Nozzle assembly with edge cleaning through agitator cavity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly and to a vacuum cleaner incorporating that nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a housing having a main cavity and at least one intake opening in fluid communication with the main cavity. Additionally, the nozzle assembly includes an edge cleaning duct having an inlet adjacent an edge of the housing and an outlet in fluid communication with the main cavity. More specifically the housing includes first and second nesting sections that define a channel that functions as the edge cleaning duct. The vacuum cleaner incorporates the nozzle assembly described along with a canister assembly that is connected to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on one of the canister assembly and the nozzle assembly. The suction generator draws air entrained with dirt and debris through the nozzle assembly to the dirt collection vessel before exhausting clean air back into the environment.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A nozzle assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a housing including a main cavity and at least one intake opening in fluid communication with said main cavity; and    an edge cleaning duct having an inlet adjacent an edge of said housing and an outlet in fluid communication with said main cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1  wherein said inlet is discrete from said main cavity.  
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , further including an agitator in said main cavity, said agitator being mounted for rotation relative to said housing.  
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said housing has a first section and a second section.  
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said second section nests with said first section.  
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said first section includes a first channel defined by a first series of walls.  
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said second section includes a second channel defined by a second series of walls.  
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each second series of walls nests with said first series of walls to define said edge cleaning duct when said second section nests with said first section.  
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein first series of walls includes a first side wall, a second sidewall and a first end wall.  
     
     
         10 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said second series of walls includes a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall and a second end wall.  
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said outlet is positioned between said third and fourth sidewalls adjacent said second end wall.  
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first series of walls includes an intermediate wall between said first and second sidewalls spaced from said first end wall.  
     
     
         13 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said second end wall includes a projecting edge engaging said intermediate wall.  
     
     
         14 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a nozzle assembly;    a canister assembly connected to said nozzle assembly;    a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly; and    a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly, said suction generator drawing air entrained with dirt through said nozzle assembly to said dirt collection vessel before exhausting clean air back into the environment;    said vacuum cleaner being characterized by:    said nozzle assembly having a housing including a main cavity and at least one intake opening in fluid communication with said main cavity; and    an edge cleaning duct having an inlet adjacent an edge of said housing and an outlet in fluid communication with said main cavity.    
     
     
         15 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 14  wherein said inlet is discrete from said main cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 15 , further including an agitator in said main cavity, said agitator being mounted for rotation relative to said housing.  
     
     
         17 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said housing has a first section and a second section.  
     
     
         18 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said second section nests with said first section.  
     
     
         19 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said first section includes a first channel defined by a first series of walls.  
     
     
         20 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said second section includes a second channel defined by a second series of walls.  
     
     
         21 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 20 , wherein each second series of walls nest with said first series of walls to define said edge cleaning duct when said second section nests with said first section.  
     
     
         22 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein first series of walls includes a first side wall, a second sidewall and a first end wall.  
     
     
         23 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said second series of walls includes a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall and a second end wall.  
     
     
         24 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said outlet is positioned between said third and fourth sidewalls adjacent said second end wall.  
     
     
         25 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 24 , wherein said first series of walls includes an intermediate wall between said first and second sidewalls spaced from said first end wall.  
     
     
         26 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said second end wall includes a projecting edge engaging said intermediate wall.