Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a debris chamber defined within the housing, and a motor assembly connected to the housing and operable to generate airflow through the debris chamber. The motor assembly includes a motor, an impeller, an impeller housing, and a controller. The impeller is connected to the motor and operable to generate airflow upon operation of the motor. The impeller housing is constructed of an electrically-conductive material. The impeller is positioned within the impeller housing. The controller includes a circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly including a common circuit, and the impeller housing is electrically connected to the common circuit.

Abstract: A controller for a vacuum cleaner includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that program the processor to operate a motor at a first power level, receive a temperature of a drive component associated with the motor from a temperature sensor, and compare the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor to a first threshold temperature. The processor operates the motor at a second power level lower than the first power level for a period of time when the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, and continues operating the motor at the first power level when the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor is less than the first temperature threshold.

Abstract: A controller for a vacuum cleaner includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that program the processor to operate a motor at a first power level, receive a temperature of a drive component associated with the motor from a temperature sensor, and compare the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor to a first threshold temperature. The processor operates the motor at a second power level lower than the first power level for a period of time when the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, and continues operating the motor at the first power level when the temperature of the drive component associated with the motor is less than the first temperature threshold.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a debris chamber defined within the housing, and a motor assembly connected to the housing and operable to generate airflow through the debris chamber. The motor assembly includes a motor, an impeller, an impeller housing, and a controller. The impeller is connected to the motor and operable to generate airflow upon operation of the motor. The impeller housing is constructed of an electrically-conductive material. The impeller is positioned within the impeller housing. The controller includes a circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly including a common circuit, and the impeller housing is electrically connected to the common circuit.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a debris chamber defined within the housing, a motor assembly connected to the housing and operable to generate airflow through the debris chamber, and a controller communicatively coupled to the motor assembly. The motor assembly includes a motor and an impeller. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that program the processor to operate the motor to cause the impeller to generate airflow through the debris chamber, detect an alert condition, and generate a human perceptible audible alert in response to the detected alert condition.

Abstract: Battery-powered upright vacuum cleaners are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a battery support plate from which the battery is suspended. The battery support plate is connected to a debris tube of the vacuum cleaner. In some embodiments, the debris tube includes mounting members that are received in recesses formed within the battery support plate.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system includes an upright vacuum cleaner operable in a cordless mode and a corded mode. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris, and an electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaning system also includes a battery and a power cord adapted for connection to the electrical connection interface. The upright vacuum cleaner operates in the cordless mode when the battery is connected to the electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaner operates in the corded mode when the power cord is connected to the electrical connection interface.

Abstract: Upright vacuum cleaners that include a switch that detects whether a removable filter assembly has been connected to the vacuum cleaner are disclosed. In some embodiments, the upright vacuum cleaner includes a capacitor for protecting the switch from voltage transients.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a rotary brush for agitating the debris, and a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris from the cleaning head. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a motor to drive the rotary brush. The motor includes a rotatable drive shaft. The upright vacuum cleaner further includes a pulley assembly adapted to operatively connect the motor to the rotary brush. The pulley assembly includes a clutch and a belt. The belt is adapted to extend between the drive shaft and the clutch. The clutch is connected to the rotary brush to rotate the rotary brush. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a clamp connecting the clutch to the cleaning head. The tightness of the belt is adjusted when the clamp moves between an unfastened position and a fastened position.

Abstract: A system is disclosed comprising a DC power supply for supplying DC power to a device having a universal electric motor configured to operate on AC power. The system is configured to have a first authorization component associated with the device and second authorization component associated with the DC power supply so that DC power is supplied to device, or is continued to be supplied to the device, only when the first and second authorization components operatively engage.

Abstract: Battery-powered upright vacuum cleaners are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a battery support plate from which the battery is suspended. The battery support plate is connected to a debris tube of the vacuum cleaner. In some embodiments, the debris tube includes mounting members that are received in recesses formed within the battery support plate.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a rotary brush for agitating the debris, and a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris from the cleaning head. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a motor to drive the rotary brush. The motor includes a rotatable drive shaft. The upright vacuum cleaner further includes a pulley assembly adapted to operatively connect the motor to the rotary brush. The pulley assembly includes a clutch and a belt. The belt is adapted to extend between the drive shaft and the clutch. The clutch is connected to the rotary brush to rotate the rotary brush. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a clamp connecting the clutch to the cleaning head. The tightness of the belt is adjusted when the clamp moves between an unfastened position and a fastened position.

Abstract: Upright vacuum cleaners that include a switch that detects whether a removable filter assembly has been connected to the vacuum cleaner are disclosed. In some embodiments, the upright vacuum cleaner includes a capacitor for protecting the switch from voltage transients.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system includes an upright vacuum cleaner operable in a cordless mode and a corded mode. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning head for removing debris from a floor, a debris tube connected to the cleaning head for receiving the debris, and an electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaning system also includes a battery and a power cord adapted for connection to the electrical connection interface. The upright vacuum cleaner operates in the cordless mode when the battery is connected to the electrical connection interface. The vacuum cleaner operates in the corded mode when the power cord is connected to the electrical connection interface.

Abstract: A system is disclosed comprising a DC power supply for supplying DC power to a device having a universal electric motor configured to operate on AC power. The system is configured to have a first authorization component associated with the device and second authorization component associated with the DC power supply so that DC power is supplied to device, or is continued to be supplied to the device, only when the first and second authorization components operatively engage.