Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a motor blower assembly in a canister vacuum cleaner uses a pair of resilient rubber rings, one each on the front and rear of the assembly, to isolate the motor from the vacuum cleaner housing. The front ring goes over the front of the fan casing and is trapped within the housing, while the rear of the motor has attached thereto an adaptor which fits within the complementarily shaped rear rubber ring. This rear rubber ring in turn fits within a complementarily shaped motor support, which is attached to a support abutment within the housing. In order to accommodate different size motors within the same housing and utilize the same mounting components, the support abutment is pre-drilled at various locations to accommodate the different size motors. Thus, the only fixed attachment to the housing is the rear support, which is isolated from the motor blower assembly by the rear rubber ring.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided for use with an improved adaptor for associating auxiliary cleaning attachments with the cleaner. Insertion of the improved adaptor into an auxiliary suction port of the vacuum cleaner may be used to actuate various mechanisms internal to the vacuum cleaner. Such mechanisms include a pivoting lift bar situated on a lower side of the vacuum cleaner chassis, for lifting a main vacuum nozzle and rotating beater bar brush from a floor on which the vacuum cleaner is supported. Such lifting disengages the rotating beater bar brush from the floor while the vacuum cleaner performs auxiliary attachment cleaning. A pivoting diverter door may also, or in the alternative, be actuated upon insertion of the improved adaptor into the vacuum cleaner auxiliary suction port, for diverting suction power from a main suction nozzle through the adaptor and into an auxiliary cleaning attachment such as a hose associated with the adaptor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner of relatively compact and lightweight construction provides a generally planar lower surface having a reinforced keyhole integrally associated therewith for hanging the vacuum cleaner preferably on a planar support surface, such as a wall, during periods of non-use of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner main chassis incorporates a light plate for providing light from a relatively narrow slot extending across the front of the chassis onto a floor surface to be cleaned. The light plate is generally planar and transmits light therethrough within its plane from an input edge of the plate to an opposite output edge thereof. The plate output edge resides in the chassis front slot while the rest of the plate is enclosed within the chassis so that light emerges from the chassis only through its front slot. The slot is relatively close to the floor surface for illuminating an area thereof beginning relatively adjacent the chassis. Lamps located adjacent the relatively rearward input edge of the light plate are thus positioned relatively remote from a suction nozzle and rotatable bar brush located in a forward area of the chassis, which avoids preempting critical space in such area or interfering with operation of such elements.

Abstract: An arrangement in a vacuum cleaner preventing dirt collecting bag spill during a vacuuming operation by the combination of a bag retaining interlock with a cleaner handle shiftable between extreme positions each suitable for a different cleaner operating mode, with interlock release provided only in an intermediate, unuseable handle position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner handle shiftably supported on a vacuum cleaner body for selective positioning thereon suiting floor supported or hand carried vacuum cleaner operation and including handle segments telescopically adjustable and secured by a common latch element into different handle lengths each suitable for a different vacuum cleaner operating mode.

Abstract: A handle construction is provided in which a handle tube is affixed to a main housing by providing for a D shaped configuration on one end of the handle tube having holes therethrough normal to the flatted portion of the tube; a handle mounting plate supported on the flatted portion of the tube having tapped holes therethrough aligned with the holes in the D shaped configuration on the end of the handle tube; reinforcement tubes extending internally of the D shaped configuration of the handle tube from the internal flatted surface thereof through the opposite side of the tube to the main housing; and screws extending through the main housing, the internal bore of the reinforcement tubes and holes in the flatted portion of the D shaped configuration of the handle tube into the tapped holes of the handle mounting plate to firmly retain the entire assembly affixed to the main housing.

Abstract: A floor care appliance having a filter bag with an inlet chamber accessed by an inlet aperture, and a quiescent storage chamber connected to the inlet chamber by an opening adjacent the top thereof. The filter bag is formed of filter sheet material as an elongate tubular member having the opposite ends folded and sealed to define an air impermeable seal. An inlet aperture extends into the interior of the tubular member adjacent one end thereof and the tubular member is folded upon itself spaced from the other end thereof with confronting portions of the tubular member being sealed together and including an opening adjacent the fold between the confronting portions to maintain an open air path from the inlet aperture to the other end of the filter bag.

Abstract: A floor care appliance having a main housing with a handle extending from an upper portion thereof, and having a motor blower assembly affixed thereto with an inlet tube extending from a lower portion thereof. The main housing is fashioned with a rearwardly open cavity portion for receiving a filter arrangement including a paper filter bag having connection to an outlet tube of the motor blower assembly, and a second stage of filtration implemented by an air permeable closure covering the rearwardly open cavity portion. A floor unit carries a brush actuated by a reversible motor, a dry chemical carpet cleaning powder receptacle and dispensing arrangement for selectively dispensing the powder adjacent the brush, and a plenum chamber extending from adjacent the brush to a swivel having an outlet tube connected and affixed to the inlet tube of the motor blower assembly. A switch assembly is carried by a cover for the main housing and provides for operator selection of one of several modes of operation.

Abstract: A power head unit for use with an external source of vacuum, which unit includes an outer housing defining a brush chamber, a vacuum chamber and a dry chemical carpet cleaning powder retaining chamber. The powder retaining chamber is fashioned with at least one slot extending adjacent the brush chamber which slot is closed off by a covering device such as a sliding door. The sliding door is fashioned with apertures the size of the at least one slot so that correspondence thereof will permit the dry chemical carpet cleaning material to escape from the slot. A powder dispensing roll is provided internally of the powder retaining chamber to convey the dry chemical carpet cleaning material to the slot.