Abstract: A hand-held motorized household cleaning apparatus that includes a housing, a battery located in the housing, a motor located in the housing and connected to the battery, an output drive shaft connected to the motor, a cleaning attachment coupled for movement with the output drive shaft and a liquid delivery system with a pressurized reservoir. A flexible adapter is also provided.

Abstract: A hand-held portable vacuum having a filter indicator that is coupled to an outlet housing and in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between a fan inlet and an intake. The filter indicator includes a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure. The filter indicator is employed to indicate to the user of the hand-held vacuum that replacement and/or cleaning of the filter is required. The vacuum may also be used in a blower mode with a set of inflator nozzles to permit a user to inflate an article.

Abstract: A hand-held portable vacuum having a filter indicator that is coupled to an outlet housing and in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between a fan inlet and an intake. The filter indicator includes a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure. The filter indicator is employed to indicate to the user of the hand-held vacuum that replacement and/or cleaning of the filter is required. The vacuum may also be used in a blower mode with a set of inflator nozzles to permit a user to inflate an article.

Abstract: A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing, a door and a latching system. The door is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. The latching system includes a latch member that is coupled to one of the housing and the door and a ramp that is coupled to the other one of the housing and the door. Contact between the ramp and the latch member when the door is being closed against the housing causes the latch member to move to an unlatched condition so as to automatically align the latch member to a latch aperture. This permits the door to be fully closed without the need to manually operate the latch member.

Abstract: A hand-held portable vacuum having a filter indicator that is coupled to an outlet housing and in fluid communication with a portion of the outlet housing between a fan inlet and an intake. The filter indicator includes a pressure differential indicator that is configured to indicate a pressure differential between air in the portion of the outlet housing and atmospheric air pressure. The filter indicator is employed to indicate to the user of the hand-held vacuum that replacement and/or cleaning of the filter is required. The vacuum may also be used in a blower mode with a set of inflator nozzles to permit a user to inflate an article.

Abstract: A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing, a door and a latching system. The door is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. The latching system includes a latch member that is coupled to one of the housing and the door and a ramp that is coupled to the other one of the housing and the door. Contact between the ramp and the latch member when the door is being closed against the housing causes the latch member to move to an unlatched condition so as to automatically align the latch member to a latch aperture. This permits the door to be fully closed without the need to manually operate the latch member.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system having an electric powerhead with a first switch actuator component which can be actuated with a user's thumb, to turn on and off the powerhead, and a second switch actuator component which can be actuated with the user's foot, to also turn on and off the powerhead. The first switch actuator component is used when the powerhead is being used in a handheld cleaning mode. The second switch actuator component is used when the powerhead is being used in a floor cleaning mode along with an upright handle attached to the powerhead. An anti-tip over lockout system is incorporated for preventing the powerhead from being accidentally turned on when it is being held in an upside down orientation, such as during cleaning of a beater brush thereof.

Abstract: A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing and a door that is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. When positioned in the closed position, labyrinth seal members that are formed onto the housing and the door engage one another to form a labyrinth seal that inhibits dirt and debris from being expelled from the housing assembly. The housing assembly also includes a guard for shrouding a rotating blade. The guard includes a confronting portion having a leading end and a trailing end. The confronting portion is defined by an increasing radius relative to the rotary axis of the blade.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for an upright vacuum cleaner which allows an upright handle to be quickly and easily detached and reattached to an independently usable powerhead of the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism includes a pair of attachment portions formed at a lower end portion of the upright handle which cooperate with a pair of recesses formed in a housing of the powerhead. A foot actuated release lever allows the user to detach the upright handle only when the handle is in an upright orientation. The design of the attachment portions and the recess, in connection with the release lever, prevent the handle from inadvertently being installed backwards on the powerhead, as well as from being inadvertently detached from the powerhead without first depressing the release lever.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an upright handle with a translucent accessory attachment supporting tray. The translucent tray is sandwiched between two housing portions of the handle to help impart structural rigidity to the handle. The tray includes a plurality of recesses formed to partially house specific cleaning attachments. The translucent material of the tray allows a user to see which cleaning attachments are being supported thereon from the front side of the handle and further forms a compact, aesthetically pleasing means for supporting the cleaning attachments.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly having a two piece upright handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a recess formed at a lower end of an upper handle component and a neck portion formed at an upper end of a lower handle component. The neck portion can be engaged within the recess such that the two handle components form a rigid assembly. A pair of fastening components are securable within threaded bores formed at the area of intersection of the two handle components to form a rigid, unitary handle assembly. The two piece handle assembly can be assembled by a user without the need for any hand tools and without complicated mechanical assembly procedures. The fastening components also function to support a portion of a power cord when the power cord is wrapped therearound.

Abstract: A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing and a door that is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. When positioned in the closed position, labyrinth seal members that are formed onto the housing and the door engage one another to form a labyrinth seal that inhibits dirt and debris from being expelled from the housing assembly. The housing assembly also includes a guard for shrouding a rotating blade. The guard includes a confronting portion having a leading end and a trailing end. The confronting portion is defined by an increasing radius relative to the rotary axis of the blade.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly having a two piece upright handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a recess formed at a lower end of an upper handle component and a neck portion formed at an upper end of a lower handle component. The neck portion can be engaged within the recess such that the two handle components form a rigid assembly. A pair of fastening components are securable within threaded bores formed at the area of intersection of the two handle components to form a rigid, unitary handle assembly. The two piece handle assembly can be assembled by a user without the need for any hand tools and without complicated mechanical assembly procedures. The fastening components also function to support a portion of a power cord when the power cord is wrapped therearound.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for an upright vacuum cleaner which allows an upright handle to be quickly and easily detached and reattached to an independently usable powerhead of the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism includes a pair of attachment portions formed at a lower end portion of the upright handle which cooperate with a pair of recesses formed in a housing of the powerhead. A foot actuated release lever allows the user to detach the upright handle only when the handle is in an upright orientation. The design of the attachment portions and the recess, in connection with the release lever, prevent the handle from inadvertently being installed backwards on the powerhead, as well as from being inadvertently detached from the powerhead without first depressing the release lever.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system having an electric powerhead with a first switch actuator component which can be actuated with a user's thumb, to turn on and off the powerhead, and a second switch actuator component which can be actuated with the user's foot, to also turn on and off the powerhead. The first switch actuator component is used when the powerhead is being used in a handheld cleaning mode. The second switch actuator component is used when the powerhead is being used in a floor cleaning mode along with an upright handle attached to the powerhead. An anti-tip over lockout system is incorporated for preventing the powerhead from being accidentally turned on when it is being held in an upside down orientation, such as during cleaning of a beater brush thereof.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an upright handle with a translucent accessory attachment supporting tray. The translucent tray is sandwiched between two housing portions of the handle to help impart structural rigidity to the handle. The tray includes a plurality of recesses formed to partially house specific cleaning attachments. The translucent material of the tray allows a user to see which cleaning attachments are being supported thereon from the front side of the handle and further forms a compact, aesthetically pleasing means for supporting the cleaning attachments.

Abstract: An electrically powered lawn edger (10) having a wire wheel (26) specifically adapted for edging and trench cutting applications. The wire wheel includes pairs of twisted wire brush segments (34) which are held within a hub (32) of the wire wheel. The pairs of brush segments are spaced apart radially around a peripheral edge of the hub to produce evenly spaced gaps (36). The gaps help to prevent the edger from “loading up” with dirt and/or turf when edging or cutting a trench and possibly stalling the edger motor (21). A washer (40) having a key shaped boss (44) keys the wire wheel to an output spindle (21a) of the motor to prevent slippage of the wire wheel.

Abstract: A release mechanism is provided for a portable sprayer having a pump unit removably connected to a fluid tank. The release mechanism provides locking for the connection between the tank and the pump unit. Moreover, the release mechanism unlocks the connection between the pump unit and the tank, and operates in conjunction with a pressure relief mechanism to concurrently de-pressurize the tank to ease disconnection from the pump unit. Further, the compass of the pressure relief mechanism also serve to automatically relieve pressure when the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined threshold level.