course the input opening to the first large chamber 32 can be disposed in the side of the large chamber 32 thereby allowing that the upper edge of the first large chamber is continuous about its circumference an upper edge of the dirt collecting enclosure 30 at the first large chamber 32 includes a rim or ledge a filter element 40 is disposed in the first large chamber 32 and is laterally adjacent the input opening 36 as seen in fig6 the filter element 40 includes an upper ring shaped circular portion 42 a central frustoconical portion 44 and a lower ring shaped portion 46 the upper ring shaped portion 42 rests or is seated on the ring or ledge of the large first chamber 32 so that the body of filter 40 extends into the large first chamber 32 it should be noted that the upper ring shaped portion 42 of filter 40 is effective for essentially closing off the large first chamber 32 this is particularly effective during the process of emptying the dirt collecting enclosure 30 in that the seating of the filter 40 of the upper opening of the first chamber 32 substantially reduces the occurrence of dirt escaping the dirt collecting enclosure 30 when the user is emptying the dirt collecting enclosure 30 into a trash receptacle in this manner the filter 42 acts as both a filter and a seal the frustoconical portion 44 is perforated and serves as a filter surface the lower ring shaped portion 46 which includes a downwardly extending peripheral flange serves as a baffle plate and separator for.