Abstract: A plastic floor cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaner is characterized by two injection molded plastic pieces that are joined to form an integral structure. By using two plastic pieces to form the floor tool, each may be injection molded to a configuration such that, when they are joined, the floor tool has an aerodynamically shaped interior air flow chamber. The aerodynamically shaped chamber improves the air flow through the floor tool, so that a powerful vortex action is generated at floor level, suction is intensified and debris is aerodynamically airswept through smooth, contoured channels in the floor tool at full force and without encountering acute bends in the air flow path.

Abstract: A floor maintenance machine has a base, an electric motor on the base for moving a floor treating element and a handle connected to the base. Carried by the handle are an electric switch for connecting electric power to the motor, a pair of manually movable hand levers for controlling actuation of the switch, and a safety latch and an interlock mechanism for preventing and enabling movement of the hand levers to actuate the switch. The safety latch normally blocks movement of the hand levers from off to on positions to actuate the switch, but may be manually moved to a release position out of blocking relationship with the hand levers.

Abstract: A pad holder release mechanism for a floor treating machine enables a pad holder to quickly be released from and reattached to a motor shaft, so that a pad carried by the holder may be replaced without need to tip the machine back on its handle. The release mechanism is particularly useful with battery powdered floor treating machines, which because of their weight cannot conveniently be tipped to expose the pad, and if tipped present a risk of battery acid spillage. In use of the mechanism, the pad holder need only be elevated a few inches to lift the pad off of a surface, whereupon the mechanism allows the pad holder and pad to be removed from and replaced on the machine.

Abstract: A noise suppressor for vacuum cleaners is characterized by a muffler formed of a succession of tubes of different cross sectional areas and lengths. The muffler defines a low pass acoustic filter, and is connected in line with an exhaust outlet from the vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the muffler is used in place of a sleeve conventionally found in a filter bag for the vacuum cleaner, and thereby acts as a stand pipe to maintain the inlet to the filter bag above collected debris so that the inlet is not choked off with debris before the bag is filled.

Abstract: Inserted lineally in the output line of an oxygen supply apparatus between the regulator and the humidifier is a moisture trap. This captures moisture borne by a reverse flow of liquid from the humidifier produced by a vacuum occuring in the regulator when the apparatus is shut down and thereby protects minute oxygen flow orifices in the apparatus from impairment by calcification.