Patent ID: 7422614

Claim:
A separator system for use in a vacuum cleaner, the separator system comprising: a dust cup assembly removably secured to a vacuum cleaner, the dust cup assembly comprising: a dust cup chamber having a bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom, and an open top, a removable dust cup lid adapted to cover the open top of the dust cup chamber, and comprising an extension protruding from the lid into the dust cup chamber, an inlet adapted to convey air into the dust cup assembly, an outlet adapted to convey air out of the dust cup assembly, the outlet comprising a passage through the dust cup lid and being at least partially surrounded by the extension, a filter removably connected with the dust cup lid, the filter at least partially surrounding the extension and covering the outlet, and a filter receptacle removably connected with the dust cup lid and at least partially surrounding the filter, the filter receptacle having one or more receptacle openings therethrough to allow air to pass from the dust cup chamber to the filter; and a vacuum suction source mounted in the vacuum cleaner and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source being fluidly connected to the dust cup assembly outlet and selectively operable to draw air through the dust cup assembly.