Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a nozzle assembly including a blower motor and agitator brush and a handle assembly rotatably mounted thereto. The handle rotates relative to the nozzle assembly while the blower motor remains fixed thereto. The vacuum cleaner includes height adjusting means for changing the height of the agitator brush relative to the floor surface which, although manually adjustable, once adjusted retains its adjustment. Improved, self-locking latches are provided on the bottom of the nozzle assembly for maintaining a cover affixed to the nozzle assembly. In order to release the self-locking latches, a release member must be actuated at the same time the latch is opened. The vacuum cleaner includes top and bottom bag retaining assemblies which are simple in construction and can be assembled without the use of tools.

Abstract: An electrically conductive hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a hose body having a plurality of resilient helical conductive wires and a handle assembly having a projecting hollow end portion received within the hose body. Handle assembly wires are connected to the hose body wires by terminals fitted over the wire ends and crimped thereto, and a shrink wrap insulation is secured therearound. The hollow end portion has outwardly projecting wire termination blocks defining circumferential slots for removably securing the hose body wire end portions adjacent their connection to the handle wires, and the hollow end portion includes a depressed section aligned with that connection. At least one of the hose wires is secured between the hollow end portion and an axially extending resilient arm which is supported from one end in a radially spaced relation from the hollow end portion and has an inwardly extending tab at the other end.