Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body having a suction motor; a moving unit to automatically move the main body; and a suction module to be in communication with the suction motor and to clean a floor, wherein an accommodating portion in which a part of the suction module is accommodated is provided at a lower portion of a front side of the main body, and while the suction module is located in the accommodating portion, a part of the suction module is disposed to be vertically overlapped with the main body, and another part of the suction module protrudes toward both sides from a front portion of the main body, and still another part of the suction module protrudes to a front of the main body.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body disposed at a position distant from the ground; moving wheels rotatably installed at both sides of the cleaner body and configured to rotatably support the cleaner body; a dust container installed at a front surface of the cleaner body located at a front of the moving wheels and configured to collect suctioned dust; and a suction hose connected to the front surface of the cleaner body and through which the dust is suctioned, wherein a center of gravity of the cleaner body is located at a rear side further than a vertical extension line of a rotating center of the moving wheels, and a rear end of the cleaner body becomes closer to the ground when travel of the vacuum cleaner is stopped.

Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a floor cleaning position, in which the upright surface cleaning apparatus is useable for cleaning a floor, and a storage position. The storage position includes a storage orientation of the upper section relative to the surface cleaning head wherein the upper section is stable in the storage position. The upright surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an anti-rotation locking mechanism that automatically engages when the upper section is moved into the storage position and inhibits changes in orientation of the upper section once the upper section is in the storage position. The upright surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the upper section and is removable while the upper section is in the storage position.

Abstract: A method for operating a vacuum cleaner includes providing a vacuum cleaner including a motor-driven fan, a pick-up device configured to pick up an air-dust mixture that is disposed on a suction side of the fan, a dust separator including at least one cyclone separator and a valve element disposed between the pick-up device and the fan. The dust separator is disposed between the pick-up device and the fan. The valve element is operated so as to connect a flow path leading from the pick-up device through the at least one cyclone separator to the fan only when a predefined minimum value of a volume flow generated by the fan or a quantity correlating with the volume flow is present.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner for bedding. The vacuum cleaner for bedding includes a casing defining an outer appearance, a dust movement device moving dust into the casing, a dust collection member disposed accessible into the casing, the dust collection member collecting the dust moved into the casing by the dust movement device, a drawing device drawing the dust collection member received in the casing to the outside of the casing, and a locking device preventing the drawing device from be voluntarily moved in a direction in which the dust collection member is drawn to the outside of the casing.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having base and handle assemblies. The base has a bottom face, left and right side regions, an opening between the left and right side regions, and a resiliently-deformable crossbeam extending across the opening. The handle is at least partially in the opening and pivotally mounted to the base. The handle is rotatable, relative to the base, between upright and reclined positions. A protrusion extends from the handle and rotates through an arc that intersects the crossbeam. The protrusion contacts one side of the crossbeam when the handle is upright, and is on another side of and spaced from the crossbeam when the handle is reclined. The protrusion deforms the crossbeam when the protrusion is moved past the crossbeam. The cleaner also has a suction inlet on the base, a suction source, a dirt collector, and air passages connecting the suction inlet, suction source and dirt collector.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises an elongate upright body 11 pivotally connected to a floor-engaging foot 10 comprising a motor and fan unit 17 for creating an airflow through the cleaner, the airflow extending between respective ducts 32, 18 in the body 11 and the foot 10 along a neck 20, which is rotatably connected at its lower end to the duct 18 in the foot 10 for rotation about an axis A which extends transversely of the foot 10. The neck 20 acts to support the body 11 on the foot 10 and acts as the point about which relative pivotal movement of the body 10 and foot 11 occurs. An arm 40 is coupled to the neck 20 for actuating a mechanism, which lifts the foot 10 away from the floor surface when the body 10 is in the upright position, so as to prevent the rotating agitator brush 16 in the foot 10 from damaging the floor surface while the cleaner is stood in the upright position when performing above-floor cleaning.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity that receives a rotary agitator. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes an agitator lift assembly. The agitator lift assembly includes a sliding actuator and a fulcrum plate.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body; a suction port assembly hinged to the cleaner body with a drum brush mounted on a front lower surface thereof; and a height adjusting apparatus set to an active mode or an inactive mode. In the active mode, the height adjusting apparatus raises the rear portion of the suction port assembly from an initial height, with the drum brush spaced from a surface, to bring the drum brush into contact with the surface when the cleaner body tilts from an upright position towards the rear of the suction port assembly. In the inactive mode, the rear portion of the suction port assembly remains at the initial height when the cleaner body tilts from the upright position towards the rear of the suction port assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bare floor cleaner capable of wet pickup through a first nozzle opening with the aid of a squeegee, wet scrubbing with an agitator, and dry pickup through a second nozzle opening. The bare floor cleaner comprises a dual-path nozzle assembly having a wet suction path in communication with the first nozzle opening and a dry suction path in communication with the second nozzle opening. A diverter valve selectively controls fluid communication between a suction source and one of the first and second nozzle openings for conversion between wet and dry modes. The bare floor cleaner further comprises a single actuator that controls the positions of the agitator and of the diverter valve. As a result, the cleaning mode of the bare floor cleaner can be controlled with a single switch that is preferably located on the handle assembly for convenient access by a user.

Abstract: The invention discloses a height adjusting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner nozzle, comprising: a barrel with a vertical passage, a groove module is formed on the inner surface of the barrel, said groove module comprises an upper groove, a lower groove, which has at least a first positioning point, a second positioning point differing from first positioning point in height and a intermediate point between the two positioning points; a resilient member, a lifting member, a driven member and a driving member are arranged in the passage of barrel from down to up. The height adjusting apparatus could be adjusted by applying a pressure force downwardly in vertical direction (for example, press by foot) and that takes less labor and time.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a floor nozzle having a brushroll chamber with an outlet aperture. An upper assembly is secured to the floor nozzle and is adapted to pivot relative to the floor nozzle about a generally horizontal pivot axis. A dirt cup is removably secured to the upper assembly. The dirt cup includes a dirt collection chamber, a forward inlet duct, and a rear inlet duct spaced from the first inlet duct. A brushroll shut-off mechanism selectively blocks the outlet aperture. The brushroll shut-off mechanism includes a dirt passage cavity in communication with the outlet aperture and a dirt passage door that pivots forward about an approximately upright axis within the dirt passage cavity to block the outlet aperture when the upper assembly is moved to a fully upright position.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner of the type which includes a canister which when upright the vacuum cleaner is operated as an upright vacuum cleaner, or, when tilted down, the vacuum cleaner is operated as a canister-type vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes forwardly positioned lift off wheels which move downwardly when the handle of the vacuum cleaner is moved to the raised position. Two transfer members convert the rotational movement of the handle to vertical motion of the lift off wheels.

Abstract: A suction cleaner adapted for either on the floor cleaning or above the floor cleaning includes a base having a nozzle and a handle pivotally secured to the base so as to be pivotable between a use position and a non-use position. A suction passageway is located in at least one of the base and the handle and communicates with the nozzle. A valve is rotatably mounted in the suction passageway for selectively closing the suction passageway. An elevating mechanism selectively elevates the nozzle away from, and lowers the nozzle towards, a subjacent support surface, the mechanism being secured to the base. An actuating mechanism manually actuates the elevating mechanism. The actuating mechanism is secured to at least one of the base and the handle and engages both the valve and the elevating mechanism.

Abstract: A height adjustment system for an upright vacuum cleaner comprises a cam member with a cam surface. The cam member is mounted within a base and includes rollers which facilitate the sliding lateral movement of the cam member within the base. The rollers roll within a channel within the base. Notches are formed in the side walls of the channel and receive a resiliently deformable indexing member which locates and fixes a cam follower at discrete points along the cam surface. A secondary height adjustment system comprises a ledge located on a housing which is attached to a handle. When the handle of the vacuum cleaner is rotated from a use position to an upright locked position, the ledge on the housing displaces a finger which pushes against a fulcrum plate attached to an axle connected to the front wheels of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a base which has a surface cleaning nozzle and a wheel housing which is moveable between a raised position and a lowered position. Wheels are rotatably mounted on the wheel housing. An abutment arm is attached to said wheel housing at a fixed position relative to said wheels. A handle structure is pivotally mounted on the base and moveable between an upper storage position and a lower operating position. A protrusion, which is attached to the handle, structure, is positioned and ad to engage the abutment arm. A spring is provided which bias the wheel housing to its raised position. As the handle structure is pivoted from the lower operating position to the upper storage position, the abutment arm engages the protrusion moving said wheel housing to its lower position and consequently raising said nozzle.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having an off-the-floor suction hose attachment port located in the passageway connected to the agitator chamber or front nozzle with a suction generating means, and having a sliding door for closing off the passageway intermediate the chamber and hose attachment port during off-the-floor operation, which door is automatically returned to its initial position opening the passageway when the operating handle position is altered to allow on-the-floor operation. The agitator or roller brush is lifted completely from contact with the floor or carpet when the vacuum cleaning apparatus is used for off-the-floor operation and is done so independently of the floor height adjustment setting for various on-the-floor cleaning operations by rotating the retainer axle member about the axis of the front casters and relative to the chassis.

Abstract: A cleaner suction nozzle is provided in which provisions are made for a nozzle height elevation arrangement and a hose conversion valve arrangement. The hose conversion valve arrangement works in conjunction with the nozzle height elevation arrangement so that the suction nozzle can be elevated from the floor to disengage the cleaner agitator and then hose conversion of the cleaner can occur almost simultaneously.

Abstract: The vacuum cleaner includes a carriage having front and rear support members rotatably carried by the carriage for movably supporting the carriage on a subjacent surface as well as a floor cleaning nozzle generally horizontally disposed adjacent a front support member of the vacuum cleaner. A first movable element is provided on the carriage for selectively adjusting the height of the nozzle in relation to the subjacent surface. A second movable element is positioned on the carriage and is operatively connected to the first movable element for adjusting a position of the first movable element. A third movable element is operatively connected to the second movable element and is also connected on the carriage for adjusting a position of the second movable element. The third movable element includes a rocker pedal which can be adjusted between a plurality of positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a main body having a suction opening, and a handle body pivotally attached to the main body. A lifting assembly for the main body comprises a pair of wheel assemblies pivotally attached to the handle body. These wheel assemblies support the vacuum cleaner in a manner to raise its suction opening and brush assembly from the floor when the vacuum cleaner is in its full upright or idle condition. The wheel assemblies are suitably attached to receptacles in the handle body to allow these assemblies to move out of the way when the vacuum cleaner is used in the normal cleaning fashion, but to engage the floor when the handle body is moved to the full upright position.

Abstract: A low cost mechanism for disengaging the brush which agitates the surface over which the vacuum cleaner nozzle moves by lifting the portion of the nozzle having the brush mounted therein above the surface. The lift mechanism is reciprocably mounted in the nozzle housing rearwardly of the brush and extends outwardly from the nozzle housing to lift the forward end of the housing which contains the brush by pivoting the housing about the rear wheels. The lift mechanism is implemented by a stanchion having posts with upper ends extending from a bar. The bar has a trough facing the surface over which the cleaner moves. A roller having a width about at least one-third the width of the nozzle housing is journaled in the trough and extends out of the base. The roller is mounted with its axis generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the brush. The stanchion is also located adjacent to the body or canister portion of the vacuum cleaner for engagement with a surface at the bottom of the body.

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: There is disclosed herein an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a main body having a suction opening, and a handle body pivotally attached to the main body. A relatively simple cam, which may be made from sheet metal in the form of a box, is disposed in the main body and pivoted with respect thereto. The cam is engaged by a cam actuator of the handle body when the handle body is moved to its upright vertical position to cause the cam to pivot in a manner to raise the suction opening of the main body from the rug or carpet.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner has a floor engaging unit, a generally vertically extending handle assembly pivotally affixed to the rear of the floor engaging unit, and a porous bag assembly mounted to the front of the handle assembly. The handle assembly is hollow to direct dust-laden air from the floor engaging unit to the bag assembly. A bottom plate, under the brush roll, has notches at its edges to enhance edge cleaning, and front wheels for the cleaner. Ridges are provided in the floor engaging unit to prevent improper assembly of the drive belt. The handle assembly is resiliently biased upwardly, and a release is provided thereon to enable relaxation of forces on the porous bag of the porous bag assembly, to facilitate changing of the bag.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus with an improved air control valve (22) for directing air flow to a passageway (11) in a casing either from a cleaning head (2) or a hose section (6) is described. In the preferred form the valve rotates to provide internal passages to the air passageway in the casing. The apparatus is particularly adapted as a vacuum cleaning appliance.

Abstract: An upright type electric cleaner including a main body case (1) and a suction port body (1), wherein when the main body case is brought to an upright position as the machine is inoperative, a rotary brush extending downwardly from the bottom of the suction port body (1) is released from contact with the surface to be cleaned. The suction port body includes a single switching knob which, when manipulated, enables the speed of operation of the rotary brush and the distance between the rotary brush and the surface to be cleaned to be adjusted simultaneously. A part of exhaust air of the cleaner released through a blower is led through a sound absorbing duct located in a bag compartment into a cord reel chamber to thereby greatly reduce the noise level of exhaust and preventing cord overheating of a power cord of the cleaner.