US Patent 9402516 Vacuum cleaner including a removable dirt collection assembly

A vacuum cleaner including a base including a suction nozzle, a handle assembly pivotally coupled to the base, and a dirt collection assembly removably coupled to at least one of the handle assembly or the base. The dirt collection assembly includes a suction motor operable to generate an airflow through the suction nozzle when powered by a power source, and a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction nozzle operable to separate and collect dirt particles from the airflow drawn through the suction nozzle by the suction motor. The suction motor is unpowerable when the dirt collection assembly is removed from the at least one of the handle assembly or the base.