Abstract: A floor care appliance has a body including a control assembly and a nozzle assembly, a rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly and a dirt collection vessel carried on the body. In addition a suction generator is carried on the body. The suction generator includes a fan and a drive motor. A belt operably connects the drive motor to the rotary agitator. An agitator drive interrupt mechanism includes an idler pulley support and first and second idler pulleys carried on the idler pulley support. The idler pulley support is displaceable between a first position wherein the idler pulleys tension the belt to provide drive to the rotary agitator and a second position wherein the idler pulleys de-tension the belt and interrupt drive to the rotary agitator.

Abstract: A floor care appliance includes a housing having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are carried on the housing. A control handle pivotally connects to the nozzle assembly and is selectively displaceable between a storage position and an operating position. A latch assembly is displaceable between a locking position to secure the control handle in the storage position and a release position to allow full movement of the control handle into the operating position. The latch assembly is characterized by a latch stop and a latch carried on the nozzle assembly. The latch has two mounting points with one of the mounting points being displaceable between a home position and a control handle break-over release position.

Abstract: A floor care appliance has a body including a control assembly and a nozzle assembly, a rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly and a dirt collection vessel carried on the body. In addition a suction generator is carried on the body. The suction generator includes a fan and a drive motor. A belt operably connects the drive motor to the rotary agitator. An agitator drive interrupt mechanism includes an idler pulley support and first and second idler pulleys carried on the idler pulley support. The idler pulley support is displaceable between a first position wherein the idler pulleys tension the belt to provide drive to the rotary agitator and a second position wherein the idler pulleys de-tension the belt and interrupt drive to the rotary agitator.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage. The bag cage includes a bag caddy having a bag holder.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage. The bag cage includes a bag caddy having a bag holder.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage.

Abstract: A rug or carpet cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried on the housing and agitator carried on the housing. The agitator includes a hollow body, a cleaning projection carried on the hollow body, an air intake aperture provided in the cleaning projection and an outlet in fluid communication with the suction generator.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage. The bag cage includes a bag caddy having a bag holder.

Abstract: A floor care appliance includes a housing having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are carried on the housing. A control handle pivotally connects to the nozzle assembly and is selectively displaceable between a storage position and an operating position. A latch assembly is displaceable between a locking position to secure the control handle in the storage position and a release position to allow full movement of the control handle into the operating position. The latch assembly is characterized by a latch stop and a latch carried on the nozzle assembly. The latch has two mounting points with one of the mounting points being displaceable between a home position and a control handle break-over release position.

Abstract: A floor care appliance includes a nozzle assembly having a suction inlet, a canister assembly, a dirt collection vessel carried on the canister assembly, a suction generator carried on the canister assembly and a wand assembly connecting the nozzle assembly with the canister assembly. The wand assembly includes an inlet connected to the nozzle assembly, an outlet connected to the canister assembly and a conduit defining an air path between the inlet and the outlet. A heat sink carried on the wand assembly is provided in communication with the air path in the conduit. An electronic control is connected to the heat sink.

Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a nozzle assembly having suction inlet. A canister assembly is connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on one of the nozzle assembly and canister assembly. A height adjustment mechanism is carried on the nozzle assembly. In addition a photo sensor unit is carried on the nozzle assembly for sensing the height of the nap of an underlying carpet or rug being cleaned. The height adjustment mechanism and the photo sensor unit cooperate together to allow the operator to automatically adjust the operating height of the vacuum cleaner relative to the height of the nap of the carpet being cleaned.

Abstract: A floor care apparatus has a filter with an intake and out take. A first pressure sensor is arranged on the intake while a second pressure sensor is arranged on the out take. A controller connects to the sensors to receive signals indicative of relative pressure. Whenever a predetermined pressure differential between the signals is achieved, an undesirable load on the filter is deemed occurred and initiation of a self-cleaning of the filter begins. In this manner, filter cleaning only occurs on an as-needed basis and user intervention is avoided, thereby adding convenience. The controller is also able to ascertain a clogged airway condition. Various features contemplate pressure sensor signals arranged to scale suction as positive pressures, meeting the predetermined pressure differential at other than a maximum pressure differential between the first and second pressure sensors, and scaling the predetermined pressure differential relative to the maximum pressure differential.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage. The bag cage includes a bag caddy having a bag holder.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing. A dirt collection vessel with filter and a suction generator are carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a four port/two position directional control valve and a valve actuator. The valve actuator selectively displaces the directional control valve between a first position wherein dirt and debris is captured in the dirt collection vessel by the filter and a second position wherein clean air purges dirt and debris from the filter into the dirt collection vessel.