Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a based and a handle. The handle has first and second valves to selectively receive suction airflow from a main suction inlet, a first edge cleaning inlet, and an accessory hose. The first valve is operable to connect a dirt separator to either a main floor cleaning inlet or an auxiliary cleaning inlet. The second valve is operable to selectively connect the auxiliary cleaning inlet to the edge cleaning inlet. The accessory hose is mountable to an accessory hose mount on the handle. When mounted, the accessory hose contacts a second actuator for the second valve to hold the second valve in an edge cleaning position.

Abstract: A filter adapter for engaging a filter to fit the filter into a vacuum cleaner chamber. The filter adapter includes an adapter ring having an inner ring perimeter and an outer ring perimeter, and a number of protrusions extending from the outer perimeter of the ring. Alternatively, there is provided an adapter ring and filter assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner chamber. The assembly includes a filter having an outer filter perimeter, and an adapter ring having an inner ring perimeter configured to surround the outer filter perimeter and an outer ring perimeter configured to contact an inner surface of the vacuum cleaner chamber.

Abstract: A central vacuum cleaner having a housing, a suction chamber, a suction motor at an upper end of the suction chamber, a suction motor inlet, a dirt receptacle, a suction chamber inlet into the suction chamber, and a filter bag between the suction chamber inlet and the suction motor inlet cover. The suction motor has an impeller axis and a suction motor inlet located on and surrounding the impeller axis. The suction motor inlet cover has a bottom wall on the impeller axis below the suction motor inlet, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom wall and surrounding the suction motor inlet, an inlet chamber formed by the bottom wall and sidewall, and an inlet cover opening fluidly connecting the suction chamber to the inlet chamber. The inlet cover opening is offset from the impeller axis and faces at an upwards angle towards the upper end of the suction chamber.

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 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 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 lint brush accessory system having a lint brush and cradle. The lint brush has longitudinally opposed handle and brush portions. The brush portion has a brush material adapted to remove fibrous substances from a surface to be cleaned. The cradle has a chamber opening leading to a chamber. The chamber extends in the longitudinal direction and is adapted to longitudinally receive at least the brush portion of the lint brush, the chamber has at least one brush cleaning pad adapted to engage the brush material and remove the fibrous substances from the brush material. The chamber further includes an air outlet spaced from the chamber opening. The air outlet is selectively connectable to a vacuum passage of a vacuum cleaner.

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 backpack vacuum cleaner motor mounting assembly having a first housing, a suspension housing, a suction motor, and one or more springs. The first housing has an inlet, outlet and a suspension chamber in it. The suspension housing is at least partly in the suspension chamber, can move a predetermined distance along a suspension direction from a first position to a second position, and is restricted from moving perpendicular to the suspension direction. The suction motor is connected to and moves with the suspension housing. The springs are oriented to bias the suspension housing from the second position to the first position. A backpack vacuum cleaner having a suction motor in a movable suspension housing is also provided.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner brushroll clutch having a motor, clutch assembly input rotated by the motor, brushroll, clutch assembly output to rotate the brushroll, drive clutch, and starter clutch. The drive clutch is connected to the clutch assembly output and moveable between a first position in which it does not directly contact the clutch assembly input and a second position in which it directly contacts the clutch assembly input to transmit a first torque directly from the clutch assembly input to the clutch assembly output. The starter clutch is connected to the drive clutch and moveable between a first position in which it does not engage the clutch assembly input and a second position in which it engages the clutch assembly input to transmit a second torque from the clutch assembly input to the drive clutch to move the drive clutch into the second drive clutch position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base with an air inlet, a handle, a base pivot connecting the base to the handle to permit the handle to pivot between an upright parked position and a reclined operating position, a movable wheel system and a wheel system drive member. The wheel system has a wheel carriage pivotally connected at one end to the base, and at least one wheel connected to the other end. The wheel carriage pivots between a first position in which the wheel is further from the air inlet, and a second position in which the wheel is closer to the air inlet. The drive member is on the handle and positioned to contact the wheel carriage as the handle moves from the upright parked position to the reclined operating position to thereby move the wheel carriage from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is disclosed having a motor inlet conduit and sound deadening material disposed within the motor inlet conduit for reducing the overall noise level of the vacuum cleaner. The motor inlet conduit fluidly connects a dirt receptacle chamber and a motor inlet, and may have a generally continuous cross-sectional profile and one or more expanded regions for housing the sound deadening material. With the sound deadening material installed in the one or more expanded regions, the motor inlet conduit may form a smoothly changing profile along its entire length and reduce the overall noise level of the vacuum cleaner.