Patent ID: 7931722

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having an exhaust outlet; an inlet nozzle fluidly connected to the cleaner body; an air flow path connecting the inlet nozzle to the exhaust outlet; a suction source disposed in the air flow path and adapted to generate a flow of air through the inlet nozzle, into the cleaner body and out the exhaust outlet; a dirt separator in the air flow path, the dirt separator having a dirty inlet in fluid communication with the inlet nozzle, a clean air outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet, and a dirt outlet; a dust cup receptacle formed in the cleaner body adjacent the dirt outlet, the dust cup receptacle having a floor facing and spaced from the dirt outlet; a dust cup removably retained in the dust cup receptacle, the dust cup having a top opening adapted to seal against the dirt outlet and a bottom wall spaced from the top opening and facing the dust receptacle floor, the dust cup being sized and dimensioned to permit rotation through a rotational range of movement about a first axis relative to the cleaner body when installed in the dust cup receptacle; and an elevator disposed adjacent the dust cup bottom wall, the elevator comprising one or more cam surfaces dimensioned to permit the dust cup top opening to be spaced from the dirt outlet when the dust cup is at a first location on the rotational range of movement, and that hold the dust cup top opening in sealing engagement with the dirt outlet when the dust cup is at a second location on the rotational range of movement.