Patent ID: 7235121

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing a vacuum cleaner comprising: a vessel, a lid removably attached to the vessel, a port, a suction apparatus adapted to create a vacuum within the vessel and draw a substance through the port into the vessel, a filter apparatus comprising a frame and a filter, and a filter cover assembly pivotally attached to said lid, wherein the lid comprises an opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to cover the opening, wherein the filter cover assembly is adapted to be positioned at a plurality of angular positions with respect to the lid, and wherein the filter cover assembly comprises a spring adapted to position the filter cover assembly over the opening; positioning the filter apparatus between the port and the suction apparatus; removing by the filter a plurality of particles from the substance; removing the filter apparatus from the vacuum cleaner without removing the lid by positioning the filter cover assembly at a first angular position with respect to the lid and retrieving the filter apparatus through the opening; and positioning, by the spring, the filter cover assembly over the opening.