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A vacuum cleaner housing member having a rigid frame, a grate and a flexible cover. The rigid frame has an outer perimeter and an opening therethrough. The grate is mounted in the opening and has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more air passages extending from the inner surface to the out

A vacuum cleaner housing member having a rigid frame, a grate and a flexible cover. The rigid frame has an outer perimeter and an opening therethrough. The grate is mounted in the opening and has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more air passages extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and an outer perimeter wall defining the peripheral edge of the grate. The flexible cover extends over at least one of the one or more air passages and is positioned over at least a portion of the outer surface, extends around at least a portion of the outer perimeter wall, and is positioned over at least a portion of the inner surface. A vacuum cleaner including the housing members similar to the foregoing member is also provided.

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1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a dirt receptacle;an exhaust chamber;a vacuum fan adapted to create a flow of air from the dirt receptacle, through the vacuum fan, and into the exhaust chamber;a grate covering the exhaust chamber and having an inner surface defining a first side of the grate, an out

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a dirt receptacle;an exhaust chamber;a vacuum fan adapted to create a flow of air from the dirt receptacle, through the vacuum fan, and into the exhaust chamber;a grate covering the exhaust chamber and having an inner surface defining a first side of the grate, an outer surface facing opposite the inner surface and defining a second side of the grate, one or more air passages extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and an outer perimeter wall defining the peripheral edge of the grate; anda flexible cover wrapped around the grate from the outer surface to the inner surface, the flexible cover having: a first portion located on the second side of the grate, extending over at least one of the one or more air passages and positioned over at least a portion of the outer surface,a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion extending from the outer surface to the inner surface to wrap, in a direction extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, entirely around at least a portion of the outer perimeter wall, anda third portion located on the first side of the grate and extending from the second portion to be positioned over at least a portion of the inner surface to thereby lie in a space that is perpendicular to the inner surface. 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the exhaust chamber comprises an air-impermeable surface adapted to form a portion of a bag chamber and one or more sealing surfaces surrounding the air-impermeable surface. 3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the exhaust chamber is positioned adjacent the inner surface of the grate and adapted to convey a flow of air along at least a portion of the grate. 4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover is adapted to diffuse the flow of air after it passes through the exhaust chamber. 5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the exhaust chamber comprises an air-impermeable surface adapted to form a portion of a bag chamber, one or more sealing surfaces surrounding the air-impermeable surface, and an exhaust chamber positioned adjacent the inner surface of the grate and adapted to convey a flow of air along at least a portion of the grate. 6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the exhaust chamber further comprises a portion adapted to cover a vacuum cleaner exhaust air opening and direct air from the exhaust air opening to the exhaust chamber. 7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the grate comprises a rigid panel, and the one or more air passages comprise a plurality of circular holes. 8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the grate comprises a separate part that is attached to the exhaust chamber. 9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising one or more tensioning members positioned adjacent the inner surface of the grate and adapted to hold the flexible cover in tension over the outer surface of the grate. 10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the flexible cover comprises a perimeter edge having a wire positioned therein, the wire being adapted to engage the one or more tensioning members. 11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover extends over the entire outer surface of the grate. 12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the grate is convex and the inner surface of the grate is concave. 13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a filter located in a generally airtight passage extending between the vacuum fan and the exhaust chamber, and adapted to filter the flow of air as it passes from the vacuum fan to the exhaust chamber. 14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the filter is removably mounted in a filter mount located in the generally airtight passage and held in place by a removable filter clamp, the filter clamp having one or more openings adapted to direct air passing through the filter towards the exhaust chamber. 15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the flexible cover is adapted to distribute the flow of air over a surface area substantially greater than the area of the filter mount. 16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dirt receptacle comprises a vacuum bag chamber adapted to retain a vacuum filter bag therein. 17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the vacuum bag chamber comprises a removable cover, and at least a portion of the exhaust chamber and at least a portion of the grate are located on the removable cover. 18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the exhaust chamber further comprises: a rigid frame having an outer perimeter and an opening therethrough. 19. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a base adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned;a rear housing pivotally mounted to the base at a first end thereof, and having a hand grip at a second end thereof;a dirt receptacle chamber located in the rear housing, the dirt receptacle chamber having a dirt receptacle chamber opening facing a first side of the rear housing;a vacuum fan having an inlet and an outlet and being located in the rear housing adjacent the dirt receptacle chamber;an intake air passage extending from the base, through the dirt receptacle chamber, and to the vacuum fan inlet;an exhaust filter mount in fluid communication with the vacuum fan outlet, the exhaust filter mount comprising an open passage facing the first side of the rear housing;an exhaust filter adapted to removably cover the exhaust filter mount;an exhaust filter clamp adapted to removably cover the exhaust filter and hold the exhaust filter in place adjacent the exhaust filter mount;a cover adapted to removably attach to the first side of the rear housing to overlie the exhaust filter clamp, exhaust filter, exhaust filter mount and dirt receptacle chamber opening, the cover comprising: an exhaust chamber adapted to be in fluid communication with the exhaust filter when the cover is attached to the rear housing,a grate and/or a flexible cover enclosing the exhaust chamber and forming an exit from the exhaust chamber, the grate and/or the flexible cover having a surface area that is substantially greater than a surface area of the exhaust filter mount; anda surface adapted to enclose the dirt receptacle chamber opening when the cover is attached to the rear housing; andwherein the grate and/or the flexible cover comprises a planar portion that faces the exhaust filter mount, and wherein the exhaust filter clamp is adapted to direct air passing through the filter mount such that it does not pass in a straight line from the exhaust filter mount to the planar portion. 20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the cover comprises a grate and a flexible cover. 21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, wherein the dirt receptacle chamber comprises a bag chamber adapted to receive a filter bag therein.