A dust container capable of improving dust separation efficiency and preventing a suction force from being lowered, and a cleaner including the same. The cleaner includes: a main body including a suction portion to suck dust; and a dust container detachably installed in the main body to separate and store dust from the air sucked through the suction portion. The dust container includes: an inlet through which the air sucked through the suction portion; a collision wall facing the inlet, wherein dust introduced through the inlet collides with the collision wall; a first dust collecting wall to collect a part of the dust introduced through the inlet, the first dust collecting wall intersecting the collision wall; and a second dust collecting wall to collect a part of the dust introduced through the inlet, the second dust collecting wall intersecting the collision wall and the first dust collecting wall.

A filter system for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The system comprises a housing reconfigurable relative to a bin between an operative configuration in which the housing is disposed upon the bin so that dirt separated from dirt-laden air can collect in the bin, and an idle configuration in which the housing is removed from the bin. The housing comprises an inlet for receiving dirt-laden air into the housing, an outlet via which cleaned air can exit the housing. The system further comprises first filtering means and second filtering means disposed within the housing, the first filtering means being positioned upstream of the second filtering means. The first and second filtering means comprises a filter medium configured to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air passing from the inlet to the outlet through the filter medium. The system further comprises filter cleaning means for removing dirt from the filter medium of the first filtering means when the housing is configured at least in the operative configuration.

An apparatus is provided for attaching floor tools to a wheeled vehicle. The apparatus includes a mounting frame configured to secure to a frame of the wheeled vehicle and a floating frame rotatably attached to the mounting frame. The apparatus also includes pickup tubes attached to the floating frame. The pickup tubes are configured to attach to the floor tools. The floating frame is configured to move relative to the mounting frame based on undulations in a floor surface over which the floor tools travel. In other embodiments, a method is provided for assembling the apparatus. In still other embodiments, a method is provided for using the above apparatus with the wheeled vehicle. In still other embodiments, a wheeled vehicle is provided that includes the above apparatus and the one or more floor tools attached to the wheeled vehicle with the apparatus.

An apparatus is provided for attaching floor tools to a wheeled vehicle. The apparatus includes a mounting frame configured to secure to a frame of the wheeled vehicle and a floating frame rotatably attached to the mounting frame. The apparatus also includes pickup tubes attached to the floating frame. The pickup tubes are configured to attach to the floor tools. The floating frame is configured to move relative to the mounting frame based on undulations in a floor surface over which the floor tools travel. In other embodiments, a method is provided for assembling the apparatus. In still other embodiments, a method is provided for using the above apparatus with the wheeled vehicle. In still other embodiments, a wheeled vehicle is provided that includes the above apparatus and the one or more floor tools attached to the wheeled vehicle with the apparatus.

A robotic vacuum cleaner has a mechanical transfer mechanism that is used to transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.

A robotic vacuum cleaner has a pneumatic transfer mechanism that is used to transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.

A robotic vacuum cleaner docking station has a mechanical transfer mechanism that is used to transfer dirt from a robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.

A docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner has a pneumatic transfer mechanism that is used to direct air to the robotic vacuum cleaner to thereby transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.

A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic stage comprising an openable front wall provided at the front end of the cyclonic stage. A pre-motor filter is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the cyclone air outlet and rearward of the cyclone sidewall. The pre-motor filter has a diameter in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis that is larger than a diameter of the cyclone air outlet in the direction transverse to the cyclone axis. The pre-motor filter has an outer perimeter defining a volume and the cyclone axis and the motor axis each extend through a centre of the volume. The cyclone axis is generally parallel to the motor axis. When the openable front wall is opened, the front end of the cyclone stage is opened and has an opening, the opening has a diameter in the direction transverse to the cyclone axis, and the rear end of the cyclonic stage has a diameter that is generally equal to the diameter of the opening. The cyclonic stage is removable from a cleaner body which houses the suction motor with the openable front wall in a closed position. When the first cyclonic stage is removed, the pre-motor filter is accessible for removal.

An autonomous vacuum cleaner operable to navigate about a surrounding environment to perform a surface cleaning operation without continuous human input. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. The suction motor and the fan assembly having an axis of rotation and a fan of the fan assembly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is orientated horizontally. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow and the cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator being orientated horizontally.