Abstract: An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a wheel chamber defined in the housing, and a rotatable wheel mounted in the wheel chamber. The wheel has protrusions which cause the wheel to rotate due to inlet air flow. The wheel further has markings which gradually increase in size along an outside perimeter of the wheel. The markings indicate movement of the wheel. An air inlet is formed adjacent a first end of the housing. An air passageway is formed within the housing adjacent the rotatable wheel and the air inlet. The air passageway is curved to facilitate air flow along the protrusions of the wheel. A valve is mounted within the housing adjacent the air passageway. The valve has a cross slit which opens in response to a change in vacuum pressure. An air outlet is formed in the housing. A window portion partially encloses the wheel within the wheel chamber. The window allows viewing of the wheel from outside of the housing.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters said main suction opening, passes through said cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of said suction source. A substantial portion of particulates entrained in the suction airstream are separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion through the cyclonic chamber.

Abstract: A dirt cup assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup having a dust collection chamber, a first inlet duct, and a second inlet duct spaced from the first inlet duct. A dirt cup lid can be removably secured to the dirt cup, or can be associated with the vacuum cleaner upper assembly. The dirt cup lid includes a center portion extending over the dust collection chamber, a first wall portion extending over the first inlet duct, and a second wall portion extending over the second inlet duct. A filter assembly is removably positioned within the dust collection chamber.

Abstract: A handle arrangement for an ambulatory electrical machine is provided. The handle arrangement includes a housing adapted for movement on a surface. A handle is connected to the housing. The handle includes a casing defining a cavity therein. A switch is mounted on the handle. An electrical cord extends through the cavity and attaches at one end to the switch. A strain relief member is mounted in the cavity. The strain relief member includes a sinuous channel defined therein for accommodating the electrical cord.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic airflow chamber that facilitates the separation of contaminants from a suction airstream. The airflow chamber includes a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, with the chamber inlet being fluidically connected with at least one of a suction nozzle and an above-the-floor cleaning tool. An exhaust filter housing includes a suction duct and an exhaust plenum, with the suction duct communicating with the chamber outlet. A suction source housing includes an open end communicating with the exhaust plenum and a closed end. A suction source is positioned within the suction source housing to define an annular exhaust flow passageway surrounding the suction source from the housing closed end to the housing open end. The suction source includes a suction inlet communicating with the suction duct and an exhaust outlet communicating with the housing closed end.

Abstract: A dirt cup assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup having a dust collection chamber, a first inlet duct, and a second inlet duct spaced from the first inlet duct. A dirt cup lid can be removably secured to the dirt cup, or can be associated with the vacuum cleaner upper assembly. The dirt cup lid includes a center portion extending over the dust collection chamber, a first wall portion extending over the first inlet duct, and a second wall portion extending over the second inlet duct. A filter assembly is removably positioned within the dust collection chamber.

Abstract: A dirt cup latching arrangement includes a cleaner housing portion and a dirt cup mounted on the housing portion to define a mounted position. A latch assembly is pivotally mounted to the housing portion. A catch frame is pivotally mounted to the housing portion in spaced relation to the latch assembly. The latch assembly and the catch frame cooperate to selectively secure the dirt cup to the housing portion. A tool storage arrangement can include a cap pivotally mounted to the housing with the cap having an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one indentation is located on the cap upper surface and is shaped for accommodating an associated cleaning tool of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A bagless canister vacuum cleaner includes a selectively removable dirt cup, and an airstream flows rotationally through the dirt cup between an interior wall of the dirt cup and a filter assembly selectively mounted in the dirt cup so that entrained contaminants are separated from the airstream flowing through the dirt cup and collected by the dirt cup. The filter lies substantially parallel to the support surface on which the vacuum cleaner is supported. A cover member is connected to the main housing, and the cover member is selectively movable to and held in an operative position in covering relation with an open first end of a dirt cup. The main housing defines a base conformed to self-support the main housing on a support surface with the dirt cup arranged with its open first end at a higher elevation than its closed second end. The removable dirt cup includes a handle adapted for being held by a user, and the dirt cup defines or includes a spout to facilitate emptying dirt therefrom.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes an upright housing section and a nozzle base section. A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber is defined in the upright housing section. A suction source pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening formed in the underside of the nozzle base section and into the cyclonic airflow chamber. The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container that defines the chamber. A main filter element filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. An exhaust filter housing includes an airstream suction duct in fluid communication with an outlet of the airflow chamber and an inlet of the suction source. An outlet of the suction source is in fluid communication with an exhaust plenum of the exhaust filter housing.

Abstract: An upright carpet extractor for solution cleaning of floor and above floor surfaces has a low profile base assembly (A) including a base housing (10) and a recovery tank and nozzle assembly (18) removably mounted on the housing. The recovery tank and nozzle assembly includes a recovery tank (120, 552) for collecting recovered cleaning solution and a nozzle cover (134) which is attached to a forward portion of the recovery tank exterior to define a nozzle flowpath (138) therebetween. Working air and recovered cleaning solution are drawn through the nozzle flowpath and into the recovery tank by a motor and fan assembly (20,534) mounted to the base housing, rearward of the recovery tank. The nozzle flowpath is removed from the base together with the recovery tank when the recovery tank is to be emptied, allowing the nozzle flowpath to be rinsed conveniently to remove trapped dirt.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters said main suction opening, passes through said cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of said suction source. A substantial portion of particulates entrained in the suction airstream are separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion through the cyclonic chamber.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters said main suction opening, passes through said cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of said suction source. A substantial portion of particulates entrained in the suction airstream are separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion through the cyclonic chamber.

Abstract: An upright carpet extractor for solution cleaning of floor and above floor surfaces has a low profile base assembly (A) including a base housing (10) and a recovery tank and nozzle assembly (18) removably mounted on the housing. The recovery tank and nozzle assembly includes a recovery tank (120, 552) for collecting recovered cleaning solution and a nozzle cover (134) which is attached to a forward portion of the recovery tank exterior to define a nozzle flowpath (138) therebetween. Working air and recovered cleaning solution are drawn through the nozzle flowpath and into the recovery tank by a motor and fan assembly (20,534) mounted to the base housing, rearward of the recovery tank. The nozzle flowpath is removed from the base together with the recovery tank when the recovery tank is to be emptied, allowing the nozzle flowpath to be rinsed conveniently to remove trapped dirt.