Abstract: An effluent metering system includes an adapter connectable between the air outlet port on a vacuum cleaning appliance and a supplemental effluent metering device. The adapter preferably has a tubular shell which defines an inlet for receiving a flow of air discharged from the air outlet port. The adapter also has a pair of outlets. A first fluid passage in the shell connects the inlet with a first one of the outlets for exhausting air into a filter. A second fluid passage in the shell connects the inlet with a second one of the outlets for exhausting air into the supplemental metering device.

Abstract: A convertible vacuum cleaner providing a detachable upright handle permits the vacuum cleaner to be used as an upright cleaner for cleaning rugs, carpets, and the like. A detachable portable hand cleaner handle is also provided which is mounted when the cleaner is to be used as a portable hand cleaner. A resiliently biased, releasable connector is mounted on the filter bag to detachably connect the filter bag to either of the handles. The connector is connected to the upright handle. The connector is resiliently connected to the bag so that the bag remains in proper extended position in all operating positions of the upright handle. A receiver having a socket and a mating blade on the handles permits the two handles to be selectively mounted on the power unit of the cleaner. The portable handle provides a shoulder strap which is retracted into the handle by a reel when not in use and is locked at any selected extended position when the shoulder strap is in use.

Abstract: A convertible vacuum cleaner providing a detachable upright handle permits the vacuum cleaner to be used as an upright cleaner for cleaning rugs, carpets, and the like. A detachable portable hand cleaner handle is also provided which is mounted when the cleaner is to be used as a portable hand cleaner. A resiliently biased, releasable connector is mounted on the filter bag to detachably connect the filter bag to either of the handles. The connector is connected to the upright handle. The connector is resiliently connected to the bag so that the bag remains in proper extended position in all operating positions of the upright handle. A receiver having a socket and a mating blade on the handles permits the two handles to be selectively mounted on the power unit of the cleaner. The portable handle provides a shoulder strap which is retracted into the handle by a reel when not in use and is locked at any selected extended position when the shoulder strap is in use.

Abstract: A convertible vacuum cleaner providing a detachable upright handle permits the vacuum cleaner to be used as an upright cleaner for cleaning rugs, carpets, and the like. A detachable portable hand cleaner handle is also provided which is mounted when the cleaner is to be used as a portable hand cleaner. A resiliently biased, releasable connector is mounted on the filter bag to detachably connect the filter bag to either of the handles. The connector is connected to the upright handle. The connector is resiliently connected to the bag so that the bag remains in proper extended position in all operating positions of the upright handle. A receiver having a socket and a mating blade on the handles permits the two handles to be selectively mounted on the power unit of the cleaner. The portable handle provides a shoulder strap which is retracted into the handle by a reel when not in use and is locked at any selected extended position when the shoulder strap is in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing cleaning suds includes a reservoir containing a cleaning solution connected to the outlet of a vacuum cleaner or the like. The apparatus includes a flexible hose connected to the upper portion of the reservoir through which air passes from the vacuum cleaner outlet to a venturi nozzle at the remote end of the hose. An inner supply tube extends along the interior of the flexible hose and connects to the cleaning solution within the reservoir through a pressure reducing ball valve. The outlet of the supply tube is movable toward and away from the venturi to regulate the flow of the cleaning solution. Cleaning solution delivered to the venturi through the supply tube is formed into suds which are expelled onto a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An elongated thin flat hard-plastic plate has a face sized to overlie and seal the rug nozzle of an energized inverted upright vacuum sweeper for testing and demonstrating the suction strength of the sweeper. The sheet is desirably provided (1) with depending marginal flanges to prevent its lateral sliding-off the nozzle, and (2) with upstanding ribs on its upper surface to rigidify the sheet and to form a block-shaped centrally located handle grip.

Abstract: A suds-making device is attachable to the air-discharge port of an upright vacuum sweeper. A shampooing unit is easily attachable to the front of the vacuum sweeper in place of its easily removed suction-nozzle and rotating-brush unit. The shampooing unit has its own rotatable brush, similarly belt-driven by the sweeper motor, and also has a forwardly positioned transversely elongated tray to receive the applied and then scraper-blade-removed suds. The suds-making device and the shampooing unit (both of known construction) are interconnected by a detachable flexible hose. Importantly, the sudser end of the hose has attachable thereto, or molded thereon, a friction-held slip-on cap for closing the outlet port of the sudser, to stop suds flow.

Abstract: A device for forming demonstration cleaning-test bags and for attaching them to vacuum cleaners comprises basically a cylindrical tube adapted for placement over the air-discharge port of a sweeper, and a co-operating plunger for pushing the central area of a flexible filter cloth or sheet into the tube. The end of the plunger has fixed thereto a hook-type VELCRO disc for engagement with a co-operating loop-type VELCRO disc cemented or stitched centrally of the filter sheet. Thus the inserted sheet can be turned inside-out to form a bag but after the sheet margin has been anchored to the outer lip surface of the cylindrical tube by a contracting coil-spring band which is rolled thereover from an annular plunger seat encircling said lip. For adjustment to different sizes of bag-forming sheets, the band-holding plunger-seat can be slidable along the plunger, or the plunger body can be length-adjustably formed from telescoping sections.

Abstract: An upright-type vacuum sweeper has a motor-driven fan in a housing supported by a pair of front wheels on an axle which is vertically adjustable to vary the nozzle height relatively to a floor surface. A ratchet member having two parallel arcuate sets of teeth constitutes in part a lever for effecting the relative movement. A foot-depressible spring-returnable vertically disposed plunger carries a pawl-type escapement element which reciprocates between the sets of teeth to permit stepwise lowering by gravity of the housing and thus the sweeper nozzle. A foot-depressible ratchet-swinging lever provides one-stroke elevation of the housing. Novelly an adjustable screw is positioned to limit downward movement of the housing to provide a vernier adjustment in the low end of the nozzle-adjustment range to facilitate pushing the sweeper, especially over short-nap floor coverings which have been found to produce bothersome frictional resistance to sweeper movement.