Patent ID: 7628832

Claim:
A separator system for use in a vacuum cleaner, the separator system comprising: a dust cup assembly removably secured to a vacuum cleaner housing, the dust cup assembly comprising: a dust cup chamber comprising: a cup end wall, a sidewall extending from the cup end wall, and an open end opposite the cup end wall; a cyclone module removably attached to the open end, the cyclone module comprising: a generally planar wall that extends to a perimeter of the dust cup, an inlet opening comprising a first hole through the generally planar wall, the inlet opening being located proximal to the perimeter of the dust cup, an inlet protrusion extending from the inlet opening towards the cup end wall, the inlet protrusion comprising at least one curved wall adapted to receive dirty air through the inlet opening and turn the dirty air to initiate a cyclonic airflow in the dust cup, an outlet opening comprising a second hole through the generally planar wall, a frustoconical filter cage surrounding the outlet opening and extending in a direction from the generally planar wall towards the cup end wall, the filter cage comprising a plurality of appendages arranged in a generally circular array around the outlet opening, and a solid disk-like member attached to the plurality of appendages at a location spaced from the generally planar wall, and a filter surrounding the filter cage; and a vacuum suction source mounted in the vacuum cleaner housing and comprising a motor and a fan, the vacuum suction source being fluidly connected to the outlet opening when the dust cup assembly is secured to the vacuum cleaner, and selectively operable to draw air through the dust cup assembly.