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 system incorporating a closed loop airflow recirculation path for cooling a beater brush motor. A portion of clean, exhaust airflow created by a fan is diverted away from an exhaust port of the housing and directed into a flow path running alongside a portion of the housing. The airflow is used to pressurize a compartment within which a beater brush motor is disposed. A low pressure area created by the fan is used to assist in drawing the cooling exhaust airflow through the compartment, to thus form a closed loop cooling air recirculation system using only clean, filtered exhaust airflow to maintain the beater brush motor cool during use.

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 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 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 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 incorporating a closed loop airflow recirculation path for cooling a beater brush motor. A portion of clean, exhaust airflow created by a fan is diverted away from an exhaust port of the housing and directed into a flow path running alongside a portion of the housing. The airflow is used to pressurize a compartment within which a beater brush motor is disposed. A low pressure area created by the fan is used to assist in drawing the cooling exhaust airflow through the compartment, to thus form a closed loop cooling air recirculation system using only clean, filtered exhaust airflow to maintain the beater brush motor cool during use.