Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a handle, a dirt separator and suction motor on the handle, and a nozzle. An elongated suction inlet passes through the bottom face of the nozzle, and a pivot joins the nozzle to the handle at a pivot axis that extends parallel to the elongated suction inlet. The pivot includes first and second pivot connections joining the base to either side of the handle. A base air passage extends from the suction inlet to the first pivot connection, and is fluidly connected, through the first pivot connection, to a first handle air passage located in the handle and extending from the first pivot connection to an inlet of the separator. A second handle air passage located in the handle extends from the separator outlet to the suction motor inlet.

Abstract: A mop having a base plate, a handle, a joint connecting the plate to the handle, a first grip at the end of the handle, a scrubbing mechanism in the base, and a cleaning pad attached to the bottom of the base. The scrubbing mechanism includes a scrub bar, and is movable between an inactive position in which the bar is flush with or above the lower surface of the plate, and an active position in which the bar extends through an opening through the plate to be at least partially below the lower surface of the plate. The cleaning pad moves from being flat on the lower surface of the plate when the scrubbing mechanism is in the inactive position, and a second configuration in which at least a portion of the cleaning pad protrudes downwards from the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the active position.

Abstract: A mop having a handle and a base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, and extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction. The base plate is elongated in the lateral direction and includes a rigid central region that is connected to the handle, a flexing region, and a stepping region. The flexing region is made with an elastomeric material, and is connected at an inboard edge to a lateral end of the central region and extends to an outboard edge. The stepping region is connected to the outboard edge of the flexing region, and includes a generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a user's foot.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having base and handle assemblies. The base has a bottom face, left and right side regions, an opening between the left and right side regions, and a resiliently-deformable crossbeam extending across the opening. The handle is at least partially in the opening and pivotally mounted to the base. The handle is rotatable, relative to the base, between upright and reclined positions. A protrusion extends from the handle and rotates through an arc that intersects the crossbeam. The protrusion contacts one side of the crossbeam when the handle is upright, and is on another side of and spaced from the crossbeam when the handle is reclined. The protrusion deforms the crossbeam when the protrusion is moved past the crossbeam. The cleaner also has a suction inlet on the base, a suction source, a dirt collector, and air passages connecting the suction inlet, suction source and dirt collector.

Abstract: A mop having a base plate, a top plate, a handle, and a lock assembly to connect the top plate to the base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to face a surface to be cleaned, and an upper surface opposite the lower surface. The handle has a proximal end connected to the top plate by a joint, and a distal with a grip at the distal end. The lock assembly includes one or more slots on one of the base plate and the top plate, and one or more projections on the other of the base plate and the top plate. The one or more projections are movable between an engaged position in which the one or more projections are in the one or more slots, and a disengaged position in which the one or more projections are not in the one or more slots.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dirt collection assembly having a housing, an air inlet and air outlet connected to the housing and a cyclone chamber inside the housing. The cyclone chamber has top and bottom walls, and an outer wall joining the top and bottom walls to form a generally enclosed space. The outer wall has a helical guide channel extending radially outward from the adjacent portion of the outer wall. An inner wall, located inside the enclosed space, has a generally cylindrical or frustroconical surface having one or more openings fluidly connecting the enclosed space to the air outlet. A separator plate is located inside the enclosed space at a location between the top and bottom walls. The separator plate extends towards the outer wall and is spaced from the outer wall by a gap.

Abstract: A mop having a base plate, a top plate, a handle, and a lock assembly to connect the top plate to the base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to face a surface to be cleaned, and an upper surface opposite the lower surface. The handle has a proximal end connected to the top plate by a joint, and a distal with a grip at the distal end. The lock assembly includes one or more slots on one of the base plate and the top plate, and one or more projections on the other of the base plate and the top plate. The one or more projections are movable between an engaged position in which the one or more projections are in the one or more slots, and a disengaged position in which the one or more projections are not in the one or more slots.

Abstract: A mop having a base plate with a flat lower surface, a cleaning pad on the base plate, a handle connected to the base plate, a first grip connected at the distal end of the handle, and an auxiliary scrubber movably mounted to the handle. The auxiliary scrubber is configured to move between an inactive position and an active position. The auxiliary scrubber includes a second grip, a scrubbing element that is spaced from the surface to be cleaned when the auxiliary scrubber is in the inactive position, and that contacts the surface to be cleaned when the auxiliary scrubber is in the active position, and an actuator joining the second grip to the scrubbing element.

Abstract: A mop having a handle and a base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, and extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction. The base plate is elongated in the lateral direction and includes a rigid central region that is connected to the handle, a flexing region, and a stepping region. The flexing region is made with an elastomeric material, and is connected at an inboard edge to a lateral end of the central region and extends to an outboard edge. The stepping region is connected to the outboard edge of the flexing region, and includes a generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a user's foot.

Abstract: A mop having a base plate, a handle, a joint connecting the plate to the handle, a first grip at the end of the handle, a scrubbing mechanism in the base, and a cleaning pad attached to the bottom of the base. The scrubbing mechanism includes a scrub bar, and is movable between an inactive position in which the bar is flush with or above the lower surface of the plate, and an active position in which the bar extends through an opening through the plate to be at least partially below the lower surface of the plate. The cleaning pad moves from being flat on the lower surface of the plate when the scrubbing mechanism is in the inactive position, and a second configuration in which at least a portion of the cleaning pad protrudes downwards from the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the active position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a handle, a dirt separator and suction motor on the handle, and a nozzle. An elongated suction inlet passes through the bottom face of the nozzle, and a pivot joins the nozzle to the handle at a pivot axis that extends parallel to the elongated suction inlet. The pivot includes first and second pivot connections joining the base to either side of the handle. A base air passage extends from the suction inlet to the first pivot connection, and is fluidly connected, through the first pivot connection, to a first handle air passage located in the handle and extending from the first pivot connection to an inlet of the separator. A second handle air passage located in the handle extends from the separator outlet to the suction motor inlet.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having base and handle assemblies. The base has a bottom face, left and right side regions, an opening between the left and right side regions, and a resiliently-deformable crossbeam extending across the opening. The handle is at least partially in the opening and pivotally mounted to the base. The handle is rotatable, relative to the base, between upright and reclined positions. A protrusion extends from the handle and rotates through an arc that intersects the crossbeam. The protrusion contacts one side of the crossbeam when the handle is upright, and is on another side of and spaced from the crossbeam when the handle is reclined. The protrusion deforms the crossbeam when the protrusion is moved past the crossbeam. The cleaner also has a suction inlet on the base, a suction source, a dirt collector, and air passages connecting the suction inlet, suction source and dirt collector.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a handle having a handle pivot axis, a carriage pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis, and an inlet nozzle assembly pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis independently of the carriage. The carriage has a front support and a rear support spaced from the front support in a fore-aft direction, and the handle pivot axis is located between the front support and the rear support with respect to the fore-aft direction. A suction inlet is on a bottom face of the inlet nozzle, a suction source is operatively associated with the handle, a dirt collection device is operatively associated with the handle, and there is an air passage system fluidly connecting the suction inlet, the suction source and the dirt collection device.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dirt collection assembly having a housing, an air inlet and air outlet connected to the housing and a cyclone chamber inside the housing. The cyclone chamber has top and bottom walls, and an outer wall joining the top and bottom walls to form a generally enclosed space. The outer wall has a helical guide channel extending radially outward from the adjacent portion of the outer wall. An inner wall, located inside the enclosed space, has a generally cylindrical or frustroconical surface having one or more openings fluidly connecting the enclosed space to the air outlet. A separator plate is located inside the enclosed space at a location between the top and bottom walls. The separator plate extends towards the outer wall and is spaced from the outer wall by a gap.