Abstract: A secondary air filter assembly that can be attached to the exhaust port of an upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The assembly includes an adapter plate that is adhered, clipped or otherwise affixed to the exhaust port, and a filter carrier that is removably attached to the base. The filter is preferably affixed as a unit to the filter carrier so that the entire filter/carrier unit can be replaced at once. The adapter base can also be used as an attachment for other accessories.

Abstract: A secondary air filter assembly that can be attached to the exhaust port of an upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The assembly includes an adapter plate that is adhered, clipped or otherwise affixed to the exhaust port, and a filter carrier that is removably attached to the base. The filter is preferably affixed as a unit to the filter carrier so that the entire filter/carrier unit can be replaced at once. The adapter base can also be used as an attachment for other accessories.

Abstract: A secondary air filter assembly that can be attached to the exhaust port of an upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The assembly includes an adapter plate that is adhered, clipped or otherwise affixed to the exhaust port, and a filter carrier that is removably attached to the base. The filter is preferably affixed as a unit to the filter carrier so that the entire filter/carrier unit can be replaced at once. The adapter base can also be used as an attachment for other accessories.

Abstract: A canister-type vacuum cleaner is provided in which various electrical functions of the vacuum cleaner may be controlled by the user with controls on the hose handle, whether the hose is attached to the suction port or the blowport. The primary exhaust port is located substantially toward the front of the vacuum cleaner body. During normal operation, air is directed from the hose through the suction port and the motor, toward the back of the vacuum cleaner, and then redirected to the front of the vacuum cleaner, where it exits from the primary exhaust port. The vacuum cleaner is also provided with a reduced wheelbase, for greater maneuverability. Two wheels are mounted on the underside of the vacuum cleaner body, near the vacuum cleaner's center of gravity, and a caster is mounted near the front of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A canister-type vacuum cleaner is provided in which various electrical functions of the vacuum cleaner may be controlled by the user with controls on the hose handle, whether the hose is attached to the suction port or the blowport. The primary exhaust port is located substantially toward the front of the vacuum cleaner body. During normal operation, air is directed from the hose through the suction port and the motor, toward the back of the vacuum cleaner, and then redirected to the front of the vacuum cleaner, where it exits from the primary exhaust port. The vacuum cleaner is also provided with a reduced wheelbase, for greater maneuverability. Two wheels are mounted on the underside of the vacuum cleaner body, near the vacuum cleaner's center of gravity, and a caster is mounted near the front of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner is provided that has a motor mounted with the rotational axis of its shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the rotating brush. The vacuum cleaner motor has an end bell, which is attached to the motor stator, and which holds a motor shaft bearing. The end bell is secured to the vacuum housing with an elastomeric mounting ring to dampen motor vibrations. The need for most motor mounting hardware is eliminated, because the housing supports the motor stator directly. The intake orifice of the vacuum is shaped to lie in two distinct planes, so that flat cleaning surfaces do not obstruct the orifice. The shape of the intake also allows one to clean immediately adjacent to a vertical wall.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a handle and wand system for a vacuum cleaner is provided which includes an enclosed electrical system which may be used to provide electrical power to a powered floor nozzle or other powered nozzles. The handle and wand system of the present invention may be employed in either a canister vacuum or a central vacuum unit. In one embodiment, the system includes a handle and suction hose assembly which permits the hose, which includes conducting wires, to be freely rotated while attached to the handle. In another embodiment, means are provided for easily attaching, locking and detaching the components of the handle and wand system of the present invention while providing both a vacuum seal and a plurality of low resistance electrical contacts between the elements of the system of the present invention. In a further embodiment, a swivel elbow is provided to attach the handle and wand system of the present invention to a powered floor nozzle.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a vacuum cleaner is provided that supports two-way communications between a microcontroller in the handle of the vacuum cleaner and a suction motor and various sensors in the canister of the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may be placed in one of two user-selectable bag change modes. In a maximum suction bag change mode, the electronic control system of vacuum cleaner will shut off the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner bag has filled and the suction power of the unit has been degraded as a result. If the maximum fill bag change mode is selected, the electronic control system will shut off the vacuum cleaner only after the bag has filled to the maximum extent allowable. The control system has indicator lights to display to the user whether the maximum suction or the maximum fill mode has been selected.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a vacuum cleaner is provided that supports two-way communications between a microcontroller in the handle of the vacuum cleaner and a suction motor and various sensors in the canister of the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may be placed in one of two user-selectable bag change modes. In a maximum suction bag change mode, the electronic control system of vacuum cleaner will shut off the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner bag has filled and the suction power of the unit has been degraded as a result. If the maximum fill bag change mode is selected, the electronic control system will shut off the vacuum cleaner only after the bag has filled to the maximum extent allowable. The control system has indicator lights to display to the user whether the maximum suction or the maximum fill mode has been selected.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a vacuum cleaner is provided that supports two-way communications between a microcontroller in the handle of the vacuum cleaner and a suction motor and various sensors in the canister of the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may be placed in one of two user-selectable bag change modes. In a maximum suction bag change mode, the electronic control system of vacuum cleaner will shut off the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner bag has filled and the suction power of the unit has been degraded as a result. If the maximum fill bag change mode is selected, the electronic control system will shut off the vacuum cleaner only after the bag has filled to the maximum extent allowable. The control system has indicator lights to display to the user whether the maximum suction or the maximum fill mode has been selected.

Abstract: A canister-type vacuum cleaner is provided in which various electrical functions of the vacuum cleaner may be controlled by the user with controls on the hose handle, whether the hose is attached to the suction port or the blowport. The primary exhaust port is located substantially toward the front of the vacuum cleaner body. During normal operation, air is directed from the hose through the suction port and the motor, toward the back of the vacuum cleaner, and then redirected to the front of the vacuum cleaner, where it exits from the primary exhaust port. The vacuum cleaner is also provided with a reduced wheelbase, for greater maneuverability. Two wheels are mounted on the underside of the vacuum cleaner body, near the vacuum cleaner's center of gravity, and a caster is mounted near the front of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a handle and wand system for a vacuum cleaner is provided which includes an enclosed electrical system which may be used to provide electrical power to a powered floor nozzle or other powered nozzles. The handle and wand system of the present invention may be employed in either a canister vacuum or a central vacuum unit. A swivel elbow is provided to attach the handle and wand system of the present invention to a powered floor nozzle. In another embodiment, an interface is provided easily for attaching, locking and detaching the handle and wand system of the present invention to and from non-powered cleaning tools.

Abstract: A brush/shunt assembly for an electric motor is provided. The shunt portion of the assembly is a stranded wire shunt with a joined (e.g., fused) end that can be easily inserted into a slotted terminal. A lubricant can be added to reduce insertion forces.

Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner is provided that has a motor mounted with the rotational axis of its shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the rotating brush. The vacuum cleaner motor has an end bell, which is attached to the motor stator, and which holds a motor shaft bearing. The end bell is secured to the vacuum housing with an elastomeric mounting ring to dampen motor vibrations. The need for most motor mounting hardware is eliminated, because the housing supports the motor stator directly. The intake orifice of the vacuum is shaped to lie in two distinct planes, so that flat cleaning surfaces do not obstruct the orifice. The shape of the intake also allows one to clean immediately adjacent to a vertical wall.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a handle and wand system for a vacuum cleaner is provided which includes an enclosed electrical system which may be used to provide electrical power to a powered floor nozzle or other powered nozzles. The handle and wand system of the present invention may be employed in either a canister vacuum or a central vacuum unit. In one embodiment, the system includes a handle and suction hose assembly which permits the hose, which includes conducting wires, to be freely rotated while attached to the handle. In another embodiment, means are provided for easily attaching, locking and detaching the components of the handle and wand system of the present invention while providing both a vacuum seal and a plurality of low resistance electrical contacts between the elements of the system of the present invention. In a further embodiment, a swivel elbow is provided to attach the handle and wand system of the present invention to a powered floor nozzle.