Patent ID: 7018439

Claim:
A walled collecting chamber for a bagless vacuum cleaner, comprising an inlet for receiving a dirt-laden airflow, an air outlet and a collection area for collecting dirt and dust which has been separated from the airflow, wherein a part of the collecting chamber wall in the region of the collection area forms a closure member which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the chamber wall so as to be pivotably movable between a closed position in which the closure member seals the chamber and an open position in which dirt and dust can escape from the collection area, and the collecting chamber further comprises a seal for sealing between the chamber and the closure member, and wherein the seal is arranged such that, in use, the seal wipes a portion of the surface against which it seals as the closure member moves towards the closed position, wherein the seal is resiliently flexible and the seal is arranged to stretch over the surface against which the seal wipes as the closure member moves towards the closed position, and wherein the surface has an outward inclination with respect to a longitudinal axis of the seal.