Patent ID: 8689401

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction source operable to generate an airflow; a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source and configured to remove debris from a surface using the airflow; and a dirt cup assembly including, a first stage cyclonic separator operable to at least partially separate the debris from the airflow, a second stage cyclonic separator downstream from the first stage cyclonic separator and operable to at least partially separate the debris from the airflow, wherein the second stage cyclonic separator includes a plurality of cyclonic separators arranged in parallel, a container having a sidewall that at least partially defines the first stage cyclonic separator, a shroud having a lower perforated portion located within the container, an upper portion that surrounds and receives the second stage cyclonic separator substantially in its entirety, the upper portion located outside of the container such that the upper portion forms an outside wall of the dirt cup above the sidewall of the container, and an intermediate portion between the lower portion and the upper portion coupled to the sidewall of the container, and a top lid attached to the upper portion of the shroud, wherein the second stage cyclonic separator is attached to the top lid such that the second stage cyclonic separator is removable from the shroud with the top lid.