Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt collection assembly carried on the housing. The dirt collection assembly includes (a) a dirt vessel having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, a bottom wall, an inlet and an open end and (b) a filter assembly including a base that covers the open end of the dirt vessel, a manifold housing, a filter chamber and a filter element held in the filter chamber.

Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. The cleaning wand assembly includes a telescoping subassembly, including two telescoping wand sections, and a handle subassembly including a third wand section.

Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. A first air flow pathway connects the suction inlet to the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. An air flow control valve includes a valve body received in the first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into the wand receiver. A cleaning wand assembly is displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of the cleaning wand assembly is held in the wand receiver engaging the actuator and opening the valve and a second position wherein the cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from the wand receiver for cleaning with the cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging the actuator and closing the valve.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A suction fan (34) and suction fan drive motor (35) carried on either the nozzle assembly (16) or the canister assembly (18) generates the vacuum airstream for drawing dirt and debris through the suction nozzle, the airstream conduit and the dust container (102).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.

Abstract: A floor care cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly including a housing defining an agitator cavity. A canister assembly is connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator is carried by either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. A dirt collection vessel is also carried by one of these assemblies. In addition, an agitator cavity fitting is carried by the nozzle assembly. The agitator cavity fitting includes a cooperating air guide and conduit. The conduit defines an intake port of the floor cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt collection assembly carried on the housing. The dirt collection assembly includes (a) a dirt vessel having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, a bottom wall, an inlet and an open end and (b) a filter assembly including a base that covers the open end of the dirt vessel, a manifold housing, a filter chamber and a filter element held in the filter chamber.

Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A suction fan (34) and suction fan drive motor (35) carried on either the nozzle assembly (16) or the canister assembly (18) generates the vacuum airstream for drawing dirt and debris through the suction nozzle, the airstream conduit and the dust container (102).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cannister assembly, a nozzle assembly, and a suction generator that draws air, dust, dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned through the nozzle assembly to a collection vessel. A rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly is driven by a motor in a forward or a rearward direction. Depending upon the direction of rotation, the rotary agitator propels the nozzle assembly in the forward or rearward direction.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.