example, the cyclonic separator can be replaced with another type of separator, including, but not limited to, a filter bag or a separator having a primary cyclone separation stage and downstream secondary cyclone separation stage. Additionally, the dirt cup can be any suitable container or a plurality of containers for collecting particles and other matter separated from the working air flow. The dirt cup can be positioned in any suitable location relative to the cyclone separator and can be removed from the vacuum cleaner or emptied in any suitable fashion. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing description and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is described in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0